Saturday 29 March 2014

[New Music] Tori Amos Returns With "Trouble's Lament"




Tori Amos is back, and she's talking about her friend Lucifer again- religious types beware!

New song Trouble's Lament is a jaunty track that sees the Diva personifying "trouble" and giving her an origin story that's deserving of its own comic. Tori spoke a little about the inspiration behind the song, saying:

"It's really in the blood. It's almost like you listen to the land speaking to you. And wherever I am I can hear the South calling me. I really like the idea that trouble was a young woman....I see her on my travels a lot. And maybe I knew her many years ago when I was in my twenties."
Source: Broadwayworld.com

Taken from her forthcoming LP, Unrepentant Geraldines, Trouble's Lament is Tori Amos finally back doing Tori Amos after what feels an age of concept, seasonal and classical-inspired output. Hopefully the single hints to LP number 14 being overall more insular and less collaborative in nature. I need some undiluted Tori, stat!  

[Discuss] Missy Elliot And Timbaland Think Popular Music Is Sounding The Same. Are They Right?



Are they right? I don't really listen to the radio that often, but I do admit that the last time I did, I thought along the same lines. There was a hell of a lot of EDM clogging up my speakers,I tells ya.

However, I'm not entirely sure if this is a new phenomenon. I distinctly remember periods in the past- when I did listen to the radio- that it seemed to be dominated by boy bands (Backstreet Boys/Take That/ Boyzone), then girl groups (Spice Girls/ All Saints/ Destiny's Child) and then rap music (Ja Rule, Eminem, Dr Dre). Heck, there were even times when our Divas appeared to be ruling the waves: first in the earlier 90's with Whitney/Mariah/Celine, and then again at the close of that decade with Britney/Christina/Pink.

Friday 28 March 2014

[Music Video] Ellie Goulding - "Beating Heart"




Not quite sure what is going with Ellie Goulding at the moment. I'm pretty sure I listened to her last album  Halcyon quite a bit when it was released in 2012(!), but yet I haven't recognised the last few songs she's released as being from it.

Latest song, Beating Heart, doesn't even feature on the album re-release, Halcyon Days- madness, I tell you!! Well, whatever she's doing, at least she's still releasing her brand of folksy electro-pop, as I do quite enjoy it. There's something otherworldly about it.

You vocal fiends might enjoy hearing the little run at 3.26, where the Diva showcases the nimbleness of her voice, transitioning from head to chest voice effortlessly. Take a listen!

(Ok, so I stopped being so darn lazy and looked up where the song is from. Beating Heart is taken from the soundtrack of new movie, Divergent. I probably would have figured that out if I'd actually watched the video, instead of just listening to the song. Silly me. Fans of Ellie, and the movie, can now put the stones down!)

Tuesday 25 March 2014

[Listen] Mariah Carey Sings "Happy Birthday" / "You're Mine" Remix Live From The Shower, Angels Cry!



Media personality B. Scott is one lucky Lamb! Not only has he gotten to star in a Mariah Carey music video- Up Out My Face- but he was also bestowed this magical gift of Mimi singing an impromptu Happy Birthday whilst apparently in the shower!

Listen to Mimi kill it vocally with belts, whispers and whistles. Maybe a shower cubicle should be a prerequisite for all her live performances from now on!

[Watch] Sevyn Streeter Covers Beyonce's "Drunk In Love"



Anyone else checked out Sevyn Streeter's EP Call Me Crazy? I'm currently loving this collection of songs! It won't be to everyone's taste, but if you're after an Rnb Diva who can write- she's penned for Ariana Grande, Fantasia and Tamar Braxton- with a capable voice and strong productions, then Sevyn might just be for you.

Lucky for any of you interested, you can try before you buy, as the Diva has uploaded all the tracks from the album to her YouTube page, which I've in turn embedded for your ease and pleasure! Shattered and the bouncy Call Me Crazy are definite favorites.

For those of you who don't have time to be listening to material you ain't familiar with, check out Sevyn (and the fan videoing) sing Beyonce's Drunk In Love, and get a flavor of what the Diva is capable of.