The Marleys of Reggae – the legend lives on

It must run in the blood, so to speak. The ecstatic popularity created by none other than the great Bob Marley was passed over to his children, making the Jamaican music scene even more exuberant end exciting.

The country that gave birth to the laid back sound of reggaeton has continued creating more descendants, who later on contributed to the much celebrated genre which the country is very much known for.

Bob Marley – this is a definitive name by its self. The significance of his career and talent left a clear mark in the audience of the worldwide scene. Born in 1945, the singer who first started in a band named The Wailers eventually plowed a career that broke the boundaries of culture separation through his music.

His influence is clearly described in his recorded sales of an impressive 70 million copies. Known to convey meaningful messages regarding war and other substantial topics, Bob Marley has captured the hearts of many.

Ziggy Marley, born as David Nesta Marley, is the first born of the legendary Bob Marley who made a career that exposed his real talent more than the surname he has. Of course, the name Marley made it easier, but the eldest son of the family proved that there is more to him than just his name because true talent resides within.

Ziggy started his career singing alongside his siblings. The world first knew him when he performed during his father’s funeral with his brother Stephen. His piece “Tomorrow People” made it possible for his band The Melody Makers to bring home a Grammy for Best Reggae Recording in 1988.

Damian Marley, the youngest son of Bob, started his career at the age of thirteen. A progeny with Miss World Cindy Breakspeare, Damian – or Junior Gong as what he is called by his relatives was also able to shove curtains and make a name for himself beyond his surname.

Damian’s 2004 single Welcome to Jamrock broke grounds that allowed him to bag two Grammy awards. With the help of his brother Stephen, he wrote and made music as a solo performer and gathered critically acclaimed pieces like “Halfway Tree” in 2001.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-marleys-of-reggae-the-legend-lives-on/

Keeping the Love Alive through James Morrison

We all can agree that the English people play an integral part in keeping the general music industry on its most creative stance. The music world is dotted with lyricists, singers, groups and people behind the stage that have come from the United Kingdom.

With the English races’ capability to turn heartbreak into a worldwide hit, their instruments playing heavenly sounds and their undying passion to reach for what they want, they are truly admirable as performers.

It was in 2006, that we have all heard the husky yet lovable voice of infamous singer James Morrison, and the world has come to realize that even a guy has the strength to tug at everybody’s love bone. James Morrison, with all the emotions he has channeled to his former singles, is sure to stay within the music realm for as long as love is present and nobody’s complaining. He is definitely one creative lad to patronize.

Slowly realizing that he can influence people through music, James Morrison Catchpole first tried his luck on the slippery thing called fame in his hometown of Rugby, Warwickshire. Booting the love song ‘You Gave Me Something’, Morrison found himself serenading nearby countries, and stretched his audience to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the rest of Europe. After a plethora of radio performances, James Morrison became a worldwide phenomenon.

The 31-year old singer-slash-songwriter is known for his focus on the soul and pop rock genres, and can magnificently play the guitar as if it’s a part of his body. Currently, James Morrison is signed up with Universal Republic until this very date, and credits his love for music to equally famous artists such as Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Al Green and Stevie Wonder. As of the moment, James Morrison has released three studio albums which are ‘Undiscovered’ (2006), ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’ (2008) and ‘The Awakening’ (2011). Fans of Morrison should rejoice as the talented singer is now working on his fourth LP entitled ‘Higher than ‘ (2015), which is due to be released in October 2015 with a very much awaited lead single entitled ‘Demons’.

Morrison can be remembered for his iconic songs such as ‘You Make It Real’, ‘One Chance’, ‘Wonderful World’, the very heart-wrenching ‘The Pieces Don’t Fit Anymore’, some sad lyrics found in ‘Please Don’t Stop The Rain’, ‘I Won’t Let You Go’ with Jessie J for the animated movie Up, and the hit that established Morrison as a relevant singer with ‘Broken Strings’ sang with Nelly Furtado.

James Morrison has been seen making a lot of appearances in grand music festivals such as V Festival and Glastonbury Festival, and has been submerged into collaborating with artists for his lyrics such as with Jason Mraz for ‘Details in Fabric’ and Demi Lovato’s album entitled ‘Unbroken’.

The tracks that Morrison have popularized are deemed successful, as many of which garnered huge accolades from the general music populace winning him certain recognitions such as the Brit Award for Best British Male, top spots for the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Albums Chart, some chart dominations on the Irish Albums Chart, multiple millions of sales on his albums and a huge following on music streaming sites such as Apple Music and Spotify.

http://laurenceourac.com/keeping-the-love-alive-through-james-morrison/

How Adele Made History through Her Tracks

Adele is considered as one of the youngest female artists to have graced the music scene with her endearing music style and her heaven-sent passion that she cultivates despite her early age. She was 19 when she set foot on a journey to fulfill her dream of becoming a worldwide music phenomenon. In 2008, the world was shaken thoroughly by Adele’s wondrous and fresh vocals, the liberty of being able to love your own skin and the confidence channeled through how she swayed the world stage every single time she performed.

It is an accepted truth that amazing talents like Adele will sail smoothly towards international stardom, a handful of coveted music awards, millions of albums sold on a global scale and tracks that will be highly placed on the most famous charts. As expected of her, Adele made everything seem like a walk in the park when she took the microphone and started belting. Now that she’s back at the age of 25, it is quite proper for us to do a quick rundown of the mark that this once-prodigal teenager left on the music industry.

One of Adele’s most memorable tracks was her debut single ‘Hometown Glory’, which was magnified by earning her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. As homage to her hometown, this song introduced Adele to the world in a manner much like a raving trend. The pure lyrics and Adele’s huge take on the beep-bop tune utterly made Hometown Glory the best flagship for her first album, ‘19’.

Also, we should not forget the way Adele starred in the ‘Make You Feel My Love’ music video, which was just surreal and seemingly unrehearsed due to its natural vibe. This ballad continuously paved the way for the singer’s rise to fame and the heartfelt lyrics of this song are so powerful it became the theme song for almost any kind of relationship, whether platonic or romantic. Other memorable songs that Adele released include the thump-thumping Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It and the anger-fueled Turning Tables.

Snatching a gramophone is quite an easy feat for Adele and this has been confirmed as she came-off victorious when she became the voice of the James Bond film Skyfall. The tune of this track suited Adele’s sophisticated transformation over the years, and her short stay as an artist was sealed by this performance that not only won her awards, but also put her on the pedestals of various music charts.

The feisty lyrics coupled with the smooth tone made ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ an anthem for those who wish for a huge comeback after heartbreak. This song made her follow-up album ‘21’ a lovely composition for those who became strong after a broken relationship. Seemingly, one of the marks that Adele left was when she sang ‘Chasing Pavements’.

This follow-up track from her first album showcased how Adele can become successful not just as a singer but as a songwriter as well. The vocal prowess showcased in this track changed how people viewed pop in general and this opened so many roads that the genre can take.

http://laurenceourac.com/how-adele-made-history-through-her-tracks/

Reggae’s Cool Ruler: Gregory Isaacs

Jamaica’s greatest gift to the world is the music it produced and popularized in the form of the reggae genre. Mention Jamaica and the name of Bob Marley will come next. He is Jamaica’s legendary symbol especially for the musically-inclined. However, this territory has produced more than just one great singer. Let us learn a little more about reggae music by knowing another icon – Gregory Isaacs.

The climb to fame didn’t came easy for Isaacs. Just like any aspiring talent, the hailed Cool Ruler of reggae music had to join numerous contests to gain attention and followers. His early attempts were not fruitful, though. His first record was ‘Another Heartbreak’ in 1968. The venture didn’t make it, but failure didn’t stop him from moving forward. Soon after, he became part of The Concords. Single after single, their attempts were still unsuccessful in terms of sales. Eventually, the group decided to disband and Isaacs was left by himself.

The flame burning inside him as a performer continued to live on amid disappointment. He then decided to open his own label alongside then budding singer Errol Dunkley. Dunkley was a considerable choice because he had a number of successful songs to his name. Coincidentally, Dunkley’s glimmer wore off and the spotlight focused on Isaac’s single ‘My Only Lover’.

The self-produced single paved way for Isaacs’s popularity. The golden years transpired from 1973 to 1976. His music at that time has become timeless pieces of art that are reminisced even today. Years after, an opportunity for international stardom knocked on his door when he signed with Virgin Records.

Popularity dawned on Isaacs just like any other famous personality. The temptation of drug addiction was something that the singer failed to resist. Several breaks and arrests after, the reggae legend was able to prove that real talent is hard to ignore as he was able to come back even brighter when he his re-entered the industry.

The singer died at the age of 59 due to lung cancer in 2010, but his legacy continued to reign supreme even after his passing.

http://laurenceourac.com/reggaes-cool-ruler-gregory-isaacs/

Caught on cam: The side of Amy Poehler we didn’t think she had

Her wit has been flawlessly exhibited in different facets of her career as a comedian and author, making Amy Poehler one of the most well-loved personalities on the silver screen. Just when we thought we have already seen all of the best in her, the actress gave us yet another surprise as she owned the stage together with Jack Black when they sang a Bette Midler classic entitled ‘The Rose.’

Intended to be a stint for the sake of comedy, Poehler surprised the fans as she sang her way through the lyrics of the classic song in a decent manner. The performance was staged during Tenacious D’s Festival Supreme at the Los Angeles Shrine Expo & Hall Grounds.

Dressed in a floral dress adorned with a furry outer garment and aviator sunglasses, the comedian impressed the crowd as she started singing the first line of the song in a somewhat soulful voice.

Humming the line ‘Some say love…’ served to jump start a whole number that caused the crowd feel mixed emotions that were all good nonetheless. The number was definitely a surprise and was met by satisfying applause.

This is not the first time the two teamed up in a song number, as we have seen them together in the 2003 movie ‘School of Rock’. However, this live performance is as real and as raw as it can get. The justice done by Poehler to the song was well-deserved because the comedian is a self-confessed Bette Midler fan.

“So I first met Bette Midler in my head when I watched the film The Rose in 1979… and since then, her and I have been best friends, in my head. In my head, she and I travel together, we have cut an album, and we pranked George Clooney.” – she confessed during her interview with Vulture in 2014. (Cited: http://time.com/4070431/amy-poehler-jack-black-the-rose/)

http://laurenceourac.com/caught-on-cam-the-side-of-amy-poehler-we-didnt-think-she-had/

Get to know this talented lass named Gabrielle Aplin

Due to the fast-paced advancements in technology, music have become a territory that won’t require huge turntables and cassette tapes, because it is now easily accessible whenever and wherever a person chooses. Music is now a world that everybody can be a part of and talents from all over the planet have found their way in being known more swiftly, more conveniently. We have seen music sensations start their journeys by posting a cover of a famous song on the online streaming site, and became famous in just a snap!

There are now a lot of avenues to display one’s talent and be patronized as soon as one can imagine. Whatever age you might be, or whatever genre you might excel in, the chance of you being recognized is at its highest due to the always-craved masses that will await your musical extravaganza. Truthfully, the prevalence of social media and the stronger global community connected via the Internet has been a successful attempt for Gabrielle Aplin to be recognized, and later on, to being famous.

Born on October 10, 1992, Gabrielle Ann Aplin became a huge YouTube star after her breathtaking renditions and covers of songs popularized by bands such as Paramore and You Me at Six on the online streaming mogul YouTube. Currently dominating the United Kingdom’s musically inclined populace, Aplin didn’t find it difficult to penetrate the ceiling, and later on signed with Parlophone for her debut album. Gabrielle Aplin’s shocking renditions of The Power of Love and Please Don’t Say You Love Me have somewhat cemented this young prodigy’s career in 2012 and 2013.

Both versions placed well on the UK Singles Chart as top ten hits. Shortly afterwards, Gabrielle Aplin released her debut album entitled English Rain in 2013 which easily careened a number two spot on the UK Album Charts upon its release. English Rain was well received, as expected, due to Aplin’s unmistakable music talent. The album was a certified Gold, which sold 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom alone. English Rain later on became more famous due to songs such as Panic Cord, Salvation, Home and The 4th Single.

As of today, Gabrielle Aplin effectively released a follow-up album entitled ‘Light Up the Dark’ that was released in May 2015. Aplin’s rise to fame was backed up by almost 64 million Spotify streams, 80,000,000 YouTube views and 1.5 million record sales that are under this youngster’s belt. The second track from her second album entitled ‘Sweet Nothing’ is said to include Aplin’s playful and rushed vocals on a backdrop of contagious drum calisthenics and an invigorating musical outtake.

Gabrielle Aplin’s career and fame are said to double up exponentially as the artist is scheduled to have UK tours for the second album, and is listed under huge musical events and shows. The second album is dubbed to be Aplin’s personal approach in enriching the listener’s memory of how great a singer she is, as a lot of vocals and complementing instrumentals are found in ‘Light Up the Dark.’

http://laurenceourac.com/get-to-know-this-talented-lass-named-gabrielle-aplin/

Come Down, a must hear from Nina Schofield

In an industry where there is a long line of hopefuls trying to get a tiny portion of the glistening light of stardom, Hollywood generously gives to those who would be lucky enough to win a spot. As such, there is no surprise when a genuine flare of talent rises from a pool of ordinary artists. Being a legitimate celebrity means serious and stiff competition. Only those who are truly unique can become successful in this field.

Meet Nina Schofield, a rising star who possesses the right mix of sorts. Her voice offers a fresh sound that crosses between the styles of Ellie Goulding and Lana del Ray. Now do not get this wrong.

While the starlet reminds us of these other two artists, it does not mean that she doesn’t have her own musical style because Schofield has a distinct voice to brag about. Backed by a degree in Vocal Performance, pick up a hint of classical style that blends well with her electro pop tone.

The singer is not a neophyte when it comes to performing before a large crowd. Gaining experience while performing at enormous events like The Paralympics Torch Lighting Ceremony and The Montreux Jazz Festival, Schofield sure knows how to handle the pressure of singing in front broad audience.

Her new single Come Down is a clear testimony to the kind of talent she can to offer. The electronic sound that influences her soulful music is definitely a unique and captivating track. Hearing her sing this tune will make any listener ask for more because her voice itself promises a wide range of possibilities.

There is a suggestion that this rising pop star can do a lot having the kind of voice that she has. Her element is so versatile that her fans and listeners who discovered her music can’t help but fall for her and crave for more.

http://laurenceourac.com/come-down-a-must-hear-from-nina-schofield/

Know who made it to this year’s Grammys

And the world stopped for a time to make way for the 58th Grammys and celebrate the talents of today’s music industry. Expect nothing but splendid performances that leaves the jaw of audiences drop for quite a time.

This year includes remembering one the industry’s icon, David Bowie in which Lady Gaga spectacularly took part.

Oh how the social media raved about Gaga’s take on some of Bowies songs. Seems like Mother Monster is really on trance of transitioning from an eclectic star that she is to a more mature and respectable icon that she has turned into.

Taylor Swift went home victorious as she was able to bag not only one but multiple awards, including the much coveted Album of the Year for her smash success in 1989. Swift even stressed that the award is more of a trophy and wants people, especially young women to use her triumph as an inspiration to always chase their goal no matter how many or how huge challenges are.

“As the first woman to win Album of the Year twice, I want to say to all the young women out there: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work, and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you are going, you will look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you that put you there and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.” – The singer said as part of her acceptance speech. (Cited: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/taylor-swift-kendrick-lamar-win-big-at-2016-grammys-20160216)

Another big winner would be Meghan Trainor for Best New Artist. The singer behind ‘Like I’m Gonna Lose You’ accepted her award sobbing.

Quite an emotional moment indeed, Trainor still looked fabulous even in between tears. Thanks to her elegant Mike Costello custom made gown, her star shone even brighter that night.

The 22-year old singer vested other promising rookies including Tori Kelly, Sam Hunt, James Bay and Courtney Barnett.

Uptown Funk was awarded to be the Record of the Year.

There is no denying that this single is one of the strongest contenders on the said category because the smashing hit earned favorable results sales wise and even stayed on the hit charts for a lengthy period of time.

Aside from the said award, the duo also won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

http://laurenceourac.com/know-who-made-it-to-this-years-grammys/

Despite the age, Halsey is just unstoppable

In the slippery yet addictive music industry, there has been an observable prevalence of young stars making it big despite their seemingly unripe talents and shallow real-life experiences. We have all been pulled into the absurdly amazing music calisthenics of youngster Lorde and the sure ball hit by Taylor Swift, which is why we must agree that these kids really have the talent to support their fame. ‘Age is just a number’, they say and the music industry has cunningly validated it through the series of fresh faces it nurses under its wing in every song.

Since it can be estimated that the median age dominating the charts right now is from 18-23 years old, more and more music lovers have come to embrace this trend and it seems that it will stay for quite some time. Being born in 1994 will equate to the age 20, and while this is somewhat above the ‘legal age’, it is still considered gifted when it is tagged to a relevant singer in the making. It is just a few weeks back when the world was introduced to the playful melodies of Halsey, and no one’s ever wanted to stop listening to her right after she became a worldwide phenomenon.

Starting out at the early age of 17, Ashley Nicolette Frangipane is a Washington-born lass who meddles with song books a lot, hence the prolific and creative songwriting skills. First discovered by Astralwerks in 2014, Halsey slowly inched into her dream of fame when her debut EP album entitled ‘Room 93’ made its way to being sold in music bars and stands.

With Halsey’s complete popstar look and her unmistakable vocal prowess, her music outfit never had an issue when it came to making her a household name. Halsey is classified to be in the indie pop genre, meriting this blatant association with how she infused local color and the hip sound of independent music into creating a track that’s definitely mainstream in taste.

Halsey can also be remembered as that YouTube sensation who can do covers that are arguably better than its original, like when she posted her Taylor Swift song rendition of I Knew You Were Trouble in 2012. Currently, Hasley is rising to inevitable fame with her first studio album entitled ‘Badlands’, which easily careened the charts map peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Her recent album Badlands is a concoction of impeccably sung electropop tracks including Castle, Hold Me Down, Roman Holiday, Drive, Colors, Coming Down, Ghost, Young God, Control and New Americana. The 40-minute album is accepted fairly by listeners of the same age as Halsey, and is off to a better start in terms of sales as the year comes to a close.

Halsey never would have joined the music industry if not for the influences strewn by her parents during childhood which include Nirvana, Alanis Morisette, The Cure, Cranberries, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac and Slick Rick. Currently, the music outfit Capitol active in promoting Halsey’s continuing musical career and can be seen and heard further through numerous tours and opening acts such as The Weeknd’s The Madness tour.

http://laurenceourac.com/despite-the-age-halsey-is-just-unstoppable/

Fréro Delavega: New single while Jeremy still coos with Laure Manaudou!

They might not have won The Voice, but who cares. Revealed in the famous program ‘TF1’ presented by Nikos Aliagas, both members of Fréro Delavega, Jeremy and Florian Frérot Delavega, have a wonderful life story. Their first album, which includes their Sweet Darling tubes, My small country or the siren song, and ‘resuming ago’ with Vanessa Paradis, has passed like hotcakes. It was certified triple platinum.

Fréro Delavega delighted their fans by unveiling their brand new single, “Your face,” the first single from their new album to be released on November 27, 2015. It is truly a much- awaited event and every fan is really delighted and excited about this new single. This will surely showcase their love for music.

After spending the summer traveling across France for chain-concerts, the two singers have never wanted to stop and want to strike while the iron is hot. A new album was announced. While the album itself will come out on November 27th at Capitol Music France, a first extract was unveiled after just a few hours of the announcement. The song was entitled “Your Face.” We find the sweet voices of Jeremy and Florian, and the sound of their guitars, diving into the universe that is already known and successful for them. It would be good for us to listen.

Jeremy is always on vacation with Laure Manaudou.

While Jeremy was involved in the announcement of the arrival of “Your Face,” all the communication operations were arranged before he went on holiday with his current girlfriend, Laure Manaudou. The couple enjoyed a romantic interlude in sunny Spain.

Not a day goes by that the former champion gives their new social networks love testimonies for Jeremy. This was proven yesterday when she posted a video. Laure is in love, and not just a little!

http://laurenceourac.com/frero-delavega-new-single-while-jeremy-still-coos-with-laure-manaudou/

The Jagged and Short-Lived Excellence of Amy Winehouse

We all have seen musicians and artists come on go because they lose the spark that makes them stand out from the rest. We have witnessed bands introducing their demise by going on a long hiatus, soloists going downhill because their singles weren’t followed-up by remarkable ones or musicians who weren’t strong enough to take control of what they have.

The world of music is a rollercoaster ride; one moment you’re famous and in the next you will find yourself in the state of utter oblivion. Truly, it takes a lot of courage, talent and branding to keep the spotlight pointing your way, but how about those who never see it coming? What about those artists who were at the peak of their careers and then suddenly, death snatches it from them? Will they simply remain fragments of yesterday and never be patronized again? Take Amy Winehouse for example.

We have all known Amy Winehouse for her unique approach to singing, her edgy beehive and the bottled angst released through her tracks. Born Amy Jade Winehouse on September 1983, this tattooed singer took the world by storm when her debut album ‘Frank’ was released in 2003.

 Winehouse is said to be one of those singers who can take on any given genre with her astounding and weird vocal ability which covers soul, blue-eyed soul, rhythm, blues, jazz and reggae. Amy Winehouse is a big could-have-been in current mainstream music, and it is with deep regret that the world lost her in July 2011 due to alcohol poisoning. Many shook their heads in disbelief while others just accepted the fact that Winehouse went out of control and tripped hard on the pavement despite the fame and success she garnered.

One of the most memorable contributions of Amy Winehouse to the whole music industry is her smash album ‘Back to Black’, which was made public in October of 2006. Easily, millions of music lovers got to patronize this genius and all her tracks, jokingly saying that Winehouse might have sung the songs of their chaotic lives. The album generated some indelible tracks, which topped numerous charts in the United Kingdom, the United States and all around the world.

Her song ‘Rehab’ was dubbed as Time Magazine’s Song of the Year in 2007 showing Winehouse’s confidence, truthfulness and plumb ugliness warped into lyrics such as “I ain’t got the time, but if my Daddy thinks I’m fine…” Several hits were released worldwide such as ‘You Know I’m No good’ and title single ‘Back to Black’, which relayed how versatile of a singer Amy Winehouse is. The dark comedy and puns associated with the album are the strengths that Winehouse mastered, and nobody has done it the way she did.

As Winehouse’s fame became unstoppable, controversies were also proclaimed, making Winehouse even more famous. Several award-giving bodies never failed to see how Winehouse works to get to the top and heralded her some accolades such as the Grammy Awards’ Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the track ‘Rehab’ all won in 2008, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the song ‘Body and Soul’ with Tony Bennett in 2012, Best Selling Pop/Rock Female in 2008 for the World Music Awards, Album of the Year for ‘Back to Black’ by the Echo Music Awards in 2009, Best British Single for ‘Valerie’ in 2008 via BRIT Awards and many more. It was in Camden, London where Amy Winehouse spent her final moments and died at the age of 27, all with her stereotypes and the musical genius that we will never listen to again.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-jagged-and-short-lived-excellence-of-amy-winehouse/

American Idol calls Season 15 their last

The talent show that spearheaded other singing contests announced that it will have its final bow together with its last season.

The singing competition that etched a mark since its pilot episode back in 2002 continued to reign ratings and endorsements, especially during its first nine years on air.

There is no denying that American Idol set the notch when it comes to defining talent discovery because years later, other shows with the same format followed.

As part of the show’s success, some of its notable alumni will appear in a few of the latest season’s episodes. Together with Ryan Seacrest and judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr, the last hoorah of uncovering America’s greatest talents will continue until they find the final Idol the show will produce.

“American Idol has been a big part of my life for so long, it’s frankly hard to imagine it without it. It’s been a remarkable journey, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of a show that made television history in countless ways. It’s a show about chasing and fulfilling dreams, and truth be told, it helped some of my own dreams come true too.” Says the long time host Seacrest. (Cited: http://www.etonline.com/tv/164255_american_idol_ending_after_season_15/)

Long before JLo, Lopez and Connick, the original trio who owned the three judges’ seats were Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. The queer and sometimes clashing personalities of these three are some of the reasons why the show attracted audiences especially during their first year.

After Cowell left Idol, Abdul and Jackson followed. The coveted seats were then replenished by other big personalities including Ellen De Generes, Steven Tyler and Mariah Carey.

Television will never be the same again after the show takes its final bow, but the legacy it will leave will surely be remembered as the stars that came from this reality show already created names for themselves.

Of course, there’s the first ever idol Kelly Clarkson, whom the audience loved even more after she set foot in the real world of Hollywood. There’s also the iconic country singer Carrie Underwood, who is not only known for her singing prowess, but she also became a female symbol of the definitive genre she possessed since her idol days.

http://laurenceourac.com/american-idol-calls-season-15-their-last/

On Forging New Paths: Asami Zdrenka and Her Solo Career

One leaving followed by another, until all ultimately comes to an agreement of separating ways to pursue a solo career or simply quit the music industry altogether – this is a heartbreaking experience for fans as well as for the artist themselves. While not uncommon, as we were subjected to this reality several times during the first half of 2015, every announcement of this sort still stings – and for some, it hurts like hell.

What a welcome to the second half of the year for all the Neon Jungle fans, as last July, the four-piece girl group consisting of Shereen Cutkelvin, Amira McCarthy, Jess Plummer, and Asami Zdrenka decided it was the best to call it quits. However, while most are still drying their tears after the separation of the group who managed to capture the hearts of many listeners across the world in just a span of two years, there are also some who are quick to get back on their feet – including Asami Zdrenka.

Making music, visiting the studio, and releasing a cover trilogy, Asami Zdrenka wasted no time in building her career as a solo artist, an act showing how the girls may have separated as artists but still remain as friends so there should be nothing to mourn over. The month after Neon Jungle disbanded, Asami released the first part of her Cover Trilogy, a live performance posted in YouTube under Asami’s favorite songs. It aims to introduce her musical inclinations to listeners as well as to explore them herself, as she has not come to fully exercise them when she was still in Neon Jungle.

The first part of her trilogy comes in the form of a classic, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” which she made into a bewitching song of her own. The original came from Neil Young in the 70s and was covered again in the 90s by Saint Etienne. On the other hand, the second part of her cover trilogy is a favorite. Gritty and splashed with melodies on top of raw vocals, “Pure Morning” is the complete opposite of the laidback and mellow “Only Love Can Break Your Heart.” The third part is still in the works, but we have our fingers crossed for it to come anytime soon.

With hard work, frequent airplays, promotions and Asami’s pure talent, this solo career, she embarked on would hopefully bring her to the success that did not come quite into fruition in Neon Jungle.

http://laurenceourac.com/on-forging-new-paths-asami-zdrenka-and-her-solo-career/

Fly Project: Discover their new video “So High”

The Romanian music industry breathes early 2000s through two people from Brasov, one of which is Tudor Ionescu. Passionate about music, Dan Denes, a young engineer, met with him through a mutual friend. They decided to concentrate on music and their first single was a real breath of fresh air in their country. Producing even more hits, Fly Project sets the bar high in the sphere of Romanian Dance. Talented and hardworking, the Fly Project Dance duo quickly became the most recognized in Romania.

Their debut album came out in 2005 and their first single “Raisa” met instant success. Considered one of their most popular hits, “Raisa” was No. 1 in Romanian Club favorites and rankings until summer 2006. In 2007, Fly Project released “K-tinne,” another success rewarded by several trophies like the Romanian Top Hits Best Dance Award and the Romanian Top Hits Best Song Award. But it was only the first of the successes for the second album in record-sales, which gave the duo the opportunity to multiply the number of performances in that year.

2008 was the beginning of Fly Project’s international fame. “Brasil”, their single, was said to be the best single in the Romanian Music Awards, and climbed to the top of international rankings. By featuring Tom Boxer & Anca Parghel, the single reached number one in Russia, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Moldova and many others. The duo is also known in the Asian market where they released the album “Best Of” in Japan. Year after year, their singles “Mandala”, “Goodbye”, “Musica”, “Back in my life” and “Toca Toca” stayed at the forefront of international rankings in Russia, the Nether- Netherlands, India, Greece and Latin America.

The single “Toca Toca” made a great impression in the world, particularly in Italy, Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, Mexico, Turkey and always topped the music charts. For several weeks, the single remained at the top spot of Spanish Radio Maxima FM in addition to having been played thousands of times by major radio stations around the world.

After getting a Platinum disc for “Musica,” Fly Project’s “Toca Toca” was once again awarded with a Gold disk in Italy. Autumn 2014 started well for Fly Project, which won the Best Dance Award thanks to “Toca Toca” and the Border Breaker Award thanks to their international success in the Romanian Music Awards, one of the most important musical events in Romania. Fly Project also appeared at the prestigious Eska Awards in Poland and delight the audience by creating a beautiful atmosphere. 

The year 2015 promises to be just as glorious with “Toca Toca” always in international rankings, and the new single from the accompanied video “Like a Star” is set for a worldwide release that is already a great success.

http://laurenceourac.com/fly-project-discover-their-new-video-so-high/

Music Fandom: Who’s Who and Geared Up for 2016

In their rise to fame, every musician needs the help of a solid and established fan-base. Truthfully, there haven’t been any artists who were been able to build an empire of followers.

Some of them gain motivation from the closest people in their lives namely their families, some would gain inspiration from their friends, there is also word of mouth until, without them knowing, a small group of minions are ready to listen to them and share a round of applause.

A fan-base surely puts artists on the pedestal they deserve, and nowadays, collecting fans is no longer difficult as the wonders of social media do the legwork.

The essence of being able to furnish a loyal bunch of music lovers adoring your tracks will create the domino effect of high album sales, sold-out concerts and instant protection from bashers online and in the real world. It isn’t enough for fans to get a signed CD; they exceed their roles and ensure that their favored artist/s would be showered with the right kind of attention and praise. Weird and obsessive as this might sound, the hearts and minds of fans are things that a musician should value and recognize.

Going by the name Rihanna Navy, pop star Rihanna got a huge crosshair off her back due to her loving and ever-supportive fan-base since she started her career. Rihanna’s activity in social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook expanded her scope of adoring fans, which is evident through the artist’s almost 29 million Twitter followers and a whopping 69 million Facebook likes.

Their idol has been into deep and sticky controversies but Rihanna’s fans immediately offered assistance by shooting down the tirades and rude remarks of those who try to cross their idol.

Shockingly, Justin Bieber only managed to get the second spot despite the familiar fan-base that he’s able to clump together, called Beliebers.

Mainly comprised of teenagers and a mishmash of ages who just loved Bieber from the very beginning, Beliebers are never shy of how proud they are with Justin’s career and achievements.

Like Rihanna, Bieber is quite active in Twitter and Facebook and tripped into some controversies here and there.

You’d never try to crash into Lady Gaga with negative feedback or else her Little Monsters would smite you. With almost 35 million Twitter followers and 56 million Facebook likes, Lady Gaga, with all her obscurity and chaos, still managed to grab a huge following.

Nicki Minaj’s Barbz is slowly being known as a well-organized fan group, as their idol slowly but surely captured the success that she deserved. With Nicki’s seldom exposure to media, it is no wonder why she gained more and more people to follow her.

Physical presence on tour, an avid following of every released album and single, even the very activity being shown on Twitter – these are all reflections on how the Barbz support their chosen star.

The Queen Beyonce never disappoints as she also managed to acquire a camp of her own called the BeyHive. Despite Beyonce’s inactivity on social media, her fans never left B’s online status hanging as they prolifically fill in whatever it is that their idol missed out on.

With the recent marriage of Beyonce and Jay-Z and the progress of starting a family, the knot between the artist and her fans is stronger than ever.

Some other notable fan-bases include that of Katy Perry called KatyCats, Selena Gomez’ Selenators, Chris Brown’s Team Breezy, Swifties for Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars’ Hooligans, Demi Lovato’s Lovatics, the ever-so-active Directioners for One Direction, Miley Cyrus and Smilers, Drake’s Team Drizzy and uprising star Rita Ora’s Ritabots.

http://laurenceourac.com/music-fandom-whos-who-and-geared-up-for-2016/

Country Music Will Continue to Rise with Billy Currington

We all know what one-hit wonders are. They are singers who have tried to make it big but fell short, and later faced oblivion after that one huge song. Sadly, the music industry is about identifying which singer would have staying power, and despite passion and determination keeping up with the game, fame is not for everyone. While there are a lot of singers who have been classified as a one-hit wonders, there are some who are different.

With the right mix of looks, talent and undying urgency to be on top, there are singers who manage to somehow establish their name, despite the not so huge following. They are the ones who intelligently stayed within a small genre, flourished under it and dominated the realm while planning to be more famous.

One good example of someone who used this astute plan is Billy Currington. Yes, you might not know him yet, but he’s definitely making an awesome impression in the world of country music.

Born William Matthew Currington, the now 41-year-old country singer has invested his time and patience by slowly making a scene since 1996 as a budding country musician. As of today, Currington has released six very successful studio albums since he started out with Mercury Nashville Records in 2003. It is quite a surprise that out of the six LPs, he emerged victorious via seventeen tracks that topped the charts of Billboard’s Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs. The albums that helped Billy Currington achieve success are Billy Currington (2013), Doin’ Somethin’ Right (2005), Little Bit of Everything (2008), Enjoy Yourself (2010), We Are Tonight (2013) and Summer Forever (2015). His second album, Doin’ Somethin’ Right is deemed as the most successful of his albums, effectively gaining Platinum status.

His self-entitled debut album made it big as well, and placed first in Billboard’s US Heat Charts in 2003. Little Bit of Everything and Enjoy Yourself were heralded with Gold status, while the last two albums have generally earned almost 400,000 US dollars combined. As for his numerous tracks that have been well-praised, the most remembered include Good Directions, People Are Crazy, That’s How Country Boys Roll, Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer, Let Me Down Easy, Hey Girl and Don’t It.

Some of the award giving bodies who have showered Billy Currington with recognition are the CMT Music Awards where the singer won the Hottest Video of the Year award last 2006 for ‘Must Be Doin’ Something Right’, and several nominations at the Academy of Country Music for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year both for ‘People Are Crazy’.

The eponymous Grammy Awards also gave the artist a Male Country Vocal Performance nomination for the same track. Billy Currington also be joined Grammy award winner Lady Antebellum on their Take Me Downtown Tour last 2014 and a duet with famous country female icon Shania Twain for the song Party For Two.

http://laurenceourac.com/country-music-will-continue-to-rise-with-billy-currington/

Disclosure ft. Lorde, “Magnets”

After their massive success in the debut album, Settle, and with singles like “Latch” and “White Noise,” brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence collectively known as the famed Disclosure joined the ranks of EDM royalties and are one of the hottest artists to emerge in the summer of 2013. As such, it is only natural for them to release their sophomore album, which will finally happen just before the month of September ends. In their album entitled Caracal is the single called “Magnets,” in which they collaborated with another renowned artist, Lorde.

It could be said that Disclosure is loading up with superstars in their Caracal album. With Sam Smith, The Weekend, Miguel, and Gregory Porter among the list of artists the duo collaborated with, they certainly know how to build up the excitement and further dangle the proverbial carrot. To further prove the point, Lorde also joined the ranks and the collaboration is highly anticipated after their excellent mash up of “Royals” and “White Noise” in last year Brit Awards.

While we could all agree – after you hear their performance together, that is – that their previous unofficial team up in the Brit Awards is as soothing as it is energetic, their official collaboration in “Magnets,” is a completely different matter. With two blood moons looming in the background, a pool, and a city skyline to match complete with two roving helicopters, Lorde sings to us about the “point of no return.”

While there is some restraint evident in the sound and vocals, one thing to turn the tide in the single’s favor is the seamless melding of Lorde’s intimate vocals and the noticeably stripped vibe from Disclosure. There are still the synthesizers and the layered beats that the brothers became known for, yet they decidedly cut it down to form an underwhelming song about cheating and violence – talk about a sly wink on heavy subjects.

Nursing your favorite drink in the dead of the night, this could be the perfect song to go with the mood, a song achingly heavy as well as light.

http://laurenceourac.com/disclosure-ft-lorde-magnets/

Be a step stronger after hearing Standing on top of the World

English singer Carolynne Poole returns with a track that will inspire its listeners be stronger and conquer the world their way.

Entitled Standing on top of the World, Poole’s latest single is part of her debut album after deciding to go full solo. Before her stint with X Factor, this familiar face is no newbie in the music industry as she was then a member of the Carolynne Good Band. Her presence was also seen back in 2003 when she won third place in BBC’s Fame Academy. The singer proves that there is no end to chasing dreams as she returns, now with an album that is a product of her momentary stepping back from her appearance in the 2011 season of X Factor.

The absence was brought about by the writing and planning of the album that has now materialized. The LP was the fruit of stepping away from her singing career for years, as she was busy planning for the contents of her album. “Overall the album is really upbeat and reflects where I’m at now. It’s been a really creative year for me,” Carolynne said. (Cited: http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/debut-album-former-huddersfield-singer-9319412)

Her first single I Love you But Shut Up earned a substantial amount of radio plays, and the same is happening with the second track, Standing on top of the World. “That song was about when I was going through really bad times when I split from my husband and a lot of the stuff I was going through during The X Factor,” Carolynne said. the singer admitted during an interview. (Cited: http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/debut-album-former-huddersfield-singer-9319412)

Armed with her country, rock-and-roll style, the overall album is fun, as the singer described. Expect a majority of upbeat tracks that shows how inspired she is with her life and career in general.

http://laurenceourac.com/be-a-step-stronger-after-hearing-standing-on-top-of-the-world/

1D Sends of Made in the A.M Before Scheduled Respite from Fame

After the controversial lay-off of Zayn Malik from the illustrious boy group One Direction in March 2015, fans thought that they won’t see these lads perform the way they were again, and even more, release another studio album.

However, One Direction also has the knack to surprise their fans out of their wits, and here they are, rampaging the general pop scene with a fifth studio album which is expected to bring back the 1D fever and hype. Ladies and gentlemen, come take it all in, ‘Made in the A.M.’ is sure to make your playlists hotter than ever, thanks to the bravado and talent found in this world-renowned boy band.

As a follow-up album to their last installment entitled Four (2014), Made in the A.M. comes off as a humongous surprise to treat fans and haters alike in the last quarter of the year. Focusing on their root genres Pop and Rock, members Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson guaranteed that this would be the best album they’ve released and it’s sure to turn the tables for the band after all it pushes through.

After all, this fifth album is said to be their last for now before they go on a long hiatus said to start in the second quarter of 2016. Never fret 1D fans, as the group is compelled to be back after this break, and that’s one of the many reasons why they’ve come-up with Made in the A.M.

Not surprisingly, Made in the A.M. received endless approvals and favorable reviews from the general music industry, noting maturity and boldness on the tracks included in the list. It immediately toppled strong album contenders as it stayed on the UK Albums Chart as No. 1 and debuted fantastically on the well-established US Billboard Hot 200, bagging almost 500,000 copies sold on its first two weeks.

The initial success of Made in the A.M. broke the jinx of boy band cycles being stale after a member leaves, as seen on historical accounts of NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys during their prime.

The producers of the album, the group’s members and songwriters themselves are all excited to relay that this album is about random things, making it all the more appealing. The tracks induce more sexually charged notes, deep-rooted feelings of losing and loving, the annoying scratch of fear on what the future holds and typically songs about relationships and everything in between.

Album sales are set to break barriers and records made by One Direction them and it’s still a hot brew on music stands and charts. Just recently, some music critic outfits released their ratings of the album such as All Music’s 3 out 5 stars, Entertainment Weekly’s B Grade, Rolling Stone sending off a four out of five rating, USA Today at 1.5 over 4 stars and Metacritic relaying a 65/100 score.

Made in the A.M. is a total of 13 songs which are written mostly by Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Jamie Scott and the band members themselves.

Some of the tracks that have already been released and are receiving praises from the picky crowd include Hey Angel, Drag Me Down, End of the Day, Infinity, I Want to Write You a Song, Olivia and Never Enough. The album is under Columbia slash Syco Music and is said to be released on a worldwide scale like their former albums.

http://laurenceourac.com/1d-sends-of-made-in-the-a-m-before-scheduled-respite-from-fame/

Awkwafina’s unique style making waves in underground music

Being different can be a good thing. In a western setting where an emerging Asian artist is at the beginning of cultivating a career, looking different may be a free pass to get noticed.

But talent and stand-out individualism speak more in breaking through and appealing to a range of audiences. These factors are very much present in one of underground music’s very promising rappers named Awkwafina.

Born Nora Lum, this female rapper has already gained attention due to her incredible humor that is injected into her songs. With a mix of Chinese, Korean and American, her Asian roots are very evident on her appearance. Aside from her oriental looks, what makes her style especially arresting is her choice of words. The genres she possesses borders different classifications as well.

The comedy in her craft is one of the main reasons why her name reverberates and progressively gathers attention not only from listeners, but critics from opposing sides as well.

Her song My Vag is one of the most controversial by far. Aside from the fact that it focuses on female genitals, the comic way of presenting the idea residing in the track has become a point of discussion for those who were taken by the liberal topic of the song.

Admittedly, she received comments both good and bad. In one interview, she mentioned that the song is all about giving props to womanhood. “It’s a celebration of women…There aren’t a lot of songs out there talking about vaginas in an in-your-face kind of way.” (Cited: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/14/meet-awkwafina-an-asian-female-rapper-on-vaginas-tackling-racism-more.html).

While she looks every inch Asian, Awkwafina confessed that she grew up in an American setting. She shared that her influence was very much of the normal American teens that included listening to tracks of 90’s boy bands like the Backstreet Boys.

Her close relationship with her grandmother is also one of the reasons why Awkwafina has emerged to be someone unique. Growing up, his father would tell her to pick a job that’s socially discerned to be stable but with the encouragement and support from her grandmother, the rapper was able to stand a little bit braver in following the calling of her passion.

http://laurenceourac.com/awkwafinas-unique-style-making-waves-in-underground-music/ 

Are we just expecting an All Saints comeback?

How true is it that one of the most popular girl bands of the 90’s is on the works for their comeback? Yes, All Saints, we are looking at you. Those who grew up in the 90’s will definitely understand the excitement this news brings.

Who would ever forget the rumored rivalry they had with one of the 90’s super groups Spice Girls? Also, let us not forget their songs. How we swayed and sang with their hit song ‘Never Ever’ seemed like just yesterday.

We did miss this four-girl group and just the thought of them performing on one stage and composing songs for an upcoming album is such a welcome possibility that we sincerely hope would become reality.

So how did this news circulate? We first saw them doing a stint on the Backstreet Boys concert. Rumors had it that their performance fueled the idea of them coming together again. “The girls are really excited but the decision to make new music almost happened by accident. They had a great time supporting the Backstreet Boys on tour last year performing their old hits and thought there would be no harm done if they messed about together in the studio.” – Source said. (Cited: http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/saints-set-comeback-you-never-6571274)

There are no confirmations yet, of course. It also appears that people around the girl group are observing optimum confidentiality when it comes to confirming or denying the rumors. However, a source spilled that it’s still in the outlining stage, saying “they got security on the doors to ensure no-one hears a whisper.”(Cited: http://en.mediamass.net/people/all-saints/new-album.html)

Should it be true, no one would benefit more than the expecting fans. Said to come out in 2016 in line with another gossip of the Spice Girls’ return, next year could be a blowout year especially for the fans of the 90’s. Should we prepare our banners of love and support them as early as now? If doing this would make these rumors come true, then why not?

http://laurenceourac.com/are-we-just-expecting-an-all-saints-comeback/