CHAMELEON BLUE OCTOBER

Learning to love life by living through loss and mistakes, lessons learned, then gradually surfacing, letting go, stripping naked to scream. He is not perfect, nor does he strive to be. He is alive in this world of the face-first falls and public breakdowns. He’s a retarded, disfigured clown dying to be heard for the simple art of letting this heavy wall finally fall… Welcome to the world of Justin Furstenfeld, of which he is allowing a glimpse through his words and music.

Depression had already entered Justin’s life, when Blue October started out. With music being his only way to express his emotions, Justin and his fellow band members made the album “The answers”, which they financed themselves. Justin described the pain that choked his reality, and the album sold 5000 copies in Houston alone. Blue October eventually signed a deal with Universal, and their debut was re-recorded improving the sound and re-released.

Universal dropped the band when their second album, “Consent to treatment”, did not sell this well. But somewhere far away from here he saw stars, stars that he could reach. It was a midnight silent twilight that fell down… beyond the ocean beach. With band members coming and going, Blue October kept playing, kept believing, kept making music.

They created “History for sale”, which again was self-released, and the album sales exceeded all expectations. This caught Universal’s attention again, and the band was re-signed and “History for sale” re-released. The album featured “Calling you”, which had become a part of the “American wedding” movie soundtrack. Blue October also began getting radio play in Dallas, and the song turned into a large mainstream success.

He could not seem to fly away, feeling tall, small and sick of it all, and all he wanted to do was crawl. Blue October emerged on a tour, where they recorded “Argue with a tree”, where Justin was dealing with his failed relationship back then. He slept the sadness that no one else sleeps, feel him cunningly adore…

His words, they pour like children to the playground. And more of them can be found on “Foiled”, Blue October's next album. With the first single of it called “Hate me” the band made their network television premiere on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”. “Hate me” topped the mainstream success of “Calling you”, and Blue October started reaching a new audience. “Foiled” went Platinum, and the band extended their tour to more locations - even abroad. Furthermore, “Foiled” was updated with the release “Foiled for the last time”.

If what you’re seeking is an open book, that’s great. Well, he’s an open book, but he’s real shy. The famous author of the “Twilight” series, Stephenie Meyer, is a fan of the band and claims they have inspired her to write the “Twilight”-books. It was “Hate me” playing when she wrote the scene in “New Moon” where Edward is leaving Bella. Stephenie Meyer went on a four city tour presenting her new book, which Justin accompanied musically. The tour was sold out completely.

In 2009 “Approaching Normal”, the band’s fifth studio album, hit the market with “Dirt room” as the first single. “Dirt room” reflects the emotional turmoil of having been sued by Mike Rand, who claimed that songs like “Hate me” and “Into the ocean” were written while he was managing Blue October. He greedily wanted a piece of the big money pie.

The same year as the release of “Approaching Normal” Blue October had to cancel their tour after Justin had been admitted to a hospital because he had suffered a severe mental anxiety attack. Then take a fast ravine for three years swimming straight upstream in the wind. The wind will drag him down in the end. When Justin felt better, the tour was re-scheduled.

It is not that he is scared to learn why he is empty inside. Hold his hand or show some concern if he lives or dies. His eyes are open wide. Help him look inside.

A very strong light entered Justin’s life when his daughter Blue was born. After his divorce from his wife he had to face a custody battle over his daughter. Justin felt let down by the system, and he started fighting for shared parenting in order to support efforts to improve the current shared parenting laws. The album “Any man in America” has its title because it simply could happen to any man in America.

In an interview with the Huffington Post he said: Honestly, the situation is worse than ever. Every day I'm faced with the awful truth that not one single rule or guideline of the agreed-to parenting plan has ever been met. Yet I show up on time every time for my daughter, flying cross-country from Texas to Lincoln every other month, and upon arrival it's a coin toss whether she'll show up. Now being the sole provider, this puts me in a position where I am watching her savings account go from "set in stone" to "someone help me".  My choices are continuing to fight for my daughter or run out of money. If I run out of money? No visitation. No visitation? Deadbeat Dad. Deadbeat Dad? No child support. No child support? Jail time. Add that up with the unfathomable reality of dealing with a serial accuser, and you've got yourself my life. But through it all, I still hope for the best, as you can hear on the song "The follow through", because that's what I do: I follow through. For her.

The album was released with Up/Down Records, Justin’s own independent label, instead of accepting a tempting deal from Universal because Blue October wanted to play real music. And then again, he’s just a normal boy that sank when he fell overboard. His ship would leave the country but he’d rather swim ashore. Without a life-vest he’d be stuck again, wish that he was much more masculine. Maybe then he could learn to swim like fourteen miles away.

Currently Justin’s on the road again playing acoustic sets. At the same time he continues wearing his heart inside out and sharing his ups and downs, his lights and his demons.

Remember life’s like a jump rope.

discography – albums:

1998 The answers

2000 Consent to treatment

2003 History for sale

2004 Argue with a tree

2006 Foiled

2007 Foiled for the last time

2009 Approaching normal

2011 Ugly side: An acoustic evening with Blue October

2011 Any man in America

CREEPING UP ON DARREN HAYES

      Light, it flickers. Your light traveling down so deep. Illumination. Light, it blisters. Your light coming down so bright. Transformation. Turn it up, give him some room to grow…

      Back in 1993 in beautiful and sunny Brisbane, young musician Daniel Jones and his band were seeking a vocalist. Darren Hayes auditioned, and some musical magic started evolving. Two years later, having become duo Savage Garden in the meantime, they were signed by Roadshow Music/Warner Music. The stage had been set for a massive ride of fame and success. Savage Garden were on the verge of something wonderful!

      Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola their debut “I want you” filled the skies of Australia winning people’s hearts, and international interest in Savage Garden was growing. Their music was flying all the way to the US market being highly applauded over there as well with the famous ballad “Truly madly deeply” ruling the Billboard No.1 spot. Who would have thought it could be amazing? Of course, they also claimed success in other countries worldwide as well. Europe was listening. Asia was listening. Everyone was listening, flying to the moon and back.

      Temptation tempted the temptee. Savage Garden concluded their story and history with their second and also last album “Affirmation“. “Truly madly deeply”’s little brother “I knew I loved you” was born and lived a very long life as a single release. It was breaking the record for length of time on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Charts remaining there for 123 weeks.

      And then, all of sudden, Savage Garden split up.

      While Daniel Jones was concentrating on his new founded record label, Darren’s plans of becoming a solo-artist became more intense, and he started out insatiably. He wanted so much to believe that he wouldn’t disappear in the water, that he wouldn’t always be swimming against the tide. But the heart wants what the heart wants.

      Before Darren even released his first record without Daniel, he decided to come out and be honest about his sexuality. Stepping into the light but at the same time stepping aside to gain some distance… Throughout the skyrocketing days of Savage Garden it was already wildly speculated that he was gay. Two years prior his coming out he had separated from his wife, and this event of Darren’s life is very much reflected on “Affirmation”. They were divorced two years later. No regrets or promises, he past is gone, but you can still be free. And all gotta do is choose life.

      Darren’s first solo-album “Spin” continued on the same musical path as “Affirmation”. Even though it was a success it could not quite meet the power of Savage Garden. Darren then felt the urge to undergo a change and created an album with more electronic influences. “The tension and the spark” earned Darren the strongest praise of his career, but the majority of his audience had expected another pop album and could not quite adapt to Darren’s new and strong and personal sound.

      The plan, however, to make it rich and famous was still out there because fame is so contagious. He wanted to be pop!ular. Play his video. Hear him on the radio. At the same time, Darren parted ways with his record label and gave birth to Powdered Sugar, his own independent label. Another ditch in the road - you keep moving. Another stop sign - you keep moving on.

      The long awaited album number three, a double-disc with 25 tracks, was released in Australia and the UK and was titled “This delicate thing we’ve made”. By then the international audience was not as massive anymore. Still, there have been fans worldwide filled with passion for his music and the sound of his voice. A small exclusive tour in the US sold out fast and the gigs were very well received with very positive reviews. There’s a symphony and a melody that plays whenever he's around.

      Since he likes the way you’re moving in the dark, since he likes the tension, the tension and the spark, Darren proved he is all about the music when he and Robert Conley, producer of “The tension and the spark”, released “We are smug” and made the record available to the public for free as a download. When the music feels like this, when you lose control you gotta go with it; ten feet high flying above the sky; your problems don’t exist when the music feels like this.

      Last year “Secret codes and battleships” hit the market and marked Darren’s return to pop music. Even celebrity blogger Perez Hilton uttered full praise for Darren’s song “Bloodstained heart” saying: Darren Hayes is back with a song closer to his Savage Garden days than anything he's done of late. A beautiful, powerful, emotional, big, sweeping, pop song with meaning!

      Darren’s lyrics still are deep, strong, powerful and meaningful, and he follows his heart. He simply cares about creating something so beautiful. And... they can have their universe. We’ll be in the dirt designing stars…

discography - albums:

1997 Savage Garden (with Savage Garden)

1999 Affirmation (with Savage Garden)

2002 Spin

2004 The tension and the spark

2005 Truly madly completely (with Savage Garden)

2007 This delicate thing we've made

2011 Secret codes and battleships

COME INTO KYLIE’S WORLD

      La-la-la… la-la-la, I just can’t get you out of my head, I just can’t get Kylie out of my head… Who would have thought that when “I should be so lucky” hit the globe Kylie would still be the princess of pop some 25 years later?! She should be so lucky, indeed.

  

      Back in the late 80’s it was not really Kylie’s intention being a singer and performer. Instead, she was a TV actress having started out already in her childhood and making herself a household name - especially in her home country Australia. With her role as Charlene Mitchell in “Neighbours” she also reached stardom in the United Kingdom, where this TV series broke all records. It was even aired twice a day so the kids wouldn’t miss school.

      But in 1987 Kylie was shocked by the power of music when performing Little-Eva’s hit “The Loco-Motion” at a football beneficial game, where all the “Neighbours” cast participated. Australian label Mushroom Records offered her a record deal, and Kylie accepted. “The Loco-Motion” became the century’s best selling song in Australia ruling the No.1 spot for seven weeks. It was like a drug, and Australia was hooked with its addiction hitting the UK as well. Producer trio Stock, Aitken and Waterman heard the sounds of these winds blow and grabbed an opportunity. Kylie was signed to their label PWL.

  

      With this hit factory Kylie released her first international single, “I should be so lucky”, which was a major success worldwide, and with the following releases Kylie became the most successful act signed to PWL. And then Kylie met Michael Hutchence, lead singer of INXS. Two hearts are beating together, I’m in love. Is this forever and ever? I’m in love. Don’t let go… But eventually Kylie loosened the chains becoming an independent artist more and more. Michael inspired Kylie to express her individuality.

      Kylie took more steps towards losing the “Girl next door” – image. She showed a more grown up and mature side even wanting to leave this so-called “Bubblegum Pop” behind. She even insisted on being involved in the writing process. With Kylie becoming more herself the younger audience was not too much impressed. On the other hand, Kylie of a sudden advanced becoming an icon for a growing gay audience. Dance, it’s all I wanna do. So won’t you dance? … I’m on fire.

 

 

      Despite good critics for her fourth album, “Let’s get to it”, and two successful singles, the record itself flopped. After a “Greatest Hits” compilation, which followed, Kylie and the hit factory parted ways. Losing her way in this night, walking away from the light, surrender was her escape. Breaking the walls of her mind she was one step ahead of the truth.

      It seemed the star, which had risen, had now set and the journey was over. It seemed, but that story’s ending was written without La Minogue herself. Kylie wrote a complete different story. She signed a contract with an independent label, and she marked the first step of her return with “Confide in me”. She proved she won’t be pushed out of the spotlight that easily, no matter what label people put on her. Stick or twist? The choice is yours.

      With her next album, her most personal one without a shadow of a doubt, she was back in the shadows. But instead of running away and calling things off, Kylie stood in the distance and viewed from afar. The second album after her old PWL days, “Kylie Minogue II” (“Impossible Princess”) flopped worldwide and was only a success on home territory being her most successful album since her debut. Australia appreciated the musically advanced creativity.

      Kylie started breathing a different rhythm and experimented musically. For Kylie dueting Nick Cave on "Where the wild roses grow" marked a turning point for her personally. At the same time she also walked down different creative parts, e.g. going back to acting but also designing her own lingerie, “Love Kylie”.

      Still Kylie’s focus remained on music: No second guesses. Trackin’ on this feeling. Pull focus close up you and me. Nobody’s leaving. Got me affected, spun me 180 degrees. So electric. Slow down and dance with me – yeah, slow. Skip a beat and move with my body – yeah, slow. Don’t want to rush it. Let the rhythm pull you in. This will touch it. You know what I’m saying, and I haven’t said a thing. Keep the record playin’…

      And yes, all of sudden, Kylie’s record was spinning around. Having signed with Parlophone/EMI, Kylie’s light started shining brighter again, much brighter. Kylie was still standing. “Light Years” brought her back into international hit lists. But Kylie also surprised audiences by landing a hit even bigger than her debut, when “Can’t get you out of my head” hit the airwaves. With that song even the US remembered Kylie and applauded her by giving her a Top 10. Furthermore, she was awarded with a Grammy for her “Come into my world”. This song lets you in… Kylie was gone and now she was back, yeah.

      The re-born Kylie-fever spread across the globe. Kylie proved she is fierce, and she is feeling mighty, she is a golden girl, she’s an Aphrodite, all right. After a less successful “Body Language” Kylie toured with her “Greatest Hits”. After the conclusion of the European leg of the tour, Kylie had to cancel the rest of the tour as she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had to undergo chemotherapy.

      But Kylie, the red blooded woman, fought and won because she is a strong woman. Everything went from wrong to right, and the stars came out and filled up the sky. And Kylie kept a promise. She re-concepted her “Showgirl” tour, and with “Showgirl Homecoming” she toured Australia. Once again, Kylie was back. Kylie still is back.

      After two more albums, “X” and “Aphrodite”, Kylie was introduced into the “Hall of Fame” in 2011, and this year Kylie celebrates her 25^th anniversary. K25! Feel the fever…

To have every man but to love only one
To wake with the moon and sleep with the sun
To be a sinner, a saint, a lover, a friend
To know a beginning but never an end
To fly in the ocean and swim in the skies
Believer in truth, defendant of lies
To know the purest love, the deepest pain
To be lost and found again, and again, and again
These are the dreams of an Impossible Princess

To know the power of wealth and poverty
To taste every moment and try everything
To be hailed a hero, branded a fool
Believe in the sacred and break every rule
To give into pleasure with no boundaries
Living in chaos and harmony
To feel the touch of a man, a woman's caress
To know the limit of torture and tenderness
These are the dreams of an Impossible Princess

It's a way of dealing with all the feeling

Keep believing in dreams



discography - albums:
1988 Kylie
1989 Enjoy Yourself
1990 Rhythm of Love
1991 Let's get to it
1992 Greatest Hits
1994 Kylie Minogue
1998 Impossible Princess (Kylie Minogue II)
1998 Intimate & Live
2000 Light Years
2001 Fever
2003 Body Language
2004 Ultimate Kylie
2007 Showgirl Homecoming Live
2007 X
2009 Boombox
2009 Kylie live in New York
2010 Aphrodite
2011 Aphrodite Les Folies - live in London

A THING ABOUT ROXETTE

     What's the time? Seems it's already morning. I see the sky. It's so beautiful and blue. The TV's on, but the only thing showing is a picture of you... uhm, them, Roxette. So, now you are probably thinking: "I've heard that name before." All right, let us step back in time a little.

     Let us go back to the time of "Pretty Woman", when Julia Roberts found her prince Richard Gere. There was a certain song hitting the global airplay, "It must have been love". But it's over now. It's where the water flows. It's where the wind blows. Really?

     After "It must have been love", Roxette's third US No.1 after "The look" and "Listen to your heart", Roxette released more singles and more albums. They stayed creative. But they had already done so much more before that big smash.

     While Marie was working hard for her breakthrough, Per was rocking Sweden with his band Gyllene Tider (Golden Times). And they were having golden times, successful times, and Marie supported them every here and then singing backing vocals.

     On the other hand, Marie was packing her bags, taking control, trying to move into people's hearts and into people's souls. What Marie's band Strul could not do, MaMas Barn (Mother's Children) could. They released an album, which was not hitting like a hammer. But Marie was gonna get dressed for success, shaping her up for the big time as a deal for a solo-career came knocking.

     Marie's star was rising, while Per's star seemed to be going down. After Gyllene Tider's split, Per was walking the solo-path releasing two albums, which did not do what everybody was expecting or hoping. But there was someone who did not want Per to dance away because he saw Per's potential, Rolf Nygren at EMI Sweden.

     He had no shadow of a doubt that Marie and Per together could form a heart shaped sea of music by taking chances and painting a new project. They danced in the moonlight, ran on the wire drawing a fine line, the neverending love. Roxette, the duo, was born, Roxette, half a woman, half a shadow, and a fever turned slowly into a fire.

     Sweden loved their new stars leaving the winter on the ground. Of course, they were dreaming of international success. By accident it all did happen. An US exchange student took a copy of "Loook Sharp!" home to the States, and a friend played "The look" on the radio, which caused an explosion all over the country. Roxette wrote history. They were having a No.1 Billboard song without having released a single over there! Marie and Per started to see the world through different eyes.

     After having been part of the movie "Pretty Woman", Marie and Per invited everyone to join their amazing joyride. The response to that album, "Joyride", was so huge worldwide that it concluded a world tour. "Do you get excited?" Marie and Per wanted to know, and the answer was yes.

     A tour-album, "Tourism", followed, and then Roxette wanted to leave the world outside just for a while. But they came back for one special night. Roxette became the first non-English speaking band to perform live for MTV Unplugged.

     Later they went to Capri and produced a new studio album. "Crash! Boom! Bang!" Crashing guitars and silver blue ballads. But a certain deal with McDonald's in the USA stole opportunities of success in the land of neverending opportunities. The US market became a danger field for the Swedish duo. But was that the ending? No! Marie did not become the first girl on the moon, and Per was not waiting for the rain.

     Besides solo projects, they wanted to go the whole way leading to their "Greatest Hits" album in 1995. They also made a record in Spanish, "Baladas en español", with some of their favourite Roxette-ballads. Furthermore, they re-released their very first album, "Pearls of Passion", which had only been open to the Scandinavian market up to then.

     Passion had not died. Marie and Per still liked it to light those stars in people's eyes, just like fireworks in the sky. There were voices that wanted to be heard. The result was "Have a nice day", an over-produced record. With it came the try to get back into the US market. The song "It will take a long long time" appeared in the motion picture "Runaway Bride". A known combination. Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, and Roxette.

     In 2001, Marie and Per returned to the centre of the heart and brought some real sugar, milk and toast and honey. The "Room Service" seemed perfect. A world, a love, a life. And a nostalgic trip.

   A year later Roxette released their "Ballad Hits" (incl. hits like "Listen to your heart", "It must have been love" and "Spending my time"), introducing the project with a song called "A thing about you". Everything seemed alright until the shocking news made headlines.

     Marie was suffering from a brain tumor, which was removed during an operation. While she was slowly recovering from the disease and the chemotherapy, she still wanted all releases to go on as scheduled.

     The same autumn the nostalgic-trip continued with the single "Opportunity Nox" and the album "Pop Hits" (incl. hits like "The look", "Joyride" and "Sleeping in my car").

     Roxette time suddenly stood still.

     Marie started feeling much better. She was working on a new solo-album in her studio at home and taking it slowly with the result of "The Change", her first album in English. Per, on the contrary, was a busy bee releasing a Swedish album, "Mazarin" (Cupcake) followed by "The son of a plumber", "En händig man", and "Party Crasher".

     The world assumed that time had completely stopped in Roxette-land, but a silent snail in 2009 marked the beginning of opening the doors again. While Per was on his "Party Crasher" tour, Marie made some surprising stage appearances re-tasting the Roxette life. It seemed almost unreal.

     And the magic continued. Roxette were headlining the 2009 Nokia Night of the Proms, where classic meets pop. It was a huge success. There it was again, this soft whisper of beautiful music.

    Last year, Roxette did what no one expected of them. They released a new single, "She's got nothing on", followed by a brand new studio album, "Charm School", starting a wave of passion. Roxette were back. Roxette ARE back. And they have now been on a world tour, which seems to be neverending. Roxette-land has been re-opened, and it is very much alive and beaming. And this year marks the release of their new tour album, "Travelling". The joyride continues.

     There's a time for the good in life, a time to kill the pain in life. Dream about the sun... Let us dream with Roxette's music.

discography - albums
1986 Pearls of Passion
1987 Dance Passion - The Remix Album
1998 Look Sharp!
1991 Joyride
1992 Tourism
1994 Crash! Boom! Bang!
1995 Rarities
1995 Don't bore us - get to the Chorus! (Greatest Hits)
1996 Baladas en español
1997 Pearls of Passion (re-release)
1999 Have a nice day
2001 Room Service
2002 Ballad Hits
2003 Pop Hits
2006 The Rox Box / Roxette 1986-2006
2006 A Collection of Greatest Hits
2011 Charm School
2011 Greatest Hits
2011 Charm School Revisited
2012 Travelling