Yesterday died the writer of one of the most remarkable songs of the 80's. Colin Vearncombe, better know as Black, didn't survive to a car accident that occurred on the 10th of January.
Although most of his career didn't follow the huge success of the hit "Wonderful Life" he was very very active during the last 30 years.
These last days some fantastic artists were confirmed to perform in Portugal this summer.
So, very quickly:
- Bruce Springsteen will be headlining Rock in Rio Lisboa.
- The french duo Air will be in my hometown Porto for NOS Primavera Sound.
- Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys will be here, probably also at the Primavera Sound but it's not official yet where he's going to play.
- Radiohead will play at NOS Alive festival.
- LCD Soundsystem were the first name for the mythical Paredes de Coura festival.
As the Barcelona and Porto Primavera Sound have usually very similar artists, I'm really expecting to see Suede here in the summer. They will play two times in Barcelone this year, a Night Thoughts section and a greatest hits one. It would be great also to see here PJ Harvey.
Suede's new album, "Night Thoughts" is released today.
The album is surrounded by a totally new concept of their music.
All the music is accompanied by a film direct by Roger Sargent.
The album is available in normal CD package, Vinyl, and deluxe edition of CD+DVD with the movie included.
There are 4 full tracks already available on Suede's YouTube channel, the 2 single, Outsiders and Like Kids, plus 2 more tracks, Pale Snow and No Tomorrow. All of them are truly fantastic. Night Thoughts is receiving very positive reviews, with time, Strange Sound will make its own.
Although it is still early to say, Night Thoughts has everything to become a modern legendary album for the band. Not only because of the new concept but also because Suede explored their more dramatic, melancholic and dark sound again. Their most epic and introspective work since Dog Man Star.
Some songs like Tightrope, I Don't Know How To Reach You or The Fur & The Feathers are among the ones with more potential to become truly legendary songs on Suede's catalogue.
Take a look at this amazing 20-minutes track by track preview.
David Bowie's new album, Blackstar topped a lot of countries.
For the first time in his career the album went straight to number 1 in the USA. His previous work, The Next Day was number 2 and his highest place there until then.
In the UK, it's not a big surprise that it went to number 1. Even before his death, everything was pointing that Blackstar would reach the top of the charts.
In Portugal, my home country, although it is not official, it will also be number 1. Last week I tried to buy it on a store in Porto, and not only Blackstar was sold out, but all Bowie discography in CD and Vinyl was sold out in FNAC.
Blackstar also topped a lot of other countries like Germany, Belgian, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, among others.
Lazarus, his goodbye single, was the video with more views on Youtube in a single day. Ever.
Obviously the sad news of his death contributed to these amazing records, but it is completely deserved. Not only Blackstar his a brilliant, amazing, incredible album, but the career of Bowie by itself deserves this kind of recognitions.
Bowie was, is and will be, the most important musician / artist of all time for me.
The Greatest, a Godlike Artist.
David Bowie died early this week and a lot of people are sharing a lot of his songs around the internet, and that's great.
Obviously, the most shared ones are the big hits, the most successful ones. I did the same. To remember his talent on Facebook I shared the song "Heroes" one of my favourites and a song that means a lot to me.
However, it is a pity to limit the Bowie legacy to his most famous songs, so, I'll share 5 fantastic not worldwide famous David Bowie songs from different parts of his life.
01 - Lady Stardust (from Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars 1972)
I wanted to put here Rock n´Roll suicide but, although it wasn't a single, it is also a signature song for him.
I choose Lady Stardust because lately I'm playing a lot this song. Some time ago I was a much bigger fan of Moonage Daydream or Star or Five Years, but there's sometimes on the melody that makes me sing it with great passion. The song is not about Ziggy's wife (or maybe it is) but about Marc Nolan. Bowie was a big fan.
02 - Lady Grinning Soul (from Aladdin Sane 1973)
Bowie chose this song for is compilation iSelect which featured his personal favourite songs while trying to avoid most of his greatest hits.
It is the end song of his classic album Aladdin Sane and a song that resumes very well his sound at the time. Very complexed, very dramatic with the remarkable Mike Garson on the piano. A true classic.
03 - Neuköln (from "Heroes" 1977)
Bowie, specially during his Berlin years did a couple of very interesting and very dark instrumental tracks. The most famous one is probably Warszawa, but my personal favourite is Neuköln. It is so dark, so evil that brings a really creepy atmosphere. It's fantastic and the Saxophone (played by him) is what guides the melodramatic tune of the songs. Incredible.
04 - If I'm Dreaming My Life (from "hours..." 1999)
Fantastic songs from the 90's. It's a pure Pop/Rock song with heavy electric guitar and nice solos, but what really makes the song is the ending coda. So good, so perfect, so Bowie.
05 - Heathen (The Rays) (from Heathen 2002)
One of my favourite Bowie songs from one of my favourite albums. THe lyrics are so beautiful and the way the song goes from up and downs is so intense. Bowie's vocal is at his best really. The drum and the keyboards also contribute to a great song. Fantastic, one of those songs I'll keep with me forever.
This is the saddest day for music ever.
The legendary David Bowie died at 69, following a 18-month fight with cancer.
This is so sad, so sad, actually I never felt this sad by the death of someone that I actually don't know.
I can say without any doubt that, Bowie is the most influential artist of all time. No one can ever be compared with him, he was high above anyone else, since he was young until the day of his dead.
Bowie released in last album "Blackstar" last friday and, magically, he released also a farewell song, Lazarus, that is a statement about his own death. What a vision.
Listening to Lazarus now is a strange experience... Really sad one, but also amazing one.
Almost all of my favourite artists sent some words about him.
Personally, some of his songs really mean a lot to me. If I would choose two songs, I can say that "Heroes" was some kind of a Shield song for a very special relationship I had and "Where Are We Now?" was the most uplifting experience I had. I was travelling to Slovakia on the next day that it was released, I bought The Times, that had a big article about him and I was in London airport for hours, listening to the song on repeat.
Can an artist be more interesting than David Bowie? Really difficult to answer, and, for me, the correct answer is no.
We all know who Bowie is and what he did (and still does) to music, and how many times his identity changed. Through all the changes, only one thing never changed:the high quality of Bowie's music.
And again, with 68 years old, after the most extraordinary come back of all music history, he releases a great single. It's not his best work (for me) but, he remains very powerfully interesting.
It's not a catchy song, it's not a typical single (it's a 10 minutes track) but it is fantastic.
Blackstar is a mix of different sounds, different instruments and a it is a really dark tune, which completes the lyrics and the melody very well. It's a little bit insane too and has a very peaceful and calm part, something like the moment when you leave the darkness behind, to embrace the heaven, but then you fall again to the dark side.
Oh well, it's fantastic, sounds like something that came from a God, or a superior soul.
Actually, I think that this "title" is the one that fits better to Bowie. Dylan is a legend, Lennon was a revolutionary, McCartney the successful, Hendrix the genious, Elvis the king, and Bowie the God.
The video fits the crazy part of the song very well.
In two days we will have the new album.
Some people need a wish to start the new year, other to make 2 or 3 goals to achieve a healthier life.
I was listening to some Manic Street Preachers songs this January and was thinking that "Everything Must Go" is probably one of the best songs to start a new year.
Just let the previous year go, let everything go, and let the new year flow naturally, without keeping you stuck to yesterday's problems.
"I look to the future it makes me cry but it seems too real to tell you why, freed from the century with nothing but memory, memory. And I just hope that you can forgive us but everything must go"
Happy New Year!
