This is one of the most amazing songs I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening glorifying this world’s women. Shaggy. Yes, Shaggy! His Strength of a Woman uplifts me no matter what I’m doing or how cloudy the skies decide to be that day! (or night!) Thank you for this most amazing week, again! For your great and insightful comments, I hope you’re ready for the greatest weekend yet! Enjoy Shaggy’s Strength Of A Woman! (more info right after the jump!)

There’s little out on in the Internet about this great song from Shaggy. Besides the well-known fact that it was released in 2002 on the “Lucky Day” album, the Strength of a Woman didn’t seem to impress much the Internet population as to produce something notable from the under/grounds of this piece. Which is a crying shame since the song really comes as optimistic and energetic for a woman’s spirit.

Recognition, true recognition, especially in the media/entertainment comes rarely for women. True women, not the Gaga kind, not the fabricated breed. (not that I would have anything against Gaga/ism. By all means, love Gaga! She surely shows us what the strength of a woman means – especially in that last telephone stint – poison, Baby Bee, that’s all it takes for a strong woman!) Oh well, let me listen to Shaggy one more time, wipe that Gaga thing off my retina! (oh, if you’re curious, the phone thing – you can see it here)

Shaggy Strength Of A Woman

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I hope you had a wonderful week, I know I did, every week with you is simply wonderful! Thank you for your beautiful, insightful comments, I trust you’re getting ready for your most amazing weekend yet! Enjoy Florence and the Machine’s Drumming Song! (more info right after the jump!)

There’s something about me and British music. It just fits me like a glove. Florence Welch’s voice and personality make this Machine work and they’re working it right: besides toping the music charts, they were also awarded with a BRIT Award this year.

Drumming Song is part of Florence + the Machine’s debut album, Lungs (2009). Highly orchestrated (bass, cello, drums, harp, organ, piano, violin, viola), the song was written by James Ford with Crispin Hunt. And if you must know, this is a song about love. About gothic horror (?) and fear. That’s what Florence said. I wish they could continue making good music and not be just a one-hit-wonder, the flavor of the season. At least Gaga’s pretended originality won’t be so original anymore. It will be just what it is: desperate need for attention. Florence, as troubled as she was (and still is, judging by the way she describes herself) is truly talented and hopefully she’ll go on creating. (more about Florence and the Machine here)

Florence And The Machine Drumming Song

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I trust you had a wonderful week and you’re ready for an amazing weekend! Thank you for this yet another great week and your insightful comments! Enjoy Peter Gabriel’s Blood of Eden! (more info right after the jump as well as another one of Peter Gabriel’s wonderful songs: Don’t Give Up!)

By now you’ve recognized Sinead O’Connor singing with Peter Blood Of Eden. The song was featured on a film’s original soundtrack: Until The End of the World (1991). (I’ll update with more info soon)

Peter Gabriel Blood Of Eden

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We’re the real people, baby! And we make the world go round, yes we do! My Adored Husband and my wonderful family make my world go round! YOU make my world go round! You, my family and all of you, are the best thing that ever happened to me! Thank you for being with me in this wonderful adventure, every week, every day! Enjoy Ray Lamontagne’s You Are The Best Thing! (more info right after the jump!)

If you’re not familiar with the lovely “I love you, Man” movie you may not recognize this piece of charming music. But let me tell you something beyond the soundtrack featuring of one of Ray Lamontagne’s songs: Ray wasn’t always a songwriter/singer! Oh, no! He worked in a shoe factory, ladies! He worked in a shoe factory! Ain’t that something? And he quit that job to follow a musical career after he heard a song by Stephen Stills (Treetop Flyer – you can listen this song here).

After his musical epiphany, Ray Lamontagne kept on working outside his music (as a carpenter this time) but recognition didn’t fail to embrace him. He was often featured in television series (such as ER, Law & Order, House M.D.) and movies (27 Dresses, I Love you, Man). He has released three albums so far and his particular and appealing voice will definitely carry him further. Though he’s a folk performer and his fame won’t reach the Gaga stardomness, his warm songs and noble causes will always get close to people, closer than a Little Monsters label ever will! How do you like Ray’s Best Thing?

Ray Lamontagne You Are The Best Thing

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This week (indulge me, please!) I have something so special for you! I reflect all my obsessions on you and it’s not bad at all! I’ve been singing Blur’s Tender for so many hours that the entire house is now on a Tender spree! And that’s so beautiful! I trust you had a wonderful week with me here (I know I did! And thank you so much for that!), a splendid weekend because now we’re already on the roll with a new month, a new week! Let’s have a great time together, like we always do! (more right after the jump, enjoy Blur Tender!)

Have I already told you what Apocalyptic arrangements must be made in order for me and my Adored husband to see a movie together? Just the too of us? If not, well this is the time! Do you know when Avatar was released into cinemas across the world? 18th of December 2009! That’s last year! Do you know when the honorable Mister and Missus Kpriss went out to cinemas to see James Cameron’s Avatar? Well, just the other day! And because we waited so long, we treated ourselves with a full Imax experience. Which was… well.. royal!

As you know, I’m definitely not a spoilers girl so I’m just gonna say this: if you haven’t had the Avatar pleasure until now please make all the impossible arrangements possible and run out the door to see it! Trust me on this one, those 2 hours 40 minutes will be magical! Absolutely magical! (and I’m not talking the Harry Potter expeliamus type! I’m talking the James Cameron ft Pocahontas via 3D/Imax neurons drooling type!)

(and as you’ve probably guessed by now, that if you haven’t had the Avatar pleasure – it’s a crushing movie about love. About connections and communities. All kinds and natures! So Blur’s Tender comes as a natural Avatar progression into the real Stylefrizz world) Getting back to the song now: Blur presented Tender to the world in 1999. (am I getting old, or there was really great music done back in the 90s, late 90s?) Included on Blur’s album called 13 and it written by Damon Albarn and Graham Cox (and co-sung by them). The song followed Damon’s break-up with his then girlfriend Justine Frischmann (Elastica’s lead vocal, who was very emotional when first listening to the lyrics) so it’s natural to assume that this is what inspired Tender. There was another video version proposed to the band but they didn’t approve it so the only official video is this black and white studio one. Simple and beautiful, just like the song, isn’t it?

Blur Tender

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I hope you had a wonderful week! I know I did, with you here, reading your beautiful comments! Thank you for that, wishing you the most amazing weekend yet, I leave you to enjoy My Drive Thru with Santigold, Julian Casablancas and Pharrell! (more info right after the jump!)

If you thought you’re not gonna get your Converse fill this week, well, never say never! This is it! Yep, My Drive Thru is a very special musical celebration for Converse’s 100th anniversary!

Julian Casablancas (the lead vocal from The Strokes), Santi White and Pharrell Williams worked on a celebratory piece that’ll get you up from that chair and dance those Converse away! The video, as you’ve seen it, it’s mighty artsy, the 2.30 minutes being a complete CGI origami madness with the same paper dolls that appear in Converse’s Connectivity print ad campaign. 10,000 paper figurines were used in the making of this video that was released in June 2008 and available for free download on converse.com. (photos via)

Julian Casablancas, Pharrell, Santogold My Drive Thru

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But no, here goes now: I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow! George Clooney leading backed by the brilliant John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson made it big just by dubbing the song for O Brother, Where Are Thou? (the original soundtrack song Man of Constant Sorrow was actually performed by John Tyminski and Union Station – John’s is the voice attributed to George in the film’s musical piece). Thank you for such an amazing week, for your wise and insightful comments! I hope you have the best weekend yet! Enjoy The Man of Constant Sorrow! (more info right after the jump!)

The Coen Brothers may have released O Brother, Where are Thou? movie in 2000 but the original soundtrack for the above mentioned movie, released in 2002 won 3 Grammy Awards: the Album of the Year, the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals and the Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

The Soggy Bottom Boys, the band featured in the movie, though it doesn’t actually exist, it became so famous after the film’s release that the actual band playing the songs from the movie had to tour with the pieces from the original soundtrack. Dan Tyminski’s voice (I really thought it was Clooney’s voice when I first heard the song!) had to work five times the Man of Constant Sorrow because several variations are used both in the movie and on the original soundtrack.

Man of Constant Sorrow is a well known bluegrass song first recorded by Dick Burnett in 1913 (though it is not certain that the song was actually written by Dick Burnett). The song became popular in 1951 when it was recorded by the Stanley Brothers. Covered numerous times (even by Bob Dylan – you can watch him perform here), this traditional American folk song is still fascinating for many artists, country performers or not. (I’m still waiting for a Miley Cyrus release!)

The Soggy Bottom Boys I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow

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So today, for our Friday Break, I thought the The Girl Effect could be just what we needed! It’s wonderful, positive and mobilizing! And it could really work! I keep my fingers crossed for the Girl Effect to spread faster than lightning and grow into a better future for us. Because we deserve it. Because those young women deserve it! For more information, visit The Girl Effect website here.

Are You Ready For The Girl Effect?

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Thank you for this beautiful week, for your great comments, I wish you have the most amazing weekend yet! There’s a little over a week to spend from 2009, be wise and full of love while spending those days! Enjoy Carl Douglas 1974 Kung Fu Fighting! (more info right after the jump!)

You might ask yourself what’s wrong and why haven’t I chose a Christmas song this week: well, simply because we have all these days till Christmas to grace our eyes and ears with a tiny carol or Christmassy song every day! Today it’s “Kung Fu Fighting!”.

The video I included here is a bit un-synchronized but at least it’s the original and it’s the most relevant of them all. Kung Fu Fighting was one of those one time wonders written in a moment of inspiration that would never spark again in Carl Douglas. The time was around 1974 when everyone was mesmerized by Kung Fu and the treasures of Chinese culture. The song was largely covered and reproduced on various movie soundtracks for both the big and the little screen (Wayne’s World 2, Beverly Hills Ninja, Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Panda, Rush Hour 3 to name just a few).

Carl Douglas Kung Fu Fighting

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Just take a look at this young lady here and tell me it isn’t so! (and while you’re watching her, don’t forget: Heal the world! Make it a better place!) (wait! Who put my baby girl on Youtube? Just kidding – but she’s so much like this MJ fan here! Haircut and all!) A little observation though – if you’re not sure your baby is an MJ fan – it’s around his/hers second anniversary that’s all bursting out! Be prepared!

Never Too Young To Make The World A Better Place!

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