Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

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Bloggers@large (beta): Mashup the music

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Just came back from Amsterdam, Paradiso concert hall, where my friend Sander and me went to go see "funkmaster" Maceo Parker. Boy, can that guy still play the sax! Although he's 66 now, he's still touring like crazy. When you visit Maceo Parker's website, and check his schedule, you'll see what I mean. As usual when he visits Paradiso, Dutch Saxophone diva Candy Dulfer came over to play some numbers with Maceo. Not a big surprise, because when we arrived we both saw her walking out the building with her boyfriend.

It's one of my favorite lines from The Devil's Advocate, when John Milton (played superbly by Al Pacino) explains his success to Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves): "Don't get too cocky my boy. No matter how good you are don't ever let them see you coming. That's the gaffe my friend. You gotta keep yourself small. Innocuous. Be the little guy. You know, the nerd... the leper... shit-kickin' surfer. Look at me. Underestimated from day one. You'd never think I was a master of the universe, now would ya?"

Well, that's what happend when 47 year old Susan Boyle performed on Britain's Got Talent and blew away the judges. They all looked at a homely middle-aged unemployed woman from West Lothian, Scotland that told the show presenters that she was single and living with her cat Pebbles. "I've never had a boyfriend," she said. "I've never even been kissed." She went on telling the judges that she'd wanted to be a professional singer, as good as musical star Elaine Page. And they all snickered a bit. People in the audience rolled their eyes when professional dickhead Simon Cowell asked her "and why hasn't it worked out so far Susan?" Susan's response was short and profound: "Iv'e never been given the chance before, but here's hoping it will change."

And how it changed. Susan opened her mouth and everyone dropped their jaws.

The audience cheered with amazement as her strong voice took over the theater. They even burst into a standing ovation. Judge Piers Morgan was so impressed he admitted; "That was the biggest surprise I have had in three years of the show. You said you wanted to be like Elaine Paige and everyone laughed at you. Well no one is laughing now." Another judge, Amanda Holden, was almost brought to tears by Boyle's performance. The only one not admitting his suprise (which was no surprise) was Simon Cowell who said; "I knew the minute you walked out on that stage that we were going to hear something extraordinary, and I was right." Dream on Simon!

In short, Susan Boyle became an overnight celebrity with appearances on on CBS's Early Show, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today, and even on CNN's Larry King. Her video on YouTube has been viewed millions and millions of times and rumour has it she will be a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show.

I wonder if this is going to be just 15 minutes of fame, or if she is here to stay. Anyway, just have a look at her performance on Britain's Got Talent:

Susan Boyle Utube

I had to share this song with you all. I'm not a huge fan of Everlast (I liked a couple of their hits though, but never bought downloaded any of their CD's. I just stumbled upon this song while browsing some videos at YouTube. Universal Music has an official channel there, but does not allow embedding (assholes). So here is a live version taped from VH1 video channel. It actually is just as nice as the full version that you can watch here.

I just love the title of the song and the lyrics are dark, dramatic and very well chosen. There is something about the song that made me play it a couple of times just to let it sink in. Anyway: enjoy..

I love jazz and I love this song.

Melody, by Molly Johnson

It’s so easy here with you
Like a walk in the park just before dark
Always so easy here with you
Like sun on my face, a bright summer day

You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go I still hear music constantly
You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you’re gone you’re haunting, yeah you’re taunting me

As summer slips to fall, yes, it does
Seems no time’s past at all, not at all
As summer slips to fall and then it snows
Then I watch you go, watch you go

You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go I still hear music constantly
You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go you’re haunting, yeah (yeah) taunting me

I got a feeling ‘bout you
It might be nothing new
But time slips by, I hardly try
So don’t be sad
I won’t be blue
‘Cause love will follow, love will follow, follow you

You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go I’ll still hear music constantly
You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go you’re haunting, yeah you’re taunting me

You’re like a sweet smelling breeze
Sneaking up on me
And when you go you’re haunting, yeah you’re taunting me
You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go I still hear music constantly

You’re like a melody
That follows me
And when you go you’re haunting, yeah you’re taunting me

More from Molly Johnson.