I Am A Conqueror

Hi everyone,

How many of you out there are Empire fans? Did you manage to catch the episode in Season 1 where Jamal sang the best duet ever with Delphine? Both the song and performance simply blew me away. But if you’re not an Empire follower and have no clue what I’m talking about, let me back track a bit.

Empire is an American TV musical drama series which centers on a hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment. When Lucious Lyon, the founder and CEO of Empire Entertainment learns that he has a disease that is going to incapacitate him in three years, he is bent on grooming one of his three sons, Andre, Jamal or Hakeem to take over the company. Complications arise when Cookie, Lucious’ ex-wife and co-founder of the company, is released from prison and wants to reclaim her rightful place in the company.

The show has a wide variety of music that incorporates Empire’s themes and plotlines, thanks to Timbaland, the show’s executive music producer. But what many fans (and yours truly) consider its best song yet has to be “Conqueror”. Performed by Jussie Smollett (who plays Jamal) and British singer-songwriter Estelle (as Delphine), “Conqueror” is a beautiful duet that will be stuck in your head forever once you hear it.

The lyrics are as powerful as its melody ("I'd rather stand tall / Than live on my knees, / 'Cause I am a conqueror, / And I won't accept defeat") and Estelle’s voice is perfectly in sync with Jussie’s oh-so-gorgeous vocals (no wonder Columbia Records couldn’t wait to sign him!). Together, the two singers make up an extraordinary and moving combination.

But hey, don’t just take my word for it; check out the music video yourself. I have a feeling you’ll be hooked big-time!

For Malaysian viewers, you can catch the latest episode of Empire Season 2 on Astro Star World channel 711 on Thursdays 9pm or Sundays 10.05pm.

Lotsa Luv

Why You Gotta Be So Rude

How’s everyone doing? It’s been a while since a great song caught my fancy but when I heard it, I just had to let the world you guys know. The song is titled “Rude” and the single was first released in October 2013 by a Canadian reggae fusion band called Magic!.

Nasri Atweh, the lead singer, wrote the song based on a real-life relationship he had with an ex-girlfriend. However, the band gave the song concept a slight twist and the outcome is a song about a guy asking his girlfriend’s father for his daughter’s hand in marriage, but the father slammed the door in his face, prompting the guy to ask “Why you gotta be so rude?”. 

Have a look at the cute music video and get the lyrics here if you want to sing along.

What you MUST check out next is the hilarious response to this song by Benji Cowart, a dad from New York. When Cowart heard the song, he rewrote the lyrics and posted his own music video on YouTube. 

“You say you want my daughter for the rest of your life ... well you gotta make more than burgers and fries ... get out your momma's basement boy and get you a life ... son you're twenty-eight ... don't you think it's time,” Cowart sings in the video, which has now been viewed over fourteen million times.

“Why you gotta call me rude ... for doing what a dad should do ... and keep her from a fool like you ... and if you marry her anyway ... marry that girl ... I'm gonna punch your face ... marry that girl ... I'll make you go away ... marry that girl,” sings Cowart, the father of a girl and two boys.

Cowart, who was joined by his wife, Jenna, in the video, told ABC News that there was one specific line in the catchy song that inspired him to re-write the hit.

"I caught the line "I'm gonna marry her anyway" and the dad in me reared up ... so I had to write a response for all the dads with daughters out there,” Cowart told ABC News by email.

Cowart said he has been impressed by the “great sports” the four members of Magic! have been about the parody. “It’s all been in good fun,” Cowart said.

Magic! themselves retweeted a link to Cowart’s YouTube parody and sent out a tweet expressing gratitude for all the covers of “Rude.”

Lotsa Luv

Credit: http://www.abcnews.go.com

I Choose You

Have you guys heard this song? It’s by Sara Bareilles, an American singer-songwriter. The song's been around for quite a while (it was released in January 2014) but I first heard it on the radio a few weeks back. So what if I’m not exactly up-to-date where pop or any other kind of music is concerned. I swear you guys, I think this song is A-MA-ZING!

Even after listening to it over and over again, I seem to never get enough. It’s like what shopping does to a shopaholic, I’m hooked big time!

For one thing, I sooo love the lyrics, especially the chorus. Let me sing write it for you *clears throat*:

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you

Cool, right? I’m normally not a sucker for pop ballads but this one’s different. The melody is catchy and puts you in a good mood instantly. On top of that, the singer's smoky vocals match the tune perfectly.

Since the song is making me feel all generous this rainy Friday evening, I’m gonna share it with you, full lyrics included. Have a listen, pick up that imaginary mic and sing along with Sara (I know you want to!). And oh, don’t forget to thank me later when you are seriously addicted! *grins*

Lotsa Luv

 

"I Choose You"

Let the bough break, let it come down crashing
Let the sun fade out to a dark sky
I can't say I'd even notice it was absent
Cause I could live by the light in your eyes

I'll unfold before you
What I've strung together
The very first words
Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you
(Yeah)

There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me you could not come true
Just love's illusion
But then you found me and everything changed
And I believe in something again

My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you

We are not perfect
We'll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you

I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better
I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
Yeah
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you
I choose you
I choose you