NEO-SOUL and POPULATION 1 (NUNO BETTENCOURT)

The good thing of having no prejudices (or was it taste?) with music is that you can post a neo-soul vid along with a Nuno Bettencourt one unashamedly. Let's do it in 2 parts, cause up to today I posted videos which had something in common (2 funk videos, 2 glam ones...). Here we go:

D'ANGELO- BROWN SUGAR
This guy is Marvin Gaye back in Earth. I'd had posted "Untitled (How Does It Feels)" if I had found a decent- in terms of audio quality I mean- version. Anyway. I know Mister Gaye loves this, he plays it on and on in his Angel-limited-edition-I-Pod. I know it's a bit strange coming from a pasty faced white boy but I love this song.



POPULATION 1 (Nuno Bettencourt)- QPD (acoustic version)
What can I say about Nuno? If you like this song wait until you listen to the CD version. You'll be hooked to it until you learn how to play it. That was my case. There it goes.



Enjoy them suckers. ;)

MYSPACE BULLETINS
Don't wanna search for vids and all, still lazier than past week so I'm gonna post my recent Myspace bulletins, what I call the "Advice of the Day" series:

Advice #1: 8 legged creatures are ...
...cool. Just look at octopuses. Not only they rock but they are delicious. This is my advice of the day, whenever you see an octopus try and eat it (please don't while still alive-the octopus I mean- or if it's beyond 3 metres/9.8 feet). Good luck.


Advice #2:I'm totally hooked on...
...multiverses. "Hey Zowie stop it, are you gonna post crap like this everytime you feel like doing it?" YES. Because I do believe you're wasting your time and you could use some of this surplus wisdom that has no room in my tiny yet handy brain. So, as I was saying multiverses are cool, cause in one possible universe I'm the leader singer of AC/DC. And in this other one I just knocked Paris Hilton's doggie with my bionic knuckles. Just measure the possibilities. I've just been crowned (then deposed)King of the Octopuses in some of them!

To sum up, my daily advice: whenever you feel like doing anything useful, STOP! Count to 3 then let yourself drift along the infinite possibilities of multiverses.


Advice #3: Be careful when...
...lifting up stones. You never know what's under them. It might be a rattlesnake, bugs, a gnome, a door for a parallel dimension, black holes... The best thing you can find is some buzzing hole flashing in a zillion colours going "zzzooomm...zzzzooommm....zzzoommmmm" that turns out to get you to:

a)the Middle Ages where you are taken for a sorcerer and you end up marrying the princess.

b) Bill Cosby's Show, also known as the Purgatory. And you're the guest star baby.

So what can you do then? The Middle Ages option is easier to solve, as you just gotta walk outta the castle and lift every stone you find until you get to the right door. But then, in the Cosby thing, you'd have to wait to the picnic episode to find a decent stone.

Today's Advice:
Do not mess with stones and rocks unless your life is not exciting enuff. Be sure to carry any flashing object with you all the time (camera with a potent flash, lighters, flashlights...) to scare the plebs- face it, sooner or later they're gonna try to lynch you. Learn some jazz to be accepted in the Cosby family. Better yet, get you an mp3 player with luminous screen and fill it with Charlie Parker themes.


That's all. I know, I should stop snorting glue, but it's darn catchy.

Me in Myspace, if you think you need more advices.

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE
God bless the Black Panthers for pushing this genius into drugs by threatening him for having white members in the band. They were the main reason for the lost of Sly; the only man on Earth who can dispute the title of greatest funk musician of all times with George Clinton. Have a bit of Sly and the Family Stone but be warned: it is highly adictive.

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE- (I WANT TO TAKE YOU) HIGHER, Central Park NY 1969


SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE- LOVE CITY


Recommended album for Sly and the Family Stone newbies: The Essential.

T.REX and DAVID BOWIE
Just to make it funnier, let's move onto some other tastes such as... GLAAAAM. Say it with me: GLAAAM... So what did Marc Bolan played? GLAAAAM. Now get to it. Mix it with the funk videos I posted the other day and you'll be the coolest cat on Earth.

T.REX- CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION


DAVID BOWIE- QUEEN BITCH

THE METERS and STEVIE WONDER
You need some funk in your life. Now hear me, this has been scientifically proved. While an average person is 70% water, these guy down there are 80% funk. Sometimes getting up to 90-95%, you can see them glowing in the dark out of pure coolness. Check the fabulous Meters and the Ministry of Funk mister Stevie Wonder.

THE METERS- LOOK-KA PY PY + JUNGLE MAN live


STEVIE WONDER- SUPERSTITION


Proudly brought to you by the Duke.

INTERPOL and SUPERGRASS
So I feel puppeteer today, so what? I thought, nobody really visits this blog, who cares? Get your Jim Henson outta your lungs and post these two videos. And the songs are great, aren't they? So so? SO?

INTERPOL- EVIL


SUPERGRASS- PUMPING ON YOUR STEREO

CHANGES

I'm so lazy I will only post Youtube/Googlevideo music videos from now on. A few to start with, 3 Spanish bands:

IVAN FERREIRO- TURNEDO


STANDSTILL- POR TODAS LAS COSAS


O'FUNK'ILLO- NOS VAMOS PAL KELY


Enuff for today dirty leeches.

VIDEO DE ROBOPROJECT "RESPETO"

The Duke band releases video-

MR. T. AND GOD MAN

God bless Youtube. Check these 2 out:

Mr.T. advices for fashion victims:


The crappiest Japanese hero/monster fighting scene EVER. God Man.


(both clips found while surfing MONKEYS FOR HELPING blog. It rocks, pay them a visit.)


Duke
DramaGods
Bluto

MORE OF SHIINA RINGO/TOKYO JIHEN - MÁS SHIINA RINGO/TOKYO JIHEN

"Gunjyou Hyori" from the 2004 Tokyo Jihen album "Kyoiku". Enjoy it.

POPULATION 1 (featuring NUNO BETTENCOURT) IN BANGKOK DOING "MONKEY PAW"

From the Mourning Widows' album "Furnished Souls For Rent". Need I say more?

MONK-E-MAIL

Still sending those boring image e-cards? Try with a talking monkey!



MONK-E-MAIL

SHIINA RINGO - TOKYO JIHEN

The Duchy Education System introduces Shiina Ringo and Tokyo Jihen as compulsory subjects in its syllabus. Reasons? Check the videos out.

El Sistema Educativo del Ducado introduce a Shiina Ringo y Tokyo Jihen como asignaturas obligatorias dentro del programa. ¿Las razones? Mira los videos.


-Shiina Ringo: Yamini Furu Ame


-Shiina Ringo - Identity


-Shiina Ringo - Tsumiki Asobi

THE DUCHY TV CHANNEL BUYS 41 SUPAIDAMAN EPISODES

To be broadcasted real soon. Check it out.



(stolen from FRUNOBRULAND)

LORD THOR DEL CACAHUETE MEGALOMANO DESTRIPA EL SIGNIFICADO DE LOS TEMAS DE ROBOPROJECT

Ahí van sus reflexiones:

INDIGENTE INTERGALÁCTICO
Sin duda la letra más profunda de este Roboproject. Un robot tan humano que toca la guitarra y come tocino, ha sido abandonado en una nebulosa por su creador (al que llama "padre"). La creación abanadonada por el creador. De esta sencilla frase extraemos un símil que nos da el significado de esta historia. El robot es el ser humano, su creador Dios...
El robot aprende a llorar, como el hombre que comprende que fue abandonado por Dios. La tristeza se apodera de él y surgen las notas más enternecedoras de la galaxia a través de un corto pero intenso solo de kazoo.
Al final del tema intenta lanzar más frases, pero la realidad le golpea y no puede, los sentimientos afloran, sus circuitos se bloquean y su música... se apaga.

RESPETO
En este tema Roboproject quiere transmitir un importante mensaje para la sociedad de nuestros días. Debemos respetarnos seamos de la ciudad que seamos. Aunque hay un matiz importante en esta letra que no debemos pasar por alto, no sólo basta con el respeto, hay que poner algo más "respeto y cinco decimales", no sólo hay que escuchar, hay que tratar de enteder.
Y todo ello lo dice un robot libre, que "no se corta las uñas" simplemente "porque no le mola", no sigue las reglas establecidas pese a ser un robot. En definitiva, el camino hacia la libertad, parte del respeto.

AL GREEN VIDEO

Keeping it on with the Youtube fever, the Duchy Researching Team has the honour to offer you a video which stands out for 2 reasons: a)It's Al Green, man, 150% soul b)Clothing. Oh God. That's style.

Siguiendo con la fiebre de Youtube, el Equipo de Investigación del Ducado tiene el honor de ofreceros un video que destaca por 2 razones: a)Es Al Green, 150% soul b)Ropajes. Dios mio. Que estilo.

SINGING?/¿CANTANDO?

I wish I was in that stadium./Ojalá hubiera estado en ese estadio.

CHEWBACCA'S BLOG

This is so hilarious I'm going to put a permanent link!!!!

CHEWY'S BLOG

"SPANISH" VIDEO

Take a look at this. What a pronunciation. What a dancer./Echadle un ojo a esto. Que pronunciación. Que gran bailarín.

DRAMAGODS FORUM

Sick of waiting for an update in the official site, Bambi has created a DRAMAGODS FORUM. Go get in there or you'll lose lots of info and friends.

Harta de esperar una actualización el el website official, Bambi ha creado elDRAMAGODS FORUM. Tira para alla o te perderás un monton de información y de amiguetes.

EXAMS PERIOD IN THE DUCHY/PERIODO DE EXAMENES EN EL DUCADO

The Duke is taking his exams. Tired. Even then I think I'll pass you this link, listen to famous songs made with midi and voice modulators. I love it:

DICTIONAKARAOKE

El Duque está de examenes. Agotado. Incluso así creo que os voy a pasar este enlace, escucha canciones famosas hechas con un midi y moduladores de voz. Me encanta.

YOUTUBE ADDICTION/ADICCIÓN A YOUTUBE

That site is simply awesome. Streaming videos, go take a look at a few of them (humour, music, whatever you want). Check out my selection.
Esa web es simplemente alucinante. Videos en stream, echale un vistazo a unos cuantos (de humor, música, de lo que quieras). Mira los que he seleccionado.

---

Parliament circa 1969
Ninja Rap
La Hora Chanante: testimonio de Mr.T


SORRY FOR THE MESS, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ALIGN IMAGES/PERDÓN POR EL DESORDEN, NO SABÍA COMO ALINEAR LAS IMÁGENES

WILSON PICKETT 1941-2006 R.I.P.

Wilson "Wicked" Pickett died yesterday at the age of 64 from a heart attack. He's with Otis now. If you didn't know about Pickett, it's high time you get to listen to, say, 634-5789, A Man And A Half, It's Too Late, Try A Little Tenderness...

Wilson "Wicked" Pickett murió ayer a los 64 años de un ataque al corazón. Ahora está con Otis. Si no conocias a Pickett, va siendo hora de que escuches, por ejemplo, 634-5789, A Man And A Half, It's Too Late, Try A Little Tenderness...

Wilson Pickett in action, 1967 Land of 1000 Dances

THE BEATLES FOR BUSY PEOPLE/LOS BEATLES PARA GENTE OCUPADA

Just follow this link and take your 2 minutes Beatles lesson for free. Now you can be an expert too, listen to the best of their discography in... 2 hours? 1? 30 minutes? ONLY 2!!!!
Sigue este enlace y toma una lección sobre los Beatles en 2 minutos y gratis. Tú también puedes ser un experto, escucha lo mejor de su discografía en... ¿2 horas? ¿1? ¿30 minutos? ¡¡¡SÓLO 2!!!!

Take me to that nice mp3/Llevame hasta ese maravilloso mp3

DRAMAGOD'S "SOMETHING ABOUT YOU" GUITAR SOLO

Scanned and shared by somebody in the Cherone forum./Escaneado y compartido por alguién del foro de Cherone.

(from Young Guitar Japanese magazine)

The Duchy Discotheque latest acquisition/
La última adquisición de la Discoteca del Ducado

FIRST GUITAR TAB FOR A DRAMAGODS' SONG/PRIMERA TAB PARA GUITARRA DE UNA CANCIÓN DE DRAMAGODS

The Duke (I told my doctor no more talking in 3rd person but it's real hard to resist it) has transcribed Something About You from DramaGods' album "Love". Mister Marcos Farah Nagato found it a place to get it avaliable to you all: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QAVI3843. Both in Powertabs and in text (the solo is about to get scanned and uploaded, check the blog and I'll tell you when and where).
IN CASE THE LINK DOESN'T WORK: http://s13.invisionfree.com/Cherone/index.php?showtopic=150


El Duque (le dije a mi medico que no iba a hablar más en tercera persona pero es dificil resistirse) ha transcrito Something About You del album "Love" de DramaGods. Mister Marcos Farah Nagato ha encontrado un lugar donde ponerla disponible para todos: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QAVI3843. En Powertabs y texto (el solo está a punto de ser escaneado y colgado, echadle un ojo al blog de vez en cuando y os contaré dónde y cuándo).
SI NO FUNCIONA EL LINK: http://s13.invisionfree.com/Cherone/index.php?showtopic=150

Que poquico me queda para volver a mis clases de chino. Veremos a ver si la laoshi china no me endiña con el canto de la mano en plan Kung-Fu,que se me ha olvidado casi todo. Me acuerdo de lo de "¿Qué es eso? Eso es leche. China es grande, Japón es pequeño". Y poco más. Vamos, como para mudarme a Hong Kong. Nada, que así no voy a llegar nunca a leyenda del cine de artes marciales. A estudiar se ha dicho.

NEW THEME, NEW COVER ART/NUEVO TEMA, NUEVA PORTADA

Roboproject released a new song (Criança do Kungfu); time to show the cover art. Contact me for personalized themes (free!!!!!!!!).

Roboproject publicó una nueva canción (Criança do Kungfu); es la hora de mostrar la portada. Contacta conmigo si quieres una canción personalizada (¡¡¡es gratis!!!).

I've been working in a new Roboproject song, this one's gonna be bilingual. All I can tell you about it is a line:
"the good lizard in V... he was a robot"
By the way, we'd love anybody to remix any of the songs.




He estado trabajando en una nueva canción de Roboproject, esta va a ser bilingüe. Todo lo que puedo contaros de ella es este verso:
"el lagarto bueno de V... era un robot"
Por cierto, nos encantaría que alguien remezclara cualquiera de las canciones.

"LOVE"(DRAMAGODS) REVIEW IN SPANISH/REVIEW DE "LOVE"(DRAMAGODS) EN ESPAÑOL



El Duque encuentra conveniente hacer el review del disco de Dramagod "Love".

La breve disección del primer album de la nueva banda de Nuno Bettencourt(DramaGods), "Love", por el Duque:


1- Megaton-una apisonadora conducida por una oveja medio dormida

2- Lockdown-suena un poco como 667 de Mourning Widows, estribillo odioso pero un asombroso trabajo con la guitarra

3- Bury You-no merece la pena ni enterrarla. Un esfuerzo bastante debil viniendo de Nuno, la letra no llega a ser nada, todo el tema es jakawaka. Necesito my té.

4- Broken-un poco como las canciones acusticas de Led Zeppelin, estoy intentando recordar los titulos pero mi cerebro está... De cualquier modo, un 6 sobre 10

5- Pilots-esta compensa los fracasos de las anteriores. Un sonido realmente bonito y compacto, el estribillo es como de una de esas superbandas de los 70. De las de las patillas largas y todo eso.

6- Interface-ODIO EL ESTRIBILLO. En serio. Suena como algo que hubiera escrito yo, y eso siempre es una mala señal.

7- Heavy-apisonadora nº2. Un estribillo precioso, estilo III Sides to Every Story, una pena que los versos entren de un modo tan lento, pesado, poco facil.

8- Something About You-esta creo que alcanzará un estatus como Crave. Bonita canción de amor, los teclados son verdaderamente sabrosos. Te acuna suavemente, la marca de casa de Nuno.

9- Fearless Leader-los chicos se ponen Radiohead Ok Computer. Sin embargo, les sale el tiro por la culata al añadir esos versos tan duros y esos "hey hey hey"s. Pueden hacerlo mejor. Estoy seguro al 99% de que usar el xilofono fue idea de Nuno.

10- Sometimes-cojea de una manera encantadora. Una pena que la parte vocal no esté mejor grabada, la canción lo merece. Nuno se pone "Sohohommmmtahahaimes...". Fantastico el teclado, de nuevo.

11- So'k-en el top5 del album, eso está claro. Estribillo verdaderamente precioso. Para los freaks de la guitarra, hay que decir que NB pone un poco de sal en el solo. Canción de buen rollito.

12- Replay-Me encantan las letras, adoro el estribillo, adoro a mi mamá. Sin embargo, el resto de la canción pasa desapercibida. Como si fuera culpable de algún crimen, como el de carecer de gancho.

13- Nice To Meet You-Y EL GANADOR ES... este tema. Empieza dudammmm dudammm... Describir el encuentro entre un torero y un toro no podía haberse hecho mejor. Versos alucinantes, estribillo increible, ¿ese solo de guitarra no es algo que ya ha tocado antes? un 10/10. Destinado a convertirse en un clásico de Nuno.

14- Sky-preciosa. Quiero un disco entero de esto, quizá algún día, algún proyecto paralelo de Nuno... Estilo Who Cares?(el fantasma de III Sides está por todo el disco), maestria en la orquestación. Piano precioso. Los shredders pensarán que es un tema para nenazas.

ESO ES TODO. COMENTA LO QUE TENGAS QUE COMENTAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

---

From the Duke and family. 2006 is our.


¡¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!

---

De parte del Duque y su familia. El 2006 es nuestro.

The Duke finds suitable to review Dramagod's "Love".

The Duke's brief dissection of Nuno Bettencourt's new band (DramaGods) 1st album, "Love":


1- Megaton-a roadroller driven by a half-asleep sheep

2- Lockdown-sounds a bit like Mourning Widows 667, hateful chorus yet awesome guitar work

3- Bury You-ain't worth burying it. Pretty feeble attempt coming from Nuno, the lyrics ain't enuff, the whole theme is jakawaka. I need my tea.

4- Broken-a bit like Led Zeppelin acoustic songs, I'm trying to find titles but my brain is... Anyway, 6 over 10

5- Pilots-now this one makes it for the failures above. Really nice and compact sound, the chorus it's like one of those superbands of the 70's. The ones with the long sideburns and all.

6- Interface-I HATE THE CHORUS. Really. It sounds like a song written by me, and that's always a bad sign.

7- Heavy-roadroller #2. Real nice chorus, kinda III Sides to Every Story, a pity the verses roll in that slow, heavy, uneasy way.

8- Something About You-now this one's gonna reach a Crave-like status, I think. Nice lovesong, the keyboards sound really tasty. Rocks you gently, Nuno's trademark.

9- Fearless Leader-the boys go Radiohead Ok Computer. However they miss the shoot by adding those hard lines and "hey hey hey"s. They can make it better. I'm 99% sure it was Nuno's idea to get the xilophone in.

10- Sometimes-this one wobbles in a lovely manner. A pity the vocals aren't better, the song deserves it. Nuno goes "Sohohommmmtahahaimes...". Amazing keyboards again.

11- So'k-among the album top5, that's for sure. Really really nice chorus. For guitar freaks, I must say NB puts some salt in the chorus. Happy mood song.

12- Replay-I really like the lyrics here, I love the chorus, I love my mom. However, the rest of the song goes unnoticed. It might have commited some crime, like lacking of punch.

13- Nice To Meet You-AND THE WINNER IS... this tune. It goes dudammmm dudammm... Describing a matador meeting a bull couldn't have been made any better. Awesome verses, awesome chorus, guitar solo sounds like something he played before? a 10/10. Bound to become a Nuno classic.

14- Sky-beautiful. I want a whole album of this, maybe some day, some side project by Nuno. Kind of Who Cares?(the III Sides ghost is all around the album), mastery in use of orchestra. Nice piano. Shredders will think it for sissys.


Please feel free to comment. Come on! Feel free I say!!!

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL- el Duque no tiene ganas. Mañana si eso.

The Duke's brother, Bluto ,releases new website, devoted to his side project. Check it to listen to a few songs and such. Rumours has is that he's about to be exiled from the Duchy. After all he deserves even more than that.

El hermano del Duque, Bluto, acaba de editar su nuevo website, dedicado a su proyecto paralelo. Visitalo para escuchar unas cuantas canciones y eso. Los rumores dicen que está a punto de ser desterrado del Ducado. Después de todo se merece incluso más.

Our First Post- Nuestro Primer Post

F.A.Q. :

- What is exactly the Duchy of Prunes?
The Duchy of Prunes is an small yet proud land governed by me, the Duke of Prunes. It is...uh..well...over there, bilingual (Spanish+English), proffeses The Worshipping of Prunes and smells funny.
-¿Qué es exactamente el Ducado de las Pasas?
El Ducado de las Pasas es una pequeña pero orgullosa tierra gobernada por mí, el Duque de las Pasas. Está...ehmm...bueno... por alla, es bilingüe (Español+Inglés), profesa la Adoración de las Pasas y huele raro.

- Who's the Duke?
Me. Sprung out of Frank Zappa's songs "The Duke of Prunes" and "The Duke Regains His Chops" (FZ and the Mothers of Invention "Absolutely Free"-1967) acquiring total independence and becoming flesh in the person of nunozowie (yep, me).
- ¿Quién es el Duque?
Yo. Se desprendió de las canciones de Frank Zappa "The Duke of Prunes" y "The Duke Regains His Chops" (FZ and the Mothers of Invention "Absolutely Free"-1967) adquiriendo total independencia y haciendose carne en la persona de nunozowie (sí, yo).

- What can we expect from the Duchy of Prunes O.B.?
Weird stuff. News. Info on Nuno Bettencourt and his music. More weird stuff. Some music the Duke loves. Blah blah blah.
-¿Qué podemos esperar del Duchy of Prunes O.B.?
Cosas raras. Noticias. Información sobre Nuno Bettencourt y su música. Más cosas raras. Música que el Duque adora. Bla bla bla.

WELCOME IN/BIENVENIDOS!!!