We Will Not Go Down

Well, despite illness this week I've got my blog on time, well In a sense. I heard the beginning of this song in a video made by an activist/socialist group Éirígí. The video was an awareness video, about the war in the Gaza Strip over the past three weeks and the song was about the same events. I would have blogged about this in previous weeks, but only discovered the Artist and track title, and thus the song, over this past week. I'm not going to share my political beliefs on the matter. To read that I suggest heading to "The Grumpy Blogger", my other blog which has become my space for political ranting. It can be found at:

http://whatsachris.blogspot.com

Anyway back to matters at hand. The song is called "We Will Not Go Down (Song for Gaza)", and it is composed by Michael Heart, A syrian born Singer songwriter, raised in Switzerland and Austria, and has lived in the Middle East and the United States. Now that is diversity.

This song was written in early January of this year (2009) while the horrific events where still unfolding. In this sense you can hear some places, where given more time, one may have spent a little longer perfecting lyrically. However the purpose of this song originally was for sale to raise funds for the aid that was desperately required by the people of Gaza. So the little inperfections where left alone, and maybe are a better reflection of the mans real feelings. Anyhow I was instantly drawn to this song by only hearing the first verse in an activist video, and having heard the full song, learnt to play it on my Guitar within the day. I was driven to it.

This is the third artist in a row that I have said this about, but again, I haven't heard much of this mans stuff, and so this is as much a note for me as it is for you. The song is available for free download at Michael Heart.com, however there is a simple request from the man himself

"I have decided to make the song available free of charge. I would like to request that after downloading the song from this page, you kindly donate directly to a charity or an organization dedicated to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people" - Michael Heart

His Charity of choice is UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency, for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). If you know of any other charity then that is also fine. I for one donated, and continue to donate to Trócaire an Irish based Charity.

http://www.un.org/unrwa/
http://www.trocaire.org/

Back to the music, this is simple, no frills songwriting, and it is more than inspiring. It is beautiful. I hope that you all enjoy it just as much as I do

http://www.michaelheart.com

My My My Its a Beautiful World...

Firstly sorry I'm late this week with my post, I just kept putting it off, as I recently purchased a new Handheld Gaming console. Perfect Excuse I think you will agree. Anyway on to the Music...

I found this beautiful little gem just the beginning of the week, and it automatically jumps ahead of the two blogs I have already written. I was sitting in my office when this track came on and It instantly hit a chord with me. Before this I had never even heard of the Artist. His name is Colin Hay.

Colin Hay is a Scottish Austrailian Musician, who fronted the Austrailian band "Men At Work" in the 1980's, but later went solo. The only song I have heard so far is the upbeat "Beautiful World", a song which though it makes reference to the troubled world we live in, it reflects on the simple things in life such as "swimming in the sea", "Drinking Irish Tea" and "Drining in My Car". You'll find the song on his 2001 release "Going Somewhere".

Another album to check out is "Are You Looking At Me?", his first album of new material in over five years. The album is a another beautiful look at Life, Love and other equally interesting topics.

http://www.colinhay.com/

The King Blues

So I've always had a different Idea of what Punk is, than what popular society seems to say it is. To me Punk in an attitude, its about the way the mind works; Its not about a Dress sense, or a style in music, or painting a silly A on a wall. Its an attitude that says, "The current system is not perfect, and somethings need to change, and Yes I will stand up and shout". Maybe its not Punk, but in my head its what I mean when I say "now that is punk!"

The point here is that is exactly what I said when I heard "The King Blues, What if Punk Never Happened?". Now I'm not gonna be an advocate for this band, as I have heard only this song, but I definitely suggest listening to it. I plan to explore them further. Stylewise they are definitely not your typical "punk" sound. I don't particulary agree with the band references, but the point is one I agree with. I can't find an online description from the Band, so this one from Tariq Ali will have to do

"This is rough, radical music that should unsettle the rules of this Country. A new Generation of Musicians are challenging the War Monger Politicians and their courtiers. I hope these songs prosper." (Tariq Ali)

... As do I. The verse here that stood out goes like this

"And realise that the other world that you’re always looking for,
Lies right here in front of us, just outside this door,
And it’s up to you to go out there and paint the canvas,
After all, you were put on the earth to do this,
So shine your light so bright that all can see,
Take pride in being whoever the fuck you want to be"

This is Poetry. I was hoping to add a link to an mp3 for you to sample but I cannot find one. So anyone that does find one, drop us a comment.


http://www.kingblues.com

Unpainted Sounds

Welcome to My New Music Blog. Basically I have a lot off spare time on my hands these days, so I plan to keep this blog running weekly, highlighting new things in my musical interest. Sometimes I may mention local bands, and sometimes more well known bands.

The point behind the title is simple. I don't really fit any Genre of Music Fan. I Like everything from Acoustic Folk up to the Realms of Heavy Metal, so hopefully this will be quite a varied blog.

Anyway I guess I should make a start. I know the artist I’m about to mention is already starting to emerge, and is even getting Radio play on mainstream stations and shows, but I am a huge fan.

Frank Turner was born in Muharraq, Bahrain, in late 1981. After becoming a fan of a personal favourite band of myself, Iron Maiden, at age twelve he began to play guitar. His former outfit was a Punk band called Million Dead. In his own words,

“In the aftermath of years of touring in a hardcore band, ears still ringing, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at the lighter end of my music taste for a while, and follow up my love of all things folk / acoustic / country. And maybe along the way show that it is possible to write simple acoustic music without sounding like James Blunt, and whilst retaining some passion, anger, and a sense of humour.”

His First EP came out in 2006. It was called Campfire Punk rock, and it contained 2 of my favourite Tunes from his Catalogue; Thatcher Fucked the Kids, a Punk style rant about the wonderful effect that Maggie Thatcher has had on modern society, and the next being I really Don’t Care What You Did on Your Gap Year.

January 2007 brought along the Debut Album Sleep is for the Week, bringing along another favourite track of mine, Once We Were Anarchists; A tune about jaded Protest.

Another EP was released quickly after, called The Real Damage, and followed on the 31^st of March 2008 by the current album Love Ire & Song, the latter of which makes up the bulk of my current Frank Turner itunes playlist.

http://www.frank-turner.com
http://www.myspace.com/frankturner