Music

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Nirvana

Like the true bandwagon hitchhiker I can often be, I’m really enjoying Nirvana live on BBC4. The music is truly awesome, watching them is intriguing. I really am neither an expert nor a genuine fan but there is something powerful about Nirvana, 20 years on their legacy lives and I am sure they continue to influence.

The trouble is, although we can all be motivated by a bit of non-conformist showmanship, there is something about the music, the demeanour, the hair, the cardigan, the voice that gives me a chill. I don’t know what Cobain stood for but the guy is a global hero. He is lifted up, his attitude to be emulated. Maybe the point is he stood for not standing for anything in particular.

And what disturbs me is that there are kids these days who may or may not have heard of Nirvana but are still so disenfranchised from society that their anarchy and rebellion oozes out of them. Smells like teen spirit.

Nirvana sound great but they offer no hope. The cult icon is dead. Though his influence lives on it has done him no good.

We have to give the kids a hope. Something to believe in.

P.S. I am totally qualified to pass these sweeping comments because I never owned Nevermind but did have Bleach.

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Observations from a musical egit

Two Americans, a Serb and a young man from Uxbridge are playing live [*] music downstairs while I’m preparing my sermons for Sunday.  It is very good.

It reminds me that one of the things I love about being in Montenegro is that everything is interesting, unexpected and often has an international flavour.  For example, last night’s prayer meeting was attended by 4 Norwegians, 2 Brits, a Canadian, a Serb, a Macedonian, a Russian and, of course, 3 Montenegrins.  Today we did a drive to drop two guys at the airport then we went into Podgorica and into a bar – I had a beer and did sermon prep, Rada sat at the next table chatting with a friend.  Tomorrow night is a guitar concert at the university – hence the rehearsal that’s getting my feet tapping.

It is a privilege to be here.  And I am not taking it for granted.

[*]  INSERT GENRE OF YOUR CHOICE AS I AM A MUSICAL EGIT WHO CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BUT ONE WORD I THINK THAT COULD BE USED IS FUNKY AND IT HAS GOOD BASS

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Minutes to Midnight: Part 3 – The Little Things Give You Away

It doesn’t matter how hard you try, what level of deception you can attain, or even how deluded you are.  There will always be things that give you away if you try and make out you are something you are not.

This haunting, damning song leaves the soul bare.  Written about New Orleans and hurricane Katrina it could be a slur on Bush and his political stance to the disaster although the line, ‘as a nation simply stares’ suggests a wider accusation.  The truth of the matter is, for all our huffing and puffing, most of us are apathetic and stand by as others suffer.  I yearn for a compassion that is not held back by pride, laziness and a lack of perseverance.  A compassion that actually takes action.  I can say I love but inaction gives me away.

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Thou Shalt Always Kill

Listen to this.  What is your favourite line?

I love loads of the lyrics but I’m gonna go for:

‘Thou shalt not think that any male over the age of 30 that plays with a child that is not their own is a peadophile… Some people are just nice.’

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I love Eurovision because…

…Terry Wogan is not on it anymore

…you get to glimpse a tiny bit of cultures you wouldn’t normally be exposed to

…if you ever feel embarrassed ever you can just think about the cringe worthy script the presenters have to read out to an entire continent and realise your own embarrassment pales into insignificance

…Graham Norton is quite likably and innocently enthusiastic*

…we get to hear Balkan music on British television and it is gorgeous music

…it is just really nice to see a load of people having a really good fun time – it’s healthy to get my snobby little nose a little more horizontal and just smile with the people being daft and crazy and eccentric

…I am a statistic geek and you can’t get anymore statistics than that crammed into one night’s entertainment

…we’re all different and it’s good to remind us (especially in the UK) that different isn’t bad and diversity makes life a whole lot more interesting 😀

 

*Yes I know I wrote ‘Graham Norton’ and ‘innocent’ in the same sentence but I loved the way he was genuinely excited everytime we were given a few points and he’s soooo much less offensive than Terry.

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Buy the Independent this Saturday for free music

If you were to nip down to your newsagent on Saturday morning and purchase a copy of the Independent newspaper you would find yourself with a copy of the debut album from Mongrel.  It is the first time a band has done a giveaway of their debut album with a national newspaper.

Can I urge you to get yourself a copy of this album.  I’ve been listening on Myspace and the lyrics pummel you.  They are saturated with political sentiment that will not let you rest easy.  Click here to read Steve Lamacq’s musings on John McLure (the Reverend out of Reverend and the Makers) who plays a major part of this band.  I am really chuffed that this fella from Sheffield is making waves and actually doing things that irritatingly provoke and make a difference.

Click here for Mongrel’s Myspace if you want to hear/read more.

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Minutes to Midnight: Part 2 – Given Up

EVER FEEL LIKE THIS?  —>

“Another day’s been laid to waste, I’m my own worst enemy, I’ve given up, looking for help somehow somewhere, and no one cares, put me out of my misery”

This is a selection of cheerful lines from Track 2 on Linkin Park’s Minutes to Midnight.  I was feeling down this morning walking to work and the sentiments of the song echoed strongly with me.  I was feeling down because I knew I could be doing better if I tried but couldn’t be bothered to, I was have a pity party, and I didn’t feel like getting out of it.

Then, right in the middle of the pain in the song, the word “Godddddddddddd!” is screamed followed by “Put me out of my misery!”

The great and encouraging thing, is that God is ready to put us out of our misery any second we want.  Not in some form of morbid suicidal relief but through a powerful soul searching love that reaches out and removes all the pain.  If we can just see God for who he is, and see ourselves for who we really are then everything falls into perspective and we find ourselves at peace.  The problem is we are so caught up and obsessed with ourselves that in spite of our wounds we can’t be bothered to look up and really deal with ourselves.  God isn’t going to force himself on us but if we can learn to let him in then he can go about soothing our hurts.

Click below to watch the video – the performance leaves me speachless (P.S. turn up the volume!)

Minutes to Midnight: Part 1 – Shadow of the Day Post