I moved...

Hello music lovers.
Queenofcoolmusicblog moved to http://queenofcoolmusic.wordpress.com/

Find me here in the future and tune into great music that will hopefully inspire you.

Love, Martine

Housewarming sneak peak

I'm playing for my friends tomorrow in my house. Here is a sneak peak of different dishes I will be serving in the early evening before dancing takes over.

Sneak peak

I'm djing at a wedding on Saturday. I don't want to reveal the whole playlist, because there needs to be some surprises in between... but here is a little sneak peak of what I WILL be playing:

Danish DJ Awards

Sunday I had the opportunity to attend the biggest award show in Denmark, the Danish DJ Awards. I got tickets for the VIP lounge so not only did I spend the night dancing to Danish dance music, but I was also viewing and partying with Danish celebs (which was fun for the night, but not something I normally enjoy doing). The music was dance, I particularly enjoyed a visit down memory lane when hearing an updated modern version of the late 80's hit Kasper Winding's "Sjæl i flammer". Other noteworthy performances was Kato with Johnson, Clemens, Ida Corr and Camille Jones, who partied up the place and made people clap and dance, Electric Lady Lab, Lucy Love, and of course RebekkaMaria who sparkled with wonderful dancers, an amazing blue outfit with huge feathers, singing a remixed version of "Soul to my soul" from her debut album. I compiled a little playlist with songs from the show here:

Sobbin' 80's

I just concluded Sobbin' 80's week on my  A Song A Day group on Facebook. Celebrating the feel good tear in soft tunes. Here is the playlist. Happy saxin'.

The search for a song.. when you have nothing to go by

Yesterday a good friend of mine called me up to sing me a song, that was stuck in his head. He couldn't remember the lyrics (which is understandable, because this is a song where you really don't know what they are singing.) I knew instantly the song he was thinking of, but couldn't remember the title, the bandname or the lyrics either. And then embarked 24 hours of search on both our accounts to dig up this song. I think most of us can relate to the feeling you have, when a song is stuck in your head, and you can't find rest until you 1) find out the info on this song 2) find it on youtube and 3) hear it.

My search started in the 90's eurodance scene, where it was very popular. I recalled the popular dance compilations in the mid 90's so I wiki'ed that, unsuccessfully. Both my friend and I were certain that it most have been from around 1995-1996, so I tried to find list of eurodance songs from that time. Unsuccessfully. However I did find a lot of hidden gems that I have forgotten or surpressed, but since eurodance has made such a comeback and have completely taken over the popular teenpopmusic scene in the US, I was actually able to enjoy some of these gems this time around. (Well.. at least for a quick listen. And it gave me the idea to put some on my dj setlist this summer, because surely this is way cooler than the new Britney Album and Chris Brown and Usher going eurodance.)

Moving on from those lists, I went onto wider compilations of the 90's without any luck. I asked my friend, "What can you remember from the lyrics, because all I can remember is something like 'umm in the light of it..'" but he agreed, and said "yes, something in the likes of ' mmm the lightning agin, the light of scooba'".  He also remembered the music video with an African dude going into a record store (which turned out to be incorrect.)

Finally this morning, I found it on a list of top 200 greatest dance jam song of the 90's. And here it is:




Here's the scoop of the song:

It was recorded in 1992 by Nightcrawlers,  a house music group project from Scotland. It was an international success in 1995. It was released in remixed versions in 2003 and 2007, and finally Bob Sinclair used it in his remix version of Rihanna's "Don't stop the music" (try around 4:00). Later Pitbull sampled the song in 2009 in "Hotel Room Service".

RebekkaMaria & Hymns of Nineveh

About six months ago Hymns of Nineveh joined forces with RebekkaMaria at a very intimate concert. Tickets were sold out instantly. At this concert, they played a very beautiful, slow version of Oh Solitude from RebekkaMaria'a recent album "Sister Sortie". To celebrate the Hymns of Nineveh tour where RebekkaMaria also will be playing, this single is now available for streaming online. Enjoy below.


Oh Solitude (RebekkaMaria & Hymns From Nineveh duo live) by RebekkaMaria


View snippets of the concert here:

RebekkaMaria + Hymns From Nineveh // At My Place from At My Place on Vimeo.

Angus & Julia Stone: I'm not yours

I can't get enough of Angus & Julia Stone's recent album: Down the way. Especially the sorrowful and sad song I'm not yours. Enjoy below.

Kanye: Five reasons why you should quit hatin' and start lovin'

Usually people get a little surprised when I tell them I enjoy rap. I mean, I'm not exactly the stereotype you would consider having Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Ice T, L.O.C., Dr. Dre etc. on the ipod. I am a white, 32 year old female Scandinavian brunette, and English is not my native language, making it sometimes a bit difficult to follow along the lyrics. But what I mostly fall for when hearing rap, is firstly a good beat, and then I pick up phrases hear and there. But Kanye West revolutionized rap for me, because he samples great soul songs (and I love a good soul theme), I can actually hear what he is rapping, and he doesn't rap about the stereotype sex, drugs and "hoes", licking somebody's lollipop, getting caught in Compton and being thrown in jail, escaping police and what-have-we-not, but his lyrics contain an ironic twist, and are relatable.

Duly noted, Kanye West has put himself into sticky situations, commenting and saying outrageous things, controversies in the media, revealing a not so appealing personality, most notibly, appearing on stage at the European MTV awards show in 2006, when Justice won best video, and stressed that he thought that it was unfair that he didnt win. And later in 2009, at the MTV video music awards show he stole the mic from Taylor Swift winning for Best Female Video, and said that he think Beyonce should had won. This really threw people over the edge.

History is filled with tactless musicians, my two favorite ones are: In the mid eighties, an elder Serge Gainsbourg told a young fresh Whitney Houston that she was beautiful and that he would very much like to f+++ her. And off media, in 2004, Dave Matthews Band's tour bus dumped 800 pounds of human waste off a bridge, off Chicago River... onto heads of people aboard an architectual tour boat.

Either way, Kanye West's personality has closed off many people's curiousity to explore his musical talent. And that is a shame. If you are not aquanted with his music, his wonderful soul samples intwined, I will be delighted to show you my five favorites, and at the same time five reasons why you should start loving his music -  if you know his music.. I hope you will enjoy this visit.


Reason 1. Through the Wire
In 2004 Kanye West released his debut album at the same time embarked upon his college album trilogy. The debut album was different from the dominent topics of the genre at the time, and dealt with self-consciousness, family and personal struggles such as recovering from a near fatal car crash that left his jaw shattered. The jaw had to be wired shut and two weeks after being admitted to the hospital, he recorded the song Through the Wire, with his jaw still wired shut.
Through the Wire can be found on the album The College Dropout.

The College Dropout also features the very wonderful sleek slow jams and soul singers tribute "Slow Jamz", the completely ironic "The New Workout Plan" that ironically tells a tale about how many girls have followed Kanye's Workout Plan, and how this have changed their lives, the very nice soul sample beats of "All Falls Down", "Get Em High", "Family Business" and "Never Let me Down" and the  critical praised "Jesus Walks".

Reason 2. Gold Digger.
On Gold Digger, Jamie Foxx features, and many mistakenly think that Kanye West wrote the song and got a hold of Foxx after being featured as Ray Charles in the award winning movie "Ray". However the song was actually recorded, long before "Ray" was developed. I love the song Gold Digger. It has a great beat, and this is actually a rap song, where I think lyrics are brilliant and excellent executed. Gold Digger is about a man who marries a woman that manipulates him for financial gain.
Gold Digger can be found on the album Late Registration.

Late Registration also features the wonderful James Bond sampling on "Diamonds From Sierra Leone", more soul samplings on "Gone",  "Addiction" and "Touch the Sky", and hilarious skits about Kanye West joining a fraternity, where the main regulation is that you HAVE to be broke.

Reason 3. Flashing Lights
Kanye West's third album Graduation is filled with great songs. Such as the Daft Punk sample "Stronger", the slow intro "Good Morning", more soul samplings with "Everything I am" and "I Wonder" and the great "Good Life".
However I LOVE Flashing Lights. The down-tempo of it and the beat. That's all.
Flashing Lights can be found on the album Graduation.

Reason 4. Welcome to Heartbreak.
On the fourth album 808s & Heartbreak Kanye West took a drastic turn and made a bold gesture. Rather than rapping, Kanye West sings on the album containing themes like loneliness, heartbreak and love, inspired by his private life where his mother died and breaking off an engagement. The album is heavy on auto tune, and even though I am not into that, I still think the albums lyrical content is beautiful. "Welcome to Heartbreak" soon became one of my favorite Kanye West songs of all time, simply because the lyrics continously gets me in tears, stressed further with the deep sorrowful contrabass. I'd never think that a rap artist would get me there, but I'm there everytime on this song.
Welcome to Heartbreak is featured on 808s & Heartbreak.

808s & Heartbreak also features the popular "Heartless", "Love Lockdown" and "Paranoid". If you are like me and are having a hard time with autotune, start with Welcome to Heartbreak, and then dwell in the lyrics of this album.

Reason 5: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Since I havent explored his recently released fifth studio album throughly yet, I will not call out one single. But name several songs. The album retells Roald Dahls rework of Cinderella on the grand "Dark Fantasy", has several great soul samplings, such as on "Gorgeous" and "Devil in a new dress", and has nice hooks on "Runaway", "Power" and the coming up smash hit "All of the lights."

The Bomb!! The extensive guide to 25 of Madonna's hidden gems

So you are familiar with Madonna and so what. You have danced to "Hung Up" and "Music" and you sing a long to the oldies Like a Virgin and Like a Prayer. Being a huge Madonna fan myself, I have followed her music career and loved her music since I was ten... and then I even came in late in the game. Her music career contains a magnitude of treasures that never really made it out to the public, and I have found my favorites to guide you through. So here are the remixes, the live versions, the singles that stayed on the albums and some that never even made it to the studioalbums. Enjoy.

1. I love New York (Rock Demo).
When "I love New York" was first introduced, it wasnt as the disco version, most people would associate it with, as found on the Confessions album. It played in the documentary "I'm going to tell you a secret" and was included on the album. I love this version because it is so rocky and rough instead of the more clean disco version.
I love New York (Rock demo) can be found on "I'm going to tell you a secret".

2. Drowned World/Substitute for love.
This single never really made it to the wide masses and I wonder why. It made a huge impact on me when I first heard it. The opening song for the studio album "Ray of light", it made a clear distinction in tune and lyrics that Madonna previously never before had made.
Drowned World/Substitute for Love can be found on "Ray of Light".

3. Push.
This is just a smashing single, and I wonder why it was never released.
Push can be found on "Confessions of a dancefloor".

4. Sanctuary.
It took me many listenings before I fell in love with this song. But when I did, I fell hard. It is so weird, mysterious, and have a great beat.
Sanctuary can be found on "Bedtime Stories".

5. Easy Ride.
This is a wonderful ballad that is completely overlooked, and has driven me to tears several times because it is so relatable (at least to me...).
Easy Ride can be found on "American Life".

6. I want you.
I think this is a cool song, mostly because I was a teenager in the trip hop age, and I think the collaboration with Massive Attack on this tune is soooo goood!!.
I want you can be found on "Something to Remember".

7. Angel.
Now this tune is pure naive and eighties. And I have loved it since I was eleven. So it had to be on this list. So shush.
Angel can be found on "Like a Virgin".

8. Spotlight.
This is Madonna's version of Katy Perry's Firework. (Or rather more than likely the other way around.) It is a great eighties dance tune that never made it outside the remix album.
Spotlight can be found on "You can Dance".

9. and 10. Sorry remix and Sorry (Pet shop boys remix).
The first is a dub prelude and the second is a collaboration with Pet Shop Boys. Both were played on the Confessions Tour, and I love the way a song, that was popular enough on its own was reinvented.
Both songs can be found on "The Confessions Tour".

11. Heartbeat
I love this song, and when I heard it on the album "Hard Candy" I was certain this would be a smashing single. Yet it was never released.
Heartbeat can be found on "Hard Candy".

12. Erotica from Confessions Tour.
Now before you chew my head off because of the bad rep and bad associations that comes with Madonna and "Erotica" (if you are old enough to remember) let me just say that this version took me by surprise. Talk about a reinvention of a very questionable and for many, not very good song. This is disco-rized and dubbed and very very nice. She even added better lyrics to the song.
This version of Erotica can be found on "The Confessions Tour".

13. Forbidden Love.
I love this song, which is a tribute to her song "Forbidden Love" from Bedtimes Stories. (See below).
Forbidden Love can be found on "Confessions on a dancefloor".

14. Physical Attraction.
This is truly a golden oldie. One of the oldiest oldies in fact. It never made it as a single, however in my head it is a widely known song (or maybe its just in my head.) Nevertheless I would like to include it on the list, because it is pure eighties and very cool.
Physcial Attraction can be found on "Madonna".

15. She's not me.
I love this tune, and mostly because of the lyrics, but also because it has a sassy beat.
She's not me can be found on "Hard Candy".

16. Gambler.
Again and again I ask myself, why was this song never a hit in the eighties? It is the bomb! It was never released on any of her albums.
Gambler can be found on the soundtrack for the movie "Vision Quest".

17. Burning Up, 12'' Mix.
This is another oldie, however I like this slightly different version than the one that can be found on the studio album, because its less rocky and more disco, which I think suits the song more.
You have to dig around to find this version of Burning Up. Try a single with Physical Attraction on the b-side.

18. Nobody Knows Me.
This song is another peculiar product. But I love the weirdness of it.
Nobody Knows Me can be found on "American Life".

19. Music Inferno.
So everybody knows Music, and everybody has danced to it. But this tune takes it and mixes it with a sound of old disco tunes and her own old tunes. Very lovely.
Music Inferno can be found on "The Confessions Tour".

20. The Look of Love.
When I was eleven and I was sitting in the back seat of my parents car and we were driving late at night, I would always play this song in my walkman. It was mysterious like "the dark night" to me. Loved it ever since.
The Look of Love can be found on the soundtrack to "Who's that Girl".

21. Inside of Me.
One of the best songs on her much overlooked studio album Bedtime Stories. It has a trip hop beat that I like.
Inside of Me can be found on "Bedtime Stories".

22. Susan MacLeod/ Into the Groove
This is an example of how you can take one of the best dance songs ever (Into the Groove) and mix it with one the worst instruments ever (backpipes) and make it cool.
Susan MacLeod/ Into the Groove can be found on "I'm going to tell you a secret".

23. Candy Perfume Girl.
Love this tune, the lyrics are great and it never made it as a single.
Candy Perfume Girl can be found on "Ray of Light".

24. Lucky Star Confessions Tour.
Ok so I know I have referred to the Confessions Tour Album a lot, but it is indeed brilliant because it is reinventing many of her classics. Lucky Star being one of them, which fits in perfectly with the disco tunes.
Lucky Star can be found on "The Confessions Tour".

25. Forbidden Love.
This is the original that I referred to above. The song made a big impact on me, especially when during the song she whispers loudly "rejection".
Forbidden Love can be found on "Bedtime Stories".

Skull Tape - Whip My Hair (Drowning In Blood)(Willow Smith Cover)

Just stumbled across this rock cover of Willow Smith: Whip my hair...

Skull Tape - Whip My Hair (Drowning In Blood)(Willow Smith Cover)

2010: The year in popular music

Now that the year is closing, here is a round-up on the year in popular music.




Robyn:  In 2010 Robyn cemented her name is the queen of pop. Sending out no more than three albums filled with great tracks such as Indestructible, Dancing on my own, Fembot and Hang with me.

Marina and the Diamonds: Marina and the Diamonds made her debut in February, after tons of hype through blogs and other websites. Much anticipated.

Jason Derulo:  Nobody could escape Jason Derulo. With several hits he pestered the radio stations firstly all over America and then Europe.

Train: Train hit the charts with Hey soul sister.

Mumford and Sons: Mumford and Sons hit the British charts and cemented their name, also in Denmark.

Pendulum: Watercolour turned out as a master hit in UK and Australia.

Vinnie Who: charted in Denmark over spring and summer with firstly What you got is mine and secondly the remedy. Confused everybody whether it was a female or male singer.

Lady Antebellum: Need you now took over America and then Europe, which is very rare for a country song in this digital beat continent.

Eminem feat Rihanna: Love the way you lie. Surprised with the uncommon mix of Rihanna and Eminem, secondly the violent video. But the song stayed on top of charts. Later Rihanna released a softer version of the same song feat Eminem. Watch the cutest parody here and listen to Rihannas softer version here

Katy Perry: Once again Katy Perry dominated the radio stations for a summer, first with a California gurls with Snoop Dog and second with Teenage Dream. With at later release of her second album, that got her a nomination for a grammy award as the album of the year, although receiving mixing reviews.

Rebekkamaria. In early 2010 Rebekkamaria released her second album in Denmakr (earlier with the alias AsinRebekkamaria) receiving criticial acclaim.

Fallulah: Fallulah took over Denmark with Lay my head and bridges, debuting early in the year.

Melissa Horn: Melissa Horn came to play in 2010. She is a story of musical streaming going well. Receiving massive attention through Spotify gaining a wider audience.

Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga continued engaging the charts with another run (like 2009) with scoring two top spots as well as walking away with 8 awards at the MTV vmas. She also released the more than nine minutes long music video for the song Telephone, featuring Beyonce, linking to movies such as Thelma and Louise and Kill Bill.

Stromae: Alors On Danse. Totally took over the charts in Europe this summer, and became one of the summer anthems for 2010.

M.I.A: made another controversy when releasing her video to Born Free, featuring a group of US soldiers who invade a town and hunt down readheads to be massacred in the desert. She also released MAYA. Link to XXXO.

CoverWeeks

i just completed CoverWeeks, on my facebook music group: A song a day. What usually is just one week, or six days, was extended to two fun weeks of great and the worst out there in cover versions. My own personal favorites from the two weeks are Nostalgia 77 feat Alice Russell covering The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army", Placebo covering the Kate Bush classic "Running up that hill" and the Bird and the Bee making an insane low key and sexy cover of Rihanna's "Don't stop the music". For the full blowout and some bonus tracks, here is the complete playlist. Havent joined the A song a day revolution yet? What are you waiting for?

Florence and the Machine

Well I'm sure you have heard "Dog days are over" blasting from the radiospeakers or maybe sneaked in several movie soundtracks. Even though the debut album was released a year and a half ago, in June 09, it seems that it has only been within the last six months "Dog days are over" has been playing here and there on the radio etc.  I must admit that I have enjoyed the album in the background, but I havent been listening to it intensively, except for the mad wicked song "Drumming Song". All that changed when I was doing dishes and listening it loud in my head phones. The album is actually really good. I especially enjoy "Howl" and "Blinding", which I have killed on repeat, doing dishes, biking, in the shower. Love them!! If you havent discovered "Lungs" yet, give it a listen. Here are my two new favorites:

Cheesy90LoveWeek

Last week I celebrated the cheesy love songs of the 90's on my facebook group a song a day. You can view and listen to the entire playlist right here. Feel free to join the A song a day revolution right here.

Melissa Horn

I just realised that I have never blogged about Melissa Horn, even though I have loved her with a passion this year. I have had the great priviledge of experiencing her live twice, and she is so captivating. She can with her little fragile voice silence a huge audience, and you can almost hear a needle drop. Being just 23, her lyrics shows increadible depth, and you honestly feel like she had a therapy session with you and then wrote your story afterwards. Melissa Horn is one of the artists who sprung out of the Scandinavian Spotify generation, generating popularity through free streaming.  Here are some of her songs.

Oh Land EP

Today I have been listening to Oh Land EP over and over while studying. It is such a gem!!!! I especially adore "White Nights" that I have been waiting with anticipation on a recording ever since I saw her perform it in Submarine Sessions. (If you havent seen it: view it here), the recording turned out so much better that I had hoped for. There are numerous videos and versions out there, here are three different versions you can choose from, all very different. First is the album version, second is a live performance and third is a... well watch it and see....

1) White Nights album version



2) White Nights Live Performance



3) White Nights Big Ugly Yellow Couch


White Nights by Oh Land from Big Ugly Yellow Couch on Vimeo.


The EP includes all great songs and I am very fond of all of them in each way. Today I have had White Nights in my ipod on headphones on repeat and singing out loud. And while biking I enjoyed, for me, the sad song, Rainbow.

Willow Smith: Whip my hair

Everybody is talking about Willow Smith this week, after the video of "Whip my hair" has been released. What is so mentionworthy of this video? Well first of all the girl sounds like Rihanna in the making. Second of all she headbangs the s... out of her hair in this video. Third, she is nine. See for yourself here:

The Ting Tings: We're not the same

The Ting Tings brand new single from upcoming album Kunst, just landed in my inbox, revealing an edgier sound from the group. The previous single from Kunst, Hands, was more electronic. I didn't expect The Ting Tings to be this rock inspired. I think I need to listen to it over the weekend to get a more feel into it. The single is displayed in Tommy Hilfiger's new ad campaign for the LOUD scent and you can listen to some of the single here:

Kill Screen Music: Us the Two-Headed Horse

Danish Kill Screen Music just released their debut album, which is rock with an electronic twist. Even though you can tell that most of the plays are made on a computer, as is tradition in the Danish rock scene, I love how the electronic is embraced like a deep Depeche Mode sound. The single Traffic was aired on Danish radio this spring, but I love the first track The Sand Is Washing Us Away, the XX inspired sound in the track Breathing and the playful Echoes Will Die.

Below is The Sand Is Washing Us Away: