Sultans of Swing: A Timeless Classic

A number of interesting things happened in 1979, the year I was born. For instance, on November 4, 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began. Have you seen Argo starring Ben Affleck? That movie is pretty much about it. The next month, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Also in 1979, the first Sony Walkman was released in Japan. Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Skylab made a dramatic return to Earth. The year also saw the release of a number of iconic movies, including Alien, Apocalypse Now, and Mad Max.

That year, Dire Straits unleashed Sultans of Swing. The four-minute track wasn't just a song; it was a revolution. The musicianship is impeccable, the lyrics engrossing, and the entire song doesn't sound dated. It transcends genres and eras, proving that true artistry never fades.

In high school, I’d sit on a couch and listen endlessly to Mark Knopfler’s intricate guitar solo and pretended I understood what “blowing Dixie, double-four time” was all about.

We all have those tunes that are like time capsules. They have the power to transport us back to a specific moment, or a specific feeling. So, next time a song from your past pops up on your playlist, just close your eyes and let it take you back.

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Stencils and Subtlety

If there were a Michelin star for public murals, Roamcouch would have it. No debate. His art is an elegant contradiction; it stops you in mid-stride and makes you stare. You argue with what you see. He works with scenes from everyday life, nothing fancy, then drops them into backgrounds full of playfulness and surprise. His murals feel like small rebellions, and they insist on being noticed. Here are some of his recent street art works. Roamcouch has a Facebook page and a website where you can find all his work.

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For readers who love Basquiat

It's been thirty-one years since Jean-Michel Basquiat 's tragic death, but his work still remains in our art consciousness. Now, a new book explores the other side of the graffiti artist turned painter. "Basquiat-isms is a collection of essential quotations from this godfather of urban culture. In these brief, compelling, and memorable selections, taken from his interviews as well as his visual and written works, Basquiat writes and speaks about culture, his artistic persona, the art world, artistic influence, race, urban life, and many other subjects. Concise, direct, forceful, poetic, and enigmatic, Basquiat's words, like his art, continue to resonate." Basquiat-isms , edited by Larry Warsh, is out now.

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