Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Sunday, December 9, 2012

12 Day of Holiday Giveaways: Day 8 Gift of Music


Nothing takes you to more places at once without having to leave where you are then music.
It speaks to you like no other can and all people of all nationalities and language can understand it.

One of the things I love the most about Christmas is the music!
From the classics sung by Elvis Presley and Nat King Cole to the new generation like She & Him and Christina Perri.

My name isn't Carol for nothing, you know.  My grandfather was a big fan of Christmas Carols and actually played a big part in naming me Carolynn.  I grew up with Christmas Carols echoing my home every December and It's just a wonderful coincidence I took a huge liking to the sweet melodies of the season.
I still remember growing up in the church as a young little girl, I'd take part in the choir and Holiday festivities and even memorable times when we would go into the homes of various families (many of which are less fortunate) and sing Christmas Carols.

So much joy this music brings to the hearts of many, especially mine.

Day 8 of Carol Au Courant's 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways, I'm so happy to be sharing the gift of music with you all.  One of my readers will win an amazing Christmas Album including some of my all-time favourite Christmas CD's.
The bundle includes: Michael Buble Christmas, Christina Perri, Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas 11 You, A Jolly Christmas with Frank Sinatra, Blake Shelton Cheer's, it's Christmas, A Very She & Him Christmas, Surfjan Stevens Songs for Christmas & Lady Antebellum On this Christmas Night.

Wow! Give yourself or someone you care for the gift of music.

To enter, simply complete any or all entries below via rafflecopter.
*Open to Canada only. Ends 12/12.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thursday, March 1, 2012

Music & Déja Vu


All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects 
and feelings which motivated it.
~ Jean Cocteau



It's true.
Music always takes you somewhere. Wherever you want it to.  
Sometimes places you don't want it to, sometimes places you forgot about but suddenly remembered, sometimes to those very moments in our lives that we cherish and have such profound memories of.

Today I was having one of those days where I was going through emails, reading blogs & articles, catching up with old friends on Skype and all while doing so, I decided to log onto good 'ol YouTube and play a music video of a song that suddenly popped in my head while talking to a friend.  
A song that I haven't heard in years!

If you're familiar with YouTube, once you play one music video, on the right they would provide a list of suggested videos of other songs that were popular during that same time that song you were playing was, including more songs from that artist.
Hello Memories! 

Playing song after song, even seeing some that I totally forgot about but once it played, had my mind surge with a bounteous amount of memories.  I was suddenly back in high school or college or that time when my husband and I first started dating.  Amazing where music can take you.


It also made me realize how much better music was back in the day than it is now. *sigh*
I do enjoy Top 40 and modern day music but nothing ever compares to the music that you grew up with, right?


Sometimes after my husband and I have a little spat, if I listen to music that reminds me of those times, you know the "honeymoon" phase of our relationship, it really softens my heart.  Music does that to you.
It puts your heart in a place that it should be in.  

Have you listened to some music today?
Try going back in time with older music from those days way back when and see where it takes you.
It's a nostalgic, beautiful déja vu.

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Monday, February 13, 2012

Post-Grammys 2012 Wrap-up

Where do I start?

Who do you think was best-dressed?
This years 54th annual Grammy Awards was jam-packed with colour, glam, action and spectacular performances from popular artists including some famous older ones such as The Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, Bonnie Rait, Paul McCartney and more!
Despite the abundance of performances, my emotions are mixed about last nights awards show.

Before I ramble on, I'd like to first say that I was very impressed with the winners in each genre (with the exception of one - I'll explain after).  It was the first time in a while that I've actually seen artists that truly deserve the win, WIN! Artists like Bon Iver, Lady Antebellum, Adele, Foo Fighters & more. Considering their more "popular" competitors.

I was ecstatic for Adele. She made a big appearance after recovering from risky throat surgery sweeping the Grammys with SIX awards including Best Album of the Year! Only one other female artist has done that and that was Beyoncé, who by the way was MIA along with hubby, Jay-Z.  Funny tweets were circulating twitter saying, "I wish Beyonce & Jay-Z would get on stage and present their baby to the world like Mufasa did in the Lion King."  Ha-ha!


Back to Adele. She not only sounded fabulous she oozed fabulosity too! She wore a gorgeous, figure-flattering custom Giorgio Armani gown featuring sequined ring-designs with black mesh overlay and a grosgrain panel on the front. Her short blonde hair with old-hollywood waves and bright red lip complimented it perfectly.  
This all after receiving a negative comment from famed designer, Karl Lagerfeld recently where he commented to Metro: "The thing at the moment is Adele. She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice."
What?! That was totally unnecessary and so tactless to say the least.


She shone bright and she captured the ears, hearts and respect from all her fans (old and new) with her performance and her humble attitude upon receiving her awards. The world needs more artists like Adele.

Another voice that will echo in the hearts and minds of all music-lovers alike was, of course, non other than Whitney Houston.
A beautiful tribute was sung by Jennifer Hudson (who has the most amazing voice) where she paid homage with her rendition of I'll Always Love You. Her eyes glistened as she fought back tears and sung powerfully and emotionally from the heart.  It must have been a very tough performance for her.  She did wonderful.


Okay, now from beautiful and heartfelt to plain ol' creepy - what in God's name was up with Nicki Minaj's performance?! When she first stepped foot on the red carpet in a crazy red riding hood get-up arm in arm with what looked like a Pope, I knew we were in for something rather interesting. Interesting does not describe her performance last night. Disturbing, horrendous and controversial is more like it.

I'm an appreciator of musical arts. I like unique and I enjoy seeing something different every now and then. But this was just too much for me. And many others according to Twitter.


Nicki Minaj offered a chilling performance of her new single "Roman Holiday," which came complete with an on-stage exorcism, religious imagery and even a Pope impersonator. 
Hello, nightmares!

To top off the creepiness factor of this years Grammys, how about offering a man that has abused and been charged against it from his famous girlfriend, Rihanna, just 4 years ago at the Grammys an award for best R&B Album? I'm talking about Chris Brown.  I just wasn't very pleased to see this at all. 
And he performed RIGHT after Whitney Houston's tribute. Talk about awful timing.
One tweeter tweeted, "We go from a beautiful tribute of a woman who suffered from abuse to a cheesy auto tuned performance of an abuser. Sounds like the Grammys." (@unbrelievable)


What was even more upsetting were the reactions from young female Chris Brown fans during and after his performances last night. See them here.


A few other good performances in my opinion were Foo Fighters (rocked it out!) with one of my fav songs of the year, Walk, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Rait's tribute to the late Etta James, Deadmau5, Tony Bennett with Carrie Underwood and I really liked the Beach Boys' performance including their renditions from Maroon 5 and Foster the People.

Overall, this years Grammys was definitely a good one, with deserving wins and some mind-blowing performances but I'm hoping they will see what the world has to say about a few of their odd choices and make the right ones next year! That's just my two cents.

Did you catch the Grammys last night? What did you think of it? What was your favourite performance of the night?


Credits: Celebuzz.com (photo)

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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

90's calling: Mazzy Star Comeback


Preview Mazzy Star Comeback Single "Common Burn" b/w "Lay Myself Down"


Iconic ’90s outfit Mazzy Star is set to return later this month, releasing two singles on 10/31. Hear previews of those singles, “Common Burn” and “Lay Myself Down” via their Amazon pages. While singer Hope Sandoval has remained active with her band the Warm Inventions, this is the first new music from Mazzy Star, which is built around principal members Sandoval and guitarist David Roback, in over a decade.


I was a big fan of Mazzy Star amongst other Pop/Indie Band's in the 90's. The time when Grunge, House, Hip Hop & R&B were at their finest.  Music in general was at it's finest.


Here's one of my favourite songs from Mazzy Star back in the days: Fade Into You. You know the song! ;)



I cannot wait to hear their comeback single's! I hope they don't disappoint. 
GEN Y music could use some Gen X. Bring it back! :)

Credits: stereogum.com
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