Gangstalicious

Tall T's. They are baggy sized shirts that have an intentionally longer body. I think they're pretty cool, especially to dance in. I'm unsure about the reason, but baggy clothing makes your hip-hop dancing bigger, rougher and generally better aesthetically which is what its all about! Footlocker sells them, but whenever I go they're always out of the sensible sizes, I didn't know there was such a thing as XXXL. It's hard to call them sensible, but you get me =P.  

I came across them in the extensive amounts of Krump videos on youtube. If it was possible, the shirt made them look MORE gangsta. I guess it complimented the attitude they were playing with...Buckness. To get Buck is when a krumper is going all out hitting all sorts of moves and really feeling the moment.

I have a dilemma. If I'm not dancing in it, I have no idea how to wear it without looking like a complete dickhead. Maybe....don't wear it.

The XXL size, fantastic.

"All my troubles seem so far away"

Lately, I've been obsessed with the idea of being able to sing in harmony. There's something about people in unison singing fourths, minor 3rds etc. in R&B music that transports me. 'Boyz II Men' epitomise this fixation of mine. Although they do have a similar style in all their songs, (similar in the way that Metallica and Disturbed songs all sound the same), the parts that are tweaked or copied are exactly what I adore about their music. Their sound is so warm and recognisable.

I only became acquainted with their music late last year when i bought their album "II". Before this, I didn't really know much about this soulful quartet (now a trio) except that my islander friends love doing covers of their songs. The guy who's wearing the beanie above always takes a pimp cane with him on stage....what a baller! ; ). The opening track of the album is a song called "Thank You". It has many overlapping layers of vocal ad-libs over the verse, as well as some smooth descending melismatic runs. You should check it out, its a fun song. Not a fun song like the glorious "Thong Song" by Sisqo (this is a song you must watch the video for!), but nonetheless an enjoyable vocal song.

 Their background work is subtle but it is notably a major part of their music. These are very frequent in their songs, and i'll admit I attempt to put some of these into my own music. They show that you don't have to have abs and dance like Usher to be able to make an R&B career. (It would help though haha, but Ne*Yo's doing it well. If you've seen the 'Closer' video, you'll get what I mean, great singer though =P.)

(Oh yes, they are wearing 3/4 shorts and sneakers!)

There is a song on this album, that initiated this harmonic infatuation. It is a cover of the popular Beatles song "Yesterday". You can recognise the basic outline of the song, but this is no Paul McCartney. This rendition is done A capella, with a few different vocal tones and timbers. The deep voice in the album version vibrates my sternum the same way Ice Cube's "Check Yo Self [Remix]" does. The way that the lines flow at ease and are delivered in such a pure and calm manner is brilliant. I aspire to be able to sing this cover one day, i believe it is an incredible version of a classic song.

The original Beatles version done live.

The Boyz II Men album version.

A shortened Boyz II Men version done live.

 I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

"Street ballet"

A week ago I went to see "Bale De Rua" (translated as "Street Ballet") at the Opera house. The show was a Brazilian dance performance, mixing Hip-Hop, Samba, African dance and Capoeira. It really was entertaining, from the smooth shuffle steps on the scaffold in suave white suits to the demonstrations of tremendous strength in the break dancing (like the Pike the dude's doing above).

There was a singer who provided the music and was accompanied by a very bouncy percussion and brass band. She really wasn't that great but you didn't go for the singing right?

Although the African section was interesting, being a very amateur b-boy, i was focusing on other things. They were technically very strong and showed so much skill in their floor work and freezes. Top-rocking was a bit neglected but I guess that's not what sells tickets.

It was a little weird seeing it in underpants, but it showed it from a different perspective. Breaking in a more conventional sense is executed with a sense of confident arrogance, without the baggy clothes we could see what the body was doing. The dancers were so impressive, they did not look awkward at all doing it with their drought of clothing. I'm sure i'd look like a complete ass with my 'Scottish white' thighs emphasising every wrong movement and evident tan lines.

Capoeira. The martial arts disguised as a dance by the lower classes in Brazil. I actually ran into my friend Jack who finished school the year before me. He told me that he and his friend went there solely for the Capoeira. I don't blame him, it is very cool to see it in person rather than through Eddy Gourdo in Tekken. If you can some how turn a 'flare' into a fighting move without totally stacking it and ending up with a bruised butt, you have some talent.

Overall, it was a wonderful show. It's brilliant to be able expand your dancing experience and I encourage you guys to try watching other styles, because this opened me up to a whole new sect of dancing for me.

18 years on...

I dunno about you, but the desire to be 18 didn't really hit me until....everyone else started being able to go out. Even though it meant i had lower prices, making dance classes all the much sweeter, I had been damning my underage status. Now that its here, it is as great as seeing the afro ninja video for the first time.

Ok so I'm 18 now what do I do?

Start going to clubs. Check

Have friends buy me drinks. Check.

Throw a party. Check

Spend all day in my pyjamas. Ohhh yeahhh.

and oh yes...make a blog. Riveting, i know. 

Time to post things, people will probably never ever see or read. Solid.