Saket Vora

Wait a second…..two questions in a row? Major blogging faux pas! A lot has happened since the last post, and I haven’t gotten the posts up. But I wouldn’t want to leave you, dear reader, a week gone by without a question. Now that this is a regular feature, I’ve been thinking of questions to ask, often spurred by a particular song I’m listening to at the moment. But, I shouldn’t have all the fun to myself, so if you have a question you’d like to ask, please send it in at saket@saketvora.com. 

Q: What song(s) often causes you to stop what you’re doing and listen to it.  Many of us listen to music across a range of activities, and it can often fall into the background. Writing, driving, browsing websites, brainstorming, whatever. I’m curious about the songs that — practically every time —   force your mind back on the music.

My offering:  Sigur Ros - Sæglópur

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Particularly right around the 1:50 mark…it gets me everytime.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Got some good responses to the last post about summer music (thanks Sachi, Erin, Greg, and Mary!). So this week’s question comes on the heels of watching Iron & Wine recently appear on a late night show. Apparently they have a new album of collected songs called Around the Well. 

Q: What song(s) do you like in which you feel inevitably compelled to sing along to?

We’ll be liberal with our definition of “sing along to”, because as you all can likely guess, I certainly don’t profess to carry a tone. But still, in each of our own ways, I have a feeling that there are songs in which we find ourselves going beyond merely passively listening to them. Mouthing the words, whispering them, belting out the chorus in the shower, heck — even humming or whistling along. Why not.

Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger

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I first heard this song at last year’s Hardly Strict Bluegrass festival. Not really sure why I have this reaction to this song, but it is what it is. Two others would be songs I’ve mentioned here before, namely The National’s Fake Empires and Sufjan Steven’s The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades. Go ahead and share yours if you’d like, just leave a comment below!

We’ve a had nice string of warm weather out here at Stanford and folks back home in NC are just starting their summer vacation. So in light of this, what is a song you like that can be described as purely fun, bright, or even effervescent? Thinking back to my music collection, I actually don’t have too many of these. 

I’ll venture two: one that I mentioned earlier when I bought the new album.

Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur (translation: within me a lunatic sings)

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And here is one I discovered a few days ago that somehow caught my ear, particularly the near-childish sounding ending. 

Loney Dear – I am John

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Thanks for the feedback everyone.

My friend Jordan recommended the Boxer album by The National and it’s indeed quite good, particular the first song, Fake Empires. What I love about this song is how the horn section surfaces towards the end — though it’s at first unexpected, it fits perfectly and really elevates the song.

The National – Fake Empires

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Another song that comes to my mind with this characteristic, although decidedly less optimistic sounding as Fake Empires, is Rob Dougan’s pensive Drinking Song.

Rob Dougan – Drinking Song

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The waltz melody that emerges at the end is not quite expected….but somehow works.

So my question of the week: what song(s) do you know of that have this trait?

Well, this certainly failed to become a regular feature. So I’ll try again, and we’ll stay on the topic of music for now.

Q: What song can get your foot tapping everytime you listen to it?

One of them for me is Bloc Party’s Banquet.