Babel

Tag: Music Reviews

  • Pie Jesu – Sissel Kyrkjebø

    Pie Jesu performed by Sissel Kyrkjebø

    Exquisite! Perfect, clear, heart song. Incredible voice and presentation… wow! Brings tears. A beautiful, compassionate plea to Jesus to end suffering in the world.

    Sissel Kyrkjebø, Song: Pie Jesu, Album: My Heart (2004),  Label: Decca. The video is from her PBS concert ‘All Good Things’ available on DVD. Official website: www.sissel.net.

    Pie Jesu as written by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Latin):

    °Pie Jesu
    °Qui tollis peccata mundi   
    °Dona eis requiem

    Agnus dei
    Qui tollis peccata mundi
    Dona eis requiem
    Sempiternam

    English translation:

    Kind Jesus
    You, who takes away the sins of the world,
    Grant them rest.

    Lamb of God
    You, who takes away the sins of the world,
    Grant them rest.
    Eternal.

    Sissel Kyrkjebø (known as Sissel) born June 24, 1969 in Bergen, Norway is a soprano. She is best known for singing the Olympic Hymn at the 1994 Winter Olympic Games in Norway. Sissel is one of the world’s top crossover sopranos who sings pop, folk, classical and operatic arias. Sissel on Facebook.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • Længe Siden – Sorten Muld

    “Længe Siden’ by Sorten Muld

    Beautiful, body moving, earthy, sexy. Deep in the woods, dancing with the fey… enchanted. Thanks Sorten Muld for the journey… melding past and present. Wonderful!

    Sorten Muld, Song: Længe Siden, Album: III (2000), Label: NorthSide, Website: www.sortenmuld.dk

    ‘Længe Siden’ ‘Long Ago’  lyrics:

    Mild mild sommervind
    lærker i dit hår
    hvor er det længe længe siden
    Men snart er rejsen endebragt
    snart vender du hjem
    til mild mild sommervind alle dage

    English translation…

    Soft soft summer breeze
    Larks hiding in your hair
    Its such a long long time ago now
    But soon the journey is brought to its end
    Soon you will return
    to soft soft summer breeze all days to come

    Sorten Muld ‘Black Earth’ a Danish electro-folk band, formed in 1995. Band members are: singer Ulla Bendixsen, musician-architect Martin Ottesen and technician Henrik Munch. Their first major release in Denmark was Mark II which went gold and won 2 Danish Grammy awards.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • Kala – Yann Tiersen

    Kala performed by Yann Tiersen, vocals by Liz Fraser

    Lovely, light filled and sweet. Takes you on a journey without end, to places and places and places. Flowing, moving. Feels like the journey of the Soul through lifetimes… ever growing, ever experiencing. Just beautiful, thanks Yann and Liz for the moving journey.

    Yann Tiersen, Song Kala, Album: Les Retrouvailles (2005), Label: Virgin. Les Retrouvailles includes a DVD with a short film: “La Traversée” directed by Aurélie du Boys. Website: www.yanntiersen.com. I was unable to find the lyrics to Kala.

    Yann Tiersen (Guillaume Yann Tiersen) born June 23, 1970 in Brittany, France is an internationally known musician and composer. He is best known for composing the score to Amélie a movie directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. He most often creatively performs utilizing the piano, violin and accordion but also plays the guitar, melodica, xylophone, toy piano, ondes martenot, harpsichord, typewriter and more.

    Elizabeth Fraser (Elizabeth Davidson Fraser) born August 29, 1963 in Grangemouth, Scotland is best known as the lead singer for Cocteau Twins’. She has also collaborated with numerous artists including Felt, Dif Juz, Orbital, Ian McCulloch and others. Her website is www.elizabethfraser.com is currently under construction.

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • Unfold by Marié Digby

    Unfold performed by Marié Digby

    Beautiful, touching song. Reminds me of a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. She unfolds… comes out… becomes more who she truly is and allows love to permeate… all. I love the line, ‘My soul it’s dying to be free I can’t live the rest of my life so guarded. It’s up to me to choose.. what kind of life I lead.’  A choice… to live life fully and allow love in. Love is the essence of all! What a wonderful reminder Marié thanks for sharing your heart and unfolding process with us! 

    Marié Digby, Song: Unfold, Album: Unfold (2008), Label:  Hollywood Records. Her official Youtube channel  is MarieDigby.

    Marie says about the song,

    This is a song I wrote recently called ‘Unfold’… it’s probably the most personal song I’ve ever written. It came out of my frustration at my tendency to shut people out. Especially in love, I found myself always finding reasons to back away and I couldn’t figure out why. This song is literally, my thinking process in trying to understand how I became this person and if I have the power to change it.

    Unfold lyrics:

    What I can remember is a lot like water trickling down a page of the most beautiful colors. I can’t quite put my finger down on the moment that I became like … this.

    You see I’m the bravest girl you will ever come to meet and yet I shrink down to nothing at the thought of someone really seeing me.

    I think my heart is wrapped around and tangled up in winding weeds but I don’t wanna go on living being so afraid of showing someone else my.. imperfections.

    Even though my feet are trembling and every word I say comes stumbling I will bare it all.. watch me unfold… unfold.

    These hands that I hold behind my back are bound and broken by my own doing and I can’t feel anything, anymore I need a touch to remind me I’m still real..

    My soul it’s dying to be free I can’t live the rest of my life
    so guarded. It’s up to me to choose.. what kind of life I lead.
    Cause I don’t wanna go on living being so afraid of showing
    someone else my.. imperfections.

    Even though my feet are trembling and every word I say comes stumbling I will bare it all.. watch me unfold… unfold.

    I will allow someone to love me
    I will allow someone to love me…
    love me.. love me…

    Marié Digby (pr. Mahr-ee-ay) born April 16, 1983 in New York is a singer/songwriter/musician from Los Angeles, California.

    Today is full moon 14:49 UT (6:49am PST). There is also a penumbral lunar eclipse between 1400 and 1520 UT (6:00am – 7:20am PST). Today’s eclipse brings in Love. Many folks around the world are focusing on Love to amplify and strengthen the memory for all that is. Thank you beloved Creator for your blessings of Love and thanks to all who focus on it.

    All you need is Love!   John Lennon

    ~Bonnee Klein Gilligan

  • Simple Soul – Eddi Reader

    ‘Simple Soul’ sung by Eddi Reader

    Just lovely!  A song that talks about simplicity, living and loving simply and seeing the best in all. I really like the verse, ‘But it only takes a child to see, The diamonds in the coal.’ Seeing the beauty, wonder and value in everything… in each other. There is a Sanskrit word ‘Namaste‘ which in essence means ‘I recognize, honor and bow to you as Master/Soul’. At our core we are all Masters or diamonds… clear, beautiful and sparkling. We simply are, know, are connected to everything and are in the present moment. Imagine if everyone lived this… life from Soul or enlightenment. Sweet easy uncomplicated life, living fully with precious love, incredible awe, prosperity and peace.  Thanks for the reminder Eddi!

    Eddi Reader, Song: Simple Soul, Album:  Simple Soul (2001), Label: Compass Records. Website: www.eddireader.co.uk

    Lyrics to ‘Simple Soul’

    I’d lift my head with each sunrise
    If I had a simple soul
    When I was weary I’d close my eyes
    If I had a simple soul
    Not too complicated to shiver when I’m cold
    I’d make my home where I am bound
    If I had a simple soul, simple soul
    I say my prayers and hope to God
    And I know he will know
    I will break my daily bread
    When hunger starts to grow
    It doesn’t have to be that hard
    If it hurts you let it go
    What you see is what you are
    If you’ve got a simple soul, simple soul
    It might take an alchemist
    To turn your dust to gold
    But it only takes a child to see
    The diamonds in the coal
    It’s not so easy when a habit takes a hold
    I never knew it would be so hard
    To keep my simple soul, simple soul

    Eddi Reader was born Sadenia Edna Reader in Glasgow, Scotland August 28, 1959. Eddi is a singer/songwriter who worked with the band Fairground Attraction and now has a successful solo career.

    ~Bonnee