Dés nos 18 mois, nous sommes déjà au travail, nous avons un cahier pédagogique ou nous collons nos réalisations artistiques.

No.  I did not try to write Exchange and fuck it all up.  I was randomly looking around on Hype Machine (http://www.hypem.com) and I randomly started looking up XXXChange’s stuff.  He is a guy that is mostly known for remixing songs of artists such as Spank Rock, Santigold, Amanda Blank, and Diplo.  I’ve been kinda sorta following him every so often because he is one of the guys at a Spank Rock show that is at the back of the stage with the headphones on, grooving while spinning the shit that goes behind Spank Rock while he raps.  And, well–he is good at it.  That whole Philly group really is a tight clique.

So anyway, I started listening to a remix he did of Santigold’s “Les Artistes“, and I liked it.  But what really got me was the production work he did on the Amanda Blank song that I posted below.  Fuck, I love it.  Yum.  It’s called “I Might Like You Better“.  I ain’t no Amanda Blank stalker or anything but if I was a lesbian she might just be my #1 love.  She even has a hilarious blog… http://littleamandablank.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, I <3 the two of them.  Here are the songs.

Les Artistes by Santigold and remixed by XXXChange

Might Look Like You Better by Amanda Blank and produced by XXXChange

Wow….it sure took me a long time to get that Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream.

I won’t even count the months – too much shame. 
There’s not much point, I guess, in posting up a review of The Killer’s song, but I do finally remember the name of that song with the funny colored guts – it’s L. E. S. Artistes by Santigold! LOVE IT! Currently the most played song on my IPOD and phone ring tone. Link!

(This gives me an idea for my next post – it’s an old and constantly used idea, but still.)

Now, there is another Music Vid I plan to evaluate (as soon as i remember the name, singer, or some lyrics).

Until then, I have a mini update! I’m learning the world of graphics! That’s it. lol, I’m going to go back to CS and this window cling concept that I have to come up with.

I shall be back soon (hopefully,lol) with a more productive entry.

Toodles!

The first time I heard Brooklyn-based Santigold’s music, my immediate reaction was: “what is this girl saying?”  While working at a home goods store over the summer, Santigold’s “You’ll Find a Way” came over the loudspeaker; it was a refreshing burst of energy on a daily soundtrack that consisted mostly of 70s disco and 80s pop. (Photo courtesy of Kent, J on Flickr)

Santigold performs at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon in 2008.

Santigold – born Santi White and originally nicknamed Santogold – began her music career as a record company executive and writer/producer for R&B singer Res‘ debut album “How I Do.”  She spent some time fronting the Philadelphia-based punk band, Stiffed, which released a pair of albums in 2003 and 2005.

In late 2007, Santigold began to receive Internet exposure through MySpace for her lead singles “Creator” and “L.E.S. Artistes.” By April 2008, she released her debut album, “Santogold,” to heavy critical praise and modest commercial success. 

In their “Best of 2008″ issue, Rolling Stonemagazine listed “L.E.S. Artistes” as the number two single of the year, and “Santogold” as the sixth best album.  If that was not enough recognition, her songs have appeared in Bud Light advertisements, EA Sports games and Ford commercials. 

By February 2009, her public profile was so well-known that the TV-infomercial jewelry company Santo Gold threatened legal action if the singer did not change her name.  Thus, Santogold became Santigold.

Santigold is often compared to friend, collaborator and touring companion M.I.A.(who, coincidentally, played Bonnaroo last year) for her fun lyrics, electronic beats and vocal style. Honestly, at first listen to “Creator,” I thought it was M.I.A.; the main distinction between the two is that M.I.A. is a better producer and beat-maker while Santigold is a much better singer and lyricist. 

Though Santigold does not have the recent commerical success of M.I.A. (you couldn’t go anywhere in the summer of 2008 without hearing “Paper Planes”), her staying power lies in her ability to blur genre lines and redefine what is considered pop music. 

“L.E.S. Artistes” is a modern pop classic that expresses Santigold’s hope that her sacrifices will eventually pay off, while I could see ”Say Aha” and “Shove It” playing in clubs across the country. On the other hand, songs like “I’m A Lady” and “Lights Out” show the softer side of Santigold and reveal her vocal range and playful lyrical nature.

The perfect mix of trip-hop, dance, funk and electronica, Santigold will undoubtedly set fire to the Bonnaroo stage come June. Pick up “Santogold” – it’s one of the best, most well-rounded albums I have heard in a long time. (Photo courtesy of Richard aka Dave on Flickr)

Santigold performs at the Roadhouse in Manchester, England in 2008.

[There's often more behind the discovery of an album than just the music.  Here's S. Ziggy Zagami's review of Santogold's eponym album 'Santogold'.  If you would like to share your One album - One story, we'd love to post it.]

Review by By S. Ziggy Zagami.

I hear her while I am at the movies, while I am watching TV and I heard her the other day while I was shopping, although admittedly I was in HMV and it shouldn’t have been surprising. The first single

“L.E.S Artistes”

presented itself with a strong beat reminiscent of 80’s pop and is indicative of the rest of the album (it was ranked #2 Best Single of the Year by Rolling Stone and the album was ranked #6 in the 50 Best Albums of 2008).

However, what really attracted me to Santogold in this song is her voice which sounds like a restrained yell. When this song was getting a lot of air time I was working on a HBO miniseries and on one particular day had stalled a truck mounted generator on a steep hill. It was a busted old truck with a shit gearbox and I just could not find a low enough gear to make it up the hill. Sitting there trying to be calm and get going again as swiftly as possible, my insides felt like they were performing their own brand of restrained screaming. And I remember later that day hearing another Santogold single,

“Lights Out”

which has a smooth jive that will just melt your worries away.

As Santogold sung “Darling/Don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight”, my previous anxiety was dispelled. Certainly, there are a number of songs on this album which will soothe your troubles, such as:

“Say aha”

an unrelenting pop song with perhaps a tinge of punk influence and easy hook to sing along to “say aha”.

“Creator”

has also definitely picked me up while exhausted on a drive home, with its mash-up of hip-hop and dance music that combine well for this fun song.

I first heard a sound bite of her on the radio where she described how her vocals would at one instant be soft and quiet and then the next she’d be yelling at the top of her register. This difference in oft changing tone and pace appealed to me. It reminds me of a friend who once exclaimed that a particular album was “music for people with ADD”. I often find that this is the type of music I am drawn to as I posses somewhat of a very short attention span, possibly an undiagnosed ADD.

So anyways, what can I say about Santogold and her self-titled debut album – it’s a funny name that a lot of people seem to struggle with. Her real name is Santi White and Santogold was supposedly a nickname given to her by a friend. Santogold’s music  is clearly inspired by 1980’s pop trends. She admits that she “felt that a lot of pop music from the ’80s had a depth to it” and that shes hopes “to bring back some more good pop songs.” Santogold is also inspired by New Wave, Punk and Reggae music, including performers such as the Pixies, Bad Brains, Blondie, Devo, Grace Jones, Fela Kuti, James Brown and Aretha Franklin. It is surely this diverse mixture that would sum up her sound and get her compared to her contemporaries, such as M.I.A. However, while people may want to pigeonhole artists like Santogold and M.I.A as creating a certain genre of music, the words to describe this genre certainly fail me, as it seems clear their eclectic mix of tastes has led them to create music that is entirely their own.

Santogold’s hopes surely have come true, she has managed “to bring back some more good pop songs” over the past year.  You’ve most likely already heard her on commercials and films. Maybe you didn’t know it was her, maybe you’re already all over her or maybe you think she is too pop or too kitsch. But it is clear that you will be taking notice of her in the future.

Ten Best Songs of 2008 – #8

It’s a testament to what a strong year for music 2008 was that Santogold’s self-titled debut album didn’t manage to crack my top ten. I feel like it deserves to be there, but looking at the list I’m not willing to drop anything else to make room for her.

Santogold is a delirious blend of M.I.A. and an 80s new wave band, equally at home rapping and delivering a sugar sweet chorus. I considered several songs on her album, including ‘I’m a Lady,’ which I featured on the blog back in August but eventually settled on the lead-off song ‘L.E.S. Artistes.’

I love when an album starts off with a song that makes a real statement, both musically and lyrically. Halfway into this song, I knew Santogold was something new and exciting and I couldn’t wait to hear the rest of her album.

The song is about personal discovery, about breaking away from the constraints put on you by the place you come from and the people you know. “L.E.S.” stands for Lower East Side, where Santgolod grew up, and it’s pretty clear she felt a need to break away from that scene.

One line in particular makes me think this song is also about the struggle for a black woman in the music industry to forge a path outside certain pre-determined genres: “I want to get up out of my skin / Tell you what, if I can shake it, I’m ‘a make this something worth dreaming of.”

She seems up to the challenge on not just being a great new artist but a trailblazer as well.

Candy’s cigarette.

Voici deux photos, l’une de Sally Mann photographe américaine et l’autre de kerfendal photographe français. 

Sally Mann s’est fait connaître du grand public par son œuvre « At Twelve » Série de portraits de jeunes adolescentes entre l’enfance et l’âge adulte. Sur la photo du haut, Candy qui doit avoir 12 ans à peine laisse supposer que dans quelques années elle sera déja fanée et abimée par la vie. 

kerfendal a réalisé de très belles photos de ses enfants dans un environnement qui lui est cher à savoir la Bretagne du pays Bigouden. Sur la photo du bas on y découvre son fils Jacques alors qu’il était tout petit, vêtu qu’un pull trop grand pour lui. Les mains jointes du petit Jacques confère à l’atmophère de la photo une ambiance quasi mystique.

http://www.art-forum.org/z_Mann/gallery.htm

http://kerfendal.aminus3.com/image/2008-12-22.html

Santogold - Santogold

The Vitals

Album – Santogold
Artist – Santogold
Release Date – April 29th, 2008

In a nut shell – Sometimes it is a good thing to judge a book by its cover…

I know so little about Santogold except fun trivial facts. What I do know is I love this album cover…and the album is all over the awesome map.

Apparently the goal behind the album was to break down walls for black, female artists who were not singing hip hop or R&B. Santogold combines elements of those genres, but focuses mostly on punk, dub, reggae, rock….basically everything else.

I will stress again, I love this album, but I have nothing exciting to say beyond that, which is nice – sometimes it’s better to listen to music on its own without having attachments to the artist.

To Sum Up, the album cover is awesome | The album is awesome | My sisters claims to have dated Santogold’s fiancee/husband, Trevor Andrew | The single L.E.S. (Lower East Side) Artistes is about a fiery hatred for hipsters.

A rare occasion in which I will let the music speak for itself while I try to calm the bizarrely unexplainable urge to overindulge in goldschlager…

To make the Tuesday even better. The video is directed by Nima Nourizadeh.

écoutez un inédit de Liquid:  la rime organisée

What I’m searching for
to tell it straight, I’m trying to build a wall
Walking by myself
down avenues that reek of time to kill
If you see me keep going
be a pass by waver
Build me up, bring me down
just leave me out you name dropper
Stop trying to catch my eye
I see you good you forced faker
Just make it easy
You’re my enemy you fast talker

Chorus:
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe

What am I here for
I left my home to disappear is all
I’m here for myself
Not to know you
I don’t need no one else
Fit in so good the hope is that you cannot see me later
You don’t know me
I am an introvert an excavator
I’m duckin’ out for now
a face in dodgy elevators
Creep up and suddenly
I found myself
an innovator

Chorus.

Change, change, change,
I want to get up out of my skin
tell you what
if I can shake it
I’m ‘a make this
something worth dreaming of

“Composed of absolutely no members, Santogold is the first musical outfit capable of claiming the planet’s broiling collective consciousness as their front woman.

Longtime collaborator, singer and songwriter Santi White says of her work with Santogold, “We began trying to write pop songs to sell, which made us depressed, so we started writing songs for ourselves instead.” The results of that self centered conceit is the songwriting work heard for the first time on the full length self-titled Santogold album

Santogold’s whose debut album, though half a century in the making, is sure to rock glass pipes from the Lincoln Memorial to Buckingham palace. The flavor of the gold is guaranteed: Santogold!”

Santogold is the next big thing, with her hit song ‘L.E.S Artistes’.

Her debut album, Santogold is amazing!

She draws from many influences, there is a bit of a Ska sound along with some good old infectious dance beats and catchy hooks.  There are so many standout tracks to choose from…I personally love ‘You’ll Find A Way‘ (I think it should be her next single) as well as ‘I’m a Lady’,'Starstruck’ and ‘Lights Out’

Did I mention it’s a great album?

Oh and she did an amazing cover of Adele’s ‘Hometown Glory’

Enjoy the video for ‘L.E.S Artistes’ below!

xx

yours in musical madness