On Sandy & Co.

There was a time when seagulls flew, when ducks were diving, seals still shone;
There was a time in intermission, where some were doubtful some were prone.
This time has passed, the time’s a-changin’,
Now rats are out and run at night –
Intrude your quiet nighttime stroll
and make this game a quest for might!

…or simply quoting:

“Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.”

(Bob Dylan – Times They Are A-Changin’; Copyright 1962, 1963 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991, 1992 by Special Rider Music)

Stormy Waters A-Rising

UN-Stylish?!

When the current success singer and dancer PSY and his South Korean fellow citizen UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appear in front of an unusal high number of journalists at UN headquarters in NYC this is likely intended to benefit both parties. The UN Secretary-General and his organisation aspiring to attain greater recognition amongst ‘Gangnam Stylish’ youth and dancers around the world (close to 600 million clicks for the video so far). Just like seemingly much impressed PSY in his newly acquired role as a representative of his country and his pursuit of the Billboard throne.

The shared nationality of both Ban and PSY may have been an incentive to arrange for the meeting. Incentives for such decisions are very often straight forward. Ban had also repeatedly stated his strong belief in music as a vehicle for tolerance, reconciliation and change in the world before the encounter. Change maybe from Steve Urkel or the Prince of Belair to PSY as the world’s dancing inspiration. Who could possibly have omitted inviting them to UN back then? Just make sure to be inspired by Ban’s, PSY’s and Ai Weiwei’s dancing attempts. For whatever reason. Too much inspiration from Ban’s next guest that day is not recommended: Felix Baumgartner.

An attempt by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reach an improbable audience with PSY’s help: Gangnam Style.

…a city that never sleeps!

Roaming the streets of New York in times of the 2012 presidential pre-election phase is a particular pleasure. Not only because watching a debate where Mitt Romney presents his by now infamous ‘binders full of women‘ in a New York City bar can be quite an intense experience in a heated and, well, very partial atmosphere. It is also a time to reflect on the four years that have been since Barack Obama / BO / Potus (President of the United States) was elected and to consider the next three weeks still leading up to 2012 election day. Yesterday’s debate did carry some incentives to provide a good link to the music so closely intertwined with NYC: Potus went for a little rhyme at some point and with this carried some rhythm just outside the New York city limits to Hamstead on Long Island.

But the real spirit is in NYC: walking in ‘the streets of’ New York with a nice tune up in the back of the head has its very particular appeal. And what beauty of songs is out there that is always ready to be hummed crisscrossing the roads and avenues and waking ‘up in a city that never sleeps‘. From there it is only a short ways to ‘New York City – such a beautiful disease‘ which can wonderfully be detected in the often empty subway stares. So much to be explored out there. For example the Brooklyn Nets NBA squad in their newly built and Jay Z driven arena: ‘Is Brooklyn in da house?‘. From there it is only a short ways and a ‘quick call’ to a modern hip hop starlet: Azelia Banks with her ‘212‘ – the NYC local area code. And most is somewhat wrapped up in ‘Empire State of Mind‘ and Jay Z’s second contribution to this little NYC sound journey.This time with Alicia Keys. So much and lots more that can be hummed and whistled in this ‘Automn In New York‘, so many great voices and so many outspoken contributions.

Maybe you all feel like adding to this ‘concert’ with other tracks and United Thought…

Automn in New York