anatomyofbeats-blog

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"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest achievement."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

#ralph #waldo #emerson #america #quote #quotation #life #love #live #inspiration

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HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Picture from Asos.com

#america #usa #4th #july #of #US #independence #day #katy #perry #weekend #freedom #liberty #slavery #state #nationalism

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I've moved!

Haven't been blogging much recently because I've moved to Wordpress! Finding that much more suited to my needs as an entertainment blogger, check it out:

www.ntertainerofficial.wordpress.com

But never fear, I'll still be using this blog to share random thoughts and rant about things to give you a #pieceofmymind. Also, I'm on twitter too, give us a follow at @n_phull1

Peace out x

#wordpress #blog #twitter #tumblr #entertainment #prometheus #alien #katy #perry #part of me #movie #film #music #move #change #thoughts #blogger #media

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An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity. A pessimist sees calamity in every opportunity.

Winston Churchill

#quote #optimist #saying #quotation #winston #churchill #prime minister #british #opportunity #calamity #optimism

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Batman and Superman Chocolates. Look a bit heavy to get your teeth round though but who cares. Truly amazing creations.

#batman #superman #advertising #chocolate #cocoa #funny #marvel #superhero #dc #comics #logo #chocs

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Suitably epic video for Princess of China, the mind-blowing duet between Coldplay and Rihanna, taken from last year's 'Mylo Xyloto'. Can't believe I only heard this song a few days ago. At first, I was like, 'Rihanna again?! Give that girl a break!' but I can see why a respectable band like Coldplay felt the need for her vocals - they make this such a memorable and powerful duet. Rihanna seems destined to forever stalk the charts. Even though her solo efforts might be flailing and predictable, stripped-back duets like this reveal the more honest, vulnerable side to her voice, which we can't help but be moved by. Could it be this year's 'Moves Like Jagger' or 2010's 'Love The Way You Lie'? It should be.

#rihanna #coldplay #princess of china #music #record #single #mylo xyloto #entertainment #video #loud #talk that talk

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The Best Of...Greatest Hits

Let's face it. It's only worth buying a Greatest Hits album after the artist has sadly deceased because whilst living, they are capable of churning out more loveable hits which will inevitably feature on another compilation. The motive behind releasing a Greatest Hits compilation album must surely be to exploit fans as a quick money-maker... or to give them something to sustain them while they take a break.

Take Kylie Minogue, for example, who released her 'The Best Of...' album at the beginning of the week. A well-known pop princess with a string of hits, it might be expected for her to release a compilation of this sort. Not when it's her fourth greatest hits release: the last one being in 2004 with 'Ultimate Kylie'. Owning this previous compilation album, which is a 2-disc, compared this 2012 1-disc, it hardly makes sense for fans to go out and buy this new release where 95% of the tracks are already owned. Even though the album coincides with her 25th-anniversary-in-the-business 'K25' celebrations, 'The Best Of...' is hardly a definitive set of Kylie tracks nor does it include recent single 'Timebomb' which is yet to feature on an album. 

On their death, artists find sales of their records rocket as fans and non-fans feel they want to listen to the music to remember their legacy, but these compilations are old and omit certain, newer hits. Record companies purposely wait a while after to release a more definitive collection, purely to maximise financial gain. Remember how much media hysteria there was over Michael Jackson's albums and his unreleased material.

Whitney Houston saw a surge in sales of 'The Ultimate Collection' and 'The Essential...' after her untimely demise, but neither of these included 'Million Dollar Bill', the track that renewed our interest in her and opened her music up to a new generation with impressive dance mixes that are still played in nightclubs today. Wait for another compilation to be released? You'd be wise to. 

As for Kylie, she's now used the three most common names for Greatest Hits albums. The names of the next few will have to be pretty special. 

#K25 #album #austrailia #entertainment #greatest #hits #kylie #minogue #music #pop #princess #the best of #timebomb #whitney #houston

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Looks like 'Leo-Mania' is set to rock the world again this winter as the trailer for Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, the much-anticipated movie about a freed slave seeking revenge on the evil plantation owner played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was released.

With a string of flops to recover from, Tarantino seems to be doing just fine after 2009's Inglorious Basterds and now Unchained - reuniting him with Academy Award winner Christophe Waltz.

Released within weeks of his other guaranteed blockbuster The Great Gatsby in December, DiCaprio looks certain to reaffirm his position as one of the finest actors of our generation. Just in time for the awards season. 

#leonardo #dicaprio #gatsby #django #unchained #film #movie #quentin #tarantino #inglorious #basterds #christophe #waltz #jamie #foxx #titanic #baz #luhrmann

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A little something I put together to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

#queen #diamond #jubilee #england #concert #royal #UK #monarchy #elizabeth #HRH #60

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The Voice UK Final

Despite plummeting ratings, The Voice UK came to a spectacular finale last night with Team Tom member Leanne Mitchell pulling off a shock victory (thanks to that emotional, show-stealing 'Run to You' performance), stealing the title away from bookies favourite, Bo Bruce.

The Final had everything you could possibly want: phenomenal solo performances, superstar crowd-pleasers Ed Sheeran and Maroon 5 and THAT 'megamix' from the coaches - one of the better coach collaborations. Rich girl, Bo, repeated her 'Winners Single'-esque performance of 'Charlie Brown' complete with paper confetti, trademark hippy style and relaxing vocals. Vince continued reinventing classics but his 4th place finish was probably because people felt less able to connect with him due to his slightly uncomfortable dress sense. The ladies' favourite, Tyler, sang in his usual dual pitches (we know what 'falsetto' means now thanks to Sir Tom...only joking, we knew already) but his performances weren't spellbinding enough to make him a real contender. In the end, viewers chose a more traditional vocalist to take the title. For the credibility of the show, I do hope she (and all the other finalists) is allowed a flourishing singing career. 

Viewers have sadly felt the need to turn off from the show after the fascinating Blind Auditions perhaps because they craved the crafty manipulation and drama popularised by Cowell-produced shows like The X Factor. 

The Voice succeeds in being that breath of fresh air to the tired singing competition format, with credible superstar coaches and a classy, level-headed approach to its broadcast. Undoubtedly the show has highlighted many areas for improvement in its debut season: dealing with live performances (Jessie's microphone failure), overlong comments from the coaches and general criticisms from the people within the show itself (Holly stating how she heard producers watching the BGT Final, will.i.am's live tweeting and Jessie J calling elements of the show 'lame', to quote some examples).

The Voice UK has a two-year contract on the BBC so us hardcore Voice fans don't need to worry about a potential axe so we can look forward to the second season of a show that is prepared to learn from its mistakes as well as promote an ethical, less exploitative way of showcasing Britain's talent. 

#the voice #uk #final #television #reality #entertainment #holly #willoughby #leanne #mitchell #Maroon 5 #Will.i.am #music #tv #show #bbc #programme

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Since I first saw the advert for the new Internet Explorer 9, I'd been wondering what the song was called. But when flicking to a music channel the other day, I heard those familiar dubstep beats and the mystery was finally revealed: Too Close by Alex Clare. On YouTube-ing the track to find the video link to embed in this blog, I was surprised to find that the official video had been uploaded in March 2011, over a year ago. Is the unexpected recent success of this single purely down to its use in a Microsoft advertisement?

The power of advertising is certainly the only contributing factor in this example. It's a shame that songs of this calibre can be looked over and only recognised if they are lucky enough to be used big-budget campaigns. This sudden exposure for Clare will undoubtedly lead to a sharp surge in his record sales as well as a renewed interest in dubstep - a genre that, months ago, was once fashionable in commercial chart music.

Released only 3 months after Adele's first cut from the record-breaking 21, the video is very Rolling in the Deep-esque in its simplicity and visual direction: with the right promotion, Clare could have been Britain's 'male-Adele' export at around the same time. As Brit-pop mania begins to die down across the world, maybe it will be Clare's time to take that long overdue walk into the spotlight. 

#adele #advert #advertising #alex #clare #close #microsoft #too #music #record #single #charts #internet #explorer

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Never have I seen a franchise so insistent that the final instalment is definitely the end. A number of epic banner posters have been released for The Dark Knight Rises, clearly labelling the film as the last under the direction of Christopher Nolan ('The Legend Ends'). Batman has had many disastrous outings, but this trilogy marked an intelligent revision of the superhero as well as setting the barrier for other adaptations in the superhero genre. The Dark Knight was one of the best films I had ever seen: it was a really intense cinematic experience with just about everything you could ask for from a film. We'll have to wait until July to see this epic conclusion and find out the fate of our caped crusader. Batman, Bane, Catwoman - we're ready. 

#batman #the dark knight #rises #christian #bale #tom hardy #catwoman #bane #christopher #nolan #movie #film #preview #summer

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There seems to be a bit of a pattern with Cheryl Cole's first releases from her albums in that they reflect what's going on in her (personal) life: first, 'Fight For This Love' when she publicly got back together with Ashley Cole following his infidelity (look how that turned out...at least it inspired her biggest hit!), then 'Promise This' written when she was apparently on her deathbed fighting malaria and now, opening her third studio album A Million Lights with 'Call My Name' as she rebrands herself as one of those elite 'one-name' artists as simply Cheryl. 

Is this the track to catapult her to international stardom so that she only needs to be referred to by her first name? Well it sounds just like everything else that hot-property Calvin Harris has produced but the fact that it's Cheryl 'singing' it following her dramatic axe from 'The X Factor USA' and cameo in What To Expect..., gives you more reason to sit up and listen, and hear that she means business, as musician and trend-setter. 

Not having that X Factor performance to plug her single and guarantee a number 1 was a risky strategy by manager will.i.am, but 'The Voice UK' was a good way for her to publicly snub Cowell and prove she doesn't need to rely on his platform for success. We'll find out whether she's managed to secure that third number 1 single on this Sunday's Official Chart.

#cheryl #cole #call my name #music #record #the voice #uk #a million lights #Will.i.am #girls aloud #single

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Eurovision 2012 Preview

Quick look at some of the memorable acts we can expect in tonight's Eurovision Grand Final 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, as well as some predictions. The annual contest kicks off tonight from 8pm on BBC 1.  

Sweden: Loreen - Euphoria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nJcmLMb5to

If you're placing bets on anyone tonight, put something on Sweden. Hoping to go two places better than last year's finish, this 'euphoric' dance anthem is bang on trend with that added Eurovision novelty that Loreen appears to do interpretative dance during her performance. It also helps that the single has already been released across Europe and had topped iTunes charts in non-Scandanavian countries. Didn't do any harm for Lena's 'Satellite' two years ago, did it? It's a belter of a tune and with all this pre-exposure and hype, it's sure to be the runaway winner.

Prediction: 1st

Russia: Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qmsmzoRBE

Forget their real name, everyone knows them as the Russian Grannies! The tune is incredibly catchy, they are adorable (especially the small one) and apparently they just want enough money to build a community centre or something, so why shouldn't they win? I can see every single country awarding some points to these women (apart from those with issues with Russia, of course). For me, they are the only real threat to Loreen and I wouldn't be surprised if they snatch victory from her at the last minute. 

Prediction: 2nd

Ireland: Jedward - Waterline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_9QaVC-NKw

The marmite twins are back representing Ireland for the second consecutive year - a first for Eurovision (will they ever give up?). As much as we hate them, Europe seems to love them as Jedward aim for the top spot, hoping their newly-acquired fanbase will help get them there. Ditching the trademark quiffs but still donning the outlandishly camp outfits (let's face it, they are made for Eurovision), these overexcited X Factor rejects are looking at a Top 10 finish, but with such stiff competition this year, winning still seems out of their reach. Even with that novelty fountain. 

Prediction: 9th

Azerbaijan: Sabina Babayeva - When The Music Dies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ejpLyXSuY

One of the more serious (and depressing) entries this year comes from the host country, Azerbaijan. Host countries always do well, don't they? The Panorama documentary on Monday highlighting the human rights problems the country is plagued with means the nation has faced increasing criticism in the run up to Eurovision. Baku 2012 will be the furthest east that the competition has ever been held (I thought Azerbaijan was in the Middle East, not Europe...). Well, let's remember it's a singing competition: the song is powerful (a song about music dying in a singing competition?! We'll forgive it...), the girl is pretty (Amy Childs look-a-like) and they're the host country so are bound to be showered with compliments when the results come in. A Top 10 finish.

Prediction: 8th

United Kingdom: Englebert Humperdinck - Love Will Set You Free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNv9pjqZkk&feature=relmfu

Finally time for the long-suffering UK, one of the Big 5 countries that has apparently bribed their way to automatic qualification (seriously, I think being made to qualify might give us more chance of winning this thing). Englebert 'The Hump' Humperdinck will be trying to use his international superstar(?) status to help us win some votes with this stripped back ballad. It's not a bad record, but whether it'll stand out amongst the more memorable entries is another thing entirely. The promotional tour would surely help, as well as all the media attention surrounding his age (he's officially the oldest man to represent a country at Eurovision). However, we're scheduled to perform in the 'death-slot', opening the contest in 1st position. Will anyone remember it by the end? Humperdinck seems to think so. It's a mixed bag this one, but hopefully we'll come out near-ish the top.

Prediction: 10th

#eurovision #2012 #azerbaijan #baku #englebert #Humperdinck #the hump #graham #norton #loreen #UK #sweden #ireland #jedward #grannies #Russian #music #song #contest

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The Great Gatsby Trailer

I wasn't overly keen on the F Scott Fitzgerald novel when we studied it for A-level English Literature but there's something about the power of hindsight which makes you appreciate how fine things really are. For me, it is impossible to imagine on the big screen, which is probably why the Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version in 1974 remains widely considered a definitive adaptation. A classic story set against a showy 20's backdrop needs a garish, visionary director to bring this world back into our consciousness. Enter Baz Lurhmann. 

As far as I'm concerned The Great Gatsby has been perfectly cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (who also played the leading role in Revolutionary Road, another Fitzgerald adaptation) as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. Together with Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge director, Luhrmann (we'll forgive him for Australia), you know you'll be in for a visual treat in breathtaking 3D, as well as some stand-out acting performances. 

Amitabh Bachchan also stars in what he describes as a 'blink-and-you'll-miss-it' cameo as Meyer Wolfshiem. If that's the case, then we've seen all there is to see of the legendary Bollywood actor in the trailer. His brief appearance should be enough to make it a hit in India though. 

The trailer is flawless. The beautiful sets, design and cinematography look like an accurate reflection of the hedonistic lifestyle while the original score and the drama towards the end create enough interest for those unfamiliar with the premise. It's enough to get anyone excited and it's no surprise media forums around the world have been buzzing with giddy delight. 

The film is released around the same time as Peter Jackson's The Hobbit which will certainly make Winter 2012 a great season for film, but whereas we kind of have an idea of what to expect with Jackson's prequel, beneath the glamour of Lurhmann's film, there's something sinister in its charm and appeal. Just like Gatsby himself. 

#1920 #2012 #baz #carey #dicaprio #f scott fitzgerald #farrow #leonardo #luhrmann #mia #moulin rouge #movie #mulligan #romeo and juliet #the great gatsby #tobey #trailer #maguire #film #entertainment

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Madonna: MDNA

Finally getting round to listening to Madonna's latest effort on a rare British sunny day was a big mistake.

Everything about the album just reeks 'desperate'; from the way the album's been named to the unnecessary swearing and awkward sexual references littered throughout. The album reference was supposed to be her initials as well as suggesting 'Madonna DNA'...well, classic Madonna, this isn't.

Instead of developing as an artist, it seems as though Madonna has to keep up with what's 'in' at the moment, going from trend-setter to trend-follower with dubsteppy beats, nonsensical, empty lyrics and duets with Nicki Minaj. If she allowed her music (and her body) to mature maybe she could become that respected artist once again. 

'Masterpiece', used in her directorial debut W.E., is one of the better songs as it is more heartfelt and believable: Madonna stripped bare and at her best.

Rumoured to be her third cut from the album, 'Gang Bang' is the worst of the offenders: over-long, over-complicated and overuse of 'b*tch'. I'm sure her children would be proud. 

Will Madonna ever have another UK number 1 single? It's looking unlikely as 'Gimme All Your Lovin' failed to make the top 20 even with vocals from Minaj and MIA and 'Girl Gone Wild' (one of the stronger singles) stalled at No. 73. 

But die-hard fans still managed to get her album to the number 1 spot, even though it didn't stay in the Top 10 for long and is hardly going to go down in history as one of her more iconic albums. At the end of the day, MDNA does what it was supposed to do: give Madonna a quick cash boost and remind people that she still exists.

#MDNA #album #entertainment #girl #gone #madonna #minaj #music #nicki #review #wild #lady #gaga #mia

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All our Dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them - Walt Disney

#walt #disney #dreams #courage #inspirational #quote #life #live #love #fairytale