Flashback Friday: "Angel Si Ti".

Considering this is the Eurovision Song Contest week, I am going to make an exception with today's Flashback. Today I am not sharing an oldie, but a contemporary tune in the very beautiful and sensual Bulgarian language.

To those of you who are not European, the term Eurovision means nothing. But believe me, this is the only televised event that manages to unite (and divide) Europe like nothing else can. It has grown over the decades to become a massive undertaking, with 39 countries participating. In 2009, the show was watched by some 125 million people.
I have described the contest in details last year, thus I will not bore you with the facts today. Except to point out that once again, after two semifinals, the best songs did not even make it to tomorrows final.

Thus, let me present to you one of my absolute favorite entries this year. It might come across as flamboyant, processed and over the top, but this is exactly what a great pop song should be. It is music that makes us feel good.
The compilation below sounds good and looks good and appeals to all my senses. I enjoy it like a lavish desert. I love the catchy harmonies, that make me want to get up and dance, a sensation I have not felt for a very long time. I love the images and the sentiments and most of all, I simply love the language. To me, who has Slavic roots, the lyrics below (of which I understand some) appear as a combination of Slavic and Latin; a language match made in heaven.

"Angel Si Ti", meaning "You Are An Angel" preformed by Miro (Miroslav Kostadinov) is one of the best songs in this contest. Even though voted out in yesterdays semifinal, it has won my heart.
Well done Bulgaria.

Flashback Friday: "In The Waiting Line".

Initially I thought the compilation below does not qualify for a Flashback just yet, as it still feels so very modern and new to me. However, realizing it is almost ten years since its release made me again so very aware of the relativity of time...

Thus may I present the "youngest" Flashback here to date, with its wonderfully escapist and ethereal feel.
Perhaps the name of the artist and the song might escape you, however, once you listen to it, it might be perceived as somewhat familiar. It is performed by Zero 7 , a duo based in the United Kingdom, known for using guest vocalists in their work. Their sound has a very pleasant, jazzy, downtempo style to it.

"In The Waiting Line", from the 2001 album Simple Things has been used in numerous soundtracks, among others for the Sex And The City and House series. It has that certain meditative sound, that makes us want to close our eyes and relax...

Have a wonderful, relaxing Friday everyone.

Flashback Friday: "Guardian Angel".

I do not know much about Masquerade. Except for the somewhat ethereal composition below, made in 1984 in collaboration with Drafi Deutscher. It moves me back at least two decades, when it was played on the radio and reminds me of care free times of my youth.

Even though the harmonies in "Guardian Angel" might be slightly old fashioned, the lyrics feel very time less...

Flashback Friday: "Sugar Baby Love".

Today I will share with you my favourite candy music. Or feel good music if you will. Just like we turn to chocolate and comfort food for pleasure from time to time, likewise I do have a few compilations on standby to savour when I feel like something sugar sweet. If I could taste sound, this one would taste as sweet as cotton candy.

And the title of course fits the sentiment very well - "Sugar Baby Love" was the debut single of The Rubettes. Released in 1974, it was the bands one and only number one UK single, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in May 1974.
I was only a baby myself then, still the harmonies sound so very familiar. If it should be bubble gum pop, then this is my pick.
Happy Friday everyone.

Flashback Friday: "Nothing To Loose".

Even though the movie "The Party", starring Peter Sellers, is not one of my favorite ones at all (mostly as I at times find some of the comedy to be a bit infantile and annoying), there is one particular scene in the film, which I adore. It features the serene Claudine Longet, a French singer and actress, in a beautiful performance of "Nothing To Loose", composed by Henry Mancini.

Claudine did enjoy success on the music popularity charts in the 60's. Her 1967 debut album, Claudine, peaked at #11 on the Billboard pop albums chart in the United States. Sadly, in 1976 Claudine was convicted for misdemeanor negligent homicide in connection with the death of former Olympic skier "Spider" Sabich, with whom she was romantically involved at that time. After this personal tragedy she has maintained a private profile.

In any case, the compilation below is very soft and tranquil. Her fragile, feminine voice, as she sings in English, yet her words so saturated with a heavy french accent, give the harmonies and lyrics an inevitably sensual and dreamy feel.
Hope you enjoy it too.

Flashback Friday: "Blue Eyes".

The first time I heard of Elton John (now Sir) was in 1983 when he had a major hit with "I Want To Kiss The Bride". I had no idea who Elton was, nor did I know then that he has been an active musician starting two decades prior.

Since then, his numerous compilations has been topping the charts, but none has really manged to capture my heart the way that "Blue Eyes" has. From the 1982 album "Jump up!", the song went to #1 on the adult contemporary chart, becoming John's sixth chart-topper on this list.

I am not sure why I love this piece so much; perhaps as its lyrics somehow always manged to speak to me in one way or another.
Or perhaps because I always imagined this song being sang to me...

Flashback Friday: "The NeverEnding Story".

Today I dedicate my Flashback Friday compilation to my sister for her birthday. Thus I am taking you way back to the mid eighties, when wild hair ruled the fashion and pleasant melodies the ether.

I decided to revisit the main theme song from a famous cinematographic masterpiece of a fairytale. Entitled "The NeverEnding Story", the main track with the same name is performed by Limahl. It received constant airplay in 1984, topping the charts all over Europe. Even today those pristine harmonies take me way back to my late teens, when my sister was my greatest confidant and my best friend. When everything was still new and fresh, magical and fairy-tale like and we were ready to conquer the world.

Happy Birthday to my little sister and Happy Friday to all of you.

Flashback Friday: "BangaBoomerang".

The first musical interest of mine was without doubt the mega successful Swedish group Abba. I was barely eight and I remember listening to the records my parents would play and immediately found absolute appeal in hits such as Dancing Queen, When I Kissed The Teacher and Fernando, my mothers favourite. I recall that very intriguing cover of Arrival, where the members of the group sit in a glass helicopter and I looked at it with awe and fascination as the beat to the undying melodies was streaming from the stereo.

Considering that Abba was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 15 March 2010, I thought I simply have to share at least one of their hits.
I decided to go for one that is less known internationally, but became a smash hit for Swedish duo called Svenne & Lotta, for whom this single was written to be performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975. Although the track was included on the Abba's first Greatest Hits album, released on 17 November 1975, the ABBA version was in fact never issued as a single in Scandinavia.

Aside from the somewhat badly composed title - with a strange choice of words, Bang-A-Boomerang is my absolute personal Abba favorite. Hope you will enjoy it too, as well as the wonderfully laid back video (including the fabulous 70's fashion), filmed in what I believe to be Stockholm in spring.

Flashback Friday: "If I Can't Have You".

The first time I saw and heard Yvonne Elliman was in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar, where she played the role of Mary Magdalene. I was completely captivated by the film and by her performance of the well known song I don't Know How To Love Him. The music felt very powerful and enticed my young mind like very few compilation had before. I sat mesmerized watching the musical, holding my breath.

Later I realized that Yvonne Elliman also performed as a backing vocalist for Eric Clapton on many of his 1970s hits, including "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Lay Down Sally".
I guess she is known through many songs, today however I decided to share her biggest number one hit from 1977, "If I Can't Have You". It was featured on the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack and was written by the Bee Gees.

I hope you enjoy this flashback to the glittering disco days, when the right music was played and when the dance floor was the place to be on a Saturday night.

Flashback Friday: "Oh Sherrie".

I honestly do not recall when I first heard of Steve Perry. I believe it was in late 80's. His songs were played on the radio and I was familiar with some of them. In any case I knew of Steve way before I knew of Journey, even though he became famous as the groups lead singer.

Perry released his solo album "Street Talk" in 1984 and I stumbled upon it once while browsing the music section in a department store in North Carolina in 1992. My favorite single from this album is without a question "Oh Sherrie". It is perfect through and through, with stunning harmonies, showing off the incredible power and the extensive vocal range in Perry's voice. I love the way the song builds up and the catching chorus stays in one's mind long after the song has ended.
And in one's memories forever.

Flashback Friday: "Baby Come Back".

There is something enticing about the soft rock of the seventies. Yes indeed, some of the most beautiful melodies carrying this label, fall under my favorite music styles.

This includes songs by the American band Player. As stated by the famous wikipedia:
"Player gained popularity as a live act during the heyday of the 1970s stadium rock era. They began to develop a distinctive, edgy and melodic rock style. Their biggest hit, "Baby Come Back", rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 and was a chart success in other countries. Their follow up single "This Time I'm In It For Love" also peaked at No. 10 the same year. Among several notable accolades, Player was named Billboard's Best New Singles Artist of 1978. Eric Clapton became so impressed with Player that he invited them to open for him during his 1978 North American tour."

I became aware of Player first in mid 80's, when I heard their compilations played by the various soft rock radio stations. What intrigued me even more was when I in the early nineties realized that Ronn Moss, who portrays Ridge Forrester on the long running soap opera "The Bold And The Beautiful" was/is actually an active member of the band. I was addicted to that show in the 80's and had a crush on Ridge. How amusing that seems to me now.

All this aside though, "Baby Come Back" is simply magnificent. Instead of describing the timeless appeal of this compilation, I let the music speak for it self.

Flashback Friday: "Flash".

Most of us are familiar with the fairy tale story of Grace Kelly. The stunningly elegant and sophisticated American beauty icon that met and married a prince, becoming princess Grace of Monaco.
When I was a teenager, the youngest daughter of the royal couple, Princess Stéphanie, was in her teens as well. Considered a somewhat rebellious child, often termed the wild princess, she was constantly in the tabloids, in less than flattering stories. We read about her escapades and her relationships and I guess at that time, she truly was a wild child. Although in today's world, I think her behaviour would be considered much less problematic than twenty years ago.

Princess Stéphanie enjoyed also a brief singing carrier. Although dismissed by many, I truly enjoyed her unique music style. Her soft, fragile, almost childlike voice and catchy melodies were very appealing and she did climb the European charts with her big hit "Ouragan" (Hurricane) in 1986.
Taken from her first album entitled Besoin released in the same year is also the compilation below. "Flash" became number one in Sweden, where I grew up. Still a teenager myself when this song was a hit, today I relish in the absolutely familiar eighties feel that envelops me every time I hear it.

Flashback Friday: "At Last!".

Considering that we are about to enter the famous Valentine's weekend, I though I would share with you my favorite love song of all.

Love, the universal feeling, that only one we crave at all times and some of us spend a whole lifetime seeking. It is as elusive as it is enchanting and it is as fleeing as it is everlasting. Love means so many different things to so many, yet it unites us all.

Love has inspired many artist and many love songs have been written throughout the times. "At Last" from 1960, performed by the incredibly talented Etta James is a classic in every possible way. It appeals to me, as it is a positive love song. The lyrics convey in such a pleasing way a certain end to the time of longing, bringing a true happy ending to a tangibly trying time, hinted at in the words.

Perhaps it is because I recognize my own faith in the sentiments, or simply because I am a hopeless romantic, always believing that love is eventually all we really need - the lyrics nevertheless symbolize to me a conviction that eventually all will be well.
At last.

Flashback Friday: "Mamma Maria".

I was fifteen years old. Spending July in the archipelago just outside the city of Gothenburg in Sweden with my aunt, I can very much recall the pristine, but rugged beauty of the northern islands. The sound of "Mamma Maria" could be heard on all the Swedish (and the European) radio stations, while the feel of this melody was in such a contrast to my Scandinavian surroundings. It was one of the greatest hits of the summer in 1982 - catchy, happy, filled with appealing harmonies and the italian language made it sound exotic and sensual. Even though I did not understand a word of it, it sounded so beautiful.

Ricchi e Poveri is one of the most famous Italian pop music groups in Europe and Latin America. Active since the late 1960s, they have sold over 20 million records, recorded in Italian and Spanish. Solely responsible for some of the most popular Italian songs of the 80s and 90s such as "Mamma Maria", "Se m'innamoro", "Made in Italy" and I guess their greatest hit "Sarà perché ti amo", they appear almost iconic today.

Still, despite the multitude of compilations, the below is my favorite one of them all. Every time I hear I am transported back almost thirty years in an instant.

That is the everlasting power of a melody.

Flashback Friday: "I Promised Myself".

Nick Kamen's face became known from one of the many Levi's commercials that did run on television in the 80's. Those sultry ads featuring good looking men with their jeans.

This one was no exception. A handsome man stripping down in a 1950s style public laundromat, in order to stone-wash his blue jeans, while he waits clad only in his boxer shorts. Apparently, this dramatically increased the popularity of this undergarment and this ad was selected for The 100 Greatest TV Ads of all time in 2000.

However, Nick Kamen was more than a pretty face and did enjoy a brief singing carrier in the 80's. I did like his music, but to me he was always just a face from that jeans ad.
Until 1990, that is. In this year he released his his self-penned song "I Promised Myself". I think that compilation and the video that followed had everything that enticed my young romantic mind. The images were so simple, yet the young man standing there with his guitar appeared to be singing directly to me, looking at me with his enigmatic green eyes, telling me "...I will wait for you...". Needles to say I listened to the tape with this song until the tape broke.

Today I have grown out of some of my naivete, but a certain magic of the compilation has not diminished. Even though I by now consider the video to be somewhat aged and the thrill I used to feel is gone, I still relish in its aesthetics, its simplicity and in the timeless appeal of the lyrics and the harmonies.

Flashback Friday: "Relight My Fire".

I was a bit too young to fully enjoy the hits of the 70's disco era, but I nevertheless remember them all. My parents, whose love for music I inherited, also loved to dance. Although they remember fondly and appreciate greatly the charm of a "live" orchestra from the 60's, they did swing on the dance floor in the decade that followed to all the undying disco dance melodies.

I recall Dan Hartman's hits mainly from the later part of the 80's, such as "I can Dream About You", still the below is one of my absolutely favorite dance compilations. "Relight My Fire" was released in 1979 and topped the U.S. dance-music charts for six weeks. Loleatta Holloway is one of the featured vocalists on the record. It was also a major hit almost 15 years later when covered by the British boy-band "Take That", featuring Lulu in 1993.

Considering the solemn pieces I have been sharing in the last few weeks, I think it is time for something upbeat and refreshing. I think it is time to hit the dance floor! Happy weekend everyone.
And don't forget to dance.

Flashback Friday: "Ocean Deep".

Sir Cliff Richard. Even the name sounds iconic. Whether one likes his music or not, one fact remains; he is one of the true remaining superstars, talented and charismatic, having been active on the scene for half a century and managed to supply us with first class entertainment, looking forever young while doing so.

My awareness of Cliff Richard occurred in 1984, as he was climbing the charts with the catchy compilation; "Baby You're Dynamite". I was at this point somewhat familiar with his music, mostly because his old hits from the 60's and 70's, such as "Congratulations" and "Summer Holiday", were translated into Czech and often played on the radio when I was a child.
There are numerous beautiful songs that I could share with you here, all made by this infinitely talented performer, such as "Dreaming" and "We Don't Talk Anymore", two of my absolute favorites.

However I opted for a somewhat overlooked gem, featured on the B side of the "Baby You're Dynamite" single. Not many are familiar with this beautifully composed and eloquently performed piece. Entitled "Ocean Deep", it is delicately sentimental and poetic.

The lyrics are full of melancholic longing and the harmony seems to make this song light as air, yet deep as the blue waters of the ocean...
It is simply beautiful art - music at it's very best.

Flashback Friday: "Marco Polo".

I love classical music. There is nothing more enticing than hearing the works of the great masters, preferably in grand theaters and concert halls. Yet, even listening to the undying harmonies in my own home, when the house is still and the day is approaching dusk, holds an allure at any season.
In the nineties, when I experienced lack of inspiration from the modern music, I went on exploration in the old classics. By sheer coincident, I stumbled upon an absolute gem.

Rondò Veneziano is an Italian chamber orchestra. The performers are renowned for wearing a period attire and playing original instruments in their numerous live shows. The compositions, although created with the elements of classical pieces mostly from the Baroque period, contain incorporation of modern rock-style rhythm sections.

Active for almost three decades, Rondò Veneziano have with a sense of style and taste delivered classical music in a modern manner. Even though nothing can replace the sound of the originals, their fusion of classical and contemporary music is superb.

The "Marco Polo" single below is taken from album of the same name. I remember the feeling of discovery, when I played it for the first time.
Quality never fades.

Flashback Friday (Christmas Edition): "Driving Home For Christmas".

Let me finish this working week with yet another post about that enchanted precipitation we call snow.

On the 23d of December 2001 I was driving home for Christmas, just like the title of this lovely Christmas song below states. The ride was going to take me from Jutland in Denmark to southern Sweden, where my parents lived at that time. All by highway, passing two super bridges, the trip should have lasted about three hours tops. That was the plan at least.

I have not driven this route before - in fact this was my first trip driving alone. I packed everything the night before, which was a grey, foggy and drizzly winter evening, so very common in our part of the world. When I woke up early next morning, imagine my surprise as I looked out of the windows; white landscape and heavy snow fall met my gaze. It was magical and simply unbelievable.

I was so caught up in the spirit of Christmas that I refused to cancel (or postpone) my trip and decided to drive into this storm. I had no equipment and no winter tires on my little Toyota. To this day I can feel the pain in my muscles from the way I tensed my body during the whole drive. Barely seeing the highway at times, the trip took seven hours without any rest or stop. Sometimes I did not know if I was going to make it. I saw luxury cars and large SUVs all around me in ditches or barely moving. But my spirits were lifted when I realized what my car was capable off. I felt like the king of the road, as my FANTASTIC Toyota with its narrow wheels cut through the snow like a knife through butter - while other luxury makes would glide on their wide tyres unable to continue. I love that little car.

I have no idea how I made it, but I did. This was the last Christmas to date that I recall being white. And I recall something else as well; Chris Rea's soothing voice streaming out of the car radio, singing this particular compilation, keeping my spirits up throughout the trip. I had it on repeat in my tape-player and it gave me courage to continue, as I sang along for hours, the sentiments in it making me feel as if I was not alone.

I dedicate this to everyone who is driving home this Holiday Season; have a wonderful and very safe trip.

Flashback Friday (Christmas Edition): "When My Heart Finds Cristmas".

Harry Connick Jr. has the most amazing voice. Being the same age, I grew up listening to his smooth vocals and his jazzy rhythms and have always been enticed by his charisma. I have a few of his albums of which "To See You" is my favorite.

I was very pleasantly surprised when he released a Christmas CD in 1993, entitled "When My Heart Finds Christmas". It is a beautiful collection of traditional songs, among others a stunning performance of Ave Maria.

I would like to share with you here the single from this album, with the same name. There is something infinitely warm and familiar about this piece. Every time I listen to it, my heart truly finds Christmas.