Advent with Stu g Day 22
O Come O Come Emmanuel
This song is probably the most well known advent carol.
Ian Cron mentioned it in his guest blog on 8th December, and my friend Steve Stockman (Stocki) a Presbyterian minister from Belfast Northern Ireland wrote about it on his blog, Soul Surmise. Here’s a part of what he said:
“Over familiarized, this old carol may seem benign BUT this is a subversive prayer! I guess it depends where you are. If you are a child soldier in some ugly war then bring it on! If you are under strict military regimes and yearn for freedom bring it on! If you are living in the middle of destitute township Africa’s injustice in trade and fairness to clean water and cheap drugs then bring it on!
BUT… if you are in the pampered west living in decadent luxury at the cost of so many then this is a dangerous prayer. Are we ready for “the first made last and the last made first…” Are we ready to serve rather than Lording it? Are we ready for when the poor and the meek take over?”
If you want to read more go check Stocki’s blog out HERE
There are many versions of this carol around and I’ve just added my own to the list.
I’ve tried to create a sense of longing with the guitar…
Hope you enjoy it!
3 more sleeps
Advent with Stu g Day 18
Beggar’s Prayer
This song originally by Emiliana Torini, is one of the most beautiful songs I know. Her recording of it on the album Me and Armani is simply stunning.
“Lord you just dropped me here on the side of this road, I’m just so cold and I don’t wanna walk it alone”
Stark but beautiful…
“I’ve got a bottle of your blood inside me, and an old beggar’s prayer on the tip of my tongue”
There’s a longing in this song. It fits the season of advent.
December 18th, 1865 saw the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. This saw slavery abolished in the United States.
Speaking as a former slave, Austin Steward said,
“the more we knew of freedom, the more we desired it”
Think of the freedom most of us enjoy, and remember those who are still slaves today… and those who are fighting for the end of slavery…people like Justin Dillon and so many more.
and Emiliana sings,
“mama said lift your head from the sieve of your hands, mama said eventually this hurting will end”
Advent with Stu g Day 16
Heartless
Lurking behind today’s door is an acoustic cover of my favourite Kanye West song Heartless.
I may be in the minority, but I really loved 808’s and Heartbreaks. It’s cool to see an artist wearing their heart on their sleeve, journaling a difficult time in song like that.
I identify…I’ve got the songs, I just haven’t released them yet.
There’s a lot of words in this song and it took me about 20 takes…(oops) and there’s still a fluff at the end.
2 years ago I performed a house concert to friends before I played the Greenbelt festival. This was one of the songs and it holds good memories.
Shout out to my friend Tom who when given a choice, chose this for today
Hope you like it
Advent with Stu g Day 9
I posted on my facebook page the other week if there were any requests for these christmas blogs. I had quite a few folks ask for acoustic versions of songs.
I’ve been playing more acoustically lately, mainly in the company of our amazing friends The Stellas (though they are so good it makes you want to give up!)
I thought it would be fun to record a few of these vids over the next week or so…no frills no HD (i don’t have an HD camera) - one microphone - voice and guitar down one mono channel - warts and all - no auto tune - what you see is what you get
I’m cringing already
This is the song Rollercoaster which first appeared on the delirious? album, Audiolessonover
hope you enjoy the experiment!
