Pounded...plus 20p.

The recession has hit people hard. It's even hitting us students and to be fair, we don't really complain. We get 10% off in most shops and we LOVE own-brand food from the supermarkets; We do complain quite a lot when our student union bumps up the prices of drinks on a club night...POUNDED as the name would suggest is £1 entry and £1 drinks...WRONG. Due to these tough financial times its still £1 entry but £1.20 drinks, which might I add are a single measure of your chosen spirit and a dribble of mixer. I quite like to be able to enjoy my drink, rather than squinting ater because the JD is warm and too strong. That might explain why last night it was fairly empty. There was no queue and easier than normal to get a drink. West St would have been a better option but we opted for the cheap night out due to the aftermath of freshers. I've only been to pounded twice...I think it will have to remain that way.

"In for £1, drinks for £1! Does exactly what it says on the tin."
I think the union need to update thier website...

Pounded plus 20 pennies - I'm not impressed.

The teacher has been taught a lesson...

I heard Alexandra Burke's single in the car on the way to Alton Towers about a month ago; I didn't realise that her X-factor mentor, Cheryl Cole was releasing a single just a week after in October.
Now I'm going to put this out there before I start, I don't like either. It's not my type of music and I don't watch reality TV like the X-factor but I will say after listening to both songs, I definitely have a preference.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that it is a no-brainer that Cheryl Cole, one fifth of Girls Aloud who have become one of the biggest selling female groups of all time, would release the better of the two singles; that is not the case. Alexandra Burke (with a bit of help from Flo-Rida) has topped C.C's efforts. Maybe Cheryl should take some of her own advise.

Read more and watch the videos.

HP or Twilight?

There was a full party discussion about this the other night which became rather heated and there were almost (hypothetical) fangs and wands at the ready.

The result: The party was split virtually down the middle, with a few who couldn't decide just teetering on the magical fence. I personally read about 8 pages of a the twilight series and put it down. Now, I like my magical, mystical reads so that was quite odd. Harry Potter just wins for me everytime. Maybe it's because I grew up with Harry and it helped me to stay interested, I don't know, but I won't turn my nose too far up at the Twilight series until I manage to sit throught the whold film without finding what is going on outside my window more interesting...

What is your favourite film?

It’s a question that is guaranteed to cause disagreement; there is no set answer and what one person loves another might hate. Amongst my group of friends alone, if we were to compile a collaborative favourite films list, the range would be huge; From Schindler's List to P.S. I Love You. So if I were to ask you what your favourite film was, what would you say? I know I would struggle to name one specific film because there is an abundance of top films out there. I could probably whittle it down to my top 10 but then there is always that situation of ‘Oh my god, that’s a brilliant film; I completely forgot that one!’ and then my top ten could rapidly expanded quite uncontrollably.

I like to frequent IMBD (It’s probably one of the most visited website of mine) for the low-down on the latest films; for actor bios and to see what people have said about older films that have been suggested to me. So, to prove just how vast and varied the answer to this question can be I have had a look at the top 250 films on the site as chosen by voters. I don’t want to swamp you with 250 but I will give you the top one hundred:

     Rank     Rating    Title

• 1.      9.1       The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (See picture below)

             Courtesy: IMDB.com

• 2.      9.1       The Godfather (1972)
• 3.      9.0       The Godfather: Part II (1974)
• 4.      8.9       Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966)
• 5.      8.9       Pulp Fiction (1994)
• 6.      8.9       Schindler's List (1993)
• 7.      8.8       12 Angry Men (1957)
• 8.      8.8       One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
• 9.      8.8       The Dark Knight (2008)
• 10.    8.8       Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• 11.    8.8       Casablanca (1942)
• 12.    8.8       Star Wars (1977)
• 13.    8.8       The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• 14.    8.8       Shichinin no samurai (1954)
• 15.    8.7       Goodfellas (1990)
• 16.    8.7       Rear Window (1954)
• 17.    8.7       Cidade de Deus (2002)
• 18.    8.7       Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) (See picture below)
  
             Courtesy: IMDB.com
  
• 19.    8.7       Fight Club (1999)
• 20.    8.7       The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• 21.    8.7       C'era una volta il West (1968)
• 22.    8.7       The Usual Suspects (1995)
• 23.    8.7       Psycho (1960)
• 24.    8.6       The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• 25.    8.6       Sunset Blvd. (1950)
• 26.    8.6       The Matrix (1999)
• 27.    8.6       Memento (2000)
• 28.    8.6       Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
• 29.    8.6       North by Northwest (1959)
• 30.    8.6       It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
• 31.    8.6       Se7en (1995)
• 32.    8.6       The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• 33.    8.6       Citizen Kane (1941)
• 34.    8.6       Léon (1994)
• 35.    8.6       Apocalypse Now (1979)
• 36.    8.6       American Beauty (1999)
• 37.    8.5       Taxi Driver (1976)
• 38.    8.5       American History X (1998) (See picture below)
  
            Courtesy: IMDB.com
  
• 39.    8.5       Up (2009)
• 40.    8.5       Vertigo (1958)
• 41.    8.5       Forrest Gump (1994)
• 42.    8.5       Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
• 43.    8.5       Inglourious Basterds (2009)
• 44.    8.5       WALL•E (2008)
• 45.    8.5       Paths of Glory (1957)
• 46.    8.5       Double Indemnity (1944)
• 47.    8.5       Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
• 48.    8.5       M (1931)
• 49.    8.5       Alien (1979)
• 50.    8.5       To Kill a Mockingbird (1962 

It’s a list full of classics and something for everyone. It’s definitely given me a few ideas. So, with that little bit of inspiration from IMDB, what is my favourite films list? I’ll include the stats from IMDB too.

      Rank    Rating    Title

• 1.       8.6       American Beauty (1999) (see pic below)
  
         Courtesy: IMDB.com
  
• 2.       8.2       The Big Lebowski (1998)
• 3.       7.4       American Psycho (2000)
• 4.       7.3       Beetle Juice (1988)
• 5.       7.9       Being John Malkovich (1999) (See picture below)
  
                 Courtesy: IMDB.com
  
• 6.       8.0       The Truman Show (1998)
• 7.       7.0       Anchorman (2004)
• 8.       7.8       The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
• 9.       7.3       Burn After Reading (2008)
• 10.     8.2       Scarface (1983)

I personally love nothing better than a film and good company (simultaneously) so I’m always open to suggestions of films to watch. I often find that I end up buying the suggested film too which is always nice; it adds a bit of personality to the collection I am building; so recommend away!

Currently in my DVD player: The Weather Man – IMDB rating = 6.9/10 - My rating = 7

2009 is being powered by one woman and a machine.

Image courtesy of florenceandthemachine.net

If you have never heard of Florence + the Machine, where have you been?! They’ve taken the musical industry by storm over the past year. They have been thrust into the limelight with songs such as ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’ and ‘Drumming Song’ and with a fan base that is ever growing, they look set to remain there for some time to come.

With comparisons being draw to such artists as Kate Bush, Nick Cave and a little bit of Björk, F+TM are not simply a band for the younger music lovers but also for those who tend not to relate to chart music of today. Described as indie-pop, alternative-rock soul there is something for everyone. The wide appeal of their music is partly down to the mix of harps, piano, drums and choirs compared to the ultra modern digital sound we’ve all become so accustomed to hearing now. The music surrounds you and you become complete immersed in the beauty of what is flowing into your ears. On the bands bio Welch is quoted as saying:
“I want my music to sound like throwing yourself out of a tree or off a tall building, or as if you’re being sucked down into the ocean and you can’t breathe.”

There truly is an element of being overwhelmed by the music, a feeling reflected by Welch who describes her music as “something all-encompassing”. Welch will openly admit that she writes her best material when she is drunk or hung over as this is when the free and feral music flows easiest creating itself from memories and fragments in notebooks.“You’re lucid” Welch explains, “but not really there. You’re floating through you own thoughts. I feel like life’s a constant acid trip, those times when things keep coming back.”

The 2009 Mercury Prize nominated album ‘Lungs’ is an emotionally raw fairytale journey catapulting you through love and all the pains attached. Playing host to songs such as ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)’, ‘Kiss With A Fist’ and ‘You Got The Love’, ‘Lungs’ has helped secure F+TM’s huge fan base.

And it’s not just her own Welch is capable of performing with such spellbinding talent, with covers such as ‘Hospital Beds’ by Cold War Kids, ‘You Got The Love’ by The Source and Candi Staton and ‘Halo’ by Beyonce. The latter, which F+TM performed in the BBC Live Lounge, was described by host Jo Whiley as one of the best covers they had ever had in the Live Lounge, proving the capability of the band to deliver even when performing live. On stage no two performers are alike often gathering clothes from second-hand shops on the day and Welch goes at it like a woman possessed.

Often overlooked is the seven-piece band of long term collaborators that collective form ‘The Machine’:

• Rob Ackroyd – Guitar
• Chris Hayden – Drums
• Isabella Summers – Keyboard
• Tom Monger – Harp

So what is ‘Lungs’ all about? What inspires such emotionally raw songs? What is it that helped them cinch the 2009 Critics Choice Award at The Brits?

“Everything is about boys! The whole album is about love – and pain.”

Florence +the Machine: Heart-warmingly honest and fully deserving of their rise to fame.

'Lungs' - 8.7/10 - I'm loving Cosmic Love!

And the Moon Man goes to...

Image courtesy of MTV.co.uk

Monday night saw the 2009 MTV VMA awards ceremonybecome possibly the most cal yet, but aside from THAT outburst who were the other winners and losers of the night?

Video of the Year

Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"
Eminem, "We Made You"
Kanye West, "Love Lockdown"
Britney Spears, "Womanizer"
...and the winner is - Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Best New Artist
Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"
Drake, "Best I Ever Had"
3OH!3, "Don't Trust Me"
Kid Cudi, "Day 'N' Nite"
Asher Roth, "I Love College"
...and the winner is - Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"

Best Male Video
Eminem, "We Made You"
Ne-Yo, "Miss Independent"
Kanye West, "Love Lockdown"
T.I., "Live Your Life"
Jay-Z, "D.O.A."
...and the winner is - T.I., "Live Your Life"

Best Female Video
Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold"
Kelly Clarkson, "My Life Would Suck Without You"
Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me"
Pink, "So What"
...and the winner is - Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me"

Best Hip-Hop Video
Eminem, "We Made You"
Flo Rida, "Right Round"
Kanye West, "Love Lockdown"
Asher Roth, "I Love College"
Jay-Z, "D.O.A."
...and the winner is - Eminem, "We Made You"

Best Pop Video
Britney Spears, "Womanizer"
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Lady Gaga, "Poker Face"
Wisin y Yandel, "Abusadora"
Cobra Starship (featuring Leighton Meester), "Good Girls Go Bad"
...and the winner is - Britney Spears, "Womanizer"

Best Rock Video
Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
Paramore, "Decode"
Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"
Green Day, "21 Guns"
Fall Out Boy, "I Don't Care"
...and the winner is - Green Day, "21 Guns"

Breakthrough Video
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Heads Will Roll"
Matt and Kim, "Lessons Learned"
Passion Pit, "The Reeling"
Bat for Lashes, "Daniel"
Anjulie, "Boom"
Cold War Kids, "I've Seen Enough"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Grapevine Fires"
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
Chairlift, "Evident Utensil"
Major Lazer, "Hold the Line"
...and the winner is - Matt and Kim, "Lessons Learned"

Best Video (That Should Have Won A Moonman)
David Lee Roth, "California Girls"
Foo Fighters, "Everlong"
U2, "Streets Have No Name"
George Michael, "Freedom"
OK Go, "Here It Goes Again"
Tom Petty, "Into the Great Wide Open"
Dr. Dre (featuring Snoop Dogg), "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang"
Beastie Boys, "Sabotage"
Björk, "Human Behavior"
Radiohead, "Karma Police"
...and the winner is - Beastie Boys, "Sabotage"

Best Choreography
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Kristinia DeBarge, "Goodbye"
Britney Spears, "Circus"
Ciara (featuring Justin Timberlake), "Love Sex Magic"
A. R. Rahman and Pussycat Dolls (featuring Nicole Scherzinger), "Jai Ho!"
...and the winner is - Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Best Direction
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"
Britney Spears, "Circus"
Cobra Starship (featuring Leighton Meester), "Good Girls Go Bad"
Green Day, "21 Guns"
...and the winner is - Green Day, "21 Guns"

Best Editing
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"
Britney Spears, "Circus"
Miley Cyrus, "7 Things"
Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
...and the winner is - Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Best Special Effects
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Eminem, "We Made You"
Kanye West (featuring Mr. Hudson), "Paranoid"
...and the winner is - Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"

Best Cinematography
Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"
Britney Spears, "Circus"
Green Day, "21 Guns"
Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
...and the winner is - Green Day, "21 Guns"

Art Direction
Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"
Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"
Britney Spears, "Circus"
Gnarls Barkley, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
Coldplay, "Viva la Vida"
...and the winner is - Lady Gaga, "Paparazzi"

For more information on this years VMAs visit the MTV website.

Dear Kanye. You’re a jackass. Love the rest of the music industry.

With a face like an angel and a voice that has won over millions, it’s hard to imagine how someone like Taylor Swift can get someone’s back up quite so badly because Kanye West does not seem happy!

Without a doubt the 2009 MTV VMAs will go down as one of the most memorable yet. One man, yes you Kanye, mangaed to upstage theLady Gaga, Madonna, Jay- Z, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys. He even managed to steal the limelight from the extended trailer of “New Moon”.

Country music was given a revamp whenTaylor Swift errupted onto the internation music scene, making country music accessible to a younger audience. Combine that with her angelic looks and her fashionable eye, which is quickly earning her some serious fashion stripes, and Swift is a role model for millions. The sheer amount of celebs expressing outrage over West’s outburt at the VMAs is testament to this.

Shocked and infinitely grateful, Swift walked on stage, looking fantastic, to collect the award for “Best Female Music Video”. Mere seconds into her acceptance speech, which was simply praise for her fans and not a drop egocentrical, she was shot down by West who jumped on stage and completely upstaged the young musician by spouting :
"I'm sorry, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time."
And it’s this lack of professionalism that left hundreds at the award ceremony open-mouthed and has has seen many angry and abusive tweets coming from celebrities.

Pink: “Kanye west is the biggest piece of shit on earth. Quote me.”
“My heart goes out to taylor swift. She is a sweet and talented girl and deserved her moment. She should know we all love her.”
“Beyonce is a classy lady.I feel for her, too.Its not her fault at all, and her and taylor did their thing. And douche bag got kicked out. HA"

Katy Perry: "F*** you Kanye. It's like [you] stepped on a kitten."
“Vma's we're amaze sack but why every1 gotta go ruin the top & bottom of it all, Kan** 2 Lil M*** get OFF DA STAGE IT AIN'T YO TIME 2 SHINE!”

Joel Madden: "WOW Taylor Swift's first VMA and she didn't even get to ENJOY it. Kanye You were just a bully on that one man."

Hayley Williams: "Taylor swift, y'all. #teamTaylor."

Lauren Conrad: "i heart Taylor Swift! Congrats! Well deserved."

This sheer lack of professionalism will surely be fuel for critics of West and will have turned a few fans off. Its essential that you respect people in an industry that’s so volatile. Behavious like that shown a tthe VMAs can seriously hamper your career. I doubt Kanye West will be on many guest lists for a while...

What do you say Obama?...