Top 5 : Electro-Indienization

Indie Yes! Boring Jamais!

After all the Indie Rock thing with me I just felt I missed a good-old dancefloor; so following the tracks of Saint Etienne who rocked my world with their marvelous House beats, I came to naturally find more names of the Indie Dance scene. Here and bellow 5 acts that are rocking my world and body.

Honorable Mentions:

- Give It 2 Me [by Madonna]. There's nothing of Indie in it and at face value it's R&B, but pay attention to its wild variations and you notice such an exciting Dance act like Madonna hasn't done in a loooooong long time.

- Like A Drug [by Kylie Minogue]. It's no surprise that my favorite Dance divas would be here. At the moment they're the only non-Indie stuff I can't stop playing, and "Like A Drug" with it's empowered intro and massively involving synths "got me hooked, getting me on the floor."

Top 5:

[5] Helpless Fool For Love [by Annie]. Miss Annie is a forever favorite thing. I've talked some about her here, and she has featured a lot of post songs - and now, as I [re]connect with the new rave scene I start to recollect and re-listen to her simple but gorgeous album debut - Anniemal. "Helpless Fool" is an exciting mid-tempo thing that has a great hook directly synchronized with the obsessive lyrics. But warning: if you don't trully love the Electro-Dance thing, don't even try Annie.

[4] Je Veux Te Voi [by Yelle]. There's this Brazilian band, called Bonde do Rolê, that is bombing the world with their [even more] irreverent approach of the Favela Funk. Yelle is the gringo thing nearest to what the Funk Carioca is. She however has more elaborated/electrified beats and production, plus the lyrics and singing-style is even closer to Hip-Hop than to the Proibidão. "Je Veux Te Voi" can sound annoying to non-likers of the style, but for those who love a good sluttish and exciting song this is a treat.

[3] A Cause Des Garçons (TEPR Remix) [by Yelle]. I have this new dancefloor dream [lol] that is to dance to this song like these guys. Tecktonik is the new deal. Hey, don't be surprised if Madonna shove it into her Sticky & Sweet tour [it would perfectly match with "Give It 2 Me"]!

[2] Cry Baby [by Róisín Murphy]. A couple of friends told me to download her, I downloaded but it took me ages to finally give her a try. Stupid stupid Lucas!! Always delaying the good things for himself! I'm still addicted to every single song of her two solo albums, so much I dunno which I should choose, but Cry Baby [that has an incredible beat that reminds a bit of Donna Summer's long-time imitated classic, I Feel Love, but even more up-tempo and an atmosfera capable of kicking you out dancing all over the place] was the one playing as I started writing this position, so there it goes.

[1] Sing It Back [by Moloko]. When I told a friend I was in love with Murphy but I didn't know anything from Moloko he felt a bit offended. So he sent me a couple of videos and I understood why. THEY'RE PURE PERFECTION!! With a more organic approach of Electro-Dance music, their songs had more live instrumentals than most of the scene - something like what Saint Etienne does. This performance bellow was the one who rocked my socks; Róisín's personna, presence and beauty is breathtaking!!! Every vocalist wannabe should dream to be as exciting and chic.

Top 5: Music For The Road

Breaking my habit of only traveling by bus at night, Monday I came to Salvador by noon. The bus left at 30 past 12 and thankfully it had a conditioned air, because the heat was disgusting [the kind that makes you sweaty and viscous]. The night before I had got high, therefore I had a weird night/morning of sleep; but the point I'm trying to get is the music!
When I bought the Antony And The Johnsons and Björk's tickets I had planned in filling my mp3 player with their music and only, when the time came for me to go to Rio. Well, lines above you happened to know I ended up high and surely forgot to do that; but I'm glad. Coming to think about it I'd end up sick of them by half of the trip and the surprise of hearing the songs live must come fresh.
So in the bus, during my REM sleep, I played the folder with random artists and had wonderful trips. I've already posted about the sleep and music combo, how you come to have these crazy dreams and images flashing through your eyes, as you brain decides between sleeping and listening to the tune.
So, here follows the 5 tracks [+ bonuses] that gave me best dream-intros.
5. Gimme More - Britney Spears
Mhmm... I'd be wondering as well how could that catchy-but-lazy track by Miss Long-Time-Ago-Promissing-Pop-Princess bring good dreams. Well the thing is, to be in REM is like being under the influence of E and every little sound the penetrates your mind becomes powerful and dreamsome. Spears's track has lovely synth-details that woke me up to see that my hips were unconsciously moving.
4. I Talk Too Much [featuring Kylie Minogue] - Just Jack
Just Jack is the stage name of British singer Jack Allsopp. I never heard of him before the day his sophomore album was released and I happened to learn that he had a duet with my lovely Kylie Minogue. I downloaded I Talk Too Much from a Kylie fan-site and thought it was cool but didn't give much attention to it later, until I found myself having wild and crazy sleepy-imagery to Jack's rushy vocals, Minogue's acute and incisive voice and the wonderful horn samples from the track.
Note to self: download JJ's albums.
3. LDN - Lily Allen
Suddenly the lyrics came full and clear in my head and again the horn arrangements blew my mind away. Everytime I the song played I'd wake up to sing along, which is not bad cos this is one of my favorite tracks to sing along. It's pity I'm missing her show in São Paulo in two weeks.
2. Spell Of Desire - Kylie Minogue
This is one of the rejected tracks from Kylie's forthcoming tenth studio album. Produced by Mylo the
6-minutes-long song is a delicious fest of synthesized beats and spacebeeps [never as boring as Orbit's]; try to imagine this sci-fi atmosphere when you're half-awake/half-asleep. Like Sophie [Ellis-Bextor] would say I had to surrender to the party in my head. The wildest and marvelous abstract images became alive in my mind... but still not as powerful as the #1...
1. Stop Running Away [featuring Deborah Anderson] - Télépopmusik
This French trip hop group was presented to by the ho and now they remind me of Saint Etienne. Last year Jose told me to download Etienne and I ignored him; later I found myself addicted to the band.
When I felt I was waking up I forced myself to remain eye-shut, because the visions I was having shouldn't be erased by boring real imagery. It was Deborah Anderson's layered vocals on track "Stop Running Away" giving me the best dream I'd had in days. Suddenly I was a choir arranger conducting a group of fiveplets singing the wonderful lyrics, while I also played the beautiful and organic synths. No matter how thoughtfully I try to describe the feeling and sensation you will only know/feel what I'm saying after you listen to the track.
Right after SRA, came the wonderful Into Everything also featuring Anderson's sweet vocals but this time accompanied by marvelous beats and programming - and after the lovely surprise by its end I was all the into Télépopmusik's fandom-land.

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]

Soft Like Me

Hey, do you wanna be

And don't you wanna be

Soft like me?

The best part of flirting is when you are totally cool about it. You know, you flirt you make your passes but fuck it if anything happens. Most of the times, I'm like that; last night I was like that. But instead of flirting around I foccused my aim in one target only. That, my friends, is testifying defeat. Well, sometimes not, but mostly you lead yourself to disappointments and deceptions.

Now's the shocking part: I'm not like that!!! Okay, I won't lie I'm a bit excited to make things work; but mostly I'm alright! Last night in Conquista I simply drove around town with my friends in the [unsuccessful] search of a nice party. However we had an awesome time; I was joyous and soft, simply moving from one thing to another with the only disposition of hanging out. Comment Guy was there and let's be honest here guys, I was thrilled that he was. Suddenly you know what I've been talking about.

Am I entering a very dangerous zone? Oh hell yeah of course! I cannot deny the moody days after February; but I believe that now I'm cooler about it, since most of my fantasies were torn two months ago I can say my eyes are more open now. But yes, it's a path filled with ambiguity and blasé moods. Count me in!!!!

[Song: Soft Like Me - Saint Etienne]

The Songs Of 2006

[Note: I'm setting an official date to my annual list - the last Thursday before Christmas. Why? Who the hell cares...]

In the second half of the year all I could think about was this list. I was both excited and apprehensive to do it, especially because 2006 was a crappy year in music. Practically nothing good was released on Pop music, having some major disappointments that made me cling to the oldies or other music styles such as Jazz and Dance. 2006 was the affirmation of Kylie as my G-d, Madonna spoiled us with two live masterpieces and the mainstream come-back of an artist that I love dearly. No more rambling, let’s get to it.

- Top 10

10. "Stars Are Blind" by Paris Hilton

I always loved Hilton, she’s one of those quirky and eccentric things on celebrity world that you simply can’t ignore, even if it’s for her shallowness; this year she released her music debut album. When “Stars” hit my ears I instantly loved it! It’s cute, fun and catchy; who cares if she can’t sing and has computer made up voice? She’s fun dude!

09. "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust

I’m not much of a clubber, but I LOVE club music. “Music Sounds Better With You” has a strong and poignant identity that makes you dance and happy whenever you listen to it. During my last days in Marilia I listened to it repeatedly… there was even a weekend it was played from Friday to Monday non-stop!

08. "Every Time We Say Good Bye" by Ella Fitzgerald

Everyone knows my love for Cole Porter and Ella. This song is just beautiful and uhg, that Ella woman knew how to make us cry with her voice.

07. "Me Pregunto" by Belanova

Thanks to the ho I know Belanova and this was my walk-song during most of the first semester. Besides, there's a cute naivité and freshness to Denisse's voice you can't help falling in love.

06. "Aganjú" by Bebel Gilberto

In my search and desire for music to fill the lack of decent new stuff I found out Bebel Gilberto, a Brazilian like me that I ignored for a long time. Bebel does electronic bossa like no one will ever do. Her voice is sweet, calm and brings light and smiles no matter how sad the lyrics are. "Aganjú" is a huge song in a minimalist disguise: everything works both together and separated and boy how it hooks in you! One can’t not love that percussion.

05. "Peach Trees" by Rufus Wainwright

Every year I catch myself asking the same question about some artists: “how could I have lived so long without this one?” Rufus Wainwright came into my life for good after obsessing with Prime’s soundtrack. However, “Peach Trees” isn’t just a love song, it’s the perfect description of a part of Lucas for the last seven months at least. Besides, Rufus is a genius and a hottie.

04. "Lightning Strikes Twice" by Saint Etienne

The last entry of the year is so damn powerful that surpassed many contenders and made it easily to my top 5. I apologize for the ho for not paying attention to Etienne when he told me to, now I just can’t get enough. “Lightning” is a piece of indie dance music with haunting bass and darkish lyrics sweetened up by Sarah Cracknell’s vocals that make everything beyond lovely. Hosie, this is our macumba song.

Bronze: "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland

Sometimes I wonder if this was recorded by PCD I would have loved it so much; but, I know those strippers would never have the word “chivalry” in a song. However, it’s not only that that makes me love “Promiscuous”, it’s not only its sass and infectious beats, the gorgeous chorus and the genius production. You know I’m a sucker for reinventions and Nelly Furtado did her come back with classy and stylish sexiness: she talked about sex but maintaining her usual clever lexicon, she showed skin but if you check out photo shoots you will not find Britney Spears and the best part, she made the return to her hip hop roots delightful and listenable: there are not a million “featurings” and she gave a couture and retro feeling to every little song of her album. It’s chic, hip and above everything fun.

Top 5:

1. Promiscuous [featuring Timbaland]

2. Maneater

3. What I Wanted

4. Let My Hair Down
5. No Hay Igual

Silver: "Erotica/You Thrill Me" by Madonna

One of my funniest memories of this song is that the day it leaked, on the verge of The Confessions Tour, I gave a little look at the online people on my MSN and 70% of them were playing it. It became a fever!! Not only the Madgers but even the normal people loved it and obsessed about it. And it’s perfectly understandable; anyway, who knows Madonna’s Erotica knows this remix is a cumming what's the word… reinvention! The new synths and beats are completely different from the original plus Madonna uses the original and previously discarded “You Thrill Me” that happens to be Erotica’s demo version [for the sinners that didn’t know that]. Erotica that originally is a dark and haunting song became lightful and cheerful with a new and exciting sex-appeal: instead of decadent dominatrix, kinky and horny girl. And you know what I think about those kinky and horny!

Top 5:

1. Erotica/You Thrill Me

2. Get Together

3. Forbidden Love

4. Jump
5. Your Honesty

Gold: "Dangerous Game" by Kylie Minogue

If you run through this year’s posts you will find Kylie Minogue in most of them, especially “Dangerous Game”. I won’t talk again about the dramatic performance and context this song belongs and actually there’s not much to be said about it, the lyrics are pretty obvious and the melody is as aching as her performance. But the reasons I chose this to be this year’s gold go beyond my personal impressions of it; anyone who loves music and has a good ear must recognize this song’s power. The instrumentation is full and real, no fake/synth strings, yes poignant percussion and yes cinematic production! “Dangerous Game” is and will forever be a classic to me for those reasons.

Top 5:

1. Dangerous Game

2. Put Yourself In My Place

3. Drunk

4. Some Kind Of Bliss

5. Breathe

- The Showbitch Awards – Top 3 [Here are the live tracks that made me cum-the-most this year.]

1. "Live To Tell" by Madonna at The Confessions Tour – mirror-ed cross… that’s all!

2. "The Crying Game [Ballads Section]" by Kylie Minogue at KylieFever Tour – classic look + cinematic drama + roses! The best medley of all times.

3. "Hand On Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue at The Showgirl Tour – folies + hands + “woo woo woo’s”!!

- The “Simpson Sisters” Award – Top 3 [“hate them, love the song”]

1. "The Beat Of My Heart" by Hilary Duff – this one is mainly Jose’s fault [June 27’s post]! But this song redeems Duff from all her disposable career.

2. "A Public Affair" by Jessica Simpson – I still don't like Jessica but dude this song is adorable! Besides she pays homage to Madge twice: first on the 80’s sonority, the song sounding like Holiday, then on the Sorry-esque video, roller-skates are the new deal!

3. "Deja Vu" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z – this song is simply infectious; it’s not as amazing as Crazy In Love but boy it’s fun! Its soul/R&B retro feeling made me more Beyoncé friendly in spite of her hype.

- The Like A Virgin Award – Top 5 [not necessarily new artists, but new addictions of mine]

1. "Moi… Lolita" by Alizeé – ha! This is HUGE, I absolutely love this song! First it’s a mega dancefloor/pop tune that clings to your head and body and there you go… then there’s Alizeé’s raspery voice and the sexy language! French rocks my socks!

2. "Heartbeat" by Annie – Annie is amazing simply because she’s fun. Her voice is almost inexistent, her lyrics are okay, but her music is beyond cool. Manage to keep yourself stopped while listening to "Heartbeat" and I’ll burry you.

3. "Alala" by Cansei De Ser Sexy – my wannabe song. It’s sassy, funny and dancey; me loves quirky indie pop!

4. "Where Does The Good Go" by Tegan and Sara – I know little about these two [I don’t even know if Tegan is a boy or a girl], but I know I adore this song. It’s been on a Grey’s Anatomy episode and is my break up song [blame Gustavo].

5. "A Perfect Sonnet" by Bright Eyes – I got into this band because of a guy [yes, I have no personality!]. Conor Oberst’s vocals in here are bad and out of tune but he gives great performance to the song’s lyrics, that happens to be one of the most heartbreaking and perfect descriptions of love deception.

Honorable Mentions
"Tout Les Garçons Et Les Filles" by Françoise Hardy – français est ma romance langue!
"The Man That Got Away" by Judy Garland – addicted to it for more than a year, did you really think it wouldn’t be here?
"Este Corazón" by RBD – fine, judge me as you please but I love this. [Uhg, I even did a corny rhyme!]
"Message Personnel" by Isabelle Rupert – Françoise Hardy plus genius performance by a genius actor; Rupert gave the sadness and douleur that not even the song’s author could.

"Set The Fire To The Third Bar" by Snow Patrol featuring Martha Wainwright - A lovely ghost gave it to me and I instantly fell in love with it. A last and on-the-moment addition because my stupid memory forgot how I liked this... ironic.

"All Good Things (Come To An End)" by Nelly Furtado – “Well the dogs were barking at a new moon, whistling a new tune, hoping it would come soon. And the sun was wondering if it should stay away for a day til the feeling went away. And the sky was falling on the clouds were dropping and the rain forgot how to bring salvation; the dogs were barking at the new moon, whistling a new tune hoping it would come soon so that they could die”… enough said.

The Songs Of 2005