Jim Kerr: "Belfast Child" (#1 UK single '89)

James "Jim" Kerr (born in Glasgow on 9 July 1959) is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, famous for his work with the rock band Simple Minds from Scotland. They achieved five UK number one albums, and a number one single "Belfast Child" from their album "Street Fighting Years" in 1989. The song "Belfast Child" uses the music from the Irish folk song "She Moved Through the Fair", but has completely different words. It is also known as the "Ballad of the Streets".

Today is Jim's 50th birthday, and I'd like to share his video which is released 20 years ago with you again. The video to the song was shot in black and white and displays poignant footage of children and the destruction of the bombing. Happy 50th birthday, Jim!!!

Green Day's New '21 Guns' Video

"21 Guns" is the 2nd single from Green Day, the pop-punk masters' 8th studio album, "21st Century Breakdown" gets an appropriately dramatic, melancholy visual treatment. The single exemplify the themes of alienation and politically-motivated anger present in the record, and it will release on July 14, 2009 as a CD single.

In the band's brand-new video clip, the guys and a young couple face a siege of gunshots in a disheveled motel room. While nothing particularly earth-shattering, the nicely-shot video does the song justice. The video is also slightly shorter than the song as the violin parts are cut out and the guitar solo was shortened by about twenty seconds. The music video was directed by Marc Webb, filmed in LA on June 6, 2009, and premiered on MySpace on June 22, 2009.

Green Day has sold over 22 million records in the US since 1987. My favorite singles from Green Day are 'Time of Your Life'(12/23/97), 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams'(1/11/05), and 'Wake Me Up When September Ends'(6/13/05).

Michael Jackson's memorial underway in LA (Live Blog)

I watched full event through MSNBC TV Live coverage today, and here are the highlights:

A few hours before fans gathered at the Staples Center for the public tribute, Michael Jackson's family and close friends said a private goodbye to the pop icon at an early morning ceremony at Forest Lawn cemetery. A hearse carrying Michael Jackson’s golden casket has left and now apparently heading to a public memorial in downtown Los Angeles.

The memorial service for Michael Jackson has begun with readings from veteran singer Smokey Robinson at 10:12a.m. at the Staples Center. He reading comments from Nelson Mandela, Diana Ross and other friends of the “King of Pop.” Following a long silent period inside the venue, piano music and a gospel choir kicked things off with a stained-glass motif in the background.

"There's nothing that can't be done if we raise out voice as one." A lot of friends have taken to the stage to spoke or perform, such as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Brooke Shields, and Al Sharpton, and others.

Social networking site Twitter has been bombarded with messages from people attending the Jackson memorial service.

I was trying to attend the event, but unfortunately, I got an email Monday morning from "The Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service at STAPLES Center" that "Thank you for your registration. Sorry, we regret to inform you that your registration to attend the Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson was not selected. Hundreds of thousands registered, but only a few can be in attendance."(8,750 memorial tickets chosen from 1.6 million online applicants.)

"Knowing" [DVD] : My Pick Of This Week

Nicolas Cage stars as a college professor at MIT, who uncovers a dark, startling secret in a time capsule buried at his son's elementary school. It contains a coded document accurately predicting the details of every major disaster of the past 50 years, including 3 cataclysmic events that have not yet occurred. With time running out, he sets out to prevent these deadly prophecies from coming true.
Overall, the movie "Knowing" was a thought-provoking action movie. With twists and turns around almost every corner, proyas really gave us something different than the norm. I would recommend this one as a rental as it’s not so much a “theater” film. Take it at face value but there is some truth to it. The beginning and end don’t necessary match up.

I like Nicolas' movies, and please check out the movie trailer.

Susan Boyle Records Her First Track For New Album

Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle (born April 1, 1961) has recorded her first track, which has already been praised by the toughest critic on television Simon Cowell. "I've cut one track with her and she sounds fantastic on record. She's so good, the album is not just going to be showtunes. We're going to take our time with this," the Sun quoted Cowell as saying. When Boyle had first appeared on Britain's Got Talent, she said that she aspired to become a musical theatre singer "as successful as" Elaine Paige.
The 48-year-old Scottish singer had performed a rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables in the first round of the third series of Britain's Got Talent, which was watched by over 10 million viewers when it aired on April 11, 2009. The one of most amazing things I have EVER seen!

For more info, please click Susan's Official Site, Fan Site, and Facebook.

Exclusive First Listen: Moby, 'Wait For Me' @NPR

The New York-based musician and the electronic artist, Richard Hall (born September 11, 1965), better known by his stage name "Moby", put out his new 9th studio album "'Wait For Me'" this Tuesday, which was made in his home studio. What a beautiful ambient record and a nice surprise!

"Wait For Me" is a melancholic, solacing, cathartic and poignant masterpiece replete with captivating musical soundscapes. The guest female vocalists are great. It’s been a whole year since Moby’s last studio album so these 16 new exemplary singles come in eagerly awaited. A dynamic mixture of vocal and instrumental tracks by a musical visionary.

Moby spoke about this album in a interview that "I want to make a really emotional, beautiful record. I don't know if I will succeed, but my goal is to make something very personal, very melodic, very beautiful." Moby’s music is exceptional. He has always had a thing for the blues, and always causes folks to turn their heads and ears in his direction. Totally alluring, I like them all.

Get your first listen to the entire album at NPR Music, and click above image for Moby's MySpace or check out his official website.

"Two Lovers": The Top DVD Released This Week

Sometimes we leave everything to find ourselves. "Two Lovers" is a film never feels dark or gloom-laden. The performances are so sensitive, so convincing, that we are drawn inescapably into a real world of pain and solace. James Gray Directed his strong cast to a resolution that is both surprising and entirely realistic. It keeps a grip on you.

The film is about a bachelor (Phoenix) torn between the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor, set in Brooklyn, NYC. The conflict with the safe lifestyle of the family vs striking out on your own is spot on.

"Two Lovers" is a far cry in insight from Hollywood's idealized romantic dramas. I would HIGHLY recommend. Click above image for the official website.