Sounds like my favorite Minogue sister is ready for another dance hit ;)
No, you didn't read that wrong... what can I say, I prefer Dannii to her more famous sister (y'know, a little someone named Kylie Minogue). I do like a lot of Kylie's songs, but I always thought Dannii seemed like the spunkier little sister... and man, I love that! Kylie is heralded around the world as this pop icon; she might not be a big deal in the States, but internationally she's one of the most successful female artists ever... right up there with Madonna! I have a hard time taking her seriously as an "icon" though... she has a thin, thin voice, she barely dances, and I don't find her to be an "artist" in a way that makes up for those shortcomings. Dannii isn't much more talented, to be honest... but she doesn't take herself seriously! She knows she's a club singer, and she doesn't pretend to be anything more. Gotta love that kind of moxie! :)
Anyway, she's got a new single... a cover of Sister Sledge's disco hit "He's the Greatest Dancer." It's reaaally fun!
Alas, it's ONLY available as an Australian single... but starting April 14 you can order a copy online here. So bookmark it now! ;)
Alright, alright... I know you want to hear it NOW! :) Here she is performing it on an Australian TV special:
Told you it was fun! I bet it'd be a blast to hear what other current dance divas would sound like if they covered old disco classics... who would YOU want to hear? (Hmm... I think I smell a future poll topic! ;) )
Anyway, that's the latest news on the musical Minogues. Hope you guys enjoy Dannii's retro flashback!
Following up on a recent post about Adam Barta, I thought I'd blog about another up and coming DIVO you guys should know about (because frankly, the guys don't get enough respect in this genre!): MICHAEL HENSLEY.
Michael's a fellow Bostonian, which is how I learned about him. But what I like about him is a different story: he writes, composes, performs and produces all his own original electronic music. It's not all hard-hitting dance (though naturally he throws in the club remixes... gotta love that), so I'd describe it as... hmm... think Postal Service meets Darren Hayes meets Imogen Heap meets... Michael Hensley. Okay, I guess he's come up with something pretty original, when you think about it :)
I'd heard his first single, "Everyone Wants to Feel Something," (which is also the title of his current EP) and was into it... so I checked out his live show last week at The Milky Way in Boston. Which, by the way, was the first time I'd ever been there. Awesome! Okay, it's a bar, dance club, bowling alley, and pool bar all in one cozy, unpretentious space. It's like, the coolest basement that you wish your older friend had in high school. Haha. Anyway, his show was great. He did the songs from his EP, plus a few new tracks that will be on the full-length album... comes out next month, I do believe.
I'd HIGHLY recommend checking him out. Below's a YouTube clip from the Milky Way show... bear in mind the video/audio quality isn't fantastic, so you'll probably want to go to his MySpace.
Anyway, I always love dropping news about an awesome new artist... so file this one away, give the EP a listen (you can also buy it through his official site), and plan to hear more about him in the future!
Speaking of the future... only a few more days 'til we unveil the DIVA and DIVO of April... anyone have any guesses? :)
Hope you all had a great weekend. Anyone up to anything exciting?
Johnny and I spent the weekend at Mohegan Sun... for you non-northeasterners, Mohegan is a major casino/hotel/resort in Connecticut. It's a gorgeous place... and while I'm not a gambler, I am big fan of Red Bull, vodka, and flashing lights :) haha.
The roulette tables and slot machines stole some of our money, but the main reason we were there was to see the current reigning Prince of Pop: Justin Timberlake. His "FutureSex/LoveShow" tour was in town, and we checked it out. The seats were awesome (they were comps from a "high roller" we know, so naturally they were going to be good ones!)... only a few rows back from the stage. Better that than the floor, where we wouldn't have seen a damn thing! Mr. JT performed "in the round," which was kind of an odd choice. He's the kind of performer that would probably benefit from the added spectacle of an elaborate set and effects, which you can't really have when you're performing in the round. Pink opened the show... and she was awesome. She's got quite a voice, I was pretty impressed! She went through most of her big hits, like "Don't Let Me Get Me," "Stupid Girls," "Family Portrait," "Get This Party Started," and the song that's remixed version is making some waves in clubs, "U + Ur Hand." Love that one ;) I have to say I was a little bit disappointed that she left out the stuff from her first album. Y'know, singles like "There You Go," "Most Girls," and "You Make Me Sick." That was back when she was first being billed a more R&B sound... it's also back when she actually had pink hair! Haha. Anyway, I guess she wants us to forget that she ever did something other than the rock sound. She closed her set with this wild Cirque du Soleil style gymnastic routine in mid-air... y'know, twirling around on this long ribbon suspended from the ceiling. Can't say I was aware she was a gymnast! Haha. Here's a YouTube clip from that grand finale... I didn't take it, but I'm glad someone else captured it!:
I only wish I could say that Justin was just as good... but actually, I was pretty disappointed. Bear in mind that this is the guy who just took home a Grammy for "Best Dance Album." So where was the dancing?? Every now and then he'd break out with a couple seconds of his trademark Michael-Jackson-meets-NSync style of dancing. But for the most part, he pretty much alternated between walking around the stage in a different shade of grey vest, or sitting behind the piano and channeling Elton John for a "serious songwriter" moment. I'm sorry, I just personally wasn't impressed.
I like Justin - I wouldn't have bothered going to the concert, otherwise! But it's not the first time I've been underwhelmed by him as a live performer. I saw the "Justified and Stripped" tour a few years ago, when he toured with Christina Aguilera. I remember being bowled over by her part of the show; the spectacle, the voice, the attitude and the dancing all together. And then he was kind of tacked on at the end. He was good enough, but following her show, it seemed like a lame way to end the concert.
Here's a clip I found on YouTube of the Mohegan Show. It's not mine, and it's not great quality, but at least you can see how the stage was set up and whatnot!:
I just don't feel like he commands a stage the way other performers do... he certainly doesn't have the kind of presence that you need to do a show "in the round," without the benefit of an ornate set and visual distractions. In fact, to be honest... this was the first concert where I ever left before the end. It was about 2 hours long, which means - considering that he only has 2 solo CDs so far - he sang just about everything he's ever done. We kept waiting for "SexyBack," naturally assuming that would be the big closer of the evening. So we waited. And waited. Waited some more.
FINALLY, it came. And it didn't even finish the show with a bang! It was pretty by the numbers, and then it was almost immediately followed by the encore. A ballad. Wow, way to close the show with a whimper! So that's when we decided that playing some slots sounded more fun ;)
Between the curtain scrims that wrapped around the stage all night long (to serve as projection screen) that totally blocked a clear view of him, and the fact that he performed every song exactly the same way (strut, five-second dance, strut, sit at piano, strut...) it just wasn't a great show.
Why can't we give someone like Kristine W the kind of production values that a concert like this gets... so many of our favorite dance artists could command a stage with greater presence and vocal ability. Then we might get a "Best Dance Album" Grammy winner that makes sense.
Anyway, sorry Justin fans. I still like his music, but this was the second time he let me down in concert. Go back to NSync!
Well, we weren't exactly inundated with votes for our last poll... although since traffic hasn't dipped, I'm going to assume it just wasn't a question of interest! ;)
Of the few votes that came in, it looks like Pink and Nelly Furtado were the pop picks you'd most like to see go the dance route. I could see that... especially since Pink has a pretty awesome remix out right now with"U + Ur Hand."
Personally, I would have cast my vote for Nelly Furtado, too. I like how each of her albums combines her signature sound - this eccentric, world music, singer/songwriter blend - with a different genre. Her first combined it with pop; her second, folk; and the third, hip hop. But her own elements were consistent throughout.
Maybe next time around, she could pick a clubbier vibe? I think her voice, her funky fashion and her personality would all fall in line with it. Imagine the lead single: "Nelly Furtado with Tony Moran." :) And for the midtempo ballads, "Nelly Furtado featuring Kaskade." The hell with Timbaland... he's overdone! Let's get some other producers in there, right? ;)
By the way, Jade and I are going to see one of the other artists from the poll this weekend: Justin Timberlake at Mohegan Sun! I'll let you guys know what JT is like live... and whether he can reaaaaally outdance yours truly - frankly, I'm skeptical ;) haha.
So how's this for exciting... I had a chance tonight to chat with Louie DeVito... yes, THAT Louie DeVito... only the Guinness World Record champ for best-selling DJ compilation CD (NYC Underground Party) !
I have to admit, it was pretty cool. In fact, his albums are among those that really got me into the clubbing scene. I was into dance music beforehand, most definitely. But his first few albums came out back when I was in high school (oh my God, has it been that long??) and, growing up in a quiet suburban town with one stoplight (nevermind a dance club), it introduced me to a lot of artists that - for a 17 year old! - were pretty unknown: Ian van Dahl, Zombie Nation... and a lot of other names that are embarassingly familiar to most dance fans now... but, at the time, were totally unknown to a small town girl like me ;)
God, I remember half the kids in my high school having his stuff... few of whom had ever stepped into a real club as just a teenager. But he somehow managed to bring all that music to a mass audience. Maybe we need more DJs and producers like that now! People to get the mainstream excited about dance music again!
Anyway, you're going to see something more extensive on Louie very, very soon (God, we're just dropping hints left and right, aren't we ;) ), but I thought I'd share that he's a great guy. I was actually kind of surprised - is that weird? Haha. Sometimes with these really successful, big name DJs, you have to prepare yourself for a little bit of attitude... so I was pretty surprised that one of the most well-known (and recognizable - not many other DJs get recognized by strangers when they're walking down Boylston Street, Boston) DJs was also one of the nicest. Not bad!
It was also kind of cool how familiar he was with Boston. In fact, though he lives in New Jersey now, he mentioned he was considering a second home in the Boston area... (possibly to be closer to a "special someone" - lucky gal!) And as trivia for any other local peeps: he counts Mistral, Radius, Abe & Louie's (naturally!) and Davio's among his fave Boston restaurants.
Anyway, Louie was doing a gig at Boston's PURE nightclub tonight, and I was supposed to be there. Unfortunately, I got some bad news about a family member's health, so - for once! - hitting the dance floor just didn't seem like the right idea. He plays around here somewhat frequently, though, so I'm hoping I'll get a chance to see him again soon.
One thing Louie mentioned in his conversation with me was that he sometimes thinks he gets less "respect" from other DJs because his albums tend to appeal so strongly to a mainstream crowd. So I leave you with this food for thought (and debate): Do you think DJs get flack for being "too mainstream"? And if so, why??
Look for more about him soon. Hope this tides you over!
Seems like we just reported on Kristine's latest single (and bound to be an inclusion on her upcoming album), "Walk Away."
Well, noooow we've heard a sneak preview of yet another new track, "Be Alright." This one is going to be released on Forever Tel Aviv, the new mix compilation by DJ/producer Offer Nissim. It's not the first time the two of them have worked together... in fact, she did a remix of Kristine's last #1 hit, "The Wonder of it All." That said, I can't say I was blown away by this one... at least, not as much as I wanted to be. It's a departure for Kristine. Instead of wailing away on the mic like we're used to, her vocals sort of float over this trancey melody. That said, I also think Offer tends to overproduce her songs, so it's hard to know what the normal album version will sound like. Of course, it's entirely possible that the song won't even end up on Kristine's upcoming album... maybe it was recorded just for the compilation. Questions, questions :)
But one thing we DO know: the title of Miss W's new dance album, slated for the summer of '07. We've got something a little more extensive coming up on Kristine (hint, hint) - but we're ready to reveal that juicy piece of info for you. And without, further ado (drumroll, please), the title of the album is:
Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend... had some technical difficulties that slowed things down. Anyway, hope all you Irish folk had a lovely St. Paddy's Day Weekend... I hit up the huge parade in South Boston to celebrate this weekend. This was right after I watched my latest Netflix arrival: "The Departed." Haha. Total coincidence, I swear! (Though it sure helped me keep up a pure Bahstan accent for the parade ;))
Anyway, this blog entry takes us from Boston to Taipei, the "site" of Global Underground's latest mix compilation (GU31) and the latest release from Dubfire. Dubfire (aka Ali Shirazinia) is one half of the DJ/producer team Deep Dish. You've likely danced to their work before... I count the Deep Dish mix of Madonna's "Music" among my personal faves, in fact ;)
Sharam, Ali's partner in crime and fellow Deep Disher, was the name behind one of Global Underground's last compilations (GU29), and now Dubfire gets his turn. I got an advance listen (cause you know, I'm special like that ;) ) and it was pretty impressive! A lot of excellent deep house beats; two discs of pure yumminess.
And the album also features Dubfire's first use of his own vocals on the track "I Feel Speed." Not bad at all! Do I see a future DIVO in the making? Hehe.
So how's that for a sneak preview? DUBFIRE: TAIPEI (GU 31) comes out on April 10. So mark your calendars!
And to everyone heading to Winter Music Conference this week... happy (safe) travels!!
Again, sorry for the missed updates... we're back at it now, though!
I should probably start by saying I'm a big DJ Encore fan. Back in 2002, "I See Right Through You" was one of my favorite songs... and even better, the album "Intuition" (DJ Encore feat. Engelina) was very rare for a dance album: it was consistently good, with not a single filler track. I thought this was a pairing that was definitely gonna be around for a while!
But then, it seemed like they kind of faded away from America. We didn't really hear anything from them. Then the DIVA DIVO peeps named "I See Right Through You" one of the best dance songs of the 2000s (did you read that article yet?), and I thought "ah, yes! I almost forgot how frickin' GOOD that was!"
Well, turns out the timing was fateful... DJ Encore is set to make a comeback: YES!
I just heard the latest single: "You Can Walk on Water," and I'm pleased to say it's more of the same excellent Euro sound we got the first time around. Very fun, upbeat, high-energy stuff with a great singalong chorus. Very exciting. There is one minor bummer: Engelina is no longer in the picture. Well, not totally true: she's still making music, and it looks like a solo album is in the works right now. But for the new DJ Encore album, he's paired himself with a new female vocalist: Johanna.
Well, can't say she's not a looker!
Actually she does a good job on the new single, so I'll definitely give the girl a chance. Though I have to say, Engelina complemented DJ Encore's production on the first album so well, it's hard to imagine that someone else might be able to replicate that "chemistry" (which, by the way, was the name of one of the tracks ;) ). Oh well, everyone deserves a fair chance! Good luck, Johanna, you have mighty boots to fill!
Okay, but on to the important stuff. The new album is called UNIQUE, and it's due to come out in May, 2007. So there's not much time left to wait. Excellent news; I can't wait to hear the rest of it!
Okay, DJ Encore fans... I hope this gets your weekend off on a good note. No pun intended, of course.
It's time for a new "Poll of the Week" on the site... meaning, it's time to discuss the results of the last round :)
Based on your votes (which were pretty skimpy, by the way!) DJ Sammy "Heaven" was the best dance remake of recent years! No surprise there, since it was the biggest mainstream hit on the list.
But now, I thought it would be fun for me and Johnny to tell you OUR picks. But not among the poll choices themselves... instead, we pit the dance remakes against their original song versions. Battle of the Bands, baby!
Let's get started.
"HEAVEN" original: Bryan Adams dance version: DJ Sammy
Well, here's the thing: here at DIVA DIVO, we're not huge fans of the DJ Sammy hit. I mean, it was catchy at first, but it got sooooo overplayed! Now, whenever we hear those first few notes, we can't help but roll our eyes. That said, it's more impactful than Bryan Adams' maudlin original... he goes for romantic longing, but it kind of just comes across like he's mumbling. And drunk. And tired. Haha. Anyway, in the end, we decided to give the vote to DJ Sammy. Overplayed or not, at least it was a hooky pop treat, right??
winner: DANCE version
"LISTEN TO YOUR HEART" original: Roxette dance version: D.H.T. featuring Edmee
First off, we have to deduct a few points for D.H.T taking the wimpy way out: releasing the ballad mix of their version as the radio single. I mean, what was the point of that?? Why release an inferior version of a song (worse singer, worse instrumentals) in the same format as the original?? The uptempo version is better, true... but it pales in comparison to Roxette's version. We love the beats, but in the end, it's the guitars that drive the point home.
winner: ORIGINAL version
"TRULY MADLY DEEPLY" original: Savage Garden dance version: Cascada
If you read one of Johnny's posts a few days back, you know that he's not a fan of Cascada at all. And neither am I, for that matter! But strangely, we still think that the dance version triumphs in this face-off. Cascada may use the same monotonous stomping beat over and over (and over and over and over...) again. But in this case, the repetitive lyrics ("I'll be your... I'll be your..." and "I want to... I want to...") actually make the music fit. Whaddaya know!
winner: DANCE version "TOUCH ME" original: Cathy Dennis dance version: Angel City
This is the song that I would have voted for, myself! I looove Angel City, and this single was probably their best, in my humble opinion. Regardless, it's a fun and frothy dance song... a little sexual, a little sassy, a little bit of everything that you should find on the dance floor! But then again, Cathy Dennis' early 90s pop song was an awesome bubblegum hit on its own. So how's a saucy little minx like myself supposed to choose? Guess I'll declare a tie! winner: IT'S A DRAW!
This song received NO votes from you readers, and with good reason! First of all, why would you touch a classic, classic rock song like this? Is nothing sacred? :) haha. But really, even though Judy's got the pipes to do the song justice, lyrics like "they say the road's no place to raise a family..." clearly belong to a rocker, not a clubber. The dance remake is awkward and forced, unlike the sweet, prom song-esque original. We're faithful to that one!
winner: ORIGINAL version
"ALONE" original: Heart dance version: Kim Sozzi
Is it just me, or do you agree that this song made a sudden comeback after Carrie Underwood performed it on "American Idol"? Hmm! Weird. Anyway, the ladies of Heart definitely have the vocal advantage... they hit the soaring notes with more ease. But Kim sings her damn HEART out, no doubt about it; they have the technique, but she equals their passion. Add to that a totally addictive euro sound (and a slew of fun remixes) and you have one of the better remixes of recent memory. Still, that original is pretty spectacular. In the end, the verdict is split!
winner: IT'S A DRAW! "LOVE BITES" original: Def Leppard dance version: QED
I'm a big QED fan. Having seen Kristen Hendricks live, I can honestly say she's one of the most talented dance diva vocalists out there. And Valentin is an amazing producer... not only has he released some of the most fab pop remixes of late, but his original work is spectacular. Their artist album, "Mobius" is seriously fantastic... especially the second single, "Hardly a Day." Totally intoxicating, guys! But actually, this - their biggest hit - is the weakest, in my opinion. Why does it always work that way?? It's a good song, but it doesn't make my feet move the way Def Leppard's hard rockin' original makes my head bang. So sorry, guys... QED is among my faves, but for this particular song... winner: ORIGINAL version Alrighty, ladies and gents... that's MY take on the situation. What do you think? Leave me some love, and let me know which original versions... and which DANCE versions... you prefer. I'm curious ;) And I love myself a good debate... hehe!
Talk to you soon, and don't forget to check out the new poll!
You know, it's always nice to hear from a new DIVO on the block.
It seems like the ladies have it a little easier when it comes to the dance scene. Seems like every other day we're hearing about a new Diva with a new single: Here today, gone tomorrow!
Gotta love when a guy steps up to the plate, though. So props to Adam Barta for becoming the latest in the line of quality Divos. If you've been shopping in an Abercrombie & Fitch lately, you've probably heard his new single "I Wanna Hold You" blasting over the loudspeakers... as you determine exactly which color of polo shirt will give you the maximum "collar popping" effect ;) Ha!
OR you've heard it in the clubs... it's also a Breakout on Billboard's Hot Club Play Chart. Either way, it's worth a listen (Oh, and it's also produced by Mike Rizzo... always a good sign). Check it out on his MySpace page, below.
So... it looks like Hilary Duff has something else in common with Kylie Minogue... you know, besides her new teeth ;) (oops! Did I say that out loud??)
Ms. Duff gave a "performance" (if lip synching can be called a performance) at GAY in London. It's one of the country's most famous night clubs, and one of Europe's biggest gay clubs. And there was Hilary, shirtless male dancers and all, strutting her stuff.
Uhh... weird!
It was weird enough when they decided that Lizzie McGuire was going to be a pop star. First came the tweenybopper hits ("Come Clean," "So Yesterday"... um, I think that pretty much covers it). Then she came out with a second album that went for Avril Lavigne lite rock. At that point, I went from shaking my head in embarassment to laughing hysterically. Oh yeah, move over, grrrl rockers the world over... Hilary Duff is on the scene! Ha! :)
But now it appears she's going for a new incarnation: Dance Diva. Hmm.
Well, the one thing she's lacking is the pipes. Contrary to popular belief, dance singers are often pretty talented vocalists... how else to wail those notes when you're stomping around a stage in platform shoes all night?? But in my opinion, Hilary's barely fit for a high school talent show, as far as singing is concerned. Sorry, Duffsters!
I will say this, though: The music suits her. Have you seen the video for "Play With Fire (remix)"? It came out as a promotional single a few months back. I remember catching it on like, Music Choice on cable or something. It sounds like a leftover Kylie Minogue track, but it's actually pretty catchy. Check it out below.
It's not commercially available for sale as a single, but you can buy the (high quality) video through iTunes:
On the ride to New York this weekend, Johnny and I also heard the remix of her new single, "With Love," on XM's BPM several times. I never thought I'd say this about a Hilary Duff song, but... I really, really liked it. We were both kind of singing along by the end. And please, don't let Johnny deny it :)
I still don't have much respect for Hilary Duff's "artistic credibility," but I'll give it to her... or to whoever is in charge of running her career, that is: it was a smart move to appeal to the dance market. She's getting too old to appeal to the little girl market anymore, and the girls who grew up listening to her are too old for that Hilary. So now, she's appealing to the club crowd, using the gay niche market as her stepping stone. Smart... smarter than you'd expect!
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we're seeing the impossible... a pop star turning to a dance sound to revitalize their career! Hot damn, does this mean dance music is getting a little more respect from the mainstream, commercial music industry. Could we hear more of it on the radio again?
Hey, even if it's Hilary Duff... worse things could happen :)
Anyway, her new album is called DIGNITY and it comes out April 3. We'll be sure to let you know how it sounds!
Let me know what you think of all this, guys!! Hilary Duff... diva??
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