1)Centre Point and Another Brick in the Wall. Not exactly made of bricks, and completed earlier than the song (1964). It inspires all the same feelings that the song does around the early and mid 80's. Feelings of Grange Hill on the tele, and the slightly bleak earthy vibes that seemed to be around Britain back then then.

2)Pompidou Centre and Daft Punk. Just cos I like that funky juxtapostion. When I am in Paris looking at this thing I just think Daft Punk!

Kashmir (Led Zeppelin) and the Taj Mahal

No Brainer :)

May I present to you my song Achitect's Son :)

Recently, as a result of the Song and Structure concept I have been looking into my creative heritage as a singer/songwriter and son of an Architect. This song is the result of that investigation.

It is generally about the humble feeling I have as the son of a great architect, who has designed and created all these beautitul structures. I too strive to reach those creative heights with my songs, but ultimately am in awe of his creations and humbled as a result. Hence the line : "After all is built and done, I am left an architect's son"

But there are other sides to the song, it is also about the ability of an architect to transport us through his vision, through the combination of design and setting.

And most importantly to acknowledge that a song can do the same.... If you feel this after listening to the song and looking at the buildings, then I have succeeded!

In particular it is inspired by two of my favourite designs, The Saudi Lighting Laboratory, and The Arab Urban Development institute.

As a kid I picked up on the SLL, who wouldn't notice those playful colours and shapes!:



Read and find out more about this building here

I think that the roof of the AUDI is gorgeous, and feels like the wing of a bird, flying over the desert:



Read and find out more about this one here



Here are the words to the song:


"Architect's Son" written by Karim Fanous

Pen to paper on a lonely day, week, month, year
He lives only for his visions
He will stay true
All these visions find their way through


Soon these shapes will fill the sky
How could someone imagine such beauty
And after all is built and done
I am left an architect's son


Form and colour, light will tumle
Through your eyesight, you'll be humbled
Line, square, circle, all his plans will
Serve their purpose through his deft hands


Soon these shapes will fill the sky
How could someone imagine such beauty
And after all is built and done
I am left an architect's son


Watch her fly across these sand dunes
Dream so high and we can excuse
Human traits which keep us on solid ground
His foresight could work around


Soon these shapes will fill the sky
How could someone imagine such beauty
And after all is built and done
I am left an architect's son


Pen to paper on a lonely day, week, month, year
He lives only...

People I am very happy.

I've been away from this myspace and concept for a while and for a reason. I finished the demo of Architect's Son late last year and gave it to my friend Martin Terefe to see what he thought. He liked it and offered to produce which put me on cloud nine for a while,  let's face it the boy is a class act.

So first of all it was a great compliment to the song! Second of all, he had a great vision for it, in line with the song and structure concept : an industrial approach, leftfield, jumpin' on that arty vibe. We agreed and got to work!

I had a fine time recording my vocal and acoustic guitar at Kensaltown with Dyre Gormsen, who's brother, funnily enough is an architect. Martin then got the mightily talented, multi instrumental magician who is Claes Bjorklund to play the other instruments (and noises). Martin felt Claes would be well suited to the track and indeed he was... Jonna Lee was in the studio at the time and put down some lovely and ethereal BV's.

The track was then mixed by Thomas Juth on a gorgeous API desk (bought off a Disney studio, this thing was used to record the old Disney soundtracks...)

I'd like to say a huge thanks to Martin, Claes and everyone at Kensaltown for a great time and some beautiful sounds.

Now I need you to check out the track, I think you might like it! :)

Peace, creativity and good mojo to you!
Karim


Architect's Son

Written by Karim Fanous
Produced by Martin Terefe
Recorded at Kensaltown by Dyre Gormsen
Mixed at Kensaltown by Thomas Juth

Karim Fanous : Acoustic guitar and vocal
Claes Bjorklund : All other instruments
Jonna Lee : Operatic Vibe Vocals :)

Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering

Well Zappa was rumoured to have said 'writing about music is like dancing about architecture'... our friend Marlen disagrees!:




See Marlen's profile and find out more here

PS That Zappa quote is shrouded in controversy... There are many different theories about who it should be attributed to (Frank Zappa, Elvis Costello, Thelonius Monky, Clara Schumann).... read more about who actually said it first here

It is a famous fact that architect Steven Holl used the 'Stretto' form of music and in particular the piece 'Music for Strings, Percussions and Celesta' written in 1936 by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók as inspiration for the design of The Stretto House (Dallas). The idea emerged after Holl discussed with a student if there was a piece of music which mirrored the flow of water on the site. The student pointed to the Bartok piece in the 'Stretto' form which was based on four separate sections characterised by overlapping heavy percussive and light string movements. Holl represented this 'overlapping' idea by dividing the house into four sections linked by the overlapping 'flow' of light and materials.

This is a more 'high brow' association between between music and architecture where Holl has directly used the form of the music as a basis for the form of the house. There is no abstract logical or mathematical link between the creation of the music and the design of the house (apart from the fact that the Holl split the house into 4 sections). The architect has used the flow of water and a piece of classical music as an inspiration for the form of his design.

read more here:

Storiesofhouses.blogspot
Steven Holl Website

This idea of associating music with buildings is subjective. It is up to people to use their own minds and feelings to decide how they interpret a building 'musically' (and even a song 'architecturally'). It is a difficult argument that music and buildings are structured in the same way, with the same rules and therefore can be identified and compared in the same terms (ie. mathematical or structural).

These associations are essentially made through basic word association or human instinct. The associations can happen on many levels ranging from simple to more abstract. A simple quirky link between a song title and a structure/shape can be very obvious to all (like 'Lick My Love Pump' vs. The Gherkin or '500 miles' and 'Great Wall Of China'). On a slightly deeper level the link between Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall' and 'Centrepoint' is validated through shared cultural and social experiences (people who experienced 'grey' 80's England - Grange Hill on the telly etc.) Or on a deeper instinctive level the comparison between The Guggenheim Bilbao and Voodoo Chile Slight Return by Jimi Hendrix makes perfect sense to me. You could argue that the link is made in the words 'Stand up next to an island, chop it down with the edge of my hand. Pick up all the pieces and make an island, might even raise a little sand', but it goes deeper for me - the link is made in the feeling of otherworldy 'forces' invoked by Jimi in his song and Gehry in his building. To me they are the 'sound' of similair forces.

So what we are doing on this myspace is really making soundtracks for buildings, or architectural visuals for songs, and the choices are not guided by mathematical or scientific structure, but by obvious wordplay or instinctive feelings which can be appreciated and shared by many.

This is a compiled list of all the associations made by me and others on this myspace and the musicandbuildings blog:


THE CHRYSLER BUILDING (New York) vs. I CAN'T DRIVE (Sammy Hagar)

GUGGENHEIM BILBAO vs. VOODOO CHILE (Jimi Hendrix)

THERMAE SPA (Bath/England) vs. FUGAZI (Marillon)

OSCAR NIEMEYER SERPENTINE GALLERY 2003 vs. SATELLITE OF LOVE (Lou Reed)

FALLING WATER (Frank Lloyd Wright) vs. MISTY MOUNTAIN HOP (Led Zeppelin)

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA vs. PUSH (Matchbox 20)

THE GHERKIN (AKA 30 St Mary Axe, London) vs LICK MY LOVE PUMP (Spinal Tap)

CENTREPOINT (London) vs. ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Pink Floyd)

THE POMPIDOU CENTRE (Paris) vs. DAFT PUNK

THE TAJ MAHAL (Agra, India) vs KASHMIR (Led Zeppelin)

CASA BATTLO (Barcelona, Spain) vs MARIA'S BEAUTIFUL MESS (Ellis Paul)

THE ENGLISH GARDEN (Battersea Park, London) vs. FEELS LIKE HOME (Chantal Kreviazuk)

LIVSHJULET (Vigelands, Norway) vs. WHEEL (John Mayer)

NELSON'S COLUMN (London) vs. LONDON CALLING (The Clash)

URBIS MUSEUM (Manchester, England) VS. INTERGALACTIC (Bestie Boys)

WATERLOO BRIDGE/SKYLINE (London) VS. WATERLOO SUNSET (The Kinks)

LOVE GUN (Kiss) VS ANY BUILDING IN VEGAS!!!!

FORTUNATE SON (Creedence Clearwater Revival) VS THE WHITE HOUSE!

CENTREPOINT (London) VS THE ONLY WAY IS UP (Yazz)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE (London) VS ANARCHY IN THE UK (Sex Pistols)

Glad to say the music and buildings / song and structure idea has been featured in the Guardian Arts Blog :

Read it here!

I first posted this and explored this idea at http://www.musicandbuildings.blogspot.com

If you are not a myspace user or want to leave a comment or music/building association without signing up, then please go and do it there!