More Africa Express

This is a continuation of Africa Express posting / superposting / spamming more like.

If you already forgot what that was, here’s a refresher vid:

This will probably be a post of the random pics that I liked.  Since I like photography.  Also there were some great shots.  I owe damonalbarn.tumblr.com & milkonlegs.tumblr.com

So we have some more documentary shots

Like here's the hypnotic brass ensemble

Africa Express | London by Tim Holt

both by tomcardiff   

(x)

damon being cheeky (x)

& have some more artsy fartsier ones, too

the following by danidebutx.x

both by doyleheima

Africa Express | Middlesbrough by Michael Putland

damon with his trusty melodica by rwthwaites 

oh yeah damon’s actually a musician if you couldn’t tell.  Like if you thought he was just some old dude who used to be pretty… yeah he actually has musical talent.  I mean he WAS in a pop boyband group thing [think one direction in the 90s but exponentially just better] … but things change.  Like his pretty boy looks have diminished a bit.

yeah he used to look like that
i mean it's nice if you're in to that sort of thing

like if you actually  d o n ’ t  know about him…

Africa Express in Middlesbrough by Michael Putland

he’s the guy from blur.  Y’know with that like WHOOHOO song & a song with Clockwork Orange-inspired visuals & this one with a milk carton that eventually dies & a charmless man that resembles the privileged white man in most societies & this very big house in the country & squirrels trying to find love.  & he made this cartoon band [with illustrator Jamie Hewlett] that’s not “real” but is actually more real than most of the things out there – which was the point of making it.  & he made a Chinese opera without sounding orientalist or offensive; it’s actually quite beautiful & in some parts it just SLAPS.  & then there’s this other opera he made & this song is from it:

So yeah that’s from Africa Express.  & that's "Apple Cart."

Oh & here's another song.  This time from one of his Gorillaz pursuits.  "On Melancholy Hill."  Again with beautiful lyrics.  Bittersweet little fragments of things with profound clarity.

Damon is also the provider of many holy moments for me.

But this song is one of those holy moments.  It’s called “Tender.”  He made it, & many other songs like it on Blur’s 13 album, after a particularly painful breakup.  It’s a song anyone can relate to.  Love’s the greatest thing, right?  But what if you’re struggling?  C’mon, c’mon, c’mon – get through it, Damon urges - pleads.  Because love IS the greatest thing, isn’t it?  But @ the same time… he’s waiting for that feeling to come.  & there’s a lot of haunting imagery that is just fabulous.  Damon really is one of the better songwriters & lyricists of our time.  & he only gets better with age.

But all these holy moments & defining moments & perfect moments is why I’m so biased as to all of these pictures & all this coverage in the first place.

If you don’t know what a holy moment is, I suggest you hit up that “Waking Life.”

Or here I’ll do it for you [because I just feel so nice today]:

Disclaimer: this isn’t the first time I used damon for assignments.  I used him for psych & I made this little blurb [some of the information may be outdated {like with platinum / gold album countings & such}… since this is like 2 years old]

Damon Albarn is both an icon & idol; while he is a man of tremendous talent & exceptional artistic ability, he also improves the lives of others and the world.

Albarn started off as the frontman of Blur [& was most recently polled as being the 4th greatest one of all-time in a Q Magazine poll] as a pretty-boy singer who was the crush of millions of UK girls.  However, he has more recently reinvented himself into an outstanding singer-songwriter, producer, and composer.  He has also shown tremendous talent in playing the guitar, piano, organ, violin, recorder, vibraphone, synthesizer, melodica, bass guitar, & drums. 

Albarn’s music [& love for music] knows no boundaries.  He listens to multiple styles of music from around the globe & has put out work in multiple genres: Britpop; alternative rock; alternative hip-hop; hip-hop; & world music – especially the sounds from Mali.

With his angelic, smooth, soul-shaking voice, signature sound & arrangement, & excellent choices in guest appearances, he has accumulated 5 Gold albums, 6 various Platinum albums, & one that went 5 times Platinum in the UK, 2 times Platinum in the US, & Gold in multiple other countries – Demon Days, – the latter being with his now infamous side-project, Gorillaz.

The Gorillaz were born one day when Albarn & Jamie Hewlett, the other half of “Britain’s #1 Creative Partnership,” were watching MTV in their flat & were appalled at the filth that was on it.  They decided to create a cartoon band, one that would be worlds ahead of the common trash that they saw, a truly unique experience the world had scarcely seen before.  The two have successfully pushed the envelope of creativity with Gorillaz ever since.

Albarn has also composed a Chinese opera, “Monkey: Journey to the West”, in 2007.  He had to overcome great language barriers, but was able to stay true to his vision by coming up with a numerical system [complex in idea, but simple in execution] that would allow all of his orchestra to play his music.  The opera was welcome with rave reviews & has put Albarn into an even higher plane of musical creation. 

But Albarn is not just an artist, but an activist.  He fundraises & raises awareness for multiple causes, especially racism.  With one of his side projects [The Good, the Bad, & the Queen] he headlined the Love Music, Hate Racism Carnival in April 2008.  He was also adamantly against the presence of US & UK troops in Iraq.  Additionally, when London’s Live 8 [2005] announced their lineup, Damon condemned those in charge of under-representing black artists & denounced the whole project as selfish & only being there for self-gain.

Albarn is also fervently against the rising of “False Icons” & hates with a passion celebrity culture & the whole X Factor / American Idol phenomenon. 

Damon Albarn not only makes beautiful music, but also improves the lives of others on the planet.  Oh, & he was also REALLY CUTE when he was younger & he’s still a very gorgeous human being.