From: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org (harbinger-digest) To: harbinger-digest@smoe.org Subject: harbinger-digest V4 #126 Reply-To: harbinger@smoe.org Sender: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-harbinger-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk harbinger-digest Thursday, September 30 1999 Volume 04 : Number 126 HARBINGER DIGEST To post, mail harbinger@smoe.org To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger-digest To get list info file, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info harbinger-digest Today's Subjects: ---------------- (harbinger) Paula Fan Club [steven.stewart@nokia.com] (harbinger) A nice Surprise! ["paula" ] (harbinger) Second Single ["Holly Bolt" ] (harbinger) Ring Finger, Billy Joe & Pearl [Ruediger Hanke ] (harbinger) More To Say [Kenneth R Carpenter ] Re: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! [Kelly L Murphy ] (harbinger) Holly Palmer/Emm Gryner ["Mark Urban" Subject: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! Hi all! I just got my album from Amazon.com...and haven't listened to much yet..but..had to bring my "smile" online...I'm so thrilled!!! I'm mentioned in the liner notes!!! How cool is that????? :) a happy band director of my former student!!!! Paula - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 10:54:23 -0700 From: "Holly Bolt" Subject: (harbinger) Second Single Steven Helsinki wrote: > I'm stating the obvious from the sticker I saw on a picture of an advance > copy of AMEN on the web, but it looks like "Be Somebody" is going to be the > second single. For those of you with the album, what do you think the > second single should be? I have to admit that after Kenn's review last week, I have found myself to be pleasantly surprised with the majority of the music on the CD. The only song that I really *dislike* at this point is Rhythm of Life... and that is only because I don't like that style of music. I do like the way she goes back and forth between rapping and singing. I think that my vote for the second single would have to be either Amen or Pearl. After having the CD for a day, these are my two favorites on the CD. I like the words and what the songs are saying, I like the music, and I like Paula's voice on these two. The musical feel of these songs seems almost Harbinger-esque to me. Initially I really didn't like the bridge of Amen with all of her "Amens" for Ronald Regan, NASA, the NSA, etc, but now I realize that what she is really saying is that we are all part of the same energy and spirit, regardless of the path we've chosen to take. That is a belief that I personally subscribe to... So now that I get it, I dig it. :-) As for Be Somebody, is alright, but doesn't really move me at all. I have a hard time with the line "I will not let it kill my gladness." Gladness???? That word just sticks out like a sore thumb, and it doesn't help that this line is repeated later in the song. My favorite part of this song is on the background vocals at about 4:21 -4:22 into the song... they are singing something like "Open your heart and sing." On the word sing, they put accents on the off-beat and give the notes a really neat rhythmic feel. I think what I miss most on this CD is the *passion* that can be found on both Harbinger and This Fire. Many of the songs on Amen seem to be really lacking in this department... I just feel a little like Paula is going through the motions with most of the songs (okay, except for maybe Suwannee Jo and IBIL to an extent). Her voice is as beautiful and powerful as ever, but I don't feel like she's really committed to the words or what the songs are saying. So... that's my take on the CD at this point in time. I'm sure it will change after more listening, as it always does... Over and Out, Holly Bolt - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 20:23:05 +0100 From: Ruediger Hanke Subject: (harbinger) Ring Finger, Billy Joe & Pearl Has somebody already figured out the lyrics to the former two? Are they on the web somewhere? About Pearl, the refrain sounded so familiar to me... now I remember where I heard this so many times this year... isn't this the melody of Emilia's "Big Big World"??? (for those who know neither Emilia nor "Big Big World": you've saved yourself some nerves; I wish I wouldn't know it but you can't escape the radio...) Ruediger - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:56:46 -0400 From: Kenneth R Carpenter Subject: (harbinger) Update on Bowery Ballroom Show I am so happy to announce that the opening act for the Bowery show will be Hassan Hakmoun! Like Paula, Hassan toured with Peter Gabriel during WOMAD '94 and he is also on the same label as Jamshied Sharifi, who contributed his talents to Amen. and who hosted Paula's vocals on one song his last album, A Prayer For The Soul Of Layla. If you want to find out more about Hassan and his music, go to: http://www.alula.com/hassan.html I'm in the process of redecorating my apartment in a Moroccan motif, so for the past four or five months, I've been popping Hassan's CDs into the player and getting into the whole North African Gnawa spirit trance vibe before I start painting, designing, etc. :) I'm sure his sound still falls under the category "world music," which scares a lot of people off, but I think he's pretty amazing. He's definitely a departure from Donna DeLory's Bliss who I fully expected to see with second billing on this leg of the tour. Having already seen Bliss perform at The Living Room last winter and finding their sound pretty dull (even with Jay on drums), I'm looking forward to seeing Hassan for the first time live. How 'bout them apples, J.??? :D Peace. Kenn ****************************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication and as such is privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. ****************************************************************************** - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:54:57 EDT From: Honoku@aol.com Subject: (harbinger) Free patti griffen show hey ken, and others that will be in NY on saturday 10/2 at approx 3pm patti griffen is tapeing an installment of sessions at west 54th. steve - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 16:28:24 -0400 From: Kenneth R Carpenter Subject: Re: (harbinger) Ring Finger, Billy Joe & Pearl Ruediger wrote: > Has somebody already figured out the lyrics to the former two? Are they on > the web somewhere? First, welcome back! Of course, I remember you! Wondered what ever happened to you. Now we just need to find Spanish McGee and a few others who have quietly slipped away. :) "Ring Finger" and "Billy Joe"? Are those songs of Paula's? I've never heard of them. They aren't on Amen. The only song I know of titled "Ring Finger" is a delightfully sadistic Nine Inch Nails song from The Downward Spiral. And "Billy Joe" rings no bells other than Bobby Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe." You know? "...the day that Billy Joe McAllister jumped off the Tall-a-hatch-ie Bri-i-dge.." That'd be a cool one to hear Paula do someday, actually. >> About Pearl, the refrain sounded so familiar to me... now I remember >> where I heard this so many times this year... isn't this the melody of >> Emilia's "Big Big World"??? (for those who know neither Emilia nor "Big >> Big World": you've saved yourself some nerves; I wish I wouldn't know it >> but you can't escape the radio...) Sounds like Emilia was right about it being a big, big world. If she ever did make it on our radiowaves, the U.S. was largely spared. I've never heard of her. Peace. Kenn ****************************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication and as such is privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. ****************************************************************************** - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 19:11:06 -0400 From: Kelly L Murphy Subject: Re: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! <> That is awesome.............where's yer name? Where's yer name? I wanna check it out! :o) *sharing Paula's excitement........ Later, Kelly - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 20:03:15 -0400 From: Kenneth R Carpenter Subject: (harbinger) More To Say Holly wrote: >> I have to admit that after Kenn's review last week, I have found myself to >> be pleasantly surprised with the majority of the music on the CD. I'm glad to see that others are enjoying Amen. I, too, am enjoying the new album - just not to the same extent as others on the list. I found my idea of what the best of songwriting is about several years before Paula came into the picture when I started listening to Sarah McLachlan. Since the time she released Solace, there has been a maturity to her songwriting that gives her songs more depth and universal appeal than I find in a lot of other songwriters. Couple that with some beautiful instrumental arrangement and a voice like that and you can't help but love her. And that's part of what originally got me interested in Paula's music. I saw her pursuing that same kind of songwriting. Granted, Paula has always had some lyrics that could easily be seen as self-absorbed, but the honesty and emotion behind that self-absorption was conveyed in such a way that it made it all seem familiar to me. Not familiar like "oh, I've heard someone else sing that," but familiar like "oh, wow... yeah, Paula, I've been there, too." Anyway, as Holly wrote in her review: >> I think what I miss most on this CD is the *passion* that can be found on >> both Harbinger and This Fire. Many of the songs on Amen seem to be >> really lacking in this department... I just feel a little like Paula is going >> through the motions with most of the songs (okay, except for maybe >> Suwannee Jo and IBIL to an extent). Her voice is as beautiful and >> powerful as ever, but I don't feel like she's really committed to the words >> or what the songs are saying. This is how I feel about the album, too. There are times on the album, mostly lyrically, but sometimes vocally, where there isn't much of anything coming from Paula. I was talking to a friend last night about "God Is Watching" and she said she really enjoyed the music for "GIW" (to which I strongly agreed), but she wasn't too nuts about the lyrics. Could I dance around my living room to that song (as Paula had hoped in her bio for this album)? Sure. Would I still want to if I listened to what the lyrics were saying? No. I wouldn't. This is a sociopolitical song rife with cliches and propaganda. Besides that, I resent the use of derogatory ethnic terms like 'cracker' in song lyrics no matter what the ethnicity of the person singing those lyrics, but especially coming from someone who is as vocal about that kind of race issue as Paula has long been. That's probably why I don't like rap. I don't like hearing 'nigger' in my music, either. It's just that sort of thing that turns me off to specific songs on the album. Not all the songs. Just specific songs. "Free" has the same cliche lyrics. Yes, it's a nice enough song to hear musically, but it doesn't say anything worth saying. Or, more accurately, it doesn't say anything I haven't heard 50 times before from singers who don't have half the talent Paula does. I've grown to appreciate "Rhythm Of Life" for itself. It is what it is. It's Paula's rap song. I'd like it better if it didn't end with Paula ripping off an overused Shakespeare soliloquy to tell us that "all the world's a stage," but it's still going to end up being a somewhat charming experiment to me. The lyrics? Eh. What can I say? There are five songs on this nine track album that I really do like to greater or lesser degrees - "I Believe In Love," "Amen," "La Tonya," "Pearl" and "Suwannee Jo." And that's why I'm writing this post. I just didn't want for anyone to think that I had written off the entire album as a lost cause. That's certainly not the case. It's just wasn't expected soooo many trite lyrics. Paula says in her bio for this album: "There's a responsibility that comes with success and I don't want to be wasteful with that platform." I see many of this album's lyrics to be a wasted opportunity from someone who has proven that she is capable of putting out a better product. Perhaps that consistency will come to her with more and more with maturity. Peace. Kenn ****************************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication and as such is privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. ****************************************************************************** - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 00:10:40 GMT From: "unknown 32" Subject: (harbinger) first impressions on Amen Personally I like to hear an artist do something different (ie Rhythm Of Life). I understand that people will disagree with the change but I am for it. It is nice to see Paula reinvent her music and her sound. But what I thought that was freeky was when I went to track 6 , I thought i was listening to portishead for a second. Thanks Paula for putting out a cd that is enjoyable to listen to , and to throw something different into the mix. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 20:38:49 -0400 From: Kenneth R Carpenter Subject: (harbinger) Amazon.com Review of Amen. Paula Cole's third release is a lesson in sticking to what you know. A trained jazz vocalist, Cole uses this studied vocal styling with great affect. Never overusing her vibrato, she breathes a unique and emotional character into each song with a well-placed whisper, unexpectedly powerful crescendo, or a desperate, aching wail. One moment she portrays a freestyling beat-poet rapper ("Rhythm of Life"), the next a tragically downtrodden blues mamma ("La Tonya"). She also knows how to produce a song. On "Free," sitar uncoils behind a scrim of dark ethereal notions. The title track has bright acoustic-guitar melodies dancing on shimmering synths that resonate like the rim of a crystal water glass caressed by a wet fingertip. Throughout, she builds a foundation of sprawling, blooming musicality adapted from her preceptor Peter Gabriel. But lyrically, Cole slips into her bad habit of harping on the obvious. On "Amen" a DJ's scratch flips a switch in the middle of the song where Cole begins spouting a list of notorious characters in need of repentance, citing Saddam Hussein, Jack Kevorkian, O.J. Simpson, and all Reagan-era republicans. Exhibiting a Jewel-esque naiveté on "Be Somebody," she advises, "In the face of totality [brutality - k.c.], show the other cheek." The lyrics are trite, but after a few listens, they're a minor distraction from the mighty-fine body of music contained in this release. Amen to that. --Beth Massa ****************************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client communication and as such is privileged and confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. ****************************************************************************** - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 21:06:09 -0400 From: "Paula Remick" Subject: Re: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! I'm one of the people that Jay thanks ... he was a student of mine when he was in HS!! How cool is that! He's still a great guy :) (<= proud teacher) - ----- Original Message ----- From: Kelly L Murphy To: Cc: Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 7:11 PM Subject: Re: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! > > > < in the liner notes!!!>> > > That is awesome.............where's yer name? Where's yer name? I wanna > check it out! :o) > *sharing Paula's excitement........ > Later, > Kelly > > ------------------------------ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: > unsubscribe harbinger > > Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will > work for your EVERY time. > > Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: > http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html > > - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 22:08:49 -0400 From: Kelly L Murphy Subject: Re: (harbinger) A nice Surprise! DUH............NOW I see it, I don't know how I missed it last time.........that is AWESOME!! GO PAULA!! :o) You are forever engraved in the world of music! Later, Kelly - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 05:47:50 -0700 From: "Mark Urban" Subject: (harbinger) Holly Palmer/Emm Gryner I love those Amen Paula pics! In case you like Holly Palmer and/or Emm Gryner, they'll both be singing backup for David Bowie during the month of October... So far, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to see them on Saturday Night Live this Saturday and Letterman this coming Monday... Get your FREE Email at http://mailcity.lycos.com Get your PERSONALIZED START PAGE at http://my.lycos.com - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 19:30:56 PDT From: "Steve Bornstein" Subject: (harbinger) DON'T FORGET!!! Don't forget - Paula is on Letterman tonight. So what if Elvis Costello is on The Tonight Show at the same time? What is possibly even more interesting is that Joan Osborne will be on The Tonight Show tomorrow night (again, same time as Eurythmics on Letterman). There's someone I thought was going places and then nearly completely dropped from sight. Anybody know why, and what she's been up to in the last four years since Alanis beat her out in every Grammy category she was nominated in? Peace JourneyBear ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999 08:24:38 +0300 From: steven.stewart@nokia.com Subject: (harbinger) Take back my bitching. I wrote an email to Harbinger list complaining about the new fan club. I take it back. I wrote an email to the head of the club with some of the suggestions I had and she answered right away and was very kind and seemed really willing to making the club great and listening to new ideas. It is still amazing to me how the smallest kindnesses can turn a bitter heart around. Here's hoping for a club that gives the fans a little more of what they are looking for. Steven Helsinki - ------------------------------ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe harbinger Btw, if you are an AOL subscriber the above instruction will work for your EVERY time. Digest, further unsub and problems FAQ at: http://www.netaxs.com/~jgreshes/lists/harbinger.html ------------------------------ End of harbinger-digest V4 #126 *******************************