Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Soundtrack of My Life VII - Mahna Mahna by Mahna Mahna and the Snowths

Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. While it might have been originally designed for pre scholar students, I have to admit that I keep watching it until well past that age. And, as you know, my chronicle incapability to tell left from right is not my fault at all. I missed the show where they explained it, and somehow never catch up with the contents.

One thing leading to the other, it came to my mind that one of the very first albums I ever owned was The Muppet Show (1997). I listened to it until the grooves disappeared, and still keep it together with all my old records. The Mahna Mahna song was strategically placed after a heated row between Miss Piggy and Kermit (Kermit got smacked at the end, if I remember well). Once Mahna Mahna and the Snowths said their goodbyes, Gonzo came up to stage to try eating a rubber tire to the sound of The Flight of the Bumble Bee (What do they know about art?!).

Mahna Mahna was played on the very first show of The Muppet Show in 1977. It was originally titled Mah-Na Mah-Na, and written by composer Piero Umiliani for an Italian documentary about life in Sweden, titled Svezia, Inferno e Paradiso (Sweden, Heaven and Hell).

Please welcome Mahna Mahna and the Snowths! Whatever that means.....





Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Soundtrack of My Life VI -Connected by the Stereo MCs

When I finished my undergraduate studies in 1992, I got back to Lisbon for a while, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life and looking for the funds that would hopefully get me back to Madrid. In the meanwhile, mainly to avoid starvation, I landed at a substitute teacher position. As all beginnings, life certainly looked and full of decisions and crucial steps. Yet, it was effortless and easy enough to allow me to relax and enjoy myself. Something that was welcomed after all the stress getting my degree finished in a relatively good shape.

And, by those very days, Lisbon was boosting with all new bars and clubs. Every place looked cool and sophisticated and the city was proud to host a club that was considered to be the best one in the world - the Kremlin. Yet, those days most roads would end or start at Fragil.

Fragil, who opened its doors in 1983 in Bairro Alto, was one of the Lisbon's first clubs. In reality,it was more like a bar with small dance floor, and a very mixed crowd. Its two doorwomen were legendary. One eventually became a singer of relative success, and the other one ended up to be a public figure and lead and AIDS support organization. About 10 years ago, Fragil's owners moved the club to a much bigger space close to there river, called LuxFragil. For oner reason or the other, have never been to Lux. If you go to Lisbon, you will still be able to find Fragil, but it is a million years away of what its original splendor and glory. I was there once, but certainly will not go back. Sequels were never good ideas...

I used to be a Fragil's regular. I cannot remember the first time I was allowed in to have a gin and tonic. I vividly remember being was allowed in without a question during my freshman year in University, much to the newbies envy.There are even reports me huffing puffing over people who suddenly remember they were my friends once they saw me jumping over the line. And, once I got back to Lisbon for my gap year, I probably distilled in there a good part of teacher salary. So many happy hours of trendy music and casual (or not so casual) conversation! For whatever reason, no song like Connected by the Stereo MCs makes me travel back to that space.