Singing Bear

this album has tones that are flamboyant and are a blend of soothing and captivating tunes.

Flower Child

I'm loving your adjectives, but what album are you talking about singing bear?

Flower Child

SONG: Paris Blues
ARTIST: Django Reinhardt
ALBUM: The Art of Jazz Guitar



Marry me you two fingered guitar playing gypsy fool.

Everything about this song is perfect. And its so perfect because its not perfect at all. The sound quality is so bad its good. Its muddled and fuzzy and dark and distant. The atmophere of the song is so strong and charismatic- it transports you so far away from where you are. I love songs that can do that. You know, I have never been to Paris. I've never been anywhere even close. But to me, this song really captures everything I think of Paris to be. Everything I hope Paris would be. It surpasses simply being genuis musical art because when I hear it, it paints such a clear picture in my head. I find it amazing how an artist can accomplish just that without ever saying a word.

I have to point out a part in particular that is just so good it makes me wince. The emotion and power leads up in such a way and hits such a climax that it just knocks the wind right out me. Its all about how the instruments contrast and work together. Its almost like they each have thier own little personality. At about 2:30 the drummer starts on this wild solo and then the suspence builds and the clarinet (or sax, I can't tell which it is) just comes in and screams out its part at the highest point of suspence and follows it up with a few little cheeky bouts and almost sends me into cardiac arrest. And it ends not too long after that and you're left sitting there wondering what just hit you.

Its really wonderful.

VEGANGELICA

Your write-up makes the music sound very enticing...you notice so many details...so I gave it a listen (on youtube): YouTube - Django Reinhardt - Paris Blues

I agree with you, it is nice when a song creates a strong mood and atmosphere, transporting you elsewhere. This song doesn't make me think of Paris though, exactly...it makes me think of the Aristocats! The song is playful and upbeat, just like many in that movie:



By the way, Flower, I'm quite sure the instrument that comes in after the drum solo is a clarinet, because I play(ed) clarinet. A little squeaky and piercing, but fun with a lot of personality.

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Bulldog

You've basically summed up the whole appeal of raw, grainy, pre-an-kind-of-modern-music-industry jazz and Delta blues to me. Cracking write-up as always

While we're comparing tunes that remind us of Paris though, this one takes the biscuit for me;



^ Any excuse to post a bit of Yann

As far as modern guitar jazz goes, I can't remember many names off the top of my head, but it'd be wort checking out this fella by the name of Eivind Aarset. He does dabble in IDM quite a bit, so sounds a lot different from any the classic stuff, but it's a name I can chuck out there anyway.

Flower Child

I have said it before and I will say it again, The Aristocats is the best movie Disney has ever put out and will ever put out. But it only fitting that it reminds you of that movie because it was set in Paris.

I find it interesting how people can listen to the same song and see it so much differently, because when I hear this song I feel it has more of a dark ominous feel rather than playful and upbeat. Its amazing how we all take in music a bit differently.

Anyway thanks Vegan for your comments and having a listen.

Good to hear from you Bulldog!

Oh Yann....
I was first introduced to Yann by Gavin B's journal and was hooked from that point on. And I completely agree with you on that great Paris sound he has going on. I think its all about the instruments he uses. And how he uses them of course. I'm pretty sure if I ever walked into a haunted circus in the middle of Paris I would hear his music playing. I mean, with a name like Yann Tiersen, he better be composing some brilliant masterpieces by god!

And thanks for the suggestions. Eivind Aarset sounds very interesting, consider him on my list.

NumberNineDream

^ Glad to see the Yann love spreading

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Bulldog

It's been my absolute pleasure

Shame more people, on or offline, don't know who he is though. I think I spent about a week listening to his music non-stop when I first discovered him.

NumberNineDream

Same thing. But when I discovered him, I didn't know much about music, so there was nothing else to listen to lol.
I saw him live last November, it was truly awesome. So if he ever toured on your side of the pond, try not to miss it.

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Scarlett O'Hara

I love that song!

Great journal Flower child, you've inspired me to be more attentive to my own.

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