The Eagles' Tribute to John Keats: "AND NO BIRDS SING"

Post #148

"La Belle Dame Sans Merci"
Frank Dicksee

"PARODYSITISM":  Substitution of a poem for the lyrics of an otherwise unrelated song.

ORIGINAL POEM: "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" John Keats, 1819.
ORIGINAL SONG: "Seven Bridges Road", written by Steve Young in 1969, covered by many groups, most famously the Eagles in 1980. For those who need their memories refreshed, a portion of the original song is found on minified slides at the bottom of this post.

UKULELE VERSION: Chordcharts for adaptation to ukulele were provided by Steve McNie at Toronto Ukes; (the key has been been transposed from D to F by G.C.)
PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, August 2017. Note that the verses were reduced from 12 to 9, but the poem was otherwise essentially unchanged from the original.

WORDPLAY LINK: On our sister blog devoted to wordplay, "EDIFYING NONSENSE", you can find "An Undiscovered Poem by John Keats: La Belle 
Dame Sans Jetski"

 "AND NO BIRDS SING"

(to the tune of "Seven Bridges Road")

 Click on any chord-chart slide to move to 'song-presentation mode'; then navigate through thumbnails at bottom of page.

ORIGINAL SONG: SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD
(as performed by the Eagles)

Rainy Season in Costa Rica: Handel's "ALAJUELA CHORUS"

Post #147

PARODY LYRICS 

ORIGINAL SONG: The Hallelujah Chorus from "Messiah", composed by George Frideric Handel, with scriptural text by Charles Jennens. The oratorio was first performed as a benefit concert in Dublin in 1742. Under the more cautious title "New Sacred Oratorio" it was performed in London a year later, but with only marginal critical acceptance. Its revival at the Covent Garden Theatre in 1749 under its now-familiar title initiated its iconic role as an inspiring religious work.
You can find snippets of the original lyrics with ukulele chords on slides at the bottom of this presentation. 

PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, August 2017.

INFO-LINKS: This site shows the monthly rainfall pattern in Alajuela, and in other locales in Costa Rica.

Here is a nice interactive map of the rainfall pattern across the country. Costa Rica is a fascinating place to visit due to its variety of microclimates and preserved natural environments.

You can listen to the Royal Choral Society perform the chorus at Albert Hall, a yearly treat, here.

For most tourists visiting Costa Rica, the airport of entry is located at Alajuela, a town in the central valley near the capital San José. Some tourists will use the second international airport at Liberia in the drier northwest corner of the country. Alajuela is also the name of the surrounding province which stretches through the central part of the country, north to the Nicaraguan border. 
The name "Alajuela" epitomizes the wonderful musical quality of the Spanish and aboriginal place-names in this great tourist destination.

RAINY SEASON in COSTA RICA

to the tune (with some abbreviation) of "The Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah". 


Alajuela, Alajuela, Alajuela, Alajuela, in Costa Rica.
Alajuela, and Liberia; major airhubs; there are downpours, in Costa Rica.

For volcán Arenal, outlook: raineth.
La Fortuna, Monteverde, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero.

For volcán Irazú, forecast: raineth
For volcán Poás, too, forecast: raineth
Alajuela!
At La Fortuna, Arenal: raineth
Alajuela, Alajuela!í

Jacó, Dominical - beach towns  completely drenched 
Jacó, Bahía Drake, and San José.
And San José.

And it shall rain from May to November.
And it shall rain from May to November.
And it shall rain from May to November.
So bring raingear, spare shoes and umbre-ellas.

Carta-ago, from May through November; Alajuela, Alajuela.
And Liberia, from May to November; Alajuela, Alajuela.
Cartago, from May through November; Alajuela, Alajuela.
And Liberia, from May to November; Alajuela, Alajuela.
Cartago, from May through November; Alajuela, Alajuela.

And Golfito; Cartago; Puerto Limón ;
And even rain at Manuel Anto-onio.
From Panama to Nicaragua;
Paraíso, and Heredia, Cahuita; Alajuela - 
COSTA RICA!

UKULELE-FRIENDLY FORMAT

 (Click on any chord-chart slide to move to 'song-presentation mode'; then navigate through thumbnails at bottom of page.)

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION'S LYRICS