Tag: will-young

all about me, song of the day, you tube

sotd: Will Young – Let It Go

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I have been cleaning out some (um, actually more like a lot) old shit that I needed to go through in my office today, and I heard this song while I was doing it, and felt it was more than appropriate. I have to shed some stuff, and just learn how to let go in many aspects of my life; which is something that I am always working on. Here’s to a beautiful reminder of the need to just let it go:

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, show the love, you tube

5SF: november 13

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First up today, let’s take a look at a truly inspiring story from what I can only describe as a true example of what our nation’s youth should aspire to be like. That kid has some courage. I wish there were more like him; maybe someday he will be the majority, and we can all share in equal civil rights in this country. Here’s hoping! Thanks Will! You rock!

Now, I have some AMAZING songs for you today. One of them, I have literally been clamoring FOR WEEKS to get to post about! Without further adieu, here we go!

Will Young – Hopes and Fears
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_willyoung-hopesandfears.mp3]
It’s time for some well placed gushing ladies and gents! This song is completely, utterly, and fantastically amazing. This is the new single from Will’s upcoming release, The Hits, and it is definitely one of his best songs ever; how fitting that it would be recorded for his first greatest hits compilation. Will nearly took the top spot in my best of CD countdown last year, and my love for everything Will Young certainly hasn’t diminished in the slightest. So I guess you can imagine my excitement when I heard that he would be releasing new material this year; even if it was only going to be a little bit of new stuff for a greatest hits compilation. Well, one listen of his new single, and it seems my excitement was well placed. From Will’s consistently beautiful vocals, to the absolutely amazing arrangement, to the clever video (what time would have more Hopes and Fears attached to it than being pregnant?! Brilliant!), this song is the whole package. After the first listen, I knew that I loved this song, and I am more than excited to feature it this week. This song has been on major repeat for me, and I just cannot get enough of it; it is amazing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I certainly do!!

Lady GaGa – Bad Romance
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_ladygaga-badromance.mp3]
I was torn about posting a Lady GaGa song this week (since by now, everyone and their mother is sure to have heard it), but given the video’s release this week, and how good this track is, I couldn’t ignore it. When I started talking about her, it didn’t seem like many people cared, but slowly, everyone seemed to come into the Haus of GaGa. A little over a year later, and she is a bona fide pop sensation that seems to somehow be picking up even MORE steam. As I hinted at above, this week, the internet has been all a flutter because of the release of her AMAZING video for Bad Romance, the new single off of her (not a reissue after all!) new, upcoming album, The Fame Monster. Lady GaGa took me by storm when I first heard Just Dance, and I am glad to see that she is still working her ass off in bringing the true quality goods of pop music to the table. Not only does she nail it with her innovative take on pop, but she kills it with fashion and the video as well (I would personally like to shake Mr. Alexander McQueen’s hand for those ridiculously AMAZING shoes in the video too; dude, you are a genius of fashion. Those shoes at 3:30 make me want to be a lady JUST so I can wear them. Amazing). Lady GaGa is a pop phenomenon, and if you weren’t paying attention by now, I have to ask, “what is wrong with you?”; the Haus of GaGa has certainly set up permanent residence, and pop music is all the better for it.

JLS – Everybody In Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_jls-everybodyinlove.mp3]
It should come as no surprise to my regular readers of the 5SF that I love British pop music, and after hearing this song in BBC Radio 1, I was reminded of just why I love it so much. This song is incredibly catchy, and the chorus will be stuck in your head for hours after hearing it. I only heard of JLS a few weeks ago; apparently, I missed out on their first single, Beat Again, when it was released a few months back. However, with the release of this new single (which is an official UK number one!) that coincided with the release of their self-titled debut last week, it seems that I couldn’t ignore them any longer. While the jury is still out on the rest of the album, this song is getting constant play on my ipod. This song reminds me A LOT of the great pop ballad-type anthems made popular by the Backstreet Boys back in their hay-day (I’m thinking of perhaps their biggest song, I Want It That Way). JLS may have come in second on last year’s X-Factor, but by the sound of things, they are doing quite well for themselves post-X-factor in 2009.

Biffy Clyro – The Captain
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_biffyclyro-thecaptain.mp3]
This has been a good year for finding rock bands from the UK (Band of Skulls, Glasvegas and, White Lies to name a few). When I first heard this song, I thought it was Snow Patrol, because the lead singer’s vocals in this song have a very similar sound to the lead singer of Snow Patrol. To my surprise, it was actually Biffy Clyro (who’s lead singer is Scottish), who I have heard of, but I had actually never heard anything by before. My interest was peaked, because I have had some experience with Biffy Clyro, because the lead singer is a part of a side project called Marmaduke Duke; whom I posted about in a previous 5SF back in April, after falling in love with their AMAZING single Rubber Lover. While I unfortunately didn’t fall for Marmaduke Duke’s album as much as I did for Rubber Lover, I have found a new found interest in Biffy Clyro with this song, and subsequently, their new release Only Revolutions (which is quite good throughout!). This is a great, very catchy single, and I am glad that it got me into a band that I doubt I would have ever paid attention to, had it not been for this great song.

The Swell Season – Paper Cup
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1113_theswellseason-papercup.mp3]
To say that I was excited for the release of the new album by The Swell Season would be quite an understatement. However, and somewhat unfortunately, the hype must have gotten to me, because I have had a difficult time really getting into it since it was released a few weeks ago. That being said, this song was an instant stand out, mostly because of the beautiful arrangement, and the intricacy with which they weave the melody throughout the chorus. The gentle guitar picking, and the beautiful deep bass, all overlain with the distorted keyboard, comes together to create something truly gorgeous. Add to that the sweet and sensitive vocals of Glen Handsard, and what’s not to love? Nothing, I tell you. This is definitely one of the best tracks off their new album; and perhaps shining some attention on it this week will motivate me to keep trying to get into the rest of Strict Joy (which is good, but I think I hyped it up so high that there was no way I wouldn’t be let down at least a little).

Well, there’s your 5 song Friday for this week; what did you think? As always, let me know not only what you thought of this week’s selection, but also what you are listening to. If there is something that I am missing out on that is a must hear, please, do share!

music musings, music suggestion

the 31 best of 2008 – 2: Will Young – Let It Go

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I want to start off by saying how it’s a damn shame that this amazing (A-M-A-Z-I-N-G) album will probably never be released here in the US, and as such, Will Young fans will be forced to shell out import prices to gain access to this amazing record. Additionally, it is a shame, because people that are not Will Young fans that would otherwise love his music will probably not be exposed to him, because of said release restrictions. Now that I got that off my chest, I want to talk about my favorite pop album of the year, Will Young’s amazing Let It Go.I first became a fan of Will when I heard the amazing song All Time Love (which is still amongst my favorite songs ever), from his previous release, Keep On. I ordered Keep On immediately, and never looked back; the brand of jazz infused, perfect pop that Will Young compliments with is gorgeous vocals fills the album, and makes for a truly amazing pop record. After falling so hard for Will with Keep On, I wanted more, and even though Keep On was his third album, his previous two efforts were bogged down by what one can only assume was a result of his contractual obligations from winning the first UK Pop Idol. While there are more than a few great tracks amongst them, the albums just don’t contain the confidence and sexy swagger that Will truly exemplifies on Keep On, and as such, I was anxious for something new (those albums are a little cover-heavy too). Well, given the fact that Keep On was released WAAAAY back in 2005, I was more than elated to hear earlier this year that Mr. Young would be releasing a new album in the fall. After hearing the lead single, Changes, I knew that the energy, power, and professionalism that Will had put into Keep On would be “keeping on” with his new album; Changes is a brilliant song.

Well, it wasn’t long before track after track was available for listen on the internet, and I instantly realized that I was sitting in front of one of the best albums of the year. There isn’t a dull moment on Let It Go; Will Young has made an album filled with heartfelt anthems of love and loss, all with his trademark sweet vocals and jazz influenced pop rock. The tenderness in his lyrics highlights Will’s brilliant song writing capability, and his choice of producer to bring the songs to life shows consistent brilliance. I can say without a glimmer of doubt, that there isn’t a song on this album that I don’t love; it is a perfect pop album. Will Young has gone from someone that I was meagerly interested in to one of my favorite artists that I will now follow with unfettered attention; as he grows, he has proven that his music will continue to grow with him, and if his last two albums are any indication, this is one of pop music’s new people to watch out for. Will seriously has the ability and skill to place himself amongst his older peers, like George Michael, if he keeps this game going as well as he has to date.

Impressive as it is, I am still disappointed that this album will probably never see an American release. It is sad that pop music that is this brilliant is being produced across the pond, and we are forced to take to the internet to find out about it; especially considering the utter shit that is forced down our throats by American radio each day. I would gladly give up most of the crap out there for a few more minutes with Mr. Young, who confidently sings song after song, bringing the sexiness and swagger of a seasoned professional through in each track. Since I cannot do anything about his album being released here in the States, I will do what I CAN do; I will shout about the brilliance of Let It Gofrom the rooftops, and continue to tell anyone that will listen how completely amazing, beautiful, well produced, and down right fantastic Will Young, and this his fourth album, is. The only reason that this isn’t my album of the year, is because the one that edged it out holds a little more of my love; for me, this album is truly perfect in every way, and I am pleased that Will is continuing to make music that is both this impressive, and has this level of consistent quality. I will conclude by saying how refreshing I find it that Will is also an out musician, and he doesn’t sugar coat it; these love songs are definitely about a man, and are sung to him. I love that he wears his heart on his sleeve, and that you know it has the potential to belong to an actual partner; rather than a fictitious character created to hide his orientation. It is all of these reasons together that make me swoon heavy for Will Young, and with Let It Gohe has only made it incredibly harder to resist him!

Sparkle Factor:
Stand Outs:
If Love Equals Nothing [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/willyoung-ifloveequalsnothing.mp3]
Let It Go [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_willyoung-letitgo.mp3]
Grace, Changes, Tell Me The Worst, Simple Philosophy, You Don’t Know, Are You Happy.

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SF: october 3

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I can’t believe that it is already October!! Regardless, there have been some major albums coming out recently, and many of them are amazing; I truly love this time of the year. Recent favorites include Kings of Leon, Will Young, Jennifer Hudson, and the list just keeps growing with stuff that is on the horizon. What does this mean for the five song Friday? It just makes it harder for me to pick what to bring, because there is so much that I am carrying around! Alright, enough talk, let’s get down to the music.

Janelle Monae – Many Moons
First up today is a song by someone that I have seen a TON of hype about, Janelle Monae. I have to say, that initially, I loved her style and her look, but I wasn’t really sure I cared what she had to say musically. Well, after seeing the video for Many Moons, I am sitting here, struck with complete awe; this girl is a fucking artist, and she deserves all of that hype she is getting. The song is what you might expect if you took Outkast (circa Hey Ya) and Gnarls Barkley (circa Crazy), put them in a blender, and threw in a dash of spunky young spirit; the end result is brilliance from Janelle Monae. I can’t stop bopping my head and dancing around; this song is like a virus: infectious! Seriously, this is one of those occasions where the video completely sold me, and while the sound quality isn’t the best in this clip, I felt it would be a travesty to keep you from seeing it. Fantastic.

The Saturdays – If This Is Love
I will openly admit that I didn’t really like this song initially, because of the blatant sampling of Yazoo’s Situation, but after a few listens, it is exactly that same reason that I have come to love this track. They have taken a great 80’s song, and freshened it up enough for it to be a hit for this generation. These girls are a lot like their fellow music scene rivals (?), Girls Aloud, so I hope that they come up with something sort of unique so that they can last; Girls Aloud are definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to girl band pop super groups. The Saturdays have an album coming out this month, so I guess we will see when the record drops… here’s hoping it impresses, and that I like it as much as I have grown to dig this track. I do think that it is funny that another take on a clearly 80’s track can be a hit in this day and time; I guess it shows that all things really are cyclical.

Jennifer Hudson – If This Isn’t Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_jenniferhudson-ifthisisntlove.mp3]
Yes, the choice of this and the aforementioned Saturdays song are intentional; I love how the titles are so similar, yet so opposite to one another. I wanted to post a great song from Jennifer Hudson’s fantastic debut album, which came out earlier this week, and seeing the Saturdays song, and the title of this one, there is no way I couldn’t choose them both for today’s selection. I should start by saying that Jennifer Hudson has been a favorite of mine since her season of American Idol, and I have been watching this girl, just knowing that great things would come from her. Well, I have to say, that I have not been let down yet; her performance in Dreamgirls was amazing. Additionally, her new record, which is infused with ballads, pop songs, and even a few hip hop numbers, is a showcase that has succeeded in allowing her to show off her amazing voice. While this track admittedly isn’t the one that highlights her amazing instrument the best, it is a really fun track that I keep coming back to, and one that would most certainly be a hot single if it is chosen to be one. I hope that this record is just the first from Jennifer, because, based on what I have seen and heard so far, she is a real star, and a true talent, and one that should be around for a very long time. I am very pleased with her record, and glad that she took her time putting it out; every time I hear her sing, I am really, really impressed. I do have to say, however, that I wish T-Pain would quit with the vocoder. There is a song on the record that he guests on, and it is just too much. End the madness T-Pain!

Will Young – Let It Go
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_willyoung-letitgo.mp3]
Okay, I am going to make a pretty grand statement here, so get ready… This is probably the most powerful, well written, and amazing pop ballad of 2008. Will Young has released his fourth record, and he has proven (again) that he is way more than a flash in the pop pan; he plans on sticking around, and making some fabulous music while he’s here. As I mentioned last week, his record is a fantastic blend of jazz, pop, soul, and just overall musical greatness. It is definitely one of the albums of the year, in my opinion, and one that was well worth waiting for. Congratulations are in order for Will, who has succeeded in making another amazing album. And this song… well, I just cannot get enough of it. It is one of those songs that you hear, and think to yourself, “wow, that was pretty amazing, let’s hear that one again”, and then you listen to it again, and you realize not only that you were right, but that it was even better the second time around. It just keeps getting better with each listen for me, and it really makes me wonder why acts like Will Young aren’t popular here in the States. Oh well… at least I know about him, and can educate at least some of you about the pop brilliance that is Will Young.

Brett Anderson – Blessed
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_brettanderson-blessed.mp3]
So here’s the thing, apparently, he was the lead singer of a famous Britpop band called Suede… who I’ve never heard of. Okay, that may be a bad thing, considering how much I love pop music, but it is what it is. Now, I heard this song somewhere (I think it was iTunes), and I have to say, that it is literally, quite amazing. I have almost posted it several weeks before now, but it always got bumped for one reason or another; but this week, it is on the list! I love the feel of his vocals (they’re almost haunting me!), and the gentle piano that accompanies him on this track. This song is from his recently released solo album, which is his second one. Perhaps I need to spend some time exploring his past, and see how he got to this point, because this song is just amazingly beautiful, and I have been enjoying it for several weeks now.

Alright kids, there you have it… listen up, and let me know what you think. Doug, you are definitely a reason that the Saturdays made this week’s list; so all you other kids with your suggestions that you are keeping to yourself, let this be a lesson to you! Your suggestion might be in next week’s line up… but only if you let me know about it!!

five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion, near and dear

5SF: september 26

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I’ll start with a newsworthy item: the big news today in pop was the premiere of Britney’s new single Womanizer; yes I have heard it, and yes, it is really quite good. I think that if Britney brings an album as strong as Blackout to us with Circus, I think that the chances of her having a proper comeback are very, very good. Since the song only debuted today, I have five other songs for this week’s 5SF, but perhaps Womanizer will make a future appearance on the 5SF? Only time will tell. Now that we have taken care of business, let’s get to the fantastic five for this week, shall we?

Will Young – Changes
*Swoon*… Alright, where to start about my love for the fabulous Will Young? I really came to know Will through his last CD, which is a mix of fantastic pop and jazz, all marked by his unmistakably beautiful voice. Song after song, I feel deep for that album, and still love it very much today. Well, earlier this summer, I heard that Will would be releasing a new CD this year, and seeing as it has been a good three years since Keep On came out, it goes without saying that I was excited to hear this news. After hearing the lead single, Changes (which I have waited to bring you until it got a proper release, and so I could have the damn mp3 for myself), I can say that Will’s trademark style and swagger are all over this track, and I find myself loving it more and more with each listen. Per usual, he pays a lot of attention to melding heartfelt lyrics with beautiful strings and emotive vocals. This song is fantastic, and only makes me even more giddy for the full release of Will’s upcoming CD, Let It Go… which just happens to be next week!!!!!

Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool
I have to say, that the first time I heard this song, I couldn’t help but think of the Barry Harris/Pepper Mashay anthem of a similar name, Dive in the Pool; even though it is nothing like it. This song, unlike the aforementioned dance floor filler, harnesses male vocals with maraca style beats, and synthetic electronic backgrounds to make a track that reminds me a bit of the Klaxons, mixed in with some of the edge from the Presets (who I am seeing in concert tomorrow night). The result is a true aural surprise and a real delight; I like this song more every time I play it. I love how they use those undulating beats and rhythms throughout the song, and I especially like how they end it with the beats at the end. I was surprised by how much I instantly liked this song, and I am happy to pass it on to you.

Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_926_kingsofleon-usesomebody.mp3]
Before last weekend, I had never heard of Kings of Leon, even though they apparently have the number one song in the UK with Sex on Fire right this very minute. Well, I saw them on SNL, and the lead singer’s voice was so interesting (it reminds me a bit of Bo Bice; but without the long-haired, redneck-ness, and with a LOT more edge), that I wanted to check them out; and I am glad I did. While I didn’t fall head of heels for Sex on Fire immediately (it is good, and I do like it), Use Somebody is bursting with emotion, heart, and energy; and it is fantastic. The ache in his voice is almost able to reach out of the speaker and brush against your skin; you can tell he really longs for this person he is singing about. Overall, I have been digging their CD, mainly because of how interesting and flawless the lead singer’s voice sounds, and how they mix that with such a smooth rock sound. I am glad that I gave them a listen, because this song is a great find indeed.

The Killers – Human
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_926_thekillers-human.mp3]
I will start by saying that this song really, really surprised me. I haven’t traditionally been a fan of the Killers, mainly because of how much Hot Fuss was overplayed and over hyped. I did love Shadowplay, though, mainly because it was in Guitar Hero. That being said, when Human was released earlier this week, I wasn’t even interested in listening to it, but I did on accident (I was trying to listen to something else, and this was mistakenly linked as that song), and I found myself instantly really, really liking it! I have heard a lot of people kind of dissing on it, because it doesn’t sound like a typical Killers song, but I think that is why I like it so much. I really like it that they can do something that is a little different from their more commercial singles, and with Human, they may have just became part of a “you should really give us another chance” trifecta; first it was Coldplay with Viva La Vida, then it was Keane with Spiralling… and now, the Killers have wowed me with Human. What’s next!?!

Margaret Cho – I Cho Am A Woman
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_926_margaretcho-ichoamawoman.mp3]
Okay, this song is a little bit silly, but it is a lot sassy at the same time. I was really surprised (maybe that is the theme of today’s music?) that Margaret was going to do a pop album, and I was very apprehensive to hear the first song from it. I have to say that she has released a sassy, sultry, club-ish track; but she adds the “Cho” factor and makes you laugh with a well placed “bitch please” here and there. I am glad that I gave this a listen, because it really has me interested to see what else she has up her beautiful heavily tattooed sleeves. The voice overs just crack me up, and the synth on this track is just hot! She just wants to go crazy like Britney… handcuffed to a stretcher bitch! I love you Margaret!

Alright kids, there’s the goods. Now spill… which ones did you enjoy most? And what are you listening to?? Anything good?

blog on blog, five song friday, listen up!, mixed media, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: october 12

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It’s that time again! Not only is it great to be at the end of the week, but it’s also time for another great installment of Five Song Friday! Woo hoo! Now, I have been giving some thought to the whole process of how and why I pick the songs that I do each week, and I must say, being limited to only you tube videos is highly frustrating; especially considering that there are many tracks I want to feature that do not have videos! So, I thought of a solution: after today, the five song Fridays will no longer be limited to just you tube videos! I have found a great plug in that will allow me to embed the mp3s right into the post, and I am going to start using them as I see fit (I’ll post a bonus sixth song to show you what I am talking about at the end of this post). Who knows, we might move away from you tube all together!

Also, as a reminder, if you want access to the songs that I have posted up until now, including today’s featured tracks, you have to let me know by comment or email. I will be happy to provide access at that point, but until anyone expresses interest, I will just assume that no one is interested!

Now, let’s get to the music, shall we?

This week, I have been listening a lot to the CDs that I was obsessing over last week (particularly Feist and Annie Lennox), but since there aren’t any “new” videos, I am probably going to focus on posting just some older, or fun stuff that I want to share. Either way, it is going to be a good time, because it doesn’t matter when music is made, so long as it is good, right? Also, it does a good service to bring older stuff back to the surface every now and then; I know that I am bad about forgetting a certain CD, and then being super excited when it is brought back into the spotlight!

Will Young – All Time Love
First up today is a blast from the not-so-distant past: the video for All Time Love by Will Young. I remember the first time that I heard this song, it literally gave me chills it was so good. I still love this song so much every time I hear it, and I honestly think that it is one of my all time favorites. It also got me to give the whole album a second chance (an initial listen wasn’t good), which I was glad that I did, because I really love the whole album. Will Young is a great singer, and I can’t wait for some new stuff from him.

Westlife – Home
Next up is the new single from my favorite boy band, Westlife. I absolutely LOVE this song by Michael Buble, and I have to say, Westlife can definitely turn out a cover of a song; as they did again with this great song. I have been a fan of theirs for years, and can’t wait for their new album. Until then, I will have to gaze into Shane’s beautiful eyes, and just dream that he is coming “home” to me… *swoon*

Kleerup feat. Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
This is an updated video for the amazing single With Every Heartbeat, which should end up in my “singles of the year” list, simply because of how amazing it is. Since she made a splash back in the 90s, she disappeared almost completely in America, but luckily, I rediscovered Robyn earlier this year. I think that acts like her bring the best in pop music, and given songs like this one, as well as her newest release, she has definitely got my attention. I hope that she makes a second splash in the US, because Robyn is definitely amazing.

Alicia Keys – No One
Alicia is one of those artists that truly broke the record set by many artists in the past; which was, if you won the best new artist Grammy, you practically disappeared… but not Alicia. After seeing her perform this song on the VMAs this year, I was in love with the song. I have always been impressed with her amazing voice, and her crazy talent; and this song is no exception. I may have to pick up her new album… Alicia definitely has that same feeling and intensity artists like Mary J have, and I for one, love me a diva.

Annie Lennox – Cold
Last, but certainly not least, is an older track by Annie Lennox. As I said earlier, I am really enjoying her new album, which is fantastic. I have loved Annie Lennox for a long time, and love how unique she is as an artist. Her voice is sheer beauty, and I could just listen for hours to her sing. This song is honestly one of my favorites of all time. The song Cold is from her first solo album Diva, which is about as appropriately titled as it can get; Annie truly is a DIVA.

I hope everyone is having a great Friday, and I hope you enjoyed this week’s five song Friday, I know I did! Again, if you are interested in getting the music, let me know! Finally, here is what songs will look like if they are posted directly, without the video; which again, will be used in instances where I want to share a song and not have to worry about whether it has a video or not (which I am finding to be VERY limiting):
Jennifer Hudson – And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/and_im_telling_you_im_not_going.mp3]

Let me know what you think of the “new” music format, and as always, it’s a pleasure exposing people to new (or old and fantastic) music! Have a great weekend!

listen up!, music musings, music suggestion, show the love

weekly music suggestions: will young, tracey thorn, and the pipettes

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In keeping with the music suggestion thing that I started last week, I wanted to bring a few suggestions for you to check out. I hope that everyone that gave Great Northern, Imogen Heap, and Silversun Pickups a listen are still enjoying those mighty fine CDs; I know that I am (and more so with each listen).

This week, I want to suggest something a little different. All of the suggestions from this week come to us from across the pond, which (at least for me) continues to be a great source for great music; the UK!

The first, is the most recent CD by Will Young, Keep On. While I am sure that most people haven’t heard of Will here in America, I can assure you that he is pretty big in other parts of the world; specifically in Britain, where he won the first Pop Idol competition (their American Idol equivalent). I bought Will’s CD quite a while back, and didn’t really feel it at the time, and as a result, dismissed most of the disc. The couple of songs that I got it for pleased me enough for me to focus solely on them, and not give much thought to the rest of the CD. Recently, a friend of mine played a Will Young song for me that I hadn’t heard (from his first CD), and I liked it, so I gave the CD another listen (also, renting Mrs Henderson Presents helped… he is in the movie and sings quite a bit in it). The result: a newfound love of Keep On. I honestly can’t believe that I didn’t like it before, because it is actually quite wonderful all of the way through. I suggest you check it out. It also houses one of my favorite songs, All Time Love, which literally gives me chills every time I hear it. Let me know what you think of this sadly overlooked disc. It is on heavy rotation for me, after realizing my mistake in passing over it.

The second suggestion for this week is the solo CD from miss Tracey Thorn, who many may know as the beautiful voice of Everything But the Girl. I have been a huge fan of Everything But the Girl for years now, and when I heard that Tracey was releasing a solo disc earlier this year, I was chomping at the bit to get a listen. Initially, I was only slightly impressed, which I believe was mainly due to my mood during my first go round. Sometimes, you really have to be in the mood to fully enjoy some music, and this was definitely the case. Upon several more listens, I have been enjoying this disc more and more. Tracey proves that she has more than just a beautiful voice with her solo effort, and manages to re-invent much of what I loved about the electronic sound from EBTG. I for one, am sorry that I let this one sit for months, because it is clearly one of the best CDs to come out this year. If you are a fan of EBTG, do yourself a favor and check this out.

Finally, I want to suggest a CD that I have literally been in love with for quite a while now, and yet, it still has the ability to stay fresh, and keep surfacing time and time again; the Pipettes: We are the Pipettes. This girl group take you back to the pop sounds of the 50’s, hearkening a sound from a basement party, and the result is a damn good time. Many of these songs are so catchy that you will find yourself humming them days after you listen to them. It really is hard not to love the Pipettes, so that is why I am suggesting that everyone check them out. I heard about them initially from my buddy Dewey, and I have to say, I realize now, that I should have taken his advice wholeheartedly, and embraced them immediately, because they are fantastic. Instead, I waited a few months, shrugging them off as nothing special, only to realize that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Thank God I came around!!! Also important to note about this CD, is that it just might be the perfect CD to work out to. I know that it can get me through a tough workout with a smile on my face and a increased beat in my step! Check it out!

As always, these suggestions aren’t meant to be a one way exchange. Let me know what you are listening to, as I am always searching for the next song/artist/CD that is going to calm my insatiable craving for good music. So let me have it! I need more music!!! Let me know what you think of these suggestions too, alright?!