The basis of Fragile I wrote in Germany, Düsseldorf in spring 2008. It was realised with my co-writer Andrei Saftescu and performed with my former band TARA, that I left in autumn 2011. The recording is already some years old, as our first recording session took place at the turn of the year 2008 to 2009. 
Interestingly, on the German „Rock und Pop Preis 2009“, we, TARA, were even honoured for “Fragile”, taking first place for writing the „best song in English language” of the year.
 
Fragile
©taranielsen

Is this all you want from me, dear, 
to take off my clothes?
Is this all you want from me, dear?
The colour of my face shows 
that I’m tempted to give you everything.
My heart is longing for your hands. 
And though this soon might end embarrassing,
I’m thankful for the daze I’m in, cause still I am 

incomplete and still I feel fragile inside of me, cause I’m afraid of your true love.

Is this all you need from me, dear, 
to get rid of my dress?
Or do you really need me, dear, 
cause I need a warm caress.
You know it will take your best.

So I’m here to show you who I really am.
My soul’s just covered by this skin
and though I really might lose everything, 
there’s one thing I could win,
there’s one thing I could win, cause still I am 

incomplete and still I feel fragile inside of me, cause I’m afraid of your true love, 
cause I’m fragile.




Fragile (TARA)

When I wrote and recorded "Lonesome traveler" in summer 2011 in my flat in Düsseldorf, a lot was going on in my head. I thought about life, my life, fatal and essential egoism, the world and its' wars, love and that strange but still somehow special feeling you get, when you realize from time to time, that, when the last guests have left and their noise is gone and you're not anymore surrounded by friends and family, in the end you are - and you know there's no way around it - again (- and who knows, maybe forever? -) absolutely reduced to your personal, still artistic but highly solitary freedom and loneliness. Still, this is our freedom and we have to learn to use, preserve and to cope with it. I think that somehow freedom and loneliness are really interwoven with each other.

Lonesome traveler 
©taranielsen

It’s all about me, it’s about individualism.
One is one and one is one and that one is me.
I got a big heart, I don’t need no God
for the big denial of world war that’s taking place in front of me.

Landing they’re looking just like falling stars,
pretending to be freedom-warriors.
But what is that, a “freedom-warrior”?
What is that, a “freedom-warrior”?            


Lonesome traveler, why did you choose to go?
To leave the world in that we have lost all control?
Oh, I follow you, suddenly I know, cause all I want to be, 
oh, is free and blameless and unaccountable.


It’s all about love, it’s about humanity
It’s all about friends and - do you have a family?
So, if you got one, well, you should be strong and care for them! 
And they will be thankful after all, all, all…

Landing they’re looking just like falling stars,
harmless little lights, when they’re still far.
I don’t really know when it began, 
I just know it has to have an end.

Now what is that, a “freedom-warrior”?
And is it really freedom, they’re fighting for, lonesome traveler?
 

Lonesome traveler, why did you choose to go?
To leave the world in that we have lost all control?
Oh, I follow you, suddenly I know, cause all I want to be, 
oh, is free and blameless and unaccountable.

Lonesome traveler, (You are lonesome, you are lonesome.) 
why did you choose to go? (Why did you choose to go?)
To leave the world in that we have lost all control?
(You were lonesome, you were lonesome.)
Oh, I follow you, suddenly I know, (You were lonesome.) 
cause all I want to be, (You were lonesome. You were lonesome, boy!)
oh, is free and blameless and unaccountable.



Lonesome traveler

Footsteps is about us and our planet and the way we mistreat it as well as we do each other. 

Footsteps
©taranielsen

Chaos, my chaos I, I resign tonight.
The moon seduced the sun and took its’ place.
The wind is blustering, vast oceans flustering
and I am washing in the tiding waves.

Now set free my mind.

Now somewhere in the fields a fireplace was built.
The group’s asleep as the first trees catch fire.
As natures’ beauty burns, factories out they churn
and people starve behind a barbed wire.

Now set free my mind.

Harmless, harmless. Footsteps in the sand.
Harmless, harmless. Footsteps. Footsteps.


The planet’s upside down, kids raped and bombs are thrown
The lawyer dines in Indias attire.
Now who is who and when will this lawyer begin
to fight against the segregating wire?

Now set free my mind,
set free my mind,
set free my mind,
set free my mind.

Harmless, harmless.
Footsteps in the sand.
Harmless, harmless.
Footsteps in the sand.
Footsteps, footsteps, footsteps,…

Footsteps

On leave 
© TARA
lyrics:  tara nielsen

You care for the others, but no one bothers about you and your life, no one.
I dream about mountains and I dream about sitting in the sun forever more.

I care for the others, but no one bothers about me and my life, no one.
You dream about mountains and you dream about sitting in the sun forever more.


Hold your face in the water, dust in the wind, and no one that hunts you,
hold your face in the water, dust in the wind and no one that hunts you.


On leave (TARA)

If
©TARA

lyrics: Tara Nielsen


Untouchable - not even a friend - took me by his hand and I felt good about it. For sure we wanted more. But it’s not, not in a way it’s his fault! It was me and I was playing with the fire. Couldn’t stop the desire and it’s still there…
I couldn’t be braver than I am right now, I couldn’t be stronger than I am right now - cause I tell you so.
Unreachable, - now I know that you are, cause you are loaded with confusion and the blankness of your heart makes it even harder - You’re much too far! So if not like my lover, than love me like a man! (So if not like your lover, I love you like a man.) Let me say it’s okay.
I couldn’t be braver than I am right now. I couldn’t be stronger than I am right now…


If (TARA)

Living the questions
tara©nielsen
Like a feather through the storm,
I’m on my way, my way back home.
Barefoot and naked, like a work of art,
beautiful to look at but not taking part.
I go inside myself,
down to the deepest of myself.
I’m living the questions.
I’m living the questions.
Before I get answers, I’m living the questions.
I’m growing quietly like a child,
and years are nothing on this trial.
No acclamation, no reward
could give the answers of my heart.
I go inside myself,
down to the deepest of myself.
I'm living the questions.
I’m living the questions.
Before I get answers, I’m living the questions.
You can never calculate your feelings,
you can only try to love their size, like I do.
You can just await that very moment, like I,
that you can look into your face
and enjoy their endless grace.
Oh, I’m living questions all along my life.



Living the questions

He

He got hands like a lover and eyes like child,
is free like water, running wild.
He is longing for love like a flower for water 
like fire for air to stay alive.

Fools
©melissa tara nielsen

When you’re round, when you’re around
I feel I’m out of place.
I’m feeling strange, cause it’s a strange strength, 
that you own, you fools!

Help! Stupidity tries to conquer me.

It might feel good to move in group,
To be in clubs and study art,
To wear a tie and smile and sigh
And know our law by heart.

Help! Obedient brains rule the world around me.
Foolish nerds aren’t extraordinary!
Help!

Help! Stupidity tries to conquer me.


Fools

Good News
Melissa Tara Nielsen (lyrics&voice) feat. Simon Korsak (guitar)


Share your mind with me,
let’s pull back all the covers.
Naiv and childish free,
let’s forget about the others

or the rules we’re bound to break,
or the borders we just accept,
the mountains we have to climb
or the valleys we’ll sink down in time.


Now, be my messenger
for nothing but the good news.
My chaos rules inside,
so now the way that I choose

is to the rules I’m bound to break,
over the borders I don’t accept,
the mountains I still have to climb
and the valleys I’ll sink down in time.

Well, in the end, that’s what I’ll do,
whether I’m with or without you,
In the end, how it will be:
I will be free,
I will be free,
I will be free!

Good News - Melissa Tara Nielsen feat. Simon Korsak

Love again

Simon Korsak (lyrics&guitar) feat. Melissa Tara Nielsen (voice)


Got a feeling, that I need to change,
still I know it's gonna be okay.
I'll make it through another day.
Won't let my thoughts stand in my way.

Built a wall to keep away the pain,
closed the pathways in brain,
still I know I got to love again.
Oh, Lord, help me love again!
Help me love again.

Took a lot of love to lead me away,
all the fears, that made me stay.
Well, I know I'm not to blame
and I know you're not to blame,

cause if nothing you could do or say,
could make me change my ways,
than, Lord, let me stay the same,
and leave me or love me again!

Help me love again,
well, help me love again...

Well, I've seen these games before
and I know just what they're for.
I don't know if I can play, (No! No!)
unless I find a way to open up again.

Well, the time I spend with you,
well it makes me feel brand new
and I love to feel your truth.
When you give yourself to me,
you teach me to be free
and I can feel complete
and I can love again,
I can love again,
I can love again...

Love Again - Simon Korsak feat. Melissa Tara Nielsen

To Autumn
(Original from: Fabrizio Paterlini: Autumn Stories, Week 5)


What's your secret? What's your secret?

You're beautiful, familiar, 
when days are growing cold.
You're beautiful, familiar, 
when red your days unfold.
While everything is changing, 
new colours shade the day,
you plunge it all in beauty 
and cover golden ways.

---

This piece is a collaboration between Fabrizio Paterlini, a great pianist and composer from Italy, who originally wrote and recorded his version in September 2011, and me. As I found his music highly enriching I asked Fabrizio what he'd think of having my voice on this track. He liked the idea, so what you're hearing now is what was created in the following days.

The topic of this song is autumn, a season of which Fabrizio says, that he deeply loves it. He describes this season as "melancholic as my music is sometimes" and reminds of the "warm colours" that can be seen at that time of the year and that "nature seems to take a rest after the big rush during the summer time". So I wrote the lyrics referring to Fabrizios but also mine impressions, allowing my voices to join his piano and strings.

The original version of this song is called "week 5". The number "5" is referring to a project of recording and improvising Fabrizio started in autumn 2011 and ended in winter of the same year. So the "basis" of "To Autumn" was the fifth of 14 recordings that today make a whole album and can be enjoyed and bought from Fabrizios soundcloud- and homepage:

http://soundcloud.com/fabrizio-paterlini
http://www.fabriziopaterlini.com/

Original version released by: Fabrizio Paterlini Records
Release date: Sept 21, 2011 

The photo was taken by Paulina Simankowicz
https://paulinasimankowicz.com/


Profit from our free download and enjoy and spread this piece if you think it's worth it.

Fabrizio Paterlini & Melissa Tara Nielsen

To Autumn - Fabrizio Paterlini feat. Melissa Tara Nielsen

Like Maple
(Original from: Fabrizio Paterlini: Autumn Stories, Week#7)

Piano&Strings: Fabrizio Paterlini
Vocals&Lyrics: Melissa Tara Nielsen

Who said that love would last forever?
It was a child who did not know.
Whose parents said that they'd never leave it alone.
But life is not that way.
And love is not that way.
And while you go I stay.
And while you go away,

oh, I still move in circles
like leaves of a maple tree,
but I'm wishing you well.
I'm wishing you well.

I put my hands under your clothes
while I try to grab your soul...

I try to grab your soul.


---

This piece is the second collaboration between Fabrizio Paterlini, a great pianist and composer from Italy, who originally wrote and recorded his version in November 2011, and me.  

The original version of this song is called "week 7". The number "7" is referring to a project of recording and improvising Fabrizio started in autumn 2011 and ended in winter of the same year. So, the "basis" of "Like Maple" was the seventh of 14 recordings that today make a whole album and can be enjoyed and bought from Fabrizios soundcloud- and homepage:

http://soundcloud.com/fabrizio-paterlini
http://www.fabriziopaterlini.com/

I later added lyrics and voices.

Original version released by: Fabrizio Paterlini Records
Release date: Nov 3, 2011 

The photo was taken by Paulina Simankowicz
paulinasimankowicz.com/


Profit from our free download and enjoy and spread this piece as far as you can if you think it's worth it. 

Fabrizio Paterlini & Melissa Tara Nielsen

Like Maple - Fabrizio Paterlini feat. Melissa Tara Nielsen

A monument to thought

composed by Cyrus Reynolds  
lyrics and voices by Melissa Tara Nielsen

-

My hands are
longing for your hands.
And I’m waiting
most of all the time.
Here on the outside.

And my love

comes from the inside.
That’s why I’m waiting.

-

“A monument to thought” is a track originally written and recorded by Cyrus Reynolds, a gifted London based composer with whose music I fell in love some time ago. “Inspired by the placid beauty of aspen”, Cyrus wrote this ambient track for his band, a post-classical project named “Cyrus of the sun” in 2011. For me the original recording of “A monument to thought” is a huge and beautiful soundscape that I loved to plunge in, add lyrics and built up harmonies with all the voices that I felt were longing out of me and onto this track. So, here it is now. Enjoy and spread if you think it is worth it!

Also have a listen to Cyrus’ music on soundcloud: 
http://soundcloud.com/cyrusreynolds

and on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cyrusofthesun?v=app_178091127385

A Monument to Thought - Cyrus Reynolds feat. Melissa Tara Nielsen

Melissa Tara Nielsen
Singer&Songwriter
based in Vienna, Austria


Hi everybody! 

I'm glad you found your way to my page. I am more or less constantly working on music. Half German and half Danish I was born in Germany, where I grew up as well. I now live in Autria. I play the guitar and I sing. Most of the time I write and record my songs on my own, but I as well enjoy any kinds of enriching collaborations! That's why you should always feel free to let me know of your ideas, if you like to work with me. I am curious. Music makes me curious. And I am convinced that - if capable, soulful, passionate and hard working artists meet and work together, beautiful music can be created!
I am thankful for any of your comments, likes and shares!

Music may not be everything, but it is definately way high on top of everything for me, my soundtrack to life, my way to myself and out of me to other people.

Thanks for listening and appreciating what I do!


°°°


To Music

Music: breath of statues. Maybe:
silence of pictures. You language, where all language
ends. You time
that stands vertically on the route of mortal hearts.
Feelings for whom? O you of feelings
transformation into what? -: into audible landscape.
You stranger: music. You grown out of us
space of heart. Innermost part of us,
that, surpassing us, pushes forward outside, -
holy goodbye:
as we're surrounded by inside,
as our most practiced distance, as the other
side of the air:
pure,
giant,
no longer habitable.

Rainer Maria Rilke, Munich 1918

°°°

"Your passion is what you do, no matter what. No matter how much money you make, no matter how many people say you can't do it. You do it anyway, because it's your passion. It's part of your DNA. It's like an addiction. It's the reason that you can't wait to get up in the morning (...). Follow your gut, follow your heart and follow your intuition. This is your story and nobody can write it, but you."

Kenny Garret, Boston 2011

Profile and Background pic were taken by lovely Paulina Simankowicz: https://paulinasimankowicz.com/

Melissa Tara Nielsen

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