Just updating on a lot of new music I’ve been listening too.
Right now one of my favorite songs is M83′s “Midnight City”. I love the music video. At first it really creeped me out with the kid’s glowing eyes, but as you watch the whole music video, it’s like a mini short film about these X-Men like kids escaping society because they are different and they don’t want to be lab rats. They stay with each other and somewhat become creatures of the night.
Also, one of my favorite new band’s is Young the Giant, I really like their acoustic session way better than their studio recordings.
This catchy radio hit is also on replay on my iPod. Great song, the piano really makes the song along with the lyrics.
Also, this singer has been brought to my attention, and worth a watch.
I’m really digging the latest Florence + the Machine album.
With Florence + the Machine, I’m listening to “No Light, No Light” and “Heartlines”. The music video for “No Light, No Light” is really something. This album has religious tones, questioning what’s right and wrong, redemption, ways to happiness, and completely soulful all the while. I love the complete disregard to what’s popular on the radio and just going their own different direction. I love the soul, I love her voice and the unique sound. With their previous album, “Lungs” , I loved the songs fervently and then grew tired of them. I hope the same doesn’t happen to this album.
The drums in “Heartlines” is refreshing. This is the only video I thought had good enough quality to hear the song. I like the chorus chants, and the lyrics.
I think Coldplay have outdone themselves with their latest single, “Paradise” and the music video is touching.
The song itself is more of an anthem, and it is more uplifting than previous singles. The music video follows the lonely journey of an elephant escaping the zoo to join his friends back in the wild in Africa. It touches on animal rights, and also on the loneliness of people. This music video story could be relatable to someone in prison, someone living far away from friends and family, someone longing to get back to our roots.
Which, I think, everyone in our modern age in America feels a longing for. Especially with the advent of technology, people are more alone now and isolated then previously in history. We would think technology would bring us together, but it has made us more isolated, in front of our computers. Even though I’m touching on a different topic than maybe what the music video intended, I very well believe that humans are yearning for that paradise, a place in nature with your closest people you can be a part of, than alone by yourself.
I haven’t written here in a long time. I’ve been going through a musical journey, so to speak. I had a chance to perform at the Viper Room Acoustic Lounge September 27th, and El Cid October 7th. I wrote two new songs for the occasions and I feel my songwriting has progressed.
I’m about to record acoustic versions of my new songs. I’ve been changing what I want do to with my life, and I don’t want to reveal too much personal information here, but I will be changing some things, but I will still continue music.
As for what I’ve been listening to lately, Pop music is still abundant, and for some reason lately… I’ve been taking a breather from music. I think Pop music nowadays is so eager to grab people’s attention that it doesn’t wait a second to breathe… it’s like a heart attack right from the start. It’s fast-food music. Quick and easy to consume, but afterwards you don’t feel satisfied and you’re hungry again.
I feel that is why Adele is excelling on the charts. Her music is well thought out, good melody lines and an amazing, full sounding voice that is turning fans obsessive.
Here are some songs that I’ve been listening to lately. Enjoy.
Adele’s “Someone Like You”. Obviously good, nothing new there.
Britney’s latest. Britney looks her best here since she was a teenager. I think it’s a very sexy video, and I like the 60′s throwback. Very catchy.
Love this newcomer, Labrinth. I love this music video. Visual to the eye and the bridge chant is awesome. This song was mean to be a classical song. and it’s original.
Team Kelly! Her songs are WAY better than Beyonce’s latest songs by far! I really don’t like the last 3 songs Beyonce came out with, but Kelly’s? All of her songs are catchier. “Motivation” was a little weird at first, but I started to like it. My only gripe about the video, Kelly is wearing way too much make-up. Although, great dance song!
Here’s a YouTube Video of a Mash-up I created with the piano part of Edward Maya’s “Stereo Love” with Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.
I haven’t written in this blog for a hot minute. Been busy starting my business and also performing around LA. I had a gig last night at the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and I’m performing Friday, October 7th at El Cid, 9pm, near Silverlake. So, things are picking up, but still working on things.
I’ve been thinking about this topic for a couple of days, and I thought I should write this out. There are some albums that really had an impact on my life. I wanted to write about my favorite albums, but that was tough, because what I like keeps changing, so I thought some of these top albums are actually the most influential albums, the albums that came into my life at an important time in my life that I cannot forget.
So, here goes!
First off, Madonna’s Ray of Light album.
This album came out in 1998, over a decade ago. This album came after Evita and Madonna’s first child, Lola. Giving up her weights for yoga, Madonna changed her beliefs and this album is her most spiritual yet. The album won four Grammys and launched a comeback touring career in 2001 with the Drowned World Tour (in which I happily attended).
I remember when this album came out, on VH1 (when they actually showed music!) They had a massive, I mean massive video documentary on Madonna’s music career, hours of showing her music videos and chronicling her life. After that, I was a bonafied fan. I loved the Frozen music video, I loved the messages and this album also came out the year my mother passed away. This album means a lot to me, it launched my Madonna obsession, and it’s a beautiful, classic album that still holds up beautifully today, and still today, nothing really can compare or sounds similar to this album.
Next up for me is Michael Jackson’s Dangerous Album.
I know, I know, what about Thriller? Off the Wall? Bad? He had way better albums. Yes, but Dangerous came out in the 90s when I was growing up, and to me, it just blew me away with the timing, rhythm and production. Yes, I’m gonna be the cheese standing alone, but I liked this album. I wanted to sing and dance like Michael Jackson. It was like flying. I started twirling and I taught myself how to dance. “Who is It”, the syncopation and rhythm is ridiculous, one of my top MJ songs of all time. Also, the music video releases of “Black or White” and “Remember the Time” were huge. I remember waiting by the TV, watching MTV WAITING for the release of the music video. That JUST doesn’t happen anymore. Those were huge music videos. I wanted to create music like that, music that inspired people, that made people excited. I wanted to fly like Michael.
Aaliyah’s last studio album has a special place in my heart. That album is true soul and R&B and those songs talk about domestic abuse, being the other woman, and other topics that I still don’t hear about. A very soulful album, from the late Aaliyah, she proved that she had more soul crooning a note than a diva belting out her heart. It wasn’t about being a complicated singer, her voice was smooth and wiser beyond her years. I love this album and I pull it out from time to time. The production still holds up to today and her voice was one of a kind.
Alanis Morissette with Jagged Little Pill did things with lyrics that’s hard to say anyone else has done. Her syllables were all over the place and she made things work and broke the rules in song writing that not only was catchy, but started a mini-revolution of girl power. Her angst-ridden songs let women be pissed off at their exes, in a way that really doesn’t get talked about at all. Usually break up songs are sad, with a lonely feel, Morissette was like, dude, you screwed me over and you’re gonna hear about it! It was one of my first albums I ever bought and I remember lying in bed with my walkman waking up in the morning to this album, listening to it over and over. What a great first album to buy and get hooked into. I feel sorry for people that buy whatever pop fluff is out now.
Another album, I actually don’t really listen to much anymore, but has made an effect on me, was TLC’s Fanmail. I travelled to Paris and Spain and I remember listening to this album while driving around Europe. This was a great power group, and this album was awesome with “Scrubs” Yes! A song about these loser guys that we’re sick of! I gotta remind myself of that song more often. There were song great songs and productions on this album. Sometimes I’ll hear a female R&B singer copy what TLC has done with their sultry voices and melodies, but it’s not the same.
Please don’t shoot me for this next selection, but Ace of Base’s The Bridge was an awesome Pop album, and if you listen to it, you’ll definitely see where Lady Gaga has gotten a lot of her inspiration. The Bridge pushed the boundaries with Pop music and synths. The melodies and lyrics are great, they sing about different kinds of topics, and it would be awesome to hear a modern day version of this album. Ace of Base is bomb, and I always come back to this album. I heard “Beautiful Life” on an airplane and instantly loved it.
And I’m going to have to stop for now. I’m missing albums of course, there are so many albums that have influenced me, but this is a pretty good start. As you can see, I love 90s pop and rhythm.
What are your most influential albums? Please write a blog and post a link to your list in my comments section.
Here’s a preview of my new article where I got to interview Jackson Harris and visit him on-set of his new music video ‘Go Crazy’ featuring one of YouTube’s top families, The Shaytards.
As I walk across the intersection in Sunset Junction in Los Angeles to the music video shoot, a cute girl nick-named “PrincessTard” in a pink shirt and a tutu is being lifted up by a horizontal pole off of the ground, with colorful balloons over her. “She’s supposed to be lifted by the balloons”, Jackson Harris explains to me and watches along with the rest of the cast and crew as they focus on the shot of her being lifted into the air. It’s another day in Los Angeles, as Jackson Harris flew over from New York to shoot his music video for his new single, “Go Crazy”.
After hearing the recent news of Jennifer Lopez break-up from Marc Anthony, I was surprised to see a comeback from the Latin crooner with “Rain Over Me”. Pitbull teams up with Anthony (who has previously teamed up with Jennifer Lopez for “On the Floor”) for a catchy and undeniable 90s dance throwback, mixed with current dance beats. Marc Anthony’s voice is quite refreshing, even though I have never really found Anthony to be attractive, you can’t ignore his voice and charismatic performance in his music video.
If you’ve been yearning for Latin 90s music, Ricky Martin also has a comeback, with a fully Spanish song, “Frio” with Wisin & Yandel. The rhythmic drumbeat is intoxicating, and even though I don’t fully understand the lyrics (I know it’s quite “cold”, haha) it’s still an enjoyable song, and I miss they hey-day of Ricky Martin.
What do you think of these Latin comebacks? Will is last?
@rockyvy I don't know the answers, look for signs. Something is happening. This way isn't working... 18 hours ago
Knowledge is never ending because there are multiple ways to look at a situation/idea. Luckily, the brain has the capacity to keep learning. 18 hours ago
@rockyvy maybe the Universe is trying to tell you something or your karma needs fixing? 18 hours ago
When I meet and talk to new people, I end up learning more about myself. Being open minded is key. 18 hours ago
RT @dane_diamond: Summertime mang! Work=play perhaps some more work with Automaton Creative as well. Stay tuned for new music from the b ... 2 days ago
After hearing the recent news of Jennifer Lopez break-up from Marc Anthony, I was surprised to see a comeback from the Latin crooner with “Rain Over Me”. Pitbull teams up with Anthony (who has previously teamed up with Jennifer Lopez for “On the Floor”) for a catchy and undeniable 90s dance throwback, mixed with current dance beats. Marc Anthony’s voice is quite refreshing, even though I have never really found Anthony to be attractive, you can’t ignore his voice and charismatic performance in his music video.
