Time flew by. I have survived MTV Europe Awards 2007 that happened today at Olympiahalle in Munich Germany. It didn’t hurt. But I don’t recognise the “new sound of Europe” in Estonia’s The Bedwetters. They competed against Turkey’s Yakup, my favourite bet, and Romania’s Firma.

They are young. But they lack innovation. The saving grace might be that their sound don’t differ from the same bands crowding the radio stations today craving for the fans who favour this kind of sound.

“Everything is possible when you believe in yourself!” Shouted their lead singer Joosep Järvesaar as he and his group finished performing their first single “A Dramatic Letter to Conscience.” It was dramatic indeed complete with his stunning grimaces amidst the jubilating audience. The unsigned Bedwetters won a local band contest this year and was awarded to film their own video. They are scheduled to release their debut album in 2008. The band describes their musical influence from pop to rock.

So who are the winners and the losers? Who brought home the stinky cheese and the MTV trophy?

The first award presenters Joel Madden and his brother Benjie from Good Charlotte told the fans, who happened to vote for most of the categories, could only blame themselves if they were not satisfied with the outcome.

Snoop Doggy Dogg who emceed the show was short of being entertaining except for his one-liners. He was advised to curb his love to use bad language throughout the show but they were wrong.

And the winners are….

Oh well, I guess it helps to be an actor. Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars just won the Rock Out Award. I don’t understand it too but with him it works. Keanu Reeves and Russel Crowe tried the same route but never got any attention. Juliette Lewis and her Licks don’t mind if they hit small time.

Amy Winehouse was confused. First when her name was called to receive the Artists’ Choice Award and then when she was onstage.

Rihanna’s “Umbrella” is still raging hot. The European teenagers love Avril Lavigne. She won twice. Nelly Furtado and Linkin Park joined the winners’ circle.

Justine Timberlake walked away empty-handed. He was a favourite last year.

Okay, at least the European acts still fought their way. UK’s Muse won the Best Headliner. France’s Justice got the video award and Germany’s Tokio Hotel saw to it that tonight is their night. But wait a sec, did I hear some boos?

The boys just won the Best Inter Act beating American imports Fall Out Boy, 30 Seconds to Mars, My Chemical Romance and the granddads of electronic pop/rock Depeche Mode. They also performed and received a quick shower after they played “Monsoon.” Rap group Bushido took the Best German Act. (For more detailed results, click Wikipedia).

Serj Tankian proclaimed that MTV Europe Awards is better than the American version much to the excitement of the audience. Dave Grohl quickly shut him up. It must be embarrassing to act as an anti-establishment that moment. Dave and his band Foo Fighters ran a bar and interviewed celebrity guests during the event.

On Wednesday, the former Nirvana drummer expressed his relief during the press conference that he is older by 20 years than some of the other artists who appeared at the award show and was proud of his band’s achievements by not bothering themselves of “what’s going on outside.”

“We make records in our basement, and we’ve remained true to our initial idea.”

Bedwetters and co. should take a cue on this. Foo Fighters warmed up the show and treated the crowd with their rendition of Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” but didn’t win at all.

Next year, MTV Europe Awards will take place in Liverpool.

Hopefully this time, more European musicians will dominate the awards.

The Bedwetters, Estonia, Yakup, Turkey, Firma, Romania, MTV Music Europe Awards 2007, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Good Charlotte, Joel Madden, Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters, Justice, France, Tokio Hotel, Liverpool, 30 Seconds to Mars, Amy Winehouse, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Depeche Mode, Bushido, Nirvana, Rihanna, Umbrella, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, Linkin Park, Justine Timberlake

German indie pop newcomer Amos calls the song his silent protest. That is, to make the audience aware how MTV revels on commercialism.

As if we don’t know the deal behind MTV, right? But I am afraid he has all the right to say it.

European acts like him aren’t the No. 1 priority for tomorrow’s party in Munich.

On his MySpace page, he offers everyone to download the single for free, encourages everyone to buy the shirt and the gratis stickers that show your support to his cause.

He attacks MTV’s metamorphosis into a giant market of “lifestyle-ringtone-homeshopping-channel it has become.”

According to his website his “doors will stay shut for one man whose latest song is striking the nerve of millions of outraged musicians and music lovers.”

As a self-styled emperor of pop, he promises to bring back the style into its proper place– a proper music “doing without any razzmatazz, evocative of Quincy Jones work for the early Michael Jackson.”

Go figure.

Amos, MTV Europe Music Awards

You know the saying “if it rains, it pours”? There you have it. If you notice my sporadic updates, I am having difficulty with my internet connection. It might be wireless but it is so darn slowwwww and sometimes it implodes in the middle of the session that I end up not posting anything anymore. Like a few minutes ago.

At the same time, the urge to tell stories isn’t always there. I might be experiencing a sort of blogging disease, which I am trying to fight. Blame my pursuit of happiness.

Anyway, I finally got around with the social networking sites. If you have a Facebook account, please feel free to be a member of Euro Music Talk. Discuss, debate, argue, express your ideas and what have you.

Eros Ramazzotti is back.

Armed with a new double album titled “e2,” the Italo rock singer highlights his duet with Latin singer Ricky Martin. The album, which could be a math equation, stands for Eros’ name and the number 2 meaning the double album. The singer just turned 44 yesterday. “Non siamo soli” (We Are Not Alone) also serves as the first single.

The music video might portray lots of gyrating women and Latin American singer Ricky swinging his butt but this isn’t about love and seduction. It is actually a song about global awareness and how to save what’s left of it. Apart from its original Italian version, a Spanish version is also released for the benefit of the singers’ Spanish-speaking audience. Eros has also cultivated fandom on the other side of the Atlantic.

“I thought about global problems. Things like how to make the world a better place,” he told Woman, a Viennese women’s magazine, early this month.

“And if you have a child you tend to worry about the future.” He continued.

This is not the first time he collaborated with other musicians. A year ago he and Anastacia took the European charts by storm with the song “I Belong to You (Il Ritmo Della Passione).” It was part of Anastacia’s greatest hits, “Pieces of Dream.” The two played lovers on the video but that was it.

The singer, who was born in Rome, Italy, whose fans are mostly women hasn’t hooked up with anyone after the singer’s painful marriage.

He used to be married with Swiss-born model/actress/singer Michelle Hunziker, 30, from 1998 to 2002. They have an 11-year-old daughter Aurora.

The fairy-tale union ended in 2002 and legal battles have followed.

His fans might welcome the idea of a single Eros but the singer is playing safe at this moment.

“I am not going out with anyone, because it’s difficult… There are many opportunities but these are very superficial ones. Love is so irrational and it’s not so easy (to start all over again) after you had given everything to a relationship.”

He celebrates his 20-year career in the music business.

Source

Eros Ramazzotti, Ricky Martin, Anastacia, Michelle Hunziker

Germany and France in spite of being neighbours are not always friendly to each another. I guess, you could say that to all the countries in Europe. But the two huge Western countries have this love and hate relationship that is evident through all the many centuries.

During the first world war they were at odds and Germany lost the region Lorraine, Alsace-Lorraine, forever to France. After World War II, though the Vichy government cooperated with the Nazi Germany, most of the French people still harbour a bit of dislike to the Germans.

A couples of years watching a documentary on the aftermaths of WW2, a former Wehrmacht soldier, an Austrian, revealed how his nationality saved him from the invading French soldiers, who tried to arrest as many as possible Nazi soldiers.

Even today, this attitude persists. Maybe, I am just used to hearing Austrians’ disgust over the Germans. Sometimes it has come to a point of being ridiculous and some people try to humour the relationship. After all, you can say that Austria and Germany is to Canada and the United States of America.

The German band Wir Sind Helden, a play on David Bowies’ German rendition of “Heroes,” wrote “Aurelie,” a song about the difference between German and French flirting and relationships. It is actually an advice written by singer/guitarist Judith Holofernes to her French friend Aurélie Audemar that touches the cultural aspect of finding love between the two countries.

It is actually a byproduct of Judith’s humour “Aurélie,” from the band’s debut album “Die Reklamation.” In the song she talks about that love, the German way, needs time and unlike the French, Germans are very subtle. They don’t show their feelings right away.

But I must say it is also valid to every man. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you are. It doesn’t matter if you are a German or a French. Dating and then falling in love is one tricky game.

Wir Sind Helden started touring in Paris this year to promote their new album “Soundso.” The band, aside from Tokio Hotel, has been heralded as fabulous by Arte, a Franco-German channel.

Wir Sind Helden, Judith Holofernes

I admit that it is rare these days to feel a leap of excitement whenever I hear new bands/musicians.

Even reviewing CDs depends upon my mood. If I hear a band that reminds me of my youth, of my favourite bands, it is likely that I would empathize a new artist. Avant-garde musicians appear once in a blue moon, those who are able to change the scene not only overnight.

So I was cautious, too much for my own good, as soon as I saw Holden’s “Chevrotine.”

My encounter with the French band was purely accidental. As accidental as my spontaneous trip to the Büchereien
in Vienna last week.

“Chevrotine” was part of the library’s new titles lying on the rack untouched for that moment. Half-curious, half-unconvinced, I wanted to know if the name could deliver the goods, which taken from a literary character that inspired many young people on their search for truth.

I know, I know. The band’s name doesn’t sound special. There are a lot of bands/musicians out there that carry the same name believing that it is an amulet that defies establishment yet aspiring to be the voice of a generation.

The question is: Can their songs redeem their lack of originality when it comes to baptising their band saving it from the absurd yet funny Happiness in Sexyland?

A part of of Holden’s third album “Chevrotine” is a reminiscent of everything that is good in English indie pop, composed mainly by Armelle Pioline and guitarist Mocke, a.k.a. Dominique Dépret.

The other half is dreamy, nostalgic, melancholic. It is also a cross-between the French chansons and groovy electronica highlighted with the pretty floating voice of Armelle Pioline. Drum ‘n’ bass pur! No jangling guitars. No shrill voices. Just chill-out music.

Thanks to her band mates Ludovic Leleu, Cristobal Carvajal-Rastello and Pierre-Jean Grappin, it is a new experience. Yet it is also close to home as I’ve heard it all before.

So why, oh, why I didn’t hear anything about the dreamy Parisians? Simply because this is the first album Holden ever released in Germany. And Austria, being the neighbour, more or less has gotten the same treatment. And sometimes, much later.

“L’Arrière Monde” was released in 1998 a year after the band was formed and a second album “Pedrolira” arrived in 2002. If “Chevrotine” would prove to be a success, Holden’s earlier albums might see the light of the day in Germany and Austria.

Produced by German-born and now Chile enthusiast deejay-music producer Uwe Schmidt, alias Señor Coconut and Atom Heart, the CD is consisted of 11 charming songs.

My favourites are “Ce que je suis” (What I Am) “Sur le pavé” (On the stoned pavement?) that (pardon the word again) reminds me of the Go-Betweens. Oh, yeah, the good ol’ 80s New Wave.

It is all in French? And so what?

It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the lyrics. What matters is the way you feel the melody entering your ears and then encircling your brains. In the end, the important thing is how it warms your heart.

Holden, Armelle Pioline, Uwe Schmidt, alias Señor Coconut, Atom Heart, Mocke

It must be strange to listen to a young man sing Lolita.

Julien Doré, winner of Nouvelle Star season 5, the French version of UK’s “Pop Idol” or Germany’s “Deutschland sucht den Superstar,” captivated the public with his rendition of Alizee’s No. 1 hit “Moi…Lolita.”

The 25-year-old French singer’s entry to limelight might be accidental. He joined the much-hyped talent show in order to make a publicity for his own band Dig Up Elvis. Appearing with a ukulele, he also covered Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.”

Right now he is earning the public attention due to his unusual yet naked version of “Moi..Lolita” that is currently enjoying its stay on European Singles Charts this week.

The grunge-faced Julien, rugged voice, stubbles and guitar, is also the great-great-great nephew of the French illustrator Gustave Doré, who happened to design the covers for such writers like Honore Balzac, Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Byron.

Not only his unpredictable interpretation is earning him accolades, the female swarm is also getting him. French Elle voted him as the “sexiest man of the year.” It was also rumoured that he posed for Playboy.

More about Julien the next coming days!

Julien Doré, Alizee, Dig Up Elvis

The beer-luvers have said it all and gone home. The Oktoberfest 2007 unfolded yesterday but it set brand-new records and amusing surprises.

This year, Munich in Germany might have received less visitors but my, they consumed more liters of beer!

Of all the 6,2 millions of visitors, 300.000 didn’t show up compared to 2006. Nevertheless the beer consumption was more than everybody expected.

No wonder the fair stall owners were satisfied: the people were thirsty.

German-speaking local musical heroes of course dominated the music/entertainment scene like the Austrian folk rapper DJ Ötzi, whose catchy “Hey Baby” became No. 1 in Britain and Australia years ago. His song “Ein Stern der Deinen Namen trägt” (A star that your name carries) landed No. 1 before “Lasso-Song” from Olaf Henning.

But the big surprise went to newcomers Kaiser Chiefs. The English rock band from Leeds whose hit “Ruby” off their second album “Yours Truly, Angry Mob” was clearly the drunken crowd’s favourite.

Kaiser Chiefs, you have arrived!

Hear your song being played on German TV, celebrated at the most famous Bacchanalia in the face of the planet Earth.

A short backgrounder, the original Oktoberfest is a three-week festival held each year in Bavaria, Munich, starting from September till October.

It first happened in the year of 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s (Ludwig I) marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

To accommodate Germany’s reunification in 1989 the schedule was modified so it will go on or touch the October 3rd (German Unity Day).

The festival is held on an area called the Theresienwiese (Wiese being meadows in German and Theresia is either Theresa or Therese). The Germans call it “d’ Wiesn” for short. Beer plays a central role in the fair, with every festival beginning with a keg of beer tapped by the mayor of Munich who declares “O’zapft is!” (Bavarian: “It’s tapped!”).

According to the facts and figures, only local Bavarian breweries are allowed to serve this beer in a Bierzelt, a beer tent which is large enough for thousands.

Not only they consume beer but also the visitors consume large quantities of food, such as sausage (Wurst), hendl (chicken), käsespätzle (cheese noodles), and sauerkraut, along with such Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails and pretzel.

The average visitors might not wear the traditional clothing but men and women of prominence and other enthusiasts either wear a lederhosen (for the males) or Dirndl (for the women). Paris Hilton showed up in 2006 adorning her own rendition of golden modern Dirndl while happily proclaiming that she loves German beer in front of the amused crowd.

This year the Bavarian mayor Christian Ude said that everything was in order. Even the Red Cross and the police reported that the fair was mainly positive this year. It didn’t leave huge accidents but minor ones. Around 7.363 visitors had to be treated, 504 cases lesser than last year. Though last Saturday, the police had to interfere when at least 100 people were arrested.

Other cities around the world also hold their own Oktoberfest. Next year, it will happen again on September 20 till October 5.

To know more about the fair and the region of Munich, check this out.

Source

Oktoberfest, Kaiser Chiefs, Ruby, DJ Ötzi, Christian Ude, Paris Hilton, dirndl, lederhosen, Olaf Henning

Unlike when I was 12 where my day wasn’t complete without having to tune it to MTV. Well, it has proved to be a wise decision.

After its successful reception from the Europeans it launched in 1994 an award show that should be relegated to Europeans. Well, judging by the sound of it. Instead what happened is just another award-giving body to promote American mainstream music. The regional categories wherein several European musicians are nominated seemed to be an afterthought.

Surprisingly I am not the only one who has this opinion.

This year’s Europe Music Awards, which will happen on November 1 at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany, is another dismal offering of the video channel not to showcase or celebrate what is truly happening in the European music scene.

Not because the emcee is an American. But the only Central European acts that have managed to be admitted to major categories are the German teenager boys from Tokio Hotel for Best Inter Act and the French electronic duo Justice while the rest are Americans and a few UK acts.

Justice is well-known for its reworking of Simian’s “Never Be Alone.”

Maybe, it is wrong to ask MTV for more substance. In the first place, they’ve been known not to supply the audience with an alternative.

For the complete list, check out Wikipedia.

MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Tokio Hotel, Justice, Simian

Sweden, the third largest Western European country, has contributed a series of famous musical acts for decades.

Introducing Moneybrother, the brainchild of former punker turned soul/pop crooner Anders Wendin from Stockholm, Sweden. In his album “To Die Alone,” the first single “They’re Building Walls Around Us” shows his best imitations of Elvis Presley on the video.

His latest is “Mount Pleasure.”

He used to be the singer of ska-punk rock band Monster. In 2002 they disbanded. The other members went on to join the indie pop band The Concretes. Three years later Anders went on to become solo and released “Blood Panic” that catapulted him to the top of Swedish charts.
The debut album gave him his first award, the Swedish Grammy Award for Rock Album of the Year.

Lately, he is attracting a steady following in Germany. He has reportedly sold out tour dates in the country. In 2005, he appeared at the SXSW 2005 (south by southwest festivals + conferences). German rock band Wir Sind Helden covered his song “Blow Him Back Into My Arms” from his album “To Die Alone” in one of their concerts. Judith Holofernes singing in English! It was surprising as the band doesn’t have a single written and sung in other language than their native German so it must be a challenge.

Moneybrother also collaborated with the singer of The Hives, another Swedish band. Together with Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist they did a cover of an Operation Ivy song called “Freeze Up.”

I can’t seem to point out his musical direction but it has some traces of Abba with some added portions of Housemartins. It is strange. The organ, the voice, the works. But most of all, it is pop. And it is easy to digest. If you want to search for some traces of punk, don’t. You certainly will be disappointed.

This is “Reconsider Me” from “Blood Panic” album.

Moneybrother, Abba, Roxette, Sweden, Wir Sind Helden, Judith Holofernes, The Hives, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist