Posts

That Amazing Song: Toy Soldiers - Martika

Image
This is an amazing song by the one hit wonder Martika. This song talks about drug abuse and how people, like Toy Soldiers, blindly follow what others are doing without thinking of the consequences. Watch out for the subtle electric guitar playing in the background, especially the slide following the line "Won't you come out and play with me". Also check out the short but beautiful guitar solo.  Oh! And yes. Eminem sampled this in his song "Like Toy Soldiers". TOY SOLDIERS Martika Step by step Heart to heart Left right left We all fall down like toy soldiers It wasn't my intention to mislead you It never should have been this way What can I say It's true I did extend the invitation I never knew how long you'd stay When you hear temptation call It's your heart that takes, takes a fall Won't you come out and play with me CHORUS: Step by step Heart to heart Left right left We all f...

That Amazing Song: Spanish Train - Chris De Burgh

Image
Whenever we think of Chris De Burgh, the song that invariably comes to mind is Lady In Red. Well, listen to his "Spanish Train". After that, you won't really listen to Lady In Red anymore. This amazing track is called Spanish Train. Incredible music... kettle drums... violins... guitars. Plus there's drama, mystery, intrigue. It's a truly operatic experience. And that ghostly, eerie whistle of the train at the end of the song is bound to give you goose bumps. Don't miss this one — and get set to forget all about that Lady In Red!   SPANISH TRAIN Chris De Burgh There's a Spanish train that runs between Quadalquivir and old Saville, And at dead of night the whistle blows, And people hear she's running still... And then they hush their children back to sleep, Lock the doors, upstairs they creep, For it is said that the souls of the dead Fill that train ten thousand deep!! Well a railwayman lay dying wi...

That Amazing Song: Dona Dona - Joan Baez & Yiddish Acapella

Image
Dona Dona by Joan Baez. For those who haven't heard it, it's truly is a collector's item! Savour this masterpiece by a singer who continues to dominate the folk and country music scene even today. DONA DONA On a wagon bound for market There's a calf with a mournful eye. High above him there's a swallow Winging swiftly through the sky. How the winds are laughing They laugh with all their might Laugh and laugh the whole day through And half the summer's night. Dona dona dona dona Dona dona dona don Dona dona dona dona Dona dona dona don "Stop complaining," said the farmer, "Who told you a calf to be Why don't you have wings to fly away Like the swallow so proud and free?" How the winds are laughing They laugh with all their might Laugh and laugh the whole day through And half the summer's night. Dona dona dona dona Dona dona dona don Dona dona dona dona Dona dona dona ...

That Amazing Song: Julia Dream - Pink Floyd

Image
As you may or may not know, Alan Parsons of Alan Parsons Project wasn't a musician in the true sense of the word. He was primarily a Sound Engineer and worked on most of Pink Floyd's albums. His influence would show up somewhere or the other. After all, a significant portion of the "Floyd Flavour" (barring the guitars, of course) was created in the studio, during production and post-production. However, that didn't quite happen...Floyd had their own distinct sound, as did the Alan Parsons Project. Now here's a Pink Floyd track that one could, perhaps, point to as having a slight yet discernible Alan Parsons touch. It's a lesser known song called Julia Dream from the album Relics. It is a lovely song...very soothing melody...nice blending of acoustic guitars with the keyboards and other instruments. Here are the lyrics...and you will be excused if you can't figure out what they mean. It sounds like the ramblings of some Lunatic from the...

That Amazing Song: Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty

Image
I'm sure many of you heard this song in it's various forms. The disco version, the opera version etc. But this is the original, the best version of them all (like most originals are). The song is known most for the amazingly beautiful Sax playing of Raphael Ravenscroft. That said, the guitar solo by Hugh Burns and the lovely flute (intro and solo) are deeply haunting too. Check it out, I'm sure you will love it. BAKER STREET Gerry Rafferty Windin' your way down on Baker Street Light in your head and dead on your feet Well another crazy day You'll drink the night away And forget about everything This city desert makes you feel so cold. It's got so many people but it's got no soul And it's taking you so long To find out you were wrong When you thought it had everything You used to think that it was so easy You used to say that it was so easy But you're tryin' You're tryin' now Another year and...

Sample This...

Image
Let’s talk about a very interesting subject, sampling in music. If done well, it can take your song to a whole new level. When we talk about sampling, Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music” (sampled Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”), Kanye West and Jamie Foxx’s “Gold Digger” (sampled Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman”) and Eminem’s “Stan” (sampling of Dido’s “Thank You”) are some songs that come to mind. But let’s look at some unexpected, yet refreshing examples of sampling. Bone Thugs N Harmony – Wind Blow sampled Fleetwood Mac – The Chain This song features some amazing bass and guitar work. The chorus, as expected from all Fleetwood Mac songs, is filled with excellent harmonies. Bone Thugs N Harmony sampled the chorus and the brilliant bass line of John McVie. They also added an awesome guitar solo in the outro. Check it out. The Rhapsody feat Warren G – Prince Igor sampled Sissel – Prince Igor (Originally by Alexander Borodin) This song take...

Why is Sting Called Sting?

Image
Sting's  real name is  Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner . So how did he land up with a name like " Sting "? Well, during the early part of his musical career, he was the bassist for a jazz band called The Phoenix Jazzmen . One of his favourite outfits on stage was a black and yellow sweater with horizontal stripes on it. The other band members thought it made him look like a bee. So the band's frontman, Gordon Solomon , started calling him Sting , and would introduce him on stage as "Sting"... and the name stuck.