BasiaWeb

SmoothViews review of It's That Girl Again

2009-07-02T13:05:00.003-04:00

"We are just so pleased she's back bringing us jazzed up pop music that doesn't sound like it was manufactured by bean counters to fit the specifications of a focus group's consensus. This is beautifully crafted, lyrically inventive music that sounds like nothing else out there. And that voice! More clear and pure than ever and able to glide effortlessly over the fastest grooves and shift from high to low without losing a beat."

I've enjoyed Shannon West's smart, nail-on-the-head commentary on pop-jazz for many years now. Unsurprisingly, she cues right into the essence of ITGA in her review on the sharp Smooth Views site.

US Charts

2009-07-01T17:46:00.002-04:00

RADIO:
#13 Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs ("Blame It On the Summer")
#21 Billboard Indicator ("Blame It On the Summer")
#16 Mediabase Smooth A/C chart ("Blame It On the Summer")
#19 Smoothjazz.com (It's That Girl Again)

SALES:
#16 Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums
Amazon US: #29 Vocal Jazz
iTunes US: #47 Vocal
(both site's status as of 6:00pm EST 7/1/09)

Polish charts

2009-06-29T14:50:00.000-04:00

RADIO:
#1 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("A Gift")
#7 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("Blame it on the Summer")
#16 Radio 3 ("A Gift")
#31 Radio 3 ("Blame it on the Summer")

SALES:
#18 Merlin online sales
#10 Empik Top Ten Muzyka sales
#13 OLIS Oficjalna lista sprzedaży

Anna Maria Jopek + Basia?

2009-06-29T12:00:00.002-04:00

This almost got past me (no comments on how late I am!) but I do believe the answer is YES! we would love to hear you both together! She is best known over here in the US for collaborating with Pat Metheny (who is a big fave of B & D-- and K).

from Ania's site:

"AMJ always dreamt about meeting Basia Trzetrzelewska. Eventually, Ania and Basia met during Marek Niedźwiedzki’s live broadcast. We are curious if there is a chance for collaboration between AMJ and Basia Trzetrzelewska. Would you like to listen them together?"

multi-part TVN interview

2009-06-25T23:14:00.002-04:00

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Parts Four and Five

Thanks so much marek!!

US Charts

2009-06-24T13:17:00.003-04:00

I'll start doing Polish charts separately. :)

Up!

US RADIO:
#13 Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs ("Blame It On the Summer")
#17 Mediabase Smooth A/C chart ("Blame It On the Summer")
#19 Smoothjazz.com (It's That Girl Again)

US SALES:
#18 Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums
Amazon US: #23 Vocal Jazz, #23 Dance/Electronic, #36 Dance Pop
iTunes US: #21 Vocal
(both site's status as of 2:00pm EST 6/24/09)

Even more Polish interviews

2009-06-23T13:32:00.005-04:00

Don't forget that you can use online translators to read the interviews in text. :)

Onenet.
Even in awkward Googlish, you can tell this is a really well-thought out piece.
Another on onenet.
TVN Style video interview
This is some fluff right here.

Order It's That Girl Again signed copies! Also, tour update

2009-06-23T12:58:00.003-04:00

This is verbatim from the official Basia mailing list (join on Basia's official site, click on the graphic at right to get you there)

Just to let you know that ‘It’s That Girl Again’ has become available by mail order. It features 15 tracks, including two bonus tracks, ‘Oh Mama’ and a new version of ‘Clear Horizon’. It costs £9.99 +P&P and the first 50 CD’s ordered will be signed by Basia.
Follow the link to order.

Also, a lot of Basia's Polish friends were asking about our providing a Polish translation to the songs on 'It's That Girl Again', so we have created a new section on our website, showing a loose Polish translation alongside the English lyrics. Go to 'New CD Lyrics' and have a look!

And finally, we are still working towards a possible October/November tour. We will let you know as soon as things get confirmed.

With Love
Basia and Danny

Clip: Basia in Alibabki

2009-06-22T13:37:00.002-04:00

EDIT: 2008 interview with Alibabki members (without Basia) (that you may not be able to view in the US due to being in the wrong territory for the license or something, if I understand it correctly).

Charts

2009-06-18T12:18:00.003-04:00

US RADIO:
#16 Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs ("Blame It On the Summer")
#16 Mediabase Smooth A/C chart ("Blame It On the Summer")
#20 Smoothjazz.com (It's That Girl Again)

US SALES:
#19 Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums
Amazon US: #25 Vocal Jazz, #14 Dance/Electronic, #23 Dance Pop
iTunes US: #27 Vocal
(both site's status as of 12:30pm EST 6/18/09)

POLISH RADIO: (UPDATED)
#1 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("A Gift")
#10 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("Blame it on the Summer")
#9 Radio 3, Poland ("A Gift")

POLISH SALES: (UPDATED)
#10 Merlin online sales
#7 Empik Top Ten Muzyka sales (major Polish chain store)
#11 OLIS Oficjalna lista sprzedaży (Retail sales chart)

Danny speaking about "Love Will Find You"

2009-06-10T13:38:00.002-04:00

'Love will find you' is mainly instrumental with Basia providing some backing vocals.

The story behind 'Love will find you' is;
I send PW an early backing track which was to become 'Oh Mama' for him to provide some guitar work and send back to me.
PW calls me to say 'I've come up with a melody for it.'
DW 'We've already got a melody for it"
PW 'Oh!'
DW 'Lets do two versions of this idea-one for Basia and one for you'
PW 'OK!'

In Darwinian terms 'Oh Mama' and 'Love will find you' have a common ancestor
and there you have it!

Basia on Peter White album this fall

2009-06-10T11:52:00.001-04:00

A post on magicisland.com by Eric Viccaro reads:

Peter White's Peak Records debut will be called "Good Day," and it's slated for release later this summer.

The date is still unknown. However, here are some juicy details on the project.

...

The new CD contains 10 all-original tracks, and several longer songs sure not to fit into anyone's format, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

"Always, Forever," "Temptation," "Mission 2 Mars" and "Bright" are some of the top pieces on the release. "Bright" is dedicated to the late, great Wayman Tisdale.

Michael Egizi co-wrote the title track, "Good Day." Former Rippingtons' keyboardist David Kochanski co-wrote "(Un) Forgiven" with the help of beats laid down by DC. "Love Will Find You" features Peter's brother Danny White as well as beautiful vocals supplied by Basia.

In addition to DC, Peter White's new CD is co-produced by Phillipe Saisse.

Here's the track listing, and song durations:

1, Good Day (White/Egizi) 5:55
2, Always, Forever (White/DC) 5:08
3, Just Give Me A Chance (White) 4:39
4, Love Will Find You (P. White/D. White/Basia) 3:16
5, (Un) Forgiven (White/Kochanski) 5:18
6, Temptation (White) 6:18
7, Mission 2 Mars (White) 5:46
8, Bright (White) 4:13
9, Lamont's Lament, Ramon's Revenge (White) 6:56
10, Say Goodnight (White) 3:38
"

YouTube Roundup!

2009-06-10T09:25:00.000-04:00

First video for "Prime Time TV." Since the single came out two years before it did in America, Basia looks pretty different!

Video from one.net (in Polish).

Japanese cover of New Day for You.

TVN translated chat

2009-06-05T22:09:00.002-04:00

Thanks to marek on the basia2 list for this translation and transcription! I've bolded things that are of note to you and me, the fans looking for the nitty-gritty. :)

B: Good morning, everybody, welcome to the chat.
AniqqqX: What is your day like?
B: And in how many words am I to answer that question? :)
Paatryk: Why did you double the `Trze' in your last name? To impress?
B: That's not my fault (I had nothing to do with it). :D
Radek: How come you decided to record a new version of Clear Horizon? Greetings, I'm impatiently awaiting for a concert in 3city (Gdansk/Sopot/ Gdynia)
B: Thanks. We were not quite happy with the first version, but not sure whether the new one is better.
Alusia1: What songs are included on the new album?
B: I suggest checking out our website, basiasongs.com.
Paulina: Which artists that you have met were you most impressed with ?
B: Anita Baker, Stevie Wonder, Mike Hucknall.
Absolvent: Hello, I went to Jaworzno High School. I know it was part of your life, too. How do you recall those times?
B: Best time of my life.
Marek_en: Are you planning to do a clip for any of the singles from ITGA?
B: Yes, we are planning to do clips for `A Gift' and `I must'.
Kuba123: How did you start your career?
B: I was born singing and the career followed against my will (it just happened?). :)
AniqqqX: Good morning, do you have a pet?
B. I used to have a dog, I'd like to have another one, just not one that sheds hair, I am allergic. A poodle? :)
Paulina: If you didn't pursue singing career, what would you do?
B: I'd be a teacher.
AniqqqX: Do you like picking wild mushrooms? [seriously?? -- LO]
B: I never do it. I live in England, they don't do it there, sadly.
Rih1: What Polish groups did you sing with?
B: Alibabki, for a short while, Perfect, for an even shorter while, and before that in my High School group Astry :)
Ciekawa: What has been happening with you all this time?
B: What time do you mean?
AniqqqX: What do you think of Jarocin Festival?
B: I know nothing about it. Should I?
Marek_en: Where can one buy the bonus songs from the new album, `Oh Mama' and `Clear Horizon'?
B: iTunes or wait for the new version of the album.
AniqqqX: What do you enjoy besides music?
B: Football, F1, movies and theatre.
Ergp: When are you planning to tour Poland?
B: Probably in the fall.
Radek: Basiu, how did you started working together with Trey Lorenz? How come you decided to record `She deserves it' with him?
B: He was signed to the same label, I met him by chance at the recording studio. His voice suited the song and he was keen to do it.
Ergp: Is it true you studies physics?
B: Yes. :) But only for a year.
AniqqqX: Is this your first chat?
B: Yes. :) Lack of experience is obvious. :)
Marek_en: Basiu, I would love to hear you on the biggest radio stations (RMF and Zet), are you planning any special promotion (e.g. interviews) with them?
B: I would like to be heard there, but it's up to them.
Dragan: Do you miss Poland?
B: Not really, I am always here (spending a lot of time in Poland).
Paulina: What albums do like from start to end?
B: Early Stevie Wonder albums, `Nightfly' Dogan Fagen, Noa and Keane.
Paatryk: How did you live through the martial law period (81/82)?
B: I was in UK by then and I felt very sad.
Radek: Will Peter White, Dee Johnson and Clarisse sisters go on tour with you?
B: Clarisse sisters for sure, Peter possible, he's always on tour, Dee is on tour with Simply Red.
aniqqqX: What do you think should be the symbol for euro 2012?
B: Maybe a red and white football? :)
Thank you very much for your questions. :) It was nice to meet you. See you. :)

Thailand release of ITGA

2009-06-05T22:05:00.001-04:00

It's That Girl Again will see a release in Thailand on June 23. (via basiasongs.com)

Charts with bonus WTF!

2009-06-05T21:45:00.002-04:00

In the "ain't that a.... stinker" category, R&R is dunzo! They literally shut down out of nowhere, pulled the proverbial plug. Had the countdown continued, "Blame It On The Summer" would have been at #17 on monitored Smooth Jazz.

moving on!

US RADIO:
#16 Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs ("Blame It On the Summer")
#17 Mediabase Smooth A/C chart ("Blame It On the Summer")
#21 Smoothjazz.com (It's That Girl Again)

US SALES:
#13 Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums
Amazon US: #19 Vocal Jazz, #19 Dance/Electronic, #22 Dance Pop
iTunes US: #19 Vocal
(both site's status as of 10:00pm EST 6/5/08)

POLISH RADIO:
#1 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("A Gift")
#6 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("Blame it on the Summer")
#2 Radio 3, Poland ("A Gift")

POLISH SALES:
#4 Merlin online sales
#4 Empik Top Ten Muzyka sales (major Polish chain store)
#4 OLIS Oficjalna lista sprzedaży (Retail sales chart)

This week's charts

2009-05-29T13:54:00.004-04:00

US RADIO:
#16 R&R Monitored Smooth Jazz chart; Most Added ("Blame It On the Summer")
#20 R&R Smooth Jazz Indicator ("Blame It On the Summer")
#16 Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs ("Blame It On the Summer")
#16 Mediabase Smooth A/C chart ("Blame It On the Summer")
#20 Smoothjazz.com (It's That Girl Again)

US SALES:
#13 Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums
Amazon US: #17 Vocal Jazz, #17 Dance/Electronic, #20 Dance Pop
iTunes US: #19 Vocal
(both site's status as of 2:00pm EST 5/29/08)

POLISH RADIO:
#1 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("A Gift")
#5 Lista Przebojów Radia Złote Przeboje ("Blame it on the Summer")
#2 Radio 3, Poland ("A Gift")

POLISH SALES:
#6 Merlin online sales
#6 Empik Top Ten Muzyka sales (major Polish chain store)
#7 OLIS Oficjalna lista sprzedaży (Retail sales chart)

Tour coming. EP may be coming.

2009-05-27T20:49:00.003-04:00

So much went by in a whir there that I think a couple very important parts may have been lost in the hoopla:

THERE'S GONNA BE A TOUR!!
THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A 3-SONG EP!! OF NEW SONGS!!

Ok, just wanted to put that out there. :p

Piotr says, "Regarding the tour Basia mentioned that she will be starting in September and going to the States and the Far Asian countries (inlc. Japan) and Poland. There is also a plan to go to South Africa. She will start the tour with a smaller band and bigger number of back up vocalists (2 of the musicians will sing as well). Some songs need to be rearranged and they will sound more acoustically. The concerts will probably be at smaller venues at first to continue in larger ones with larger band in 2010. If I understood it properly, the record label has plans release so called EP with 3 (new?) songs when Basia goes on tour in fall. I have to come back to the interview when she spoke of EP to get a better understanding... Then there might be the re-release of ITGA in Poland with bonus tracks (Oh mama, Clear Horizon). Basia's songs should also be available for sale through her website, anytime soon."

(also see Krysia's below!)

Hello! If I don't see some comments for this post I will be very disappointed in you all. ;)

Krysia's subjective chronicle of B&D’s promo tour in Poland

2009-05-27T18:56:00.001-04:00

It has been about 10 years since I have last seen her on Polish TV and even more since I have heard her on Polish radio. So I was really expecting this tour and undertaking all the strange actions to be able to listen and watch them as much as possible (although I must say I felt slightly disappointed, cause they haven’t put that info on BasiaSongs – lack of time between tours to US and PL I guess?).

Having had to go to school yesterday, before noon I was becoming somewhat restless and I started to talk to my friends and the teacher at the workshop that maybe the secretaries could borrow us a radio. Than – what a miraculous coincidence – it appeared that the teacher had a small portable radio, so I searched quickly for Radio Zlote Przeboje and than listened to the interview, meanwhile I was cutting my fingers with glass ;-) [Krysia's a stained glass artist and she rocks!-- LO]

On Saturday evening I listened to Basia co-running the first hour of Radio 3 Chart and Today’s morning I watched Morning program – Dzien dobry TVN.

Honestly speaking, after the really extensive and interesting interview that was done by Michal Sierlecki for Wroclaw ’s Radio RAM, none of those appearances revealed too many new information. Usually the people ask her all the same questions – why she was away for so long, when will be the tour (well, this one is good to listen to, cause as time goes by the plans are evolving and you can find sth out). While Michal was asking her some questions about the things she is rarely (or never) asked and in some of the subjects I was very interested in (like Basia’s connection to Japan ) and also talking a lot about the musical side of the songs (after hearing that interview it is obvious that he has musical education).

I am absolutely sure that this tour around Poland was much more informative and promoting than the one to the States. Obviously US is such a huge country, so she would really have to appear in some of the famous shows (would love to see her on Letterman again), and looks like the most important interview they could have got - for ABC - was cancelled, while radio interviews are limited to the listeners of certain type of music as well as geographically, plus one -for the sad reasons of one musicians death - was also cancelled and another interview – due to the change of that station profile, as someone explained - was not what it could have been and not as promoted I guess.

While in Poland she appeared in some well known programs that gather bigger audience. I just feel kind of sorry for other countries' fans, that you couldn’t have enjoyed them in all those programs live.

My general feelings about this Poland tour – leaving aside the information and promotion – is, that I don’t know what it is about that Lady but somehow she constantly knows how to move some very deep strings inside of me, and she seems such an extraordinary human being – thought that is something I can not know cause I have never met her in person. But I guess that’s an impression she keeps leaving and I know she will always be the brightest star on my musical firmament. Listening about Basia's and Danny's musical influences was very interesting to me, cause getting to know about them it’s as if I was also getting to know myself better!

Some interesting points I remember from the programs:

“Zlote Slodsze i Najslodsze” – by Marek N.
I hope it will be uploaded on Marek’s blog soon – actually there was a lot of English speaking, due to Danny’s presence so if somebody from abroad managed to get up on time Saturday morning you could have enjoy it.

There were 3 ladies – Basia, Anna Maria and Kayah talking all over, so it rather had an atmosphere of girlfriends meeting :-)

As I understood Anna Maria Jopek invited herself to be able to meet Basia (I believe some fans over here – like Marcus and Peter are very keen to hear her duo with Basia). This question was actually asked, or even a trio of all the 3 singers. Basia seemed kind of reserved. Is she feeling unsafe? That’s how it sounded when Marek at the end revealed – saying his apologies to Basia, that it resulted that all 3 of them were there – Basia apparently didn’t know that, and she replied that it’s good she hasn’t known cause otherwise she would probably have run away.

Anna Maria Jopek said that she has been long time Basia fan and as she expressed – she thought it is easily hearable on her earlier records. But a very important thing for me that AM said – about finding your own identity – all the 3 ladies seemed to agree that at first when you sing you turn to imitate your idols – you think how this or that person would have sung something, but one day it must come to “how I would sing it”.

Both Anna Maria and Kayah offered to sing choirs when Basia will come for tour to Poland (I guess that strokes out my chances as a candidate ;-) – would be my dream to sing with Basia, not even in front of the audience but just together with her:-)).

As B & D explained the first tour that will happen in Autumn (starting September most probably) will be with smaller band – 6-8 people, so what they are working on right now is to adapt all the songs for such a kind of smaller, “acoustic” tour, that will be performed in smaller venues. And also they were advised by the record company to maybe release some additional 3 songs record. Maybe the trio Basia-AnnaMaria- Kayah’s song could be included on Polish release? ;-)

Per my understanding, they would start in the US, than go to Japan and Poland too.

Maybe next year – if there is the demand – they will go for tour with a bigger band.

Radio 3 Chart with Piotr Baron
I really liked the atmosphere and Basia seemed to be enjoying being introduced to some new music. Piotr asked if it is possible we will hear her in some more rock-alike song. Basia said, that nothings is impossible although – due to Danny’s classical-jazzy background their main repertoire is what we all know :-)

They were also some people coming (I am wondering – where they were listeners that just popped in, or have they agreed beforehand to come), one man brought some muffins baked by his mother, especially for Basia and Radio 3 Chart crew, than some other fans were on the air too.

Basia said that she is being so spoilt here in Poland . I think that’s what she definitely deserves!!! :-)

TVN morning program – Dzien dobry TVN
Basia was first supposed to talk with people on TVN’s chat.

There was a short talk to Danny and later "A Gift" was played – Basia just accompanied by Danny on the piano. I was very moved have to say.

Later there was an interview with Basia. I liked the small documentary that TVN prepared – about B’s school years and beginnings, some teachers and class-mates were speaking and also some members of Alibabki.

Basia also brought the Gold record for “ITGA” that she was awarded the previous evening. She said that her mother would have been very proud of it. It was their first Gold in Poland .

(actually I don’t think that it will take long for them to have the Platinum, if they earned Gold that quickly!).

Trivia

Basia mentioned several times in some interviews her mathematical brain, as she revealed in Radio 3 program on Thursday (Prywatna Kolekcja) when she was writing the final high school exams (matura) of maths she has done her tasks so quickly that she started solving some for her colleagues that were sitting around (Not nice Basia! ;-) Especially that the entire high school must have been listening – there were greetings from all the students and teachers from Jaworzno high school that Basia was attending).

I would say that Danny could survive in Poland (especially with “Jestem bardzo glodny” – I’m very hungry), but seriously speaking – I think he’s really got good pronunciation!

In Marek’s program “Zlote Slodsze i Najslodsze” Basia said Danny doesn’t know any swear-words in Polish, cause she’s never swearing in Polish. Another lady – I think that was Kayah, offered to teach it to him ;-)

That’s it! I hope that they will get a good rest now and that Basia will get better soon – she was ill (although I must say it was not hearable in her voice).

Massive thank you from BasiaWeb

2009-05-25T14:48:00.003-04:00

This week has been amazing thanks to our COMPLETELY FANTASTIC Polish fans for all they did to get us the right links so we can enjoy the unprecedented media coverage of Basia in Poland!!

Thanks to Krysia Szurek for being our amazing online ambassador to Poland in the Basia online groups, for spending so much time translating and listening and tracking down!!

Thanks to Marek Niedźwiecki for just being awesome, keeping us all connected and for doing so much to keep Basia at the forefront!!

Thanks to Piotr Baranski for always being on top of it and keeping me somewhat on it!

And thanks to Marcus for always being on the hunt and at the ready with new links and files!!

Thanks to anyone else I am being dumb enough to forget! BasiaWeb is NOTHING without Basia fans and you guys made this week amazing and special to all of us. Thanks to all of the above in putting up with my monolingual self and all my mistakes. ;) (what's the best learning-Polish resource? *grin*)

Unreal meeting of Poland's biggest female vocalist stars

2009-05-25T14:33:00.004-04:00

Marek Niedźwiecki scored an amazing in-the-studio with Basia, Anna-Maria Jopek and Kayah. Here is a set of photos from Marek's blog documenting the event.

Even more in this footage from TVP1"

Video: Basia presenting on Radio 3 (Poland)

2009-05-25T14:26:00.002-04:00

Photos from Basia presenting the Radio 3 countdown (click on Basia Trzetrzelewska).

And a video. It makes great radio!

Dzień Dobry TVN clip: interview with Basia

2009-05-25T14:19:00.003-04:00

Link to all the videos from this show.

(completely in Polish, obviously. You know, I've been wishing I knew more of it this week!)

Dzień Dobry TVN clip: School Days, Alibabki and Perfect days

2009-05-25T14:11:00.003-04:00

Link to all the videos from this show.

This is way up there in my favorites, now. Apparently Basia was such a math whiz she would finish her exams early, get bored and start solving her classmates' equations. Hee!

Dzień Dobry TVN clip: Basia and Danny, acoustic "A Gift"

2009-05-25T14:02:00.003-04:00

Direct link to all the videos from this show.

This is exhibit A in the case for an acoustic tour, IMHO. And Basia was sick here!