Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
|
Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Daily Kosland!
Merry Monday and welcome to the working week!
Sometimes I listen to television programs in a language I do not speak. Right now I am listening to a program in Spanish about how to write a college admission essay. It gives me the sound of talking in the background without taking my actual attention because I do not know what is being said. I still pay attention to the tone of voice and the general pace of the conversation and the patterns of vowels and consonants, but that is a largely right brain activity, and the left brain gets to rest a bit.
In a similar vein, I find it soothing to listen to singing in languages I do not understand. Since I have no idea what is being said, I just listen to the patterns of vowels and consonants, the tonal quality of the singing voice(s), the blending of harmonies (if any), and the underlying emotion. Although the left brain cannot help analyzing some of the composition/construction elements, on the whole I find it incredibly relaxing.
On occasion though, this backfires, and I start to enjoy the song so much that I wish I could sing along, so I embarrass myself with phonetic approximations. I sang Ue o Muite Arukou (inaptly named "Sukiyaki" for the English-speaking world) phonetically for decades until the internet age allowed me to see the actual words. I felt vindicated when I finally saw the Japanese lyrics and the translation... I always knew it was a sad song in spite of the lighthearted (ok, cheesy) orchestration.
Oye Como Va only has nine words (!), but at the time it drove all the English-speaking kids crazy that we could not sing along with what Santana was saying. I know the words to this one now, and since "mulata" is an insensitive term, it's just as well that we didn't know the words back then:
Oye Como Va by Santana on Grooveshark
I could never tell whether
Ça Plane Pour Moi was making fun of punk rock or not, but that was part of the reason it worked. I knew more French words then than I know now, but I never bothered to try to figure out what he was singing. It was clearly the kind of song designed for just thrashing around wildly, releasing pent-up frustrations and expending excess energy, and I still enjoy bouncing up and down to it:
Ça plane pour moi (Original 1977 Version) by Plastic Bertrand on Grooveshark
Bollywood musicals are full of catchy danceable songs that stick with me even if I have no idea what is being sung. This video of
Mast Kalandar shows the corresponding scene from the movie Heyy Babyy, but it does not actually help understand the song very much. It only makes sense if you have seen the whole movie up to this point, and if you know that the man on the stairs at the end is an internationally famous celebrity. This song always lightens my mood and makes me want to dance!
Mast Kalandar by Heyy Babyy on Grooveshark
Mas que nada is another record I loved as a child, and when I first heard it I had no idea what language it was being sung in, much less what the words meant. I tried to sing this one phonetically for decades also, and until last year thought the end of the refrain was Bow! Bow! Bow! (apparently they are actually singing obá, obá, obá).
Mas Que Nada by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 on Grooveshark
As cool as the Brasil '66 version is, while writing this diary I uncovered the original 1963 version sung by Jorge Ben, the man who wrote it. Spectacular! (And he is clearly saying Obá!)
Mas, Que Nada! by Jorge Ben Jor on Grooveshark
Does anyone else enjoy listening to songs in a language you do not understand? Or is this a strange thing that only highly auditory people do? Classical music/opera lovers often listen to singing in languages they do not speak, but they usually have a translation available. I loved some of these songs for years without having any idea what the lyrics meant!
I know I have left out some big hits. And I'm sure that the combined musical experience of the DK community can come up with some more obscure evocative singers and beautifully crafted songs. Anybody familiar with J-pop or K-pop or Afro-pop (do they still make Afro-pop records)?
I looked for some Ladysmith Black Mambazo--they are so soothing--but the only upbeat songs of theirs I could find were religious music and I did not want to go there (!). I'll end with Pete Seeger's version of Guantanamera, the first song I ever loved without understanding the words.
Guantanamera by Pete Seeger on Grooveshark
So that is the conversation starter for today:
Have you ever had a favorite song in a language unfamiliar to you?
PLEASE LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEOS RATHER THAN EMBED
TO BE CONSIDERATE OF READERS WITH SLOWER CONNECTIONS. THANKS!
|
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
|
Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
•
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
• Las Vegas Kossacks: Kosmail miracle11
• Vermont Kossacks: Kosmail 4Freedom
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
• Mexican Kossacks - Formed: Apr 14, 2013, Organizer: roberb7
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks - Formed: Oct 27, 2012, Organizer: boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kosmopolitans - Formed: Aug 2, 2013, Organizer: highacidity
• Silicon Valley Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2013, Organizer: Glen The Plumber
• Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2013, Organizer: EagleOfFreedom
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
• San Diego Kossacks Founded by La Gitane, Formed: Nov 18, 2011
• Massachusetts Kosmopolitans Founded by mem from somerville, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
:: Events Currently on the Books for Kossacks ::
|
Thursday, January 9th
Motor City Kossacks Meet with NN14 Staff: Raven Brooks, Mary Rickles and Nolan Treadway
TIME: 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Sidetrack Bar & Grill
56 E Cross Street • Ypsilanti
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Raven Brooks
2. Nolan Treadway
3. Mary Rickles
4. peregrine kate
5. Eclectablog
6. scenna
7. n8vtnn
8. maybeeso in michigan
|
Maybees:
MI Sooner
|
Latest diary: NN14 Host Committee Meetup--Th. Jan. 9--7:00 PM @ Sidetrack in Ypsi
Saturday, January 11th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Barry's Pizza
6003 Richmond Avenue • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. nomandates
3. Bree Davis
4. cosette
5. mister mustardhead
6. TDDVandy
7. Mary
8. Alan
|
Maybees:
Mr. cosette
Libby Shaw
|
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Sunday, January 12th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
Meet in the back room. This venue is wheelchair accessible.
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. blue jersey mom
3. rubyr
4. kathny
5. joanbrooker
6. oxfdblue
7. mattc129
8. Bethesda1921
9. No Exit
10. thankgodforairamerica
11. ericlewis0
12. Mets102
13. plf515
14. MBNYC
15. Design the Future
|
Maybees:
mconvente
Ian Reifowitz
gchaucer2
Laura Clawson
Rosalie907
andgarden
wader
isabelle hayes
Dave G
jonnym
Batya the Toon
Its the Supreme Court Stupid
|
Latest diary: Coming In From The Cold: January 12, A NYC Meetup! Reminder
Saturday, January 25th
Nashville KosKats Meet-up]
TIME: TBA
LOCATION: TBA
[Address] • Nashville
ORGANIZER: Send Land of Enchantment a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Land of Enchantment
2. jnhobbs
3. Sandy on Signal
4. Marykk
5.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, January 25th
Asheville Kossacks Meet-up with City Councilman Gordon Smith Speaking
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Cantina
10 Biltmore Plaza • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. davehouck
2. LamontCranston
3. randallt
4. joieau
5. Gordon20024
6. flwrightman
7. Otteray Scribe
8. emmasnacker
9. GordonNC (UID 5123 & City Councilman) GUEST SPEAKER!
10. cultjake
11. DawnN
12. Captain Sham
13. Mrs Sham
14. SteelerGrrl
15. SteelerGuy
16. Alecia
17. Mr. Alecia
18. Nic Goodman
|
Maybees:
Munchkn
One Pissed Off Liberal
people power granny
Burns Lass
Aviator Doc
stellaluna
eternallyvigilant |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville - Weekly Open Thread & January Meetup Planned
Sunday, January 26th
SFKossacks Welcome matching mole to San Francisco!
TIME: TBD, daytime car trip to the Delta for birding with lineatus
LOCATION: Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
2548 Grizzly Island Road • Suisun City
lineatus will have a spotting scope and a few spare pairs of binoculars, so novices can have something to use.
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. matching mole
3. navajo
4. tgypsy
5. kimoconnor
6. Kestral
|
Maybees: |
TIME: TBD, evening event for city folk and to celebrate dharmasyd's and kimoconnor's birthdays!
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • [City]
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. matching mole
3. navajo
4. dharmasyd
5. side pocket
6. norm
7. kimoconnor
8. Glen The Plumber
9. remembrance
10. TLO
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: Dawn Chorus: Preview of Coming Attractions
Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?