Topic: WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO NOW # 2 - part 51 | |
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The O'Jays
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Benson Arizona - from the Intro to Dark Star....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbuQ5ZLB2ME Lyrics A million suns shine down But I see only one When I think I'm over you I find I've just begun The years move faster than the days There's no warmth in the light How I miss those desert skies Your cool touch in the night CHORUS: Benson, Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there Benson, Arizona, the same stars in the sky But they seemed so much kinder when we watched them, you and I Now the years pull us apart I'm young and now you're old But you're still in my heart And the memory won't grow cold I dream of times and spaces I left far behind Where we spent our last few days Benson's on my mind (CHORUS) Thanks to Terry Simpson for sending in corrections for the lyrics! Mail from John Yager On May 3rd 2006, I received a brief email with corrections to the lyrics, which was signed with Best Wishes, John Yager. I replied, and it turned out to really be from the John Yager: Thanks - I am John. In 1973 or so, I was friends with Carpenter and other USC Film School filmmakers. Carpenter heard me sing once, and asked if I'd do the lead vocal for the Dark Star theme. The background vocals were recorded on a sound stage at USC where the film was being shot, next to the full-size space-ship interior. I also sang in the background vocal, with the others, though this isn't credited. My lead was recorded in an evening, at the apartment of a friend of Carpenter's, with Tommy Wallace on pedal steel guitar, I think, and Carpenter said the mix was exactly what he wanted. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. John And John was kind enough to answer my questions and let me share his mail with you: Hi Daniel- It's fine with me if you post my answers. Gratifying to know that people appreciated the song, and the film - it was a brilliant effort in a number of ways. I was never a professional musician, apart from being in a band in college. I'm afraid "Benson" is the only thing I did that's commercially available. I agree about the comments about the country & western genre - the thing that makes "Benson" so good is that it uses that idiom to convey an intelligent, and very uncountrylike idea, and the contrast makes the song unusually poignant. I'm sure your interpretation of the song as revolving around relativity and the space traveler remaining young is correct, but I don't remember anyone discussing it - I think we all appreciated the cleverness of the idea, but took it pretty much for granted. Carpenter's a smart guy, a highly motivated, successful and talented writer and filmmaker, as well as a musician, and the song was no more than you'd expect from him. As far as Benson itself, I have no idea why Carpenter chose it. I assume he traveled through there at some point, but I don't know. Not long after we recorded the song, I drove east across the country, and chose the extreme southern routet, specifically to go through Benson, which isn't far from Tombstone. It was August and over 100f when I was there. Very barren. Somewhere I have a picture of me standing in front of the Benson railway station. If I run across it, I'll scan it and send it to you. Best regards, John |
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Edited by
ASK69
on
Sat 08/08/09 09:16 AM
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"I am a man who walks alone
And when I'm walking a dark road At night or strolling through the park When the light begins to change I sometimes feel a little strange A little anxious when it's dark......." Iron Maiden.........."Fear Of The Dark" (Live @ Rock In Rio 2001) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GaKoCuobU |
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Edited by
ASK69
on
Sat 08/08/09 10:10 AM
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"When you know that your time is close at hand
Maybe then you'll begin to understand Life down there is just a strange illusion." Iron Maiden.........."Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Live at Ullevi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjvfUEOr0N4 |
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"Hear the rime of the ancient mariner
See his eye as he stops one of three Mesmerizes one of the wedding guests Stay here and listen to the nightmares of the sea." Iron Maiden.........."The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twdSq22pDzo |
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Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mHe6FMs46o |
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Nothing But Heartaches - The Supremes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RujaJaLgtA |
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Please Mr. Postman - Marvelettes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9mBWuLRL4 |
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Dion & The Belmonts : I Wonder Why
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZBSGaWrEn4 |
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Salt N Pepa - Shoop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKaVBVikysw |
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Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTcu7MCtuTs |
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Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=840B27zYfOk |
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Pantera - Walk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj2xSwOY0xs |
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And you and I -Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuiI0kV4joQ |
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Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHXA4_O-MXM It's thunder dome tonight baby!!! MMA!!! WOOO! RUN FOREST RUN!!! HA! I hope he pulls it off... |
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