Young Artists for Haiti - "Wavin' Flag"

Hey all, this is Eddy sitting in for JB. For my guest post today, I'd like to share something that's truly uplifting. It's a newly recorded version of "Wavin' Flag" by Canadian hip-hop artist K'NAAN, released in an effort to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. K'NAAN's original song was re-worked to include new lyrics specific to Haiti and recorded by over 50 of today's biggest Canadian music stars. The single was made available for download on March 12th, two months after the earthquake occurred. I promise you will be singing along and bopping your head to the music in no time. :)

To download the single, check out the Young Artists for Haiti official site. You can even buy a t-shirt, if you're interested. All proceeds from sales go to Haiti relief. You can also go to iTunes to download the single, if you prefer.

Until next time,
Eddy

Hallelujah, iTunes 8.0!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The world's best ever version of iTunes has landed, and it's blazing a trail down the media player highway taking down all its competitors. (Thank you, Apple gods!) iTunes 8.0 is the best media player on the market, and I'm so freakin' happy, I can't describe the joy that's pulsing all over my body! (Steve Jobs, I love you!) Seriously, this new version is brilliant. It has some great new features that you have to see to understand, especially Genius, which offers you a cool way to create playlists & get music recommendations based on your current music library. You have to to get on your computer & check it out.

The only con amongst all the pros of iTunes 8.0 is its size. The program is quite large, so if you're using a slower system, it will run a little sluggish, especially for you PC users. On my Mac, the program is so freakin' flawless that it practically brings a tear to my eye when I see all the album art work looking so sleek. I've downloaded some TV shows & movies, and they also look fantastic.

JB

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Sarah Slean, and Martha Wainright

I was sitting here obsessing over my life and where it's going, and really needed some fresh new music to listen to. So, I popped onto iTunes to start searching. By the way, have I mentioned how much I love Apple and iTunes? I love iTunes because music is released on there almost 2 weeks before it hits store shelves. As soon as I started using iTunes (and we're talking way back when, long before any of my friends even knew about it), I could see how big it was going to get. I quickly told all of my friends to take my word for it, dump their old media players, and switch to iTunes.

Anyway... back to searching for music. First, I checked to see if the soundtrack to the new Woody Allen movie -- Vicky Cristina Barcelona -- was out. As always, iTunes does not disappoint, so quickly downloaded the music. If anyone gets a chance, go see the movie. It's one of the best movies that's come out this year. It's really a gem of a film, and the music is fantastic. I will post a little review of it at some point because it I can't get over how much it reflects my life to a "T" right now.

My next pick off iTunes was The Baroness by Sarah Slean. I really think that she is one of Canada's best singer-songwriters. She even has a book of poetry called Ravens, which you can purchase directly from her site (http://www.sarahslean.com/). I own it, and like to carry it around with me because I usually read one poem out of it every day. She is so talented. If you haven't already, check out her site. You will not be disappointed.

My last pick off iTunes was the latest from Martha Wainwright(http://www.marthawainwright.com/), another amazing Canadian singer-songwriter. The woman blows my mind. Her new CD is called I Know You're Married, But I Got Feelings Too. Talk about freakin' good! It's a must buy for anyone who loves good writing and good music.

Well, now that I have downloaded my music, I'm going to get lost in the voices of those two incredible Canadian women and, and let a beautiful soundtrack whisk me away to Barcelona.

Goodnight, sweet voices, good night.

JB

Love: Can It Be This Simple?

Imagine writing down a thirteen line song and getting it so right. Well, John Lennon did just that. I was listening to his Working Class Hero CD, and heard the song Love for the first time. It’s not that I've never listened to the CD before. I bought it on iTunes about a year ago. What I mean is that last night I really 'heard' that song. I always thought it was hard to describe love, but it isn’t that complicated after all. The lyrics (which I posted below) are simple, yet they express everything that I've been feeling, but could not put into words. "Love is needing to be loved" -- I wish that I would have figured this out myself.

JB

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Love

Love is real, real is love
Love is feeling, feeling love
Love is wanting to be loved

Love is touch, touch is love
Love is reaching, reaching love
Love is asking to be loved

Love is you,
You and me
Love is knowing
We can be

Love is free, free is love
Love is living, living love
Love is needing to be loved

Radiohead, Sleepless Nights, and Me!

I've been listening to Radiohead all morning. Well, since 5am. Couldn't sleep. Don't sleep much these days. I specifically chose the In Rainbows CD. It happens to be one of the best Radiohead CDs in my music collection. I bought the box set with the vinyl record, which is so awesome. The second CD is just as good. The songs that I love best are Nude, All I Need, and House of Cards. I think that Thom Yorke has an insight that most musicians dream of having. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great bands out there, but Radiohead really speaks to me. You don't have to be a fan, but everyone should take a listen to them at least once. I would start with In Rainbows, then Amnesiac, Kid A, OK Computer, and finish with Hail to the Thief. It would be a good musical experience. In fact, iTunes has finally introduced the whole Radiohead catalogue, including some rare British EPs, which is great. So, check them out on iTunes. It'll be worth the listen. While you're there, check out a Radiohead video with Thom Yorke on piano doing a rendition of the song Down Is the New Up (it's on the second CD in the In Rainbows release). Great song and video. There is also a video of him on YouTube doing an acoustic version of the song The Rip from the new Portishead CD called Third. They're another great band that shouldn't be overlooked. Both versions of the song are good. The video for The Rip by Portishead is so beautiful. Check it out on YouTube.

Meanwhile, I found the Radiohead lyrics to the three songs that I love from In Rainbows. Check them out below.

JB

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Nude

Don't get any big ideas,
They're not gonna happen
You paint yourself white
And feel up with noise
But there'll be something missing

Now that you've found it, it's gone,
Now that you feel it, you don't
You've gone off the rails

So don't get any big ideas
They're not going to happen
You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking

She stands stark naked and she beckons you to bed
Don't go, you'll only want to come back again


All I Need

I'm the next act
Waiting in the wings
I'm an animal
Trapped in your hot car
I am all the days that you choose to ignore

You are all I need
You are all I need
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds

I am a moth
Who just wants to share your light
I'm just an insect
Trying to get out of the night

I only stick with you
Because there are no others

You are all I need
You are all I need
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds

It's all wrong
It's all right
It's all wrong


House Of Cards

I don't want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover
No matter how it ends
No matter how it starts

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

Fall off the table
Get swept under
Denial, denial

The infrastructure will collapse
Voltage spikes
Throw your keys in the bowl
Kiss your husband goodnight

Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine
Forget about your house of cards
And I'll do mine

Fall off the table
And get swept under
Denial, denial
Denial, denial
Your ears should be burning
Denial, denial
Your ears should be burning
Denial, denial