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Musical Influences

IT'S a Sunday and I wish I could sing. I was never the singing sort or had a talent for anything musical despite coming from a musically-inclined family. Growing up with lots of music around me, I'd managed to block them all out to some degree. Why? Probably there was too much of it. But some music have stayed on. Like that of Michael Jackson. It didn't help that a family friend at that time just happened to resemble the pop king so much - you know, the look he'd spotted after the first two cosmetic surgeries : still very much him, but just with better defined features without the bleach? Was listening to an album earlier and I've just realised how much I miss MJ's voice. This just makes me want to reach out and touch the edge of that voice to see if it's for real. 


I also couldn't block out Boney M (or Abba for that matter). My grandma played them way too much for me to stop their music from sneaking up into my system and staying there forever! Come Christmas, the Christmas album played non-stop for at least six weeks, everyday, all the time that when Christmas was finally over, the absence of Mary's Boy Child almost broke my skull. But Daddy Cool had always resumed and broke that silence. Check this out. It may not gel well with some of you but it's all good fun to watch them in action, especially Bobby Farrell! 



What were you at when you'd heard the news of John Denver's death in 1997? I remember I was doing the dishes, and over the radio came the announcement. It hit me like a plane crash. So I put everything down and cried my heart out for he was someone I loved.  A great songwriter with a great voice. I love all of his happy songs, and think Annie's Song is genius. I even did a paper on it back in school. This video may be a little grainy though. 




As I've always said on here, if I could actually sing, I'd love to sing like Annie Lennox. That voice is like a never-ending ocean on a rough day, which is perfectly beautiful. I like it better now that she is older and there is more to her with all of her other works. Hope you like this one.   



Comments

  1. I'm glad you're a fan of the golden oldies like me. I don't understand all the fuss about Lady Gaga. Did your grandma play any Bing Crosby numbers?

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    1. no, GB. my grandma was very much influenced by her children when it comes to western music. so she had picked up from them.
      if she is still around, she'd ban me from lada gaga ! not that im a big fan in the first place.

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  2. I'm with you when it comes to Michael Jackson's voice Jaya, damn I love his voice, it's so smooth and perfect, Jackson is such a legend. Abba and Annie Lennox are both so good too, great post Jaya.

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    1. its such a pity that he had to go so soon! i was planning on getting those london concert tickets somehow :(
      hope you're good, Matthew.

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  3. Anyone who wishes or wants to sing, should sing – wherever and whenever they please. A great singing voice is not required – only the joy of singing is.
    Trust me, I know… ;)

    Just heard John Denver’s Poems & Promises the other day – I do miss that man and his music.

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    Replies
    1. the joy of singing is limited in my car space and maybe the bathroom! hahaha.
      i'm actually listening to poems and promises right now :)
      yeah, i miss that man and the time.

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  4. Oh yeah, this brings back memories for me too, although I didn't hear much from John Denver except for that one song - country road.

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    1. i dont know of many who listen to Denver :p
      that's a great song.

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    2. Country Road is great.

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  5. Some great picks there and yeah agreed Jackson had quite the voice, no matter how weird he seemed, had the voice..haha

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    1. yeah, Pat. all his life, he did everything to keep that voice. he had such great respect for it. i love him for that but maybe that's his downfall as well ?

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    2. Well, the problem he faced was his own success. I remember the Jackson craze when Thriller had just come out. It was unbelievable. But then he'd become his own challenge. Could he ever top it?

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  6. I like John Denver, have you heard Toots and the Mayals cover of his Country road?.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1JJ8fAXHo

    The Bony M one made me laugh, i love that 'dancing' never let embarrassment stop you lol.
    Reminds me of the times i have attempted to dance , womens toes are not safe, but at least i don't fall over on to a wedding cake or something. I must admit i don't play music as much as i used to, but it depends on the noise of my neighbours, i am not averse to blasting out heavy metal.

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    1. some bit of raggae there. i like ! :p
      yeah. the dancing is crazy. the guy dances like he's made of rubber or something. im guilty of stepping on a few women and men 's toes while dancing too.
      not much into heavy metal too, although there was a lot of it at home when i was growing up - whitesnake, led zeppelin, aerosmith and the likes.
      i love Queen's rock though.

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    2. did i also mention santana ? haha

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  7. I sing. I sing whenever I like. Sometimes I sing while grocery shopping. People might stare, but no one has ever yelled, SHUT UP (except for Favorite Young Man).

    Love,
    Janie

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    Replies
    1. i can totally understand FYM's position in this ! hahaha.
      hope you're well, Janie.
      :)

      Delete
  8. I love Michael Jackson, Boney M - and loads of old music although I'm an absolute shite singer Jaya. I can however sing in Spanish or French and not sound so bad... but in English? You'll hear the dogs howling all day and night :)

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    1. you can't be that bad, Azra. for the dogs to howl ? i dont believe you :p
      i can sing a little in Malay. very limited and for my ears only. hahaha.

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    2. Ayer encontré la flor que tú me diste. Imagen del amor que me ofreciste... sing along, Az, I can't hear you! Spanish is such a beautiful language. A woman speaking Spanish to me - make that whispering -is all it takes. (I should've put that in my list.) ;)
      P.S. What do you mean.... for your ears only?

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    3. i sing for me, RC

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  9. wow, boney m is black?

    and you seem far too young to know who these people are! lol

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    Replies
    1. do they sound white ? hahaha.
      not too young, but i grew up with these music around me. so yeah.
      :p

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  10. My Dad was an obsessive Boney M fan so my musical childhood was scared forever...

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    1. obsessive is the word ! but to be scarred by boney m isn't too bad methinks :p

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  11. Annie Lennox has a fabulous voice

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  12. Hello, Jaya J! I used to go to MJ concerts and loved his voice until he started his live playback shows. Let's not go there today. I saw him singing with Diana Ross in 1980 and his voice was like no other. Truly exceptional. Annie Lennox is great. I love her voice AND personality.

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    1. im jealous, RC !
      werent you like 10 in 1980 ?
      yes, i love Lennox's voice, style and personality.
      :)

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    2. So what if I was! Does that make me... old? :p

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    3. i was gonna say that you were a kid then ? i was still an angel :p

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  13. Call me weird but my fv song is Ricky Martin's "Livin la Vida Loca" :D

    But loved ur selection here.. u're so right - I sooo miss MJ!! There never was or ever will be a showman as great as the Jackson - the amount of preparation, style and passion that he brings in his videos is truly unmatched in today's times where the motto is to shock and hopefully awe...

    John Denver is a gem whom I discovered only very recently .. truly a legend :)

    Nice collection, Jaya! :)

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    1. that number has got its magic. its not totally a crime ! hahaha.
      im glad you had recently discovered Denver though :)

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  14. isn't it amazing when someone just mentions those artists or the songs what memories immediately come to mind....

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  15. momto8 - must be good memories ;)

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  16. Was watching the Glee episode where they did MJ's songs and of course i bawled my eyes out....still can't get over the fact that such a talented person is no longer he

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  17. I can't sing either, I sound like a cat being hit by a truck. And my sister was always the better pianist. :\

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  18. How is it that I've never even heard of Boney M?

    I have no idea where I was when I heard John Denver (who I liked) had died. I just googled to get the date, and I would have had a toddler and another baby still nursing, so that may explain the clouded memory. I do, however, remember vividly hearing about John Lennon's death. I was a senior in high school and had just returned from boarding school for winter break. I had literally just walked in the door when my brother came out of his room crying.

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  19. I really loved the dance moves in "Daddy Cool". The moves he's doing at around 1:08 look like moves I was pulling off in the '90's.

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