Soundtrack of My Life – Lovers in a Dangerous Time

May 28, 2016
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Soundtrack of my LifeThis is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life.

You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. You’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too.

You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

Lovers in a Dangerous Time – Bruce Cockburn

Bruce Cockburn turned 71 yesterday so I figured I should highlight one of his songs today. I enjoy a lot of Cockburn’s music, much of it about human rights, environmental issues, politics and spirituality.

This song is a favourite, mainly for one line. “Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight”. In some very small way I believe that’s the opportunity I have working with Compassion. There’s still a lot of darkness out there so I’m going to keep kicking.

Lovers in a Dangerous Time – Bruce Cockburn

Don’t the hours grow shorter as the days go by
You never get to stop and open your eyes
One day you’re waiting for the sky to fall
The next you’re dazzled by the beauty of it all
When you’re lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

These fragile bodies of touch and taste
This vibrant skin — this hair like lace
Spirits open to the thrust of grace
Never a breath you can afford to waste
When you’re lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

When you’re lovers in a dangerous time
Sometimes you’re made to feel as if your love’s a crime —
But nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight —
Got to kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight
When you’re lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time
And we’re lovers in a dangerous time
Lovers in a dangerous time

I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Soundtrack of My Life – Lovers in a Dangerous Time? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Soundtrack of My Life – This Head I Hold

May 7, 2016
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Soundtrack of my LifeThis is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life.

You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. You’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too.

You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

This Head I Hold – Electric Guest

Electric Guest has only released one album so far, 2012’s Mondo, but there is a second on the way. They finished recording in February so it’s just a matter of time until we hear some new music from them.

I have a vast music collection with many hundreds of albums. Mondo by Electric Guest is certainly up there among my favourites.

Electric Guest is a Los Angeles-based band formed in 2011. The group comprises Asa Taccone and Matthew “Cornbread” Compton. Brothers Todd and Tory Dahlhoff play bass and keyboards/guitar, respectively, in the touring version of the band. – Wiki

I’m a big fan of their sound and I’m a strong believer that friends don’t let friends go through life without introducing them to Electric Guest’s music.

Here’s the ‘out there’ video for This Head I Hold, a great single from Mondo. You may have heard it behind a TV commercial or two but listen all the way through and enjoy it as the great song it is.

I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Soundtrack of My Life – This Head I Hold? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Soundtrack of My Life – Farewell Aunty Jack

April 23, 2016
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Soundtrack of my LifeThis is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life.

You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. You’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too.

You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

Farewell Aunty Jack – Aunty Jack

Today’s song comes from the early 70s and an odd, yet very funny comedy series, Aunty Jack.

“Farewell Aunty Jack” was the closing theme to The Aunty Jack Show, played at the end of each episode. It was re-recorded and released as a hit single in late 1973 and spent 3 weeks at number one in the charts in Australia in March 1974. The music was written by Rory O’Donoghue, who also did the singing as the character “Thin Arthur”, whereas “Aunty Jack” (Grahame Bond) provided wise-cracks and other spoken commentary to the lyrics, addressed to the listener and the singer. – Wiki

I had the pleasure of interviewing Grahame Bond when I worked in radio and then meeting Grahame and Rory after the show when they toured The Aunty Jack Show and Tell in 2006.

I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Soundtrack of My Life – Farewell Aunty Jack? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Soundtrack of my Life – Mr. Wendal

February 20, 2016
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Soundtrack of my LifeThis is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life.

You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. You’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too.

You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

Mr. Wendal – Arrested Development

Arrested Development released Mr. Wendal in 1992. It’s a song about the homeless but instead of just talking about their plight, it asks us to consider what we can learn from those who are homeless and to see the person beyond the homelessness label.

It charted reasonably well at the time, reaching number 6 in the U.S., 7 in Australia and number 4 on the U.K. charts.

Mr. Wendal is part of the soundtrack of my life because I enjoy it musically and love the message behind it. I wonder how many of those who bought the single and the album it came from,  3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of…  actually thought about what the song is saying.

Here, have a dollar,
in fact no brotherman here, have two
Two dollars means a snack for me,
but it means a big deal to you
Be strong, serve God only,
know that if you do, beautiful heaven awaits
That’s the poem I wrote for the first time
I saw a man with no clothes, no money, no plate
Mr.Wendal, that’s his name,
no one ever knew his name cause he’s a no-one
Never thought twice about spending on a ol’ bum,
until I had the chance to really get to know one
Now that I know him, to give him money isn’t charity
He gives me some knowledge, I buy him some shoes
And to think blacks spend all that money on big colleges,
still most of y’all come out confused

[CHORUS:] Go ahead, Mr.Wendal (2x)

Mr.Wendal has freedom,
a free that you and I think is dumb
Free to be without the worries of a quick to diss society
for Mr.Wendal’s a bum
His only worries are sickness
and an occasional harassment by the police and their chase
Uncivilized we call him,
but I just saw him eat off the food we waste
Civilization, are we really civilized, yes or no ?
Who are we to judge ?
When thousands of innocent men could be brutally enslaved
and killed over a racist grudge
Mr.Wendal has tried to warn us about our ways
but we don’t hear him talk
Is it his fault when we’ve gone too far,
and we got too far, cause on him we walk
Mr.Wendal, a man, a human in flesh,
but not by law
I feed you dignity to stand with pride,
realize that all in all you stand tall

Mr.Wendal, yeah yeah yeah, Lord, Mr.Wendal


I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Soundtrack of my Life – Mr. Wendal? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.

Soundtrack of my Life – Think

February 13, 2016
by Rodney Olsen
Add Comment

Soundtrack of my LifeThis is one of a regular series of articles highlighting some of the music that has played a part in my life.

You’ll find a range of songs from old to new. You’ll probably find music that has been part of the soundtrack of your life too.

You can also check out some of the other songs that make up the soundtrack of my life.

Think – Aretha Franklin

I’d have to admit that the main reason this song is part of the soundtrack of my life is that it’s part of the soundtrack of The Blues Brothers movie. I saw that movie one Saturday night in 1980. I didn’t really want to see it but the group I was going to the movies with wanted to see it. I couldn’t stop talking about it for the next week and the next Saturday night I was back there with some more friends. I reckon I’ve seen that movie at least a dozen times in cinemas and many more times on video or DVD.

I should say that the movie isn’t the only reason I love Aretha’s music and that I’m thankful that it led me to explore more of her work. She is an incredible talent.

Of course Think wasn’t written for the movie. Aretha released the song reached number 7 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming her seventh top 10 hit in the United States. Think also reached Number 1 on the magazine’s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles. It was co-written by Aretha Franklin and Ted White.

If you’re not already a fan, I’d encourage you to find some of her music and learn about what a true legend she is. Aretha is currently 73 years of age but she proved she’s still got it with an inspirational performance at the White House late last year. And if you’ve never seen the orignal Blues Brothers movie, make sure you fix that situation soon. The clip below comes from the movie.


I’d encourage you to get involved too. Let me know about some of the songs that are etched in your mind. What are the tunes that bring back a flood of memories every time their opening notes start cranking out on your stereo? Are there songs you love for their music and others that speak deeply through their lyrics?



Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Soundtrack of my Life – Think? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.