Max Raabe & Palace Orchestra


Last night we went to Xinghai concert to watch Max Raabe & Palace Orchestra . Max Raabe, as lead singer of the group, got his ultra-smooth baritone voice singing German music in a 1930’s style. His ensemble, the Palace Orchestra, includes a gowned violinist. Their performance combined a sense of humor with up-tempo and down-tempo songs, and Raabe’s face always had the mysterious smile when he was singing.

Raabe presented a rainbow of 26 songs, ranging from old soundtracks, jazz songs, and even two Chinese folk songs (“Small River is Running” and “Jasmine Flower”), both of which were performed in Chinese. This surprised the audience and caused a big applause.

We did enjoy this concert. It was a very nice performance, and broke our expectations of it just being traditional jazz. Living in the big city means you have more chances to explore different musical cultures.

昨天晚上我们去星海音乐厅观赏德国宫殿乐团经典爵士音乐会1987年他与12位成员成立“宫殿乐团”,德国著名歌手马克思·哈勃与他的宫殿乐队,世界著名轻音乐团之一。

马克思·哈勃他穿着笔直的燕尾礼服,梳着光滑的大背头,面带神秘的微笑,带着娱乐性的怀旧感觉,歌唱着全球二三十年代经典的怀旧歌曲。他们选择的歌曲十分特别,没有旧歌重复再重复的感觉;哈勃将自己置于一种完美的不可思议的幽默的梦幻式的场景,他们的音乐包括主打歌和对句,古巴的伦巴,让人振奋的狐步舞曲以及典雅的探戈。所有这些歌曲带着难以名状的严肃性,既有轻松,也带着淡淡的哀愁.

马克思·哈勃以轻快的方式演唱德国的经典爵士歌曲,他非常的渴望用他那富于变化的男中音演绎一些独特的音乐。他们以自己得方式创造出独特的爵士音乐,一首Check to Check, 一首中国云南名歌(小河趟水)让全场掌声响起, 到最后各个都要 Encore.

最让大家印象深刻就是以每个人拿着铃钟,每一个人敲一声来组成的一首爵士乐,曲中以幽默独特的表演,逗得大家都乐了。

连John一个只喜欢英伦音乐的人都在这场音乐会所感染,可知道他们的魅力,是个难得的机会接受不同音乐文化的交流,的确,住在大城市就有多点机会熏陶世界各地的音乐会。

Jason Mraz–Mr. A-Z

When I accidentally heard “Mr. curiosity” from Jason Mraz’s “Mr. A-Z” this album, I loved the song instantly and downloaded it and read the lyrics. It’s the song for someone who still is waiting for being in love; it’s the saddest song of all the album. I was absolutely astounded when I first heard this album. It’s actually the first album I’ve heard by Jason Mraz.

Personally Mr. Curiosity Bella Luna —it’s a classic love romantic song; a little bit Latin dancing. “ Did you get my message?” it’s a nice song I love it as well ; ” Geek in the Pink” I also like it, a little bit hip-pop, a little bit rock; it’s our age’s music and Life is beautiful —very deep meaning of lyrics. These four songs I have to highly recommend to everyone. Actually I love the entire album. Jason Mraz made me very impressed about his “Mr. A-Z” album. All the songs are so awesome and Jason is so young and a very intelligent songwriter. His lyrics give you a new perspective on things. It’s enjoyable to listen. 4 stars from Carmen.

Hagnesta Hill – Kent

Kent is one of Sweden’s most popular rock bands. When my friend Trini sent me the song “Quiet Heart” from Hagnesta Hill, I fell in love with it immediately. I then searched more songs from this album and it reminded me of one I heard last year “The King Is Dead”, from John’s MP3 player. It’s a song with memorable chorus, sweeping melody; I love a lot of electrical guitars and a long foreplay and it is very nice song and is the type of Brit-Pop I like.

When I heard “Quiet Heart” it touched my soul and I dipped myself inside the music; this song jumped from the stereo to my ears with ease. It’s a sad song both intense and moody, light and chipper; and the lyrics are so poignant.

I can’t help but recommend Kent’s Hagnesta Hill.

我的朋友旖旎发给一支来自很受欢迎瑞士摇滚band队叫 KENT 里面的一首“Quiet Heart”,它是一首比较emotional的歌曲,听了让你觉得很伤感,激起你内心melancholy,它的歌词,它的melody紧紧的扣住我的心,让我沉浸在里面畅游。我记得前年在John 的MP3我听过The king is dead。这首歌曲很典型的英伦摇滚,有很长的电子吉他前奏,是我喜欢的英伦摇滚类型。KENT’s Hagnesta Hill 是我极力推荐给大家,给一些英伦摇滚的朋友,音乐无界限,什么音乐都要尝试去听,不要局限在一种音乐,然后挑自己最爱的类型和感动你的音乐。爱音乐的人万岁。

Coldplay —Fix You

coldplay

I’ve listened to “Fix You” many, many, times now, and love the lyrics. There are thousands of good songs and music, and I really admire genuine artists who live for music and sacrifice themselves to it. “Fix you” from Coldplay and “Answer” from Sarah McLaclachlan are perfect examples.

A good melody needs good lyrics for a background, and good lyrics needs a good melody to bring them out. Good music needs the right person to appreciate it.

  • Music gives your life more passion
  • Music can calm your nerves
  • Music can cheer you up
  • Music will be there for you
  • Music can be chosen for your mood, age, and location

Coldplay —Fix You

When you try your best but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse……..

Death Cab For Cutie

death cab for cutie

Death Cab For Cutie was formed in the tiny college town of Bellingham, WA. PLANS this album was released in August 15 2005. I listened to this album accidentally on the radio and realized that is was on the TV series ‘The O.C’. Rock music for me is kind of bringing my rebellion out and releases it into music. After listening to the whole album I like it so much because it makes me think about our age, our generation & our life; it gave me inspiration; I can feel the resonance in the music, which produce perfectly for our age.

PlANS concerns itself with the gap that waits in front of us all; aging and eventual death. “All of us in the band are starting to turn a corner and realize our youth is basically over,” say 29-year-old Gibbard. “That’s not a fall by the way side. I am becoming an adult. For me, that means being aware of the slow process of losing people in your life.”

PLANS is a beautiful and mature album from a group that itself is still evolving. Death Cab For Cuties is that rare band that isn’t afraid to tackle the big thought, to wrestle with the complex, never black and white realities of human interaction.

PLANS is the sound of growing up of gaining friends and losing them, of realizing, perhaps of the first time, the weight and consequences of every decision we make, of every heart we touch. It’s an album about growing old that can grow old with us.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

About songs:

On Different Names For The Same Things It’s a song about traveling by yourself in a foreign country and the frustration of being isolated by language; even when you are surrounded by people. The lyrics are very simple and short, but it brings a lot of resonance for frequent travelers.

On Brothers on a Hotel Bed contains a warm and wistful melody and is another reflection on age and aging.

On Soul Meets Body It contains lyrics about death (‘If the darkness takes you, how it takes me too’) in to one of their most romantic love songs.

Every one and every song’s lyrics it’s a theme of life or something that might happen when we are getting old. All the songs I have listened to over and over again and it’s made me think of a lot of life and growing up. The generation of 70th or 80th it’s baby boom generation; It’s a very special generation that we actually got everything we need in physical and need more spiritual to fulfill our life. Allow me to call this generation of a “ Transatlanticism” it’s just exactly like the previous album of Death Cab For Cutie call “Transatlanticism”. If Transatlanticism was an inhale, PLANS is the exhale” said Death Cab member McGerr.

James Blunt–Back to Bedlem

Jame Blunt has seemingly come from nowhere to scale the heights of both the album and the singles charts and it’s easy to see why. Singing with genuine conviction and wearing his heart on his sleeve, his songs of love and loss, expertly written and delicately produced, have struck a chord with everyone who has more than an ounce of emotion.

I found his voice is so special, like Chris of Coldplay. But his music is different from Coldplay or Keane. He got his style, and I really like his album.He is a young gifted singer-songwriter described by Q Magazine as ‘A major talent in waiting’The whole world is having a James Blunt storm…I saw his ” You are beautiful” MTV and it’s nice video to watch and sad story backgroud that he died in the end. He is genius in music…I really appreciate all the people repect MUSIC.

“You’re Beautiful” and ” Out of my mind” “Wiseman” ,”No Bravery” ,”High” ,” Tears and rain” so many songs and lyrics I do like. I can’t find his album in China yet. My friend will buy for me in HMV soon. I am expecting to listen whole album.

His website design is really fascinating and simple. Every page got different colour and design and also has James Blunt’s BLOG.