My Music: Power, Corruption & Lies

This is the first and possibly the last of a series reflecting on some of my music collection which may or may not resonate with life here.

Power, Corruption and Lies is one of the first albums I ever bought, on tape for my Walkman – the iPod of it’s day,  a portable music player which allowed you to insert a cassette tape giving you up to 45mins of unbroken music (whilst it’s batteries lasted).

The album by New Order was amazing and even today 33 years on I like to listen to it’s tracks. On the cassette version there were a number of extra tracks, the most famous track  is Blue Monday which is a classic. Mum used to hear the thumping intro (dum dum d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d dum dum) and call up the stairs to “turn that music down”. The song incidentally was the biggest selling 12″ of all time.

Sadly the tape eventually wore out and a Vinyl album was bought later to be replace by MP3 versions.

Why do I share these facts? In truth life here in Tanzania can often resonate with the title of this track. I mostly share the positive side of life here, to do otherwise would be depressing, but sometimes it seems like we’re living  in the title of this particular album – “nuff said”.

Having a Ball in Rock City

Mwanza is known as Rock City due to the large number of enormous boulders stren across the city. This name has given rise to the annual Rock City Charity Ball, which took place last night at Isamilo Lodge Hotel.

This yearly event brings the expatriate community together to raise money for local charities. These includes our very own Saturday  School, Railway Children and Village of Hope among others.

The event was held by the pool and looked fabulous, with lights strung between the palms.

Charity Ball

The event included performances from various local and national groups. Anita on flute along with two other colleagues from my school  (Max (Cello) and Maria (Flute) started the proceedings as people came in, by playing various classical pieces.

A house band played throughout the evening and the event was headlined by a band from Dar – The Tanzanites. The evening was punctuated by a local dance troop who performed modern and local traditional dances.

They were excellent. There were also auctions – both live and silent. The first auction was the usual with people bidding enormous sums (well beyond our pay scale).  The second was an auction of items where you write down how much you want to bid and the highest bid of the evening wins. We were lucky enough to win a one night stay at Kipepo Lodge near Dar Es Salaam at a very reasonable price, which we use at some time this year. There was a raffle too, we were unsuccessful in that, but that’s usual for us.

The theme for the evening was black and white. I had a Zebra pattern shirt, Anita was planning to borrow an outfit but in town that day saw an amazing piece of Zebra patterned Kitenge cloth at 12noon and found a fundi to make an outfit which we had collected at 5pm.

The evening ended with a live band (Tanzanites) and dancing which went on into the early hours.

Songs of Christmas: Day 25 – O Come All Ye Faithful

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 25th offering:

 

Day 24

Donna Summer: O Come All Ye Faithful

Amy Grant: O Come All Ye Faithful

Kings College Cambridge: O Come All Ye Faithful

Songs of Christmas: Day 24 – Merry Xmas Everybody

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 24th offering:

How could I not include this one, even if I don’t like the X in Xmas!.

Day 24

Slade: Merry Xmas Everybody

Songs of Christmas: Day 23 – Joy To The World

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 23rd offering:

One of my favorite carols in two updated versions and a more traditional one.

Day 23

Chris Tomlin: Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)

Mariah Carey: Joy To The World

John Rutter / Cambridge Singers: Joy To The World

Songs of Christmas: Day 22 – Gloria

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 22nd offering:

Day 22

Michael W Smith:  Gloria

Songs of Christmas: Day 17 – Fantasia on Christmas Carols

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 17th offering:

Day 17

Vaughan Williams : Fantasia on Christmas Carols

A great mix of Carols combined into a classical masterpiece. How many can you recognise.

 

 

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 16 – Breath of Heaven

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 16th offering:

Day 16

Amy Grant: Breath of Heaven

Sam Levine : Breath of Heaven

Donna Summer : Breath of Heaven

 

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 15 – Christmas Wrapping

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 15th offering:

Day 15

The Waitresses : Christmas Wrapping

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 14 – Rejoice

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 14th offering:

Day 14

Hillsong: Rejoice

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 13 – The Christmas Song

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 13th offering:

Day 13

This song has sung “many times, many ways” over the years

Christina Aguilera: The Christmas Song

Christina Aguilera: The Christmas Song (Thunderpuss Remix)

Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song

Donna Summer: The Christmas Song

Francesca Battistelli: The Christmas Song

Sam Levine: The Christmas Song

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 12 – Mary’s Boy Child

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 12th offering:

Day 12

A Christmas classic from ’80s Disco Pop Group Boney M and Harry Belafonte

Boney M :Mary’s Boy Child / O My Lord

Harry Belafonte: Mary’s Boy Child

Songs of Christmas: Day 11 – Winter Snow

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 11th offering:

Day 11

Winter Snow : Chris Tomlin featuring Audrey Assad

I heard this last Christmas – another haunting melody with meaning. A perfect song for those days when the world is blanketed in white (not something we’ll ever have here though!)

Songs of Christmas: Day 10: Winter Wonderland

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 10th offering:

Day 10

Another song with a wide variety of versions from the likes of Doris Day, Eurythmics, Pentatonix, Sam Levine and a more unusual version by Steve Taylor!

Winter Wonderland: Doris Day

Winter Wonderland: Eurythmics

Winter Wonderland / Don’t Worry Be Happy: Pentatonix

Winter Wonderland: Steve Taylor

Winter Wonderland: Sam Levine

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 9 – Coventry Carol

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 9th offering:

Day 9

So many different versions of this including two from my favourite artists, a more traditional version and a different version from the film “The Nativity”. Four for the price of one!

Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol): Annie Lennox

Coventry Carol: Alison Moyet

Coventry Carol: Mediaeval Baebes

And Thou Bethlehem: Mychael Danna

Songs of Christmas: Day 8 – Carol of the Bells

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 8th offering:

Day 8

Pentatonix: Carol of the Bells

I came across this ‘band’ on Facebook the other day and was amazed by the sound. An a capella group with a rich layered sound. There are many good songs on their two Christmas Albums. This is one of my favorites

 

For another alternative version there is this dramatic version from the Film Score to the Nativity

Mychael Danna : Is There A Place For Us?

Songs of Christmas: Day 7 – Real

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 7th offering:

Day 7

Nichole Nordeman: Real

I bought this on an album last year, but for some reason I never heard it before this year. When I did I was amazed, such a hauntingly beautiful song, sung by a voice I didn’t know. Not a classic, definitely new but a firm favorite.

If you go to a Nativity this year think about this song and think!

Songs of Christmas: Day 6 – I Believe In Father Christmas

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 6th offering:

Day 6

Greg Lake : I Believe in Father Christmas

Probably my favorite secular Christmas song. A rock opera of a tune. The closing line is chilling –

Hallelujah Noël, Be It Heaven or Hell, The Christmas we get we deserve!

 

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 5 – Little Drummer Boy

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 5th offering:

Day 5

Bing Crosby & David Bowie: Little Drummer Boy

A surreal combination of 40’s Crooner and 70’s Glam Rock Star made for an interesting Christmas song. The kids are singing this one tonight as a duo at the Boarder’s Christmas Dinner Dance.

As with all Christmas songs there are several versions, this is one I particularly like

Whiteheart: Little Drummer Boy

 

 

 

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 4 – Veni Veni Emanuel

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 4th offering:

Day 4

Mychael Danna: Veni Veni Emmanuel

The opening titles of the 2006 film The Nativity Story has this amazing version of the familiar Christmas Carol (O Come O Come Emmanuel) by Mychael Danna part of an atmospheric Film Score.