I am usually a bit insecure about expressing my musical opinions. My Sweetie, Scott, at his blog, My Thermos, posts about music on a regular basis and with well-deserved confidence. As for myself, I lack the brand of conviction he possesses in his musical knowledge and taste.
The truth be known, I am probably every bit as opinionated as he when it comes to music...I just don't feel I have the "cred" to back it up, so I generally keep my mouth shut...
Today all that changes.
I have - for the first time in my life - mustered the nerve to proclaim my own choice for...
The Greatest Song Ever Written...
...And the Gina goes to...
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I have always loved this song...hauntingly beautiful when George Harrison originally wrote and performed it.
There's something about it when performed acoustically, however, that seems to intensify the emotion. The ukulele seems to "weep" even more expressively than guitar, exquisitely singing the anguish in every note. This performance elicits chills and tears from me. It touches my soul!
I encountered this musician, Jake Shimabukuro, performing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Now, anyone who knows my schedule knows that I am not/should not be up that late. And really, I wasn't. I've recently adopted the habit of cuddling up in my chair in the living room around 10 P.M. with the TV on and Scott and his laptop on the couch. I fall asleep for a couple hours there before dragging myself up to bed. That's exactly what happened Tuesday night. I was SOUND asleep...dead to the world...positively zonkered...
Around 12:30 I was lulled awake by achingly sweet notes singing softly in my ears.
I groped around for my glasses. At first I was unsure what I was hearing, so I wanted to see... A ukulele is a "funny" instrument to me...Tiny Tim Tiptoeing Through The Tulips and all... Certainly the music that was speaking to my heart wasn't coming from an instrument that should be used in a vaudeville act...
But it was. And I was blown away.
It is my humble opinion that - with few exceptions - it is difficult to appreciate a cover of a song you already love. They often come off like a pale impersonation of the original. Sometimes they are so different that they lose the essence of what was admirable about the original. It is a real talent to take a great song and reinterpret it...make it your own without disregarding its original spirit.
Jake and his magic ukulele has done this with While My Guitar Gently Weeps. He has breathed new life into a beloved old friend.
Jake does the Greatest Song Ever Written a great honor here.
You are so right. I've always pictured Tiny Tim when I think of a ukulele -- or Don Ho. This is amazingly beautiful, and has a harp like quality to it.
As far as stating what you enjoy in music is concerned, who cares about credibility. It's the same with books, or wine. If you like it, then it's yours. I've never been able to understand the pushiness of those who tell me what I should enjoy as a listener, reader, and wine lover.
Wow...I am so behind on my comments! Sorry for such a delay...you probably don't even remember commenting at this point!
Yes...I am turning over a new leaf - to express my opinions freely and courageously. After all, I'm stating an opinion - I'm not representing it as fact!
Now watch...I'll get carried away with this new-found courage and become known as "that opinionated bitch" with the blog! Just what the world needs...!
I love to write thoughtful, carefully crafted stories about my life, memories and aspirations... “narrative non-fiction” is what that sort of writing is called.
One of those aspirations was to have a reason to write those stories, and a place for others to read them.
That is the primary reason this blog exists. It is my place to make available the stories that live within me. It is my intention for this blog to be a reflection of myself and my interests.
I write strictly for my own pleasure (and hopefully your reading enjoyment). I do not get paid to write anything that appears on this site!
As far as stating what you enjoy in music is concerned, who cares about credibility. It's the same with books, or wine. If you like it, then it's yours. I've never been able to understand the pushiness of those who tell me what I should enjoy as a listener, reader, and wine lover.
Let it rip, Gina!
Yes...I am turning over a new leaf - to express my opinions freely and courageously. After all, I'm stating an opinion - I'm not representing it as fact!
Now watch...I'll get carried away with this new-found courage and become known as "that opinionated bitch" with the blog! Just what the world needs...!
Even Conan made a point of saying that his performance was one of his favorite things that he has seen since he has been hosting late night.
SB