D’Angelo is coming to Europe I heard. Oh that’s nice but I saw him in 2000 and he was great. It won’t be the same thing. He’s older, probably won’t have the same energy. I didn’t want to ruin the memories. So I didn’t get any tickets.
Then I heard of the extra concert and oh well, why not. He started the tour in Stockholm and closed it in Stockholm at the Filadelfia church. A funny venue but it was all right.
So there I was Friday night. The supporting act, Swedish soul singer Aleks sang a few tracks. Not bad at all but there was something missing. Back-up singers. Then there was a long wait. So long I started wondering if D’Angelo would really show up. More than an hour later and after lots of cheering, soundcheck. Playa Playa and he was there. Feels Like Makin’ Love. And then Devil’s Pie and Chicken Grease. Definitely, he still got the energy. The six-pack may be gone but he’s still hot. To die for.
Yes, I’ve seen the pictures of him not looking so good, so hopefully he won’t get back to that. I really hope he’s back now because the world need some good music. It was nice hearing some of the new songs and I’m looking forward to the album.
But hearing his old songs was like reliving one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to in 2000. And when he lighted the cigarette, everybody knew, Brown Sugar. And playing one single note to the beautiful Untitled (How Does It Feel), which the whole audience was waiting for. After that one note he stopped, took a breath and continued playing the piano to the part just before he’s supposed to start singing and he stops again. Teasing. He stands up, leans against the piano, puts his face in his hands. Emotions. Yes, he did go back and finished the song.
He might have been a little late but it was absolutely worth it. So worth it. I’m happy I saw him again and if I get the chance I’ll do it again. Because after listening to Brown Sugar and Voodoo, the only two albums released, the tracks sound so much better live.
It’s something different when you see musicians perform that have been around for a while, which I truly appreciated when seeing Sade Tuesday night.
I had the chance to see the amazing Sade perform live and I would do it again. Only thing is that it might be in another ten years time or so if they ever decide to tour again.
Now, that it’s been made clear to me that Sade is also the name of the band and not just the beautiful singer Helen Folasade Adu, I have to give credit to the band who’ve stuck together for so many years. Even though it’s the singer’s voice that I love.
So soothing, so serene. Perfect to relax and listen to before falling asleep, which did worry me a little bit. What if… but no, it wasn’t possible, it was a breathtaking performance. One of the best.
The deepness of her voice, the sax and guitar solos, the visuals with the curtains covering the stage (see image).
All the great hits and the new tracks. Not much talk between the songs, no need for it. She was very sweet and I was awestruck by her beauty. At 52 she’s a well conserved woman. No Madonna or Whitney Houston.
And no fuss about clothes, no spectacular outfits, just nicely tailored sophisticated pieces. The heels were changed to pumps then to bare-feet.
Favourite song? Don’t ask because there are too many. Best of the night? They were all good but the ones that stood out were Pearls, Sweetest Taboo with Sade bare-feet in a long white dress and red bra, Smooth Operator with an introductory video clip, great stage setting and was then followed by the mind-blowing Jezebel.
I was touched, it touched all my senses and definitely my heart – it was a night filled with lessons in love.
It all started with sweet innocent forbidden flirtation. It turned out to be unresisting hot desire and maybe love. End of story.
They left the hood – Fun fact: it’s the same setting for Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane, one of my favourite shows – for the luxurious beach resort.
And Nelly seemed to have grown a bit but since they’re on a sandy beach, Kelly probably isn’t wearing any heels.
Radio. I still listen to it, but mostly online nowadays. Love it because I’ll hear music that I otherwise wouldn’t listen too. So the other day I started reminiscing the 90s when i heard Lynden David Hall’s Sexy Cinderella on my favourite BBC 1xtra.
Remembering those late nights watching MTV Amour. I probably should have been asleep by the time it was on but fell asleep after it instead.
Good old days drowning into the sexy, silky, smooth sounds of those love songs. Amour was one of my favourite shows being a big MTV fan as a teen. After The Lick!
Every Wednesday night, 10p.m. I was glued. The Lick – Trevor Nelson, his voice, the sofa. And the music of course.
That’s what they used to do on MTV, play music videos, lots of them. They still do, don’t they? (on the extra channels I think like MTV2, MTV Dance, MTV Base)
Trevor Nelson, we salute you, then he got rid of the sofa and I started losing interest. I moved to the UK and his British accent wasn’t that special anymore.
I listened to him on the BBC 1xtra Breakfast Show but now he is only one good DJ among many other. Thanks CJ Beatz for bringing back some Old Skool on Sunday.
Amour and The Lick have both had a big impact in defining my taste for music and what I listen to today.
It really took me by surprise. That this song that I’ve heard on the radio is by Kelly Rowland. It doesn’t sound like her, not at all. She’s soul, not pop.
The song is all right, it’s ok. Very euro-pop, euro-trash even, maybe. But David Guetta is French so maybe that’s why. When Love Takes Over was better.
I just saw the video to Commander and I had no idea that Kelly Rowland’s new song sounded like or that she had fallen under the peer pressure of dressing in latex and knickers.
At the beginning of summer I was desperate to go to a festival and with no money to buy tickets I signed up for a bunch of draws and competitions. I didn’t win any.
But luck has come my way anyway. Summer is full of festivals and some of them are actually free. Stockholm’s Kulturfestival started yesterday and it ends on Sunday.
The names of the acts may not be the most famous in the world but it gives life to the city. People can come and go as they want. Last night, I saw Lisa Nilsson. One of my favourite Swedish singers. Yeah, it’s her and Robyn, see previous post.
It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Very soulful, very mature, very professional. The 39-year-old singer chose to dress her age (or older) in a knee-covering long-sleeve floaty dress. Quite impressive considering there are so many leggings and pants on stage these days.
And the singing? Great. Music is always better live. Actually, not always but this time it was. Credit to the band too. The trumpet player, especially, he just went on and on and on.
It started a bit slow, with slower songs to end on a more upbeat tone and more well-known songs. A bit of nostalgia for me who grew up in Sweden in the 90s to hear songs like Himlen Runt Hörnet, Vad Du Ser Är Vad Du Får and Varje Gång Jag Ser Dig.
It was also funny to hear about her escape to Rio de Janeiro to avoid the cold February blues in Sweden. How her bikini gradually minimised to the famous dental floss bottoms and where the men don’t care about tits and it’s all about bums.
Yes, it’s true. I could really relate to it having spent February in Brazil this year. And March, and April.
See Lisa Nilsson perform Varje Gång Jag Ser Dig at Swedish morning news show earlier this year:
He was with us for 50 years, almost 51. The King of Pop. Michael Jackson.
He’s passed away today after suffering a cardiac arrest. I’m still in shock. Not surprised but in absolute shock.
He changed music. The music videos. The dance steps. He’s a legend and there will never be anyone like him.
May he rest in peace.
Added 26 June:
The day after and I’m still in shock. Driving, I listen to the tributes on Radio1 and the only thing they talk about in the news is about Michael Jackson. How great he was. The impact he’s had. The legacy he’s leaving behind. The scandals are also mentioned, the court case, the plastic surgeries, the lightning of the skin, his monkey friend.
Trevor Nelson mentioned Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye, who also died young. Wyclef on Twitter: “RT James Brown Dec 25 Aaliyah Aug 25 Left Eye April 25 Michael Jackson June 25. Two plus Five is Seven,Seven is the num of completion. R I P”
A tribute song has already been made. Better on the Other Side featuring Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher and Boyz II Men, produced by DJ Khalil.
I recently watched Notorious, the film about Notorious BIG, Biggie Smalls, where at the end, real life footage is shown how people are celebrating his music in the streets of Brooklyn. Now, there are people celebrating worldwide. Who hasn’t tried to do a moonwalk?
Watch Michael Jackson as a little boy in this first footage of him performing. The soul in that little body is phenomenal.
Poor little boy, if he only knew what would happen to him. May he be in a better place.
A little bit of this and that... 