For everything that the music scene in Fairbanks, Alaska may lack, it is made up for, part and parcel, in encouragement and the most highly valued commodity ’round these parts, warmth. I’ve been making an effort not use this blog as a vehicle for promoting my own band and I don’t want to do that now, but being Thanksgiving as well as the eve of Paper Scissors‘ final Marlin performances I’d very much like to take a moment to express my gratitude. It all started in fourth grade when my now ex-step father, a percussionist in a local blues band, gifted me my first drum, a shiny silver snare drum, with which i joined the school band. It was a shot in the dark, to say the least, as I had little to no inclination towards learning to play music at the time. It’s impossible to say whether it was Hot Cross Buns or Three Blind Mice that made me realize there was something about the beat that spoke to me, but either way, the rest is history.

I remember Paper Scissors’ first Marlin gig very well, and in fact still have a recording of it. Listening to those songs, some of which we still play (with significantly more skill) serves to re-enforce my beliefs in the unwavering graciousness of music fans here. In other words we were pretty bad. We weren’t even called Paper Scissors at the time, we were known (for one night only) as the WMDs. My friend and lead guitar for Work, Caleb Kuntz in an interview with me pointed out that one of the coolest things about our scene is that bands are automatically given a number of chances to  get their  live sound dialed it. Over time those bands that can’t, fizzle out and those that can, percolate to the top, and with unwavering support of their fans, continue to perform. Paper Scissors was lucky enough to fall into the latter category and it is something that has changed my life for the better more dramatically than almost anything else ever has. There’s no way i could list the names of everyone responsible for this, but hopefully you know who you are, and from the deepest depths of my heart and soul…Thanks. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and that music continues to satisfy your soul as it does mine, for the rest of your days, even if it’s Bon Jovi. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and come spend one last weekend of classic Marlin madness with Paper Scissors this Friday (11/27) and Saturday (11/28). Gobble Gobble.

There are days when I cannot think of a single thing to write. It’s not that my life has become stagnent or boring. Never! But, my brain will not release the thoughts and holds out on the signal to make my fingers work the keyboard.

Yesterday was not one of those days, however. Thoughts were rapid firing like redneck hunters during deer season (which starts next week for guns…”note to self”…do not wear anything that has even the minute resemblence to antlers). It’s customary here for Black Friday to lower the checkered flag for Christmas shopping for the ladies and deer hunting* (see footnote at bottom) for the high testosteronedsex. Which, by the way, does not mean just the guys. No sirree…no bias ’round here. Y’all will see about as many femullets as mullets in the woods.

So, I’ve decided to let you, dear reader, choose my topic. Here is my plain, unedited list of weird, bizzarre, and maybe, downright disturbing topics. These are on a white, lined notebook right here beside my computer. Eventually, I’ll write about them all. But, you decide for me this time.

I just realized that my dentist’ name rhymes with Dr. Fucky.

Sweet Child Of Mine video that I am perfecting (starring me dressed as Axl Rose) for TPSkipper and TPMidge for Christmas. I started on it yesterday and got the giggles so bad that I just couldn’t finish it.

Bullet earrings and L L Bean

My friend gained 100 pounds in order to qualify for gastric bypass surgery.

New words that I have learned.

“Hey, looky here. I got me a squirrel right thru the eyeball!”

“Feels like the first day of squirrel season”

nasty dreams about Jon Bonjiovi

So…what will it be? And, if you lazy-ass biotches and baiostards don’t help me out, maybe, I’ll just write a post about….

PEOPLE WHO READ BUT NEVER COMMENT…..i’m just sayin’

*hunting season….a whole week away with the guys/girls. 3 hours of sitting in tree stands in subzero weather.  165 hours of sitting around with the guys/gals….spitting, farting, telling lies, and drinking suds.

If you read my last post you know that last Friday a battle of the bands competition happened at the Hess Rec Center at UAF. What you may not know is that Paper Scissors won. What you most certainly don’t know is that I (Ryan Schmidt, drummer for Paper Scissors) having participated in two, winning one (very much losing the other) hate the idea of competing with local bands that I respect for nothing more than a cash prize. After all the bands had performed I was milling around the venue just shooting the breeze and found out, before it was announced, that Paper Scissors was going to win. Far from the happiness and pride victors are expected to feel I was instead burdened with disappointment knowing that the other bands (many of whose members are friends and peers) would leave feeling much like the majority of American’s did in 1993 six minutes after buying Bon Jovi’s highly anticipated “Keep the Faith”; disappointed (probably pissed). Whereas your typical battle of the bands winner promptly attaches feather to cap and holds no bones about educating all of their fandom (and otherwise) of their new status at the top of the pile, I couldn’t help but feel like Gomer Pile, eating a doughnut while the rest of my unit does pushups. Don’t get me wrong I (we) wanted to win. We wouldn’t have entered otherwise, but doing so, and the way it made me feel, gave me pause.

Being a musician in Fairbanks has many pros, easy to book gigs, receptive audiences, pay, to name a few, but it’s also renowned for its challenges. Paper Scissors can play the Marlin till we’re as blue in the face as its namesake and I would put money on the fact that no representative from any major music label or production company will EVER come and listen. I suppose I could be wrong but I’m willing to take some very steep bets. There are a number of musicians that are happy to jam here and there, but have other plans for their professional lives, but for the bands that aren’t, the bands that put hours, and days, and months, and years of effort into their music in an effort to jam not just here and there, but for the rest of their lives (you know who you are) a decision to relocate to the lower-48 is paramount. Granted it’s no silver bullet (though it may hit you in the foot) but existing in a more heavily saturated music market is a necessary step in making your band your business.  You may argue that Fairbanks needs to find a way to become more noticeable and competitive. Maybe. It would change a number of things for the better, and a number of things for the worse. I like things the way they are. This place is unique, it’s beautiful, it’s weird, it’s great.

I’ll spare you the 500 pages of diatribe about every nuance of our music scene bouncing around my head right now, and make a concerted effort to finally, at long last and without further ado or one more moments hesitation…get to my point. Asking Fairbanks’ local bands to compete against each other for money is inherently at odds with what I see as the most integral values of this scene, and it falls on the bands to recognize that it’s not what we’re about and to decline similar invites in the future. It isn’t the competition that detracts from us, it’s what we’re competing for, money and “status” among respected equals. It’s petty and we should all be above it.

HOWEVER, when Elektra records organizes a battle of the bands here to determine the next band it’s going to sign…it’s game on!

Pop music vs. Classical

I’m not sure what it is, however, there has been an “elitist” bias among practitioners of classical music (and jazz to an extent) towards pop music. With their complexities, and often times, numerous years of study at music programs, classical musicians reverence of historical catalogues, yet it doesn’t improve their popularity among the masses.

On the other hand, pop music (in this case all popular music) keeps growing in popularity with the advent of the internet. Sometimes there has been collaborations like Metallica’s orchestral performances, or anytime you bring in a string section in a pop tune ballad.

Classical music activists say there is no interest to classical/jazz music & that in many ways it’s dying (sales of songs/albums). Critics blame it on the public for not appreciating the greatness of the music. Meanwhile, pop musicians like Miley Cyrus and Linkin Park sell tons of albums, itunes, merch, and ticket sales for tours. Today I checked ticketmaster and the top billed ticket price for Bonjovi concert was over $1,100 (and those were sold out within 10 minutes). And no offense, but I’m not sure if any pop artist will last as long as a Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin.

#1 Music is music & it needs be promoted through press, given publicity, shared, passed on to each successive generation. It doesn’t happen by osmosis.

My point, is that in my experiences as a music writer, I have got a lot of positive response from the pop music community and silence/ignored by the classical/jazz community. Now, I admit I don’t search out classical or jazz as much as pop music, but I have a beef with the “Classical” mindset.

Simple example, whenever I have contacted pop musicians/bands about doing an article or contacting them for background info, etc., I have usually been given a positive and response. They seem to welcome publicity and press. So, I’ve been sent many press releases, invites to shows, and made contacts within the pop music world.

On the other hand, whenever I have contacted classical/jazz musicians or venues about writing articles and giving some press on this genre of music, I’m usually “stiffed at the door.” I have contacted Koerner Hall multiple times, which is the new performance hall in Toronto specifically made for the RC (Royal Conservatory).

My beef is that I contacted them through the appropriate channels knowing that the 1st season of this concert hall is a big deal for Toronto. The thing is they didn’t get back to me with any response after taking my info down & saying it would be passed to “blah blah” and I think that’s poor that they don’t get back to me with at least an explanation as to why it’s a “no”.

If given press access, I would’ve went to the “9’s” in writing about all the great classical, jazz, world music performances that are going on there. And I really don’t understand it, because classical/jazz is definitely in the decline and a lot less popular than pop music, which get’s most of the music press.

So, I’ve got the beef out & it’s done. No grudges, I’ll even leave the link to Royal Conservatory/Koerner Hall, so you can check out their shows & go to them if you are in the GTA region (Greater Toronto Area). If you want to get the younger mainstream audiences into classical/jazz, you need all the promo you can get.

I just wonder if classical music society purposely want to keep the concerts small, quiet, in order to…have the masses stay away.

The Royal Conservatory: http://performance.rcmusic.ca/

~ Jason Chu

http://twitter.com/Chodidees

http://www.examiner.com/x-19981-Canadian-Music-Examiner

http://www.myspace.com/chodidee

http://www.youtube.com/user/Chodidee

The superstition that there is bad luck associated with Fridays that fall on the 13^th day of the month will provide for an interesting atmosphere surrounding The Battle of the Bands happening this Friday…the 13^th, at The Hess Rec Center. Work, Paper Scissors, Eating for Two, Something Evil and 12-Year Stretch will compete for bragging rights and a cash prize of 250 big ones. Attendance of the event is open to everyone so you don’t have to be university student to attend, though if you arrive on a steel horse with a six string on your back you will be immediately and forcefully escorted from the premises. Tickets are three dollars for UAF students or seven dollars otherwise. The Battle begins at 7pm sharp so be sure to get there ASAP and pour your heart out for your favorite. A good band knows (and shows) that their efforts day in and out are for your delight at the end of the week. The Battle of the Bands is about bragging rights, but it’s also a chance for the fans to show their love in a tangible way. Good luck to all! For more information check Facebook.

Though this is usually an informational blog I’m going to digress from that and share with you the sad, pitiful and thus, funny story about my band (Paper Scissors)’s first Battle of the Bands experience.

It’s the summer of 2006, and Godsmack is scheduled to play at the Carlson Center in a few weeks. They decide they would like to have a local opener and so, get in touch with a venue, the now defunct Hide Out Lounge, and asked them to organize a Battle of the Bands, the winner of which would be selected to open the show. The obvious question here should be a resounding, why? I fully agree that the musical prowess and integrity of Godsmack is at best debatable, but at least it wasn’t you-know-who. Regardless of our feelings towards Godsmack we were a brand new band with no credibility, but we were proud of our work and grabbed immediately at the chance to play anywhere that would let us. Not to mention the hilarity value in the assuredly dumbfounded looks on Godsmack’s collective face were we to win. A few days before the show I attended a meeting of the participating musicians to hash out logistics. The host of the meeting (and the event) asked, very seriously, that any bands who weren’t seriously intending to compete for the prize please resign themselves from the competition. It hadn’t escaped me that I was the only person wearing at least one piece of clothing that wasn’t black, and it seemed that that question may very have been meant specifically for Paper Scissors. I said nothing. I guess we weren’t exactly sure how serious we were but we can be a stubborn, if not proud bunch and were definitely not backing out. The day came and we showed up pumped and ready to rock a million faces. However,  we got the hard rusty shaft instead and were scheduled to play last, immediately after Turbid North who, both in hindsight, and at the time were the obvious choice for winner. That same shaft was given a nice sharp twist when all of the bands, especially Turbid North, went long, and so by the time we were up, we had something like 12 minutes to set-up and play before the event (which was outside) had to shutdown because of noise regulations. We set up with the quickness and jumped right into it, but we weren’t quick enough. What was a packed house emptied twice as fast as we could set up. We played for one person (I counted). The icing? Before we could start our second song we were politely asked by an officer with the Fairbanks police to “shut it down.”  There aren’t any places other than first in a Battle of the Bands, but I can assure we came in last.

On the first Friday of every month art galleries everywhere host free viewings of current hangings and often unveil brand new shows accompanied with free wine and tapas. “First Friday” as the event is usually referred to, brings out droves of  family and friends, amateur art critics and average-joe art (and wine) enthusiasts each month to a variety of galleries here in town. Represented at these galas are all types of art, painting, photographs, video and multimedia installations, ceramics, sculpture and more. What is rarely showcased, however, is music. Granted, its not as if music doesn’t have ample opportunity in Fairbanks (and elsewhere) to be seen. There is some sort of inherent difference between the traditional art gallery show and a live concert. Both are public art displays yet they each possess a certain je ne sais quoi about them that results in being presented in their traditional formats most of the time.

In the art world though, tradition is for the birds. Earlier this fall Caleb Kuntz organized and hosted a meeting to which he invited everyone involved (in any capacity) with the local music scene. One of the ideas discussed there was the possibility of putting on a music oriented (either party or entirely) “First Friday” event, hopefully as early as December. The design and execution of said event, at this point, is still very much in the air, but if you have any comments or ideas, they are most welcome either here or at Kuntz’s blog, fbxshows.com.

Last month at The Marlin hosted a combination gallery and DJ show. Instead of somber mingling and sophisticated discussion over fine wine and cheese, show-goers were treated to fast-paced dance music, flashing lights and a full bar. Not everybody’s cup of tea I know, but far better than Bon Jovi and certainly out of the ordinary and, of new and different, this author is a fan. Of Bon Jovi, this author is not.

Today is November’s first Friday and all over town galleries are opening their doors and inviting us all in to enjoy some of our local artisans work. If you’re interested in a great collaborative display of artistic talent, make sure to check out Chartreuse vintage clothing store on 1st ave & Wickersham where you’ll find beautiful (if not eclectic) painting on display, a large selection of vintage clothing and special musical guests, Paper Scissors.

Keep an ear out for news and details about next month’s first friday music show.

For Fairbanks’ local music scene, plug into the Art Machine! 

Don’t let this happen to you (the audio & the picture to the left). There are a number of great resources in town other than “The Art Machine” you can use to hunt-down the shows you want to see. If it’s not here (though it should be)  head to Caleb Kuntz’ site, fbxshows.com. Even without the internet god music is easy to find.  Check out, Latitude 65, our local newspaper’s offshoot dedicated to all things artistic and entertaining in Fairbanks, or just keep an eye on the myriad bulletin boards on campus and at local businesses. See you in the front row!

bon jovi y yo

Todo empezo en 1992, cuando por primera vez, escuche y vi a bon jovi.

Era un viernes por la noche y estabamos en casa de una amiga cenando, entonces viendo la tele (en uno de esos programas de espectaculos que hacian) lo vi actuar cantando bed of roses y me enganche…………

Such raw display of national pride at the cost of those so dear.

Of broken trust of graying men with harsh ideals the beaten youth.

Yet so strong of faith they scream from shell encased rooftops.

Your Green Balloons floating globally over your Sea of Green.

Your Black Balloons at the mercy of your Baffoons we grief with you.

Let the world find peaceful balance before we run out of Black Balloons.

A Worldwide Collection of Solidarity has no place for Isolistic Faith.

When faced with the Common Fate of the need for a Greener Balloon.

Green Balloons for Iran Black Balloons for Iran

@42DeepThought

I don’t care who started it. Just stop it. -God

I don’t care who spoiled it. Just clean it. -!Gore

Related Thoughts:

These words says it all..

Lay your head on my pillow
I sit beside you on the bed
Dont you think its time we say
Some things we havent said
It aint too late to get back to that place
Back to where, we thought it was before
Why dont you look at me
Til we aint strangers anymore

Tell me who you think you see
When you look into my eyes
Lets put our two hearts back together
And we’ll leave the broken pieces on the floor
Make love with me baby
Til we aint strangers anymore

…

Alles wat optimisme inhoudt, verschijnt hier.
Alles wat leuke en goede muziek betreft, verschijnt hier.

Combineren we de twee dan krijgen we dit resultaat:

Als je dit hoort ’s ochtends terwijl je nog aan het wakker worden bent, verzeker ik je dat je dag onmiddellijk goed gestart is!

So, those falafels I talked about making in the previous entry?

Yeah, that didn’t go so well.

Friday night, my friends Bonjovi, Mystique, Skinny, and Kappa came over and I presented the idea of making the falafels, since they’ve all had them and at least pretended to like them. Also, I figured this would be a good time to make them because Mystique is an amazing cook and I didn’t think anything could go wrong, you know?

Bad reasoning on my part.

First of all, we didn’t have chopped parsley, or any parsley at all, and I don’t care what anybody else says; that would’ve made a difference. Also, Skinny cut all of the red potatoes, and we only needed half of a medium one, so we sort of doubled the recipe… but mostly just eyeballed it. Well, Mystique did. I didn’t trust myself or anybody else to do that. Then, we didn’t really mash the potatoes all that well, and forgot to set the timer on the oven to bake them so we took them out and tried to pan fry them, and it was just a disaster. They tasted okay, but were really hard to eat because they didn’t have a consistent shape and sort of fell apart, and they were pretty bland, and kind of looked like balls of vomit.

I’d post a picture, but when I woke up on Saturday morning, they were gone. I assumed my mother must’ve thrown them away… and I have to admit I can’t blame her.

In other news, HAPPY EASTER!

Danh sách các áo MỚI VỀ tại Còi Xương Shop từ ngày 9/3/2009 như sau:

• Arch Enemy
• As I lay dying
• Avril Lavigne
• Behemoth
• Black Sabbath
• Bonjovi
• Cannibal Corpse
• Children of Bodom
• Cradle of Filth
• Cypress Hill
• Death
• Deep Purple
• Dream Theater
• Good Charlotte
• Green Day
• Guns & Roses
• Inflames
• Iron Maiden
• Kurt Cobain
• Led Zepplin
• Linkin Park
• Lordi
• Manowar
• MegaDeth
• Metallica
• My Chemical Romance
• Nightwish
• Nirvana
• Obituary
• Opeth
• Pantera
• Sepultura
• Six Feet Under
• The Beatles
• Trivium
• Within Temtation

Các áo mới về chủ yếu là size M và L. Riêng các áo sau có size S: Che Guevara, Metallica, Iron Maiden, LP, Kurt Cobain

Coi Xuong Shop
We sell all from HELL
Số 3 ngõ 154 Đội Cấn, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Tel: 0904 282 876
E-mail: coixuongshop@gmail.com
YIM: coixuongshop@yahoo.com
Website: http://coixuongshop.com

Danh sách các áo hiện có tại Còi Xương từ ngày 25/2/2009 như sau:

1. As I lay dying
2. Bon Jovi
3. Cradle of Filth (COF)
4. Che Guevara
5. Children of Bodom
6. Death
7. Guns & Roses
8. Inflames
9. Led Zepplin
10. Lordi
11. Nightwish
12. Obituary
13. Opeth
14. Pantera
15. Sepultura
16. Six Feet Under
17. Trivium
18. Within Temptation

** Tất cả các áo hiện có chỉ có size M và L.

** Hotline: 0904 282 876

Today, as I sat next to my parents, on our living room couch, eyes peering up at the television, we listened to Singers, Actors, and prominent American Figures, including the president-elect himself, on the “We Are One, Inauguration Concert.”

To be very honest, I voted for Ralph Nader, mainly because I do not believe in a two party political system, and Ralph’s policies were much more sound to me than Obama’s. But one thing I always knew was that this man inspired hope and change in the people who mattered most- you and I. President-elect Obama is always reminding us, even today, that we must get involved and stay active, keeping him informed of what we, the American people think, what we want to see as ‘the change.’

My eyes filled with tears on many occasions as I saw, these artists come together in a manifestation of what we want to see on a larger level, on a local level, ingrained in our every day selves. It is Love. While it was in the limelight, yes, and the world always shows it’s harsher edges after the glamor has faded, it was still something truly remarkable. And let me say this, it is beauty that never fades, it only changes.

I think the moment that caught me off guard, other than when Stevie Wonder came on stage and I jumped up screaming and dancing, was when Bono from U2 sang to the President. He sang his famous song, written in 1984 for Martin Luther King Jr, Pride. As the song neared it’s close he said these words.

“This is not just an American dream, but also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream … an Israeli dream and a Palestinian dream,” Bono said in the middle of U2’s performance of their 1984 hit “Pride (In the Name of Love).”

This was beauty. For so long, the issue of Israel and Palestine has been taboo, especially when any positive light is shown on the Palestinians. And, especially when the issue is in congress. It is time to stand up for justice, of our people at home who live in poverty and in the face of racism, and in the middle-east, where we have financed 1000 times over ongoing massacres in Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories.

Tears streamed down my face as I heard, what Bono had said, and I looked over at my parents, my Lebanese mother and my European father; they too were crying. These two people who created six mixed babies, all of us trying to make this world more just, peaceful, and sustainable. I owe everything to them, and I owe everything to all of you.

I have been dying to see Bon Jovi in concert for years and was especially anxious to get a show in before he retired, although he is still lookin’ mighty fine at 46.  The Verizon Center was sold out – even the seats behind the stage were sold. The concert was great – he took us all the way back to 1982 and played songs through all the decades.

It’s hard to believe but my best friend Christi (Duff) had his “Slippery When Wet” album on vinyl and we’d spend hours making up dances to his hits in her parents living room. We did our best not to skip the record when “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” were rockin!

The concert was amazing! Richie Sambora even rocked out the double guitar – it was totally narley!

P.S. Chris Daughtry opened up the concert and I think he’s going to have two new members of his fan club. Assuming they let thirty year olds who bring binoculars to the concerts in the club.

خیلی کم پیش میاد که خواننده‌ای از سن پایین شروع به خوندن کنه، موفق بشه و موفقیت‌های خودش رو با هر آلبوم جدیدی که ارائه میده تکرار کنه. اگه نگاهی کنیم به خواننده‌های معروف دنیا که تو دوران نوجوانی، به سطح اول بازار موسیقی دنیا رسیدند، مثل برینتی اسپیرز، جوجو، لیندسی لوهان و … می‌تونیم ببینیم که همه‌ی اینها به نوعی ابزارهایی در دست کمپانی‌های موسیقی بودند که یک‌شبه به شهرت رسیدند و با تبلیغات، به ظاهر تونستند به موفقیت برسند. اما بعد از مدتی تبشون فروکش کرد و از چشم افتادند. اما در این بین، هستند کسانی که با تکیه بر استعدادشون و به دور از حاشیه‌های مرسوم، تونستند خودشون رو مطرح کنند و روی غلتک تکرار هم نیفتند.
یکی از این هنرمندان، LeAnn Rimes، خواننده‌ و آهنگساز آمریکایی‌تبار سبک Countyه که از مدت‌ها پیش آثارش رو دنبال می‌کنم. LeAnn در سال 1980 در می‌سی‌سی‌پی به دنیا آمد و اولین بار در سن خیلی کم 13 سالگی با آهنگ Blue معروف شد. این آهنگ، Balladای عاشقانه در گروه ترانه‌های بزرگسالان بود که تونست Leann Rimes رو خیلی سریع بین مردم و اهالی هنر معرفی کنه. صدای لطیف لیان که نشاط و و طراوت خاصی توش نهفته‌ست، یکی از مهمترین دلایل موفقیت او به حساب میان.
البته که تا صحبت از یه سبک خاص و ناآشنا مثل کانتری برای گوش ما ایرانی‌ها می‌شه، خیلی‌ها سروصداشون بلند می‌شه که ما خوشمان نمیاید و اینجوری است و آنجوری و تازه، این سبک اصلاً مال یانکی‌های آمریکاییه و حالا بیا و درستش کن! اما وقتی به لیستی از اسم‌های معروف قدیمی مثل بون‌جووی و التون جان و جدیدترهایی مثل برایان مک‌فیدن و رونان کیتینگ برمی‌خوریم که لیان رایمز رو در آثارش همراهی کردن،متوجه می‌شیم که باید به ادامه‌ی مطلب توجه بفرماییم!

آهنگ Blue تنها آهنگ موفق در شروع کار Leann Rimes نبود. راستش، ترانه‌ی How do I Live از این نظر که تونست نامزد جایزه‌ی گرمی 97 برای عنوان بهترین خواننده‌ی زن کانتری بشه، اثر مهم‌تری هم به حساب میاد. جالبه بدونید که اون سال، این جایزه به خاطر اجرای دقیقاً همین ترانه به Trishia Yearwood رسید. اونایی که فیلم ConAir نیکلاس کی رو دیده‌ند می‌دونند که راجع به کی و کدوم آهنگ حرف می‌زنیم.گو اینکه من خودم آهنگ Leann رو بدون هیچ تعصبی از مال اون یکی خواننده بهتر می‌دونم!

◄ ♫ How Do I Live ♫

برنده دو جایزه Grammy و جوایز و عناوین متعدد دیگه، تا سال 2004 بیش از 37 میلیون نسخه از البوم‌هاشو بفروش رسونده بود و الان که چهارسال از اون زمان هم می‌گذره، موفقیت آلبوم‍هاش ادامه داره.

یکی از شانس‌هایی که در سال 2000 به LeAnn رو کرد و او هم تونست به خوبی ازش استفاده کنه، ترانه‌‎ی دوئت با Elton john بود که در آلبوم Aida التون جان از کمپانی دبسنی به بازار اومد. موسیقی ارامش‌بخش و شگفت‌انگیز  Written in the stars یکی از اون کارهاییه که بسیاری از طرفداران آهنگ‌های دیسنی رو راضی می‌کنه. موزیک‌ویدیوی این کار رو می‍تونید از اینجا ببینید.

◄ ♫ Written in the stars ♫

Is it written in the stars
Are we paying for some crime
Is that all that we are good for
Just a stretch of mortal time
Is this God’s experiment
In which we have no say
In which we’re given paradise
But only for a day

یک سال بعد، آلبوم I Need You به بازار اومد و ترانه‎ی فیلم Coyote Ugly رو با نام Can’t find the moonlight سر زبونها انداخت. آهنگی که به رده 11 صد آهنگ برتر  Dance Chart رسید.
لیان، ترانه‎ی Light the Fire Within رو از همین آلبوم به عنوان ترانه افتتاحیه المپیک زمستانی 2002 در این مراسم اجرا کرد. شاید این آهنگ، معروفترین  آهنگ LeAnn Rimes بین ایرونی‌ها باشه. می‌تونید بارها بهش گوش بدید و هربار بیشتر از بار قبل ازش لذت ببرید.

◄ ♫ Can’t fight the moonlight ♫

هرچند که بین سال‌های 1997 تا 2002، کارهای Leann Rimes به موسیقی پاپ روز نزدیک‌تر بودند، اما از سال 2005، او به سبک موردعلافه‌ش یعتی کانتری برگشت.
This woman,Whatever we wanna و Family سه آلبومی بودند که تا سال 2007 از LeAnn به بازار اومدند. اما این آخری یه ویژگی جالب داره و اونم همکاری Leann با Bonjovi در آهنگ Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymoreست که یکی از ترانه‎های قدیمی این گروه هم به حساب میاد. آهنگ عاشقانه‌ی قشنگیه؛ از شنیدنش ضرر نمی‌کنید.

◄ ♫ Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore ♫

Tell me who you think you see
When you look into my eyes
Lets put our two hearts back together
And we’ll leave the broken pieces on the floor
Make love with me baby

مضامین ترانه‎های LeAnn Rimes ببشتر راجع به عشق و حسرته. اما گاهی به موضوعات اجتماعی هم نیم‎‏نگاهی داشته. یکی از ترانه‎های جالب آلبوم 2007 لیان، Family ، آهنگ اول آلبومه. موضوع جالبی که تم اصلی ترانه family رو تشکیل میده، از هم‎پاشیدگی خانواده‌هاست و من رو به خیلی یاد وضعیت اجتماع خودمون میندازه:

♫ Family ♫

Mama’s cryin’ again, her baby’s nowhere to be found
The world has gone and taken her away
Daddy went and ran off with some white trash half his age
Left me at home to pay for his mistakes

I can’t forget the night that Uncle William passed away
We were forced to recognize his weird disease
I ran away and ran around with a man twice my age
Ain’t it funny how some things never change

اما یک قطعه بعد، یک آهنگ شاد و انرژیک، از همونایی که از سبک کانتری انتظار داریم، فضای تیره‌ی آهنگ قبلی رو از بین میبره و البته به عنوان یه Single موفق هم بخوبی بازار رو تحت تاثیر قرار میده. موزیک‌ویدیوی این ترانه‌ هم کار جالبی از آب دراومده:

◄ ♫ Nothin’ Better to Do ♫ ا(320)
و◄ اینجا (112)

در مجموع، کارهای Leann Rimes از نقاط روشن موسیقی آمریکا در یک دهه اخیر هستند. موسیقی‌ای که به شکل ناامیدکننده‌ای تحت تاثیر سبک Hip Hop و Rap قرار گرفته و آینده‌ی غیرقابل پیش‌بینی‌ای رو پیش روی خودش میبینه.

خلاصه، من که پیشنهاد می‌کنم همه‌شون رو دانلود کنید. بالاخره من از بین بهترین‌ها، تاپ‌هاشونو انتخاب کردم و گذاشتم اینجا. اما اگر فکر می‌کنید که همچنان با سبک کانتری مشکل دارین و اصلاً نمی‌تونین گوش بدین (گو اینکه به قول یکی از بچه‌ها، سبک بامزه‌ایه!)
در اینصورت، دوتا آهنگ آخر رو دانلود نکنید.

توهم‌نامه را از طریق فید دنبال کنید..

7:00 a.m. Get up in the morning.

7:15 a.m. Take off my Daughtry pajamas and put on my I Love Daughtry T-shirt.

7:30 a.m. Pour my coffee into my I Heart Daughtry mug.

7:40 a.m. Feed my pets, Chris and Jon.

7:45 a.m. Turn on my computer.

7:46 a.m. Begin to search the internet for any possible Daughtry alerts to comment on.

7:50 a.m. Begin to search the internet for any possible Hicks alerts to comment on.

10:00 p.m. Finish commenting on the Hicks alerts.

10:15 p.m. Put on my Daughtry pajamas, light my Daughtry candle and say my prayers to Chris God.

10:20 p.m. Dream of Chris.

7:00 a.m. Start it all over again.

A bit delayed post on the concert I attended the 18th of June, in Oslo. I also slept in the new apartment, for the first time! And found the way from the apartment and to the “Ullevål Station” without a map (because I forgot it at home, after printing it out in the morning).

Since I’m too lazy to post every picture, I cheated and used fd’s flickr toys, and made this mosaic!