Of First and Last

A great deal of importance has been imparted on the mythical "first love": that joy of youth, sometimes unfulfilled but always brimming with endless promise and potential, never quite ripe but always tempting a taste. And indeed, when old age strikes or another failed relationship ends, it always brings a sad smile to one's eyes upon recalling the memory of youth's folly. A pain and tenderness quite unmatched in intensity and feeling.

But what of its less reputed sister, "last love"? That which you leave behind lying shriveled on some unremarked hospital bed, that that you part with for a little bit of eternity on your way to the battlefield or the anonymity surrounding what you thought was just another one night stand.

In the end, those you leave behind may be just as important as those lost memories of that spring day, even here, at winter's gate.

Cheer up with François Virot - Young Love and Fresh Fruits {MP3} (from the Release Party CD-R)
Check out François Virot's MySpace, last.fm and Virb.com pages for further updates and new music.

The fuzzy and painful in between with Elliott Smith - Pretty (Ugly Before), a tribute video clip, originally from From a Basement on the Hill


And the ultimate parting, at the last, Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye (Live), originally from Grace

A New Look: Color Bars

As you can see, I've upgraded the blog's template and looks. This took longer than I expected because the new intuitive blogger HTML template, and in particular the ability to add links and buttons, was not so intuitive (at least not for me). After more than an hour of frustration, though, I was able to find the rather helpful post in a forum "have you tried using the Java/HTML text widget?". Of course I haven't. I sometimes amaze myself on how I'm trying to do things the hard way when they are almost a click away...

Anyway, the new design is not complete and is still a work in progress. Also, this post will not, I hope, come instead of the one I intend to write tomorrow. The problem with "Song of the Morning" posts though is that I don't plan them in advance as they are completely dependent on how I wake up the next day. That's also what I like about them.

I'd preferred sharing this post's song, but I'd rather not start this new template with (another) legal mail from blogger. Besides, seeing Elliott alive instead of just hearing him has its benefits. The song is a favorite of mine and has some lines which under a certain interpretation may be related to the recent change I've made:

"But I'll be connecting everything
The traffic in my town
Riding high again,
High on the sound".

Thanks, everyone.

Elliott Smith - Color bars (from the beautiful Figure 8)

Celebrate life (or death)?: Elliott Smith

As our friends on 'haoneg' and other places have noted, today is the fifth anniversary for Elliott Smith's death. To my shame, I was introduced to him only after he'd died, but this unfortunate fact does not stand in the way of his music.
I'm still a bit self conscious when I approach him, almost reluctant, as though I am afraid to hurt him or maybe just feeling exposed by the lyrics and the music that seem to envelope him.

Sorry. The piano on "Color Bars" just hit my tender spot.

So why mark this day, the day we became angry at him for leaving us behind, for not being strong enough for us? Why not settle for his birthday (August 6th) as the nexus of potential was just beginning? Is this just another part of the artist-following relationship where we continuously make demands for more, even beyond the grave? What do we hope for? What can we hope for?

'Cause in the end there's just the music; the first song that we hear, the first that we love, the one we share with that special person, the one that is just our own. And then there's the man: a painful reflection of our everyday hurts, dreams, loves and silence.
A cup of tears filled to the brim.

Here's a live cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord". The song begins thus:
"My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you lord
But it takes so long, my lord"

So long, Elliott.

Elliott Smith - My Sweet Lord (Live George Harrison cover)
Elliott Smith's picture from Last.fm.