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Monthly Archives: June 2009

EDITOR’S NOTE: A Year Later…

Posted on June 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

Things never go as we would like them. So let go, let flow.

After much delay for a number of reasons, SHADE MAGAZINE is back. Few changes taking into effect:

The site looks different. I had to make that move to wordpress. Sometimes keeping it simple from jump is best thing to do.
Secondly, content is changing…for time being. It will still cover Social and Arts scene. So Shade will only cover Music, Visual Arts(fashion & art & related events) and Social issues. And will mainly focus on DMV area but I will be posting different pieces on current affairs and arts news of other areas in nation and world.
Thirdly, most of the writing will be done by myself, Editor-in-Chief, Selamawit. So it will be more on the blogger side of things, BUT thats not to say that you should never see anything from other contributing writers. That’ll still be in effect, so take a look out for the other great contributors that will surface on this site from time to time.

I know you are thinking, Why should I bother reading anything here, right? Especially when there are other sites with ten million things to offer you. Well heres what I realize has been slacking on a lot of sites. Too much focus on the whats and whos but not nearly enough on the whys. I want you, as a soon-to-be faithful reader, to understand not only who and what you should be up on but why. So yes you are getting a subjective why but nonetheless its a why. And also I want you to walk away feeling like you learned something new and took something away from the site.

So I hope you will stay tuned. Keep reading. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS! I want to read your feedback! Also if you have a topic, music, or anything really you would like covered on here. EMAIL ME at editor.shademagazine@gmail.com

Blessings,

Selamawit

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Posted in EDITOR's NOTE

If I were a boy…I’d put a ring on it.

Posted on June 13, 2009 | Leave a comment

beyonce

If I were a boy is critically acclaimed to be Beyonce’s best vocal performance to date. “The song is one which fits perfectly into her growing repertoire and features a stellar vocal performance” (About.com).

bc-jean1 Consequently the indie influence is the same song, If I were a boy, originally written and sung by BC Jean almost a year ago. BC Jean’s story is seen all around underground and indie circuits far to often. When record deals fall through for unknown artists there songs are, often times, shopped around to record companies for established artists. Personally, I feel Beyonce’s vocals were carefully controlled and then forced at the end. She didn’t seam to capture the natural singing ability that BC Jean has.

BC Jean – If I Were A Boy

Bottom Line: If you’re looking to connect emotionally to this song, BC Jean’s raspy voice adds realness to the track.

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) is an extension of the style indicative of Get Me Bodied from Beyonce’s previous album release B’day. If nothing else this song offers something fresh and not comparable to anything on the charts or radio right now. It’s indie counterpart is not quiet the perfect match but it’s just as infectious. I know your girlfriend hates me by Annie is a song that will go in one ear and never out the next. It will have everyone singing “I know your girlfriend hates me/I can see it in her eyes,” without it ever being over played on the radio. annie2

Annie – I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me

Bottom Line: Listening to Beyonce’s Single Ladies will be a forced addiction aided by radio stations and music channels. I know your girlfriend hates me provides a nice change to welcomed musical addictions.

britney-spears1

Britney Spears is making a come back with her new single Womanizer. Aided by the delicately placed staccato beats, robot vocals and dark synths, Womanizer whimsically falls into the ecltro-pop footsteps. The song is catchy enough to hold your attention before you switch the radio dial, but it’s just as easy for this song to turn dull after a few listens. Its indie influence is Erica Jayne’s Rollercoaster. Upon listening to this song you will recognize some electro-pop beats that have been recycled time and time again by established artists including Britney. You will also note the similarities in vocal delivery of the two artists.

erica-jayne

01-erika_jayne-roller_coaster_(eric_kupper_clean_radio_edit)

Bottom Line: Music producers go beyond being influenced by the beat of music. They also borrow vocal techniques and time measured song delivery of certain genres like electronica.

ne-yo This review isn’t just about the single ladies, but also a single gentleman crooning to those independent ladies. Ne-Yo’s new single Miss Independent, is an infectious song with stretched out vocals over a fast paced beat, which is the complete opposite to its indie counterpart. Almost a year ago, Stargate, producer of Miss Independent, worked with indie artist Lil Bit and produced a song for her called Forget about me. The song is a slower version of Ne-yo’s with more emotional clout than Miss Independent.