The gifted musicality and the blatant weirdness of Rita

Collectively, we saw her at the 87th Academy Awards after she belted out and performed her Academy-Award nominated song Grateful, which was about four months ago. She still possesses that quirky soprano range, the edge on her physical appearance and the brimming musical sense as she set foot on stage. Rita Ora, with all her “good kind of weird,” is an artist that the general listening community missed, and she’s back with a bang on her latest single.

Born in Kosovo and had first established her popularity as a relevant musical prodigy in the United Kingdom with hit songs How We Do (Party) and R.I.P., Rita Ora has proven to be an extremely sought-after singer, songwriter, actress and TV personality in this generation. Her stint with the erotica-inclined movie Fifty Shades of Gray as Mia might have been quite short and underrated, but we have lauded her never-faltering love not only for music, but the performing arts in general.

Rita Ora had her self- titled album released in August 2012, with radio stations and producers grappling to get this sassy singer’s attention. Ora received a lot of positive reviews and plenty of recognition in this musical venture, earning her nominations at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best UK/Ireland Act, Best New Artist and Push Artist.

Just recently, Rita made a huge comeback with her brainchild song ‘Poison,’ which is said to be the first cut on her upcoming second album. It’s been a while since this singer made marks on her musical career, and patrons from all over the world are nothing but excitedly awaiting the musical genius that will surely be displayed by Rita Ora.

Poison is said to be Rita’s song for her bad luck in love, which has been sensationalized after known affairs with gargantuan names in the music industry such as Bruno Mars and DJ Calvin Harris. 

Thousands of posts on Twitter by her fan base dominated the said social networking site with hashtags and proclamations of frenetic feelings about Ora’s follow-up to her musical career. Way back in March this year, Rita Ora announced publicly that she would be releasing her second album with a song adeptly titled ‘Testosterone,’ and it’s quite a shock that Poison was released earlier. The said second album is said to be released in the last quarter of this year.

Catchy lyrics from Rita Ora’s Poison include “I could’ve had beer for breakfast, my sanity for lunch, tryin’ to get over how bad I want you so much” and something that goes “I love the bittersweet ecstasy that you got me in, fallin’ deep I can sleep tonight, and you make me feel like I’m out of my mind, but it’s alright.” Poison is definitely a must-hear song to cap the summer off, and if it’s from a singer like Rita Ora, you’re left to expect greatness and beyond.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-gifted-musicality-and-the-blatant-weirdness-of-rita/

Pentatonix covers OMI’s Cheerleader

Hear another version of the summer song ‘Cheerleader’ as the a Capella band Pentatonix gave another flavor to the original reggae-pop track that made us dance on our feet with its subtle, yet vibrant rhythm.

The song was an original from Jamaican rising star Omi. There is no downhill from this single as it is still among the top tracks on the Billboard hit chart. It is even considered as one of the best summer songs of the year, and with the five-piece band like a Capella doing their own rendition, this justifies the reach and influence that Omi’s track has made.

Expect lots of beat boxing, sound twisting and a bunch of the harmonious blending in this version of Pentatonix. This is what the Sing Off champs are really good at, and it’s no doubt how obvious their distinct style gave a whole new perspective to the track without removing its core note.

Pentatonix first sang the track in Kelly Clarkson’s road tour. They used the said track as an opening song for the Piece-by-Piece road show that eventually was put on record and now, translated into a music video.

Contrary to its first video that stars Omi, Pentatonix’ talk was different. Set on a gymnasium with their varsity jackets on, the group took the title literally and had the empty place as the venue for their newest cover.

No fancy stuff or anything, the video is nothing but a presentation of the group’s own style. With steps and routines on some parts of the song, the video gives a vibe like watching a competition of school choirs. See swag and nothing but effortless singing. Yes, the same swag that made some of the members land a part on the hit movie Pitch Perfect 2.

http://laurenceourac.com/pentatonix-covers-omis-cheerleader/

Easy Fusion of Origins through Ahmed Chawki’s Musical Ingenuity

Most people are actually guilty of being too avid in following whatever’s in the mainstream music scene and tend to forget what the rest of the world has to offer.

We often rely on our fanaticism about things that are loved by most and comforted by the idea that following the norm would definitely give us the passport to participate in lunch break chats about a newly-released album.

Despite this, many people are still searching for who to venerate and the best artist to fill the void of their fanatical alter egos.

Though still co-existing with the mainstream, the world of music is a bountiful plateau of artists and acts content with the space given to them. Also in the world of music, pop is still around, and if this genre blooms during a normal conversation, the name Ahmed Chawki would definitely be brought up.

Born as Ahmed Chawki and more familiar today as just Chawki, this Moroccan artist has pretty much established himself as a talented singer since 2008.

Despite the fact that there hasn’t been much exposure for international fads, Chawki is still idolized on the stage that he’s been performing. Ahmed Chawki can be remembered best when he collaborated with Cuban-American rapper Pitbull for the very successful track entitled Habibi, I Love You.

Due to its catchy lyrics, the jumpy tones and lively general tune, this song easily climbed several music charts in the Middle East and Europe. ‘Habibi, I Love You’ was a summer anthem for teenagers and beach lovers during that season in 2013, and Ahmed Chawki is just starting to plot his strategies to garner a bigger and louder following.

This pop Moroccan icon can also be associated to the recently concluded 2014 World Cup when he performed with an equally-talented act Magic System for the song Magic In The Air which has been reverberating in the Belgian and the French music community.

Ahmed Chawki is also a known songwriter due to his early exposure to poem composing and poem recitals when he was young. He further expanded his vision into becoming a true blue music prodigy when he took several subjects in schools such as the National School of Theater and Singing and the Institute of Fine Arts.

It is with these kinds of exposure that Chawki was delegated as the Arab Music Festival’s grand winner in 2000, which opened the doors for him to perform with La Paloma.

Ahmed Chawki has participated in several musical events and music fests until the scrutinizing eyes and ears of RedOne finally caught the singer and saw him as a huge fish to be groomed to stardom. 

Infusing Arabic and western cues, Ahmed Chawki is a cold douse of water to the seemingly weak Middle Eastern music scene at that time.

Some of the other tracks that made Ahmed Chawki’s name resounding are the likes of Time of Our Lives (which, same as Habibi I Love You, was given different versions depending on where it’s going to be played), Come Alive, It’s My Life and some locally produced songs such as Inta Iiya, Ya Nasini Ya Habibi, Ghaly and Ana Bahwak. Ahmed Chawki’s rise to fame somehow reached countries such as Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden’s respective music hit charts.

http://laurenceourac.com/easy-fusion-of-origins-through-ahmed-chawkis-musical-ingenuity/

Will Smith returns, not on the silver screen but with a new track release

Just when the silhouette of Will Smith has established the definition of an actor in our subconscious minds, comes another surprise from him releasing a new single. This had us snapping our fingers and remembering that Mr. MIB was actually a rapper before he started acting on screen.

His stepping back from the music industry is now over, as he releases collaboration with the Colombian dance group ‘Bomba Estero’. The remix single entitled ‘Fiesta’ brings us to the early days of Smith’s career when he was still doing hip hop stints.

Not many may recall, but this man right here was formerly part of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. 

His very last single was the hit ‘Switch’ released in 2005. And now, after a decade of putting his music career aside, Smith is back and it brings the fans very much delight.

Smith got the idea of collaboration with the Colombian group when he first heard their song during one of his trips to Colombia. He then pulled some strings and communicated with the band. The news is something unexpected. Simon Mejia, part of the quartet expressed: “When I was told that Will Smith wanted to collaborate on a remix with Bomba, I couldn’t believe it…This opportunity to work with Will was beyond anything we have dreamed of. … It’s just magic.” (Cited:http://www.goerie.com/will-smith-performs-on-fiesta-song#)

The track, which was electronically released in the first week of October, will soon be followed by a music video shot in Los Angeles. As for writing, its energetic audio serves as a tease. With upbeat sound and of course Will Smith rapping on the side, it will not be impossible that fans will pick up this new production from Smith positively.

Interviews before this surprise collaboration hinted that Smith would be working with Kanye West. While this is not confirmed yet and might even be considered as a joke, the fact that Smith is slightly returning from his singing career means that working with Kanye can also be a possibility.

http://laurenceourac.com/will-smith-returns-not-on-the-silver-screen-but-with-a-new-track-release/

Experience Music All-Out with Rachid Taha

Age does not really matter when a person’s best interest is to entertain and make other people happy.

The aforementioned notion is the key mantra of Rachid Taha, a multi-talented artist carving his name onto Europe’s healthy music scene, and he doesn’t have any plans of ending his career despite turning 57 this September.

Rachid Taha is one of many European artists who delved and thrived into giving their audience the best of every known music genre, and so far, he has established his influence in a plethora of music-crazed fans since 1980.

With the wide array of styles that he has shown the public and mastered over time, Rachid Taha is considered as one of the pillars of Europe’s music industry.

Originating from the imposing city of Sig, Algeria, Rachid Taha is a well-known human activist, aside from the fact that he can really make music.

Focusing on various genres such as rock, the local genre called rai and Algerian chaabi, rumba-pop, techno, dance and punk rock, Rachid truly has amazing showmanship to witness every single time he steps on stage.

Many music experts tagged Rachid Taha’s music as quite unnerving and enjoyable all at the same time.

His refreshing take on every genre he chooses to play speaks of flair and tenure, and his presence is not so easy to ignore.

The place where Rachid Taha was born is also his first inspiration for liking and cultivating his inner talent through the music genre called rai.

The influence of the Maghreb Region from where he spend most of his teenage life is also a major factor behind how he came to love different genres of music.

He started the spark by being a DJ at night as a sideline, and from there, the tracks of his success were greased into an unstoppable flight.

Before long, Rachid Taha got into fusing huge names in the industry into his Arabic DJ mash-ups with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Kraftwerk and Bo Diddley.

His inclination towards combining familiar musical styles with the modern is of his greatest strengths.

Many music critics have praised Taha’s brave take into using local and native instruments, which produced sounds on different wavelengths pleasing not only the ear but making the entire listening experience all the more enjoyable.

Through the course of his career, Rachid Taha has successfully drawn four major studio albums from his sleeves entitled Carte de Sejour (1983), Rhorhomanie (1984), 2 ½ (Deux et Demi in 1986) and Ramsa (1987).

When it comes to promotional and studio tracks, many fans who have adored Rachid Taha from the very beginning would definitely remember songs such as Voila, Voila, Abdel Kader, Ya Rayah, Ida, Wesh, Now or Never, Bleu Dr Marseille, Douce France and Ramsa.

http://laurenceourac.com/experience-music-all-out-with-rachid-taha/

The queer perfomer in Jamiroquai

If there were one talented artist that exudes weirdness in an interesting way, it would be Jamiroquai. The era of early 2000 was once dominated by his music and unusual sound that grasped the attention of fans from all over the world.

Jamiroquai, read as “juh-meer-o-kwy,” is actually an English band formed in the ’90s led by Jason Kay. The quartet was part of the acid movement in London together with other groups like those of Incognito, Brand New Heavies, Galliano and Curduroy. The acid jazz movement is a a genre that combines funk, hip-hop and jazz.

The band went through many changes and revisions until the current lineup became Derrick McKenzie, Sola Akingbola, Rob Harris, matt Johnson, Paul Turner, Lorraine McIntosh, Hazel Fernandez and Sam Smith alongside the original vocalist Jason Kay. Like what happens to most bands, the spotlight was focused more on the vocalist. It is not impossible since Kay exudes a queer sense emanating from his weird hats and luxurious lifestyle.

The band’s first single entitled When You Gonna Learn was released in 1992. Since then, the band continued to top both the UK and US Billboard charts. Their third album ‘Traveling Without Moving’ set the bar high, as it was responsible for them conquering even the US market. In 1997, the band won four awards in that year’s MTV Music Awards including Video of the Year, Best Breakthrough Artist, Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. A Duo or Group with Vocals at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards also awarded as Best Pop Performance the band in 1998.

While the rhythm conveyed by the bands songs are upbeat, the lyrics make a lot of sense since it translates expressions about mankind, personal experiences and the world in general. Kay, who is personally involved, along with other band members when it comes to song writing, has been vocal when it comes to their opinions with general points like climate change, bent politics and poverty. 

This is palpable and first realized on their debut album named ‘Emergency Planet’ produced in 1993.The success of the band is plain and evident as they are recorded to have sold over 40 million albums worldwide.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-queer-perfomer-in-jamiroquai/

The Undeniable Influence of El General in Reggaeton

Whilst most of us have been introduced to Reggaeton during the early 2000s, many avid fans have known that the one of the pillars of this music genre would have to be El General. Reggaeton started as an underground music genre and grew into a full-blown musical frenzy currently being adored by many music lovers from all over the world.

But Reggaeton wouldn’t have been conceptualized, nor even be thought of, without the help of El General. You might find his name rather funny, but it speaks so much of his passion to expound the reach that Reggaeton has and could have, with a strong belief that it should be heard by all forms of people.

Born Edgardo Franco, the now 51-year old talented reggaeton artist made his mark during the early 1990s, where he initiated a quirky Spanish dance hall that paved the way to the conception of reggaeton.

Entering the world of sounds and lyrics at the early age of 12, he found his calling through the roots of their humble home. Like any other man who hoped for a better life, El General endowed his teenage years studying and crafting songs that he will soon spread through his music. He fully committed to his undying love for music at the age of 19, where he exposed himself to more avenues and channels.

It was in 1994 when El General finally penetrated the music scene by being a guest singer to C+C Music Factory’s album entitled ‘Anything Goes’. During this time, El General worked closely with Chino Rodriguez, a well-known music impresario in the Latin music scene.

El General’s initial offering to the world was a sals-inspired track entitled ‘Boriqua Anthem Part 2’, which was performed at the Madison Square Garden in front of a gargantuan audience. This specific performance established El General’s potential and charisma as most of the people who watched the show gave nothing but the loveliest feedback.

During the entire course of his career, El General made a huge impact in reggaeton as one of the longest staying artists from the beginning of the genre. He was able to establish a strong foothold in album making, as he was skilled enough to produce a total of seventeen albums which all have a merit of their own. He started making his career official with the release of ‘No Me Va a Matar’ in 1990 which had its fair share of accolades from music critics.

This major album gave El General the attention that he deserves, and the album reached Gold status in a matter of months. El General signed up with different music firms that strengthened his career over the years such as RCA International, BMG and Sony Music Latin. Aside from being a full-pledged singer, El Genelral is also known to be adept at playing some Reggaeton instruments such as the drums and keyboards.

Some of the most famous albums that El General put on the table include Muevelo Con el General (1991), Es Mundial (1994), Rapa Pan Pan (1997), Move It Up (1998), Coleccion Original (1998), Serie 2000 (2000), Back to the Original (2001), General De Fiesta (2002), compilation album El General: The Hits (2003) and the latest one before he resigned for retirement, La Ficha Clave (2004). Despite his regrettable decision to retire early, El General is still involved in several things that will make people happy, such as keeping his foundation, namely ‘Poor Children Without Borders’, alive in Panama City, and being a dedicated host to a certain show in Radio Kids.

http://laurenceourac.com/the-undeniable-influence-of-el-general-in-reggaeton/