The greatest music album of all time

To get to the answer, I considered the placing of the albums in the following lists:

(i) Rolling Stone (RS) magazine’s “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, published November 2003. Placings were based on votes from 273 rock musicians, critics, and industry figures.

(ii) The National Association of Recording Merchandisers’ (NARM) (US based) list, published 2007. NARM was established in 1958, and is a non-profit trade association serving “music retailing businesses in lobbying and trade promotion.” Its membership includes “entertainment retailers, wholesalers, distributors, record labels, multimedia suppliers, and suppliers of related products and services, as well as individual professionals and educators in the music business field.” Its retail members account for “almost 85% of the music sold in the USD12 billion US music market.”

(iii) Rate Your Music’s (RYM) list, which is constantly updated. RYM is the IMDB for music, where, amongst others, music albums are “added, rated, and reviewed by users.” The data generated is then used to create a list of top-rated music albums. As with IMDB, “weighted averages are used to calculate the ordering for these lists; regular members who write reviews and rate more albums have a greater weight applied to their ratings.”

Here we go.

The music album collectively ranked the highest is The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). It placed 1st in both RS’ and NARM’s lists, and 9th in RYM’s list, hence an aggregate score of 11.

It beat other classics like:
- Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited (1965), which placed 4th at RS, 8th at NARM and 7th at RYM.
- The Beatles – Abbey Road (1969), which placed 14th at RM, 12th at NARM and 1st at RYM.
- Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon (1973), which placed 43rd at RS, 2nd at NARM and 5th at RYM.
- Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV (1971), which placed 66th at RS, 4th at NARM and 14th at RYM.
- The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966), which placed 2nd at RS, 9th at NARM and 32nd at RYM.
- The Beatles – Revolver (1966), which placed 3rd at RS, 42nd at NARM and 2nd at RYM.
- The Beatles – Rubber Soul (1965), which placed 5th at RS, 110th at NARM and 22nd at RYM.
- The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street (1972), which placed 7th at RM, 6th at NARM and 90th at RYM.
- Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue (1959), which placed 12th at RM, 34th at NARM and 8th at RYM.
- Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run (1975), which placed 18th at RM, 15th at NARM and a lowly 191st at RYM.

Some modern classics had wildly fluctuating placings:
- Radiohead – OK Computer (1997), 162nd at RM, 111th at NARM and 3rd at RYM, and indeed topped the list at besteveralbums.com’s list, which attempts to compile “the overall rankings for the best albums in history as determined by their aggregate positions in over 1,800 different greatest album charts on BestEverAlbums.com.”
- The best selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, was rated 20th by RS, 3rd by NARM and 445th by RYM.
- Nirvana – Nevermind (1991), placed 17th at RM, 10th at NARM and 109th at RYM.
- U2 – The Joshua Tree (1987), placed 26th at RM, 5th at NARM and a terrible 904th at RYM.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Worst ringtone ever

It is doubtful if any self-respecting person would choose this robotic monstrosity as their ringtone.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Greatest dangdut songs

The following are in my humble opinion the greatest dangdut songs ever, and their original performers.

Rhoma Irama – Penasaran (writer: Rhoma Irama) (1970s)

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Koes Plus – Cubit-cubitan (writer: Murry) (1970s). Yours truly even performed this in front of a live audience in Japan, one of 2 Malaysian amongst a group of Indonesians.

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Amriz A – Madu (writer: Yanto Sari) (2000s)

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(apparently) Anuar A – Hitam Manis (1960s)

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Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest jazz album of all time

American musician Miles Davis released Kind Of Blue in 1959. Many critics regard it the greatest jazz album of all time, and indeed some have regarded it the greatest music album, regardless of genre, in all of history. What is definite is that it has been masssively influential on all music styles, including rock and classical.

There are only 5 tracks on the original release, all averaging around 9 minutes in length. They are as follows. Enjoy music at its absolute best.

So What (9:05)

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Freddie Freeloader (9:35)

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Blue In Green (5:28)

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All Blues (11:33)

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Flamenco Sketches (9:24)

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The team:

- Trumpet & band leader: Miles Davis
- Piano: Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly
- Drums: Jimmy Cobb
- Double Bass: Paul Chambers
- Saxophone: John Coltrane, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley

Popularity: 1% [?]

Biggest rock songs of the 21st century

They say music of the 21st century is generally inferior to those of earlier times, but arguably the biggest rock songs of this period is still excellent, or at least positively memorable.

Here’s a list of some of the most recognisable rock songs of that decade, not necessarily the best, but definitely favourites of yours truly:

Creed – My Sacrifice (2001)

Nickelback – How You Remind Me (2001)

Puddle Of Mudd – Blurry (2001)

Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004)

Metallica – The Day That Never Comes (2008): the introduction is truly excellent, but after that I can’t really remember the melody.

Hoobastank – The Reason (2004)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Greatest ever computer game soundtrack

Remember Quake II, that classic first-person shooter (FPS) computer game developed by id Software and released 9th September 1997? It was a huge hit, selling more than a million copies.

Apart from the neat gameplay itself, some consider the soundtrack to be the very best for a computer game: hard rock music mostly provided by Sonic Mayhem, which is often mistaken for Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails. Sonic Mayhem is Sascha “Buzzfunk” Dikiciyan.

If ever you could play the game on your ipad, you’d need ipad insurance just in case, due to all that headbanging going on.

Soundtrack list:

1 Operation Overlord (3:31)
2 Rage (2:20)
3 Kill Ratio (2:34)
4 March Of The Stroggs (2:54)
5 The Underworld (2:37)
6 Quad Machine (3:37)
7 Enter Big Gun (3:06)
8 Descent Into Cerberon (2:38)
9 Climb (2:02)
10 Showdown (2:01)

I consider these 2 as stand-out tracks:

Descent Into Cerberon

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Quad Machine

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Probably the best Hindi song ever written

Song title: Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche

Composers: Shankarsinh Raghuwanshi and Jaikishan Dayabhai Pankal

Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri

Singers: Mohammad Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur (although some people said Lata Mangeshkar)

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Off the movie Brahmachari (1968), where actors Shammi Kapoor (then 37) and Mumtaz mimed to the song. Apparently, what Shammi Kapoor had was bursting energy that was unprecendented in 60s Indian movies. One site wrote:

In the gentlemanly 50s and 60s, Shammi yelled the loudest and courted his heroine with the unmistakeable arrogance of good looks laced with pure, almost manic boisterousness.

He was the trailblazer. In that song in the movie, he did his trademark uninhibited, Elvis-like dancing, almost outdoing The King himself! Never mind that he looks like he’s sick of accounting jobs at the office and was merely letting his hair down.

In a sure indication of the quality and enduring popularity of the song, it has been covered countless times, even by 60s Malaysian group Zurah II. If ever you want to impress people and guarantee the dancefloor is
filled up at your annual dinner, why not sing this classic Hindi song, complete with head-shaking, Bollywood dance moves?

Approximate lyrics:

Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche Har Zubaan Par
Sab Ko Maloom Hai Aur Sabko Khabar Ho Gayi

Humne To Pyar Mein Aisa Kaam Kar Liya
Pyar Ki Raah Mein Apna Naam Kar Liya
Aajkal Tere Mere…….

Do Badan Ek Dil Ek Jaan Ho Gaye
Manzilen Ek Hui Humsafar Ban Gaye
Aajkal Tere Mere…….

Kyon Bhala Hum Daren Dil Ke Malik Hain Hum
Har Janam Mein Tujhe Apna Mana Sanam
Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche Har Zubaan Par
Sab Ko Maloom Hai Aur Sabko Khabar Ho Gayi

Popularity: 1% [?]

Funniest cover versions of Justin Bieber’s “Baby”

I think there are 2 contenders:

First, apparently done by a Malaysian, uploaded to Youtube June 2010. You can even hear a dog barking starting 3:29:

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As of the time of writing, has had more than 167,000 views.

If you’re brave enough to upload your video singing to a popular song, and it’s decidedly amateurish, get ready to be crucified by armchair critics. Some comments I saw:

You look [like you're] possessed.

Someone buy him a Gillette ! PLEASE !

Are the words written on the back of your eyelids?!? WTF is with the freaky eye stuff Bro?

CANT THIS GUY JUST TURN OFF THE LIGHT PLEASE.

You sing like a retarded Beaver … Justin Beaver LOLOL …

Well, what do you think? I thought he was merely taking a break off one of those construction jobs.

Second, The Grandma Version:

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Third, The Family Version, complete with weird-sounding “dad”:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Controversial performance : Marianne Faithfull & David Bowie’s “I Got You Babe” (NBC, 1973)

In 1973, Marianne Faithfull, 27, heavily into drug addiction [probably addicted to everything from apidexin to heroin], notoriously performed, while dressed as a nun, at the American TV network National Broadcasting Company (NBC) with David Bowie, singing Sonny and Cher’s song “I Got You Babe”.

She had broken up with Mick Jagger 3 years earlier, lost custody of her son in that same year, which led to her mother attempting suicide. She lived on London’s Soho streets for two years, suffering from heroin addiction and anorexia nervosa.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

The world’s funniest role change / turn around

Dee Snider is the lead singer of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister. As you can imagine, he projects an image that is the worst nightmare of any well-intentioned father.

This is exemplified in their 1984 music video entitled “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, one of their most well-known songs:

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Fast forward 15 years, Dee Snider has a role reversal: he now plays *the father*, in Lit’s Zip Lock:

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Haha, I quite enjoyed that: at the very least it seems that Snider’s on diet pills that work. And oh, good song too.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest live rock guitar performance of all time

Some time ago I wrote about the commonly held view that Queen’s Live Aid set in 1985 is the greatest live rock performance of all time, but after watching for the first time Jimi Hendrix’s set at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, I think Jimi at least equalled Freddie in terms of sheer entertainment value.

The Monterey Pop Festival is considered important in rock history, not least because it’s the precursor to the legendary Woodstock festival held 2 years later, where Hendrix headlined.

But, if not for his legendary performance at Monterey, his first-ever American show, he might not have made such an impact in the USA.

At Monterey, the 24-year old Hendrix’s set was 45 minutes long: a very fast arrangement of Howlin’ Wolf’s 1965 R&B hit “Killing Floor,” then an equally lively rendition of B.B. King’s 1964 R&B hit “Rock Me Baby,” Tim Rose’s “Hey Joe” and Bob Dylan’s 1965 Pop hit “Like a Rolling Stone.” The set ended with The Troggs “Wild Thing”, and Hendrix’s iconic act of burning his guitar on stage, then smashing it to bits and tossing pieces out to the delirious crowd who were watching Hendrix’s first-ever American show.

Watch how Hendrix performed “Wild Thing” in the following video: 40 years on, I think it’s still an incredible performance; for those wannabe rock stars, watch and learn from the master:

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And if you looked closely enough, it would seem that the guitar could’ve easily slipped from his grasp when he was turning around – it could’ve hit anybody – probably that time not everybody had signed up for at least a whole life insurance policy yet!

Popularity: 2% [?]

The funniest live concert moment ever

Milli Vanilli, that infamous lip-synching pop/dance group became one of the world’s most popular acts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, scoring 3 US Hot 100 number ones in a row, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in February 1990.

In late 1989, during a live performance of their hit song “Girl You Know It’s True” in front of 80,000 in Connecticut, the recording jammed and began to skip, repeating the line “Girl, you know it’s…” over and over again.

Fabrice and Rob continued to pretend to sing and dance onstage for a few seconds, but when the recording was not fixed, they panicked and ran offstage, as if in dire need to go to the toilet.

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Finally, on 12th November 1990, the group’s creator, producer Frank Farian confessed the truth, which resulted in their Grammy being revoked, and culminated in Rob Pilatus found dead in a Frankfurt hotel, apparently overdosing on drugs in 1998.

Popularity: unranked [?]

The world’s worst performance at a top-class rock concert

The supergroup Dirty Mac performed together on 11th December 1968 for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus with the following members:
- John Lennon (of The Beatles – vocals & rhythm guitar)
- Eric Clapton (of Cream – lead guitar)
- Keith Richards (of The Rolling Stones – bass)
- Mitch Mitchell (of The Jimi Hendrix Experience – drums)

Absolutely living legends, world-class rock stars of the 60s (and even until now).

Add to that Ivry Gitlis, a top violinist, who apparently played a 1713 Stradivarius.

So how can you spoil such a heady mix?

Simple: put the inimitable Yoko Ono into the fray.

They performed a “bluesy jam” entitled Whole Lotta Yoko (composed by Ms Ono). Yoko put in a vocal performance that has to be seen and heard to be believed, and has been described as “endless caterwauling,” and that “a car alarm can sing better.”

Here it is in all its glory (unfortunately audio only). Ms Ono makes her entrance around 1:30.

Her performance, especially considering the qualify of musicians she was next to, was enough to make me wonder if her life insurance rates had just skyrocketed.

I hope you survive the next 5 minutes or so ;-)

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The DVD was released in 1996, almost 30 years after the event.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest music video ever made

Michael Jackson’s Thriller, that 14-minute music video was first shown on MTV at midnight, 2nd December 1983, when MTV was 2 years old. It’s often called the greatest music video of all time. I call it the moment when I abandoned my books for TV.

It cost USD500,000 – an amazing sum at that time.

But it was worth it: demand was such that MTV played it twice every hour.

It had an unsurpassed effect on popular culture, “a watershed moment for the music industry for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music.”

It is probably the best selling music video of all time, with 9 million units sold.

The girl in the video is former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray, 23 at the time of the video’s release.

Partial video:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

The first video shown on MTV

The first IBM PC was introduced in 1981, but perhaps custom mouse pads were not available yet then. Coincidentally, the world’s first 24-hour TV channel showing exclusively music videos, MTV: Music Television started broadcasting at 12.01am on 1st August 1981 with John Lack’s voice speaking “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll.” At that time, only a select few thousand on cable in New Jersey could view it.

The very first video shown was appropriately “Video Killed The Radio Star” by British group The Buggles.

A video of the first 10 minutes of MTV’s broadcast:

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The 2nd song? Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

The kings and queens of the Grammy Awards

The 50+ yr old Grammy Awards, which celebrates “outstanding achievements in the music industry” is arguably the world’s top music-related awards.

There are many categories, but it is generally accepted that the top Grammy Awards are:

- Album of the Year, awarded to the performer and producers of an album.
- Record of the Year, awarded to the performer and producers of a song.
- Song of the Year is awarded to the writer/writers of a song.

When it comes to numbers, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra leaves everybody trailing far behind. With 60 wins, Sir Georg Solti is a distant second at 31. Perhaps even these 2 names don’t ring a bell with many youngsters today. Among instantly recognisable names, U2 and Stevie Wonder are at 22. The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson is at 13, as is former Beatle Paul McCartney. Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen is at 20 and Eric “God, Slowhand” Clapton at 17.

But how about the most winners of the hallowed top 3 categories?

The following persons have won Album of the Year three times: Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, David Foster, Phil Ramone and Daniel Lanois.

Paul Simon has won Record of the Year 3 times.

U2 and Henry Mancini have won Song of the Year twice each.

Christopher Cross was the undisputed king of the Grammys in 1981, where he won, and remains the only person ever to do so, all 4 “General Field” awards that year: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.

Michael Jackson won a record 8 Grammys in 1984, the most in one sitting by an artiste. It was equalled by Santana in 2000. In fact, Santana’s album Supernatural won 9 Grammys that year.

Drummer Hal Blaine played on SIX consecutive records that won Record of the Year.

Brian McKnight must be the most frustrated person ever to be nominated for a Grammy Award: he was nominated 16 times without winning a single one. Oooh, that’s so sad; someone give him a Nascar jacket as consolation!

Popularity: 1% [?]

The first professional recording of Jon Bon Jovi

The first time Jon Bon Jovi was professionally recorded singing was a song called “R2-D2, We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and included in an album called Christmas In The Stars, produced 1980. Yup, everybody was Stars Wars crazy that time.

He recorded it under his birth name, Jon Bongiovi.

If you are familiar with his brand of music, listening to this is hilarious.

He was 18 at that time, and the group Bon Jovi would only be formed 3 years later.

But how did he end up on the record? Well, apparently his cousin Tony Bongiovi was the co-producer of the album and was in charge of the recording studio at which the album was recorded. Conveniently, Mr Bongiovi was working there at the same time, as a floor sweeper, and probably reading weight loss supplement reviews in his spare time.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Achmed The Dead Terrorist’s “Jingle Bells” with a difference

Back in 2007, the irreverently funny Jeff Dunham and his Sidekick Achmed The Dead Terrorist did their own hilarious version of “Jingle Bells”, or rather “Jingle Bombs”.

I think after this he will find it rather difficult to get cheap insurance on his life!

The song starts about 2 minutes into the following video, but the wait is worth it, as there are wisecracks about “Silence Night” and the guitarist doing drugs backstage, amongst other things:

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Lyrics:

Dashing through the sand
with a bomb strapped to my back.
I have a nasty plan
for Christmas in Iraq.
I got through checkpoint A,
but not through checkpoint B.
That’s when I got shot in the ass
by the US Military…

[it's not funny!]

Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
Mine blew up you see.
Where are all the virgins
that Bin Laden promised me?
Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
U.S. soldiers shot me dead.
The only thing that I have left
is this towel up on my head.

I used to be a man,
but every time I cough,
thanks to Uncle Sam,
my nuts keep falling off.
My bombing days are done.
I need to find some work.
Perhaps it would be much safer
as a convenient store night clerk.

Oooh, jingle bombs, jingle bombs
I think I got screwed.
Don’t laugh at me because I’m dead
or I’ll kill you…

I KILL YOU!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Unbelieveable version of “Jingle Bells”

Apparently this guy has been videoing himself lighting his acts of breaking wind for 15 years, some probably taken from places like cheap hotels new orleans.

Then from his library of sounds and sights, he patched them together to create the world’s most unbelieveable version of “Jingle Bells.”

It starts with a drum beat, then on to the holiday spirit:

What do you think – not really something to amuse the family with on Christmas Day, or is it?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Christmas carols: greatest performance of “O Come All Ye Faithful”

Celtic Woman, an all-female musical ensemble from Ireland, performed sometime 2007 a stirring rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful” in The Helix Theatre, Dublin, Ireland:

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I don’t know about you, but I have not seen or heard a better performance of that classic carol, ever. Of course I needn’t add that the ladies look fabulous, either using the best under eye cream or not. And that was on youtube, it must be many times better live!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Christmas carols: heavy metal version of “O Come O Ye Faithful”

Veteran US heavy metal group Twisted Sister, perhaps most famous for their 1984 hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It” released A Twisted Christmas in 2006, featuring classic Christmas songs performed in heavy metal style.

IMHO the best song off the album must be “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” of which music videos were released. My favourite is the one which follows the same style as their music videos for “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”: a married couple celebrates Christmas, then when the wife discovers that her husband’s gift to her is a CD of A Twisted Christmas, she loses her temper, then Dee Snider, the band’s lead singer, who looks like he’s due for a trip to an NJ Cosmetic dentist suddenly appears, followed by other members of the band, then the song starts:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Ice Ice Baby: first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts

Rob Van Winkle (born 1967), more popularly known as Vanilla Ice, released “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990, which he wrote in 1983.

It is the very first hip hop single to top the US Hot 100 (Billboard) charts. It helped to introduce hip hop to a mainstream white audience.

It went platinum in the US and UK.

The album, To the Extreme reportedly sold 40 million copies worldwide.

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But what happened next? His next album reportedly sold only 45,000 copies in the US and he attempted suicide by drug overdose in 1994.

Then MTV viewers voted the “Ice Ice Baby” music video the worst of all time in 1999.

He was then invited to a show in which he was supposed to good-naturedly smash the “master tape” with a baseball bat, but ended up not only destroying the tape but the soundstage too:

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Truly a one hit wonder.

Popularity: 1% [?]

ABBA’s best less well known songs

As Good As New (1979)

A testament to the Andersson/Ulvaeus potency as songwriters: this was only released as a single in Mexico and Argentina, and overshadowed by other more famous songs in the same album, yet was STILL covered in Malaysia, Malay version no less:

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Move On (1977)

With any other group, this is definitely single material – but with ABBA this was not even a B-Side:

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Arrival (1976)

Incredibly beautiful instrumental, one of only 2 ABBA songs not to contain any lyrics:

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Dum Dum Diddle (1976)

Has been my favourite ABBA number for the last 25 years. Released as a single only in Argentina:

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Watch Out (1974)

The heaviest ABBA song ever?

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Hey, Hey Helen (1975)

Apparently their first attempt at a harder sound. Still the hook is ever present:

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Tropical Loveland (1975)

ABBA does reggae too!

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Unlikeliest award ever won by a heavy metal band

Megadeth, the American thrash metal band’s title track to its 1992 album “Countdown to Extinction” created history when it made the group win the “Doris Day Music Award”, by the Humane Society of the United States in 1993 because that song “spotlights species destruction and the horrific ‘sport’ of canned hunts”.

Snarling Dave Mustaine and Doris Day? Perfect pairing eh?

Song:

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Lyrics:

Endangered species, caged in fright
Shot in cold blood, no chance to fight
The stage is set, now pay the price
An ego boost, don’t think twice
Technology, the battle’s unfair
You pull the hammer without a care
Squeeze the trigger that makes you ‘Man’
Pseudo-safari, the hunt is canned
The hunt is canned

All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it; this is the Countdown to Extinction

Tell the truth, you wouldn’t dare
The skin and trophy, oh so rare
Silence speaks louder than words
Ignore the guilt and take your turn
Liars’ anagram is “lairs”
Man you were never even there
Killed a few feet from the cages
Point blank, you’re so courageous
So courageous

All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it; this is the Countdown to Extinction

“One hour from now
Another species of life form
Will disappear off the face of the planet
Forever, and the rate is accelerating”

All are gone, all but one
No contest, nowhere to run
No more left, only one
This is it; this is the Countdown to Extinction

Popularity: 1% [?]

Jessa Bell: Youtube Star

UPDATE 21 October 2009

According to Explor3:
- Jessa Belle (Bell) was featured on a Filipino TV show called Rated K in April 2009;
- She never completed school
- She married at 15
- She was abused by her husband
- She finally separated from him due to him having an affair
- She has children
- She picks up and sells bottles to earn a living
- She is practically an illiterate, hence her mispronounciation of the lyrics
- She admits to sometimes being hurt when laughed at everytime she sang

We hope she gets all the necessary assistance to turn her passion into something big; so big that her horde of fans would utilise a remote backup service to keep her videos safe and sound.

—————————

Jessa Belle has all the makings of a singing star created by youtube. She obviously likes singing, and possesses a rather nice tone, unfortunately the list of positives abruptly ends there.

She apparently burst upon the scene earlier this year, but my first view of her was today: an attempt at classic rock ballad You’re All I Need by White Lion. It is the most unbelieveable cover of that song I have ever heard.

And it all starts getting even more surreal at 0:49 when a dog starts barking loudly. Luckily it did not howl. Later on it seems that she might be singing on a roadside as you can hear what sounds like a motorcycle passing by.

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Still, even Mike Tramp might find this cute.

Apart from this song, she has also been caught on video attempting Madonna’s Crazy For You:

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She also like to belt out a good rock number, like Zombie by The Cranberries:

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Still, her favourite could very well be Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, as could be seen from the following passionate delivery:

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Heck, even the uptempo number Low by Flo Rida, complete with dancers!!!

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Wow, even Rihanna’s Umbrella:

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Finally:

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There must be many more on youtube…

Popularity: 1% [?]

Most mismatched song and title ever

IMHO, it’s Jean Michel Jarre’s Magnetic Fields Part 5 (1981).

I was stunned when I first heard this more than 20 years ago – a very Malaysian/Indonesian sounding melody yet with a title like THAT.

Perhaps it’s a case of his business plan writers gone cuckoo, and I am not sure where he got the melody from – perhaps after going to Bali on holiday?

Listening to it again, I can almost imagine little magnetic men in little orbits doing an oriental jig…

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Kadazan/Dusun song of the year 2009

Idola Sabah (Sabah Idol) 2005 participant Ridah Annie Malanjang’s debut album was released in late 2008 I believe.

There was a rather popular song off that album entitled Lugai-Lugai, and while I thought it was okay, it did not have that special extra something that would make me listen to it over and over again.

It was a different matter a few weeks ago when I heard “Sopirosi-rosi”, another of her songs. Written by local songwriter Peter Peninting, I was instantly smitten by the melody the first time I heard it. Shame on me, it’s been in the charts for more than half a year before I noticed it!

I think it’s definitely one of the best, if not the very best Kadazan/Dusun song of 2008/2009.

Here’s a preview:

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If you like what you hear, please purchase the original.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Most difficult piano composition to play

During my trawlings to find the world’s most technically challenging to play on the piano, the following have been mentioned:

Maurice Ravel – Gaspard de la nuit: Trois poèmes pour piano d’après Aloysius Bertrand. It has 3 movements, Scarbo being famous for its incredible difficulty. It is widely considered one of the most difficult solo piano pieces ever written. Here is Vladimir Ashkenazy, the Russian conductor and virtuoso pianist playing Scarbo:

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Sergei Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op 16, which “remains one of the most technically formidable piano concertos today.” The following video shows Yundi Li playing it with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra:

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Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30. It is famous for its “technical and musical demands on the performer” and is considered to be “one of the most difficult concertos in the standard piano repertoire.” The following video shows Russian classical pianist Olga Kern playing the last 10 minutes of it at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition:

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Others include:
- Ligeti
- Rachmaninov – 1st sonata
- Boulez – 2nd sonata
- Barraque – sonata
- Bartok – 2nd concerto
- Feux Follet – 2nd version of the transcendental etudes
- Vladimir Horowitz – Carmen Variations
Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji – Opus Clavicembalisticum
- Villa-Lobos – Rude Poem (Savage Poem)
- Liszt – B minor Sonata
- Liszt – Pagannini etudes
- Brahms – concertos
- Busoni – concerto
- Rachmaninoff – Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
- Alkan – Concerto for Solo Piano
- Busoni – Opus 39 Concerto
- Galina Ustvolskaya – 6th sonata
- Shostakovich – 24 Preludes and Fugues
- compositions by Charles Ives
- Godowsky – Sonata in E minor
- Scriabin – Sonata No7
- Sorabji – opus clavicembalisticum
- La Campanella
- Peter Maxwell Davies – piano concerto
- Mily Balakirev – Islamey: An Oriental Fantasy

Popularity: 2% [?]

Best young pianist: aged 6 years or younger

Emily Bear of the USA was born 30th August 2001. She’s a true prodigy: when she was a year old she could already sing lullabies in perfect pitch. At 3, she was already composing her own music. At 6 she played at the White House for President George W Bush.

People are already calling her the next Mozart. She could very well be the world’s best young pianist right now.

Here she is performing Solfeggietto by CPE Bach, a piece which most of us would find very difficult to perform to perfection:

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Wow, it’s seems she was already playing pianos while still in baby strollers!

Newsreport:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Worst ever cover of a Beatles song

Requirement: must be done in a “proper” stage performance, preferably in a live setting, and obviously recorded for evidence and posterity.

Someone uploaded a video of what seems like a Russian navy choir performing “Let It Be” in late 2008.

The lead singer: a middle-aged man “who looks like Newt Gingrich” and who seems to be in dire need to pop a few weight loss pills dressed in a sailor’s uniform.

The passionately-delivered, heavily accented version won praises from the Russian cybercommunity.

Some have even compared the singer, whose name is yet unknown, to Susan Boyle of Britain’s Got Talent fame.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Most difficult karaoke standard to sing

The most difficult karaoke-standard song i.e. definitely can find in any karaoke bar is, IMHO, Nazareth’s Love Hurts… at maximum key. Yep, it is more difficult than working out which home insurance quote to go for.

One of our favourite music games is trying to sing this at the highest key possible on the karaoke machine, with usually hilarious results, typically at the point the words say “but they’re not foolin’ me”:

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I dare anybody to do that, record yourself, then upload the result to youtube.

As for a Malay song, I think it’s Awie’s Di Penjara Janji. The chorus hits very high notes. Starting 2:06, try to sing along without going for falsetto :-)

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Kolya Vasin: Russia’s ultimate Beatles fan

While the Beatles were at the height of their success in the West, back in the USSR they were a forbidden influence. But that did not stop them from being heard.

Presiding over his “John Lennon Temple of Peace and Love” in St Petersburg, Kolya Vasin is Russia’s ultimate Beatles fan.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The best Malay pop song of the 1980s

IMHO, it’s the incomparable “Masihkah Ada Esok” by Freedom (1987), a duet between Shuaib Shaari and the late Seha (Norsehah Abu Bakar) who died in 2006.

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The 2nd best is this.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest Cantonese pop song ever: Shanghai Beach

I used to hear this sung everywhere when I was a kid.

Song title: Shanghai Beach (上海灘)
Melody and arrangement: Joseph Koo Ka-Fai (b. 1933)
Lyrics: James “Uncle Jim” Wong Jim (1940 – 2004)
Original vocalist: Frances Yip

Theme song for Hong Kong period drama The Bund which had its original run in 1980 for 25 episodes.

That’s almost 30 years ago: you might even need to use pressure washers on those VHS tapes to remove all that grime and dust before replaying them.

In 1996, for the film Shanghai Grand, this song was covered by Hong Kong Heavenly King Andy Lau.

Lyrics and translation.

Frances Yip’s studio version:

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An Andy Lau version:

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Michael Jackson’s last rehearsal video

Michael Jackson, 50 was slated to perform 50 sold out concerts to more than a million people at London’s O2 arena from 13th July 2009 to 6th March 2010, supposedy his final concerts before retirement. That would work out to be 2 or 3 concerts a week.

He rehearsed at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

The following video of a rehearsal was taken 23rd June 2009, 2 days before his death. It was first released by CNN on 2nd July 2009.

Song: They Don’t Care About Us.

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If they do decide to release the full video, the sales figures are surely going to puncture the roof, even any outdoor furniture used in the rehearsals would be snapped up in no time!

Popularity: 1% [?]

The first time Michael Jackson ever performed the moonwalk in a live public performance

UPDATE 22nd November 2009

The rhinestone-encrusted glove was sold at an auction in New York for USD350,000, 9 times the expected price. It was bought by Hong Kong businessman Hoffman Ma at Hard Rock Cafe on 21st November 2009 on behalf of a hotel in Macau, China where it will be displayed.

Source

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It happened on 25th March 1983, during the Motown 25: Yesterday,
Today, Forever television special.

Michael Jackson, then 24 years old, performed “Billie Jean” and chose that event to introduce to the world his signature dance move – the moonwalk – which has since been copied innumerable times since.

That event was seen by 47 million viewers during its first broadcast.

Starts 1:23:

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What an astonishing display of dancing at the highest level, it should inspire the overweight to consider looking for the best weight loss supplements in order to look good trying out those nifty moves.

This move has since become ubiquitous and even mandatory – fans would expect it to be performed by him at every single concert anywhere – and would unquestionably roar their approval, even if it was performed for only a few seconds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Michael Jackson’s last ever live public performance

On 15th November 2006 at the World Music Awards in London, Michael Jackson gave his final public performance, when he performed We Are The World with a choir of 50 children to an audience of 5,000.

His performance came after collecting the Diamond Award for having sold more than 100 million albums, the past winner of which included Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart and Bon Jovi.

The awards ceremony was televised to 160 countries.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Michael Jackson dies: the most blogged about subject of all time?

Rest in peace, Michael Joseph Jackson, the King of Pop.

Reported sequence of events leading to his death on 25th June 2009:
(i) morning: collapsed at a house in Los Angeles.
(ii) 12:21pm: The Los Angeles Fire Department got a 911 call.
(iii) 12:30pm: The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived. Jackson was not breathing, no pulse detected. Someone was performing CPR, the paramedics took over while at the same time…
(iv) Rushed to UCLA Medical center. Jackson fell into a coma, died shortly after. There is a large crowd outside the hospital.
(v) 2:26pm: pronounced dead. Cause of death: cardiac arrest.
(vi) 26th June: autopsy scheduled.

He is survived by 3 children. The news of his death overshadowed the death of another cultural icon, one of the original Charlie’s Angels, Farrah Fawcett who died a few hours earlier, at 9.28am at another hospital in Santa Monica, also in the state of California.

Achievements:
(i) One of the biggest names in entertainment history, on par with the Beatles and Elvis Presley.
(ii) His album Thriller (1982) is the world’s top selling album of all time: 109 million copies sold worldwide.
(iii) His other albums are also among the world’s best sellers of all time: Off the Wall (1979): 20 million, Bad (1987): 30 million, Dangerous (1991): 32 million & HIStory (1995): 20 million.
(iv) one of the few artistes to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame TWICE.
(v) multiple world record holder, including:
- most number of Grammy Awards: 13
- most number of US Hot 100 number one singles as a male solo artiste: 13
(vi) more than 750 million albums sold worldwide.

It’s only natural that his death made headlines around the world, not least amongst bloggers.

Earlier this morning:

He was in not one but FOUR of the top 10 stories in Google Blog Search.

He was in not one but FIVE of the top 10 stories in Alexa.com, a web stats tracking company.

He was the top story in Technorati.

He was the top story in Digg, and already one of the most dugg of all time, at more than 14,000. Probably only Kevin Rose’s DVD key posting at almost 50,000 diggs got more.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The world’s oldest musical instrument: a 35,000 year old bone flute

If you think music is a rather recent “invention”, then consider the fact that scientists in Germany’s Tubingen University have found, apparently last year, 35,000 year old flutes made of bone in the Hohle Fels cavern in the southwest of that country.

That corresponds to the time that modern humans began colonising Europe.

The most well-preserved of the flutes was assembled from 12 pieces of griffon vulture bone scattered in a small plot. Together, they made a 8.6 inch (22 cm). It has 5 finger holes and two “V”-shaped notches on one end: apparently the mouthpiece:

Fragments of 2 other flutes were also found, believed carved from mammoth tusks.

The total number of flutes found is 8: 4 made of mammoth ivory and the others from bird bones.

This would suggest that music-playing was part of daily life as far back as 40,000 years ago!

I wonder what melodies they played!

The scientists wrote why music is important:

Music could have contributed to the maintenance of larger social networks, and thereby perhaps have helped facilitate the demographic and territorial expansion of modern humans relative to a culturally more conservative and demographically more isolated Neanderthal populations.

Even more tantalazingly, Prof Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London said:

I think the occurrence of these flutes and animal and human figurines about 40,000 years ago implies that the traditions that produced them must go back even further in the evolutionary history of modern humans – perhaps even into Africa more than 50,000 years ago.

We might well be on the path to discover the music Adam and Eve sung to!

Source
The BBC, 25 June 2009

Popularity: 1% [?]

A Riyanto: another great Indonesian songwriter

As I mentioned earlier, Indonesia has many excellent songwriters. At the very top of the pile, the crème de la crème, are people like Rinto Harahap, Charles Hutagalung, and A Riyanto, whom I will be focusing here.

Rinto and Charles were members of the legendary band The Mercy’s (1972-1978).

However even these two combined could not produce an album whose musical standards surpassed everything (at least in Indonesia, or even Malaysia) that has been done before or since. Produced in 1973, it is still my favourite album in the Malay-Indonesian language.

As soundtrack to a film of the same name, all the songs there were written by A Riyanto (1943 – 1994).

Here’s a list of songs from that album and other songs he’s written:

Angin Malam- Broery Marantika

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Cari Kawan Lain- The Favourite’s Group

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Malam Minggu Yang Mesra- Broery Marantika (the video is Jamal Abdillah’s version)

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Rinduku Tiada Yang Tahu – Endang S Taurina

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Bunga Dan Kumbang – Endang S Taurina

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Hati Lebur Jadi Debu – Jamal Mirdad (a cover version by Hetty Koes Endang is arguably the more popular version)

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Kau Yang Sangat Kusayang – Rano Karno

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Biarkan Bunga Berkembang – Broery Marantika

Kasih Sayang- The Favourite’s Group (video shows 6ixth Sense’s version)

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Nasib Pengembara- Emillia Contessa

Mimpi Sedih- Emillia Contessa

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Penghibur Hati- Emillia Contessa & Benjamin S.

Layu Sebelum Berkembang- Emillia Contessa

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Setangkai Anggrek Bulan

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Tetty Kadi – Senandung Rindu

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Others

Kecoak Nungging – sung by Benjamin S (Akhir Sebuah Impian OST)
Bertamasya (instrumental number) (Akhir Sebuah Impian OST)
Endang S Taurina – Apa Yang Kucari
Endang S Taurina – Dia Yang Kucari
Endang S Taurina – Kejamnya Manusia

Popularity: 1% [?]

Charles Hutagalung: one of the greatest Indonesian songwriters ever

After Rinto Harahap, a very very close second, almost a dead heat, comes the late Charles Hutagalung (1948-2001).

Both members of the legendary Indonesian band The Mercy’s, they shared songwriting duties, and in fact, I think he wrote the bulk of the band’s greatest and most popular songs, such as:

Tiada Lagi [quite possibly their signature song]

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Usah kau harap lagi

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Jauh Disayang

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Semua Bisa Bilang

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Dalam kerinduan

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Untukmu

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Biarku Sendiri

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Baju Baru

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Hidupku sunyi

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Penebus Dosa [I just heard this for the first time just now, and was absolutely smitten]

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Well, what do you think? Who is the better songwriter?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Rinto Harahap: the greatest Indonesian songwriter who ever lived?

IMHO, he’s the greatest of all of them, the M Nasir of the Indonesian songwriting scene. I would even say that among songwriters in the Malaysian-Indonesian language, Rinto Harahap is at the very top.

Of course he’s got stiff competition – Indonesia has many excellent songwriters, like Charles Hutagalung, Obbie Messakh, Bartje Van Houten, Ebiet G Ade, Arie Wibowo and more recently, Ahmad Dhani (Dewa19). And it has to be mentioned that A Riyanto composed all the songs in the monumental Achir Sebuah Impian soundtrack, not even Rinto could top that.

Rinto was a member of the legendary band The Mercy’s, of which the late Charles Hutagalung was also a member.

Here are some of his best compositions, you can bet you can find these in all karaoke bars in this region:

Betharia Sonatha – Kau Tercipta Untukku

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The Mercy’s – Oh Adinda Sayang

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Diana Nasution – Benci Tapi Rindu

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I’is Sugianto – Nasibku Nasibmu

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I’is Sugianto – Jangan Sakiti Hatinya

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Christine Panjaitan – Tangan Tak Sampai

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Diana Nasution – Aku Tak Tahan Lagi

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Rita Butar Butar – Seandainya Aku Punya Sayap (probably the greatest ever Indonesian female vocalist)

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Betharia Sonatha – Aku Ingin Cinta Yang Nyata

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Hetty Koes Endang – Dingin
Christine Panjaitan – Jangan Simpan Tangismu
Betharia Sonatha (?) – Masih Adakah Rindu
The Mercy’s – Dendang Melayu
Nur’Afni Octavia – bila kau seorang diri
The Mercy’s – Ayah
The Mercy’s – Love
The Mercy’s – Tak sedetikpun

Popularity: 1% [?]

M Nasir: the greatest Malaysian songwriter who ever lived?

Mohamad Nasir Mohamad, popularly known as M. Nasir, born 1957 is a singer, composer, producer, actor and film director, but I think it’s in songwriting, especially in the 1980s that he really excelled and surpassed even the legendary P Ramlee in that respect. He has won the most prestigious songwriting award in Malaysia a record 4 times (if you count Isabella (1989) which was credited to Search, but in fact he wrote).

IMHO, among his best ever compositions are:

Sandarkan Pada Kenangan (the best version of which was done by Jamal Abdillah & Siti Sarah):

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Nur Nilam Sari (Awie & Search)

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Sejati (Wings)

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Dari Kekasih Kepada Kekasih (Hattan)

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Srikandi Cintaku (Bloodshed)

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Fantasia Bulan Madu (Search)

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Isabella (Search)

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Kejora (Search)

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Gadisku (Search)

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Others:

Kenangan Lalu (Flybaits)
Hingga Akhir Nanti (Alleycats)
Sekuntum Mawar Merah (Alleycats)
Kerana Kau (Alleycats)
Mustika (M. Nasir)
Mentera Semerah Padi (M. Nasir)
Meniti Titian Usang (Search – co-written with A Rahim)
Pelesit Kota (Search)
Setelah Hujan (Search)
Pawana (Search)
Gadis Misteri (Search)
Istana Menanti (Rahim Maarof)
Kerja Gila(Search)
Ukiran Jiwa (Awie)
Mahligai Syahdu (Hattan)
Senja Nan Merah (Awie & Ziana Zain)
Menanti (Ella)
Ghazal Untuk Rabiah (M. Nasir & Jamal Abdillah)
Takdir Penentu Segala (Jamal Abdillah)
Kekasih Awal Dan Akhir (Jamal Abdillah)
Tiara (Kris)
Aku dah bosan (Amy Search)
Cinta Sakti (Def Gab C)
Andalusia (M. Nasir)
Phoenix Bangkit Dari Abu (M. Nasir)
Cinta Dewa Dewi (Spider)
Bagaikan Sakti (M. Nasir & Siti Nurhaliza)
Aduh Saliha (Mawi)
Juwita Cinta Terindah (M. Nasir)
Angan dan Sedar (Mawi)
Nafas Cahaya (Misha Omar)
Dejavu (Syura)
Mantera Beradu (Malique & M. Nasir)
Memburu Rindu (Hattan)

Lyrics:
Senandung Semalam (Alleycats)

Source
Muzikrock.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest ever cover of Lefthanded’s “Tiada Lagi Kidungmu”

This video is now coming to 4 years old, but it never gets old; rather its visitor counter keeps turning and new comments get added almost every day until today.

It was taken 30th August 2005. The wildly popular Malaysian reality show Akademi Fantasia season 3 had just ended, with Felix Agus placing second. Felix sang Lefthanded’s 1987 classic slow rock number “Tiada Lagi Kidungmu” in one of the episodes, reigniting interest in the song.

The gentleman in the video is a hardcore fan of Felix and happened to like singing that song too. So he did, and what a scorcher it is, where he single-handedly rewrote textbooks on the art of singing:

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To compare, this is a video of Nash singing it, albeit at a lower key, apparently in 2007:

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Why lower key? 20 years later he can’t reach the high notes anymore? This is him singing the original version:

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And this is Felix singing it during Akademi Fantasia 3 [sometime 2005], with Nash himself in the audience:

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I have done a simple comparison of the keys at which they sang with my guitar just now. Doing an E-style chord fingering and noting the position of my index finger on the fretboard, I found that the gentleman sang on the 5th fret (hence an A key on my guitar), while Nash 2007 sang on a a lower key: 4th fret. Felix sang on the 6th fret, but Nash’s original, sung 20 years ago, was on the 8th fret!

Anyway, well, what do you think? Has Nash (the vocalist of Lefthanded) been well and truly defeated?

P.S. The songwriter of Tiada Lagi Kidungmu is Arie Wibowo. Is this the same Arie Wibowo who wrote the total Indonesian classics Singkong Dan Keju and Madu Dan Racun?

P.P.S. My personal favourite version of Tiada Lagi Kidungmu is that duet between Nash and Shanty Rein.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Enya’s Cursum Perficio: the perfect soundtrack for the Apocalypse / Armageddon / Second Coming

Being a rock music fan, where I would only ever listen to music with guitars in it, I still find it amazing that one of my favourite albums is Enya’s Watermark, and my favourite song there is arguably Cursum Perficio. It caught me the very first time I heard it, and never let go until today, 20 years later.

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Listening to it immediately brought to my mind tremendous, Biblical-scale events, so much so that I’ve called it the perfect soundtrack for the Apocalypse, Armageddon or the Second Coming.

If ever there was a song playing when the heavens opened up for the Second Coming, this would be very appropriate, dont u think so?

Youtube user mehmetazk added even more esotericly:

I agree with you. Back in 1998, when I first heard it and listened to it very thoroughly it reminded me of the Crusades, but then the first half of the song reminded me of Napoleon’s sad defeat at Waterloo. The second part reminded me of Marshal Grouchy’s refusal to appear at Waterloo (to Napoleon’s rescue) with his 33,000 despite being urged by his generals: Gerard, Vandamme and Exelmans, to do so, when they all heard the terrible sound of gufire from the fields of Waterloo.

Wow!

… I can almost feel my undermount sink shaking …

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest ever performance of “The Power of Love”

No, not the Huey Lewis & The News song. And not the Frankie Goes To Hollywood song, but rather the Jennifer Rush song, that famous power ballad co-written and originally recorded by Jennifer Rush in 1985.

That year, it spent 5 weeks at the top of the British charts, becoming the first single by a female soloist to sell one million copies in the UK. Even until today, it is still among the UK’s best-selling singles of all time.

It has been covered by several artists like Laura Branigan, Céline Dion and even Air Supply.

But what do you think about this cover by Nana Mouskouri, the First Lady of European Music, the Greek singer who’s sold more than 300 million records worldwide in more than 50 years?

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This is apparently of her singing it live:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Arnel Pineda: only the second Asian ever to front a world-class rock band

By world-class I mean: the band must be well-known throughout the world, with at least one of their songs a regular staple at any karaoke bar the world over, and have sold at least 30 million albums worldwide.

The first Asian to be lead vocalist of a world-class rock band is of course the incomparable Farrokh Bulsara, better known as Freddie Mercury of Queen fame.

Please correct me if I’m wrong here, but only the second Asian ever to have achieved this feat is Arnel Pineda, the lead vocalist of Journey since December 2007. Never mind the fact that Journey’s heydays have been over for at least 20 years.

Now perhaps some members of the younger generation have never even heard of this group, but there’s no denying that Journey is a world-class rock band, with the following achievements:

(i) Escape, their 1981 album has been certified 9 times platinum, and I remember was described by Kerrang magazine (top UK rock magazine) as the greatest AOR album ever made.

(ii) Arguably their most famous song, “Faithfully” (released 1983) has enjoyed lasting popularity, and was a popular prom song in the US in the 1980s.

(iii) Neal Schon and Steve Perry are widely recognised as virtuosos in their respective fields, Schon on guitars and Perry on vocals.

One could not help wondering that had it not been for youtube, at 40 years of age Pineda would’ve resigned himself as a cover act.

A true success story made in youtube, the following is apparently the youtube video that was seen by the remaining members of Journey sometime in early 2007 and eventually clinched it for Pineda.

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Amazing, I think that equalled Steve Perry’s original.

Pineda’s first ever live concert as lead singer of Journey was on 21st February 2008 in Chile – televised for an audience of 25 million.

This was how he sang “Faithfully” live then:

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The following video is of Steve Perry in 1983 singing Faithfully live. Who’s better? You be the judge.

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Apparently Steve Perry was voted the 2nd best rock vocalist of all time, behind the greatest Asian rock superstar ever, Freddie Mercury.

Perhaps comparing Arnel’s version with Steve’s studio version of the
song is too much, but I need to get it out: Steve is THE balladeer
here:

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The following video is of Steve Perry singing Faithfully live in 1994, 11 years after the original:

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Still awesome!

Popularity: 1% [?]

The world’s most controversial / unique musical composition: John Cage’s 4’33″

Avant-garde American composer John Cage (1912-1992) is perhaps most famously known for 4′ 33″ which he “composed” in 1952.

In it, there are 3 movements of which are performed without a single note being played.

It has been described and explained as follows:

The content of 4′ 33″ is meant to be perceived as the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed, rather than merely as 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence.

Here it is being “played”. Notice how the musicians turned their pages and how seriously they all took it.

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It has became one of the most controversial compositions of the 20th century.

Here’s another guy “playing” it on piano:

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A smart alec made a tutorial on how to play the piece:

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In 2002, it was in the spotlight: a bizarre copyright dispute.

Mike Batt placed a 1-minute silence on his CD, called it A Minute’s Silence, and then declared that it was a Mike Batt & John Cage composition.

Source
The BBC, July 2002
Wikipedia

Popularity: 1% [?]

The world’s slowest and longest piece of music: John Cage’s As Slow As Possible

As Slow As Possible was composed by John Cage, arguably the most influential American composer of the 20th century.

It was originally a 20-minute piece for piano, but later expanded by some crazy group of theologians, musicologists, philosophers, composers and organists to an unbelieveable 639 years.

Yes, that means the song will take 639 years from start to finish.

It was first played sometime in 2003, on a church organ in Halberstadt, Germany.

The first 3 notes will last for more than a year!

Needless to say, it won’t be of much interest if you’d actually sit down and listen to it.

In fact, for the first 17 months, all that was heard was the sound of “the organ’s bellows being inflated”.

Question: But why 639?
Answer: The Halberstadt organ was 639 years old in the year 2000.

Source
The BBC, Feb 2003

Popularity: 2% [?]

The world’s slowest music video: They Live By Night’s Catching Up

They Live by Night is a Swedish music group.

“Catching Up” is a song off their second album released October 2008.

The music video won the best video category at the 2009 Swedish MTV / Grammy Awards.

It’s slow – as in movements in slow motion.

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As you heard, the music is nowhere near slow!

Popularity: 1% [?]