This week's Contrast Podcast is devoted to songs with sirens in them. I listened to it late last night while walking circles upon circles upon circles around our tiny sitting room, trying to settle a very fussy baby. And I couldn't have asked for better company. As usual, it's filled with great stories, a variety of wonderful songs and plenty of silliness and it was exactly what I needed.
I had a hard time choosing between the track I did play on the podcast and something from my much-loved Sirens of Song compilation CD. So let's have something from that today. On a disc full of moody, haunting music, this is usually the standout for me.
Nina Simone - Since I Fell For You
Oooh, I'm on a big Nina S. trip at the moment so this'll do very nicely, thank you.
Bless. I can well remember that walking the baby thing - fondly (but that's easy in retrospect) x
Posted by: davyh | May 06, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Very pleased to be of service Mr H, given all the lovely things I've found your way. Most especially the Naima.
Even though it can be exhausting at times, the baby walking is not a bad gig :) x.
Posted by: Greer | May 06, 2009 at 06:32 PM
No, those are precious moments.
Posted by: davyh | May 07, 2009 at 01:16 AM
There's a song that comes to mind immediately - it's called "Shake Ya Tailfeather." Serious dance song ;)
Posted by: Melissa Donovan | May 07, 2009 at 12:51 PM
So true and they go by fast.
Hello Melissa, No one played that one on the podcast and I don't know it, so I will investigate! Thank you.
Posted by: Greer | May 07, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Oh dear, I hope Cock Sparrer didn't set you back in your baby-calming efforts. Or at least I hope you fast-forwarded...;)
I have vivid memories of the circular walk. I sang softened versions of Ramones and Billy Bragg tunes, simply because those were the ones whose lyrics were most readily accessible in my memory. Billy Bragg's "I Don't Need This Pressure, Ron" worked best; in fact, it still gets trotted out on occasion to calm Little Man.
Posted by: FiL | May 08, 2009 at 08:53 AM
No way did I fast-forward, I loved it! I was listening on the headphones and humming to the baby, you see. I can't wait to try the Billy Bragg though.
It warms my heart that the daddies are writing in on this one- you guys are wonderful x.
Posted by: Greer | May 08, 2009 at 09:00 PM
My favourite thing to read to Phoebe when she was tiny, (and one of my favourite things ever anyway) was...
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands
xx
Posted by: adam | May 09, 2009 at 04:31 AM
I love this, thank you so very much for posting it here.
Phoebe is a lucky lucky girl :).
Posted by: Greer | May 09, 2009 at 08:12 PM