Showing posts with label R'n'B. Show all posts
Showing posts with label R'n'B. Show all posts
Interpretations of Valerie
I loooove this video. Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, the video for Valerie. (Winehouse isn't actually in the video, but features have-a-go lookalikes plucked from the crowd). Just a wonderful upbeat video, looks like everyone's having a lot of fun. Released October 15th 2007.
A remix of a cover. Brilliant remix. Baby J remixed Mark Ronson's version of Valerie as covered by Amy Winehouse. Phew! It works really well with a ska, reggae, dancehall tinge to it. I love the way a proper video has been produced for this relatively low key remix. I think it was b side on the actual release.
Great little video of Amy sitting off on a couch and performing Valerie live, with an accompanying acoustic guitar, for an AOL session. Makes it look effortless, truly.
Another live performance of the track by Amy Winehouse. Nice relaxed but jazzed up performance.
A really good cover of Valerie by Panic at the Disco, performed on Jo Wiley's Live Lounge.
James Morrison lends some huskiness to Valerie. I think this too must have debutéd on Jo Wiley's show.
Woot! Finally, the instrumental of Mark Ronson's Valerie. However I'm pretty sure it's fake and this is just someone knocking it up on GarageBand, good effort though. (Not sure about the A Christmas Carol bells in the middle though!).
The Temptations perform My Girl
Absolutely fucking amazing. Just love the bright purple suits against the velvet scarlet backdrop and the Jacksonesque white socks, plus the shimmying dance moves. Performance taken from the film, My Girl. Also see the other performance I have, black and white TV spot.
Duffy borrows from the Temptations
I really like the above song, Warwick Avenue by Duffy, but there is no denying it has the same opening chords of the Temptations' My Girl. It's quite brazen really. And by quite I mean, you know, very. And by very brazen I mean, you know, plagiarism. But then Duffy is Welsh. Nice tune, and an even better video. Close up crying. Never fails.
Below I have posted the Temptations with My Girl to contrast and compare. Not just any video however. A live TV 1965 performance of the track in snazzy suits and black and white filters. Sweet.
Santogold is pure gold
Album artwork for debut LP, 2008.Shuv it by Santogold. Great beat and wonderful lyrics. Not heard anything bad by this girl yet. "Brooklyn we go hard/we on the look for the advantage/we work hard/and if we seem to rough it up a bit - we broke/but we rich at heart/pull ourselves up now we won't choke/it's our time/put the lights on us". "War tactics they make me sick/reel your heart in run away with it/smile in your face undermine your blood/got guns for the strength they lack/if you know another way/you can't look the other way/you know another way/tell them so right to their face", "We think you're a joke/shove your hope where it don't shine", "I pay for what's called eccentricity/and my will to evolve/I hear them all say/that I got heart/but not everything that it takes".
Find a Way by Santogold. I think this song is a warning sign rallying call railing against a serially abusive boyfriend and one pushing drugs on his girlfriend. Basically a bad news douche. "Go ahead/you know you want it/you'll have no other way you just wanna take us down/go ahead/I'll be the one hit/if I can take you boy it just might throw this town", "Oh oh oh/you want to get it/you make us bleed it'll prove there's life somewhere/and oh no I want to yell it/but do we speak or are we just nodding our heads?", "No way not me/what you got/it's not for me/(you'll find a way)/no way not me/what you got is not for me", "Go ahead/I'll be your junkie/I'll be deplete/you can heap all rubbish here/go ahead/now dump it on me/if I go quiet, will the itch go down with me?", "Don't reach too far/you will fall over/don't be surprised what you discover/don't fear/your call can't pull us under/you better watch out/run for cover".
The Creator by Santogold. Haha, the introduction to this sounds like something from the Sims 2! Brilliant. "Got no need for the fancy things/all the attention that it brings/tell me no/I say yes - I was chosen/and I will bring the explosion". "Me I'm a creator/thrill is to make it up/the rules I break got me a place up on the radar/me I'm a taker; know what the stakes are/can't roll it back it's understood got to play our cards".
Absolute superb pop tune by Santogold, L.E.S Artistes. Such a brilliant bass riff. Very cool video reminds me of Bat for Lashes' video for What's a Girl to Do. Santogold clearly wants to be wary of the nu-rave clingy indie crowd of bandwagon joy riders: "If you see me keep going be a passerby waver/build me up bring me down/just leave me out you name dropper/stop trying to catch my eye/I see you good you forced faker/just make it easy you're my enemy you fast talker", "I can say I hope/it will be worth what I give up/if I can stand up - me/for all the things that I believe", "What am I here for?/I left my home to disappear is all/I'm here for myself/not to know you/I don't need no one else".
Homecoming by Kanye West et Chris Martin
I like Kanye's outfit in this video, great scarf and belt in particular. And of course Common is a hottie. I think this track is Common produced. And, 'hem, Chris Martin is also hottie material.
Kanye West and Timbaland Make Stronger
Timbaland and Kanye West work on the 12th mix of Stronger. Great insight to how they work.
The finished product. Great animé inspired video.
The original Daft Punk song, Harder Better Faster Stronger, and music promo. (Interstella 5555).
The Genius of Timbaland
Timbaland featuring The Hives - Throw it On Me. I love the graphic novel style video for this song. Very Sin City and V for Vendetta. Really great animation, Heroes style.
I really like this song, Scream by Timbaland featuring Nicole Scherzinger (she of the Pussycat Dolls). Love the beat.
Adele
The ice sculpture adorned video for Cold Shoulder, taken from the debut album 19. "You/grace me with your cold shoulder/whenever you look at me I wish I was her/you/shower me with words made of knives/whenever you look at me I wish I was her". Released April 21 2008.
The spot for the single Chasing Pavements. Not sure about the video, but I like her coat and Audrey Hepburn pants. Kanye West liked it though - he described the video as "dope".
Adele performs the track Daydreamer live on Jools Holland. Very Ella Fitzgerald inspired performance. "But I will find him/sitting on my doorstep".
A live roof top, stripped down piano-accompanied version of Hometown Glory, featured on the BBC2 show, Sound. 27th October 2007.
Adele guests on BBC Radio 1 Jo Wiley's Live Lounge, and covers the Strokes' Last Nite.
Kissin' in the Back of the Movies by The Drifters
The Drifters perform Kissin' at the Back of the Movies on the Shirley Bassey show in 1979, the song reached #2 on the UK charts. Check out the Bassey in this video! She looks beautiful! The Drifters ain't so bad themselves. Love The Drifters and how their music is always so teen-boppy romantic. "And every night I pick her up from school/cos you're my steady date", "we can't have too much fun/till all your homework's done".
Freedom by Estelle, John Legend and Talib Kweli
Great song. Estelle's b-side Freedom remixed by John Legend and featuring Talib Kweli. This was from back in the early 2000s, before the American Boy era. Really great song. Laid back beats, good message. "Now we're making change/but it still hasn't changed".
It's All About the Stragglers...and Artful Dodger
Think About Me featuring Michelle Escoffery. This used to be one of my favourite songs, heatbreaking and soothing at the same time. Just a great voice and simple composition with acoustic guitar and piano. The slower side of the Dodger, only reached #11 on the UK charts.
Twentyfourseven featuring All Sainter Mel Blatt. This song was released on the 17th September 2001, and got to #6 on the UK charts.
Please Don't Turn Me On featuring Lifford Davis. Reached #4 in the charts.
Movin' Too Fast featuring Romina Johnson. Originally released in 1999, reached a stomping #187 on the UK charts, before achieving #2 position thanks to a 2002 remix and re-release.
All of the above tracks were taken from the only Artful Dodger album to date, It's All About the Stragglers, released on November 20th 2001. The album lasts for 61.76 minutes, fans. Also included Woman Trouble and Re-Rewind. I quite liked the cover art too.
Shangri-Las, the best girl group/group ever?
One of the best songs about mother/teenage daughter strife ever. A fucking brilliant breakdown after the 2 minute mark. Just amazing. Heartbreaking. Exemplary. "I'm gonna hide/if she don't leave me alone/I'm gonna run away/ - don't!", "Listen, does this sound familiar?/you wake up every morning/go to school every day/spend your nights on the corner/just passing the time away/your life is so lonely/like a child without a toy/then a miracle/ - a boy!", "I packed my clothes/and left home that night/though she begged me to stay/I was sure I was right/and you know something funny/I forgot that boy right away/instead I remember being tucked up in bed/and hearing my mother say/hush little baby, don't you cry".
Variations on a Theme: Rehab by Amy Winehouse
The original music video for the original Rehab by Amy Winehouse.
Rehab - Instrumental version.
Rehab as performed live on David Letterman.
Rehab by Paulo Nutini (AW cover).
Rehab feat. Jay-Z by Amy Winehouse (Jay-Z remix).
Rehab by Amy Winehouse (Hot Chip remix)
Rehab by Girls Aloud (AW cover)
Wonderful, wonderful acoustic version of Rehab, stripped down with just a gently strummed guitar for accompaniment. Recorded for Yahoo!.
Amy Winehouse performs Rehab, live on Jools Holland.
We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart
Quite possibly the best opening lines to a song ever: "Not a word/from your lips/you just took for granted/that I would want to skinny dip".
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