Jamz: Next To You

It's been a little while since I've included any musical content on here so I figured why not put down a link today? As usual there is very little method to my madness so don't bother looking for it. Just sayin'.

This track came into my life via the medium of Twitter, which I'm coming to appreciate as a source of groovy goodness. (Yes I said it. What?).  Up and coming artist Russell Steedle brings some great vocals on this electro-rock-pop number that I keep playing over and over and over... You get the point.

And being the loyal customer that I am, I will certainly be keeping eyes on his Facebook page and Youtube channel to see what's to come. Here's to great expectations Russell.

Melody River

Music flows through my soul-

Sometimes it trickles,

Sometimes it rolls;

Surges in and takes control.

It's waves that pound against rocky shoals.

Footsteps mark time on the pavement,

Hearts beat a rhythm and keep a wavelength,

Train on a track buss a rimshot,

With contrapunctal measures from the ticking clock.

Honking horns and blaring sirens

Add new harmonies and something from the winds.

Rumbling motors are the baseline

The music it moves through every aspect of my life.

In the sunshine 

Or in the grey rain,

The music courses through my body 

And pulses in my veins.

It weaves colourful tapestries 

I see when I close my eyes.

Just when I think I've learnt the melodies,

It unveils a fresh surprise.

Don't matter where I am

Under moon or in brightest day,

I tune out the humdrum 

And just let the music play.

Free from leaden inhibition

I revel in the tuneful spray;

Awash in this melodic rhythm,

I let go and start to sway.

Somebody That I Used to Know - Jackson Guthy & Ariel Winter

Talent can be found in surprising shapes, forms - and places. I happened upon this cover of Gotye's Somebody that I Used to Know by Jackson Guthy (who BTW I can see becoming a new favourite of mine). The song features Ariel Winter who plays Alex on Modern Family. I had no idea miss lady could sing, but she has got a great voice and the duo are a perfect fit on this song. 

Thanks to @itsJulieBowen for tweeting this video. 

Comedy Break : GloZell Green - Cinnamon Tried to Kill Me

The sun has made its grand début bringing actual warmth at last - after months of rain, snow and all around gloomy weather, I have to say this is a welcome change. In token of my joy I'd like to share this video by one of my favourite Youtube personalities - GloZell Green. It's a straight shot of pure, unadulterated silliness delivered in true GloZell fashion : music, on screen lyrics, clouds of cinnamon... what more could a guy ask for?

Thanks for bringing the laughs Glo'!

Jam : Titanium Acoustic Version

Been a minute since I posted anything music-related, so here goes. 

Sia is currently one of my favourite artists. I fell in love with her music when I happened to hear Breathe Me in passing and even then I was, as usual aboard the late train. I really enjoyed this acoustic version of Titanium. Hope you guys love it as much as I do!

Today's Interlude: Bare Bones Commander

Here's another tune I came across recently. I credit Kelly Rowland for reviving electro-dance music in the States, and especially with introducing David Guetta to the American public. I may be blowing her role out of proportion but I definitely feel like she has played a major part in the current explosion of electronic pop. 

Commander was one of those songs I turned my nose up at the first time I heard it but then somehow ended up stepping to while walking down the street on my way to work. In this live performance, Kelly's taken the "charge" out of the music leaving behind a pure, organic sound. Stripping down the track to just an acoustic guitar and vocals is a refreshing take on this particular club banger, especially since it allows you to really appreciate Kelly's prowess as a singer as well as the melody itself. 

A Little Yuletide Ditty

As anyone who's ever done any kind of research on the web will tell you, the internet is a virtual minefield of distractions. Let your guard down for one second and you're sure to fall down any number of digital rabbit holes. And there's no point in wondering how you landed wherever you find yourself once you come back to your senses, because you just might remember that one intriguing link you didn't open during your joyride through cyber space and end up spiraling through the digital ether once again.

And with those few rambling lines, you know get how I happened upon this little number. Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You is for many, including myself, a must for any holiday play list. I found this collab version with late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon and hip hop/neo soul band The Roots quite fun, if for no other reason than the sheer unexpectedness of this team-up. And I know, it's past mid-February and you're probably thinking I have no business posting a Christmas entry at this stage (especially given that I didn't put anything on here over the season), but, if you're no stranger to this blog, then you already know that I am a regular commuter on the late train. So, take a listen and enjoy anyway...

Liftoff from Normalcy

A 9 to 5? Nah, not for me.

Don't wanna be no desk jockey.

Don't wanna see just black or white

Or even shades of grey,

I want colours that pop,

And sizzle in the light of day.

Give me sounds that throb and echo back

Like living souvenirs

Of the sights I've seen, 

The places I've been,

And the people I met in between.

I want to be cut loose

From the tethers that keep me on the ground

And fly with no cold walls to surround;

Just the wind in my hair, in my ears, in my face

As higher and higher I soar and I race.

I want to explore the ocean depths

And take a tour of Mars.

I'd like to camp out on the moon

And make music with the stars.

I want to take naps in the clouds

And dance on mountain tops.

I'd love to sing under a waterfall

With the river marking time on the rocks.

I feel the beat as the rain plays drums

On glossy rainforest leaves,

And the desert wind like a warm gust of air

From the sigh a giant heaves.

Though, the ordinary is all right at times,

It just is not my speed.

The ordinary and the mundane

Just don't fulfil my needs.

And while I can appreciate consistency,

Too much of it moves me to flee.

And a constant state of normalcy,

Just ain't the life for me.

Caribbean Vybz

Every now and then I feel the need to get back to my roots and right now I'm doing it musically. Here's a smooth little number by Nelson Serieux that I'm enjoying at the moment. If you like his sound, check out his Youtube channel.

One for a Rainy Monday

I have already posted stuff about these two but I happened across this video and felt the need to give them some props for this interpretation of Rihanna's You Da One. Maybe it's the effect of the this Monday rain and gloom but, I feel like the duo have taken the song and brought a softness and (for lack of a better word at this point). Check out more of the girls work on their Youtube channel VanJess24.

Click the song title to access the Rhinna's version if you need a refresher. ^_^

Today's Groove: Alabama Shakes

This group is really grooving! I absolutely love their vibe. Hope you guys enjoy^^. Thanks to Ms. Alicia Keys for this latest musical treasure. Check her out at http://thekeysofalicia.tumblr.com/.

Matisyahu: One Day

An absolutely beautiful video. The lyrics of this song capture what the holiday season is all about. It's message is one we would all do good to remember and to carry with us year round. Happy Holidays everybody!

Today's Find

It's no secret how much I enjoy good music and youtube is a source of all kinds of music- the good, the bad and the work in progress. A few minutes ago, I happened across a cover of Rihanna's Man Down by a duo of young women who have tremendous potential (in my humble opinion). When I heard Ivana and Jessica, I knew I just had to share. I'm also including a second video in which they do a medley in tribute to 90s R&B and let me say, they really brought it! 

If you like what you hear, go check out their channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/VanJess24. They have tonnes of stuff on there. Also, feel free to share your own musical gems. I'm always happy to discover new voices and styles ^_^.

Music from Israel: Harel Skaat

As the years go by, I find myself becoming more critical of pop music and less into the traditional romantic power ballads and so on. However there's something about this Israeli singer that caught my ear. I had no idea who Harel Skaat was until I heard him perform at Eurovision 2010. And while I'm not familiar with all of his music, I'd like to share a couple of the tracks that I've been enjoying so far.

The song Milim (Words) was the song Israel chose to go with at last year's Eurovision contest. A beautiful number and a good choice in my opinion. I've heard versions of the song in French and English but I'm going with the Hebrew (which I assume to be the original) because for me it's the most touching of the three. Check out the others and let me know what you think. Also please correct me if I'm wrong about the language in this video, but mostly, as always, I hope you enjoy the music.

And speaking of Israeli music, India Arie is collaborating with Idan Raichel on her forthcoming album Open Door and I've been waiting impatiently for it since late Spring/early summer 2010, but does anyone know when the record is set to drop? 

Dobet Gnahoré- Dala

I just cannot seem to get enough of this woman! Been dancing all night :)

Dobet Gnahore - Samahani

A gut-wrenching, soul-stirring, goose-prickle-raising apology from the heart. Merci Dobet pour cette chanson émouvante!

DOBET GNAHORÉ - Palea - Bridgestone Music Festival - São Paulo - 2008

Dawn of Sound

A quiet vibration

Disturbs the silent air.

Gathering momentum,

It slowly grows into a dull murmur

As it ripples through the room.

Travelling across the space,

It begins to interact in waves:

Intersecting, converging and diverging

To create an acoustic vagueness

Like a blurry smudge of sound.

As the fuzzy resonance

Becomes more audacious,

Textures and patterns emerge

Into rhythmic, pulsating harmony.

In that instant,

That space awakens

And vibrates in time with the melody.

In that moment,

There is light;

And with that light,

There comes vision.

The air is now

A thing that is breathed;

In that breath, there is sound:

Sound that moves and quivers and vibrates...

... And in that sound,

There is LIFE.

Zaho - Je Te Promets

Thanks sis... now you've got me hooked :)

Tinashe - Zambezi

This was too beautiful not to share. I could listen to it over and over again. Matter of fact, I think I will.
Check out more of Tinashe's music at his Youtube channel by clicking on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/user/tinashetv