The artist known as MIKA is a British singer/songwriter, and until about a week ago, I had never heard of him. My bad.
His music strikes me as a ripe electronica fusion of Imogen Heap, Prince, and Elton John. Some really fun, interesting songs populate his latest album, "The Origin of Love."
"Grace Kelly" was his breakout hit from a few years ago hitting the #1 spot in the UK.
This particular piece of music is part of a larger work (Symphony #3) which is also known a "The Symphony of Sorrowful Songs." In this very unusual symphonic treatment, the composer weaves texts for a soprano soloist within the texture of an orchestra.
This movement uses as a text, an inscription on a cell wall in a Gestapo office in Zadopane, Poland during WWII:
No, Mother, do not weep, Most chaste Queen of Heaven Support me always. "Zdrowas Mario." (*) (*) "Zdrowas Mario" (Ave Maria)—the opening of the Polish prayer to the Holy Mother
Beneath this inscription is the signature of Helena Wanda Blazusiakówna, and the words "18 years old, imprisoned since 26 September 1944."
It is a beautiful, poigniant work. The whole symphony is amazing.
I have a confession to make - I have a huge crush on P!nk. (Please don't tell her husband Carey Hart. I would like to keep my face intact.)
Born Alecia Beth Moore, the singer better known as P!nk has been a fixture in the rock/pop scene for the last decade, known for her witty wordplay, female-empowering lyrics, and plain bad-ass rock stylings. She also trained as a gymnast, and stole the 2010 Grammy's while performing a mind-blowing aerial routine while singing "Glitter In The Air." She manages to marry drama and music in her performance and videos.
The latest album, The Truth About Love, is more great music. "Try" is one of the few songs she did not write herself, and the video is hypnotic, beautiful, disturbing, and powerful. What I think I like most about P!nk is that she is a musical artist with an emphasis on ART. She creates music with subject matter that elicits an emotional and intellectual response from the listener (and in this video, the viewer.)
(After a month-long hiatus to handle a number of life changes, I am happy to re-fix my gaze to SongSupper. Did you miss me?)
Jukebox The Ghost is a now-NYC based three-piece band (recently relocating from Philadelphia). They have just released their third album, Safe Travels. They have also released the accompanying commentary explaining a bit of background on the songs, which is now becoming more commonplace in the era of digital music launches. They show a remarkable depth of thought in their songs, reflected in the unusual juxtaposition of lyrics and music.
Generally speaking, I like Shania Twain. She is a remarkable musician and artist, and a lovely lady, and she knows how to ride horses while singing duets with Lionel Richie.
As wedding songs go, this is the one I have performed more frequently than any other. It is also one of the most codependent songs ever. (EVER.)
I live only for your happiness, and for your love I'd give my last breath... My dreams came true because of you... There is nothing I wouldn't give... Your the reason I believe in love... All we need is just the two of us...
Mix in the three ascending key changes and you have the makings of the music for a Lifetime Television movie, complete with tissues.
There are a big handful of excellent songwriters, an array of wonderful and talented singers, and a number of gifted poets; only very, very rarely do you find someone who is all three of these things. In my opinion, Ingrid Michaelson is one of those rare few.
What she does with this very classic song is something completely different, yet so much the same; she makes beautiful music by making the song completely her own, and treating it as if she was the first and last person to ever sing it. And if she were, many of us would die happy and satisfied that it couldn't be done better than this.
So I am searching for wedding music for an upcoming matrimony, and I thought this would be a great theme - wedding music!
This is actually a really lovely song, great text, and lovely sentiment. (Although it could get cheesy pretty quickly...)
Carpenter was one of a handful of folk artists that emerged in the 80's, and is one of the very few that achieved some level of recognition. Still active as a songwriter and performer, she released her latest album "Ashes and Roses" earlier this year.
