What's on tap today? Let's take a drink.
Beyoncé has posted a teaser for 50 Shades of Grey on Instagram, with what sounds like a slowed-down version of "Crazy in Love". The full trailer has also been released. You can watch the Instagram video here and the trailer here.
Maroon 5, Sam Smith, and 5 Seconds of Summer are set to headline the iTunes festival in London. Other performers include Pharrell Williams, Blondie, and Calvin Harris. It will be held throughout the month of September.
In other Maroon 5 news, they have unveiled their cover art for their new album, V. They have also unveiled their track list for the album, which includes a duet with Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani, entitled "My Heart is Open".
British electronic pop group London Grammar has had to cancel concert dates in Australia due to the sickness of lead singer Hannah Reid. The group's shows in Melbourne and Sydney have been postponed to March 2015.
Ariana Grande's grandfather has died. Ariana has taken to Twitter to pay tribute to him, and has recently appeared on Good Morning America just after sharing the news. Ariana's busy schedule has not been shifted or postponed.
A month after Casey Kasem's death, his body has been taken from Washington's Gaffney Funeral Home to Canada, leaving his family with no specifics as to the whereabouts of his remains. Widow Jeannie Kasem is said to be hiding the body from his family, continuing an ongoing battle between the two sides.
Finally, have you ever wanted to see Channing Tatum rap with Biz Markie? Well, here you go.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Flashback Friday: "Colors of the Wind" - Vanessa Williams (1995)
So, does anybody remember Pocahontas?
If you do, then you most likely remember it for its most famous song, "Colors of the Wind". It's one of the most recognizable Disney tunes for its powerful message both within and beyond the movie. So, naturally, let's look at the cover version for the movie's soundtrack. Does the cover do it justice? Would any cover do it justice?
Well, in regards to this cover, I applaud Vanessa Williams for trying, but I think I'll stick with the original.
It's not that this version is bad, or that Vanessa Williams is a bad singer. It's just that this song really fits well into the narrative, so seeing someone else singing it while just... standing there... doesn't really do it for me. I think the song really works as both a visual and musical experience, which is why it works so well in the movie. Maybe if they really took some chances with the music video it could work, but it is a soundtrack video, so they can't really do that much. It's a shame, because Vanessa Williams has a great voice. There's just something about this for me that doesn't fit, though.
So, that said, would this work if anybody other than Judy Kuhn sang it? Well, let's take a look at Vanessa Hudgens' version...
Okay, that's enough, that's enough. No, this could not work with any other artist. "Colors of the Wind" fits a little too well into the narrative of Pocahontas. So much so that any artist covering it would either be redundant or terrible. No seriously, Jesus Christ. What where they thinking with that Vanessa Hudgens version? "Hey, you know what could make a classic Disney song about being at one with nature better? Shitty techno!" Stupid new Disney.
I love "Colors of the Wind", but unfortunately for Vanessa Williams, only in its original version. I can't paint with all the covers of this song.
If you do, then you most likely remember it for its most famous song, "Colors of the Wind". It's one of the most recognizable Disney tunes for its powerful message both within and beyond the movie. So, naturally, let's look at the cover version for the movie's soundtrack. Does the cover do it justice? Would any cover do it justice?
Well, in regards to this cover, I applaud Vanessa Williams for trying, but I think I'll stick with the original.
It's not that this version is bad, or that Vanessa Williams is a bad singer. It's just that this song really fits well into the narrative, so seeing someone else singing it while just... standing there... doesn't really do it for me. I think the song really works as both a visual and musical experience, which is why it works so well in the movie. Maybe if they really took some chances with the music video it could work, but it is a soundtrack video, so they can't really do that much. It's a shame, because Vanessa Williams has a great voice. There's just something about this for me that doesn't fit, though.
So, that said, would this work if anybody other than Judy Kuhn sang it? Well, let's take a look at Vanessa Hudgens' version...
Okay, that's enough, that's enough. No, this could not work with any other artist. "Colors of the Wind" fits a little too well into the narrative of Pocahontas. So much so that any artist covering it would either be redundant or terrible. No seriously, Jesus Christ. What where they thinking with that Vanessa Hudgens version? "Hey, you know what could make a classic Disney song about being at one with nature better? Shitty techno!" Stupid new Disney.
I love "Colors of the Wind", but unfortunately for Vanessa Williams, only in its original version. I can't paint with all the covers of this song.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Beatles Songs
Let's keep up this Beatles trend with my top ten Beatles songs!
Now, before I begin, this list was incredibly difficult to make, probably my hardest. I'm still not sure I got it quite right, and there are a lot of damn good songs I'm leaving off the list, so bear with me. If there's a song I left off, comment and say so! I welcome other people's opinions as much as my own. Unless you're wrong. Don't be wrong. Anyway, without further ado, let's get down to it!
10. "Don't Let Me Down"
Simply the amount of soul put into this song edged it into the Top 10. This is a love song written by John Lennon to Yoko Ono, and while it's not quite the best Beatles love song ever recorded (more on that later), it is still a tear-jerker. you can really feel the emotion in every crash of the drums and every wailing note John belts out on the chorus. It's a very melancholy song, but The Beatles make it work all the way through. So I didn't let them down, and put this song at #10.
9. "Twist and Shout"
In 1963, The Beatles released their debut album, Please Please Me. On that album was a song called "Twist and Shout", a cover song. Incidentally, it's my favourite song off of that album. The Isley Brother's version that came before this is pretty good, but John just ramps up the energy to a whole new level by pushing his voice to the absolute limit. Seriously. The reason it's the last song on the album is because John Lennon physically could not do it twice, and it had to be recorded last. So appreciate "Twist and Shout" not only for an awesome cover, but for a cover that went that extra mile to sounding good.
8. "Blackbird"
Sometimes I wish The Beatles had stripped it down a little more often and just had one singer with a guitar. Because when they do, it's magic, such as with "Blackbird". This song is just flawlessly composed from start to finish, right down to the bird sounds at the end. It was a song McCartney wrote in response to the Civil Rights Movement of the late 60's. with "blackbird" meaning a black girl, and... wow. Just one look at the lyrics, and you can feel the soul oozing out of this one. Beautiful song. Beautiful.
7. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
I just think if you're going to write a song about an affair you've been having, all you need to do is add a sitar in there and you're good to go. The song was written by John Lennon, but the sitar was actually George Harrison's idea. Good on him, because it really helps to accentuate the song. It makes it sound starkly different in comparison to their other songs, or anything else played during that time. Isn't it good, Norwegian wood? Yes, yes it is.
6. "A Hard Day's Night"
What can I say? Once that guitar strums, the song has me hooked. It is the textbook definition of a perfect pop song. Anyone looking to write catchy tunes that will skyrocket to the top of the charts should study this song, because it is just AM Gold. It's so much fun and so easy to sing along to, and it never loses its energy. It keeps you hooked for a good reason; it's a damn good song throughout. After a hard day, just listen to this and let loose.
5. "Help!"
Wow, I really have a thing for the title tracks, don't I? Well, it makes sense why they decided to name their albums after these fantastic songs. This song's desperation just shines through, right to the title. It's literally calling out for help. Which is what Lennon was subconsciously doing about his Beatles career, which was no doubt a great thing for him, but also overwhelming. It was one of Lennon's favourite songs, describing it as one of his "most honest, genuine Beatles songs". Given the sheer desperation shown in the music and the lyric, I can't blame him for a statement like that.
4. "Let It Be"
So... yeah, again with the title tracks. Well, this one comes off of The Beatles' last album and is arguably one of their most famous songs. And so this is one of my more obvious choices, but seriously guys. Listen to this song. It's a masterpiece. Right from the beginning to the end. There's a reason this song became so famous: it's a perfect title track for The Beatles' final album, summing up their overall message in three simple words. It rocks.
3. "A Day in the Life"
Sgt. Pepper is overall my favourite Beatles album. and there were a lot of songs on that album that unfortunately got cut from this list as I went through each album, song by song. But this one remains as one of my favourites, being forever the magnum opus of the delightfully kooky album, with Lennon bringing the album back down to Earth, and then HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT WHAT IS HAPPENING oh hi there Paul McCartney. It's a perfect end to the album in every sort of way, stunning in its composure. I feel almost unworthy for talking about it, so you can only imagine how I feel about the remaining two songs to come. Oh boy, indeed.
2. "Come Together"
I think that this is the first Beatles song where I felt like I had to memorize the lyrics, so I could sing along with this song flawlessly. Why? Because god damn it, this song is so freakin' cool. Cool, calm and collected. It doesn't stray from its simple melody that much, but it doesn't need to, because that is a kickass melody. And I haven't brought him up yet, but good God, I have to give some credit to Ringo Starr here for an awesome drum performance. Collected when it needs to be, then when the instrumental part kicks in, boom. All over the place. Just goes to prove that all four Beatles are talented. But this next song highlights my favourite Beatle, as you'll soon find out...
1. "Something"
George Harrison is my favourite Beatle. Lennon, McCartney, and yes, even Ringo are all stellar, but Harrison always seemed to have a better head on his shoulders than the three of them. And when he got to write his own songs, they had that aura of maturity and togetherness to them. While for the most part I've preferred Lennon and McCartney songs for the purpose of this list, it had to be a Harrison song that would eventually shine through. And this is his best, and this is The Beatles' best. It's such a beautiful song in its lyrics and melody. Definitely one of the best love songs of all time. There you have it: my favourite Beatles song. Agree? Disagree? Comment below!
Now, before I begin, this list was incredibly difficult to make, probably my hardest. I'm still not sure I got it quite right, and there are a lot of damn good songs I'm leaving off the list, so bear with me. If there's a song I left off, comment and say so! I welcome other people's opinions as much as my own. Unless you're wrong. Don't be wrong. Anyway, without further ado, let's get down to it!
10. "Don't Let Me Down"
Simply the amount of soul put into this song edged it into the Top 10. This is a love song written by John Lennon to Yoko Ono, and while it's not quite the best Beatles love song ever recorded (more on that later), it is still a tear-jerker. you can really feel the emotion in every crash of the drums and every wailing note John belts out on the chorus. It's a very melancholy song, but The Beatles make it work all the way through. So I didn't let them down, and put this song at #10.
9. "Twist and Shout"
In 1963, The Beatles released their debut album, Please Please Me. On that album was a song called "Twist and Shout", a cover song. Incidentally, it's my favourite song off of that album. The Isley Brother's version that came before this is pretty good, but John just ramps up the energy to a whole new level by pushing his voice to the absolute limit. Seriously. The reason it's the last song on the album is because John Lennon physically could not do it twice, and it had to be recorded last. So appreciate "Twist and Shout" not only for an awesome cover, but for a cover that went that extra mile to sounding good.
8. "Blackbird"
Sometimes I wish The Beatles had stripped it down a little more often and just had one singer with a guitar. Because when they do, it's magic, such as with "Blackbird". This song is just flawlessly composed from start to finish, right down to the bird sounds at the end. It was a song McCartney wrote in response to the Civil Rights Movement of the late 60's. with "blackbird" meaning a black girl, and... wow. Just one look at the lyrics, and you can feel the soul oozing out of this one. Beautiful song. Beautiful.
7. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
I just think if you're going to write a song about an affair you've been having, all you need to do is add a sitar in there and you're good to go. The song was written by John Lennon, but the sitar was actually George Harrison's idea. Good on him, because it really helps to accentuate the song. It makes it sound starkly different in comparison to their other songs, or anything else played during that time. Isn't it good, Norwegian wood? Yes, yes it is.
6. "A Hard Day's Night"
What can I say? Once that guitar strums, the song has me hooked. It is the textbook definition of a perfect pop song. Anyone looking to write catchy tunes that will skyrocket to the top of the charts should study this song, because it is just AM Gold. It's so much fun and so easy to sing along to, and it never loses its energy. It keeps you hooked for a good reason; it's a damn good song throughout. After a hard day, just listen to this and let loose.
5. "Help!"
Wow, I really have a thing for the title tracks, don't I? Well, it makes sense why they decided to name their albums after these fantastic songs. This song's desperation just shines through, right to the title. It's literally calling out for help. Which is what Lennon was subconsciously doing about his Beatles career, which was no doubt a great thing for him, but also overwhelming. It was one of Lennon's favourite songs, describing it as one of his "most honest, genuine Beatles songs". Given the sheer desperation shown in the music and the lyric, I can't blame him for a statement like that.
4. "Let It Be"
So... yeah, again with the title tracks. Well, this one comes off of The Beatles' last album and is arguably one of their most famous songs. And so this is one of my more obvious choices, but seriously guys. Listen to this song. It's a masterpiece. Right from the beginning to the end. There's a reason this song became so famous: it's a perfect title track for The Beatles' final album, summing up their overall message in three simple words. It rocks.
3. "A Day in the Life"
Sgt. Pepper is overall my favourite Beatles album. and there were a lot of songs on that album that unfortunately got cut from this list as I went through each album, song by song. But this one remains as one of my favourites, being forever the magnum opus of the delightfully kooky album, with Lennon bringing the album back down to Earth, and then HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT WHAT IS HAPPENING oh hi there Paul McCartney. It's a perfect end to the album in every sort of way, stunning in its composure. I feel almost unworthy for talking about it, so you can only imagine how I feel about the remaining two songs to come. Oh boy, indeed.
2. "Come Together"
I think that this is the first Beatles song where I felt like I had to memorize the lyrics, so I could sing along with this song flawlessly. Why? Because god damn it, this song is so freakin' cool. Cool, calm and collected. It doesn't stray from its simple melody that much, but it doesn't need to, because that is a kickass melody. And I haven't brought him up yet, but good God, I have to give some credit to Ringo Starr here for an awesome drum performance. Collected when it needs to be, then when the instrumental part kicks in, boom. All over the place. Just goes to prove that all four Beatles are talented. But this next song highlights my favourite Beatle, as you'll soon find out...
1. "Something"
George Harrison is my favourite Beatle. Lennon, McCartney, and yes, even Ringo are all stellar, but Harrison always seemed to have a better head on his shoulders than the three of them. And when he got to write his own songs, they had that aura of maturity and togetherness to them. While for the most part I've preferred Lennon and McCartney songs for the purpose of this list, it had to be a Harrison song that would eventually shine through. And this is his best, and this is The Beatles' best. It's such a beautiful song in its lyrics and melody. Definitely one of the best love songs of all time. There you have it: my favourite Beatles song. Agree? Disagree? Comment below!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Watch-for-it Wednesday: "I'm Ready" - AJR
What in the hell is going on with this song?
No, seriously. Is this a prank? Or am I actually hearing SpongeBob SquarePants on a quasi-hit song?
For the two of you out there that don't know this, SpongeBob SquarePants is a beloved cartoon watched by millions of children across the world. And now the titular character (heehee, "titular") has one of his most famous catchphrases sampled in this song. Which catchphrase might that be? This one right here. (Hint: It's not "Go SpongeBob!")
...Why? Why on earth would they ever do that? Are they trying to use the weirdest sample possible in order to win some ill-conceived Guinness World Record? Who the hell are AJR anyway? Let's see.
AJR are a group of brothers: Adam, Jack, and Ryan. They are an indie pop group that compose their own beats and write their own lyrics, all in the living room of their apartment. That's pretty impressive on its own, especially in these times, but they've also opened for the likes of Demi Lovato and The Wanted. So, yeah. These guys are legit. Now on to the next question: What possessed them to use a SpongeBob sample in their song?
Well, it looks like for some of their songs, AJR likes to build them around a sample that's a little off the wall. And for this one, it looks like SpongeBob fit the bill. I'm not sure how well the sample works, but the rest of the song is great. It's got this great melody with the piano on the verses, and the clapping in the chorus, and then the drum beats... it really is a good song. Just, that sample... it's too weird, like intentionally so. It puts me off of the song just a little. I want to like the guys, but I'm torn between SpongeBob and music. I'm sure the rest of you have encountered this problem somewhere in your life.
Hot 100 Success:
Will they have it?
The music video is an interesting one. It continually shows AJR's success on social media... then at the end of their video, it shows that this success was all in their heads. So, it's really a matter of what side of the video comes true. I think the former side is prophetic: I can see these guys being a more talented version of One Direction, which we've already had this year, but hey. Battle of the boy band-compared, anyone?
Should they have it?
I do like these guys, even if I disagree with some of their more outlandish music choices. Yeah, I'll root for 'em. Go AJR!
No, seriously. Is this a prank? Or am I actually hearing SpongeBob SquarePants on a quasi-hit song?
For the two of you out there that don't know this, SpongeBob SquarePants is a beloved cartoon watched by millions of children across the world. And now the titular character (heehee, "titular") has one of his most famous catchphrases sampled in this song. Which catchphrase might that be? This one right here. (Hint: It's not "Go SpongeBob!")
...Why? Why on earth would they ever do that? Are they trying to use the weirdest sample possible in order to win some ill-conceived Guinness World Record? Who the hell are AJR anyway? Let's see.
AJR are a group of brothers: Adam, Jack, and Ryan. They are an indie pop group that compose their own beats and write their own lyrics, all in the living room of their apartment. That's pretty impressive on its own, especially in these times, but they've also opened for the likes of Demi Lovato and The Wanted. So, yeah. These guys are legit. Now on to the next question: What possessed them to use a SpongeBob sample in their song?
Well, it looks like for some of their songs, AJR likes to build them around a sample that's a little off the wall. And for this one, it looks like SpongeBob fit the bill. I'm not sure how well the sample works, but the rest of the song is great. It's got this great melody with the piano on the verses, and the clapping in the chorus, and then the drum beats... it really is a good song. Just, that sample... it's too weird, like intentionally so. It puts me off of the song just a little. I want to like the guys, but I'm torn between SpongeBob and music. I'm sure the rest of you have encountered this problem somewhere in your life.
Hot 100 Success:
Will they have it?
The music video is an interesting one. It continually shows AJR's success on social media... then at the end of their video, it shows that this success was all in their heads. So, it's really a matter of what side of the video comes true. I think the former side is prophetic: I can see these guys being a more talented version of One Direction, which we've already had this year, but hey. Battle of the boy band-compared, anyone?
Should they have it?
I do like these guys, even if I disagree with some of their more outlandish music choices. Yeah, I'll root for 'em. Go AJR!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
CanTunes Tuesday: "Heaven in Our Headlights" - Hedley
Hey, it's Hedley again.
Last time we checked in with Hedley, they were busy ripping off Daft Punk. Now it looks like they're still not sure what to do with themselves, as they try to retain their once non-sellout image. And here we are with "Heaven in Our Headlights".
But all this song really does for me is emphasize how much Jacob Hoggard needs his band. The guy's got a really strange voice. It's like he's trying to sing and dry-heave at the same time. When he's got a band drowning him out... I mean, backing him, it doesn't sound that bad. But here, where the band has pretty much vanished to wherever the rest of Maroon 5 went? Yeah, Jacob's voice should not be playing front and center. And there was a time when I could legitimately say that I liked Hedley. But they've forgotten long ago what it is that makes them work, and this song definitely isn't it.
Even with "Crazy for You", I could kind of enjoy that song because it reminded me of Daft Punk. This just sounds like Jacob Hoggard singing over a margarine tub. Yeah, the music's that non-descript that I'd rather think of delicious margarine than think of this. There's a part where there's whistling... which doesn't really fit into the song at all, but at least it's interesting. In the sense that an off-white wall is more interesting than a white wall, but it's something.
Yeah, that's my biggest problem with this song. It's so... nothing. I liked their previous song that sounded like this, which was "Kiss You Inside Out", because the mood was consistent and Hoggard sounded good for once in his career. This is like if "Kiss You Inside Out" didn't work at all. The mood is inconsistent (is it a party song or a love song?) and Hoggard's voice over a nondescript beat just doesn't work here. While Hoggard goes, "Oh, whoa", I go "Oh, no." Sorry Hedley. Looks like you've hit your stride. It happens. Say, is this a gray hair? I gotta go get this checked out, seeya guys later.
Last time we checked in with Hedley, they were busy ripping off Daft Punk. Now it looks like they're still not sure what to do with themselves, as they try to retain their once non-sellout image. And here we are with "Heaven in Our Headlights".
But all this song really does for me is emphasize how much Jacob Hoggard needs his band. The guy's got a really strange voice. It's like he's trying to sing and dry-heave at the same time. When he's got a band drowning him out... I mean, backing him, it doesn't sound that bad. But here, where the band has pretty much vanished to wherever the rest of Maroon 5 went? Yeah, Jacob's voice should not be playing front and center. And there was a time when I could legitimately say that I liked Hedley. But they've forgotten long ago what it is that makes them work, and this song definitely isn't it.
Even with "Crazy for You", I could kind of enjoy that song because it reminded me of Daft Punk. This just sounds like Jacob Hoggard singing over a margarine tub. Yeah, the music's that non-descript that I'd rather think of delicious margarine than think of this. There's a part where there's whistling... which doesn't really fit into the song at all, but at least it's interesting. In the sense that an off-white wall is more interesting than a white wall, but it's something.
Yeah, that's my biggest problem with this song. It's so... nothing. I liked their previous song that sounded like this, which was "Kiss You Inside Out", because the mood was consistent and Hoggard sounded good for once in his career. This is like if "Kiss You Inside Out" didn't work at all. The mood is inconsistent (is it a party song or a love song?) and Hoggard's voice over a nondescript beat just doesn't work here. While Hoggard goes, "Oh, whoa", I go "Oh, no." Sorry Hedley. Looks like you've hit your stride. It happens. Say, is this a gray hair? I gotta go get this checked out, seeya guys later.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Monday Musings: Let's finally talk about The Beatles
Hey! How 'bout dem Beatles?
Early readers of this blog might remember that I teased talking about The Beatles quite frequently. Here I'm talking about The Beatles!... no wait, it's Badfinger! Well, maybe here I'll talk about The Beatles... no wait, Cream! CREAM! Of course, the surprise is ruined if you read the title of the blog entry... but let's not waste time on the details. Now that I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary (in about three months or so), I thought I'd spare some time to talk about them
...
The Beatles are awesome.
Yeah, if you were expecting a counterculture, hipster, naysaying opinion, you've come to the wrong place. I love The Beatles. I think they were fantastic artists, and Sgt. Pepper is one of my favourite albums of all time.
But... all that said, are they a little overrated?
Well, let's look at the facts: not only are The Beatles remembered for their catchy pop rock tunes and their innovative album statements, they're also remembered for being one of the most influential bands in rock's history. That's a huge order to fill. So, how influential were they, really? Let's take a look.
Rolling Stone editor Robert Greenfield has compared The Beatles to Picasso, saying that "in the form of popular music, no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive..." which is all well and good for a Rolling Stone editor to say, but how does their influence translate into pop music today?
Well, during the early 60's, many people were getting tired of acts like Fabian and Frankie Avalon, et cetera et cetera. The Mods, a youth subculture of the time in Great Britain, were highly influential in propelling the British Invasion to its popularity. Many British Invasion bands had a following among mods (The Rolling Stones, The Kinks), and some even had rhythm and blues elements specifically tailored for mod culture (The Who). But The Beatles were the ones that combined mod culture and pop music, therefore becoming the most successful of the bunch.
And even today, they set a high standard for success. They are still the best-selling band in music history, selling between 600 million and 1 billion records worldwide. They are still the only ones to hold all top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week. They still have the most number-one hits on the Hot 100, with twenty. Truly, their popularity at the time suggests that they must have been influential on pop music.
And indeed they were. Taking counterculture ideals and mixing them in with catchy tunes was nothing short of a brilliant idea, and the reason for The Beatles' success and legacy. They're not my personal favourite band in the world, but it's impossible not to respect them for their smarts and their talents that send them to the top of many people's lists when considering the greatest bands of all time. Bottom Line: The Beatles are fookin' awesome. Thanks for reading.
Early readers of this blog might remember that I teased talking about The Beatles quite frequently. Here I'm talking about The Beatles!... no wait, it's Badfinger! Well, maybe here I'll talk about The Beatles... no wait, Cream! CREAM! Of course, the surprise is ruined if you read the title of the blog entry... but let's not waste time on the details. Now that I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary (in about three months or so), I thought I'd spare some time to talk about them
...
The Beatles are awesome.
Yeah, if you were expecting a counterculture, hipster, naysaying opinion, you've come to the wrong place. I love The Beatles. I think they were fantastic artists, and Sgt. Pepper is one of my favourite albums of all time.
But... all that said, are they a little overrated?
Well, let's look at the facts: not only are The Beatles remembered for their catchy pop rock tunes and their innovative album statements, they're also remembered for being one of the most influential bands in rock's history. That's a huge order to fill. So, how influential were they, really? Let's take a look.
Rolling Stone editor Robert Greenfield has compared The Beatles to Picasso, saying that "in the form of popular music, no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive..." which is all well and good for a Rolling Stone editor to say, but how does their influence translate into pop music today?
Well, during the early 60's, many people were getting tired of acts like Fabian and Frankie Avalon, et cetera et cetera. The Mods, a youth subculture of the time in Great Britain, were highly influential in propelling the British Invasion to its popularity. Many British Invasion bands had a following among mods (The Rolling Stones, The Kinks), and some even had rhythm and blues elements specifically tailored for mod culture (The Who). But The Beatles were the ones that combined mod culture and pop music, therefore becoming the most successful of the bunch.
And even today, they set a high standard for success. They are still the best-selling band in music history, selling between 600 million and 1 billion records worldwide. They are still the only ones to hold all top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week. They still have the most number-one hits on the Hot 100, with twenty. Truly, their popularity at the time suggests that they must have been influential on pop music.
And indeed they were. Taking counterculture ideals and mixing them in with catchy tunes was nothing short of a brilliant idea, and the reason for The Beatles' success and legacy. They're not my personal favourite band in the world, but it's impossible not to respect them for their smarts and their talents that send them to the top of many people's lists when considering the greatest bands of all time. Bottom Line: The Beatles are fookin' awesome. Thanks for reading.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
"Break Free" - Ariana Grande ft. Zedd
Florida Georgia Line... Maroon 5... Jason Derulo... oh God, when will the madness end?!
Oh, thank God. Ariana Grande can bring me back to music nirvana. Not the band Nirvana, but... the concept... in Buddhism... you know what I mean! Let's cleanse the soul of Billboard with some Ariana Grande... whoa, what's with all the buzzing and shit?
Oh, this is Ariana Grande featuring Zedd. Zedd is one of those EDM DJs, and while I've consistently liked his songs, this is a little bit of a harsh opening. Come on, man. You're not even the main credit.
Thankfully, once that buzzing ends, we get Ariana Grande's great voice, as it should be on her track. Now, what is this song about? Well, it's about an ex-boyfriend that Ariana has found it hard to let go of, but now she is feeling great about her single life, and... wait, hold on a second.
This is the same thing that "Problem" went through! And while I loved "Problem", and still do, I don't know if we need a second one. I mean, is it really that necessary? What about the rest of what 2014 is offering us?
...You know what? Bring on the second "Problem".
I can also accept this song because while it is thematically like "Problem", it doesn't sound like "Problem". "Problem" sounded like a great mix of modern and old ideas in music, from the jazzy saxophone to the whispery chorus (thanks Big Sean). This is a tad more generic, but it's still saved by Grande's voice, and the fact that she's never done an EDM song before, so even though we've heard the sound before, we've never heard it coupled with Grande's voice.
Overall, I'd say I definitely prefer "Problem" to this song, but this is still a worthy inclusion in the Hot 100. Worthier than any of the three songs above, I'll tell you that. Bring on the Grande! She can do ten different versions of the same subject, for all I care. We need more summer jams! Ones that don't suck, specifically. It just feels so good, to finally be able to compliment something. Here's to the rest of summer being magically musical.
Uhh... I'll be back next week to cover this. God damn it!
Oh, thank God. Ariana Grande can bring me back to music nirvana. Not the band Nirvana, but... the concept... in Buddhism... you know what I mean! Let's cleanse the soul of Billboard with some Ariana Grande... whoa, what's with all the buzzing and shit?
Oh, this is Ariana Grande featuring Zedd. Zedd is one of those EDM DJs, and while I've consistently liked his songs, this is a little bit of a harsh opening. Come on, man. You're not even the main credit.
Thankfully, once that buzzing ends, we get Ariana Grande's great voice, as it should be on her track. Now, what is this song about? Well, it's about an ex-boyfriend that Ariana has found it hard to let go of, but now she is feeling great about her single life, and... wait, hold on a second.
This is the same thing that "Problem" went through! And while I loved "Problem", and still do, I don't know if we need a second one. I mean, is it really that necessary? What about the rest of what 2014 is offering us?
Eh...
Meh...
Guh...
...You know what? Bring on the second "Problem".
I can also accept this song because while it is thematically like "Problem", it doesn't sound like "Problem". "Problem" sounded like a great mix of modern and old ideas in music, from the jazzy saxophone to the whispery chorus (thanks Big Sean). This is a tad more generic, but it's still saved by Grande's voice, and the fact that she's never done an EDM song before, so even though we've heard the sound before, we've never heard it coupled with Grande's voice.
Overall, I'd say I definitely prefer "Problem" to this song, but this is still a worthy inclusion in the Hot 100. Worthier than any of the three songs above, I'll tell you that. Bring on the Grande! She can do ten different versions of the same subject, for all I care. We need more summer jams! Ones that don't suck, specifically. It just feels so good, to finally be able to compliment something. Here's to the rest of summer being magically musical.
Uhh... I'll be back next week to cover this. God damn it!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Weekend Wrap-up (Jul. 13-19 2014): Radiohead, Cher, and FIFA closing ceremonies
What have we got this week?
Radiohead will begin production of their ninth studio album in September. Since their last album in 2011, Radiohead have been keeping busy with solo projects, including Thom Yorke's band Atoms for Peace.
The World Cup is over, and with it came a crowd-pleasing performance from Shakira and Santana. Ivete Sangalo, a Brazilian singer, also came out to entertain the crowd, who were out of their seats and dancing to the music. A great improvement from the opening ceremony this year.
Jay-Z, along with many other New York celebrities, has paid tribute to the soon-to-retire Derek Jeter with a video put together by Nike's Jordan brand. Watch it here.
Cher's Dressed to Kill tour is set to become one of the most successful tours of 2014, already grossing over $50 million in its first leg, and coming back in September to make even more money. It is Cher's first tour since her Living Proof Farewell Tour, which ran from 2002 to 2005.
Artists such as Rihanna, Swizz Beats, and Waka Flocka Flame are getting involved with the discussion on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict on Twitter. Some are experiencing controversy due to actually weighing in with their political opinions, but Swizz Beats and Waka Flocka Flame refuse to back down from their "free Palestine" tweets.
Some sad news in the music industry as Richard Nichols, The Roots' manager and producer, has died at the age of 55 from leukemia. I think The Roots are a terrific band, and 55 is just way too soon to leave this world,. My condolences to the family of Mr. Nichols and to The Roots. He will be missed.
Another death in the music world, Tommy Ramone, the last surviving founding member of The Ramones, has died at the age of 65. Rest in peace to him and condolences to his family as well.
Radiohead will begin production of their ninth studio album in September. Since their last album in 2011, Radiohead have been keeping busy with solo projects, including Thom Yorke's band Atoms for Peace.
The World Cup is over, and with it came a crowd-pleasing performance from Shakira and Santana. Ivete Sangalo, a Brazilian singer, also came out to entertain the crowd, who were out of their seats and dancing to the music. A great improvement from the opening ceremony this year.
Jay-Z, along with many other New York celebrities, has paid tribute to the soon-to-retire Derek Jeter with a video put together by Nike's Jordan brand. Watch it here.
Cher's Dressed to Kill tour is set to become one of the most successful tours of 2014, already grossing over $50 million in its first leg, and coming back in September to make even more money. It is Cher's first tour since her Living Proof Farewell Tour, which ran from 2002 to 2005.
Artists such as Rihanna, Swizz Beats, and Waka Flocka Flame are getting involved with the discussion on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict on Twitter. Some are experiencing controversy due to actually weighing in with their political opinions, but Swizz Beats and Waka Flocka Flame refuse to back down from their "free Palestine" tweets.
Some sad news in the music industry as Richard Nichols, The Roots' manager and producer, has died at the age of 55 from leukemia. I think The Roots are a terrific band, and 55 is just way too soon to leave this world,. My condolences to the family of Mr. Nichols and to The Roots. He will be missed.
Another death in the music world, Tommy Ramone, the last surviving founding member of The Ramones, has died at the age of 65. Rest in peace to him and condolences to his family as well.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Flashback Friday: "Modern Woman" - Billy Joel (1986)
Let's talk about Billy Joel.
Billy Joel might just be one of the most perfect pop stars to ever exist. He's smart, talented, fun, and makes great music. "Piano Man", "Tell Her About It", "Uptown Girl", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". Hell, I even have a place in my heart for "We Didn't Start the Fire", despite it being one of his laziest songs. But today we look at one of my very favourites by this artist, "Modern Woman".
Everything about this song is just perfect to me. From the pulsating beat backing it up to the poetic lyrics sang in perfect rhythm to the synths to the horns to the guitar... it's really too good to exist on the pop charts. Of course, it didn't exist for long on the charts, because, well, people don't know what's good for them. But it did reach #10 in 1986, so it was a hit, just not a huge one.
I still love the song, though. It plays out the narrative of a guy who's off of his game when talking to women, and then meets this modern woman, and then all these paranoid thoughts flow through his head.
Now you're in trouble, maybe she's an intellectual
What if she figures out you're not very smart
Or maybe she's the quiet type who's into heavy metal
Boy, you got to get it settled cause she's breaking your heart
The song plays out in an upbeat tone, contrasting the feelings portrayed in the lyrics, which show restraint and uncertainty.
You've got your plan of attack
That won't attract the modern woman
It's a somewhat dark song that plays out in a completely different manner, and I love it. I'm sure Billy Joel loves it too.
From Wikipedia:
Though the song was quite successful, Joel has since said in interviews he does not care for it, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets
Huh. Well, that's just one man's opinion. Of course, it's the guy who made the song, but it's still just one man. *sigh* Time to re-evaluate my music taste again.
Billy Joel might just be one of the most perfect pop stars to ever exist. He's smart, talented, fun, and makes great music. "Piano Man", "Tell Her About It", "Uptown Girl", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". Hell, I even have a place in my heart for "We Didn't Start the Fire", despite it being one of his laziest songs. But today we look at one of my very favourites by this artist, "Modern Woman".
Everything about this song is just perfect to me. From the pulsating beat backing it up to the poetic lyrics sang in perfect rhythm to the synths to the horns to the guitar... it's really too good to exist on the pop charts. Of course, it didn't exist for long on the charts, because, well, people don't know what's good for them. But it did reach #10 in 1986, so it was a hit, just not a huge one.
I still love the song, though. It plays out the narrative of a guy who's off of his game when talking to women, and then meets this modern woman, and then all these paranoid thoughts flow through his head.
Now you're in trouble, maybe she's an intellectual
What if she figures out you're not very smart
Or maybe she's the quiet type who's into heavy metal
Boy, you got to get it settled cause she's breaking your heart
The song plays out in an upbeat tone, contrasting the feelings portrayed in the lyrics, which show restraint and uncertainty.
You've got your plan of attack
That won't attract the modern woman
It's a somewhat dark song that plays out in a completely different manner, and I love it. I'm sure Billy Joel loves it too.
From Wikipedia:
Though the song was quite successful, Joel has since said in interviews he does not care for it, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets
Huh. Well, that's just one man's opinion. Of course, it's the guy who made the song, but it's still just one man. *sigh* Time to re-evaluate my music taste again.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Publicity Stunts in Music
As I think I've said before on this blog, sometimes the music isn't enough. But even then, sometimes the image isn't enough! Sometimes, to get the public to notice you, you have to do some crazy, outlandish thing that gets you noticed. And these people sure know how to get noticed. Here are the Top 10 Publicity Stunts in Music!
(Stories found on spin.com and nme.com.)
10. U2 pulls a Beatles rooftop performance for a music video
It's true that The Beatles were the first to perform publicly on top of a roof, but U2 took that idea and brought it one step further by filming it for their "Where The Streets Have No Name" music video. Those are real police officers shutting the band down. According to the director of the video, Meiert Avis, getting shut down was part of the whole idea. Adam Clayton has stated that U2 felt that bands "should shake things up". And that's exactly what they did by shutting down the streets of LA for a rooftop concert.
9. Trent Reznor's Year Zero alternate reality game
(Stories found on spin.com and nme.com.)
10. U2 pulls a Beatles rooftop performance for a music video
It's true that The Beatles were the first to perform publicly on top of a roof, but U2 took that idea and brought it one step further by filming it for their "Where The Streets Have No Name" music video. Those are real police officers shutting the band down. According to the director of the video, Meiert Avis, getting shut down was part of the whole idea. Adam Clayton has stated that U2 felt that bands "should shake things up". And that's exactly what they did by shutting down the streets of LA for a rooftop concert.
9. Trent Reznor's Year Zero alternate reality game
Anybody can just announce that they have a new album coming out. But when you turn the announcement into a mysterious scavenger hunt, fuck yeah, that's cool. With help from a marketing group called 42 Entertainment. Trent Reznor created this game to hype up the upcoming Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero. The game paid off, with the album reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and the promotional single "Capital G" reaching #6 on the Modern Rock chart. All in a day's play. Or a couple months of gameplay.
8. Josh Freese essentially whores himself out
Josh Freese is an artist that has fallen into the background of alternative rock music. He's played with many star bands, such as Guns N' Roses, Devo, and Weezer, but he had yet to become a superstar himself at the time. So to raise money to produce his solo album in 2007, Since 1972, Josh began a Kickstarter campaign where donations would get him to do anything from washing your car to massaging your feet, to even playing in your band for a whole month. He ended up gathering enough donations to make the album, and made a bigger name for himself in the process than he ever had before.
7. The Clash take over a New York casino
When a band performs in New York, you would expect them to perform at Radio City Music Hall, or Madison Square Garden. But what The Clash did was a little different. They performed at Bond's International Casino for seven nights, reducing the casino's venue from 4,000 to less than 2,000. The casino then canceled on other bands so that The Clash could stay for sixteen nights. When the New York Fire Department finally shut them down on May 30th, 1981, The Clash had created enough buzz for their next album to be their biggest hit in the U.S., reaching the Top 10.
6. Kanye West raps on the sides of buildings
A guy like Kanye needs all the positive press he can get. So what better way than to go full dictator and project your face onto the sides of buildings? This stunt happened in major cities such as New York, Sydney, and Berlin, to name a few. Kanye was rapping the song "New Slaves", off his then-upcoming 2013 album Yeezus. This no doubt helped Kanye's new album to debut at #1 on the charts. Of course, when someone is rapping at you on the side of a building, you better listen.
5. Garth Brooks becomes Chris Gaines
As Garth grew tired of country music in the late 90's, he decided to try a different approach. That approach being to change your entire identity for the sake of trying on a new genre. During his time as Chris Gaines, Garth Brooks was the subject of many punchlines, but his Greatest Hits album released at the time went platinum, and it kept people talking about Garth Brooks... or Chris Gaines.
4. John and Yoko's bed-in
Despite some... shockingly off-colour comments about Martin Luther King, all John and Yoko wanted to do with this stunt was to promote peace. And promote peace (and themselves) they did. This stunt polarized fans of Lennon: some were unhappy due to his growing association with Yoko in his music, while others loved the stunt. But for whatever purpose, the stunt got people talking about the duo and about peace. Try giving it a chance. Stay in bed all day. Hey, I can get behind that logic.
3. Michael Jackson builds monuments for himself
Michael Jackson needed no ego-stroking in the 80's. But by the mid-90's, he was somewhat falling out of favour. To combat the fade into obscurity, Mike's record label built a series of statues commemorating his upcoming double album. The statues were placed all around Europe, one floating down the River Thames in London, another in the Netherlands, and yet another in Berlin. Is it me, or are these stunts becoming more and more dictator-like? Oh well. HAIL MICHAEL!
2. The Sex Pistols play a song of questionable taste on the Queen's cruise
Yeah, just about any Sex Pistols fan can probably guess which song was played. After being banned from just about everywhere in England, the Sex Pistols took to a cruise on the River Thames, a celebratory cruise for the Queen's 25th anniversary on the throne. And what new single were they looking to promote on said cruise?
Yep. Probably the most insulting song directed at the Queen ever recorded. Predictably, the police cracked down on the Sex Pistols and their manager, but "God Save the Queen" reached #2 on the UK charts, blocked out by only... Rod Stewart. Well, no plan is perfect.
1. KISS donate their own blood to the ink of a Marvel comic
I could have gone with the most successful stunt on the list (most likely the Clash) or the most prolific (John and Yoko) or even the most controversial (Sex Pistols ahoy). But for my #1 pick, I decided to go with with the single most bizarre publicity stunt I could find in the world of music. And that dubious honour goes to KISS, which isn't really surprising, seeing as their entire career could be described as a publicity stunt. But this act is especially strange. In 1977, KISS partnered up with Marvel comics to essentially turn themselves into superheroes. To create buzz for the comics, they had their blood drawn by nurses in public, then were photographed mixing it into the ink. That is truly weird. And truly unsanitary, I'd think. Don't kiss your KISS comic, is all I'm saying.
And that concludes my Top 10 publicity stunts in music! One could argue that this is a publicity stunt to get my blog more attention, but it's really not. You'll know it when you see it. If it ever happens. I'm honestly not sure. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah: Enjoy the rest of your day!
(Now seriously, all I need is a pair of moose antlers, a couple planks of plywood, and...)
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