Must Watch – “Real Late Starter” Cover

I don’t usually post random music videos on my blog, but I came across this one and I just couldn’t let it go by unnoticed! A few months ago, Nerina Pallot, one of my favourite artists, started a competition on YouTube saying the person who best covered her song “Real Late Starter” will get to open for one of her shows in London. Now, I don’t know who won exactly and I haven’t listened to all the covers, but I saw this one video that literally took my breath away and left me goosebump-ful. Her voice is just amazing and her bizarre choice of instrument makes it all way too beautiful.

You MUST watch this.

Enjoy and leave your comments!

My Artist Of The Week – “La Roux”

I haven’t been in a very good mood this week. Which is why my AOTW for this week will be very brief. I apologize to the 4 people who actually read it.

Favourite songs:

• Quicksand
• Bulletproof
• Fascination

Favourite lyrics:

You, you moved into my mind again
You, you’re walking around rent free
Oh I could let you stay
But I’m walking on broken ground again
Oh oh when will I learn?
All you do is push me back in the dirt

From “Quicksand”

Been there done that messed around
I’m having fun don’t put me down
I’ll never let you sweep me off my feet

This time baby
I’ll be bulletproof
This time baby
I’ll be bulletproof

From “Bulletproof”

Enjoy these official videos!

If you like her, visit her official website.

My Artist Of The Week – “Nerina Pallot”

The artist I choose for this week is: Nerina Pallot.

I discovered Nerina Pallot in the early 2007’s. I don’t even remember how it was I came across her, but I remember that the first song I heard of hers; “Everybody’s Gone To War” left me in awe. The music was very happy, but the lyrics were thought-provoking and really oh-so-beautiful. The tune was stuck in my head in no time, and I was humming it for days before I realised that if she could make a song so good, she probably has more, doesn’t she? I downloaded some of her music from her albums “Dear Frustrated Superstar” and “Fires”, and I was hooked on her breathtaking voice. I remember thinking I wish I could sing like her.

What I like about Nerina the most is probably her voice. The way she sings captures the hardest of hearts, and the music she plays can have goosebumps on your whole body in a matter of seconds.

I’m not very familiar with her recent music, I only just got her new album “The Graduate” the day before yesterday, and I can honestly say I love what I heard from it. Give it a listen and I’m sure you won’t regret it. As for the lyrics, here are my favourite;

 

Sophia, Sophia, I’m burning, I’m burning
It’s a fire, a fire I cannot put out.
Sophia, Sophia, I’m learning that some things
I can’t go without
And one of those is him.

And now I walk these streets like a stranger in my home town,
Learn the language, form the words when I speak.
But he changed me, I’m his ghost since he came around
Now I count the hours, and the days and the weeks…..
In passion and silence,
Every word, every line a measure
It’s the science of the soul.

From “Sophia”.

But don’t presume to know shit about me
‘Cause I don’t know myself
From one day to the next
And I don’t pose perplexities purposely

From “Geek Love”.

If love is a drug, then I guess we’re all sober,
If hope is a song then I guess it’s all over,
How to have faith, when faith is a crime?
I don’t want to die…
If God’s on our side, then God is a joker,
Asleep on the job, his children fall over,
Running out through the door and straight to the sky,
I don’t want to die…

From “Everybody’s Gone To War”.

Enjoy these HQ videos I was so glad to find on YouTube.

If you liked her, then visit her Official Website.

Or follow her on Twitter.

My Artist Of The Week – “Ellie Goulding”

The artist I choose for this week is: Ellie Goulding.

I discovered Ellie Goulding about two weeks ago while checking my Recommendations list on Last.fm (as usual). The first song I heard of hers was “Starry Eyed”. I can honestly say this song blew me away and I was immediately in love with her music style. I continued to listen to her songs, and the next one I heard was “Black & Gold”, and it was a song I just couldn’t stop listening to. The lyrics and catchy beat made me keep it on repeat for more than 3 days. It was apparent that I found my next addiction.

What I like about Ellie’s music is that it is very calm and catchy, and the lyrics she writes are honest and sweet. My favourite songs of hers are “Black & Gold”, “Wish I Stayed”, “Starry Eyed”, and “Guns & Horses”. The lyrics I adore (and sing louder to) are these:

But I wish I could feel all it for you
I wish I could be it all for you
If I could erase the pain
And maybe you’d feel the same
I’d do it all for you
I would

From “Guns & Horses”

If a fish swam out of the ocean, grew legs and started walking
And the apes climbed out from the trees, and grew tall and started talking
And the stars fall out of the sky, and my tears rolled into the ocean
Now I’m looking for a reason why, you set my world into motion

From “Black & Gold”

With that skipping rope,
The trampoline,
The crafty smoke that made us choke but we didn’t give up hope
It’s just the simple ways of getting paid
The carelessness of running away
I wish I stayed

I don’t own my clothes but I own my mind,
And its not what you’ve lost but its what you find.

From “Wish I Stayed”

I was really glad I found lots of HQ videos for you to enjoy. I encourage you to give each and every one of them a listen. Enjoy!

If you like her, check out her MySpace page.

Or follow her on Twitter.

My Artist Of The Week – “Marina & The Diamonds”

The artist I choose for this week is: Marina & The Diamonds.

I discovered Marina & The Diamonds a little over a month ago. As usual, it happened when I was searching for new artists on Last.fm. The first song I heard of hers was “Girls”, and as much as I thought it was catchy, I also thought it would be a song I would get bored of after one or two listens. I was right. For a little while, anyway. Because a little after that, I downloaded some of her other songs, and God, it took some time, but I was finally strongly addicted to her and her music. Marina’s songs have such a strong effect on me, they always seem to cheer me up. A month ago, I had no idea who she was, and now she’s #9 on my charts, and I have no doubt that she will keep on rising. She’s bound to, since all I listen to is her.

Marina’s music can be best described as quirky. The catchy beats and thought-provoking lyrics will have you jumping up and singing along in no time. Her voice is deep, beautiful and undeniably unique. It will be very easy to fall in love with her, and then her music will be all you crave to hear.

My favourite songs of hers are: “Obsessions”, “Mowgli’s Road”, and “I Am Not A Robot”. And the lyrics I love the most are as follows:

Look like a girl but I think like a guy
Not ladylike to behave like a slime
Easy to be sleazy when you’ve got a filthy mind
You stick to your yoghurts
I’ll stick to my apple pie

From “Girls”

Sunday, wake up, give me a cigarette.
Last night�s love affair is looking vulnerable in my bed
Silk sheet, blue dawn, Colgate, tongue warm
Won�t you quit your crying? I can�t sleep
One minute I�m a little sweetheart
And next minute you are an absolute creep

From “Obsessions”

You’re vulnerable, you’re vulnerable
You are not a robot
You’re loveable, so loveable
But you’re just troubled

From “I Am Not A Robot”

I’ll have to admit that I have an unhealthy obsession and a huge crush on her When you give her music a listen, you’ll know why!

I was glad to find her actual video clips on Youtube. Everything about them is amazing. Enjoy!

If you like her, check out her Official Website.

Or follow her on Twitter.

I Write.

I can write about flowers
And birds and bees
And the way the sun’s rays
Shine through the trees
I can write about freedom
And fulfilment, and smiles
And lovers still strong
Despite separating miles

I can write about joy
And selflessness, and sanity
And lifelong commitments
To the good of humanity
I can write about good friends
Who are loyal and true
And other halves who will always
No matter what, be loving you

But I choose to write about
Heartache, and tears, and lies
And self-doubt, and loneliness
And friendships gone awry
I write about disappointments
And heartbreaking insanity
Not because I enjoy them
But because this is reality

I write about one-sided loves
And long, sleepless nights
And the feeling of emptiness
And the absence of light
I write about sadness
That captivates your every breath
I write about the pain
That follows every inevitable death

I’m not a sad, dark person
These things aren’t all I feel
But when I write I feel obliged
To write about what is real
I don’t write so you would smile
Or so I can hear you laugh
I write so you can relate to what is true
And what is indeed happening in this life

You might not like the sadness
That flows from my words
Or the never-ending madness
That my writing observes
I write because I feel
And not only happiness
I write because it is relieving to feel that
You are not alone in your tragedies.

 

© Copyright 7ala Abdullah 2009

My Artist Of The Week – “Florence + The Machine”

The artist I choose for this week is: Florence + The Machine.

I discovered Florence + The Machine roughly about two months ago. I needed some new music so I went through my recommended artists and she was one of them. I downloaded her song “Dog Days Are Over” first, to see if she was really worth downloading more. I listened to it once. I listened to it twice. I listened to it thrice, and I was addicted. I downloaded one more song of hers – “You’ve Got The Love” – just to make sure she wasn’t a one-hit-wonder before I went on a music spree. And when I listened to it, that’s when I was convinced that Florence would easily and inevitably rise to my top artists. So here she is today, #7 on my “Last 3 Months” charts.

Florence’s music is beautiful and catchy. The unique beats and lyrics will have you dancing with joy at one song and sighing with agony at another. Florence will make you feel however it was she felt when she wrote the song, she has a crazy way of pushing her own emotions through your head, making you feel as though they were your own. Some songs of hers may take a little while for you to like, but in the end, all of her songs will grow on you. You won’t be able to fight it.

My favourite songs of hers are: “Dog Days Are Over”, “Blinding”, “Girl With One Eye”, and “Between Two Lungs”. Each song has a different theme and will make you feel completely different from the other.

Here are the lyrics that most caught my attention:

Seems that I have been held, in some dreaming state
A tourist in the waking world, never quite awake
No kiss, no gentle word could wake me from this slumber
Until I realise that it was you who held me under

From “Blinding”

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

From “Dog Days Are Over”

I took a knife and cut out her eye
I took it home and watched it wither and die
Well, she’s lucky that I didn’t slip her a smile
That’s why she sleeps with one eye open
That’s the price she paid

From “Girl With One Eye”

Luckily, I was able to find many HQ videos on YouTube. I do hope you enjoy them!

If you liked her, visit her Official Website.

Or follow her on Twitter.

Need

I have this need to be
The most important person
In your life
This craving,
To hear you utter the words
That without me
Nothing goes right
I wouldn’t care if I
Couldn’t reciprocate
This blinding hunger
I would be satisfied
As long as your strong heart
Upon seeing me, sinks under.

I have this need to be
The one and only reason
Your heart
Skips those beats
The only person who can cause
Your mind to
Have such beautiful dreams
I wouldn’t care if I
Never thought of you
More than once per day
The fact that I’m
Constantly on your mind
Is what I need to hear you say.

I have this need to be
The sole, painful reason
You cry every night
It’s dark of me
I know, but
Deep inside
I don’t mind
I wouldn’t care if you
Forgot about me
In a short week or two
The fact that
Once upon a time
I was
The. Most. Important. Thing.
Is what I need
To get me through.

© Copyright 7ala Abdullah 2009

My Artist Of The Week – “The Pierces”

The artists I choose for this week are: The Pierces.

I discovered The Pierces in 2007. My sister made me hear their song “Secret” and I honestly thought it was genius! I didn’t think, however, to check out their other songs until I heard them play “Three Wishes” on Gossip Girl. The song had me mesmerized. I knew right then that if these two sisters could make two songs sound this amazing, there had to be more. And that’s when I got their album ; Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge. To say this album is flawless would be a huge understatement because there seriously isn’t even ONE song I don’t love on it. It is sweet, quirky, funny, sad, and beautiful all at the same time. I encourage all of you out there to give the whole thing a listen, and I promise you won’t regret it.

My favourite songs by them are; “Secret”, “Three Wishes”, “Tonight”, “Turn On Billie”  and “Sticks and Stones”. Although I’d have to say my #1 is probably “Three Wishes” seeing as the lyrics made me cry once or twice. The other songs on the album, however, are almost as good and definitely deserve a listen as well. I’m sure that in no time, these sisters whose existence you were probably unaware of will earn your respect and climb to the top of your favourites list with their addictive tunes. If not, then, well… sue me or whatever.

The lyrics I found most enchanting are as follows:

Sticks and stones will break your bones
And leave you lying in the mud
But you get scared when we’re alone
Like I might suck your blood
Well I could tell you a witch’s spell
But it just might blow your top
Then you start to run just as I’m having fun
And it’s awfully hard to stop
It’s awfully hard to stop

From “Sticks and Stones”

We’d be so less fragile
If we’re made from metal
And our hearts from iron
And our minds from steel
And if we built an armour
For our tender bodies
Could we love each other
Would we stop to feel

From “Three Wishes”

What were you doing in my dream last night
Well I thought I locked that door up tight,
Baby.
Well it’s a mystery to me
How you keep on slippin’
In my mind…
And it’s downright dirty that this ‘ol wound
Won’t heal with time

From “Kill, Kill, Kill”

I hope you enjoy these HQ videos!

If you liked them, then check out their Official Website.

Or follow them on Twitter.

My Artist Of The Week – “Vienna Teng”

The artist I choose for this week is: Vienna Teng.

I discovered Vienna Teng in 2007. I was browsing through Youtube I managed to stumble upon a ballet dancing video that used one of her songs; “Passage”. I remember thinking that it was the most beautiful and the saddest song I have ever heard in my life. Saying it touched me would be an understatement because this song made me cry like a baby the first 20 times I heard it. Its lack of music and sole concentration on Vienna’s enchanting voice makes even your eyebrow hairs stand and the heartbreaking lyrics will have you gasping with tears during the first 20 seconds of the song. I was wrong, however, to associate Vienna with heartbreak because as soon as I got a hold of her other songs, I realised that as well as having the ability to make you cry in a matter of seconds, she can also make you smile. Vienna is a truly deeply talented artist whose songs will give you chills and whose voice will make your heart flutter. I honestly think of her as one of the best singers in the whole wide world.

And it’s no surprise that not only does she have a heavenly voice, but she plays the piano so excellently she’ll have you hating her for having that much talent. Most of her songs are just a combination of her magnificent singing and beautiful piano skills. Her songs are the type you’d want to listen to to relax, feel good about yourself, and if you’re having  bad day: to cry your eyes out.

My favourite songs of hers are; “Passage”, “Gravity”, “Homecoming (Walter’s Song)”, and “The Atheist Christmas Carol”. Of course, I can honestly say all the other songs I haven’t mentioned are definitely worth the listen and are also beautiful.

I was glad to find many HD songs of hers on Youtube. I do hope – as I am sure – that you will enjoy these songs.

If you liked Vienna Teng, then check out her official website.

Or follow her on Twitter.