Your DailyCrack

Beirut- Postcards from Italy

i was in the mood for something light and fun today. can’t go wrong with this one. love the horns on this. they give the song a certain lift. so, to the good times. enjoy.

-the skinny miracle

William DeVaughan- Be Thankful for what You’ve Got

this is some classic old school here. and it’s wonderful recession music (har har)! anyway, there is a wonderful message mixed in with that extraordinary melody. it’s nice to sit back and reflect on the things you’ve done and the things you have instead of focusing so much on where you’d like to be and what you want to get. so, since the song is like seven minutes long, why not use that time to look at your journey and to look at your place in life as the culmination of years of experiences (good and bad)? hopefully, you’ll be thankful for and proud of how far you’ve come and the little (or lot, for you ballers out there) you’ve got.

-the skinny miracle

Benny Goodman- Frankie & Johnnie

 JFK

Jonsi- Boy Lilikoi

jonsi, the lead singer of sigur ros, will release a solo album in a month or so. this is the first single, boy lilikoi. other people who’ve heard it say it’s a departure from the music sigur ros usually  makes, and i would agree. but it isn’t so different as to feel foreign or strange. well, perhaps strange isn’t the right word. :) anyway, this song does have a much lighter and more directly optimistic tone than most of the songs he’s done with the band. i like it, though. i read he’s working with a producer who has done arrangements for other artists i like, so there’s an additional reason to check the album out when it’s released. i look forward to hearing it.

I want to be a lilikoi boy lilikoi
You grind your claws, you howl growl
Unafraid of all colour
You run, you’re free, you climb and dress trees
You reignite
You growl, you howl, you show your teeth
You bite, it’s alright

Say no more, use your eyes
The world goes and flutters by
Use your eyes, you’ll know you are
Use your eyes, the world goes and flutters by
Use your eyes, you’ll know you are

Why me, my boy, you burn so bright
Do you illuminate?
One day you’re out, you give up the fight
You slow down heart-rate

We all grow old, use your life
The world goes and flutters by
Use your life, you’ll know you are
Use your life, the world goes and flutters by
Use your life, you’ll know you are

Electricity wires are down
Rainbow colours fade into brown
I dreamt you were smiling, shifting for good
Courageous boy, now you are gone
And run past the years, no place to go
Your spirit is grand, so life goes on
You are
You are

I want to be a lilikoi-boy ooooh
You grind your claws, you howl, you growl
Unafraid of all colour 

Electricity wires are down
Rainbow colours fade into brown
I dreamt you were smiling, shifting for good
Courageous boy, now you are gone
You run past the years, no place to go
Your spirit is grand, so life goes on
You are …
You are…

-the skinny miracle

The Flaming Lips- Are You a Hypnotist??

i think this song, featured on the album ‘yoshimi battles the pink robots,’ got me interested in the flaming lips. i think i heard it while riding with a friend. i quickly went from, ‘what the hell is this?’ to ‘hmmm…’ and, finally, to ‘i can dig it!’ the song wonderfully exemplifies the quirky, fun magic coyne(s) and co. produce. you know what? i’d like to hear a rapper make a mixtape over the beats from this album. that would be interesting. until then, enjoy the original.

I had forgiven you for tricking me again
But I have been tricked again -
Into forgiving you -
What is this?? Are you some kind of hypnotist??
Waving your powers around -

the sun eclipse behind the cloud…

I thought I recognized your face
Amongst all of those strangers -
But I am the stranger now
Amongst all of the recognized
What is this?? Are you some kind of hypnotist??
Waving your powers around -

the sun eclipse behind the cloud

-the skinny miracle

Lupe Fiasco- …And He Gets the Girl

i can’t say enough positive things about lupe. i’ve liked the guy for a long time (pause pause pause!!). he writes well, he has a great delivery, and so on and so on. he’s great. this is one of my favorites. he tells a charming story about a young man who steps outside himsel and pursues a young woman who interests him. he packs so much personality into each verse. you can easily imagine what this kid is like. you can see approach her hesitantly, trying to think of something to say. when he finally speaks to her, the dam breaks and he puts everything out there. i particularly enjoy the end of the song where he celebrates having spoken to her. i raise a glass to that young man and to his accomplishment. enjoy.

Get up and just walk up to her and say(go over there) hi
That’s all you gotta do is say hi
That’s all you gotta do
Is say hi
Aight?
Come on

Well I know I’m not the coolest
And this might sound kind of foolish
Cause I know I’m not the smoothest
Told myself I shouldn’t do this
Cause I’m not very well suited
Not the popularist of students
We ain’t in the same crowd
Always see you with the hoopers
But we got the same lunch
You might see me with the cooler
That’s cause I don’t eat pork
You can never be sure of
Oh you like Linkin park
That’s the hat from the tour
I got a autographed shirt they wrote “much love 2 ya”
Man that’s really funny how we like the same music
But I really love jazz
I was gonna play the tuba
I tried to join the band they said I was really really bad
Didn’t really make me sad
I’m used to being the loser
But you, I think you’re super
So much, I had to pursue ya
I don’t believe the things they say or the football teams rumors
The quarterback can’t spell
I’m his after school tutor
I just took a cue from cupid but
Now I think it’s stupid
I’m-I’m sorry

And then I walked away
Thinking that she would never talk to me
Like what were you thinking
Bringing up the band
Would have got a better result
If would have just beat her up and ran
You shouldn’t’ve worn your glasses
Take your shirt up out your pants
See now it’s all over
And you won’t get another chance
Damn
I was so close to her
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder

She said I know your not the coolest but I swear you are the cutest
And I no u played the tuba
I seen you at the recital
It takes a lot to get up there and embarrass yourself
But you shouldn’t put down you should merit yourself
That just mean you not a punk
I like Thelonious Monk
He’s the wallpaper on my computer
I love final fantasy
I hate first person shooters (me too)
“Meteora” was nice
But I bought “Hybrid Theory” twice
Half of the cheerleading squad is in the stupor
The only reason I do it is cause my mother took state when she was a junior
And she want me to do the same so I’m like naw
I wanna be an oncologist and diagnose tumors
I gotta a pet parrot his name is mister tuna
My favorite food is fish
Remember that for the future
My I’m name is miss luna you can hit me after six
(how you feeling right now?)yes yes yes yes yes yes
Come Seymour we have things to do

-the skinny miracle

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