AMANDA-- "SACRILEGE" by YEAH YEAH YEAHS

Hey all! My sincerest apologies for not posting last Friday. Things happened and I was tied up for most of the day. Hope you're having a good week. Mine has gotten considerably better since I found out that the Yeah Yeah Yeah's have a new single out and that their album will be released on the sixteenth of this month. That is music to my ears quite literally. What can I say about "Sacrilege?" Well, for starters it has one hell of a video (Warning: NSFW). The lovely Lily Cole, British actress and model, plays a seductress in a small town who is *spoiler alert* captured and burned alive for her sins. The backwards progression of the video and the storyline itself are incredibly interesting. Thematically, I'd say it's one their best songs even without the video, though it certainty adds a layer of drama and intensity. What has kept me listening to this over and over again is that scintillating guitar, and Karen O's ethereal vocals. Did I mention the track features a gospel choir? Perfection. Enjoy!

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AMANDA-- "HEROES" by DAVID BOWIE

Hey all! Ever hear a song on the radio or in a film and say to yourself "Wow, that's really something" ? That's exactly what happened to me with "Heroes." I recognized the artist as David Bowie and was instantly taken with the song. It is the title track of Bowie's 1977 album which shares its name. The song is a product of his so-called Berlin period in which he moved to West Berlin and his craft was influenced by the German music scene. The story behind it is beautiful and tragic, a tale of two star-crossed lovers who met at the Berlin Wall. Beyond that, what really stood out to me about the song was the instrumentation. The combination of guitars, percussion and synthesizers creates a very interesting and distinctive sound unlike any I've heard before. A powerful moment comes toward the latter half  as Bowie shouts, almost as if straining to be heard. We see this in the video, which is fairly simplistic;  multiple cameras focus on him as he stands there singing,sounding (and looking) positively gorgeous. For a song about a doomed relationship, "Heroes" doesn't sound overly romantic, sappy, or depressing. I suppose that's what I like about, that it centers on the possibilities or hope of a single day or moment shared with someone rather than lamenting  a loss (or that's my interpretation). Also, today  just happens to be the music icon's sixty-sixth birthday. Happy Birthday Mr. Bowie! Your music has shaped the face of modern music and inspired and delighted millions the world over. We won't soon forget it.  And on that note, enjoy the song!

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