The Emotional Connection

Music is very influential and most people today listen to some form of it.  Whether it's rap, rock, alternative, electronic, classical, jazz or pop, everyone has their own preference.  We all connect with the songs we listen to.  They make us a range of emotion like excited, depressed, calm, ect.  Some days you're in the mood for a sad song and other days you'd prefer to listen to something more upbeat.  I'm sure most of us have said "this song is too sad/slow for right now" before.  So how do we emotionally connect with music?

I stumbled upon an interesting article from the Scientific American that discusses this phenomenon.  The article talks about how we relate physical objects to common human expressions.  When we see colours we immediately associate them with emotions.  Commonly, red is anger, green is envy and blue is sad.  We have even adopted common sayings that correlate emotion with colour.  "They have the blues" or "they're green with envy" are common sayings.  the article goes on to suggest that perhaps music is about relating sounds with common human expressions.  Familiar sounds are what enable us to imagine different scenarios.

The fact that people can think and feel in terms of music is still quite a mystery though.  There have been several theories about the general topic, but none are absolute.  Obviously we understand how our brain chemically reacts to music, but the fact that we can think in terms of sound continues to fuel discussions.  Music has been around for a very long time and each individual interprets it differently.  Music has an impact on how we feel.  Everyone reacts to music in a different way though.

Music has even been used for therapy.  Professionals discovered a way to effectively use music to help people restore their emotional well being.

Everyone uses music to cope with certain issues.  We love to listen to it.  It fills our cars, homes and restaurants.  We can emotionally connect with just more than lyrics, so don't dismiss a certain genre.  Just because you can't relate to a certain genre, doesn't mean that no one else can. 

Take some time once in awhile to listen to your favourite songs.  It's important to be aware of your emotional well being and music can help you maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit. 

Song Wars

It's not an unknown fact that not everyone gets along.  This isn't any different for celebrities or artists.  Due to the fact that their lives are much more public than the average person, their feuds are the ones that make the headlines. 

Photo by 1kennyblanco from Flickr

Artists and song writers use their music to deal with current issues in their lives and they'll usually write about how they're feeling.  So if they're conflicting with another artist, then why not write a song about it?

When artist Nicki Minaj started developing her career she garnered negative attention from rapper Lil' Kim.  Minaj started the feud with lyrics referring to her "killing the Queen", which was aimed at Lil' Kim.  As the feud grew Lil' Kim decided to write a song called Black Friday, which was mocking Minaj's album Pink Friday.  Lil' Kim publicly insulted Minaj through the best method she knows - music. 

The duo Die Antwoord has also recently made headlines for insulting Lady Gaga in one of their songs Fatty Boom Boom.  Originally Lady Gaga had asked Die Antwoord to perform with her on her tour.  They declined the offer and since then have been feuding.      

When artists get mad, expect them to write a song about it. 

Photo by Aktiv Oslo from Flickr

I find these feuds humorous.  People become so involved with their favourite artists lives that they start to create feuds of their own.  It becomes a war of which artist is better.  Deciding which artist is better is completely subjective.  Everyone has their own taste in music, so creating a feud over another artist's feud is rather pointless.  It's unlikely that you will win that argument.

Some view these feuds as childish.  They believe that artists have a reputation to remain and they shouldn't get caught up in public fights.  I agree that is it a bit childish to be feuding with other people in a public manner, but some artists have created good songs or music videos out of a feud.  Some artists just want to be in the spot light and if their careers aren't going anywhere, then they may result to a feud so that people remember who they are.

What is you opinion on artists using songs to insult each other?  Should they make their arguments public or should they try to keep their opinions to themselves?  Do they even have a choice about whether or not their fights become public?  Let me know what you think!  

When it Counts

Hey guys!

So I'm not sure if you have all heard about YouTube stars Wes, Phil, and Ted of WongFuProductions but they are currently doing a mini web series partnering with AT&T in the United States. The web series is called "When it Counts" and basically it is about how there is a saying that nice guys finish last, but in this series, it is expressing it in the girls perspective that nice girls finish last too.

They release different episodes every week and so far they have released two. Here is the first and second episodes!

When it Counts - Ep 1

When it Counts - Ep 2

The reason I am talking to you guys about this is because within the web series, they incorporate dancing and are being taught by some of the YouTube stars that I mentioned earlier on my Flashback! post.

Here is the schedule for the announced releases of the episodes for When it Counts

• Episode 1: November 26th, 2012
• Episode 2: December 3rd, 2012
• Episode 3: December 10th, 2012
• Episode 4: December 17th, 2012

Check out the series and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do and support WongFu Productions!!

Flashback!

Hi everyone!

Since my last post about UniverseSoul! and dancing, I found myself watching YouTube videos about dance from the various YouTube stars that I follow and reminiscing my short-lived dance career. It got me thinking of how much fun it was to dance and how I wish, right now at this very moment, that I didn't stop and continued on with dance. I hope it is not too late for me to consider taking some dance lessons again.

I think I understand why my fellow classmate and blogger Caitlyn Tink loves dancing so much! I believe that dancing is a way of expressing an individual's emotions through the art of dance and body rather than verbally. It is also a way to help relieve stress by doing things that you are passionate about and love!

Here are a few the YouTube channels I follow about Dance

1. Anthony Lee
2. Mike Song
3. Charles V Nguyen
4. Victor Kim
5. Kaba Modern
6. Poreotics
7. Quest Crew

What are some of the channels you follow about dance and dance choreography? Let me know!

The Blue Sea Band!

Hey everyone!

I would like to introduce The Blue Sea Band. They're a local Vietnamese Band in Calgary that specializes in doing covers of Vietnamese Pop and live performances throughout city for the Vietnamese community. I had the opportunity to get an interview with one of their band member, Huy Tran.

Permission of use granted by The Blue Sea Band

The Blue Sea Band was one of the very early Vietnamese amateur band in Calgary in the 1990's and lasted a few short years. Some of the members went on and performed with other local Vietnamese bands for years. The band got back together and began the search for the right members to debut The Blue Sea Band again in 2005.

Since then, they have promoted some of the very talented musicians of the Vietnamese community in Calgary. Some have stay for awhile and gone, but the band have kept the best members who not only perform well but also get along and share the same goal. The Blue Sea Band are constantly learning, playing and striving to be the best Vietnamese band in Calgary.

Permission of use granted by The Blue Sea Band

Here is the following interview with Huy Tran:

1. What is your band name called?
• The Blue Sea Band
2. What is your band's musical style?
• Vietnamese pop - cover band
3. How long have you been with your band for?
• I have been with The Blue Sea Band for three and a half years now
4. What type of musical instrument do you play?
• I play the Violin
5. How long have you been playing instruments for?
• I have been playing with musical instruments for 20 years now
6. What do you love most about being part of a band?
• Every member in our band plays music for fun, not for money. Everybody is fair and we have a good time when we practice, perform, and party after each performance
7. What are some of the obstacles that you had to overcome to play music and be part of a band in the Vietnamese community in Calgary?
• I don't get much money from playing music, so I have a daytime job and this limits the amount of time to practice and listen to the music.

I have attended one of The Blue Sea Band's performances and even though I don not understand the language, The music, rhythm, and beat are very upbeat and energetic which is pretty awesome! I guess that is the beauty of music!

If you are Vietnamese and/or interested in checking out other cultural music, please visit their Facebook Fan Page @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blue-Sea-Band-Site/163328057105835 and support them!!

Thank you Huy Tran from giving me the opportunity to interview you and taking your time out of your busy schedule for this to happen. Good luck with your band and future endeavors!

UniverseSoul!

Hi guys!

So over the past month, I had the opportunity to interview Kevin Luong, who is part of a local Calgary dance crew called Universesoul (UVSOUL)!

Permission of use granted by Kevin Luong

Universesoul is a group of dancers getting together to share their love and passion for dance. Primarily a hip-hop choreography based team, the dancers all come with different background of  dance. With commitment and dedication, they have been fortunate to learn, perform and compete locally and across the country making connections and friends along the way. Universesoul continues to grow as a dance crew and learn from each other and within the dance community and they welcome new dancers with an open arm!

Permission of use granted by Kevin Luong

Here is the following interview with Kevin Luong of Universesoul!

1. How long have you been dancing for?
• I've been dancing for about 1 and a half years. 
2. What style of dance do you do?
•  We are primarily a hip hop "choreography" based team. However, in that regards, we also dive into different genres of hip hop dance such as locking, popping, breaking, house, waccking , vogue, dancehall,etc. A lot of these different styles inspire and influence our movements and how we come about creating certain pieces.
3. What made you realize you were interested in dancing?
•  I took my very first dance workshop when I was in my second year at the U of C. One of my coworker, who I happen to dance with now, was advertising local dance workshops at the U of C during that summer. I decided to attend and ever since then I've been hooked on it.
4. What do you love most about dancing?
• There's a ton of things that I can ramble on about but by far the best thing about dance, personally, is being able to express myself creatively, mentally, emotionally and physically. I find that its very therapeutic for me and it helps me deal with a lot of different things on certain levels. I also love meeting other dancers! I've gotten to meet and befriend a lot of dancers from all over the world who share the same drive and passion for dance as I do. It's really amazing.
5. Are you part of a dance crew? if so, what is your dance group name?
• I am! The dance team that I am so proudly part of is called Universesoul
6. What are some of the obstacles that you have overcome to become a dancer?
• I wouldn't say that I've overcome this obstacle in anyway, as I feel that it's still something that I continually work on, but I would have to say that it would have to be just being myself when I dance and not letting my insecurities get the best of me. There are a lot of experienced dancers on my dance team so sometimes I feel somewhat inferior to them because of their level of expertise and skill but what I've come to understand is that I'm still relatively new to the dance scene and that its only natural for me to feel this way. Like any beginner, you have to start at the bottom and work your way to the top.
7. Do you and your dance crew do performances often in Calgary? If so, how often and could you name a few upcoming performances?
• We do quite a few shows in Calgary. Some of performances this year that you may have seen as were: 1) the pre-parade show for the Calgary Stampede. 2) Globalfest 3) Driven

I've had the opportunity to attend one of Universesoul's dance performances in Calgary and they are phenomenal! I would strongly recommend everyone to find an upcoming event that you could attend to support our local talent and enjoy an amazing performace!

You can get information off their Facebook Fan Page @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/UniverseSoul-Dance-Team-Page/119523214777545

I would like to thank Kevin Luong for taking his time out of his schedule to allow me to interview him! Good luck on your future endeavours!

X Factors - Carly Rose Sonenclar

FlickR by: Synergistic Productions

I know I had complained a few blogs ago about too many music related shows on TV however this season on X Factor, there is a a 13 year old girl and she is one of the most talented true singers I have ever heard. Her audition to get on the live show can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffyZNW7Ra7M

Carly Rose is only 13 and I bet she has a better carrer that some singers already. She began on broadway in 2006 and is now in the top 6 on X Factor.

Have anyone else seen her before the link i posted?

In her audition, she sings "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone. This isn't an easy song to sing by any means. She had LA Reid jumping out of his chair and leaving Simon speechless. Those are 2 of the greatest people in the music industry and if you can impress them, you can impress everyone.
                                                                                           

FlickR by: ToxicChili

The list of songs she has sung so far are:
Nina Simone - Feeling Good
Karmin - Broken Hearted
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks
Etta James/ Flo Rida - Something Got a Hold on Me/ Good Feeling mashup
Bruno Mars - It Will Rain
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
Celine Dion - My Heart Will go On

These are some of the greatest/ hardest songs to mimic and sing and she does a fantastic job. She is for sure the only reason why i watch the show. Others are only mediocre compared to Carly Rose. If someway she loses, I will stop watching.

The show is good, Carly is amazing. See her Wednesday nights if you have a chance.