Great interviews & Great live: Arctic Monkeys at KCRW

On YouTube you can find this amazing series of clips from Arctic Monkey's performances live on air with KCRW from 2005 and 2007. In 2007 they look really cute and young and are just starting out and in 2007 you can see that they are a bit world experienced but still quite cute and they do it so so good live. I love how they communicate and have fun while they play :) I have to see them live some time in the near future. The easiest way to find these clips is probably to search for Arctic Monkeys KCRW at YouTube. There are so many clips at different persons that I haven't got the time to organize them and paste them all here now. But here is A Certain Romance from 2005.



Interview from 2005



And the first part of the 2007 session:

Musical Memories: Marie Fredriksson - Sparvöga

When I was about nine there was a Swedish TV-series about a girl that they called Sparvöga (Sparrow's eye) on TV. I do not remember at all what the series was about but it made a big impression on me then and even more so the theme song. For about 20 years now I have been walking around humming this tune from time to time. I had totally forgotten to search for it at YouTube and of course it was there. It's in Swedish, but even if you don't understand the lyrics, the whole melody of the song and the feel of it is so amazing that I am sure you will enjoy it.

These are a few of my favorite Christmas-things II

About 5 minutes ago I finally felt the Christmas spirit. I have been waiting for this a bit and I always knew that Nat King Cole's - The Christmas Song would put my in a Christmas mood, but I was quite surprised of the impact the song had on me. I literary felt the the Christmas spirit float into me and actually ran over to my mother's chest of ornaments and put up a few more. Finally I feel ready for some Christmas. Great :)

So here is the song that makes me feel like Christmas :)

These are a few of my favorite Christmas-things

This is a series of my favorite Christmas-things, since it's Christmas :) This is a commercial for NSB (Norwegian train company) and it has a lot of details that are connected to Norwegian Christmas traditions, songs etc. It's kind of hard to explain to foreigners I suspect, but at least you will see Bambi on the ice, the girl with the cell phone that symbolize that crazy bird that Donald Duck tries to take a photograph of and Chip and Dale in a tree. Clips from Christmas classics are always shown on Norwegian TV on the 24th of December. Also you will probably see Cinderella in there. This is also another TV tradition. Every year Norwegian TV shows a Czech version of Cinderella that has for some strange reason become a tradition: Cinderella and the three nuts. And also.. It really captures that feeling of siting on the train and going home to Christmas that I love. I wish we could have some snow, so I really could get that Christmas feeling :) Enjoy!

Musical Memories & Great Musicians: Last Christmas (Wham) - Graham Choo

As Christmas is fast approaching, I think one of the most classic Christmas songs of my childhood is "Last Christmas" by Wham. (Yes, kids. That used to be the band of George Michael and some guy that everyone forgot-)

I was looking for an alternate cover of the song and I found tons of them. One of the greatest was this one by Graham Choo . He does a classic guitar version of it. Really well done and makes me think that I have to practice guitar more like that too ;)

Enjoy :)

Musical memories: The Snowman - I am walking in the air

Since Christmas is soon approaching I give you one of my fondest Christmas memories. I love this song and this animation film when I was a child. For a few years they didn't show it on NRK (Norwegian National TV station) on Christmas eve and I thought it was really sad. I had such amazing memories from seeing it as a child. And then a few years ago I saw it again and it's truly amazing. I am sorry that the movie is in such bad quality but it was the only one I found with the original song. Do you remember this? Was it popular around the world? The movie is called "The Snowman", and this is just a part of the whole movie.

Great band & musical memories: Toadies

In the late 90's I used to date an American. That left it's mark on my music taste (in a good way). I started to listen to Tool and Pixies and also the less known band Toadies. Today to my great surprise and joy I realized that Toadies are back and playing and making music again! I loved the one album I've got of them. So much great melodies and the way the lines in the guitars, bass and vocals cross each other and change is just beautiful. They do some amazing rhythm changes too in the middle of their song. It's lovely and funkey and rocky and great. I also really like their lyrics that often er quite wild and almost like crime stories sometimes like in Tyler. Some think that song is about a rapist. I think it's about sneaking in to see your girl in the middle of the night, but it might just be me that are too romantic ;) Anyways, here is one of the new songs "No deliverance" And this is their MySpace page.

No Deliverance "Road" video


And here are two true classics.. Possum Kingdom and Tyler: (Sad that they are only live, but it's impossible to find the album version. The live versions are great too, but the album versions are amazing and has that final touch to it.

Great songs: Stoppa Mig Juni (Lilla Ego) - Kent

This is one of the saddest songs ever. This is what you feel when all hope is lost in your love life and you are just so so sad. And I really love this song, melancholic as I am.. hehe.. It's somehow so so so straight from the heart and you can really feel the pain. Jocke Berg must have been so so sad when he wrote the songs for Hagnesta Hill, the album it's from. The whole melody is so haunting and the lyrics made me cry the first time I sat down and listened to it. At the same time it feels really good.. It's something about the fact when all hope is lost that makes one feel free because it can't get any worse and that's quite liberating in a way. Here is the video. Below you find the lyrics. I have also found the lyrics in English though it is 100 times better in Swedish.. You loose some of the details in the English translation.



Someone has said that I'm a coward
Little Ego be ashamed
That I always stood there behind and agreed
You can feel the truth
I've followed you secretly in the cold
For a whole day
To return
the excuse
that I stole

Take the two and sit alone in the back
Little Ego sit still
I've walked in your footsteps all day
To Hagnesta Hill
The first snow has fallen, everything is slippery
And I left my scarf
at a bus stop
outside town

I gather all my courage there at the alley
Little Ego has escaped
I screamed with breaking voice "I hate you"
As a child I was cruel
This feeling I have
is not mine
It stayed behind, is it yours?
It tastes like you

It is tears
Can one cry like a man?
Please forgive me
I forgot who I was
Please stop listening
Forget everything I said
I'm fine
You have to leave me alone

It is tears
Can one cry like a man?
Please forgive me
I forgot who I was
Please stop listening
Forget everything I said
I'm fine
You have to leave me alone

I don't need any help
If you want to help, help yourself
I don't need any help
So leave me alone
Leave me alone

Någon hade sagt att jag var feg
Lilla Ego fy skäms
Att Jag alltid stod där bakom och höll med
Sanningen känns
Jag har skuggat dig i kylan
en hel dag
för att lämna tillbaks
den undanflykt
som Jag stal

Tar 2:an sitter ensam längst bak
Lilla Ego sitt still
Jag har gått i dina fotspår hela dan
till Hagnesta Hill
Den första snön har fallit allt är halt
och min halsduk blev kvar
på en hållplats
utanför stan...

Jag samlar allt mitt mod där vid allén
Lilla Ego har rymt
Jag skrek med målbrottsröst jag hatar er
som barn var jag grym
Den här känslan som Jag har
är inte min
Den blev kvar, är den din?
Den smakar som Du...

Det är tårar
Kan man gråta som en karl?
Snälla Du förlåt mig
Jag glömde vem Jag var
snälla sluta lyssna
Glöm allt Jag sa
Jag mår bra
Du måste lämna mig i fred

Det är tårar
Kan man gråta som en karl?
Snälla Du förlåt mig
Jag glömde vem Jag var
snälla sluta lyssna
Glöm allt Jag sa
Jag mår bra
Du måste lämna mig i fred

Jag behöver ingen hjälp
Vill Du hjälpa hjälp dig själv
Jag behöver ingen hjälp
så lämna mig i fred
Lämna mig i fred

Great songs: If we want it, it's right - Thomas Dybdahl

Sometimes artists really can surprise you... One of those when it comes to me is Thomas Dybdahl. I started out thinking he was really fake and not real at all.. I just couldn't feel what he was telling me I was supposed to feel. When I saw him as the lead singer for "The National Bank", a Norwegian super group at Øyafestialen in Oslo, all that changed. It was such a night to remember with long light nights and Oslo's skyline in the background. But that is another story..

I started to listen to more of his solo work and found this amazing song... It's just really beautiful and has a feel to it that is really emotional and close and atmospheric.. It has to move you, I think. On top of it all he has got the amazing Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss to include some of his thoughts as a sound clip. And those words he say was almost an awakening to me. It just felt so so true and perfect and made me think about life different :) I have tried to translate them in the lyrics below. Hope I did ok :) Hard stuff to translate.

When it comes to the music, I love how he buildes it up and then has that beautiful pause just at the right place, that makes the whole thing... Also love the melody and voice in this one.

Hope you can feel it too... Enjoy!




come
let's slip away from this damn masquerade
just take my hand and let me lead the way

Nזæss- “hvorledes kan min, hva vi kaller for livskvalitet, beholdes eller bli høyere? Og livskvalitet går overhodet ikke på hva man har, men hvordan man føler man er og hvorledes det er; hva er det som gleder oss?”

How can my so-called quality of life be kept or be heightened? And life quality is not about what you have, but how you feel you are and how that is, what makes us happy?

(gone are the voices that inspire fools
to look for love where no love ever moves)

so
let's settle in and do what lovers do
a wave of peacefullness that shoots right through

if we want it, it's right
if we want it, it's right

seems
every now and then a dream comes true
the skies turns everything from black to blue

now
maybe everything we do is wrong
a simple story turns into a song

f we want it, it`s right
if we want it, it`s right

Tv: Two and a Half Men

As I spend my day today translating to episodes of Two and a Half Men I give you the intro to the show. I really like this series and the intro always cracks me up. Good day at work ;)

Great songs & great lyrics: God - John Lennon

As most other people in the world, I am also a fan of The Beatles, but I have always liked John Lennon more than Paul for some reason. I always like his songs more. I have been listening a lot to different LastFm radio stations lately and suddenly this song came quite randomly that made me really listen to the lyrics. I rarely do that, so it was quite exceptional. It turned out that it was "God" by John Lennon. I love how intense his voice is in this one and how he screams the lyrics from his soul. They are so raw and straight forward and for the most part I agree with him. I love how they describe the state of mind he was in and how there was really no sense in most things.. Hearing him: "I don't believe in The Beatles" and how the dream is over is quite overpowering... :) I also love "I was the walrus, but now I am John".

More about the song on Wikipedia.

Apperantly this is an alternate version, but this is the one I first heard, so it's my favorite.



This the official version with some quite sad but good footage connected to the death of John Lennon:

God is a concept,
By which we can measure,
Our pain,
I'll say it again,
God is a concept,
By which we can measure,
Our pain,
I don't believe in magic,
I don't believe in I-ching,
I don't believe in bible,
I don't believe in tarot,
I don't believe in Hitler,
I don't believe in Jesus,
I don't believe in Kennedy,
I don't believe in Buddha,
I don't believe in mantra,
I don't believe in Gita,
I don't believe in yoga,
I don't believe in kings,
I don't believe in Elvis,
I don't believe in Zimmerman,
I don't believe in Beatles,
I just believe in me,
Yoko and me,
And that's reality.
The dream is over,
What can I say?
The dream is over,
Yesterday,
I was dreamweaver,
But now I'm reborn,
I was the walrus,
But now I'm John,
And so dear friends,
You just have to carry on,
The dream is over.

Film & Music: Marie Antoinette

I think Sofia Coppola has made some genius choices when it comes to music for her film about Marie Antoinette. When I first saw the movie and heard the first few songs, I was a bit shocked and not at all sure if I liked it at all, somewhere during the movie I started to love it more and more. Sofia has chosen a lot of modern music for a film that is all the rest when it comes to costumes and setting and all in the 16-1700's. This could have had a really tragic, fake, strange and bad effect but actually it just makes it amazing. Marie Anotionette's feelings in the film are underlined by the feelings also felt by the artists that made the songs almost 400 years later. For those of you who haven't seen the movie, there might be some spoilers, so be careful. I especially love that she uses modern music like The Strokes "Whatever happened" to give a portrait of Marie Antoinette for the Swedish military officer Count Fersen (?):



I also love how Ceremony by New Order is in the background of her birthdayparty.



And last but not least "I want candy". The perfect song for this queen famed for her spendings...



(Look for the Converse.. hehe)

Great interviews: Travis about safety on stage, injuries, Ode to J Smith etc.

I am in a bit of a Travis-craze still, so here is another great interview. Just a really really great interview because it's especially because it's made in Glasgow. Feels very real in a way a lot of good stories really. They are so good at telling stories.

Music: WOOOOOOOOOHOOO

Read this and scream of joy! I did and am going even if I have to go alone. I never though I would live to see the day. (Ehm.. anyone wanna come?)

Moving

About one third of my stuff.. I am getting there:)

Live: Travis at Rockefeller, Oslo

Photos by stormy at http://www.travisonline.com

So, here we go again, me and Travis. Just as I walked out from Rockefeller last night I realized that I now have seen Travis 7 times in 6 different venues. It must be only in Norway and in UK that you can have done that. As I am sure all of you have realized by now, the story of Helene and Travis go back quite far. I am not sure if they know that I exist and to be quite honest, I kind of like that. Well, I always tend to be out of the heap of people that jump around and instead jump around at the side like a freak among people standing still, so maybe... hehe.. During Turn last night I did a quite psycho "bend-back-and-the-throw-my-arms-forward" and I am quite mr Dunlup cought that one..

Anyways,.. I got to Rockefeller around 8.30 and my friend was passing outside and said they just passed her. For me and her it was just so great to be back at Rockefeller together and to see a band that we also have such good memories of seeing together. The highlight was when it started raining during "Why does it always rain on me". That was an amazing moment for anyone I think. But Rockefeller is Rockefeller. It's a quite small venue and quite intimate, so the concerts there are NEVER bad. I just love the place. So great memories and such a great atmosphere.

To our slight surprise, the place was not full. We knew that the concert wasn't sold out and we spent some time there thinking "why, people must be crazy to don't see this". We took our places at the right side, the Andy-side. This time it was quite randomly, but as a guitarist I love to see what he does and also there is a chance that great things might happen during "All I wanna do is rock", like stage diving, climbing and whatever he feels like.

The concert started up with lots of new songs from the new album and they were just amazing live... And as I listen to them now, they of course sound even better having seen them live. I haven't seen the boys so filled with energy for years... Everything was just flowing and there were extrem amounts of jumping, running, hugging during songs and smiling up there. I ended up at about the 5th row so really really close and me and my friend kept laughing about Dougie. He just stands there beaming at the audience and it kind of feels like he sees you everytime... hehe.

During "Love will come through" it really started to get crazy. Fran ordered everyone to be a metronome with swinging their hands back and forth, before he song and we kept it going. I think he was a bit surpised, because in the middle of the song he said something like it must be hurting our arms and said we could just move from side to side instead. So we did, but of course raised our hands again a little later. We can take that pain for such a great band.

Around this time Fran told a very cute story about his son Clay. Last time in Norway he had brought back a bottle of Norwegian bottled water. Clay was somehow totally crazy for this water and called it Norway water. So when his father had asked him earlier that day what he wanted from Norway, the answer was "NORWAY WATER". It turned out that the backstage had a whole fridge of Imsdal Norwegian Water, so you can imagine Clays reaction to a whole fridge of Norway water. Apparently he almost lost his marbles.. hehe

"Sing" and "Side" was great as always and "Side" even had an extra long and rocky solo amazing. Then came "Falling Down" and Fran jumped into the audience and song the whole song from there. That basically meant that he was gone in the middle of the crowd duing the whole song as there is no way he can be taller than Norwegians. But a beautiful stunt and gave the whole song a lot of extra feeling. (see photo above, thanks to "stormy" on the Travis homepage, he was clooser than me.:)

Then there was time for the legendary U16 girls, and I jumped around like a crazy person and you could see who had been Travis fans for a long time and not.

At the end of the set it was time for "All I wanna do is rock" and it was amazing as always. Andy did the climb this time and I can not understand how he don't break bones or fall down. Great showmanship... hehehe. "Before you where young" was amazing.. It was something really passionate about it that really got to me.. And Turn (one of my favorites, and maybe the lyrics that has ment to much to me) I was basically going totally crazy.

After that it was time for a little break. I was getting tiered and I can only imagine how the boys felt. Exspecially Dougie in a very very cool-looking, but must be very hot coat.
Fran and Andy emerged back on stage and did the dumbfoundingly good cover of Kate Perrys, "I kissed a girl" where they even shared a mic just to make fun of the lyrics. That guitarriff makes the song so so much better. I have to sit down and learn that. I have done great success with Hit me baby for a few years now ;)

The concert ended in familiar fashion. All the boys linded up with the arms around each other at the front of the stage and did "Flowers in the window" and it's always quite cute. I realized that Neil had really big problems hiting the tambourine at the right places.. hmm.. ;)

The whole thing ended, not surprisingly with "Why does it always rain on me?". And we even did the jump to the whole last courus thing with Fran ordering everyone to stand up... Very good, as I can't belive how people can sit on a concert like that.

I went home beaming, bought a bottle of Norway water on the way and was really happy with a heart filled with THANK YOU.

It's hard to descirbe.. I can write words as amazing, good feeling, very electric performance, but it's one of thoose events that your really had to be there, so make sure you are next time won't you. To me, it seams that they are just getting better and better.. They seam more and more sure of themselves, and as for me, I hope for more rock albums and that they keep going a lot longer.

And oh, I have from a reliable source that Neils timing was due to severe drunkeness and that he wasn't the only one.. hehe... Well, that kind of just makes it better in a way.. I mean.. All I wanna do is rock ;)

Great music videos: Travis - Tied to the 90's

This video is nothing less than amazing. All Travis videos are great and I love all the details in this one and how they have duplicated the band so many times. A great song for all of us that love the 90's :) All you can say is really "Hey!"... Amazing live also... I love this one. You have to be happy when you hear it :)

I love how they look so young and cute and fresh. Neil still has long hair, Fran has all his hair and rosy cheeks and Andy has glasses. Dougie on the other hand looks exactly the same and just as cool today.

HEY!

Great songs & great live: U16 girls - Travis

On Monday I am going off to see one of my favorite bands Travis again. This time I am so lucky as to see them on a really small stage (but very legendary) stage in Oslo: Rockefeller. It should be an unforgetable experience as it's very intimate and they are amazing live. To celebrate this joyful event and to bring out more Travis fans, since there are still tickets left, I give you the legendary "U16 girls" from a live show in 2001 where Travis played live in their hometown Glasgow. Must be the peak of the career so far. I love the how direct the lyrics are, though they have been joking the last years that they think it's a bit weird to sing about that underage girls now that their are so much older... hehe.. It's that kind of song that makes you jump up and down and sing along... A great rock song and I am glad they are back to a bit more rock songs at their last album and back to their roots somehow and the days when they warmed up for Oasis. Here you go.

I met a girl in l a
The million dollar kind
She was all for all or nothing
She was open all the time
But when I called her number
Her mothers on the line sayin
Youve no business
As gods my witness
With a child as young as mine
So make sure that shes old enough
Before you blow your mind
She may look like she knows enough
But look in her eye
And if so
Let her go
Youll let her down in style
I met a girl in paris
She talked like vera lynn
And her eyes were full of dew drop
The moment I walked in
She was awfully nice
The kind that likes to win
But if Id been wiser
A whole lot wiser
Then I might have thought again
Chorus
Chorus

Friday Fun: Final Countdown - One Man Band

Just watch and enjoy :)

Great songs: Når hele himmelen faller ned - Anne Grete Preus

Snow in March by ~Helenert on deviantART
Photo from a showstorm in Oslo in March last year. The show really made this crowded part of Oslo really quiet.


My favorite song for days like today when it's snowing a lot is the Norwegian singer and songwriter Anne Grete Preus's "Når himmelen faller ned" - (when the heaven falls down). I don't really like her other songs, but this song is amazing. I haven't found anywhere online where you can hear it. It's exactly how Oslo feels when it's first starting to snow. I still love the lyrics, so I decided to translate them for you:

(spotify link to the song) (updated 7.12.2011)

It's snowing
Heavens correcting fluid over a misspelled summer
And listen
The noise of the city disappears under falling floods
We have learned that no snowflakes are identical
and wonders like that is something to think about for a while
I lean my head all the way back
and get a icekiss on my mouth
and get a icekiss

It's snowing
mute star sisters from invisible mouths
And dizzy from the attack of swarming soundless seconds
Today the earth is conquered by a heavenly army
and with out weapons the city is forced to it's knees
Everything moves a little slower on earth
when the heaven is falling down
when the heaven is falling down

Thanks for all the useless snow
troubles and voes
Today the earth is conquered by a heavenly army
without bombs and grenades
The city is forced to it's knees
Everything moves a little slower on earth
when the heaven is falling down
when the heaven is falling down

Great live clips and great lyrics: Elton John -Rocket Man

For years and years I have kind of hated Elton John, but since this song was on that before mentioned commercial I have really fallen in love with it. This is a great live version of Elton in 1976 sans wig or hat. But with big glasses and lovely pianoplaying.



I also have fallen totally in love with the lyrics:
She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It's lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

And I think it's gonna be a long long time
Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone

Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man

And I think it's gonna be a long long time...

Great collaborations: Do They Know it's Christmas? - Band Aid

Ladies and gents, it's time for some 80's Christmas-spirit. And also for another great collaboration... I mean, this must really be THE collaboration, right? Outside my windows the snow are falling so I just suddenly had a little christmassy feeling, even though I really thing it's a bit to early. I have felt other years that I have to be careful not to use up all my Christmas feeling long before Christmas so I try to wait until there is just a week or two left.

Do They Know it's Christmas? is a milestone in musical history. It was the first song like that where artists teamed up to support a charity together. This time it was a famine in Africa. I think it's a lovely song and actually almost gets a few tears in my eyes by listening to it.

The video of course has a lot of great 80's heroes in it.. Can you spot them? I know almost all of them, but I'll give you the chance to guess. Leave your guesses in the comment field under this blogpost. (Link if you are reading this in facebook). Here is the song and the amazing video ;)



And for you crazy kids, like me, that want even more about this event in musical history, you can find the documentary on this link :D Search for Band Aid at the right.

Guitar: Turtorials for songs by Radiohead

Have you ever wanted to play some Radiohead songs on guitar and only found strange, wrong, uncomplete versions on the Internett? Well, here is your savior. Warrenmusic on YouTube has a lot of great tutorials. Everything is well explained and totally right (I haven't seen all, but looks very good so far). He explains very well what to do, and also tell you all the tabs / chords. I can wait till I get strings on my acoustic guitar again. I am gonna dive right in :) Thank you so much!!

Film: Meeting People is Easy

This might not come as a shock to you people, but Meeting People is Easy is about Radiohead. It was filmed during the crazy crazy Ok Computer thour in around 1998. I think they toured at least for 2 years constantly, if not more. It's an amzing film, just by how it's filmed, colors, use of cameras etc. but it's also a very very sad film about how you can slowly loose control of yourself and who you are after that madia craze for a few years. Amazing thing, even if you are not as Radiohead obsessed as some people ;) A very smart person put it out on YouTube, so you can go to this profile and watch the whole thing there. Enjoy and be prepared to feel uneasy and a bit sad but also see a lot of beauty and hear a lot of beauty...

Music and life: Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"

Today, good people, I give you world changing music. I got this link from my mum and it's amazing. It's a cover by Ben E. King's "Stand by me" and is played by musicians from all over the world and they are all over the world also. They have been taped in their home country. It's a quite amazing thing that he has made it all add up and a real great bunch of musicians as well. Me, that get easily moved by music, gets tears in my eyes when I see this, just by the thought of music can bring together like that and make the world a better place. It says something about the magic that is music that I often feel myself. Hope it touches you to and gives you a little hope in your everyday life. Sounds perfect as it's Thanksgiving now, even though we Norwegians really don't celebrate it :) I'll have to check out this Plying for Change project and get back later with more on that.

Great voices: Edith Piaf

There is something inside me that brakes when Edit Piaf sings. I don't know what it is. It's just something that hits my emotions directly. It's so raw, direct, passionate and genuine. I watched "La Vie en Rose" a few years ago and I cried like a little a little girl at the end scene. I really sobbed. She brings tears to my eyes any day, but that was unbelivable. And after the movie I am even more impressed by her. I am not gonna give it all away. Go out and get it :)

Here are two golden moments:

Milord and the one that really makes me brake down: Non, Je ne regrette rien

Film: New trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Oh!! I can't wait. I am rereading the book in preperation to what will come next summer :) Here you go :)

Great collaborations: Chris Martin and Noel Gallagher

This is a very strange and very fantastic thing at the same time. I couldn't belive it when I found it. I never thought Noel would even consider doing anything with Coldplay.. But here they are on a stage together with Coldplays guitarist (don't remember the name and have no time to find out right now). The whole situation is so awkward in a way. Exspecially Chris Martin looks lost from time to time. That is very rare.. He never looks lost live, but side by side with Noel (I am sure he remember growing up in the 90's too, so he has a bit of a hero-complex there). But at the same time.. It sounds really great too :) And I love the song.

Here is Live Forever with Chris Martin and Noel Gallagher:



Just when I was posting this I also found Yellow by Coldplay with the same "team". Chris looks in a lot better form her, but still nervous. What's the use of Noel coming on and playing those chords..really... I could have done that ;)

Great interviews: Oasis - Noel Gallagher on Norwegian tv

As an old britpop fan, I have been looking forward to this interview for about a week now and last night it was on. First of all I really like Oasis and at the same time I really like Noel Gallagher in a way. I like the whole attitude thing. It's kind of refreshing. His brother on the other hand... Not to bright.. I think 90% of what Noel says is really true and it's good to see someone that is just very real and say what they mean. This is a very cool interview with Norwegian tv mostly about interviewing Oasis. Very good. The intro is in Norwegian, but the rest is in English

Enjoy!!

Great musicians and great songs: Beirut - Nantes

Beirut is an artist that friends of mine discovered at the Roskilde festival 2 years ago. They all came home with their eyes looking like if they had seen an angel when they talked about the Beirut-concert. There was basically so much chatter about Beirut all summer that it took me a few months before I could really sit down and listen to it myself. And man... It's amazing.

Beirut is really Zach Condon. Apart from being incredibly cute and angle like looking ha has a passion for music and a talent for music that is just beyond almost anything.
From what I heard in an interview on Norwegian tv, he started playing one instrument and then all friends and family would give him their instrument. It all ended up in his little bedroom and it was so full of instruments that he had to take away the madras during the day and lay it down in the middle of the room at night. The result was that he every morning would step on something as he woke up and break a lot of expensive equipment.

Zac's little bedroom was in Santa Fe, New Mexico and from there he ventured into the world and found music from Eastern - Europe on the way. This results in a very exceptional mix of folk and balkan music with accordian, ukulele, tubas etc.

Zac was to tour Europe again in the summer of 2008 but had to cancel. Of what I gathered the man was just to tired to go on any more, and made a wise choice to just relax. He is now back with a double EP instead and you can read more about the current state of things here.

But more than all of the above... Zac is his voice, I think and the way he sings it, but also with such a great sense of timing and arranging. I give you three versions of my favorite song "Nantes.

First the version that is on the album:



Then two more versions of live music video things from Paris. One more improvised than the other in a way. Look at the passion for the music :)
1


2



For further reading : Wikipedia Official Homepage

New music: The Duke Spirit

The Duke Spirit randomly ended up at my Last.fm radio today and it was an instant love relationship for me. I just really really liked it. I love the blues rock style of it and the vocals are amazing. I really don't know that much about them yet, just wanted to tell you. This will be exciting to tell you what more I think of them later. If you hear more about them that means that it was more than just a fling :)

Homepage


Here is The Step and The Walk



And here is lassoo that sounds like some crazy mix of The Cardigans and Interpol with the vocals of the Norwegian rocker Ida Maria, only a lot cooler :)

Music: 50 questions about favorite artists over all on last.fm

Yes, I know it's kind of childish but I love these things. Makes me reflect on my relationship with music, and is exciting at the same time to see what combinations that turn up.

1. What's your favorite song by 15?
The Cardigans
Hard one... "Favorite Game" is way up there, but I also love "And you kissed me" and "I need some fine wine and you need to be nicer".

2. How did you get into 20?
Imogen Heap
Vivian, Jørgen and me was watching The late show with David Letterman, when she suddenly turned up and played live there. We wondered "What the hell is that?" and "Wow, that's one cool girl" Turned out, she's brilliant.

3. Who is your favorite member in 1?
Radiohead
I love them all but Jonny Greenwood often gets a bit underrated and he is just a brilliant musician and songwriter.

4. Whats your favorite lyric bit by 29?
The National Bank
Probably the whole lyric to Tolerate and My name is Fred.

5. Have you ever seen 22 live?
Jamie Cullum
No, but I have a dream :)

6. What's your favorite album from 10?
Kent
Can't decided between, Hägnesta Hill, Isola and Väpen & Amunision
The first one for the lyrics, the second because it was my first meeting with Kent and quite intense and the last beacuse it's just such a brilliant rock album.

7. Do you own any merchandise from 3?
Elliott Smith
No, but I might get some :)

8. What is a good memory you have of 7?
R.E.M
Wow... A lot of good memories... Some of love, some of theater and a lot of growing up.

9. Is there a member of the same age as you in 2?
Travis
Well, they are a bit older, but not that much ;)

10. When did you first get into 8?
Phoenix
I bought the Alphabetical album after hearing Run Run Run and have loved them ever since.

11. Who likes 4 along with you?
Lali Puna
I know a lot of people that have said it sounds cool, but really no other fans.

12. Which song did you first hear from 16?
Span
I don't really remember.. I must have heard them on the radio maybe? Might have been "found".

13. What song made you fall in love with 5?
Odd Nordstoga
Erlend brought it along for a trip to a cabin in the mountains and it was just really perfect for that. Very Norwegian music in a very Norwegian nature.

14. Which song do you not like by 18?
Coldplay
I am a bit sick an tierd of a few of the ballads of their second album, don't even remember what they are called.

15. Why do you like 14's songs?
Unknown
I just like it.. haha

16. Where did you first hear 6?
Björk
Must have been during the Debut album. Possibilly Play Dead or Venus as a boy.

17. How long was 19 a singer before you liked them?
Editors
A few years I think. Took me a few years to discover them :)

18. Does 13 have a song that gives you a bad memory?
Thom Yorke
Harrowdown Hill always give me a knot in the stomic because of the lyrics.

19. When did you get into 17?
DumDum Boys
My brother used to listen to them when I was growing up, so they kind of creeped in that way :)

20. How long have you been into 9?
Blur
I have no idea. Seriously since about 1996, but I am sure I had heard of them before that too: Boys & Girls etc.

21. If 11 had a concert 300 miles away, would you drive there to see them?
Jezebel
As I would be playing... yes :D

22. How many CDs do you own of 12?
Keane
Two albums and a single

23. Does 21 have a song that makes you cry?
U2
Yes, One of course.. And Electrical Storm makes me emotional and that song from Bono to his father...

24. Does 27 have a song that makes you happy?
Frank Sinatra
Sinatra makes you happy. My kind of town Chicago song always makes me rally happy :)

25. Does 23 have a song that makes you smile?
Madrugada
Smile to Madrugada... Not easy ;) Must be Ramona, it kind of reminds me of a girl I know called Ramona.

26. What's the last song you've listened to from 28?
Kings of Convenience
Know-How, earlier to day. Great song.

27. Is there a song by 32 that you've listened to more than 30 times?
Zbigniew Preisner
Song for unification of Europe from the Blue movie.

28. What is a song from 50 that you've only listened to once?
Pride and prejudice soundtrack
Oh, I am sure it is.

29. Is there a song you are sick of hearing by 24?
Belle and Sebastian
Havn't listened enough to them. Just put on the whole record at ones so only remember songs that I like more than the other. The rest is ok.

30. What song got you into 40?
The September When
Hearing Cries like a baby on tv and radio.

31. What is your favorite single by 25?
Ane Brun
My Lover will go, Humming one of your songs.

32. If 49 hated you, what would you do?
The Wannadies
I think I will survive ;)

33. What would you say if 42 or one of the members from 42 asked you out?
Ella Fitzgerald
For a meal or coffee.. It would be amazing. What a legend.

34. Would you care if 41 had a boyfriend/girlfriend?
Stereophonics
Ehm... No... not really ;)

35. Who has the best voice in 46?
Smooth jazz collection
I think I'll have to go with Ella :)

36. Do you think 26 is/are good looking?
Bo Kaspers Orkester
Yes, many sexy jazzy dudes in there.

37. How many times have you listened to your favorite song by 36?
Edward Grieg
115 :)

38. How many CDs do you own of 30?
Graham Coxon
None! Have to buy one or two!!

39. Is there a song from 38 that makes you mad?
Patrick Doyle
Maybe the Hogwats wals to many times in a row ;)

40. Which member from 31 do you want to see go solo? If 31 is only one artist, what would you do if they joined a group?
The September When
I think Morten Abel is a quite obviouse choice there ;)

41. What does your favorite song from 48 remind you of?
Oasis
Live forever, at least that is one of them. Reminds me of great times in the 90's :)

42. Did you hate 43 at first?
Interpol
No, always liked them.

43. Does your best friend also listen to 33?
Beirut
Yes, quite a few of them. Got to know Beirut through them.

44. Do you think your parents would like 37?
Arctic Monkeys
I think my mum and dad could both like them to some degree. They are both into rock so.

45. Does 47 have a song that makes you want to dance?
Supergrass
Richard III - No doubt about it.

46. Have you ever seen 34 in person?
The Postal Service
Oh, I wish..

47. Do you like 44's name?
Christopher O'Riley
Yes, it's a great name!

48. Is there someone in 45 that you want to go out with?
The Police
Haha... Not sure if I wanna date Sting ;)

49. Do you know anyone that hates 39?
PJ Harvey
No, how can anyone hate PJ Harvey?

50. Have you ever danced to a song from 35?
The Raconteurs
But of course :)

Great songs: Our love is deep - Morten Abel

As a little add on to my last post. This is one of the highlights of Morten Abel's solo carer, it you ask me. Our love is deep. Just really love the rhythm of it and how it builds up. Very cute in a way. And also how all the parts of the song adds up, verse, pre-chorus and chorus. They are so different, but at the same time they flow so naturally.

Music: New Album from The September When

When I was 14 to about 19 my favorite band was The September When. Not Pearl Jam, not Nirvana, but TSW. The September When was at the time one of the really big Norwegian rock bands and I loved every song they made. Today I still even remember every lyric they had by heart and that's saying a lot, since I don't even know half of all the Radiohead lyrics. I am just one of those people that listen to lyrics after long long time, but somehow the TSW lyrics just hit me. Later Morten Abel (lead singer and the bands songwriter) went of to do a solo carer. It had it ups and downs, but mostly downs. I thought I would never see TSW again and never ever get to see them live, as I was about 16 when they held the last concert and wasn't allowed to see concerts yet. I love how they build up their songs, uses guitar and piano melodies together and of course the lyrics. And also the fact that they can do really rock stuff but also cute popsongs and ballads.

THEN.... Two days ago I got amazing news from my friend. The September When is going to release a new album. They all got together for a special concert at the end of last summer, but it was in Stavanger, at the other side of Norway, and I couldn't afford to go there to see them. But now there is hope... I am sure they now will do some more touring too. I really really hope that there will be a great album, and I am sure it will.

This is a link to the newspaper, only in Norwegian though...

This is the song that first made me like The September When; Cries Like a Baby. Unfortunately it's not the original video, but I think it's nice one. Ane... yes, I know what the lyrics are during the bridge. Try to take a guess if you want to. It took me about 3 years to figure out.



Bullet Me, was the greatest hit TSW had:



Also there is a whole old concert with The September When online on YouTube, this is part 7 with Waste of Time and A Place to stop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uVB3EMjWuc



I had to add this one too: Mama won't tell you no lie in an extreemly long version. Love the lyrics and bass line on this one. They even build in some Primus in the middle of it.

Band: Newly updated MySpace profile for my band - New design

I've just made a new design for the my band's MySpace page: Jezebel. I think it looks great and in tune with our webpage. Check it out and tell me what you think.

Great songs: Lynrd Skynrd - Freebird

My love for this song started when I saw Forrest Gump, I think. I realized it had to be from somewhere around in the 60's-70's, so I searched my mums great record collection and found it! I have such fond memories of lieing on my back on the carpet in front of the stereo and just listening to the whole build up. There is seriously no surprise that I liked it tough. At least not if I look back on it know. A lot of music that I really really love just has an amazingly long build up and also layer upon layers of guitars. I mean... I love Radiohead ;)

So I give you Lynrd Skynrd - Freebird live from 1977:

Keane's new single - Spiralling

This one has been sneaking up on me through speakers in shops and all around for the last weeks while I have been running around like a headless chicken.. hehe. Finally I had a little time to sit down and really listen to it today, and my oh my it's a great thing. It's like Keane has turned a corner I think.

1) it's a happy Keane song. Amazing. I love it
2) They have guitar now, and I have always loved guitars. And even a telecaster. It can't be better.
3) And not only a guitar. Does anyone know how hard it is to play that riff and sing at the same time. I could never do it!!

Here it is live at Later:


And the official video is proving very hard to find, but I give you the official version here, at least when it comes to sound and with lyrics. I haven't really had the time to listen to them yet, but love what I have heard so far.

DeviantART holliday card project and concerence

DeviantART is a great page if you want to publish your photos, pictures etc. online and get feedback from other artists all over the world. I love it and will get back to it in another post later. I just realized though, that they are doing a holidays cards project. You send them a card and they give it to a sick person in a hospital in USA during Christmas: http://news.deviantart.com/article/61965/

I'll send a card if I can find the time for it and I hope you will too.

(And oh, I am back now, I have been working a lot for the last few weeks with a conference for the university. I have learned a lot, had a lot of fun and meet so many nice nice people. Thanks. That will be my version of Thanksgiving, I think, since we don't celebrate it in Norway. Thanks for letting me meet a lot of nice people and thanks for giving me new and amazing experiences, knowledge and marvel at the world around me. )

Me and English music. Really no suprise.

This was calculated from my LastFm account. It registers all music I listen to. Anyone who is suprised? I am not ;)

Great songs: Nessun Dorma

Nessun Dorma is one of the most beautiful works of music that has ever been made. I am sure you all have heard it before but here is a bit about the story of it. And also a translation of the lyrics. Made it even more beautiful. (Like I wasn't all ready crying?)

For a long time I thought the only one that could sing this was Pavarotti. I just get tears to my eyes from listening to him and the way he lives through his music when he sings is amazing.
But then I found another clip of another version of the piece. It's Areatha Franklin singing it at the Grammys because Pavarotti got sick in the last minute. I also really love her voice and it actually is amazing to hear her sing soul/opera. Also brings tears to my eyes.

Here is Pavarotti:


Here is Aretha

Watch more Megavideo videos on AOL Video

Nessun dorma (English edition: None shall sleep tonight)[1] is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot,[2] and is one of the best known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, Il principe ignoto (The unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles. If he fails, he will be beheaded.

In the previous act, Calaf has correctly answered the three riddles put to all of Princess Turandot's prospective suitors. Nevertheless, she recoils at the thought of marriage to him. Calaf offers her another chance by challenging her to guess his name by dawn. (As he kneels before her, the 'Nessun Dorma' theme makes a first appearance, to his words Il mio nome non sai!.) If she does so, she can execute him, but if she does not, she must marry him. The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decrees that none of her subjects is to sleep that night until his name is discovered. If they fail, all will be killed.

As the final act opens, it is now night. Calaf is alone in the moonlit palace gardens. In the distance he hears Turandot's heralds proclaiming her command. His aria begins with an echo of their cry and a reflection on Princess Turandot:

"Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che tremano d'amore, e di speranza!"

(English translation: "None shall sleep! None shall sleep! Even you, o Princess, in your cold bedroom, watch the stars that tremble with love and with hope")

"Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me; il nome mio nessun saprà! No, No! Sulla tua bocca lo dirò quando la luce splenderà!"

(English translation: "But my secret is hidden within me; none will know my name! No, no! On your mouth I will say it when the light shines!")

"Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia!"

(English translation: "And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!")

Just before the climactic end of the aria, a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance:

"Il nome suo nessun saprà... E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!"

(English translation: "No one will know his name... and we will have to, alas, die, die!")

Calaf, now certain of victory, sings:

"Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!"

(English translation: "Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At daybreak I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!")

Great commercials: Heroes of the future - Statolihydro

This commercial is one of the most moving I have ever seen. The vocals are just so amazing and the pictures too. The song is a cover, crisp, quiet and beautiful version of Elton John's Rocket Man, before fading over into the original. The movie is about a lot of different kids and how they train to reach their goal or dreams in the future. Impossible to describe, so just watch it. I get tears in my eyes after 3 seconds. Emotional? No, not at all.

Film: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I can't wait!! Looks like the best one so far!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Quicktime - Trailer | Moviecentre.net

Posted using ShareThis

New Music: Zoe Keating

I have always been a huge fan of cellos. It has that melancholic but at the same time very warm quality about it that just hits my soul. Today I was watching a vblog by Imogen Heap. She was talking about going to pop!tech and I just randomly clicked on a related pop!tech clip. On came Zoe Keating. I have also been a fan of sampling for a long time and really wanted to learn it (I just need money for some equipment). Anyways, Zoe Keating samples her own cello playing live and makes music of it. Some of the most amazing stuff I've seen for a long while. Really beautiful and new.
Take a look.

Great interviews: Thom Yorke and Colin Greenwood looking strange and funny in Japan.

This is one of my favorite interviews of all time. Just look at them!!! And look at the difference between them. There is something very nervous and strange and very cultural crash about the whole thing. I love the whole, "We have been very lucky with the weather so far". This interview just has a whole life of it own. strange and very funny.

New music: Benjamin Costello

Sometimes you stumble over things on the internet that are truly amazing. Benjamin Costello is like that. I stumbled over his profile about 6 months back and has kept track of his new things since then. This is one of those cases when music speaks loader than words, so just listen for yourself. He does both covers and his own music. Let's hope he gets famous some day! :D Certainly got both the voice and looks and talent for it, if you ask me :)

Start of by this great cover version of Black Star by Radiohead:



This his beautiful original song "Fall"



This is his profile on YouTube where you can find tons more.

Wow, I found out he's doing live shows in people's houses every week. Read more on his homepage

Reckoner Remix competition: Amazing strings version

Radiohead has released the song Reckoner in all it's tracks and has invited people to remix it. You go into this site and vote for your favorite. There are a lot of strange stuff there and some are quite boring, but there is a string quartet that has made an amazing version (see below) Go to the site and listen and vote. It's truly an amazing version. It's by the Iskra String Quartet.

New video: Reckoner by Radiohead

(I think I'll just let mr. yorke do the talking. quote from homepage.)

hello
my mind is not functioning at the correct speed at the moment thanks to being in Tokyo
but however and here
is one of my favourite video things that has ever happened
for Reckoner it is, the result of somebody entering a competition to make an animation to one of the tunes on IN RAINbows.
on aniboom. you can scroll down dead air space and find all about it.. but anyway

so we asked them whether it was ok to make it the official one we use as it goes with the song so well. they said yes.

and if you're like me and find it hard to find videos on televsion any more, or even turn on the television you can watch right here.

ok now im going to fold some clothes.

Find more videos like this on w.a.s.t.e. central

Great interviews: Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood on Chicago Public Radio - All about chickens

I just found this very cute radio interview with Thom York and Jonny Greenwood. It's very like unedited and Thom is trying to convince Jon-jon (haha) to play and says he's a chicken, so Jonny goes on to talk about his chickens in stead. Quite a strange but beautiful little thing :)



The whole interview can be found here. And the version of "None of This" that Thom end up playing here. Such an amazing song!!

Great Musicians: The genius of Jonny Greenwood - Part I

Mr. Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead might be my favorite musician of all time. That man can do anything, do it right and still be so humble about it. It's just amazing. I'll give you a long lecture about this some other time. In the meanwhile, watch these two videos (one and two) and just be amazed. It's better to watch it and listen to it, than trying to describe really.

Papa Fran and Berlin

Fran Healy of Travis became a father a few years ago to The Boy with No Name (both a baby and an album) The boy has later got the name Clay. Fran has now moved to Berlin with his wife and their little boy. I think she is German? Anyways, I found this really really cool little video thing on YouTube. Fran is talking about his 5 favorite things about Berlin and gets interrupted by little Clay. Prizeless :)

The new Travis video!

Ladies and gents, I have been a bit sloppy. It has been out since the 15th of September, but here it is. The great "Something Anything" video by Travis. I will write more about the album later. Starting to like it more and more :)

Guestbook - Give me all your comments!!

This post is added to give my blog a guestbook. Please leave your comments :)

Musical memories: Chris Rea - Tell Me There's a Heaven

This song I found when I was about 13 in my father's record collection and it still touches me. It's very over the top, but still it's quite cute. It's something in Chris Rea's voice that is comforting in a way and cliches are always true, so it's quite cute :) Look here

Great songs: Such Great Heights - The Postal Service

One thing I really can miss when traveling is listening to music. When on holiday with family it's not a good time to listen to an mp3-player... I usually really don't notice it before I get really irritated for no reason, and then I realize that I haven't listened to music for a few days. After about 15 minutes of good music all is back to good :)

An example of a great song that I never get tiered of is "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service. It is now used in a Norwegian commercial, so I am sure you will hear it on the radio to soon. I discovered The Postal Service about a year ago, as I was searching for similar artists to Lali Puna online. The intro has the same kind of "blipp blopp" sound as Lali Puna often use and it's something about the bass and the drums to. It somehow makes me feel safe and happy this song. It's so light and so groovy at the same time. I really love the voice of Ben Gibbard (who is maybe more known as the vocalists from Death Cab for Cutie). Another similarity with Lali Puna songs is that it can just float in the background for hours and is really good to work to. Most of The Postal Service music is like that too. Here it is. Enjoy!

Life: Back from Rome!

One of my 440 photos of Rome. This is a view over the city from the Aqua Paola Fountain and is the first view I saw of Rome when I first visited a few years ago, so it means a lot to me. All I could think was... "WOW.. I am so lucky to be spending 2,5 weeks here..."

Hello good people, I am back from Rome :) There will be more about this later in the blog as soon as my stomic flue ends, the cat stops killing birds all over my living room and I get my job interview done tomorrow :)

Photo: My Oslo Photos II

Here are two more of my Oslo photos.

This is to great buildings in downtown Oslo:

The National Theatre:


The National Theatre by ~Helenert on deviantART

And The Grand Hotel


The Grand Hotel by ~Helenert on deviantART

Great commercials: Dove

I saw this commercial for the first time a few years ago. I think it's amazing and really gives you an insight into why all the models always look so beautiful in magazines. Even to beautiful. With all that hair and make-up and a computer we can all be models. We are all truly beautiful, though we don't feel like it :)

Travel: Rome

A few years ago I went to Rome as a study trip for two and a half week. It was so amazing. This city really blew my mind, and on Sunday I am going back for a week, so there will be a lot of Rome blogging going on this week ;) This is an amazing video of three young people describing how Rome blew their mind. I know how they feel. It's exactly how I felt. Watch and enjoy!

Great interviews: Robbie Williams - kissing and football

This is one of the funniest interviews I have ever seen. Robbie Williams is getting interviewed by a german about football and she is really rubbish at interviewing. He tells her and try to kiss her instead. Very very funny.

Great collaborations: Robbie Williams and Kylie Minouge - Kids

This is one of my all time favorite duets. I love the sexiness and the sassy feeling and the whole rhythm of the whole thing. Really want to make me dance and two such great entertainers. Love the bridge and the rap extra. Lovely stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYB4ebbJUys



Live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGz6Eg2knho

Live and great cover: Travis - I Kissed a Girl

Here is Travis version of "I Kissed a Girl" from the Mono concert on Thursday. Amazing!! :D And so much better than the original. They might actually have done a Britney 2 ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDRf4wpqgmQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77dGONWQt3Y