Tag Archives: Music

Interests

Dave Matthew Band: Funny The Way It Is

I was listening to the radio the other day when this song came on that really grabbed my attention. No – it wasn’t the music licks or the bass notes. What really hit me was the words being sung.

The song was “Funny The Way It Is” by the Dave Matthew Band.

I invite you to watch the video and listen to the lyrics (or read them below). I wish I could find the to express my thoughts…. oh well… Undecided

 

 

[@more@]

 

Dave Matthew Band: "Funny The Way It Is" Lyrics

Lying in the park on a beautiful day,
sunshine in the grass, and the children play.
Siren’s passing, fire engine red,
someone’s house is burning down on a day like this?

The evening comes and we’re hanging out,
On the front step, and a car rolls by with the windows rolled down,
And that war song is playing, “why can’t we be friends?”
Someone iss screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
Somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody’s heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song

the way your mouth feels in your lovers kiss
Like a pretty bird on a breeze or water to a fish
A bomb blast brings a building crashing to the floor
You can hear the laughter, while the children play “war”

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
one kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under me
It must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small. Remember how it used to be,
with mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?

Watch the sky, the jet planes, so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
Boy chase a bird, so close but every time
He’ll never catch her, but he can’t stop trying

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
one kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
on a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born
Funny the way it is, nor right or wrong
Somebody’s broken heart becomes your favorite song
Funny the way it is, if you think about it
A kid walks 10 miles to school, another’s dropping out.

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing under me
It must’ve been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small. Remember how it used to be,
with mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars?

Interests

Firekites: “The Bowery”

Haunting. Smooth. Refreshing.

Three words used to describe the Firekites’ debut album “The Bowery”.

The Firekites are a new Indie, Jazz, Acousmatic band from Australia with a very soft and jazzy feel.

I don't know how to describe it…but it's almost like their vocals are playing backup to their music. It's there..but the it is the haunting sounds of the guitar and piano that take center stage.

I "discovered" them on the desk of a co-worker – who got them from somewhere….

As I listened to their album, I became intrigued by their folksy sound.

Similar to Norah Jones, the Firekites would be perfect in the evening as you unwind from a tough day.

Interests

Not Too Late – Norah Jones

Ever once in a while I get the craving for something different – depending on where I'm standing; this craving can be good, bad or disturbing. Undecided

This time the craving hit me while standing in front of the CD shelve at the local library. Lucky, the shelves did not collapse…

Norah Jones newest album Not Too Late was the cause of this disaster – only, it seem that her smooth jazzy voice is very, very calming.

Yelp – it's one of those smooth jazz albums. And I must say, it's pretty good.

In fact, I have requested her debut album from the library as well.

If you get the time, check out Norah Jones for some jazzy, folksy music – great for relaxing at time with a glass of wine. Cool

Interests, Theology Thoughts

Fix You by Offspring

Yeah…I’m on an Offspring kick. =)

I was listening to this song the other day and thinking about the lyrics:

Broken wing
Empty glass
Words that scream and bounce right back
She says, you know
We'd all like to rearrange

I wish I could fix you
And make you how I want you
I wish I could fix you
And I wish you could fix me

I wish I could heal you
And mend where you are broken
I wish I could heal you
And I wish you could heal me

How many times have we wanted to “fix” others? Our spouses, boy/girl friends, best friends, family members….

One of the best lessons I've ever learned was that there is only one person who can "fix" another. If we want our love ones to be fixed, we have to allows the Son of Man to work on them.

And when I say "allow", I mean "allow". [@more@]

A lot of times we say that we want a person "fixed" or "healed", but what we really mean is that we want that person to act or behavior like we would.

By allowing God to work, we need to take a step back and let that person live their life according to what God is doing. Yeah – it's hard – 'cause we want to see results!

We want to be apart of the process…yet there is only one.

8 "But you, O Israel, my servant,
       Jacob, whom I have chosen,
       you descendants of Abraham my friend,

 9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
       from its farthest corners I called you.
       I said, 'You are my servant';
       I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

 10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
       do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
       I will strengthen you and help you;
       I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 11 "All who rage against you
       will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
       those who oppose you
       will be as nothing and perish. (Isaiah 41)

Interests

Stuff is Messed Up by Offspring

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Yeah…what they said…

 

 

The Lyrics:

Now I don't know, and it's hard to explain
But it seems like things are just kind of insane
Because the world is crying
But nobody's listening
So please leave a message on my cell phone[@more@]

I see bullets getting better
Biblical weather
And that guy on TV is like a total asshole

Who are you wearing tonight?
Celebrity fundraiser, tight!
Black ties making wrongs right
How's your social Band-Aid?

I don't know much
I don't know too much
But I know this
Shit is fucked up!


I guess it's all about the dream
The ends justify the means
You know it's all about the dream
The ends justify the means

Now thank god for the media, for saving the day
Putting it all into perspective in a responsible way
With more celebrity news
Typical bullshit views
I think we're losing this fight
Sponsored by Bud Light

And now we're rockin' the casbah
And taking the flak
The genie's out of the bottle, and we can't put it back
All this stuff
It's overwhelming my brain
Can you see the storm comin'?
It's coming this way

I don't know much
I don't know too much
But I know this
Shit is fucked up!

I guess it's all about the dream
The ends justify the means
You know it's all about the dream
The ends justify the means

Shopping Sprees, RPG's
Ecstasy
Atrophy
Genocide
Pimp my ride
Politize
Euphemize
Injustice everywhere
Apathy
I don't care
Hurricanes
Climate change
Huh!

Therapy, I won't tell
Rehab and LOL
Worldwide calamity
TV Reality
Euthanize, supersize
Death squads and boob jobs
VIP infamy
Gratify instantly

I don't know much
I don't know too much
I don't know much
I don't know too much

Interests, Theology Thoughts

Grunge, Greenday, and Theology

I know I’m 15 years too late… sigh….   better late then never, right?

It’s kind of funny, actually.

I remember when my cousin first introduced me to Nirvana and grunge music – yet, being during my rebellion stage, I decided to listen to country music. Sad isn’t it? Undecided

Now, many years later, I’m finally getting into the whole grunge thing. Well… maybe…. I guess you can say that I’m dipping my toe into the grunge waters. Yeah – that’s more like it. Next thing you know I’ll be looking online at websites like Lychee the Label to find my grunge ‘look’. Tongue out

Hmm… what did I start off to say? OH – I remember!

Greenday – they are one of the very few grunge bands who made the transition to the main stream (of course, some folks say they betrayed their roots to do so….).

I have been listening to Greenday’s International Superhits! album and have fallen in love with two of their songs: Warning and Minority.

Both songs deal with the rebelling against the rules and authority of the society. Warning does this by promoting the view of questioning everything:[@more@]

Is it the cop, or am I the one thats really dangerous?
Sanitation, expiration date, question everything.
Or shut up and be a victim of authority

Minority on the other hand glorifies the lifestyle of the minority in contrasts to the majority:

Stepped out of the line
Like a sheep runs from the herd
Marching out of time
To my own beat now
The only way I know

To me – these songs are full of emotions and feelings that go beyond railing against society and the evils of our government. They are a reflection of…well… my heart and my feelings.

The more I learn about God and the Bible, the more I question the worldview I was raised under and the theological mindset promoted. It’s not that this mindset is wrong per say or is heretical…is just that God is bigger.

A lot of people think that questioning God or the church is wrong and should be stopped…yet, God told Isaiah to come and reason with Him. God is big enough to handle our questions – and the church…..well, didn’t the prophets of old question the status quo?

If we stop questioning “why” we do things, then we have become robots – obeying an organization just because.

It is in this vein that I question the purely black and white stances of the “religious right” and their political ambitions:

I want to be the minority
I don’t need your authority
Down with the moral majority
‘Cause I want to be the minority

Yes – a lot of times the minority is wrong (cults groups and the like). Yet….yet… in a lot of ways, the church is called to be the minority. We know that we live in an age of darkness ruled by the prince of darkness….  We are to be a light to the world – a bright minority that outshines the majority.

One light, one mind
Flashing in the dark
Blinded by the silence of a thousand broken hearts
Interests

The Echoing Green: Music Review

Me gusta.  Yelp that’s about it.

A friend introduced me to The Echoing Green a few months ago – however, I was unable to get my hands on an album until today. (well, technically I snatched the CD on Tuesday – but I didn’t get around to listening to it until today).

So, who is The Echoing Green?  They are a electronica / synthpop band – otherwise known as a techno.

Any hoot, I like the Echoing Green. Their music is sweet, soothing, and very relaxing – yet, it also has a driving beat that makes your feet go mad with rhythm. Tis a good thing.

Give them a try – I’m sure you will like them. Laughing
   

Interests, Theology Thoughts

Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against

We had a place that we could call home,
And a life no one could touch…

We are the angry and the desperate,
The hungry, and the cold,
We are the ones who kept quiet,
And always did what we were told….

But we’ve been sweating while you slept so calm,
In the safety of your home….

–Prayer of the Refugee by Rise Against

Can you hear the cry? The emotions? The pain in these lyrics?  

I could!!!![@more@]

And as I listened, my spirit recalled the words spoken long ago:

Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
       Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
       who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He lies in wait near the villages;
       from ambush he murders the innocent,
       watching in secret for his victims.
 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
       he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
       he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
       they fall under his strength.

-Psalms 10:1-2,8-10,12

Rise Against end their song with proclamation that they will no longer stand idlly by, but they will stand up and fight:

So open your eyes child…

Keep quiet no longer,
We’ll sing through the day,
Of the lives that we’ve lost,
And the lives we’ve reclaimed.

Don’t hold me up now,
I can stand my own ground,
I don’t need your help now,
You will let me down, down, down!

In a similar vein, Psalms 10 ends with a proclamation – the difference is that the Psalmist proclaims that God is King:

The LORD is King for ever and ever;
       the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
       you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
       in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Let the Church rise up and proclaim the reign and rule of the Lord Almighty!!

May we no longer sit on the sidelines of the greatest battle of all times!! 

Interests

The Offspring

A co-worker loaned me The Offspring’s latest album “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace” – and it is very good. Smile  I might have to pick up a copy myself…or at the very least, download a few songs.

For those you who don’t know who The Offspring are, they are a puck rock band from California. They have been around since 1984 – mostly as an independent rock group. They had their biggest hit in 1998 with the album “Americana”.

But I digress – “Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace”… that is the album I’m talking about. Tongue out

There are some sweet songs on it. My favorite are:

  • “Stuff Is Messed Up”
  • “Fix You”
  • “Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?”
  • "Nothingtown"

As you might of guessed from the song titles, these are not songs-from-a-can like 95% of the songs on the radio are. These are songs about real life, real people in real situations. It's not EMO stuff. It's just real people singing real songs. 

And then there's the great bass and the smooth electric guitar coming through like a knife through butter. Life is good. Cool