Lana Del Rey (formerly known as Lizzy Grant) has built up a huge following on YouTube in 2011 with her song ‘Video Games’ and was tipped for big things in 2012. She has appeared on the BBCs ‘Later With Jools Holland’ and she is on the cover of Q magazine January 2012.
DIY Blog likens the song ‘National Anthem’ to the band All Saints and sees the song as a potential chart hit. Quote:” As a pop song, capable of breaking into the charts - and this is the context we should be putting Del Rey in… it’s a potential no.1 hit.”
Quote Kicksnare blog – ‘Leak after demo after leak has hit the net. The latest ‘National Anthem’ is the first track to really catch me since ‘Video Games’….. Her beautiful and unique voice sometimes doesn’t seem to fit the tempo of her music, but ‘National Anthem’ is brilliant…Lana channels a westcoast vibe that takes me back to the days when slow, soulful and gritty westcoast hip-hop ruled my radio – perfectly showcasing her brazenly seductive attitude. So take into account this is a leak and know the final mix will only be even more spectacular Ok Miss Del Rey, you have finally done it, I am under your spell.’ http://kickkicksnare.com/2012/01/06/lana-del-rey-national-anthem/
A Year of Resolutions and turbulence. A year of change, destruction and extremes, of questioning and uprising.
The Arab Spring and bloody times. Murder of ignorant dictators.
Did we ever see the like..?
The Sun and Rupert Murdoch were told to answer for their Code of No Ethics. The collapse of the Euro. Japanese Tsunami.
Royal wedding, Global Warming. Floods. Earthquakes. Hurricanes.
The Internet brought us close, yet kept us apart.
My wishes for 2012 .
That education is not about 'mediocrity', what is average and multiple choice questions - but about individuality, creativity, questioning and higher standards. That the new religion is harmony, morality and freedom of thought. More peaceful times....
*NEW YEAR Tv
Best on Jools Holland – Pokey Lafarge and the South City Three! and Aloe Blacc
BBC Scotland - Rab Noakes singing Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Get it Right Next Time.’
I’m excited about music right now. Coldplay released their Paradise video which is another classic and they are bound to hold yet more stadiums mesmerised with their grand melodies.
New Artists
Emeli Sande/ Emeli released her second single Daddy November 2011 and she supported Coldplay on tour.
I saw her gig here for her first EP launch in December 2006 when she sang her own songs and a Nina Simone cover. I saw her again four years later at King Tuts December 2010 and she has had a busy time since then! In 2011 she has had The Mobos, her debut single Heaven which reached No 2 in the UK charts in October. Her second single Daddy is due for release in November and her album, Our Version of Events, will be released early 2012. Emeli spoke of how wonderful the past year has been for her and of her present number one song with Professor Green titled 'Read all about It.
Her music is rocky and upbeat. It is also full of pathos and on the edge of our joys and sorrows. As Emily says herself.. This ain't no 'soft soul easy listening' but soul with a questioning edge. I had a chat with her backstage at King Tuts December 2010 when she said her music was 'soul with a rocky edge' and influenced by the likes of Portishead, Massive Attack and Joni Mitchell.
I am now excited for her album release and I expect her album to be a smash success!
Emeli drew attention for her big soul voice when only 16. She attended Glasgow medical school and after obtaining a medical degree in Neuroscience, she decided to focus on her music. I wish her well for her album release. It is clear she doesn’t do things by half measures! Emeli has won the Brits Critic choice award for 2012.
http://www.emelisande.com/
Aloe Blacc - Aloe Blacc - King of the Soul singers. He captured the main stage at Glastonbury 2011. Check ' I Need A Dollar and Billie Jean' (Highsnobiety TV: An Evening with Aloe Blacc at MADE - Berlin creative space MADE recently played host to singer songwriter Aloe Blacc, violinist composer Mihalj "Miki" Kekenj & painter Jaybo.
Rebecca FergusonReviews - Telegraph - After 12 years, reality TV has finally turned out someone who not only has the hallmarks of a real star, but is also an artist in her own right. "Syco have been really brilliant – as soon as I put my foot down they back off completely. I just wanted songs I'd written on the album. At first I was going into sessions with writers who'd pretty much got all of the songs done already. But I told management they needed to let me write it because otherwise no-one's going to think I'm a credible artist. Then they let me just go into sessions on my own – I couldn't believe it.
GIGS – I’ve been very fortunate to see two music legends live who are my biggest inspirations – Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. Both gigs were awesome. There is good interest in Bob Dylan oddly! this blog has had more hits than any other! I have also seen exciting new artists this year - Emeli Sande, James Blake, girl band Warpaint and Canadians The Low Anthem.
Musicfootnotes Blog - This has been my main focus the past year, and combines my writing and photography. (Also Songbook, Poetrynotes Blog).
Aloe Black stole our hearts and showed why he is the King of Soul. He was supported by a DJ set which meant the dance beats were kept up with no pause before Blacc’s entrance onstage.
He sang with his crooning mellow voice.He was also the dance master of cool, with some neat footwork and sliding shimmies.Later during his set Blacc created a soul train down the centre of the Glasgow audience where locals were only too happy to boogie down. Songs included -' I Need A Dollar’ and ‘Billie Jean.'
For his encore he spoke of missing the sun of his homeland and sang the Beach Boys classic ‘California Dreaming.’
Blacc caused a stir at Glastonbury 2011 with his performance there on one of the main pages.
It is worth checking Blacc singing at MADE on YouTube – a collaboration in Germany between composers, artists and performers.( Highsnobiety TV: An Evening with Aloe Blacc at MADE - Berlin creative space MADE recently played host to singer and songwriter Aloe Blacc, violinist and composer Mihalj "Miki" Kekenj and painter Jaybo.)
