N°72 BAND OF HORSES - IS THERE A GHOST

Series 30, episode 7 of Later with Jools Holland (Harlem is actually a city in The Netherlands) was filled with Beirut, KT Tunstall, Martin Simpson, The Ting Tings, Mutya Buena, Gabriela Cilmi and .... Band of Horses off course. So there's your link.

Now who are Band of Horses?  They're a five piece (originally four) American indie band originating from Seattle and they started out in 2004 as the warming up band for Iron and Wine. A year later they released their first EP named after the band followed in that same year by a full album called Everything All The Time. This album only contains almost all the songs from the previously released EP and the first song of the album is actually titled The First Song.Some of the EP songs were renamed and re-recorded though. The First Song would not be the first single ever to be released since that would be the single The Funeral. At first I wanted to pick this song but then again they performed Is There a Ghost on Jools' show so I changed my mind about the posted song. I'd check it out on youtube though.

Is There A Ghost is actually their first single from their second album Cease to Begin which was released two years after Everything All The Time. In Belgium I guess this was their biggest hit and thus they were invited to Pukkelpop in 2010. I didn't go and watch them but I can remember we'd be hanging around the Marquee stage while they were playing and they were pretty good. They toured around Europe that year playing a few big festivals and doing the warmups for Snow Patrol and Pearl Jam.

After the release of Infinite Arms, their third album, in 2010 they got nominated for a Grammy award but didn't win it unfortunately. Again they were able to tour Europe on different festivals and that year they'd play Werchter. They love Belgium and Europe I guess and they're also loved for doing wqarm ups for big bands such as Foo Fighters and King of Leon. If that last band doesn't cancel tours that is.

Anyway here's the last song for 2011 but there will be more in 2012. Happy New Year !!!

N°71 BEIRUT - EAST HARLEM

From the South to the East and more specific East Harlem performed by Beirut; a New York, indie folk band.

Zach Condon founded the band in 2006 when using music samples collected on a road trip throug the Balkans in Europe. These samples were the foundations of the first Beirut album called Gulag Orkestar and the complete album was mixed in Zachary's bedroom. Only for the live performances a few of his friend wouls join him on stage to play his music and the soloproject became a real band.

Alos the second album found it's influences in Europe and this time France would be the link for the complete album. For example: on this album you'll find the fantastic song Nantes which I couldn't use yet into my links. His influences would not only be French chansonniers such as Jacques Brel or Gerard Lenormand but also French movies as you can here on that same single called Nantes. The album does not have a French name but is called The Flying Club Cup.

In between their first and second CD a few EP's were released such as Lon Gisland and Elephant Gun but i've chosen the first single of this year's album; which is Beirut's third album called The Rip Tide. This album is released and produced under Zachary Cordon's own private label Pompeii Records.Again influences from France, the Balkans and Mexico were the base for the songs but critics think of this album as a bit more poppy than all previous releases. Another difference from previous albums is that this album is finally recorded by the complete band as a whole instead of being different tracks put together in a studio.

I hope you'll like it.

N°70 TARYN SOUTHERN - COFFEE MAKES ME POO

Yeah I'm serious, THIS SONG EXISTS !!!!!!! Hahahahaha.

First of all the link is Illy because that's a brand of coffee machines. It's as simple as that. Now let's hope Illy will make me rich for this little bit of advertising. Wishfull thinking I know.

Second of all. Who the fuck is Taryn Southern? She's American, she's a singer and actress but also a comedian and a song like this helps for that job for sure. She better known for participating American Idol in season 3 although I'm pretty sure she didn't make it to the finals with songs like this one.

In 2007 Taryn decided to make a song and video clip to support Hillary Clinton in her pursuit to the White House. Again a funny song. Just watch and listen on Youtube. She also made a nine episode documentary called Project My World and particpated smaller roles in different tv-shows of which Rules of Engagement is the best known. At the moment she's hosting the American X-Factor show.

Not much more to write about Taryn. Maybe we'll hear from her again and maybe we won't.  Who knows but anyway if you like a cup of coffee in the morning sure know it makes some people poo !!! Below also a 'cute' picture of her.

N°69 ILLY - CIGARETTES

Camel is a brand of cigarettes so I've been looking on youtube for a song with a title linked to cigarettes. I found a few interesting yet already thinking about the next song I had to choose for a song of less quality. It's supposed to be a rap song with an R&B mix but to me it's just one big mistake song. I'm obviously not an Illy fan. But who is he?

Illy is an Australian hip hopper who too his baby showbizzsteps in Crooked Eye but he went solo in 2009 with a first album called Long Story Short. Long story short: He made a second album this year on which the above song appears. That album is called The Chase. It made number 25 in Australie but if he wants to chase the top flight in the music buisiness he need  to upgrade his songs. Yeah well that was it. Next song will be better. I promise.

N°68 SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS - CAMEL WALK

First of all I'd like to say I'm not going to maintain the wednesday-Saturday routine anymore. Apparantly I'm not keeping it up properly and that's why I'm going for the freestyle routine now and post a next track whenever I want. Off course I'll try and update on a regular basis but I'll be more free whenever I don't find the time or do'nt feel like posting anything. Sorry folks.

Anyway. Didn't like the previous song very much and I'd like to howl at it as wolves do to a full moon. That is why the next song is perfect in tie with the Duck Sauce one since there's howling on it. Yeah baby !!! It's a son which I got to know recently on my favourite Belgian music station of Studio Brussel and I incorrectly thought it was a very recent song from a very recent band. NOT !

Southern Culture of the State or shortened to SCOTS are an American band founded in 1983 by Dave Hartman, Mary Huff and Rick Miller and they bring a happy, funny type of rockabilly unique surf sound of music. Their debut album in 1985 was called Voodoo Beach Party and that kind of says it all. Their music is a party. Anywhere, everywhere.The breakthrough came almost fifteen years later in 1998 when releasing the album Dirt Track Date which apparantly sold millions of copies around the world. This album contains the song I'm posting here and my guess is it's their best known song as well. (although I didn't knew before last week ...). In between this period of time they released more albums with titles such as Too Much Pork for Just One Fork and the EP Girlfight.

What catches the eye is that the band kept going back to producing different EP's and full albums at the same time.Eg. In 1995 they released the album with the song Camel Walk as described above but two years later they release an EP called Camel Walk which caught on so the single became a world wide succes. A bit strange but it works for them apparantly. They're last album dates from last year and is called Zombified which again is a rework from an eight track, Australian only released  EP, from 1998. The new album is completed with 5 additional songs and is finally worthy to be called an album.

To finish this blog up I can say SCOTS are tolerant towards filming and taping their music and live performances and they like to have their fans come on stage and dance with them. Also they're known for throwing fried chicken and banana pudding in the audience during live gigs. You'd better not wear your sunday suit when going to on of their concerts.

Enjoy.

N°67 DUCK SAUCE - THE BIG BAD WOLF

There's hardky a difference between a goose and a duck. Actually I've once seen on National Geographic that geese are actually the ancesters of ducks and that ducks are a little bit more evolved than geese. Don't know if it's true but I'll say we'll evolve as well into the next link shall we?

I can be brief about Duck Sauce:

It's a deejay formation formed by American deejays Armand Van Helden and A-Trak and they only released one cd under this mutual name. That album was released in 2009, contains their greatest hits and is actually called Greatest Hits. As you can tell already; Duck Sauce is meant to be funny. And they are.

ANYway was their first release in 2009 and scored big in the club circuit but I'm sure you know them from the big hit Barbra Streisand in 2010. And apparantly the Quack is Back because their third single is out since three weeks. You'll find it here:

N°66 GOOSE - WORDS

ABC are letters and letters form words and Words is the song Goose first released from their excellent 2010 album called Synrise.

Goose stands for Belgian Electropunk created by 4 youngsters under the vision of Mickael Karkousse who sings the lyrics and is the obvious frontman. Aprat from Mickael the band is formed by Dave Martijn, Bert Libeert and Tom Coghe and this formation took place in the year 2000.

Bringing electropop and electropunk the synthesizer are their main weapons but if you’d see them perform live on stage you’ll notive that live (base) drums also take a central place in the complete show. Their live shows are also very vivid and kicking and always a sign to start a huge party.

Two years after their formation they won Humo’s Rock Rally (I’ve told you earlier about this contest and used it before as a link so I won’t do it this time) and they started recording their first ever single called Audience. Later used by Coca Cola as a tune fort heir European commercials. They kept working on their succes and in 2006 a first CD could be found in the stores. It was called Bring It On and Black Gloves is a remarkable  single from that CD. Their mostly instrumental music would prove an interesting tool for commercials and Heineken used it to promote their products during their Champions League sponsoring in 2006.

The band’s music also appears in the first episode of season three of CSI New York. One of the best selling police series worldwide from the past years. This succes led to a second album released only last year with the beautifull title Synrise. From this album Words was the first single released and so far their biggest hitlist success. Also check out the title trakc from this album which I even like a bit more.

 Enjoy this Belgian piece of music. (live!)

N°65 ABC - THE LOOK OF LOVE

ABC is short for the Acid Black Cherries but is also a British new wave band from the eighties which was a continuation from an earlier band called Vice Versa. Vice Versa was founded late 70's by Stephen Singleton and Mark White, later members of ABC. Martin Fry came on board in 1979 as a synthesizer player. When Fry took over the lead vocals later on the band renamed itself to ABC in 1980 when they dropped Vice Versa founding member David Sydenham.

Their first album The Lexicon of Love made it to the top flight of the UK charts and ABC's succes was rocketing to the sky high. It contained well known top ten hits such as The Look Of Love (posted here), Poison Arrow and All Of My Heart. This succes would prove hard to come again. Their second album didn't flop but never proved to be as successfull as their debut. Following this taning success of the second album Singleton left the band and ABC continued as a due with Fry and White.

A third album in 1985 brought their success to a downfall and this is the period where Martin Fry needs treatment for a disease called Hodgkin's desease. After this he returned with a more poppy album called Alphabet City and finally ABC ties into their first success from Lexicon of Love. King Without A Crown isn't the biggest hit but you sure must know The Night You Murdered Love or When Smokey Sings.

Their fifth and final album got released in 1989 and was called Up. Their hopes of being 'up' the charts again was sunk because the dance/house influences on that final CD never got approval by the fans. The band took a break after their 1990 tour after a decade of creating new wave, dance music for their fans.

In 1997 Martin Fry claims the name ABC as his band name and starts performing the old hits without any of the original band members. Also he releases a new CD called Skyscraping but apart from some of the fans no one ever heared of that CD I guess. The final approach to get all the original band members together for a reunion in 2004 failed as Singleton and White didn't want to meet Fry. The fact that Fry claimed the band's name never got appreciated by the other two.

I've seen Martin Fry perform on The Night Of The Proms in Antwerp a few years a go and it was pretty good but then again it was Martin Fry singing ABC and it wasn't ABC as a whole. There's no future for this band as a band but I'm happy Martin Fry keeps the songs alive.

Finally I'd want to say I'm sorry for the readers of this blog since I haven't had the time to update this one regularly the past few weeks. I'm actually on a week's holiday in Spain and had a busy week before as well. I'll try and update next Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday so at least some catching up is done.THanks for understanding.

N°64 ACID BLACK CHERRY - SPELLMAGIC

Never ever heared of this Japanese rock singer? Neither have I but a black cherry is a black cherry right? Acid Black Cherry is a Japanese project by Yasu, the vocalist of another to me unknown band calle Janne Da Arc. Yasu started this solo porject after his band went on a short break.

Since 2007 he created 4 albums so far and it is said his old band probably will never perfomr again so this should be Yasu's new project in time. Four albums called: Black List (2008), Recreation (2008), Q.E.D. (2009) and Recreation2 (2010). Most of the title tracks are named in Japanese but they all have an English title as well. I just randomly picked a song.

If you know the bands name is usually shortened into ABC I guess you'll know what number 65 will be? Any suggestions on  a particular song?

Greetzzzzzz

N°63 GOLDFRAPP - ALIVE

When you've got a heartbeat you must be pretty Alive and since there are numerous songs with that title it was a bit tough too pick a different song. At first I wanted to go for the Pearl Jam song but on the other hand I've heared the name Goldfrapp around for quite some time but never knew what they stood for. Well now I know.

Goldfrapp is also a duo who try and bring electronic music. They're not Swedish but British and they're no family from each other. The difference with The  Knife is also that Goldfrapp has a strong live reputation and they actually perform on stage. Also the non commercial side is left behind and Goldfrapp stands for a poppy synthesizer sound.

The band is named after frontwoman Alison Godfrapp who also plays keyboards. Her compagnion is named Will Gregory on keyboards and they found each other in 1999 when they worked together on a single song. A good year later they formed the Band under Alisons last name and started recording the first album Felt Mountain which made gold in the UK charts. A nice start.

The dance concept took over in the second album while the first was also heavily inspired by a folky sound. THis album called Black Cherry overclassed Felt Mountain and reached a little higher in the charts. It made platinum and Godlfrapps name was set in the dance scene.

This success made them choose wisely to go for electronic dance so on their third album you'll find less lyrics and more music. We're talking 2005 now and Goldfrapp just gor nominated the year before for their first BRIT Award. Supernature, which is the albums name, made it's debut at the number 2 spot in the British charts and almost scored a number one hit.

They took over a year to write their next album since they left the poppy electronic sound a bit and evolved into a more slow and ambient style. It has a warmer style introducing for the first time acoustic guitars. A less liked album you'd tjink, since they left their original sound but also this album debuted at the number 2 spot in the UK charts.

Last year they released a fifth and so far final album since their contract with the EMI studios has come to an end. Also an end of an era maybe, Who knows. This album titled Head First relates back to a more electrpop sound for which Godfrapp is best known. The album also gave them an opportunity to go on their first ever wolrd tour starting in june 2010.

It is said a best of will be released at this year's end or early 2012 and that the band would start recording shortly after to release a sixth album on a still te be determined date.

Enjoy.

N°62 THE KNIFE - HEARTBEAT

David Bowie chose his last name based on the founder of the Bowie knife and so this Swedish electronic pop duo fits in perfectly. The Knife is a family buisiness between brother Olof and sister Karin Dreijer and is situated on their own record label Rabid Records. Apart from that you can’t call them mainstream since they hardly perform live. Olof does his DJ work under the name of DJ Coolof and Karin is a part of the band Honey Is Cool. When appearing under the name of The Knife they usually wear ancient masks usually used at a bal masque.

 

The Knife also rebells against mainstream music in general and big music labels in particular. When winning a 2003 Grammy they’ve let other people pick up the prize wearing monkey suits. The song I’m posted got fame when it was picked up for a Sony commercial and it was broadcasted worldwide. This did not stroke with their non commercial feeling but was later explained as they needed the money to start up their own record label and that this would only encourage their independence. A single commercial hick-up was tot hem a small sacrifice.

The Knife mastered  5 albums so far in 10 years time on top of 3 EP’s. Their album got nominatd in 2007 for six Swedish Grammy’s and the ban  won them all. Again they didn’t collect their prizes. Brother and sister both have their separate solo projects and in that environnement you can hear Karin sing in Slow by the Belgian rockban dEus. She also contributed to the What Else Is There by Röyksopp.

N°61 DAVID BOWIE - LIFE ON MARS

Since Jasper Steverlinck made an excellent cover of this original David Bowie song I'd thought to post the original here and Bowie gives me an original flow into number 62 next Wednesday.

David is one of the icons in the music history and not only because of his music but also because of his famous theatrical acting appearences in movies such as Labyrinth and Zoolander. He must have played in over 20 movies big and small. If you know he also created over 40 albums from 1967 untill know you'll know he's never been a year without a project. 

His typical theatrical performances on stage inspired many bands such as NIN, Placebo and Pet Shop Boys. David was and still is a trendsetter. He also followed trends and coloured it with his own interpretation and apparantly he has a nose for success. This is how he scored his first hit in 1969. It was called Space Oddity and was based on Stanley Kubrick's filmsucces 2001: A Space Odyssey. A year later he'd have another hit with The Man Who Sold The World later better known in the Nirvana cover. As you can read, many artists gave different interpretations to different Bowie songs. 

Bowie started using alternate names for himself such as Ziggy Stardust and  Aladdin Sane usually accompagnied by different types of androgyne characters. Ziggy Stardust died abruptly in 1973 during a live concert. Ziggy remained popular with the fans and that live concert would later be released as a kind of motion picture. 

Later 1970's he'd turn himself more into the world of dance music and in 1976 The Tin White Duke was introduced to the fans. A new alter ago probably inspired by his more frequent drug use. He gets inspired in the time he spends in Berlin and early 80's and he scores hits with Let's Dance and This Is Not America. His albums are now being howled at by fans and critics and then another album is being received as sublime. In 1988 he's forming a rock band and for the first time he's not going solo. Tin Machine is born. They lasted four years. 

Ever since the nineties his performances turned into the more songwriting part of music from his early years. Some albums were forgotten and re-relaesed but his fans never let him down. In 1992 he'd mary Iman, a Somalian model. Late nineties and during the nillies David Bowie only releases older work in new coats and he participates in the albums of different other artists. This year his biography appeared on the bookshelfs named Starman. Although I haven't read it I do believe it's probably a very interesting insight into one of the worlds greatest geniousses.

Have fun listening.

N°60 ARID - YOU ARE

Soy means I Am in English so we'll go on: I Am, You Are, ... ok that's far enough. I googled You Are lyrics and came upon the Angels voice of Jasper Steverlinck, front singer of Arid, a Belgian rock band.

Founded halfway the nineties the band practiced a lot untill they decided to participate into Humo's rock rally in 1996 where they made in into the finals. Their first album followed a few years later and was called Little Things of Venom, to me still their best album actually. At the same time their album got released they started touring with Suede through America and K's Choice and Counting Crows in Europe.

A year later the lead singer would starr in a movie called Haunted Castle. Arid would also sign for the opening and closing credits.

Little Things of Venom would be followed by a second studio album All Is Quiet now in 2002 and with their superb live reputation a live album was supposed to follow without a doubt. After that all actually became quiet since the band wanted to take time off for a few personal projects. In this period Jasper scored a great hit with his solo project.

In 2008 the band picked up their activities again and from 2008 untill 2010 they'd release an album every year. On their last album they scored another hit called Broken Dancer.

I hope you'll enjoy the angels voice from Arid.

N°59 GIPSY KINGS - SOY

Let's stay spanish since we already got there with Lana's family name. Del Rey = King so the Gipsy Kings were the obvious follow up.

The Gipsy Kings consist of members of two families. The family Reyes who take care of most of the vocals and tha family Galiardo which are just guitar players. Chicko Bouchikhi was also a founding member but he left in 1989.

Although singing in Spanish and bringing a mix of flamenco music with gipsy Romani influences they are actually all French natives. Their ancesters fled Andalucia during the Spanish civil war though in the 1930's. And I always though they were Mexican Americans or something. Big mistake.

In 1982 and 1983 they released their very first two albums but not with the biggest success but the self titled Gipsy Kings album from 1988 boomed their popularity especially with the number 1 hit Volare. Apart from Volare they scored also with songs such as Escucha Me and Bamboleo. And if you liked the Eagles a few posts earlier you definately have to check out their version of Hotel California. Sung in Spanish but with super fast paced flamneco guitars make it a special song. I believe it was used in the cultfiulm The Big Lebowski as well.

Apart from that film they also contributed to Toy Story 3.

Gipsy Kings released about 20 albums in almost 30 years and if you like Spanish flamenco rythms it's most certainly somthing to set yout mind on.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend !

N°58 LANA DEL REY - VIDEO GAMES

Dune is a video game I used to play so the link was quickly found. Either way it was hard to get out unless I wanted to post Somewhere Over The Rainbow; which I didn't want to actually.

Lana Del Rey is a singer I never heared of before and probably neither have you but why not give it a shot? Apparantly her real name is is Lizzy Grant and e few years back she recorded a song with producer David Kahne. It never became a succes. She re-launched her career under the name Lana Del Rey and she recorder a double A-sided single called Video Games / Blue Jeans. Both with retro fifties video clips.

She's being pictures as a poor trailer trash American girl who tries to live the big dream but her lip job shows otherwise. The marketing machine is rolling to unleash a new star .... or not? Who knows but here she comes:

l

N°57 DUNE - RAINBOW TO THE STARS

Duin in Andre Van Duin's can be translated into English as 'dune' and so I came up with this German hardcoredance and rave act. DJ Oliver Froning is the musical brain while Dune never had the same lead singer for a longer period of time. Dune actually had 3 singers perform since it's first gig back in 1995. Verena Von Strenge (1995-1997 and 1999) was followed by Vanessa Hörster (1997-1999) and Tina Lacebal (2000-2003) was the final singer untill the band split up. Verena would achieve a solo carreer which never really took off a,d DJ Oliver from time to time still performs under the name off his old group at several retro house parties in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.

Dune releasd 8 albums in a six year timespan. This is quite normal for a dance act since they come and go on a regular base. The albums even include a live album which is seldom seen in the world of rave acts. I've got to know them from the song 'Are you ready to fly' but then I should always post the most known songs huh?

Let's dance !!!!

N°56 ANDRE VAN DUIN - BIM BAM

Bells make me think of church bells and stuff like that and although wanting to go in a totally different direction the chuirch bells reminded me of an Andre Van Duin song which, when I was a little boy, I found very very very funny.

Andre is a Dutch entertainer, actor, singer, whatever. He does about anything but he's most famous for his sketches, his revueshows and his funny songs. This is one of 'em. In his shows he used to be accompagnied by the late Frans van Dusschoten and Corrie Van Gorp. Their succes in The Netherlands and Belgium was huge. Later he'd become the host of many different tv shows. In between he released over 30 full albums throughout his career and as many singles. He'd score 3 number 1 hits: Willempie is the first (and probably most known), Bim Bam his second and in the 1990's he scored a third top hit with his Pizzalied.

In 2004 he celebrated his 40 year old career and he dis so with a complete new theater show. At the moment he's working on  another show to be premiered ... yesterday !!!! Andre was celebrated many times with a huge number of awards.

The song above by the way is based on Edith Piaf and Jean Villards, Les trois cloches.

Greetz

N°55 PAT KRIMSON - TABOO BELLS

Pat Krimson was part of Leopold 3 but also produced a lot of the Belgian dance scene in the nineties and nillies. After 2 Fabiola he started his 2 Fabiola project. First with Zohra, later with Medusa (Evi Goffin - Fiocco, Lasgo) and after a break and a restart with singers Loredana and Viola.

Patje also started up different eurodance and underground projects such as Nunca and he produced zome of Zohra's personal projects. He actually started of under his own name as you can hear on the record below.

Pat Crimson is also a huge fan of the football cvlub KRC Genk and he and his different projects used to entertain the fans once in a while during half time.

At the moment he's working back with the old Leopold 3 crew to produce a new record which is supposed to be on the shelves later this year.

N°54 LEOPOLD 3 - ZOMERNACHT

Leopold 3 is a Belgian band named after the fourth king of Belgium and it was founded in 1989 by Patrick Claesen aka Pat Krimson, Marc Bijnens  and Stefan Wuyts. Patrick is in charge of keyboards and/or guitar. Marc is lead singer and Stefan on drums. Marc is quickly being replaced by Erik Goossens  who is still the lead singer of the band. Leopold 3 scores a few minor hits early 1990’s but their big breakthrough would come in 1993 with a Dutch cover of the OMD single Maid of Orleans. This cover was called Volle Maan. Volle Maan was followed by a few more top flights as Zomernacht, Koning Van De Lach and Vergeet-Mij-Nietje. This last single would be their try to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest but, although winning the jury votes, the public chose otherwise and they didn’t go. Non the wise the single became a huge summer hit. The band would split in 1996 never to be reunited again. Erik would continue his acting career, Patrick was occupied with his side project 2 Fabiola and I haven’t got the slightest clue what happened to Stefan actually.

Early 2010 a radio station decided to let their listeners vote if they want a one time Leopold 3 reunion in their showx Nineties and Nillies and Patrick and Stefan are willing to go for it. Erik reconsiders his ‘never we shall reunite’ and joins them in the show. This show brings the mto the big live show Back to the Nineties and this concert is followed by a few more limited gigs throughout the country.

It is said a new Leopold 3 album is in the making to be released end this year.

N°53 JOHN TERRA - DE DAG DAT HET ZONLICHT NIET MEER SCHEEN

Allright I've missed out on another appointment last Wednesday. It was my best friends birthday and my favourite football team was playing. Sorry for that. 

John Terra is a Belgian singer who's known for a few Schlager classics such as this one. The title means: The day the sunlight don't shine anymore. Or something like that. His first steps he set in an orchestra lead by one of his relatives when he got noticed by some Belgian producers. Early seventies John scored a few hits and this is where he tasted his first fame in the Flemish part of Belgium. As his succes has risen it taned as quickly late 1970's. In this period he released 4 albums of which the last in 1976. 

Although never having left the showbizz scene John Terra made a comeback in 1981 in a national song contest called De Baccarabeker. This attention led to his biggest hit ever which is the one below. De dag dat het zonlicht niet meer scheen would take him to the top flight of the charts. His 1981 album was named after the song and some other songs would also make the charts. A year later he released the album Ik Weet Niet waaromp which would also be his final album.

Although still performing he's disappear slowly from the Belgian stages to take up the position of manager of many Belgian artists such as Lisa Del Bo (eurovision song contestor in 1996), Kim Kay, Dana Winner, Erik Goossens and Vanessa Chinitor (eurovision song contestor in 1999).

Why is John Terra linked to arbeid Adelt? Well the posted song lead to a huge fight between him and Arbeid Adelt since this is Johns biggest hit, released in 1981 but also the title of Arbeid Adelts first single release also in 1981. Arbeids version was some sort of parody on the number one hit but Mister Terra didn't find it funny. I won't take pick a side since I'm no big fan of both but as long as they tie in it's all fine.

Greetz

Oh yeah: Joe FM is a sucky music station :D

N°52 ARBEID ADELT! - LEKKER WESTERS

Sean d'Hondt is a VJ for TMF who also is the face of a Belgian band. Marcel Vanthilt used to be a VJ for MTV in London who used to be the face of a Belgian band called Arbeid Adelt!. I think the link is clear. First I must say that I hate the Arbeit Adelt! music but this blog isn't about what I like. It's abaout what ties into the link and I'm sure there must be someone out there who's fond of the 1980 pop electronic crazy shit Marcel and his buddy's created.

The band was formed early  1980's by Marcel Vanthilt and his buddy Jan Van Roelen using pseudonyms. Marcel used to be called Max Alexander and Jan was David Salamon. They lasted a decade and broke up in 1994 with a little reunion in 2007 for Marcel's 50th birthday. After that they perform ine in a while whenever they feel like it but no new records were composed or released.

Arbeid Adelt! created 5 albums which were called (in consecutive order): Jonge Helden (1983), Le Chagrin en Quatre-Vingts (1983), Des Duivels Oorkussen (1991), a compilation album (also in 1993) called Bijna Heeft Nooit een Haas Geschoten and a final album Methode Champenoise (1994). Some known Belgian musicians have contributed to some of the songs. I'll name two of them: Willy Willy (The Scabs) and Dani Klein (Vaya Con Dios)

Their very first song will probably be the link into the next blog. I'll be in Dutch again, that's for sure.

 

Don't know if anyone likes Arbeid so here goes nothing:

N°51 NAILPIN - THIS COMA

"Pin" is the link into the next song which is from a Belgian punk rock band called Nailpin. The band is formed around lead singer Sean d'Hondt who is also known as a TMF VJ on Belgian television.

Nailpin released their first album in 2004 and it was called '12 to go" referencing to the 12 tracks on the album. This album scored some smaal hits in Belgium but due to his VJ career Sean d'Hondt created some extra opportunities for the band. Eg: Nailpin participated in the tv show MTV's Road Rally in which they travelled through the USA from the Eastcoast to the Westcoast. They had to earn their spending and traveling money with performances and giggs along the way.

After that Avril Lavigne asked them to go on tour with her as her opening act. A great opportunity for this small Belgian band. They did the same with Panic At The Disco.

For the second album Sean left his drums behind and became full time front member after their first lead singer left the band to join Mid Air Collision. That second album scored a real hit with They Don't Know which you can find on White Lies And Butterflies. With this album they can tour a second time in Japan where they're very popular.

A new album will  follow and is called III since it's their third and so far last album. After a year of touring around Europe the band decides in late 2009 to take a break from their activities. So far no new songs or albums have been planned.

So here they are:

N°50 PINBACK - THEE SRUM PROGGIT

Apparantly I thought my previous link was number 50 but I made a mistake in adding up the numbers along the way so here's number 50 again. It's Pinback, a Californian band from the indie scene. A bit soft at times but I seem to think it's pretty ok music. And while watching the video I loved the pictues used in this video post actually. I hope you can enjoy them too. Anyway

Since they're from California it ties up perfectly into the previous song but what's more to know? They're from San Diego and originally formed by Armistead Burwell Smith IV (what's in a name) and Rob Crow. The band had a huge number of band members passing through this mostly since they're know as a multi instrumentalists band meaning they use a huge amount of different instruments in their music.

Pinback created five albums so far and you coiuld find the first one on the shelves in 1999 and was called This Is Pinback. Not so very original but very clear obviously.Their second album Blue Screen Life bought them a huge local live reputation. Therefore a third album was recorded in 2004 and this time Pinback made it to the US charts for the very first time. Autumn Of The Seraphs from 2007 would even break their previous high score in the charts ending up at plce 69. No real big hits were scored in either of the albums. I think Penelope must be one of their most famous songs.

At the moment the band is working on a complete new album to be released early 2012. The album has the working title of Information Retrieved and already two songs have been released so far: Thee Srum Proggit and Sherman. I've chosen to post the first one and hope you'll like it.

N°49 EAGLES - HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Sorry you had to wait for number 50 but here it is and it's a classic. Eagles won with their 1976 album Hotel California the prize for best album at the 1978 Grammy Awards and thus they were an award winner the same year as Leo Sayer.

Although none of the current and past musicians are from California, Eagles are to be considered as a Californian band. The award winning album is also a theme album relating to the American state where they all reside after moving to California. The album contains many more classic songs such as Life In The Fast Lane and New Kid In Town.

Hotel California was their fifth album after being founded in 1971. Eagles would release an album each year starting with their firstborn in 1972. The names of the albums in consecutive order: Eagles, Desperado, On The Border, One Of These Nights and then finally Hotel California. In between a Greatest Hits album was released containing songs from their four first records.

Eagles were named after the ultimate american symbol off course and they started off as a backing band for performer Linda Rondstedt. Only a few months after they decided to make it on their own with their bluegrass, country music. Later they would evolve to a more bluegrass rock type of music with a little sniff of a typical Californian sound.

Late 70's, Eagles dived into the studio to record a double album called The Long Run. They'd record for almost two years and finally didn't come up with enough songs so a regular album was being produced. A lot of troubles entered the band during the tour after in 1980 and finally the band split up. Each member strived a solo career mostly a non succesfull one.

Ten years after the split a new album was released in honour of Eagles and producer Travis Tritt insisted that all existing Eagles members would perform in the video of the song Take It Easy. This little reunion led to a new joined venture four years later. Drummer Don Henley said when breaking up Eagles would be back together when hell freezes over. The reunion started of with a live album called: Hell Freezes Over. All seven ex member would play on this album. They have humour that's for sure. Acomplete new album followed in 2007 and was titled Long Road Out Of Eden reminding them to the big fights they once had and that they conquered their internal problems.

I've seen 'em perfom back in 2009 in Antwerp and although the ticket prizes were damn hell expensive I was glad to have seen these pioneers at least once in my life. Chicken skin all the way through and a smile when leaving the concert building. You've got to admit. Eagles are a huge band with some huge songs and Hotel California for sure is one of 'em. Enjoy.

N°48 LEO SAYER - WHEN I NEED YOU

Since no real link could be made I got stuck with Leo Sayer which isn't that bad at all. Leo certainly made a few good and well know songs such as this one. Not only When I Need You was a big hit int he UK and European charts but also You Make Me Feel Like Dancing or Thunder In My Heart were huge hits. This last one especially after the remix made by Meck which was an even greater (dance)hit in Europe. Leo Sayer is a seventies icon. That's for sure.

Sayer signed his first ever contract with my number 48 link Adam Faith in 1973 and Leo instantly scored with The Show Must Go On folowed by his 1974 ep called One Man Band. His You Make Me Feel Like Dancing won the 1978 grammy award for best R&B song. As you can read, music styles evolved heavily during the years beacause I wouldn't call that a typical R&B song nowadays. In act it wouldn't be nominated in that category I guess.

His career lasted untill 1984 but then the buzz silenced out quickly and even a nineties comeback failed completely. Only in 2006 Leo, who's name and haircut was linked with a lions manes, he made a little comeback due to Meck's remix of Thunder In My Heart.

Although UK born he nowadays is an Australian citizen since 2009 after moving to Sydney in 2005.

N°47 ADAM FAITH - WHAT DO YOU WANT

The same first name and the almost the same title is enough to link it to this blog and to the previous song. Not that I ever heared of the man but he's a singer so hey ....

Adam faith started out as a singer but then, as most of 'em do nowadays, switched to acting. Unlike most singer-actors nowadays who stick to both jobs, Adam educated himself to be a financial advisor in his later career. A teen idol in the sixties Faith began his career in 1957 with a skiffle group called The Worried Men. Adam got noticed by a producer who arranged him a solo contract under the name of Adam Faith. Both his first two singles failed to make the charts.

He returned to his old job but then got the opportunity to play in a BBC televised rock show called Drumbeat. This performance made him a very popular televeision performer on different shows. This despite he never scored a single hit in his early career. His Drumbeat performances gave him the opportunity to release some more singles and the one I posted gave him his first number one hit. At the same time the first number one hit for his current lable.  More songs would follow and in Great Britain he'd become Cliff Richards biggest rival in the UK charts.

In 1960 his first album was released called Adam which made the uk number 6. In between 1960 and 1965 six more albums would follow. A 1975 release of  I Survived, another album never was a succes although he scored over 20 chart entries back in the sixties.

In the seventies he'd become Leo Sayers manager and an actor in different series such as Budgie untill in 1986 he'd got hired as a financial journalist by The Daily Mail. ever since he'd work as a financial advisor. Adam Faith died of a heart attack back in 2003.