Classical music is one of those worlds I’ve just never found the time to explore, but I knew that was going to change sooner or later. I always told myself that if I had a kid I’d first immerse him in classical and jazz. Peaceful, complex stuff that would lull him to sleep while tuning his ears with the sort of precision he’d need if he ever decided to pick up daddy’s favorite hobby. It’s what my mother did with me, and I was going to pass on the tradition.
Well, baby Oliver arrived April 7th, and every night so far we’ve been exploring my meager classical collection together. Arleigh sent me a collection of Chopin’s Nocturnes years ago, and those seem to appeal to him most. I have a funny feeling this one will be Ollie’s favorite, because I play it first and last every time we sit down to listen. 🙂
So, please welcome Shattered Lens’ newest (future) author to the fold: Oliver Winston Smith. He celebrated his one week birthday last night by staring at my cats.
Just a little under a year ago I had chosen a particular favorite song as the latest “Song of the Day”. This song was Clint Mansell’s “Together We Will Live Forever”which was part of his exceptional film score for Darren Aronofsky’s 2006 scifi love story, The Fountain. I’ve decided to finally bookend that choice by choosing what has to be the best song in that film’s soundtrack and one of the best piece of film score ever composed: Mansell’s “Death Is the Road to Awe”.
While I’ve given Mansell with the final credit for the creation of this epic song (not just in tone and execution but in length), he had help from frequent collaborator Kronos Quartet and Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. “Death Is the Road to Awe” takes the entirety of Mansell’s film scoring for The Fountain and distills them into a mixture of classical, post-rock and ambient dissonance which seems to all work so well together despite their very differing musical styles.
The Fountain was (still is) a film which brings out either love and admiration for it or utter hate for what some think was a pretentious, jumbled mess. Whether one loved or hated the film (rarely is there one who falls in the middle in their reaction to this film) the reaction most have had for the soundtrack has been mostly positive. I, for one, truly believe it to be one of the greatest film scores ever composed for any film. This song is the ultimate culmination of Mansell’s work for this film and just shows that classical, rock and electronic could co-exist side-by-side to create something truly unique and one-of-a-kind.
I think it’s time to slow things down a bit after several choices of rock and metal for Song of the Day. Thus, my pick for the latest Song of the Day is the song “We Are One” by Kelly Sweet.
Yes, I have a soft spot for adult contemporary singers like Kelly Sweet whose sound of modern jazz and classical leanings make for fine easy listening. Life can’t be all rock and metal. Got to have something relaxing and soothing once in awhile. Ms. Sweet is one of the hidden gems of the last couple years whose career is still doing a sow burn, but her debut album, also titled We Are One, has gained her quite a loyal following. The ballad chosen for the song of the day is one of her original songs in the album full of covers. While she does a great job doing both original and cover work, this paticular song is my favorite out of the bunch.
Her classical and jazz training gives her voice an almost ethereal quality during this song. It’s not too catchy and pop like her more successful contemporaries. Her songs are something both the younger and older generations can get into. This song will definitely not be something to inspire the casual booty call, but it is one that is definitely one to light up that slow burn romance that’s harder to create and even harder to keep.
We Are One
Didn’t need to ask
Don’t know the reason
Everything that I believe
Is right here
Not thinkin’ bout tomorrow
Couldn’t catch it if I tried
World is spinning too fast
So I’ll wait ’til it comes to me
I am you
You are me
We are one
Take me in your arms
And flow through me
I’ll flow through you
Steal my breath away
Cause I’m so moved by you
Deeper than I ever thought
Was possible, was possible, it’s everything, oh
Difference between me and you
It’s all in where your heart lies
And every day’s another chance
So let’s get it right
I am you
You are me
We are one
Take me in your arms
And flow through me
I’ll flow through you
Did you lose yourself out there
Did you lose faith and give up
Don’t turn away and hide yourself
Cause there’s a friend to make along the way
We are the heartbeat and our souls speak
And all the beauty I have ever dreamed
Is right here in front of me, oh
Is right here in front of me, oh
I am you
And you are me
We are one
Take me in your arms
And flow through me
I’ll flow through you…
Through the Shattered Lens 