The downside of the sudden claim to fame...

Heyas! So, I'm better, woo! And that means I'm back. I hated not being well enough to sit down, listen to music and blog. Sad face. Now, this is going to be written with a twist. I have a ferret climbing all over me whilst I do it! Haha, well enough about me, this is a blog about Sandi after all...please remember, these are my words, it's just my own format...go easy Thomcats. x

Sandi's sudden claim to fame was horribly judged by critics and fellow artists. James Frost and Robin Hawkins from The Automatic even went so far as to say that "If she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair she'd get the sh*t kicked out of her by other punk rockers, for having flowers in her hair. I haven't found anyone who's told me they like that song and bought it."

This notion that her success had been carefully sculpted through public relations was echoed by the media commentator Charlie Brooker who said "I've not heard that Sandi Thom single all the way through yet, but I've seen the TV ad about six billion times, and the short, poxy burst on that is more than enough to convince me that if her sudden rise to stardom WASN'T the end result of a shrewd marketing campaign, the implications are terrifying. Because to believe the official story - that thousands of people voluntarily subjected themselves to this sh*t online, then recommended it to their friends - is to lose your faith in mankind completely.".

So how about that? So many people have completely missed the point of our Sandi's song! So it's up to us to spread the word of her music. Come on guys. Let's do it. Also I don't know how acurate it is but I've had a little youtube birdy tell me that Lily Allen was also very...critical of Sandi's work. I'll try and get that confirmed for you guys, promise! Watch this space!

Megan and Ozzy the ferret xx
The Amazing Sandi's Amazing Website!

Edit- I can confirm Lily Allen has slammed Sandi for her work in the past. I'm afraid I can't find any quotes of what she said but thankfully Sandi has since given her a piece of her own medicine, so let sleeping dogs lie I guess. Love you guys.

Megan and Ozzy xx

Sorry! I'm back! With great news on Sandi!

Okay, so I know I was supposed to blog on Sunday...I forgot I have work on Sundays! Woops! As for Monday...I have been proper ill since then I'm afraid, so that's yesterday's excuse too! Tonsils. Yay. Haha, but I'm back to spread the great news about our favourite gal, Sandi!

So if you read about Merchants and Thieves you'll know Sandi was nominated for a few awards. I think 2 were mentioned but she was actually up for three I think, sorry guys! So anyway, she walked away with 2 out of those 3 awards! Well done girl! Your Thomcats are here and ready to do what they can for you to get more awards before the end of the year!

Now here's a wee bit for us girls...how GREAT does Sandi look in this little black dress!? Before anyone asks, of course I've expanded the picture! She looks fantastic! Proud of you Sandi, you never let us down with your style, you always put a smile on our faces. Thank you for being great!

So that's all I can do today guys, sadly I gotta hit the sack (at 7pm!), this being ill thing is exhausting!

Speak soon lovelies!
Megan xx
Sandi's Official Site

P.S- Sandi's newest album, Merchants and Thieves, is now on special offer at just £5.00 to celebrate Guardian Angels Records' debut release! Quick, before the offer ends, follow the above link and get your copy to keep forever! xx

Sandi Thom speaks up for those who can't...

Okay Thomcats, time to come together, get your butts to this link and email the pratt behind this disgusting 'organisation.' Sandi has already expressed her feelings via her Facebook account and is just as disgusted as us. Get emailing this monster now, we need to bring this to a stop.

Follow the below link and get to work. If we come together I know we can stop this.

http://tinyurl.com/3ocondx

Below is a copy of Sandi's facebook post regarding the matter:

"Please, help! Read this link, http://tinyurl.com/3ocondx I don't normally do this but i have to speak out. This makes me so sad. There are some things in this world that can be prevented & this is one of them. I don't care if the press give me shit for this. These poor little creatures deserve more in life and i'm willing to take some flack for it. Please read & prevent this from happening. Its just wrong. ST xx"

I've sent my email. Have you sent yours?

Megan xx

Question = Answered!

Okay so I got a comment from a Thomcat asking if this was my first blog. I've tried responding in a comment but apparantly Blogger won't let me do that hahaha! Anyways better responding like this surely!? You all get to know me that way!

So the truth is, yes this is my first blog! Well no it isn't. But it's the first one that hasn't been unhealthy (not going into enormous detail there I'm afraid) and the first one I've kept up to date with! Whoa! Also the only one I've enjoyed doing so much I've considered continuing it as a small escape for the foreseeable future! Woohoo!
So my turn...

What do you guys think of me continuing my blog for as long as I can tell? Think carefully, your answers could mean you're stuck with me for years to come! I'm not gonna lie, I've got a load ahead of me, possible surgery, education and whatnot... (when I say surgery please do not fuss! I had my gall bladder out recently before finding out it wasn't the source of pain so don't panic hahaha!). I'm already unlikely to be able to meet all deadlines for blog posts due to GCSEs starting this year. So if you're gonna find that irritating speak up now! Please! I need the truth guys, but go easy haha, there's truthful and there's mean! :P Not that any Thomcat could EVER be mean!

Megan xx

Merchants and Thieves!

Okie dokie, just a quickie today because I've started back at school! Still need to finish some art coursework so yeah, need to get on with that ASAP! So here we go, all about Sandi's latest album, Merchants and thieves!

Oh before I get started, Sandi has started posting her inspiration for songs on her site (as usual the link will be given at the bottom of this post), I highly recommend you check it out! It's fantastic to hear about how she came up with her ideas! Ok, here we go, onto the main topic of this post...

Sandi's 3rd studio album, 'Merchants and Thieves' was released on May the 17th 2010, with 'This 'Ol World' (featuring Joe Bonamassa) as the lead single. Sandi released the album through her own label, 'Guardian Angels Records,' which she set up after being dropped by RCA.

Musically, the album moves from pop/folk towards blues and roots.

The album remained on the UK Official Chart at #118 during the first week of it's release, before sadly dropping out of the top 200.

The single was made available as a download-only in April 2010 and topped the UK iTunes Blues upon release, but failed to enter the UK Official Chart.

The second single from the album, 'Gold Dust,' was released as a download-only in July 2010, but unfortunately failed to enter the UK Official Chart. A deluxe edition with extra tracks and a video was released as a download-only in February and was followed by a physical release on Sandi's website.

Sandi's cover of the classic 'House of the Rising Sun' was released as a download-only single and an extra track on the deluxe edition of her album. The track was also given away as a free download to readers of the Scottish Mail. The single topped the iTunes Blues chart, but also failed to enter the UK Official Chart.

This album has been nominated for Best Album in the British Blues Awards 2011.

The album was also nominated for Best Jazz/Blues Recording of the Year in the Scottish Music Awards and Sandi was also nominated for Artist of the Year and her label, Guardian Angels Records was nominated for Record Label of the year.

So that's the last post before the weekend officially starts! Planned anything special? I'm up to my armpits in coursework already haha! Going to try and get a post up on Sunday, but I won't make a promise I can't definitely keep! So I'm gonna say goodbye with a video as usual but rather than a music video I'm going to use one with a health warning. There's been a lot on the news regarding cervical cancer lately, but nobody's talking about other forms of cancer which is horrifying. So here's our dear Sandi talking about sunbeds and the health risks they present. Happy Friday everyone!

Megan xx

Sandi's Official Website

P.S- I've made a few changes, (more links and changing their colour) can you let me know what you think, cos I have a feeling I've over done it! But your input is what really matters so let me know! xx

What happened next...

Heyas! I had to cut yesterday's post short because I have this thing where I need to sleep! Despite Blogger claiming it was posted at something like 3pm it was actually at 8 or 9pm! I then went on to stay up advertising until late. So my timing was well off yesterday, and the same is likely to happen tonight...fingers crossed it won't!

So, Miss Thom's second album was called The Pink and The Lily, and was released with RCA. It was released on the 26th of May 2008. The track 'Devil's Beat' was released a week prior to the album as a single, and it was released on the 19th of May 2008.

Before release, newspapers and critics doubted how well the album would do. When it was eventually released, the album gained extensive airplay on BBC Radio 2.

Despite the initial success, the album failed to make it higher than #25 on the UK charts and the single failed to make it higher than #52. The following single, 'Saturday Night' failed to chart at all on its release.

Sandi said:

"I feel like my second album was too rushed. I felt under quite a lot of pressure when I was making it. I was out on the road and my label was really hassling me to get it finished. "I admit I was disappointed with it and now, when I look back, it was released too soon. "There were some things that were overlooked. It wasn't thought out properly. So, with my next album, I'm going to put my foot down and spend as long as it takes to make it."

In February 2009, Sandi announced she would make her 3rd album as an independant artist. Sandi said she was unwilling to continue working with RCA due to demands and decisions stemming from their desire for her to deliver bubblegum pop.

In July 2009, Sandi released a 'Best Of' album on the budget label Camden (part of the Sony-BMG group). It consisted of an 18 track compilation from her 2 previous albums and various B-Sides. The album failed to enter any charts upon release.

Okay, once again time has run away! Hope you enjoyed this new post, I will try and draft a new one to be typed up on Friday, this time about Merchants and Thieves, Sandi's latest album! Until next time guys!

Megan xxx

Sandi Thom OFFICIAL SITE

Sandi Thom....who is she?

Heya everyone! So, for my first blog post that is actually about Sandi, where better to start than how she first started appearing on peoples' radios and across the internet?

So first I think we should start with the basics? That sound good to you guys? Good!

Sandi was born on the 11th of August 1981, and was originally named Alexandria Thom. She was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire, and studied at Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen.

During the time she spent at Robert Gordon's College, Sandi was in a band called 'The Residents' between the ages of 14 and 17. She sang and played keyboards whilst travelling across Scotland playing in pubs and clubs.

Sandi was the youngest student to be accepted at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, being accepted at just 17 years of age. She continued to study here until 2003 when she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts.

Sandi moved to London just a year later to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter. She came to work with 3 co-writers: Jake Field, Duncan Thompson and Tom Gilbert. After only a year of living in London she signed to Windswept Pacific Music ( an independant music publishing company) and its UK arm, P&P Songs, recieving an impressive £25,000.

Sandi went on to sign a record contract with the small record label, Viking Legacy, who released her debut single "I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)" (2005), which failed to gain major airplay or sales and resulted in the release of her debut being delayed.

Sandi's first 'tour' was entitled '21 Nights From Tooting' and consisted of 21 performances from the basement of her flat in Tooting, London. This took place between the dates of February 24th and March 16th in 2005. The venue had a capacity of 6 (10 including the band), but was streamed via Streaming Tank, entertaining over 100,000 web viewers.

Following the success of the largely web-based tour, 'I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker' was re-released on the 22nd of May 2006 with RCA Records. The song gained airplay exposure and on download sales it achieved #15 in the general charts and #7 in the official downloads chart. On the 4th of June, the song replaced Gnarls Barkley's Crazy in #1.

Sandi's first album, 'Smile...It Confuses People' was released in the UK on Monday, June the 5th 2006. It soon debuted at #1 in the chart dated 11th of June, selling over 700,000 copies worldwide.

The song 'I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)' was later nominated at the Brits Awards for Best British Single.

"I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker" was the 47th biggest selling UK single from a female artist since 2000 according to the Official Charts Company as of January 2009.

Okay so that's all I have time for today everyone, I'm gonna do my best to get another blog post about Miss Thom up tomorrow, but until then, hope you enjoy this wee video, let's see if you recognise the song!

Megan xxx

http://www.sandithom.com/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=108