On April 23, 2016, singer Beyoncé released her iconic sixth studio album Lemonade. This album was also marked as her second visual album following her fifth self-titled album Beyoncé in 2013.
On February 6, 2016, Beyoncé released a song called "Formation" along with the music video on YouTube.
Two months later on April 17th, Beyoncé teased her fans with a video titled Lemonade on YouTube.
The description for Lemonade says that it's a "world premiere event" that is set to be released on April 23rd on HBO. It turned out that Lemonade on HBO was actually a one hour film for the singer's sixth studio album of the same name when she surprise released it immediately after it ended.
The film features 12 visual of the some of the songs on the album along with cameos from people like Serena Williams, Zendaya, Chloe x Halle, husband Jay-Z, daughter Blue Ivy and others.
After being released on streaming services like Tidal created by husband Jay-Z and ITunes, Lemonade went straight to number one the Billboard 200 making Beyoncé the first woman to have six number one albums. The album also explores with genres like reggae, rock, gospel, country, blues, pop, funk, electronic and trap music. Beyoncé create a Black movement and culture from the use if poetry and the powerful yet breathtaking visuals that she had blessed us with. I never listened to Lemonade nor have I watched the film, but when I do, I promise that I will do a review on it once I have purchased it. Thank you, Beyoncé for making this album and showing the world that you support the Black movement from adding the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner in "Forward" to breaking down this woman's remarkable journey into eleven chapters. Keep making more music like this and don't you ever stop.
Souled Out is the debut album by American singer Jhene Aiko. It was released on September 9, 2014. The album is primarily alternative R&B, but it explores with different genres like neo soul, hip hop, psychedelic music, and electronica. Souled Out is a concept album that tells the story of a woman's heartbreak before she becomes enlightened.
Limbo Limbo Limbo serves as the opening song for the album. It paints a picture about a girl who had been hurt so much that it just became normal to her and then she escape from the reality and into this fantasy world. Jhene sings on the beginning with, "She was born in limbo/ With the need to be as simple/ As her makers and the made up things she dreamed/ Falling from high buildings ' til she/ Was numb to the feeling really/ She would never be quite what she seemed/ She was just as hollow as the/ Earth opened up, swallowing her/ Off the grid and into paradise, her whole life", and then continues on to the hook with, "On a ride/ Her whole life is on a ride/ On a ride/ Life is on a ride".
Click on the link to listen to "W.A.Y.S" on YouTube
W.A.Y.S is the second song on Souled Out. The song is an acronym for "Why Aren't You Smiling?" as the singer pays tribute to her deceased brother Miyagi who died of cancer on July 19, 2012.
It appears as if Miyagi is visiting Jhene in her dreams as an angel as Aiko says, "At forty-four minutes to four/ An angel walked up to my door/ Opened the windows to my soul/ Told me he thinks that I should know/ There's no slowing down/ As the globe spins 'round and 'round", and then he begins to encourage her with these words on the track to which Aiko responds, "You better keep going, better keep going/ Better keep going, you better keep going/ Better keep going, you better keep going/ You better keep going, you better keep going/ You better keep going".
Click here to listen to "To Love & Die" on YouTube
To Love & Die finds Aiko playing the role of the prisoner of love and war with a little assistance from James Fauntleroy from the music group Cocaine 80s. She begins with, "Suited and booted, I've been hit by Cupid/ I'm being recruited/ I'm ready for war/ I'm ready for more/ Hold your position/ Load up ammunition/ I won't fail this mission/ Cause, baby, I'm yours/ Cause where I'm from/ We live for the love, die by the love/ We live for the love, die for the love". This song also contains an interpolation of 50 Cent's classic song "Many Men (Wish Death).
Click on the link to watch "Spotless Mind" video on YouTube
Spotless Mind is described as a "smooth" track that has an "island vibe" when you listen to it. Aiko is addressing her ex-boyfriend after their breakup while also wandering in a reverie singing, "Change is inevitable/ Why hold on to what you have to let go of?/ Like, did I really break your heart?/ Was it all my fault?/ If you don't knock it off/ You know like I know where this was heading/ I'm wanderer/ I'm wanderer, baby/ I'm wanderer/ I'm wanderer".
Click on this link to listen to "It's Cool" on YouTube
It's Cool is an R&B song with bluesy riffs and instrumentals. It about the singer falling in love with a man who only wanted her for physical interest. She sings, "My escape from everything/ Please say you'll be my nothing/ And I will give you everything/ Man, you are really something else/ You caught at an awful time/ See, I just lost my smile/ And that is what you helped me find/ Hadn't seen it in a while", and then admits on the hook that she doesn't mind their relationship being a casual thing, but it doesn't have to be that way saying, "But it's cool/ We ain't gotta be nothing/ It's true/ I'd actually prefer it, yeah/ It's on you, it's on you, it's on you/ It's on you, it's on you, it's on you/ It's on you, it's on you, it's on you/ It's on you, cause I'm cool".
Lyin King is talking about the same guy that Aiko mentioned on the previous track "It's Cool". When she sings, "Okay, so you just/ Go around breaking hearts just to see what is inside/ Go around stealing them, feeding them to your pride", she is referencing to this person as a heart-breaker who likes to break girls' heart only to make his ego bigger then what it seems. Jhene has also had her heart broken by this man and is tried of dealing with him saying on, "Did you ever stop and think that I might really need that/ To stay alive?/ I'm starting to believe that you don't really see that/ I had given you my life, oh yeah". The singer is starting to realize that this man is caught up in his selfish ways so much, that she sings on the hook with, "You will never know, you will never know no good (Never know a good thing)/ You will never know, no/ You will never know, you will never know no good".
Wading is a dreamy mid tempo song as Aiko speaks holding on to the man in the black suit and hopes that he will be the on for her. Jhene samples a Tupac verse on this track singing, "Picture me rolling/ Out in the open, baby, I know/ That you would notice/ You have been hoping I wouldn't go", and then she makes a play for words like "waiting" and "wading" on the hook saying, "Should I be waiting?/ Should I be waiting for you?/ Don't keep me wading/ I will turn blue".
The Pressure is an alternative R&B song with elements of hip hop music. This was inspired by the stress of Aiko finishing her debut album. On the song, she opens up with, "I care about you, baby, baby/ More than you'll ever know/ More than you'll ever know/ Please do on drive me crazy, crazy/ Unless you're gonna go with me", and then moves on to the hook where she talks about not dealing with any pressure saying, "No pressure/ No pressure, I know you're real/ The pressure/ The pressure will make you feel".
Brave talks about the danger of loving someone as Aiko sings, "Broken hearts are made for two/ One for me and one for you/ Tell me have you heard the news/ We are now in love/ So guess that I should mention/ That I am in no condition/ To put you in this position". She begins to realize that she made a mistake, but it doesn't matter to her with lyrics like, "But whatever the case, you're my favorite mistake/ More than happy to make you/ If you decide to stay, know there is no escape/ There's no one here to save you/ But you're so brave/ Stone cold crazy for loving me/ Yeah, I'm amazed/ I hope you make it out alive".
Eternal Sunshine is a piano driven song that was inspired by the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" along with the fourth track "Spotless Mind".
Here, this is considered as a seminal part of Jhene's journey on the album. She reflects on the time of where she almost died in the L.A. Riots as a child singing, "Is it strange for me to say that if I were to die today/ There's not a thing that I would change, I've lived well", and then she goes on to think about the happy memories after trying to "erase" from her brain just like in the film saying, "All of the good things, good things/ All of the good things, good things/ Only the good, the good, the good/ Only the good, the good, the good".
Promises is a message to her daughter and brother. She talks about on the beginning of the track of wanting to be with Namiko, but her music career is making it hard for her singing, "I've been coming home late night/ I've been sleeping past daylight/ I'm waking up, you're not by my side/ Baby, that ain't right/ I wanna be there with you/ I really do be missing you/ Everything I do is for you/ And I really do adore you". Her daughter also make an appearance on the hook as the singer asks, "Just promise you'll be alright, promise you'll be alright", to which Nami responds with, "If anything (Alright, promise I'll be alright)/(Promise I'll be alright, promise I'll be alright)/ If anything should happen (Promise I'll be alright)/ (Promise I'll be alright, promise I'll be, promise I'll be alright)". The second verse of the song get very personal for Aiko as she addresses about wanting to take her life after her brother's death with, "I don't think that I can make it/ I don't think that I can make it/ But then I hear you say that/ I bet not do nothing crazy/ Cause Nami really needs you/ And I would never leave you/ Cause I am in the stars/ And everywhere you are".
Click on the link to listen to "Pretty Bird (Freestyle)" on YouTube
Pretty Bird (Freestyle) talks about Aiko's troubles that she has faced singing on the chorus with, And I said, and I said/ Pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird/ Sounds so pretty when you cry/ Pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird/ You're so pretty, but why I never see you fly?/ Pretty bird, pretty bird, I know you're hurtin'/ Well so am I, so am I". Rapper Common make an appearance as the end rapping, "I've seen the strongest of them be torn from men/ Ripped apart and get put back together/ Them the ones with the most beautiful feathers/ Let's flock together, rock together, Nirvana/ A birds persona to be free and honor".
Remember is based on a relationship that Jhene had previously been in. She tells the story how her man got another woman pregnant and fed up about it because he didn't claim the baby as his with the lyrics, "This is the saddest story that I have ever heard/ Call early in the morning when I got the word/ She says that it's his son, he says not at all/ Please miss me with the excuses/ I am not involved, no not at all". Then he tries to throw guilt on her decision to leave with, "Calm down/ You know my heart/ Can't take anymore/ Said this before", and then she wants him to remember how they got here singing, "Do you remember, do you remember you?/ Do you remember, you remember who you were?/ Do you remember who you were?/ Do you remember, you remember you?/ Do you remember, you remember who you were to me?/ Cause I do".
Blue Dream is the last song on the deluxe edition of Souled Out. Blue Dream was originally titled "My Afternoon Dream" and it was produced by Key Wane. Lyrically, it's about a strain of Cannabis sativa called "Blue Dream" as Jhene sings, "My afternoon dream when the world is sleeping/ I am still thinking of my blue dream/ It's bliss".
I love this album by Jhene Aiko. I would give it a 10/10. My favorite songs are Promises, Spotless Mind, Eternal Sunshine, Pretty Bird (Freestyle), W.A.Y.S, and Remember.
Thanks again for time. I will talk to you again tomorrow.
EP2 is the second extended play by English singer FKA Twigs. It was released on September 17, 2013 by Young Turks. This EP is about an all-encompassing, but completely unhealthy relationship with her lover.
How's That is where Twigs depicts about the "immense pleasure" that her lover gives to her singing, "How's that/ How's that feel", and then the woozy electronic beats by London producer Arca starts to come in when twigs say, "You are/ You are/ You are/ Everything". The track also contains a sample of EXXXTASY by HBA.
Papi Pacify is a trip hop song that talks about the singer wanting her love interest to declare his love to her even though she knows that he's lying. In the intro twigs sings, "Mmmh pacify/Mmmh pacify/ Mmmh/ Clarify our love". The male lover is referenced to as "Papi" because he is considered the peacemaker in the relationship. But then he reveals a sinister side to himself which lead twigs to sing on the chorus with, "Mmmh, papi pacify/ Pacify our love/ Mmh, mmh, mmh, mmh, won't you clarify/ Clarify it hurts".
Water Me is where the singer wants to have a proper relationship with her love interest, but he isn't interested in her as she sings in the beginning, "He won't make love to me now/ Not now, I've set the fee/ He said it's too much in pound/ I guess I'm stuck with me". Twigs also starts to reference to herself as a plant on the chorus with, "He told me I was so small/ I told him "Water me/ I promise I can grow tall/ When making love is free".
Ultraviolet is the closing on EP2. After begging for him to "water her" in "Water Me", she now wants his sunlight in which she considers it as "ultraviolet rays". She starts off singing slow on the first verse with, "Don't worry this face/ Hold my hand in error/ Don't tell of this place/ It's for me and you only/ Softly, softly know me", and then she moves on to the chorus with lyrics like, "You give me love/ You know you give love me/ With your ultraviolet rays/ You give me love/ You know you give love me/ With your ultraviolet rays".
Make sure to purchase EP2 by FKA Twigs on Amazon Music. Here's the link:
On April 21, 2016, singer and songwriter Prince Rogers Nelson died at the age of 57. 2 years later, I still can't believe that he's gone. I remember seeing Prince on The Arsenio Hall Show on May 03, 2014. This was my first time seeing him on TV. I was like, "Oh my God! That's Prince?! Wow!" I couldn't believe that I was looking at a music legend like him before my very eyes. He also performed some of his song on the show.
At first, I wasn't a very fan of Prince because I didn't know anything about him nor did I listen to any of his songs. But when I heard some of Prince's songs on the radio station a day after his death, I couldn't put into words how talented Prince was and how many songs he wrote for artists like Alicia Keys when covered "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?", but changed it to "How Come You Don't Call Me" for her debut album, "Songs in A Minor",
Sinead O' Connor covered "Nothing Compares 2 U' by Prince that originally for an eponymous album called The Family along with the band of the same name. It went on to become an instant hit for her in the 1990s.
And singer Chaka Khan's song "I Feel For You". Prince wrote and recorded this song in 1979 for his self-titled album Prince. In 1984, Chaka covered I Feel For You for her fifth studio album titled I Feel For You and it was one of her best known songs and a big commercial hit.
I also listened to some of his songs on YouTube like Kiss, Let's Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U, When Doves Cry, and Purple Rain.
I wanted to do a blog about Prince because I knew that today was the second anniversary of his passing. I sometimes said to myself, "I wish Prince was still here with us right now" or "If Prince was alive today, he would have been 59 years old'.
Prince, thank you for the impact that you had on us all with your music, style,
and the love that you had for the fans. We all love and missed you so much. Rest In Peace.
Thank you for taking the time to read this tribute for an artist like Prince. Now, I'm going to go and celebrate the life of Prince by partying like it's 1999.
Ariana Grande is back with her brand new song titled No Tears Left to Cry. This track marks Ariana's big return to the music scene after taking a break on May 2017 following the Manchester bombing attack that happened during her Dangerous Woman Tour. It also serves as the lead single for Grande's upcoming fourth studio album. Before it was released, Ariana teased her fans with a photo of her wearing a sweatshirt that says "No Tears Left to Cry". Kim Kardashian, Ariana's best friend Elizabeth Gilles and other people were seen wearing the same sweatshirt.
No Tears Left to Cry is an uplifting anthem with elements of disco pop music. On the intro where Grande sings, "Right now, I'm a state of mind/ I wanna be in like all the time", she is referencing to her relationship with her boyfriend Mac Miller and when Ariana says, "Ain't got no tears left to cry/ So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up/ I'm lovin', I'm livin', pickin' it up", there was a time where there were tears in the singer's life. From the passing of her grandfather in 2014 to the trauma she suffered from the Manchester bombing, all of this has had an effect on Ari and it just too much bear. She is tired of crying because she doesn't have enough energy for it. So, she has to take it upon herself to get up, move forward and live her life to the fullest. Along with song, the singer also released a surprise music video just for her fans.
In the music video, Grande is living her entire world upside down. She is seen doing a lot of things like walking on the side of a tower and on top of the ceiling, falling from tower while singing and then sits on the floor while looking at seven versions of Ariana's face. There is also a tribute to Manchester when Ariana throws up a bumblebee in the remembrance of the lives lost. This video will completely mind-blowing.
So, I really love No Tears Left to Cry and I would give it a 5/5. The music video was different from Grande's previous videos. I'm so happy that Ariana is releasing new music again. I can't wait to hear more from her in the coming months ahead.
Thank you for all of your love and support. Don't forget to hit that subscribe button on my website https://whenathinkbubblebursts.blogspot.com/. Also, make sure that you go and support Ariana by buying No Tears Left to Cry on Amazon Music and ITunes. Here are the link for it:
You can also buy the "No Tears Left to Cry" grey crewneck shirt at the Ariana Grande Store. When you purchase the sweatshirt, a digital single of this song come with it and will be available to download immediately after your purchase. Here's the link:
EP1 is debut extended play by English singer FKA Twigs. It was released independently on December 4, 2012. EP1 explores with different genres like indietronica and trip hop.
Click on this link below to watch the "Weak Spot" music video
Weak Spot serves as the opening song on EP1. Twigs starts whispering on the track saying on the first verse, "I heard he's got a weak spot/ He's gonna come/ Gonna come running right/ I heard he's a weak spot for you/ He's gonna come/ Gonna run, coming right back".
On Ache, Twigs talks about how the love that this person is giving to her and she really wants their love singing, "I'll come when you ask me/ Fast train/ Make my eyes blue/ Your love/ Make my night go boom/ That's why I need you", and then she continues on to the chorus with, "I-I-I-I/ Ache-Ache/ For/ You-you-you-you/ Ah-ah-ah-ah".
Breathe is a indie rock song with elements of trip hop. It tells the story about a heartbreaking love lost from twigs' perspective. She sees her man for who he really is in the intro singing, "I don't want to think that I see through you/ When all I see is the reflection of who you are not/ I never asked you to contemplate all the things/ Whispered in secret while sitting with you in the park", and then goes to the pre-chorus with, "I find out who you are/ I lose you in the dark/ Though you're not too far/ You're further to admire". But then twigs has to remind herself to calm down singing, "Just breathe/ Breathe in/ Just breathe/ Breathe in".
Also, check out the "Breathe" music video by clicking on the link below:
Hide is the last song on EP1. Twigs finds herself dealing with a breakup and dealing with feelings of loneliness singing, "Space/ The only thing I ever knew/ Place/ With the time I know I have to choose, now", but then she goes into how her boyfriend was so critical of her and that she rather end the relationship and run than to stay with someone like him saying, "Stay beneath the ground/ Hide away from you/ I sink into crowd/ If it meant that I'd escaped your eye".
You can also check out the music video for "Hide" by Twigs, as seen here, on YouTube.
Warning: This video is listed as age-restricted and may contains some scenes that are not for children. Viewer's Discretion Advised.
Thanks again for your time. Be sure to purchase to EP1 on Amazon Music now. Here's the link:
For those of you who don't know too much about me, my favorite superhero is Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is considered as the strongest female superhero in the DC Comics Universe.
It all started when her character first appeared in All Star Comics #8 on October 25, 1941 with the cover date listed as December 1941.
She is originally from the island of Themyscira and holds the official title of Princess Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta, but in the recent years, DC Comics had changed her background saying that she is the daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta, being jointly raised by her mother and aunts Antiope and Menalippe. She is listed as a demi-goddess and when she is in the outside world away from Themyscira, she adopted a new identity for herself: Diana Prince. Wonder Woman, along with Batman, are the founding members of a superhero team called Justice League.
At first, I didn't know who Wonder Woman was or what she looked like. Until, I went to go see the new Wonder Woman movie with my family on June 14, 2017.
The movie featured actress Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Gadot had previously played the character in the 2016 film called Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Even though I didn't watch Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, this was my first time seeing Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.
So, I watched the movie. It gave me a chance to learn more about Wonder Woman's back story. From her being Princess Diana of Themyscira to Diana Prince out in the real world, it's was all so exciting for me as a person who wanted to get a glimpse of this strong and powerful female superhero. My favorite parts of the movie were when she transformed into Wonder Woman just by removing her coat and going into the battlefield of World War II while dodging two bullets using her bracelets.
Oh! And let's not forget about this pose with Wonder Woman crossing her arms together.
I loved how Diana was determined to fight for what's right. She is a beautiful, loving and caring person on the inside and out. I thought Gal Gadot did an excellent job of portraying her. I like both Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman a lot.
Carter starred in 1975 TV show titled "Wonder Woman". The series ran from 1975 to 1979 and is considered to be Carter's best known role to date.
I had never watched the Wonder Woman TV series before, but if I ever was to buy all three seasons of the show on DVD or look at it on TV, it would really make my day. I'm such a huge fan of this iconic superhero. I mean, this character has been in the DC Comics world for 72 years. Can you believe it?
72 years of Wonder Woman. Now, that's amazing.
Wonder Woman, thank you so much for being an inspiration to me, young girls and all of the other people who look up to you. It has been a huge honor for me as a fan to call you the "Goddess of Love and War". Keep on fighting for justice and peace. You are truly a hero to me. Thank you so much for all that you do.
I hope that you enjoyed this as much as I did. I have never done something like this before.
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