Corinne Bailey Rae

I am dedicating this entry to her, Corinne Bailey Rae, whose music has touched my heart. 

The first time I heard her music was on VH1. She was riding a bicycle and singing with other cyclists following her. The song she was singing during this particular music video was, "Put Your Records On." I loved the airy quality of the song and how calming her voice is. Singing as smoothly and delicately is very hard. Since I took singing classes, I know how hard it is to maintain a tone without overdoing it or forcing it out. I enjoyed the way she sang. 

Then is got over played. My attention span for listening to the song was gone. For a while I wouldn't listen to her "Put Your Records On," song and then my friend reintroduced me to her music. This time it wasn't only that one song that played all the time on TV early in the morning before school. I heard all of her songs. Someone was nice enough to bring the entire CD to my AP Studio Art class. I feel in love with all of her music. Her music was the perfect music to draw to.

It is hard finding just the right music to play in the background while one works on art. It is very difficult. Either the song is too hectic and noisy to do anything or the song is too addicting and one ends up singing to it (singing is not drawing). Her songs were the best to just sit back and listen to. People could sing along too because, her music is not distracting. It's soothing and provides a very comfortable feeling while one is messing with charcoal or painting with acrylics. 

Sadly, I only heard her first CD and so I will talk about the songs on that CD. 

The song "Enchantment" is my favorite song. This is the song I enjoy the most to sing along to. Everything about the song is just perfect to me. It is hauntingly beautiful especially when her voice rises in the ups and downs during the chorus.

"Tell me I'm forgiven. He calls, don't know how I fell under his spell. Lately I've been driven. He smiles, an enchantment."

The ending chorus is the part I love the most. When she says "and I give in," and it echos, that part deeply expresses how much she has fallen for the man with the alluring persona.

Corinne Bailey Rae. I recommend listening to her while drawing, relaxing, sleeping, dancing...any situation that requires a tranquil atmosphere.

The man has talent.

During various times, at the B.O.B and Asher Roth concert at my University, people started to walk out. When Asher Roth exited the stage, it was just a few groups of people and that was understandable. Maybe those people just came to see Asher Roth and not B.O.B. It was also getting quite late so, maybe they were tired or something.

There were many possible reasons for them to just leave.

Yet, I stayed. A significant amount of seats were still filled. There was a lot of people remaining.

A lot of people remained dancing to the random music the DJ decided to play. It was fun singing to the songs that I knew. The best songs were the songs everyone knew. Eyes would widen, faces would brighten and the room would erupt with lyrics accompanied by an occasional energized, "Ohhhhh! I love this song!" 

When the Spice Girls played those who cared belt out the lyrics...including me. I have no shame to say it. That was a nice experience, "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never ends." Yes, I don't own those lyrics, The Spice Girls do. The DJ kept on doing that too through the night. 

"Making my way down town, walking fast, faces passed and I'm home bound." Di, di, di, di, di, di, ding, du, du, du, du, doo, di, di, di, di, di, di, ding, du, du, du, doo. 

For your information that is an air piano displayed with words.

"Staring blankly ahead, just making my way, making a way through the crowd."

"And I need you." Dramatic air piano. 

"And I miss you." Air piano. Everyone did that.

"And now I wonder..."

"A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton for those interested.

However, the DJ dragged his music fillers on and on. Maybe B.O.B. had some trouble back there behind the black back drop underneath the basketball hoops. Missing his hat? Lost his cellphone? Maybe even his shoe? I was getting bored and so were my two friends that I went with. During the songs I didn't know, I let my eyes wander around. I saw people dancing, singing, texting and etc. I even noticed there was a disco ball. Spotting that disco ball made me a happy person. We better have a disco party at some point here at my University. We should bring back to 70s with the Bee Gees, bell-bottoms, Barrymore collars and everything. Those were the thoughts that came to my mind when my mind started to wander too. 

Then finally B.O.B arrived. Cue cheering! Yeah! Wooo! Yea! Cheering! The wait was worth it. Even though I didn't know that many songs by him I enjoyed myself. Everyone who stayed did. However, as soon as he pulled out a guitar...half of the audience left. 

What? 

Come on.

I, on the other hand, gained a new respect for B.O.B. He played the guitar very well and he serenaded those who decided to stay with his voice. The man has talent. He sang beautiful songs with the guitar as his accompaniment. I just couldn't believe half the audience disappeared. 

I guess half the audience only appreciates him when he raps? That is a sad, sad thought. I wonder how he felt when half of the audience parted. As an artist, that must have hurt him. Well, it was getting late...maybe they disappeared because, they were tired. Thinking positive!

Well, too bad for them they missed his encore which was the song "Airplanes." I love that song. If only Eminem materialized at the concert too. The version of that song with him in it too is nice.

Then he played this stating that it is one of his favorite songs: "Kids" by MGMT. Yes, I have respect for B.O.B.