Treat

Remembering MJ

I was shocked when I heard about Michael Jackson's death yesterday. My husband and I reminisced about all the songs we could remember (there were so many of them). Later, I spoke with my brother and reminisced even more. Michael Jackson's music was the soundtrack to many of our childhood memories in the 80s.

I was a big Michael Jackson fan. I had a poster of the pink album cover on the left, and of course the original Thriller album. Can't deny the cultural influence Michael Jackson had on pop culture. It's also interesting to think that I started out listening to his music on vinyl, then a cassette tape on my Walkman; Later a CD and now, his music is in my iTunes, iPod, and iPhone.

I had to commemorate him.

Laura Izibor

As you know, music can influence the mood of design, so I'm always on the look out for what I can add to my iTunes to inspire my design. I heard about a new R&B artist from Ireland that I thought I'd share with you. I don't know how long she's been out, but her music is pretty sweet. Her name is Laura Izibor, and she'll be performing with India Arie in Chicago on Sunday, May 17 at the House of Blues. This YouTube video shows her singing From My Heart to Yours. Check her out.

Web site to check out: Tracy Chapman

I've never really been a big Tracy Chapman fan—sorry Tracy—but I'm a fan of her new website. I learned of the site through Communication Arts. 

I went to tracychapman.com and found myself coloring, and coloring longer than I expected. You will too! Smart marketing. Every place I colored on the web page, I could see Tracy Chapman's name, and I realized that I was repeating her name in my head the whole time I was coloring! The website was launched in connection with her new album Our Bright Future. Check it out!

Remember this for 2009

Little Things – India.Arie

Been around the whole world, still ain't seen
Nothin' like my neighborhood
And of all the fancy satin and silk
My white cotton feels so good

Searched high and low for a place
Where I can lay my burdens down
Ain't nothin' in the whole wide world
Like the peace that I have found

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring
(The little things) It's the little things
And joy they bring

As simple as a phone call just to make it known
That you're gonna be a little late
Pure as a kiss on a cheek in a word
That everything will be okay

Call in the mornin' from my little sister
Singin' to me, "Happy Birthday"
In the quest for fortune and fame
Don't forget about the simple things

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring, yeah
(The little things) It's the little things
And joy

Give me some good food, give me cute shoes
Give me some piece of mind
Bring me some sunshine, bring me some blue sky

Runnin' 'round in circles, lost my focus
Lost sight of my goal
I do this for the love of music
Not for the glitter and gold

Got everything that I pray for
Even a little more
When I ask to learn humility
This is what I was told

(It's the little things) It's the little things
And the joy they bring, it's the little things
(The little things) It's the little things
Oh...hee...

Give me my guitar, give me a bright star
Give me some good news, give me some cute shoes
Give me Atlanta, give me Savannah
give me my peace of mind

Give me some Stevie, give me some Donny
Give me my daddy, give me my mommy
Pour me some sweet tea, spoonful of honey
I don't need no Hollywood

Brilliant album cover—"Fast Asleep" by Funki Porcini

My boss passed along this brilliant album cover—"Fast Asleep" by Funki Porcini. Try not to read the text below the image until you have viewed it carefully.

Notice the words Funki Porcini, Fast Asleep using audio equipment?

Amel Larrieux background

I love hearing the background of how an artist finds their artistic niche. Here's a Youtube video interview of Amel Larrieux's background and how and why her style is uniquely hers.

Back in the Day...

I recently moved, so I've been eating out more than usual. After going to the grocery store for the first time in a while, I was astounded to see how much groceries had gone up since the last time I had been to the grocery store (Yeah, it's been a few weeks). All I could do was just shake my head after looking at the price of each grocery item I needed to buy. The video below is of a song that speaks to what's going on =). It's one of the best written songs of all time. The words were true then, and they're true now. Great imagery with this video as well. Check it out.

Still shots of Viva la Vida

After seeing the iTunes ad for Viva la Vida by Coldplay, I've been hooked! The song is really catchy! I love how the video works with the music! I was curious to see how it would look as still shots. Still beautiful! It's still magical, but the video really captures the energy of the song. If you haven't seen the ad or heard Viva la Vida, check it out on Apple's website or iTunes. Right now you can find it under iTunes' top songs (I'm waiting a bit so that I can get this video). I'll have to make it a part of my design inspiration collection.

Neo-Soul Artist: Sy Smith

I just discovered a neo-soul artist that I thought I would share with you. Her name is Sy Smith, and she has a nice sound. I particularly like her song The Art of You. Her style is a little bit of jazz, a little funk, soul, and a little bit of an ambient sound. I collected these photos of her and was amazed on how she transforms herself! She looks like a different person in each photo! Also check our her MySpace page and a get of taste of her music by clicking here.

Tragic news for one of my favorite music stars

I don't usually like to post depressing news on my blog, but if you read this blog regularly, you probably know that I'm a big Corinne Bailey Rae fan. I just wanted to let you know that unfortunately, Jason Rae, her husband, was found dead Saturday in an apartment in Leeds, England. Read more at MTV.com. You can also read more from CNN.

Thriller: 25th Anniversary album

Wow!!! It's been 25 years since Michael Jackson's Thriller came out! Wow!!.....I remember on my birthday, some 23 years ago, my uncle gave me this album for my birthday; It was my very first. I was so excited! One, because it was mine; Two, it was not just any album, it was Thriller! Were any of you MJ fans? I had Michael Jackson posters, sunglasses, t-shirts—I wanted the jacket with all the zippers, but Mom and Dad weren't going for that.
     Anyway, it saddens me that Michael Jackson's personal development wasn't stronger; however, who can deny the genius of his work? Now that I'm older, with a better ear for quality music, I've listened to some of his songs and realized the sound and quality of his music is so crisp—even on an album. It's rare that we hear such phenomenal quality. Now, twenty-five years later, Michael Jackson's Thriller album—the 25th anniversary version will be in stores today. The album features Fergie, will.i.am, Akon, and Kanye West.

A Tribute to Billie Holiday, an American Icon

If you don't know the voice of Billie Holiday, then I hope that this introduction moves you to be entranced by the beauty of her voice. A bit jazz, a bit blues—her voice is warm, gutsy, and raw, yet her tone is soothing. Sometimes I like to listen to her when I want to mellow out.
     Billie Holiday—born Eleanora Fagan—is considered one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. She was born in 1915 in Baltimore, Maryland where she grew up in very poor conditions. Read more about her life by clicking here.
     This is great inspiration for a 1920s–1930s design. Put on a little Billie (also referred as Lady Day), and you'll be transported to another time.

Here is Billie Holiday singing God Bless the Child.

This is Billie Holiday with Louis Armstrong singing Farewell to Storyville from the film by Arthur Lubins, New Orleans.

Wayna

Check out the soulful vibes of recording artist Wayna. She sounds a bit like Jill Scott and Billie Holiday. What do you think?

Trace magazine

Trace magazine focuses on transcultural styles and ideas through music, fashion, film, art, and politics. It was established in London in 1996 then moved to New York just two years later. See the cover of the current and past issues below. Click here to check out the Trace magazine blog.

A Meeting of Minds: Bach, this is Hip Hop. Hip Hop, this is Bach

With the influx of negative hip hop and rap lyrics that have invaded the music scene, it has been more of a challenge to take note and celebrate black artists who offer another perspective on music. There's so much creativity out there that remains to be praised. In June, I wrote a post about a talented jazz violinist named Regina Carter. Well, meet DBR (Daniel Bernard Roumain), another talented violinist who is known as "the hip hop" violinist.

Images taken from dbrmusic.com.

DBR & THE MISSION—Bach Meets Hip-Hop in Las Vegas 2006