Always a reason to celebrate!

Today feels rather quiet for a supposed day full of craic... St Paddy's day on a Monday just doesnt seem quite the way to do it! 

Yet Google never disappoints with their little logo all four-leaf clovered up! And as the top brand in the UK (voted recently in Superbrands 2008 survey), it makes me think how not many brands can play with their identity so much and yet still retain such recognition. This is surely the essence of a brand that all companies are after!

For bands and their brands, their name is usually what they go by - but for some artists, its the whole package of image and design and ambience all together. But of course never forgetting the talent involved to maketh the music. Who do you think are the best South African bands providing the image, the music and the design and ambience behind the brand...?

But back to celebrating musical talent - the South African Music Award nominations have recently been announced - with the award ceremony taking place on Friday 2 May at Sun City! There are some great nominations in there...

Freshlyground have picked up three nominations, Flat Stanley come in for the first time which is fabulous, Karen Zoid's Postmodern World is up for it (and what an amazing album!), Parlotones have made it in there and even LA-based SA band Seether!

And there are loads on there that I dont know, so some research is on the list! Here are a few of the more popular ones, more rock related than everything else:

Album of the year
- DJ Cleo
- Freshlyground
- Hip Hop Pantsula
- Jimmy Dludlu
- Zonke

Duo/Group
- Freshlyground
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Malaika (album: Sekunjalo)
- Seether
- Soul Brothers

Female solo artist
- Karen Zoid
- KB
- Lousie Carver
- Tasha Baxter (album: Colour of Me)
- Zonke

Male solo artist
- Black Coffee
- Chris Chameleon
- Hop Hop Pantsula
- Jimmy Dludlu
- McCoy Mrubata

Newcomer
- Tasha Baxter
- Camagwini
- Molweni
- Mpumi Dhlamini
- Tumi

Rock album: English
- Niemand
- Seether
- Springbok Nude Girls
- Taxi Violence
- The Parlotones

Rock album: Afrikaans
- Andries Botha
- Foto na Dans
- Kobus!
- Mel Botes
- Van Coke Kartel

Adult Contempary: English
- Flat Stanley
- Freshlyground
- Karen Zoid
- Louise Carver
- Melanie Lowe

Rock on South African music!
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