i heard a spark, something that glowed...

Ok, i am kinda dedicating this to a friend of mine. One of the few friends who actually gave me a mix CD back (and is a big advocate of my mixtapes to others, which is way important to my closeted DJ aspirations). These are two songs i heard first via his influence.

Spark...The Bird & The Bee
I am not in total love with this band. Their big song, their hit, is "My Fucking Boyfriend", which, though cute, kinda grates. The Peaches mix was cool, but I found it a bit disposable (i know, that sounds bitchy). However, I don't think that's the song I'd play to get people into them. Its this song. Its sung beautifully, very clear and straightforward. The singer is basically talking about feeling better about herself, about slowing down her life and enjoying the beauty around it. Its a very simple song and all the better for it. And for some reason it reminds me of "The Way Old Friends Do" by ABBA. Yeah, i don't know why...all i know is that i love it when she sings "I open my eyes, when there is light, to see if i am closer, what if i stopped, just for awhile, to make it go slower. Still like the night, just for awhile, to see if i am finer...live like i'm finer." Gets me.

Sometimes....James
This song was actually on the mix CD that my friend made. Although I had was familiar with James (the most recognizable songs being "Sit Down" and "Laid", which everyone has heard. Two interesting facts about "Laid": it was their only chart hit in the United States [they had like 20 in the UK] AND i always confuse it with Robyn Hitchcock "So You Think You're In Love". Its a great song with great lyrics, very sexy).

But "Sometimes" was only a minor hit in the UK (i think it hit like #18). To me, its the ultimate mixtape song--it just jumps out, stands out--you stop whatever you are doing to listen and bask in the moment. From the get go, its immediate..its all about a torrential rainstorm and being in love and being in a moment. "There's a storm outside and the gap between crack and thunder...is closing in, is closing in." And at the chorus, the song just takes off...he sings "cmon thunder, cmon thunder" and the guitars lift and he sings "sometimes, when i look deep into your eyes, i can see your soul."

but the part that gets me (and i mean GETS ME, i can listen to this song over and over and over) comes later. He sings "there's four new colors in the rainbow, and an old man's taking polaroids, and all captures is endless rain, endless rain" And then the imagery gets Dali "He says, takes my head and puts my ear to his and i swear i can hear the sea."

And then the song literally bursts open with the chorus featuring (are you ready for this) a key change and oh my god is that a fucking choir. Yup, it is. And he just keeps singing ...i can see your soul...i can touch your soul...i can reach your soul."

Its like one of the hottest most beautiful songs in the world. i fucking love it. i've made my friend like 50 mix cd's, he's made me 1. for this song, its the fairest trade in the world. Whats it really about...to me, its about kissing somebody you love in the rain and wanting it to never never end.