pop

Japanese Rock and Visual Scene

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:45:04 PST

It happened to me. I found myself listening to the same thing over and over again, despairing, thinking this was it, this was the end of music. I couldn't find any other artist that could inspire me. Eventually, I stopped listening to music altogether.

And then it happened.

I found my revolution, my breakthrough.

A small glimmer of hope.

It came in a form of an anime [Japanese animation]. An odd way to discover music, but nonetheless, successful. I watched "Gravitation" and fell in love with the upbeat music. Granted, I couldn't understand a single word, but it was still something new. From there on, I went online to check out other artists and here's what I found.

If you're more into pop-ish music, if you've seen animes and thought to yourself "This is a catchy theme song!", these artists are for you:

Gackt [Moon Child, which is a Japanese movie about vampires, he is the main character]
L'arc~en~Ciel [Blood +, Full Metal Alchemist, etc]
Hyde [lead singer of L'arc~en~Ciel]
Abingdon School Boys
Nightmare [despite the name, they have good music. Death Note]
GLAY
Luna Sea

For all you soft rock lovers, here's another few artists which are sure to rock you out of your socks:

Alice Nine
Plastic Tree
TM Revolution
An Cafe
Ayabie
Kagrra
Vidoll
Psycho le Cemu

For a more hard rock sound, check these guys out:

X Japan [end theme song of Saw IV]
Duel Jewel
Gazette
Kirito
Pierrot
MUCC
Vistlip
Phantasmagoria
Psycho le Cemu [they cover both the softer and the harder sound of rock]
Malice Mizer [considered more visual rock than regular rock. If you watch one of their videos you'll understand why.]

As for all you metal heads, you should definitely look into these:

Dir en Grey [THE most successful Japanese band in America. They are all over the music scene. They've done everything from pop to hard rock to downright death metal. Once you've heard them, you'll never be the same.]
Versailles [considered more symphonic metal. Their music is absolutely gorgeous.]
X Japan [I had to put them in here as well. More of old school metal. This band has been around since 1982. The lead singer now owns his own record company. You will be one lucky musician if you get signed by him. However, unfortunately, their lead guitarist passed away 10 years ago. Hideto Matsumoto was incredibly talented.]

There are many more bands out there, but this is just a start for you to go out there and explore other music.

But just be aware of the culture shock! Many guys tend to look like girls. Don't be confused. They are ALL guys! It's just the fashion in Japan. That is why they call it visual rock.

ENJOY!

PS: if you really get into it, check out the online radio JSHOXX!! you can find it on live365.com

Heard on Commercials: You've Heard Them, You Just Don't Know It

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:33:24 PST

Commercials and good music have a symbiotic relationship. When an advertisement uses good music, the consumer associates that business with being hip and modern, and they pay more attention to the commercial. And when a mostly unheard-of band gets their music placed in a commercial, at least a few people out there are going to hear it and think, "What is that song? I must have it!"

I'm no different. When I hear a song I like on a commercial, I scour the Internet to find out who it is and where I can get the track. Some songs are easier to find than others.

This list is just a sampling of the songs I've heard on television commercials and had to find out the artist. Maybe I can save someone out there the trouble of fruitlessly searching to find a certain song!

(Note that this list doesn't contain songs that were popular long before they appeared in commercials. For example, many ads have used M.C. Hammer's "Can't Touch This," George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone," etc., but these are well-known songs already and so have been excluded from the list.)

Let It Out - Starrfadu

This fantastic song, one of my favorites, was used in Kleenex's "Let It Out" ad, which sparked a whole campaign.

"Do you want to lay your head on my shoulder? I don't mind if you cry...sometimes we all just need to let it out."

Official Starrfadu website | YouTube video

Remind Me - Royksopp

I'm a fan of electronic music, so when I heard this on one of Geico's Cavemen commercials, I had to find out who it was.

"And everywhere I go, there's always something there to remind me...of another place and time..."

Official Royksopp website | YouTube video (features a slightly different version than what is heard in the commercial)

The Last Thing On Your Mind - Lights

This charming synth-pop song by Lights (birth name: Valerie Poxleitner) was featured in an Old Navy commercial.

"Sing...the last thing on your mind...the last word on your breath...I'll be the one to keep you one disaster less..."

Official Lights website | YouTube video

Rock You Senseless - Jadyn Maria

One listen of this song from a 2004 Herbal Essences commercial rocked me senseless and I had to download the track. I'm ashamed to admit how many times I've been alone in my room, pretending to be sexy and singing into a hairbrush with this on the stereo.

"It's crazy good and all I wanna do is rock you senseless, rock you senseless...Just one look is all it's gonna take to rock you senseless, rock you senseless..."

Official Jadyn Maria MySpace | YouTube video

More Than This - Fire Flies

Used in a Time Warner/HBO commercial, this catchy, romantic and undeniably awesome song was my personal soundtrack for at least a month.

"I never knew there could be more than, more than this...I never dreamed there could be more than, more than...To change the future with a single kiss...I never knew there could be more than this..."

Official Fire Flies website | YouTube video

La Ti Da - The Icicles

If dictionaries included audio samples by their definitions, I'm sure that this song, used in a Target commercial, would be coupled with the definition of "happy." This mood-lifting, feel-good song is how a sunny day would sound if you were to convert it to music.

"So I sing la...ti da...ti da..." (x4)

Official Icicles website | YouTube video

You're Supposed To Be My Friend - 1990s

If you like Franz Ferdinand and The Hives (as I do), you will love 1990s. ("No 'The,' no apostrophe.") This fantastic song, which has me playing air guitar at traffic lights more often than I'd like to admit, was heard in an AT&T commercial. I also recommend "See You At The Lights," and "You Made Me Like It."

"Okay! You're supposed to be my friend...we're supposed to get along..."

Official 1990s website | YouTube video

Bruises - Chairlift

I'm a Zune chick, but I must acknowledge the excellent choice of song in a certain advertisement for the iPod Nano. Chairlift is one of those groups that I'm going to continue to follow, especially if the rest of their music is as great as "Bruises."

"I tried to do handstands for you, I tried to do handstands for you, every time I fell on you, yeah, every time I fell for you-ooo-ooo-oooh..."

Official Chairlift website | YouTube video

Days Go By - Dirty Vegas

You've probably heard of this [now defunct] house trio by now, but this list wouldn't really be complete without them. They gained international recognition for this song from an ad for the Mitsubishi Eclipse.

"Days go by and still I think of you...days when I couldn't live my life without you...without you..."

Official Dirty Vegas website | YouTube video

Hi - Psapp

When I heard "Hi" in a Disaronno commercial, I had to find out more. Psapp's style is undeniably unique, incorporating toy instruments into their music and throwing hand-made toy cats into the audience during performances. I highly recommend the music video for "Hi," which is delightfully quirky.

"I know how I want it to go...I know how I want it to be...don't make me think before I speak, don't make me hold my horses..."

Official Psapp website | YouTube video

That's all for now. I hope that this list will help at least a few people out there who have been looking for one or more of these songs. Even if you weren't, they all come highly recommended and are worth a listen anyway. Enjoy!

Blink-182: Punk to Pop; Rise and Fall

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:50:13 PST

In actual fact it wasn't Mark, Tom and Travis then, it was Mark, Tom and Scott and the band was simply known as Blink when they released their first album Buddha in 1993 until a ridiculous threat of legal action from some other nobody band forced them to add the 182 on the end.

Anyway the band shot to fame in our small town with the onset of the skate movement of the late 90's in NZ and a famous beer advertisement which used the single "Dammit" from the bands third album Dude Ranch as their catchy tune. Dude Ranch debuted in 1997 and alongside other punk bands such as Pennywise, Bad Religion, No Fun At All, and The Offspring, Blink-182 gained cult hero status.

They had the perfect sound for the teenage summer of scorching hot days, great music, beer, and not a care in the world. And that's the way it was. Blink-182 were the penultimate punk band; in our eyes anyway. Dude Ranch was legend and so someone, whose parents had some cash, bought the previous album Cheshire Cat, more out of respect for the band than the list of tunes which encompassed it.

You can decide for yourself whether this was the last act of true punk music from the hardcore lyricists, because in 1999 came the release of their new album Enema of the State, a new record label (MCA), and an element of mainstream success. The songs ranged from new pop maturity in "Adam"s Song', to catchy pop tunes with the same crazy lyrics in "What"s My Age Again?', to songs of their roots which included "Alien"s Exist' and "Dumpweed". Upon its release my mates and I worshipped it and even snubbed Dude Ranch for a few months to thrash the new disc and learn all of the lyrics of every song by heart. I think it even matured us to a certain extent especially when learning and relating the lyrics of "Adam"s Song' to the suicide of a 17 year old teen who hung himself in his garage while listening to the song.

As I left my teens and reached for the big wide word, so I left my favourite band of my youth years even as they bought out the ever increasing mainstream albums, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket in 2001, and the self titled album in 2003. Don't get me wrong, I bought the albums and so did most of my mates but it just wasn't the same. New lyrics, new genre, new friends; how could Blink-182 ever retain their status as the influential teen punk band of the 90's? They couldn't, simple as that. The new albums were great but now everyone had had discovered our great music secret of our youth and we were no longer youths.

For Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, the mainstream success seemed to eventually fuel multiple disputes and rifts within the band. Travel, family pressures, career exploration, and ultimately fame ensured the end was near for the punksters from Poway, California aptly named Blink-182. Because that's what it seemed like for us, a "blink" and then it was over. Age it seemed had found the fast track to adulthood. What's my age again?

Dammit - Dude Ranch (1997)

Adam's Song - Enema of the State (1999)

If I Were a Boy: Beyonce Knowles' Sexist Song

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:56:55 PST

First of all, I like the sound of this song and will likely enjoy listening to it in the future. That said, I feel it's important to point out the sexism in a song like this. Secondly, the idea of being a boy with a woman's brain, emotions, and feelings is an important issue that many men would do well to think about. However, it is this broad and false generalization of 'boys' and 'girls' that makes this song especially sexist.

The first stanza:

"If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I’d roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I’d kick it with who I wanted
And I’d never get confronted for it
Because they’d stick up for me"

I like this idea. It shows the inherent privilege involved with being male in a male-dominated world. It's often said that men don't have to worry about what they look like, what they wear, how they smell, etc... Men often get to spend time at the bar while their partners are at home taking care of the children or the home. Men are supported by other men who may hold positions of power within society, thereby allowing men to "stick up" for one another effectively. And even though many individual relationships frown upon it, society in general allows men a certain amount of leeway when looking at or "chasing after" women. The success of female models in advertising attests to that. So, the overall idea here is a good one, one that highlights some differences due to privilege that really shouldn't exist.

She goes on to sing:

"If I were a boy
I think that I’d understand
how it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man
I’d listen to her
cause I know how it hurts
when you lose the one you wanted
cause he’s taken you for granted
and everything you had got destroyed!
If I were a boy"

This, the chorus, is also an important idea to think about. And it goes far beyond men understanding women and vice-versa. Here, Beyonce sings about the empathy she would have if she were a man. Because she knows the feelings described well, from direct experience, she would be able to know those feelings as a man and then be a "better man" from it. She would inherently know how to treat a woman if she were a man because she would know how she wants men to treat her. With this empathy, she would be a better man. And interestingly, with this kind of empathy, many of us could be better people. Wouldn't it be helpful if all of us attempted to have this type of empathy with others that we interact with?

And then:

"I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone that its broken
so they think
that I was sleeping alone
I’d put myself first
and make the rules as I go
cause I know that she’ll be faithful
waiting for me to come home (to come home)"

Again, men have privilege to be able to turn off their phone and not care about missing calls. Well, that's the privilege Beyonce is trying to suggest that men have. In reality, men are slaves to their cell phones as much as women are. That's a technology issue. The idea of putting oneself first is typically associated with men, though. The idea of being selfish, every man for himself, to each his own, etc... that kind of thing. Assuming the woman in the relationship will be faithful isn't smart, but it's something that society suggests is safe to do. I think these ideas come from some rerun of a fifties sitcom or something. After all, it's those filthy, mean, cheating husbands and boyfriends that women are told to watch out for, yet encourage to lust after.

The song continues to the point where the focus switches from Beyonce in the man's point of view to someone she's talking to as being "just a boy." Overall, it's a nice sounding song, as I stated above. But the ideas of boys doing this and girls doing that, these broad and often false generalizations, along with the use of the terms 'boy' and 'girl' instead of 'man' and 'woman' are sexist. It's unfortunate that the many enlightening points in the song are overshadowed and essentially eclipsed by the sexist oppression created from these generalizations. I can picture listeners getting the need for empathy but then realizing their place in the song, as men or women, and acting out those roles accordingly instead of practicing empathy. It's unfortunate. The idea behind this song has potential. If one could be another, then the whole world would be different ... better. But, according to Beyonce, "You're just a boy" who acts like a boy, and you're just a girl who acts like a girl ... the two will never be the same.

My Fab Five: Five Albums Everyone Should Own

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:27:48 PST

It is safe to say that music has played a fairly significant role in my life.

I have participated in the music programs of almost every school I attended, from elementary through college, playing tenor and baritone saxophone in marching, concert, and jazz bands. I even tried playing the string bass in high school for a year.

Like countless millions of others, popular music, including Rock, Pop, and R&B, has made an immense impact on me, starting when I was around five years old and listening to people like Elton John, Carole King, the Spinners and the O'Jays while lying in my bed at night, listening to AM stations on my green box radio.

After nearly forty years of my mother playing me her records, buying cassette tapes and CDs, and watching MTV and VH1, I have made a list of five albums that, in my opinion, everyone should own in their lifetime.

Let me go ahead and reveal my list, starting with two albums by a group in which it would be holy blasphemy to not include any work by them

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Beatles

Remember that scene in "The Wizard Of Oz" when everything changes from black and white to color?

This record gives the exact same effect - it marks the point in rock / pop history where things go from black and white to color. It even manifests itself on the album cover.

Chosen as the number one album of all time by Rolling Stone, this set of 13 songs, from the title track segueing into Ringo Starr's feel-good "With A Little Help From My Friends", to John Lennon's "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", to Paul McCartney's senior citizen ode "When I'm 64", made the Beatles into the legendary iconic gods that they remain today, and got them out of their "yeah yeah yeah" mind-set once and for all. Oh, and it issued in the "Summer Of Love" period to boot.

BEST SONG No doubt John Lennon's "A Day In The Life"; a true symphony if there ever was one. The way the orchestra crescendos at the end to a big climax, then that huge piano chord - it was perhaps the greatest ending to an album ever. All coming from John reading the morning paper!

And to think that the idea for this album came from a desire to compete with Brian Wilson's Beach Boy masterpiece, "Pet Sounds".

If there had to be one quintessential album of the 1960's "Sgt Pepper" would undoubtedly be the one. Nothing else comes close.

White Album (1968), The Beatles

This double disk with the whitewashed cover can best be described in one word - Diverse.

The musical styles in this release ranged far and wide, from the sing-a-long "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" to the avant garde "Revolution 9".

Granted, this diversity stemmed from the rising tensions within the band. Things got so bad that Ringo Starr even quit for a couple of weeks, but that didn't stop the music - written during their sojourn to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India - from being outstanding and memorable.

BEST SONG Most people would choose "Back In The USSR" or "Blackbird" or John Lennon's moving tribute to his mother, "Julia". Or even the song that set Charles Manson and his family off on that killing spree, "Helter Skelter". Great songs all, but my choice is George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", with guitar solos by none other than Eric Clapton. I love that it starts off with a piano and acoustic guitar and takes off from there.

Needless to say, 40 years after its release, this set still more than holds up.

What's Going On (1971), Marvin Gaye

Simply put, Motown grew up with these bunch of tracks, which Marvin really recorded in 1970 but took a year to get released because Berry Gordy, in his infinite "wisdom", didn't like it, thinking that it was not commercial enough and didn't follow the established Motown formula.

Fortunately for all of us, Berry relented in the end. A good thing too, for we wouldn't have been treated to Marvin's genius that shown through on this disk, singing about war, poverty, drugs, and the environment; issues that are just as relevant today as when this album was first recorded, if not more so. I'm certain that it made people almost cry when first heard. And I'm sure that it would make people almost cry now.

BEST SONG The title track. Especially this lyric

"War is not the answer,

For only love can conquer hate..."

So poignant. So true. Both in 1971 AND in 2008. A message that SO needs be heeded now more than ever. Oh, and the alto sax solo at the beginning makes for a near perfect intro to this cut.

In fact, the whole album's chock full of messages that need to be heard and followed more than ever. So many that it would take way too long to list them all.

Innervisions (1973), Stevie Wonder

When I was around 7 or 8 years old, my mother used to play this record constantly in our little apartment. I enjoyed it and all, particularly "Don't You Worry "Bout A Thing" with the piano and all the percussion carrying the song so brilliantly.

However, I never appreciated the beauty, genius, and impact of this release until I became a full-fledged adult.

This is one of the few albums where personally, I listen to every song straight through and not skip any, because every last one of these tunes, from "Living In The City" to "Higher Ground", are wonderful of not absolute masterpieces. One of the cuts, "Golden Lady", I sort of dedicated to a girl I really liked, saying to her, "This song describes you perfectly."

BEST SONG In my opinion, "Visions" - a perfect blend of acoustic and electric guitars with lyrics that will put you nearly to tears, they"re so beautiful

"Have I lived to see the milk and honey land?

Where hate's a dream and love forever stands?

Or is this a vision in my mind?"

And last, but as far as least as one can possibly get

Songs in the Key of Life (1976), Stevie Wonder

Released in the summer of our nation's bicentennial and the first record to debut at number one on the Billboard charts, this double album, in my view (and a lot of other people's views to be sure), is the greatest album ever made.

I remember my mom playing this record constantly that summer. I was nine at the time, and songs as diverse and memorable as "Isn't She Lovely", "Sir Duke" with its horn fanfare, Stevie recollecting his childhood in "I Wish", and "If It's Magic" with its absolutely gorgeous harp, made for some good listening and childhood memories.

One tune in particular, "Village Ghetto Land", with its lyrics of poverty, homelessness, and crime, is just as relevant today as it was when it was recorded, much like the
songs in What's Going On". A small sample

"See the people lock their doors,

While robbers laugh and steal,

Beggars watch and eat their meal - from garbage cans..."

So true in 1976, and SO true in 2008.

As much as I enjoyed this album as a kid, it wasn't until I entered my 20's and 30's that I truly appreciated and marveled it for the masterpiece that it is. I would lay on my bed at night in the dark, put that record on my CD player, and sort of get lost in Stevie's genius that shone in this double set, bathing in the richness and the emotion of the songs.

Best Song: The last one, "Another Star". Starting with a piano solo and ending with a flute solo, with an uplifting sax and trumpet line the whole way, Stevie's ode to a past love is a wonderful way to end a wonderful album.

The only negative thing that I could possibly say about this work of genius is that after it came out, everything Stevie Wonder did afterward would be compared to it. Although he had some hits in later years, nothing he has done has matched the masterful impact of this double set.

And probably never will.

Ten of the Greatest Artists/Bands Who Still Appeal to the Modern Era

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:51:34 PST

Robert Smith (The Cure)

The Cure are the original iconic English Goth Rockers, formed in West Sussex in ’76. Known around the world for his wild hair, front man Robert Smith has been the band’s powerhouse and only constant member. Smith’s creativity has brought us the memorable numbers ‘Love Cats’, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, ‘Close to Me’ and ‘Just Like Heaven’. But, Smith’s creativity almost got the label dropped when their first single “Killing An Arab” was gravely misinterpreted by several critics as racism. The song was actually based on a French existentialist’s tale “The Strangler” (Albert Camus).

Their greatest commercial success came in ’89, when their single Lovesong reached #2 in the US pop charts, although their die hard fans will tell you, it’s what didn’t make it that mattered. Their latest album, ‘4:13 Dream’ is scheduled to be released on 27^th of October, 2008. Smith recently turned 50, but says, “I don’t feel it (50). It’s worrying. When I’m in the studio singing or on the stage, I don’t feel any different from when I started… I’ll wake up one morning and my skin will have fallen off.”

David Bowie

If the changing face of pop has an icon, his name is David Bowie. Originally christened David Robert Jones in ’47, David Jones was producing singles and even an album before he was 20. Unfortunately, David was often confused with the Monkey’s sensation Davy Jones, and so Bowie renamed himself after the historical Jim Bowie and the military knife by the same name. Once David Bowie got started, you never really could be sure of what he was doing.

In the early years, he wrote showy tunes, ditching that to become famous in ’69 with the lunar landing’s global theme song “A Space Oddity”. He moved from space man to glam rock (playing with Queen in the unforgettable “Under Pressure”), to our cinemas with the release of Labyrinth in ’86.

Again, the face of Bowie would change in the public eye in ’89 with the release of the release of the contemporary Tin Machine and the less successful Tin Machine II. Finally, in the last decade, Bowie has indulged in the 90’s fascination of Electronica, performing songs like “Without You, I’m Nothing” with indie-rockers, Placebo. Bowie’s last album, ‘Reality’, was released in 2003.

Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

The band known as The Rolling Stones appeared in the Marquee Club in July, ’62. The band’s success was almost instantaneous, as they were signed up to play alongside such greats as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. The Band would go on to write their first original UK #1 hit, ‘The Last Time’ and their first international room shaker “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.

The bands latest album release, in 2005, titled “A Bigger Bang” drew both controversy and applause as the lyrics of “Sweet Neo Con” were interpreted as an attack on the presidency of George Bush. But, the Jagger’s fame has extended beyond the music scene, ironically under a magazine by the same name. His success independent of the Stones includes a long list of films including Ned Kelly (1970) and Shine a Light (2008).

Regardless of his other affiliations, Jagger’s success can be seen as a product of his dedication and energy put into The Stones, which was recognised even by his arch nemesis (the establishment) when he was knighted Sir Michael Jagger, under Prince Charles in 2003. Jagger is estimated to be worth $425 million, but his contribution to the arts makes his value unmeasurable.

Duran Duran

Ok, maybe not one of the ‘stick it to the man’, or heartbreaker inspirational bands. But, the ’78 born Birmingham romanticists defined a new era in pop culture that let the punk spirit fall through for something more. They were lovers and proud of their iconic hair and neo-mod fashion. Duran Duran (named after the evil villain Dr Durand Durand, in the sci-fi Barbarella) made a dash to fame when their first, self-titled album reached #3 in the UK #9 is Aus and #10 in the US, featuring the club hits “Planet Earth” and “Girls on Film”.

Their other hits include “Hungry Like The Wolf”, “Union of The Snake” and “Notorious”. Their latest album, ‘Red Carped Massacre’ was released in 2007 with less success than their previous work, but none the less, retaining the band’s crash-pop perspective on life, teaming up with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

KISS

The glam rock sensation known as KISS have had fire in their blood and beats on the record player since 1974, with the release of Kiss, that hit what would be a surprisingly dismal #87 in the US charts and the single “Kissing Time” which only made #83. However, as glam rock implies, KISS’s mainstream success was partially due to their style as well as their sounds. KISS were always running through smoke or spitting blood or fire on stage and in their films, such as “KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park” (1978).

The band’s erratic, startling and sometimes frowned upon makeup got them further than most of their competition. The most famous assembly were Gene “The Daemon”, Paul “The Star Child”, Ace “The Spaceman” and Peter “The Cat Man”. With the far out styles of his members, Peter Chris leaves one asking, “why a cat man?” Family Guy’s Peter Griffin speaks for a confused following, “No one wants to be Peter Chris, Louis. Not even Peter Chris.” Strangely enough Eric Singer, KISS’s latest drummer adopted the fallen member’s style. Two other less popular styles have been Eric Carr’s “The Fox” and Vinnie Vincent’s “The Ankh Warrior”.

Depeche Mode

Starting as the new kids on the block in 1980, Depeche Mode sought to capture romanticism and the new wave movement that was becoming increasingly popular amongst pop culture. The band’s name was taken from a French fashion magazine named ‘Dépêche Mode’; meaning “hurried fashion or fashion dispatch”. Tributes to the underground dark romantics include a cover of “I Feel You” by Placebo and “Personal Jesus” (Rolling Stones Top 500) by goth rocker Marylin Manson.

Depeche Mode’s latest album, Playing the Angel (2005) reflects their original work moreso than their previous album, Exciter, which suggested the band was striding for an ultra-electronic ambiance. The fresh natural sounds are a step in reviving the unique edge that Depeche Mode pushed for in the ‘80s.

U2

There’s only two ways to look at U2: you either love them or you loathe them, but either way, you know they’re one of the most powerful rock influences on the modern world. Aside from the band’s commercial musical success (which began in 1980, with the release of the album, “Boy”), U2 front man, Bono has managed to make his impact on the world at large, vowing to fight global poverty and starvation with his popularity and influence. The bands most famous works correlate with Bono’s peaceful philosophy, emanating from tracks such as “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”, “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “With or Without You”.

The band’s sentiments could be felt in the track “One”, a tribute recorded to commemorate the re-unification of East and West Berlin and, indeed, the greater Germany. Focusing on the greater powers of human love and global peace, U2 follow in the path of visionary John Lennon and tribute the peacemakers of the past and present. The band’s latest album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” (2004) had amazing commercial success.

Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John (originally named Reginald Kenneth Dwight) started working his way around the keys from the age of 3. Now, at the age of 61, he’s a multi-platinum recording artist with one of Hollywood’s most famous backgrounds. Musically, Sir Elton has sold more than 131 million records (and CDs) in original albums alone and produced such memorable numbers as “Crocodile Rock”, “Bennie and the Jets”, “Love Lies Bleeding” and his acclaimed tribute to Marilyn Monroe, “Candle in the Wind”.

Perhaps, just as deservingly as the attention given to his work, so should recognition be paid to Sir Elton’s charity efforts. Elton is a dedicated sponsor to anti-AIDS and human rights movements across the States. Elton John is a man who lived his own life on stage for all to judge. Few others could have come out on top.

The Sex Pistols

On again. Off again. The Sex Pistols embodied punk rock so passionately that they too would become victims of youth’s discontent. From their debut in ’75 to their break up in ’79, the Sex Pistols were the icon of all that was change. “God Save The Queen” can be seen as the band’s testament to riling the establishment, regardless of who might be offended.

After their break-up, the remaining members pursued other paths in the true bohemian style, producing only mediocre works in comparison to the trouble they stirred as The Pistols. They surprised fans when they re-emerged in 1996 for a six-month tour and again in 2002 for a few more tours. The band reformed for the last time in 2007 for a performance that director Eric van Eerdenburg describes as “saddening”.

The Sex Pistols are an inspiration to writers and musicains exploring the depths of our limits and the result of a lifetime of rebellion and malcontent. They appropriately refused to be entered into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Guitarist, Steve Jones commented: “Once you want to be put into a museum, Rock & Roll's over; it's not voted by fans, it's voted by people who induct you, or others; people who are already in it.” Anarchy in the UK!

Fleetwood Mac

Perhaps not last, but certainly the longest, the British/American pop rock combination, Fleetwood Mac have been in studios since 1967. At the time, the historical members of Fleetwood Mac played together the Bluesbreakers. Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Peter Green recorded a few songs, one being an instrumental named after the rhythm section (Mick Fleetwood the drummer and John McVie on bass): Fleetwood Mac.

When the band formed anew, naming itself after that song, they recorded a self-titled album that went to #4 in the British charts. Ironicallt, the next single they produced would become more famous for Santana than themselves: “Black Magic Woman”. The band experienced varying success until 1975, when the restructuring of the band made way for a second self-titled album; Fleetwood Mac was reborn in the mainstream, reaching #1 in the US.

Who Said It: Elvis Presley, Boy George, Mick Jagger or Luciano Pavarotti?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:28:01 PST

Elvis Presley has been known as the King of Rock and Roll. He was hugely popular and successful throughout the sixties and seventies until his untimely death in 1977. People love him so much that they still regularly tour his home (Graceland) and claim he's still alive.

Boy George was the charismatic lead singer of Culture Club which was very popular in the eighties although now, I've forgotten why (lol, okay, I admit I listened to them but I was young and very very stupid). He was one of the first extremely popular singers who I can remember being so open about their homosexuality. His long braids and eccentric outfits earned him tons of attention as he sang super catchy dance tunes.

Mick Jagger is the lead singer of the Rolling Stones which became popular in the sixties and remains popular to this day. While Elvis may have been the "King of Rock and Roll", Mick Jagger definitely perfected the art. The Stones have made tons of albums throughout the years and are constantly on tour.

Luciano Pavarotti was a tenor opera singer famous throughout the world until his death in 2007. He rose to popularity in the seventies and achieved stardom in the nineties when he became a part of "The Three Tenors" which was comprised of him, Jose Carreras and Plácido Domingo. Through this grouping, opera became attainable and appealing to the masses.

So, what could these four musicians have in common...quite a lot, apparently. Write down your answers to the following quotations and then check your answers.

Quotations:

"I got nasty habits; I take tea at three."
"I would rather have a cup of tea than sex."
"All dancing is a replacement for sex."
"Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over."
"I also tried to avoid doing obvious dance records."
"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to."
"Learning music by reading about it is like making love by mail."
"I came into music just because I wanted the bread. It's true. I looked around and this seemed like the only way I was going to get the kind of bread I wanted."
"You don't need any brains to listen to music."
"What's really sad is that a lot of very talented people are being forced to do things that are very embarrassing and I don't intend to be one of them."
“In the '60s everybody wanted to be the Beatles or the Stones, in the '70s there were bands everybody tried to emulate, like Led Zeppelin. And I think in the '80s you had lots of bands that had quite individual sounds, ... '80s Rewind.”
"I happened to come along in the music business when there was no trend."
"A lot of times songs are very much of a moment, that you just encapsulate. They come to you, you write them, you feel good that day, or bad that day."
"I've never written a song in my life. It's all a big hoax."
"Man, that record came out and was real big. They started playing it, and it got real big. Don't know why -- the lyrics had no meaning."
“Am I afraid of high notes? Of course I am afraid? What sane man is not?”
"The Lord can give, and the Lord can take away. I might be herding sheep next year."
"A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts."
“A man who strains himself on the stage is bound, if he is any good, to strain all the people sitting in the stalls.”
"The ultimate goal is to be more satisfied. I really don't believe you get wiser because you get older. It's a choice, perhaps not to take some things so seriously."
Bonus Question: "I can't get no satisfaction."

Answers:

Mick Jagger
Boy George
Mick Jagger
Elvis Presley
Boy George
Elvis Presley
Luciano Pavarotti
Mick Jagger
Luciano Pavarotti
Boy George
Boy George
Elvis Presley
Mick Jagger
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Luciano Pavarotti
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Boy George
Boy George
Mick Jagger

If you got 1-5 right: Musical Idiot

Do you even known who Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger are? It's hard knowing which musician said what. Did you get Boy George confused with Luciano Pavarotti a lot? That happens.

If you got 6-15 right: Mediocre Musician Fan

You are beginning to understand the difference between an Opera Singer and "The King of Rock and Roll". Hopefully you don't even know who Boy George is.

If you got 16-21 right: Musical Genius

Give yourself a pat on the back. Thorough understanding of Eighties Pop, Opera and rock and roll throughout the ages. I'm impressed!!!

Music Classified

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:17:47 PST

Folk Music

The folk music of a culture is music that is passed down from one generation to the next, often without writing it down. It includes many different kinds of music: lullabies and children's singing games, tunes that everyone enjoys singing together or dancing to, songs for celebrations, ceremonies, and holidays. Folk music can gradually change as it gets passed along. Usually nobody remembers who originally wrote it, or who changed it, and there may be more than one version of it around. Since ancient times, folk music has been the music of ordinary people, not the ruling class or professional musicians. In every culture, children learned and remembered the music that everyone enjoyed the most, and the music that was important to their traditions and ceremonies.

Baroque Music

Extravagant, ornamented, fancy, irregular... These are all adjectives that describe the music of the Baroque period- a period in which the art and architecture in the world was also very ornate and fancy. The Baroque Era brought monumental changes to instrumental music. During this time, instrumental music became just as important as vocal music both in quality and quantity, as many new developments occurred in the instrumental world.
Keyboard music for the harpsichord was also a focus of compositions- there were many composers of the time that were amazing keyboardists. Bach was an example of a master composer of the Baroque who wrote very fancy-sounding keyboard music.

Classical Music

Music of the Classical period was also very structured and emotions were controlled. It was tuneful and simple.

The Classical period wanted balance and contrast. This was achieved using form. Music was not to be too loud or too soft, too fast or too slow. Nothing was done in the extreme. Control was more important than strong emotions.

The sonata and the symphony were the popular musical forms during this time.
Famous composers during this time included Mozart and Beethoven. The classical period ended when Beethoven died in 1827.

Romantic Music
Romanticism aspires to transcend immediate times or occasions, to reach back into the past and forward into the future. As against the classic ideals of order, equilibrium, control, and perfection within acknowledged limits, Romanticism cherishes freedom, movement, passion, and endless pursuit of the unattainable. It is this aspect which, perhaps, gives music of the Romantic Era its sense of longing, and heightened emotions. This impatience of limits leads to a breaking down of distinctions. The personality of the artists tends to become merged with the work of art; classical clarity is replaced by a certain intentional obscurity, definite statement by suggestion, allusion, or symbol. "Its incomparable power of suggestion which works on the mind directly, without the mediation of words, made it the dominant art, the one most representative of the 19th century".
In the Romantic era, music acquired poetic or philosophical meaning. Antiquity, folklore, history and exotic cultures were examined as possible sources of inspiration.

Twentieth Century Music
With the coming of the 20th century, another evolution in the musical world emerged. While some of the early 20th century music can be seen as extensions of the late Romantic style, much of the music in this period can be seen as a rebellion. Composers did not look to build on what was standard but again created music freely and used sounds that went against the current grain. Twentieth century music can be described as being more refined, vague in form, delicate, and having a mysterious atmosphere.

Modern/ Pop Music
In the late 1950's that the idea of using tape to create a stand alone artistic work became more and more prevalent. However, it was with the studio recordings of the Beatles where the full use of multi-track recording and layering became common to popular music. The creation of this recording process transformed pop music.
The term pop music can refer to a specific kind of popular music. Popular music is also a general term for any type of music that is or has been a top seller. This includes most types of rock music and many kinds of jazz.

An Exploration Into the Attraction, Importance and Role of Authenticity in Popular Music

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:53:25 PST

I consider this topic one of the most central components of popular music. It has been sought after and striven for by many musicians and indeed fans. I believe it is important for many bands to appear authentic, and I believe many bands would do a lot to seek this term. According to Hugh Barker and Yuval Taylor there is nothing more prized or fetished in popular music than authenticity, something I agree with regarding the majority of musicians,/ however I feel its importance changes in different eras -

Barker and Taylor go on to summarise how the notion that honest, pure, self-expression is the thing that matters to most, according to them it killed Kurt Cobain and Sid Vicious as being or even feeling fake can be a fate as bad as death. This opinion is a little extreme in my own mind but demonstrates its importance. In this file I want to briefly analyse authenticity, demonstrate its importance and what makes it so attractive to performers and fans. I want to compare some inauthentic acts with some authentic bands, view some performers who have radically chased this term. And then finally I want to have demonstrated how authenticity has shaped the popular music we listen to.

So what is authenticity? I’m sure you are familiar with the subject, Allan Moore has done extensive investigation in his own studies. His detailed research illustrates how key this can be to popular musicians, in one of his books on the subject he begins by classing authenticity as; ‘Authentic’. ‘Real’. ‘Honest’. ‘Truthful’. ‘With integrity’. ‘Actual’. ‘Genuine’. ‘Essential’. and ‘Sincere’. Certainly this aptly dissects its meaning, other angles on the definition even detail the quest for authenticity as being a battle between good and evil. Reaching authenticity is obviously meant to represent the good succeeding, Roy Shuker for example states how it can represent a series of oppositions: mainstream versus independent; pop versus rock; commercialism versus creativity or art versus commerce.

One thing that is crucial in understanding authenticity is how no song is ever going to be utterly authentic, no-one writes a song comprised so totally honest and so fully self absorbed. Even if someone did account their deepest secrets, and the writer was in some form of trance as the perfect lyrics were intertwined magically with the perfect chord sequence, the song would still not be one hundred per cent authentic. Authenticity is an absolute. No-one is absolutely certain of their every thought, the mind has not been explored by humans yet, thoughts flicker so quickly, gathering every shred of a thought process would be fruitlessly impossible. Instead authenticity is judged say as a Javelin competition would be, bands seeking authenticity try and get as far along as possible to achieve the most respect, however, to add to that equation is the fact that more respect is perceived to be gained if it seems you are not deliberately aiming for this.

Hence ‘real’ and ‘genuine’ seem to summarise authenticity the best. But how can a song be classed more real than others? Well it seems fans and many critics want bands to be singing about true life facts. This craving seems to have progressed dramatically. The top selling rock and metal bands of the 1970s and 1980s were crass, entertaining and the majority were hugely inauthentic, referring to Barker and Taylor, they note how in recent years, top selling rock and metal bands; 'Staind, Nickleback and Evanescence for example, concentrate on adolescent introspection. People want to hear about problems, real problems (however real they may actually turn out to be). The more truthful, honest and revealing a song is, the more authentic it is classed. An insight into an individual’s experiences is what is desired.' Stories sung that are then revealed as false, or just a general disregard to truthful topics are prime examples of ‘inauthentic’ music, the term opposite of authenticity.

I wanted to cover some individuals and some moments that have significantly affected authenticity’s role today. First of all Kurt Cobain. Cobain is widely regarded as one of the most authentic musicians of all time, however unfortunately it seems he reached such a high level by dying. His actions, and demise, similarly to Richie Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers, almost left critics with a guilty feeling. His death underlined his work, it highlighted how he really meant what he had preached and performed. Surely death cannot be the best way to gain such high prestige in this subject? If so that is tragic. To again refer to Barker and Taylor and underline Nirvana’s prestige, they write how; 'Nirvana’s guitar based simplicity, rawness of emotion, combined with Cobain’s ethics and loathing of the music business made them the ultimate authentic band of this era.' This quote highlights the package of authenticity. In my opinion Cobain set a bench mark those seeking authenticity have tried to follow, of course without having to loose their lives.

Another individual who played an interesting role in the development of authenticity is Elvis Presley. Not regarded as the most authentic artist due to his persistent covering and his links to appropriation of African-American music, personally something I do not agree with, yet it is what he did for music that deserves recognition. He bridged the gap between white and black musicians that was horrifically distant as recently as half a century ago. He almost acted on stage, giving crowds new kinds of live performance. He laid the foundations for rock music to reach where it is today. Also he delivered new levels of authentic performance that were listened to by anyone regardless of their colour. He connected to his audience like no-one before, and gave everything when on stage. Elvis never got that authentic in his music, acting till the end, but he paved the way for rock music which eventually evolved to involve different forms of authenticity.

When glancing through the history of popular music there are many key moments that undoubtedly shape authenticity’s role, for example when the Monkees decided to actually play their instruments. Clearly not happy with labels of being false, and criticisms of their musicianship the band made this conscious decision to appear more like the successful Beatles. However, all was not cheery within the Beatles either, John Lennon also played an important role in the path of authenticity. Lennon was never wholly satisfied with the lovable image the Beatles had feeling his personality was not shown fully. He had a constant battle trying to demonstrate how genuine he was which possibly ultimately hindered his level of authentification. Throughout his career he did anything to prove he was not fake.

Another big moment was the uncovering of MTV Unplugged. This show demonstrates many artist’s desire to be respected and again, it’s many applicants demonstrate authenticity’s significance. When this show was introduced, around the time of Nirvana, their was a huge rush from many bands to get involved and succeed on it. Not all bands want this and it certainly does not determine success, but for many it is fundamental. Fans also tuned in to judge, similarly to how they do now on the countless talent shows that appear everywhere, challenging authenticities dominance?

These shows such as pop idol and X factor also play their part in authenticity’s prominence. Many say how these shows hide authenticity’s value. These shows promote the ‘bad side’ as Roy Shuker would say, the manufacturing of bands and individuals. However these shows are unsuccessful in fighting against authenticity in my opinion it still manages to appear in different formats, for example when numerous sketches of competitors are shown backstage trying to reveal their real self.

It is in fact also becoming more common for artists to even invent or exaggerate life’s troubles to gain an authentic tact, for without authentic tact what is success? This sentiment is felt by many. Avril Lavigne, winner of a talent show, released her first album which proved a success down to the song writing of her producers. Despite her success the singer could not deal with criticism directed at her for being manufactured. She promptly ditched the song writing team for her new album and produced a far weaker effort. The most manufactured pop musicians will still strive for elements of authenticity, even if it is not there. Does their general failure after these shows (for where are the likes of Gareth Gates, Michelle McManus, Steve Brookstein and Shane Ward now) come back to authenticity? Undoubtedly in part yes, such is the role authenticity has played in the history of popular music.

Inauthentic Acts

By repeatedly talking up how vital authenticity is, that is not to condemn inauthentic acts, a fake song is certainly not a bad song. Some inauthentic acts have huge followings such as KISS for example. When KISS played in concert they delivered completely wholly charged songs, their live performance often included fire-breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics. No one can argue with their success (they have certified sales of over 19 million records - not far behind pioneers of authenticity Nirvana who have over 25 million). However KISS shows depicted images and a lifestyle the band falsely claimed to be and live by, thus are very inauthentic. Their goal was solely to earn a living, make money and have fun along the way. This meant they never revealed truths about themselves, who were behind the make-up, or the world they live in. Certainly entertaining, and successful, but not authentic, a term a lot of musicians fans and critics search for.

What would be interesting would be were KISS to now suddenly sing frequently about sensitive matters, I believe they would create some hysteria and they would lose many fans along the way. Whatever they would sing about would not be taken seriously and would be continually argued against in music columns across the globe. For if a band begins in an inauthentic way, surely it is impossible for them to ever be deemed authentic and taken seriously. They may reach success by it, but credit should be hampered, and very little authenticity should be aligned with it.

Some artists in recent years have heaped extensive criticism upon themselves by seeking the most amount of money fame from music. Recent artists such as Gwen Stefani and Nelly Furtado for example have attracted some criticism from critics. They both were respected alternative/rock musicians who now have jumped into r‘n‘b and hip hop charts. These moves have left many long term fans feeling cheated and let down. These cases show a disregard for authenticity, which is not so common. I definitely feel most still aim for the term and I feel it is healthy for music that they do so. To go along a little tangent I can demonstrate this by drawing parallels with modern day sport, say football. What is Authentic to football has vanished, gone are the days when your area dictated your team as a fan and possibly even a player. Players play for vast amounts of clubs, generally seeking the one who will add the most to their bank balance. Players will cheat to win, show no respect to officials and generally the game has evolved to a spectacle extremely distant from that of even a few decades ago. Thankfully, what is authentic to music has stayed in music and is still very dominant, music is healthier for that fact continuing to defy daily threats to its importance. I draw links with the football stars and musicians that seek extra fame and fortune through non-authentic measures, though probably never being in this situation myself I feel I am not one to judge too harshly.

However cases like these are not as frequent as cases of bands who try stunts to receive more authenticity, possibly as fake as just plainly seeking hideous amounts of money. Personally when bands like Green Day, famed for singing about derogatory immature material for the majority of their career, suddenly become the voice of America and become highly political in their music this is surely highly hypocritical and controversial. I believe their messages should be devalued and their prestige reconsidered. For going back to KISS, a band so radically changing direction would be inauthentic and I would not take them seriously. My regard for bands like these are lowered after such actions even if they were inauthentic in the first place. Being inauthentic does not make your music bad, but that is the area you are respected in, not the area of authenticity.

It does appear authenticity evolves and develops in different ways. It seems to change over time with different phases. At the moment there is a huge amount of women present in the UK chart singing autobiographical songs, artists such as Kate Nash and in particularly Amy Winehouse, in whom I can already see some tragic connections with Kurt Cobain, I hope they don’t continue. Her 5 Grammy award winning album of 2007 was all based on her own life, and generally her husband, unfortunately for her she seems to have lost her way at the moment. Very recently there was also an American rush to appear autobiographical. In 2004 Ashley Simpson, Usher and Alicia Keys all had top selling albums entitled Autobiography, Confessions and The Diary of Alicia Keys. True these were all successful but why the title and why at the same time? Perhaps authenticity at the time was written about with a link to these methods. One thing is clear, critics focus heavily on a band’s authentic tact and many artists are affected by this. What a critic writes can easily aid a directional choice a band makes, thus critics are central to authenticity.

To bring this talk to an end I just want to conclude again with how vital authenticity is to popular music. It is natural, sought after by the majority of musicians, and keeps the music scene honest. Appearing real, genuine and as previous individuals such as Kurt Cobain have is obviously attractive to many. It seems authenticity evolves and changes over time. I believe there are different types of authenticity, and certainly it is unachievable in full.

If a band has began their career without much regard for authenticity, they surely cannot convert themselves to being authentic, this is surely a money grabbing, false technique. Musically, as with Green Day they can win acclaim for the music, but credit and respect from many music pioneers and crucially critics whose voices are so essential to many will not be given. What musicians show their fans at the very beginning is highly important. To keep the longest, deepest, loyalist fans the band acquire this initial foundation must be maintained. For after all, first impressions are the deepest. Whether it be a bullet wound to a hip hop artist, mournful biographic details to a rock star, or pure power in performance to many, Authenticity is a central part of many musician’s repertoire, and this is highly beneficial for popular music as a whole.

Three Faith Hill Songs Worth Listening to

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:34:30 PST

I always carry my iPod with me wherever I go, and I listen to it particularly often on my way to school. It soothes me during traffic, and the music helps me start my day right. The newest craze in my playlist is my Faith Hill song collection (although these songs have been around for more than 6 years or so).

Faith Hill is a talented and gorgeous country-pop singer who has lots of refreshing, energizing, and spirit-soaring songs. Here are 5 of her songs that you might love to check out for yourself.

If My Heart Had Wings

This song is a homerun! It definitely makes me feel like flying. The country music feel coupled with Faith Hill's anti-cowboy feminine touch ends up in a victorious merge of modern music. I think I listened to it more than 10 times today.

There You'll Be

This song became the official soundtrack of the 2001 film, "Pearl Harbor". Here, Faith Hill breaks away from her normal country music tone and sings a ballad type, orchestra accompanied music. The song is powerful, and it reaches a point of climax where I feel like I'm being bombed at Pearl Harbor.

Breathe

I think this type of lighthearted country music is the main characteristic of Faith Hill's earlier albums. It sticks to your head. Its theme focuses on love, intimacy, and the joy of life. I don't like to get mushy here, but one line from this song goes like, "You're The Million Reasons Why There's Love Reflecting In My Eyes". I think that's classic poetry! It's more of a girly song, though, but I still like it.