Currently Listening to: M.I.A

M.I.A., is an English artist, and songwriter. The moniker "M.I.A." is both a play on her own name and a reference to the abbreviation for Missing in Action. Her music combine elements of electronic, dance, alternative, hip hop and world music. M.I.A. began her career in 2000 as a visual artist, filmmaker and designer in West London before beginning her recording career in 2002. Since rising to prominence in early 2004 for her singles "Sunshowers" and "Galang", she has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and the Mercury Prize

A history of the Riot Grrrl

It can be differcult to write a history piece on a revolution of music. Especially when you were too young to take part, and or it was before you time. But if you love it enough, re-live it enough, dance, sing and listen to it enough, the words come easy and the article is written.

And so it was, for me, i wrote a piece for the spring 2012 issue of Glitterball Magazine (read it here). The article is a brief history of the Rot Grrrl movement that kicked off life in the late 80's and still rocks the grounds of every music venue worldwide. It was a girl punk movement that grew from the dying 70's punk scene, starting in Washington by word of mouth and nothing else the power of girl bands grew across the country, over the sea, around our sweet countrysides and up into our cities; and increased over the world.

This is a sneak of what i have written - but to read the full article please check out Glitterball Magazine

It's the Brits!

It is the brit awards tonight! 2012!! i am secretly very excited! I have watched the brit's every year since i was 6 years old. (the spice girls performance in 1997 is still my all time favourite!) i was tonight suppose to be having a brit awards party with my best friend tonight, but she has a job interview tomorrow that she needs to prep for; so i will be watching them alone in my bedroom with my two cats cheering everyone on :D

Tonight's show will be including performances from Rihanna, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Chase and status, coldplay and Bruno Mars. But who will be the big duet this year? Im not sure, but i definately remember beeing disappointed with last years duet from Paloma Faith and that guy who sang the 'forget you' which was actaully called 'fuck you' song.

In the last 12 months the music industry has lost two of it's biggest voices and personalities; Amy Winehouse and Whitney Houston. Tonight's ceromany will be paying tribute to both artists with proformances.

NOW MY PREDITIONS FOR TONIGHT - 

Best British Male -

Ed Sheeran
James Blake
James Morrison
Noel Gallagher's high flying birds
Professor Green

i predict - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

 
 

British Female Solo Artist -

Adele

Jessie J

Kate Bush

Laura Marling

Florence and the Machine

 

I predict - Adele

 

 

 

British Breakthrough Act -

Anna Calvi
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sande
Jessie J
The Vaccines

I predict - Jessie J (Though i would like to Anna Calvi win)

 

British Group -

Arctic Monkeys
Chase and Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian


I predict - differcult but i think it will be Arctic Monkeys or Elbow

Best British Single -

• Adele - Someone Like You
• Ed Sheeran - The A Team
• Example - Changed The Way You Kissed Me
• Jessie J ft Bob - Price Tag
• JLS ft Dev - She Makes Me Wanna
• Military Wives/Gareth Malone - Wherever You Are
• Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips A Beat
• One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
• Pixie Lott - All About Tonight
• The Wanted - Glad You Came

 There must be something wrong with british music today when The Wanted and One Direction are nominated for British Single........

I predict -  Adele: Someone Like you (how can you forget last years performance!!)

MasterCard British Album of the Year - 

Adele - 21

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Ed Sheeran - +

Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

I predict - Adele or PJ Harvey


And the rest.....

International Male - I predict: Aloe Blacc

International Female - I predict: Lady Gaga

International Group - I predict: Fleet Foxes

International Breakthrough  - I predict: Lana Del Rey 


Let see if i am right then!! Happy Brits Party everyone!

We were born to die

i have this strange feeling of uncertainty and anxciousness when anything considered 'mainstream' enters mind of likes. the latest is Lana Del Rey, she is absolutely everywhere right now, and its boring. she's even made it front cover of this months vogue. But just like the rest of the world i am intrigued, im in love with her hypnotic voice and lyrics. I want her long 40's waved hair but i have this uncertain feeling because the media likes to grab hold things hold them high in the air, shake them of everything until they drop. And often with the media and it's imediate obbessions they become over rated. The 'one song' is really good maybe single no 2 of the album makes top 10 too, but then that is it. They loose interest, not becuase they have a new story, a new product to pour over, but because those 2 songs were they only songs that were any good and will ever be.

So when the Lana Del Rey circus started i sat back with anxciousness, wondering about the girl from New York City and questioning 'is her album as good as it is wanted to be?' well, i am listening to 'Born to Die' on spotify right now, im supposed to be writing an article for a magazine but i had to stop and write this to you all and tell you..... Yes, yes it is.

track 3 of the Born to Die album - Blue Jeans

ALBUM REVIEW - LIONESS: Hidden Treasures

The album is a mix of unreleased tracks, duets and original recordings of some of her successful songs from Back to Black. Produced by her close Friend Mark Ronson, the tracks are raw, no editing, pure and innocent but in my opinion not in a good way. To me the album sounds unfinished; listening to some of the tracks they sound unpolished and almost rushed. Yes I understand Amy is no longer with us, so they couldn’t do 1000 recordings to get the right one, but if you compare track 1 ‘Our day will come’ and track 11 ‘Body and Soul’ with Tony Bennett, (the two songs ready for release) to the rest of the album you will understand what I mean.

 

It would have been great to have more ‘new’ songs on the album and less of the covers and original recordings of old songs, perhaps they haven’t been recorded but in the album sleeve hand written by Amy is a track listing and none of these songs exist on the new album. Perhaps they don’t exist at all, and this is just a tease to what could have been.

 

Track list

1.       Our day will come

2.       Between the cheats

3.       Tears dry (orginal version)

4.       Will you still love me tomorrow? (2011)

5.       Like smoke .feat NAS

6.       Valerie (’68 Version)

7.       The girl from ipanema

8.       Half time

9.       Wake up alone (original recording)

10.   Best friends, Right?

11.   Body and soul. With Tony Bennett

12.   A song for you

video - Our day will come

ALBUM REVIEW: Rebecca Ferguson - Heaven

Would you expect much from a tv talent contest runner up? I assume not. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and with vocals that easily compare to Nina Simone and Billie Holiday; you’d be pleasantly surprised.

The vibe is London loft pad; a summers afternoon, drinking Pims with your closet friends. And what started as normal sunny afternoon turns to a lot of laughter, fun, and becomes of the highlights of the summer. ‘Heaven’ is playing in the background, each song strikes a chord and a memory of past relationships which you can now laugh about and delve in to the secrets you always kept hidden before. And now ever since that afternoon; every time you see or hear Rebecca Ferguson your reminded of that beautiful summer afternoon, and generally smile to yourself.

 

Overall it’s a good album. You wouldn’t be disappointed

Track list:

11.   Nothing’s real but love

22.  Glitter and gold

33.  Shoulder to shoulder

4.4   Fairytale (let me live my life this way)

55. Mr bright eyes

66.  Fighting suspicions

77. Teach me how to be loved

88.   Run free

99.  Diamond to stone

110. Too good to lose