Song of the Day - 7/11 - Beyoncé

nydailynews

Unless you've been living under a rock, you most likely have heard that Beyoncé dropped two brand new songs this week from her upcoming Platinum Box Set and on Friday night she unleashed another surprise in the form of a purposely amateurish video for one of the songs, 7/11.  The vid, featuring a lot of wiggling and jiggling, has already racked up the hits on YouTube, with more than 12 million page views to date.  As for the song, I say meh.

I've always had a sort of love/hate relationship with Beyoncé.  I compare her to a modern day Diana Ross, having gotten her licks with a girl group before breaking out in a big way all on her own, but I always felt that she did it all and became a superstar way too fast.  I understand that it's just the times, and in an age of oh-so-instant movement from artist to listener, people take such leaps into the stratosphere without really having to do as much as they had to do back in the day.  Okay!

As with most people, I've enjoyed Bey's music, both with Destiny's Child and as a solo artist, and I do think she makes a pretty good role model as far as someone in her stature.  That being said, I hearken back to my buddy Rich, who gave me pause to think about the music.  He recently asked me what I liked about her Get Me Bodied one day when it came on the radio in the car.

I don't get it.  It's not really a dance song.  How do you dance to that?  

I saw his point.  When you actually listen to the song, which I still love, you can hear how it's just kind of all over the place musically, and as for the vocals, it's just Bey being a sassy diva...drop drop to yo' knees, arch your back girl...

Keeping that in mind, I was never a huge fan of her surprise eponymous marketing ploy that was her last album.  With the exception of maybe three or four songs, the rest of that album is kind of how Rich described that song I love, only they're even more-so full of dissonant music set to equally frenzied lyrics.  And so it is with 7/11.  Sure, Miss B is the Thang these days and everything she does seems to get spun off in nothing but positivity even when it's not really so original or even good.  So it is with this one.  I actually like the other one she released this week, Ring Off, much better.

So check it out for yourself if you're a Beyoncé fan, and let me know if you find a quality in it that I just don't see.  Perhaps I'm just too much of a non-conformist.

Happy Revisited

More than two years ago I wrote a poem during the A-Z Blogger's Challenge called H is for Happy. It was one of those days where I was pondering my own happiness and I came to a conclusion that I need to remind myself of every now and again...

  Happiness is a temporary thing

But it’s there

In one form or another

Just like sadness, and anger

And I found there’s an easy secret to being happy

Just savor those times when you live them

Enjoy whatever moments you get

Make em last as long as you can

Cause all of those blissful moments together

Make happy

I mentioned in this morning's Song of the Day post that I received a surprise phone call from my past yesterday.  The surprise of the call was a pleasant one that gave me a somewhat satisfying feeling of ...redemption, for lack of a better word.  You see, this person and I once shared a short-lived, but meaningful time together, and after a lot of inner struggles, I'd finally relegated him to the past, never expecting to hear from him again, 

The fact that he reached out to me yesterday validated, to me, my own self worth. The end of our time way back then was painful, and the rejection I felt afterwards left me uneasy inside and afraid to pursue other relationships out of the fear of more rejection.  So I persevered, moved on, living my life the way that I had been, and always trying to get back on the horse again after each and every fall. 

During the phone call there was a lot of catching up to do, and I felt like I just wanted to tell him everything that he's missed over the last few years in the short time we had to talk.  I told him about Chile and my students, Dylan and Diego, and so many other things in a sort of disjointed, one topic to another in rapid-fire succession way.  

Throughout our conversation, he kept mentioning how happy I seemed, and that was mostly because he'd been reading my blog.  I know that John's World is peppered with many of the fun things I do, and I don't often share my worries and problems like I once did.  That's not to say that I don't have my problems.  Everyone does.  I just never want it to seem like I feel sorry for myself, though admittedly I do sometimes.  

So I left the conversation in a good mood.  To hear from him was a nice surprise and it reminded me that yes, even though things didn't work out between us, I am still a special person in his eyes.  He hasn't forgotten me.  I was also reminded that I do have a good life, despite its many difficulties. Sure, I'm sad that I haven't found someone to share my life with, though I know that this is not any sort of validation for anyone's life, including mine.  My world is full of love, from my family to my friends, in all the good times and bad.  If I were to leave this world tomorrow, I know I can look back and say I lived my life to its fullest and I enjoyed my ride.  I am happy!  Now isn't that what life should be?

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time

Know there was something that, and something that I left behind

When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets

Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

I was here...

I lived, I loved

I was here...

I did, I've done, everything that I wanted

And it was more than I thought it would be

I will leave my mark so everyone will know

I was here...

I want to say I lived each day, until I died

I know that I had something in, somebody's life

The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave

That I made a difference, and this world will see

I was here...

Source:http://www.directlyrics.com/beyonce-i-was-here-lyrics.html

Song of the Day - End of Time - Beyoncé

Last night was a big night for Beyoncé at the VMA's as she took home the coveted Video Vanguard Award for lifetime achievement in the music industry.  The biggest pop star of the day performed an almost 20-minute set of songs from her latest, self-titled album that daughter Blue Ivy seemed to enjoy immensely from daddy Jay Z's lap in the audience, practically stealing the show from mom.  Well, since I've posted a couple of songs in recent weeks from that same album, I figured I'd honor Bey by posting one of my favorite tunes of hers from her previous set, the should-have-been-a-big-hit End of Time...

Song of the Day - Partition - Beyoncé

Take all...of me
I just wanna be the girl you like
Girl you like
Girl you like


usmagazine

The third single off Bey's eponymous fifth album is racy, bassy and hot.  Happy Thursday!

Song of the Day - Blow - Beyoncé

Keep me coming

Keep me going

Keep me coming

Keep me going

Ooh, I am digging this song more and more every time I listen to it.  Great R&B groove and some sweaty, sensual deliciousness!

Can you eat my skittles?

That's the sweetest in the middle

Sexeh!  Have a great Monday!

Bruno Mars Holds His Own at Super Bowl Halftime Show

hollywoodreporter

Unlike most of America, I stayed away from the Super Bowl entirely yesterday.  I wasn't particularly excited about the teams involved, nor had I been invited to any Super Bowl parties, which is okay with me  I was, as always, though, interested in the musical entertainment presented as the Halftime Show.  This year's headliner was the very talented, but often maligned Bruno Mars, and he alone wasn't enough to make me tune in, but that doesn't mean I didn't watch his performance, and I liked it!

businessinsider

The Super Bowl Halftime Show has been almost as much of a spectacle as the game for some time now, and the acts headlining the show have been sometimes been hit or miss.  Big names such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Tina Turner, Mary J Blige, Aerosmith, and U2 pleased all, while others such as The Who, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and others left our mouths agape at one of the most watched musical performances of the year.

thesportsfanjournal

One of the most famous Halftime Shows happened ten years ago, when Nipplegate singlehandedly ruined Janet Jackson's career.  And then there was Madonna's epic performance two years ago, followed by Beyoncé's show last year.  This year was Bruno Mars, not as big a name as these two, but a definite force in today's music industry.

beatcrave

I watched Mars' performance on YouTube this morning and I was pretty impressed.  From the get go, his set was high energy, beginning with the very dramatic and up tempo Locked Out of Heaven before breaking into Treasure.  The Motownish revue continued for a spell until Bruno was joined onstage by none other than the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who jammed with Mars on Give It Away.  The mix was curious, but interesting, and it worked, too.  Afterwards, the classically beautiful and big finale, Just the Way You Are was dedicated to loved ones from troops overseas.  It was a nice ending to a nice show....not too much sass and showiness like in the past two years, but entertaining to the hilt.  Go Bruno!

Beyoncé's Drops a New Surprise Album on iTunes

I have to give credit where credit is due.  Late last night, my friend Evan asked me if I was going to do a post on Beyoncé's 'new secret album.'  At first I just shrugged it off, but first thing this morning I did a search using that exact search term and viola!  Beyoncé has indeed dropped a new self-titled album yesterday exclusively on iTunes.

mydailyco.uk

The new album, which is being downloaded as we speak, contains a whopping 32 tracks, including 17 videos in what's being dubbed a "visual album.'  Guest vocalists on the tracks include Jay Z (Drunk In Love), Drake (Mine), Frank Ocean (Superpower), and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche (Flawless).  Kelly Rowland and Michele Williams, Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake also make appearances.  Check out the full story on E!, and click the iTunes link on the left side of this blog to buy it.  Oh, and stay tuned for a track by track review...

My Birthday Song of the Day - I Was Here - Beyoncé

I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, meant something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

Today is my birthday and I so wanted to put up Katy Perry's Birthday as my Song of the Day, but alas, it wasn't available.  Then I thought about Madonna's Birthday Song and Rihanna's Birthday Cake, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Then I looked through my All Time Favorite Songs playlist in my iTunes and I found this, the perfect song for me.

I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I've done everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here

Beyoncé's I Was Here speaks for me so perfectly and so eloquently, and it turns out to be a much better choice for me than those other songs at this point and time.  Like with any other birthday, I am feeling a bit melancholy, a bit reflective, and proud, as well.  Though of course I have regrets in life, I am generally proud of how I've lived it, just like in the song:

I want to say I lived each day, until I died
And know that I meant something in, somebody's life
The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave
That I made a difference, and this world will see

I just want them to know
That I gave my all, did my best
Brought someone some happiness
Left this world a little better just because

I was here

So to all of my friends who've already left me well wishes for my day, and the ones who have yet to, I say thank you.  Hopefully I have made a difference in your life, because you've all made a difference in mine!

I Was Here BMF by BlakMusicFirst

Another Birthday Song of the Day - End of Time - Beyoncé

Today we have another birthday dedication, this time to my friend Kyle, who celebrates this very day.  I myself turned Mr.. Kyle on to this song and so this one's for you buddy...

End of Time Choreography Beyonce/ ビヨンセ振付 from Sarah Iwaskow on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - End of Time - Beyonce

Today's Song of the Day is dedicated to my friend and P-town housemate Kyle, who discovered this one in a big way during our trip.  I don't usually like to post live videos, but once again YouTube will not allow me to post either of the videos I wanted to share.  If you love this song like me, then check out a Target flash mob doing it here or a professionally done vid of the song created by TheShayWest right here.  They're both worth watching!

Beyoncé - End of Time @ Revel (Multi Angle) by javierlobe

Kyle n me

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Song of the Day - Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyonce

Here's a song to kick start your hump day...

 
Beyonce - "Single Ladies" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO by vidsuperstar






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Music News Bytes - Britney's New Song; P!nk's 4th Billboard #1; New Music Now

neonlimelight

Britney Spears 'Ooh La La' Set for Summer Release

As mentioned in a January Music News Bytes, Britney Spears is indeed working on some new music.  The Huffington Post reported earlier this week that La Spears will be releasing a new song this summer called Ooh La La, from the soundtrack to the upcoming Smurfs 2 film, coming to theaters July 31st.  A new album is rumored to be coming in the fall, as well.  Something to look forward to.  Stay tuned.



P!nk #1 with a Bullet

I was just texting with a friend and when he asked me what I was doing I told him I was writing some music news for my blog.  He asked me if I was gushing over P!nk again.  Yeah, everyone knows I've been a lil P!nk crazed lately, and for good reason.  Like a slow steamroller, Ms. P!nk has taken over my music psyche full steam.  I'm truly convinced that she is currently the best musical star out there today, and this week she added another accomplishment to her ever-impressive resume with a #1 hit.  Yes, Just Give Me a Reason, her stellar duet with Fun's Nate Ruess, hit the number 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100.  Yay!

New Music Now

There are several new releases under my radar these past couple of weeks.  First up is Florence + the Machine with a new song off the soundtrack to the upcoming remake of The Great Gatsby.  The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan as Jay Gatsby and Daisy Mulligan, respectively, and the song is told from Daisy's point of view.  The song is dramatic and beautiful and I simply love the rise towards the end.  Check out the full track on homorazzi.

Beyonce's been working on a new video for the as yet unreleased Grown Woman, and you can check out a quick clip of the making of it, along with a snippet of the up tempo track on Mirror.

Fleetwood Mac has been touring the country this spring and they recently announced an imminent new EP, from which they debuted a new song.  Check out Sad Angel.  Nice!

nickslive

Finally, Korean up and comer Psy is trying to follow up his smash 2012 hit Gangnam Style with another entertaining dance oriented clip called Gentleman.  Check it out below:

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Song of the Day - Telephone - Lady Gaga, featuring Beyonce

nitrolicious

Here's a mini-movie of sorts, as Beyonce helps Lady Gaga out of a jam....love it when she gives her a bite of the sandwich! Happy Monday!

 
Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé - Telephone - Extended Music Video from Feel Creative on Vimeo.





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Divas

diva - a celebrated female singer, a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and by extension theater, cinema and popular music.

P.S. - An extravagant admiration for divas is a common element of camp culture.

Wikipedia

perezhilton

We all know a few divas.  Though the term started out in the world of opera, these days it's more the second part of the above Wikipedia definition that gets our attention.  Further than that, though, the term 'diva' refers not only to a woman of remarkable talent, but one who is also a sort of bitchy, demanding princess.  In other words, a prima donna.

I'm a diva from head to toe 
And it's getting better everyday 
I dont cook, I dont wash dishes 
And I do not do windows 
cause I'm a uhhh diva 

I like shopping 
I hate going to the grocery store 
I hate washing clothes 
I like painting my nails 
It's excites me 

Club 69

Oh, and usually to be a diva one must also have at least a hint of glamour.  Throw all of these things together and the diva is especially popular among gay men.  We all just seem to love the spectacle of it all and almost every gay person I know has their own favorite diva.  

musicwalls

Here's a photo of my first and still dear-to-my-heart diva, Miss Diana Ross.  From her early days as a Supreme to the glamorous singer, movie star and all around entertainer she became in the 70', 80's and even 90's, Diana embodied the very ideal of what it means to be a diva.  

A diva is a female version of a hustla

Of a hustla

Of a of a hustla....

Beyonce

Yes, divas are anywhere and everywhere, and we've all got our favorites.  Some of the more traditional divas favored by my friends include the more traditional ones like Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli, Marilyn Monroe (they don't all have to sing!), Cher, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and more contemporaries like Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, and the list goes on and on and on...

breitbart

So come on, who's your favorite diva?

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Music News Bytes: New Beyonce, will.i.am with the Biebs; A New Carole King Musical

Music News Bytes is a collection of short music news items that I follow on the Web.  If you're into the same type of music I am, that is pop, dance, R&B, and such, check it out...

hairstyles123

New Beyonce Tune

In my Yahoo piece, Exciting New Music Coming in 2013, I mentioned that Beyonce was working on a new album and finally something has leaked out.  The cut is actually two songs in one and like I said in the piece, it sounds more like Sasha Fierce than the softer side of Bey we heard on 2011's 4 record. Click the link for philly.com to take a listen to funky Bow Down/I Been On.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical coming to Broadway

Anyone who was around in the early 70's surely remembers the beautiful music of Carole King.  Her Grammy-winning 1970 album Tapestry, produced several classics for the Great American songbook, including I Feel the Earth Move, You've Got a Friend and It's Too Late. Coming in the spring of 2014, the famed singer/songwriter will be the subject of a new Broadway musical, Beautiful.  The announcement follows a popular trend on Broadway, where catalogs of musical acts have been used to weave a story line of a show.  Just think Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, and so on.  This one just might be good!

bieber-news

will.i.am and the Biebs on a New Song

Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am continues to work with the hottest music acts of the day, and his newest collaboration from his forthcoming album is with teen pop idol Justin Bieber.  The song is called That Power and it's another thumping club tune that's sure to burn up dance floors in the coming months.  Check out a preview on YouTube.



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Black History Month Song of the Day - Halo - Beyonce

After Sunday's big performance at the Super Bowl, I thought I'd share the tune Beyonce closed out with, the spiritual and tender Halo.  I first fell in love with this song as a remix (which I couldn't find on a video to share with you, unfortunately), but I love this original version, as well.  Enjoy and Happy Tuesday!

  
Beyoncé - Halo by Safe78






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Beyonce @ The Super Bowl Halftime Show

Huffington Post

Okay, okay, so of course after last year's Halftime Show by the one and only Madge, how can I not be a little critical of Beyonce's performance tonight. Yes, it was entertaining  and yes, it was nice to see Kelly and Michele join Bey onstage for the first time in a long time, but that's pretty much where the good stuff ended for me and most people.

I watched the show from a friend's house where the Halftime Show WAS the Super Bowl for the four of us, and for the most part we all enjoyed it, but like many others, I'm sure, it was a little disappointing.  As would be expected, the show was glitzy and glamorous, and the special effects were amazing.  Bey kicked off the set with an acapella version of her 4 song, Love On Top, before kicking in the high energy with the frenzied Crazy In Love.

Next came the crescendoing opening to another 4 song, End of Time.   For me, this was a great choice, but even the folks I was watching it with weren't too familiar with the pleasant, upbeat tune because it was never much of a hit outside the circle of Beyonce fans.  Some very cool special effects followed as Sean Paul's voice echoed through the stadium doing his part in Baby Boy.  The singer's image became multiplied five-fold as she got down and dirty to this former smash.

Kelly, can you handle this

Michelle, can you handle this...       

As expected, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams materialized onstage as the music segued to the opening of Bootylicious, and the three girls seemed to revert right back to Destiny's Child 2001 without missing a beat.  Kelly and Michelle remained onstage to help Bey out with her biggest smash, Single Ladies, before fading off stage as the star of the evening segued into her moving Halo to finish off the set.

Watching it a second time gave me a better appreciation for the performance, though the critique I heard within my little circle still rings true: that the choices of song from both her solo and group catalog could've been a smidgen better. I would've loved to have heard Get Me Bodied or Run the World (Girls), and Jumpin Jumpin, for sure.  Ah well, bottom line it was enjoyable, great choreography and lots of energy, and there's no doubt that Ms. B did sing!

 

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Music News Bytes: Destiny's Child, Britney and Justin Timberlake Return

Ooh, I love January because during this first month of the year there's always news stories about all of the new music coming out in the next 12 months and over the past week there have been several items to wheyt my appetite.

ibtimes

A Supa Bowl Reunion and then some!

With the news that Beyonce will be releasing at least a new song before her appearance at next month's Super Bowl, even more juicy tidbits have been spreading round the Internet.  Yesterday, the singer announced that she, Kelly Rowland and Michele Williams are putting out a new Destiny's Child album, their first since they parted ways eight years ago.  The new album, Love Songs, will be released January 29, just a few days before the big show.  I'll bet we're gonna see something big on February 3rd.

the comet

New Britney for 2013?

I'm seeing so much chatter about new music out there. Glad to see you're all paying attention ;) Lot of work to do in 2013! LETS GO!

That was a post by Britney Spears on Google+ and Twitter the other day.  As was reported earlier in the week, Ms. Spears has decided to leave her gig on Simon Cowell's X-Factor for the upcoming season, fueling speculation that a brand new set from the singer is coming sometime this year.  With that post, La Spears has decidedly confirmed that speculation, though it's much too early for details.  Her last album, Femme Fatale, was a dance floor gem of a record, one of her best ever, so let's hope this next one follows suit.  Stay tuned..

In the meantime, here's I Wanna Go from FF:


Britney Spears - I Wanna Go (Official Music Video) by vjarmanisuits

Justin's Comeback

Just yesterday a long awaited announcement came from Mr. Justin Timberlake, exciting his long-suffering fans who've last had the chance to enjoy his stuff in 2006's Futuresexlovesound.  The former NSYNC member gone solo star gone actor has been very busy with MySpace, getting married, and yes, acting, and yesterday he posted a video on YouTube and his own website talking about well, music:

It (music) means more to me than anyone else in the world. I've only done two albums in ten years, that's the way I look at it. What does the next decade hold for me? As close as I get to it, I don't know that I could physically torture myself that much year in, year out. I don't want to put anything out that isn't something that I love. You just don't get that every day, you have to wait for it.

He finishes the piece with a definitive, I'm ready!  

Word is that Justin will be working once again with rapper/producer extraordinaire Timbaland and there's a possibility of collaborations with both Jay Z and Beyonce.  The singer's site contains a countdown clock which ends at midnight on Sunday, January 13th.  Hmmmm???  Now this is exciting news!

bon appetit

Well pretty exciting,, huh?  Stay tuned for more...

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