Take Your Laptop And Go Write Some Songs - Anywhere

With modern technology, it is very possible to write and record music anywhere you want. All you need is a laptop, a decent sound card, good sounding earphones and a small midi controller to write and record a potential hit song. The hit part, of course, is dependant on your skills, but thankfully, these skills can be learned. This article deals with some aspects of creating a good song.

To write a good song, you need both inspiration and discipline. Without inspiration, your songs will come out dry and technical, and probably will just sound just like countless other records, which we hear and forget that very moment. You also need discipline to finish what you have started with inspiration - otherwise, you will just have a pile of unfinished ideas.

Sometimes, it takes just going away somewhere for your inspiration to start flowing - ideas just come to you naturally when you are outside of what you are used to. If you have your minimum songwriting equipment with you, nothing is stopping you from laying down all your ideas, and when you are back at home, choose the best ones and turn them into full songs.

After recording an idea for a song, it is often a good idea to put it aside and not listen to it for a week or so - that way, when you come back to it, you will hear it with fresh ears and will be able to judge better, whether this idea has any potential or not. When we are in the process of writing, we become attached to an idea, a particular way of playing things, or a particular arrangement. Indeed, one of the key secrets of great songwriting is patience - write a lot, and rewrite even more - with fresh ears of course.

When you are done with the idea stage, when you have composed a nice song, which flows along nicely, it is time for that discipline part. Now you must polish the lyrics (if your song has them), phrasing and record all the parts missing, and re-record the parts you are not satisfied with. However, remember, that often it is better to leave a track that is not so perfect, but has that special feeling about it, instead of replacing it with a technically perfect, but lifeless take.

Remember, that with possibilities of modern technology there's nothing stopping you from getting away - even just for a weekend - and write great songs. Always remember to have fun doing so, and you will write that hit sooner than later!

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Top 20 Beatles Hits

The premier rock group was formed in Liverpool, England in the late 1950's. When they first started out, The Beatles went under such names as The Quarrymen, Johnny and the Moondogs, The Rainbows, and the Silver Beatles, before settling on the Beatles in 1960.

The original lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best. In April 1961, Sutcliffe left the group and died of a brain hemorrhage, one year later. Best left in 1962 and was replaced with Richard Starkey, aka Ringo Starr.

From there on, the group remained, until Paul McCartney announced their breakup on April 10, 1970. The group was managed by Brian Epstein, who died of a sleeping pill overdose in 1967 and they were produced by George Martin.

The Beatles first U.S. tour came in February, 1964. That was also the year they won the Best New Artist Grammy Award. They also earned Grammy's Trustees Award in 1972. In 1968 they became owners of the Apple record label.

They appeared in the movies "A Hard Day's Night" in 1964, "Help!" in 1965 and "Magical Mystery Tour" in 1967. They also provided the voices in the 1968 cartoon "Yellow Submarine."

According to Billboard magazine, The Beatles topped the singles charts twenty times and made it onto the weekly Top 40, forty-nine times, between 1964 and 1976. The closest artist to come to this record is Elvis Presley, who went to #1 eighteen times. Below, are The Beatles 20 biggest hits, all number one. Many of the Beatles B-sides also cracked the top 40 and are duly noted.

1. Hey Jude - 1968 - The number one song of 1968 and the B-side, "Revolution" going to #12 on the weekly charts.

2. I Want To Hold Your Hand - 1964 - The Beatles first U.S. hit with the B-side "I Saw Her Standing There" also going Top 20.

3. Get Back - 1969 - This hit featured Billy Preston as well as on the B-side "Don't Let Me Down."

4. Can't Buy Me Love - 1964

5. Yesterday - 1965 - This song has the significance of having more than 2500 recorded versions of it.

6. I Feel Fine - 1964 - The B-side of this song, "She's A Woman" went to #4 on the weekly charts.

7. Help! - 1965 - This song is the title song from the film of the same name. The film "Help!" was originally titled, "Eight Arms to Hold You."

8. We Can Work It Out - 1966 - The flip side, "Day Tripper" went to #5. Stevie Wonder took a cover version of this song to #13 in 1971.

9. Hello Goodbye - 1967

10. She Loves You - 1964 - "Sie Lieb Dicht", the Beatles German version of this song also hit the Billboard charts in 1964.

11. Let It Be - 1970 - The title song from the documentary film.

12. A Hard Day's Night - 1964 - Another title song, this one from The Beatles first movie.

13. Paperback Writer - 1966 - The B-side, "Rain" made it to #23 on the weekly charts.

14. The Long And Winding Road - 1970 - Also from the documentary film "Let It Be" and the Beatles last #1 single.

15. Eight Days A Week - 1965 - "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" was the B-side of this hit single and just barely cracked the weekly Top 40.

16. Come Together - 1969 - The flip side of this single, "Something" went to #3 on the weekly charts.

17. Love Me Do - 1964 - This song and the B-side, "P.S. I Love You" were both recorded in September 1962 and featured Andy White on drums and newly added band member, Ringo Starr on tambourine.

18. Ticket To Ride - 1965 - Another song featured in the film "Help!"

19. Penny Lane - 1967 - Another two sided hit, this time featuring "Strawberry Fields Forever" going to #8 on the weekly charts.

20. All You Need Is Love - 1967 - Featuring "Baby You're A Rich Man" as the B-side.

The Beatles were able to crack the weekly Top 10 charts one more time. Six years after the dissolution of the band, in 1976, and ten years after the release of their album "Revolver" the single, "Got To Get You Into My Life" went to #7.

All four Beatles had #1 songs, after The Beatles were no more. The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. They will forever be known as the world's #1 rock group.

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Dancing Ballerina Music Boxes

The music box, or otherwise known as a musical box, makes one feel that it has been around since history began. This unique item certainly has the history that can be the stuff of myth. Before the radio and before television came to be, they gave the young as well as the old sheer entertainment.

The history of the music box started during the beginning of the 19th century. However, as far as that time was, the item has changed very little. It still contains pins that are set on a revolving disc or cylinder. The cylinder has teeth on it that hit this comb made of metal inside the novelty item. When this comb brushes along the cylinder and hits the teeth, this is where the music is heard.

There are types of this item that have some "decorations" about them, kind of like the dancing ballerina music boxes that can be seen in some advertisements.

These novelty items originated from the snuffbox, an item that men stored inside their pockets. Eventually, the fancied music item came in various sizes, some as small as a snuffbox while others were the size of a chair.
As time passed on, the common music box became something that could be easily put on top of tables, small and conveniently sized. Upon the exit of the 19th century, those who made this novelty item also came to populate American city streets.

After that, many of these have been made to celebrate occasions such as graduations and birthdays. The music that they play could be classical music pieces composed by some like Beethoven or they could play famous tunes from a movie of known renown. Such novelty item could also be intricately designed according to individual tastes, such as dancing ballerina music boxes. A sculpted of carved ballerina can be put on top of the music box and when played, the ballerina spins around on top of the music box.

You can look for an item like this at your nearest specialty shop, but you ought to save some money as these might cost you. A music box could be a very detailed piece of work and are more often handmade.

Having this fancied novel item or giving it as a gift can come as a little bit extraordinary, yet pleasantly surprising as these aren't expected to be given as gifts. Having one can make one proud as a dancing ballerina music box is a unique and rare item. It can be the repository of a lot of memories of friends, family as well as your special someone. It is easy to enjoy one. All you have to do is to wind it up, close it, and listen as the music soothes your senses.

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Reggae Music's "Lyrical Gangsta" - Ini Kamoze

Hey, hey... My favorite poet of Jamaican reggae music, Ini Kamoze, my "lyrical gangsta", was born in 1957 in Port Maria, Saint Mary, Jamaica. This man is truly a reggae lyrical genius. WICKED!

Ini Kamoze's recording debut was Trouble You a Trouble Me in the early '80s. As competent a songwriter as Bob Marley with a masterful talent for social commentary, his catchy hooks and sly wittiness set him up to be the greatest reggae artist since Marley. But Mr. Kamoze marched to his own drummer, refused to be categorized by the music industry, made a few questionable career choices and reportedly did a short prison stint in the 1990s.

While he hasn't benefitted from huge popularity outside Jamaica, his signature song Here Comes the Hotstepper (1994) made Ini Kamoze a household name and became one of dancehall's most well-known hits. He later adopted the nickname "Hotstepper", from Jamaican Patois meaning a man on the run from the law. This song remains his only U.S. #1 hit.

With his trademark "hey, hey..." Ini Kamoze will always be one of my all-time favorite reggae artists. He is a powerhouse of talent for fresh and significant conscious lyrics, influenced greatly by R&B, rap and hip-hop. He speaks directly to my soul - like an electrical current - and is never boring.

Mr. Kamoze does not condone random acts of violence but is an advocate for constructive change. Twenty years ago, in Gunshot (Respect Not) he chastised Jamaica's corrupt leaders and politicians for condoning gun violence, thus forcing poor kids to kill each other senselessly. Sadly, his message is still quite relevant today as Jamaica suffers from far too many pointless gun-related deaths.

Ini Kamoze's songs are arrogant, cocky and defiant yet, at the same time, eloquent and graceful with a keen sense of wit. His unmatched lyrical mastery helps him produce some of the most interesting lyrics in all of reggae music. And he can write some darn fine lovers' lyrics as well. He has collaborated with the greats, like Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare, and I am certain he has some potent reggae left in him!

If Ini Kamoze's music interests you, try to find his debut album from 1984, Ini Kamoze, which is (criminally) still available only in vinyl, or pick up Debut, his double CD compilation album which features re-recordings of his early hits, and listen im tic!. Although the songs suffer just a little bit due to the lack of the Sly & Robbie productions, the poetic lyrics remain the same. Your soul will thank you.

Visit Ini Kamoze's MySpace site for great information, music, and insight into this cryptic but charismatic personality: http://www.myspace.com/inikamoze  and for news about his upcoming CD release "51/50 Rule". While his career has certainly been erratic, Mr. Kamoze has thankfully not disappeared from the music scene.  I hold my breath in anticipation!

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The Only Song to Be Investigated by the FBI

The USA was a strange place in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Youth culture was in its infancy and the establishment was disturbed at is growth. The establishment was disturbed by many things. There was fear at the growth of communist influence in Cuba and Latin America. There was fear of a perceived increasing threat from communism at home. Homophobia was rife. Institutionalised racism was being challenged. Rock and roll was threatening the morals of the young and Louie Louie was at the forefront of the threat, or not.

Louie Louie was written by Richard Berry in 1956. It told the story of a Jamaican sailor being upset at being away from his girlfriend. In the song the sailor poured out his woes to Louie Louie (a bartender). It was a popular song, but not a hit. By 1963 the song was a popular tune played by many bands in the Washington area. Two of them recorded versions within days of each other, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and The Kingsman. For a while the Paul Revere version seemed the most popular but eventually the Kingsmen's version won out. That is when the problems started.

The trouble with the Kingmen's version was that it was impossible to understand the lyrics. Jack Ely, the lead singer, could have been singing about anything. Rumours began to circulate that the lyrics were dirty and obscene. Alternative lyrics were produced and passed round. Governor Matthew Welch of Indiana banned the song from being played on local radio stations in his state. Robert Kennedy (Attorney General of the USA) received a letter from a concerned parent in February 1964. Having heard that the song was obscene this parent thought that he had deciphered the lyrics and he was convinced the lyrics were indeed rude.

The FBI, keen to uphold the morals of the country opened a file on the song (I will not make the obvious comments about Edgar J Hoover and his personal peccadilloes wanting to protect the morals of 1960s middle American youth). That the lyrics were obscene was accepted as fact. The FBI investigated and interviewed everyone involved including Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Kingsmen, Richard Berry and those connected with the record company. It must have passed them by that the singer with the Kingsmen that they interviewed was not the singer on the record. Jack Ely had been sacked from the band just after the recording. They never interviewed him. They played the record at different speeds to see if they could identify the lyrics and consulted various experts for advice.

The result of 30 month's investigation into this scandal? There was a report sent to the Director of the FBI on 25th May 1965 which said "The department advised that they were unable to interpret any of the wording on the record and, therefore, could not make a decision concerning the matter. Also that the AUSA at Tampa, FLA and Hammond, Indiana, have declined prosecution."

The file was closed and Middle America survived this Crisis.

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Making Blink - 7 Great Tips to Create Hit Songs Like Blink 182

Have you ever wondered how Blink 182 makes so many hit songs? They have more than a handful of albums out and there are great songs on every one of them.

So how does Blink 182 make tons of hits that keep them famous? Follow these 7 tips on songwriting to improve your ability to make hits like Blink 182.

1. Give your listener a reason to listen again.

Have you ever found yourself listening to a song over and over again? That's probably because the song creates so much interest to the listener that you just can't escape. Make your songs interesting with variation in instruments, vocals, and a great hook.

2. Make some quick recordings to work from.

It's always a good idea to have some reference material to use when writing songs. Blink 182 uses cheap recordings to develop music all the time. Get your hands on a cheap tape recorder and start recording your sessions to work on harmonies or dueling lead melodies.

3. Incorporate sound effects for an experimental or progressive feel.

This tip is where you can be extremely creative. Blink 182 created so much depth and interest from the effects they use on their self-titled album. Mess around with guitar feedback, things falling, dogs barking, or whatever you can think of.

4. Silence is as important as music.

Don't try to fill every waking moment in your songs with crazy instruments or vocals. A pause here or there creates suspense for the listener asking them to listen again.

5. Schedule time for you to keep working.

If the number of unfinished songs is starting to build up, then you really need to get down to business. Blink 182 has so many probably due to the fact that they finish them all! Schedule some time for yourself to sit down and hash out your unfinished work.

6. Make a songwriting goal and write it down.

Did you know that something as simple as writing down goals on paper can lead to better results? When you write down your goals, you make a visual contract with yourself to finish. Surprisingly enough, this method is very motivating.

7. Plan out parts for multiple instruments.

So, you've mastered the acoustic guitar or piano. Well, maybe you need to take your compositions further. Add more instruments into the mix and show everyone what a great songwriter you really are.

When Blink 182 made their very first songs, they probably didn't stand very well. Don't expect to make hits right away either. Put these 7 tips into action, stay focused, and reach your songwriting goals.

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Beat Music Maker - Making Instrumentals Easy and Make Your Beats a Hit

Beat making software has been the way most techno beats have been created. Many top artists from many different artists especially rap and techno use pounding beats as the background music to their songs, making their songs sound better. Before beat making software beats had to be made using actual instruments which meant you had to own or use many different instruments in order to create the beat you wanted. This was a huge hassle until different sounds began to be stored digitally, making instrumental easy and soon enough beat making software was born.

Now making your beats is very simple and easy thanks to beat music maker software. The way beat music maker software works is the creators of the software have recorded many different sounds of instruments and instrumentals and recorded them to a computer digitally. They then created a way to easily make your beats by using a drag and drop method on a timeline. You simply will drag and drop your sounds or beat into the spots on the track that you want it to be played at and the computer will then allow to burn your finished beats onto a CD or save them as a .mp3 file to load onto an iPod or mp3 player, which will make your beats a hit quickly.

Beat making software is very inexpensive and it will include many different tools to help you create your professional beats. Beat music maker software will always include tutorials on how to use and access to many member forums so you can chat with other beat making members and share tips and tricks or get answers to your questions. If you decide that the beat music maker software was not what you wanted then most will offer a 90 money-back guarantee. Beat making software will work on any computer with any operating system and will not take up space or slow the computer down, it will only teach you and allow you to create high quality sounding beats. There are many great beat making software products that create high quality sounding beats, but the one I recommend to you because it has all the benefits listed above and then some extras, is called Sonic Producer.

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Selecting Music for Your Wedding and Reception

There are six different musical movements in the typical wedding: the prelude, the processional, the bride's entrance, the ceremony, the recessional, and the postlude. The types of music that is selected for these movements are usually classical or traditional pieces. If you are looking for classical pieces to orchestrate your wedding ceremony then you should look at the music composed by Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Clarke, Debussy, Dvorak, Elgar, Faure, Franck, Handel, Hayden, Mendelssohn, and Mozart, just to name a few. All of these composers offer pieces that are appropriate for the various stages of your wedding ceremony.

The wedding music that is played during the ceremony doesn't always have to be classical pieces like the "Bridal Chorus" or "Ave Maria." Instead you can select musical numbers that come from contemporary popular top 40 hits, or you can select from more traditional pieces of wedding music. Some of the most popular ceremony music used in weddings today include: "The Bridal March," "Oh, Promise Me," "Air on G String," "A Wedding Thank You," and "Someone to Watch Over Me."

Love songs are another popular option for both ceremonial music and wedding reception music. When selecting love songs for weddings you should look for songs that you can identify with as a couple, and you should look for love songs that have a special meaning for you as a couple. Some of the most popular love songs used in weddings today include: "Can you Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder, "Just the Way Your Are" by Billy Joel, "This Will Be" by Natalie Cole, "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warner, "All My Life" by Linda Rodstadt and Aaron Neville, "The Long and Winding Road" by the Beatles, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News, and "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago.

In addition to the above mentioned love songs, wedding music also usually includes contemporary love songs, classical love songs, and top 40 hits. Some of the more popular wedding songs played at receptions include: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler, "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker, "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson, "Here, There, and Everywhere" by the Beatles, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye and Tammie Terrel, "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams, and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warner.

In addition to playing a CD with one of the above songs on it, you can also buy sheet music and arrangements for most of these songs. Sheet music for popular songs, love songs, and classical music can be found both online and in music stores. You will want to make sure that the sheet music that you buy is arranged for the instruments that you will be using at the ceremony or reception, otherwise you will need to rescore it.

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Do You Remember These 1990's One Hit Wonders?

I loved the music of the 90's and still do today. It was the decade that saw the arrival of so many bands that became huge successes such as Radiohead and Green Day, which are still huge even today.

But, there were those bands that after having wowed us with their number one hit, suddenly disappeared into the abyss quicker than they had first emerged, like the saying goes, they entered in like a bolt of lightning but flew out like the wind.

Having a look back at some of those 'one hit wonders' of the 90's most people can 'name that song' and even the year it came out but no one ever remembers the name of the bands that sung them.

Breakfast At Tiffany's, everyone loved that song and it has been played again and again ever since. It was near the top end of the charts for some time but who can remember the band that sung it?

Don't worry if you don't remember, not many people do for the simple reason that this band never had the same success with any other song after that one. They were called Deep Blue Something and they, as a band, were one of the more famous one hit wonders of the 90's.

Try another one, this one had been released towards the end of the 90's and called The Way, do you remember? So many people really liked this song and even now it is still played a lot, but the band that released it never managed to make another song as successful as that one.

There is another band that have a hit song, The Rembrandts, who? I hear you asking. Their hit is listened to by many people every day and no one even remembers who sang it or realizes that it was a hit from the 90's.

That song, I'll Be There For You, no not Bon Jovi but the one that was used as the theme song in Friends. It was really popular at the time but the band faded out not long after that hit was released.

Now that the 2000's have ended there shall be a new list of one hit wonders emerging, but who will be on it?

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A Quick Look At Ska - The Beginning of Ska Music

One of the biggest exports from Jamaica is not necessarily food or drink, it's actually music, and that's kind of a shocker for some people. Most people will cite reggae as the chief musical style of the tropical location, but that's only a piece of the larger picture.

In the late 1950's a genre of music was created that would melt together Caribbean music with American jazz to formulate a new style of music that would change the musical landscape for decades at a time. The quality of music was underlined by a creative and accented bass movement that is often referred to by many "walking bass line", with upbeat rhythms and song structure.

The Three Periods

There are three distinct periods in this Jamaican style of music. First wave is often referred to as the beginning and creation periods of the format. Second wave or English 2 Tone ska revival came through in the late 1970's - mid 1980's, and finally, the third wave of this music hit major strides in the mid 1990's.

It is interesting to note, that while historians cite only three waves, some might say there is two other major rises of popularity through the years. These two are classified as punk-ska or fourth wave (late 90's) and the Christian ska movement (also in the 90's). Both movements ushered in success on both radio and video games, and would create a great rush for record labels to sign any ska band that had a medium-sized fan base.

Musical Style

No one has a definitive history of when the actual word "ska" was created. However, many musical experts have noted that it was Ernest Ranglin that utilized the term to refer to a guitar style that was more of a scratching motion (skat). Other musical historians refer to a 1959 recording session featuring Coxone Dodd and Cluett Johnson in which the guitarist was told to play "ska, ska, ska".

Much like other major musical forms, there is a great deal of folklore given to the creation and the early years of Jamaican roots music. The earliest moments of the movement are a little blurred, but then again, so are a lot of musical forms that have become popular throughout the years.

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Biggest and Top Bollywood Movie Hits of 2008

All ye' Bollywood fans and Bollywood lovers are interested in knowing which indeed was the most successful Bollywood movie of 2008. Is it Ghajini or Golmaal Returns? Or is there other clear winner? What do trade guides show? Which Bollywood movie truly rocked 2008? Is the most successful Bollywood movie of 2008, also your favorite movie?

Presenting here are the hits, superhits and blockbusters Bollywood movies of 2008, including a brief review. The movies are arranged according to their time of release.

1. Jodhaa Akbar : Released on February 15' 2008, Jodhaa Akbar, directed by Bollywood most prolific director Ashutosh Gowariker, was a semi hit. It went on to do a business of Rs. 62 crores. Hrithik Roshan was the USP of the film, he played Akbar so well that the historic figure is now synonymous with the actor.

2. Race: Released on March 21' 2008, Race was the first big hit of 2008. An edge of the seat thriller, the movie directed by Abbas-Mustan was full of twists and turns. As of May 30, it grossed Rs.63,67,00,000 ($14,886,600) in India, and $9,505,321 in other parts bringing a worldwide total of $24,391,921. Race is actually the fifth biggest hit of 2008.

3. Jannat: Jannat, directed by Kunal Deshmukh, was a Mukesh Bhatt film, released on May 16. Based on cricket betting, the movie extracted the career best performance of Emran Hashmi. Debutante Sonal Chauhan made a pretty picture in the movie. Jannat grossed 32,47,00,000 in 5 weeks, quite higher than its cost of production.

4. Aamir: One of the dark horse hits of 2008, Aamir directed by Raj Kumar Gupta released on June 6. The movie starring Rajeev Khandelwal was a story about how an innocent man gets trapped in the hands of religious extremists who want to bomb the city. An interesting premise, the movie did good business.

5. Sarkar Raj: Sarkar Raj, directed by Ram Gopal Verma released on June 6 2008. The movie was a semi-hit; people compared Sarkar Raj to its prequel Sarkar, and found that the sequel was not as effective as the first one. Nevertheless, it grossed 34 crores in India in its first two weeks and over $1 million in the USA.

6. Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, released on July 4 2008; directed by Abbas Tyrewala and produced by Aamir Khan, was the iconic movie of 2008. The movie was a blazing hit and it is still the favorites of the youth segment, which forms a major part of the movie going audience. The youthful movie had a cliched but entertaining story with fantastic music by A.R.Rahman. in 5 weeks, it earned approximately 52.96 crores.

7. Singh is Kinng: Singh is Kinng was a movie, all Akshay Kumar fans were waiting for. Released on August 8, 2008; the movie recorded the biggest advance booking in the history of Bollywood, second only to Ghajini. With a fantastic figure of Rs.44 crores in the first week, Singh is Kinng was the fourth biggest hit of Bollywood 2008. By September, it had already earned Rs.73 crores.

8. Bachna Ae Haseeno: Released on August 15, 2008, Bachna Ae Haseeno proved to be a solace for Yash Raj films which had only given flops before this, in 2008 like Tashan and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Made on a budget of Rs.18 crores, this Ranbir Kapoor earned Rs.31.20 crores in its second week, and was declared a semi hit.

9. Phoonk: Phoonk directed by Ram Gopal Verma was probably the least expensive movie, which did good business. The movie based on black magic was a success because of the subject.

10. Mumbai Meri Jaan: Mumbai Meri Jaan, released on August 22' 2008 was a movie based on 7/11 bomb blasts. A slightly documentary style film, it focussed on the repercussions of the bomb blasts. The movie was an an above average hit. The USP of the film was a power packed performance by Paresh Rawal and Irrfan Khan.

11. Rock On!!: Rock On (released August 29' 2008) , directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by Farhan Akhtar, was another youth favorite, like Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Based on friendship and rock music, Rock On was treated like a sequel to the cult movie Dil Chahta Hai. It made singer-actor-producer-director (phew!) Farhan Akhtar, a household name.

12. A Wednesday: A Wednesday, released on September 5 2008, is the dark horse success of 2008. A powerful script, impeccable dialogues and a unique treatment by director Neeraj Pandey, made this probably the most watchable movie of 2008. Naseerudin Shah proved that he is inimitable when it comes to stellar performance.

13. 1920: A spooky movie directed by Vikram Bhatt (released Sep 12' 08) was high on horror around a haunted palatial house. Newbies Rajneesh Duggal and Adah Sharma gave a spirited (no pun intended!) performance. The fantastic English locales and visual effects proved to be the USP of the film.

14. Welcome to Sajjanpur: Welcome to Sajjanpur, released on September 19 2008 was director Shyam Benegal's entry to commercial cinema. The movie shot in rural set-up brought back memories of Malgudy Days and fared well at the box office.

15. Fashion: Fashion directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, gave a push to Priyanka Chopra who went down-slide with four back to back flops in 2008. It appealed to the youth and the upper crust and did good business.

16. Golmaal Returns: Released on the same date as Fashion (October 29' 2008) , Golmaal Returns was a run-away super hit. Though marred by critics, it was declared a huge success by the masses. It surpassed the first day totals of Om Shanti Om, last year, by collecting 22.03 lakhs on day one. This Rohit Shetty venture earned Rs.48 crores in the first week, making it the third biggest hit of 2008.

17. Dostana: Dostana directed by Tarun Mansukhani for Karan Johar released on November 14' 2008. The story of two men Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, who pretend to be gays, and fall in love with eye-candy Priyanka Chopra made the box office smile. By December 12, it had already earned Rs.80 crores.

18. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi: One of the much awaited movies, the Shahrukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, released on December 12'08. Made on a modest budget of Rs.22 crores by Yash Raj standards, Aditya Chopra directed this movie to success. The movie also featured debutante Anushka Sharma. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi earned 7.5 crore net all over India and by day 1, and earned Rs.44.5 crores by week 1. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi is the second biggest hit of 2008.

19. Ghajini: The most awaited movie Ghajini, proved to be a record breaking success. The most successful movie of the year and perhaps one of the all time big hits, this Aamir Khan movie directed by A.Murgadoss proved recession cannot beat quality. Released on December 25, 2008, this remake of the Southern movie of the same name is running quite strong, thanks to the Aamir Khan brand power. On Day 1, Ghajini earned Rs.33 crores, (compared to Rs.18 crore of Rab Ne) worldwide, something which is unheard off. Ghajini is all set to pass Rs.100 crores in three weeks, overtaking the lines of previous two years biggies Om Shanti Om (Rs.80 crores) and Dhoom 2 (Rs.85 crores).

Conclusion 2008: Ghajini has proved to be a big money spinner for Bollywood. The year 2008 has pooled in 15 percent or Rs.900 crore more than last year. Call it the Pareto Principal, if you will but Rab Ne and Ghajini have added another 20 percent more to the box office collection of movies preceding them. Masala films and movies based on 'terror issues' dominated 2008.

So, here is the countdown of the top 5 films of Bollywood 2008:
5. Race
4. Singh is Kinng
3. Golmaal Returns
2. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
1. Ghajini

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Beat-Matching Tutorial For Beginners

What is Beat-matching?

It is the art of mixing two musical compositions together seamlessly by speeding up or slowing down one of the songs to align their rhythms.

Basically, you need to be able to hear whether the beat you are adjusting is faster or slower. In order to do this you need skill which comes from an ear for tempo and lots of practice.

A good DJ knows how to beat-match, and I'm going to share with you 7 steps to getting started.

Step 1:

You need to have a way to listen to one track in the headphones while another track is playing on the main sound system.

Step 2:

Play a track though the sound system.

Step 3:

Find another track in your headphones you want to beat-match with the one playing. (This is done on a DJ mixer by turning on the Cue for the track you want to listen to.)

Step 4:

Find the first beat of the track you are going to mix in, and hold it right there. If you're using turntables or CDJs you can just grab on to the top of the record or CDJ to essentially pause the track where the beat begins.

Step 5:

Listen to the beat playing through the main speakers. Wait for it to get to the first beat of a cycle. (Music in 4/4 timing usually is all built around cycles of 4 and 8 counts. ie. 4 beats in a bar, and 4 bars segments that lead to builds and changes in the music.) When you feel the music hit on the first beat with a crash or whatever, that is right when you want to play the beat you are mixing in. (in your headphones only)

Step 6:

Immediately after releasing your hold on the record or CDJ, you must listen closely in your headphones with one ear to detect whether the beat you are mixing in is going slower or faster than the one already playing. If it's going slower then adjust the pitch slider, and maybe even give it a little push to help it catch up to record A faster. If it's going faster than record A then turn down the pitch slider on the turntable or CDJ accordingly to make it the same speed. You may even want to touch the side of the turntable plate or CDJ to slow it down faster.

Step 7:

Once you have the beats aligned perfectly (or close to anyway), move the cross fader on the DJ mixer to the center with the bass cut on the beat you are mixing in. (you don't want the basses of both tracks going at the same time) Then when it seems like the right moment switch the basses either slowly or fast and the switch over to the next track on the first beat of first cycle.

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The Characters of Spanish Guitar Music

Today, Spanish Guitar Music is on of the purest forms of classical guitar music available. It started in the early days around the Renaissance time period. Many people contributed to the evolution of Spanish guitar music. Among many of the famous Spanish composers and guitarists are: Andrés Segovia, Federico Moreno Torroba, Joaquin Rodrigo, and Paco De Lucia.

Andrés Segovia

Andrés Segovia was born on February 21, 1893, and began to play the guitar just four years after his birth. Many of the guitarists today say that Segovia is the father of classical music and Spanish guitar music. He fell in love with the guitar after learning from a flamenco player, and began to study the guitar when he was a teen. When he was sixteen years old, he had his first professional concert in the city of Madrid. Segovia is considered to be one of the picking masters for Spanish guitar music. For many of the styles that involve heavy picking, Segovia developed a picking technique that required both picking with fingertips and fingernails. Among Segovia's awards include a Grammy in 1958 for the Best Classical Performance. He died on June 3, 1987.

Federico Moreno Torroba

Federico Moreno Torroba was born in 1891. He was influential to Spanish guitar music because he was a composer. He introduced a form of music which was for plays and operas. The music he wrote was primarily used with plays with dramatic singing scenes. Later on, this form of music became known as the zarzuela. The zarzuela was Torroba's speciality for Spanish guitar music. During the 1930s, Torraba was a big hit and everyone would pay to see him. Torroba was the director of many opera companies, and he also composed many operas. He died in 1982. Some of his popular works include El Poeta and La Virgen de Mayo.

Joaquin Rodrigo

Joaquin Rodrigo was born on November 22, 1901. He was influential to Spanish guitar music due to his role in classical music. Since childhood, he was blind. But, that never stopped him from being a great music composer. Because of his blindness, he was never able to be a master at playing the guitar. He visited France many times to study musicology, but usually returned home to Spain often. In the late 1940s, he became a professor for music history. One of his specialties that made him so influential in Spanish guitar music was the ability to blend in guitar solos with other music to create a classical music nature. In many of his concerts, the guitar solos were blended in with many other instruments. He died on July 6, 1999. He is mostly known for the Concierto de Aranjuez, which is considered a major piece in Spanish guitar music.

Paco De Lucia

Paco de Lucia was born on December 21, 1947. He is a famous legend worldwide, and is known for his flamenco. Not only is he a composer, but he is also a guitarist. He is mainly known for incorporating pure flamenco and blending it in with modern flamenco. The mixture of the two creates a great flamenco sound, which makes his music very popular. Another reason Lucia has been so influential in Spanish guitar music is because he can incorporate flamenco with many other genres of music such as jazz and classical. His flamenco can be traced back to his father, Antonia Sánchez, who was also a famous guitarist. His family is considered a flamenco family because he, his father, and his brother all play flamenco. He has released many albums and they have been a hit worldwide.

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The Origins of Reggae Music

Caribbean music has entertained many music fans and has a great influence on the rest of the world. Music from the Caribbean islands such as Calypso, ska, rock steady and dancehall have evolved from each other and fused into what we know as reggae music. This music genre has also been influenced by elements of African rhythms and American blues. Strong bass lines and the bass drum beating characterize this music genre.

Reggae music originated from the island nation of Jamaica. This country is home to many homegrown musicians and record producers who have developed the distinctive style. Lee 'Scratch' Perry is the most famous Jamaican producer. He is responsible for launching the careers of many reggae musicians.

Artists such as Burning Spear and Horace Andy spread reggae music beyond the islands. However, none of them can match Bob Marley in terms of popularizing this music to the rest of world. No Woman, No Cry, Buffalo Soldier and Redemption Song are just some of Marley's hits. When he passed away, he enjoyed legendary status and was given a state funeral in Jamaica.

In addition to Bob Marley, Johnny Nash, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, and other crossover singers also had success in the British pop charts. The Police, UB40, Selector, The Clash and The Specials fused reggae music with rock. In fact, one of the first multi racial groups in the UK was the British band UB40.

Social issues, such as poverty and political freedom are addressed in the lyrics of many reggae songs. These songs are the anthems of the poor who grow up in shanty towns and are still struggling to make ends meet. Some of the songs are about the beliefs of the Rastafarian religion, of which Marley was a practitioner. There are explorations of spirituality, invoking God, or Jah as he is called in some of the songs. However, some reggae songs are controversial because they defend the use of cannabis which Rastafarians advocate.

Reggae Music in all of its forms, have influenced and led on to other forms of music, namely drum and bass and hip hop. So far, nobody has taken over from Marley's mantle and rap and R & B dominate the charts at the moment. Music experts say that Reggae music needs another charismatic figure to spread the word.

This unique kind of music has achieved a lot considering that it came out of a small island with early recordings produced on basic equipment. People responded to the melodic simplicity of the music and the heartfelt lyrics. There was always a high standard of musicianship and a direct connection between the artists and the fans in reggae music. Since nobody can keep a good thing down, this Caribbean music will surely rise again.

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New Age Music Relaxes the Mind

New Age music is meant to soothe the soul. Developed in the 1960's as a way to expand consciousness, New Age music continues to relax and inspire listeners today. New Age is not the syrupy synthesized songs you hear in the elevator at work. On the contrary, New Age music isn't meant to annoy; it is meant to soothe and relax. Think of the kind of music you'd like in the background while meditating or practicing yoga. If it's something like a single flute or waterfalls mixed with a faint piano tinkling, you're thinking of New Age music.

The New Age style is soft, serene and relaxing. The tracks on a New Age compilation sometimes feature one set of panpipes, but they also frequently include a whole arrangement of instruments. Usually it includes the acoustic guitar or the piano, but Eastern-inspired instruments like the sitar and the tabla are also used on occasion. The rhythms are often repetitive, interspersed with nature sounds like birds chirping, a mountain stream running or underwater whale noises. While electric instruments are sometimes thrown in to add a different dimension, the aim is always to create soothing music.

New Age music is meant is calm the listener's mind and spirit, and therefore it is as far from intrusive and jarring as possible. Sometimes there are vocals, albeit soft and very much in the background. Other times the track will consist only of voices, like a monastery choir and nothing else. The voices featured on New Age tracks are singing, chanting or just speaking in a variety of languages. It's not unusual for the languages to be quite obscure. New Age composers often venture into undeveloped parts of the world to record the voices of little-known tribes living there.

For much of the 60's and 70's, musicians throughout the US and Europe were experimenting with their instruments. They wanted to develop something that would open the mind, and soon the first New Age music was recorded for meditation. Radio stations around the world sampled a few tracks in the years that followed, but they were never commercial hits. Today there are music stations and even television channels all over the world dedicated to this genre of music. New Age music also goes by World music, Chill music and Ambient. Although they're not exactly alike, they do overlap.

The rhythms of New Age are soft, soothing and don't invade the consciousness, which is what makes it so relaxing. It helps clear the mind and relieve stress, more so than a thrash-metal compilation would. People play it in their homes to create a welcome and peaceful atmosphere. Others have it on in the background while reading or studying. Their minds are more relaxed, so they absorb more than they would in absolute silence. New Age music is also popular with parents of young babies. An alternative to classical music, they play it in the nursery so that the baby's mind becomes sharper and more receptive to learning.

When thinking of New Age artists, everyone immediately thinks of Enya. Although the Celtic singer's music isn't strictly New Age, it's definitely something you would find in the New Age section at the CD store. Some other current New Age artists are pianists like George Skaroulis, George Winston, David Lanz and Kathy Parsons. Browse through the New Age section the next time you're out hunting for new, interesting music. Even if it is not your favorite kind of music, you will find it relaxing at times.

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What Is Soca Music?

This material is geared primarily towards folks who are new to this genre of music called soca. As an artist who has been recording soca songs for the last eight years, and who has won Caribbean wide soca competitions, I shall humbly attempt to present a comprehensive introduction to soca music.

Soca music originated in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. It is widely accepted to have been created by Lord Shorty (born Garfield Blackman). He noticed that Calypso music was threatened by the more popular reggae music and dying out and attempted to create a new hybrid that was more appealing to the masses. He fused Indian music with calypso music and this resulted in a more energetic hybrid called solka, which later became known as soca. Lord Shorty introduced soca to the world in 1973 with his hit song, Indrani.

Naturally, soca music of the seventies is very different to what exists today. Today, there are two main types, namely Power Soca and Groovy Soca. What is the major difference between the two?

Power soca music is very fast, with tempos of around 160 beats per minute. The music is largely instructional in nature. Soca artists thrive on motivating audiences to respond to their dancing instructions. Power soca music is largely music to jump, wave and "wine" to. ("Wine" is derived from the word "wind" and is a type of dance that consists of hip movements). Crowd reaction is key.

Trinidadian soca artist, Superblue has been credited with starting the "jump and wave" craze. His success with this style of soca was so incredible that since then most soca songs are written with crowd response in mind.

Today, the challenge for power soca songwriters is to write songs that can move audiences but not be a regurgitation of the jump and wave theme. This is not the easiest of tasks because of the very nature of the festival that soca music is centered around. Soca music is largely carnival music. Since carnival is all about jumping and waving, the music that drives it must be able to engender such activity. Increasingly, artists are succeeding at writing songs which are not necessarily based on "jump and wave" or waving rags and flags. In an attempt to stay clear of monotony, themes like love, peace and togetherness have been very common.

Groovy soca music is arguably, a better means of propelling soca music forward internationally. It is much slower, around 115 beats per minute. This newer kind of soca allows for a wider range of topics to be addressed. Unlike the total frenzy that power soca gives rise to, groovy soca is music to sway and dance slowly to. Artists like Kevin Lyttle and Rupee have demonstrated that this type of music is very palatable to mainstream music markets, with international hits like "Turn Me On" and "Tempted To Touch" respectively. Another artist who has gain international recognition with groovy/crossover soca is Barbadian based artist, Alison Hinds.

I believe that fast and groovy soca music should continue to co-exist. I readily accept all variations of soca and put none against the other. Music is dynamic. Throughout history no genre has ever stayed the same and hybrids are constantly created.

In addition to power and groovy soca, other types of soca music include ragga soca and chutney soca.

Ragga soca is a fusion of dancehall and soca music. Ragga soca performers include Trinidians, Bunji Garlin and Maximus Dan.

Chutney soca is a blend of East Indian chutney music and soca. Chutney Soca is an up-tempo, rhythmic type of song, accompanied by traditional Indian musical instruments such as the dholak, tassa, the harmonium and the dhantal.

The line between different kinds of soca music is becoming less and less clearly defined. It can sometimes be very difficult and controversial to pin-point what is groovy, power, or ragga soca. There is so much fusion taking place that it is often difficult to tell whether a song is really a soca song. For instance some have argued that Alison Hinds' hit song, "Roll It Gal" is not really a soca song but an R&B song with a West Indian influence. While I do not hold that view, it goes to show that there are no clear distinctions and definitions. Soca music, like other forms of music is an art and cannot be restricted to a specific or exclusive mold.

Soca music is largely competitive. Every year artists try to outdo each other at carnival competitions such as Soca Monarch and Road March. At a soca monarch competition artists perform before large audiences and are ranked by a panel of judges. A road march song is the song which is played the most during a carnival street parade. Each Caribbean island holds its own competitions. Prizes can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each winner, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago.

Some of the biggest soca artists in the industry have bowed out of competition. These include big names such as Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and KMC. The commonly held view is that "music is a mission, not a competition". Personally, I have found such competitions to be a very negative force, causing undesirable friction between artists. As an artist, I have had my own battles. However, winning is so much fun that it can be hard to quit. The fans can be relentless in urging an artist to compete against their own will. The way these competitions are set up, it is easy to go unnoticed if one is not taking part, except if you are already strongly established in the market.

Popular soca performers include Machel Montano, Destra, Alison Hinds, Atlantik, KMC, Shurwayne Winchester, Denise Belfon, Bomani, Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Bomani, Kevin Lyttle, Tizzy, Maximus Dan, Mr Killa, Mantius, Fireman Hooper, Jamesy P, Tallpree, Claudette Peters, Burning Flames, Nicole David, Ricky T, Qpid and Krosfyah.

Some of soca's biggest worldwide hits include "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle, "Tempted to Touch" by Rupee, "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men (originally sang by Anslem Douglas), "Sweet Soca Music" by Sugar Daddy, "Nookie" by Jamesy P, "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter (originally sang by Arrow), and "Follow the leader" by Soca Boys (originally sang by Nigel and Marvin Lewis).

Instrumentation

Brass instruments such as trumpets and trombones have been very typical of soca music. Sometimes, the saxophone forms part of brass sections. While these instruments are still used in live performances, synthesizers and samplers are increasingly replacing them, particularly in studio recordings and at smaller concerts. Soca is very percussion and drum driven and these are often very loud in a soca mix. The bass is also very important. Other instruments used include guitars and keyboards.

Leading soca-producing Caribbean islands include Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

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Instrumental Music - What's Out There?

Instrumental music comes in all shapes and sizes. From classical inspirations of the past to the hip and upbeat music of today, instrumental songs don't seem to be going anywhere. The following is only a brief look into a few of the more popular types of instrumentals with some popular hits that I feel brought those genres into the light.

When I used to think of instrumental music my mind instantly drifted to the boring music that's played in elevators, grocery stores and in hotel lobbies. The fact is it can be just as moving without lyrics as some songs that have lyrics. Way back in the 1700-1800's Classic instrumental music was the most popular type of music with artists like Mozart and Joseph Haydn topping the "charts". A person with even half an ear would never say that Mozart was boring! If you've never taken time to stop and smell the roses listening to Mozart's Andante, Adagio, or Rondo compositions you are surely missing out on one of our world's most precious gifts.

My next category is Jazz instrumental music. It evolved from a variety of genre's to become what it is today. With its gentle rock and funk rhythms it's easy to see why in the 1970's it became a favorite to many. "So What" by Miles Davis and John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" are just a couple of my favorites. Both are very beautiful jazz instrumental pieces. Many of you readers will know "My Favorite Things" from the movie, "The Sound Of Music." Although this is a great vocal song, as a Jazz compilation it is made better in my own opinion.

Now onto my favorite instrumental category: Rock instrumental music. To me, there are two very different types of Rock instrumental categories. First there was the early music of the 60's and 70's. These bands usually featured organs, saxophones, pianos and some guitar. Some of the most famous bands/artists from this time were The Ventures "Walk-Don't Run", The Allman Brothers Band "Jessica", and let's not forget Booker T and the MGs "Green Onions". The second type came later in the 80's. This is when all the "big hair" bands were dominating the charts and many solo guitarists began to emerge. Steve Vai "For The Love Of God", Stevie Ray Vaughn "Little Wing" and Jason Becker "Perpetual Burn" are among my favorite guitarists and songs. If you've never heard these guitarists you should seriously look them up.

So there you have it. Just three of the many categories of instrumental music to chose from. These are just my personal favorites and I hope you enjoyed reading about them. As far back as classical music and right up until today instrumental music has been playing somewhere and I have no reason to believe that it will be snuffed out anytime soon. Until next time...

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The Big Acoustic Guitar Chord Songbook Review

If you're looking for easy songs play on acoustic guitar, it can be hard to know where to start. While the internet is full of guitar tabs, these are often inaccurate, and may be beyond the abilities of new guitarists. A lot of them are also songs that you've probably never heard of, and have no interest in playing.

However, another option is at hand in the form of The Big Acoustic Guitar Chord Songbook series from Wise Publications. Let's take a look at what this book has to offer, and see if it really is a good choice for those looking for easy acoustic guitar songs.

What Is The Big Acoustic Guitar Chord Songbook?

As the name suggests, this book contains a number of songs complete with chords, which can be played on the acoustic guitar. More precisely, it consists of 191 pages and 78 songs. The book has a paperback cover and is in easy to read A4 format.

Is It Any Good?

Overall, I think this is a good book, although it is not without its flaws.

Musical styles - the book contains songs across a wide range of musical genres. It was published in 2001, and the songs range from that time back to 40 years previously, so there's a lot of classic rock and pop in here, as well as more modern songs. The artists covered include The Beatles, Pulp, The Corrs, Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams, Oasis, Blur, Eric Clapton, The Jam and many more.

So if you're looking for classic hits that most people recognise, chances are you'll find a good few of them in here. However, if you're more interested in specialist genres or more extreme musical forms, this is probably not the book for you.

Ease of use - the book is laid out in a very clear and simple way. For each song you get the full lyrics with chord symbols added in the appropriate places. Each song also includes chord box diagrams which show you how to play all the chords that are required for that song, which is useful if any of the chords are unfamiliar.

However, the book does not contain tabs or written notation, and if you don't know the melodies of the original songs, this will be an issue, as they're not included here. And while there's a playing guide which gives some useful hints, it's not as if every little step is spelled out for you, which may or may not be a problem.

Accuracy - according to the blurb on the back cover, each song has been arranged in the original key from the original recordings. However, like most books of this type, some of the chords have been simplified, as you'll discover for yourself if you listen very carefully to the original songs and compare them to the chords that are given in this book. This isn't a problem, as they still sound 'right', but if you want to play a note-perfect rendition of the original, you'll probably need to rely more on your own ears.

Playing level - some of the songs in this book contain very easy chords, whereas others are more difficult. Beginners will find the book of value, but those who have a bit more experience will probably get the most from it, as many of the songs will be too difficult for complete beginners to play initially. Also, the lack of step-by-step playing guides may be a problem for those who are just starting off.

Verdict

If you're a guitarist who is interested in playing a wide range of well-known hit songs on your acoustic guitar, this is a great book to have. Just be aware that it is something of a barebones guide - as the title says it's a chord book, so don't expect to find tabs or notation in here.

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Rock Music Action Figures - Plastic Noise

Over the past few years, the arena of licensed action figures has seen something of an influx of rock music related figures, with varying levels of success. These have proved to be a hit with many fans of the artists that companies have depicted, and an industry has been born to cater for the growing desire for sculpted plastic versions of famous musicians. The most obvious range that people will see on sale in collectibles outlets is of course the McFarlane range of licensed Elvis Presley figures. Thus far eight have been released, each showing the late rock n roller in a particular era of his career. Some have proved to be more popular than others, such as the Comeback 68 edition and Las Vegas edition, both of which have also surfaced in both 12 inch and commemorative versions as well as the regular clamshell-packed items. The McFarlane music figures range got off to a strong start in 1998 with the initial set of figures based around rock legends KISS in all their glammed up glory. These proved to be a hit with fans and figure collectors alike, and thus the demand for more was born.

Other early successes in the McFarlane range were the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Ozzy Osbourne and arena legends Metallica (originally available as both single figures and an elaborate box set). More sets of KISS related action figures also followed, including the perennially popular KISS ALIVE stage box set, which is still a strong seller to this day.

Since then a slew of officially licensed rock music action figures have surfaced (and a few unofficial ones here and there too). The main creator of these figures remains the industry giant McFarlane Toys, which have been responsible for some of the best figures in recent years such as two Jimi Hendrix figures, Jim Morrison, Alice Cooper, Metallica, Motley Crue and more, but they have increasingly stuff competition from NECA, who have created some excellent Iron Maiden figures after Mcfarlane lost the license, as well as Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and others. Even museum-quality merchandise company Sideshow Collectibles has got in on the act, with Elvis, Kiss and, ahem, Spinal Tap items on offer.

It does show that the demand is there for music related items other than posters and T shirts, and these companies have been bringing out wave up[on wave of figures to meet with demand. McFarlane even began making '3D album covers' of legendary albums from Led Zeppelin, the sex Pistols, Jimi Hendrix and more. They have created a new market for licensed collectible action figures, and music fans are now eagerly awaiting the next batch. A space in the market has been filled, and with 7 inch and 18 inch versions of various figures available, along with headknockers (think nodding dogs but sculpted to look like celebrities. Joey Ramone and Iron Maiden's Eddie are the biggies here) and all manner of other licensed items, there's plenty for fans to choose from. This is one area of collectibles fandom that is not suffering from overkill. The right balance seems to have been struck, and the figures don't stay in production for long enough to saturate the market, which, in an age of so much memorabilia on offer, is a very good thing indeed.

The Beatles have also been a hit in plastic form, with 'Yellow Submarine' and 'Saturday cartoon' editions of the fab four being released. These items fill a need for items fans can display and pose. They give the fans the opportunity to own something physical of their idols without having to pay over the odds for the opportunity. Even Bon Jovi have got in on the act recently, with figures of Jon Bon Jovi himself and Richie Sambora finding their way onto the shelves. As long as fans want them, these collectibles will continue to be made. Some of these figures have proven to be amongst the biggest sellers in the collectibles field of late, probably down to the musicians they follow having much more in the way of longevity than most movie and TV franchises. Long may it continue. For those about to rock, we, erm, snap you up and put you on a shelf!

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Programs To Make Hip Hop Beats - Music Studio At Home

It is every aspiring musician's dream to have their own programs to make hip hop beats. The problem was for as long as I can remember such privilege was left only for those who are actually professionally musicians or producers for that matter. Being able to make and create your own beats and use it to form original music for personal or professional reasons at anytime is I think the goal of anyone who has a love for music. Thank God that now, programs to make hip hop beats are now available for anyone who has the interest and liking for them.

If you are like me who is also trying to find out how to make your own hip hop or any genre of beats for your music then you better read on for more clarification. First thing you should know is that making beats are really not as complex or hard as they seem, after all if it is in your blood and interest then how hard could it be right?

No need to worry about the technology and the skill, because usually as I observed from experience programs to make hip hop beats come with a tutorial program as well, and even if your get the beat making software called Sonic Producer other than the tutorial is a 24 hours after sales service that can really a lot as you start out with it.

So what are you waiting for? Why don't you start your journey towards being composer or maker of the next hip hop hit the YouTube? Start now with your "Home Studio", as this programs to make hip hop beats actually you to work with your music in the comforts of your home with just you personal computer as the tool.

Before you get started here are three factors you need to think of and consider in doing your work:

Decide on the genre that you want to focus on. This should not be hard, since you only have to go back to the type of music you have the most inclination on.
Imagine the beats in your mind. Getting started with the best is commonly the most challenging part of the work but once you start everything will just fall into place with your creation.
Listen to other music for inspiration. If you are having difficulty deciding on the type of beats and music you should make look for inspiration on works that are available to you.

Once the three mentioned above are accomplished the next for you would be start on with your composition and get on with you work.

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11 Music Quotes to Celebrate International Drum Month

Ready to celebrate International Drum Month with some fun and fabulous music quotes? As the saying goes, we all walk to the beat of a different drum. These 11 music quotes do their part to prove it.

1. "I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours. But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places. Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality." ~ H.A. Overstreet

2. "Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken." ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

3. "An artist, in giving a concert, should not demand an entrance fee but should ask the public to pay, just before leaving as much as they like. From the sum he would be able to judge what the world thinks of him - and we would have fewer mediocre concerts." ~ Kit Coleman

4. "Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it." ~ John Lennon

5. "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." ~ Bob Marley

6. "The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, 'Is there a meaning to music?' My answer would be, 'Yes.' And 'Can you state in so many words what the meaning is?' My answer to that would be, 'No.'" ~ Aaron Copland

7. "I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music." ~ George Eliot

8. "Music like religion, unconditionally brings in its train all the moral virtues to the heart it enters, even though that heart is not in the least worthy." ~ Jean Baptiste Montegut

9. "Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

10. "Oh, the brave music of a distant drum!" ~ Omar Khayyam

11. "Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

So there you have it... Eleven great music quotes to pay tribute to International Drum Month. As Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. advised, take a music bath a couple of times this month. You'll be surprised at how it can renew your soul. Use these 11 music quotes to immerse yourself and let the renewal begin.

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The Demise Of Rock Music - Why Did This Happen?

To everyone who believes that there has been a demise of rock music, where have you been looking? Corporate owned mainstream radio? Cardboard cutouts at dying music stores? You probably don't want to hear this, but here goes...

There are a couple of things to consider: By the time music has hit the mainstream, it has already begun it's decline. Bands that were once creative and raw and real have been polished and watered down by the troubled record companies and old school producers. How often have you seen a rock band in concert with a string ensemble behind it? Even mainstream "punk" has had huge elements of rawness and meaning torn from it to make it more marketable. The artists have no input. The music rights are now owned by the record company who think they know best. I've been there. If the record company's producer has control over the recording, your music won't be the same as you had originally wrote it. And I don't mean better.

Then there are the manufactured singers and bands conceived and created by entities such as Disney and American Idol. As I've said before, many the singers of the most influential bands throughout rock history would never have made it past the American Idol audition stage. Imagine John (Rotten) Lydon, Kurt Cobain or Black Frances of the Pixies in front of the judging panel.
I would especially like to see John's intellectual verbal abuse of the talent experts.

The singers in today's music sound pretty good, don't they? Did you know that there is software and hardware that processes the human voice so that every not coming out of the singer is actually synthesized? Every note is spot on. No more slightly sharp or flat notes or rawness which I feel gives music a human element. Sure, singers still need a good voice, and by that I mean a voice that is suited to the music, but the vocal processing equipment takes care of any imperfection, even in live performances.

Okay, okay, on to the main subject. The demise of rock. What happened? Aside from what I've described above, not much. Again I'll ask, where have you been looking? Real rock music does not exist where it used to anymore. It exists on the Internet. In the original music clubs of major cities. On the mp3 players of high school and college students. It's called independent or indie music. Music that is independent of all that is not corporate, mass produced, or manufactured.

Go to your computer, type indie rock radio or something similar into your web browser, and spend some time checking out something new. Get out and go to an original music club. One that doesn't have bands playing cover music or a DJ. Go to coffeehouses, art-spots that have music. Rock is alive and well and where it belongs. In the trenches, in the dark, dingy clubs, in your face, and in hearts and minds of listeners.

I'm not suggesting you to go there, but if you're looking for it there it is. There is no demise of rock music after all, it just doesn't live where it used to. If you don't agree, okay. If don't like it, that's fine. Pull out your vinyl, put on your giant 70's headphones and stop complaining!

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Hitting it Big in the Music Industry

Whether you're running a rock band or a rap group, the rules are always the same. You have to get signed if you want to make it into the big time. Until you hit the worldwide spotlight, you're going to find yourself just scraping by.

If you want to get the attention of the record labels, there are some things you and your band will have to do. This article goes over a few of the more often overlooked tactics.

The first step to getting signed is getting a fan base. Obviously, record labels are prone to think that if your group can draw a crowd on the local level, you're likely to be able to draw a bigger crowd on the national level.

Learn to think about the business side of the music business. A record label is looking for one thing: profitability. And if you can show that you already have a built-in audience, they label executives are way more likely to see the potential for your group.

You may well wonder, how do you build a fan base? Well, it is like anything in life worth doing. It takes work and fortitude. The "If you build it, they will come" mentality will not help you here. You actually have to do some planning and strategizing to get your music before fans.

Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are the big three places to get your music heard by potential fans. This is where you need to focus your energies.

Social media sites are an excellent way to let people know about your group and what you are up to. Learn the three major networks and use them frequently. Anytime you have anything moderately interesting to say, let your fans know. Put out a blast when you are about to have a show. Then recap afterward. Especially alert folks when you are writing or recording new songs.

This is just the bare bones. There are literally hundreds of creative opportunities, whether you play at a local festival or get your music heard in a commercial. Try everything and you will get to the big time.

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Old School Rap Music is the Best

Rap music has come a long way since the late seventies and so have the artists that rap. The latest generation of rap music fans wouldn't believe how rap used to sound and why they would think it is the best if they heard it. Some of the greatest rappers were the first ones on the rap and hip hop scene. Old school rap music is the best rap of all because it set the ground work for some of the coolest sounds the music industry has ever known.

Where can you get the old sounds of rap from? Finding these tracks at the local music may be impossible unless you put in a special order. The best place to get all the old school rap music you can stand is on the Internet. There are a lot of reputable and trustworthy websites that specialize in nothing but the first rap music ever. Some of these sites will let you have free plays before you decide to pay your membership fee.

If you are in the generation of rockers that was hooked the first time you ever heard the Sugarhill Gang belt out the first ever rap hit, 'Rapper's Delight', then you know the memories these songs are going to bring back. Download them now for going back in time to the skating rink when you felt like were floating to the bet on your skates. 'Rapper's Delight' is just one of the first and best of the old school rap hits that you will be able to find online.

How about Tone Loc or Whodini? These are some rappers that set footprints into the cement of rap history. You will go back in time listening to these old school rap music sounds. Finding the best websites to download them from is easy.

Make sure to have some blank CD's ready to burn because you are going to want to play these in your car. Remember that feeling when you stopped at the red light when the cruising days were popular in the 80's? Those were certainly good times.

The old school rappers had no idea the road they were paving for future musicians. These days, rap music holds a place in line every year at the Grammy Awards and many rappers are in the forefront of many musical achievements.

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The Greatest One Hit Wonder Band 1990

The people loved and still love music of the 80s, but what about the 90? The 90 years have been full of forgotten treasures that the basis for future action. Bands like Green Day, Radiohead and Pearl Jam made it big then and are still enormous.

However, there were also those bands, the singers seemed to suddenly form, hit by one, a big hit and then disappear just as quickly as it arrived on the scene the Internet.

These are formally known as a one-hit wondersand no one can remember the name of the band only the title of the hit songs, for obvious reasons.

Take breakfast at Tiffany's song for my first example. This song was, the crowd went wild for this, but one wonders how many other hit, no one can remember the names of the band can be when?

Probably could not think that there are ten tried, it was Deep Blue Something, the sample One Hit Wonder of the 90s.

Try another, "The Way", which was aShot in the late 90's and loved by many. This is actually still played well today, but the band has never done another song so good that you make.

The Rembrandt, they are my third temporary feeling, to make the list. Their hit song is played and heard many people every day and would not even be able to track and share the band's name with the results.

I'll Be There For You, ring bells? It 'was a song popular at the time, became theShow theme song for the TV show, Oh, now I remember! And like everyone else, The Rembrandts faded into oblivion.

But the questions of who has helped to bring one-hit-list of sensations for the year 2000? That will be available soon.

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Review of Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits

Looking for animation soundtracks can be a daunting task. The studios don't release soundtracks for their television animation, and trying to find stuff from years ago can be almost impossible. Thank God for the existence of inspired compilations. These compilations give us cartoon music fans the outlet we need. One such outlet is "Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits".

Released by MCA Records in 1995, "Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits" offers nineteen (19) tracks for classic theme and insert songs from the Twentieth Century, performed by some of the Twentieth Century's best performing artists.

Listening to the CD while writing this review, it is quite clear why I am an animation music fan. The CD starts off strong and does not stop once it gets going. There are no sound bite tracks to get in the way of the music. The artists sound like they were enjoying performing their songs, which adds to the fun. The artists seem to be natural fits for their individual tracks as well. I feel like I could pop the CD in and drive around the country several time just listening to and singling along with the music and it would never get old.

Speaking of singing, the booklet includes the lyrics to all tracks. Each track is listed with a description of the original cartoons they come from, as well as a quote from the artists that performed them. The booklet ends with a commentary essay from the compilation's producer, Ralph Shall. Writing a review of a soundtrack compilation of inspired works shouldn't just be about the disc itself. Each individual track deserves to be mentioned on its own.

The first track on the disc is "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" from "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour." Performed by Liz Phair and Material Issue, "One Banana, Two Banana" is a fantastic start to the show. I have never seen or heard of this puppet series, but Phair and the Issue's rendition of this song make me want to find out what I have been missing.

Sponge's rendition of the English "Speed Racer" theme, "Go Speed Racer Go," captures the spirit of the show. It's fast and relentless. According to Vinnie from Sponge, "as Speed Racer gave to me,we gave back in the form of a musical monument, " and it shows. The third song is "Sugar Sugar" by Mary Lou Lord with Semisonic.This track from "The Archie Show" was a hit single on the music charts back in 1969, and with Lord and Semisonic's rendition, I can see why.

No cartoon soundtrack compilation would be a cartoon soundtrack compilation without a Scooby Doo song or two, and "Saturday Morning" is no different. Matthew Sweet's "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" is a fun take on this old classic. I wonder if this track was what gave Sweet all he needed to be chosen to do the theme song for the new Scooby Doo series, "Scooby Doo Mystery Inc."

The other songs on the album include "Josie and the Pussycats," as performed by Juliana Hatfield and Tanya Donelly, "The Bulldogs" by collective Soul, Butthole Surfers' "Underdog," "Gigantor" by Helmet, "Spider-man" by the Ramones, "Fat Albert" by Dig, "Popeye" by face to face, "the Grovie Goolies" by the Toadies, Sublime's "Hong Kong Phooey," "H. R. Pufnstuf" by the Murmurs, and many others.

The final track, "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" from "Ren and Stimpy," performed by Wax, was a great choice. The song embodies the emotions one gets from listening to this disc. It should be noted that several of these theme songs did not come from a cartoon, but from puppet shows. This is only gripe with the disc. Puppet shows are great, but they are not cartoons, and should 'not be on a compilation that calls itself cartoons' greatest hits.

With that said, "Saturday Morning: Cartoons Greatest Hits" is a great pick up for any animation fan. It is a great set of classic cartoon heme songs performed by some of the best voices in music. Even if you are no longer into cartoons, you should pick it up just for the music. Fifteen years after its original release, the music and the compilation are still enjoyable and fun, and I expect it ill remain that way well into the future.

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Effective Use of Music in Movies

One of the main contributing factors to a movie's success is its soundtrack. Music is an essential element in most plays and dramas. Shakespeare made efficient use of music in his famous plays. Movie makers realize that a lot of the movie's business at the box office depends upon the music recording. There are many ways to incorporate songs in a movie. Musicals are one genre which is exclusively based on songs and lyrics. However, even if it is an action movie, filmmakers find ways to include some soundtracks into it.

In fact, Bollywood films are renowned for the excessive song and dance sequences they have. Hollywood movies too use orchestral or synthesizer score or even a new hit song to add to the interest element. Sometimes a movie's popularity is increased by its musical score. Celine Dion's "My heart will go on" for Titanic stayed on in public memory long after the movie left the cinema halls. The soundtrack of Love Story is one of the most enduring ever, and who doesn't download music from Sound of Music and Mary Poppins. Many a times, blockbusters become classics because of their excellent scores. Hence, composers and song writers are in great demand in Hollywood.

There are different types of motion picture music. One is the underscore category like the score for Steven Spielberg's E.T. Another is the category of original recording like "Hungry Heart" for the movie Perfect Storm. Finally there is the song that is written especially for a movie like "Over the rainbow" for the hugely popular Wizard of Oz. Each of these types is used frequently in movies and requires different recordings, contracts and royalties.

Songs are used in movies to show all kinds of emotions. A romantic setting is enhanced by an appropriate love song. Similarly music has been used to make people laugh and cry. In fact the story itself can be narrated through cleverly inserted songs. Moreover, with a great background score, emotions and dialogs acquire more significance. If a producer wants to use an existing soundtrack for his movie, he can do so by negotiating with the music producer. Often, a pre-existing, hit song can help create the mood required in the movie. The soundtracks of many movies come out and go on to become huge hits in their own right. These days with digital music recording, adding new songs to movies is becoming easier.

My Fair Lady was a complete musical whose main claim to fame was the witty use of lyrics to show every mood. Similarly, Chicago and Moulin Rouge used songs and extravagant dances to create the required atmosphere. Even if the movie does not use songs every other minute, it will show action with a background score playing regularly. Who can forget the scenes of Psycho with the spine tingling music in the background? The audio mastering was such here that the score heightens the audience's fear and any time one hears the music he quickly associates it with Psycho. Such is the power of appropriate music in cinema!

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