‘Frasier” has to be one of my all time favorite TV comedy shows, with Marty Crane and his best friend Eddie the dog (a Jack Russell Terrier) my favorite characters.
In the episode 14 of season 11, aptly titled Freudian Sleep, Marty gives us a jazzy rendition of The Sunny Side of the Street. I love this part, and Marty Crane confines in us with his life motto:
“I focus on what’s good about my life.”
Martin Crane, Frasier
On the Sunny Side of the Street, Marty Crane and Ronee Lawrence (John Mahoney and Wendie Malick)
On the Sunny Side of the Street with Marty Crane in Frasier
Here are the lyrics:
“Walked with no one and talked with no one And I had nothing but shadows Then one morning you passed And I brightened at last Now I greet the day and complete the day With the sun in my heart All my worry blew away When you taught me how to say
Grab your coat and get your hat Leave your worry on the doorstep Just direct your feet To the sunny side of the street Can’t you hear a pitter-pat? And that happy tune is your step Life can be so sweet On the sunny side of the streetI used to walk in the shade With those blues on parade But I’m not afraid This Rover crossed overIf I never have a cent I’d be rich as Rockefeller Gold dust at my feet On the sunny side of the street Grab your street
I hope you enjoyed On the Sunny Side of the Street with talented John Mahoney as Marty Crane in Frasier. and if you found yourself humming the tune and trying a few steps of dance, even better! and, yes, Martin Crane loved the music of Frank Sinatra!
The #MusicMonday meme was created by Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek. You can pick a song that you really like and share it on Monday. I thoroughly enjoyed this blog feature on Mischenko’s lovely blog, ReadRantRockandroll .
Enjoy an uplifting tune, Cecilia (Simon and Garfunkel) performed here by Lily and Bear (Bianca & Heinrich) from South Africa!
Enjoy!
We were lucky to have met Heinrich and Bianca a (long) while ago and I can’t think of more talented musicians to present to you and to urge you to follow.
Heinrich is an accomplished musician and a painter and you can find more about him in this interview we did, oh my, over two years ago.
About Lily and Bear:
Husband and Wife team from South Africa. Guitar and Synth driven mix of Adult Contemporary Alternative Indie Pop with heartfelt Female vocals in English and Afrikaans.
Music evokes vibrant images and these three tunes are only a few of the songs that remind me of the fighting Marines, the main characters from my book Silent Heroes. I mostly do my writing in a quiet space, listening to the words playing in my mind, but every so often I turn to music for inspiration, for its regular or progressive rhythm if I must describe a battle scene, or for the emotions it stirs when I am faced with a life-and-death situation.
Five Finger Death Punch – ‘Wrong Side Of Heaven’
This is a heart-wrenching musical video about the futility of war, its real, hideous face and the reality we choose not to acknowledge: that wars change – for the worst – the lives of all those involved in them, soldiers too. It was also one of the songs that also inspired me to write Silent Heroes.
‘Arms wide open I stand alone I’m no hero and I’m not made of stone Right or wrong I can hardly tell I’m on the wrong side of heaven and the righteous side of hell The wrong side of heaven and the righteous side, The righteous side of hell ‘
Although this song is about how shallow gossip is, I like the feeling of loneliness it evokes, the solitude of those caught under the spotlight. I think that soldiers, through the nature of their occupation, are under the spotlight, permanently in the news, yet very few spectators grasp the real meaning of their sacrifice.
‘And I’m talking to myself at night Because I can’t forget Back and forth through my mind Behind a cigarette And the message coming from my eyes Says leave it alone.’
Another one of the songs that inspired me when writing about the Marines in Silent Heroes is:
Prokofiev – ‘Dance of the Knights’
I listened to this song often when working on my battle scenes, although it is part of his Romeo and Juliet ballet. I found it strongly related to death. The loud, rhythmic beginning is very war-like in a dignifying way. The second, pianissimo part, speaks of the Angel of Death, but of the soldiers’ loneliness on the battlefield as well.
‘Dunn turned his head to respond. That’s when his whole body disappeared into a deafening blast of rocks, leaves, smoke, and blood. That day it rained with dirt. Conde felt his body thrown to the ground and he landed on his back, dirt in his mouth, dust all over his face. The wave had gone right through him. Behind him, everyone threw themselves around looking for cover, weapons at the ready. The dust was still settling on the road ahead when Conde jumped to his feet, yelling Dunn’s name. “Medic, over here!” He could taste blood and it smelled like charred flesh. Was he talking? He couldn’t hear himself, just a constant ring in his ears. “Medic, over here!” he yelled, again and again, wiping dust and water from his eyes and looking all over the ground for Dunn. The acrid air made him choke. It smelled of burned tyres and ammonia. Focus, Conde. Focus! Just ahead of him Dunn was laying on his back, legs sprawled, not moving. Conde felt his body freeze in panic. Was Dunn dead? Please, no! He forced himself to move ahead, his mind racing in circles, remembering what had to be done in a first aid combat situation. That’s when he heard Dunn moaning. Blood was sipping through his left leg. Dunn was trying to feel it, but his left hand was missing its fingers. Tourniquet! It flashed through Conde’s mind and his body snapped in motion, the Marine having tightened the first tourniquet around Dunn’s left leg before their medic arrived on the scene. “Easy, buddy, stay with me,” said Conde trying to see if Dunn’s eyes were open or closed but the blood and dust caking the fallen Marine’s face made things difficult. Conde felt like he was in a dream, the one where he would try to open his eyes as large as he could, still no image would form. Eventually, the white of Dunn’s eyes shone through. “We got you, buddy. We got you,” said the medic, feverishly wrapping combat gauze over the Marine’s hands. The white bandage looked like show balls against the bloody background. But not for long. “Don’t give up. I’ll beat you up if you dare giving up, Sarge! You hear me?!” Conde’s voice came out croaky. “Easy, Conde,” someone said nearby and Kent kneeled, helping hold Dunn’s hands upright. “Nice and easy.” “We got you, Dunn.” “Someone call MEDEVAC!” Conde yelled. “Easy, buddy. Already done. They’re on their way.” “Where’s a landing strip over here?” Conde wiped dust and water from his eyes again, leaving strikes of blood behind. “Damn rain! “Where are they going to land, Sarge? There is no freaking landing area here, only freaking trees! Damn trees!” the Marine panicked. “It’s okay, man. They’ll drop a cord for us, said Kent” ‘
Silent Heroes by Patricia Furstenberg
Silent Heroes: When Love and Values Are Worth Fighting for – New Contemporary Fiction by Patricia Furstenberg
These are the songs that remind me of the Marines depicted in Silent Heroes. Next time I’ll tell you about the songs I listened to to stir emotions rooted in the lives of the Afghan people.
The #MusicMonday meme was created by Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek. You can pick a song that you really like and share it on Monday. I thoroughly enjoyed this blog feature on Mischenko’s lovely blog, ReadRantRockandroll .
Which songs inspire you? Which songs you find yourself returning to?
Through blog posts or books, war and dogs are a constant presence on my blog. My thoughts seem to gravitate towards them. Since yesterday we made our first Christmas decorations for this year, Noel was on my mind and so it happened that I discovered this musical gem on YouTube: a Christmas war song – how else? Christmas 1914 – Truce Song was composed by talented Catherine Rushton in 2004. Ten years later she published this soulful, folk song online at a friend’s request. It has almost 13 000 views now.
To help UK veterans suffering from PTSD, Catherine donated the WW1 Christmas Truce Song to Combat Stress for Veteran’s Mental Health. You can visit Catherine’s fundraising page here.
Here are the lyrics and guitar chords for Christmas 1914 Truce Song by Catherine Rushton
G ………………………………………………. C ………………. G I am Private Angus Turnbull of the Highland Infantry. ……. C ……………….. G …………. D7 In Flanders field I fought the Hun. ………. G …… D7 ….. C …………….. G And there I fell, but I’ve a tale to tell ………………………….. D7 ……………….. G C G Of the Christmas I witnessed at the front.
‘Twas early Christmas morning when we heard the strangest sound As silence crept through no-man’s land, And the next we knew a German gunner crew Had crossed the halfway line to shake our hands.
D7 ……………………………………… C …………… G We were enemies one day and brothers the next. ……………….. D7 ……………….. C ……………………… G We shared photographs and beer and schnapps, jokes and cigarettes. …………. Em ……………… Am ………D7 ……….. C ‘Twas a sight I wish all mankind could have seen, ………… G ……….. D7 …………… G C G That Christmas, nineteen fourteen.
For three days we played football, three nights we drank and sang ‘Til it came time to say farewell. Then we went to ground; each side fired three rounds And just like that we all were back in hell.
….. And we showed the world that peace was not a dream ….
Two weeks later I was buried while the war ran on and on ‘Til thirty million lost their lives, But don’t weep for me beneath this poppy field For I saw paradise before I died.
…. And I came to understand what Christmas means …
G Stille Nacht, heilige nacht Am …….. D …. G Alles schlaft, einsam wacht C ……………………….. G Nur das traute hochheilige paar C ……………………. G Holder knabe im lockigen haar Am ……… D ………….. G Schlaf in himmlicher ruh! G ………… D ………….. G Schlaf in himmlicher ruh!
I hope you enjoyed listening to the hauntingly beautiful WW1 Christmas 1914 Truce Song by Catherine Rushton.
Armistice Day football match at Dale Barracks between German soldiers and Royal Welsh fusiliers to remember the famous Christmas Day truce between Germany and Britain -source PCH
During the WW1, in the winter of 1914m a Christmas Day football truce game between Germans and the British was won 2-1 by Germans. It was started by a soccer ball kicked from a British trench and ended by two German snipers.
Illustrated London News – the Christmas Truce 1914 – source wikipedia
Christmas Truce, Weihnachtsfrieden, Trêve de Noël, took place during 24-25 December 1914: British, French & German crossed the trenches to exchange greetings and play soccer.
If you d wonder, no Christmas Truce took place during WW2 although a German woman, Elisabeth Vincken, sheltered and fed three US soldiers and four German ones, all lost and hungry. Nearby the Battle of the Bulge was taking place. It was Christmas Eve, Heiligabend 1944.
Battle of the Bulge-WW2, Christmas time
Whatever you do this Festive Holiday, however you choose to celebrate it, do spare a thought for those who fell during the countless wars we put behind us, be it in historical locations or not, or are still taking place.
Song lyrics and movie clip are property and copyright of their owners and are provided for educational purposes and personal use only.
The #MusicMonday meme was created by Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek. You
can pick a song that you really like and share it on Monday. I
thoroughly enjoyed this blog feature on Mischenko’s lovely blog, ReadRantRockandroll .
“Hi Patricia, someone just brought to my attention a link to a blog you write last year about my song, Christmas 1914. I wanted to send my sincere thanks not only for writing it but especially for linking to my fundraising page. That was extremely generous of you.”
I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart To hold and stand me by I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart Under African sky I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart I see the fire in your eyes I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart That beats my name inside
Johnny Clegg, Great Heart
News headlines enter and leave my mind as I drive through the morning traffic, my eyes focused on the row of blinking lights ahead of me.
Rarely a news headline catches my full attention, extracting me from the traffic, my mind searching for all the info it has on the subject.
Johnny Clegg, musician and activist, pioneer, anthropologist, dancer, songwriter and all-round South African past away on 16th of July 2019.
Johnny Clegg the musician
What was so special about the music of Johnny Clegg?
It was simply infectious, a spirited blend between Western pop and African Zulu rhythms.
In France Johnny Clegg was fondly called Le Zulu Blanc – the white Zulu.
Johnny Clegg sharing a song on stage with Nelson Mandela
Johnny Clegg, musician pioneer
Johnny Clegg was born in the UK, to an English father and Zimbabwean mother who later moved to South Africa and remarried.
It was Johnny’s stepfather, a crime reporter, who took Johnny into the townships of South Africa at an early age thus exposing Johnny to a different cultural perspective.
Johnny formed his first band, Juluka, at the age of 17, with Sipho Mchunu.
Later, Johnny Clegg was one of the first South African musicians to perform in a mixed-race musical performance – this would have been the ’70s. His music received ovations in Europe and America.
Johnny Clegg’s song Scatterlings of Africa was his first entry into the UK Charts. This song was also featured on the soundtrack to the 1988 Oscar-winning film Rain Man.
Copper sun sinking low Scatterlings and fugitives Hooded eyes and weary brows Seek refuge in the night They are the scatterlings of Africa Each uprooted one On the road to Phelamanga Where the world began I love the scatterlings of Africa Each and every one
Johnny Clegg, Scatterlings of Africa
A live history lesson with Johnny Clegg:
In the video above South African Legend Nelson Mandela joins Johnny Clegg on stage during the rendition of Asimbonanga, a song written by Johnny Clegg about Mandela’s 27 years of incarceration.
Johnny Clegg has performed on all four of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Aids Awareness Concerts in South Africa and in Norway.
Johnny Clegg’s passing away was two days ahead of the Mandela’s 101 years birthday anniversary.
1988 The Mayor’s Office of Los Angeles Award: For the promotion of racial harmony
1988 Le Victoire French Music Industry Award for biggest
International record album sold in France between 1987 and 1988 (1.3
million albums)
1989 Honorary Citizen of the town of Angouleme, France
1990-1991 French Music Industry Award for the biggest selling world music album in France
1990 Humanitarian Award: Secretary of State of Ohio, USA
1991 Awarded the CHEVALIER DE L’ORDRE DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES (Knight of Arts and Letters) by the French Government
1993 GRAMMY AWARD nomination for best World Music Album (Heat, Dust and Dreams)
1994 Billboard Music Award Best World Music Album
1996 Medal of Honour – city of Besancon
1998 Kora Awards: Best African Group
2004 Mayoral Medal of Honour from Mayor of Lyon, France, for
outstanding relations between the people of Lyon and South Africa
2004 Medal of Honour – Consul General of the Province of Nievre
2004 Medal of Honour – Consul General of the Province of L’Aisne
1986 Scotty Award : Master Music Maker 1987 Communication Contribution Award 1987 The Autumn Harvest Music Personality Award 1988 OK TV Best Pop Music Award 1988 CCP Record Special Award : In recognition of exceptional achievement in promotion of South African music internationally 1989 Radio 5 – Loud & Proud Award – South African Music Ambassador of the Year 1990 FOYSA Award (Four Outstanding South Africans) Junior Chamber of Commerce 1999 Avanti Award – Best Music Video “Crocodile Love”
Johnny Clegg, his final world tour
Johnny Clegg’s passing will leave an immense gap in both local and international musical and cultural scenes.