Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Jun 9, 2006 13:44:33 GMT -5
REVIEWS ~ Palma Pascale's "I'll Leave You The Music" part 2
TAKIN’ CHANCES – This is another “country” flavored tune, but this is a waltz, and it takes the listener on a grand journey of love.
The piano and harmonica intro is such a treat (it reminds the writer a touch of Desperado) and leads the listener to that “feel good” place as Palma sings “…In a world pulled apart, we hold on to what’s real ~ and we’re takin’ chances together, while the rest of them go it alone…” A clever way to say, “we’ve fallen in love and we’re going to be together, takin’ the chance that our love will survive and we will be happy.”
The resplendent, simply stated string counter melody just “makes” the song – then we are treated to a lovely instrumental chorus of strings and harmonica playfully competing for center stage, yet each one finding their own “empty corner” to fill. Such a tastefully executed composition.
You find yourself smiling by the end of the song, and hoping it all works out for these two! Cool, eh?
I’LL LEAVE YOU THE MUSIC – I’m afraid to tell you I could write a whole “novel” about this, the title song for this album. The captivating song begins with a tingling glissando, then a rubato piano and vocal intro, and the first line of the lyric is such a soft/sweet one: “…I wish you could stay with me and I could erase all the sadness I see in your face…” ~ but then, the “kicker” line…. “…If it only were another time and place…” Immediately we become aware that this story is one, seemingly, without a happy ending. As I’m listening to this tune for the first time, after having heard this much, I’m thinking to myself “okay, here’s another beautiful love-gone-wrong song.” BUT, that’s FAR from the case.
Instantly, the lyrics surprise as the whole axis of the story changes ~ “…but if it can never be, I want you to know…” (Before I tell you the remaining line, I have to tell you (as I told Palma) the first time I really “HEARD” this song, and the implications of this coming lyrics, it took me by surprise, and that familiar lump in the throat with those huge salt-tears welled up in me in a second) as the chorus was sung:
“…I’ll leave you the music ~ I’ll leave you my soul ~ All I am, All I love, All I know…will remain with you when I go…”
Think about those lines for a moment…they are truly powerful. I thought about so many people and relationships in those few moments as the words washed over me. (Having considered myself a “musician” and a true lover of music since I was able to crawl – and for years having made a living at it professionally, I instantly related to these lyrics.) They are so applicable to so many scenarios, not just the relationship between a man and a woman. I thought about Karen Carpenter ~~ I can assure you, had Karen recorded this song, it would be more difficult than “Now” is to listen to. Karen did what Palma describes in this song – “she left us the music.” It was all she was, all she loved, and all she knew – just as it is with our composer of this indescribably gorgeous song.
These lyrics are God-inspired ~ I’ll leave you my SOUL ~ the very absolute and perfect essence of an individual, their soul!!! That’s so awesomely powerful, and that line is followed-up with “All I AM, All I LOVE, ALL I KNOW.” It pretty much sums up what our composer is all about – THE MUSIC – as she has made her life about the music _ the music IS all she is, loves and knows. And, by making these recordings, she will “remain with us”, forever.
It’s a most stirring lyric, and of course, the beauty of the musical score behind it only makes the lyric that much more poignant. The alluring instrumental break really tells the tale of this composer/arranger’s amazing abilities to know just how to “keep it simple” yet emotionally charge it at the same time. It will MOVE you on an emotional level, guaranteed.
As I was contemplating this lyric, I couldn’t imagine how Palma’s mother could listen to this lyric from a mother’s perspective without just immense emotion ~ so it prompted me to ask Palm about this. The response I got was that yes, she’d thought the same thing I had – and though they’d never really “discussed” the lyric’s implications, you know, the “unspeakable”, Anne Pascale (Palma’s mom) had the same thoughts as this writer did. How to solve that problem so she’d be able to listen to this gem? Anne did her OWN recording of I’ll Leave You The Music, which Palma lovingly produced, for her. In fact, she did her own entire CD. A story about this will follow someday in Tim’s Corner. Watch for it – it will be worth the read, I assure you.
The beauty of this top quality ballad does NOT stop with that first verse and chorus…oh no…the poignancy continues as verse two begins: “I’ll leave you the gift I own, to be where I’m not ~ in the mind of the ear and the heart ~ I’ll be there, although we are apart…You won’t be without me here ~ I’m in the SONG you hear ~ and if you can hear the song, you’re HERE with me…”
Now, what else needs be said after hearing those words? Pretty much sums it up in this writer’s opinion.
KCmusician remarks: “Palma writes using incredibly engaging lyrics; she has a gift for poetry, the imaginative intelligence to create lyrics and melody together with each complimenting the other; not just melody but creating the arc, build and musical message of the song.”
The song, itself, is just a primo love song ~ one fraught with multiple signification.
This is an eloquent composition our composer saved as the last, special surprise on an overwhelmingly enterprising and rewardingly enchanting compilation.
I’ll Leave You The Music is an arresting masterpiece of musical symmetry. A labor of true love that shines trough like a sparkling diamond on each gleaming note!!! Phenomenal, work this…truly!
In closing… I’ll take the music…. guaranteed.
(Note: Please see the “credits” thread for the “players” listed within this review. Musician. arrangement and co-production credits for “I’ll Leave You The Music” are listed in a separate thread.).
Stay tuned for reviews coming soon to Tim’s Corner of “In & Out Of Love…..
