A Cup of Tea & Biscuits

As I begin the fun process of reorganizing my music, I've been listening to some of the older stuff... things that I listened to when I was a child, growing up. They were fun, and still remain some of the best songs ever! Here's a sampling of what I've been subjecting myself to over the weekend. It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles And just for the heck of it, and because the song is rather catchy: Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 (feat. Christina Aguilera)

Still on my instrumental/sentimental phase, also experimenting (because of a friend) with some indie rock, so here it goes! Noir - Solitude by the Window Something of an End - My Brightest Diamond I heard Shara Worden live last week, she played at one of the radio stations for select audience and I went along because of a friend and fell in love with her voice. This song and another (She didn't brave the war, but she saved the day) made me cry.

I have a thing for 19th century novels. I don't know when it started, I don't know how, and I really can't explain it, but I love them. All of them. I'm fascinated by the history, traditions and culture of the time that I can't get enough! Which is why I'm thankful that there are so many books from that era, and that I can never tire of them no matter how many times I've read them! So, to the point now. North & South . Not so very well known, unless you like 19th century novels, or watch the BBC period drama productions. I knew of Elizabeth Gaskell , of Cranford fame, and was aware of her novels, but didn't really pay much attention to the others until a YouTube video of period dramas led me to look up Mr. Richard Armitage , North & South and then Mr. John Thornton. Good succession of things, I'd say. And so I watched the BBC adaptation of the book , fell head over heels in love with it right after the very first episode, printed out the eBo...

Sticking with my current phase of instrumental music, I was listening to one of Pandora stations - I forget which one though - and heard this darkish, strong, subtle music waft into my ears and I fell in love. It was Die Verbannten Kinder Evas - which I guessed to be the 'discarded' children of Eve from my limited knowledge of German and turns out I was close enough (it's translates to 'the exiled children of eve')! As soon as the song was done, I went on YouTube, found their YouTube playlist, which I created my own 'Darker Instrumental' playlist , and have been listening to it since. This was three days ago and I am hooked. They are wonderful! The music caters to my metal and classical preferences, and it just leaves me breathless every time! So, here are some of their compositions that have got me begging for more :) Cease to Breathe Catharsis The Serpent's Voice

As one normally does, I go through phases of music. It generally varies between classical, sub-genres of metal, instrumental - mostly piano or violin. I'm very selective in what I listen to so while this doesn't seem like too much of a variety, I can assure you that there's enough music in all of these put together to last me a life time and a few more! Anyhow, my current phase is a piano instrumental one. It has been recurring, but of late it seems to have gone on for a little longer. This meant that I was able to understand what exactly I like about the sound of a piano being played. I noticed that I preferred the more mellow, subtle sounds that the overtly happy ones. Like this one by David Nevue called The Vigil. And the simple beauty of Just You and Me by Michele McLaughlin. This just follows my liking of epic music, either the emotions/feelings are represented in massive strength, or take time in presenting themselves. I...

Bible Black by Heaven & Hell from The Devil You Know (2009) Last year at this time I was reveling in the victory of my favorite football club - them winning the Premier League was the highlight of May 2010 - and all I listened to for weeks were Chelsea FC songs . While they mean a lot to me, they don't qualify as my favorite songs. Going back into my blog by a year, I realized that it was also my Black Sabbath (and all related) phase. I listened to their entire discography and if I remember correctly, Bible Black was an obsession for me. Ronnie James Dio is one of my metal idols. His voice! Ah! I would've given anything to watch him perform live, but when he was performing I was too young, and then I never had the opportunity! But his music shall live on! At last alone, his fire's dying, burned another day Now to pretend and make up an ending, somewhere far away He reached for a book all bound in leather Something that he knows he's never...

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt Tom & Jerry is an all time favorite cartoon. I have, from a very young age, enjoyed and admired the creativity in each of these shorts that dominated my TV watching. This being a cartoon from the early 1930's there were a lot of classical elements to it, musically speaking, and I was delighted to note that one of my favorite rhapsodies was used in this cartoon! Tom's and Jerry's rivalry takes a musical twist in this one, with Jerry trying to get back at a Tom, a concert pianist, for not letting him sleep in peace in the piano! I love how their rivalry, the need to beat and hurt each other, is integrated into this absolutely beautiful song! Liszt was genius and this is my favorite composition of his - probably because of the cartoon I associate with it, but it's still my favorite and definitely one of the highlights of my childhood!