Thursday 2 April 2009

Killer Opening Songs (Omar - There's Nothing Like This)

One of the most interesting and yet enigmatic aspects of the British music industry Killer Opening Songs has encountered since it came over to live in the UK more than ten years ago is why homegrown talent is not given the same space and airtime as its US counterparts. Take British soul music. With artists like Mica Paris and Sade this country should not be in awe of musical imports from across the pond. However as series after series of that Machiavellian, diabolical invention called X Factor shows, contestants are more willing to let rip on a karaoke version of Aretha Franklin's fantastic and timeless tune 'Think' than a song closer to their own territory, for example, Beverley Knight's excellent composition, 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda'.

Fortunately we still have Omar. And K.O.S. is ever so pleased to have the British soul singer on the lounge this week.

Omar was born and raised in Canterbury, Kent where he developed his musical style at an early age on account of having a father who was in a band. He learnt how to play trumpet, piano and drums, making it into the county’s youth orchestra as principle percussionist, followed by two years at music college in Manchester.

Tonight's clip, ‘There’s Nothing Like This’, came out when the musician was only 22 and has since become a summer soul classic (I know, it's still early spring days, but K.O.S. doesn't respect seasons when it comes to music, sometimes he will be playing A Tribe Callled Quest's landmark album 'People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm' in the middle of a winter day. That's the nature of Our Weekly Introductory-Tracks Rendezvous and we must abide by his rules).

Omar also is one of the few artists whose debut album entered the UK charts unaided by promotion or advertising. This serves as further proof of the quality his music has.

'There's Nothing Like This' is one those tunes that will have you tapping your feet or snapping your fingers as you, unconsciously, bob your head up and down or move it side to side. Just be careful when you are slicing those onions, will you? Because this is, indeed, music to do your household chores to. Whereas K.O.S. usually uses Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' or Ornette Coleman's 'Free Jazz' (yes, the one with the Jackson Pollock cover) as background music when doing the washing up or cleaning the kitchen, Omar's records are just as good. And the lyrics are powerful, too.

Omar has also recorded with other renowned artists like Stevie Wonder and Erykah Badu. In fact the only time K.O.S. has seen the British musician on stage was at a concert in Brixton academy a few years ago with Erykah and K.O.S. was mightily impressed. His voice was strong and versatile and his rapport with the audience was spontaneous and friendly.

So, without any further ado, here's Omar.


Copyright 2009

30 comments:

  1. Hermano I love this! It is very sexy.

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  2. Nice. The casting director for this video was seriously on-point.

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  3. Thanks! Oh my goodness! I LOVE Omar...my favorite track. Video is hot. He will be playing here in Atlanta, Georgia this Saturday, April 4th.

    Mama Shujaa.

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  4. cuban, aquí estamos escuchando esto que estA fabuloso. Mezcla que es postre pa' los oidos.
    ...la música inunda el cuarto...
    by the way, el sonido de este vídeo: SUPER!

    un abrazon, tony.

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  5. Thanks Mr C for sending me Omar for coffee company this morning.
    Happy Days

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  6. It sounds old school. I like it.
    albert

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  7. You're right! British soul does not have to copy anything from across the pond. This is a classic, period. I interviewed Omar when he last album came out a few years ago. I think he deserves to be included as one of the originators of the nuevo soul category.

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  8. Yes, you're right my pips, this is as old school as it gets. fly girl you're spot-on. Why imitate when you have such good artists?

    Many thanks for your kind comments.

    Greetings from London.

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  9. Yum! I love this and will be looking for the CD. BTW, your banner photo is STUNNING!

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  10. luscious music, voice and video rendition! Thanks for sharing it.
    Salut,

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  11. Splat! <------me. That is most definitly a KOS. Perfection. Thank you, Mr Cuban, Omar is now my new musical hero.

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  12. Many thanks to you all for your kind words.

    Greetings from London.

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  13. You make me day you do Cuban in London (said in me best British accent with a Southern drawl).
    When we talk to Prince's brother in Spain he always asks me to sing "Jolene" by Dolly Parton. I don't know whether to be charmed or insulted, lol.
    Please have a weekend filled with love, joy and laughter and.....

    Steady On
    Reggie Girl

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  14. My head's bobbing! But it's okay, because I'm not slicing any onions. He's got a great sound. I love his smooth strong voice.

    Thanks for the great music to brighten this cold, grey, wet day in central Ohio.

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  15. Cuban, I've so missed coming here. I hate how life interferes with my blogging desires. I enjoyed sitting back and listening to a great KOS. Superb!

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  16. How sweet a vid. Nice way to start my day!

    I've been away for two days to see Springsteen open his tour in San Jose.

    He opened Wednesday night with this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAr2AbvvF8&feature=related

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  17. Many thanks for youd kind comments.

    Dutchbaby, welcome back! :-)

    Gabby, man, that was a sick video, man. I love 'Badlands. And the sound was perfect!

    Note to self: Get some Springsteen for Song for a Spring Sunday Morning section.

    Many thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  18. You keep forcing me to learn new things, CiL.

    Before you, and a couple of others, in many respects I had been content to live within the stuff I already knew (which, while considerable, is very provincial).

    Carry on, and make me think some more, especially about the viewpoint from "over there."

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  19. ACIL: I have something for you at my blog. Please stop by to pick it up.

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  20. Very nice! Thanks for the intro...

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  21. Many thanks for your kind comments. Mama Shujaa, I will be there in no time.

    Fram, we're both learners and I enjoy the process as much as you, my man :-). It's my pleasure.

    Greetings from London.

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  22. Since I'm American, we don't get much British music except for the Beatles etc. The music video sounded good though....

    and thanks for the comment...grammar can be important, haha

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  23. great point made in your first paragraph. i often wonder about love shown to native uk artists. especially since a lot of get so much play over here. and then there are those us artists who hardly get any play here but do extremely well there.

    now this music here? i can definitely get with it. and i know i've heard some of his music before. just can't recall where or when. but he's now on my "albums to purchase list."

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  24. A esto es a lo que yo le llamo musica descargosa. A Sade la adoro. Nice!

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  25. Another lovely music entry--opening my ears to new sounds. I LOVE, Beverly Knightly, btw. I would have never heard her, but thanks to pandora.com.

    How funny, the anti-spam filter word this time around today is: "mating"!

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  26. Many thanks to you all for your lovely comments.

    Greetings from London.

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  27. I think every single thing related to Killers is so crazy!
    I hope that if I Buy Viagra , noone is gonna kill me

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