WE ARE A CALENDAR ENTRY: WORLD WATER DAY MIX

Not to turn this site into a collage of world causes, or anything, but the Guardian informs me that today is World Water Day. I remember in Cubs we were told to think about water, and how we take it for granted, followed by the mandatory slide-show presentation. I think we were told that baths are better than showers, if you like to have a long wash. But worse, if you prefer a short wash? I think that's how it went. Well, today's the day we think about these things, with the topic being "Coping with water scarcity"... and then there's the debate about water-tax... and so it seems there's no better time for a post involving songs and water. And some of these are really really good!



World Water Day 2007

Colour Revolt - Mattresses Underwater
Damien Rice - Cold Water (live)
Sorta - Water Music
Justice - Waters of Nazareth (Erol Alkan's Dur Dur Durrr re-edit)
Richard Hawley - You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til The River Runs Dry)
Leah Abramson - Waterworks
Fionn Regan - Blackwater Child
Rachel's - Water From The Same Source
The Weepies - Rocks & Water (live)
Griffin House - Waterfall

Fionn Regan makes catchy down-tempo folk music, and his live performances are captivating - just as you're about to drift off into your own reverie, he draws you in with poetic one-liners like "pull a diamond from your sleeve", or playful introductions like "this one's for anyone who has been dumped by fax machine, or fountain pen, or been pick-pocketed, or met that guy who steals your eyelashes and then comes back for your eyebrows.... "

To this day I have never seen Damien Rice live, despite being a fan ever since O came out in Ireland. I want to see Justice live. I know little to nothing about the other bands featured on this mix, other than the fact that they have pleasing songs. Smile.

Another thing Fionn Regan said that night:

"this song is for anyone who has been in a kebab shop at 3am and starting drumming their fingers on the counter like it's a grand piano and your friends say "we've had a good evening... but i think we should get a taxi"

--- I well know the feeling.

Normal service shall continue shortly.

I'M ON YOUR SIDE WITH THIS

So, who enjoyed St. Patrick's day? Ireland didn't win the Six Nations (no!), which was a bit gutting. But, much later on, I ended up in a club full of Scottish people, wearing Guinness hats, dancing to "She is handsome, she is pretty / she is the girl from Belfast city!" So you know, pretty fun, from what I can remember.

Berkeley

Colour Me In

The Redneck Manifesto

The Dillon Family Dancers

Fittingly, these songs are by Irish bands (huni, i'm home! - Glasgow, you are a lot better for live music, but Ireland, you have just as many bands to fall in love with!) These songs loiter, shyly, about the room before they fully get to know everyone. And there's an edge to them. As if, at some moment (The Redneck Manifesto slip out from under the gentle funk dress and into something more aggressive and sexual at 2:10; Berkeley break in with the angst-ridden drums at 3:54), they're just going to throw themselves out a window ("haha, bet you didn't see that coming!"), or else they're waiting for the ideal moment to run around the room dancing, making everyone laugh. Because they're charmers, through and through. Even if they won't admit it at first.