As someone who notices when a music video has zero cuts and appreciates the fine art of making any video that way, really enjoyed Lights music video to her song entitled Second Go. It might rank up there as one of the greatest no-cut, one take music videos ever done.
Here is a fantastic live recording of the original Allman Brothers Band performing their song titled Whipping Post, live at the Fillmore East, New York City on Sep 23, 1970. Turn it up, sit back and enjoy!
Got a two hour massage and the therapist tried to play smooth jazz off of Pandora. I said "no thanks, can't stand elevator music or Muzak. Please punch in some music similar to Nneka". Nneka's track entitled The Uncomfortable Truth starts off the 2 hour set and after about 12 songs, up comes this song that stopped the session so the therapist could go look on the Pandora page to tell me what song was playing. This is it! A favorite song of mine from very first play. Dug up this unofficial video cut by a fan, for the artist, Jazmine Sullivan, has yet to cut an official video.
And.... this song came on not long after Jazmine's song and stopped the massage once again to find out who it was. Was surprised to find it another great song by Adele of her album titled 19. I'd actually heard seen the official video once before, but the version we heard was a live one from a iTunes hosted "Live From Soho" performance. It sounded much different than the studio version from the record.
Adele - Chasing Pavements (Official Video)
In digging for a live version of Chasing Pavements, found this tasty live recording of Adele on the Tiny Desk Concert hosted by NPR where she performs three songs. She just sits, with no pomp or circumstance and simply deliver the goods with perfection. The first song, Someone Like You, seems like she lived through each line. She feels it. And, really love the second song, Chasing Pavements :) - And, Rolling in the Deep.... If you don't know that song, you must have been living in the forest without electricity last for the last year and a half.
Adele - Someone Like You - Chasing Pavements - Rolling In The Deep (Live - Tiny Desk Concert)
In my humble opinion, one who has no contempt, cannot and should not be considered a true rock star. A pop star perhaps, but not a rock star. So, kudos to Axl Rose for living up to it, being true and saying it like he sees it in this open letter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And, in my humble opinion, the Hall of Fame is lame. A artist or group does not even have to be excellent or even be a true rock star to be in the supposed Hall of Fame. It's a politically run institution that kisses the asses of industry insiders. So many REAL artists, REAL Rock Stars in fact, have been left out to make way for teen pop acts. That's what makes it so damned lame.
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Axl Rose's Open Letter:
To: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,
When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N' Roses were to be inducted it'd be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.
Since then we've listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N' Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists' comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.
Under the circumstances I feel we've been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N' Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in "our" induction (that for the record are decisions I don't agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things... no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn't appear to be somewhere I'm actually wanted or respected.
For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It's their show not mine.
That said, I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of "Guns N' Roses".
This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp's perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I'm sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I'll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don't intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we've actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, "damned if I do, damned if I don't" scenario all the way around.
In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I've publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing's changed.
The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of "for the fans" or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and DJ Ashba.
Izzy came out with us a few times back in '06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in '06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in '11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that's enough.
There's a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn't room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.
Maybe if it were you it'd be different. Maybe you'd do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We're there for each other when the going get's rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.
So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn't owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another's, or in this case several others', expense.
But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the "no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn't care about the fans" crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let's move on. No one's taking the ball and going home. Don't get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we've endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball's never been in our court.
In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I'd like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns' induction. More importantly I'd like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we've had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N' Roses music.
I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!
There is one artist whose music really means something. Not only does the music groove for days and days, but this artist always says something important and it's usually heavy. Once again, very proud to feature a real global artist of substance, Nneka, as she talks about the Occupy Nigeria movement where she spent time on the ground in early 2012. Nneka's music consistently challenges the status quo of where corruption in government meets crony capitalism, as she stumps for the common country folk in her native homeland of the Niger Delta region of Africa. Some of her songs start off, and you think you are hearing a love song, to hear it evolve into a heavy geo-political statement. And, if you think, you go .... Wow. Think!
Short Documentary - Occupy Nigeria: Nneka on the "Vagabonds in Power"
Here is Nneka performing Vagabond in Power at Les Vieilles Charrues Festival (LIVE - 2009)
