So, over on Youtube, under the guise of another name, I am making up playlists of music for our 21 days of isolation. There are obvious isolation type themes in many of the song names. We are cut off from each other and in some are living confined lives now, so I’ve sought out thematic songs with which to get musical branches from which to spiral along, so there will be a sense of flow to the progression, I hope.
I also hope the playlists bring relief and entertainment, and some joy at new musical discovery, because believe me, we are going exploring very far and wide.
Here is day 3’s entry. I’m calling it:
Day 3 – Eye on the Prize
Now, a word of warning!
Just get through the opening 60 seconds of the opening track, “Phoenix” by British band “Tesseract” – if you’re not a fan of the heavier stuff.
Daniel Tompkins’ voice and incredible talent will transport you through the rest of the song, I promise.
Today’s playlist deviates slightly from the almost entirely 1980’s dominated feel of day two’s playlist (link to playlist on youtube – I’ll create a blog post for the playlist later on and edit the link to that). Today we’re visiting a number of new countries, trying on a variety of new genres and coming all the way up to present day songs, and the 80’s portion of the list is reduced.
We are today again featuring South African songs I grew up with, and the South African component will of course remain strong as long as the playlisting lasts.
We’re also ending the playlist with an album in its entirety that very definitively pushed me into the progressive rock I cherish today.
It is Jeff Wayne’s musical version of the HG Wells novel, War of the Worlds, and it features a constellation of talented musicians under directorship of incredible writing.
I first heard a piece of the album on 5FM at age 19 and was hooked. I had it imported at the big MUSICA store in the shopping centre across the road from East Rand Mall the next day and fell in love.
Anyway, here are the words to the opening track as promised:
[Tesseract – Phoenix]
You exist
And you’re a friend of mine
You’re alive
It’s not the end of the line
(Will we ever learn?)
.
Cynical, the generations were abandoned here
No life is ever fair
When the mechanical fires are raging
The revolution’s here
.
I can breathe again
I choose to never let go
Or lose control
See through the sights of a rifle
Live through the eyes of a child
Wake through the mind of a minor
To extol
.
I must change
‘Cause I’ve been chasing shadows
(Change) Immersed in the night
Desperate and taken (Change)
Run with the pride of the lion
.
You exist
And you’re a friend of mine
You’re alive
It’s not the end of the line (Will we ever learn?)
.
I’m a failure,
I’m the wreckage in the storm
I’m enlightened, unafraid, I am reborn
Cynical, the generations were abandoned here
No life is ever fair
When the mechanical fires are raging
The revolution’s here