From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V3 #282 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Friday, December 11 1998 Volume 03 : Number 282 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Is Basia critiqued in Poland? ["Tomasz Radzinski" ] The big Q [tom@inetnebr.com, kelly&jordan ] Re: Those nutty Brits :) [Jan Johnson ] Mass reply [Ray Navarra ] Re: Is Basia critiqued in Poland? [Gorskiceap@aol.com] Waters of March: What DOES it mean? [Meg Evans ] Re: Mass reply ["Leslie Brown" ] Re: Waters of March: What DOES it mean? ["Leslie Brown" ] Waters of March and remembrance ["Ashoke S. Talukdar" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Dec 1998 11:07:28 +0100 From: "Tomasz Radzinski" Subject: Is Basia critiqued in Poland? >By the way, she was saying that Poles are very critical of her- can you >explain more about that Tomasz? Is she really critiqued harshly in >Poland? > >--Leslie, >thinking that Poles and Jamaicans would have one helluva time at a >wedding reception I'll try. I don't find that Basia is or was more or less critiqued in Poland. The truth is (or was) even worse: yet--I guess--four, five years ago very little people knew thare is such a person like Basia, singing beautiful songs. I am not too old :-D but since my high school times so many had changed in listening to the music by Polish youths... --you know--disco, techno and so on. I've probably written about this: my friends were made :)) to like Basia, 'cause they heard her music most the time they were at my house. This is very hard to understand for me that Basia's music in Poland is so unknown..! Maybe--I try to look in the optimistic way--it changes slowly... Poles don't hate Basia--they don't know her!!! Tomasz ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1998 19:57:48 -0600 From: tom@inetnebr.com, kelly&jordan Subject: The big Q Mr Radzinski speaks; "OK, I try to understand--a man can get use to a foreigner language ant mentality after some time--but, gor God's sake... Finally, I repeat, I hope I am wrong. Because I love her music and her talent... Tomasz" Tommy baby, your the man, you keep loving her music and her talent. Basia never stops amazing all of us. Year after year. BIG QUESTION FOR EVERYONE. This might be too much to ask of you all, and my question may clog up this list. But I am curious. NAME THE 5 MOST ENJOYABLE MUSIC DISKS YOU HAVE HEARD IN 1998? Simple question. CD, Vinal, tape, old or new. IRIE MON, Tom Neill ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1998 22:56:47 +0000 From: Jan Johnson Subject: Re: Those nutty Brits :) >my friend Jason >used to drive one of those little white Hyundai Excels (affection called >"The Egg"). It had a stick shift and he could drive that in downtown >traffic, while looking at a map AND having a Big Mac, fries and a Coke (this >last item firmly lodge between his legs). Ooooh. What have I started? What an excellent opportunity to sound off about my pet hate concerning British cars (aside from having to pay an extra $1,600 for an automatic gearbox) THEY DON'T HAVE CUPHOLDERS!! Now I grant you, we live in a country where the sun only shines about two days a year and we don't have to haul around the same level of liquids which you guys require to keep sane when the temperature is hovering in the late 90's. Also being a small island our journeys tend on average to be much shorter (except when searching for a parking space, that is!!). The first time I ever sat in a Chevrolet van I was amazed to discover that your average six seater van will tend to have at least ten cupholders. I was even more amazed when I visited a car showroom with some American friends to find that one of the first features they looked for were...you guessed it, cupholders!! Oh, and manufacturers seem to score extra points in the States for cunning concealment of said 'accessories'. Here in the UK, the closest we have to a cupholder is a minute depression on the inside of the glovebox door for resting your coffee cup on. This is mainly because most cars these days are so 'aerodynamic' that there is not a single flat surface to be found anywhere on the dashboard. But cupholders? No way!! Many is the time I have driven past the drive-thru on my way home from work and fancied a milkshake. But being on my own, it simply isn't possible!! Just so you don't think I have forgotten entirely the purpose of this mailing list, I think I should point out that this is not the first time that the question of why Basia lives here and not in the States has occurred to me. It is not as if her occupation precludes her from living wherever she wants. Ok, so her current domestic arrangements may not suit, but this was not always the case in the past. I seem to remember reading somewhere about her moving here from Poland to be 'close to her family' although some still live in Poland I understand, but in these days of cheap(er) air travel, hopping across the Atlantic is not quite the trial or expense that it once was. Not only do the Brits seem entirely unappreciative of Basia's music (not ONE of her CDs is on sale in the Virgin Megastore in Edinburgh, not even LWNY or T&T, although there is plenty of Matt Bianco) but I can think of no other country in the world where the actual art of everyday living appears almost deliberately designed to be inconvenient. Here it is not 'done' to complain, people are routinely rude to you in shops, the taxes are excessive, (petrol or 'gas' is $5 a gallon!!) goods in supermarkets routinely 'run out' with no explanation (no toilet paper in my local ASDA supermarket for over a week now!!) and the veneered attitude of 'grin and bear it' is beginning to wear a little thin. Basia could live wherever she wants. London, Warsaw......why NOT New York?? Or anywhere else in the States for that matter. There are lots of nice places!! Jan Johnson For a good laugh, go here....... http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/7758/index.html "May the sun always shine on your face May the wind always be on your back, May you have food and raiment, A soft pillow for your head, And may you be in heaven half an hour Before the Devil knows you are dead" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:44:55 +0100 (CET) From: Ray Navarra Subject: Mass reply Hey all, that's like, a mass reply. Tomasz (czesc!) wrote: >As I understood Joanna's reaquest: > >in Polish there is exactly the same name: Joanna, which >in English you could spell: Ioanna ("a" like this in word "car"). >Or Joasia (which means--little Joanna), and yoy spell it: >"Ioashia". I'd say, the better spelling is "Yo-anna", if you don't want to end with "Why-oanna" :) OK, I'm the only one who didn't say "Thanks" for this interview. Dzieki! I tried to load it directly on Radio Zet website... but their server is even slower than Xoom. Kevin wrote: >To answer your question, Ray the track order for the new Japanese single >(Sony/Epic ESCA-7396) is: > >1. Clear Horizon >2. My Cruel Ways (live) >3. She Deserves It (live) > >...the live tracks are from an undated performance, but I'm assuming >they're from the BOB dates held at the Neil Simon Thater on New York. > >And as far as I can tell, the single hasn't been released anywhere but >Japan, to date-- I actually would've expected a Euro or UK release by >now... > >Hope this helps! It does, thank you very much! Why no Euro release?! - that is beyond me. Especially with the three-track single looking like the UK oriented release. Did any of Basia's singles reach UK top 40? Tomasz wrote: >I experience that Englishmen, well, English- >speaking people are very cultural. Always, when I speak or >listen to them I am shocked (as a Pole) with their kindness >and so on (I can't express this too well :) That is, I think, what >we, Poles, should teach from you. I have the slightly different feelings: I always think that the Englishmen are very vulnerable, because they're so kind and everything, that when I, for example, write my emails I very often end feeling embarassed because there seems no way to express what I want to say without offending someone. Am I right or it's harder to offend someone than I think? :) Leslie wrote: >Yup. Also in Promises doing the instrument shuffle, and Until You Come >Back To Me for about 5 seconds each shot tossing a ball in the air while >waiting for his solo, and looking quite well-muscled while eating >something out of alunimum foil like a fool. Third Time Lucky is a >definite Kevin lovefest-when oh when will they release *those* videos? >(I mean commercially of course). No idea. Small hint for Kevin fans: Kevin Robinson, Bue Beadle and Fayyaz Virji played the brass section on Pet Shop Boys' track "Metamorphosis" (available on the Bilingual CD... that's the best track there, mainly because of the brass... :) BTW: Am I the only PSB fan here? (-) Ray [::: Ray, obviously: go to :: Regrets promo MP3 already available! :::] [::: members.xoom.com/obvious :: Check also for Discovering preview... :::] [::: Quite Pet Shop Boys: members.xoom.com/quite_psb :::] [::: Current number one: Robbie Williams "No regrets" :::] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 07:22:28 EST From: Gorskiceap@aol.com Subject: Re: Is Basia critiqued in Poland? I think what I read in one of the Website interviews was that Poles are very critical of Polish singers who come back to Poland to do concerts and then sing in English. Basia said that English is the language in which she records, so that's what she does in concert. Right after that came "Dzien Sie Budzie", maybe something for the home audiences to look forward to. I love the sound of that song so much, the way she growls out those "drz"'s and so on, that I would love a CD with even more Polish songs, even though I don't understand much of the language. This is one of the things that got me hooked on Basia in the first place, as my first Basia CD was LWNY, stumbled upon accidentally while browsing bored in the library. Anyway, that may be why the folks back home are not as enthusiastic as we are. (Tomasz excepted!) PS - I think "Dzien Sie Budzie" is a tribute to the successful Polish independence movement. And here's a limb to go out on - people are wondering what the true meaning is of "New Day" - I think the guy in the video just learned in his phone conversation that the Russians finally split and that the beautiful Polish eagle soars again! ~MG "The best is yet to come!" ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:22:05 -0600 From: Meg Evans Subject: Waters of March: What DOES it mean? G'morning, everyone, Richard asks: >Please give me your thoughts of the meaning of "The Waters of March." I feel >the central theme is one of hope and the feeling of anticipation of wonderful >things to come that often occurs during the first whispers of spring. And Leslie responds: >...I interpret it in meaning that there is a cycle of life, happenings >and occurances that may be good, may be bad, but they exist and they >make up the wonders of living. I agree with both interpretations, as those are the feelings the song has given me since I first began singing it in the 70s (the Art Garfunkel version -- has ANYONE else heard it yet?). I relate to the stream-of-consciousness style of the song, listing a trove of earthly things -- tangible and intangible -- that are ordinary, beautiful, significant, humble, unpleasant, and so on. I cannot ignore the suggestion by one list member who pointed out that if Jobim wrote this from a Brazilian perspective, the "Waters of March" would be flowing during their winter, not our spring. I'm not certain if people south of the equator equate winter with renewal. Therefore, I am curious to know what HE was reflecting upon as he wrote the song. Possibly the same list member also pointed out that the English version is not a truly literal translation of the Portuguese version. I have the P version, and would be willing to translate -- as long as no one minds getting it by, say, next April. :) That's my two cents. Thanks. Meg ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:32:04 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: The big Q >NAME THE 5 MOST ENJOYABLE MUSIC DISKS YOU HAVE HEARD IN 1998? >Simple question. >CD, Vinal, tape, old or new. Aw, only 5? That's tough! But here's mine: 1.) The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. No CD has hit me as hard since, well, T&T. True story. 2.) Pizzicato Five, Happy End Of The World. These guys just rule. Matt turned me on to them and I am addicted. I only wish more of their CDs were available in America. We need more fun music. 3.) Cornershop, When I Was Born For The Seventh Time. 'Brimful of Asha,' 'nuff said. 4.) Clear Horizon, obviously, This also was the year when I rediscoverd the wonders of The Swwetest Illusion. 5.) The Best of Matt Bianco. Impulse buying can be fun. Oh heck, I'll add a few more-- 6.) Songs In The Key of Life. I got this for Christmas and I must say that I understand now why Danny White called it one of his most influential ablbums. 7.) Daft Punk, Homework. 8.) Cibo Matto, Viva La Woman. Nutty as hell, either one likes it or hates it, but I like the eclectic use of samples and style switches. Plus the lyrics are insane. 'You've got to know your chicken?' Uh, OK. 9.) Incognito, Positivity & Tribes Vibes and Scribes. Horns from heaven. I really hope their new album and the Inner Shade thing sound more like their old stuff. The new stuff is getting bland. 10.) Basia on Broad way was my constant companion until Clear Horizon came out. 11.) Peter White- Caravan of Dreams. I play this at work almost every day. The vocal ain't bad, either. 12.) Erykah Badu- Baduism. Instantly addicted and played this so much the first half of the year. The live album too. Okay! Next! - --Leslie ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:42:35 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Mass reply >OK, I'm the only one who didn't say "Thanks" for this interview. Dzieki! >I tried to load it directly on Radio Zet website... but their server is >even slower than Xoom. Scary but true. I couldn't even get the Polish interview until it was sent to me in text by a wonderfully kind soul. :) >Did any of Basia's singles reach UK top 40? I don't know, but she isn't doing jack in the US. Grrr. >No idea. Small hint for Kevin fans: Kevin Robinson, Bue Beadle and Fayyaz >Virji played the brass section on Pet Shop Boys' track "Metamorphosis" >(available on the Bilingual CD... that's the best track there, mainly because >of the brass... :) But of course! Rah rah for Kevin and Fayyaz! BTW: Am I the only PSB fan here? I like 'em well enough. I'm definitely going to check out this 'Bilingual'-I've heard so many good things about it. Another Six Degrees of Basia fun fact: Howard Greenhalgh directed the video for 'Go West' (Ray, you probably already know that). He also directed the video for 'Yearning.' And- he directed 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You' for Sting (and that album according to Basia had a big influence on TSI.) Here's a fun experiment: play Sting's "Shape of My Heart". Then play "Yearning." Hmmm. Alrighty then! Leslie *did my portfolio review! home freeeee! ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 08:51:59 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Waters of March: What DOES it mean? > I have the P version, and >would be willing to translate -- as long as no one minds getting it by, >say, next April. :) Um, and who is this ML for? Believe me, I think we are a darn patient lot! :-D I was laughing when I went to the Incognito site and read the guestbook- all these people are like, "well, I guess we'll SURVIVE if your album doesn't come out in a month" or, "I'm just *dying* to hear new material- please come out with something soon,it's been *so long*!" I'm thinking, HEY BUDDY! TRY BEING A BASIA FAN AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT WAITING! Now that's patience, hardcore. The few, the proud, etc. - --Leslie :-D ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 20:24:42 +0000 (GMT) From: combee@dacha.yak.net (Ben Combee) Subject: The big Q > NAME THE 5 MOST ENJOYABLE MUSIC DISKS YOU HAVE HEARD IN 1998? > Simple question. > CD, Vinal, tape, old or new. Wow... good question in the context of the Basia mailing list... 1) Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage (2 CD set) I really got into Zappa this Spring, after finding a bunch of his CDs at a remainder store. This is ny favorite of the find, a rock opera with a sense of humor. 2) Hal Hartley, "Henry Fool" Soundtrack My favorite film of the year also had the best soundtrack. The brooding reed work of the opening track, with its caliope interludes, cheers me up at full volume on the drive home from work. 3) Texas Instruments, Speed of Sound My favorite defunct local Austin band, and their last studio album. Very Dylan-esque folk rock, and lots of great memories of live shows. 4) Utah Phillips and Ani DiFranco, The Past Didn't Go Anywhere A perfect combination of spoken word and folk guitar. I've listened to this tens of times, but I still crack up at Utah's stories of America's past. 5) Kathy McCarty, Dead Dog's Eyeball I had the pleasure of seeing this rock singer perform here in Austin at least six times over the last year, but I still find fresh sounds in her solo disc, a group of 19 interpretations of the songs of Daniel Johnston. I hope she returns to Austin soon, so I can again be a regular at her shows. - ---- I'm glad Clear Horizon wasn't in my top five -- several of the songs would be in my top five songs of the year, but the album mainly serves to leave me hungry for the next full helping. It was great, but I'm also glad that I found enough really good music this year to keep it off the top. - -- Benjamin L. Combee (combee@techwood.org) ....will work for details on Katmai New Instructions.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:45:48 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: The big Q > > NAME THE 5 MOST ENJOYABLE MUSIC DISKS YOU HAVE HEARD IN 1998? > Hmm. Let's see. 1. The soundtrack for "The English Patient" 2. "Deadicated" - A Tribute to Grateful Dead 3. Basia, The Sweetest Illusion (yes, I bought it in January) 4. Sarah MacLachlan - VH1 Storytellers 5. Suzanne Vega, Sessions at W54th Street Yup. That's it. Ashoke. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:49:18 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Waters of March and remembrance Richard wrote: > >To all, > >Please give me your thoughts of the meaning of "The Waters of March." I feel >the central theme is one of hope and the feeling of anticipation of wonderful >things to come that often occurs during the first whispers of spring. Agree, >disagree, who cares, etc.... > Glad someone asked about WOM (thanks, Rich). I suppose I cannot listen to this song without thinking of Ingmar Bergman's "Virgin Spring", where a father mourns and avenges the brutal rape and death of his daughter on a sparkling spring day. ALL the elements of scenery in the song are actually present in this movie although sometimes in a different form. The song evokes nostalgia. The way I felt when I heard it first was that spring was simply the immediate object of remembrance - like a trigger. Like someone going about their normal day to day lives and all around them, they are noticing various aspects of spring that are causing them to stop (although very briefly) and remember elements from their past and hopes for the future, before they continue on. "The plan of the house, the body in bed, the car that got stuck". A perfectly normal phrase for, say, a policeman investigating a crime scene, or a the same happening on television, and it leads to the remembrance: "It's the mud, it's the mud" It's quite ingenious how the lyrics achieve this sense of "normal" activity that is feeding on this hidden source of energy that is simmering under the promise of spring. But there is also an element of mystery and sinister happening that I cannot shake from this song - as though something evil were going on underneath it all... Regards, Ashoke. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:51:32 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: The big Q Leslie write: > >12.) Erykah Badu- Baduism. Instantly addicted and played this so much >the first half of the year. The live album too. > I have been toying with buying this myself. Now, maybe I will. Ashoke ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V3 #282 ***************************