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MUSIC

The 20 Greatest Songs Of The 90’s- 20 to 11

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Like A Moth To A Flame, I Like The Way You Work It, You Were Meant For Me. Yeah, 90’s.

The 90’s is arguably the greatest decade of music.  As someone who has grown up as a lover of music and was even called a “walking radio station” growing up, this decade alone has given me so much nostalgia and memories of a time where music was great and had meaning and flavor to it.  The music today pales in comparison to the amazing and one of a kind songs that the 90’s really put out, and I wanted to take all of that joy and put it into a short but sweet list of what I think are the 20 best songs.  After watching VH1’s version of this, I had to make a rebuttal as some they got right and some they got dead wrong (“I Want It That Way” at #3?  Girl Bye!)  Everyone has an opinion about what they think is the best, so please sound off and let me know what you think.

20. Ace Of Base- “The Sign”

It really is hard to believe that no matter how hard you fight it, Swedish pop has a way of coming into your lives and making you belt out a synth-heavy tune while jamming in your car or dancing at the club.  Ace Of Base did that and more, with their #1 hit song “The Sign” in 1994.  The album of the same name was also the #1 best selling album of the year and Billboard’s #1 song as in a midst of R&B megahits from Boyz II Men to All 4 One as an example.  Ace Of Base proved to not be one hit wonders with follows up from the album such as “Don’t Turn Around” and “All That She Wants” but pretty much anyone can tell you that when you say the name “Ace Of Base” generally this song comes to mind.  Delicious swedish pop- eat it up.

19. Brandy & Monica- “The Boy Is Mine”

The 90’s was known for many different types of genres, most notably R&B throughout.  Brandy & Monica were two of the hottest female R&B artists at that time, spawning solo hits like “One Of Dem Days” and “Sittin Up In My Room”.  But when it came time for them to duet on a timeless tale of two women fighting over one men, the chemistry was undeniable.  “The Boy Is Mine” became one of the biggest songs of 1998, winning Brandy & Monica their first Grammy award and spending an unprecedented 13 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100.  It also had a fantastic music video with actor Mekhi Pfeifer being the man in between and ultimately being the one left alone.  Both these women are crazy talented and this was pure serendipitous when they put their sultry vocals together.

18. Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Total- “Juicy”

Certain music artists, including ones on this list, will always have the “Could’ve Been” factor, meaning what could they have been had they not passed away so suddenly.  Notorious B.I.G. is a classic example of that.  Biggie catapulted to fame in the mid 90’s with this track and one of the most recognizable lines in hip-hop history- “And if you don’t know, now ya know”, which has been used in several songs since then.  In his short career he put out two flawless albums- “Ready To Die” and “Life After Death”, both chock full of massive hits but when you think Biggie overall, you think “Juicy”.

17. Jewel- “You Were Meant For Me”

Alaskan native Jewel dropped her first album in 1995 with “Pieces Of You”, but it didn’t necessarily go anywhere chart wise until the second single was released- the painfully softly sung “You Were Meant For Me”.  The angst from her voice with the strums of her guitar mixed with a simple yet beautiful video put this easily in my top 20.  It really is a song you can never get tired of, and it makes me yearn for why she still isn’t as big of a star as she was back then.

16. Sarah McLachlan- “Building A Mystery”

Staying on that Lilith Fair tip is Sarah Mclachlan, who released one of the best albums of the 90’s in “Surfacing”.  The phenomenal album was catapulted by its first single “Building A Mystery”. Sarah described the song as this- “Basically about the fact that we all… have insecurities to hide, and we often do that by putting on a facade.” She also goes on to say that “Unfortunately, if we just be who we are, that’s usually the more attractive and beautiful thing”.  It is such a simple yet beautiful track when it gets down to it and one of my favorites that she has ever released.

15. No Doubt- “Don’t Speak”

Ska had a huge influence in the 90’s, and Gwen Stefani was its true queen in every sense of the word.  No Doubt was like a semi lighter version of the band Garbage, and had so many funkadelic tracks to go along with.  “Tragic Kingdom” remains one of the best albums of the 90’s IMO but “Don’t Speak”, which details the breakup of her and another band member, is simply divine with its rock edge and fantastic lyricism.  Gwen For Life.

14. Janet Jackson- “That’s The Way Loves Goes”

Janet reigned supreme in the 90’s with two massive albums and hits galore.  Her best is “That’s The Way Love Goes”, one of the best smooth jams the music industry has ever seen.  At the helms of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis lies this beautifully sung and melodic hit detailing the intimacy one person has with another.  The video itself also introduced us to a future superstar in the making- Jennifer Lopez.  In a standout of standouts for Janet, this one takes the cake.

13. Spice Girls- “Wannabe”

You would’ve had to have been in a coma or dead in the mid to late 90’s to not know who the Spice Girls were.  One of the biggest girl groups of all time, they won the hearts of millions (and me) with their debut single “Wannabe”.  I still to this day don’t get the “If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends”, but whatever it made for a gigantic pop track and put them on the lips of millions of adoring fans.  POSH SPICE GET OVER YOURSELF AND REUNITE WITH THEM SO THEY CAN DO ONE MORE TOUR.  Thanks girl.

12. Whitney Houston- “I Will Always Love You”

I’ll make this simple.  The best song to ever be a remake of an original (Dolly Parton).  One of the best songs from a soundtrack to be ever made (The Bodyguard).  The highlight of her illustrious career and proof that Whitney will go down in history as of the greatest to have ever existed.  RIP.

11. Blackstreet featuring Queen Pen & Dr. Dre- “No Diggity”

Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” is just one of those damn songs that if you are ever at a slow party and the music aint what it supposed to be, you simply play this track and see everyone do a 180.  Mixed with sick hip-hop beats,  two great rap sessions by Dr. Dre and Queen Pen and smooth 90’s R&B vocals turns this track into a bonafide hit and one of the biggest tracks of 1996.  Still timeless to this day.  Shawty get down.

Check back here for part two tomorrow!!!




The Royal Guard’s Epic Return From Europe To NYC

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With the mainstream culture in music being so heavily favored in pop, hip-hop and EDM it is hard for any type of real bands to find their place in the maze that is the music industry.  Some may have to travel beyond their norm to discover appreciation and respect for the type of music they put out.  The Royal Guard did exactly that, when they uprooted themselves from NYC in 2009 to Eastern Europe when they released their debut album “Showdown”.  After it being well received in Estonia, where they resided, they spent the years after that dealing with personal turmoil that halted the band from moving forward in their efforts.  Now that the dust has settled, the band has forged ahead and is ready for the next chapter in their lives.

The Royal Guard consists of Todd Davidson on Lead Vocals & Guitars, Andy Ascolese on guitar and vocals and Fred Scragg on Drums.  They are releasing their second effort called “Hail The King” in which two singles have already been put out for the masses to enjoy- “I Wanna Know” and “Why Can’t We Be Together”.  I was fortunate enough to sit down with The Royal Guard about their budding success, getting back together and what is next for this trio.  Take a look.

Hey guys! So tell me the back story on how all of you came together?

We all grew up on Staten Island. I knew Andy since we were kids and I met Fred at a concert in NJ while he was playing drums for another band. I told Fred that band he was playing with was terrible and that he needed to come play for me. That’s how Fred and I started working together. Turns out, Andy and Fred already knew each other from High School. So it was only natural to approach Andy, the most talented person I know.

What was the original sound of the band and has that changed since inception?

I’d say it wasn’t drastically different. Maybe we were a bit more punk than now. To me, the music still has the punk edge but has become a little more mature and complex yet still simple and to the point.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Some of our musical influences include: My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds to Mars. Green day, Foo Fighters, and Muse. And of course, as guitarists, we dig some of the great hair bands of the 80’s when you’d hear a guitar solo in every song. haha

What ultimately sparked the move back to New York?

There were some musical opportunities I wanted to explore and sadly as it turned out, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and we wanted to be close to her and the rest of my family.

What is the major difference in the music scene between NYC and Eastern Europe?

It seemed like people in Eastern Europe get out more to hear live music. Even on the local levels, there appeared to be more interest and excitement. It also seemed that rock music was still in high demand.

Tell me about the two new singles you guys have released.

Why Can’t We Be Together

We refer to this song “The Ultimate Anthem of Rejection”. In words of Emily Dickinson “The Heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care”, this is a story of simple unrequited love, something that everybody experiences at least once in a lifetime. Boy meets girl, their eyes meet, his heart leaps, she doesn’t give a damn.

I Wanna Know

The underlying theme in this new album is love and war, struggle to keep on believing in your dreams and putting up a fight to not let the life destroy that dream. “I wanna know” is a song about holding on when you are in over your head and trusting that in the end of the road it all will make sense.

What are your plans for 2015 and beyond?

Our new CD “Hail The King” is currently being printed. We plan on releasing that CD at the start of the new year and then touring to support the album.  Beyond that, we want to continue to share our story of holding on and never giving up to our fans and to our future fans. We also hope that we can help bring rock music back to the forefront of the music industry… one guitar solo at a time.

Check out The Royal Guard’s official site & EPK here!

IndiMusic TV- Proof That Music Videos Still Have A Place

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I am someone who comes from a generation where the music video was such a prevalent item in making someone’s music career a success.  Artists like Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and Missy Elliott wouldn’t be half as big as they are today if they didn’t have the power of each of their music videos to further their careers.  The music video even launched independent artists onto the forefront of our television screens, most notably people like Lisa Loeb, who is still the only artist in the history of music to have a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and not be signed to a major label with “Stay”.  Sadly, today’s generation is lost on some of that magic where mainstay networks like VH1 and MTV have foregone their endless airplay of music videos with their current crop of reality TV programming such as “Love & Hip Hop” and “Are You The One?”  Luckily, there is a subscription based service that allows people to still divulge in thousands of independent music videos & artists as well as some pretty great programming for mainstream mainstays from Maroon5 to Bon Jovi.  I am taking about Indimusic.TV.

IndiMusic TV, which launched two years ago as the first 24-7 independent only worldwide music video TV channel and Musician Social Network, has cemented themselves as the go to spot for the very best in independent music videos – garnering 800,000+ subscribers in over 260 countries worldwide, over a million unique visitors a month (over 40,000+ visits a day), and more than 85,000 Likes on Facebook.  IndiMusic TV was originally founded in 2004 as a “go to” music video website and then launched as a half hr TV show in 2008 in the NY tri-state area on the independent TV Network WLNY TV10/55. It garnered instant popularity as it was the only game in town to launch, market and expose new indie Music Videos on traditional TV. After three successful seasons IndiMusic TV broadened their horizons by launching a world wide mobile TV network partnering with Yamgo TV, a mobile TV start up in the UK. In September 2012, IndiMusic TV launched as the first 24-7 independent only Worldwide Music Video TV channel and Musician Social Network. They are currently ranked as a top 100,000 site in the world and the proof is in the pudding as to why this is the case for many up and coming musicians.

On top of the endless music videos available at your disposal, they also have some great music related programming for the masses to enjoy.  First, there is the show “Do I Have A Hit Song”, which airs Monday through Wednesdays at 7-8 on M&W and 9-10  on Tuesdays. This show puts the song front and center, featuring hit makers such as Drew Copeland from Sister Hazel proving that it really is ALL about the song. The show has a unique online component that means any songwriter has a chance at being part of – and winning – this ground breaking International TV show (enter at www.doihaveahitsong.com). Artists who get the most votes online during the semifinal rounds will be chosen for the finals, attaining major publicity and support in getting their song heard and distributed to the world. Semifinal episodes air on selected Tuesday nights at 9pm including January 20th, February 3rd, February 17th, March 3rd,March 18th, March 31st, April 14th; with the finals airing May 12th and May 26th.  Consider this to be the song version of “American Idol” right on your computer screen.  Watched the first episode and with all the unsigned talent that is out there I am really excited to see how this show plays out in 2015 and see if that person does in fact have a hit song.

Another show that they have that I really dig is called Private Sessions.  Hosted by former VH1 VJ Lynn Hoffman, she sits down with legends in the music industry such as Maroon5, Bon Jovi and Gene Simmons from KISS and gets to the grit of how they made their way to becoming who they are now.  The Emmy Award winning series airs Thursday nights at 9PM, and you can also catch Lynn hosting IndiMusic’s Top 21 Countdown airing weekly.

For artists the sign up is free and to upload footage onto the site is affordable and worth it.  When you are putting footage onto a site that has Emmy wins, a huge amount of views & unique views, and combines a mix of great music from independents and huge artists what is there to lose?  Check out the official site for more information.

The Loft Sound Studio- Finding The Next Big Thing In Music

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In the past decade or so, reality television has giving audiences a first hand look into what it takes to develop the next music superstar.  Shows like “American Idol”, “The X Factor” and “The Voice” have all played pivotal roles in taking a regular person and turning them into a chart topping, Grammy winning performer who becomes a legend in the industry they simply once aspired to be apart of.  But what happens when you take someone who has already been through the ringer of this type of program and take their experience into their own hands and utilize it on other up and coming performers?  That’s where you will find Donnie Klang and Matthew LaPorte, who have developed The Loft Sound Studio.

Located ten minutes away from me in Plainview on Long Island, Donnie & Matthew have built Long Island’s premiere music artist development factory.  If you are unfamiliar with Donnie he rose to fame on MTV’s hit show “Making The Band” a couple of years ago, most notably being signed by Diddy as a solo artist as opposed to the rest of the men there who were being groomed to be the next big group in R&B and hip-hop.  When your mentor is none other than Sean Combs you pretty much have the rundown as to what it takes to find that next X factor of a person or persons.  Since their opening, they have developed some big new talent including MarissaAnn who was a finalist on season 3 of “The Voice” and Madison Beer, who landed a deal with the biggest artist in the game- Justin Bieber.  I sat down with Donnie & Matthew to discuss more.

Hey guys!  So tell me a little more about how the process of The Loft Sound Studio started?

We opened The Loft Sound Studio in 2011 with the intention of giving young aspiring singers a place where they can come develop not only their vocals in a fun innovative way- but also help train and create recording artists that are industry ready.

Donnie, do you think your experience on Making The Band helped in the process of developing the studio itself?

My experience on Making The Band was one in a million. It was really the last of true artist development that labels used to put into their artist. It’s been amazing being able to take everything I learned and the network I made and help new artists pursue their careers.

What was the biggest takeaway that Diddy taught you during the MTB experience?

The biggest thing I learned from working with Puff was that this is truly a business. I learned the ins and outs of every aspect of developing, growing, marketing, and exploding a brand.

What made you want to transition out of music and focus solely on producing at this point in your career?

When things slowed down for me- I realized from a business aspect I wanted to have something in place that can help sustain my life moving forward so that when I’m ready to work on my music again I won’t have to worry about the financial side of it. I’ll be able to just whole heartedly put my focus on creating.

Can you please let our readers know who both you and Matt have been developing and any success stories with the brand?

We helped to develop Madison Beer who secured a deal with Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun and she eventually signed to Island / Def Jam. We’ve gotten multiple teenagers onto reality music competition shows including X Factor and The Voice. Most recently we assembled a 5 member pop / R&B girl group that we are currently marketing and developing and will be showcasing to record labels in 2015. They are called The Janes. We also have been working with 17 year old soulful powerhouse vocalist MarissaAnn from season 3 of The Voice.

Seeing as we are all Long Islanders here, do you think LI gets the musical respect that it deserves?

I think Long Island is a hidden gem. We are of course in the shadow of the greatest city in the world- but it also gives us amazing opportunities less than an hour drive away. A ton of clients from Long Island that come to us used to have to travel all the way into NYC to get the type of training and services we offer- so we pride ourselves in being a little slice of the big city in Long Island.

Now that 2014 is ending, what are your ultimate hopes for The Loft Sound Studio as we enter into 2015?

Everything seems to have been culminating to this upcoming year. Everything I learned while being an artist in the industry- along with how much our business and network has grown- there will be multiple label deals signed this upcoming year for a bunch of our artists!

Learn more about Loft Sound Studio by logging on to their official site

Essential Voices USA: Holidays at Carnegie Hall and “Cherished Moments”

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Photo courtesy of Johanna Weber
Photo courtesy of Johanna Weber

Well, New York…It’s that time of year, again. Not, as the popular song goes,  “when the world falls in love and every song you hear seems to say ‘Merry Christmas’.” For most city folk,  it means cluttered sidewalks rife with tourists, longer lines than normal at the morning coffee shop, traffic jams, and a quick depletion of pain killer  from Costco sized bottles. This weekend, however, Essential Voices USA is determined to melt your frozen yuletide hearts as they take  to the Carnegie Hall stage  for The New York Pops’ annual concert “Home For the Holidays” this  Friday and Saturday, December 19th and 20th . The 60 voice chorus, under the direction of Judith Clurman, will be joined by Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara (recent star of The Bridges of Madison County and upcoming leading lady  of Lincoln Center’s The King and I revival) and Matthew Morrison (Light in the Piazza, Hairspray, and television’s Glee).  On Sunday afternoon , December 21st, a smaller ensemble of Essential Voices USA will join the orchestra  for a family  holiday concert. The afternoon will feature a staged 50th year anniversary celebration of the beloved television special Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

 

Photo courtesy of Laura Marie Duncan
Photo courtesy of Laura Marie Duncan
Matthew Morrison_small2 (1)
Photo courtesy of Laura Marie Duncan

On Friday and Saturday, audiences will be treated to “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “O Holy Night”, “We Need a Little Christmas” and other holiday  favorites. Sunday’s light offering  will include “Holly Jolly Christmas”, “Silver and Gold”, and the title song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. The afternoon will also feature members of the New York Theatre Ballet  as they re-enact scenes from the holiday classic.  All concerts will guided  by the baton of Steven Reineke, music director and conductor of The New York Pops.  As of the writing of  this article, tickets for all performances are extremely scare, so you’d better act fast, find a generous friend with an unused seat, or  pray for a holiday miracle.

Speaking of miracles, Clurman’s group will honor the season’s festive Jewish holiday  within the Friday and Saturday night concerts  with “Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah.”  This collection of songs was arranged collectively by  Clurman, Larry Hochman, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Clurman translated the piece and  it originally premiered in December 2010 (under her baton) at Carnegie Hall  with Essential Voices USA and Stokes Mitchell. Due to popularity and acclaim, the group will once again revive this joyous song cycle , which is currently being performed  nationally by other vocal groups.  Although Essential Voices USA’s  weekend performances will not be recorded, Clurman’s arrangements of the Chanukah piece  have been preserved on the recording,  “Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit”, available through the Sono Luminus label on iTunes, amazon, and Spotify.  The album not only incorporates “Songs of Freedom”, but other holidays and life events surrounding the Jewish culture and religion.  Produced by the  Grammy award winning David Frost, it is one of Clurman’s proudest musical achievements.  “Each of these pieces is a cherished moment from my own life,” she says. Some of the pieces have been written with the last few years, while others are traditional songs like, “Han’shamalach”, a song that Clurman heard as a child in the synogogue. The album captures the essence of the Jewish experience and Clurman is particularly fond of the idea that, “Jews experience the sacred in time rather than space. It is through these moments that we find meaning and holiness in our lives. This album is a kaleidoscope of who we are as a people.” Both “Songs of Freedom”  and “Cherished Moments” capture the essence of Jewish life, but have broad, universal appeal.  Clurman observes, “It transcends by being fine music.”

Fortunately, for those who have already purchased tickets, they can  experience this musical transcendence live. If you’re one of the unfortunate music lovers who decided to lollygag  like a tourist from Topeka around the Rockefeller Christmas tree , download “Cherished Moments”  and let it fill your soul with peace and calm during this otherwise harried holiday.

For tickets and information visit:  http://www.carnegiehall.org/,

 http://www.essentialvoicesusa.com/

http://sonoluminus.com/p-386-cherished-moments-songs-of-the-jewish-spirit.aspx

 

Photo courtesy of Frank Wang
Photo courtesy of Frank Wang

 

EVgroup
Photo courtesy of Gertjan Meijer

 

 

 

 

z100’s Jingle Ball 2014- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

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Last night z100’s, New York’s #1 hit music station, held their 2014 Jingle Ball right in the heart of New York City at the famed Madison Square Garden.  In conjunction with I Heart Radio, the concert was broadcast all over the internet with an air date on the CW to happen later on this month.  Naturally the show was sold out as it was packed with some of today’s biggest and brightest stars, all huddled under one roof to give everyone a great show and for us to have an awesome night.  Whereas there were a ton of great moments that happened throughout the night, there were some things that happened that made me puzzled, confused and wondering if it was really ok putting them there in the first place.  Take a look at what went right, and what went wrong at Jingle Ball.

The Standouts-

Taylor Swift-

Of course, Taylor was the headliner at Jingle Ballso she was the last to come out which happened around 11:45 PM, nearly four hours into the show itself.  It also happened to be Tay tay’s birthday today, so all of us got to celebrate with her on her 25th which was pretty awesome.  Honestly, Taylor is at the stage in her career where being at the top isn’t even the top, she’s further than that.  So the mini concert itself was really just a spectacle to watch and the audience craved every minute of it.  She has such great stage presence and really enjoys the interaction she has with her audience.  Only thing I was a bit confused by was why she performed two songs off of “Red” and not  all five of her songs from “1989”.  I get you wanna perform the hits, but you have enough adoring fans that know “1989” already that they would’ve been excited to hear something new as opposed to something we’ve heard for years (I was hoping she would’ve performed, “Style”.  Nope).  Otherwise, great set to end the night.

Shawn Mendes-

Maybe this is just my age as I am transitioning from the top 40 phase of my life to the WALK 97.5 stage, but Shawn Mendes was the only person on the Jingle Ball lineup that I had no clue who he actually was.  He apparently has some big song out right now that he performed last night called “Life Of The Party”, which for a guy just playing with a guitar and nothing else did a pretty good job.  The highlight was his own version of the first verse of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” which he did in a very stripped down way, and that to me was awesome.  It is good to know that someone of his tender age of 16 can research music from a different time period and take a song which is so deep and heavy and turn it into something much more light and in a way refreshing.  Hope he has a very successful career ahead.

Sam Smith-

Love him and I think he is the best thing that happened in 2014 by far.  Such a simple guy with this amazing voice that commands such a presence.  He is such a unique throwback to the yesteryears of Elton John and Billy Joel, and did such a fantastic performance of his hits “I’m Not The Only One” and “Stay With Me”.  Just like Shawn, I see a bright future for him and hope his success continues beyond this amazing year he had.

Pharrell-

Surprisingly Pharrell was the one who kicked off the night, which in past years is usually reserved for some of the smaller acts.  Pharrell spent most of his set performing hits that he was featured on such as “Blurred Lines” and “Get Lucky” but the latter two songs were his best.  Why?  The surprise announcement of his fellow “Voice” judge Gwen Stefani coming out to perform their new song “Spark The Fire”, which was freaking awesome.   Growing up Gwen was a huge music influence for me and seeing her and him perform together again was amazing.  Of course, he finished his set with “Happy” and invited a bunch of PSL’s on the stage to dance/take selfies with him.  Honestly, if I was on stage with Pharrell I would put my phone in my pocket and enjoy the experience and not do what these stupid girls did, but it’s a generational thing, so whatever.

5 Seconds of Summer/Maroon 5-

The only two “Rock” acts at Jingle Ball, and both did a pretty decent job.  Maroon 5 was great, maybe phoned it in a bit with “Animal” and “One More Night”, but I felt like they were super rushed because Jingle Ball itself had such a large lineup that many of the acts only had 10-15 minutes.  Nevertheless they were great.  5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS, were quite fantastic and did a great rendition of “What I Like About You”.  My hope is that they can get past the screaming girl phase and really be seen as a great band as opposed to a flash in the pan that pop seems to take in and spit out every year.

The Lowlights-

Jessie J/Meghan Trainor/Rita Ora/Nick Jonas/Charli XCX/Rixton-

I honestly felt bad for all of them, they legit got 2.5 seconds on stage and then went bye bye.  Nick and Rita I’m not shocked at.  Rita doesn’t even have a huge song here in our country, and Nick only has one song “Jealous” which he did pretty decently.  Jessie did one song “Burning Up” but came back later on in the night to perform “Bang Bang” with Ariana Grande, and Charli XCX came back after her set to do “Fancy” of course.  I just felt that all six of these artists are quite talented and had a good amount of buzz about them that they could’ve given them a little bit more stage time.  Especially Meghan Trainor, who legit rushed through quite possibly the biggest song of this year, “All About That Base”.  I get that they have to stay on schedule but I just thought it was a bit unfair to give them that little amount of time when they are all talented in their own right.

Calvin Harris-

You have had massive hits over the years with some of the biggest names in the business, and you even sing on some of your own songs.  So you got paid last night to stand on stage, press play, and yell at the audience and you weren’t even mixing.  Seriously?  Bye.

Ariana Grande-

Oh lord, where to begin.  First off, I’m begging this girl to stop wearing that stupid ponytail as she consistently looks like a 6th grader.  Want to be taken seriously?  Dress a little bit older than you have been.  Her shout out to her awful brother Frankie was another thing.  Zero connection with her audience, she giggled about tripping during her one part, and just seems very unprofessional.  Also, it seemed as if The Weeknd was supposed to perform with her on “Love Me Harder” but conspicuously wasn’t there.   I attest it to the fact that she wanted all the stage time, which further proves her diva like behavior that she has been accused of over the past year.  There is a huge difference between what she and Taylor is putting out there.  Just saying.

Iggy Azalea-

Sort of surprised that she was the second to last to perform over people I deem to be bigger and more talented than her.  Ugh.  What kills me is that she needs to figure out if she wants to be a pop artist or stay strictly rap, because her performance last night lingered both ways.  She was super bubbly and pop on “Fancy” then went the other direction on one of her better songs “Work”.  I can’t believe she didn’t censor the “Blow Job” line in that song, but to each his own.  I just read novelty all over her and hope that she figures out a game plan because the amount of respect she has in the industry as a whole is quite low for someone who had such highs this year.

Go to z100’s site for more information.

 

 

Goldstar: Making Events More “App”ealing

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goldstar

Do you  have  friends and acquaintances who  sit in their apartments, complain that they are always broke, and announce  that  there is nothing to do?  Now you can resist the urge to smack them in the head and send them back to their native mid-America state by informing them about Goldstar’s brand new Android App.  Wait! What is Goldstar? Thank you for asking!  Goldstar is both a free  website and app which provides listings of shows, concerts, events, dinner cruises, theater and tons of other fun stuff to do in the city–at a fraction of what you’d pay for the full price ticket. Since 2002 this California based company has connected with over 5,000 venues in cities across the United States. Recently, they’ve rolled out in Pittsburgh, PA, Detroit, MI, and are making plans to engage in more medium sized markets.

Goldstar CEO Jim McCarthy recognized the demand from customers to make usage more mobile.  As of September 2014, 63% of  its’ users were accessing the services on either smartphones or tablets. With the launch of this  Android App, McCarthy and his team are making access even more effortless. “Now, Goldstar is there when people think  about what they want to do,” he said.   It should be noted, however, that the app is not strictly limited to Android. It  can work across all other devices as well. Sorry, Gramps…this does not mean your rotary phone!

The new app features include an even wider array of events, reviews from other members who have already attended the event, and a new “sit with friends” option. This means that your friends can buy tickets individually, but you can still sit together. This way, you won’t get stiffed by cheapskate companions who either don’t show up or won’t pay you back. As always, deals are available almost up to the last minute and entry tickets will be sent immediately to your device. Unless the deal is sold out, in which case, you  probably should’ve planned better.

Download the app now, sign up for deals and emails, and enjoy a city which is abundant with non-stop activity–at discounted prices. If your buddies continue to mope around like Eeyore, find new friends!

To download the Android app, click https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.goldstar. On other devices, simply locate “Goldstar” and download.

For more information about Goldstar, visit http://www.goldstar.com

For more information about sitting at home doing nothing, I can’t help you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movie Review: “Some Kind of Spark”

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Some Kind of Spark. Photo courtesy of Plow Productions.
Some Kind of Spark. Photo courtesy of Plow Productions.

Since they’ve been introduced to our culture , the performing arts have long been viewed as something reserved  soley for affluent high society. It stands to reason, then, why individuals who have not had exposure from a young age would not acquire the appreciation nor interest: The arts seem “too bourgeois” or “out of reach.”

Thankfully, Joseph W. Polisi, President of the prestigious Julliard School recognized that this was a  problem. In 1991, after the budget for music education was slashed in New York City public schools, Polisi implemented the Music Advancement Program (MAP).  40 students between the ages of 8 to 14 were chosen from underserved communities and each Saturday, they would work one on one with an instructor, learning about musicianship and their musical instrument. The program not only nurtured an awareness  and knowledge  for classical music, but it taught  self-respect and responsibility.

Twenty three years later, the program continues to thrive and filmmaker Ben Niles has captured the experience of a small group of these students in his documentary Some Kind of Spark which recently premiered at the Fifth Annual DOC NYC competition.  NIles should be commended for bringing awareness to this phenomenal program and he stated that he “wanted to try and make my own impact through this film.” On most accounts, he has succeeded.  With excellent segments of  music lessons, Niles shows the dedication and endless support these teachers have showered upon their students. The bond they establish over this three year period is personal and powerful. What these gifted teachers  give  to these aspiring young  musicians is life-altering and powerful.  Yet Niles could do more to  elaborate on the personal background and lives of these students. The home lives and personal struggles tend to be glossed over. Were there a more rounded view, the film would leave an even greater impact. Still,  Niles has shed light on this impressive program and proves that there is not one socioeconomic rule over the arts. It is, and should be for anyone–and exposure to them should start at an early age, so that they develop a life long appreciation.

For more information about the film and to follow upcoming showtimes, visit: http://www.somekindofspark.com. For more information about the film festival, running through November 20, visit http://www.docnyc.net

 

Album Review: Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

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Azealia Banks, Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Wikipedia

Harlem born and raised, Azealia Banks finally drops her debut album

Azealia Banks has been quite the enigma since she burst into the mainstream radar with her monstrous hit “212” in 2011. Seemingly a star on the rise, she fell in and out of love with Interscope, had twitter beef with every artist from T.I. to Baauer yet had the promise to deliver some of the most experimental music since Missy Elliott.

However, two failed singles and no sign of an album release date left fans wondering whether or not Banks was merely a flash in the pan and a detriment to her own success. Fast forward to Summer 2014. Azealia Banks, now a free agent, released a new single “Heavy Metal and Reflective” and gave fans hope that her debut album “Broke With Expensive Taste” would actually see the light of day. 2 months later another single “Chasing Time” was released and Azealia teased that more was to come.

Then last Thursday, she took a huge risk and dropped “Broke With Expensive Taste” on iTunes with little warning and fans around the world rejoiced. Though not quite a Beyoncé move, given her less than stellar buzz in recent months, many may argue that it wasn’t the wisest decision, but truthfully speaking, in a world of instant gratification, it was right on time.

Despite nearly half of the album containing previously released material (depending on how closely you follow her music), overall the album is an incredibly solid debut offering. My one and only complaint about the album is the sequence of the tracks. “212” is now 3 years old and her most popular track bar none, however it is within the first 5 tracks on the album which in my opinion throws off the balance a bit. She also does not balance the diversity of her music well. Azealia often teeters the line of Hip-Hop, Electronic, R&B, and Pop which is both impressive and confusing and she jumps from one style to the next without any sort of transition.

These things aside, Azealia proved naysayers completely wrong: She is far from a one hit wonder or a flash in a pan manufactured artist. She sticks to her guns and she doesn’t apologize for it as she effortlessly delivers diverse musical styles that are absolutely amazing. And guess what? The risk has paid off. She debuted at #30 on the Billboard Top 200 with over 11k albums sold (and that was in less than a week’s time). In this day and age, without any label support and a marketing plan, Miss Banks certainly won’t be broke much longer.

Standout tracks: Wallace, Chasing Time, JFK, Idle Delilah, Ice Princess

Official Website Here

Interview: Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA

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Photo courtesy of Frank Wang
Photo courtesy of Frank Wang
Photo Courtesy of Steve J. Sherman
Photo Courtesy of Steve J. Sherman

Judith Clurman and her choral group, Essential Voices USA will take to the stage at Carnegie Hall this Friday evening, November 14th  as part of the The New York Pops Series. Audiences can expect to hear selections from Orff’s  Carmina Burana, Bernstein’s  Candide,  Copland’s The Tender Land and others. When the baton is raised, it will be approximately the tenth time Clurman’s singers have performed with the Pops at the ultimate venue, but she has stopped counting. “I just go from one job to the next and make music,” she says with an excited gleam in her eyes. “I could perform in a community theater or in a school. It simply doesn’t matter as long as I’m making music.” Still, she acknowledges the honor of performing here. “There is nothing like it in the world. The sense of history you feel there is unique, and I think many of the chorus members feel that too.”  The group regularly performs with the symphony thanks to a relationship she developed with former New York Pops conductor, Skitch Henderson. The symphony is currently under the direction of Steven Reineke, who will also conduct his piece,  “Festival Te Deum”  during Friday night’s program.

Clurman’s 60 voice volunteer ensemble has been in existence since 2011, though she had conducted other choirs prior to this. Essential Voices USA came from an outgrowth of  different chorus work she had done in New York. “I had an entire professional chorus and had also conducted the Juilliard Choral Union. I decided that I wanted to do something different that would fit my needs and the needs of the concert halls, so Essential Voices USA was born.”

As a conductor, Clurman is passionate about  her musical work, but also admits to challenges . “There are many group dynamics that have to be confronted,” she observes. “You put people together that you hope will not only sing well, but will sync with each other personally. Rehearsal is one of the few places in the world where people turn off cell phones and work together to make music.” She continues to lament on short attention spans  that have waned since she started to learn music. As a trained pianist with degrees in vocal music, Clurman began to hone her craft as a child . “I was accompanying choruses in fourth grade and it continued through my senior year of high school. It was there where I learned how to listen. People in this day and age struggle with that. They don’t know how to be calm for five minutes and I’m faced with that challenge against a frenetic society.”

The rewards far surpass her dilemmas however, and Clurman is ecstatic when she discusses her work.  “When a chorus knows a piece of music, it’s thrilling. They come together and they’re one. I love seeing the smiles on their faces when they are having a good time.” She also notes the importance of teaching. “That is what being a good conductor is all about- so the chorus will be able to perform all by themselves, whether they are under my direction or another conductor.  You just know your stuff,” she states with pragmatic brevity.  Clurman also wants her chorus to take  something of value from the creative process. “I hope the group learns through it and finds a sense of community and satisfaction.” As for the audience, Clurman wants them to have a good time, too. “I hope  that they have fun and will want to come back for another concert. I also hope that they’ll download a recording.”

Fortunately, Clurman has been able to preserve the sound of her group with an album entitled Celebrating the American Spirit. The recording uses a smaller number of Essential Voices USA members,  as well as paid professionals.  The idea for the album was planted in 2001, two weeks after 9/11, when Clurman’s Juilliard Choral Union sang “America, the Beautiful” at a firehouse on Amsterdam Avenue.  “I knew that that I wanted to record that song,” Clurman recalls. “ But as we were singing that night, a fireman put his head on my  shoulder. I stopped conducting in the front of this massive group of people and we all cried and sang together.  After that, I asked a variety of composers to write music based on the actual words of United States Presidents.”  She also enlisted the help of her friends, Broadway stars Kelli O’Hara and Ron Raines. The result of the song cycle is featured on the album. In 2011, National Public Radio invited Clurman to be an artist-in-residence where she, along with the composers of each selection, discussed their individual works at length. “We didn’t want famous words,” Clurman clarifies, “but rather important words.” While there was a bit of controversy and mixed opinion about the Presidents she chose to highlight, Clurman says, “It doesn’t matter. I just wanted to honor the presidency. These pieces are now recorded and published in a series for G. Schirmer music and I’m very excited about that.”

With Thanksgiving approaching, Clurman is also quick to discuss one  of her favorite tracks on the patriotic album: “Reason To Be Thankful” by Larry Hochman. Hochman is a Tony award winning Broadway orchestrator who had written the song  as part of a collection of American melodies. “When I first heard it”, Clurman says, “I called Larry and told him how beautiful I thought it was. I then asked him if he had ever given thought to adding lyrics to it.”  Hochman was open to the idea, and Clurman called her friend Sheldon Harnick, the esteemed Broadway lyricist. “Sheldon is one of the finest, most poetic lyric writers ever. He understands vocal music better than most and he just gets it. I knew he would write something heartfelt and real. We are frustruated with our country sometimes, but we’re thankful we live here. Harnick captures that in this song.”  In addition to the Hochman piece, performed by Raines,  Clurman cites O’Hara’s powerful rendition of “God Bless America” as another favorite on the track.  “Both of these songs are very real. I choose that word, “real”, specifically because there is a healthy rawness in the  singing.  Raines and O’Hara  don’t over-interpret. They just sing the pieces and are truly fine American singers.”

As for her larger ensemble, all 60  members are clearing their throats and fine tuning selections for  Friday night’s performance. Following that, they’ll be back in the rehearsal room for three more concerts with the New York Pops on December 19th, 20th and 21st.

 

For tickets and information about upcoming performances, visit http://www.carnegiehall.org/  For more information about Dr. Judith Clurman and Essential Voices USA click: http://www.essentialvoicesusa.com/