Soundscape #83: “It’s Because Everything Will End That Everything Is Beautiful” — Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz
May 9th, 2008Limits. Boundaries. Constraints. Red lights. Stop signs. They make us stop in our tracks whether we like it or not. But stopping once in a while is actually a rather good thing. If we are able to drive at full speed without hindrances, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate speed. If we are able to get everything we want, we would never be able to appreciate them.
Paul Klee. Angelus Novus, 1920.
This is especially true when you are on holiday. Everything is so new, so different that they are like mini stop signs forcing you to stop and look at them. Buildings. Shops. Advertisements. Billboards. Anything, really. When I was away, I wasn’t concerned with the pressures and demands of work, family, friends, everything. I was only asking stuff like “oh what will I do today?” or “am I on the right street?” etc; stuff that are usually easily solved. If you don’t know what to do, pick a direction and start walking. If you are lost, ask someone. If you are really lost, get on a cab! What’s the worst that can happen? Yes, you may be robbed and raped and killed but in most cases, they would probably be a swifter death than one slowly expiring behind a desk.
I think what makes holidays so enjoyable is the fact that they will end. By definition, they will! With that end, a focus can be had with your time, your money, your energy, everything. This is it. This is the only day you will spend roaming around train stations. There is no repeat; there is no rewind. You had better make every second of every minute of every hour of every day count. This is the only (insert time, date) 12:23pm, April 1, 2008 you will ever get!
Playlist:
1. (0:00) Josh Ritter - Here At The Right Time (The Animal Years)
2. (3:36) Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror - Beautiful (Don’t Breathe A Word)
3. (7:58) Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life (I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning)
4. (11:02) Nina Nastasia & Jim White - I Come After You (You Follow Me)
5. (14:16) Arab Strap - There Is No Ending (The Last Romance)
6. (19:48) Editors - An End Has A Start (An End Has A Start)
7. (23:33) Okkervil River - Last Love Song For Now (Black Sheep Boy Appendix)
8. (29:36) Athlete - Chances (Tourist)
9. (34:30) M. Ward - End Of Amnesia (End Of Amnesia)
10. (36:40) Ohbijou - The Otherside (Swift Feet For Troubling Times)
11. (41: 01) DeVotchKa - How It Ends (How It Ends)
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