It was a national Holiday for Germany last October 3. Since it's a holiday, all shops (by 'all', I mean everything -- grocery stores, malls, private shops) were closed. We were supposed to go on a trip somewhere but it didn't go as planned since we didn't plan properly (ngak!). So instead of being stuck in the apartment and sulk all day, I decided (and dragged along one of my colleagues) to watch a concert. Good thing that Jason Mraz had a show, just one bus ride from Frankfurt, so we got last minute tickets and rushed to the concert venue.
A part of "We sing We dance, We Steal Things" European tour, Jason tagged Ingrid Michaelson as a guest performer on his shows. Both artists were great performers. Listening to Ingrid was really soothing while Jason's live performance was really amazing (It's like listening to an album, heck, he even sounds better than in the album). Really loved their version of 'Lucky' (which Jason originally sang with Colbie Calliat (Did I get that right?)) and was ecstatic when he suddenly sang 'Sleeping to Dream' in the middle of his 'You and I Both' performance.
Here's the video of 'Sleeping to Dream/You and I' medley that I took:
And here is his performance of 'I'm Yours' which I can't believe that I was singing along to while I was taking this video:
Concert Highlights: 1. Mashup of 'Sleeping to Dream' and 'You and I Both'. (video above) 2. Mashup of 'I'm Yours' and Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' (video) 3. Mashup of 'The Remedy' and Oasis' 'Wonderwall' 4. Ingrid and Jason's version of 'Lucky'. 5. Trumpets up front in "Live High, Live Mighty" 6. Photograph give-away ending.
All in all I had a great time in the concert. I love the songs, love the performance, love the front row view. The concert was really worth it. Here are some pictures that I took from the concert: "Jason Mraz Live @ Neu Isenburg"
Is both the local and international music industry keep regurgitating junk the past months or is just me piling up the years and clinging to the music I grew up with?
Within the past months, I've been listening to the same playlist on my Ipod. Sure I am tired of the songs but I don't have the time to keep myself updated with what's the latest in the music scene. MTV's not that hip anymore (and it's no longer accessible on local TV) and MYX... well, I lost interest in watching music videos.
Maybe I just outgrew the current music generation and unconsciously got stuck on my 'own' music scene just like my aunts and uncles who are 75% stuck on the 80s music scene and 25% stuck on manufactured novelty songs.
Are you like me who cannot let go of your certain brand of music? Tired of the never ending revivals and cover songs that does not even differ from the original? Disgusted by the uber-sugary-sprinkled-mega-poppy-new-and-improved-but-still-yucky novelty songs?
Well, I offer you an alternative: MashUps.
MashUps, is somewhat a remix/combination of two or more songs. As far as I remember, MTV once had a segment on this. Most of the best mashup songs are made by talented DJs out there meaning they are not official remixes. I happen to stumble upon one of the most beautiful, IMHO, mashups ever made. How Six Songs Collide. Made by a DJ named Norwegian Recycling, the mashUp is a combination of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", Howie Day's "Collide", Five for Fighting's "Superman", Angela Ammon's "Always Getting Over You", Boyzone's "All that I need" and 3 Doors Down's "Here without you".
Currently, I keep this song on repeat on my iPod. I know, these are old songs but mashups breath new life them. Other mashUps that I recommend are: Brtiney Spears vs. Usher's "Yeah! Toxic", Destiny's Child vs. The Cardigan's "My Favorite Name" and Norwegian Recycling's "8 become 1".
And I'm currently listening to it while I'm writing this post. sooo Addicted.
Is the music scene going to fast or is it just me piling up the age? I never knew that Dashboard Confessional (One of the greatest acoustic emo artists) recently released a new album! Shade of Poison Trees marks the return of Dashboard Confessional to it's acoustic roots. It kinda reminds me of Swiss Army Romance. I've downloaded the album just to get a sample and to check if it's good but I happen to came upon another album by Dashboard entitled The Wiretapes Volume 1 which is cover of other songs. He covered Regina Spektor's Better and for me it was a better version. haha! I'm going to look for this in the record bars.
I wanna be a pohpstahr kimi wo motto muchuu ni sasete ageru kara ne KIRAKIRA no pohpstahr hane wo hiroge mahou wo kakete ageyou kimi dake ni
Lately I've been listening to some J-pop music on my ipod. Japanese Pop is not really my kind of genre -- Well, except for some Utada Hikaru songs and the Voltes V theme song (I consider this Jpop!) -- but because of the game "Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2" (Translation: Burn! Hot Blooded Rhythm! Hey! Fight! Cheer Squad 2! ) in the Nintendo DS, Jpop had been added to my music library genre.
Osu! Tatake! Ouendan! is a rhythm game wherein you tap circles in succession along with the beat in the touch screen portion of the DS. I had doubts about this game at first but as soon as I finished the first stage, I can't put down my DS... until it ran out of batteries.
The songs in the game are really addictive because of the poppy melody. One of the songs is 'Popstar' by a certain Ken Hirai which really got stuck on me because I've been unconsciously singing the "Kirakira no popstar" part of the song anywhere (In the bus, in the toilet, on my bed, in the shower). It's slowly taking over my life! ok, maybe not.
That is until I've seen the video of the wretched song:
I let out a blood-curling scream as my eyes were burned by the cheesiness and campiness of the video. Jackson 5-ish dance moves+dancing racoon and mole = Flashbacks of Tin-tin Bersola in outer-space suit dancing to the theme song of 'Sineskwela' flooded my memory... I can't believe I was stuck on that song!
And later I found out [via a website] that 'Kirakira no popstar' means 'Twinkling Popstar'... For the love of all that is alive! I've been referring to myself as a twinkling popstar...
I never thought that I would be hooked up to one of Bjork's album -- well, her Greatest Hits album at least. Back in the 90's I thought that she's just an outlandish, freak artist that only produces gibberish. That is until I heard one of her songs entitled Joga which featured her vocal prowess and eccentric beat. I loved it. Although she said that the song is about iceland and her friend, for me it is one beautifully written love song.
Curious and interested, I then searched for her other songs and one caught my attention. Hyper-ballad. A song that starts slow then slowly transforms into a fast paced jungle beats. There is a stanza in Hyper-ballad that really got me thinking. Here it goes:
It's early morning No-one is awake I'm back at my cliff Still throwing things off I listen to the sounds they make On their way down I follow with my eyes 'til they crash I imagine what my body would sound like Slamming against those rocks And when it lands Will my eyes be closed or open?
The last line hit me. If I'm falling to my death, will my eyes be wide open or will I just close it and let my other senses be my witnesses? It's hard to imagine. How about you?
Is the music scene going to fast or is it just me piling up the age? I never knew that 
Curious and interested, I then searched for her other songs and one caught my attention. Hyper-ballad. A song that starts slow then slowly transforms into a fast paced jungle beats. There is a stanza in Hyper-ballad that really got me thinking. Here it goes:
