Green, Black, Yellow cross. What does these remind you?

Green, black, yellow cross reminds me the colors of a flag, which locates in Caribbean Sea, a country with good coffee, and my first impression to this country was from World Cup 1998, team in the same group with Brazil. But, cannot forget that, Jamaica is where Bob Marley was from, the top rep of Reggae music. Marley has 6 children, and only Damian Marley is now inheriting his fathers business as a reggae singer. He adated the trademark look of his father with long breaded hair style; as well as extends the music nature, cultures. Talking about reggae, the style is very relaxing, and pleasant with full holiday mood. It implies Jamaicans personality ad happy, positive. The music is based on pian and guitar, with the elements of jazz, R&B. Starting to be the trend in 1960s, it proves again that different industries were flying up in the brilliant 60s, it left quite a lot of good things nowadays for us to enjoy.

A short old video sharing, it introduced a bit about reggae definition by Bob Marley, “War“. And the second video is a lovely song with reggae rock element by Superheavy, which Damia Marley was one of the members – “Miracle Workers“. This is more modern and fresh.

 

 

 

Blog Recommendation

Just came across another blogger with so many music recommendation. More in-depth than mine. Please enjoy.

Modern Classic

People always feel bored to listen to the classical music. And classical music is stereotyped to something only belong to Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, the most famous one; or a big group of orchestra playing. Instrument playing melody may only be listened in some cafes, restaurant, lobby in hotels etc. But the modern crossover is no longer old-aged, it’s very energetic and drives people to enjoy and dance. Most known is Bond, 4-girl string quartet group from Australia and United Kingdom respectively. I am proud of this group, not only because of the music, but also one of members, Gay-Yee Westerhoff, she is an English-Chinese cellist; and her half origin is from local Hong Kong =). Their first single “Victory” was even re-arranged to a Canton-pop song from Hacken Lee in Hong Kong. The lead music arrangement is by the string quartet, remixed with some technos; which is the key of the crossover classical music like.

Let’s listen to one.

 

Soundtrack

The best way to find your type of music is listening to the soundtracks. A movie usually needs different types of music for different scenes. So there will be some slow one, so rocks one, romantic one, or just for intermissions etc. “Twilight”  series has a various of choice, and definitely for R&B, Urban and Hip hop, we can find them from all “Step Up” series; modern and pop like “Sex and the City” series, seasonal but also warm and harmony one, can be found from “Love Actually” etc. I guess the most smach hit recent years is the theme song by Hugh Grant and Drew Berrymore from the movie “Music and Lyrics” – “Way Back into Love”.

Go sing, Actress！

Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl

Taylor Momsen at The Pretty Reckless Live Tour

Some stars found from TV dramas are surprisingly rhe song writers with records released. I accientally discovered Little J from “Gossip Girl” , starring Taylor Momsen is a very young kid doing her own type of rock music. And her voice is very alike to the Canadian singer Avril Lavigne. She is actaully in a band as The Pretty Reckless, with latest single released “Male me wanna die“. Although her music is not my type, and slight little too out of my range, I still would sell it to some of you who like the side tracks.

 

 

 

Candice Accola outaide Vampire Diaries

Candice Accola as Caroline Forbes, a vampire in Vampire Diaries

“Vampire’s Diaries“, Candice Accola. Her music nature is also pop and rock; sometimes comfortable, containing some girlish senses. I am kind of weird that I could guess how Candice sings before I listen to her songs. I guess from her voice in the drama, and eventually, yes, that is how she sings. 

 

R&B Arrived!!!

How can R&B be missed? This is one of my favorite music. Early 90s hot pick I will still recommend you Mariah Carey (please do not just take her over-sized body shape as the always focus. I do not believe in her photos on album because they are all made by photoshop or ai.). Mariah does not only have her signature high note, but her wide range of music styles. Her voice is capable for any kind of music with feels which I always mention. No matter pop, blue, jazz, seasonal, 80s rock, r & b etc, she is the one to rock it. But back to the history, R & B comes from the African American, which is also the negro best seller. Brian McKnight is on my list. Besides, from the millennium, who wants to beat with Alicia Keys? Her big hands dances many incredible songs. And she jumped into the center of the TV by her first ever single “Fallin’“. Learning from her inspiration Ms Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys does so many songs for women to men or to all; typically we have “A woman’s worth“, “Superwoman” etc. The latest album “The Element for Freedom” has no single recommendation, ‘cos all of then are the recommendations.

So I won’t recommend those you can always hear from Mtv, but something not plugged to the radio,

Alicia Key’s “Jane Doe” from her first debut album “Song In A Minor”

Mariah Carey’s “X girlfriend” from “Rainbow”

Brian McKnight’s “Shoulda Woulda Coulda”

Enjoy the mixture of blacks and whites.

Dream Come True at London

This is a very touching concert ever, Adele live at Roayl Albert Hall. I cried for most of the songs, and that was so ridiculous. Album version may have some arrangements afterwards, which make all become so perfect; but her voice is so perfect. She is young, but her music is very experienced. And every breathe she took and the lyrics she sang is heartshaking, I felt the same pain of some of songs which she wrote it when she was down. “Someone Like You“, yes as always my top favorite, but I need to recommend you “I can’t make you love me“, “Set to Fire the Rain” and “Turning Table”.

Quick share – Step Up

Ok this is the song I am listening now, “Show me the money” by Petey Pablo. This song has chosen as one of the background music for Step Up 1, a movie talking about a girl pursuing her dancer dream by her final year project at art school; and how she met Tyler the dancing talent at school when he was giving the community service.

 

I think as a song for dance, the arrangement is pretty important; massive violin backups pushes the song as the perfect one for a group of dancers gathered on stage and doing the group dance. And this is quite a special song because how a rap song like this would have such orchestra ?

 

Quick share – 90’s World of Boyband

Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean (Fromt left to right)

Going back to the early 90’s, boybands becam the hottest issue. Singers appeared in groups like my favorite Backstreet Boys, formed in 1993, and officially introduced in Florida, US. “We’ve Got It Going On” was their first ever single. They did not get a quick success in their home country, but among the Europe and Asia. They came to be the top number one boyband after they returned to their home.  The band had not received the first success which encouraged the band to be more hard-working in their home country market.

In 1999, “Millennium” the third album made them a huge reward after; not only the number of the No. 1s on the Billboard, but a real stardom to their band, let’s check out the music video of the 1st single of “Millennium” as “I Want It That Way“.

Kevin Richardson, the eldest member left the band for his own pursuit 3 years after another member AJ McLean came to public for his drug abuse problem in 2003. “Never Gone” was the last album that Kevin involved. Take a look at the 1st single “Incomplete” of ““Never Gone”.

But the band always welcome Kevin to return.

Fly me to the Jazz

A very familiar Jazz approach

“Fly me to the Moon” has been used for thousand times for TVC themes, tracks for movies etc. I always feel like that this song should match with a chocolate TVC, it tastes the same. A melody written by Mr Bart Howard in 1954 becomes the frequent melody people now use for any circumstances. The song indicates the abstract love between a couple, and no matter what, a couple would do whatever they can to please their partners.

“Come fly with me” by Frank Sinatra reminds me of the dance of Waltz. It is very lively, happy and time for dance moment. Imagine that in a ballroom, a lady is sitting alone, a gentlement invites the lady as “come fly with me, on the dance floor?”. Lolz

Young version, by Westlife in 2004.