Yatharth Ratnum Rastogi

Yatharth Ratnum Rastogi -a young treble from India

I am absolutely astonished by the young talents that exist in this world, sharing their talent with devotion, passion and determination – that one could only appreciate. A few days ago, in an e-mail sent via the contact form of this blog, I found out about Yatharth Ratnum Rastodi . At the tender age of 12 – he is a big star in India (I won’t hesitate comparing him with what Declan Galbraith was in Europe), having thousands of devoted fans.

Yatharth, who is from the holy city of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges in the north-east of India, was a contestant on a TV show from Mumbai called “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs”. A children’s version of a cross between (“<your country here>’s Got Talent” and “<your country here> Idol”). The Grand Finale was held last October 29 in a huge sports arena in Mumbai. Yatharth only came in second place out of the remaining three contestants, which greatly surprised his many Indian fans.

Here is a clip from his participation in the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L’il Champs 2009″

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rRpquVqu3U

The singers in the competition all sang well known songs from famous Bollywood movies and are judged by professional adult singers and guest adult singers. My correspondent is endeavoring to have Yatharth honored at the 31st Annual Young Artist Awards in 2010.

In an e-mail to theskykid.com, in which he provided the majority of information about Yatharth, he also states that :

“India has, and is, producing some surprisingly great young talent. I think, in part, most of it is due to a very high standard of education, not only in the arts, but in all fields.”

The music performed by Yatharth has an exotic sound to me. Yet, I am impressed by his vocal abilities and the way the music seems to be flowing through him. He sings with his soul and I am not surprised that his fans adore him for that. I would like to quote part of an article about him which I found in ” The Sur Family” blog while researching for more information about Yatharth. In it Abhi writes :

” ….In the 2009 series of “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs” – one singer has simply held me spellbound in every performance – Yatharth Ratnum Rastogi !! I cannot watch Yathart perform while sitting still. I am too excited for that. It’s like watching Ronaldo possessing the soccer ball – you know some magic is bound to happen – don’t know what!! Same with Yatharth – I know for sure that I am going to experience the pure magic of music for the next few minutes. He has mesmerized audiences and accomplished judges with his vocal renditions. I am not trained in music to evaluate anyone; however, what has appealed to me is his control over his tonal quality. He knows exactly what to do with his notes – when to “throw” them, when to stretch tahem and how to land them. ..|

…to read the entire article by Abhi follow this link to the Sur Family Blog

For those of you who are hearing about Yatharth for the very first time, I hope that my introduction was interesting to you. If you do a search about him on Google, or any other search engine, you are sure to find a lot more information about him in forums, video sharing sites and the like. Feel free to use the rating system of this blog and share your opinion, about either Yatharth or this introduction, in the comments section below. To complete this article I would like to share with you my favorite performance of Yatharth:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA9roK-kVCA

Follow Yatharth Ratnum Rastogi on Facebook

Da obichash na inat / Stubborn Love (Europe: English title)

Although I have seen the movie many times, to write this review I have watched it once again and I must say that again I found it interesting. I generally do not like watching movies a few times, but this is one of the few movies I can watch again and again.

In general, the story of the movie is about 14 year old Plamen (Ivan Velkov) and his father Rado (Velko Kynev). Rado Peshev is 40 years old, and has worked as a truck driver delivering fruits and vegetables. He has a 14 year-old son,Plamen, and a good wife. Plamen accidentally learns that his father is involved in illegal transactions. An incident at school confronts the family with the issues of fairness and compromise and causes Plamen to run away from home. Because of this, Rado decides to withdraw from his illegal operations. But it turns out that it is not so easy to get out of the “game”.

At the beginning of the film, the father gives his son a lesson: “if you are right, keep faith til the end”. This is the main idea of the film. You must, at any cost, defend the truth regardless of consequences. Is it normal to require that you be honest if all others around you are not?

The main conclusion of the film is that the truth is most important and you must have faith in it because, in the end, it is all you have. You may not make compromises with it to serve an individual or authority. Defending the truth is a sign of both civic and personal courage.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QHKh5tfeCw

The actors in the movie bring their roles to life at an incredibly good level. The same applies to the direction of the film and work with the camera.

The movie has won various awards for cinematography, the Critics Award, an award for best director, and the best actor prize. But maybe the most prestigious of all awards is the Special Jury Prize and the prize “Don Quixote” of the International Film Festival, Karlovy Vary, 1986 .

In the end, this is and will remain one of my favorite movies. It is one of the proofs showing that, although communism inflicted enormous damage to the whole of Bulgaria and Eastern Europe, this region (Eastern Europe and Bulgaria in particular) had, and still has, something to show to the world.

According to the film`s IMDB page Da obichash na Inat was also released in Finland and Sweeden under the titles :

Att älska motvilligt and Rakastaa tahtomattaan

This is a guest review by Spooky. Read his author`s note below :

This is my first movie review. In it I present to you one of my favorite coming of age films — one that perhaps few people know about because it was filmed in 1986, in then communist Bulgaria. I asked SkyKid to publish this review in his blog and he gladly agreed. If you liked this review, I will write others about various unfamiliar but noteworthy Bulgarian and East Europe movies in the future.

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus: Great Film For The Season

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus is a great film for Xmas starring Dominic Scott Kay as Jake. The story is about Santa’s son Nick finding a wife. Well Jake has just the right person for the job — his mom Beth. Beth dosent believe in Santa, but of course Jake does. This makes for a big problem,as she has to believe in order to be Mrs. Claus. Jake and Nick have their hands full making Beth believe in Santa. While Jake doesnt know that Nick is Santa’s son, he soon learns there is something different about him, something magical.

Dominic does a wonderful job in this film (as well as in many others he appears in). He can make you laugh, and then steal your heart . This film, along with Meet The Santas, are great holiday films. Dominic has many films to choose from — 21 so far. He also has starred in six TV shows. That is a big accomplishment for someone who is now only 13 years old. He has done voice overs in Santa Buddies and Air Buddies as the voice of Buddha, as well playing Adam in Snow Buddies.

As amazing as all this is for a young man, Dominic also directed,wrote and starred in Saving Angelo, which is based on a true story about a dog he and his family found on the side of the road. Unfortunately, this film got caught up in a legal battle. Dominic did come out on top, but the release date is unclear. It should be a good film when it is.

Looking for some good films to watch? Check out some of Dominic’s films and you will not be disappointed.

Kirill Ermakov

A young treble from Belarus – Kirill Ermakov

Yesterday I discovered a young singer from Belarus – Kirill Ermakov . I haven’t stopped listening to his songs since. Energy just pops out of Kirill’s songs. I especially like a song of his titled “Я твой герой” (I’m Your Hero). You can also listen to him sing in Italian doing his cover of Adriano Celentano’s classic hit “Italiano”.

Kirill was born in the city of Minsk on 09 July 1996. He goes to the middle school in the same city and to a music school where he studies violin and piano. He’s had performances in a variety of venues in his country and abroad (including New Year theatrical performances in New York). His repertoire includes many songs of his own composition ( “Shall We Dance?”,”Dream”, “In Heaven”,”I’m Your Hero”, “I Sing For You”, “Our Programs W blakitnymi vachami”, etc.). Kirill also enjoys shooting and editing video clips. He assembled the clips in his songs: “Our Programs W blakitnymi vachami” and “Dream.”

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

Visit the official site of Kirill Ermakov ( most of his songs can be downloaded from there )

La Lengua de las Mariposas

I’ve always had a soft spot for coming-of-age stories, so when friends kept raving about this Spanish gem, Butterfly’s Tongue ( with its original title La Lengua de las Mariposas ), I knew it would be right up my alley. There’s something timeless about movies belonging to the genre — that mixture of innocence, curiosity, and the slow realization that the world is bigger, messier, and sometimes more painful than we imagined. This film captures all of that — not just in a memorable way, but like a scent from childhood, it lingers long after the final frame.

Butterfly’s Tongue instantly brought to mind several beloved coming-of-age classics. Its central bond between a curious child and a wise, gentle mentor echoes the emotional depth of Cinema Paradiso, with that same undercurrent of bittersweet nostalgia. The film’s child’s-eye view of a quietly shifting world reminded me of Kolya and My Life As a Dog. It also calls to mind Secrets of the Heart, not only in its tone and perspective but in the presence of a young, beautiful protagonist whose expressive eyes and quiet sensitivity draw the viewer in and hold the story’s emotional center.

Michael Thomson summed it perfectly in his BBC review from 26 July 2000: “Manuel Lozano, as the seven-year-old Moncho, is particularly powerful when he has to do more than just look anxious and cute (his cuteness loads the dice too much).

Set in a quiet Galician village in the 1930s, the film follows a gentle little boy named Moncho — played by the incredible Manuel Lozano. Moncho is shy, sweet, and delicate; his mother lovingly calls him “sparrow.” Just that nickname alone reveals the film’s emotional tone: tender, intimate, and full of heart.

Moncho, who suffers from asthma, is filled with dread the night before his first day of school — terrified by rumors that his new teacher might beat him. But everything changes once he meets Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernán Gómez), the teacher assigned to his class. Don Gregorio is kind and respectful, earning his students’ attention without raising his voice or hand. As Moncho begins to feel safe, his world starts to open up. A deep bond forms between the boy and his teacher, and from that point on, the film gently follows their relationship and Moncho’s early steps into the complexities of growing up.

The bond between Moncho and Don Gregorio stayed with me. Their scenes felt so genuine that, at times, I felt like I was the one sitting in that classroom — quietly absorbing lessons about life, books, and values. That’s something I love about well-executed coming-of-age films: they don’t just show someone growing up; they let you grow alongside them.

Soon after his first days at school, Moncho has an experience that marks a step toward growing up—he and an older schoolmate secretly watch a couple making love. Until this moment, the film comes across as a gentle, almost nostalgic look at childhood, leading the viewer to expect a simple, idealized coming-of-age story. But the Spanish director quietly shifts this expectation, showing that childhood is not always the sweet, perfect time often portrayed in some American films. From there, the film gradually builds emotional tension, layer by layer, leading to a powerful and heart-wrenching finale.

The set and costume design of Butterfly’s Tongue are beautifully detailed, anchoring us in 1930s Galicia. The simple schoolroom, with its worn desks and modest furnishings, feels true to the era. Meanwhile, the lush forest where Don Gregorio teaches Moncho about butterflies bursts with tall trees and soft sunlight, creating a vivid sense of wonder. These elements bring the story to life, making the time and place feel real, not just a faded memory.

The director cast Lozano from among 1,500 auditioning children, calling him “a genius of interpretation.” Watching the film, I agree. So much of Moncho’s coming-of-age journey is told through his eyes — eyes that reflect fear, wonder, defiance, and ultimately, betrayal. In fact, in many of the Spanish films I’ve seen, it’s the eyes of the protagonists — not the plot — that tell the true story.

When I first saw the film back in the early 2000s, I was moved by its tenderness, its understated wisdom, and the tragic sweep of history that slowly but inevitably intrudes upon a boy’s world. Watching it again now, nearly two decades later, I’m struck by how much more it gives — and how deeply it still affects me. It’s a unique coming-of-age story that unfolds with quiet warmth, only to deliver a sudden, profound heartbreak that mirrors life itself. If you appreciate cinema that explores the delicate balance of innocence and disillusionment with emotional depth, I highly recommend it.

Title: La Lengua de las Mariposas

Director: José Luis Cuerda

Release year: 1999, Canal+ España

Cast : Fernando Fernan Gomez, Manuel Lozano, Uxia Blanco, Gonzalo Uriarte, Alexis de los Santos, Jesus Castejon, Guillermo Toledo, Elena Fernandez, Tamar Novas, Tatan and others

This review is included in the book Coming Of Age Movies: Growing Up On Screen

Nicolai Kielstrup

Since he won the MGP 2005 for Denmark, 18 year old Nicolai Kielstrup’s success has grown enormously. He really is an extremely talented singer/dancer and has already released three albums, one single and performed lots of concerts.

His career in music and dance began when he won MGP 2005. But dance training began much earlier. From the age of 4 he was very much interested in dancing hip hop, street, breakdance and funk. When he became 10, he started at Legoland Show Academy, where he was skilled in dance and drama for two years. It was also here that the young boy, for the first time, began to show his interest for the songs and to develop his voice.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F60KthtyiU

Educated from Legoland Show Academy, Nicolai had the courage to seize the chance and make a song for MGP. Soon the young boy got selected and became included into the program. He and his three dancing girls won the show with ‘Shake – Shake – Shake’ and so his career started to become what it is nowadays.

At that time, nobody could foresee that the talented performer would have his third album on the streets by 2009. But when Nicolai sets himself a goal, he goes right after it and it is clear that he is very ambitious about his music and dance.

“I am probably the person who has the greatest expectations for myself. I am very much a perfectionist about my music and my performances and I am always working to make them as good as possible. If I am not completely satisfied, then I will discard everything and start all over until I am completely satisfied”, says the purposeful singing and dancing talent.

Music and dance are a big part of Nicolai’s life. And because he was so young when he started to sing and dance, he develops himself with music like the music evolves with him.

“I can clearly feel that I have developed myself from album to album. For example, I discovered that my messages have become more serious on my latest CD. One of the tracks is death – the losing of one you love- and I was certainly too young to sing about that three years ago. But it is obviously not serious messages all the time”, says the young Jutlander with a twinkle in his eye and continues…

“I also find that music is a good tool to find myself and get really mature. The music evolves with me and I develop myself with music – it is mutual.”

With his weekly dance hours in Copenhagen, regular singing hours, work in the studio and appearances on weekends, the 18-year-old heart throb also finds the time to attend Business College in Vejle.

Nicolai now has his own dog. It is a golden retriever who has been named Bonzo. The singer has always enjoyed the company of these kinds of dogs. Already since he was a child. There were two families who both had golden retrievers and Nicolai spent lots of hours playing with the dogs. One of them was also called Bonzo. When the family visited the kennel Nicolai had two favourite puppies and one of them was the 10 weeks old Bonzo. It is a very independent, clever, curious, forward-rushing and loving dog. But most important is that when Nicolai comes home he gets a super-welcome.

Albums

Nicolai, 2006 – sold 30.000 copies and resulted in platinum
Stage 2, 2007 – sold 25.000 copies and resulted in gold
Dejavu – Tilbage til mig, 2009 (+ Diva Baby in English)

Single

Det for sent nu, November 2008

New demo songs in English

Still care, December 2009
Figure it out, December 2009

Websites

http://www.myspace.com/nicolaikielstrup
http://www.youtube.com/user/NicolaiKielstrup
http://www.arto.com/section/user/profile/?id=4911774
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicolai-Kielstrup/20740836784?ref=ts

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The article above is guest contribution of :

Jonas – http://twitter.com/electrrricity

Cross My Heart and Hope to Die

Ti kniver i hjertet ( Cross My Heart and Hope to Die) is one of the coming of age films I have always wanted to see. For no particular reason – other than its title, which grabbed my attention. After I have seen it, I am quite confused by it , which does not come as a surprise keeping in mind that Ti kniver i hjertet is a Norwegian movie and these sometimes tend to be abstract or hard to interpret. As seen on the cover, the movie is being marketed as being filmed “in the tradition of My Life As A Dog”. As I have seen that one too – I could only agree with that, especially when it comes to the director’s choice of letting the viewer wonder what was the main idea he intended to project in his work.

To me the idea behind the film is trying to answer the question :

Is there a decision which, once taken, can shape your whole life?

The movie seeks to answer that question while telling Otto’s coming of age tale (Martin Dahl Garfalk) – a young boy who lives in a quiet, small town in Norway. It’s an ordinary town, inhabited with…an ordinary people (or are they?). Otto is a quiet boy and his shyness makes him an outsider amongst his teammates on the local football team. While observing the other boys playing, a strange teenager appears on the benches one day. He gets Otto’s attention and then makes an odd request …

Later on, Otto and that ” stranger ” become friends and this friendship changes how Otto sees the world around him. Yet when they discover a dead body – things change – there is some mystery surrounding Franc (the new friend of Otto). That discovery, and later ones formed by his observation of the adults’ behavior around him, shape Otto’s coming of age experience.

Admittedly, Cross My Heart and Hope to Die is not my kind of film. That’s why I would hesitate to recommend it. Yet, from other reviews I have read, I know that some people are rather fond of it. In his Variety review, Leonard Clady calls Ti kniver i hjertet ” an arresting and novel coming-of-age tale, “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” is yet another intelligent, entertaining youth drama from Norway.” I found the film too grim and moody for my taste.

In the end, I will leave it up to you to decide if the film is worth watching – and when you do see it, come back to this review and let me know your opinion of it…

Germany’s Next big Super Star!

This past September we spent some time in Australia followed up with just a short flight across the ocean to New Zealand. This month we travel to Dortmund Germany where we find one of the best young voices that Dortmund has ever birthed.

Thomas Hans, a young man who will turn 14 on December 2nd, sings and performs like he was twice that age and has already captured an audience of thousands.

When I first heard Thomas sing I was amazed at his vocal quality. There are many treble singers, but only a few who can capture the essence of a song like Thomas. He immediately catches the attention of the older set due to his unique interest in music that is more than four decades his senior. Listen to Thomas as he belts out “ONLY YOU” or his rendition of “Unchained Melodies” below or visit his You-Tube Channel or his Web Site for some of the other songs that he truly makes his own.

Although Thomas is just in his early teens he is no rookie to singing. He began his singing career at ten years old after being discovered by his music teacher in primary school, where he sang as a soloist in the Dortmund choir. The choir used Classical Music in their repertoire which is most likely how Thomas came to love this type of music. He told us that he enjoys many types of music, but especially enjoys Classical, classic rock, pop, and ballads.

Thomas has performed in many singing contests. In September of 2008 he performed in the semi finals at the Kiddy Contest in Vienna. This past February he was invited to perform as the only boy from Duetschprachigen Europe with 5 girls in a Disney Channel Competition for the title song of Hannah Montana’s Best of Both Worlds. In April he competed in “Germany’s Next Show Stars” followed up by his June appearance in Germany’s DAS SUPER TALENT where he made it to the 3rd round finals. This past summer he performed at the Talent Show in Oberhausen and in Düsseldorf.

Thomas enjoys a variety of foods but Italian and Chinese are his favorites. He lists his favorite drinks as Spetzi water and malts. Thomas loves to swim and really enjoys zombieball. Bruce Almighty and The Pink Panther are his favorite movies and names Mel Brooks, Leslie Nelson and Charlie Sheen as his favorite Actors. Television shows he enjoys are: Two and half men, Futurama and the Simpsons.

Thomas feels most comfortable in his leather jacket and jeans but will dress in a suite if the occasion calls for it. School subjects he most likes are English, Music & Sports. Thomas can speak Russian, French, Spanish, Latin and English as well as his native German tongue.

This is one amazing young man who you will want to follow both on his You-Tube Site and his own Site. Be sure you return to learn more about Thomas as I will update you as he forwards more information to me about his most recent activities, concerts, gigs, and appearances.

Thomas! We are truly a fan and will be watching in anticipation for your next video release, song, or competition. Without a doubt, you are a fresh young performer that has already proven to have what it takes to be Germany’s next BIG STAR!

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The article above is a guest contribution by Rivenmaster. He has an amazing blog described as:

“Rivenmaster’s Place is the home to Young Treble singers, aspiring actors, and talented youth.“

Bones – an upcoming coming of age flick

The forum of this blog was never too active, yet it was the birth place of many good articles thanks to its members. Now strychnine turned my attention towards an upcoming coming of age flick called “Bones”. Zakk Wylde and Jimmy Bennett star in the film – and that is guaranteed to attract some attention to it.

There is not much information about the film yet – but we do have an official summary that states that: “Bones is described as a heartbreaking coming-of-age story of four teens growing up in 1989 blue-collar New York, and the bond that would tie them together for life.” The film is written and directed by Frank Pestarino and is scheduled to be released in 2010. What we also know is that it was filmed in New York and its current status is “Post production “.

Strychnine writes that the film’s mindset reminds him of movies like ‘Jet Boy‘ and ‘Little Criminals‘ , and also reminds us that Jimmy Bennett played the younger Jimmy in ‘The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things‘. After seeing the trailer, I could not agree more with him. In addition to that, the film seems to feature a killer soundtrack – judging from the vibes included in the trailer.

Now see it for yourself and let me know what you think of it. Will “Bones” be a film you will see when it gets released?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9oYWLb-5eo

Brendan MacFarlane – “Tennessee’s Best Kept Secret”

Tennessee’s Best Kept Secret
May Live In Perthshire Scotland

( check out the review of Brendan`s first album – The Road )

Among the wonderful sounds of life in Perthshire, Scotland you may not expect to hear the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. But it appears that God and nature has blessed them with just that.

Young Brendan MacFarlane is as country as Tennessee itself. And although you may have to listen carefully when he speaks in that Scottish brogue honoring his heritage, when he sings he is American Country all the way.

Inspired by the sounds of Johnny Cash, Brendan was hooked at an early age, which is something this writer can understand. My father used to hang with Cash, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and Minnie Pearl when he was very young. So this music was a mainstay in my home. It talks to your soul. Brendan felt that calling and answered it the way God would have you use a great gift that he has given to you. And he wasn’t gonna wait until he was older to do it. And what a gift he has.

Establishing a presence on YouTube the early part of 2008, he stunned the network with his renditionof Ray Charles’s “I’ve Got A Woman” that now has over 350,000 unique views. The sounds and those blue eyes stole many hearts right off the bat.

Brendan was gracious enough to answer some questions for theskykid.com in an interview.
We’d like to share parts that discussion with you.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L7rp9aGwnM

You’re 12 years old now. You have a really great voice. You’ve been singing for a long time now right? How old were you when you started to sing?

I was two when I started to sing.
Hank Williams ‘I’m So Lonesome I could Cry’ was the song that started me off.

Do you remember the first time you sang with a microphone? What was it like?

I was four years old the first time I sang with a microphone. I really enjoyed it.

I love singing in front of a big audience.

What does it feel like when you are on stage singing?

It’s hard to describe, but as I said before, I love it.

What year are you in, in school right now?

I’m in first year of high school. It’s the same as your eighth grade.

Do you sing in school too?

Not at this school. I sang in primary school talent competitions a couple of times.

What do your friends think about the kind of music you’ve chosen to sing? I mean America country, is that popular in Perthshire?

They think it’s great and they have started to listen to it. Country music is big in Scotland.

Johnny Cash’s family are from Falkland, about 20 minutes drive from me.

Country music is steeped in Scottish influences.

What is it about Country music that you like?

It’s honest music. I like the stories behind the songs.

I see that you also like to sing Gospel. God is a pretty big part of your life, then, is that right?

I love singing gospel because it makes me feel good. I’m a Christian.

Well personally I thank God for gifting the world with your wonderful voice.Do you like any other types of music?

I like all genres of music, as long as you can sing along to it.

Do you sing in the Gaelic language of your homeland?

There are a lot of beautiful Gaelic songs, but I don’t sing in Gaelic.

It’s a dying language, which is really sad. I’ll maybe try it in the future.

So you are coming to America. Are you excited about that?

I can’t wait to get back to America.

I was in New York and Nashville in August for meetings with people.

I love New York, there’s always something happening. And I love Nashville because of the music

– the home of country music.

What do you want to see the most when you got to America?

The inside of a recording studio. lol. I look forward to seeing the friends I met in August.

Now let’s talk about your new song, “Money Won’t”. Who wrote it?

‘Money Won’t’ was written by myself with the help of Bizzy and my dad.

We have great fun working together on songs.

Well I have had the great privilege to listen to it and it is really something.Tell us what that song means to you.

The song, to me, is that there are a lot more things in life that are more important than money.

Other people read other things into it, which is great.

Your Dad is pretty musical and you are writing songs together I understand. Can you tell us about the album you are putting together? And when will it be out?

The album is going to be released early next year, if all goes well.

It is a roots/gospel/country crossover with a lot of our own influences added.

And what part does Bizzy play?The information says that you are writing the songs for the new album with your dad and Bizzy and Donny.We see that your Dad plays guitar and banjo.

Donny plays mandolin and guitar.Does Bizzy write lyrics, music or play an instrument or just jump up and down waving a rubber chicken to keep you smiling when you are singing or what?

Bizzy write lyrics, fantastic lyrics. He also does backing vocals. He does keep us smiling when the going gets tough.

Now this one is important, so pay attention.When you get over to America and start meeting all these great countryfans, they are going to hear that Scottish accent and see those beautiful blue eyes and I suspect the girls are going to be asking if there is a girlfriend at home.Do you want to tell ’em or just keep ’em guessing?

Just keep ’em guessing. Not got enough time for girls – just now.

Brendan’s beginnings had a rough start, but all the obstacles have since been removed and he is free to become all that he can be.

Bring it on Brendan! America and the world are waiting for you.

Brendan`s first single Money Won’t is available to download from iTunes, eMusic, amazon, nokia music store, napster, 7digital, Deezer and we7.

Liam James

Liam James – Introduction

Liam James Most people would know Liam James from the short flashbacks at the beginning of every Psych episode, where he plays the young Shawn. His acting career however, contains many more titles. He was first seen in Good Luck Chuck, followed by Things We Lost in the Fire — where he appeared as an extra only for few seconds.

In Fred Claus, he played the character of the young Fred, while in Horsemen he was the son of Dennis Quaid’s character – a detective who’s after a brutal serial killer. Then he started appearing, on a regular basis, in the episodes of Psych, where he perfectly portrays the young Shawn in flashbacks showing moments from his childhood. It was because of these episodes that people started to notice him. He also had a short, but noticeable, appearance in an episode of Fear Itself.

Liam James 2 Undoubtedly, it can be said that his actual breakthrough came this year with the release of Roland Emerich’s blockbuster 2012, the film about a global cataclysm which strikes the world on the winter solstice of 2012, according to the Mayan calendar. In this catastrophic flick, Liam James is featured, along with John Cusack. Portraying Cusack’s son, Liam delivers a brilliant performance people will definitely remember. While filming 2012, he also did some of his own stunts while submerged.

Hopefully, 2012 will finally launch Liam into the galaxy of stars and we will see a lot more from this talented young man.

This article is a guest contribution by William Spenser.

Justin Bieber – My World

No matter if you are into pop music or not -chances are you have heard of Justin Bieber. His name seems to be popping up everywhere these days – My Space, Twitter, Facebook, radios, TV shows – this Canadian singer, his fans, and management have created a huge hype around his name and music.

Much like Troye Sivan, Justin Bieber began his career on YouTube, where he noticed Scooter Braun. The rise of young stars out of social media sites these days is astonishing. If you have been following this blog for a while, you may recall when Bestpi (one of the authors here) called YouTube: “The Largest Casting Call in History.”

After releasing four widely successful singles, on November 17, 2009, Justin Biber released his debut album My World.

Quoting one of the many fan sites that appeared for Justin: “From social networking to iTunes to the billboard charts, Justin Bieber is already a dominating presence in the music industry…”

I got a copy of his album and will try to tell you my opinion on it after hearing the songs one by one – most for the very first time. What I have noted, though, was the label through which the album was released – “Island Records ” – I knew it from before as the same company that used to work with Hanson during the release of their third album “This Time Around.” Yet, due to a conflict with the producers, the brothers left ” Island Records ” and created their own independent label, 3CG Records. So I was curious to see the same label working with another young performer – and can only hope Justin has an experience with them that is smoother.

My world features 8 tracks – namely: “One Time,” “Favorite Girl,” “Down to Earth,” “Bigger,” “One Less Lonely Girl,” “First Dance” (featuring Usher), “Love Me” and “Common Denominator.” Most of the lyrics are typical for teenaged performers and are about love, girls, growing up, and having fun. His style can be described as lighthearted, and the songs are quite rhythmic. My favorite song from the album is “Down to Earth” – probably because I found it the most lyrical of all. “Love Me” has a really nice beat – in fact, it reminded me of a famous disco song ( The Cardigan’s “Lovefool” ). The rest of the songs are fine – even if they do not really stick to me.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHVhwcOg6y8

Typically for teen stars like Justin, the majority of his fans are girls – and I expect that some of them won’t miss their chance to express an opinion about his album in the comments to this post. While I am not considering myself a fan – I appreciate his talent, hard work, and determination. For some bizarre reason, Justin has many haters, too (I can recall a similar situation with Hanson a few years ago)….honestly, I can not understand such people. After all, no one forces them to listen to his songs.

I think that Justin Bieber deserved to have his post in my blog and leave it to share your own opinion of his music and album.

TheSkyKid.com

TheSKyKid.com

Yatharth Ratnum Rastogi