Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Teatru Unplugged 9 ....Some good vibes.

Yesterday evening I watched the Teatru Unplugged concert and I stood amazed because of the good quality live music I watched. I really regret not attending the magnificent concert at the Manoel.

All the artists(Chasing Pandora, Ira Losco, Brikkuni, Muzzle, Gianni and Rug) did a good job in presenting their style to the present audience. Gianni and Rug performed some italian songs, the 1st one being Con Le Mani by Zucchero(the myth) and then sang two cartoon tracks...the famous "Holly e Benji" and the "Sampei" track(currently made more famous locally in the clubber scene by the remix created by U-Bahn)). Well I am biased since I really love Gianni's radio programmes and live performances however I think the audience loved them too when I watched their applause and participation. The last track performed by Gianni and Rug was 50 Special by Lunapop (previous band of Cesare Cremonini).

I must admit that unlike what I said 2 or 3 blogs away, Chasing Pandora have a unique sound when performing acoustically and live. However my critic on that blog was on recorded music. I think that the singer(Melissa Portelli) has an awesome stage presence. As regards Muzzle they handled the audience quite majestically. Ira Losco did well Live as always and last but not least come "Il-Brikkuni". One of the earliest...it not..the earliest performance of this band with a difference. The song performed by the Brikkuni was a fast Maltese melody...I don't remember its name. The Brikkuni members come from different areas of music however the amalgamation of their styles comes out really great.

I included no video today since I don't have much time to find a good one.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Tristan b... WTF???

Have you heard his diction? intonation? sharpness? i.e. have you noticed that this dude hasen't got the basic stuff an amateur singer must have? Maybe his future in the showbiz can be in a modelling competition but please leave music alone dude.
(This short blog was initiated by me watching snippets of a supposedly "concert" of this guy. I'd have loads and loads of comments on the "concert" but I don't think this guy's singing deserves so much attention after all.)

Yesterday (25-12-06) the great Soul king died. Mr. James Brown left this world at the age of 73 of heart failure after being reported to suffer from severe pneumonia. May this great artist's soul rest in peace with disregard to his previous social problems. Please watch his most famous "I Got You (I Feel Good)" presented at last year's live8 concert.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The pBMAs (playback BAY MUSIC AWARDS)

Have you enjoyed the BMA's from the luxury of your home or went to the Eden Arena to enjoy the show? Well if you were blind I would've said it would have actually been better if you put on the same tracks on your great hifi system at home and listened to the music without having to pass through those many people present.
The usual stage miming of the so called "great" maltese artists actors and "performers" was also present at this years' BMAs. Presenters, compares etc call these people artists and performers. Well if there acting capabilities were judged most of them would've surely acquired a distinction however what we as audience want is to judge them as singers. How can we actually do that if the only voices of the singers we hear have passed from loads of computer software and have been mastered and remastered when produced? Well I get really furious knowing that the crowd present were all screaming and enthusiastic of listening to a track played on cd or even worse mp3....

I don't know if it's only mine of impression but I have to say that all songs seem to be actually the same song....I dunno maybe the lack of local production companies and/or producers. Well I really didn't enjoy myself to listening to the music presented because the sounds are to similar, especially for Wintermoods, Filletti & Friends, Bitterside, Scream Daisy. Amazingly enough I noticed that all those 4 bands mentioned had a sound similar to the Scar of some years ago but the Scar of yesterday had surely a different sound than what we are used to.

As regards newcomers, Chasing Pandora did well but as I already said for other bands....their sound is not original. Jay Omaro (never had seen this guy before)...is not inspired by Justin Timberlake, he is a wannabe Justin Timberlake imitating everything of the artist (lacks a lot of voice though unlike Mr. Timberlake). Hence I can never call this dude an artist at least till now.

To say something about the visuals, graphics and computer designed stuff, I think this years' was a breakthrough however when compared to other countries and awards ceremonies of the same type it lacked guys....it really lacked....especially when considering that other countries have been doing something of the same sort already from the 80's with more visual effects. I know that Malta is limited in space and everything but just to note that we haven't gone avant garde or anything like that.


Well just as a final note and to emphasize the fact that the BMA's weren't so visually extraordinary please watch the following video of the Guns Performing "Welcome to the Jungle" LIVE at the MTV VMA's of 18 years ago.

Under that watch also the great acoustic Performance by Jon Bon Jovi and guitarrist Ritchie Sambora of "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" at the 1989 MTV VMA's.






Saturday, December 02, 2006

Music, Assignments and revisiting the blog...

alo alo ppls... i just decided to blog myself out this cold saturday afternoon after some time of blog repose. (Hope that there is someone going to read my blog hehe). Loads of stuff has changed from my last blog though am not going to mention that sort of stuff...
Let me just export some of my present musical tastes at the moment, to start with....

As regards the alternative genre I am thrown out of this world by the great album Gang Of Losers by the Canadian Indie Rock Band "The Dears". The Guardian comented on this album stating "The Dears have never sounded so comfortable in their own skin." Besides its somewhat humerous meaning I totally agree with the paper and think that to all those alternative lovers out there, these tracks are a must.

Next awesome album out recently is I'm not dead by Alecia Beth Moore (more known as Pink) which released a multi style variation track list containing some soft acoustic touches, some blues, some rnb, and the pop/rockish style usually associated with the artist. What I greatly appreciate in Pink is the originality and authenticity of her style and lyrics. Well this album is not to miss.

Last but surely not least is some classic jazz of Ella Fitzgerald....in my opinion...the Queen of the Swing/Jazz Genre. I have her gold album which has a beautiful swing character much associated with the artist. I just hope that everyone deep in music has some music of Ella Fitzgerald since her songs are not to be forgotten throughout the years.

As regards other stuff....I have finally started to drive my precious Hyundai Getz.... :) (ga adda kwazi xahar) and I really enjoy going for a drive, especially alone, listening to some hot musical vibes on the sound deck (Pioneer mp3 player....Ehim...).... This week is also the giving-out-of-assignments week where every lecturer liberates his vengeance and we receive the marvellous essay titles or Projects to carry out.
That's all fowks... please watch the following video of the famous (78 year old song) "Mack The Knife" interpreted exceptionally by Ella Fitzgerald with some wonderful improvisation.


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