Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence

I'm generally not fond of heavy metal or alternate rock which is why my alarm radio is tuned to a station essentially playing nothing but (It is not easy to pry me from my bed in the morning so music and a DJ against my grain is a tremendous help :P). Generally, I'm also not fond of cover versions of a song especially when the original carries a big heap of meaning to me (just a personal preference of course) - don't mess with something that's perfect (in my view, that is). So this one is totally astonishing and unexpected ...

Disturbed, a heavy metal band from Chicago, has done a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" which I discovered -how else- because it played on the alarm radio one morning. It had me wide awake and singing along in my mind about four bars in ... And while I still dearly love the original I think that David Draiman's voice and interpretation fits perfectly ~

The Sound of Silence

By Johnny Keating

Hello darkness my old friend
I've come to talk with you again

The Highwaymen - Highwayman

The Highwaymen: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson ~ legends each one on his own. I love their songs, the guitar score, the voices, and particularly the sentiment of this particular song ... 

I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again ...

Highwayman
Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings

I was a highwayman
Along the coach roads I did ride
With sword and pistol by my side

Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

At one time, this song featured prominently as an option for “Our Song” ~

... bongos - just barely there - inviting - swaying - close your eyes and get ready to be carried away into the land of dreams -

I can feel it coming in the air tonight,
I've been waiting for this moment all my life,
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?

~ Phil Collins - such velvet voice, such a sweet slide - rocking - gently - until the verse hits home ...

Well if you told me you were drowning I would not lend a hand.
I've seen your face before, my friend, but I don't know if you know who I am.

"Our Song" material?

Era - Cathar Rhythm

When it's all about the rhythm and the chant, and less so about the lyrics, the Cathar Rhythm of Era (acronym for “Enminential Rythmn of the Ancestors”) is just the thing ~

Don't you come back now
Don't you turn your eyes
And if you dare to look
I'll be waiting

Maire Brennan - Against the Wind

It's the rhythm: demanding, pushing, driving, irresistible ... Inevitably, a foot or a finger, or the head counts out the beat with other parts of the body soon to follow. It is easy to imagine breaking a new path carried forward by a rhythm akin to that of "Against the Wind" by Moya Brennan ~

A wall strong in numbers
Burns the midnight candle

Bap - Kristallnaach

The song 'Kristallnaach' (Kristallnacht) by BAP was released in 1982 and the title refers to the events that took place in the night of 9./10. September 1938. The song is written in the dialect of Cologne and the band's official website graciously offers not only the lyrics but also a 'High German' translation both of which are reproduced below. Additionally, I tried my hand (and mind) at cobbling together an English translation - it's not necessarily literal but to the best of my understanding should bring the point across. Of course, any corrections, comments and revisions are very welcome and greatly appreciated ~

... no Cavalry to save the day,
No Zorro is there to take care
That one just pees a "Z" in the snow
And -babbling nonchalantly- topples over
"So what?"- Kristallnacht!

Hope you opt to listen and to have a look at the lyrics -

Kristallnaach
BAP

1) Et kütt vüür, dat ich mein, dat jet klirrt,
dat sich irjendjet en mich verirrt,
e Jeräusch, nit ens laut,
manchmol klirrt et vertraut,
selden su, dat mer et direk durchschaut.

Dramtreeo - Song of Patriotic Prejudice

I don't think it requires British humor to find one or two LOL moments listening to the lyrics of this song by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann ~ especially if you are like me and firmly believe that, sadly, irony far too often is an underrated art ... Remember: Laughing is healthy! ... Cheers :-) 

A Song Of Patriotic Prejudice
by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann