Tag Archives: music

Mar16

what a feeling!

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with great expectations

i went

to my favorite detroit theater

in the beautiful fisher building

to see the broadway adaptation

flashdance-musical

of 

one of my favorite

guilty pleasure movies

of the 80s

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back then

i had

the perm

the leg warmers

the ripped up sweatshirt

the dance moves

the music

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and

i couldn’t wait

to see

the

iconic scenes 

and

dancing

and

to hear

the

music

once more

but

somehow

the live show

turned out

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more like this

only worse

and it was

quickly apparent

that

my expectations

were

way too high

just like

my old perm.

—

both expectations and memories are more than mere images founded on previous experience.
– samuel alexander

—

image credits: paramount pictures, flashdance the musical, saturday night live,

Oct27

once. again.

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Once_(2006_film)poster

one of my all time favorites

‘once’

an indy film

shot in ireland

in just a few weeks

for only 150,00 usd

with real people

and real music

and

love and heart and soul

and the stars/musicians were shocked

when they won an academy award

for their song

and they fell in love in real life

and they made music together

and then

they broke up in real life

and stayed friends

and still make music together

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and the movie was remembered

then made into a broadway play

and i was lucky enough

 to see it

when it was on tour here

 the stage

 was an irish pub

the audience was invited up

to have a drink on stage

while the cast fiddled away

then the play began

and it was

all beautiful music and love and heartbreak and ireland

and i loved every minute of it

once.

again.

—

if music be the food of love, play on. –

william shakespeare

——–

movie credit: fox searchlight features

Aug23

what do you get for three dollars and seventy five cents?

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a ticket

to watch

the detroit lions

play

a

pre-season

football game

 the score

has no meaning

 like watching

kids run around with a ball

gentle

careful

not to play too hard

no one wants to get hurt

and

a walk outside

after the game

leads to

a free front row seat

right on the curb

best seat in the city

on a warm and breezy

summer night

 live music

fills the air

 you listen

as our hometown boy

eminem

and his friend

rhianna

sing their hearts out

outside

right across the street

only 50 feet away

where

the detroit tigers

play baseball

fireworks go off

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 great music booms through the air

clear as a bell

 bikes

that light up like magic

glide on by

and

fans of all kinds

music

and

football

and

 those who just love detroit

all

together

running

and

dancing

and

talking

and

smiling

in the street

and

happy police

stand by

and

take it all in

 a great feeling

fills the street

and overflows

as all paths cross

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and

worlds collide

into

a perfect night

—

between two worlds life hovers like a star,

twixt night and morn, upon the horizon’s verge.

 – lord byron

May10

the hill is alive with the sounds of music

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went to the 4th annual water hill music fest, held the first sunday of each may

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in a neighborhood filled with artists, musicians, and eccentrics of the highest order, music rules the day

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founded In 2011, Paul Tinkerhess (folksman, craftsman, businessman) to spotlight the cohesive personality of the neighborhood as well as its musicians, this un-sponsored event follows only one rule: at least one member of each performing band must reside in water hill.

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so excited to see my very talented carpool mate create some jazz with the neighbors

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every kind of music and settings and audience members were represented

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all in the front yards, back yards, decks and gardens of their homes

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people of all ages were welcome to participate

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friends bonded together by their music

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and a community bonded together by their sounds

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and many joined into the drum circle

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and they were from all walks of life

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and everyone joined in to support the day

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and many saw music that was new to them and old to others

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and people came on foot, on bike, and by car to sit and listen and take it all in

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and everyone had so much fun

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and the maypole dance was the perfect way to welcome in the season 

“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”
― Maria von Trapp

—

image credits: peaches, monte fowler, ann arbor.com

 

 

Apr30

Mistakes are the portals of discovery – James Joyce

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i was so excited.

i’d saved up my change,

69 cents,

to buy my first record.

i got a ride to the store,

found ‘lady madonna’,

ran to the counter, counted out my change,

and skipped out of the store.

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the moment i got home,

i put the record on, 

ready to hear my favorites sing,

i was a young beatles fan.

and i quickly discovered,

that in my rush and excitement,

i had actually purchased

 the fats domino version 

of the same song.

not the same,

but fun and different.

and new to me.

–

do you ever get that excited that you lose sight of the mission?

do you ever discover something wonderful and new quite by accident?

—
The four building blocks of the universe are fire, water, gravel and vinyl.
Dave Barry

—–
image credits: captiol records, reprise records

Apr11

moving

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our annual classical music concert.

a chance for the kinders to see the big kids, (4th and 5th grades),

perform a musical show for them.

a chance to see the possibilities in their own future.

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it is a challenge for some of the littles to sit through this event.

they need to move,

and often.

and for some, it is moving in a very different way.

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one such kinder caught up in all the magic of the music,

with wide sparkling eyes,

and a face covered with a rapturous smile,

and arms moving with every note,

whispered the most wonderful reaction,

‘miss k, my ears are dancing!!’

and i thought this to be the perfect description of how music can really move a person.

Apr7

You’re supposed to be using your gifts and fulfilling your dreams, at every age. – Victoria Moran

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great evening at the tap room, a classic no-frills, neighborhood bar in nearby ypsilanti

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i went there with a family whose sons i’ve taught and stayed close to as they’ve grown.

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the night was organized by alex and his wife who own the ann arbor music center

and the rock band school for children and musicians of all ages

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alex is a powerful musician in his own right, who plays, teaches, and builds guitars.

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he works with local businesses and festivals to give his young bands a chance to play real gigs around town. 

on this night, the place was standing room only, kids sat in front of the stage, and musician, theo katzman

stopped by to support the kids in the bands, and sat with the young fans on the floor. 

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a’s band was amazing. everyone in it is 9-10 years old and played their hearts out.

a is on keyboards and his beloved teacher played with them and is the vocalist.

 tonight we heard them play green day, cheap trick, and beatles.

and it was a musical wonder. 

there were photogs, and fans, and musicians, and families, and joy all around. 

and the kids were so proud.

but none was so proud as alex. 

–Image

 

Mar26

To be able to look back upon one’s past life with satisfaction is to live twice. – Lord Acton

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     freda kelly was just a shy teenager from liverpool who left school at 16 to make her way in the world. in this documentary, freda tells her story for the first time after 50 years, for very personal reasons all her own. it is the story of a young girl, who, through fate and circumstance, found herself working for a local band, the beatles, hoping to make it big. while none of them had any concept of how far they would go, it was her undying loyalty and dedication that kept her in their inner circle, a rare thing among the many who came and went from their universe.

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at only 16, she became their devoted personal secretary and fan club president, and she understood the young girls’ frenzy them as they grew in fame, as she was herself just a young girl, as well as a fan. she was fiercely protective of each of them and never was swayed by the fame and fortune that came along. Freda saw it all, and became a sister and friend to them, and a daughter to their families. 

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she witnessed their evolution to international fame and watched history unfold before her eyes, taking it all in with amazement and pride.

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it was her dream job, and she was there at the beginning, and there at the end. and as was said, ‘they were together for 10 years, and she worked for them for 11 years.’  the archival footage in this film is amazing, and if you are a fan of the beatles, music history, or just of the pure and sweet side of human nature, you will fall in love with freda and with this movie.

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freda today, as she tells her story, with a few tears and a lot of laughter.

You learn from a conglomeration of the incredible past –

whatever experience gotten in any way whatsoever.
Bob Dylan

 —-

image credits: magnolia pictures, the guardian.com,dailymail.co.uk,scope features,sxsw film festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar19

I don’t do well with snakes and I can’t dance. – Robin Williams

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i went to this show last night, at our beautifully restored fisher theater, expecting to see a bit of fast-tapping irish dancing. it was created by the producers of riverdance, so i had a certain mind set going in, and was very happy to find it was so much more. the director/creator spoke at the beginning, and talked about how he had worked for three years to assemble this amazing ensemble of dancers and musicians from all around the world, (australia, spain, ireland, england, u.s.a, canada, mexico, and italy), to create this work of performance art.

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 while there was incredible irish dancing, there was also so much more.

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each musician played at least 2 instruments and at times got out on the floor to interact with the dancers.

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it was a fascinating blend of afro-cuban, spanish, irish, flamenco, latin, modern and street and classical dance,

all bathed in color and images and music.

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at times it was strong and high energy, and then slow and powerfully beautiful.

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it was a lovely performance in every way. and i was newly inspired with each dance.

I love tango, and I used to dance when I was young. Pope Francis

—

image credits: broadway in detroit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan23

the sound of music

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the kinders picked out a happy tune on our well-worn and much-loved piano.

it was a very cold day and we were kept inside. it sounded like kinder-ragtime.

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“The fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music can make beautiful children.”

Cherly Lavender