Michael Kiwanuka
I really like this guy, his music has personality and is refreshingly candid. His album Home Again was released on March 12.Watch this video of him- it’s simple, but appealing. The song has a retro character and the video does a good job enhancing that. For example, with the grainy video quality and outdoor festival footage. I think Michael Kiwanuka is a force to be reckoned with!
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Whistling
Roger Whittaker is one incredible whistler! I’m sure this talent has contributed to his 55 million record sales. Although most of his music is a little too “easy” for my taste, it is undeniably some of the greatest campfire music ever written. Imagine this idyllic scenario: you and your friends gathered around a fire pit, sitting in lawn chairs, roasting smores; all the while being serenaded by the legendary Roger Whittaker, guitar in hand.
I’ve been told before, that my whistling is incessant. In light of this, I’ve decided to include some facts and superstitions to help guide fellow whistlers on the cultural etiquette of whistling.
- Whistling on board a ship is thought to help increase wind strength
- In Slavic cultures whistling indoors is thought to bring poverty
- In Japan and Korea whistling indoors is believed to attract snakes
- In Hawaiian folk-lore whistling at night brings bad luck
- In England, it was believed that ”a whistling woman never marries”
- In the Philippines, whistling in the presence of women is disrespectful, but a woman whistling is much worse
And so it seems that, the majority of North American construction workers share the belief that whistling at pretty girls will help improve their chances to “pick-up”.
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Half-Blood Blues
I’ve been reading Esi Edugyan’s novel, Half-Blood Blues. It’s a fantastic read, about a group of jazz musicians in Nazi Germany. In the book, Louis Armstrong is referred to many times: so I decided to share a great performance from “Mr. Satchmo” and his band. Enjoy!
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Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters (1913-1983) was an incredible influence on popular music in the 1960s and is considered the “father of modern chicago blues”. Check out this video: there is so much energy in the performance, it makes me want to dance!
Now, watch this video performance of Rollin Stone. Not only did the Rolling Stones name their group after its title, but his style and emotion influenced some of the greatest R & B and Rock & Roll musicians. Listening to this song, I am immediately reminded of Jimmy Hendrix’s singing in If 6 was 9, particularly due to the melody, vocal expression and phrasing. Jimmy Hendrix was deeply rooted in R & B traditions, and would have been familiar with Muddy Waters. Can you hear the similarities between their singing?
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This Wheel’s On Fire
This is one of my favourite songs by the Band- great riffs, solid groove, and rich vocal harmonies. The original was written by Rick Danko and Bob Dylan; recorded in 1967 by Bob Dylan and the Band.
The Band featured their version of the song on their 1968 album Music From The Big Pink.
Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger recorded their version of it, which subsequently peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1968.
Many other artists have covered and rehashed this classic number, such as the Byrds and Elvis Costello. Hands down, my favourite version is the Band’s.
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This is a great pop song and the video is neat. The music’s simplicity and repetition is combined with flavourful production: listen for the marimba, and ethnic-inspired synth tones that develop and grow throughout the song. It’s a wonderful backdrop for the story telling between the two characters.
The harmony in the song is cunning, although only moves between three chords: d minor, C Major, Bb Major. The song begins with alternations of d- to C+, which continue incessantly until after the second verse (’1:33′). But, when I’m listening to this opening section, I can imagine a low d pedal bass throughout it. Largely because the C Major creates no harmonic tension or anticipation, passing easily back and forth to d minor.
The chorus progression is this: d minor- C Major- Bb Major- C Major repeating twelve times. Once again C Major is not pronounced, but can be heard as a passing chord between i-VI. This is noteworthy, especially because C Major occupies half the time-frame of the chord sequence.
The third verse features the first and only harmonic departure; although beginning the same as the first verse, instead of repeating d- to C+ it lands on C+ and holds it for 8 bars (’2:50′). At this point, C Major is finally pronounced and provokes a feeling of development and tension in the song. This section in the song can be considered separate from the third verse, acting like a pre-chorus.
Finally, the chorus comes back in and repeats even longer than before, the ostinato not giving up, fading slowly like a memory. This climax and outro work perfectly, framing the story beautifully.
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Experimental Music
John Cage shares his philosophies on music, sound, and silence:
“There are two things that don’t have to mean anything: music and laughter”
-Immanuel Kant
Robert Ashley wrote in 1961:
“Cage’s influence on contemporary music, on ‘musicians’ is such that the entire metaphor of music could change to such an extent that- time being uppermost as a definition of music…”
Michael Nyman wrote in 1974:
“Experimental Music has, for the performer, effected the reverse of Duchamp’s revolution in the visual arts. Duchamp once said that ‘the point was to forget with my hand…I wanted to put painting once again at the service of my mind.’ The head has always been the guiding principle of Western Music, and experimental music has successfully taught performers to remember with their hands, to produce and experience sound physiologically.”
Marcel Duchamp discussing his ideas on art:
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Collaborative Genius
In 1917 the ballet Parade was premiered in Paris. Erik Satie composed an orchestrated score to a scenario by Jean Cocteau, including costumes and set design by Pablo Picasso. After finally securing a commission for the work from Misia Edwards, Serge Diaghilev began his choreography for the Ballet Russes.
“Parade is not dadaist, cubist, futurist, nor of any school. Parade is Parade.” -Jean Cocteau
The performance was scandalous and for the most part, misunderstood. Yet, was praised by Maurice Ravel and helped inspire the formation of Les Six.
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The Raiders
It’s great to see these guys out of their traditional wardrobe and leaving out their buffoonish dance moves. Now, compare it to this equally entertaining rendition:
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