Influential Waves.

Frank Ocean was an obscurity back in March 2011 when I first heard him, although he'd been in Odd Future since 2010.  Since then he has exploded onto the RnB scene and injected it with life, soul, rhythm and emotion.  When it was published he made the Time 100 list, well you can imagine the excitement, but also there was not actually that much to be surprised about.  The buzz around Ocean is insatiable  he is being talked about everywhere and by everyone.  In the 2 years since I started listening to him he hasn't once played here on his own tour meaning that, as an Ocean-starved nation, the tickets to his Brixton Academy show sold out within about 20 milliseconds.  It is breathtaking what the force of the internet can do to someone.

Here are couple of my favourite tracks, from his Channel Orange album and surrounding areas:-

Strawberry Swing

Bad Religion

Lost

Super Rich Kids (ft Earl Sweatshirt)

Good News Girls Fridays: iv Travel the World

The sun is OUT finally!  That need for vitamin D and fresh air often means you'll find me starfishing the closest grassy patch I can find, or sitting cross legged on a bench watching people go by, pretending to read a book (next step is to cut eye holes in The Times for real spying fun).  These luxuries are pretty rare in rain sodden, rat race London, so I savour these moments when I'm travelling.  And so, to bring myself back to GNG Fridays, here is a small selection of lovely ladies who have cast their musical nets far (and close) from there home countries.

Sweden
Robyn - Cobra Style
Robyn featured in my last GNG as I think she is seriously underrated!  Here is a cover of the Teddybears' Cobra Style which is fun.

France
Coeur de Pirate - Comme Des Enfant
This song is absolutely adorable, I just don't have a clue what she's saying however I can now sing this song almost word for word.  I worry about what it means and what words are coming out of my mouth (apart from a few, deux semaine is stuck in my brain from GCSE French.  Two week holiday in Paris anyone?) but the piano accompaniment is extremely pretty.

Belgium
Selah Sue - Raggamuffin
Cee Lo Green ft Selah Sue - Please
I'm a big fan of this chick and I've introduced here to a couple of friends and she goes down a treat!  Selah Sue is rocking, awesome, and sounds Jamaican, what a dream.  I've included my two favourites, Raggamuffin and Please which features Cee Lo Green.  SS has done another version of Raggamuffin with J. Cole, but I tend to prefer the more acoustic and raw versions of songs.  The version I've linked to is the version I have from the original EP, but she has since done other acoustic covers that are worth YouTubing.  Being only 19 when she penned this track means that there are some incredible stuff yet to come from her.
The song she does with Cee Lo brought me to tears when I first hear it, the emotion in this song is overwhelmingly clear, especially as the song builds, its so beautiful.  Selah Sue's style of singing really translates well into this type of music.  I'm not one to easily admit favourite songs (its so hard with so much out there that's constantly changing), but this rarely moves from top lists.

Sweden
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
Who knew that Sweden had such an influencial music scene!  Great duets can be exceptionally stunning and these Swedish sisters are no exception.  Very cool as proven by how much their blogged about and how huge they're getting.  Xfm are big fans!

Malaysia
Yuna - Decorate
I've been side-tracked from my European/Scandinavian tour to South East Asia.  I've had a little 1:40 preview of this song which I adore, and have just found the full version which I've linked to.  Malaysia isn't exactly known for its influences in Western music, so I think this girl is pretty brave (and quite talented to back it up).
The link to the 1:40 version is below, its slightly different from the full length as it hasn't been produced as much - its interesting to see how a song grows and develops and this is a little glimpse of that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBmedWBexHI

Re-reading this post, it looks like today's blog post was brought to you by the letter S.  Alliteration is fun!

Good News Girls Fridays: iii Not As You Know Them

There are some big female names out there taking over the music scene.  They have big record labels and PR teams pushing names and their brands into every marketing crevice they can find.  What is awesome is when you hear the songs you know so well totally switched up and sounding like you've never heard them before.

Here are some of my favourite bigger voices in the industry, but not like you've heard them before

Rihanna - Stay (Branchez Bootleg Remix)
I have had this on repeat since a few weeks ago when I first heard it!  It adds curve and texture to a song that is quite a downer in the original version.  I see what they were going for when the song was produced slow and simple, but it makes it quite boring and in my opinion, doesn't work for radio play.  I would happily get ready for a night out listening to the Branchez Bootleg version as it gives the song a beat that it didn't have before, whereas I might have a breakdown with Rihanna's original.

Destiny's Child - Say My Name (Cyrill Hahn)
I've had this around my ears for a couple of months and have heard it in some great places.  The New Years' Eve party I went to at The Blacksmith and the Toffee Maker pumped out some massive tunes to celebrate 2013 and this was one of them.  At the time I was one of the only people in the room who got excited at the first few beats knowing exactly what was coming up, but that's changing now.  This song is getting bigger and bigger so watch out for it.

Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix)
Just love it when the chorus drops!  Its upbeat, its cute and a its soundtrack for dancing around your house when everyones out.

Gramatik ft Lauryn Hill - So Much for the Doowop (The JaneDoze)
The JaneDoze tend to deliver and this song is no exception.  I like Gramatik's So Much For Love) and everything Lauryn Hill has ever done, and this remix provides me with a funky blend of both!

Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend (Feed Me Remix)
Take a well known song, a popular radio voice, give it a bit of an electro/filthy dirty dubstep spin and I'm happy.


Carly Rae Jepson - Call Me Maybe (Grant - Give Me Scabies)
You know this song inside out, along with the rest of the planet.  Predictions on this chick: One Hit Wonder.  This remix takes one of the best known songs of 2012 and transports you to your very own desert island.  The instrumental lets you completely zone out and leave you somewhere in-between fantasy and reality.  I can't get enough of this, insert it in your eardrums ASAP.


Florence and the Machine - Shake it Out (The Weeknd Remix)
Nicely creative and easy to listen to without losing too much of the original.  I can't hear this song without hearing this remix, its still beautiful despite losing count of how many times I've listened.