Skunkeye took a lunch break visit to the Bartholdi Park. I have bulbs emerging that I planted two years ago and thought had just rotted – I’m really curious about what they will turn out to be. So I checked out the garden to see what is seasonal. Every one in this office - in this building - is so stir-crazy today because of the weather. Not an ounce of work getting done, they might as well just release us. No one wants to be in here in The Factory. It is so lovely out today- almost tropical.
Speaking of tropical, Skunkeye was digging the new Caetano Veloso album, A Foreign Sound, last night. Almost didn’t purchase it on account that it is all jazz/pop standards in English and I haven’t been in the mood for that kind of music lately. However, I noticed included in the track list “Something Good,” my favorite and oft-overlooked song from The Sound of Music. Those bittersweet lyrics, that haunting melody - I can listen to Christopher Plummer sing that over and over I can. Was on heavy rotation on my Fonz/"Happy Days" turntable as a strange, tortured kid going to Catholic school in Paris - song gave me hope. Veloso’s take is short, simply arranged, poignant, perfect, and, boy, does he nail it. Just about broke my heart it did. Man, if Skunkeye were a troubador, "Something Good" would be my encore.
A Foreign Sound is Caetano Veloso’s affectionate and heartfelt tribute to the American songbook and it is truly magical. Veloso seamlessly brings his trademark saudade to classics such as “So In Love,” “Love for Sale,” “Manhattan,” and “Body and Soul.” His “Cry Me a River” is plaintive and detached rather than angry and self-pitying. Backed by a talented orchestra, the arrangements range from a cappella to boppy, simple to lush and always inventive and surprising and wholly satisfying. Comes dangerously close to being syrupy at times, especially with Veloso’s melifluous and feathery vocals. Like a speed-free Chet Baker on top of his game and letting it all hang out in the tropics with a slight exotic, and definately sexy, inflection. There is just the right amount of art and intelligence in Veloso's choice of songs and delivery. The material really becomes magical with his treatment – Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” Stevie Wonders’ “If It’s Magic,” and David Byrne’s “(Nothing But) Flowers” are triumphs. Veloso even manages to salvage that mawkish 1970s hit, “Feelings”(which actually has particular significance in the context of Brazilian culture, the song is widely used to teach English there.) Veloso elevates the material, or, rather, restores the songs to their original, primal, and most heatfelt form. The one track I didn’t care for was “Come As You Are.” Dani Siciliano has already done that. Although I suppose I fall into the "Nirvana-generation", Kurt never had much of an impact on me. Always thought he was a bit of a sad fuck.
A funny thing for Skunkeye and this album is that almost all of the selections are compositions I learned to figure out how to play the piano by, and thus the tunes have particular resonance. Was way into the American Songbook back then. Never had piano lessons, but I can (could?) read music and find the keys... my fingering is way wrong though. The only instrument they offered at my elementary school - and lemme tell ya Miss Yoko - Yamaguchi senseii- had horrible sashimi breath - in Tokyo was the flute. Which I got quite good at. But nonethless detest. Don't even dig the sound of the flute and its so not rocknroll. Haven't touched a keyboard in nearly three years now. Ain't got no grand piano these days - not to mention an upright. Maybe its time to invest in a Casiotone.
I could even jam with Bumblefuck. Who was away for a few days and it was idyllic in the casa - no noise, no caked hair and phlegm in the bathtub, and nothing haphazardly and clumsily broken. Well, Skunkeye's Rhapsody has been broken. So-o, he's back now, comatose on the couch in front of the TV in the dark and watching something mindless and random on cable... all greasey, depressed, and ever-permeating B.O. Apparently he went home to New Jersey for the first two days of Passover...
Skunkeye asked him in all earnestness, "Well, why didn't you just stay for the whole week?"
Moreno Veloso, Caetano’s son, along with Daniel Jobim, grandson of the great bossa nova composer Tom Jobim, performed a touching version of "I'm Wishing" (from Disney's Snow White) on Music Typewriter. Perhaps that’s where the elder Veloso got his cue. As far as I know, he has never produced an all-English album before.
A Foreign Sound is the perfect soundtrack for one of those spring/summer romances that end sadly after a few months. I’ll be listening to it a lot in the coming months but I doubt there will any romance for Skunkeye. Actually, in all honesty, I'll be sick of the album come Thursday.
Comments