Yes, we take the photographs and we hang them up and we keep our souvenirs and although he is telling us that he hopes we have the time of our life, I take that so much in the present that this song would be terrific back to back with The Cranberries' “Dreams” which strikes me as a similar theme with new beginnings, awakenings, and overall, an uplifting, almost transcendent, sense and sound – of life being lived to the fullest in the moment that you’re in.
At the end of the day, isn’t that all we have anyway? Sure, memories are more than nice and give us something to think about on those blue days — or provide fodder for books like On Being Blue by William H. Gass, a terrific book if you don’t know it. Gass is, of course, one of the best classic writers of our time and was no doubt an editor’s dream to discover. I imagine the editor feeling much the same way Maxwell Perkins felt when he, after much haggling with Scribners, finally signed Thomas Wolfe or F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or any number of great authors Perkins signed in his day. (There is a great story about Perkins and Hemingway’s use of four letter words. Perkins had to run these certain words that Hemingway used often and were still new to literature at the time - in the U.S. at least - past Scribner. So, on his list of things to do, Perkins wrote, and I quote: "shit, piss, and fuck." When he took the list to old man Scribner, Scribner said to him - and I paraphrase a bit here - “Max, if you need to remind yourself of these things, you’re in worse shape than I thought.”)
Of course, one could point to many songs about the Now. Perhaps the best that comes to mind immediately is Oasis’s "Don’t Look Back in Anger", maybe because it is right there in the title – don’t look back. We don’t look back because it is futile unless we are to learn from it – which any of the wise among us would endorse. But to simply sit and stew serves no purpose. Just walk on by… and don’t look back in anger. It’s simply not worth it. I wonder why such spark and spit sometimes flies over the smallest of things. Perhaps there is simply nothing better to do. Or perhaps it is some imagined evening of a score that is simply not being kept.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
steve, i finally got this up..... hope you find it before i got to NYC, tho i should have my computer with me, it'll be harder.
You around?
2 - Steve
Hey, Sadi,
Interesting List.
"If You Leave" was an OMD original, recorded for the "Pretty In Pink" soundtrack as I recall, their biggest hit in the US (#4) which missed the UK Top 40 at the time (1986).
I only have a sample of that Dylan tune, featured in Gabrielle's UK#1 hit from 2000 called "Rise".
Very familiar with the "New York..." tune, a fave of mine too, though I've never actually been there (drove past it once).
I've got about 30 covers of Beatles' songs, though none of the ones you mention.
Re. "The O.C." soundtrack that you allude to at the bottom, that's a fave show of my sisters'. I have the tracks from it by The Killers and The Thrills. I also have the original of "Maybe I'm Amazed".
Glad to see the List back, Sadi!
3 - DJRadiohead
Great stuff on the list, Sadi. Heartbreaker sometimes feels a little too long for me, but "My Winding Wheel" is one of my true favorites on that record. He and Gillian Welch were fabulous on that record.
I like the Unplugged version of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." His re-imaginings of songs in live settings can be hit and miss with me. I hate what he does to "Things Have Changed." I love the studio version of that song. Other songs though truly come to life when he plays them.
Really good stuff on this list!
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey steve;
i don't watch the o.c. - it just happened, i guess, that some of the songs were on there, so that was interesting.
What do you think of the OMD? I didn't know that was covered... if you have links or a way of uploading, i'd love to hear it... you can always email me through www.tantmieux.squarespace.com and we can exchange mp3s if you want - i'd be curious to hear, esp. the Dylan cover... is it Gabrielle covering it? Nice voice if so... i can imagine it, but then, who hasn't covered that song....
i was going to put Shooting Star, but i couldn't make up my mind. Now that i think of it, I like the live version of Shooting Star by Dylan from that MTV 95 much better.
Of course, we're not talking Desolation Row here - but still... i think good all.
Do you know Ryan Adams? If not, if i didn't upload it, then i will.... he's worth the time...
back off and on all weekend. family affair/ etc...
sade
5 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey DJ:
simple list, but a good one to kick-off again. i've been away too long, too f-ing busy, &etc, but hey, it's great to be here... i like doing The List.
Yes, Winding Wheel is a great song - it has movement which i think a lot of the other songs on the album lack in some way (though that said, i really like the country/folk feel of this album by Adams more than "Gold" or some songs anyway - i'll never give up "La Cienega Just Smiled" because that is a terrific song - so it varies). Overall tho, I like "Heartbreaker" and i really like this song and all that it expresses in terms of a sort of itchiness to be something to someone.
I understand that - i think we all do. I think we've all been there anyway. That itchiness... that feeling.... gawd.... but he captures it well, i think.
cheers - and nice to see you ; )
s.r.p.
6 - Steve
You can find the two tracks fairly quickly at puretracks.com...just type in 'Gabrielle' and you'll see her name in a list, click on it, and you'll see her 2000 album "Rise"...it's the title track you want to listen to, and if you like it you can buy it there for $0.99 after listening to it. The album also has the haunting "Should I Stay" which is excellent as well.
Same procedure with OMD, look for the album "OMD Singles" and you can listen to it there (track 11), $1.19 to buy it or $11.99 for the album (great album actually, almost all their hits).
I have problems sending attachements thru Outlook Express, and I don't know how to with Hotmail. Sorry.
7 - Erin Alden
Hey,
Just a note of thanks for the nice words.
I'm glad you like the track.
Erin Alden
8 - Steve
Re. Ryan Adams, I think we had this conversation before Sadi, I find I am more drawn to the music than the lyrics of an artist, so if the music doesn't move me in some way, it's hard for me to follow the lyrics, because the interest just isn't there. Not that he's bad per se, quite competent I suppose, I just find his music bland that's all, it doesn't stand out from the crowd for me.
9 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Erin Alden!!!!
Your work is amazing... otherwise, you would not have made The List, and really, i'm not the only one to think this... just tremendous work. Sorry it took me a few days to see this comment (i've been away) but truly amazing.
You have a real gift... so is that you in the Target commercial or some version of you... we're wondering and can't sort it out. It doesn't make a difference either way. You have a super voice and this is a truly great cover... I played it for a dear friend who couldn't believe how great it was (esp. since covers so rarely beat the original).
Thanks so much for taking the time to write here...
Be well,
s.r.p.
10 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Steve,
I know what you mean about Adams but you either love him or you just can't get into him. Right now i'm getting into some pretty cool Hungarian pop (sort of like my French pop phase, but now it's Hungarian, lol) but it's great - now if only i knew the names of the bands. I got the music from my niece, who didn't know the bands either, so i can't put them on The List... damn damn).
I'm into Imogen Heap a lot... so that's next List.. lost of stuff... and i'm looking back as well... i think for the next list I have John Waite (yes, i really do)...
i ain't missing you at all...
nope.
and i won't.
hey, everybody has to give up something for Lent. I chose maybe to give up a person. We'll see. Depends on the amount of will i have and besides, I'm half-and-half so i'm sort of off the hook if i want to be -
annnyyyywaayyyy
the next list should be interesting - i have to go away this week to NYC but as soon as i'm back, then i imagine the next List. Things have been just nutty, but i do miss doing this a great deal...
Thing is, i haven't done is so then people forget and have gone away which stinks, but in due course if i keep doing it, perphaps they'll come back... we'll see...
anyway...
bisous, babe.
11 - Steve
By the way, Sadi, I forgot to mention...Paul Weller has a 'best of' called "Hit Parade" that just came out last year. What's different from his "Modern Classics" best of from 1998, is that this album comes in both single disc and box set versions containing hits from his first band The Jam, as well as The Style Council and his solo UK hits. Might be worth checking out if you liked stuff from all three stages of his career.
12 - DJRadiohead
You're right about "La Cienga." That is a marvelous song and about the only one I really like from that album.
My favorite Adams disc is Love is Hell. I am the only one I know who picks that as a favorite. Not sure what that means. Probably nothing, but I do love it.
13 - Steve
Wow, Hungarian huh? I don't have ANYONE from there in my collection!! Out of almost 13,000 songs...that's saying something!! Not sure what, but anyway...lol.
I have about 178 tunes by French artists.
Sorry to hear you sort of have to give up someone this month Sadi, not an easy thing to do I know.
Be here when you get back from NYC, Lord willing.
14 - Steve
Hey, Sadi,
Hope you had a great trip to NYC. Let us know here when your next List is up, OK?
15 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey steve,
v. successful nyc trip... and sorry not to be in touch. i have pneumonia, but am working on a bunch of stuff - a new list too... so i'll post here and ping you ...
you around?
sade
16 - Steve
Hi, Sadi,
Been house-sitting this week, no access to a computer. Things should be back to the usual by Sunday. Looking forward to the next List.
17 - Steve
Sorry to hear about your pneumonia, hope you recover soon, Sadi. Home again now, so whenever you're ready with the next List, just let me know here.
18 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hi Steve.... glad you're back! i hate being without computer access.... that's how dependent i am. It's pathetic....
Yes, i'm making a list of songs for the ist...i just need to make sure they have not been on previous lists...!
Otherwise tho, i have a list going already... a real weird mix of stuff, but i like it... should be a trip down memory lane with some new stuff...
do you ever go to tant mieux and take a listen? I hope so... next time anyway, there is ONE Dylan musical piece (just piano) that i want you to hear... if you like, maybe i can arrange to get it to you....
love,
sade
19 - Steve
Aww, that's sweet of you, Sadi, I'm just signing off for the evening, I'll maybe check it out tomorrow, thanks so much.
20 - Steve
Checked your other site Sadi, listened to "Time Of Your Life" by Green Day, had forgotten all about that song, musically nicely done song, (although I don't like the vocals on it, hence Green Day are not my fave but anyway...). You mentioned "Dreams" by the Cranberries as a companion to that song, I don't have the original but I do have it sampled in Dario G's UK#9 hit from 2001 called "Dream To Me", which is pretty great too.
I'm on a 'limited download' ISP subscription right now, so not sure how much I can download from the internet in a month, I'll have to check on that before I check out any other tunes there.
21 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
hey Steve:
i'm glad you listened. I need to update that section. My uncle passed away yesterday so i'll be back from teh funeral and wake on Friday. I have a really good list going as well, so i'll have that up hopefully by the weekend and i'll put it up on the site and also, will upload some new songs tonight for you and build the link in here so check back. i'm at school right now and my students are taking an exam, hence i have five mins to email this, but i must get back to teaching etc etc but i will upload.
for the next list, i will upload most of the songs so you can listen. you ought be able to download directly from there, from tant mieux, no?
love,
sade (sorry can't get list up sooner; uncle died very suddenly; my next list is for him, of course, so i've changed some songs around....i hope you understand...)
22 - Steve
Sorry to hear about your uncle, Sadi, one of my uncles died last year, and though I miss him, it was a very moving funeral and reception, and I'm glad I could attend. I totally understand about your hectic schedule right now, no worries.
I will definitely check out your site again, when I have some more time. Looking forward to your next List, it's always interesting. You're a real sweetheart!
23 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Hey Steve,
Thanks for the kind words about my Uncle... The next list, volume 21, is up ... so go for it if you like... or anyone for that matter... but it's up and running. just went up today (March 20, day before the first day of Spring, tho it doesn't bloody feel like Spring!), but the list is up...
see you there?
looking for you, so jump!
sade
24 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
List No. 21 there's the link to the new list, just click click click.... and a few songs to listen at The List of the Moment | Tant Mieux
xo
sade
25 - Erin Alden
Hi,
I just saw your response to my email.
Sorry (10 years later).
It is not my version in the Target commercial.
I, of course, wish it was.
But I thank you very much for the compliments regarding my cover of 'Hello Goodbye'.
It was fun to do.
I've had many requests to put it up on my myspace page, which I will try to do soon.
In the meantime, please drop in to my website www.erialden.com or my myspace page www.myspace.com/erinalden to check in for 'my' music and music updates.
Again, thank you very much for supporting not only my music but others.
Take care,
Erin Alden