Burlington Music Journal

The New Music Industry - The Online Revolution

2012-01-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

Technology has leveled the music industry playing field. It used to be that an artist had to make a demo, submit it to many record labels, and hope and pray they were at least called.

The next best thing to getting a record deal was starting your own label but doing so was expensive & risky. There was no guarantee of success and all the rules still applied for a traditional business: most of them fail within the first 5 years. Let's not even talk about "Industry Rule #4080" and the shadiness that exist with some of the people in the industry.

There are countless stories of artist who have gotten jerked in the music business. From poor money management to getting robbed of publishing rights, it's all happened.

In comes the Internet to change the music game forever.

Most music websites in the beginning of the Internet were static webpages. You had sites that allowed you to put up a picture and some words. Then came websites with sound bites and finally the ability to upload songs. Later the ability to upload videos was developed and the game changed.

With services like PayPal, artist could sell songs and beats directly online. With sites like YouTube, artists could post videos of themselves online to widen their fan base. The Internet kept expanding and sites like MySpace were created to help music artists get massive exposure. MySpace and other social networking sites allowed artists to get worldwide exposure and seek out people that would be interested in their music.

It was like putting your marketing on steroids! Regular Average Joe's started popping up on the Internet and getting major deals because the big labels started coming to the Internet for the next big thing. These artists basically had a built-in fan base and this made them easy to market and promote because essentially they had already done the initial legwork.

Some artists even got smart and decided to diversify and figure out other ways of making money online. In addition to selling songs online, some artists began to sell music information products, sell website advertising space, affiliate marketing, and offer web design services.

Let's look closely at these other ways of making money off the music industry online.

Selling music information products online include things like eBooks and video courses. There are courses on everything from songwriting to how to market your beats online. Information products are cheap to producd and they can be sold over and over very inexpensively.

Many artists have written about what they have done to be successful in the music business. There is no shortage of people trying to get into the music business and people will gladly pay money to learn how to the get ahead of the game faster.

Another way of making money offline in the music industry is create a website or blog and sell advertising space. If you have a high traffic website you can place ads throughout your website that are targeted to your fans. There are companies that will pay you to bring traffic to their sites by clicking on special links that you have place on your site. The more people you send to their sites, the better for you.

A different and popular way of making money online is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is when you sell other people's products and services. You do not create the products or services but you get paid a percentage of every sale that comes from your special affiliate ID. There are plenty of music affiliate programs all over the Internet. Most of them are free to join.

You should do you homework when picking out products to sell. There are different programs and rules for each merchant. Read up on any merchant that you like and find out as much as you can about their company and product.

Last but not least, some artists not only sell music on and offline, they also sell other services like web design. Most businesses online hire web design professionals to carry out the company's vision for the future. A good freelance web designer can make a living building quality websites.

The online revolution has definitely changed the music industry. An artist who once would not have had a chance to get exposure in the music business can not only get that exposure online. They can also generate money online as well to help them advance their career and allow them to do what they love more easily.

How to Market a New Music Band

2012-01-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

When you start out life as a new band it is important to get out of your garage or practise venue and introduce yourself to the wider public. If you are seeking to secure a record deal and aim for a successful music career as a recording artist being able to perform live to a high standard, book your own gigs and gain exposure is essential. Starting a band is tough and becoming a professional band is exceptionally difficult to achieve, but it is possible if you get certain aspects of the process right.

This article will assume that you have the talent, you have tracks of sufficient quality and you have the drive to succeed. Now let us focus on how to get known in your local area where you will hopefully begin making a name for yourselves.

1. No Gig Too Small

Most bands begin in pubs playing to a very small audience earning zero fee. You should go and meet gig venues and offer to play a gig and emphasise that you will promote it yourselves. An Email is simply not enough and more often than not you will get no reply. Visiting the venue shows that you are serious and this will secure you many bookings.

When you are starting out the experience of playing live, dealing with your PA system and getting the sound levels right for your performance is an essential part of being a reliable and quality live act. Pad out the audience with friends and family and take constructive feedback on your performance from the venue owners. Hopefully they will invite you back and tell their industry colleagues in other venues what a great idea it would be for them to book your band for a gig.

2. Learn basic PR

Common sense is the way forward in terms of your PR. Contact the local press and invite them to attend each gig but do not get too pushy with them as they get many invites of this nature. It may take some time and many requests before a reporter comes to your gig. Hopefully if you keep asking, eventually they may have a free evening and come along. At this point you must have the talent to impress them.

Send out well-written press releases to local music websites, magazines and local events portals with a high resolution photo they can use as a thumbnail or avatar for their listing or article. This makes it easy for them to create an article in a short amount of time which increases your chances of getting exposure.

Another good idea is to provide small leaflets for the venue in advance and ask them to distribute the leaflets to promote the event. It is in their interests to get customers into the venue so they will often be receptive to this type of promotion. Let the local youth club or youth organisation know you have a gig as young people love music and are often looking for things to do in the evenings.

3. Fully utilise the Internet

There are many social networks dedicated to music and you should have a webpage on all of them, particularly the larger ones. You should add photos, video, event information and connect with other users who will hopefully love your music and become your fans. Having these pages helps create a really professional feel for your band and make you look very established. Mailing lists are fantastic for getting the word out about a gig or a new music release. The social networks can store playable mp3s of your band performing and videos of your performances. Ensure that any media you use whether audio or video is good quality or you will make yourselves look like amateurs.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking you are better than you are. There are thousands of bands out there and plenty of options for a venue owner that you offend either by accident or on purpose. Remember the worlds biggest and best bands can get away with bad behaviour because they guarantee big money and are in high demand. The majority of bands are easily replaceable if they prove too difficult to work with!

Your success as a new band in the early days is about is getting your band known, and creating a good first impression. That will open some doors which will put you in a better position to hopefully landing that big break.

How to Find New Music for DJ Mixes

2012-01-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

Take away the skills of DJing and the most important you're left with is the music. The music you DJ will make or break you; bring nothing good to the tables and people are going to lose their interest and go to the next room (or worse, leave the club).

People want to hear new music all the time; they don't want the same tracks over and over again. I've put together a simple guide on how you can find new music for your DJ mixes that won't require you to dig through musty, old crates...

How to Find New Music for DJ Mixes

Luckily, you're in the age of information which means that you can easily discover new artists and tracks while sitting back in front of your computer. Here are some of the sources I recommend when digging up new music.

YouTube

YouTube is a stellar source of finding new music when you begin to dig around the interface. I recommend starting with some of your favorite artists and then take a look through the sidebar which shows recommended videos. Another way to find music through YouTube is to subscribe to channels which will always keep you in the light of new music releases.

Ask Around

Jump onto Facebook or your Twitter account; start asking people what music they're listening to these days. Remember, the music you DJ may not necessarily be the ones you absolutely love - there needs to be some form of compromise to get the people onto the floor before hitting them with tracks from your personal stash. Get on these social networks and ask for recommendations; share what you like and people will be quick to share what they recommend.

Music Blogs

Websites and blogs are listed in the millions across the web. There are hundreds of thousands of great blogs you can dig into for finding new DJ releases. Besides some of the big ones like Beatport, you could subscribe to smaller blogs that review and share new music. There are also websites and blogs that release music free of charge by indie producers which could give you a great selection of music that no-one else is playing at the time.

Online Radio

Want to listen to other DJ's and find out some new tracks at the same time? Internet radio is for you. Streaming radio, on the web, is a great source of finding new music depending on which shows you follow. Generally, track lists are shared by fellow DJ's and many people will join in on the discussion of the show to share and ID tracks. Not only will you be getting a good amount of listening in which is fun in itself but you can find those hot tracks by big name DJ's you'd also like to drop in a mix.

Discover New Music With Your Wireless Internet Connection

2012-01-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

Most everyone has that one favorite band that they find themselves listening to over and over again. While having a favorite band is a fun thing, there is something to be said about being able to find fun new music as well. One of the best sources for finding new music is the internet. There are a large number of ways that music can be discovered, purchased and enjoyed. With a wireless internet connection you will have everything that you need to be able to expand your musical library. If you are starting to get bored with the same tracks every day, then make sure and go out there and diversify your music selection.

One great way to find new music is to listen to internet radio stations. There are many stations that have popped up recently where you input a few favorite songs or artists and they will begin to play music by other bands that sounds similar. This is a great way to get to know music that you had not heard before or heard recently. Once you have used your mobile broadband connection to connect to such a site, you will be able to save the different artists that you like and dig up more info on them later.

Another way to find out about new music that is just coming out is to read music blogs. There are a number of different blogs that maintain all kinds of stories about the state of the music industry and what is coming out. This can be an especially great source of music information for folks who are into musical niches that do not get much coverage in the mainstream press. If you begin to comment on the blogs you can even form a little online community centered around niche musical tastes. With your 4G connection, you will find that musical worlds of which you had been unaware will open to you and present enormous possibilities.

Finally, once you have discovered music that you enjoy listening to, you may want to purchase some so that you can take it with you wherever you may want to go. There are many different options. If you want to be old fashioned, then you can purchase a CD from almost any store on the internet. Options also exist for folks who want to download the album directly to their computer. You'll be creating less waste and saving on wait time. It is also possible to only purchase the songs that you want to hear in many situations. As long as you have a mobile broadband connection you will be able to take advantage of different ways that folks can purchase and consume music.

In the end, there are a lot of different ways to discover new music online. When you are the proud owner of a 4G connection, then your musical experiences will be greatly amplified and improved. Upgrade your internet connection today to get the musical experience you have waited for.

Best Music Events in Austin, Texas

2011-12-03T04:34:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a place to live where there is always something going on, especially within the music industry, then Austin Texas is the place for you. No matter what type of music you are into, there are always awesome music events going on in Austin, and you can find concerts to go to pretty much every week if this is something you are into. The many Austin nightclubs boast some of the best entertainment in the city, and you will find some of the best in local entertainment here. If it is the larger, more well-known acts you are interested in, there are concerts and events going on all the time.

Austin Music Festivals

There are many different music festivals held in Austin throughout the year. The biggest, and probably the most popular, is the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which is the largest music festival the city holds every year. This festival goes on for three days, and is held at Zilker Park, which boasts 46 acres where some of the most popular artists from all over the world play. Some of the acts that have been featured at this music festival include The Eagles and The Strokes. Not only will you get to enjoy some great music, you can also find some delicious food and great shopping. There is even a concert venue for the little ones in your family, Kiddie Limits, where they can enjoy music that is written and performed just for them.

Another popular Austin music festival is the Austin Reggae Festival, which is a celebration of everything Jamaican, from music to food and culture. This festival is held in the spring, and there are four days of music and fun, so you probably will want to pitch a tent and enjoy the entire festival. This is a fun time for the whole family, and there is something for everyone to enjoy, no matter what their ages. Bring your family and a tent, and enjoy four days of music, fun and food.

If you would like to step back into the 60's, then you simply have to take in the Austin Psych Fest, where you can listen to some really great psychedelic rock. This festival began in 2008, and is growing year by year. There are some really amazing musical performances, which combine not only awesome music, but some terrific visual art to give you the total psychedelic experience. Modern psych bands such as The Black Angels and Silver Apples have performed at this festival, which is geared more towards adults rather than entire families.

Music lovers will love living in Austin, Texas. Not only are there terrific music festivals in all genres of music held year-round, the nightclubs boast some of the greatest entertainment in Texas, and of course, there are always concert events going on. Whether you want to get hard and heavy with your favorite rock and roll bands, kick back with some country western, or take in the opera, you can find it all in Austin, Texas.

Best Musical Instruments for Kids Under Age 5

2011-12-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

As a parent, I am sure that you are dumbfounded by the sheer amount of musical toys on the market. We all like the idea of introducing our kids to music, but which instruments should we buy? Does my 3-year-old child really need a $300 guitar? As a professional musician and dad of a toddler who is currently dealing with this issue, I am going to try to greatly simplify the process for you in a way that will save you money without compromising your child's musical explorations. My emphasis will be on presenting cool (wood, handmade, Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly) alternatives to the cheesy plastic instruments sold at most toy stores. I like the idea of finding instruments with staying power -- ones that have the potential to be played for a lifetime assuming that they survive the toddler years - or at least can be saved as keepsakes. That toy drum adorned with popular cartoon characters is not going have much use after age 5, and is destined for a landfill.

The first thing I am going to do is separate musical toys from musical instruments. For clarity, I am defining a musical instrument as any device that has a direct correlation between a child's action and pitch. For example, hitting a drum, plucking a string, striking a key, or blowing air through it all result in a tone or pitch being produced. I will even go one step further and say that there must be some way to play an actual melody (note for note) on the toy in a way that resembles a real musical instrument (excluding drums and percussion instruments like shakers). This is difficult to put in words, but it will become very clear as you read on.

Working from this definition, most Musical Tables, and Toy Guitars with no strings and lots of flashy buttons do not qualify as musical instruments. I am not saying that these toys are bad or useless (purists will vehemently disagree) - simply that they are not musical instruments. We have an activity table that I thought I would hate, but as I observed my son discovering more things on it and "commanding it", I began to see some value. At 2, he could make it play the 'Counting to Ten Song' and the 'Alphabet Song' as he sang along. Nevertheless, we try to keep the flashy battery operated toys to a minimum.

I should mention that some of the alternative instruments are handmade and imported. A few of the retailers screen the products to make sure that they are not manufactured with toxic materials. If you have questions or concerns about a particular instrument, please contact the store directly before buying.

I should also mention that this article is only meant to be small guide to get you started on your search. Obviously, there is no way to cover every musical instrument on the market, but hopefully my research will save you a lot of time and will help you make sound buying decisions (pun intended).

Avoiding Frustration is the Key
For children under the age of 5, music should be all about play and the joy of discovery. You don't want to frustrate your child by introducing an instrument beyond their capabilities. Naturally, every child is going to be different in terms of developmental abilities, and you will have to discern whether a particular instrument is too advanced. In this case, you can simply put the instrument away and try again in six months or a year.

Percussion Instruments for Kids
The obvious place to start is with percussion instruments (shakers, drums, tambourines, etc...) since they are the most primal and the most capable of providing instant gratification. However, most parents are unaware of the alternatives to the kiddie plastic stuff found on the toy isles. Remo Percussion has a cool line called "Remo Kids Percussion", and Meinl Percussion has a kid line called "Nino Percussion" that has the best instruments in my opinion. The Nino product line definitely has staying power as instruments and keepsakes. Jamtown is a great source for more eclectic Fair Trade instruments with a great line of handmade shakers and drums that are definitely keepsake worthy.

Plan Toys is an environmentally conscious company that makes its toys from recycled rubber wood and colored eco-friendly dyes. They get big points for this. However, most of their instruments will not have much use beyond the toddler years. Their toy instruments tend to be more for the ages 1 - 3, and my favorite one is the Solid Wood Drum. It can produce three different tones and is a great example of an early instrument that can be played for a while. It is also a nice keepsake.

Depending on the child, drum sets often require motor skills beyond a toddler's capabilities to be played properly. However, if your child is drawn to a drum set by all means go for it - especially if a family member already plays the drums and can instruct your child on the basics.

And let's not forget that empty boxes and pots and pans make great drums as well!

Also in the realm of percussion are pitched percussion instruments such as toy pianos, xylophones, and glockenspiels. These make great instruments for toddlers because there is a direct correlation between action and pitch, and they only require the motor skills of touching or striking. The only thing to watch out for in this area is that there are many on the market that are not tuned (the notes do not correlate to a scale) -- making them noise makers as opposed to instruments. The best way to research this is to read the comments from online retail sites. The feedback from parents in this area is invaluable, and the price difference between tuned and un-tuned is negligible.

Finally, my favorite percussion instrument for kids is the Kalimba. The Kalimba is an African instrument that is played by plucking the tines or keys with the thumbs. It is also called a Thumb Piano or Mbira. There are tons of import versions of Kalimbas online, but most of them do not claim to be child friendly and consistency/quality seems to be a big issue. I list a few good sources on my site. The Kalimba is another great example of an instrument with staying power. You'll be able to play it for a lifetime.

Wind Instruments for Children
Buying a wind instrument for children under age 5 is a little tricky because you want to be sure they have the lung capacity and are old enough to understand the concept. Unlike simply striking a percussive instrument and producing a tone, wind instruments require your child to blow and finger at the same time. As a result, most wind instruments are recommended for children over age 3. Here again, I believe you can introduce it sooner especially if a family member happens to play a wind instrument.

Unfortunately, there are few alternatives to the cheesy plastic versions of trumpets, saxophones, and clarinets simply because the legitimate versions are beyond the abilities of most kids under 5. In addition, the real versions can potentially cause problems with your child's developing mouth and facial structure.

Hip alternatives include the Suling flute and Ocarinas sold by Jamtown. They are recommended for children over age 3. I bought both of them for my 2 1/2 year old son, and they were definitely too advanced for him. I'll try again when he turns 3.

Harmonicas are also popular wind instruments for children, and they are tuned to a particular scale so that there are no "wrong notes". Hohner has been making Harmonicas for 150 years and is a good place to start.

String Instruments for Kids
String instruments are actually quite challenging for kids under age 5 so you want to be careful not to introduce them too early. Guitars and violins require a toddler to do two actions simultaneously to produce a melody: fret the string with one hand while strumming, plucking, or bowing the string with the other. They also require a fair amount of finger strength. Finally, even if your child can manage the first two actions, producing a musically pleasing tone is not easy.

For this reason, guitars and violins are not instruments that most children under 4 can get going on their own. They really require some form of formal instruction, either privately or in a group.

A Ukulele is perfect for small hands and is a genuine alternative to the plastic electronic guitars with all of the buttons and flashing lights. At least it has strings (4) and is made of wood. However, most of the toy Ukuleles do not hold their tuning so if you want an instrument that your child can grow with, I'd spend a little extra and buy a 'real' one. Again, read the feedback online in order to find one that holds its tuning. It will only cost you about $20 more than the toy version, and it will also look nice on a shelf if it survives the early years. The Lanikai LU-21 Soprano Ukulele is a good example of a proper beginner's instrument.

If you are looking for a real guitar or violin, I highly recommend a visit to your local dealer. This is the best approach as opposed to trying to find the right instrument online. In addition, a local dealer may also be able to provide lessons.

I discovered Lyres while I was doing the research for this article. They appear to be very cool because they don't require a child to fret with one hand and pluck the string with the other as on a guitar. You tune them to a scale, pluck the strings, and there will be no "wrong" notes. Most include songbooks and tuning instructions so you will need a little musical knowledge to set it up and maintain it. The only drag is that they are quite expensive (around $130), but if you factor in that they can be played for many years, the extra expense may not seem so exorbitant. Plus they are beautiful looking instruments, and they are definitely keepsake worthy. I suggest searching for a YouTube video of someone playing it to see a Lyre in action.

Time for Lessons?
This is a good time to bring up when you should actually start formal lessons for a child. There is lots of debate in this area, but certainly if your child expresses a desire then go for it. However, conventional wisdom is that during this period, music and instruments are more of an activity and formal instruction is not required. Most agree that the time for private lessons starts after age 5 depending on the child. "Tiger Mom" would disagree, but I am going let my child's interests and explorations be the guide during these years. Incidentally, I remember wanting to take piano lessons around the age of 7 or 8, and I started at age 11.

My Child has a few Instruments - What's Next?
So what do you do after you buy a few of these instruments? Stay tuned for the next article...

5 Best Musical Instrument Apps for Android

2011-12-03T04:32:00.001-08:00

For the average person, music helps relax the mind and calm the senses. For the music enthusiasts, lively beats and interesting words bring inspiration and entertainment.

Is music limited to radios, televisions and music players? Definitely not, for even the smallest of gadgets are completely capable of playing your favorite tunes. With the rise of smartphones and tablet PCs, listening to music must be a crucial feature. Most smartphones, tablet PCs and other portable gadgets run on a particular operating system, and Android is undoubtedly leading the race. The Android Market boasts of thousands of applications, and a considerable chunk of these is dedicated for all the music lovers all over the world.

Apart from music players, what other applications are dedicated for music? Here are the 5 best musical instrument applications for your Android gadget:

1. JCI Piano Chords

If you cannot afford a grandiose piano, this piano application will do. Created exclusively for all piano enthusiasts, the JCI Piano Chords application allows you to master the black-and-white musical keys, at least in a virtual way. Release yourself from the tension and play soft tunes, or excite yourself with pleasantly loud rhythms. With this application, you can adjust the reverb mix, roll keys and record anything that you have practiced.

2. Harmonica

The harmonica is a lovely instrument capable of creating captivating tunes. The simple use of your lips is enough to create rhythms that are very pleasant to the ears. How can you play this virtually, through your Android gadget? Technology should never be underestimated, because you can now play this instrument using your handheld device. The Harmonica application boasts of a diatonic harmonica with 10 genuine holes. You can play single notes and chords with this virtual instrument, as all the 12 keys from can be used.

3. Guitar: Solo

The guitar is indeed one of the most popular musical instruments. Fortunately, those who cannot bring themselves to learn the art of strumming will find Guitar: Solo a more enjoyable experience. This is great for jamming sessions, if bringing a guitar is impossible. You can use this application to play your favorite hits and create your own songs. The user interface is also customizable, so you can change the settings any time you want.

4. Electric Drum

This programmable drum machine is a drummer's best friend. With this application, you can use various musical samples or loops to create new beats. This application also features real-time song playback and editing, song recording and customizable drum kits. Developers constantly update this version, so any glitches are fixed in no time.

5. Tuner - gStrings

This all-around application will let you play various musical instruments like the guitar, bass, piano, violin and viola. This will also allow you to learn orchestra tuning and adjust the microphone sensitivity. Moreover, there are different temperaments that you can explore such as the Meantone and Pythagorean. Music lovers who love to play string and wind instruments will definitely enjoy having this application on their Android gadget.

Best Music Phones of All Time

2011-12-03T04:31:00.001-08:00

It's a fact that there has been a tremendous demand for music phones. The growing trend has made mobile companies to offer entire series of mobile phones based on music feature being the focus. Examples are many like the Nokia Xpress Music series, Sony Ericsson "Walkman" series, Motorola's "Rokr" series and Samsung's "Beat" series.

When buying a music phone one is stuck with so many options that its hard to chose one, so usually when you go to buy a music phone whether the choice you are making is correct or not. Is the music phone i am going to buy worth the money it's priced at?. These are some of the questions that every one has in mind before purchase. So we have compiled a list of the best music phones to hit the market in recent years and those who are a hit in the market to this date. So when you buy any of these music phones you would surely not regret your decision. Here is the list of Top Five music phones of all times.

1. Nokia 5800 Xpress Music

Nokia's highly popular Xpress Music series has many fabulous music phones in its lineup. But the most famous music phone which is a great hit in the market, is 5800 Xpress Music.It was Nokia's first Symbian S60 touch phone. Nokia says it has shipped more then 8 million units worldwide since its launch.

Features are:

    * 3.2 inch display,360x640 pixels with accelerometer for auto rotate
    * 3.2 MP camera with dual LED flash and geo-tagging feature
    * GPS with A-GPS
    * Micro-SD card slot upto 16GB
    * WiFi
    * Tv Out
    * OVI and Myspace integrated
    * Fm Radio with RDS (maximum 20 channels)
    * Built-in stereo speakers
    * Full QWERTY keyboard (after firmware update)
    * Secondary Videocall camera

If you are buying 5800 Xpress Music make sure you are running the latest firmware update which has made several improvements to the default firmware like updated applications, more CPU speed, better performance.

2. Sony Ericsson W995

Sony Ericsson W995 comes with not only the best audio quality and performance but also comes with an 8MP camera. It's not just a mere music phone but a smart bundle of many things which include a great camera, WiFi, GPS and Multi tasking support.

Features are

    * 2.6 inch TFT display with accelerometer
    * 8.1 MP camera with autofocus,LED flash,face detection and geo-tagging
    * Walkman player version 4.0 with SensMe and shake control
    * Stereo speakers and 3.5mm audio jack
    * Multi-tasking support. Listen to music and work at the same time
    * WiFi with DLNA support
    * Comes with 8GB card
    * Fm Radio with RDS

3. Nokia X6.

The X6 is perhaps the newest in our best music phones of all times. The reason is that it is one great music phone with top notch audio quality. X6 comes in three version, X6 32GB, X6 16GB and X6 8GB. It's an all rounder phone with 5MP camera and sleek stylish looks.

One feature which was previously on board in X6 was one year free music subscription which is now cancelled by Nokia.

Features:

    * Large 3.2 inch display,capacitive touchscreen, accelerometer, proximity sensor
    * Motion based gaming
    * 5MP camera with dual LED Flash
    * WiFi
    * Virtual QWERTY keyboard
    * OVI,Facebook,MySpace, YouTube,Yahoo IM and Windows live support.
    * FM radio with RDS
    * 35 hours of music playback time

4. Apple iPhone 4

Without any second thoughts Apple iPhone 4 strong music performance even though it has so much to it besides just delivering excellent audio quality. Apple's iPod is a popular music gadget and you can expect that Apple will leave no stone unturned in bringing out the same or more then the audio performance of iPod. Its got so much in it you won't regret buying it.

Features:

    * 3.5 inch display 640x960 pixels
    * 1 GHz Apple A4 processor
    * 5 MP, 2592 x 1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, geo tagging
    * Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
    * Video: 720p @30fps, LED video light, geo-tagging,
    * TV Out
    * Music play upto 40hours

5. Sony Ericsson W902

Belonging to the Walkman series is a certificate for W902 itself that the phone is a high quality music phone. W902. It is one of few music phones to have an equally good camera as well. With dedicated music keys and features like multi tasking support W902 makes it to our list of Top 5 music phones of all times.

Features:

    * 2.2" TFT display
    * 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash
    * Walkman 3.0 music player with Shake control and SenseMe
    * Fm radio with RDS
    * Multi tasking
    * 256 MB internal memory, Comes with 8GB card.

Meaningful Wedding Music

2011-11-17T17:03:00.000-08:00

There are many ways to bring personal meaning into your wedding, from wearing a sentimental set of bridal jewelry to carrying a replica of your grandmother's bouquet. Music can be one of the most wonderful ways that a couple can make their wedding even more special, and it is especially nice because it often has shared meaning for both the bride and the groom. These are some of the ways in which you can include meaningful wedding music into your celebration.

Start by thinking about your ceremony music. A special solo sung by a vocalist can be a lovely addition. The person who sings the solo can be one layer of what makes is meaningful. At one wedding I attended, the groom's teenage daughter sung a beautiful song in honor of the couple, which was very moving. No vocalists in your family? No problem, simply select a song which has personal meaning to the bride and groom. If you have waited forever to find each other, "At Last" would be a beautiful choice. Couples who share a strong religious conviction might prefer a traditional solo such as "Ave Maria" for their ceremony. As long as the song is personally significant, it will be a beautiful choice.

The ceremony processional is a fantastic opportunity to include some music with meaning. Just be sure to check on any restrictions your church may have, as some only permit traditional religious or classical music. Once you get the green light from your officiant, feel free to pick a processional song which really captures the joy of the first moments as newlyweds. The particular song will depend on your personal taste, whether you like something classic like big band or more contemporary. Whichever song you select, keep in mind that all good processional songs have an upbeat tempo.

Perhaps the wedding music that gets the most attention is the first dance song selection. Something that I absolutely love is when the newlyweds dance together to the same first dance song used by one of their sets of parents. It is a beautiful family tradition, and is perfect for the bride who tends to prefer classic wedding style, like pearl bridal jewelry and white roses. If your parents are divorced, it would be better to go a different direction with your first dance selection, such as dancing to the first song you ever danced to together. Don't have a special song as a couple? Then simply choose the song whose lyrics best describe your relationship.

You can also make your wedding music more meaningful by including selections which give a nod to your heritage. Often this will take the form of a special feature, rather than the music for the entire ceremony or reception. It can also be a fun surprise to arrange for your intended. Let's say that your groom has Scottish heritage - why not have a bagpiper waiting when you exit the church at the end of your nuptials? Or treat your guests to a brief performance by a troupe of Celtic dancers if your folks hail from Ireland. When the bride and groom both have strong cultural ties, by all means feature a musical selection from each tradition. It would be a great way for each family to get a taste of the other's cultural heritage, and a meaningful addition to your wedding.

How else can you include meaningful music in your wedding? If you are a good singer, perform a song dedicated to your new spouse during the reception. Or perhaps you are a composer - write an original piece in honor of your wedding day. There are countless possibilities for using music to make your wedding more meaningful and memorable.

Wedding Music Around the World

2011-11-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here Comes the Bride may be played at every wedding you attend, but that's not the case around the world. Wedding music traditions vary from country to country, and even from one religion to another within the same country.

America

Here Comes the Bride is still a favorite for the bride's walk down the aisle, but Pachelbel's Canon in D Major has become a close contender. Songs include hymns, popular music, and classic music...basically whatever the couple desires, as long as the event venue doesn't prohibit it. In America, weddings may be held anywhere, as long as a minister or justice of the peace conducts the ceremony and proper paperwork is filed with the government.

England

Just like in America, Here Comes the Bride is the song of choice for the bride's entrance. English weddings are very stepped in custom and tradition, so many brides may choose to employ a harpist. In England, law requires weddings to be held in an approved place-mostly churches. Like Americans, British weddings may have a mix of music, but British ceremonies are usually very traditional and formal.

Australia

Pachelbel's Canon in D Major is popular here, along with many of the traditional love ballads used at wedding ceremonies in America. One thing that differs in Australia is the signing ceremony, which also can involve music. At the end of the ceremony, the couple signs the wedding certificate while everyone watches. British ceremonies may incorporate musical instruments such as bagpipes and a didgeridoo.

Japan

The traditional Japanese wedding is called a shinzen shiki, a ceremony conducted by a Shinto Priest and a shrine assistant. The bride and groom may either wear a gown and tux or traditional Japanese wedding garb, which includes a kimono and hakama. These traditional weddings use flutes and drums. Summer Candles and Dolphin Ring by Anri are both popular wedding songs. Similar to American and British weddings, Japanese weddings include sappy love songs.

Mexico

While the Mexican wedding ceremony may be serious and traditional, the reception is a full party, with salsa and mariachi music getting everyone on their feet. Mariachi music involves a wide variety of music, including guitars, drums, and even violins. Canon in D Major is also popular for the bride's processional here.

Ireland

It should be no surprise that bagpipes are popular in Irish weddings. Many couples are choosing to honor their country's rich tradition, so Celtic music is very popular in Irish weddings. The Irish Wedding Song is often played at receptions and Danny Boy and Irish Eyes Are Smiling are always popular at gatherings in Ireland.

India

White gowns have no place at a Hindu wedding. The bride traditionally wears a beautiful red sari and covers her feet and hands in henna tattoos, known as henna staining in India. Music plays a prominent role in the Hindu wedding ceremony and many popular wedding songs (including Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai) have been used in Bollywood movies. The wedding ceremony and post-ceremony are very involved and may last a few days, including the bride leaving her groom to join her new family and the wedding party welcoming the bride to her new home.

Conclusion

Music provides the backdrop for all wedding ceremonies. No matter where your wedding is set, the feeling of rich tradition is still the same. From Here Comes the Bride to Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, brides all over the world are celebrating their love with music.

Keong Racun - From Lipsync to Amazing

2011-11-17T16:58:00.000-08:00

The media in Indonesia has been intensively discussing the phenomenon of video "Keong Racun". The video is still an issue in the news, both in conventional media and cyberspace and sites such as Facebook and Twitter can not escape the popularity onslaught of this video.

Try to type the keyword "Keong Racun" in Google and you will find millions of sites focused on the video. On Youtube, it's gotten more than 3 million views, a fantastic number for a home video. So what exactly is behind the phenomenon of "Keong Racun?"

In truth, Keong Racun, is actually a video of two teenage girls named Shinta and Jojo, who were a lip-syncing to a song titled "Keong Racun" (translated as: Toxic snails). Keong Racun is a popular song in one province in Indonesia. The song is a homage to "dangdut," a stream genre that is claimed to be native to Indonesia. The tremendous response to the video greatly exceeded their expectations and Shinta and JoJo were offered a recording contract from one of the major labels in Indonesia.

In fact, Shinta and Jojo admit they can not sing the song live. They are not singers which is a fairly major requirement to becoming a star singer. But, so long as there is a demand from the public, there is no harm in producing the album with two girls - money is money. Perversely, Shinta and Jojo's popularity has dwarfed that of the original singer. According to news sources, the song was first popularized by a local singer named Lisa. In an interview, Lisa expressed dissatisfaction because she was not a part of the popular lip-syncing video, and does not appreciate having her work appropriated by two non-singers.

The amazing groundswell of popularity over this video proves you never know what is going to strike a chord with people - even a goofy, silly lip-syncing video with two cute girls.

TAUFIK HARSONO.Born in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. Have graduated from the University of Gadjah Mada Indonesia majoring in psychology. Ever worked in various fields, including photography, graphic design, web design, digital retouch, music editing, and so forth. Currently working as a freelance photographer and digital retoucher, other than as a writer for motivation blog.

The Sound Reggae Music Makes

2011-11-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

Its distinctive beat gives it away. There is nothing in the world that sounds like reggae music. The expected chops and the back beat by the rhythm guitar and the distinctive sound of the bass drum marks reggae as a genre by its own right. Reggae music originated from several other Jamaican music types just as great as it is like ska, rocksteady, RandB, Jazz, Calypso, and Mento.

Jamaican music is as rich as its history. The soul of each and every Jamaican song traces its roots to the black people herded onto ships, clinging to their most priceless possessions--clothing, food, and for many, their drums. These drums that traveled as far as their owners have are what brought the world priceless gifts and that are the gifts of music. The slaves used their music to fill-up their lives and sang about everything. They have songs of praise, songs of love, songs of loneliness, and songs of inspiration. It is not surprising therefore, that reggae music has been used by the likes of Bob Marley and The Wailers to promote certain political issues like poverty and injustice.

From the characteristic drumbeats, Jamaican folk music has embraced innovation and has added a whole range of flavor to their indigenous music. Combining the drumbeats to a lot of different musical instruments, like the rhythm guitar, and the trumpet, produced ska, rocksteady and eventually reggae.

Reggae music swooped Jamaica just when it was about to proclaim its independence and the masses were clamoring for a beat, a sound that could articulate their emotions. Reggae rose up to the challenge and succeeded. A few years later, when the assurance of an improved quality of life and the promise of a bright tomorrow for a liberated nation came up empty reggae was still being played. But it started to serve a much higher purpose than entertainment. For the first time in its history, roots reggae took on its rebellious and defiant form. Reggae music told of stories of suffering in the shanties of Trenchtown, it told of stories of violence and corruption but most of all it told the people of Jamaica to get up and stand up for their rights.

As the country grew from bad to worse, the people started to look for a moral guidance that would give sense to the life of wretchedness they were living in. Rastafarianism answered the call of a people desperately seeking an alternative leader with convincing values of love and peace. The Rastafarian movement boomed, gained a huge following in Jamaica and reggae was the movement's music. Eventually, roots reggae would be identified with Rastafarianism and vice versa. Dreadlocks, khakis, and kaftans became the symbol of reggae attitude.

Just when it seems that the evolution of reggae has gone through so much, it began to take on another controversial form with the arrival of dancehall reggae. This new type of reggae music is so called because its raunchy lyrics only allowed it to be played in dancehalls. Dancehall reggae is a form of rebellion against roots reggae because many artists believe that reggae music has gone too mainstream that it catered more to the demands of the audience than to reggae's real spirit. Infused with a lot of techno beats and computer generated riffs, dancehall departed from old school reggae music's slow and lulling beat and enveloped a more upbeat and fast rhythm.

And then there was ragga. Ragga music could be gangsta rap's ancestor as it boldly came out with songs on violence, guns, and gangs. Many ragga songs were evidently masochistic with harsh lyrics demeaning women and praising male supremacy.

Over the course of history, ragga's forerunners saw reason and tamed down their music. A couple prominent ragga figures went back to embrace Rastafarianism and sought a live of uprightness and peace.

Reggae music has come and changed in so many ways over the years. Yet it still makes the same sound as it did several decades ago. Reggae still sings the songs that make hearts beat faster, songs that make the feet dance harder, and songs that reflect the rhythm of the soul.

Bob Marley: Jamaican Reggae and Rastafari Hero

2011-11-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

Nobody in the world is more famous for popularizing reggae than Bob Marley. Born as Robert Nesta Marley in February 6, 1945 in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, he is a well-known Jamaican musician and singer-songwriter who brought Jamaican music and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience.

His best hits include "No Woman, No Cry", "I Shot the Sheriff", "Stir It Up", "Could You Be Loved", "Redemption Song", "Jamming", and "One Love". Three years after his death, the compilation album Legend (1984) was released which thereafter became the best selling reggae album in the world, garnering 10 times platinum in the US and also sold 20 million copies around the globe.

He was a leading advocate of the Rastafari movement, the culture which brought out reggae music from the obscure areas of Jamaica into the global music scene. He was a vegetarian, following the practice of Ital which turns away from consuming meat.

He had eleven children. Three of those were with his wife Rita, two were from Rita's former relationships and the rest were with other women.

He died on May 11, 1981 because of acral lentiginous melanoma which he fought since July 1977. "Money can't buy life" were the final words he told his son ZIggy on his death bed in the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami. A state funeral was given ten days after. Other recognitions were the Jamaican Order of Merit, a series of postage stamps and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Top 7 Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Guitar Tunings

2011-10-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

There are many different guitar tunings that are used in Rock and Metal music besides standard tuning. Guitar players in these genres like to use these tunings because they give a heavier and darker sound to their music.

Some of the more popular tunings used are Dropped D, Dropped C, Dropped B, E Flat, D, C and open G. Here are the descriptions of how the strings should be tuned and some of the bands that use them.

Dropped D tuning:

E ----------1st string

B ----------2nd string

G ----------3rd string

D ----------4th string

A ----------5th string

D ----------6th string (thickest)

This tuning enables power chords to be played with a single finger on the lowest three strings and produces a dark sound with it. If you're music doesn't fit together with this dark sound, you can place a capo on the 2nd fret and can still easily play power chords.

Some bands that use Dropped D tuning are:

Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, Godsmack, Led Zepplin, Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine, Silverchair, Soundgarden and Velvet Revolver.

Dropped C tuning:

D ----------1st string

A ----------2nd string

F ----------3rd string

C ----------4th string

G ----------5th string

C ----------6th string (thickest)

Dropped C tuning is the Dropped D with each string lowered one whole step. Dropped C tuning produces a very low and heavy sound and is used by many of the new Heavy Metal bands.

Some bands that use Dropped C tuning are:

30 Seconds to Mars, Atreyu, Buckethead, Bullet for My Valentine, Children of Bodom, Godsmack, Bad Religion, Metallica, Mudvayne, P.O.D., Papa Roach, Rammstein, Shadows Fall, System of a Down, Three Days Grace and Ozzy Osbourne.

Dropped B tuning:

C# ----------1st string

G# ----------2nd string

E ----------3rd string

B ----------4th string

F# ---------5th string

B ----------6th string (thickest)

This tuning will need heavier gauge strings to be effective. Also you might have to widen the string grooves as well as adjust the tension in the neck of your guitar.

Some bands that use Dropped B tuning are:

Audioslave, Limp Bizkit, Machine Head, Mudvayne, Slipknot and Stone Sour.

Eb tuning:

Eb ---------1st string

Bb ---------2nd string

Gb ---------3rd string

Db ---------4th string

Ab ---------5th string

Eb ---------6th string (thickest)

This tuning is Standard tuning turned down a half step. There are a few reasons that bands use this tuning instead of Standard tuning. One reason is to sound heavier by using heavy gauge strings. By tuning down a half step it is easier to bend these heavy gauged strings. Another reason why some bands use this tuning is to compliment the lead singers voice.

Bands that use Eb tuning are:

Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Dream Theater, Guns N' Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, Megadeth, Metallica, Motorhead, Nirvana, Poison, Slayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stone Sour, Van Halen, Weezer and Yngwie Malmsteen.

D tuning:

D ----------1st string

A ----------2nd string

F ----------3rd string

C ----------4th string

G ----------5th string

D ----------6th string (thickest)

D tuning is also known as whole step down tuning and as you have probably already guessed, it's Standard tuning tuned down a whole step. D tuning has been used mainly in Heavy Metal music.

Bands that have used D tuning are:

Alice in Chains, The Beatles, Bullet For My Valentine, Bob Dylan, Children of Bodom, Dream Theater, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Racer X and Soundgarden.

C tuning:

C ----------1st string

G ----------2nd string

Eb ---------3rd string

Bb ---------4th string

F ----------5th string

C ----------6th string (thickest)

C tuning also produces a low sound that is mostly used by Hard Rock and Metal bands. The tuning is 2 whole steps below Standard tuning, which gives it a heavy sound but still maintains the same intervals as Standard tuning.

Bands that have used C tuning are:

Atreyu, Black Sabbath, Bullet For My Valentine, Deftones, Dream Theater, Jimi Hendrix, P.O.D., Queens of the Stone Age, Slipknot, Steve Vai and The Who.

G tuning:

D ----------1st string

B ----------2nd string

G ----------3rd string

D ----------4th string

G ----------5th string

D ----------6th string (thickest)

Other than the Drop D tuning, G Tuning is one of the most popular alternate guitar tunings.

Some bands that have used G tuning are:

The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd and Pearl Jam.

These are just some of the alternate guitar tunings that are available to you to experiment with. Play around with them and see which tunings fit your style of music.

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Heavy Metal Guitar Solo Playing

2011-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

A heavy metal guitar solo is a musical piece or passage, which is a part of the whole musical performance. Guitar solos as such, have been the mainstay of guitar performances for quite some years now. So, if you have been fascinated by the magnificent guitar solos of heavy metal music or any other genre, knowing few important facts about them might help you to understand them better.

Guitar solos can be performed with an acoustic or an electric guitar, but for heavy metal music, you would need to use an electric guitar. They can be performed without any accompaniments, like in case of classical or folk music, an acoustic guitar solo is usually performed without the support of any other musical instrument. They can be performed along a band, which is precisely the case in rock and metal music. They can be even performed along with a full drawn orchestra.

Although lead guitar riffs have been used across many genres, the rock and the metal music schools have used them more than anyone else. The 1960s and the 1970s can be termed as the golden period of guitar licks and solos. This time period also coincides with the rise of many classic heavy metal bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest and so on. In the early 1980's one of the most famous bands in metal guitar playing is Iron Maiden as they popularized metal music with their blend of galloping and harmonizing guitar music.

The shredding of the guitar riff is one of the major attractions of heavy metal music and involves a lot of harmonics technique. This was greatly popular during the 1980s but gradually began to lose steam with the arrival of the nu metal in the mid 1990s. However, the role of the lead guitarist in heavy metal music can not be undermined and sometimes he enjoys more popularity than even the lead singer of the band.

Some of the lead guitarists of the heavy metal bands have even cut albums featuring just their guitar solos. So, it remains a very popular and admired form of instrumental recital till date. A metal guitar solo is additionally attractive because it has a raw power and virility and communicates an intense passion. The loudness and the power have combined to create a therapeutic effect for generations of listeners. So, if you have also been smitten by its power and beauty, you might give it a shot and learn playing it yourself.

Heavy Metal Guitar Songs

2011-10-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

So, you have always dreamed of playing heavy metal guitar songs? But if you are a beginner, you might find it difficult to find out where to start. Playing a heavy metal song can be a little difficult to manage if you do not know the right techniques. It is also important to know certain easy songs which might help you to move on to more complicated stuff.

There are few interesting facts about heavy metal songs, which might help you to understand them better. The lyrics of the heavy metal songs are probably not as important as the entire effect that the music is supposed to create. Much of heavy metal songs, especially those belonging to death metal, involve growling and shouting. However, some songs can have simple yet deep and penetrating lyrics.

Many of the songs in heavy metal music deal with abject issues such as life in the streets, usage of drugs, and gory and violent subjects related to death, suicide etc. The dark tones of the lyrics help the composers and the listeners to vent out their frustration and thus it can have a cathartic effect.

There are few things that you should remember before you start learning metal songs. We all admire the guitar greats like Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammett, Jimmy Page and Randy Rhoads. But it will be sometime before you start playing like them and for this you would require a lot of talent and even greater hours of practice. The advice that I would give newer guitar players is not to start learning difficult songs as you would quickly lose morale in not being able to play very technical songs.

So, you might start with some easy songs like "Confined" by As I Lay Dying. Although, the guitar part of the song sounds very complicated yet the beauty of the song lies in its simplicity. If you have a good command over the rhythm part, you might play this song with the desired effect. "Change" by Deftones is another easy to play metal song. Although Deftones is essentially a nu metal band, yet the song has various shades of metal music.

Therefore, learning to play heavy metal guitar songs can become a very easy and interesting task if you proceed in a systematic and step by step manner. If you can manage to play these easier songs with adequate skill and passion, you can definitely move on to more complex tunes in a very short span of time.

The Rockin' History of Alternative Rock Music

2011-10-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

A descendant of punk rock, Nirvana was one of the most famous bands to make alternative rock music mainstream. Ironically, this genre became popular after the grunge period - which deprecated mainstream, commercial types of music. In addition to Nirvana, some extremely well known and highly successful bands formed around alt rock, including REM - one of the earliest "alternative" bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Violent Femmes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and many others.

In the early days, it was mainly the college radio stations that promoted this sound. In fact, 'college rock' was the phrase used to describe alternative rock in the 1980s, before the genre coined as alternative rock music became popular in the mid 1980s. As the popularity of the music grew, other previously separate genres became grouped under alt rock as well. These genres are comprised of post-punk (since alternative rock is offspring of the punk genre), New Wave, indie (also known as independent) rock, pop, and punk rock.

A landmark of alt rock's popularity, Jane's Addiction, a band formed in the mid 1980s, frontlined Lollapalozza - the first festival that catered specifically to alt rock music. This was the mark of the rise to fame for alt rock in the early 1990s. The abundance of the alternative genre in America continued throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. Among these bands are Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, and The Strokes.

Across the pond, the American grunge spread like wildfire in the 90s. This resulted in some rebellious British bands that opposed American grunge. To express their opposition, British "Britpop" bands emulated the American explosion of alt rock; some of these famous bands include Oasis, Pulp, and Suede.

Alt rock music was made known almost 30 years ago and is still widespread and frequently played on American radio stations. This is most likely a genre that will continue to evolve and further root itself into American culture as the music continues to evolve.

Paramore is one of the newer alt rock bands to become famous. They have three albums released and their popular "Brick by Boring Brick" single is still played on kroq in SoCal and other rock radio stations throughout the United States. They are scheduled to head the Warped Tour this summer at the San Diego location, and continuously sell out stadiums on their tours.

As you can see, alternative rock continues to have a large following and is here to stay for many decades.

The Best Blues Songs Ever

2011-10-27T07:42:00.000-07:00

It is entirely a matter of taste as to which are the best Blues songs. However it is possible to speculate as to the most influential songs.

It can be argued that Blues music bought about a greater awareness of the plight of African Americans, as new audiences became interested in its origins and originators.

I clearly remember as an adoring fan of Muddy Waters; Howlin Wolf and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, feeling outrage at the early 60's news reports that a whole people were subjected to such terrible discrimination. The anti establishment feelings so typical of my generation, and empathy with subjugated Black Americans, would manifest itself in the aggressive British interpretation of their Blues music.

The adoption of Blues music by young British musicians, and their successful introduction of that music to white America, inspired a whole generation of white American musicians to rediscover the music and popularize it. This brought recognition to the Black musicians that had created it.

It is the ten songs that had the greatest influence on the "discovery" of Blues that I am presenting here.

Blues music was introduced into Britain after the war. Records came in through the sea ports, and well informed successful Jazz band leaders financed visiting Black artists to visit and play on their shows. Inevitably, their performance influenced the young British musicians who, were looking for something different from the pre war dance band scene.

Smokestack Lightening

Written and recorded by Howling Wolf.

Smokestack Lightening is based on a driving riff and has no chord changes. Released in Britain in 1964 by Pye Records, it reached the Top 50. In 1999, the song was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award

Boom Boom

Written and recorded by John Lee Hooker, the first American blues artist to do a club tour of Britain. Boom Boom was released as a single in 1961.
Boom Boom is a classic example of Hookers unique timing and chord structure.

The Animals recorded "Boom Boom" for their 1964 UK debut album "The Animals". Their rendition generally follows John Lee Hooker's version, except it conforms to a 12 bar sequence.

Worried Life Blues

The first song written and recorded by Maceo Merriweather in 1941

Inspired by "Someday Baby Blues," recorded by Sleepy John Estes in 1935, however "Worried Life Blues" has gone on to become a Blues "standard" and has reputedly been covered by more artists than any other blues song.

I Got My Mojo Working

Written by Preston Foster and popularized by Muddy Waters. Possibly the most influential of the Blues artists to visit the UK. Covers of this were made by many artists but of special importance were Alexis Korner, a pioneer and possibly the first British Blues band with Blues Incorporated, & Manfred Mann, a highly successful commercial band. Both versions were released in 1964, in itself a testament to the impact of Waters original.

Baby Please Don't Go

By Big Joe Williams, and covered by "Them" becoming the first "hit" record by Van Morrison in 1964. It became the weekly signature tune for the hugely influential television show "Ready Steady Go". The "B" side of the single featured the now-legendary "Gloria". It became a top ten hit in the UK, and launched "Them" and Van Morrisson to world fame.

Hoochie Coochie Man

Written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Muddy Waters in 1957 but covered by almost every blues artist since! The verse and intro are played over "stops" that were to become a feature of many blues recordings. The first cover version was released in 1962 by Alexis Korner on his album "R&B from the Marquee"

Crossroads Blues

Written and recorded by Robert Johnson in 1937 and largely unnoticed until Cream released their version in 1968. The song ranked #10 in the worlds greatest solo's, contributed greatly to the world wide fame of the band and to Eric Clapton in particular.

This success bought Robert Johnson's small but remarkable catalogue of songs to the attention of the music world and has earn't him the acclaim he so richly deserves.

Sweet home Chicago

Robert Johnson 1937. This song has become the Blues "anthem".

The list of artists who have covered the song is immense, including Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, Freddie King, Status Quo, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Blues Band, and the 1980 Blues Brothers movie.

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

Written and recorded by Solomon Burke in 1964, For many years it was the opener for the Rolling Stones live shows. They released a live version of the song on their 1965 E.P. "Got Live if you want it". The Rolling Stones were to become the most successful Rock band of all time, and they have been fundamental to the wider awareness and appreciation of the early Blues artists. They took there name from a Muddy Waters song "Rolling Stone". The songs riff was "borrowed" for the first "Small Faces" hit single "What You Gonna Do About It" also in 1965. The successful "soul" artist, Wilson Pickett covered the song and it entered the US charts in 1967. This song also features in the 1980 "Blues Brothers movie" The song, as are several of those mentioned, is ranked on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Hound Dog

A twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. In 1965 she toured Europe as a part of the American Folk and Blues festival that had become an annual event and had become so influential to the emergence of British Blues. The 1956 remake by Elvis was his second #1 hit and is possibly the first blues song to become a #1 hit record.

Whether you agree or not with my selection of "the best Blues songs ever" I am sure we can agree that theses songs have helped to popularize the Blues genre.

If you like Blues Music then you may like to check out Dr Charlie. He is highly influenced by traditional Blues but with a very different interpretation that you may like.

The Development of Blues Music

2011-10-27T07:40:00.001-07:00

Jazz, rock music and country and western are just some of the styles that owe a lot of their progression from the original blues. The contribution of Blues music to the development of many other genres of music is very significant. Blues was originally grown out of the hardships endured by many generations of African Americans, and first arose from the rural Mississippi region, around about the time of the dawn of the 20th century. The style developed from work shouts (known as arhoolies), and became the vocal narrative style that we associate with blues music today.

Jazz, rock music and country and western are just some of the styles that owe a lot of their progression from the original blues. The contribution of Blues music to the development of many other genres of music is very significant. Blues was originally grown out of the hardships endured by many generations of African Americans, and first arose from the rural Mississippi region, around about the time of the dawn of the 20th century. The style developed from work shouts (known as arhoolies), and became the vocal narrative style that we associate with blues music today.

Industry was progressing, and by the 1920's Blues music was also developing - affecting the everyday lives of people involved. There was by this time a very particular style, based around a three-line stanza. The stanza contained just one line of verse, repeated, and then finished with a final line of rhyming verse.

The style also included a repeating blues chord progression, which was the basis of the harmony. The usual rule of thumb was a 12-bar pattern utilizing the 3 major chords of a scale. The text was set to a 12-bar chorus, and typically was between four and eight stanzas in length.

In typical cases, the melody is formed by flattened third, fifth and seventh notes of the major scale. The outcome is the 'bent' notes that lend Blues music that distinctive sound - the bittersweet emotional impact that lacks in other genres. For the majority of blues music the focus is on the vocals - contradicting the fact that performers will often improvise instrumental solos over the Blues chord progressions.

Country Blues

Many itinerant musicians (the majority of which were men), travelled from one community to the next, singing songs that focused on love, freedom, sex and the general sorrows of life. Often referred to as 'Delta Blues' (in tribute to the Mississippi Delta were they first originated), country blues arose from the Southern rural experience, particularly influenced by the impact of emancipation.

Classic Blues

African Americans began to migrate, mainly looking for work. Areas such as Memphis and New Orleans began to become more populated, and these people brought their own brand of music with them. As they settled in these areas, it led to Blues music becoming much more urban-orientated. The music evolved as their way of life evolved. Male or female vocalists began to appear more regularly, and there was now the addition of a single piano.

The audience also grew, and Blues became more mainstream. Throughout the country as a whole, Blues music could now be heard in dancehalls and barrooms. The music industry as a whole started to take note, and more and more compositions and marketing arrangements emerged, as people began to take notice. The popularity of this kind of music grew exponentially. What would become known as Classic Blues became so popular that many songs were released with the word 'blues' in the title to capitalize on this, even though they bared little or no relation to the style of music.

Electric Blues

Its center, previously clustered around Memphis and New Orleans, began to migrate, and soon cities such as Chicago became the central point of much of the music. The appetite for the style of music known as the Blues was quite voracious.

The end of the Second World War brought a new revival into the genre, and artists began to develop the music, primarily through adding a bit of extra emphasis on the bass drums and cranking up the guitar sounds. Artists like Elvis and Bill Haley began to incorporate the Blues methods into their own unique brand of rock n roll. By the 1950's this style was no longer centered around the African American community, and was universally practiced across all races.

The influence that Blues music has had on the music industry as a whole is undisputed, and yet Blues music is still evolving, still developing, and still evoking the stirrings of the soul to anyone who cares to listen! The incorporation of the Blues style into different genres still exists today, and Blues music in its own right continues to go from strength to strength - many top selling artists maintain the original styles.

Punk Music

2011-10-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Punk music or hardcore punk or simply hardcore are all aliases of the same genre of music that is said to have literally rocked the musical scenario everywhere in the word. Considered to be a lot heavier than the punk rock, this music genre was in the early 1980s in the United States of America and United Kingdom. Traditional hardcore has never met with as much commercial success as the fusion and sub genres of this style of music.

Influence on other genres:

The punk music had a lot of influence over other genres of music such as alternative rock, electronic rock, Emo and post hardcore, metal and thrash core. Each of these had separate bands of music that played music belonging to these fusion genres and worked on further improvisation in their technique.

Here are a few fusion sub genres and their bands and solo artists who contributed a lot.

>> Alternative rock is a fusion genre where we get to listen to hardcore punk and rock music. Famous bands are Meat Puppets, Minutemen, The Replacements.

>> Electronic music is a musical amalgamation of electronic music, techno and hardcore punk.

>> Nintendocore is a mish mash of hardcore punk sprinkled with music for video games and chip tunes.

>> Emo and post-hardcore are fusion genres wherein the style of music evolved from mere screaming and heavy metal use. Noteworthy bands are Big Black, Naked Raygun, Rites of Spring and Nation of Ulysses.

>> Metal has many takers and these artists and band members took the punk music to a whole new level by adding heavier hardcore elements to it. Noted bands are Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Metallica, Slayer, Corrosion of Conformity and Suicidal Tendencies.

>> Thrashcore consists of crossover thrash and is characterized by the presence of blast beats.

Music and clothing style:

Punk music was a genre of music which not only rocked the music world but also heavily influenced the cultures. In terms of music, hardcore punk laid more emphasis on the rhythms than the tunes. In fact, one can observe a lot of screaming, chanting of verses and poetry which are extremely loud. Stage diving and slam dancing are two styles of dancing which is influenced by the punk scenario. People who were the fans of this kind of music had a very distinct way of dressing up. Their clothes such as their T-shirts, jeans had a totally different feel to it. There was a lot of extremism to it such as wearing clothes that were styled to look like torn, studs, spikes, use of safety pins etc. The hairstyle was another feature of their personality which separated from the rest of the masses. They weird crew cuts on them and a few even colored their hair in bright shades of yellow and pink.

Some of the noted bands of punk music style are 88 Fingers Louie, Angry Samoans, Antidote, Bad Religion, Biohazard, Blood for Blood, Career Suicide, Civil Disobedience and many more.

Free Digital Music Distribution

2011-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

In case you are an up-and-coming singer or a musician who is selling your music online, it is important to have a plan that will allow you to make a lot of money from this. As you can imagine, the music industry can be a tough one and it will be easier to sell music if have an established a name. But, if you are an aspiring singer you could still earn money with your talent from selling music online. In fact, many professional singers these days get their start online, which help to pave the way for a professional career.

Since your intention is to sell your own music online, the following are several things to help you get started.

Create good quality music and then prepare them for free digital music distribution on MP3, CD and more. You could also create a video to use as promotional material. You should pay close attention to sound quality, because you don't want to give people below average audio quality. Copyright your songs. Naturally, you have to own music before you are able to sell them. This is why it's important to get copyright for your songs. Visit the copyright office or check the websites for requirements that will allow you to get this process done easily.

Promote the music on forums, social networks or from your own site. Internet marketing can be fast and easy, so take full advantage of social networking websites, blogs and forums. With good promotions online, you are guaranteed to sell a lot of music. One of the effective ways to sell your music on the internet is to give sample or demos for people to listen in order to buy the full CD.

Make use of online stores such as eBay and Amazon to sell your music. You can sell this on CD or as a downloadable. It's also possible to sell your music on sites that enable the independent musicians to sell their songs. Promotion will also be important, so you want good materials to ensure that you are selling music regularly.

Establish your own musical style, sound and image. Singers sell no just because of their singing abilities and voice, but image or overall package will make a difference. As a result, before you even start to think about selling your music, its best to come with an overall package that is sellable. In addition ensure that practice a lot before distributing the final CD.

3 Styles of Jazz Music

2011-09-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Jazz comes in many varieties and in this article I will be comparing and contrasting 3 of these styles including New Orleans Jazz, Harlem Stride, and the White Jazz. For the New Orleans Style I am using the song "Potato Head Blues" by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven and for Harlem Stride I chose the song "Charleston" by James P. Johnson and lastly I chose the song "There Ain't No Sweet Man" by Paul Whitman to represent White Jazz.

New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz and the New Orleans Style is one of the oldest forms of Jazz. At the time of the birth of Jazz in the late 1800s black people were oppressed and segregated. This led them to have a music of their own that was deeply rooted in music and rhythm. After the civil war there were a lot of extra instruments available and many blacks purchased them and began playing music. These blacks may not have played their instruments very well, but they did use rhythm very distinctly and this lead to the first jazz music. White Jazz was the white community's response to the new music of the blacks. At first white musicians played songs written by blacks, but eventually they developed their own style which lost some of the edgy feel and in my opinion does now swing as much as black music from that time. Harlem Stride is the eastern piano style of playing jazz, it is played by using the left hand alternating between bass notes and midrange notes. This creates an oom-pah feeling to the song, and while the left hand is kept busy with the stride the right hand is free to play complex melodies.

As mentioned earlier Jazz is rooted in rhythm; it has that feeling to it that cannot be explained in words, but is instantly recognizable when heard. When listening to the songs "Potato Head Blues" and "There Ain't No Sweet Man" it is easy to find similarities in the rhythm that they employ. Both of them are written in 4/4 time and employ very low notes played on brass instruments to keep the tempo. On the other hand in the song "Charleston" there is only one instrument used and that is the piano, but there are still single notes played very low on the piano to keep the rhythm. All three of these songs are played at an upbeat tempo but "There Ain't No Sweet Man" somehow seems to be played at a much slower pace. This is accomplished in the song by having the musicians play their instruments in an almost lackadaisical fashion.

Many people do not consider notated jazz music true Jazz because it is impossible to capture the feeling of Jazz with notation. Paul Whitman used notated music in his song "There Ain't No Sweet Man" because it was played by a large orchestra and it otherwise would have been impossible to play with that large of a group. Both "Potato "Head Blues" and "Charleston" were not notated when they were recorded, and that allowed for some spontaneity in the recording which is a large part of the Jazz feeling. Sometimes the melody of a piece can be lost to the untrained ear because of the way the song is interpreted in a Jazz style. These three songs were all designed to be played as Jazz and they are considered to be Jazz songs and in "Charleston" and "There Ain't No Sweet Man" it is easy to pick out the melody, but when I listen to "Potato Head Blues" the melody is hard for me at the beginning because so much is going on.

"Potato Head Blues" immediately starts off with polyphony style and this is mainly the reason why I can't seem to find the melody as well at the beginning. "There Ain't No Sweet Man" has a small intro that shortly breaks into a homophony and although there is still a lot going on in the song all of the instruments revolve around one melody. When listening to these songs I hear crisp harmonies throughout and this consonance of harmony used in the songs makes them very enjoyable to listen to. "Charleston" is a fun and happy song to listen to but because it only involves one instrument, the piano, it does not have as much depth to it as the other songs. In "There Ain't No Sweet Man" a full orchestra is used including brass, woodwinds and stringed instruments. Using that many pieces in a song creates a fullness to the music and a complexity that is not easily replicated. "There Ain't No Sweet Man" uses the trumpet for the melody and also the voice. "Potato Head Blues" also uses trumpet as the primary melody carrier but many other instruments are used including the cornet and even a guitar.

The overall tone and feelings of the songs are vastly different from each other; "Charleston" is a very upbeat song that has a playful side to it, I would describe the song as having a warm and cold tone at the same time. "There Ain't No Sweet Man" has a distant feeling to it while the instruments are playing the intro but even after the singing begins there is still a distant feeling mixed in with the lyrics. For the most part "Charleston" just has one volume throughout the song but it still uses the dynamics of hard and soft to emphasize different parts of the song. "Potato Head Blues" and "There Ain't No Sweet Man" use a wide variety of volume levels and dynamics to get the feeling of the songs across. This is partly possible because of the different instruments used; when they use softer instruments such as the guitar, during a bridge in the song it can be particularly effective as a transfer into another part of the song.

All three of these songs are considered to be Jazz and in my opinion they all have that swing to them which is imperative to a Jazz song. However, these songs swing in different ways, "Charleston" uses the Harlem Stride to keep the song moving around and liberates the right hand play the melody in a swinging jazz style that is full of fun. "Potato Head Blues" use strong polyphony to grab the listeners' attention right at the beginning and eventually dives into solos where the musicians show off the ability to improvise in the Jazz style, which the do in an astounding fashion. "There Ain't No Sweet Man" may not have the, off the cuff, feeling that the other two songs have, but its uses each instrument to the advantage of the group and the result is beautifully arranged piece that manages to gain the jazz feeling without the direct improvisation.

Start Making Original New Indie Pop Music

2011-09-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

In the past, being recognized as new indie music artists was so hard to do. You had to be a really good musician in order to be heard for your unique new indie pop music. Nowadays, with the help of the Internet, all you need to do is upload your song into a website and wait for people to comment on it. As it becomes easier, more and more people are doing it, and the difficulty is now focused on how to be heard amidst the thousands of aspiring new indie pop music artists. Here are a few tips so you can be heard.

How New Indie Musicians Beat Writer's Block

As a new indie music artist, you need to have serious writing skills. But sometimes, even the most experienced independent artists, to the latest indie musician on the blog, we all sit for hours with nothing to write about. Do you always suffer form creative block?

Whenever we get this, we usually say that we are not inspired enough to write something. But the truth is that creative idea is just inside your head waiting for the right moment to pop out. So what can you do about it? Stimulate your brain to get it ready for creating some truly original new indie music. Do something that involves a creative process. Watch a movie, listen to some good songs, read, paint, or whatever it is that get you going. And when that idea pops out of your head in the middle of the night, be sure you have a piece of paper at your bed side. In fact, it is better if you carry a small notebook with you so that your ideas will always be written and never forgotten.

Another problem you have with writing as new indie pop music artists is originality. Artists nowadays talk about the same thing in their songs, and their music is arranged in the same way that most artists do it. How do you establish uniqueness? Whenever you try to write a piece of music, do not think too much. Write whatever you feel like writing and play whatever you feel like to your heart's content. After that, review what you have written and if it sounds too familiar, make an effort to come up with a unique style.

New Indie Music Artists Need the Right Environment...

The environment in which you summon your creativity and become new indie music artists also plays an important role. Be sure you always do it in a comfortable place. Stress-free environment helps, and if you always choose to write in a studio, make sure that you have become comfortable in it. Your home is also a great place to start, just be sure there is nothing that can bother you when you start to sit down and write.

What is great about indie music is the fact that there are no rules, and you are free to write whatever you want. Your lyrics do not even have to make sense. If you want a song that reflects more of your personality and your life, you can do that too. Indie music is a reflection of what the artist truly wants his or her music to be, and nothing can stop you from writing what you want.

Once you have completed your song, make sure to record it. Recording it in a professional recording studio will ensure you that the quality is great compared to home recording. But if you are just starting out, you can put up your home recording studio and try to record it in the best way possible. If you can, try to save money for a professional recording because it is such a good investment when it comes to making music.

New Indie Music Artists Need Inspiration!

If the writing process is taking longer than expected and you still do not have that killer new indie music song in your mind, do not worry. Making music is not an overnight process, and sometimes a song can take months of writing before it can actually be recorded. Professional artists, let alone new indie pop music artists, do not make them overnight and the entire process could take up to a year. Stay calm and wait for that genius piece you have been waiting for. It might just come to you in the least expected time. Look below for some interesting inspirational starting points...

For some inspiration, there's nothing better to do than surround yourself with what you're trying to create! I don't mean mainstream music, but new indie music straight from a band's garage or a small indie music label.

The Traditional Or Contemporary Church Music Controversy

2011-09-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

There is a controversy brewing in the Christian community in regards to the style of music offered in a church worship service. There is some debate as to which is more appropriate. Whether you agree or disagree I hope this article will help you decide.

This controversy stems from the use of traditional verses contemporary music. This has stirred up quite a bit of debate. In this article I want to share with your some thoughts and ideas regarding contemporary church music.

The danger of contemporary church music stems from the fact that modern music as an art form is thought of as a variety of entertainment. When shown in this light the real danger is that contemporary church music can look more show business more than a ministry. This is the primary argument of those who favor traditional music.

As you study your Bible you will learn about several examples where music is important. Here is one example. David was skilled musician. One of his early jobs was to play music for King Saul. When ever he play for the king, the king was either soothed or agitated by the sounds he heard. That is the power of music to reveal emotion and produce an emotional reaction. The emotions were reveals purely on Saul's attitude at the time.

Consider music is an important part of modern society. It has been that way from the creation of civilization. Music will mirror the culture. It tells the stories of important themes and ideas. By this we learn about the many implication of the world view. It says a lot about our society.

The purpose of church music is to be a part a worship service. It is part of the ritual. The music is integral in the service. The songs used in the service need to be based on solid biblical principals. Now when you combine this idea with current music styles we get contemporary church music.

So what makes a song fall into the category of contemporary church music? This type of song is identified by first by its lyrical content and second by the music genre. You should realize there are a multitude of musical genres. These genres include rock, jazz, country, rap, folk, and classical. Each genre provides the listener with us with a variety of performance style options.

The music genre is really at the heart of the controversy. The modern praise and worship songs use up to date music style that appeal to our modern culture. It offers the listener modern lyrics and song music style with a traditional biblical message. In fact this genre of music is more defined by the lyrics than the style of music. What we find is the most common theme to contemporary church music is worship and praise and worship to God and/or Jesus.

Regardless of the type of music here are three things to keep in mind when considering song selection for your church.

* The songs must proclaim God's Word

* The songs need to be appropriate to the worship service

* The songs need to mirror the belief of the congregation

As you can see the crux of the issue is about the style of music. We all have preferences to what we like and don't like. Sometimes we want the status quo other times be may be more adventurous and try new things. But the bottom line is that no matter what music genre it is the lyrical content that guides us. Especially when the lyric are in agreement with the Scriptures.

Top 5 Pop Music Numbers in Last Few Weeks

2011-09-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Do you love pop music? That's great. Here we would like to find out the top 5 pop music numbers that are doing great in different music charts across the world in last couple of weeks. Perhaps you have all these numbers in your private collection. But this list would definitely add something to your pride. So, here we go.

The top artist who has been rocking different music charts across the world for last 12 weeks is Pink. This pop powerhouse performer has been around since late '90s but in the primary days she was taken just as another pop artist. But now, the weather has changed in her favor. Her move from a local 'Club Fever' to the international arena is unbelievable. Anyways, "So What" from her latest and fifth studio album "Funhouse" is the top number that has acquired the top position in different music charts of 11 countries across the world. And this is the most successful solo number in her music career.

The next number in the list is Katy Perry with her 'Hot n Cold' from her latest album "One of the Boys", released on 17th June, 2008 in US and Canada. The magical combination of cheeky music and commercial pop are doing great in different top pop music charts across the globe. The debut album has already sold 749,000+ copies in different parts of the world and it is certified Gold in US.

The next in the list is TI with his song "Whatever You Like" from the album "Paper Trail" released on 30th September, 2008. "Paper Trail" is his sixth studio album. Though the release was delayed for a few times, it sold more than 357,000 copies in USA within three days of its release! Though "Paper Trail" released on 30th September, the song "Whatever You Like" was first released on 16th July. Though the music have some similarities with Lil Wayne's song "Lollipop" (both of them have same producer - Jim Jonsin), it did great in different top pop music charts around the world. By the way, did you listen to the parody of the song recorded by "Weird Al" Yankovic!

In the fourth position we have Leona Lewis' 'Better in Time' from her debut album "Spirit" released on 8th April, 2008. It doesn't matter if her strong voice reminds you of young Whitney Houston, the winner of The X Factor (the British reality talent show - third series) is doing great in different parts of the world. And do you remember that it ranked top in Billboard top 200 music charts on 26th April! It has own many critics due to its elegant melody, emotive voice quality and lyric - across the world.

In the fifth position we have "Womanizer" by Britney Spears. The song was initially recorded for her forthcoming album "Circus" and was released on 7th October 2008 in USA through digital distribution. Though this song received some mixed reviews from critics, it has been doing great in different music charts across the web. Some people say that it is Britney magic that is working the way to the top for last 5 weeks.

Do you have all these numbers in your collection?

Christmas Songs - Top 5 Traditional Christian Songs

2011-09-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Music brings peace to the soul. Christian Christmas songs were a way for people to spread the joy and message of the festival through music. That is the reason for the evolution of Christmas based songs.

Through the years, many artists have come up with their own originals songs, while most have adapted traditional songs to new tunes. Of those traditional songs, 7 are listed here as the top most listened to songs.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Originally written by Charles Wesley in 1739, this song has been widely adapted by music artists from every genre possible. It is considered one of the best Christmas songs till date.

In the original version the first two lines were 'hark! How all the welkin rings, Glory to the King of Kings'. In the present version it has been changed to 'Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King'. The best adapted version of this song till date is Blackmore's Night's version.

O Holy Night

Cantique de Noël or the O holy night is the brainchild of Adolphe C. Adam, composed in 1847. It was in French and was translated to English by John Sullivan Dwight. This song has the fame of being the first music to be played on radio. The first two lines are 'Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.' The best adapted version is by Smokie Norful.

The First Noel

The fist noel is thought to be a translation of a French song, though not proved to that fact yet. It was first seen in the year 1833 in a collection of carols complied by William Sandys. The first two lines of the songs are as follows:

The First Noel, the Angels did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

The best adapted version of this popular song is Randy Traves.

Silent Night

Silent night was first written in German by Josef Mohr in 1816. It was later translated in the year 1863 by John Young. First two lines of this famous carol are 'Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright'.

This is one the most soothing songs of the list and has been done justice to by Go Fish Acappella and Yolanda Adams with her mesmerizing voice.

Away in a manger

Printed in a school book, this song dates back to 1885. It is erroneously thought that Martin Luther wrote the song. The music to this song was composed by William Kirkpatrick. 'Away in a manger, No crib for His bed' song has been sung best by Mahalia Jackson.

The traditional Christmas songs have best conveyed the true meaning of Christmas, the joy and the good times.

Musical Genres Or Styles of Guitar Music

2011-09-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Music is a free expression of emotion and feeling. It is an artistic expression of passion for melody, rhyme, measure and lyrics. Man's love for music is evident on the number of musical instruments that were developed and used through the decades. Among these ancient-modern instruments is the guitar.

Guitar is one of the stringed instruments that have a history rooted from the ancient times. Through the centuries of its use, it has created thousands of tunes and has entertained millions of people from the era and area on which it was used. The ancient forms of music created by the guitar also evolved along with the guitar's many forms. With man's continuing passion for music and for this stringed instrument, modern times have created modern niche of guitar music.

Blues is one of the vocal and instrumental forms of music that uses blue notes. It has emerged from African-American communities through their spiritual and work songs as well as chants. With the use of rhymed and simple narrative ballads, the community has created music with a prominent call and response pattern. Blues are traditionally played with a piano as in churches and gatherings. Later on, the accessibility of guitars and its popularity among bands have made more music for blues, making it the root for some other musical genres such as the jazz, rhythm and blues, bluegrass and rock and roll.

Jazz is one of the popular genres of music that are played with the guitar. It is known to have originated from the blue notes or Blues. Considered a confluence of African and European music traditions, Jazz is distinct for its improvisations, polyrythms, syncopation and swung notes. Jazz has made beautiful music with its fusion with the big-band style swing, bebop and Latin, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music. Eventually, Jazz was incorporated in 20th century American pop music.

The more recent musical genre of guitar music is pop music. With its noticeable rhythmic element, melodies and hooks, its mainstream style and conventional structure made it very popular among the teenage population. Today, these are the music that usually appears on top of the record charts, which are determined by the number of sales and popularity in air play. And most of the songs in this genre are accompanied by the tunes of the modern and classic construction of guitars.

The versatile application of guitar to music explains why professional guitarists can play all musical genres. From rock to pop, classic to modern beat, no one will ever miss out the significant contribution of guitar tunes to the whole effect of a song or musical piece. Even for novice guitar players or those who are starting to learn to play the guitar, the selection of play pieces or practice pieces is limitless, making the learning process more interesting and exciting.

The Unique Music Genres of Colombia

2011-09-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Colombia has several styles of music that originated from its territory long ago and remain popular to this day...

Vallenato: Born in the city of Valledupar (Cesar) from which its name is derived, this folkloric style of music is especially popular in the country's Caribbean region. It owes much of its rhythms to the slaves brought from Africa in centuries past. Carlos Vives is vallenato's biggest star. Valledupar hosts an annual "Legends of vallenato" festival. Folks from the Caribbean region have the odd custom of installing huge speakers on their porches and blasting vallenato at top volume day or night. Nobody complains!

Guasca: Folk music from Antioquia, where the town of Betania considered the "capital" of the genre. The lyrics are typically vulgar and humorous. It's biggest star, Octavio Mesa, died recently. International pop star Juanes has said much of his inspiration came from the latter.

Llanera: Music from the "llanos", or plains, of eastern Colombia. It's distinguishing characteristic is its very original use of the harp, producing sounds that are decidedly not classical. Villavicencio, in Meta, is the capital of this music genre.

While in Colombia, you'll hear all three styles on a daily basis, whether it be in taxis and buses, or bars. Colombians love their music and can't seem to get enough of it. Other popular music styles didn't originate from Colombia: cumbia, reggaeton and Mexican rancheras. You'll hear more Vicente Fernandez tunes here than in Mexico! On the pop scene, native son Juanes is more popular than native daughter Shakira, the international phenomenon.

Pop Music Icons

2011-08-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Pop music is usually comprised of happy, upbeat rhythms with simple melodies and lyrics that relate to love, relationships, sex and dancing. It is not a genre that is meant to bring deep and serious world issues to the fore, nor is it meant to invoke introspection and reflection. It's there simply to bop around to, and join in the rousing chorus at the top of your lungs. Its feel good music, designed for fun and lighthearted entertainment.

Unlike other music genres such as rock and hip hop, where the songs are often written by the artists themselves, pop songs are usually written by professional songwriters. In order to generate as much exposure as possible, artists create music videos and stage extravagant live performances to attract media interest. Music videos are particularly important as they can enjoy international commercial success and thus reach an extremely wide audience. This has made pop, arguably the world's biggest music genre.

"Popular music" has been around since the 50s, with people such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley falling into the category. Pop music, as most of us know it, really came into its own in the 80s with the rise of artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Michael Jackson had nine no.1 singles in the US alone during the 80s, and sold over 136 million albums even though he only released two, Thriller and Bad. This ensured that he became the most successful artist of the 80s and earned him the title "King of Pop".

Madonna was another emerging 80s artist who reached iconic status. Widely regarded as the "Queen of Pop", Madonna has experimented by blending pop with a number of other music genres and has sold over 230 million albums globally. Her album, Like a Virgin achieved Diamond status; one better than Platinum and her single Vogue is one of the biggest selling singles in history. It has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

The 90s was not a good decade for pop. It saw the emergence of boy bands and girl groups resulting in the Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC and that fascinating UK phenomenon, the Spice Girls. Groups were assembled more for their looks and appeal to teenage audiences than any real singing talent. Towards the end of the 90s we saw a rise of bubble gum pop and aspiring divas, Britney Spears and her competition, Christina Aguilera. Christina experimented and evolved; Britney stagnated in the sex kitten look and had a breakdown. Australia's Kylie Minogue, a former 80s icon, experienced a revival that carried her through to the next century. Latin pop burst onto the scene with Ricky Martin swinging his hips and Shakira shaking everything else.

The 2000s have seen a lot of artists take time off from their bands to record solo albums such as Gwen Stefani, while others simply left their bands to pursue solo careers like Justin Timberlake and Robbie Williams. We've seen the rise of Teen pop, who've been given a boost by the Disney Channel, as well as Pop Punk like Fall Out Boy and pop rock like Pink. The popular reality show American Idol has changed the way in which many people achieve fame and commercial success in the music industry. Some artists have proved that it is possible to successfully blend pop music and R&B, artists like Nelly Furtado and Rihanna.

Some modern day icons include:

Justin Timberlake, who rose to stardom on the tails of one of the more successful boy bands, N'SYNC. He chose to leave the band and pursue an independent solo career and in 2002 released his debut album titled, Justified. After a break of about four years, in which he recorded with other artists, began a movie career, started a fashion label, William Rast, and established his own record label, Tennman Records, he returned to the studio and released his second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds. He has sold over 15 million albums worldwide.

Nelly Furtado first came to our attention in 2000 when she released her debut album, Whoa, Nelly. "I'm like a bird", her breakthrough single from the album, won her a Grammy award and established her as an artist to watch. In 2003, after taking some time off to have her first child, she released her second album, Folklore, which didn't fare as well commercially as Whoa, Nelly did. However, her latest album, Loose, which she released in 2006, has put her firmly back on the hit parade. It has had several hit singles, most notably, "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It Right" and "Do It". Nelly is not afraid of experimenting with her sound and often incorporates different instruments, sounds, languages and vocal styles into her music. She claims to have attributed her new youthful sound on Loose to the presence of her two-year old daughter.

Kylie Minogue has one of the longest standing and most successful careers in pop music history. She's seen out the 80s, the 90s and has enjoyed huge success in the 2000s. She is primarily famous in Europe and Australia, although her popularity in the US is growing. She is one of the world's most easily recognisable celebrities and earned herself thousands of new fans by the brave manner in which she battled breast cancer and dealt with her resulting hair loss. In January 2007 Madame Tussaud's in London revealed a new waxwork of Kyle, the fourth one. The Queen is the only person in the world to have had more models created.

This November Kylie will release her much anticipated 10th album, her first in four years. For most of her career Kylie has been regarded as a gay icon, which she encourages with good humoured comments such as this one, "I am not a traditional gay icon. There's been no tragedy in my life, only tragic outfits." She acknowledges and appreciates her gay support base by openly supporting AIDS and gay rights causes.

Famous Rock Music Artists and Their Histories

2011-08-27T07:27:00.000-07:00

What few people realize is that most musical talents get their start in classical music and by working with traditional instruments. Some of these instruments include pianos, violas and other such instruments from the baroque era and other time periods. Many musical performers in the modern era transition from piano and classical music to more popular genres such as rock and classic rock. Many people learn to work on the piano initially, and they can use piano benches, a piano bench, or a sheet music cabinet to learn their trade and become better at their jobs. One of the more popular genres in modern music is rock, and amongst that subset there are tons of famous musicians and people who have made their mark on the world of modern music. In the upcoming paragraphs some of the more famous rock acts of the modern era will be discussed and some bands who have done an excellent job of becoming famous and making a name for themselves in modern rock.

One of the more famous rock bands of the modern era is Green Day. Green Day is from Oakland, California and has produced a lot of brilliant music that has reached a global audience. One of their more popular and famous albums is called American Idiot, which was also possibly their most famous album and produced numerous number one hits in the American pop charts. The album that really set the band apart from other groups was called Dookie, which was the group's debut album that really brought them to fame and made them stand out from all the other punk bands that are around in the modern music scene. The band's most recent album is called 21st Century Breakdown and is apparently themed around the pitfalls of modern American society and the problems that exist in the country.

Another famous rock group in the modern era is Blink 182. Blink 182 gained their notoriety in the mid to late 1990's when they came out with a string of records that captured the angst and anger of the teenage population of the country. Recently, and unfortunately, the band has split up and there are a number of different side projects that the various band members are taking part in to take up their time. Blink 182 is probably most famous for their drummer Travis Barker, who is recognized as one of the best drummers in the world, and who was up until recently involved in a high profile relationship with his ex wife.

Finally, a famous rock group from the recent era is Nirvana. Since the death of lead singer and main artistic influence Kurt Cobain, the band split up into numerous projects amongst their members which include Christ Novocelic who plays in the band the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Grohl who is the lead singer and main influence behind the band the Foo Fighters. Something that few people know is that much modern rock music is influenced by classical music and older instruments.

Best Guitar Scale For Rock Music

2011-08-25T07:23:00.000-07:00

The best guitar scale to learn if you are into Rock music is the Pentatonic scale. The Pentatonic scale is also used in many other types of popular music, like Blues for example.

The Pentatonic scale has 5 notes that create 5 patterns that connect across the entire fretboard. These 5 patterns get their names from the notes that are in the scale... Root, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th. Also, just by adding a few notes, you can create all of your other scales just by using this one pattern. You start off by using the Pentatonic to visualize your scales and then you add a note or two and you can play over top of any chords.

Here is the Pentatonic scale 6th shape that you will want to memorize first:

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

G|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

Because this scale is so important to the guitar player, it is usually the first scale and pattern that everyone is taught.

There are also 4 other patterns that belong to the Pentatonic scale that are important for connecting the entire fretboard. Here are the others...

Root Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

G|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|---|

D|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

2nd Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

G|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

3rd Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

B|---|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|

G|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|

5th Shape:

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

B|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

G|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

D|---|-X-|---|---|-X-|---|---|

A|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

E|---|---|-X-|---|-X-|---|---|

When practicing the different Pentatonic shapes, or any other scales for that matter, make sure to use alternate picking and a metronome. You will want to get comfortable with alternate picking because once it becomes second nature to you, it will allow you to play faster while still sounding smooth and clear.

Using a metronome is something that you should always be using when you practice. Not only will you improve your timing but you will also learn your scales and songs faster if you practice by starting off at a slow speed.

Using a metronome can also help you sound better. Start off at a real slow bpm (beats per minute) and listen to each note you play very closely. Do you hear them ringing clear or do they sound muted. Identify which strings are being muted and adjust your fingers and then play that note again. Keep doing this until all strings are ringing clear. Once you can play all the notes clearly at that speed, then set your metronome at the next speed faster. Then go through the same steps as before until all the notes sound perfect.

Also, try at first to use one finger per fret but if you switch out of position occasionally, that's ok. Do whatever you feel most comfortable doing.

So give the Pentatonic guitar scale 6th shape a go first and memorize it. Don't forget to start off slow and gradually work your way up. Make sure all your notes ring out clear and then try playing it at the next bpm faster. Once you are satisfied with your speed, go on to the next shape and memorize that one. If you spend a little bit of your practice time each day practicing, you will be able to play all of these shapes anywhere on the neck of your guitar. And also once you have all of these shapes memorized, it will be much easier to tackle any other scales you want to learn. Rock and Roll!

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Rock Music Festivals - 5 Getting Ready Tips

2011-08-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

So, you've decided on a rock music festival that you'd like to attend? How do you know if you're fully prepared to make the most of it? Here's the inside scoop on what you need to know to be prepared and have an awesome time:

1. Get directions. Make sure you know where is the festival grounds are located. Plan your route and determine how long it's going to take you to get there. Learn when the gates open, so you can time your arrival for ease of parking and grabbing your favorite band viewing location.

2. Accommodations. Where are you going to stay? Many rock music festivals provide convenient camp ground facilities, but you shouldn't just expect to show up and get a site. If you want to camp, verify that they have tent camping and/or if your size of camper will fit in the sites they have available. Whether you're planning on camping or staying at an area hotel, make sure to get your reservation made well in advance, or you may be out of luck!

3. Other Accommodations. Learn what types of food, drink and other facilities, such as restrooms (and showers -- if you're staying in a tent) are going to be available.

4. Plan for the weather. Rock Music Festivals are typically held outdoors, rain or shine. If you're concerned that there might be severe weather during the festival, bring your own radio receiver that has access to the weather bands, or bookmark on your laptop or smart phone the closest National Weather Service office to the festival location. Then, you can have the latest radar and warning information right at your fingertips. Make sure to pack your rain gear, as well as a hat to provide some shade from the heat.

5. Other Items. What else do you need to bring? Make sure you know what the seating area is like. The majority of festivals require you to provide your own blanket or lawn chair. They don't have bleachers. Learn ahead of time what most people do. You don't want to be the only one on a blanket on a flat piece of land when everyone else has lawn chairs! Check out the Rock Music Festival's website to learn about any activities and/or contests they may have. If you're creative and come prepared, you could win some pretty great prizes!

Rock Music Fiction

2011-08-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for something different to read? Tired of the same old chick-lit, thrillers, romances, and teen vampire books? If you're like most people you listen to rock music-on the radio, on CDs, and at concerts. Believe it or not, there is a growing genre of fiction devoted to rock music and rock musicians.

They aren't all just about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll (although a generous sprinkling of these ingredients doesn't hurt!). Many rock music novels strive to capture something about the creative process, the everyday life of a musician, or the impact that rock music has on listeners. Here are a few choice examples of works of fiction that are based in the punk, pop, heavy metal, or rock genre.

The Best in Rock Fiction (June Sawyers and Anthony DeCurtis, editors. Hal Leonard, 2004). This engrossing collection features short stories including T. C. Boyle's "All Shook Up" and Tom Piazza's "Burn Me Up," plus more than a dozen excerpts from published novels. Authors include Nick Hornby, William Gibson, Sherman Alexie (with an excerpt from Reservation Blues), Don DeLillo, Madison Smartt Bell, Jeffrey Eugenides, Rick Moody, and Scott Spencer. In "Ground Beneath Her Feet," Salman Rushdie explores the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a rock 'n roll context.

Carved in Rock: Short Stories by Musicians (Greg Kihn, editor. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003). A collection of short stories written by some of the biggest names in rock including Joan Jett, Kinky Freidman, Jim Carroll, Richard Hell, Ray Davies, Graham Parker, Eric Burden, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Exene Cervenka, and Wayne Kramer. Given the success that many of these legends have as songwriters, it's no surprise that these engaging and varied tales open new doors of literary experience.

Pistonhead (Thomas A. Hauck. Something.hot Communications, 2009). My own entry into the rock fiction arena. Pistonhead reveals the daily life of Charlie Sinclair, a struggling Boston musician who works in a factory by day and plays guitar for his band Pistonhead at night. He's stressed-out, confused, oversexed, underfed, has an apartment full of mice, and can't get rid of his overbearing ex-girlfriend who tries to make booty calls. When his life can't get much more depressing, he faces a personal crisis and it looks like his dreams of a career in music are over. They aren't--he just has to change his idea of success.

High Fidelity (Nick Hornby. Riverhead, 1995). Although the protagonist is the owner of a record store (remember record stores?), this classic novel is the most successful of the rock music genre. We meet Rob Fleming, owner of a vintage record store in London, whose girlfriend, Laura, leaves him for another man. Rob realizes that he lives not for sexual conquest but for the monogamy that he, until now, dismissed as hopelessly square. The 2000 movie version starred John Cusack and Danish actress Iben Hjejle, and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Noise: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth (Peter Wild, editor. Harper Perennial, 2009). A collection of stories inspired, as the title says, by the music of punk rock legends Sonic Youth. The all-star contributors include Hiag Akmakjian, Christopher Coake, Katherine Dunn, Mary Gaitskill, Rebecca Godfrey, Laird Hunt, Shelley Jackson, J. Robert Lennon, Samuel Ligon, Emily Maguire, Tom McCarthy, Scott Mebus, Eileen Myles, Catherine O'Flynn, Emily Carter Roiphe, Kevin Sampsell, Steven Sherrill, Matt Thorne, Rachel Trezise, Jess Walter, and Peter Wild.

The Facts Beyond Jazz Music

2011-07-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Many people think that jazz is the music of the elite and well-established people. But, if you look into the roots of jazz, you will see the opposite. Jazz is an art of expression in the form of music. Jazz music is the fundamental music in human life.

Jazz tradition evolved from the lifestyle of black community in America who has been oppressed. Initially, the tradition began from the influence of tribal drums and gospel music, blues and field hollers (the shouts of cultivators). Its birth process has demonstrated that jazz was closely related to the life defense and expression of human life.

The interesting thing from jazz music was that the origin of the word "jazz" was derived from a vulgar term used for sexual acts. Most of rhythms in jazz were ever associated with the brothels and the women with an unfortunate reputation.

Then, in the journey of jazz, it eventually became an art form of jazz music, both in the specific composition and improvisation, which reflected the spontaneous melodies. Jazz musicians usually expressed their feelings that were uneasily explained because this music should be felt within the heart.

Jazz legend began in New Orleans and grew into the Mississippi River, Memphis, St. Louis, and finally Chicago. Of course, jazz was influenced by music in New Orleans, African tribal drums and the structure of European-style music. Jazz background could not be separated from the facts in which jazz was influenced by a variety of music such as spiritual music, cakewalks, ragtime and blues.

One of jazz legends who was believed was the legend around 1891. An owner of hair shaving shop in New Orleans, named Buddy Bolden blew his cornet and the time became the beginning of jazz music as a new breakthrough in the music world. Half a century later, American jazz music gave many contributions to the world of music. Jazz was also studied at university, and eventually became a serious music and was calculated by the world of music.

Jazz as a popular art began to spread to almost all of American society in the 1920s (known as the Jazz Age). Jazz was more widespread in the swing era in the late 1930s and it peaked in the late 1950s as a modern jazz. In the early 20s and 30s, "jazz" has become a common word.

The influence and development of blues music could not be left when discussing jazz music in the early years of its development. Expressions that shined when playing the blues were in line with the style of jazz. The ability to play the blues music became the standard for all jazz musicians, especially to be used in improvisation.

Blues music itself, which was originated from the southern region, had a very broad history. Blues players usually used guitar, piano, and harmonica, or played together in a group who played his own musical instruments.

A Brief History of Country Music

2011-07-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

The origin of country music can be traced back as far as the 1920's. Many people especially those from outside the USA often think that it is a new music genre due to the rise of young country singers and groups such as Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum who brought the genre back to life and introduced it to the world once again. For those who are interested in the history of music and its many different genres, they should also be interested in finding out the history of country music. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular music genres in the USA today. It is even popular outside the USA such as in Canada and Australia, as numerous American country singers and musicians today have also gained fame outside of their home country.

One of the most popular sub-genre of country music in the 1930s and 1940s was honky tonk. It was usually identified by the heavy use of guitar, bass, drums, and steel guitar. In those days, the most famous and probably the best country music "hero" was Al Dexter, an American musician and song writer who came up with the name "honky tonk". His first hit song was "Honky Tonk Blues". "Pistol Packin' Mama", another one of Dexter's many hits, was used as the marching chorus of the New York Yankees in the year 1943. Ernest Tubb, also known as the Texas Troubadour, was also considered a pioneer of the sub-genre. In fact, the rise of honky tonk was by his biggest hit, "Walking the Floor Over You", released in 1941.

Another popular country sub-genre at that time was Western music. Western songs were usually about the ups and downs of the everyday cowboy life. The style was popularized by the likes of Sons of the Pioneers and Gene Autry, and it was identified by the use of string instruments (such as the fiddle and double bass) and harmonica.

As the genre progressed throughout the decades, more sub-genres were created, such as country soul, rockabilly, and alternative country. Today, country music incorporates bits and pieces of other music genres so it is no wonder that it sounds so much different from what it used to be back in the old days. By studying its brief history, people will be able to appreciate this genre even more as it has inspired so many great musicians today to produce the best music people listen to, love, enjoy, and adore.

Celine Dion Pop Music CD Review

2011-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

One word describes the CD Celine Dion from Celine Dion... AWESOME!

Celine Dion has been a super star in the Pop genre for quite some time now and Celine Dion is an excellent illustration as to why.

Celine Dion has a pleasantly varied, mix of 13 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are her own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

I'm of the opinion that Celine Dion is certainly Celine Dion's best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it's a collection that even the casual Pop fan can appreciate and enjoy.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 1 - Introduction----Love Can Move Mountains, track 6 - Did You Give Enough Love, and track 13 - Nothing Broken But My Heart

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is Track 4 - If You Could See Me Now. It's a great track!

Celine Dion Release Notes:

Celine Dion originally released Celine Dion on March 31, 1992 on the Epic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Introduction----Love Can Move Mountains 2. Show Some Emotion 3. If You Asked Me To 4. If You Could See Me Now 5. Halfway To Heaven 6. Did You Give Enough Love 7. If I Were You 8. Beauty And The Beast - (with Peabo Bryson) 9. I Love You, Goodbye 10. Little Bit Of Love 11. Water From The Moon 12. With This Tear 13. Nothing Broken But My Heart

Personnel includes: Celine Dion, Peabo Bryson (vocals); Walter Afanasieff (acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Michael Landau, Michael Thompson, Bruce Gaitch (guitar); Kenny G. (soprano saxophone); Dave Koz (saxophone); Israel Baker, Ralph Morrison, Betty Moor (violin); Alan de Veritch, Margot MacLaine, Marilyn Baker (viola); Frederick Seykora (cello); Robert Stone (contrabass); Fred Berry (flugelhorn); Robbie Buchanan (piano); C.J. Vanston (keyboards); Guy Roche (keyboards, synthesizer); Jimmy Johnson (bass); John Robinson (drums); Rafael Padilla (percussion); Claytoven Richardson, Melisa Kary, Vicki Randle, Sandy Griffith, Jeanie Tracy, Jean McLain, Terry Wood, Larry Jacobs, Joely Fisher, Liz Constantine, Joe Diggs, Diane Warren, Kitty Beethoven (background vocals). Producers: Ric Wake, Walter Afanasieff, Humberto Gatica, Guy Roche. Engineers include: Bob Cadway, Dana Jon Chappelle, Guy Roche.

Top 50 Music Quotations

2011-07-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Discover the phenomenonal complexity of music and reflect on the way it can positively influence your life with this sound collection of riveting quotes...

   1. "Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below." -- Joseph Addison
   2. "Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness." --Maya Angelou
   3. "Music is either good or bad, and it's got to be learned. You got to have balance." -- Louis Armstrong
   4. "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -- Berthold Auerbach
   5. "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." --Johann Sebastian Bach
   6. "Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." -- Ludwig van Beethoven
   7. "Music - The one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend." -- Ludwig van Beethoven

8. "Music can change the world. " -- Ludwig Van Beethoven
9. "Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable." -- Leonard Bernstein
10. "Music has to breathe and sweat. You have to play it live. " -- James Brown
11. "Music is well said to be the speech of angels." -- Thomas Carlyle
12. "All music comes from God." -- Johnny Cash
13. "If you learn music, you'll learn most all there is to know. " -- Edgar Cayce
14. "Music is nothing separate from me. It is me... You'd have to remove the music surgically. " -- Ray Charles
15. "Good music is good no matter what kind of music it is. " -- Miles Davis
16. "There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music." -- George Eliot
17. "You are the music while the music lasts." --T. S. Eliot
18. "We need magic, and bliss, and power, myth, and celebration and religion in our lives, and music is a good way to encapsulate a lot of it. " -- Jerry Garcia
19. "Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife." -- Kahlil Gibran
20. "When people hear good music, it makes them homesick for something they never had and never will have." -- Edgar Watson Howe
21. "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossile to be silent." -- Victor Hugo
22. "The history of a people is found in its songs." -- George Jellinek
23. "Music is the vernacular of the human soul." -- Geoffrey Latham
24. "It requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is deaf." -- Walter J. Lippmann
25. "Just as certain selections of music will nourish your physical body and your emotional layer, so other musical works will bring greater health to your mind." -- Hal A. Lingerman
26. "Music is the harmonious voice of creation; an echo of the invisible world." -- Giuseppe Mazzini
27. "Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don't take it too seriously." -- Henry Miller
28. "I started making music because I could." -- Alanis Morissette
29. "Music helps you find the truths you must bring into the rest of your life. " -- Alanis Morissette
30. "Music is spiritual. The music business is not. " -- Van Morrison
31. "Like everything else in nature, music is a becoming, and it becomes its full self, when its sounds and laws are used by intelligent man for the production of harmony, and so made the vehicle of emotion and thought." -- Theodore Mungers
32. "Without music life would be a mistake." -- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
33. "In music the passions enjoy themselves." -- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
34. "Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art." -- Charlie Parker
35. "Music should be something that makes you gotta move, inside or outside. " -- Elvis Presley
36. "It's the music that kept us all intact, kept us from going crazy. " -- Lou Reed
37. "The music business was not safe, but it was FUN. It was like falling in love with a woman you know is bad for you, but you love every minute with her, anyway." -- Lionel Richie
38. "Music should never be harmless." -- Robbie Robertson
39. "Give me a laundry list and I'll set it to music." -- Gioacchino Antonio Rossini
40. "All music is important if it comes from the heart. " -- Carlos Santana
41. "Music is the key to the female heart." -- Johann G. Seume
42. "The best music... is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with. " -- Bruce Springsteen
43. "All I try to do is write music that feels meaningful to me, that has commitment and passion behind it." -- Bruce Springsteen
44. "In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain." --George Szell
45. "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." -- Henry David Thoreau
46. "For heights and depths no words can reach, music is the soul's own speech." --Unknown
47. "Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us." --Unknown
48. "I believe in the power of music. To me, it isn't just a fad. This is a positive thing." -- Eddie Vedder
49. "Music at its essence is what gives us memories. " -- Stevie Wonder
50. "There's a basic rule which runs through all kinds of music, kind of an unwritten rule. I don't know what it is. But I've got it." -- Ron Wood

Karaoke Music and Equipment

2011-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

Karaoke is a very common form of interactive entertainment where people are able to follow the lyrics and music of a song and they can sing along with a microphone. It is considered to be a very good way of fusing music and fun and it is normally done utilizing local popular songs. The popularity of Karaoke entertainment is well known all over the world and people enjoy singing along with their favorite songs while attending parties, celebrations and at their local clubs as well.

Players

Most players come as a package which combines a multi format player, an instrument mixer, recording function, SD card reader with amplifier. You will not need too many cables to install this player to your TV and you will be ready and set to go whenever you want to start your party. It is better to look for something which compliments your existing stereo, sound system or microphones. You can find CDG Karaoke Players, VCD Karaoke players and DVD multiformat karaoke players as well. Looking for a branded player may be the best choice or if you already have a branded stereo system then perhaps choosing the same brand may be the best option.

Systems

While choosing the system you may want to have, please make sure to understand which kind of system is good for which kind of environment. If you are looking to making this special entertainment feature a very private one only for home use of for very small gatherings, then you can easily go for something which is light and handy, not too complex and expensive. On the other hand, if you are looking at something big like opening your own Karaoke club or something similar, then you will have to study the market a bit more.

The price ranges from $500 to $5,000 and more and it is therefore important to understand the features required. A Karaoke System will usually have Digital key control mixing amplifier, a pair of speakers, and a remote control facility. You can also find a karaoke system with video monitors and which combines Professional karaoke, DJ and VJ control in one professional system.

Stands and Hardware

You can find a vast range of stands for your microphones available in many karaoke stores on line and otherwise as well. It is important to know the proper purpose of the stand and what its features are to be able to find the best which is most appropriate for your kind of system. You can also find some very handy and sturdy bags with handles and wheels for bravo players to transport their karaoke instruments.

There are many more accessories that you can look for when you are trying to get your whole set up together like wall mounting devices for your player or speakers, special covers for your player and TV monitor, and adaptable cables and remote control units. Karaoke music can be a lot of fun, and the range of products is vast and complex. It is therefore very important to be able to study and research the market properly before giving this kind of electronic devices a try.

As a small player who is looking for private entertainment with your friends and family, it is good to go for something simple which will fit in with your existing set up, however if you are a club owner looking for a more permanent feature, then it is perhaps a very good idea for you to consult a knowledgeable person who will be able to give you proper advice on what is the best for your needs.

Music Recording Equipment

2011-07-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

The quality of any music depends upon the quality of recording and the music recording equipment used. The quality of each and every device used in recording makes a difference in the excellence of the music. While the primary equipment required to record music is a microphone there are other supporting devices that add to the superiority of the recording.

Another aspect that one has to take care is where the recording is going to be done. Indoor studio recording equipments are totally different from the devices and tools used for external outdoor recordings.

If you are planning to set up a recording studio, you must always choose quality equipment even if it seems to be a bit expensive. Not only will they serve as a long time investment, they will also save you from post recording hassles and disorders.

The mixers and accessories make your work easier. Extensive collection of music recording equipments such as Headphone & In-Ear Monitors, Mastering Recorders, Mixers & Accessories, Multi-track Recorders, Portable Recorders, Power Conditioners, Signal Processors, studio tracks, studio racks, monitors and more can be found on the Internet.

Digital recording equipments offer the best and highest quality audio. A branded digital recording set costs thousands of dollars. They can be purchased either at any of the music recording equipment store or online. They also offer used devices for discounted prices. No doubt they would be in good working condition. By buying them, one can save money to set up an efficient studio successfully. The equipment used for recording performs various tasks.

Portable Recorders and Multi-track Recorders

For a home recording unit, portable multi track recorders are available in the market that deliver excellent results. They can record tracks simultaneously, edit the present ones, mix tracks, overdub new ones and perform various other tasks. The portable multi-track can handle anything from live recording to full band configuration. Other features of the recorders include studio like surroundings, ability to work on AC or DC power and easy to set up anywhere.

Power Conditioners and Signal Processors

The power conditioners are one of the most important devices used in the recording set to reduce the noise level and supply an uninterrupted source of power. These devices not only reduce the noise on the floor but also improve the range and clarity of the sound. The signal processors reduce the buzzing and humming sound caused due to current low in the power supply sources during the recording. They take care of sensitive signals and filter the radiation and sound.

Headphone & In-Ear Monitors

Headphones and in-ear monitors are small devices fixed in the ear to monitor a specific sound track closely. Monitoring and mixing can be done efficiently using good headphones and in- ear monitors. Such devices with better fitting and better sound help in audio recordings. They help in getting rid of acoustics and maintain a track of single sound. Singers and musicians use these devices in studios to stay in sync with the other tracks.

Mixers & Accessories

The audio mixers or sound mixers are basically takes in two or more sounds, mixes them as required and emits it as a single output signal. Besides sound mixing the equipment has controls with which signals can be merged, sound levels can be adjusted and special effects can be added to the existing sounds. Sound mixers come in different sizes and capacities. You can get huge unit to portable, easy to handle mixers, which are used for various purposes. They are usually described through the number of channels they support. Sound mixers can be installed at home and in studios, and they can even be used on stage during live performances.

Jazz Music Composition

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Jazz music composition is the work of expert musicians with the ability to write, and create about the most memorable subject matter. What is more, Jazz music Composition is a course included in colleges and universities who deem it a valued subject to study. Composing Jazz music requires the theory of constructing chords that're altered or substitute that would fit within the rules of thumb of composition.

Meaning, experimentation is fine given that you know how to actually be fitted into the musical shocks in the piece in a way to not disrupt the flow. It is mandatory to look after the essence of Jazz music a component of you when creating, and keep all considerations to restrict creative imagination out of your head. The purpose of Jazz music composition is to create what you feel about any subject into the reasonable of your musical work. To find your way into the making of Jazz music composition you should observe the ability of basic theory in ear training, notes on various instruments, key signatures, scales, chords, intervals, counterpoint, harmony, melody, music terminology, clefs, meters and time signatures, transposing of various instruments, and music reading.

Being attentive to Jazz music from various artists will present you with a feel for the sort of composition you will need to create. You can begin with music arranging which is recreating an old song with new ideas. For example, it has been done over and over by professional musicians to use a public domain song, or ask permission to use a particular song. One example is Chaka Khan's " The End Of A Love Affair" written for Billie Holiday by Edward C. Redding in an arrangement that fit Chaka Khan. There are many versions of Jazz standards like "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Misty", and "Stormy Weather" by different people who desired to either keep the elementary structure or interpret the song in their own personal special way. The basic rules to composing a Jazz Composition is to make a subject matter and plan the music around it.

Meaning, as in basic songwriting structure you will require a beginning, middle, bridge, and ending. The order is invariably up to the person(s )creating the music. You can start with the themes most frequent in notated Jazz and Blues sheet music or fake book forms. In addition, use the standard theory structure you find on sheet music as a format, but use your own personal ideas. In arranging, you can examine the standard format, and embellish on areas you think needs it. The direction one can go in music arrangement is infinite in keeping with the history of how each style of jazz music was created.

When making Jazz music composition one must continue to remember the essential element present in all true Jazz music which is improvisation. Jazz Improvisation is not notated in any shape, way, or form. As a matter of fact, the improvisation in Jazz composition is invented by pure emotion of the musician moved by the accompaniment. Improvisation in Jazz composition can be in the beginning, the bridge and also at the end of the piece. Most frequently there is embellishment in the heart of the piece, but it all depends on the mood of the creator of the music.

Once you learn the theory behind Jazz music composition, you can discover the shortcuts on creating. For example, lead sheets ordinarily have the Jazz chord symbol above the melody underneath it as an elementary structure to follow. When all is said and done, you will have made your own personal masterpiece as a gift to the world from your heart.

Punk Rock Music History

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The widespread of rock and punk songs across the world is not as rapid as pop genre but they're truly controversially known as widely listened by funky and wacky teenagers and liberated crowds. You may have heard of groups called Fallout Boy and Metallica. They're just two of the many contemporary rock artists and bands that pave way for liberation and loudness in terms of music. The earlier bands to be known are Sex Pistols and the Scientists. Following a proto-punk genre in the late 1960's, the punk rock music history kicked off when Ramones Band led the way in said genre.

Rebellion, liberation and victory are the usual themes of punk and rock tunes. Back in the 70's, punk rock music history revealed that the masses never really appreciated the roughness of instrumentals and politically controversial approach of punk rock. In the United Kingdom, early punk bands failed to win the hearts of song fanatics. They didn't establish mainstream success quite easily not until the late 90's due to the emergence of alternative rock tunes. Delusions, depressions and harsh revelations are reflected in the lyrics of punk rock, which is why only certain groups of individuals could adhere to this line of sounds.

As accounted in punk rock music history, the commencements of liberated songs were frequently debated between fanatics of ballads and lovers of alternative rock. There have been varying opinions about punk rock. Some say that they are garage tunes, which actually started when the band called Sonics played without defined musicals, no instrumental standards and lack of music rules. More bands like MC5, Velvet Underground and Stooges made their debut in the late 1960's, and they created a more controversial and vulgar image for the punk rock genre. New York Dolls and David and Bowie delivered influential inspirations of rock and roll that's largely outrageous and far different from the approach that Elvis Presley established long before they launched their music.

At the beginning of 1990's, there surfaced to be a punk revival of a few bands that didn't quite had a good start 30 decades back. The format of punk rock music is usually straightforward and realistic depicting crime issues, government agenda, social ills and other societal struggles. In punk rock music history, Iggy Pop was deemed to be the godfather of punk music. It was apparent that revolutionary scene of music in the 1970's paved way to the distinctiveness of fashion and music style of rockers and punk artists which have their certain niche of followers. Such certain punk look is exemplified in leather jeans and jackets, darkened eyelids, long polished nails and sporty get-up has remained to be apparent among famous punk artists of today's generation.

Babies and Modern Rock Music

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From pediatricians to new parents everyone knows how much newborn babies enjoy music. Whether it's the gentle cooing of mommy, a soft lullaby or even classical music babies are often soothed and comforted by the pleasing sounds of music. You can always find traditional baby music that will play standard lullabies and nursery rhymes but babies respond to all kinds of musical styles and the baby market now includes classic rock music from all-time great bands including the Beatles, U2, Bob Marley and Coldplay.

Good music is good music, whether it's classical, jazz, rock or hip hop. Parents are often surprised to find their little one moving about happily in his crib when they are playing bands they like. Good taste may be an inherited trait. Now, with amazing music collections from several licensed manufacturers you can play your favorite bands music for your baby in gentle and soothing tones that will have your baby rocking in happy delight.

These clever music CD's transform timeless rock songs into soothing instrumental lullabies that feature glockenspiels, vibraphones and other soft instruments that will gently introduce your newborn to modern rock classics such as "In My Place", "With or Without You", "Strawberry Fields" and "Lively up Yourself".

Many new parents have their own ideas on how to raise their child and want to be more creative and adventurous in their upbringing techniques. Of course they are paying attention to all the basics but who says babies will only enjoy standard lullabies? Why wouldn't a young infant or toddler enjoy the timeless sounds of the Beatles and Bob Marley too?

When you seek out music for your baby you'll be surprised at how many of your favorite bands have given their permission to have their music transformed into baby lullabies. In addition to classics including the Beatles, Beach Boys and Bob Marley you can also find terrific baby music from bands you'd never expect such as Guns n' Roses, Aerosmith, Green Day, Metallica and even Nine Inch Nails. You'll be amazed at how effortlessly the hard rocking sounds of these classic bands have been fused with soothing instruments and lullaby song structures to turn rock anthems into your newborn's favorite music.

Suppose you're a little younger and classic rock wasn't your thing. No worries. Baby rock music can also be found from pioneering alternative acts including the Cure, the Pixies, Radiohead and Bjork for those parents who like to keep their cool in the family. For the playfully aggressive tyke you'll also find great tunes from Smashing Pumpkins, the Ramones and the Rolling Stones including "Start Me Up", "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Cherub Rock".

Everyone will have the soothing lullabies babies are expected to enjoy but for a clever and refreshing change of pace don't forget the bands that made you happy and excited. Chances are if your kid is anything like you they too will appreciate the music that had an impact on your life too. And what better way to introduce infants and toddlers to such great music then with the help of soothing lullaby instruments.

Famous Rock Music Artists and Their Histories

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