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Nothing Else Matters ~ Metallica

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Metalica was formed in 1981 when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a Los Angeles paper called The Recycler looking for musicians who were interested in forming a band.

The original members consisted of Ulrich, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Mustaine and McGovney were later kicked out of the band and replaced by Kirk Hammet and Cliff Burton. Burton was killed when the tour bus skidded out of control and was later replaced by Jason Newsted, who eventually was replaced by Robert Trujillo.

Metalica is considered the pioneer of “thrash metal”, and some critics consider their 1986 release of Master of Puppets to be one of the most influential and heavy “thrash metal” albums.

Nothing Else Matters

“Nothing Else Matters” is a power ballad by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third single from their self-titled fifth studio album, Metallica.

Singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield wrote the song (credited to Hetfield/Ulrich) while he was on the phone with his then girlfriend. Since he held the phone with one hand, he plucked the four open strings of a standard E-minor chord with the other, which eventually made up the first two bars of the song. The lyrics, which talk about being “so close, no matter how far”, were also dedicated to his girlfriend, indicating the bond they shared even when Hetfield was on tour. Initially, the song was not meant to be released, as Hetfield had written it for himself, but after drummer Lars Ulrich heard it, it was considered for the album.

–

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters

Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know

I never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
And nothing else matters

Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters

Never cared for things they say
Never cared for games they play
I’d never cared for what they do
I’d never cared for what they know
And I know

Yeah!

So close no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trust in who we are
And nothing else matters

–

  • Audio from the 1991 album, Metallica:
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Your Song ~ Elton John

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elton-johnElton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947, is a five-time Grammy Award winner, and has been one of the more dominating forces in rock and popular music for over forty years. He has sold over a quarter billion albums, and 100 million singles, making him one of the most successful artists of all time.

He is a composer, singer, and pianist who collaborates with songwriter partner Bernie Taupin to write some of the most recognizable music of the 20th century.

Known for some of his most flamboyant fashions and on-stage showmanship.

Your Song

“Your Song” is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. It originally appeared on John’s self-titled second album in 1970.

The instrumental focus is on John’s Leon Russell-influenced piano work, along with acoustic guitar, Paul Buckmaster’s string accompaniment, and a shuffling rhythm section.

The lyrics express the romantic thoughts of an innocent. Taupin offers a straightforward love-song lyric at the beginning: “It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside / I’m not one of those who can easily hide / I don’t have much money but boy if I did / I’d buy a big house where we both could live.” At times the self-deprecating narrator stumbles to get out his feelings, which despite being a melodramatic device, Allmusic calls “effective and sweet”: ”So excuse me forgetting but these things I do / You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue / Anyway the thing is what I really mean / Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen / And you can tell everybody this is your song / It may be quite simple but now that it’s done…”

The song was part of a stockpile of songs John and Taupin wrote while living together. John pinpoints his composition of the music to 27 October 1969. It took him only ten minutes. Taupin had penned the lyrics earlier that day over breakfast. John cites the song as one of his favorites, and plays it at most of his concerts. In an interview, he commented, “I don’t think I have written a love song as good since”.

“Your Song” was itself the inspiration for the song “We All Fall in Love Sometimes” on John’s 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The original framed handwritten lyric, complete with egg and coffee stains from breakfast, can be seen in the lyrics booklet that is included with various editions of Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Elton John had said in an interview with The Actor’s Studio that he had only taken 30 minutes to compose the entire song.

–

It’s a little bit funny this feeling inside
I’m not one of those who can easily hide
I don’t have much money but if I did
I’d buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it’s not much but it’s the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one’s for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they’ve got me quite cross
But the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song
It’s for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I’ve forgotten if they’re green or they’re blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I’ve ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it’s done
I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

I hope you don’t mind
I hope you don’t mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you’re in the world

–

  • Audio from the 1970 album, Elton John:
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Dark As The Night, Blue As The Day ~ Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

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micheal-clevelandMichael Cleveland is a blind American bluegrass Fiddle player.

Cleveland was born in Henryville, Indiana. His skill was recognised at an early age, with appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion and before the United States Congress in his early teens.

After graduating from the Kentucky School for the Blind he performed with various musicians including Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent.

His first solo project on Rounder Records, Flame Keeper, won the International Bluegrass Music Association Instrumental Album of the Year in 2002, and he shared the same award with Tom Adams in 2004 for Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge. His third award came for his 2006 album Let ‘Er Go, Boys!.

Dark As The Night, Blue As The Day

Originally a song written and performed by American Bluegrass musician Bill Monroe in 1959, Micheal Cleveland and Flamekeeper recorded it in 2006 on their Let ‘Er Go Boys! album.

–

Dark as the night and blue as the day
I’m lonesome, my darling, since you went away
Sometimes I wonder, what made you strangely
Dark as the night and blue as the day

Blue as the sky, there is blues in my heart
It’s dark outside since we’ve been apart
Oh, tell me, please, tell me, why you betrayed?
Dark as the night, I’m blue as the day

–

  • Audio from the 2006 album, Let ‘Er Go Boys!:
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