Q Awards 2009

The best of current british music was recognized at the 2009 Q Awards yesterday.

This year, the 19th ceremony, Lilly Allen scooped the most competed prize: Best Track of the Year with the single The Fear, which was a former number one in Britain earlier this year.

In the same category, Dizzee Rascal, Noisette and Arctic Monkeys were just some of the artists that were beaten by Allen.

The best album was for the Leicester's indie band Kasabian with West Ryder Pauper Lunatic and Mr. Hudson won the prize for Breakthrough Artist' category.

The singer became massively popular in the UK after releasing the single Supernova -in duo with Kanye West- and reaching the Top Five in the Chart Singles.

The ceremony, annually held by this famous british magazine, recognized the achievements of U2 by awarding them the Q classic album with The Unforgettable Fire and the Classic song was for Frankie Goes to the City with Relax.

Other awards included Best Live Act scooped by Arctic Monkeys and Best new act by White Lies.

Muse was named as the best act in the world today.

The anthems of your life

Have you ever thought about the songs that have joined you in your every day living for, maybe, the last 10 years?
Do you think that songs have become an essential part of your life? Isn't amazing remember and listen for a moment all of these anthems?

If you agree with me, let me tell you that yesterday I was searching through the Internet some news and interesting topics to talk about and suddenly I found an incredible article in the website of Daily Telegraph in which they listed the 100 songs that -according to them- defined the 00's.
The list is amazing, even though it has a lot of american artists, you can still have outstanding british music and other music's countries.
The article also describes a bit about music issues in these years and gives a brief description of either the song or artist.

My favourites are...
Mad World by Gary Jules (everytime I listen it, reminds me of this phenomenal movie Donnie Darko).
Since I left you by The Avalanches
Standing in the way of control by Gossip
Skinny Love by Bon Iver
Call on me by Eric Prydz
Dy-na-mi-tee by Ms Dynamite
Sex on fire by Kings of Leon
Babylon by David Gray
Run by Snow Patrol
Hallelujah by Alexandra Burke (who actually has just released a new single which is massive now here in London)
Patience by Take That
Paper Planes by MIA

What about you?...

Take a look of the article and remember those Wonder Years:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6198897/100-songs-that-defined-the-Noughties.html

Mexican Divas

As it might be happening in many countries, sometimes the most popular music that is played on radio and the most selling albums are not likely to be from the most talented artists.

Usually there is much more to discover, singers or composers that maybe haven't had the opportunity or the money to have a 'space' in commercial radio...but still they are there, exist, struggling to be seen, discover or receive the support of a record label.

In Mexico, my hometown country, we have a lot of examples of talented artists -specially women- that many times don't receive the same attention of the listeners or the support from the musical industry.

Therefore, I would like to give them the 'space' they deserve, not only for being so creative or innovative with their music but because they are from Mexico.

I call them: Mexican Divas.

Women who decided to go further the existed musical parameters, that dared to create music that doesn't seem to existed in my country and that established their own original music style without any sort of labels.

Rock+jazz+blues+opera+traditional mexican music, are just some of the combination of styles you will find in their music.

Lila Downs, Cecilia Toussaint, Jeanette Macari, Jaramar, Magos Herrera, Iraida Noriega, Carmen Leñero y Susana Harp...this tribute is for you Ladies.

As my blog is not only about write and read, but listen and comment, here are some interesting links about this outstanding women...

http://ceciliatoussaint.com/flash/temp.html

http://www.liladowns.com/liladaSite/Lila_Downs.html

http://www.myspace.com/jeanettemacari

http://www.jaramar.com.mx/#

http://www.magosherrera.com/

http://www.myspace.com/iraidanorieg

http://www.susanaharp.com/2010/

Is the Trip-hop music scene gone?

You might be asking what is trip-hop? Is it a music genre? Is still currently played? Which artists or bands are a good example of this kind of music?

Well, first of all you should know that this movement originally started in United Kingdom, particularly in Bristol about the mid 90's.

A combination of strings, down-tempo electronic music and a bit of hip hop and, sometimes, acid jazz. The main musical characteristic of Trip-hop is the "blue" sound that not only the music but the lyrics involve.

The atmosphere of this music style relies on nostalgia, bittersweetness, sense of loss, longing and sadness.

I am very sure that sometime in your life you have listened to this kind of music I am talking about...

Who hasn't heard Massive Attack, Portishead, Zero 7 or Lamb?

Those are good examples of what was Trip-Hop...and when I say WAS it is because today this musical genre is gone, at least its original sense or musical bases.

The last thing I heard about pure Trip-Hop was the album Third that Portishead released last year...which was a good return for this legendary band.

Nowadays the popular music that is play in commercial radio or that hit the charts in the UK doesn't seem to have "space" for Trip-hop...while in the 90's Glory Box by Portishead, Teardrop by Massive Attack, Destiny by Zero 7 Gabriel by Lamb and some songs of Morcheeba, Tricky, Hooverphonic and UNKLE were massive in the UK.

Do you think someday will see the return of this genre? Do this bands can possibly get together again and create more innovative trip-hop music?

Is there any currently artist or band in the UK that plays Trip-Hop scene?

If you want to know more about this music and its artists, I suggest to take a look at this website:

http://www.triphop-music.com/

Or you might find useful to listen to the music of Massive Attack, Portishead, Lamb, Hooverphonic, Morcheeba, Zero 7, Frou Frou, Mandalay, Mono and many others.

Editors are back

With a more electronic sound this indie-rock band came back to the musical scene with their third album In this light and on this evening, which was released today in the UK.

It has been two years since the Birmingham based band scored in the top ten the hit Smokers outside the hospital doors, song that began the promotion of their acclaimed second album in 2007.

Different reviews said that this new album has a more electronic sound in its music due to the use of synthesizer in most of the nine songs that form part of the album.

Papillon the first single is, actually, a proof of this brand new sound.

* I think Editors is one of the most talented acts in the UK currently. They are not only the typical band that has catchy rock songs but also offers deep and meaningful lyrics (sometimes a bit nostalgic).

You may find useful this review released last week by BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/d6pn