My 38th birthday came around last Monday, and despite not getting a whole lot in terms of presents (which was my preference this time around), I did get one that I am finally enjoying tonight.
Over the last few months I have been exploring (via YouTube) Romanian music. Mostly I have focused on Phoenix, originally from the city Timisoara and one of that country's all-time most popular bands. It started out with discovering the song "Andrii Popa" and subsequently grew from there. As I have gotten more familiar with songs like "Mugur De Fluier", "Canarul", and "Nunta", a desire to explore lead singer Mircea Baniciu's work outside of Phoenix took root.
While this exploring has been going on, I mentioned it to a co-worker who happens to be from Romania. After his initial surprise that I had an interest in Romanian music (despite not being able to understand the words) we talked about different songs every so often during coffee and lunch breaks.
Keeping with a tradition of mine, I ended up taking my birthday off of work but received a surprise when I returned the next day. My co-worker presented me with a cassette tape, a live recording of a band called Pasarea Colibri. One of their members is the aforementioned Mircea Baniciu, and I am finally taking the time to sit down and listen to it tonight. I must say that the music is beautiful and the vocals soothing, especially the songs Baniciu is singing (probably because I already know these ones). Whatever the case, it is a beautiful sounding tape that is relaxing to listen to.
I'm thankful to my co-worker for willingly giving up a tape he no doubt loves, in order to give it to someone who can't understand it lyrically. I am ending this weekend lost in non-translation, but am loving every minute of it! :-)
