Elvis Aaron Presley was born on the January the 8th 1935 in Tupelo. He was a big part of the Invention of the Teenager, TV celebrities and the global Rock & Roll-Phenomenon.
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on the January the 8th 1935 in Tupelo. He was a big part of the Invention of the Teenager, TV celebrities and the global Rock & Roll-Phenomenon.
The so called "Suicide Song" – please don’t kill yourself I hardly have any readers anyway …
Everyone has his / her own Christmas movie they like to indulge to get that "happy family feeling".
Strangely Tim Burton’s "Nightmare before Christmas" touches that very nerve perfectly for me: it’s silly, it’s emotional and very funny.
And mixing Halloween and Christmas somehow expresses perfectly our modern approach to the whole affair for me …
But it’s not just the movie that’s so great – it’s soundtrack is brilliant too and feature many great songs from Maestro Danny Elfman:
Click player below to start the great Overture:
Click player below to start Jack singing "What’s this?":
So if you haven’t seen the movie yet – get it on your Christmas list.
Just start the player, lean back, close your eyes and enjoy …
Great documentary about the alternative German music scene. The Brits named these great experimental category “Krautrock“, which is basically a reason to start another war.
But the documentary is brilliant! Now you see what David Bowie got from being in Berlin and that Kraftwerk is hardly the oddest German music formation from that era …
Rock’n'Roll also invented the teenager as a consumer and so called youth culture. Suddenly there was a different music and stars for youngsters.
After the dreadful WWII the new middle class could afford to give some money for teenagers, who were eager to spend their allowance. The teenager therefore is a product of modern rich society – a luxury item of you will …
While kids can be pleased with toys, teenagers are eager to define themselves with style and suitable products. So music became the a tool for identification (or better say product?). Depending on your teenage tribe (and personal "style") you listened to a specific kind of music. Subcultures proved to be goldmines. Anyone who could define a new "style" or own certain artists could literally print money …
The first King of Global Record sales and Teenage Manias.
Plus mass production allowed cheap records, radios, record players and TVs. Most of all the new medium television needed to be feed constantly with new acts, personalities and stories.
Stars and celebrities were nothing new at that time. Already the Roman Coliseum knew the celebrities and famous athletes. But it was in the roaring 1920’s when the true Star Cult was born – mostly thanks to Hollywood. Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford were the first global stars. But apart from movies in the theatres, cigarette and chocolate cards there was little to consume for the masses.
The real celebrity based merchandising frenzy and consumerism started with the 1950’s and the invention of the teenager …
Most musicians use samplers to sample other people’s performances or bits of their songs. For them a sampler in combination with a sequencer is just a rigid "LEGO" music system. They are unable to adapt and really make free flowing music with this exciting technology …
Tim Exile is a Master of Music and Technology. He not only knows how to sample, but how to make music from his own samples. He is an instrument, performer and composer in a brilliant package.
Nevermind the German dialogue – this is hardcore Kitsch. But like all pain it has to be shared to be truly effective …
The problem with simulations is that they keep you from learning the real deal. Sure not everybody can afford flying lessons or buy a Tank and blast their neighbours. Fair enough …
But so called "music and dance games" are dreadful – why not REALLY learn to play the guitar or take some dancing lessons. Sure it’s hard work, but much more rewarding than some virtual high scores.
The same applies to martial arts and combat games. Join the National Guard, the Police or a Shooting club if you like handling guns and combat. Or learn Judo, Aikido, Kung Fu or Karate in some local Dojo. Especially learning REAL martial arts can bring so much insight and fitness into your REAL life.
Playing games once in a while is nice, learning something for life is nicer …
Once again every shitty country in Europe sent it’s "best" songs to compete with each other in the Eurovision contest.
And like every year the songs were mostly terrible and the voting was as idiotic as ever. Slavs voted for Slavs, Nordic countries for fellow Nordic countries. The Turkish Diaspora produced a high rank for their nations terribly tittie twisting song – Turkey could put someone like Mr Methane on stage and still score a Top 5 position.
The winning Norwegian Song is mediocre at best and I am sure all of Europe’s 12 year Girls must have voted for that charming übergifted little shit.
I hated it and will so until I die.
Of course I will watch next years Eurovision. I love to hate the trashy competition. And I will once again hate the winner, since only bad songs win – not really good ones. But everyone expects that anyway …
Click image for a larger Annie.
Her style, her voice and her artistic expression are highly impressive and electrifying. Madame Lennox also was a great (new) role model since her huge impact with Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" video and album.
Although she made many pop songs, that range from silly to raunchy she was never a consumerist blow up doll like Madonna.
Before iPods, before Computers, before CDs, before TV, before Magnetic Tapes, before Radios, before Records, before Phonograph cylinders … Music couldn’t be "saved" or "transmitted" from one place to another.
So people who liked music had to either learn an instruments or simply visit a concert.
It was not very easy to listen to a famous Tenor or Opera, unless you lived in the same city or were lucky enough that that person or performance would play in town.
So many great performances were only done once and never recorded. Today nothing is forgotten and has lead to a new phenomenon: that we listen and cling onto performers long dead. Living musicians have to compete against dead ones. So called "classics" hog shelf space and sales, it makes it hard for young musicians to make a living and achieve fame and stardom. They will always compared mercilessly with recordings from superstars …
Sometimes forgetting and "dying" is a good thing. It makes space for the new and young. But thanks to recordings certain moods or markets become the de factor standard for our ears. For example Steve Wonders’ "Happy Birthday" seems to be the one and only song for that occasion. There seem to be more and more established theme songs that cover our "emotional range" in private and movie moments.
Will future generations still be pestered by the Best of Rolling Stones, Best of Celine Dion and Best of Elton John?!
Raymond Scott was far far far ahead of his time. This song is from the 1950’s when he already experimented with electronic sounds. Add to this sound some heavy beats and it would perfectly electro pop modern.
A blast from the 80’s from the no future generation. Aside from the consumerist crowd of Thatcherism and Reaganomics there was an alternative scene, quite worried about the clash of humanity and technology.
Sometimes I wonder if they were right about the times we live in now?
| 1. Click player below to start the music.
2. Click the photo to launch yourself into outer space. 3. Study for six minutes this great image of our cosmos and meditate on the vastness of space. |
Space is the final frontier. No more. No less.
Andrea Bocelli with Sarah Brightman …
… Christina Aguilera …
… and finally Elmo! 
Andrea Bocelli is one of these people that make mere mortal feel even smaller. Already as a youngster we was a gifted musician – playing the piano, saxophone and the flute. He lost his sight as a kid thanks to a football hit on the head.
As an adult he studied law and got his doctor degree. But to pay for his education he sang in piano bars (where he also met his future wife and mother of his two kids) – which also launched his singing career.
Today he is an international star and sold millions of CDs. Most of his albums are quite kitschie – but his success is nevertheless impressive.
I would prefer if these people would simply stay at home and listen to their favorite tune on their computers or stereo system.
It’s understandable that the human psyche needs entertainment and relief from stress and the unfairness of life.
But could you kindly relief yourselves in a more aesthetically pleasing way?
We are an ugly and most of all a wasteful species.
Ever seen Dolphins or Ants smashing up their habitat and playing air guitar all night?
See it in action and get excited.
Watch this video for more technical details.
It’s dirt cheap and a great toy. Me want badly – even though I can’t play an instrument. But I think it’s a great toy to get into music.
More? Official Site – and some more electro pr0n at ThinkGeek
The time of the Rebellion is long over. Most Rockstars are old farts now or close to death. Their music is as fresh and boring as most other commercial crap. The Rock & Roll lifestyle is simply a bad choice of booze, drugs, bad music and terrible clothes.
It’s over – go and retire and take care of your kids.
Still an amazing ballade. Just the right music for working long summer nights …
Living near Italy I never liked the sphagetti disco music, but Georgio is an exception, because he had a great and unique sound (which already was very "techno" and the video also has many images later seen in many rave clips).
Still … very Italian .. but he later made it big time in Hollywood.
Some nostalgic summer music – I think only Germans can make a depressing reggae summer song with loads of Weltschmerz.
Ideal was part of the so called Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave) – but was never as popular like Nena or Trio (remember Da Da Da?).
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1. Click player below to start the music. 2. Click the image to dive into outer space. 3. Study for four minutes our moon. |
Some scientific theories state that without our moon our days would have been too short to evolve life. Overall it seems our lifes are deeply connected to our lunar companion …
*Thanks to Edosan for sending me this great image*
This is slowly becoming a seasonal thing: a new year a new iPod. Here is my excuse for buying a new one: four gigabyte was too tiny for my favorite tunes. Plus it helped to satisfy my technolust and stopped me from buying anything more expensive.
Overall the new iPod interface sucks. I still would prefer the simple old black and white screen with a super simple menu. I don’t need all that extra smart and shiny coverflow and graphic gimmickry. The inside of my pants have no eyes and I just need to see a list of what’s on the playlist. No more, no less.
Apple is currently diminishing the iPod’s greatest appeal: simplicity. Every new version tries to add some unnecessary bells & whistles.
Crap.
There not much a simple soul and music lover like me can write about such a genius.
I remember when I was 16 and a coworker introduced and educated me about classical music. Since I loved symphonic soundtracks like Star Wars or Star Trek II that was easily done – and I was hooked. Loved Beethoven and his wild emotions and free spirit. Mozart – nah – that was shallow. My coworker told me to be patient – and the taste for Mozart would come with maturity. Now that I am an old fart myself I have to say he was right. Now I am very much into Mozart and much more can hear and appreciate all his subtleties and nuances.
The challenge with Mozart – for any new acolyte of classical music – is his huge volume of work. It ranges from entertaining little melodies to to breath taking requiems. There is music for almost any occasion and mood in his huge repertoire.
Click to play “The Marriage of Figaro – Overture”:
Click to play “Klaviersonate Nr. 15 C-dur KV 495″:
Click to play “Symphonie Nr. 31 D-dur KV 297 ‘Pariser’”:
So if you like what you just heard and want to dig deeper buy one of the many “Best of Mozart” CD or MP3 collections. Check the pieces and maybe pick one piece that you enjoyed in particular.
His operas range from easy to monumental, so if you want to see one go to YouTube and dig a bit deeper. The Magic Flute is always a safe choice and charming, Don Giovanni is more like Heavy Metal.
More? Mozart @ Wikipedia
Philip Glass is one of the few soundtrack composers that is famous for his movie and classical work as well.
His style is hypnotic, often a bit weird and unusual compared to music from great soundtrack composers like John Williams or classical ones like Beethoven. But he certainly is unique – and therefore not for everybody.
I personally love his hypnotic violin waves and delicate themes. It’s an almost surreal music – I guess that is why it was chosen for Koyaanisqatsi (1983) and later for Mishima (1985).
The Mishima soundtrack is a permanent item on my play lists for now over twenty year – and I am still loving it.
Click to play “November 25: The Last Day” (which is very similar to the Main Title):
Click to play “1937: Saint Sebastian”:
Click to play “Kyoko’s House (“Stage Blood Is Not Enough”)”:
Once again this music is not “easy listening”, but it’s well worth exploring. If you only want to buy one Philip Glass CD ever – than I recommend “Mishima”.
More? Philip Glass @ Wikipedia and Philip Glass @ Amazon.com
I love soundtracks. It when it comes to composers the late Jerry Goldsmith is a God amongst the Giants of classic soundtrack makers.
He has created many memorable themes and great orchestral scores for many famous and not so famous movies. This Maestro produced soundtracks like mortal men like you and me breathe.
His “Planet of the Apes” soundtrack is one of the most unusual tracks you can find. Strangely harmonic, yet disturbingly creepy. I still think that the movie itself would only be half as good without the soundtrack.
Click to play “Main Title”
Click to play “The Revelation”
It certainly isn’t “easy listening” – it’s actually very demanding music. But if you listen to it with your headphones on in the dark you suddenly will find yourself in an amazing vision of your own. This music inspires wild and bizarre images in your mind … or maybe nightmares …
More? “Planet of the Apes” @ Wikipedia
Still one of the quintessential 80’s pop songs in style and content. Although it seems neither the Russians nor the Americans have learned any lessons from this?
Karlheinz Stockhausen died last year. Even 50 years after his career started in Germany his music is as provoking as ever. Stockhausen hardly is Easy Listening – and many of his ideas will remind you rather of crazy performance art instead of ’serious’ classical music.
But we should never underestimate the impact of Stockhausen – many fellow artists have been inspired by him: Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk (obviously), Björk and the Beatles.
Stockhausen is one of these people who expand the boundaries of of culture further ahead. They add a new noise or new variation to the mix. As with all cultural experiments “they don’t make any sense” – because we often create the “sense” afterwards or it takes other artists to “smooth” the rough edges of the “new idea” and make it more acceptable to the masses.
So here are some of Stockhausen’s innovations and compositions – don’t expect them to be easy on you …
Another piece from Maestro Cagnacci.
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1. Click player below to start the music. 2. Click the image above to dive into the art. 3. Study for four minutes this piece of art. |
I like the style of the painting, but compared to his other masterpiece ‘Lucretia’ this is pretty lame. The composition is weak, the drama rather pathetic and not worth the death of the great Cleopatra. And the snake is rather puny. The Lady looking at the snake looks more like eating or cuddling it any moment …
Overall this image is way to European and not very Egyptian. I can only suspect that the original buyer wanted to have something with many half-naked ladies?
“Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
“I hate this fast growing tendency to chain men to machines in big factories and deprive them of all joy in their efforts – the plan will lead to cheap men and cheap products.”
“One supreme fact which I have discovered is that it is not willpower, but fantasy-imagination that creates. Imagination is the creative force. Imagination creates reality.”
Homemade video, talking … or rather singing to youself and the world. Perfect! Geo’s song "The Assumption" from the album Interrobang.
Thanks Edosan.
I’ll play it first and tell you what it is later. – Miles Davis
(Big audio geek rant ahead – just ignore it if you are not a sound nut like me )
To say that I am a audiophile person would be a bit of an understatement. I hardly leave the house without my iPod and even while working I love to listen to music via headphones. My brain simply loves to be close to the sound of music.
There are three things in my life were I am constantly looking for a better gadget: keyboards (because I type a lot), mouse (for smooth clicking) and headphones (I only have that set of ears). Sure I also love to shop for good monitors (because I want to be nice to my eyes as well) and a kickass computer – but usually both items don’t need changing only every two years.
When it comes to my ears I am VERY picky. As a kid I had several serious infection and some operations on my ears – so I am extra sensitive when it comes to my eardrums. Plus I still can hear grass growing although I had these operations and tortured my ears with techno music in the early 90’s. Yes, I will donate my amazing ears to science when I die …
In the age of the every shrinking music players buying the right and good headphones is important as well as a joke. Why? Because of sound compression and bad sound chips.
Compression: Many MP3s sound like shit, because they have been ripped with a low compression setting (like 128 or 192 kps) and therefore ‘hiss’ or ‘jitter’. So with good headphones you can hear all these ‘damages’ done to good music. I try to get the highest quality rips for my music collection – it should be at least 256 kps or more.
Sound Chips: This little bugger transforms your digital MP3 files back into proper music. Most PCs have terrible sound chips, their quality makes most sound engineers weep and kill themselves. If you combine a bad sound chip with a low quality MP3 than you get the sound quality of a 1930’s radio transmission.
iPod’s are supposed to have good sound chips, but are still vulnerable to bad MP3s (shit in – shit out). That is one of the reasons why Apple pushed it’s AAC sound format when it introduced the iPod and iTunes – they wanted to make sure people got ‘well ripped’ music onto their new gadgets.
My serious headphones (Sennheiser HD 555): amazing sound quality and size. I feel like an Easter bunny wearing these. But with these good music is a revelation – they really make you LISTEN. Most excellent sensation my friends …
My machine actually comes with an acceptable SoundMax HD chip and some software based SRS sound. It is actually amazing how well this machine sounds WITHOUT external speakers. This little machine is enough to keep my small room filled with a decent sound – although not too much bass.
I use the small earplugs and earphones only with my iPod for portability reasons. The big Sennheiser is made for more serious audio – the pricetag of over €100 makes that painfully clear. The Sennheiser also mercilessly kicks the digital setup in the butt: every little hiss or frequency distortion is played back in it’s lousy inadequacy. Thank you so very much you overpriced set of ear muffs!
High Quality MP3s make a big difference here. Never mind the extra space they eat on my hard drive – it’s worth every minute of smooth sound.
With cheaper headphones you will hardly notice the differences, because they blur the sound anyway.
Small is beautiful! A note to Apple – please don’t sell me an overpriced MP3 player with such shitty earplugs. Everyone I know has thrown them away after unpacking …
The big Sennheiser sure sound great with the iPod as well, but is unpractical for the road. Plus the plug is made for big hifi equipment and therefore needs a ‘bridge’ for the smaller plug. The whole thing as actually big and clunky – and almost the same size as the iPod. Not something you want in your pocket.
My earplugs (Sony MDR-ED 31) – small, easy to carry around and quickly stuff into my pockets if needed. Good sounds, lacks a bit bass. Feels a bit like someone sticking fingers into your ears.
All iPods have a built in ’sound barrier’ – which especially annoys kiddies, since you can’t crank up the volume. You can ‘improve’ the sound a bit with the different equalizer settings, but once again low quality MP3 will hiss at you like a bunch of mad snakes. So once again it pays off to rip your music at a higher setting.
The Sony earplugs are nice to wear and don’t seal up your ears like so many other similar products. They sound good and very convenient for traveling.
My travel setup (AKG Acoustics K 412 P): for some good sounds and keeping the public noise out of my ears. Excellent sound quality – and they can be folded together, so they use less space in my messenger bag.
The AKG headphones are the best compromise between transportability and sound quality. You can actually fold them together, so they get even smaller. The audio quality is very good and they even have a warm and pleasant bass.
As a good consumer I have bought all the right products for each audiophile situation. Perfect – until we finally get some decent and usable Bluetooth headphones and iPods with built in Bluetooth as well. Then I can FINALLY get rid of all the cables and go wireless … and buy new headphones!
What a great gift! Queen gives you a free song – and wants you to donate some money to fight AIDS. Now that’s what I call a great deal!
From the official website:
It has not been that closely a guarded secret that Queen and Paul Rodgers have been in the recording studio for their first sessions together following their successful world tour of 2005/2006. Indeed, both Paul and Brian have been quoted on their websites as being "quietly excited" about the music that has been produced from this creative union.
Spurred on by their commitments as Ambassadors to Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV AIDS global campaign, on which the spotlight will fall December 1 with a World Aids Day awareness and fundraising concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, Brian, Roger and Paul have announced they have rushed to finish a track specially written for 46664 by Roger and have it available as a free download in time for this coming Saturday’s benefit concert.
The track, Roger’s "Say It’s Not True", originally came to light for the launch of the 46664 campaign back in November 2003. Roger wrote the song as a gift to Nelson Mandela (or ‘Madiba’, as he is fondly known), and performed it live for him for the first time with Brian and Dave Stewart at the inaugural 46664 concert in Cape Town that month. The song carries the message that HIV AIDS is something that can affect any one of us.
I like the song. But I also like the whole idea.
Thanks to Zichi for sending me this link.