On duality

Duet – Two people singing together

Duel – Two people fighting together

Dual – Of, or pertaining to, two

Duality – A dual state or quality, henceforth outlined as A and B

(Jen, I promise to try to keep it ‘light’)

A: An attempt to make this into something cohesive, in spite of its dual nature, combining creativity (perhaps), engaging writing (jury’s out) and entertaining musical numbers (we’ll see)
B: Read it and love it, indulge in the music and immerse in the writing. All the time you’re trying too hard to be ‘something’ when the someone you are is enough and sufficient. This could be my heart speaking to yours or my mind with a post-it marked ‘self: for attention of’, but whether you love them or leave them or leave here without reading any further, know that the duality of ‘outward’ and ‘inward’ exist in us all. 

A: I have never really been much of a dancer. I love the idea of dancing and adore watching it done well. As a young ‘un I was never taken to any kind of organised classes, because I was such a stubborn toddler that my parents feared their efforts (and money) would be wasted. So instead I dug holes in the vegetable patch, built cities in the sandpit and learned to climb trees, scrape my knees and smell flowers. When I dance I can probably be most likened to a brick with Tourette’s syndrome.
B: Yet deeply and intoxicatingly, music is in my soul. If I hear a song I love I can’t sit still, and in spite of potentially appearing foolish, there are times (in the dark, or alone) when I must dance. Completely give my body up to the music in all its vibrant, shimmering glory, and move in ways which leave my muscles burning, lungs aching and synapses firing in time to the beat.

A: Hilarious old comedy duo from my small island, here. Fabulous (just about clean) fun, Flanders and Swann never went beyond a cast-iron insinuation (to my knowledge) and absolutely rocked a live show. Sadly far before my time and ne’er I got to see them, but their repertoire is nothing short of fabulous.
B: This song is simply great fun and very cleverly done, not to mention providing a hilarious interlude (albeit one in which the bait went unrisen-to) in the saga that is the story of my being a 50 year old male potato farmer from Idaho. How it started is non-important, and to be fair, I can’t imagine he (this alter ego) was much of a catch, having rapidly lost The Girl to the smooth moves and sweet Bobby Browns of Jak, but every so often it’s a hoot to act lecherously and put on a bit of a role. Because sometimes life (and the Blogosphere) can be lived for shits and giggles.

A: A wonderful, truly golden duet (duo?) with a song designed to rend the very heartstrings from within you. A story of deep and abiding friendship and care, the levels of which can oft go unsaid (or something like that) but otherwise just a very beautiful tune with haunting melodies.
B: A song for you, this is. The ‘you’ made of several dear friends at different times. The plural ‘you’, (with that slickness of syntax which lets me write thus); this is a song which resonates deeply, because, stuck here at the end of the internet, when you hurt, I can do nothing. When you’re tired, I have only words. When life is tough, I have no practical way to relieve your burden. When I see your fragility and vulnerability, dressed up in a mask of coping, and know that I am rendered powerless by distance, those heartstrings can bend very near to breaking point. But music is designed to soothe the storms within us, and so this becomes an important (if small) way of showing I care.

Warning: Explicit content

A: Perhaps an unlikely collaboration, but with that, you get the unusual and hauntingly beautiful refrain juxtaposed with the anger and spewing personified so well with *that* voice. Obviously documenting the seedier, more violent side of relationships, but oh-so-well-done.

B: Fear not, none of my IRL relationships have been like this. Husby and I are as adorable as ever. This is a conflict I have far more often with myself. And it frequently gets this nasty. And usually ends as sweetly.

A: In the interests of frankness, I don’t *really* see how this last one can be called a duet, seeing as Ike plays and Tina sings, but it works, it works, it SO works and I love it. Originally by the Rolling Stones (and for that reason, requiring the cover to be submitted here, for reasons of ‘du’) and just as wonderful any which way.

B: Quite apart from the glorious roughness of those soundwaves, which seem to grate the sides of the mind as your ears open up and swallow them down, this song – these melodies (in this case, as much as those offered by the original) – appeal to the id; to the casting aside of inhibitions, the throwing of caution to the wind and slinging a shot down the hatch before taking the hand of whoever’s nearby to boogie on down where the flashing lights, mirrorballs and cigarette smoke all but obscure our identity…

 This has been Twisted Mixtape Tuesday – thanks again for the wonderful ride.

😉

 Come on over and join in the fun

And whatever else might be said about my musical choices, I shall always remember this as the Day I Won The Internet 🙂