The Voice of an Angel.

Have you ever listened to a song and thought the lead singer had the voice of an angel? I’ve heard people make this comment about Josh Groban and Sarah Mclachlan but even though I think they have golden voices, I’d never give them angelic status. That is just my opinion. For me, I feel Tom Smith, lead singer of a moody rock band from England called The Editors, is what an angel singing would sound like. I love a range of voices from Brody Dalle to Jim Morrison to Thom Yorke but Tom Smith stirs something in me, like my soul knows I am hearing something special. His voice makes my ears tingle.

Why I am Going Deaf

When I was younger I use to take apart my walkie-talkies and pocket radios so I could see what their insides looked like. I’d experiment, taking parts from the radio and replacing them with the guts of a walkie-talkie to see if I could create a plastic, electronic Frankenstein of my own. I managed to invent a few interesting pieces, but nothing worth marketing to Radio Shack. I guess I was a little nerdy, but what else is a shy young girl to do when her breasts develop at ten.

It was around this time I made a conscious decision to explore music and cultivate a passion for it. This is one of those clear memories I have from my childhood – sitting on the floor of my bedroom listening to the distorted noises coming from my mutilated pocket radio and saying to myself, “Music is going to be our thing. It will be there when no one else can be.”
The one constant in my life has been the love of music. My tastes have grown, matured and I keep finding new sounds I can groove to and new lyrics I can relate to.
Music is my heroin.

Dear Avril Lavigne,

I understand you are married now (you say it in every interview) and I realize you are all grown up (22 IS the new 40 afterall) but why on earth did you abandon your 'I don't give a shit' punk attitude, only to adopt a pop princess wannabe one? Your new song, 'Girlfriend' is indeed a semi decent effort - but that chorus...is awful. But worse than that, is your video. You actually have choreographed dancing! For shame!

Ok, so I am not a die hard fan - but I appreciate a strong unique voice and original (artist written) lyrics conveying honesty and sensitivity, your new album is too much of a departure from this for me to handle. It isn't you, even though your name is on it. Come on my fellow Canadian, we can all smell what is really going on here, so tell me, who put you up to this? Who convinced you this was the album you needed to make? Name one song on your new album that can hold its own against....say 'Don't Tell Me' or my favorite 'I'm With You'. You can't.

Because I do like you and the variety you bring, I am willing to overlook this offence against good music - let us just chalk this new album up to poor taste, bad judgement and a severe case of growing pains. I anxiously await your NEXT effort, and I am confident you will return to what you do best. If you don't, you're forever banned from my iPod.

Karma Is A Dixie Chick

Please refresh your memory with this post:
http://icantbelieveitisnotbutter.blogspot.com/2006/05/im-not-ready-to-make-nice.html

Done? Ok. So now you are reminded of my deep appreciation of The Dixie Chicks. Last week on the Grammys (not a show I care to watch) the Chicks picked up FIVE awards - they won in every catagory they were nominated in:
Album of the Year
Record of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Country Album
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group

Now, I don't hold the Grammys in high regard, in fact, I feel most award shows are fairly lame, but I can almost grasp their importance to the people in the industry. It is nice to be recognized.

It wasn't long ago when The Dixie Chicks were receiving death threats - and might I point out, it wasn't just someone saying "I will kill you." - there was a time, place and method. Their careers were in trouble, many of their 'fans' ditched them and a large portion of Americans wanted them chucked out of the country (Canada would have adopted The Dixie Chicks in a second. They have a massive fan following up here and I for one would have offered up my spare room if they needed a place to stay).

Now, it appears, around 70% of Americans agree with The Dixie Chicks' view on their President.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/11/60minutes/main1611424.shtml

I highly doubt The Dixie Chicks needed the Grammy wins to feel vindicated or accepted or loved again. They are strong intelligent women who supported each other even when things were at there worst. We could all learn from what happened to them.