MLT Club Member Jürgen
MLT Club MemberForum Replies Created
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I would be glad to hear some more ideas from you on the musical theme of Africa
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…and a little more Africa…
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To stay a little longer in South Africa: In the 80s Paul Simon was looking for new musical inspiration and became increasingly enthusiastic about South African music. He was said to be inspired by the upbeat accordion jive music of the Boyoyo Boys from South Africa. Impressed by the music, Paul Simon flew to Johannesburg with a sound engineer and played there for twelve days with South African musicians: with Ray Phiri, the Ladysmith Black Mambazo choir, with General MD Shirinda & the Gaza Sisters. He listened to their songs, joined in, and arranged his own songs around them. An unconventional concept album was born: Graceland (incidentally it was produced at the Abbey Road Studios. where else?). A difficult undertaking, as the UN had imposed a cultural boycott on the South African government at the time to protest against the apartheid policy there. Paul Simon’s trip to South Africa and the music production there was therefore viewed very critically. However, his album and subsequent tour with the South African musicians was a success. Paul Simon won the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year with „Graceland“ and was nominated for Producer of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The song Graceland received a nomination for Song of the Year.
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And while we’re on the topic of marimba: I think it’s just awesome when people experience so much fun and joy while making music, like this marimba band.
Have you also had nice experiences with street musicians somewhere in the world?
„Anyone who loves music can never be completely unhappy“
– Franz Schubert –
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Live music is always something special for me Jung, particularly when the spirit of the music is jumping from the band to the audience. And I find street musicians all over the world simply admirable: to stand somewhere and make music (especially if you are rather unknown). I think it takes a lot of courage, but also the belief in one’s own music and above all the fun of making music. And as you have correctly noticed Jung: This kind of music connects. No matter who happens to walk by the band, old or young, visitor or local: the moment people stop and listen, they are connected in a wonderful way and it can happen that complete strangers smile at each other and have fun together. Without the unifying power of music, they would simply walk silently past each other without ever becoming aware of the other’s presence.
Here I have a nice example for this: A few years ago I experienced and filmed the South African street musicians “Ilitha Lelanga” live in Cape Town. I was very impressed by this band because they created a great atmosphere. The memory of their performance shapes my remembrance of Cape Town to this day (as a „thank you“ I also bought two CD’s from them directly on the spot). Unfortunately I don’t know how to embed my video clips here without going the detour via youtube. So I just googled once on good luck: In fact, there are already a few videos of the bands on the internet. It’s nice to see that the group is still performing with almost the same line-up as in 2010. The following piece of music is a bit slower, but when the band really gets going: I’ve never seen a person playing the Marimbaphone so fast and passionately as the young musician in the foreground did (Marimba is the African version of the xylophone).
PS: Did you write down the quote? Very nice handwriting.
„Music washes the soul clean from the dust of everyday life“
– Berthold Auberbach –
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A beautiful childhood memory Jung, it seems. That was definitely a little adventure. Traveling without your parents for the first time at that age must be exciting. I remember our class trips during my school days. We went on a trip with the whole class for the first time in the 7th school year. One week stay in a youth hostel. We were accompanied by two teachers who were very busy, especially in the evenings, until the dear little ones, that is us, finally got some rest in their rooms. There were always four of us in a room and of course we had everything on our minds in the evenings, just not sleeping.
The overnight stay that I had previously described was on the island of Borneo in 2007. Who knows whether it happened exactly like that. But that’s the way I recall the night and how it will always stay in my memory. I have always had two dream destinations in my life: Borneo and the Amazon region. I don’t really know why. Maybe because I’ve been an aquarist since I was young and my buddies with fins come from there. I always wanted to know what it’s like in their homeland. Unfortunately, I haven’t made it to the Amazon yet (except when shopping, of course ????) and I will probably never get there either. Small consolation: A few years ago I did a round trip in Costa Rica. The tropical vegetation and the rivers there reminded me of the Amazon region. At least what I’ve seen so far in films and documentaries.
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Hi Jung,
thanks for posting the song by Jason Mraz . I’ve heard this song on the radio many times without knowing who composed it. Now I know… ???? Thank you. Yes, that’s exactly the kind of music I meant: in Thailand or Indonesia, for example, it’s also very popular with young people. Western musicians have an exotic bonus there (I don’t mean that negatively) and that makes them kind of interesting for the people there.
I really like your idea of posting the music videos on Korean social media. Of course, the chance of being heard there is small, but sometimes it’s the little coincidences in life that get things rolling. (The) One person becomes aware of a certain piece of music or a band and spreads it, and the initial spark is started. It’s definitely worth a try. When I made a round trip in Laos in 2019, there were a noticeable number of South Koreans traveling there (funny people walking around in groups all day, singing, clapping and laughing. So different from the European tourists there. I like it) and I asked myself what they found so interesting about Laos. A local told me that a few years ago a very popular Korean musician shot a music video in Laos. The video-clip probably went viral on social media and after that many Koreans traveled to Laos to get to know this country. Sort of like what happened before with Leonardo DiCaprio and his film „The Beach“. The film was shot on the island of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand. Since then, unfortunately, you can no longer visit the island, because every vacationer in Thailand really wants to see Ko Phi Phi. Luckily, Thailand has many other beautiful islands that are less well known. But that’s how it is sometimes when life is ruled by chance. Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time and everything runs like clockwork.
By the way, I was looking for the original lyrics of the song “Shining” by “Jaurim”. The video looks very melancholic and somehow it seems to be about lovesickness and loss. I was very curious (as always), searched the internet, found the original lyrics and the following translation: (The original lyrics should be something like this. Beautiful and fitting the mood of the whole song).
Someday not now, somewhere not here
Would there be a place that accepts me
Even if I don’t try to hide my empty soul
Would there be someone to hold meThe sun is burning over my scorched heart
Would I too have wings to fly awayThe sky is so beautiful full of stars
I’m just standing crying like a fool
When would this storm inside me die down
I’m standing alone in a cold worldDoubts that can’t be cleared, questions that have no answers
Would there be something that completes me
Lonely without reason, suffering from living
Would there be someone to hold meThe sun is burning over my scorched heart
Would I too have wings to fly awayThe sky is so beautiful full of stars
I’m just standing crying like a fool
When would this storm inside me die down
I’m standing alone in a cold worldSomeday not now, somewhere not here
Would there be a place that accepts meHere’s another beautiful song by singer Kim Yoon that she performed during a tour of Portugal. I think she has a great voice. I like it very much.
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My most beautiful nature experience? Maybe this one:
A small jungle lodge somewhere in the rainforest. The window wide open. Between the world out there and me only a thin strip of fly screen and as night falls the concert of nature begins. The sun slowly sinks behind the horizon and bathes the forest in a warm orange light. The shadows lengthen and small blurry figures flit through the incipient darkness. Gibbons open the performance with their duet singing, welcoming the falling night. At first, only a few cautious calls echo through the tops of the trees, but more and more monkeys join in the concert and the piercing bright sound of their voices fills the air. This seems to be the signal for the cicadas, the strings of the forest. Millions of tiny legs rub together, creating a shrill wave of sound that floods across the jungle. The sun has now completely disappeared and where there were huge jungle trees just a moment ago, only dark shades are visible. With the darkness the soundscape changes. The calls of the monkeys sound only sporadically and the cicadas are completely silent. The birds of the rainforest now prepare for their performance and then enter the virtual stage. Rising and falling soprano voices are supported by the alto of individual bird calls and a variety of chirping and warbling. A diverse chorus from the throats of countless feathered artists. And then the nightly rain begins, to which the forest owes its name. The first thick drops fall from the shimmering dark-violet sky, clap on the leaves of the giant trees and then slowly drip onto the lower-lying vegetation. The drumming sound of the first raindrops quickly turns into bright swooshing and the gates of the sky are now wide open. Heavy rain pours down in torrents on the green canopy of the forest. The beginning of a unique and unforgettable night.
PS: Speaking of jungle concert, the following scene spontaneously comes to mind (maybe not quite appropriate but entertaining):
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And a beautiful ballad by the band „Jaurim“. This band has an interesting repertoire and somehow doesn’t really fit into a genre. The songs „Something Good“, „Vlad“, „I’m my fan“ and „Stay with me“ are also worth listening to.
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Hi Jung,
thank you for your self-made music video. Yes, that’s how I experienced the young music scene in Asia: happy, carefree and curious. There are many talented young musicians we’ll never hear from here. Too bad. During our travels to South East Asia, we enjoyed watching local TV stations in the evening. Many music stations and also corresponding chart lists. Young bands and singers moving somewhere between traditional music and the influence of Western pop and rock music. An exciting balancing act. Unfortunately I never know which bands or singers I see and hear there, because I can’t read their names. Well, that’s life.
By the way, I firmly believe that if Mona and Lisa had access to the Asian music business, their music would be very well received there. Especially among the young people they would find great popularity. They are curious and very open-minded towards western music. I am sure they would find M&L very original and love them and their way of presenting music. The average age of the Mona Lisa fan base would drop sharply. ????
I found a nice video of the South Korean band „Nell“ here. The title of the song translates to ‘See you in 5 minutes’. What is the song about? Only you will know…
PS: I didn’t know you’ve started a new job. Yes I can well imagine that your brain is a little fried when you come home in the evening. I wish you good luck with the new job and keep my fingers crossed.
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The desire to explore the world and the longing to always get to know something new is probably as old as mankind itself. While people initially set out for pragmatic reasons to explore the world, such as finding new sources of food and settable land, the roots of today’s tourism can already be found in antiquity. Recreational and educational travel already existed in the Egyptian Pharaonic Empire. There is evidence of travels whose motives were luxury, pastime, broadening of experience and recreation. Privileged circles of the population first traveled for pleasure. They visited, as their inscriptions show, famous monuments and testimonies of ancient Egyptian culture, including, for example, the Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the Sphinx, and the Great Pyramids of Giza – structures that had been built a good thousand years earlier. The Greeks followed similar traditions. They traveled to Delphi to consult the Oracle, participated in the Pythian Games (music and athletic competitions), or went to the Olympic Games. So let’s do as the ancient Egyptians did and embark on a musical search for the roots of our culture, such as for example the 7 wonders of the modern world.
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From the album “Tango in the Night”
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Yes Tom, it’s still going on. As far as there’s interest, I’d like to go a little further. There is still enough music and themes. Very nice to hear from you again. I would also like to include Latin America musically. Any other interesting ideas?
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Hi David. I also like music from Peru or the Andes very much. Yes, South American street musicians were very popular with us for many years. Especially in the run-up to Christmas in the shopping streets. When the first snowflakes fell they seemed particularly exotic… After that came the accordion players (more or less well). And for many years an old man with a barrel organ and a little monkey on his shoulder was a fixture in a shopping arcade. Even if the musical quality of these artists varied greatly, they always complemented the street scene and were a nice change from everyday life. It’s just a pity that especially traditional folklore music of other countries is sometimes reduced to a cliché. As a child, I was always fascinated by one man bands, like this musician here:
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Thanks JP, you kept me busy for a while ????: No, I’m not familiar with the Pink Floyd track Echoes, so I listened to it on youtube first (yeah I like it, what album was the track released on?). After that I listened again to the interpretation of Stickmen and enjoyed it. Sounds pretty fantastic what the three musicians bring to the stage in terms of sound. They seem to be quite sound tinkerers. Most of the time, the two acoustic guitars sound like anything else, but not like acoustic guitars. I am fascinated by the Chapman Stick. It conveys a very full sound. How is the instrument played? Bass, rhythm and leading melody at the same time?
PS: I don’t know to what extent you are interested in progressive rock beyond Pink Floyd. You might also be interested in the German rock formation Eloy (they were quite popular in the 70s). The band certainly doesn’t come close to the class of Pink Floyd, but they also produced some very interesting music.
