#Famous singers from North Holland

[x76x28]

[pinkspaceclub]

Most gay Friendly Cities in the World

here are many cities round the world that welcome and embrace the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. These cities have actually improved and grown economically by attracting one among the foremost important and powerful social groups of the 21st century. Chains of hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, clothes shops and spas that cater to a replacement segment that's always trying to find the simplest of the simplest . We took variety of things into consideration so as to form this text , like legal protection, social acceptance, LGBT nightlife and economic opportunities and created the list of 11 Most Gay-Friendly Cities within the World.

Toronto, Canada 11 Toronto is that the largest city in Canada and has a stimulating gay scene. it's a number of the simplest gay bars in Canada and an enormous pride parade. Toronto’s gay community offers a world of arts, culture and vivacious nightlife, with a vibrant gay village at the city’s core. The Village, located in Church-Wellesley, is that the cultural hub of the town , bursting with galleries, theatres and gay-friendly businesses. Over the years the geographical range has expanded with the expansion of the town . Now you’ll find queer-friendly establishments everywhere the town . Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Toronto Toronto gay city - by Duncan Rawlinson - @thelastminute - Duncan.co :Flickr Toronto gay city – by Duncan Rawlinson – @thelastminute – Duncan.co :Flickr São Paulo, Brazil 10 Sao Paulo isn't only Brazil’s economic hub and therefore the largest city in South America, but it’s also the third-largest city within the world. Especially noteworthy for LGBT travelers is that the incontrovertible fact that Sao Paulo hosts the most important gay pride celebration on the earth . São Paulo’s first Gay Pride was in 1997 and attracted only 2000 people. Nowadays, the carnival-like Gay Pride Parade draws nearly four million people that crowd onto the most boulevard of Paulista Avenue and therefore the surrounding streets. Gay nightclubs feature a good sort of shows, with drag, male strip-tease, singers, performances and a few of the simplest DJs anywhere. There are many bathhouses and sex clubs too, often with bars and show nights also . Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil 2019 - LGBTQI Pride parade of Sao Paulo Brasil 2019 - by Luciano Marques : Shutterstock.com Sao Paulo, Brazil 2019 – LGBTQI Pride parade of Sao Paulo Brasil 2019 – by Luciano Marques : Shutterstock.com Crossing pedestrian lights on Pride week at Paulista Avenue located in Sao Paulo , Brazil - by Jo Galvao : Shutterstock.com Crossing pedestrian lights on Pride week at Paulista Avenue located in Sao Paulo , Brazil – by Jo Galvao : Shutterstock.com London, UK 9 London may be a sophisticated, multicultural, open-minded city, an area where everybody is welcome. it's home to Europe’s largest gay community. Pride London may be a major event, there's a crucial Gay and Lesbian festival , and its gay nightlife is one among the world’s best. Old Compton Street and its surrounding area in SoHo is London’s gay epicenter, with gay bars and shops for each style and wish . Soho, found to the west of the West End , may be a popular spot where you’ll find many gay-owned clubs, restaurants and stores. Another similar area to see out is Old Compton Street. Another increasingly popular area is Vauxhall Village. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In London Piccadilly Circus in London filled with people with flags celebrating London Gay Pride 2019 - Davi Barbiere : Shutterstock.com Piccadilly Circus in London filled with people with flags celebrating London Gay Pride 2019 – Davi Barbiere : Shutterstock.com Madrid, Spain 8 Madrid has the most important gay community in Spain and one among the most important in Europe, with an estimated 500,000 LGBT people living within the city. Chueca is that the center of the LGBT community where you’ll find the very best concentration of gay bars and night clubs. Chueca starts at Gran Via and runs north for 1km and it stretches east to west between Calle Hortaleza and Paseo de Recoletos. during this city, gay marriage is allowed and therefore the gay community has influenced largely the city’s trendiest hotels, restaurants and shops. Every July Madrid hosts the most important gay pride in Europe. Madrid’s gay pride, called Orgullo, draws a crowd of nearly 2 million people. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Madrid Madrid, Spain - Gay Friendly City - shutterstock Madrid, Spain – Gay Friendly City – shutterstock Chueca neighborhood in Madrid, decorated during gay pride day celebrations - by Victor Lafuente Alonso : Shutterstock.com Chueca neighborhood in Madrid, decorated during gay pride day celebrations – by Victor Lafuente Alonso : Shutterstock.com Miami, USA 7 Miami has long been referred to as a well-liked and open destination for LGBT tourists looking to unwind, work on their tans, meet people and dine at the chicest restaurants. The LGBT community has always felt welcome in Miami. All year there are beaches fashionable the gay crowd, nightclubs and venues, parties and more, but it’s the yearly Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival that brings everyone together during a colorful celebration and parade. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Miami Miami Gay Parade - by :Flickr Miami Gay Parade – by :Flickr Miami, Beach Party - by Olga V Kulakova : Shutterstock.com Miami, Beach Party – by Olga V Kulakova : Shutterstock.com Amsterdam, Netherland 6 For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender visitors and residents, Amsterdam is one among the foremost attractive cities in Europe. As such, it’s no small wonder that Amsterdam became so fashionable gay visitors. for hundreds of years ‘Amsterdammers’ have had a relaxed and tolerant attitude towards different lifestyles. ‘Live and let live’ is one among the city’s favorite sayings. Amsterdam is worldwide famous for its annual Canal Parade, 80 decorated boats sail along the Prinsengracht which sees the canals lined by over half 1,000,000 spectators, demonstrates and celebrates the range of Holland’s gay and lesbian community. it's the most important gay pride event within the Netherlands, and one among the most important within the world. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Amsterdam Amsterdam Canal Parade - by Kitty Terwolbeck:Flickr Amsterdam Canal Parade – by Kitty Terwolbeck:Flickr Barcelona, Spain 5 To this day, along side Madrid, Barcelona remains one among the foremost liberal and gay-friendly cities anywhere within the world with many Spaniards relocating from a number of the more conservative areas of the country to measure their life here to the fullest. Catalonia, the state of Spain during which Barcelona is found , has passed in 2014 an anti-homophobia law that aims to defend LGBT rights. because of this law, people physically or morally offending members of the LGBT community might be fined by up to 140,000 euros. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Barcelona Circuit Festival - by Circuit Festival Official Facebook Page Circuit Festival – by Circuit Festival Official Facebook Page Barcelona, Spain2019 Pride Barcelona LGTBQ Festival - by 19bProduction : Shutterstock.com Barcelona, Spain2019 Pride Barcelona LGTBQ Festival – by 19bProduction : Shutterstock.com San Francisco, USA 4 San Francisco is perhaps the gay capital of America. The LGBT community in San Francisco is one among the foremost important and most prominent LGBT communities within the world and is one among the most important within the history of LGBT rights and activism. for many years , the town by the Bay has been a worldwide focus for gay nightlife, culture and politics. Visitors today can explore the Castro, where it all began. Castro is one among the primary gay neighborhoods within the us . it remains one among the foremost prominent symbols of LGBT activism and events within the world. LGBT life here isn't limited to the Castro neighborhood, though that’s a tourist draw permanently reason — it’s a queer Disneyland. San Francisco is home to more nightlife than you'll shake a go-go boy at, also as vibrant bear and transexual communities. If you’re gay, likelihood is that you’ve either been to San Francisco or decide to sometime in your life. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In San Francisco Castro District Rainbow Crosswalk Intersection - San Francisco , California, USA Castro District Rainbow Crosswalk Intersection – San Francisco , California, USA Rainbow crosswalk in Castro District in San Francisco in California USA Rainbow crosswalk in Castro District in San Francisco in California USA New York City, USA 3 New York is like no other city on earth. the range , the culture, the style. ny is certainly a city during a class all its own. Fashion, theatre, advertising and therefore the arts have perpetuated ny into one among the foremost gay-friendly cities within the world. Gay life is everywhere in ny City. Nightlife is vivid and overwhelming. you'll choose between endless variations on gay bars and clubs: from muscle mary clubs to cabaret piano bars, local intimate bars to modern gay lounges. In Manhattan, the gay scene is concentrated during a few neighborhoods. In Greenwich Village lays the origin of gay pride Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In ny City Historic Stonewall Inn gay bar in Greenwich Village Lower Manhattan - by littlenySTOCK : Shutterstock.com Historic Stonewall Inn gay bar in Greenwich Village Lower Manhattan – by littlenySTOCK : Shutterstock.com Big Gay frozen dessert Shop in Greenwich Village , Manhattan - by DimplePatel : Shutterstock.com Big Gay frozen dessert Shop in Greenwich Village , Manhattan – by DimplePatel : Shutterstock.com Berlin, Germany 2 In the 1920s (the Golden Twenties) Berlin was seen because the city with the foremost lively and advanced gay subculture in Europe. Today, Berlin sits because the gay capital of Europe. The breadth of its gay nightlife, the strength of its culture, and therefore the ever tested and changing community norms have easily eclipsed the city’s continental urban neighbors. it's just about a non-stop party, from the saunas, darkrooms, bars, clubs, cafés, festivals, balls, carnivals and celebrations a hedonist’s paradise, a sensualist’s haven, an aesthete’s delight and a raver’s Mecca, beat one package. The party scene is so diverse and innovative and celebrates any fetish! that's where the Folsom Europe fair takes place in September and therefore the Lesbian and Gay City Festival every June, Europe’s largest street party of its kind, being held within the traditional gay area around Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg since 1993. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Berlin Berlin Folsom Fair - by lilas59:Flickr Berlin Folsom Fair – by lilas59:Flickr Tel Aviv, Israel 1 Right at the guts of the center East, lies a city called Tel Aviv . A bubble of sanity in an otherwise difficult and tense area. Tel Aviv, a city blessed year-round sunshine and white sandy beaches, is one among the foremost liberal cities within the world. it's the foremost gay-friendly city, not only within the Middle East but within the entire world. This vibrant city is an undisputed queer capital of the center East, It offers a 24/7 non-stop activities, all year round great weather, great food, gay beaches and infinite of gay bars and night clubs. Every June Tel Aviv is celebrating the Gay Pride week, week of celebrations and happenings throughout the town proudly Expo (Gay Culture Fair), LGBT Theater festival, LGBT festival and therefore the famous Pride Parade which is one among the foremost colorful gay parades within the world. Where to stay: Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Pride Parade 2018 Tel Aviv Pride Parade 2018 Tel Aviv Pride Parade Tel Aviv Pride Parade Tel Aviv Beach - Jerusalem Beach Tel Aviv Beach – Jerusalem Beach Tel Aviv Beach Party

[blackkudos]

Todrick Hall

Todrick Hall (born April 4, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, director, choreographer and YouTuber. He first gained national attention on the 9th season of the reality singing competition American Idol, where he made it to the semi-finals. Following this, he amassed a following on YouTube with multiple viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.

Starting with season 8, Hall became a resident choreographer on RuPaul's Drag Race, and occasional judge. From 2016 to 2017, Hall starred as Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Later in 2017, he began appearances as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway and the West End.

As a singer-songwriter he has released three studio albums, including the visual albums Straight Outta Oz (2016) and Forbidden (2018).

Early life

Todrick Hall was born in Plainview, Texas, on April 4, 1985. His family consists of his mother, father, one brother, and a stepfather. He knew he was different, he liked playing with dolls, and worried if they would still accept him if he turned out to be one of those gay people they made fun of on television. Hall began studying ballet at nine-years-old, and later worked with Fantasia in The Color Purple. He came out as gay to his family when he was fifteen; it took them a few years to accept. He also appeared in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and performed with Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Career

2009–2010: American Idol

On August 24, 2009, Hall auditioned to the ninth season of American Idol in Dallas, Texas. He sang a self-composed song mentioning the judges – Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and guest judge Joe Jonas – to plead his case for inclusion in the program. All four judges approved of his participation; he went into Hollywood week and eventually the semi-finals. In the Top 24, he sang Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and in the Top 20, he performed Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It". He was eliminated in the Top 16 on 11 March 2010 after his rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love;" he was one of four contestants eliminated in that round, and thus ranked between 13th and 16th overall.

2011–2013: Career growth and YouTube fame

Hall joined YouTube on May 27, 2006, and posted his first video to the site, a performance of "It's Hard to Say Goodbye", in 2008. In following years, his audience has grown considerably: as of June, 2019, Hall currently has 3.1 million subscribers on YouTube, and as of March 2018, his videos have been viewed 531.9 million times. Hall's videos include several of his own original songs and music videos, choreographed flash mobs for Ariana Grande and Beyoncé performed in an actual Target store, (the latter of which Beyoncé personally recognized Hall for), musical collaborations with Pentatonix, and personal updates.

In May 2011, he released a video audition for the third season of Glee titled "I Wanna Be on Glee", for possible inclusion in the show. Though the video was popular, Hall was not cast in the program.In November 2013, Virgin America produced a pop-music safety video directed by Jon M. Chu with music by Jean-Yves Decornet. Hall wrote the song and lyrics and starred in the video.

In December 2013, Hall released a Christmas album entitled Dear Santa, with covers of "This Christmas" and "Sleigh Bells", produced by wiidope as well as original songs "So Cold" and "SplitsOnXmasTrees".

2014–2015: Pop Star High and Todrick docuseries

From April 1 to May 13, 2014, Hall released an eight episode web series on his YouTube channel called Pop Star High. The series takes place in a world where all of the most famous Pop Stars of our day all went to high school together. The series portrays and parodies pop stars like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Ne-Yo, Kanye West, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Tyga, and draws on the tropes of high school comedy movies. The soundtrack for the series was released on April 1, 2014.

On October 22, 2014, MTV announced Todrick, a docuseries following Hall, would premiere in 2015. On 20 December 2014, Hall produced and appeared in a commercial for the series and featured other celebrities' holiday wishes. Eight episodes of the docuseries were ordered and aired throughout 2015. The soundtrack for the show was released on October 13, 2015.

In October 2015, he was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where he performed live his single "Wind It Up".

2016–2017: Straight Outta Oz, Broadway, and RuPaul's Drag Race

Hall appeared as a guest judge on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race; the episode, which featured a Wizard of Oz-inspired challenge, first aired on April 11, 2016. Hall reappeared as a full-time judge for RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 2 later in 2016 and again for the ninth season aired throughout 2017.

Along with Drag Race, Hall frequently appeared on Logo TV's game show Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul alongside other celebrities. A second Season of Gay for Play is expected.

On June 23, 2016, Todrick self-released his second album, Straight Outta Oz. Straight Outta Oz is a visual concept album that uses the imagery of The Wizard of Oz to explore Todrick's own life and rise to fame. The project's first video was posted to YouTube on June 23, 2016 as well. Shortly thereafter, Hall announced the Straight Outta Oz Tour to promote the album. The tour originally ran between July 7, and August 12, 2016 in the United States and Canada.

The Straight Outta Oz Tour was interrupted by Hall's casting in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots. Hall starred as Lola, a drag queen cabaret performer. Hall's performance was well received by critics. He performed as Lola from November 1, 2016, to March 1, 2017.

The Straight Outta Oz Tour was revived in 2017 and ran between March 30, and June 5, in various North American, European, and Australian locations. It was accompanied by an expanded deluxe edition that included songs that were featured on the tour but not on the original version of the album. Additionally, the album included an extended version and new video for "Wrong Bitch" featuring Bob the Drag Queen, and a rerecorded version of Todrick's previous single "Low" featuring RuPaul.

In August 2017, he had a cameo as a back-up dancer in the music video for Taylor Swift's song, "Look What You Made Me Do".

From November 30, 2017, to January 14, 2018, played Billy Flynn in a limited engagement role in Chicago. During his tenure, the show had its best-grossing week in its 21-year Broadway history.

In December he released the documentary film Behind the Curtain about the production behind Straight Outta Oz. It was screened in select theatres and later released on home video. Later that month he had a guest appearance in the Bob's Burgers Season 8 episode "The Bleakening" as drag queen Miss Triple-Xmas (or Cleavage to Beaver) performing the song "Twinkly Lights". He also released a medley of covers of songs from the Pitch Perfect film series that was featured on the Pitch Perfect 3 Special Edition soundtrack.

2018–present: Forbidden, Haus Party & The Greatest Dancer

In March 2018 he announced his new visual album follow-up to Straight Outta Oz called Forbidden. It was released on March 27, 2018. To promote the album, Hall embarked on Forbidden: The Tour across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

On May 15, 2019, Hall revealed that he will be releasing a trilogy of extended plays to be released across the next six months. The first EP, Haus Party, Pt. 1, was released on May 23, 2019. The first single "Glitter" was released with the album pre-order on May 16, 2019. It also featured Hall's first big hit "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels." The EPs will be supported by the Haus Party World Tour. While it was originally announced that Part Two would be released in July followed by Party Three in September 2019, the release of Haus Party, Pt. 2 was delayed to September 19, 2019.. It was supported by the singles "Wig", "Fag", and "Dripeesha" (featuring Tiffany Haddish). Part Three was originally announced to be released on October 30, 2019, then November 27. It was put up for pre-order on January 10, 2020 with two singles available, "Blue" and "Pink Dreams", and an announced release date of February 14, 2020. However, this was later pushed back to May 1, 2020.

On June 17, 2019, Hall appeared in the music video for singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's song "You Need to Calm Down"; he co-executive produced the video with Swift. On June 19, 2019, Hall announced that he will be returning to Broadway to play Ogie Anhorn in the musical Waitress opposite friend Colleen Ballinger, who will be making her Broadway debut as Dawn Williams from August 20 until September 15.

In August 2019 he joined the panel of Dance Captains for the second series of The Greatest Dancer alongside the other Dance Captains Cheryl, Oti Mabuse and Matthew Morrison. The series aired on BBC One in January 2020.

Artistry

Hall is a baritenor with a soulful, expressive voice, including falsetto; in addition to a singer, Hall is also a rapper. The genre of his works include R&B, pop, hip hop, neo-soul, funk, and musical theatre. Many of his lyrics include elements of social commentary, such as gun violence in and against black communities in "Water Guns" (featuring Jordin Sparks), acceptance of interracial relationships in "Color" (featuring Jay Armstrong Johnson) and queer culture; Hall writes and produces much of his own music with Jeeve Ducornet and wiidope. Hall also posts musical tributes to his favorite musical artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift. These tributes feature elaborately-produced mashups of the artists' songs sung by Hall.

Hall's music videos often feature extravagant production value not typically associated with artists outside major labels. Hall's videos often include bespoke costumes and urban fashion, elaborate sets, and extensive choreography, much of which is designed or created by Hall himself. He frequently directs his own videos as well. As part of his style, many of Hall's music videos include drag as a central component, either featuring Hall in drag himself or famous drag queens including RuPaul, Bob the Drag Queen, Willam Belli, and Alaska Thunderfuck, among others.

Personal life

He came out as gay at the age of fifteen.

[oneshul]

This Thanksgiving, Thank God You’re American: The Tale of Asser Levy, New Amsterdam Jew, 1654

Sholom Aleichem, Stranger! My name is Asser, Asser Levy, of—so many places! First Spain, then Holland; Brazil after, and now, America. And you know, something about you made me take you for a Jew. Keep your voice down; Governor Pieter Stuyvesant’s spies are everywhere—not unlike the Inquisition, which I, and belike yourself, escaped. Never mind: come inside—the winds blow coldly across Mannahatta Bay at this time of year, and my missus will prepare a cup of hot tea to warm your bones—(shouts) Gertruida, my dear! Tea, for our guest!

How did I know that you are Jewish? I will tell you this: my old father, God rest his soul, would tell me from an early age that we Jews appear—different from other folk. Not that I wish any harm to the gentiles, regardless of what they may think of me. And, to speak truth, my gentile neighbors and I have worked together to build this little piece of Holland, here in the New World. I consider most of them to be friends. Ha! (laughs bitterly) Even those who denigrate our kind for being usurers and blasphemers of their Saviour’s Name, are first at my door when I butcher a cow or goat, and my dear wife, Gertruida, cooks her famous stew. The delicious smell permeates the neighborhood!

There are, indeed, dangers: plague, Indians, and even nature, which plots against us, especially in the winter. I cannot remember such a cold, or so much snow, in Old Holland, let alone in Spain. We huddle together beneath bearskin blankets and wait for spring to arrive.

How is life here? The Dutch people are fair enough: some better, some worse than others. I have found that most Jew-hatred stems from ignorance, and fight it by being, simply, the best human being I can be. It seems to work—that, as well as there simply not being very many of us here. That fool (whispering), Governor Stuyvesant, only grudgingly accepted our twenty-four Jews to enter his colony. It’s not his—it’s the property of the Dutch West Indian Company! After the French captain tossed us off the ship like trash, after the riskiest voyage of our lives, we huddled on the dock like water rats. Imagine: first, escaping Brazil when the Portuguese Navy—with those devil-priests of the Inquisition undoubtedly on board—suddenly appeared in Pernambuco Bay.

We narrowly escaped, on a French ship, the Sint Catrina, whose thieving captain, one Jaques de la Mothe, thought we were rich—are not all Jews rich? He was disappointed in our poverty, and we were disappointed in his seamanship—my little boy Solomon could have escaped the pirates that attacked us, but de la Mothe panicked and ran up a white flag. We losteverything! Still, I thank God that we are all alive and well, except Isaac Carmiel, who was so fearful of the pirates, that he leapt overboard and was eaten by sharks. No great loss: he was a drunkard and cheated at dice;he defamed the Name of God.

As for Stuyvesant—pah! (spits on the ground) I have met Jew-haters before, but he is paramount. He first refused to let us Jews into the colony—does he think that Europeans are flocking to this icy, godforsaken place? He wrote to the Board of Directors of the West Indian Company—and so did we. Luckily, the Company ordered him to allow us entrance—there are a number of Jews on the Board, and still more own shares in the Company. Ha! Still, Stuyvesant has spurned our every petition for equality—he refuses to let us build our own houses, construct a synagogue, open various shops—I am a skilled butcher; my friend Jacob Barsimson is a baker—or even join the town guard, despite the ongoing danger of Indian attack.

The first time that Jacob and I presented his Governorship with a petition, Peg-leg Peter presented his most frightening mien—he is a tall man, of muscular build—well, he has been a soldier for most of his life. He roared at us, shook his fists, and whacked his silver-headed walking-stick on his desk—so hard, we were surprised it did not break. Of course, he knew nothing about what he was speaking—stuff and nonsense about how we were all on welfare. We waited for him to take a breath, and then explained, politely, that, as former Spanish subjects and current Dutch burgher-citizens, we are entitled to the same civil rights as any other Dutchman. Never mind: another letter to the Board, another petition to the Court—it all builds our position here in New Amsterdam, little by little. Not to be disloyal, but (whispering) my friend Chaim Henriques saw a small sloop with the British Union Jack scouting our coast, just t’other day—we suspect that the English may be planning to take over our little colony, and soon.

Must you leave so soon, Stranger? Ah, you are headed north, to Massachusetts? Is that a good idea? After all, neither Puritans nor Pilgrims are, despite their love of Scripture, particularly fond of us folks who wrote it. Sit, stay a while! I have a little jug of rum in the cupboard for emergencies, and, with the snow falling outside, this seems as good an emergency as any—Sit! Gertruida—fetch those wooden cups, and join us for a nip of toddy!

Nothing like rum for thickening the blood. A question? About me? Ah, but Friend, I am but a simple butcher, an American—dare I say it?—who happens to be Jewish. Why do I fight so hard against that petty tyrant, that old Peg-Leg (He teases up his hair to cover his Royal Baldness, too, he does; my Gertruida does laundry for his missus, and they talk), that rotten excuse for a Governor? Because I want—I want—(drinks) to see our people free. Yes: free, in this New World. There is room here enow for Jews, Christians, agnostic, atheists—yes, and Blacks and Indians, too! All free. You ask, and I answer: that is all I want, and I will spend my life fighting for it. Drink, Stranger—l’chaim!

Asser Levy, among the first twenty-four Jews to enter the New World, never hesitated to fight for his rights as an immigrant to New Amsterdam. An Ashkenazi, rather than a Sephardic Jew, he tirelessly petitioned the governor to allow the Jews to participate in the Town Guard, rather than pay the “Jew Tax” customary in Europe. This succeeded, but Jews were not allowed to run for public office until Francis Salvador of SC in 1775, who later died in the Revolution. The Jews never did get their synagogue during Levy’s lifetime; Cong. Shearith Israel (The Remnant of Israel) was not built until 1730, long after Levy’s passing. (A Jewish Cemetery was founded in 1756, however; death was a near and frequent visitor, regardless of religion.) Levy did, eventually, get his butcher shop, on the understanding that he was not allowed to dispatch pigs. He is buried in an unknown grave, but both a public school and a public park in NYC bear his name.

Rabbi David Hartley Mark is from New York City’s Lower East Side. He attended Yeshiva University, the City University of NY Graduate Center for English Literature, and received semicha at the Academy for Jewish Religion. He currently teaches English at Everglades University in Boca Raton, FL, and has a Shabbat pulpit at Temple Sholom of Pompano Beach. His literary tastes run to Isaac Bashevis Singer, Stephen King, King David, Kohelet, Christopher Marlowe, and the Harlem Renaissance.

[brn1029]

Plenty of folks that no one has ever heard of before. We here at the Bone Radio Network, hope to enlighten you as to who they were..

January 31st

1957 - Bill Haley

Decca Records announced that Bill Haley & His Comets, 'Rock Around the Clock' had sold over a million copies in the UK, mostly on 10inch 78's. The version of 'Rock Around the Clock' that was used in the movie Blackboard Jungle differs from the hit single version. The difference is in the two solo breaks.

1959 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley had his third UK No.1 single 'One Night / I Got Stung' a double A side, (originally written and recorded under the title 'One Night of Sin') a revival of the Smiley Lewis's R&B hit. Presley was in the army by the time this song reached No.1.

1967 - John Lennon

The Beatles spent a second day at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, England to complete filming for the 'Strawberry Fields Forever' promotional video. The film was shot in colour, for the benefit of the US market, since UK television was still broadcasting only in black and white. Taking time out from filming John Lennon bought a 1843 poster from an antiques shop in Surrey which provided him with most the lyrics for The Beatles song 'Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite'.

1969 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin played the first of two nights at The Fillmore East, New York City during the band's first North American tour. Porter's Popular Preachers opened the night, then Led Zeppelin took the stage. It is alleged that Zeppelin's show was so powerful and got such an enthusiastic audience that headliners Iron Butterfly refused to follow them.

1970 - Slim Harpo

American blues musician Slim Harpo died of a heart attack while recording in London aged 46. His most successful and influential recordings included ‘I'm a King Bee’ (1957), ‘Rainin' In My Heart’ (1961), and ‘Baby Scratch My Back’ (1966). A master of the blues harmonica, his stage name was derived from the popular nickname for that instrument, the "harp". The Rolling Stones, Pretty Things, Yardbirds and Them all covered his songs.

1976 - Abba

ABBA knocked Queen from the UK No.1 position on the UK singles chart with 'Mamma Mia.' Queen's single 'Bohemian Rhapsody' had enjoyed a nine week run at the top of the charts, by coincidence, Queen's single contains the famous "mamma mia, mamma mia, mamma mia let me go" line.

1978 - Greg Herbert

Greg Herbert saxophone player with Blood Sweat & Tears died of an accidental drug overdose in Amsterdam, Holland aged 30. Blood, Sweat & Tears won a Grammy Award in 1969 for Album of the Year.

1981 - Blondie

Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles hart with 'The Tide Is High', the group's third US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK.

1984 - Queen

Queen's 'Radio Ga Ga' entered the UK charts at No.4. The track which was released after Queen's recording and touring hiatus of over a year spent eleven weeks in the chart, peaking at No.2.

1987 - Paul Simon

Paul Simon went back to No.1 on the UK album chart with Graceland, (the album stayed on the chart for a total 101 weeks). 'Graceland' later won the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, while the title song won the 1988 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

2007 - Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was enlisted to help fight global warming more than 35 years after his death. 'Woman in the Window', a previously unreleased poem written and recorded by The Doors frontman shortly before he died in 1971 was being set to music and used to publicise the Global Cool campaign.

2008 - Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha Bedingfield entered the US chart at number three with her album Pocketful of Sunshine, equaling the record set by soul singer Sade in having the highest-ever US chart debut for a UK-signed female. The British singer sold 50,000 copies of the record in its first week of release.

2009 - Dewey Martin

Dewey Martin drummer with The Dillards and Buffalo Springfield died aged 68. The Canadian musician had the 1967 US No.17 hit single 'For What It's Worth' with Buffalo Springfield as well as working with The Monkees. In 1971, Martin retired from the music industry to become a car mechanic.

[ib2se]

B:sides ~ weLLsh  

The B:sides-Playlist 2017-10-30 @ Radio Vättervåg 98,5 Mhz

This week: weLLsh

1. 'B:zväng' TextMix & reading af MrZ Komposition & Produktion af SkåneJokke Lütz [0:41]

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WELSH FOLK compiled by Cerys Matthews ~ albumrelease 27th October 2017 [ EUCD2744 ] ~ 2. Nansi Richards: Pwt ar y Bys (A Little Something for the Fingers) (trad., arr. Nansi Richards) From ‘Brenhines y Delyn/Queen of the Welsh Harp’ - Nansi Richards We kick off with a recording of the original Queen of the Harp, Nansi Richards, playing a traditional tune recorded in the twilight of her life. Nansi must have been some character. Like Jimi Hendrix, she played tricks with her instruments, playing harp with her back turned, or 2 at a time. Born in Oswestry in 1888, she went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music, London, and toured America. A huge figure in Welsh folk, she taught triple harp to Llio Rhydderch, as well as Dafydd and Gwyndaf from Ar Log, all of whom feature in this collection. ℗ 1959, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed [2:15] 3. Robin Huw Bowen: Gypsy Waltzes (trad., arr. Robin Huw Bowen) From ‘Y Ffordd i Aberystwyth/The Road to Aberystwyth’ - Robin Huw Bowen Robin Huw Bowen is the world’s leading exponent of our national instrument, the triple harp. Interestingly, the tradition of playing this harp with three rows of strings and no pedals is alive and well today, only thanks to a family of Roma travellers led by Abram Wood, whose descendants would play harp for Queen Victoria. Enjoy the strength and muscularity of Robin on this track. He says, “Two wonderful Victorian swingers from the inimitable playing of Eldra Jarman. I had snatches of the first tune from Eldra while she was still alive, and then the second tune from a recording made of her by Professor Peter Crossley- Holland. Then I had the complete version of the first tune from an old BBC programme about Eldra… in St Ffagan’s Museum.” Robin is the only full-time professional Welsh harpist specializing solely in the Welsh triple harp, and his influence on the world of Welsh folk music and harping has been far-reaching. ℗ 2007, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed [3:36] 4. Crasdant: Pibddawns Trefynwy (Monmouth Hornpipe) (trad., arr. Robin Huw Bowen/Andy McLauchlin/Stephen P. Rees/Huw Williams) From ‘Dwndwr/The Great Noise’ - Crasdant The harp reigns supreme in Welsh folk music, so here’s another, and again with Robin but joined this time by Stephen Rees, Andy McLauchlin, and the whistles and the stepping sound of clog dancer Huw Williams as Crasdant. For me this is the Welsh folk tune where one might regress to being a child, dressed head to toe in scratchy Welsh flannel learning folk dance steps. ℗ 2005, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sain [3:53] 5. Phil Tanner: The Gower Reel (trad.) From ‘The Gower Nightingale’ – Phil Tanner Phil Tanner is one South Glamorgan’s greatest traditional folk singers. He was originally from Llangenith in the Gower Peninsula, South Wales, where he had sung all his life, however he wasn’t recorded until he was in his seventies. He became renowned locally as “the Gower Nightingale” and recorded for the likes of Columbia and the BBC. He passed away in February 1950 and was remembered in a BBC Radio 4 tribute by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas who referred to him as, “the voice of the sanest, happiest, kindest eccentric I ever knew”. ℗ 2003, Veteran Tapes licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Veteran Tapes www.veteran.co.uk [3:35] 6. Calan: Rhif Wyth (Rhif 8 - No. 8) (trad., arr. Calan) From ‘Bling’ – Calan Calan bring together the remarkable talents of 5 young musicians giving a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary and lively approach, they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. ℗ 2008, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licens [2:44] 7. Cayo Evans: Men of Harlech (trad., arr. Cayo Evans) From ‘Marching Songs of The Free Wales Army’ – Cayo Evans Cayo was conscripted into the British Army aged 18, and served actively in Malaya. This experience, coupled with his fascination with politics, inspired by a Polish man who taught him at Millfield, embittered him towards the British Government and their manhandling of Wales. He was said to be radicalised after the drowning of a Welsh village to build Tryweryn reservoir (see Meic Stevens’ bio – CD1, track 2) and formed the Free Wales Army, whose dalliances with explosives and other public order offenses ended up with him serving a 13-month prison sentence. This track of the very famous marching song Men of Harlech has Cayo introducing then playing the accordion, and was released in 2008 on Anhrefn Records, Anhrefn being one of the pioneering bands singing Welsh language music across Europe in the punk era. ℗ 2008, Anhrefn Records licensed to [1:36] 8. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog: Didl-Dei (Aled Wyn Hughes/Iwan Glyn Hughes/Dafydd Rhys Hughes, arr. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog) ‘Didl-Dei’ appears on Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog’s album ‘Dawn y Trychfilod’ on the Sbrigyn Ymborth label. www.sbrigynymborth.com Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a folk band consisting of three brothers, Aled, Dafydd, and Iwan Hughes from Rhos Botwnnog, the Llyn Peninsula, and accompanying musicians and singers. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh. This example is a tiny but wonderfully whimsical interlude from this band worth checking out live and on record. ℗ 2007, Cyhoeddiadau Sbrigyn Ymborth licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sbrigyn Ymborth [0:26] 9. Cass Meurig and Nial Cain: Tair Meillionen (trad., arr. Cass Meurig/Nial Cain) From ‘Deuawd’ – Cass Meurig and Nial Cain Cass plays the fiddle and crwth, that medieval bowed lyre with gut strings and droney sound. She grew up in the north of England playing tunes and singing with her parents and sisters. Over the last few years she has played internationally and recorded with Welsh bands Pigyn Clust and Fernhill. Here she plays alongside Nial Cain, on guitar, who grew up in Deiniolen, in the slate quarrying heartland of North Wales. With a rich history of playing with folk and ceilidh bands, he played in many of Tyneside’s barn dance bands including the Borderers where he was taught fiddle by leader Forster Charlton, a living link to the pre-folk revival tradition. Ten years ago he moved back to North Wales and found his interest in the Welsh folk music tradition rekindled. ℗ 2008, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [2:43] 10. Llio Rhydderch: Dafydd y Garreg Wen (David of the White Rock) (trad., arr. Llio Rhydderch) From ‘Melangell’ – Llio Rhydderch Another intuitive musician who can make me burst into tears, such is the poignancy of her playing. Here Llio plays Dafyd y Garreg Wen, first published in 1784 by Edward Jones, the king’s harpist. Edward was the first to claim that the Dafydd in the title was a Caernarvonshire harpist who wrote the tune on his death bed (although there are some whispers that allude to a Scottish or even Russian origin. We’ll never know!). Llio Rhydderch is a traditional Welsh harper, a creative artist who is recognised as a most innovative and influential exponent of the Welsh triple garp. Llio is descended from the ancient Welsh harpers in an unbroken direct line which extends back many centuries. Through her, this unique line lives on and she is pivotal in its preservation as she passes on this ancient art to the next generation, teaching them to play traditional airs by ear, to be able to write variations before returning to the original melody. ℗ 2001, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [2:20] 11. Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita: Ceffylau (Horses) (Catrin Finch/Seckou Keita) From ‘Clychau Dibon’ – Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita (A Theatr Mwldan/Astar Artes co-production) Catrin is a fearless and natural performer and rare in that she is totally at home across genres: classical, jazz, folk and world music. Catrin has won accolades the world over for her virtuosic performances with some of the world’s finest orchestras. She has also worked with Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté, and Colombian band Cimarrón, and switches from Bach’s Goldberg Variations to traditional folk or Colombian joropo music with ease and aplomb. Seckou Keita, from the Casamance area of Senegal, was born into the world-famous royal Keita and griot Cissokho families, and has played with his uncle Solo Cissokho and Guinean master djembe player Mamady Keita, in addition to appearing with both Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour, and more recently alongside Paul Weller, Damon Albarn and Julia Holter on the Africa Express presents The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians tour. I love how these two great players share with us their joy in bringing their far-off traditions together in such a beautiful collision. ℗ 2013, Catrin Finch/Seckou Keita/Theatr Mwldan/Astar Artes licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita [5:17] 12. Elinor Bennett: Pant Corlan yr Ŵyn (trad., arr. Elinor Bennett) From ‘Y Delyn Gymreig/The Welsh Harp’ – Elinor Bennett Elinor Bennett is one of Wales’ most distinguished musicians, and has travelled extensively giving concerts, recitals and masterclasses. She is regarded as one of Britain’s most influential harp teachers, who, by the by, also taught Catrin the harp. Eagle eared listeners might also recognise her playing, as she was the harpist who played with us on Bulimic Beats on Catatonia’s Equally Cursed and Blessed. This is another firm favourite on the Welsh folk dance floor, a useful tune to wave those handkerchiefs to thank your adoring audience as you make the final circle and leave the stage. ℗ 1985, Sain (Recordiau) Cyf licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Sain [2:33] 13. DnA (Delyth and Angharad Jenkins): Glyn Tawe (trad., arr. Delyth and Angharad Jenkins) From ‘Adnabod’ – DnA - Delyth and Angharad Jenkins Traditional and new Welsh music on the harp and fiddle. DnA by name, DnA by nature: music is in the very DNA of this hugely talented mother-and-daughter duo from Wales, both of whom enjoy international reputations not only as soloists but as members of such bands as Calan, Adran D, Aberjaber and Cromlech. Whether they’re vamping up a traditional oldie or minting something entirely new, there’s a timeless beauty to these intimate and irresistible conversations between harp and fiddle. ℗ 2013, Fflach Cyfyngedig licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by Cyhoeddiadau Mwldan Publications [4:22] 14. Jamie Smith’s MABON: Croeso Ioan (Jamie Smith, arr. Jamie Smith’s MABON) From ‘The Space Between’ – Jamie Smith’s MABON Jamie Smith’s MABON is an InterCeltic band; composer-accordionist Jamie was taken every year by his folk-dancing parents to the mighty Festival Interceltique in Brittany, surrounding him from an early age with music from the Celtic regions and beyond. He accompanied Welsh dancers at just five years old. Joining him here are Oli, a Welsh fiddler with Balkan flair; Paul, a guitarist from Wales who’s more Manx than plenty of people born on the Isle of Man; Matt, a bluegrassloving bass player from Carmarthen; and Iolo, a drummer from the Welsh woods with a passion for world music and jazz. They’ve played WOMAD, WOMEX, Shetland, Rainforest World Music Festival (Borneo), Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, Hebcelt, Celtic Connections, and the massive Festival Interceltique de Lorient. ℗ 2015, Easy on the Records licensed to ARC Music Productions International Ltd. Published by James Joughin AKA Jamie Smith [3:14]

15. 'Rome' from In The Midst Of Chaos There Is Stillness-CDn af Fleur de Lis [5:08] 16. 'In The Well' from Conquer Me-CDn af Namur [2:46] 17. 'In The Street' from Night Drops af Indian Wells [3:36] 18. 'All Was Well' from Live at Victoriateatern af Wintergatan [4:27] 1 jingle incl tune from Kmag #107 af Loopmasters Samples & 2 jingles from B:sides on Spotify DAGENS SYNAXARIUM This weeks BibleVers: "For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly." ~ Proverbs 5:21-23 Drink Espresso - God bless U! /MrZ :)

www.ib2.se Soli Deo Gloria

  All Pix: MrZ ~ Wättern.se

Join Generation XYZ @ gen.xyz 

Z

[shelleyseale]

Power Play: Theater Productions Highlighting Women of History

From Ann Richards to Princess Diana to the Six wives of Henry VIII, these three productions highlight famous women of history

Director Benjamin Endsley Klein, Star Libby Villari, Writer Holland Taylor, and Stage Manager Robert Tolaro. Photo by ZACH.

ANN by Holland Taylor

Tough as nails. Funny as hell. ANN is an intimate, no-holds-barred portrait of Ann Richards, the legendary late Governor of Texas. This inspiring and hilarious play brings us face to face with a complex, colorful, and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. Written and originally performed by Emmy Award-winner Holland Taylor, ANN takes a revealing look at the impassioned woman who enriched the lives of her followers, friends, and family. At ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas, Libby Villari brings Ann Richards to life this summer in Holland Taylor’s Broadway hit. Original Broadway Director Benjamin Endsley Klein returns with most of the Lincoln Center Broadway creative team to resurrect this larger-than-life character in Austin. Villari is best known for her role as Mayor Lucy Rodell on the hit TV show Friday Night Lights, which was filmed in Texas. ANN will play at ZACH through September 8, 2019. “I do not want my tombstone to read, ‘She kept a really clean house.' I think I'd like them to remember me by saying, ‘She opened government to everyone'.” - Ann Richards

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

The first North American production of “Six,” a British pop musical about the guess-how-many wives of Henry VIII, is now running at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The production will make stops in Massachusetts, Alberta and Minnesota before arriving on Broadway in New York early next year. "For centuries, the wives of England’s King Henry VIII have been remembered largely for the ways their marriages came to an end," writes Michael Paulson in The New York Times. "Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived. Now comes a pair of young British theater-makers, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, with a revisionist take on those sorry stories: 'Six,' a pop musical in which each woman gets, at least for a few minutes, to reframe her fame." Featuring an all-female cast and an all-female band, “Six” is structured as a singing competition with the women’s miserable marriages as the theme. The show is directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage. Already a hit in London’s West End, the  Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 12-week run sold out and broke box-office records. It was so popular, in fact, that the theater had to add seating capacity.

"Princess Diana: the Musical" Playing in Theaters Across U.S.

With July 29th having marked the 38th anniversary of the marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles, it’s a poignant reminder of how beloved “Princess Di” was in life and so remains in death. With this in mind, award-winning singer-songwriter Karen Sokolof Javitch has written the “Princess Diana: the Musical” that spotlights Princess’ relationship with Prince Charles, focusing on their courtship, marriage and divorce. "The marriage is still the most watched royal wedding in history,” notes Javitch. “Millions still remember how Princess Diana omitted the word ‘obey’ for the first time ever in a royal wedding, and so began a reverence for this maverick royal."

For this touching, one-of-a-kind musical, Javitch wrote all 32 of the songs, arranged by Chuck Penington of Mannheim Steamroller, which reflect Diana’s transition from being an unknown 19-year old to becoming one of the most famous women in the world. Not surprisingly, the musical is gaining in popularity and has been produced by theater groups and troupes in multiple cities across the United States. Musical theater buffs may listen to one of the songs from the show, “There Was a Time,” t hat was the main song to “Princess Diana: The Musical,” here and the full array of songs may be accessed on Javitch’s web site here. Besides Javitch having co-written four musicals performed throughout America, she’s also produced no less than 15 albums with original music and was the creator and co-host of a popular radio show, “It’s the Beat.” Her family-friendly music includes a variety of songs about exercising and good health, celebrities, holidays, weddings, politics, children, babies, education, patriotism, love and family.  Also philanthropic, Javitch has raised over $350,000 for national and local charities through her original music. Especially this month, Javitch’s "Princess Diana: the Musical" represents one phenomenon celebrating another—a noble endeavor indeed. Read the full article

[gigsoupmusic]

JON GOMM, ACOUSTIC SINGER SONGWRITER SIGNS TO KSCOPE

Kscope have announced the signing of acoustic singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Jon Gomm. Working as an independent artist since the release of his debut album in 2003 marks the first time Jon has teamed together with a record label. He states, 'I’ve always been known as a fiercely independent artist, with whatever successes and failures all achieved by my own merit. In reality, it was a team, with my wife Natasha as my manager for over a decade. But when our daughter was born, something had to give, so she wisely quit. So after my own internal battle like when Clarke Kent fights a drunken Superman clinging to his old powers, I had to admit to myself that a big part of my working alone was that I was scared of being rejected. And because of that I’d fostered a lot of mistrust, to protect myself.  I realised that it’s not compromising my ethics to work with other independents who can help me. And maybe it was time to finally grow up. As soon as I mentioned to friends I was looking for a label, Kscope came up twice - once from Dan Tompkins (Tesseract), and once from someone who works in music promotion, and they both thought it would be a good home for me. So I met with the label, and they just want to help artists they love release music. It’s that simple. They don’t want to change me or my music or control it. And they are so, so patient. Thank fuck.  It feels like a symbiosis of two independent entities. I have not been eaten. In fact they’ve given me freedom I never had. Kscope MD Frederick Jude adds, 'We are truly excited to be working with Jon Gomm. Following a successful career to date, touring the globe, self-releasing music and video, amassing more than 32 million YouTube views and 187 thousand YouTube subscribers, we are thrilled to debut his new music on Kscope. '  https://youtu.be/nY7GnAq6Znw In January 2012 his song Passionflower went viral online, with the video passing 6 million hits at the time, resulting in national TV appearances in the UK, Portugal, Holland, Brazil and Turkey. Now in 2020 the video has passed 17,000,000 hits and for the first time as of today it is now available (HERE), newly recorded on Spotify. Commenting on the song that changed his life, 'Judging by what people tell me, it’s the song everyone wants to be able to stream. Living in the inner city in Leeds, your “garden” is a 12-foot square concrete yard glued to a million others. I once threw some passion fruit seeds in the dirt, almost as a joke. One day I came back from tour, and went out into the yard and there was green everywhere. I traced the vines back to this little pot where I’d thrown the seeds. It was like Roald Dahl had written this huge plant across my life. Then the first day of summer arrived, and this plant tasted sunlight, and buds all over it burst open into flowers pulsating with life. Thousands of miles from its tropical home, lost in the grey urban north, turning seemingly pointless struggle into vivid existence. So I wrote this song for it, and my friends made a video of me playing it, and the song then started to live out its own meaning, as it went from nothing, just from people sharing it, into a this life-changing phenomenon, so that I ended up playing on TV shows and stages all over the world, touring Europe, Australia, North and South America, Africa, China. Famous people told me they were fans, my childhood music magazines sprung to life.' Despite the success of the track Jon never recorded a version of Passionflower that he'd been happy with. So he called up an old friend, Australia based producer Andy Sorenson, who took Jon's raw, intimate solo acoustic performance, and placed it in an expanded landscape. This sound is also a reflection of the new music he will release on Kscope later this year, 'There's something about this reverberating stereo space that feels open, like lying beneath an enormous sky, but also the warmth just envelopes you at the same time, like being swaddled in some familiar, trusted place. It’s the sound I’m taking with me for the new music I’m creating now. This, now, is the Passionflower’s final form.' Filmed in November 2019 fans can watch a recently recorded clip of Jon performing “Passionflower” at the Paul McCartney Auditorium, Liverpool HERE Jon Gomm will be performing a live online launch show on SUNDAY JUNE 14, 2020 - 8:15pm UK / 9:15pm EU / 12:15pm Pacific / 2:15pm Central / 3:15pm Eastern / 4:15pm BRT Tickets Pay What You Want from jongomm.com/gig Read the full article

[jsheltonodu-blog]

Host Country Report

Images of The Netherlands:

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/0d60b5aa-0159-4acd-aac9-9dbe0aa5d1e

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/c92a517d-32c5-4a30-a1b8-319390196d97

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/74ec8cea-7623-42e4-baff-0647b3b679a2

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/6ccb31c4-e944-46c7-a1af-8f2cfdd42846

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/14a86870-957a-4298-a821-3e7280904af6

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b8c3fe67-7257-426c-86bb-b0731a66c7c2

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/5dcc3c11-0703-464a-8a67-841f74455890

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b7499ea2-3cb6-4c61-ac87-7cc528382061

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/aa8efbed-3354-4138-90c0-246e2aac6162

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/48a96f0b-7b78-40dc-925f-2c2d8fa209c8

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/a9c14d73-1b2f-44ba-a1f8-1ed20c07a05d

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/42f810c1-aa63-42d4-a0c9-f6380c3cc062

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/bd3688a7-40f4-43fb-84fa-b14d11ed4afd

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/ab73b5d4-ff41-440e-bc67-7bc4a110f60f

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/884420fa-0c3d-4489-9573-7051de5f43de

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/d4fbdd30-988b-4898-afcf-8c27e7ff4d8e

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/e6cee786-3799-4b51-a276-e07d653f884b

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/0dd260a3-f252-49ca-a596-f78335f02067

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/c4f5abc0-cc45-408c-8739-ec005f1ac702

https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/b58da731-2490-4212-9d46-3a3602666003

Videos of The Netherlands:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imjq5yQzNiI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd8gLq6iZg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3n41cfMrE4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv77Um4Fl2w

Music of The Netherlands:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQxITYASgBI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBrR_G70RE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eztx7Wr8PtE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWe8PRsW4T0

News Stories about The Netherlands:

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/03/number-of-dutch-coronavirus-patients-rises-to-321-no-school-for-thousands/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elfstedentocht-netherlands-skating-marathon-bill-whitaker-60-minutes-2020-03-08/

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/03/work-starts-on-the-netherlands-largest-solar-farm-so-far/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/04/construction-starts-in-netherlands-on-longest-cycling-bridge-in-europe

Travel blogs about and fiction fairy tales that originated in The Netherlands:

https://www.wanderlustingk.com/travel-blog/category/travel/europe/the-netherlands

https://fairytalez.com/region/dutch/

If you are planning on visiting The Netherlands, there are a lot of important things to know. The Netherlands is a country in western Europe. The country is bordered by the North Sea in the north and west, Germany in the east, and Belgium in the south. The culture in The Netherlands is similar to the culture in Germany. Of course, The Netherlands has its own unique culture. Amsterdam is the commercial and cultural capital of The Netherlands, is a top financial center in Europe, and has the oldest stock exchange in the world . Some of the top attractions within Amsterdam are the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh museum, and the historic canals. Rotterdam is another important city in The Netherlands. Rotterdam is well-known for being the home of the Erasmus University, the maritime heritage, world-famous architecture, and the largest port in the whole of Europe. The Hague is another very important city in The Netherlands. The Hague is the headquarters for the Dutch government, the Supreme Court, the Parliament, and the Council of the State. This city is also home to several foreign embassies and international organizations such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. A popular place to visit in The Netherlands is the fields of tulips in Holland. It is important to remember that tulip season is only about six to eight weeks of the year. If you plan to go visit the tulip fields, it is best to go during mid-April. Wherever you go in The Netherlands, cycling is the most common form of transportation. The Netherlands has a very interesting history. These key events and periods in Dutch history have shaped The Netherlands into the country that it is today. In ancient times, The Netherlands was a geographically difficult place to live with its rivers, lakes, wetlands, and woods. However, this protected the land from being invaded. In the middle ages, The Netherlands was one of the richest areas in Europe. At the end of the 18th century, the Kingdom of The Netherlands was created. During World War I, The Netherlands remained neutral. However, in World War II, The Netherlands was invaded and occupied by the Germans. After the difficult years of reconstruction directly after World War II, the Netherlands sustained in the second half of the 20th century a continuous and fast economical growth. Today the Netherlands is one of the most developed and wealthiest countries in the world. Dutch is the official and most spoken language in The Netherlands. However, a large majority of the Dutch people also speak English. Dutch is one of the easiest languages to learn for people who speak English, because Dutch is somewhere between German and English. Since 1815, The Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy. Since 1848, The Netherlands is also a parliamentary democracy. Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in The Netherlands. Interestingly, over half of the population in The Netherlands report to not have a religion. Gender roles in The Netherlands were firmly divided along traditional gender lines not too long ago. In the years since 1960 the Dutch government has come to take an increasingly liberal position, essentially holding that the state must support the free choice of the individual. Men and women must be permitted to arrange their lives as they wish. And this should not be hampered by gender or the cultural ideas and practices surrounding how a man or a woman ought to be and act. From 1974 onwards, the Dutch government has tried to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for men and women. In the Netherlands, one of the most popular national newspapers is De Telegraaf. One of the most popular Dutch television stations is NPO 1, and one of the most popular Dutch radio stations is Radio 10. The Netherlands has a viable film industry. According to IMDb, two of the most popular dutch films are Backslide, a film about two dutch boys that have an extremely close friendship that causes them to lose grip on reality and commit violent crimes, and Black Book, a film about a Jewish singer that infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch renaissance when The Netherlands was invaded by Germans during World War II. The Dutch vary in their food due to the influence of different cultures. Here are some foods that they will eat for breakfast or lunch: bread, crackers, biscuit, jam, cheese, meat, oatmeal, yogurt, Brinta, and a tosti (which is similar to a toasted sandwich). Breakfast is usually eaten between six and eight in the morning. Lunch is normally eaten between twelve and two in the afternoon. For dinner, a typical Dutch meal consists of meat, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. Dinner is usually eaten between five and seven in the evening. Families mostly eat together around the dinner table. Some unique food in The Netherlands is Stroopwafel, which is a wafer cookie made from two thin layers of baked dough joined by a caramel filling; Poffertjes, which are little Dutch pancakes; and Bitterballen, which is stew meat that is breaded and fried. The most common greeting in The Netherlands is a handshake with a nod of the head. Among friends and family, it is common to greet one another by kissing on alternating cheeks three times. Like most of Europe, The Netherlands form of currency is the Euro. The traditional Dutch communication style is low context, focuses on words to convey meaning, and messages are taken more literally. Also, Dutch communication style is formal, is sensitive to position and age, avoids emotional displays, and values politeness. The Dutch communication style is more neutral. They are more likely to monitor the amount of emotion they display. Also, in regards to time, the Dutch are more likely to give full attention to tasks one at a time instead of having a flexible schedule. The Dutch are generally straightforward, direct, and to the point people. It is important to respect other people’s personal space and be polite. The Dutch are not too different from Americans in the way that they dress. However, to better interact with locals, it is better not to stick out like a tourist. So, it is better to avoid loud patriotic shirts and baseball caps, because they are not often worn in The Netherlands. Remember to take all safety precautions when in The Netherlands or visiting any country. Some things to remember are to not walk alone at night, keep the address of where you are staying in both English and Dutch, and be cautious of what bag you are carrying and how you are carrying it. The Netherlands is a beautiful country with rich culture, beautiful architecture, and various different places to visit. Enjoy your trip!

[tripstations]

Following Greta: joining the Swedes on their no-fly holidays | Travel

At Hamburg central station it felt like the whole of Sweden was taking the train to somewhere else in Europe. You could hear snatches of Swedish everywhere. When we queued up to buy water, both couples ahead of us were Swedes. An entire handball team from Gothenburg was going by rail to a tournament in Austria.

“Sweden is trend-oriented: if there’s a new trend, everyone will follow it,” said Anna Maria Hilborn, an art teacher I met when my five-year-old son started spinning around a signpost on the platform with hers.

Sweden’s flygskam, or flight shame, movement first came to notice in the summer of 2017 when the singer-songwriter Staffan Lindberg wrote an article co-signed by five of his famous friends, in which they announced their decision to give up flying. Among them were the popular ski commentator Björn Ferry, opera-singer Malena Ernman (the mother of climate activist Greta Thunberg), and Heidi Andersson, the eleven-times world champion arm-wrestler.

Concourse, Hamburg Hauptbahnhof. Photograph: imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photo

However, it was last summer that flygskam really gained momentum. Passenger numbers at Sweden’s 10 busiest airports fell 8% from January to April this year, following a 3% fall in 2018, according to Swedavia, which operates them. The number of journeys on Sweden’s national rail network increased by 5% last year and 8% in the first quarter of this year, according to Swedish Railways. Meanwhile, sales of Interrail tickets to Swedes increased by 45% in 2018 – and are expected to rise again this year.

“The big thing, of course, was the very warm summer last year,” Hilborn told me once we were on the train to the Rhineland city of Duisberg, the German countryside rattling by outside. “I think it affected people because it usually isn’t that hot in Sweden. It had an impact on farmers: they had to slaughter some of their animals early. And people felt it, too, of course.”

Seeing the effects of climate change in the here and now made Hilborn decide that next time she took her annual trip to visit her brother in Innsbruck, Austria, she would go by train.

“My personal impact won’t change a lot,” she said. “But when a percentage of people start doing something it creates a new norm. So, just by being a part of that movement and sharing it, I’m doing something.”

After nearly eight years living in Malmö, I’m perhaps Swedish enough to start following national trends such as flygskam, which made the official list of new Swedish words for 2018. I signed up to the country’s Flygfritt 2019 (Flight Free 2019) campaign in February – even though, strictly speaking, I had already failed, as I’d flown to the UK at the start of January.

Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg speaks at Extinction Rebellion’s environmental protest camp, London, April 2019. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images

Using the calculator on the International Railways Union’s EcoPassenger site, I realised that by taking the train, rather than flying, on my four annual visits back to the UK would cut my annual CO2 emissions by about 1.8 tonnes, if you adjust for the impact of emitting at height. That is close to half the total annual carbon emissions, excluding flights, of the average person living in Sweden. To me it seemed crazy to pass up that kind of reduction to save a few days and a few hundred pounds.

“Your poor children,” my stepmother said after I announced my plan to travel overland from Malmö to my parents’ home in Surrey. My wife, while supportive, had nightmare visions of me and the children stranded on a cold station platform for the night. Though the truth is that seven-year-old Eira and five-year-old Finn loved it. In each direction, they got more than 24 hours of nearly non-stop parental attention, unlimited screen time, and Lego sets and craft equipment bought by their Swedish mum.

There was the excitement of passing through five countries – Denmark, Germany, Belgium and France on the way out, plus the Netherlands on the way back – and the thrill of racing through the French countryside at 186 mph on Eurostar. At the good-value A&O hostel we stayed at in Hamburg, Eira was inexplicably reduced to hysterical laughter by the large selection of goodies you could sprinkle on top of your yoghurt at the breakfast buffet.

On the train to Duisberg, at 3½ hours the longest single leg of the journey, I also met Elin Persson and her husband Morgon, on their way to Málaga with their four children. Like Hilborn, Morgon is an artist: a glass-blower who transforms used wine and beer bottles into vases. Elin Persson conceded that many of the Swedes she had seen travelling fitted a particular demographic. And it is true that the success of the flygskam movement has generated a backlash, with politicians and columnists in Sweden attacking it as a form of one-upmanship: one where middle-class Swedes sneer at their working-class compatriots for taking charter flights to Thailand or the Canary Islands.

Duisburg harbour, Germany. Photograph: Getty Images

“Mostly, it is now middle-class, but hopefully it will spread,” said Susanna Elfors, co-founder of the Tågsemester (Train Holiday) Facebook group which over the last year has gained 90,000 members.

I’d been thrown together with the Perssons by a 20-minute signalling delay that meant we all risked the same domino-chain of missed connections.

“You are the group leader,” the conductor informed me with mock formality as he shared my route, which had slightly better connections, with other Brussels-bound passengers. In the end, we had just four minutes to rush down the underpass and up to the right platform in Duisberg – with Finn on my shoulders, my wheeled suitcase trundling behind and Eira gamely struggling to keep up.

We made it, but the experience underlines the risk of international train journeys in a system not yet designed for them. Instead of buying a ticket all the way to your final destination – as was the case before budget flights replaced international rail travel – a sequence of shorter journeys is now purchased. With the ticket I bought online from Loco2, we had reserved seats on specific Eurostar and German Intercity-Express (ICE) trains. If we missed a connection, we would have no right to take a later one.

In the days before I left Malmö, I’d regretted not making more of a holiday of it. Aside from an hour and a bit in Brussels, our only stop longer than 20 minutes was the hour and a half we had in Ösnabrück on the return leg. We did manage to entertain ourselves, however.

Although no one said anything, German travellers seemed less indulgent of small children than those back home in Sweden. But the comfortable table seats we had booked on the German ICE trains were perfect for drawing, playing Lego and making wool pom-poms. The short trips we had on standing-only overcrowded local trains in Germany and the Netherlands were more difficult.

Hook of Holland terminal, the Netherlands. Photograph: Alamy

We stayed away from the decent-looking ICE restaurant cars selling German food, such as currywurst and beef gulasch, but indulged ourselves whenever the trolley selling drinks and pretzel breads passed by (although coming from cash-free Sweden, I was astonished they didn’t take cards).

In Brussels, we visited an overpriced restaurant outside the station to try the national dish – some of the worst mussels I have ever eaten. I made up for the disappointment on the return leg, by gorging on deep-fried mussels from Hoekse Vishandel outside the Hook of Holland ferry terminal.

“Are there places like this all over the Netherlands?” I asked the owner. “There are,” he said. “But we’re the best.”

In Ösnabrück, a city in north-west Germany, we missed the medieval centre and renowned zoo but met an engineering student in Burger King who kept the children spellbound as he explained the workings of his self-built electric skateboard.

Osnabrück, Germany Photograph: Getty Images

On the 45-minute ferry from Germany to the Danish island of Lolland, the children threw themselves around in the wind so wildly on deck that they fell asleep as soon as we got onto the rail replacement bus to Copenhagen. Indeed, Finn was so exhausted that when, an hour later, he threw up half-digested spaghetti bolognese over his sister, he didn’t even wake up. By that time all we had left was a hop over the Öresund Straits, and a short cycle home to our apartment where, at well past midnight, the children were greeted by their relieved mother.

The trip took two more days than it would have if we’d flown, but they weren’t days wasted. They might even be the best I’ve spent with Eira and Finn all year.

Journey times from Malmo to London By train: from 18hrs 52minutes with four changes (source Loco2) – but factor in more time if you want a less tiring journey. For example Richard and family spent a night in Hamburg. By air: from 4hrs 25 minutes, with one stop (SAS).

Carbon emissions from Malmo to London By train: 53.9kg. By air: 269.8kg (source: ecopassenger.org)

• Tickets booked online at Loco2. Outbound journey: depart Malmö 3pm, travelling via Copenhagen to Hamburg (accommodation at the A&O Hostel); then to London St Pancras via Duisberg, Aachen (Eurostar from Brussels). Return journey: Stena Line night ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, and then to Malmö via Schiedam, The Hague, Hengelo, Osnabrück, Hamburg and Copenhagen. Trip cost: £710, for one adult and two children.

Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips

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The post Following Greta: joining the Swedes on their no-fly holidays | Travel appeared first on Tripstations.

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[topbeautifulwomens]

#Adele #dressyourface #follow #lips #makeuplooks #modelswanted #musician #nikon #rapper #view #women

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988 in Enfield, North London), known professionally as Adele, is an English jazz singer. Adele has described her musical flavor as “heartbroken soul”. She is the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice, which was given to artists who, at the time, had yet to release an album. She debuted at number one with her Mercury Prize nominated debut album 19 in the UK album chart and has since then been certificated platinum with sales over 500,000 copies.

Adele’s first public singing performance was in a school presentation where she sang “Rise” by Gabrielle. To make her seem like the singer, her mother made an eye patch with sequins, which she said was embarrassing. Adele then claimed she was influenced from the music of Etta James and Dusty Springfield at her teens by accident, as she stumbled on the artists’ CDs in HMV in the Classics section while looking for a clean hair style. She only got to listen to those songs for the first time as she was clearing her bedroom. She graduated from The BRIT School for performing arts & technology in Croydon in May 2006, which was the same performing arts school attended by Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Leona Lewis and Kate Nash. Adele credits the school with nurturing her talent. A month later, she published two songs on the fourth issue of online arts publication PlatformsMagazine.com. Since then Adele has played in small UK gigs, and has toured with best friend Jack Peñate, as well as Jamie T, Raul Midon, Amos Lee and Devendra Banhart. Adele went on her first UK headlining tour in October 2007. During her teenage years she checklisted demo’s and gave it to her friend Lyndon. He eventually put it on MySpace and it became very successful there. Adele got a record deal through MySpace. When she got a phone call she couldn’t believe it was real because the only record company she knew was Virgin Records. When a friend told her that it was a real record company she signed.

Adele’s first record, “Hometown Glory”, in which she sings the praises of Tottenham, was released on 22 October 2007 as a limited edition 7″ vinyl on Jamie T’s label Pacemaker Recordings, with B side “Best For Last”. “Hometown Glory” was featured as the single of the week on iTunes. Since launching her MySpace page on Christmas Eve 2004, Adele became popular on the site which she used as a media focus and test point for songs. She then signed to independent music label XL Recordings. In January 2008 released her second single “Chasing Pavements”, hitting #2 for 4 weeks in the UK Chart and still in the Top 40 14 weeks after release.

Adele performed Daydreamer on BBC Two’s Later With Jools Holland, alongside Paul McCartney and Björk; and then on BBC1’s Friworking day Night with Jonathan Ross on 7 December 2007, singing Chasing Pavements.

On 28 January 2008 her debut album 19, was released in the United Kingdom. The album went straight to #1 in the UK charts and was certified platinum within a month of its release.

In March 2008 Adele signed to Columbia Records in America, and embarked on her first live shows in North America and Canada, playing two sold out shows at Joe’s Pub in New York, a sold out show at LA’s Hotel Cafe, as well as two sold out shows at Cabaret in Montreal and Rivoli in Toronto.

In February 2008 Adele announced a new nine date UK tour, calling at Cardiff, Newcastle, Edinburgh, York, Manchester, Cambridge, Southampton, Birmingham, and London. The tour also includes overseas performances in Japan and the United States.

On 13th April 2008, Hometown Glory re-entered the UK Singles Charts at number 38 after featuring in an episode of the E4 show Skins.

On 11th May Adele performed a selection of songs from 19 at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent. She sang Cold Shoulder, Melt My Heart To Stone, Right As Rain, Hometown Glory, Tired and Chasing Pavements.

On 16 June 2008, Adele performed an exclusive set for Billboard Magazine. The set can be viewed here.

On 16 June 2008 Adele performed “Chasing Pavements” from 19 on The Late Show With David Letterman.

On the 20 June the album was released in the United States.

The album was written about a former boyfriend. The song Chasing Pavements refers to an incident that occurred at 6AM one day after a fight with that person during which Adele was running down the street alone. She thought to herself “What you’re chasing is you’re chasing an vacant pavement.” Adele finds it hard to sing Melt My Heart To Stone because it was written right after her breakup with the former boyfriend. Adele is alleged to have said that The Daydreamer was about herself daydreaming about her having the relationship the former boyfriend was allegedly having with another boy.

Adele plans to write her next album in New York because it would give her the inspiration she is lacking at home where she is comfortable.

On 10 December 2007, Adele was awarded with the first Brit Awards Critics’ Choice Award and has been nominated for a 2008 Mercury Prize award for her album 19.

She also received praises from Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine, who said it was “refreshing to hear something different” after a thousand years of “identikit bands who need to have to sound like The Libertines”.

Adele cherishes the praise she has received from Kanye West and Beyonce.

Adele’s success is occurring simultaneously with several other British female soul singers. The British press has dubbed her a new Amy Winehouse. Also she has been linked to a third British Musical Invasion of the United States. Adele commented that while this phenomena is unexpected she is “proud to be a part of it. I’m very pleased to be riding the wave”.

Adele lives with her mother in North London. She admitted that she was planning to buy a flat after receiving her record company advance, but spent it all on Burberry Clothes before “Chasing Pavements” was even released. She said in an interview that she likes being the centre of attention at home and with friends, but she is a little resistant with the negative aspects of fame especially when it comes to gossip and criticisms about her weight. “Iâ€ve always been a size 14-16, and been fine with it,” Adele said to the The Times. “I would only lose weight if it affected my overall health or sex life.” Adele commented that her weight is brought up far more often in the United States than in London and believes that reflects the Hollywood influence.

Adele is a self described “big drinker” who beverages to starve off boredom. She is worried because she can envisage herself at some future time becoming like Amy Winehouse. Adele does not use drugs, nor has she ever done so.

Name Adele Height Naionality English Date of Birth 5 May 1988 Place of Birth Enfield, North London, England, UK Famous for

The post Adele appeared first on Beautiful Women.

source http://topbeautifulwomen.com/adele/

[cliffcrego]

(Cliff Crego) "For angels know--meaning travels faster than light."LONG-LINE SONNETS are a new variation on an old form: four stanzas of 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 lines, without end-rhymes, and only with a rough step or syllable count--as in a dance--of ± 12 or 14 steps per line or phrase. As always, what is primary for me is the movement of the sound itself, as a kind of music. Very much secondary is how a poem is written down or notated on the page. Indeed, the notation is simply a kind of elementary score, no more and no less, just as if it were intended for flute or voice, or keyboard.The series is unified firstly from within by what I sense as a similar sonorous sound, with the long-line phrases all being based on the breath just as a good singer might do. In addition, there's much attention given to what I think of as related species of resonance. The latter replaces--happily, in my view--the somewhat rigid and outmoded emphasis on the mechanical patterns of similarity we call 'rhyme.'Second, for me personally, the series is held together by its mostly European cultural theme. In a word, what interests me here is what I sense as a kind of rough-hewn spiritual excellence:--a kind of miraculous clear mountain quartz of the soul just after its opaque gray-green clay is washed off. And this, regardless of where it manifests, whether it be a magnificent cathedral, a defiant old poet on top of an appallingly hubristic dam in the French-speaking Alps, or simply in the care and skill with which a mountain farmer builds his piles of well-composted cow shit. Indeed, this is what moves me to compose and work on them in the first place:--a kind of Heimweh or homesickness for a part of me that is much more European than North American. Part of that is my past. After all, I've lived in different European countries, especially the lowlands of Holland, and the highcountry of the Alps and Switzerland, the better part of my adult life. But this is not the Europe of tourist buses and famous attractions known to many speakers of English. It is a far lesser travelled, and yet much more vibrantly alive "old country" which exists in its own, indeed ancient, and to my way of thinking, still relevant time-space.In this view, real beauty does not grow old.The beauty and power of a Bach hymn, or of John Dowland, is in this sense timeless. And there is a part of Bach, for example, a depth of feeling and resonance, that I think we miss entirely in North America. The latter must--and I offer this only as a conjecture--have something to do with the beauty of the German language itself, as well as the organic power of the German highland countryside out of which its sound and rhythms emerged. The English spoken in North America is, to my ear at least, still far too young to have developed anything like this kind of deep relationship between sound, meaning, and a love of the living, pulsing land.SEE TEXT at: picture-poems.com/photoweek/firebird_10-20-10.htmlcontemporarypoesiaGedichtStravinskyClassical Music

[thumper-darling]

Can I ask you all 100 questions??

1. What is your middle name?

Lynn

2. How old are you?

17 (18 in about a month)

3. When is your birthday?

November 21st 

4. What is your zodiac sign?

Scorpio aS HECK 

5. What is your favorite color?

AGH RED/ PURPLE????

6. What’s your lucky number?

5 or 6

7. Do you have any pets?

no :’)

8. Where are you from?

Hell

9. How tall are you?

5 foot 7 binch 

10. What shoe size are you?

8 ½ to 9??

11. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A GOOD FEW, LEMME COUNT

12????

12. What was your last dream about?

Pennywise the motherfuckin clown was hunting me and I cried,,,t’was spooky

13. What talents do you have?

I can juggle, I act a bit,,,is creativity a talent?

14. Are you psychic in any way?

I DON’T KNOW, BUT I TRIED TO BE. I BOUGHT TAROT CARDS AND A BOOK TO HELP ME BE CLAIRVOYANT BUT IDK

15. Favorite song?

All-time fave: (If you want it) by Relient K

Current fave: Northwood by Oakhill

16. Favorite movie?

kids movie: “All Dogs Go To Heaven”

coming of age movie: “The Perks of being a Wallflower”

super-hero movie: “Spider-man: Homecoming”

Horror movie: “Scream” or “It”

Rom-Com: “Two Night Stand” or “Love, Rosie”

17. Who would be your ideal partner?

Tom??Holland??

18. Do you want children?

I don’t think so, maybe I’ll change my mind when I’m older. 

19. Do you want a church wedding?

Not really, I kind of want to elope if I ever get married

20. Are you religious?

No, but I was born into a Catholic family,,,so I’m “supposed” to be but,,,

21. Have you ever been to the hospital?

:’)

Of course

22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law?

Nope

23. Have you ever met any celebrities?

No, but I once Tinder matched with a guy who is in my new favorite band,,,so,,,

24. Baths or showers?

Showers plz

25. What color socks are you wearing?

none,,,dude,,,

26. Have you ever been famous?

Uh, no? But I’ve been on the cover of the newspaper in my town a few times

27. Would you like to be a big celebrity?

I’m not sure I would want to have a big celebrity status, but I’d like to be well-known and successful in what I do.

28. What type of music do you like?

Indie pop or alternative

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

No, but almost a few times??

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?

I have 3 on my bed, but only use 1

31. What position do you usually sleep in?

Curled up with crossed ankles, or sprawled out on my back 

32. How big is your house?

Pretty small. 

33. What do you typically have for breakfast?

Peanut butter and jelly or cereal 

34. Have you ever fired a gun?

n o 

35. Have you ever tried archery?

It was actually a lesson in my elementary school P.E. class, so yeah, a few times. My family is also really big into hunting, so my dad bought me a bow for Christmas when I was like, 12? I got pretty good at it, but I don’t hunt so,,it went unused.  

36. Favorite clean word?

Cluster

37. Favorite swear word?

Heckin ;)

38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

30 hours 

39. Do you have any scars?

A few 

40. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

L O FUCKING L 

41. Are you a good liar?

yes 

42. Are you a good judge of character?

NO BUT DAMN I WISH THAT I WAS BINCH 

43. Can you do any other accents other than your own?

I got pretty good at doing a british accent when I was younger 

44. Do you have a strong accent?

How the heck would I know?? I had an old friend from England who said that my accent was pretty heavy, but she’s my only source 

45. What is your favorite accent?

A U S T RA L I A N 

46. What is your personality type?

Sweet & stupid

Mainly naive 

47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing?

Um,,,a sweartshirt that I snatched from my friend’s brother. But as far as things that I’ve purchased myself, my jeans are the most expensive item of clothing at $36 

(Also, I realize it sounds like I stole the sweatshirt, but I didn’t. My friend let me keep it because her brother didn’t wear it anymore,,,so) 

48. Can you curl your tongue?

Yeet

49. Are you an innie or an outie?

Innie

50. Left or right handed?

right 

51. Are you scared of spiders?

A wee bit 

52. Favorite food?

I LOVE VEGGIE SUBS OR JALAPENO POPPERS 

53. Favorite foreign food?

Hmmm, greek spinach and cheese pie 

54. Are you a clean or messy person?

MESSILY CLEAN? 

55. Most used phrased?

“hecking, what?” or “Wow, I can’t believe ___”

56. Most used word?

Heck and Fuck 

57. How long does it take for you to get ready?

DEPENDS. Some days, 10 minutes. Others? 2 hours 

58. Do you have much of an ego?

Ewghhh, probably a lil itty bitty bit

59. Do you suck or bite lollipops?

WHAT KIND OF HEATHEN BITES THEM 

60. Do you talk to yourself?

Not usually, in my head mostly 

61. Do you sing to yourself?

On occasion 

62. Are you a good singer?

FUCKING NO,,MISS ME WITH THAT TALENT, BINCH 

63. Biggest Fear?

If I’m gonna be serious for a second, my biggest fear is being shot. 

64. Are you a gossip?

I mean,,,,,

65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?

Umm,,,I don’t know dude..UGHHHH, I hate thinking. HMmmmMMMM,,,,,The Perks of being a Wallflower (God bless its heart) is a bit dramatic. So that one counts 

66. Do you like long or short hair?

Personally, I love short hair. But, whatever makes you comfortable is ideal

67. Can you name all 50 states of America?

Michigan, Hawaii, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, California, New York, Georgia, Nevada, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Maine, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, omg why are there so many states, New Mexico, New Jersey, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kansas, Arkansas, who invented the state system in America bcuz fuck them, oH, Ohio, Idaho, Wisconsin, fuck it I listed 30 off the top of my head so fuck you 

68. Favorite school subject?

English (OBVI not geography)

69. Extrovert or Introvert?

Extrovert-ish

70. Have you ever been scuba diving?

No 

71. What makes you nervous?

Talking to people without a plan 

72. Are you scared of the dark?

Not always 

73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?

Not in most circumstances. 

74. Are you ticklish?

Nah motherhecker

75. Have you ever started a rumor?

Definitely not, don’t be rude

76. Have you ever been in a position of authority?

I don’t know, kind of? I’m a co-director for my old school’s theatre program, so that counts technically?

77. Have you ever drank underage?

WHHATTT??? ME?!??? No…

78. Have you ever done drugs?

IS THAT A WEED, I’M CALLING THE POLICE. 

79. Who was your first real crush?

I’m not gonna say his name, but he was in my 7th grade class. When I was new to the school, he was one of the few boys who was kind to me. 

80. How many piercings do you have?

None, I used to have my ears pierced, gauged even, but one of the holes closed up so,,,

81. Can you roll your Rs?“

NOPE 

82. How fast can you type?

I TRY TO BE FAST BUT I’M MERELY AVERAGE AT SPEED TYPING BECAUSE I KEEP FUCKING UP 

83. How fast can you run?

I don’t even know or care

84. What color is your hair?

Dark brown, binch 

85. What color are your eyes?

Hazel (green and brown) 

86. What are you allergic to?

Seafood, bees, and bunnies 

87. Do you keep a journal?

Yes 

88. What do your parents do?

My mom is a marketing manager for a candy distributor 

89. Do you like your age?

Yeah, 17 is fun 

90. What makes you angry?

PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE MANNERS 

91. Do you like your own name?

I’ve grown into my first name, but I’m thinking of getting my last name legally changed. 

92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?

Charlie and Cadence 

93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?

If I ever were to be a mom, I would want a son 

94. What are you strengths?

None. Not a single,,,one. 

95. What are your weaknesses?

Self-doubt 

96. How did you get your name?

….

after a country song…

97. Were your ancestors royalty?

lol no 

98. Do you have any scars?

A few

99. Color of your bedspread?

Black and white 

100. Color of your room?

Cream and Orange. My furniture is mainly black with gray accent colors 

Thanks for asking xx

[riffsstrides]

Sofia Ribeiro

Ar

2012

Sofia Ribeiro, voice Juan Andrés Ospina, piano Petros Klampanis, bass Marcelo Woloski, percussion Greg Ruggiero, guitar Magda Giannikou, accordion 

Sofia Ribeiro is one of the greatest voices from Portugal, a magnificent singer who has the ability to immediately attract the listener to her unique musical universe, blending elements of jazz, Brazilian and Portuguese music. Well-known for her strong and emotional performances, the outstanding Portuguese singer has been captivating audiences all over the world with her charming and powerful sound.

Sofia has a diploma in jazz performance from “Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo do Porto”, where she studied with the Portuguese singer Maria João and the Dutch jazz vocalist Fay Claassen. During her studies she did a one year exchange program in Barcelona at “Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya”, and another one at the famous Berklee College of Music, in Boston, who offered her a scholarship. She was a student of the famous vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and music educator Bob Stoloff, and was awarded the “Oliver Wagmann Memorial Scholarship”, for an “outstanding vocalist demonstrating academic excellence at the college”. Later she received a master’s degree in jazz performance with “great distinction” from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where she studied with the Belgium renowned jazz singer David Linx. During her master’s studies she went to study for one year at the prestigious “Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris” (CNSNDP) with an “Erasmus” scholarship.

She did workshops and private lessons with Judie Niemack, Gillyanne Kayes, Dominique Eade, Joey Blake, Jeannie Lovetri, Norma Winstone, Maria Pia de Vito, Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra, and completed the two levels of the “Estill Voice Training Systems” (EVTS) course, in Scotland and Portugal. In 2002, Sofia began studying advanced vocal improvisation with Rhiannon, and in 2014 she completed the ‘All the way in’ program, a three week long master class which took place in Hawaii, Holland and Italy. She has since been selected to co-pilot Rhiannon’s 2017 course.

Sofia Ribeiro won several international prizes, such as the second prize of the first “Brussels International Young Jazz Singers Competition” (Belgium, 2005), the first prize at the “International Jazz Competition for Singing Musicians: Voicingers” (Poland, 2008), and the first prize at the “Crest Jazz Vocal” competition (France, 2010). In March 2008 she participated in the prestigious “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” program at the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC).

She has recorded nine albums: “Dança da Solidão” (2006), in duo with Marc Demuth, “Orik” (2008) with the Marc Demuth 4tet, “Porto” (2010), in collaboration with Gui Duvignau, “Mil e uma cores” (2012) and “Mil y un colores” (2013, spanish version), children’s music written for Manuela Mota Ribeiro’s books, “Apenas” (2012), in duo with Bartolomeo Barenghi, “Lilás” (2014), in duo with Andres Rotmistrovsky, and “Ar” (2012) and “Mar Sonoro” (2016), both arranged and produced by Juan Andrés Ospina. Her album “Ar” received the prize “Révélation” from the famous magazine Jazzman (Paris, France).

For the past 12 years, Sofia has been performing intensively all over Europe, South America and North America with her own projects and also as a sideman, playing with top musicians from different nationalities. Her recent performances include: Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon, Portugal), Philharmonie (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg), Millennium Stage (Washington, U.S.), Rockwood Music Hall (New York, U.S.), Silesian Jazz Festival (Katowice, Poland), Jamboree (Barcelona, Spain), Festival de Jazz de Burgos (Burgos, Spain), Jazzy Colors Festival (Paris, France), Festival de Jazz do Valado (Valado dos Frades, Portugal), Brussels Jazz Marathon (Brussels, Belgium), Euro Jazz Gala (Trier, Germany), Jazz au Chellah (Rabat, Morocco), April Jazz (Espoo, Finland), Easy Jazz Festival (Zory, Poland), Festival Internacional de la Cultura (Colombia) and Jazz a la Calle (Uruguay), among many others.

Sofia teaches teaches workshops regularly, of voice and improvisation, all over Europe, the United Sates, and in Colombia. She has been invited as a guest teacher in schools and Universities such as “Conservatori del Liceu (Barcelona, Spain)”, “L’Aula de Música Moderna (Barcelona, Spain)”, “Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Bogota, Colombia)”, “Universidad EAFIT (Medellin, Colombia)”, “Ecole de Musique Echternach (Echternach, Luxembourg)”, “Facultad de Artes – ASAB (Bogota, Colombia), “Trempolino (France), “Hot Clube de Portugal (Lisbon, Portugal)”, Katowice Academy of Music (Poland) and Voicingers (Poland), among others.

She is part of the european vocal ensemble PLAYground, which creates completely improvised performances. While teaching, performing and improvising, Sofia explores the endless potentiality of music and improvisation as a way to transform yourself; a journey towards authenticity, vulnerability and deep connection to one another.

[t-cnews-blog]

Tom Chaplin huffington post Atlanta 2017

CONTRIBUTOR Keane Singer Tom Chaplin Makes Triumphant Solo Debut in America 14 minutes ago | Updated 0 minutes ago Kristi York Wooten Founder of SustenanceGroup.org; Journalist covering music, human rights and global health KRISTI YORK WOOTEN Tom Chaplin performs at the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on January 14, 2017. Releasing an album no longer guarantees success in an industry where platinum-selling singers face the same pressures as fledgeling artists. Yet, Keane frontman Tom Chaplin proved that talent and heart still matter as much as the numbers do when he kicked off a 15-date North American tour in Atlanta this weekend to celebrate his solo debut, The Wave. In a triumphant return to U.S. after more than four years away, Chaplin shared stories about his recovery from drug addiction and raised the roof with a dozen new songs that showcased his stellar vocal abilities. Chaplin’s 90-minute set at the Buckhead Theatre included favorites “Everybody’s Changing” and “Bend and Break” from Keane’s 2004 debut, Hopes and Fears, as well as the current single, “Still Waiting.” The Wave’s “Hardened Heart” and “Bring the Rain” (co-written by Chaplin and Max McElligott ) recalled the joyous rave-ups for which Keane is best known, while “The River” (penned with Aqualung) suggested a clearer pop direction. Chaplin’s backing band did not pretend to be a replacement for Keane, but instead found its own earthier path as drummer Sebastian Sternberg and multi-instrumentalists Tobie Tripp, Beau Holland, and Rose Langley brought verve to the arrangements with strings and harmonies. The intimate audience of 400 fans never relented in its cheering, except to make room for the quiet confessions, “Solid Gold,” in which Chaplin dedicated to his ‘long suffering’ wife for sticking with him during years of substance abuse relapse, and “Worthless Words,” with its delicate falsetto bridge and apologetic refrain. Deep into the set, when he sang “Quicksand” in honor of his toddler daughter, Chaplin bounced with nervous excitement as he promised to pick her up when dreams ‘fall through, screw you, and batter you to black and blue.’ In that moment, it was impossible not to root for a permanently happy ending to the singer’s much-publicized struggles. In our pre-show interview at a nearby café, Chaplin says making The Wave was less about running away from his former bandmates (including formidable tunesmith Tim Rice-Oxley) and more about having the space to dig into something heavier: the reasons why he kept putting his body on the line for the false elation of a chemical high. “Being a drug addict is horrible and exhausting,” he says. “It can lead you to death, but it forced me into a corner. All my energy towards this album started at my lowest point. I wanted to get it all down [on record] and [by the middle of 2015], I was on a roll.” Chaplin says The Wave’s themes drew upon his psychoanalysis sessions and conversations with his wife over the past few years. The raw demo vocal on “Bound Together” feels like a 21st century take on The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood;” the satisfying mantra of “Cheating Death” promises ’just keep believing/you’ve got the strength to go on;’ and “Hardened Heart” moves from desperation into self-forgiveness as Chaplin sings of being ‘stuck on a road of sadness with nowhere to go’ but keeps insisting, ‘it’s a beautiful life.’ “Those words come from a very dark place, knowing you’ve hurt everyone that’s close to you,” he says. “A lot of people have commented online about the song and said that it could have been written about their depression. For me, the depression was self-induced.” Chaplin is not alone in his use of music as a mechanism for recovery; artists in many genres have made albums about their journey to sobriety – from Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt to Keith Urban and Eminem, some of whom went on to have the biggest hits of their careers after getting clean. Like others who have pursued projects outside of the bands that made them famous, Chaplin says the “door is open” for future possibilities with or without Keane. During our interview, he mentions how much fun he’s had playing around with covers of Sia and Bruno Mars songs and writing unexpectedly sturdy ballads with songwriters who’ve made hits for pop stars like Cher and Enrique Iglesius. Although The Wave is rooted in the same pop-rock style that helped “Somewhere Only We Know” break through on mainstream radio when Keane embarked on its first U.S. tour more than a decade ago, Chaplin is firmly on a path to a solo career, if he chooses to stay the course. “It was easy for me to slip into the life of the charming, jocular guy in Keane, but I wasn’t facing my truth,” he says. “The only way I could get well was to talk, and to be open and vulnerable for the for first time in my life. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be. I could actually breathe again.”