Stopped In My Tracks
Both The Husband... and The Oldest have been here most of the time since Thanksgiving. The Husband... has been working on an opportunity with the promise of a consulting contract and The Oldest has been interviewing. It appears both of their efforts are coming to fruition, and I am so very grateful, not just for the additional income, but for the fact that they both seem to have very interesting opportunities to which they are perfectly suited. I am excited for us all. In the meantime, they are there, in my little apartment, most of the time I am home and I am easily distracted into lively family interaction.
I know it sounds silly but I so enjoy Saturday errands. Maybe part of it is because, while I am out among people, I'm kind of alone and the time is just mine. The routine varies but it's a very comfortable routine. Today I went to Costco for the two things I can only get there, Tyson's Tequila Lime Chicken Wings and really cheap heartburn preventative, and then headed to Kroger for the rest of the list of neccessities to stock the larder for the week. Vaguely out of sorts over the aforementioned stuckness, happy to be shopping but wishing I didn't have to do the math as I went, I was almost done when I heard in the grocery store music, the unplaceably familiar, uniquely rendered strains of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" sung with a twist or two, accompanied by only a ukulele, and it jarred me. Unloading groceries, I asked The Youngest if he was familiar with it and he suggested I was imagining the song, but Middle Son knew it instantly when I called and told me that I likely heard it before in a movie, and that the performer who recorded it died. It's actually a medly and I found this ariticle by Jack Boulware at SFGate.com about the artist, Hawai'ian Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, and the manner in which it was recorded in a session he called suddenly, in the middle of the night:
An incredibly fat man, elegantly caressing a Hollywood show tune, breaking it down to its roots, so sad and poignant, yet full of hope and possibility. Halfway through the tune, Israel spirals off into "What a Wonderful World," the George David Weiss/Bob Thiele hit made famous by Louis Armstrong, then melts back into "Over the Rainbow." He flubs a lyric, and tosses in a new chord change, but it doesn't matter. It feels seamless, chilling. Israel plays five songs in a row, then turns to de Mello and says, "I'm tired and I'm going home." "Gets up and walks out," says de Mello. "Ukulele and a vocal, one take. Over." Israel never played the song again.
I was able to find it on You Tube. It's below, at the end of this post. Sometimes it's not so bad to be stopped in my tracks. It's happened a couple of other times recently, often brought about by the interesting things I find wandering the internet, more often than not, guided by fine bloggers. Greg Peters at Suspect Device in this simple post pointed me to a beautiful tribute, more of a blog than a post, made by Aunt Andi to her favorite and only nephew, Charlie, "the only son of an only son of an only son," lost to war. It's long and sad but so worth taking the time. She painted this young man so very real, with her words and pictures, told his story so well, that I thought of him all week, from his little boy's face all full of hope to the soldier he grew to be, complex resolve.
Sometimes I get stopped in my tracks by the wonderful discussions that follow posts on other blogs, and the places those discussion lead me. In N.O Love Left Editor B wondered aloud why he and his wife (known as Xy on his blog) stay in New Orleans, not being originally from there and given the state of their difficulties, and his readers reply with each their own eloqent reasons for having stayed or having left, the comments easily as beautiful as the post itself. Then there was this discussion at Kevin's that, slightly off balance as it was, resulted in my finding a new blogger (well, previously unknown to me), Dr. Ursa, and this amazing description on one of her blogs of the manner in which she interacts with God:
If I am aligned with God's mindset, I am less likely to foul up the power flow. I used to pray very complex prayers and worry about getting it wrong, but I've uncluttered a lot in the past few years. Basically, I tell God what I want, and then God does what He wants insofar as I am able to let Him work through me, and we're both OK with that. He accepts my flaws and limited vision, and I accept the premise that He's the only one who knows what it best in any given situation. Occasionally, I feel inspired to pray a particular way, and I generally do it, and worry about it afterwards.
Stopped in my tracks again, I've decided that if I'm gonna be stuck, I might as well enjoy the view.
I hadn't heard the story or seen that video, but I've heard that version of
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (etc). In fact, I have it on mp3 thanks to my
girlfriend. Good stuff!
I first heard it on a movie soundtrack and then on a car commercial. One
of my favorites. Got it on my Ipod. It's a wonderful arrangement.
My old man (who is not really an "Over The Rainbow" type fella) heard the
song in the movie "Fifty first Dates" and really fell for it. Like a big
softy. I was going through some of his Ebay auctions and seeing what he
bought and there among the Harley Davidson parts was this CD with a very
large Hawiian man. When he's not playing redneck music in his truck, he
pops this CD in. It's the funniest thing.
Yeah, Varg, Middle Son confirmed for me that it was likely "Fifty First
Dates" from which I recalled the song. I don't think I'd noticed it again,
though, until the grocery store yesterday. It's really haunting.
I like your posts. I usually read them from work and sometimes forget to
come back and comment if I am interrupted by, of all things, work. :)
I agree that I find so much great stuff through bloggers. I've heard that
version of Over the Rainbow but never thought about tracking it down. I'm
going to buy that guy's CD. What an amazing story about him, too.
I'm sorry Monica. I have the same problem when reading blogs at work. I'm
sorry you didn't get to hear the song. I have a feeling you, in particular,
would like it. Thanks for the kind words. I like your posts, too.
Thanks for posting this, as you continue, what I guess could now be
considered a tradition of passing along sites/artists of interest. A friend
of mine had introduced me to the music of Hawai'ian artist Israel
Kamakawiwo'ole in the early 90's re: slack tuning guitar, or something to
that effect. If I can find the material he copied for me, I'm pretty sure
he copied this version, and I'll give it a re-listen (if that's a word).
Maybe they are playing that Over the Rainbow in stores lately, because as
soon as I heard the first few bars I knew I too had heard and noticed it
recently. The switch of songs took me by surprise that time - like was I
mixed up, thinking I was listening to something else? - so I was glad you
gave us the head's up. I think I heard it in Value Village, my new favorite
store. It is really a striking piece of music.
BTW, thanks for the mention & glad a connection was made.
You're welcome, Kev. Dr. Ursa's writing really struck a chord with me. And
I love the sharing of music online. I know the industry is very concerned
about copyrights and loss of royalties, and as someone who's been managing
a family held portfolio of patents, I completely get it, but I also believe
that in the end, the artists benefit from the exposure too. I dunno where
Greg got Suspect Device. You might have nailed it.
I seem to enjoy Saturday errands too. Maybe its a womany thing eh. And when
you said Tyson's chicken, I thought you meant like...well...I imagined
Tyson...Mike Tyson..holding a bag of commercial chicken with a cheesy arse
smile on :D
LOVED your last line, (not the "peace y'all one lol.)
Wonderful, and I'll ask the question from my blog
How far is it to Happy? Peace indeed.
Ciao, JWL
Maybe it is a "womany thing" Mella. I know for me it comes from my having
zero time alone, otherwise. It's very pleasant to be off on my own. I am
way past due for a long trip in the car. *sigh*
I had never heard the whole song until now, but I did hear the commercial
version, and a version for a movie I don't remember the name. It's
understandable that you would like it.
I think thats the Walmart commercial song!! Its so gay :D. I love it.
Such a beautiful version of this song!!! Such a different feel from the
original. I'm wondering if I heard this on a Sandals Resort commercial.
Maybe because I have that on the brain right now.
I'm so excited! We are planning a destination wedding with friends and
family in the Carribean.
Sandals resorts are one of the options that we are looking at. Maybe this
song would be good to incorporate into the wedding/first dance...something.
If it is the song in the commercial it would probably be too cheesy to use
it.
I'm sorry, darlins'! I'm not meaning to ignore you wonderful people. I've
been way busier than I like, though, with not nearly enough time available
for blogging! I hate it!
We should always act like we know and avoid acting like we dont :) Only
place ive been to in the Caribbean is Puerto Rico, which isnt
really...whatever.
Thanks for sharing all of this, Sophmom. Good stuff.
hi. i have read your comments in other nola blogs but i am shamed to say
this is the first time i read your blog.
Mella, it's been so long since I've been anywhere exotic, my information
would be useless. Back in the day, I went to a lot of those beautiful
tropical places. Nowadays, I'm happy just to drive to one coast or another,
the ones I can reach in a day in a car.
I think the best island, dream land, escape or vacation I ever been to was
in my sleep. Free too!! No kidding. ;)
Ahhh, yes...dreams are nice. Have you ever heard of Astral traveling,
Mikey? It's fun to imagine that it could be possible. Floating out the
window and flying all around.
Hi....checking in on you from work and it's been a while since I
visited....never commented before but just wanted to say I always
appreciate your writing. Sorry for the loss of young Sean....
Mikey and Hollie, y'all seem quite happy talking amongst yourselves. I love
dreams too.