Work Song

I am paid, so my strike is resolved! All my links are now legitimate! Although I may not post daily the rest of this summer, and although I am working and behind and not feeling entirely jubilant, it is the weekend, so we will sing! On YouTube, this song links to many other fascinating, historic … More Work Song

Martinho da Vila

Now, despite my strike, we will sing. Martinho da Vila has one of the very best voices in the history of all Brazil, insofar as I know it, and this is the first samba video I ever found that incorporated real scenes from home. Axé.

The Guess Who

A friend not yet born in 1969 just sent this and I had to laugh. He does not realize why it is so pertinent. “I got got got no time — no time left for you!”  I’ve got got got no time for blog drama. Seasons change and so have I, no need to wonder … More The Guess Who

Today

I am still on strike, but I guess we can sing anyway. I have ladders and scraps of old drywall all over one room, and blotches of primer all over the outside of the house. I cannot get the primer off of my hands. Expensive primer washes off better than this primer does. I will … More Today

Vinyl I Used to Own

This post contains the famous song Queixa in the earliest recording I know of, on Veloso’s album Cores, Nomes. Now I have all the lyrics, and the song’s story is simpler than I had thought. I have of course bolded the lines we liked the very best, back when we owned the record, the lines … More Vinyl I Used to Own

Locos por Juana

We rivaled and perhaps even improved upon this performance right here in South Louisiana, thanks to the band itself but also to a stellar stage hand and stage manager. Axé.

Eliades Ochoa

The festival has not yet expunged, but has rather confirmed the song I had in my head, a son oriental which says: Anda y ven preciosa y linda cubana Tráeme la sonrisa de los palmares Bring me that palm grove smile. This song is in 4/4 time and it is in my head every night, … More Eliades Ochoa

Au Bal de Lafayette

Now located deep in Lafayette, Louisiana, I may not post for several days. I always have to come to this festival on the first day, Wednesday, to get my backstage passes and my badge saying JE PARLE. I have backstage passes because I work this festival. That is one of the reasons why it is … More Au Bal de Lafayette