Lana Del Rey: National Anthem Video (ft. A$AP Rocky)

Lana Del Rey's latest video for her single National Anthem is, according to A$AP Rocky, "some cool trippy shit, some real 2015 shit".

Proceeding the famous moment in which Lana imitates Marilyn Monroe singing for the president's birthday, the instagram-style video begins in unison with the song and both Lana and A$AP Rocky depict the perfect, presidential American lifestyle of JFK and his wife. This unblemished portrayal heightens the doomed fate at the end of the video as a gunshot sounds and the underlying message of the song comes to it's climax. The lingering shot of a tattoo reading "trust no-one" is quite significant to the story of JFK, considering how Marilyn was his lover and this video comes from the perspective of his wife. The audible voice of Lana is then carried out with an instrumental that is so emotionally burdened and powerful. It's just a perfect seven minute forty piece of cinema that represents the song beautifully.

For me, I find that this video captures the meaning of the lyrics perfectly, which I never quite understood as clearly without the visuals. It also brings into light such a monumental moment in history (JFK's assassination) that maybe the 'newer generation' hadn't known about prior to this.

p.s. Am I the only one who finds A$AP Rocky quite attractive with this powerful and polished demeanour?

Jay Z and Kanye West @ Radio 1's Hackney Weekend

This was a bit delayed but because of my contemplative state I was hesitant whether or not to post this. So, now I've made up my mind, enjoy this monumental moment.

Judging by the last performance of day one at Radio 1's Big Weekend, it may as well have been called the Jay Z and Kanye West show. Bringing out the old classics such as 99 Problems and On To The Next One, as well as inviting guests Rihanna and M.I.A to join him on stage for his two hour set, Jay Z certainly did not disappoint.

However, the performance reached its climax when Kanye West appeared to perform a multitude of songs from their album Watch The Throne. Delighting fans with Otis, Who Gon' Stop Me and No Chruch In The Wild, an electric atmosphere was created as the set approached the grand finale. Kanye teased the audience with "but there's still one city we ain't taken y'all to yet" and everyone knew what was coming as "ball so hard motherfuckers wanna fine me" resonated around the immense crowd gathered to see hip-hop's finest duo perform Niggas In Paris. With glimpses of Beyonce moshing in the pit, everyone followed suit and absorbed the heavy beats that are impossible to resist moving to. It was bloody brilliant. The three encores. "AGAIN?" Three.

IT SOUNDS SO BEAUTIFUL DON'T YOU AGREE? 

Update / News / Changes

Exciting news! You may have realised that I've changed the name of my blog from musicandmollie to Stereo Specs, allow me to explain...

Okay, so I realise that I have been a bit distant from this blog in recent weeks; I've been considering changing to a different format and style and what not as I have been in deliberation as to whether or not I should create a music blog solely for that purpose. So, after a lot of contemplation, I've decided that I shall continue to use musicandmollie, now Stereo Specs, to write and inform about the latest and greatest musical developments. Exciting, right?

 But, don't think that this is the last of Mollie. In order to continue writing my more personal posts, as well as the odd musical exploration, I have created a brand new blog that I hope to use as a kind of scrapbook; somewhere to discuss my latest musings, such as recent obsessions, as well as developing my writing in doing so.

So basically,

New name: Stereo Specs | A blog solely for music posts.

My Personal Blog: Musings of Mollie | A place for me to express my latest interests etc. so I don't interrupt this blog.

Who knows, I may find this a completely useless idea and end up using this blog for everything but ho hum.

Here is my thanks expressed in a photo set that I like to call 'A Series Of Unfortunate Faces':

Touch Me

Touch Me
Yasmin and Jamie xx

"If I let you feel on me you gon' have to play this one more time" Indeed, the majority of listeners will be playing this one more time. The steel pans that continue within this song from start to finish create such a mellow atmosphere amid the snapping beats that Jamie xx is largely known for. With the delicate touch of Yasmin's voice, that isn't always perfectly in sync with the music, as well as the rhythm delving into darker corners as it swells into the main melody, an enticing mood lingers that leaves you wondering what's going to happen next.


If you aren't within this majority of listeners then I suggest you consider getting your ears tested.

Jamie xx is just brilliant.