Awakening Possibility

Sad News - Cesaria Evora Died

Gosh - first Christopher Hitchens died on Friday.  I plan to write and post about him, what he meant to me and why - but I've not been able to yet.  I will.  I will.  And on Vaclav Havel too.


And now the very, very sad news that Cesaria Evora has died.  She had a stroke in September.   The LA Times obituary wrote this:  

Her singing style brought comparisons to American jazz singerBillie Holiday and the great French singer Edith Piaf.   

"She belongs to the aristocracy of bar singers," French newspaper Le Monde said in 1991, adding that Evora had "a voice to melt the soul."

She melted mine.  I got to see her once here in DC, at the Lisner Auditorium.  I will never forget it.  Such joy and astonishing beauty moved me to tears.  She is one of my goddesses.   

The only music concert DVD I own is hers.   I own all of her albums and play them all the time, but among my favorite of her songs are Angola, Sodade, Embarcacao and, of course, the magnificent "Carnaval De Sao Vincente."  I love listening to that one on a summer day with the roof down.  Whenever, where ever, it never fails to make me smile.  Except for today.  

If I die a slow death I hope to do so while listening to her singing as I don't know a better soul to usher me into the divine.   


Here is her official web site. 

Hitchens rattled my brain but she moved my heart.  Thank you, barefoot diva.    

Flower Mart at National Cathedral

This year the Flower Mart celebrated Austria (last year it was Great Britain I think).

A beautiful day with Tulin at my favorite place in DC.

The crowd gathers for music and dance performances.

An organ grinder who in additional to traditional folk songs also played some Simon and Garfunkle.

Harpist inside.

The view from the tower toward the Mall.  See the Washington Monument?

Looking down on the crowds below....

St. Paul's Music Program

Here is a video about the wonderful music at my church. 

"Feeling, Soul and Know. He Had a Lot of Know"

"He had to know something to sing that song like that."- Smokey Robinson

After a video of the Jackson 5 performing “Who’s Lovin’ You,” Smokey Robinson, who
wrote it, marveled at the 10-year-old Michael’s ability to sing these lyrics -

Who’s Lovin’ You

When I had you, I treated you bad and wrong my dear

And girl since, since you went away

Don’t you know I sit around with my head hanging down

And I wonder who’s lovin’ you

I,I,I,I,I should have never ever, ever made you cry

And girl since, since you’ve been gone

Don’t you know I sit around with my head hanging down

And I wonder who’s lovin’ you

Life without love is oh, so lonely

I don’t think, I don’t thin I’m gonna make it

All my love, all my love, yeah, belongs to you only

Come on and take it, girl, come on and take it

Because I, all I can do, all I can do

Since you been gone is cry

And you, and ever wonder or worry your pretty little head

“Bout what I do

Don’t you know I sit around with my head hanging down

And I wonder who’s lovin’ you

Who’s lovin’ you

Who’s lovin’ you

Who’s lovin’ you