IT’S April and the month has always been somewhere deep inside the heart of this sentimental old fool, so allow Moi to be a bit whimsical and talk about something else other than the usual suspects and social climbers.
But first, some stray semantic memories:
Let’s start with this: the National ID, if not mandatory, will just be another exercise in futility and a waste of people’s money.
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BC (before COVID) a friend, an Englishman who’s also a vegan, was a dinner guest at home. When dinner was served, he said, “Wow, stir fried kale and sautéed aubergine, that’s lovely” and I replied that here we call them “ginisang petchay” and “adobong talong.” Of course, they’re lovely too…
And speaking of Englishmen, Keith Richards lately of the English band Rolling Stones said “Blues” is probably the best thing the United States of America has contributed to the world. Let me add Jazz, Levi’s 501 and Converse Jack Purcell.
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The community pantry was borne out of kindness and the bayanihan spirit. It is disheartening to see opportunistic politicians and pseudo communists destroy this beautiful gesture with their ulterior motives.
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It’s been 31 years, five days and counting, a tumultuous, bumpy ride but I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I’m happy that we’re in it together and if we’re doing it again I’d still choose you, hence this revisit.
“Corcovado”, (in English, “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”) is a bossa nova song written by Antônio Carlos Jobim in 1960. An English lyric was later written by Gene Lees.
The Portuguese title refers to the Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. It is now considered a Jazz standard, having been recorded by established and well known jazz artists.
The song actually describes the beauty and magic of Brazil and the Corcovado Mountain overlooking the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It speaks of a whimsical life and the music of bossa nova that immediately brings to mind Brazil aside from the “beautiful game” of football.
The lines also speak of love, of longing, of being lost and almost giving up. It speaks of inspiration of finding someone a soul mate.
On a personal note, I can relate to the lyrics, perhaps even say they sort of speak of my existence and its meaning to me.
“I who was lost and lonely believing life was only a bitter tragic joke, have found with you the meaning of existence, oh my love.” These lines are very personal to me as they described what I have been through and finally found love.
Don’t worry folks, I’m not getting mushy here maybe just a sentimental old fool’s bittersweet memories that one needs to express sometimes. We can’t be all bashing politicians all the time as it does get to be quite boring. So much for disgusting politicians and the usual suspects, including those wokes and other fools. Let’s segue back to something more pleasant, the beautiful bossa nova of Brazil.
To fully appreciate the essence of the music, here are the rest of the lyrics of “Corcovado”…
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars;
Quiet nights of quiet stars
Quiet chords from my guitar
Floating on the silence that surrounds us
Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams
Quiet walks by quiet streams
And a window that looks out on Corcovado
Oh, how lovely
This is where I want to be
here with you so close to me
until the final flicker of life’s ember
I who was lost and lonely
believing life was only
a bitter tragic joke, have found with you
the meaning of existence, oh my love…
Simply lovely. I suggest listening to the original version of this Jobim classic with Astrud Gilberto on vocals, Stan Getz on saxophone and Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano. Better still, check out also the official video of Diana Krall’s version of Quiet Nights and you will have a breathtaking glimpse of the beauty of the Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
So sit back and relax, have a glass of cold Chablis, close your eyes and let the music of bossa nova take you “where you want to be with your love so close to you until the final flicker of life’s embers.” (brotherlouie16@gmail.com)/PN
