i know how much you like to play rough.
Commercialism got to me. I keep having to jerk my head toward the TV screen like a puppy tilting his head as if to ask, "I beg your pardon?" The culprit is the new Chili's commercial for their Build-A-Burger-or-whatever. The background music is a brief instrumental section of a song by the not-quite-unknown Bleu. His breakthrough album, Redhead, was released in 2002 by Aware Records and re-released (with a slightly different track list) by Columbia in 2003 after having a song ("Somebody Else") included on the Spider-Man soundtrack. The power-pop singer/songwriter with a voice as powerful as his muttonchops has made his live shows large-scale events by inviting interested fans to a practice session prior to a concert in order to properly invite them on stage to sing as a choir for a number of songs.
Redhead walks a dangerous line concerning his fan-base and possible new fans. It's independent music picked up on by the mainstream before selling two million records, potentially turning off the lot of you who shun major label artists or commercially successful radio-players. Bleu, however, is not yet either of those. Hell, maybe that Chili's spot was the first you'd heard of him (without even knowing it). Tell you what, you can listen to, fall for, and belt out these accessible pop songs, and if they end up on the adult contemporary radio that you have to listen to at work, you can roll your eyes and sing along in your head (See: Howie Day).
His overdue follow-up to Redhead, A Watched Pot, is set to be released this year. You can listen to plenty of cuts from it on MySpace or PureVolume.
For now, you can enjoy a couple of my favorite tracks from Redhead, including "Get Up" from the Chili's ad. Also, I can't resist sharing a couple songs from the CHRISTMAS album Bleu released in 1999. Frankly, how could I? It should be noted, however, that these will not be at the top of any of my Christmas playlists.
Bleu's "Get Up" (Chili's)
"Could Be Worse"
& "You Know I Know You Know"
from Redhead
Bleu's "Jingle Bells"
& "Snow Day"
from Bing Bang Holidang
Wait, he only recorded one album over the span of four years? Not quite accurate.
Redhead walks a dangerous line concerning his fan-base and possible new fans. It's independent music picked up on by the mainstream before selling two million records, potentially turning off the lot of you who shun major label artists or commercially successful radio-players. Bleu, however, is not yet either of those. Hell, maybe that Chili's spot was the first you'd heard of him (without even knowing it). Tell you what, you can listen to, fall for, and belt out these accessible pop songs, and if they end up on the adult contemporary radio that you have to listen to at work, you can roll your eyes and sing along in your head (See: Howie Day).
His overdue follow-up to Redhead, A Watched Pot, is set to be released this year. You can listen to plenty of cuts from it on MySpace or PureVolume.
For now, you can enjoy a couple of my favorite tracks from Redhead, including "Get Up" from the Chili's ad. Also, I can't resist sharing a couple songs from the CHRISTMAS album Bleu released in 1999. Frankly, how could I? It should be noted, however, that these will not be at the top of any of my Christmas playlists.
Bleu's "Get Up" (Chili's)
"Could Be Worse"
& "You Know I Know You Know"
from Redhead
Bleu's "Jingle Bells"
& "Snow Day"
from Bing Bang Holidang
Wait, he only recorded one album over the span of four years? Not quite accurate.
Listen Well posted this around 4:56 PM
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