Outsiders

Cover Me: “Chiquitita”.

Posted on August 23, 2010 by giovanealex

ABBA may be one of the most likeable music acts ever. Sinéad O’Connor is among the most controversial singers. Though they’re artists whose careers are separated by many years as well by their own behaviour, we can find them very close on their songs’ tunes, since their compositions and renditions are hugely based on emotions, be them happy or sad ones. So, it is no surprise to discover that the Irish composer and singer had made a cover of one of ABBA’s hits, “Chiquitita”.

yFeel the shiny and happy aura of the 60's! Well, Yeah, I know - not on this picture of them. But the guys are almost smiling (...almost)!

The original version of the song is quite beautiful already: starting with sorrowful guitar and piano harmonies, Anni-Fridi and Agnetha voices themselves are shown full of emotion, easily flowing from grief to joy without a hitch before the song melody becomes more intense with a really subtle feel of happiness added by drums and the piano and acoustic guitar harmonies themselves acquire that distinctive empowerment that leads to the song final trademark pulse.

ABBA – “Chiquitita” (from “Voulez-Vous” album)

She seems so peaceful that the irritating watermark they've put on the picture almost dissapears (...damn, almost!).

Sinéad’s version, released around 1998, does not change the original tune of the song, since it still relays on its pop mood, even starting with that emblematic guitar harmony. Maybe the most different feature here is the fact that it already starts with drums and a beat programing right after the guitar chords, besides adding a subtle DJ scratch to smartly point the famous “you’ll be dancing once again” verse. But, in my opinion, the best achievement of O’Connor’s version is the clearness present on the song’s lyrics: with Sinéad’s powerful and delicate voice, the song verses receive as much attention from the listener as the melody itself – they can be actually listened to, which is something that was somewhat eclipsed on the original version because of the wall of sound and overdubbing of vocals. Take a look for yourself and you will agree that on Sinéad’s voice, “Chiquitita” is quite an emotional improvement.

Sinéad O’Connor – “Chiquitita” (from “She Who Dwells…” double album)

WAIT!
The official video of Sinéad O’Connor version of “Chiquitita” is a must see – it transforms the song in a casual chat between two friends at a kitchen, in which Sinéad is the supportive and caring friend who is preparing coffee for the sad Chiquitita – simple and brilliant.

Posted in Music | Tagged abba, chiquitita, cover me, sinead oconnor, video | Leave a comment

Blast The Past with Justin Hartley!

Posted on July 30, 2010 by giovanealex

You know that young superman TV series (well, not so young nowadays)? I don’t. I have certainly watched some bits of it on TV but it has never been able to catch my attention. This, of course, does not mean I have never paid attention to the male casting – how wouldn’t I have felt shaken when I had “met” Jensen Ackles for the first time?
That said, let’s go straight to the point: Justin Hartley.

Justin Hartley on a boss chair: would you still find office work that boring if he was on command?

If this tv show has got to this point he is surely one of its main reasons because, man, he did not only has managed to renew people’s interest to the series with his performance as Green Arrow, that greek god makes people drool over the TV screen, flooding their entire house with an ocean of saliva. His beauty is so immensely perfect that if he had an inch more of handsomeness – let’s say, blue eyes – nobody would even notice. Why? Look to the guy. It would be completely unnecessary. Would blue eyes, instead of his sweet and seductive hazel ones, make any difference on his flawless face? Would it make his smile more beautiful? Would it increase the hotness of his incredible physique? It certainly wouldn’t. His beauty is already beyond measure and his manliness needs no additional accessories. He is even gorgeous whit that unmistakable “wake up face”. Take a look for yourself:

Justin Hartley, early morning version: I would never leave my bed if he were there.

I’m sure his lucky wife would agree that he is a complete turn on early in the morning. Yes, yes, he is married. You see, women are not that stupid – there are really smart ones out there. Oh, and he has a daughter. That gorgeous blond is already a daddy, what adds that special layer of sex appeal that makes men even more attractive to many guys – including me. So let’s make the math: he is impossibly handsome, he is a devoted husband and he is a loving father. Folks, Justin is a man in-a-box, ready to be unpackaged for your fun. Well, unfortunately, the “fun” here remains only on the virtual level for all of us – but fun, still…I’ll let your imagination work on that part.
And I’ll give some help with that: here it is, more than 230 photos of Justin Hartley for your downloading pleasures.

Posted in Hunks | Tagged actors, blast the past, galleries, justin hartley, male beauty, men, photo gallery, photos, studs | 1 Comment

Cover Me: “Space Oddity”.

Posted on June 20, 2010 by giovanealex

When people in the United Kingdom were watching the first steps of men on the Moon in 1969, the music which British television was playing on the background was a new rock tune, specially conceived to celebrate the event: David Bowie‘s “Space Oddity”. Though it is also interpreted as an allegory for drug usage, the song tells the story of Major Tom, who purposely abandons himself on space after feeling shattered by the beauty of the experience.

Think he's a bit strange? Well, you have to see what he wore on the cover of The Man Who Sold The World...

Bowie’s melody is based on sharp acoustic guitar, which softly gives it a raw sound, also reinforced by some saxophone notes and electric guitar riffs. But the song also floats with the sweetness and melancholy from the string arrangements and Bowie’s voice, whose singing starts on a very attentive tune and soon changes to fascination as the main character feels affected by that unique experience. The guitar riffs on bridge are possibly its most known melodic feature but I would say that besides that famous countdown on lyrics, it’s the anxiety effect craftily built by the reversion on string arrangements which makes the song so powerful.

David Bowie – “Space Oddity” (from Space Oddity single)

This image makes her seem sorta boring, but her songs are not like that - yeah, they are, sometimes.

On her show in New York in 1999 that was taped and later released as a her first solo live record, Natalie Merchant made a cover of this song that even resembling very much the rock flavour of Bowie’s version, has also its own identity since Natalie brought it closer to her stripped down folk-rock style. The major difference are surely its heavier use of guitar riffs and Natalie’s singing, which is warmer then Bowie’s and makes it fluctuate between subtlety and strongness.

Natalie Merchant – “Space Oddity” (from Live in Concert album)

I don't get the painting or her face and the I-wear-machinery-stuff but she is certainly not that crazy.

But it is not from an English-speaking musician that came the most heartwarming version of “Space Oditty”: It’s with her pop seasoned with electronic elements that French singer Emilie Simon accomplished the task. Emilie’s version fulfils Major Tom journey to his glorious death with delicate touches of sparkly sounds, subtle percussion, stunningly bright string arrangements and a comforting voice, even when she uses the full extent of it to improve the emotive features of Major Tom’s adventure, which is then converted to a fable – it’s a challenge not to cry listening to Emilie’s rendition to one of the most brilliant rock classics ever.

Emilie Simon – “Space Oddity” (from Bowiemania single)

Posted in Music | Tagged cover me, david bowie, emilie simon, natalie merchant, space oddity | Leave a comment

Cover Me: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”.

Posted on May 21, 2010 by giovanealex

After commenting “The Hunger” poster here, it came to my mind that the movie has also became famous for its opening scene, which portrays both Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie flirting with their victims on a night club while a band performs a very dark song. The band was Bauhaus and the song was “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, which is considered the cornerstone of Gothic Rock. Recently, French project Nouvelle Vague pointed its covers machine right towards this Bauhaus classic on their second album, along with several other eightish tracks.

Before saying your haircut is far better, remember that they have defined a music genre while you and me...well...we sport better haircuts.

In almost 10 minutes of its original version, Bauhaus fuels the song with a climatic intro, whose pace is given by a clack pulse and a macabre three-chord bass line (recoiling that famous synth which can be listened on the main theme of “The Shining” soundtrack) that builds the path to the growing guitar riffs, at first distorted and later organized on a traditional rock flavour, which then welcomes Peter Murphy stolid and subtly nasal voice and completing the intense sinister features of the song. Listening to it, I can’t think of other thing than playing this while I would impassively watch my worst enemy helplessly struggling to death on the floor. Kidding! No, I would not kill anyone, I would only watch their death, as any good and sane person would!

Bauhaus – “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (from “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” single)

It's not cold nor it's raining. We are French. That should be reason enough to wear cool overcoats.

Nouvelle Vague’s version is certainly less subtle than the original one, since it makes heavy use of cliché horror-movie sounds, like the steps of someone running and the dog barking-like synth that can be listened through the melody. Although the long organ chords which dub the original bass line work very as well to give this version its own identity as the electro-beat that shakes the song on its final half, it is the way the lyrics are sang by Phoebe Killdeer that makes it completely different from the original version: the French singer charges the verses with a luscious and sensual voice, almost as if she was really trying to seduce the listener only to have its blood drained to the last drop – it’s priceless.

Nouvelle Vague – “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (from Bande à Part)

Posted in Me thinks | Tagged bauhaus, bela lugosis dead, cover me, nouvelle vague | Leave a comment

Blast The Past with Braeden Baade!

Posted on May 9, 2010 by giovanealex

Braeden Baade, business version: I bet people fight to the death to be his secretary.

The only odd thing about fabulous Braeden Baade is his last name: it sure looks like as something expected to name someone from, let me see, India, maybe, but he looks nothing like a guy from the east. Instead, he is much more like a hugely improved version of Christian Bale with blazing blue eyes that could paralyse an army of mercenaries with one single gaze. But this would be only his first attack attempt on a battle. If he were a Mortal Kombat character I’m sure that his unbeatable fatality would be taking his clothes off to instantly kill the enemy, who would explode due to an unbearable wave of intense desire at the sight of his ripped physique. Or maybe he would have unmercifully killed them after they had run towards him to start licking his chest. Well, that’s certainly what I would do – lick him, I mean. If that was not enough to tease us, Braeden is also a versatile model. He can sport that mature and adult look of a virile and sexy businessman, as on the picture above, which could easily pass as a new Hugo Boss ad or easily embody that boyish, show-off fratitude that has the ability to irritate and seduce people on equal measure and at the same time, as you can see on the picture below. So, the guy possibly fits everyone’s taste, since there are those who may feel excited by a more manly guy while others would rather screw with a more youngish dude. I may say that I would do him on both versions. Why choose one feature only when you can have two for the price of one?