I miss you, Hedwig.

I think, no doubt, I belong to rock n roll.

If I were born in the 60s, I would cry out my love in Woodstock; if in 70s, you know I would definitely look as glamorous as I can. You probably would not understand how much your story rocked my world, and I didn’t realized it either until lately.

Awkwardly while I am trying to document something at this moment with my tears streaming down, I lost all the words. When you dedicate your whole to love, to life and to rock’n'rollers, can I dare to say I feel connected thoroughly to you? I was trembling listening to Lauper covered your “Midnight Radio”, and she’s really doing more than alright.

Can we hold on to each other tonight? Can you see my hands up?

When Daft Punk goes a cappella, could Kanye West be “strongest”?

Needless to say, we all know how talented Kanye West is. As a mutli-platinum Hip-Hop producer, rapper, songwriter and an artist, he has proved himself more than adequate and confident to what he is doing. Each time his refreshing take-on of old stuff always rocks the world, from big band sparkling classic “Diamonds Are Forever” to the latest groovy remake of Daft Punk’s anchor piece “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. Even Daft Punk themselves showed up on the stage of Grammy with him, what more can you say?

Nevertheless, what I am trying to get to here is not about Kanye West, it’s about THE SONG. Can you imagine to perform this dancy tune through A Cappella? Yes, people already did that before Kanye West made it into a synth rap mega hit. I was on my break of finishing my homework and accidentally found this on YouTube. Suddenly I had difficulty to figure out my preference between single mastermind or group power.

Always, to look life in the face

Luc senses a hole in his life.

It bothers him for weeks. He thinks that it results from a drastically paralyzing daily routine which can not be carried on properly. He used to be a punctual student, wake up at 7 and be on time at school at 9. Although he knows learning another foreign language is not his priority, he still tries to enjoy it, and maybe somehow he does. To be with classmates, to be praised by the teachers, to utilise his talent in communication, and to impress everyone how rapidly he can catch up the phrases and grammars give him the pleasure. However, all the routine has the same fatal factor which would be generated by itself inevitably, boredom, not to mention this is not obligatory routine but a chosen one.

Additionally, this moment in his life, for Luc, is not crystal clear. Leaving his country to a strange place to settle down with merely a vague vision of what he might want or try to do and all these restrictions a foreign place could bring, language barrier, culture difference, racism, and self-esteem issue, he finally realizes it is more difficult to be yourself right here right now. As if one looks at the foggy sight with scratched dirty goggles, not promising at all.

Is it the place and timing? They say it tops the third place of highest suicide rate on this planet. It still snows in March, which is more considered to be so called spring time. It is not really depressing to him. It just lasts too long, like his own blear condition. He knows it would be too passive to sit and wait for a breakthrough point, but he feels there is nothing he can actually progress.

He senses a hole in his life, when he looks it in the face.

(image source: http://missmelinus.deviantart.com/gallery/ by linus l.)

What have I missed? The Brits Awards 2008

Once again, the Brits proved itself to be way more fun than Grammys and American Music Awards, except that period when Robbie Williams has won 5 years straight.

Just checked the nominations for 2008: we have Arctic Monkeys and Mark Ronson for British Albums, we have Bat For Lashes and Kate Nash for Female Solo, we have The Klaxons and Mika for Breakthrough Act, and shockingly but not so over that Take That nominated for album, single, group and live act, while popular Leona Lewis has also 4 nominations. You realize this annual party actually invites everybody, no matter you are mainstream pop idols or twisted indie bands. It appears so dazzling that you would actually think this awards are truly diverse and generous!

Somehow if you compared it to last few years which has been dominated more throughly by indie and rock band, this year is definitely a return of pop. And also, this list indicates once again the profit of record selling has its way into the award surly. While the “academy” chooses the winners for us, do those voted categories by BBC audience and Sun Bizarre column readers really reflects the quality of music? Or it is just another result of powerful brainwash exposes and commercials flooded by mainstream record companies?

Smiley editor Alex Needham in London wrote something interesting about the nomination this year. Read it here.

One small part may be more intriguing to find out is the winner of Critics Choice 2008. Highly praised by DJs of BBC, Adele sings soulfully with folky tune, seeping an overage maturity. This is “Chasing Pavements”.

Adele’s MySpace.

And back to my opening paragraph, what I really missed the Brits this year is the collaborations of The Klaxons with Rihanna, and Mika with Beth Ditto as the opening act! Why bother thinking about the righteousness of awards, let’s watch shows!

Fun Cover: Nelly Furtado “Crazy” (Gnarls Barkley)

Sometimes a good song only takes a good voice and simple instrument to bring out the beauty. Nelly Furtado is definitely one of the most characteristic female vocalist at present. Don’t ever forget how she stunned the world with “I’m Like A Bird” in 2000. “Crazy” of Gnarls Barkley is no doubt one of the most exciting track in 2006. And from BBC Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge, it was presented, the new cover of 9-weeks UK #1 single from this 5-Junos winner.

I like this acoustic version. Or maybe this song is just too brilliant to be covered no matter how. And follows is the offical sound studio footage from Universal Music. I love her singing like this!