So EPI’s listening club had its annual gala dinner last Friday night and as you may recall the theme of the evening was “a song that makes you feel good.”
I loved the fact that so many of you made suggestions, although in all honesty I have not had time to listen to them all [no matter - the thread remains there for all to see]. I had a really hard time picking just one song, but in the end I narrowed it down to three:
1. Israel Kamakawiwo Ole’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World
2. Pink Martini’s Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love
3. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s Sister Rosetta Goes Before You
As said, I had a seriously hard time choosing, and in the end it was virtually a “flippacoin” situation. In the end I went with the last one, despite it being probably the least upbeat of the three. Still, it’s such a gorgeous song – and I love Alison Krauss’s vocals.
The evening was a rousing success and, as always, EPI designed a special CD onto which all the songs were burned, which was handed out to all in attendance:
The party was held on May 1, so the design of the disk refers to the Halldór Laxness poem Maístjarnan [The May Star], a popular Icelandic folk song and a sort of anthem for the May 1 holiday. [There is a rudimentary translation of the poem here.] The text on the CD does not list the songs, however, but rather what was on the menu. I should probably mention that a lot of artistic licence has been taken when listing the menu items, so if you’re trying to figure out what it says and just … can’t – don’t feel bad!
I uploaded a picture of last year’s menu disk, and bizarrely it got over 4,000 views on Flickr, which was [and still is] a complete mystery. Let’s see what this one does!
A CALM, SPRING-LIKE DAY
With sunny spells and light breezes. Haven’t been out yet but am dying to go. Unhappily, though, it looks like the sun has disappeared behind a fairly thick cloud cover and the wind is picking up slightly. Weatherman sez we’re in for rain later today. Right now 7°C [46F]. Sunrise this morning bright and early at 4.53, sunset due for 9.58 this evening.
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There’s a wonderful video of Sister Rosetta herself singing the inspiration for that song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaBNAXfHfQ
I could have named Maístjarnan as a feelgood song by itself, as well as Á Sprengisandur and other Icelandic folk songs. It is mostly a matter of pictures the music is able to conjure up. And those songs are very rich in imagery.
Excellent choice. I am a huge fan of both Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, so obviously I approve!
I still haven’t heard this album, although I’ve been told I’ll love it.
Oh yes, the mystery of the menu CD views, I remember that. Spooky.
This is the new server! Yippie!
I’ll have to hit the photos each time I come by, just to start throwing off your stats.