The Magical Songs of Sondre Lerche

If you're looking for something new to listen to, something fresh, something that reminds you of pots of gold at the end of rainbows, eating ice cream on a summer day, calm ocean breezes, and everything else beautiful and warm and magical, then you might consider Sondre Lerche

Sondre Lerche is a talented singer hailing from Bergen, Norway who is really in a league of his own. His songs are a mix of Brit Pop, Electronic, Funk, and something that is so hard to describe that you can only classify it as being "Sondre Lerche". The tunes are somehow just a baby step away from being off-key but they work fantastically and that is perhaps the phenomenon that lends the most charm and uniqueness to his songs.

Lyrics-wise, he has gotten a few criticisms, but personally, his lyrics are just as quirky as his songs (like "We can't reclaim the shirts we threw away last twirl
Uncurl the note-in-pocket, personal brochures that dust Machine-washed, that's how paper rusts" of Two Way Monologue) and just gives them even more personality. He has also made a few very poignant lyrics. Some that come up to my mind vividly are songs of a past, of love lost, and of regrets. "Stupid Memory" goes like this:

All alone in pink
All the carpets fade to grey
Amplifiers burst out the deal that I have made
What's there to say I cannot say by myself?

Thinking about writing it down seems pretentious
And helplessness may be the word they nail to my name
In a while

Stupid memory
Must you bring up these things?
Stupid memory
Can I forget all of that?
All of that crap

And "Days that Are Over":

Days that are over
Will not continue to last
If you try to construct the past

I leave the heat on to leave a trace
of all the things the air was filled with

All the things I never knew and all the words I know
Now they all come out too late for you to realize
Satisfy my luck
This director's cut
doesn't spare an inch


Whether you're listening to the calm, pondering, almost-melancholic song that is "Minor Detail", thinking about what-if's in "Stupid Memory", or you're grooving to "Airport Taxi Reception", or bopping your head along with "Two Way Monologue", your ears are sure to have one great musical ride.

Kanye West Featuring Japanese Hip-hop group Teriyaki Boyz

I just saw this on TV a few days ago. It's a Japanese TV show about some famous Japanese music icons. I think the show's called Music Station. It started out normal, with the Japanese hosts interviewing Japanese singers when I suddenly saw Kanye West there! Yes, the Kanye West - the one with all those hit records, the one you see on MTV, and yes he's the one who's not Japanese.

That really got me glued to that program (other than the fact that I love any show that has anything remotely related to Japan). Turns out, Kanye West was going to perform with a Japanese hip-hop group called Teriyaki Boyz! Now this was definitely something to watch!

I'm not much of a hip-hop fan and all, but I really had to see it. If you haven't seen it, go watch it now:



Objectively speaking, the chorus has a good beat to it, the beat to their rap was fine. The lyrics, on the other hand, was... intersting (for lack of a better term). I've been listening to JMusic for quite sometime now but never have I heard lyrics mixed with that much English on it! I think it was sang in English 3/4 the time. It was hilarious sometimes trying to tell whether they were saying an English word or a Japanese word. And I think the climax of the song was always when Kanye West would join in and sing "I still love her, Hontou E rap" which means "I still love her, True E rap". Yes, Kanye West actually sings the Japanese word "Hontou!" hehe. That's why the song title is "I Still Love H.E.R." btw. HER stands for Hontou E Rap. :p

I can't find the lyrics yet. I've been surfing for minutes now to no avail! If you guys have it, please leave a comment thanks :)

On a side note, the group is wearing BAPE shirts, another very famous part of Japanese pop culture. I'll make a post about them BAPE shirts next time :)

British Invasion Night at American Idol, and some very Strange, Creepy moments

It was British invasion Night at American Idol and I was extremely excited about it, because I really love 60's music (I am a Zombies, Searchers, Hollies, Classics, Applejacks, etc. fan). I was absolutely thrilled that 2 Zombies songs were covered, and were covered well.

For me, Blake stole the show with his ultra cool, suave rendition of "Time of the Season":



Stephanie Edwards lost her spark and doesn't seem sincere enough with the way she sings. Haley didn't sing very well but danced very well hehehe. I don't think Gina followed Lulu's suggestion of making the pitch higher, it seemed she sang the song better during the clip with Lulu... Phil Stacey's performance was also half-baked. Lakisha's "Diamonds are Forever" was hot, I dont know why Simon and co. didnt like it so much. Melinda was spot on with the way she interpreted her lyrics. Chris Richardson's was another great performance. His vocals was close to impeccable:



The creepiest moment had to be when Sanjaya tried to rock it out with "You Really got me Now". He was really just shouting his lyrics, his outfit was sloppy with the overly large blazer, it just didnt work. What made it even creepier was how Ashley on the audience was crying while he performed! Was that creepy or what???



Based on all these comments, I have no idea why Chris wound up in the bottom 2 and why Sanjaya was smiling and laughing sitting down comfortably in his seat, having avoided elimination once again.