REGINA SPEKTOR- DON'T LEAVE ME!

Singer and songwriter Regina Spektor tickles my brain.  The quirky and lyrical vocals by this Russian born New Yorker are original, happy, silly, foreboding, and just..brilliant.   Ms. Spektor creates a language of sounds not heard before, catching listeners off guard with wonderful surprises.   Clearly Ms. Spektor's unique childhood growing up in Russia / Brooklyn, NY helped mold this one of kind sensibility towards music.  When you listen to a Regina Spektor song, there is no doubt this pianist, singer, & songwriter writes her own material.   There is a crazy sense of organic creativity that basically describes her personality - performing or not.   Terry Gross of NPR had a fantastic interview with Regina on Fresh Air earlier this year.   It is a must listen! Click Regina to hear it now.

Click on the album cover to listen and download some songs now from iTunes.   Also, watch the video from Don't Leave Me from her latest album - What We Saw From The Cheap Seats below:

ANNA NETREBKO - THE ELIXER OF LOVE

OPERA DIVA - ANNA NETREBKO - LOVELY & TALENTEDThe Metropolitan Opera opened the 2012-13 season with a fantastic deja-vu!  Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore starring AnnaNETREBKO AS ADINA - L'ALISER D'AMORE - DONIZETTI Netrebko as Adina.  One year ago the opera debuted a new production of Anna Bolena, another Donizetti Opera, with the title role performed by the hottest newcomer to the opera world in the last decade - Anna Netrebko.   That Donizetti opera was staged with a dark and dramatic set and Netrebko blew audiences away.   In the year since this production, Anna has continued to set the Opera world on fire.   Her career is in superstar territory, and her schedule is probably booked for the next 5 years.   **Performances on this scale are planned years in advance and the scheduling of all the talent on stage and in the orchestra pit must be as daunting a task as one can imagine**  In this Donizetti Opera,  Netrebko's Adina was playful, seductive, and powerful!  The most exciting part of the show was to see how comfortable Ms. Netrebko has become on stage.  Her energy was real and she was clearly having a good time.  If not, she deserves an Oscar in addition to a Grammy!

Netrebko was born in Russia, now resides in Vienna, and is truly a citizen of the world.  Her schedule MARGIE STERN - GIVING FASHION AT THE MET BALL, WITH YOURS TRULYnow takes her around the world, as every major Opera company in the world is anxious to have Anna perform.   Netrebko is destined for world of showbiz.   The fashion world is courting her now.   The world is her oyster, and this pearl of Russia is ready for her close up!  

I am lucky enough to have been invited to the debut performances of both Anna Bolena & L'eliser d'amore.  The opening gala brings out the chicest society crowd in New York.   Gowns, jewels, and divas - the kind that don't perform on a stage!

The opening gala raises millions of dollars to fund the production.  The costs are staggering for these elaborate shows.    

There was fashion all around.  Martha Stewart was beautiful in chocolate brown, and Courtney Love in black lace.   Designers Oscar de la Renta and Zac Posen aka Zac Poison were also on hand.   

PINK - BLOW ME (ONE LAST KISS)

The latest album title from PINK sums up the singers persona perfectly.  Blow Me (One Last Kiss), gives you attitude, innuendo, and just enough sweetness that balances this ever relevant singer.  NEW PINK

I must admit, for years Pink was a bit of an enigma to me.  I grew up consuming music by Tina Turner, Cher, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney, & Mariah - all strong women who made their mark (or continued to) in the era when music became a visual medium.   When Pink burst on the scene in 2001 with "Get The Party Started", it was a smash hit around the world.  The single was a song to be heard endlessly on the radio.   For some reason though, her records never made it into my collection.   I'd hear the singles, love them, but not make them mine.  It might be that her popularity prevented me from feeling the need to buy the tunes, because I could hear them anytime I wanted by turning on the radio... but of course then I would only hear the official singles, and not the gems that are oftentimes hidden on great artist's albums.  It was her live performance of Glitter in the Air at the 2010 Grammys that took my breath away.   A dazzling spectacle that saw her twirling and spinning through the air ala Cirque du Soleil, in the best shape of her life, flawlessly hitting her marks.  Pink had arrived.

This is just part of why Pink deserves my, and your attention.   She is a talented song writer, singer, & performer.PINK - AS SEEN ON HER WEBSITE - CLICK TO VISIT   She brings so much power and edge to her work, but can also romance you with her voice - not an easy range to cover.  What keeps this entertainer relevant and modern is her no nonsense, non-pretentious attitude and personality.   While her rebellious persona feels authentic, there is a level of manners and respect that comes through.  She is not so much rebel without a cause, but rebel without a pause - because she speaks from the hip and doesn't play the celebrity soul selling game to tabloids and / or reality shows.

One part Joan Jett, one part Janis Joplin,  Pink has a unique style all her own.   She is sexy enough to grab your attention, and talented enough to keep it.  If I had daughters, I'd hope they would listen to her music - and more importantly - take her message to heart. So What, Stupid Girls, & especially  F**kin Perfect are anthems to young ladies to believe in themselves and urge them not to validate feelings of insecurity projected on you from others.  All of these song help prove she is the most authentic "girl power" singer of her generation, Pink is the real deal.   

Click images to listen or shop.  Watch her performance of Glitter in the Air at the 2010 Grammys below: