Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
RIP Michael Jackson, Legendary Musical Genius And King Of Pop
MMM | June 26, 2009 – 11:17 pm |
2 Comments
Michael Jackson, the legendary musical genius and king of pop has passed away at the age of 50 after suffering a fatal heart attack.
I learned the news this morning by accident while I was on IMDB looking for a review about a movie. While the site was redirecting me to the search results page, I saw the news on the right hand column, and I froze. I couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be possible. Michael Jackson can’t just die like that!
Of course he’s not going to live forever and neither is any one of us; but he can’t just die like that!
Michael Jackson isn’t just anybody, he is a music legend by all standards, his songs were the soundtrack for a whole generation’s best moments growing up, his sound is as enjoyable and awesome today as it ever was.
I can’t remember one childhood or teenage memory of mine without a Michael Jackson song dominating the charts and breaking new ground with its musical style and its video going steps further than anyone else.
We went out for a drive a bit earlier and we played The Essential Michael Jackson album that was released a few years ago with some of his greatest hits, and a flood of memories came back to my wife and I, and it struck us how songs he wrote a decade or two ago still sound amazing, fresher and more creative than any song out there.
There never was, is or will be anyone like him; a perfect performer, entertainer and musical genius.
Everybody knew Michael Jackson, from all generations, in every little corner of the world. He was the ultimate celebrity.
Michael Jackson the man might have died, but Michael Jackson the legend will live forever through his music that will continue to entertain for generations, and will continue to be as fresh and exciting as it was the day it was released. He will live forever through the memories of a whole generation of people who grew up with his music, trying to moonwalk just like him, buying jackets and gloves like his, watching in endless admiration whenever he performed.
I was a fan, through his great days when everyone was crazy about him, and through the hard times when it felt like everyone turned against him and started calling him a freak. I am still a fan, and always will be. I enjoyed and still enjoy every single album he released. Michael Jackson and his music will always hold a special place in my heart and in my household.
To this day, it’s still eating me up from inside that I wasn’t able to attend his concert in Tunisia, that happened just days after I moved to Jordan in 1996. Now, I’ll never get the chance to ever see the King of Pop live, an experience of a lifetime.
Rest in peace Michael Jackson; We love you; you’ll always be remembered and missed.
The world has lost an irreplaceable King.
Jill Sobule Tries To Make Fan Funded Album
MMM | January 19, 2008 – 1:01 pm | 1 Comment
American singer-songwriter Jill Sobule is another artist attempting to break away from the recording industry machine; her approach is by turning to her fans to fund her next album.
She has launched a website called Jill’s Next Record through which she’s collecting donations from her fans in an attempt to come up with $75,000 for recording the album and other related costs.
In return for her fan’s donations, she will be giving them prizes according to the size of the donation.
Donations can go from $25 up to $10,000; while her prizes go from sending out an advanced copy of the CD to being mentioned on the CD to getting a house concert or even getting to sing on the CD with her.
I really think it’s an interesting approach, and a very good way to break free from the greedy music industry giants. I wish Jill the best of luck in getting her album made and that her fans enjoy every bit of it.
More To Join The Music Revolution
MMM | October 10, 2007 – 12:50 pm | 1 Comment
More of the music industry
Bora Yoon Plays Music Using Mobile Phones
MMM | July 31, 2007 – 12:24 pm | No Comments
So, what do you know, mobile phones can serve to produce music that isn’t always as annoying as ringtones…
The performance sponsored by Samsung Electronics proved that cell phones can indeed serve as high-tech instruments. Violinist and vocalist Yoon used the tones of the phone’s keys, and combined them with piano, violin, xylophone and loudspeaker sounds. The music, on top of her bright purple dress and the night view of Central Park outside the concert hall, impressed the audience.
[Source: Digital Chosun Ilbo]
It sounds pretty cool, I’d really like to listen to the resulting music.
I’ll be searching for some sound or video clips.
My Top 10 Songs In May
MMM | May 31, 2007 – 12:08 pm | No Comments
The following is the list of the songs I listened to most this month, not necessarily ones that were released this month though:
James Morrison - Undiscovered
MMM | April 27, 2007 – 10:24 am | No Comments
One of the CDs I’ve been listening to a lot in the car recently is “Undiscovered” by English singer/songwriter James Morrison.
I came to know James Morrison through his song “You Give Me Something” which is a really cool song, and then after hearing another of his songs called “Wonderful World”, I just had to buy the album. I wasn’t let down, the whole album is a magnificent ride through a set of great tunes and lyrics.
James’ style reminds me a lot of James Blunt and KT Tunstall with evident influences by greats like Cat Stevens, Otis Redding and Van Morrison; it’s a mix of pop/rock and soul music, with a layer of simple yet powerful and touching lyrics on top.
I can’t say which songs are my favourites because I appreciate every song on this album and enjoy it greatly, but the ones I listen to the most I guess are still “You Give Me Something” and “Wonderful World”.
I really recommend this album for people into the pop/rock or soul genres, or who enjoyed music by the likes of James Blunt and KT Tunstall; you won’t be dissapointed, this album is a delight.
My score for this album would be 8.5/10.
You can buy this album here: James Morrison (Undiscovered).
Take That - Beautiful World
MMM | March 14, 2007 – 12:19 pm | 2 Comments
It might not be information that a lot of people know about me, or that a lot of people would be openly proud of, but I was actually a fan of Take That back in the 90’s, in my teenage years; although when you come to think of it, I was more a fan of Gary Barlow than the whole band, because it was the songs he wrote and sang that I liked the most.
Anyway, ten years after their split, Take That re-united last year and launched a number of reunion concerts in the UK that were very successful, and so they decided to work on some new material; the result of that effort is the album “Beautiful World“, which moves towards a more adult pop/rock style.
I bought the album when I was in Take That’s hometown Manchester last January, and I’ve been listening to it in my car over the past weeks.
This album is the kind of album you have to listen to a number of times before you fully appreciate it, it’s quite different from Take That’s previous albums, but still it’s the one album you can actually refer to as a true Take That album. I’ll explain; in the previous albums, most of the songs were written and performed by Gary Barlow, with only a song or two by one of the other band members per album. In this album, most of the songs were written by all of Take That, and all the band members got to sing, which makes it quite different in its style and feel. At first it even feels as thought it’s just a compilation of a number of solo projects by each band member, but then after listening to it a number of times, you see how they blend together in one album.
My favourite song off this album has to be “Patience“, performed by Gary Barlow, which was the first single off the album and shot straight to #1.
Some of my other faves off this album are: Shine (second single, also #1), Beautiful World, Reach Out, Mancunian Way, Wooden Boat.
I recommend this album to everyone who is into the pop/rock sound, and of course to anyone who was a Take That fan before; It could take some getting used to at first, but you’ll end up loving this album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
MMM | January 24, 2007 – 1:04 pm | No Comments
An album, actually double-album, I’ve been listening to a lot these past days is “Stadium Arcadium” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers; I’m a big fan of RHCP and their music, and this album just oozes more of their trademark cool tunes, rhymes and lyrics.
Almost four years passed between the release of their last album “By The Way” and this one, and the band recorded enough songs for three albums over that period, which explains why they went ahead and released this two-hour, 28-track double-disc collection (Disc 1: Jupiter / Disc 2: Mars).
The album is a mix between what they did on “By The Way” and “Californication” with a number of new touches and directions here and there.
My favourite songs off the album up to now are: Snow (Hey Oh), Dani California, Hey, Tell Me Baby, Desecration Smile, Stadium Arcadium, Hard to Concentrate.
A lot of people say they like the ‘Mars’ disc more, but up to now, they’re quite tied for me, each one having its strengths.
What I love about RHCP’s music is that you never grow bored of it no matter how many times you listen to the CD, it always has a fresh, cool feel to it, and this album feels the same way too. The proof is that this album is nearly a year old now, plus I still listen to their older albums a lot too.
I really recommend this album to all RHCP fans and music lovers who are into this genre.
My score for it is: 8.5/10
Future Arab Super Star Season 4
MMM | January 12, 2007 – 10:36 am | No Comments
The fourth season of Future TV’s Arab Super Star show will be kicking off in a few days. The first episode will be on Sunday, January 14th.
The contestants have been chosen from 8 different countries after a number of auditions in several countries including the US and Canada.
The judges this season will be the same as in the last season: Elias El Rahbani, Ziad Boutros, Fadia Tanab and Abdallah El Qa
R.I.P James Brown
MMM | December 26, 2006 – 11:19 am | 1 Comment
James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul”, the legendary R&B artist, the singer and songwriter who defined funk and inspired rap, died yesterday at Atlanta’s Emory Crawford Long Hospital of congestive heart failure at the age of 73.
Brown’s last words were to his manager Charles Bobbit, and they were: “I’m going away tonight.”
James Brown is one of the few music legends who will live on forever through their art and through the way they affected and revolutionized the music scene.
His influence was broad and deep, and so much of the music we hear nowadays has it’s roots in Brown’s music.
Brown began his professional music career in 1953 and skyrocketed to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and a string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks, he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s.
I grew up listening to James Brown’s hits from “Sex Machine” to “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” to “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and countless other songs; My dad is very big fan of Brown’s music, and so his songs played a big role in my personal musical education and defining my taste of music.
Rest in peace James Brown, for you have achieved immortality through your music…
