Coldplay - Viva La Vida and all His Friends

Coldplay first came to my attention with their massive hit "Clocks" back in 2002. After figuring out they were not a one hit single music artist, I determined that this was band I had to hear more often.

Personally, they album X&Y did not do a lot for me. It was their experimentation album and the songs were a tad too long.

However like Michael Jordan in 1996, Coldplay latest offering Viva La Vida and All His Friends, is going to be a hit and a special album at that. Definetly an album worth listening to in this day when the kids are just buying the singles.

When their first single "Violet Hill" came out, I at first thought they had not overcome their experimental urges shown on X&Y. But their latest single "Viva La Vida" screams HIT and is an instant classic.

Amongst other highlights are "Lost" which infuses hip hop beats with an church organ with some amazing lyrics. "42" starts quite melancholic with a tender piano but the lyrics just make it an engaging experience to listen to.

Overall, I would have to rate this album as a fine effort. It engages the listener and reinforces Coldplay as not only one of the biggest and best bands of the 21st century, but also interesting.

Jordan - The Music Video

Is art is in the eye of the beholder?

An interesting debate opened up in Australia over the past week.

Photos of the girl pictured above were published in an Australian art magazine. The furore that erupted was they were pictures of her naked when she was 6 years old by her mother.

Some people argue that the printing of these pictures is appropriate because they are considered "art". Others argue that this has collapsed over the line of morality because it has exposed an innocent child to the world and the pedophiles and perverts out there.

Even the PM has delved into the debate arguing that this was not the right thing to do and that he may strip funding for the magazine.

Personally, I think that this was bad call by the parents. Taking naked pictures of your kids when they are babies is seen as a sweet and cute thing, if they are being done for the right reason (which are pretty obvious to most sane people).

But to take pictures of a naked six year old and then publish them in an art magazine is questionable. As terrible as this will sound, my first thoughts was how could parents do this consider we live int he age where we constantly hear about pedophilia and child abuse?

How could you expose an innocent child to the perverts out there by claiming this is art?

Some may say that I am being a bit too prudish but am I?

I believe that art is in the eye of the beholder. I really get riled up by the people who claim they know everything about art because they are qualified on it. I think art is in the eye of the beholder because everyone is different and we all have different tastes. Some people like bright colours, some like weird shapes and patterns. Each person is different so not everyone will like the same type of art - no matter what a critic says.

I am sure you could say I am contradicting myself with the above, but this is outside the realm of "art" and raises a moral and ethical question. Should naked images of a small child be published in a magazine? I think not.

This blog neds some CPR

I never talked about Liverpool in the vain hope that this would lead to them winning a trophy. Since we lost the CL semi final to Chelsea....well......I shall reflect on the season that was.

Blog soon.

Yo Mama, Vote for Barack Obama

I really hope Barack Obama wins the American Democrats nomination and goes on to be elected president of the USA. He is the right person for the job.

America needs him and the world wants him as President.

Let me start by saying I am not anti-America. I like what America has brought us (except the overflow of reality TV C grade stars). I just have a sense of right and wrong and what I have seen over the past few years has not appeased me.

America’ reputation as the “good guy” of the world was, in my eyes, damaged by the actions of the current incompetent, I mean incumbent President. He redefined what “intelligence” was when he invaded Iraq based on them having Weapons of Mass Destruction only to find no such thing existed. I think we all saw that as a grab at oil which America and the world realise heavily upon.

But let us not look at the past but into the future.

Of the 3 candidates out there – the others being Hillary Clinton and John McCain, why do I believe that Obama is the right person?

Simply because he represents the future, not just of a country, but a world. These days, we are not just countries, we are a world wide social community. The world has become one giant FaceBook.

Hillary Clinton has history – she was the first lady not so long ago and that time is remembered with fondness. She was around at the death of major communist powers and when the iron Curtain was dismantled. She was around when the threat of a world war was begun. When freedom and expression was reigning through the world. When the world was at peace.

But I don’t trust her. She has changed her mind on a few issues so you wonder what type of leader she will be. I believe that she is one that bends to gain approval rather than one that will generally do the right thing.

(Take note that I am honest enough to know that no one will always do the right thing. There is no one like that in the world. But I hope for someone that who will have some form of moral compass).

Senator McCain is a good man but he is just too old. He will be too conservative at a time when conservatism will not be beneficial. He does not appease those young voters who want to see some sense of vibrancy with someone who will not look 4 years into the future but 10 or 20 years.

Obama is young so he can reach out the upcoming generation.

More importantly, the fact that he is not seen as a fat, rich white old man means he has immense appeal to the rest of the world, particularly Africa and Asia – up and coming areas that need guidance to ensure they function rightly.

Lastly, he may also appeal to the Muslim world. He does not seem as threatening as the other candidates and he is certainly an improvement on “Dubya”.

He is Christian yet as the middle name “Hussein”, he grew up outside of American and spent a few years living in Indonesia, a predominantly Islamic State. He has been witness to other cultures and this has shaped him. His mind is not closed and pro one country.

I believe Barack Obama is the right person to lead America and help shape the world at a time when qualities of strong leadership and an understanding of how the world works are truly needed.

So America, when you vote, vote 1 Obama.

The world begs you.

Welcome to South Australia...the new Tasmania

Australians have this joke about Tasmania. Because it is isolated and remote from the rest of the country, its population is small. So what happens a lot is the kids grow up and then move to the mainland. Some would g for work and some would go in search of a mate.

Back in the day this travel may have not been so avaliable given the level of technology ie) no planes and irregular boat rides.

So when a young person was searching for a mate, they had limited options. There are apparently countless stories of brothers marrying sisters or cousins etc etc. Basically incestuous things which are pretty disgusting when you thing about it. Yet this is not something you hear abouta lot these days.

However a story came about yesterday which made my stomach churned. Twas a story about a father and a daughter, getting jiggy with it (oh I can feel my stomach churning now) and wait for it....

HAVING A BABY

Bad!! Read all about it at this link

But this did not happen in Tasmania, it happened in South Australia.

I can just imagine the new tourism advertisement campaign.

South Australia...the new Tasmania

South Australia.....the place where families really come together

This is the state that has the highest rate of serial killers per capita, where people are so bored that they decide to join Al-Qaeda so they can can have a nice 5 year holiday in Guantanamo Bay.

But back to the couple at hand.

It appears they may not have known each other for a few years but only met each other after the mum passed away. That she said that she thought he was "he's not too bad" if she had met him at a bar and that he initially thought it was wrong but then decided to have go at his own daughter is well.....

CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean I know they were lonely and they were feeling alittle randy but my gosh.....this is to much to the extreme.

Added to this is she was married when they first got together but left her husband (whom she had 2 kids with).

Last but not least....they had a child some years ago but she/he passed away due to a heart condition.

So imagine the daughters' daughter, her dad is also her grandfather.

Only in Tasma...whoops I mean South Australia.

Michael Jackson - THRILLER 25th Anniversary Edition

25 years ago I tuned into the sounds of the remarkable Michael Jackson when his album Thriller came out. Now they have released a 25^th anniversary specialof the album which includes a few remakes with Akon, Will I Am, Fergie and Kanye West.

After listening to the old songs, I just concluded that this has to be my favourite album of all time. Number 1 on my album chart! This album spawned so many hits –we know the big ones “Thirller”, “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” but what about P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) where his sister Janet sang backing vocals, Human Nature, Wanna’ be Starting Something, The Girl is Mine. I would say that every song on the album was a hit with me.

As for the remixes, the Akon version of “Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’” is awesome. “Beat I” which features Fergie is average as all she does is sing a few of the lines. Kanye’s work on “Billie Jean” is poor as all he does is a few “ehhs, yo’s, ahah’s”. Nothing special about that.

Overall, it was a great listen. But let us look at the phenomenon that this album had on the world.

This album was the highest selling album EVER. It took over the world. Everyone loved MJ, wanted to meet him and wanted to dance like him.

He changed the way the world listened to music as people would not see and hear rather than just hear. In a way he kind of killed the radio star.

This choreography that was on display in the film clips to “Beat It” and “Thriller” took things to another plain of entertainment and musical enjoyment. I remember being young but people would just go on and on about what a star and entertainer MJ was.

So regardless of what people thing of him and what has happened the last decade or so, to me Michael Jackson is an amazing performer. That we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the best selling album of all time is testament to his skill.

I believe the genesis of my love for music and dancing came after seeing MJ perform Billie Jean at the 25^th Anniversary Motown Awards where he unleashed the moonwalk on an unsuspecting world. It was one of those magical events that just resonates with you throughout life.