Bleh with Barry

Pondering Gothic / Vampire Songs for my Class

barryr22 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:07:41 +0000

I am in a pretty cool graduate class if I do say so myself. It’s called “Spectral and Sublime: The Gothic Tradition,” which is offering me the chance to read fun things like Dracula, Jane Eyre, Carmilla, and many more stories (a lot of them dealing with vampires that are my favorite). While the books themselves are pretty awesome, the professor also asked us to think of some songs that are related to the Gothic or to vampires. So I have been on the interwebs looking for songs that I feel represent these two aspects; however, the few songs that I have here are only a smattering of what I’ve found… and what may be locked away in the deep recesses of my mind.

The first is “Moon Over Bourbon Street” performed by Sting. This song is about the vampires that appear in Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles with an emphasis on Lestat. In the song, it is imagined Lestat is going down Bourbon St. in New Orleans with the moon high overhead and existing much as vampires do: stalking their prey and enjoying the immortal life.

The second song was played during the credits of Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula (1992). Performed by Annie Lennox, “Love Song for a Vampire” is beautiful and chilling and embodies the emotions of love and loss that seem to be common themes throughout the whole of the film. Moreover, it’s easy to hear how Annie Lennox continues to get work singing for films as she is a sultry siren.

Finally, “I Would Do Anything for Love” performed by Meatloaf and written by Jim Steinman is not a song that is particularly Gothic or vampire-y in a lyrical or musical sense. However, the video itself is quite Gothic with the large architectural feature of the gloomy mansion and the fact that the he is a monster that is in love with a beautiful young damsel. Additionally, he is transformed in the end by the power of their relationship (mayhaps… this is really unclear to me). The fact that he will not do something for love also makes it interesting to a large degree.

Vampires, the Gothic, and music mixing makes me a happy camper because they are all things that excite and interest me. However, I do not think that this is even the tip of the iceberg for these kinds of songs. And to any readers out there, I would appreciate any suggestions that you might have to help me compile songs for my professor’s list.

Some Watercolor Drawings I Found

barryr22 — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:52:10 +0000

Today, while I was cleaning out my closet a bit, I came across several drawings that I didn’t even remember making. Now, I think that I have progressed some since then. However, I find it interesting to look back at old stuff and be entertained, amazed, and even saddened (if it’s not exactly what you think that it should be). I think that it can help a lot when you look back at the things that you’ve in days past because it can bring new inspiration and that’s exactly what I’m hoping it will be for me.

The first is an image that I copied / reinterpreted from a book that I was reading. I believe it’s of a vampire hunter as seen from the stake that is in his hand. Additionally, I believe he’s going into a valley, so the vampire is able to get to him as the sun is setting in the background. Honestly, I’m not sure why I drew / painted this (it’s done with watercolor pencils on watercolor paper), but I think that it’s interesting to look back and say: What?!? I think that it’s also a pretty interesting picture simply because I’m not exactly sure what is going on in it.

My second picture that I’m a going to share with is one that I would call “The Contemplating Gargoyle.” Again, this is another image that I drew at a point in my life that I’m not completely sure what was going on… this one is a little more unconventional than the first pic (even though the first pic was of a vampire hunter…) It is done in bright colors, and the gargoyle has flaming eyes that appear quite creepy to me as I look back over it now. I think that it’s interesting as well simply because although I usually do unrealistic stuff this is a little more surrealistic and acid trippy than a lot of my other stuff that I have done.

While I know that neither picture is perfect or even that good, they still make me wonder what was going through my mind when I made them and why I decided that I need to draw these images. I know that they were drawn around the same time because they were found in the same place… but the when isn’t really the issue. My thoughts revolve around how they are important to me as an artist (and I use the term with a degree of bravado and resolution at the same time). They help me see where I have been and where I might be going in terms of my paintings / drawings / crafting in general… and how my creative self functions in other ways. Tomorrow, I will continue my winter cleaning as it were and hope to find other indicators as to what I have been doing for the last little while… (It makes me feel like I’m in “Memento” and I’ve been leaving myself clues…). Here’s hoping that I continue to find a little more of myself, even as I purge the junk.

Christmas Music that Finds a Place in My Heart

barryr22 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:34:39 +0000

Yes, contrary to popular belief, I have a heart. And ’tis the time of year for Christmas music to be playing on the radio and shopping centers that surround the nation. However, the music that I love is not generally what we hear out there in the general world because they have to play the six Christmas songs that do not conflict with anyone’s beliefs or that might offend someone. I am of the mind-set that music shouldn’t offend people (if it’s meant to be particularly offensive… I know that there are some people by anything…), but at the same time, I’m not easily offended by anything… Yeah… yeah… Anyway, I think that Christmas music is wonderful, especially some of the classical stuff that many people do not know or care to know because of its Christian affiliation.

The first song (okay, so it’s a mash-up) is one that I have loved for a long time. “O Come, O Come Emanuel / What Child is This” is a beautiful mass-up of two good songs. This version is being sung by Linda Eder, one of my all time favorite singers. Her beautiful voice makes the song so much more powerful. Also, the arrangement is wonderful, which compliments her voice that much more. (And now I realize I sound like such a fanboy.)

The second song that I recommend for this season entails Straight No Chaser, an a capella group that is pretty amazing. The song is the “12 Days of Christmas”… well, sort of… Their version deals with many Christmas songs and with one that has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas… It’s pretty awesome and adds an air of fun to Christmas that the 17 versions “Jingle Bells” do not have. Awesome!!!

Both these songs are wonderful, and I hope that you enjoy them to get in the spirit of Christmas… or just enjoy them for the beauty and the artistry of the music. Either way, it’s win-win.

It’s Time: An Ad about Marriage Equality

barryr22 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 06:52:25 +0000

So I’m not usually political on here… however, I saw this today and had to share with those who frequent my blog.

The video above is a commercial in Australia that is trying to fight marriage discrimination, and I agree it is discrimination that two people in love can’t get married because they are in a same-sex relationship. I have many friends who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender/Transsexual , and all of them as consenting adults have a right to love who they want and to marry any other consenting adult that they choose. People argue against it in any number of ways, but in reality, it’s sad that these people are worried about who is marrying who. May those who preach a message of hate find the error of their ways.

It’s Time Site

Here’s to equal marriage rights soon all over the world!

At the Crossroads

barryr22 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:51:56 +0000

My heart’s desire is not

Accessible by mortal means or

Schemes of the mind. So

I bury my visage to

Summon some ethereal force to

Bargain. But no one comes. Maybe,

I am too pure for the Pitt’s

Hounds to want to embrace the

Warmth of my flesh. Or maybe they

Sense my worth as nothing more than a

Pound of flesh sacrificed to and unknown

God. Still, the blues plays on in the

Background, and I am thankful for the

Ambiance.

Unintentional Musical Themes of My Life: Part 2

barryr22 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:20:25 +0000

As a couple of weeks ago, I have had several songs of late that have been the unintentional musical themes of my life. Now, I’m not saying that they fit completely because they really don’t. However, sometimes the music is just fun to sing along loudly to in my car. This week, there’s a little bit of randomness in the variety of songs. I know that some of you out there must be thinking that I’m listening to the same or similar radio stations; however, these songs have been on at least 3 of the 5 stations that are programmed in my vehicle…which is a little more than coincidence to me…

The first is a song by Cher. “I Found Someone” is a song about vengeance and jealousy on the parts of both individuals in the song because she “found someone to take away the heartache.” Again, this is a little odd because the song came out in 1987 (or at least the video did). Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I like Cher. I have a thing for women with husky voices, especially if they can sing, and honestly, Cher is still amazing at 65 and still sounds pretty awesome (take that auto-tuned Taylor Swift and most of the singers of today).

The second song is by Blondie. “Rapture” is an interesting song to say the least… and honestly, I’m not sure exactly what it’s about. However, I love Debbie Harry for similar reasons to Cher (gravelly voice and what have you). The song also has a rap from Debbie Harry which is pretty entertaining and not bad… Additionally, there’s a guy in a white suit dancing. What more could you ask for?

The final song is one from the 90′s that I loved during the 90′s. It’s Shawn Colvin’s “Sunny Came Home.” I’ve always had a special place in my heart for pop-ish folk music… I don’t know it’s just the sheer oddity of it. On the surface level, the song is about revenge. Sonny is going to punish those that didn’t listen to here and persecuted her… Let’s just say that the song ends with fire… fire and someone getting a sweater.

These are the songs that have been following me around of late… Again, I don’t know what the universe is saying in the form of song. What songs have been coming into your world via unintendedness?

Someday We’ll Find It, the Rainbow Connection

barryr22 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:01:07 +0000

While I am relatively new to the Muppets (I didn’t watch them as a kid), I have had the pleasure of getting to know them over the past few years. And mainly, I have begun to know them through song. While there are many songs that are fun and entertaining, I have come to find myself as a lover of Kermit the Frog because his songs are hopeful and sad at the same time. Moreover, they’re simplistically beautiful in their own right. But two of my favorites are “The Rainbow Connection” and “It’s not Easy Being Green.” Although on the surface they appear to be simple songs about looking for the significance of rainbows and contemplating being someone else, they both have deeper meanings that transcend our simple little Muppet and apply to our lives on a daily basis.

I find that “The Rainbow Connection” is about hope to some degree. We all hope for things but we never know what we’re going to get. It’s about a desire that holds us and wants us to pursue it. Overall, a beautiful and brilliant song.

I know that this isn’t the “It’s not Easy Being Green” that we know from Kermit. But I think that this one might be my favorite. Occurring at a tribute shortly after the death of Jim Henson. A song about being proud of who and what you are, and knowing that while you may question, you are important and powerful in your own right…. Also, with it being sung by Big Bird about the dead Kermit / Henson, it takes on a special degree of sadness and power (it makes me cry every time…)

I love Kermit and feel that I to am one of “the lovers” and “the dreamers” that he refers to…

Analytic Repose

barryr22 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:59:49 +0000

Can a soul bleed?

Can a part of ourselves

Fall into the oblivious nature of

Our inner desires. Are we anything but

Corrupt? Can we feel? Can we adjust our

Contemplating to make allowance for the

Temperate equality that cuts through the

Darkness of our own understanding?

We are nothing…. we cannot be unless the interplay

Allows…

Songs that Just Don’t Make Sense: Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”

barryr22 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:57:23 +0000

So, I think it’s fair that I more than dislike Taylor Swift because she’s just awful. That being said, I know that there are people out there who ardently admire and think that she’s god’s gift to the world of music. Aside from being one more of those auto-tuned, country-star crossover artists, one of her songs really peeves me every time I hear it on the radio. Now, I typically change the station but sometimes I am lost n thought and don’t realize till the song is almost over. Still, the song “Love Story” has to be one of the most poorly written in terms of what the song is about: Romeo and Juliet.

While I get what the song is trying to do, it is not very effective. I know that it’s trying to tell us about a beautiful love story between two young people, and the fact that their family disapproves. However, every time I hear it, I wonder “Does Taylor Swift know how Romeo and Juliet ended?” I mean Romeo doesn’t get to “take her,” and she ends up alone… there is no wedding, and her father does not allow them to be together. They both end up dead, which does not reflect the happy ending of the song… Here’s to all of those out there listening to this song thinking that it’s a beautiful thing… it’s really not. If we’re going to take it as Romeo and Juliet, I think there should be some of the tragic irony and death in the song too… I think that it’s only fair. If she’s going to use the names, she should incorporate the play’s ending into the song as well…yeah…

My Love of Sarah McLachlan

barryr22 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:46:11 +0000

Even into the early double-digits of my age, I have loved Sarah McLachlan’s music because it touches my inner spirit somehow. Now, I’m not talking just the sad song during the commercial about animal adoption and some such. I have loved her and still love her music as she continues to produce it. Her dulcet tones sooth the inner monster that is in me because all people all monsters on some level…it’s just a few of us that admit it. So, I’m here to share with you a few videos of her songs to help get my love out there. The first is “Angel.” Written because of the heroin overdose of the keyboard player of the Smashing Pumpkins. It’s a lovely song…

The next two songs are from her CD Afterglow. However, I love both of them because they are intriguing songs and because they apply to my life at different points. The first “Stupid” speaks to my nature of late because I can’t discern the people around me which is one of the talents that I have cultivated over the years…although the song itself deals with a love affair, I take it as a generality dealing with life and those around me… take it as you will.

The second of these two songs is “Fallen” which I just find to be a great song and like very much… I hope you enjoy all the music because it’s good…so yeah…

I love Sarah and hope you will too.