I am extremely grateful to the many friends of mine who have introduced me to new music over the course of the last few years. Below are a list of ten songs that most people probably will not have heard, but which I heartily endorse. Unfortunately, I cannot actually give you the songs, because goons from the RIAA would break down my door in the night. The list is therefore provided for the benefit of those in search of new music, and capable of acquiring it for themselves by means that satisfy the legal and ethical codes that apply to them.
Since most of these artists are relatively unknown, I would definitely think better of you if you actually went out and bought their albums.
1) Nina Simone, “Feeling Good” from the album Nina Simone in Concert
This energetic song was sent to me by Lauren Priest. I have always been an appreciator of strong female vocalists and, along with her jazz accompaniment, Nina Simone definitely rises to that level. This is the kind of song you’ll find yourself singing automatically while walking briskly home from something really enjoyable.
2) Idan Raichel, “Mima’amakim (From the deep)” from the album Mimamakayim
While I can’t speak or understand a word of Hebrew, I love the complex melodies in this song, as well as the interesting texture of the language itself. The interplay between vocals and instrumentation in this track is really fascinating, in a way that reminds me of Robert Miles transported into an entirely different genre and mood. I got it from Lindi.
3) Antony & the Johnsons, “Beautiful Boyz” from the album Noah’s Ark
Alison introduced me to this sombre and mournful, yet beautiful, track. This is the kind of music that wanders into my mind during really long solitary walks of the sort that it’s sometimes advisable to take when sad.
4) KT Tunstall, “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” from the album Eye to the Telescope
Almost the exact opposite tone from the previous song, this song is energetic to the point of being positively jaunty. I could easily imagine Astrid dancing to this track, after she lent it to me.
5) Neko Case, “Hold On, Hold On” from the album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
This is the only really superb song that I ever got as a free song of the week from the iTunes music store. From Neko Case’s new album, this autobiographical piece has the same combination of powerful female vocals and enigmatic lyrics that I so appreciate from Tori Amos. A video of this song being performed can be viewed here.
6) Lorraine a’ Malena, “Just Me and Eve” from the album Mirror Mirror
A somewhat comic retelling of Genesis, this song was apparently written by Neil Gaiman and is performed by his assistant. It may be my appreciation for Paradise Lost manifesting itself again, but I quite enjoy the tune. I am grateful to Jessica for introducing me to it. This one is actually available free online. How cool is that?
7) Feist, “When I was a Young Girl” from the album Let It Die
Many thanks to Jonathan for sending me this song. I love the rhythmic interplay between the drums and vocals. It reminds me, to a certain extent, of a few songs from the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, insofar as it accompanies a kind of moralizing message (probably ironic) with really enjoyable sounds.
8) Mad Pudding, “First We Take Manhattan” from the album Grand Hotel
This cover of Leonard Cohen’s song is done by a Vancouver folk/celtic band that is somewhat similar to Spirit of the West. The contrast between their energetic interpretation and Cohen’s determinedly poetic style of delivering is striking. I first heard this song from a CD owned by my father.
9) The Vincent Black Shadow, “This Road is Going Nowhere” from the album The Vincent Black Shadow
Since Neal gave me the superb debut album of this Vancouver band, I have listened to it more than sixty times. This is the kind of song that alters the way you experience everything for a good fifteen minutes, at least, after you hear it. I especially like the musical interludes with strings and saxophone.
10) Rae Spoon, “To Find You” from an unknown album
On the first CD from which I ever heard Tori Amos and Tegan and Sara, my friend Jenny also included this wonderfully downbeat vocal and guitar track by a Vancouver artist. A complex and evocative piece of music.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please don’t feel insulted if a song you sent me isn’t listed here. These are just songs that happen to have found particular resonance with me, during the time when I’ve been in Oxford.
[Update: 25 February 2007] Since so many people were looking for them, some Idal Raichel lyrics translated into English have been added.
With my shoes on, the toque Sarah gave me, a fleece pull-over, and a fleece sweater, it is still exceptionally cold in our flat, now that the college has turned the heat off. I can see my breath fogging the air in front of the monitor.
Love #2! Thanks for the ideas.
KT Tunstall is good
Sorry you’re so cold – my office is not quite so chilled, but I am double wrapped in scarves as I have a substandard throat atm
An assembly of lyrics from the above songs:
1) And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
2) Mime’amakim kar’ati elaich boi elai
mul yare’ach me’ir et darkech shuv elai
nifrasu venamsu mul
maga shel yadaich
From deep depths I called to you to come to me
the moonlight I will again light your way to me
they’re spread out and melted again
the touch of your hands (translated)
3) All those beautiful boys,
Kings and Queens,
And criminal queers,
All those beautiful boys,
Tattoos of ships and tattoos of tears
4) and my heart had a problem, in the early hours,
so it stopped it dead for a beat or two.
but i cut some cord, and i shouldn’t have done that,
and it won’t forgive me after all these years
5) in the end i was the mean girl
or somebody’s in-between girl
now it’s the devil i love
and that’s as funny as real love
6) Well I say Madam, she says Adam, she says simply take a nibble
It’s no intertribal libel, neither question it nor quibble,
And to follow she’ll extol it in a low recitative:
And this is it:
It’s just me and Eve
7) When I was a young girl I used to seek pleasure
When I was a young girl I used to drink ale
Out of the ale house down into the jail house
My body’s salvated and hell is my doom
8) I’m guided by a signal in the heavens
I’m guided by this birthmark on my skin
I’m guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
9) As for another day
As for something worth the price you have to pay
The stakes are up and the runs are down
You step right up for another round
Another round of going nowhere
10 You love so completely, I’m scared I’ll consume you
You love so completely, every time we touch
I’m rubbing pieces off of you
3) Antony & the Johnsons, “Beautiful Boyz” from the album Noah’s Ark
Alison introduced me to this sombre and mournful, yet beautiful, track. This is the kind of music that wanders into my mind during really long solitary walks of the sort that it’s sometimes advisable to take when sad.
I could only find this on the iTMS by the band CocoRosie?
Lots of people seem to be looking for these lyrics:
Im Telech
Idan Raichel
If you leave who will hug me like this
who will listen to me at the end of the day
who will console and calm me
as only you know how
And if you leave
who will I wait for me by the window in a pretty dress
to come hug me so,
when you arrive
When you leave, I’ll go out to the sun,
in the golden fields, morning and evening,
the moon will light up my face
which dreams all day long of you
When you come back,
you’ll carry me in your arms,
from the field to the river,
you’ll wash my face and tell me words
as only you know how
Milim yafot me’ele
Idan Raichel
It doesn’t mean that I am never (there/here)
it’s just (the way it is right) now so wait
and then I will come when the fury passes
and then I will return – when it clears up.
It doesn’t mean I’m not thinking
about you every day, every hour
There still isn’t any tranquility, any silence
for in every place your figure rises in front of me.
It is also hard for me to say
words more beautiful than these
even if I didn’t find a way to feel your (words)
know that I love only you
know in my heart I’m always with you
do know that I’m always always with you.
It doesn’t mean that it’s so (i.e. this way) and no other way
it’s just a storm on a passing day
and then you’ll see how when the sun will shine
I will return to you from the rainy day.
Many thanks to Lindi Cassel for the translations.
And the most commonly sought:
Mi’mamayakim
Idan Raichel
From the depths I called out to you – Come to me
Upon your return, the light will return to my eyes
From the depths I called out to you – Come to me
Against the moon that lights your way back to me
They spread out and melted against the touch of your hands
In your ears I whisper, and ask…
Who’s that calling out to you tonight, listen up
Who sings out loud to you, to your window
Who gave his soul so you’d be happy
Who will give a hand and build your home
Who will give his life, and put it beneath yours
Who will live as dust beneath your feet
Who will love you more than all other loves
Who will save you from every living spirit
From the depths…
From the depths I called out to you – Come to me
Against the moon that lights your way back to me
They spread out and melted against the touch of your hands
In your ears I whisper, and ask
Who’s that calling out to you tonight …
Thanks again to Lindi for the translation.
Pesenta e strahotna oba4e za6to q nqma v data ili v nqkoi dr sait za svalqne? Ili ako znaete ot kade moga da si q drapna kajete mi!
The Idan Raichel Project is fascinating. where can i find more translated lyrics?
My friend Lindi sent me the translations above, which I think she did herself.
If you find others elsewhere, please link them here.
Does the RIAA have effective jurisdiction in Canada?
I think the Canadian Recording Industry Association is their equivalent here. That being said, it may be possible for the RIAA to sue someone in Canada, in the right circumstances.
Idan Raichel English lyrics
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Good to come back to this list 3 years later.
I would add the following to the list :
Bonnie Raitt’s “Angel in Montgomery” on the Stoney Plains label
Wailing Jenny’s “One Voice” (I think on their Fireweed album as well as the “Women of the World” CD on the Putomaya label.