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India.Arie - Wings Of Forgiveness

During the summer of 2006, I worked as an intern at Suffolk University - a small, private, urban university in the heart of Boston, which quickly became my favorite city. During a trip to the Virgin megastore on Newbury Street, I saw a poster in the window advertising India.Arie’s then-newly released third album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. I recalled liking her early single, Video, and decided to pick up the album and give it a try.

The album quickly became the soundtrack of my time in Boston, each song reminding me vividly of the outstanding experiences, wonderful people, and fabulous urban environment that made the summer so fantastic. In particular, the album brings back memories of quality time spent with my co-intern and great friend, Ana.

India.Arie blends R&B, Soul, and Folk music styles, with enchanting results. The storybook quality of the album makes it hard to put down, as each song feeds into the next effortlessly, both musically and lyrically. India weaves a thread of value and self-worth throughout the album, making it hard for any listener not to crack a smile in even the worst of moods.

In picking a song to showcase, I struggled finding a favorite that I felt was truly representative of India’s style, and illustrated clearly what her music means to me. Ultimately, I decided on Wings of Forgiveness, predominately for it’s optimistic message of peace and hope.

Enjoy!

-3LeafClover

India.Arie - Wings Of Forgiveness

I just want you to know
After everything that we’ve been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
That I still love you

Had to go
Across the water
Just to find
What was here in my heart all along
Spend so much time
Trying to be right
That I was dead wrong

If Nelson Mandela can forgive his oppressors
Surely I can forgive you for your passion

You’re only human
Let’s shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You’re only human
Let’s shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

Had to run
To the arms of curiosity
Just to find
What was here in my life all along
I had found that the art of simplicity
Simply means making peace of your complexity

If Gandhi can forgive persecution
Surely you can forgive me for being so petty

I’m only human
Let’s shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You’re only human
Let’s shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

I’ve searched for romance
Flowers and affection
What I found is a lesson
Of what love really is
Found the game of love is
Not about how much you can take
In fact authentic love is about
How much you can give

After everything that we’ve been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
I want you to know
That I forgive you
(thank you for teaching how to give)
And I wanna let you know how much you changed my life
I wanna let you know you taught me how to fly
And I wrote this song to tell you this
I’m better cuz you taught me how to give

I took a swim
In the sea of guilt and misery
To find myself in an island
In the middle of nowhere
In my solitude
I asked to know the highest truth
And what I was told
Is to let own self be true

If Jesus can forgive crucifixion
Surely we can survive and find resolution

Let’s keep it moving
Let’s shake free this gravity of resentment
And fly high, and fly high
You’re only human
Let’s shake free this gravity of judgment
And fly high, and fly high
Let’s keep it moving
Let’s shake free this gravity of commitment
And fly high on the wings of forgiveness

After everything that we’ve been through
I just want you to know
That I still love you
I want you to know
That I still love you
And I wanna let you know how much you changed my life
I wanna let you know you taught me how to fly
And I wrote this song to tell you this
I’m better cuz you taught me how to give

I still love you
I want you to know
I still love you
Want you to know
I still love you
(And I always will love you)
And I wanna let you know
I forgive you
I wanna let you know
That I still love you
Want you to know
I still love you
I just want you to know
I still love you
Want you to know
I still love you
Want you to know
I still love you
And I wanna let you know
I forgive you
I wanna let you know
I still love you

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home

Today on Twitter, I discovered this outstanding song with gorgeous piano instrumentals, a haunting voice, and fantastic lyrics. The song is in the background of the Schweppes Premium Mineral Water outstanding marketing campaign centered around slowing down life to ‘experience a moment of Schweppervescence’. The 90 second video is so appealing to the eye, showing various scenes of water balloons exploding in slow motion, and can be seen below.

Enjoy!

-3leafclover

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home

There is a house built out of stone
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don’t feel alone
This is a place where i feel at home

And I built a home
For you
For me

Until it disappeared
From me
From you
And now, it’s time to leave and turn to dust

(Instrumental)

Out in the garden where we planted the seeds
There is a tree that’s old as me
Branches were sewn by the color of green
Ground had arose and passed its knees

By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world

When the gusts came around to blow me down
I held on as tightly as you held onto me
I held on as tightly as you held onto me

And I built a home
For you
For me

Until it disappeared
From me
From you

And now, it’s time to leave and turn to dust

Michael Giacchino - Married Life

(from Disney/Pixar’s Original Motion Picture, UP) 

This morning, I downloaded a few fantastic albums to add to my collection. Perhaps my favorite purchase is the Motion Picture Soundtrack to UP - the recent 3D movie release by Disney and Pixar. The film was outstanding and incredibly moving, with a creative and touching plot and a few dynamic characters. I strongly recommend that you check it out while it is still in theatres in 3D - I’ve seen it twice, and loved it both times!

Part of what makes UP so fantastic is the incredible score, written by the musical genius, Michael Giacchino. The downloadable iTunes soundtrack includes a brief interview with the Director, Producer, and Composer discussing the development of the various musical themes tied to each character, and sharing how they repeat throughout the film to evoke emotion and enhance the story. Director Pete Docter explains:

“Music ends up being a really powerful, and almost invisible thing to the audience like if it’s working well, they’re not conscious of it, they’re not thinking Oh there’s Ellie’s theme again, you know they’re just, watching the movie and they’re engrossed in it, and subconsciously, they know Carl’s thinking about Ellie.”

The track above is the second time in the film when we hear Ellie’s theme, and coincides with the prolific, touching, and heart-wrenching story of Carl and Ellie’s life together.

Enjoy!

-3LeafClover