CORD MUSIC MAGAZINE April 2014 by Cord Music Magazine

CORD

Apr 2014

STILL THE BOSS

Features

CONTENTS Bruce Springsteen - 11 Bruno Mars - 26

Lorde - 28 Grammy's 2014 - 30

Pharrell - 34

Sections 5 Cord Hits/ 38 Cord Artists / 43 World Politics/ 46 Cord Images/ 50 Album Reviews/ 52 Music+Current/ 55 Haikus/ 56 Comics/ 60 Good Laugh/ 61 Kim & El/ 61 Mr Jeydiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Witdom/ 62 Film Reviews

From the Editor The Parachute Festival won’t be around in 2015. The biggest Christian music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, Parachute began in 1992, on a small patch of vacant farmland in New Zealand with 1,200 in attendance. The event grew in size and substance, as international Christian artists came to play and known evangelists came to pray. Name the biggest stars in Christian music today they’ve all been to the Parachute Festival in Hamilton, New Zealand. After 24 years, the organizers said, “thank you and goodnight.” In the event’s official webpage, it is written: “A lot has changed since those days in Waikanae. Running an event of this scale has become harder and harder in a saturated events market. Keeping Parachute Festival viable has been a constant challenge over the last few years – despite doing everything we can to lower costs and keep the festival alive, we’re now at a point where continuing to run it would run the risk of burying us whole as an organization.” CORD covered the event in 2012, and found it totally fascinating. People were camping in the grounds. Young musicians showed off their stuff in one of the gig venues. Popular artists interacted with fans. Shops allowed people to buy memorabilia, records and food. Most importantly, it was a family of people united in their love for music, love for peace and brotherhood, and love for God. Let us commend all who have contributed to Parachute Festival through the years. To the organizers, we know that you will succeed in whatever endeavors you are pursuing for the betterment of humanity. MEL B LIBRE Editor in Chief P.S. Here is a link to some stories shared by people who found meaning in Parachute: http://issuu.com/parachutemusic/docs/p13_parachute_mag_final_v2_online

Editor in Chief: Mel Libre Creative Director: Mel Elijan Libre Contributors: Tyke Villalonga, Gilfrancis Maningo 4

CORD HITS

WE BELIEVE Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSj3ZH5pE_o Intro: D G x 2 D G D In this time of desperation G Bm When all we know is doubt and fear G There is only One Foundation D G We believe, We believe D G D In this broken generation G Bm When all is dark, You help us see G There is only One Salvation D G We believe, We believe CHORUS 1 D A We believe in God the Father, We believe in Jesus Christ Bm G We believe in the Holy Spirit, And He’s given us new life D A We believe in the crucifixion, We believe that He conquered death Bm G We believe in the resurrection, And He’s comin’

back again D G we believe D G D So, let our faith be more than anthems G Bm Greater than the songs we sing G And in our weakness and temptations D G We believe, We believe! CHORUS 2 D A We believe in God the Father, We believe in Jesus Christ Bm G We believe in the Holy Spirit, And He’s given us new life D A We believe in the crucifixion, We believe that He conquered death Bm G We believe in the resurrection, And He’s comin’ back again G A Let the lost be found and the dead be raised! 5

Bm D In the here and now, let love invade! G A Let the church live loud, our God will say Bm A We believe, We believe! G A And the gates of hell will not prevail! Bm D For the power of God, has torn the veil! G A Now we know Your love will never fail! Bm A We believe, We believe! CHORUS 3 D A We believe in God the Father, We believe in Jesus Christ Bm G We believe in the Holy Spirit, And He’s given us new life D A We believe in the crucifixion, We believe that He conquered death Bm G We believe in the resurrection, And He’s comin’ back D A He’s comin’ back again! Bm He’s comin’ back again! G D We believe! We believe

OCEANS

Hillsong United https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_

Bm (A/C#)

Verse 1: Bm A/C# D G You call me out upon the waters unknown where feet may fail Bm A/C# D G And there I find You in the mystery deep My faith will stand

A The great A In oceans

Chorus: G D A G D A G And I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise D A G (A) Bm (A/C#) D A Em My soul will rest in your embrace For I am Yours and You are mine Verse 2: Bm A/C# D A G Your grace abounds in deepest waters Your sovereign hand Will be my guide Bm A/C# D A G Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me You’ve never failed and you won’t start now Chorus: G D A G D A G So I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise D A G (A) Bm (A/C#) D A Em My soul will rest in your embrace When I am Yours and You are mine Instrumental: Bm (A/C#) D A Em (Bm G D A Bm G D A) Bridge: Bm G Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

D A Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me Bm G Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander D A And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Saviour (x3) G D Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders A Em Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me G D Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander A Em And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Saviour Bm A/C# D Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders A Em Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me Bm A/C# D Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander A Em And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Saviour (x2) Instrumental: Bm (A/C#) D A Em

Bm (A/C#) D A Em

Ending Chorus: G D A I will call upon Your Name G D A Keep my eyes above the waves G D A My soul will rest in Your embrace G (A) Bm (A/C#) D A G Bm (A/C#) D (Stay on D) I am Yours and You are mine

WRITE YOUR STORY Francesca Battistelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk9Pj3ID0UE

D They say

Bm You’re the King of everything A The One who taught the wind to sing G The Source of the rhythm my heart keeps beating D They say

Bm You can give the blind their sight A And You can bring the dead to life G You can be the hope my soul’s been seekin’ D I wanna tell You now that I believe it Bm I wanna tell You now that I believe it A G I do, that You can make me new, oh D I’m an empty page G I’m an open book Bm Write Your story on my heart G A*

Come on and make Your mark D Author of my hope G Maker of the stars Bm Let me be Your work of art G Won’t You write Your story on my heart D G Write Your story, write Your story Bm Come on and write Your story, write Your story G A* Won’t You write Your story on my heart D My Life

Bm I know it’s never really been mine A So do with it whatever You like I don’t know what Your plan is G But I know it’s good, yeah D I wanna tell You now that I believe in Bm I wanna tell You now that I believe in A G In You, so do what You do, oh D I’m an empty page G I’m an open book Bm Write Your story on my heart G A* Come on and make Your mark D Author of my hope G Maker of the stars Bm

Let me be Your work of art G Won’t You write Your story on my heart D G Write Your story, write Your story Bm Come on and write Your story, write Your story G A* Won’t You write Your story on my heart Bm I want my history G To be Your legacy D Go ahead and show this world A What You’ve done in me Bm And when the music fades G D A I want my life to say D Bm I let You write your story, write Your story A G Write Your story, write Your story D I’m an empty page G I’m an open book Bm Write Your story on my heart G A* Come on and make Your mark D Author of my hope G Maker of the stars Bm Let me be Your work of art G Won’t You write Your story on my heart D G Write Your story, write Your story

Bm Come on and write Your story, write Your story G A* Won’t You write Your story on my heart D G Write Your story, write Your story Bm Come on and write Your story, write Your story G A* D Won’t You write Your story on my heart

I AM

Crowder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH_LLGiE0f0

Holding on to You A7 I Am Holding on to You F In the middle of the storm I am holding on C I Am II C Love like this Oh my God to find I am overwhelmed With a joy divine A7 F Love like this sets our hearts on fire Chorus (Twice) C I Am

A7 I C There’s no space that His love can’t reach C There’s no place where we can’t find peace A7 F There’s no end to amazing grace C Take me in with Your arms spread wide C Take me in like an orphan child A7 Never let go F Never leave my side Chorus C I Am

Holding on to You A7 I Am Holding on to You F In the middle of the storm I am holding on C I Am Interlude (Once) C, A7 Bridge C F This is my resurrection song

C F This is my hallelujah come A7 F This is why it’s to You I run C F This is my resurrection song C F This is my hallelujah come A7 F This is why it’s to You I run C F There’s no space that His love can’t reach C F There’s no place where we can’t find peace A7 G F There’s no end to amazing grace Chorus (3 times) C I Am A7

I Am

F In the middle of the storm I am holding on C I Am

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE

Phil Wickman

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PO7KVCGQRyQ

C Who breaks the power of sin and darkness F Whose love is mighty and so much stronger Am G F The King of Glory, the King above all kings C Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder F Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder Am G F The King of Glory, the King above all kings Chorus

C F This is amazing grace, This is unfailing love Am That You would take my place G That You would bear my cross C You would lay down Your life F Am That I would be set free Jesus, I sing for G C All that You’ve done for me C Who brings our chaos back into order F Who makes the orphan a son and daughter Am G F The King of Glory, the King above all kings C Who rules the nations with truth and justice F Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance Am G F The King of Glory, the King above all kings C Worthy is the Lamb who was slain F Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Am Worthy is the Lamb who was slain F Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Still the Boss

First things first: Why is Bruce Springsteen often called “The Boss”? According to one source, the nickname “The Boss” was meant to be a joke. As he started to pursue a career in music, Springsteen got gigs for his band, and received the fees. He would then distribute this among other band members, who called him, “The Boss”. The nickname stuck with him when he performed in Asbury Park, New Jersey when he was introduced as such by the announcer who thought that this referred to his level of skill and talent. He disdained this at first, but through time, accepted this; for many had come to recognize Springsteen as the master of his craft and the voice of his generation: The Boss. Born on September 23, 1949 in New Jersey, Springsteen remains active both in recordings and live performances since his breakout album, “Born to Run” reaching commercial success with his official anthem, “Born in the USA”. “The Boss” didn’t sit on his success rather he continued producing songs and reached out to fans through highly energized concerts that at times last for four hours. You can never charge Springsteen with compromising his values and beliefs or in commercializing his craft. Probably the nearest were writing songs for films, but even then, he was choosy. For example synthesizerdriven “The Streets of Philadelphia” was from the Tom Hanks-Denzel Washington opus, “Philadelphia”, that brought to the light the suffering undergone by AIDS victims and “Secret Garden” the love theme of the inspiring Tom Cruise film, “”Jerry Maguire”. If some people thought the Boss was a mere creation of media handlers (in a rare feat on October 27, 1975, Springsteen appeared simultaneously on the covers of Newsweek and Time), he erased any doubt about the substance of his artistry when he joined one of the most important recordings of the 20th century, USA for Africa’s “We are the World”. When you co-record with the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Michael Jackson, and vocal duel with Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, you definitely belong among the legends. He has earned respect as evidenced by 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999. More significant is the body of work that Springsteen has produced since 1964 when he played first before an audience at a trailer on New Jersey Route 34 and at a local Elks Lodge. From “Greetings from Asbury Park,

N.J.” in 1973 to the current release, “High Hopes”, Springsteen has ventured from highly personal themes to political causes in his lyrics, while crisscrossing music styles from acoustic folk to hard rock, and putting in the mix gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and pop dance. One of the reasons for Springsteen success must be his approach to music: “It was just playing music. I didn’t have any intention for it. I knew that I enjoyed making this kind of music. ... It was really just purely for the joy of doing it. It was a lot of fun.” Unlike many of his contemporaries, Springsteen has refused to take the easy road. Instead of relying on his past hit songs to draw an audience, he continues to make fresh materials that touch on present-day issues; and boldly infusing new things like sampling and loops. Initially, apolitical (by not endorsing presidential candidates), he has been vocal about his convictions for human rights, for laborers and for migrants and against nuclear weapons and corporate America, among others. His liberal stance has distanced him from some of his fans, but the fan-base remains strong both in the United States and overseas, as attested to by sold-out concerts. He showed his true political color when Barack Obama first ran for president, and again in seeking re-election. In both instances, he appeared in campaign rallies to get Obama in the White House. In 2009, Springsteen was one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors for contribution to American culture. After paying tribute to Springsteen, President Obama quipped, “while I am the president, he is the Boss.” That settles that.

Unlike the title, “The Chairman” for Frank Sinatra that has some negative connotation, Springsteen’s “The Boss” radiates a bright image. There is no mafia, no fraternity and no gang. Being The Boss means knowing who you are and expressing what you are. Springsteen embraces his roots and upbringing in New Jersey through his songs. He was born in a middle-income family (his father was a bus driver, but mostly unemployed; while his mother was a legal secretary); raised a Roman Catholic and studied in public school. His compositions touch the heart, for its truthfulness; lift voices, for its worthy causes; and give hope, during dark and emotional moments. At times, Springsteen earns the ire of people for his frankness and lack of superficiality. In “Tunnel of Love”, he tells: “It ought to be easy, ought to be simple enough/Man meets woman and they fall in love/But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough/And you’ve got to learn to live with what you can’t rise above/If you want to ride on down in through this tunnel of love.” In “The Rising”, he invites us: “Lost track of how far I’ve gone/How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed/On my back’s a sixty pound stone/On my shoulder a half mile line//Come on up for the rising/Come on up, lay your hands in mine/Come on up for the rising/Come on up for the rising tonight” Dealing on violence, Springsteen talks about it in “High Hopes”: “Coming from the city, coming from the wild/I see a breathless army breaking like a cloud/They’re gonna smother love, they’re gonna shoot your hopes/Before the meek inherit they’ll learn to hate themselves//Give me help, give me strength/Give a soul a night of fearless sleep/Give me love, give me peace/Don’t you know these days you pay for everything/Got high hopes/I got high hopes/I got high hopes/I got high hopes.” If Springsteen remains to be popular today, as he was then, it must be because of the relevance of his songs, and that he carries the voice of the working man. I wouldn’t be surprised if Springsteen will become even bigger, once China understands that though he is born in the USA, he expresses the truth in their hearts, the truth in our hearts. As The Boss puts it, “People deserve the truth. They deserve honesty. The best music, you can seek some shelter in it momentarily, but it’s essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.” (CORD)

CORD TOP 5 SPRINGSTEEN SONGS One thing that keeps Bruce Springsteen relevant since he released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, New Jersey, more than 40 years ago is his ability to weave songs about what the common man feels about the world around him, and being able to perform these passionately both in recorded materials and in live concerts. It is therefore no wonder that his latest output, High Hopes, released on January 14, 2014 became his eleventh #1 album in the US. In this issue, CORD selects the Top 5 songs that make him truly THE BOSS.

#1 Born to Run, 1975

This is the song that defined Bruce Springsteen and his music. Still struggling for recognition, the 24-year-old musician wrote "Born to Run," but it took quite some time before the song attained its final form. "We went through a lot of different ways of playing it," revealed drummer Ernest "Boom" Carter, who played in the early years of the E Street Band. The lyrics could mean youth, rebellion, James Dean or something else, but the driving rhythm and the raw vocals helped create rock angst that struck a chord in the post-Woodstock generation. E In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a ______ A B runaway American dream E A At night we ride through mansions of glory in A B suicide machines A Amaj7 F#m Amaj7 Sprung from cages on Highway 9 chrome wheeled, fuel injected and, steppin' 16

out over __ (to 1) A Amaj7 Oh Baby this town rips the bones from your back, F#m Amaj7 it's a death trap, ______ it's a suicide rap.We E B4 E

Cm#7

get out while we're young 'Cause tramps like us B E baby we were born run.

E Hey Wendy, let me in, I wanna be your friend,

Em Em9 Em Em9 The amusement park rises bold and stark

A B I wanna guard your dreams and visions.

G4 G G4 G Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist

E Just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims,

A4 A A4 A I wanna die with you Wendy on the street tonight

A B And strap your hands across my engines.

C4 C C4 In an everlasting kiss

A Amaj7 And Together we could break this trap, F#m

Amaj7

B4 We'll run till we drop and, baby we'll never go back. A Amaj7 Oh will you walk with me out on the wire? F#m Amaj7 Girl, I'm just a scared and a lonely rider, C But I gotta know how it feels, C#m7 I want to know if love is wild, baby, A B4 I want to know if love is real. (CHORUS) Em Em9 Em Em9 G4 G G4 G Beyond the palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard

E Well, The highways jammed with broken heroes A B On a last chance power drive E Well everybody's out on the run tonight A B But there's no place left to hide A Amaj7 Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness

F#m Amaj7 E B4 I'll love you with all the madness in my soul A Amaj7 F#m Oh someday girl, I don't know when, we're gonna get to that place Amaj7 E Where we really wanna go C#m7 And we'll walk in the sun

A4 A A4 A Girls comb their hair in rear-view mirrors

A Till then tramps like us

C4 C C4 C and the boys try to look so hard

B4 E Baby we were born to run.

#2 Born in the U.S.A., 1984

If you think “Born in the U.S.A” was a well-thought song, it wasn’t. According to Springsteen: "We just kinda did it off the cuff…I never taught it to the band. I went in and said, 'Roy, get this riff.' And he just pulled out that sound, played the riff on the synthesizer. We played it two times, and our second take is on the record.” B Born down in a dead man's town

B Got in a little hometown jam

The first kick I took was when I hit the ground E End up like a dog that's been beat too much

So they put a rifle in my hand E Sent me off to a foreign land

Till you spend half your life just covering up B Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A. E B I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. now

To go and kill the yellow man

B Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.

E B I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. now

|E|E|E|E| I got a picture of him in her arms now

B Come back home to the refinery

B Down in the shadow of the penitentiary

Hiring man said "Son if it was up to me" E Went down to see my V.A. man |B|B|B|B|E|E|E| E| He said "Son, don't you understand"

Out by the gas fires of the refinery E I'm ten years burning down the road

B I had a brother at Khe Sahn Fighting off the Viet Cong E They're still there, he's all gone B He had a woman he loved in Saigon

Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go B Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A. E B Born in the U.S.A., I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now Born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A E Born in the U.S.A., I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

#3 The River, 1980

Written about his sister, Genny and husband, Mickey Shave, Sprinsteen said that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riverâ&#x20AC;? deals about the difficulties that young couples go through as they start out in marriage. "They had to struggle very hard back in the late Seventies, like so many people are doing today,"

Em G D C I come from down in the valley Where mister, when you're young Em G C G They bring you up to do like your daddy done C G D Em Me and Mary we met in high school When she was just seventeen Am G C We'd drive out of this valley down to where the fields were green Em C D G We'd go down to the river And into the river we'd dive Em C D C Oh down to the river we’d ride Em G D C Then I got Mary pregnant And man, that was all she wrote Em G C G And for my 19th birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat C G D Em We went down to the courthouse And the judge put it all to rest Am No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle G C No flowers, no wedding dress Em C That night we went down to the river D G And into the river we'd dive Em C D C Oh down to the river we did ride Solo: | Em G D C | Em G G| | C C G D Em | Am G C|C Em G D C I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company Em G C G But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy 20

C Now all them things that seemed so important G D Em Well mister they vanished right into the air Am G C Now I just act like I don't remember Mary acts like she don't care Em G D But I remember us riding in my brother's car Her body tan and wet down at C Em G the reservoir At night on them banks I'd lie awake C G And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take C Now those memories come back to haunt me G D Em They haunt me like a curse Am G C Is a dream a lie if it don't come true Or is it something worse Em C D G That sends me down to the river Though I know the river is dry Em C D C That sends me down to the river tonight Em C D G Down to the river my baby and I Em C D C Oh down to the river we ride Ooh.. Em C D G Em C

#4 Fire, 1986 If he had his way, Springsteen would have wanted Elvis Presley to first record the song. But that never happened, as Elvis died on August 16, 1977, while the cassette demo was on its way. The song also didn’t make it in his 1978 album, Darkness on the Edge of Town. Instead the Pointer Sister made a hit out of it in January 1979 #2 in the Top 40 chart. It was a live version of the song that was released in 1986 that Springsteen’s version hit the chart at #46 in the Billboard Hot 100.

(Silence) G I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio I'm pulling you close, you just say no You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar Am C G 'Cause when we kiss Hmmm... fire G Well late at night, I'm takin' you home Well I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire Am And when we kiss C G Ohhh, fire C G You had a hold on me right from the start G D It's a grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart C G My nerves all jumpin' actin' like a fool Am C Am D Your kisses they burn, but your heart stays cool Romeo and Juliet, (G) Samson and Delilah G But baby you can bet their love they didn't deny Your words say split, but your words they lie Am 'Cause when we kiss C G Hmmm, fire, fire

#5 Dancing in the Dark, 1984

The carrier single of the album “Born in the USA”, "Dancing in the Dark" was untypical of a Springsteen song with its upbeat sound that had elements of disco containing strong rock ingredient in the mix and Springsteen’s patented vocals. This song is one of the biggest hits in his career. G Em G Em 2x G Em G I get up in the evening Em G and I ain't got nothing to say Em I come home in the morning G Em C I go to bed feeling the same way Am C I ain't nothing but tired Am G Man I'm just tired and bored with myself Em G Em D Hey there baby, I could use just a little help D You can't start a fire C You can't start a fire without a spark Am C This gun's for hire Am G even if we're just dancing in the dark G Em G Message keeps getting clearer Em G radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place Em I check my look in the mirror G Em C I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face Am C Man I ain't getting nowhere Am G I'm just living in a dump like this Em G There's something happening somewhere Em D baby I just know that there is D You can't start a fire 21

C You can't start a fire without a spark Am C This gun's for hire Am G even if we're just dancing in the dark Em G You sit around getting older C D Em there's a joke here somewhere and it's on me G I'll shake this world off my shoulders C D come on baby this laugh's on me G Em G Stay on the streets of this town Em G and they'll be carving you up alright Em G They say you gotta stay hungry Em C hey baby, I'm just about starving tonight Am C I'm dying for some action

Am G I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book Em G I need a love reaction Em D come on now baby gimme just one look D C You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart Am C This gun's for hire Am D Even if we're just dancing in the dark C You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart Am C This gun's for hire Am G C Even if we're just dancing in the dark Am G C Even if we're just dancing in the dark 2x Hey baby

HIGH HOPES: Springsteen Concert 2014 Without much ado, Bruce Springsteen walked alone on stage with a guitar on hand. He didn’t sing one of his familiar songs rather he crooned Lorde’s “Royals” in his distinctive vocal style, adlibbing with his harmonica. From that moment on, the Boss charmed the 40,000 audience in a full-packed Mt Smart Stadium on March 1, 2014. It was truly one of the greatest rock concerts of all time. No dancing lights. No gyrating dancers. No video shows. No fancy stage. No stylish attires. It was simply Springsteen and the E-Street Band. The Boss blew us away with all the songs from the classic ‘Born in the USA’ album, familiar anthems and new materials from his latest output, “High Hopes”. The band got into perfect rhythm with power guitar riffs right at the start of “My Love Will Not Let You Down” and the strong horn section sparkled in “Wrecking Ball”. In “Death to My Hometown”, the accompaniment included the violin and mandolin. The new song, “High Hopes” had rhythmic percussion as a starter with the guitar screaming beautifully at proper intervals.

Springsteen moved us with his rendition of “The River” hitting the high notes almost like an angel. When he segued into “Born in the USA”, the audience had totally warmed up with the hardworking drummer never skipping a beat on to “Cover Me”. Playful at times, the 64-years old rocker touched the crowd, getting some to join him on stage and singing a few requests. He mellowed down for a moment in “Fire”, but had everyone up by the time he performed “Glory Days” and “Dancing in the Dark”. Like a maestro, he turned the stadium into a sing-along session

in “My Hometown”. A knockout rendition was “The Ghost of Tom Joad” when he shared vocals with guitarist Tom Morello of the Rage against the Machine who displayed electrifying virtuosity. And when we thought the Boss would end with “Land of Hope and Dreams”, he returned for an encore (Born to Run, Rosalita, Tenth Avenue Freeze-out and Shout). And, yes, an adieu song with his acoustic guitar in “Thunder Road”. Not one number could be considered ” filler” as Springsteen exuded youthful endurance from start to finish, a three-hour music marathon like no other. The positive vibes throughout could only come from an artist who loves what he is doing, who gives his very best for the audience and whose songs are honest and uncompromising. (CORD)

END VIOLENCE

“All that violence in the world, we need to stop that.” - Wyclef Jean

Peace begins with you. CORD Campaign 2014

MARS HAS LANDED

The buildup towards the biggest sporting event in the United States, the NFL Super Bowl, focused on the championship contenders, the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, and rightly so.

Yet, it is no secret that the half-time show is likewise a major fixture featuring the hottest music acts of the moment. The list of past performers is a who’s who in entertainment including Ella Fitzgerald (1972), Michael Jackson (1993), Stevie Wonder (1992), U2 ((2002), Janet Jackson (2004), Paul McCartney (2005), and Bruce Springsteen (2009). Until 2014, the most viewed halftime shows in history according to Nielsen ratings are that of Madonna, 114 million in 2012 and Beyoncé 110 million in 2013. With 115.3 million viewers, the 2014 edition officially attained the most-watched halftime show in history. The Guinness World Records also acknowledged this as the largest TV audience for a Super Bowl halftime performance. Its star: Bruno Mars. While the Broncos were still in a state of shock for their nil score (22-0) as they left the field, Mars not only kept the audience of the game that stood at 112 million, he added 3.3 million more. How did Mars win the hearts of the audience and rocket himself high up into the sky? An underdog to previous artists like Black Eyes Peas (2011), Prince (2007), The Rolling Stones (2006), Tina Turner (2000) and Boyz II Men (1998), Mars has so far released only two albums, namely “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” and “Unorthodox Jukebox”. What was going for him was his fresh win for the Best Pop Vocal Album in the 2014 Grammys and the string of hits since the release of “Just the Way You Are” on July 19, 2010. But hit songs do not alone make a winning package: in this setting, performance was of utmost importance. A children’s choir took the stage first with Mars’ “Billionaire” and from there Mars put on a beat with him on the drummer’s seat, setting the mood for the jam. Before we knew it, a Motown-inspired combo followed through as Mars got working on the mike with “Locked out of Heaven”. The choreography and the energy of Mars and company heated up the MetLife Stadium. The lighting effects also played its part of making the atmosphere magical. As “Runaway Baby” played on, there was that original dance movement that distinguished Mars from his heroes, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Suddenly out of nowhere, Red Hot Chili Peppers joined into the fray with a totally spirited rendition of “Give it Away”, and by the time the last of power chords bombarded us, RHCP, Mars and his band were all jumping up in unison. Whoa! In a split of a second, we were moved by the video of US soldiers in the war zone saying hello to their loved ones, dedicating Mars’ next number – his official anthem, “Just the Way You Are”. As fireworks filled the skies, Mars rendered his love song with highly-charged emotion and perfectly strong vocals. He held us in a state of frenzy until the very final note. (CORD)

THE YEAR OF THE LORDE

“Impossible” would best describe the rise of Kiwi teenager Lorde from a wannabe Youtube sensation to being recognized, among others, in the Grammys and Brit Awards. “Royals” has become monster hit worldwide and her debut album Pure Heroine sold more than a million copies in the United States, a feat previously claimed by Adele. And if you make it to the cover of the Rolling Stone, you have really arrived. Her performances in the Grammys and Brit Awards won her more fans. When she could have immediately stormed the US for gigs after her double Grammy win, she planed back to New Zealand to fulfill her commitment to the Laneway Festival in Auckland’s Silo Park before a near sold out audience of 10,000. She’s become a gossip item with her friendship with Taylor Swift, which is nothing more than girls respecting each other’s work. They plan to collaborate.

that is distinctively Lorde.

How did Lorde attain these feats in so short a time? Not really. She was honed in school. She had artistic parents encouraging her to pursue her passion. And there is Joe Little, music producer/arranger, who helped in putting together her electro-orientated sound

With factory pop acts like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Katy Perry, the parched music world needed someone real and in your face to fill the void. Enter Lorde: unique sound and sensible lyrics; Brave princess Merida-look; and twitter savvy. It wasn’t long that she got the attention of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and multimedia personality Ryan Seacrest who early on believed in her. 2013 turned out to be The Year of the Lorde, and 2014 was harvest time. Hits, accolades, awards, sold out concerts and a performance with Nirvana in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Awarding ceremonies have come her way. And she is just 17. The test, though, for any music artist is the sophomore album. If one attempts to recycle the winning formula of the first album that may work in the short term. But if one aims for the long haul, then creativity must come into play. Without doubt, Lorde will choose the latter; for behind her gothic façade is a genius. (CORD)

GRAMMYS 2014: The Best Concert of the Year and A Worst Sequence Without doubt, the Grammys is not just the most important awarding ceremony in the music world in 2014 it hosted the best concert of the year as well. The 56th edition of the awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 was beamed live in New Zealand as the state television was persuaded by public pressure on account of the four nominations of its hottest act, Lorde. It was a star-studded music extravaganza from classical to heavy metal, and everything in between. CORD selects the Top 5 Best Performances of the 56th Grammy Awards:

1. Pink and Nate Ruess of fun

Instead of obtaining the services of Cirque Du Soleil, Pink took the ropes into her hands and had the audience awed by a flying trapeze-and-vocal performance of "Try" and “Just Give Me a Reason”. The choreography was both creative and risqué, and Pink landed smoothly on stage with Ruess overwhelmed by the diva’s power and stamina. If there was something missing, it was a warning: “Should not be tried at home.”

2. Taylor Swift

She may have failed to get any award during the night; but the teenage pop star rendered “All Too Well” in a hyper-electric set: pounding the ivories, hair whipping and delivering power vocals. Taylor Swift officially earned a diploma as “Artist” with her name mentioned in the same breath as Carole King, Aretha Franklin and Barbra Streisand. She is no flash in the pan, and definitely will stay in the limelight for a long, long time.

3. Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams and Stevie Wonder

A remarkable mash up of four funky materials, “Get Lucky," "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," Chic's "Le Freak, and Wonder's "Another Star", the French robots brought the audience into an electronic music party frenzy with the help of dance track maestro Nile Rodgers, “Happy” Pharrell Williams and everlasting Stevie Wonder.

4. Lorde

Thrown into the lion’s den, neophyte Lorde held her candle in front of her heroes and idols and right after Beyonce/Jay Z. In a minimalist sequence, the Kiwi teenager hypnotized the audience by being her unique self – charismatic and natural. Without a tinge of nervousness, Lorde showed that she deserved her two major wins.

5. Beyonce and Jay Z

It would be sacrilege if the power couple: Beyonce and Jay Z failed to make it in the list. They set the tone of the evening with elegance, sexiness and artistry. Need we say more? Runner Up Metallica and Lang Lang Putting together heavy metal band Metallica with acclaimed pianist Lang Lang in the anti-war song, “One” was a stroke of genius, and while there were those who thought the exercise was a facade; it brought together not just opposites in music genres, but geniuses as well. The performance seemed jarring to purists, but musically it created the impossible. Worst Performance Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert & Madonna with Queen Latifah The Grammys pushed the envelope to the edge, nearly bringing the whole show down the sewer. How many times have artists been castigated for promoting their causes in the limited time either as presenters or award winners? And because same-sex marriage has become controversial and current, the Grammy organizers sliced a good part of the ceremonies with an ensemble consisting of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert and the provocateur madam Madonna in the song, “Same Love”, as Queen Latifah ministered the marriage of 33 couples. Even the stage had the resemblance of a church. It was nothing but blatant commercialization.

FACT SHEET:

PHARRELL

Birth name: Pharrell Williams Birth date: April 5, 1973 Place of Birth: Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA Genres: Hip hop, R&B, funk, pop Occupations: Producer, musician, singer-songwriter, rapper, fashion designer

HAPPY Pharrell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk9Pj3ID0UE F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 It might seem crazy what I'm about to say F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 Sunshine she's here, you can take a break F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 I'm a hot air balloon that could go to space F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C With the air, like I don't care baby by the way Chorus: Bb7 Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 Here come bad news talking this and that (Yeah) F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 Give me all you got, don’t hold it back (Yeah) F7 / Fm7 - Bb - C - Bb7 Well I should probably warn you I'll be just fine (Yeah) F7 / Fm7 - Bb C Bb7 No offense to you don’t waste your time here's why Chorus:

Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G

roof

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do HEY, COME ON! Bridge: F7 / EUGH (Happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy), bring me down, Love is too high (Happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy), bring me down I said, let me tell you now (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, Love is too high (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, I said Chorus: Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do Chorus: Bb7 Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like happiness is the Db Because I'm (happy) 36

roof

truth

(Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do Bridge: F7 / (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, Love is too high (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, can't noth'ng (Happy, happy, happy, happy), bring me down, I said Chorus: Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do Chorus:

Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Db Because I'm (happy) (Db) Cm Cm7/G F7 Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do //

CORD ARTISTS SLAPSHOCK (Philippines)

Composed of rockers-to-the bones Lee Nadela, Chi Evora, Jamir Garcia, Lean Ansing and Jerry Basco, Slapshock have been around for 17 years, and may just be on the verge of international recognition with the release of their latest EP, “Night Owls” produced by apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas. They’ve made hit songs in the Philippines like “Salamin,” “Agent Orange” and “Wake Me Up”. If only the world listens. Listen to Slapschock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co8JDdUi57s

JOANovARC (United Kingdom)

The first all-female band to be featured on Xbox game Rockband, the girls hail from London and the Home Counties. Defying the techno-pop trend, JOANovARC is out to resurrect live metal rock and their brand of music that have brought them to Europe, the US, Mediterranean and Caribbean. Their single, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Starsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was produced by Stuart Epps who has worked with Oasis, Led Zeppelin and Elton John. Listen to JoanovArc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1atZZu8Ixc

HEARSAYS

(Japan)

The four-member band, Hearsays, remind one of Frente! but really they’ve got their own melodic style that makes them one of the top bands out of Fukuoka indie-pop label Dead Funny Records. One commentator calls their song “Blind” sublime.

Listen to Hearsays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY-ZXbOWDW8

MS MR

(USA)

MS MR (pronounced Miz Mister) are Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow. Graduates from Vassar College in 2010, MS MR has so far released two singles, "Hurricane" and "Fantasy", the former charting at number 38 in Germany. "Fantasy" became a single of the week in iTunes.

Listen to Hearsays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY-ZXbOWDW8

MUSIC ROYALS By Tyke Villalonga

WORLD POLITICS

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Bad Ass or Sweet As

Russians look up to him as a redeemer; while the West sees a new Hitler out to expand territories lost when communism became outdated. Vladimir Putin has effectively taken the attention of the world with Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea. Prior to that, he was conspicuously present during the Sochi Winter Olympics. He earned accolades for his lead role including that of Larry Probst, the US Olympic Committee chairman, who said, “The thing that struck me was the involvement and engagement of President Putin. He has been visible throughout the Games and he spent half an hour at the USA House. He has really owned the Games. I would compliment him and his team.” Late last year, the Russian President topped Forbes' Most Powerful People ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama. Forbes wrote: “Putin has solidified his control over Russia and anyone

watching the chess match over Syria has a clear idea of the shift in the power towards Putin on the global stage. The ex-KGB strongman--who controls a nuclear-tipped army, a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves--is allowed to serve another six-year term, which could keep him in office until 2024.” Bad Ass The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) took a united stand in condemning Russia’s annexation of Crimea. US President Barack Obama labeled Russia as a “regional power” and criticized Putin for using “brute force” and for the latter’s “older, more traditional view of power.” If he was less diplomatic he’d be calling Putin “bad ass”. The American leader believes that Putin has been "willing to show a deeply held grievance about what he considers to be the loss of the Soviet Union." He expounded: "You would have thought that after a couple of decades that there'd be an awareness on the part of any Russian leader that the path forward is not to revert back to the kinds of practices that, you know, were so prevalent during the Cold War but, in fact, to move forward with further integration with the world economy and to be a responsible international citizen." Yet in the latest survey by the Associated Press, 59 per cent of Americans disapprove of Obama performance, including a low 40 percent approving of his foreign policy in the light of the crisis in Ukraine. Sweet as The opposite is happening in the case of Putin, whose approval rating among Russians has risen, with only a few standing against him as nationalist sentiment surges. Why has President Putin become so strong in his words and bold in his actions? He has consolidated so much power that we barely hear anything from the opposition or from senior statesmen like Mikhail Gorbachev. The late Boris Yeltsin, who brought Putin to the national stage of Russian politics, must be turning in his grave as democracy has taken a backseat in favor of a subtle authoritarian state under a cult-like figure in the likes of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong. From 2000 until the present, Putin has led Russia from the shambles of communism to becoming an economic power or as the eighth largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth/ fifth largest by purchasing power parity.

Putin raised the standard living of his people, turned his country into one of the major suppliers of oil and gas, while at the same time promoted “oligarchs” who have become among the wealthiest in the world. And to showcase the rise of Russia back in the global stage, Putin used the Sochi Winter Olympics not just for Russian athletes to harvest the most number of medals but also to prove the nation’s efficiency in running the Games and providing utmost security for players and visitors. Soviet Glory His critics have compared him to Adolf Hitler who used the 1936 Berlin Olympics to publicize his rule, as Putin used the Sochi Games as a propaganda vehicle for Russia and for himself. So effective were Kremlin’s spin doctors in their work that majority of Russians are now standing behind their president, and Putin himself has taken his “macho” and “Superman” image beyond media and into the real world. Even the people of Crimea and a number of people in Eastern Ukraine have themselves been enamored by Putin’s daring moves, and thus sought their place’s annexation to a Russia that has reclaimed its old glory. On March 18, when Russia officially annexed Crimea, Putin said: “It was only when Crimea ended up as part of a different country that Russia realized that it was not simply robbed, it was plundered. …Millions of people went to bed in one country and awoke in different ones, overnight becoming ethnic minorities in former Union republics, while the Russian nation became one of the biggest, if not the biggest ethnic group in the world to be divided by borders. …Those who stood behind the latest events in Ukraine had a different agenda … Nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites executed this coup. They continue to set the tone in Ukraine to this day. …However, what do we hear from our colleagues in Western Europe and North America? They say we are violating norms of international law. Firstly, it’s a good thing that they at least remember that there exists such a thing as international law – better late than never. … I cannot recall a single case in history of an intervention without a single shot being fired and with no human casualties.” What Next? But with its ouster from the G8 (the group of eight leading industrialized countries) and economic sanctions imposed upon it, and the United Nations (100 against 11) vote in favor of the resolution condemning the invasion of Crimea, Russia is now put to a test. Can Putin’s “superpowers” sustain the economy as the flight of capital has started to bleed it? Or will he become wise as a Jedi, and let reason reign over force? (CORD)

CORD IMAGES By Ching Mandawe

ALBUM REVIEWS HIGH HOPES

Bruce Springsteen

While most of his contemporaries have long abandoned producing new music, and simply make do performing their old hits in tours; Bruce Springsteen continues to release albums of new materials and High Hopes is his latest. The album’s title is the first song and we are treated to percussions that later gets wind instrument treatment and rock guitars. It has an infectious rhythm and an easily digestible melody. Of course, I heard the live version of this and it sure got the people moving. “Harry’s Place” keeps pace with the beat though the Boss uses a lower reach of his voice. “American Skin” starts slow and mysterious then builds up with more guitars, as Bruce emotes. “Just like Fire Would” is a basic chorded rock tune which is more Bon Jovi than Springsteen. The E-Street Band then experiments on industrial rock territory in “Down in the Hole” with drama incorporated. A gospel anthem, “Heaven’s Wall” gets a choir to open, with a lot of guitar wailings through the verses. This church feel continues in “Frankie Fell in Love”, a bit bluesy that then gets louder. “This is Your Sword” seems to be sang in the midst of drunkenness with a little bit of Irish bar singalong. “Hunter of Invisible Game” is an unusual entry in the mix, but then again, it showcases the distinctive Springsteen vocals. The album reaches its zenith in “The Ghost of Tom Joad” with The Boss’ great story telling and singing, and the electric guitar adding substance to the music. The last two songs, “The Wall” and “Dream Baby Dream” are best suited to close the album, slow if not sleepy. High Hopes is Springsteen more upbeat, more metal. That means the man does not want to settle to proven formulas rather, he’d gamble on new elements added to his music. The good thing about it is that it works. While Bruce Springsteen experiments with his sound, he maintains his pop sense, that is, he does not stray too far that would alienate him from his audience. And that spells longevity. 50

MUSIC SPEAKS Candice Glover

The reality show format of American Idol (AI), X-Factor and the like has become routine and tiresome. So are the talents. Only a few have become established stars like Carry Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and Phillip Phillips, while others struggle to maintain visibility and audibility. Candice Glover the AI Season 12 winner gets to release her prize-album, and there is no doubt about her vocal ability. The album is a hodgepodge of songs that allows Candice to showcase her vocal pipes. That creates a problem though as we can’t get to know the real Candice. “Cried” is a total knockout, while “Die without You” stretches her voice to the extremes. “Some Kinda Man” is soul with pop ingredient that should get into the radio playlist. “Damn” and “Passenger” with its minimalist approach allows us to appreciate the beauty of Glover’s winning voice. It is in “Forever that Man” that one gets goose bumps, reminding us of missing-in-action Adele. A candidate for the charts is “In the Middle” with an earworm of a clever line that goes, “Ting a ling a ling”. “Love Song” is a pretty ending.

SHANGRI LA Jake Bugg

With many wanting to incorporate the signature Mumford & Sons sound into their own (think Phillip Phillips & One Direction), Jake Bugg stands on his own with a voice like that of a solo member of the Everly Brothers, and songs that is acoustic-based with bits of Americana, blues, country and folk rock. There are a lot of likeable songs in this album, but let us just pick the very distinguished ones: “Slumville Sunrise”, a bass-driven song with wailing guitar reminding us of that brilliant Charlie Daniels’ tune; “What Doesn’t Kill You” , fast-beat and hot-running rhythm with Jake on top of things; “Messed Up Kids”, rock n’ roll with a fascinating chorus, and lead guitar adornments; “Simple Pleasures” if Crosby Still & Nash’s anthem is “Cathedral”, this one is Bugg’s.; “A Song about Love”, boy can he sing such a beautiful ballad; and “Storm Passes Away”, raw and bold sing-along, like you are listening to him ‘live’. This song alone proves that Jake Bugg is the real deal.

MUSIC + CURRENT Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam ((Father and Son, Wild World, Morning has Broken) was inducted on April 11 at Barclays Centre, Brooklyn, into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame together with Nirvana, KISS, Peter Gabriel, Linda Ronstadt, and Hall & Oates. Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band joined the hall in its “musical excellence” category, for sidemen, and performed with the band’s leader, Bruce Springsteen, who entered the Hall of Fame in 1999. One of the highlights of the star-studded ceremony was the tribute to Nirvana by original members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic that featured as vocalists Lorde, St. Vincent, former Sonic Youth singer Kim Gordon and Joan Jett…English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has a new song called “Sing”, co-written and -produced with Pharrell. The R&B-flavored song is destined to be Sheeran’s next hit, on the heels of “I See Fire” from the 2nd installment of “The Hobbit”… The Scottish band Chvches are in a blistering US tour that includes performances in Coachella, Edgefest, Summer Block Party, Free Press Summer Festival, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Northside Festival, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands Music Festival. They are also expected to play in Primavera Sound (Spain), Hurricane Festival (Germany), Best Kept Secret Festival (Netherlands), Glastonbury Festival (UK), Open Air (Switzerland) and Longitude Festival (Ireland)… Aerosmith and Stevie Wonder are the headliners in London's Calling Festival on June 28 and 29. Twenty other acts are expected to perform. This will be the first time the US rockers play in the UK for

four years… The Winter Jam 2014 Tour Spectacular has wrapped the biggest and most innovative season in its 19-year history, reigning as the world's largest first quarter tour. For the fourth consecutive year, Winter Jam tops Pollstar's First Quarter Year To Date Worldwide Ticket Sales chart - Top 100 Tours, surpassing all other 2014 first quarter tours, including Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Beyoncé, Michael Bublé, Imagine Dragons and Justin Timberlake. Hitting major arenas around the country from January through March, Winter Jam saw 34 sellouts this year, with a combined total audience of more than 550,000 people-the tour's largest attendance in history. The lineup this year included the Newsboys, rap/hip-hop recording artist Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Thousand Foot Krutch, Plumb and Colton Dixon…The Parachute Music Festival will not return in 2015. The biggest Christian music festival in the southern hemisphere, Parachute started in 1992 and by 1995 had become a major event featuring international

music artists. New Zealand's longest-running music festival, Parachute, is no longer financially viable and has been cancelled. The longest running music festival in NZ, t this year's festival at Mystery Creek in January was its last. Parachute CEO and festival founder Mark de Jong said: "This event is no longer viable financially and our Board doesn't believe it is prudent to continue the event. Continuing the festival will put all the other activities of Parachute Music at risk." He cited the "saturated" market as part of the problem, and revealed the festival lost close to $250,000 this year...Robert Lopez and Kristen AndersonLopez, a married couple with two children, had the surprise of their lives when they beat out Pharell’s “Happy” to win the Oscar for their song from the movie Frozen, “Let it Go”.

And not only that – they’re now EGOT, the acronym for the select few who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. Robert Lopez co-wrote the Broadway musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon…Grammy award winner Kimbra ("Somebody That I Used to Know") will be joined by Janelle Monae in The Golden Electric Tour in Australia and New Zealand. Kimbra was one of the headliners in WOMAD 2014 in Taranaki, New Zealand. One of her recent recordings was "Made to Love" with John Legend. Monae is featured in “We Are Young” by Fun that reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2012… Sol3 Mio had a sold out concert in Vector Arena on March 29 as part of their exhaustive national tour. The divos not only covered Wagner and Verdi but also crooned contemporary hits in their operatic style. Flight of the Conchords was the only other NZ artist to fill Vector Arena.

HAIKUS The Winter Garden Filled with lilies, ferns, flowers In Auckland Domain *** Caribbean rhythm The band plays, the people dance The statues listen *** The Old Rotunda Everyone gather and pose Thanks for the camera *** Come let us all play The sun is up in the sky A family day *** Catch the orange fruit Don’t let it fall or you’re out Ready, get set, shoot *** Let us take a break Spread the food on the table Spoon, fork, plates; come quick *** Just do not mind Kicking, fighting, shouting The martial arts team *** “I want some ice cream,” The children ask the mom, “There’s no need to scream.”

To be continuedâ&#x20AC;Ś

GOOD LAUGH Obama and Putin US President Barrack Obama and Russia President Vladimir Putin agreed to compete in a survival contest in a jungle in Africa. Whoever returned alive would be declared as leader of the world. Putin volunteered to go first. He encounters a lion who immediately steps aside to allow him to pass through. Putin arrives at a river full of crocodiles. The biggest croc comes near the president and signals for him to ride on his back to cross the river. On the other end, a group of cannibals welcome him like a long lost brother. He arrives at the finish line without a scratch. Obama follows the same route, and when the lion sees the American leader, it roars and pursues Obama who swims into the river as the crocodiles go after him. Thinking that he would be welcomed by the cannibals who’d accept his as a fellow African, they capture and eat him. Declared the winner, Putin is asked how he managed to survive the contest. He answered: “I told the lion, the crocodile and the tribesmen that I am Tarzan, but I lost my hair as a black man forcefully shaved my hair and was following my tracks to kill all my jungle friends.” *** Excerpts from CIA fact sheet on Vladimir Putin: Favourite Historical Figures: Vladimir Stalin. Gregori Rasputin Favourite Ballad: From Russia with Love (a serenade dedicated to all former members of USSR to re-join) Favourite Song: Back in the USSR (dedicated to all former members of the Soviet Union, if not persuaded) Favourite Band: Certainly not Pussy Riot Favourite Super Hero: Captain America (who defects to Russia) Favourite Drink: Vodka. Another Round of Vodka. More Vodka! Favourite Game: Russian roulette (directed at opponents) Favourite Gesture: Very tight Bear Hug (also for opponents) Favourite Movie: Expendables (Paging Sylvester Stallone, invite Putin for a cameo) Favourite Villain: Rocky (he beat up a Russian boxer) Favourite Movie Sequel: Rocky VII (of course, Putin to beat up Rocky) Favourite Love: Himself *** The End Justin Bieber is stopped at the checkpoint on a Friday evening. He goes out of his car and tells the inspectors that he had drank a bottle of whiskey and smoked pot. The inspectors tell him to go back to his car and continue to his destination. Bieber gets away fast. A pursuing celebrity reporter arrives and asks why they let the singer go. One of the inspectors answered: “Oh, for repeat offenders we just let them through. It’s the end of their road, and a few meters ahead, it’s the dead end - the cliff.” 60

KIM & EL

MR JEYDI’S WITDOM

FILM REVIEWS

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet Based on the book The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, this film is one of the best Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen in years. It is the story about a12-year old boy, T.S. Spivet who lives in the rural outback of Montana with his odd family: a cowboy for a father; an entomologist for a mother; and a beauty contest obsessed sister. A younger brother, Layton, died in an accidental firearm explosion. His adventure begins when the Smithsonian Institute contacts him to accept the coveted Baird prize for his perpetual motion machine. Over the weekend, he sets out for Washington DC as a stowaway in a freight train, and as a hitchhiker from Chicago to the US capital. Not only are we able to see the beautiful rural areas of the States, we are treated to flashbacks and actual encounters of T.S. with people along the way. This is one of those movies that leave a wonderful feeling, similar to such films as Forrest Gump, Jerry McGuire and Sleepless in Seattle. Helena 62

Bonham Carter (who plays the mother) escaped from her makeup artists, and took a more regular, yet quirky role. If there is one blot in this film, it is Judy Davis whose character (a director in the Smithsonian Institute) turned cartoonish in the realistic settings. There are a number of humorous scenes, but the one that left me laughing out really loud was when T.S. stands alongside cut-outs of a dad-and-mum, as the security officer checks for the stowaway. Newcomer Kyle Catlett (who plays the title role) is brilliant in his acting, especially in the scene where he delivers the acceptance speech. You should not miss the final minutes of this engaging movie, as it imparts the very purpose of the story. Expect re-runs of this on television during Christmas holidays. (CORD)

The Monuments of Men

ney depicted individuals under the grim impact of war. The battlefield is not for artists, and we find two men die in pursuit of their mission. But the others carried on, fired up by the sacrifices of their dead colleagues and pressured by the destructive trail of the withdrawing Nazis.

“Was it worth it?” asked US President Truman, referring to the death of a soldier while trying to prevent the Michelangelo sculpture, “Madonna and Child,” from being stolen by Nazi soldiers from a Belgian church during World War II. This is one of the most important scenes in “The Monuments Men,” a film written, directed and produced by George Clooney, who plays Frank Stokes, a character loosely based on George L. Stout (art conservation specialist and museum director) in the non-fiction book, “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History.” It is amazing how Clooney was able to put out a remarkable film that recounts the terror, anguish and foolishness of war while at the same time injecting humor, humanity and heroism in it. “The Monuments Men” follow the difficult task of passionate arts professionals who wore military uniforms, were made to carry guns and conduct search operations and were, sadly, treated indifferently by regular officers and soldiers. The film is respectful of the real persons portrayed. Instead of creating celluloid caricatures, director Cloo-

Frank Stokes, in the final frames, responded to President Truman’s question in the affirmative. Fast forward, the film shows an elderly Stokes with his grandson appreciating the recovered “Madonna and Child” inside the same Belgian church where it was stolen.

ed Apple Computer with Steve Wozniak. But it takes more than resemblance to play the part; and Kutcher pulled it off. It follows the life of the ambitious and at times vicious Jobs as he finds success at a young age; is ousted from his company; and returns for the renaissance. Job is a model to many for his ingenuity and vision; but he too is a study in survival and success. If you have a product made by Apple you ought to see this one to learn more about the man behind it. (CORD)

Noah

As I left the theater, I felt guilty because of how little I have spent time visiting museums and for failing to acknowledge the creative people who made the art works, the curators who preserved these and heroes, like the monuments men (345 men and women from thirteen nations), who sacrificed their lives for us and for future generations to appreciate these treasures. (CORD)

On the way to the theatre, I asked my grandson what he knew about Noah to which he replied that it is a story in the Bible of a man who was chosen by God to make an ark to save his family from the flood that killed all the sinners in the world. He said that the animals were saved as well, and when the flood was Jobs over, there was a rainbow. That was the inspiration of director Darren Aronofsky who co-wrote the script with Ari Handel. Aronofsky’s cinematic interpretation reengineered the timeless story beyond recognition, except for the flood, the animals and the ark. The writers and maybe upon the encouragement of the producers added stuffs that only Hollywood could imagine. Ashton Kutcher has the looks of There are fallen angels called “The the late Steve Jobs who co-found- Watchers” who come from Mar-

vel/DC rather than the Holy Book. There is an evil king who takes a ride in the ark. But most questionable was the character of Noah, who isn’t pious or prayerful. Instead we are presented with a man who fights with a sword, who does not care much for others, and turns to drinking, after the flood. The writers opted to mash-up Biblical figures (Noah/Abraham; Ham/ Cain) if only to create more drama, suspense and epic 3-D battles. I must say that this film has gone overboard, and follows the trend of irreverent re-telling of established tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk. When we finished viewing the film, my grandson, a bit confused, said, “That wasn’t the one in the Bible”. (CORD)

Son of God

TV producer Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice) made a gamble in making The Bible TV series that turned out to be a goldmine. His primary objective was simply to tell the faith stories to people for generations to come. It was therefore a leap of faith for him to make a film for theatre release, focusing on the life of Jesus Christ. But good intention is not enough. This film lacks the depth of “Jesus of Nazareth” and “Passion of the Christ”. Most of the actors do a decent job; but there are just too 64

many things going on that there is little time to invest in developing the characters. For a grand story as the life of Christ, “Son of God” must have worked on a limited budget. (CORD)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

give meaning to the film. When we thought that Mitty was nothing but a loser, we are treated to a “feel good” ending. With a lot of R-rated comedies setting box-office returns, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is such a welcome treat for moviegoers. (CORD)

Grace Unplugged

Of all the films of Ben Stiller, I thought “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is among the top of the list. Drawn from a short story by James Thurber in 1939 about a middle aged man who dreamed more than he lived, Stiller made a brilliant decision to make the demise of the highly respective publication, Life, as the backdrop. Stiller’s development of the character of Walter Mitty, a negative assets (photographs) manager, is laudable, supported by Kristen Wiig as his love interest, Shirley McLane as his mother, and Sean Penn as award-winning photojournalist Sean O’Connell. From daydreaming, Witty sets out on a reallife adventure to find O’Connell whose negative no. “25” that would serve as the final cover of Life, had gone missing. There are hilarious moments that Stiller injects throughout, but it is in the serious scenes, especially the dialogue between Mitty and O’Connell in the Himalayas that

The theme of this film is about seeking one’s perfect place in the sun. Grace Trey (A J Michalka) wanted to be a star, knowing that she had all that it would take to achieve her dream. Her father had none of it, having turned his back from what could have been a successful career as a music performer. But nobody could stop Grace who was unwilling to be confined to singing in church. She manages to get a record deal and produces a hit record; but was this the life she really wanted? Based on a true story of producer Russ Rice and his daughter, Grace Unplugged is a faith-based movie that touches on parentschildren relationship as well as the pursuit of one’s dreams and aspirations. There is no overdramatization, as the story is told matter-of-factly. With inclusion of Christian artists like Chris Tomlin and Jamie Grace, the film though failed to come out with

“Music will get you nowhere,” or words to that effect is what parents 20 Feet to Stardom tell their musically inclined children. Well, this film supports that theory. Talent alone is no ticket to fame. This is the story of failure, hopelessness and poverty. The Coen brothers really know how to touch the very core of our souls, yet there are episodes of fun and joy amidst the gloom. I thought the scene in the recording studio with Jim Berkey (Justin Timberlake) was hilarious. The most poiEach one has a role in this world gnant was Llewyn Davis (Oscar and backup singers are just 20 feet Isaac) serenading his dying father. from stardom. This documentary Singing his heart out to a record chronicles the lives of five talented producer, he is told that “you are women who provided backup vo- not commercial, kid”. Music is cals to some of the biggest names in business more than art. Sad but it’s the music business including Stevie true. (CORD) Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Mick 47 Ronin Jagger and Sting. The named superstars in interviews support the interesting stories of these women. While all have heart-warming and heart-breaking experiences, I like best that of Darlene Love whose voice was exploited by Phil Spector. She was not given credit where credit was due. She left the business and became a house cleaner. But she made it back though, as the film ends with her performing Like the “Last Samurai” which had with Springsteen. For anyone se- a foreigner (played by Tom Cruise) riously thinking of pursuing a cain the lead role, 47 Ronin has the reer in music, this film must not be same with Keanu Reeves who does justice to the role. Both in action missed. (CORD) and drama sequences, Reeves is fit and you can’t ask for more. All Inside Llewyn Davis of the generally Japanese cast contribute to a fascinating and moving epic. I dare say that this film has more heart than “The Hobbit”. It is difficult to fathom the conclusion of the film, but then it reminds us on how the old Japanese culture valued honour. The technical aspect is commendable as well. brilliant songs that stick. (CORD)

Captain America 2

Marvel is a the top of its game, with its superheroes beating DC at the screens. The Avengers was an epic, and it begged the question if solo superheroes could get people to the theatres. Captain America: The Winter Soldier for one gives the answer, and it is a resounding yes. We've been treated to bombastic fighting actions of late, and the next option would be make it far bigger. CA: TWS instead took a different route, and what we got was a suspense thriller still with fantastic action sequences. In this well-crafted flick, Capt. America joins hands with Black Widow and Falcon as they try to unearth enemies within SHIELD. Robert Redford's Alexander Pierce adds a substantial layer to what could have been just another superhero film. Plus there is a more personal connection between Capt America and the assassin Winter Soldier. Their final fight scenes are not just fascinating but also emotionally engaging. YOu'd be surprised how it concluded. Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury provides with a hanging question throughout, while Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow is a thrill to see. I can even label this film as a hyper Bourne movie. Let's see if Capt America will beat his next nemesis, DC's Justice League. THese two will clash on the same release date next year. But never underestimate Capt America. 65

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