A Fine Romance

Playlist July 3rd 6PM PST

2006-07-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

So, check it out the show exists and it seems to be in a time slot that will not move anytime soon. Mondays at 6PM and it will be followed by my loud rock show, Soundwaves Crashing. It is so much fun to transition those two shows.

Time Title Artist Album
6:58 PM after the dance marvin gaye I want you
6:54 PM autumn in new york ella fitzgerald and louis armstrong together again
6:52 PM the way you move outcast speakerboxx
6:49 PM stay astrud gilberto wonderland soundtrack
6:46 PM the way you look tonight fred astaire and ginger rogers swing time soundtrack
6:39 PM the love I'm searching for the rentals the return
6:34 PM I will sing you songs my morning jacket it still moves
6:31 PM the sweetest somebody I know stevie wonder a time to love
6:29 PM you beat me to the punch edwin starr 25 miles
6:23 PM Trusting my luck jessie matthews unknown
6:20 PM love bites def leppard hysteria
6:16 PM the boy from ipanema Diana Krall Wonderland Soundtrack
6:14 PM perfidia phyllis Dillion one life to live
6:11 PM roll in my sweet baby's arms del McCoury Appalachian Stomp
6:07 PM hip walk cal tjader sona libre
6:05 PM yourr the top cole porter soundtrack
6:04 PM lady, sweet lady barry white sheet music

A Clear Definition

2006-06-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

So this evening I witnessed the question of love and death translated poetically into cinema. The movie was called "Look Both Ways" and I saw it in a small theater in Seattle where I could reach up and touch the ceilings. My friend was extememely preoccupied with the sheet metal paneling that covered the ceiling. It had immaculate texture but any more thought on paneling might just be overkill. I am glad that there are people in the world that make those things their passion. They are probably laughing at the simplistic preocccupations that I have developed over the years. Anyway, the movie chronicled a disasterous weekend through the lives of five Australians and how they live with the death that surrounds them. It posed interesting questions about the significance of people's actions. Do we have an agenda? Every person experiences a traumatic event in their lives and this shapes their personality because we have unique perspectives on the level of pain we develop. Also, a great point that was proposed to the viewer was the fact that for every person's sufferings there is another who is suffering worse and who are we to judge on thier level of pain. Just a few thoughts that I have after the movie's end. If I was an old, fat, white guy who reviewed movies on TV I would give the film two thumbs way up. Oh, and by the way, it was not totally depressing. In fact, I would call it a love story, with animation to boot.

What is love? and how does it translate to music?

2006-06-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

I asked what makes a great love songs show and now I have an even bigger question. What makes a great love song. The first installment of "A Fine Romance" made its debut on Rainy Dawg Radio this evening. If anyone wants to check it out go to www.rainydawg.org and punch in Thursdays 7PM or 8PM in the archive and you will hear the show. So, it is clear about most old love songs because the theme of the song is clearly stated in the title of the song. You can even tell the stance of the songwriter in the title. Now, as I surfed my music collection looking for material for the show I found certain genres to be harder to pinpoint than others. In soul music, love is a clearly defined theme, but in country a love song is harder to find. When I say love song I don't mean a sad song. In Indie Rock, the theme to the song is hidden behind clever metaphors and is not so easily defined. So now I propose a new question. What are some great love songs that are not classicly thought about. Country? Indie Rock? What about Blues? Can there be a Blues song that deals with love in a way that is not depressing, or is the nature of the genre to contradict the idea that love is an entitlement? Something to think about. I love thinking about these things and I loved finding great love songs to play on the radio.

Now, the real business

2006-06-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

So, why is this blog entitled "A Fine Romance" you ask? Well, I intend for it soon to be the place where I post messages that correspond to a radio show that is centered around "love songs" and romance of all kinds. The song "A Fine Romance" was sung by the great combo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the movie "Shall We Dance" many decades ago and I thought it a proper title for the radio show. I cannnot wait to spend my time previewing records for the thier merit in romantic ideals. I am quite the romantic at heart and it is good that this is being written to a mass audience outside my peers who are all snickering at this idea. In the last post I rambled a bit just to get used to the idea of blogging but now I have serious questions. What makes a great "love songs" radio show? Should the show spotlight all genres of music or should it stick to either mood music or classic rock ballads? I plan on trying to make it as eclectic as a radio show could be but just have a set theme. Does anyone think that following Marvin Gaye with an old country song would ruin the feel of the show? I am asking all these questions to try and help build a great show. I am not sure when the show will start but I hope people will listen even if it only to hear me try and talk about the songs without laughing.