UK Soul Music Guide To 2011

There are a growing number of brilliant artists either representing soul music or fusing soulfulness with pop, indie, electronic and funk, creating something refreshing and new. So, I compiled 10 artists/bands from the UK in 2011; Adele, Clare Maguire, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bluey Robinson, Daley, Joss Stone, Sade, Plan B, Jessie J and Jaynee.

Adele
22-year-old North Londoner, Adele, has gained worldwide success from the moment she released her debut album, and this year, she's breaking records again. Her music couldn't be further away from the typical pop/dance scene populating the charts. She has such a powerful voice, singing emotional jazz and soul numbers like 'Someone Like You' and 'Rolling In The Deep'. Wikipedia notes, she is the 'first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the UK Singles Chart and the UK Album Chart simultaneously since The Beatles in 1964.' That's a sobering achievement for the young soul singer.

Clare Maguire
Birmingham born Clare Maguire produces intricate pop music. It can't be described as soul music per se, but with a voice akin to Annie Lennox, it's hard not to describe Clare as soulful. Again, only in her early-twenties, she portrays a level of experience through her lyrics and her voice, as heard in the brilliant song, 'Strangest Thing.'

Corinne Bailey Rae
Leeds born Corinne Bailey Rae is a talented jazz singer/musician who grows in a different direction with each album. On her second studio piece, the song 'Closer', as when mixed with her signature vocals, is reminiscent of yesteryear, albeit, the 70s, and yet she still keeps it relevant. And then there's her 'The Love EP' featuring 5 covers, including Prince's 1979 hit, 'I Wanna Be Your Lover,' but not jazzed up, but more synthesised than even the original.

Bluey Robinson
Sweden born and London raised soul singer Bluey Robinson goes beyond the atypical soul music genre. He flawlessly mixes his style with funk and pop, and is not afraid to sing a cappella or acoustically. You can tell he is inspired by the old-school, but he definitely knows how to keep his music fresh and relevant for these times today.

Traveling to Music City, USA

Nashville, Tennessee, the state capital, is located in the north central part of the state, nearly equidistant from Knoxville to the east and Memphis to the west. I-65 runs north to south through the city; I-40 crosses it east to west; I-24 slices through it on the diagonal from northwest to southeast; Briley Parkway circles the north side of town; and I-440 loops around south side of the metropolitan area, connecting with all three of these interstates.

In addition, U.S. Highway 265 branches off from I-40 just west of Lebanon and swings south almost to Murfreesboro before turning back north to connect with I-40 between Fairview and Pomona. Nashville International Airport is immediately south of I-40 on the east side of town; the downtown area can easily be reached from there via the interstates.

Nashville is with justice called "Music City, U.S.A." It is home to the thriving country music industry, the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a lively after-hours music scene in many lounges and saloons all over town. There are two visitor information centers, one at Fifth Avenue South and Broadway and a second at Fourth Avenue North and Commerce, where visitors can get maps, brochures, directions, and more information about things to do and see in Nashville.

A visitor with even a passing interest in country music should not miss the opportunity to investigate the Nashville music scene. The Ryman Auditorium in downtown originally was a church, and became the home of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, when it was christened "The Mother Church of Country Music." The Opry has since moved to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, but the Ryman has been reopened as a music venue. Regular concerts are held there, and tours, both self-guided and backstage, are on offer.
Also downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the perfect place to immerse yourself in all the history of this distinctively American style of music.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, off the Briley Parkway north of the airport, is a world unto itself, with a big hotel, stores, a spa, restaurants from pubs to steakhouses to fine dining establishments, and lounges and nightclubs, all under one roof. The resort is immediately adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry, where visitors can take in the famous country music extravaganza.

If music isn't your main interest, Nashville has many other experiences to offer, from a zoo and aquariums to amusement parks and rides on paddle-wheelers on the river. If you'd like to sample a little Southern history, visit Belle Meade Plantation or take a tour of The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson. You can tour the historic battlefield of the Civil War battle of Franklin and visit the cemetery where fallen soldiers were laid to rest. A little more than an hour east of Nashville, Loretta Lynn's Hurricane Mills has a restored Southern mansion, a camp ground and RV park, a museum, and shops. Horseback riding and fishing are popular pastimes there, as well.

Nashville-Music City Of The USA

You can call it the music city of the United Sates as it homes the Grand Ole Opera, the Country Music Hall of Fame and many other such important record labels or the Athens of the south as it has seventeen post secondary educational institutions or the cashville as termed by the famous album of Young Buck or the Nashvegas which reflects the abundant nightlife which the city has. You can call it the way you like but at the end of it Nashville satisfies you with the rich experience it leaves on you during your stay. The music is life here and you may find a life full of music in Nashville. That is why this city was termed as city of music by Queen Victoria of England. Let it be anyway but at the end of it you will love this city.

The city has countless things to offer. And also well complemented by a large number of hotels and vacation resorts which help you to experience this city with every day you stay in here. As a visitor you can find a lot many hotels in the city catering various pockets. But if you are let loose on a tight budget then for sure Nashville has many discount and budget hotels to offer. So it is more than a probability that you will find a right kind of place to plan your vacations with. Some of the regular facilities offered by the hotels in Nashville include air conditioned rooms, car rentals, airport pick and drop facilities, swimming pools, health clubs, spas, restaurants etc. The restaurants here offer several delicacies including continental food which you will find relishing and admired by your taste buds.

To reach Nashville is quite fun as enjoying a cozy vacation. You can find many alternatives to reach the city which include a number of flights to Nashville airport, connectivity with many parts of the state with roads etc. What you need to remember is to book the hotel in advance as Nashville is always crowded with tourists. You can book the hotel through your tour planner or through the website of the hotel or by simply making a call to the helpline of the hotel.

Mad Love - A London Short Story

You'll know if it's happened to you; mad love. When it strikes it's the only adequate translation for the French L'Amour fou. All the more crazy, when, as in my case, it was unrequited.
I was in my early 50s, divorced, and living alone in a rented apartment in north London. To break the work-sleep-work cycle I signed up with an arts group for a course of Saturday guided visits to the capital's galleries.

The possibility of meeting a woman of a similar age from among my fellow students added extra spice to my anticipation. And when we met up that first Saturday, now more than 10 years ago, there were indeed a number of suitable 'candidates' in the group. That was until I saw Lucy.

She looked as though she had stepped out of my Sociology class in the Sixties dressed in a long white cheese cloth dress which one moment would cling to her hips, the next sway from her body as she moved.
Shortish, a brunette, I don't remember Lucy as a great beauty, but O, her eyes, her smile, her laugh. I wasn't to know a web of lies, sleepless nights, tears - all mine - was to be my fate for the next two years.
For the first couple of Saturdays I only exchanged a few words with Lucy. But perhaps because she was by a good way the youngest in the class - 31 as I was to learn - she didn't team up with any of the other cliques. We began to discuss the paintings in front of us as we walked round.

By the last few Saturdays we took our sandwich lunch breaks together. The final afternoon the two of us had a farewell drink in the Thames-side pub close to Tate Modern.

The setting sun bathed St Paul's; I glowed in the presence of an angel.
Lucy was an English teacher at a secondary school in the East End of London, one of the country's most deprived boroughs. She had been privately educated.
"On the front line now," I joked. She chided me on my flippancy and explained she felt driven to use her advantages to help youngsters to whom fate had dealt such a poor start.
The woman was perfect. She was better read than me; knew more about art, film and the theatre. Lucy was about the best-hearted person I'd met in a long time. There didn't seem to be a 'significant other' and, yes, I ached to take her to bed. This last consideration was the reason the "fou" got added to the "amour."
I had told Lucy I'd been divorced three years and it seemed so right to say I was in a long-term relationship which was on its last legs. I reasoned if Lucy was to see me again, she had to be reassured I wasn't a sex-starved no-good (you be the judge on that).

I invented a girlfriend Annie (probably after Annie Hall), a neighbour; an embellishment I would regret.
We did see each other again. As soon as I could I intended dumping fictitious Annie for flesh and blood Lucy.

London's Must-See Musicals This Summer

If you're planning a long weekend soaking up all London's finest sights, why not take in a West End show or two while you're there? The city plays host to some of the world's most well-received musicals and with a huge variety of performances on offer, you should be able to find something that suits you perfectly.
However, choosing from the wide selection available can often be tricky - so to find out this summer's top five musicals, read on.

If you're hoping to enjoy a romantic few days with your partner, Dirty Dancing could be the ideal performance for you.
Recently adapted for the stage, Dirty Dancing found fame in the 80s and has since become a movie classic. If you choose to see the live performance, you'll enjoy renditions of the film's most famous hit songs, including Hungry Eyes.
While most people will be familiar with the plot even before setting foot in the theatre, if you don't know the story then you can enjoy seeing the romance between teenager 'Baby' and dancer Johnny Castle unfold for the very first time.

Dirty Dancing is currently being performed at the Aldwych Theatre, however as performances stop after July 9th it's advisable to book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

And if you're something of a movie fan, you may enjoy taking in Billy Elliot: The Musical. This hugely successful film wowed audiences upon its release and when it was adapted for the stage in 1998, the live performance had the same effect. Indeed, it was awarded four Laurence Olivier accolades, including Best New Musical, upon its launch.

Billy Elliot is a touching story of a miner's son who - despite being expected to box - is passionate about dancing. The show follows his struggle through dance classes, auditioning for the Royal Ballet School - and against the role carved out for him.
Featuring lyrics by Lee Hall, music by Sir Elton John and direction by Stephen Daldry, this powerful performance is not to be missed.

When it comes to raising a bilingual baby, parents always want to be successful. Parents all over the world are realizing how important it is for their children to have a grasp of more then one language. It is for this reason that parents are starting to raise their children as a bilingual baby. Use the tips in the following article to help you raise not only a bilingual baby but also a successful one.

1. Make sure your child is exposed to both languages: It really helps if your child is exposed to both languages that you want them to learn. If possible, make sure that both parents know how to speak at least one of the languages. This way your child will be able to speak one language with one parent and another language with the other parent. The key to raising a successful bilingual baby is making sure that your child is exposed to as much language as possible. If neither of you speak the second language, then make plans for your child to go to a foreign language class or school.
2. Use Educational Tools: There are plenty of educational tools out there that will help you raise a successful bilingual baby. You can pick between DVDS, flashcards, books and even certain board games out there that you can use. These tools are extremely affordable. The favourite educational tool used for raising a bilingual baby is foreign language DVDS. These DVDs cover everything from the basics, to culture and vocabulary. Your child will be able to watch AND hear everything that they need to know.
3. Expose them to the culture of the language: It is important that when teaching a young child a new language that you expose them to the culture of the language. If you are teaching your child Spanish, then make sure that they listen to Spanish Music and watch Spanish children shows. You can teach them about the history of Spain and about the people who live in the country.
4. Organize play groups. This is probably the most important tip for raising a successful bilingual baby. Make sure that your child can play and talk to other children who are learning a second language. This will help them to get a chance to speak in both languages. You can find these groups online or at your local foreign language institute.

Dirty Dancing Hits London!

Dirty Dancing, London is a wonderful whimsical show that brings music and dancing to life. The story re-enacts the movie exactly how it was told but includes some added scenes. The show also brings in a live band to play the music throughout the show. Although the movie was phenomenal, the musical brings some added flare that has never been seen before.

The story unfolds when "Baby" goes on holiday with the family to the Catskill Mountains in New York. Baby is not entertained with the resort activities planned and sets out to find her own fun. She stumbles upon the resort staff having an all night party with wild music and provocative dancing. Baby is mesmerized by their dancing capabilities and confident appearance and wants nothing more than to be a part of that scene.

Her eagerness persists when she sets eyes on the lead dance instructor Johnny Castle. Baby's life takes a wild turn as she begins to take dance lessons with Johnny to become his leading lady for an upcoming show the only problem is her father doesn't approve and wants her to stay away from Johnny. Her undying love for Johnny cannot keep her away and she rebels against her father's wishes. The journey together leads them on a path with some twisted turns and consequences but the desire for love holds them together. The nearest tube stations are Underground