The New Kidd On The Block

Someone who I’m absolutely in love with at the moment is Vince Kidd. If any of you guys have watched the Voice UK then you’ll remember him as Jessie J’s finalist in 2012. Leather clad and wearing enough eyeliner to put Adam Lambert to shame, he got all judges to turn for him when he sang his own version of Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’. I never thought a man would sing this song, and I was just as stunned as the judges by his song choice. Like Will.i.am said, Vince completely changed an iconic pop song into a signature soul piece. Absolutely brilliant. And that falsetto is out of this world.

He’s got this delicious edgy, alternative look with bits of grunge thrown in along with eyes that are so gorgeous they’ll sweep you off your feet even if his voice doesn’t. I can’t tell you how blown away I am by him. He’s got the whole package: talent, looks and stage presence. He’s like a mix of Adam Lambert and Bill Kaulitz with a bit of Billy Idol thrown in for good measure and I’d say that’s a pretty fantastic blend.

His music is vibrant and soulful, along with being tracks you can dance along with. What I love most about him is his versatility. Vocally he reminds me of Daley and Robin Thicke but the most accurate way to describe him would be to say he’s like a male version of Jessie J herself, which is why I felt she was the perfect coach for him on the Voice.

His latest video for ‘The Zoo’ ft Vanessa White is absolutely crazy and infections. The beat is intoxicating and I have not been able to stop listening to it all day. It’s full of energy and colour, very much like Vince himself and I believe this song really suits him and has given him more freedom to explore his space as an artist. I highly recommend listening to this song and watching the video.

He’s definitely an artist who deserves more recognition and album sales, so do tell your friends to check out his music because I think he’s absolutely worth it. He’s got a certain charm you just don’t see in musicians these days. If you’re looking for something a little soft and mellow, you can check out his performance of ‘Smother Me’.

Needless to say he really has knocked my socks off, and I look forward to the day that I get to see him sing live in front of me.

Cheers!

Why Did The Romance Have To End?

I think My Chemical Romance has been one of the greatest bands of our time and will continue to be so. Their raw energy and angst has fueled every teenage dream that I’ve had and spurred me on to try harder to be better, faster, stronger and more emotional about things that really matter. They came like a shooting star into my life and like most shooting stars are now gone, but their legacy will remain.

It was a shock when I heard they had announced their break-up. It was simply so hard to fathom, I sat there for ten minutes with my mouth open, sputtering words of denial and anger. Why? How could they do this to me? I felt as if they had wronged me personally because a world without MCR is a difficult world to live in.  My throat closed up and all I wanted to do at that moment was cry because this band meant more to me than I had realized. It’s true you don’t miss something until it’s gone.

Their third studio album and [arguably] most celebrated and successful one, The Black Parade, changed my life. It made me understand how intense music can be and never have I seen lyrics so artfully crafted. Gerard Way is a fantastic idol. A man of immense intelligence and a man who understands the change music can bring in a generation. I’ve spent so many years listening and re-listening to the Black Parade that I have memorized the lyrics of most of the songs and each of the guitar solos. I can’t even choose one favourite song from that album since I love them all so much. It seriously feels like there are little nettles in my belly when I think about the fact that MCR will no long create such masterpieces.

At the end of the day though, reading Gerard Way’s letter on why MCR broke up put a lot of things into perspective for me. I understand that it was time for them to end their journey as a band because all good things do come to an end as much as we don’t want them to. Perhaps someday they will reunite for a concert or collaboration to give us members of the MCRmy a little treat.

I want to celebrate this band. I want to celebrate what they have come to mean to me since the first time I discovered them in 2006  and how much they’ve taught me as I’ve grown up. They are one of the biggest names in Alternative Rock and have influenced so many other good musicians and inspired so many. I don’t think I’ll ever stop being a fan because as frontman Gerard Way said:

“My Chemical Romance is done. But it can never die. 

It is alive in me, in the guys, and it is alive inside all of you.”

Long live the Romance.

Why JT Got it Right

So this is going to be a really quick post since I have exams this week, but even though I have to face that demon I knew I had to take some time out to talk about Justin Timberlake’s new music video for ‘Mirrors’, his second single of his new album The 20/20 Experience.
The song is about his grandparents and their relationship and how true love really is about staying with each other for so long, through the good and the bad.
The video uses mirrors beautifully to create an illusive and haunting image of two lovers lost in limbo.
I’ve always loved mirrors and the mystery surrounding them, so I have to say I really adore this video.
Well done JT, and welcome back.

Stay in My Heart

I don’t think any song in 2013 so far has impressed me as much as ‘Stay’ from Rihanna’s new album Unapologetic. It brings out a whole different side of Rihanna that we rarely get to see, and the emotions portrayed are raw and powerful. The power of love is expressed in an entirely different manner, how addictive it is and how much pain it can cause.

Check out the video for ‘Stay’. I had tears in my eyes while watching Rihanna because I felt like she was sharing something extremely personal that brings her a lot of pain and grief. Her facial expressions and vulnerability in the video shook me up.

What I also loved about the song was the fact that it introduced me to an artist as gifted as Mikky Ekko. He is unique, good-looking and extremely talented, and I predict he will be quick to rise this year. His voice has a soft and mellifluous quality to it that reminds me of R&B singer Daley. I might also have a thing for him based on the fact that he sort of resembles Tom Hiddleston who I adore.

Mikky Ekko

Tom Hiddleston

See? There’s definitely something.

Do have a look at some of Mikky Ekko’s music. He definitely needs to be recognized more.

In other news, I am plenty excited about Justin Timberlake’s return to the music scene. Eight years is a very long time and what I’ve heard so far from his upcoming album The 20/20 Experience has exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved his first single ‘Suit and Tie’ ft Jay-Z. I can’t wait to get my hands on the entire album. R&B and JT are an ideal combination. I like his suave look for the video and the rhythm of the song really gets me moving. If you need the perfect tune to get ready for the evening or to go for a drive, this is it.

The Year’s Almost Over??!??

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and ate a lot and gained a whole bunch of weight because I certainly did and I refuse to be alone in this predicament. :p

I can’t believe how quick 2012 flew past! It’s actually quite shocking and I feel time just slipped through my fingers. There’s so much I learned about myself and the music industry this year. Music has helped me grow  into a stronger person all my life and this year was no exception. 2012 saw the emergence of brand new artists as well as great comebacks from artists we all know and love.

My personal favourite artist of the year is definitely Lana Del Rey. She gets all the awards in my book. I’m sure if you’ve been reading my blog or following my Facebook page, you know how obsessed I am. My God I really need to stop praising this woman.

I really loved Muse’s comeback with ‘Madness’. It’s the most consuming song I’ve heard all year and whenever I listen to it I feel as if I’m floating in space or something. Muse never do disappoint. Matt Bellamy is a genius and that is all.

‘Skyfall’ was another one of my most beloved songs of 2012. Not only did I love the movie, but the song kept haunting me for weeks and still gives me goosebumps whenever I listen to it. Dammit Adele, Y U SO TALENTED?

I also loved listening to Azealia Banks, Daley and of course Ellie Goulding. Daley has been one of the artists who has impressed me the most with his songs ‘Alone Together’ and ‘Remember Me’ ft Jessie J. If you’re into R&B, you definitely need to check him out.

Rihanna has had a great year with ‘Diamonds’ and ‘Where Have You Been’. I don’t know if it’s the joy of being back with Chris Brown, but her music has seriously improved. So has Chris’ actually, since I have a special place in my heart for his 2012 hit ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’.

I seriously cannot sit here and compile all the music I loved in 2012 because there’s just too much. The list is endless and I do not have enough fingers to be able to accomplish that kind of typing. I think this video will sum it all up beautifully! It’s a little long but oh so worth it!

However, I think in the end Psy ended up being the biggest boss of 2012 with Gangnam Style. Seriously. No one can beat this guy.

I Live in Paradise City

For my 50th post on MHB, I’d like to discuss something really personal and close to my heart. I think there are some moments in life that truly define you as a person. Whether it’s winning an award for a fantastic accomplishment or having a baby or receiving your first paycheck, they all mark points of your life you’re happiest or proudest and you never forget. To me, one of these moments was attending Guns ‘N’ Roses’ first ever concert in Bangalore. Now I mentioned in my last post that Bangalore is the city to be in if you want to see international artists perform, and boy am I thanking my stars I live here. I would call Bangalore my ultimate ‘Paradise City’.

I’ve  been a fan of Guns ‘N’ Roses since I was very little. In fact I don’t even remember when exactly I fell in love with them because they’ve always been present in my life. The person I have to thank for that is my gorgeous, kick-ass and totally awesome aunt who is a fan herself and introduced the band’s music to me. In fact my aunt and my mom are the two people who I thank first and foremost for the development of my interest in music, especially the soft spot I have for 80′s Rock. Going for the concert with them, especially my aunt, was truly something I will never forget as long as I live. Guns ‘N’ Roses are something my aunt and I have always bonded over and seeing Axl Rose perform on stage the songs we used to sing along to all through my childhood brought tears to my eyes. I know it sounds cheesy, but hey I was extremely emotional and working my way through a massive glass of beer.

Axl Rose is the only original member of Guns ‘N’ Roses left in the band and most of my friends didn’t attend the concert because they felt Slash’s absence had changed the band’s dynamics completely and he was the only one worth watching anyway. Being an Axl fangirl, I couldn’t disagree more because even though I admit I would have liked to see Slash, I didn’t feel the music had changed in any way. Guns ‘N’ Roses sounded as raw and powerful as ever and I didn’t think they needed Slash at all to sound brilliant. Axl Rose started off a little shaky, but as he warmed up he brought out a whole lot of energy. They performed Sweet Child O’ Mine, November Rain, Better, Paradise City and a lot more. His voice still sounds the same and he is truly a God of Rock.

We think our favourite musicians are invincible. We perceive them as forever young, having had a drink from the Fountain of Youth to make them beautiful, sexy, and dynamic but seeing Axl Rose that night was a bit of a wake-up call.

Axl Rose then:

Axl Rose now:

I was reminded that musicians are also only human and age, illness and death all affect them the same way as they do us. Having to live up to our expectations in fact adds more burden to their shoulders and it’s unfair for us to expect them to remain the same as time passes. Axl Rose may look very different, but I’m proud to be able to tell you that his voice and energy remain the same and so does his talent for song-writing. He even performed some of his famous dance moves along with Sweet Child O’ Mine and my aunt was screaming like the crazy fangirl she is. I was screaming away too even though I had a bad throat. To say it was epic would be an understatement.

As you all know my favourite band is Tokio Hotel and when my aunt told me that Guns ‘N’ Roses are her Tokio Hotel, it got me thinking; What will they look like in 20 years? Will they still be as sexy as they are now? Will they still be alive, making music? Where will I be? All I know for sure is that I will forever remain a fan of Bill and Tokio Hotel, just like my aunt stayed in love with Axl Rose and Guns ‘N’ Roses.

[Sorry, couldn't help but add a photo of Bill!]

 

Meeting Sean Paul and Seeing Enrique

So October/November have so far been very interesting months for me so far. The most fantastic thing about living in Bangalore are the number of international artists who love coming here to give concerts. Bangalore is known as one of the most happening cities in India in terms of music and art and I have to agree 100% and couldn’t be prouder of the city I was born in. Makes sense doesn’t it? Music lover, born in the music-hub of India… Haha.. Anywaayyy….

First up is the awesomeness of the fact that I actually attended Enrique Iglesias’ concert on the 22nd of October. I can’t believe I was actually there. He performed all of his biggest hits including ‘I Like It’, ‘Bailamos’, ‘Rythm Divine’, and ‘The Ping Pong Song’ and many more. A couple of lucky fans got to go onstage and sing with him, but the luckiest of all fans was a woman he pulled up, sang ‘Hero’ to and then kissed. On the lips. Yes. That happened. I fought tooth and nail to the get to the front and managed to beat up a bunch of people- and almost rip a poor girl’s hair out-in the process. I finally saw him from about 5 feet away and it was magical. He was singing my favourite song ‘Hero’ and he looked gorgeous and so real and oh my god my brain was failing at the realization that ENRIQUE IGLESIAS was 5 feet away from me! Excuse me while my brain decides to short-circuit again.

Sorry the picture is so grainy but I had zoomed in and my hand was shaking like crazy:

Also the second cool thing to happen to me was meeting Sean Paul this November.

He had flown down for his concert in Bangalore and was staying at the Mövenpick Hotel [fabulous hotel btw do try to visit] and I had the opportunity to go to the hotel and meet him. It was a two-hour wait before he finally arrive with his entourage. Everybody looked exhausted because they had been travelling and performing 3 nights in a row. I thought my heart was going to fall right out of its cage when I saw Sean Paul getting off the bus and I had to control myself from freaking out completely. As tired as he was, he was still sweet enough to thank me when I said I was a huge fan and take some pictures with me. I even got a hug and almost fainted at the burn of his hand against my back when we were taking photos. I was grinning so hard my cheeks were hurting all day. He then headed straight upstairs for, presumably, a shower and a nap. He smelled really nice though. And I say that in the least creepy way possible.

This is me meeting him. Please excuse the sorry state of my hair:

It was awesome and I couldn’t stop shaking afterwards. Also, my friends all hate me.

In terms of new music I’ve come across, I am so enraptured by ‘Fire Blaze’ by Rascals. The sound is infectious and seeps into your bones with heavy bass and electronic. I’ve always felt that British rappers and hip-hop artists are in a league all their own, and artists like Tinie Tempah, Labrinth, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk and now Rascals, are all proof of this. You definitely need to give this a listen.

Anyway November has been full of wonderful things so far. I also turned 20 on the 15th and even though I still feel like a little kid on the inside, I have learned a lot about growing up and working towards a career in music and lifestyle journalism. I guess with friends and family making life worth living, all you need is love. [Beatles reference. Shame on you if you didn't get it.]

Here is a link to Mövenpick Bangalore’s webpage. They really are a wonderful hotel and I highly recommend a visit.