28 January 2015 (Wednesday)

After last week's debacle with the room I was glad to see that 12 students came again. And we were in a good room for music conversation!

I started the class by asking who is going to watch the Seattle Seahawks play in the Superbowl on Sunday, and where they were going to watch. This game is a very big, exciting cultural event for the city of Seattle and the whole city will stop in its tracks for 4 hours Sunday afternoon!

Last week we didn't have a chance to hear choices from all the new students so we started today by asking one of them to choose a song. It was "Bachiana No. 2" (video, song info) by Heitor Villa-Lobos (info). The student who chose it said the song is made to sound like a train and it reminds him of his father, who worked for a train company. 

The next song was chosen by a student who often chooses piano songs, but this time he chose a Goth Metal (info) song: "Covered By Roses" (video with lyrics, song info) by Within Temptation (info). There are many connections between heavy metal bands and classical music: I guess heavy metal bands like the structure of classical music; they just like it a lot LOUDER!

Speaking of Goth Metal, a student mentioned Japanese Goth Metal band Malice Mizer (info) so we checked out their song "Bel Air" (video, lyrics, song info). 

Apparently the singer for Bel Air Goth was Gackt (info), who is a very popular singer in Japan. The Japanese students in the class were surprised to hear that Gackt was in an earlier band like this.

Next I asked today's new student to pick a song. The student dances ballet and picked the Don Quixote Ballet (video-her favorite part is the spinning from 1:50:00, song info). Coincidentally the Don Quixote Ballet will be performed in Seattle 30 January - 8 February (info) . 

I told the class that my favorite word, "quixotic" (definition) comes from the story of Don Quixote. 

My other favorite word in the English language is "barn sour", which describes a horse that hurries up to get back to the barn when it realizes it is going back home. I think it's a concept that can be used for humans, too. But 99% of Americans don't know the term "barn sour" because only people who ride horses know it, so be careful in using it generally.

The next song was "I'm Not The Only One" (video, lyrics, song info) by Sam Smith (info). This was chosen on the theme of "Songs of 2014". The student heard it when she arrived in Seattle and it made her think of being off on an adventure but that she is not alone.

The next song was also on the "Songs of 2014" theme: "Fake Plastic Trees (live at Glastonbury)" (video: watched from 1:30, lyrics, song info) by Radiohead (info). The student who chose this song said it was his most-played song on iTunes in 2014. He loves the 2nd Radiohead album, "The Bends" (info). I was surprised that in 2014 he was listening so much to an album released 20 years ago. He said he had always heard more recent Radiohead albums but discovered "The Bends" just a year ago and now it's his favorite Radiohead album.

Next we had another "Song of 2014": Extraños (video, lyrics) by Siddhartha (info). I couldn't make notes of the reasons the student who chose this song song chose it and I can't remember the exact reasons, but I like the song and video!

The last song of the day was 在那之後的海岸 (video) by Morning Call (Facebook site). The student who chose this song said she is encouraged to see Taiwanese indie bands like this get the chance to play large, prestigious concerts like this.



With that our time for the week was over. For the next class, 4 Feb, we will meet again in Allan Research Library Commons Red Room C. I can't think of a good theme right now so just come to class with a favorite song you want to share with everyone.