Wednesday 30 April 2008

Our house, is a very very very fine house with two cats in the yard...

CROSBY, STILLS and NASH

I'll light the fire, while you place the flowers
In the vase that you bought today.
Staring at the fire for hours and hours,
While I listen to you play your love songs
All night long for me, only for me.

Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard,
Life used to be so hard,
Now everything is easy 'cause of you.

Come to me now, and rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is done.
Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you, only for you.

Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard,
Life used to be so hard,
Now everything is easy 'cause of you.

...And another very bad video. just listen to the song.

House Martins





(don't mind the video. i assume it's a little silly...listen to the lyrics)

"Children of the world can see there's a place better for us to be" - for Ritinha

Monday 28 April 2008

the meaning in the lyric

Yesterday The Good the Bad and the Queen at victoria park and they played a new version of "ghost town" an original from The specials.

I have posted this song before because i really liked it. i liked the lyrics but i guess only yesterday i understood their real meaning.

It was a song written about the racist riots that were going on 30 years ago in britain.

Now it makes sense! my body froze, i got in a complete trance while they were playing, very very very intense.

In Portugal music was very important in our 25th april 1974revolution when portugal passed from a facist regime to a democratic one

so now, im playing the two songs. Music is such a powerfull weapon.

Ghost Town - the specials


This town, is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place, is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
too much fighting on the dance floor

Do you remember the good old days
Before the ghost town?
We danced and sang,
And the music played inna de boomtown

This town, is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place, is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry


Grandula vila morena - Zeca afonso


"There were two secret signals in the military coup: first the airing of the song E depois do adeus by Paulo de Carvalho, Portugal's entry in the 6th of April 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, which alerted the rebel captains and soldiers to begin the coup. Next, on April 25, 1974 at 12:15 am, the national radio broadcast Grândola, Vila Morena, a song by Zeca Afonso, a progressive folk singer forbidden on Portuguese radio at the time. This was the signal that the MFA gave to take over strategic points of power in the country and "announced" that the revolution had started and nothing would stop it except "the possibility of a regime's repression".
Six hours later, the Caetano regime relented. Despite repeated appeals from the "captains of April" (of the MFA) on the radio inciting the population to stay at home, thousands of Portuguese descended on the streets, mixing themselves with the military insurgents. One of the central points of those gathering was the Lisbon flower market, then richly stocked with carnations, which were in season. Some military insurgents would put these flowers in their gun-barrels, an image which was shown on television around the world. This would be the origin of the name of this "Carnation revolution". To clarify the above context, this was not a popular revolution but a military coup- there were no mass demonstrations by the general population prior to the coup.
Caetano found refuge in the main Lisbon military police station at the Largo do Carmo. This building was surrounded by the MFA, which pressured him to cede power to General Spínola. Both Caetano (the prime minister) and Américo Tomás (the President) fled to Brazil. Caetano spent the rest of his life in Brazil, while Tomás returned to Portugal a few years later.
The revolution was closely watched from neighbouring Spain, where the government and opposition were planning for the succession of Francisco Franco, who died a year later, in 1975."

(taken from wikipedia)

Grândola, vila morena
Terra da fraternidade
O povo é quem mais ordena
Dentro de ti, ó cidade

Dentro de ti, ó cidade
O povo é quem mais ordena
Terra da fraternidade
Grândola, vila morena

Em cada esquina, um amigo
Em cada rosto, igualdade
Grândola, vila morena
Terra da fraternidade

Terra da fraternidade
Grândola, vila morena
Em cada rosto, igualdade
O povo é quem mais ordena

À sombra duma azinheira
Que já não sabia a idade
Jurei ter por companheira
Grândola, a tua vontade

Grândola a tua vontade
Jurei ter por companheira
À sombra duma azinheira
Que já não sabia a idade

Grandola, sunburnt village, land of brotherhood!
The people are the ones who rule inside of you, oh city! On every corner a friend, equality in every face.
Grandola, sunburnt village, land of brotherhood! In the shade of an oak tree that didn’t know its age I swore to take your will as my comrade, Grandola!

LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM

Sunday afternoon i'm looking over my window. the weather was crap. it was pissing down.
My favourite musician ever would be playing in a few hours, in victoria park - London - for free and there I was even suggesting I might stay at home.

But love can move mountains, one said, and there i went.

3 tube jounerys and a bus journey later, I finaly made it.

The park is huge and the organisation guy said 100.000 people were there.
Not so sure about that one.

In my opinion, as a foreigner in this city, i thought it was a brilliant idea to have a a festival with great bands, some of the best musicians in the world, and all for a great cause and for free. I don't know if they got payed to do it or if they payed it themselves. It wasnt that trendy crap of live8 in which then later you know celebrities get perks of thousands of pounds.

On saturday i went for a walk with a friend at the southbank and ended up in the bookshop from tate modern.
I was showing my friend Gaudi's biography. Gaudi is one of my favourite artists. My friend never heard of Gaudi so i told him a bit about his work and his life. At the end of my explanation i conclued with a a thought i never had before. i said " How could someone do so much in only one life time". That thought was very deep for me and i started thinking about all the things i need to do. This was followed by the oddest question one has ever made in my living memory

(Are you ready art lovers?) " WAS GAUDI A MILIONAIRE?"

I MIGHT HAVE TURNED INTO A RAINBOW..." I don't know...i never thought about that to be honest...i know him for being a genious and he designed lots of buildings in Barcelona including the amazing sagrada familia"

he then continued" but don't you think he should be a milionaraire"

.... silence


" no. why? the respect the world has for him is bigger than any money in the world"


this lasted for at least half hour until i shut my trap.

I just couldn't believe my friend gave so much value to money. He gave the exemple of madre Teresa. he said she wasn't rich yet she did so much good to the world.

It's not that she didnt earn money, the money she got from her popularity she just gave it away because HELPING OTHERS WAS WORTH MORE THAN ANY MONEY IN THE WORLD!

Now back to music against racism.

I had to mention this conversation to make my point of this post.

Other people. with a different background than mine might think this is ridiculous or that it just doesn't make sense. And i dont mind at all because that's part of what i am, being tolerant.

i don't do things in my daily life to become rich and becoming a celebrity for me just doesn't make any sense.

of course i know that if i had more money i could rent or even buy a better house, or eat in better places, or travel more .

but what i have now is good and im grateful.i never questioned myself if gaudi was a milionaire of leonard da vince... to me they are genius and no money in the world can buy that. the knoledge they gave us made them happy and for them teaching others what they have found was the best thing ever.

it's all about the value you give to things.

i believe we should be tolerant and most of all respectful of one another. and if in our day to day basis we show our respect and our gratefulness, then, money may come easier. it's the force of us all united that makes the world go round.

I hope the 100.000 people yesterday at victoria park will make a change.

Thursday 24 April 2008

Half cousin

the young girl becomes a woman



In my country (Portugal) when a guy is a wanker we call them "clowns"

I have just came across another clown in my life and i have closed the door with the sound of this song from feist.

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Under pressure

hand on your heart





Well it's one thing to fall in love
But another to make it last
I thought that we were just beginning
And now you say we're in the past
Look me in the eye
and tell me we are really through
You know it's one thing to say you love me
but another to mean it from the heart
And if you don't intend to see it through
why did we ever start?
I wanna hear you tell me
you don't want my love
Put your hand on your heart and tell me
it's all over
I won't believe it till you
put your hand on your heart and tell me
that we're through
Put your hand on your heart
They like to talk about for ever
Most people never get the chance
Do you wanna lose our love together
Do you find a new romance
I wanna hear you tell me
you don't want my love
Put your hand on your heart and tell me
it's all over
I won't believe it till you
put your hand on your heart and tell me
that we're through
Put your hand on your heart
hand on your heart
Look me in the eye
and tell me we are really through

Tuesday 22 April 2008

To Hjorky

A very close friend of mine is very ill.

I'm now paying my most honoured tribute to him.

I remember him from his birth. He was born in my bed, very close to me. I took care of him and his two little brothers, Thommy and Julieta

Hjorky is made of an unusual sweetness and a contageous happiness. We never teached him anything, it always came from himself. It's in his genes.

In this moment of deep sadness i pay tribute to one of my bestest friends.

We all have learnt to love and share with you.

we are truely and forever yours.



"i think you're the same as me, we see things they they'll never see, you and i we're gonna live forever"

Monday 21 April 2008

Rocking Chair



Moments


and more moments

and happy moments


and sad moments


i have now a rocking chair. I admit i have this weird old school side of me.

I now have a rocking chair.

And last night i listenned to Jose Gonzalez, sitting quietly in the dark.

His voice comes from heaven and blesses me everytime i ear it - in my head, in my headphones or in my speakers.

His voice, his inertia matches with me.


The big Family

It's been a while since I listen to music.

Started probably whn i stolen my sister's old Europe Tape with the famous hit "It's the final countdown". There was a song, in the end of side A called "Carrie" That i remember well too.

Other tracks remain very close to my heart, such as my favourite song ever "california dreaming" from Mama's and Pappas - don't ask me why, or "House of the rising Sun". All influenced by my dad.

But i have to say, when i really started listenning to music; when everything changed.

First phase I was 9 and discovered suede and radiohead. Second phase I was 13 - found blur and became a massive kula shaker fan - Even tattooed a "K" on my wrist.

3rd phase: 15 - smiths

4th phase: 17 - Sigur ros, Zero7, moloko, bjork

I guess i'm now on my 5th phase... Don't really know what sound i like.

But all and all, I picked randomly a song to listen and went back to an old tune from bernanrd butler "Not alone". I checked the video first because i remembered i used to love it. Watched it again now and didnt find as exciting, in fact a little bit takky. I still love the bits of him with the cats and he always looks good to me in his shirts.

All to say, by watching Bernand butler's video now and not quiet enjoying as much as the stetics of his video, i still love it, i guess because bernanrd is part of my family.

I think i have listenned so many times to these bands, read so many articles about them, i have now the feeling they belong to my family and therefore, no metter what they do, i'll always love them.

Bernand Butler was always my favourite from suede. He had nice hair, the way he danced with his guitar, the shirts ... A bit like jonny greenwood from radiohead. I didn't like brett anderson so much, left him for my sister...

Damon Albarn is another brother in this big family. He has now a silver tooth but i still like him.

You see, music gives you a big big family :)

Thursday 17 April 2008

4 minutes...? 2 seconds and i'm done!



Where should I start? Is it a waist of time to make any comment about this video? should i start for the song? im still covered in my own vomit...

I liked madonna. I must say, i liked her but this song... and this video?

Once I was talking to a friend of mine and he said : "madonna copies so much i'm even embarressed"...got me thinking...

I have to admit, i always thought her copy/paste was clever but this time...

And what's with the effects in the video? Did she direct it aswell? Timberlake seems like he was walking down the road and madge suggested 'why not making a video now, i have some friends at Pinewood, they don't mind if we go there mess around"

I'm still digesting. I have to go now

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Lame posts

oops

I've just realised my last posts have been sooooooo lame i'm even embarrassed. I can't help it! I'm broken hearted and have been listenning to Duffy's album "rockferry". No wonder i'm getting all sentimental.


Lets play something ... not lame... for a change...


Let's say....


Tuesday 15 April 2008

Sunrise

I won' t share you



Art School days... this was the last song in the ever so played tape.

My yellow walkman lasted a life time... with its elastics all over so the tape wouldn't jump out, a hair clip to make the contact on the headphones to play stereo... this is how i love music.


I won't share you.

Monday 14 April 2008

Angels of Universe

Sometimes you question yourself

Then angels appear


And you get answers.



Friday 11 April 2008

The happy place

I HAVE FOUND THE HAPPY PLACE

The happy place is the place where you go when you are sad, nothing works out, everyone hates you, you're ugly and fat, you're broke and unemotional.

Then you think of the best things in life. What makes you happy. What could happen to make you smile.



I imagine i'm in richmond park, in Iceland, at home with my cats and my dogs...

Then i wonder how my life will be; If i will have a nice house, in a nice neighbourhood, will i have children? what they would look like, the albums i haven't listened, the paintings i haven't seen, the cultures i whish to meet, the countries i want to visit...


And then i'm in the happy place.

Your heart is where your mind is? yap!

Thursday 10 April 2008

flowers in the windon it's such a lovely day and i'm glad you feel the same!

JUST STAND UP!
OUT IN THE CROWD YOU ARE ONE IN A MILION AND I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOO




LETS WATCH THE FLOWERS GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW OH OH WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Headphoneless

Football players often hurt themselves and have to stop.It's a hugeproblem as they need it to work. Usualy it's their knees or feet foot ball...ahahha)

Me, it's my ears.

Two days ago, I was helping my boss, Mr Nick Napier Bell, to build a rack. The Rack is made of metal and when you bang with a hammer, IT MAKES A FUCKING LOUD NOISE!!! sorry for my french...

So i was suffering while helping him. The sound of the banging was too loud and high and i was trying to protect my ears but he probably thought i was being picky or silly. NO I WAS NOT

At some point he banged the stucture next to my right ear and the sound went straight like a knife into my ear drum. i felt my ear going "PUM!" and i imidiatly had to get out in an excutinating pain. I couldnt handle myself and started crying like a baby.

The right side of my face was well red!

My ear doesn't hurt but im pretty sure i might have lost something in there. Im going to the doctor next monday to check.

If something happened to my ear, my main tool will be very complicated. Not only i will have my career ruined i will also have to ask for ensurance, i dont have at work, and that will cause me a huge headache.

I 'm in this turning point in the company im working, where i am passing from being the runner of the company (THE ONLY ONE FOR MORE THAN 30 CUTTING ROOMS!!!) to become the companies sound mixer/sound designer.

I mixed yesterday and im mixing now. i feel something isnt quiet right though my ear doesn't hurt.

Anyway, i'm headphoneless. I can't listen to music on my headphones at least until i check it all out with my doctor.

For the past two days i've been singing songs in my head pretending im actualy listening to them.

This song is in repeat in my "brainpod" or in my "brainphones".

There we go!



p.s. THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY BERNANRD BUTLER, THE INITIAL SUEDE GUITARIST

Monday 7 April 2008

Love and Poison



Directed by Andy Crabb and David Lewis

I have posted tributes to many bands in this blog, but not yet to the band that influenced me the most in my life, Suede.

I listenned to "Animal Nitrated" for the first time when i was only 9 years old. Obviously was my sister who showed it me. It has changed our lives. They had a complete diferent sound and attitude from anything we had ever heard in our lives.

My sister got so mad with this band she wanted to know about them, but unfortunatly wasn't much to look at. we had MTV but suede were still small to be played on prime time... UNTIL... "Love and poison"!

Love and poison showed a gig from suede at brixton academy.She stood awake until 3 am and got up at 7 to go to school. Cheers!Thanks for that!

So at that point, we had another bunch of songs to hear. For more than a year all we had to listen from suede was that gig and we played it over and over and over.

I like specially Bernard Butler's moves. I thought he was cool. My sister liked Brett Anderson.

When bernard left the band was a shock for us, so i developed another passion, Mat Osman.

At school if we said we liked suede others would say " music to get up the ass" or " thats faggots music"

None of us is gay so i don't see the threaten...

Then one day i saw an add in a music paper of some guy in the north of the country proposing to make a suede fanclub so so i joined in. In this fanclub i meet my bestest friends and so it became more than just another band.

Suede got me together with a comunity. I was now being well accepted for what i liked to listen to, what i liked to dress to, colour of my hair and my personal thoughts of society.

So here's my tribute.

So young is my favourite song.

Friday 4 April 2008

To Shane


Video Directed by Garth Jennings

Disillusion"

Seems you created your own illusion
Fuelled by an image of me
Well I couldn't stay at your side
It wouldn't be right
A picture that I just don't see

Why do you have to make it so complicated
Can't it just be beautiful
I don't want to stifle your flight
I didn't mean to fall in love

Always in pursuit of the perfect people
Oh and I can see that it shows
But there's just an innocence in you I wanna wring out
I know it could be beautiful

But I don't want a part ofsome situation
I don't want to be in that boat
I don't want to stifle your flight
I didn't mean to fall in love

Seems you created your own illusion
Fuelled by an image of me
Well I couldn't stay at your side
It wouldn't be right
A picture that I just don't see

Powerless

Paint my face in your magazines
Make it look whiter than it seems
Paint me over with your dreams
Shove away my ethnicity
Burn every notion that I may have a flame inside to fight
And say just what is on my mind
Without offending your might

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
So say what you want
Say what you want

I saw her face outside today
Weatherworn, looking all the rage
They took her passion and her gaze and made a poster
Now it’s moccasins we sport
We take the culture and contort
Perhaps only to distort what we are hiding

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
But say what you want
Say what you want

Hey you, the one, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in, get in
Hey you, the one that don’t fit in, how ya, how ya gonna get in
Hey you, the one outside, are you ever gonna get in with your
Broken teeth, broken jaw, broken mojo
Yeah, this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do

Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do
Cuz this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless, what are you gonna do
Say what you want, say what you want, say, say, say

Cuz this life is too short,
just for you



Video directed by: Nelly Furtado & Bradley Cayford

Thursday 3 April 2008

The sound designer and the sound mixer walk hand in hand in the park

This is part 2 of my debate of which is the role of the sound designer and the sound editor and the sound mixer.

So what i hear now everyone say is that the editor has most of the creative power.

SO BOLLOCKS! NOW I WANT TO BE AN EDITOR?

No i don't thank you very much!

So the poor sound mixer is just a mere puppet on a studio, working for his cancer (a lot of buildings are isolated with a sort of sponge that is cancerigenous (???)) trying to make miracles out of some people's demands ,such as the one i heard a few days ago " my friend is a sound engineer at the BBC and i have seen him working; when he has a crap sound he just presses a button - a buuuut-on - and the sound is all of a sudden much better" anyone, coments to this one???

this is purely ironic :WHAT DOES THE SOUND DESIGNER DO? he "builds the sounds of the rooms, the effects, all that crap that directors and editors and all that lot can't so...

The sound designer is not recognise in this fuckin stupid industry!

HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN THE NAME OF A SOUND DESIGNER IN THE OPENING OF A FILM?

GO ON! SAY IT?

not offten i reckon...



Another subject i would like to make public today is that some people work in an office, should ask people in their office to cover them for lunch, not ask the engineers of the company to do it. sometimes they are with clients and would be lovely if they 'd say " i'm off to cover the office manager! sorry about that, she needs to go for lunch" while NONE OF US EVER TAKES A FUCKING LUNCH BREAK!

one is water the other is oil and they dont go together. I'm sorry.

Wednesday 2 April 2008

hanging around



Directed by sophie muller

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Muller