Thus far, this blog has primarily been about writing, poetry, music and…well, that’s about it. But, in an effort to avoid stagnancy – and because I haven’t posted anything in over a week – I’ve decided to share a few discoveries with you that have improved the quality of my life.
1. Flying Sharks: In mentioning the phenomena of “flying sharks” to a good friend of mine, he reminded me that these sharks do not fly, but jump, and that he could jump between two buildings, if he felt like it – “Which is more impressive, huh?” I rebut by declaring bullshit.
Honestly, there’s not much I can say that will make this footage any more impressive than it is. But I will add my two cents: the Great White Shark can grow to be up to 25 ft long and can weigh more than 2 tons. And, in the waters near South Africa, they can propel themselves as high as 15 ft out of the water. Observe:
2. José Alfredo Jiménez: El Rey. …all right, I’ll admit: this bullet-point is about music. And yes, I said I’d be giving you something a bit different. But bear with me – this not the music found in the big-band halls or Jazz clubs of posts-past. In fact, this isn’t music that I’d even considered part of my listening preferences until recently. But while listening to This American Life (you’ll notice this as a trend soon enough), I heard this song examined and translated. And, as you’ll soon understand, the egotist in me couldn’t resist adding this track – and José Alfredo Jiménez – to a list of my favorites.
So, lest I deny you greatness any longer:
El Rey, written and performed by José Alfredo Jiménez
Verse:
Yo sé bien que estoy afuera
Pero el día que yo me muera
Sé que tendrás que llorar
(Llorar y llorar, x2)
I am fully aware that I am out
But the day that I die
I know that you will have to cry
(Cry and cry, x2)
Dirás que no me quisiste
Pero vas a estar muy triste
Y así te vas a quedar
You will say that you did not love me
But you will be very sad
And that is how you will stay
Chorus:
Con dinero y sin dinero
Hago siempre lo que quiero
Y mi palabra es la ley
With money and without money
I always do what I want
And my word is law
No tengo trono ni reina
Ni nadie que me comprenda
Pero sigo siendo el rey
I have no throne nor queen
Nor anyone who understands me
But I continue being king
Verse:
Una piedra en el camino
Me enseño que mi destino
Era rodar y rodar
(Rodar y rodar, x2)
A stone on the road
Taught me that my destiny
Was to roll and roll
(To roll and roll, x2)
Después me dijo un arriero
Que no hay que llegar primero
Pero hay que saber llegar
Afterwards an *arriero told me
That one need not make it first
But one must know how to make it
Chorus
*arriero = a travelling vendor
(I realize that his mouth is not synched up with the singing. But, this is the version of the recording that I’d like you to hear, and this is José Jiménez. Get over it.)
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