PELE OR OS MUTANTES

I knew very little about Brazil until few years ago. As a soccer fan I believe Brazilians make soccer an art. So my knowledge was limited with only Brazilian Soccer players and I am still big fan of Pele,Romario,Zico,Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and many more.

But then probably 4-5 years ago I listened Soul Jazz Records release Tropicalia A Brazilian Revolution in Sound-Soul Jazz Records-2006 and I was in a big shock! All the tunes in this album are so good,so strange and beautiful...

 I was so glad to discover Os Mutantes(They have 6 songs in the Compilation by Soul Jazz Records) and I believe that they are probably the best Brazilian band. Their music is so unique, they called it Tropicalia but it thas almost every strange elements of music. I can never guess what they were drinking while they create these songs and sound. It’s magic,psychedelic,up beat and you just want to learn Portuguese right away.

It was formed by Baptista Brothers and Rita Lee in the early sixties. Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil introduce them to the troplicalia music scene. For a long time they have troubles with the military government in Brazil at that time.

Their self titled album Os Mutantes is a great sample of psychedelic rock with a Brazilian influence. The most amazing thing is their musical sound that they create in songs like “Bat Macumba” . “Ave,Gengis Khan” , “A Minha Menina”. 

They influenced many musicians  like Beck,David Byrne,Flaming Lips, Akron/Family etc...

The good news is I have my ticket for Thursday(They are playing at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver -September 3) and I’ll sing  the song Bat Macumba with them...What about you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2EKghlmIyQ&feature=related

Is Grolsch only "A Beer" ?

You know that beer is good for you! I learned it when I was 13 or 14 , it was winter and I was at the beach. It was so cold and the beer bottle was freezing , After couple of minutes I couldn’t feel my fingers and I was still holding it. Having said that I am 30 something now and I am an adult( at least by the laws). One good thing about being adult is having the option to drink beer at home!

Anyways , I suppose to write this about Grolsch , eh? Grolsch is a good beer,nice and crisp pilsner with a lager feeling. But its bottle makes it so special. You can simply open it by hand using a lever at the side of the bottleneck and another thing if it’s your last beer and you don’t think you can’t finish it (because you are an adult and you know what’s gonna happen if you finish that beer) , you don’t have to waste it.It’s a swing-top cap , close it and put it in the fridge back. Next morning(sorry) , next evening you can have it again and it’s still perfect.

And then once you finish it , wash it very nicely and now you have a nice bottle with a perfect cap. I know many home brewers use it but I am not one of them. I use it for to put olive oil. It’s a nice bottle and technically it’s free!

Ladies and gentlemen , I am smart... And I love you all.

Last words , drink beer and use lots of olive oil(it is the only secret for a good salad!)...

I am friend with Damo Suzuki(Damo Suzuki at Biltmore in Vancouver)

I remember when I was 15 or 16 ,this Dutch guy called Gerard suggest me this band called Can. It was their album “Ege Bamyasi(Aegean Okra)” , I can pronounce it perfect because turkish is my first language.It’s Can’s perfect answer to pop art. It’s a “can” of okra on a black background. It was so bizarre and back then I was not bizarre enough to buy the album for another couple years. But after I first listened I was regret to wait for few years.

About 3 weeks ago I saw the poster about Damo Suzuki’s concert at Biltmore and I was pretty excited.

On the concert night ,right after I parked my car , I was walking to the venue and there he was. I wasn’t sure first and I though the question “Are you Damo Suzuki” would be too stupid. I guess I starred at him too long , he asked me if I was gonna see the show. Then I was damned sure that it was him. Damo Suzuki was talking to me!!!!

Another legend The Fall’s singer Mark E. Smith made a song called “ I am Damo Suzuki” and now I am talking to Damo Suzuki. He was wearing Italian National Team’s Soccer t-shirt( I think that’s enough weird.He is a Japanese guy who lives in Germany. )

He said he arrived one day before and had to leave Vancouver 5 in the morning on sunday.He didn’t look very happy about it. I was excited to hear that he lives in Cologne(in Dusseldorf) , where there were few legend Krautrockers made great albums like Neu!,La Dusseldorf and Can. He didn’t like me to use the word Krautrock, he said that it is German Rock.

Luckily i wasn’t too lazy to bring my camera with me and I have got some picture taken. He had some nice friends there( I don’t know if he knew them before), some german immigrants who came here long time ago.

Damo Suzuki said that he like the challenging part of what he is doing because he doesn’t have a band and that’s why it’s called Damo Suzuki’s Network. In each city he plays with different musicians that he never met before.

Anyways , after our nice chat I went in. Biltmore’s staff are friendly plus they have one of the best beer in BC, Phillips Blue Buck Ale.

The opening band Defektors were pretty good , it was the first time I saw and heard them. It’s a trio and they reminded me a little bit Minutemen. Their performance was very good but I believe that they better keep some of their songs shorter.

Then Damo Suzuki came to the stage with this band named “ Sex Negatives” . They were mostly improvising pretty loudly , which became annoying sometimes because I couldn’t hear Damo Suzuki. It was a long set without a stop . Damo Suzuki was like a Shaman and his singing healed all our devil sides. When it was over ,everybody was tired and it included the fans.

August 9 2009,Vancouver

ISTANBUL ( NOT CONSTANTINOPLE) !

Is Istanbul not Constantinople ( or the question is - was Istanbul not Constantinople)?...In fact it was and it is. Istanbul has had so many names, nowadays nobody remembers those beautiful names. Well maybe a few people who are into history know some of the names but not your average Istanbul’lu( Istanbulite).

The Ottomans(1299-1923) took over Istanbul/Constantinople in 1453. Starting with this period until 17th century Ottoman Empire spanned 3 continents(Europe,Asia and Africa). Istanbul was always the centre of any interactions between East and West.In its long history, Istanbul has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922).

The Ottoman Kings surprisingly, used Constantinople, as well as Bab-i Ali and Dersaadet. Other popular names for Istanbul were Byzantine, Nea Roma, Tsarigrad, Stinpolis, Islambol, Dar’ussaadet. According to Professor Ilber Ortayli (a very sweet and cool Turkish professor, and fortunately popular these days) Ottoman Emperors finished their writings with the phrase“ Be makam-i Konstantiniyye el mahmiyye (Well Protected Constantinople Centre)” - it’s old turkish but I tried my best to translate it.

I would like to introduce Ilber Ortayli a little bit: he is an important academician and speaks/reads about 15 languages. After teaching in several universities in Europe,Russia and Turkey he became head of the Topkapi Palace Museum (where Ottoman Kings lived almost 400 years) in Istanbul, which is another great reason to visit the Palace. It’s probably the most important museum in Turkey. I have to add that when you visit this place that you will have also probably the best view of Istanbul,oops Constantinople.

PS :

1- Did I forget to mention that Konyali Restaurant (one of oldest restaurants in Istanbul with the best location) is in Topkapi Palace. I swear to God , once you eat a Doner Kebab there , you’ll never even walk by those falafel,shwarma etc... things in North America.

2-The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

DAMO SUZUKI @ BILTMORE ( GOT MY FEVER,WHY DO I GO?)

Probably the most popular Japanese singer in the world is coming to Vancouver in August 8.We should go and watch the show.But I can hear your question in my head; “who is he,who is he?” . And my job is trying to explain this legend old man.Not that old compared to Mick Jagger, he is almost 60.

He was the singer of the legendary German band Can. Can was a Krautrock band and influenced so many music bands like Sex Pistols’ singers John Lydon’s own band Public Image Ltd., Primal Scream,The Fall,Radiohead,Flaming Lips etc...

The front man of Can’s Holger Czukay met him on the street while he was busking(1970). Well it’s weird but true , he was sitting in a Cafe in Munich and heard Damo Suzuki singing and they needed a singer very urgent (they arranged a show that night and the previous singer Malcolm Mooney had just quit the band because of a nervous breakdown) and he accepted the invitation.Their first album together was Tago Mago and it is probably still one of the most important experimental rock album in the music history.

He was a member of Can for three years and they recorded 5 albums and one compilation called Unlimited Edition(which is great!). He mostly improvised in these albums and song sometimes the weirdest things but they were so beautiful...

My favorite Can song is “Bring me Coffee or Tea” from Tago Mago and the lyrics goes like this...

You just smile at me,

You're just on my knee,

Bring me coffee or tea,

Call me pretty little bee.

Whisper in my ear, lad,

You're still my parent friend,

Throw me out of my bag,

Ask me Are you dead?

He quit music in 1973 , and become a Jehovah’s Witness. He started playing music again in 1983 and has been touring with lots of different musicians ever since. It will be an interesting show for sure...

Got my fever,why do I go?*

* from Halleluhwah by Can&Damo Suzuki