Medley Imagine/What A Wonderful World by Barbra Streisand

[2018]
Album: Walls


A note from Barbra :

This collection of songs reflects what’s been on my mind lately.

These are troubling times, and I felt compelled to add my voice to the dialogue some of us have been having. Many of the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom we’ve always taken for granted – freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of expression – are eroding at an alarming rate. Even basic human decency appears to be melting away faster than the polar ice caps. I wanted to write and sing about some of these things… not only to convey my concerns, but also to state my belief that, if we remain vigilant to the truth, things can eventually turn around.

In the past year we’ve seen the very worst of humanity… and the very best. In the face of unimaginable natural disasters and unspeakable human cruelty, there... (continua)

ulissecoroa (L. Trans.)

Mikael Wiehe translated "Basta ya" into this Swedish version. On his website, www.mikaelwiehe.se, he writes:

"Our photographer friend Tano D'Amico once told us that in a trip to Palestine, many years ago, he had made a photographic service in the refugee camps. There he met a family, mother, father and daughter. In March 2002 we went to Palestine and Tano went to meet the family in the picture. In the meanwhile, the child had grown up, and had recently blown herself up as a kamikaze."

juliaalvares (L. Trans.)

Riccardo Venturi, 29.10.2018 01:23

Ceil Herman

Björn Afzelius often expressed his empathy and concern for the outcasts and forgotten members of society in his songs. The tragic story told in this lovely ballad occurs today as well as when it was written.

Riccardo Venturi, 26.10.2018 10:52

In his notes about this song in his 95 Sånger (95 Songs) book, Björn Afzelius wrote:

"Man kan ofta förklara onda handlingar - men det ursäktar dem aldrig. Vi har alltid en
valmöjlighet"

"One can often explain evil acts but that never excuses them. We always have an option."

Notes are by Mikael Wiehe on his website www.mikaelwiehe.se:

"Från 1968 och framåt var inte bara en tid av förbrödring och systerskap i kampen för en bättre värld eller en ständig marsch under röda fanor mot en hägrande framtid. Det var också en tid av djupa motsättningar, hätska diskussioner, våldsamma konflikter och bittra avsked till alla dem som inte delade idéerna, tron och idealen, det kunde vara familj, vänner eller arbetskamrater. "Ingenting förändras av sej själv" är en sådan adjö-sång till en av mina nära vänner som valde att gå en annan väg.

Jag hade lyssnat mycket på Neil Youngs "Harvest" innan jag skrev den."

"From 1968 and onwards there was not only a time of brotherhood and sisterhood in the struggle for a better world or a constant march under red banners against a looming future. It was also a time of deep contradictions, virulent discussions, violent conflicts, and bitter... (continua)

Björn Afzelius wrote the following notes about his song "Måne över Corsica" in his 95 Sånger (95 Songs) book.

"Fransmännen betraktar Korsika som en sommarinvestering - en plats där man kan rumla och bära sej åt hur som helst under semestern. Man vill ha ren luft och rent vatten i havet, alltså byggs inga industrier - därav en massarbetslöshet på ön. Fransmännen tar t.o.m. med sej hotell- och restaurangpersonal från fastlandet, samt egna staber att sköta tennisbanorna och campingplatserna. När säsongen är över försvinner såväl folk som pengar, och korsikanerna får hanka sej fram best de kan till nästa sommar. Dette har lett till etablerandet av den militära motståndsrörelsen FNLC, som under vinterhalvåret spränger franska semesteranläggningar, restauranger och resbyråer i luften. När jag upptäckte dessa missförhållanden gav texten sej själv"

("The French view Corsica like a summer investment... (continua)

This very melodic anthem song is the final cut on the Hoola Bandoola Band's album of the same name.