Definition of Branding!

You’re at a party and you see a hot girl. You approach her and say “I’m good in bed”. That’s Direct Marketing.

You’re at a party with a group of mates and you see a hot girl. One of your mates approaches her and says “That guy over there is really good in bed”. That’s Advertising.

You’re at a party and you see a hot girl. You ask for her phone number. The following day you call her and tell her “I’m good in bed”. That’s Telemarketing.

You’re at a party and you see a hot girl. You recognize her, you approach her and refresh her memory by telling her “Do you remember how good I am in bed?” That’s Customer Relationship Management.

You’re at a party and you see a hot girl. You get up, fix your tie, pour her a drink, open the door for her, pick up her bag when it falls and tell her “I’m good in bed”. That’s PR.

You’re at a party and you see a hot girl. She approaches you and says “I hear you’re great in bed”. That’s BRANDING.

Sunny Day Today!

Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver

Today in Sydney is glorious. I walked to work – that’s how nice the weather is. It isn’t extremely warm though, kind of starting to get a bit of a chill on. Not ideal when I only packed shorts, t-shirts and 2 jumpers. Thanks to my boss Lee, I have adopted one of his jackets. In fact, warm clothes are being sent from my dearest mother in England… I have a feeling one of these jackets is my Tweed Blazer. Yes, I know, I’m going to be wearing Tweed in Australia – shows that I am cash rich and just completely above the rest.

Over the last couple of weeks I have started getting back into sport and building up the size of my terribly skinny thighs. Since my knee operations last year, my legs dwindled away to skin and bone, my chassis deteriorated to that of a peasant who works in KFC, and my fitness was just shit. I am a new and fully paid member of a 5-a-side footy team that plays twice a week next to Hyde Park. I play in goal, which probably isn’t wise as I have a broken hand, but oh well; it’s all shits n giggles! Played 8 games so far and only lost 1…

I have been searching for a house too over the last couple of weeks. As I am now mature, and wealthy, I can afford to lease my own place. Things started on a low, was rejected on several applications due to not having any rental history. I then combined forces with a few friends and I am happy to say we have just been accepted on a 4 bedroom penthouse 5 minutes from the city. BOOM. Lad on tour is now a happy lad on tour with a fookin penthouse! Move in date – 4^th June!

In the meantime, work is a goodun. Recently got the promotion I have been working hard towards. I bought myself a promotion cake and ate it all without sharing. I then had a few beers. Making sales, making money, making fitness, making friends, will be making a flat pack bed when I move into my new place, making food and making Lauren – my colleague – massage me daily.

Let me leave you with a song recommendation!

Bon Iver - Calgary… it is from his new album. Those of you who don’t know him – you have to get involved, he is incredible. He is touring the UK this year, so get tickets – I can assure you it will be one of the best gigs you have ever been to. If you don’t think so – I will reimburse you your ticket. This song I have posted is just outstanding. It is touching and just a beautiful piece, with the slither of stripped back synths in place of the previous album’s acoustic stylings. The song below is one off his first album. Truly amazing.

I'm having a beer today. I like to party.

  Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)

Jamie N Commons

With a desert-smoked vocal that hints at Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, John Smith, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Gomez, Jamie N Commons, a former student of music at Goldsmiths, University of London may not be a name that is known to many yet, but if you’re a fan of any of the above named prepare yourself to be impressed. For Mr Commons sings like a man who has already seen far too many years. It’s gritty, gravelly and full of the blues, which gives his songs an unquestionable authenticity whatever he’s singing about.

Yet, Commons is a whipper-snapper in his early Twenties. Commons has the potential for his country / folk /rock sound to find acceptance with a more youthful crowd just as the likes of Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling have done so over the last year or so. In fact Laura Marling is a good reference point as we could quite easily imagine this cheeky chick covering his song The Preacher - a potent tale of religion, death and loss touched with hints of dark Americana. It streams below together with the tender piano torch song Wasted Time.

Jamie N Commons is undeniably talented and as long as he avoids the clichés of the genre and gets his music heard, could find his whisky-glugging-shards-of-glass-vocals popularity rising very quickly. This gent will go far!

  Wasted Time by Jamie N Commons   Wasted Time by Jamie N Commons

  The Preacher by Jamie N Commons

  15 Petals by Jamie N Commons
(thanks to breakingmorewaves for some of the words)