“I was born to try. I’ve learned to love. Be understanding. And believe in life.”
Nice words. But, perhaps surprisingly, not mine. Yes, I was born. And I do try. I’m yet to understand what love is and I’m one of the most unsympathetic people you’ll ever meet. I guess I believe in life though. So it’s partly true for me.
Anyway, these are the words from Delta Goodrem’s first hit single: Born To Try. Her route to fame was one that I admired, quite simply because it involved Neighbours. And I love Neighbours. A bit too much sometimes. Delta played the character of Nina Tucker for a while before leaving to make the classic move to music.
As with all Neighbours stars who opt to go down this path, Delta was met with a bit of criticism. However her talent made them think twice and she’s shown that you can have a genuine music career off the back of the Aussie soap.
The next song on the album was to be another success. Innocent Eyes continued to show the vocal range of Delta’s voice with longgggggg notes being held out for some time.
Not Me, Not I begins with some soft opening vocals and continues in a similar vain. Similarly, Throw It Away begins in a voice that’s anything but harsh, before it gains power in the chorus. One thing I must say about this track is that it features the cliché ‘bull in a china shop’. Not the most original or imaginative, is it really?!
I enjoy the opening verse in Lost Without You. The chorus fails to offend me either. So that makes for a likeable record. I don’t love it. I like it. You see, for some reason my like of Delta’s music doesn’t extend to my love of most female Australian Singer-Songwriters. I’m not sure why. Logically, I should like her more because of the Neighbours connection. But I don’t find myself infatuated by her voice in the same way I do to the likes of Missy. To be honest, I think I probably find her songs too happy for my taste. Ever the ‘half-full cup’, I like songs with a few heavier lyrics.
Predictable, Butterfly and In My Own Time each carry a tune well. And I can’t fault the vocal performances of any of them. I am particularly fond of the latter for the use of Delta’s voice. And for it’s slightly pessimistic tone. She’s still not negative. Just not 100% positive. Which, in my books, makes for an enjoyable song.
The lyrics to My Big Mistake are quite lovely. Back in the day when this album was a regular on my CD walkman I can recollect singing aloud to it. A lot. Very out of tune.
I equally love This Is Not Me for it’s simple chorus lyrics which are dispersed between beautiful narratives in the verses.
Running Away is probably my least favourite track. The verses are pleasant, but the chorus does less to endear me. I can’t pinpoint the reasons why. I’m just not wowed by it. In contrast, Year Ago Today, is truly endearing. I love the personal tone to the verses and the slow tempo of the song.
Drawing to a close with Longer, then finally Will You Fall For Me the album remains likeable. Born To Try, Innocent Eyes and Year Ago Today are the stand out tracks for me but that’s not saying the whole album isn’t deserving of a listen. Even if only to remind you of Nina Tucker’s bursts of song in Neighbours.
A great voice. Good songs. I reckon the second album was where the songs became equally great.
Check out her tweets here.
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning
Wow. This isn’t your average BBC3 documentary.
I was doing my normal ‘I probably should be doing something productive so why don’t I see what’s on iPlayer’ browse today and came across this programme. I’m not a huge Girls Aloud fan, nor am I a lover of fake tan, which is why it’s taken me until today to decide to watch this. But I’m glad I did.
Nicola Roberts is my new favourite member of Girls Aloud. I say “new”. I’ve never had a favourite member of Girls Aloud. Therefore she is the only one I’ve ever liked. We even have something in common. And no, before you ask, it’s not our shared outstanding vocal talents. We are both pale. Very pale.
Back when the band first took off after all that reality TV malarkey, Nicola came under pressure to tan. And tan. And tan some more. Being thrown into the limelight at such a young age was always going to come with it’s negatives and for Nicola this was clearly something that she was greatly influenced by. Whilst she says in the programme that her main weakness was products from a bottle, the documentary sees how far things have developed in the short period of time since Nicola gave up the tanning.
No longer do people pop down to Superdrug for the latest fake tan in a bottle. Nowadays the most common choice is to use a tanning machine. With harmful UV rays being shot onto your skin it amazes me that people love these machines. Nicola looks at salons across the country and uncovers the complete lack of regulations regarding their usage. Sure, there are ‘guidelines’. But no laws. And without laws, there’s no guaranteeing that a 8 year old couldn’t walk in and become a victim of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the main worry highlighter by Nicola. Altering the pigments in your skin can result in irregularities in the amount of melanoma in your skin, which can be fatal. Following Nicola as she supports a campaign to promote the issue, you see girls of all ages with irregular moles that often need further medical attention.
As well as looking at the problem on a nationwide scale, individual cases are looked at on a personal level. Tom, a young welsh guy declares that at the age of 18 he “came out of the closet and straight onto a sunbed”. Now in his mid-twenties, the damage he’s done to his skin could be irreversible. And he hasn’t stopped at sunbeds. He also has started using a new injection that’s illegal to buy in the country and has yet to been proven to be safe. This worries Nicola and, as such, he agrees to go clean of all forms of tanning for one month.
Megan, a 20 year old dancer from Liverpool, has used sunbeds regularly since the age of 16. Nicola takes her to visit a woman who was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in the hope she’ll see why it’s so damaging. Later she visits a dermatologist who takes photos of her skin showing her the real damage the UV is doing beyond what is visible to the human eye.
After a month of being ‘clean’ from tanning, both Tom and Megan are treated to a makeover and photoshoot in the hope that they’ll see their true natural beauty. Whilst Megan seems to genuinely be converted to a life less orange, Tom seems less convinced.
Other individual cases prove to be even more traumatic. Nicola goes to see a woman in hospital as she has cancerous cells removed and a visit to a mother whose daughter died from skin cancer proves to be extremely sad. It’s not just the individual whose life can be affected. The desire to look ‘cool’ can lead to a family struggling to cope with the heartbreak of losing a loved one.
Having seen the devastation and destruction that tanning can do, I can be certain that I’ll never go on a tanning bed, or try out a ghastly tanning injection. I’d rather my skin be ghostly over ghastly anyday.
Watch it.
I was doing my normal ‘I probably should be doing something productive so why don’t I see what’s on iPlayer’ browse today and came across this programme. I’m not a huge Girls Aloud fan, nor am I a lover of fake tan, which is why it’s taken me until today to decide to watch this. But I’m glad I did.
Nicola Roberts is my new favourite member of Girls Aloud. I say “new”. I’ve never had a favourite member of Girls Aloud. Therefore she is the only one I’ve ever liked. We even have something in common. And no, before you ask, it’s not our shared outstanding vocal talents. We are both pale. Very pale.
Back when the band first took off after all that reality TV malarkey, Nicola came under pressure to tan. And tan. And tan some more. Being thrown into the limelight at such a young age was always going to come with it’s negatives and for Nicola this was clearly something that she was greatly influenced by. Whilst she says in the programme that her main weakness was products from a bottle, the documentary sees how far things have developed in the short period of time since Nicola gave up the tanning.
No longer do people pop down to Superdrug for the latest fake tan in a bottle. Nowadays the most common choice is to use a tanning machine. With harmful UV rays being shot onto your skin it amazes me that people love these machines. Nicola looks at salons across the country and uncovers the complete lack of regulations regarding their usage. Sure, there are ‘guidelines’. But no laws. And without laws, there’s no guaranteeing that a 8 year old couldn’t walk in and become a victim of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the main worry highlighter by Nicola. Altering the pigments in your skin can result in irregularities in the amount of melanoma in your skin, which can be fatal. Following Nicola as she supports a campaign to promote the issue, you see girls of all ages with irregular moles that often need further medical attention.
As well as looking at the problem on a nationwide scale, individual cases are looked at on a personal level. Tom, a young welsh guy declares that at the age of 18 he “came out of the closet and straight onto a sunbed”. Now in his mid-twenties, the damage he’s done to his skin could be irreversible. And he hasn’t stopped at sunbeds. He also has started using a new injection that’s illegal to buy in the country and has yet to been proven to be safe. This worries Nicola and, as such, he agrees to go clean of all forms of tanning for one month.
Megan, a 20 year old dancer from Liverpool, has used sunbeds regularly since the age of 16. Nicola takes her to visit a woman who was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in the hope she’ll see why it’s so damaging. Later she visits a dermatologist who takes photos of her skin showing her the real damage the UV is doing beyond what is visible to the human eye.
After a month of being ‘clean’ from tanning, both Tom and Megan are treated to a makeover and photoshoot in the hope that they’ll see their true natural beauty. Whilst Megan seems to genuinely be converted to a life less orange, Tom seems less convinced.
Other individual cases prove to be even more traumatic. Nicola goes to see a woman in hospital as she has cancerous cells removed and a visit to a mother whose daughter died from skin cancer proves to be extremely sad. It’s not just the individual whose life can be affected. The desire to look ‘cool’ can lead to a family struggling to cope with the heartbreak of losing a loved one.
Having seen the devastation and destruction that tanning can do, I can be certain that I’ll never go on a tanning bed, or try out a ghastly tanning injection. I’d rather my skin be ghostly over ghastly anyday.
Watch it.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Beth Rowley - Little Dreamer
I’ve seen Beth Rowley perform live twice. The first time was on that memorable evening when I saw Nerina Pallot at The Clapham Grand. Beth was one of the many other artists being showcased that night and one of the few who I took particular notice of. And the second time? Well that was something a little more holy. It was in a church. In Piccadilly. Perhaps you might think this to be a strange setting, but the acoustics were so perfect for her voice that it sent shivers down my spine. You could even go so far as to say it was sublime. So sublime.
So Sublime is one of the stand out tracks on Little Dreamer. It’s got a bit more of a pop music rhythm to it. Her voice really does shine through in the chorus. If I remember correctly, Beth didn’t perform this song in the church. I honestly can’t remember far enough back as to whether it made an appearance at Clapham, but I can say that I’d rather like to hear this live.
Nobody’s Fault But Mine and Sweet Hours each see Beth’s voice being used beautifully. They vary in tempos and moods but I can’t say I prefer one to the other. The versatility of her voice means that it’s suited to a variety of songs.
I’ll admit that I Shall Be Released, Only One Cloud, When The Rains Came and Oh My Life don’t stand out massively to me. Out of the four I’d pick When The Rains Came as my favourite but, particularly in the case of Oh My Life I find myself a little bit indifferent.
Angel Flying To Close To The Ground sees Beth’s voice joined by some male vocals to create a haunting song. Perhaps it’s the mention of angels, along with the sounds of what appears to be a harp, that make the song so heavenly.
This brings me to my favourite track on the album; Almost Persuaded is rather soulful. Beth’s voice is accompanied by the piano to show off it’s true abilities. In fact, there’s rarely any instruments used to distract you from Beth’s vocals. They are the main attraction. Occasionally they are supported with backing vocals that sound almost choral, but they can carry a note so well unaccompanied that they needn’t be added to.
Similarly, I love the vocals on You Never Called Me Tonight. Telling the story of waiting for a promised phone call when you really should have been doing more with your evening, Beth is able to make this mundane issue far more exciting.
Beautiful Tomorrow shows Beth’s voice in a rather different way to the rest of the album. It sounds as though it should be being played in a cowboy western film with the guitar being strummed in the background.
The final song on the album, is a cover of the classic Be My Baby. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t know it was a cover at first (shoot me now). But even before I was made aware of this, I had already decided that this was my least favourite song on the album. It just doesn’t carry the vocals in the same way as others do.
This is an album that I'd happily recommend to fans of more female singer songwriters. It sounds un-manufactured and uses minimal effects to create the maximum outcome.
So Sublime is one of the stand out tracks on Little Dreamer. It’s got a bit more of a pop music rhythm to it. Her voice really does shine through in the chorus. If I remember correctly, Beth didn’t perform this song in the church. I honestly can’t remember far enough back as to whether it made an appearance at Clapham, but I can say that I’d rather like to hear this live.
Nobody’s Fault But Mine and Sweet Hours each see Beth’s voice being used beautifully. They vary in tempos and moods but I can’t say I prefer one to the other. The versatility of her voice means that it’s suited to a variety of songs.
I’ll admit that I Shall Be Released, Only One Cloud, When The Rains Came and Oh My Life don’t stand out massively to me. Out of the four I’d pick When The Rains Came as my favourite but, particularly in the case of Oh My Life I find myself a little bit indifferent.
Angel Flying To Close To The Ground sees Beth’s voice joined by some male vocals to create a haunting song. Perhaps it’s the mention of angels, along with the sounds of what appears to be a harp, that make the song so heavenly.
This brings me to my favourite track on the album; Almost Persuaded is rather soulful. Beth’s voice is accompanied by the piano to show off it’s true abilities. In fact, there’s rarely any instruments used to distract you from Beth’s vocals. They are the main attraction. Occasionally they are supported with backing vocals that sound almost choral, but they can carry a note so well unaccompanied that they needn’t be added to.
Similarly, I love the vocals on You Never Called Me Tonight. Telling the story of waiting for a promised phone call when you really should have been doing more with your evening, Beth is able to make this mundane issue far more exciting.
Beautiful Tomorrow shows Beth’s voice in a rather different way to the rest of the album. It sounds as though it should be being played in a cowboy western film with the guitar being strummed in the background.
The final song on the album, is a cover of the classic Be My Baby. I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t know it was a cover at first (shoot me now). But even before I was made aware of this, I had already decided that this was my least favourite song on the album. It just doesn’t carry the vocals in the same way as others do.
This is an album that I'd happily recommend to fans of more female singer songwriters. It sounds un-manufactured and uses minimal effects to create the maximum outcome.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Joey Ryan - The California EP
As today is Joey Ryan’s birthday. I thought it was about time I reviewed some of his lovely songs. Not heard of him? Well, he sang in the old Hollyoaks adverts. You know, “I went up the mountain to drink from the fountain”. That Extra chewing gum ad, where they rolled down hills? Yes? That was his voice singing. Anyway, that’s not on the CD that I’m reviewing today.
“California, California; Know I love you California”. It appears that Joey Ryan is rather fond of this American State. The California EP is a four track release with California being the opener. If the Californian tourist board are getting a bit fed up of good ol’ Schwarzenegger promoting their fine state, then they should really look to Ryan to use this track in an advert. It makes me want to go there. A lot. He sings of individual cities (San Fran and LA) and enchants you with his vocals.
In contrast, Like A Cloak isn’t such a happy ditty. Not the most sombre on the CD, that’s up next. In fact, I guess it is a happy song when you listen to the lyrics. Lots of similes describing a love that is like no other... apparently. Very acoustic guitar – which I like. And soft vocals – which suit the song.
The stand out song though has to be Giant Clock. Written when Ryan proclaims he was a little depressed, it tells the sorry story of a boy whose father has died. It’s a beautiful story that could quite easily bring you to tears. Focusing on the smaller picture, it revolves around the question of “If I go, who will coach my son’s baseball team?”. There’s no denying that this song is full of emotion. Long breaks within the vocals allow for the guitar music to be the background music to your thoughts. Contemplating your own relationship with your father, you’re made to treasure every moment as Ryan returns to the chorus full of rhetorical questions.
Completing the album is the short track Ride Of Our Lives. Personally, I think it’s the weakest on the CD, but that’s because the competition is pretty strong. The vocals are rather quiet and hence lead to the song fading from your memory after casual listening. Ryan’s got sweet vocals. They aren’t mindblowing by any means. But they make you smile.
And any song that makes me smile is a good song in my books.
“California, California; Know I love you California”. It appears that Joey Ryan is rather fond of this American State. The California EP is a four track release with California being the opener. If the Californian tourist board are getting a bit fed up of good ol’ Schwarzenegger promoting their fine state, then they should really look to Ryan to use this track in an advert. It makes me want to go there. A lot. He sings of individual cities (San Fran and LA) and enchants you with his vocals.
In contrast, Like A Cloak isn’t such a happy ditty. Not the most sombre on the CD, that’s up next. In fact, I guess it is a happy song when you listen to the lyrics. Lots of similes describing a love that is like no other... apparently. Very acoustic guitar – which I like. And soft vocals – which suit the song.
The stand out song though has to be Giant Clock. Written when Ryan proclaims he was a little depressed, it tells the sorry story of a boy whose father has died. It’s a beautiful story that could quite easily bring you to tears. Focusing on the smaller picture, it revolves around the question of “If I go, who will coach my son’s baseball team?”. There’s no denying that this song is full of emotion. Long breaks within the vocals allow for the guitar music to be the background music to your thoughts. Contemplating your own relationship with your father, you’re made to treasure every moment as Ryan returns to the chorus full of rhetorical questions.
Completing the album is the short track Ride Of Our Lives. Personally, I think it’s the weakest on the CD, but that’s because the competition is pretty strong. The vocals are rather quiet and hence lead to the song fading from your memory after casual listening. Ryan’s got sweet vocals. They aren’t mindblowing by any means. But they make you smile.
And any song that makes me smile is a good song in my books.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Pete Murray - See The Sun
Pete Murray has written and sung three albums, been on numerous tours and had several hits in Australia. Yet over here he’s most likely to be found in a tiny venue in Soho rather than in an arena. That’s not to say he’s not popular here. He’s managed to sell out Brixton Academy before. Yet last year his three performances at The Borderline near Tottenham Court Road tube station were watched by just a small number of his fans. Fans that included me. On all three nights. At this stage you should probably have worked out that this is going to be yet another biased review. And it is. Because See The Sun is possibly the most inspiring album I own.
Opportunity is the most uplifting song I’ve ever heard. It might not have the quickest beat. It might not have a sickeningly catchy chorus. It might not even have been heard of over here. But I love it. “Your coffee’s warm but your milk is sour/life is short but you’re here to flower” is just one of the lines that’s been crafted into the verses to make you reflect on your own life and encourage you to make the most of it. It’s also the verse that Brett Wood, Pete’s guitarist, made his own at The Borderline gigs. He made it different. Not better. It was equally brilliant vocally; it just changed the song a bit and allowed for a different version to greet my ears.
The chorus sings of the chances you get to escape your boring routine, and how, if you don’t take those chances, they’ll just fade away. The principle of the song is so simple but it’s just something that you never really hear in the right way to inspire change. Ultimately, it was this one song, perhaps combined with Better Days and a bit of self confidence/motivation that caused me to change my attitude to life and become an altogether happier person.
The aforementioned Better Days carries a similar message. Once again, Pete sings to encourage you. Lyrically, the song speaks sense. We all have our bad days. So why not think about the good times and how we’ll get through the tougher times to have some more favourable memories.
Class A, Trust, This Pill and Remedy all show off Pete’s guitar playing ability. Pete doesn’t just write good songs. He also sings good songs. And, wow, he can also play good songs. Back in 2006, he performed a duet with my other favourite guitarist, John Mayer, at the ARIA’s. It was something special and I wholeheartedly recommend you take a look at here.
In George’s Helper a herd of trumpets suddenly appear and lead into some soft vocals from Pete. They become harsher and louder as the song progresses but return to fade out at the end, creating an almost cyclical structure to the song. Pete’s soft vocals can also be found in Lost Soul when he, once again, sings of optimism. I’m not sure what had been going on in his life when this album was written, but he seems to be rather reflective and wanting to encourage others to be positively reflective on their own lives.
Any song titled Smile has to make your mouth twinge to justify it being given that name. Admittedly, the sound of Pete’s voice immediately brightens my day so it’s not much of a task. Yet I believe that even you, yes you, could find yourself smiling at something that’s cheered you up previously. This album couldn’t be depressing if you wanted it to be. Contrast it to my other favourite album at the time I listened to it, Missy Higgins’ The Sound of White and it’s pretty clear to see that the latter has a rather darker mood to it.
A song written about a girl. A song written about hope. A song written about dreams. All of these topics have been amalgamated to construct Fly With You. It’s not truly heartfelt by any means. But it’s been constructed carefully enough to make a pleasant listening experience. The chorus is not as strong as the verses, but in the last choruses Pete’s voice is allowed to shine through holding notes for a while to show it off.
Security is also about a possible love. It’s got some cute lyrics that make you wish it was written about you. But it’s not. It’s yet another song about a failed relationship.
The title track, See The Sun is sung in a slightly drained voice. Pete sounds emotionally drained and that just adds to the character of the song. The chorus has some words that aren’t always totally comprehendible if you are just casually listening to it. This song, along with the entire album, deserves attention. And when you give it that attention, it becomes something beautiful. Each song has been written to evoke you. You might be wanting to cry on the inside, but Pete knows how to lift your spirits and direct you to a much brighter future.
Opportunity is the most uplifting song I’ve ever heard. It might not have the quickest beat. It might not have a sickeningly catchy chorus. It might not even have been heard of over here. But I love it. “Your coffee’s warm but your milk is sour/life is short but you’re here to flower” is just one of the lines that’s been crafted into the verses to make you reflect on your own life and encourage you to make the most of it. It’s also the verse that Brett Wood, Pete’s guitarist, made his own at The Borderline gigs. He made it different. Not better. It was equally brilliant vocally; it just changed the song a bit and allowed for a different version to greet my ears.
The chorus sings of the chances you get to escape your boring routine, and how, if you don’t take those chances, they’ll just fade away. The principle of the song is so simple but it’s just something that you never really hear in the right way to inspire change. Ultimately, it was this one song, perhaps combined with Better Days and a bit of self confidence/motivation that caused me to change my attitude to life and become an altogether happier person.
The aforementioned Better Days carries a similar message. Once again, Pete sings to encourage you. Lyrically, the song speaks sense. We all have our bad days. So why not think about the good times and how we’ll get through the tougher times to have some more favourable memories.
Class A, Trust, This Pill and Remedy all show off Pete’s guitar playing ability. Pete doesn’t just write good songs. He also sings good songs. And, wow, he can also play good songs. Back in 2006, he performed a duet with my other favourite guitarist, John Mayer, at the ARIA’s. It was something special and I wholeheartedly recommend you take a look at here.
In George’s Helper a herd of trumpets suddenly appear and lead into some soft vocals from Pete. They become harsher and louder as the song progresses but return to fade out at the end, creating an almost cyclical structure to the song. Pete’s soft vocals can also be found in Lost Soul when he, once again, sings of optimism. I’m not sure what had been going on in his life when this album was written, but he seems to be rather reflective and wanting to encourage others to be positively reflective on their own lives.
Any song titled Smile has to make your mouth twinge to justify it being given that name. Admittedly, the sound of Pete’s voice immediately brightens my day so it’s not much of a task. Yet I believe that even you, yes you, could find yourself smiling at something that’s cheered you up previously. This album couldn’t be depressing if you wanted it to be. Contrast it to my other favourite album at the time I listened to it, Missy Higgins’ The Sound of White and it’s pretty clear to see that the latter has a rather darker mood to it.
A song written about a girl. A song written about hope. A song written about dreams. All of these topics have been amalgamated to construct Fly With You. It’s not truly heartfelt by any means. But it’s been constructed carefully enough to make a pleasant listening experience. The chorus is not as strong as the verses, but in the last choruses Pete’s voice is allowed to shine through holding notes for a while to show it off.
Security is also about a possible love. It’s got some cute lyrics that make you wish it was written about you. But it’s not. It’s yet another song about a failed relationship.
The title track, See The Sun is sung in a slightly drained voice. Pete sounds emotionally drained and that just adds to the character of the song. The chorus has some words that aren’t always totally comprehendible if you are just casually listening to it. This song, along with the entire album, deserves attention. And when you give it that attention, it becomes something beautiful. Each song has been written to evoke you. You might be wanting to cry on the inside, but Pete knows how to lift your spirits and direct you to a much brighter future.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Missy Higgins - The Missy Higgins EP
DISCLAIMER: Before I begin any of my reviews of Missy I feel I need to point out that I quite genuinely adore her music. She is the reason that music became such a big part of my life. Her lyrics inspired me at times when my life lacked inspiration and I really do love every song she’s ever written. Hence, you are unlikely to get any form of a balanced or unbiased review from me. Missy’s music is one of those Marmite-esque things that you either love or hate. For me it’s 100% the former, but I’m aware that my view isn’t shared by all and you’re more than welcome to respond with moans about her “boring” voice or “depressing” lyrics. I think she’s utterly amazing. End of.
I could quite happily write an essay about every one of the ninety six songs by Missy Higgins on my iTunes. I’m not going to. But I could. Each burst of her voice enchants me. Her lyrics leave me simultaneously astounded and engrossed. The sound of the piano chords that she effortlessly plays makes me want to learn an instrument.
If you know me personally, then you’ll be more than aware of my love for Missy’s music. You should also know how disappointed I am to have never seen her play live. She’s not visited the UK since 2006, back when my super-fandom was only in it’s youth. Alas, I was on holiday for her London dates and wasn’t yet desperate enough to travel the country to see her. This is no longer the case. I would now travel anywhere in Europe to see her sing. Anywhere. With the temptation to fly to America just for one gig becoming ever more tempting. However, let’s go back to before 2006. Before I had even heard of her. Back in 2003, Missy released her first EP.
The Missy Higgins EP begins with Greed For Your Love. Bursts of Missy’s powerful voice are intertwined with verses full of metaphors screaming of heartache. It is a track, quite simply, about wanting to be loved. Clichéd? Maybe. But you need to realise that Missy was still young when she started out.
In fact, All For Believing was written when Missy was just fifteen. Winning the Triple J Unearthed radio competition in 2001, Missy then took a year out backpacking around Europe before returning to her music. The song commences with haunting vocals accompanied with some piano playing. Lyrics are sung with such honesty that make it clear why it was awarded the radio prize.
Missy’s voice is immediately prominant in Falling. It has a power that can overwhelm you without sounding forced. “Don’t say/What you’re about to say” are the opening lyrics. The use of the second person enhances the song, making you feel as though it’s being sung to you. Missy’s music is personal. You can connect with lyrics and often find yourself completely empathising with the words that float from Missy’s mouth.
The Special Two is one of the heavier songs written by Missy. She sings of childhood dreams being destroyed. Yet all hope is not lost as the chorus tells of there being someone else who will always be there to hold your hand throughout life. Not scared of being too deep in her lyrics, The Special Two poses philosophical questions. Asking “Is it better to tell and hurt, or lie to save their face?” Missy continues by saying the best thing to do is to never have done it in the first place. Which is better than any answer I could ever come up with. Could you answer it any better?!
This EP was just four songs. Four songs that would be the beginning of a music career. A music career that would change my life.
I could quite happily write an essay about every one of the ninety six songs by Missy Higgins on my iTunes. I’m not going to. But I could. Each burst of her voice enchants me. Her lyrics leave me simultaneously astounded and engrossed. The sound of the piano chords that she effortlessly plays makes me want to learn an instrument.
If you know me personally, then you’ll be more than aware of my love for Missy’s music. You should also know how disappointed I am to have never seen her play live. She’s not visited the UK since 2006, back when my super-fandom was only in it’s youth. Alas, I was on holiday for her London dates and wasn’t yet desperate enough to travel the country to see her. This is no longer the case. I would now travel anywhere in Europe to see her sing. Anywhere. With the temptation to fly to America just for one gig becoming ever more tempting. However, let’s go back to before 2006. Before I had even heard of her. Back in 2003, Missy released her first EP.
The Missy Higgins EP begins with Greed For Your Love. Bursts of Missy’s powerful voice are intertwined with verses full of metaphors screaming of heartache. It is a track, quite simply, about wanting to be loved. Clichéd? Maybe. But you need to realise that Missy was still young when she started out.
In fact, All For Believing was written when Missy was just fifteen. Winning the Triple J Unearthed radio competition in 2001, Missy then took a year out backpacking around Europe before returning to her music. The song commences with haunting vocals accompanied with some piano playing. Lyrics are sung with such honesty that make it clear why it was awarded the radio prize.
Missy’s voice is immediately prominant in Falling. It has a power that can overwhelm you without sounding forced. “Don’t say/What you’re about to say” are the opening lyrics. The use of the second person enhances the song, making you feel as though it’s being sung to you. Missy’s music is personal. You can connect with lyrics and often find yourself completely empathising with the words that float from Missy’s mouth.
The Special Two is one of the heavier songs written by Missy. She sings of childhood dreams being destroyed. Yet all hope is not lost as the chorus tells of there being someone else who will always be there to hold your hand throughout life. Not scared of being too deep in her lyrics, The Special Two poses philosophical questions. Asking “Is it better to tell and hurt, or lie to save their face?” Missy continues by saying the best thing to do is to never have done it in the first place. Which is better than any answer I could ever come up with. Could you answer it any better?!
This EP was just four songs. Four songs that would be the beginning of a music career. A music career that would change my life.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Cass Lowe
It was at an Amy MacDonald concert where I first encountered the voice of Cass Lowe. After missing the first support artist to enjoy a pizza, I am so glad I didn’t miss this guy’s performance. He impressed the audience with his short set, as well as with his ridiculously underpriced CD. Thus, Cass Lowe – Demos entered my CD collection and is now an iTunes favourite. Costing £1, Lowe declared he was selling them for the price it cost to make them. Admittedly there were just four tracks on the CD. But these were four beautifully crafted pieces of music.
Chino has a haunting feel to it. Soft vocals and piano playing combine to make you shiver. The reassurance in the lyrics is touching. If this song is based on the truth; and he genuinely wants to be someone’s lover again – I really think the narrative should be enough to win the heart of whoever he desires. The repetition of “Don’t cry. Don’t move a muscle... Just say you miss me too” is effective in creating a catchy ending to the song – keeping it prominent in the audience’s minds.
Hold On To This shows two sides to Lowe’s vocals; the softness of his voice is replaced with a harsher sound when the volume creeps up. The use of the first person narrative makes the song feel that little more personal than your average heartfelt plea of a song.
I Wrote You A Song is a little more complex than the title implies. The longest song on the CD, it explores the story of a man with guilt “dripping out of his mouth”. It talks of how guilt can weigh you down, with the chorus and repetition of “I wrote you a song” at the end showing simplicity in contrast to the aforementioned character.
Cut Out My Tongue feels much more upbeat than the other tracks. A faster tempo brings a smile to your face as you consider all the times you’ve foolishly said things before later regretting them. Knowing you can’t take them back; Lowe poses a good solution in the form of cutting out your tongue. Whilst this would ultimately draw an end to the problem, I’d like to counter this advice by deeming it not entirely practical if you ever want use of your vocal cords again. And losing Cass Lowe’s vocals would really be a shame.
Those four songs make up the entirety of the CD. However I’ve additionally acquired A stab in the dark through the wonders of the internet which is similar to the first three album tracks with softer vocals. Although, like Hold On To This as the volume increases as does the power of Lowe’s voice.
I must also mention the numerous songs that Lowe has uploaded via his MySpace; Kiss Me Kate is a beautiful duet and the snippet of Welcome Home is just as lovely as the first time I heard it. In fact, despite it being uploaded months after I saw it performed live I was still able to sing along to the chorus almost perfectly as it had such a great influence on me. This Winter is also worth a mention; the vocals are placed over a simple beat for effect allowing for Lowe’s voice to shine through.
Find out more about the daily goings on of Cass on his twitter.
Chino has a haunting feel to it. Soft vocals and piano playing combine to make you shiver. The reassurance in the lyrics is touching. If this song is based on the truth; and he genuinely wants to be someone’s lover again – I really think the narrative should be enough to win the heart of whoever he desires. The repetition of “Don’t cry. Don’t move a muscle... Just say you miss me too” is effective in creating a catchy ending to the song – keeping it prominent in the audience’s minds.
Hold On To This shows two sides to Lowe’s vocals; the softness of his voice is replaced with a harsher sound when the volume creeps up. The use of the first person narrative makes the song feel that little more personal than your average heartfelt plea of a song.
I Wrote You A Song is a little more complex than the title implies. The longest song on the CD, it explores the story of a man with guilt “dripping out of his mouth”. It talks of how guilt can weigh you down, with the chorus and repetition of “I wrote you a song” at the end showing simplicity in contrast to the aforementioned character.
Cut Out My Tongue feels much more upbeat than the other tracks. A faster tempo brings a smile to your face as you consider all the times you’ve foolishly said things before later regretting them. Knowing you can’t take them back; Lowe poses a good solution in the form of cutting out your tongue. Whilst this would ultimately draw an end to the problem, I’d like to counter this advice by deeming it not entirely practical if you ever want use of your vocal cords again. And losing Cass Lowe’s vocals would really be a shame.
Those four songs make up the entirety of the CD. However I’ve additionally acquired A stab in the dark through the wonders of the internet which is similar to the first three album tracks with softer vocals. Although, like Hold On To This as the volume increases as does the power of Lowe’s voice.
I must also mention the numerous songs that Lowe has uploaded via his MySpace; Kiss Me Kate is a beautiful duet and the snippet of Welcome Home is just as lovely as the first time I heard it. In fact, despite it being uploaded months after I saw it performed live I was still able to sing along to the chorus almost perfectly as it had such a great influence on me. This Winter is also worth a mention; the vocals are placed over a simple beat for effect allowing for Lowe’s voice to shine through.
Find out more about the daily goings on of Cass on his twitter.
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