July 2004 Archives

No worries that I’m going to fill up my space with photo shows and old writing from now defunct web sites. It’s okay to have a bit of fun now and again, but neither is particularly toothsome, or amenable to this environment.

I did want to say that the title of the last post really does have to do with the song, not my own personal state. I have no intention of quitting weblogging at this time. I may take long breaks now and again – we all do. But quitting sounds too much like giving up smoking or drinking or drugs.

“So, how much did you do a day?”

“I was up to posting two, sometimes three times a day.”

“Shit! No, really?”

“Yeah. On a really bad day, I’d post five or even ten posts.”

“Ten posts! Man, I’m amazed that you’re still standing here, sane.”

“Yeah. First it was posting from my computer at work, like normal people. Then I actually started to write to my weblog during my off-hours.”

“Off-hours! Geez, nobody blogs during off-hours.”

“I know, tell me about it. From there it was a downhill race to the bottom: moblogs, weblogging conferences, the whole thing.”

“Wow. I’m suprised you didn’t end up in an alley somewhere, begging dimes for online time at the nearest Internet cafe.”

“It was close. I was touch and go there for a while. When I thought about mainlining my aggregation feed, though, that’s when I knew I needed help.”

“Smart. So, when are they going to let you out of the restraints?”

So, I may take long break, and any of us may take a break and not return, but I’m not going to quit. Besides, where else are you going to find such an equal opportunity A-List basher like me?

But I am sick as a dog tonight from some kind of tick toxic/allergic reaction. Fever of 102, babies. It’s bad enough that I have the normal risks with ticks everyone has–to also be allergic to them seems unfair. However, there is no such thing as a ‘hidden’ tick with me, because the bite mark gets badly inflamed.

Unfortunately, the bites also leave a scar. I have so many bite scars around my ankle now, that I’m thinking of getting a tatoo to connect the dots.

I know, too much sharing. I told that to a friend this week, “You’re sharing too much”. I was joking, really I was – I would never tell a person they’re sharing too much in all seriousness. I might run into a closet and burst into insane laughter; but I would never tell them they’re sharing too much.

*tap* *tap* Hello? Hello? Is this thing working?

Damn, I forgot. Happy Canada Day!

Unfortunately, all of these shows have been lost to time and Flash no longer being supported.

One song, three different singers, and three different Flash movies, all made by yours truly – you’ve been warned. I got a wee bit carried away with the zoom. Click on the photo to take you to launch page. Then click on the photo in this page to launch the Flash movie. Note to modem users–take up knitting. Movie sizes are approx 1.5M each.

Dame Vera Lynne was known as the Forces Sweetheart during World War II. Though better known in her native Britain, her song Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart was the first UK-based recording to top the charts in the United States. She was appointed DBE (Dame Commander of the British Empire) in 1975.

Dame Lynne’s lovely, and slightly dramatic version of “I’ll Be Seeing You” comes with the flourishes that were very popular with romantic songs in the 1930’s, and into the early 40’s.

This is a modern recording of “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Bobbi Carrey. Carrey has a most unusual past–a degree in romance languages, a Master’s in Visual Studies, an MBA, 15 years working in the financial industry, including four years as VP at Fidelity Investments, a professor at Harvard, and a photographer. Then she bagged it all a couple of years ago and became a cabaret singer. Wow. That’s all I can is…wow.

This song is from Carrey’s first CD, Between The Wars, featuring music popular between the two World Wars. I wasn’t sure about Carrey’s voice at first – it seemed too sweet, and a bit light for one of these old ballads. But after listening to it a couple of times, I could visualize a young girl, sitting at her porch at night, thinking of her distant love and singing to the Moon. It is another variation on the song, and one that does work. But it was helped by the instrumentals, and the extraordinary song arrangement.

This song has, in my opinion, an almost perfect arrangement. The clarinet playing is just right, perfect, and segues into the ballad with wonderfully delicate precision.

Not all the songs on the CD worked–Carrey just doesn’t, at this time, have the type of voice for many of the songs of that era (not enough raw energy or depth of personality in her voice). However, given time, and with maturity, if the she and her collaborators continue to create other arrangements such as “I’ll Be Seeing You”, they could become something very special. It’s worth the cost of the CD for this song, alone.

If Dame Vera Lynne was the Forces Sweatheart for the British, Jo Stafford was The Girl Back Home for the American troops. She was one of the top female singers during World War II, known for her romantic ballads.

She started her career singing with her sisters, than with a group known as the Piped Pipers, staying with them until going solo in 1944.

This version of “I’ll be Seeing You” is sung with little embellishment, and a relatively simple, though traditional orchestration characteristic of ballads during the mid to late 1940’s. It is a true, and enduring, classic.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a copy of Billie Holiday’s version of the song online, or you’d have four flash shows.

I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.

In that small cafe;
The park across the way;
The children’s carousel;
The chestnut trees;
The wishin’ well.

I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day;
In every thing that’s light and gay.
I’ll always think of you that way.

I’ll find you
In the morning sun
And when the night is new.
I’ll be looking at the moon,
But I’ll be seeing you.

lyrics by Irving Kahal, music by Sammy Fain