There are a few standard parental words of advice I think we all wish we’d listened to when we were kids:
1) Wear sunscreen;
2) Write thank you notes;
3) Don’t pick your nose in public; and
4) Practice the piano.
Although #1-3 are super important, this post relates to the fourth. I am on a huge ivory-tickler rampage lately, meaning my ears have been full of American standards like Billy Joel – but the list is currently being topped by a certain European musician. Yann Tiersen is basically rocking my world. The French music-maker has me dreaming of taking up the piano (… and guitar, and xylophone, and accordion… and typewriter) and making a new life as a runaway keyboardist.
A perfect example is his Comptine d’un autre ete, l’apres-midi. The track is 2:21 of beautiful. And it’ll remind you of the epic quality of Amelie. Take a listen. Or 3.