From the Top of the World single, plus free download

From the Top of the World EP
Cover art by David Stith
Release date: Sept. 23, 2008
iTunes exclusive: $3.96

While Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond retains a French vocabulary more comparable to that of an African Grey Parrot than to Victor Hugo, she does love to sing French songs from the 1930s. Borrowed melodies from Worden’s favorite French sparrow, the inimitable Edith Piaf, “Adieu mon Coeur,” and “Hymne A L’Amour” have become standard concert repertoire for My Brightest Diamond in recent years.

After having fled Germany to escape the Nazi’s in 1933, composer Kurt Weill penned the music for “Youkali:Tango Habenera”. Years later, Roger Fernay added lyrics describing a vagabond trip to an island of bliss called Youkali, whereupon landing a fairy would act as one’s personal tour guide. Youkali is a land of happiness and fulfilled desire, a place where all the stars shine brighter. But the dreamy mists dissipate in the second verse, as life progresses only tediously while poor human souls seek to escape to the mysterious utopia in vain.

With the help of co-producer / ear candy man Zac Rae, a longstanding Diamond collaborator, these recordings take new flight with his host of reversed pianos, paint can snares, and warbling theramins.

1. From the Top of the World
2. Youkali: Tango Habanera
3. Hymne Á L’Amour
4. Adieu Mon Coeur

Listen to an exclusive acoustic version of “Adieu mon Coeur”, then download for freeee while you read an interview with Shara on Stereogum.

Vote for MBD on BBC2

Each week Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Marconie, hosts of one BBC2’s radio shows select four songs and then let listeners vote by email. They then play that song every day for the following week.

This week they’ve chosen “From the Top of the World” by My Brightest Diamond as one of their new “Pick n’ Mix” selections. Yay! We of course agree that “From the Top of the World” is a good choice. You can listen to the song yourself on the show’s webapage, here, or watch the new music video (crafted with help from many wonderful people, including Tim Fite and puppeteer Lake Simons)  by clicking more.

If you like the song as much as we do, we’d really appreciate a vote! You can do that by emailing the name of the song (”From the Top of the World”) to radcliffe.maconie@bbc.co.uk. Deadline is at noon on Monday London time (7AM EST).

Uncensored Interviews with Shara

Shara discusses M.I.A., the trash heap the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean, and recording in 96K among many many many many many many other things. For all the other interview clips, go to Uncensored Interview. Here is a sample of blue eye shadowed opinion.

Hey everybody- I talked about the pile of trash the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean in this interview, but I wanted share these horrifying videos.. For more info go to Toxic-Garbage Island