Genius

Atlas Genius – An indie rock band and one of the good ones. Guess it’s a thing in the indie world, setting up a band of brothers, influenced by their father. Just like Haim, Atlas Genius, is a family oriented band.

Atlas Genius members are brothers Keith and Michael Jeffery and Darren Sell on the keyboard.

The two brothers, Keith and Michael, made some room in their home garage and started a band. At first it was supposed to be just an ordinary cover band, but soon they've found their own unique musical theme. It all started after their father used to have a band in high school. The boys grew in a musical environment, dreaming of their own “high school band”.

The name Atlas Genius was originally Michael’s idea and actually came up to him in a dream. In 2009 Darren Sell joins the band and by 2012 Warner Bros. signs the band up, making their dream come true.

In 2013, the band issued their debut album “When It Was Now”. The album actually reached No. 34 on the Billboard 200, which is a huge successes for an anonymous indie rock band. The musical critics started crowning Atlas Genius as one of 2014 biggest musical promises, and I sure want to join that declaration.

Atlas Genius plays just the way I love. With unique electronic beats, and light catchy melodies.  Their progress in phenomenal – from the house garage to billboard 200 list – and they totally deserve it.

I just love those kind of stories, about original people, following their dream and making it big. This is also one of the reasons why I like indie music so much. It’s a music world, where you don’t have to be insanely beautiful, thin or sexy. You just have to be talented, great and one of a kind.
And this is exactly what Atlas Genius is about.

Check out the theme song for their debut album “When It Was Now” – I think you’re gonna love it!

sources: muiscunderfire.com, amazon.com

The National

After quite along pause, I’m back here writing again!

The last week was actually dedicated for a ski trip with some friends. Taking advantage of the last few weeks of winter, taking some time off.

You would imagine I would take a vacation to clear my mind off, but the truth was I kept listening to some really cool new music (at least for my taste). Now I’m ready to talk to you about this new band I’m really into.

Have you heard of The National? I really don’t know where I've been, but I haven’t. At least until two weeks ago.

As predicted, The National are now a band I can definitely say I am very fond of. I've read quite a lot about them, and I totally agree with some people that compared them to Depeche Mode (my all-time most favorite band ever!), Joy Division (which, I very much like) and Nick Cave. So, yeah, I can hear it too. They reminded me a lot of the very early material of Depeche Mode, and every material of Nick Cave and I love it.

Melancholy in music can be a bliss. At least to me. Especially in a cold winter weather like when you’re skiing, listening to something so soft and caressing is a great comfort.

The National are playing just like that – their very thick, mellowed and unique music sometimes feels like it’s actually wrapping you in a very soft and special feeling.

They just released a brand new album called “Trouble Will Find Me”, which is already their sixth album. The National is active since 2001, but its members are working together for over twenty years now.
We’re not talking about a regular Indie band here. They got nominated for The Best Alternative Album at the 2014 Grammys. The exposure and recognition is really something you don’t get to see when talking about Indie bands but it seems The National has it all. True quality and actual fame and recognition. An Indie music wonder.

So, as usual, take my advice. Listen to The National, and enjoy the next few moments inside The National very interesting atmosphere.

Sources: livemusiclindsey.com, nme.com

MMB

As an Israeli teenager I was, like everybody else, very much involved with everything about the Israeli singing contest “Kohav Nolad” (A star is born) which is very similar to what we all know as American Idol, The Voice etc.

In Season 5 there was a new contestant - A young girl, About 20 years old, not so pretty or thin... but she was different. She sang known Israeli rock and pop classics but took it to a new level of Jazz and folk versions.

I did not like her. She was too different. Too extravagant. Too much for me, Though there was something about her I could not argue with – her extremely unique and rare voice. But I just didn't like what she did with it.

Although she did not win the contest, the production really adored her and a major Israeli record company signed her. She began working on original songs in Hebrew.

I’m talking about Marina Maximillian Blumin. An extremely talented young woman. As a child of a classic pianist, she learned to play the piano at a very young age, preformed as a theater actress as a teen and wrote the music for an Israeli musical production by the age of 22.

Marina Maximillian Blumin a.k.a MMB, is well known for her dramatic romantic affairs, including a divorce at the age of 25, and numerous famous boyfriends.

Lately, she lost a lot of weight and released a brand new album entirely in English.

Now, I take everything back. Today, after 6 years of work, and due to this great new album called “Step into My World”, I can’t say I don’t like her. I have to admit I’m enchanted.

This new and improved MMB is a stunning beauty, with a divine voice and a brand new and marvelous album.

Her deep, unique and rare voice, combined with a very strict and accurate musical processing by Ofer Hameiri makes this album a true success.

I don’t have anything against Israeli musical production but I do have to admit we’re talking about production made in small scales. I really hope someone out there will notice this local beauty and will make her international.

With this kind of talent, stage presence and charisma, there’s only one way Marina Maximillian Blumin can go – and it’s up!

So dear MMB, you’re defiantly my most appreciated Israeli artist at the moment. And to all of you, outside Israel, take a few moments to stare at this girl while listening to that absolutely wonderful voice.

Images Sources: vk.com, YouTube.com

The Worst Name Ever

This band, by far, has the worst name ever!!! Really. It’s horrible. I know, I know... It’s like bold and fierce and scared of no one... Yeah… it’s bad.

Anyway, I’m talking about Starfucker. Also known as STRFKR which just a bit better. If you’re going to never say their name, that is. Totally useful.

Besides the bad name, they actually play really good music.

I bumped into them totally by chance. I was bored and was looking for something to do. One website wanted me to listen to some Synthpop music, and Starfucker were there. They were the most popular band in that site. More than a thousand people liked them, and for a very good reason.

I wouldn’t call them Synthpop, to be honest. It’s not entirely pop and it’s also not just Synth. The band members defined themselves as “dance music that you can actually listen to, that's good pop songs, but also you can dance to it”.

The band includes Joshua Hodges aka Sexton Blake (vocals, keyboard, drums, guitar), Shawn Galssford (bass, keyboard, drums) Keil Corcoran (drums, keyboard, vocals) and Patrick Morris (guitar, keyboard, vocals). Its’ seems like they all play every instrument there is… well, that’s very cool.

This music is something in between electronic indie and soft synthpop. The video clips are really diversified, interesting and beautiful and they bring a very clean, well ordered and fine angel of the band.

Starfucker covered Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” song. The cover became very successful and was used for a Juicy Couture ad in 2010. In the video clip you can see the band members dress up in ladies clothes, which apparently became a theme for them. Starfucker members known to preform wearing women clothes on stage.

So, Starfucker are really great. With a unique sound, which you can defiantly dance to, and four albums to listen to, I think I’ll forgive them for the worst name in music history.

Image sources: manchestersenewipe.co.uk, bandaidrecordes.com

Thirteen

Everyone begins somewhere. I begin here.

We all have those few albums that made us who we are, those albums that were there throughout our first years in music. Our first steps of our music identity. Those are mine.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magic
This classic was released in 1991. I was 6 years old at the time, so it was a bit difficult for me to know that I liked it, but it was there all along and all around me. About the time when I was 12, this album became one of my favorites. Luckily enough for me, these songs were such classics they remained a consensus in the musical mainstream. It’s still true for our days, even if it’s been over 20 years by now. My most favorite songs of that album are “Sir Psycho” “Give It Away” and “Breaking the Girl”.

Red Hot Chili Peppers were everything I needed back then, they were explicit in just the right amount, they were the coolest guys around and they played wicked rock music. I’m almost 30 by now and I still listen to this brilliant album almost every day.

Metallica – S&M
When a 6 year old tells you Metallica is her favorite band, you know something is up with her. So, something was definitely up with me.
Metallica was one of the first bands I ever knew and I loved it! Back in those days songs like “Nothing else Matters”, “One” and “Sad but True” were the top hits on Billboard and metal was just another legit music genre.

In 1999, I was a bit older and Metallica was well established in my playlist. That’s when S&M was released. A genius music collaboration between my favorite band and The San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra. The result was mind blowing. Until this very day, this is one of my most favorite albums of all time, but back then, as a young teenager, those sounds made me shiver.

Radiohead – OK Computer
The year was 1997. I was 13 and heavily addicted to MTV. Yes, once upon a time there was no internet and we actually had to watch television and listen to radios to listen to music. Funny, right?

Anyway, I was watching MTV and a new video clip was on, something with a guy in a burning car.. Yes, that was Karma Police by Radiohead! I was 13 so I didn't get the magnitude of what I’m looking at back then, but I decided that I didn't like it.
It took a few months for the understanding to sink in, and once it did I totally understood I’m a witness to the formation of a musical classic.

Since then, Ok Computer is my safe album. When I’m sad it means it’s time for Ok Computer. It’s also true for when I’m mad, hungry, happy, lonely, need space, exited, tired, bored… well, always, basically.

No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom
Remember the song “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt? I do too. In 1996, I was 12 and this was my most favorite song in the whole world! I listen to it once or twice, and spent my entire dog walking job salary on the album “Tragic Kingdom”. Nobody knew who they were back then, except for me. I listened to that album 20 hours a day, and thought Gwen Stephany is the most beautiful woman in the world. Yep!
But seriously now, that is a very good album. It really is. I still like to go back to that music, that funky fun rock of No Doubt from the 90’s.
Unfortunately, I don’t really like the later material of No Doubt, could be due to the fact that they changed or that I grew up and away from that style of music. Either way, songs like “just a girl”, “Spiderweb” and “End It on This” are still my personal favorites and I still enjoy them from time to time.

Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
Still 13 years old, and its still 1996. And I’m an angry young teenager. I’m standing in a record store (yeah, we had those too back in the days) and I’m holding two CDs. I can’t decide whether to get the new Tony Braxton CD or maybe go for this new girl -  Alanis Morissette. Sounds really stupid, but I seriously treat that decision as a life changing moment. You know how it ended. I went with Alanis.

I just want to emphasize this- this was by far, the best decision I've ever made!

Jagged Little Pill means so much to me, Alanis morissette means so much to me, until this very day, For about 17 years now. Those years were extremely hard for me, not only because I was 13, but for so many serious reasons. Jagged Little Pill was there for me. I could be angry with “Unforgiven”, go crazy with “You Oughta Know” and dream of a happy end with “Head over feet”.

All the albums in this list made me who I am, But Jagged Little Pill still makes me who I am today. I just adore Alanis Morissette, and this album in particular. Jagged little Pill is a piece of me. And to me, it tells my story.

After going through all those albums it seems like most of them are form when I was 13. I guess this is when music happened to me. It all started there.

Dear MS MR

Last week, I wrote about Haim as one of the new icons in the indie scene, but I it seems I can’t get enough of new musical breakthroughs... So today, I want to talk about the amazing MS MR.

When talking about Haim, I mentioned how successful they are but just how not sure I am about liking their sound. This time around I’m writing about a band in which I’m totally in love with.

In the past two – three years more electro-indie bands started to show up. The first band I bumped into were The XX almost four years ago. Now MS MR are here, and they are putting a pretty good fight when it comes to this kind of intriguing sound.

MS MR- which is meant to be pronounced as “Miz Mister” are an American based duo consisted with Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow. Both were graduated from Vassar College in 2010. Lizzy Plapinger is also the co-founder of the New York City/London based independent record label Neon Gold records, and is well known in the indie music world.

Their debut album “Secondhand Rapture” was released in May 2013 including the songs “Fantasy”, “Hurricane”, “Dark Doo Wop” and “Ash Tree Lane”.

When listening to MS MR, the first thing that came to my mind was that their sound is extremely similar to “Florence and the machine” and Lana Del Ray which by now, you all know I very much like.
In general, this kind of sound is something I really love and would want to see much more of. It’s a very intelligent way to play music, something to wrap your mind in, to put you in a good creative mood. The sound is a mix of clever electronical layers, smart beats and wicked lyrics served with a beautiful female mellowed voice. Just what I’m looking for in music in general.

And the best thing is – their video clips. Take for example “Fantasy” video clip. By far, one of the best video clips I've watched this year! Amazing shots, great ideas and an extremely strong massage. Don’t miss out on this experience!

Bottom line, I’m fell head over hills with MS MR. I think the songs “Twenty Seven”, “Fantasy” and “hurricane” are insanely good!

Do yourself a huge favor, stop whatever it is you’re doing, including reading this article, and go listen to those guys. It’ll be, by far, the best new thing for the beginning of your 2014.

Haim

Every once in a while, you get to hear about something refreshingly new. In between the Miley Cyrus and the Belibers influences there are some pretty good and new stuff.

So I’ve come across the name Haim for once or twice in the past few weeks. Once on the radio, and a couple more times on different music blogs and sites. So I knew they existed but that’s pretty much it.

The first thing you need to know is that you pronounce their name “Haim” just like “Time”. It’s actually their last name. We’re talking about three sisters of the Haim family. All born and raised in LA. Their father is a former Israeli, and as an Israeli myself I can tell you that Haim in Hebrew means life (just a little something for you… :)).

All three girls seems to be super talented. In music, studies and in general. The first born, Este Arielle was graduated from UCLA with ethnomusicology in just two years instead for the usual five. And all three girls are playing numerous musical instruments.

The band started out when the girls were still in high school. They used to play in local venues and events. At that time, all three were involved in different projects and the band was kind of a side gig.

Only around 2011 the girls of Haim decided to make Haim their main center of attention. The youngest sister Alana Mychal dropped out of college after only one year to join her sisters and the band took off by releasing their first EP “Forever” which was released in 2012.

When I first listened to Haim I heard the deep influence of Fleetwood Mac in their music. It’s not very easy to miss and you can find a lot of comments and review around the web comparing their sound the Fleetwood Mac sound.

The next strongest association with their sound is a kind of a 90’s sound. A bit hard to put the finger on the exact ingredient that makes that feel but it’s definitely there.

With video clips filmed in a happy and light atmosphere, and with their fresh new sound Haim brought something else to the 2013 musical scenery.

But, I have to admit something. I’m not a fan. The music is just a bit too light for my taste, it’s lacking the interest that I’m looking for when I’m looking for quality music, and it’s just a bit too simple to my taste. Too girly, too cheerful.

I can definitely see why they are so successful and can spot their crowed very easily. This is easy listening at its best.

Not my cup of tea, but a yet another success story of a musical family. I’m all up for these kind of stories.

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.

2013- My Year in Music

2013 is almost over now and I sat down and went through what’s been going on in the music industry.

So these are the songs that made my year:

10. Katy Perry – Roar
“Roar” came out on August as Katy Perry new debut single from her album “Prism”. In this case, I heard a lot about the song before I even got the chance to listen to it due to massive buzz over it. I love the song, it was catchy and bouncy and it was a perfect fit for Katy Perry.

9. Will I Am – Scream and Shout 
Will I Am could not loose with this song. He knew exactly what to do and how to it, to create the perfect hit for 2013. The song came out, and was played twice an hour on every radio station in the world. The simplicity was the brilliancy of it all and almost a year after I can’t stop humming this song every once in a while.

8. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
 I was really disappointed with the first single from Justin’s album “The 20\20 Experience”, “Suit & Tie”. When “Mirrors” came out, I forgot all about it, and fall back in love with the good old Justin which sings in a very distinctive style, exactly the way I like it.

7. Miley Cyrus –Wrecking Ball
You can say what you want about Miley’s clothes, hair and choices, but you can’t take away the fact that Wrecking Ball is an amazing song. I admit I was a bit stunned with shock when I first watched the video clip, but after I got adjusted I noticed that behind all those walls Miley’s trying to wreck, hides a really good song after all.

6. Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
Talking about being stunned over a video clip…. The funny story is I loved this song and only later I watched to clip and saw what it was all about. So first of all, the clip is great, and sassy, and whatever, but this is a very cool song, with a cool beat and some cool girls too…

5. Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
There’s something really great about Taylor Swift, she’s beautiful, she sings and writes, and she dates. A lot. But this year she also had a great hit to be proud of, and nothing could fit her more than this song.

4. Avicii – Wake Me Up
“Wake me up” made Avicii what he is today, and he’s huge!! The 19 year old boy went enormous with that great classic, and made our summer crazy and fun.

3. Passenger – Let Her Go
One of the best song of this year is “let her go”. A modern classic that touched hundreds of hearts across the world and is definitely here to stay.

2. Deft Punk – Get Lucky
It took a while for them to come back again but they've made it and in the best way there is. Daft Punk were the thing to talk about this year, with Numerous awards and shows this was definitely their year.

1. Lorde – Rolyals
The best song of the year, to me, comes from the best artist of the year, to me. Lorde is so young and so talented it’s a bit scary to think where she would be in two years’ time if this is the way she sounds today. And damn, she sounds good. “Royals” made my year by far!

So, that’s that for 2013. We had some pretty good stuff coming our way this year. I wish that next year would be as good as this one and may we listen to some great music forever.

Happy holidays and a happy new year to you all!!

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!

Bound To Love?

It starts with wild horses running. Great feeling of freedom and beauty. The music is soothing...

Then it changes.

Two minutes later we get an extremely close visual of Kanye west and Kim Kardashian’s sexual relations. Too close a look.

It’s problematic in so many ways I can’t even think about!!!!

First, why? Why would anyone, no matter how extravagant, want to share something like this with the rest of the world? Putting your own wife naked for the world to see?! While moving in a very very, too explicit way with her… Why!?

I don’t have kids. But someday I will. And it would be extremely disturbing for me to think about them watching this. This, coming from a married couple, parents to a very little baby. A little baby that will grow to a world where mom and dad are showing way too much of their “love”!

The lyrics are also extremely disturbing. It’s very degrading to women wherever they are to listen to these kind of words. Kim Kardashian’s husband by law and the father of her baby sharing his love to her by saying: “I wanna f*** you hard on the sink, after that, give you something to drink”.

Is this the right way to speak to a woman!? Any woman, let alone your own wife!?! It’s so hard for me to think that this is what Kanye West considers as a love song!

Where are the days when man took the time and effort to write true and passionate love songs that were bound to melt hearts!?

I’m horrified and disgusted!

I guess it’s no wonder Kim Kardashian doesn’t know any better than this, and it’s also no wonder she didn't have that “talk” with her mom about how man should treat you.

Once upon a time there were real men. Those real men went through so much trouble winning their loved one’s hearts by giving them flowers and then rings, and later protecting their wives from the world, keeping them safe from disgrace and shame.

The Kanye West\Kim Kardashian’s fairy tale ends a bit differently. The loving husband puts his topless wife on a motorcycle singing he wants to f*** her. Heroic!

It’s more than a race for money or fame. I know millions have watched this clip by now and millions will keep watching and talking about this. I know Kanye West got what he wanted, but what does it worth when you can’t even call yourself a real man?

I’m happy for Kanye and Kim being passionately in love the way the supposedly are, but sorry, I’m disgusted. And so should you.

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]

Farewell

Last night, Lou Reed died.

For many of us, this is a death of a legend that we, now, have to keep alive.

The man who broke all rules, the man brought taboos to the general discussion, the man who wasn't afraid of who he was, who inspired millions to be who they are, then and now.

I went through some websites this morning, which paid tribute to the great Lou Reed and his music. Every comment was about people having him as a rule model, as someone who helped them along the way.

I have to admit, I became acquainted with Lou Reed in the worst mainstreamy way there is. I was about 12 when “Perfect Day” came out in the new and remastered version by various artists. Back in those days MTV was my almost only source of music, and they played “Perfect Day” about twice an hour. I had no idea what the fuss was about, I had no idea who that person was. It was only later that I learned about the person who wrote the song, and what he was about.

That person, who grew up having every difficulty he could possibly have on the way of becoming who he really is, made it through in the most inspirational way.

Born in the 1940’s, as a bisexual, he went through electroconvulsive therapy. The man who became a symbol of sexual pluralism, grew out of a narrow minded cruel experience that was used on him in order to make him what he’s not. The only thing that he’s not.

Then, with Velvet Underground, which only later became a clear institute of modern classics, he was the one never to surrender when his music was way ahead of time for the vast majority of the people. His music and his words.

There are only a few people in a specific course of time that can be called a ground breaking figures. Lou Reed was just that.

Faithful to himself, to the harsh truth of life, writing and singing about things people would much rather turn away from. That was his greatness.

I wonder if we’ll ever have another great persona like Reed to look up too. I wonder if there would be another artist who will write the words to thousands of people’s unspoken thoughts the way he did.
As I’m writing these words I’m listening to “take a walk on the wild side”. Admiring the words that set so many souls free inside the boundaries of their own skin.

Lou Reed, was a pioneer, a grown breaker, a fighter. It was no surprise to hear about him practicing Tai chi an hour before he passed away, just to feel better, to fight the sickness, to live another glorious moment.

Rest in Peace, Lou Reed. Your spirit will stay alive in our souls forever. 

Lou Reed

1942-2013

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.

A music Artist Meets a Music Icon

Growing up in Israel, I really liked listening to a singer called Aviv Geffen. Back in the 90’s Geffen was the most influential, ground breaking figure in the Israeli cultural view.

Starting his career at 16, he used to wear heavy makeup, lying on the stage floor and go against the Israeli political policy and the mandatory army service. we all liked him. As teenagers not only he was our voice calling for a change, he was also insanely talented.
Writing his own lyrics, composing his own melodies – Geffen brought something so fresh and so unique you couldn't ignore him.

The years went by, and Geffen talent got better and bigger. Israel, obviously was not enough.

In the early 2000’s I was in high school looking for some new, refreshing music to listen to.
Unlike other teenage girls, things like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera wasn't very interesting for me. I had a new favorite band – the progressive rock band – Porcupine Tree.

Up until this very day, I’m amazed by that band. The music is so sophisticated, intelligent and mind stimulating.
Porcupine Tree’s leader – The almighty Steven Wilson brought that sophisticated sound, the tranquilizing voice, the meaningful lyrics.
And then a miracle happened. My two favorite singers Geffen and Wilson found each other and created Blackfield.

I, a young girl in her very early twenties, acknowledged the fact that her local music hero is now cooperating with her international music rock star.

The result was stunning. Blackfield sounded just like I dreamed it would.
 Porcupine tree meets the Israeli Aviv Geffen. Those insane melodies, with that recognized feeling back from home.

Wilson moved to Tel Aviv to work closely with Geffen. The band took off, started preforming in London and across Europe.

It’s been a decade of creation for Blackfield and only recently they released their latest album.
My appreciation for Geffen grow even bigger along the years. Now, not only an Israeli music icon but an international famous and appreciated artist.

During the past few year I grew a bit apart from the progressive musical genre, but just recently someone reminded me of Blackfield again.

Listening to the tunes of that band takes me straight to where I was when I was falling for them in the first place.

Blackfield to me is the prefect music fairy tale. A music artist meets a music icon. The rest is history.

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.