September 2010

[Sweder]

My trip to Brazil ended with something of an ugly whimper.
The following clip sums up my last day there and the 48 hours that followed:



I never feel truly 'home' until I've been out for a plod through my local hills. This morning the sun shone, birds twittered and high white clouds slid silently across a crisp blue sky. What was a boy to do?

I strapped on my (freshly scrubbed) offies* and pulled up Lou Reed's Transformer for my album of the day. It's far from ideal running music, yet somehow just right for a gentle recovery lope. A procession of classics accompanied my easy slouch across the hills, Reed's slightly distubed voice warbling through such wonders as Vicious, Walk On The Wild Side, Perfect Day and Satellite of Love.



Reed writes from his heart to yours, as if you and he were alone in a room. His words stand up without the intricate melodies (or Bowie & Ronson's production) as few lyrics can. No more clearly is this demonstrated than in the final track, a solo rendition of Perfect Day featuring jangling, uncertain guitar over soulful, off-beat vocals. Stripped of Ronson's orchestral finery the words demand attention, reach out and grab you, shake you, will you to understand. The second verse resonates with runners. Forgetting yourself, and your woes, is what this malarkey is all about.

Just a perfect day
problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
it's such fun

Just a perfect day
you made me forget myself
I thought I was
someone else, someone good

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

Far from ideal running music?
Today it was just perfect.