My Musical Alphabet : D

Good day to you all, my lovely readers. We are up to the Ds but before I start, some house keeping. Most of this stuff has been gotten from YouTube and is not mine. If it is removed, it will be for copyright reasons. I'm sure you're all smart enough to find copies for yourselves if this stuff has piqued your interest. So without further ado, let's begin.

Music does not judge, does not know of races, does not place borders...

I've said before, somewhere that I do like a nice song, I like a nice tune, the lyrics are a so-so. First up in the D section is Das Deutschlandlied. I quite like some national anthems and this is up there with the French, Italians and Swiss. Did I mention that you can purchase a cd of national anthems from reputable retailers? Just sayin'. If you are interested you can find where this damn fine tune is from FJ Haydn String Quartet in C Maj Op.76 No.3

From the sublime, we move over the border into Austria, the Tirol to be precise for DJ Ötzi. The look of puzzlement will vanish as you give your ears a feast. Another reason, if any was needed, to go skiing. There's plenty of Après-ski music and you'll find loads on your favourite digital platform.

Next up is Daddy Cool, not by Boney M but by the Darts. I'm not sure how to classify this but I do like it.

Klaus Doldinger up next with a piece called Erinnerung, a lovely tune first heard by me back in the early 80s when I first saw that brilliant, poignant war movie, Das Boot. Played by two guitars like it was meant to be.

Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two. – Fredric Chopin

And here is some more evidence:

That was Duo Op34.No.2 by Ferndinando Carulli.

Many of my older followers will name this next song in three........

Yes, a fine Dutch outfit, many an air guitarist was born with this track.

It wouldn't be right to finish without something out there. So here it is, something from the Bee Gees:

A little bit of Disco to finish off.

Want to comment? To quote Harry Callahan, all together now, "Go ahead, make my day."

Thank you for taking the time out to give this stuff a listen.

My Musical Alphabet : C

NB: I do not hold copyright on any of this stuff. It has all be pulled from Youtube.

If the link breaks, drop name a message and I'll find another one. Or you could do it yourself - after all, it's what your right hand for.

Anyway, back to the alphabet.

C is for Crap.

Only in the literal sense, you understand. You have to remember that I've been a quo fan for many, many years and I've heard all the insults. Water off a duck's back to an old codger like me.

In all seriousness, my musical Cs start here. I probably have one of the women in this house to blame for this one. Either via a shared iTunes library or some stuff, they have used their spending allowance on. Definitely not something/someone I would have bought.

Anyway, I'm sure I've heard versions edited for radio with the lyrics removed. In any case, this performance combines my liking for a pretty girl, some American swing and some dodgy lyrics. Christina Aguilera has all three as you can see/hear:

BTW this is a "C" - either for the artist or the song or some other spurious link.

I don't mind admitting that I have a soft core and I quite enjoy some "lurve" songs. Like this C from China. OK, it might be Taiwan. Different for a western ear but in no way crap. Different in that it is a western tune sung in Mandarin (I think). C is also for many things Chinese and I'll continue with the following offering from the late Teresa Teng:

My third link for the Cs is this offering from the Corrs:

 

Another song featuring pretty women - see the theme here?

Again, I'm not really sure where this was first heard or seen but I do like it and it does feature a nice bit of slide guitar.

My musical alphabet wouldn't be complete without the late Chuck Berry. Here he is on stage with someone else who may pop up elsewhere. Again, loads to choose from and there are some who have done his stuff better than him. Just think of all those Johnny B Good covers...

China Girl by the late Mr. Bowie is up next. He passed me by in the 70s. Some school mates thought he was great but the closest I got to that greatness was when I got myself a Bowie haircut. Close but no cigar as I wouldn't have been allowed into school with orange hair.

Did you know that this is from the album, "Let's Dance" featuring Stevie Ray, from the Bs earlier? Well, there you go, some useless information that links much of the stuff in this alphabet.

If you've followed this musical journey, the following Country stuff won't offend. Another dead artist, I'm afraid. The late John Denver. I like it and it was one of my mum's favourites :

My Cs will finish off with this. My bucket list contains a trip back to Paris to see this done live. It is, of course, the Can-Can. I wonder if Offenbach is doing high kicks, cartwheels and splits in his grave?

 As is usual, feel free to add any comments to this or ask any questions. And a reminder  - if you find any 12-bar, guitar-heavy, yodels then please point me in the direction. I'm still looking. Ta.

My A to Z in musical taste: B.

Before we get on to the Bs, I'd like to take this opportunity of saying that you won't be subjected to the most famous North Korean sensation that I came across on YouTube recently. It was one of those suggestions that pop up by the side and I just had to take a look. But I'll let you make that decision yourself should you find it.

My B journey begins with bagpipes. I don't know if you have to be a Scot or not but hearing the skirl of the pipes raises the hairs on my neck. I don't go around screaming, "Freedom!" but it gets close.

Anyway, my offering is the following performance at the Massed Pipes and Drums at the Royal Military Tattoo Edinburgh 2013:

This next one I can only give you audio to. You see, this band is so well produced/mixed whatever that live, they just don't do it for me - from what I've seen on the 'tube anyway. Their albums have been few and far between and had numerous personnel changes. My favourite tracks all feature the vocal talents of Mr. Brad Delp. I'm talking of course of that fine American band, Boston.

That's my favourite, "Something About You"

 Next up are a couple of Germans, one you'll have heard of and one you haven't (probably).

Firstly, the one you've heard of. The piece runs to an age, comes in four parts. This is the part you know with a minimalist production from Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra. Leave your politics and home and give your ears a feast on this:

This from the German you know, Beethoven.

The second German you've probably never heard of unless you're a "European".

Lyrics on screen in German and Italian, sing along with THAT crowd to Andrea Berg:

I probably heard this via Radio Tirol via the good old internet. I've heard a lot of stuff on the internet/radio combo but I take full responsibility.

Next up some more "Europeans", a nice pair from Spain - next door to Portugal:

That was Baccara with an early hit, "Yes Sir, I can boogie".

Did I mention that the Eurovision Song Contest was in May? A quick Youtube search for ESC Kiev will give you access to all 43 participants this year. Just sayin'.

Next up some more "Europeans", this time from Italy. I give you that great ESC-type title, Da Ba Dee from Blue.

The Bs would not be complete without this lot, all two and a half minutes of them. An early memory of mine from the best period of the Beatles, before they went weird:

I'll end with this collection:

This B would be for Blues. Like most of this compendium of stuff, I make no bones about who is listed. I could have had a whole section devoted to the Blues. I've picked ZZTop for that fine Elmore Leonard tune. I've picked Grinderswitch, also playing an old Elmore Leonard tune and finally Stevie Ray.

BTW, did you manage to hear that Grinderswitch track without expecting to hear John Peel interrupt?

So there you have it. When could you come across a blog with blues, classical and Europop all in one place?

As usual, feel free to leave any comments.

Until the next time, with some tasty Cs, cheerio!