Sometimes my eyes just get thirsty to see him…
Sometimes my ears just get thirsty to hear him…
Sometimes my body just get thirsty to be near him… Sometimes my soul just gets thirsty to feel him…and if deprived the wanting becomes inflamed…if I were to slit my wrists,it would bleed his name…I have given my heart and I proclaim…Cupid has done it yet again without aim. ~Rain~
I miss him so much I can’t even explain
My emotions are getting harder to contain
I want to hold him near and look into his eyes
Could this be where my whole future lies?
He’s like an angel that just fell from the sky
And landed right before me…but why?
Its like a dream come true….WHO KNEW
I have found my Prince Charming and his name is Boo. ***** love you*****
~Rain~
******Happy Birthday Mom****
Ben Drew better known as Plan B is an undoubtedly extraordinary personality. The artist had considered himself an outcast since childhood, the father left the family when the boy was only six and he was far from the best pupils at school. When a teenager Ben taught himself to play guitar, wrote love songs with some R&B spirit, but already at the age of 18 he preferred to turn to rap viewing the style as more appropriate for self-expression. In 2006 Plan B released his debut album Who Needs Actions When You’ve Got Words. Both the audience and the critics made a varied acclaim but nobody remained indifferent and he quickly got himself a fan base. Yet soon it turned out that the choice of genre was not definitive for Ben for that time. This winter the single Stay Too Long from Drew’s new album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was released and it was clear at once – the guy felt obviously too tight in the frames of one direction only and therefore he remembered about what he had started his music path from – about soul and R&B, and surprised everyone with his incredibly beautiful vocals.
One should not that except for music Ben Drew got actively involved in film making, played in a couple of films and took part in writing the soundtrack. The album The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was born exactly with the connection with that interest. Ben initially wanted to create a story of a character suffering from drug addiction, make a film about him and record the album as the official soundtrack to it. Thus The Defamation Of Strickland Banks is a conceptual record, the protagonist is a young singer named Strickland Banks who falls in love, is put in prison for a crime he never committed, goes deep into introspection, prays, is set free and continues his searching of life’s sense. Little by little we learn it all from each of the album’s 13 compositions. The story unveils with the most melodious accompaniment and is told with Plan B’s most pleasant voice with some falsetto elements – from the opener Love Goes Down till the final What Yo Gonna Do you cannot help admiring it. The mood changes regularly depending on the situation in which the main character finds himself. Thus, the single Stay Too Long is one of the most eclectic compositions on the album, whereas a most beautiful soul-number She Said conquers with its sensuality. A very beautiful and powerful song Welcome To Hell opens the series of prison stories, and it is only the third track from the end, Free, on which liberation finally occurs. Closer to the album’s finale a little melancholic atmosphere reigns on I Know A Song, making it clear that happy endings are for kids, and the things are much more complicated in the real life.
It is an interesting fact that Ben has actually invented his pseudonym because he was not willing to sing sweet R&B songs anymore and changed his plans for hip-hop. So at first one may think he has made a kind of step back. The point is, however, that the album concept would be even more understandable if The Defamation Of Strickland Banks was a hip-hop album, and this makes it even more unusual. Some of the compositions do contain a bit of Plan B’s rapping but the album’s general slant is rather romantic. The protagonist thinks of his ups and downs, suffers and reflects a great deal. Simple and complicated tunes, contagious beats and high level arrangements will not make you feel bored, and when the album comes to a full stop you realize that you have actually listened to a complete romance. In one of his interviews Plan B told that he plans to record a hip-hop album in the nearest future so those fans anticipating can be reassured and those who are just getting acquainted with this unique artist will surely appreciate The Defamation Of Strickland Banks as it deserves.
Alexandra Zachernovskaya
A hard-rock legend, an example for a million of musicians all over the world, both beginning and experienced, and also a talented actor, Meat Loaf has been pleasing the audience with his creations for more than four decades now. His unique vocals never losing their power and charm, deeply thought lyrics inspired both by his rich imagination and life itself, have made the artist famous and his music never gets old. Well-known for his love of sullen gothic atmosphere Meat Loaf and his band often create the images of medieval castles with ghosts in their songs, with a tragic love almost always serving a base of all the events and plots. The things are not that predictable, though. This year Meat Loaf has turned to a bit different theme recording the album Hang Cool Teddy Bear, which characterizes him not only as an ever self-improving artist but also a deeply looking psychologist able to create most interesting pictures and make the listener think them through.
The protagonist of the album Hang Cool Teddy Bear is a soldier who finds himself on the edge of life and death. Many believe that a person’s whole past life passes in front of one’s eyes but Meat Loaf suggests we consider a different variant. Except for the opener Peace On Earth, on which we get to know the main character and learn about his sad destiny, each of the songs here tells one of the variants of the soldier’s future life. It is not a secret that everything is possible and naturally the only glue here is love – there can be only one woman in the protagonist’s life and it is her that appears in all his life’s versions. The protagonist seems to have quite a joyful character, likes jokes and entertainment as it is clear on the track Los Angeloser, but later we realize he is also quite vulnerable. One of the most curious numbers on the album is If I Can’t Have You, for it does not only feature the backing vocals by DioGuardi, but also a piano verse from Hugh Laurie. If you watched Geeves and Wooster series you definitely know that Laurie is a classically trained pianist. When Meat Loaf guested in House M.D., he invited Hugh to play with him. An unfortunate love case is on the track Love Is Not Real (Next Time You Stab Me In The Back), one of the most emotional and powerful compositions on the album. The same is true about one of the record’s highlights Song Of Madness, on which Meat Loaf’s vocals sound almost twice stronger than the instrumentation. On the whole, the album will leave the brightest impression and lives up to your expectations.
No doubt Meat Loaf’s voice sounds on Hang Cool Teddy Bear in all its beauty and strength. Even after so many years today his works are surprisingly taken as fresh, up-to-date and respectable. It is especially true about this recording. For the first time a Meat Loaf’s work is produced by Rob Cavallo, who has worked with such teams as Green Day, My Chemical Romance and others. Rob has been carefully watching the musicians’ creative work and has been very happy to get an opportunity to contribute to it, so all the arrangements are made perfect and the vocals really play the leading role here. Perhaps the only album’s drawback is the absence of a ballad – yet its theme is serious enough and does not imply any sentiments. Moreover, Meat Loaf is an artist who has already given the worlds a lot of slow and beautiful hits and this time he wants us to stay tense following the protagonist’s changing way of thinking. Thus the album Hang Cool Teddy Bear definitely enlarges one’s outlook and is going to be a priceless contribution to your rock-music collection.
Alexandra Zachernovskaya
Eminem has released new single Not Afraid, in which he talks about his last to date album Relapse. The record, which was devoted to rapper’s successful battle with drug addiction, hit the stores on March 2009 and became the top-selling hip hop album of the year.
However, in the new song rapper claims that he felt dissatisfied with the album. The track has lyrics: «In fact, let’s be honest, That last Relapse CD was ehh…».
Eminem also encourages people who have drug addiction to follow his example: «I’m not afraid to take a stand, Everybody, come take my hand, We’ll walk this road together».
Not Afraid has become the first single from Eminem’s upcoming album Recovery. According to the rapper’s words, it is not the same record as earlier announced Relapse 2 album, the follow-up to his 2009’s disk Relapse.
Eminem also claimed that Recovery would be very different from both Relapse and Relapse 2. He also said that it would feature Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, as well as DJ Khalil, Just Blaze, Jim Jonsin and Boi-1da.
Sir Paul McCartney shared his opinion about upcoming UK general election day, which is set for May 6. Ex-The Beatles member claimed that he felt dissatisfied with all three candidates for prime-minister position – Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron. He also wished he had an opportunity to vote for Barack Obama.
«I’m not awfully impressed with the people who are in it. You know, I want a Barack Obama. If Obama was running here I think I’d be able to say: «Yeah, change, this is good, this is something different». That is what I want», said he.
Paul McCartney also claimed that he was recently invited to Houses Of Parliament to watch debates: «It was a very boring debate. But that’s not the point, it’s kind of seeing democracy at work».
Last week Paul McCartney announced that Concord Music Group company would reissue all his solo records, including the last studio effort Memory Almost Full. It will also re-release all albums by his side project Wings. Plans concerning another his side project, The Fireman, are unknown.
Music video for Michael Jackson’s hit single Thriller is the most influential clip in the history of pop music, says the special survey by MySpace. The poll featured more than 1,000 music fans who were given 20 titles to choose from. As a result, Thriller has got 15.2 percent of votes.
It put Michael Jackson on the first position. The second was occupied by OK Go and their music video Here It Goes Again (11.7 percent). Britney Spears became third with Baby One More Time video (11.2 percent).
Top-5 also features Take On Me by A-Ha and Hurt by Johnny Cash.
14-minute music video for Thriller was premiered in December 1983. Its budget was $500,000. Guinness World Records Book named it «most successful music video» with over 9 million units sold.
The Top-10 is the following:
1. Thriller – Michael Jackson, 1983 (15.2 percent)
2. Here It Goes Again – OK Go, 2006 (11.7 percent)
3. Baby One More Time – Britney Spears, 1998 (11.2 percent)
4. Take On Me – A-Ha, 1985 (8.6 percent)
5. Hurt – Johnny Cash, 2003 (7.6 percent)
6. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen, 1975 (5.6 percent)
7. Around the World – Daft Punk, 1997 (5.4 percent)
8. Weapon of Choice – Fatboy Slim, 1999 (4 percent)
9. Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel, 1986 (3.7 percent)
10. Sabotage – Beastie Boys, 1994 (3.5 percent)
Susan Boyle’s second studio album may feature a duo with American hip-hop star. According to the reports by British press, singer’s label Syco is currently in talks with unnamed US rapper.
A source in Syco told The Sunday Mirror: «They are looking at ballads and more musical style stuff, but this time around they want to try to make her a recording artist – original material, and giving Susan a chance to show what she’s really all about. She’s got an opportunity to find herself and she loves all sorts of music – including rap».
Last month US rapper Snoop Dogg promised to record a duo with Susan Boyle. Artist said he was admiring Susan Boyle’s talent and added he was sure that it would be easy for them to get along.
«Susan Boyle is a great artist. I’m looking forward to going into the studio with her. Why not? We’re going to get our minds together and figure out what we’re going to sing about. I’m down with that. There isn’t much I can’t do», claimed he.
Susan Boyle came to international public attention last spring after performing song I Dreamed A Dream at the Britain’s Got Talent TV show. Although not a professional singer, she quickly became known for her powerful voice. Her debut album I Dreamed A Dream became the fastest-selling record of 2009 in the UK.
Singer is set to start the recording of the new album within few weeks.