myPod: Retrograde

via YouTube

 

Devour Beauty's tune of the week: Retrograde by James Blake. Boy is talent.  Obsessed with his voice.

myPod: Microwave Jenny

via YouTube

 

About 4 years ago I used to head out on a Wednesday night to get some culture with a group of friends and friends of friends.  We'd see a play, the symphony or hit a live music venue.  The Basement is of course one of my favourite live spots in the city...and it was here that I discovered an absolute gem of an Aussie duo.  We were there to see some big soul band rock out but I honestly can't even remember who it was.  All I remember is this gorgeous pop folk duo, Microwave Jenny.  From the moment Tessa Nuku's sweet sound started I was absolutely hooked.  She has this incredibly light, bright but effortless voice which sometimes has a darling little crack in it.  Her (now husband) Brendan is equally talented, and his sweet harmonies make the music soar.  

 

The above song, When you don't call is a recent favourite.  I love this song, because it encapsulates perfectly that feeling when you're waiting for someone to call.  Slightly teen angsty of me, but I've never pretended to be above that...

 

What's awesome about seeing this raw youtube clip is how similar it sounds to the recorded version - no autotune here!  They also kill at covers.  But you'll have to see them in concert to get the best.  They're playing at the Vanguard on Oct 5 - tickets here.

 

Some other faves you should absolutely check out: I'll Never Learn; my summer fave, Summer or this totally fun cover of MmmBop.

 

My day is beggin' to be talked about...

 

 

myPod: Frank Ocean

via Youtube

I'm late to the party, but Frank Ocean is incredible.  And I can't get this song out of my head.  Soul.

myPod: Higher Love

via YouTube

 

Love this cover of 80s classic, Higher Love (originally by Steve Winwood) by Irish folkster, James Vincent McMorrow - he's awesome.  I also love "We Don't Eat".

Skinny love, heavy talent

via Youtube

 

This a favourite song for many of us, so beautiful.  But this version, from this very young lady - well, it's just so very beautiful seeing talent like this.  I'm loathe to post an X-Factor clip, but just, wow.  The second best thing about this clip (after her singing), is the look on the judges' faces when each of them simultaneously realise that they can't sing anything like this.  The worst part of this clip is when Ronan Keating gets up on the table and quite frankly, interrupts.

 

And won't it be fine!

via All Things Stylish

The best is yet to come.  And won't it be fine!  I love this.  And I particularly love the Nancy Wilson version of this song - it's a song about love, but I actually identify with it as a beautiful sentiment to apply to life.  In any case, the song sort of soars with a special kind of lightness and carefree feeling bouyed by the vocals of the divine Ms Wilson (one of my favourite singers).  Happy listening.

The way you move me, it's crazy

via YouTube

It took me a while to get on the page with this guy but better late than never right?  If you haven't yet - you need to. A special someone introduced me to Ray LaMontagne back in 2008 - the special someone didn't last but by gosh the music does ... every so often I come back to it and it just hits me.  This is a particular favourite - so full of soul, I can't stand it.  This is one I'd love to sing in my imaginary cabaret show...

Baby
It's been a long day, baby
Things ain't been going my way
And now i need you here
To clear my mind all the time

And baby
The way you move me, it's crazy
It's like you see right through me
And make it easier
Believe me, you don't even have to try

[chorus]
Oh, because
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing)
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing, baby)
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing, oooh)
Ever happened to me

Baby
We've come a long way
And baby
You know i hope and i pray
That you believe me
When i say this love will never fade away

[chorus]
Oh, because
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing)
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing, baby)
You are the best thing
(you're the best thing, oooh)
Ever happened to me

Both of us had no love before
(to come on promising like a spring to walk on out the door)?
Our words are strong and our hearts are kind
Let me tell you just exactly what's on my mind

Oh, Whitney

via YouTube

Digging through my iTunes on shuffle and keep coming back to the Glee Whitney episode.  This is possibly one of my most favourite Glee performances ever - I don't know how I haven't posted it yet.  I mean, it's sort of ridiculous how excited I am to sing this.  Can't wait to get my Rachel (slash Mercedes) on in September.

Ben Howard, call me maybe?

Not quite as much fun as the Abercrombie & Fitch boys or the Harvard baseball team lip synching Carly Rae Jepsen's (aka Justin Beiber's "protege") annoyingly infectious Call Me Maybe number but pretty damn awesome.  Kind of love this.

Dare you to let me be your one and only

via Youtube

We've all been a bit obsessed with Rolling in the Deep, Turning Tables, Someone Like You and Rumour Has It...but Adele's 21 is full of gorgeous, gorgeous songs that I am dying to sing.  One and Only is my current favourite, and pretty much empitomises my general ethos when it comes to music: "all I want in music is heartbreaking romance".  I'm already writing my next cabaret show in my head, just so I can perform this.  Incredible live version above.

You've been on my mind
I grow fonder every day,
Lose myself in time
Just thinking of your face
God only knows
Why it's taken me so long
To let my doubts go
You're the only one that I want

I don't know why I'm scared, I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all,
You never know if you never try
To forgive your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
Promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts
I've been on your mind
You hang on every word I say
Lose yourself in time at the mention of my name
Will I ever know how it feels to hold you close?
And have you tell me whichever road I choose you'll go

I don't know why I'm scared 'cause I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all,
You'll never know if you never try
To forgive your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove that I'm the one who can
Walk that mile until the end starts

I know it ain't easy
Giving up your heart
I know it ain't easy
Giving up your heart

I could drink a case of you, darling

A stunning video to say Happy New Year from Devour Beauty.  Thanks to Dangerously Debonair for the heads up on this soulful cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" and its accompanying beautiful video.  PS: this is what real lyrics are about. 

Thunder and hearts

via Forever on the Hips

I just love this quote...and just listened to the Kate Bush song it comes from 'Running Up the Hill'.  She is pretty magnificent, old school video effects aside.  Placebo also covered it a few years back.

myPod: Glee rocking the mashup (again)

I just can't get enough of this.  Divine, divine, divine.  I love the Adele version of both songs obviously - but hearing them both together in mash-up, with a whole lot of emotion is super fun.  Santana and Mercedes rock this.  The Troubletones storyline is great for the music.

Bon Iver touching the classics

Incredible cover of an old school classic...I love the Nancy Wilson version.  Loving the heartbreaking piano intro here. 

"Somehow I've never been more sure that you're for me"

I've posted before about my songster crush on Darren Criss aka Blaine from Glee.  Loving and playing on repeat this super cute vibe by Charlene Kaye (who is like a cross between Adele and Regina Spector with a little more whimsy) featuring DC.  Can't get enough of the harmonies.

Getting my Rachel Barry on

via Vogue.com

Lea Michele in Moschino for Vogue's September issue.  Just getting inspired for our little Glee performance in 10 days xx

Perfect song for a beautiful Sydney day...wait, it's not summer yet? Feels like it.

Why dontcha come out? The time is now.

Miseducation

After getting fed up waiting for the three-hour late Ms Hill, one could be forgiven for approaching security at the Music Hall of Williamsburg to ask who we could talk to about a refund.  A near smack-up almost ensued with a very large man; luckily his door-colleague stepping in to save us and we were assured that Ms. Hill was "in the building" and begrudgingly returned inside.  When she finally arrived onstage to a chorus of boos from the 300-strong audience (a quarter of whom had already left) Ms Hill, the patron saint of my singing youth, was unremarkable in her appearance onstage (complete in African coloured mu-mu, possibly with a pillow sewn into the back - hard to say).  Her first song, a Bob Marley cover, gave me a suspicious pause with its lacking vocals and vibe.  But we stayed the course and were indeed rewarded.

Ms Hill made up for her tardiness with a string of hits from her post-Fugee solo album, "The Miseducation....of Lauryn Hill" and rocked out a number of Fugee songs that made you remember that before the Peas, there were the Fugees.  Looking around the crowd of diehard fans, one could see the euphoria on their faces.  It was hard not to feel cleansed by her rich, smoky timbre (albeit a little raspy); like a familiar old friend the lyrics to "When it hurts so bad", "Ex-factor" and "To Zion" flowed fast and quick.  When she sung "To Zion" it was hard not to romanticize the young boy on the second level of the music hall who rested his head on his hands and looked in awe at Ms Hill, as Zion.  Though surely too young, it was a nice thought.  An even nicer thought was the rumour that Prince was also up there on second level listening to the reclusive singer.

With those final words, "Brooklyn thank you for your patience, thank you for your support; it's so good to see you again" and after a string of her solo and Fugee hits she had won her over with her words, with her voice - that rich, silky yet throaty voice that shakes a heart when she sings up the octave or changes key; that melts a heart to its knees.  And she finally delivered with her two biggest commercial hits: "Killing me softly" and "Doo-wop (That thing)".

Oh Lauryn, with your 3h lateness, but the magic emanating from the stage - never have the words in Ex-factor been so true: "...it could all be so simple but you'd rather make it hard...loving you is like a battle..."

You think I'm pretty, without any makeup on

If this Glee cover of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dreams" doesn't make your heart skip and soar, then at least the "orgasmic/died and gone to heaven" look on Kurt's face at discovering The Warblers will surely bring a smile to your face.  It certainly made my old boyband sensibilities from the ninth grade do a pirouette.

"Let you put your hands on me, in my skin-tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight..."