Summer/Vama Veche

I dream of summer nights... I dream of feeling sand between my toes and of a warm sea breeze. I dream it's just after sunset. The sun has gone down yet suddenly everything comes to life. Somewhere, someone is playing the guitar. Songs of days gone by and of days to come. Songs of happiness, of sorrow, of you and of me. 
A walk by the water perhaps? The sea is gentle and calm, the waves seem to be in sync with the music. You can hear people singing in the distance, you can hear them laughing. Someone decides to go for a swim. 
How about lying down for a while? You close your eyes and take it all in... And you think nothing could be as perfect. 
Maybe a kiss, a soft touch, a whispered 'I love you'...? Maybe just the night or maybe forever. I dream of summer nights... 

PS: There's only one place I can think of... Vama Veche






Vama Veche - Cu Tine

It's The End Of The World As We Know It... And I Feel Fine

Inevitably, this song popped into my head the other day. Quite a cliche, isn't it? Well I'm not too sure that it really works right now. Civil War in Libya, an earthquake in Japan (plus the possibility of nuclear disaster), protests in Bahrain, Yemen, and pretty much the whole of the Middle East, the U.N.'s inability to make any decisions about it, etc., etc. These are just a few of the things going on lately. 

I could probably go on and on about the situation in Libya. But I'm not going to bore you with that. All I will say is that I'm so unbelievably frustrated about the whole thing. Every time I watch the news I get a headache. The news reports about Japan are painful to watch as well. Apparently we can't get enough of seeing horrifying videos of people being taken away by the water. Somehow, everything's gone up in smoke at the same time. But if you stop and think about it, this whole year has been marked by shocking events. Remember the Moscow Airport bombings for example. Furthermore, natural disasters such as earthquakes have been on the increase in the past decade. Unrest in the Middle East (and not to mention the war in Afghanistan or Iraq) are also on the news on a monthly basis. So, is it really the end of the world as we know it? Or is this just, life as we know it?

It seems to me that these things have now become the norm. The situation is not getting worse, it's become the normal situation. Either way, I don't particularly like it. But as the song goes, "and I feel fine..."

R.E.M. - It's The End Of The World As We Know It... And I Feel Fine

Poezie pentru suflet

Te uita cum ninge decembre…

Spre geamuri, iubito, priveste -
Mai spune s-aduca jaratec
Si focul s-aud cum trosneste.

Si mâna fotoliul spre soba,
La horn sa ascult vijelia,
Sau zilele mele - totuna -
As vrea sa le-nvat simfonia.

Mai spune s-aduca si ceaiul,
Si vino si tu mai aproape, -
Citeste-mi ceva de la poluri,
Si ninga… zapada ne-ngroape.

Ce cald e aicea la tine,
Si toate din casa mi-s sfinte, -
Te uita cum ninge decembre…
Nu râde… citeste nainte.

E ziua si ce întuneric…
Mai spune s-aduca si lampa -
Te uita, zapada-i cât gardul,
Si-a prins promoroaca si clampa.

Eu nu ma mai duc azi acasa…
Potop e-napoi si nainte,
Te uita cum ninge decembre…
Nu râde… citeste nainte.

Decembre, de George Bacovia

Here We Go Again

It's 3 am and I'm in bed listening to Norah Jones. And as usual I can't seem to be able to fall asleep... 

So as my mind was drifting away to many places a question popped into my head (yet again). Some time ago, a friend asked me this: "Is love ever enough?". I gave it some thought, but couldn't really decide on an answer. And I don't have a proper one tonight. But maybe it can be. Why? Because everyday something happens which makes me sad and believing in things like this make me smile. I'm well aware that most of the time love isn't enough, whether it's because of people being miles apart, someone having a moment of doubt or whatever. But once in a while it seems to be possible. Somehow, somewhere, love is enough. All I can say is that I want to believe it is.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Norah Jones & Ray Charles - Here We Go Again

Classical Music - My favourite pieces

A while ago I decided to treat myself with a long bubbly bath, a glass (or two) of red wine and some classical music. That was probably the most relaxing evening I've had this whole year. And it was mostly due to the music. So now I want to share my favourite pieces of relaxing classical music with you. Enjoy!

1. Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)
2. Suite No. 3 In D Major, BWV 1068: Air - Johann Sebastian Bach (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)
3. Peer Gynt: Prelude (Morning) - Edvard Grieg (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)
4. Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata No. 208 (Arr. Marriner) - Johann Sebastian Bach (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: II Adagio Sostenuto - Sergei Rachmaninov (Cecile Ousset)
6. Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII - Sergei Rachmaninov (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra)
7. Gabriel's Oboe - Ennio Morricone
8. Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - Opening - Joaquín Rodrigo (Julian Bream)
9. Variations On an Original Theme, 'Enigma', Op. 36: IX. Nimrod - Edward Elgar (London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Adrian Boult)
10. Cavatina - Stanley Myers (Manuel Barrueco & Steve Morse)
11. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E Minor, Op. 11: II. Romance: Larghetto - Frédéric Franciszek Chopin (Martha Argerich)
12. Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor 'Moonlight', Op. 27, No. 2: I. Adagio Sostenuto - Ludwig van Beethoven (Moura Lympany)
13. Suite Bergamasque: Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy (Moura Lympany)
14. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana - Pietro Mascagni (Philharmonia Orchestra)
15. Cinema Paradiso Love Theme - Ennio Morricone (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
16. Romance from the Gadfly - Dmitri Shostakovich (Tasmin Little)
17. Double Violin Concerto In D Minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo Ma non Tanto (Opening) - Johann Sebastian Bach (Yehudi Menuhin)
18. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 26: II. Adagio (Opening) - Max Bruch (Yehudi Menuhin)
19. Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: I. Prélude - Johann Sebastian Bach (Yo Yo Ma)
20. Brahms: Waltz In A Flat, Op. 39/15 - Johannes Brahms (Katia & Marielle Labèque)

There's no particular order to the list, but I do have a favourite! Unfortunately it's not the same version as the one in the list, but there you go. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their psychedelic and progressive rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful rock music groups of all time. It is estimated that they have sold over 200 million albums worldwide.

The band originally consisted of university students Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett. Founded in 1965, they first became popular playing in London's underground music scene in the late 1960s. Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd several months prior to Barrett's departure from the group due to deteriorating mental health in 1968. Following the loss of their principal songwriter, Pink Floyd bassist and vocalist Roger Waters became the band's lyricist and conceptual leader, with Gilmour assuming lead guitar and sharing lead vocals. With this lineup Pink Floyd achieved worldwide critical and commercial success with The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall.

Numerous artists have been influenced by Pink Floyd's work. David Bowie has called Syd Barrett a major inspiration. A teenage The Edge (of U2 fame) bought his first delay pedal after hearing the opening to Animals, and the Pet Shop Boys paid homage to The Wall during a performance in Boston. Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery has cited Wish You Were Here as a major inspiration. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 17 January 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame on 16 November 2005. (Wikipedia)

There's a hell of a lot more to say about them, but you can google that yourself. In the mean time, here's a suggestion. Instead of wasting your evening on Facebook or watching random TV download 'Dark Side of the Moon', turn the lights off and listen to the album from beginning to end. It's really worth it. And it's my all time favourite album.

'Comfortably Numb' is actually a track from Pink Floyd's album 'The Wall'. I thought I'd post it as it has the best guitar solo I've ever heard. And you should listen to the whole of 'Dark Side of the Moon', not just one track. Otherwise, it just ruins the experience.

The Book of Love

It's winter in London. And it's cold. But it's the kind of cold that makes me want to go out for a walk. So I did just that and discovered that London looks like it's been taken out of a fairytale around the holidays.
Anyway, as I was walking towards Oxford Circus on my way home I overheard a short conversation:

She said: "It's cold. Can I put my hand in your pocket?"
He replied: "Of course dear."

For some reason this stuck with me. I found it really sweet and it made me smile when I heard it. I love winter, because there's always an 'excuse' to get closer. "It's cold!" :)

'The Book of Love" is Peter Gabriel's cover of The Magnetic Fields' song. It was also a song from the movie "Shall We Dance?" and from the TV series "Scrubs". Peter Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist, flautist and founding member of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, he went on to have a very successful solo career. Gabriel was also awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.