Who?
Becca
Where?
Berlin, Germany
What?
"You are my absolute favorite singer in the whole world. Your voice has held my heart so many times- thank you for all that solace, and life, and beauty- thank you for your music! You have no idea how much of a companion it has become to me."
How did she react?
"I am glad to hear that. It really means a lot to me that I can make a change and help with my music- at the end of the day that's what it's all about."
How did I feel?/What is the story?
According to OC California BoysIIMen is a common breakup soundtrack. According to countless ads walking on sunshine is the perfect happiness soundtrack. According to my best friend there is not much in between- except, potentially, the Rolling Stones. According to me she is all wrong: It is Becca Stevens, all of it. She covers every bit.
Becca is my BoysIIMen and walking on sunshine. And more. Best part: None of that really hits it because she is -- just Becca Stevens. Incomparable. The lady who has been walking with me for four years, closer to my heart than anyone.
She was there during breakdowns and break ups. Pain that goes way back and pain that is completely fresh, Becca sang to it. She expressed the things I found no words for and caressed my cheek once the storm was over. Her voice said: "It's okay. I cry, too, sometimes." I pressed repeat and let her hold me again. Many times. Until I was ready for the next song and her telling me: "Let's go outside! Let's play! Can't you hear the birds?"
When I first started listening to her it was summer. I rode my bike around Berlin and sang along. Very, very loud.
If I'd left my bike at home I danced down the street. Once a guy asked me out because he loved the dancing and singing along. My theory: That happened because I was so in love with the music. Becca was there when I sat alone on a stone and did not know where my future was going to take me after I had quit my job- she made me feel relieved. "I know you'll find all (the answers) in good times." If she did not go on international tours on her own she would not have to worry: Through my headphones she has been singing in the streets of Venice, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Cologne, Paris, Detroit, and - of course- Berlin. Year after year after year, she has been coming along. Her songs are in every Yoga playlist of mine and I am sure my students know some of her music by heart, too: She was around during my first teaching gig and has been ever since. When I took a bike trip for weeks, on my own through the country, her music was in my head. Before exams in college she calmed me down and during times of major family drama her lyrics gave me wise advice and comfort.
"There isn't much that I feel I need,
a solid soul and the blood I bleed-
and with the little girl
I only want a proper house.
I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in the freshest wave
But to provide, for one who asks,
I will, with heart, on my father's grave
I don't mean
To seem like I care about material things
Like a social status
I just want
Four walls and adobe slabs
For my girls."
Becca
Where?
Berlin, Germany
What?
"You are my absolute favorite singer in the whole world. Your voice has held my heart so many times- thank you for all that solace, and life, and beauty- thank you for your music! You have no idea how much of a companion it has become to me."
How did she react?
"I am glad to hear that. It really means a lot to me that I can make a change and help with my music- at the end of the day that's what it's all about."
How did I feel?/What is the story?
According to OC California BoysIIMen is a common breakup soundtrack. According to countless ads walking on sunshine is the perfect happiness soundtrack. According to my best friend there is not much in between- except, potentially, the Rolling Stones. According to me she is all wrong: It is Becca Stevens, all of it. She covers every bit.
Becca is my BoysIIMen and walking on sunshine. And more. Best part: None of that really hits it because she is -- just Becca Stevens. Incomparable. The lady who has been walking with me for four years, closer to my heart than anyone.
She was there during breakdowns and break ups. Pain that goes way back and pain that is completely fresh, Becca sang to it. She expressed the things I found no words for and caressed my cheek once the storm was over. Her voice said: "It's okay. I cry, too, sometimes." I pressed repeat and let her hold me again. Many times. Until I was ready for the next song and her telling me: "Let's go outside! Let's play! Can't you hear the birds?"
When I first started listening to her it was summer. I rode my bike around Berlin and sang along. Very, very loud.
If I'd left my bike at home I danced down the street. Once a guy asked me out because he loved the dancing and singing along. My theory: That happened because I was so in love with the music. Becca was there when I sat alone on a stone and did not know where my future was going to take me after I had quit my job- she made me feel relieved. "I know you'll find all (the answers) in good times." If she did not go on international tours on her own she would not have to worry: Through my headphones she has been singing in the streets of Venice, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Cologne, Paris, Detroit, and - of course- Berlin. Year after year after year, she has been coming along. Her songs are in every Yoga playlist of mine and I am sure my students know some of her music by heart, too: She was around during my first teaching gig and has been ever since. When I took a bike trip for weeks, on my own through the country, her music was in my head. Before exams in college she calmed me down and during times of major family drama her lyrics gave me wise advice and comfort.
"There isn't much that I feel I need,
a solid soul and the blood I bleed-
and with the little girl
I only want a proper house.
I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in the freshest wave
But to provide, for one who asks,
I will, with heart, on my father's grave
I don't mean
To seem like I care about material things
Like a social status
I just want
Four walls and adobe slabs
For my girls."
Click play on that video. Just do it.
This is one of my favorite cover songs (the original is by animal collective) of hers. She really conveys those lyrics, and makes you feel the same: Happy with what you got, this moment, this life, this body. Right? For me, she does. As long as there is blood flowing through my body, my soul is in good health and I have four walls keeping me safe- yeah, I feel her.
Really, Becca makes me filled with life on the spot. I want to get up and dance, right now, as I am listening to her music (yes, I turned on that video, too) Actually, give me two minutes. So my neighbor will have some fun seeing me lose it- just like I will. And how about you? Take a break from reading and dance with me! Now! Once again: Just do it. Till the song's over, then come back and read on :)
Alright, welcome back. Thanks for doing this with me! It was great over here!
In Yoga you say back bending opens your heart. Somatics (=body psychotherapy) speaks of a posture that translates into letting in or receiving if your chest and shoulders are open. However you call it, I have been observing it in my body. When I lift my sternum and let space enter my upper front body there is a different feeling of openness- physically as well as emotionally.
Usually it is something I consciously do during Yoga. I have to become aware of it to make it happen- unless, as I recently learned, I am at Becca's gig. I went to her concert and noticed my back bending, inch by inch, and my sternum lifting. Because my body felt: this is good stuff. I want to be filled by this. It is lively, full, loving, happy. All that warmth, playfulness, and fun entered me. Instead of me walking on sunshine sunshine was walking into me. Thanks to Becca and her stunning talent of radiating with sunshine. And summer rain. And rainbows. While sending out m any, many laughs. Literally! I haven't seen anyone laughing on stage and enjoying the mistakes they make during a show the way she and her band did. To me they seemed like the most open-hearted and easy going people. They started one song three times because she could not stop laughing. Unprofessional? No way! Wonderfully real, honest and open- if you ask me. I felt like I was hanging out with friends rather than being at a concert- all because their vibe spread all over the room. It made me feel connected to everyone in the room, too, as I saw countless eyes in awe and lips whispering "This is sooo good..", and formed "I hear you!" in response with mine.
After the show I complimented her. I could tell what I said meant something to her which made the moment meaningful to me, too. From her music and her poetic lyrics I had already supposed that she has beautiful attitudes. Now I know because her reaction proved me right.
She was down for a picture, too- having the Becca background I have that meant the world to me.
This is one of my favorite cover songs (the original is by animal collective) of hers. She really conveys those lyrics, and makes you feel the same: Happy with what you got, this moment, this life, this body. Right? For me, she does. As long as there is blood flowing through my body, my soul is in good health and I have four walls keeping me safe- yeah, I feel her.
Really, Becca makes me filled with life on the spot. I want to get up and dance, right now, as I am listening to her music (yes, I turned on that video, too) Actually, give me two minutes. So my neighbor will have some fun seeing me lose it- just like I will. And how about you? Take a break from reading and dance with me! Now! Once again: Just do it. Till the song's over, then come back and read on :)
Alright, welcome back. Thanks for doing this with me! It was great over here!
In Yoga you say back bending opens your heart. Somatics (=body psychotherapy) speaks of a posture that translates into letting in or receiving if your chest and shoulders are open. However you call it, I have been observing it in my body. When I lift my sternum and let space enter my upper front body there is a different feeling of openness- physically as well as emotionally.
Usually it is something I consciously do during Yoga. I have to become aware of it to make it happen- unless, as I recently learned, I am at Becca's gig. I went to her concert and noticed my back bending, inch by inch, and my sternum lifting. Because my body felt: this is good stuff. I want to be filled by this. It is lively, full, loving, happy. All that warmth, playfulness, and fun entered me. Instead of me walking on sunshine sunshine was walking into me. Thanks to Becca and her stunning talent of radiating with sunshine. And summer rain. And rainbows. While sending out m any, many laughs. Literally! I haven't seen anyone laughing on stage and enjoying the mistakes they make during a show the way she and her band did. To me they seemed like the most open-hearted and easy going people. They started one song three times because she could not stop laughing. Unprofessional? No way! Wonderfully real, honest and open- if you ask me. I felt like I was hanging out with friends rather than being at a concert- all because their vibe spread all over the room. It made me feel connected to everyone in the room, too, as I saw countless eyes in awe and lips whispering "This is sooo good..", and formed "I hear you!" in response with mine.
After the show I complimented her. I could tell what I said meant something to her which made the moment meaningful to me, too. From her music and her poetic lyrics I had already supposed that she has beautiful attitudes. Now I know because her reaction proved me right.
She was down for a picture, too- having the Becca background I have that meant the world to me.
I am glad I have found music other than Bach which over the years I do not only continuously appreciate because I see genius in it but also won't stop listening to a lot because it is fun and, yes, just makes me happy. Becca is that music, together with a few, few others who share one thing: They are radically, honestly and openly alive.
Dear Becca, thank you so much for being alive! - And doing what you're doing. Yours, Rosa
Dear Becca, thank you so much for being alive! - And doing what you're doing. Yours, Rosa
Anything else?
Here is one last video I discovered after the concert. I have been listening to that 100 times, maybe 200. Watch it and experience a total clash of beauty: Two angelic voices, two wonderfully beautiful women who let go and give in to the music- and one (or more) talented video artist, catching the overwhelming amount of aesthetics around him.
Here is one last video I discovered after the concert. I have been listening to that 100 times, maybe 200. Watch it and experience a total clash of beauty: Two angelic voices, two wonderfully beautiful women who let go and give in to the music- and one (or more) talented video artist, catching the overwhelming amount of aesthetics around him.
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