The thoughts, opinions, latest experiences, interests of music, art, comic books, health, and more are discussed here unfiltered in Boston based artist Steven W's own corner of the universe.
just when i thought i had made up my mind for a summer 2010 anthem two new songs hit the airwaves and i was forced to admit, maybe it's too early to decide on a song for the season. i'll just see what happens as i begin to gear up for pride weekends, bbqs, block parties, and beach excursions. meanwhile, checkout the new song by mark de clive and jody watley as well as robyn's first single off her upcoming album, body talk part 1.
summer is by far my favorite season, but i have a fondness for this time of year as spring comes closer to ending and summer prepares to begin. there's something about the energy of life that spreads throughout the world, wherever you are, it allows you to really enjoy being alive! the dog and i are enjoying longer morning and afternoon walks and jogs with the unseasonably warm weather and we're so much the better because of it. usually i have one or two major trips planned for the upcoming season, but i've been accepted as a youth art director/instructor for a nearby community center and i'm more energized than ever as i come closer to tackling a role that's destined to be a challenge (i'm basically restarting a dying program from its ashes). it's important to have your skills and talent tested from time to time and to strive for creativity - sometimes forcing yourself to stretch your imagination.
in the meantime, a herald of summer for my boyfriend and i is our penchant for summer anthems. remember a song that stuck with you from your childhood that you just couldn't get enough of and several years later it still invokes those same emotions when you first heard it? we still get excited for that one (or two songs) that we'll play continuously from june to august until the late night parties and long afternoons on the beach slowly end. right now there seem to be a few options for which song we'll enjoy the most in the coming months, but for your consideration i'm offering links to what we're listening to now.
christina's new song is a forceful blast to critics and haters and empowering to those who want to cut loose once and awhile. the video is certainly controversial for many reasons, but i've deduced that's possibly why i enjoy it so much. Kylie Minogue, 'All the Lovers'
pure pop and disco, kylie again produces a song that expresses exactly how i see myself, lots of energy, love, and bursting with positivity. the sarcastic b!tch in me loathes my upbeat bubblegum personality, but it's something that sustains me and i've learned to accept all of me (finally).
last year's summer anthem went to kelly and compadre, david guetta, who teamed up for the song, 'when love takes over'. this fierce jam forces everyone to the dance floor as soon as the beat begins to blare over the speakers and the word, "dance", ominously sounds repeatedly.
i want you to think back to your youth. think of the music you were listening to. think of an album or a few songs that really struck a cord with you. try to remember lyrics that spoke to you as a person, to your soul, that REALLY spoke to YOU, or said your words for you. for me, one of the albums that did just that was, “How I Do”, by res. I was probably sixteen or seventeen and res’ sound was unlike anything i had heard before – a combination of rock, funk, a little hip-hop, and strong r&b. not only did res’ unique sound strike me, but her poignant lyrics and smooth, sometimes brass, and always sexy voice told a story that could be meant for anyone. i fondly remember visiting a friend in atlanta, georgia and one night we snuck into an enormous club and one of the many music videos the dj played on the wall screen was a remix of the song ‘They Say Vision’ which remains to this day, one of my all time favorite songs. everyone was clamoring to find out who the artist was and it became a proud moment of mine when i could matter-of-factly explain who res was and how much i recommended the album. a few years went by as i waited for the sequel to this gem, but the waiting never produced any results.
flash forward several years later and i happened upon res’ myspace page and i discovered how the album i so dearly loved never proved to be a chart riser like i had anticipated. i simply chalk that up to res being ahead of her time. through blogs written by this musical genius i soon learned more of the story of how res sought to escape her contract obligations and strike out on her own. as an independent artist it seemed less likely i would ever own another res album. thank god i was absolutely wrong!
late last year res finally released her sophomore album, “Black.Girls.Rock.” i went into listening all ten tracks expecting more of what i heard when i sneaking into clubs as a teenager. this record is not like that, not completely. i admit my initial disappointment kept me from listening to the album entirely over and over as i had its predecessor. flash forward again, this time a few weeks back, as i was preparing a playlist for an art class i was teaching. i came across, “Black.Girls.Rock.” and decided to listen with fresh ears and much to my absolute embarrassment this mostly Rock album – well, rocks times twelve! there’s still a little funk and r&b, but at the heart is the very real res who’s words are given amazing expression. the album serves as a very personal and detailed journal of the last few years of res’ life, allowing listeners to relate and gleam some inside wisdom from the artist’s trials and triumphs. there has been as much growth and evolution of the artist as there is of the woman that is res.
i hope sometime in the near future i’m able to catch res’ live show as it appears she’s performing throughout the states promoting. if i ever get a chance to tell res how much her music has inspired me, touched me as though it were words from a friend, and given me confidence to overcome anything – even at the most bleak of times, then the wait between albums will have been worth it for me. please check out the link below and experience the magic of res’ music! also, check out her collaboration with talib kweli and graph nobel as the band, Idle Warship – amazing funked out jams!
friends often mock me for my addiction to twitter, the online community site dedicated to social networking that allows you to leave a message or "tweet" only 140 characters long. originally i got into twitter to follow my favorite celebrities to keep up with news and gossip direct from the source. later i found it had purpose to keep my other network site profiles like facebook and myspace updated. you can even read my tweets on this blog page! it also seems more people read tweets than their emails or listen to their phone messages now because a tweet must be to the point due to its short length. anyway, it seems twitter is responsible for not just dishing the dirt on neighbors, actors, and musicians, according to the New York Times those of the arts, particularly ballerinas, who up till now how remained mum artists. and apparently not everyone is pleased with what they're reading - check it out!
"Because I walk like I’m rich. I talk like I’m rich. I spend like I’m rich. But I ain't got no money."
"Rich" (fake it til you make it), Lolene
i haven't posted a blog in months and i feel like i need to have something up to show that i'm stil alive and thinking.
ugh, just when it seems i'm finally closer to my goal of becoming a successful art instructor, something gets in the way. what's more i'm finding myself with less time to devote time to my craft, my art, because i'm either so incredibly busy working as an instructor, or i'm too tired to actually focus and work. hours go by and i stare at blank canvases unable to decide on my first paint stroke. i'm sure i'm trying to hard and that eventually it will come, but i'm a very impatient person, especially with myself. i have plenty of plans and dreams, so does alex, but until he completes college and i find the success i covet, well it seems we'll have to continue to pretend we're closer to making it. this is post is surprisingly vague, but i just don't have the energy to press further. i can only just hope that things work out for the best and i'm able to keep my usual positive attitude going. in the meantime, i'll post a picture of me in front of my latest creation, "My Reality".
i'm posting 2 favorite pics of friends and i to show what i've been up to. halloween '09 was super fun and my homemade "wonder boy" costume turned out great! i also finally got a chance to catch up with my best friend, gee!
i loved the original clash of the titans film, it inspired my imagination in so many ways, so i'd almost rather see movie makers leave it alone, but that's not going to happen. in fact a remake of the classic movie is due out sometime next year and from the trailer the special effects are going to be phenomenal. unfortunately that doesn't mean this new version will hold up to the old.
yesterday marked my first day as a paid intern and it was great! sure i was super exhausted going from studio to studio, class to class, then ending my afternoon trying to learn the registration process on the museum's computer system, but it was swell fun with amazing students and terrific coworkers. it's only a temporary placement, and it's only 20 hours a week, but right now this is the best news i've had to offer in months! hopefully i'll be able to save up enough for the christmas season and be able to purchase a few exciting gifts for those closest to me. =D
