N-DUBZ feat. MR HUDSON / “Playing With Fire” (video)
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 16, 2009
PLAYING WITH FIRE.:. N-DUBZ featuring Mr Hudson
London city is in the building. MisterMara.com favorite Mr Hudson makes a featured apperance in N-Dubz latest clip for their single “Playing With Fire”. If you want a British Lil Wayne-type stee, look no further than Dappy. He’s doing his best autotune, and Tulisa is giving her best Keri Hilson (or should I say Rihanna?). In any event, Mr Hudson shines the most in this collaboration and is a worthy tune alongside his current project “Straight No Chaser.” Lots of swagger all around. Can I just say that I’m also rocking the same jacket N-Dubz has in this video in my recent STYLE No. 1 – ULTRAVIOLET post — just an FYI.
Also, ITN did a small feature on how N-Dubz felt working with Mr H for the single.
WAKE-UP CALL: SIMPLE MINDS / “Don’t You” (Live Aid ‘85)
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 16, 2009
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/ / / / / WAKE UP CALL
DON’T YOU (Live Aid ‘85).:. SIMPLE MINDS
[0:45] “UUUUu-Uu-UUuuuuu (Woah) “
Wake up call for your Wednesday hump-day, Simple Minds and their perennial Breakfast Club classic “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Yes, yes, by now, this song is sooo cliché to all retro “revivalists” but honestly the Eighties, new wave, power pop and music like this is NOT A TREND or A PASSING FAD for me. I live this kind of music. I love how powerful and charging this performance is in Philadelphia on a blistering Summer day in July. Surprisingly, Simple Minds snubbed this song and actually recorded it as an afterthought. Thanks to the legacy of filmmaker John Hughes (who passed this year) and music lovers everywhere this song came to define an era and a generation.
FACTOID#1: The last time Live Aid was broadcast in its entirety on television was on MTV in the summer of 1997.
FACTOID #2: Simple Minds didn’t write it. The song was co-written by Donna Summers producer/Flash Dance Oscar winner Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff of the Nina Hagen band. They wrote the song hoping that Billy Idol would do it. Idol declined it. Brian Ferry (Roxy Music) was then offered it. He declined. Simple Minds then declined it as well. They were begged to record it by their label, A&M records. They finally agreed. In their own words, they recorded it and “forgot about it.”
I LOVE THIS BAND: TURBOWEEKEND / “Trouble Is” (Live @ Vega)
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 15, 2009
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TROUBLE IS (LIVE @ VEGA, COPENHAGEN).:. TURBOWEEKEND
Great performance clip of Copenhagen band Turboweekend performing their latest single (and German radio hit) “Trouble Is” at seminal indie/alternative nightclub Vega on their home turf. Got a chance to meet these guys in Berlin and they’re every bit as open and emotive over a simple cup of Joe as they are on stage. Expect to hear more big things from this group. They’re looking to bring their sound to the UK as well as the US in 2010 and I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity to see their show again, especially with the new songs. Check out their most recent longplayer Ghost Of A Chance available digitally via www.cd-wow.com. This is beautiful, haunting music for the colder winter months — they complement the season perfectly.
Still on the hunt for a Tubroweekend graphic tee, would make the best stocking stuffer for me! x
Mister Mara with Turboweekend in Kreuzberg, Berlin. Summer 2009. Photo © MisterMara.com
GROOVE ARMADA / “Paper Romance” + 2010 album details
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 15, 2009
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PAPER ROMANCE.:. GROOVE ARMADA
Gaga it ain’t! Dancefloor stalwarts Groove Armada are still at it and booming back with a stomper. Freshly ripped from Pete Tong’s latest broadcast “Paper Romance” is the lead single from the duo’s forthcoming album Black Light due March 1, 2010 — their first studio effort since Soundboy Rock in 2007. Saw the pair this autumn during the LovEvolution fest in San Francisco (massive set at the closing party). As far as I’m concerned, they’re in David Guetta/Tiesto/Paul Van Dyk territory. This is ethereal, room-filling stuff here! Plus, check out another new cut from the album “I Won’t Kneel” featuring a vocal appearance by British songstress SaintSaviour. It’s a familiar electro-dance sound — feeling like an outtake from a Kleerup or Robyn album, but still a pretty worthy tune. MisterMara.com will keep you updated on this project.
Tour information can be found at their official myspace.
New Young Pony Club / “Lost A Girl” [new single]
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 14, 2009
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Brand new track “Lost A Girl” from New Young Pony Club off their upcoming second album The Optimist – available March 2010.
Download the track for free at NYPC’s official website http://www.newyoungponyclub.com
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STYLE No. 1: ULTRAVIOLET / Kid Sister “Daydreaming”
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 14, 2009
One of my favorite tracks from Kid Sister’s latest album Ultraviolet. Entitled “Daydreaming” this pulsating track was produced by L.A.-by-way-of-Kansas City hitmaker Brian Kennedy (the man behind Rihanna’s smash “Disturbia”). This song is so lush. Filled with dreamy synths and big with atmosphere, the tune wont let go from start ’til finish. Cee-Lo’s cameo is worthy of a nod as well, he gives a stellar performance as usual and Kid Sis does an impressive job vocally. Begging to be a single. Check it out below.
DAYDREAMING.:. KID SISTER feat. Cee-Lo
THE FUTUREHEADS / “Struck Dumb” [new single, limited free DL]
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 14, 2009
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Sunderland heroes The Futureheads are back with new music from their upcoming yet-to-be-titled 2010 album. Entitled “Struck Dumb,” the tune follows in the same vein of now-classic Futureheads material [many best of the decade lists have proven that with their 2004 debut making the mark on lists worldwide]. The song is available for free download for a limited-time only on their official website.
Also, related-but-unrelated, wanted to throw in a special MP3 download treat from one of my favorite British bands [who also have new material coming in the new year] Lucky Soul and their superb 2007 ballad “Struck Dumb.” Enjoy
BONUS: STRUCK DUMB.:. LUCKY SOUL [from their debut album "The Great Unwanted"]
R.I.P. TOMMY SPARKS [?]
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 11, 2009
Fans of internet dance pop this year may be familiar with the name Tommy Sparks. He released the infectious single “She’s Got Me Dancing” in the UK, which gained mileage commercially — being featured in a FIFA game and an iPod nano advert, but not doing much in the realm of sales or dance club play. I’m disappointed that his self-titled debut album managed to make no fuss in a year crowded with notable electropop talent in the likes of Frankmusik, La Roux and Lady Gaga. In my estimation, Tommy Sparks at least sits in that roster. His debut was one of the better pop efforts released this year — refer to my older post ["TOMMY SPARKS IS UNDERRATED"].
Peeking about his official myspace and twitter pages, I’ve noticed that he’s been decidedly absent from social networking. His last tweet was on October 23 where he talked about going back to the UK with its “flaws and rough beauty” shortly after a few Stockholm gigs only to self-announce that he is dead with a morbid “R.I.P. TOMMY SPARKS” tweet and crudely-made-yet-strangely-cute banner [seen above] splashing the welcome of his myspace page.
Of course he’s not dead, he wouldn’t have tweeted if he were. But has he been dropped from his label? Does he no longer have a record contract? Has he given up on the industry, they on him or are we witness to the death of Tommy Sparks the concept and maybe he’s moving on to something new and refreshing? He did talk of recording some very avant-garde, leftfield hip hop in a snarky, half-joking/half-believable way early this fall, so you never know.
MisterMara.com is going to be in touch and get back to you with details. Keep it locked, and subscribe for more music exclusives. This man must continue making great music.
“TIGER WOODS, Y’ALL” x
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 11, 2009
/ / / / / FRIDAY FIXX
CHAMPAGNE.:. CHRIS ROCK
This week’s FRIDAY FIXX is a special one. Tiger Woods is being rocked by scandal currently and one thing that came to mind during all of this is a famous rap parody that calls the golfers name. The 1997 classic track by Chris Rock entitled “Champagne” — which was a parody of the then-current vogue of Versace linens, over-materialistic and misogynistic era of rap that Bad Boy Records, Puff Daddy and Biggie Smalls ruled in the mid- to late ’90s. Zoom 10+ years later and this song once again has a resurgence due to the famous lines uttered by Chris Rock in the end of the chanting: “Tiger Woods, y’all. It’s all good, y’all.” Not knowing that the 2009 scandal now presently rocking the golf great has pretty much given that once absurd jingle a new aire of versilmitude. For the ultimate excessive rapper, drinking champagne with Tiger Woods is anything but a joke, more of a sign that you’re the biggest ‘playa’ and pimp around — you’ve got [women] by the dozens! Think about it.
PRIVATE / “My Secret Lover” [UK 2009 version]
Posted by: mistermaratv on: December 10, 2009
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MY SECRET LOVER.:. PRIVATE
One of my dance favorite songs of the last few years “My Secret Lover” by Private finally gets an international release [due January 17 on Relentless/Virgin Records in the UK]. The song was initially released in Denmark in the Summer of 2007 and quickly became a The Voice [Danish MTV] favorite and reached cult status on blogs and iPods the world over. Thomas Troelsen, the lead singer/producer and creative director of this project, is known for his production work on Junior Senior’s big hit single “Move Your Feet” at the earlier part of this decade. He’s been a busy man since then and has worked all throughout the world of Europop and electro dance music. I’m happy this is finally released, if you can, YouTube the original Danish version of this song’s clip, which is miles better — imagine Thomas as an electro-sleeked Robert Palmer meets “Rock With You”-era Michael Jackson dancing against green lazerlights and a tall modelesque black woman with a robotic gaze standing in back. [Catch my drift?]
Also, peep brand new remixes by L.A. technorap legend Egyptian Lover.
PRIVATE can be found on youtube / official website
