Daniel Cho
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Registered Since: 2007-07-25 23:34:02
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Mary J Blige is Just Fine
October 25th, 2007
The Queen of Hip Hop and R&B is back with confidence and an optimistic outlook on life. Her chart topping, multiple Grammy winning album, “The Breakthrough” was marked by poignant lyrics and melodies swooning with pain, reflection, and hope. If “The Breakthrough” was the catharsis for Mary, the new album, “Growing Pains” will be the journey into her new walk in life.
“Just Fine” is the first and new single off the her upcoming album, and is a public testimony that she has gone through the pain, reflected on it, reconciled with it, and that now, she is just fine.
Here’s the premiere of her new video for “Just Fine”.
Common Wants You
October 24th, 2007The music video of the day: Common - I Want You
Featuring: Common, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Derek Luke, Sophia Luke, Serena Williams, and Keri Washington.
The video depicts the struggle and conflict inside, of heartbreak, breakup and moving on. Keri Washington directs the video, and stars as a former girlfriend, ruefully reminiscing and clinging onto nostalgia, grieving over the breakup. Common plays the former boyfriend, who has moved on with Alicia Keys, and finds himself reflecting and revisiting the past and his decision.
Mary’s Just Fine
September 27th, 2007
Mary J. Blige has sold over 50 million records worldwide, 31 charting hits that’s hit Top 40 radio, and 7 multiplatinum selling albums. Coming off of winning 9 Billboard Awards and 3 Grammy Awards for her most recent album, “The Breakthrough”, Mary’s coming hot with the newest song, “Just Fine” from her forthcoming album, “Growing Pains”.
You would think that after becoming the legend and icon she is, she would take a break, but for Mary, music is her life, her passion and her gift, and she went back into the studio off the huge year she had last year culminating with the Grammys.
“Just Fine” is a certainly a step forward from her songs about heartbreak, pain and sorrow, to confidence, encouragement, empowerment, and refinement. Set to an up-tempo beat, nicely accentuated with staccato drums and cymbals, and beautiful vocals, it’s hard for anyone to resist this song. By the end of the song, you’ll be singing the hook, “just fine, fine, fine, fine…”
Get ready for some feel good music.
The Last Lecture
September 22nd, 2007Here’s a story about Randy Pausch, a true rockstar of America.
It’s inspiring and encouraging, and I can’t help but be moved by his story and last lecture.
Courtesy of CaffeineGuy
Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch recently discovered that his battle with pancreatic cancer was lost, and that he only had several months - possibly weeks - to live. The video’s about his final lecture, which he entitled “How to Live Your Dreams.”
He begins by saying, “If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.” And that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the lecture, which is filled with self-deprecating humor and absolutely no trace of fear or self-pity.
At the end of the lecture, he reveals that the lecture wasn’t for the audience - but his three children. As his oldest son’s just five, he’s focusing on making videos during his remaining days so his younger kids will have something to remember their father. “I find that I am completely positive. The only times I cry are when I think about the kids — and it’s not so much the ‘Gee, I’ll miss seeing their first bicycle ride’ type of stuff as it is a sense of unfulfilled duty — that I will not be there to help raise them, and that I have left a very heavy burden for my wife.”
“Lead your life the right away, the dreams will come to you…”
Well said, Professor Pausch.
Motion City Soundtrack
September 21st, 2007
3 seconds to ignition…
Motion City soundtrack.
Their sound is reminiscent of the catchy pop punk bands of the late 90’s with American Hi-Fi, New Found Glory, SR-71, and Sum 41; except they’ve got something else. A sentiment of maturity splash through the music, lyrically, vocally, and sonically. The combination of pop, punk, dance and rock is always infectious and Motion City Soundtrack certainly captures that well. They’ve been on the Vans Warped Tour. Their second album was helmed by former Blink 182 member and current +44 member, Mark Hoppus. Their current album, released on September 18th, is the natural and sequential step in the evolution of this band, with producers Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), Eli Janney (Girls Against Boys), Rick Ocasek (The Cars) all on board molding the music on the album.
So everyone aboard…the train to Motion City is departing. Better have your iPod ready with your soundtrack.
Download Free “This is for Real” MP3 (right click, save target or link as…)
Listen to the Entire Album “Even If It Kills Me”
Kate Nash, the next British import
September 20th, 2007England’s given America some great female talent in the past year with Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse. Now, it’s Kate Nash’s turn. She started gigging around local bars in London, and decided to upload her music onto MySpace. That’s where she was discovered by her manager. Lily Allen calls her the next big thing, and rightfully so.
Her matter of fact story-telling, combined with a dry and almost cynical humor gives her the edginess that we’ve all seen in her British female counterparts.
She’s just hit the US, and I predict a Kate Nash takeover.
Here’s Foundations.
Angels & Airwaves
September 13th, 2007I’m not sure if I know a single soul who wasn’t moved at least a bit when they heard the epic build and roaring of The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves last year.
I was driving back home from the daily grind, as the sun was setting behind me, and the radio DJ comes on. Here’s the new song called The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves, leaked onto the web today. First listen baby.
And the reverb of light guitar strums begins to fill my car followed by the massive anthem wailed on the electric guitar…
Angels & Airwaves - The Adventure
Their follow-up album is called i-Empire and from what I’ve heard, it’s a mixture of Blink 182, Boxcar Racer and their previous AVA sound. Catchier melodies and hooks, but retaining the epic and experimental sounds they had with Boxcar and AVA. Their new album is due out in November, and I am stoked.
Here’s a preview of their single off of i-Empire called Everything’s Magic. The video is made by a fan. Rumblings are the official video comes out in 2 weeks.
Angels & Airwaves - Everything’s Magic
