Oh oh oh oh oh oh Valentino!

This girl may sound like she's voting fashion designers (referring to 'Valentino' and 'Choo Choo' but it's exactly pure soul that she sings.

Diane Birch is not only an inspiring fashion icon (I love her hats, pony and cross necklaces), she's also a marvelous singer-songwriter.

She was born in Michigan where a father was a Priester. He took his family to a lot of countries where they lived, like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. When she was 10, they went back to the USA.

Diane Birch was brought up with classical music, her parents didn't approve the music she liked.

The most amazing thing happened to her when she moved to Los Angeles and worked there as a pianist at the Beverly Hotel. Prince heard her perform and invited her over to his place to jam with him and his band. At the same time, Diane Birch was noticed on MySpace and moved to London to write her album.

Her debut album, Bible Belt, was written completely by her, the words but also the music. 'Nothing but a Miracle' is my favourite, it's marvelous.
All songs on 'Bible Belt' are about her life. For example 'Fools' which is about her time in L.A., 'Magic View' is about her arrival in New York. 'Don't wait up' is about her goth period when she was a teenager. Which her father disapproved of course. 'Valentino' is an ode to her childhood imaginary friend who she says resembled Amadeus Mozart. Darling, isn't it?

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

LOWLANDS 2011!!!

O MY GOD..

This probably is the soonest decision I've ever made

but I'm going to LOWLANDS!!

3 days, on a camping, it's gonna be awesome, no doubt!!

When you walk in the bar, and you're dressed like a star, rockin your fuck me pumps

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Let's celebrate this important day in America by being thankful for what we've got.

And be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Soul of Motown

'I can't help myself', 'Papa was a Rolling Stone', 'Let's get it on'.
I can name a hundred more songs, which may sound pretty unfamiliar with you.
I can tell you, the minute you hear the song, you'll recognize it.
Classic soul songs that make you want to swing your ass of.

Motown, initially Tamla Motown, was a record label founded by Berry Gordon Jr. and was based in 'Motor Town' also known as Detroit. Motown was important in the the racial integration of Afro-American music in the USA. In the 1960s and 1970s Motown was world famous. Great artists as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye (hallelujah, I love him), the Jackson Five, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations and many, many more joined the label. It's music style was various: soul, pop, rhytym & blues and hip hop.

Motown records still exists though it's based in New York and is called Universal Motown. Artists as India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Damian Marley and our Dutch Waylon are represented by Motown. What a magnificent label, right?

Last week I visited Soul of Motown III, an ode to Motown. I've seen the show two years ago as well and then the music was very new for me, so I was very excited! This year was a great little party as well. The show host, Brandon, played with the audience and every singer was wonderful. Spoiled as I am, I longed for every song I adore, like 'Sexual Healing', 'Superstition' or 'Build me up Buttercup'. I heard them all two years ago, so it was logical they wouldn't perform it this time, of course.

The show was awesome, the quality of the sound could've been better, but hey, it's a cover band, no artist of world format.

I'd go the next time again and again, still longing to have been born a bit earlier, let's say in the fifties. That'd mean I could've danced on soul, motown and more. Cause music is a world within itselves, with a language we all understand!

You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling

Short Message

Hi guys, sorry for the lack of posting recently, I just don't seem to find any time to do it. I'm very busy with school and other things. I still need to post about Soul of Motown III and the newest Harry Potter movie.

I also wanted to say that my mum didn't allow me to go to the concert next thursday ): Finally, I win something, but no she ruins it for me. 'I don't want you to go to Amsterdam on a thursday evening and you're doing way to much'. God, can't wait to live on myself. But I've sold the tickets, so that's a windfall!

lots of love,
Bente

I won two tickets to the concert of M.I.A. next Thursday in Paradiso!

I'd totally forgotten about the fact that I had filled it in already.

It was a contest of Diesel, you could win 2 tickets for M.I.A. and all you had to do was motivate why YOU had to win. Mostly, I don't like this kind of contests, cause it's hard to stand out. But this time I though, whatever, let's just do it.
So I'd written a little story about why M.I.A. inspires and that M.I.A. is a strong woman with a lot of confidence, who knows what she wants. This is also what Diesel wants to show with it's campaign 'Be Stupid' in my opinion. So I figured those two matches each other and they both inspire me.
So I advise you to respond on someones ego when you join such a contest. Always works! (:

I'm looking forward to next thursday, Amsterdam always does me good and a free concert, what else do you wish for?

IT'S ALL OVER NOW, BABY BLUE

Brand New Bag

Classics

sixty seconds man

It's all about assurance and attitude

Watched BNTM last night?

I was incredibly happy Renee didn't win, just as almost every BNTM watching person in the Benelux, I guess. I can't help it, she felt so good about herself.

The show was very fake, I have to say. Daphne Deckers, I really can't stand her, was acting, as always, very phoney. Janice Dickinson was quite funny actually, the way she came up, but the first thing she said sounded as if she practised every line by heart. Though Daphne Deckers mentioned three times that she has a bitchy imago, I would've loved it if she was even more gross. I still found her quite polite actually.

Anyway, the whole show was too bloated, I think. Rene Froger, So you think you can dance, Xander de Buisonje.. why, tell me, why?

I planned the outcome exactly the way it happened. First Marjolein, who is a sweet girl, but not really a model in my opinion, would go home. Secondly Alix because, though everybody loves her (including me) she was very young and not confident enough yet. When they met Nigel Barker (noted fashion photographer and judge of ANTM ;)), she couldn't even introduce herself. When he asked her to tell something about herself and what made her special, she answered: 'I really don't know!'. Dumb dumb dumb. I liked her best though ;)

And then the last elimination: Renee or Melissa? Though Renee is a gorgeous girl and you have admit she really looks like a model, she has a terrible additude. Somehow I expected she wasn't going to win anyway.

I think Melissa deserved to win. She acted professional but stood up for herself throughout the season. Till they went to Aruba she hadn't gone on vacation for 8 years cause they had no money. Well I hope she'll face a succesful career in the modelling industry (: She's got the looks, length and mentality.

As for me, I would've loved to be in the finals. Chance of 0,001% I would've be there but look at the things they've done. Went to Aruba, L.A., Antwerp, Paris, etc. Had the chance to meet Heidi Klum, Janice Dickinson, Nigel Barker. Did amazing challenges, walked shows and did shoots.

I might give it a shot next year again... You never know.

Tamara Drewe

Set in a tiny village in Dorset, England where the only thing worth mentioning is the success of a novelist who cheats on his life who owns their farm. What good can come of that, you may think. Well, everything seems to stay like that - including cuddling cows and fruit-eating writers. Till one day Tamara Drewe shows up in her hometown.

Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arteron, known as the bond girl in Quantum of Solace) is a young journalist with legs that don't seem to end, a corrected nose, a desire to become famous and a talent to break hearts. Her return to the peaceful country village where her mother used to live, has a shock to the inhabitants as a result. The succesful novelist, a frustated old student, a rockstar, a village boy (with a damn attractive body), everyone falls for her.

Everyone has a secret crush on everyone, from fifteen year old girls to fifty year old men. Right, that suggests a wrong idea, but there not falling for each other, don't worry. Anyway, this movie is phenomenal, it's based on a graphic and it's very hilarious. The role of the two fifteen year old girls is the most comical, you have to see it to understand what I'm talking about. The casting of the rockstar (Dominic Cooper, you might known him of Mamma Mia) is quite strange, I didn't think the part really fit him.

As with almost every movie I love, the ending is a big surprise and it makes you like the movie even more. Some producers already have trouble with a regular book, a graphic novel seems to cost a whole lot more, but this producer has completed his mission. Tamara Drewe is absurd, crazy but very winsome.

BURN, BURN, BURN

Exactly how I felt two minutes ago - despite the fact the cat was a dog

I'M IN!

Today we heard there were 75 students who wanted to go to New York, so who actually filled in their application forms. 30 students were allowed to go, otherwise the group would be too big. I had almost given the hope up already, cause that would've meant a chanche of less than 50%.
And then I received an e-mail.

You're one of the lucky ones! You're in!

OMG, I was so happy, you have no idea..

New York, here we come!!

Sweet Soul Music

I'm downloading the complete 'Black List' top 500 of Radio 6 for the last few weeks. Lots of amazing songs. Check out the first ten songs listed:
1.Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
2. Otis Redding - (Sittin' on) The dock of the bay
3. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight train to Georgia
4. Marvin Gaye - What's going on
5. Temptations - Papa was a rolling stone
6. James Brown - It's a man's man's man's world
7. Bob Marley - No woman no cry
8. Marvin Gaye - I heard it through the grapevine
9. Nina Simone - Ain't got no - I got life
10. Otis Redding - I've got dreams to remember

Gypsy Chic

Funny how it went from hippie chic to bohemian chic to shabby chic to gypsy chic. Don't mind, we know what they mean.

All photos Marie-Claire

Fabulous.

i don't care

My invitation, sweet sensation, inspiration

Like a Gypsy

Spinning thoughts circling through my mind
The world is described as beautiful and pure
And yet there’s so much I still have to find
Several things left unsure

Inspiration is what leads the way
Through this circling tornado of feelings
One quick thought and nothing more to say
I have to go, farewell to the ceilings

Eventually, one must stand on her own
Like a gypsy, I’ll take the step and flow
She comes and goes, like a rolling stone
After the silence comes a drastic row

Sweet soul music is all that I hear
All of a sudden it becomes clear
Take the step and have no fear
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear

Written by me.