I discovered the deep and enchanting voice of Cesária Évora when I first heard her sing together with the Polish singer Kayah in the song Embarcacao. The barefoot diva, as the Cape Verdean morna singer was nicknamed, has always been a good companion for candlelit evenings with red wine. She was also one of the World Food Programmes goodwill ambassadors and I’m listening to her today, as I found out that she has died, 70 years old.
Today was the second day of my new concept that I call hippie weekend. It started off by itself yesterday as me and my housemate cleaned the entire apartment when I got back from work. We removed some furniture and things that were in the way, played beautiful music and spent time talking while she lit a piece of palo santo, which is a type of wood from South America that filled our apartment with a beautiful and very soothing scent just perfectly in time for going to sleep. Right there I decided that I wouldn’t go to Malmö for the weekend as planned, I needed some rest, taking it easy and just being. No studies, no errands, no nada. So today after work, instead of packing, stressing and crossing a bridge, I watched a movie.
My housemate is awesome in many ways, and this recommendation is a simple way of proving that. She showed me her DVD of Gregory Colbert’s Ashes and Snow yesterday, telling me that I would love it. With my already well established obsession for scenery, nature and photography, this film really did hit me hard. It’s an amazing piece of art showing people and animals in perfect harmony and watching it in my voluntary solitude was pure bliss.
“When I started Ashes and Snow in 1992, I set out to explore the relationship between man and animals from the inside out. In discovering the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards restoring the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals.”
Gregory Colbert
The video above shows Colbert’s world famous exhibition, some parts from a film about orangutans and a lot of short clips from Ashes and Snow. The movie is just as simple as it looks, amazing angles, brilliant details, and music. Just that, and sometimes the voice of Colbert talking about elephants and dreams that I chose not to put too much attention to. I was absorbing the visuals and the music, simple and incredibly powerful, all in sepia.
Tomorrow I will do my best to continue filling these days with beautiful things. Let’s see what hippie weekend has in store. haha
I love it when I randomly feel like listening to an artist and then discover that there is a brand new release out there, waiting to be explored. Goldmund’s latest addition to my world seems just as enchanting as his previous albums. This one is for long flights, beautiful nights and colourful dreaming. Enjoy.
We have this tea here in Denmark called Yogi Tea. It always comes with these cheesy little notes and today I’m kind of liking mine.
Another thing worth mentioning is that this exam that I’m studying for is highly competitive. Despite that, people that have never met before are sharing notes, ideas and advice online. Selflessly helping each other out.
That’s quite exceptional, don’t you think? I have gotten to know some really great and intelligent people through this and I really wish them all the best. They are the kind of people the UN system needs.
“I can sense a world of heartache
but I love the sound
of your hair when it falls down
from the pillow late at night”
This is a cover by Danish artist My name is not Daisy and I discovered it yesterday when my housemate was singing in the kitchen and I was struck by the amount of beautiful metaphors in it. The original is by the Danish band The Rumour Said Fire and it is also beautiful but far less singable.
And we really like singing along, don’t we?
