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CONTENTS Features NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2014 12 SAM SMITH 13
LORDE: Pure Kiwi Heroine 15
THE BEACH BOYS: All American Combo 20 CORD TOP 5: The Beach Boys 22 RODRIGUEZ: The Second Coming 31 KURD AND ISIS 34
Sections 5 Cord Hits/ 28 Cord Artists/ 36 Music+Current/ 37 Concert Reviews/ 38 Music Reviews/ 40 Cord Images/44 Limya/ 45 Comics / 49 Comics/ 46 Good Laugh/ 48 Film Reviews/52 Guitar Chord Chart
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From the Editor Lorde at 17 has been called the most influential youth and rightly so. She has been candid about her views about how people perceive her to be, and is able to articulate the voice of today’s young. Her being technosavvy has allowed her to directly communicate with her fans through Twitter, Facebook and other social media. Malala Yousafzay, also 17, has just been chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize 2014 along with Kailash Satyarthi. The youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient had nearly died for her works as human rights campaigner and advocate for education and for women in Pakistan and now the world over. Lorde and Malala give us hope, for the young have taken their roles of making a difference in humanity. But then we must also remember that old age is not a hindrance to advocacy. Corecipient of the Nobel Peace Prize Kailash Satyarthi, from India, is 60 years old and he has been a child right activist and a global frontrunner against child labor for a long time, and there is no sign that he is retiring from his work. 72-year old Sixto Rodriguez was writing songs about the harsh realities in the 70s, but because of two failed albums in the US, he worked as a laborer for decades until he was re-discovered and became the subject of a documentary, “Searching for Sugar Man�. He is active once more, doing sold-out gigs around the world. Now he is able to re-tell the problems of the world through his songs, problems that continue to cause the decay of society. The concerns of the world today cannot be left alone to the politicians. Young people as well as old, and everyone else in-between have a responsibility. Good causes and prohuman advocacies need volunteers, need voices. Can you lend your time, talent and resources? Can you lend your voice?
Mel B Libre Editor
CORD October 2014 Editor in Chief: Mel B. Libre Creative Editor: Mel Elijan C. Libre Contributors: Gilfrancis Maningo, Alvin Soniega, M Batulan, Tyke Villalonga, Free Mel 4|CORD
CORD HITS
SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood Intro:
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C He said I've been where you've been before D Down every hallway's a slamming door C No way out, no one to come and save me D Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me C Then somebody said what I'm saying to you D Opened my eyes and told me truth C He said "just a little faith and it'll all get better" D So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm
Chorus: G Bm Changed Em C And now I'm stronger G Bm There must've been something in the water Em C Oh there must've been something in the water
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Verse: C Well I heard what he said and I went on my way D Didn't think about it for a couple of days C Then it hit me like a lightning late one night D I was all out of hoping, all out of fight C Couldn't fight back my tears so I fell on my knees D Saying God if you're there come and rescue me C Felt love pouring down from above D Gotta washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I'm
Chorus: G Bm Changed Em C And now I'm stronger G Bm There must be something in the water Em C Oh there must be something in the water
Bridge: G And now I'm singing all along to Amazing Grace Bm Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face Em Got joy in my heart, angels on my side C Thank God Almighty, I saw the light G Gonna looked ahead, no turning back
Bm Live everyday, give it all that I have Em Trusting someone bigger than me D Ever since the day that I believed I am
Chorus: G Bm Changed Em C And now I'm stronger G Bm There must be something in the water Em C Oh there must be something in the water G Bm There must be something in the water Em C Oh there must be something in the water
Outro: G C
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GREATER MercyMe D Verse: D Bring your D Bring your D 6|CORD
tired, Bring your shame guilt, Bring your pain
Don’t you know that’s not you’re name Bm G D You will always be much m ore to me A Bm Every day I wrestle with the v oices G That keep telling me I’m n ot right But that’s alright Chorus: D Em Bm ‘Cause I hear a v oice and He c alls me redeemed A D When others say I’ll never be en ough D Em Bm And gr eater is the O ne living in side of me A D Than he who is living in the wo rld Repeat 2x: Bm A D In the w orld Bm A D In the w orld Bm A D And gr eater is the One li ving in side of me Bm A D Than he who is living in the wo rld Verse 2: D Bring your doubts, Bring your fears D Bring your hurt, Bring your tears D There’ll be no condemnation here Bm A D Oh, Y ou are holy, righteous a nd re deemed A And e very time I fall Bm There’ll be t hose who will call me G Am istake Well that’s ok Chorus
Interlude: D Oh, Oh, He’s Greater, He’s Greater, Oh, Oh Bridge: D There’ll be days I lose the battle Grace says that it doesn’t matter D ‘Cause the cross already won the war He’s Greater He’s Greater D I am learning to run freely Understanding just how He sees me D And it makes me love Him more and more He’s Greater He’s Greater Bridge Chorus
FIX MY EYES For King & Country Intro: G G Hit rewind Em D G Click delete 7|CORD
G Em D G Stand face to face with the younger me G Em All of the mistakes D G All of the heartbreak G Em D G Here's what I'd do differently G Em D G C I'd love like I'm not scared G Give when it's not fair D Live life for another Am Take time for a brother C Fight for the weak ones G Speak out for freedom D Find faith in the battle Am Stand tall but above it all C G Fix my eyes on You D Am Oh oh Oh oh On You
G Em D G I learned the lines and talked the talk (everybody knows that, everybody knows that) G Em D G But the road less traveled is hard to walk (everybody knows that, everybody knows) G Em It takes a soldier D G Who knows his orders G Em D G To walk the walk I'm supposed to walk C And love like I'm not scared G Give when it's not fair
D Live life for another Am Take time for a brother C Fight for the weak ones G Speak out for freedom D Find faith in the battle Am Stand tall but above it all C G Fix my eyes on You D Am Oh oh Oh oh On You
Em G D C Em G The things of Earth are dimming D C In the light of Your glory and grace Em G I'll set my sights upon Heaven D C C G D I'm fixing my eyes on You Em C G D I'm fixing my eyes on You Em I'm fixing my eyes C Love like I'm not scared G Give when it's not fair D Live life for another Am Take time for a brother C Fight for the weak ones G Speak out for freedom D Find faith in the battle Am Stand tall but above it all C G Fix my eyes on You 8|CORD
D Am Oh oh Oh oh On You C G Oh oh Oh oh Oh oh Oh oh D Am Oh oh Oh oh On You
HOPE IN FRONT OF ME Danny Gokey Intro: Em C G Em7 Em C G Em7 Verse 1: Em I've been running through rain C G Em7 That I thought would never end Em Trying to make it on faith C G Em7 In a struggle against the wind Em C G Em7 I've seen the dark and the broken places Em But I know in my soul C G Em7 No matter how bad it gets C I'll be alright Chorus: Em C There's hope in front of me G D There's a light, I still see it Em C There's a hand still holding me
G Em7 Even when I don't believe it Em C I might be down but I'm not dead G D There's better days still up ahead Em C Even after all I've seen G D There's hope in front of me, yeah Em C G Em7 Oh, Oh Verse 2: Em There's a place at the end C G Em7 Of the storm you ďŹ nally ďŹ nd Em Where the hurt and the tears C G Em7 And the pain all fall behind Em C You open up your eyes and G Em7 Up ahead, there's a big sun shining Em C Right then and there you realize G Em7 C You'll be alright [Repeat Chorus] Em C G Em7 Oh, Oh Em There's a hope still burning C G D I can feel it rising through the night Em And my world's still turning C G Em7 I can feel your love here by my side Em G Em7 Oh Em C G Em7 Oh Em C You're my hope 9|CORD
G D You're the light, I still see it Em C Your hands are holding me G D Even when I don't believe it Em C G D Oh Oh Em C I've got to believe G Em7 I've got to believe Em C G Em7 Whoa Whoa Em C G Em7 I still have hope Em C You are my hope G Em7 Em Oh, Oh THRIVE Casting Crows Intro E E A E A E A E B A Here in this worn and weary land E here many a dream has died A Like a tree planted by the water E We never will run dry Cm E So living water flowing through Cm E God, we thirst for more of You Cm E B Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire A E Just to know You and to make You known A E We lift Your name on high A E B Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide A E
Cm B We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives A E B It’s time for us to more than just survive A B E We were made to thrive A E A E O ah O O; O ah O O; O ah O O O; A E B O ah O O; O ah O O O A Into Your word, were digging deep
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E to know our Fathers heart A Into the world, were reaching out E to show them who You are REPEAT (4X) E Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable A B Love unstoppable, anything is possible
END VIOLENCE “Violence and war lead only to death.”
-Pope Francis
Peace begins with you. CORD Campaign 2014, Series 3
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The Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 is to be awarded to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzay for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. Children must go to school and not be financially exploited. In the poor countries of the world, 60% of the present population is under 25 years of age. It is a prerequisite for peaceful global development that the rights of children and young people be respected. In conflict-ridden areas in particular, the violation of children leads to the continuation of violence from generation to generation. Showing great personal courage, Kailash Satyarthi, maintaining Gandhi’s tradition, has headed various forms of protests and demonstrations, all peaceful, focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain. He has also contributed to the development of important international conventions on children’s rights. Despite her youth, Malala Yousafzay has already fought for several years for the right of girls to education, and has shown by example that children and young people, too, can contribute to improving their own situations. This she has done under the most dangerous circumstances. Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls’ rights to education. The Nobel Committee regards it as an important point for a Hindu and a Muslim, an Indian and a Pakistani, to join in a common struggle for education and against extremism. Many other individuals and institutions in the international community have also contributed. It has been calculated that there are 168 million child labourers around the world today. In 2000 the figure was 78 million higher. The world has come closer to the goal of eliminating child labour. The struggle against suppression and for the rights of children and adolescents contributes to the realization of the “fraternity between nations” that Alfred Nobel mentions in his will as one of the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize. Oslo, 10 October 2014 12 | C O R D
FACT SHEET
SAM SMITH
Birth name Born Genres Occupation Years active Website
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Samuel Frederick Smith 19 May 1992, London, England Pop, R&B, Soul Singer-songwriter 2007–present samsmithworld.com
LAY ME DOWN (Sam Smith) E Yes I do, I believe That one day I will be, where I was A Right there, right next to you And it's hard the days just seem so dark The moon the stars are nothing without you E Your touch your skin where do I begin? A No words can explain, the way I'm missing you The night, this emptiness, this hole that I'm inside These tears, they tell their own story F#m A Dbm B You told me not to cry when you were gone F#m A B But the feelings overwhelming, it's much too strong E Dbm F#m A Can I lay by your side, next to you, you E Dbm And make sure you're alright F#m A I'll take care of you, A E And I don't want to be here if I can't be with you tonight E I'm reaching out to you A Can you hear my call? E This hurt that I've been through A I'm missing you, missing you like crazy
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LORDE: Pure Kiwi Heroine
With only one album to her name, New Zealander Lorde has become a global phenomenon not just because of the monster hit, “Royals�, but more importantly, by being herself. Let us begin this article though with her music. While artists her age (she’s 17) indulge in what is hip, be it country, pop or dance genres, Lorde opted to do synth-driven alternative rock that perfectly matches her free verse style of poetry. No honey-coated, innocent love songs for this lass or senseless dance anthems, rather she expresses youthful angst without wailing guitars, but imaginative chants.
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Her entry in the New Zealand music scene was an anomaly. While most, if not all, Kiwi musicians go through the nationwide Smokefree Rockquest or seek funding from the government-backed NZ On Air to produce or promote their songs, Lorde worked independently with producer-arranger Joel Little and pushed her music through social media. It was impossible not to get hooked to the hypnotic beat of ‘Royals’ with its unadulterated accompanying video; that industry shakers Hilton Perez and Ryan Seacreast took notice of her early on. ‘Royals’ became not just an international hit, it gained recognition for Lorde in respected award winning bodies including the Grammys and got her on the cover of the ‘Rolling Stone’. While the ‘Pure Heroine’ album produced other hits including ‘Team’ and ‘Tennis Court’, the popularity of the Kiwi teenager kept rising as the world learned more about her through media interviews and postings in social media. Most artists these days have images created for them by their promoters, agents or publicists; Lorde has remained true to herself as an artist and as an individual. It was not by accident that she sang Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in the Original Sound Track (OST) of Hunger Games-Catching Fire. Her uniqueness and Katniss-like personality had much to do with it, that the movie’s producers asked her to write the theme song for “Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1” and select the rest of the songs as curator. Director Francis Lawrence said, "Her immense talent and keen understanding of Mockingjay's characters and themes not only had enabled her to create a song of her own that completely captures the film's essence…But her insight and passion for our project make her the perfect creative force to assemble the other songs on our soundtrack."
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‘Yellow Flicker Beat’, Lorde’s finished anthem, was able to reflect Katniss’ character into words and music. When Lorde sings this, she embodies Katniss. Social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, has revealed the person that Lorde is. For instance, like a typical teenager, she expressed excitement about being asked to write the anthem for Mockingjay Part 1. She said, "Curating the soundtrack for such a hotly-anticipated film was a challenge, but I jumped at the chance. The cast and story are an inspiration for all musicians participating and, as someone with cinematic leanings, being privy to a different creative process has been a unique experience." As she went on to create the song, she updated her friends and fans even giving out the lyrics she had written. Instead of getting the record company to launch the song, she shared this through her social media accounts. Within the day, ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ broke into the music charts. When asked by an Australian announcer if her relationship with Taylor Swift was more than friendship, implying the two were dating, Lorde snapped back: ““Don’t even try it. It’s not working.” In its most recent “most influential pop in the 21 under 21” List, Billboard placed Lorde on top. The magazine wrote: "She's consistently demonstrated an influence that extends well beyond music, championing an image free of touch-ups and letting young girls know that they don't have to dress provocatively to capture the public's attention.” She may not be the highest paid young musician or one with the most number one hits, but definitely, she is one who speaks out her mind, sensibly and sensitively. Told that she had been referred to as a “teen hottie” the double Grammy award winner explained in an interview with New York Times: "People like to paint me in a certain way, but I'm a hugely sex-positive person and I have nothing against anyone getting naked. For me personally, I just don't think it really would complement my music in any way or help me tell a story any better. It's not like I have a problem with dancing around in undies — I think you can use that stuff in a hugely powerful way. It just hasn't felt necessary for me." When she learned that a small Auckland city café, Moustache Milk and Cookie Bar was going to close down because the building landlord was raising the rental by 40%, Lorde 17 | C O R D
signed the #savemoustache petition saying that she frequented the place when in Auckland. She wrote in her Facebook account: "Aucklanders - if you've been to moustache (the awesome milkshake/cookie place by the civic) you'll know how hard these people work and how much it would suck if they had to close." And this global superstar remains grounded. Dropping by a café in Ponsonby, Auckland with her mother, Lorde settled in one corner and ordered, behaving like any other customer. No ‘prima donna’ tactic for this lady, a typical down to earth Kiwi really. As 2014 winds down, Lorde will have covered most of her concert commitments around the world, a tour that knocked her health down for a period, though she was able to recover fast. She is set to do a NZ Tour from October 27 in Christchurch ending on November 1 at the Vector Arena which has hosted the biggest stars of the planet including Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Andrea Bocelli and Taylor Swift. Can the Pure Kiwi Heroine fill the 12,000-seat arena? Lorde is the biggest Kiwi artist ever to take the world. While Crowded House (Don’t Dream It’s Over), Bic Runga (Stay), OMC (How Bizarre) and Kimbra with Gotye (Somebody that I used to Love) have placed New Zealand in the pop charts, Lorde is the only NZ solo artist to top the international charts and receive double recognition from National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) of the United States. But more than her music, Lorde has made an impact in pop culture, similar to that of Elvis, The Beatles and Madonna in generations past. Other than defying the commercial trend of pop music, she is the antithesis of Madonna (and clones Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus). She dresses up, while her peers dress down leaving nothing to imagination. She expresses her individuality in her looks, in her fashion and in her conduct. That makes her different. That makes her Lorde. (CORD)
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SUPPORTS
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The Beach Boys: The All American Combo When the Beatles led the British Invasion in pop music in the United States in the 60s, American TV put up a faint response with the Monkees, a combo composed of actors who were selected from auditions. While the Monkees tried to place itself as the equal to the Beatles, the individual members were no match to the musical ingenuity of the Fab Four. The true counterpart of the Beatles was the Beach Boys, a band formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961.
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The group was composed of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Reflecting the sunny climate of California into their lyrics and incorporating rock n’ roll and doo-wop in their music, the Beach Boys developed a distinctive vocal harmony through Brian Wilson’s creative direction. From the simplistic surfing anthems, the Beach Boys made an indelible mark in pop music with the release in 1966 of their album, Pet Sounds that carried the single, “Good Vibrations”. While their record company, Capitol Records, did not actively promote Pet Sounds, the album can best be described as ‘experimental’ as it defied the music trend of 1966. Beatle Paul McCartney lists Pet Sounds as one of his favorite albums of all time, and admits that it influenced the Beatles to produce, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the Beatles’ album as the number in “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” followed by Pet Sounds. The band continued to produce hit records into the 70s and 80s. Their drawing power was proven when on July 4, 1985, they played before one million people in Philadelphia and later in the evening of the same day, before 750,000 people in the Mall in Washington. While the band had gone through changes in personnel through legal wrangling and personal problems of members, it has produced more than eighty hits songs worldwide, with four reaching number one in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Having sold 100 million plus records, the Beach Boys is ranked as among the best-selling bands of all time. When the Beach Boys was thought to have become ancient as their music with their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, the All American combo produced “Kokomo” for the Tom Cruise 1988 film, “Cocktail” that reached number one in the charts, becoming the band’s biggest single of all time. At the turn of the century, the Beach Boys remained active. In 2011, they made a charity single, “Don’t Fight the Sea”, to help victims of the Japan earthquake. In 2012, the band released the album, “That’s Why God Made the Radio” that debuted at number three in the US charts. The album made US chart history by by-passing the Beatles record of 47 years of top ten albums; at 49 years and one week. And in 2014, in the launch of BBC Music, “God Only Knows” was used for its promo featuring Brian Wilson with some of the today’s most important artists including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Lorde, Coldplay, One Direction, Dave Grohl and Sam Smith. Isn’t it surprising that an American band’s song was chosen by the British Broadcasting Corporation? Simply shows that the music of the Beach Boys is timeless and knows no boundaries. 21 | C O R D
CORD TOP 5: THE BEACH BOYS #5 Kokomo
(acapella)
Gm F Fm Tropical drink melting in your hand
Aruba, Jamaica, ew I wanna take ya, Bermuda, bahama, come on pretty mama Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go, Jamaica...
C Dm G We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band
C Em Off the Florida Keys Gm F Fm There's a place called Kokomo
Down in Koko...
C Dm G That's where you wanna go to get away from it all Em Bodies in the sand
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(chorus) C F Aruba, Jamaica, ew I wanna take ya to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama C F Key Largo Montego...Ew I wanna take her down to Kokomo,
Fm C We'll get there fast & then we'll take slow Way down in Koko... Am F G That's where we wanna go C Way down in Koko...Martinique, that Monserate mystique
(chorus) C Port Au Prince, I wanna catch a glimpse (instrumental)
C Em We'll put out to sea F Fm And we'll perfect our chemistry C Dm G By and by we'll defy a little bit of gravity C Em Afternoon delight F Fm Cocktails and moonlit nights
C Em Everybody knows F Fm A little place like Kokomo C Dm G Now if you wanna go and get away from it all
go down to Koko... (chorus to fade out)
C Dm G That dreamy look in your eye gives me a tropical contact high You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies E Huarachi sandals too B7 A bushy bushy blonde hairdo E Surfin' U.S.A.
#4 Surfin U.S.A. E B7 If everybody had an ocean E Across the U.S.A. B7 Then everybody'd be surfin' E Like California A 23 | C O R D
E B7 You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar E Ventura County line B7 Santa Cruz and Trestles E Australia's Narrabeen A All over Manhattan E And down Doheny Way B7 Everybody's gone surfin'
E Surfin' U.S.A. E B7 We'll all be planning out a route E We're gonna take real soon B7 We're waxing down our surfboards E We can't wait for June A We'll all be gone for the summer E We're on safari to stay B7 Tell the teacher we're surfin' E Surfin' U.S.A. E B7 Haggerties and Swamies E Pacific Palisades B7 San Onofre and Sunset E Redondo Beach L.A. A All over La Jolla E At Waimea Bay B7 Everybody's gone surfin' E Surfin' U.S.A. E B7 Everybody's gone surfin' E Surfin U.S.A (three times)
#3 California Girls A Well East coast girls are hip G I really dig those styles they wear D And the Southern girls with the way they talk E They knock me out when I’m down there A G The mid-west farmers daughters really make you feel alright D And the northern girls with the way they kiss E They keep their boyfriends warm at night A Bm I wish they all could be California G Am I wish they all could be California F Gm A I wish they all could be California girls A The West coast has the sunshine G And the girls all get so tanned D I dig a French bikini on Hawaii island E Dolls by a palm tree in the sand A I ve been all around this great big world
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G And I ve seen all kinds of girls D Yeah but I couldn t wait to get back in the states E Back to the cutest girls in the world A Bm I wish they all could be California G Am
#2 Good Vibrations Verse 1:
I wish they all could be California F Gm A I wish they all could be California girls A Bm I wish they all could be California G Am I wish they all could be California F Gm A I wish they all could be California girls
Softly smile; I know she must be kind. Dm C When... I look in her eyes, A# A7 C7 She goes with me to a blossom world.
Dm C I, I love the colourful clothes she wears, A# A7 And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair. Dm C I... hear the sound of a gentle word, A# A7 C7 On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air. Chorus 1: F Cm7 F Cm7 I'm pickin' up good vi-brations, F Cm7 F Cm7 She's giving me exci-tations. F Cm7 F Cm7 I'm pickin' up good vi-brations, F Cm7 F Cm7 She's giving me exci-tations. G C/G G7 C/G G C/G G7 C/G Good, good, good, good vi-brations,
A D/A A7 D/A A D/A A7 D/A Good, good, good, good vi-brations. Verse 2: Dm C Close my eyes; she's somehow closer now, A# A7 25 | C O R D
Chorus 2: F Cm7 F Cm7 I'm pickin' up good vi-brations, F Cm7 F Cm7 She's giving me exci-tations. F Cm7 F Cm7 I'm pickin' up good vi-brations, F Cm7 F Cm7 She's giving me exci-tations.
G C/G G7 C/G G C/G G7 C/G Good, good, good, good vi-brations, A D/A A7 D/A A D/A A7 D/A Good, good, good, good vi-brations. Exci... Break: A D/A A7 D/A ...tations.
Gotta keep those lovin' good, vibrations ahappenin' with her. E F#m B7 E F#m B7 Gotta keep those lovin' good, vibrations ahappenin'... E D/E Aah... Chorus 3:
A D/A A7 D/A My... A D/A A7 D/A My... my, my what elation...
A D/A A7 D/A A D/A A7 D/A Good, good, good, good vi-brations, bop bop. G C/G G7 C/G G C/G G7 C/G, F A#/F F7 A#/F Good, good, good, good vi-brations.
Break:
Breakdown:
D G/D D7 G/D I don't know where, but she sends me there. D G/D D7 G/D (A) My, my, my, what a sen-sation. A D/A A7 D/A A (My, my, my, one e-lation), D/A A7 D/A My, my, one...
F G Na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na, A G Na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na.
A D/A A7 D/A (x3)
Coda: G C/G, G7 C/G
Bridge 1: (Slower Tempo):
#1
E, F#m B7
God Only Knows
E F#m B7 Gotta keep those lovin' good, vibrations ahappenin' with her. E F#m B7
Intro: G D/Gb Em7 G/D A/E Bb/F Verse 1: C/G Am I may not always love you,
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Em Em7 A7/G But long as there are stars above you,
F Dm6 Am Am7 D7 G/D Ebdim G/D Dbm7/Db
D/Gb Bbdim7/Bb You’ll never need to doubt it, D/A Bm/Gb I'll make you so sure about it.
Refrain 3: C/G G Am7 God only knows what I'd be without you.
Refrain 1: G D/Gb Em7 D God only knows what I'd be without you. Verse 2: C/G Am If you should ever leave me, Em Em7 A7/G Though life would still go on believe me, D/Gb Bbdim7/Bb The world could show nothing to me, D/A Bm/Gb So what good would living do me. Refrain 2: G D/Gb Em7 D God only knows what I'd be without you. Instrumental:
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Verse 3: C/G Am If you should ever leave me, Em Em7 A7/G Though life would still go on believe me, D/Gb Bbdim7/Bb The world could show nothing to me, D/A Bm/Gb So what good would living do me. Refrain 4: (Repeat x6) G D/Gb Em7 D God only knows what I'd be without you, G D/Gb Em7 D God only knows what I'd be without you, (God only knows…) (Fade) G D/Gb Em7 D God only knows what I'd be without you.
CORD ARTISTS LANGUAGE ARTS (Canada)
Language Arts is a Toronto-based band consisting of guitarist, composer and singer Kristen Cudmore, drummer Neil MacIntosh, keyboardist Joel Visentin and current bassist Soren Nissen. Their album, ‘Wonderkind,’ was recorded with Grammynominated producer Darryl Neudorf. The “Language Arts’ sound is a combine of jazz and classic with dashes of pop, hip-hop and prog-rock.
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AMERICAN AUTHORS (USA)
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American Authors is a Brooklyn-based indie pop group composed of Zac Barnett, lead vocals, guitar; James Adam Shelley – lead guitar, banjo; Dave Rublin – bass; and Matt Sanchez – drums. Formed in 2006, the band adopted the name, American Authors in 2012 with the release of their debut single, “Believer” that won overall Grand Prize in the18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. The follow-up “Best Day of My Life” brought them to the limelight as the song figured in advertisements in the US, UK and New Zealand and in the film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”.
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ALT-J (UK)
Alt-J was formed in 2007 by Gwil Sainsbury (guitar, bass), Joe Newman (guitar, vocals), Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboards) and Thom Green (drums) when the met at Leeds, UK University. Sainsbury studied English Literature while the rest took Fine Art. After releasing several songs, they put out a first complete album, An Awesome Wave, released on May 2012 that won for them the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. Without Sainsbury, the band released their sophomore album “This Is All Yours� released in September 2014.
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RODRIGUEZ: The Second Coming
Sixto Rodriguez who was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary, “Searching for Sugar Man”, performed the second time on October 13, 2014 in Auckland and despite the fact that he had 31 | C O R D
Justine Timberlake for competition on the same night, still the 72-year old American had a sold out concert. According to the music reviewer of Stuff.co.nz Siena Yates: “It's pretty rare to be at a show and find yourself joining a standing ovation before the act's even taken the stage. But it happened for Rodriguez.” If not for the persistence of two South African fans, namely Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, Rodriguez would have been forgotten for the music that has gained attention belatedly. For even Rodriguez was not aware that as his record company dumped him and discontinued the distribution of his two albums ‘Cold Fact’ (1970) and ‘Coming from Reality’ (1971), the songs especially “Sugar Man” had become anthems at the time of the anti-apartheid movement. The cult-like following of Rodriguez was further enhanced by the rumor that he had died, having dramatically set himself on fire after a performance. To disprove the rumor, Segerman and Strydom searched for Rodriguez and finding him, invited him to a series of concerts in South Africa. The elderly musician (already in his late 60s at that time) had long turned his back on music, and lived an ordinary life as a laborer in demolition and production line work. As documented in the film, Rodriguez had the biggest surprise in his life, when he filled the venues for his concerts and found the love and respect from an audience he never thought existed. But why did Sussex Records drop Rodriguez in 1972? It was a purely business decision, as both albums sold few copies. Sussex Records subsequently closed shop three years later. Bill Withers (“Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me”), a label-mate of Rodriguez, went on to Columbia Records after Sussex, but no record company showed any interest in the latter, who had two flop albums to his name. One has to listen to the two albums closely to understand why these failed in the US, yet became a ‘treasure’ in South Africa. ‘Cold Fact’, which became a hit album in Australia in 1976, at No 23 on the album charts for 55 weeks, is psychedelic and anti-establishment, kicking off with “Sugar Man” about a dealer of hallucinogens: For a blue coin/Won't ya bring back/All those colours to my dreams/Silver magic ships, you carry/Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane.. In “I Wonder”, he laments: I wonder about the tears in children's eyes/And I wonder about the soldier that dies/I wonder will this hatred ever end/ I wonder and worry my friend/I wonder I wonder wonder don't you? He deals about urban living in “Inner City Blues”: The inner city birthed me/ The local pusher nursed me/ Cousins make it in the street/They marry every trick they meet. 32 | C O R D
Those three songs are just samples of the poetic angst of Rodriguez, verses so blunt, so forceful, so truthful. His second album, “Coming From Reality” contains two of the most beautiful love songs I heard in the 70s, “I Think of You” and “To Whom It May Concern”. One of the verses of the first one goes like this: Of the dreams we dreamt together/Of the love we vowed would never/Melt like snowflakes in the sun/My days now end as they begun/With thoughts of you/and I think of you. The second one is honest: To whom this may concern to say/Don't wait for love to come your way/Don't waste your time/Make up your mind/And make it happen. These two songs were the only ones played on the radio, and nothing else. And the reason is that while the producers may have wanted to make Rodriguez be like the pop-oriented Jose Feliciano, he wasn’t interested. He preferred to talk about the real world, and if there is one track in this album that tells this, it is “A Most Disgusting Song” with such lyrics as: While the Mafia provides your drugs/your government will provide the shrugs/and your national guard will supply the slugs/so they sit all satisfied. These kinds of lyrics do not make hit songs nor ever figure in a radio playlist. Rodriguez was a radical, far more dangerous than Bob Dylan or Joan Baez. He was a latter-day liberal hippie. But by the time his works came out at age 27, the world had moved on, and preferred moderate singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Carole King, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon. Now the world has re-discovered Sixto Rodriguez, an old man, a relic rebel. And people want to hear new materials from the Detroit man. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said, "I’ve written about 30 songs, and that’s pretty much what the public has heard." He has talked to Steve Rowland, producer of the Cure and Jerry Lee Lewis, who produced “Coming from Reality”. Rodriguez said, "He told me to send him a couple of tapes, so I’m gonna do that. I certainly want to look him up, because now he’s full of ideas." Until that time comes, there is much to learn from the songs he made in the past, so real then, so real now. (CORD)
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WORLD POLITICS
KURDS AND ISIS
The Jews prior to the establishment of the State of Israel were a people dispersed throughout the world without a nation. While the Zionist nation has existed for the last 67 years, it has been in a state of war against neighbors and elements wanting its demise. But this article isn’t about the Jews rather, it is about the largest minority group without a country of its own for centuries – the Kurds. Most of them are situated in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria (TIIS) that are now under threat from the killing machine of the Islamic State (Isis). After the Arabs, Persians and Turks, the Kurds, numbering about 30 million, are said to be the fourth largest ethnicity in Western Asia. The Kurds are vulnerable to the Isis as they are looked upon with suspicion by TIIS, as self-determination would carve out the territories of these nations. Without active support from the armed forces of TIIS, the Kurds have been left to fend themselves. This has been taken advantage of by Isis militants that have forcibly occupied Kurdish cities and villages. Captured villagers that refuse to convert to Islam have been murdered, resulting in mass evacuation of fearful Kurds to safer areas. The entry of the US has slowed down the Islamic State fighters who now occupy sizable areas in Syria and Iraq. But still, the air strikes have failed to deter the terrorists. Kurdish 34 | C O R D
militias are said to pursue street fighting against the enemy but they are helpless against the superior firepower of the Isis forces. Kurds in Turkey and in other parts of the world have petitioned governments to help stop the carnage of their people in Isis-held areas, but the response has not been enthusiastic with only the US strongly committing but only through air strikes and not by the use of ground forces. Turkey has placed tanks and soldiers along the critical borders as onlookers, leaving the light-powered Kurdish forces to fight hopeless battles. Turkey, a strong ally of the US, has refused to commit to the coalition against Isis, and this can be attributed to its impartiality to the Kurdish population’s desire for greater autonomy. The Syrian Kurds are more effective in defending their side, as they have governed themselves, having been abandoned by the Syrian government as a result of the Syrian civil war. The Syrian Kurdish political party, the PYD, has an armed wing called the YPG with 50,000 fighters. By the looks of it, the Kurds have become the cushion against Isis for TIIS, and these exploited people do not obtain direct support from the regular armies of TIIS. The world cannot just stand by and wait for more Kurds to be murdered by Isis. The US needs other forces to take on Isis, and if need be, to send ground troops to augment Kurdish fighters. The Islamic State must not be allowed to pursue its barbaric agenda upon the Kurdish population that have suffered so much from centuries of domination, occupation and ethnic cleansing. (CORD)
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MUSIC+CURRENT The 45th Annual Dove ceremonies held in Lipscomb Allen Arena in the US on recognized Gospel Music’s artists and songs. The Australian
Awarding University's October 7 outstanding
group, Hillsong UNITED’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” was chosen Song of the Year and Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year, while Chris Tomlin took the songwriter of the Year. Other winners were: New Artist of the Year – Ellie Holcomb; Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year – “100” – KB (ft. Andy Mineo); Rock Song of the Year – Not Gonna Die” – Skillet; and Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year - “Love Alone Is Worth The Fight” – Switchfoot…Lorde has announced the artists to be featured in the
Original Sound Track of Hunger Games-Mockingjay Part 1. The OST curator came out with an all-star cast of collaborators including Kanye West, Chvrches, Bat For Lashes, Raury, Charli XCX, Chemical Brothers with Miguel, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, Belgian superstar Stromae, Pusha T, Q-Tip, HAIM and Grace Jones…15-year-old Marlisa Punzalan
won the 2014 edition of X Factor Australia on the finals night on October 21, becoming the competition’s youngest winner. She bested rocker Dean Ray in one of the tightest voting with a difference of .01 %. She performed her final song, “Titanium” and her first original recording “Stand By You”. She was mentored by Ronan Keating. Born in Sydney, Australia to Filipino parents, Marlisa is currently a high school student in Mercy Catholic College Chatswood…Launched on
October 7, the all-new BBC Music season, the television giant released the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” with 27 high profile artists that included Elton John, One Direction, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Emeli Sandé, Chris Martin, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Sam Smith, Chrissie Hynde. Dave Grohl, Florence Welch, Lorde, Brian May and Jake Bugg. The artists were backed by the Tees Valley Youth Choir and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
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CONCERT REVIEWS Miley Cyrus, Vector Arena, October 9, 2014 What can one expect from Miley, but bad behavior on stage in the guise of entertainment? Sadly this girl is no Madonna or Britney not even a shadow of the two.
Rodriguez, ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland October 13, 2014 At 72 years old, Sixto Rodriguez was able to deliver most of his songs from his two albums, though not perfectly, but the feeling was there from the legend.
Justine Timberlake, Vector Arena, October 14, 2014 The most successful singer out of the boy bands that once dominated the scene of the past, Timberlake backed up by a 15piece band showed how he has matured beautifully to claim the spotlight left by Michael Jackson. He was able to connect to the audience with his music, his moves and his groove.
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MUSIC REVIEWS By Free Mel
SMOKEY & FRIENDS (Album) Smokey Robinson In the 70s I discovered Smokey Robinson with the Miracles through a song called “Flying High Together”. He had a few nice tunes (“Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (1981) and "Just to See Her" (1987) as a solo artist, while the Miracles produced a memorable album,” City of Angels”. Smokey Robinson is up there among the most influential Motown artists along with Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, and the re-creation of some of his timeless hits with the biggest vocalists of our time is truly a gift. Each tune has Smokey singing with an artist or artists that add a new element to Smokey’s classics. If I had to pick the best five out of the 11 tracks, I’d chose the following: “The Tracks of My Tears” displays the complimentary talents of Elton John and Smokey; “You Really Got a Hold on Me”, a thoroughly unusual, yet awesome vocal duel with Steven Tyler; “Quiet Storm” is very much a Smokey tune, yet John Legend has made it like his own; “Being With You” is magical with Mary J Blige; and the finest of all, “Ain’t That Peculiar” that showcases the soul side of James Taylor together with the soul legend. Thank you, producer Randy Jackson for putting this brilliant album together.
WEARY EYES (EP) Valere I was surprised by the approach in the beautifully written compositions contained in the EP for I thought Valere would take the acoustic pop/rock format, as she is known for. The first two songs – “Maria” and “Dodging Bullets”– define the direction of the EP: “electronica” with sprinkling of rock. The voice of Valere is flawless as she takes on the high notes with ease. The third cut, “IKTIL” (I Know This Isn’t Love) is minimalist, with just a beat adorned by pure vocals. “How Can I Love You” is a ballad with a sentimental piano accompaniment, while the title cut, “Weary Eyes” remains consistent to the techno sound that’s got a pop hook. The choice of “Dodging Bullets” as carrier single is perfect. What make the five track collection more attractive are the lyrics. Valere writes poetry. For instance in “Dodging Bullets”: “Baby, I held my torch up so high/ You fuelled the flames, fuelled the fire/Then you blew them out.” She sings in “Weary Eyes”: “Rattle of the chains, a ringing in my ear/ A song to lure my lungs/ But I'm listening to the sirens, the battle cries/ To drown your voices out.” When I told Valere that she could be the next big star of New Zealand with her output, she said, “I have a long way to go but I’ll give it my best shot.” You did give us your best shot.
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GOD ONLY KNOWS (single) Various Artists
Not since “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and “We are the World”, in the past few years have we heard of the biggest artists from the US and UK gather together to record one song. Getting the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” and having Brian Wilson on board is by itself spectacular. Then you add up an array of artists that includes Elton John and Stevie Wonder and current hit makers Pharell and Lorde plus a lush symphonic arrangement that incorporates the guitar playing of Queen’s Brian May, you have a music gem of the highest class.
90s MUSIC/MIRACLE (Singles) Kimbra After the smash hit and Grammy winner, “Somebody that I used to Know” (with Gotye) and a US top 14 debut album, “Vows”, Kimbra comes out with two lead songs off her sophomore album, “The Golden Echo”. The first one out was “90s Music”, a sort of tribute to a not-sodefinitive period in pop music. We get a mash up sound that makes reference to hip hop and house music yet still sounds original. I don’t get it on the use by Kimbra of her falsetto voice throughout, but most probably it must be the desire to get that “techno” ambiance. It takes a lot of listening to get this tune into one’s head, as truly it is innovative and experimental. The second single release is “Miracle” and like “90s Music” this is upbeat and must be meant to be a dance floor burner, and there is a Motown feel to the catchy melody. Both songs are supported by colorful videos that make the music more alive. Hopefully, these tunes catch the ears of djs. 39 | C O R D
CORD IMAGES THE PIGEON By Alvin Soniega
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LIMYA By M Batulan A form of poetry consisting of five lines with the first, third and fifth lines consisting of five syllables each, and the second and fourth, seven syllables each. The word ‘Limya” is an amalgam of two Visayan words, “lima” meaning ‘five’ and ‘linya’ for ‘line’. The subject primarily focuses on daily living.
We went to visit Glenn who has been bed-ridden We sang songs for him Knowing that he was in pain Lovely, that he smiled. *** Slow moving engines All lined up in the long stretch Toward the city Working people are stuck up Accident ahead *** Breakfast with children And grandchildren as well A weekend visit Then off to church we all go To worship the Lord *** Gathering at home With friends from Otahuhu We’re celebrating Father’s Day in September Food, songs and prayer *** The rain keeps falling On the Sunday afternoon I got my guitar And wrote a song about love Are you listening?
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KIM AND EL
OFFICE BLOCK
MR JEYDI’S WITDOM
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GOOD LAUGH TRAPPED! Taylor Swift was having a party to celebrate her birthday in the world’s tallest building, Buri Khalifa, Dubai. She was caught inside a stalled elevator together with Kiwi artists Lorde, Valere and KIS. Through the emergency phone, they were told that it’d take one hour to fix the problem. Taylor Swift: It’s really weird to be trapped in an elevator just when guests will be waiting for me to officially open the party. Lorde: Don’t worry you’ve got your best pal for company. We might as well do something productive and fun while we’re here. Suggestions? Valere: Why don’t we write together a song and finish recording it before the door opens? KIS: We can provide backup vocals, easy. Taylor Swift: Great idea, Valere! I suggest that we work on the theme, “Trapped”. Would you all agree? All: Sweet as. Taylor Swift: You Kiwis are simply cool. I’ll start with the first verse. “With my girlfriends/We took a lift to the top/We got stalled in the middle/Gee, this ain’t trouble/” Lorde: Here’s my verse: “Riding our dreams/Living the fantasy/I’m with the team/In a different affair” Valere: I guess I’ll do the refrain: “We’re trapped, we’re trapped/But what the heck/We’re having fun/Under the Dubai sun” KIS: Then we’ll go: “La, la, la, la, la! La, li, la, li la! La, la , la, la! La, li, la, li, la!” Taylor Swift: Wow, we are really doing it. Mine now: “No boyfriends/ Just us girls together/Free from any burden/Liberated from sin” Lorde: Ha, ha, true. The fourth verse should go like this: “Wonder Woman/Merida, Katniss/Powerpuff Girls/We’ve got the power” Valere: Let me sing the refrain again: “We’re trapped, we’re trapped/But what the heck/We’re having fun/Under the Dubai sun” KIS: We’d like to add a bit of rap: “Royalties we are not/But yea, we are red hot/Power we all have/But we’re still stuck/We don’t need no prince/We can do this by ourselves/With our voices united/We can just scream, ‘Get us out of here!’” All (screaming): “Get us out of here!” 46 | C O R D
It was already half an hour, but nothing happened. Taylor Swift: I can’t start making the music without my guitar. Lorde: No prob, girlfriend, I can just hum a melody and that should make the song. Valere: I’ve already got the hook for the refrain. KIS: We can do a vocal beat box for the rap part. Taylor Swift: I know that ‘Two is better than one’ as my song goes, but six is bliss. It was quarter of an hour that Lorde completed the melodies. Taylor Swift: I’ll do the first and third verses. Lorde: Me, the second and fourth. Valere: I’ll do solo for the first refrain and then well sing the second refrain together. KIS: We will harmonize the “la, la, la” part, and do the rap part. The sextet recorded this in an iPhone6, and once completed everyone sent this in their Twitter accounts. By that time, the lift moved up and reached the penthouse. As the elevator door opened, the guests had seen all of the things that happened in the closed-circuit TV and the song had reached 20 million views! The alarm clock rang, and awakened Taylor Swift. “Wow, what a dream! What a fairy tale!”
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THE
WORLD
FILM REVIEWS Rudderless
This is an underrated film that deserves attention and accolades. Academy Award winning actor William H Macy (Fargo) makes his directorial debut with this original story of a successful advertising executive, Sam (played by Billy Crudup) whose life goes spiraling down with the death of his son in a school shooting incident. He regains the will to live when he discovers the original songs written and recorded in CDs by his deceased son; and starts singing these in a bar. A young and shy musician Quentin (Anton Yelchin) hears the songs, and begs Sam to allow him to give back up support, and later, brings a band of talented musicians to help out. Director Macy really knows how to build up the film towards the truth about what happened in the shooting that impacted on Sam and Quentin. Crudup deserves an Oscar nomination for his performance and Yelchin should get a supporting actor nod. Crudup sings convincingly, but it is the changes in his character that show his thespian gift. Yelchin is also a joy to see. Other actors who give important support to the emotionally-invested film are: Felicity Huffman as the grieving mother; Laurence Fishburne as the music store owner; Selena Gomez as the deceased son’s girlfriend; and the director himself, Macy, as the owner of the tavern. If there is a film that need to be seen this year, “Rudderless� is it.
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Giver
Million Dollar Arm
Can a perfect world ever exist? No wars, no violence, no hunger, and each citizen pursues a vocation that they are must skillful at. ‘The Giver’ is a sci-fi film about Utopia where there is order and discipline in society.
Yes, Walt Disney still makes inspiring films aside from Marvel heroes, Pixar animations and Frozen & the like.
‘The Giver’ is the chosen individual who knows about the past and has to pass on the knowledge to a younger one. The Giver (Jeff Bridges) has an apprentice, Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) who discovers the truth about the violence and damage men have done on the world; yet at the same time, learns about love, an emotion clandestinely erased through required daily prescription medicine. The apprentice not only learns about the history of the world, both good and bad, but discovers the worst evil used by their community to attain the ‘perfect’ society. While not as grand as ‘Hunger Games’, ‘Divergent’ or ‘Maze Runner’, ‘The Giver’ is more thought-provoking with the expected stellar performances of Bridges and Meryll Streep supported by Alexander Skarsgard and Katie Holmes among others. Thwaites boldly carried the bulk of the film and did so credibly. Oh yes, Taylor Swift was in the film. While the action may not have been that spectacular, the substance of the story made viewing all worthwhile. 49 | C O R D
“Million Dollar Arm” is based on a true story of young players from India who are selected in a reality show competition to getting a chance to join a major League Baseball contract. Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel (who had no background about baseball) were plucked out from remote places in India after a search by J.B. Bernstein, a nearly downand-out American sports agent. It is much the story of Bernstein as it is about Singh and Patel. While Bernstein deals with his financial and relationship problems, the two youths not only fought against homesickness, but also the demand to becoming world-class players under tremendous pressure. The movie has elements of “Slumdog Millionaire” not just because one of the lead stars is Madhur Mittal (the bad brother in the former film), but due to the depiction of the struggle from poverty and in coping up with failure and fame. But unlike ‘Slumdog’ which was fiction, this one’s for real. Thank you, Disney for not giving up on films like this.
Perfect Wave
Begin Again
If there is an excuse to see this film, it is Scott Eastman whose looks is reminiscent of his father, Clint, in the latter’s younger days. But that would be a poor excuse really.
This is an unusual love story that ends happily, but differs from the expected. If you’ve seen “Once” (that successful Irish musical film that became a Broadway hit as well), you’ll love this one as this is directed by the same director, John Carney with original music mostly written by the New Radicals’ Gregg Alexander.
"The Perfect Wave" is the true story of New Zealander Ian McCormack whose love for surfing brought him to Australia, Bali, South Africa and Mauritius in search of that ‘Perfect Wave’ when a surfer reaches that heavenly feeling of riding freely a huge wave. There is a lot of beautifully filmed surfing in the movie, but that is just part of the story of a mother’s love for an adventurous son, a young man fulfilling his passion and falling in love for the first time, and most importantly, a life changing accident that could have resulted in death but didn’t. McCormack’s story is also about rediscovering faith; but that only comes in the last quarter of the film after chronicling his gallivanting around and lots of surfing action. Also, the support cast fails to deliver enough soul to make it thoroughly engaging. It is obvious that the producers worked on a limited budget, but imagination and creativity would have made this look more authentic.
The two main characters are down-and-out record producer Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo) and aspiring songwriter/hesitant performer Gretta James (Keira Knightley). Both discover each other at the lowest point in their lives, and from there on forge a friendship to ‘begin again’. For Mulligan it’s rehabilitating not just his career, but also his relationship with wife and teenage daughter. For Gretta, it’s mending a broken heart (from boyfriend and songwriter partner Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) and making a career on her own. The beauty of the film is that the songs are complimentary and not forced. Ruffalo is reliable in his role, while Knightley surprisingly acts and sings like a genuine singer-songwriter. Levine, Maroon 5’s lead singer, passes the acting test, while Hailee Steinfeld (‘The Descendants’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’) steals some scenes. Nice one really.
‘Perfect Wave’ wasn’t perfect, but McCormack’s revelation is truly moving.
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Bears
Lucy
It takes patience and lots of sacrifices to make a documentary film such as “Bears”. And to create a story out of the footages is commendable.
If you’ve seen “Phenomenon” (with John Travolta) and “Transcendence” (with Johnny Depp), well “Lucy” is a high-octane take on those two films starring Scarlett Johansson in the title role as a woman who accidental obtains psychokinetic abilities when a drug gets into her bloodstream.
Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey (who directed ‘African Cats’) spent a substantial time in Katmai National Park, Alaska to follow a grizzly bear mother named Sky and her two cubs Amber and Scout from their den as they look for food in Lake Clark National Park, and back. This journey takes all of four seasons. The family goes through difficulties including a grey wolf, unfriendly bears and the everchanging environment. The ultimate high is the search for salmon and the feast that follows when they do arrive. The scenic beauty of the grand Alaskan landscape plays a starring role as well, and it is caught in the cinematography with excellence. The narrative of John C. Reilly is wellwritten and interestingly delivered.
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Lucy was a typical woman who got involved with Asian syndicate smuggling a “wonder nootropic drug” because of a good-fornothing boyfriend. But when the drug starts to effect on her, she increases her brain capacity beyond the mythical 10 %. She seeks revenge and goes after other mules to prevent the illegal distribution of the drugs. What will happen if the brain reaches 100% capacity? Well Morgan Freeman plays the role of a scientist studying the phenomenon and provides explanations and questions as the film develops. The conclusion is mind-blowing, similar to “Transcendence”. This has got to be fiction! Johansson (who plays Black Widow in “The Avengers”) is now a proven action star; and director Luc Besson made more than ten times his $ 40 million investment in this film. Not bad.
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http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_music_magazine_jan_2014
http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_b_w
http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_april_2014 http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_august_2014
http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_july_2013
http://issuu.com/magazinecord/docs/cord_apr_2013
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