Love Is All You Need

February 23, 2010February 24, 2010 / still a dreamer / 4 Comments

Through a long, circuitous route, I found such a wonderful video …

You know sometimes how your friend e-mails you something cool? Well, my friend Kathy in Maryland sent me this great quote from the movie Akeelah and the Bee. She didn’t know where it came from, so I looked it up. The quote is from the very well-known and wonderful metaphysical writer and teacher, Marianne Williamson. I have two books of hers, A Woman’s Worth and A Return to Love. As it turns out, the quote is from the latter, called Everyday Grace, right there on her website. (Go check it out – it’s perfect.)

OK, so now I’m on her site, which I love … I scroll down and there’s this video … after watching it, I go to the “offical” Starbucks site. What I learn is that, on December 7th, 2009 at 1:30 pm GMT, Starbucks invited musicians from all over the world to sing together at the same time to raise awareness for AIDS in Africa. In that one moment, musicians from 156 countries played “All You Need is Love” together. Watch the video as musicians from all around the world come together and share this song. Starbucks has raised enough funds for over 14 million days worth of medicine – as of this date – for those suffering with AIDS.

p.s. Now does this remind me of my favorite guy, Matt, who danced all over the world just to bring people together through dance? Yes, it does, and if you haven’t yet gotten your fill of all those warm and fuzzy feelings, go visit Where the Hell is Matt? and watch Dancing 2008. It still brings tears to my eyes.

Just an Old Folkie at Heart

November 4, 2009 / still a dreamer / 2 Comments

FolkGuitar Sometimes in the middle of the work, sometimes in the middle of the stress and nonsense, something just keeps shining through. And for me, that is music. Does music do it for you, too?

I love many forms of music, and certainly have several favorites, but what always feels as comfortable as a pair of old shoes, a cozy easy chair, is acoustic folk. No doubt growing up in the 60’s and 70’s in the whole folk scene has a lot to do with it, but what could be better while working to suddenly hear Jesse Colin Young, Bob Dylan, James Taylor? The sweet voices of Sarah McLaughlin, Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt? Acoustic guitar music and folk span decades – it just never gets tired.

And the best of all … it comes streaming through my computer in iTunes. How wonderful is it to have access to hundreds and hundreds of radio stations playing whatever music you feel like hearing on any particular day? Just the best. Thank you, Apple! (and yes, I am on a Mac.) The folk stations that serve up the best, if you folkies out there are reading and are unaware of this gem on your computer, are Radioio Acoustic Cafe, Folk Alley, Grassy Hill Radio and GotRadio-Folk Lore.

Sometimes it’s the seemingly small joys in life that become the rich tapestry backdrops to the rest of our lives … when is there not music?

Africa – Perpetuum Jazzile

October 5, 2009 / still a dreamer / 2 Comments

This amazing a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia not only reinvents Toto’s 1982 hit, Africa, but creates an African rainstorm with their hands as an introduction. It’s been around for a bit, but if you’ve never seen – or heard – it, it’s totally amazing. I’ve listened to it many times, and haven’t tired yet. Such talent.

Winged Migration – A Spectacular Visual Treat

August 18, 2009August 18, 2009 / still a dreamer / 2 Comments

WingedMigration-flamingos This movie, released in 2003, is one of the most spectacular I have seen. There is almost no narration, there are occasional notes on the bottom of the screen indicating the type of bird and the location and distance it flies during migration, and the most incredible music created just for the film. Not to mention breathtaking landscapes from one end of the world to the other. What is even more extraordinary, is how the birds were filmed – the view is most often from the bird’s perspective. For bird/wild bird lovers or just nature lovers, this is one to see. Available on Netflix.

Be sure to see the Special Features and you’ll be amazed at the 4 year chronicle it took to make this film and how the birds were filmed this way. I smiled in wonder all through the movie and again just watching the trailer. For a sneak peek, check out the trailer.

Where the Wild Things Are

July 26, 2009 / still a dreamer / 4 Comments

Last week in the movies I saw the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are and was all but jumping up and down in my seat – can I wait!!! I came across it again today while online, and for those who have not seen it – I just had to share.

WhereTheWildThingsAre I’m assuming everyone has read this classic children’s book by Maurice Sendak, but if you haven’t seen the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are, check it out here on YouTube. The trailer alone is fabulous. The adaptation from book to movie is by Spike Jonze and from what I read, Sendak is very happy with it and feels Jonze’s interpretation enriches his story. Can’t beat Maurice Sendak’s blessing! The great song in the trailer is “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire and is perfect for the visuals. The movie is due out in October and will appear in iMax theaters as well.