A few months ago, iTunes generously offered up a single called "Shark In The Water" by pop new-comer V.V. Brown. I found myself over-playing it and asking others if they'd heard it. (No one ever had.) Well, V.V.'s album, Traveling Like the Light is now available and it is just as great as the single I so love!
If you're not convinced to just run out and buy this album, then let me try and entice you. First off, she's British, and if there is anything we have learned, music-wise, in the past couple years, its that the Brits know a thing or two about good pop music. (See: Joss Stone, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Duffy, James Morrison, etc.) Second, this song is good pop-dance music, meaning minimal synths and other artificial noise-makers. Thirdly, download the joyous flashback doo-wop inspired "L.O.V.E." and "Crazy Amazing" and tell me you hate it. I dare you.
Can you tell that I love this thing!?! As a bonus, it is on sale on iTunes for $6.99 right now! Even they want you to experience the greatness!
Buzzy
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Britain. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
YOUTUBE: Embrace Life PSA
Its amazing to me that there are still people that do not wear a seat belt. Thinking, "I'm just going down the road," "The safest spot is behind the driver" or "Its all residential driving - very slow." All these excuses, of course, are bogus and simply lead to more tragic accidents on the road.
The people across the pond at the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership have released a Public Service Announcement that hopes to drive the point home, pun intended, that wearing your seat belt is the smartest thing you can do in a vehicle. I love that the PSA's title is "Embrace Life" with the dual meaning that not only do your family and friends love and care for your safety, but a seat belt embraces you in a similar way.
Just because those Brit's drive on the "wrong" side of the road, doesn't means they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to auto-safety. CNN has already covered it which is a great start in spreading the message in this viral era. Do your part and pass this video on to those you care about.
Sergio del Limónar
The people across the pond at the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership have released a Public Service Announcement that hopes to drive the point home, pun intended, that wearing your seat belt is the smartest thing you can do in a vehicle. I love that the PSA's title is "Embrace Life" with the dual meaning that not only do your family and friends love and care for your safety, but a seat belt embraces you in a similar way.
Just because those Brit's drive on the "wrong" side of the road, doesn't means they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to auto-safety. CNN has already covered it which is a great start in spreading the message in this viral era. Do your part and pass this video on to those you care about.
Sergio del Limónar
Monday, December 7, 2009
MUSIC: "Breathless"
I almost hate myself for liking this song so much. I normally despise super sappy lyrics, falsetto-voiced male vocalists, and blue-eyed soul slow ballads, so together I would imagine my head exploding. Maybe it's the cute guy singing the song. Could I be that shallow?
Shayne Ward, the winner of the second season of Britain's American Idol-like show, X-Factor, sings this schmaltzy love song, "Breathless," off his 2007 album by the same name, with such honesty and sincerity that you want to believe every word he says. Even lyrics like "...if we had babies they would look like you," which would normally leave me in hacking fits on the floor, seem genuine.
It must be the holiday season if I'm feeling this ooey-gooey...
Buzzy
Shayne Ward, the winner of the second season of Britain's American Idol-like show, X-Factor, sings this schmaltzy love song, "Breathless," off his 2007 album by the same name, with such honesty and sincerity that you want to believe every word he says. Even lyrics like "...if we had babies they would look like you," which would normally leave me in hacking fits on the floor, seem genuine.
It must be the holiday season if I'm feeling this ooey-gooey...
Buzzy
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
MUSIC: The Hard Way
I've been listening to one of my favorite British singers, James Hunter, quite a bit lately. By "lately" I mean a week ago when the shuffle mode on my iPod decided to play "Carina" from Hunter's 2008 album The Hard Way.
I love the bluesy and sad swing-like vibe that drifts throughout this song about basically begging someone to love you. The plucking strings, popping horns, whiney saxophone, and occasional swelling of the orchestra, coupled with Hunter's soulful and cracking vocals pleading "don't let me wait to long" make you feel as though you need Carina's love too. This is my most consistently favorite track off this album.
Other highlights include "Don't Do Me No Favors" and "She's Got A Way", which, with it's jazzy rhythm, has one of the most fun music videos of any of Hunter's singles. This is one of those records you could play in the corner of the room and by the third track people will be asking who the singer is. A throwback to the old blue-eyed soul music of the 1960's combined with some new-age R & B riffs, The Hard Way, is sure to be the ZONINO! of your party.
Buzzy
Thursday, October 1, 2009
MUSIC: Anjulie
I don't know much about Anjulie, to be honest. I know she is British* and that her self-titled debut album is amazing and on unhealthy rotation at both home and work. I learned the former piece of information from some article I read reviewing the recently released CD and the later from purchasing it on an optimistic whim.
This was the best optimistic whim I've had in awhile. You are definitely gambling when you go all in on an artist no one this side of the pond has heard of, with no air play, on a music label unknown to you. Actually, those might be the keys to finding a really great album, come to think of it!
With a sound that has hints of pop, jazz, and folk all mixed together, this is the album I imagine Duffy, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, and Sade making, if they became one phenomenally talented being. Highlights for me include "Rain," about a misguided love, the toe-tapping "Addicted2Me," and "Colombia," which captures complete and total bliss; making you want to grab that one you love and hit the road, leaving it all behind for awhile.
The piano-driven and orchestrally-backed "Love Songs" throws it's sappy subject matter and infatuated feelings of first loves right under the bus, without giving in to cynicism. While all Anjulie's songs have insanely creative lyrics, this one is one of my favorites for it's simplicity and honesty.
If you buy one disc this fall for yourself, let it be this one. If you want to give the gift of music to anyone this who year, you will be touted as the one with much musical foresight for giving this one. Hopefully the rest of the world outside of Britain recognizes the talent of Anjulie.
Sergio del Limónar
* It has been brought to my attention by one of our own ZONINO! readers and confirmed by Wikipedia that Anjulie is actually Canadian and not from England. Born and raised right outside of Toronto it seems...
This was the best optimistic whim I've had in awhile. You are definitely gambling when you go all in on an artist no one this side of the pond has heard of, with no air play, on a music label unknown to you. Actually, those might be the keys to finding a really great album, come to think of it!
With a sound that has hints of pop, jazz, and folk all mixed together, this is the album I imagine Duffy, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, and Sade making, if they became one phenomenally talented being. Highlights for me include "Rain," about a misguided love, the toe-tapping "Addicted2Me," and "Colombia," which captures complete and total bliss; making you want to grab that one you love and hit the road, leaving it all behind for awhile.
The piano-driven and orchestrally-backed "Love Songs" throws it's sappy subject matter and infatuated feelings of first loves right under the bus, without giving in to cynicism. While all Anjulie's songs have insanely creative lyrics, this one is one of my favorites for it's simplicity and honesty.
If you buy one disc this fall for yourself, let it be this one. If you want to give the gift of music to anyone this who year, you will be touted as the one with much musical foresight for giving this one. Hopefully the rest of the world outside of Britain recognizes the talent of Anjulie.
Sergio del Limónar
* It has been brought to my attention by one of our own ZONINO! readers and confirmed by Wikipedia that Anjulie is actually Canadian and not from England. Born and raised right outside of Toronto it seems...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
YOUTUBE: Damien Walters
Somebody get this guy his own action movie franchise right now. Go! Seriously, Jackie Chan is too old and everyone else uses stunt doubles or computer graphics to help their action sequences.
With a little research it turns out the Damien Walters is a gymnast from England who was a world class competition tumbler and trampoliner. After this video hit Youtube, he has indeed gotten offers from Hollywood and has appeared as a stuntman in a couple films. I think the next step is get him his own movie. So what if he can't act?!? How many movies did Jean-Claude Van Damme make*?
Sergio del Limónar
*According to the good people at IMDB, Van Damme made 41. That's 40 too many.
With a little research it turns out the Damien Walters is a gymnast from England who was a world class competition tumbler and trampoliner. After this video hit Youtube, he has indeed gotten offers from Hollywood and has appeared as a stuntman in a couple films. I think the next step is get him his own movie. So what if he can't act?!? How many movies did Jean-Claude Van Damme make*?
Sergio del Limónar
*According to the good people at IMDB, Van Damme made 41. That's 40 too many.
Friday, August 21, 2009
BOOK: The Children of Men
Written in the not too distant past of the early 1990's, British author P.D. James has crafted a frightening novel set in the not too distant future. The book is frightening, not in a Stephen King-like way, but in a realistic human nature kind that causes the reader to question our own vulnerability.
The Children of Men begins in the year 2021 with the murder of the youngest person alive on the planet, a 25 year old Argentinian. The world of 2021 has not had a human birth since the mid-nineties when, inexplicably, all men became sterile. Since this point the world has slowly crawled into a cycle of hysteria. Borders have been closed, mandatory monthly fertility testing has become law, towns slowly shut down do to lack of citizens as the old die, and an entire generation does not know what a crying baby sounds like.
Theo is a history professor at a local University in Oxford, England, where the story takes place. He is divorced after a painful marriage made more so after the loss of his only child, who was born in one of the last years leading up to the age of infertility. His simple life is thrown for a loop when a small group of dissenters approach him with a proposition that he, for a variety of reasons, is not able to reject.
Even though I had seen the movie, staring Clive Owen and Julian Moore, by the same name back in 2006, I enjoyed the book just as much and I'd recommend both. There is a lot different from the book to the film but I understand why the changes were made and, in the end, I think the cinematic version stayed faithful to the spirit of the novel.
Buzzy
The Children of Men begins in the year 2021 with the murder of the youngest person alive on the planet, a 25 year old Argentinian. The world of 2021 has not had a human birth since the mid-nineties when, inexplicably, all men became sterile. Since this point the world has slowly crawled into a cycle of hysteria. Borders have been closed, mandatory monthly fertility testing has become law, towns slowly shut down do to lack of citizens as the old die, and an entire generation does not know what a crying baby sounds like.
Theo is a history professor at a local University in Oxford, England, where the story takes place. He is divorced after a painful marriage made more so after the loss of his only child, who was born in one of the last years leading up to the age of infertility. His simple life is thrown for a loop when a small group of dissenters approach him with a proposition that he, for a variety of reasons, is not able to reject.
Even though I had seen the movie, staring Clive Owen and Julian Moore, by the same name back in 2006, I enjoyed the book just as much and I'd recommend both. There is a lot different from the book to the film but I understand why the changes were made and, in the end, I think the cinematic version stayed faithful to the spirit of the novel.
Buzzy
Thursday, June 18, 2009
MUSIC: Songs For You, Truths For Me
At only 24 years old, James Morrison is quickly rising to the fame he deserves. Hailing from England, and growing up poor with a variety of musical styles ranging from soul to folk being played at home, Morrison has developed an emotional style that is both easy to listen to and heart-tugging at the same time.
If his latest album, Songs For You, Truths For Me, is any indication, this guy is destined to be the next big thing that comes out of the Queen's country. Highlights of the album include "You Make It Real" and the Nelly Furtado duet "Broken Strings." Another favorite of mine is "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" which is groovy song writing at it's finest, in my humble opinion.
I was naive and wide eyed,
but you made me see,
that you dont get to taste the honey,
without the sting of a bee.
Check out this album and help true artists with talent reach the levels of success they deserve and get a little I-knew-them-way-back-when bragging rights with your friends. Heck, tell your friends now. This is one of the best albums you'll purchase this year!
Sergio del Limónar
If his latest album, Songs For You, Truths For Me, is any indication, this guy is destined to be the next big thing that comes out of the Queen's country. Highlights of the album include "You Make It Real" and the Nelly Furtado duet "Broken Strings." Another favorite of mine is "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" which is groovy song writing at it's finest, in my humble opinion.
I was naive and wide eyed,
but you made me see,
that you dont get to taste the honey,
without the sting of a bee.
Check out this album and help true artists with talent reach the levels of success they deserve and get a little I-knew-them-way-back-when bragging rights with your friends. Heck, tell your friends now. This is one of the best albums you'll purchase this year!
Sergio del Limónar
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
YOUTUBE: George Sampson
George Sampson is the 15 year old street dancing (seems similar to break-dancing) winner of last season's Britian's Got Talent. I recently saw him perform on Oprah when she did a show highlighting the smartest and most talented kids, and I must say, he certainly is!
After winning Britian's Got Talent, he told Oprah that he used some of his earnings to pay off his mom's mortgage, and hasn't touched the rest. He's got the greatest little British accent, and coupled with that adorable face, if he were 5 years older, I'd date him. Who am I kidding, 4 years older.
Anyway, check out the performance that won him first place, the Mint Royale version of "Singin' in the Rain."
Mrs. Fitz 2
After winning Britian's Got Talent, he told Oprah that he used some of his earnings to pay off his mom's mortgage, and hasn't touched the rest. He's got the greatest little British accent, and coupled with that adorable face, if he were 5 years older, I'd date him. Who am I kidding, 4 years older.
Anyway, check out the performance that won him first place, the Mint Royale version of "Singin' in the Rain."
Mrs. Fitz 2
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