Swing is a track from their 2009 release, Yeah Ghost. Infused with luscious vocals, this piece is a great representation of their very accessible style. Great music for kicking back and chillaxing.
Happy listening!
Zero 7 – Swing
Monday, April 30, 2012
Swing - Zero 7
Swing is a track from their 2009 release, Yeah Ghost. Infused with luscious vocals, this piece is a great representation of their very accessible style. Great music for kicking back and chillaxing.
Happy listening!
Zero 7 – Swing
Friday, April 27, 2012
No Leading Lady Tonight
No Leading Lady Tonight
Forbidden Broadway
No off-Broadway week would be complete without Forbidden Broadway. These shows, which have periodically come out with new shows over the years, have given us a pool of spoofs on some of the most popular Broadway songs.
This is a great one based on the song "Luck Be A Lady Tonight" from Guys and Dolls.
Happy listening!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Still Hurting
Still Hurting
The Last 5 Years
Off-Broadway week continues with this little gem. The musical uses a bare-bones cast with a small musical force to great effect and with incredible storytelling. The idea of the show is that it tells the story of the two main characters (Cathy and Jamie) in which Cathy's story is told in reverse chronological order (starting the show at the end of their marriage), and Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters only interact at a wedding song in the middle of the show.
This is the opening song - Cathy's resignation at the very end of the tumultuous relationship. I find it to be a lovely song, well-scored and painfully sweet.
Happy listening!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
One Night in Bangkok
One Night in Bangkok
Chess
Yes. This is the song you are thinking of. And yes, it comes from a Broadway musical.
Chess was an odd musical, mixing the themes of an international chess tournament, an ensuing love triangle between chess contestants, and a cold war rivalry. It kind of sounds like a plot put together via Mad Libs.
And apparently it had as much appeal - it only lasted two months on the US stage back in 1988. However, the concept album spawned this crazy popular song, which was originally written by the boys in ABBA.
Happy listening!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
La Vie Boheme
La Vie Boheme
Rent
Rent was arguably one of the most popular musicals of the late '90s. (It also won a Pulitzer Prize for drama, which is a very rare honor for anything on the Broadway musical scene.) There are many great tunes throughout the show - this is just one of them.
If you aren't familiar with the show, it is a modern retelling of Puccini's opera La bohème, integrating contemporary topics like poverty, homosexuality, HIV/AIDS, and drug addiction. It remains the ninth-longest running Broadway musical of all time.
Happy listening!
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Origin of Love
The Origin of Love
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
(This week is Off-Broadway week. I'll be looking at some songs that have their origins off Broadway.)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical with an unusual story - a rag-tag rock and roll band led by a German transgendered singer. Written by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask, this wickedly popular off-Broadway production was eventually turned into a musical film.
In the midst of this rock musical, we hear a musical retelling/adaptation of Plato's Symposium about the origin of love. The film features an animation of the story which is lovely.
I hope you like this one.
Happy listening!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Working' Day and Night
Working' Day and Night
Michael Jackson
For all the public craziness that surrounded Michael Jackson's life (and sadly his death as well), he left us a legacy of incredible funk-driven music. Even now, there is no debate about Jackson's talent as a musician, songwriter, and performer - all you need to do is listen to some of his music!
Co-produced by Quincy Jones, his solo album Off The Wall is 8x platinum selling 20 million copies worldwide. I hadn't ever heard this song before I started researching his early music. What strikes me is how timeless, energetic, and powerful Michael's voice sounds, even 30 years later.
Happy listening!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Please Be My Strength
Please Be My Strength
Gungor
For anyone who has studied the history of music, the church holds a very important place in the development of musical notation, theories of harmony and melody, the growth of instrumental music. It was one of the few places in the life of the common person where they could hear live music. Out of centuries of rich church music tradition, we have many great works of the greatest composers in history - Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, Messien, Paart, and so very many others.
And then we come to the present age.
Today, Christian music is big business. There are a huge array of artists on the scene making music - and much of it poorly. I don't think this is new - church music has always been big business. It may just seem worse now because we have forgotten all the bad church music from long ago. Unfortunately, when many of us imagine contemporary Christian music, it usually ends up looking something like this. (WARNING: this clip is sort of like Solid God meets Pat Robertson. There, I warned you.)
Ugh.
Enter Gungor (the group formerly known as The Michael Gungor Band). There is something we can all relate to in this musical plea for strength in the midst of weakness. It is well worth a listen, regardless of your background or beliefs - if for no other reason than because it is genuinely beautiful.
Happy listening.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tamacun
Tamacun
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Today's post is really unique.
Imagine this... what would a pair of thrash metal flamenco guitarists sound like?
Rodrigo y Gabriela are exactly that. Hailing from their native Mexico, they don't really fit neatly in any category I can think of. And that's OK, because they make some great music, no matter what you call it. They do have some of the most rabid fans I have ever encountered, and they tour actively. While I haven't ever seen them in person, a few people I have chatted with who have were blown away.
This particular live version was recorded in Japan. You absolutely have to watch, not just listen.
Happy listening!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A Case of You
A Case of You
Diana Krall
Yes - this is indeed a cover of the song from Joni Mitchell's album, Blue. Diana Krall, primarily known for her work as a jazz musician (she is an accomplished jazz pianist), is known for her velvety contralto voice and her amazing musicianship - just what you would expect from a shining star in the world of Jazz. With 12 very diverse albums to her credit, Ms. Krall is an accomplished creative artist who is always exploring new ways of rethinking and recreating classics.
This was recorded back in 2001 as part of her "Live in Paris" album/tour. It remains my favorite version of this Joni Mitchell classic.
Happy Listening!
Monday, April 16, 2012
The King Knows How
The King Knows How
Over The Rhine
I had never heard of Over The Rhine until I was at a festival in Shakori Hills, NC. The band, led by the songwriting husband/wife team of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, knocked my sandals off. They not only have rich, diverse musical palatte, they have Karin's amazing voice (which has the passion of Fiona Apple, the delicacy of Eva Cassidy, and the sagely confidence of Annie Lennox, all rolled up into one).
With lyrics heavily influenced by literature (I immediately noticed that they titled one of their early albums after my favorite C.S. Lewis book), you can almost taste the smokey blues influences throughout their music. They tour relatively frequently, and I highly recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance.
Happy listening!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Spare Change
Spare Change
Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Michaelson is probably still best known for her extremely popular song "The Way I Am" - and I remember the first time I heard it back in 2007 on Grey's Anatomy. It was one of those times during the early days of the series I caught myself asking "Who IS this?" I absolutely HAD to find the track list for the episode so I could buy it on iTunes.
Ingrid has been busy since those days. If you have been paying attention at all, she has been actively writing, recording, touring, and posting pics of her travels on her Facebook page.
In full disclosure, she is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. I see her live whenever I can, and I have yet to hear an Ingrid Michaelson song I don't like. (How many people's music can you say that about?)
In my opinion, Ingrid is an extremely rare kind of artist. She is somehow able to truthfully - yet beautifully - capture a moment in the way that a camera captures an image. It is clear that she takes pride in creating great art - and I am glad that she does. She makes beautiful music, and she puts on an incredible show (and Ingrid, if you are reading this and can get me tickets for your upcoming sold-out Minneapolis show, I would love to see you live again... otherwise I'll just catch you next time you come through. :)
So today's song... Spare Change is not actually originally from one of her albums, which may be why nobody seems to know about it. It was written as part of the audiobook version of Augusten Burrough's Wolf at the Table. I find it to be a haunting and lovely piece, and I hope you give it a listen.
Happy listening!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
NYC Girl
NYC Girl
The Orion Experience
Imagine a band that somehow manages to (1) make catchy music (am I mean, stuck in your head for days catchy)you just can't get out of your head, and makes you want to dance, groove out, and shimmy, all at once.
That band is The Orion Experience. I have been a fan of this east-coast quintet for a few years, but was reminded of how much fun they are to listen to after reading a Pop Culture Addict's review and interview with the lead singer, Orion Simprini. If you want a little insight into the group, this interview is a great read.
I think the LA Examiner summed up their style pretty well:
Take one part 70s R&B and add an equal part of rock. Add a dash of disco and sunny pop and what you have is a song by The Orion Experience. This EP is a great example of what an EP should do: namely, get you interested in more songs by the band.
This song came out in their recent release, NYC Girl. If you like them after listening to NYC Girl, I highly recommend exploring their earlier album, the aptly-named Cosmicandy.
Happy Listening!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
SongSupper
Welcome to SongSupper!
My name is Chad, and I love music. Like many people, I wish I had more time to explore all the music that is constantly being written, as well a learn more about and appreciate all the music that already exists. To that end, I have decided to start this blog for two reasons; (1) to force myself to find and review one musical work each day, and (2) to share this in a way that might benefit others who are too busy to dig into iTunes, Spotify, Grooveshark, etc. looking for something new to listen to.
Each day I will post a review of and link to a different song or piece of music. I have really eclectic tastes, so chances are you won't like everything I post and review. But know this - I will do my best to feature and promote only music that has something worth appreciating.
So to all you musically undernourished music lovers, welcome. Happy listening!
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