What are you listening to?

Some of the commentators on this video prefer a different interpretation on a different instrument, but still, I like it.



(above seems unavailable??)

In any case this is probably a better version:



For me, it conjures up images of some old gothic horror movie, or something of the sort.

[Pollux]

I always wondered; if Elvis twin brother Jesse would have survived, would they perhaps made this great twin-duo-singers career together?
Imagine all the girls, who screamed their lungs out to one Elvis - they would have gone fuckin' mental with two "Elvis's".

[Pollux]

Finally some real winter here now - the snow hangs like drapes from the trees.

Vivaldi - Four Seasons (Winter)


 



Sergei Prokofiev - Dance of the Knights :  (Romeo & Juliet)






Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King

[Pollux]

Well, this isn't a song really, but it is from an LP-album.
One of my friend, growing up, became a punkrocker. I really didn't fancy the music, but I liked every odd song here and there. Anyway, he had this album with lots of different UK punk bands, and in the middle of it was this "punk poem". At the time I (we) dint no what the word bollocks meant (non-english teens). But when we found out, and listened to this track again, we thought, as kids, it was hilarious. But these days not so many people say; bollocks to that, when they disagree with something (people tend to say; fuck that, instead).

So anyway, I heard this phrase when I overheard a couple of British guys in a restaurant the other day, and I got a flashback from this "poem", but I couldn't pinpoint it really, where I heard it . And since I had nothing better to do that afternoon I spent it looking for this fuckin song/poem/album. It wasn't easy, and I'd heard it like 30 years ago, on some obscure punk-LP. But when I've started with something I rarely give up. So after some trawling on old punkrock-forums etc. I finally found this obscure nonsensical, idiotic "poem", on the flipside of an obscure punk album. Back then we didn't really know what this "poem" was about, but it turns out it is about a punkrocker kid whom didn't like that the fact that the city had raised the underground fare about 2000% from his last ride.
It was 20p before, but now the clerk in the ticket booth said; "- It's £ 5.50 please"
"- Bollocks to that, I said"
I'm sorry, but the story is so silly I just had to post it....

. At the time I (we) dint no what the word bollocks meant (non-english teens). But when we found out, and listened to this track again, we thought, as kids, it was hilarious. But these days not so many people say; bollocks to that, when they disagree with something (people tend to say; fuck that, instead).

As an Englishman, "bollocks" has always been part of my vocabulary, both in the literal sense (meaning balls/testicles) and in common usage, meaning nonsense (as we might also use "bullshit").

These past few days I've been watching a BBC documentary on the origin and spread of the English language. Really fascinating for all English speakers - I can highly recommend it. I can't imagine how I missed it when it was first broadcast but now it is available in full on YouTube.

[Pollux]

As an Englishman, "bollocks" has always been part of my vocabulary, both in the literal sense (meaning balls/testicles) and in common usage, meaning nonsense (as we might also use "bullshit").

These past few days I've been watching a BBC documentary on the origin and spread of the English language. Really fascinating for all English speakers - I can highly recommend it. I can't imagine how I missed it when it was first broadcast but now it is available in full on YouTube.

I suck at English grammar. Messing up; who-whom, a-an, then-than, were-where, there-their, have-has  etc.
But I can tell you the reason why we speak fairly good  - and understand, the English language in this country - is only because all of the English/American programs shows on TV is always subtitled. Meaning; from being kids listening to the English spoken and the subtitles beneath, its the best english-teacher you can get. If you look at countries like Germany, France, and Italy, etc, they always have voice-overs translating it to their language. It sounds insane listening/watching any American movie in Germany, with their silly voice-overs in german, as in France, Italy, etc. They have particular voice-over-stars. Actors that "sounds" like Brad Pitt, but are French, and does the voice-overs.  I don't think they care so much these days, but if you listen to some of the old movies it sounds like Eddie Murphy is speaking German, like he was born there.

So, the fact that you listen to the words spoke, and then have the direct subtitle below is the "best English teacher" there is. Kids learn the language in a flash. Germans, French, Italians, Spanish, etc. only get their english lesso9ns at school.

But the Scandinavian languages has made some impact on the english language also. Some of the English words are straight down from the Scandi-languages. (because of the Viking invasion, and settlement in the British Isles. 

The first word that came to mind was; Ombudsman. This is the exact spelling, meaning, and phrasing of the word, we use. The word Ombud is a person that is representing another person/party - often in a legal matter. The first time I heard an Englishman say Ombudsman, I thought he was pulling my leg, since it was a clear Scandinavian word.

And, since the Vikings raided and settled in UK for some years there is a few other words that stuck;

• berserk/bärsärk– berserkr, lit. ‘bear-shirt’. A berserkr was a Viking warrior who would enter battle in a crazed frenzy
  
• club – klubba. People have been bashing each other with heavy things since time immemorial, but not until the Danes started bringing this weapon down on English heads did this blunt weapon receive its fittingly blunt name.
  
• ransack – rannsaka (to search a house)
  
• slaughter – slatra (to butcher)
  
• bylaw – bylög (village-law) 
  
•    sale – sala
  
• heathen – heiðinn (one who inhabits the heath or open country)    
  
• skill – skil (distinction)
  
• Hell – In Norse mythology, Loki’s daughter Hel ruled the underworld.     
  
• steak – steik (to fry)
  
• husband – hús (house) + bóndi (occupier and tiller of soil) = húsbóndi     
  
• thrall – þræll (slave)
  
• law – lag    
  
• thrift – þrift (prosperity)
  
• litmus – litr (dye) + mosi (lichen; moss)     
  
• tidings – tíðindi (news of events)
  
• loan – lán (to lend)     
  
• troll - troll
  
• saga - saga    
  
• yule – jul (a pagan winter solstice feast)
  
  
  But the most common language, that binds most together is Latin. If you know Latin you can get by learning most of the other western languages.
  

PS: Pardon my poor English. 

[Pollux]

Gotta post these obvious Christmas tunes.
Well, you'll heard them before, but since its Christmas we listen to them again,

Chris Rea : Driving Home For Christmas
I was actually listening to this one while I was driving home from the other part of the country after a job in the mid-90's , getting home to the family, on the day before Christmas,  - and it was a blizzard.






The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
I remember  when we use to sing to this one, with our best Shane MacGowan-voice we could muster, down at the bar, the day before Christmas. Howling like a couple of retarded wolves.






Carol of the Bells
(trivia; the kid @ 1,56 and 2,09 is a spitting image of me when I was 10-12 yo.)






SLADE - Merry Xmas Everybody








The Pretenders - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

As an Englishman, "bollocks" has always been part of my vocabulary, both in the literal sense (meaning balls/testicles) and in common usage, meaning nonsense (as we might also use "bullshit").

These past few days I've been watching a BBC documentary on the origin and spread of the English language. Really fascinating for all English speakers - I can highly recommend it. I can't imagine how I missed it when it was first broadcast but now it is available in full on YouTube.

A thunderingly good set of videos, Kamarling. I may have watched them before on TV, but if so I've forgotten. Thanks for reminding me.

[Pollux]

Beck - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime

[Pollux]

Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek