KURT NILSEN

Here's something for your music fix. Kurt Nilsen is a singer from Norway who incidentally won the world idol competition. I know that seems rather corny with all that American Idol has come to be associated with- read all show and very less talent. But this guy's different if I may say so.

His first album with the rather quirky name 'I' established him as a major Norwegian singer . Other albums followed; "A part of me', 'Push Push', 'Rise to the occasion'. Now he's one of the most well known singers in Europe and seems all set to break into America as well.

Something that has been a constant thorn in his side is that he does not exactly have the good looks you might expect of a star. One of the judges in the World Idol notoriously compared him to a hobbit! But instead of taking it in a negative way he has risen above it and made some very nice music. Proving once and for all that talent need not necessarily by hijacked by looks! Very inspiring.

His latest 'Lost Highway', a collaboration with Willie Nelson, the country legend is a very nice take on the original performed by Hank Williams. ' Last storm', ' Push Push', are also some other very good tracks. If you want to explore more of this musician follow the link below on MYSPACE. Enzoyy!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=194341627

SOMETHING FOR THE MUSIC LOVERS

Hey people! How's everyone's weekend been? Me, I've been developing my inner peace by staying home and lazing around, yeah, that's sure to give me peace! :-)

So I've something to share with you all. I am an ardent Youtuber and when I'm online I'm usually loitering around Youtube premises; they cant arrest me for that, can they? Ok whatever, so I was scrounging around Youtube when I came across this amazing singer. She's pretty, dresses cool, has an amazing voice, and to top it all she's just 11!

I know there are many child singers out there. Some very good, I have to admit. However, usually while I like their vocal techniques and their pitch is correct, I have nothing much to say about the voice. In this case though, I love the voice that comes out of that pretty face! There's this other singer named Charice who is also pretty amazing for a 15 year old, but somehow I find her voice a little fake... Don't sue me for saying that. Nora Foss Al Jabri, thats her name, on the other hand has such a rich voice! I prefer using the imagery of rich olive oil to describe her voice. It's fluid, warm and amazingly mature without coming across as pretentious.

I'm posting a youtube link to her rendition of 'Somewhere over the rainbow' from the musical 'The wizard of Oz' soundtrack. Diggg itttt!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MfunMfOPYOk&feature=related

REGINA SPEKTOR

Meet Regina Spektor- singer and song writer par excellence. Unless you have been hibernating under a boulder in a remote part of the Amazon, you must have seen one of her videos on TV. Or have you?Let me not embarrass you any further by persisting with that question.

I wont waste time going on about her and how talented and inspiring she is. Suffice to say that currently she rocks my world! Just when I had been getting extremely disgusted with the current state of music, especially western, Regina came like a refreshing breeze on a God forsaken Saharan summer's day. How may I best describe her music... hmmm, lets just say that she is part musician and part enchantress.

The amount of stupidity one sees in today's musical scene is just puke inducing. Everyone is a rip off of someone else! Now, inspiration is one thing but plain imitation is very unacceptable in the world of art. Into this extremely bland and depressing situation, once in a while someone like Regina waltzes in and re-assures me that everything is not lost, not yet and not now. The words she chooses to give flesh to her music are so exquisite and simple that you can't help but nod in silent agreement. Sample this- " You are my sweetest downfall" from her song 'Samson'. If that's not poetry of life then what is? As one goes on living we realize that most things in life are ambiguous and, needless to say, inexplicable. This ambiguity and mystery is what Regina excels at presenting.

Being a Russian- American Jew, her songs have allusions to the Jewish culture and one can almost picture Bar Mitzvahs and passover feasts as one listens to her songs! The past and history are also things that characterize her song writing, lending to her an almost prophetic role. For isn't the future a repetition of the past, and isn't one who understands the past a seer of the future?

Too much description may ruin the fun of listening to someone as instinctive as Regina Spektor, so I suggest that you follow the link below and listen to my favorite song of hers 'Samson'. Immerse yourself in the music of life!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=p62rfWxs6a8