Cesaria Evora 1941-2011

27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011

Cesaria Evora passed away today, aged 70, on her home island of Sao Vicente. The cause of death was cardiorespiratory insufficiency and hypertension. I’m not sure what that means, but Evora had announced her retirement from music just a few months ago, due to poor health. She’d suffered a heart attack last year, and experienced respiratory problems due to a lifelong cigarette habit. Evora had not recorded since 2009, and hadn’t played live since the beginning of 2010. I don’t know anything about Evora’s personal life or whether she is survived by any family. I would like to imagine a gathering of children and grandchildren to honor her passing. She will be missed by fans worldwide. We’ve lost a magical voice.

Come On Eileen

I don’t listen to Dexys Midnight Runners, but I had to include this. Because it’s a good song, and also because it’s a fine example of a merely good song rendered indelible (not necessarily in a good way) by a wtf video, and the magic of context. In a world where everyone wears overalls, Dexys Midnight Runners thuggishly menace ‘Eileen’ who is out strolling with her baby. Which in 1982 was not at all creepy. Besides, she’s wearing overalls too. What makes it more creepy is the mental image, if you’ve got one, of Kevin Rowland’s horrific stab at cross-dressing in the nineties. I’m all in favor of transvestism of every stripe, but it’s just not a good look for him. He looks like your disowned Uncle Dwight who can’t go near a playground. Though he kinda looked like that in the weird hat and dungarees too.  But, um, but it’s still a good song…

Ghosts

Warning: this video contains bunnies! Other stuff too, but mostly it’s the bunnies. On a different note, I was excited about a new Ladytron album this year, but I was then disappointed. Thought the new one was a bit slow and boring. This is from Velocifero, released 2008, probably their best album so far. I hope the next one focuses more on an uptempo, dancable mood and OH look, bunnies!!!