not showing on mtv...

i guarantee that the following video is no where near mtv. it is a great song and the video is, uh, very provacative - to say the least.

it is a great example of the differences between europe and the united states. we are ruled by very puritanical* ideas while the rest of the world accepts what is as what is.

if you are offended by sex, especially between members of the same sex, make sure you watch this. or don't...


daniel zueras - no quiero enamorarme
[i don't want to fall in love]


*i use the word puritanical in its perceived definition by the christianists. seems that the puritans had a very healthy outlook on sex; they just didn't accept it outside of marriage. there are early puritan tracts written on the subject of sex that would make the christianists blush and call for another conservative on scotus...

You can pull all the stops out...

Till they call the cops out
Grind your behind till you bend.
But you gotta get a gimmick
If you wanna get a hand.
You can sacrifice your sacharo
Working in the back row.
Bump in a dump till you're dead.
Kid you gotta have a gimmick
If you wanna get ahead.
You can uh...You can uh...
You can uh...uh...uh...
That's how Burlesque was born.
So I uh...and I uh...
And I uh...uh...uh...
But I do it with a horn...
Once I was a Schleppa,
Now I'm Miss Mazzeppa,
With my revolution in dance.
You gotta have a gimmick
If you wanna have a chance!



stephen sondhiem is known for many, many musicals - sweeney todd, assassins, company.... what a lot of people forget is that he also wrote the lyrics for many other shows - west side story and gypsy being two of the biggies. the video above is from the movie gypsy. you gotta have a gimmick is my favorite song from it but there is a personal story that adds to my favoring it. back in the day, many, many many years ago, i tended bar in chicago. one evening chili pepper and a couple of the other performers from the baton came in. when i saw them i grabbed the gypsy disc and put you gotta have a gimmick on the turntable. chili came up to the bar and said, "michael, you're a bitch!" i said, "thank you" and bought them all cocktails. see... ya gotta have a gimmick...

o mio babbino caro...

mi piace, e bello bello,
vo andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l anello!
si, si ci voglio andare
e se l'amassi indarno
andrei sui Ponte Vecchio
ma per buttaarmi in Arno!
mi struggo e mi tormento!
o dio, vorrei morir!
babbo, pieta, pieta!
babbo, pieta, pieta!

Maria Callas - O mio babbino caro

oh my dear daddy
i love him, he is so handsome
i want to go to Porta Rossa
to buy the ring!
yes, yes, I mean it
and if my love were in vain
i would go to Ponte Vecchio
and throw myself in the Arno!
i fret and suffer torments!
oh god, I would rather die!
daddy, have pity, have pity!
daddy, have pity, have pity!

given the beauty of the aria and its forlornness, not exactly what you would think the aria is about...

this aria is from puccini's gianni schicchi, part of his il trittico, and may very well be the most famous of all arias, in spite of pavarotti's nessun dorma, also by puccini. it is very poignant, haunting and moving. gianni schicchi, however, is one of the most hilarious operas i've ever seen. it borders on slapstick.

i'm going to new york to see friends next weekend and i was able to get a ticket to see it at the metropolitan opera. besides il trittico, i'm also going to see puccini's turandot and handel's giulio cesare. i'm excited.

i can't believe that i haven't posted any maria callas yet. if there were an argument for the revival of the popularity of opera in the 20th century, i would say it was callas, la divina. her life, as well as her voice, enchanted everyone.

only you can hear my soul...

only you can hear my soul...

Luna tu
Quanti sono i canti che hai ascoltato gia
Desideri che attraverso i secoli
Han solcato il cielo per raggiungerti
Porto per poeti che non scrivono
E che il loro sennospesso perdono
Tu accogli i sospiri di chi spasima
E regali un sogno ad ogni anima
Luna che mi guardi adesso ascoltami



moon
how many songs you have listened to...
how many desires you have seen...
desires through the centuries...
a doorway for poets without words
pleading for forgiveness...
you hear the sighing of those who quiver
as they give a dream to their spirits...
you, moon, who watches me, now hear me

most people are familiar with josh groban, russell watson, andra bocelli, et al. alessandro safina has been around a little longer than them. he actually has performed with bocelli. besides a great voice he also writes most of his music. the song above, luna tu, is probably his most popular in europe. it's a haunting melody with words that match. the translation is mine as best i could. it doesn't do the original italian justice but i hope it at least conveys the meaning.

in the background at the end, the chorus is singing alba lux, diva mea, diva es silentissima - the dawn, divine dawn, divinely silent...

is love so fragile...

and the heart so hollow
Shatter with words...
impossible to follow
You're saying I'm fragile...I try not to be
I search only...for something I can't see




got the new stevie nicks cd today off of itunes -



crystal visions...
the very best of stevie nicks.

phenomenal. there are a couple of new things on it that are great.

i had a difficult time deciding on one song/video to post. i don't think that there is one she has done either solo or with fleetwood mac that i haven't liked. but leather and lace stands out more than any others she has done. i've always liked the story it tells, the longing and the need it portrays. add to that the metaphor of leather and lace...

My city or mountains
Stay with me stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me...my lace

i am what i am...

i am my own special creation
so come take a look, give me the hook or the ovation
it's my world that i want to have a little pride in
my world and it's not a place i have to hide in
life's not worth a damn 'til you can say, hey world
i am what i am

i am what i am is from the musical version of la cage au folles. this is the breakout song. the scene in the play is albin getting ready to perform and putting on his makeup/costume, hence, the opening explanation that john does here.

john barrowman is doing it from a bbc tv show called the sound of musicals that focused on, what else, musicals. he has also been seen in the new dr. who series, his own bbc show torchwood, london stage productions - sunset boulevard. the movies de-lovely and the producers, on broadway, in the nighttime soap opera central park, and many, many other venues.

john was born in england and lives there now with his partner. he grew up in the joliet/plainfield, illinois area not that far from where i live. he returns to his high school alma mater to run summer workshops for students in theatre, film and music. in the interviews i've watched with him, he seems like quite a character. i would love to meet and get to know him. he always seems like he's having a great time. you'll see more of him here from time to time. i'm a great fan.

priceless...

i started out looking for cole porter music, got into elaine paige, ended up with john barrowman.

but... in looking at john barrowman performances, i came across this priceless blooper with carol burnett and john (he's in the deep red shirt). it's worth it. watch...



i'll have to do john barrowman next

come into these arms again...

and lay your body down
the rhythm of this trembling heart
it's beating like a drum
it beats for you,it bleeds for you
it knows not how it sounds
for it is the drum of drums
it is the song of songs

love song for a vampire is the theme song for the movie bram stoker's dracula directed by francis ford coppola. strange to have a love song in a horror film but, if you stop and think about this genre, there is always love involved in some way. if you check out the previous post, it says the same thing.

annie lenox is a genius with words and music. i've loved everything she's done.