skrapnel

Here’s an excerpt from an email I sent to a friend in Berlin describing my reaction to Arthur Russel’s “This is how we walk on the moon.”  It’s a little more lucid than my previous post on the song.

Heard this song a few nights ago and started crying.  It’s about taking small steps until you finally get to the moon.  The instruments (a cello, some horns), his voice and the lyrics are so powerful.  By the time the song was over, I was sobbing.

When I got home, I looked him up.  Found out the song is from the 80s. He wrote it after he discovered he was HIV positive.  You know I’m a big softie, so of course I started crying again.

There is something sad yet inspirational about the song.  It’s haunting.  I downloaded more music from his discography and it’s set me on this creative, insomniac spin.

It also made me realize that true art–that is, art that is an authentic and real expression of the human condition–can affect, influence and inspire people.  It’s a reminder that you don’t have to follow the rules to have an impact; no matter how avant garde or unknown you are, if you are real, you’ll always connect with someone.

And here’s the song, again:

Heard this song last night by Arthur Russell (wikipedia) and it completely moved me to tears.  The music, the lyrics and his voice are all so understated and delicate, while at the same time optimistically powerful.  By the end of the song, I was sobbing.

When we first start reaching for our dreams, they can seem so far away.  But each step brings you closer and closer.  That’s how you do it: little step after little step until you jump over.

Listen to the song and follow the lyrics (they aren’t accurate, but they’ll give you a good idea).  Hopefully it moves you the same way it moved me.

You can find his full discography on Amazon here .

[UPDATE: I wrote a better description of my reaction here.]

Lyrics to “This is How We Walk on the Moon” by Arthur Russel

Arthur Russell with Cello

Each step is moving, it’s moving me up
moving, it’s moving me up
Every step is moving me up
moving me up, moving, moving me up
Every step is
moving me up
One tiny, tiny,
tiny move
It’s all I need
And I jump over
Every step is moving me up

This is how we walk on the moon

This is how we walk on the moon
Every step is moving me up
I’m so far away
One moment there
Moving me up
Every step is moving me up
One moment there
One tiny, tiny move
It’s all I need and I jump over

Phew! I’ve finally recovered from SXSW Interactive AND Music festivals, and have been going non-stop getting establish here in Austin.

By far the highlight of the week was going to Perez Hilton’s party.  It’s was probably one of my most favoritest shows of all time. Great lineup. Free liquor. And dancing like fools with some good friends. Who could ask for anything more, right?

Well, it gets better.  That night was immortalized on several blogs and the New York Times.  First their pics followed by a few of my pics, including being in front of Kanye.

Before the pics, I just have to say Kanye’s current album has helped me feel emotion and love again. This album has its moments of cold and distant, but there is always a human soul in the music that is crying out to be loved–so hearing him performing live, I couldn’t help but rock out.  You’ll see that in the New York Times pic.

Chris at the Kanye West's performance -- Photo:Josh Haner/The New York Times

Via: SXSW Wrap-Up – The New York Times > Arts > Slide Show > Slide 6 of 14.

Chris at Kanye's Performance from Last Night's Party Blog

Via: Last Night’s Party

Kanye from my iPhone camera at the Perez Hilton Party

Kanye from my iPhone at the Perez Hilton Party (note Perez in the background!)

You can see the full Flickr set with pictures of other amazing performers like Little Boots, Solange, Yelle and Kid Cudi here.

I love Animal Collective.  To me, they are like an updated, not-so-sleepy-still-interesting version of Can.  That’s why I can’t believe they broke Top 20.

And three weeks after the vinyl version was an instant sell-out, didgeridoo-loving trio Animal Collective will hit #13 with their critic-magnet Merriweather Post Pavilion album, which sold of 24,700 in its first week out in CD format.

via Taylor Swift Tops Chart For Eighth Week – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News.

Panda Bears’ solo album, “Person Pitch,” was totes a futuristic, post-pop version of the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds.”  Not surprisingly, the new single,”My Girls,” reminds me of what pop music might sound like in Brave New World.  Plus, I’m a sucker for Panda Bear’s lyrics/vocal stylings:

Is it much to admit I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house

I don’t care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father’s grace

I don’t mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

The video for their current single, “My Girls,” is a little too Blue Man Group meets iPod commercial for me, but the song rocks. Check it.  What do you think?