7.21.2013

"Habanera" - The Muppets

I am not even kidding. This one syllable is stuck in my head, I think my housemates are starting to hate me now, and I don't even blame them.

What started as a side reference comment about the accent of the Swedish Chef, led to an hour or more of random Youtube clicking of these Muppet videos. This one is by far the easiest to sing along to, don't you think? Probably clicked the play button over ten times before I decided it was annoying. Realization too late! It's now stuck in my head.

It's still hilarious though. :D



7.14.2013

Caro Emerald - Back It Up

After a surprisingly busy and tiring day of city exploring, train chasing, performing and birthday celebrating, I thought I'd completely pass out cold on the bed when we got home. Surprisingly, Gerie, Baki and I still managed to somehow gather a bit of energy, to sit down in the living room and talk. You know I like good conversations.

This one in particular was something I'll always remember. Baki will highly likely forget it (knowing her memory, and the fact she was the first to give in to the exhaustion), and Gerie might never know it and may forget that night but I got to know her a lot more in the little things she had said. I regret not hugging her, at the time I didn't know if I should. We were both missing someone dear to us.

I asked Gerie what type of songs she liked, wanting to discover a little more of the Dutch music scene. I could tell that she could sing; you could hear it in the little melodic inflections when she greats us good morning or when she says goodbye to someone on the phone. So it wasn't surprising to find out that she sang in their local choir. They even have a CD! She gets incredibly enthusiastic about pointing out her parts in the song as was I to listen to it. I love such people! 

So this song comes on the radio. I had asked earlier that night at the de Jongs if they knew a singer named Sabrina Starke. She's pretty much the only Dutch singer I know, or at least one whose nationality I was aware of. (how I came to know her obviously began in some vain form of googling.) None of the Dutch people I mentioned her to knew of Sabrina Starke. So I'm like, oh well, she's not that famous then.

"Oh, this one. I really like this song. It's Caro Emerald."

I already half-engrossed in the song before she had mentioned it. A few google searches later, I'm surprised I haven't heard of this artist before. She's great! Thanks Gerie!





So get that needle in the core 
Scratch that back and gimme more 
You know exactly what I came here for 
Back it up and do it again

7.09.2013

'K Zag Twee Beren Broodjes Smeren




'k Zag twee beren broodjes smeren,
O, dat was een wonder.
't Was een wonder, boven wonder,
dat die beren smeren konden.
Hi hi hi, ha ha ha!
'k Stond erbij en ik keek er naar.

7.06.2013

7.03.2013

Sambasunda Quintet - Jaleuleu Ja

I might be in Norway, but my the song currently stuck in my head is Indonesian! (Probably because I can pronounce Indonesian better than Norwegian.XD)

The past few days had been spent inside a classroom creating music pieces that feature an odd combination of Norwegian, Philippine and Indonesian instruments and styles of music. The whole process of collaboration and creation has been an interesting experience to say the least; you can imagine me sitting there starting out confused: someone starts to play an instrument, then someone else starts to sing over the music, another instruments comes in, then it all adds up in the end. By the time everyone stops playing, you're left with a wide smile on your face because you know you just created something wonderful.

One such instance was when Elisabeth was singing a Norwegian lullaby, flowy and melodic, then all of a sudden the Indonesians, Rekah, Yani and Nendar, starts to softly chant the Jaleuleu Ja over her singing. I so badly want to chant with them, but obviously I couldn't understand the words. I had to learn it on the next coffe/tea break!

As they were teaching me the lyrics, I found out from Yani that the song didn't really mean anything. (except for the part where a cat got accidentally hit by a falling bamboo and it sad, "Ngek!" haha) It reminds me of a similar nonsensical Filipino song, Bagbagtu. This just proves that Southeast Asia is much too carefree, you can totally sing nonsense if you want!




Jaleuleu ja
Tulak tu ja éman - gog
Seureuh leuweung - bay
Jambé kolot - bug
Ucing katinggang songsong - Ngék!

Jaleuleu Ja, I found out, is a song from Sambasunda, a Indonesian music group that also does fusion especially on Sudanese music. It was founded by Ismet Ruchimat who I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and learn from here in Norway. As I read up more, I felt that Sambasunda almost seems like Kontra-Gapi's Indonesian brother!