The Starlight Gospel Singers - "Say a Word for Me"
Minus Story - "In Line"
Two songs separated by almost a century, yet not so dissimilar as one might first expect. The two compositions share one subject: a frightened march, by starlight, into an unknown world. And both achieve their power through density (acquired in the first case through enthusiasm and number, and in the second through technology not available at the time of the first song's making). Hear at 1:56 the accompanying voice, like a woodwind, of one of the Starlight Gospel Singers, harmonizing with his band mates, rising above in a most otherworldly way. Then listen at 1:00, 1:01, and 1:02 to the only three bass notes in "In Line," lending structure to that nebulous musical sketch and fortifying its underlying sadness. Two songs separated by almost a century, causing the same hairs to rise on this listener's arms, sending the same shivers up my spine.
[Buy Starlight Gospel Singers at emusic, Minus Story]
Posted by Jordan at June 27, 2007 8:59 PMI agree with your comments
And I'm curious: how did these two songs come together for you, leading to the comments? Did you know one long before the other, and then find that a new song resonated with your musical grounding? If so which was first, by how long, and why?
Thanks for today's entry...
Posted by: J at June 28, 2007 10:55 AM