Once

So I finally got around to watching the Irish musical film "Once", which was released in 2007.  I've wanted to see it since it came out but never got around to it.  It won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film, had the song "Falling Slowly" receive an Academy Award for Best Original Song and was turned into a Broadway play last year.  Seems I'm always more than fashionably late to some things.  I've seen "Once" in the library and grabbed it once but the disc was missing.  When I was out sick last week I was able to finally get it but never got around to watching it until this weekend.  

When Irish came over to pick me up for our second date he saw it and commented that he used to live on the street in the film.  I'd totally forgot it was a foreign film or that it was an Irish one at that. Coincidences are so amusing sometimes.  Either way I think I scored some extra points with Irish for having it.  

It was about 20 minutes into the movie when I completely fell in love with it.  The Irishness of it all didn't hurt but it is honestly a brilliant & beautiful film.  The talent of the two leads (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova) is amazing and the music they make together is so raw (Glen), haunting (Marketa) and beautiful.  

Seeing the film & hearing the music has changed my life.  Overly dramatic.  Probably.  It is just a film and music.  But it's a power film & music.  I made a Glen Hansard station on Pandora and there has not been one song I've not liked or have skipped over since programming it in Sunday, and I've listen to it every morning & evening since then.  Out of my 25+ Pandora stations that's never happened before.  

I've found so many amazing artists from that station.  Between my 3 FREE weekly MP3 downloads from the library & $5 Amazon money (thank you music surveys!) I now have 8 new songs... 7 of which are favorites off my new Pandora station.

New songs:

"Boston"  Augustana  

"First Day of My Life" Bright Eyes  

"Falling Slowly" Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova/The Swell Season 

"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" Iron & Wine  The Shepherd's Dog

"Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop" Landon Pigg Coffee Shop

"Hallelujah" Jeff Buckley Grace (Legacy Edition)

"If You Want Me" Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard Music From The Motion Picture Once

"Smoke And Mirrors" Gotye Making Mirrors

I think aside from Glen Hansard (the "Once" soundtrack, The Frames & The Swell Season) of course, that Iron and Wine, and Ray LaMontagne are my most favorite new musical loves.  I've been circling around Ray LaMontagne but just sort of found other music to buy & concentrate on.  And I know, it's shameful but I'm not sure how I have gone so long not having Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah".  After this week I totally HAD. TO. HAVE. IT. 

So if you have no idea what I'm talking about have a listen...

"Falling Slowly" - Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
And moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
Well you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along