Category: music

Mystwick School of Musicraft by Jessica Khoury

On By Rick McIn books, musicLeave a comment

I’d recommend the book for kids as young as age-7.

Surprisingly, I’m STILL sending money to Amazon for 12 audio books each year.

I’d call their control over audio books a monopoly.

Prices have never come down since I joined. They’ve not innovated much.

A monopoly.

What Audible.com should do is offer services in addition to the books.

And since 2016 there is some ORIGINAL content. Podcasts. Short stories and novellas.

The Mystwick School of Musicraft is one of those Audible originals. FREE for those who pay for a subscription.

It’s something like the 1st book in the Harry Potter series. But at Mystwick magic is created along with music. The book is available, as well, but the audio version includes all the music. Better.

Amelia Jones has always dreamed of attending the Mystwick, as her mother had gone there.

She is accepted into the academy by accident — and faces plenty of challenges.

Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.

Friendship – Good ol’ Days

On By Rick McIn friends, musicLeave a comment

Professor Galloway explains that friendship is in decline in 2022.

Since 1990, the percentage of Americans who report having fewer than three close friends has doubled, from 16% to 32%. The share who report having no close friends at all has gone from 3% to 12%.

Covid; political polarization; fewer random encounters, as we no longer go to the mall/theater/office; social media raising a generation of disconnected people.

Personally, I’m OK with having fewer friends than when I was younger. But I definitely feel it’s unhealthy for society in general.

I love this song about friendship.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That’s MACKLEMORE FEAT KESHA – GOOD OLD DAYS.

I wish somebody would have told me babe
That some day, these will be the good old days
All the love you won’t forget
And all these reckless nights you won’t regret
‘Cause someday soon, your whole life’s gonna change
You’ll miss the magic of the good old days

Wish I didn’t think I had the answers
Wish I didn’t drink all of that glass first
Wish I made it to homecoming
Got up the courage to ask her
Wish I would’ve gotten out of my shell
Wish I put the bottle back on that shelf
Wish I wouldn’t have worry about what other people thought
And felt comfortable in myself …

Never thought we’d get old, maybe we’re still young
Maybe we always look back and think it was better than it was
Maybe these are the moments
Maybe I’ve been missing what it’s about
Been scared of the future, thinking about the past
While missing out on now
We’ve come so far, I guess I’m proud
And I ain’t worried about the wrinkles around my smile
I’ve got some scars, I’ve been around
I’ve felt some pain, I’ve seen some things, but I’m here now
Those good old days

You don’t know, what you’ve got
Till it goes, till it’s gone
You don’t know, what you’ve got
Till it goes, till it’s gone …

My VIDEO Highlights 2022

On By Rick McIn hiking, music, videoLeave a comment

Happy New Year!

To celebrate, I’m posting my hiking highlights of the past year.

I got a cheap drone December 2021 and most of the clips are from the drone.

My favourite music of 2022 was by Odesza — so it’s appropriate that the soundtrack is one of their songs: Wide Awake.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

British Music Experience, Liverpool

On By Rick McIn music, travelLeave a comment

Of many exhibitions and museums I visited in the hometown of the Beatles, best for me was British Music Experience.

Born 1957, it was like walking through a timeline of my life:

Beatles ➙ Petula Clark ➙ Stones ➙ Kinks ➙ The Who ➙ Pink Floyd ➙ Led Zeppelin ➙ Queen ➙ The Police ➙ UB40 ➙ The Clash ➙ The Smiths ➙ Arctic Monkeys ➙ Coldplay ➙ Amy Winehouse ➙ Adele ➙ Ed Sheeran … to name a few artists who had great influence on me.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I got closer to a hologram than ever before. Local boy Boy George.

The history of popular music in the UK is told through a narrative divided up into galleries with common components. …

There is an interactive timeline in each of the galleries. …

Wikipedia

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Work Song by Hozier

On By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Original and excellent song and video.

“Work Song” (2014) possesses gospel backing vocals and church-like hand-claps, with literary themes of love, sin, and religion returning to the record. …

Hozier shot the video the day after the Grammy Awards, and reportedly woke up with an “outrageous hangover” during the shoot.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Elvis (2022 film)

On By Rick McIn movies, musicLeave a comment

I never loved Elvis. Never listened to his music.

I did go to Graceland once — but only to make fun of the kitsch. 😀

Due to great reviews, I finally did see the new film ➙ Elvis.

Austin Butler did channel Elvis well.

At times it was edited more like a YouTube video than a Hollywood blockbuster. That was a brave choice. A modern twist on an American icon.

It is long at 2-hour-and-39-minutes. But they started with a four-hour cut including scenes of Presley with his first girlfriend, Dixie, and his meeting with President Richard Nixon in 1970.

I suspect the next future Elvis biopic will be darker. More realistic. And the role of Colonel Parker will be less prominent.

Thumbs up from this critic.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Pentatonix – Imagine

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, human rights, musicLeave a comment

Fantastic song. Fantastic message.

Imagine all the people living life in peace

You, you may say I’m a dreamer (Dreamer)
But I’m not the only one (Not the only one)
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

ODESZA – Light Of Day (feat. Ólafur Arnalds)

On By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Odesza are genius.

They are increasingly finding ways to marry electronica with real instruments and passionate vocals.

Collaborations.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.