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March 28, 2007
who's to say which is the way it should have been
Avey Tare and Panda Bear - I Remember Learning How to Dive (live at Other Music)
So nothing against Vashti Bunyan (who sang this on the "Prospect Hummer" EP) or anything, but this particular version of 'I Remember...', sung by Noah (Panda) and Dave (Avey) at an Other Music in-store a few years ago, is my absolute favorite, and (I think) one of the best songs Noah has ever written. It's too bad this didn't make it onto "Sung Tongs", because it would have rivaled the sun-bright cool-breeze beauty of 'Leaf House', 'Who Could Win A Rabbit', and 'Winter's Love'. 'I Remember...' is perpetually unbalanced, which makes sense, considering the subject matter- listen to the way Noah and Dave weave the lyrics through the cascade of chords, and the sweet, synchronized stomping, clapping, and guitar-tapping, and their perfectly matched vocals (the joy-capped "Wheeee" they both sing, or the way Dave's wild-child voice gives Noah's clear, gentle vocals a lift and a push at all the right times).
All but the extremely acrophobic probably have some sweet memories of climbing the slick, metal rungs of the ladder, stepping slowly onto the porous, coarse surface of the board, toeing the edges gingerly and looking down onto the light blue surface of the swimming pool, disregarding the internal impulses for self-preservation, and jump-jump-jumping out, straight out, into the air, into the water. This song is a song for everyday use; don't just listen to it on special occasions.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who's entered the contest so far- there have been some amazing entries.
Posted by Kevin at March 28, 2007 07:58 AM