It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

This week:

Flavour: Electronica/Alternative Rock

Artist: Pendulum

Album: Immersion

Song: The Island, Part 1: Dawn

Rationale: Pendulum is one of those bands who you have heard on the radio, on multiple occasions, whose music you have probably thought is great but a band whose name you have never really got around to learning.

One of the reasons for this may be because Pendulum shares a very similar sound to South Africa’s very own Zebra & Giraffe (yes the band, not the animals we have running about). Although most of Pendulum’s songs on Immersion have less of an alternative rock element to them when compared to Zebra & Giraffe, there are times when the two bands sounds uncannily alike.

The album, Immersion, is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of aural stimulation. There are songs that will give even the most conservative of people an eargasm such as the hauntingly beautiful Watercolour and Witchcraft, while others like the death metal influenced Self vs Self will leave your ears yearning for an impotence inducing muffler. Of course, this all depends on your personal taste in music. Even so, the stark contrast in tracks on this album make one wonder if Pendulum really know who they are or want to be. Personally I think that Pendulum should stick to the electronic alternative rock sound that 70% of the album Immersion is comprised of.

According to good old Wikipedia, the band originates from Perth in the ‘land down under’ and was founded in 2002 by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen and Paul harding. Immersion is Pendulum’s third studio album release. Click here to read more about Pendulum.

Ultimately, I think that Pendulum’s latest album Immersion is good but not great. Obviously I make no delusions to the fact that I am an avid fan of the style of music I have dubbed as hauntingly beautiful. Thus, for me, this album was worth the purchase.

Check out the  video below of ‘The Island, Part 1: Dawn’ the latest single from Pendulum and be sure to let me know what you think!

Any ideas where they got the idea from for this music video? Hint: the music video is clearly inspired by this pre-Transformers’ “I did it five years ago” directors action movie. The answer is in the song’s title. If you have no clue, click here or watch the trailer here.

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time, “Milieunairs”! 

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!  

• Flavour: Electronic/Dance

• Artist: Swedish House Mafia vs Tinie Tempah

• Album: Until One

• Song: Miami 2 Ibiza

Rationale: I may not be the kind of person who goes clubbing every weekend but I am definitely one who enjoys a song with a good beat. Especially one that I can suggestively gyrate my hips to. Oh yeah, that’s right!

Unlike most people, I almost never listen to the words of a song. To me, music is all about the melody, tone and beat.

Truthfully, I had no idea who or what the Swedish House Mafia was or even that they existed. Not until last week when a cousin of mine introduced their music to me. Since then, I have been hooked.

According to good old Wikipedia, Swedish House Mafia is a group of three house disc jockey’s and producers known as Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Those who are familiar with dance/electro/techno/whatever-this-kind-of-music-is-called-now-a-days will no doubt recognise the names as some of the most influential in this particular genre of music.

Simply put, Swedish House Mafia’s debut studio album is fantastic. It is the perfect party album and I can foresee that a majority of the songs on their debut album will no doubt become ‘club anthems’ in the very near future.

The album is out this week. If you like it, buy it online via iTunes or Zune or simply head out to your nearest music store.

Check out the  video below of the latest single from Swedish House Mafia and be sure to let me know what you think!

Usually whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, you would be able to simply click on the name of the song and be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics. However, this song has no real substance since it is all about the beat (aka I could not find the lyrics).

Until the next time, “Milieunairs”!

For starters, Britney’s last show in Melbourne was on the 13th November and we were only set to arrive in Melbourne on the 16th. Furthermore, tickets to the event were not exactly cheap, ranging from stadium seating at $250 (R1700) per person to the insanely priced ‘Love Seats’ for $1500 (for two tickets –> R10 000 ). Consequently, chances of me attending Miss Spears’ performance were pretty thin.

Or so I thought.

Through a fortunate turn of events, Britney had actually extended her tour due to popular demand, adding three extra shows to her repertoire. One of those shows, as luck would have it, was in Melbourne.

I would be lying if I said that I was not excited at the possibility of watching the princess of pop perform in the flesh. After all, like the Queen (Madonna), it is not as if Britney would be making her way to South Africa. So it was pretty much a ‘This Is It’ kind of scenario.

Amazingly, my parents ascertained that this would be a fantastic experience and wholeheartedly agreed to buy tickets to the show. Not only that, but they even allowed me to opt for the ‘stool’ seating, which is directly behind the ‘Love Seats’ and, as it turned out, was literally a meter and a half away from the stage.

Without a doubt, ‘The Circus presenting Britney Spears’ was the best concert I have ever been to. I am unable to truly relay how awesome the experience was. The circus elements to the show, alone, were worth the price of admission; from acrobats, to martial artists, clowns, mimes, weapon artists, magicians… you name it and it was there (animals excluded). In addition to the circus element, I have never before been privy to a live performance with as much pyrotechnics and stage theatrics as this. The ‘wow’ factor was simply phenomenal. I do think that the experience was made just that much better courtesy of our seats which, as I have mentioned before, allowed us to be almost within two arm lengths of the pop princess.

Contrary to the controversy surrounding Britney’s performance in the land down under, I can honestly admit that I would watch it again. So what if she lip-synchs? Anyone who has heard of Britney Spears knows that she is infamous for lip-synching (along with many other famous artists). So this was really of no surprise. In my opinion, if you want to hear an artist sing, buy the album. If you want to watch them perform, go to a concert. Whether they sing ‘live’ or not is irrelevant. With that said, it is worth noting that Britney did sing at least one song live, the ballad ‘everytime’. To all the naysayers who think Britney Spears cannot sing, let me tell you, this chick has a good voice. As a matter of fact, she actually sounds better live than through her recordings. So it is a shame that she does not perform ‘live’ more often.

Considering how close I was able to get, I was quite surprised to realise how small Britney Spears actually is. She is tiny. Then again, I am 6’4”, so a lot of people are smaller than I am. After two kids, she does look very good. While I’m on the topic of her body, it is worth noting that she is rather fit. She has good muscle tone; most definitely what could be described as a dancers body. So she is not petit and does appear to have some extra junk in her trunk. I think the biggest surprise to me was how small her boobs were. For those who know we, I’m a boob man. Britney has a good handful, but not what one would expect after all of the boob job debates. Have a look for yourself, in the album below.

View Full Album

I am truly so thankful that I could have this opportunity and would like to send a huge ‘I love you’ and ‘thank you’ to my loving parents who made it all possible.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Pop
• Artist:
  Hilary Duff
• Album: Best Of Hilary Duff
• Song: Reach Out

Rationale: There is no doubt that I am a fan of the popular genre of music more commonly known as pop. I can openly admit that I thoroughly enjoy music from, for example, the likes of Madonna  and Britney Spears. Subsequently, I have enjoyed almost all of Hilary Duff’s work.

Reach Out, in my opinion, is a great song. Probably more so for me because I cannot actually ‘reach out’ properly with my right arm. Believe me, the irony of choosing this song, in light of my current situation, is not lost. In fact, it actually reminds me that I have something to work towards. After all, my answer to Miss Duff’s question is yes. Yes, I would very much like to show you ways to workout those vocal cords ‘reach out and touch you’.

What some people may not know is that the song was produced by OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and is built around a sample of Depeche Mode’s 1989 song “Personal Jesus”. Furthermore, Reach Out was Hilary’s third number one on the US ‘Hot Dance Club Play’ billboard and was specifically produced for the Best of Hilary Duff album, which is also the final record in Hilary’s contract with Hollywood Records.

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Alternative Rock
• Artist: Ours
• Album: Mercy… Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Enemy
• Song: Mercy

Rationale: I am a big fan of MUSE. Consequently, I have been scouring the net for a band which has a similar sound and repertoire. Although I have yet to find such a band, I was lucky enough to discover the musings of a band known as Ours.

“When you first hear Ours, you will likely get strong flashes of Jeff Buckley. Listening to Jimmy Gnecco’s voice [lead singer of Ours] and inflections it is hard not to, the similarities are as clear as day. In addition to Buckley, I heard touches of The Cure and Radiohead all blended together in this art rock mic. Despite the comparisons, Gnecco is still able to carve out his own direction and differentiate himself. The song writing is a thing of beauty, with flowing guitars, smooth rhythms, and an expansive soundstage, Ours moves with an ebb and flow that is all of its own” (Chris Beaumont, BlogCritics, 07/04/08).
 
I chose the song Mercy, because I believe that everyone will, at some point, either be merciful towards another or be shown mercy through an act of humility. In some ways mercy may have a direct correlation with forgiveness. I believe in forgiveness. To forgive is to pave the way to absolution. Even so, I am of the opinion that not all things forgiven need to be forgotten. Consequently, one must always try to learn from past experiences and attempt to move on. As the adage goes ‘what does not kill you, can only make you stronger’.

‘Mercy’ by Ours off of the album ‘Mercy… Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Enemy’

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!