Single Saturdays: Olivier Dion – Kinda Love (French Version)

Canadian and Quebecois singer Olivier Dion has released a new single entitled Kinda Love. It’s a love story about a relationship that’s simple as well as beautiful.

The musical genre of this song is pop. The slow beat of the piano gives the tune a romantic feel to it. Plus there’s a nice “stop” effect that provides the song with an impressive touch. After the chorus, the beat of the music goes up in tempo, then back to slow, sleekly.

Olivier Dion’s voice is thick, smooth and rich. He knows how to reach the high note at the right moment. He sings in tune with the beat. When he sings “juste un regard me suffit” (Just one look is enough), he whispers. It’s impressive!

The lyrics are in French and English. The verses, Olivier Dion, sings in French, then the chorus in English. The switch from one language to another is flawless. There’s a use of symbols and repetition. The light (la lumière) is a representation of finding one’s way in life, especially a love of a significant other. The phrase “juste un regard me suffit,” is repeated for an effect of emphasis. The song Kinda Love is well-written.

Kinda Love (French Version) is now available. Enjoy!

Single Saturdays: Nancy Ajram – Lya

close up of pink baby booties — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Nancy Ajram has a new single entitled Lya – a song dedicated to her third daughter who was born February 2, 2019. It’s a mother’s emotional tribute to her daughter telling her how much she loves her dearly.

The music sounds like a lullaby, soft and sweet with a subtle presence of Pop music. Nabil Ajram composed the song. The love is present through the composition of the tune. It reminds of some of Nancy Ajram’s slow songs from her other albums such as Hobbak Leya ( Your love for me). The composition is incredible. Listening to it is soothing and calming.

Nancy Ajram’s voice is lovely as always. She sings the joy she feels for having had her daughter Lya. The emotion of love is genuine in this song.
When I heard this song, I’m listening to a mother singing to her daughter, telling her that she’s a blessing and loved by her family.

The lyrics have a flowy poetic structure to them. Mounir Bou Assaf beautifully wrote the song Lya. The words of this lovely tune truly convey a mother’s love for her daughter. It’s personal and genuine, especially the bit where she talks about her heart that’s divided into three parts, one for each of her three daughters – Lya being the latest addition to the family.

Nancy Ajram’s single Lya is now available. Enjoy!

Single Saturdays: Ty Hannah – You and I

Ameican singer Ty Hannah has a new single entitled You & I. It’s a romantic song about a man proving the woman he loves that he sincerely cares about her. I heard that this tune could potentially be the song played at weddings. It would be a lovely choice for such a joyous occasion.

The music has a mix of soul and R&B that reminds of the music I listened to in the 90s- I thought of Boys II Men and All For One. The song “You & I” has a smooth rhythm that’s romantic and sweet. There’s a nice blend of the piano, the drums, and the guitar that add a beautiful touch to the song. It’s harmonious with an incredible melody.

Ty Hannah’s voice is soft, sweet and soulful. It’s also bold and graceful. He knows how to follow the musical beat. Ty Hannah’s voice is in tune with the rhythm of the song.

The lyrics of this song are genuine and beautiful. Ty Hannah wrote the tune, in which you can feel love and romance. The raw emotion that shines through. In this song, the guy tells the woman he loves that he’s understanding by allowing her to decide for herself, without pressure. The words describe what a healthy relationship should be. This song has a sense of hope that love is possible. One needs to have faith and not give up. He makes of the classic poetic technique of repetition to emphasize the love he feels. For example in the chorus, he sings You & I then a sentence more than once.

The song “You & I” is available everywhere. Enjoy!

Jonny Zye’s Second Album Back To Bliss

American Pop singer Jonny Zye has released his second album entitled Back to Bliss. There are two themes on this record: love and heartbreak. It’s about having faith that everything will work out, even in difficult times.

The music is a lovely combination of pop and soul. Jonny Zye primarily plays the guitar, in the album. The rhythm in a lot of the songs is a mix of slow and fast. The quality of the sound is incredible. There’s a summer feel to the album, especially since having quite a few of Jonny Zye’s singles in the Summertime. The Californian vibe has its presence in this record. It gives the inspiration to someday travel to California.

Jonny Zye’s voice, as mentioned before is in sync with the music. His voice has soul and emotion with a bold style to it, making it distinct and unique. Jonny Zye has the confidence to take his voice to the next level. He has gained experience, and it shows in this album. He sounds like a singer who’s been performing for many many years. He continues to impress me.

The lyrics have a simplicity to them, but their meaning is clear. Jonny Zye makes use of symbols and metaphors to describe the feeling of love or heartbreak, depending on the song. He uses repetition, at times, as a way to emphasize the emotion. It sounds like modern poetry. It’s always a joy to hear Jonny Zye’s fantastic music and lyrics.

Jonny Zye’s second album is now available. Enjoy!

Single Saturdays: Dua Lipa – Swan Song

British Pop singer Dua Lipa has released a new single for the movie Alita Battle Angel, entitled Swan Song. The tune tells the story of a young girl who’s learning about herself while fighting for justice. It compliments the film well because the protagonist is someone who can’t remember who she is and has to prepare for battle against machines.

The music is primarily pop but has some touches of a beat that sounds like techno. At the beginning of the song, the music sounds like a score from a film. There’s a special effect in the rhythm of the tune, which creates a sense of suspense. The sound reminds me of the music dancers of contemporary dance use.

Dua Lipa’s voice is soft, and then it goes higher when she sings the pre-chorus and chorus. Her voice reminds me of Rihanna. There’s depth to Dua Lipa’s sound that is unique.

The lyrics of Swan Song have symbolism in them. Sources say that the words represent how not to give up in a time of adversity. Despite the sense of fear, there’s a glimmer of hope. In the chorus, it says “This is not a Swan Song”, which means that there’s a long way to go in the battle of life or this case against the machines (referring to the movie’s story), also according to Sources. In other words, it’s time to take action and not stay indifferent to the challenges the world may face.

Swan Song is now available everywhere. It’s a song of empowerment that I recommend. Enjoy!

The Backstreet Boys’ Latest Album DNA

Backstreet Boys have released a new album entitled DNA. It’s an album that is a dynamic of musical styles. Their music has evolved since 25 years. This record is an example of a willingness to experiment with their music. There are three themes in this fantastic album: love, friendship and family life.

The music is primarily pop, but in some songs combined with dance and techno music. It’s contemporary while reminding of their sound from the 90s. The beat is catchy just like their previous. I felt nostalgic when I listened to this album. The music is just as incredible as when they started in 1993.
The voices of the Backstreet Boys compliment each other. Their sounds are mature and have a depth to them. Impressive!

The lyrics have a personal feel to them with a rhythmic structure. The Backstreet Boys have evolved musically and personally. It shows in their songs. The words of the tunes describe genuine emotions with poetic techniques such as metaphors, similes, and personification.

My favourite songs are Breath, Nobody Else, No Place, and Chances. The album DNA is now available. Enjoy!

Alice Merton’s First Studio Album- Mint

German-Canadian-English singer Alice Merton has released her first studio album entitled Mint. The theme of the album is life experiences (both good and bad) such as relationships.

The music has a mix of pop and disco. Some of the songs sound similar to the tunes of Brit Pop (i.e. Queen and David Bowie) and 70s Disco (i.e. ABBA and The Bee Gees). The song I Don’t Hold A Grudge has a 70s/80s feel. The music for that tune reminds me of Queen’s classic hit Another One Bites the Dust. Her songs about break-ups such as Honeymoon Heartbreak and Trouble in Paradise remind me of songs by the Irish band The Cranberries. The main instruments in this album are guitar and piano.

Alice Merton’s voice is low and soft, with hints of raspy. Her sound reminds of the late Dolores O’Riordan, the lead singer of the Cranberries, the late Amy Winehouse and Gwen Stefani. The song No Roots is an example of Merton’s voice going deep that reminds me of Amy Winehouse’s vocal style. The register of her voice changes in her songs in a grand manner.

The lyrics are intricate and personal, which makes the album authentic and genuine. Some songs have metaphors and symbols that give them depth. The song No Roots is an example of an analogy. Alice Merton makes use of repetition in some of her tunes. The songs 2 Kids and Why So Serious are examples of how she repeats as a technique of emphasis.

Alice Meton’s album Mint is available now. It’s an incredible record full of emotion and depth. My favourites songs are No Roots, Lash Out, Learn To Live, and Speak Your Mind.

Single Saturdays: Robby Johnson – Better Day

Robby Johnson has a new single entitled Better Day. It’s from the soundtrack for the movie Race Time (the English title for La Course Des Tuques). It’s a cover of Alex Nevsky’s single Pour Commencer (To Start). It’s about making the best of every day.

The music has a catchy beat that is cheerful and upbeat with a fantastic rhythm. The two genres of music are Pop and Country. Fred St-Gelais and Nelson Minville composed the tune. The composition is marvellous and intricate. It makes one want to get up and dance.
Robby Johnson’s voice has an incredible tempo to it and follows the beat of the song. He sings in tune with the music. His sound is impressive as always.

The lyrics are well-written and structured, similar to Alex Nevsky’s song Pour Commencer. Fred St-Gelais and Nelson Minville wrote the original version. However, unconfirmed if they also wrote the song Robby Johnson’s release. There are two poetic styles of compositions: ABBA and AABB. The words to Better Day are inspirational and hopeful. There’s a sense of optimism in this song. The crown represents attaining a goal or reaching one’s potential in life with determination and perseverance.

Better Day is available now. The soundtrack for Race Time will be released January 25, 2019.

My Silent Bravery – Willing To Try Acoustic Version

black electric guitar

The American Alternative/Pop band, My Silent Bravery, has released a new album, an acoustic version of the three EPs Willing To Try. The same themes from the three EPs are in this album: love, Summer, romance, memories, and heartbreak.

The music comes from the guitar in the background. It is just incredible as the studio albums that came out in 2018. The Rhythm is impeccable in the acoustic version of the songs from the Willing to Try records. It’s authentic and well-done.

Matthew Wade, the lead singer of My Silent Bravery, has a fantastic voice, especially when he sings acoustic. What’s lovely about acoustic performance is how you can tell when a singer’s voice is genuine. Also, the authenticity shows when an artist sings acoustic when they follow the beat of an instrument. That is the case with Matthew Wade. Impressive!

Here are links to some of my favourite songs from the album Willing to Try Acoustic. Enjoy the music!

Soundtrack Saturdays: La Course Des Tuques

La Course Des Tuques is a Québecois movie that came out in theatres this year. The soundtrack for the film is incredible! With the Holiday break upon us, this is an album I recommend, especially those who have seen the movie. The primary musical style of the soundtrack is pop. There are other genres as well, such as R&B and Opera.

The artists’ voices have different styles, which makes for an interesting variety. All the singers, including Alex Nevsky, Lara Fabian, Ludovic Bourgeois give amazing performances in this album. The soundtrack includes a remake of U2’s single Beautiful Day, by the group Cool Kids. Etienne Cousineau has an opera-style voice that gives the album a lovely touch. Corneille sings beautifully with Joshua Moreno with the tune Je serai là (I will be there).

This is an impressive soundtrack. It’s available now. Enjoy!

A Trailer for The Movie

Songs