TAKE ME TO CHURCH

I am a big fan of music in its various formats and genres; some pop, rock, alternative, country, reggae, dance, house and electronica.  Some of my favourite artists come from the house music/electronica genre like; Depeche Mode, Erasure, Kristine W, Ultra Nate, Madonna, The Human League, OMD, Billie Ray Martin, Massive Attack and Tricky – just to name a few. 

The artists I named above have been instrumental in providing the ‘soundtrack to my life’ some more than others but one artist that has been consisted in providing music that has deeply resonated with me and the events of my life has been Sinead O’Connor.  Ever since I heard her captivating voice as it softly sang the first verse of her underground alternative hit “Troy” form the ground-breaking album The Lion and the Cobra:

“I’ll remember it
And Dublin in a rainstorm
And sitting in the long grass in summer
Keeping warm
I’ll remember it
Every restless night
We were so young then
We thought that everything
We could possibly do was right
Then we moved”

I was hooked right from the beginning – her voice was soft gentle and passionate at the start of the song but strong, defiant by the end.  Since then, Sinead O’Connor has released albums that transcend all music genres from pop to reggae and topics ranging from love, religion and spirituality. 

Due to Sinead’s outspoken nature and personal issues stemming from a troubled home-life and abuse endured by the hands of her mother, Sinead’s music career went from over-night success via her Prince-penned hit single, “Nothing Compares 2 U”, to becoming ostracized for making a very courageous statement about the Catholic church and their sexual abuse scandals.  

Sinead’s latest effort is entitled;  I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss.  Her latest single, “Take Me To Church” is a rebirth of sorts.  Sinead sings about not having regrets in being the woman she used to be and living authentically as  the woman she is today.   Here are the lyrics, followed by the video:

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

I don’t wanna love the way I loved before,
I don’t wanna love that way no more
What if I’ve been right and lost some storm?
I don’t want to write them anymore
I don’t wanna sing them the way I sang before
I don’t wanna sing that way no more,
What if I’ve been singing love songs before?
I don’t wanna sing them anymore,
I don’t wanna be that girl no more
I don’t wanna cry no more
I don’t wanna die no more
So get me down from this old tree,
Cut the rope and all from me
Sat me on the floor,
I’m the only one I should adore!

Take me to the church,
I’ve done so many bad things that hurts
Take me to the church,
but not the ones that hurt
‘Cause that ain’t the truth
And that’s not what it’s worth
Yeah, take me to church
Yeah, take me to church
I’ve done so many bad things that hurts
Yeah, get me to church,
but not the ones that hurt
‘Cause that ain’t the truth
And that’s not what it’s worth

I’m gonna say souls of love and unforgiven ??
Sons of living, sons of calling in the night
It’s time to rise above the light
And love the only one you shouldn’t bite
??
So get me down from this old tree,
Cut the rope and all from me
Sat me on the floor,
I’m the only one I should adore!

Take me to the church,
I’ve done so many bad things that hurts
Yeah take me to the church,
but not the ones that hurt
‘Cause that ain’t the truth
And that’s not what it’s worth
Yeah, take me to church
Yeah, take me to church
I’ve done so many bad things that hurts
Yeah, get me to church,
but not the ones that hurt
‘Cause that ain’t the truth
And that’s not what it’s worth

(O’Connor/Reynolds/Kearns)

Many critics are saying that Sinead is back in top form and that the album is a great ‘come-back’.  For me, it isn’t a come-back album because I have enjoyed much of her under-rated work such as the amazing works of Universal Mother, Gospel Oak EP, the glorious Faith and Courage and the fantastic How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?  If you haven’t been honoured in listening to any of her music after her so-called ‘break-down’, I would recommend opening your mind and your heart and taking the musical and emotional journey of what Sinead’s music and lyrics can provide you.

For more Sinead’s discography, tour and other information, please visit her official website at:  www.sineadoconnor.com or like her Facebook page.  You can purchase Sinead on the iTunes store via:   http://www.apple.com/itunes

I am grateful for her music and wish her much peace, love and health because that is all her music has given me. 

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

MUSIC INSPIRES ME….SOME OF MY FAVOURITES

Do you remember what song played during your first kiss or your first break-up?  Do you remember your the first song played at your wedding reception?  (Mine was “Hung Up” by Madonna).  Music was pivotal to the soundtrack of my life.  My tastes crossed all genres but I preffered to listen to Electronic/Dance.  Thinking about your life, what music was pivotal in helping you during the tough and not so tough moments in your life?

Here are 25 cds/albums that I would definitely need or have with me should I be stranded on island:

25:  THE HUMAN LEAGUE – Hysteria (1984)

24:  NEW ORDER – Substance (1987)

23:  GEORGE MICHAEL – Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 (1990)

22:  ULTRA NATE – Grime, Silk, & Thunder (2007)

21:  UB40 – Labour of Love (1983)

20:  DIDO – No Angel (1999)

19:  TRICKY – Maxinquaye (1995)

18:  JAMES BLAKE – James Blake (2011)

17:  BILLIE RAY MARTIN – Deadline For My Memories (1995)

16:  FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT – ALANIS MORISSETTE (2008)

15:  DAVE GAHAN – Hourglass (2007)

14:  EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL – Temperamental (1999)

13:  MASSIVE ATTACK – Protection (1994)

12:  PEACHES – I Feel Cream (2009)

11:  MISTRESS BARBARA – I’m No Human (2009)

10:  DEEE-LITE – Dewdrops In The Garden (1994)

9:  ERASURE – Erasure (1995)

8:  DEPECHE MODE – Black Celebration (1986) and Violator (1990)

7:  FAITHLESS – Outrospective (2001)

6:  BJORK – Vespertine (2001)

5:  SINEAD O’CONNOR – Faith & Courage (2000)

4:  ERASURE – I Say, I Say, I Say (1994)

3:  KRISTINE W – Land of the Living (1996)

2:  MADONNA – American Life (2003)

1:  MADONNA – Ray of Light (1998)

As Madonna once sang:  “Music makes the people come together, yeah”

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

HAPPY GAY PRIDE – MUSIC VIDEO

As we continue to celebrate the ruling SCOTUS made yesterday in deeming Prop 8 unconstitutional – I want to look back into the past, 1984 to be exact.  I was in High School and was living a life as a closeted teenager.  I didn’t know where to go for support – I knew how my friends and family felt about homosexuals (especially males) and wasn’t about to ‘come out’ to any of them.  The only release I managed to receive was in pop music. 

There were a lot of ambiguous music groups and artists that were just reaching peak stardom levels, groups such as; Duran Duran, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, New Order, Yaz, etc….What I really connected with were bands that had openly/known gay singers and band mates like; Culture Club, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and especially Bronski Beat.  (I learned of Andy Bell of Erasure a few years later).  

Music transcended the closet for me and I guess, for many others.  These bands had massive hit records and albums during that time.  I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t come out especially when Bronski Beat had a hit on the charts about a young boy’s struggle and coming out with his homosexuality.  The song was called “Smalltown Boy”.  This song resonated with me – it was about me, it was my story and it was on the radio everywhere.  The irony is that the song didn’t give me the courage to come out and live my authentic life – for me, it reinforced why I should stay closeted.  I didn’t want to be bullied, I didn’t want to lose my friends and most of all – I didn’t want to be ostracized by my family.  What that song did was allow me to begin the dialogue with myself in accepting who I was because it was confirmation that there were many others out there like me.

I think the LGBTQ community should acknowledge the importance of pop music and artists such as Divine, Sylvester, Culture Club, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Madonna, Elton John, Erasure and Bronski Beat – some for being openly gay and not apologizing for it and some for embracing the community without fear of what could happen to their careers.  These artists, through their music and videos, have provided an escape of a harsh reality that so many today (and yesterday) couldn’t live through.  So thank you and Happy Pride.

Here are the lyrics to “Smalltown Boy” :

You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face

Mother will never understand
Why you had to leave
But the answers you seek
Will never be found at home
The love that you need
Will never be found at home

Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away

Pushed around and kicked around
Always a lonely boy
You were the one
That they’d talk about around town
As they put you down

And as hard as they would try
They’d hurt to make you cry
But you never cried to them
Just to your soul
No, you never cried to them
Just to your soul

Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away

Cry, boy, cry…

You leave in the morning
With everything you own
In a little black case
Alone on a platform
The wind and the rain
On a sad and lonely face

Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away

Here is the video that gave me inspiration to begin to live my true and authentic self….enjoy!

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

SONG OF THE WEEK – LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

This weeks ‘song of the week’ comes from one of my favourite ‘all-time’ electronica/new wave groups – The Human League.  The Human League formed in 1977 in Sheffield, England.  The band became successful when they attained their first world-wide hit and # 1 single in 1981 called  “Don’t You Want Me” from the album ‘Dare’.  The only other # 1 single they would have after “Don’t You Want Me”, would be in 1986  with their single “Human” produced by the famous R&B producers – Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

 

The Human League have written some of the best 80’s new-wave and electronic hits that were pivotal to the electronic movement today, hits such as;  “Mirror Man”, “Being Boiled”, “Open Your Heart”, “Sound of the Crowd”, “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”, “Don’t You Want Me”, “The Lebanon”, “Louise”, “Life On Your Own”, “Heart Like A Wheel”, “One Man In My Heart”, “Tell Me When”, and my choice for ‘song of the week’ “Love Is All That Matters”.  Let’s go back into the past and rewind to 1986 – and re-visit this amazing song.  The audio follows the lyrics.

 

LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

 

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

Got this beautiful situation
I’ve finally found out
What life’s about
Want to talk about it
In my conversation
Going to tell the world
Going to sing it
From the highest mountain top

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

Every person pledge allegiance
All our efforts
To one common cause
Take a minute to improve a life
Form a legion
That’s united for a love cause

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

March

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful
After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

Love forgiving
Love for good
Love to keep us faithful

After all is said and done
Love is all that matters

 

 

For more information about The Human League, please visit their website:  http://thehumanleague.co.uk/  You can purchase all of The Human Leagues music by visiting the iTunes Store.

 

LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS!!! and Together, we can make the world a more positive one!