He loves us. Period.

A lot of things have happened in my life in the past few weeks that have put me in a "Christian" mood, so to speak. This includes my music listening behavior. About two months ago, I went to a friend's apartment for an hour of praise & worship. It was just him and his acoustic; half the songs he sang were those that we've heard dozens of times over (and never get old), and the other half were songs he knew we wouldn't know.

That was the first time I heard "How He Loves." It started out calm and peaceful. I couldn't sing along, so I just listened. About three minutes in, he hit the second verse and began to crecendo. I was feeling it until he belted the line, "And Heaven meets Earth with a sloppy wet kiss." I've never heard something so suggestive in a Christian song! I was taken aback, and frankly I shyed away from the song because of that one line, forgetting all the other good ones.

Another time, another friend sang it, and I was waiting for him to make things awkward, but he sang instead "unforeseen kiss." At first, I thought I imagined the "sloppy," but then I realized it could have been some form of self-censoring. I approached the "unforeseen" friend and he said that he never heard it sung as "sloppy" and that he agreed it was weird. Then the concern was forwarded to my "sloppy" friend and this is what he had to say about it...

So recently, some people have been commenting on the way I tend to sing "How He Love Us." For the second verse, sometimes I'll switch back and forth between "unforeseen kiss" and "sloppy wet kiss." Sloppy wet kiss comes from the original song written by John Mark McMillan for his friend who died in a tragic car accident. It's about his friend being able to finally meet his father in heaven. I especially like to use "sloppy wet kiss" because when my siblings and I were little (and now my sister who is still little) my Dad would go in for a "sloppy wet kiss." To me it shows pure unabashed love in a playful, loving, fatherly way. Just wanted to share!

"How He Loves" by John Mark McMillan

Dear Papa,

Not only is today Friday, but it is also my father's birthday. This is one of his favorite songs (his top in the field of patriarchal exultation). Although I won't be able to see him today, the next time I do I'll be able to play this for him on the guitar (something I couldn't have done a year ago).

"Mi Querido Viejo" by Piero

Es un buen tipo mi viejo                                 (My old man’s a good guy)
que anda solo y esperando.                             (who goes off alone and waiting.)
Tiene la tristeza larga                                      (He has a long, sad face)
de tanto venir andando.                                  (from so much coming and going.)

Yo lo miro desde lejos                                    (I look like him from afar)
pero somos tan distintos.                                (but we are so distinct.)

Es que crecio con el siglo,                              (It's just that he aged with the century)
con tranvía y vino tinto.                                  (alongside the tramway and red wine.)

Viejo, mi querido viejo.                                 (Father, my dear old man.)
Ahora ya camina lerdo,                                 (Now your stride is lame,)
como perdonando el viento.                         (as if you’re pardoning the wind.)
Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo.                            (I am your blood, old man.)

Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo.                           (I’m your silence and your time.)

El tiene los ojos buenos                                   (He has good eyes)
y una figura pesada.                                        (and a heavy figure.)
La edad se le vino encima                               (The years have come upon him)
sin carnaval ni comparsa.                                (with neither a carnaval nor a krewe.)

Yo tengo los años nuevos                               (I have the new years)
y el hombre los años viejos.                            (and he has the old years.)
El dolor lo lleva dentro                                   (He carries the pain inside)
y tiene historias sin tiempo.                             (and he has timeless tales.)

Viejo, mi querido viejo.                                 (Father, my dear old man.)
Ahora ya camina lerdo,                                 (Now your stride is lame,)
como perdonando el viento.                         (as if you’re pardoning the wind.)
Yo soy tu sangre, mi viejo.                            (I am your blood, old man.)
Soy tu silencio y tu tiempo.                           (I’m your silence and your time.)

Yo soy tu sangre mi viejo.                              (I am your blood, old man.)
Yo soy tu silencio y tu tiempo ...                    (I’m your silence and your time …)

Oh, happy day!
Kelvin

Fridays just got a bit more confusing

If you haven't heard about this, then you've probably have been living under a rock (everyone's first guess) or you've been holding out as long as you can. All I have to say is that there's no rush, but if you're in a hurry, then prepare to have your IQ drop in HQ.

Covers Set #2: Alternate Takes

I have been busy. Busy, busy, busy. I will be busy. Busy, busy, busy. That's why I'm going to make this post longer (and arguably, more fun) than usual =D. I don't know when I'll get the chance to share more of my knowledge with the world again, so just sit back and enjoy the ride...

The theme for today: Alternative. These are alternative rock bands who have covered songs who's original authors span a wide range of other genres. If you like at least one cover/original combo (although it's pretty much impossible not to enjoy all 20), then I've served you well.

(#20) "Major Tom (Coming Home) (Peter Schilling Cover)" by Shiny Toy Guns

My introduction to Shiny Toy Guns was the song "Le Disko." It was the perfect union of Britney-dance and Marilyn-shock and it defined how electronica I would ever get. But when vocalist Sisely Treasure left and was replaced by Carah Faye Charnow in 2008, the band lost a lot of its edge and credibility. Case in point: "Major Tom." The band does an alright job of recreating Peter Schilling's one-hit wonder (you know, that one 80's proto-eurotrance song that everyone knows), but it's just so seeped in commercialism. The song was recorded for a Lincoln luxury car advertisment, and that selling-out-ness is made apparent in their live performance below.

Listen to the original here.