Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Dave's Play List

After my post yesterday and my mention of Wendy Matthews, I received a couple of requests, people curious about the music that I like. I'm always shy of this because I don't have a very 'top 10' approach to music. I tend to like songs with a strong lyric, often not about 'love' or 'romance' but with a message that somehow speaks to me. I decided to go ahead and share some with you. This first Susan Ashton song came to my notice after a fellow with a disability was castrated by a doctor at the request of his mother ... in fear he may become sexual. This song prompted me to sit and think about the 'line I will not cross' ... this theme became a keynote speech that I did many years ago for BCACL.



I met Justin Hines when he came to do a concert at the end of a self advocate concert. His new CD had come out that day but he stayed and signed every autograph for every self advocate that was there. Then, he donated all the money from the sale of the CDS to the self advocate group. He has an amazing voice, writes incredible music and puts on a wonderful concert. This guy's disability may simply be public prejudice ... he deserves to be one of Canada's best known singers. I personally, love this song, I love the timber in his voice as he sings. I'm a fan.



This song's power just washed over me. I don't know what she's saying but man, she's saying it to me. I hear what I need to hear in this song, I never want to know the real words. Her power as a singer, her very presence inspires me.



The Colour of Roses, what a song! Beth Nielsen Chapman is one of our favourites and her music became much changed after her husband died of cancer. She writes lyrics that stun me ... and gravity throws all these rules in our way ... this woman is a poet. I found this version by accident, the recording we have of it does not have the choir and is quite spare ... but this one is lovely too.



Wendy Matthews, song, 'the day you went away' broke my heart. We had lost so many people to AIDS and it seemed all was loss. I like the song way more than the video - the images in my head to this music do not match what she's done here, but then, that's why I listen to music and make videos in my head.



Mary Black became really, really, big in our lives during the time I faced the flesh eating disease all those years ago. This song in particular was one that I listened to over and over again. 'for those who dare to leave the path of others' ... that line spoke, it seemed, directly to me. We went to see her in Toronto and it was one of the finest concerts I have ever attended.




Rufus Wainwright, got to love this guy, when Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk came out I was still a smoker, was just about to be diagnosed with diabetes ... talk about a theme song for my life at the moment. There is something about his humour and his manner that just makes me love the 'tweak' he gives this song.



I actually enjoyed being asked to go public with some of my music choices. When I was young and listening to Dionne Warwick while everyone else listened to the Beatles ... I was shy of my choices in music. But now, who cares, I hope you find one song here or one singer that touches you like they've moved me.

OK, I challenge you to do the same ... give us a link or tell us a song ... go ahead be brave, tell us your 'real' favourites.

18 comments:

Destinee Dale said...

I have a lot of favorite songs from many genres and many decades. However, when I think about a song with a message, one that has reached my heart and left its imprint like no other, it has to be Wanda's Song. I ran across this song while doing research on bullying. This website includes the lyrics and the video. It has such a message, a reminder to us all. What we say does matter, and it may effect others far more than we realize.
http://www.bullycide.org/wanda.html

jypsy said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-HLxpWGCzc

Dave Hingsburger said...

Destinee, I have never heard Wanda's song before, what a powerful lyric and a testament to the hurt in bullying. jypsy!! Natalie Merhcant, how could I have forgotten her on our list. Stocktown Valley Days, I think is our favourite. Also, Solo by Sandy Denny who tragically died so young ... thanks for introducing me to new music and reminding me of others that we loved.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I do love this post! It was so very nice of you to share some of your musical favourites with us. Some of them are now favourites of mine too. Gifted with music was a wonderful way to start my Wednesday. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Oops, in my rush to say thanks. I forgot to add two of my favourites


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5rhhQbyYV0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK8gl7vrLlU

The first one is quite lovely and speaks to those lovely uncertain moments of new love. A guy I started dating sent it to me and I think I accepted a couple more dates based on this song alone. Pathetic, I know. ;)

The second one is pretty dark, but everyone needs one of those songs that lets you know you're not the only one to experience crippling sadness from time to time.

Anonymous said...

Yah! Dave and I have a common musical interest! I dig me some Rufus Wainwright. He's got an amazing voice. I like everything of his, but Poses still speaks to me the most, especially "Tower of Learning" and "The Consort"

Don In Missouri

Matthew Cherry said...

Hey Dave, long time reader, first time commenter. Thought you'd appreciate that. ;)

I like a lot of music, but I always come back to the music I was raised with: traditional. Of that, my two favorite pieces of music are "Mingulay Boat Song" and "Old Carpernter's Waltz."

I like Richard Thompson's version of Mingulay a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_5H0xMCPsM

I couldn't find my fav version of the Carpernter's Waltz (a Cajun version by the Pine Leaf Boys appropriately titled "La Valse de Vieux Charpentier"), but I did find a version of the song to give y'all an idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_t6ZHuOa5c

theknapper said...

Thanks for the music.....will put some of these on my Christmas list!
A couple of my favourites are Eva Cassidy's version of Fields of Gold and Matt Anderson To Leave What I Should Have Left.
Looking forward to reading other favourites.
Music is so powerful and can evoke such emotions and support healing.

theknapper said...

looking for more and found Ani Difranco '32 Flavours'

miss kitten said...

there are several songs that just tear me up. one of the ones is sara mclaughlan's "in the arms of the angel". fallcon introduced me to that song, and tears flow every time i hear it, he went away december 25th, four years ago this summer.

and i cant forget the "hawaiian roller coaster ride" from the movie "lilo and stich", nor "fruitcakes" by jimmy buffet.

thank you for sharing your favorites!

Sher said...

Dave, this is a great post! I, like you, am very eclectic in my music taste. I like music that speaks to me, no matter what the genre. Thank you so much for opening a bit more of yourself to us. I appreciate it.

colleen said...

Dear Dave:

I really enjoyed listening to your music. You have quite varied taste.

A couple of my favourites just off the top of my head:

Richie Havens - Here Comes the Sun
(I am afterall an old hippie)

Sarah McLaughlin - I will remember you

Leonard Cohen - Song of Bernadette
(well anything by Leonard Cohen actually but this one always makes me cry)

Placido Domingo and John Denver - Perhaps Love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YnfCH7LNcM

The Priests - An Irish Blessing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7v9jeoFGEY&feature=related

Bobby Watt - My Love is Like a Red Red Rose - very folksy version

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos

It was fun just looking for these - I could go on and on but I will spare you.

It is fun to see what others love too.

Thanks
Colleen

rickismom said...

Dave, it is 1:48 am and it's all your fault that I didn't go to sleep! LOL Thanks for a great post.
Some of my favorites (I love all sorts of music, I tell my kids, except RAP (which without music isn’t music…..)

For trials and tribulations I have been introduced to the following:
1)My daughter (not Ricki) introduced me to Hillary Duff’s “Raise Your Voice” when we were both dealing with a tremendous upheaval in our lives due to the mental illness and addiction of a family member. “I won’t give up; I won’t break down” became my motto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyAfqxT7Ulo&feature=related

2) My step daughter introduced me to Maria Carey’s “Hero” when Ricki was born. But the hero wasn’t just me. Even more, to me, it was Ricki as she struggled at a few days of age, to turn her head side-to-side. Later as I had other struggles, this song spoke to me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlVShzXvZI&feature=related


I also like the instrumental theme of the movie titanic (although the copy I have is more powerful than this one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dMiJyXyYcY&feature=related

I also like much of swan lake (Tchaikovsky)
But I listen to a lot of stuff, from soft music to modern stuff, depending on my mood.
I also love “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver because I also get “high” from life when visiting the rockies…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KmkqxDJ52M&feature=related

My favorite Love song- Roberta Flack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JWAmF-Z4r4&feature=related

And I could go on and on, but it is getting late 3:00 am already…..

Kristin said...

I love that you are attracted to songs with such great messages.

Belinda said...

Well, I saw this post this morning and had to wait to the end of the day to listen to the songs. I looked forward all day. And then I found all of the other amazing songs to dip into but I have to write a blog post! I'm coming back tomorrow and will listen to every one. What a great idea this was. One of my own favourites:
The late Eva Cassidy singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccCnL8hArW8

Belinda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

A day late and a dollar short, but here is my all time favourite. I'm completely with Colleen on the Leonard Cohen thing. Travelled from Alberta to Las Vegas just to see him at Caesar's Palace, and especially for this song. "Ring the bell that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack, in everything. That's how the light gets in." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4axhSbNvog

This is a long clip, but the song is the first part.
Janet

Kris S. said...

TEAM RUFUS!!!