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CDs and Bluetooth: Musical Memories of Every 80s and 90s Born

If you’re a 90′s child, you probably are from the generation that has witnessed the growth of the music industry during a great era.

Remember falling in love with Enrique’s Escape? Or crying out loud with Backstreet Boys when they sang Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely? Do you also remember Limewire? The app that, although made your internet and computer cry, but got you updated with the latest song releases of the time. If you do, there’s a high chance you’re a 80′s or 90′s born.

Do you remember that greatest playlist you would fit in a Compact Disk (CD) or store in that 256 MB memory of your phone? Remember the trouble of deciding which songs to let go to make space for new ones? Remember the hours of waiting to transfer songs to your friends via Bluetooth? Remember wasting all day on compressing songs just so you could fit more in your phones and Ipods? Wasn’t it the best time of life?

A time when every youngster’s dream girl was Britney Spears. A time when Eminem seemed like the real rap god. When everyone wanted to be badass like 50 Cent, sexy like Enrique while dancing like Justin Timberlake. If you can relate to the above, you definitely grew up in the 90′s.

Now if you do relate with any of the things above, the following list of songs will surely take you on a nostalgic journey. It will take you back to one of the best eras, global music has ever seen.

Listen to the 50 Top songs from the time of CDs and Bluetooth Music transfers.

Songs from 2000

1. Yellow by Coldplay

2. Music by Madonna

3. Oops!...I Did it Again by Britney Spears

4. The Real Slim Shady by Eminem

5. Beautiful Day by U2

Songs from 2001

6. Survivor by Destiny’s child

7. Hero by Enrique Iglesias

8. Bootylicious by Survivor

9. Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera

10. Love Don’t Cost a Thing by Jennifer Lopez

Songs from 2002

11. Lose Yourself by Eminem

12. Complicated by Avril Lavigne

13. Dilemma by Nelly

14. Beautiful by Christina Aguilera

15. Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake

Songs from 2003

16. In Da Club by 50 cents

17. Where is the Love by Black eyed peas

18. Baby Boy by Beyoncé

19. Thoia Thoing by R Kelly

20. PIMP 50 Cents

Songs from 2004

21. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green day

22. Yeah! by Usher and Ludacris

23. This Love by Maroon 5

24. Numb by Linkin Park

25. Toxic by Britney Spears     

Songs from 2005

26. We Belong Together by Mariah Carey

27. Don’t Cha by Pussycat Dolls

28. Candy Shop by 50 cents

29. Best of You by Foo Fighters

30. Don’t Phunk with My Heart by Black Eyed Peas

Songs from 2006

31. Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake

32. Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

33. Unfaithful by Rihanna

34. Smack That by Akon

35. Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira

Songs from 2007

36. Umbrella by Rihanna

37. Low by Flo Rida

38. Crank That by Souja Boy

39. Shawty by Plies

40. Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song) by Enrique

Songs from 2008

41. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) by Beyoncé

42. Poker Face by Lady Gaga

43. Womanizer by Britney Spears

44. 4 Minutes by Madonna

45. When I Grow Up by Pussycat Dolls

Songs from 2009

46. I Gotta Feeling by Black eyed peas

47. Right Round by Flo Rida

48. TiK ToK by Kesha

49. 21 Guns by Green Day

50. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

So play these superhits once more, or possibly use them for a 90s theme party. If you feel I’ve missed some songs, do let me know in the comments below!

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Why is K-Pop Becoming a Global Music Phenomenon?

The popularity of South Korean popular culture in different parts of the world is termed as Hallyu, which means “Korean Wave”. It’s nothing new to the world. Hallyu has been growing for the past 20 years. However, Korean-pop or K-pop music has become increasingly visible to the world over the past decade by topping western music charts including the Billboard Hot 100.

What Is K-Pop Music?

K-pop or Korean-pop music is a unique blend of audiovisual elements. It is a genre that includes a mix of popular music from around the world such as EDM, Hip-hop, Western pop, Jazz, Experimental, Classical, etc. Most of the K-pop albums feature genre-hopping music which basically means that the songs of the same album are not necessarily of the same genre. Each song can be of a different genre altogether or a fusion of two or more genres.

A good number of Korean musicians have had their fame crossed across the Korean borders and reach throughout the world. From H.O.T (High Five of Teenagers), boy band in 1996 to BTS and BLACKPINK in 2018, K-pop music is gaining more and more popularity every day. It started when Wonder Girls’ hit track Nobody made it to the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009. Since then we have witnessed the fame of Gangnam Style by PSY in 2013 followed by FAKE LOVE by BTS and DDU-DU DDU-DU by BLACKPINK in 2018.

Why is K-pop music gaining fame worldwide?

K-pop has turned into a worldwide wonder because of its unique mix of addictive songs, smooth movement and generation esteem, and an interminable motorcade of alluring South Korean entertainers who invest a long time in tiresome studio frameworks figuring out how to sing and move in synchronized flawlessness.

And, with the world moving towards mostly dance-themed parties, K-pop music is dominated by dance numbers because of their extreme focus on the visuals. The synchronized dance moves are what makes K-pop unique and while the genre is a mix of many genres, grooving to the beats is something you are tempted to do on most of the tracks. That’s one of the reasons of the unmatched popularity of the Korean pop music.

In the recent times, some of the popular K-pop artists gained worldwide fame. PSY, TWICE, BTS, Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, GFriend, etc. are some of the band names that are now known across the globe.

The K-pop act with the greatest worldwide achievement so far is BTS. The seven-part kid band has overseen not exclusively to have two tracks ensured gold by the Recording Industry Association of America �� a first for a Korean demonstration – they likewise turned into the most retweeted melodic follow up on Twitter. However, some believe that it is the superfans of the K-pop, who can make or break their musical gran successes.

What Makes a K-Pop Hit?

When we think of what the most-common features in all the superhit K-pop tracks are; there are three things that make K-pop such a remarkable supporter of the domain of popular music viz. extraordinarily amazing execution (precisely dance moves), an extremely polished aesthetic, and an "in-house" way for studio generation of songs that produces music that makes you want to hit the dance floor.

So, as long as the upcoming K-pop artists keep following this technique that not only makes them unique but also extremely catchy, they’ll continue to dominate the charts every once in a while. There can be endless arguments as to why K-pop is gaining popularity with time, but the simple fact that it is doing it by enjoying doing what they do is enough. That may be the most important reason behind their success. All the artists, bands seem to enjoy making music, which also reflects in their songs. And, when music is created while enjoying the process of creating it, it’s deemed to be awesome.

And while the K-pop culture grows, why not get used to it? Here’s a list of 15 of the most-popular K-Pop songs worth listening to.

Top 15 K-Pop Songs You Should Definitely Listen To:

Gee (Girls' Generation)

FAKE LOVE (BTS)

Stay (BlackPink)

DDU-DU DDU-DU (BLACKPINK)

WHISTLE (BLACKPINK)

Growl (EXO)

FANTASTIC BABY (BIGBANG)

Like OOH-AHH (TWICE)

Gangnam Style (PSY)

Gentleman (PSY)

Candy Pop (TWICE)

Blood Sweat & Tears (BTS)

DNA (BTS)

LUV ME (TWICE)

Hangover (PSY featuring Snoop Dogg)

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Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington: The Voice of an Angel

Chester Charles Bennington was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He served as lead singer for the bands Linkin Park, Dead by Sunrise, Grey Daze, and Stone Temple Pilots.

His rose to fame with Linkin Park’s debut album Hybrid theory in 2000 which turned out to be the best-selling debut album of the decade.

Late Chester’s songs have been a source of inspiration to many, especially for kids born in the 90’s who grew up listening to his songs. His songs have helped millions of people cope with their own struggles and depression. His songs connected with the youth in such a way as it seemed that he bared all his emotions into the songs.

The world mourned a deep loss when the news of his death went public in July last year. Right before his death, Linkin park released his seventh studio album One More Light. The album was not well-received by the fans as the band tried to create something different. It was probably the first time that Chester’s angelic voice wasn’t able to please the audience.

Although, after the sudden demise of the vocalist, what left people dumbstruck was the lyrics of songs like Battle Symphony, Heavy and One more Light from the album. Makes us wonder, was it just lyrics or his feelings written in words? What do you think?

But, in tribute to the voice of an angel, Bennington, here are Linkin Park’s top 10 songs.

1. Numb (Meteora)

Numb is one of most popular and commercially successful songs of Linkin Park. The lyrics of the songs talks about the pressures people face in life to meet everyone’s expectations, and to do things people do, just to be accepted by someone else. The music video is about a The video shows a girl being taunted and bullied, so much that she’s become numb to pain whereas the lyrics also fit perfectly to describe a broken relationship.  At the end of the chorus, Chester sings “to be more like me and be less like you” for a happy end.

2. Crawling (Hybrid Theory) Another gem of a song by Linkin Park, Crawling is about addiction of drugs or alcohol abuse and how it affects a person. The lyrics of the song like “Crawling in my skin, These wounds, they will not heal”, “This lack of self control I fear is never ending” describe the feelings of an addict as they try to quit and get back up again. As it deserved, the song bagged a Grammy for the Best Hard Rock Performance.

3. In the End (Hybrid Theory) As most of Linkin Park songs, this songs reflected the feelings of anguish and pain. It talks of the feeling when one tries their best to achieve something only to see it fall in the end. The lyrics also tell that sometimes it’s alright to fail when things are beyond our control. The piano riff of the song was quite unique in this one which made the song an instant hit. The song soon became one of the most iconic songs of the band and topped many charts, and was played all across the world.

4. Battle Symphony (One More Light) Battle Symphony to some is an average song. I disagree… The song is different from what Linkin Park’s forte is, but far better than average. If nothing, the songs prove the versatility of the band over different genres. The lyrics in the chorus “I hear my battle symphony, All the world in front of me, If my armor breaks, I'll fuse it back together, Battle symphony, Please just don't give up on me, And my eyes are wide awake” are simple to understand. As the song reflects someone who is willing to face all the difficulties of the past, present and future, and take on the whole world, as long as they have the support of a loved one (could be a lover or a friend). One of the last songs by Chester, it is one of the best ones by the band.

5. Somewhere I Belong (Meteora) The song Somewhere I Belong is more than a song, it’s more like a post-story of their track Crawling In My Skin. This rock-hard track is about a recovering addict who is struggling while fighting the addiction and a rat-race battle to stop substance abuse. All of this is very well reflected in the lyrics of the song which go like “I want to heal, I want to feel, What I thought was never real, I want to let go of the pain I felt so long” which give a glimpse of the never-ending battle that still haunts him.

6. What I’ve Done (Minutes to Midnight) With What I’ve Done, the band took a different approach to put Chester’s screamo vocals upfront rather than inserting in a few parts. The song aptly talks about forgetting the mistakes that one has made and move on with life. The lyrics are designed in a way that most people can relate to because… well, everybody makes mistakes. To conclude, the song was good enough to deserve a spot in the top 10.

7. Leave Out All The Rest (Minutes to Midnight) This song is one of the different songs of Linkin Park which were out of there forte. It was a comparatively soft and sad rock track. The vocal part was completely given by chester which showcases both his ways - where he sings like an angel and screams like a devil. The song is about someone on deathbed, in remorse with the acts they have committed in life. When death comes close, they want the world to remember the good things that they’ve also done and forgive the sins.

It saddens me to say that there’ll be no more of Chester’s voice in the music to come, but all of the work that the artist has done will be rocking our hearts forever! What are your favorite songs of Linkin Park? Please tell us in a comment.

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Why Ed Sheeran is So Popular & Top 10 Songs by Sheeran

Ed Sheeran (born Edward Christopher Sheeran) is a British singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and record producer.

Sheeran has a total of 41.4 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He easily gets over 500k likes for his day to day cheeky pictures of his cats, food and tattoos.

The A Team was Sheeran’s break-through song. In 2011, it debuted on the third position on UK Singles Chart. Due to the huge success of the songs The A Team and Lego House, his debut album (+) Plus became certified 6-times platinum in the United Kingdom.

Sheeran bagged the British Breakthrough Act Award and Best British Male Solo Artist Award at the Brit Awards 2012.  He also won the Songwriter of the Year Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Composers, Authors and Songwriters.

In October 2015, Sheeran was given an honorary degree for his "outstanding contribution to music" by the University of Suffolk. Sheeran was named Spotify's most streamed artist of 2017 with 6.3 billion streams. MTV Video Music Awards 2017 named Sheeran, the Artist of the Year.

Ed became the first singer, two of whose songs debuted in the same week on US Top 10.

Selling over 26 million albums and 100 million songs globally, Sheeran is among the world’s top-selling music artists. As an actor, he has played recurring roles in Home and Away and The Bastard Executioner. Ed also did a cameo in Game of Thrones appearing as a Lannister soldier.

Sheeran has also done a live performance of the song The A Team on the event of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The concert happened at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace in  2012. Sheeran also raised £40,000 for a charity that helps street sex workers by performing a gig at the Bristol.

In 2017, Sheeran was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday Honours for his services to charity and music. The same year, he was honoured with an award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

What makes Sheerios go crazy over Ed Sheeran, you may wonder? Listen to the top 10 songs by Ed Sheeran below and you’ll know why.

1. Thinking Out Loud

Sheeran referred to it as a "walking down the aisle song, Ed Sheeran has even taken the lead role in the video where is seen performing a ballroom dance. The bass and drums are very close to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.

The lyrics have been inspired by his then girlfriend Athina Andrelos no wonder the song resonated with fans, it shattered several records -  "Thinking Out Loud" topped several charts in Europe, Oceania and South Africa, and reached the top ten in several other countries in the Northern America In the US, "Thinking Out Loud" peaked at number two on the all-encompassing chart Billboard Hot 100; After the first 24 hours, the video had over 2.7 million views on YouTube.

2. Shape of You

In this song, Sheeran talks about falling in love with someone he met at a bar. It’s the most-played song of 2017 and the one of the most popular tracks on Spotify ever, having reached a benchmark of 1.5 billion streams. The song also holds the record for most number of weeks on the Billboard top 10.

Sheeran spoke to BBC radio saying "Shape of You is actually a really random one because I went in to write songs for other people with a guy called Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid, and we were writing this song and I was like 'this would really work for Rihanna” he explained. "And then I started singing lyrics like 'putting Van The Man on the jukebox' and I was like 'well she's not really going to sing that, is she?’ And then we sort of decided halfway through that we were just going to make it for me.”

3. Perfect

“Perfect” is a classic-style romantic love song that Ed dedicated to Cherry Seaborn, his fiancée. It is the fourth single from Sheeran’s 2017 album (÷) Divide. 

Sheeran explained in an interview, the motivation behind writing the song “Perfect” by saying:

“I think the song “Perfect” is actually better than “Thinking Out Loud.” I think there was always a scare that “Thinking Out Loud” would define me and define my career. So, I, wrote a lot of songs trying to beat it and now I think, I think I have beaten it.”

4. Castle on the Hill

The theme of the single surrounds Sheeran's hometown of Framlingham, and he reminisces tales of puffing on hand-rolled smokes' and getting 'drunk with friends' at this place, living life as a teenager.

The castle mentioned in the song is Framlingham Castle,. Castle on the Hill debuted at second position on UK Singles Chart, and sold over 193,000 units in the first week of its release.

5. Dive

In an interview with GQ magazine for its March cover, Ed let the writer listen to five songs before anyone else and then named the song as “Dive”.

Ed proudly confesses that all the romantic numbers from the album (÷) Divide are about his fiancée, Cherry Seaborn. Dive is no different, as it brings back the vibes of vulnerability, a feeling of devotion and an emotional reflection by using the arpeggios and time sequences of the 50s and 60s.

Soon after the release of the album, the song joined the UK Singles chart on number 8.

6. Happier

Sheeran’s old puppet clone is clearly the star in this video. “Happier” is about looking back on a failed relationship with an original twist. While Initially Sheeran is angry and bitter about the break up and learning that a girl he recently broke it off with has already found a new man, but later realizes she looks much happier than she ever was with him.

After the album's release, it charted at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.

7. How Would You Feel (Paean)

How Would You Feel (Paean) is an ode that Sheeran dedicated to his fiancée, Cherry . While Paean is a work that compliments and admires the subject, it is also Cherry’s middle name.

Sheeran wrote the song when Cherry was on her way back home for a visit. He recorded and sent it to her via email which melted her heart and that of million others.

The song debuted on second position on the UK Singles Chart and made it among the top 10 songs in six different countries.

8. Don’t

"Don't" peaked at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it became Sheeran's first top 10 single. It also made the top 10 in eight other countries. The song developed from a riff, which Sheeran had on his phone for a year. it alludes to events attendant to the short-lived relationship Sheeran allegedly had with another singer.

9. The A Team

The A Team is a folk song that reflects the story of a sex-slave who is a crack cocaine addict; a drug that is classified as Class A. Sheeran wrote the song based on lives of people he heard about upon visiting a homeless shelter. The song is Ed’s way of redemption by bringing out the subject matter. Sheeran chose spread awareness about homelessness as he has lived on the streets in the early phase of his career.

The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year but failed to win it. But it did help Sheeran’s career rise.

10. Eraser

The lyrics mention everything from singing in church as a child to winning international awards; drinking and smoking too much to how fame can hurt relationships; and his father encouraging him to chase his dreams to playing to thousands of fans in stadiums.

After the album's release, it charted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

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Netflix’s Original Series 13 Reasons Why (Season 2) Soundtrack

Have you seen the super-trending American teen drama web television series “13 Reasons Why”? If you have, you might already be familiar with its popular Season 1, and the amazing soundtrack it brought with it.

“But why is the soundtrack so special?”

Take your mind back to the past and try to remember the scene when Hannah and Clay danced at the ball in Episode 5. Did that scene made your heart skip a beat? Remember the song playing in the background? It was The Night We Met by Lord Huron… the song that got stuck in our heads for the whole season and made the scene stand out among others. That’s what the soundtrack can do.

The Season 2 of the popular show is now being streamed on Netflix and the new soundtrack brings only new excitement to this amazing show. Being one of the most popular shows on Netflix, it has set some standard expectations for the fans. The second season does perfect justice to the show and so does the soundtrack.

You may get some spoilers ahead so if you want to stop reading, now’s the time.

The soundtrack of season 2 features 20 songs that were creatively used in the show in situations they fit perfectly. Here’s a definitive guide to the songs with where they were used in the season.

13 Reasons Why Season 2 Soundtrack

1. Back To You by Selena Gomez

The executive producer once more (as in Season 1) decided to jump in the soundtrack to give this awesome number to the background score for the promo of Season 2. The song also plays in the Episode 13 when Jessica joins Justin in the locker room.

2. lovely by Billie Eilish & Khalid

A beautiful song used in the season finale (Episode 13: Bye) when Clay speaks to Hannah, he completes his tattoo.

3. Start Again by OneRepublic featuring Logic

Episode 9 (The Missing Page) during the scene when Nina asks Jess’ thoughts about Damon.

4. Falling Skies by YUNGBLUD featuring Charlotte Lawrence

5. The Night We Met by Lord Huron featuring Phoebe Bridgers

Plays in episode 13 when Clay’s friends try to comfort him at the dance. The new version of one of the best songs of season 1 joins the soundtrack for season 2.

6. Tangled Up by Parade Of Lights

The song plays in the starting scene of Episode 2 when Clay talks to Hannah in his room.

7. Time by Colouring

Song plays when the group of students streams into the dance In the season finale episode.

8. My Kind Of Love by Leon Else

In the season finale, you can hear this song playing as Clay and Justin run into Bryce while Jessica watches.

9. Your Love by Haerts

Song plays during the flashback scene when Zach starts visiting the movie theatre recurrently where Hannah works.

10. Love Vigilantes by New Order

The starting scene of Episode 1 when Tyler gives his testimony. Skye and Clay run on a Vespa through town. The song also repeats during the end credits of the episode.

11. The Killing Moon by Echo & The Bunnymen

Episode 11 (Bryce and Chloe), the track plays where Clay speaks with Hannah and Justin with Jessica.

12. Promise Not To Fall by Human Touch

Song plays multiple times in Episode 3 (The Drunk Slut). First it plays when Jessica cries in her bedroom, then when Marcus finds out a hate crime that relates to the campaign and the song also plays during the end credits.

13. Sanctify by Years & Years

The song featured in Episode 9 (The Missing Page) when Tony and Caleb are seen talking at Monet's.

14. Tin Pan Boy by YUNGBLUD

The background score while Tyler and Alex share junk food.

15. Souvenir by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

One of the most popular songs that plays during the Flashback scene of Zach and Hannah hooking up.

16. Watch Me Bleed by Tears For Fears

Song used in Episode 8 (The Little Girl) when Hannah is confronted by Clay about what she’s done.

17. Cities In Dust (Single Version) by Siouxsie And The Banshees

Song plays during the serious prank that Cyrus and Tyler pull at the football field in Episode 9.

18. Of Lacking Spectacle by Gus Dapperton

Background score of Episode 10 when Justin and Clay speak to Sheri at Monet’s.

19. Falling (In Dreams) by Telekinesis

In Episode 11 (Bryce and Chloe), the song is featured when Clay sits down in the courtroom.

20. Strength by The Alarm

Featured in Episode 13 (Bye) when Clay takes control and manages his situation.

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Have you heard Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' by K-Pop Sensation BTS yet?

The Korean pop Boy Band BTS (also known as Bangtan Boys) released their album Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' in May this year, and with that has become without a doubt, the biggest act of 2018. The previous year, the seven-member band achieved something that had never been done by a K-pop band. They made it to the ‘American Top 40’ with their remix of MIC Drop ft. Steve Aoki and Desiigner.

Band Members:  Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and  Jungkook 

BTS has successfully crossed the borders and reached the world, but that hasn’t altered their music style in any shape or form. They still do what they do best i.e. genre-hopping and that too with an incredible zest. The album Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' became an instant hit within the first hour of its release.

The song FAKE LOVE from the album has made the fans go crazy – within 4 days of release, the song has garnered more than  70 million views on YouTube and counting. The rap-ballad received 35 million views on YouTube on its very first day of release, becoming the third song in history to do, edging past Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift and Gentleman by PSY.

The album features the following 11 genre-hop songs that’ll get stuck in your head.

Intro: Singularity

The album kicks-off with the opening track, titled, Singularity. The song is a perfect relaxation track with minimalistic instrumentation and arrangements.

FAKE LOVE

It is the most-popular song from the album so far and is going viral for all the right reasons. The lyrics, the clapping crescendos in the chorus, slow beats and atmospheric sound – all work together to create this super-catchy tune that’ll linger on for a while.

The Truth Untold

Featuring Steve Aoki once again, this song is a reminder of the last year’s super hit remix of MIC DROP. The variation in the voice of every vocalist is clearly audible due to minimal instrumentation in this emotional song.

134340

The song is a fusion of various genres and takes some time to grow on you. It’s the kind of song that once you play it 3-4 times, you end up humming it all day long. It’s jazzy and yet allows the rappers to adore their verses fully.

Paradise

Paradise brings back the traditional R&B back to the group’s latest release. It’s a slow-paced song as compared to the other songs of the album. If you love their previous work, this song will linger in your mind for a while.

Love Maze

The song kicks-off with a catchy beat and amazing vocals. The mesmerizing guitar riffs go ear pleasing throughout the song, while the rap parts are perfectly executed by the artists. It is without a doubt one of the best songs of the album.

Magic Shop

Magic Shop has an electronic-pop vibe going in the song and kind of reminds me of The Chainsmokers. The chorus is super-catchy and it doesn’t leave your head easily. Overall, another great song from the album.

Airplane pt.2

Having a similar vibe to a mainstream British Pop album, the song uses electronic arrangements to modulate the voice which sounds awesome. The guitar interludes swiftly complementing  the vocals and making it an overall catchy song.

Anpanman

Anpanman is a song that is exactly meant to get the crowd going. The song doesn’t have an interesting start, but it builds up and keeps getting better and leaves you grooving by the end. It’s the kind of song that you can play on loop.

So What

So What is a techno pop song that has special musical arrangements, especially the frizzly use of synth is just amazing. The song features huge rap verses and a sonic hook that’ll get you humming the song. It’s the kind of song that releases endorphins in your brain and makes you feel happy.

Outro: Tear

The outro track, titled Tear, kicks-off with a reverb effect and a strong delivery of the overall feels. The song has a spectral vibe which increases as the song proceeds. The rap verses are pretty awesome, whilst the beats are so catchy, they would surely get you grooving.

Overall, Love Yourself: Tear is a great album, mostly because the band has composed it to be a joyful listening experience from the get go.  They like doing it and it shows. They are not stuck to any specific genre, as you is evident from their famed genre hopping. It’s mostly because they enjoy what they do, they get such good critical and fan feedback. Hope you enjoy listening to the songs as well! Do leave a comment if you liked my blog.

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Justin Bieber Top 12 Hot Hits For A True Audiophile

Teen sensation Justin Bieber rocked the music world in 2008 when he was discovered by a talent manager for his YouTube music videos. Success followed soon after and the subsequent years turned out to be a mix of fame and success.

But where there’s success, controversy is never far behind and same seems to be true when it comes to Justin Bieber! But boy has Bieber evolved in his music through the years? We love him now as we loved him then. His fans have been loyal (any artist’s dream) and have steadfastly stood by him, regardless of whatever his misadventures be, while he continues to give us with some fab pop and electronic dance music.

So, here is the list of the Justin Bieber top dozen hits. Crank up the volume and enjoy!

 Sorry

Album: Purpose (2015)

Now if there is a song we want our love interest to croon to us to make up, “Sorry” is the one! It’s a fab tropical house, dancehall pop song. If Rumor mill is to be believed, then Justin Bieber sang it for ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez to apologize for his bratty behavior. However, Justin clarified; that the song is not about his ex but more of a blanket apology to everyone he has hurt through his misdemeanors.

Where are Ü now

Album: Jack Ü - Skrillex & Diplo, feat. Justin Bieber (2015)

Originally composed by Bieber, this groovy number was further given a touch of awesomeness with electronic dance music inputs by Skrillex and Diplo. This unique mash up has dubbed this track as one of their ‘most popular collaborations’. The essence of the song is to showcase care and longing in the time of need, while a mix of dancehall sharps and eastern melodies make it a must-listen to.

 Despacito Remix

Album: Daddy Yankee & Luis Fonsi featuring Justin Bieber (2017)The one song for all! Get your dancing shoes out; Justin Bieber is in the house. Collaborating with Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, Bieber gave the world, one of the grooviest songs of the decade. So, pump up the volume and get ready to party!

 Love Yourself

Album: Purpose (2015)

This acoustic number from Justin is very unlike the Justin we know, but it's catchy and immensely likable. Giving a glimpse of his maturing sense of music, Bieber has shown us all   how effortlessly he can move on from his usual pop-house genre to soothing yet complicated acoustic compositions.

 What Do You Mean

Album: Purpose (2015)

Trying to decode what your girlfriend really means? Don’t fret, you aren’t alone, Justin Bieber has the same worries! This song made it to the MTV and Entertainment Weekly’s ‘Best Songs of 2015’ list. It’s a super pop and tropical house song with an upbeat beat.

 2U

Album: David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber (2017)

“2U” is the number you want your man to dedicate to you! French DJ and producer David Guetta and Bieber get together to create 2U, a house trance number that builds up great momentum as it goes along. Listen to it, you must!

 I’m the One

Album: Grateful by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber & Quavo, Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper (2017)

‘I’m the One’ was one of the hottest tracks of 2017. DJ Khaled had a great idea and brought it to life by bringing together teenage heartthrob Bieber and American rap icons Quavo, Lil Wayne and Chance the Rapper for this cool n’ groovy track.

 Let Me Love You

Album: DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber (2016)

Kicking-off with a great beat, this is a smooth number from Justin Bieber and DJ Snake. Featuring an eminently sing-able chorus followed by some fab synthesizer strands, this track is the perfect late night song for the nightclub!

 As Long As You Love Me

Album: Believe, Justin Bieber featuring Big Sean (2012)

“As Long as You Love Me” is a track from Bieber’s third album titled, ‘Believe’. With its incredible tracklist and the instant popularity it gained post-release, the album gained number six on Billboard Hot 100. The song starts off on the slow side, but quickly builds up to a heady rave beat that will keep you on the dance floor for sure!

 Boyfriend

Album: Believe (2012)

Wait a second is that really a Justin Bieber song?  You’d be forgiven for asking that question when you heard the song way back in 2012. It was unlike a typical Bieber number as we knew it. It’s a talking-singing, rapping number and then Bieber takes off singing parts of it.

 Friends

Album: Daddy K - The Mix 11, BloodPop & Justin Bieber (2017)

“Can we still be friends?” Justin Bieber asks of his ex-girlfriend after their relationship has ended and she has moved on. A superb electronic dance music number, it made it to number two position on the UK Top Singles Charts. The track’s soaring fan following put it at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

 Cold Water

Album: Xmas Party Best, Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MØ

This is a pretty serious song with its references to depression and addiction, but Bieber sends out the right messages about friendship, loyalty and being there for your friend in their darkest times. Despite the topic, it’s a cool and uplifting song loaded with positive vibes.

  That’s the Bieber top twelve! Hope you enjoy it!

[alohamusique-blog]

Top 10 Eminem Songs That Made Him One of The Best Rappers of All Time

Eminem (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III) is one of the most popular rappers in the history of rap music. He is often referred to as the Rap God (after his song).

He was honored with the title of

Best Rapper Alive by Vibe Magazine.

Artist of the Decade by Billboard Magazine.

King of Hip-Hop by the Rolling Stone.

What makes Eminem the best?

Apart from all his other accolades and achievement, Eminem has sold 107.5 million certified units and became the second most successful singles act in RIAA history. His song Rap God holds the Guinness World Record for most words used in one song. Ten of Eminem’s albums have hit number 1 on Billboard 100.

But what makes him so great, you may wonder?

Listen to the top 10 songs by Eminem below and you’ll know why.

1. Lose Yourself

Hands down the best song by Eminem and definitely top spot worthy. The song features raw and aggressive lyrics that every angsty young person can relate to. The rapper tries to tell his story through this song in a movie where he plays an aspiring rapper.

It was only fair that the song went on to win the prestigious Academy Award for the Best Original Song. The song became his biggest achievement of all time.

2. The Real Slim Shady

The Real Slim Shady is the perfect reminder of the classic Eminem era. It is one-of-his best collaborations with Dr. Dre. The lyrics of the song were honest and brutal which also led to bad blood between Eminem and many popular actors and singers of the time.

3. Love The Way You Lie

Love the Way You Lie is Eminem’s collaboration with the music sensation Rihanna. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. The song shows both sides of the quarrel between lovers at a stage where it gets impossible to stop. It tells the story of both the victim and the abuser. Eminem’s rap traces and captures the volatile mental state of the abuser.

4. Brain Damage

Brain Damage is a heartbreaking tale of Eminem’s childhood that talks about the violent bullies he faced at the time. The song is just a tale of the trauma he faced but doesn’t blame the bullies for who he is today. It is definitely one of the best songs by Eminem that’ll still give you the chills. Listening to the song creates a visual image of the exact incidences due to the style of storytelling.

5. The Monster

Eminem once again collaborates with Rihanna for yet another gem. Here they talk about controlling their inner demons and the upside and downside of fame. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. The chemistry and understanding between the Eminem and Rihanna beautifully elevates this mid-tempo metaphorical track.

6. Rap God

The song line “Lyrics coming at you at supersonic speed” is going to make sense once you listen to this superfast track. Eminem blazes through the song singing 1560 words in nearly 6 minutes out of which 97 words were used in a verse of 15 seconds. The song entered the Guinness Book of World Records for most words in a radio single and gave Marshall the title, Rap God.

7. Mockingbird

Eminem finely blends the popular lullaby “Hush, Little Baby” into this heart-touching tale of a father apologizing to his daughter for not being present in her life. He talks about his failed relationship with her mother. The song even features real video footages of Eminem and his family which melts your heart.

8. Not Afraid

Not Afraid is Eminem’s comeback song in 2010 where he re-introduces himself as a stronger and sober man. The track is very catchy and has reached the playlists of millions. It is the perfect never give up anthem that inspires you not to quit and motivates you to keep on fighting. The track also reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

9. Cleanin' Out My Closet

Cleanin’ Out My Closet talks about Eminem’s troubled youth and why he holds an enmity towards his mom. The song is a sad tale of an aggressor and the victim and is separated by the title Cleanin’ Out My Closet. The storytelling of Eminem in unbeatable in this song that peaked at number 4 on Billboard Hot 100.

10. Superman

Another one of Eminem’s classics that’ll remind you of the early Eminem era. He gives us an inside look into his prolific love life in this slow-tempo song. The song also peaked on the 15th position of the Billboard Hot 100.

These were my Top 10 Eminem songs. What are your top Eminem tracks? Let me know in the comments below or enjoy listening to the top Eminem songs on Saavn.

[alohamusique-blog]

Is India Going to Become Another EDM Dominated Country?

Electronic music and its sub-genres were not a thing in India until the last few years. Thanks to alternate music platforms and music streaming services like Saavn, non-mainstream artists are mushrooming all over the country and attracting a strong follower base. Independent artists who frequently experiment with EDM, are no longer relegated to producing music underground. They are now touring the country and enjoying a comparative level of success.

This music genre, reductively known as EDM, is the favourite with most underground musicians due to the easy accessibility of electronic instruments to create and amplify new kinds of sounds and their arrangements. However, working within electronics is not as easy as it seems. The Electronic music genre is way more complex than just EDM. The below picture by Magnetic Magazine shows the classification of the genre in 1960s-80s.

Thanks to the rightful owner of the picture below who took up this nightmarish task to classify the current electronic music scene.

Electronic Music Scene in India

1. International Artists

Let’s see how international artists are influencing the electronic music scene and fan following in India. The turning point was when Eric Prydz was announced as a headliner for Vh1 Supersonic 2017. He produces music in both the house and techno genres under various aliases.

Eric Prydz is one of the most respected electronic music producers in the industry right now and the only electronic artist who:

Has his own radio show called EPIC Radio on Apple Music

Has remixed a Pink Floyd song (Proper Education, which is the remix of the old classic Another Brick in the Wall)

Following Eric’s footsteps, artists such as Yotto, Lane 8, Jody Wisternoff, Patrice Baumel, Joris Voorn and many more have started touring India at least once a year. In cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Indore their shows are getting sold out. Not only that, the artists wholeheartedly appreciate the level of enthusiasm that the Indian audience brings. For example, take a look at the tweet below.

Lane 8 is thanking his Indian fans for the phenomenal response he received. He shared that his latest album Little by Little is reached No. 1 on electronic music album chart in India!

Also, the record label Anjunadeep, a juggernaut nurturing a plethora of deep house artists, does a yearly concert in India. They have worked with artists like Cubicolor, Eli & Fur, Dom Donnelly, Theo Kottis, Tontario and many more, and did concerts in Mumbai and Goa with some of them.

From the information above, it’s clear that the big drivers of the electronic music scene worldwide have India under their radar, and this is just the beginning. Fans still have been awaiting artists like Stephan Bodzin, Ben Klock, Sasha, Carl Cox and other veterans to make an appearance in India, and the days are not far away before they do.

2. Home Artists

Now let’s talk about the electronic music scene of Indian artists. Our homegrown artists have also created waves in electronic music. First and foremost, we have Arjun Vagale who just recently featured in the Top 10 of Beatport Techno Top 100 chart.

Arjun has released music under the Drumcode label, which is owned by Adam Techno, one of the pioneer’s of the modern techno scene. He has also released music in collaboration with Suara Music. Recently, Arjun did a video with Kanan Gill (famous Indian stand-up comic and YouTuber) which shows how something so underground is appreciated in the mainstream.

Similarly, Sandunes is another underground artist who has found great popularity! Her music has been featured in some of the best online portals and the artist has also performed in Boiler Room Mumbai, a global online music streaming platform that showcases the best electronic music from across the globe.

Sandunes a.k.a Sanaya Ardeshir has also been a part of RA Sessions by Resident Advisor, which is a leading online music magazine specifically focused on electronic music.

Even the electronic music fans in India have been wishing to see some house/techno artists they follow. Below are some Facebook comments showing exactly what the electronic music fans in India want.

Indian artists and fans of the electronic music are standing up, creating great music and making the world take notice. The influx of international artists and the outflux of Indian artists is set to take electronic music in India to the next level which will be very exciting to see!

P.S.: To the hardcore electronic music fans of India, if you are reading this and find that I have missed your favourite artist, please let me know in the comments below. Till then, untz untz.

[alohamusique-blog]

How The Rise Of Subscription-Based Services like Saavn Have Revived the Music Industry in India

Forbes once described the music industry in India as ‘the global music industry’s sleeping giant’, simply because of the huge number of tracks and songs composed in India every year. With the evolutions that the associated technologies have gone through over the ages, the audience size has increased significantly. India, home to a hundred and thirty two-crore citizens, is a mammoth market.

The Menace of Music Piracy

During the time when Cassettes & CDs ruled the roost, music piracy was a small issue. When the Internet of Things (IoT) took over our lives, music piracy became so rampant that it threatened the very livelihood of musicians. At one point, it seemed like nothing could beat the monster of music piracy as it went on pillaging the music industry.

However, out of the blue, the menace of music piracy began subsiding and the music industry began heaving long sigh of reliefs. What had changed? It was subscription-based music streaming services like Saavn that gave normal people that chance to enjoy unlimited and uninterrupted music at a very affordable monthly charge. No more buying expensive CDs or cassettes for every album or movie that comes in the market. Not relying on cheap pirated versions of those that may mess up your device. Music Streaming services turned out to be the saviour of musicians as well as listeners.

It’s All About the Money

The Music Industry in India was left fighting for its survival when music piracy dried up all sources of revenue for them. In came digitization of music and subscription-based music channels like Saavn to woo Indian listeners away from pirated and poor quality music.

Now people are paying for the music they are listening to, in one way or the other.  The subscription fees is usually so low (INR 99/month) that listeners do not even realize that they are paying for the services. There are also a host of complimentary benefits to go with a subscription like Saavn Pro. While the price is meagre for the users, the industry is earning its share that helps it to survive and thrive.

Digital Platforms have Reached the Common Man on the Streets of India

There has been such a digitization boom in India that people who some years ago did not possess Cassettes/CDs/pen drives are now proud owners of smartphones and engage well with technology especially intuitive music apps like Saavn. This huge user base allows music streaming services to earn enough revenue even with a small monthly subscription amount and pass on a good share of royalty to music producers and artists. Result - everyone's a winner!

Rise of Independent Musicians

Before digitization, only those songs found listeners that were heard on TV and Radio and were from mainstream production sources like Bollywood.  As a result, new talent and unconventional music never saw the light of the day.

Today music streaming services are coming up with innovative shows to bring exposure to newer kinds of music and their creators. For example, shows like Saavn’s Artist Originals produces, distributes and markets unconventional work from upcoming artists like Naezy who is a “Gully Rapper” or PropheC who is a Canadian Punjabi Pop Artist. Saavn Original Track “Bom Diggy” by Jasmin Walia and Zack Knight went viral and got so popular that it was adapted into a Hindi Film soundtrack. This goes to show that Indian audience have come a long way and are ready to appreciate true original music.

Exposure to new Genres of Music for Listeners

Subscription-based music services give users access to unlimited music. They can not only choose what they feel like listening to, but also what’s new, what’s trending, what are the similar type of music, what’s coming soon and so on. It has just become so much simpler to be updated about Indian and world music. There are no storage hassles, no expensive data services to burn holes in your pocket and most importantly no dependency on a bulky device. Everything is accessible from your smartphone.

Due to the multitude of streaming offers and convenience of access, millions of music fans can listen to music legally again. Music Streaming services have truly revolutionized the way music is consumed in India and provided a new lease of life to musicians.

Let’s take a quick look at all the benefits of subscribing to Saavn Pro.

1. Access Music any time, anywhere you have an internet connection.

2. Help musicians by avoiding pirated and illegally downloaded music.

3. Choose your music from a huge database of 30 million songs, and counting.

4. Your music is always up to date, because Saavn has genre-specific chart playlists.

5. Creating your own playlists is fast and easy.

6. Discover new artists and genres every day. Get suggestions for new releases.

7. New and unconventional artists, and releases are given an equal chance as mainstream music.

8. Newcomers have a better chance of being discovered.

9. High-quality songs, no Ads and downloads allowed to save data.

10. 5 devices can use the same subscription - so your entire family benefits.

11. Customized Radio - One touch stations for any artist, mood or genre.

[alohamusique-blog]

Radiohead: Why Charles Darwin Would Be Proud of Them!

Evolution is the operating keyword here. If you look at Radiohead today, they are one of the few rock bands that have had massive commercial and critical success - without having songs that could be considered immediately accessible. They don’t have danceable grooves or infectious choruses, yet they have tons of dedicated subreddits analyzing each word of frontman Thom Yorke’s lyrics.

In an age of instant gratification, it’s hard to be avant-garde and successful at the same time, especially in rock music. For instance, artists like Steven Wilson, Roger Waters and Tool have become niche acts. Genres like hip hop or electronica fare better in the mainstream when it comes to being experimental (Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Bjork to cite a few examples).

On the other hand, rock music comes with a branded tag of being outdated and well past its prime. While artists like Foo Fighters, Muse, Kings of Leon do have dedicated fan bases, mainstream critical acclaim has been hard to come by.

Pitchfork, a website considered to represent the elite of music journalism, went back on their review for Radiohead’s Kid A to revise the rating from 0 to 10.

RadioHead - Origins

The English outfit, formed in Oxford University, has had one fundamental philosophy they stick to. It’s evolution, baby! If one were to associate Radiohead to a beverage, it would definitely be wine or scotch - getting better with age. They took off in the 90s during the height of the Grunge movement in the USA. While the rest of England responded with a nostalgia driven attitude in the form of Britpop, Radiohead released their own take on the movement in the form of Pablo Honey.

Unlike Anything Seen or Heard Before

While their single Creep penetrated mainstream charts and became a part of pop culture, it’s considered by the band to be their lowest moment. This sort of indifference towards mainstream sensibilities is what branded the band as innovative and visionary. They followed up Pablo Honey with The Bends. The album moved away from the grunge oriented sound of the previous album into a more alternative ground. While they lost their mainstream position, they were rewarded in the form of critical acclaim, lauding the album as one of the most original rock albums of the 90s.

Were Ahead of Their Time

However, this was short lived as the follow-up album OK Computer received huge commercial and critical success. Critics it one of the best albums of the 90s alongside Nirvana’s Nevermind. The music was considered ethereal, and the lyrics perfectly relevant to the alienation brought about by the rise of consumer mentality and the Internet. The lyrics still resonate today in 2018.

Didn’t Play by Others’ Rules

However, Radiohead weren’t satisfied yet. At the peak of their success, where one would expect them to have cracked the formula for success in modern rock, they released Kid A. An album that is more electronic than rock! It was blasphemy for rock music fans. Critics lambasted the album and called Radiohead self-indulgent.

However, the album developed its own set of fans in the mainstream circuit that were equally hardcore with their appreciation for the band. Over time, both critics and the lost fans came around and lauded the album as another masterpiece by the band. Kid A, released in 2001, was present in many of the top 10 album lists of the 2000s.

Perfectionists

Such was the band’s preoccupation with perfection that they scrutinized each note to the point that the band members were reportedly traumatized by their experience of producing the album.

Persistently Evolving

The band released four albums following Kid A, with the latest one (A Moon Shaped Pool) releasing in 2016. Each of these albums was nothing like what came before or what was to come after. The range of influences of the band varied from progressive rock and Krautrock to IDM, Jazz, Hip Hop and even classical music. Jonny Greenwood, the band’s maverick guitarist, worked with director Paul Thomas Anderson to release soundtracks for movies like The Master and Inherent Vice.

Even the Worst of Them is Unachievable for Some

In the latest news, Radiohead sued Lana Del Rey for a track of hers that was reportedly heavily influenced by Creep in her latest album. This incident hints at the scope of the band, where its work has stayed relevant to mainstream music industry 26 years into the future. And it was among their worst songs in their catalogue according to the band.

The Masters of Their Sea

Essentially, Radiohead suggests that it’s important for artists to have their own sense of vision as long as it’s genuine. Instead of bowing down by catering to the wants of the mainstream audience or to the expectations of critics, Radiohead went ahead with an attitude of “We know what you want, you don’t”! An attitude that’s been associated with Steve Job’s Apple.

Coincidence? I think not!

[alohamusique-blog]

5 Reasons Why the Gully Rap Movement in India is a Revolution in Making

Hip hop is so powerful because very few genres of music can speak about a standpoint in such vivid detail. The new age Indian rappers are talking about corruption, indifferent governments, apathetic families, police brutality, militancy and other issues that push them to speak out. They are as different as can be from the superficial and materialistic hip hop of the mainstream music industry. Here’s why I feel this is a revolution in the making.

1. Hip hop has been one of the most powerful music movements in the US.

Hip hop has traditionally been a street movement. It started in the late 70s and 80s in parts of the US as an extension to funk and disco. The first hip hop tracks were largely party anthems, bringing in some flavour to the ubiquitous funk basslines of the time. However, the essence of hip hop was first felt when it turned to voice the disillusioned black population living in the suburbs of certain cities. Music groups such as Public Enemy and NWA changed the music genre by voicing anti-establishment sentiments through tracks such as F--- The Police and Bring The Noise. Since then, hip hop has exploded and produced different movements across the length and breadth of America. It has produced extremely prominent artists who have grown to be opinion leaders in their own right.

2. Around the world, it has influenced political history

A number of groups followed suit in other countries, such as Control Machete in Mexico. They spoke in great detail about the drug murders they faced. Fanta 4 from Germany spoke about cultural shifts since the reunification of Germany in the 90s. Thus hip hop has been a platform for communities that were traditionally overlooked or in a minority. Since then hip hop has evolved into a number of sub-genres, and even adopted locally by a country (Reggaeton is an example) and built a huge fan base all over the world. However, globally hip hop has never lost its roots.

3. Hip hop is very contemporary

Evidence of this lies in new albums produced. Some of the most commercially successful albums in the recent past are primarily themed on the experience of blacks in society. Artists such as Kendrick Lamar and the band Run The Jewels are revered commentators on politics and race, and also hugely influential in their spaces. They are regularly cited by everyone, from the academician to the Twitter observer.

3. Hip hop has had a promising start in India

Coming from this history, the Gully Rap movement had a promising start. Artists such as Naezy and DIVINE built Indianness into hip hop in a manner that has never been done before. There were a number of attempts to build hip hop before them – especially from the UK India street dub movement with artists like Apache Indian, but they flared up and fizzled out. The Gully Rap movement however brought the experience of Dharavi to India, giving hip hop in India a fresh start.

4. They have support from democratic platforms like Saavn to help them survive.

The threat to original artists like Naezy lies in inadequate funds to help them survive. With limited monetisation options, some artists are being forced to strike deals and endorsements that go against their core values. Brands are looking to capitalise on the movements new found glory, trying to drive urban audiences to buy their products by giving them that street appeal. This often creates a distraction from what they’ve done so wonderfully well

The threat to this nascent movement lies in the artists losing this connect with their audience. The support of a platform like Saavn Artist Originals can preserve the essence of a street movement – a movement for the people and by the people. It also gives audiences a space to listen to voices speak about their truth without being encumbered by vested interests.

5. There are endless stories to be told in India

Musicians have the power to instigate social change through powerful words and inspiring sounds. There are a number of stories still left to be told in Mumbai and elsewhere. With the history of hip hop artists forging social change across the world, here’s hoping that we get to hear diverse voices from all corners of the country, speaking their truths in an open-minded and encouraging environment.

[alohamusique-blog]

Top 5 Coldplay Songs Decoded

Coldplay, one of the biggest bands of the United Kingdom, are known for their uplifting, impassioned music and deep, meaningful lyrics. They’ve touched a million hearts through their creativity. Each song symbolizes something unique - a message which has to be decoded to reach the versatile realms of their work. So pick up your headphones to enjoy (and unravel) some of the most beautiful songs of our generation.

The Scientist from A Rush Of Blood to the Head

The Scientist is all about recognizing what you’ve lost, and a persistent longing to atone for it. A man who recently lost his partner in an accident expressing his grief in not having lived a better time with her. And now when she's gone, he realizes his loss, dreams about her and wants to know her better.

Tell me your secrets

And ask me your questions

Oh let's go back to the start

Running in circles, coming up tails

Heads on a science apart

He yearns to go back to the start. As a never-ending agony seizes his mind, he laments that he keeps going round in circles and coming up tails (i.e. he always finds himself on the losing side).

Nobody said it was easy

It's such a shame for us to part

Nobody said it was easy

No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh take me back to the start

2. Viva La Vida from Viva La Vida (Or Death and All His Friends)

Viva La Vida in Spanish translates to Long Live Life. This song brings forth the religious skepticism of frontman Chris Martin who is credited with writing the lyrics.

The song is assumed to be from the point of view of King Louis XVI (who was decapitated during the French Revolution). It refers to a ruler who comes into power with good intentions, but over time, turns tyrannical like most kings and dictators. His trusted people pander to him by telling him things he wants to hear...or deceiving him for their own political gains.

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sweep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing:

“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of sand, pillars of sand

The king also discovers that religion has been used by ordinary men for their own gains and stake to power while he, the king, was “Just a puppet on a lonely string”. “Oh who would ever want to be king?” is his lament for being placed in an imaginary, untenable position.

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can not explain

I know Saint Peter won’t call my name

Never an honest word

And that was when I ruled the world

The implicit admission in “I know Saint Peter won’t call my name” is that there is no St. Peter (God) and thus he cannot be saved.

3. Paradise from Mylo Xyloto

When she was just a girl

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach so

She ran away in her sleep

A small girl filled with dreams and aspirations finds that the world was not fair. Broken, she decides to close her eyes and dream of a beautiful place where she wanted to go. It didn’t matter if the world continued to be unfair to her, because no one could hurt her in her Utopian paradise.

The bullets, however fast and penetrating, would never affect her there. Eventually, when she grows up and faces the real hardships of life, she begins to lose her drift. Innocent as a butterfly, she was deeply affected when the wheel of fortune didn’t roll in her favour. Done with the world, she yet again closes her eyes and dreams of paradise.

Life goes on, it gets so heavy

The wheel breaks the butterfly

Every tear a waterfall

In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes

In the night the stormy night away she'd fly

4. Yellow from Parachutes

Look at the stars

Look how they shine for you

And everything you do

Yeah they were all yellow

I came along

I wrote a song for you

And all the things you do

And it was called yellow

So then I took my turn

Oh what a thing to have done

And it was all yellow

One thing that makes the song Yellow totally different from its clan is that it is open to many interpretations. Yellow is the color of the sun or the flowers or drying leaves in autumn. Yellow could also mean an illness and the song could be about someone dying left with only “skin and bones”. Yellow can represent happiness as well as despair.

Your skin

Oh yeah your skin and bones

Turn into something beautiful

And you know

For you I'd bleed myself dry

For you I'd bleed myself dry

In the language of colors Yellow stands for happiness, positivity, clarity, energy, optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honor, loyalty,  and joy. More importantly, it represents true love. Through the song, Chris Martin talks about being devoted to someone and wanting to do everything for them.

"Look how they shine for you" is repeated several times in the second last verse. It makes the song end on a high note. The stars are watching out for us.

5. Speed Of Sound from X & Y

Incepting with an enchanting piano chord, this song slowly captivates your mind and make your imagination run wild. It tempts you to think out of the box, be creative, unconventional and boundless.

How long before I get in?

Before it starts, before I begin?

How long before you decide?

Before I know what it feels like?

Where to, where do I go?

If you never try, then you'll never know

How long do I have to climb

Up on the side of this mountain of mine?

Look up, I look up at night

Planets are moving at the speed of light

Climb up, up in the trees

Every chance that you get

Is a chance you seize

How long am I gonna stand

With my head stuck under the sand?

I'll start before I can stop

Before I see things the right way up

The  song is about things that cannot be methodically created. You want to finish the climb but finding yourself stuck, you yearn for inspiration - only to look up and find the universe providing it for you. And if you have the passion, you will understand.

All those signs, I knew what they meant

Some things you can invent

and some get made, and some get sent

Ooh ooh

Birds go flying at the speed of sound

To show you how it all began

Birds came flying from the underground

If you could see it then you'd understand

Ah, when you see it then you'll understand

[alohamusique-blog]

EDM, Pop & The Changing Paradigm of What Makes A Chartbuster

“EDM is in a bubble.”

“Pop has tenure at the top of billboard.”

“These collaborations are just Pop music having a fling. It will pass.”

People have been sounding the death knell for EDM since 2015. But charts don’t lie. EDM has been a permanent stay on the charts ever since Rihanna teamed up with Calvin Harris to bring us ‘We Found Love’, the EDM-Pop collaboration that ended up spending 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The marriage has only grown stronger with time, so much so that it has led to the coining of a new phrase called Pop-Drop - a beat drop (a term reserved only for EDM till now) after a long buildup in a Pop song.

EDM collaborations are made in heaven...and then they drop

When Rihanna revealed in 2011 that her Loud Album would be reworked, the stars aligned. Calvin Harris was contacted by one of her reps to work on a song that eventually became “We Found Love”, the first major EDM-Pop collaboration that took over the Popular charts. This song, along with “Titanium” by David Guetta and Sia, is what led to the massive Popularity of these collaborations.

The EDM charts started blurring with that of Pop. While it started off with the user-friendly House (sub-genre of EDM), other earlier polarizing sub-genres like Dubstep and Trance also started flirting with Pop. Now people started warming up to the idea of these two genres together.

The Formula: A pre-chorus. A chorus. The Pop-Drop

EDM and Pop are not having a fling. It’s been over 6 years. Let’s call it what it is. It’s a serious relationship and it seems to be working. The “pre-chorus, a chorus, and then the Pop-drop” formula seems to be working well for most collaborations.

It worked for Justin Bieber, Skrillex, and Diplo for “Where are U Now”. It worked for Bieber again when he teamed up with DJ Snake for “Let Me Love You”. It worked for his on-again off-again girlfriend Selena Gomez as well with Kygo’s “It Ain’t Me”.

Want a sample? Have a listen to any of the songs from The Chainsmokers’ catalog here. Not just that, Mike Posner actually needed a Seeb collaboration for his comeback single “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” to become the raging party anthem that it eventually became. The Pop song, as good as it was, did not take off quite like the EDM version did. The effect of these chartbusters has been that even the usual Pop song is sounding more and more electronic, owing to the advent of digital technology in music.

Why should Pop have all the fun? Everyone wants a piece of EDM

Even today, the popular charts all have major Pop stars collaborating with major EDM ones. Halee and Alesso with “Let Me Go,  Selena Gomez and Marshmello with “Wolves”, Alessia Cara and Zedd with “Stay”. All major artists today are have at least one track on their album that is  an EDM collaboration with the likes of Martin Garrix, Marshmello, Zedd and The Chainsmokers..

Rock has started to take a liking for EDM, with Skrillex recently working on a track by ‘The Doors’ of all people. It’s not just them, though. Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash recently collaborated with DJ Chuckie, and heavy metal band Korn collaborated with Noisia. Hip-Hop is hopping on the bandwagon with Major Lazer collaborating with a plethora of popular and independent hip-hop artists to create chartbusters such as “Know No Better”, “Night Riders”, and “Watch Out For This”.

Even opera is not be left behind with a new genre called Optronica which blends Opera and EDM, finding its roots in Los Angeles, CA. Can you imagine a climactic note in an aria suddenly interrupted by a beat drop? Neither can I. But it’s a sign of the changing face of music and how cross-genre collaborations are creating a fresh sound for a fresh listener. The infusion of electronic sounds in music is therefore now a prerequisite for a chartbuster.

Still not convinced? Listen to 2017’s EDM collaborations on Saavn and tell me they don’t sound like the new Pop.

[alohamusique-blog]

The Inexplicable Magic of Music in Our Life

It was in January 2016 that the magic happened. My friend recommended that I hear Set Fire To the Rain a popular number by Adele. I listened to it once, twice and found myself hitting the rewind repeatedly for some inexplicable reason. The voice was so captivating that I fell in love with it almost instantly. That song led to such a fascination for the singer that almost bordered on obsession. I went on a song hunting and collection spree with the result that today I have all the songs that Adele has ever sung stored in my mobile device. It never occurred to me in my wildest imagination that a simple song recommendation will turn into such a crazy fixation for the singer.

Music is an amazing thing but it can affect different people in different ways. However, almost every individual who is a music lover will one common thing that they enjoy and that is memories. Depending on the mood you are in, you will always be able to find a song that connects you to your feelings and emotions. These songs could have elements of happiness, sadness, anger, love and a mix of other feelings which can be difficult to explain. Music can be the channel through which your thoughts and feelings find an outlet. When you listen to one song over and over again, it is the mind that’s subconsciously making you listen to the song as a therapy for the restlessness that you might be suffering from at that point. I could understand this amazing thing about music only because I crazily followed one artist.

I did not have much knowledge about English songs when I started my online search for songs by Adele. Saavn was a great resource of Adele’s songs. I got my hands on an Adele playlist which had hits like Hello, Send My Love (To Your New Lover), and When We Were Young.

I liked each one of them unreservedly the very first time I heard them. I kept listening to each of the songs in that playlist over and over again. Soon, I compiled a playlist of all the songs by Adele – every single of them in my personal Saavn Playlist. I also read voraciously about the singer. I read everything posted about her including her difficult childhood, how she made her debut in the music industry, how she planned her albums and so on.

I also listen to Adele’s songs that were not her solo effort but sung with other popular artists and singers like All I Ask with Bruno Mars. My craze for Adele’s songs reached such a peak that I was listening to her songs continuously for over two months, day in and day out. Over this period, it dawned to me that it is not just the amazingly soothing voice of Adele that has turned the magic on me. It was the perfect amalgamation of her voice, the unique music and the powerful and touching lyrics. Together they served to soothe my frayed nerves and calmed my anxiety.

Music plays an important role in our lives but we only realize it when we keep using music as a balm for our troubles and as a trigger for our happiness. Not a single day passes off when I don’t listen to the songs of Adele. I realized a bit later that when we connect with a particular artist or a song for that matter, for a long period, it becomes an inseparable and crucial part of our life.

In other words, when there is no voice in our life, it makes us feel incomplete. A firm bond is established between the artist, the singer and the song that pulls you towards that rhythm repeatedly.

[alohamusique-blog]

10 Bollywood Dance Songs To Steal the Show at your BFFs Sangeet

Come Shaadi season and young women in India begin prepping their dance moves for the next wedding. The excitement is even more palpable if one of your BFFs is getting married. After all, one can only have so many BFF’s and their wedding is an opportunity of a lifetime, right?

But why choose one song when you can dance on an exciting medley or a kick-ass mashup. Arrange it to tell a story, intersperse it with some dialogues and you have a sureshot winner on your hands! The key to a great Sangeet night is a healthy mix of retro and contemporary tracks that are sure to please across generations.

Here are the top 10 songs that you can use to create a story-medley for a rocking Sangeet performance.

1. Kala Chashma - Start your medley with a boy meets girl kind of setting with this hysteria-inspiring song. It’s also super easy to dance on, and will get the crowd hooting and whistling from the word go!

2. Tamma Tamma Again - A trueblue throwback to the original Tamma Tamma song, this funky track will help you set the floor ablaze. 90s kid or not, this fast paced number with its groovy beats is sure to get everyone else gyrating.

3. Taal Se Taal - Veer away from fist-pumpers to touching love song territory with your third song. It’s an achingly beautiful song that’ll remind the bride of her soon to be husband. Enough said!

4. Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna - When in doubt, go for the classic! After all, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge was not the biggest film of our generation for nothing. You can’t go wrong with this blockbuster hit song.

5. Gal Mitthi Mitthi - A real fun song with easy peasy dance steps, sweet catchy music and lots of romance. Gal Mitthi Mithhi Bol is a Indian wedding staple.

6. Sasural Genda Phool - This folk number is a huge favourite with the young and old alike. When mashed up or re-hashed with other songs, it becomes a surefire winner at a Sangeet.

7. Gulaabo  - Dedicate a song to the beautiful bride and tell her how special she is. The quirky lyrics and catchy tunes will have everyone rolling.

8. Gulabi 2.0 - Another tribute to the lovely bride. Dress up as the groom and mock-flirt with the bride, taking inspiration from old Bollywood songs (or Kangana’s Kajra Mohabbat Wala)!

9. Asaan Hun Tur Jaana, Din Reh Gaye Thode - An ode to how much you’re going to miss your dear friend, this tear-jerker will make emotions come pouring out. Keep it second-last in your medley for maximum impact.

10. Gallan Goodiyaan - You don’t want to end your performance on a sad note, so pep it up with a family song. An energetic Punjabi number that has Sangeet song written all over it. Also the perfect song (and moment) to drag in family members and enjoy a raucous finish to your unforgettable performance!

Girl-power tunes and old-school love songs are always a favorite at Sangeet nights. The trick is to throw seemingly divergent songs into a sonic blender for thrilling results. For more Sangeet Song ideas, check out some playlists on Saavn.

In case you’re wondering how to create a medley or a mash-up, you can find several DIY softwares online which make it a piece of cake. So call all your lovely friends and start practising. And have a wildly good time!