Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New 2008 Going on 2009!

What a long, long year it's been for all of us, but extremely exciting and adventurous, nonetheless!

You have all been so supportive in 2008, and at times I feel very guilty to have written so little during the last few months. Yet on the same note, it hasn't been an idle period for me either, and the only consolation and my best excuse of all is that I'll have loads to share with you as a result of many, many sleepless nights and pending projects that are coming to a logical conclusion. I do wish I could write more often, but fear not - tons of news and updates are on the way for 2009, so stay tuned by all means!

Just a little teaser before the clock strikes midnight.....

On "Thinking of Someone Else" - as you all remember, the single entered the UK charts in November based on club exposure ONLY, however, in the beginning of the New Year, we're going to hit the radio and digital releases throughout the world big time. We've just completed the whole "package" and are in the process of packaging and scheduling a radio promo tour. New compilations are on the way too, while a few of the back-end of the year ones are about to hit the stores, too!

In the meantime, single #2 which will follow "Thinking of Someone Else" after the radio promotion is also in the making - or more precisely it's still a work in progress, but a concise one, too. I daren't mention the title just yet to avoid jinxing it before we've put the vocals down, but trust me - it's going to be a very cool follow up to "Thinking of Someone Else", with a bit more edge and commercial bite to it... I cannot wait!!

And that's not it - guess what else is on the way in 2009 from the Tinatin camp? I'm not about to tell you EVERYTHING but here's a quick glimpse into the future... It's a boy!! Hahaaa no, no, that was a joke - don't panic! :-)

Now, in all seriousness, it's a book - a novel based on a true story... And here's a big hint (which, by the way, requires some research if you're really curious) - it was inspired by one of my blogs written in 2008 and eventually attracted serious attention and interest within the world of literary publishing.... Unfortunately I can't tell you any more about this project, but do promise to give you more info about it as soon as I'm allowed to :-)

There's so much more I'd love to share with each and every one of you, but I do promise to keep you updated on everything as the events unfold on this end - and in the UK, as well, of course!

But before we close this chapter, I wish you all a prosperous, healthy and a very Happy New Year and hope that we'll share some more stimulating and interesting thoughts through our "blog dialogues" in 2009 - after all, isn't that what makes the online universe so fascinating?

With blessings to you all,

Tinatin xxx

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Weekend Warm-Up Show with Mixgeselle & Tinatin


Hey everyone!

Make sure you tune in tomorrow and hear this week's W/E Warm Up Show with Mixgeselle... where you'll also hear "Thinking of Someone Else" with a special message from Tinatin - streaming live right here......




FRIDAY: 4PM EAST / 1PM WEST

Every Friday afternoon WDA1.com gets you ready for the weekend with a solid hour of great, uplifting house mixes. :The Weekend Warm-Up" is mixed and produced by DJ Mixgeselle, From Hamburg, Germany. Catch this fun, high-energy mixshow every friday at 4:00 pm East / 1:00 pm West / 21:00 GMT.

Play it loud and don’t forget to dance!

The Tracklist - you gotta check it out!

1. ATB Pres. Jades - Wrong Medication (Club Mix)
2. Honey - Don’t Think I’m Not (The S&M Project Remix)
3. Star Pilots - In The Heat Of The Night (Wawa Remix)
The Retro Track
4. Eric Carter - You Make Me Feel (Original Club Mix)
5. Kid Niemand - Forever Man (Original Mix)
6. Solitaire - I Like Love (Moto Blanco Club Mix)
7. Backstreet Boys - The Call (Fragma Remix)
DJ’s Favourite This Week
8. Martello - U R The Reason (Disko Junkie Remix)
9. Tinatin - Thinking Of Someone Else (Riffs & Rays Club Mix)
10. Lemar - If She Knew (Stonebridge Club Mix)
11. Tomer G - I Like It (Extended Club Mix)
12. DJ Meme Ft. Gavin Bradley - Chanson Du Soleil (Redsoul Re-Edit)
13. The Saturdays - Issues (Digital Dog Club Mix)

Hot Bootlegs, Vids & Mixes!



A few updates on "Thinking of Someone Else" have just come in... So exciting! Please check them out and let us know what you think...!




UK's very own DJ Simon Cox has just released the hottest mix of Dec's top dance tunes, which you can check out right here.

Guess what's Simon's 1 favorite song in someone's last bag mix this year?

"Thinking of Someone Else"!

An excerpt from Simon Cox's website:

"As this is the last What's in my Bag Mix this year I have gone to town as they say with some massive and i mean massive tracks. Counts down as usual from 14 to no 1 and as i did the mix i have made my Rework of Tinatin "Thinking of someone else" no 1.DON'T SKIP TO THE END TO LISTEN TO IT THO AS THIS MIX FLOWS FROM PIANO TO HARD BEATS AND BACK AGAIN. CHECK OUT THE NO: 2 TRACK AS WELL, OH MY GOD THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. This not an official mix "OF THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE"!just my rework , so please don't try and buy it! Anyway this mix ALSO marks the end of a true DJ on here in Q-Matic, this one for you my friend and also DJ Chunky some new tunes heading your way soon my friend.

THIS MIX FLOWS FROM PIANO TO HARD BEATS AND BACK AGAIN. CHECK OUT THE NO: 2 TRACK AS WELL, OH MY GOD THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. This not an official mix "OF THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE"!just my rework , so please don't try and buy it! Anyway this mix ALSO marks the end of a true DJ on here in Q-Matic, this one for you my friend and also Dj Chunky some new tunes heading your way soon my friend. Thanks for all the support that people have gievn me this year and long may this site continue to bring people from all over the wrold together with one goal and one belief. The belief that house music is alive and is here to stay! god bless all that sail the good ship house music and keep the music alive :) I joined this site to share my mixes and not to be a famous DJ, thanks to all the offers of work also through the year aswell. I do it for the passion not for the fame or glory! I am a simple bedroom dj now :) well bedroom not really bedroom more room in my house :) anyway as always Listen and Enjoy the chart mix and remember support the dj's and also the artists that have made this real this year. Big thanks to Paul the creator! what a year! HAPPY CHRISTAMS TO YOU ALL AND RESPECT TO ALL MY FRIENDS ACROSS THE POND AND ALL OF THE WORLD! LOOK OUT FOR MY SPECIAL NEW YEARS MIX COOMING VERY SOON !


14.Cahill - Into My Life (Anton Powers Mix)
13.DJ Flavours - Your Caress 2008
12.Pjanoo Vs Robin S
11.Bodyswerve (Full Vocal Mix) De'Lacy & Marco Gee
10.Break of Dawn (Mark Knight Piano Mix) Deepgroove
09.Deliver Me (seamus haji remix) Paul Harris feat. Cevin Fisher
08.Disco Darlings - Sexy Bitch (Hoxton Whores Remix)
07.Dominator (Mom & Dad Remix) www.clubkings.eu Human Resource 1
06.Maniac (Dave Ramone Remix) Topmodelz
05.Nightbirds - Played A Live (Simon De Jano Mix)
04.You Used To Hold Me D.O.N.S.
03.Yeah (2008 johnny max remix) Usher
02.House Addicts ft Kay Jay - Pumping It Up
01.Thinking of someone else- Tinatin (Everlasting Piano's Bootleg Mix) Dj Simon Cox Rework 2008

Oh my good what a tune to end with !!!! just played the mix back and what a emotional end to the mix "hairs on the back of neck! how many good piano's tunes can you get in one mix!!!!!!:) laterz people need to have a rest now lol :) happy christmas and bring on the new year !!!!!!!!!"

Moreover, you can also check out the YouTube version of Simon's rework of "Thinking of Someone Else" with artwork designed by Simon Cox himself... Never thought a bootleg could be sooo sweet and exciting! Thanks so much, Simon!!

And in the meantime, Mixgeselle's hot Weekend Warm Up Show airs this coming weekend on FM radio in 5 countries (Belgium, Iceland, Malta, Spain and the U.S., WBXO 102,5 Hudson Valley area N.Y., as well as on 14 internet radio stations) and will feature "Thinking of Someone Else" with a special shout from Tinatin, so do tune in by all means! Last week's show was absolutely amazing, and the feedback was so great, let's see if this time around, it's as good, if not better - so don't miss it: DJ Mixgeselle playing 60 minutes in the mix of uplifting vocal / disco / funky house to get you ready for a party weekend!

More news on the way, but for now - special thanks to DJ Simon Cox and DJ Mixgeselle for their support and for championing the tune!

And of course - thank you all so much! Stay tuned :-)

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Latest Mixshows... More on the way!



A couple of great new mixshows for you all to download - free podcasts, no piracy, but of course these are exceptional cases, as you may already know! :-)


Some of UK's hottest DJs and top dance mixes, featuring Riffs & Rays Remix of "Thinking of Someone Else", so do check them out, please!

DJ Marky Mark

DJ Marky Mark - In The Mix Nov (2008)

Tracklistings

Tinatin -Thinking Of Someone Else (Riffs and Rays Club Mix)
Shik Stylko - That Night (Club Mix)
The Outsiders - Keep This Fire Burning (Wawa Club Mix)
Selda - 100% Pure Love (Spencer & Hill Remix)
Alphabeat - What Is Happening (Simmons & Christopher Remix)
Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing (Bimbo Jones Remix)
Golden Girls - Kinetec (Prok And Fitch Golden Shower Remix)
Rio - When The Sun Comes Down (Spencer & Hill Remix)
Michael Mind - Bakerstreet (Original Mix)
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold (Jason Nevins Extended Mix)
Tastemakers - Colourblind (Original Club Mix)
No Halo - Put Your Hands On (Extended Mix)
Taio Cruz - I Just Wanna Know (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix)
MassiveDrum Feat Pm - Fiesta

DJ Simon Cox

Dj Simon Cox - Comercial Bangers! Vol 24

no_halo-put_your_hands_on_(extended_mix)
pussycat_dolls-i_hate_this_part_(moto_blanco_club_mix)
alesha_dixon-the_boy_does_nothing_(bimbo_jones_remix)
tinatin-thinking_of_someone_else_(riffs_and_rays_club_mix)
tikaro._j_louis_and_ferran_feat._rebeka_brown-real_things_(steve_pitron_and_max_sanna_remix)
simply_red-go_now_(triple_dee_club_mix)
alphabeat-what_is_happening_(simmons_and_christopher_remix)
pink-so_what_(bimbo_jones_club_mix)
boogie_pimps_feat._steve_brookstein-promised_land_(bassmonkeys_club_mix)
dj_pedro-day_by_day_(extended_club_mix)
kicken_vs_yasca_presents_nado-feel_the_sunshine_(etended_mix)
Hot n Cold (jason nevins extended mix) Katy Perry
Disturbia (Jody Den Broeder Remix) Rihanna
Reef - Place Your Hands (Freshers)

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

News, News, News


Just when you thought there were no more updates on this front, here are some of the latest news from across the pond!

Dance/Commercial Club/House Radio DJ Mixgeselle has added "Thinking of Someone Else" to his Weekend Warm Up Show (it was last weekend's DJ's Fave Track!) that airs on Energy FM Isle Of Man, HFM 102.4 Leicester, Generation Zel Radio Canada, Party Radio USA NYC, WDA 1 USA, Pro FM Netherlands, Ministry Of Sound Radio UK, Dance4ever Radio Switzerland, Voice 987 Iceland, Jenny FM Germany, Energy Fm Malta, The Mix Nation USA, UK Away FM Canary Islands, Party 934 USA, Scarlett FM UK, GK Radio Europe.

Mixgeselle - Weekend Warm Up Show - Top 20 Chart

DJ Meme Ft Gavin Bradley - Chanson Du Sole
The Killers - Human
DJ Neo Ft Soraya Vivian - Groove With You
Morgan Page - Call My Name
Hannu - Love Train 2008
Solange - Sandcastle Disco
Ladyhawke - My Delirium
Tinatin - Thinking Of Someone Else
V&S Ft Michaela Paige - Never Gonna Give Up On Your Love
Kaskade - Angel On My Shoulder
Henry John Morgan - Cherokee
Jes - Imagination
Simply Red - Go Now
ATFC - BAD HABIT
Sosua & Mad - Supaconstellation
SYLVIA TOSUN - UNDERLYING FEELING
Confused Crew - One Bad Apple
Samuele Sartini Vs Jordan Dee - Let's Get Back The Feeling
Jaime Ft J Mac - I'll Be There
John Barrowman - What About Us

While in the meantime, WDA1.com (We Dance As One) US dance internet radio station has also added "Thinking of Someone Else" (Riffs & Rays Remix) to the playlist and the latest addition to next week's chart. You can request the song right here in real time!

You can also hear "Thinking of Someone Else" on Fire FM 107.6 in the UK (among this week's favorite new additions) and curiously - Radio 1 in Greece and on DJ Georg's top dance tunes 2008 compilation...

And on a lighter note, where did this come from??? Nobody knows! :-)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

When Silence Gets Too Much



Once upon a time, not so terribly long ago, daily blogging was an inner necessity for me, I had to write a paragraph or two either direct from my phone "on the go" or the laptop on my coffee table in the living room. I simply had to write. I was enjoying every bit of it, couldn't wait to post something on regular basis... A couple of times, friends jokingly warned they'd unsubscribe from my blog list if I didn't stop writing massive electronic accounts day in and day out. Breaking the habit for more than a week was unfathomable to me.



Over the past month or so, I noticed that the necessity was slowly beginning to fade, and it was mainly the group of friends on myspace that inevitably raised the question, "why have you stopped blogging like you used to?"

The bottom line is probably the fact that the act of posting private thoughts, activities and accounts of daily life and its adventures can become slightly too... personal, I suppose. Is it an addiction, I wonder? The need to share, to discuss, to talk out loud. Or simply the desire to write to those who may care to read what you have to say? As Richard will probably agree, one's ego has quite a lot to do with this phenomenon.

But on the other hand, there comes a time when something "clicks" inside and the red light goes off instantly... "I am sharing too much!" A couple of times, I have to admit that I probably said too much that perhaps I shouldn't have. Nothing wrong with being honest and genuine, but sometimes it can be misinterpreted. Openness can make us vulnerable, especially when we are actually enjoying the moment of honesty. The beauty of the internet is that every one of us is entitled to privacy and the freedom of speech - a strange combination, that is until you unmask your true identity. And then the privacy and ability to share personal thoughts and feelings is pretty much no longer what it once used to be. But the desire to share is still very much "there"... Except now there's no going back, you either maintain the honesty in the blog posts or simply "back off"... It's like a relationship in many ways, I guess.

Having said all of the above, backing off hasn't really worked for me. I do miss blogging, primarily because it brings all of us in the virtual world a little bit closer to us, and makes us so much more "human" in this inhuman online universe. That's the beauty of it - meeting some of the nicest people, and a few "odd characters" here and there, but all in all - such an adventure, how do you walk away from it?

Blogging rehab aside, it has been really frantic recently, even more so after the initial bite of positive reaction and a bit of success in the UK club scene with "Thinking of Someone Else". The big question is, how do we keep the momentum and build on it while it's still very much hot and current? The answer is - RADIO - but of course like everything else, it's easier said than done. However, this weekend the song will, in fact, premiere on FM radio and needless to say, I am THRILLED, but also refusing to stop and enjoy the moment when there's so much more that has to be done, one by one - it's finally coming together like a puzzle that's missing one little piece in the corner on the left-hand side.

Apart from the radio dilemma which is now beginning to click, click, click cross-Atlantic, we also realized that I'm short of a ... Ballad! And this is where somebody like Billy Stein comes in. The new song is currently "under construction" and is being written by myself, Billy and Christopher Neil, my executive producer and someone without whose belief, support and hard work I wouldn't be doing what I love the most - as simple as that. It's very exciting, but I have to say that after being out of the studio since June, the past week was a strange "homecoming" experience for me. And exhausting too, but I loved it. What do I look forward to the most now? (Apart from hearing the song on the radio this weekend onwards!) Recording the vocals - finally!

And of course aside from the Music, the UN radio show, recording sessions and publicity work "in the making", there's always that extra bit of time, patience and space that we devote to the family, friends and matters of the heart... The latter being the trickiest one, of course, but there's never a dull moment, is there? :-) That's it, daren't say any more in case "I really shouldn't".

It has only just hit me... I have missed blogging A LOT. That aftertaste following a night out with close friends, chatting, catching up and sharing bits and pieces after a long period of silence can be so comforting. That's what I've missed about this experience. I really should devote a little more time to this particular form of writing - it's too good to neglect!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

News on Thinking of Someone Else

Tinatin's "Thinking of Someone Else" remix by Riffs & Rays has been featured in November's top dance hit compilation from CD Pool UK.

RELEASED NOVEMBER 08 Monthly double CD featuring big room vocal house floor fillers, pop remixes, and commercial dance anthems from all over Europe.

Up to two months ahead of commercial release.

CD1

1. Wideboys Feat. Dennis G - Sambuca (The Return) (Wideboys Miami House Club Mix)
2. New Kids On The Block & Ne-Yo - Single (Stonebridge Club Mix)
3. Alphabeat - What Is Happening (Simmons & Christopher Remix)
4. Solitaire Feat. Shena - Fantasy (Extended Club Mix)
5. Alesha Dixon - The Boy Does Nothing (Bimbo Jones Remix)
6. Boogie Pimps Feat. Steve Brookstein - Promised Land (Bassmonkeys Club Mix)
7. Ladyhawke - My Delirium (Jbag Hot Pop Remix)
8. Tikaro. J Louis & Ferran Feat. Rebeka Brown - Real Things (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Remix)
9. Simply Red - Go Now (Triple Dee Club Mix)
10.Jordan Sparks - Tattoo (Jason Nevins Club Mix)

CD 2

1. No Halo - Put Your Hands On (Extended Mix)
2. Pussycat Dolls - I Hate This Part (Moto Blanco Club Mix)
3. Girls Aloud - The Promise (Dave Aude Club Mix)
4. DJ Pedro - Day By Day (Extended Club Mix)
5. Pink - So What (Bimbo Jones Club Mix)
6. Breezy - I Get Drunk (Jaimeson Club Mix)
7. John Barrowman - What About Us (Simmons & Christopher Remix)
8. Geo Da Silva - I'll Do You Like A Truck (Kid Chris & DJ Sign Remix)
9. Midnight Express & Sabrina Johnston - Party Train (Extended Mix)
10.Tinatin - Thinking Of Someone Else (Riffs & Rays Club Mix)
11.Kicken Vs Yasca Presents Nado - Feel The Sunshine (Etended Mix)

In the meantime, on Ourstage, Dr. Octavo's Charmix of "Thinking of Someone Else" is Oct/Nov's Club Dance #1 in Fan Favorites & Most Played categories...

For more news from the UK and beyond... watch this space!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Who ever said 13 is an unlucky number???



Et voila... it's official!

"Thinking of Someone Else" Riffs & Rays/Dr. Octavo remixed double single is next week's 13 in the Music Week Pop Club charts in the UK!

Needless to say, Top 30 was a big thrill in itself, but last week's 21 was such a close call, I couldn't help but keep my fingers crossed... why not Top 20, after all?



Some call it gambling, but for better or worse, there's always much more at stake "behind the scenes" than a mere position in the charts.

Not yet a Top 10 but initial talks about an upcoming single are well on the cards... in fact, already in full gear!

Watch this space for more news... some exciting updates on the way, but in the meantime, many thanks for all the support, encouragement and faith!

Love to you all,

Tinatin x

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Elections '08 - The Big Night!


Endless months of speculations, expert and amateur analysis, tensions rising day by day... And finally, tonight is the night when it all comes to a (hopefully) logical conclusion.

My big move to the States a few years ago coincided with the 2004 Presidential Elections, and I can now admit, hand on heart, that it didn't affect me half as much as back then as it does this time around.

Surely, it was supposed to be a temporary move and there were no signs or guarantees that I'd be settling down in the US for good.

Of course you never know what's around the corner, but at this point, this is definitely the place I call home, and somehow whatever happens right here and now, good or bad, will have a direct impact on each and every resident of this country and beyond its borders.

A US Resident but not yet a Citizen, I do genuinely envy those who have the choice to cast their vote tonight and effect the much anticipated results first-hand.

As we are all glued to our TV screens on a Tuesday eve, I can't help but laugh at the vivid memory of yours truly desperately trying to get some sleep exactly four years ago a in midtown Manhattan hotel room, with the TV switched on in the background, while a resonating echo "Ohio, Ohio, Ohio" crept into my dreams and made the much-needed sleep virtually impossible.

Four years later, I couldn't have thought more differently about the election saga, and yes, it does mean a great deal more to me now.

This is more than a mere presidential election or just another page in the history - it really is the choice made directly by people, every responsible person, and unlike some other countries where it's a rare luxury, let's just hope that every vote really, truly counts.

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Aftermath

Are apologies in order on my part?

Yesterday I openly shared my excitement about "Thinking of Someone Else" approaching the Top 20 slot in the UK on my blog, and my gosh, did I regret doing so shortly afterwards!



A series of comments and immediate feedback from some followed within minutes (thankfully, behind the scenes and not plastered across the myspace wall!) and a lot of the messages, except for a few lovely notes, were surprisingly... Judgmental, if that's the right word?

They say if you want to be successful in any shape or form, you've got to learn to take it all in, good or bad, within your chin up and mouth sealed tightly. So instead I flipped through the private messages with a smile on my face. Or wait, was it me smirking in front of the screen?

To make the long story short, I was reminded that art is only art and not a gamble nor a race for the desperate. Some accused me of over-reacting to a mere Top 20 in the making, "big hairy deal", etc. Funny, truly funny, and taken with vast amount of humor and a big smile on my face.

But deep down, let's be honest, who'd want to be rained upon their ultimate parade in that rare moment of... well, yes, bliss...? Not me, not I!

Initially, I seriously thought about apologizing for making the chart results public, but then I realized there's nothing really worth feeling guilty about.

On a slightly more professional note, I may have said this before but perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind to know exactly what I was referring to. Commercial success of any kind, especially when we decide to make music or any other form of art a career as opposed to a mere hobby can be a very stressful process. In fact, it should be handled like a business, not a creative venture for one's own satisfaction.

The chart results are as important as the quality of of the product itself being marketed every which way in the industry. Not only do our personal egos thrive of commercial success or lack of it, but it's the team of people involved in making this happen that need to see the outcome and always hope for the best results.

Quite frankly, who would want to invest time, money and effort into something they don't believe will ultimately generate income that surpasses the initial advance budget? Again, we can't ignore that music is also a business - even more so now than ever before, as it is shrinking as an industry day by day and those involved in it are, mildly speaking, becoming desperate for that extra bit of dosh.

If you are among those treating any form of art as a hobby rather than a career, that is of course a personal choice, and you can feel free to disagree with all that's been said above by a relative beginner in the field. I am not simply writing based on my limited experience (or arguably, the lack of it) but it's the reaction, the feedback and at the end of the day - reality - of what we have to face in order to either make it or break it in an industry that's unfortunately not at it's best nowadays.

This is all subjective, of course, but the beauty of living outside of the Soviet lock is undoubtedly the freedom of speech!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

From 30 to 23 - Backward Mathematics!


"From #30 the week of October 25th onto #23 as of Nov. 1st - Tinatin, Thinking of Someone Else" Music Week's official Pop Chart, UK.






Ecstatic, anxious and, well, keeping my fingers crossed greedily for the Top 20 slot. But humans are greedy by nature, aren't we?

This evening on my way home from a meeting, I walked by an ancient hotel (based on NY standards, of course) on 54th street famous for its lovely breakfast café overlooking the Avenue of the Americas. And it suddenly hit me - just over a year and a half ago, while having brunch with my producer and going through the songs, old and new, he made a quick suggestion.

"Why don't we submit 'Thinking of Someone Else' for Kylie's upcoming album? She'll cut it for sure, and anyway, although it's a hit, I think it may be a bit too poppy for you..." I was distraught? Are we taking the song off an album that's no even made yet, without even giving me a chance with it? "Otherwise we'll sit on it for ages and..." No, no, I couldn't give in, I wouldn't! Even though I knew it was also in my interest as a co-writer to land a potential single on Kylie Minogue's comeback album.

Being stubborn as hell, I refused to give in, and so did my producer - he couldn't be asked arguing about it with a stubborn post-teenage soviet! :-)

A year and a half later, walking past this same place I asked myself if this was one of the few good decisions I've made over the years (not proud to admit it's rare!) ... And this same record producer, Christopher Neil, is in so many ways responsible for "Thinking of Someone Else" now in the UK. Fate? Or persistence? Or both?

Keeping my fingers crossed for next week but not forgetting to multiply this by 100 in the meantime... Gotta build on it and follow it up, otherwise what's the point? No good charting for the sake of charting! At least not in this case........

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sharing is Caring - Is It Really?

A few hours ago, I posted a link to an unknown UK seller's advert for an original Promo Only copy of "Thinking of Someone Else" on ebay.

Yes, some of us may argue that a leak, particularly of a physical copy as opposed to a digital download, could possibly signify interest, for there's never a product that survives certain mediums and formats unless there's real, tangible demand for it out there. Partly true, I agree.

But here's the big dilemma - when you're not an independent artist making your own records, writing your own songs solo and basically doing your own thing without a team behind you, how can you possibly expect to keep everyone happy while your music is getting played - and sold, albeit secretly - behind your back? All it does is promotes you as an artist, and the song gets exposed without allowing you to compensate those who were there to make it happen. Let's face, art is great but it's also a business, especially nowadays.

I have now got my producer, the remixer and co-producer of the track, the co-writers, publishers, etc. who are collectively furious about this - and quite rightly so. For while I'm getting my name and ego exposed all over bit by bit, they are losing out on the royalties.

Is that fair? You tell me.... I'd love to hear your views x

Now on a serious note... voila the charts!

Below are just a few of the pop/club chart links, while in the meantime we're awaiting this week's Music Week UK Chart and the latest results...

Watch this space! :-)

DJ Pages Chart - DMC World

No. 4 - DJ Neil Harland!

No. 13 - DJ Neil Brown


And a little bonus surprise....

"Thinking of Someone Else" on Bear Essentials Mix of Oct. 08 - Pop Remix Mixes of the month by DJ Charlie on iTunes

EBAY? Already? Too, too funny!


An excerpt posted by an Ebay seller:

This is your chance to get hold of this rare 2 track promo cd single by Tinatin, who is a U.N. Radio correspondent in New York !


This cd has been played once but is still in excellent condition and comes supplied in a plastic sleeve wallet which will be well protected for posting.

Includes mixes by Dr Octavo.

Catalogue no. none listed.

Tracklisting : Thinking of someone else

1.Dr Octavo charmix

2.Dr Octavo extended charmix

I always offer postage discounts for multiple purchases.

Please feel free to check out my other items!

Be sure to add me to your favourites list!

Recorded delivery is optional to all UK bidders, buyers from other countries please ask about insurance as 'Airsure' or 'International signed for' can be arranged should you want it.

Proof of posting is always obtained. Good luck with your bidding !

Grab a real bargain !!

direct ebay link

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Song Titles

A close friend of mine asked me to come up with some of my favorite love song titles (for whatever reason, let's not get into that!) and I thought I'd share this random list...
Some of the songs, I'm sure, you know very well... others - check them out online!

In no particular order:

Slow Recovery
Why do you have to be so hard to love
Seduces Me
Right next to the right one
I'm not the man you think I am
Until it's time for you to go
Map to my heart
One day you will
Comfortable
Don't let me be the last to know
If I Had You
Still haven't found what I'm looking for
Same script, different cast
Edyta's song had a lyric "deliver me to the day I get over you" - nice line
I'm gonna find another you
Dreaming with a broken heart
Have you seen me lately
Why they call it falling
Don't think I'm not
I don't trust myself with loving you
I don't think she misses me at all
What are you doing the rest of your life

Have you got a favorite song title to share here...? Anything at all, let's see what we can come up with. Surprise me! :-)

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Early in the Morning...

There is place in Chelsea that I have fallen in love with... Not for any particular reason other than for its resemblance of another equally cozy and unusual place with the same three-digit name that I had so loved in London.

Fashionable duds and charming antiques surround diners at this restaurant nestled within a designer clothing store.

It was the place where I had my breakfast every morning and enjoyed late brunch at weekends in Westbourne Grove... Every waiter, ever item on the limited but exquisite menu, every chair and every table are so familiar though across the ocean, nonetheless.

And now I have discovered the exact same spot in the heart of NY's Chelsea - same menu, same building number (three-digits!) and the identical concept: a clothing shop, a furniture boutique and a lovely cafe/restaurant - all in one! Truly delectable!

Saturday morning over a cup of freshly brewed coffee, orange juice and scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, a good book, and the one and only Blackberry - just enough to start a new day!

The worst part? My closest of friends I used to have these breakfasts with in London - particularly the one friend (you know who you are) ... they're still in England.

But there's no going back - new friends, new songs and new projects - yet the favorite breakfast place remains the same on both sides of the Atlantic!

Friday, October 17, 2008

A Midnight Journey of the Mind...

I have always found writing in solitude, whether it's a song, an article or just a blog, incredibly soothing and relaxing for both mind and soul. If you also manage to play the music you love in the background and let your inner self take over the tangible "you" ....

To me, that's heaven on earth!

It has just gone past 1 a.m. EST, and being a natural "owl" and not an early bird, it's not surprising to find myself in front of the laptop with a cup of tea clutched in my hand, and piles of paperwork and this week's press cuts scattered across the table.

The music in the background? (No, not my own! I wouldn't be able to relax in that case.) "Color Me Kubrick" movie soundtrack is anything but commercial and dull (no, the two don't always go hand in hand!) although it does require a certain degree of concentration, peace and quiet. Granted!

Nothing gives me more satisfaction in my rare moment's of complete solitude like spending an hour flipping through brand new music, as well as previously undiscovered and perhaps not so commercially successful songs and artists and downloading the selection onto my iPod. I get almost as excited as I used to when I was a little girl, driving with Dad to the out-of-town record story in Russia ever other weekend to purchase the latest releases from the "capitalist world".

Do you ever come across a song that you really didn't like before and totally dismissed upon hearing it initially, but years later realize it's a real gem? That's precisely what I went through this evening as I listened to all sorts of records I've owned for years but never really took the time to "get into". And I suppose that's when you realize it's so worth making music, doing what you love the most, even though sometimes it's hard and next to impossible - like banging your head against the wall until you finally get your message across after trying relentlessly for so long.

Just before I started writing this blog, I watched a music video on youtube that really had inspired me on so many levels as a child, it's staggering! It was filmed in a recording studio in the early 90's and there's a puppy in the video - attending the session! - that I had so envied as a little girl, wishing I were him for an hour or two. I was fascinated by the concept of recording and the equipment took my breath away - it was so unlike anything else we had seen on MTV prior to that. One of those moments when you say to yourself: "This is it, that's what I want to do for the rest of my life!"

Of course it doesn't always work out that way, but when it does, albeit very rarely and perhaps not 100% according to the plan, there's nothing more gratifying for the soul and generally for the "inner child" whom we owe so much of our dreams, aspirations and where we are today - the reality at present.

So many of my friends wanted to become doctors, teachers, actresses and policemen when I was a kid. Whereas some of them had absolutely no idea what they wanted to do when they grew up.

For me, on the other hand, there was never a plan B. And I don't think that was necessarily a great thing, either. I was deprived of the flexibility to make one's own choices as an adult - in my case, there was no alternative option quite early on. It was either music, music or music - period.

As a result, I ended up trying a few additional tricks here and there to make sure it wasn't just a childhood whim or mental obsession of sorts. I studied journalism instead of music after high school, pursued foreign languages instead of concentrating on piano lessons and got a job as a UK Correspondent for a French women's interest magazine in Russia.

End result? I always kept coming back to what I loved the most deep down. It wasn't really about fame or mega success. In fact, I still don't have the urge to see my face on magazine covers.

True, it will be nice - we all have egos, after all. But the true purpose of the journey, the big goal down the road is somewhat different - and it's not so easy to express it verbally, to be honest.

Cynics will always say it's a cover up, but there is nothing more banal than defining one's goal in a mere sentence.

A certain degree of positive feedback, a minimal success is undoubtedly gratifying, I am sure. Yet what counts the most underneath it all isn't superficial, although it may be slightly cheesy for some to digest.

This wasn't really supposed to be an ode to childhood dreams, so please forgive the mumbling at this late hour.

As overdue work won't submit its own deadlines by itself, it is now time to get back to the real world and switch the music off once again.....

Good night, sweet dreams x

Thursday, October 16, 2008

How to Celebrate UK Top 30?

What an amateur way to go out on Thursday night and celebrate the Top 30 entry of "Thinking of Someone Else" in the UK's Music Week Pop/Club Chart as of next week... KARAOKE bar for two - yes, karaoke!

Top numbers of the night? Let's see... Our "celebration" playlist was diverse (and impromptu) ranging from "Beauty and the Beast" to "Hey Jude" and then on to a couple of Russian songs that neither of us thought we'd remember after all these years!

The strangest part of the big celebration was the following - I never told my friend about the single charting in the UK alongside today's commercial hits, such as Anastacia, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Boy George, etc. Why? I was too embarrassed to come across as pretentious, I guess. Not a very solid excuse, I agree, but I wasn't quite sure it was appropriate.

The night was spent in the karaoke bar celebrating the "X News" except I forgot to mention it... But what a blast - and the worst part of it was that I actually took it VERY seriously and sang most of the songs as if it were a proper performance. Sad, really, but hilarious!!

So once we're in the Top 20, where shall we celebrate it? (Openly, I hope.)

Still wondering... Can't come up with the best possible venue as of yet... And the most unusual one, too!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Long Time No Blog!

After 10 days of absence from the blog scene, I was startled to discover some of the sweetest, funniest inquiries about my unexpected silence.

Had I disappeared after the crash of Wall Street having been affected by the financial crisis first-hand? Am I well and healthy? Is there a specific cause for the longest-running silence ever since I first launched the blog?

The unexpected volume - and warmth - of these messages caught me by surprise, although I have to admit, it was immensely flattering - and inspiring, too!

Truth be told, my days and nights have been absolutely frantic lately, ranging from official debut single release preparations and first reactions from England, UN and radio work, manuscript development and editing, personal matters of the heart, etc. All positive, exciting and hectic - so no worries at all, I'm still here! :-)

The major source of excitement is, of course, obvious to most of you by now - the UK radio & club rotation of "Thinking of Someone Else" double single: initial feedback and reviews from some of the top-notch clubs across the country, as well as additional commercial Top 40 compilation albums in the UK and Canada which will also feature the track as one of the upcoming highlights of Oct/Nov/Dec '08.

There's one particular massive compilation album that will feature the song as an upcoming hit of the season... All confirmed but not yet released, so forgive me for not being more precise :-)

Absolutely over the moon, to say the least!

What has made it slightly less enjoyable is the lack of sleep and zero time to actually celebrate the first results... Except, I'm a true believer that there's always time to celebrate somewhere down the line - but first things first: work, work, work and multiply the initial reaction by 100, building on the first bits of success!!!

Well, what can I say? Too early to feel dizzy and dazed based on all of this madness, but all the more to work on and develop, day by day, minute by minute. There will always an opportunity to sit back and relax, but not now - far from it, in fact.

Instead, what I should do is find more time to blog more often, keep you all posted and above all, maintain our fascinating, fun discussions about this, that and the other... That's what I miss the most!

Thank you all so much for reaching out, caring to ask if everything is in order, and for proving once again that online correspondence can, indeed, turn into friendship both online and offline - regardless of the medium of communication! I can't quite describe how wonderful it is to know that you're all there, regardless of the silence - we're all just a click away, one way or another.

Getting back to the frantic reality now, but do promise to write again sooner than you think - and then we can collectively complain about how often Tinatin posts her blogs without giving anyone sufficient time to go through them all, one by one! Hand on heart, I've missed that - badly.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Tinatin’s NEW single: Euro Solution Press Release, UK

An excerpt from the official Euro Solution website:

Some of you will already be familiar with Tinatin's hot dance tune, "Thinking of Someone Else" as we mailed very limited copies a few weeks back now to absolute rave reviews!

Now, get set for a brand new promo and a brand new set of mixes to back up the already massive Dr Octavo remixes from firm Eurosolution favourites - Riffs & Rays. The guys are yet again on fire and have produced one hell of a peak time mix for you to hammer out to the max! Make sure you are on it guys!

Track listing:

1. Riffs & Rays Club Mix
2. Dr Octavo Charmix Extended Club Remix
3. Riffs & Rays Radio Mix
4. Dr Octavo Charmix Radio Mix

Listed are some of the other projects Euro Solution are currently promoting......

Anastacia - I Can Feel You (CD) (single)
Boy George - Yes We Can (single)
Chaka Khan & Mary J Blige - Disrespectful (single)
Dolly Rockers - Je Suis Une Dolly (Full mail-out) (single)
Francesca Kimberley - Chasing Cars (single)
Honey Ryder - Fly Away (single)
Kardinal Offishall - Dangerous ft Akon (single)
Katy Perry - Hold N Cold (ltd mail-out) (single)
Kill Hannah - Crazy Angel & Lips Like Morphine (single)
Lemar - If She Knew (single)
N Force - All My Life (single)
Rob Mayth - Heart To Heart (single)
Robin Thicke - Magic Touch ft Mary J Blige (CD) (single)
Shwayze - Buzzin (single)
Sirens - Dreams (single)
The Game - My Life feat Lil Wayne (single)
WAWA - Traxx 1 (single)

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Record Stores... They Still Exist???

If you ask when was the last time I bought a physical CD in a record store, I'll have to concentrate for a few minutes and try to remember if it was even this year....

Even today, as I popped into the bookstore to buy a new notebook (I always carry one in my bag wherever I go - for both musical and journalistic purposes, you just never know!) I ended up next to the music department and remembered that one of my co-writer and producer Billy Stein's record had hit the stores nationwide today. Linda Eder's much anticipated "americana" release, "The Other Side of Me".

Ever since I first got to Manhattan/EMI and did my showcase this spring, they've all been talking about the album that was already done but because of internal political reasons (nothing to do with the actual product, sadly - this is the reality of the music industry today: it's not about the music) the label couldn't commit to a definite release date and deliver. Same old story....

Anyway, many months later, the album is now in stores through Verve. And it was worthwhile.

I was first introduced to Linda's work when I came to the US in 2000 to do the Alan and Marilyn Bergman tribute show. Back then she was quite well known if you liked that kind of music - Broadway standards.

But today, I heard the record that she should've considered making even earlier. (Actually, I did hear bits of it at Billy's studio a few months ago - so I was already familiar with the material more or less, but hush hush :-)

As I was unwrapping the CD, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic about the time when I, as a little girl, seized every opportunity to drive miles out of central Moscow with Dad to our favorite "Purple Legion" where they sold imported records from abroad...quite a luxury back then! A CD was 15.00 USD, but it was worth every penny - what a joy!

Nowadays, I barely even bother to walk into one of those mega record stores... Why? Because quite frankly, very few amazing albums are being made and released on regular basis these days - and it's no big deal if I just get a song or two off iTunes and ignore the artwork and credits included in the physical copy of the record....

It's just rarely worth the hassle and utter excitement like before.... Will it ever be the same again? Doubt it. But something else will surely come along - no doubt. That's the way it is...and always has been - a full circle!

United Nations: Off Duty

Imagine the center of diplomacy and global debates among world leaders from every corner of the globe, the conference rooms and the General Assembly Hall all deserted, elevators and escalator throughout the United Nations Headquarters completely off duty and out service - and it's Tuesday afternoon!

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish New Year. It appears that everyone in the building was aware that it is also an official UN holiday... Except for yours truly, who came to work this morning, prepared to tackle global issues and the highlights of the General Assembly's 63rd session, when at the very entrance of UN radio, I realized that although the building's not shut for staff, it is pretty much deserted... I should have known, right?

Instead, I foolishly stayed up last night drafting my radio script for today's show... and now I am writing my blog next door to Conference Room 1 in the very heart of the basement floor below the main lobby. It's never been so quiet here - not ever since I first walked inside the chaotic UN lobby to the my "introductory" meeting in the summer of 2006.

I have just emailed my radio producer at PRN to let him know about the unsuccessful attempt to record my weekly show - I tried in all honesty... On top of that, I was actually looking forward to it too... But needless to say, an extra hour of sleep would've been equally blissful after a night of horrors one after another!

Oops, somebody just walked by the computer lab... I wonder if he's off duty too - clearly, as he's totally under-dressed for a regular day at the UN: no suit, no tie, just a checkered shirt and dark blue jeans... hurrah, what a day for the officials!

And the newsstands are all empty, the cafeteria is closed, my favorite radio engineer is off, too. If any of my friends were here from my former UN madness days, we'd have had a blast taking pictures "behind the scenes"... today is the day for the freedom of press, that's for sure!

Remember "The Interpreter" with Nicole Kidman? That scene where she overhears the conversation (or a plot, rather) at the General Assembly on a late night on the way out of the building...? Spooky!

Anyone fancy a private tour through the UN chambers? Just kidding, of course, but really, it's worth a visit if you haven't been to the building yet. Fascinating - and looks nothing like what you see on television.

My first visit to the General Assembly - the big hall with green marble and a gold-plated UN logo on it - was breath-taking, I have to admit... had never felt so... important. No, really. There's a sense of "being a part of something very important and vital on a large scale", honestly. But that wears off with time, it does. Except during the GA week when you hear every world leader of every country - big and small - taking the floor to address the assembly, one by one. Staggering.

At times I wonder if the UN would be a more effective and less controversial place if it were only active during the General Assembly...? If it isn't so already. For as much as I love and admire the organization for what it stands for (but not always for its actions when it comes down to it) I often wonder if it's effective nowadays......

Getting back to the main topic, I just heard back from my producer (of United Nations Uncovered, my radio show) and being his usual sweet self (no many of those around, eh?) he told me not to worry about it... But I do! Why? Because I always worry, especially if I'm told not to! But seriously, only now I realized that a week off air is boring - radio can be addictive and now I miss it!

No other choice but to wait till next week, so for the time being - Happy Rosh Hashanah to those of you celebrating the holiday, and a great week to everyone!

"This was United Nations Uncovered for Progressive Radio Network. I'm Tinatin Japaridze; please tune in next Tuesday for more news and updates from the UN..." :-)

Monday, September 29, 2008

Do you remember the time...


... when MTV (clarification for the some who have come to believe that it has always been the home of generic reality TV) was the official Music Television channel? Can you still recall MTV Unplugged? No, not "Nip Tuck" but MTV Unplugged - acoustic showcases of some of the biggest pop/rock artists and bands producer in TV Special format. The ultra-famous TRL (Total Request Live) was before YouTube... And does anyone remember MTV UK's Bitesize - random videos, clips and music news? Yup, that was all before The Soup!

If video killed radio, then myspace and youtube have certainly replaced MTV, VH1 and all of its numerous clones internationally... Good news or bad news?

While in the 80's and the 90's appearing on MTV was a major achievement for a new band, nowadays it's practically uncool to even ask an artist if he/she is on MTV - a) because it no longer exists (the MTV we've got on Time Warner today is not the same, let's face it!) and therefore, if you're "hip" and up-to-date about what's going on in the world, you should be aware of that, and b) very few good indies could ever afford the luxury of buying airtime or even ending up on the channel for free without the right connections...

Today it's all about myspace, iTunes and youtube...... But what about tomorrow? Isn't this just a bridge that will get us from A to B (the latter still remaining a mystery to everyone in the music industry on the verge of collapse unless they can come up with the Plan B either now or never) ?

Where are we heading.... Back to square one? Because let's not forget - music will always be in demand whether it's in this current format or another, an indie or a major label (not so likely anymore), live or on record... It will always have a listener, always find a buyer. That's the only consolation.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Pop Stars & Politicians - EQUAL?

When pop icons and rock icons were completely demystified in recent decades due to the constant and unconcealed exposure through the uncensored lens of today's all-access media, the world has become increasingly interested in decoding the political figures dominating the headlines.

Apart from being regarded as mere politicians and leaders of the countries they run, they have crossed over into the mainstream pop culture and integrated the showbiz market as a result, hoping to appeal to the masses and not just those interested in modern-day politics.

John McCain's controversial comment referring to Barack Obama as the male version of Paris Hilton; President Sarkozy's much-talked-about marital union with former model and recently "celebrated" Carla Bruni; Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged romance with Alina Kabaeva, Olympic gymnast half his age, etc.

The latter dismissed the above rumor as untrue, stating that he has "always reacted negatively to those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others' lives... There's a lot of talk in the press about beautiful young women. I don't think it will surprise you if I said that I like them all."

Needless to say, our society as a whole has never been short of overly curious minds and nosey characters, not only when it concerned the saucy show business but also the world leaders and their private lives. But when google is bombarded with far more search queries about Georgian leader Saakashvili's video "chewing on the tie" during a BBC interview break than the actual situation in the war-torn country, one wonders if this is at all normal?

Or perhaps it is, and I'm just being too picky and overly sensitive about our collective needs and the little pleasures derived from the juicy details of other people's - particularly the newsworthy (and not so much) public figures' - personal lives.

Pop Music: Younger & More Graphic Than Ever

It seems it was only yesterday when a "teenage sensation" in a school uniform, dark pinkish lipstick and ponytails stormed the charts via high school corridors around the world in 1998/1999. Britney became an instant imaginary B.F.F. for most of the girls of her generation.

Even yours truly, heavily addicted to nothing but adult contemporary, Jazz and Classical was eventually forced subconsciously to learn "Baby One More Time" by heart driving to school and back with other classmates more attuned with the current pop music transformation from Spice Girls to a much younger and cuter Britney Spears. Far from becoming a teen-pop fan, I was still reeling from Celine Dion's smash album "Let's Talk About Love" which featured the mega "My Heart Will Go On". So, yes, not exactly your average "hit me baby" fan, but humming along was inevitable....

Just then, the Lolita boom was back in a full 40-year circle... And it's been here more or less on and off ever since.

After a brief break between Britney clones, such as Mandy Moore, a vocally much better equipped Christina Aguilera (albeit a teen pop starlet at the time, nonetheless) and a few more whose names I honestly can't remember anymore (that's a sign in itself!) - in 2008 we're facing a much less subtle version of "Lolita pop" not only among the Hanna Montana fans and the controversial (although not that big of a deal, for goodness sake!) fashion shot of Miley Cyrus, to name but a few.

Ultimately, the combination of the taboo view of young girls in flashy grown-up clothes and millions of teenagers' admiration of such teen-pop icons, along with the utter realization of the 80's fear that "video killed the radio" (and now even MTV is no longer about music, it's all about the "Nip Tucks!" and "The Soup" equivalents) leaves music way behind - what's it all about then, Alfie? Surely not the music. Neither a well produced video, for that's long gone as well...

So, what's next? Not only in pop music but on a larger scale - for young upcoming generations.... childhood vs. adulthood - do we skip adolescence altogether?

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Canadian Rock Star - Brandon Adams...?


It was the night of the Academy Awards, March 23rd, 2008.

Two teenage girls - Tina and Nino had stayed up all night after school to watch the long-awaited "Titanic" year at the Oscars live from LA on Russian TV way past midnight (Moscow time.)

After Celine Dion's special performance of the hit movie song that had just become huge in Russia and won our hearts immediately, Nino and I were ready to retire to bed... It was, after all 4 a.m. and we were barely 14 years old (only just!)

As we both went to the bedroom and got inside our cozy beds on a chilly Moscow night (yes, even March is a freezing cold month back home!) my mom rushed into the room and turned the lights on right away, "Girls, girls, Bryan Adams is in a movie!"

Bryan Adams? You see, I was a humongous fan of his from an early age; already realizing that I wouldn't let her blink an eye until I had watched the film right then and there, Nino gave up on the very notion of finally going to sleep and tuned in to see what the big fuss about the Bryan Adams movie was all about....

The first few minutes were all about a blond guy with a very similar mid-90's Bryan Adams-esque hairstyle, except he was wearing a mask on his face the whole time. All we really got to see during the first half of the movie were the blond streaks and white sneakers + blue jeans on a faceless, barely alive corpse that was being dragged by some psycho from one room to another...

Hello, it was a horror movie!

"Are you sure this is Bryan Adams?" we kept questioning my mom, trying to double-check if it really was worth watching this nonsense.

"The plot might develop as it goes on, Nino" I reassured my sleepy girlfriend. "No way Bryan Adams would've made a bad movie!" As if I knew his professional preferences and cinematic demands intimately!

An hour + into the horror movie - still no sign of Bryan or anyone else with a visible face, for that matter - they were all wearing masks, except for one girl, and she clearly was not BA.

"I'll give it another 15 minutes and then I'm off to sleep," Nino threatened me. Mom agreed.

"Awww how can you do that, it's Bryan Adams' first movie, for God's sake!"

And so the dragging-by-the-feet from one room on to another and up & down the stairs carried on for another endless hour... The sun was beginning to shine through the clouds and we realized we'd definitely lost our much needed sleep for the night. But it was going to be so worth it by the end of the work of art, I kept telling Mom and my best friend.

1h58m, 1h59m, 2h00m...

That's it, the hype around the worst film of the year (no Academy Award for this horror masterpiece, that's for sure!) was beginning come to a rather "disappointing" ending... a twist would've helped... maybe it was on the way?

"Oh wait, maybe he's singing the title song in the end of the movie? Let's wait for the big soundtrack moment and also check the credits!" Mom seemed determined. "I swear, it said Bryan Adams in the beginning of the film!!!"

The song... The big moment.... I was going to hear a new song of my favorite male singer - clearly, along with the Robin Hood hit and Don Juan de Marco, I had never come across this soundtrack before, at least not among his other records. Could it be a premiere? I was too tired to even think straight at that point... Nino was losing the grip, too.

YES... The film was over and it FINALLY was time for the HUGE ballad along with the much-anticipated credits.

JKAHFIUASFHEONFAKUORESZFLISEOL;MSDLVUOPGJLRSGTAOPEJQI2-0O2!!!!UW8292///'IU2905-6- this is the approximate notation of the song in "musical" terms. The solo chanteuse sounded more like a bad version of Marilyn Manson than anything else.

"THIS IS NOT BRYAN ADAMS!!" Nino screamed, "Even I know THAT much... Ohhhh Tina, I will kill you!!!" We both laughed, although she really was angry and disappointed about losing a few precious hours of sleep.

The final drop was the long list of credits... Mom came back into the room, "So you saw Bryan in the end? Was it him behind the black mask?"

"Mooooooom..... The credits say 'BRANDON ADAMS' not 'BRYAN'...!!!!!!!!!!!!" World War III broke out... inevitably.

Instead of feeling bad for us, she roooooared laughing and we simply had to give in - it really WAS hilarious, after all.

Needless to say, we were up within 15 minutes to get for school on time and on with a new day but couldn't stop laughing about the Brandon Adams incident that kept us giggling during the rest of the week...

Yes, Nino forgave me in the end. She is still one of my closest friends in the world.

But does she still like Bryan Adams? I wonder........

Taking An Ex-Bottle Factory By Storm!

For those of you wondering whether I've gone completely political and left the music to the clubbers and the promoters to worry about, you're wrong!

I was so fortunate to spend fabulous couple of days in Philadelphia earlier last week - and even managed to tick one of the many to-do-list boxes of my life in the long run...

Years ago, when I first started taking my initial steps in music upon moving to the UK, I came across a song in a pile of my producer's CDs (he probably gets hundreds of them per week from all over the world, I don't know how he manages to hear each and every one of them - and he does!!) called "To Comfort You", which I immediately fell in love with and so wanted to record when I first got into the studio back in London!

As it usually goes, due to a number of nuances that I won't be getting into just yet (if ever), it never came to pass; however, an mp3 of the song ended up on my iPod from the very day I purchased the player at Heathrow Airport.

That was then, this is now - after all these years, I found myself recording this same song at the home studio of the writer who had sent the song to my producer for a different artist (a very very big one, actually - I'm amazed she didn't do it!) back in the day and was now doing my vocals in the heart of Pennsylvania... Not an easy one to describe but yes, it was really something for me... An achievement of sorts, in a way. Do you even know what I mean? FYI I am completely obsessed with "ticking the boxes" you see, particularly when it comes to music.

I have to say, through all the fun in and outside of the studio during those few days, it was so wonderful to be able to switch off from the rest of the world and all of the madness going on every minute of the day whether it's hurricanes, politics, economy, or whatever else is on our minds 24/7 - inevitably so. I did a little bit of work, true, and spent ages on the phone to Georgia trying to arrange a certain "personal delivery" to a hotel for a special friend, but other than that - it was like running away and diving back into those old days of carefree music and musicianship.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Good singers, great singers & GREAT VOCALISTS


Artists seldom talk about fellow colleagues. This is especially true about singers raving about other singers, particularly if they haven't yet sold 20 million records, but are, however, well on their way to hitting the big time.

I had the opportunity to hear one such artist tonight at the Canal Room, and God is my witness, she is not in urgent need of extra publicity and/or a name tick in a blog. Yet, her performance tonight was of breathtaking quality, depth and great fun - all at the same time.

In my book, there are good singers, great singers, and then there are those very few "great vocalists" - Ms. Lucy Woodward, ladies and gentlemen, is one of them - and that's quite rare nowadays, let's face it!

If you haven't already heard her music and experienced the magic of seeing her live, hand on heart - I promise you have missed something so worth a shot. I am blown away... She made me want to get on that stage right then and there and sing my heart out. Now that only happens when I see someone truly amazing at what they do.

What a night, such a blast....!

Thank you, Ms. Lucy Woodward - you are the real deal, in all honesty.

Georgia on the General Assembly's Mind

The much anticipated 63rd session of the General Assembly kicked off yesterday, on September 16th at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

World leaders gathered in the Turtle Bay headquarters on the East River facing a picturesque view of the island, as they took the stand at the helm of the General Assembly Hall one by one on behalf of their nations and the people of every individual country represented at the GA.

The morning session was highlighted by the speech of the US President, George W. Bush who has often criticized the UN for being costly and indecisive in the face of serious world problems, used his final assembly speech as President of the United States to emphasize multinational organizations are "needed more than ever" to combat terrorists and extremists who are threatening world order.

During the p.m. session of the GA, among various statement made by presidents, foreign ministers, etc. of the countries present at the assembly, two particular appearances were at the center of attention and collective anticipation: the speeches of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the President of the Republic of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili.

In the light of the recent events and the five-day war that took place in Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia upon the invasion of Georgia proper by the Russian troops, the small democratic republic in Caucasus that had attracted little interest throughout the foreign media in the past, has now become one of the most talked-about countries in today's headlines around the world.

"Countless people throughout the world were deeply moved and profoundly troubled by the invasion of Georgia—which began, with tragic irony, on the eve of that great celebration of peace, the Olympic Games," said President Saakashvili. "If our first revolution was about meeting a threat from within by reinventing a failed state riddled by corruption... Our second revolution must be even more focused, as now we face an even greater challenge, one that comes from the outside."

During his statement to the assembly, the Georgian President suggested to those present that the recent invasion of his country may have been a misguided attempt to resort to the 19th century logic of brute force. This, he noted, is unacceptable in our day and age: "In the 21st century, we have better ways to protect the rights of ethnic minorities than with T-72 tanks and Su fighter jets."

As I listened to the statement made by my president, the leader of the my country, I couldn't help but feel proud of the fact that through all the pain, suffering and humiliation we went through during the past month, our tiny little republic has managed to reemerge as a much more positive and hopeful nation as a result.

Yes, we have a long way to go, of course. But even the fact that the world leaders around the globe and ordinary people (who prior to the escalation were somewhat ignorant of the fact that Georgia is not just the US state but also a country in Eurasia) are equally aware of the importance of keeping peace in every part of the world including the small country that so many have come to acknowledge and support in the recent weeks - even that in itself is an achievement.

However, having said that, we clearly cannot give up just yet, for we do have miles and miles to go before we get to the stage where we can claim full democracy, peace and stability for ourselves and the generations to come. But it's a start - a start we should be proud of.

Let's not forget: a few months ago, if I, as a Georgian, walked into a public place in New York and was asked by a stranger where I was from, they'd be puzzled to hear that Georgia is, indeed, a sovereign country - a beautiful one, in fact - and not just a state in the USA!

Tinatin on Nu Music Traxx!

Yet another music compilation in Canada featuring Tinatin's "Thinking of Someone Else" (Dr. Octavo Charmix) - ERG Nu Music Traxx October 2008.

Nu Music Traxx of October '08 includes the best New Pop, Rock, Dance, Urban and Country releases. DJs across the country are switching to Nu Music Traxx, the most versatile programming format for mobile and mixed format club DJs.

Other highlights of the compilation this month are the following: Christina Aguilera, "Keeps Getting Better", Rihanna "Disturbia", Coldplay's "Lost", and many more.........!

ERG Full Track Listing....

Monday, September 22, 2008

Latest from UN on Georgia-Russia conflict


Politics
Latest from UN on Georgia-Russia conflict


Sitting in Conference Room 1 in the General Assembly section of the UN building, waiting for Russian Ambassador Churkin's special conference to begin.

The Ambassador to the UN has invited the press corp to attend the session on
"Tragedy in South Ossetia, August 2008".

Following my UN radio show on Tuesday morning, I made my way to the conference room after a brief lunch with an old friend and former UN colleague. Incredible how short the internships are for the young people here. Wouldn't it be smart to recruit more enthusiastic youngsters and
enhance the youthful outlook of the organization as a whole?

As I'm typing this article on my blackberry, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation at the United Nations takes center stage... I have no other choice but start taking notes on a piece of recycled paper of what used to be a GA resolution - one of many...!

The introductory speech of Ambassador Churkin was not in any way different from the previous statements by the Russian government and the Russian media, with particular emphasis on "Georgia's aggression against South Ossetians".

Fluent in English, Vitaly Churkin chose to speak Russian instead during his remarks, urging those "not yet fluent in the great language" to use the headsets with sync-translation into English.

The introduction was swiftly followed by the promised documentary compiled by the Russian Mission to the UN for a special screening to mark the 40 days since the tragedy.

Ambassador warned those present that the footage was in parts so graphic, it needed severe editing beforehand. That certainly goes to both the Georgian and Russian media images and documentary shots.

Following a minute of silence in the memory of those who perished, mention Ossetians, Georgians and Russians, V. Churkin joined the auditorium to watch the documentary in 3 parts with the music of Adagio playing in the background.

As for the images - nothing new and particularly revealing that we haven't yet witnessed on TV and the press covering the events in Georgia and the Ossetian breakaway region during the past few weeks.

Two separate documentaries previously broadcasted on Russia Today satellite channel were replayed back to back, while those of us in the room either made notes hastily (very few, though) or just simply couldn't take our eyes of the footage. A special segment of Ossetian-born pro Russian conductor Valery Gergiev's performance in Tskhinvali immediately following the week-long war was also shown amidst other footage filmed in Ossetia.

One particular segment caught my eye immediately - its undiplomatic cruelty and animosity was clearly somewhat out of place, especially for a venue such as the UN headquarters and Conference Room 1 in the basement of the General Assembly. A dead Georgian soldier lying on the ground completely unattended while two middle aged women standing several feet away from the scene watched the corpse deteriorate on the spot and spat on it from a short
distance.

Truly staggering that a big TV company would even air this piece. Whether you're a Georgian, a Russian or a representative of any other ethnicity, people are people and this was one more proof that we haven't yet integrated into the 21st century if we are still behaving like cavemen. These were civilians, you see, not even the politicians.

45 minutes after the presentation had begun with Mr. Churkin's speech, the lights went out and the conference came to an end somewhat unexpectedly. No usual Q&A following most UN conferences and briefings of all sorts, nothing at all. Perhaps it was for the better, as the footage we had just witnessed could have stirred all kinds of negative emotions coming from varying perspectives, and as a result, provoked unpleasant interactions for some of the attendees. Although, most of those present were Russian delegates and press representatives. I have a feeling I must have been the only Georgian in the room. Not easy, not easy at all.

And that raises one very last observation: a few months ago before the conflict had erupted, there really was no difference whether you were a Georgian correspondent, a Russian one or a Pakistani journalist - we were all a part of the same press corp covering the same organization with equal rights and mutual sympathy for each other.

Today, for the first time after over 2 years spent at the UN, I realized that the world is once again on the verge of going backwards - what happened to the much anticipated democracy and globalization?

Sadly, I'm wondering if it's all a dream and not our very own reality. Couldn't get this thought out of my mind as I walked out of the UN building and onto 1st Ave, strolling down the street on my way to a music-oriented meeting - at last!!

Perhaps the following generations will find themselves co-existing in a multi-colored, international society? Probably not for a long time...unless we realize the urgency of overcoming our nationalistic egos and personal as well as political power-struggles.

Maybe only then we will see what's beyond the war...

Peace.

Tinatin Dzhaparidze, New York
2008.09.22 17:37

Geotimes Article by Tinatin

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Thinking of..."Thinking of Someone Else"...

Following a couple of weeks of anticipation and excitement about the new upcoming UK remix of "Thinking of Someone Else", here it is!

Along with Dr. Octavo's Charmix currently being played across the UK clubs, this additional version by the renowned Riffs & Rays is about to hit the clubs and selected radio stations in the United Kingdom in coming weeks...or days!

So please have a listen to both and do us a huge favor by picking your favorite version by voting below or on www.myspace.com/tinatinmusic !

Thanks so much to you all and stay tuned for more news......

Oh, and by the way, Dr. Octavo's remix is currently no. 1 on Ourstage... except that shouldn't affect your choice one way or another - tell us what you REALLY think! :-)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

United We Stand - Or Do We?

Sitting in Conference Room 1 in the General Assembly section of the UN building, waiting for Russian Ambassador Churkin's special conference to begin.

The Ambassador to the UN has invited the press corp to attend the session on "Tragedy in South Ossetia, August 2008".

Following my UN radio show on Tuesday morning, I made my way to the conference room after a brief lunch with an old friend and former UN colleague. Incredible how short the internships are for the young people here. Wouldn't it be smart to recruit more enthusiastic youngsters and enhance the youthful outlook of the organization as a whole?

As I'm typing this blog article on my blackberry, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation at the United Nations takes center stage... I have no other choice but start taking notes on a piece of recycled paper of what used to be a GA resolution - one of many...!

The introductory speech of Ambassador Churkin was not in any way different from the previous statements by the Russian government and the Russian media, with particular emphasis on "Georgia's aggression against South Ossetians".

Fluent in English, Vitaly Churkin chose to speak Russian instead during his remarks, urging those "not yet fluent in the great language" to use the headsets with sync-translation into English.

The introduction was swiftly followed by the promised documentary compiled by the Russian Mission to the UN for a special screening to mark the 40 days since the tragedy.

Ambassador warned those present that the footage was in parts so graphic, it needed severe editing beforehand. That certainly goes to both the Georgian and Russian media images and documentary shots.

Following a minute of silence in the memory of those who perished, mention Ossetians, Georgians and Russians, V. Churkin joined the auditorium to watch the documentary in 3 parts with the music of Adagio playing in the background.

As for the images - nothing new and particularly revealing that we haven't yet witnessed on TV and the press covering the events in Georgia and the Ossetian breakaway region during the past few weeks.

Two separate documentaries previously broadcasted on Russia Today satellite channel were replayed back to back, while those of us in the room either made notes hastily (very few, though) or just simply couldn't take our eyes of the footage. A special segment of Ossetian-born pro Russian conductor Valery Gergiev's performance in Tskhinvali immediately following the week-long war was also shown amidst other footage filmed in Ossetia.

One particular segment caught my eye immediately - it's undiplomatic cruelty and animosity was clearly somewhat out of place, especially for a venue such as the UN headquarters and Conference Room 1 in the basement of the General Assembly. A dead Georgian soldier lying on the ground completely unattended while two middle aged women standing several feet away from the scene watched the corpse deteriorate on the spot and spat on it from a short distance.

Truly staggering that a big TV company would even air this piece. Whether you're a Georgian, a Russian or a representative of any other ethnicity, people are people and this was one more proof that we haven't yet integrated into the 21st century if we are still behaving like cavemen. These were civilians, you see, not even the politicians.

45 minutes after the presentation had begun with Mr. Churkin's speech, the lights went out and the conference came to an end somewhat unexpectedly. No usual Q&A following most UN conferences and briefings of all sorts, nothing at all. Perhaps it was for the better, as the footage we had just witnessed could have stirred all kinds of negative emotions coming from varying perspectives, and as a result, provoked unpleasant interactions for some of the attendees. Although, most of those present were Russian delegates and press representatives. I have a feeling I must have been the only Georgian in the room. Not easy, not easy at all.

And that raises one very last observation: a few months ago before the conflict had erupted, there really was no difference whether you were a Georgian correspondent, a Russian one or a Pakistani journalist - we were all a part of the same press corp covering the same organization with equal rights and mutual sympathy for each other.

Today, for the first time after over 2 years spent at the UN, I realized that the world is once again on the verge of going backwards - what happened to the much anticipated democracy and globalization?

Sadly, I'm wondering if it's all a dream and not our very own reality. Couldn't get this thought out of my mind as I walked out of the UN building and onto 1st Ave, strolling down the street on my way to a music-oriented meeting - at last!! :-)

Perhaps the following generations will find themselves co-existing in a multi-colored, international society? Probably not for a long time...unless we realize the urgency of overcoming our nationalistic egos and personal as well as political power-struggles.

Maybe only then we will see what's beyond the war...

Peace.