Fait-divers on Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard: the inability to pause and pay attention as our greatest source of unhappiness.

Sintra, há uns segundos atrás, pôr-do-sol, dia 27 de Abril de 2025

Beirut - guyamas sonora, 2007

"Condon and his collaborators (which include Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett, who even sings on the lovely "Cliquot") have not forgotten the kind of jocularity and community inherent in the folk traditions they pull from, so even as violins, organs, and harpsichords play dramatic and acute melodies and the vocals ascend to a feverish intensity, that feeling of being in the back of some tavern, passing around dishes and glasses and singing aloud with your compatriots, is present, and keeps things grounded, more real. "In the Mausoleum" balances syncopated piano with minor melodies and an ominous upright bass, while both "Guyamas Sonora" and the title track use dramatic horns to convey a kind of triumph in the prosperity of the tradition. It's thoughtful and fun and sophisticated, utterly alluring, another fantastic success by Zach Condon."

Club 8 - don't be gone, 1996

"Club 8 consists of Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård, formed in 1995 in Stockholm, Sweden. Their early sound, as heard in Nouvelle, blends anorak pop with influences from bands like The Smiths and Sarah Records artists. The song "Don't Be Gone" reflects their signature dreamy, melancholic style, with introspective lyrics about honesty and emotional support in relationships. Nouvelle is noted for its 13 tracks, including other songs like "Blue Skies" and "Me Too"

REM - photograph, 1993

“Photograph” was written for Automatic For The People, but for whatever reason, it was abandoned and completed later on with Natalie Merchant for inclusion on the pro-choice benefit album Born To Choose. (This was a pretty nice record, by the way — it also featured a spirited live recording of the Beatles’ “She Said, She Said” by Matthew Sweet, and “Greenlander,” one of Pavement’s all-time best non-album tracks.) Stylistically, it’s more or less exactly what a somewhat cynical person might expect of R.E.M. in the early ’90s: Mid-tempo yet perky, and almost a bit too tasteful in its arrangement. The song is very well crafted and incredibly ingratiating, but it’s not hard to understand why it was cast aside — it’s a bit too neutral in tone for Automatic For The People, and it’s perhaps one step too far into inoffensive, toothless coffee shop pop."

Trace Mountains - lost in the country, 2020

"What if the worries that keep you awake at night — fear of commitment, awareness of mortality, the inevitability of loss — could, instead, motivate you during the day? That is the gist of Trace Mountains’ Lost in the Country, a brisk indie rock record that bluntly addresses our deepest concerns and transmutes them into 10 winning anthems about persevering."

Outros olhares: Convent Church (closed), Tanah Rata, Malaysia, hoje, 27 de Abril de 2025

Outros olhares: Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Catholic Church), Tanah Rata, Malaysia, hoje, 27 de Abril de 2025

Nation Of Language - sightseer, 2023

"Devaney and Sue-Poi were both members of the Static Jacks, but the band became inactive after the release of their second album. Devaney was inspired to start a new project after hearing "Electricity" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in his father's car, a track he listened to in his childhood. What started out as Devaney "fooling around" on a keyboard later evolved into Nation of Language, with the addition of Devaney's partner Noell and former Static Jacks bandmate Sue-Poi. Current bassist Alex MacKay joined the band in 2022."

Billy Idol - eyes without a face, 1983

"The music plays against the dark tone of the lyrics with a ballad-styled melody comprised of yearning verses that slowly build emotion and a quietly wrenching chorus that relieves the emotional tension in a cathartic manner."

The Triffids - wide open road live, 1987

"This song has a specific meaning, a specific narrative and at the same time a universal story. It could be set, if you think about it, anywhere."

Moaning - connect the dots, 2020

“Connect The Dots,” the song that gave rise to Uneasy Laughter’s title, is “about realizing you need help and being brave enough to ask for it,” singer Sean Solomon explains. “It’s a misconception that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In reality it’s one of the hardest things you can do.”

Sufjan Stevens - the transfiguration live, 2009

"The song “The Transfiguration” relates the event in Christ’s life known by the same name. Musically, it begins with Sufjan’s voice and the strumming of a banjo, and as the song progresses, more and more instruments chime in. As do more voices: “Lost in the cloud, a sign: Son of man! Turn your ear!” The layers wash over you until you have the sense that what began as simple narration has turned into a revelation."

A Beacon School - alone, 2023

"his latest single from the new release hews closer to the wispy atmospherics of Air and the jangly, light-shoegaze tones of The Radio Dept., only with that latter band’s melancholy vocals swapped for something notably upbeat. “‘Alone’ is about the moment when you feel like your luck is finally turning,” Smith shares of the new track. “Nothing’s been going your way, so when you catch the faintest glimmer of hope you grab on to it as tight as you can.”

Wild Nothing - suburban solutions, 2023

"On the heels of a move back to his birthplace of Virginia from the bright lights of Los Angeles, Jack Tatum, the leader at the front of Captured Tracks indie heroes Wild Nothing, came to a realization. Incessant advertising and content is everywhere, so why not “embrace sweet oblivion” and lean into it? It’s a satirical thought, of course, but it captures the in-the-know sensibility Tatum has cultivated since Wild Nothing began picking up blog buzz in the late ‘aughts. Tatum’s music falls right in line with other Captured Tracks acts of the era, like Beach Fossils, which rely on waves of fuzzy guitars and alternating splashes of synth pop. “Suburban Solutions” fuses the two seamlessly, and Wild Nothing tracks have a rich sense of texture and in this case, a vibrant sonic backbone that calls to mind ‘80s nostalgia."

Prefab Sprout - appetite, 1985

"Paddy McAloon wrote "Appetite" in 1984. It was one of the first songs he had composed on a keyboard and was written using a "hip-hop-type groove" on a drum machine. The song's lyric is about "a pregnant girl so in love with her child that she wants to name it after all the good things in her life".

Slowdive - chained to a cloud, 2023

"A group characterized as a staple shoegaze band, Slowdive has long been praised for their dreamy, ambient, fuzzy and lively sound that blasts you into outer space. Their latest album, everything is alive, pays homage to their previous works but with a refined and respected mannerism. With this record, the band takes a step back from the high-gain, heavily distorted guitars and approaches the listener with an airier sound. This was a refreshing aspect of this album in general, but their new touches are especially prevalent on “chained to a cloud.” While I was immediately drawn in by the overall production and ambiance of the song, what interested me further were the emotional lyrics and build that effectively created a mood of anticipation. It is one thing to have a well-produced, beautiful song, but it is another thing to create one that provokes emotion in the listener. This provided a very three-dimensional outlook within the song."

Outros olhares: Roman Catholic Church of St Anthony, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, há uns dias atrás (Abril de 2025)

Outros olhares: Christ Church, Malacca, Malaysia, há uns dias atrás (Abril de 2025)

Chumbawamba - tubthumping live, 1997

"Tubthumping" is a song by British rock band Chumbawamba, released in August 1997 by EMI, Universal and Republic Records as the first single from their eighth studio album, Tubthumper (1997). It is the band's most successful single, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. At the 1998 Brit Awards, "Tubthumping" was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Single. It sold 880,000 copies in the UK."

REM - world leader pretend, 1988

"Green marks the departure of the jangle pop and college rock styling of the band's previous albums. In a 1988 interview, Peter Buck described Green as an album that didn't feature any typical R.E.M. songs. Describing the band's standard output as "Minor key, mid-tempo, enigmatic, semi-folk-rock-balladish things", the guitarist noted that for Green, "We wrote major key rock songs and switched instruments." Singer Michael Stipe had reportedly told his bandmates to "not write any more R.E.M.-type songs".

Emma Anderson - clusters, 2023

"Clusters is the second single from Emma Anderson’s debut solo album Pearlies, which is due out later this month. It’s a real grower, its initially intimate tones expanding into a charming motorik groove somewhere between Melody’s Echo Chamber and Stereolab."

Blonde Redhead - snowman, 2023

"‘Snowman’ is about how it can be a blessing or a curse to be invisible and undetectable, and how it’s something we all feel and desire at times.”

The Stranglers - always the sun live, 1986

"Lead vocalist, and lead guitarist Hugh Cornwell mentioned in his book The Stranglers Song by Song that he thought it could have been as big as "Golden Brown".

Stars - fourteen forever, 2008

"The band that makes the records you clutch to your chest like a prep-school misfit in a 1980s movie, the band that cuts out the construction-paper heart you wear on your sleeve. They make records that get down on their knees and beg to get quoted in someone's yearbook."

Beach House - all the years, 2008

"With Devotion, Beach House prove once again that they're one of the more strangely named bands around. Their music is so lonely, so haunting, that the only beach house it evokes is a deserted one, stranded on a winter night so desolate that summer isn't even a memory. Then again, that atmosphere is precisely what made Beach House's self-titled debut so striking, and Devotion is even more so, since Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally bring more focus, depth, and warmth to their unmistakable sound."

Texas - say what you want all day every day, 1998

"In 1998, Texas collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and RZA to remix the song as "Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day)". This version features Method Man and RZA on vocals and was released as a single in March 1998, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top 10 in Iceland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Both versions of the song are included on Texas's 2000 compilation album The Greatest Hits."

REM - the worst joke ever, 2004

"The song has grown on me and maybe its brevity coupled with the resurrection of the track during the Dublin sessions make me think of it in a different way. By this point in the album though, there is a malaise - could this song have picked up the pace and plugged in a little it might've started sounding like ACCELERATE. Maybe."

Brian Wilson - god only knows live, 2020

"The first time I heard it, Brian played it for me at the piano. And I went, "Oh my god, he's talking about God in a record." It was pretty daring to me. And it was another time I thought to myself, "Oh, boy, he's really taking a chance." I thought it was almost too religious. Too square."

Dido - white flag, 2003

"White Flag" is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second studio album, Life for Rent (2003). The song was first released to US radio on 7 July 2003 and was issued in the United Kingdom as a physical single on 1 September 2003. The song performed well on record charts around the world, peaking at number one in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. In Dido's native UK, it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and in the United States, it climbed to number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100."

Saint Etienne - spring, 1991

"Stanley in many ways is essentially a nostalgist. Foxbase Alpha is full of sepia tinted nostalgia for an English childhood of the Sixties and Seventies. The album is superbly presented. An Indie girl in artfully tilted cap, t-shirt and skirt carrying a banner bearing the album title on the cover. An inner sleeve with pictures of heroes set up to resemble the stickers you used to buy in childhood days in those lost decades."

Fazerdaze - bigger, 2023

"Singer, songwriter and producer Fazerdaze - otherwise known as Amelia Murray - has been a touchstone figure in the musical landscape of Aotearoa, New Zealand, for nearly a decade now, her output an intricate combination of both deeply personal and widely relatable. This autumn she returned to share new single ‘Bigger’ - a synth-laden, alt-rock offering that examines the pressures of international touring on the human psyche and interpersonal relationships. Candidly explaining more about the new cut, Amelia has said that she’s “often felt that ambition and being in the public eye can be a point of tension in my romantic relationships. I think this song is me trying to explore and overcome that with someone I cared about. For the production, I was exploring writing an anti-chorus. The synths do all the work and the vocal melody drops into a talk. I wanted to experiment with strange bendy synths and lean into a cinematic night time world.”

Teenage Fanclub - foreign land, 2023

"With distinctive rich vocal harmonies and warm guitars, the veteran Scottish indie alt-rock band return with a single from their 13th studio album, Nothing Lasts Forever out in September on PeMa and Merge. Still with original co-lead vocalists and guitarists Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley, the lineup since 2019 now also includes Welsh musician Euros Childs from Gorky's Zygotic Mynci on keyboards and vocals."

The Lightning Seeds - pure, 1989

"Pure" is a song by British music group the Lightning Seeds from their debut album, Cloudcuckooland. Released in June 1989, the song peaked at No. 16 in the UK. The track is the band's sole entry on the US Billboard Hot 100's top 40, peaking at No. 31, and was the first hit for the band on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at No. 8 in May 1990. It was later featured prominently in the movie "What Happens Later" (2023)."

Fait-divers on the essential

“The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches...
They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports...
It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor.
A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar...
In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist...
A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care...
A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor...
It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing.
The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss.
A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence.
This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people.
Do not criticize your body too much.
Do not complain excessively.
Do not lose sleep over bills.
Make sure to hug your loved ones.
Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless.
Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance.
You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect...
Listen, perfection does not exist.
A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here.
Here, we are given an opportunity to learn.
So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now.
Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you.
Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere.
Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely!
And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator.”

Matt Berninger - breaking into acting, 2025

"‘Breaking Into Acting’ features vocals from Meg Duffy of LA band Hand Habits and touches on the malleability of performance. “Sometimes you have to fake forgiveness before you can actually forgive,” explains Berninger on the song. The new track follows the first single off the album, 'Bonnet of Pins', in which Berninger confronts grief and the unexpected humour it can bring."

Mike Oldfield - daydream, 2002

"The musician/composer once again spins carefully layered guitar and keyboard performances into a seemingly endless stream of space-age lullabies supported by the faintest of beats"

D4RKSTAR - friendly fire, 2023

"Gothenburg-based Dark Electronic /Shoegaze musician, singer and composer Andreas Lind returns under his moniker D4RKSTAR with the Official Video, directed by Andreas Häggström, for “Friendly Fire” taken from last July’s double A-side single “End of Days / Friendly Fire” mixed and produced by Stefan Eriksson (Brotherhood, Sister Electra, Fenix, etc). Wrapped in a deeply emotional somber aura, “Friendly Fire” layers hypnotic, plodding drum beats, rippling buzzing low-end, elongated glowing synth drifts and twinkly stacking wistful chords, to resound with distorted stirring poignancy alongside nostalgic heartfelt vocal agony, begging a loved one to take it easy for a while, lest his fragile heart breaks."

Jackson Browne - jamaica say you will, 1972

"Browne wrote "Jamaica Say You Will" in the fall of 1969. In February 1970 he recorded a demo of the song, with Glenn Frey, Ned Doheny and JD Souther backing him. This demo led to David Geffen signing Browne as a client. The song was first released by The Byrds on their Byrdmaniax album the year before Browne's version came out, so many people were familiar with it before ever hearing Browne's recording."

Dark En Ciel - i'm still free the sound of everything cover, 2016

"Spain are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1993, and led by singer/bassist Josh Haden."

Fait-divers on perspective

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Max Planck

Fait-divers on sincerity and authenticity

The huge difference between sincerity and authenticity. Sincerity, while it's lovely, is necessary but insufficient, because you can be sincere with just one zone of your heart awakened.

The Cure - last dance, 1989

"Last Dance" is a song by The Cure, released in 1989 as a B-side to the single "Lullaby" and later included on the album Disintegration (deluxe editions). It’s a melancholic track with introspective lyrics, driven by Robert Smith’s emotive vocals, shimmering guitars, and atmospheric synths, capturing the band’s signature gothic post-punk sound. The song reflects themes of longing and fleeting moments, often interpreted as a meditation on love or mortality."

Ride - only now, 1994

"Credit Ride for using only their own creative radar, completely ignoring all outside expectations for their third LP. Listeners could tell they had a love for the likes of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, but admiring the Black Crowes was practically out of the question for the scene that birthed them."

Outros olhares: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, com a cruz ao longe (Roman Catholic Church of St Anthony), dia 24 de Abril de 2025, há uns minutos atrás

Saint Etienne - soft like me, 2002

"Soft Like Me" is a track by Saint Etienne from their 2002 album Finisterre. It’s a dreamy, electronic-pop song with a melancholic edge, featuring Sarah Cracknell’s delicate vocals over a lush, synth-driven soundscape. The lyrics explore themes of vulnerability and emotional fragility, fitting the band’s signature blend of introspective and danceable vibes."

The National - laugh track, 2023

"Letting go of notions of how to make songs and allowing for some loose, unstructured approaches to come into it. Also, some songs literally came from just improvising on stage during soundcheck. Maybe it's having come through a really hard time and nearly not surviving as a band. We came back together and we felt healthy."

Sufjan Stevens - i walked, 2010

"You emerge from the other side of it glad not just that Stevens continued to make music, but that he chose to follow his muse to such a radical, potentially divisive place."

Genesis - eleventh earl of mar, 1976

"Eleventh Earl of Mar" refers to the historical figure of John Erskine, Earl of Mar, a Scottish Jacobite. Its working title was "Scottish". The first line of the song, "The sun had been up for a couple of hours", is the opening line of the novel The Flight of the Heron by D. K. Broster. Rutherford, who wrote the song's lyrics, got the idea after reading a "history book about a failed Scottish rising ... around 1715". Hackett wrote the music and lyrics to the song's bridge, which was originally a section of a different song."

Fait-divers on world randomness

Time itself started to seem like a slow-moving natural disaster, imperceptibly shaking everything apart. Maybe nothing in our world is durable or stable. Maybe everything runs on pure chance.

Fait-divers on randomness and grace

"Random" means "I don't know what happened, I don't know how and what variables play to give this result." At the same time, even if it is not a very scientific concept, "random" is a wonderful concept, like "light" or "grace".

Guillemots - made-up lovesong forty-three live, 2006

"It's one of those melodies that you dream about being able to write and sing, but not even this can prepare you for the elegantly controlled ascent that builds and climbs and works its way into every single part of your being."

Sea Glass - nintendo love, 2023

"Sea Glass builds melodies that never disappoint. He soothes senses no matter if it’s a ballad or an upbeat piece bringing freshness and nostalgia to the table. Inspired to release music after the birth of his first child, Sea Glass’s music taps into universal emotions around growing up and dreaming."

It's Immaterial - summer rain, 2020

"The Wait is Over: The Third It’s Immaterial Album, “House For Sale” Is Available"

Lala Lala - hit me where it hurts, 2023

"HIT ME WHERE IT HURTS,” is about destruction and impatience. I wanted the song to sound blown out and desperate"

Three Quarter Skies - on fire, 2023

"Three Quarter Skies – the band formed by Simon Scott of Slowdive"

Seablite - pot of boiling water, 2023

"Whether on accident or luck, some bands just hit all the right notes with certain songs"

Fait-divers on fear

"Fear is a difficult opponent. It promotes a battle not only against the body, but advances powerfully over the soul, and when the soul is captured, it no longer gives us peace of mind." Tolentino Mendonça (free translation)

Fait-divers on randomness

Genuine, verifiable randomness — think of it as the property possessed by a sequence of numbers that makes it impossible to predict the next number in the sequence — is extremely hard to come by.

The Cure - alone four tet remix, 2025

“Just after Christmas I was sent a couple of unsolicited remixes of Songs of a Lost World tracks and I really loved them. The Cure has a colourful history with all kinds of dance music, and I was curious as to how the whole album would sound entirely reinterpreted by others. This curiosity resulted in a fabulous trip through all eight songs by 24 wonderful artists and remixers and is way beyond anything I could have hoped for. Giving our recording royalties from the project to War Child helps make Mixes of a Lost World an even more special release.”

REM - gardening at night live, 1985

"We were driving at night after a show (I don't remember where), and I was at the wheel of our old car, with a rental trailer in tow. One of my three passengers aimed a directive at me. Rather than inform me of his desire to evacuate his bladder, he instead suggested that I pull over so that he might engage in the task of roadside 'night gardening.' To four guys in their early twenties this was a glaring catalyst for a new song."

The Lightning Seeds - permanent danger, 2022

"This intoxicating 10 track collection will kick start a soundtrack to summer with the feel good warmth of ‘Sunshine’. Most of the songs are written by Ian Broudie. One of the album highlights, ‘Emily Smiles’, was co-written with Terry Hall while ‘Great to Be Alive’ is a co-write with James Skelly (the Coral)."

Soft Science - sadness, 2023

"Sacramento’s Soft Science have announced details of their forthcoming fourth album, which is their first since 2018’s Maps. Titled Lines it features ten tracks and is due to be released on September 08 2023. The band have also lifted the first single from the album, in the shape of Sadness. It’s a guitar lead song that swirls and jangles amongst shoegaze and dreampop influences. Heavenly stuff!"

Duo Movida - bachata calingue, 2014

"Bachata is a genre of music that originated in the Dominican Republic in the 20th century. It contains elements of European (mainly Spanish music), indigenous Taino and African musical elements, representing the cultural diversity of the Dominican population. A form of dance, bachata, also developed with the music."

REM - bittersweet me, 1996

"Bittersweet Me" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 10th studio album, New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996). Like much of the album, the song originated while the band were on the road for the Monster tour, although the song was only ever soundchecked and has never been played live as part of a concert.[1] The song was a bigger hit in the United States than the first single from the album, "E-Bow the Letter", except on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where the first single's number-two peak bested the number-six peak of "Bittersweet Me".

Pet Shop Boys - the only one, 1999

"The best thing, in fact, about this track is its superb, imaginative production. Just listen to the way Neil and Chris slink their way into it with soft, subtle electronic squiggles and burps"

Patti Smith - these are the words, 2018

"Tonight before sleeping I am contemplating the last twelve years with Pope Francis. Though not a Catholic I was drawn to this kind, openminded and staunch humanitarian. I felt safer knowing he was among us, doing his best to follow and preach Christ’s teachings. It is fitting that his last words to the public should strongly focus on Peace. May he ascend to a loving place visited by the doves of the air. Below is a song I wrote with Tony Shanahan for Wim Wender’s documentary film, A Man of his Word on Pope Francis. Now I must seek sleep, saddened that we will begin a new day without him."

Beach Vacation - it soothes me, 2022

"The track captures a sun-soaked lush dreamy rock sound that has a bit of early Beach Fossils in it, with some gorgeous sounds that feel like the best summer with your friends that you wish you could turn the back towards this very instant."

Tears For Fears - advice for the young at heart, 1989

"Advice for the Young at Heart" is a song by the English band Tears for Fears, taken from their 1989 album The Seeds of Love. It was released as the third single from the album in February 1990. The song was written by Roland Orzabal and keyboardist/singer Nicky Holland. The lead vocal was sung by Curt Smith (the only track on The Seeds of Love album that he sang solo lead vocals on)."

Midlake And John Grant - roadrunner blues, 2023

"We became like brothers during that time. I don’t get to see them often enough. I don’t think I want to live in Texas at this point in my life, but I often think about that time in Denton and the incredible people I know now because of it, and sometimes I am very tempted to go back there just so I can be around them. I had a blast doing these songs with them as I knew I would and I hope we get to do more in the future.”

Isaac Hayes - theme from shaft, 1971

"Theme from Shaft", written and recorded by Isaac Hayes in 1971, is the soul and funk-styled theme song to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Shaft. The theme was released as a single (shortened and edited from the longer album version) two months after the movie's soundtrack by Stax Records' Enterprise label. "Theme from Shaft" went to number two on the Billboard Soul Singles chart (behind "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" by Marvin Gaye) and to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States in November 1971, and number one in Canada in December. The song was also well received by adult audiences, reaching number six on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and number four in Canada. The song is considered by some to be one of the first disco songs."

Emma Anderson - the presence, 2023

“It’s one of the album’s catchiest moments and also the one that possibly/probably sounds most like my previous bands thanks to the layers of guitars.”

The Durutti Column - detail for paul, 1981

"LC, or Lotta Continua (Italian for Continuous Struggle) is the group’s masterpiece. Recorded on a four track in chief songwriter Vini Reilly’s home in 1981, the album could be considered the first ever “bedroom lo-fi” record to be released in the professional sphere. Despite the intentional limitations put in place by Reilly’s decision to record with a four track, the album itself is a sonic triumph. Cosmically cascading Latin guitars echo from the inside of some distant black hole, saturated by copious amounts of reverb and tape delay manipulation. Keir Stewart’s basslines politely bounce around in the back of the mix, not to take away from the brilliance of Reilly’s guitar work, while Bruce Mitchell’s tribal-jazz fusion rhythms keep everything somewhat grounded to Earth."

Pope Francis

It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.

Morreu o Santo Papa Francisco

Que notícia mais triste. Morreu um Santo, talvez o maior Santo que a Igreja Católica alguma vez teve!

The Smiths - there is a light that never goes out live, 1986

"a testament"

Easter

"It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone. The world is full of dark derelicts. The better way - the Marulli of that old Rome would have known it - there comes a time for decent, honorable retirement, not dramatic, not punishment of self or family - just good-by, a warm bath and an opened vein, a warm sea and a razor blade. The ground swell on the rising tide whished into the Place and raised my legs and hips and swung them to the side and carried my wet folded raincoat out with it. I rolled on one hip and reached in my side pocket for my razor blades and I felt the lump. Then in wonder I remembered the caressing, stroking hands of the light-bearer. For a moment it resisted coming out of my wet pocket. Then in my hand it gathered every bit of light there was and seemed red - dark red. A surge of wave pushed me against the very back of the Place. And the tempo of the sea speeded up. I had to fight the water to get out, and I had to get out. I rolled and scrambled and splashed chest deep in the surf and the brisking waves pushed me against the old sea wall. I had to get back - had to return the talisman to its new owner. Else another light might go out." - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

Sufjan Stevens - death with dignity live in london, 2015

"As we progress through the Lenten season, I am embracing anticipation for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. By the grace of God, I find myself closer to understanding the significance of Holy Saturday than ever before; enduring, with patience and hope, the indeterminate time and space of the in-between. And, at thirty, I am expectant and ready to be greeted by the Risen Christ on Easter morn, as if for the first time."

Holy Saturday

"That Saturday morning seemed to have a pattern. I wonder whether all days have. It was a withdrawn day. The little gray whisper of my Aunt Deborah came to me, "Of course, Jesus is dead. This is the only day in the world's days when He is dead. And all men and women are dead too. Jesus is in Hell. But tomorrow. Just wait until tomorrow. Then you'll see something." - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

Sufjan Stevens - no shade in the shadow of the cross live in edinburgh, 2015

"No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross" is a song by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens. It is the tenth track and lead single from his seventh studio album, Carrie & Lowell, and was released digitally on February 16, 2015 on Asthmatic Kitty and as a one-track 7" on March 3, 2015 on Joyful Noise Recordings."

Bonnie Prince Billy - the cross, 2016

"When it first appeared on Prince's 1987 opus, "The Cross" stood out as a direct expression of gospel-soul, but with a Purple imprimatur all over it. The song's words were classic and timeless, pointing to a particular cross-section of tradition — African-American and Christian, with an awareness of the urban rings of hell first described in hymn by Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Yet the instrumentation was led by a metallic electric guitar and sitar that pulled the song out of a well-defined period and idea. Instead, it reached into something psychedelic, cosmically and spiritually fulfilling, and yet also ungrounded — scriptures as ecstatic metaphor more than text. No denomination or religiosity; just a hint of eternal truth."

Holy Friday - Good Friday has always troubled me

"Good Friday has always troubled me. Even as a child I was deep taken with sorrow, not at the agony of the crucifixion, but feeling the blighting loneliness of the Crucified. And I have never lost the sorrow, planted by Matthew, and read to me in the clipped, tight speech of my New England Great Aunt Deborah. Perhaps it was worse this year. We do take the story to ourselves and identify with it."

Bonnie Prince Billy - i see a darkness, 1999

"Mojo deemed it a "modern classic" and the twentieth best album released during the magazine's lifetime. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."

Holy Friday - Why do they call it Good Friday?

"Why do they call it Good Friday?" "It's from the Latin," said Joey. "Goodus, goodilius, goodum, meaning lousy." - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

The Reds Pinks And Purples - me and magdalena, 2023

"Have you heard of the band with three colors in it? You can try to guess, but I’m still gonna tell you. San Francisco’s local alternative indie band The Reds, Pinks & Purples, led by Glenn Donaldson, infuses hints of 70’s jangly pop into instrumental sessions with lyrics that leave you feeling the same way you might feel after listening to Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence album."

Holy Friday - I do love you

"She put her arms around him. "Let's be silly," she said. "Please don't say swear words on Good Friday. I do love you" - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

Bear's Den - loneliness, 2023

"Heartrending and cathartic all at once, “Loneliness” is a poetic unburdening of painful, heavy emotion."

Holy Friday - Do you remember?

"Did you wake up silly?" "The year's at the day. The day's at the morn." "I guess you did. Do you remember it's Good Friday?" He said hollowly, "The dirty Romans are forming up for Calvary." "Don't be sacrilegious. Will Marullo let you close the store at eleven?" - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

Fragile Animals - lonely in the sun, 2023

"Fragile Animals’ debut album is a bold, best-foot-forward fusion of dreamy, distorted shoegaze and boppy indie-pop. But don’t let Slow Motion Burial’s triumphant, upbeat sound fool you – themes of loss, loneliness, and self-doubt are tackled with their trademark subtle lyricism."

The Radio Dept - this repeated sodomy, 2015

"Jangly guitars and reverb-drenched vocals—the Radio Dept. have gone back to their indie pop roots with "This Repeated Sodomy", their latest one-off single to follow 2010's excellent Clinging to a Scheme. With a skittering drum beat lagging slightly behind Johan Duncason's slack vocals and loose guitar, "Sodomy"'s musical elements are cut to the quick by its lyrical content. "Establish equality/ Instead of this repeated sodomy" is pretty straight forward as far as politics go, and as always, couching their message in a lovely puff of dream-pop makes it all the more biting."

The Go-Betweens - the devil's eye, 1988

"Unbelievably brilliant, I think the whole album was incredible. Normally if you have an album with two singers and two writers, there's always one that you like better. Not in the case of The Go-Betweens, two equally talented guys, just like Lennon and McCartney."

Shrimp - this body means nothing to me, 2019

"You are touching some deep stuff here. Please continue... seriously good purge. Exorcize those demons for all of us!"

Death Cab For Cutie - asphalt meadows, 2022

"Gibbard has been admirably candid about the personal turmoil he suffered while creating Death Cab for Cutie’s most beloved music, in contrast to the sobriety and equilibrium he experiences now—challenging fans to consider what they miss about “the old Death Cab.” But the existential burden of being in a massively popular band with dwindling acclaim has lightened over the past three years."

Jars Of Clay - they will know we are christians by our love cover, 2005

"Redemption Songs is a collection of reinvented hymns and spiritual songs. As part of a church community that believed passionately the blessing of understanding the story of redemption through early church songs and ancient hymns, Jars of Clay found themselves a part of a growing renaissance, one that inspired them to write new songs using the rich hymn texts as the foundation."

Holy Thursday

“I didn’t always use Major Charley’s method, but on a day like this Thursday, when I knew my attention should be as uninterrupted as possible, I awakened when the day opened its door a crack and 1 visited my family as Major Charley had. I visited them in chronological order, bowed to Aunt Deborah. She was named for Deborah the Judge of Israel and I have read that a judge was a military leader. Perhaps she responded to her name. My great-aunt could have led armies. She did marshal the cohorts of thought. My joy in earning for no visible profit came from her. Stern though she was, she was charged with curiosity and had little use for anyone who was not. I gave her my obeisance.” - John Steinbeck, "The Winter of Our Discontent"

The Vacant Lots - amnesia, 2023

“It’s about feeling dissociative and getting burned by the fire. Then coping with how this inevitably leads to the dissolution of the relationship.”

The Waterboys - red army blues live, 2007

"Red Army Blues" first appeared on the twelve-inch single for "December" from The Waterboys. The song is a first-person narrative of the life of a young Soviet soldier in World War II who participates in the Battle of Berlin. The soldier, along with many others, is sent to the Gulag by Joseph Stalin. The song is based upon the book The Diary of Vikenty Angorov and borrows main musical theme from Polyushko-polye by Lev Knipper."

Chumbawamba - enough is enough live, 2000

"they mix pop and politics, putting the iron fist (with its many pop culture references) inside the velvet glove of modern pop music. It's sly, wry, often comic, and they're not afraid of making fun of themselves. In other words, it should both scare and entertain you."

Archive - the skies collapsing on to us, 2023

"Archive are a musical group based in London, England, whose music spans electronic, trip hop, avant-garde, post-rock and progressive rock. Over their 28-year history, the band has released twelve studio albums and enjoyed established success throughout Europe."

The Moody Blues - are you sitting comfortably, 1969

"According to Hayward, "Are You Sitting Comfortably" is "about storytelling, but elevated to a bit of a psychedelic story". Its lyrics recall the days of medieval minstrels, featuring finger-picked guitar and lyrics full of vibrant imagery including "a fleet of golden galleons on a crystal sea" and the "glorious days of Camelot" while Merlin casts a spell of slumber. The song takes its first line from a popular children's show, Listen with Mother, that always began with the same line and became associated with the phrase. "Are You Sitting Comfortably" was written towards the end of the sessions, and apart from "The Dream", was the last track recorded for the album. Hayward remembers, "I already had the guitar riff and the chord sequence, and I had the first line and the title. And then we just took it from there. Ray contributed a lot of lyrics. I know the first thing he did was that second line, "A fleet of golden galleons, on a crystal sea," which is a very Ray Thomas phrase."