Saturday, October 28, 2017

Let's talk about ..... LEROY SANCHEZ

Hello again!

Three days ago I went to Hamburg to finally see Leroy Sanchez live on stage. I have waited for this for a long time so you can imagine how excited I was. I told my colleagues about the concert so I would get the day off. They had no idea who I was talking about! Of course I immediately took out my phone and showed them some videos.
I will tell you about the concert but I will do so in my next post. Now I first want to introduce him to you, explain how I encountered his music and why I cannot resist it...





Leroy who?!

That was my exact thought four years ago. I was very active on Twitter. I met some people on a site called "Uneeqability.com" which sadly does not exist anymore. It was a platform for any kind of artist to present their talents to the world. I became friends with some of them and supported them, especially by spreading the word on Twitter.
One day I got the info that Leroy Sanchez followed me. I had never heard that name before so I checked out his profile. A musician... I am curious by nature and I love music, I had no choice but to check out his YouTube channel. And what can I say?! I have been a fan since then...








"Fell Off The Moon" was the first song of his that I listened to and that is how he got me. Seriously, how could you resist that voice? Just close your eyes and listen. His voice is like a blanket giving you warmth, making you feel comfortable and safe. This song, an original, is still my favorite but sadly it is not available anywhere...



Like I said I am curious. That is why I always do some research on artists I like and that is what I did with Leroy Sanchez. Do not worry, I do not mean the creepy stalker kind of research! 😉
I could write it all down now but I think it is best to let him speak for himself:




When I tell my friends about him I never call him a singer. Yes, he sings but he is so much more than just a singer. He writes, he composes, he creates. And still there is more. If you have your own song, your own creation, there is nothing to compare it to. But Leroy started his career by doing covers of great and famous songs and I bet it is not easy to compete with Ed Sheeran, Beyonce and more because covers always get compared to the originals.
Leroy turns their songs into his own which is why his covers (and in general I rarely say that) often are even better than the originals! I love Ed Sheeran, he is an outstanding artist but Leroy's version of "Perfect" just blew me away and melted my heart. Also Shawn Mendes, I love his music but whenever his song "Nothing Holding Me Back" is on the radio I have Leroy's voice and his version in my head...

Leroy Sanchez - remember that name! I have watched him evolve for four years now and I know he will make it to the top. He has the talent, the courage and the passion to do so. There truly is nothing holding him back!



And now go check out his pages!

YouTube:   Leroy Sanchez   AND   Leroy Sanchez SP (his Spanish channel)


Facebook:   Leroy Sanchez

Instagram:   iamleroysanchez

Twitter:   @IamLeroySanchez

Spotify:   Leroy Sanchez



With love

Loulou

Don't judge

Hey there,

today I need to tell you a little something. Yesterday at work I experienced something nobody should:

Currently I work as a waitress at an ice cream parlor. 
Yesterday I was the only one working there, the weather was not that good and therefore we did not have too many customers. A couple came by. They sat down, smiled at me and when I wanted to take their order they started talking. They told me where they came from because they were here on vacation and that they were in Spain a few weeks ago. They asked if I was from Spain, because I do not look very German. I smiled and told them that I have German and Arabic roots.
They looked at each other and the woman just said one more thing to me: "You should have stayed in your country!" Without another word they left...

I do not take it to heart but something like that really hurts! I am telling you this story because people often do not realize how powerful words can be. Words can be as sharp as a knife and though they do not break your skin, they hurt just as much and the scars they leave are not visible but they are there.

Growing up like I did, being a part of two pretty different worlds shaped me. People from both sides, strangers as well as family, tried to tell me what was right or wrong, who to hate and who to admire, how to behave, how to feel... 
It was not easy but I am thankful for that, it made me who I am. And I am a person who hates prejudice and racism. 

People like to judge and to categorize. But if you do so then do not do it based on where they come from, on what they believe in, on how they look, on who they love. Do it based on who they are as a human being, on their characters and their actions.

Who knows?! Maybe the person you once pushed away because he did not fit into your box would have been your best friend. Maybe the woman you once harassed for her looks would have made you the happiest man in the world. Maybe the man you once rejected because he had the wrong color of skin would have been the most loyal and dedicated employee you ever had... 






This is my amazing grandma. I am Muslim, she is Christian. She celebrates the Sugar Feast with me and I celebrate Christmas with her. 
We do not always see eye to eye on everything but we accept, we even embrace our differences and we love each other to the moon and back. 








Look beyond the differences and you will see countless similarities. Communication and an open heart - these are the keys. Every single person is an individual, never forget that.

With lots of love,

Loulou

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Loulou 2.0

Hello,

I am back!! I am sorry it took me quite a while to post again but I had a lot to figure out lately. My life is changing and there are some decisions to make which is why I needed to take some time.

Like I already told you when I introduced myself, this summer I finally got my highschool degree. That means one chapter in my life just closed and I am working on the new one.
After getting that degree I had to make decisions like what do I want to do now? Which university should I go to? What exactly should I study and should I start this or next year?
I applied at some universities for a bachelor degree course, different ones but all about media since I want to become a journalist. But I did not get in.

I had to think about something else. Languages. Languages are great for journalism because you need to be able to express yourself in words and you do not only learn a language but also its history, you learn about the countries in which the language is spoken, you learn about culture and literature. It feels perfect for me. I chose to study English and Spanish with the opportunity to become a teacher. There is nothing wrong with a plan B...

To study a language you need a certificate to prove that you already speak the language to a certain level. The problem: I could not get the certificate for Spanish in time. So once again I had to make a decision. I could choose French instead of Spanish or I could wait a year.

I chose waiting. I am patient. Almost all my life I did what others expected me to do, I did not allow myself to be just me instead of the person they wanted me to be. But I am done with that. No more compromises regarding my life or my future. Instead I choose to make the best of the year I have, because these last three years I was so busy all the time. I decided that I will go to Lebanon for a month or so to visit my family. And I will go to Spain for a month to learn more Spanish so I will be perfectly prepared...

So this is it. Loulou 2.0 is ready for you! 😉

Enjoy your day and make the best of it!

With love

Loulou