Le Monde des Choristes

Le Monde des Choristes is a DVD released in 2004 which features three films of Philippe Reypens: L’Or des Anges, Un peu de Fièvre and Rejoice

L’Or des Anges focuses on treble music

L’Or des Anges is a fictional documentary which focuses on treble music, since its creation in medieval times until nowadays. It’s a documentary because the film is based on a lot of careful research that gives the viewer an idea of the development of musical culture across Europe. But it’s also fictional because the directors had to use young actors to recreate the events which were depicted in the film. I have always been fond of treble music, but I admit that many of the facts revealed by this film were unknown to me. Facts such as in the very early days, the choirs were supposed to sing without musical accompaniment as the church considered all instruments to be pagan tools, even if the harp in the Old Testament is considered to be the acting soul.

In those early days, should a boy want to praise God through singing he was required to present a legitimate birth certificate, be auditioned by the music master and then, if his voice promised enchantment, he was required to obtain permission from his parents to become a choir boy and then serve the church for as long as it shall please her. Next, the film focuses on the impact of choral music on the Industrial Revolution. During this period,the new capitalistic dogma of productivity, the new family code of ethics and the demographic obsession affected the development of the choral music. Most valuable for industry were the singers of light opera,which was at the time in quite heavy demand. Often poorly paid children were recruited for the performances. Among the many beautiful performances on the DVD, there is an opera scene from which it is obvious that often boys were recruited for both the male and female roles in this art form.

My opinion is that the L’Or des Anges is invaluable for any young singer regardless of the genre in which he chooses to perform, as it covers the basics of vocal training and musical history which would prove beneficial for anyone with a serious interest in music – treble or not.

Even though I have no doubts that many of you would enjoy the choir and solo performance in L’Or des Anges, I highly recommend that after seeing the film you go out and try to attend a choir concert in your locality. The magic of the voices can be fully felt only in such a live performance. I have been fortunate to attend more than 20 concerts of the choirs in the city in which I was living few years ago. During those concerts, I got to know some of the choristers and the choirmasters and they never ceased to surpass my expectations at every single concert I attended. Most recently, I attended a concert of the Vienna Boys Choir in Madrid and the feeling of being there and listening to their repertoire is indescribable with words….

To stay informed about the recent happenings around the world and to read more about the choirs and events in your country, I recommend the The Boy Choir & Soloist Directory, which is an amazing resource that features information about choirs, boy sopranos, young singers, and international choral events.

Un peu de Fièvre

Un peu de ievre ( A Slight Fever)is a short film included as an extra in the Le Monde des Choristes DVD

It’s a short film that is going to be a beloved film for anyone who has an interest in music. It tells the story of a boy who is worried that his voice is changing and that he won’t be able to perform the parts in the choir that he loves to sing. The film is beautifully shot with a lot of long exposures and close-up scenes, but most importantly the piano music and the treble performances in it are breathtaking. I was overwhelmed with memories while watching the story because there is a soloist in one of my favorite choirs who is bound to go through similar experiences as he grows older and his voice changes. Unavoidably, I started thinking of his performances and of myself attending the concerts of the choir expecting to hear his solo. It’s two years since I moved from that town, but a friend of mine who keeps attending the concerts recently let me know that the boy is still the main soloist of the choir. One day, when his voice changes, I hope he will be able to accept it and deal with that even if I suppose that it won’t be as easy for him as I would like it to be. (he attends a musical school in the city where he lives, majoring in piano, and I hope that he, as did the character of the film, will find comfort in perfecting his instrumental skills as an alternative to his singing).

One of the blog’s guest authors, Bestpi, wrote a very intriguing article on voice change entitled “My voice broke! I can’t sing anymore. Will it ever come back? ” I encourage all young singers and their parents to read it and share their experiences with the readers of the blog. In the final words of the film’s director in the bonus feature of the DVD – Making of A Slight Fever – were that he hoped that his film would touch both the hearts and the minds of its viewers. It, indeed, did that for me…

Rejoice

Rejoice is a documentary of the 7th international Boys’ Choir Festival in Poznan.

Rejoice is the third film featured on the Le Monde des Choristes DVD. It’s an insightful documentary about the 7th International Boys’ Choir Festival in Poznan. Seeing the documentary made me desire to attend some of the future festivals, especially after finding out that Poland is one of the few countries, along with Great Britain, that has managed to maintain the treble choral tradition since the Middle Ages. Quoting the film director: ” Rejoice is, as its name implies, the “joy” of a voice that reaches its fullness; A slight fever is the moment, the flower fades. “

Some of the choirs featured on the DVD : the Knabenchor Hannover, Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois, Polskie Slowiki, the Wiener Sängerknaben, and the Worcester Cathedral Choir.Music in the flim includes “Nunc Dimittis” (Parsons), “An die Musik” (Schubert), “Balualow” (A Ceremony of Carols by Britten), “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” (Bach), “Bastien und Bastienne” (Mozart), “Le Duo des chats” (Rossini), “Brundibar” (Krasa), and “Pie Jesu” (Requiem by Faure). There are also excerpts from music by Pergolesi, Bach, Allegri, and Tchaikovski.

A Japanese fan site featuring a photo-gallery and exclusive clips from the DVD *

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This review would not have been possible without the valuable support of CVMC.net, which provided the DVD of Le Monde des Choristes for review at theskykid.com. I would like to express my thankfulness for their continuous support of the blog.

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The Lazarus Child

[quote_center]It’s not over, it’s never over ![/quote_center]

Would you do everything for your child? How would you react if there is an accident and someone tells you that the treatment of your child is outside the budget? Who has the right to decide what is in your child’s best interest? Do you believe that a world beyond consciousness exists?

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The Lazarus Child (also known as The Last Door)is a psychological drama, filmed in an exceptional way, which tells the story of the personal tragedy of a family whose daughter falls into coma after a severe accident on the way to school. Surprisingly, I only found out about the film today after watching its trailer on another DVD of mine. A quick look up on the Internet revealed that Harry Eden starred in the film (other films in which he has a major appearance that I was aware of were Real Man, Peter Pan and Oliver Twist) which, combined with the impression that the trailer left me, determined my decision to see the film. The trailer of the film is a bit misleading as it almost convinced me that I was about to see a ghost-like story in the style of The Sixth Sense or The Orphanage – yet even if that is not the case I am glad that it convinced me to see the movie.

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the well composed soundtrack – piano that sets the mood for the film. I have noted that in several films – if the opening credits have a certain mood then the viewer sets some expectations before seeing a single scene from the movie itself. Slow motion camera techniques put an emphasis on certain scenes or a feeling of the actors. In a small hospital room, Frankie Heywood lies in a deep coma, so deep that no one can reach it. Her 12-year-old brother Ben witnesses the accident and his behavior changes – not only internally, but also externally as the colour of his hair changes from brown to blond overnight. The most logical explanation for these changes is that he feels responsible for the accident – for not looking after his litter sister more closely – and tries to overcome a feeling of guilt so strong that it causes him to become emotionally distant from his family.

The medics responsible for the Frankie’s recovery are telling her parents there is no hope for her and they can only do so much as to keep her alive. In its desperation, Frankie’s family turns to Dr. Elizabeth Chase, a neurologist who operates an experimental clinic for comas. Anyone interested in psychology and the way the human brain works will find The Lazarus Child quite intriguing. I myself learned a lot from it. If you search the net for other reviews of the film and the book by Robert Mawson on which it’s based you will note that while some reviewers praise the film, other call it cliched and unconvincing. I am willing to join the first group and recommend the film to you as I found the story touching and emotional. The excellent cinematography and the performance of the cast, as well as the moral dilemmas raised by the the story make The Lazarus Child a film that I had to feature on this blog.

To finish my review I would like to quote the plot summary released by the book’s publisher ( picked that instead of the film`s plot summary as it better describes what the story is about ) :

A neurologist defies society and the law to bring a child coma patient back to life using an experimental treatment, in this novel of hope and despair, of healing and resurrection.

Robinzon

On more than one occasion, every fan of both treble music and nice rocking vibes has probably heard about the Russian group Robinzon.

The group’s official website is in Russian only, but a visit there is well worth your while, even if you have to use a translation mechanism like Google Translate. There is now also a western fan website that provides abundant information in both French and English. It’s definitely a must-visit for the amount of information that can be found there.

Robinzon -A group with a tradition

The group itself has quite a history since it was established more than 20 years ago (in 1986) in Ishim, Siberia. The group has had several generations by now, as members leave and are replaced by new, younger members. Today, the group is composed of talented members who are 8-18 and who write and compose their own songs and then perform them in such a manner that usually it does not take more than one listen to convert people, who have never heard of them before, to devoted fans. Robinzon‘s music repertoire is quite rich and includes pop, rock, jazz, children’s songs, uplifting vibes, touching ballads, and even classical music. They sometimes adopt classical music composed by Mozart and Beethoven. Nowadays, the band is innovative and progressive – they’ve had concerts that were streamed live on the Internet as they were happening. In addition to that, their newest compositions include modern dance beats ( for example, their song Голуби ^pigeons ). At the time of the writing of this post, the group’s discography includes 27 albums.

Robinzon -Wave

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lFY_BgzmvQ

The purpose of this article is to introduce the group to the audience of theskykid.com. I hope that what you’ve read so far will make you want to look for more information about them, which you will find on the websites linked at the bottom of this post. Any feedback, comments and suggestions are welcome, regardless if you were familiar with the group before reading about them here or this is the first time you’ve stumbled upon their music (lucky you = so many things to explore from now on, so many good vibes to listen to).

_Note:Picking only a few video clips to showcase in this post, out of the immense collection of Robinzon music, turned out to be an arduous task. The main issue was that I liked too many clips, and as soon I picked a few, I saw another one that made me want to include it. So, in the end, I picked the first couple I found – leaving it for you to check their YouTube channel and the related videos.

Robinzon official web site (RU) ******Robinzon western web site (EN)(FR)

Official YouTube channel******BCSD profile

Those of you who know Russian = check out Robinzon`s topic at the Kidsmusic.net.ru forum.

Каждый поклонник и музыки требл и рокового драйва, наверное, слышал, и не один раз, о русской группе “Робинзон”. Официальный сайт группы пока есть только на русском языке, но побывать там стоит, даже если вам придется использовать переводчик, такой как Google Translate. Существует также западный фан-сайт, на котором есть много информация на французском и английском языках. Его определенно нужно посетить – там можно найти очень много информации

Сама группа имеет достаточно длинную историю, поскольку она была основана более 20 лет назад (в 1986) в городе Ишиме, в Сибири. К этому моменту в группе сменилось несколько поколений, так как ребята уходят и их заменяют новые, более молодые участники. На сегодняшний день группа состоит из талантливых ребят 8-18 лет, которые пишут свои собственные песни, а затем исполняют их так, что обычно после первого же прослушивания люди, которые никогда не слышали о них ранее, становятся преданными поклонниками. Репертуар Робиков достаточно богат и включает в себя поп, рок, джаз, песни для детей, драйвовые композиции, трогательные баллады, и даже классическую музыку, так как они иногда адаптируют произведения Моцарта и Бетховена. Сейчас группа прогрессирует – у ребят были концерты, которые транслировались в прямом интернет-эфире. К тому же в их новых композициях есть современный танцевальный бит (например, песня “Голуби”). На момент написания этого поста, дискография группы включает в себя 27 альбомов.

Робинзон – Телефон

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6eY8VeE8nQ

Целью данной статьи было представить группу аудитории theskykid.com. Я надеюсь, что то, что вы сейчас прочитали, заставит вас захотеть посмотреть дополнительную информацию о Робиках. Её вы сможете найти на сайтах, линки на которые я дал в нижней части этого поста. Любые отзывы, предложения и замечания приветствуются, независимо от того, были ли вы знакомы с группой, перед тем, как прочитать о них здесь, или в первый раз наткнулись на их музыку (вам повезло = вам так много ещё предстоит узнать, столько прослушать).

Примечание: Выбрать лишь несколько видеоклипов из огромной коллекцией музыки Робинзон оказалось чрезвычайно трудной задачей. Главный вопрос в том, что я люблю слишком много клипов, и как только я выбрал несколько, я увидел другие, и мне захотелось включить и их. Таким образом, в конце концов, я выбрал первую попавшуюся пару – оставляю на вас проверку их YouTube-канала и связанных с ними видео.

Робинзон– Oтпусти

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzzrrpgDAM4

Те из вас, кто знает русский, следите за темой Робинзонов на форуме Kidsmusic.net.ru

Jordan Jansen – He’s got the look!

Jordan Jansen – One of the things about mentoring and supporting young talent is that you get to see them grow and emerge into lives that hold untold dreams. After a while you are able to spot the winners and the ones that will likely breech the barrier of voice change and go on to continue on stage or in film. They have a certain charisma. A certain attitude about how they approach life. One of the most noticeable qualities about those kids is their ability to embrace change. Unlike the rest of the world that seeks complacency, these special youngsters thrive on the excitement of the next change, the next thrill, the next hurtle to jump. They actually thrive on the possibility of the unexpected and the achievement of milestones.

And that description describes Jordan Jansen perfectly. Just when you think you have seen his best, he shows you a new level of talent, a new level of quality, a new persona to present to the world. Like some morphed out human version of an onion, Jordan peels off layer upon layer. Each producing a greater, more refined version of human stardom.

From the very beginning to the current layer of professionalism, Jordan has treated his performances with the same determined professionalism. Another quality found only in the successful. And Jordan began keeping his books in crayon and his first savings account was in a Sponge Bob Square Pants lunch box. Today, he stands proudly before a bank teller, depositing his seed money for the future. All of the equipment he has in his home studio was purchased from his own resources. He has earned his money by working hard to get better, to be better. And then performing at markets, clubs and charity events. Some paid, some just a sharpening stone for his cutting edge talent.

Jordan accepts input and suggestions for the songs he chooses but generally listens to what is popular and then makes it his own. He sees what works and then incorporates that quality in his own stage persona. He also is able to separate the chaff from the wheat. Negative comments roll off his back like water off a duck. He listens to the quality or constructive criticism and is able to discern, which is which.

But he’s not all business. He budget’s time for his school work as well as time just to be a kid. He enjoys all the things a twelve-year-old kid enjoys. The beach, soccer, video games and of course music.

My predictions for the newly twelve-year-old Jordan Jansen have not changed since day one. He will exceed all expectations and traverse the voice break when it comes in a few years and go on to redefine the term superstar. I will be very surprised if he is not signed to a label or other long term project within the next six months or so.

All I have to say is this; I’m buying front row seats when he tours my section of the U.S.

Visit the official site of Jordan Jansen

Jordan Jansen`s profile at BCSD

Back in time: Jordan Jansen at 10, Already an Aussie Legend

J1&J2 – The youngest German rappers

Meet the youngest German rappers I’ve ever encountered: J1&J2. I just stumbled on their MySpace account when doing my research for the review of the new Apollo 3 album. I bookmarked their site and 30 minutes later went back to it to see if the kids could really rap. And can they – oh yeah. They are brilliant. Listening to their songs makes me wanna rap with them even if, with my limited German, the end result would be more funny than cool. The best way to introduce them is to show you clip of them singing:

_{Heute mochte ich Ihnen die wohl jungsten deutschen Rapper vorstellen, denen ich je begegnet bin: “J1 & J2”. Ich entdeckte gerade zufallig ihre MySpace-Seite, als ich Nachforschungen zum neuen “Apollo 3”-Album anstellte. Ich fugte Ihre Seite sogleich zu meinen Lesezeichen hinzu, und 30 Minuten spater wollte ich dann wirklich wissen ob diese Jungs rappen konnen. Und das konnen sie – oh ja. Sie sind brillant ! Wenn ich ihre Songs so hore, mochte ich am liebsten mitrappen – obwohl mein deutsch dafur nicht ausreichen wurde. Das wurde sich dann wohl eher lustig als “cool” anhoren… aber der beste Weg sie hier ausfuhrlich vorzustellen, ist wohl ein Clip der beiden:}

J1&J2 Feat.King Striker wir sind so weit

Finding information about them, especially in English, is a really harsh task. Currently they maintain their online presence mainly on their MySpace channel and are working on their official web site (now under construction). From there, I found out that they have already released a debut album titled “Wir sind Soweit” on 01.12.2009 and that they are quickly gaining popularity in Germany (and they will abroad as soon as someone presents them properly in English). They also have a Vimeo account where most of their videos are available : http://vimeo.com/j1j2

_{Nun, das Suchen und Finden von Informationen über die beiden (vor allem auf englisch !), ist wirklich nicht einfach. Im Moment haben sie ihre Anlaufstellen im Internet vor allem auf ihrer Myspace-Seite, sowie ihrer offiziellen Page (derzeit noch im Aufbau). Dort habe ich auch herausgefunden, dass sie bereits ein Debütalbum veröffentlicht haben. Es trägt den Titel “Wir sind soweit” und wurde am 01.12.2009 herausgebracht. Es scheint, als würden sie immer bekannter werden, vor allem in Deutschland – und das könnten sie auch international – wenn sie mal jemand vernünftig auf englisch vorstellt. Desweiteren haben sie auch einen Vimeo Account, wo viele ihrer Videos verfügbar sind: http://vimeo.com/j1j2}

Thankfully, their twitter account has links to some sites that provide more information about them (especially keeping in mind that the text on their MySpace site is in a format that makes automatic translation harder). I watched an interview with them on YouTube, but did not understand much from it other than J2 like the phrase “Ya Man” which, after watching the interview is totally stuck into my mind. If my German isn’t that rusty, in that interview J1 said that he is 11 years old, while J2 said he was 7. Those are really young ages to start singing Rap – but it’s not so weird for Germany. Just remember Lil’O (later known as Othenic O) and even Apollo 3 rap in some of their songs. From another video I found out that their father is a big support for them, helping with their online presence and fully supporting his talented sons. In fact, it was the father who introduced them to rap music in the first place.

_{Glücklicherweise sind auf ihrem Twitter-Account einige Links zu Seiten, die mehr Informationen über die beiden bieten (besonders wenn ich daran denke, dass die MySpace-Seiten ein bestimmtes Format haben welches die automatische Übersetzung schwieriger macht). Ich habe mir daraufhin ein Interview mit den beiden angesehen – allerdings konnte ich nicht viel mehr als den Ausdruck “Ja Mann” von J2 verstehen. Dieser Ausdruck ist mir auch sehr im Gedächtnis hängengeblieben. Wenn mein deutsch nicht völlig miserabel ist, sagte J1 in diesem Interview dass er 11 Jahre alt ist, und J2 7. Das ist mal ein wirklich junges Alter, um mit dem rappen zu beginnen ! Aber es ist wohl gar nicht mal so ungewöhnlich für Deutschland. Ich denke da z.B. an Lil’O (später als Othentic O bekannt), und sogar die Jungs von Apollo 3 rappen in einigen ihrer Songs. Aus einem anderen Video konnte ich heraushören, dass der Vater der beiden sie unterstützt, zum Beispiel in Sachen Online-Präsenz und Förderung ihrer Talente. Tatsächlich war es wohl auch der Vater der die beiden, der sie überhaupt zur Rapmusik brachte.}

Besides singing Rap, J1 and J2, like all boys, are involved in various activities. J1 goes to swimming classes, football practices and likes to hang out with friends. And J2 loves the play football as well.

_{Neben dem Rappen haben J1 und J2 natürlich noch andere Hobbies, wie alle Jungen ihres Alters. J1 besucht den Schwimmunterricht, spielt Fussball und mag es, mit seinen Freunden abzuhängen. J2 liebt es ebenfalls, Fussball zu spielen.}

I am really fond of their music and will end up having their album in the near future. In the meantime, if any of you speaks German better than me (and I’m sure many of you do) do not hestitate to leave comments with things about J1 and J2 and their music which I have missed.

_{Ich bin wirklich beeindruckt von der Musik der beiden, und es wird wohl darauf hinauslaufen dass ich mir ihr Album kaufen werde. In der Zwischenzeit, falls jemand hier besser als ich deutsch spricht (da bin ich mir sicher) – zögern Sie bitte nicht Kommentare zu hinterlassen ! Sei es mit weiteren Informationen, Meinungen… Grüße, Skykid}

“YAAA MAN”

Heute mochte ich Ihnen die wohl jungsten deutschen Rapper vorstellen, denen ich je begegnet bin: “J1 & J2”. Ich entdeckte gerade zufallig ihre MySpace-Seite, als ich Nachforschungen zum neuen “Apollo 3”-Album anstellte. Ich fugte Ihre Seite sogleich zu meinen Lesezeichen hinzu, und 30 Minuten spater wollte ich dann wirklich wissen ob diese Jungs rappen konnen. Und das konnen sie – oh ja. Sie sind brillant ! Wenn ich ihre Songs so hore, mochte ich am liebsten mitrappen – obwohl mein deutsch dafur nicht ausreichen wurde. Das wurde sich dann wohl eher lustig als “cool” anhoren… aber der beste Weg sie hier ausfuhrlich vorzustellen, ist wohl ein Clip der beiden:

Apollo 3 “2010”

Apollo 3 “2010” – Album review

About a year ago, when I first found out about Apollo 3, I wrote a post about them in which I assured you that their music “will rock your world”. The article (which also came with a Russian translation thanks to their Russian fan club) was wildly successful and received more than 70 comments from their fans from all over the world. Back then, I wrote that I am addicted to their music and things haven’t changed much today. I prefer their music for bike stunts on the city streets or hanging out at the skate park (I am just a novice there – so keep to my bike mostly). I could not resist reviewing their first album, nor can I resist announcing and reviewing their newest album “2010” ( Thanks to the Bill Milner fan who left me a comment on my first review letting me know that the second album is out there).

The boys seem quite confident in themselves as one can clearly note from the promo statement included in the release notes of their second album :

“”No power on earth can stop us now! We are here to rock this world! With this “battle” of our energetic first hit “Diabolisch” from our second album titled “2010”, we ring in the new decade. “Diabolik” is the title of the song. On 11.03.2010, in all cinemas,a film will be released calld “TEUFELSKICKER” in which we will play the lead roles “

The album which hit the stores on Mar-12-2010 is on the Sony label (Sony Music was the label of their first album as well) includes 15 tracks with a total playing time of 52:21. As some of the songs included are the same as on their first album (9 of them) I will keep the scope of this mini review to the new six songs.

TRACK 1. “2010” – one can clearly note that the boys voices changed during the year, but the re-verbs, the electronic sound at times, and the supporting backing vocal resulted in a real cool sound, even if not as good as in their second track of the album:

TRACK 2. “Chaos” I loved the intro of the song and the way they sing “Chaos” . Of course, the hit single of the album as they emphasize in the release notes is:

TRACK 3.” Diabolisch” – its really the most energetic song from the album and their voices blend wonderfully together. Can’t wait it to do some stunts with my bike while listening to it.

Skipping to TRACK 13. “Vamoir ” I consider this to be the ballad song of their new album. It starts with some nice bass and then the song gets rhythmic – a rocky ballad as they say.

TRACK 14. “Unverwundbar” is quite melodic as well. I know that Apollo 3 is a rock band, but I really got to like their slower songs as well as the wild ones. It gives you a different feel of the spirit of the band.

TRACK 15. “Adrenalin” – a remix from the song that was included in their first album. It really rocks. But to describe it, I would just remind you what I said about it one year ago — my favorite song on the album. It’s so full of energy that I can’t believe that someone could listen to it calmly – perfect to accompany all kinds of extreme sports”

It’s a pity that the majority of information about Apollo 3 is still only available in German. However, various fan clubs have been formed around the world and, thanks to them, the music of this incredible German band is spreading across the globe. I hope that Sony will recognize the need for more information about Apollo 3 and will invest more in promotional activities (including, but not limited to, translating their official site into English)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWFDSo65kNA

[amazon-product text=”Get the new album of Apollo 3 from Amazon.com” type=”text”]B00366HHLU[/amazon-product]

Esperame mucho (1983)

“the bonds of friendship were stronger than political differences”

Espérame mucho (Keep Waiting For Me) is an Argentinian film released in 1983 and based on a short story by Isidoro Blaisten. The action takes place in 1950 and the viewer is able to get a feel for the time from the very first scenes, which consist of TV reporting typical for countries under a centralized economy. The story is told in the first person, in a memoir fashion, with a neat transition between the introductory words of the narrator” I am 41 years old. In 1950, I was in fourth grade” and the actual story observed through his eyes as a child.

Juancito (played by the eleven year old Federico Olivera) is the main protagonist of the story. He is a regular boy who does his lessons under his mother’s supervision while awaiting impatiently for six o’clock so he can hear the story of his favorite hero on the radio – Tarzan. A lot of political turmoil is happening in Argentina at that time and it causes the young boy to wonder why his mother is referring to his uncle as “A Quixote” instead of ” A revolutionary”, as he sees him. In the later scenes, it becomes clear that the boy compares his uncle with his father – admiring his uncle for his courage and disapproving of his father who “never speaks up” and always follows the demands of his wife. And Juancito is not afraid to say that to his father’s face, using the words “everyone bosses you around”. At the same time, he relates more to his uncle who sometimes joined the boys in their football games “We loved it when my uncle Migel got the ball. He’d forget politics and play like a child. We all envied him”

Juansito is in love with a girl and the scene in which he gives her a present made my him is one of the most heart warming scenes I have seen in a film. Yet, he soon finds out how unfair life can be…. Generally speaking, the film has some quite touching scenes which alternately brought tears to my eyes or a smile to my face.

The cast did an incredible job in the film. Throughout the story, told through the eyes of Juancito, the viewer can appreciate the similarities, differences and beliefs of people from various social classes in Argentina during 1950. The abundance of documentary cadres contributes to the educational value of the film. It accurately portrays the history and the epoch in which the action is set. I believe that everyone who sees this film once will have gained a knowledge and a wisdom – because even as the years change, we today still share the same joys and fears as did the people in 1950.

Espérame mucho has some of the most powerful ending phrases that I have seen in any coming of age film. I could not resist quoting them in my review as I believe they represent its core message and will lead to a desire for you to see it:

“looking back on those days, the affection of these people, their faces and smiles, I feel the weight of these 30 years. When I left Tarzan, defender of the meek and justice, a wound opened up, for me and for many others and it hasn’t healed yet. The many things that happened buried the enthusiasm …. I am 41 years old. With time, I discovered why Tarzan wasn’t enough ….and I lost my childhood innocence “

When released in 1983, in the last few months of the military rule in Argentina, Esperame Mucho was subject to severe censorship by the regime. After the regime ended, the film was delivered without cuts in its various television displays.

I would not hesitate to recommend this film – not only to the fans of the coming of age genre, but to anyone who is interested in watching a high quality cinema production. Despite being produced in 1983, Esperame mucho is a film from which many of today’s filmmakers may learn.

Sinopsis en Español :

Sensible documento sobre los recuerdos de infancia ambientado en la epoca del primer gobierno peronista. Un hombre de mediana edad recuerda con nostalgia su vida pasada en un barrio de Argentina. A su mente vienen las imagenes de un mundo muy diferente en el que su inocencia le permitia sonar con un futuro diferente al que vive. Intercaladas en la historia se muestran escenas reales de personajes legendarios de la historia argentina como Eva Peron, Juan Manuel Fangio y Mirtha Legrand

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This review would not have been possible without the valuable support of CVMC.net who provided the DVD of this extremely rare film .

Title: Espérame mucho
Director: Juan José Jusid
Release year: 1983
Cast: Victor Laplace, Alicia Bruzzo, Arturo Bonin, Alberto Segado, Villanueva Cosse, Catalina Speroni, Marzenka Novak, Lucrecia Capello, Mario Luciani, Alberto Clementin and others

Vincent Lintermans

His name is Vincent Lintermans.

But everyone calls him Vince! To make it a bit easier to remember. He is born on March 10th, 1997 and lives in Landen, Belgium. Vince participated in the Junior Euro Song Contest with the song ‘Al Fluitend Door Het Leven’ in 2008. He is now attending the 6th year before heading to college. Vince doesn’t have any brothers or sisters, but he really likes dogs, fish, birds and goats. Now that isn’t heard often. He is a jolly boy.

His nicest memory of the JESC is Disneyland Resort Paris, with MC Louis in the Space Mountain.

Vince has got a love for animals and old(er) people. And hates people who pick their nose and jealousy. He also gets the nerves of waiting. But his heart begins beating faster when he sees a beautiful girl.

Together with his mum, Vince goes jogging six kilometres every week. Such a good workout comes out in handy because he sometimes blows his entire lung capacity on the trumpet, which is great to hear. Vince is part of a youth choir for two years now and does some solos as well.

Vince wants to become a singer, actor or musician. And so his dream is to go far in the entertainment business.

Song: ‘Hoe Mooi De Wereld Is’

If you ask Vince who his best friend is, he doesn’t have to think long. Fhara, his dog. She knows all of his secrets and is always with him when he’s driving his quad at grandpa’s pear plantation. And yes, from time to time, he will pick a pear from the trees.

To finish this little bio, some favourites of Vince:

Book: De Spoken van McHaggis (The Ghosts of McHaggis)

Song: Lollipop, by Mika

Artists: Mika (obviously), Dean and Natalia (2 Belgian singers)

Movie: 10 000 BC

Colour: Purple

Food: Chinese (chicken curry with rice)

In his early 20’s Vince, who is now called by his full name Vincent, opened up a diner together with his family and team, which goes by the name ‘Sikivie.’ They like to welcome you to their renovated home in the heart of Landen, Belgium.

Sikivie is to be found at the Stationsstraat, in a building full of memories. After years of emptiness and an extensive metamorphosis, the diner is now standing as a dynamic meeting place for everyone.

‘With us, you can find a fresh beer at the bar, a tasteful coffee or cocktail, nice food products, unique decoration, original gift boxes, gift certificates and much more.

We also keep your small or great hunger quiet. Our social bites are fresh and homemade. These delicious dishes call for dialogue and bring people closer together. What is the point of eating if you can’t share it with your lover(s)? After All, (food) sharing is caring!’

More information at HTTP://www.sikivie.be.

On Monday, February 8th, 2021, Vincent appeared in a Belgian television show called ‘Stukken van Mensen.’ That show presents 4 buyers who argue with each other to buy the presented item from the seller. Things are sold: vintage, art, furniture, decorative stuff, cars and so on…

Vincent came to sell 6 framed chronographs from Salvador Dali. He sold to one of the buyers for the amount of 1.500 euros and 2 days together with the seller to learn some more insights into the trading business.

The show’s video can be found here, but it is only available in Belgium

https://www.goplay.be/video/stukken-van-mensen/stukken-van-mensen-s6/stukken-van-mensen-s6-aflevering-2#autoplay

Jonas Jan Busselen

about.me/electrrricity

Updated: 23/02/2021

Alex Jr. : Then and Now

Alex Jr. is an amazing young artist, to whom I very much enjoy listening. He never misses — always right on the money.

His voice is clean and clear with no wavering. I never get tired of listening to his wonderful voice.

Alex is from Santa Caterina, Brazil. He entered a competition in 2006 on a show called Jovens Talentos (previously known as Show da Criança) – for the age group under eleven. After his first performance of “Nascemos Pra Cantar” people loved him (including me). He ended up performing three songs while winning the competition. The video, above, is of him in his well deserved win. Shortly after that competition, the age group ‘under eleven’ was canceled. But that wasn’t the end of Alex — by far. Raul Gil hired him as a regular on his show programa Raul Gil na Band . Here he paid homage to other composers and musicians and has done a fabulous job of this. The people to whom he paid homage were all honored by this young man’s performances of their music. Below is one of his performances, in February 2008, in which he pays homage to Ataíde e Alexandre singing “Agenda Rabiscada”. Alex paid homage to many people on that TV show.

Now Alex has a partner, Willian. They are now known as Alex & Willian and the sound is as good as ever. Still doing performances for Rual Gil, Alex and Willian now also perform on other shows and at many places around the country. To find scheduled show information, visit their website at: http://www.alexewillian.com.br/

Alex’s voice and music has been progressing quite well over the past few years and I believe Alex and Willian make a great duo. Their voices fit together very well. I enjoy listening to him as much now as when he was younger. Below, is a video of the duo singing “Te esquecer não consigo”.

Alex has certainly come a long way since that competition in 2006 and has accumulated many videos. I wish I could bring them all to you, I know you would enjoy them. However, he does have plenty to chose from on his channel Alex&Willian so please do stop by there and give them your support. It is a fairly new site and, as yet, has very few supporters. I hope you enjoy listening to Alex as much as I do……

Sam Verlinden “Superlative Virtuoso”

Since first discovering Sam Verlinden on You Tube he has captivated my interest in a number of ways. Not only can this boy sing but he continues to maintain a sensational public profile through his acting, busking, contest entries, and high profile national concerts. This combination of achievements alone speaks more than loudly, why it’s easy to pronounce young Verlinden as “Super Sam.”

Sam first appeared on this website in an article submitted by Bestpi on Tuesday, 6 May 2008.

Since the time of Bestpi’s article much has transpired and this young troubadour who captured 6 Gold and 3 Silver medals along with the prestigious “Industry Award” and 5 plaques for “OVERALL JUNIOR CHAMPION OF THE WORLD”, continues to show himself as a winner and national pride of New Zealand!

Sam who just turned 12 on October 1st of last year, has won 4 Golden Ribby Awards for his entries of songs at Wonderworld TV and a fifth entry is in 1st place at the time of this writing.

In October and November Sam brought professionalism to the “The University of Auckland’s Stage” performing in the lead role of young Tommy in the production of “Tommy the Musical”. A review submitted by The New Zealand Performing Arts Review & Directory exclaimed, “Young Tommy is played beautifully by Sam Verlinden, and required to be completely unresponsive even when a balloon is popped in his face”.

I don’t know about you but it takes some acting concentration not to allow a distraction like this to break character.

Concentration and Character are two things that Sam Verlinden has an abundance of. Concentrating on his singing career while at the same time holding on to reality and just enjoying life, family, and friends.

As soon as Tommy sang his last Pinball Wizard he was singing another tune by performing in one of the best all-time musicals that ever hit Auckland. Lionel Bart’s Magical Musical “Oliver” was staged in The SkyCity Theatre in Auckland. Sam was magical in his performance as one of the boys in Fagin’s gang of thieves. And when the final curtain call was given a few of the boys from the group including Sam continued to perform around the city for special events billing themselves as ‘The Oliver Boys”.

Sam’s biggest highlight of the year was being chosen to perform in the Annual Coca Cola Christmas in the Park event, which was held in Auckland on December 12th. Sam was the youngest to perform in that star-studded line up of the best of New Zealand’s Talent.

It’s simply amazing how this young man can step up out on the stage and perform in front national television cameras and thousands in the assembled crowd yet remain truly humbled by the experience. Sam is a true showman and gentlemen in every sense of the word!

Once the New Year was rung in, Sam got busy in the recording studio producing several new recordings and updated versions of his favorite songs as well. Some of his songs can be heard at Rivenmaster.com and here on Radio TheSkyKid.com. In fact Skykid’s radio station is already playing all of Sam’s new song entries. Thanks Skykid!

The last week of Summer Vacation before going back to school, Sam attended the Mystery Creek, Hamilton Parachute Festival 2010.

Sam entered the Parachute’s Got Talent competition singing “Who’s Lovin You”.

Like many other performances, Sam had the audience screaming for him and captured the runner-up position, which for a 12 year old is more than a monumental achievement!

Break these Walls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zw6eJWfcpE

I believe this to be the best song that Sam has ever done! I love his ability to reach his upper register with the soft tones. Very different than what we are normally hearing from him. I really enjoy the diversity that Sam affords us and this new ballad I believe really showcases his strengths of voice control and deliverance! Sam is a true champion and I’m sure we have only begun to see what he will accomplish in his singing career!

Sam Verlinden is one amazing young talent! I have had the privilege to follow him closely this year with all his activities and his voice just keeps getting better and better. I really believe that we haven’t seen anything yet! Sam is getting ready to explode on the scene and we are all in for a great ride! Buckle your seat belts!

To learn more details about Sam please visit his official website .

All of this and more make Sam Verlinden more than a super singer; he can truly be defined as a Superlative Virtuoso!

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pan’s Labyrinth Review

According to director Guillermo del Toro, the stress and strain of making his 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) nearly killed him. Given how well the film turned out, one could argue it was worth the risk.

The story of 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War’s bloody aftermath, as defiant, elusive rebels wage potent guerilla warfare against Franco’s army. Ofelia finds herself in the unfortunate position of being the stepdaughter of Captain Vidal (Sergei Lopez i Ayats), a particularly violent adversary of the rebels. When she and her pregnant mother must relocate to the Captain’s country house/headquarters, Ofelia resorts to fantasy in order to escape the harsh Captain and his pathetically brutal world.

“The Captain is not my father!” exclaims Ofelia to Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), the housekeeper, when they first meet. “You’ve made that clear enough,” Mercedes replies. It’s no wonder Ofelia wants to firmly establish that there’s no hint of kinship between herself and the Captain: he is one of the most frightfully repellent villains in recent cinema, made all the more despicable by his moments of self-righteousness, wherein del Toro is wise enough to allow the brute the opportunity to make a valid point or two – even villains can be right about one thing or another, after all.

Her head always in books of fantasy or fairy tales, Ofelia naturally conjures such a fantastic surreality for her own escapes from the Captain’s unpleasant circle. Intrigued at first by a flying stick insect, she requires that her would-be fairies look like fairies, going so far as to show the insect a proper example in a book of such extravagant things. The insect promptly obliges and transforms itself into a fairy. Ofelia’s inner world demands such magic, wonder, and merriment, because her own real life falls woefully short on all fronts.

The fairy leads her out into the night, to an old stone labyrinth beneath which a cunning Faun has long awaited her reappearance, or so he tells her. She is not the human girl Ofelia but, rather, Princess Moanna, from the Underground Realm. To return to that wondrous kingdom from which she long ago fled, however, the princess must perform a series of tasks before the moon is full, to prove that she has not “become a mortal.” And so, Ofelia’s adventure begins in earnest.

To get caught up in the stuff of fairy tales is the rush of childhood; the fear is that one day, the door at the end of the labyrinthine path opens up, and the way forward – the coming of age – is made all too clear, whether we want to exit the maze or not. The greatest trick is finding ways to stay behind, if only in your mind, no matter what – to find a way to get away, back where you think you belong. Tricky, that – to never be “too old to fill your head with such nonsense.” But, in a world that seldom makes sense anyway, why shouldn’t a little nonsense be one’s logical goal?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbffV5LZfZI

Ofelia cannot help but explore that which she is forbidden – in essence, doing the hard work of growing up: breaking rules, getting dirty when necessary, taking one risk after the other – being herself. You can have your Harry Potters or Narnia warriors, but Ofelia is the bravest child to have stepped into the land of enchantment and wonder in these recent times. She answers the call, meets the demands, does what needs to be done; and she does so despite the greatest toll that must be exacted from her, and with only the least hesitation.

Through the brilliant work of composer Javier Navarrete, the film contains one of the most effectively heart-breaking pieces of music I’ve ever heard: the haunting lullaby, that replays in your head long after last seeing the film. Throughout, each note of music falls on each frame of film with just the right weight of resonance, first light as a feather, then heavy as your heart, from one moment to the next.

Del Toro has said that Pan’s Labyrinth is a sequel of sorts to The Devil’s Backbone, and that a third film is someday envisioned, although the possibility is remote, given how much of his heart and soul were expended on Ofelia’s sad tale. Still, one can hope that he will eventually finish the trilogy, at some point in his near film future.

[One note of warning: as with some of del Toro’s other films, the violence depicted is intense and may be disturbing to some.]

Gutta Boys

The Norwegian film, Gutta Boys (also known as Boys Will Be Boys and Poikien jutut), was released in 2006 in the form of a TV mini series. The DVD on which this review is based was released in the same year and features two disks that include seven episodes with a total running time of 175 minutes.

The series become popular after its nomination for the Emmy award and has since achieved popularity all over the world as one of the best coming of age series ever made for TV. Regular readers of this blog know of my affinity towards Scandinavian films – full features such as Da jeg traff Jesus… med sprettert , Nachttocht and En som Hodder and short films such as Min far er bokser , Iver , Verde andmy personal favoriteBenny’s Gym. In fact, the storyline of Gutta Boys is similar to the one in Benny’s Gym – as the issues such as action, friendship, confusion, loyalty and betrayal are common for both films.

The main protagonists of Gutta Boys are four twelve year old boys: Arne, Bønna (Bjørn Tore), Petter and Eivind, who are exploring their own boundaries and the ones of the world, being in that period of life which is often associated with the transition between childhood and adolescence. They are friends – and share similar interests – but naturally each of them has a unique personality and character which develops throughout the story.

Arne is a gentle boy who is back in school, and is getting reacquainted with friends, after a prolonged illness. He is tired of being sick and of making his parents concerned about him. His big goal is to catch up with what he believes he has missed. His best friend, Bønna, is determined to help him fulfill the three challenges that Arne sets for himself in a list titled “When I Get Better “. Those tasks include 1) archery – firing a real arrow with a bow into the sky and then testing their courage by not moving, risking that the arrow might hit them when it begins its descent to the ground; 2) – jumping from a huge rock into the frigid water of a lake and 3) – playing strip-poker .

Admittedly, most of the tasks Arne set for himself are similar to the ones my friends and I had when we were twelve ourselves. Only our tests of bravery involved swimming towards an island in the lake (well aware that some of us barely managed to keep ourselves on the surface), jumping from high rocks into the sea (on those occasions sometimes we jumped all together determined that if something happened it would happen to all, and if not we would all be heroes), crossing a frozen lake …etc. I am sure that many of you recall similar moments from your own childhood as that is one of the virtues of the coming of age stories in books and cinema – that they serve to make those memories return. And if the film is good – as good as Gutta Boys is – we are ready to re-live our own adventures as we watch the scenes on the screen.

Back to the film…

While the friendship between Arne and Bønna is the focus of the film, the other members of their gang, Petter and Eivind, play an important role as well. They all hang around, but Eivind’s parents are overprotective and Peter’s father is a policeman. These facts often exclude them from the wildest activities of the gang, especially the ones resulting from the plans of Bønna – who has problems with authority ( it reminds me of a friend of mine who is a look-alike of Bønna who even got in trouble once ,and me, every time I went along with him).

I won’t go into much more detail of the film’s plot so you can fully enjoy its twists and the mischief and adventures of the boys. However, I would mention that the direction was done exceptionally well and the performance of the cast was good on all levels. The cinematography of Gutta Boys is similar to the one in the modern Scandinavian films, featuring bright colours and frequent use of camera closeups on the characters’ faces to better convey their emotions to the viewer. I am also fond of the soundtrack of the series recorded by Fatter’n – who is a Norwegian film composer, rapper, hip hop-artist and producer. His hip hop vibes really fit well with the Gutta Boys series.

By the end of the film, you will inevitably associate with one of the main actors – Arne or Bønna. I associated with Arne (even if he seems a bit spoiled by his parents – despite his rebellion against that) as sometimes it seems that I need an extra push or encouragement to go ahead and do something crazy or wild. Some of you may dislike the character of Bønna because of his selfishness at times. But if you keep in mind all he has had to go through, with his mother absent and his feeling the need to project the image of being a tough and wild guy (even though he is no less sensitive than Arne), then I think you would better understand the motivation behind his ideas and actions. The film is bound to make you think about the different methods of parenting and the impact they have on children: the ever busy dad, the overprotective one, the intrusive one –one never knows what’s better. As for myself, I have very liberal parents and they have always allowed me to do what I wanted, even if I made the wrong decisions at times (as they allowed me to learn from my mistakes). Overall, this mini series can give you more food for thought than you might, at first, imagine.

I am sure that fans of the coming of age genre will greatly enjoy Gutta Boys and I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

This review would not have been possible without the valuable support of CVMC who provided the the DVD of Gutta Boys

All images used are property of Monster Film AS

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