Thursday, November 05, 2015

10 Not-Famous Great Songs For The Morning


Listening to music while going to work or to school is something vital, but, as you agree, there are some songs that lift your spirit up more than others, so, let's say happy songs for the morning, to help you to face the terrible day that is coming.
There are a lot of great examples, famous happy pop songs, but I picked 10 non-famous songs to be a different selection.
And, what I mean for "not-famous songs", are songs that are not hit singles or worldwide success.
So, take a quick listen to these songs that lift me up in the morning:

1 - Suede - Sound Of The Streets
Well, I am a fanatic, so I had to start with Suede. So, for a sunny morning, when you are walking in the streets of your own city, nothing better than incorporate Sadie, a girl that knows the sound of the streets of London. Amazing b-side from the Coming Up era with one of the best Oakes' solos ever.


2 - Johnny Marr - The Crack Up
Found this one recently. A song from Marr's debut solo album, The Messenger. Something typical for the ex-Smiths musician, fast guitar riffs, and a "bad-ass" way of singing the chorus, something like if you were walking with long steps without giving a shit to anybody else around you.


3- The Horrors - Primary Colors
This is the song that gives the title of their second LP, the first to be acclaimed worldwide.  Fast song, with a fantastic guitar intro. When I start to listen to it I just want to move my arms all around like a monkey. Simply great!


4 - Patrick Duff - Wake Up Richard
This song was my alarm clock for a long time. So happy, simple and pure. The first lines of the song are "Wake up Richard, it's your birthday, let's go dancing, there's a place I know where the bright lights are always shinning we'll go flying over Tokyo". Isn't that amazing? Just live your life happy and be free!


5 - George Harrison - If Not For You
George's version of Bob Dylan's track is so sunny and beautiful that just brings peaceful and lovely thoughts to your mind. A classic!


6 - John Lennon - Crippled Inside
The most upbeated song from the "Imagine" album. The intro and the slide guitar really gives a joyful feeling to the entire song. Also, the piano solo is incredibly funny.


7 - The Whip - Keep Or Delete
The opening track of their second album, this is more a electronic song, and the most different from this list. What really gives me energy in this song is the way it grows and grows during the 4 minutes. As it flows, it gets more and more intense and complexed.


8 - Violent Femmes - Dance Motherfucker Dance
Well, I guess the titles says it all. Pure energy.


9 - Morrissey - America Is Not The World
Although this could be a sad song, I think that the way Morrissey sings it, almost without interruptions, and the connection with the acoustic and electric guitar, really makes it a sunny song, with good vibrations. One of my favourite Moz's songs


10 - Devendra Banhart - Carmensita
Ok, this is the only song on the list that is actually a single, but I think is not a worldwide hit, as Devendra Banhart is not a very very popular artist (unfortunately). But, listening to this song, it is so funny, positive, free and sunny that it had so be here. Pure happiness! And you can even find Natalie Portman on the video


Monday, November 02, 2015

Cat Empire Live At Hard Club


Last Friday I went to see The Cat Empire live at Hard Club in Porto.
The Hard Club is some kind of a small alternative place where you can find at the same time great concerts as well as "all night long" parties. So, it was the perfect place to see a band like the Australian one.
The atmosphere was great, it wasn't full but it was with enough people.
And the band really made a connection with the crowd (as they always do). They played all their famous songs, some of the new album and gave a lot of outstanding improvisation moments. Really, the time when the 3 wind instruments were competing was just just just incredible.
Best moments for me were How To Explain, Brighter Than Gold, Still Young, The Chariot and obviously, the mythical Wine Song. I made a fault, and went to see the setlist of their last concerts, which didn't include The Wine Song, so, I really wasn't expecting it, which was even greater when they played it.
The concert was long, intense and incredible enjoyable, you could stay the 2 hours just dancing and dancing. They do really look (and probably are) a bunch of really nice and happy guys that are enjoying each moment as we are.
I just bought the ticket on the same afternoon of the concert, and I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't go. Won't miss them next time and it's one of those concert that, even if you don't know the band very well, you'll enjoy it to death! If you doubt my words go and check a live performance of them on YouTube!