P o p M u s e

PopMuse Mix "DanceGiving 2009"

Full on peak hour hands in the air boom boom dance mix.  I know many of you boom boys and girls boom to big dance events and boom vacations this holiday season and I wanted you to have something to boom in your rental car, hotel room, and boom party.  

The wonderfully generous DJ Rampus did a slamming job mixing these songs together to keep the flow moving.  

Lots more in the Liner Notes in D'LOAD Folder.

DOWNLOAD: "DANCEGIVING 2009"

And I know some of you want the music all in one long continuous mp3 track, so that is available HERE.

Chris Garneau "Fireflies" Video

I know there is another "Fireflies" at the top of charts, but check out this new video from Chris Garneau.  It's so beautiful and really elevates the track, which originally reminded me of Jill Sobule but now reminds me of Hidden Cameras.  Back to the video, it was directed by Daniel Stessen, shot on my new obsession the Canon 7D MARK II, which creates the most lush HD imagery (Kayne / Spike Jonze short was shot on it.)  From the press release: "Fireflies" video... is a play on the famous Nintendo game "Legend Of Zelda".  Funny.

Chris is cute, song is sweet, video is beautiful, and I can't believe they pulled all this off on an indie label budget???  Kudos.

American Express Pairings: Dave Matthews / John Besh / Robert Mondavi Winery

As a part of being an American Express Enthusiast PopMuse was invited to attend their first PAIRINGS event in Napa California this weekend.  The Pairings Series is a card members only dinner party / concert where Amex pairs a celebrity chef, celebrity wine, and celebrity musician.  Friday's Pairing was Dave Matthews, Chef John Besh and Robert Mondavi Wine (held at their incredible Winery in Napa.)

The evening started in the Wine Cellar (pic) with a toast from the fierce Margaret Mondavi (who had a real Diana Vreeland quality) and John Besh's passed Hors d'ourves including alligator empanadas (no joke).

Then we were seated in an intimate dining room, only 14 tables, maybe 100 people max.  Dave and Besh came out to face the excited crowd and offer up another toast (there were many toasts).  Then Mathews disappeared (for hours) to eat/drink privately, while Besh took the stage with each of his 7 courses of food.  See menu HERE.

Dave was sort of present through the 3 hour dinner in that he selected certain songs to play while each course was served.  The selections even had their own menu (cute detail).  See pic of menu HERE.

Eventually after the Quince Tart with Blue Cheese Ice Cream was served, Dave reappeared and performed a 10 song acoustic set.  The word 'intimate' is an understatement, he riffed with the spirited (get what I did there) crowd, spoke about the food, poked fun at himself, and seemed to generally enjoy the experience of playing to such a small crowd of foodie fans.

I listen to a lot of music, I eat a lot of food (hello Bloghungry) but I don't drink a lot of wine, especially since miss Lily came into our lives, so the surprise star of the night was Robert Mondavi Wines.  Frankly, these days if I'm going to have an alcoholic beverage it's whiskey, but I truly enjoyed the wine tasting aspect of this event (might have been influenced by the fact we sat with the wine-maker herself).  See the wine menu HERE.  (The first three were my favorite.)

Another video clip below.  I didn't overdo the video because I noticed excellent rock doc director Sam Erickson was in the house filming the whole event (he told me there would be some webisodes of the night on-line soon, I'll update you once they premiere.)

Currently there is only one other Pairings event planned: Tom Colecio & John Legend at Craft Steak in New York.  Tickets to these events are available to Amex Card Members ONLY, soooo you know what you have to do...

For more musings on the food of the evening go to Bloghungry.com.

GAMBLE & BURKE - ISOLATED (With You)

What a clever video. Totally fun.  PopMuse used to LOVE that Eddie Murphy / Rick James video.  It used to crack me up how they were both queening out like crazy in it, trying to be Prince, but ending up looking like big girls.

And the 80s flavor electro R&B track from Gamble & Burke is pretty hot too.  I don't know much about them, Kaz Gamble just personally sent this to me with the simple note "Feel Free To Share!" and with a smoothed out track like this, I think I will, oh I just did.  Enjoy, they are ones to watch!

For More:  http://www.myspace.com/gambleandburke

D'Load: GAMBLE & BURKE - ISOLATED (With You)

"Enthusiast" PopMuse

American Express approached me to be an “Enthusiast” because they thought my obsession with travel, music, gadgets, entertainment and food related to specific Charge Card Rewards and benefits Am Ex offers. They told me they were looking for bloggers who would be willing to use an American Express Charge Card and share my experiences using it on my blog – and on their site.

I already had a Gold Card and a Blue Card.  And they gave me 50,000 Membership Rewards points right away. (The reason for this was because I’m only working with them for a short term and they wanted me to be able to apply them to my life while I’m featured in the program.) They asked me to share my experiences with you through my posts and Tweets. I was told I could share my own opinion – positive or negative. I was not paid. (I did get 50,000 Membership Points credited to my account.)

I was invited to go to an American Express event featuring a Dave Mathews performance and Chef John Besh food up in Napa Valley, they will cover the travel expenses for Bloghungry and myself. (More on that after I attend!)

When American Express reached out to me, they gave me the following “terms of engagement” that they asked me to follow: · Be transparent and disclose my relationship and anything I’ve received as a result of my relationship with American Express.

· Be honest about my opinions.

· Offer suggestions and concerns.

· Clearly articulate when I am being compensated – by cash or in any other way – for consulting or other duties I may perform.

· Shared this policy openly and publicly.

Foxy's November & December Mix

One of the privileges of being the PopMuse is fellow bloggers and friends send me their mixes.  The amazing Foxy sent me his latest yesterday and at 72 songs it is EPIC in every sense.  It is also one of the most beautifully assembled collection of current tunes/artists I have ever heard.  What a journey it will take you on.  All your electro pop favorites are here along with whole slew of other genres you should spend more time on.  I'll let him take it from here...

This one is big.  Huge.  And it's pretty damn good with frequent flights of amazing, and some scattered darkness for those of you that like to give yourself little emotional papercuts.  It's so amazing, in fact, that it contains not one or two but THREE songs about DJs playing you a song so that you can dance it all away.  THREE DJ PLAY ME A SONG SONGS.

It's a lot of music and you have two months to accomplish it.  Like that adorable little Aussie pixie sang to me twice last month, I believe in you.

To help you "pick and choose" downloaders (not that I condone such practices!), I'll break it down this way:

Part 1:  http://www.mediafire.com/?yam3eyjmnmm
Noah and the Whale, Noisettes, Kelly Clarkson, The Gossip, Florence and the Machine, Shakira, Kissy Sell Out, Esser, JoJo, Zoot Woman, Calvin Harris, Lady Gaga, Ellie Goulding, The Swell Season, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson, The Temper Trap, Passion Pit, Acid Girls featuring Frankmusik,

Part 2:  http://www.mediafire.com/?kl3z0idmggi
Roisin Murphy, Ravex featuring Namie Amuro, Crookers featuring Kelis, Annie, Murs featuring Far East Movement, Lure, Far East Movement featuring 24/8, Jack Splash featuring Kelis, Har Mar Superstar, Amanda Blank, Mini Viva, Sugababes (3.0), Duck Sauce, Fenech-Soler, Grum, Vitalic, Lindstrom & Christabelle, Lady Gaga

Part 3: http://www.mediafire.com/?xjhwzqnyaty
Lupe Fiasco, Adele featuring The Racounteurs, Pink, Bonobo featuring Andreya Triana, Speech Debelle featuring Micachu, Mary J. Blige, Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones, Ne-Yo, JoJo, Melanie Fiona, Think About Life, Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat, Julian Casablancas, Marmaduke Duke, Boy Crisis, Electrik Red, Mariah Carey, Keri Hilson

Part 4: http://www.mediafire.com/?z4lwzmynf22
Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Bat For Lashes, Holly Miranda, Solange, Avery Storm, Andre Meritt, Natalie Imbruglia, JoJo, Alicia Keys, Frankmusik, Groove Armada featuring Saint Savior, Fibes Oh Fibes! featuring Kim Wilde, Alphabeat, Daggers, The Sounds, Private, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga

Collect all four! 

Follow FOXY on Twitter.

Adam Lambert "For Your Entertainment"

Look I'm going to forgive Adam Lambert for an entire season of screeching (not singing or even screaming) but screeching on American Idol.  [A season I did not watch mind you, but every time I saw clips on my morning show all I saw was this dude I've seen in West Hollywood for years screeching his Goo Goo Dolls haircut off.]  But PopMuse forgives it.

And I am going to forgive the fact that his first single is Sam Sparro's "Black & Gold" (yes, I know Sam worked on the CD) but that doesn't excuse stealing Sam's breakthrough (that never really happened to the degree it's about to happen for Adam) reminding me how MAD I am at America for not recognizing the genius that is Sparro.  But PopMuse forgives it.

PopMuse forgives it because the single is just plain great.  And listening to it with earbuds as you walk through the city at night is a truly transcendent experience.  (Make note for the video Adam.) 

PREVIEW: Adam Lambert "For Your Entertainment"

BUT I will NOT forgive the FONTS used on the CD cover.  Those are unforgivable.  I mean, the picture, ok, I get it, he was going for it, but the fonts are not OK in any way shape or form, even if you are claiming irony, nope, doesn't work dear.  Those fonts are an insult to the entire concept of CD Artwork!!! 

Best review of this artwork HERE @ MuuMuse.

Alicia "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart"

Completely obsessed with this new Alicia Keys leak, "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart".  What a massive epic pop song this is.  The dark drum beat, the hopeful synth chords, all sooooo good. 

Above is her performing it live.  Sounds fine live, but the track is so intricate and well produced you should probably hear the CD version too.  Here's a 14 Day Preview.

Download: A. Keys Try Sleeping

DJ Rampus Mixtape November

Here's the latest continuous mix from our resident DJ Rampus.  Its his usual dance pop vocal fun with a Euro twist.  I like most all the tracks but I especially like the run from Bandito through JLS.  I think you'll all love it!

D'LOAD:  http://filesc.house-mixes.com/controls/DownloadMix.aspx?mixid=27904

Tracklist:
01. Depeche Mode - Perfect
02. Hannah - Shadow On The Wall
03. Jesse Malakouti - Standing Up For The Lonely
04. Agent X Ft. Mutya - Fallin
05. Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA
06. Bandito - Rockin' At The Disco
07. Britney Spears - 3
08. KJ - Without You
09. Katerine - Ayo Technology
10. JLS - Everybody In Love
11. Ke$ha - Tik Tok
12. Jesse McCartney - Body Language
13. Femii - Pole Dancer
14. Melanie Fiona - Bang Bang
15. Scarlette Fever - Lovestruck
16. Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love
17. Esmee Denters - Admit It
18. Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill
19. Robbie Williams - Bodies
20. Vanessa Amorosi - This Is Who I Am

And if you still haven't done the membership thing, quite it, join already and enjoy the mix!

Lily on Halloween 2009

It's been a while since PopMuse & Bloghungry's little daughter has made an appearance on the blog so I thought I'd share some pics from Halloween. 

Lily had two different events to attend on Halloween and yes she is being raised to know you don't use the same outfit twice. 

So Outfit 1 was Sofia Petrillo from The Golden Girls.  (Slighty inspired by this bizarro conservative propaganda about The Golden Girls turning a generation gay.  It should be so easy, if it was, Gay Hollywood would have remade it years ago.  And further inspired by BH and his buddy Lauren's obsession with all things Golden Girls.)

And Outfit 2 was an 80s Aerobics Instructor / Olivia NJ without the blond hair / 'my dads think I should model for American Apparel' costume. 

We figured starting next year she will have a say in what she wants to be for Halloween (a princess I'm sure) so we might as well have fun dressing her up this year - with no complaints.

Oh and if you want some video of Lady Lily, here's a peak at her knee dancing on a random weeknight in our house.  Don't you love her aloof hip-hop swagger?

Oh the track she's movin to is: Michelle Williams "We Break The Dawn" feat. FLO-RIDA [Remix]

BAD ROMANCE REMIX (CHEW FU)

Love this new Gaga mix.  Mainly for the first minute, but the whole thing is pretty sick.  Feels appropriately dark for Halloween too.  I'm more of a Alejandro guy than a Bad Romance dude.  But because it was requested and I know you kids are losing-it for this track I had to post pronto, so here's a pretty hot mixy-mix...

Dload:  Bad Romance (Chew Fu Club Mix)

DJ Rampus Does Jolene

Boom Boom fans, our darling DJ Rampus has done a mix of the classic Dolly Parton Track "Jolene".  It's funny how this acapella lends itself to House mixes so well.  Who'd have thought?  Dolly transcends.  Enjoy!

http://filesc.house-mixes.com/controls/DownloadMix.aspx?mixid=27379