So true to "Parry" form, I am switching things around today. So often, I write something ready to post, and then I am compelled to post something else.
Last night I caught up on the season 4 finale of Scandal - have I mentioned how much I love Olivia Pope and am a huge fan of Shonda Rimes' writing? I'm pretty sure I have tweeted this once or twice...
Anyway, interestingly, there wasn't a cliffhanger, or a disaster in the closing moments; it was quite a hopeful conclusion. I won't go into details in case you haven't watched it yet, or don't watch it...in which case I may slightly boring you (!)The purpose of this post is actually musical. For a few years now TV programmes have been using well-known songs to incredible effect as background for certain scenes.
In fact, I think, Grey's Anatomy, another Shonda Rimes' show led the way with pop song covers - mainly from the 80s. I think this is how I discovered Sleeping at Last and where I got the inspiration for my own covers project.
And whilst I love hearing original scores written for film and TV, and no one can refute the power of a piece of music alongside a particular scene; when we know a song, we connect with it in a completely different way, and if it is a version we are unfamiliar with it can evoke a number of different emotions especially when married with certain visuals.
Anyway, back to the closing minutes Season 4 of Scandal. This scene was coupled with the incredible tone of Nina Simone singing, "Here comes the sun". It is fair to say, I have not heard anything by Nina Simone I haven't adored. It’s the timbre of her voice, the emotion that oozes from every line - not too much, not too little - just enough. And don't get me started on her sublime piano playing...So here it is. To me it is hopeful with a tinge of melancholy - something Nina Simone does so effortlessly. Enjoy x