I have written here several times about Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the aboriginal singer known to the world by his middle name. I first heard him on an Australian radio station during the THE HAWKE OF TUONELA circumnavigation before he became a world sensation and was immediately moved by his music.
His fourth studio album, released posthumously after his death last year from kidney and liver disease at age forty-six, DJARIMIRRI, has just been released in the U.S. I had pre-ordered it from iTunes and received an email Friday that it was available. When I checked iTunes on my computer I found in the magic of this age, it was already in my library, and I had only to tap an icon on my phone to download it there as well.
I believe that the last two Gurrumul albums, THE GOSPEL ALBUM and HIS LIFE AND MUSIC were inferior ‘cash-in’ albums exploiting his unexpected fame. There may not be anything wrong with cashing in; but then again there may be. Had Gurrumul lived we might have been treated to GURRUMUL SINGS FRANK SINATRA.
As I noted here earlier the bittersweet nostalgic purity of Gurrumul’s voice was completely wrong for the live recording with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The true Gurrumul is found only on his first two albums, GURRUMUL and RRAKALA.
However, DJARIMIRRA, which I have now listened to three times, also has accompaniment by classical musicians, yet in smaller numbers than an orchestra that do not overwhelm him. Some of the instruments sound like Balinese gamelan; some Aboriginal. The orchestrations are original, sometimes complex and strange, and I believe a serious attempt to broaden Gurrumul’s music. I enjoy the album more each time I listen.
I still prefer his first two albums, but DJARIMIRRA is an interesting and worthwhile successor.
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Recently Kent, co-commodore with his wife, Audrey, of Florida’s answer to the Spanish Armada, recently ran a fine article by Howard Rice. Scroll down to ‘The Fountain of Youth’, but slowly enough to enjoy what you find along the way.
Even if I never built my own boat, or wanted to, obviously I agree with most of it.
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I thank James for sending me a link to a NY TIMES article about some of the outlandish prices being asked for books by private sellers on Amazon. I have encountered this myself from time to time and wondered who in hell would ever pay such amounts.
After finishing the article I decided to see what is being asked for some of my books and found this:
Note Red Rhino's percentage of positive ratings over the last twelve months and the total number of ratings. Why am I skeptical?
I will, by the way, sell you a copy of THE OCEAN WAITS for half price, a mere $377.44, with free shipping of course.
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I have mentioned in a past entry the Texture app which gives you access to the digital editions of more than 200 magazines. Until recently it cost a monthly fee of $14.99. Apple bought Texture a few months ago and last week I received an email that they are lowering the cost to $9.99 a month.
One of the magazines I now peruse is THE SMITHSONIAN, which recently ran an article about the return of the hula hoop, noting these world records.
You may need to click on the image to enlarge it.
While I am slightly impressed that anyone ever thought of swimming while balancing a hula hoop on his head, clearly not all world records are equal.
While I am slightly impressed that anyone ever thought of swimming while balancing a hula hoop on his head, clearly not all world records are equal.
