Archive for 23 June 2008

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Ständchen (Serenade) - Schubert (1828)

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23 June 2008 by Steker

Schubert

Franz Schubert was born in Lichtenthal, near Vienna on January 31, 1797. He was the 12th of the 14 children of his parents.

His musical formation began when he was 5 years old. His father teach him alto while his brother Ignaz teach him piano.

In 1812, he became the student of Antonio Salieri, he will stay grateful to him his whole life. In 1813, greatly influenced by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and mostly Ludwig van Beethoven, he composed his first symphony.

Schubert spent the main part of his short life in Vienna. He was a forever unsatisfied person. It’s probably what led him in his research of great quality in musical composition.

In 1822-23, Schubert got the syphilis, and his health never stopped getting worse. From his despair, he composed a music which never stopped getting deeper and full of great feelings.

He died from typhus on november 19, 1828, when he was only 31 years old. Only one year and a half after Ludwig van Beethoven for who he felt respect and a huge admiration.

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Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Buy Schubert Greatest Hits on Amazon.com

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Cymbal Rush - Thom Yorke (2006)

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16 June 2008 by Steker

Yorke

Thomas « Thom » Edward Yorke is a british musician. He was born October 7th, 1968 at Wellingborough in the Northamptonshire. At birth, the eyelid of his left eye is paralysed. During his five first years, he spend a lot of time at the hospital.

He met the other members of Radiohead in his private school at Abingdon, when he was 11 years old.

Thom Yorke took part in several artistic or musical projects. For example, he worked with PJ Harvey, Björk, U.N.K.L.E. and Beck.

On July 11th 2006, when he released this solo album: The Eraser, fans were disapointed and feared the end of the mythical band. But thom Yorke was very clear: it was only a trial of personnally written and produced album. It was produced and arranged by Nigel Godrich, historical producer of Radiohead.

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The Eraser Official Website
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Buy The Eraser on Amazon.com

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Ridiculously Deep - Arto Lindsay (1998)

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9 June 2008 by Steker

Lindsay

He was born on the May 28th 1953 in the USA. When he was 3 years old, his parents went to live in the North-East of Brazil as missionaries. He lived in Brazil for 15 years but always felt like a stranger. For him it was more an advantage which allowed him to go buy marihuana in the slums as well as going surfing with the stranger’s children.

His first musical discoveries happened in Brazil with artists like Gal Costa, Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso or even Gilberto Gil. Moreover, he stated that he discovered Beatles song in protuguese before the original ones.

When he came back in New York, he was a singer in a Rock band, but he was more interested by writing than music. But when he discovers the beginnings of Punk-rock, his choice is made. At that time, he listen at bands like Ramones or even Television.

His first important group: DNA, became famous, particularly thanks to a compilation made by Brian Eno at the end of 70s.

In the 90s, Arto Lindsay start a solo carrier. His music is widely influenced by his brazilian roots. The quality of his productions and his capacity to work with other artists made him work with a large number of groups like: Animal Collective, Laurie Anderson, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Cibo Matto, Bill Frisell or even Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Thanks to ca-ro-li-na

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Arto Lindsay Official Website
Arto Lindsay Interview
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Buy Noon Chill on Amazon.com

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Valse de Melody - Serge Gainsbourg (1971)

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2 June 2008 by Steker

Gainsbourg

Joseph and Olia Ginsburg left Russia in 1919 to live in Paris, in order to escape Bolshevism. Joseph is a cabaret pianist and Olia is a singer. They have a first son who dies at an early age of a disease. Then they have a daughter: Jacqueline, in 1926; and finally, fraternal twins: Liliane and Lucien, in 1928.

War years were very hard for Lucien as he is forced to wear the yellow star of the jews. The whole family left Paris and went to hide in the countryside under a fake name. After the war, when the family returned to Paris, Lucien has very bad results at school, and quickly give up.

He spend some years in the Beaux-Arts school, and give up. Then, he lives of small jobs like drawing or singing teacher, and give up.

He become a piano-bar crooner singing in many casinos in Normandie, and in Paris. The revelation comes when he hear the singer Boris Vian and his cynical, provocative, and funny texts. He sold only 1500 units of his first solo album “gainsbourg Confidentiel”. He then decided: “Je vais me lancer dans l’alimentaire et m’acheter une Rolls”.

After many years of success, he goes from Serge Gainsbourg to Gainsbarre. Night clubs, alcohol and night life starts killing him. He become the, drunk and not shaved, cursed poet that we all remember.

The epic story of Gainsbourg ends on March 2nd, 1991 after his fifth heart attack.

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Serge Gainsbourg Official Website
Serge Gainsbourg Un-Official Website
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Buy Histoire de Melody Nelson on Amazon.com

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