MUSIC

I’ve always liked Phoenix’s music and I’ve always found them so effortlessly cool. The band is back and recently released the video of “Ti Amo”.

There’re some stereotypes about Italy in the video, like spaghetti, white and red checkered tablecloths, football/soccer matches, but I don’t mind. The video is full of vintage footage, it can make you feel nostalgic for a certain dolce vita you didn’t even lived.

In fact, Wiissa, that is to say the duo of photographers and film-makers Vanessa Hollander and Wilson Philippe, directed the video. The work of the duo is described as one that will “make you feel nostalgic for a time you may have never lived, or a place you’ve never visited”. So true. Look at their Tumblr blog.

“Ti Amo” is a catchy song and the video will probably make you feel nostalgic for summer, even if it’s just ended.

I was shopping at H&M a couple of days ago and the moment I stepped into the store I heard this song, “Bright Blue” by Clea (obviously identified by Shazam). I found it so relaxing, a perfect song to do some shopping (I bought a very cute blazer, by the way).

So I found out that Clea Pratt is an Australian musician, and last June she released her debut EP titled “Fairweather”. It contains five songs, included “Bright Blue” and I like them all. Clea’s voice and way of singing is ethereal and refined. I’m glad I entered H&M when they were playing her song. I love to discover good music in unexpected ways.

Even if I don’t know Tom Petty’s music so well to call myself a big fan of him, I love some of his song so much and his passing away saddened me. Many decided to remember him with “Free Fallin'” but my favorite songs by him (and The Heartbreakers) are “American Girl” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”.

While I often listen to “American Girl” because it puts me in a good mood, I haven’t listened to “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” for a while. I’ve always loved this song and the video, with Kim Basinger in the role of the dead object of desire of Petty, who wants to dance with her a last dance. I find it very romantic. This video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1994. Just another great song from the ’90s.

I had already chose another song for this week but then I read what Samantha McMillen wrote on Instagram about Shannon Hoon, who would have been 50 years old few days ago and I decided to post “No Rain” by Blind Melon, a song I love.

I have a thing for songs about rain, wether it be “November Rain” by Guns n’ Roses or “Singing in the Rain” sung by Gene Kelly. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or if it depends on the fact that I love rainy weather.

Anyway, “No Rain” is a beautiful song. There’s no rain in the video, which is very colorful and cheerful. According to VH1, it’s among the 100 greatest videos of all time and if you haven’t seen it, watch it now!

The music videos of the ’80s and the ’90s are often a big source of inspiration, most of all now that the fashion of those decades is back (for better or for worse).

Eighth Wonder were a British pop band very famous in the ’80s and Patsy Kensit was considered one of the most beautiful women in the music business. In the video of “I’m not scared” she looks absolutely beautiful and stylish. Look at her outfits! Everything she wears is very fashionable, now, while years ago you would have considered her clothes almost ridiculous.

Cropped off-the-shoulder top, hoop earrings, oversize shearling jacket, bralette? All these garments are totally in, now, worn by many instagirls. The bob was Patsy Kensit’s signature haircut for years. And it’s still one of the favorite haircuts of many women.

The song is still catchy, in my opinion, but I have a thing for the music of the eighties.

Deap Vally is a rock duo formed and based in L.A. and I recently discover them reading about Hedi Slimane’s Los Angeles life, which includes hanging out with interesting musicians. Slimane described Lindsey Troy, singer and guitarist of the band as “quite quintessentially of L.A.” and “typical of the girls I always depict: a punk rock and glam rock style that has been part of my work and design for the last 20 years“.

I admit I have a thing for Hedi Slimane and his aesthetic so I started to search the musicians he mentioned in the article and I wasn’t disappointed. Deap Vally makes interesting music.

I particularly like “Turn It Off”. It’s a beautiful song and the video is quite peculiar. It stars Mischa Barton who looks very beautiful and stylish. I love the lace-up jumpsuit.

“Friends” by Justin Bieber and BloodPop is one the songs I’ve been recently listening on repeat. I’m not a fan of Bieber but when it comes to music I’m pretty open-minded. I like what I like, no matter what genre it is. As will.i.am said, “there’s only one type of music and that’s good music”.

This song is pretty catchy and kind of relaxing. I also like the video, which is not relaxing at all, due to the quick editing.

“Eternity” by Robbie Williams is a beautiful song and I love its video, which is very stylish since Robbie and his on-screen partner, Australian model Lisa Seiffert, wear fashionable clothes. Basically I love everything she wears and most of all the one shoulder leather dress, the sexy swimsuit, the printed bomber and every item she wears to play tennis and golf. She looks so chic. Robbie has always had an interesting style. He’s one of the few men that can pull off the tank top!

Even if it seems a romantic song, “Eternity” was written by Robbie Williams for his close friend Geri Halliwell (aka Ginger Spice). Receiving such a gift must be so beautiful! As a fan of Robbie I think this is one of the most beautiful songs he’s ever written. When it was released, in 2001, I listened to it on repeat and I obviously loved the video.

The director is Vaughan Arnell, who directed many videos of the English singer, included  “Somethin’ Stupid” and “Party Like a Russian” which I love.

I recently tried to watch “The Canyons”, the film with James Deen and Lindsay Lohan. I tried but I fell asleep before it ended because I was pretty sleepy so I closed my eyes thinking “just five seconds” and then when I woke up I could only see the very last frame of the film. Very disappointing… But the end credits song… wow, so beautiful. Luckily I haven’t switched off my phone so I found out it was “Coming Down” by Dum Dum Girls.

I immediately searched the video on Youtube to listen to it again (and again and again) and reading the comments I found out that “Coming Down” is also part of “Orange Is the New Back” soundtrack. The morning after I purchased the song and listened to other songs by Dum Dum Girls. Meanwhile, singer Kristen “Dee Dee” Welchez decided to go solo with the name of Kristin Kontrol.

The video of “Coming Down” is pretty minimalist and I like it. It seems a kind of artistic performance with Kristen Welchez singing while some people cut pieces of her dress.

As for “The Canyons”, I hope to see it again because I want to know how it ends. I remember that when it was presented at Venice Film Festival in 2013 press and audience booed it a lot and reviewed it very badly while only few person liked it. I guess that appreciating a film with an adult film actor like Deen and a controversial actress like Lohan was too much for some press. Lohan could be one of the best actors of her generation, it’s too bad her self-destructiveness ruined her career but she’s still a good actress.

A film directed by Paul Schrader and written by Bret Easton Ellis can’t be that bad and I love films and TV series set in Los Angeles. Whether it be “La La Land” or “Drive”, there’s something really fascinating about the City of Angeles. And the images of abandoned, decaying cinemas are really beautiful and sad at the same time.

Even if I’m not a huge fan of Lorde, I obviously think she has a very beautiful voice and a charming way of singing. I don’t know if it’s possible for someone not to like her! I’m not a huge fan but sometimes I really fall in love with her music. I listened to “Team” hundreds of time and I still like it very much. “Perfect Places” is another beautiful song and I’m listening to it a lot. So far, summer has been a great season for music, also considering The Killers comeback and Lana Del Rey‘s new album.

In the video of “Perfect Places”, directed by Grant Singer, Lorde seems to be living (or vacationing) on a desert, well supplied island where she wears some beautiful designer clothes (her stylist is Karla Welch).

In the opening scene the singer wears Jacquemus and the brand’s signature s/s 2017 straw hat. Then she wears Vaquera, Valentino (for tea time), vintage Zandra Rhodes (on a boat) and some other beautiful dresses I havent’t identified (yet). My favorite look is definitely the one of the waterfall scene, when Lorde baths wearing a beautiful black ruffled dress.