On a lighter note we return to Electronic Dance Music for the last time as an album on this list, EDM will feature again in reference to some tracks however. It's impossible to talk about EDM without recognising this duo for their genius, their vision, and they influence they have had over the genre across 4 decades, they are Daft Punk. I could have chosen one of their studio albums to feature here, indeed an honourable mention in particular goes to 'Discovery' which is truly spectacular, however I wanted to do something special for a special duo.
In 1982 Walt Disney released 'Tron' a movie that would go on to achieve cult status and remain one of my favourite Sci-fi movies of all time. I loved the premise of this movie although I was not around at its release I did see it early in my childhood and remember the impression it left on me; indeed my Degree is a BSc in Computer Science with Games Technology and when it came to the games design module, for my coursework I chose to recreate the Light Cycle grid from Tron and incorporated the same arena break and escape sequences into my level design. Nearing the end of my degree during my research for coursework by chance I learned that Disney was producing a sequel, I was initially apprehensive but 1 year after graduation 'Tron: Legacy' was released in 2010 and saw Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner reprise their roles, and I lost my shit and fell in love with the movie right from the start. Casting Garrett Hedlund [who is hot as fuck] as Sam Flynn was perfection.
With the weight of Disney behind the production it was inevitable that they would seek out the best producers they could to put together the soundtrack and Daft Punk fit the bill. Alongside the motion picture in 2010 the soundtrack was released. The very first track on the album is the Overture which sets the tone for what is to come. There is something magical about taking something that already exists, reimagining it, and breathing new life into it. All music for the soundtrack was composed by Daft Punk credited under their given names Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. I justify including it in this list for this reason, regardless of who commissioned the work, and its purpose, Daft Punk put everything into this album and it is perfection, from start to finish.
There are no lyrics to quote here, unless you count the spoken words of Jeff Bridges for 'The Grid' taken from the movie. The entire album is otherwise instrumental, blending orchestral music with EDM perfectly. This blending of genres at first might seem alien to many people but if you have delved into the world of EDM you will have come across this quite a bit. Within EDM, and in particularly within Trance music, a sub-genre of EDM, the composition of music is heavily influenced by orchestral works, with many classical pieces forming the basis for some of the greatest hits in the genre. Even more directly, producers Lowland who release works through Armada Music and Black Hole Recordings devoted an entire series called 'Classical Trancelations' to the reinterpretation of orchestral music as Trance music. Amrada Music is legendary, founded by Armin Van Buuren, Maykel Piron, David Lewis, they have signed and produced some of the biggest names in EDM, likewise Black Hole Recordings was founded by Tijs Verwest (better known as Tiesto) and Arny Bink. This album is an experience, and no words will do it justice, it epitomises everything that EDM represents, incorporating an 85-piece orchestra Daft Punk managed to create a masterpiece.
Daft Punk have helped shape EDM and have managed to achieve success outside the EDM scene in the mainstream they claimed early fame with their singles 'One More Time' released in 2000, and 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' released in 2001, but they are perhaps best known for their 2013 album 'Random Access Memories' which went #1 in 23 countries and sold over 3 million copies worldwide, they also became the first French artists to score a #1 album in the UK, the best selling single from the album was 'Get Lucky' which went #1 in 34 countries.
Tron Legacy for me is one of the best soundtracks to a movie of all time. I particularly love the overture, 'Armory', 'Outlands', 'Flynn Lives', 'Castor', and 'Recognizer' the last of which is my most played track on the album. This is an album I can't really describe so all I can say is if there was any album on this list that you were going to go and listen to for yourself, this would be it as there is a need to experience it in order to understand the mindset it evokes.
Getting Lost in the Details
At the risk of sounding redundant, it cannot be overstated that as a writer your work is often a reflection of you and who you are more than it demonstrates what you are trying to depict or portray through the articulation of your imagination. Nowhere is this perhaps more evident than when it comes to the measure of directness that you employ in your personal life. When you interact with people on a day to day basis and they relate to you what is going on in their lives, it is often the case that a writer can by identified by the level of detail they will give you. Where readers tend to be direct and to the point, conscious of the energy they expend in relating their state of being, a writer tends toward the opposite end of the spectrum, elaborating on events with added detail that may even come to the point of rambling.
Music Monday #47: Taking Chances by Celine Dion
For the last time on this list we return once more to Celine Dion, this time to her 2007 release 'Taking Chances' an album that initially I did not form a connect to apart from 2 tracks but as time has passed and life experiences have changed my outlook the other songs have come to mean more to me and my connection to this album has grown. I love when this happens and as I have said before this is one reason why I advocate a deep dive into your music library every now and then to see what you can reconnect with and what you can form new connections with.
Two tracks that struck a chord with me right from the jump, the first was 'Eyes On Me' which I loved because of the opening riff, the track was produced by Kristian Lundin who also produced 'I'm Alive' and 'That's The Way It Is' two of my favourite tracks by Celine. 'Eyes On Me' is heavily influenced by music from the Middle East, and reminds me a lot of 'Ojos Así' by Shakira in 1999 which was later released in English with a slightly modified backing track as 'Eyes Like Yours' in 2001. The lyrics to the song open with "I know that once in love, You don't think of the devil who's inside, And maybe there'll come one day, When you'll feel safe and I won't have the time" which speaks to that moment when you fall in love and forget yourself, but warns not to lose perspective, to stay awake and be aware because that false sense of security is what allows darkness to grow and take hold when you are staring at the light oblivious. The chorus "You'll hear what you wanna hear, Blink once, I could disappear, Some rules to the game will make it, Right for both of us, Just say what you wanna say, I've got it to give away, We both wanna make it last, So keep your eyes on me" warns that if you want love to work you need to pay reverence and respect, never lose sight of what you want, turn away from it or blink and lose sight of it and you can lose it all.
The second track that instantly connected with me was 'Fade Away' which talks again about the nature of love and how it teaches us, shapes us, and influences our lives. The chorus reads "Once touched by pain, You're not the same, But time can heal, Your heart again, So let the clouds, That bring you down, Just fade away" these lyrics are about acknowledging the hurt and the pain and the scars that it can leave on us, and taking that pain and turning it into something positive. The promise that life will go on and time will heal the wounds. This as someone who has experienced heartache touched me and connected with me.
These two tracks were instant emotional connections for me but the remainder of the album was not something I came to appreciate until several years later when failed flights of fancy left me feeling introspective, looking back on my live I listened to the title track 'Taking Chances' and it was if Celine was speaking directly to me, the opening lyrics "Don't know much about your life, Don't know much about your world, but don't wanna be alone tonight, On this planet they call earth, You don't know about my past, and I don't have a future figured out" these words were like an old friend coming back into my life after several years of absence, saying to me that life has had its way with both of us and while we might not know everything the other has been through it doesn't matter that much in the end because we're both here, still alive and looking forward to a future that is unknown to both of us, the lyrics go further with the chorus "What do you say to taking chances? What do you say to jumping off the edge? Never knowing if there's solid ground below, Or hand to hold, or hell to pay, What do you say?" these lyrics serve now as a motivation for me that echoes my mentality that if you're willing to lose everything then why not take a chance, if you're already prepared to lose what is there to lose? What's wrong with taking a chance, even if you have no idea where it will lead you, that leap of faith is easier to make if you are ready to jump.
The theme of being alone in the world is something that has resonated with me over the years with the words of many artists but it wasn't until a few years ago that 'Alone' truly resonated when I met someone who became the closest friend I've ever had, someone who has been by my side ever since and been a constant pillar of support for me. He's listened to me when I needed someone to talk to, he's never judged me, and he's been a part of my life for so long now I can't imagine not having him in my life, the lyrics "Till now, I always got by on my own, I never really cared until I met you, And now it chills me to the bone, How do I get you alone?" resonate with me now because in another life we would be together but in this life we are destined to be friends and nothing more sadly, but that feeling of having constancy and reassurance is incredibly positive.
On the other hand, the fear that goes with that positivity comes from the thought of losing that permanence which strikes something deep inside me. The truth is life is a lot easier when you go through it on your own, that doesn't mean it's something I advocate, it's just the simple statement of truth that other people complicate our lives and being on your own saves you from a lot of those complications. It causes other problems though so this ultimately comes down to weighing which you want more, companionship or a quiet life.
I know that contradicts everything I have said in every one of those posts but it's true because the longing to be with others and to fall in love is something that we want, it's borne out of desire and reflects the social nature of the human being as an animal, but sometimes the things we desire most aren't necessarily the things that are the best thing for us this is the conflict that we face through our gift of consciousness, the choice whether to satiate or starve our base instincts. I know our friendship has been strained at times, he understands my social anxiety better than anyone and quite frankly has the patience of a saint in my eyes, but having to think about someone else in such an intimate way, the impact of your actions at times can be a burden, something that again he understands and we have communicated clearly how we both feel which is the only reason things have never fallen apart.
I still hold onto the idea that one day I will meet someone that I will fall in love with and that we can have that happy ever after moment, but having friends and family like this who love me unconditionally and support me when I need them most is something I value, I know how rare this is, I've been around the block too many times with too many people to know this is rare. We met completely by chance and at a moment when I needed someone more than anything to be there with me the Universe put him in my path and that's one reason why I want to believe there is something more than what we see in the world. I also know that I am my own worst enemy, the greatest danger that I face in this world is inside me. In the moments where I have been suicidal in my past, it didn't matter how many people loved me, how much they supported me, that darkness was inside me and they couldn't reach in and take it away no-one can, the will to live has to come from within which I know for those who have loved and lost people to suicide is incredibly hard to accept, even those like Celine who have lost loved ones to diseases like Cancer that feeling of helplessness can be so hard to handle when you want more than anything to be able to save them but you can't. All you can do is try and make the time you have together mean something special, make the most of that time when you still have it, and when it's gone look back on those memories and cherish them and be grateful that you knew them and that you got to be with them for a time.
Celine Dion's music is emotional, it can be happy and positive, it can be sad and speak to the feeling of despair. The wide range of her music and its moods, he varying styles, and the messages her songs contain mean a lot to me. I own 19 albums by Celine Dion and that isn't even her complete discography, she has produced more albums than this, at the time of writing she has released 27 studio albums, 7 live albums, and 19 compilations, totalling 53 you could make an entire list of 52 posts and still come up 1 short of covering every album she has released, so for me including only 4 I think shows restraint. I adore Celine Dion and she will remain part of my music library, I can't ever see a day where I would get rid of any of her music - there's only one track of hers I have deleted, a duet because of who it was with but we won't go into that - I don't think she'd take offence for the record as researching this post I discovered she deleted it from streaming services too.
Two tracks that struck a chord with me right from the jump, the first was 'Eyes On Me' which I loved because of the opening riff, the track was produced by Kristian Lundin who also produced 'I'm Alive' and 'That's The Way It Is' two of my favourite tracks by Celine. 'Eyes On Me' is heavily influenced by music from the Middle East, and reminds me a lot of 'Ojos Así' by Shakira in 1999 which was later released in English with a slightly modified backing track as 'Eyes Like Yours' in 2001. The lyrics to the song open with "I know that once in love, You don't think of the devil who's inside, And maybe there'll come one day, When you'll feel safe and I won't have the time" which speaks to that moment when you fall in love and forget yourself, but warns not to lose perspective, to stay awake and be aware because that false sense of security is what allows darkness to grow and take hold when you are staring at the light oblivious. The chorus "You'll hear what you wanna hear, Blink once, I could disappear, Some rules to the game will make it, Right for both of us, Just say what you wanna say, I've got it to give away, We both wanna make it last, So keep your eyes on me" warns that if you want love to work you need to pay reverence and respect, never lose sight of what you want, turn away from it or blink and lose sight of it and you can lose it all.
The second track that instantly connected with me was 'Fade Away' which talks again about the nature of love and how it teaches us, shapes us, and influences our lives. The chorus reads "Once touched by pain, You're not the same, But time can heal, Your heart again, So let the clouds, That bring you down, Just fade away" these lyrics are about acknowledging the hurt and the pain and the scars that it can leave on us, and taking that pain and turning it into something positive. The promise that life will go on and time will heal the wounds. This as someone who has experienced heartache touched me and connected with me.
These two tracks were instant emotional connections for me but the remainder of the album was not something I came to appreciate until several years later when failed flights of fancy left me feeling introspective, looking back on my live I listened to the title track 'Taking Chances' and it was if Celine was speaking directly to me, the opening lyrics "Don't know much about your life, Don't know much about your world, but don't wanna be alone tonight, On this planet they call earth, You don't know about my past, and I don't have a future figured out" these words were like an old friend coming back into my life after several years of absence, saying to me that life has had its way with both of us and while we might not know everything the other has been through it doesn't matter that much in the end because we're both here, still alive and looking forward to a future that is unknown to both of us, the lyrics go further with the chorus "What do you say to taking chances? What do you say to jumping off the edge? Never knowing if there's solid ground below, Or hand to hold, or hell to pay, What do you say?" these lyrics serve now as a motivation for me that echoes my mentality that if you're willing to lose everything then why not take a chance, if you're already prepared to lose what is there to lose? What's wrong with taking a chance, even if you have no idea where it will lead you, that leap of faith is easier to make if you are ready to jump.
The theme of being alone in the world is something that has resonated with me over the years with the words of many artists but it wasn't until a few years ago that 'Alone' truly resonated when I met someone who became the closest friend I've ever had, someone who has been by my side ever since and been a constant pillar of support for me. He's listened to me when I needed someone to talk to, he's never judged me, and he's been a part of my life for so long now I can't imagine not having him in my life, the lyrics "Till now, I always got by on my own, I never really cared until I met you, And now it chills me to the bone, How do I get you alone?" resonate with me now because in another life we would be together but in this life we are destined to be friends and nothing more sadly, but that feeling of having constancy and reassurance is incredibly positive.
On the other hand, the fear that goes with that positivity comes from the thought of losing that permanence which strikes something deep inside me. The truth is life is a lot easier when you go through it on your own, that doesn't mean it's something I advocate, it's just the simple statement of truth that other people complicate our lives and being on your own saves you from a lot of those complications. It causes other problems though so this ultimately comes down to weighing which you want more, companionship or a quiet life.
I know that contradicts everything I have said in every one of those posts but it's true because the longing to be with others and to fall in love is something that we want, it's borne out of desire and reflects the social nature of the human being as an animal, but sometimes the things we desire most aren't necessarily the things that are the best thing for us this is the conflict that we face through our gift of consciousness, the choice whether to satiate or starve our base instincts. I know our friendship has been strained at times, he understands my social anxiety better than anyone and quite frankly has the patience of a saint in my eyes, but having to think about someone else in such an intimate way, the impact of your actions at times can be a burden, something that again he understands and we have communicated clearly how we both feel which is the only reason things have never fallen apart.
I still hold onto the idea that one day I will meet someone that I will fall in love with and that we can have that happy ever after moment, but having friends and family like this who love me unconditionally and support me when I need them most is something I value, I know how rare this is, I've been around the block too many times with too many people to know this is rare. We met completely by chance and at a moment when I needed someone more than anything to be there with me the Universe put him in my path and that's one reason why I want to believe there is something more than what we see in the world. I also know that I am my own worst enemy, the greatest danger that I face in this world is inside me. In the moments where I have been suicidal in my past, it didn't matter how many people loved me, how much they supported me, that darkness was inside me and they couldn't reach in and take it away no-one can, the will to live has to come from within which I know for those who have loved and lost people to suicide is incredibly hard to accept, even those like Celine who have lost loved ones to diseases like Cancer that feeling of helplessness can be so hard to handle when you want more than anything to be able to save them but you can't. All you can do is try and make the time you have together mean something special, make the most of that time when you still have it, and when it's gone look back on those memories and cherish them and be grateful that you knew them and that you got to be with them for a time.
Celine Dion's music is emotional, it can be happy and positive, it can be sad and speak to the feeling of despair. The wide range of her music and its moods, he varying styles, and the messages her songs contain mean a lot to me. I own 19 albums by Celine Dion and that isn't even her complete discography, she has produced more albums than this, at the time of writing she has released 27 studio albums, 7 live albums, and 19 compilations, totalling 53 you could make an entire list of 52 posts and still come up 1 short of covering every album she has released, so for me including only 4 I think shows restraint. I adore Celine Dion and she will remain part of my music library, I can't ever see a day where I would get rid of any of her music - there's only one track of hers I have deleted, a duet because of who it was with but we won't go into that - I don't think she'd take offence for the record as researching this post I discovered she deleted it from streaming services too.
Therapeutic Writing
When you ask someone why they write, whether it be as a profession or as a hobby, there are a lot of different answers they might give you, but one answer that is quite common is that they use writing as a form of therapy. This concept of Therapeutic Writing is a lot like the term 'people watching' in that most people have idea of what it means but in reality most people that claim to do it simply don't. To actually observe people you have to pay attention and note what they are doing and think about it in the moment and afterwards, whereas most people that claim to enjoy the practice do nothing more than sit in a crowded place watching people pass by without a second thought.
If you write to relieve tension, stress, anxiety, or simply to express pent up emotions, that can be cathartic but it is not therapeutic for the simple reason that therapy is structured and requires a certain level of objectivity which is not naturally present in our writing unless we make an active effort to put it there. I have mentioned before that characters we create are essentially an extension of our self, the ego plays every role in that regard. This means that any character will be naturally biased towards the writer's neuroses and general thought pattern unless the writer makes a concerted effort to diverge and develop the character.
Music Monday #46: My Way (The Best Of Frank Sinatra)
From one legend to another, both artists created music that feed the soul. I couldn't let this list pass without featuring an artist that had a music career that spanned six decades before his death and that has had a legacy that persists beyond it. When it comes to the greatest artists of all time, there can be no question that Frank Sinatra has secured his place at the table for evermore. I could not pick a single album from a single decade so instead I have chosen to go with 'My Way (The Best Of Frank Sinatra)' released in 1997 because it covers most of what I want to talk about.
People have a lot to say about Frank as a person, his life, his legacy, and in some respects the politics attached to him and his fame. Frank Sinatra died in 1998 when I was just 10 years old, I didn't get to live through his rise and witness his career for myself first-hand. I can't attest to his life because I know very little of it beyond his music and I don't trust second-hand accounts especially those from decades passed when the media was much more heavily controlled and independent voices were not so loud, today anyone with a twitter account can sound off, this has its positives and its negatives admittedly but it does achieve the objective of making censorship almost redundant. There are still problems with social media and the internet in general but it's important to recognise that Frank's career took place in a time before it was ubiquitous and if the way the media interprets and misinterprets people today is anything to go by, everything should be taken with a pinch of salt.
I want to focus on the music itself and abandon everything else because Frank Sinatra's music catalogue is extensive, includes covers by other artists, and has gone on to be covered many times, and has even been used to create posthumous duets which I touched on when I mentioned Celine Dion's 'One Heart' album. Sinatra undoubtedly provided inspiration to countless artists and left behind a legacy that not many can even begin to challenge.
The very first track on this compilation is the title track 'My Way' a track that has gone on to become an anthem to one and many, originally released in 1969 itself an English translation reworking of 'Comme d'habitude' by french artist Jacques Revaux. My Way has become a cliché in some regards, its overuse over the decades in countless movies and TV shows have led it to become the de facto track to epitomise struggle and triumph in the end, not surprising then that all clichés considered this song has been something of an anthem to me and many others in their journey to accept who they are, with the ultimate verse of the song the lyrics read "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught, To say the things he truly feels, And not the words of one who kneels, The record shows I took the blows, And did it my way" speaks to this feeling of empowerment, to not be oppressed or subjugated, not to kneel in servitude but to stand in defiance and live your truth without apology, with complete pride.
Frank Sinatra's cover of 'Moon River' originally recorded in 1964, a cover of the original released in 1961 written and performed by Audrey Hepburn for the movie 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' a movie that I find adorable. The lyrics are brief which wasn't uncommon of the time period, but they read "Moon river, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday, Oh, dream maker, You heartbreaker, Where ever you're going I'm going your way" these lyrics to me represent life, the journey we take, and the inevitable crossing being the moment when we reach the other bank and that journey comes to an end. This imagery of life as a river, filled with dreams, is one that I touched on when I spoke about Billy Joel and his song 'The River Of Dreams' this is an image I return to often when I try to make sense of life, to think of the rushing waters as the turbulence that life creates and the stream that flows creating a current that you can either fight against or give in and enjoy the ride.
Some of my other favourite tracks include 'Love And Marriage' which will forever remind me of the TV sitcom 'Married... With Children' starring Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal, 'Somethin Stupid', 'My Kind Of Town', 'I've Got You Under My Skin', 'That's Life', and 'The Best Is Yet To Come' all of which I love, but there are two tracks above all others that are my all time favourite Sinatra tracks and I can't choose between the two. The first is 'Fly Me To The Moon' and the second is 'Come Fly With Me'.
'Fly Me To The Moon' also known as 'In Other Words' was originally recorded by Kaye Ballard and released in 1954, only to be covered by Sinatra 10 years later in 1964. The lyrics "Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars, And let me see what spring is like, On a-Jupiter and Mars, In other words, hold my hand, In other words, baby, kiss me" the imagery here is what I love more than anything, the portrayal of love being something so intoxicating and elevating that a mere kiss can send you to the moon and back, lift your spirit up so high it flies across the cosmos. This is one thing I love in particular about music from this era, the music itself was easy listening but it was often little more than a recurring beat in the background with the artistry coming mainly from the lyrics and the imagery that they inspired. Many people criticise the progression of the music industry over the decades that have passed and cite lyrics like these as being much more substantial than those written today and whilst I see merit in that criticism I do believe that music has a life of its own, a life that must grow and evolve with time. Music in many ways is a reflection of us and our society, our mindset, how we think and feel, in all honesty my retort to those that make this criticism is simply to say the music isn't the problem, it's nothing more than a mirror, if you want music that reflects something different then change what you put in front of that mirror.
'Come Fly With Me' was first released in 1958 and stays with the theme of flight, something which isn't surprising given the growth of the aviation industry at the time, the fascination with aircraft and soaring through the clouds would reach its zenith 11 years later when Man would walk on the Moon for the first time. The song itself in its lyrics "Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away, If you can use some exotic booze, there's a bar in far Bombay, Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away" captures the dreamlike fantasy of jetting off to far off lands and forgetting about life. Not surprising this song has been used in countless travel promotions and tourist campaigns over the years even today. The song itself reflects a time when air travel was aspirational and still considered exotic, that opening riff for many still captures that feeling, air travel today is however an industry that is mired in controversy with the conflicting and often competing views of those who still want to travel and see the world in a convenient way set against those who consider it one of the most destructive and polluting industries we have in the world today.
Come Fly With Me, for me always inspired imagery of escape, relaxation, and letting go. I still listen to it every now and then when I want to imagine myself somewhere, anywhere else. It has gone on to be covered many times but I would like to make particular note of Michaal Bublé's cover which I think stays true to the original and still manages to put his own spin on it with his vocal styling.
People have a lot to say about Frank as a person, his life, his legacy, and in some respects the politics attached to him and his fame. Frank Sinatra died in 1998 when I was just 10 years old, I didn't get to live through his rise and witness his career for myself first-hand. I can't attest to his life because I know very little of it beyond his music and I don't trust second-hand accounts especially those from decades passed when the media was much more heavily controlled and independent voices were not so loud, today anyone with a twitter account can sound off, this has its positives and its negatives admittedly but it does achieve the objective of making censorship almost redundant. There are still problems with social media and the internet in general but it's important to recognise that Frank's career took place in a time before it was ubiquitous and if the way the media interprets and misinterprets people today is anything to go by, everything should be taken with a pinch of salt.
I want to focus on the music itself and abandon everything else because Frank Sinatra's music catalogue is extensive, includes covers by other artists, and has gone on to be covered many times, and has even been used to create posthumous duets which I touched on when I mentioned Celine Dion's 'One Heart' album. Sinatra undoubtedly provided inspiration to countless artists and left behind a legacy that not many can even begin to challenge.
The very first track on this compilation is the title track 'My Way' a track that has gone on to become an anthem to one and many, originally released in 1969 itself an English translation reworking of 'Comme d'habitude' by french artist Jacques Revaux. My Way has become a cliché in some regards, its overuse over the decades in countless movies and TV shows have led it to become the de facto track to epitomise struggle and triumph in the end, not surprising then that all clichés considered this song has been something of an anthem to me and many others in their journey to accept who they are, with the ultimate verse of the song the lyrics read "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught, To say the things he truly feels, And not the words of one who kneels, The record shows I took the blows, And did it my way" speaks to this feeling of empowerment, to not be oppressed or subjugated, not to kneel in servitude but to stand in defiance and live your truth without apology, with complete pride.
Frank Sinatra's cover of 'Moon River' originally recorded in 1964, a cover of the original released in 1961 written and performed by Audrey Hepburn for the movie 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' a movie that I find adorable. The lyrics are brief which wasn't uncommon of the time period, but they read "Moon river, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday, Oh, dream maker, You heartbreaker, Where ever you're going I'm going your way" these lyrics to me represent life, the journey we take, and the inevitable crossing being the moment when we reach the other bank and that journey comes to an end. This imagery of life as a river, filled with dreams, is one that I touched on when I spoke about Billy Joel and his song 'The River Of Dreams' this is an image I return to often when I try to make sense of life, to think of the rushing waters as the turbulence that life creates and the stream that flows creating a current that you can either fight against or give in and enjoy the ride.
Some of my other favourite tracks include 'Love And Marriage' which will forever remind me of the TV sitcom 'Married... With Children' starring Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal, 'Somethin Stupid', 'My Kind Of Town', 'I've Got You Under My Skin', 'That's Life', and 'The Best Is Yet To Come' all of which I love, but there are two tracks above all others that are my all time favourite Sinatra tracks and I can't choose between the two. The first is 'Fly Me To The Moon' and the second is 'Come Fly With Me'.
'Fly Me To The Moon' also known as 'In Other Words' was originally recorded by Kaye Ballard and released in 1954, only to be covered by Sinatra 10 years later in 1964. The lyrics "Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars, And let me see what spring is like, On a-Jupiter and Mars, In other words, hold my hand, In other words, baby, kiss me" the imagery here is what I love more than anything, the portrayal of love being something so intoxicating and elevating that a mere kiss can send you to the moon and back, lift your spirit up so high it flies across the cosmos. This is one thing I love in particular about music from this era, the music itself was easy listening but it was often little more than a recurring beat in the background with the artistry coming mainly from the lyrics and the imagery that they inspired. Many people criticise the progression of the music industry over the decades that have passed and cite lyrics like these as being much more substantial than those written today and whilst I see merit in that criticism I do believe that music has a life of its own, a life that must grow and evolve with time. Music in many ways is a reflection of us and our society, our mindset, how we think and feel, in all honesty my retort to those that make this criticism is simply to say the music isn't the problem, it's nothing more than a mirror, if you want music that reflects something different then change what you put in front of that mirror.
'Come Fly With Me' was first released in 1958 and stays with the theme of flight, something which isn't surprising given the growth of the aviation industry at the time, the fascination with aircraft and soaring through the clouds would reach its zenith 11 years later when Man would walk on the Moon for the first time. The song itself in its lyrics "Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away, If you can use some exotic booze, there's a bar in far Bombay, Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away" captures the dreamlike fantasy of jetting off to far off lands and forgetting about life. Not surprising this song has been used in countless travel promotions and tourist campaigns over the years even today. The song itself reflects a time when air travel was aspirational and still considered exotic, that opening riff for many still captures that feeling, air travel today is however an industry that is mired in controversy with the conflicting and often competing views of those who still want to travel and see the world in a convenient way set against those who consider it one of the most destructive and polluting industries we have in the world today.
Come Fly With Me, for me always inspired imagery of escape, relaxation, and letting go. I still listen to it every now and then when I want to imagine myself somewhere, anywhere else. It has gone on to be covered many times but I would like to make particular note of Michaal Bublé's cover which I think stays true to the original and still manages to put his own spin on it with his vocal styling.
Personal Character Development
Before you can write about fictional characters with any real depth or substance to their personalities and their life experiences, you have to be able to write about yourself. I mentioned before, that in a way every character you will write about is an extension of you as a person. This is something that new writers tend to struggle with because it is inevitable that you will have to create characters that will serve as antagonists. Whilst understanding another person's point of view can be difficult without living through their life experiences, what is harder still is to open your mind to the darker parts of your own character, to explore the depths of just how sinister you as a person could have become in another time.
Creating an antagonist that is based on the parts of yourself that you hate the most, or that serve the greatest psychological adversary to your mental stability is not an easy task. In order to go to that place you need to give yourself permission to think and feel things that you would never think and feel and accept that those sentiments exist somewhere inside of you. To be clear, this is different to the problem we have already discussed where we spoke about considering points of view we don't agree with, this is about accepting the prejudice that exists within ourselves, knowing that we are not embracing it for ourselves, but rather that we are aiming to channel that negativity into something material.
Music Monday #45: Dreams Can Come True, The Greatest Hits by Gabrielle
Against the backdrop of 2001, a year of anger, hatred, increasing aggression, and general turmoil in a world that felt to myself and many others to be crumbling away to wreck and ruin, there were a few sources of light, comfort, and reassurance. For me I found these things in music, whilst I turned to the darkness and music that reflected that mentality, I also found light to balance it out. In 2001 Gabrielle released her 'Dreams Can Come True' album, a greatest hits compilation that brought together her most iconic tracks.
Gabrielle's career to me peaked in the 90s, and although she went on to produce new music in the 00s, nothing ever really came close to recapturing the allure of her early work. Gabrielle has a voice that is distinctive, iconic, and for a time served as a mainstay in British Pop. The quasi title track of the album, 'Dreams' was her very first single originally released in 1993 it entered the charts at #2 and would go on to reach #1, this feat of reaching so high in the chart with a debut single had never been achieved by a female artist in UK charts prior to this. The lyrics to the song were prescient "Dreams can come true, Look at me, babe, I'm with you, You know you gotta have hope, You know you gotta be strong" - I grew up listening to this song, it spent 15 weeks in the chart and went on to be the foundation that Gabrielle's career would be built upon.
'Forget About The World' originally released in 1996 is a love song that tells a love story ostensibly assumed to reference a straight relationship the lyrics speak to an unnamed unidentified protagonist who fell in love with a girl despite the efforts of everyone around them trying to convince them not to pursue this love, "They tried to change your mind, Told you how to live your life, And they told stories, Stories that shouldn't be told, It was you against the world, But you chose to hold on to your girl" these lyrics although at face value talk simply about pursuing love in the face of others disdain, the lyrics to me speak of forbidden love, this belief led me to the assumption the protagonist is actually a woman, who fell in love with another woman, and that they pursue love set against a world that tried to convince them it was wrong. This was only reinforced by the lyrics "You had a stronger love, Outside forces weren't enough, Tried their best to tear apart, A love they hoped would never last" spoke of the typical response people give when they say your sexuality is a phase and that you'll grow out of it. My beliefs were entirely validated in 2015, when Gabrielle gave an interview with James Ingham for Attitude talking about RUComingOut an organisation that supports LGBT people through coming out, she was asked:
This underlying message, lyrics that are written for those who are knowing, written with the confidence that those who need to hear them will hear the message is a theme that has been repeated across pop music. Gabrielle is an R&B artist part of a genre that can be intensely homophobic, it is entirely understandable that this was the way she had to send this message given the time, and the environment that existed.
One of Gabrielle's finest works however, was 'Rise' originally released in 2000. This song is an anthem that has spoken to many who have been broken by the world. The song has been used in TV shows, Movies, and referenced throughout pop culture whenever there is a moment of redemption or resurrection. The lyrics "Look at my life, Look at my heart, I have seen them fall apart, Now I'm ready to rise again, Just look at my hopes, Look at my dreams, I'm building bridges from these scenes, Now I'm ready to rise again" these words provide comfort and reassurance to those who have experienced this feeling and stand as inspiration and motivation to rise up and be the best that you can be.
I can't talk about Gabrielle without also talking about 'Out Of Reach' a song that despite being released the same year as the album still managed to get included because of its impact. The lyrics "Out of reach, so far, I never had your heart, Out of reach, couldn't see, We were never meant to be" speaks of the realisation that you loved someone more than they loved you and the reality that you have to let them go and move on, the lyrics go on "Catch myself from despair, I could drown if I stay here, Keeping busy every day, I know I will be okay" these words echo the feelings I have felt so many times, and the recognition that if I give in to the darkness in those moments it will consume me, I have to keep moving, to try and make it through; again this speaks to the forgotten coping mechanisms I once had, coping mechanisms that I didn't redevelop until my journey through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Gabrielle is an artist that contributed a lot to the music industry and I don't think she gets the recognition and the adoration she deserves for what she achieved, for what she represents, and for the hope and inspiration her music continues to provide. She is part of my music library that I cherish and still turn to whenever I feel wore down and need something that speaks not only to my heart but to my soul. Gabrielle's music is easy to listen to, relaxing, it isn't aggressive, and it conveys its message effortlessly. I believe part of the reason her contributions are overlooked are because of the backdrop that existed, there were so many artists and groups in the 90s that were worldwide successes and embodied personalities that were larger than life, it's easy to be overshadowed by all of this but now, decades later after most of those artists fell away and into obscurity, I still seek out Gabrielle's music, I still want to listen to it and it still carries with it meaning in every word just as it did when I first heard it.
Gabrielle's career to me peaked in the 90s, and although she went on to produce new music in the 00s, nothing ever really came close to recapturing the allure of her early work. Gabrielle has a voice that is distinctive, iconic, and for a time served as a mainstay in British Pop. The quasi title track of the album, 'Dreams' was her very first single originally released in 1993 it entered the charts at #2 and would go on to reach #1, this feat of reaching so high in the chart with a debut single had never been achieved by a female artist in UK charts prior to this. The lyrics to the song were prescient "Dreams can come true, Look at me, babe, I'm with you, You know you gotta have hope, You know you gotta be strong" - I grew up listening to this song, it spent 15 weeks in the chart and went on to be the foundation that Gabrielle's career would be built upon.
'Forget About The World' originally released in 1996 is a love song that tells a love story ostensibly assumed to reference a straight relationship the lyrics speak to an unnamed unidentified protagonist who fell in love with a girl despite the efforts of everyone around them trying to convince them not to pursue this love, "They tried to change your mind, Told you how to live your life, And they told stories, Stories that shouldn't be told, It was you against the world, But you chose to hold on to your girl" these lyrics although at face value talk simply about pursuing love in the face of others disdain, the lyrics to me speak of forbidden love, this belief led me to the assumption the protagonist is actually a woman, who fell in love with another woman, and that they pursue love set against a world that tried to convince them it was wrong. This was only reinforced by the lyrics "You had a stronger love, Outside forces weren't enough, Tried their best to tear apart, A love they hoped would never last" spoke of the typical response people give when they say your sexuality is a phase and that you'll grow out of it. My beliefs were entirely validated in 2015, when Gabrielle gave an interview with James Ingham for Attitude talking about RUComingOut an organisation that supports LGBT people through coming out, she was asked:
James: Is it true Forget About the World was originally written about a lesbian friend of yours?
Gabrielle: It certainly was. I don't think many people know that to be honest. But yes, it was me telling my friend not to worry about what the world or other people said but to worry about the girl she loved. You didn't really have many songs like that then.
Gabrielle: It certainly was. I don't think many people know that to be honest. But yes, it was me telling my friend not to worry about what the world or other people said but to worry about the girl she loved. You didn't really have many songs like that then.
This underlying message, lyrics that are written for those who are knowing, written with the confidence that those who need to hear them will hear the message is a theme that has been repeated across pop music. Gabrielle is an R&B artist part of a genre that can be intensely homophobic, it is entirely understandable that this was the way she had to send this message given the time, and the environment that existed.
One of Gabrielle's finest works however, was 'Rise' originally released in 2000. This song is an anthem that has spoken to many who have been broken by the world. The song has been used in TV shows, Movies, and referenced throughout pop culture whenever there is a moment of redemption or resurrection. The lyrics "Look at my life, Look at my heart, I have seen them fall apart, Now I'm ready to rise again, Just look at my hopes, Look at my dreams, I'm building bridges from these scenes, Now I'm ready to rise again" these words provide comfort and reassurance to those who have experienced this feeling and stand as inspiration and motivation to rise up and be the best that you can be.
I can't talk about Gabrielle without also talking about 'Out Of Reach' a song that despite being released the same year as the album still managed to get included because of its impact. The lyrics "Out of reach, so far, I never had your heart, Out of reach, couldn't see, We were never meant to be" speaks of the realisation that you loved someone more than they loved you and the reality that you have to let them go and move on, the lyrics go on "Catch myself from despair, I could drown if I stay here, Keeping busy every day, I know I will be okay" these words echo the feelings I have felt so many times, and the recognition that if I give in to the darkness in those moments it will consume me, I have to keep moving, to try and make it through; again this speaks to the forgotten coping mechanisms I once had, coping mechanisms that I didn't redevelop until my journey through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Gabrielle is an artist that contributed a lot to the music industry and I don't think she gets the recognition and the adoration she deserves for what she achieved, for what she represents, and for the hope and inspiration her music continues to provide. She is part of my music library that I cherish and still turn to whenever I feel wore down and need something that speaks not only to my heart but to my soul. Gabrielle's music is easy to listen to, relaxing, it isn't aggressive, and it conveys its message effortlessly. I believe part of the reason her contributions are overlooked are because of the backdrop that existed, there were so many artists and groups in the 90s that were worldwide successes and embodied personalities that were larger than life, it's easy to be overshadowed by all of this but now, decades later after most of those artists fell away and into obscurity, I still seek out Gabrielle's music, I still want to listen to it and it still carries with it meaning in every word just as it did when I first heard it.
Not my story to tell
When you write a story, it's natural to have the desire to write from experience. In most cases the experiences we draw on when writing are our own, with the exception of biographical works which centre around the life and the experience of an individual. When it comes to narrative fiction however it is inevitable that you will create characters that are the furthest thing from your own persona and your own thought processes as you can get. These characters can be entirely fictitious if we have the depth of reasoning, imagination, and creativity needed to fill out those characters and develop them to a point where they are realistic, not necessarily in the physical sense but in an emotional sense.
Music Monday #44: The Album by Ultrabeat
"Don't leave me hangin coz you know what I'm feelin, I go crazy, I go crazy, And if I asked you would you stop me from fallin? Would you save me? Would you save me?"
- 'Elysium (I Go Crazy)' - Ultrabeat
Returning again to Electronic Dance Music [EDM] there are a few artists who manage to create tracks that go on to become massive hits within EDM, although they remain relatively unknown to the mainstream. Ultrabeat are an example of this polarity achieving their first hit in the EDM scene in 2003 with 'Pretty Green Eyes' which went #1 in the UK Dance charts and #2 in the UK's main charts, but beyond this single they would not reach the same height again within the main chart failing to get another top 10 hit, but they would go on to score 6 more top 10 hits within the Dance chart with their music becoming a staple throughout the 00s spawning countless remixes that were featured on numerous dance compilation albums.
'Elysium (I Go Crazy)' took Scott Brown's existing 'Elysium' track, remixed it, added vocals and released it in 2006 to reach #4 in the Dance chart. This track in particular holds a fond place in my heart because I first discovered it when I started clubbing, it had featured on several dance albums and became an anthem to my life for a time. The lyrics that Ultrabeat added to the track deal with the search for love, and that moment when you think you've found it but you still aren't quite sure how they feel in return, this is a mindset I have felt many times in my life and more than once I have been left wondering if they would catch me if I fell.
'Better Than Life', 'I Wanna Touch You', and 'Sure Feels Good' all speak to this feeling of defining what love is, whether or not you are actually in love, and the confusion that exists in that head-space. Not surprisingly the reason this album connected with me so much was because this went on to become associated heavily in my mind with the love chain I got caught up in, the confusion I felt, and the desperate attempt to make sense of it all.
The last track I want to pay particular focus to is the single mentioned above, 'Pretty Green Eyes' this went on to become associated in my mind with one guy in particular, the lyrics "Pretty green eyes, So full of wonder and despair, It's all right to cry, For I'll be there to wipe your tears, And in your arms, Together we're in paradise, And it's so nice, You'll never have to be alone" are just a platter of platitudes to devour when you're lovesick. It's not surprising then that I formed the attachment to those words. The music of this album is the main appeal however, EDM is often centred around the music first with the lyrics forming an afterthought, and given Elysium in particular started out as a hardcore track without a vocal it perhaps demonstrates that best.
Ultrabeat, along with XTM, Ian Van Dahl, Tomcraft, DJ Sammy, Cascada, Micky Modelle, Alex K, Audiolush, Scooter, Flip & Fill, N-Trance, Milk Inc, Angel City, Love Inc, Apollo, and Special D to name a few all became artists that marked that time of my life with music that helped me process my emotions, their music for the most part didn't have lyrics that were profound but they spoke to feelings I had and the search for something uplifting and transformative that could take my mood from something negative and turn it into something positive. I would feature them all in this list if I could but many of them produced many more singles than albums which is quite common within EDM as most artists within the genre gain their exposure through DJ sets, producing remixes for other artists, or being featured on prominent compilations like Ministry of Sound's Annual, or Clubland, or the Euphoria compilations.
There's so much more to EDM than the handful of hits that reached number 1 in the mainstream charts, and most artists within the genre quickly learn that loyal fans and knowing your target audience can produce a steady income and plenty of opportunity. EDM has seen the rise and fall of many artists that mainstream chart watchers would not have heard of but can still step out onto a stage in front of thousands of people screaming their name at dance music festivals and club nights at superclubs, venues with capacities in the order of thousands. It's easy to be oblivious to entire worlds that exist beyond the specific view of the world that mainstream media presents. It is for this reason more than any that my attitude to music has always been to try first, judge second, to experience the music first before I form an opinion of it because there have been countless artists over the years who I have loved who you would not expect me to like if you followed the stereotype that some of my music taste would portray, yet another reason why I specifically chose to compile this list with a mix of artists rather than sticking to a given genre.
- 'Elysium (I Go Crazy)' - Ultrabeat
Returning again to Electronic Dance Music [EDM] there are a few artists who manage to create tracks that go on to become massive hits within EDM, although they remain relatively unknown to the mainstream. Ultrabeat are an example of this polarity achieving their first hit in the EDM scene in 2003 with 'Pretty Green Eyes' which went #1 in the UK Dance charts and #2 in the UK's main charts, but beyond this single they would not reach the same height again within the main chart failing to get another top 10 hit, but they would go on to score 6 more top 10 hits within the Dance chart with their music becoming a staple throughout the 00s spawning countless remixes that were featured on numerous dance compilation albums.
'Elysium (I Go Crazy)' took Scott Brown's existing 'Elysium' track, remixed it, added vocals and released it in 2006 to reach #4 in the Dance chart. This track in particular holds a fond place in my heart because I first discovered it when I started clubbing, it had featured on several dance albums and became an anthem to my life for a time. The lyrics that Ultrabeat added to the track deal with the search for love, and that moment when you think you've found it but you still aren't quite sure how they feel in return, this is a mindset I have felt many times in my life and more than once I have been left wondering if they would catch me if I fell.
'Better Than Life', 'I Wanna Touch You', and 'Sure Feels Good' all speak to this feeling of defining what love is, whether or not you are actually in love, and the confusion that exists in that head-space. Not surprisingly the reason this album connected with me so much was because this went on to become associated heavily in my mind with the love chain I got caught up in, the confusion I felt, and the desperate attempt to make sense of it all.
The last track I want to pay particular focus to is the single mentioned above, 'Pretty Green Eyes' this went on to become associated in my mind with one guy in particular, the lyrics "Pretty green eyes, So full of wonder and despair, It's all right to cry, For I'll be there to wipe your tears, And in your arms, Together we're in paradise, And it's so nice, You'll never have to be alone" are just a platter of platitudes to devour when you're lovesick. It's not surprising then that I formed the attachment to those words. The music of this album is the main appeal however, EDM is often centred around the music first with the lyrics forming an afterthought, and given Elysium in particular started out as a hardcore track without a vocal it perhaps demonstrates that best.
Ultrabeat, along with XTM, Ian Van Dahl, Tomcraft, DJ Sammy, Cascada, Micky Modelle, Alex K, Audiolush, Scooter, Flip & Fill, N-Trance, Milk Inc, Angel City, Love Inc, Apollo, and Special D to name a few all became artists that marked that time of my life with music that helped me process my emotions, their music for the most part didn't have lyrics that were profound but they spoke to feelings I had and the search for something uplifting and transformative that could take my mood from something negative and turn it into something positive. I would feature them all in this list if I could but many of them produced many more singles than albums which is quite common within EDM as most artists within the genre gain their exposure through DJ sets, producing remixes for other artists, or being featured on prominent compilations like Ministry of Sound's Annual, or Clubland, or the Euphoria compilations.
There's so much more to EDM than the handful of hits that reached number 1 in the mainstream charts, and most artists within the genre quickly learn that loyal fans and knowing your target audience can produce a steady income and plenty of opportunity. EDM has seen the rise and fall of many artists that mainstream chart watchers would not have heard of but can still step out onto a stage in front of thousands of people screaming their name at dance music festivals and club nights at superclubs, venues with capacities in the order of thousands. It's easy to be oblivious to entire worlds that exist beyond the specific view of the world that mainstream media presents. It is for this reason more than any that my attitude to music has always been to try first, judge second, to experience the music first before I form an opinion of it because there have been countless artists over the years who I have loved who you would not expect me to like if you followed the stereotype that some of my music taste would portray, yet another reason why I specifically chose to compile this list with a mix of artists rather than sticking to a given genre.
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