Turn It Down!: Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams - Blurred Lines (Music Video)

 Gonna preface this post by saying that I have nothing against the song (aside from it being annoying and overplayed on radio), just the video.

 Is it just me, or does this music video make Robin Thicke look like a classless, pig headed, douche bag? There's another version of this music video, in which the female models are full on topless walking around in thongs while Robin, Pharrell and T.I. watch them fully dressed in suits. I can't seem to understand this generation of societies need to hyper sexualize every aspect of media and somehow set the women's movement back a few years by reducing them back down to objects for men's sexual gratification. Even when the tables are turned and it's meant to be a female artist objectifying and taking advantage of men, the female is usually still dressed in a provocative way, making it a "2 birds, 1 stone" situation.

 Robin Thicke has been making the kind of smooth soulful "baby making" tunes that made people like Barry White and Prince famous for years now, and has never had to stoop to this chauvinistic behaviour or blatant bragging about being well endowed before (which always makes me think the opposite is true whenever I hear somebody talk like that). I always thought he had a classy kind of confidence and swagger about him that made his sex appeal apparent in a subtle but effective way, but now I just see him as the jock in high school that bragged to everyone about being a player and getting laid every hour. Very seedy and undignified! 

Poor form, Robin! I'm officially turned off!

 Not posting the Explicit version of the music video, but you can watch it here if you like.

Turn It Up!: No Doubt - Underneath It All (Music Video)

  "You see the colors in me like no one else!"

 How to even start this post. I was kinda coaxed into adding this video to the blog at this particular time (in the nicest possible way), because I added it to my facebook page as my chosen "Song Of The Day" and my friend Jordanna suggested I add it here, and even gave the blog a little shout out on her time line! Sweet!

 So here it is! I love almost everything by No Doubt, but I truly have an affinity for their more reggae/ska infused material, like this song from their 4th studio album "Rock Steady" (2001), and when it came on my i-pod today, I listened to it about 4 times. Underneath It All was the 3rd single from Rock Steady, and though it did well commercially in the US (including taking the award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group at the 2004 Grammy Awards), the song was trashed by most reviewers as being too cheesy and predictable. I happen to like things that are cheesy and predictable though lol. To me it's more simplistic and low key than a lot of their other material, but isn't the bulk of reggae styled music meant to be simplistic? Plus, the love story element of the lyrics is very simplistic so I feel the music compliments this well. Lead singer Gwen Stefani wrote this song about her relationship with (now husband) Gavin Rossdale, because although their relationship had its ups and downs, she believed they were meant for each other. So far, she appears to be right.

 The video has a very Jamaican style to it as well in terms of the color scheme in the scenes with the entire band. The director, Sophie Muller decided to go with orange, green, and red tones for the scenes in which the band is biking through a Jamaican background while featured artist, Lady Saw, toasts during the bridge. The video also features Gwen in several scenes alone, a couple with her made up and heavily styled, and ultimately stripped down to nothing (her underneath as it were) in simple undergarments and limited make-up.

 So, if you enjoy the simplistic and low-key, then watch away. "Damn The Critics!"

Turn It Up!: Celine Dion - Water From The Moon (Music Video)

  "Do I Gotta Get Water From The Moon? Is That What I've Gotta Do To Make You Love Me?"

I'm just gonna make my friend Jordanna a co-collaborator on my blog, because most of my posts seem to come from conversations with her. In this case, I was e-mailing her Celine's "Let's Talk About Love" album and we started discussing our favourite albums by her. My personal favourite has always been her 1992 self titled album, because it was the first album I'd ever heard of hers. Being 10 years old at the time, I was very into Disney movies (like any kid) and I first heard Celine in her Grammy/Academy Award Winning Duet with Peabo Bryson, "Beauty & The Beast". I loved that song so much that I naturally asked my parents if I could get her album, and they took me to the mall with my allowance and I bought it on cassette.

 Happily I liked so many more of the songs from the album that it wasn't a waste of money lol. I became obsessed with "Love Can Move Mountains", and "Water From The Moon" specifically. Celine became very much like an icon to me, with her soaring vocals. I got to see her live for the first time at Massey Hall on the tour for this album, with my Brother and my Mom as a half gift for my 11th birthday (thanks to Wikipedia I can look up that the date of the show was March 25th, 1993, could be accurate), and I even did a school project on Celine in French class that earned me an A++ and my work was displayed in the school lol. 

Wow, longer post than I thought this would be haha. Back to the song, Jordanna looked up to see if there was a video for it on youtube, and sure enough there was one (that neither of us had ever seen). I gotta say that the video doesn't really make much sense to me but she's looks absolutely stunning and that guy is pretty hot in my opinion. I've read that the video was only commercially aired in the US, and that the song was a radio single in Canada only (so that's my excuse for never seeing it, Jordanna, what's yours? lol).

 As for the song itself, I think Celine's vocal performance beautifully encompasses the gut wrenching desperation for an unrequited love expressed in the lyrics.

 Breathtaking!!!!

Picture This!: Kylie Minogue 2013 (Poll Results)

While I'm working on my review for the Patty Griffin concert I went to last night (which I'm hoping will be posted by Saturday if time permits) I realize I forgot to post the poll results from the other week.

 Since it's my first time doing a poll for this blog, I didn't quite know how to fit it in to my categories, so for this one, I've decided to add a bunch of pictures of Kylie from 2013, including images from her photo shoot for Elle Magazine (January issue), a few promotional pictures for the song Skirt, and one I just loved from Billboard Magazine.

 So, here we go with the poll results. The question was "What do you think of Kylie Minogue's new release, Skirt?" The results were...

Love It!                  60% 

 Like It!                   20% 

 Don't Care For It!  20% 

 Hate It!                    0% 

Well, that's good news, of the 5 people who voted, nobody out right hated it!

Be sure to make your voice heard on the new poll on the page "Which single from Mariah Carey's first album is your favorite?"

Vote away and enjoy these pictures my lovely readers.

Turn It Up! Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love (Music Video)

  "I'm so thankful that I've received the answer that heaven has sent down to me!"

 Mariah Carey's self titled debut album came out 23 years ago today and so, I'm adding my favourite single, not only from that album, but possibly of all time from Mariah (a few others are neck and neck). I've always had a deep love for this song and have held it in the highest regard since I heard it for the first time when I was 8 years old. 23 years later, it still amazes me and stands the test of time.

 I think the choice to release this as her very first single was genius, because it fully encompassed her sound (especially in the 90's) which was a great mix of pop, r&b, and a teeny bit of gospel (the girl can take you to church when she wants to). Tommy Mattola may have been an asshole, but he knew what he was doing. The song has been heralded by many critics as one of the best debut singles by a female artist ever, and was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 4 consecutive weeks.

 Mariah Carey (the album), has been certified 9x Platinum in the US (7x Platinum in Canada), was #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart for 11 consecutive weeks, and (along with Vision Of Love) had three other consecutive #1 singles. Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. Not bad for a first go, huh? 

Now, I feel like doing another poll. Vote on the side panel for which single from Mariah's debut album was your favourite (I'll add the video of the singing song, unless it's Vision Of Love lol).

 Happy Anniversary "Mariah Carey"!

What's On?: Judy Garland (A&E Biography)

 On this, what would have been her 91st Birthday, I pay tribute to one of my all time favourite entertainers and Icons, the incomparable Miss Judy Garland, with this presentation of her A&E Biography narrated by the great Peter Graves.

 There was never anybody like her and I doubt there ever will be! Here's to you Judy, thank you for your humour, your strength, your exceptional talent as a singer and an actress, and mostly for your inspiration! 

Cheers and Respect Always!

Liven It Up!: Emeli Sandé - Breaking The Law (Live @ iTunes Festival 2012)

  "When the corridors and all the stairs are making you tired, I will come for you; Set the building on fire!"

 There's so much I can write about Emeli, she's one of my new favorite artists, but for some reason, I don't feel like writing much about this post. Emeli is one of those artists that I feel completely enthralled with when I hear her. I can't explain it, there's a quality to her voice and her gifts as a songwriter that feels very honest to me. I felt the same thing when I first heard Adele sing, it wasn't gimmicky, it was just simple and completely true. So, I really just want this video to stand on it's own.

 One thing I will say is it's not hard to connect with this song in particular, because this is exactly the kind of love I have for my family and my boyfriend Chris. I'd break the law for them any day!

 From the album "Our Version Of Events" (2012).

 Who would you all Break The Law for?

Turn It Up!: Eric Hutchinson - The Basement (Music Video)

  "Dance Soldiers Forgetting Our Day Jobs, Tryin' To Get Our Funk On 'Cuz We Came To Rock n Roll!"

 Wow, infectious much?!?! This is one of those songs that is so fun and energetic that it gets me pumped for the day ahead. Imagine listening to this and dancing around your room while you're getting ready to go out. Yeah... PERFECT! Then to pair it with the happy go lucky, breeziness of this dance infused music video... Forget about it!

 I don't know a whole lot about Eric (other than his music is amazing), but from what I've read, he's released 4 albums in total, two independently and two through Warner Brothers Records, and he was originally signed to Madonna's record label Maverick, but the label shut down before the release of his 3rd album (first major label album) "Sounds Like This" (2008). After this he released it independently and caught the attention of blogger Perez Hilton which sent it into the top ten on iTunes. The album was then picked up by Warner Brothers who signed Eric and re-released the album.

This song is from Eric's latest album, "Moving Up Living Down" (2012), which he has been touring extensively for. Among solo tours, he has also been seen opening for artists like Kelly Clarkson, OneRepublic, and Jason Mraz (whom he is often compared to).

 Definitely give this artist a listen!

Turn It Up!: Wilson Phillips - The Dream Is Still Alive (Music Video)

  "They stopped a war, but not the dying. Some got a little bit lost along the way, but somehow we're here today!"

 I haven't done a Wilson Phillips post in awhile and my plan was to add the music video for "You Won't See Me Cry", but I can't seem to find it (or even a good live version) on youtube, so I'm quickly adding the music video for The Dream Is Still Alive instead.

 This song is the 5th single and closing track from their self titled debut album, and is a bit of a dedication to the 60's (as evidenced by the images in the video, as well as their looks) and also to their childhoods. The single only charted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 (disappointing compared to the other 4 singles from the album which were all top 5), but it's one of my favourites because of the overall spirit and melody of the song.

 Fun fact: This is also (admittedly) Wendy Wilson's favourite song from their whole catalogue.

Liven It Up!: Emm Gryner - North (Live For CBC Radio 2 2012)

  "In My Heart You're North Of The Border Shining Down Like The Aurora!"

 I haven't yet written about Emm, which seems odd because she has been one of my favourite Canadian Artists since I was in high school, but given that today is her 38th Birthday, I feel this is perfect timing.

 Emm is a singer/songwriter and gorgeous instrumentalist originally from Sarnia, Ontario who has always managed to do things for herself in the music industry. She released her first album, "The Original Leap Year", in 1997 after she entered her song "Wisdom Bus" in a National songwriting competition and won. The money from her win enabled her to start up her own independent record label called "Dead Daisy Records". Original Leap Year caught the attention of music producer Warren Bruleigh who managed to get Emm signed to Mercury Records for the release of her second album "Public" in 1998. This album put Emm in the spotlight with it's hit single "Summerlong" and had her opening on tours with Ron Sexsmith, Rufus Wainwright, and a spot in Lilith Fair, but it wasn't long before Mercury Records was bought out by Universal Music and she was dropped from her contract and back to releasing music through Dead Daisy Records. 

That one major label album was enough to get Emm's name on people's lips and her third release 1999's "Science Fair" outsold "Public" significantly which surprised even the woman herself. In an interview at the time she was quoted as saying,

  "It blew my mind to see that I could make an album on an 8-track at a rented cottage and it could reach more people than the previous album which was board roomed to death by all these supposed experts in the industry."

 Emm has continued to release music independently since and has headlined and been a special guest on so many tours (including David Bowie) since then, and has proven herself to be her own Canadian Industry. To date, she has released 12 albums (a few of these being limited edition specials for her fans only available through her website) and 1 Greatest Hits package.

 North is my favourite song from her most recent studio release "Northern Gospel" which was released in 2011.

She has most recently teamed up with fellow Canadian artist Dayna Manning (who I'll also be writing about in the future) and Laura C. Bates to form the band "Trent Severn".

 I don't know what you say, but I think Emm's work ethic and passion for her art are extremely commendable and inspiring. Happy Birthday Emm!

Liven It Up!: The Lonely Island feat. Alanis Morissette - Semicolon/Ironic (Live On Jimmy Kimmel 2013)

"Technically, Grammatically Incorrect!"

 LOVE THIS!!!!!!

 For those that don't know, The Lonely Island is a comedy music group that got their start on Saturday Night Live when member Andy Samberg was a cast member of the show and his long time friends, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone were writers for the show. During their time on SNL they brought us the now infamous songs "Dick In A Box", "Like A Boss", and "Jizz In My Pants"!

 The group released their first album "Incredibad" in 2009, and since leaving the show in 2011, the three have focused on releasing more material full time. Their new album, entitled "The Wack Album" was released on June 7th and features collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Adam Levine, Solange, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Robyn (among others).

 To promote the album, they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to perform the song "Semicolon" with special guest Alanis Morissette. The album version of the song actually features Solange as the guest star, but I think it's genius that they collaborated with Alanis to poke fun at their grammatical misuse of the semicolon, as Alanis is famous for her improper application of Irony on her 1995 hit "Ironic". The lyrics are no more than unfortunate coincidences passed off as Irony.

 Anyway, really funny performance. I enjoy!

Turn It Up!: Patty Griffin - Rain (Music Video) + Tony (Audio Only Video)

 I've gone back through previous posts, quickly skimmed all 166 of them and I could have sworn I had done at least one post about Patty Griffin, but I can't seem to find one, and that's just wrong. So, I'm adding two Patty songs in one post. When your name is on the header you can do shit like that.

 I'm going to see Patty in concert for the second time this coming Tuesday June 11th and as such I've been playing her music (mainly in my car) incessantly. She is a Grammy winning American Country/Folk/Gospel singer/songwriter who has released 7 studio albums since 1996 and 2 live albums, and has written songs which have been recorded and/or covered by the likes of The Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler and Kelly Clarkson (among many others).

 The first video I'm adding is the official music video for her song "Rain" from her 2002 album "1000 Kisses". This song is one of my top 10 favourite songs of hers, the music is so beautifully simplistic (I love the soft percussive instruments that sound like rainfall) and the lyrics are so fragile that it supports the simple animated piece that is the video and contrasts the emotions so wonderfully. A song about the sorrow of a failed relationship and how the depths of despair can pour down like a rainstorm.

 "Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep 
You think that you're gonna drown 
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep 
With all this rain falling down 

 Strange how hard it rains now 
Rows and rows of big dark clouds 
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud 
Rain"

 The second video I'm adding is a live acoustic version of the song "Tony" from her 1998 album "Flaming Red". I chose this song because it was the song that made me a Patty Griffin fan and I feel it's still the most socially relevant, especially in these days of rampant teen suicides. Tony particularly deals with a gay teen who commits suicide after relentless bullying and how the character singing the song reacts.

  "I hated every day of high school 
It's funny, I guess you did too 
Its funny how I never knew 
There I was sitting right behind you 
They wrote it in the local rag 
Death comes to the local fag 
I guess you finally stopped believing 
That any hope would ever find you 
Well I know that story, 
I was sitting right behind you"

 The performance is from the live charity album "Live In The X Lounge" which is pictured in the video. Hope you enjoy these two songs! I'll be adding a few more Patty video's in the next couple of days!
 

What's On?: Orange Is The New Black (New Series Trailer)

  "It's Just Like The Hamptons, Only Fucking Horrible!"

 The new show from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan premieres exclusively on Netflix on July 11, and judging by the trailer above, I think I'm really going to like it.

 With a cast of well known character actors like Jason Biggs (American Pie, Say Anything), Natasha Lyonne (Slums Of Beverly Hills, American Pie, But... I'm A Cheerleader, (LOVE HER!!!!!)), Kate Mulgrew (Ryan's Hope, Star Trek Voyager), Laura Prepon (That 70's Show, Are You There Chelsea?) and new star on the rise Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One, Argo), Orange Is The New Black is based on the Piper Kerman memoir of the same name, that recounts the authors 15 month imprisonment for money laundering and drug trafficking in a Connecticut Women's penetentiary in 2004.

 Will you watch?

Liven It Up!: Attraction Shadow Theatre Group - Britain's Got Talent

 My Mom e-mailed me this this morning and I'm adding it because I was absolutely blown away by the creativity and craftsmanship of this group. Beautiful work, beautiful story, beautiful music (Read All About It (Part 3) by Emeli Sandé), I defy you not to be touched by this piece.

 Please give it a watch, it's really incredible!

Turn It Up!: Cathy Dennis - Just Another Dream (Music Video)

  "Is this for real, or is it just another dream?"

 It seems I always start my blogs by thanking my friend and avid supporter, Jordanna for helping influence what songs I put on here, and I'm doing so again. I had planned to put most of these songs anyway, but she helps to expedite when I choose to add them.

 Cathy Dennis was a 90's British pop singer/songwriter, who released three mildly successful albums between 1991 and 1996, her most successful of these was her first release, 1991's "Move To This". With hit singles like "Just Another Dream", "Touch Me (All Night Long)", and "Too Many Walls", Move To This spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot 200 chart where it peaked at number 67. She found smaller success with her second album, "Into The Skyline" (1992) with the lead single "You Lied To Me" who's video (if my memory serves me right) was even featured during the end credits of the original "Beverly Hills 90210" for a time during one of it's early seasons (no doubt to help sales). Her third album, "Am I The Kinda Girl?" (1996), was only released in the UK and Europe, but made little to no mark on the charts.

 I remember seeing an interview a long time ago with Cathy (I think it was when Much Music had her on Spotlight, which was a half hour to hour program when they used to focus on the music videos of one particular artist and show interview clips between them), and I recall Cathy admitting that she wasn't a big fan on the performing aspect of being an entertainer, which is perhaps why she has focused her efforts on songwriting and producing for other artists since her last studio album. She has become one of the most heralded and saught after songwriters in pop music, collaborating with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Spice Girls, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Emma Bunton, and S Club 7 on some of their biggest hits (Kylie's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" and "Come Into My World", Britney's "Toxic", Katy's "I Kissed A Girl" etc.). She has even won multiple awards for her contribution to songwriting.

 Clearly she has found her niche, but I still miss seeing and hearing her in this fashion. I love this video, she has the most startling green eyes I think I've ever seen, and her little head wiggle is adorable.

 As a bonus, I'm also adding Cathy's demo version of Toxic which was the blueprint for Britney's recording.
 

Turn It Up!: Hey Ocean! - I Am A Heart (Music Video)

  "Your Ivy Walls Can't Keep Me In. I Am A Heart That's Hard To Pin!"

 I only have about 10 minutes to add this post, but I had to do it quickly because I just discovered this band and they are absolutely fantastic and this music video is much fun to watch. Such an infectious song!

 Hey Ocean! is a Canadian band which formed in 2005 with Members Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham, and David Vertesi and were recently nominated for the Breakthrough Group of The Year Award at the 2013 Juno's, but lost to the band "Monster Truck". This song is the third single from their latest album, 2012's "IS"!

 That's about all I know about them, except for one more fact about Ashleigh Ball. Apart from the band, she is also an accomplished voice over actress that has voiced many animated characters in straight to dvd films ranging from Barbie Movies, to Marvel's Iron Man Animated features. Interesting!