Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Vega Bonding



If you're a Suzanne Vega fan in Singapore and you missed her concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall that happened on 19th January, let me make you mad. mad alien broccoli green with envy on what you missed out:

- A prompt start (none of that wait-for-an-hour before the real show starts)

- An acapella version of "Tom's Diner" - a finger-snapping minimalist opener that slowly builds up to each member of the band coming out and taking positions.

- A band version of "Tom's Diner" - an extended one - performed as an encore.

- TWO encores with 2 songs performed each.

- Anecdotes from Ms Vega of what some songs meant and how it came about - from new ones like "Angel's Doorway" and "Pornographer's Dream" to old ones like "In Liverpool"

- A mix of the old, the new, the borrowed and the blues

- a 30 min autograph signing session

- One heck of a darn satisfying musical evening


Nanny nanny poo poo...I was there, were you?

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

butcher had a field day

sometimes a song gets hot. And then participants of talent shows dabble with that flavour of the month song...only to leave a bad taste to our mouths or ears rather, for the rest of our lives.

Caution: Don't watch these if you want to keep thinking that this Timbaland-produced song called "Apologize" performed by One Republic is actually...a really good song.



falsetto (aka f*cksetto in this case) butcher - Pop Stars

Sometimes falsettos are sexy coming from a man. Sometimes they make you wonder if he's actually sterile.



bjork butcher - Swedish Idol


If bjork had her way of doing a parody to this song, it would sound like this. Except coming from bjork, we'd at least say it was experimental as opposed to this temperamental, horizontal, orthodontal (oh I could go on....) piece of sh*t.



I-think-I'm-Aguilera Butcher - Australian Idol



You're kidding me right? Tell me the reason they're clapping is because.......uhh............umm.................I give up. I really have no idea, you wanna give it a go?


One Republic

This is an original live recording. I'll have to say in consolation, this isn't an easy song to sing live - even the original singer doesn't impress. One of those songs best enjoyed as a clean recording....





So. The lesson here is......

participants of talent shows have no talent in choosing songs. And (I know you know this is coming) it's too late to apologize. Toooo Laaaaaaaaaate. Yeah eee yeahhh....

Friday, 4 January 2008

Favourite Music Videos of 2007

A new year has begun and it's time to do the token reflection of yesteryear.

I'd like to list my favourite music videos I've come across last year. There have been many, and I'm sure there are many more I haven't seen, what I'm trying to say is...this list is based on the as-wide-and-far-as-my-eyes-have-seen scale. Here goes...

In no order of merit:


1. Feist - 1234


What can I say, this video makes me giggle in glee...it can totally make my day. Sometimes the best things in life may look simple...but are the most difficult to execute.

Check out some behind-the-scenes footage of the video:





2. Timbaland feat. The Hives - Throw It On Me


I love this! It's a comic book visual feast that's thrown on your face the way the song has been thrown to your ears from a slingshot with full force. Love the song too, this is what you get if we all (rock & hip hop & WWE?) can all get along.




3. Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do


An example of how a music video can actually enhance your enjoyment of a song. You know sometimes movies (adapted from books) struggle to stay loyal to the book? This video stayed very loyal to the song - the creepy and haunting feel of falling out of love never felt so right.



4. Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost


I don't know what's the significance of a pillow thief but this video had a build-up, a climax and an ending - making it very easy to enjoy this very simple yet creative piece of work.




5. Mark Ronson feat. Lily Allen - Oh My God


Did someone say "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" - Yes, cartoons can seduce too and to the music of Mark Ronson, it's just purr-fection dahling...




There you have it. My top 5. You have no idea how many times my window hung while I'm posting this. Not Cool Blogspot. Not Cool. Hope you enjoyed that.