Baby – Gal Costa & Caetano Veloso

it’s been sometime since i’ve posted anything on bossa nova. I have Gal Costa with Caetano Veloso here with Baby. This song was taken off the compilation CD, Tropicalia ou Panis Et Circensis which has other great songs in it. Baby, a song also sung totally in English was also done by Bebel Gilberto. This version here is of course the better one and it was actually written by Caetano himself for Gal. This is a wonderful song, such serenity and calmness. A song I love, and most certainly one that brings a smile to my face. It’s dreamy, especially with Gal Costa’s beautiful vocals and as i heard it again today on my ipod, I decided that i should share this song and that everyone should have a taste of this lovely music genre from Brasil. Next up…some Djavan!

I think i’m slowly phasing out from the japanese thingy…and moving in on MPB (musica popular Brasileira)..oh well…

download : baby – gal costa and caetano veloso mp3

Portuguese Lyrics

Voce precisa saber da piscina
Da margarina Da Carolina Da gasolina
Voce precisa saber de mim
Baby Baby
Eu sei que assim
Voce precisa tomar um sorvete
na lanchonete,
andar com gente,
me ver de perto.
Ouvir aquela cancao do Roberto
Baby Baby
Ha quanto tempo
(repeat)
Voce
precisa aprender ingles
Precisa de aprender o que eu sei
e o que eu nao sei mais
e o que eu nao sei mais
Nao sei Comigo vai tudo azul
contigo vai tudo em paz
Vivemos na melhor cidade
da Amrica do Sul
da Amrica do Sul
Voce precisa
Voce precisa
Voce precisa
Nao sei
leia na minhacamisa
Baby
Baby
I love you
(repeat)

Music Meme

Finally…i’ve completed the meme, tagged by KC, here are some of the best albums and songs that i’ve chosen. It wasn’t easy i must say….as a music lover of all genres, this was a mighty tough one. I guess the reason of having an ipod is so you never have to make choices like this. But attempt i will, as some of the albums and songs featured here reminds me of a certain point in time in my life…

5 – You’re going on a long journey, what five albums MUST you take with you? Albums that you need to listen to regularly.

1. Siamese Dreams – The Smashing Pumpkins

This has got to be the best album ever, every song in here just blew me away and it’s not even a ‘best’ album…I must have listened to this album a million times…Best track? GEEK USA! You gotta love the poetic intellect of Billy Corgan, and oh ya…a new album out soon!

2. Surfacing - Sarah McLachlan

Surfacing was an album my ex bought me, she knew i like the song Adia. I heard this song when i was in UK, in a taxi, but the radio deejay did not mention the singer’s name, and i was unsure of the title then. It wasn’t a big hit, therefore i didn’t get to hear the song again, but always, always..the song stayed stuck in my head. Then i found out months after that, when she sang ‘Angel’… I knew that was the singer… I later discovered the album was full of lovely songs as well….Sweet Surrender, Building a Mystery…

Surfacing is definitely a pick for me

3. Every Breath You Take: The Classics - The Police

I bought this album because back then it was like their ‘best of’ hits album. It took a while for me to get used to that early 80s style of music, the vocals sounded distant, and well not too contemporary…So if it wasn’t for ‘Every Breath You Take’..i wouldn’t even have bothered to check it out. And i glad i did because it was jam packed with so many brilliant songs! In fact, for me Wrapped Around Your Finger became a favourite in that album. This album reminded me of my form five examinations days…it was like the soundtrack for my studying time.

4. When Harry Met Sally – Harry Connick Jr.

I started to like jazz, when i bought this album. Harry Connnick Jr, has always been a favourite of mine. This album was filled with jazz standards, and of course his popular version of It had to be you..

5. The Ultimate Collection – Diana Ross

Who do you know hates…Baby Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, Reflections and Chain Reaction?? Her voice is sultry and sexy, listening to her sing just fills my heart with joy…

4 – What 4 albums/songs do you most associate with a journey or travel experience?

Travelling songs…hmmm….i’m gonna associate this with driving again.

1. I am the highway – Audioslave (i love to pretend that i’m chris cornell behind the wheel)

2. The hardest button to button – The White Stripes (a great rock and roll track!!)

3. For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder

“For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Someone Ive needed so long
For once, unafraid, I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know Ill be strong”

ah…..(think i’ll go put it on now….)

4. I left My heart in San Francisco – Tony Bennett (for when its dark and chilly at night)

But seriously, when it comes to traveling and i did that a lot when i was a kid…songs really associated me to those trips were my dad’s Elvis collections. I have always liked this song he played over and over again….

“The Wonder of You”

3 – Your three favourite songs of all time?

i can’t choose…i can’t choose….it’s just too difficult!!!

2 – Two feel good songs, the ones that are guaranteed to lift the blues and put a smile on your face.

It ain’t over til its over – Lenny Kravitz (weird choice…but i feel happy when i listen to this)

So Nice – Astrud Gilberto….(it just takes me to the beach this one…)

1 – Absolute, overall, undoubtedly the best album of all time, in your opinion.

SIAMESE DREAMS – SMASHING PUMPKINS

Namie Amuro – Play – sample tracks

Namie Amuro ( 安室奈美恵 )is out with her latest album, Play. As always, Namie Amuro never fails to deliver a great hip hop album. A lot of songs in here sounds like the track that Britney and Madonna made together, Me against the music (i think? is that the title?). Which is not a bad thing since Madonna’s in it. Some of the songs were released as singles before, Baby Don’t Cry & Can’t Sleep, Can’t Eat, I’m Sick for example. I like Baby Don’t Cry best. Her latest single is Hide and Seek, which the video featured her in a outfit of a lady-cop-dominatrix -oh! whip included. Nevertheless, a great track, again as i have mentioned many times before -it gets you movin’. And the plus point to it is, it does not sound too overwhelmingly poppish and amateurish in this genre -class acts which i have adored her for. I have 3 songs here for your listening pleasure…and as many bloggers have put it, for your ‘testing’ and ’sampling’ needs. All the songs here are selections made by me, through about 2 rounds of listening, so there might be better tracks in here, but for now…i think these 3 will do just mighty find for now.

Download : Hide and Seek – Namie Amuro MP3

Download : Pink Key – Namie Amuro MP3

Download : Full Moon – Namie Amuro Mp3

Download : Should I Love Him – Namie Amuro MP3 – added 28/6/07

Murakami features Bill Evans

 

It bugs me when people try to analyze jazz
as an intellectual theorem.
It’s not.
It’s feeling.

ジャズを知性的な法則で分析しようとする試みにはうんざりさせられる。
そうではないんだ。
感覚なんだ。

Bill Evans

This is another artist featured in Haruki Murakami’s book, The Norwegian Wood. Actually, quite a number of good tracks came from this book. Here’s an excerpt from the book;

We cleared the table and sat on the floor, listening to music and drinking the rest of the wine. She (Naoko) drank 2 glasses in the time it took me to finish one. Naoko was unusually talkative that night. She told me about her childhood, her school, her family. Each episode was a long one, executed with painstaking detail of a miniature. I was amazed at the power of her memory, but as i sat listening it began to dawn on me that there was something wrong with the way she was telling these stories: something strange, warped even. Each tale had its own internal logic, but the link from one to the next was odd. Before you knew it, story A had turned to story B, which had been contained in A, and then came C from something in B, with no end in sight. I found things to say in response at first, but after a while I stopped trying. I put on a record, and when it ended I lifted the needle and put on another. After the last record I went back to the first. She only had six. The cycle started with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and ended with Bill Evans’ Waltz for Debby. Rain fell past the window. Time moved slowly. Naoko went on talking by herself.”

Murakami, H. Norwegian Wood. Vintage. 48-49

 

Bill Evans is one of my favorite jazz pianist. Those who are familiar with the genre will definitely know Bill. I can’t really describe jazz, who plays better and who is the greatest of them all. I mean there are so many, and all talented, old school to contemporary. Who’s to say that Kenny G is not better than John Coltrane? Just that old school will always be cool, so there…no one out there is ever gonna be better than Miles Davis or John Coltrane. I’m a casual listener, I don’t really have a ear for perfections or imperfections in a jazz track, what sounds nice works for me. With Bill, it was this song ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ from the Portrait of Jazz album that had me. I guess for me, how you pick a favorite is through something that captures you, probably that right moment, probably thinking of something that you thought that song you heard relates so clearly… Well, I wasn’t thinking of a prince to come to my rescue. It was just quite a charming song that caught my attention, then went on to look at the title….i thought “how charming”. I went on to get more albums from Bill, You Must Believe in Spring, At the Montreux Jazz Festival, Waltz for Debby and the highly acclaimed The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings. All of which i have enjoyed tremendously. Do you know that he was part of Miles Davis sixtet in one of the best selling jazz albums of all time -Kind of Blue? Well, after a few good albums, I decided that he was one of my favourite, his style of playing hunchback, takes his time with the piano rarely rushing a tune, and basically he is just super cool. He died several years ago due to drug overdose, a problem which he had all throughout his music career.

I have a track from the ‘Waltz for Debby’ album, a fan favourite, and one of mine as well….

download : My Foolish Heart – Bill Evans MP3

and another from the Stan Getz and Bill Evans album,

download : But Beautiful – Stan Getz & Bill Evans MP3

Watch him play My Foolish Heart and be mesmerized,

Tsukiakari – Rie Fu – Lyrics & Translation

Have you guys heard of Rie Fu (りえふ/舩越りえ)? Well, she has sung a couple of songs for several anime including bleach and gundam seed destiny. Her songs often blends japanese with english lyrics. This is the latest song from Darker Than Black; ツキアカリ (moonlight) , which i like the best. I LOVE THIS SONG. Her style, very folk like, simplistic and one that brings a picture of a girl traveling with a guitar and performing at the streets or like Phoebe of Friends at the Central Perk cafe. Yes all that definitely describes Rie Fu if you listen to her hit songs like Until I say and I Wanna Go To a Place. For a light and easy japanese tune, this song is a must.

Download : ツキアカリ- Rie Fu mp3

Lyrics

aoi aoi sora ni tsuki no hikari wo tomosu
amaku awaku omoi sonna mono ni torawarete

kono tsukiakari no shita hitori shirezu
kimi no namae dake wo yondeita
itsumade mo mirai wo sagashiteta
kono hikari no naka ni..

itsumo itsumo soba de shinjiteyuku chikara ga
tooku moroi mono wo ugokashiteru ki ga shiteta

kono tsukiakari no shita hitori shirezu
kimi no namae dake wo yondeita
shizuka na aijou wo shinjiteta
kono hikari no naka ni..

nani mo tsukamenaai you na yori ni wa
kimi wo omowanai toki wa nai
There isn’t a day I don’t think about it
mayou kokoro ga kimi ni todoku you ni

kono tsukiakari no shita de watashi no namae wo yonde
tashika ni ai ni yuku yo dokoedemo
kimi no soba ni

kono tsukiakari mabataki hitotsusezu
shizuka ni watashi wo mitsumeteita
kimi to no mirai wo sagashiteta
kono hikari no naka ni..

english translation

I’ll turn on the light of the moon in the blue, blue sky and be seized with sweet, faint feelingsUnder this moonlight, one person doesn’t come to light I’ve been calling out your name only I’ve always been searching for the future Inside this light..I’ve been feeling like the power to keep believing I’ll always, always be by your side is setting in motion faraway, fragile things Under this moonlight, one person doesn’t come to light I’ve been calling out your name only I’ve been believing in peaceful love Inside this light.. On a night that seems like it can catch hold of nothing There’s no time I don’t think of you There isn’t a day I don’t think about it May my wayward heart reach you Under this moonlight, call out my name I’ll go out to meet you without fail, no matter where To get to your side This moonlight, without a single flicker, has been gazing down on me silently I’ve been searching for a future with you Inside this light..

mahaloha – yuna ito 伊藤由奈

I’m bumping this song up to ‘not bad, not bad at all’, after a few listens. How could i have said all those ‘depthless’, impactless stuff about yuna ito…gomen na.. 20/6/07

here’s yuna ito’s latest single, mahaloha. I don’t know what exactly it means…but i think it has something to do with aloha…perhaps like o genki desu ka? I’m just taking a wild shot here so don’t take my word for it. This song however lacks depth, if you are familiar with her previous works that is. It’s perhaps more in tuned with the hawaiian style of music where she grew up. For me, it is easily forgettable, impact’less’ and one that i wished was more in line with truth, pure eyes, faith and endless story. Even you can tell from the beginning of the song that it does not have a prospect of a powerful song. She can do so much better with her powerful unique voice, of course it is no fault of hers as always i believe that it is the song writer that really matters when it comes to a good song. Nevertheless, it’s quite listenable or else i would not have posted it. this is for Yuna Ito’s fans and since i’m somewhat one of them (well not fan fan), i decided to upload this song anyways.

This song features Def Tech, an artist or band that i’m not familiar with.

HAve you guys seen the demos of the new Leopard OS for Mac…? It’s really something else. Check it out at www.apple.com. And i can’t wait to get my hands on an Iphone…i hear folks are preparing to camp overnight to get their hands on the first batch on 29th June, in the States of course. I think USD600 is pretty reasonable (i’m comparing with the N series from Nokia) for this gem.

And i’ve enrolled myself, once again to the next level for my japanese class beginning July…it’s been sometime…rusty as hell, i can’t even remember my katakanas…

I was surprised to see in the Star today that Sony Ericsson featured ringtone downloads for Mienai Hoshi from Mika Nakashima! Imagine that…a country that barely knows anything about japanese music except for chage & aska, kiroro, ayumi hamasaki and hikaru utada. Sometimes when i go to these japanese restaurants here, i feel like giving them one of my cds and say “HERE PLAY SOMETHING NEW!!”…it’s always kiroro and Hikki…gosh! Well, i’m mighty glad that Mika has slowly made her presence here in KL, and by that i hope it will create more sales for her to come down for a concert…

Oh…since vilawan asked me for Jyongri’s possession…i’m uploading this as well…

download : possession – jyongri mp3

download : mahaloha – yuna ito feat def tech mp3

Lyrics

There are times in life when all you want to do is cry
Nazeka samishii
You always got a friend baby don’t you worry
Ima wa hitori

Mainichi onaji kurikaeshite yuku sono naka de
Anata to iu atarashii hikari　Maiorite yuku

※All I want is love
It’s all I’m thinkin’ of
All I know is that I need to spread this message to you
Said I’m sayin’ love
Don’t wanna give it up
I can be all that you want me to be c’mon let’s love※

Nanika aru wake janai noni
Nazeka kanashii
Kokoro no dokoka ga pokkari
Aita mitai

Taikutsu na hibi ni mo nare hajimeta kono goro ni
Ai to iu owari wo tsugeru kane ga hibiiteku

All I want is love
It’s all I’m thinkin’ of
All I wanna do is get this Mahaloha to you
Me wo tojite
Sou dakishimete
Subete wo tsunagete yuku no　c’mon let’s love

There are times in life when all you want to do is cry
Mou nakanai
You always got a friend baby don’t you worry
Hitori janai

Sore made no mono ga ima　Sukoshi dake chigatte mieru
Atatakai yasashisa no naka de　Kaze wo kanjiru

All we need is love
Donna toki mo
Tsutaetai kotoba wa Mahaloha to you
Said we’re sayin’ love
Todoketai
Negai wa tada hitotsu dake　c’mon let’s love

la la la …
All I want is love

(※Kurikaeshi)

All we need is love
Donna toki mo
Tsutaetai kotoba wa Mahaloha to you
Said we’re sayin’ love
Todoketai
Hitotsu dake no negai　baby, c’mon let’s love

Pink Martini – hey eugene!

This is Pink Martini’s latest album, currently number 2 on the Billboard Jazz Album charts. Their 3rd album after the successful ‘Hang on little tomato’ and ‘Sympathique’, both which i have enjoyed very much.

Here is band that sings almost anything. I tend to like artiste that are diverse in their style of music, much like Shiina Ringo’s. Styles that you can’t describe in one word, that isn’t easily defined. Pink Martini is one such artist. I’m sure the world has heard of their famous hit Sympathique, a song with such class and reminiscence of a lovely french al fresco cafe, to me at least.” Je ne veux pas travailler, Je ne veux pas djeuner “ As a result i won’t bother sharing that song. Led by the talented singer China Forbes, pink martini’s a band from Portland, USA and it comprises of 11 band members. They sing in different languages, most recently they attempted an Arabic song ‘Bukra wba’do’, an upbeat song that would probably remind you of some Middle Eastern restaurant. Ah! But do you know that they have attempted a japanese song before? in their album Hang On Little Tomato? and from their latest album Hey Eugene! comes a song made popular by japan’s 70’s singer Saori Yuki, “Taya Tan”. Both japanese songs, should belong in a 60s or 70s vault as that’s exactly how it sounds. But do give it a spin, and feel all black and white again. The other track i have here is the album’s title track, Hey Eugene! A much livelier and contemporary sound…and english. Forbes wrote this song and according to her it’s about a guy ‘eugene’ that she met at a party, they had this great connection, the guy asked for her number but he never called. The song lyrics tells the events that happened at that party. Poor China..
Some might find Pink Martini a little too boring to swallow, as i have on a few occasions, but it never fails to bring a certain ‘refreshment’ when i get tired of some of the stuffs i listen now. I guess they help bring back, Casablanca, Gone with the Wind…and some darn good classics.

download : hey eugene! – pink martini mp3

download : taya tan – pink martini mp3

everyhome – chihiro onitsuka

This is Chihiro Onitsuka  鬼束ちひろ, with her latest single everyhome. This song reminds me a little of Jewel’s ‘Foolish Games’. Foolish Games, of course, is one of Jewel’s best songs and one of my favorite as well -especially when she goes…’tearing me tearing me…apart…”. She doesn’t sound like Jewel of course, and she doesn’t have a unique voice, pretty normal if you ask me. But nevertheless, she can really sing. 

This is not very mainstream, but i like stuffs not being on the mainstream, they have a certain appeal to it. Mainstream here means a constant chart topper like Ayumi Hamasaki and Ai Ootsuka . She probably belongs to an adult contemporary genre.

I like this song,  simply it reminds me of Jewel.  I hope it appeals to you guys as well.

 download : everyhome – chihiro onitsuka mp3

Jewelry Day – Ayaka 絢香 mp3 & Lyrics

This is Ayaka’s latest single. It’s a ballad done in a very acoustic style unlike Mikazuki and I Believe which are stronger ballads by comparison. This is a more subtle one, which i quite like. The guitar is pretty pleasing as well. I don’t think it did too well on the Oricon but sometimes when you think what’s playing on those charts…..

I’ve tried on a few occasions to ’sample’ these songs, but boy oh boy, do they stink! I did sample Mikazuki which was a number one hit, and it was agreeable with my taste. I’ve come to know Ayaka as a singer who excels in songs that proclaims inner strength…you know, ganbatte kinda songs, you can do it, no matter what happens…kinda songs. I’m not saying it’s pathetic, but she is really good at it. She did this ‘Tears in Heaven’ by Eric Clapton song with jazz singer, Shigeko Suzuki (who sounds like she’s singing at her own funeral, by the way.), and it was pretty good…Catch it on YOUTUBE.

You see the lyrics of Tears of Heaven…”I must be strong and carry on”. See? I’m not kidding…she’s just good at it. Well, enough of my nothin-to-do observations, like always, enjoy

Download : Jewelry Day – Ayaka mp3

LYRICS....

broken
broken my heart
kyou mo mata mezame  yume da to kidzuku asa
koishisou ni
mitsumeru egao ga  ima mo kienai
Oh Jewelry day

kimi to ita ano uta ga  mada kikenai

Oh  kokoro shizuka ni te wo tsunagi
shizumiyuku yuuhi wo mitsumereba
kotoba nante hitotsu mo  iranakatta
shiawase no imi  shitta no...

tooi machi made dekaketa Birthday
tokubetsu na DE-TO de
nigirishimeta te no naka ni hikaru
osoroi no PEARINGU
Oh Jewelry day

owaranai monogatari  uso no you ni...

Oh  itsuka wa owaru tabi no naka
ai suru yorokobi wo kureta anata ni
"arigatou" sakebu yo
kikoeteru nara
koe wo todokete  onegai

Oh  ano hi mita yuuhi tsutsumikomu
ookina ORENJI ga
ima mo mune wo atatakaku suru kara
tachidomatte wa
yume wo miru no yo  kotoshi mo...

maroon 5 – better that we break

I’ve been on leave this whole week just doing my research thesis 24/7, well almost. I’m just exhausted -that’s what you get for leaving everything to the last minute i suppose. Well, I’ve been listening to a couple of albums recently while going through the endless pages of books at the library. Again, it’s just darn exhausting. One of the album i speak of is Maroon 5’s latest, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long”. It’s quite a fine album, not mighty, but one that i managed to listen to a couple of times today. I gotta admit I quite like Adam Levine’s voice, he has this soulful voice that is pretty rare in white singers. This song struck me, maybe it was my break up or maybe it just sounded melodically pleasing. Either way, I decided that those who have not listen to this track should perhaps give it a shot. It’s very Maroon 5, not a very experimental bunch, but if you have enjoyed their “Songs about Jane” album -you should enjoy this song. this song is in between, Sunday Morning and She will be loved.

download : better that we break mp3

“i never knew perfection til ,

i heard you speak and now it kills me,

just to hear you say simple things”

Lunch Box

I have decided to make my own lunch, since there’s absolutely nothing edible at the library. The food there is just horrible, just laid out there in large steel trays with flies roaming about. Everything looks one year old, yes i am exaggerating here, but i can’t help but feel that it really looks disgusting. I have tried on many occasions, I get hungry sitting the whole day in that library and somehow when it’s cold -you get hungry. Forcefeeding myself like ducks or gooses for fatter and meatier foie gras, i had no choice. This is then i decided that i do not want to be a duck no more -i’ll bring my own lunch! This is my first bento, a plain old sandwich, honey turkey ham, some tonkatsu sauce, a slice of cheddar, french butter, organic lettuce, pepper, mayonaise and good thick brown bread. I decided to pack some cherry tomatoes on the side for some ’side salad’. I didn’t forget dessert, i brought from home a packet of italian custard cream pastry. Doesn’t look too bad eh? I actually quite enjoy preparing lunch, too bad there isn’t a microwave at the library’s cafeteria or else i would be more adventurous..well lets see what i can come up with next…