This is a place in which I ramble about songs I've discovered that have some meaning to me. At this stage of my life, I need to do stuff like this to make myself feel significant and you can probably tell I'd rather not be revising right now... ¬_¬
I remember this song coming out and being reeeeally controversial. But at that time, I didn't know why. Thinking about it, I don't think I'd even listened to the song so had no idea what the original sounded like. Came across this one when going through my sudden jazz/big band phase a few weeks ago.
Right, so now I know what it's about.
Anyway, this version is pretty cool in it's own right, and after listening to the original, I have to conclude that this version is in fact much better than the original. Dun dun dun.
There's something just so relaxed and laidback about this version with the rhythm and the delivery of the vocals. And whatever message it is sending out to the masses, this version definitely achieves it better in terms of musicality than the real version.
Discovered this arrangement of Muse's New Born a few days ago when I suddenly started listening to jazz/big band. There's so much I can talk about here ~ the vibraphone intro, the beats, the use of trumpet and sax, the vocals, the solo, the smooth way that the verses and bridge and chorus link together...I just love lovelove this arrangement so much!
I knew I was hooked when I heard the opening with the smooth build up of instruments ~ bass, then sax, then vocals. Long, drawn out notes in jazz/big band are my weakness, then the dramatic pause, solo, and guitar kicks in with drums, changing the pace and style, setting this piece in motion. The long high brass minor chords work so well with the guitar, and then the guitar offbeats give the verse a really jazzy feel. Graghghgh the bridge!! Most of the song (apart from the solos) sounds so musically simple yet so effective! And the vocals...this dude really does sound like Matt! :O
If you like the song, the composer has put the file up for download (oh my!!) over here:
Came across this compilation on Facebook, saw that it was free and downloaded it instantly. With the rise in popularity of dubstep, there's been a lot of stuff that's been released that isn't of great quality, so I'm glad I wasn't disappointed here. Love the industrial sounds in tracks 2, 4 and 7...!! :)
I discovered this song by seventeen-year-old Australian-born Rachel Macwhirter a few days ago, after someone linked me to another song by her via a Facebook discussion thread about the book series The Hunger Games - if you have not read it then DO SO BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING. Ahem. Anyway, the song that this artist had written is called Mockingjay, which is incidentally a song with the same themes that I was planning on writing, title and all! So it's good that I discovered this before I'd gotten more involved in the songwriting process, hah, as if I think I can write songs. But that's going a little off-topic. Ahem.
After looking through her channel, I found this gem, and have been addicted to it ever since...to the point where I must have listened to this song at least a hundred times! Keeping it on repeat whilst learning about spectroscopy and organic synthesis may not have been the best way of retaining my sanity...nevertheless, I don't see myself getting bored of this anytime soon! Why?
It has such a catchy melody, with amazing refrains and epic instrumentals ~ the relentless piano keeps the whole thing together by sounding like a ticking clock, and really gives the song a haunting sense of urgency that is totally in key with the lyrics, what with the continuous questions directed at Alice throughout the whole song and all that. In addition, when it came to the lyrics, I thought that Rachel did an awesome job with the rhyming, the timing, and her use of references ~ especially for a seventeen-year-old! For the actual singing, there are some bits that can definitely be improved, but all in all, I liked the sound of her voice. Finally, I guess this song indulges my love of the gothic/fantasy world of Alice in Wonderland ~ something that I've adored ever since I read the books back in primary school, so for me, the song held a very nostalgic atmosphere to it and affected me quite deeply.
If you like it too, then be sure to check out the rest of Rachel's original songs ~ which you can download here: http://www.box.net/RachelsMusicBox
Keep an eye out on this chick, for if she keeps at it, then she is sure to go far in the gothic scene!
