Wednesday 24 February 2010
Lady Gaga - The Saviour of the Music Industry?
In a week that witnessed another money making Valentines Day pass and the National History Museum over run by children as they passed through the dinosaur doors during half term, musically the world went a bit gaga.
Yes, the reference was intentional, the newly crowned lady of pop swept up at the Brits, winning the magic number in awards for her new album, 'The Fame', her international female status and her skill at internationally breaking through. Dressed in a magical lace number she dedicated her achievements to the late Lee McQueen, a fitting outcome to the rebel designer from one of the most rebellious style icons of our present day.
But rather than focusing on her fashion let us ponder upon her music and why it has made her such an award winner, an inescapable menace. Her debut album hit stores last January and features 4 top 10 US singles, the catchy rhythms and absurd lyrics have made her songs firm favourites across all sorts of dance-floors, from rock clubs to funky house clubs. Helped partly through both her alternative lifestyle and speculation and her perfect pop sounds. Gaga is the all - round package and as annoyingly as it is for some, her music is impossible to escape. Even indie/alternative magazine NME have failed to escape her grasp and they are now self-professed fans of the lady. It would seem her lifestyle and the rumours surrounding her have made her music more manageable and more 'credible'. She is opinionated and a little wacky and everyone is waiting to see what her next move will be, she is exciting and people love to hate her but in the process find themselves falling totally head over for the Gaga.
It is refreshing to see an act with such independence and such a rebellious streak to do so well. And, also, perhaps even more refreshing, that a record company is willing to financially support and risk their good name on such an unpredictable act. The imprint Lady Gaga is leaving upon the industry seems to be a step in the right direction, as sales are dropping and indie music is becoming 'landfill'. It's about time the music biz lived up to its radical reputation and became more rock n roll rather than the stale mundaneness it is fast becoming, thanks partly to the ever-growing Cowell Empire, I’m sure.
I’m not saying however that Lady Gaga is our saviour - no not at all - but more acts such as her are needed to give popular music its vibe back, and in a common danceable way for all.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Ellie Goulding 'Changed my LIfe'
Welcome to A Spoonful of Music, this is the first official blog and i have been pondering what to talk about and i thought why not make it about my favourite artist of the moment, Ellie Goulding. So i have probably just lost half of my readership by lacking originality, but i have jumped on no bandwagon. Yes, she may have topped one too many 'lists' in 2010 but back in August of 2009 Ellie was a firm favourite in my DJ sets. She broke onto my ipod with her version of sleepy head by passion pit and since then, her electro-fied folk voice has changed my life (pardon the cheese).
Her lyrics are crammed with heartbreak and optimism all at the same time, and the sounds in her vocals, produced by Starsmith leave you dumbfounded. In my opinion Guns and Horses is one of her best tracks but newly regenerated 'Starry Eyed' is worth a listen, as well as the 'She is Danger' remix of 'Under the Sheets' which gives a sense of Portishead, 'Dummy' times.
Without the lists Ellie Goulding is going to be a big hit this year when her album hits the shops on March the 22nd.
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