Pussy Riot are Finally Free!

Earlier this weekend I finally heard some good news about the Russian band “pussy Riot”. After a year in jail, the girls are finally free.

Pussy Riot were originally formed in August 2011. The band included 11 girls that protested for LGTB rights and opposed to the Russian president Putin.

The method was quite simple, yet very provocative. The girls set up “guerrilla performances” in public places around Moscow. They performed and sang their provocative songs like “Kill the Sexist” and “Death to Prison, Freedom to Protests”. Later on, they would edit their performance and created video clips for fans to watch.

In March of 2012, three of the Pussy Riot band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich were arrested and later convicted for “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred”. They were sentenced for two years in prison.

The arrest and conviction of the three girls for Pussy Riot attracted criticism and protest mainly from the west, but particularly form female artist like Madonna, Tory Amos etc. that called for the release of the girls, for human rights and for the freedom of speech in Russia.

This weekend, after a year in prison, all three girls were released from jail and are now free.
This is a story about music bravery, about feminism and about strength. It’s a story about believes and about protest.

In history, that is exactly how big revolutions starts - with just a few people believing for something and going through with it.

To me, the price the Pussy Riot girls paid is extremely heavy. The history tells us a lot about the Russian regime and it’s way of dealing with protesters, but during the Pussy Riot sentence I kept believing there would be a different end to all this.

Pussy Riot are true contemporary heroes. They helped spread a word. They helped raising a difficult subject to the Russian agenda and they paid with a year of their lives.

This is yet another case that shows the power of music, and it’s a story worth telling.

Indie or Pop?

A few months ago I read an article saying that one of the reason we heard more indie music this year is due to the fact that pop music went bad.

I have to admit it made some sense to me.

Bands and artists like Lana Del Rey, The XX, Arctic monkey etc. where never a real a part of the mainstream musical scenery. Today you see those artist reaching top 10 at Billboard every week.
It’s easy to think of them as mainstream themselves, but the truth is their music is very different from what we used to hear before.

There are two ways to look at this situation. The first is to admit that lately we get exposed to a better, more sophisticated kind of music. The current offerings are more diverse, deep and meaningful. Young teenagers get to listen to different kind of music than what we might have been exposed to ourselves at that age.

But there’s another way to think about this. Have we ever thought what exactly made us look for that kind of music in the first place? The most popular artists we used to know, artists like Madonna, Britney Spears and many more used to rule the hit charts almost solely. Could it be that their delivery was not good enough we had to get up and look for something else?

Maybe this new indie tolerant situation is an end result of us trying to find something else to listen to? Maybe those well-known artists all sounds the same? Or maybe just not good enough?

It’s hard to put the finger on this course of change. I remember being a young teenager and see the same five artists rule the chats with two or more of their singles every single week. Now, those artists are still present in the charts but they have new competitors. Competitors that brings a whole new wave and fresh way to listen to music.

2013 might not have been the greatest year for mainstream music artists and we see it clearly now when all music award events looking exactly the same. But, if this situation will expose us to newer more innovative music, I think we’ll be able to gain a lot from that.

Maybe these days aren’t the last days of pop music. Maybe, we are looking at the end of the distinctive term “Indie”. Maybe Indie music would turn into our new mainstream music.

Thinking about it this way, it’s the best news I’ve heard all year!

Like a Rolling Stone - The video Clip

Yesterday a friend told me that Bob Dylan now has a new video clip for his song “Like a Rolling Stone”.

Apparently this song never had a video clip of its own, and now it has. She also told me that the video clip is unique because you can watch the clip in multiple channels.

I have to admit I had no idea what she was talking about, let alone why it was so great. Deep down inside I knew I once heard about this Israeli project that created a platform where you can watch video clips with various options like different endings or characters.

Later on that day I watched the news and they also started talking about this project. They aired a few glimpses of the clip and it looked amazing.

I watched the video myself, zipped through the channels and was amazed
.
Now. Stop reading and watch this!!!
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone

So the story is quite simple. Two Israeli guys thought it’s a shame a classic and huge song like “Like a Rolling Stone” doesn't have a video clip. One of them was Yoni Bloch, an Israeli Musician\song writer that now lives in New York and Vania Heymann, an Israeli Director.

They decided to work on that song solely because it never had a proper video clip. Yoni Bloch has been working on his project “Interlude” in the past few years, which is made to create those kind of videos. Multiple options videos.

I have to admit that when a first heard about this project I was pretty skeptic. The idea was nice but how many videos like this can you watch?

Well, after watching Bob Dylan’s clip I say you can watch tons of videos like that because it’s so fun!

The greatness of this particular video is the accurate way it was made. Vania Heymann filmed 19 (!!!) different scenes, a news broadcast, a cooking show, an hip hop video clip, parts from known TV shows and many more including peices of Dylan's preformanc with "Like a Rolling Stone", all perfectly synced with the song’s lyrics. When you zip through the channels the zipping is very smooth, works perfectly well and there’s even a TV banner included just to make it feel more like your own TV.

This video clip in extremely innovative and it’s such a pleasure to see it come to life with a great song like “like a Rolling Stone”.

Long Lasting Hit

Know that feeling when you listen to a new song and it sounds familiar?

Well, that happened to me about a year ago. I was sitting at home with the radio on when something that I recognized but wasn’t sure about was starting to play. I found out it was Snow Patrol with Chasing Cars.
I didn’t know the name of the song, but I was convinced I heard about Snow patrol in the past, still – I wasn’t convinced. The video clip looked updated and new, and the radio kept playing that song again and again like it was a brand new single.

Then, something weird happened.

I was watching some old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 2 (yeah, I know! It just took me a while to like it and now I can’t stop!), when suddenly Chasing Cars was playing in the back ground. Come to think about it – that episode was initially broadcasted in 2006! I was right! The song is not a new one after all.

The thing is, that song story in truly amazing. Chasing Cars was originally recorded in 2005, and was released in the UK in 2006. The timing was perfect. The song arrived to the music market right when legal downloading of music became popular. Chasing Cars became the bestselling single in the UK to this date!

At first the song had a first video clip version, but right after its appearance in Grey’s Anatomy the clip was edited and clips from the series was added to it. The new and secondary version of the clip failed to catch on so a new, third version was made. The third version of the clip is the one we know today.

The song hit the number 1 place on UK charts every year ever since solely based on its legal download sales! Every year from 2007 until 2013!

In 2013, the radio stations and MTV started playing the song massively. A song that appeared to be a brand new hit but actually is 6 years old.

Chasing Cars is a classic example of the modern classics. The crowed and the listeners voted that song to be that successful. Until this very day it’s the bestselling single of all times when talking about legal downloading.

That’s why that song is kept alive. That’s why I thought I knew it, because I did!

I think it’s a rare story of musical success and it’s something most artists today should aspire to. Being popular solely for the music. Grow from within the crowd’s love. Being a bestseller in terms of legal downloading and not just because some radio editor is in good terms with the record label, but because you’re worth loving, and paying for.

Chasing cars is a great song, an old and long lasting classic that is kept alive by its fans.

Christmas Wishes

I can’t help it! Christmas is almost here and I can’t stop fantasize about my Christmas presents!
Let’s face it, I’m sure I’m not going to have any of the things below but no one said it’s wrong to dream.

So, let’s just say, I’d be happy if my Christmas socks contained these:

 The original Abby Road vinyl record
 One of my favorites, by far. I do own the CD version of this master piece, but I always wanted to the vinyl version as well. Because it looks good, because it’s the way it was meant to be and mainly because it really does sounds better. Which leads me straight to the second thing I would like to have.

 An actual old fashioned record player
 Yes. The looks. The sound. These days you can’t feel, see or touch your music. Back in the good old record player days you had to actually make sure the needle is in the right place, that there are no scratches or dirt on the record etc. You had to work for your music and it was sure worth it!

 Beats Earphones
 If I’m going to listen to my cool music, whether on my record player or my phone, I want to listen to it in style! So Beats are definitely the answer for my need. Its sounds awesome and also its a kind of a fashion statement.

 Gibson Guitar by Slash
 I know, I know, I’m old. Yes! I am a 90’s girls! Slash playing his guitar is still the coolest thing in the world for me, especially if it happens in front of church in the middle of the desert. In November. It doesn't matter if I don’t know how to play the guitar, it would just hang on my wall and I’d be happy with it! Okay?!

 I can definitely say I’m a modest person if that’s all I really want for Christmas. I know that if you’re a music lover you’d know to appreciate these presents like me. So, I’m done fantasizing, let’s go decorate a tree or something.

 Merry Christmas!!!

Holiday Playlist

Christmas is just around the corner!

It appears that the holidays are not good just for shopping, food, presents and drinks. It’s also the best time for cheerful, heartwarming music.

Luckily for us, many of the leading artists work hard to help us feel the Christmas spirit right about this time of the year and I thought it’ll be fun sharing a part of my favorite holiday season playlist here.

5. The Killers – Don’t Shoot Me Santa

 A fun, alternative and modern option to the genre lovers among us. This song includes no jingle bells but it sure will bring a smile to your face. And the video clip is really cool too!

4. Christina Perry – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Christina Perry can definitely define herself as leading artist we would like to listen too in this very cozy time of the year. Her version of the classic “A Merry Little Christmas” is sweet, light, breezy and lovable.

3. U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

There are tons of covers and re-makes to this very classic song, but I have to admit, the U2 version is by far my favorite. Wonderful video clip, very different from other seasonal videos – all black and white, Bono at his best, looking gorgeous, sounds amazing, no wonder I listen to this song all year long.

2. Wham! – Last Christmas

A Christmas playlist can’t be full without this extremely classic song! It’s so good, we get to listen to it all year long on the radio. And right about now it’s one of the songs that get me right in the holiday spirit!

 1.  Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You

And the winner is!
Mariah Carey owns this great timeless track that makes me feel right in December even if I get to listen to it in august. This is a fun, cozy and sweet song that will make everyone get right in the mood.

So! Get ready, download your favorite holiday music and surrender to the holiday spirit! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

YouTube Music Awards

The first YouTube Music Awards took place only yesterday. We were looking forward to this event, since it is the first time for this format to take place.

Today, we’re watching almost everything through YouTube. From cute little kittens stretching away, to our favorite artist’s new song and some other female artists riding wrecking balls.

I guess it was only a matter of time until someone would think YouTube is one of the most influencing tools we have to evaluate the mass opinion about music, and about every other thing for that matter. The concept was very “YouTube” like. Broadcasting live and streaming everything through YouTube, everyone watches for free and from every place in the world.

 So the idea was great. The execution wasn’t.

 Maybe it’s because it was the first time. Maybe YouTube wanted it to be so different than any other award ceremony we’ve seen so far. I don’t know. It sure was different. But in such a weird way! The chaos was everywhere. Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts with Halloween costumes, Schwartzman falling on the floor after asking some girls in the crowd to hold him for some reason for way to long. Big mess with the winner’s name envelope. No stage. Artist that have to make their way through the crowd just to say a few words, too few.

 Something wasn’t working. But then again, the idea was a good idea. VMA, Billboard, Grammy and every other ceremony is something that we all know, and they all have judges to choose the best artist or the best song.

 Here, in YouTube, we were the judges. We voted throughout the entire year, we chose what we liked and what influenced us the most. It may not be the most artistic choice, or the most obvious choice, just because it was the real, living and kicking choice. The numbers spoke for themselves.

 Let’s hope that next year’s YouTube music award would be a bit more organized, because the idea behind it is really great.

 Until then, here’s what we loved this year:

Breakthough of the Year - Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis

Response of the Year - Lindsey Stirling and Pentaztonix, "Radioactive"

Innovation of the Year - DeStorm, "See Me Standing"

YouTube Phenomenon - Taylor Swift - "I Knew You Were Trouble"

Video of the Year - Girl's Generation - "I Got A Boy"

Artist of the Year - Eminem - Epic Rap Battles Of History




 [Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1716726/youtube-music-awards-winners-list.jhtml]

Rihanna, Live?

So Rihanna came to Israel last week. This was the second time Rihanna performed live in Tel Aviv and everyone were talking about this for months!

50,000 people in the park, all waiting and exited to see Rihanna. I couldn’t make it, so I didn’t even buy a ticket, but around 4 pm they started talking about Rihanna landing here is Israel. The excitement was huge.

Well, I went to a few concerts in my life, some of them here in Israel, and almost always, the artist and his or hers entourage lands here the day before or even sooner –for sightseeing, for a bit of rest before the show, for putting the stage together, sound checks… stuff like that.

So Rihanna lending here about four hours before her own concert was a bit weird.
Then, they wrote she took a helicopter and went to swim and enjoy the Dead Sea. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place, but… again, less than four hours before the show starts!?

So, it was only expected that she was an hour late for her own show. 50,000 people stood in front of an empty stage and waited.

Then, apparently she decided not to sing live at all. She used playback throughout the entire show! I know! That is something a lot of artists do, but there are video clips of her dancing to her own playback and not even bothering holding the mic to her mouth!

And also, for some unknown reasons she went backstage every two songs for minute or two, only to go back on stage wearing the same dress, doing nothing different at all.


The crowed felt disappointed. I read about the fiasco at midnight that very night.

Now, people are trying to get together and sue the production company that produced the show. They are saying they feel Rihanna disrespected her audience here in Israel, that she never intended to have a full show, therefore had the time to go swimming before the show.

I don’t know. When you’re the biggest music star in the world right now you can’t afford being disrespectful to this amount of people. I don’t want to get to ugly places of political and racial opinions, and I don’t think this is the case here either, but it does seem weird.

The show in Israel was a definite part of this current tour, it was planned for about a year, and it couldn't just not work out for Rihanna.

Rihanna would keep on being one of the most popular artists here in Israel, and I’m sure the radio stations will keep on playing her beautiful songs, but I’m also pretty sure next time around there wouldn't be 50,000 people buying her concert tickets.

Rihanna’s got it all, she’s beautiful, she sings well, she has great songs and a great show. But maybe, just maybe, she lost something along the way. The dignity and respect to other people’s time, money and feelings.

You can call it being a Diva. I call it being rude.

I Found Something New!

Something really nice happened to me this week. I saw an article somewhere about a new artist called Lorde that I knew nothing about. A few days later, YouTube suggested me some new and popular videos. One of them was Lorde’s song – Royals. Knowing that someone had already written about that girl, I was curios. I started playing the video and really liked everything about that girl that I knew nothing about. Then, I found out I’m watching a 17 year old girl!

How can a 17 year old be as talented as this?!!? She looks amazing! She sounds amazing! And! She’s writing her own music! Today, in the “Miley Cyrus” era, this is incredibly unusual. I kept listening to a few of her other tracks and kept on being excited about my new discovery. I do have to admit Royals is by far her best single yet, but with that amount of talent she’s going to be huge!

It also appeared that Lorde is around for quite a while without me even noticing which is really weird for me, but then again, better late than never. One thing I learned from this encounter with a new favorite artist – try to take YouTube suggestions a little more seriously next time even if it has a weird agenda of showing me thousands of cats jumping in and out of boxes. (not that I have anything against cats)

Anyway, now that I know of her, I’ll keep track of her and I’m so sure this girl is going to hand us with some pretty good things to listen to in the future. So if, like me, you’re reading this without any clue who that girl is, do yourself a favor. Listen to Lorde. A true story of a new found glory for young beautiful teenage singers that keep their clothes on and music alive.