I’ve been their user for nearly two years and have mainly good words to say.
At first I was using it for just getting statistics about my listening habits. I believe it’s the same reason why people track their website’s visitors, it’s interesting. After a while I discovered the joy of having your musical neighbours, not only you find people who share your taste but when you check out their charts you might find some artists you’ve never listened to, but they are probably similar to the ones you have and like. That’s when 30 seconds previews of songs become handy.
Lately I haven’t been doing much else than just scrobbling my listened tracks with winamp plugin. But a week or two ago I looked more into what they offer now. And that is just plenty of good music! You can listen to your neighbours like music or your recommendations by last.fm and these stations play full tracks. You can also pick specific user’s station. What you can’t do with free account is to listen to your own station or pick a station by a tag, those need subscription. However you can add tracks to your playlist and when you have already 15 then you can listen them shuffle.
With all the greatness I can bear all technical troubles or delays they encounter once in a while. I just hope that more and more Estonian artists find their way to the site and realise how good way is putting up your music in terms of getting fans.
Last weekend
Attended Andrew Lloyd Webber’s concert at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. Enjoyed it most of the time. Would have preferred to hear “Memory” by Maarja-Liis Ilus. Especially liked Tony Vincent’s voice and stage movement. Stephen Hansen was very good aswell and is remembered due to his jump off stage. Um, as some newspaper already wrote…Marsha Yuan had catch a little cold? From our Italy-like (her words) Old Town perhaps?
While listening thought that Tony could be great rock singer. Then next day read from newspaper that he’s been thinking of it. Navigated to his homepage and listened to some samples. Those were not rock and I didn’t find these to be special in any way. However if his will someday sing rock similar to what he performed at the gala I’d probably like it. Oh, and please put Phantom of the Opera on a show in Estonia!
Afterwards needed to get to Grandma’s place. Some of public transport didn’t go anymore so had to walk some kilometres aswell as to keep from fainting in crowded bus number 5.
Next day (or should I say the same day since it was after midnight) was her birthday. Got her bunch of cornflowers which she absolutely loved. Also got myself brown shoulder-bag from Seppäla which could fit my laptop as well as some other things. The evening was typical relatives chat. Going-to-uni topic couldn’t be escaped also.
Urmas Alender by Jassi Zahharov and Tajo Kadajas
Place: Keila church
Time: 21st July
Came home at seven without knowing whether I’m going or not. But found a friend to go with and so I didn’t miss it. It was crowded. Some people sat on the floor the others stood. I preferred the latter way, the view was so much better that way.
Songs became better and better with time and all four extra songs were performed. Although Jassi and Tajo have completely different voices they are both enjoyable. Thinking back now: some of Alender’s songs suit more one voice type and the others wouldn’t be as good with the same type so it was great to have two singers. But I have to agree with Merli about the piano. I’m used to hearing these songs with piano aswell and at first those sounded a little wierd.
However after listening to the cd for about ten times I don’t notice the difference as much anymore. My favourites of Ruja/Alender used to be “Katkemine”, “Vaiki, kui võid” and “Laul surnud linnust” but I might need to add “Võta mind lehtede varju”, “Hoia mind nii”, “Rahu” and “Kui mind enam ei ole” soon.
There are 5 more concerts so you still have the chance to go. It could have been better with the piano but it isn’t real reason not to go as I don’t think “Hoia mind nii” would sound better with piano.
Wandering theatre
Wandering theatre started from Keila yesterday. Guess, who couldn’t stay at home?
Kilplased was simple yet funny to watch. The story about people doing everything in an especially stupid way. Like building a house without windows or carrying wood down the hill. You should all know them :).
Nobody was interested to see the concert in the evening though :(. Their mistake, a big one. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss that. Genialistid was good as always but actors of VKA were slightly better I’m afraid. Another version of Queen’s We Will Rock You was performed along with other good songs. If there weren’t this final song the best one would have been a duo with this girl with black curly hair. However I again feel that I should buy myself better memory since I can’t remember any words other than “maailm on jokk” (I hope it was that way) from one song.
But the last song was the best. It’s called Papa Carlo song and is performed quite often lately. Even though this version with Genialistid and VKA students was with great tempo I still consider best the way it was performed by students of 2002 of Lavakas I’m not so big fan of Genialistid to know all their song by heart but I do know Papa Carlo song from the beginning till the end. It was good to sing it along as always.
In conclusion? Go, see it, you won’t regret. Oh, and if you remember any words later, post them as comment here :).