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.

Oh, Miley...

I've been talking about Miley Cyrus here a few weeks ago without even knowing what's about to happen!
Yeah! I, too, was thinking Miley Cyrus went completely overboard with her nudity/provocative acting, and apparently, I wasn't the only one thinking that.

In case some of you missed the drama of last weekend, here's what happened.
Miley Cyrus released her new video clip for the single "Wrecking Ball". In the clip, she's licking hammers, sitting completely naked on a swinging wrecking ball, takes her tongue out (the way she knows how), and basically being provocative in a very uncomfortable way to the viewers.
Let's just say, that if I had kids, I would be extremely uncomfortable knowing they watched it.

And I wasn't the only one.

Remember Sinead O'Connor?
A few things happened to her in the past twenty years since she had the clip "Nothing Compares to You". Getting closer to god was one of the things.
Getting mentally sick was the other.
"Wrecking Ball" was supposed to be a tribute to the classic "Nothing Compares to You" clip, and I guess Sinead O'Connor didn't really like it.

At first, Sinead O'Connor sent a very touching letter to miss Cyrus via Facebook. A very caring, worried letter about the entertainment industry,
it's interests and the bad things she knows Miley Cyrus is going through. She advised Miley Cyrus to stop letting her managers and consultants get her un-dressed.
she talked about the long term damages her provocations might put her through.

I read that letter. It was a very sincere letter. A very motherly advice. It really seems that she meant no harm.

I don't know what went through Miley Cyrus's head when reading this letter, but I can only imagine that a person that goes through what she's going through needs to find he's own justifications
to keep on going that path. those justifications were what made her come to the smart decision to respond to Sinead O'Connor's letter by insulting her publicly on Facebook. She found and re-posted Sinead O'Connor's statuses
From two years ago, while being under a nerve meltdown. cruel.

Sinead O’Conner was insulted and threatened to sue her.

 So the girl who was once the adorable Hanna Montana (which, by the way, only recently Cyrus have declared was murdered. because it makes sense), is now a provocative, wild and unleashed naked superstar. Yup!
Kids grew up with her, and now they can watch her swing naked. What a classic lady.

I hear a lot of people ask what's the difference between Miley and Madonna. there is a difference. A huge one actually.
Madonna was groundbreaking. She swept her crowd after her with her provocations that included leather suits, and a white wedding dress on a virgin. That’s who she was. Who she still is.
Miley Cyrus was a children figure, a Disney child, a doll. The change was too extreme and too harsh.
Everyone has to grow up at some point. Not everyone who grows up becomes a prostitute.
Someone should tell Miley Cyrus the world is a better place than what she thinks.