Star Sparkle Blog

This week's video is Shed My Skin by Dutch band Within Temptation and featuring Annisokay , a band from Germany. The song is about dealing with changes in life and growing as a person, even when that means leaving  behind others we love but have grown apart from. Check out the YouTube info box to read lead singer Sharon den Adel's description of the song meaning. :) Shed My Skin was released in July. Visit this post to see the music video for The Purge, another song by Within Temptation: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2021/06/weekly-music-video_16.html

This week's video is The Purge by Dutch band Within Temptation . It's quite a while since I've posted anything by them. I don't always follow their music that closely, but their last album was 2019's Resist and I don't think they've released that many singles since then. The band is doing an online show called The Aftermath- A Show In A Virtual Reality on 8th and 9th July. Visit their site to learn more about it: https://www.within-temptation.com/ The Purge came out last December.     Want more Within Temptation? Check out these posts: Angels music video: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekly-music-video_19.html Paradise (What About Us?) with Tarja Turunen (ex- Nightwish ):  https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2014/01/weekly-music-video_8.html Aquarius (my favourite song!): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2013/08/weekly-music-video_14.html   Within Temptation concert (2012):  https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2015/07/within-tempation-concert.h...

Today's music video is Raise Your Banner by Dutch band Within Temptation featuring Anders Fridén (from the Swedish band In Flames . It was the second single from their latest album Resist, which came out in February. Raise Your Banner was released last November. You can also watch the lyric video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QdgoBYUHBU For Supernova, another song from Resist, check out this post: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2019/02/weekly-music-video_27.html If you'd like to listen to one of Sharon's songs from her 2017 solo album My Indigo, here's the lyric video for Out Of The Darkness:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85VqEu5pIm8

Today's video is Supernova by Dutch band Within Temptation . It's from their new album Resist which was released on 1st February. The band, who have been together for over 20 years, are trying out a new writing process and sound with Resist, their 7th studio album. After a difficult past year for lead singer Sharon den Adel and her bandmate and husband Robert Westerholt, she and the rest of the band decided they needed a break. Sharon released a solo album My Indigo during that time. It wasn't certain that Within Temptation would make another album, but they became inspired again and started work on Resist Their band's music has previously been defined as "melodic, symphonic rock,  metal and gothic metal (earlier music). Songs on the new album are metal mixed with some pop and electronic elements. The video for Supernova came out on 6th February. For more on the story behind Resist visit this link: https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-w...

This week's video is  Ophelia by Leaves' Eyes . It's from their 2013 album and features then lead singer and co-founder Liv Kristine . Liv left in 2016 and was replaced by Finnish singer Elina Siirala . She is now the official second vocalist for German/Norwegian Midnattsol , along with her sister Carmen Elise. Ophelia wasn't released as single so there isn't an official music video. This is a fan made lyric video. I believe the song is about the Ophelia character from Shakespeare's play Hamlet . Leaves Eyes' fan? Check out these posts: My Destiny:  http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/weekly-music-video_24.html Elegy: http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/weekly-music-video_15.html The Waking Eye:  http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/weekly-music-video.html Fires in the North (with Elina): http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/weekly-music-video_26.html  

Here's the latest update on the music and videos I've been listening to and watching lately. :) Era Istrefi- Bonbon (Albanian language) Mollie King (from The Saturdays - Back To You  Crush, Han San Won- SKIP (K-pop) Martin Garrix & -Bebe Rexha- In The Name of Love Tove Lo- Cool Girl Fifth Harmony- Like Mariah * Albanian Era Istrefi- Bonbon (English version)  Mozzik- Cocaina Nora Istrefi (Era's sister)- Majem (explicit) Britney Spears - Glory album (Deluxe Version). (Minus Make Me which I've already heard).  Invitation Private Show Man On The Moon Just Luv Me Clumsy So you Wanna Come Over? Slumber Party (Explicit) Just Like Me Love Me Down Hard To Forget Ya What You Need Better Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes) Liar (Explicit) If I'm Dancing Coupure Electrique Listen to Glory on Spotify: Britney Spotify Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)   (explicit) AlunaGeorge - Meditator  Jhene Aiko - New Balance METALWINGS- Cryi...

A couple of weeks ago I did a round of up world music posts on the blog from Africa and Asia. It was originally going to include more countries but it was turning into a really long post, so I split it up. Now here is the second half. :) This post is about music from America, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. I'm not going to include most of the American and British music because I consider world music to be music from countries around the world other than Western ones and music that's not necessarily "mainstream" in the UK. Also I couldn't really link to every single post I've ever done because that would turn this into a massive post! lol. But I'm going to list a few artists from the UK and US, just so they're represented. :) You can read the Africa and Asia post here: http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/world-music-round-up-africa-and-asia.html America Guam Pia Mia http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/wee...

Today's video is Edge of Steel by Leaves' Eyes . They have a new singer called Elina Siirala who is from Finland. (The rest of the band are German). She has replaced lead singer and band founder Liv Kristine . I was shocked when I watched a clip of the video just now because I thought, "That doesn't look like Liv Kristine!" It was only a clip, so I kept rewinding the video, lol. The band announced that Liv had left in April but it happened in January. She claimed she was dismissed but the rest of the band said it was a mutual decision. It must be a difficult situation because Liv and backing  vocalist Alexander Krull were married and have a son together. I thought they were still together but on Alexander's Wikipedia page it says he "was" married to Liv. I also wonder which direction the band waill go in now, since Liv Kristine wrote the lyrics and they were based on her Norwegian culture and heritage. She was in Leaves' Eyes for 13 years. It...

Today's video is The Waking Eye by Leaves' Eyes . It's from their latest album King of Kings which came out last September. I don't think it was released as a single, they haven't released many singles. (Only one according to Wikipedia!). They mostly bring out albums and EPs. Commentors on YouTube pointed that Liv and Alexander's son is in the video. :)

This is one of my favourite Epica songs, Tides of Time. It's from their 2009 album Design Your Universe. It's a haunting, melancholy kind of song which is maybe why I like it! Tides of Time was never realeased as a single so there's no music video but this is a lyrics video. :)

Last night I watched a Within Temptation concert on TV. It was from their Elements concert in Antwerp, Belgium, which took place in 2012. At the time the band were celebrating 15 years of being together. It was a good concert, so I thought I'd share a couple of clips here. :) Here is Candles: And Memories: Hope you enjoy the songs. :)

Today's video is Elegy by Leaves' Eyes . It's on their album Vinland Saga (2005) and was the first single to be released from it. Elegy came out as a EP in May 2005, there were 2 versions of the song itself and 4 other songs. I think it's about Viking warriors going away and leaving their women behind. I've been listening to Vinland Saga lately and this is one of my favourite songs on there. :)

Sorry this week's post is late. I started the 1000 Songs in a Year Challenge on 24th March, so it was a year on Tuesday. I've been trying to finish up but I'm a bit behind. Never mind! There are 49 songs in this update, so it's another long one! I have 50 songs to go now, so hopefully shouldn't be too much longer till I'm finished. 910. Matty B- Turn Up The Track (Video seen on Dance Moms ) 911. Ella Henderson- Mirror Man 912. Iggy Azalea feat. Jennifer Hudson- Trouble 913. Evanescence - Anything For You 914. HELLOVENUS- StickySticky (K-pop) 915. Anjaan- Sirripu En Video (Bollywood) 916. Kary Ng- Soul Mate (C-pop/C-rock) 917. Tinashe feat. Iggy Azalea- All Hands On Deck REMIX 918. OMI- Cheerleader 919. Jasmine Thompson- Almost Lover* * Chloe from Dance Mom's new dance- watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IXRO_6lnu0 920. Mariam- Do It Again (Original song used the JAYBeatz mix ) 921. EXID - UP & DOWN (K-pop) ...

Time for the latest instalment in the 1000 Songs In A Year Challenge. There are over 30 songs so it's longer list today. I've been listening to be a bit more music lately because it's coming to the end of the challenge. I've listened to over 900 songs now! 876. Madonna- Living For Love 877. Jess Glynne- Hold My Hand 878. Nick Jonas- Jealous 879. Kelly Clarkson- Heartbeat Song 880. Korn- Never Never 881. Conor Maynard- Talking About 882. Tum Mile- Dil Ibadat Kar Rha Hai (Bollywood) 883. Tinashe - F*ckin Wit Me 884. Nick Jonas feat. Tinashe- Jealous (Remix) (Unlike the original, this song is explicit) 885. Nick Jonas feat. Jhene Aiko- Chains (Remix) 886. Pia Mia feat. G-Eazy- F*ck With U (Remix) * 887. Pia Mia- My Bae *Listen to the original here (Explicit): http://starsparklex.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/weekly-music-video.html

Today's video is Feint by Epica . They are a Dutch symphonic metal band who were founded by Mark Jansen, previously a guitarist in the band After Forever . Mark left After Forever in 2002 and decided to form his own band. Originally the female vocalist for Epica (which was then named Sahara Dust) was Helena Michaelson but she left and Simone Simons (who was dating Mark at the time) replaced her. The other members of the band were guitarist Ad Sluijter, keyboardist Coen Jansson, drummer Jereon Simons and bassist Yves Huts. Epica released their first full-length album The Phantom Agony and their debut single of the same name in 2003. Since then they have released 6 albums, including Consign To Oblivion (2005) and Design Your Universe (2009) and 11 singles, which include Feint, Unleashed which came out in 2009 and Forevermore, released in 2012. Their music tends to deal with religious and spiritual themes and current events. Past members of Epica include drummers Dennis Leeflang ...

This is Tale of the Sea Maid by Leaves' Eyes. They are a Norwegian/German gothic metal band. The current members are lead singer Liv Kristine, her husband Alexander Krull  who is also a vocalist,  guitarists Thorsten Bauer and Sander van der Meer, bass player JB van der Wal and drummer Felix Born. Liv, a former vocalist for the band Theatre of Tragedy ,  formed Leaves' Eyes along with the members of Alexander's heavy metal band Atrocity in 2003. Liv Kristine has also released solo albums. Past members of Leaves' Eyes are guitarist Mathias Roderer, bassists Chris Lukhaup and Alla Fedynitch and drummers Martin Schmidt, Nicholas Barker, Moritz Neuner, Seven Antonopoulos and Roland Navratil. The band have released 4 albums, the most recent being Meredead (2011) and are working on a new one, Symphonies of the Night. A lot of their songs are based on  Nordic sagas and legends. Tale of The Seamaid is from their debut album Lovelorn (2004) and is one of my favourite song...