Sia - The Girl You Lost To Cocaine

I love Sia so much that I'm afraid I won't be able to find the words to describe her music and make you want to discover this Australian artist born in 1975 who released her 3rd solo album early in 2008...

Drink To Get Drunk (on her first LP Healing Is Difficult) was a club hit thanks to its haunting yet efficient remix by Different Gear. But Sia is mostly known for her numerous collaborations with British duet Zero7.

Sia Furler then met success with Breathe Me heard during the last sequence of the final episode of the amazing show Six Feet Under... The album Colour The Small One (2004) is a true masterpiece.

For Some People Have Real Problems, her 3rd installment, I was at first a little doubtful with the surprising artwork, and with the extracts I had heard that (for some reason) thought sounded a little cheap. Plus, the diffusion of the CD in France was very uncoordinated (we had to wait a whole year before the Fnac displayed a non-import version)...



Finally I decided to purchase it... and I'm completely overwhelmed. Between the vibrant blues of Death By Chocolate, the perfectly distillated emotion of Beautiful Calm Driving, the melancholic energy of Buttons or the sour optimism of The Girl You Lost To Cocaine (the crazy video below), I'm totally conquered!

Sia - The Girl You Lost To Cocaine


As often, Sia's single is already remixed, this time by Stonebridge, and the track can be found on many club compilations...

Découvrez Sia!

Visit Sia's official site: by clicking here!

Australia

Baz Luhrmann is back with a big epic movie about the young Nation of Australia. The home land of the director of "Romeo + Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge!" is beautifully put under the spotlight in this story in which the heroes Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman promise a very romantic intrigue.



Until the movie comes out in France on December 24th, here's the official website : http://www.australiamovie.com/.

Ultimate Obam'art (+ Madonna)

Obama's beaming face, the title of a 90s' catchy anthem, flashy colors? It's simply a t-shirt sold during Madonna's American leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour. It would probably have sold well among European fans too. You can still get it from the official merch site!

Talking about Madonna, here's a video of the intro during the Paris show. The film is titled "Sweet Machine" along with the whole theme of the show and the diva's latest album. The video was produced by British studio Rockstar, after original drawings by Eugene Riecansky. Veneno Inc is the firm responsible for the video installation of the show.



One last Madonna info? Her outfits... They leaked on the Internet a little before the tour began and I was in awe with this brilliant pink and black bohème-inspired piece of clothing by Givenchy. A hit on stage!

OK I'll stop about Madonna for now ;)

Sarah Palin in SNL

The videos everyone talks about: Saturday Night Live axes Sarah Palin!
The wonderful American actress/comedianL'excellente Tina Fey (the creator of the amazing NBC comedy show "30 Rock") impersonate the aspiring vice president.

In a first skit, Fey and Amy Poehler are Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton.



This week, it's the interview with Katie Couric and Palin's most twisted answers that are parodied. We are so close to the truth!



These skits (that are hopefully just the first of a long series) mark a certain come back for SNL. Even commented in France, they certainly highlight the new spirit of this emblem in US TV.

New Tahiti 80 album

Tahiti 80's first single, "Heartbeat"


This small band from Rennes, France, is already releasing its fourth album (many more EPs in between). The first one, released in 1999, had caught my ear with the perfect "Heartbeat".

"Big Day", first single of the album Fosbury (2005)


After a short 2 year hyatus during which Xavier Boyer was working on a solo project (Axe Riverboy), the original lineup is back.

"1,000 Times", one of my favorite Tahiti 80 songs, on the album "Wallpaper For The Soul", the most electronic opus to date, in 2002

The new album, Activity Center, is just out. Its more rocky sounds still capture the etheral and fun spirit of Tahiti 80.

"Changes", with a rather cool video (2005)


Their official website, click here.
For their MySpace, it's here.

Pete Burns, the Ultimate Queer Diva

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New Annie Album!!

It's not the first time I'm talking about fabulous Annie.

Here's a fantastic news about her, she has a new album coming out September 2008!

The video to "I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me", produced by Richard X is already on the air...



Forbidden goodie (don't tell anyone): the remix by the excelent British trio Soul Seekerz

Bring Ya To The Brink!

Cyndi Lauper is back with a dance album! Yay! After vague folk and retro tentatives, Cyndi Lauper goes back to her first love with ol'fashioned well produced dance music. The crème of European electro producers accepted Miss Lauper's invitation: The Scumfrog, Basement Jaxx, Digital Dog, Axwell, but also Dragonette and New York based Richard Morel.


An upbeat album that seriously rejuvenate Lauper's sound, even if the singer still signs the lyrics. Perfect timing for the release during the Pride month. We know how Cyndi Lauper has been deeply connected to the gay community since the 1980s with her statements: her True Colors tour reunited many great gay and lesbian artists for charity concerts across the US.

"Into The Nightlife", the album's second single

Big Art Group

© Katya Valentini

Caden Manson/Big Art Group is a New-York company of performers created in 1999. They use the media language and mix their performances to create new culturally transgressive pieces. Since its beginning, the band has been touring in the US and internationally, they produced 5 main plays among which are "Real Time Film" with "Shelf Life", "Flicker" and "House of No More".

As far as I am concerned, I ran into a performance of "Cinema Fury: The Imitation" by chance during the EXIT08 festival at the Créteil Art Center in April 2008. I had never witnessed anything like that. An incredible mix of musical, theatrical and video performances. A hardly intelligible storylilne on 4 screens facing each others, dismanteled and almost osbcene bodies (swollen lips, dangling tongues, outrageous dubbing), the use of sadistic carnival-inspired props (wigs, liquids), 2 dancers on crack in dresses that could have be stolen from Cher, a platinum-blonde singer in black lace whose body was 95 per covered in tatoos, a guitar player who wouldn't leave his Manson Halloween costume... In a nutshell: a true UFO hovering on Créteil for an hour of visual and sonic delirium perfectly masterized with inventive, sensitive, crazy and subversive artists. Leading them, Justin Bond, the extraordinarily facinating androgyne actor from the duet Kiki & Herb, also seen in Shortbus. We're torn between the crafty universe of Michel Gondry and the gorey burlesque art of Paul McCarthy... When the underground New York scence settles in France!

Big Art Group's MySpace: click here
Website: click here
Justin Bond's MySpace: click here

Nordic Pop!!

Perez Hilton is not only an expert in trash tabloid news, he's also a talent discovere! I totally agree with his latest infatuation: the Swedish singer Lykke Li (here is her single). She was noticed last year with the excellent "Little Bit". This time, she's back with an album everyone talks about.

Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone"



Her website: click here
Her MySpace: click here


Annie, is back with a very anticipated album. "Anniemals", her debut album in 2004 was very promising (extracts down here) and heralded a cool pop career. Already nicknamed the Scandinavian Kylie, Annie can pull different tricks, she mixes, a cd's even already been released!


Annie - "Chewing Gum"



Annie - "Heartbeat"



Her MySpace : click here
Her website (work in progress) : click here

Cocoon

A wonderfully naive video, a perfect male-female vocal harmony, effective cute guitars, two little French guys, an Internet buzz, the French music magazine "Les Inrocks" catches that sound, a few summer festivals and there we are! Almost a consecration for Cocoon.


"On My Way"


Mark Daumail (22, vocals and guitars) and Morgane Imbeaux (19, vocals and keyboards) embark us to their colorful universe with genious compositions. The band almost reinvents French folk music with a perfectly balanced album: between optimism and melancholy (with all their tracks from 2006).

"Vultures"

Their label's site "Sober & Gentle", their MySpace.

PS: thanks to Pascal for helping me discover Cocoon. Too bad I didn't follow you to the Lieu FMR, I would've loved to see them live... hopefully next time?

Micky Green

I know, we've talked about her for a while now... But I only discovered her this week! Micky Green! Her hit "Oh" is this Spring's good surprise: fresh and subtle. The hot 23 year-old Australian recently settled in Paris. She's a former model turned singer with a rather experienced producer: the French-Lebanese Renaud Letang (who's already worked with Manu Chao, Feist, Gonzales, Alain Souchon or Mathieu Boogaerts). French daily newspaper Libération says Micky Green rocks our craddle with "a voice surrounded of purity, mediums and a few high pitches, a sweet melancholy and busting energy".



The album "White T-shirt" is not to be missed. Her website is here, her MySpace over here.

The "Beggin'" War

You can't have missed it, but just like the "Macarena" with those of the sea and those of the river (super lame paralel), the 2008 summer hit has split in two different items. Radios and TVs air a very catchy tune, originally, it was "Beggin'" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, an American boy band from the 60s who was hugely successful across the decades. We owe them the hit "Oh What A Night", popularized in France by Claude François with "Cette Année-Là" and years later with Yannick ("Ces Soirées-Là"). This band was also the subject of a musical on Broadway, Jersey Boys, who won a Tony for best musical in 2006.

This time again, two versions of the almost identical song spread the airwaves at the same time.

The first version is a simple remix by a French DJ, Pilooski. Frankie Valli does the vocal and the Four Seasons play the music. A new beat enables the classic song to become a new hit...





The second version is from Norwegian hip-hop duet Madcon. Here, voices and music are re-recorded (above, the CD sleeve).

Just for fun, here's the original 1967 version.

Découvrez The Four Seasons!

Olivia!

Olivia Newton-John is not a well known icon in France. If the French audiences remembered her name, it's only from "Grease" (1978)...

"Hopelessly Devoted To You" (1978)


However, as far as I'm concerned, I remember very well "Physical"!
An interesting beat, a ridicule video that tries to be funny, a perfect hair and Olivia's smile were the key to its success. Fellow Aussie Kylie Minogue paid a tribute with a cover, 20 years later, during the "On A Night Like This Tour" (2001).

Physical (1981 - Olivia)


Physical (2001 - Kylie)


Olivia was born in Cambridge, England in 1948. She left for Australia with her parents 6 years later. Her carreer started in the 1970s with some minor hits that only charted in Australia and in the UK. She was a contestant to the Eurovision and had a nice success with "I Honestly Love You". With "Grease", she's a huge hit!

Then Came "Xanadu"! This cinematic UFO, with Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton-John, Cliff Richards and the neo-pop band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) will totally flop. The songs and the roller-skating apparently didn't seduce the audience then. The movie will get some recognition later, mostly due to its first degree kitsch dimension and its effecient tunes.

A musical is even created on Broadway in 2007, it will get rave reviews from the press and the public. Here are two songs from the movie.

"Magic" (1980)


"Xanadu" (1980)


In the end of the 1980s, Olivia Newton-John sings "The Rumour", an energy-driven hit written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin also in the back-singers.

"The Rumour" (1988)

Laid back electro night

A quiet night at home, I'm browsing the web. I'm listenning to the new Goldfrapp single, and finally I think the band is back to its soft folk roots - the ethereal first album "Felt Mountain" in 2000 is the proof. I'll let you decide what you think of this video I have mixed feelings about. On the other hand, the single probably heralds a new beautiful album, closer to Kate Bush than Kylie Minogue. To be continued. (their websiste here)

Goldfrapp - A&E


Even though her latest CD is perfect, Róisín Murphy's latest work is still very dance-oriented, and tonight, I'm not in the mood for it. Let me get back to Moloko's classic "The Time Is Now", one of their best tracks as far as I'm concerned. The beat is perfect, the video is, too. (their website here)

Moloko - The Time Is Now


I can still picture this Fnac's clerk bored face when I asked him I was looking for this "little English electronic band called Frou Frou..." His attitude won over on this day... I ended up finding this excellent 2002 one-time only collaboration between Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth some place else. (their website here)

Frou Frou - Must Be Dreaming


I'm so glad I got to listen to Tracey Thorn's solo album "Out Of The Woods" (2007). Back in 1995 I was dancing like everybody else with Everything But The Girl's legendary "Missing" remix by Todd Terry. Later in my chronology (even though it was released the same year), Tracey's hypnotic vocals on Massive Attack's "Protection" had me tripping. Here the singer delivers an ideal solo effort! Plus, the video rocks. (her site here)

Tracey Thorn - It's All True

Still the King?

Michael Jackson is in the spotlight again, with the release of "Thriller 25", a remastered version of his legendary album (the most sold in the record history) with new versions of his hits featuring today's artists, in order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its release.

"Rock With You" (video directed by Bruce Gowers, from the album "Off The Wall", 1980)

Many people "Off The Wall" is the first solo album by Michael Jackson, which isn't the case. From 1972 to 1975, he released 4 LPs from Motown. Granted, only a few minor hits were remembered from this period besides the poignant "One Day In Your Life". This brilliant album is certainly the revelation MJ, who performs his first successes, with "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", "She's Out Of My Life" or "Rock With You".

"Thriller" (video directed by John Landis, from the album "Thriller", 1982)

"Thriller" is the record album we don't even need to present. It's the ultimate must-have! The figures concerning "Thriller" are amazing, I will only point out that 7 out of the total 9 trakcs of the album were released as singles!

"Smooth Criminal" (video directed by Colin Chilvers, taken from the album "Bad", 1987)

The much anticipated album "Bad" was the last collaboration Quincy Jones / Michael Jackson. It met great success, even if it doesn't reach the high sales of the previous album. As far as I'm concerned, "Bad" is the album to some of the best Michael Jackson songs such as "Liberian Girl", "Man In The Mirror" or "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".

"Remember The Time" (video directed by John Singleton, from the album "Dangerous", 1991)

The very dense and achieved "Dangerous" is a New Jack Swing masterpiece. Michael Jackson starts being a tabloid sensation with a lifestyle and a way of expressing himself that become every day more outrageous. Jackson dwells on the gigantic side with some major hits, impressive collaborations, amazing videos and a monstruous tour.

"Stranger In Moscow" (video directed by Nicholas Brandt, taken from the album "HIStory", 1995)

"HIStory" marks the beginning of a slowdown in the sales. Jackson is a little too much. However, this album treasures some very nice gems like "Scream", "Stranger In Moscow", "Earth Song", "HIStory", too many fillers though.

"Blood On The Dance Floor" (video directed by Michael Jackson & Vincent Paterson, taken from the album "Blood On The Dancefloor", 1997)

Most people will probably have forgotten this remix album and... we can't really blame them. One thing to remember, is the title track, which is one of my favorite '90s Jackson songs!

"Cry" (video directed by Nicholas Brandt, taken from the album "Invicible", 2001)

"Invicible" was a failed attempt to come back. The very well produced album enables Jackson to discover new ground. I think the poor choice of the singles might explain why this album didn't do that well... To this day, I think the 4-color limited edition cover is still available in stores everywhere...

Sugababes Vs. Girls Aloud

Great Britain has always have a long girls bands tradition, Bananarama had paved the way to legions of young more or less excited English ladies with average producers from the early '80s. In the '90s, the world is taken over by the Spice Girls hurricane, they stayed on top of the sales for years with efficient yet formated hits and some over the top flair and attitude. In the 2000s, with new standards - the music supply is expandable, a pseudo underground movement has risen -, and new formats - the reality-tv bubble and the multimedia oomph -, a new generation of girls bands has arrived with at least as much (maybe even more) appeal...

Sugababes - Easy (2006)

From 1998 on, 3 schoolyard girlfriends get together and become the very successful trio the Sugababes. Being very quiet in France, in the UK, they're the bomb and have a long string of #1s. Keisha Buchana, Siobhan Donaghy (who left in 2001), Muty Buena (left the band in 2005) were the original Sugababes, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah replaced subsequently the departed members.

Girls Aloud - Jump (2003)

Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh are the lucky winners of 2002's "Popstars: The Rivals". I first hear about them with "Jump", the punchy Pointer Sisters's cover (1984) which is on the "Love Actually" soundtrack.

Sugababes - Push The Button (2005)

The Sugababes don't simply enjoy a public success, they gain the profession's recognition by winning several BRIT Awards.

Girls Aloud - Call The Shots (2007)

The new Girls Aloud single, pretty cool! The latest LP is awesome and has it all: energetic, upbeat, and very catchy too.

Sugababes - About You Now (2007)

The latest Sugababes single with now only one original member remaining. A hit with a little less commercial appeal, yet an interesting song with a glamorous video in tight little yellow dresses.

Girls Aloud - Biology (2005)
"Biology" is to my opinion one of the best Girls Aloud tracks, with a colorful, sexxxxy et hyper dynamique video.

Sugababes Vs. Girls Aloud - Walk This Way (2007)

The confrontation of the 2 bands occurs in 2007 with the pretty successful cover of the Aerosmith (1975) / Run DMC (1986) produced by Dallas Austin.

Further reading:
Girls Aloud (official site)
Sugababes (official site)

French chanson is not dead!

Stanislas - "Le Manège"
My song of the moment! I heard it different times on the radio and it ended up catching my attention. Then I hear it's produced by French pop superstar Calogéro... and it's exactly the feeling I had when I heard Stanislas : it sounds like Calogéro's early hits, before he compromised himself with too much easiness. I don't know much about Stanislas yet but let's keep an eye on him.


Vanessa Paradis - "Dès Que J'te Vois"
A strong value, with a track written by -M-, whom I'm not a big fan of even if I acknowledge his talent. Vanessa Paradis offers us a true moment of grace with a splendid video and one of the best tracks of the album.


Pauline Croze - "Jour de Foule"
Pauline Croze's first LP, sugar-coated with emotions and simplicity, was a critical success and it managed to seduce me frankly. She is back with a much colorful album with different influences, enabling her to confirm her talent. "Jour de Foule" might not be her best song, the video though, helps making it interesting.

Elodie Frégé - "La Fidélité"
Granted, Elodie Frégé is not a landmark of French pop. However, this track from her latest LP exhales a very nice folk touch. The first version of the video was directed by infamous French movie-maker Catherine Breillat.


Dionysos - "Tais-toi Mon Cœur"
French alternative rock is typically the kind of sound I don't like. However, Dionysos always detached itself from the bunch with its particular mood. The video reminds us of Tim Burton's poetic "Corpse Bride". And the chorus features vocals by Olivia Ruiz.

Booty Luv Saga

Who are Nadia Shepherd & Cherise Roberts? They're two young British soul singers who were produced by dance record label Hed Kandi with the band Booty Luv. They were propelled to the top of the charts in 2006 with the massive hit "Boogie 2nite", a punchy cover or the already very groovy hit by Tweet.

Boogie 2nite


For the second single, the duet meets with the same success with "Shine", a Luther Vandross cover.

Shine


For the third single, Booty Luv tries "Don't Mess With My Man" by Lucy Pearl.

Don't Mess With My Man


A 4th single will be produced, then came the album...

Some Kinda Rush

Dragonette + New Young Pony Club

Electro flavored new-rock has never been this much in the spotlight. It's a pleasure to see the rising of all new very promising bands.

Dragonette first, is a Canada-born but London-based band that I randomly discovered through an online listening. I was probably attracted by this odd band name and their flashy '80s cover arts. Of course, they can be found on MySpace too.

The two singles are pure hits that sadly went totally unnoticed in France...

Here are the videos to "I Get Around" (released in April 2007 in the UK) and "Take It Like A Man" (in July). The album "Galore" was released in September. The charismatick lead singer, Martina Sorbara, is a Canadian politician's daughter, which could be awckward considering the fact that Dragonette is a very gay-friendly band that regularly performs for community events such as the London Gay Pride in 2007. Yay!





New Young Pony Club (NYPC) has more of a rock sound. This new generation of new wave -- new new wave? -- is remarkably noticed for the efficiency of its sound that brings a very enjoyable sense of fun and madness to some already proven musical roots. Their MySpace : here.

The singer, Tahita Bulmer, is the lead of a London-based band that was born in 2005. Their first LP, "Fantastic Playroom", released in July 2007, is doing really good on both sides of the Atlantic and the band already solds out all the venues of its tour.

The singles "Get Lucky" and "Ice Cream" were re-released in 2007 because their original release in 2006 was not a commercial success - yet.