Sunset from the Wiener Riesenrad, New Years Eve 2012, (c)lgconnolly
So for a ‘Spill Challenge I thought it might be fun to combine my love of music with my love of European travel and produce a sort of musical travelogue around some of the capitals of Western Europe. But if you put yourself into the mindset of Judith Chalmers and were on this journey and could make your decision based only on these tracks, which one of these 11 cities would you not bother getting off the train for….
1 Scott Walker – Copenhagen: As the home of Hans Christian Anderson and Tivoli Gardens, I think Copenhagen holds a special place in many people’s imagination as a city of fairly tales and childlike wonder, an atmosphere that Walker evokes beautifully in this lush track.
2 Amália Rodrigues - Fado Lisboeta: Amália was the Queen of Fado (the Portuguese Blues, the absolute sound of the working class districts of Lisbon), and what more perfect track to play here than this sweet number in which the sound of the Fado evokes a cityscape of dark streets populated by folks with a heavy burden in their soul. An unsurpassed vocalist.
3 Heidi Brühl – Berlin: If anyone tries to tell you that the Germans can’t do “groovy”, steer them towards this little gem from Heidi Brühl, one time child star turned Schlager supremo who had a brief moment making funky records in London, including this one, penned by Ernest Maxin, one time producer of the Morcambe and Wise show….
4 Michel Legrand - Sous Le Ciel De Paris: I had the very good fortune to work in Paris for a short while a few years back and one of the best €5 I spent there was on a copy of Michel Legrand’s Paris Jazz Piano in the Champs-Elysées branch of Fnac, and it quickly became the soundtrack to my free time roaming the city, no more so than this ultra-cool, ultra-smooth take on a Parisian standard.
5 Per Myrberg – Stockholm Blues: Swedish singer (and actor) Myrberg takes on Oscar Brown Jr’s Humdrum Blues and in a moment of Bergman-esque genius, relocates that existential angst to his hometown. A seriously swinging piece of big band Swedish jazz-pop.
6 Jacques Brel - Bruxelles: An affectionate portrayal of his hometown in its pomp around the start of the first world war and the lives his grandparents lived there. Bombastic and magisterial.
7 Billy Nicholls – London Social Degree: And so to London, and what more exciting time to visit than when it was the epicenter of the swinging 60s? Is this young chap saying that London is such a hotbed of art, culture and social opportunities that he don’t need no education daddio, he’s going to the school of life to get himself a London Social Degree?, yeah, that’s right! Er, hang on London Social Degree – that’s LSD right? Ooh, the cheeky scamp, I hope no other, more respectable bands get ideas like that.
8 Billy Joel – Vienna: In my view, one of Joel’s finest songs, inspired by a visit to his estranged father who he found living in Vienna. In Joel’s song, Vienna represents many things – a crossroads and meeting place of many cultures in the heart of Europe (particularly of Jewish culture, central to Joel’s upbringing) , a place of beginnings (his father had fled to America from the Nazis), and so equally a place of return – when Joel found his father there, he found a fulfilled man. Perhaps therefore Vienna itself is a metaphor for fulfillment and the rest of your life. The song’s atmosphere is unmistakably European, but still firmly embedded in Americana – a really great record.
9 Kostas Roukounas – Στης Πλάκας τα στενάκια (Stis Plakas ta stenakia): The beautiful Athenian district of Plaka, right in the shadow of the looming Acropolis, has been a hive of human activity for millenia – this superb example of Rebetiko (the Greek working class blues), dating from the mid 1930s, celebrates the potential for wine fueled fun that the district holds. The 30′s were a critical time in the development of the Rebetiko genre – Greece and Turkey had recently undergone a compulsory population exchange (one of the biggest acts of ethnic cleansing outside of wartime), which resulted in the population of Athens swelling. The new arrivals brought with them some distinctly Eastern musical styles, which integrated themselves heavily into working class music – hence why this sounds distinctly oriental. Over time, the stronger elements of Eastern styles were smoothed out of the Rebetiko, but here it is very dominant.
10 Gianmaria Testa – Gli amanti di Roma: A hopelessly romantic song from one of Italy’s finest contemporary singer songwriters (who inexplicably is hardly known outside of his homeland), this celebrates, without a trace of cynicism, that on some days, every bridge and road of the city seems to be filled with lovers.
11 Collage – Madrid: When I first went to the beautiful city of Madrid (over 10 years ago), this was the piece of music that got stuck in my head, its only real association being the name, but it was on an excellent Blue Note compilation that I had acquired and its laid back, languid feel was just perfectly suited to the vistas across that hot, shimmering city. In actual fact, it was recorded by a group of session musicians led by one time Shadows drummer Brian Bennett for an album released on the EMI Studio 2 Easy listening label – but that doesn’t matter, it’s cool as anything, and as far as I’m concerned, is inextricably linked to that magical city.
Oh that’s just scary!
You stepped into the breach for me this week with almost EXACTLY what I had planned anyway! Seriously, the only difference is that mine was much more US-centric (Dayton, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Hannibal, MO, etc.)!
Given our lack of communication, to say I’m a little freaked out by that is an understatement.
Off to work in a few mins, but will climb aboard this evening.
Weird!
It’s a bit world DsD, room for many travelogues!
What a nice play list ! ! !
I do hope one day I will visit some of the wonderful cities in your playlist ! ! !
If I had to leave one out, it would be the first. I am not the worlds biggest fan of Scott Walker although I do recognise he has a great voice. . . it is something about his phrasing I think that I find difficult. But even so I did like the song and would be sad to miss Copenhagen in my tour ! ! !
Many thanks Sakura! Make sure you don’t miss out Copenhagen when you are over in Europe , it’s a wonderfully friendly and fun (if rather expensive!) city – Mrs Bandit and I particularly like it as we got engaged there.
In my experiences over the last decade living here, England almost always finishes just out of anything involving Europe. So, without having listened yet and barring a last – probably disputed – goal, I’m going to assume it’s London in 11th (with much handwringing about what went wrong)
I know several of these so it’s a pleasing listen, on the whole.
Three candidates for skipping are Legrand, Joel and Collage. All too “jazzy” for my tastes and featuring piano , an instrument which I have an irrational loathing for ( when played in the “plinky plonk” fashion.
Collage reminds me of “Riders on the storm” a bit, so that can stay.
Joel I can’t take seriously thanks to Alexi Sayle but I think I’ll pass on Paris.
Cannot stand the place. Like a garlic and Gitane scented London with extra added rudeness.
City of romance ! Pah !
Give me Rome anyday.
Good idea for a playlist, I am already familiar with a few, which I am learning to love (I prefer my Scott Walker and Brel filtered through more recent singers, I have discovered), so those will stay.
Love the groovy Berlin, although I do expect Austin Powers to skip into scene at any moment. Michel Le Grand is very sprightly, evokes the mood of the city well for me, so that’s not leaving.
Kostas Roukounas I like a lot too. It doesn’t evoke Greece to me, but that’s my fault not its.
I have never been to Spain, let alone Madrid, you have inspired me to consider it with your enthusiasm.
Overall, I think I could live without London actually, despite it being the place I have visited most on the list
Great idea!
Copenhagen – I usually find Scott Walker a bit much, but this was great – lush but not overstated. Closest I’ve been to Copenhagen is Legoland.
Lisbon – I visited Lisbon for the first time last September and loved it. This is an irresistible sound – although to me it evokes cafes and sunshine more than dark streets and sadness.
Berlin – yep, groovy indeed. Keeping this.
Paris – this was very cool. It’s hard not to let perceptions of the city colour perceptions of the music – which is, I guess, exactly the point.
Stockholm – I’m not the biggest fan of blues, but this is fun. (I’m a little disappointed you haven’t picked the New Fast Automatic Daffodils, though I’m not sure their song Stockholm has much to say about the city.
Bruxelles – this is the first one I know. Jacques going nowhere.
London – I guess there are loads of records from this period that I don’t know. It’s a great sound, however much it’s of its time.
Vienna – more taken by your appreciation of it than the song itself. Good tune, like the refrain, but I’m finding the sound a little uncomfortably mainstream in this company.
Athens – there’s a bouzouki leaning against my desk as I type. Unfortunately I can’t really play it and it only comes out of its case about once a year. But this is inspiring me to get it out.
Rome – wow, this is great. Bit like an Italian Leonard Cohen with a better producer.
Madrid – this passed me by a bit, and I’ve never been to Madrid, but it sounded pleasant enough (the music – the city sounds wonderful).
Excellent playlist altogether. Reluctantly, I think I’m going to have to leave Vienna off the itinerary (which is a shame, as I’ve always wanted to go there), and I think I’ll be sticking around for longest in Rome.
Thanks for the reviews! In retrospect, you are probably right, Joel is maybe a bit out of place here, I’ve just got a bit of an attachment to the song. Hope you are inspired to properly get cracking on that bouzouki, it’s an instrument I’ve been wanting to have a go at for a long time!
Just realised that Austria is the only country on this list that I haven’t been to (although I haven’t visited all the capitals). I don’t think that’s significant though.
This is a really interesting and well-written post. The only one of these cities I’ve visited (apart from London) is Rome.
Nothing here would really make me want to leap off the train but I like the Amalia Rodrigues (how do you insert symbols in WordPress??) and Kostas Roukounas, so I might have a potter around Lisbon and Athens for a while, as long as it’s not too hot.
Fair-skinned rain-sodden Celts have to carry lots of sun-block!!
Looking forward to a listen, Liam, but won’t get here till after work tonight…
Punky just asked me what week he’s on for, so i’ll post this schedule early here…
March 12 – Punky
March 19 – Fintan
March 26 – DsD
April 2 – SHA
April 9 – tfd
April 16 – debby(m)
April 23 -
April 30 -
i think i’ve kept us with the swaps and such so far, if i made any mistakes let me know.
Looks right to me.
April 23 – Fuel
Hi amylee. I may be able to do April 30th if that spot ain’t taken. Could I have your email address?
awesome. botanicalphoto@gmail.com
Some truly wonderful stuff and a few more dreary for me. I’ve been to London, Athens & Rome & I’m glad I didn’t base the London trip on Billy Nichols take or I might have passed Still not the one tossed to the heap. That would be Copenhagen which, is upsetting ’cause I do harbor hopes of visiting some day. Just gave me nothing to latch on to emotionally. Would love stops in Lisbon & Madrid – both stellar efforts. Loved the stroll through Plaka – a whiff of ouzo there. Paris was quite fun. Still, Gianmaria Testa has left a feeling of longing for a slice of Rome I surely missed & I want more.
Typical! Another bloody European tour that misses out Finland. Not really in the mood for this selection but did enjoy the stopovers in the other Nordic countries and Greece and Italy. I’ll keep the exotic Kostas Roukounas track as souvenir of the tour. Maybe I’ll make some more room in my luggage by slipping the Michel Legrand into someone else’s.bags.
That playlist made me feel OLD! I’m a great admirer of Gianmaria Testa, so it didn’t really surprise me that I liked Roma best. I’m ditching Berlin (had a couple of contenders there to be honest) because it’s closest to home. Now I’m off to listen to Paul Kelly Every Fucking City…
Such an interesting list. it’s almost difficult to delete one. I can’t delete Amalia or Kostas because I’d go out of my way to visit Lisbon and Athens just for the music, I have a decent collection of Fada and Rembetiko so they’re both safe. Michel Legrand is also safe ‘cos I’ve enjoyed his music since the ’60′s, often in French films plus Paris is a jewel. Many years ago I taught a class on ‘Bergman and Fellini’ so Stockholm and Rome are also safe, Myrberg was new to me but I have some Gianmaria; I enjoyed both pieces. I have an inbuilt bias against Germany which has prevented me from visiting there but I also have a strong fascination with Berlin, at this stage I would weaken and go there. Heidi I didn’t know, but she tempted me.
London; my ideal fantasy would be to have a flat in central London and to visit there for several months each year, so Billy’s ditty would have no effect, but I’m sure we’d share some reasons to love that city. I’ve never been to Madrid but it’s very high on my bucket list and that lovely song would cinch it. Vienna somehow gets tangled up with Germany but it’s a city with so many positive reasons to visit and Billy Joel’s song nailed it, I’d weaken and book a flight from Berlin. That leaves poor old Scott Walker, I don’t have any strong feelings about Copenhagen and there was something about his song that didn’t connect so he’s the one to leave. Also, is his the correct pronunciation of Copenhagen?
I’ll toss in two more that do interest me, the first I’ve visited many times and the second is also very high on my bucket list.
Thank you! Both of those cities are on my hitlist, Istanbul especially, anywhere that sits as the exact dividing line of two great continents has got to be worth a look and I hear the jazz clubs are fantastic…
A ps of slight interest [to me]
When the Toots youtube finishes there’s a dozen thumbnails for similar videos, one I noticed was for Yellowman – Reggae Sunsplash 1982, I was there photographing it. I just saw myself in the crowd plus several friends that I haven’t seen for many years. Shanachie records released a Yellowman album and my photos were on the cover and the back. If you watch it you’ll notice that it’s in darkness but the sky is lightening, that’s because it’s about 6am, that’s how it always was at Sunsplash, every concert ran from about 11pm ’til sometimes 8am! Then we’d all go for breakfast and then to bed to prepare for the next onslaught, it ran for 4 days and nights every August, I was at everyone through the 1980′s.
Such happy days.
Sorry, BB, but I don’t find any of the non-English voices attractive. They seem to share a melodramatic air that I find rather grating. The London one sounds like something from an Austin Powers film.
I am, by no means, a Billy Joel fan but I find his song the most listenable (despite the grafted-in accordian). Michel Legrand’s instrumental is my fave though.
I am no Europhobe, I assure you, having spent time in 9 of these 11 countries (if not necessarily the capitals). I do, however, find the French to be unbearable fusspots and the Italians to be unbearable posers…..
Thanks everyone who has listened and commented – currently looking like Copenhagen is on the way out, barring a late surge of votes going another way!
Copenhagen – never been there – would like to – loved the song.
Lisbon – been there – hated it – probably didn’t get to see the best bits just the City centre traffic and the poverty of some pf the residents. Quite enjoyed this tune.
Berlin – never bin – but this is indeed groovy baby.
Paris – glimpsed its lights from the back of my parent’s car as we drove back from Royen where we had rented the downstairs apartment for two weeks. Lovely bit of piano plinking here. “ne touchez pas la tortue!”
Stockholm – Nope – not been there – didn’t initially get this song but it grew on me by the end – a bit. I wonder if there’s a song about Stockholm syndrome.
Brussels – Not been there – Very jolly – rather liked this – I have a hit and miss relationship with Jaques Brel recordings but this was great.
London – that’s where I live – just – historically it’s Surrey. – He sounds a bit like Ray Davies doesn’t he? Liked.
Vienna – Stayed there for one night in the Vienna Woods – in a hotel there I should add not just in the woods – beautiful place – Billy Joel is another singer I only like very sporadically. This was ok.
Athens – I love love love Greek Islands but I didn’t like Athens one bit – I don’t like many capital cities apart from the one I live in – do love Greek music though and this was great.
Rome – I think I’d like Rome – I certainly liked this – sounds very romantic even though I no speaka….
Madrid – Again not been – I have traveled – but rarely to capitals I suppose – lovely piece of music – quite gorgeous.
I guess I would ditch either Per Myrberg or Billy Joel – I’ll bite the bullet train and say goodbye to Billy.
Thanks Severin, glad there was so much in there that you enjoyed!
I wonder if there’s a song about Stockholm syndrome.
So it’s left to me (as usual) to commit sacrilege here, i’m tossing Brel. Sorry, just don’t get him. So shoot me (no doubt DP and Bish at least will.)
I’m always surprised that Scott Walker was so big in the UK but not here (he’s a yank, no?). I think it’s the production on that one that i have beef with, his voice is so gorgeous.
Really liked Paris, Greece, and Spain too. Portugal apparently has some lovely singers. Billy J was nice, and if not London (or Paris), Vienna would be my actual choice of European city to live in, always wanted to go there. Could probably be very happy too, if i could learn to speak German.
I was going to blame it on my Germanic heritage and grab a flight to Berlin (like Beth, i’d expect to see Austin Powers or the Avengers, but would love to hook up with Bowie and Iggy if i get to go back in time. Wait, i think the most exquisite Mr. Malkmus resides there now! I’m so out of here.)
But i think first i’ll make a stop in Rome and try to find a Latin lover first, (if he’s not too much of a mommy’s boy.) That was gorgeous.
Thanks, BB!
Cheers Amy, glad you enjoyed the selection!
Aah, Judith Chalmers – how did that fat frump with a fake tan get that job, we all wondered, way back then? Have since found worse: there is a PBS program called “Travels with Rick Steeves” (nobody ever does, because he’s the the most uncharismatic dweeb of a man that you’ve ever encountered).
Haven’t listened to the tunes, as I saw Billy Joel mentioned & have yet to muster enough courage for a plunge – great to see you ‘Spillside, though.
I’ve been to most of these cities and I really enjoyed the whole list:
1. I always liked the idea of Scott Walker more than the reality – this sounded pretty cheesy to me. I’ve been to Copenhagen loads of times – it’s lovely in places, but around the main station (where most of the hotels tend to be) is a complete shithole – junkies, strip clubs, women on street corners etc, I walked past two people shooting up just by the steps to my hotel last time I was there – not somewhere I really want to take the family!
2. Nice!
3. Yes, very Austin Powers, but enjoyed it a lot.
4. Loved this – was way too short.
5. Stockholm is my favourite European city (will be back in Sweden in a couple of weeks time (yay!) but only Malmo this time). This was fun!
6. Knew the name but not the music – tune passed me by a bit.
7. Very of it’s time, but that’s no bad thing.
8. Ahhh…..sorry!
9. Enjoyed this a lot.
10. Liked the restraint – was probably best I couldn’t understand what he was singing.
11. This was great!
So, a fine trip around Europa, would lose the Billy Joel and keep the Michel Legrand. Cheers!
cheers Panthersan, glad there was plenty to entertain you in there!
Poor old Billy is getting quite a pasting despite my best attempts to rehabilitate him with the music loving world! Seems the crimes of uptown girl and pisspoor 50′s revivalism in the mid 80s are fairly unforgivable!