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What Makes a Great Love Song?
There are a million ways to write a love song; how best can you ensure it connects with an audience? Correspondent David Pogue talks with 14-time Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren and musicologist Nate Sloan to find out the key factors that go into creating a timeless song about a timeless emotion.
My funny Valentine, sweet comic Valentine You make me smile with my heart Your looks are laughable, un-photographable Yet, you're my favorite work of art Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak Are you smart? But don't change your hair for me Not if you care for me Stay little Valentine, stay Each day is Valentines day I s your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak Are you smart? But don't change your hair for me Not if you care for me Stay little Valentine, stay Each day is Valentines day
Considering it was created less than 10 years ago, Galentine's Day is probably not going to pop up as an official holiday on your iCal. But that doesn't mean it's not worth celebrating! Truly, if you're going to pick one fake holiday to get pumped about, it shouldn't be National Pizza Day, Star Wars Day, or whatever else...it should be Galentine's Day. Why? Because it's a whole day dedicated to smothering your female friends with even more love than you usually do. Read on to learn more about how to properly recognize your new fave holiday.
Okay, what the heck is this?
According to Urban Dictionary, Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13, the day before that other made-up holiday (ahem, Valentine's Day). It's a day for celebrating the love you have for your lady friends, whether they're single or not. Basically, it's a day dedicated to showering your closest friends with love and attention...more than you do every other day.
Who invented it?
Excellent question! The best thing about Galentine's Day is that it was created by a fictional character: Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation. In 2010, the second season of Parks and Rec included an episode called "Galentine's Day," in which Leslie gathers a group of her closest gal pals for a brunch of waffles and love. "Every February 13, my ladyfriends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style," Leslie says in the episode. "Ladies celebrating ladies." And thus, Galentine's Day was unofficially added to everyone's calendar. No, seriously: According to the Atlantic, it's such a widely recognized fake holiday that some companies now run Galentine's Day promotions. What could be more real than that?
I'm stressed. How do I celebrate?
OMG! Don't be stressed. First off, just like Valentine's Day, you are free to skip Galentine's Day. But considering it's all about showering your friends with affection, why would you want to?
How to Throw a Last-Minute Galentine's Day Party
There's no wrong way to celebrate. You could pay tribute to Leslie Knope, the foremother of Galentine's Day, by hosting a waffle brunch. Or you could gather your pals for a wine-and-cheese happy hour, make a reservation at a fancy restaurant, make a group mani-pedi appointment, or pop champagne and celebrate how great it is to be in a room without men for a few hours. It's your Galentine's Day and you can celebrate however you want.
Does this mean I need to buy stuff?
Only if you want. And obviously, we have a list for that.
For Your Work Wife
Give your office BFF a whole new way to express herself. She can use this fun letterboard for inspirational mantras, to-do lists, or love notes to her favorite coworker—that would be you, clearly.
π♂️ π€ ππ½♂️
Is Galentine's only for ~LaDiEs~?
Nah.... Anyone and everyone can celebrate Galentine's Day.
At its gooey heart, Galentine's Day is a celebration of friendship and the people who stick by your side as romantic relationships come and go.
Like the holiday it precedes, it's a day dedicated to showing the most important people in your life how much you care about them. It's corny. It's cheesy. And that's what makes it great.
Public reception
"Galentine's Day" has transcended the television screen and become established in everyday culture. On February 13, Galentine's Day, a nonofficial holiday, is celebrated as a day for "ladies celebrating ladies."[15] Businesses such as Sprinkles Cupcakes, Lyft, Shari's Berries, and Target promoted the holiday on Twitter in 2017, with Target even selling Galentine's Day themed products.[16] Awareness of the holiday spread thanks to social media, with #GalentinesDay trending on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr on February 13, 2017, seven years after the original episode aired.
Observed on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day celebrates platonic friendships, usually among women.
Where does Galentine come from?
On
February 11, 2010, the TV sitcom Parks and Recreation released an
episode called “Galentine’s Day” (Season 2, Episode 16). In this
episode, the effervescent and earnest lead character Leslie Knope
explained the made-up holiday, Galentine’s Day: “Every February 13th, my
lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and
we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.
It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.” The word
galentine itself blends gal and valentine.
Since
the episode, Galentine’s Day expanded into the broader popular culture.
Some actual Galentine’s Day celebrations involve getting together with
friends to exchange small gifts and eat brunch, especially waffles, a
favorite of Knope’s character on Parks and Recreation.
It’s February 13! π― Galentine’s Day!
How Galentine’s Day Started π π½️ π
One
2017 New York Post op-ed called out the “rebranding” and
commercializing of Galentine’s Day. According to writer Hailey Eber,
making Galentine’s Day mainstream takes the fun and sincerity of
“eschewing Valentine’s Day” out of it. But as Megan Garber wrote for The
Atlantic, the “normalizing” of Galentine’s Day is a “subversive” action
that should be celebrated. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/galentine
"Galentine's Day" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the 22nd overall episode of the series.
It originally aired on NBC on February 11, 2010. In the episode, Leslie and her boyfriend Justin seek to reunite Leslie's mother, Marlene, with her teenage flame. Meanwhile, April's feelings for Andy continue to bloom, while Ann appears to be growing apart from Mark.
Is Galentine's only for ~LaDiEs~?
Nah. Anyone and everyone can celebrate Galentine's Day.
At
its gooey heart, Galentine's Day is a celebration of friendship and the
people who stick by your side as romantic relationships come and go.
Like the holiday it precedes, it's a day dedicated to showing the most
important people in your life how much you care about them. It's corny.
It's cheesy. And that's what makes it great.
According to Nielsen Media Research,
"Galentine's Day" was seen by 4.98 million household viewers, which
marked a continued improvement in ratings for the series. It tied a
record set with the previous episode, "Sweetums", for the season's highest rating among viewers aged between 18 and 49. The episode received generally positive reviews.
π Scroll DOWN to Learn More: Meaning, Symbolism etc π
As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart
A thousand hands will naturally come to your aid
As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart
You will reach out with a thousand hands to help others
Guan Yin is the Bodhisattva of Compassion, revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy.
π
Her name is short for Guan Shi Yin.
Guan means to observe, watch, or monitor;
Shi means the world;
Yin means sounds, specifically sounds of those who suffer.
Thus, Guan Yin is a compassionate being who watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out for help.
π The bewitching performance of Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance performed at the 2005 CCTV Spring Festival Gala by 21 hearing impaired girls and boyswith the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe (CDPPAT) in Beijing caused a nationwide sensation.
π«± The movements were of breathtaking precision.
π«² The marvelous choreography, lavish costumes and perfect lighting were a thrilling experience. The audience never stopped wondering at the extraordinary accuracy of the 21 dancers' "thousand hands" gesticulating as if they belonged to one body.
π The dance was led by Tai lihua and choreographed and directed by Zhang Jigang.
On September 28, 2004 at the Closing Ceremony of the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games the eight-minute debut of Thousand-hand Bodhisattva as a "theme song" wonderfully shocked the whole world.
πππ⭐️π§⭐️πππ
Thousand Hands Dance
Tarian Boddhisatva Seribu Tangan
π ππ» π
The Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva, known as Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit) or Guanyin (Chinese), is a manifestation of infinite compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. π«± π«² πππ» Meaning and Symbolism πͺ Thousand Arms: Symbolize the Bodhisattva's ability to reach out and assist all sentient beings across the universe simultaneously. π️ Eyes in Each Palm: Known as the "Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed" form, these eyes allow the deity to see the suffering of every being in every corner of the world. πͺ· Objects Held: Each hand often holds a ritual object (such as a lotus, sword, or willow branch) representing a specific means of salvation or spiritual protection. π§♂️ Eleven Heads: Usually depicted with eleven heads to better hear the cries of the suffering and look in all directions. π The Legend According to Buddhist legend, Avalokiteshvara vowed to never rest until all beings were freed from suffering. Upon realizing the sheer scale of worldly misery, the Bodhisattva's head split into eleven pieces from grief. The Buddha Amitabha then transformed these pieces into eleven heads and granted a thousand arms to better carry out the mission of universal mercy.
"Dance Of Thousand - Hand Guan Yin" Thousand Hand Guan Yin is a dance created by Chinese choreographer Zhang Jigang. This dance describes the legend that Bodhisattva Guan Yin has one thousand hands. Thousand Hand Guan Yin dance became one of the most popular Chinese dance in the world. Guan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin which means "Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World". She is also sometimes referred to as Guanyin Pusa. The thousand hands of this bodhisattva represent Guan Yin's many abilities to render assistance. There are a thousand eyes on these hands which give Guan Yin great powers to observe the world.
The Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva is a renowned, highly synchronized dance performance by the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe, often showcased by CCTV English. Featuring deaf dancers, the performance symbolizes the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, using precise movement to create an illusion of a figure with numerous arms, representing compassion. Key Details of the Performance:
Performers: The dance is performed by hearing-impaired artists who rely on signals from trainers to maintain timing.
Symbolism: It depicts the Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva of Compassion), who has a thousand arms and eyes to perceive and help with the suffering of the world.
Appearance: The dancers, dressed in gold, create a visually stunning,, "robotic" yet fluid, and, aesthetic, effect, as highlighted in YouTube videos.
Origin: The dance is deeply rooted in Buddhist tradition and the Lotus Sutra.
The performance is widely recognized for its beauty and the remarkable dedication of the artists involved.
Fado is a profoundly melancholic music genre originating in 1820s Lisbon, characterized by expressive vocals, themes of fate (saudade - longing), and intimate tavern performances. Accompanied by 12-string guitars, it is a national treasure often performed in Alfama or Bairro Alto, reflecting daily hardships.
Fado quickly took its place as the music of the country.
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Fado comes from the Latin word fato for fate.
Born along the waterfront in alleys and taverns, the mournful melancholy songs of Faro speak of life, struggle, and passion. The genre originated in Portugal in the early 1800s and quickly took its place as the music of the country. πΈ Most Portuguese need but one word to describe Fado (saudade), which loosely translates to longing. I always say you are born with Fado. Father is jealousy. Fado is pain. Fado is love and betrayal. Fado is everything that we feel. Even as a child when I listen to Amalia Rodriguez, our queen of Fado, I knew I was destined to follow the same path. πΈ It's been said Fado is actually a window into the soul of the Portuguese people. And after one evening, it's easy to understand why. Fado as an art form is held in such high regard. It's part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. πΈ Fado is sung with such passion that even though it's performed in Portuguese, you'll swear you understand every word. Fado will touch you. πΈ We all have Fado inside us. We just need to have the courage to let our souls speak to the world. And because many will, Fado will never die.
Key Aspects of Fado: Origins: Rooted in early 19th-century Lisbon. The Vibe (Saudade): Expresses a sense of loss, longing, and resignation to fate. Performance: Typically a single vocalist (fadista) accompanied by one or two guitarras (10-12 string guitars) and a viola (6-string guitar). Styles: Divided into Lisbon style (intense, often dramatic) and Coimbra style (traditionally sung by university students). Cultural Status: Inscribed in 2011 as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Famous singers include the legendary AmΓ‘lia Rodrigues and modern artists like Mariza, Ana Moura, and Carminho.
Fado appeared during the early 19th century in Lisbon, and is
believed to have its origins in the bohemian areas of the capital, such
as Bairro Alto, Mouraria and Alfama districts.
There are numerous theories about the origin of fado. Some trace its origins or influences to the medieval "cantigas de amigo" (song of a friend), others suggest some ancient Moorish influence, and yet others point to the chants of (enslaved) Africans sailing at sea. None of these are compelling. It possibly evolved and formed from various older musical genres.
Fado performers in the middle of the 19th century were mainly from the urban working-class, namely sailors, bohemians and courtesans in popular taverns, who not only sang but also danced and beat the fado. During the second half of the 19th century, the dance rhythms faded away, and the performers became merely singers (fadistas).
Maria Severa, fado singer (1820–1846)
The 19th century's fadista Maria Severa, a half Cigano woman considered scandalous by some at the time, was the artist who made this genre famous.
More recently AmΓ‘lia Rodrigues, known as the "Rainha do Fado" ("Queen of Fado") was most influential in popularizing fado worldwide.Fado performances today may be accompanied by a string quartet or a full orchestra.
What is fado? Where did fado music originate? What are common themes in fado songs? What instruments are typically used in fado performances? Who are some famous fado singers? How has fado influenced Portuguese culture and identity?
The singer of fado (literally, “fate”) speaks to the often harsh realities of everyday life, sometimes with a sense
of resignation, sometimes with the hope of resolution. The music is performed by either a female or a male vocalist, typically to the accompaniment of one or two guitarras (10- or 12-string guitars), one or two violas (6-string guitars), and perhaps also a viola baixo (a small 8-string bass viola). Most of the repertoire follows a duple metre (usually with four beats to a measure), with a text arranged in quatrains or in any of several other common Portuguese poetic forms. Until the mid-20th century many fado performances featured a significant element of improvisation. Inevitably enriched with an array of emotive bodily gestures and facial expressions, fado aims—and indeed, is required—to evoke a penetrating sense of saudade (roughly, “yearning”).
There are two distinct styles of fado, the older of which is associated with the city of Lisbon and the younger with the north-central Portuguese city of Coimbra. The Lisbon style emerged in the first half of the 19th century, following the 1822 return to Portugal of the Portuguese government, which had been removed to Brazil during the Napoleonic Wars. It arose in the city’s Alfama district, a socially and economically marginalized area that was a nexus of Iberian, South American (particularly Brazilian), and African peoples and traditions. A diverse array of dance traditions circulated within this milieu, including the Afro-Brazilian lundum; the Brazilian fado (distinct from the songgenre that bears the same name); the fofa, which was common both in Portugal and in Brazil; and the Spanish fandango. Also popular at the time was the modinha, a type of Portuguese and Brazilian art song that often was accompanied by the guitar. The musics of these dance traditions merged with the modinha, ultimately giving birth to fado.
AmΓ‘lia da Piedade RebordΓ£o Rodrigues (born July 23, 1920, Lisbon, Port. — died Oct. 6, 1999, Lisbon) was a Portuguese singer whose haunting and passionate renditions of her homeland’s melancholic traditional form of music known as fado brought her international fame.
AmΓ‘lia, as she was known to her fans, debuted as a fadista while still a teenager. By the time she was 25, she had already launched her first international tour in Brazil and had recorded the first of an estimated 170 albums. In 1947 she starred in her first film, Capas Negras (“Black Capes”). As her fame increased, she began to stretch the traditional boundaries of fado. She incorporated Spanish and Mexican rhythms into her songs and used contemporary poets as a source for her lyrics.
AmΓ‘lia’s impact on Portuguese culture and contemporary artists was incalculable, although her image was somewhat tarnished after the Revolution of the Carnations (1974), when accusations arose that she had collaborated with the recently toppled dictatorship. However, news that she had secretly funded the Portuguese Communist Party during the repressive rule of AntΓ³nio de Oliveira Salazar (1932–68) helped to restore her status as the queen of fado. In 1990 she received the Grand Cross of the Order of Santiago, Portugal’s highest honour. AmΓ‘lia’s death in 1999 triggered three days of official mourning in Portugal and a temporary suspension of campaigning in the country’s general elections.
If you’ve been to Portugal, you’ve probably heard the soulful Fado music playing from cafes or restaurants. This traditional folk music is a staple of Portuguese culture. The lyrics often focus on longing (saudade), or on the working-class life. If you’re new to Fado, or if you just want to hear more, check out some of our Fado favorites to get you longing for your next trip to Portugal.
AmΓ‘lia Rodrigues
AmΓ‘lia Rodrigues, the Queen of Fado, is easily the best known Fado artist of all time. She is responsible for bringing Fado to the international spotlight in the 1940’s, after performing in Spain, Brazil, Berlin, Mexico, and France. She was also the first Portuguese artist to appear on American television. AmΓ‘lia died on October 6, 1999, leading the Portuguese government to declare three days of national mourning. Her song Fado PortuguΓͺs tells of the birth of Fado music, and it’s easy to see the themes that define the genre. Some of her other popular songs are Coimbra and Barco Negro.
πΈ
Notable lyrics (from Fado PortuguΓͺs): Fado was born on a day, When the wind barely stirred, And the seas elongated the skies. On the main rail of a sailing ship, In the chest of a seaman While sorrowful he sang. While sorrowful he sang.
Although AmΓ‘lia is indisputably the Queen, Carlos do Carmo may be the best known male Fado artist. His mother, Lucia do Carmo, was also a Fado singer. His style also draws influence from jazz and orchestral music. At 80 years old, do Carmo is still performing today. Some of his best known songs include Lisboa Menina e Moca, No Teu Poema, and Os Putos.
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