Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Steve Huey
More than any other single artist, Britney Spears was the driving force behind the return of teen pop in the late ’90s. The blockbuster success of the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys certainly paved the way for her own commercial breakthrough, but Spears didn’t just become a star — she was a bona fide pop phenomenon. Not only did she sell millions of records, she was a media fixture regardless of what she was (or wasn’t) doing; among female singers of the era (many of whom followed in her footsteps), her celebrity star power was rivaled only by Jennifer Lopez. From the outset, Spears’ sex appeal was an important part of her image. The video for her debut single, “…Baby One More Time,” outfitted her in full Catholic-school regalia and sent her well on the way to becoming an international sex symbol. Yet Spears’ handlers seemed to be trying to have it both ways — there was a definite tension between the wholesome innocence Spears tried to project for her female audience, and the titillating sexuality that enticed so many male fans. Those marketing tactics made Spears a somewhat controversial figure, the subject of endless debates concerning appropriate role models for teenage girls. Early on, Spears tried to defuse the controversy by preaching abstinence until marriage, and even denied that she was consciously cultivating such a sexualized image. Of course, the more provocative and revealing her on-stage wardrobe became, the less plausible that claim seemed. But apart from her ability to tiptoe the line between virginal coquette and brazen tart, Spears had a secret weapon in Swedish pop mastermind Max Martin, who had a hand in the vast majority of her hits as a writer and/or producer. With Martin crafting the sort of contemporary dance-pop and sentimental ballads that made stars of the Backstreet Boys, Spears kept on delivering the goods commercially, as her first three albums all topped the charts.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Richie Unterberger
So much has been said and written about the Beatles — and their story is so mythic in its sweep — that it’s difficult to summarize their career without restating clichés that have already been digested by tens of millions of rock fans. To start with the obvious, they were the greatest and most influential act of the rock era, and introduced more innovations into popular music than any other rock band of the 20th century. Moreover, they were among the few artists of any discipline that were simultaneously the best at what they did and the most popular at what they did. Relentlessly imaginative and experimental, the Beatles grabbed a hold of the international mass consciousness in 1964 and never let go for the next six years, always staying ahead of the pack in terms of creativity but never losing their ability to communicate their increasingly sophisticated ideas to a mass audience. Their supremacy as rock icons remains unchallenged to this day, decades after their breakup in 1970.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Richie Unterberger
Elvis Presley may be the single most important figure in American 20th century popular music. Not necessarily the best, and certainly not the most consistent. But no one could argue with the fact that he was the musician most responsible for popularizing rock & roll on an international level. Viewed in cold sales figures, his impact was phenomenal. Dozens upon dozens of international smashes from the mid-’50s to the mid-’70s, as well as the steady sales of his catalog and reissues since his death in 1977, may make him the single highest-selling performer in history.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
After a star reaches a certain point, it’s easy to forget what they became famous for and concentrate solely on their persona. Madonna is such a star. Madonna rocketed to stardom so quickly in 1984 that it obscured most of her musical virtues. Appreciating her music became even more difficult as the decade wore on, as discussing her lifestyle became more common than discussing her music. However, one of Madonna’s greatest achievements is how she manipulated the media and the public with her music, her videos, her publicity, and her sexuality. Arguably, Madonna was the first female pop star to have complete control of her music and image.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato
Metallica was easily the best, most influential heavy metal band of the ’80s, responsible for bringing the music back to Earth. Instead of playing the usual rock star games of metal stars of the early ’80s, the band looked and talked like they were from the street. Metallica expanded the limits of thrash, using speed and volume not for their own sake, but to enhance their intricately structured compositions. The release of 1983’s Kill ‘Em All marked the beginning of the legitimization of heavy metal’s underground, bringing new complexity and depth to thrash metal. With each album, the band’s playing and writing improved; James Hetfield developed a signature rhythm playing that matched his growl, while lead guitarist Kirk Hammett became one of the most copied guitarists in metal. Lars Ulrich’s thunderous, yet complex, drumming clicked in perfectly with Cliff Burton’s innovative bass playing. After releasing their masterpiece Master of Puppets in 1986, tragedy struck the band when their tour bus crashed while traveling in Sweden, killing Burton. When the band decided to continue, Jason Newsted was chosen to replace Burton; two years later, the band released the conceptually ambitious …And Justice for All, which hit the Top Ten without any radio play and very little support from MTV. But Metallica completely crossed over into the mainstream with 1991’s Metallica, which found the band trading in their long compositions for more concise song structures; it resulted in a number one album that sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. The band launched a long, long tour which kept them on the road for nearly two years. By the ’90s, Metallica had changed the rules for all heavy metal bands; they were the leaders of the genre, respected not only by headbangers, but by mainstream record buyers and critics. No other heavy metal band has ever been able to pull off such a trick. However, the group lost some members of their core audience with their long-awaited follow-up to Metallica, 1996’s Load. For Load, the band decided to move toward alternative rock in terms of image — they cut their hair and had their picture taken by Anton Corbijn. Although the album was a hit upon its summer release — entering the charts at number one and selling three million copies within two months — certain members of their audience complained about the shift in image, as well as the group’s decision to headline the sixth Lollapalooza. Re-Load, which combined new material with songs left off of the Load record, appeared in 1997; despite poor reviews, it sold at a typically brisk pace through the next year. Garage Inc., a double-disc collection of B-sides, rarities, and newly recorded covers, followed in 1998. In 1999, Metallica continued their flood of product with S&M, documenting a live concert with the San Francisco Symphony; it debuted at number two, reconfirming their immense popularity.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
By the time the Rolling Stones began calling themselves the World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band in the late ’60s, they had already staked out an impressive claim on the title. As the self-consciously dangerous alternative to the bouncy Merseybeat of the Beatles in the British Invasion, the Stones had pioneered the gritty, hard-driving blues-based rock & roll that came to define hard rock. With his preening machismo and latent maliciousness, Mick Jagger became the prototypical rock frontman, tempering his macho showmanship with a detached, campy irony while Keith Richards and Brian Jones wrote the blueprint for sinewy, interlocking rhythm guitars. Backed by the strong yet subtly swinging rhythm section of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts, the Stones became the breakout band of the British blues scene, eclipsing such contemporaries as the Animals and Them. Over the course of their career, the Stones never really abandoned blues, but as soon as they reached popularity in the U.K., they began experimenting musically, incorporating the British pop of contemporaries like the Beatles, Kinks, and Who into their sound. After a brief dalliance with psychedelia, the Stones re-emerged in the late ’60s as a jaded, blues-soaked hard rock quintet. The Stones always flirted with the seedy side of rock & roll, but as the hippie dream began to break apart, they exposed and reveled in the new rock culture. It wasn’t without difficulty, of course. Shortly after he was fired from the group, Jones was found dead in a swimming pool, while at a 1969 free concert at Altamont, a concertgoer was brutally killed during the Stones’ show. But the Stones never stopped going. For the next 30 years, they continued to record and perform, and while their records weren’t always blockbusters, they were never less than the most visible band of their era — certainly, none of their British peers continued to be as popular or productive as the Stones. And no band since has proven to have such a broad fan base or far-reaching popularity, and it is impossible to hear any of the groups that followed them without detecting some sort of influence, whether it was musical or aesthetic.
(more…)
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
by: SilentOne
What a wonderful age this is. Today you can listen to music online from around the world. Music online is available from every country on the planet. You can listen right in your own home to real time news and music from anywhere, any language and any culture.
New technologies are emerging that make it easy to listen to music online. What is completely new is the handling of the Internet radio stations according to the so called Drag & Drop principle; the user selects the radio stations from a list with the mouse and enables them by dragging and dropping them to the recording window. New is also the advanced adding procedure for more Internet radio stations. The way of creating and selecting your own favorites was also extended.
Switching the stations while listening until the new station can be heard was also reduced to some fractions of seconds only. Another new function is the selective saving function of favorite artists through improved filtering options. Instead of 19, Radiotracker now categorizes 8,000 radio stations to 77 music genres.
About the author:
http://www.a1-listen-to-music-4u.info/listenonline.html, Listen to music online!, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/2008/08/listen-to-music-online.html, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default, Listen to music online!, ,
Music Celebrity, 12, music-celebrity
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
Being able to play a musical instrument is a talent that many people wish they had. The piano is an elegant instrument and once you learn how to play it will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Although a grand piano is the dream of many people who do play, it is a large and cumbersome instrument. Unless you have a very large space you simply won’t be able to accommodate one in your home.
A perfect alternative is a baby grand piano. A baby grand piano has all of the same features as a grand piano but just on a smaller scale. Many people choose to purchase a baby grand piano for their child as they begin lessons. This is a wonderful motivator for the child as they feel proud to be playing such an impressive instrument. The child will continue to play the baby grand piano as they mature. With proper care and maintenance the piano will actually last the child their entire life.
Purchasing a baby grand piano can seem like a daunting task especially if you’ve never bought a piano before. It’s not difficult though and there are several avenues available when it comes to buying one.
Many baby grand pianos can be purchased used. People lose interest in playing or someone passes away and the piano sits quietly collecting dust.
Your local newspaper may be a good resource for finding a used baby grand piano. You’ll want to contact the person selling it and inquire about its condition and price. If you are impressed by what you hear over the phone you should schedule an appointment to view the piano.
If you do choose to purchase a used baby grand piano you’ll need to contact a piano mover. Piano movers are unique in that they are skilled in moving pianos without causing any damage to the instrument.
Baby grand pianos can also be purchased at many music stores. In this case you may even be able to specially order the color of the piano as well as the piano bench. Although black is still the most popular color in baby grand pianos many people like the beauty of a white piano as well. Another benefit of purchasing from a music store is that they will be able to arrange delivery of the piano for you.
It takes a good deal of time to learn how to play the piano. Investing in a quality instrument will showcase your talent. It also spurs you to practice more when you have the baby grand piano in your home just waiting to be heard., Wouldn’t You’d Rather Play A Baby Grand?, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/2008/08/wouldnt-youd-rather-play-baby-grand.html, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default, Listen to music online!, ,
Music Celebrity, 12, music-celebrity
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
Metal guitar strings are subjected to many conditions that shorten their life. The life of guitar strings can be extended with care and proper maintenance. This article will help you extend the life of your guitar strings.
Guitar strings can lose their tonal quality prematurely due to factors that include:
*Stretching
*Wear
*Corrosion
Stretching: Guitar strings naturally stretch during tuning and while playing the guitar. Over time strings slowly lose their elasticity and their tone quality. Guitar strings that are stretched no longer produce rich tone or harmonic overtones. As a result, the guitar becomes difficult to tune and the sound of the strings become dull and lifeless.
Wear: Guitar strings wear during the process of playing. This process comes from moving the metal strings against the metal frets on the fretboard. Of the two most common types of strings, wound and plain steel, wound strings are more susceptible to fret wear. Wound guitar strings tend to “flat-spot” more rapidly than plain steel strings. If left unchecked, the flat spots can create breaks in the windings of the strings. Flat spots and broken windings will decrease tonal quality and can also cause the strings to “buzz”.
Corrosion: Metal guitar strings are subject to tarnish, rust and corrosion. Metal guitar strings are also subject to the body chemistry of the individual guitar player. Individuals with higher acid levels in their pH will get less life from their guitar strings due to an accelerated rate of string corrosion.
There are several things guitar players can do to get extended life from their guitar strings. Taking the time to follow these simple steps will ensure that you get the most from your strings and reduce the cost associated with premature string failure.
*Do not over-stretch your strings during the tuning process.
*Be careful not to crimp the strings at the tuner peg when replacing the guitar strings.
*Periodically, check the condition of the guitar bridge and bridge saddle to avoid breaking a string during the replacement process.
*Monitor the condition of your guitar frets and replace any frets that develop excessive wear or sharp edges.
*Always clean your guitar strings when you finish playing the guitar.
It is impossible to say how long a new set of guitar strings should last. The life of guitar strings depend on many factors and variables. It is possible to extend the life of guitar strings through proper care and maintenance. Be sure to take the time to care for your guitar strings and you will get the longest life from each set.
When the time comes to replace the strings, choose quality replacements and change the strings carefully.
A. Wielder is a host and instructor at Riff TV. Contact Al Wielder at Riff TV.com, your source for guitar tab, guitar lessons and free video guitar training., The Care And Maintenance Of Your Guitar Strings, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/2008/08/care-and-maintenance-of-your-guitar.html, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default, Listen to music online!, ,
Music Celebrity, 12, music-celebrity
Posted in Music | No Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in the sovereign archbishopric of Salzberg, now in Austria in January 1756. His father was one of Europe’s foremost music teachers, who, in the year of Mozart’s birth published a highly influential textbook for the violin. The Mozart biography is unusual.
By the time he was three Mozart’s genius was already in evidence and his proud father was already giving him intensive music lessons in the violin, clavier and organ. By the age of four he could play several pieces and by five he even composed a few. His piano playing was extraordinary as a six year old and he could even play blindfolded.
Mozart had a very unusual childhood, as he accompanied his father all over Europe for several years, beginning with a trip to Bavaria for the 1762 exhibition; on to the Imperial Court in Vienna; then to Prague. During the next three and a half years concert tours took them to many courts all over Europe, including London, Paris and The Hague. After returning home they went on to Vienna in 1767, remaining there for almost a year.
Another year in Salzberg followed then three long trips to Italy. Two particular highlights of this time included Mozart being accepted as a member of the acclaimed Academia Filarmonica; and the occasion when he heard Allegri’s Miserere for the first time in the Sistine Chapel and was able to write it out in full from memory. An astonishing feat.
In 1778 Mozart embarked on a concert tour accompanied by his mother who died in Paris.
By this time of his life Mozart had met many great composers and was a superb concert pianist and composer. He used the style of many of the composers he respected in his earlier music whilst at the same time developing his own.
By 1781 he had become Konzertmaister to the archbishop in Salzberg but after a visit to Vienna he became disenchanted with the strictures of his employer, and was keen to take his music further. Whether he was actually sacked or not is a matter of conjecture, however he moved and settled into Vienna life, and indeed got married to Constanze Weber in 1782, against his father’s wishes.
The year of 1782 was a great one for Mozart; he had success after success with his piano concertos as director and soloist and with his opera “The Abduction from Seraglio”. During this period he became familiar with and studied the Baroque composers, particularly J.S.Bach and G.F.Handel the result of which is very evident in his music of these and subsequent years.
The Mass in B minor, partially written to bring his father and wife together, for she was the soloist in the premier in Salzberg, whilst being a popular success did not bring the two together.
Mozart met and was friendly with Hayden in Vienna, and Hayden was very aware of Mozart’s extraordinary talents. Meanwhile he appeared as a soloist until 1785 enjoying financial success, but by this time he is suspected of having hand injuries, and his composition decreased.
Whilst his lifestyle and suite of 7 rooms were somewhat lavish during this time, entailing his occasional borrowings, he was by no means a pauper. His compositions and commissions from the rich earning him a very good living, and his frequent visits to Prague earned him fame and considerable financial considerations.
There is no doubt that Mozart died at about 1.00am on 5th December 1791. However there is some conjecture as to how long his illness had lasted. It is generally understood that he was pretty healthy until soon before his death, and so the Requiem he did not manage to finish was written during the time when he was healthy.
His family and friends were shocked by his sudden death at such a young age. Mozart was buried, as was the tradition at the time, in a regular communal grave pursuant to he 1784 laws of burial. Memorials were later set up.
This brilliant composer is certainly amongst the Great Composers and despite living only 35 years managed to complete an enormous number of works, most of which we still listen to and enjoy today., The Life And Times Of The Great Wolfgang, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/2008/08/life-and-times-of-great-wolfgang.html, http://zakira-zakira.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default, Listen to music online!, ,
Music Celebrity, 12, music-celebrity
Posted in Music | No Comments »
BBC News
CBS News
Unwired View
Fresh News
ABC News
Reuters
AFP
Washington Post
The Associated Press