ArtToday: March 2014

Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout.

He is considered one of the greatest singers in popular music and a major artist in soul and rhythm and blues.

His singing style was powerfully influential among soul artists of 1960s and helped exemplify the Stax Sound.

Initially popular mainly with African Americans, Redding later reached the broader American popular music audience.

He and his group first played small gigs in the South, then debuted in the western United States at LA's popular Whisky a Go Go.

They later performed in Paris, London and other European cities.

Redding's premature death (airplane crash) devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire catalog.

Redding received many posthumous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement

Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received the honorific "King of Soul".

In addition to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best known songs.

Leaving you with some great hits of this great writer and singer of the Soul

One of my favourites

Oh yeahh

Another fave... I simply have to dance this...

And of course Otis has many more to add to this post, It's always a must have for those who like good music. :)

Michael Bolton - Said I Loved You...But I Lied

Remembering the 90's!

Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind Of Love (Official Music Video)

LIGHTNING & THUNDER - BIRMINGHAM TORNADO - Talk in Birmingham, UK

LIGHTNING & THUNDER - BIRMINGHAM TORNADO

Photographic screening and talk by Pogus Caesar on behalf of Friends of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

VENUE: Edmunds, 106-110 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B3 2ES DATE: Tuesday 8th April TIME: 6:30-8:30pm

At approximately 2:30pm on the afternoon of the 28 July 2005 I was in my car about to turn into Alcester Road, Kings Heath - suddenly there were thunder claps, lightning and torrential rain, then very quickly it went dark... very dark. 
The areas of Sparkbrook, Kings Heath, Moseley, Balsall Heath, Small Heath, Quinton and Hall Green were hit by the force of a tornado rated at T3 - T5, that meant wind speeds of between 93 to 130 miles per hour, it only lasted for a few minutes. It sliced a kilometre long path though the neighbourhoods. 
Terrified residents saw roofs flying through the air, cars lifted and thrown through windows, 1000 trees were uprooted by the ferocious winds, demolishing everything in its path. There was extensive damage to buildings, vehicles and the local community. 

In the aftermath, hundreds of people were trapped in their homes and isolated from their families. The total cost of the damage was estimated at £40 million. Emergency services cordoned off many roads and prevented access to damaged property. 
Approximately 30 people were injured, there were no fatalities. In the midst of the chaos, I made a record of the unfolding events and took just under 300 black and white photographs documenting the aftermath of a violent tornado and the staggering footprint of destruction it left on a shocked community.

For tickets, email melissa.page.fbmag@gmail.com. 

£9 for members of the Friends; £12 non-members.

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

Catching Fire is a 2009 science fiction young adult novel by American novelist Suzanne Collins, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy.

As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller The Hunger Games, it continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem. Following the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the oppressive Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the Hunger Games.

Plot

After winning the 74th Hunger Games in the previous novel, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark return home to District 12, the poorest sector in the country of Panem.

On the day that Katniss and Peeta are to start a "Victory Tour" of the country, President Snow visits unexpectedly and tells Katniss that he is angry with her for breaking the rules at the end of the last Hunger Games, which permitted both Peeta and Katniss to win.

Snow tells Katniss that when she defied the Capitol, she inspired rebellion in the districts.

It is announced then the 75th Hunger Games, and for the 75th Hunger Games, 24 victors from previous years will be forced to compete once again.

This is the third occurrence of the "Quarter Quell": an event that occurs every 25th year of the Games and allows the Capitol to introduce a twist.

My review:

Better arguments, better photography and the actors evolved greatly for the better.

And the OST is getting better.

IMDB

Trailer

Music

Guess what 80's cover??

BLACKFISH - The Orcas documentary

I received a tip to watch this Documentary about the Orcas in Sea World Corporation.

I have to say, that I love to watch documentaries but this one shocked me.

I was NEVER apologist of paying to see any animal show (Sea worlds, Sea something, even Circus) and after this... I am even more against it.

It's a mix of seeing intelligent animals (the Orcas) being treated by some with respect (some trainers) and being left to being hungry and bad treatments by the Neanderthals (Sea World Corp).

My review for this Documentary to the Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite:

Brilliant and shocking! But the truth and reality sometimes have to be said like that.

Trailer