YOU ARE ALIVE!

We all have hardships – we all have bad days.  Life is sometimes to unbearable and it is okay to shut it out once in a while but we can’t and shouldn’t ignore it all the time.  So many of us have struggled and overcome so many obstacles to be where we are today.  Be thankful and don’t forget that everything we do – all the struggles and pain we go through make us stronger.

We – ALL OF US, our alive and in the land of the living.  Be proud of who you are and the person you have become.  Use your voice, your struggles and your obstacles to empower others to create positive change in the world.

Here are some inspirational lyrics to a great song by a great artist who has overcome her own struggles and creates positive change with her music.  The song is entitled, “Land of the Living” from the album of the same name.

LAND OF THE LIVING

I got a mirror, a bottle and a pen
The mirror is cracked
The bottle is empty
And my pen don’t know where to begin

I’ve got a picture, a letter and a song
The picture is torn
The letter is worn
And my tune has been sung before

Another show is over
And the lights have gone down
There’s no flowers at my door
No, no callers come around, baby

But I’m glad to be alive
And in the land of the living
Oh, I can’t believe that I survived
And I’m in the land of the living
Can’t believe that I survived

I saw the city, the lights and the music
The city is hard
The lights they have lied
The music just seems to have died

And I had my hope
Oh, I had my faith
Oh, my pride, yeah
And to hope I cling
To faith I am blind
And my pride I have left far behind

Another show is over
And the lights have gone down
There’s no flowers at my door
Ain’t no callers come around, babe

But I’m glad to be alive
And in the land of the living, babe
I can’t believe that I survived
Oh, still in the land of the living, baby
Can’t believe that I’m alive

Still in the land of the living, baby
Can’t believe that I survived
Oh no, I’m still in the land of the living
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

You see another night is over
And the curtain’s come down
I see no flowers at my door
Oh no one’s comin’ ’round, yeah

But I’m glad to be alive
Still in the land of the living
You can’t believe that I survived
Still alive in the land of the living

Oh babe, I’m still alive, oh yeah
In the land of the living
I bet you, bet you can’t believe I survived
Oh, I’m still in the land of the living

Oh, oh, another night is over
I’m still in the land of the living
I see the curtains coming down
But baby, I’m still in the land of the living

I bet you can’t believe me, I bet you can’t believe
Yes, here I am, I see that I’m still in the land of the living
Yeah, I’m gonna take my curtain call
Oh, I’m in the land of the living

Can’t believe that I’m alive
I’m still in the land of the living, living

Songwriters
WEITZ, KRISTINE E/ARMSTRONG, ROLLO/DOUGAN, ROBERT DON HUNTER

You can listen to the song or watch the video via  www.kristinew.com Please visit the the Kristine W official site to purchase any of her uplifting music.

LET LOVE REIGN

There are many musicians who have made an impact in pop culture.  Artists that were game changers in their respective genres like – Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Mary J. Blige and Sade.  Today, not many artists have the same impact but have made stood considering today’s music is very generic.  In an era where hip/hop and rap rules, there have been leaders and followers.  Some of the artists making an impact today include – Rihanna, Beyoncé, Eminem, Lady Gaga and Drake.  But what of those artists that somehow fly under the radar and that have contributed brilliant music?  Such artists like – Faithless, Joi Cardwell, Billie Ray Martin, Roisin Murphy, The Knife, Deee-Lite, Oh Land, Robyn, Royksopp and Bjork.

Kristine Weitz – known as Kristine W, has been an active artist – mainly in the dance/club scene in North America.  Her first commercially released single, “Feel What You Want” was a success in Europe and became her first of 8 consecutive Billboard Club Play #1 hits.  Saying this, let’s take a look at her body of work.  As mentioned, Kristine’s first number one hit on a Billboard Chart, was “Feel What You Want”.  Since then, Kristine W has tallied 16 number one singles on Billboards Club Play Chart.  As of April 2015, Kristine W is currently in the top 5 artists with most number one’s on this chart.  Here is the current ranking of most number 1’s on Billboard’s Club Play

1. Madonna (44)
2. Beyoncé and Rihanna (22)
3. Janet Jackson (19) 
4. Mariah Carey and Donna Summer (17)
5. Kristine W and Jennifer Lopez (16)

For an artist who hasn’t had much airplay on commercial/pop radio, it’s pretty amazing to be in a ranking with such high-profile artist such as Beyoncé, Rihanna and the Queen of Pop – Madonna.  As a matter of fact, Kristine W was named Billboard’s # 3 artist of the 2000’s only behind Beyoncé and Madonna. 

In my opinion, Kristine W, has released one of the best pop/dance/electronic albums – Land of the Living.  This album is a perfect amalgamation of pop/jazz/club and electronic music.  Land of the Living is a powerful and passionate album that comes from the heart and a place of love.  It’s an album that has a message about perseverance, determination and becoming independent.  Land of the Living reinforces that the dance community is not only about beats, fun and drugs but that it cares about social issues and is as legitimate as the other genres in pop culture.

Here is a bit of background surrounding Kristine W’s releases:

• She has released 8 full-length albums:  Perfect Beat (1986, re-released in 1994), Land of the Living (1996), Stronger (2000), Fly Again (2003), The Power of Music (2009), Straight Up With A Twist (2010), New and Number Ones (2012), New and Number Ones Club Hits Part One (2013), New and Number Ones Club Hits Part Two (2014). 
• Has officially released 20 singles.
• All of her commercially released singles were # 1 singles on the Billboard Club Play Chart except, “I’ll Be Your Light” (2), “So Close To Me” (2), “Everything That I Got” (4) and “Love Come Home” (4).  “Love Come Home” war originally released in 1994 and did not chart.
• Her most successful charted single was, “One More Try” which hit Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and peaked at # 78.
• Her album “Straight Up With A Twist” includes jazz and chill out reinterpretations of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven”, Donna Summer’s “On The Radio” and Eagles “Take It To The Limit”.  It also includes reinterpretations of her own classic hits, “Wonder of It All”, “Stronger”, “Some Lovin”, and “Feel What You Want”.

I have had the opportunity of seeing Kristine W each time she has come to the Toronto, Ontario Canada region and even met her on several occasions.  She really does give everything she’s got when performing and greeting her fans.  I am inspired of how hard she works to get her music out to her fans especially without the backing of a major record label. 

I continue to have much of her music on repeat on my phone, computer, home stereo and record player!  Yes, I revisit and play vinyl as often as I can – the music is so crisp and clear on vinyl.  It also provides that comforting ‘old school’ feeling of when the purchase of music was just as exciting as listening to it.  I have many favorite singles from all of her albums.  It’s hard to pick one song that is the best but, there is always one song I always go back to when I need motivation, inspiration and a reminder that LOVE can conquer anything.  That song is “Let Love Reign”.  Hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me.  Here are the lyrics, YouTube audio follows:

Let Love Reign  

There’s a kingdom that lives
Maybe it’s only in my mind
Where love reigns all the time
Do you believe? I still believe

Our brother’s sleeping all alone in the park
His head is resting on a pillow of hope
Then he says dance for me, he gives me smiles for free
He trades a joke for mine and the world is fine

And we let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It will be coming back to you
Let love reign

A rich man’s sitting on his velvet couch
His kingdom rains until he’s drowned in my dreams
And then he says sing for me, give me your song for free
I’d trade his soul for mine if I could only make him kind

And he would let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
Everything you do
It’s coming back to you

There’s a kingdom of kindness where love is
And a rainbow will come with the rain’s kiss
And love remains when love reigns

Let love reign
We reach out, don’t be afraid
And everything you do
It will be coming back to you

‘Cause only love reigns
With my love reigns
Everything you do
Is coming back to you

I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns
I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns

I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns
I do believe that love remains
I do believe that love reigns

I do believe
I do believe
I do believe
Let our love reign

 

This song is from Kristine W’s 3rd official release, Stronger (2000).  It also includes the hits, “Stronger”, “Clubland”, “Lovin’ You” and “All That Glitters”.  You can purchase all of Kristine W’s music by visiting her official site:  www.kristinew.com or via the iTunes store.   

 

We are all responsible for spreading love and positive energy into the world ensuring that LOVE will reign.

 

 

Top Images – Covers of Kristine W’s first album (Land of the Living) and second album (Stronger)

Bottom Images – NoH8 campaign photo and the cover of her latest single, 2014’s “Love Come Home” remixes all available via Kristine W’s website, www.kristinew.biz

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

 

 

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

Many people go through life being distracted by things that will not bring them happiness or joy.  What kind of joy can a car bring compared to the beauty nature provides?  A television can’t bring you as much awe as you can receive from watching the suns reflection as it gently touches our lakes and oceans.

Many of us really don’t take the time to appreciate the beauty that is around us.  Not only of the beauty in what our planet has to provide but the beauty of the small things people do.  Take the time to appreciate the next time someone smiles at you.  Appreciate nature, animals, the fact that you have breath in you to live another day, your health, the suns warmth, the ability to see, hear, smell, touch and feel.  Let’s not focus on things that bring you worry, sadness, heartache and pain – just focus on seeing the wonder of it all.

The lyrics to this song (and the song itself) will help you reach that place in you that is filled with love and positive energy.  The song was written by the very talented Kristine W and can be purchased via iTunes or Kristine W’s website – www.kristinew.com

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

I can see you comin’ baby
For so long you’ve been running
Wish I could just save you just one time
I’m feeling my last ones gone and done and done and done
Bet you one thing

If we could only see
The wonder of it all
And all that we can be in a lifetime (baby)
You will always be
Forever in my heart
And love will set us free
If we just try

I can feel you tryin’
For so long you’ve been hiding
Wish I could’ve told you that one time
I’m feeling the last ones gone and done and done and done
Bet you one thing

If we could only see
The wonder of it all
And all that we can be in a lifetime (baby)
You will always be
Forever in my heart
And love will set us free
If we just try

When you’re down on the ground
And you’re barely holdin on
All you need is love
To keep from going under
For a while you’ve been trying to be strong and never fall
But it’s alright sometimes
It can only get better

If we could only see
The wonder of it all
And all that we can be in a lifetime (baby)
You will always be
Forever in my heart
And love will set us free
If we just try

This song can be found on Kristine W’s amazing cd – Fly Again.  “The Wonder of It All” was the third single released from this album and gave Kristine the all-time record for the longest string of consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play hits in the history of the chart.

May you begin to see the wonder of it all.  Be kind, be respectful, be positive and spread love into the world.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

SONG OF THE WEEK

Well Christmas 2012 has come and gone – the snow is finally on the ground and it now feels like winter……what better way to celebrate the winter solstice than by posting the ‘Song of the Week’.  This week I have chosen a song by Tracey Thorn.  Tracey Thorn began receiving worldwide acclaim with her amazing singing career as one half of the duo Everything But The Girl with Ben Watt.  They have released several acoustic albums throughout the 80’s, their first being, Eden which was released in 1984.  They finally broke commercial ground when they released their hit “Missing” from the album Amplified Heart in 1995.  The single was a huge hit worldwide thanks to the remix by Todd Terry and went on to reach # 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart.

Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn finally decided to marry after being together for 28 years.  They have 3 children – twins, Alfie and Jean and another son Blake.  Everything But The Girl went on hiatus since 2000 were Ben concentrated on his DJ work and Tracey devoted time to become a full-time parent and to work on solo material.

Tracey has contributed her vocals for the bands:  The Style Council on the track – “Paris Match”, Massive Attacks – “Protection”, “Better Things” and “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” and more recently with Tiefschwarz on the song called “Damage”.

Tracey has released 4 studio albums, they are:

A Distant Shore (1982)

Out of the Woods (2007)

Love and Its Opposite (2010)

Tinsel and Lights (2012)

Tracey Thorn

The song I chose for song of the week comes from her 2007 album entitled Out of the Woods.  The song is called “Grand Canyon” – hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Lyrics first and the audio follows.

GRAND CANYON

Boy I think you’ve come home
Open up the door and step inside
So many people who feel the way you do
Their sweetest dreams have always been denied
Lock the past into a box and throw away the key
And leave behind those days of endless night
Everyone is waiting
Everyone is here
Step out of the woods into the light

Everybody loves you here (x4)

Boy you’ve been on the wrong road
Wearing someone else’s shoes
Who told you you were not what you were meant to be?
And got you paying someone else’s dues?

This is the place for you just look around this room
Is anybody here made out of stone?
Down among the heretics, the losers, and the saints
You are here amongst your own
You’ve come home (x5)

Look at this hole inside your heart
No one can ever fill
It’s like the Grand Canyon
Look at this gap that’s opened up
Between you and the world
It’s like the Grand Canyon
Look at this hole inside your heart
It’s like the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon

Everybody loves you here (x4)

You’ve come home (x5)

For more information about Tracey Thorn including her work with Everything But The Girl, her collaborations, discography, latest news and shop – please visit her website at:

http://www.traceythorn.com

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!

SONG OF THE WEEK

Recently – Madonna celebrated her 30th anniversary on the Billboard Charts, that is definitely no small feat.  Whether you enjoy her music or not, you can’t deny her influence in fashion, music, and in pop culture.  She is one of the most successful female artists of the 20th century and many of today’s pop stars have been influenced by her music in one form or another.  When we think of pop culture and the musical icons of the last 50 years – we think of The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Madonna – they are inventors, unique, trend setters, icons, and masters of their game.  Here are a look back at her outstanding music career:

• Madonna holds the record for most No. 1s on all Billboard charts combined, for a total of 156!  Madonna last charted on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart with the # 1 single “Turn Up The Radio”.
• Madonna holds the record for most No. 1s on Billboards Dance/Club Play Songs Chart, with 43.  Madonna is clearly the ‘Queen of Clubland’.  She is also on the verge of tying George Strait’s record for the most chart toppers on any single Billboard Chart – George Strait has earned 44 No. 1s on the Country Songs Chart.
• A Record 38 Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles.  In the 54-year history of Billboard’s signature songs chart, Madonna has earned a record 38 top 10 hits.  With 34, the Beatles rank second.  Madonna first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 with 1984’s No. 10 hit “Borderline”, which began her streak of 17 consecutive top 10’s through 1989’s No. 2-peaking “Cherish”.
• 56 Hot 100 hits.  Madonna first dented the Hot 100 almost a year to the day after she made her Dance/Club Play Songs arrival.  “Holiday” was her first Hot 100 hit, partying its way onto the chart on October 29, 1983 at No. 88.  It eventually rose to No. 16, the first of 32 straight top 40 hits for Madonna.  Among women, only Aretha Franklin (73) has made more Hot 100 visits than Madonna, while Taylor Swift (as of last week) and Dionne Warwick have also tallied 56 entries.
• 12 Hot 100 No. 1s.  Madonna’s haul of chart-toppers is the fourth-best-all-time.  (The Supremes also boast 12 No. 1s).  Only the Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (18) and Michael Jackson (13) have earned more.  Madonna hit No. 1 with the following singles;  “Like A Virgin” (1984), “Crazy For You” (1985), “Live To Tell“, “Papa Don’t Preach” (1986), “Open Your Heart“, “Who’s That Girl” (1987), “Like A Prayer” (1989), “Vogue” (1990), “Justify My Love” (1991), “This Used To Be My Playground” (1992), “Take A Bow” (1995) and “Music” (2000).
• 20 Billboard top 10 albums.  Madonna has rung up 20 top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, the second-most among women after Barbara Streisand (32).  Among all acts, Madonna and Bob Dylan are tied for the sixth-most top 10s, trailing only the Rolling Stones (36), Frank Sinatra (33), Barbara Streisand and the Beatles (30) and Elvis Presley (27).  Among Madonna’s 20 top 10 sets are eight No.1s (also second to Streisand, who’s banked nine). 
• Madonna is currently the most successful touring solo artist of all time with her last tour – The Sticky and Sweet Tour.

Madonna has contributed to countless soundtracks like Visionquest (“Crazy For You“, “Gambler“), Desperately Seeking Susan (“Into The Groove“), Who’s That Girl? (“Who’s That Girl“, “Causing a Commotion“), At Close Range (“Live To Tell“), A League Of Their Own (“This Used To Be My Playground“) and most recently, W.E. (“Masterpiece“) – which garnered her a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.  This is the song that I chose for Song of the Week.  The song is included in her latest album (and highly under-rated) entitled, MDNA.  Here are the amazing lyrics, followed by the audio:

MASTERPIECE

If you were the Mona Lisa
You’d be hanging in the Louvre
Everyone would come to see you
You’d be impossible to move
It seems to me is what you are
A rare and priceless work of art
Stay behind your velvet rope
But I will not renounce all hope

And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with the masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible

From the moment I first saw you
All the darkness turned to light
An impressionistic painting
Tiny particles of light
It seem to me is what you’re like
The “look but please don’t touch me” type
And honestly it can’t be fun
To always be the chosen one

And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible
Nothing’s indestructible

And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece

And I’m right by your side
Like a thief in the night
I stand in front of a masterpiece
And I can’t tell you why
It hurts so much
To be in love with a masterpiece
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible
‘Cause after all
Nothing’s indestructible

 

 

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!