"Beautiful Day" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the first track from their 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, and it was released as the album's lead single. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2's biggest hits to date. Like many tracks from All That You Can't Leave Behind, "Beautiful Day" harkens back to the group's past sound. The tone of The Edge's guitar was a subject of debate amongst the band members, as they disagreed on whether he should use a sound similar to that from their early career in the 1980s. Lead vocalist Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what you have.
The song received positive reviews, and it became their fourth number-one single in the UK and their first number-one in the Netherlands. The song peaked at number 21 in the United States, the band's highest position since "Discothèque" in 1997. In 2001, the song won three Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The group has played "Beautiful Day" at every one of their concerts since the song's 2001 live debut on the Elevation Tour.
"Beautiful Day" was written in several stages, originating from a composition called "Always" (later released as a B-side) that the band created in a small room at Hanover Quay Studio. However, they were initially unimpressed with it, as guitarist The Edge said, "As a straight rock song, it was pretty ho-hum."[4] After lead vocalist Bono came up with the "beautiful day" lyric, the song went in a different direction. The Edge's backing vocals for the chorus were improvised one night with co-producer Daniel Lanois, an addition he called "the key" to the chorus and its new lyrics.
"Beautiful Day" is played at a tempo of 136 beats per minute in a 4/4 time signature. The song opens with a reverberating electric piano playing over a string synthesiser, introducing the chord progression of A–Bm7–D–G–D9–A. This progression continues throughout the verses and chorus, the changes not always one to a bar. After the opening line, "The heart is a bloom", the rhythm enters, comprising repeated eighth notes on bass guitar and a drum machine. In the first verse, Bono's vocals are in the front in the mix and their production is dry. At 0:29, a guitar arpeggio pattern by The Edge first appears, echoing across channels. The verses are relatively quiet until the chorus, when The Edge begins playing the song's guitar riff and Mullen's drums enter. During the chorus, Bono sings in a restrained manner, contrasting with The Edge's "loud, bellowing" background vocals, a sustained cry of "day".
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Andrew Lloyd Weber - "All I Ask Of You" (1986)
"All I Ask of You" is a song from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version of The Phantom of the Opera. It was released as a single on both 7 and 12 inch vinyl in 1986 by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman.
It was certified Silver in the United Kingdom. The song occurs at the end of Act I of the musical. Christine Daaé, terrified of the Phantom after a stagehand is found murdered during an opera performance, flees to the roof of the Paris Opera House with her childhood friend, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He promises to love her and keep her safe from the Phantom, who is listening in on the exchange without their knowledge. Heartbroken and furious at being spurned, he swears revenge against Raoul and causes the Opera's giant chandelier to crash to the floor.
The video featured above is a scene from the 2004 motion picture version of The Phantom of the Opera. The 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical was based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film was also produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber. The Phantom of the Opera stars Gerard Butler in the title role, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daaé, as well as Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver and Jennifer Ellison.
The film was announced as early as 1989, but production only started in 2002 due to Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. It was entirely shot at Pinewood Studios, with scenarios also being depicted with the help of miniatures and computer graphics. Most of the actors had no singing experience, and had to receive music lessons. The Phantom of the Opera grossed approximately $154 million worldwide, and received mixed to negative reviews, praising the visuals but criticizing the writing and directing.
It was certified Silver in the United Kingdom. The song occurs at the end of Act I of the musical. Christine Daaé, terrified of the Phantom after a stagehand is found murdered during an opera performance, flees to the roof of the Paris Opera House with her childhood friend, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. He promises to love her and keep her safe from the Phantom, who is listening in on the exchange without their knowledge. Heartbroken and furious at being spurned, he swears revenge against Raoul and causes the Opera's giant chandelier to crash to the floor.
The video featured above is a scene from the 2004 motion picture version of The Phantom of the Opera. The 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical was based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film was also produced and co-written by Lloyd Webber. The Phantom of the Opera stars Gerard Butler in the title role, Emmy Rossum as Christine Daaé, as well as Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, Minnie Driver and Jennifer Ellison.
The film was announced as early as 1989, but production only started in 2002 due to Webber's divorce and Schumacher's busy career. It was entirely shot at Pinewood Studios, with scenarios also being depicted with the help of miniatures and computer graphics. Most of the actors had no singing experience, and had to receive music lessons. The Phantom of the Opera grossed approximately $154 million worldwide, and received mixed to negative reviews, praising the visuals but criticizing the writing and directing.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Culture Club - TIME (1982)
Culture Club are a British rock band formed in the early 1980s and classified as new romantic, whose sound combines British new wave and American soul with Jamaican reggae and also other styles as calypso, salsa or country. The band, sometimes described as pop/rock, consisted of Boy George (lead vocals), Mikey Craig (bass guitar), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards) and Jon Moss (drums and percussion). They are associated with the Second British Invasion of British new wave groups that became popular in the United States due to the cable music channel MTV. From the time of the band's first album release in 1981 to its dissolution in 1986, Culture Club had amassed hits in several countries around the world, including ten Top 40 hits in the US, most of which went Top 10. They went on to have subsequent hits in the UK during a reunion period of 1998–2002, where they scored a #4 single and a #25 single.
"Time (Clock of the Heart)" is a song by the British band Culture Club, released as stand-alone single in most of the world and as the second single from their debut album Kissing to Be Clever in North America. Following on the heels of the number-one UK hit, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the song matched the number-two peak of its predecessor on the Billboard Hot 100.
In Europe and United Kingdom, it was a stand-alone single, released in November 1982. For this market, its first inclusion on a Culture Club album was on their 1987 compilation, called This Time: The First Four Years.
"Time (Clock of the Heart)" is a song by the British band Culture Club, released as stand-alone single in most of the world and as the second single from their debut album Kissing to Be Clever in North America. Following on the heels of the number-one UK hit, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the song matched the number-two peak of its predecessor on the Billboard Hot 100.
In Europe and United Kingdom, it was a stand-alone single, released in November 1982. For this market, its first inclusion on a Culture Club album was on their 1987 compilation, called This Time: The First Four Years.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Mighty Sparrow - "Salt Fish" (1976)
I first heard this song on the Carribean Island of St. Christopher in the early 1990's (now known as St. Kitts). I was on a local bus with the native islanders and it was so surreal. I felt the root of tropical living when I heard this one.
Mighty Sparrow or Birdie (born Slinger Francisco, July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada, West Indies) is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition eight times and has been named "Calypso Monarch" eleven times.
Salt Fish is one of the Funniest songs 'Mighty Sparrow' ever did. If you don't already know 'Salt Fish' was his greatest lover. This is sometimes seen as a very nasty and naughty song (read lyrics).
Saltfish stew is what I like
So doo-doo, give me day and night
I like you food, so don’t find me rude
My favorite, I sure every man in here already eat it
Saltfish
Nothing in the world sweeter than
Saltfish
English, colloquial, Bajans
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
Very well, I like the taste
Though the smell, sometimes out of place
It hard to take, but make no mistake
I want you to know, it’s because it extra sweet it smelling so boy it’s
Saltfish
Big money does run behind it
Saltfish
Man does lick down man to find it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
Some like it hot, some like it cold
No matter what, I take it young or old
When it serve with wine, man does stew it fine
Put no pepper, the bone in the centre does be sweet like sugar
Saltfish
Some men does get drunk to taste it
Saltfish
Some does go and hide to face it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
I would die, a happy man
If I close me eye, with piece in me hand
Bury me, in the cemetery
Any money, put a saltfish picture on me tombstone saying
Saltfish
Sparrow was it’s greatest lover
Saltfish
He even adored the odor
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet!
Mighty Sparrow or Birdie (born Slinger Francisco, July 9, 1935, in Grand Roy, Grenada, West Indies) is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition eight times and has been named "Calypso Monarch" eleven times.
Salt Fish is one of the Funniest songs 'Mighty Sparrow' ever did. If you don't already know 'Salt Fish' was his greatest lover. This is sometimes seen as a very nasty and naughty song (read lyrics).
Saltfish stew is what I like
So doo-doo, give me day and night
I like you food, so don’t find me rude
My favorite, I sure every man in here already eat it
Saltfish
Nothing in the world sweeter than
Saltfish
English, colloquial, Bajans
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
Very well, I like the taste
Though the smell, sometimes out of place
It hard to take, but make no mistake
I want you to know, it’s because it extra sweet it smelling so boy it’s
Saltfish
Big money does run behind it
Saltfish
Man does lick down man to find it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
Some like it hot, some like it cold
No matter what, I take it young or old
When it serve with wine, man does stew it fine
Put no pepper, the bone in the centre does be sweet like sugar
Saltfish
Some men does get drunk to taste it
Saltfish
Some does go and hide to face it
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet
I would die, a happy man
If I close me eye, with piece in me hand
Bury me, in the cemetery
Any money, put a saltfish picture on me tombstone saying
Saltfish
Sparrow was it’s greatest lover
Saltfish
He even adored the odor
Saltfish
It’s sweeter than meat
When you want to eat
All saltfish sweet!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
New Order - "Bizarre Love Triange" (1986)
Well, I don't have to tell you that I connected with this song in 1986 (if any of you are familiar with my 007 Gentleman Blog). ;)
"Bizarre Love Triangle" is a single released in 1986 by the English rock band New Order. A version is included on their album Brotherhood.
Though it is one of the group's best known singles, it failed to make the Top 40 in either the United Kingdom or the United States. In the band's native England, "Bizarre Love Triangle" only reached No. 56. In the States, the song failed to chart in its original 1986 release, but its popularity has only climbed since; widespread airplay on U.S. Top 40 radio in the 1990s led to a brief, fluke appearance on the Billboard singles chart in 1995. The one country where it was a sizable chart hit was Australia, where it reached No. 5, initiating a string of five consecutive Top 20 hits.
In 2004 the song was ranked number 201 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
"Bizarre Love Triangle" is a single released in 1986 by the English rock band New Order. A version is included on their album Brotherhood.
Though it is one of the group's best known singles, it failed to make the Top 40 in either the United Kingdom or the United States. In the band's native England, "Bizarre Love Triangle" only reached No. 56. In the States, the song failed to chart in its original 1986 release, but its popularity has only climbed since; widespread airplay on U.S. Top 40 radio in the 1990s led to a brief, fluke appearance on the Billboard singles chart in 1995. The one country where it was a sizable chart hit was Australia, where it reached No. 5, initiating a string of five consecutive Top 20 hits.
In 2004 the song was ranked number 201 in Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Ella Fitzgerald - "A Tisket A Tasket" (1938)
A Tisket A Tasket is a nursery rhyme first recorded in America in the late nineteenth century. It was used as the basis for a very successful and highly regarded 1938 recording by Ella Fitzgerald. The words Tisket and Tasket do not appear in standard dictionaries, so were probably fabricated to suit the rhyme and metre.
The rhyme was first noted in the United States in 1879 as a children's rhyming game. It was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the number ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If caught the dropper was either kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart. An early noted version had the lyrics:
A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it,
I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.
Ella Fitzgerald, in conjunction with Al Feldman, extended and embellished the rhyme into a jazz piece which was her breakthrough hit with the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1938. It has since become a jazz standard. A followup song written by Fitzgerald and Webb entitled I Found My Yellow Basket (1938) was less successful.
The rhyme was first noted in the United States in 1879 as a children's rhyming game. It was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the number ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If caught the dropper was either kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart. An early noted version had the lyrics:
A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it,
I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up and put it in his pocket.
Ella Fitzgerald, in conjunction with Al Feldman, extended and embellished the rhyme into a jazz piece which was her breakthrough hit with the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1938. It has since become a jazz standard. A followup song written by Fitzgerald and Webb entitled I Found My Yellow Basket (1938) was less successful.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline" (1969)
"Sweet Caroline" is a pop song written and performed by Neil Diamond and officially released on September 16, 1969, as a single. There are three distinct mixes of this song. The original mono 45 mix had a loud orchestra and glockenspiel compared to the stereo version on the Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show LP. The third version was a remix found only on the initial CD release of Neil Diamond's "His 12 Greatest Hits". This version has the orchestra mixed down very noticeably and has the background vocals mixed up. It has a longer fade as well. The song reached #4 on the Billboard chart and eventually went platinum for sales of one million singles.
In the autumn of 1969, Diamond performed "Sweet Caroline" on several television shows. It later reached #8 on the UK singles chart in 1971. In a 2007 interview, Diamond revealed the inspiration for "Sweet Caroline" was President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, who was eleven years old at the time. Diamond sang the song to her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007.
In the autumn of 1969, Diamond performed "Sweet Caroline" on several television shows. It later reached #8 on the UK singles chart in 1971. In a 2007 interview, Diamond revealed the inspiration for "Sweet Caroline" was President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, who was eleven years old at the time. Diamond sang the song to her at her 50th birthday celebration in 2007.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Boyzone - No Matter What (1996)
"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman and popularized by the group Boyzone. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the only Boyzone hit to become popular in the U.S. Jewels & Stone did a remix for the song for dance clubs which was very popular.
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising of Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, and Shane Lynch. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ireland charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one Singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12 of their 20 singles in the UK being in the UK Top 2.
Boyzone are one of the most successful bands in the UK and Ireland. In total, the group have 19 top 5 singles on the Ire, 18 top 10 hits on the UK charts, nine #1 Irish singles chart hit singles and six #1 UK hit singles and five #1 albums, with approximately 20 million records sold by 2010 in British Isles and worldwide. The number is confirmed by Gately's book The Tree of Seasons.
Boyzone famously made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring. The band was put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh who is also known for managing Johnny Logan and Westlife. The band has released four studio albums and seven compilation albums to date. Gately died on 10 October 2009 of natural causes while on his holiday in Majorca, Spain.
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising of Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, and Shane Lynch. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ireland charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one Singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12 of their 20 singles in the UK being in the UK Top 2.
Boyzone are one of the most successful bands in the UK and Ireland. In total, the group have 19 top 5 singles on the Ire, 18 top 10 hits on the UK charts, nine #1 Irish singles chart hit singles and six #1 UK hit singles and five #1 albums, with approximately 20 million records sold by 2010 in British Isles and worldwide. The number is confirmed by Gately's book The Tree of Seasons.
Boyzone famously made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring. The band was put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh who is also known for managing Johnny Logan and Westlife. The band has released four studio albums and seven compilation albums to date. Gately died on 10 October 2009 of natural causes while on his holiday in Majorca, Spain.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Michael Jackson - You're Not Alone (1995); Shayne Ward - You're Not Alone (2006)
"You Are Not Alone" is a 1995 song by Michael Jackson; however, other versions have been sung by other artists.
I like Shayne Ward singing "You're Not Alone" which he released in 2006. He is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.
I like Shayne Ward singing "You're Not Alone" which he released in 2006. He is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sophie Ellis Bextor - "Muder on the Dancefloor" (2001)
Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born 10 April 1979) is an English singer, songwriter, model and occasional DJ. She first came to prominence in the late 1990s, as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. After the group disbanded, Ellis-Bextor went solo, achieving widespread success in the early 2000s. Her music is a mixture of mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco, and 1980s electronic influences.
Her solo debut album, Read My Lips, was released in September 2001. The album reached number two on the UK albums chart and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. The record experienced international success; it sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. It produced four singles, three of which reached the top three in the UK. In 2003, Read My Lips won the Edison Award for "Best Dance Album". Ellis-Bextor's second album, Shoot from the Hip, was released in October 2003. The album reached number nineteen in the UK and produced two top ten singles. Trip the Light Fantastic, her third album, was released in May 2007. It album reached number seven in the UK. The album produced three singles, one of which reached the top ten in the UK.
Sophie has released on June 15, 2009 "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", collaborating with the Freemasons, becoming her 9th Top 20 hit in the UK, and a worldwide dance smash hit.
"Murder on the Dancefloor" is a song written by Gregg Alexander and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe for Ellis-Bextor's first album Read My Lips. After the release of "Take Me Home" in August 2001, Ellis-Bextor released her best-selling single to date in December 2001, "Murder on the Dance floor". The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, stayed on the charts for twenty-three weeks, and became the most played song of 2002 in all of Europe.
The song was such a hit that the singer's label canceled what was planned to be the next single, "Lover", and replaced it with "Get Over You" and "Move This Mountain". It was also a hit in Australia peaking at number three, staying in the top fifty for twenty weeks, accrediting platinum by ARIA and ending to be the eleventh highest selling single for 2002.
The music video, which was directed by Sophie Muller, takes place at a dance contest whose winners are to gain a pair of golden shoes and a cash prize. Desperate to win, Ellis-Bextor manages to sneakily injure and disqualify many of the other dancers; injuring one with butter, tripping another (who she sees her do it and angrily points at her), poisoning a trio of possible competition using harmless looking, but poisoned punch, unstrapping one of the contestants clothes, framing another of cheating on his partner, using a G-String, knocking out one judge with what seems to be chloroform and seducing another, played by Colin Stinton, into declaring her the winner after she sees he has a weak spot for women like her, which displeases the other dancers. Her use of these tactics leads to her win, with everyone else grudgingly clapping, while she is smiling with a crown, a big cash prize and golden shoes.
Her solo debut album, Read My Lips, was released in September 2001. The album reached number two on the UK albums chart and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. The record experienced international success; it sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. It produced four singles, three of which reached the top three in the UK. In 2003, Read My Lips won the Edison Award for "Best Dance Album". Ellis-Bextor's second album, Shoot from the Hip, was released in October 2003. The album reached number nineteen in the UK and produced two top ten singles. Trip the Light Fantastic, her third album, was released in May 2007. It album reached number seven in the UK. The album produced three singles, one of which reached the top ten in the UK.
Sophie has released on June 15, 2009 "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", collaborating with the Freemasons, becoming her 9th Top 20 hit in the UK, and a worldwide dance smash hit.
"Murder on the Dancefloor" is a song written by Gregg Alexander and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe for Ellis-Bextor's first album Read My Lips. After the release of "Take Me Home" in August 2001, Ellis-Bextor released her best-selling single to date in December 2001, "Murder on the Dance floor". The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, stayed on the charts for twenty-three weeks, and became the most played song of 2002 in all of Europe.
The song was such a hit that the singer's label canceled what was planned to be the next single, "Lover", and replaced it with "Get Over You" and "Move This Mountain". It was also a hit in Australia peaking at number three, staying in the top fifty for twenty weeks, accrediting platinum by ARIA and ending to be the eleventh highest selling single for 2002.
The music video, which was directed by Sophie Muller, takes place at a dance contest whose winners are to gain a pair of golden shoes and a cash prize. Desperate to win, Ellis-Bextor manages to sneakily injure and disqualify many of the other dancers; injuring one with butter, tripping another (who she sees her do it and angrily points at her), poisoning a trio of possible competition using harmless looking, but poisoned punch, unstrapping one of the contestants clothes, framing another of cheating on his partner, using a G-String, knocking out one judge with what seems to be chloroform and seducing another, played by Colin Stinton, into declaring her the winner after she sees he has a weak spot for women like her, which displeases the other dancers. Her use of these tactics leads to her win, with everyone else grudgingly clapping, while she is smiling with a crown, a big cash prize and golden shoes.
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