Music

#OnRepeat: Carrie Underwood’s ”I’ll Stand By You”

October 30, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Carrie Underwood’s version of ”I’ll Stand By You” #OnRepeat. Although Carrie is typically known for singing Christian and Country music, I believe her voice fits perfectly for this Rock ballad.

Carrie Underwood is a singer, actress, and songwriter from Oklahoma who got her start when she won the fourth season of the show American Idol, going on to later win several Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and CMA Awards. Some of her most well-known songs are “Before He Cheats,” “Inside Your Heaven,” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

“I’ll Stand By You” was written and recorded by the British-American Rock group, The Pretenders, for their 1994 album Last of the Independents. It is song that talks about love, acceptance, and support when a friend or loved one is going through dark time. Although several artists have covered the song since its initial release, Underwood’s version hits the hardest because of her performance technique and stylistic choices. Country singers are known for belting, but Carrie uses this vocal technique to her advantage in this song, playing up the emotional power-like quality of this Rock ballad. I may be partial since I grew up listening to this song all the time, but Carrie Underwood has quickly made this one of my favorite songs again because of her voice and performance style.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Is there any older songs covered by modern day artists that you feel have brought new life back to that song? Leave a comment below!

Afro-Latin Music, Latin Music, Music, Travel

The Central Avenue Jazz Festival & Spanish Harlem Orchestra

August 25, 2018 No Comments

So, I’ve been a little MIA over the last month–new job, traveling, etc. I have to say that really the best time for live music is the summer. Several weeks ago, I went to the 23rd Annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival, which is a free jazz festival that takes place all along Central Avenue in South Central (close to Downtown Los Angeles).

I wish I had heard about this event sooner. Like the Grand Performances concerts that take place in Downtown Los Angeles, the Central Avenue Jazz Festival really is a great event that way more people should be attending. There are two main stages on either end of section of Central Avenue for headlining artists, with several other smaller stages for smaller bands and performances, and food and local vendors in between these areas. They pass out fliers and have representatives from the community walking around to give you more information about the local community just in case you’re curious. This is a two-day event, taking place usually over a weekend.

Now, this is all great by itself, but this year they were featuring Spanish Harlem Orchestra, a great Salsa and Latin Jazz band, so I absolutely had to attend. Let me tell you–I was not disappointed. Sometimes Latin musicians or groups aren’t as good live as they are on the recording and this group blew my expectations out of the water.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Their vocal harmonies and horn parts were tight (which is not necessarily something you would hear all the time with live Latin music), the percussion section was funky, and the sound was overbearing for any section of the band. They had everyone on their feet and dancing. Even though they have played for larger crowds, I know that everyone at that event truly enjoyed their music and are hoping to have them back at the festival again next year. Below are several video clips from their live performance:

Esa Nena

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Como Baila Mi Mulata

Orquesta

I always encourage people to attend live music shows and to support live music, but I especially recommend anyone and everyone to go see Spanish Harlem Orchestra live if and when they happen to pull into your town. They are one of the few bands that you definitely should not miss experiencing.

#OnRepeat, Movies, Music, Pop, Rock

#OnRepeat: Sara Bareilles’ ” “She Used to Be Mine”

July 2, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to Be Mine” #OnRepeat. I’m not sure why it took me so long to come across this song, but either way, I can’t stop listening to it.

I’m pretty sure that I’ve written about Sara Bareilles before–she is an amazing singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist from Eureka, California, who gained attention with her hit single, “Love Song” in 2007. Her pop and blues-style of singing, mixed with her poignant story-like lyrics and self-accompaniment on piano make many compare her to Billy Joel and Regina Spektor. Some of her other well-known songs are “Gravity,” “King of Anything,” and “Bottle it Up.”

“She Used to Be Mine” was written and sung by Sara Bareilles for her 2015 album, What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress. It is written from the perspective of the main character in the musical, Waitress, a play about a young woman who is stuck in a dead-end job, in an abusive marriage with a baby on the way. Bareilles’ performance of the song perfectly conveys the realization of losing yourself in less-than-ideal circumstances and longing for change. Her approach to vocal dynamics and performance shows the smooth, subtle changes between intimate and delicate to powerful and desperate within a single phrase, bringing so much more depth to the lyrics and song itself.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Are there any other singers or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Music, Pop, Rock

#OnRepeat: Calum Scott’s “You are the Reason”

June 2, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Calum Scott’s “You are the Reason” #OnRepeat. I randomly came across this song recently and haven’t been able to stop listening to it.

Calum Scott is a British singer and songwriter who gained international attention when he appeared on the 2015 season of Britain’s Got Talent. Later, he would release his first album titled, Only Human, on which this song is recorded. Since Calum is a relatively new artist, he doesn’t have much original music out and not much is known about him.

“You are the Reason” is a song that was written by Calum Scott and released in 2017. He recorded a duet version with Leona Lewis (who is a phenomenal singer), however the acoustic “one mic, one take”version is so much more poignant. The sound on this recording is bare and intimate, and the fact that it was done in one take makes it even more impressive. You get to hear Calum’s true range and depth as a performer and vocalist, interchangeably using his belting voice and his high voice at the climax of the chorus, creating a different type of feel each time. This recording makes me excited to hear what he has in store musically in the future.

Take a listen:

What do you think? Do you like Calum’s acoustic version or the version with Leona Lewis more? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Jazz, Music

#OnRepeat: Frank Sinatra’s “The Good Life”

May 23, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Frank Sinatra’s “The Good Life” #OnRepeat. I’ve been on a bit of a crooner stint lately, and this is one of the few songs by Sinatra that has always been bittersweet to me.

Frank Sinatra was a singer, producer, and actor from New Jersey who is probably one of the most well- known and influential singers of the Crooner musical genre that you’ve heard of. He got his start with swing band musicians like Tommy Dorsey and his solo career took off later in the 1940s when he signed with Columbia Records. After becoming a residency performer in Las Vegas, he began to be associated with the iconic group, The Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop), going on to win several awards and accolades. Some of his most well-known songs are “My Way,” “Stardust,” “Summer Wind,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” “New York, New York.”

“The Good Life” was a song written by Jack Reardon in 1962 and was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Although the song is more widely known by Tony Bennett’s version, I personally am a huge fan of Sinatra’s interpretation of the song. The lyrics for the song have always held a message both of positivity and sorrow—life is good because you’re free to experience whatever you want, but you are alone in that experience. I always got the impression from this song like the narrator wants love and companionship, but also wants freedom at the same time. Sinatra’s voice conveys so many of the emotions found in this song–the grit and brashness that is found in the fun and care-free appreciation of life’s unknown, and the intimacy and fragileness that is found in the longing for companionship. Sinatra’s voice is the true picture of the crooner style and it is exemplified wonderfully in this song.

Take a listen below:

Do you have any songs you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Funk, Motown, Movies, Music, Pop, R&B

#OnRepeat: The Spinners’ “The Rubberband Man”

May 4, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had The Spinners’ “The Rubberband Man” #OnRepeat. After seeing the Marvel movie, Avengers: Infinity War, this week, this song (along with the events of the movie) won’t stop playing in myhead.

The Spinners are a vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, that were popular during the 1960s and 70s. The group is commonly associated with R&B, though their music also blends elements of Rock, Pop and Funk music as well and the band continues to perform on tours to this day with only one original member. Some of their most well-known songs are “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” “WorkingMy Way Back to You,” and “Games People Play.”

“The Rubberband Man” was a song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, and recorded by The Spinners in 1976. The song was originally written for Bell’s son, who was teased at school for being overweight, eventually morphing from a theme of self-love and positivity, to a song about a guy who can make really funky impressive sounds by just using a rubberband. Personally, I still get a message of positivity and general feel-good vibes from the lyrics, even with the song focusing on music-making from a weird little man. The vocal group The Spinners’ smooth sound and vocal phrasing, along with the funky punctuations from the brass section and the strumming of the bass make this song so groovy that you’ll immediately start dancing within the first thirty seconds of listening to it.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Do you have any favorite songs by The Spinners? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Country, Movies, Music, Pop, Rock

#OnRepeat: Stevie Nicks’ “Crystal”

April 14, 2018 1 Comment

This week, I’ve had Stevie Nicks’ “Crystal” #OnRepeat. I have always been intrigued by Stevie Nicks’voice, but became even more so when I first heard this song in the movie, Practical Magic, years ago. The movie has come back into my life recently (via Netflix), causing this song to be constantly playing in my mind over the past several weeks.

Stevie Nicks is a singer and songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona who is best known for being one of the lead singers for the band, Fleetwood Mac. Her stage persona, lyric writing, and unique vocal timbre have made her both a well-known soloist and band member, producing multiple chart-topping hits over the years. Some of her most well-known songs are “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” and “Edge ofSeventeen.”

“Crystal” was a song written by Stevie Nicks has strong themes of independence, love, growth, and change and is told from the point of view of someone coming to the realization that they love someone else and the recognition of that person loving them in return unconditionally. The person seems to realize that they are changing, but that the other’s love and loyalty is staying the same. Stevie Nicks’ voice hasalways held so much grit and raw emotion, adding a deeper sense of clarity to the message behind these lyrics. The harmony of multiple guitars and voices personifies the story being told in the song as well, and is almost bittersweet to listen to as you slowly realize (at least in my interpretation) that this love may not work out the way the two intend for it to. This is probably one of my favorite songs by this singer, just based off the lyrical message alone.

Take a listen below:

What do you think of Stevie Nicks’ voice and this song? Leave a comment below!

Discussion, Memoirs, Music, musings

Memoirs of a Frustrated Singer – “Muscle Memory”

April 6, 2018 No Comments

Everyone was looking down at their plates. She looked down at the company program with the events listed on the sheet. Her performance time slot was next. Well, I’m really going to sing in front of my boss and coworkers right now, she thought, re-reading her name over and over again to try to make the seconds tick by faster. Yup. The DJ motioned for her to walk towards the stage.

She stepped to the center of the stage, almost tripping over the back of her dress. I shouldn’t have worn a long dress, she thought to herself. Worst idea ever.

She hadn’t sang in almost a year and half. Sure, she’d been giving vocal lessons, but that wasn’t the same as getting in front of people and performing. And these people were people that she had worked with over the past two years, who had only seen her sitting behind a desk, greeting people, taking phone calls and filing paperwork. Not belting out lyrics from behind a microphone in a floor-length evening gown.

While she sang, people who were milling around and chatting with others—even during other performances that day stopped. They stood and watched her every breath, weird face she made as she played with the melody of the song, shift of weight from one foot to the other underneath her dress. She had wanted to be background noise, but instead she was the center of everyone’s attention; she felt completely exposed.

It had felt like such a monumental experience, but as soon as she sang her last note, everyone went back to their drinks and conversation. There were brief smiles and a couple of uncomfortable stares, but she was able to finish her dessert and drink without further interruption.

The looks on her coworkers’ faces was the most surprising. Later that day, those same coworkers would stop her mid-stride to tell her things like “I didn’t know you could sing,” and “holy moly,” or “what the hell are you doing hiding behind a desk?” Mixed with compliment, admiration, envy, indifference—she couldn’t really tell. The weeks following, coworkers would treat her differently, showing clips of the performance in the hall and during lunch, gossiping when she would walk past.

What a difference a few minutes makes.

Either way, she remembered the feeling of being up on that stage. And she couldn’t forget it now.

#OnRepeat, Movies, Music, Pop, R&B

#OnRepeat: Sade’s “Flower of the Universe”

March 28, 2018 1 Comment

This week, I’ve had Sade’s song, “Flower of the Universe” #OnRepeat. Last week, I went to go see the movie, A Wrinkle in Time, and though I wasn’t too fond of the movie, I have not been able to stop listening to her song, which was in the movie, ever since.

Sade (born Helen Folasade Adu) is a singer, record producer, songwriter, actor, model, and arranger from England who got her start singing backup for a band called Pride during the 1980s. She and some of the band members formed their own band called Sade and released their first album in 1984, followed by several multi-platinum albums that would reach the top of both UK Charts and US Billboards. Her music blends Pop, R&B, Soul, Rock, and Jazz that flows perfectly under her smooth, low voice. Some of her most well-known songs are “The Sweetest Taboo,” “Smooth Operator,” “By Your Side,” “The Moon and the Sky,” and “No Ordinary Love.”

“Flower of the Universe” was written and recorded by Sade for the 2018 movie, A Wrinkle in Time, and is her first song that she has written in almost ten years. The song’s lyrics are told from the perspective of a mother or father who is telling their child that their love is what fills up the universe and gives them meaning (this is the message that I took from the lyrics so the song may not mean the same thing to you when you listen to it). The song is acoustic, simple and bare, with a chorus of voices acting as book ends to the song. Sade’s husky and sultry voice adds so much depth to this already hauntingly beautiful piece.

Truth be told, I have always been a huge fan of Sade’s voice and music—this song proves that Sade is still the classic, originally smooth and eclectic sound we have all grown so fond of over the past thirty years. She is what you think of when you think of R&B.

Take a listen below:

Do you have a favorite Sade song? What do you think of this one? Leave a comment below!

#OnRepeat, Music, Pop, Rock

#OnRepeat: Journey’s “Open Arms”

March 17, 2018 No Comments

This week, I’ve had Journey’s “Open Arms” #OnRepeat. I just recently saw the movie, Daddy’s Home 2 (yes, I know it’s a holiday movie and I’m late in watching it), and now I can’t get that song out of my head.

Journey is a rock band from San Francisco, California that formed in 1973 from past members of the rock bands Frumious Bandersnatch and Santana. I know a lot of people (musicians and non-musicians alike) who have a love/hate relationship with this group primarily because of their mixing of Pop musical elements in the arranging of their music, which blends that with Jazz, Hard, Soft, and Progressive Rock. Despite this, they have topped both the US and UK charts several times, selling over millions of albums and being inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Some of their most popular songs are “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “After the Fall,” “Faithfully,” and “Who’s Cryin’ Now.”

The song “Open Arms” was a song written by Journey band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain off their album, Escape, in 1981. The lyrics are told from the point of view of someone professing their love and begging their significant other to forgive the past and start fresh. The song has often been associated with the style power ballad (a slow, emotive song that eventually builds to a great climax backed by guitars and drums) because of Steve Perry’s wide vocal range and bright, crisp sound. Perry’s vocal style and the melody backed by piano, guitar and drums have caused this song to be considered by many to be a classic ballad, making you feel the “lump in the throat,” stirring up feelings of nostalgia, and memories of your first kiss or high school prom. Yeah, I think it’s that good.

Take a listen below:

What do you think? Do you have a favorite Journey song? Leave a comment and let me know why!

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