My spiritual exercises
ponedjeljak, 30.04.2018.
MY 3 SONGS IN STYLE OF ABBA - ALSO „SET TO RETURN“?
„ABBA are set to return to the stage in 2019, after Benny Andersson announced that the group will reunite in digital form.“ - So says the latest news.
[Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/music/a-virtual-abba-tour-is-set-to-take-place-in-2019-2139797#08KDFvFDrtwxqoVj.99]
Up to now, and especially in 70s and 80s, when ABBA were at their peak of popularity there were, surprisingly few perfomers writing and playing songs in their style. As I could remember, only Brotherhoood of Man and Bucks Fizz could achieve certain amount of succes writing songs in such good fashion. Then I wasn't even dreaming writing songs, the least in styyle of ABBA, because I was not even some special fan (although I loved to hear some of them on the radio). Unexpectedly, out of the blue, it happen that I got some weird inspiration of writing a real bulk of songs by the end of the year 2016, all of tehm to the lyrics of poets, by far mostly American.
Among them are three, written in style characteristic of ABBA –
'NO HIGHER THAN THE SOUL IS HIGH' [from poem „Renascence“ 1912]
'I SHALL GO AGAIN TO THE BLEAK SHORE' [medley of poem with that title and „What My Lips Have Kissed and Where and Why“, 1923] and
'WHETHER OR NOT (WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING) [1922]'.
All three of them have lyrics written by probably the best American poetess ever, Edna Millay, between 1912 (when she was still a student at university) and 1923, when she was 31. So, I am especially proud that I wrote those songs, and I am also desperatelly seeking good performers for them. As the original Swedish group annnounced that they have a couple of new songs, it would certainly be interesting to compare them. (Of course, if my song could be sung and recorded properly, from the technical point of view.) Also, I came to some 'weird'idea, that there could be made a video, with two beautiful Croatian celebrity girls, basketball player Antonija Sandrić (as Agnetha) and TV presenter Mia Kovačić (as Frida) lip-synchronizing with vocals sung by any women-singers, or more precisely, those who could sing the song in the best possible way (no matter how they look).
It would be also interesting if it could be shoot for instance in the vicinity of town Ičići (near Opatija), because there are beautiful locations with view both to Adriatic islands and Istrian mountains, in the hinterland.
The first of songs, although bear similarity with ABBA songs, in fact is composed more instyle of mid-seventies hits, like Ray Stevens „Misty“, or Billy Jo Spears „Blanket on the Ground“, simply because it has more joyful overtones, than melancholy sounds, so typical for the most ABBA songs.
Seond song bears some similarity with „I've Seen That Face Before“ by Grace Jones, but in refrain also bit of „Shadow of You Smile“, song from 1960s.
Third Song, with bit sarcastic lyrics, bears no similarity with some well known ABBA song, and I was not able to find some similar tune, not even by some other performers, either, but – in my humble opinion it's closest song to ABBA style written maybe by any other composer, and it also „reeks of“ potential hit, in spite of bit 'harsh' lyrics.
NO HIGHER THAN THE SOUL IS HIGH
ALL I COULD SEE FROM WHERE I STOOD
WAS THREE LONG MOUNTAINS AND THE WOOD
I TURNED AND LOOK ANOTHER WAY
AND SAW THREE ISLANDS IN THE BAY
SO WITH MY EYES I TRACED THE LINE
OF THE HORIZON, THIN AND FINE
STRAIGHT AROUND TILL I WAS COME
BACK TO WHERE I STARTED FROM
THE WORLD STANDS ON - EITHER SIDE
NO WIDER THEN THE HEART IS WIDE
ABOVE THE WORLD - IS STRETCHED THE SKY
NO HIGHER THEN THE SOUL IS HIGH
THE HEART CAN PUSH - THE SEA AND LAND
FARTHER AWAY ON EITHER HAND
THE SOUL CAN SPLIT - THE SKY IN TWO
AND LET THE FACE OF GOD SHINE THROUGH
BUT SURE THE SKY IS BIG, I SAID
MILES AND MILES ABOVE MY HEAD
SO HERE UPON MY BACK I'LL LIE
AND LOOK MY FILL INTO THE SKY
THE SKY I THOUGHT, IS NOT SO GRAND
I 'MOST COULD TOUCH IT WITH MY HAND
AND REACHING UP MY HAND TO TRY
I SCREEMED TO FEEL THE TOUCH THE SKY
THE WORLD STANDS ON - EITHER SIDE
NO WIDER THEN THE HEART IS WIDE
ABOVE THE WORLD - IS STRETCHED THE SKY
NO HIGHER THEN THE SOUL IS HIGH
THE HEART CAN PUSH - THE SEA AND LAND
FARTHER AWAY ON EITHER HAND
THE SOUL CAN SPLIT - THE SKY IN TWO
AND LET THE FACE OF GOD SHINE THROUGH
[Acording to the poem „Renascence“ by Edna St. Vincent Millay; music by val3]
I SHALL GO AGAIN TO THE BLEAK SHORE
WHAT MY LIPS HAVE KISSED AND WHERE AND WHY -
- FORGOTTEN GHOSTS TONIGHT, THAT TAP AND SIGH
I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT MY ARMS HAVE LAIN
UNDER MY HEAD TILL MORNING;
BUT THE RAIN
IS FULL OF GHOSTS THAT TONIGHT TAP AND SIGH
UPON THE GLASS –
AND LISTEN FOR REPLAY
I'LL BUILD A SHANTY ON THE SAND
IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE EXTREMEST BAND
OF BREETLE SEAWEED
WILL ESCAPE MY DOOR
AND NEVERMORE
I'LL TAKE YOUR HAND ---
--- I'LL GO
TO WHAT I - UNDERSTAND
THE WORDS THAT LAY A MOMENT ON YOUR TONGUE
A LITTLE UNDERSAID AND UNDERSUNG
ARE ONE WITH ALL THAT IN A MOMENT DIES
WITH LOVE THAT STOOD
- A MOMENT IN YOUR EYES
AND HAPPIER THAN I EVER - WAS BEFORE
I SHALL GO AGAIN TO - THE BLEAK SHORE
AND I SHALL FIND THE SULLEN ROCKS AND SKIES
UNCHANGED
FROM WHAT THEY WERE –
WHEN I WAS YOUNG
[according to the poems „What My Lips Have Kissed, and Where and Why“/“
„I Shall Go Back Again to the Bleak Shore“ by Edna St. Vincent Millay,
music by val3]
WHETHER OR NOT (WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING)
I SHALL FORGET YOU PRESENTLY, MY DEAR
YOUR LITTLE MONTH, YOUR LITTLE HALF A YEAR
SO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS, YOUR LITTLE DAY
ERE I FORGET, OR DIE, OR MOVE AWAY
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING [2x]
AND WE ARE DONE FOREVER, BY AND BY
IF YOU ENTREAT ME WITH YOUR LOVELIEST LIE
I SHALL FORGET YOU, AS I SAID, BUT NOW
I WILL PROTEST YOU WITH MY FAVORITE VOW
I WOULD INDEED THAT LOVE WAS LONGER-LIVED
AND OATH WAS NOT SO BRITTLE AS IT IS
BUT SO IT IS, AND NATURE HAS CONTRIVED
TO STRUGGLE ON WITHOUT A BREAK - THUS FAR
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING [2x]
AND WE ARE DONE FOREVER, BY AND BY
IF YOU ENTREAT ME WITH YOUR LOVELIEST LIE
I SHALL FORGET YOU, AS I SAID, BUT NOW
I WILL PROTEST YOU WITH MY FAVORITE VOW
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING [2x]
[according to the poem „I Shall Forget You, Presently, My Dear“
by Edna St. Vicent Millay,
music by val3]
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As I previously wrote much about incarnations, it is natural that my followers want to know my opinion about the possible incarnation of Edna Millay. I will just shortly say that I think that her present incarnation is Zara Tindall, grranddaughter of the Queen Elizabeth II. They bear the physical similarity, and also love for horses. Quotation from Edna Millay biography:"The garden rooms were adorned with art. Norma’s husband, Charlie Ellis, painted a nude that hung over the bar (using automobile paint to withstand the weather) and wooden rondelles that marked the doors leading to the bar, pool, and summerhouse. Eugen also purchased a Sears & Roebuck barn, which went up across the road, for livestock and horses. Millay loved riding and had her own horse and saddle; in later years she developed an affinity for horse racing as well.10"
For now, it seems that 37 year old Zara, who is excellent equestrian, didn't develop her poetical interests or ambitions, but who knows....
