Watch Siobhan Donaghy Video

 

Check out the spooky video for Siobhan Donaghy's new single "So You Say" that will be released in the U.K. on June 18. The song is one of the few songs on her forthcoming second album "Ghost" that most closely reminds me of the music she put out in her not so distant pop past with the Sugababes.

The video was directed by Jamie Thraves who also worked on videos for Radiohead and Coldplay. The concept of the video is based on David Lynch 2006 mind-bending movie "Inland Empire." It is considered by many critics as a surrealistic "masterpiece" with plot that has been hard for many viewers to untangle. Lynch once said in an interview that the movie is "about a woman in trouble, and it's a mystery, and that's all I want to say about it."

Donahy and Thraves have adopted this concept in this new video that features surreal moments with birds and pieces of glass. And of course, that freaky and mysterious ending makes the entire video worthwhile to watch. In fact, she should have include more of that freakiness earlier on. I really admire Siobhan for making unusual and unexpected choices for herself when it comes to selecting producers, photographers and directors to create a style that stands out from the pack.

Hopefully, this single will do well overseas. It should resonate well on mainstream radio. Most blogger are raving about the song "Medevac" that also appears on her new album. I'm more biased towards "Coming Up For Air," a pivotal song on the album (with a Madonna "Frozen" feel to it) that reflects some of Siobhan's reflections and struggles that led to the big idea behind "Ghost."

Much more about that soon in my interview with Donaghy that will appear very soon.


Last Days of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

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VH1 premiered their much-anticipated documentary about the last days of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes this weekend. The TLC singer died in a car crash in 2002 while filming her own documentary about her life in Honduras. Despite TLC's demise after Lopes' death, the Atlanta threesome still remains one of the most successful female groups in music history known for their chart-topping hits with a socially conscientious message.

VH1 put together one of their crafty-titled "rockumentaries" that chronicles Lopes' successful musical career and turbulent personal life leading up to her tragic death. The program's producers let Lopes tell her own story by switching between classic TLC moments, raw footage from Lopes' own unfinished Honduras documentary and The Real World type confessionals that were also part of Lopes' original film.

I always thought of Lisa Lopes as an uptight brat (sorry fans), but in this new documentary she turns out to be a kind, pensive and very spiritual person who is wise beyond her years. I understand now how she still inspires many who adored her throughout her career.

The documentary reveals the anxiety that plagued Lopes throughout her life and often led to her much-publicized erratic behavior such as setting her boyfriend's home on fire in 1994 and not showing up for important TLC press engagements in 2001.

Her inner turmoil seemed to intensify in the weeks and days leading up to her death. Lopes is convinced that bad spirits are haunting her and want to take her life. In the candid confessional footage, she talks about the nightmares she has about dying at a young age.

There are other eerie moments wrapped in mystery. Days before her death, the artist's premonition about her death is strengthened when her car accidentally hits a young boy who dies soon after the accident. Lopes is convinced that "the spirits" had it wrong and were actually out to take her life. The fact that the boy's last name was Lopes only adds fuel to her belief.

Throughout the Honduras footage, Lopez continues to talk about the topic of death. She doesn't like to call it death and rather talks about "transformation." As she describes on her 2002 song "A Star Is Born," Lopes subscribes to the belief that with every passing on earth a new star is born.

The most disturbing moment comes when the documentary shows footage of the actual last seconds of Lopes' life. One member of her entourage is sitting in the front passenger seat while filming Lopes seconds before the car crash. The film shows Lopes losing control of the steering wheel that makes the SUV slid off the road. Screaming follows. Then the film goes to black.

I'm surprised this footage has not come out earlier, but now that it has, VH1 has done an excellent job of putting it into the right context without sensationalizing it.

You can watch some clips of the documentary on VH1 V-Spot. Also, listen to Lisa Lopes' "A Star Is Born" that is oddly connected to her passing. It is taken from her 2002 solo album "Supernova" that was never released in the United States. "The Last Days of Lisa Lopes' repeats on VH1 on Monday, May 28 at 10pm ET.

Watch clips of the VH1 documentary on V-Spot
Watch Lisa Lopez "A Star Is Born"


Video: Michel Gondry Interviews Charlotte Gainsbourg

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Famed music video director Michel Gondry chats with singer Charlotte Gainsbourg in a special series for VSB.tv. The two previously worked together on the movie "The Science Of Sleep" that features Gainsbourg and Gael Garcia Bernal. It is a casual and candid chat in which Charlotte talks about her famous parents, her special relationship with the guys from AIR and why she is so camera shy.

Gainsbourg explains in her near-perfect British accent that she specifically chose to record her album "5:55" in English to avoid comparisons to her parents. Humble and soft-spoken, she also talks about her insecurity as a performer, which is the reason why is not touring to promote the album.

Watch  Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5.

And if you missed the guilt-free MP3 of her song "The Songs That We Sing," go HERE to download it.

Isn't she just totally precious?

(Thanks to Jon for the clarification.)


Movie: InnerPartySystem Signs to Stolen Transmission

Pennsylvania electro-rock band InnerPartySystem was recently signed to Stolen Transmission, the label that was founded by Sarah Lewitinn and is part of the big and mighty Island/Def Jam group. InnerPartySystem recorded a cool short movie of the actual contract signing ritual at the Island/Def Jam offices. You will see that it turns into a bloody affair.

InnerPartySystem will be recording their full-length debut this summer. Until that major release hits stores, you can check out tunes from the EP "The Download" on their MySpace page. It sounds very good. Curious what they'll come up with for their big label debut.


(Sound quality of the Grouper video is not very good. Click here for the original version of the movie in Quicktime.)


Pet Shop Boys to Release Concert DVD

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Warner Music will be releasing Pet Shop Boys' "Cubism Live" DVD on May 21. It is a "glittering" 27 track live performance DVD that was filmed in high definition on November 14, 2006 in Mexico City at the Auditorio Nacionale. The title of the disc obviously refers to the clever, neon-lit stage props the duo used during the tour.

The disc will not only feature the entire live set but also behind the scenes extra footage filmed in Mexico, a picture gallery, audio commentary and a 12 page book written by Neil and Chris and featuring photography from the show. The spectacular show was directed by David Barnard whose previous credits include the live concert films of Björk and Gorillaz. The DVD includes a slip case cover - half the stock will feature Neil Tennant and the other half will picture Chris Lowe.

Pet Shop Boys. Digital. High-definition. Twenty-seven tracks. Need I say more? Seems like a DVD to have for all the PSB fans. (Full track listing after the jump.)

Watch Pet Shop Boys "Cubism" promo video

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