The Most Beautiful Song In The World

 

I am a fan of the Coen Brothers’films, especially since O Brother Where Art Thou? After seeing Oh Brother in the cinema I went out the next day and bought the soundtrack. 

The brothers have a hotly anticipated new film out soon called Inside Llewyn Davis, which deals with the early 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene.

I am NOT on the whole a fan of folk music….though when Elvis first hit public consciousness  he was dubbed “the Folk Music Fireball” by one confused critic.

The song used in the trailer is called Dink’s Song (or Faretheewell). Covered by Dylan and other folkies the song dates back to a 1908 when it was collected by John Lomax, no doubt it is much older.   

One of these days and it won't be long
Call my name and I'll be gone
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well

I remember one night, a drizzling rain
Round my heart I felt a pain
Fare thee well, oh honey, fare thee well

I went looking for the version in the movie and instead found this 1962 version by Judi Resnick, proving once again that the best music is unknown, just waiting for us to discover. 

Judi Resnick(not the astronaut who died in the Challenger tragedy) seems to have only released one album recorded in a Boston coffee house. Apparently she passed away in 1982.

Something in her voice seems to hint at Phil Spector's girl group sound, perhaps it was something in the air back in then. When I like a tune I play it over and over again, so needless to say this track has been on infinite repeat at the April Bunker.

Her version of Faretheewell seems to elegantly capture the sadness many of us have to endure in seeking to right nature’s wrongs.

I was particularly moved last week by Sophie’s tribute Lisa (A Woman Named Sophie blog) . Transition is a hard road and we must never give in to despair, we must strive to see the beauty not the sadness.  

Bridget Bardot Eyes

I wish, my attempt to mimic her dark sixties eye makeup was met with...."pretty but it makes you look really tired". 

Inspired by my viewing of the French bio pic of Serge Gainsbourg, A Heroic Life.  I was aware of his influence on French popular music and of course his love affairs, Juliette Greco, Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin.

I mean where to begin? From his obscene "Les Sucettes" pop hit for yéyé girl France Gall to his "Aux Armes et cætera", a reggae version of "La Marseillaise" that caused riots in Paris. He courted controversy, had the most beautiful women in the world and lived for his art. Oh and of course made a lot of money...."I'll get into hack work and buy myself a Rolls"



I will leave you dear constant reader to search out the above mentioned tunes, here are two of my favourites Gainsbourg numbers:

Hugs,

April

Lucky 13: Rockabilly Birthday

Friday was my birthday, 29 again! In an attempt to spit in the face of fate/karma/what have you, I journeyed into the sinful big city on the 13th to catch the monthly Rockabilly Shake Up at the 3030 on Dundas St. West.


A cool venue that featured a line of vintage pinball machines, (I have a 1975 Bally four player “Bukaroo” in my basement...well not my basement for long).

Two bands were playing, The Alistair Christl Trio and Christian D and the Hangovers.
Both were great but I preferred the Hangovers Cramps like sound, it was their psychobilly style version of Tear It Up that finally got the normally shy me up on the dance floor.

Good DJ spinning some obscure rockin wax, including the impossibly infectious and nutty Snacky Poo Part-1 by  The Del-Mars [Mercury #72244] 1962. See below to have your musical taste permanently warped.

You don’t turn up to a rockabilly show without spending some time on your look. Lots of guys and gals really dressed the part. For the guys, leather jacket JD style or dapper sport coat wearing Sun era Elvis. The girls were an eclectic mix from bad girl biker, forties factory worker, Bettie Page clones and one redhead who was the splitting image of Joan from Mad Men.

Me; leopard print mini dress, black leather jacket and four inch black pumps, yes I can cut a rug in them.

 Because I have no mercy, here is Part 2

Remembering

Today we met with the lawyer to basically finalize our separation agreement and pave the way for a divorce decree before the end of the year.

In happier times it was this view that we both looked out upon as we embarked on a honeymoon cruise to Bermuda. New York is also where I first set foot in the new world, only one year old.


But not about me today.

In Southern Ontario we are having a mini heat wave,  warmer than even that perfect day back in 2001... when the world changed.

It was a global tragedy, an atrocity, my heart goes out to all my American friends.

Love,

April

Marie France….Role Model, Better Late Than Never

I recently discovered an very cool album from 1980 by Marie France called 39 de fièvre (RCA). The record combines, rockabilly, sixties garage and the ye-ye girl sound. So right up my alley.

Despite her punk background she has become something of a traditional French chanteuse. In 2008 she returned to her roots teaming up with the Phantoms to record a rockabilly/garage album.

As my regular readers will remember I have a thing for late fifties, sixties French pop culture. Most of the tracks are available to listen to on You Tube ...enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6e3iJALQj4&feature=share&list=FLxikIp479qca6R03Yo1hPPw

And one more thing….she is or rather was transsexual. 

Fast rewind the time machine to 1980 and I was a boarding school in the UK,  beginning my obsession with rockabilly and Cadillacs. At the same time tormented daily by my own thoughts….what the hell was wrong with me, was I the only one, I must fight this curse at all costs, the shame, the guilt. Heck you all know what I am talking about.   

Wonder if things might have been different if I found this record….what a role model! Better late than never!

Good Night Campers

My recovery seems to be going well and I am following my dilation routine to the letter as Dr. Brassard recommended. My times during the day are not consistent but I get in three required sessions.

On the home front things are less rosy.  Divorce will soon be finalized and I will have to vacate our home for the last fifteen or so years. J and children to stay in family home. Employment is still an issue and my writing doesn’t generate a steady income. Wherever I end up I will be seeing a lot less of my children about which I am extremely upset.

My emotions have been on the raw side this last week and I have found myself sobbing at the most ridiculous things.

I had been watching an old British sitcom called Hi De Hi about a fictional Butlin's like holiday camp during the late fifties. The series focuses on the camp staff and ran for nine seasons. The other day I caught the very last episode on You Tube. In the final episode the staff learn the camp will not open next season and their little family is cast to the winds.

I think I cried for thirty minutes at the bittersweet conclusion, seeing parallels to my own situation, silly no? 

watch it here;

A real Butlin's commercial:

 

  

ANGER

Sometimes it overwhelms me and threatens drown what I hope is the good person inside of me.

I think I have managed to keep a positive attitude despite personal and employment issues. I can remember how far I have come and how lucky I am to have many supportive friends and family.

But sometimes the old me flames back into being, the old me… always angry/sad/miserable… I take each minor setback to heart and bile floods my soul.  Dear constant reader that corrosive anger is like a drug, I used to draw my strength from it, the fuel of my ambition and a necessity to get me through the day.

I would hazard a guess many transsexuals have that same self hating anger as a crutch. The original concept of anger (wrath) as one of the seven deadly sins meant anger directed externally as well as internally.

Part of me welcomes its return with open arms, so familiar and so comforting. Yes it whispers, hate the world, no one loves you,  you are freak.

Clearly I have written this post more than a few times over my journey, the telling helps exorcise the demons, thanks for listening everyone.

As the villager said in Monty Python's Holy Grail, she turned me into a newt but I am much better now…

 Hugs,

April