The Power of Art

Hi and welcome back!


As you already know I love writing. Maybe you've already read my poem "Meant To Dream" which I posted in August. For me writing is like therapy. If I have a problem, if I'm sad or if something just bothers me or is stuck in my head I write about it.


A friend at work loves painting, we started talking about art. When I told her that I write she asked me if she could read some of my texts.
Yesterday we met again and she gave me her feedback on one of the poems I gave her. I won't post it here because it's written in German but I'll tell you about it later.
First she told me that at the beginning she thought it was a real story, my story. That's such a great compliment! That means that it's authentic and real even though it's fiction. That it always what I try to do, I want to create something real, something that people can relate to, something that moves them or makes them think about a certain topic. I guess I did that with this poem, she told me she had trouble not to cry. My words made someone get very emotional.


But why? What was it all about?!
The poem is called "To The End". It's a farewell letter written by a woman who says her last goodbye to her husband. She starts by telling how they met, how she fell in love with him, how blessed she was with him becoming her husband. She describes how happy he made her, how he made her feel.
Then it changes. She tells that the doctor gave her a diagnosis which threw her off track. He gave her strength and hope, he made her feels better no matter how bad it got. She talks about her pain, about how weak she got, about how her pain hurt him, too. He never left her side. She got weaker, she lost her hair, it was a very hard time but he stood by her, he was her strength. She says that she wished for a different outcome, she wanted to grow old with him, to have kids. But the end is near, she can feel it. She tells him not to be too sad about the time they never get but to be thankful for the time they had together, to think about what they gave each other instead of what they lost. She tells him that even though she'll be gone she'll always be with him in a way. He always took care of her and now it's her turn, now she'll be the angel watching over him...



I wrote that poem in summer 2013. My uncle, whom I loved with all my heart, had just died of lung cancer. I was devastated but I tried not to show it, I'm the kind of person who always keeps smiling. I wrote a few poems about/for him during that time, it was my way to get threw it, to handle all those feelings. This was the last one. I made the story up but the emotion is real. It contains the love I had and always will have for my uncle.



Just like music and dance and painting, writing is a kind of art. Often people think that art is only something beautiful to enjoy but it's much more than that. Art can bring back memories, it connencts people, it comforts, motivates and strengthens you. Art can express all those things you don't have the right words for. Art is not only for your eyes to see or for your ears to hear but especially for your heart to feel! Don't underestimate the power of art, it can overwhelm you within seconds...

What about you? Did you ever get overwhelmed by a piece of art? Or are you an artist yourself and got reactions like that? And would you like me to translate my poem into English and post it here? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

With love

Loulou

Let's talk about ..... KYLE HANAGAMI

Hey there!

I don't even know how to start! Do you know that feeling you get after watching or experiencing something so beautiful that you can't think straight, can't find the right words? That just happened to me...

I've already told you about Leroy Sanchez and about how much I love his voice. I also love James Bay, he's so amazing! So you can imagine how happy I was two years ago when I saw that Leroy did a cover of "Move Together" by James Bay.

But this time it was no ordinary video, it was a special one because he teamed up with Kyle Hanagami. That name meant nothing to me, I had never heard it before. But that was about to change!
In the background you can see people dancing. That is Kyle's creation, he's a choreographer. Of course I had no choice but to watch his videos, too. My curiosity wouldn't allow me not to do so and I'm happy about that because I wouldn't want to miss out on a talent like that!


Kyle Hanagami is a 31-year-old choreographer from California. Yes, 31, I couldn't believe it either!
He choreographed on "X Factor", "How To Rock" and for Jennifer Lopez, he worked with Lindsay Sterling, the Black Eyed Peas and more and he teaches dance. I could go on and on but I think you get an idea on how talented and successful he is. It's hard to believe that he didn't grow up dancing but started about ten years ago! It's never too late to find a new passion and to follow a dream...

Music was always a very important part of my life. I don't play any instrument and I don't dance, all I ever did was to sing in a choir at school but music has always been there for me. At first it was only music, later I was mesmerized by dance, too. It's amazing how much you can say without using a single word. You can tell a whole story by using only your body. Dance has its own language. And Kyle speaks it fluently!

Today he posted a new video on YouTube. It's a beautiful, emotional, powerful choreography to Adele's "Love In The Dark" sung by Leroy Sanchez. See for yourself:

The emotion in that song and that voice combined with the emotion in that choreography... I have to admit, it made me cry. It took them only five minutes to stir up memories and feelings that I had carefully hidden:

Love is the most important thing in our lives. To love someone as well as to be loved. To love yourself, your partner, your family, even a stranger. Love can strengthen you but it can also cause you pain or even destroy you. You can give your love but don't get it yourself. Or the other way around. You can love each other but you're oceans apart. Or you lose that someone... 

Right at the beginning I had to think about my uncle. "Take your eyes off of me so I can leave" - In January 2012 I had to leave again. Most of my family lives in Lebanon, I live in Germany. I hadn't seen them in three years and after spending three weeks with them I had to leave again. My uncle was the last one I said goodbye to before going to the airport because I knew it would be the hardest goodbye. He had lung cancer and I hoped to see him again but I had that strange feeling that this would be the last goodbye. We couldn't take our eyes off of each other which made leaving so much harder. The elevator doors closed and I burst into tears. One and a half years later he passed away. I've never got the chance to see him again... 

That one choreography, those five minutes took me back years, it took me back in time to such a painful memory which lead to the next and the next. And even though it can hurt like it just did, this is something I love so much about art. It doesn't physically touch you and yet it does so much to you! 

Kyle Hanagami just proved that he truly is one of the best choreographers the dance industry has to offer!

Check out his pages, watch his videos and be prepared to fall in love with the world of dance!

Homepage:   http://www.kylehanagami.com/

YouTube:   KYLE HANAGAMI

Facebook:   Kyle Hanagami

Twitter:   @KyleHanagami

Instagram:   @kylehanagami

With love...

Loulou

Hablas Español?

Hola!!!

Today it's all about Spanish. Next year I'll start studying to become a teacher. Well, actually I wanna be a journalist. I decided to study languages, English and Spanish, and after that journalism. But I thought if I already study these languages I can do it with the option to become a teacher. It's more to learn but there's nothing wrong with having a Plan B, right?!

I've always loved languages. My mother tongue is German. I grew up with Arabic music and though I didn't understand a word I loved singing along as a kid. One of my best friends back then was from Colombia. He used to sing the Spanish version of Ricky Martin's "Maria" over and over again and I knew someday I would learn to speak Spanish.
At school I learned English (11 years), Spanish (2 years) and French (7 years)...



Now I have almost a year to prepare for university and to get the certificates I need. I'm okay with English but I have to refresh and improve my Spanish. And I'm pretty excited about it!
Next year I want to go on a language trip to Spain for about a month. But until then I want to learn at home so today I went to the library. There are so many books just to learn one language! It was hard to decide which ones to take but I'm sure I'll be back soon to get more...



What about you? What's been your favorite subject at school? How many languages do you speak?


Lots of love

Loulou

Elevated Tour 2017

Hello again!

Finally I get to tell you about the concert! Wow, it's already been two weeks but it feels like it was yesterday. However... It was one of the best concerts I've visited so far. But let me start at the beginning:

From my town to Hamburg it's about 100km. I drove a little longer than an hour listening to his songs on Spotify, singing along. I'm always excited when I'm about to go to a concert, there is nothing better than a perfect night with good music and happy people, but this time I was even more excited...




I got the full experience, I didn't only have a ticket for the show but I also got a VIP package. That included the EP, a meet&greet, attending the soundcheck performance and more. We, me and five other girls who had that VIP package, were supposed to be there at 6pm but then we had to wait outside for almost half an hour. I didn't mind waiting, I liked the cold fresh air and I was about to have a great evening so everything was alright.
When we finally entered the room Leroy and his band were already busy doing the soundcheck. He welcomed us, asked how we were doing, he even took song requests. I asked for "Fell Off The Moon" which I love so much but sadly he didn't remember it...

Then it was time for a photo session. Before we took the photos he gave me a big hug, he was very warmhearted and kind. It wasn't like a man doing his job, it was like meeting friends. He's very down to earth and that really is an asset! He also seemed truly happy about the gifts he got. He was in no rush, took photos with everyone, made some small talk, gave lots of autographs. 

Either he is a great actor, too, or he simply is a grateful and humble man who knows that an artist can only survive this business with the support of his fans. I'm sure it's the latter! 😉


Afterwards we waited a little for the official concert to start. His support act was the German artist Eli and he is incredible! But I won't say too much now, he will get his own post later...

Leroy came on stage and he owned it! He created such a great atmosphere, it felt like a private party with friends. I've been to some concerts before and mostly people are pushing and you start to be annoyed and you can't really enjoy the show 100%. That problem didn't exist here. A girl behind me pushed me a few times by accident but she always apologized, I joked about karma getting back at her and we laughed. I've never met her before and I still don't know who she is but that evening we were all friends treating each other with respect. It was beautiful!

Being an artist is not only about talent, at least that's what I think. What I really love and admire is to see the passion, the love and dedication. And I saw all of that! Leroy has a great presence on stage, he's incredibly talented, very passionate, he's charming and funny - everybody enjoyed it.
The cover of "Despacito" he did with Madilyn Bailey is close to 3.5 Million hits, it's very popular and it just makes you feel good so he had to play it. He wanted the audience to sing along. We failed. Completely. There was one pretty loud "DES-PA-CITO" and then it was only the band playing their music. And Leroy laughing.
Note to self: Get your Spanish vocabulary down next time!
He played his own songs, some covers and he even played a brandnew original song called "Stay For A While" and I'm completely in love with that song, the sound is amazing and the lyrics are so beautiful! Can't wait for it to be available!





Leroy always took some time to talk to the audience. He asked questions, he told us about his EP, about his songs and the messages they're supposed to spread. He connected with the audience. I love that in an artist, too. It makes it more personal and even more memorable. And once again it showed how down to earth he still is. He becomes more famous by the day but it doesn't seem to affect him, he's still that guy from the Basque country of Spain whose heart beats for music.

But it wasn't only Leroy who rocked the stage. It's only his face and only his name on the posters but his band (Corey Rupp, Joel Manduke, Kazumi Shimokawa) did such a great job. There wasn't one but four stars on stage!







Music business is pretty tough, it's not all fame and money and glamour. It's a long way with obstacles and challenges. So if you really like an artist, please support him/her by buying his/her music. This is not only about Leroy but about artists in general. It's not that expensive but it's a great deal of support for the artist. And if you like the music then it's worth the investment, right?!

"ELEVATED" is Leroy Sanchez' very first EP and it's out now! It makes you dance and dream and reminisce, it lifts you up and it empowers and motivates you. It's great! Go and get it. You can go to leroysanchez.com now and get your own copy. Enjoy it and tell me what you think about it!


Lots of love

Loulou

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)

Homepage:   http://www.leroysanchez.com/

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

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