'...relax, enjoy the ride...' :up:

Oh, the memories. This commercial, fun blast from the past:

'Chanson D'Amour' - Manhattan Transfer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARfARi-gpWc

Coincidentally, perhaps, one of my least favourite songs of theirs. They were always a mixed bag, but at their best, the best.

They were always a mixed bag, but at their best, the best. — Wayfarer

Tell me more...
...about the best ?

Well, here's another. It was a vocal - actually the term is 'vocalese' for the kind of jazz that they do, where they sing instrumental lines - anyway, a vocal adaption of a then-hit West Coast jazz band, Spyro Gyra, and The Shaker Song. It's not a deep song but the lyrics and the general musical artistry, not to mention the apparel, are just so, well, hip.....to this aging boomer anyway....

You and I are everlasting lovers
And I know this love will never die
We will drift like clouds across the sky
And watch the world spin by
A lover's paradise

You and I have always loved in freedom
And I know this freedom is so rare
So I say that you can go or stay with me
You are the light that ends the night
You are the reason why

Yesterday my life was very empty
All my dreams were shadowed in despair
When you came you reached into my soul
You melted me like snow
in springtime's warming glow

You're the one that I have always wanted
And I know you've ever needed me
So I'll stay forever in this ecstasy
You are the light that ends the night
You are the reason why...



(composed and written by )

It was a vocal - actually the term is 'vocalese' for the kind of jazz that they do, where they sing instrumental lines - anyway, a vocal adaption of a then-hit West Coast jazz band, Spyro Gyra, and The Shaker Song. — Wayfarer

Ah. Now that is just a little bit better, way cooler than 'Chanson'. But Chanson...well...I love it too.

...the lyrics and the general musical artistry, not to mention the apparel, are just so, well, hip.....to this aging boomer anyway.... — Wayfarer

Bloomin' Boomers Bloom :flower:
Difficult to make out the lyrics. Here they are:

Shaker Song
The Manhattan Transfer

The fool screams, 'no more!'
He grabs his shirt and hits the door
What she needs from him he ignores.
It's a bore. Oh it's a bore. Oh it's a bore. Oh it's a bore.
(Oh it's a ...)

Blast the radio.
The hits just come and go.
Block out what he knows that he has blown
(That he has blown...)

The night hangs its head
As the fool crawls into bed.
Still his hungry heart begs to be fed
All the words she once said
(That she said. That she said. That she said.)

So then he grabs his Chevrolet
In one more attempt to get away
But the thoughts of all the crimes of passion lay in his way.

He can shake the blues,
But you know he still can get confused.
It seems like such a waste
'Cause he can't shake her.
He can shake his tail,
But you know his moves are getting stale
He's on the make, but oh, his heart can't fake
That he can't shake her.
He can't shake her.
No, he can't shake her.

Romance falls like rain
But all the motives are insane
Everytime that he plays the game he feels the pain
(He feels the pain. Who is to blame? Who is to blame?)

He finds a joint that's jive
Guys are spinning girls like 45's.
All of the live bait sink for his lines they are so high

He knows he is beat
As his heart puts on the heat
Run from the street that don't even fit his feet
(Don't fit his feet. Now he can see. Now he can really see)

Tell him here's a telephone
He can beg to let the fool come home
He tells her that his life's a drag alone
(Can't be alone)

He can shake the blues,
But you know he still can get confused.
It seems like such a waste
'Cause he can't shake her.
He can shake his tail,
But you know his moves are getting stale
He's on the make, but oh, his heart can't fake
That he can't shake her.
He can't shake her.
No, he can't shake her.

Songwriters: Willis Alta Sherral, Lasley David Eldon, Beckenstein Jay B
For non-commercial use only.
Data from: Musixmatch

(composed and written by ↪Wayfarer) — Olivier5

Wayfarer ? Our Wayfarer ?
What a find :cool:

Yeah, that Manhattan Transfer album was my favourite, along with Heavy Weather, and Aja, when I wrote that song. Like I said - aging boomer.

Yes, "our" Wayfarer. :-) He also plays the piano.

BTW, he titled it (or subtitled it?) "For Sophia", aka our good friend Wisdom.

The horizon is a dark line, with no option
Two bodies that were once one
Break that union
They gave way to indifference and disappointment
I know it was all part
Of an ephemeral agreement

I want to see the red of the dawn
A new day will shine
It will take away loneliness
I want to be the red of dawn
The sun will shine again
It will take away loneliness

In me you planted
Images of you, of me that come to mind
They are so intense and real
They make me suffer
I don't know how I manage to bear the situation
Of a game with its intended end
Between you and me

I want to see the red of the dawn
A new day will shine
It will take away loneliness
I want to be the red of dawn
The sun will shine again
It will take away loneliness

Quiero ver el rojo del amanecer
Un nuevo día brillará
Se llevará la soledad

For good measure...



And I don't care about it at all
Whether you laugh or dream, what you say or what you do
I don't care about anything
As much as I try, I'm playing and I don't care about anything….

along with Heavy Weather, and Aja, when I wrote that song. Like I said - aging boomer. — Wayfarer

You. Are. A. Genius.
How come I am just finding this out ?
Along with all the other talented creatives on this forum...
Come on @jamalrob @Baden et al.
Really need a special creative space to showcase such - in 'The Symposium' or whatever.

I am such a bloomin' lightweight who needs the inspiration with so much still to learn.
I have only had a flickering glimpse at what is out there.
Never heard of Aja but yes I heard Steely Dan and this:

'Reelin' In The Years' - Steely Dan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b64fHP9cpVQ

Yes, "our" Wayfarer. :-) He also plays the piano.

BTW, he titled it (or subtitled it?) "For Sophia", aka our good friend Wisdom. — Olivier5

How and when did you discover this amazingness ?

Thank you.

How and when did you discover this amazingness ? — Amity

By PM.

The back story is, Olivier mentioned Sophia, and I impulsively posted a link to my song of that name. Then I thought better of it, removed it from the thread, and sent it by PM to Olivier. I'm gratified that he posted it, and that you like it, it always means a lot to me.

The back story to the back story - I wrote that song in my mid-20's, at the time, I was discovering...well, what was it....kind of 'consciousness trainings' through various sources. I went on retreat at a Buddhist centre in my locality, when I came back, that song came to me. There was a genuine sense of Sophia-wisdom that inspired it. Not that there was any great vision or imagery even, but a sense of the presence of wisdom. Subtle but real. At the time I was very much into the 'way of negation'.

Not long afterwards, I did a jazz summer school at the Conservatorium and one of the instructors was a well-known female vocalist, Kerrie Biddell (no longer with us). I gave her a copy of the song on cassette tape, and much to my surprise, when I went to the well-known Sydney jazz venue, The Basement, not long after that, she announced that she was singing it. It became part of her repertoire for the next couple of years, although she never recorded it and I never made anything from her performing it. Since then I've continued to write songs, nowadays with music technology I have produced some of them, although the version that is linked was recorded analogue, keyboard, bass, drums and vocal direct to tape - different vocalist, and not really in her key, as any producer could tell from the recording. But I will always love that song, and the idea of Sophia as the 'beautiful feminine' has stayed with me always from that time.

The back story is, Olivier mentioned Sophia, and I impulsively posted a link to my song of that name. Then I thought better of it, removed it from the thread, and sent it by PM to Olivier. I'm gratified that you like it, it always means a lot to me. — Wayfarer

Thank you. I am sure many more will more than 'like it'.

The back story to the back story - I wrote that song in my mid-20's, at the time, I was discovering...well, what was it....kind of 'consciousness trainings' through various sources. I went on retreat at a Buddhist centre in my locality, when I came back, that song came to me. There was a genuine sense of Sophia-wisdom that inspired it. Not that there was any great vision or imagery even, but a sense of the presence of wisdom. Subtle but real. — Wayfarer

This is so very generous of you to share. 'A sense of the presence of wisdom'. Wow.

At the time I was very much into the 'way of negation'. — Wayfarer

Sorry, but I don't understand this.

Not long afterwards, I did a jazz summer school at the Conservatorium and one of the instructors was a well-known female vocalist, Kerrie Biddell (no longer with us). I gave her a copy of the song on cassette tape, and much to my surprise, when I went to the well-known Sydney jazz venue, The Basement, not long after that, she announced that she was singing it. It became part of her repertoire for the next couple of years, although she never recorded it and I never made anything from her performing it. — Wayfarer

This is astounding. You should be famous. And rich. Perhaps you are...in your own way, rich.

Since then I've continued to write songs, nowadays with music technology I have produced some of them, although the version that is linked was recorded analogue, keyboard, bass, drums and vocal direct to tape — Wayfarer

Well. This is astonishing. How many more superlatives can I find. Not enough.
Are they being performed anywhere ? Do you still feel that sense of wisdom when you create...?
You can tell, I am just a wee bit overwhelmed by all of this...

At the time I was very much into the 'way of negation'.
— Wayfarer
Sorry, but I don't understand this. — Amity

It is of course a very difficult thing to explain, but it’s a facet of the mystical text ‘the cloud of unknowing’. At the time I had had my first encounter with formal meditation practice. Nothing fancy, 20 minute sessions, but complemented by a lot of reading, hanging out at the Adyar Bookshop (which of course no longer exists.)

Anyway, long story short - not long after all of that, I met my to-be wife. Now have two grown sons, three (almost four) grandchildren. ‘Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans’ has remained one of my favourite sayings. I never did get a career in music, but then, it’s a notorious field of dreams. At least I can write and play. Have I retained that sense of wisdom? Well, I’d never claim to be wise, but I think it’s imparted a sense that there is such a thing, and that we should aspire to it. Maybe that’s enough. It sure gave me a sense of why the ancients dedicated those beautiful sculptures to Sophia. You have to have that feeling for philosophy to be meaningful. Which leads back to the remark that Olivier made, which led me to post this song.

Welcome. I love Casal for her music, now realize that the lyrics are a bit bland... Anyway. Deep is relative.

I'm gratified that he posted it — Wayfarer

This thread is dedicated to the relevance to our personal philosophies of modern popular songs and musics -- jazz, blues, rock, pop, to which I add a meager spicing of franco-italiano-spanish chansons, often poorly translated in English by your humble servant not to offend the gods of TPF. This place is for songs saying meaningful things to people.

Songs in German have been posted here. That should tell you how open we are. ;-)

You were kind enough to link me up to a song about (essentially) philosophy, or the pursuit and love of wisdom, written by a TPF regular (yourself), a song which I liked quite a lot. You bet I'm gonna post it here. Thank you for it.

This is good for working, though a bit hypnotic like house music can be. It's about rhythm in life and speech in an African context. Not without its clichés but a decent take.

Life has a rhythm, it's constantly moving.
The word for rhythm ( used by the Malinke tribes ) is FOLI.
It is a word that encompasses so much more than drumming, dancing or sound.
It's found in every part of daily life.
In this film you not only hear and feel rhythm but you see it.
It's an extraordinary blend of image and sound that
feeds the senses and reminds us all
how essential it is.

I remember the thirty-five sweet goodbyes
When you put me on the Wolverine
Up to Annandale
It was still September
When your daddy was quite surprised
To find you with the working girls
In the county jail
I was smoking with the boys upstairs
When I heard about the whole affair
I said oh no
William and Mary won't do

[Chorus:]
Well I did not think the girl
Could be so cruel
And I'm never going back
To my old school

Oleanders growing outside her door
Soon they're gonna be in bloom
Up in Annandale
I can't stand her
Doing what she did before
Living like a gypsy queen
In a fairy tale
Well I hear the whistle but I can't go
I'm gonna take her down to Mexico
She said oh no
Guadalajara won't do

[Chorus]

California tumbles into the sea
That'll be the day I go
Back to Annandale
Tried to warn you
About Chino and Daddy Gee
But I can't seem to get to you
Through the U.S. Mail
Well I hear the whistle but I can't go
I'm gonna take her down to Mexico
She said oh no
Guadalajara won't do

[Chorus]

"My Old School" (5:48)
Countdown to Ecstasy, 1973
Steely Dan

*

Long distance information,
give me Memphis, Tennessee
Help me find the party
trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number,
but I know who placed the call
'Cause my uncle took the message
and he wrote it on the wall

Help me, information,
get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here
from Memphis, Tennessee
Her home is on the south side,
high up on a ridge
Just a half a mile
from the Mississippi bridge

Help me, information,
more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her
and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because
her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home
in Memphis, Tennessee

Last time I saw Marie,
she was waving me goodbye
With hurry-home drops on her cheek
that trickled from her eye
Marie is only 6 years old,
information, please
Try to put me through to her
in Memphis, Tennessee

"Memphis, Tennessee" (2:12)
B-side single, 1959
Chuck Berry

it’s a facet of the mystical text ‘the cloud of unknowing’. — Wayfarer

OK. But that still doesn't help me understand what you mean by the 'way of negation'.
Do I need to read the text ? Or can you paraphrase ?

I never did get a career in music, but then, it’s a notorious field of dreams. At least I can write and play. — Wayfarer

'At least' - and it is never too late. Even now, you could be a 'one-hit wonder'...which might lead to more.

It sure gave me a sense of why the ancients dedicated those beautiful sculptures to Sophia. You have to have that feeling for philosophy to be meaningful. Which leads back to the remark that Olivier made, which led me to post this song. — Wayfarer

I hate to admit this but I can't even remember seeing any sculptures of Sophia !
What remark did Olivier make ?
[Edit: I got it - https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/554910 -
'It's another way to defang our good friend Sophia: make her a bureaucrat' ]

I met my to-be wife. Now have two grown sons, three (almost four) grandchildren. ‘Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans’ has remained one of my favourite sayings. — Wayfarer

I like that saying too. You appear to have had a most balanced and fulfilling life... and it ain't over yet.
Ta for sharing :sparkle:

though a bit hypnotic — Olivier5

It is mesmerising. My eyelids became heavy and I almost dropped off at 5mins in.
But I struggled to keep awake and it was SO worth it.

In this film you not only hear and feel rhythm but you see it.
It's an extraordinary blend of image and sound that feeds the senses and reminds us all
how essential it is. — Olivier5

Even as I listened and watched, I couldn't help but feel how our way of life and rhythm differs.
Strange experience to watch this old culture struggling to keep alive...from the comfort of my home with all modern conveniences and technology.

We have the rhythm of tap-tapping our keyboards...essential in some ways...
And we listen to 'deep songs'...

, I couldn't help but feel how our way of life and rhythm differs.
Strange experience to watch this old culture struggling to keep alive...from the comfort of my home with all modern conveniences and technology. — Amity

I'll try and see where that takes me... I will start with the platitude or cliché that Africans have a good sense of rhythm. I think this is broadly borne by facts, as a crude generality, although there are good percussionists outside Africa of course (in India notably) -- African rhythms have a certain spontaneity, a dense creativity, an intensity that's difficult to match.

The movie tries to show how, in a Mandingue context (a tribe somewhat dominant in Mali), rhythm is everywhere, explicitly so.

Note that the Mandingue are said to have invented the blues. So their culture is more than alive: it has become a big part of our culture, through the music brought to the Americas by African slaves from the gulf of Guinea. From your desk top maybe you also listen to blues and jazz once in a while? If yes, you're listening to (highly evolved) Mandingue music.

As the griot says, rhythm is everywhere. In breathing, heart beats, life. In walking; in working (especially working together as shown in the movie). In speech and in music.

I bet something funny happens when you listen to it... The rhythm takes over you. First it makes you dizzy. Then, you want to surrender your body to it, and your soul too. You want to dance. Dance is a sort of walk to nowhere, in which your body follows or rather inhabits and marks the rhythm. So you start to move your feet under your desk. Tap tap tap. Shake your hand a bit, tchick tchick...

Them Mandingue make you want to move your ass and work with them, dance with them, play with them in that rhythm.

Rhythm becomes you. And you want to add to it, to contribute your own creativity to it. To blend in it but still exist in it as you.

And if they are several of you listening, you can dance together by the magic of the rhythm. Your dance becomes a ballet.

So rhythm is about being together, about several souls (or organs, for the body) fusing and becoming one in the same action but without losing individual identity and creativity.

Rhythm makes room in our mind for collaboration, like in a ballet, or like three guys hammering the same pole. Ting. Ting. Ting.

like three guys hammering the same pole. Ting. Ting. Ting. — Olivier5

That was quite something.

I'll try and see where that takes me... — Olivier5

Rhythm becomes you. — Olivier5

if they are several of you listening, you can dance together by the magic of the rhythm — Olivier5

We can be together even when apart.
Ting, ting.

You probably know that your writing is quite mesmerising and magical - are you tempted to 'dance' competitively ? https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/11252/poll-short-story-competition-proposal

Even the one-liners are appreciated:
'When the wise points at the stars, you dissect his finger.'

'When the wise points at the stars, you dissect his finger.' — Amity

Ha ha! Glad you liked it. I felt pretty good after nailing that one. :-)

Some Mandingue blues...