Music for your Midweek: Bruno Mars - "Locked Out Of Heaven" (Acoustic)

I used to worry a lot about music and where it was going to go. If there were any new ways for it to progress and evolve, or if we now in an age where there could be no innovation, just a repetition of old trends.

"...try to spot the big, obvious defining differences between 2012 and 1992. Movies and literature and music have never changed less over a 20-year period. Lady Gaga has replaced Madonna, Adele has replaced Mariah Carey... and Jay-Z and Wilco are still Jay-Z and Wilco" 

"We seem to have trapped ourselves in a  vicious cycle... which leads us to embrace the past and turn the present into a pleasantly eclectic for-profit museum; which deprives the cultures of innovation of the fuel they need to conjure genuinely new ideas and forms; which deters radial change, reinforcing the economic (and political) stagnation... I worry some days, this is the way that Western civilization declines, not with a bang but with a long, nostalgic whimper"

- Kurt Anderson, Vanity Fair, January 2012

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And who better to embrace all this nostalgia with then Bruno Mars. His latest "Uptown Funk" is the ultimate throwback, referencing every decade. But here I decided to share one of my other favey faveys. 

I'll listen to this a million times thanks.

Music for your Midweek: Ibeyi - "Better in Tune with the Infinite" (Jay Electronica cover)

"I got something to say..."

My friend Ingrid told me to check to check out these two after hearing them on NPR.
Super great.
And I was blown away by their Jay Electronica cover.
Too beautiful.

"Yesterday is gone
Tomorrow is on the way"

"I really love you baby, cross my heart"

I've thought long and hard about what to give y'all for Valentines day this year, and I've settled on one of my favorite videos of the original true heart throb:

Elvis may have been a bit of a weirdo, but he knew how to work a crowd. He belongs to my heart.

This video is from his second appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1957. Ed had to pull quite a few strings, and took a few risks in getting Elvis on the air. He was considered far too vulgar for television. In fact, Elvis' first appearance eon the show received so much criticism, they decided to compromise on his second go, and film him only from the chest up. Had to keep those hips out of impressionable young minds! Even though he was "edited", in a sense, you can still tell how he drives the audience crazy. Notice the skillful change of shot to the guitar at 1:23? Ha.

So a happy valentines day to you.
From me and The King.

Thursday Verse: "Losing Track" - Denise Levertov

Losing Track

Long after you have swung back
away from me
I think you are still with me: 

you come in close to the shore
on the tide
and nudge me awake the way 

a boat adrift nudges the pier:
am I a pier
half-in half-out of the water? 

and in the pleasure of that communion
I lost track,
the moon I watch goes down, the 

tide swings you away before
I know I'm
alone again long since, 

mud sucking at gray and black
timbers of me,
a light growth of green dreams drying.

- Denise Levertov

Music for your Midweek: Hozier - "To Be Alone"

Homeboy Hozier sure has come far since the first time I heard him. My mom LOVES him and was one of the first in line to buy tickets for his show here in Salt Lake way back in October. She made me promise that we would be at The Depot before the doors even opened day of show so that we could claim the best spots :/ I'm already stressed out about it.

Anyway.
 Julia showed me this video back in early fall, and it's too much. I'm not able to embed it, so just click on the link

HERE

to check it out.

It's worth it. Trust me.

Thursday Verse: "Two Friends" - David Ignatow

Two Friends

I have something to tell you. 

I'm listening. 

I'm dying. 

I'm sorry to hear. 

I'm growing old. 

It's terrible. 

It is, I thought you should know. 

Of course and I'm sorry. Keep in touch. 

I will and you too. 

And let me know what's new. 

Certainly, though it can't be much. 

And stay well. 

And you too. 

And go slow. 

And you too.

- David Ignatow

Happy Birthday to ME!

Music for your Midweek: Leon Bridges

Last Monday, I drove up to Park City to check out Leon Bridges at the ASCAP Music Cafe. He is a gem. Thanks to whoever for uploading this:

And here's a Sam Cooke cover bonus: