Bare necessities!

Whether in life or music simplicity cannot be over-stated. One could argue some of the best life choices are the simplest. And surely some of the best music are the simplest. 

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Bare necessities from the 1967 Disney film "The jungle book" exemplifies simplicity at its best! This song was written by Terry Gilkyson. Sung by Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman. This was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Here is this all time favorite of mine (thanks to my son, Chandu):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ogQ0uge06o

Here is the same song sung by Louis Armstrong:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXwEBp3cKfM

Here are the lyrics for this beauty:
(Courtesy http://www.stlyrics.com)

The Bare Necessities by Phil Harris, Bruce Reitherman
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities 
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life

Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?

The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!

So just try and relax, yeah cool it
Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard

And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you

Whisky in the Jar - An old Irish folk-song from the 1700s

'Whisky in the Jar' is a very popular Irish traditional song presumably from the 1700s. Many professional artists and bands have recorded this song in the recent history. There have been very many different versions of this song as well.

My favorite version is the one sung by Jerry Garcia for the 'Grateful dead'. Ive given the lyrics they sing at the bottom of this post:
Grateful Dead - Whiskey In The Jar - YouTube

According to Wikipedia, "The song first gained wide exposure when the Irish folk band The Dubliners performed it internationally as a signature song, and recorded it on three albums in the 1960s. Building on their success, the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy hit the Irish and British pop charts with the song in the early 1970s. The American metal band Metallica brought it to a wider rock audience in 1998 by playing a version very similar to that of Thin Lizzy's with a heavier sound, and won a Grammy for the song in 2000 for Best Hard Rock Performance."

The lyrics to this song also vary a lot. Here is the traditional lyrics Ive found:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/thin+lizzy/whiskey+in+the+jar_20136695.html

Wiki link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_in_the_Jar

Dubliners version. This has a real folk song feel to it:
The Dubliners - Whiskey In The Jar - YouTube

Thin Lizzy version. This is more guitar centric:
Whisky in the Jar Thin Lizzy - YouTube

Metallica's is a more intense version as you would guess:
Metallica - whiskey in the jar + Lyrics - YouTube

A high quality live performance of this song. Worth listening to:
The Killdares "Whiskey In The Jar" Live at the Granada Theater - YouTube

Here are a few other versions:
Whiskey in the Jar - Folk version - YouTube
Celtic Mayhem - "Whiskey In The Jar" - Camelot Days 2008 - YouTube
WHISKEY IN THE JAR - COUNTRY COVER - YouTube


Lyrics used by the Grateful dead:

As I was a-goin' over Gilgarra mountains
I met Colonel Pepper and his money he was counting
I drew forth my pistol and I rattled my sabre
Saying "stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver"

Chorus

Musha ringum duram da
Whack fol de daddy-o
Whack fol de daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar

The shining yellow coins did sure look bright and jolly
I took the money home and I gave it to my Molly
She promised and she vowed that she never would deceive me
But the devil's in the women for they never can be easy

[chorus]

When I awoke between the hours of six and seven
Guards were standing 'round me in numbers odd and even
I flew to my pistols, but alas I was mistaken
I fired off my pistols and a prisoner was taken

[chorus]

They put me in jail without a judge or jury
For robbing Colonel Pepper in the morning so early
They didn't take my fist so I knocked down the sentry
And I bid a long farewell to that cold penitentiary

[chorus]

Some take delight in fishing and bowling
Others take delight in carriage a-rollin'
I take delight in the juice of the barley
Courting pretty women in the morning so early

Mehdi Hassan Khan - The King of Ghazals

Mehdi Hassan Khan (July 18th 1927 - June 13 2012), the famous Ghazal singer from Pakistan was recently taken away from us.


Here is a sampling of songs from Mehdi ji collected on the WeGotGuru.com 'Knowledge Hub':
http://wegotguru.com/Knowledgehub/tag/mehdi%20hassan


Listen to the audio of the short news item on The World via Soundcloud.com:
Legendary Pakistani Singer Mehdi Hassan Dies at 84 by The World

Mehdi Hassan was born on 18th July 1927 in a small village called Luna in Rajasthan, India. He is from a long lineage of musicians (Kalawant clan). He started his career in a bicycle shop. He retained his passion for music and practiced regularly. In 1957 he was given the chance to sing on Radio Pakistan. That led to him getting recognized as a thumri singer. Then he started focusing on singing ghazals. Many call him the king of ghazals.