5/01/2007

My favorite things

That last article I posted is really depressing. This should lighten things up a bit.

I've discovered the joy of youtube. I've found all sorts of live performances and videos that I've never seen before. It's a real treasure trove. I thought that I would post some of my favorites.

This first one is from a band called Mazzy Star. People sometimes confuse the band's name with the lead singer, Hope Sandoval. (I did at first.) This is a live performance of "blue flower." I adore Sandoval's voice and the way she tries her best to disappear on stage. She seems to be trying to hide behind her hair and the mic stand, all the while clutching her tambourine like a security blanket. I have no idea how much of it is authentic versus manufactured stage presence, but that's the way she looks in just about any live performance I've seen.

I find myself listening to this song quite a bit, regardless of mood, time of day etc, but I think I enjoy it most in the morning just after waking up. It's a great way to start the day. It's also a good car song. Very driveable.

The live version is a bit laid back. None of the band members seems to have much of a stage presence, but that's ok, since Hope is a cutie and the bass player isn't bad either. Overall, it works.