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Lisbon, Portugal

13 January 2023

Recent weather reports:

A blizzard blasted across the US covering its deserts in snow. Yet record high temperatures ruined winter sports in the Alps. And unusually high amounts of rain caused the Arabian peninsula to burst into bloom.

Mad!

I have been watching daily highlights of the Dakar Rally. A fascinating race.

Helicopters chasing motorbikes speeding across the desert, drivers digging out their 4x4's stuck in sand, and 9.5 ton trucks conquering the tallest of dunes.

After a decade in South America, the rally has moved to Saudi Arabia.

Plenty of dry and dusty terrain, you would say. But this year the entire spectacle literally got washed away.

I am rooting for the Dakar to return home. The western Sahara.

To present its people, in this modern day, an opportunity to showcase their culture and talent.

Like those from the heart of west Africa.

Mali.

A place some believe to be the true origin of the Blues.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Barcelona, Spain

6 January 2023

Happy New Year!

I have said it every day the past week. And here I say it again.

But this will be the last time.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with it. All well intended. But from here on out, I am done saying it.

It is like when do you throw out the Christmas tree? Some say after today. Epiphany.

So when do you stop saying Happy New Year? I say, after today as well.

It can be a depressing thought for some.

A whole new year ahead. Everything starts again.

Meanwhile, the festivities are behind you with nothing else to look forward to than to return to work.

Hence, Blue Monday.

But that is not the issue with me. Honestly.

Others might not like all the hugs and kisses that come with the greetings and best wishes.

Yet, I do not mind those either.

I just like to just get going with it already!

The year has started. I planned ahead. I got things to do, and places to be.

So Let's Go!

No more Happy New Years.

Instead it is just..

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Barcelona, Spain

30 December 2022

New Year's Eve.

The most anticipated, yet most disappointing night of the year.

Yes, that is right.

More often than not, it is not that great of a night. A bit meh.

Either you peak too early, or the party does not peak at all.

I tried working on New Year's Eve once. In a bar. Not the best night either.

The only ones that stay in memory as truly great nights are the ones I spend abroad. Like travelling. On a trip.

A beach party in Sri Lanka, a rooftop in Colombia, a firework show on the Red Square.

Considering I am not travelling this time, I choose not to make a big deal out of it.

A nice home cooked dinner and a bottle of champagne. That it is.

For those that do plan on making it a Gran Noche, enjoy and..

Happy New Year!

Sander

--

Barcelona, Spain

23 December 2022

Enough with the Christmas songs!

After two weeks of non-stop Feliz Navidad, All I want.., and Last Christmas, it is time to change channels.

So tomorrow night I am tuning in to the Top-2000.

A yearly returning marathon radio programme playing the 2,000 songs voted best of all time. It starts on Christmas Day and will end at midnight New Year's Eve.

A great occasion to debate music. Who made the cut, who did not?

But if you skip past the Coldplay songs it is a pretty good playlist.

I am never too interested to see who is at the top. Instead I look at what is new.

And to my surprise, never featured before and way too far down the list than where I think it righteously belongs..

At number 1,984. The Hollies with Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress).

Given its ranking it will play right away the first hour on Christmas Day.

How about that for some Jingle Bell Rock?

Merry Christmas!

Sander

--

's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands

9 December 2022

When I grow up, I want to be a cowboy.

After seeing Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in Disneyland as a little kid, I was sold.

Shortly after, my bedroom at home got a Western makeover.

All wood, swinging saloon doors, a gun mounted to the wall, and a framed photo of Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill.

My favourite cartoon was Lucky Luke. And I have watched all the Spaghetti Westerns ever made.

Clint Eastwood became my hero. Not in the least because we share the same last name.

It is a shame the genre has fallen out of favour. Not as well marketable overseas, but still expensive to make and therefore not as profitable.

But I love a good Western. The slow paced story line, great dialogues and the music. Obviously.

Nowadays, the closest I will come to feeling like a cowboy, will be driving a pickup truck across the Arizona-Utah border through Monument Valley.

I will play Ennio Morricone's entire Western catalogue as a soundtrack while I cross the desert.

And perhaps this song that I discovered a few years back.

The strings and that little rattle in between of the tambourine..

..it immediately takes you back to Once Upon a Time.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2 December 2022

Three hours of karaoke is too much.

At the end there are just one or two left continuing to sing song after song. Annoying.

No. Two hours is the max. After that I feel the need to cover my ears.

But karaoke in Asia is good fun though. And it is everywhere around.

It all started in Japan with a coin machine that would allow you to sing along with a single song. The same system still exists in South Korea.

In China you have the massive KTV centers. In Thailand karaoke is combined with bowling.

Having a home karaoke systems is also a must. 

My first Asian karaoke was in a little hut in the countryside of Vietnam. 

And just yesterday, people brought their home equipment with them to the foodcourt here in Malaysia.

No shame if you cannot sing. It is all just for fun.

Nonetheless, it is good to be prepared for when it is your turn. And it surely will be, eventually.

Therefore, you should have a go-to karaoke song.

A safe bet would be Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Not too high, not too low. Others can chime in at the 'oh oh oh'.

I, however, like to take a bit more risk. Here is mine.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Vientiane, Laos

25 November 2022

Few moments in time have been as culturally significant as the Vietnam War.

In the West, it inspired countless songs and movies to be made. It gave rise to a counterculture against the establishment that exist to this day.

In this part of the world, however, it has left huge scars. Not just in Vietnam, but perhaps more so in Laos.

More bombs have been dropped on Laos than on any other country in the world. Cluster bombs. As part of a Secret War.

Millions of that cluster ammunition never detonated on impact. Instead, it remains buried in the soil today. Continuing to take casualties for decades to come.

Hundreds of people a year lose their limbs if not lives to these UXO’s. 

All of it because of a war that was fought some 60 years ago.

While I travel upstream along the Mekong, I thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the natural landscape. The friendly people. Their food.

But I also keep thinking of the past. The war that was fought in this jungle.

Maybe I watched too many movies. Like Platoon. Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket.

Or maybe it is the playlist I listen to.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sander

--

Seoul, South Korea

18 November 2022

Annyeonghaseyo.

South Korea has long been on my list. Ever since a visit to Japan.

I imagined the two to be like siblings of sorts. Similar, yet opposites in many respects.

Like Shamisen music and K-Pop, or umami flavoured food versus everything made spicy!

Both successfully exported their culture abroad. In particular their food. Still, you cannot beat Korean BBQ locally! 

Especially not with a bottle of Soju. Or two..

Now I can see why this local drink is the world's most sold spirit.

I think food is export number one. There are even Youtube channels just to watch people eat. Mukbang.

Second would be K-Pop, I would guess.

Personally not a fan, but millions of people are. Internationally. 

Like the Chinese for instance.

In 2013, this song had everyone in Beijing's nightclubs stand on the tables and dance.

Gangnam Style lite. It never reached as far.

So let me help export.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Bangkok, Thailand

11 November 2022

Sawasdee khab from bustling Bangkok.

City of tuk-tuk's, sky trains and delicious street food! Expect me to leave with a little Buddha belly.

At night, I might enjoy some live music in one of the many bars and nightclubs across town.

Oftentimes, with musicians from the Philippines. In fact, cover bands are a major export of the country.

And in that world, no greater story exists than the story of Arnel Pineda.

When Journey's lead singer Steve Perry left the band, everybody thought they would never be the same again.

He had such a unique and distinctive voice. It made Journey. Irreplaceable.

Nonetheless, for more than a decade the band tried, but they never came close to reaching their former successes.

Until a Youtube video emerged..

A video of a Filipino cover band with Arnel singing their songs.

Not long thereafter, the band reached out, and he has been Journey's front man ever since.

A true story of Don't Stop Believing.

Selamat Friday!

Sander

--

's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands

4 November 2022

Yesterday, after 48 years, my mother officially retired.

In her time, she saw work evolve from the typewriter to the modern technology of the workspace today.

If I follow her example, I will retire at the age of 74 in the year 2062.

Hard to imagine how things will evolve till then. The passing of time can be a difficult concept to comprehend.

Here is a game of perspective.

When I deduct my age from the year I was born it gives me 1953.

That is the year of the North Sea flood. A major natural disaster. A history lesson they taught us back in school.

Coincidentally, it is also the year my father was born. Which makes him exactly twice my age now.

Equal time has passed from 1953 till my date of birth as has passed from my date of birth till today.

Next year, if I instead divide my time in two, it will be 18 years since I moved out from my parents home at the age of 18.

I will have spent half my life living on my own.

If I at the time would have deducted those 18 years from my date of birth, it would have taken me to 36 years before.

In that year, Zager & Evans scored their one-hit wonder. A song about a dystopian technology-driven future that lay ahead.

It was 1969.

Neil Armstrong had just set foot on the moon.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

28 October 2022

Caught myself in hot water the other week when asked if I was a romantic.

I admit. I expressed myself a bit unfortunate in my answer.

But what I meant to say is that I am a Nostalgic. And are nostalgics not inherently romantic?

The technical definition of nostalgia would make you believe it is a rather negative emotion. But I surely do not see it that way.

I love looking back at things. To reminisce about previous experiences, places I have been, and the things I have done.

And in doing so, I often romanticize the past.

'That was the time of my life', I would say. And I could say that about completely different periods of time as well. I easily get excited again.

Because I love reliving it momentarily. Bring it back to life. But I do not live in the past. They are all just good memories.

And almost nothing brings back those memories more than music.

So perhaps sometimes I can come across as sentimental. But just know that I am not sad. Not at all. They are emotions of happiness and joy.

Like, who would not get a big smile on their face listening back to this classic again?

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

21 October 2022

I am not a language person. At least not Portuguese. Too difficult.

But I get by. Sometimes it is similar to Spanish, although the first two weeks in Portugal, I thought I heard people speak Russian.

As a matter of fact, at my gym they do not even bother to translate for me anymore. They just ask "You got that?" And yeah, I mostly do.

Cause there is much I can take away from the non-verbal stuff, as well as intonation, the rhythm of speech.. I just find it hard to memorize words.

Maybe though, I am a language person after all. Just in a different way.

In my playlist you will find Turkish, Indian, Arabic, Greek and yes, even Portuguese songs. None of which I speak. But I like it anyway.

Including Fado.

The mother of a girl I was seeing as a teenager was a huge fan. She would organise live Fado evenings at her house. She even took me to see a show in Tavira once.

Dulce Pontes, Mariza.., those were her favourites. And of course Amália.

Heavy, dramatic songs. Most of them. But beautiful. Some.

So to celebrate six months in the city this week, here is Carlos do Camo singing, what I believe is, a love song for Lisboa.

Feliz sexta-feira!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

7 October 2022

"Learn how to borrow creatively."

That is something I recently heard from a digital creative. It was his most important lesson learned in art school.

Many things get made or thought of before you do. But are you then not allowed to touch it anymore?

Absolutely not.

It can be an influence to you. It can help ignite and develop your own creativity. You can use it, build upon it and subsequently make it your own.

In music this is how I discovered some artists that I would otherwise never have known about. Like Lonnie Smith, a jazz organist, who brought a unique style and groove with the way he played.

Some of the greatest in Hip Hop, including the legendary A Tribe Called Quest and the Wu-Tang Clan, used samples of his records in their own tracks.

Lonnie served as an influence. They used it, built upon it, and subsequently made it uniquely their own.

So here is Lonnie. Something old, but new to most. Something different. 

Not for you? At least you now have a clever way of saying “to copy-paste”.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Barcelona, Spain

30 September 2022

The mourning period for the Queen’s passing has officially ended. Time to address the question:

Who is now the most recognisable Brit?

I say James Bond. 

But which Bond? That is debatable.

Though I grew up with Pierce Brosnan, truthfully, there are only three real contesters for the best Bond ever. Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Daniel Craig. 

I am nostalgic, I would go with Sean. A Scot, but the OG and a classic Bond. Roger is said to be the most 'British' Bond ever, while Daniel gave the character true depth.

Who would you pick? And curious to see who will be next.

Regardless, I submit Hooverphonic to provide the soundtrack for the next movie. I think they already got it nailed down. The sound and theme.

Listen to 2Wicky and you will know what I mean.

And make yourself a Vodka Martini while you're at it. Shaken, not stirred.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

23 September 2022

I was corrected earlier this week.

At Oktoberfest you do not count the amount of glasses, rather the liters of beer that you drink.

Sounds like a great party. I mean, I love beer and I actually like Schlager music.

You can pour me any type of beer, but with Schlager Musik I do have preferences. I do not simple like all of it. It is a broad category in the end.

A name that came to mind; frankly an edge case Schlager/French style chanson, was that of Udo Jürgens.

In his song Ich war noch niemals in New York he sings about a longing to quietly leave everything behind, be free of all constrains, to catch a flight and visit the places he has never been before.

Who does not have a similar feeling from time to time? There is so much that you always wanted to do, endless possibilities, yet so little time.

So go and book that ticket, go see the places you always wanted to see, or do the things you always wanted to do..

..and yes, go to Oktoberfest next year!

Prost! And Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Barcelona, Spain

16 September 2022

Somebody said to me that after this weekend summer is over. I refused to believe that. Yet the truth is, that I too feel it is coming to an end.

You get used to it so quickly though, these long summers. It fits me right. I am a solar panel.

Last year, I drove all the way down to Cádiz. Birthplace of a man by the name Camarón de la Isla. One of the greatest Flamenco singers of all time.

While volunteering to help clean the water from plastic, enjoying what I now accept to be the last bits of summer for this year, I had to think about his song Como el Agua.

In it, he compares the beauty of his love (cariño) to the beauty of clean and crystal clear water.

Perhaps as beautiful as how we left the water that we cleaned yesterday.

Happy Friday

Sander

--

Tunis, Tunisia

9 September 2022

I just finished watching the Netflix series "I Just Killed My Dad". It made me think of my own dad.

No, not like that.., let me explain.

*Spoiler Alert*

At some point, people tie yellow ribbons round a tree. I immediately recognised the symbolism.

I was a young kid sitting in the back of the car with my father. His favourite music would play, oldies from the 60/70s. 

Too young to understand the lyrics, I would ask my father what they were singing about? And while the songs played, my father would live translate for me.

Coincidentally, one of those songs was Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Tony Orlando (Dawn).

And just like my father it became a favourite of mine too.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Dublin, Ireland

2 September 2022

I am a dog person. And people say about a dog person, that they are more likely to be prejudiced than a cat person. For example, dog people do not like cats, while cat people do not mind dogs.

Maybe it is true. I do not like cats indeed.

Similarly, I do not like Coldplay. And those who would say it is the best band in the world, are like a cat person to me.

It is too mainstream. Radio stations play their songs, almost like on repeat, over and over again.

Instead, let me introduce The Last Shadow Puppets, a group that only comes together once every eight years or so to record an album, go on tour, and then disappear from the public view.

Its band members, like Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, do continue to perform with their own bands, but the last time The Last Shadow Puppets were together was in 2016. At the time, I was living in Dublin and went to see them in the Olympia Theatre.

Their music is often labeled Indie Rock, but mixes in classical instruments. A modern type of Baroque Rock.

I present to you My Mistake Were Made For You.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Belfast, Northern Ireland

26 August 2022

I am back on Irish soil and I cannot wait for a fresh pint of Guinness in an old Irish pub. One of those with wood on the walls and a carpet on the floor. No music! I much prefer it when it is just the chatter of people around me.

Not that I do not like Irish music. Just not in the pub.

As a matter of fact, the Irish are great musicians and the people rightfully celebrate their artists. One of the most prominently celebrated in Dublin is Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. He has a big statue right on Grafton Street.

Yet there is another former member of that band that I like to celebrate today. Gary Moore. Not a name that will ring a lot of bells, I guess, but I bet that his signature song will be recognised by a few.

One of the greatest guitarists of all time. Northern Irish. Born in Belfast. That counts as Irish as well, no?

Anyways, please enjoy one of his greatest songs: Still Got the Blues.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

19 August 2022

Judging from my Instagram, everyone is going to Tanzania these days. There is even high speed internet installed on the Kilimanjaro(!), so people can continue to live stream and post their Stories all the way to the top of the tallest mountain of Africa.

After sharing way too many photos of zebras and giraffes, they all head off to the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar. All I get now are pictures of cocktails with little umbrellas and beach beds.

I have never been there, but it automatically makes me think of Freddie Mercury. A Brit, child to Indian parents yet born in Zanzibar. I always found that an interesting fact.

He is obviously famous for being the lead singer of Queen. A band which is often praised for the best live performance ever (Live Aid at Wembley) and, some would say, the best song ever written as well. (Bohemian Rhapsody).

There is only one song by Queen on my Youtube Music app, Innuendo. I have no words to describe it other than grandiose. Some call it Bohemian Rhapsody II.

Sadly, it was never performed live. It was recorded in a studio the year he passed away. Battling his illness at the time, yet when you listen to it you would never guess. Such a powerful voice. An all around impressive song.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

12 August 2022

Tourists are back with a vengeance!

With the long weekend ahead I was planning to visit the Algarve, but with occupancy rates at near 100% and unless you want to splurge over €200 a night on a 2-star hotel, it is hard to find a place to stay.

It is now 16 years since I first visited Portugal. It was the summer before I would move out to go and attend university. With little money in my pocket, I was lucky to be able to stay at a friend's summer house in Fuseta, a little town in the Algarve.

One evening, I went to see a movie in the courtyard of a little church. The movie was projected on its white walls. A ticket cost next to nothing, but you did not know what would play. That would be a surprise.

I ended up seeing Walk the Line, the story of Johnny Cash's life. To this day, the best and most memorable cinema experience I have ever had. The storyline and the unique sound of his song and voice left me mesmerized.

It is hard to pick a single favorite, really. But A Boy Named Sue, live at San Quentin, is a great one to listen to and to see the man perform as well.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Porto, Portugal

05 August 2022

Iron Maiden was in Lisbon last weekend! I did not go.. I did not know they would play, but I would have loved to see it!

The only reason I knew they were in town is because I saw their t-shirts all across the city.

Whether you are a fan or not, their merchandise has long been fashionable to wear. Lady Gaga, among other celebrities, has regularly been spotted featuring an Iron Maiden t-shirt. They sell them at H&M, if you think you can pull it off.

I believe I need to get myself one as well. Not for fashion's sake, but because I am a fan! ..okay, and maybe it will make me look cool as well.

The live version of Fear of the Dark is my absolute favourite. That crowd gives me goosebumps every single time. Such an incredible atmosphere!

Headphones on. Volume up. Hope you enjoy it too.

Happy Friday!

Sander

--

Lisbon, Portugal

29 July 2022

I lost a music quiz yesterday. We had to guess the song, the theme was 'Summer Hits'.

So there I was, expecting Yves Larock, The Underground Project, or The Sunclub just to name a few. But I guess my summer hits are not everyone else's. But there was one song missing that I strongly felt deserved to be featured:

Dragostea Din Tei, by O-Zone (2003)

I found out recently, while in Chisinau where I heard it play again after a long long time, that this is a Moldovan band. Yet they sing in Romanian, which is their national language it turns out. I never knew. Neither do I know what they sing about in the song.

But what I do know is that Romanian artists dominated the European summer charts a little while back, spreading Balkan dance beats across the West.

If you like a little trip down memory lane, check out this little playlist.

Enjoy the Summer! Happy Friday!

Sander

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