Mid-week feet up

Yesterday so felt like a Sunday, being Human Rights day here in South Africa it was a public holiday - midweek public holidays are a bit strange, you don’t really have the time to plan something, and end up trying to do stuff you’d not have time for during the week.
I personally just put my feet up and enjoy the break - actually I did try to be constructive. I tried putting words to a couple new songs the band has been coming up with and just ended up being really frustrated and decided to go and put my feet up.
Now I’m back at work and tomorrow’s the start of the weekend, I could live like this - only problem is now I need to get myself geared up to working a full week next week.

Favourite Sonwriters No.5

How boldly he wears his scars... I think alot of that boldness comes through in his songs to, he’s not affraid to tackle political issues in his lyrics, then he has a voice which when he sings seems like it break down walls.
I think his composition is also flawless, yup Seal Definitely makes my list of favourite songwriters - below are the words to "Love’s Divine".


"Love's Divine"

Then the rainstorm came, over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my, belief you see
And realized my mistake
But time threw a prayer, to me
And all around me became still

I need love, love's divine
Please forgive me now I see that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes

'Cause I need love, love's divine
Please forgive me now I see that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Oh I, don't bet (don't bend), don't break (don't break) Show me how to live and promise me you won't forsake 'Cause love can help me know my name

Well I try to say there's nothing wrong
But inside I felt me lying all along
But the message here was plain to see Believe me

'Cause I need love, love's divinePlease forgive me now I see that I've been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name
Oh I, don't bet (don't bend), don't break (don't break) Show me how to live and promise me you won't forsake 'Cause love can help me know my name
Love can help me know my name.

My Weekend

It started my weekend with wild excitement at the end of work on Friday, - okay maybe not wild excitement, but I’m pretty sure a smile managed to sneak it’s way onto my face. Friday was pretty uneventful, we had some shopping we needed to get done down in PMB, so I had dinner with My family at the mall I was pretty starving by then, so the special the Butcher block had on their 300g Rump washed down with a cold beer went down a treat.
Saturday had me awake with a slight raw nervous feeling, I had to go and put down the rough guitar and Vocal tracks for the album the Band are working on. It was just a rough take on a few of the songs, so I didn’t see any reason why I should be feeling any nerves at all, I told my stomach as much , then it ordered me to go and feed it.
As it was the recording was uneventful and everything went fine, and by the time I left The recording studio in the afternoon, I had a CD with no less than 7 tracks on it.
Feeling very proud of myself, I rushed to meet up with my brother and a couple of friends to catch the kickoff of the Sharks Rugby game against the Cheetahs (sorry non sports fans), which I’m happy to say my team won.
Where I thought the evening would round itself off, at the Music at the Forgotten Falls, the rounding off only started there.
There was some great local talent playing, and then at the end they managed to get myself and my brother up there to do a couple songs - not much arm twisting on thier part , very few musicians will turn down an offer to play in front of an appreciative audience.
It was all fine and dandy still we enjoyed playing and they enjoyed the music, the problem came when we invited half the people there back to our place to end off the night.
Well we ended off the night and made a solid start to the following morning as well before we managed to drag our sorry bodies to bed at 4 in the morning. It was a good evening and you don’t always get to fall asleep to the songs of the early morning birds, but needless to say not much happened on Sunday.

Favourtie Songwriters No. 4 the "Piano Man"

What Can I say he is "The Paino Man" - his music is always easy on the ear and catchy at the same time, and his songs are really versatile. I just plain like listening to his music, so he goes up there with my Favourite songwriters.
I’ve added the Lyrics to "Piano Man", not because it’s my favourite, but it’s up there and it’s a classic.

Piano Man

It's nine o'clock on a Saturday

The regular crowd shuffles in

There's an old man sitting next to me

Making love to his tonic and gin

He says, "Son can you play me a memory

I'm not really sure how it goes

But it's sad and it's sweet

And I knew it complete

When I wore a younger man's clothes

"Sing us a song you're the piano man

Sing us a song tonight

Well we're all in the mood for a melody

And you've got us feeling alright

Now John at the bar is a friend of mine

He gets me my drinks for free

And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke

But there's someplace that he'd rather be

He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me"

As a smile ran away from his face"

Well, I'm sure that I could be a movie star

If I could get out of this place"

Now Paul is a real estate novelist

Who never had time for a wife

And he's talking with Davy, who's still in the Navy

And probably will be for life

And the waitress is practicing politics

As the businessmen slowly get stoned

Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness

But it's better than drinking alone

"Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright

It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday

And the manager gives me a smile'

Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see

To forget about life for a while

And the piano sounds like a carnival

And the microphone smells like a beer

And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar

And say "Man what are you doing here?"

"Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright

Love Hate

"... sweet like candy to my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll..." I’m busy Listening to some Dave Mathews as I work at my Computer - If I’m going to be tied to the damned thing the whole day, then I might as well make the most of it’s better functions.
We’ve got a love hate relationship my computer and I, I hate it when she crashes on me, and the fact that I have to sit at one for the better part of my working day. Without it though my Job would be near impossible, strangely I think I view technology in general in the same way. I love being able to listen to CD’s and MP3’s and watch DVD’s and so many other things it has afforded us, but I don’t like the fact that it we are so dependant on it. That it makes us spend less time outdoors and socializing with friends and family.

Life

Hmmm okay... So as per noodle’s suggestion, I’ve been filling my blog so far with cartoons & music, so here’s a life entry. After all the blog is called "toons, music & life".
I guess the best way I could describe the way I feel about my life at the moment is like breaking the surface after a deep submersion. Which while positive leaves you in the position where you still need to swim to shore and you’re not exactly sure which way it is.
I’ve never been the kind of person that plans their life and know’s without a doubt where they’re going, I live in the moment and the day and try to fulfil my purpose in that moment, (even if it’s having a beer while watching the rugby). Though when you get older you do start worrying about your security, have you got your basic needs covered? You look at yourself now and think "Is this where I wanted to be 10 years ago?".

I primarily leave my Destiny in God’s hands, because ultimately I can’t control life and the world I live in.

There are so many things affecting the world at large that I have absolutely no power on my own to change, there are some things that humans can change but only together as one.

Global warming is here and affecting our world, in South Africa it’s supposed to be the start of Autumn but it’s over 30 degrees outside and has been for the last two weeks.

World Poverty is rife on all the contents, there are children parentless due to Aids.

Probably the worst of all is that Violence is tearing us apart, it’s breeding fear of one another in our hearts - one way to guarantee the human race doesn’t co-operate.

There are people out there who make it their life’s work to help and try and change all of these situations, but not everyone can do this, for life to continue most of us need to plug away at our everyday jobs. We can’t use that as an excuse not to do anything though, we still have a voice and a mind, we can question and expose those in power and we can back up those helping the impoverished.

The hardest thing to accept is that even with these ideals, I find it hard to live life everyday by my own standards, I try though and that’s the important part, a lot of the time I block out the harsh parts of the world out there with Cartoons and Music.

Having said all of this the world isn’t a horrible place filled with toxic gasses and corrupt politicians, it is a beautiful place and you can see it when you look out you’re window, if you can see the sky or a bird, or even if all you see is a weed forcing it’s way through the concrete jungle surrounding you. You can see it a strangers smile of welcome, children’s laughter as they play and you can feel it in the embrace of loved ones and friends.
That beauty can never be destroyed.

Favourite Songwriters No.3

I was watching "Majicat" last night with my family, a live DVD of "Cat Stevens" as he was then known - now he answers to Yusuf Islam. There’s no doubt this man would have to make my list of Favourite songwriters, even though he’s from my parents generation, I think his songs still have appeal today. If you’re of my generation and have never heard him, do your ears a favour, go ask you’re parents if they have an old vinyl or tape of him (he is available on CD), you won’t regret it.
Below are the Lyrics of one of my favourite songs "Sad Lisa".


Sad Lisa Lyrics

She hangs her head and cries on my shirt.
She must be hurt very badly.
Tell me what's making you sad, Li?
Open your door, don't hide in the dark.
You're lost in the dark, you can trust me.
'Cause you know that's how it must be.
Lisa Lisa, sad Lisa Lisa.
Her eyes like windows, trickle in rain
Upon the pain getting deeper.
Though my love wants to relieve her.
She walks alone from wall to wall.
Lost in her hall, she can't hear me.
Though I know she likes to be near me.
Lisa Lisa, sad Lisa Lisa.
She sits in a corner by the door.
There must be more I can tell her.
If she really wants me to help her.
I'll do what I can to show her the way.
And maybe one day I will free her.
Though I know no one can see her.
Lisa Lisa, sad Lisa Lisa.

Favourite Songwriters No.2

Another Band who’s song writing I really enjoy is "Colplay" though with them it’s more the whole musical composition of the band, the simplicity they employ in their songs and how utterly effective it is. My Favourite song of theirs would probably be "Fix You"


Fix You lyrics

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleepStuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

High up above or down below
When you too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never knowJust what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Favourite Cartoon No.3

One of my favourite Cartoons since I was a kid was Asterix, I ended up building a huge collection of them as a boy. I’m not exactly sure what the appeal of it is, it was never as fall down funny as "Calvin & Hobbes" but you could still laugh at it. Maybe it was the fact that it was a full story in each book, but then I was reading normal books from an early age, so it couldn’t be just that.
I think looking at the way the pictures were drawn and the story was laid out, that it was the way the strips drew you into the cartoon, firstly giving you a broad look at the whole scene and all the small things happening on the side, before focusing on the story at hand. It is like that from scene to scene in each story - much like a detailed story board for a movie.