10 Seconds: Lucy Tasker
1. Toots Thielmans - Manha de Carnaval (1'51" - 2'01")
From Toots Thielemans - The Brasil Project (1992)
" I particularly like the notes and phrasing in Toots’ solo here. Toots’ solos always sound more like words than notes to me."
2. Diam's - Si c'etait le dernier (1'50" - 2'00")
From Diam's - S.O.S. (2009)
"Diam's is one of my favourite rappers. A documentary came out about her recently at Cannes which made me think of her. This is from her final album, “S.O.S” that she wrote before converting to Islam and quitting music. The documentary tells her story.
Y a plus de MTV Award à l'hôpital pour t'aider quand tu coules
Car je l'avoue ouais c'est vrai j'ai fait un tour chez les dingues
Là où le bonheur se trouve dans des cachetons ou des seringues
Translation:
There are no more MTV awards at the hospital to help you when you crumble,
Because I admit that it’s true, I was with the “crazies”
Where happiness is found in pills (I think?) or syringes. "
3. Tania Maria - Funky Tamborim (1'15" - 1'25")
From Tania Maria - Love Explosion (1984)
“ "Funky funky funky tamborim” . No one can utter these words finer than the great Tania Maria. I specifically chose 10 seconds where she says “funky” three times, and this was my favourite time."
4. Nina Simone - Isn’t it a Pity (4'45" - 4'55")
From Nina Simone – Emergency Ward! (Nina Simone In Concert) (1972)
"I had to pick one Nina Simone song because I love her. This happens to be the one I’m listening to the most at the moment. I agree with everything she says in this song. These ten seconds are one of the countless moments where we hear her wisdom shine through."
5. Bob Dylan - It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) (5'20" - 5'30")
From Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
"I’m not a Bob Dylan fanatic, but I love this song of his. The rhythm, the words, the accented phrasing in odd places. If I'm honest I haven’t totally worked out what it’s truly about."
“While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society’s pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he’s in”
6. Ezma Redzepova - Chaje Shukarije (0'13" - 0'23")
From Ezma Redzepova - Chaje Shukarije (2000)
"Everyone needs to hear the voice of the Queen of the Balkans, especially at the beginning of this well-known song. Pain, anger and the human soul are fully bared. She passed away in 2016. Tales of a Gypsy Caravan is a great film to watch if you want to get to know her better."
7. Tony Scott - My Funny Valentine (0'13" - 0'23")
From Tony Scott - Like A Child's Whisper, (Dialogue With Myself) (1993)
"Any ten seconds of a Tony Scott tune capture his distinctive style, but I picked these 10 seconds because you can hear all the highs and lows of his breathy clarinet playing, as well as the fluttering in between."
8. Maria Joao - My Favourite Things (3'03" - 3'13")
From Quinteto Maria Joao - Cem Caminhos (1985)
"Maria João begins at the end, starting with an ethereal introduction and finishing with words. This section captures her voice magically navigating its way through the lyrics incomparable to any other singer."
9. Emily Remler - Blues For Herb (6'01" - 6'11")
From Emily Remler - East To Wes (1988)
"One of my favourite blues endings. The harmony rotates, stabbing the melody repeatedly with different chords. After that, the final chord rings out. Emily Remler, who left too soon, wrote this tune for Herb Ellis."
10. Tokyo Nammy - Alabama Song (0'37" - 0'47")
From Tokyo Nammy – Gandharva Veda (2004)
"A little known singer from Tokyo who drags the Doors’ “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)” into a wild-eyed disjointed madness. These ten seconds (from the tamer beginning part of the song) give us a little snapshot of this."
