Categories for Songs

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my most favourite television shows of all time. Yeah, ok, Firefly is up there too, it had a great half a series run. But the seven seasons of Buffy are so wonderful. The late 90s, watching the show on television, it was so much fun. I don’t think i remembered at the time i actually had seen the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 92 or 93 at the Rotterdam Filmfestival. It was one of my more easy going picks end i enjoyed it so much then.

This episode, Once More, With Feeling, is the special musical episode. When this episode was broadcasted in the Netherlands, the net didn’t know what to do with this. They decided to broadcast it out of the usual time for Buffy, later at night. So stupid! This episode is in the top three list of my favourite Buffy ones. Together with Hush and The Body.

Watching Buffy was the start of my admiration of Joss Whedon. A thoroughly nice person with up until now excellent taste in choosing the right direction to go into. Starting with Buffy, then Angel, Firefly, Dolllhouse and ending with the Avengers blockbusters. Hopefully more will follow.

So, i tried to sing the first song of Once more, With Feeling. It is hard, to sing a cappella, i admit. Hard to hold the tune. As you may have noticed in my earlier songs. Still, it was great hearing and seeing all the songs once again. All the clips are included in this post. Enjoy!

I mean it, ENJOY!!

Going Through The Motions – Once More With Feeling, Buffy
BUFFY:
Every single night
The same arrangement
I go out and fight the fight
Still, I always feel the strange estrangement
Nothing here is real
Nothing here is right

I’ve been making shows of trading blows
Just hoping no one knows
That I’ve been going through the motions
Walking through the part
Nothing seems to penetrate my heart

I was always brave and kind of righteous
Now I find I’m wavering
Crawl out of your grave
You find this fight just doesn’t mean a thing

VAMP:
She ain’t got that swing

BUFFY:
Thanks for noticing

VAMPS AND GOAT DEMON:
She does pretty well with fiends from hell
But lately, we can tell
That she’s just going through the motions (Going through the motions)
Faking it some how

GOAT DEMON:
She’s not even half the girl she…ow.

BUFFY:
Will I stay this way forever?
Sleepwalk through my life’s endeavor?

VERY HANDSOME GUY:
How can I repay—

BUFFY:
Whatever.
I don’t want to be
Going through the motions
Losing all my drive
I can’t even see
If this is really me
And I just want to be
Alive!

The original start of the Buffy episode Once More, With Feeling

And the rest of the songs…

I was watching Mamma Mia last week, and this song came up and yes! Honey Honey is one of the songs i really want to sing. One of my guilty pleasures.

Sex!

Well, sort of anyway.

I was ten years old, watching the Eurovision Songcontest and i fell for them. Agnetha with her tight blue satin pants and bright blonde hair. Anni-frid with her curls and red printed skirt. I didn’t notice the boys to be honest. I bought the single, Waterloo. Two years later i bought Dancing Queen. I know most of the ABBA songs. The Name Of The Game. Take A Chance On Me. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Take A Chance On Me. Money, Money, Money. Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Honey Honey is an early ABBA song. It is on the Best of ABBA album i actually do have on vinyl. Not sure who bought it. It could be my mom or any of my sisters. Or me!

I couldn’t get myself to do the heavy breathing after ‘I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing’. But a slight little ‘oaahhh’ did come out.

Enjoy!

ABBA – Honey Honey
Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, ah-hah, honey honey
I’d heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, you’re a love machine
Oh, you make me dizzy

Honey honey, let me feel it, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, don’t conceal it, ah-hah, honey honey
The way that you kiss goodnight
(The way that you kiss me goodnight)
The way that you hold me tight
(The way that you’re holding me tight)
I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing yeah

I don’t wanna hurt you, baby, I don’t wanna see you cry
So stay on the ground, girl, you better not get too high
But I’m gonna stick to you, boy, you’ll never get rid of me
There’s no other place in this world where I rather would be

Honey honey, touch me, baby, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, hold me, baby, ah-hah, honey honey
You look like a movie star
(You look like a movie star)
But I know just who you are
(I know just who you are)
And, honey, to say the least, you’re a doggone beast

So stay on the ground, girl, you better not get too high
There’s no other place in this world where I rather would be

Honey honey, how you thrill me, ah-hah, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, ah-hah, honey honey
I heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, you’re a love machine
Oh, you make me dizzy

Honey Honey

Star Parade 1974

And another version 🙂

Mamma Mia

The title of this song always confused me. I bought this album around 1976, 1977. Only a few years after it was released. It always ment to me “The song of Katy’. Lied in Dutch means song. I’m pretty sure i knew it wasn’t right, but yeah, it was stuck in my mind.

A very different meaning from what it says: Katy Lied. Which is taken from this song Doctor Wu. But doesn’t appear in it literally, Katy lies is the line in the song.

Doctor Wu is another confusing title. Around that time Doctor Who was on Dutch television. The series with Tom Baker in it. With that one episode which really scared me, in which all the plants were growing endlessly to kill all the other living creatures. Or something like that.

So in my mind i had an album called Katy’s Song with this song on it called Doctor Who.

Completely wrong!

[Official Biography] Donald Fagen: ” “Doctor Wu” is about a triangle, kind of a love-dope triangle. I think usually when we do write songs of a romantic nature, one or more of the participants in the alliance will come under the influence of someone else or some other way of life and that will usually end up in either some sort of compromise or a split. Okay, in this song a girl meets somebody who leads another kind of life and she’s attracted to it. Then she comes under the domination of someone else and that results in the ending of the relationship or some amending of the relationship. When we start writing songs like that, that’s the way it usually goes. In “Doctor Wu” the “someone else” is a dope habit personified as Doctor Wu. In “Haitian Divorce” it’s a hotel gigolo. The details of “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and “Through With Buzz” are vaguer but the pattern is the same.”

I still like my version though 🙂

Steely Dan – Doctor Wu
Katy tried
I was halfway crucified
I was on the other side
Of no tomorrow
You walked in
And my life began again
Just when I’d spent the last piaster
I could borrow
All night long
We would sing that stupid song
And every word we sang
I knew was true
Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
Are you crazy are you high
Or just an ordinary guy
Have you done all you can do
Are you with me Doctor

Don’t seem right
I’ve been strung out here all night
I’ve been waiting for the taste
You said you’d bring to me
Biscayne Bay
Where the Cuban gentlemen sleep all day
I went searching for the song
You used to sing to me
Katy lies
You could see it in her eyes
But imagine my surprise
When I saw you

Are you with me Doctor Wu
Are you really just a shadow
Of the man that I once knew
She is lovely yes she’s sly
And you’re an ordinary guy
Has she finally got to you
Can you hear me Doctor

The original Doctor Wu

Oh Lori is the only song from the Alessi Brothers i know. I’m pretty sure of that. It was a hit here in the Netherlands in 1977. I always had a soft spot for it. Last week i decided to go for it and sing it. I did practice it a few times over the past few days. I love this song. Even more now.

I did some separate recordings for the ‘You are the season’ bit and for the break in the middle of the son. I don’t do that as much as when i started these recordings, but i felt the song does need these bits in it.

Enjoy!

Oh Lori
Allessi Brothers

I’d like to stay in love with you
All summer and after fall
I’ll keep you warm through the winter
Because I’ve noticed one thing
This ain’t no summer fling

I’d like to ride my bicycle with you
On the handlebars
You’d laugh and run away
And I’d chase you through the meadow
Without you I’d die
It’s never say good-bye

Oh, Lori
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Oooh and winter
You are the season
Oh, Lori (oh, Lori)
You make me feel as though I’ve been born again
Born again

You danced for me in your bare feet
That mellow afternoon
When we made love to each other
And I’m loving you
That’s all I want to do

Oh, Lori
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Oooh and winter
You are the season
Oh, Lori (oh, Lori)
You make me feel as though I’ve been born again
Born again…

Oh, Lori
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Oooh and winter
You are the season
Oh, Lori (oh, Lori)
You make me feel as though I’ve been born again
Born again…

Oh, Lori
You bring the spring, the summer, fall
Oooh and winter
You are the season
Oh, Lori (oh, Lori)
You make me feel as though I’ve been born again
Born again…

Alessi Brothers – Oh Lori – TopPop

Alessi Brothers – Oh Lori 1976

Alessi Brothers live, Amersfoort, 2008

It’s Going To Take Some Time This Time, written by Carole King and Toni Stern for Carole King’s 1971 album Music.

Today i decided to do another Carpenters song. I put on the Gold album in spotify and started with Yesterday Once More. One of my favourites! But no, this wasn’t the song i was after. I did enjoy singing along with We’ve Only Just Begon and Only Yesterday. But i was looking for a song with birds on a telephone line and trees that don’t bend.

As it turns out, they do bend.

Enjoy!

It’s Going To Take Some Time This Time – The Carpenters
It’s going to take some time this time
To get myself in shape
I really feel out-of line this time
I really missed the gate

The birds on the telephone line (next time)
Are cryin’ out to me (next time)
And I won’t be so blind next time
And I’ll find some harmony

But it’s going to take some time this time
And I can’t make demands
But like the young trees in the wintertime
I’ll learn how to bend

After all the tears we’ve spent
How could we make amends
So it’s one more round for experience

And I’m on the road again
And it’s going to take some time this time

It’s going to take some time this time
No matter what I’ve planned
But like the young trees in the wintertime
I’ll learn how to bend

After all the tears we’ve spent
How could we make amends
So it’s one more round for experience
And I’m on the road again
And it’s going to take some time this time

The Carpenters – It’s going to take some time

Carole King – It’s going to take some time

Sitting in the train going from Amersfoort to Rotterdam. The train had stopped in Utrecht, i was watching the people standing on the opposite platform. Everyone in his or her own little world. Some staring down at their mobile phones, other staring into nothingness. A few together, talking with each other. A typical view. This song, Under Pressure came up in my MIX list.

Yes, i felt tears coming into my eyes. It was painful to watch all these people. Including myself, sitting in the train listening to this music all alone.

I did sing along with this song for a couple of times. It is hard, with the two voices. I skipped some of the parts Freddie Mercury sings, but some i felt were vital. I really missed out on some parts. Strange, how these parts sing perfectly fine in my head, but it is hard to get it out the same way.

I have always enjoyed this song. But i didn’t expect me to cry at the final part, starting at Because love’s such an old fashioned word. That is what i had to train out of myself a bit.

I hope you will enjoy this.

Under Pressure
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you
No man ask for

Under pressure
That brings a building down
Splits a family in two

Puts people on streets

Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da – that’s okay

It’s the terror of knowing
What the world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
‘Let me out’
Pray tomorrow gets me higher

Pressure on people people on streets

Day day de mm hm
Da da da ba ba
Okay
Chipping around – kick my brains around the floor
These are the days it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap

People on streets
ee da de da de
People on streets
ee da de da de da de da

It’s the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming
‘Let me out’

Pray tomorrow – gets me higher
Higher
High

Pressure on people people on streets

Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don’t work

Keep coming up with love
But it’s so slashed and torn

Why – why – why?

Love love love love love
Insanity laughs under pressure we’re breaking

Can’t we give ourselves one more chance
Why can’t we give love that one more chance
Why can’t we give love give love give love give love
Give love give love give love give love give love

Because love’s such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

Official video

Queen, Annie Lennox and David Bowie in 1992 at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

I remember this song, I’m Not In Love. Written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman from 10cc. I was eleven years old. I thought Eric Stewart was cute. The song was dreamy. Otherworldly. I never bought the single.

10cc is not a favourite band of mine. I remember Wall Street Shuffle better. But i did add I’m Not In Love to my MIX tapes on Spotify like six years ago. Only this month i added Wall Street Shuffle to it as well.

I did watch the BBC documentary this afternoon, linked at the end of this post. So yeah, i know a lot more! The division, apparent from the start: Stewart and Gouldman on the pop side, Godley and Creme on the art side. They had a few years of working together happily.

This song has grown on me over the years. I love the voices layered over each other and making the music. Wonderful song.

Enjoy!

I’m Not In Love – 10CC
I’m not in love, so don’t forget it
It’s just a silly phase I’m going through
And just because I call you up
Don’t get me wrong, don’t think you’ve got it made

I’m not in love, no-no
(It’s because)

I like to see you, but then again
That doesn’t mean you mean that much to me
So if I call you, don’t make a fuss
Don’t tell your friends about the two of us

I’m not in love, no-no
(It’s because)

Be quiet, big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry
Big boys don’t cry

I keep your picture upon the wall
It hides a nasty stain that’s lyin’ there
So don’t you ask me to give it back
I know you know it doesn’t mean that much to me

I’m not in love, no-no
(It’s because)

Ooh, you’ll wait a long time for me
Ooh, you’ll wait a long time
Ooh, you’ll wait a long time for me
Ooh, you’ll wait a long time

I’m not in love, so don’t forget it
It’s just a silly phase I’m going through
And just because I call you up
Don’t get me wrong, don’t think you’ve got it made, ooh

I’m not in love
I’m not in love

A clip from the 70s

A Toppop recording, my favourite Dutch music show in the 70s
No idea who the other people in this clip are, why they are there. Weird.

I’m Not In Love : the story of 10cc

Around two weeks ago i started to think of this song, Ne Me Quitte Pas. Written and sung by Jacques Brel. I didn’t know it was written by him, but yes, it was. I didn’t know the Dutch version of this song, i didn’t even know it existed.

I did always enjoy the French version. But my knowledge of French is rather poor, so i didn’t get much further than the title. When i searched for a Dutch version a week ago, and found it, the first times i read it while listening to Jacques Brel himself i was swept away with tears. I also found a version sung by the Dutch singer Liesbeth List, which i do love.

In a 1966 interview, Brel said that “Ne me quitte pas” was not a love song, but rather “a hymn to the cowardice of men”, and the degree to which they were willing to humiliate themselves. He knew, he said, that it would give pleasure to women who assumed it was a love song, and he understood that.

The cowardice of men.

I fell in love several times, when i was young, in my late teens and twenties. Thinking back, i don’t think i ever really fell in love. I mean, i never got to know the men i fell in love with. They all said a clear no to me. Yes, i did ask. It never went beyond an infatuation. I did develop a bit more taste when i got older. But still, a no. Never a yes.

So i don’t know anything about love from my own experience. I have thought about it many times. Dreamed about it. Fantasized about it. I am curious. But also a bit scared. I do like being by myself.

Well, anyway, i do enjoy this song. Especially in Dutch. I do hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Laat Me Niet Alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Toe vergeet de strijd
Toe vergeet de nijd
Laat me niet alleen
En die domme tijd
Vol van misverstand
Ach vergeet hem, want
‘T Was verspilde tijd
Hoe vaak hebben wij
Met een snijdend woord
Ons geluk vermoord
Kom dat is voorbij
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen

Lief, ik zoek voor jou
In ‘t stof van de wegen
De paarlen van regen
De paarlen van dauw
Ik zal al mijn leven
Werken zonder rust
Om jou licht en lust
Goud en goed te geven
Ik sticht een gebied
Waar de liefde troont
Waar de liefde loont
Waar jouw wil geschiedt
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen

Laat me niet alleen
Ik bedenk voor jou
Woorden rood en blauw
Taal voor jou alleen
En met warme mond
Zeggen wij elkaar:
Eens was er een paar
Dat zichzelf weer vond
Ook vertel ik jou
Van een jong vrouw die stierf
Van nostalgie
Hunkerend naar jou
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen

Want uit een vulkaan
Die was uitgeblust
Breekt zich na wat rust
Toch het vuur weer baan
En op oude grond
Ziet men vaak het graan
Heel wat hoger staan
Dan op verse grond
Het wit mint het zwart
Zwakheid mint de kracht
Daglicht mint de nacht
Mijn hart mint jouw hart
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen

Laat me niet alleen
Nee ik huil niet meer
Nee ik spreek niet meer
Want ik wil alleen
Horen hoe je praat
Kijken hoe je lacht
Weten hoe je zacht
Door de kamer gaat
Nee ik vraag niet meer
‘K Wil je schaduw zijn
‘K Wil je voetstap zijn
‘K wil je adem zijn
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen
Laat me niet alleen

Jacques Brel – Laat Me Niet Alleen

Liesbeth List – Laat Me Niet Alleen

I Would Stay, a song from the Dutch band Krezip. They played this song on their Pinkpop gig, where it was extremely well received. The video clip was compiled of footage of this Pinkpop show. I remember talking with a friend about the band, about this song. One of the best Dutch singers, he called Jacqueline Govaert. A very young band at the time, with this killer hit. They have split up. I still enjoy this song.

I Would Stay – Krezip
If this is true, I thought then, what will I think
Will I stay but rather I would get away
I’m scared that I won’t find a thing
And afraid that I’ll turn out to be alone, but I

I have to learn, have to try, have to trust I have to cry
Have to see, have to know that I can be myself, yeah

And if I could I would stay
And if they’re not, not in my way
I’ll stare here in the distance
But I’ll grow up to be just like you, yeah
I’ll grow up to be just like you, yeah

I see it all I’m sure but
Do I know what’s right
I thought I knew but it turns out the other way
I am scared that I won’t find a thing
And afraid that I’ll turn out to be alone, but I

I have to learn, have to try, have to trust I have to cry
I have to see, have to know that I can be myself

And if I could I would stay
And if they’re not not in my way
I’ll stare here in the distance
But I’ll grow up to be just like you, yeah
I’ll grow up to be just like you

I want to tell you
Why would I try to
You are all that I can see now
Why would I try to

And I want to tell you
Why would I try to
You are all I can see now
I know i’ll try to

I have to learn, have to try, have to trust I have to cry
I have to see, have to know that I can be myself

But if I could, yeah, I would stay
And if they’re not, not in my way
I’ll stare here in the distance
But I’ll grow up to be just like you, yeah
I’ll grow up to be just like you
Like you

The clip

The story behind I Would Stay (Dutch)