How do you become fluent in eleven languages?

Interesting video about twenty-year-old Alex Rawlings  who can speak eleven languages fluently.  He says listening to song lyrics was particularly helpful to him.  I originally saw this on the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17107435

Release The Pressure - Leftfield

 

The blog has now had over 3000 hits and to celebrate we have 'Release The Pressure' by Leftfield.  This is the opening track of their fantastic 1995 album 'Leftism.' Above is the album version and below is the single version.  This is a great track.

Wild World - Cat Stevens

'Wild World' by Cat Stevens was released in 1970 and is from the album 'Tea For the Tillerman.'  Cat Stevens started his career in the mid 1960´s and was very successful in the 1970's.  However, after converting to Isalm and changing his name to Yusuf Islam he stopped making music. 

In 2006 he returned to pop music and released a new album 'An Other Cup' and another in 2009 called ' Road Singer.'

Both as Cat Stevens and Yusuf he has written and recorded some fantastic music.  I love his music.    Wild world was suggested by Andrea in T7.

Below is one of my favourite Cat Steven's song - 'The First Cut is the Deepest.'

Knocking On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses

 

 

Knocking on Heaven's Door is taken from their 1991 album 'Use Your Illusion II'  The song was originally by Bob Dylan who recorded it in 1973.  This song was suggested by Raúl in T7.

 

 



 

Sweet Child o' Mine - Guns N' Roses

'Sweet Child o´ Mine' was the third single from their 1987 debut album 'Appetite For Destruction.'  Axl Rose wrote the lyrics for his then girlfriend Erin Everly.  This song was suggested by Raúl in T7.

British Council - Learn English Kids

British Council - Learn English Kids is a free website for children and has lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children to have fun and learn English too.  There are also websites for adults and teens aswell.

British Council - Learn English Teens

 

British Council Learn English Teens is a free website for teenagers with listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary as well as help with exams.  There are also seperate websites for adults and children.

British Council - Learn English

British Council - Learn English is a  free website for adults from the British Council with games, stories, listening activities and grammar exercises. There are also seperate websites for teens and children.

Girlfriend in a Coma - The Smiths

'Girlfriend in a Coma' was released as a single in 1987 and was from their last studio album 'Strangeways, Here We Come'  This song is also for Valentines Day as it's sort of a love song ....well kind of.

Real Love - The Beatles

Real Love was originally recorded in 1979 as a home demo by John Lennon.  The remaining Beatles reworked it in early 1995 and released it in 1996.  When they recorded the song McCartney said they pretended that John had gone on holiday and left them to finish the song.  This song is for Valentines Day.

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) - Pink Floyd

'Another Brick in The Wall' (Part 2) was from Pink Floyd's 1979 album 'The Wall.' 

The song is about how education isn't about learning new things but control and making everyone the same.  In particular, the song is critical of teachers who mistreat the kids.  The wall is what the singer builds up around himself, isolating him from the rest of the world and eventually reality. 

The song encourages children to rebel against their teachers and school........but not in my class : )

She Moves In Her Own Way - The Kooks

The Kooks formed in 2004 and are from Brighton, England.  They take their name from a David Bowie song of the same name. 'She Moves In Her Own Way' is taken from their debut album 'Inside in / Inside Out' released in 2006.  Incidentally, I lived in Brighton before moving to Spain, and Brighton is a seriously cool place.  This song was suggested by Maria in T7.

Layla - Eric Clapton

 

 

 

'Layla' by Derek and the Dominoes was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon and is from the album 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs' released in 1970. 

 

The song is about Clapton's love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician Beatle George Harrison.  Harrison divorced Boyd in 1974 and Clapton married her in 1979.  George Harrison remained friends with Eric Caplton and along with Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, even attended the wedding.

 

Pattie Boyd is said to be the inspiration behind other songs including Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' and The Beatles 'Something.'  This song was suggested by anonymous.

 

 

'Layla' - Pattie Boyd:  Pictured below in the 1960's.

 

 

 

Explosions - Ellie Goulding

'Explosions' is taken from her second album 'Halcyon' which was released in 2012.  Apparently, Goulding is a keen runner and runs six miles everyday.  Blimey!  This song was suggested by anonymous.

I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift

'I Knew You Were Trouble' by Taylor Swift was released in 2012 and is taken fro her fourth studio álbum 'Red.'  It is rumoured to be about her one time boyfriend Harry Styles from One Direction.  This song was suggested by anonymous.

Zebra - The John Butler Trio

The John Butler Trio are an Australian band that formed in Fremantle in 1998.  This song is from their 2003 album 'Sunrise Over the Sea.'  The title 'Zebra' comes from the idea of a zebra asking itself if it is white with black stripes or black with white stripes.  Yes, I like this song a lot and will seek out more of their music.  Thanks for the suggestion.

I Can't Control Myself - Joan Jett

Another song by Joan Jett.  'I Can't Control Myself' is from her 1984 album 'Misspent Youth.' I haven't heard this before but it's a good little rock and roll number.  As always,  Joan Jett 'rocks.'   Literally!  I think this was probably suggested by the two sisters.

Seville as you've never seen it!

 

http://www.elcorreoweb.es/sevilla/161618/nimbovisionproduccionesofrecelaoportunidaddecontemplarlaciudadcomojamassehabiavisto

Two videos using thousands of photographs and over nine months work showing Seville as you've never seen it.

Someone Like You - Adele

Adele is an English singer song-writer. 'Someone Like You' was about her boyfriend that she had just broken up with.  The song is taken from her second studio album 21, which was released in 2011.  This song was requested by Maria in T3. 

Blackbird - The Beatles

Rocio in T6 requested 'Here Comes the Sun' by The Beatles.  Rocio, this song is already on the blog:

http://elimacarenamusiccafe.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/here-comes-sun-beatles.html

So, I hope you like this one instead.  It's called Blackbird and is from their 1968 album called 'The Beatles.' This album is better known as 'The White Album' as the cover is errr............white.   This song, written by McCartney, was inspired by a blackbird bursting into song before sunrise.