tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437801583601703922023-11-16T08:09:45.270-08:003 minutes 30 seconds and Fade Out.What I lack in originality I make up for in highly amusing incoherent babbling.annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-31968712168541674752015-12-24T17:45:00.002-08:002015-12-24T17:47:22.745-08:00Top 10 albums of 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful- Florence + the Machine</b></div>
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Sublime from start to finish</div>
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<b>2. FROOT- Marina and the Diamonds</b></div>
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If I'm A Ruin doesn't melt your heart, you don't have a soul.</div>
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<b>3. Rebel Heart- Madonna</b></div>
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From bitch to vulnerable in 60 secs or more</div>
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<b>4. Lucid Dreaming- Say Lou Lou</b></div>
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Perfect debut filled with valium pop: emotive and melancholy at the same time</div>
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<b>5. Delirium- Ellie Goulding</b></div>
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Still about 6 tracks too long and a little too mainstream compared with her previous albums, but all in all a good pop record.</div>
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<b>6. Working Girl- Little Boots</b></div>
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Concept album about a HBIC? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP</div>
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<b>7. 25- Adele</b></div>
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If bawling your eyes out whilst singing at the top of your lungs is your kind of Saturday night, pop this bad boy on. Wine not included.</div>
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<b>8. Christine and the Queens- Christine and the Queens</b></div>
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French synth pop Goddess makes her (sort of) English debut. Key track? Paradis Perdus, if only for the seamless use of Kanye West's 'Heartless'</div>
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<b>9. Honeymoon- Lana Del Rey</b></div>
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Introspective jazz pop from the Coney Island Kween. </div>
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<b>10. E MO TION- Carly Rae Jepsen</b></div>
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RUN AWAY WITH ME! RUN AWAY WITH ME! Taylor take note: this is how you make an 80s sounding record.<br />
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<b>Honourable mentions</b>: Tove Styrke- Kiddo, Duran Duran- Paper Gods, One Direction- Made In the AM, The Weeknd- Beauty Behind the Madness, Ryan Adams- 1989<br />
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<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-48616452691760166892013-12-30T23:45:00.001-08:002013-12-30T23:59:28.446-08:00Top Tunes 2013 Edition<div>
IN NO ORDER...yet<br />
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<li>SuperLove- Charli XCX</li>
<li>Applause, Do What U Want- Lady Gaga</li>
<li>Julian, Fool Of Me (ft Chet Faker), Beloved- Say Lou Lou (<b>BEST NEWCOMER OF 2013</b>)</li>
<li>Your Drums, Your Love- AlunaGeorge</li>
<li>We Can't Stop- Miley Cyrus *insert groan here*</li>
<li>Tennis Court- Lorde</li>
<li>Work Bitch- Britney Spears</li>
<li>Come and Get It- Selena Gomez</li>
<li>I Was A Fool- Tegan and Sara</li>
<li>Valentine's Day- David Bowie</li>
<li>Resolution- Matt Corby</li>
<li>Best Song Ever, Story Of My Life- One Direction</li>
<li>Dear Darlin- Olly Murs</li>
<li>L'enfer et Moi- Amandine Bourgeois (<b>BEST EUROVISION TRACK</b>)</li>
<li>Under Control- Calvin Harris and Hurts</li>
<li>I Love It- Icona Pop and Charli XCX</li>
<li>You- Nathaniel</li>
<li>Evil Eye- Franz Ferdinand</li>
<li>Drew- Goldfrapp</li>
<li>Wings- Birdy</li>
<li>Habits- Tove Lo</li>
<li>All For You- Little Boots</li>
<li>Atlas- Coldplay</li>
<li>Over The Love- Florence and the Machine </li>
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<li>Roar- Katy Perry *rolls eyes*</li>
<li>Beauty Queen- Foxes</li>
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<li>Permission to Love- Hayden James</li>
<li>Blood On The Leaves- Kanye West</li>
<li>Blind, Somebody to Die For, The Crow- Hurts</li>
<li>Bridges- BROODS </li>
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<li>Young and Beautiful- Lana Del Rey</li>
<li>Rendez Vous- La Plage</li>
<li>La La La- Naughty Boy ft Sam Smith</li>
<li>Hard Out Here- Lily Allen</li>
<li>You My Everything, Burn, How Long Will I Love You- Ellie Goulding</li>
<li>Do I Wanna Know?- Arctic Monkeys</li>
<li>Got What You Need- Eskimo Joe</li>
<li>Fantasy- MSMR</li>
<li>Firestarter- Samantha Jade</li>
<li>Change Your Life, Bounce- Iggy Azalea</li>
<li>Thinking About You- Calvin Harris</li>
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And now....the top 10.<br />
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<b>10. The Wire- Haim</b><br />
It was so hard to pick my favourite Haim song for the list because, let's face it, THEY ARE ALL AMAZING. But The Wire rightfully owns a spot for being their big radio breakout hit.<br />
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<b>9. Love Me Again- John Newman</b><br />
I cannot wait for the Northern Soul resurgence. John Newman can start it in my opinion.<br />
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<b>8. Thursday- Pet Shop Boys ft Example</b><br />
The best PSB single in a long time. Neil Tennants' classic vocal stylings with Chris Lowe's beats and Examples rap/singing- why wouldn't you stay for the weekend?<br />
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<b>7. Pompeii- Bastille</b></div>
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I dare you not to sing along with the male choir. I DARE YOU. Perhaps one of the of the most uplifting, rousing songs of the year.</div>
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<b>6. Work- Iggy Azalea</b></div>
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This track was especially motivating on my daily commutes into work and features one of my favourite lyrics this year 'Valley Girls giving blow jobs for Louboutins/Whatchu call that?/Head over heels'. Great video as well featuring homages to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Death Proof and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. </div>
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<b>5. Royals- Lorde</b></div>
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In essence, a diatribe against American Cultural Imperialism. Brilliant.</div>
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<b>4. Flatline- MKS</b></div>
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A TUNE. I wasn't putting much stock in the comeback until I heard Dev Hynes was producing a few of their tracks. This first single sold me and it's such a shame that it didn't fare better chart wise. </div>
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<b>3. Hold On, We're Going Home- Drake</b></div>
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How did this get here? No-one knows. But it's a genuinely swoon worthy song with a good beat- just check out the fantastic cover by Arctic Monkeys as well for proof.</div>
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<b>2. Riptide- Vance Joy</b></div>
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In the film of my life, this song will be used in a montage sequence of myself (portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence or Meryl Streep) staring out of a car window, towards an imagined future, with the wind blowing in my face. My go-to happy song.</div>
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<b>1. Get Lucky- Daft Punk</b></div>
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No brainer. This was THE song of 2013 for me. The combination of Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams provided an explosion of funk and disco that soundtracked the entire year. It just makes you want to get up and dance no matter where you are. Iconic.<br />
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So, that seems to wrap up 2013 quite nicely. Now go forth and dance!<br />
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annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-23644032705210062672013-12-26T03:08:00.002-08:002013-12-26T03:08:10.543-08:00Top 10 Albums 2013 EditionAnother year, another night of hair pulling trying to put together my best of list.<br />
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<b>10. Phoenix- 'Bankrupt!'</b><br />
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It was always going to be difficult to follow up from the amazing <b>Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</b>, but I think Phoenix nailed it. More of the same Euro-rock-pop from them, but still a solid album all round.<br /><b>Standout tracks</b>: Trying To Be Cool, SOS in Bel-Air, Entertainment<br />
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<b>9. MSMR- 'Secondhand Rapture'</b><br />
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The dark horse on this list, MSMR started the year off strong with the release of their debut album. Thematically, it's a very apocalyptic album with a lot of the songs covering 'it's the end of the world! Here's what I'm going to do' theme. Laced throughout are some very strong pop songs, so while it didn't exactly set the charts on fire, it was a mainstay for 2013.<br />
<b>Standout tracks:</b> Fantasy, BTSK, Hurricane, Head is Not My Home, Dark Doo Woop.<br />
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<b>8. Charli XCX- 'True Romance'</b><br />
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This girl can write a mean hook and her debut album is proof of that. No filler (apart from Cloud Aura with Brooke Candy) plus she's the mastermind behind Icona Pop's 'I Love It'. It's 80s pop without sounding dated. Need I say more?<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: Nuclear Seasons, You, You're The One, Stay Away, Set Me Free.<br />
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<b>7. Bastille 'Bad Blood'/'All This Bad Blood'</b><br />
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A grower for sure, but once you're in, you are IN. From the opening of 'Pompeii' (more songs need to have male backing choirs imo) to the frantic-ness of 'Laura Palmer', the album and its re-release with added tracks make for a very enjoyable listen, but give it time. Also check out their mix tapes if you can (free to download), 'Other People's Heartache (parts 1 and 2) for some seriously amazing mashups. The band are obviously heavily influenced by cinema as well as pop music, taking snippets from classic films and building tracks around them. TLC''s 'No Scrubs' + The xx 'Angels' + Hitchcock's 'Psycho'= the brilliant 'No Angels'.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: Pompeii, Things We Lost In The Fire, Laura Palmer, Bad Blood<br />
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<b>6. Little Boots- 'Nocturnes'</b><br />
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Little Boots' long awaited second album did not disappoint at all. Full of shimmering disco and dance tracks, it really does seem to be more of a night album than anything else, so the title is really befitting more than anything else. Slightly more edgier than 'Hands' but no less amazing.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: Every Night I Say Prayer, All For You, Crescendo, Motorway<br />
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<b>5. Kanye West- 'Yeezus'</b><br />
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Jay-Z may be a better lyricist, but Kanye has better beats and pushes the boundaries. West isn't lying when he said Yeezus is 'an album of frustration'- you can clearly hear his angry on the majority of the tracks, not just lyrically but sonically too. It's telling then, that the album ends on what is one of his most romantic songs, 'Bound 2'. Did he just need to get a few things off his chest? We'll have to wait and see.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>; Black Skinhead, Blood On The Leaves, Bound 2, Hold My Liquor<br />
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<b>4. Daft Punk- 'Random Access Memories'</b><br />
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Possibly the most hyped up album all year. It worked for me though; all the tracks, bar 'Contact', are fantastic melanges of disco, funk and electronics. What I want next from them is a full length album or even an EP with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams. MAKE IT SO.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: Get Lucky, Lose Yourself To Dance, Giorgio by Moroder, Doin It Right, Instant Crush<br />
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<b>3. HAIM- 'Days Are Gone'</b><br />
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Pop, rock and R'n'B perfection. The long awaited debut album was everything we could have wanted from the sisters Haim, except for maybe adding more tracks to make up for the four previously released singles. But still, this is one amazing record- I guarantee you'll have at least one chorus stuck in your head per day.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: Days Are Gone, If I Could Change Your Mind, Running If You Call My Name, Go Slow, Falling, Forever, The Wire<br />
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<b>2. Lorde- 'Pure Heroine'</b><br />
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Oh Lorde. Beautiful. If ever there was an album that summed up a summer in the southern hemisphere from the teen perspective, this is it. It's the story of one girl growing up and rebelling against American Cultural Imperialism. It's got angst, but not too much. Beats, but nothing to make you go crazy on a dancefloor. Just some seriously good songs.<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: 400 Lux, Team, Glory and Gore, Buzzcut Season, A World Alone, Tennis Court<br />
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<b>1. Arctic Monkeys- 'AM'</b><br />
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Do not adjust your screens, this is not the Triple J site. Yes, AM was the best album this year. From start to finish, every track is just quality. Not a bad song on here at all. It's also the sexiest album I've heard in my life- every song has the right amount of swagger to pull it off (umm, no pun intended I guess). Not many bands can make such a successful turn around five albums in, but these guys have. Well played, Monkeys!<br />
<b>Standout Tracks</b>: THE ENTIRE ALBUM.<br />
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<b>Notable mentions</b>: Goldfrapp- 'Tales Of Us', Franz Ferdinand 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions', David Bowie- 'The Next Day', Eskimo Joe- Wastelands<br />
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<b>Best Soundtrack</b>: The Great Gatsby<br />
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<b>Slightly Underwhelming But Still Enjoyable</b>: Hurts- 'Exile'<br />
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I've put the standout tracks in this handy Spotify playlist: enjoy!<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:anniea89:playlist:02yix2jZA7X5pk9aHG2eQo" width="300"></iframe>annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-16273291415217379292013-08-28T01:11:00.002-07:002013-08-28T01:11:58.124-07:00VMA's 2013: A recap.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The VMA's (Video Music Awards for the uninitiated) is a chance for music's finest to let their hair down and be loose.<br />
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And lawd, this year, one lady in particular was LOOSE. But more on that later. For now, let me be your spirit guide to VMAs 2013.<br />
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First, the performances. Viacom, MTV's parent company, is a little bitch about putting up content for people outside of the US to see and hates Youtube with a passion of a thousand burning suns. Therefore, no video links here- I'm sorry, don't hate me.<br />
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<li>Lady Gaga- Applause: opens the show. It's a more subdued Gaga than we're used to. Sign of things to come? The performance was also a mini retrospective with looks and imagery from The Fame and The Fame Monster eras, but no Born This Way era, thus confirming my point that it's too soon to be nostalgic. The song is sort of growing on me, the chorus is ok but the lyrics to the verses are terrible. Overall though, not bad.</li>
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<li>Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke- We Can't Stop/Blurred Lines/Give In To Me: There are no words to accurately describe this. Perhaps 'hot mess' will do. Look, it's nothing to do with feminism or racism it's simply this: we know what Miley's doing, it's the stock standard 'LOOK AT ME I'M DOING THE CHILD STAR IS NOW A SEXY WOMAN' thing and I'm sorry Destiny Hope, but we are not buying what you are selling. And don't get me started on the creepiness of the pairing due to the age differences *shudders* All in all, it was just a sloppy performance.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE, DESTINY HOPE!'</td></tr>
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<li>Kanye West- Blood On The Leaves: YASS. Yeezus put in a beautiful, meaningful performance of one of the best tracks off the album. The lynch tree backdrop combined with the silhouettes of the audience hands waving from the bottom of the stage? Haunting.</li>
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<li>Mackelmore and Ryan Lews- Same Love: yay for marriage equality! That's all I have for this one in my notes.</li>
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<li>Drake- Hold On, We're Going Home/Started From the Bottom: I'm not that familar with Drake's recent work. Just here for the lulz and Degrassi gifs.</li>
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<li>JC Chasez, *N MOTHERFLIPPIN SYNC and that other guy: Oh God. Where do I even begin here? I HAVE BEEN WAITING 10 YEARS FOR THIS. 10 GODDAM YEARS. I ALMOST GAVE UP HOPE. BUT HOVAH AND YEEZUS MUST HAVE LISTENED AND ANSWERED MY PRAYERS. *NSYNC. Together. Performing on stage. THEY KILLED IT. JC's vocals and dance moves were on point, Chris and Joey were about to pass out and Lance couldn't keep up. It was like no time had passed. However, for all the hype (they even started a Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/NSYNC">@NSYNC</a>!) it was just too short. I wanted more of them and less of solo Justin. It's weird; I was such a Justin fangirl; HUGE in fact, and yet by 2006, I was so meh over him, whilst everyone and his mother were only just beginning to see the light. I do think 15 mins for this performance was too long; it felt like a massive wankfest. Yes, Justin nailed it, but other artists haven't had this long for this award; Britney got a minute. A MINUTE. #bitterstan</li>
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<li>Bruno Mars- Gorilla: For a song about freaky deaky animal sex, I don't know if it was entirely appropriate to have a giant hologram gorilla as a backdrop. I get it, but still.</li>
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<li>Katy Perry- Roar: meh. I don't do self-empowerment, positive songs. And Katy doesn't do live performances well either by the sounds of it *sips tea*.</li>
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THE WINNERS (You know, this is an award show and all) Source: <a href="http://www.spin.com/articles/mtv-video-music-awards-2013-winners-vma/">http://www.spin.com/articles/mtv-video-music-awards-2013-winners-vma/</a> Winners in bold, my comments in italics.</div>
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<strong>Video of the Year</strong><br />
<strong>Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors" (winner) </strong><i>Eh. </i><br />
Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven"<br />
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Thrift Shop" <i>This should have won.</i><br />
Robin Thicke, feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"<br />
Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble" </div>
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<strong>Best Male Video</strong><br />
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"<br />
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines"<br />
<strong>Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven" (winner) </strong><br />
Ed Sheeran, "Lego House"<i> RON WEASLEY, YOU WERE ROBBED. Robbed I tell you!</i><br />
Kendrick Lamar, "Swimming Pools (Drank)"</div>
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<b>Best Female Video </b><i>No worthy winners here</i><br />
Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko, "Stay"<br />
<b>Taylor Swift, "I Knew You Were Trouble" (winner) </b><i>Love the song *sips tea*</i><br />
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"<br />
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason"<br />
Demi Lovato, "Heart Attack"</div>
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<strong>Best Pop Video</strong><br />
Bruno Mars, "Locked out of Heaven"<br />
Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"<br />
Fun., "Carry on"<br />
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop" <i>For shear shits and giggles, this should have won.</i><br />
<strong>Selena Gomez, "Come and Get It" (winner) </strong><i>Oh COME ON!</i></div>
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<strong>Artist to Watch, Presented by Taco Bell</strong><br />
Twenty One Pilots, "Holding on to You"<br />
Zedd feat. Foxes, "Clarity"<br />
<strong>Austin Mahone, "What About Love" (winner) </strong><i>WHO?!?!?</i><br />
The Weeknd, "Wicked Games"<br />
Iggy Azalea, "Work" <i>Iggy :( What was with your accent though gurl? Kept slipping between Aussie and American. howbizarre.mp3</i></div>
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<strong>Best Collaboration</strong><br />
Justin Timberlake, feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie"<br />
Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera, "Feel This Moment"<br />
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, "I Need Your Love" <i>Also worthy for the CHEMISTRY between these two</i><br />
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines" <i>Could have won purely for Pharell and T.I</i><br />
<strong>Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason" (winner) </strong><i>Joy :|</i></div>
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<strong>Best Video With a Social Message </strong>(<i>da fuq?</i>)<br />
Kelly Clarkson, "People Like Us"<br />
<strong>Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, "Same Love" (winner)<i> </i></strong><br />
Snoop Lion, "No Guns Allowed"<br />
Miguel, "Candles in the Sun"<br />
Beyoncé, "I Was Here"</div>
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<strong>Best Rock Video</strong><i> No comments here</i><br />
Imagine Dragons, "Radioactive"<br />
Fall Out Boy, "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up)"<br />
Mumford & Sons, "I Will Wait"<br />
<strong>30 Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air" (winner)</strong><br />
Vampire Weekend, "Diane Young" </div>
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<strong>Best Hip-Hop Video</strong><br />
A$AP Rocky feat. 2 Chainz, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar, "Fuckin' Problems"<br />
J. Cole feat. Miguel, "Power Trip"<br />
Drake, "Started From the Bottom"<br />
Kendrick Lamar, "Swimming Pools (Drank)"<br />
<strong>Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us" (winner) </strong><i>I enjoyed the cinematography.</i></div>
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<strong>Best Art Direction</strong><br />
Capital Cities, "Safe and Sound"<br />
30 Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air"<br />
<strong>Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, "Q.U.E.E.N" (winner)</strong><br />
Lana Del Rey, "National Anthem" <i>ROBBED. </i><br />
Alt-J, "Tesselate"</div>
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<strong>Best Choreography</strong><br />
Chris Brown, "Fine China"<br />
Ciara, "Body Party"<br />
Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, "Live It Up"<br />
will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber, "#thatPOWER"<br />
<strong>Bruno Mars, "Treasure" (winner) </strong><i>My new project is to learn theses moves. So flawless.</i></div>
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<strong>Best Cinematography</strong><br />
30 Seconds to Mars, "Up in the Air"<br />
Lana Del Rey, "Ride" <i>THIS, THIS, THIS.</i><br />
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"<br />
<strong>Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us" (winner)</strong><br />
A-Trak & Tommy Trash, "Tuna Melt"</div>
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<strong>Best Direction</strong><br />
<strong>Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie" (winner) </strong><i>Fincher! *shakes fist*</i><br />
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"<br />
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Sacrilege"<br />
Fun., "Carry on"<br />
Drake, "Started From the Bottom"</div>
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<strong>Best Editing</strong><br />
Pink feat. Nate Ruess, "Just Give Me a Reason"<br />
Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing" <i>:(</i><br />
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us"<br />
<strong>Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors" (winner)</strong><br />
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"</div>
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<strong>Best Visual Effects</strong><br />
Flying Lotus, "Tiny Tortures"<br />
Skrillex feat. The Doors, "Breakin' A Sweat"<br />
The Weeknd, "Wicked Games"<br />
Duck Sauce, "It's You"<br />
<strong>Capital Cities, "Safe and Sound" (winner) </strong><i>Not.A.Clue.</i></div>
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<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Best Song of the Summer </strong><br />
Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"<br />
Daft Punk, "Get Lucky" <i><<<<<<<<<<<<</i><br />
Selena Gomez, "Come and Get It"<br />
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, "I Need Your Love"<br />
<strong>One Direction, "Best Song Ever" (winner)</strong><br />
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell, "Blurred Lines" </div>
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<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award </strong><br />
<strong>Justin Timberlake (winner)</strong></div>
</div>
<br />
<b>THE FASHION</b><br />
Fugs. So much fugs. And so many basic bitches too. But that's what we expect from the VMAs, let's be real.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_gaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_gaga.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaga, is that you?!?! *rubs eyes*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_katyperry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_katyperry.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitty Purry, fail. Especially when she wore the grill, ugh<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_ritaora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_ritaora.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rita Ora mistakenly showed up as Beyonce<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_miley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_miley.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some things are better left in the 90s. Miley Cyrus serving up some Gwen Stefani realness.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_taylorswift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_taylorswift.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Yawns*<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_selenagomez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_selenagomez.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Yawns*<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pedestriantv-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article/2013/08/26/VMA13_1d.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh 1D, did you even TRY?<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Aaaaaand that's a wrap on another year of MTV trying to reclaim its glory days. I shall leave you with this glorious picture of my new OTP.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF5sX6VUDhwwRsWRQnjmLZgg7bmS-6qH4_InsLo-01kJCzPWvthxnDJRkbThjRqUQq71Y3kVLhKvzkSnCuwpgnz2M_0TCsNAP4c3lp-7tHbci0SGeOR7i9_G7T16oKTWc4w5Ct9RXpL3B/s1600/etF0tGq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF5sX6VUDhwwRsWRQnjmLZgg7bmS-6qH4_InsLo-01kJCzPWvthxnDJRkbThjRqUQq71Y3kVLhKvzkSnCuwpgnz2M_0TCsNAP4c3lp-7tHbci0SGeOR7i9_G7T16oKTWc4w5Ct9RXpL3B/s1600/etF0tGq.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Toodles!<br />
<br />
Annie A<br />
<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-79700446746924082092013-07-10T05:37:00.001-07:002013-07-16T02:45:40.278-07:00Harkive: a musical history of July 9th Here's my entry for Harkive, a project which will collate how people listened to music on July 9th. It's a great idea and to find out more, go to <a href="http://harkive.org/">Harkive</a>. The nerd in me (and let's be real, outside of me) enjoyed taking part in this and whilst there wasn't any earth shattering revelations to be found on my end, it's an accurate picture of my current day-to-day life.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>7:50</b> Get dressed to the soothing sounds of ABBA 'Gold' blasting from my CD player. Say what you will, but those Swedes know how to make a pop song (amirightoramiright?)<br />
<br />
<b>8:30</b> Bus ride part 1: the first leg of my journey on the way to work is soundtracked by my iPod on shuffle. Normally, I use my 'Morning Tunes' playlist, but lately I've been feeling sleepy, so I switch to some more uptempo tracks (as follows). I leave it on shuffle but I'm often skipping tracks because I just don't feel like listening to them.<br />
<br />
Say Lou Lou- Julian<br />
Charlie XCX- Wires<br />
Sugababes- Flatline<br />
Marina and the Diamonds- Homewrecker<br />
Kanye West- Power<br />
John Newman- Love Me Again<br />
Amandine Bourgeois- L'enfer Et Moi<br />
Phoenix- Trying To Be Cool<br />
Daft Punk- Get Lucky<br />
Iggy Azalea- Work<br />
Lana Del Rey- Summertime Sadness<br />
Frank Ocean- Lost<br />
<br />
<b>9:20</b> Bus ride part 2: shorter ride means less tunes.<br />
<br />
Marina and the Diamonds- Girls<br />
Wheatus- teenage Dirtbag<br />
Icona Pop ft Charlie XCX- I Love It (great song to walk/strut to)<br />
<br />
<b>9:35</b> Small cafe area outside of work is playing a delightful jazz version of 'Roxanne' on their speakers.<br />
<br />
<b>10:00</b> I work part time for a radio station, but it's talkback. No music for 4 hours. *sobs*<br />
<br />
<b>2:00 pm</b> Ride home begins. iPod on shuffle mode again. Below is the playlist for return trips 1 and 2.<br />
<br />
PNAU- Embrace<br />
Kanye West- Guilt Trip<br />
MSMR- Fantasy<br />
Naughty Boy- La La La<br />
Sugababes- Overload<br />
Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez- I'm Real (Murder Inc Remix)<br />
David Bowie- We Are The Dead<br />
MSMR- Think Of You<br />
Kanye West- Paranoid<br />
Phoenix- Entertainment (Blood Orange remix)<br />
Lana Del Rey- Ride<br />
Sarah Blasko- I Awake<br />
Two Door Cinema Club- Something Good Can Work<br />
Madonna- Boderline<br />
Tegan and Sara- Shock To Your System<br />
<br />
<b>4:30 pm</b> Short car ride home (finally). My mother picks me up from the bus stop. I have no shame, whatever. WSFM is on, the 'classic' radio station. Currently 'I Love Rock and Roll' by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is playing. She leaves it until it finishes and starts flipping stations landing on the Edge 96.1 and a Pitbull song. :|<br />
<br />
<b>4:55 pm </b>Checking out my Twitter timeline and Norwegian popsinger Annie (holler!) tweets a link to a blog of the best pop songs of 2013 so far. I end up playing her own track on the list, 'Tube Stops and Lonely Hearts', via Youtube.<br />
<br />
<b>5:30 pm </b>Open up my laptop's iTunes and start shuffle mode. Hit play only to go straight to the preview button and pick which songs I'd like next.<br />
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Bee Gees- Nights On Broadway<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lana Del Rey- On Our Way<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eskimo Joe- This Is Pressure<o:p></o:p></div>
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Britney Spears- Baby One More Time<o:p></o:p></div>
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Franz Ferdinand – The Fallen<o:p></o:p></div>
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Kanye West- Goldigger<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crowded House- I Feel Possessed<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lana Del Rey- National Anthem<o:p></o:p></div>
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Crowded House- Mean To Me<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hurts- The Rope<o:p></o:p></div>
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Charlie XCX- So Far Away<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Ellie Goulding- Your Biggest Mistake<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6:30 pm</b> Hit the gym. I either use my gym playlist on my iPod or shuffle through my collection if I'm bored (that happens more often than you think).</div>
<br />
<b>8:18 pm</b> Sister's iPod in the car ride home post gym. She settles on Britney Spears 'Up and Down'.<br />
<br />
<b>10:00 pm</b> Bedtime playlist on laptop 'ahh'. Filled with soothing down tempos such as The XX, Jessie Ware etc. It's a great playlist that bumps up my play count for these songs and helps me get some shut-eye.<br />
<br />
The end (lulz)<br />
<br />
Annie Aannieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-21451119614883916452013-05-20T03:20:00.002-07:002013-05-20T03:20:33.959-07:00Grab your jaegerbombs and a flag of your choice: Eurovision 2013 Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<b>Eurovision Song Contest</b> (henceforth known as ESC) is one of my favourite events on the social calendar. For those of you who are not aware of this 3 day extravaganza, it's Europe's version of The Hunger Games. Countries send their tributes/popstars/victims, dolled up in their Sunday best, armed with some seriously catchy tunes (most of the time), to duke it out in an arena in order to be named Europe's ESC champion. Nothing dies, except for the contestant's dignity. As is customary, this year the competition took place in the previous winner's country; Malmo (pronounced 'malmuuurrrr'), Sweden.</div>
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There's 2 semi-finals in the lead up to the Grand Final. Let's skip the nonsense and get straight into the 'good' stuff. This post also features guest commentary from noted music critic and ESC expert* Chrissie A.<br />
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*NB: She is not a noted music critic nor an ESC expert (to my knowledge).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2tsq2MZhW1rtp4mko1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2tsq2MZhW1rtp4mko1_500.gif" height="163" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual footage of Chrissie and myself watching Eurovision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><b> France- L'Enfer Et Moi</b></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hQwiQj5Dyj8" width="560"></iframe></div>
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A: I'm a sucker for French pop music, so I love this. Flawless vocals and performance imo.<br />
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<b>Finland- Marry Me</b></div>
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A: Finland, my brand of crazy. Don't miss the CONTROVERSIAL kiss at the end! *yawns*</div>
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C: What kind of hot mess is this? Finland, you'll be doing a walk of shame off this stage.</div>
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<b>Spain- Constigo Hasta El Final (With You Until The End)</b></div>
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A: Nothing says Spain like bagpipes. Obligatory 'mi corazon' lyric etc. Boring! Bring back Las Ketchup.</div>
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C: Is the economic crisis that bad that they can't afford shoes for Eurovision?<br />
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<b>Belgium- Love Kills</b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dCl7OUFNSCA" width="560"></iframe></div>
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A: A dubstep breakdown brought to you by Sacha Baron Cohen's doppelganger.</div>
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C: CRAB DANCING!<br />
A: Those backup dancers are<i> killing</i> me right now. They start off graceful and end up like Shrek.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Estonia- </b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.05em;">Et Uus Saaks Alguse</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ooo6GvZNLhI" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
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A: Don't adjust your computer screen, this performance starts out in black and white. I zoned out in this one so idk...</div>
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<b>Belarus- Solayoh</b></div>
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A: The party don't start until Belarus walks out of a giant disco ball.</div>
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C: THIS is what I'm talking about people! The spirit of Eurovision. *sobs*</div>
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<b>Malta- Tomorrow</b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JxVHnhu1aK4" width="560"></iframe></div>
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A: Imagine Train mating with Jason Mraz. Also known as my worst nightmare *shudders*</div>
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C: Who the fuck is Jeremy?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A: He works in IT.</div>
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C: Did he sell Malta that ukelele?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A: ...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Russia- What If</b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wHNwk3Oez8U" width="560"></iframe></div>
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C: WE FOUND THE MISSING KARDASHIAN!</div>
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<b>Cascada- Glorious</b></div>
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A: UGH. I hate Cascada with the passion of a thousand burning fires. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
C: Did they just steal Sweden's winning song from last year? (Loreen- Euphoria)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bcnWysA9gxo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b>Armenia- Lonely Planet</b></div>
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A: Here we go! Well done Armenia for not being the Steve Bradbury of Eurovsion for once.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A: Oh Jesus. You can tell they're Armenian just by looking at them.</div>
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C: They should be sponsored by Leah's Waxworks.</div>
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A: Double denim is all the rage in Yerevan</div>
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C: Guess what I'll be wearing on casual Friday.</div>
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A: Less money on the pyrotechnics, more on waxing appointments Armenia!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
C: John Goodman on keyboards here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl5C517x6RD68lFsBxQLIKZ0Y6oFD0emB8PyCWb1_tnP1YnxZRH0QIOgSzYP3bsOLKqkXxHTu2CQC-9B6bR5GUe-ONP0Qvw73X9v2jVmXXEkWHo-q13spUJPBHpys69sI62v9h6FrxNCD/s1600/johngoodmanarmenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl5C517x6RD68lFsBxQLIKZ0Y6oFD0emB8PyCWb1_tnP1YnxZRH0QIOgSzYP3bsOLKqkXxHTu2CQC-9B6bR5GUe-ONP0Qvw73X9v2jVmXXEkWHo-q13spUJPBHpys69sI62v9h6FrxNCD/s1600/johngoodmanarmenia.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved him in 'The Big Lebowski'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A: There was a significant lack of apricots in that performance. Poor form guys!</div>
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<b>The Netherlands- Birds</b></div>
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A: It's all doom and gloom here.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
C: Why is Precious at Eurovision?</div>
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<b>Romania- It's My Life</b></div>
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C: I am so ready for this.</div>
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A: This is AMAZING! Quality entertainment! It's like Dracula went to Arq.</div>
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C: I have no words for this.</div>
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A: I love everything this performance chooses to be.</div>
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<b>United Kingdom- Believe in Me</b></div>
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A: Oh no, Bonnie. This is not working for me. At all. Yikes.</div>
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C: BONNIE TYLER GOT HER WIND MACHINE!! BOOYAH!</div>
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<b>Sweden- You</b></div>
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A: Wrong Robin, Sweden. Good song but then again, it's Sweden. If they mess up a good pop song, they get kicked out of the EU.</div>
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C: He looks a little on the, ahem, feminine side. #justsayin</div>
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<b>Hungary- Kedvesem (Zoohacker Remix) </b></div>
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A: Hungry Hipsters of Hungary</div>
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C: Bitch stole my look.</div>
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A: I don't know what he's saying, but I'm just happily bopping along to it.</div>
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<b>Denmark- Only Teardrops</b></div>
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A: Denmark is shoe-less but they have pan pipes, so really, it's swings and roundabouts.</div>
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<b>Iceland- Eg A Lif</b></div>
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C: Thor makes a special appearance at Eurovision</div>
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A: Thor meets Englebert Humperdinck meets Tim Minchin. World's worst threesome.</div>
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<b>Azerbaijan- Hold Me</b></div>
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A: ATTENTION! Azerbaijan has a man in a box! I repeat, A MAN IN A BOX! SEND SUPPLIES!<br />
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<b>Greece- Alcohol is Free</b></div>
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A: Did someone enter The Cat Empire mistakenly? </div>
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C: Listen Greece, if Kanye West couldn't rock a skirt, neither can you.</div>
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A: Alcohol is free because your economy is shit and donkies are not a form of currency.</div>
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C: I think that's my fruit shop man (*coughthisisMonasgagcough*)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ukraine- Gravity</span></div>
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A: HODOR!</div>
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A: Ms Ukraine looks like Cheryl Cole.</div>
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C: I'd hit it and quit it tbh.</div>
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A: She has the diva arms down pat.</div>
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<b>Italy- L'Essenziale</b></div>
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C: He looks like a fancy salesman. TAKE ALL MY MONEY!</div>
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A: Ooft. Italy. Yes please.</div>
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A: If there's no dubstep breakdown, I'm leaving, got that Italy?</div>
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<b>Norway- I Feed You My Love</b></div>
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A: 'I Feed You My Love'. This is my type of song.</div>
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C: Norway's killing it right now but where's the big dress, dammit?!?!</div>
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<b>Georgia- Waterfall</b></div>
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A: Ah Georgia. The Canada of Armenia.</div>
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C: Now THIS is a Disney song</div>
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A: It's no 'Especially For You', but it'll do.</div>
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<b>Ireland- Only Love Survives</b></div>
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C: Where's Jedward?</div>
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A: I see Ireland have gone for 'credible' rather than 'Jedward'. And leather. So much leather. Like a bad bondage show.</div>
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C: The amount of spray tan used here is unfathomable</div>
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In summation,</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This also happened.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armenia, you herp derp.</td></tr>
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Denmark won (it was those pan pipes, wasn't it?), Ireland lost, Romania and their queer dupstep vampire opera was robbed, the UK is still confused about this whole thing and Australia is watching the whole thing from outside the window, like some sort of crazy stalker, plotting on how to get inside. IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN GUISE, BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT.<br /><br />Meanwhile, nothing will ever compare to Helena Paparizou.</div>
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See you in Copenhagen!</div>
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Toodles!</div>
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Annie A (and Chrissie A)</div>
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annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-5968767010382233422013-05-08T03:20:00.000-07:002013-05-08T04:48:04.891-07:00MET Gala 2013: Punk is deadThat's according to 90% of this year's attendees at the MET Costume Gala. The theme was 'Punk: Chaos to Couture' and sadly, very few actually wore anything remotely punkish. If this was any other formal event, some of these outfits would be amazing but it's a COSTUME THEME gala. Go crazy. Go nuts. Wear something different for a change. Does anyone listen to me? Negatory.<br />
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Having said that, there were some winners and inevitably, losers. Shall we? I've roped in my BFF and famed fashion photographer*, Kat, to provide some insights into this hot mess of an event.</div>
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*NB Kat is not a fashion photographer.<br />
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Pics are not my own, they're from ONTD and Google, idk...<br />
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<b>BEST: Punk Couture Perfection</b></div>
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<b>Rooney Mara </b></div>
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This is more goth than punk, but she just pulls it off so well. Although, if she had come as Lisbeth that would have been even better.</div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/Rooney-Mara-Met-Gala-2013_zps308f2e7f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/Rooney-Mara-Met-Gala-2013_zps308f2e7f.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Christina Ricci</b></div>
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Wednesday Adams looking flawless in this tartan number. It's punk! It's couture! It's a dress that suits her AND the theme! Everyone else, take notes.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Plaid is one of those patterns which often screams picnic rug, not in this case at all.</span></span></div>
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<b>Sarah Jessica Parker</b></div>
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I would like to take the time now to personally thank SJP for making an effort every year and keeping things interesting. That headpiece was the fiercest thing I saw from this year's event. A faux-hawk. #dies</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Embracing all things that are punk without going over the top</span></span></div>
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<b>Anne Hathaway</b></div>
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YOUR HAIR ANNE. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR HAIR. This look is sexy and, what the French call, 'dangereuse'. Me likey.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Sheer perfection (Annie: lawl)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/J07v3P5_zps27d6a0fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/J07v3P5_zps27d6a0fe.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Florence Welch</b></div>
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Neo-punk from the goddess Flo. Here, she is demonstrating her 'come hither' face, right before she knees you in the groin.</div>
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<b>Emma Watson</b></div>
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Miss Watson, you minx you! This is how you do sexy without slutty. yes, it's a lot of skin but it's approrpiate here- it's punk ffs. As usual though, she keeps it classy. Because that's just how she rolls.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Simple clean lines. Stunning.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/XtX208i_zps922d93f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/XtX208i_zps922d93f4.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<b>Madonna</b></div>
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My queen serving some Anjelica Huston realness. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> FAIL! <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">You have shocked us in the past with your outfits, but remember modesty is the key. There is no need to have so much working at the same time!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/HwCTtix_zpsb2f2286e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/HwCTtix_zpsb2f2286e.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b>Lilly Collins</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> Working those bushy brows to her advantage! With or without the studded jacket, Lilly has managed to successfully grasp the theme of night. (Annie: Gold star Lilly!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Donatella Versace</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> Ohhh Donatella, a classic black punk couture look that is timeless for the ages.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Annie:</b> The dark ages, when she was born *AGEIST ANNIE ALERT*</span></span></div>
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<b>Honourable Mentions</b></div>
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<b>Gwyneth Paltrow</b></div>
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Love Mrs Martin, and she looks good in this dress but pink is not punk.</div>
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She should have worn this number or something like it (and a bra)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat: </b>NHFT.<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She looks like Emily Blunts' eye make-up from the evening.</span></span></div>
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<b>Kylie Minogue</b></div>
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Aside from the fact that this is Kylie's first appearance at the MET Gala (get that American promo gurl!), she did look stunning in Moschino BUT it wasn't punk. </div>
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I would have picked this Chanel look for her to rawk</div>
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<b>Sienna Miller ft Tom Sturridge</b></div>
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It must be opposites day because I actually like what Sienna's wearing here. As for the homeless man next to her, we'll talk when he decides to cut his hair *le sigh*</div>
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<b>Elizabeth Banks</b></div>
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Pantsless and proud.</div>
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<b>The artist formerly known as JLo</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do cougars have spots? No? *scribbles out joke*</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b>Kat:</b> Ladies take note, this is how you werkk a dress. (Annie: see also werk, work and werq)</span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/vsl1W0w_zpse9c50c4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/vsl1W0w_zpse9c50c4a.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Elle Fanning</b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kat:</span> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">The colours in this dress are mesmerizing.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Annie: She's staring into my soul or preparing to become the Swan Queen</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/pFOICml_zpsac52e63f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/pFOICml_zpsac52e63f.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Daisy Bevan (center)</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat: </b>The shoes remind me of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland but it strangely works with this outfit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Annie: </b>Or those hard boiled lollies.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/yXVKWXu_zps8db8340f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/yXVKWXu_zps8db8340f.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><b>Eve</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> There is a lot happening in this lace and leather ensemble, but she makes sure that the dress is not wearing her. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Annie: The lady next to her in the black dress and I are both admiring Eve's bravery for wearing strategically placed panels.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/HcFpkDC_zpsf2328fce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/HcFpkDC_zpsf2328fce.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b>NHFT</b></div>
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<b>Trampire</b></div>
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No. A thousand times...no. She looks like a tampon. Next.</div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/gs6IvPJ_zps1dc733eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/gs6IvPJ_zps1dc733eb.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>Beyonce</b></div>
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MTE, guys. MTE. Tacky. House of Dere-no.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Just like the flame motif, the skirt, gloves and MATCHING boots need to be burned. Simplicity is the key.</span></span></div>
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<b>Nicki Minaj</b></div>
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Bad posture. See kids, this is why you need to sit up straight.</div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/70yCKPi_zps87310ac8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/70yCKPi_zps87310ac8.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b>Katy Perry</b></div>
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Not interested. I have nfi what this is. Thanks for playing Katy!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">If the theme of the night was the Byzantine Era, Katy would have nailed it on the head.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></div>
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<b>Kimmy</b></div>
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*cries*</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">I’m calling it….Kim is suffering from pregnancy brain.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sky Ferreira</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kat:</span></b><span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is considered to be THE fashion event of the calendar, can you at least bring some class to your glittered slip</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><b>Annie:</b> This was the best photo I could find. Sky is on the left btw. I think her 'petulant child playing dress-ups' look is very punk though.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/metgala-sky-ferreira-saint-laurent-yves-saint-lauren_zpsf43b2652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a368/anniea89/metgala-sky-ferreira-saint-laurent-yves-saint-lauren_zpsf43b2652.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></div>
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<b>F for Fail to Punk</b></div>
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<b>Miley Cyrus</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> Two words…try hard. Also, word of warning don’t stick your fingers into the electrical socket next time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Annie: </b>I love it and I hate it simultaneously</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gisele Bundchen</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> Something is missing here…could it potentially be more fabric?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><b>Annie: </b>Nevermind the dress, the Skrillex esque hair and faux- rock chic hand gesture is filling me with rage. UGH.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b> January Jones</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kat:</b> If you are going to bedazzle your eyes, do it right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Annie: </b>She's in character for 'Mad Men 2035: Betty's revenge' in which Betty Draper is a cyborg.</span></span></div>
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And that's a wrap! Here, have some fabulous Anna Wintour to cap it all off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQri0XcA1DBkxJaN5r4tIhIdZRTcYr8l5kVtCxiO58xqJWmBLCFWVyk9PfTOcLU3UI0NFcvTAetcQFZrYw6XrrPs0HWk-QWE-MIcnfdsWkynkQZh0yIMYdr_VMV97z4HpK_pETv98-K8/s1600/anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkQri0XcA1DBkxJaN5r4tIhIdZRTcYr8l5kVtCxiO58xqJWmBLCFWVyk9PfTOcLU3UI0NFcvTAetcQFZrYw6XrrPs0HWk-QWE-MIcnfdsWkynkQZh0yIMYdr_VMV97z4HpK_pETv98-K8/s1600/anna.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
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Toodles!<br />
Annie A (and Kat)<br />
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annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-21803929097506104822013-02-24T03:29:00.002-08:002013-02-24T03:29:43.453-08:00Music Listography- Day 2: 20 Albums You'd Bring On A SpaceshipIf you were, hypothetically speaking, leaving planet Earth on spaceship or any other inter-planetary space travel vehicle (perhaps a TARDIS), what albums would you bring with you for the journey?<br />
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A thought provoking and challenging question is the topic for today's post. I sadly couldn't make it to 20, but I may add to this list later. I think I was being particularly harsh on which albums deserved a spot here, mainly because these are the albums you potentially will be listening to the REST OF YOUR LIFE. IN SPACE. Where no-one can hear you sing.<br />
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<ol>
<li><b>A Rush of Blood To The Head- Coldplay</b>: Like my own 'Sophie's Choice'.</li>
<li><b>Greatest Hits- Queen</b>: A must.</li>
<li><b>Young Americans- David Bowie</b>: I love this album from start to finish.</li>
<li><b>Best of Bowie- David Bowie</b>: Two words 'Modern Love'. Plus, he's an alien. AND there's 'Starman' and 'Space Oddity' and MAJOR TOM to consider. </li>
<li><b>Lungs- Florence and the Machine</b>: Flawless.</li>
<li><b>Happiness- Hurts</b>: Moody and ambient.</li>
<li><b>Light Years- Kylie Minogue</b>: If only to play the title track on a spaceship. I have to, it's my only chance.</li>
<li><b>Born To Die/Paradise- Lana Del Rey</b>: Another perfect record (s).</li>
<li><b>Ray of Light- Madonna</b>: Moody and ambient.</li>
<li><b>Rudebox- Robbie Williams</b>: Necessary for the synths.</li>
<li><b>Recurring Dream- Crowded House</b>: I won't leave Earth without this.</li>
<li><b>Greatest- Duran Duran</b>: If I didn't play 'Planet Earth' during liftoff, there would be some very pissed off people.</li>
<li><b>Overpowered- Roisin Murphy</b>: Another favourite of mine.</li>
<li><b>Spiegel im Spiegel- Fur Alina</b>: Classical piece that I couldn't live without.</li>
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I guess there's not a lot of 'classic' albums on there, and two appearances by Bowie. Plus 4 Greatest Hits compilations- is that cheating a bit?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowie thinks otherwise.</td></tr>
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What do you think of the list so far? Think my time in space would sonically suck? Needs more Eno? Tweet, Facebook, Tumblr me your thoughts or leave your thoughts downstairs.</div>
annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-59043317016078855742013-02-23T03:51:00.000-08:002013-02-23T03:51:18.536-08:00Music Listography: Day 1- Top 20 Favourite BandsI've decided to do a '30 days of' esque theme here on the blog in accordance with the book <b>'Music Listography: Your Life in (Play) lists'</b>. I don't know how many lists there are because I'm too lazy to count (what's new?)<br />
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So, the first list is 'Top 20 Favourite Bands' and this proved to be more difficult than I expected because a)what did they mean by 'band'? exclusively rock groups or are girl groups and boy bands included here as well? and b) do I even like 20 bands?<br />
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To answer these questions:<br />
2) I took a leap and said yes to pop groups being included here. It's my list so, whatevs.<br />
b) Turns out, I don't.<br />
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On to the list then.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZkMhW5B9LqwpBn_hzbHx6AverMnPmBjsnw0AoKMR8nAL0Vqcoq4nEUzCXGT4oWf-zgvxN7v0fOh_L0UwU_V-FIlDaJxRxOmEiuddFbluZ0pjWdnq2AQIkEevEmJ7O_orZ8rP2kZNdP76/s1600/freddy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZkMhW5B9LqwpBn_hzbHx6AverMnPmBjsnw0AoKMR8nAL0Vqcoq4nEUzCXGT4oWf-zgvxN7v0fOh_L0UwU_V-FIlDaJxRxOmEiuddFbluZ0pjWdnq2AQIkEevEmJ7O_orZ8rP2kZNdP76/s1600/freddy.gif" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li>Coldplay: need I say more? It's going to be a requirement that any future love interests must love them too (or at least be willing to go to their shows with me).</li>
<li>Take That: 10 years ago I didn't really know them. 8 years ago, I hated them. Now, I consider them one of the best groups around.</li>
<li>ABBA: defined my 90s childhood and early noughties teen years.</li>
<li>Duran Duran: Oh, to be a teen in the 80s *le sigh*</li>
<li>End Of Fashion: underrated band. Their second album, <b>Book of Lies</b>, was the soundtrack to my first year at uni.</li>
<li>Eskimo Joe: 2006 was the year of the Eskimos for me. I think I listened to <b>Black Fingernails, Red Wine</b> every night that year. Such a perfect album.</li>
<li>Florence and the Machine: they're a band, everybody! Flawless and perfect.</li>
<li>Franz Ferdinand: A Scottish tour de force. Best memory is opening the first pages of 'A Clockwork Orange' played along side 'The Fallen'.</li>
<li>Queen: because of reasons. </li>
<li>Girls Aloud: one of the greatest girl groups to hail from the UK.</li>
<li>Bee Gees: those harmonies tho.</li>
<li>Scissor Sisters: I love their campy weirdness. Plus, I much prefer their version of 'Comfortably Numb' to Pink Floyd's original. </li>
<li>Sugababes: Like Girls Aloud, you know a group is good when their b-sides are just as coveted as their a-sides.</li>
<li>U2; I debated putting them here but 'New Year's Day' kind of sealed the deal for me.</li>
<li>The xx: too soon? Maybe. </li>
<li>Phoenix: Dug up their back catalogue post- <b>Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</b></li>
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That's all I have for now. Let me know if you agree/disagree/ are raging about my choices on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or in the comments</div>
annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-30902986823803738902012-12-26T04:09:00.002-08:002012-12-26T04:20:15.902-08:002012 in review (aka the only list that Frank Ocean will not top)First up, the singles of 2012. Singles by the same artist are doubled because I'm lazy. It's not listed in any order either because I'm lazy. Let's get to it, shall we?<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. <b> </b><!--[endif]--><b>Angels</b>- the xx: the best track off their latest album. Just listen to it if you haven't already.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2.
<!--[endif]--><b>We
Are Never Ever Getting Back Together</b>/<b> I Knew You Were Trouble</b>-Taylor Swift: the '1-2' punch of the Swift this year was strong. I have the bruises to prove it.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.
<!--[endif]--><b>Losing
You</b>- Solange: a Knowles I can stan for. Beyonce, step aside please, your talented and sartorially inclined baby sis is here! (I think I just described the dynamic of my relationship with my younger sister in that as well #awkward)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.
<b>Baby Come Home</b>- Scissor Sisters; if this doesn't make you want to tap your feet and sing along, then I give up.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>I
Awake</b>- Sarah Blasko: sometimes, I like to listen to Sarah Blasko and pretend I'm edgy and cool.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.
<!--[endif]--><b>My
Gun</b>- The Rubens: sounds like The Black Keys, but better.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->7. <b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>Different</b>-
Robbie Williams: one of his best songs ever, especially in recent years (I say this as a major fan). Heartfelt and beautiful, the video also proves how badly he should delve back into acting.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->8. <b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>Madness</b>-
Muse: I love Muse, but the last few albums have been a struggle to get through on their first listen. 'Madness' served as a refreshing break from their OTT-ness (we are not going to talk about 'Survival'. At all).<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.
<!--[endif]--><b>Primadonna</b>-
Marina and the Diamonds: all I ever wanted was the world too, Marina. Bonus points for her genius tweets.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.
<!--[endif]--><b>Girl
Gone Wild</b>- Madonna: I did not get the hate for this song when it was released and it continues to baffle me now. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.
<!--[endif]--><b>Thrift
Shop</b>- Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: you know you're onto a good thing when a 60 something year old ethnic man requests this song to be played all the time. Also, one of the best videos this year.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->12.
<!--[endif]--><b>Bad
Girls</b>- MIA: bad girls do it well. But what is 'it'? #questionsformia<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->13.
<!--[endif]--><b>Every
Night I Say A Prayer</b>- Little Boots: she finally finished her second album and EVERY NIGHT I SAY A PRAYER that this song is on there (see what I did?)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->14.<b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>Born
To Die</b>- Lana Del Rey: Need I say more? This song grabbed me by my non-existent gonads at the beginning of the year and refused to let go.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->15.
<!--[endif]--><b>I
Love It</b>- Icona Pop: So fierce. So sassy.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->16.
<!--[endif]--><b>Battle
Scars</b>- Guy Sebastian and Lupe Fiasco: first single I've liked from him in awhile. Plus he acknowledged my mother accosting him in Westfields on Twitter, so we're practically BFFs at this point.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->17.
<!--[endif]--><b>Something
New</b>- Girls Aloud: GO GIRLS, G-G-G-GO-GO-GO! My body was ready for some new music from GA, though I would argue 'On The Metro' and 'Every Now And Then' are better than SN. (They didn't make the cut due to arbitrary rules that exist in my mind)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->18.<b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>Pyramids</b>-
Frank Ocean: I like this one, d<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">on't sue me please.</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->19.
<!--[endif]--><b>Sweet
Nothing/Spectrum (Say My Name)</b>- Calvin Harris and Florence and the Machine: a pair of UK number 1 singles for this duo. I approve wholeheartedly of this pairing; the flawless ginger queen and the smexy Scottish DJ.<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->20.
<!--[endif]--><b>Lego
House</b>- Ed Sheeran: <strike>Rupert Grint </strike>makes an appearance here for this incredibly catchy and sweet tune.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->21.
<!--[endif]--><b>Call
My Name/Under The Sun</b>- Cheryl Cole: double whammy from the Geordie princess. Where CMN is another Calvin Harris produced hit (like the shy sister of 'We foudn Love'), Under The Sun relies on the singalong bridge and chorus. Plus the double entendre of 'watch the sun go down on me/go down on me' *insert wink*. Isn't that what pop music's about peeps? (answer: yes)<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->22.
<!--[endif]--><b>Locked
Out Of Heaven</b>- Bruno Mars: I went from 'meh' to 'THIS IS MA JAM!' with this track in a matter of weeks. Why? BECAUSE YOUR SEX TAKES ME TO PARADISE, THAT'S WHY.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->23.
<!--[endif]--><b>Laura</b>-
Bat For Lashes: beautiful and rousing. I thought about using this for my sister Laura's 21st in two years time, but it's about a sad party girl, so not really appropriate at all.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->24.
<!--[endif]--><b>R U
Mine</b>- Arctic Monkeys: I don't use this word often for I am a prude and an immature young woman, but this song is incredibly sexy.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->25.
<!--[endif]--><b>Skyfall</b>-
Adele: imagine Shirley Bassey doing a cover of this Adele stylee. I know I am.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->26.
<!--[endif]--><b>212</b>-
Azealia Banks: Great song, but I feel like she's already peaked.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->27.<b>
</b><!--[endif]--><b>Dancing
With A Broken Heart</b>- Delta Goodrem: shame this went nowhere chart wise as opposed to 'Wish You Here'. Definitely one of her best singles.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->28.
<!--[endif]--><b>Your
Body</b>- Christina Aguilera: it's been a few years since I liked a Christina song, so this will do.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->29.
<!--[endif]--><b>Timebomb</b>-
Kylie Minogue: good for K25 and a banging dance tune, but I'm going to need something more for the next album.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->30.
<!--[endif]--><b>Diamonds</b>-
Rihanna: doing her best Sia impersonation. I don't care for her so long as she's not Instagram-ming photos of her and woman hater Chris Brown and telling us to #phuckourselves because #Naviisstrong. Yes, I don't understand that either.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Best Albums of 2012 IN ORDER</b></div>
<br />
10. MDNA- Madonna<br />
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A good, not great, album from the Queen. <b>Highlights</b>: Masterpiece, Love Spent, Beautiful Killer<br />
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9. Devotion- Jessie Ware<br />
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Minimalist RnB, excellent late night tunes here. <b>Highlights</b>: Wildest Moments, Running<br />
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8. Coexist- The xx<br />
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A tighter, cohesive LP that improves on their already brilliant debut, but works better played in full. Also emphasises their love of one word titles. <b>Highlights</b>: Angels, Fiction, Try, Tides.<br />
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7. The Haunted Man- Bat For Lashes<br />
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Less piano driven then its predecessor and more synth-y, bar the lead single 'Laura'. Still chill inducing though. Kudos to Natasha for also posing for the NSFW cover. <b>Highlights</b>: Laura, Oh Yeah, A Wall, All Your Gold<br />
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6. Magic Hour- Scissor Sisters<br />
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IDGAF, judge me all you want (looking at you JB Hi Fi server 'they're still around?!?' me: 'erm, yes' :|), but I legit still love SS and this album didn't disappoint me, though I can definitely live without 'San Luis Obispo'. <b>Highlights</b>: Only The Horses, Inevitable, Let's Have A Kiki<br />
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5. Halcyon- Ellie Goulding<br />
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Captures the heart-ache of a relationship gone awry perfectly. Add this to your break-up album collection. Listen with kleenexes though. Again, works better played from start to finish- there's no real 'singles' on here. This seems to be a trend with albums in 2012. <b>Highlights</b>: Figure 8, Anything Could Happen, My Blood, JOY, Hanging On ft Tinie Tempah<br />
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4. Take The Crown- Robbie Williams<br />
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It really does sound like Coldplay meets U2 in some parts. Hook laden from start to finish. <b>Highlights</b>: Candy, Different, Into The Silence, Reverse<br />
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3. Abbey Road Sessions- Kylie Minogue<br />
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Subdued, acoustic and tantalising. The hints that she's given us with various arrangements in concerts lead to this collection and it's a joy to listen to. I refuse to listen to 'Wow' or 'Never Too Late' in any other incarnation now. <b>Highlights</b>: Hand On Your Heart, Locomotion, On A Night Like This, Wow, Never Too Late<br />
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2. Electra Heart- Marina and the Diamonds<br />
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So close to the top! A case of sophomore effort trumping debut here as she gets those hits gurl. <b>Highlights</b>: Homewrecker, Primadonna, Lies, Power and Control, Teen Idle, Fear and Loathing<br />
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1. Born To Die/Paradise- Lana Del Rey<br />
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This was the album of 2012 for me. It delivers on every level from start to finish, not one filler track found. The EP Paradise rounds out this era with quality tracks such as a cover of 'Blue Velvet' and the haunting 'Bel Air'. Though 'my pussy tastes like Pepsi-Cola' will never cease to make me stop in my tracks and leave me dumbfounded (life, choices)<br />
<b>Highlights</b>: THE WHOLE ALBUM. Born To Die, Blue Jeans, Video Games, National Anthem, Summertime Sadness, Radio, Without You. EP: Ride, American, Cola<br />
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<b>Special Awards:</b><br />
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<b>Underrated Sleeper Album That Everyone Missed</b>: Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime- End Of Fashion. No buzz for this at all, which is a shame because it's not a bad album in the least.<br />
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<b>Sad Panda Award</b>: This award goes to an album that I had really high hopes for but it just didn't turn out to be all that and a bag of chips. Anxiety- Ladyhawke. It's not terrible but really just not as great as her debut. #sadpanda<br />
<b>Runner Up</b>: Our Version Of Events: Emeli Sande. Again, not bad, but not as amazing as I had hoped. MOAR UPTEMPO PLEASE EMELI<br />
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That concludes 2012 in muzak for me. Peace out.<br />
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<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-25677247037853151252012-11-10T00:03:00.003-08:002012-11-10T00:03:44.650-08:00Album Review: Robbie Williams- Take The Crown<br />
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Robbie Williams' 9th solo album begins not with a whimper but with a bang in the form of 'Be A Boy'. This is the perfect opening, paving the way for the rest of the album both musically and thematically, with the chorus directly responding his critics who believe he's 'old and irrelevant' (see what I did there Radio 1?). For the record, he is neither and this album adequately demonstrates that.<br />
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Lead single 'Candy' (and his 14th number 1 in the UK) is a boppy, bouncy affair, similar to 'Tripping', describing nefarious girls. You know, the kind who think they're shit-hot when really they're insufferable and smug. It's incredibly catchy and I can just imagine hearing a stadium singing along to the chorus.<br />
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Another highlight of the album is 'Different', which has quickly entered my 'Robbie Top 10'. It is nothing short of brilliant what with the amazing string section and the heartbreaking lyrics, pleading that 'this time I'll be different I promise you'. By the end of my first listen to this track, I was in tears. It is just that beautiful and sad.<br />
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The 'Coldplay meets U2' influence that Robbie spoke about months before the album's release is pleasantly dispersed throughout, from the 'oh's' in the background to the guitar on 'Hunting For You' and 'Into the Silence'. It's not overt, but just enough to know he's been listening to 'Pride (In The Name Of Love)' quite a bit recently. As a finale, the duet with Lissie, 'Losers' (originally by The Belle Brigade), perhaps is the album's grandest moment as Robbie laments that he 'he doesn't care about being a winner'. Though, you get the feeling that everything preceding this track contradicts that; he does care about being the best because there are some incredibly strong tracks here.<br />
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The deluxe edition of the album features a fantastic track called 'Reverse' which contains the great lyric 'it's just a bad day, not a bad life' and could have definitely fit onto the standard edition of the album. For Take That fans, there is also Robbie's stripped down version of 'Eight Letters', a song that featured Gary Barlow doing lead vocals on the group's last album, <i>Progress</i>. I can't say which one I prefer right now; both versions are both just as good as each other.<br />
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'Take The Crown' feels like the natural follow up to 'Intensive Care' rather than his previous effort 'Reality Killed The Video Star'. It's certainly an improvement on the latter (which was no means a bad album), but I still feel like he still has potential to write a truly perfect album, and that can only be a good thing. Right now though, Robbie Williams is the only relevant, interesting male pop star creating truly wonderful music. The throne is ready sir; come and take it.<br />
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<b>Rating:</b> 4 out of 5 stars <br />
<b>Check out: </b>Be A Boy, Different, Candy, Into The Silence, Losersannieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-55520877012463754362012-11-06T18:00:00.000-08:002012-11-08T01:26:31.937-08:00An Open Letter To Taylor SwiftDear Taylor,<br />
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Can I call you Taylor? I feel like we're on a first name basis now.<br />
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I need to let you know something. I've never liked your music. Not one bar of it. And I never thought much of you- well, apart from being shocked that you're my age (totally thought you were 18) and your dating history is, ahem, extensive.<br />
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So when this happened:<br />
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I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't sound like you (i.e country) and it's catchy.<br />
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And then you brought out the big guns and a hit us with a double whammy<br />
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KO, I am out.<br />
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Now, just because I think these tracks are pretty brilliant, doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and buy 'Red' and suddenly stan for you. But, I just wanted to let you know that they have warmed my cold, black, formerly Swfit-less heart.<br />
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Oh and on a final note, I just wanted use this gif set and point out how flawless Taylor Squared were/could have been.<br />
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Anyway, this is exhausting.<br />
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Toodles!<br />
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Annie Aannieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-39464273996047536132012-11-04T23:48:00.000-08:002012-11-04T23:50:17.567-08:00Songs To Write ToI find writing to music often helps with getting myself in the right headspace. When I began writing my thesis, I first created a playlist that would soundtrack each writing session. Let me take this time now to brag about how perfect it is<br />
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*takes time*<br />
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Ok, I'm done now. Check it for yourself if you don't believe me!<br />
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Do you find having music in the background helps focus on writing as well? Any great tracks to add, or perhaps your own playlists? Let me know!annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-72173026574339516252012-10-04T05:22:00.001-07:002012-10-04T05:43:45.066-07:00Here, have some thoughtsSongs that I am enjoying right now:<br />
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<li><b>Solange Knowles</b>- Losing You. So hipster. So chic. I think I stan for her- finally, a Knowles I can support!</li>
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<li><b>Lissie</b>- When I'm Alone. Will next be heard on Robbie Williams' new album <i>Take The Crown</i>, out in November, on the duet 'Losers'.</li>
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<li><b>Delilah</b>- Go. Hmm. Yes. Me likey. Came across whilst trying to make up my mind about Jessie Ware</li>
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<ul>
<li><b>Muse</b>- Madness. Need I say more? Stick with it. Track kicks in towards the end and it is BRILLIANT</li>
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<li><b>Calvin Harris ft Florence Welch</b>- Sweet Nothing. YES. A banging tune from that guy that does all those songs you like featuring the vocals of a goddess. The video is brilliant and as Florence describes it, 'destructo stripping'</li>
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<li><b>Sarah Blasko</b>- I Awake. Pulsating, thrilling and chaotic. </li>
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<li>Side notes: 'Thong Song' will never be a 90s song to me. Ever. </li>
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That is all.</div>
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Annie A</div>
<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-77915328739536776922012-06-03T05:09:00.000-07:002012-06-03T05:09:00.615-07:00Pattinson/Radcliffe Double FeatureWell sort of. A proper double feature would entail 2 films being watched one after the other in a single session. Sadly, due to the fact that I completely made this amazing combination up in my head, I had to spread it out on Friday and Sunday night. Still amazing though. It was really just down to good timing: 'The Woman in Black' was released here on May 17 and 'Bel Ami' on May 25. So I decided to hold out (i.e not completely inundated with uni/thesis work) and do both in one weekend (AHAHAHAHA.....I wish :| )<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a coincidence! This was my weekend .</td></tr>
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<b>Part 1</b>: Friday June 1: Pattinson and Bel Ami. <b>Place</b>: Event Cinemas Bondi.<b> Guest</b>: Laura<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes. This is how I write all my essays. Looking at you seductively in the eyes and pouting. Problem?</td></tr>
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I've been waiting for this film for close to two years now (it was filmed in early 2010...!) and personally, it delivered. It's odd because it's the only film where I've read the script before watching it, but only later did I remember bits that had been cut out of the final version. The film is about a penniless French soldier, Georges Duroy, who returns to Paris down on his luck. By befriending an old soldier comrade of his, he manages to screw his way up in society.<br />
Wait.<br />
What.<br />
Screw his way up society?<br />
Yes. Oh yes. You read that right. Basically like a male gold digger of the late 1800s.<br />
There's also a whole back story with a newspaper bringing down a corrupt government trying to invade an African country because of oil, but why would we be interested in that?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU0I78f1er6DZ22EWgJFUz1cbt9MGj2bxI8nltxKA0EAoFwYyn9blsewGVkeZKTEHiZNfeG7bBw-aVUTeyKniQv6-jdVFPOW733SnxumoavoxyRJfy4LhmzCsPf7b8NFcuZG1gdsOg-G-/s1600/BAHQ__17_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU0I78f1er6DZ22EWgJFUz1cbt9MGj2bxI8nltxKA0EAoFwYyn9blsewGVkeZKTEHiZNfeG7bBw-aVUTeyKniQv6-jdVFPOW733SnxumoavoxyRJfy4LhmzCsPf7b8NFcuZG1gdsOg-G-/s320/BAHQ__17_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church: a great place to pick up women</td></tr>
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I thought the story was very good. Georges (Robert Pattinson) is so poor at the beginning that you can't help but feel sorry him and even when he treats all the women like castoffs, I didn't hate him. He doesn't really get his comeuppance at the end either, there's no karmic retribution, perhaps because of the all the crap he went through at the beginning. The actors were well cast in their roles especially the main ladies; Christina Ricci as Clothilde, Uma Thurman as Madeleine and Kristin Scott Thomas as Virginie. There is one scene which is off putting for some viewers; essentially it is Georges getting 'raped' by Madeleine but the camera focuses solely on Georges. I understood it but Laura was looking at me during that scene with 'What is this I am watching ohgodwhy?!?!' face. I think she liked the film but I'm not entirely sure. It may not have been what she had thought it was going to be (that sentence sounds like a five year old wrote it. Apols.) Really loved the scene when Georges founds out what's been happening at the newspaper from Virginie and goes all Hulk on her. Robert does angry quite well. Moving on, I also liked how Holliday Grainger was paired with Robert again (see 'The Bad Mother's Handbook if not for them but Robert in total geek mode). The editing may have flawed the film though- some parts just felt a bit rushed. But overall, it didn't disappoint at all. I do have to say I am guilty of thinking during an early scene 'TONKS WHY ARE YOU HAVING SEXY TIMES WITH CEDRIC?!?!?!?!?' <br />
<b>4 chocs out of 5 tops</b><br />
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<b>Part 2</b>: Sunday June 3: Radcliffe and The Woman in Black. <b>Place:</b> Hoyts Eastgardens (aka the ghetto). <b>Guest:</b> Katerina<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMTR3E9fGcR_lH6Gp93xK1GtPKDFLEPIxLuhC9npc7nrGhAvLfNzEfansD2K4pMqz2v-tyJXgkkhlNaQALc9bOnRlvWzwqO0dCHhuAwqjwNfLkY55UWS-LDPttJKIvUg1hiPYrq4YLCJg/s1600/harry-potter-woman-in-black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMTR3E9fGcR_lH6Gp93xK1GtPKDFLEPIxLuhC9npc7nrGhAvLfNzEfansD2K4pMqz2v-tyJXgkkhlNaQALc9bOnRlvWzwqO0dCHhuAwqjwNfLkY55UWS-LDPttJKIvUg1hiPYrq4YLCJg/s320/harry-potter-woman-in-black.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a fob watch in this outfit. Fun fact.</td></tr>
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This film had actually been released overseas many months ago and so I was incredibly happy when I saw that it had finally gotten an Australian release now. Perhaps they were waiting for a seasonal change because the timing for such a ghost story couldn't be better. Yes, it was a darkish, rainy afternoon as I huddled my way into the dimly lit cinema. Cliche much? This film is based on the novel by Susan Hill where Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) is a widowed lawyer in the 1800s on a sort of 'last chance' assignment from his firm to travel to Eel Marsh and organise the papers of the newly deceased Alice (didn't catch the surname. can't be bothered looking it up). Little does he know that the house on the marsh is haunted! (dun dun) And the villagers don't go there! (dun dun) Because bad stuff happens! (dun dun dun)<br />
It's a quintessential horror story. Actually, Katerina and I had a bit of discussion about this post-viewing as she felt it was more suspense, where as I was more adamant that it was horror/thriller. It has all the good features of a scary movie: a protagonist who ventures into the forbidden, suspenseful music, creepy characters and dolls and clowns. So by and large it sounds cliched- perhaps it is to more clued in horror fans- but I still found myself on the edge of my seat, heart beating fast, jumping out of my seat and trying not to scream. I guess it's a sign of a good film when a couple of teenage girls shriek ever time something scary happens on screen. Every. Single. Time.<br />
Actually, going back to cliches, Kat was scarily accurate on her guesses as to what was going to happen. Either she's seen too many horror films, I've seen too little or this film is cliched. Regardless, I still liked it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefXnYHqD5608KbN46XRMUSQAAr_Atg4oXzWVONMf0GJOtzJaPLH0qg4AlzuJRLAC3NJ-D0r8WxusdlVt9x79Cqkn1BzkCqC7aahy9pbxIXUMGBsml1YVt_DTDdgEXi94MwEFE0bljr39I/s1600/daniel-radcliffe-social-promo-for-the-woman-in-black-7cb32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefXnYHqD5608KbN46XRMUSQAAr_Atg4oXzWVONMf0GJOtzJaPLH0qg4AlzuJRLAC3NJ-D0r8WxusdlVt9x79Cqkn1BzkCqC7aahy9pbxIXUMGBsml1YVt_DTDdgEXi94MwEFE0bljr39I/s320/daniel-radcliffe-social-promo-for-the-woman-in-black-7cb32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kat 'He needs an axe to open the door'. Daniel 2 secs later picks up an axe . Kat 'HAHA! '</td></tr>
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As this was Radcliffe's first post-Potter outing, I thought he acted quite well (Kat says he was too stiff....*badumcha*) but I've never noticed his 'bad acting' during the Potter films or December Boys. There was a great deal of non-dialogue scenes and I thought his 'HOLY CRAP WHAT WAS THAT ARGGH!' face had greatly improved. With regards to pacing, as opposed to Bel Ami, there were some parts that felt slow but to be honest, I was too scared to care. Extra points to Misha Handley, Radcliffe's godson who plays his son in the film, just for being adorable.<br />
<b>3.5 chocs out of 5 tops</b><br />
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<b>Final thoughts</b>: Although both films were period pieces featuring two Potter alumni, they were both strikingly different. These are both smaller, independent films and the advertising for them hasn't been that great but I think that the turnout in both the sessions I went to were pretty good. The reviews from here have slated Bel Ami and found TWIB to be good but average. I disagree, I think both are bit more than average. All I need now is to see Robert and Daniel in a period film together. That is all. annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-50277063057110550842012-05-25T07:37:00.001-07:002012-05-25T07:44:48.783-07:00Only If For A Night: Florence and the Machine Sydney Entertainment Centre May 24 2012<i>'Please rise for the hymn'</i><br />
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And rise we did, for tonight we worshiped at the altar of Holy Mother Florence and the Reverend Machine. The lights dimmed, the stage was set and the opening notes of <b>Only if For A Night</b> twinkled out of the amps, infiltrating the (sold out) audience. And as Florence appeared, every jaw dropped in the room as she strode over to the microphone, swathed in a cape that seemed to have a life of it's own, adorned in a crystals and crushed velvet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence Welch and her amazing cape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for Florence and company to take the stage. Confronted by a rogue camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister has no patience. She too is waiting for the show to start. Also, those are not her glasses</td></tr>
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That voice. Oh my word. That perfect, rich voice rang throughout the arena, bewitching everyone that heard it. Not once did she falter. She might have lowered a note or two, running and jumping like some maniac posessed, but not once did it falter. It may have been the cold, but I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up at many times during the show.<br />
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From the dark (<b>What the Water Gave Me</b>) to the sublime (<b>Cosmic Love</b>), Florence breezed through the show, pausing only to give shout outs to fans who had sent presents and letters. <b>Spectrum</b> was played amongst a backdrop of disco balls and strobe lights- it reminded me of a comment I read somewhere online when <u>Ceremonials</u> had first come out, that <b>Spectrum</b> is the new age gay anthem. It fits to a tee, the anthemic mantra of 'say my name!/every colour illuminates' thrashed out to a sea of crazed fans dancing for their life.<br />
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And then there were life changers like 'the hymn' (<b>You've Got The Love</b>), <b>Shake It Out</b> and <b>Dog Days are Over</b>, where the audience felt like one, big happy family. Dancing, jumping up and down- it was admittedly hard not to.<br />
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Some random moments from the show include a 9 year old girl following Florence on stage and being overwhelming cute and full of chutzpah, a fight happening between drunk bogans in the row behind us during <b>Heartlines </b>and, happily, the distinct lack of cameras and phones in the audience.<br />
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The encore was a beautiful duality; the haunting <b>Never Let Me Go</b> and the thrilling <b>No Light, No Light</b>, bringing the show to a crashing crescendo, the drum beats pulsating through our bodies.<br />
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The changes between this new tour and <b>Cosmic Love</b> tour are evident; it's bigger, brighter and shinier but it's still Florence and the Machine. She was on fine form tonight, running all over the stage, incredibly chatty and livelier. I had my doubts about the move to a larger venue, I didn't think they could pull it off. So glad to say I'm wrong.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art deco set.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the industrial sized fan, Mariah Carey could never.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HBIC</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence as a deity.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strike a pose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'God, grant me the ability to be a flawless ginger bitch'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 year old Emily and her stage invasion post- Spectrum dance party. I take my hat off to her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of glowsticks in the crowd. Surprisingly</td></tr>
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Fin.</div>
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<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-19071967812559801832012-05-16T08:13:00.001-07:002012-05-16T08:13:40.356-07:00Top 5 All Time Best Coldplay videosIn light of the recent announcement of Coldplay's imminent return to our fair shores for the Mylo Xylotour, I have taken it upon myself to unleash my inner fangirl and reveal my top 5 Coldplay videos OF ALL TIME (Kanye stylee). This is actually quite difficult for me so I've also included some honourable mentions.<br />
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5. Yellow-<i> Parachutes (2000)</i><br />
Iconic. Such a simple video but so effective. And to think the original brief was a beach party. Yes. You read that right. Fun fact: Chris is wearing about 1267 layers of clothing in this video. Plus an anorak.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1MwjX4dG72s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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4. The Scientist-<i> A Rush of Blood To The Head (2002)</i><br />
A story told in reverse. Genius. But not according to Simon Pegg who thinks it's a bit ridiculous for someone to go have a lie down in the middle of a street after a car accident. True story.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EqWLpTKBFcU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
3. Viva la Vida (cover video)- <i>Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)</i><br />
If only this were the official video *le sigh* Basically, Coldplay did two videos for Viva la Vida, with this one being a 'cover' video as it is a cover of Depeche Mode's video for 'Enjoy the Silence' (both filmed by Anton Corbijn). I just think the video fits the song so much more. What on earth does a wilting rose have to do with a king anyway? HMM HYPE WILLIAMS?!?!?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yuHEMsSxUMM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
2. Lovers in Japan- <i>Viva la Vida or Death and His Friends (2008)</i><br />
Great video. Needs more Japan though.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-EuTA4jlpWA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
1. Talk<i>- X&Y (2005)</i><br />
Extra points for a giant robot and the band's 'acting'.<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/W0uqLM1uj_k/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W0uqLM1uj_k&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<i><br /></i><br />
Honourable Mentions<br />
Strawberry Swing- <i>Viva la Vida or Death and His Friends (2008)</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lb9X5jMofEo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
Life in Technicolor pt II- <i>Prospekt's March EP (2008)</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fXSovfzyx28?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
The Hardest Part- <i>X&Y (2005)</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Tp0r9197uo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
Paradise- <i>Mylo Xyloto (2011)</i><br />
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<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1G4isv_Fylg&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
Nappies....still waiting for a reunion
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Anyone who disagrees with this list, come see me after class.annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-54391541813735876012012-03-24T23:05:00.000-07:002012-03-24T23:05:17.918-07:00Album Review: Madonna MDNA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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'I want so badly to be good'.<br />
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And that you are MDNA. That you are.<br />
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Madonna has yet again delivered another album of solid pop songs after the not-so-great Timbaland driven 'Hard Candy'. After avoiding leaks, snippets, videos (but I did read reviews, I couldn't resist myself), I sat down and found myself completely immersed in the beats and bleaps of MDNA.<br />
The album opens with the fantastic and catchy 'Girl Gone Wild'. It pretty much sets the tone thematically for the album; sort of Madonna re-asserting herself as the ultimate femme fetale, fierce and empowered. 'Gang Bang' is completely beat driven and totally and utterly camp, especially that last minute and a half. Her voice on this track at times sounds like she has a very bad cold; personally, I've never heard her sing like this. That's not to say I don't enjoy it though. The song, if it's ever made a single, needs a BAD ASS video clip. I suggest Quentin Tarantino, David Cronenberg or <strike>Guy Ritchie</strike>.<br />
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The album really has a sort of summertime feel to it, especially 'Turn Up the Radio'. I've already decided that if and when I get my driver's licence, this will be the first song I'll play.<br />
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The two 'ballads' on the album, 'Masterpiece' and 'Falling Free' are also stunning. God. Madonna really knows how to bring it home, doesn't she? (Answer is yes. Always yes).<br />
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I've also done a simple table about the Nicki Minaj and M.I.A songs:<br />
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I Don't Give A... yay!<br />
B'day Song... meh<br />
Give Me All Your Luvin... ya-meh.<br />
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'Love Spent' and 'Beautiful Killer' are also some excellent tracks. 'Frankly, if my name was Benjamin/We wouldn't be in the mess we're in' and the cute shout out to Alain Delon at the end of 'Beautiful Killer' really sort of re-affirming that Fun!Madonna made a return after almost a decade of being SeriousFace!Madonna (can't deny that the second half of 'Confessions..' was quite dark lyrically, so it counts). Yes, this is technically her post-divorce album, and she does address it on a few tracks, but more often than not, she's letting loose and having fun. A sort of return to form in a way.<br />
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RATING: 4/5 Lucky Stars<br />
Highlights: Girl Gone Wild, Gang Bang, Masterpiece, Love Spent, Falling Free, Beautiful Killer, Turn Up the Radio <br />
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<br />annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-16672337522129897582011-12-13T23:00:00.000-08:002011-12-13T23:03:02.717-08:00Obligatory End of Year list: Top 10 Albums of 2011As the label suggests.<br />
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10. <b>Britney Spears- Femme Fatale</b>
This is her comeback record. Let's hope she progresses forward with this change in sound<br />
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9. <b>Foster The People- Torches</b>
The whole record is brilliant, which doesn't often happen with a debut.<br />
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8. <b>Wild Beasts- Smother</b>
Beautiful and heartfelt.<br />
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7. <b>Metronomy- The English Riviera </b>
Soundtrack to my winter break. A cocktail in musical form.<br />
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6. <b>Nicola Roberts- Cinderella's Eyes</b>
Pop perfection. I had high hopes for Nicola's solo debut considering I find her bandmates' solo outings lacklustre. And let me tell you, she did not disappoint me at all. Pop but from the heart.<br />
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5. <b>Will Young- Echoes</b>
From the minute I heard the lead single 'Jealousy', I had a feeling that this album would be stunning. Really think he's hit his stride here lyrically and sonically.<br />
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4. <b>Coldplay- Mylo Xyloto</b>
Bias? Perhaps. But there were a few tracks, namely the acoustic-esque tracks, that are growers.<br />
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3. <b>Florence and The Machine- Ceremonials</b>
Like <i>Lungs</i>, but bigger, boom-ier and bassier.<br />
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2. <b>Clare Maguire- Light After Dark</b>
Another fantastic debut. From start to finish, the only word to describe this album is 'epic'.<br />
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1. <b>Adele- 21</b>
Review: <a href="http://anniea89.blogspot.com/2011/04/album-review-adele-21.html"></a>
Need I say more? 2011 is the year of Adele.<br />
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Special Mentions: <b>Yelle- Safari Disco Club</b>, <b>Wolf Gang- Suego Faults </b><br />
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Albums I had high hopes for but turned out to be a bit ho-hum in the end:
<b>Kimbra- Vows</b>. Starts off great, but the second half is very slow. Great tracks, but they don't grab you like the opening tracks.<br />
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<b>Lady Gaga- Born This Way</b>. Too much going on in some songs like 'Judas'. But the album also gave us gems like 'Scheisse' and 'Heavy Metal Lover', so it wasn't a total fail.annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-405328889359248972011-10-03T06:28:00.000-07:002011-10-03T07:15:12.348-07:00Breaking Dawn as told by MadonnaThe final instalment in the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Twilight Saga</span> as retold through the power of song. The power of MADONNA songs that is.<br /><br />Wedding<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GKIZ0GPyoxU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Honeymmon/Isle Esme<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZONcCnEVAoI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Pregnant with demon half vampire/human baby<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kp8pbKFcxRw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Bella dies during childbirth<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O6gn-UZ6s_0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />OR<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4vIzT31qX3g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Vampire!Bella, Edward and demon child are a family after Bella wakes up from vampcoma.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vTsFTj6HvJk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Jacob imprints on demon spawn<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/azsdap3Q-jw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />OR<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TUN7DzcPs0I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Preparing for non existent fight with ancient Vamps<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PhxTko9IylA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Fight is one massive anticlimax. Everyone goes home.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V_pCcBm400Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Edward and Bella and demon child live happily ever after<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gMETN9y1J7w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_9SgdsxFnpQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Thoughts? Questions? Rashes?<br /><br />All credit to Madonna. I would thank Stephenie Meyer but she wrote the Twilight Saga, so....annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-92153060807220061522011-06-03T19:30:00.001-07:002011-06-03T23:19:13.790-07:00New stuff from old favourites<span style="font-weight:bold;">Coldplay- Every Teardrop is a Waterfall</span><br /><br />It is not as good as this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQEk9u2GBsp0aJbpEapMx20OzpalkOfD-vUPF0mQeOLu7GtGoPcDIKsNslw_osuGXhZ_lJqxQ7YsQJq0jmzhV5WTbaUM99-zV-anFJ-Zao9qTvgrxQIwRIzeSkpVYz4XnJcg30CtdDOeW/s1600/coldplay_yellow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQEk9u2GBsp0aJbpEapMx20OzpalkOfD-vUPF0mQeOLu7GtGoPcDIKsNslw_osuGXhZ_lJqxQ7YsQJq0jmzhV5WTbaUM99-zV-anFJ-Zao9qTvgrxQIwRIzeSkpVYz4XnJcg30CtdDOeW/s320/coldplay_yellow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614241158541519266" /></a><br /><br />Or this: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0LVju-1CJuDBAT3CpRaxUM8-42PHQtUzeBCYXdVU0vCv5_U5G9oyV8zgo7Ps4QXVilaXf39x2snWr3NFzoT8rj5ephOthFbK1-zkoKRGuQGODpNhNA98aBFF-bzBwPCbDXRZYB2HW0OY/s1600/inmyplace.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0LVju-1CJuDBAT3CpRaxUM8-42PHQtUzeBCYXdVU0vCv5_U5G9oyV8zgo7Ps4QXVilaXf39x2snWr3NFzoT8rj5ephOthFbK1-zkoKRGuQGODpNhNA98aBFF-bzBwPCbDXRZYB2HW0OY/s320/inmyplace.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614241494463131458" /></a><br /><br />But it is better than this: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlHEqRxtn7vmuNkuOqfk4jhHDexCuAxB9FJhA3b6HRi_1HxPzYRIbWyOELpqs2UqKW0kw0YIQC_Pc1pdSqjlQYmsQXuzUU25370qkBruB9vKdwiuBUUCXT5E37BXeqnlZTMyOX3Zyqdcc/s1600/coldplay_xy_speedofsound.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlHEqRxtn7vmuNkuOqfk4jhHDexCuAxB9FJhA3b6HRi_1HxPzYRIbWyOELpqs2UqKW0kw0YIQC_Pc1pdSqjlQYmsQXuzUU25370qkBruB9vKdwiuBUUCXT5E37BXeqnlZTMyOX3Zyqdcc/s320/coldplay_xy_speedofsound.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614242056804694594" /></a><br /><br />And nowhere near as broody as this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrtGNRrha2NRudjOExjexzNg8RuZRDbuvCkUV4KuYsWKUuVEAsu1MNlDvpyiYZ2nSYSrjkLcjQEo_WokGAXUzaWfPtkYq_CwEKsX7s4SIc9_S7YvwaCPdQ_ud4MPxyNOct8X_kE5y_cpb/s1600/Coldplay-Violet-Hill-435554.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrtGNRrha2NRudjOExjexzNg8RuZRDbuvCkUV4KuYsWKUuVEAsu1MNlDvpyiYZ2nSYSrjkLcjQEo_WokGAXUzaWfPtkYq_CwEKsX7s4SIc9_S7YvwaCPdQ_ud4MPxyNOct8X_kE5y_cpb/s320/Coldplay-Violet-Hill-435554.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614242640845712834" /></a><br /><br />And it also has a sample from 'I Go to Rio' by Peter Allen.<br /><br />Incredible. I really just want to get up and dance to it. Love the synths, the bit when the beat comes in, Chris's voice. What an uplifting tune and a surefire departure from their earlier work but an evolution of the last album. Begging to be remixed.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Kf_6BWcOOg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rating</span>: 8/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Nicola Roberts- Beat of My Drum</span><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n_BG3n1q5KU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />It's always the quiet ones. The third Girls Aloud member to go solo, Nicola's debut packs so much more of a punch than Cheryl or Nadine's. She really is the underdog. The drum breakdown at the end is OH so necessary. The bridge almost doesn't fit in with the rest of the song, but after a few listens, you get over it. And that chorus.<br />Wow. So fierce. <br />Diplo/Major Lazer worked on this track and were responsible for Beyonce's underwhelming 'Run the World (Girls)' and out of the two, I know which one I'd prefer to listen to.<br /><br />(Nicola's.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Rating</span>: 7.5-8/10annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-8106928468184627812011-05-09T07:16:00.000-07:002011-05-09T07:28:29.371-07:00Heavy RotationCurrently being played over and over again are:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Depeche Mode- Enjoy the Silence</span>: How am I only just discovering this now? Amazing and sounds so fresh even after all these years. I'm thinking I need to get my hands on their GH.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lady Gaga- Judas</span>: It doesn't hold a candle to the perfection that is <span style="font-weight:bold;">Bad Romance</span>, but it's still catchy and fun. Video is good too, bar the ending. Something is off with this era though. Can't seem to put my finger on it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">N.E.R.D- Hypnotize U</span>: Sexy and hypnotic. The beat and Pharell's voice just do it for me in this track. I haven't liked a N.E.R.D song in years so this kind of a big deal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kanye West et al- All of The Lights</span>: Genius. Pure genius.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jay-Z ft Chris Martin- Beach Chair</span>: This is quickly becoming one of my favourites from Hov. Am I biased? Maybe. Lyrically it's brilliant. Whenever I'm having a low moment, I find myself turning to this track. The sound of the piano is so strange you can't help but listen. Definitely one of the best collaborations that Chris Martin has done.annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-39762517877818665462011-04-19T05:23:00.000-07:002011-04-19T07:06:30.210-07:00Album Review: Britney Spears 'Femme Fatale (Deluxe Edition)'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nOsK6-adDivDFi2itN7CeiqN67JgRvZ-ESZ9WmD-bIa0PV0DcvKKPlVVCAitnsZoyHQn7VW6Kr_jVBHxlIy6wQs8x8HJm79G8Tz8O0M-S2uViPqAffiAdj3DAkiIaEV_9Fn_TYjH0ivB/s1600/britney-spears-femme-fatale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nOsK6-adDivDFi2itN7CeiqN67JgRvZ-ESZ9WmD-bIa0PV0DcvKKPlVVCAitnsZoyHQn7VW6Kr_jVBHxlIy6wQs8x8HJm79G8Tz8O0M-S2uViPqAffiAdj3DAkiIaEV_9Fn_TYjH0ivB/s320/britney-spears-femme-fatale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597280186618110578" /></a><br /><br />Oh Britney. What have you done?<br /><br />For those of you that don't know me, from 1999 to 2005, I was a massive Britney stan. Huge. Until her knee screwed everything up. From that point on, when she decided her career was nothing and that celebrity status was more important, I decided to flip her the bird and move on. Sure, I bought 'Blackout' and 'Circus' but months after their releases and with minimal excitement. 'Blackout' was great leap forward for her, but 'Circus' was full of filler and seems like such a whimper compared to its predecessor (even 'In The Zone' was more of a leap forward than 'Circus').<br /><br />So, my thoughts then on Femme Fatale, her seventh studio album.<br /><br />It is much, much better than 'Circus'. My biggest problem with Britney was that she still had the lyrics and music of a teeny bopper. Not so much on here even though she is still working with Max Martin (who, if you didn't know by now, wrote 'Baby One More Time'). There's a nice duality in the opening tracks 'Til the World Ends' and 'Hold it Against Me'- both of them have the 'faux-dubstep' sound but are very much what Britney should sound like in 2011.<br />The fan favourite 'Inside Out' is next and while it's a good track, I don't get the hype over it. That's not to say I don't like it though. But it's no where near her top 10 best tracks. That honour should go to the next track, 'I Wanna Go'. The hook, the whistle effects, the beat- it sounds so fresh and different from anything else she's done. I keep going back to this track the most.<br />'How I Roll' is a cute sounding song with amateurish lyrics, but that's okay. Is it weird that my favourite bit about the song is just opening effects? SMS or e-mail me the answer plz.<br /><br />The next three tracks that follow have this dance/techno (I use that term incredibly lightly) concept. I really would love to hear a mashup of 'Trouble For Me' with 'Take Me to The Love Parade' *coughmakeithappenpleasecough* There's a real 90s dance vibe on these tracks, in my opinion. 'Trip To Your Heart' another fan favourite off the cut, is good, but it doesn't live up to the hype. It does sound like the older, wiser sister of 'Heaven on Earth' though.'Gasoline' is a catchy albeit filler-ish track using the extended metaphor of petrol for adrenaline/lust. #shrugs<br />The standard album ends with 'Criminal'. Yes it's a good song, downtempo and harks back to Madonna circa American Life BUT ever since I read the observation that the chorus sounds like 'The Logical Song', it's been tainted. Just a bit.<br /><br />Now, the real goodies are on the deluxe edition. 'Up N Down' has a great bridge and catchy chorus, as does 'Selfish'. The real highlight on the album is 'He About To Lose Me'. All I can say is: That. Beat. Totally hypnotic. Wonderfully understated. Just a shame that it doesn't sound like Britney sings the chorus at all.<br /><br />It's a good album. Not the 'Ray of Light' esqueness that we had been told to expect. But then again, I don't think Britney could carry that sound or thematic concerns off very well. Indeed, the album is based on sex and dancing. Or dancing as a metaphor for sex. So it's a safe album in terms of lyrics, but thank god the sound has progressed. Her fanbase isn't 12 years old anymore and neither is she. The big question from here is whether she wants to continue to be a popstar or not, because it looks and sounds like it's just not her thing anymore.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict:</span> 7 Mickey's out of 10 Mouse Clubs<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Standout Tracks:</span> I Wanna Go, He About To Lose Me, Till The World Ends<br /><br />NB: Big Fat Bass and (Drop Dead) Beautiful are both shit. Except for the piano bit on the former.annieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-50016042282352792002011-04-18T05:56:00.000-07:002011-04-18T06:18:08.770-07:00Album Review: Adele '21'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C36-opiIT-O9xkMf10s46XRo0NscZe8DyTjZWm_KSmDWW6HSk1iJyKrJx9Gy1YnclnBLHuyAEAO7AVggS3qgQrJEp4303JKAJHeiOPR7vZWl6iToPcY5Gsi9Nni3qGOgD5I2Nb5U3P3G/s1600/Adele_21_Album+cover.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C36-opiIT-O9xkMf10s46XRo0NscZe8DyTjZWm_KSmDWW6HSk1iJyKrJx9Gy1YnclnBLHuyAEAO7AVggS3qgQrJEp4303JKAJHeiOPR7vZWl6iToPcY5Gsi9Nni3qGOgD5I2Nb5U3P3G/s320/Adele_21_Album+cover.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596906964068260642" /></a><br /><br />For many weeks after it's release, I avoided this album like the plague. Adele's debut album, '19', whilst having some great singles, did not live up to my expectations at all and so I was wary of falling into a similar trap.<br /><br />And then I heard 'Rolling in the Deep'. The first single is an ear assault. It's punchy, with big vocals and full of vitriol. Actually, the whole album is peppered by hate, or perhaps regret. Either way it's one of the best breakup albums I've heard.<br />So after this, I watched her performances of 'Someone Like You' at the Brit Awards. <br /><br />Sold.<br /><br />This is kind of performance that's destined to leave you in tears, clutching a pillow and rocking back and forth in the foetal position. Not that I did or anything....<br /><br />post performance, I headed to my local CD store and had to have the album. And this time I was not disappointed. Tracks like 'Rumour Has It' and 'I'll Be Waiting' keep the spirit of the album alive in between heartbreaking songs like 'Set Fire to the Rain' and 'Turning Tables'. I've yet to warm up to 'One and Only' and 'Lovesong', but an average of 9 out of 11 brilliant tracks makes up for that. Her voice is so soulful and full of emotion, that you can hear the pain when she sings. Lyrically, it's very good. I particularly enjoy this one from 'Turning Tables': 'Next time I'll be braver/ I'll be my own saviour/when the thunder calls for me'. Achingly beautiful.<br /><br />Adele was lumped in with Winehouse and Duffy as her contemporaries. Out of those three, it seems like she's the one that's made progress musically and may have long term success.<br /><br />A stunning gem of an album.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict:</span> 9 angry texts out of 10 screened phone calls<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Standout Tracks:</span> Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like Youannieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643780158360170392.post-15419679390127304362011-04-09T07:39:00.000-07:002011-04-09T08:00:47.499-07:00Album Review: Aston 'Aston'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lf4h4FxSr3WKcf6LTe2wiReBicZ0duHti1EBenPm07IagGDugUkvIBZ-1xchi87yttElAO93wvAuHs_HDGsQO9w_h_6jYuLM9-STbzeUFkStrb3CDQkUzrx7RBTAqYFR00V8M4hHEjg9/s1600/612px-Aston_%2528band%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lf4h4FxSr3WKcf6LTe2wiReBicZ0duHti1EBenPm07IagGDugUkvIBZ-1xchi87yttElAO93wvAuHs_HDGsQO9w_h_6jYuLM9-STbzeUFkStrb3CDQkUzrx7RBTAqYFR00V8M4hHEjg9/s320/612px-Aston_%2528band%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593594414571797730" /></a><br /><br />Here's something different. Aston are a classical music group. <br />WAIT! DON'T LEAVE! <br />They do covers of pop songs. <br />Still here? Good. Because these guys are brilliant. I took one look at the track listing and went 'yes, yes, YES!', as if they had stumbled upon my music collection purposely. They arrange the tracks themselves and in some cases, they have one upped the originals. Muse, Coldplay, Florence + The Machine; hell even Rihanna and Lady Gaga get treatments here. It's all instrumental but it just sounds amazing. Each track sweeps and soars- you can feel the emotionality of these songs that you may not have noticed before. Perfect for a mainstream music lover who wants something a bit different.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Verdict</span>:9 woods out of 10 winds<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stand out tracks</span>: ET, You've Got The Love, Rude Boyannieahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877962549919459802noreply@blogger.com0