Six favourite songs

[vaneramos]

draco_kc tagged me for this meme, and I submit this response. I had an easy time picking a list of 10 songs or so that have held special significance in my life. Narrowing it down was harder. The result is almost autobiographical. Clicking the link on each song name and scrolling down the page you can find a sound clip playable in WMP or RealPlayer.

1. Nuit resplendissante by Charles Gounod (1818-1893). Since my childhood, CBC Radio has contributed immeasurably to my appreciation of Classical music. I discovered this aria several years ago on Sound Advice, a guide to new recordings. I was captivated partly by the artistry of Magdalena Kožená, but songs about the night have a special, inexplicable place with me, as evidenced by all three of my Classical selections in this meme.

   Nuit resplendissante et silencieuse,
   Ah verse mon cœur
   Ta paix et ta douceur!
   Dands tes profondeurs, nuit délicieuse,
   Les astres en feu
   Dorment dans l'éther bleu,
   Une brise pure,
   Un vague murmure,
   Sous le ciel clair,
   Glissent dans l'air
   Sans éveiller la tranquille nature!
   
   Seule, je veille, et le cœur plein d'émoi,
   Tandis que passe l'heure lente,
   En vain j'implore, frissonante,
   Le calme solennel qui règne autour de moi....
   
   (translation)
   
   Radiant, silent night,
   ah! Pour your peace
   and your sweetness into my heart!
   Night of beauty, in your depths,
   the blazing stars
   sleep in the blue ether,
   a clear breeze,
   a vague murmuring
   under the open sky
   float through the air
   without waking peaceful nature!
   
   I watch alone, my heart filled with anguish,
   while the time slowly passes,
   I plead in vain, trembling,
   for the solemn calm which reigns all about me.



2. Nachthelle by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). All songwriters today owe a certain debt to the modest Schubert. The modern form of a short, free-standing song with poetic lyrics and simple instrumental accompaniment originated in the German Lied. Schubert was one of the first to use this form, and he championed it, writing over 500 songs in his short career. Most were composed for solo voice and piano but this haunting setting for piano, tenor and male chorus has been a favourite since my teens. Its German style is unmistakable, but coloured by Schubert's distinctive charm and unexpected key changes.

   Die Nacht ist heiter und is rein
   im allerhellsten Glanz.
   Die Häuser schaun verwundert drein,
   stehn übersilbert ganz.
   
   In mir ist's hell so wunderbar,
   so voll under übervoll
   und wlatet drinnen frei und klar
   ganz ohne Leid und Groll.
   
   Ich faß' in meinem Herzenshaus
   nicht all das reiche Licht,
   es will hinaus, es muß hinaus,
   die letzte Schranke bricht.
   
   (translation)
   
   The night is fair and clear
   and shining at its brightest.
   The houses look amazed,
   Being silvered all over.
   
   It is so wonderfully bright inside me,
   so full, over-full,
   all within is free and clear,
   quite without pain or rancour.
   
   Inside my heart's walls I cannot hold
   all the wealth of light.
   It wants to shine out, it must shine out,
   the last barrier breaks.



3. Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. One of the few pop singers who captured my attention as a teen was Judy Collins. This was one of my favourite songs at the time. I never heard it sung by the writer until Joni's new interpretation came out in 2000, which I like best. The words mean more to me now. The three pop artists I chose are all Canadian born, and with more than six choices, I would have gone on to kd lang, Leonard Cohen, Loreena McKennitt. My taste for Canadian songwriters isn't intentional, it just is.

   Rows and floes of angel hair
   And ice cream castles in the air
   And feather canyons ev’rywhere
   I’ve looked at clouds that way
   
   But now they only block the sun
   They rain and snow on ev’ryone
   So many things I would have done
   But clouds got in my way
   I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
   From up and down, and still somehow
   It’s cloud illusions I recall
   I really don’t know clouds at all
   
   Moons and junes and ferris wheels
   The dizzy dancing way you feel
   As ev’ry fairy tale comes real
   I’ve looked at love that way
   
   But now it’s just another show
   You leave ’em laughing when you go
   And if you care, don’t let them know
   Don’t give yourself away
   I’ve looked at love from both sides now
   From give and take, and still somehow
   It’s love’s illusions I recall
   I really don’t know love at all
   
   Tears and fears and feeling proud
   To say I love you right out loud
   Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
   I’ve looked at life that way
   
   But now old friends are acting strange
   They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
   Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
   In living ev’ry day
   I’ve looked at life from both sides now
   From win and lose and still somehow
   It’s life’s illusions I recall
   I really don’t know life at all



4. I'm Going Home by Buffy Sainte-Marie. One of the essential musical moments of my life was hearing her sing "Starwalker" to an audience of 500 or so at a powwow in 1990. I had never heard of Buffy St. Marie, but her power and conviction were one of the influences that started changing my conservative view of the world. That might please her, an activist as much as a songwriter. Some of her songs have had careers of their own: "Universal soldier," "Up where we belong," "Until it's time for you to go." But this one is my favourite.

   Heaven isn’t so far away as people say
   I got a home high in my heart
   Heaven is right where I come from
   I never throw it away
   I know the place and I’m goin’ home
   
   I’m going home
   
   See up there it’s not the same
   they know your name
   and I’m not ashamed to need it
   I’m going home
   
   You can keep a-knocking
   but I’m not coming out of this state I’m in
   I’m travelling right, I’m gonna get there soon
   I’m standing up praying, I’m singing
   saying Heyo ha ha heyo hey ya
   I know the way and I’m going home
   
   I’m going home
   That’s where the heart can rest
   The best is there
   and only a fool would leave it
   I’m going home
   
   I’m going home
   I been around I been to town
   Hey, where you think I learned right from wrong?
   I’m going home



5. Sure on this shining night (play or download complete song performed by the US Air Force Band choir) by Banjamin Britten (1913-1976). Of all the choral works I have ever performed with the Rainbow Chorus or anywhere else, this is my favourite. It was originally written for solo voice and piano, but I like the choral setting better.

   Sure on this shining night
   Of starmade shadows round,
   Kindness must watch for me
   This side the ground.
   
   The late year lies down the north.
   All is healed, all is health.
   High summer holds the earth.
   Hearts all whole.
   
   Sure on this shining night
   I weep for wonder
   wandering far alone
   Of shadows on the stars.



6. 14th Street by Rufus Wainwright brings me to the present. willowing turned me on to this gay Montrealer earlier this year. I can't get "Agnus Dei" and "Oh what a world" out of my head, but decided to choose for my list one song with an upbeat, irresistible rhythm. I also love the gospel style backups. Wainwright brings us back to poetry. Elton John says, "The greatest songwriter on the planet at the moment is Rufus Wainwright."

   You've got my lost brother's soul
   My dear mother's eyes
   A brown horse's mane
   And my uncle's name
   You walked me down 14th Street
   With a doctor to meet after thoughts of the grave
   In the home of the brave and of the weak
   
   But why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it
   Why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a minor part
   
   I could've clipped and saved and planted in the garden
   Damn you, guess I'll have to get a new one
   
   I love to sit and watch you drink
   With the reins to the world, gripping a smoke
   Vaguely missing link
   
   Don't ever change, you hungry little bashful hounds
   I've got the sheep, poor Little Bo Peep has lost and filed for grounds
   
   But why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it
   Why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a minor part
   
   I could've ripped apart and thrown it to the river
   Wonder if there's hearts that will deliver
   
   Don't ever change, don't ever worry
   Because I'm coming back home tomorrow
   To 14th Street where I won't hurry
   Where I'll learn how to save not just borrow
   And they'll be rainbows
   And we will finally know
   
   Why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a little bit of it
   Why'd you have to break all my heart
   Couldn't you have saved a minor part
   (x2)

I had a hard time coming up with six people to tag, partly because so many of my friends have already done this meme, and I can't remember who.

• djjo
• eloquentwthrage
• grandiva1968
• kwintt
• kyana
• poetbear