Charging Fort Wagner

I was flipping through the channels tonight not really paying attention to what was going across my TV screen until my flipping fell upon "Glory". It's a moving story and a stirring movie (Denzel won his first Oscar thanks to this movie) about the all Black 54th regiment that fought in the Civil War. I remembered walking out on rubbery legs because I was so touched. I couldn't find a flaw with the movie and that included the music.

James Horner composed the score and it was absolutely beautiful and it would have been fine without any vocals. I don't know who came up with the genius move to have The Boys Choir of Harlem supply the vocals. Founded in 1968 by Walter Turnbull the choir received international fame and toured the globe. The choir was eventually disbanded and shut down in 2007 amid lack of funding, lawsuits, and the death of its founder Dr. Turnbull. Luckily though for us the listener they blessed the world with their amazing gifts and sounds and they brought their gifts and their famous sound to the movie Glory and this amazing track.

Those that know me know I love beautiful music and this track is absolutely beautiful. It's at the end of the movie when the 54th is charging on Fort Wagner (if you've never seen then there is something wrong with you). All I can ask is that you listen, let the music and the soaring voices wash over you. If you do that then you better for it, I promise. Enjoy.

Parker's Mood

Whenever I hear this song one word comes to mind right away and that word is "sassy". This song has a sassiness and a swagger to it that only an artist like Charlie Parker could provide. One of the brightest stars in the jazz night sky Charlie "Bird" Parker was one of the most amazingly talented and troubled souls to ever play. Often high, Bird used to proclaim he played better when he wasn't sober and if that was indeed the case then he was stoned out of his mind on this tune entitled "Parkers Mood".

The song kicks in with Birds tenor sax burning while the piano cooly plays underneath those wailing notes. Birds horn much like his personality dominates this track and it's almost like the other instruments aren't even playing. The piano solo comes in at the perfect time giving the listener a slight respite from that mean ass sax. The contrast between Birds wailing away and the subtle cool of the keys gives this song some serious depth.

This tune simmers and Charlie Parker's genius is so easily identifiable on this one song that it makes you wonder had he lived past 34 where he could have taken jazz. Much like Jimi Hendrix, Charlie "Bird" Parker Jr. died way too young but thankfully he's left us quite a cache of brilliant and amazing songs much like this one, this one which just so happens to be my favorite Bird tune. Enjoy!

I Can't Make You Love Me

What has to be in my opinion one of the prettiest songs efter crafted and excuted has to be this classic by Bonnie Raitt. It was one of the few if not the only crossover hit of her career and the one song she is most indentified with by almost every casual fan of hers (I'm sure her more devoted fans could rattle off a list of her songs they think is better than this one). Written by Michael Barry Reid and James Allen Shamblin II and on Raitts "Luck of the Draw" album, "I Can't Make You Love Me" is not only beautiful in it's melody but just as poignant in it's lyrics and Bonnie's voice sings them perfectly.

When I first heard this song I stopped whatever it was I was doing and just listened and rarely has a song ever stopped me in my tracks. Usually music propels me forward, to not only keep moving but to move faster, this song however stopped me cold. First I was astonished at how beautifully melodic it was but the more I listened to it the firmer the lyrics grabbed me. A song about unrequited love and a chorus that basically tells of a place we've all been at one point or another. We've either been both the person loving and not being loved and vice versa or one of the other.

This song has been covered by so many artists from the likes of Tank, Boyz II Men, Kenny Rogers, Prince, Patti LaBelle, George Michael and countless others and I doubt any of their versions come close to Raitt's original. You may or may not disagree with me on this being one of the prettiest songs ever written but listen to that piano towards the end of the song and I defy you to disagree with me then.

Fix Me Jesus

There is a rather large and eclectic variety of music on my blog. Everything from country to euro-pop but the one genre not represented yet has been gospel. Now those that know me know how I feel about gospel music, not a huge fan but this song when I first heard it sent chills down my spine. The second time, it brought tears to my eyes. I first heard it sitting next to my mother while we watched two marvelously skilled dancers from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform to it. It's part of their most famous "Revelations" routine and it's a standout. I watched my mother get excited when it began and then I watched her cry at it's beauty. The following year my mother and I went again and that time, I cried.

Now I have no idea who the vocalists are on this song. The soloists and the choir aren't listed on the CD so they can sadly get no love or should I say praise from me for their wonderful voices but this is a beautifully rendered song by them. This song resonates deep within me and the simple fact that I am moved every time I hear it is a testament to them.

If you've never seen Alvin Ailey's "Revelations" then you might want to put that on your bucket list. And when this song begins to play and those dancers begin to dance, be careful because you just may cry too.

Angel

There are some songs that transcends the art form. Seriously, they raise the bar and it's those kinds of songs that change you after you hear them. Sometimes that change is temporary but then there are times like with me where that change takes hold permanently. For me it started with "Sideshow" by Blue Magic and continued with Vivaldi's "Gloria", the aria "Nessun Dorma", "Mercy, Mercy Me" by Mr. Gaye, and with this song entitled "Angel" by Massive Attack. When I first heard this song I had no idea what I was hearing but the more I listened to it the more I realized that what I was actually listening to was a work of art. If this song could be made physical it would be breathtaking and it would be placed alongside other masterpieces in a museum.


The song starts off menacing, downright evil and the tone is set almost immediately. A low rumbling bassline is soon joined with some serious percussion. Those two entities are soon joined by dropped in instrumentation that just adds to the dark atmosphere and the eerie feel of the song. Then the vocals come in, light and airy over the dark track singing about love. "You are my angel/Come from way above/To bring me love" and from that point on the track starts to cook and finds its groove. The drums open up giving the song more depth and even more menace (as if that were needed). The vocals drop back in with "Her eyes/She's on the darkside/Neutralize every man in sight....love you/love you/love you..." and the guitar comes in and the song begins to swell as that bassline holds it all together and rides all the way through this song until it ends like it began. Slow and menacing.


Massive Attack has over the years made some amazing music like "Unfinished Sympathy" and "Paradise Circus" (a song that is also on this blog). "Angel" however in my opinion would have to be the jewel of the crown. It's a song I never get tired of listening to and never will. It's made me an unapologetic fan of theirs and I hope they are locked in a basement studio somewhere in London trying to come up with a song that will top this one. Good luck fellas, you're going to need it.