Do Not Knock The Cello! Jodymoon's Atmospheric Music.

Hiya, good to see you again.
Jodymoon, Dutch duo-cum-occasional-quartet has been my constant companion for the past two years.
You will find two older posts about them in my post history line, but as I like them so much, I'd thought I'd do another one to help tide you over until their new CD is released in March 2015.

Bringing out a CD is a hazardous business, these days. Everybody either streams or downloads on the sly. Every musician I speak to tells me the same story. CD sales have dropped dramatically. You have to have something of a Don Quichote in you to continue trying to live off music.

Now, I am only a wanna-be-singer (and nothing wrong with that, eh? Far more realistic to be a wanna-be-singer than a wanna-be-native-American, in my view), so what do I know?

Well, I know what I like!

Jodymoon

The stupidest thing just happened: I uploaded this post and it disappeared!

Grumphhhhhh! Will try to write it again from memory. Here goes.

Using a cello on this already lovely song is a stroke of pure genius, and makes it gorgeous.  It was recorded in 2010, and is from the album "Who Are You  Now".

And I wanted you to hear this for two reasons:

first of all, Jodymoon is awesome live, and this track shows it. I cannot stress this enough:

THEY ARE AMAZING IN CONCERT!

Second, I wanted you to hear this cello.

Sure, there is a violin too, and it's great, but every self-respecting Celtic band uses a violin player (not that Jodymoon is a Celtic band!), but who ever uses a cello?

Ever since I saw them last year, I have loved the cello parts in their music. In fact, I have decided I am going to be a cello player in my next life.

All jesting aside, the cello is what makes their music so essentially Dutch. It is like our temperament. Moody. Melancholy. A bit dark.

I'll leave you with another live recording during that same session in 2010. Look them up on Facebook, Twitter etcetera. And buy that CD in March 2015! I like them so much, I'd hate them to stop playing because of lack of funds. And if you have the chance, GO SEE THEM LIVE!

Right. Enjoy!

Jodymoon again

Music; I Cannot do Without! Can you? (Music by Jodymoon and Paolo Nutini)

Hi. I've told you more than once that I am a committed music lover, right?
Music certainly makes MY world go around. 
It is the score to my life, be it for good or worse, and I can hear a song and will be transported back to a particular moment in my life instantly. Or the other way around: a memory will immediately make me think of a particular song. And a certain piece of music will evoke moods and longings. The link below is a very good example.

It's the prettiest thing - by Jodymoon

So it will not come as a surprise to you that I love to sing myself. I sing all the time (much to the amusement and sometimes chagrin of my work colleagues, who get a continuous stream of song from me whilst I'm checking my email and grading my test papers. Well, I do try to keep it down, honestly I do!)

A very long time ago I worked as a nurse in an old people's hospital, looking after Alzheimer patients, and there was this ancient lady who was so far gone that she had lost the ability to speak, or eat (she was fed by a tube through her nose). She had long, thin white hair, and she would calm down and stop fidgeting with her hands when I brushed it. 

And sometimes this miracle would happen: she would start to sing. She sang hymns. The other Alzheimer patients would hush, and it always brought tears to my eyes.
It has always amazed me, right to this day, that a person who couldn't speak any longer, could still sing. When I think of this lady, I think of the song Amazing Grace. I wished her to be free of the burden which her life had become to her, I suppose. 

Party music with Paolo Nutini

After this introspective stuff, the above is to make you smile. It makes my heart sing. Not only is it great fun, but Mr Nutini is scrumptious to watch.

Let me know what music you enjoy?

Happy Summer Solstice to You!

Good evening, my Summer-loving friends!
When you are, like me, in the Western hemisphere, tonight is the shortest night of the year and the start of Summer. Would you like to come on a Solstice adventure with me?

Here we are, at the start of our evening walk. I hope you are wearing good shoes, wouldn't want you to twist an ankle on your town spikes or anything!

Just look at this road. Where will it lead us? Where would you want it to lead? To a new life perhaps, another job, a fresh loving relationship, a richer future? Or are you satisfied with where you are in life?

As you can see, along the waterways of our walk, the swans all have babies. They use the long evenings for eating as much as they can eat, and then cuddle up all together for the night. It's still too early for bats, but the swallows are out in force, swooping and calling to each other. And if we are really, really lucky, we might see this beauty.

Probably not though, they keep themselves to themselves. 

We'll continue our walk, along the country lanes into the dunes by now, for we are walking towards the sea. 

The sea is omnipresent in my corner of the world.

There is no escaping it. It rules our climate.  

On the way to the beach, we pass a garden. The Cosmea are in bloom, catching the last rays of sunlight. And the bees are out in force, making the most of the long evening to gather as much pollen as they can.

They especially like the clover, which covers entire meadows at the moment.

Now, if you are like me, you are now pricking up your ears to try to catch the sound of the cuckoo.

We are very close to the beach by now. Are you still keeping up? Don't worry, we're almost there. One more dune to climb.

And here we are.

We'll walk towards the water's edge, and sit in the sand, and later on we'll build a camp fire to keep the chill at bay. I hope you didn't forget to bring the wine?! We'll ask my favourite Dutch band Jodymoon to sing us a song. Use the link for Playing Around

We'll watch the sun sink into the sea, and the first stars come out. And we'll reflect on Life, and all its sorrows and joys.

Happy Summer Solstice to You!

Update on Jodymoon ~ The Antidote

Hi. A while ago I blogged about a Dutch band I consider to be bloody good: Jodymoon.
They've just uploaded one of their old(er) songs, and I thought I'd be bold and let you in on the secret.

What secret?

This secret. Jodymoon is superb. Sssssssshhhhhhhh! Keep it to yourself and enjoy the music.

Jodymoon; Holland's Best Kept Secret!

Last April my local theatre, TweeHondjes, persuaded me with a 'buy one-get one ticket free' to come listen to Jodymoon. Was it a good offer? It was the best offer of the year 2013!

Jodymoon

Singer-songwriters

Usually I am suspicious of such offers, for they often mean the group cannot get the theatre filled. But I know that TweeHondjes director Johan Veenstra has very good taste in music. So I decided to give this Jodymoon the benefit of the doubt.

I was blown away.

Digna Janssen, a willowy Southern belle based in Maastricht, told us she is, amongst other things, a singing coach. What she didn't explain but what we quickly found out was that she is an original songwriter with introspective lyrics and a great voice, and a personality to match. She told us Johan Smeets is responsible for the string arrangements; well, kudos to Johan!

Together with her partner Johan Smeets and backed up by a two-person string section (Marie-José Didderen on cello and Wim Spaepen on violin) she managed to transport her audience to higher levels of music appreciation. And she even gave us an impromptu singing lesson, which I personally thoroughly enjoyed.

Jodymoon was the surprise of the musical year in Hellevoetsluis.

Johan Smeets during his amazing solo

Why aren't they on TV?

Which takes me to the following question: WHY oh why isn't Jodymoon up there with other Dutch bands, as they are definitely as good as, for instance, those bands that are featured in DWDD every week? (Secretly, I think Jodymoon is better...)

A one-woman plug

So. I've decided to do a little pushing here. Mark this:

Jodymoon has released three albums. I've immediately bought all three the day after the concert.

So can you. To make this easier for you, I'll list them.

1. 'never gonna find it in another story' - 2008 (my favourite track: sleepless laura)

2. 'who are you now' - 2010 ( my favourite track: I could wait forever)

3. 'the life you never planned on' - 2012 (my favourite track: City lights * that guitar!!!!!)

Do look them up, they are on YouTube, and on FB, and have their own site, which I will link for you. I mean, I've done all the work for you, now all you have to do is listen. 

Jodymoon

I can't wait for album #4!
17th January: I've got the next best thing: a link to their latest song. Enjoy!Money in our pockets by Jodymoon