The Songs Of 2007

2007 itself was really crappy in music. Obviously I didn’t ignore music this year, I just wasn’t tapped into current music when most of the music that hooked me was released before 2007, which made my pre-lists very rich. So, although it wasn’t so hard to know which artists and songs would make it, it was hard for me to restrict them to only ten songs; then I decided to do a top 20. Last year I divided the list in fields but now I’m just too lazy for that and just separated them in two: the first part with brief comments and the second with longer and more elaborated ones. There are ties, which yeah ho was a way for me to shove more songs into the list; but what can I do, I dig on ‘em!

I have Samba and a lot of Indie stuff here, like a Canadian belle with the smoothest of voices, an androgynous Brit with one of the most wonderful voices and a filmstar turned rockstar with a fun-to-hear voice; alongside with the good’ol’ mainstream Pop. Dance music makes itself very present with a firmed G-d and a new Diva [to me], and a new G-d is raised on my altar, even though she’s not so keen on G-d.

The Bubbling-Under:
20. "Like A Star" by Corinne Bailey Rae
The song of lonely moments...
19. "Crippled And The Starfish" by Antony And The Johnsons
I have pleasure to say I’ve seen him playing it live!!!
18. "Tema de Não Quero Ver Você Triste" by Erasmo Carlos e Marisa Monte
One of the most romantic songs you will ever hear.
17. "20 Year Old Lover" by Juliette And The Licks
The monologue by the end makes me cum a million cums.
16. "Ever Fallen In Love" by Nouvelle Vague
Foreign Bossa Nova/Samba – you can be sure I’ll gladly listen.
15. "Amado" by Vanessa Da Mata
One of the most romantic songs you will ever hear – part deux.
14. "Get Naked (I Got A Plan)" by Britney Spears
Delicious self-indulgent songs from Tinseltown’s ex-Pop Princess and now promising stripper. YAAAAY!! And LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!
13. "Divine Gosa" by Bonde Do Rolê
Crazy and funny lyrics combined with Carioca funk and Eletronic and Rock elements. Count me in!!
12. "Os Novos Yorkinos" by Bebel Gilberto
Me and my friends’ theme. We turn this small shitty town [Conquista] into New York.
11. "Don’t Look Back" by Télépopmusik
A perfect trip hop love song. Angela McCluskey’s voice is beyond lovely.

Top 10:

10. "Don’t Stop The Music" by Rihanna
I still think her voice is awful, but man, what awesome music this woman made this year!! From the Micheal Jackson sample to the exciting background claps.
- "Friday Night" by Lily Allen
Allen’s drunken nights and fights in clubs really made my fun early in the year.

9. "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
Early in the year this was a fever, I loved it to death; now it bores me. But I chose it to the top 10 because it’s a good picture of this decade’s culture. I mean, it was released last year but it was still all over the place in early 2007; but now, it feels like it’s a hundred years old. Things are very ephemeral lately; every week is a new technology, a new fashion, the best rock band of all times… kinda boring right?

8. "HeadTurner" by Joss Stone
The songs from Stone's third album swayed my early year; HeadTurner, the slut song – as the ho and I call it, - is my favorite from the album, because it makes me feel like a natural ho. Another song from her album that made me cum this year was Bruised But Not Broken – but I chose “Turner” instead because of the not depressive tone.

7. "Wuthering Heights" by The Puppini Sisters
The Puppini Sisters were my ultimate gay delight… okay there was Rihanna, but you know what I mean: three beautiful women playing vintage music and wearing 1930’s looks – and one of them is Italian, hello!!
Playing Jazzed Pop hits they are all I love about artists: fun, competent and poser. And the things they did to the songs are wonderful, listen to their I Will Survive and The Smiths’s Panic. But to feature here is their mesmerizing version of Kate Bush’s classic, Wuthering Heights. The harmonized vocals, the theatrical performance, the arrangements make me shudder with excitement as I behold delicious reinventions.

6. "Hands On Me" by Vanessa Carlton
I’ve always loved Nessa Carlton and suddenly one day I woke up with this song’s demo version on my mind and remembered her third album was to be released. The album was reviewed here a while ago, but this is definitely my favorite song.
It's so romantic in a kind of bitter way, having a Carlton singing about an obsessive behavior towards a romance. Sounds familiar? Lol.
There they go climbing Tibetan mountains and crossing deep oceans, when they actually never met yet. And in the end when you think it's obsession enough, she goes and begs “just put your hands on me!” This desperation is both sweet and funny; and considering how Carlton has always been very centered on her love songs, I can't help loving such sarcasm.

5. "One Evening" by Feist
“When we started, both brokenhearted. Not believing, could begin and end in one evening.” Isn’t it the dream of everyone who ventures in dates and one-night-stands? The delicious thing of the song, however, is the fact she keeps herself very grounded on the following verses.

Feist became an instant sensation on my playlists; the same happened with Saint Etienne last year and Feist’s folk quality brings a sort of cynical Indie aura to me. The whole Indie movement is kind of a bore, especially because most Indies think they’re better than anyone because they love unmainstreamed things [even if they’re now the mainstream]. But Feist is thrilling with her soothing voice and wonderful way of arranging music. She’s nomed as Best New Artist from the Grammies, for this year’s The Reminder; but her solo career start is dated from 1999… that was so Indie of me. *hehehe*

4. "Belo Estranho Dia De Amanhã" by Roberta Sá
Although she's the only Brazilian Music representative on the top 10, for a period this year I have been addicted to samba and MPB. Roberta Sá was the main star of that phase; early in the year I got addicted to her first album and a while later her sophomore was released and what a marvel it is.
Bringing samba to a closer and more modern reality, on the Que Belo Estranho Dia Pra Se Ter Alegria album she proved herself as an exquisite performer and musician by showing she knows how to choose a repertoire. In both of her albums she sang songs by unknown artists releasing new composers on the market, or songs by already firmed writers but that are so rare that are practically new.
The song I chose is a delicious love song about forgetting all life’s troubles and stress and tapping to the simple and serene side of everything. By listening to it I long for such a love, one that makes me smile; better yet, it brings me hope that one day it’ll come along.

3. "In My Arms" by Kylie Minogue
The other day the ho and I came to the conclusion that we were never let down by Miss Minogue. Ever since I became a fan there was nothing from this woman’s creative and delicious mind that made me stick up my nose.
This year, after a delightful treat with White Diamond and the Showgirl Homecoming we had the excitement of having leaked some tracks from the new studio album. In My Arms came to me like a thunderbolt full of joy and hope. No longer kicking depression with dancing, this time she was coming filled with self-assurance and happiness.
Although it’s become tacky [but still is very common] mentioning her cancer every time she’s the subject, I can’t help saying that probably what she went through put her in a happier line in what it comes to her lyrics. Another track from her latest album, The One, is beyond romantic but in the end she goes and says “I’m the one, love me”, instead of “why’d you leave to find yourself, I can’t dance with no one else.”
Kylie’s top 5:
a. In My Arms
b. Please Stay
c. The One
d. Sensitized
e. Disco Down

2. "Today The Sun’s On Us" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
One morning in Salvador I woke up with Murder On The Dancefloor pumping into my head and had an epiphany: “hey, I don’t know much about Sophie Ellis-Bextor!” Nah it was not so theatrical, I simply got up and decided to download her discography after I saw a comment about Catch You on a blog. From the moment I started listening to her music and studying her career I knew I was a fool for having neglected such wonderful and genius artist.
With elaborate and joyous beats Ellis-Bextor has a Minogue quality when she comes with dark lyrics combined with ingenious dance hooks and layers [give a try on Move This Mountain from her debut album, or The Walls Keep Saying Your Name from her sophomore]. But when she gets optimistic as in Today The Sun's On Us she's heartwarming and bright. I lost track of how many times this song lifted me up from depressive moods and dark times.
Sophie’s top 5:
a. Today’s The Sun’s On Us
b. If I Can’t Dance
c. The Walls Keep Saying Your Name
d. I Won’t Change You
e. New York City Lights

1. "Wanderlust" by Björk
Despite the fact that she’s the most ubiquitous artist of my year [just check out my last.fm] and that this was the year I became a die-hard fan, it’s this track from her latest studio effort, Volta, that best defines my life and behavior in 2007. I last year moved to Conquista in the high hopes to move to Salvador; and after six unhappy months in Salvador I returned to Conquista. And engaging myself in planed or last-hour trips I’ve come to know places and have a bunch of experiences that fulfilled me in ways that were very new to me.
This song, with its sometimes scary brass section became a hymn to my new desire during my trip to Rio de Janeiro. Sometimes putting comfort aside and following intuition, I’ve come to see and feel things that pushed my own nature and brought self-awareness and reinvention. This song is definitely the best way to describe a fully colourful 2007.
Björk’s top 6*:
a. Wanderlust
b. Bachelorette
c. Unravel
d. Isobel
e. Possibly Maybe
f. Dull Flame Of Desire [with Antony]
*because I couldn’t help it.

Honorable [very late] mentions:
- Once Soundtrack
The one movie this year that touched me to the core. Every and each song of its soundtrack makes me teary eyed, but indisputably romantically hopeful. Highlights are: Falling Slowly, When Your Mind’s Made Up and Lies.
- "No One" by Alicia Keys
For me “No One” felt like a one-day wonder, one morning more specifically.
- "What Goes Around… Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake
Justin “Hot” Timberlake was very present early in March – but what comes around…
- "Thinking About You" by Norah Jones
Somehow she’s always around during my year.
- "Lenda" by CéU
Genius experimental Brazilian music. CéU has the voice of an angel combined with fierceness of a woman not afraid to try new things.
- "Grace Kelly" by Mika
Alright, he is beyond annoying now, but I really enjoyed him back in May.

The Songs Of 2005
The Songs Of 2006

"I'm Not Justifying Anything..."

Last night after I finished watching Heroes' 1st season on DVD, I logged on after a considerably long period [comparing my past recent MSN-life]. Marce asked me how come I haven't been posting in a long while and I realized that my previous entry sounded like a good justification, if any was necessary.

I am indeed living this productive social life that at the same time is not so productive. I'm meeting people, drinking, having fun; I'm really happy like this and have no regrets. But sometimes I do miss the patience to sit in front of the computer and just let my mind go until a post was written. The other day I realized I missed writing my varied and worth-for-nothing-but-still-fun-to-do lists.

But Alais's comment on the last entry was the one that made something click inside me. She said: "like your last blog post ;D" and a flame in my heart fainted [yes, I'm still that dramatically corny]. My web life has been giving me amazing experiences and evolution; I do not deny or want to leave it behind by living the "real" life; but the latter is, like the post before says, happening so fast that I lose track of time. But most of the time I simply don't think that re-telling my life is the real intention of this blog.

So, not in an attempt to justify myself, but simply to let whoever is interested know what I've been doing, and also to nourish this silly cute longing, here goes a lil' list of The Things That's Been Hooking Lucas Lately:

- Nalim ["the beautifullest, fragilest, still strong..."]: just been hanging a lot with her. Tonight we went to the sushi place and she's the person I mostly get my kicks out of.

- Café Don'Antônia: Nalim works there, so...

- I've been studying again for vestibular; with Nalim. We're not actually studying, just reminding ourselves of those worthless Math/Physics/Chemistry formulas while we most of the time busy our heads with cooler stuffs like politics, philosophy, music, cinema and er... weed.

- Roberta Sá: this amazing Samba singer has already been featured here and her second album is all I crave to listen to in the morning [aka whatever hour I wake up] or when I drive. Her beautiful and smooth voice, the expressive performance and the perfect pronunciation from the Portuguese words have been theme of enthusiastic conversations with my dad, as well as the rescue of the good, decent and original Brazillian music. The song Belo Estranho Dia De Amanhã, from her sophomore album is one of my favorites by her, just check it out on the white box at the left.

- Patience has been tested in the form of people...

- I'm horny as fuck... and still sexless.

- The Puppini Sisters, Vanessa Da Mata, Antony And The Johnsons, Bebel Gilberto, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Marisa Monte have also been constant guests to "the party in my head".

- As mentioned in the beginning I've been watching Heroes and I just think that Hayden Panettiere is the cutest thing in the world. And I'm so happy that she can really act; her sad lost looks break my heart and puts me thinking in what a cool contrast they have with her ability; after all, no genetic evolution can heal heartbreaks. Okay enough nerding...

- I'm now watching Lost's 3rd season. Lost still grabs my attention, but it doesn't shock me like before. At least so far...

- There's this guy I've hooked up with twice...

[Song: Human Nature - Madonna]

Today's Sins

First: I'm not talking about sex.

By the Christians phylosophy everything is temptation and the world is in full-time work on tempting you. Since human beings are inclined to sin we often fail to resist it. Let's pretend I'm a Christian.

Today I went to Salvador's newest mall, Salvador Shopping. I was supposed to go to UFBA to drop college but an afternoon in a capitalism heaven seemed more exciting, so I went. [Sin number 1.]

Once there I at first felt a bit intimidated by the place's portliness and brightness, but very soon it was replaced by São Paulo reminiscences, when dad lived there and we'd spend hours at the Villa-Lobos Mall; especially because Salvador's has a Saraiva Mega Store that reminded me of the São Paulo's Livraria Cultura one - a place where you'd be mesmerized by its impressive stock and shocked by the ungentle prices.

Still the temption runned there everywhere and there I was smelling its exquisite smell and hearing its exciting voice. Did I resist? I left the store with the Audrey Hepburn volume from the Taschen Movie Icons collection, Björk's Live Vespertine and Paula Toller's latest album SóNós - she's the vocalist of a Brazillian very popular pop band called Kid Abelha; the album is lovely and has a Rufus Wainwright cover. [Sin number 2.]

It was after the moment I stepped out of the place that I felt it again: the feeling I'm meaning to describe. The orgasmic sensation that comes right after you do something you shouldn't but you wanted. This feeling was firstly noticed in May when Purki and Red came to Salvador and we shopped; everytime I shop I feel half-queasy half-excited as if some kind of drug had just be injected into my veins. I of course ran desperately in the pursuit of a place to smoke.

After I had lunch and had ideas for an arcticle I kept strolling and got into a sportive store looking for shoes. Then I realized how delicious shopping soundtrack Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Trip The Light Fantastic is; If I Can't Dance helped me to choose a marvelous white Converse All Star. [Sin number 3 - can I blame Sophie for that one?]

And then later I returned to Saraiva and bought Roberta Sá's new album! Two!!! One for me and other for Nalim [from theCC]. [Sin number 4 - filled with a stupid feeling of selfless balance since I was buying something to someone else.]

So then I decided to leave - actually run away from the temptation den. But uhg on my way out I spotted a cute red Converse and... [Sin number 5.]

In the taxi back home the guilty that comes after the pleasure I described above hit me and well, considering I'm at this moment a Christian I deserve punishment. How many Our Fathers should I say and how much should I be kneeled down the corn?

[Song: If I Can't Dance - Sophie Ellis-Bextor]

From Björk To Saint-Etienne And Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Last night I took the bus to Salvador again. It's my last time here as a city's resident and I just came to pick the rest of things up and to my mom's birthday.

But back to the bus, as I wished that the hot guy that was to be beside me would return from his conversation with a plain woman at the front of the vehicle, I read Lolita and listened to Vespertine Live. I love Cocoon so much! It's one of the most romantic songs ever written; but later I changed for Etienne's Tales From A Turnpike House. Sarah Cracknell's voice in Lightning Strikes Twice puts me in a lovely romantic trance... but it was after a troubled sleep, as we approached Salvador that I had my musical momento: Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Trip To The Light Fantastic is mesmerizing! I got hooked to If I Can't Dance and Me And My Imagination for hours... but more on Sophie later; the good thing I'm feeling about being here is this urge to write [probably because I have nothing else to do].

[Song: China Heart - Sophie Ellis-Bextor]

"Today The Sun's On Us"

I was reluctant in writing about this, but Red is staying here with some friends from college.

Uhh... who's Red? Comment guy's new name [don't ask]. At first I was really afraid of facing this situation which I couldn't get away from, but as it is finally here I've been having a change of heart.

I'm a junkie, this obsession of mine towards him was really leaving me depressed, and having to hang around him from Wednesday to Sunday sounded like a pure OD danger, especially after The Hours redux I had on the Tuesday. Well, I won't say everything's pretty cute but I guess I finally decided to look for other things. For example, the fact that I have no money for the rest of the month suddenly made me more worried and sad than any heartache I went through because of this feeling I've got for him. Lol... where's the good part, you might be wondering. Well, I never saw my money troubles as a definitive and helpless situation. Even if I'm totally fucked up now by my lack of tact with money I know what to do to get out of this; and I'm sure you can remember of how hopeless I've been feeling.

But what really made me ignite some optimism into my veins were two conversations I had with him. The first made me feel like shit and hate him even more, which is a sign of passion and definitelly wouldn't help me in anything. As for the second chat I finally knew why he didn't pick me back in February; nah, I won't say it here since it's personal stuff. But as I heard him I kept asking myself "why the fuck did I ask it?" and the same reply was always given by my ego "because you're a stupid masochist." True, makes sense... I am one. But how to explain the fact that after that new information I suddenly didn't hate him anymore? Point in fact, not even the overwhelming supposed love that I felt was present. And a wave of happiness that I was unable to let in ever since they came here [and Lord knows how much I've been desiring for more company than Edith - the cat], finally got me.

Right now, as I have musical epiphanies I feel like a gap that's been on the whole thing has been fulfilled. Maybe it's too soon for me to say it's finally my closure, but one thing is true: the tenderness and care I'm feeling towards him now is way better than any previous love. I can breathe now while he looks my way, and I feel compelled to love him for who he is and what he can offer me instead for what I wish him should give me.

Yup, I'm scared to death to face the world again after so many months in prison; it's not easy to start walking again after so many years on a bed. But you know what the lovely Brit says: "don't let today get lost, cos today the sun's on us."

[Song: Today The Sun's On Us - Sophie Ellis-Bextor]

The Soundtrack Of My Biopic: Cigarettes And Dance Floors

OH of course, silly little me forgot to link-back, the lovely bitch JMC, from where I took this.

QUESTION: If your life is a movie, what songs are on the soundtrack?

Here's how it works:
1. Open iTunes (or whatever ya got)
2. Put it on shuffle and press play
3. For every question, type the song that's playing
4. Make up a Title and choose your Cast

Cigarettes And Dance Floors

It will be a musical, of course.

Cast:

Jamie Bell as Me [he's cute, awesome actor and I bet he can sing - aka perfect]

Lou Taylor Pucci as Mr. Hottie [love him ever since I saw Thumbsucker]

James McAvoy as The Ho [it'll be a beeeeautiful movie to watch!]

Lindsay Lohan as Alais [did you really think I'd let Lohan out of this movie?]

Keira Knightley as Nina [and Keira?]

featuring: Nicole Kidman as Mum and Hugh Jackman as Dad [lol... suddenly this becomes Happy Feet]

directed by Julie Taymor [remember Frida? I want those colors]

Opening Credits (and DVD Menu): "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Saint Etienne

Well, perfect! It's a great song to start the film: genius beats with uplifting synths and lovely lyrics; cheerful enough to make people hook up to the movie and sing along. Besides it's a lot like me, "only love can break your heart" indeed and all the implications that come along with it. AND: an opening act by Kidman and Jackman! *cums*

Waking Up: "Thief Of Hearts" by Madonna

LOL! Maybe it'll be a revenge movie about me slashing some back-stabbing bastard disguised as friend who stole my boyfriend. Nah... it'll be Lucas singing in front of the mirror with his usual daily dose self-depreciation.

First Day At School: "Physical Attraction" by Madonna

Aww... I can already see the scene: boy [Me] meets boy [Mr. Hottie] at the campus and they flirt wildy while singing the song. "You say you wanna stay the night/But you'll leave me tomorrow, I don't care." And sure sure, since it's me this movie's talking about we'll just hide behind some bushes or whatever and shag before the song ends.

Falling In Love: "Garden In The Rain" by Diana Krall

Then we'd realize there's more to us than physical attraction and we'll have a nice cute chat in our way back home [yeah, he lives nearby]. Very New York, very romantic. "Surely here was charm beyond/Compare to view/Maybe it was just that/I was there with you" Lover-ly!

Fight Song: "Temptation" by New Order

Awesome! Genius tune combine with gloomy lyrics. "Each way I turn, I know I'll always try/To break this circle that's been placed around me." Surely it'll be a classy fight but like everything else in my life, ready to just go down on the dance floor.

Breaking Up: "The Rubber Room" by Porter Wagoner

First really melancholic song of the movie. I'm surely hurt and just want a moment by myself; Mr. Hottie is hurt too... we loved each other okay!! But of course he cheated. [Hey, it's my movie I'm the good guy!]

Prom: "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" by Madonna

LOL! Oookay... party's up but I'm heartbroken.

Note to self: don't hire Windows Media Player to select the songs from your movie.

Life: "Alarm Call" by Björk

And back to the dance floor! Life goes on and I move on again from my obsession. A very uplifting song with optimistic lyrics and a cool selfless tone. Great for the small-guy/big-dreams moment.

Mental Breakdown: "William, It Was Really Nothing" by The Smiths

Ooookay... let's say William is the imaginary friend The Ho keeps saying I have. However this is a very cute song and could fit in such scene considering it's a mental breakdown, maybe it doesn't have to make much sense anyway.

Instrumental Intermission (two): "Murder On A Dance Floor" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor; "Cherish" by Madonna

Ha! Dance floor film, dance floor song! Perfect!

Lola and Rocco and Dave will be even more rich due to royalties the studio will have to pay so this movie can be out. However, this song is cute... prolly things will get better for the hero at second half of the movie.

Driving: "The Loco-Motion" by Kylie Minogue

Ohh yeees! After a time in rehab I decide to get life on track. More joyous than this? "It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue." Nah...

Flashback: "They Can't Take That Away From Me" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

As I walk down the charming streets of New York after another unsuccessful audition I bump into Mr. Hottie! And G-d he's still hot... and single!! We sit for a coffee [he pays, I'm broke of course] and then comes the flashback.

Wedding: "Alfie" by Lily Allen

This song is awesome for The Ho's wedding! Funny and cheerful.

Birth of Child: "Miedo" by Belanova

Birth of Child!! Yes yes fear indeed!! Whose child I don't know, me and Mr. Hottie just got back together, no time to think of adoption... maybe it's Alais's or The Hosie's.

Final Battle: "The Night We Called It A Day" by Diana Krall

Uhh... really dude! Don't hire WMP!! Whatever this scene will mean in the movie I don't think this song will fit in it. Lol.

Death Scene: "Impressive Instant" by Madonna

Whoever dies, it was someone no one liked so we party!! "I'm in a traaaance..." Maybe the baby... joking!

Funeral Song: "[Somewhere] Over The Rainbow" by Kylie Minogue

Since no one cared about the other person who died, here we sing for someone we cared about who died on the dance floor. Fuck, it could be me... it'd be the gayest funeral in the world, but okay.

End Credits: "Put Yourself In My Place" by Kylie Minogue

Awww... luved it luved it! It'd be a very dramatic end, so a very dramatic song.

End Credits (Secondary): "Burned" by Hilary Duff

Uhh... let's say that when this movie was being produced she was rotten and forgetten and crazy to have a comeback so she begged [aka fucked] someone from the studio and they had to shove it somewhere. It's a good song, though.

I tag my co-stars that would never be out of my crazy musical: The Ho, Alais and Nina.

Fashion Hot

In my search for good music to daydream about my DJ kicks I of course found myself drawned to the oldies. So, I downloaded Sophie Ellis-Bextor's solo debut 2001/2's Read My Lips [RML]. Man, I hate myself for being so late in the music field! I'm fucking six years late!! I of course knew Sophie's most known singles like Murder On The Dancefloor and Take Me Home, but I never cared to know more about her.

So I downloaded RML. It's not a perfect album, some songs [read ballads] feel out of place, but it's a great Dance Music piece that handles the task of keeping you up most of the time. I'm in love with Take Me Home all over again and Get Over You. Looking her up on YouTube I came across the devilish funny Murder video and the stunning one from TMH.

It's a simple very pop concept, but ugh that cinematography!! And those clothes!!! Everything's perfect in it, even Sophie's ears. Well, see it for yourselves.

Did you notice the Vogue-ish dance moves by the end?

Sou/adoro Sophie Ellis-Bextor!!!!!!!!

[Song: Take Me Home - Sophie Ellis-Bextor]