Daily Zen (Peter Gabriel Edition) - February 13

          It is so strange the way things turn.

                     ~ Peter Gabriel 

                     (Don't Give Up)

We never know what the world will offer us, or what it will take away. But we know this - there's a good chance things won't go the way we expect.

A couple of years ago when I started this blog, I struggled to come up with the just the right name. I wanted a word or phrase that was consistent with my core philosophy, and something that might be catchy and easy to remember.

I ended up using a phrase from the lyrics of Don't Give Up, one of my favorite Peter Gabriel songs. You can listen to all the lyrics and watch the haunting video of Don't Give Up (featuring Kate Bush) here. 

Today, on Peter Gabriel's 63rd birthday, we wish him all the best and thank him for loaning us a thoughtful lyric to name this blog.

Since it's Peter's birthday, here's a "daily zen" bonus - the original video for Peter's best-known hit In Your Eyes.

And the re-recording of the song almost thirty years later in 2011, with Peter's vocals accompanied by the profoundly beautiful sound of the New Blood Orchestra. Maybe things really do get better with age. Then again, maybe not. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Daily Zen - Monday, October 1

It's only in uncertainty that we're naked and alive.

                   ~ Peter Gabriel

Turn Up the Sound - Shaking The Tree for Women's Day

In recognition of International Women's Day, I wanted to share my favorite song about the empowerment of women. It's Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'Dour - Shaking the Tree.

Turn up the sound and enjoy! (If you want to, that is - not trying to tell you what to do or anything. It's just nice to listen to it loud and proud - but of course, only if that works for you. Really, it's whatever you want. Okay, I'll just shut up now.)

"Find your sisters and brothers who can hear all the truth in what you say, they can support you when you're on your way, it's your day - woman's day."

Turn Up the Sound - Peter Gabriel's New Blood

Rock and Roll Innovator Peter Gabriel

October 10th marks the release of "New Blood,"the new album from consummate pop-rock pioneer and innovator, Peter Gabriel.

With "New Blood,"all that's old is new again. Gabriel has once again taken an inventor's approach to music, breaking down some of his biggest hits to their barest elements, and then re-imagining and recording them with all new arrangements. The hitch is that on these tracks you will find no guitars and no rock-and-roll drum kits; instead, Gabriel performs the tracks with the lush and beautiful accompaniment of the 46-piece New Blood Orchestra.

The album will include new recordings of Solsbury Hill, In Your Eyes, Digging in the Dirt, and about ten other Peter Gabriel classics. I'm already sold on the concept, but in case you aren't sure, below is a video teaser of Red Rain.