Turn It Up!: Melanie B - Tell Me (Music Video)

  "...And All You Loved Was Mel B's Money!"

 One more quick post for the night!

 I meant to add this yesterday because it was Mel's 38th Birthday, but... I don't have an excuse, I just didn't lol. Sorry Mel!

 Tell Me was the first single (technically the second) released from Melanie's first solo record "Hot" back in 2000. The album was written and recorded while the Spice Girls were on hiatus between the Spice World Tour and the recording of their third album "Forever" (2000). In that time, she had given birth to her first child (Phoenix Chi) and married and divorced dance Jimmy Gulzar, who was one of the backing dancers on the Spice World Tour.

 This song is clearly about the disintegration of the relationship. Other songs on the album reference that Jimmy was two-timing Mel. You're really gonna pull that shit with a woman known as Scary Spice? Dude!!! 

Anywhoozle, I'm off for the night. Enjoy the perfect revenge song that this is, and Happy Birthday again, Melanie!

Turn It Up!: Tracy Bonham - Behind Every Good Woman (Music Video)

  "Behind Every Good Woman Lies.... A Trail Of Men!"

 Wow, I'm starting to get a huge headache from the humidity in Toronto today, and I can't really concentrate on writing a full post right now, so I'm adding this song because I don't have to explain much about this video.

 Tracy Bonham is an Alternative Rock Chick who's biggest success in the music business came from the release of her first studio album "The Burdens Of Being Upright" (1996) and her first single "Mother Mother". After the mild success of that album and a couple Grammy nominations, changes to the record company she was with delayed the release of her second album until 2000 when she released "Down Here". Behind Every Good Woman was the first and only release from that album and since then Tracy has concentrated on releasing music on the independent circuit.

 This song and video are so cheeky, fun and sassy that it's impossible to not get hooked.

 Enjoy!

Turn It Up!: Belinda Carlisle - Leave A Light On (Music Video)

Belinda Carlisle - Leave a Light On by hushhush112
"I'll be there before you close the door to give you all the love that you need!"

 Yaaaayyyyy! I finally found this video thanks to my friend and loyal follower Jordanna, who inadvertently found it for me on Dailymotion. I remember looking for this video a few times over the past months and years on youtube in order to add to the blog and I could only find really low quality live versions or stupid fan made video's for it, until Jordanna tracked it down and added it to her facebook page!!! Thank you Darling (this one's for you)!!!!!!

 I was a little bit obsessed with this song when I was a kid. I remember my brother made me a mixed tape to listen to on my walkman (sad to think kids today have no idea what those two things are) for a family vacation car ride, and this song was on it and I think I rewound the tape over and over and listened to this song for about an hour straight. I was a bit too young (or perhaps just unaware at the time) that Belinda Carlisle was a member of the amazing group The Go-Go's before she ever went out on her own as a solo act, but her solo ventures have always been so well put together that I almost prefer them to anything she did with the band.

 The Go-Go's originally disbanded in 1985, which is when Belinda went out on her own to pursue her solo career with hits like "Heaven Is A Place On Earth", "Summer Rain", "I Get Weak", and "Leave A Light On". Leave A Light On was the first single from her third album "Runaway Horses" (1989) and was a top 10 hit in 8 different countries. The song features George Harrison (my Mom's favourite Beatle) on slide guitar, and the video (directed by Peter Care) features Belinda driving around the Navada Desert and walking the Las Vegas strip.

 Belinda is still doing her thing, and this year she released a new Greatest Hits package which included her new single "Sun".

 PS Thank you user hushhush112 on Dailymotion for uploading it for us to enjoy! Always give credit where credit is due!

Talk To Me!: Jodie Foster On Inside The Actors Studio (2005)

 Even though the clips from the movies they discuss are missing in this video (due to You tubes regulations), this is still an in depth and extremely interesting interview with Jodie Foster (one of my all time favourite actresses) about her early life and film career!

 The thing I love so much about Jodie, is how selective she is with her film roles. She's not the type of actress that does 3 movies a year back to back, she likes to take the time and really search out a role that is meaningful and perfect for her. So, she may not do a lot of movies, but you can be assured that the movies she does partake in are always passion projects.

 James Lipton sat down with Jodie to discuss everything from her beginnings as a child actress, to her first Academy Award nominated role at the age of 14 as child prostitute, Iris in Taxi Driver (1976), as well as her work in the films The Accused (1988, which won her her first Academy Award for best Actress), The Silence Of The Lambs (1991, which earned her her second Academy Award for Best Actress), Little Man Tate (1991, Her directorial debut), Nell (1994, the first released under her production company "Egg Pictures"), Panic Room (2002), and Flight Plan (2005).

Me as Gerard in the play "Forests"

 I actually learned something from this interview, I recently did a community theatre play called "Forests" back in March (I act in my spare time, if I forgot to mention this), in which I played a character named Gerard. It was an extremely heavy part that I had to play, my character essentially relives his past trauma of living in a forest (much like Jodie's character Nell), where his family is destroyed before his very eyes (Rape, incest, murder, suicide, you name it, I had to relive it and tell the tale of what happened). Anyway, my point is that while I was trying to discover how to get into the mind and body language of a character like that, I found a physical trait that, like Jodie, every time I started to do it, would involuntarily make me cry. It was basically a rocking motion, partnered with a kind of whimpering noise and hand ringing.

I know now from this show, that's it's called the psychological gesture. Very Interesting. That's why I love this show.

 More episodes to come in the future!

Turn It Up!: Jessie Ware - Night Light (Music Video)

  "Let me fall into your shades, you'll be my night light!"

 My brother gave me Jessie's debut album "Devotion" (2012) after his friend Dawn had insisted that I would love her sound, and y'know what? Dawn was right!

I don't know much about this 28 year old Londoner, but I really don't need to know much in order to enjoy her. What I do know, is that she used to sing back up for artists like Jack Peñate and Florence & The Machine, she's good friends with Adele (and has been described as the "missing link between Adele, SBTRKT and Sade) and she recently did her own cover version of Martika's "Love Thy Will Be Done". Although, I wasn't a huge fan of her version of that song, I must say I commend her for doing a Martika cover of any kind. Very cool choice.

 I love the song "Night Light" (the fourth single from Devotion), because it sounds very 90's to me and I love the cello in the opening of the track.

 Give it a whirl!

Turn It Up!: Idina Menzel - Brave (Music Video)

Yeah Baby! I've been listening to Idina's music for most of the day today (which really just means on the way to work and back) but I forgot how beautiful some of her pop songs are.

We all (maybe not all) know her as the Broadway Diva with the huge voice from Wicked, Rent, and The Wild Party (among many other broadway shows), but Idina is also a talented pop singer and songwriter in her own right. This song is from her 3rd studio album "I Stand" (2008) and was co-written by Glen Ballard.

The song was the first single released from "I Stand", and peaked at #19 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. I remember when I saw her in concert during the tour for this album, I was front row and I was physically moved by this song when she performed it. Her vocals were stellar that night!

 Inspiring Song, Gorgeous Video... What more can you ask for? More pop albums from Idina, that's what! I'll definitely be adding more of her original material in the future and of course some of her broadway classics, like this gem!

Turn It Up!: Kylie Minogue - Skirt (Official Track Video)

 Hmmm! I don't know what to think about this!

 Today is Kylie Minogue's 45th Birthday and to celebrate with her fans, she and producer Nom De Strip have released (via Soundcloud) the club mix of a new song from her upcoming 12th studio album, called "Skirt". Now y'all know I love my Kylie to death, but I'm not really a fan of remixes. I would have preferred hearing the album version over the club mix of the track, but I guess beggers can't be chooser's.

 From the comments I've read about the track, it looks like most people are going bat shit crazy over it, so well done Miss Minogue. I don't dislike it in anyway, I'm just very picky when it comes to remixes, but the more I listen to it, the more I'm learning to appreciate it.

What do you all think? Like or Dislike? Gonna take a poll on the blog and see what you think. Vote just to the right.

 Happy Birthday Kylie!

Liven It Up!: Carrie Fisher - Wishful Drinking (One Woman Show)

  "Hi, I'm Carrie Fisher and I'm an alcoholic!"

 About a week and a half ago, I added an interview with Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds from the Oprah Winfrey Show and I had mentioned that I was going to add Carrie's one woman show that was recorded and shown on HBO later that same day... well, clearly I didn't lol, but I'm adding it now!

 I've probably watched this special about 30 times since I've downloaded it and I'm still not sick of it. She has such an amazing outlook and sense of humor about her life given the things she's gone through. As she says, "If my life wasn't funny, it would just be true. And that is completely unexceptable." Her gifts as a writer and actress have molded her abilities as a great storyteller. This one woman show (named after her autobiography of the same name) focuses on many aspects of her life. From growing up the daughter of Hollywood legends (and the ins and outs of her parents famous marriages), to her infamous role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, to her own failed marriages (to singer Paul Simon and casting agent Brian Lourd), to her history of mental illness and drug addiction, she attacks every facet of her life with a really clever biting wit that will keep you smiling and laughing throughout.

 It is over an hour long, but it is a really great watch if you have the time. Don't be put off by her singing in the opening, there are no other musical numbers to suffer through lol.

Turn It Up!: Pebbles - Giving You The Benefit (Music Video)

 "Just take the benefit, don't give me no lip and I'll be sweet to you!" 

Had to add this song, it came on my i-pod when I was driving home from work today and I was jamming and singing along to it so hard!

 Perri "Pebbles" Reid was an R&B and Dance Pop artist / entrepreneur who had three successful albums back in the 80's to mid 90's and also ran her own music production company, Pebbitone, which discovered and helped form the group TLC. "Giving You The Benefit" was the first single from her second studio album "Always" (1990), and charted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 list and was #1 for 3 weeks on the R&B charts, becoming one of her most successful singles.

 After accusing her of mismanaging their money (which she denies) and declaring bankruptcy, the members of TLC left Pebbitone, and following her divorce from record executive L.A. Reid, Pebbles left the pop music world and has since become an ordained Minister and now releases gospel music under the stage name, "Sister Perri".

 She looked smokin' hot in this video, I'm surprised she wasn't a model!

Turn It Up!: Janet Jackson - If (Music Video)

"I've Closed My Eyes & Thought Of Us A Hundred Different Way."

 This past Saturday marked the 20th Anniversary of the release of "janet." (1993), Janet Jackson's 5th studio album, and since it's one of my favorite albums of all time, I wanted to add one of it's hit songs. The album came out at a time when I was just starting to discover who I might become (sexually speaking) and the importance of being responsible with this aspect of my life, so it (along with Madonna's Erotica album) really informed this period in my growing up.

 "If" (released July 13, 1993) was the second single from "janet." and is lyrically about a girl who sexually fantasizes about a guy and what she would do to him if he weren't with another girl (don't be man-stealing, Janet). The sexual content of the song, and the album in general, was at the forefront of discussion among critics when the album was first released. Until that time, Janet had a relatively squeaky clean image, never showing much skin (except for her video for Love Will Never Do Without You, which bared her midriff) and rarely sang about sexual desires until this release which was dubbed as her "Sexual Awakening". Although the topic on everyone's lips were lyrics like "Your smooth and shiny feels so good against my lips, sugar", critics were also impressed by Janet's fusion of rock and trip hop funk music as well as her vocal performance which starts with a low vocal chant at the beginning of the verses and then swings up into a strong melodic pre-chorus. Also to be noted is the orchestral flourish sampling from Diana Ross and The Supremes' classic song "Someday We'll Be Together" which opens the instrumental bridge, and explosive dance break scene in the video, which is arguably one of Janet's most acclaimed and heralded dance performances ever.

 Speaking of choreography, the music video for this single was a dance extravaganza (as you can see). Set in a futuristic Asian nightclub and choreographed by Omar Lopez and Tina Landon (who was not only Janet's choreographer but also one of her back up dancers), the intricate "Look but don't touch!" choreography was the perfect fit for the story behind the song.

 As a little bonus, I've just read that during a recent interview with Billboard Magazine, Miss Jackson (if you're nasty) has announced that she if finally working on the follow up to her 2008 release "Discipline". 

Quote:

 “I am working on a new project now. We are creating the concept and initial thoughts on the music,” she said. “I am excited about the direction we are taking. I don’t want to rush it… I don’t want to put a time constraint on the creative process.”

 So Excited!!!!!!!!!!!

Turn It Up!: Bjӧrk - Mutual Core (Music Video)

 What a spectacular and genius music video!!!!

 I gotta say, Bjӧrk never fails to surprise me. The song Mutual Core is (my favorite track) from her 2011 album "Biophilia" and likens the triumphs and travails of human relationships to that of the shifting of the earths tectonic plates and geological phenomena that occur from this process (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, soil erosion etc). You can really hear this idea conveyed not only in the lyrics ("I shuffle around the tectonic plates in my chest. You know I gave it all, try to match our continents to change seasonal shift, to form a mutual core.") but also in the instrumentation and composition of the music which is what I've always loved about Bjӧrk as a composer. She covers all her bases in the presentation of her art.

 The music video for the song, which was directed by Andrew Thomas Huang and commissioned and presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, was shot on a sound stage in Bjӧrk's hometown of Reykjavik, Iceland in two days, but the post production took 2 months. It features the singer buried up to her waist in a sand pit for the bulk of it, controlling the sand and the rock formations below it's surface (mother nature in a sense) until the rocks form a volcano which spews lava and volcanic ash.

 See below the short behind the scenes video about the creation of the finished product.

 Amazing, wouldn't you say?

Turn It Up!: Alanis Morissette - Empathy (Music Video)

 I know I just added a new Alanis music video (for Lens), but she's released another home made video via her official website, this time featuring the song "Empathy".

 The video was posted yesterday (which happened to be her and her husbands 3rd wedding anniversary) with the following blog,

 "This video captures footage from the entire year of touring in 2012 around this wild world. Victor Indrizzo, who is my bandmate on drums, directed, shot and edited the piece.

 Needless to say, communal international travel, as an artist, is a dream come true. Add that my family was with me — I was over the moon, if not completely sleep deprived! This song brings tears to my eyes no matter how often I hear it or perform it. May it hug your heart in the way it is intended to.

 Xoxoxo

 Alanis"

 So, you can just consider this blog posting, a bonus post (aren't I nice?!).

 Much love to you, Readers!!!

Talk To Me!: Sandra Oh on George Tonight (2012)

 I've been catching up on the current season of Grey's Anatomy lately, and one of my favorite characters on that show is Cristina Yang, played beautifully by the super talented (and Canadian) Sandra Oh, and so I decided to look up a few interviews with her and I found this great one from last year with Canadian talk show host George Stroumboulopoulos (whom I consider to be our answer to Anderson Cooper) while she was in Toronto receiving her Star on The Canadian Walk of Fame.

 The two discussed her parents early concerns in her choice to become an actor, her early days developing her name in the film industry, her conscious choice to remain out of the realm of celebrity, the role of religion and spirituality in her life, her ultimate decision to look for non-ethnic specific characters to play, and of course, her role of Cristina on Grey's.

 She seems very sweet and down to earth, don't you think?

Turn It Up!: Juliet Simms - Wild Child (Music Video)

 Juliet Simms is the former lead singer of the indie rock band Automatic Loveletter, but the majority of the world got to know her as the gritty rocker chick from Team Cee-Lo who was the runner up from season 2 of The Voice.

 After her success on The Voice, Juliet was signed to Republic Records and has since been working on her first solo studio album which is rumored to be coming out summer 2013. The first single is the reggae infused rock track "Wild Child" seen above. I love this song, it really matches the sonic flavors she played around with while on Team Cee-Lo, my only problem is that the video doesn't really hold up with the energy behind the song. A good start though.

 In other news, Juliet also recently returned to The Voice during it's current 4th season to perform with her former coach on his new single Only You (the single version of the track features singer Lauriana Mae instead of Simms).

 What do you think of Wild Child?

Turn It Up!: Justin Timberlake - Mirrors (Music Video)

 Alright, here are my thoughts on Mr. Timberlake. I like most of his music (although a bit pretentious at times) but there's something about him that bugs me and I can't figure out what it is. Aside from the fact that (for some reason) he seems to think he's black, there's a quality to him that I just find fake and annoying. I don't trust white boys from Tennessee who have Wigga accents and maybe it's because of how he handled the whole Janet Jackson nipple flash at the Superbowl, but I guess he seems to be very self serving.

 Be that as it may, I do laugh my ass off whenever I see him on SNL and the bulk of his music is pretty funky. The above song is definitely my favorite track from his new album "The 20/20 Experience" (I wonder if he owes Barbara Walters royalties for that album title?), but what is going on with the end of this video? I get the whole "3 time periods in one couples evolution" idea. The whole thing makes sense until he and his Lady Gaga looking back up dancer show up. I'm Confuzzled!

 Pretentious indeed!