Buenos Aires Memories

After a whirlwind 10-day partying in Rio ended, we proceeded to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.  All three of us were exhausted by the time we landed in BA so we rushed to our rented apartment in Palermo, the quiet and trendy neighborhood of Buenos Aires and called it a day.  

(The Japanese Garden, Buenos Aires)

The next morning, we started exploring the area on foot. Our first stop was Jardín Japonés (The Japanese Garden). A not so large but beautiful Japanese style garden administered by the non-profit Japanese Argentine Cultural Foundation. Apparently it is one of the largest gardens of its kind in the World, outside of Japan. On our way back from the garden, we saw one of the famous dog-walkers of Parlermo. I had read about the dog culture in Buenos Aires and its dog-walkers but it was lovely to see it in person. This dog walker we saw had about 15 dogs, both big and small, on the leash. I am not sure how much money he makes. I would certainly go nuts if I were to do this arduous task of handling that many dogs. Some may wonder why I was astonished by the sight of a dog-walker. Simple answer: we don’t have this in Asia.

A Dog-walker in Palermo

Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral

The next day, we decided to view the city from the hop-on/hop-off tourist bus. This is what we usually do when we are in a new city not entirely sure where to start. We have done this in Paris, Sydney, Munich, Mexico City, Barcelona and a number of other cities. What better way to see a new city than from an open top bus? If you like a site and it is worth exploring more, you can simply get off to do so. Once you are finished, you wait for the next bus and move on. EASY. I love this bus service in cities.

Casa Rosada

Buenos Aires, largely recognized as the Paris of Latin America, is rich in architecture. The tourist bus gave us a great vista of down town BA, Plaza de Mayo. This square has become an important place (often used as a political gathering place) ever since the 25 May 1810 that led to the country’s independence. Historical sites and monuments such as Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, The May Pyramid, The City Hall, The Buenos Aires Cabildoand Casa Rosada (The Pink House) are all there standing right next to each other. Not only have these old buildings with Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles also the new modern buildings with eclectic styles added attraction to this city of 15.2 million habitants, the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after Sao Paulo.

Down town Buenos Aires

La Boca

The Buenos Aires Turibús also took us to La Boca which means the mouth in English. La Boca, staying true to its name, sits at the mouth of Riachuelo River. As we passed through the neighborhood, we saw the streets lined with colorful zinc shacks, children playing soccer on the street and old ladies chatting while shopping grocery at the local market. La Boca is a charming little neighborhood that seems to have its own agenda which, I believe, sets it apart from the rest of the city. Since I was so impressed with La Boca during my first drive-through, I went back there the next day to experience it street by street à pied.  Many believe La Boca to be the soul of Buenos Aires.  Many of the residents here are the descendents of Italians settlers from Genoa during the World War. Therefore, you can feel a strong European flavor here too. Near the multi-colored street museum “Caminito”, there are a number of local restaurants with tango shows, gift shops, artists selling paintings and handicrafts attracting the tourists. We watched our first Tango show in the streets of La Boca.

Tango in La Boca

Colorful houses of La Boca, Buenos Aires

Here in Argentina, people eat a great deal of meat. One of the staple Argentine cuisines is called “Parilla”, simple and naturally tasty beef cooked over a large wood-fired or charcoal grill. Almost every interior part of a cow is available on the menu, from liver, kidney, blood sausages and intestine, to the usual tenderloin or sirloin steak. We ate Parilla almost every day with a good bottle of local Cabernet Sauvignon. (After two weeks in Argentina, we were totally beefed out that I wondered if let out a scream, it would have sounded “Moo”.)

Recoleta Cemetery

Unlike the bohemian La Boca, Recoleta is definitely a posh and chic side of town where 5-star hotels like The Four Seasons and luxury designer boutiques can be found. The influence of French architecture is evident in this area. It is also known for the Recoleta cemetery, the final resting place of some famous and rich people, including Eva Perón, Raúl Alfonsín, and several presidents of Argentina. Many affluent people’s mausoleums decorated with enthralling sculptures are well-maintained until today while some others are crumbling apart unfortunately. 

Eva Peron's final resting place

The highlight for me was visiting one of my heroines, Eva Perón’s black marble crypt. As a young boy growing up in Burma, the first time I became aware of Argentina and Eva Perón was when I watched the film “Evita” with my parents. Back then I did not understand what was going on in the film (I was puzzled why they were singing and dancing all the time). Later on, I read about the movie musical and a brief biography of Eva in a Burmese magazine. I was fascinated by her rags-to-riches story and how she eventually became the spiritual leader of her country. If anyone back then said I would one day visit Argentina and experience the Argentine way of life, I would have laughed it off for sure. (Argentina? It felt so far away). Being there that day and the subsequent visit to “Evita museum” the next day made me think of that time period of my life in Burma and realize I have come a long way.  And a long, long way from Burma that is.

Evita Museum in Palermo

Evita is still very much part of Argentine people’s lives. Her name and her images are still apparent in the city’s graffiti and in the posters and statements of current politicians. People still remember and talk about her fondly. Even when we stopped over for drinks at a famous gay Karaoke joint called “Sitges”, some young fella went up on stage and sang “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from the Broadway musical “Evita”. He was of course greeted with thunderous applause. 

Buenos Aires Skyline seen from Puerto Madero

One of my favorite spots, Puerto Madero is located next to the river and it used to be part of the harbour. After being abandoned for many years, it has been urbanized and turned into a very fashionable district that features restaurants and bars, hotels and many high-rise buildings. We really enjoyed walking around the harbor at sunset with the view of beautiful Puente De La Mujer (Woman’s Bridge), designed by the Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.

Puente De La Mujer (Woman's bridge)

Next on our must-do list, Avenida Corrientes, also known as “The Street That Never Sleeps”, is Buenos Aires’s answer to Broadway. We went to see “Chicago”, the musical at one of the theatres. It was entirely in Spanish but it was not a problem for me. (Not because I speak that much Spanish, simply because I know the story by heart.) It was nevertheless an unforgettable evening. The cast was amazing. I must have been smiling so wide and giant that when the show was over, I realized my cheeks were really tired. (Nothing excites me more than a dazzling live performance, really.) 

Musical "Chicago" in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, as a city is truly versatile; modern skyscrapers and classic historic architecture, both European and Latin American cultural influences, people of different backgrounds and status existing in harmony. In the arts department as well, you can almost have it all. Theatre, Classical concerts, Dance, Cinema, Literature, Art galleries and museums, oh, you name it.  You will not get bored as there are plenty of things to do for both day and night. Porteños, as people from Buenos Aires are known, (meaning people who are from or lives in a port city) are nice and friendly people. Many of them speak English but as a courtesy, it is best you approach them with some Spanish (even if it’s limited), then switch to English once it gets too complicated, they are happy to help out, give directions and have a chat. It is also a comfortable city, communication -wise. The metro lines are uncomplicated, clean and effective. I would go back there in a heartbeat if I ever have a chance again in the future.

Argentine Congress

After one week in BA, we packed our bags once again to set out for the Patagonia region and Iguazu falls of Argentina. The city life was incredible but we needed to see the countryside and the amazing landscapes of Argentina as well. We did go back to BA for one more night on our way back from the falls. That night, opera singer, Placido Domingo was giving a free concert in the city. Sadly, we did not get to go as we found out too late and we had already made a dinner commitment with friends. That is one thing I regret because it would have been a great way to wrap up my Buenos Aires experience on a real high note. Well, you can’t have it all, can you? 

An artist in La Boca

Buenos Aires Cabildo at night

Jessie J-Who You Are (Album Review)

Since Amy Winehouse’s victory in music, we have witnessed the invasion of British female singers on the world’s music stage. Duffy, Leona Lewis, Florence Welch and Adele are killing it on the music charts around the world (while Amy is sorting herself out at the rehab). To join forces with these pop tarts, here comes another hailing from London called “Jessie J”. Initially, to be honest, I assumed Jessie J was just another hip-hop chick who would stick around for a bit singing about bling-bling and gangsta-luving s*&#ts. Then I saw a video clip of her singing her heart out in a New York subway station on Channel V. Her colossal voice and her British accent immediately grabbed my attention and subsequently led me to her debut album “Who You Are”. I shouldn’t have judged the CD by its cover, right? And here’s the CD cover.

The album’s biggest asset is not the near-poetry song writing or lush music production. It is Jessie J’s enormous voice. Don’t expect her to hold back when it comes to singing. Jessie J, with Chaka Khan-like force and power, though not always necessarily soulful like Chaka, sings very high and very loud. “Mamma Knows Best” is a track where look-what-I-can-do vocals are full on display. The album title track “Who You Are” is a rousing anthem where she slays her vocals. (I very much prefer the live acoustic version) “It's okay not to be okay. Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart. Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising” lyrics sound a bit cliché and corny but it’s one of the better ballads on this album. Besides I feel that she carries the message with a very honest delivery.

“Price Tag” will see the concert-going crowd swaying and singing the lyrics “It's not about the money, money, money. We don't need your money, money, money. We just wanna make the world dance. Forget about the Price Tag”. Smart move! Stand by the poor people and you’ll go far. “Big White Room”, a favorite of mine, was written when she was only ten years old in a hospital. Her intense singing matches the heartfelt lyrics. “Sitting in the big white room alone. Close the door. Don't want the pain to come in. I clench my fist. And try to stay strong. I cry, feel sick. My heart is beating out of control. Can I run, run faster than you? I wanna feel my body again. Feel the wind in my hair, yeah. But I have to stay in this big white room,'Cause no one else cares”. “Who We Are” and “Rainbow” talk about self-confidence, anti-discrimination, social justice and equality. They all coulda shoulda become the new “Beautiful” or “Hero” but they didn’t simply because there’s already “Beautiful” and... “Hero”. Do we need more? Perhaps!

She shows a whole lotta attitude with “Do It Like A Dude”. It is of course an obligatory female empowerment anthem that every female singer must sing about nowadays. I particularly like her humorous approach and street cred in her song writing which makes it fun and relevant yet not sounding trite. Apart from these few good tracks, the other songs, though they are catchy and decent enough to make you dismiss the thought that they were merely fillers, are not that spectacular. Mixing of Caribbean sounds and hip-hop beats, anybody would agree, is not earth-shatteringly fresh. Channeling Bob Marley in “Stand Up” and “Rainbow”??? Not original, bad move!  As much as I love the Halloumi cheese-like squeakiness in her voice and her soaring mammoth vocals, songs like “I Need This” and “Rainbow” find her voice going all over the place and out of control. She will need to find the right materials to put her glorious voice to good use. But then again, it’s only her first effort. First records are always about making a statement as loud as one could, right? Then Jessie has done well. I’m sure we’ll see more of her in the future.

Beyonce- 4 (Album Review)

Beyonce- 4 (Album Cover)

I have been a huge fan of Beyonce since her Destiny’s Child days. I’ve followed her career. I own all her records and concert DVDS. I even bought the ticket to her concert that she eventually cancelled. Anyhoo… But I’m in two minds about this new record.  I’ve been listening to this set over and over again but honestly it just doesn’t excite me as much as “B Day” (2006) or “I Am… Sasha Fierce” (2008) did. First of all, I’d be lying if I say this record sounds oh-so- fresh or it is majorly groundbreaking. Although all 12 tracks contain the uniquely-Beyonce sound that we all love, they also sound tired and tried. It is not an appalling record as the songs are all quite decent in their own way. Therefore, if someone asks me to pull out one bad song, I would struggle to find it. After all, these 12 tracks were carefully picked from total 72 tracks she recorded for this album. (Quite impressive, right?)

On her 4^th studio album simply titled “4”, Beyonce once again sings about the themes that are so near and dear to her heart such as being dangerously in love (“I’d Rather Die Young”, “1+1, “Love On Top”,“I Miss You”), My-boyfriend-did-me-wrong songs  (“I Care”,“Best Thing I Never Had”) and female empowerment (“Run The World (Girls)”, "End Of Time"). (We get it, You are an independent woman, B) The second single from this album,“Best Thing I Never Had”- sounds like her number one single “Irresistible (2006)”recycled and revisited. The song ,nonetheless , should be praised for Vanessa Carlton’s  A Thousand Miles- like piano-driven melody and Beyonce’s super raw vocal riffs and runs.“Run the world (Girls)” is a great party anthem but it does not have the magic that “Déjà vu(2006)” or “Crazy In Love(2003)” had. Despite the smoking hot video and her revolutionary live performance at the Billboard awards, the song has so far peaked at #29 on the Billboard chart. What’s more, this song and the other song on the record called “End Of Time” shares the VERY similar marching band style drum beats. It makes you wonder if they were written on the same day.

“Love on top” which is flavored with an old-school Rn’B vibe is one of my favorites. The singing style and the song’s concept remind me of Natalie Cole’s classic “This Will Be (An Everlasting love) (1975)”. Dianne Warren-penned “I Was Here” is also a standout track especially for Beyonce’s emotional vocal delivery. When uber-talented artists like Beyonce try to get involved with every aspect of making the record (From writing, producing, performing to even directing the music videos), the eventual result tends to be either repetitive or rather one-dimensional.  Sometimes, it generates better outcomes when the singer just does the part of singing leaving the rest to other professionals to take care of. “I was Here” is the perfect example of this theory.  It is the only song she didn’t write on this album and it is undoubtedly one of the best tracks. (Whitney Houston did not write any of her hits nor Celine Dion).

“Countdown” takes us back to her Destiny’s child days but somewhat forgettable. “Start Over” that features Tina Turner-like tigress growls and “I Care”, a song beautifully adorned with near-whistle notes at the bridge, are gems.  Party (feat. Andre 3000 & Kanye West) could do well on the radio for its catchy chorus and the two superstar guests. Plus “We like to party” message is not only applicable globally also no brains required to enjoy it.

Here’s the thing, I don’t know about other Beyonce fans but I feel like I’m having a Beyonce –overdose. She’s everywhere. Releasing 8 singles from her third album alone was not enough, she toured the world, put out live concert DVDs, albums with remixes and out-takes, collaborated with other artists(Lady GaGa, Alicia Keys, Jay Z), made movies and featured on the soundtracks, performed on every possible talk show and awards show. (Not to mention the clothes and perfumes she sells.) I’m very impressed with her boundless energy, tremendous talents and superhuman work ethic but I need a break. It’s been too much and too often. How about taking a few years off and taking time to come up with a record that is fresh, innovative and inspiring? For example-Madonna’s “Ray Of Light” or Mariah Carey’s “The Emancipation Of Mimi”.  Make us crave for more. We want to be surprised. 

Beyonce's stunning album cover art 

Kylie Minogue- Aphrodite World Tour (Jakarta Concert Review)

Kylie Minogue-Aphrodite Tour Opening Sequence

After nearly two hours on the plane, three hours spent stuck in the Jakarta’s legendary traffic and a mere three and a half more hours waiting at the venue, I finally got the chance to see Kylie Minogue rise out of the giant golden sea shell singing the song appropriately-titled “Aphrodite” with the spectacular Greek mythology-inspired back-drop. Kylie sang “I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty, I'm a golden girl, I'm an Aphrodite, alright?” The tired Jakarta crowd was astounded not only by the first sighting of the superstar whom they have been in love with since her loco-motion days in the 80s, also by the scantily-clad male dancers dressed up as beefy Roman soldiers. What a beautiful sight! My fatigue was gone and that was when I thought “The game is on! This is what I came here to witness: the visually-stunning extravaganza.” Kylie who recently has been celebrated as “The Goddess of love” went on to sing a few more songs including “The One”, “Wow” and “I Believe In You” in her Grecian-inspired outfit. The crowd responded with loud cheers and sheer joy.

Kylie performing with her hot male dancers

Then my favorite bit of the show came, “Cupid Boy”. During that performance, I, Carrie Bradshaw, couldn’t help but wonder how the heterosexual guys who were simply dragged into the show by force by their girlfriends or wives would think and feel about the whole gay pride thing happening on the stage. I mean, really, it was inevitable and it was coming from every angle at a rapid rate. Kylie as usual hit all the right spots and all of us boys (hence, THE ITALICS!!) of course, felt like home.  We were in heaven. No question about it!  No other diva (Not Madonna, Not even GaGa) has ever put on a show for us (ITALICS again!) in the way Kylie does. Kylie, to me, is THE biggest gay icon and the only one who lives up to this title. More power to you, Kylie!

Kylie on a unicorn

Since we were the very first few to arrive at the venue, we found ourselves a place very close to the stage. Seeing Kylie up-close was sort of like a spiritual experience. I could cry. I must have said “OMG, She’s beautiful” 45 times in 3 minutes. Indeed, she looked so gorgeous and her smile lit up the whole stadium.  She had us all singing in unison when she sang her hit “Spinning Around”.  Now that’s a hit everyone knows unlike the only-the-hard-core-fans-know songs she performed in the first segment.  (You’ve got Jakarta in your hands now, Kylie!)

One might wonder how can an already-super-sexy song like “Slow” could be made any sexier. Pas De Problème pour Kylie. She managed it just fine by spicing up the song with Cabaret/Jazz elements.  The Goddess looked enormously hot with the female dancers dancing in circle and fanning her with the feathers that were probably kept from her previous Showgirl tour. Talking about the power of feathers! It always works!

I was also very glad that she sang one of my favorite songs “Confide In Me”. (I always love doing that high “Meeeeeeee” note in my head voice. C’mon, don’t we all?)  However, the biggest surprise came when she performed her global hit “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head”. The originally-electro pop song was given a rock edge and it of course brought the house down.  Kylie, looking triumphant, in her beautiful metallic Dolce & Gabbana gown got the entire stadium on their feet.  Everyone was going “la la la la la la la la la la “

Kylie performing "Looking For An Angel"

“Looking For An Angel” was the most theatrical segment and I personally think it was also the peak of the show. At the end of the song, an angel emerged and rose to the sky while the other two angels standing by. It was awe-inspiring indeed.  She went on to sing her classics “Love At First Sight” and “Can’t Beat The Feeling” before she toned down the show’s tempo with the performance of her ballad “If You Don’t Love Me”.  The song not only showcased her vocal range but also brought her closer to her fans. It was one touching moment.

Like as if that was not enough, she came out shortly after wearing a whole new outfit to deliver one of her old hits “Better The Devil You Know”.  Most of us, die-hard fans know the lyrics by heart and had a good old sing-along session with that performance.  We were totally having a moment. Subsequently, Kylie decked out in denim shorts and torn-tank top with an orangey furry jacket worn over asked the audience what they would like to hear her sing. Some of the queens in the front row requested “Put Your Hands On Your Heart” and we requested “Loco-motion”. She sang both songs acapella. I thought it was really cute of her to interact with the audience. What a sweetheart!

One of the tracks from her latest album “Aphrodite” called “Better Than Today” was performed next in addition to the acapellas. Then Kylie disappeared after singing “Put Your Hands Up( If You Feel The Love)” and the band intro. It was time for encore.  The crowd went quiet for a while feeling unsure what to say or do. That was when our group (a Brit, a German, an Austrian, a Mexican, an Ecuadorian, a Burmese and two Australians) started singing the chorus of “All The Lovers”.  We were so loud and of course the others had no choice but to join in as well. We were no doubt having the most fun at the concert. For some reason (or rather just as usual), Jakarta crowd was somewhat low-energy that night.  They were mostly sitting and peacefully watching. Undoubtedly, it wasn’t us.  We were there to party.  We wanted to dance and have fun.  Here, I am talking about group-jumping, hand-clapping, wild-dancing to screaming out words of adoration to Kylie even at times in Spanish (Well done, Carlos!). We were W.I.L.D!

Kylie performing "All The Lovers"

Obviously, Kylie was not going to wrap up the show without giving us a spectacular encore.  A few minutes later, she reappeared on stage in her 8^th and final costume of the night with her glitter-robed dancers singing “On A Night Like This” from her “Light Years” album. I could feel the stadium come alive singing along the catchy chorus. Her voice sounded a bit tired by then and she opted for a lower note while singing the song’s climax. Nevertheless, it was a crowd-pleaser.  After that song, her oh-so-beautiful-to-look-at dancers took off their robes and took their positions on a wedding cake-like small stage in the center. They all looked naked as they were wearing skin-colored tights and bejeweled underwear. Kylie performed her soon-to-be classic “All The Lovers” as the finale. What can I say? It was sensational. Love was in the air. She filled up the stadium with so much love that it lifted us all. What a great way to end such a stellar concert!

If I were to go to heaven (NOT that I doubt I wouldn’t), I would absolutely want it to look like Kylie’s concert. I would imagine heaven with all the happy elements Kylie brings to her shows like the unicorns, rainbows, angels and feathers. I would also like heaven to have gorgeous muscular men who dance in tights and do acrobatics. Seriously though, even to say that her dancers were amazing would be an understatement. Her dancers not only possess eye-catching beauty but also boundless energy that kept the show electrifying all throughout.  Kylie’s live vocals were in top form. Although she is never known for her vocal abilities or technical singing skills, there were moments during the show where we went “Wow, girlfriend CAN sing!”  She always seems to know how to work her voice within its range. What I also love about Kylie is that she looks very much of a diva glamed up in sequined- gowns and six inched Louboutins yet she seems very approachable and sweet. I have been to so many concerts but this one will always have a special place in my heart. Not only it was worthy of money and time spent, it also made me want to send her flowers and invite her for tea.  Cheers to ALL THE LOVERS...

Aretha Franklin- A Woman Falling Out Of Love (Album Review)

Aretha "A Woman Falling Out Of Love"

“A Woman Falling Out Of Love” is the thirty-eighth studio album from the Queen of soul, Aretha Franklin who has influenced generations of divas ranging from Whitney Houston to Jennifer Hudson.  As usual, on this album as well, her legendary voice takes the centre stage although it is now considerably thin and occasionally scratchy. There was no major promotion for this album that many of us, fans did not even know when it first came out. (Unless you live in the States and routinely go to WalMart). The album is exclusively sold at WalMart and also the very first release from her own label, Aretha’s Records.

In general, this album is a solid effort from Sister Rie particularly for the one-in-millions voice of hers and her still-impressive vocals. It is amazing that she still has the determination to sing, tour and put out albums at the age of 69. It looks like there’s no stopping her and she’s still going strong after 5 decades in music. (More power to her!).

Aretha sings the blues on the set’s stand-out track “Sweet Sixteen”, a tribute to B.B King. Her vocals are fearless and fierce; a reminiscence of young Aretha and her earlier works. “U Can’t See Me” is a fun song where Aretha lets her hair down and has fun doing adlibs.(Full of Diva attitude and appeal)  “How Long I’ve Been Waiting”, the first single from this album and “Put It Back Together Again” sound like throwback Rn’B tunes from yesteryears and remind me of her previous albums like “Who’s Zooming Who? (1985)” and “What You See Is What You Sweat (1991)”. Aretha’s soaring vocals reach the new height with two other old school slow-jams, “A Summer Place” and “When Two Become One”, both my personal favorites from the album. “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” is performed by her son, Eddie Franklin who’s got incredible vocals like his mama. His version of this renowned gospel song is awe-inspiring as well.

We all know that even if Aretha picks up a cafeteria menu and sings through the items, it will no doubt sound soulful and sensational.  However, there are a few tracks that she oversings to the max. Her rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” is a mess. Even Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers can’t help make it better. I feel that together they ruin the song and make it totally unrecognizable. “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” is the song she sang at the Obama's inauguration. My humble opinion is that the patriotic message of the song loses its meaning due to Aretha’s uber-melismatic vocal runs and high-pitched wails. I wish she would have toned it down and sung it a bit simpler. Sometimes less is definitely more. Especially when you are already regarded as one of the greatest singers in the world and have nothing to prove your worth anymore. “Faithful” is a gospel number between the gospel great, Karen Clark-Sheard and Aretha. However, it turns out to be more of a screaming match towards the end that even the big man above that they are praising must feel totally confused. (Are they fighting??? Who snatches whose wig???) My ears were ringing once that track finished. “New Day” is supposed to be an inspirational track with lyrics carrying the message of “New day, on the horizon, you can make it, if you try” but she sounds like she is bored singing that song and can’t be bothered no mo.  Her delivery is somewhat low-energy on this one.

While this album may not be Aretha’s best, it is still by far one of the best Rn’B records that came out this year and much better than her 2008 Christmas album... vocally. Besides, considering the mindless junk music that is dominating the world’s air waves right now, “A Woman Falling Out Of Love” feels like a breath of fresh air, packaged with that distinctive voice of hers and her no-nonsense singing. Kudos to the Queen.