Heroes dying. Others returning to fight.
Hasse Alfredsson - Styrman Karlssons äventyr med porslinspjäsen
Hans Alfredsson passed away last Sunday. I doubt anyone outside of Sweden knows, and I don't know why I write this in English other than it being the chosen lingua franca of this blog. But I could not make a blogpost without acknowledging it. Out of all the people I've never met I don't think there is another person I've loved as much. And I've loved him throughout my life. From being a tiny kid, listening to this – one of his children's songs; to watching TV screenings of all his classic revue shows throughout my childhood; to discovering his books in my early teens and wanting to write comedy (Gummitummen – still one of the funniest books written); to, when becoming a cultural omnivore, rating some of the movies he's been involved in as among the best in Swedish film history (Den Enfaldige Mördaren, Äppelkriget, Ägget Är Löst, Att Angöra En Brygga...), to more or less on a daily basis have one of his innumerable skits, monologues or songs pop up on my random iTunes. Among all other things, he was definitely a master of endings. He dictated that his gravestone will read "Log och dog" (= Smiled and died), and, while not as all-encompassing, the ending of this song is maybe the best thing about it: "...i en byrålåda i en chiffonjé, olé!"
Alice Babs - Dedicated To You
Another Swedish legend, who passed a few years ago. But how the warmth lingers in every single second of this song.James Blake - f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
Don't use the word 'forever'.
serpentwithfeet - four ethers
Ali turned me on to this track the other day. The arrangement of this is just stunning. And then there's that voice, wrenching light from the darkness.
Björk - The Gate
The future is here, and it is care.
