"Heroes"

 

David Bowie’s “Heroes” turns 47 today (which I find hard to believe!)

Released on 14 October 1977, “Heroes” is one of David Bowie’s most haunting works. Recorded at Hansa Studios in West Berlin with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti, it captures both the creative liberation and the political tension of a city divided by the Wall.

Bowie had run away from Los Angeles, where he had been leading a less than salubrious life, to rediscover himself in Europe, along with his mate, Iggy Pop. In Berlin, he found an atmosphere charged with danger and possibility, which was an ideal backdrop for experimentation.

Although the actual music to this, the title track, had already been composed, there were no lyrics. What inspired them was producer Tony Visconti’s secret kiss with his lover beside the Wall.  Apparently, Bowie was looking out of the window of the studios when he spied them locked in an embrace, and the fragility of the moment may have caused him to think of the couples that had been separated by the Wall.

What stands out most about the song is its humanity: amid Cold War gloom, Bowie carved out a moment of hope. When the single was released, it certainly wasn’t an instant success: its most memorable moment would come 10 years later, when Bowie performed it live at the Platz der Republik Festival, right across from the studio in Berlin where it was conceived. “I’ll never forget that” he recalled. “It was one of the most emotional performances I’ve ever done. I was in tears. They’d backed up the stage to the Wall itself so that it was acting as our backdrop. We kind of heard that a few of the East Berliners might actually get the chance to hear the thing, but we didn’t realise in what numbers they would. 

"And there were thousands on the other side that had come close to the wall. So it was like a double concert, where the Wall was the division. And we would hear them cheering and singing along from the other side. God, even now I get choked up. It was breaking my heart. I’d never done anything like that in my life. And I guess I never will again.”

The song has become something of an anthem - even if you’ve never heard anything else by Bowie, you will surely have heard this. I’ll leave you with the performance. I can’t watch it without getting goosebumps.

 

 

 

Summer's (almost) gone.

No one can say it in a more melancholy way than Jim Morrison, and that just adds to my feeling of 'where did it go?'.  I know that many of you, in Valencia, at least, are looking forward to the cooler days and have suffered from lack of sleep thanks to tropical nights where the thermometer didn't go below 29º. You can't wait to put on jeans and jerseys, thick socks and boots, snuggle up under the duvet with your hottie (that's English for nothing more exciting than a hot water bottle). However, I think we all know that summer hasn't really gone and the cooler weather won't kick in until after the 9 d'octubre holiday, as has been the norm for the last few years.  But it is time to think about taking a look at the backpack and seeing if it will last another school/uni year, seeing if you've got enough notebooks and other items of stationery, and mustering up enthusiasm for the 'back to school/uni/work' week that is looming. The first days seem hard, but every year you get back into the swing of it and before you know it, it's...Christmas!

Summertime

  Menorca

Summertime (and the livin's easy)

So, most of you will be on holiday, or, like some of my students, doing a last minute cram before taking a Cambridge exam. Where would you rather be than in a classroom for hours on end practising all those exercises that seem to be a requirement to prove you know English?  Maybe lazing around on a beautiful beach in Menorca, like the one above. Don't get me started!

With temperatures soaring, and aircon and ceiling fans on full blast, those of us who remain in the city are trying to make the most of it. In between class prep and making exercises for this blog, I'm catching up on series I've been meaning to put my feet up to all year. Hence the review for Sherwood that I've just posted. I'm a sucker for those British detective dramas and this one caught my eye as it has a historical background, so you feel you are learning something at the same time as trying to work out the clues and point to the perpetrator before the experts do. Plus, this one has an all-star cast and you get to see pretty gardens and trains.  What's not to like?

Have you, like me, got a summer to-do list as long as your arm?  Or are to going to take it easy in August? 

                Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime

 

Easter

 

 Easter

I imagine most people are enjoying the Easter break (ok, so some of you are studying hard for the looming exams) and we’re lucky enough to be enjoying some fantastic sunshine here. So, what is Easter all about?

It’s one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, and its origins are a fascinating mix of ancient traditions, seasonal change, and religious meaning. Long before it became a Christian celebration, spring festivals were held all over the place to welcome the return of longer, warmer days. These early festivals often included symbols of new life, such as eggs, flowers, and rabbits, many of which still make an appearance in Easter celebrations today. Go to any supermarket in the UK and you’ll see shelf upon shelf of chocolate eggs and bunnies, and a popular handicraft at school is egg-painting.

The name “Easter” is believed by some to come from Eostre, an ancient Germanic goddess of spring and fertility, though historians can’t quite agree about this. What’s clear is that by the second century, early Christians began using springtime to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, linking their faith to a time of hope and renewal. In many cities, Sevilla being a prime example, there are processions which reenact the Passion and Death of Christ.

However you choose to spend these days, I’m sure you’ll make the most of them to rest and enjoy some quality time with family and friends!

                          Easter Parade, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire

 

 

Giving unusual answers to usual questions

Today's C1 Open Cloze is inspired by a news item I heard on the radio this morning - King Charles joined the London Vegetable Orchestra to play the carrot recorder.

I had never heard of this ensemble, and as I dug a bit deeper, I found out that the original idea came from the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra, founded in 1998.  To my astonishment, I read that the band has released 5 whole albums!

Whether you would rather eat your veggies than play them, you have to admit that this is an original concept.  As I have mentioned before, the exercises here, or in any text book, contain ideas and information that you can use in your writings and speakings.  How delighted the examiner would be if, to the question, 'Have you been to any concerts recently?' you described a gig by the Vegetable Orchestra.  It would also be an excellent way to include some different vocabulary. Remember, what you say or write does not have to be true! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - make use of all that vocabulary you have learnt throughout the years!  The examiner won't know what you know if you don't prove it.

You'll see I've made some reading exercises, too - let me know what you think of them.  Also, if there are any topics you'd like me to cover in the Cloze and Open Cloze sections, I'm open to ideas! Have a great Friday!

                                 The Cure, Friday I'm in Love (1992 - unbelievable!)

The Spring Equinox

 

 

                                             Shunbun no Hi, Japan

 

At last the spring equinox has arrived!  Some locals may be feeling a little deflated, since the annual festivity of Las Fallas here in Valencia finished last night, but I’m looking forward to longer days (the clocks go forward on 29th March) and some brighter weather than what we have had of late.

You probably know that the word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), referring to the equal length of day and night. This happens because the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator, resulting in nearly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. In the northern hemisphere, the days get longer and longer until the summer solstice, on 24^th June.

Throughout history, many cultures have celebrated the spring equinox as a time of rebirth. In ancient Persia, Nowruz, or Persian New Year, coincides with the equinox and symbolizes renewal and prosperity. The Mayans built El Castillo, a pyramid in Mexico, where the sun creates a serpent-shaped shadow on the stairs during the equinox. In Japan, Shunbun no Hi is a national holiday that encourages people to connect with nature and honour ancestors. And in Wiltshire, England, hundreds gather at Stonehenge to see the sunrise.

This time of renewal is also the perfect moment to remember those New Year’s resolutions that you gave up in February.  You can take them up again now  - it’s like getting a second chance! In the UK, many people tackle the task of spring cleaning.  This involves getting rid of, or donating, stuff you don’t use any more, and giving your home a thorough scrubbing to leave it sparkling.

There’s a lot happening in the garden too, as flowers and trees begin to bloom and the air fills with wonderful scents.  Animals also emerge from hibernation and there’s a general sense of energy and freshness in the air.

All in all, the first day of spring is a cause for celebration!

                                     Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

                               

                                  

                                        It's a fine day, Opus III, 1992