iHeartRadio Fest Just One Week Away

In just 8 days, the biggest names in music will all be found in one amazing location known as Las Vegas, Nevada. Sin City is definitely going to get pretty wild next weekend when the likes of Lady GaGa, The Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, and more, descend upon the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

Long Gone

Tickets for the fest have been long gone, as in they were gone 10 minutes after they went on sale. Yes, that was no typo, it took 10 minutes for the thousands of tickets to sell out after the box office opened in July.

This tidbit only backs the claim that this has got to be one of the most highly-anticipated music events ever, perhaps even topping Woodstock in anticipation. If you weren’t one of the lucky few to grab a ticket, local radio stations are still giving away individual and packaged tickets – that’s about your only shot left at getting into this coveted music fest.

The Lineup

Currently, there are 8 artists geared to perform on Friday, Sept. 23, and another 9 that are scheduled for the following day, Saturday, Sept. 24. Here is a breakdown of who will be performing:

September 23, 2011-

Jay-Z
Coldplay
Alicia Keys
The Black Eyed Peas
John Mayer
Carrie Underwood
Bruno Mars
Jane’s Addiction

September 24, 2011-

Lady Gaga
Jennifer Lopez
Steven Tyler
Kenny Chesney
Nicki Minaj
Rascal Flatts
Kelly Clarkson
David Guetta
Sublime with Rome

Also of importance: Kenny, the Rascal Flatts, and GaGa are planning on performing a number together that will be sure to “remix” the crowd into pandemonium, me thinks.

Special Guests

Lastly, its been announced that two very special guests in Usher and Sting will be making cameo appearances on the second day of the event. Yes, Sting is still alive ladies and gentleman.

If you want more information about the iHeartRadio Festival, you can check out their website at http://www.iheartradio.com/cc-common/iheartradio-music-festival/.

Posted: September 15th, 2011 under Music News - No Comments.

Lady Gaga to Perform at VMAs

Yes, we’re finally talking about the woman who’s been rumored to surpass The King Elvis Presley in both popularity and controversy. However, how do topless music videos, sacrilege, and blue wigs add up to Elvis’ seemingly mild hip action? Time will tell us. Rather than stirring the pot a bit and then stepping out of the kitchen like so many modern vocalists, Lady Gaga has stayed in the spotlight and on the radio waves solidly since 2008. Even timeless music legends like Madonna are admitting that this racey 20-something is here to stay.

Taking Over the VMAs

Now scheduled to perform at the next VMAs on Aug. 28th of this year, modern American and the rest of the world are waiting in anticipation to see what Gaga will deliver. After meat dresses, bathing in blood during her Monster Ball tour, throwing her red platform shoe on stage as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and filming a music video with Jesus and Judas, we don’t exactly know what to expect from this bare-it-all rock star.

MTV met up with Gaga to film a VMA promo. As Lady Gaga sits down to the piano, she comments that she’s, “glad [her] friends are there.” MTV filmed the star interacting with friends and performing a Jazz rendition of “You and I,” off of her latest album. Gaga wanted the promo to be real, because she believes that her and her friends often live in a world between reality and fantasy and wanted to capture this side of their existence. Gaga claims that the video shows her with friends talking about music, art, and fashion just as they usually do.

Promo Video

For a slightly risque promo for the upcoming VMAs watch the video below. From high school stage to topping the music charts for months in a row, I think we all have something to look forward to on August 28th.

What do you predict will be Gaga’s move at this year’s VMAs?

Posted: August 19th, 2011 under Music News, popular artists - No Comments.

top extreme music genres

Political Rap

This genre was developed in the 80′s, with The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy being some of the first. Most songs that fall under this category aim at inspiring rappers to address social and political issues. Common artists that fall under this category include: Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, and Looptroop.

“Chill” Non-Vocal

Chill music, or “chillout” came from the early 90s. The term Chill was used to describe any “mellow, slow-tempo music made by contemporary producers in the electronic music scene.” Common artists for this one: Lux, Massive Attack, and Afterlife.

Death Metal

Death metal, or american death metal, is an extreme sub-genre of heavy metal. Most music that falls under this genre has loud drums, distorted guitars, deep heavy vocals, and multiple tempo changes. The genre originated in the 80′s with modern artists including Oceano, Suicide Silence, and Winds of Plague.

Speed Metal

Speed metal, or cybergrind, is an extremely fast passed sub-genre of heavy metal. This genre is related to death metal and mathcore genres. Modern artists include Plague and Abramelin.

Hoomii

Hoomii is Mongolian throat singing. This is definitely an extreme genre of music. For most people this genre is very difficult. A throat singer can produce two and even four notes at one time giving the effect of a deep sound, medium pitch sound, and high pitch all at the same time. A full orchestra from one person.

Posted: August 9th, 2011 under music genres - No Comments.

Adele

“I’m just a normal girl.” muses Adele, which couldn’t be further from the truth. This exceptionally talented young woman is anything but normal.

Over the last few years Adele has taken the world of music by storm, particularly in her newest album, 21.

Born and raised in England, Adele is the beloved darling of her country. But this 22-year old super-star is just at the beginning of her career, and already she’s rated #1 on the charts in over fifteen countries! Her second album, 21, has broken records in Europe and in the U.S. alike.

In a recent interview with Q Magazine, Adele opened up about her former relationship, the breakup that inspired 21. She also discussed what it was like to win two grammies, embrace fame, retain her privacy, and try and maintain normal relationships with friends and family.

Adele didn’t come from money, and noted, “I’m a labor girl through and through. My whole family is.”

In a portion of the interview by Q, Adele states: She’s never succumbed to the 21st century’s body-fascism tyranny, “I never fell under that spell, I’m size 16, normal” and has now become a reluctant role model.
“But I wouldn’t encourage anybody to be unhealthy overweight just as much as I wouldn’t encourage a fucking Ralph Lauren model to such ice when she feels like faint’,” she decides. “I’m just encouraging people to stop bullying each other. I’ve got a lotta things on my to-do list and that’s right at the bottom. When I can squeeze in time I don’t wanna go down the fuckin’ gym, I wanna go to the pub with my mates! I can’t be bovvered. It’s not even lazy, it’s just other things thrill me in life.”

Nonetheless, Adele has become a great example and defiance to the media’s perspective on the female body. Just the fact that one star can stand up and not give in to the pressures and be confident and gorgeous is changing the mainstream definition of beauty altogether.

Her phenomenal voice and universal lyrics have reached so many, and, like she’s pointed out herself–her music talks about the human experience, love, loss, joy, and pain.

Adele

Posted: July 13th, 2011 under music videos, popular artists - No Comments.

Bonnaroo: Mumford & Sons

80,000 people rocked out this weekend at the 10th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Bonnaroo lines up hundreds of performances (over 120 artists to be more specific) on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee.

Over the past few years the festival has gotten more creative and includes nontraditional acts. Instead of just the typical bands you would expect at these kinds of festivals, Bonnaroo invites the unexpected. For example, headliners like Eminem and Lil Wayne tore up the stage this year, no surprises there.

Another act that stole the show was Mumford & Sons, which is an English folk rock band I want everyone to take a look at. What I like about Mumford & Sons is their unique sound. There is something about the band that makes you actually enjoy the banjo. I’ll be the first to admit I am late on the band wagon for Mumford & Sons, but with them I feel like it is better late than never. I’m sure some of you have been listening to them far longer than me.

Mumford & Sons has actually been around for a several years, and like anything else good things come to those who wait. The band has slowly but surely been making its way to the top and around the globe. Mumford & Sons is from the UK and infiltrated the good ole U. S. of A. throughout 2010. People try to classify the band in all sorts of genres like folk rock, indie folk, or bluegrass but the bottom line is that they are simply good. You might recognize the two most popular songs from Mumford & Sons, “Little Lion Man,” and “The Cave.”

Although I haven’t seen them perform live personally, this video really shows that this band is just as good live as in the studio. One of my favorite songs is “White Blank Page.”

Posted: June 14th, 2011 under popular artists - No Comments.

Scotty McCreery

I do like all things music, but I dropped out of watching American Idol after winning the title started meaning the artist sold less records than those who got kicked off the show, Chris Daughtry or Adam Lambert anyone?

We’ve seen all kinds of judges filter on and off the show but as American Idol proves, the show must indeed still go on. In fact, American Idol just wrapped up season ten; which brings us to the winner, Scotty McCreery.

If you aren’t part of the millions mass that tune in to Idol to watch the American dream, Scotty is something else. Of course you expect the winner to be good (although Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard fell off the map as soon as they stepped off stage) but Scotty is surprising.

What you see is not what you get with Scotty. Scotty is a typical seventeen year old boy with a guitar. However, when the boy begins to sing it is shocking. Instead of young vocals like Justin Bieber, Scotty McCreery sings as deep as the country singer Josh Turner. Scotty has a deep, syrup soul sound. I swear if you didn’t see Scotty on the screen you would have expected to see a grown middle-aged man.

After experiencing Scotty for the first time, I began to dig into some of his performances. The boy sang “Where Were You” by Alan Jackson almost as if it were his own song, and even got to perform with Tim McGraw singing “Live Like You Were Dying.”

McCreery is the second country singer to win Idol alongside Carrie Underwood. His first single is already infiltrating the radio, “I Love You This Big.” Scotty looks like a nice kid (and sings like a man)—I wish him luck.

Posted: June 1st, 2011 under popular artists - No Comments.

Music on the Radio

There happens to be a reoccurring theme on the radio right now. Artists are trying to tug on heart strings, offer power to the under dogs, and give hope to the hopeless.

One song that has been a hit for a while now that gives people courage is the new anthem “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. Born This Way is packed with praise telling the public “There’s nothing wrong with lovin’ who you are,” “I’m beautiful in my way,” and “Don’t hide yourself in regret.” The gay and transgender community consider Born This Way their Alma mater.

I’ve already touched on this song, but “Mean” by Taylor Swift is also an empowering song. The song and music video both paint a picture where the weak become strong and the bullies end up nowhere. Taylor’s twang chants “someday, I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me, and all you’re every gonna be is mean.”

Right behind Taylor is another teenie-bopper idol, Selena Gomez. Gomez’ new hit is titled “Who Says.” The Disney star sings to a pop tune questioning “who says you’re not perfect, who says you’re not worth it.” Can’t say I love the song, but it is hard to be a downer about an uplifting song.

Just to really prove my point, even Glee is in on the action. Glee is a show that covers only top hits and popular music since it started a year ago. Recently, Glee debuted its first original music. The song “Loser Like Me” fits right in on the feel good juju on the radio. Loser Like Me has lyrics like “just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth..baby I don’t care” and “I’m not thinkin’ bout you haters.”

So there you have it. And this was only four songs off the top of my head that reach out to the runts (I’m sure that’s considered insensitive).

Posted: May 10th, 2011 under popular songs - No Comments.

Rebecca Black Friday

It may be a little late to jump on this band wagon, but it is Friday; which means I feel like sharing a global guilty pleasure. In case you have been living under a rock recently I would like to introduce you or re-introduce you to the infamous Rebecca Black. Rebecca Black’s song and music video “Friday” is like a train wreck—you can’t help by watch.

There’s a 99.9% chance Rebecca Black will never win a Grammy, but she will be known as a viral star. The teen pop music video has received over 120 million YouTube views. The negative criticism from the public is no secret. The song has been titled “the worst song ever” by numerous critics (but you don’t need to be a critic to know BAD music when you hear it). I wouldn’t feel sorry for the 13 year old, she is laughing it all the way to the bank (not to mention the publicity and parodies that have echoed her fame).

Believe it or not “Friday” was even available on iTunes. So in celebration of the weekend I would just like to echo Ms. Black and say “we so excited!”

Posted: April 29th, 2011 under music videos, popular songs - No Comments.

Lollapalooza 2011

You’re going to want the winds to blow you over to the Windy City this summer. In honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Lollapalooza, the 2011 Lollapalooza has quite the headliners.

On August 5-7 of this year, Chicago’s Grant Park will feature Eminem, Coldplay, Muse and the Foo Fighters. The lineup dabbles in a variety of genres and there aren’t too many people who should complain.

Eminem is making his appearance for good reason. The year 2010 was good to the rapper, as he had the best-selling album of the year for “Recovery.” You don’t need me to remind you the radio repeated “Love the Way you Lie” and “Not Afraid” every day.

The Foo Fighters are coming in hot as well. Their most recent album “Wasting Light” is their first No. 1 album.

Other artists that will be serenading Chicago include My Morning Jacket, Cee Lo Green, Lykke Li, Nas, Kid Cudi, and Girl Talk. Of course those are just a few of the featured artists to stand on the stage. Lollapalloza 2011 is packed with an entire weekend worth of entertainers to commemorate the tradition’s 20 years of music for the masses.

Plan for the ‘pallooza now. There will be riveting rockers, dazzling divas, and singers with swag. Go listen to the legends or better yet discover new music!

Posted: April 26th, 2011 under music genres, popular artists - No Comments.

Best New Music

Kip Moore hid his talent for most of his life because he felt intimidated. For years he taught himself the guitar as he watched other songwriters to help him hone the craft. Now, with confidence and a killer voice—Kip Moore proudly emerges from the shadows as an up and coming artist in a country band.

He describes his own voice as raw and rustic and his lyrics as honest, which is refreshing. Too many artists write about the fame, fortune, and fairy tales. Kip Moore sings about stories the way it is; like the one person you should have paid more attention to, trying to live life to the fullest, and finding a safe harbor in someone else.

Kip’s first single is called “Mary Was the Marrying Kind.” It happens to be a personal page of out Kip’s past.

Posted: April 19th, 2011 under music videos - No Comments.