Alan Williams: A true Liverpudlian remembers the Beatles

I "met" Alan (online, that is) in March 2011, on the 17th to be precise, which means, yes, St Patrick's day and, I'm not exaggerating, I can honestly say I had "the luck of the Irish". I remember the exact date  because to this day I still store (and treasure) each and every message (dozens of them) we've exchanged ever since since that first one. I wrote to him asking if he would give us (I mean, the group of students visiting Liverpool, my dear colleague Gregorio and myself in April that year) a walking tour of the wonderful city of Liverpool. 

Quite by chance, I'd found his name (actually something called "Redjack Tours" - which sadly, as you will find if you click on the link, is closed now) somewhere on the city's official tourist website and decided to email Alan to see if he could help us. And that's what he did, every step of the way before, during and, as far as I'm concerned, after the trip. Rather than just another tour guide, he truly became our guardian angel. I could write pages about Alan's endless, selfless generosity, his warmth and thoughtfulness for all of us, as well as his wonderful British sense of humour. Gregorio and the rest of the Armada, as he fondly calls us, can confirm every word I'm saying.

The Fab ... Three! Alan with the "Dúo Dinámico"

I wouldn't like to make this emotional, heartfelt introduction way too long. He knows how fond of him and his family (especially his lovely wife, Janet, and his gorgeous 9-month old grandson, Harrison) I have become, and how much I value his friendship even if it has been only by mail since we returned from Liverpool, though I'm sure one day soon we'll meet again, either here in Spain or back in England. 

I cannot think of a better way to end our blog for this (academic) year than by posting an entry he's sent me about the Beatles to commemorate their 50th anniversary, after I asked him if he would contribute something for our blog. Thank you so much, Alan, for doing it, but above all for being such a great human being. All of us who are lucky to know you think of you dearly.

So, without more ado, this is what Alan wants to say about the Fab Four:

Being born in Liverpool in 1956, I was only 4 years old when the Beatles started their musical career. In 1970, when they broke up, I was just 14 years old, and so I never had the opportunity to see them at the famous Cavern Club. However, having played guitar in bands from when I was 17 years old, I can truly say that their legacy in Liverpool was a vibrant music scene totally influenced by their genius, with talented people that would otherwise never have surfaced if the Beatles influence had never impacted on their lives. I am proud to be from the city of Liverpool, and it never ceases to amaze me that when I meet people in other parts of the world, and they ask me where I come from, their response is always the same. They always mention the Beatles. Such is the power of their music 50 years on. 

A few years ago I was on holiday in Samos, Greece.  Each morning I went to the local bakery to get our breakfast. On the last day, I told the lady that she needed to open a bakery in my home town, because the bread and cakes were so wonderful. She asked me where I came from, and I said “Liverpool”. Just as I said it, I heard a noise behind me, and it was the baker. He looked at me, and then started to sing …”She loves you yeah yeah yeah”. I just laughed and joined in. It seems it does not matter where you are, everybody knows Liverpool - and the Beatles.

20 years ago, my best friend was working in Latvia, and married a Latvian girl in Riga. As well as the church wedding, there was also an “official ceremony” at the town hall. When they went in to sign the papers, there was a string quartet playing. They must have known my friend was from Liverpool, and in honour of that, they started to play a Beatles' song. The funny thing was that they played “Yesterday”. The words did not quite fit the occasion – “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, but now it looks as though they’re here to stay ...” My friend and all his family were very amused by the choice of song.

So thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo, for putting my city on the world stage, and for giving me and many people like me the idea that we too could play music, the result of that being many years of enjoyment. And for the gift of your music, which has helped us all along our own “Long and Winding Roads”.

Hey, it just dawned on me that I videotaped Alan "at work" during his walking tour with us last year in Liverpool and I found just the right bit. Here he was talking to us about a famous statue celebrating one of the most famous Beatles songs, "Eleanor Rigby", which can be found in Stanley Street:

So my dear students, however much I hate saying goodbye, I guess this is the end of the 4th edition of jantigue.blogspot.com. I mean, hopefully I'll start a new one soon! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for participating, in whichever way, with me on this modest blog and indeed I wish you all the best for this next year.

Juanjo Diego: The Beatles by other artists

First of all, I must admit that I’m a very fond of The Beatles. I have played and sung their songs since I was a child, even when I didn’t have any English, as the sole sentences I was able to speak were “yesterday” “All you need is love”, “Yellow Submarine” and similar expressions. I don’t know what a rare confluence of time and people happened in that moment, but four young musicians, not specially gifted to play an instrument, changed the evolution of pop music and left us some of the best songs ever written. Actually, I strongly believe that the "Fab Four" are rigthfully into the history of modern music.  

However, in this entry for our blog I don’t want to talk about the Beatles themselves, but the deserved tribute that other artists have dedicated to them, including their best songs in their albums and concerts. The Beatles’ songs have lingered beyond the band, because (incidentally the title of an incredible less known song!) of the unsurpassable quality of their melodies, the beauty of the chord progressions, the lovely and sometimes naive arrangements, and the capacity of being accepted by any kind of listeners, so much so that their music has become the first multigenerational musical deal. To sum up, this is a little entry about Beatles songs covered by others. 

Let’s start! The Beatles’ songs are the most covered of all (led by “Yesterday”, with thousands of new versions) and it is indeed the band with the most “tribute bands” all over the short history of modern music (a tribute band is one that only performs songs by just one famous group, trying to imitate its sound, style, even clothing or movements on stage. Pink Floyd, Genesis, Queen or Aerosmith, among others, have tribute bands you can find frequently on tour):

Needless to say, I prefer the original act, of course. Nevertheless, there are other performers, great well-known artists in many cases, who have sung the Beatles’ songs in their own style, achieving excellent results, and showing that these unforgettable tunes are good by themselves and probably  going to be sung for years. I’ll try to show you here some highly personal recordings which connect the song to each singer’s style, giving them something special and distinctive. Some examples I particularly love (surely you can add more) are: 

1) The Beatles by the queen and the king of soul, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles no less. They are superb because they were singing as they used to do - no attempt to imitate the original at all - but simply to transform the songs into their own. The way they internalize and personalize the lyrics and melodies is incredible and perfectly matches song and singer. In fact, some people prefer these covers to the Beatles’ originals. Listen, enjoy and judge by yourselves. I just think each of them is a different performance but still one incredible song!

 

2) Ray Charles recorded other Beatles songs like Eleanor Rigby or Imagine, always with an accomplished approach. Another great multi-instrumentalist and singer, Stevie Wonder, recorded in his own funky way We can work it out, even changing the internal rhythm and musical accents of the song, in order to make it his own. Listen carefully to the singular chorus rhythm, which is awesome, isn’t it? Years later, he dared to perform it live in front of Sir Paul McCartney. Unbeatable! I can assure you that this blind musician is almost perfect, both as a singer and as a keyboard and harmonica player.

 

3) An American soul singer and a lively Welsh youngster got together to cover Hey Jude in an inviting manner. The "original version" of this cover was recorded only by Tom Jones and succeeded almost immediately. It’s full of energy and brightness and retains the strength of the original, specially the long end. Jones’s ease with any style suits Wilson Pickett’s phrasing perfectly. They are enjoying themselves and proving yet again, like in the other examples, that what is really important is the quality of the composition:

   

 Maybe you prefer Tom Jones’s solo recording (a bit longer) ...

4) I could cite many more examples, but I’ll be content with two more. First, a well-known country singer (also appreciated as an actress, though not by me!). In this case I like the traditional sound of country guitars and voices, with this special percussion, so characteristic of this kind of bluegrass music. I don’t usually enjoy this excessively dyed blonde, but I have to admit that she has many recordings that deserve recognition: Coat of many colors, Trio (with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstandt) etc. as well as at least another two (or “two other”) cover versions that I know: Peace train, originally sung by Cat Stevens, and Stairway to heaven (can you believe it?), by the one-off Led Zeppelin. Anyway, this is Dolly Parton’s rendition of Help:

 

Finally, the only cover version of a Beatles song that is probably better known than the original: With a little help from my friends, by Joe Cocker. It was first performed in the famous Woodstock festival in 1969 and quickly became #1. From then on, this fantastic artist was forced to sing this song in almost every concert, and even it was the only “original" cover version included in a musical named after The Beatles called Across the Universe. Again, this is a totally different way to sing this song, both rhythmically and stylistically, from The Beatles’. It’s for this reason that I love it:

 

Enough from me for the moment, but if you want more Beatles covers try to search for and listen to these songs: Something, by Tony Bennet, Come Together by Michael Jackson, Ticket to ride by The Carpenters, Can’t buy me love by Ella Fitzgerald, A hard day’s night by Diana Ross and The Supremes, or even Michelle by Will Downing.

The Beatles, one feeling

Elena Herrero says:

Love, love me do 

You know I love you 

I'll always be true 

So please 

Love me do 

Yes, it was 1962 and this is the way a group of four Liverpudlians sounded for the first time in the British radio stations; at that time, they were trying to get into the world of music while people were already starting to think: where the heck did these long-haired boys come from with that sound that had never been listened to before? But what people did not know yet was that those four youngsters were going to change their lives, their state of mind, their way of thinking and dressing, or even the way of combing themselves. After the hardships of the Second World War, The Beatles were going to change everything, to raise a great smile on each face of every inhabitant of the world through their wonderful songs, by penning some excellent lyrics. They were the band who wrote sad love lyrics, like in “For No One”, which doesn't end up sounding completely sappy.

 

I can almost say that they conquered the world without realizing, and the following generations were - and still are - marked by them, since they wrote the new "laws" of music, by revolutionizing it and creating their own style while shaping people’s way of thinking in every corner of our planet. But how? By changing their styles, always experimenting on new things ... other singers and bands went mad whenever The Beatles produced something new. My parents got me into their music, so I daresay that I have loved the famous group since I was three. You may say I´m a dreamer, but I would give anything to travel back in time, just to see and listen to the greatest band live! Songs like Hey Jude, Let It Be, All you need is love or Something mean something very special to me.

I am so pleased to know that this feeling will last a lot longer, I mean, being a fan of the “Fab Four”, transmitting a message of peace and love. All you need is love, this is the best influence they left in our hearts.

No doubt, The Beatles are one of the greatest rock groups in history *; I really believe they are. No music band will manage to reach them … EVER. What they represent only happens once ..., and it already happened.

This is my "Beatles' 50th anniversary" small tribute. I hope you folks enjoy it!

Rosa Cuesta says:

My first memories of The Beatles go back to the late sixties, when I was only a little girl aged five or six. At the time I loved going to the facilities of the telephone company, where some operators sitting in a row answered whoever picked up a phone. I really enjoyed listening to those ladies say “What number, please?” while they played with the telephone wires. At the same time the operators used a radio with The Beatles’ songs and I learned to hum some of them, like “A hard day’s night” or “Yellow submarine”. 

I was fifteen or sixteen when some Beatles’ records were revived. I remember listening to them for most of the day so I became a big enthusiast of the Fab Four. I greatly enjoyed singing the lyrics, even if I did not understand them. I was a teenager, the time of my first love and my romantic feelings arose thanks to their music. My favorite songs were “And I love her”, “Yesterday”,” Michelle” “In my life”…, which, even if you did not understand, made you feel a lot of emotions. 

The Beatles wanted to change the world, firstly by fighting against the conventions of the time, showing a great joie de vivre, and later by declaring themselves against war and for freedom.

Eventually, I lost the habit of listening to their music, but maybe this Beatles’ anniversary and these wonderful memories have made me recover the pleasure of listening to the amazing band again. Not only were The Beatles incredible but also an icon of a generation that wanted to change everything.

Rosa sent this pic: The Beatles in Spain back in '65 ... Ole!

Great stuff, girls! I cannot think of a better way to kind of say goodbye to summer on our blog. Now, I'd just like to add one more thing, a 15-minute excerpt (subtitled in Spanish) of a fantastic DVD collection which I recommend if you're a lifelong Beatlemaniac, called "The Beatles Anthology". This is part 1, how it all began 50 years ago. You know, to me it's just "moving" to listen to their voices (those lovely mild Scouse accents!) reminiscing the early years, especially when you realise that John and George are not around any longer ...

Deep Purple's Made in Japan: 40 years on

Almost 40 years ago, in December 1971, American rock guitarist Frank Zappa was in the middle of playing with his backing band, The Mothers of Invention, a gig at the Casino in the Swiss city of Montreux. That infamous night, “some stupid with a flare gun, burned the place to the ground” … well, I think some of you may have heard the story before!

To my mind, one of the all-time classic live hard rock recordings. That’s the simplest, perfect way I can think of to describe one of my cult hard rock albums ever, Deep Purple’s legendary “Made in Japan”. And the reason why I’m writing these lines on the blog is that today DP’s fans across the world, including myself of course, commemorate its 40th anniversary.

The classic album cover

The oddity of Made in Japan is that the album wasn’t even supposed to happen.  Let me explain: legend has it that Deep Purple had released a fantastic, commercially successful album, Machine Head, a few months earlier, in March 1972 to be precise, and the promotional tour for the record had brought the English rock band to Japan. The Japanese branch of their music label in those days, Warner Brothers, had been urging Deep Purple to come up with a solid live album, but apparently this did not interest the band much. As the unbearable pressure increased, they eventually decided, yet quiet hurriedly - and unwillingly - it seems, to mix some tracks from the material they had recorded live during their sold-out Japanese gigs in Osaka and Tokyo on three consecutive dates, 15, 16 & 17 August 1972. So, in December that year, the band - at long last, thank God! – agreed to release Made in Japan, yet only in the namesake country initially. DP made a demand to own all the album’s master tapes to ensure that it would not be released anywhere else but in the land of the rising sun. 

Luckily enough, the album became a huge success in Japan overnight, so Warner Bros approached the band in an attempt to get their permission to sell the album worldwide.  This probably would have never happened had it not been for the insistence of the band’s keyboard player, Jon Lord, who loved what he heard on the record. Incidentally, Jon died barely a month ago, so he’ll be sorely missed in this celebration, being one of the founding members of the band.

Anyway, as DP decided to finally release the album, there was a small drawback.  They had another record ready for the market, titled “Who Do You Think We Are”, so Warner Bros quickly released it in February and Made in Japan in April. 

As some of you might know, Made in Japan features the classic Deep Purple (famously known as “Mark II”) line-up: along with the afore-mentioned Jon Lord, the rest of the band then consisted of guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore, the amazing Ian Gillian on vocals, super-fast drummer Ian Paice and, last but not least, the dark but always efficient Roger Glover on bass.

Deep Purple's classic line-up. Left to right: Lord, Blackmore, Glover, Gillan & Paice.

It contains, arguably, some of the best music the band ever did: instantly recognisable rock classics such as ”Smoke on the Water,” ” Lazy,” ” Space Truckin’,” ” Highway Star” etc. are all found in this legendary album.

Needless to say I’ve got many of DP’s records, including of course Made In Japan (in fact on cassette, vinyl and CD!) and have been lucky enough to see the band live, actually twice here in Salamanca, the second alongside my son, who is now a keen guitarist himself and a diehard fan of the band too. And though sadly Ritchie Blackmore, one of my guitar heroes, wasn’t in the line-up, I absolutely loved those gigs. Both occasions were pretty special to me since I was brought up on rock music, and no doubt Made in Japan will always find a fond place in my heart.

Unfortunately, Made in Japan was never videotaped – such was the lack of interest by the band in what they were about to produce, unaware of the piece of music history they were actually playing – so I’ve only been able to find some alternative clips which are closely reminiscent of what they performed during those glorious Japanese gigs.

Though surely not as famous as "Smoke on the Water" or "Highway Star", the raw, emotional intensity of "Child in Time and the rhythm-and bluesy feel of Lazy have always made them two of my fave tracks. Besides, these two YouTube videos feature the songs live and were recorded in Denmark, if I'm not wrong, during their Machine Head Tour, roughly at about the same time as Made In Japan.

Boy, do I love Ian Gillan's manly voice - and those high-pitched screams pierce my heart, ha ha!

And scream Mr Gillan does too in his powerful rendition of "Child in Time". I know that many people are usually put off by the often scruffy aesthetics and pounding sound of hard rock bands, but this is , still today, heavenly music to my ears, sheer energy. 

You know folks, I'll turn 50 soon so these fond memories of my long-gone teenage years really feel so nice!

LONG LIVE DEEP PURPLE AND MADE IN JAPAN!!

Feli: GOING FOR SCIENCE EVEN IN TIME OF CRISIS

These days, when the media are constantly talking about economic problems and euphorically celebrating the success of Spanish football at the European Cup, I would like to highlight other news, actually scientific news that have been of great importance for humanity, such as the discovery of the Higgs particle.

       

The truth is that I do not understand much about these extensive studies, but I have read several articles about them with enormous interest.

       

The same theoretical physicist Peter Higgs, now aged 83, who in the 60s, based on previous work, proposed this theory to explain the origin of the mass and in whose honor this particle is named, said the day the news was made public: “I am extremely impressed by what you have achieved. Congratulations to everyone involved in this incredible achievement and it´s been a joy to live to know it”.

     

The so-called “God particle”, a boson, refers to the ultimate nature of the components and basic interaction of the physical world. This discovery is not an ultimate target, on the contrary, the beginning of a project to explain the universe.

     

Cayetano López, general manager of the “Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas” (CIMAT) said: “Yesterday, 3 July 2012, a historic discovery was announced which has been a giant step in understanding the physical world, and surely its analysis will lead us to explore the nature of the universe, its properties and history”.

     

This conquest has been an immense labor of international research and a contribution that will bear fruit in the future.

     

I have always admired researchers and the outstanding values that support their work, for example, their patient perseverance, their unfailing hope and dedication, their teamwork ability … , so this event is not an exception.

     

Science, in any of its specializations, is a path of no return and we must continue to invest in it even in times of economic crisis.

     

Countries that invest in science are always in the vanguard of development and their citizens will always be the first to enjoy its magnificent benefits.

Lucia: Edgar Allan Poe

The first time I came across Poe I was just twelve, so I’ve been a fan for quite some time. I had been reading Chesterton and Agatha Christie, mixing their stories with my compulsory books from school and I liked their cheerful main characters, who could solve a crime without losing their temper. Of course, you can’t simply grow to hate Father Brown or Miss Marple, but let’s face it, they were softies. Therefore, my Spanish teacher thought I could go in for something more challenging and suggested Poe’s famous tales. From the beginning, I totally loved them. And how could I not? As I grew up, I also learnt more about such a fascinating writer and, thus, I began to understand why he has become one of the most outstanding and influential figures of American literature.

To seize what Poe means to world literature, you must at least know what Romanticism was like. Romanticism was a total movement which evolved in different fields, such as literature, art, philosophy or history. What’s more, Romanticism was a way of living, a reaction against an old political and social system on the verge of disappearance. No wonder, since the 19th century it has also been a revolutionary period, full of changes when it comes to history: new countries were born from the ashes of the old ones, the industrial revolution transformed our world dramatically and the ancient established system began to crumble.

Immersed in this chaotic yet fascinating era, Poe was kind of a rebellious teenage punk, who became a dysfunctional adult, but also a brilliant writer, a poet, a journalist, a critic and one of the finest icons of American Romanticism. Born in Boston in 1809, his father abandoned his family and his mother, a theater actress who died at a young age. As an orphan, Edgar was taken in by a rich couple, who earnestly tried to gave him a good upbringing. It was all in vain, as he was expelled from both college and the army. His stepfather soon disowned him because, due to his social status, he didn’t want anything to do with a gambler. 

Then, Poe decided to earn his living with what he liked the most (and actually, the only thing he could do well enough): writing. He began to work for various newspapers in different cities, such as Philadelphia, Baltimore or New York. His distinctive style – caustic, ironic, but also smooth and elegant - made him really popular in no time. Nonetheless, he still had to fight against his own personal demons: gambling, alcohol, a depressive personality, an addictive and self-destructive nature ... he was always short of money and often had to depend on others in order to survive. Despite the fact that he was also considered a womanizer, he got married to his cousin, Virginia Clemm, when she was just 13! Although it is said that they had a brotherly relationship rather than a proper marriage, the truth is that he loved her dearly and, just like she gave him some peace of mind while she was alive, her early death, caused by tuberculosis, destroyed Poe’s sanity more than anything else had done before. He finally died just two years after her deceased wife, in 1849. After all this time, the causes of his death still remain unknown.

Burt Simpson confronts the Raven

Even though he only lived for 40 years, he had an intense literary life: lots of short tales, poems, essays, articles, reviews and a single novel ... He could scare, surprise or amaze people, all in just one go! The black cat, The murders in the Rue Morgue, The Tell-Tale Heart or his most famous poem, The Raven, still keep him alive all over the world, and his influence is noticeable on lots of writers who couldn’t escape from its uniqueness. Sherlock Holmes, the timeless detective created by sir Arthur Conan Doyle, wouldn’t have been the same without Auguste Dupin, a Poe character who appears in three of his tales. Even Jules Verne wrote a sequel to his novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. As the world keeps changing, I know something for sure: both horror and crime stories will always be related to Poe to some extent, but unfortunately, we will never be able to overcome him. Nevermore.

I always thought Poe’s life deserved a film which could tell his story, because it’s clearly as exciting as any of his works. By the time being, this is all we have:

The Raven movie is not a biopic nor is it related to the famous poem, certainly not. It is a thriller where a psycho is recreating Poe’s most famous crime stories on his own. A detective alongside Poe himself will try to stop him. Although I don’t know much more about this film – and it could end up being disappointing - I couldn’t be happier with the actor who plays Poe’s role, John Cusack.

Don’t Cusack and Poe really look alike? Well, I’ll surely watch this movie. As a loyal Poe fan, I can’t help it …

Susanne Plaar: Berlin and the Wall

The idea to this blog entry occurred to me when Juanjo told me that he had planned to visit Berlin this summer. I thought that I could recommend him some interesting sites and perhaps also to other keen travellers in my class.  Furthermore, since I lived in Berlin for two years and I’ve visited it some more times, you will probably appreciate my personal experience, which can contribute to making you realize what the wall meant (and still means) to Germans.

My first impressions of Berlin go back to 1977 when I was still a child. My father had to go to a conference, and we all went with him. I vividly remember when we were standing on a viewing platform near the wall, where we were explained facts and stories about it. I just couldn’t believe what I saw – how could it be possible that there were Germans living on the other side of the wall without being able to see their families and friends in the Western part of Germany? And that terrible security zone where many “republic fugitives” (the official GDR term) were shot to death?

And I don’t know why - maybe the guide left me a very vivid image of him - I cannot help seeing President John F. Kennedy's speech in front of my eyes, and you might as well know the famous sentence “Ich bin ein Berliner”. 

What impressed me most were the security measures when you wanted to cross the border: On the way back from our day trip to East Berlin – I still remember the fantastic Pergamon Museum, one of the most worthwhile museums in the city even today - we were held up a long time, for me an eternity, as the officials nearly tore our minibus to pieces in order to check if we were hiding a fugitive!

When I was studying in Berlin in the 80s, it was a “hip” city for young people: students, artists, homosexuals, dropouts, punkers and other tribes who went there because it was the only place where neither the military nor the civil service were compulsory. It was a melting pot but there was one thing they all had in common: They felt that they were living in a special city, and in fact it was; a sort of rebellious, creative spirit was noticeable in each district.

Only when friends came to visit me and wanted to see the East, we endured the border control procedure stoically, made the obligatory money exchange (a certain amount had was due) and walked around to take some photos of the typical GDR cars, the “Trabant” also popularly known as “Trabbi”, took the elevator to enjoy the “must-see” view from the television tower in Alexander Place, the showpiece of modern GDR architecture, and tried to waste all that plastic money we had been given, which actually was difficult! When I try to describe East Berlin in a colour, this would be grey: No adverts, dirty grey buildings, people wearing dark colours, cars in only three different subdued shades; even people’s faces seemed joyless to me.

Going to Berlin from West Germany by car was a one-off experience. You were not allowed to leave the motorway except in the official GDR motorway service areas. Reaching the “island” that was Berlin, you had to place your passport onto a conveyor belt, queuing inside your car and waiting up to … two hours? When it was your turn to stand the harsh look of the border control official, you could finally get your passport back and go on. 

Near the border you always felt that strange “big-brother-is-watching-you” feeling. In Kreuzberg district, where I lived, the wall was just around the corner, on the other side of the Landwehr canal. When I went for a run along the canal, it was impossible to ignore the border control towers (I think there are only three left by now) and the official with his binoculars! 

However, it was one the best times of my life! Regrettably, I wasn’t there any more when the wall came down in 1989 to celebrate it with the overjoyed Berliners.  I also would have liked to see Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” concert, which, I think, took place after the official reunification in 1990. Instead I saw both events from my sofa on the TV screen in Salamanca, but never mind, it was a new stage in my life.

My further visits have been as a mere tourist, and my Spanish friends did what most tourists wanted in those times: to see the wall and take a piece of it with them! As the GDR claimed to have the most fortified and secure “defensive wall against capitalism”, you can possibly imagine how difficult it was to break a piece of the wall. Here you can see my husband and a friend during their attempt.  

Berlin’s physiognomy was changing gradually, the wall was torn down bit by bit, and nowadays it’s difficult to find any remaining sections of the original wall. After the reunification, feverish construction works began all around the centre, especially in the heart of Berlin, the “Potsdamer Platz”.  This had been one of the busiest places before the construction of the wall, only to become an empty huge piece of no-man’s land in the middle of the “death-strip” and, now again, a bustling place with modern tower blocks designed by famous architects. One of them I’d really recommend is the Kollhoff building. From its top you have a fantastic view of the whole place, and you can also take a look at the outdoor photo exhibition showing its history. By the way, on the ground floor you will find an excellent Italian Restaurant!

As a result of an initiative by several local artists, there is a long section of the wall left, now painted from the Eastern side, the so-called East Side Gallery. We enjoyed watching all the paintings, passing by on our bikes (which is, in my view, a recommendable way to explore the city), and stopping here and there. Between the backside of the wall and the canal you can find some peculiar cafés,  “beach” included. Some of the wall paintings you may have seen before.

In my opinion, more pieces of the wall should have been preserved, on the one hand because of tourism, and on the other hand because the wall symbolizes the time of the Cold War. I believe it is also worth visiting the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, a museum that shows the complete history of the wall, featuring both attempted and successful escapes, but I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never visited it. Finally (this is far too long, I’m sorry), I’d recommend you the film “Das Leben der Anderen” (The Life of Others), which most of you may have seen already.

I hope you find my experiences interesting and enjoy your next visit to Berlin!



A great post indeed, dear Susanne, danke schön! As you can see I've inserted a link to a small clip of "The Wall concert" at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin 1990. Actually, I need to tell you that it was Roger Waters (not the full PF line-up) who staged the big event as he'd already split from the rest of the band.

Then, your lovely story of the "Trabants" reminded me of U2's famous song, One, which the Irish quartet recorded, very suitably, in Berlin in 1991. This below is part of a documentary on the band's album "Achtung baby", where Bono and the guys reminisce the legendary recording process at Hansa Studios. Halfway across the clip you can see them driving a Trabant themselves along the streets of the reunified "one" Berlin. Such a marvellous song! (mind you, Bono was not inspired by Berlin and The Wall when he composed One, but rather by the difficult relationship he had with his won father those days)

My Advanced students' favourite films (part 5)

Lucia Losada says:

First of all, I must say I don’t have a favourite film. How could I? There are so many good movies - as many as bad ones, if you think about it - that it’s nearly impossible to choose just a handful of them. Moreover, some of my classmates have already talked about some of the films I like the most, but I’ve noticed nobody has listed an animated movie, so let me start my selection with an awesome one:

Animation films have a long history, nearly as long as cinema itself, but none has revolutionized its plots and techniques as dramatically as Pixar has done ever since they released Toy story in 1995. Wall-e is another fine example, actually so good that it has been ranked first in TIME magazine’s list of “Best movies of the decade". How did Pixar achieve this? Well, no fluffy animals were used, but instead a robot who falls in love and happens to be the cutest thing in the world! By the way, half of this film is mute. In fact, the main characters hardly ever speak. It doesn’t matter, though, because words are unnecessary to understand this beautiful story.

Next, as regards love stories and magical films, you can’t miss this one:

I’m a fan of Tim Burton - although I don’t like all his films. Big fish is, by far, my favourite. It isn’t the typical rom-com (which I’m not usually very fond of because they tend to be too simple), as it talks about love, family, forgiveness, overcoming problems but, above all, magic. When you see this film, you can both cry and laugh, but it will surely leave an impression on you. It worked for me as much as when, for example, I saw Amélie. Whenever I think about these two films, I can’t help smiling. Isn’t this a good enough compliment?
Last but not least, “Schindler's List” also had a big impact on me, although I’ve only seen it once. Not because I don’t like it, but because I can’t watch it again. It’s a tough film, but still a must-see. Filmed in black and white, only a note of colour is left: the red coat of a little Jewish girl. The whole film is impressive, so much so that there are no words to describe it. All things considered (the film’s director, cast, plot, script ...), “Schindler’s list” is just perfect.

This is an interesting interview with the famous director on BBC Wales about the film:

Puri Garcia says:


My favourite movie? Well, let me think … OK, whichever makes me feel frightened! Since I overcame my childhood nightmares I’ve loved horror movies.


Have you ever watched The Blair Witch Project? It is an American psychological horror film, written and directed in 1999 by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It’s really horrifying, but without blood or monsters, only with the noises at night and disturbing sticky figures hanging from trees.  It is indeed a hair-raising movie!


The film tells the story of three student filmmakers who disappear after hiking in the woods of Maryland to record a documentary about the local legend known as the Blair Witch, the ghost of Elly Kedward, a woman banished from the Blair Township for witchcraft in 1785. It is said that the three students, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, were never seen again. However, someone discovered their camera and sound equipment  a year later.


The whole movie is presented to the viewer as the recovered footage from the woodland. It is also a reminder that what really scares us is the stuff we can’t see. Any kid can tell you that!

Following the line of  my favourite film genres, I  should explain to you that my sons love scary movies too, the last one that we have seen was “30 Days of Night”, which is about a town in Alaska seized by bloodthirsty vampires. It was their choice but, from my point of view, it is pretty nasty if you don’t like gory movies. 

Anyway, if what you like is to feel panic you should watch “Paranormal Activity”. There is a special scene which could scare you to death.

“1408” is a film that could also make you absolutely petrified. John Cusack plays a writer who is specialized in debunking paranormal occurrences. He checks into the fabled room 1408 in the Dolphin Hotel. After settling in, he confronts genuine terror.

However, my favourite one is “The Changeling”, directed by Peter Medak in 1980. Have you ever noticed the presence of a spectre?

My Advanced students' favourite films (part 4)

Rosa Cuesta says:

My three favourite films are "Out of Africa"," Pride and Prejudice " and the "The lord of the rings" trilogy.

I must say I love all kind of genres but to me the most important thing in a film is the plot, which has to be not only perfectly built but also moving. As the aforementioned are well known, widely discussed movies, I am going to focus on others.

Less famed is "Letter from an unknown woman" (1948), based on the novel by Stefan Zweig and directed by German filmmaker Max Ophüls. It stars Joan Fontain as Lisa and Louis Jourdan as pianist Stefan Brand.

The movie is a flashback report which starts with Lisa writing a letter on her deathbed to the man she loves, Stefan Brand. It’s a secret love, unknown to anyone except her, almost obsessive and faithful to her last breath.

The man in question is a vain famous composer who hardly remembers the woman he met occasionally. Lisa confesses she has loved him since she was a teenager and she tells Stefan they had a son.

"Letter from an unknown woman" impressed me by the strength of Lisa's love, whose life is centered around the pianist despite his cold indifference. It is a touching film with an unexpected ending and I strongly recommend it.

Another film I’ve always kept in my memory as one of my favourite is "The African Queen" directed by John Huston in 1952 and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. I find this movie completely charming and outstandingly performed by its cast. 

Aboard an old boat, "The African Queen", arises the love between a stiff, sanctimonious, middle-aged woman (Rose) and a rude, piggy-looking, alcohol-addicted sailor (Charlie). They both meet in a village and have to get away from the German soldiers in the second World War. In spite of their differences, they get to understand each other and show what they are actually like.

A marvellous touching film that is a demostration of how love can emerge anywhere and that people aren't what they seem at first sight.

Antonio Avila says:


It's almost impossible to choose just a pair of movies from all those I like. So I'll try to give you some examples of the most significant to me.


The first film I want to remark is Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". I was 14 when I watched it for the first time, and since then I have seen it like a million times. I love this movie because of the dialogs, the non-linear narrative and its wonderful soundtrack. 

I have to say I like other Tarantino´s movies such as "Reservoir Dogs" or "Four Rooms", which are simply fantastic.

The second movie I have selected is "American History X". It tells the story of two brothers, the elder a neo-Nazi who kills two black men and is sent to jail. When he leaves prison he realizes that his teenage brother is totally influenced by his ideology and actions, so he tries to set him away from that path.

"The Fight Club" is another amazing film, directed by David Fincher in 1999. It's about a man who has a great job for an automobile company and owns a gorgeous flat with expensive furniture, but suffers from insomnia. The only way he can relax and sleep is visiting all kind of support groups. One night he meets Tyler Durden on a flight, and when he arrives home, he finds his house has exploded. Thereafter all his life changes drastically.

Last but not least, I want to briefly highlight three awesome movies written and directed by Guy Ritchie:


"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"

"Snatch":

"Rocknrolla". This below is an interview with Guy himself about the film

They are all crazy movies, packed with action and humor as well as featuring plot twists and lots of characters - all of them belonging to the underworld: from gangsters and thieves to gamblers and cheaters. If you dare watch these films, you will have a great time.

My Advanced students' favourite films (part 3)

Leticia San Juan says:

Ladies in Lavender is a film directed by Charles Dance, starring screen veterans Judi Dench as Ursula and Maggie Smith as Janet, alongside Daniel Brühl in the role of Andrea. 

The story is set in the summer of 1936 in a quiet coastal town in Cornwall. Ursula and Janet are two elderly sisters who live in a peaceful house near the beach. One day, after a storm, they find a badly injured Polish boy, Andrea, on the seashore. They take him to their house and nurse him back to health. They even teach him some English words. The boy is an utterly gifted violinist whose presence in the house changes the two sisters’ lives until one day Olga, a painter who is on holiday there, takes Andrea to London to introduce him to her brother, a famous musician with important connections. 

The strength of the film lies, on the one hand, in the quaint, marvellous, coastal scenery, whose choppy sea contrasts with the peace and quiet of inland Cornwall. On the other hand, the two sisters’ feelings give strength to the film by showing different kinds of emotions towards Andrea that are in stark contrast. Janet shows a kind of tenderness and maternal instinct, whereas Ursula has feelings of passion and longing. 

Ladies in Lavender is a really interesting film with regard to its plot. Moreover, the landscape is impressive, as it moves us with its beauty, gentleness and quietness. This film wouldn’t be the same in a different scenery.

Felicidad Gómez says:


When I really want to see a film just for pleasure, regardless of whether I know it or not, I almost always turn to a classic directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942: “CASABLANCA”. I must have seen it at least three times, but I never get tired of it, on the contrary, it relaxes me.


The extraordinary performances by the two main characters, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, seems masterly to me. I admire Humphrey Bogart’s gallantry as much as Ingrid Bergman’s beauty. Their presence completely fills the screen and they make me believe what they say and do.


If, besides all this, I add that I love films which, like this one, have a twist in their plot, whenever I see Casablanca again my satisfaction is indescribable.


While for Bogart this film was a turning point in his career, for Bergman it became her most famous, enduring role.


“Casablanca” is absolutely sublime, with a magnificent screenplay, top-class dialogues and an extraordinary cast. Not surprisingly it won three Oscars (Best Director, Best Picture and Best Screenplay) and another five nominations. Some critics consider it an icon of film history and I totally agree. I suppose you have ever seen it, but if you haven’t, I strongly recommend it.

Another film with a twist is “DES HOMMES ET DES DIEUX” (Of Gods and Men), directed by Xavier Beauvois in 2010. 

Based on real events, it shows a true story of faith and heroism. Beauvois tells this moral fable admirably, without sentimentality. 

The film casts a marvellous, yet relatively unknown, group of actors. The most important are Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Oliver Rabourdin, Jacques Herlin, Sabrina Ouazani and Goran Kostic.

The scenes I liked best were the one where an abbot is at a lake to find some inspiration for the tough decision he has to make (to leave the country or to stay) and also the last supper, with the close-ups of the monks’ faces and the backdrop of the ballet music from The Swan Lake. By this time the film reaches an extremely beautiful climax.

I love how, in a serene way, the director treats the fim's subject: Eight French Cistercian Monks share their lives with an impoverished Algerian community in Tibhirine, under the threat  of a group of fundamentalist Muslim terrorists, so they must decide whether to stay in the country or return to France. Doubts and contradictions as well as choices emerge in the dialogues. What's best for the community and their mission there? The answer is in the film so you will have to see it.

Perhaps “Of Gods and Men” is not too well known, but if you see it one day you'll agree with me that it is a must-see film, really worth watching.

Encarna Carrasco says:

Cinema occupies a very important place in my life and exerts a big influence over my mind, especially at very specific moments.

Most of the films I have watched have made me think, laugh, gasp, cry … but only a  few have stood out in my memory. My choice basically reflects that I grew up in the 80’s.

I remember the first time I watched “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER”. Based on a  true story, it shows the life in prison for 15 years of a father and his son (Daniel  Day Lewis), accused of a terrorist attack in London that they had not committed.

I think the film is powerful, profound and bravely scripted, although the facts have been manipulated for the sake of drama. In my opinion, the director (Jim Sheridan) shows a very convincing and responsible film. I also consider  the importance of sustaining  the interest of the story.

That was known in advance. I have to say that the movie turns into an exemplary play about both the right and the wrong way to respond to distorted portraits of the Irish.

Finally, I think this film is a masterpiece because all its ingredients, such as the script, the cast and the great music by U2 make a perfect unity which grabs the audience till the end.

My second - and difficult - choice is “THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS”, directed by Jonathan Demme in 1991, starring Jodie Foster and the always talented, from my point of view, Anthony Hopkins.

This film blends elements of the crime and horror genres and achieves high levels of suspense. Personally, Hopkins, in the role of doctor Lecter, a manipulative cannibalistic killer imprisoned after committing a crime, performs a  brilliant face to face with the character of Jodie Foster, a brave policewoman. Initially, Lecter is portrayed as a pleasant and courteous man, who then becomes impatient and very agressive.

In my opinion, it is impossible to pin one label on such an excellent performance, as it is simply fantastic.

Finally, I could not forget on my list what I consider the best film by Ridley Scott,” THELMA AND LOUISE”, a classic feminist film performed by one of my favourite actresses, Susan Sarandon, and her partner Geena Davis. I really feel that, despite being considered as a road movie, the film offers much more. 


The plot, which involves a search for freedom, introduces two  women, who are very close friends, in their daily universe. Both of them are different, both in their attitude and behaviour, but one day they decide to control their life and start a journey through several states, but this journey will change their lives for ever.

Personally, despite the action-packed script and other aspects in the film, I certainly find Thelma & Louise both hard and moving. Besides, the ending is spectacular (featuring a very beautiful scenery, The Grand Canyon), yet unconvincing.

To sum up, the soundtrack is a good mix of songs, from rock to country, and a final one by B. B. King. The music is very effective throughout the film. As it is a journey to the protagonists’ own thoughts and hopes, you can perhaps identify with either of these women by means of the sad ending, which symbolizes the movie’s message.

My Advanced Students' favourite films (part 2)

Maria Jose Cuchi says:

When last Monday Jose Luis showed his favorite movies from the Universal website, one special film came to my mind: ‘Paint your Wagon’ ("La Leyenda de la Ciudad sin Nombre"- 1969), a musical distributed by Paramount pictures, starring Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Jean Seberg. Its plot is about the American Dream, so perhaps this topic that we are dealing with in unit 8 has influenced my memory.

One group of multiracial people travel in wagons to the Far West to build up their dreams in search of work and wealth, when after a crash they find gold by chance. ‘Gold’ is the magic word which changes their lives, because in that place thrives a mining town whose name is ‘No name city’.

This is a hilarious movie, whose brilliant soundtrack featuring a lot of memorable songs with poetic or comic lyrics, made me enjoy and have unforgettable memories.

My three favourite songs are: 

‘Wandering star’ by Lee Marvin.

‘They call the wind Maria’ by Harve Presnell.

Last but not least, ‘Gold fever’ by Clint Eastwood.

Paloma Rodriguez says:

I am a film buff through and through, and from my tenderest youth I have been watching all kind of films except for horror movies (since I watched The Ex …).

Among other films, I will highlight some of my favourite, which I enjoy a great deal:

The Quiet Man (1952) - An American boxer returns to the village where he was born in Ireland and where he finds love. I really like everything in the film: the story, the woods and fields that are typical features of the Irish landscape as well as the main actors, John Wayne and Maureen O´Hara - an authentic model of the Irish woman – together with Barry Fitzgerald as the friendly and likeable “boozer”.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995) - I worship Clint Eastwood. He is a marvellous  master of good-quality films and he proved it, once again, in this splendid film, which has a moving, unforgettable ending in the rain – used as a metaphor for the heartbreaking scene. The movie tells the story of Francesca, a farm housewife, whose dull life is overwhelmed by the arrival of a globe-trotting photographer.

Pride and Prejudice (2005) - The last remake, starring Keira Knightley – who I always find gorgeous - is a romantic story in which the proud Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) reluctantly finds himself falling in love with Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley), a woman beneath his class. It´s sad to see the male protagonist losing his sex-appeal nowadays!

Another two films worth mentioning are Philadelphia stories and Out of Africa. 

Of course I like thrillers and espionage films that are set in the Cold War, like Three Days of the Condor, The Mole and so on … but also science-fiction films, for example Blade Runner. All the same, I realize I am a romantic person.

Marisol Matas says:

How could I dare choose one or two films as the ones I like the most, among the "hundreds" I've already seen, without feeling that I've minimized the others? Anyway, I've picked up two, more or less at random.

Double Indemnity ("Perdición" - 1944):


This is Billy Wilder's all-time great film noir. It is a straightforward and, at the same time, thrilling production. With a superb script and few characters, Billy Wilder was able to transmit the suspense that the “Greats” couldn´t sometimes achieve.

It is a low-budget film, where all the scenes fitted together like in a puzzle. It reminds me of those Hitchcock´s movies, which likewise I love very much.
The actor who plays the leading role in the film, Fred MacMurray, finds himself involved in an ever so complicated plot, which in the end turns out to be impossible to unravel.
There is also this "femme fatale", played by Barbara Stanwick, who I really was impressed by the first time I saw her and, what is more, I haven't forgotten yet.
This is a cleverly made movie. Billy Wilder is very skilled at talking about LOVE, PASSION, FRIENDSHIP and even TREASON. It is also considered a classic model, reproduced in so many movies, such as "The Postman always rings twice", directed by Bob Rafelson.

I’ve really had wonderful times with Billy Wilder’s comedies, like for example The Apartment (1960), Some like it Hot (1959), Seven-year Itch (1955), The front Page (1974), The Fortune Cookie (1966), … But his dramas were also top of the range: The lost weekend (1945), Irma la Douce (1963), Sunset Boulevard (1950), and, above all, Double Indemnity. I really loved them all!

Billy Elliot (2000):

My second choice is not a classic film but it could almost reach that status. Billy Eliot is one of my fave flicks. It tells the story of a young boy, Jamie Bell, who wants to be a dancer. The action takes place during the violent 1984 strike against the Thatcher closure of British coal mines in County Durham, a place I'd already visited a few years earlier. I was really touched by Billy’s determination to achieve his dream, something that was innate in him and nobody, neither family, schoolmates, teachers nor neighbors would openly accept, as only girls used to attend ballet classes. This is a boy's fight whose sensitiveness provoked violent controversy. I dearly loved it, especially T. Rex´s soundtrack.