Monday Music #25 : Xcultures: One World One People

 

Brian Wayy is the producer behind Xcultures.  He has been involved in the music scene for many years working with other groups and singer helping to produce their music.  This particular project however was his chance to take many world music influences and infuse them into individual songs with multiple world music influences.  This was his debut and only album as far as I can find under the X cultures name.  With a quick web search I wasn't able to learn much about Brian Wayy.

The Album: One World One People by Xcultures
  

My favorite song on the album shares the title of the album:  One World One People.  I ran across this album a couple years ago and just re-discovered the music again today as it has gotten pushed to the back of my play list as I have been enjoying some other music recently. 

So often in our world it is easy to get caught up into a mini culture to the point where we eschew other cultures and people.  It seems to be a human trait to want to be better than others to the point where we are willing to demean or demonize other groups.  Culture wars between blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians and so forth often exist in a range from minor thoughtlessness and lack of understanding to extreme prejudice.  This happens in religion as well to the point where the actual tenets of a religion are not considered for their truthfulness or openness but rather the culture is assessed for its comfortableness.  Meaning that people associate with a religion because of a culture that is comfortable rather than teachings that have any benefit, meaning or are based on teachings from scripture.  Neighborhood cultures may take pride in their exclusiveness.  Any groups that has things in common may tend to be exclusive for any reason rather than inclusive.  To me the message of this song is that we are all a human family and need to realize we are all one race. 

The following YouTube video has the song but I must admit that the video images are not indicative of the meaning of the song by my estimation.  I would encourage you to ignore the video and listen to the song and seek a meaning uninfluenced by the video.

On the other hand this next video does not have the great music but is more indicative of the meaning.  This video is an interesting one of a flash mob that deals with a similar topic of One World One People.  So if you could figure out how to watch this video and listen to that song, well then you would have nirvana...briefly.

I hope you enjoy it.  Here is some artwork that seems to go along with the theme.

Monday Music #24 :Gary Go

Gary Go is actually the stage name for Gary Baker.  He is the son of one of the producers of Jim Henson's The Muppet Show.  He grew up in England close to Wembley stadium and heard the live music concerts that played there often.  This got him interested in music and he started teaching himself how to play instruments at age 8 and began writing his own songs.  He put out a couple albums himself but his first one that was produced through a record company had some interesting songs on it as you can hear and read the words below.  This album came out in 2009 and I understand he has some new songs coming out later this month. 

Gary Go: Wonderful

Here are the words for the song that can be used to encourage one to not give up on themselves and to remember they are indeed unique and worthwhile.

Wonderful by Gary Go

The person that you were has died
You’ve lost the sparkle in your eyes
You fell for life - into its traps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you want that person back

And all your ammunition’s gone
Run out of fuel to carry on
You don’t know what you wanna do
Cause what you want does not want you
If what you want does not want you
And you’ve got no pull to pull you through

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful"

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful"

If what you’ve lost cannot be found
And the weight of the world weighs you down
No longer with the will to fly
You stop to let it pass you by
Don’t stop to let it pass you by
You’ve gotta look yourself in the eye

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”

Cause we are all miracles
wrapped up in chemicals
We are incredible
Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
Oh we are

Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
wrapped up, yeah we’re wrapped up
Oh we are wonderful

Gary Go: Open Arms

Another interesting song recognizing that things change and not always for the better.  His song seems to say we just need to accept the changes that we can't control and move on rather than reject the changes and let them have a negative impact on you for extended time periods.

Gary Go: Open Arms

Whatever happened to truth
Lost without a trace
Whatever happened to the mirror
That showed me a happy face
Whatever happened to sorry
You know it’s never too late
Whatever happened to good things coming
Coming to those who wait
Whatever happened to this city
It’s not like it used to be
Whatever happened to you
Whatever happened to me

Gotta look myself in the eye
And say it’s gonna be alright
Maybe everything won’t be alright
All the time
I’ve gotta take these chances where they are
It’s gonna be alright
I’ve gotta see things for what they are
At the time

Lost with no place to begin
I’ll slowly adjust to the sun just face I’m in

Whatever happened to the list
of things I wanted to be
Whatever happened to you
Whatever happened to me

Gotta look myself in the eye
And say it’s gonna be alright
Maybe everything won’t be alright
All the time
I’ve gotta take these chances where they are
And it’s gonna be alright
I’ve gotta see things for what they are
At the time, at the time

Yeah the words are on the seam
Ready to receive
I’m the ocean you’re the stream
Ready to receive
It’s like open arms to me
Ready to, ready to receive

Gotta look myself in the eye
And say it’s gonna be alright
Maybe everything won’t be alright
All the time
No, I’ve gotta take these chances where they are
And it’s gonna be alright
I’ve gotta see things for what they are
At the time
I’ve gotta see things for what they are
At the time,
At the time

Monday Music #23: Kitaro: Drop of Silence

Kitaro hails from Japan but nowadays splits his time between his homes near Boulder Colorado and one at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan.  His Colorado home/studio is large enough to hold a 70 piece orchestra which plays and helps him create his music.  .  His birth name is Masanori Takahashi.  His music has been referred to as "contemplative, highly melodic synthesizer music".  His music is mostly instrumental with a variety of Asian influences and instruments.  I have enjoyed his music for a number of years.  It is good music to read to or to relax to or to help your thinking processes.  He uses synthesizers to simulate many instruments, as well as playing many of the actual instruments himself.  He plays the drums, guitar and harp, among other instruments. 

His music is described as music that is "revered for its ability to embody the human spirit with music of passion and drama".  

When Kitaro was young he wanted to have a career in music but his parents were opposed to that.  They tried to steer him in the direction that they wanted him to go by arranging for a job for him.  He responded by leaving home and supporting himself with jobs he could find while he wrote music at night.  He focused entirely on the keyboards in the 1970's joining a band called "Far East Family Band" and traveled the world playing music.  While in Europe he me Klaus Schultze of Tangerine Dream who taught him about the synthesizer.  He started his solo career starting in 1977.

He is reported as saying: "I never had education in music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings....This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder, 'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."

During the events of 9-11 he was in flight from Japan to Los Angeles. His plane was diverted to Honolulu for five days.  There he was inspired to begin music to help bring peace and unify the people of the world.  Some of his music since that time has used Japanese temple bells (also called peace bells) and his life work is to create 88 songs with 88 temple bells.

Kitaro's first wife was Yuki Taoka.  After their divorce he married Keiko Matsubara a musician. His son from his first marriage lives with them.

The highlighted song today comes from the album "Dream".

Kitaro: A drop of Silence

Monday Music #21: William Joseph

William Joseph is a piano prodigy.  He started playing the piano at age 4.  He tells the story that he was watching Fraggle Rock on T.V. and brought out his plastic piano to play along with the music from the show.  His parents observed that and thought they better get him some piano lessons.  He started composing songs at age 5. 

Maybe we have Fraggle Rock to thank for the great pianist.

At age 8 William won a full ride scholarship to study with Russian teacher Stella Saperstein.  He was trained classically but he says that he couldn't stay withing the boundaries of that type of music and enjoys making music that tells a story and is dramatic and cinematic. 

He taught music lessons for a company in Phoenix Arizona and continues to do occasional short lesson stints for them.  That job is what led to his playing at a charity event  and a friend that introduced him to David Foster while Mr. Foster and his orchestra were doing sound checks several hours before the concert was to start.  William had been married for one week.  His hope was to shake Mr. Foster's hand.  His friend ask Mr. Foster if William could play on the piano and Mr. Foster agreed.  During the song Mr. Foster led his orchestra in accompaniment of the song.  Mr. Foster asked William if he would open the concert for them that night.  William was so excited, he called his wife to ask “Honey, do you have a nice dress?”  From there he has become a well known and respected musician playing to large crowds.

William Joseph is LDS and works to live righteously.  He has had to make some choices between fame and money and doing what is right.  A nice article was written about him in the New Era magazine.  He tells that he was not feeling particularly spiritual around age 18 and when he was asked to play in Sacrament meeting in a cousin's ward he went.  There he saw a young couple that had just been sealed in the temple and he was struck by how they seemed to glow.  He decided he wanted that for himself.  In his own words: "I thought, ‘How will I ever do that? Someone like that would only want a returned missionary.’ And right when I thought that, it hit me. It was overwhelming. All of a sudden, music didn’t matter; my career didn’t matter; nothing mattered. And I knew for sure that’s what I had to do. I needed to go on a mission, and I’d be blessed if I did.  After that meeting, after that incredible, spiritual experience, I got in my car, and I had this rock music blasting. That music felt so disruptive, so loud and just ugly and wrong. That was the experience that changed my life.”

He was called to serve a mission in Australia.  He feared being away from music for two years as he hadn't been a day without music in his last 15 years.  Fortunately his mission president recognized his talent and gave him opportunities to write and perform in addition to his regular missionary work. 

William Joseph notices how his music and his example in life can have a positive impact on others.  He sees people of all sorts from the refined to the rough person who hears him playing in a mall and is touched by his music.  William feels like that is the Spirit that makes that connection.  “Music breaks down barriers; it softens people. I’m not a man of many words; I’m not an elaborate speaker. But I absolutely have a testimony. I love the gospel.”

William likes to meet some of the people who come to his concerts because he likes to hear what they think.  He not only likes to play for them but bring them on this enjoyable ride of being a well known musician as well. 

I guess I still have hurricanes on the mind as I chose this song to put on my blog.  It is from the album Within. 

William Joseph: Butterflies and Hurricanes

Here he is interviewed on a British morning show called This Morning.  He mentions some fun things about his music teacher, his big break into the music business with David Foster, and he creates a new song from four notes chosen by the hosts of the show as well as plays Asturias from his other album Beyond.  This is an enjoyable interview of about ten minutes, so if you have any interest at all it is well worth the viewing. 

I am a lover of Christmas music and was pleased to see that his next album will be a holiday album coming out this year which I will likely be a purchaser. 

Monday Music #20: 7and5: Crossroads

John Nixon, creator of 7and5

7and5 is John Nixon.  7and5 is music is created from where New Age and Electronic music meet.  It is instrumental music intended not just for relaxation but for the provoking of thought and wonder.  His music is described as a "musical concept" that he has been working on for several years.  Mr. Nixon graduated from Berklee College of Music and has been working in the Detroit area for years writing music for T.V. and advertising.  He has also written a portion of the trailer for the movie "The Visitor". 

John was interviewed by his old high school magazine and his response to the question of what he had learned in HS and how it helped him in his life was noteworthy: "NDHS taught me how to compete at the highest levels; whether it be for grades, in sports, or band. Competition and doing one’s best were always at the core of what we did, and understanding that this is what we face everyday in the real world, adversity is far less of an obstacle."

He is married and has a 14 year old daughter who is following in the music footsteps of her father by playing piano and violin. 

Crossroads comes from the album Hope, Destiny, and Choice

Enjoy the sound and the video has some interesting images as well.
7and5 Crossroads

Monday Music #19: Britt Nicole: Set the World on Fire

{Finally we're back on line after our internet was goofed up and finally fixed by our carrier, Yea!}

Britt Nicole is a Christian singer.  I became aware of this song from the soundtrack of the Soul Surfer movie. Her full name is Brittany Nicole Waddell.   She started singing in her church in Kannapolis North Carolina when she was 3 years old.  She sang through the years until college age when she turned down a scholarship in order to sing full-time, because that is what she felt like God wanted her to do.  She has had a lot of success in her career so far.

Now in her mid twenties she reportedly mentioned on her Facebook page that she was engaged (2010) but is reportedly not married to date.  In her bio on her website she says, "My fans want a pop record, I’m a pop artist and they love fun music.  When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that.  That’s in my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and to see people’s lives changed and to reach those who are hurting.  It’s what I believe God has called me to do.”

Maybe the song I've highlighted here today is a declaration of what she hopes to do with her life and her career as a singer.  The video below is a compilation of images, many religious that enhance the song.  This song comes from the album "Say It".

Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole

Lyrics for Set the world on Fire:

I wanna set the world on fire

Until it's burning bright for you

It's everything that i desire

Can i be the one you use?

I i am small but

You you are big enough

I i am weak but

You you are strong enough to

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

Lord with you

There's nothing i cannot do

Nothing i cannot do

I wanna feed the hungry children

And reach across the farthest land

And tell the broken there is healing

And mercy in the father's hands

I i am small but

You you are big enough

I i am weak but

You you are strong enough to

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

Lord with you

There's nothing i cannot do

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

Lord with you

There's nothing i cannot do

My hands my feet

My everything

My life my love

Lord use me

I wanna set the world on fire

Wanna set the world on fire yeah

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

Lord with you

There's nothing i cannot do no

Take my dreams

Come and give them wings

'cause lord with you

There's nothing i can't do

Nothing i can't do

I'm gonna set the world on fire

Set the world on fire

It is nice to see a young person, and a budding celebrity at that, recognize that there is something more important in life than just fullfilling their own dreams of wealth and selfish desires.  Recognizing God's will in her life and striving to help and encourage others is truly a great work.  Keep up the good work!

Monday Music #18: Chris Field: Ave Maria

Chris Field is a musician that is known for writing movie trailer music.  If you are unfamiliar with this genre you may want to go to here to learn more.  He has written trailer music for a lot of successful films including Yogi Bear, Nanny McPhee Returns, Twilight, Valkyrie, War of the Worlds, X-Men, Black Hawk Down and Harry Potter. And I left more than twice that many movies out, so he has done a lot of trailer music.  This is his first album.  Chris himself refers to his own music as having "a calmer uplifting feeling". 

Chris recently had a studio built into his home where he now does much of his music on computer.  He said he started learning how to make music on the computer about 8 years ago.  He says,"I was told as a kid by a teacher that there is never an end to learning music. It's true. I just keep on trying and discovering new ways to do things."

The album, entitled Subconscious, is described in these words on his own website: "Sub-Conscious is a neo-classical groove, with ambient and cinematic styles."  That is music talk for 'it is very cool sounding music'. Ha! 

Most of us have heard of the song Ave Maria and are familiar with it.  Nowadays it gets played a lot at Christmas time and is considered a very religious song to those from the Catholic church.  Since it has been associated with Christmas it has been been given a lot of different versions, as much of our Christmas music is nowadays, in a variety of music genres.  This version is very unique and in some ways becomes almost unrecognizable from the original.  It may well have you thinking differently about this song than ever before.  And if you are unfamiliar with this song, this version serves as a good introduction to electronic music.

Chris Field: Ave Maria (The video shows only the album cover throughout)

The rest of the album is quite enjoyable as well.  If you like this song you may enjoy the others on the album.  Enjoy!

Monday Music # 17: Yiruma: Kiss the Rain

Yiruma is the stage name of the South Korean pianist I Ruma.  Yiruma means "accomplishment" in Korean.  Yiruma has been playing the piano since the age of five.  At age 11 he moved to England to attend a music school there.  He had dual citizenship for a while but gave up the UK citizenship so that he could serve in the South Korean navy. 

Yiruma married Son Hye-Im a former Miss Korea.  They have one daughter named Loanna.

From the Album: First Love

Yiruma: Kiss the Rain

I like this song a lot because of slow and contemplative style, that would help one to remember some strong peaceful memories from the past.  I hope this song helps you remember things that have been a peaceful and good influence in your life.  With memories like that it is easier to hope for similarly good experiences in the future. 

Monday Music #16: Midori: Gregorian Soul

In my efforts to find out more about Midori, I learned that is an alias for Medwyn Goodall an English musician.  He says he used the alias to separate this music which is more "eastern" and uses the "healing arts" so that his fans of his other music don't get them confused.  I have been unsuccessful in finding out all the details but this album seems to have been put out with at least two different cover arts and the song selection is different on the two albums as well.  Possibly this is a result of the music being put out in different countries or through different music companies.

Medwyn Goodall started as a musician when he was a child and recorded his first album at age 16.  His main instrument is a guitar but he has learned to play over a dozen instruments and uses them in his recordings.  Here are a few of the instruments that he plays just so you can get an idea: mandolin, piano, drums, harp, flute, glockenspiel, panpipes, vibraphone and synthesizer.  He has recorded over 75 albums.  

Medwyn and his wife Wendy together own MG music label that puts out New Age music albums. 

The Album is Gregorian Harmony:

The song is Gregorian Soul: (the video shows the same image throughout)

This song has a calming melody and the whole album uses Gregorian chants in a way that I haven't heard before.  Medwyn Goodall's music doesn't typically have Gregorian chanting, but this album is built around it.  Hope you enjoy it!

Monday Music #15: Naturally 7--Wall of sound

As I mentioned in a previous post I enjoy acappella music.  It is amazing to me what can be done in music without instruments and limited to just the sounds that a mouth can make.  I have recently found a group I hadn't known before that do a great job and have a unique sound.  Their sound is referred to as "vocal play"(I've heard it called "beat boxing" before as well).  They define the difference between vocal play and acappella like this: acappella is singing without instruments, vocal play is using the voice as instruments.  It is unique and very enjoyable. 

The group is made up of brothers Roger Thomas and Warren Thomas.  Rod Eldridge, Napoleon Cummings, Dwight Stewart, Garfield Buckley and Hops Hutton.  The following is how they are listed with their singing and vocal play abilities: Roger Thomas (musical director, arranger, 1st Baritone, Rap), Warren Thomas (percussion, guitar, clarinet, 3rd tenor), Rod Eldridge (1st tenor, scratching, trumpet), Napoleon (Polo) Cummings (4th Tenor, guitar), Dwight Stewart (2nd baritone, vocals, trumpet), Garfield Buckley (2nd Tenor, Harmonica) and “Hops” Hutton (Bass).

The story they tell is that vocal play got started when as kids the Thomas boys wanted a drum set but their mother wouldn't agree because of the noise it would produce.  So Warren started making drum sounds to fill in where he wished he had the real thing. 

The song I've chosen to highlight is from their latest album called Wall of Sound.  The song here to listen to is the title track.  I think the video is creative and enjoyable as well as the song, enjoy.

Naturally 7: Wall of Sound

Here are the lyrics for the song:

Higher and higher
I'm building seek
Consumed by desire
It's killing me
Like a moth to the fire
I go willingly
With windows of fame but they can't keep it safe so

I built this wall, all around me
I built this wall, to surround me
I build this wall, from the ground see
These sticks and stones can't break these tones no...

Shout out..
Shout out...
Shout out all you want to

I suppose call me Mr., Please Acknowledge me
Self imposed I'm a prisoner, no apologies
Wrote a note to my listeners, don't you follow me
I'm probably strange but i know i can change cos

I don't wanna be alone anymore
There's a hole in my soul
Yet I'm happy at home no

I built this wall, all around me
I built this wall, to surround me
I build this wall, from the ground see
These sticks and stones can't break these tones no...

[Rap]

I built this wall, all around me
I built this wall, to surround me
I build this wall, from the ground see
These sticks and stones can't break these tones no...

Shout out..
Shout out...
Shout out all you want to

I built this wall

I actually first heard "of" them about five years ago when I was talking to a friend of mine and telling him how much I enjoyed acappella music.  He mentioned that his daughter had been watching an acappella group on T.V. and he couldn't remember their name.  I was purchasing lots of acappella music at the time and ask him to find the name.  he agreed he would ask his daughter.  For the next year every time I ask him he forgot to ask his daughter.  Zoom ahead to last Christmas and I ran across their Christmas album and enjoyed it a lot.  I determined this might have been the group that my friend was trying (although not too hard) to tell me about.  Sure enough when he heard the name he recognized it.  It was a tough road but I finally found them and am enjoying them now. 

Here is how their website describes their success:  "With their rich harmonies, an unbelievable ability to replicate instruments and a stage presence that can be felt in every seat of the house, Naturally 7, the first vocal play group ever, are amazing, charming fans where ever they perform."

Monday Music #14: Michael W. Smith: Freedom

Michael W. Smith is a well known and respected Christian singer.  He has a lot of excellent music that is listened to a fair amount around our house.  This song I am choosing to highlight today is significantly different than most of his other music.  Actually the whole album is instrumental and largely piano and orchestra music as opposed to his typical rock Christian songs.  When I heard the song Freedom from the album by the same name recently I thought it would be perfect to show on my blog for the fourth of July. 

Michael started writing songs at age five, although he dreamed of himself as a great baseball player until he dropped out of college and moved to Nashville to do his music. 

After receiving his first contract to write music he thought he was in heaven.  That is until one day when his attention was distracted from the music.  He wrote:  "Then one afternoon while I was working in my office, Deborah Kay Davis walked by.
I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When she passed by, it was all over for me. I was blown away. Totally head over heels in love. I frantically picked up the phone and called my mother in West Virginia.
'Mom, I can’t believe it. You’re not going to believe this, Mom. I just saw the girl I’m going to marry.
'What’s her name?'
'I don’t know, Mom. I haven’t met her yet. But I gotta go. I’ll find out and call you back.'
My poor mother! She must have thought I’d lost my mind. But I’d never been so clearheaded in my life.
I left my office and went searching for this girl in the warehouse. Sherlock Holmes couldn’t have done a better job of tracking her down, and eventually I found myself standing outside the ladies’ restroom, waiting for her to emerge. She walked out. I introduced myself. We were engaged three and a half weeks later – and married four months after that!"

Michael W. Smith and wife

Michael started playing in a band that was asked to open for Amy Grant.  Her managers were so impressed with Michael that they decided to start a record company to get his music out there.  On his first record he wrote all the music and his wife all the lyrics.  From there he has come out with many records. 

Michael W. Smith and family

Michael has founded a record company, prayer groups and eventually a church.  He and his wife have had five children and now have two grandchildren.  Michael wants to be remembered as "a God-fearing man who loved his wife and kids well".

Michael W. Smith: Freedom

The Album