#Mercedes like to explore other music genres | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

spaceorphan18 · 3 years

Note

have you ever read a detailed post about the glee cast’s singing voices? like all about their technique and stuff? reading your reaction to the ‘vocal coach reacts to glee’ video makes me want to know more!

Hmmmm, not really! Not from a professional vocalist POV, I don’t think. (That I’m aware of. This does remind me there was one vocal coach in fandom, and she hated Blaine, and I wasn’t too fond of her, or her analysis, so I won’t point you in that direction.)

My background is in music, but not in vocal performance. But I can give you a quick rundown of cast’s musical abilities if you like, though they won’t be huge on the technical side of it.

ETA: I started this a while ago before I started doing the music retrospective - I’ll probably try to explore a little more as I do those. If you guys want more conversation about one person in particular, let me know!

But for now...

Matthew Morrison: Is a classically trained musician with a very good voice. It’s a shame Will was such a tool, because Matthew Morrison was very talented, had the ability to do a lot of great things with his voice. People joke about his rapping -- but I think this stemmed from the issue that his background is in musical theater -- which teaches you a cleaner and more traditional way of singing -- opposed to a pop or rap style. He doesn’t have the grit that rap often has, which makes it a little too much like a Kid’s Bop version of something. When singing musical theater, though, he really shined.

A number that showcases ability: Make ‘Um Laugh

A number that isn’t so great: Ice Ice Baby

Lea Michele: Lea does have a very good and solid voice. She’s also been classically trained. The one drawback is that it hinders her a bit on pop music, she lacks some of the grittiness often needed on a lot of the pop songs. She also starts to lose some of her classic training as the show goes on (which I think is a shame) so that she can get some of the shine off her voice to make a transition to pop music.

She has one vocal tick that drives me crazy, though -- she has a tendency to slide into her notes instead of hitting them dead on, which gets worse as the show goes on, and it makes her sound a little screech-y at times. But for the most part -- she is really good.

A number that showcases ability: Don’t Rain on My Parade

A number that isn’t so great: Ooops...I Did It Again

Amber Riley: The cool thing about Amber is that you get to hear her grow as a musician as the show goes on. She had already started to get vocal lessons before the show started, but at the beginning, she was still a bit raw and unrefined in her technique. But you can tell she did practice, and her voice is developed beautifully as the show goes on. She was one of the best, well rounded vocalists on the show. She had a good handle on pop and R&B music, but she could sing musical theater rather clearly, too. She has great breath support - and can belt numbers out while still retaining the quality. Can’t say enough good thing about Amber’s voice.

A number that showcases ability: Someday We’ll Be Together

A number that isn’t so great: Sweet Transvestite (It’s not bad - but it’s my least favorite Mercedes solo.)

Cory Monteith: Cory wasn’t a vocalist. And, to be completely honest, I thought it was some kind of joke when they introduced him as some kind of hidden musical gem when Will hears him singing the showers. He did really well with classic rock that’s allows not only for a weaker voice - but is often not as technically hard. And I have to wonder if Cory got lessons, because he did get a lot better as the show went on, and I think his season 4 work is great!

I will say that sometimes they pushed his voice a little too far. A lot of times songs were either too high for his range and he often sounded like he was straining. (The most notable of which is A House is Not a Home - which is far too high for him.) That said - I think he did reasonably well along side Lea - mostly because often sang pop duets.

A number that showcases ability: I’ve Gotta Be Me

A number that isn’t so great: Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore

Chris Colfer: Chris is such an interesting study due to the uniqueness of his voice. He’s got a huge range both in terms of genre and literal range of voice. He can sing quite a few octaves. He’s got a great, clear sound, too, which is why he’s great with theater numbers. Interestingly, Chris’s voice did drop over the years, and while I know people love his higher range, he has a gorgeous lower range that wasn’t used as often (and is often my favorite.)

The one (nitpicky) issue was that Chris’s voice ended up getting pigeon-holed. I know singing Diva-Broadway songs was his schtick - but it would have been nice to hear him sing a bigger variety of songs. He wasn’t the strongest on non-ballad pop music, but they also didn’t give him that very often.

There’s also the fascinating unusualness in that, Chris could really sing duets very well with people -- but in group numbers, his voice sticks out like a sore thumb, and he was often left out of some of the more general songs because of it. His voice just doesn’t texture very well - which is why I get why they did what they did.

A number that showcases ability: Being Alive

A number that isn’t so great: I’ll Remember

Kevin McHale: I feel like people are often surprised when they sit down and think about it, but Kevin has a great voice. He has a solid range, and he’s able to do pop music very well (I believe it helps that he was in a professional boy band for years.) Not sure if people noticed - but he’s often the lead on group numbers that don’t need to be related to specific story or character points. Which is a bummer for Artie’s story - but if you’re a fan of Kevin’s voice, you get a lot to choose from.

Kevin was also able to handle a lot of the musical demands that I think some of the other males weren’t? He’s a much better singer than Cory - and could handle leading a full number. His voice isn’t as unique as Chris’s and can texture really well. In addition he was fairly versatile. He might have been the best rapper the show had, lol.

A number that showcases ability: For Once In My Life

A number that isn’t so great: Addicted to Love (personal taste choice - I just don’t like the song.)

Jenna Ushkowitz: Jenna is another one who is classically trained. She has a strong, solid voice, which was unfortunately not showcased all that well on the show, and because of that, I’m not sure how she does on a wide variety of music. I do think she sounds a little generic - but not helping is lack of being featured.

A number that showcases ability: I Don’t Know How To Love Him

A number that isn’t so great: Gangum Style (She does fine - but the fact that they made her do it in the first place...)

Dianna Agron: The interesting thing about Dianna is that she has a really nice low female voice. The fact that they never gave her any punk or harder rock was really a shame, because I think she would have done really well with that. The funny thing is that, more so in the beginning, they show tried to make her sing songs that fit her character - but weren’t necessarily great for her voice. I feel like it wasn’t until late season 2 did they start really using her voice for the better.

A number that showcases ability: Never Can Say Goodbye

A number that isn’t so great: It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World

Mark Salling: Mark had a really solid voice - that often lent itself well to folk and acoustic really well. He was good with softer pop and classic rock, and the show showcased that pretty well. I think, in general, Mark was a much better vocalist than actor, and the show often picked good music for him to sing - which helped with his character. I don’t have a whole lot to say, only that I think he was underrated as a vocalist, but I get it - with all the other baggage that comes with talking about Mark.

A number that showcases ability: No Surrender

A number that isn’t so great: Fight For Your Right (to Party) (I don’t think it’s bad - I just hate this song.)

Naya Rivera: Naya is a little tricky. I think she has a good, smoky sound to her voice that makes her excellent at things like pop and R and B. (Shame she didn’t have a good jazz number to do on the show - she would have been great at that.) I think she was really versatile, though, and handled her Broadway numbers really well. I do think she was somewhat pinched and nasal at times - and while I do think this was a stylistic choice, to me it’s not my favorite type of vocal sound. But I do think she was really good at the numbers she was given, and was one of the most talented female vocalists on the show.

A number that showcases ability: Back to Black

A number that isn’t so great: Alfie (I think I may dislike the song more than her singing on it.)

Heather Morris: Heather wasn’t a singer, and I do think it showed at times. She often had to have her voice autotuned more than anyone else on the show. That said - she did do Britney Spears really well, and I think she deserves credit for that.

A number that showcases ability: I’m a Slave 4 U

A number that isn’t so great: Dinosaur

Chord Overstreet: Chord’s background is in country - and that shows a bit through his singing - he’s got a bit of twang in his voice, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. He’s a fun singer. I don’t think the show knew exactly what to do with him (voice or character) but there’s a lightness to his singing that makes him easily adaptable to pretty much anything you throw at him.

A number that showcases ability: Red Solo Cup (You think I’m joking - but I think this is the most fun Chord has singing a song.)

A number that isn’t so great: Girls on Film (I think just by default of me liking everything else better.)

Darren Criss: Ah, Darren, where to even start. The thing about Darren is that he may not be the strongest singer, his voice is a little wobbly at times, and his range is somewhat limited, but his showmanship is just completely beyond nearly everyone else. Darren has the unique ability to draw you in with his singing and hold you captive. There are technically better singers on the show - but Darren just has this amazing ability to really sell a performance. And I do love his voice, even if there are some limitations to it. I really could gush about Darren’s performance abilities, but I’ll refrain...

A number that showcases ability: Teenage Dream (Both Versions)

A number that isn’t so great: Piano Man (Which isn’t bad - I just think the show had done it better, and it’s a rare time that felt like Darren was kind of phoning it in.)

A quick run down of others, but first a quick aside - as they started adding people in, vocal ability starts being a factor. I think a lot of the newer characters could sing better than they could act, which was both helpful and a hinderance. I think we began to get more solid musical numbers as the show went on, but sometimes acting wasn’t always top notch - and across the board, old and new, hitting a combo of acting and singing ability didn’t always happen.

Harry Shum Jr.: Not really a singer - but the show often played to his strengths, and his few songs played off the fact that he wasn’t a great singer to great aplomb.

Jane Lynch: Can hold a tune, even if her voice isn’t the best - is really great at musical comedy.

Jayma Mays: She has more singing ability than the show allowed to showcase, however, she’s another one whose voice was really unique, and doesn’t texture very well.

Damien McGinty: Is actually a very good singer. However, he’s very generic, too - which makes him a little on the bland side.

Sam Larsen: I think he was fine - I don’t think he sang enough on the show for me to make much of an impression one way or the other.

Alex Newel: Fucking Fantastic! Alex might be one of the strongest vocalists on the show - has great range, energy, and vocal control.

Melissa Benoist: Her voice tends to lean on the pop-ier side, but it’s a solid voice, and her work on the show was pretty good.

Jacob Artist: Has a strong voice, and could sing genres that weren’t often featured on the show (like hip-hop and R&B).

Blake Jenner: His voice is fine, but like Damien McGinty, it’s generic and a little bland.

Becca Tobin: She has a very quirky voice that brings in a different and unique sound. They didn’t use her much, though, so it’s hard to comment.

Noah Guthrie: An amazing singer, has a really unique sound, but is able to do blend in well with others.

Samantha Ware: Another amazing singer. She’s in full control and can do really great things with it.

Billy Lewis Jr: Has a good, solid voice. Not as strong as Guthrie, or some of the other guys, but he’s a lot of fun to watch.

Laura Dreyfuss: Like Becca Tobin - has a uniqueness to her vocal quality that makes it stand out a little, but she’s still a solid singer.

Marshall Williams: His vocal ability is okay. It’s better than his acting ability. I’m slightly confused how this dude got cast, tbh.

#Anonymous #if you guys want to me to elaborate on someone - please let me know!#it's hard to do everyone since there are so many #this post took forever to write up #that's how s.o. sees it

78 notes · View notes

holidays-events · 3 years

Text

"I never thought that I would sing for a living," said Mercedes Sosa, the powerful Argentinian vocalist widely known as “the voice of the voiceless ones.” Also known as “La Negra” due to her long, black hair, Sosa’s powerful voice afforded her opportunities to perform at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum in Rome. A driving force behind the “Nueva Canción” movement, her songs married traditional South American folk music with powerful lyrics advocating for human rights.

Mercedes Sosa - Gracias A La Vida

youtube

"Gracias A La Vida" Lyric Video in English

youtube

Born on July 9, 1935 in the northern Argentine province of Tucumán, Mercedes Sosa’s family lineage came from the indigenous Aymara people. Her heritage deeply influenced her stylistically and by 15, she won a radio talent contest for her traditional folk music. A dramatic tipping point of her career happened on this day in 1965, when singer Jorge Cafrune invited Sosa on stage during his set at Argentina’s renowned Cosquín Folk Festival. Her performance received a massive ovation and by the following year, she had signed a recording contract.

Many of Sosa's best-known songs were written by others, but her performances of songs like Violeta Parra’s "Gracias a la Vida" (Thanks to Life) and Horacio Guarany’s “Si Se Calla El Cantor” (If the Singer is Silenced) helped catapult her into fame. She released some 70 albums over the course of nearly a six-decade career, exploring diverse genres such as Argentinian tango, Cuban nueva trova, Brazilian bossa nova, rock, and sacred music. In later years, she collaborated with artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Joan Baez, and even Shakira.

Fearlessly singing truth to power, she went into exile from her homeland for several years and was finally able to return home in 1982. She continued to perform around the world and later became a UNESCO goodwill ambassador.

Here’s to La Negra!

Today’s Doodle was created by guest artist Shanti Rittgers. Below, she shares some thoughts on Sosa and the Doodle:

Q: Do you have a favorite Mercedes Sosa song?

A: Everything she sings sounds so good, it’s hard to choose… So far, I keep going back to “Luna Tucumana.” It’s a beautiful song, one that makes me think of melancholic tangos, fleeting feelings of intimacy and grappling with inner troubles. English lyric translations further helped me understand the context, and built a romantic vision of Mercedes singing to the moon, wistful and alone on a winding midnight path.

Q: What quality in her music did you seek to express in the Doodle?

A: Her resonance. She can sing the deepest, saddest song or the brightest tune, and regardless her voice hits you like a river of wind and carries you away.

Q: What inspired your selection of a brown, black, and red palette?

A: In this case, reds and browns help create an earthy final color palette. In photos, she’s often wearing red and black patterned ponchos of Native cultural descent, and black is relative to one of her nicknames, “La Negra.”

Q: What can you tell us about the percussion instrument Mercedes is playing in one of your initial sketches?

A: The Bombo is a drum of Argentinean origin, and though it is large the sound produced from it can be considerably soft. I included it in the final after hearing and seeing Mercedes Sosa play it in many songs. I believe it was a symbolic and favorite instrument of hers throughout her career.

Mercedes Sosa Sus Mejores Exitos

Mercedes Sosa 30 Grandes Éxitos

youtube

#Mercedes Sosa #Youtube

19 notes · View notes

oncexinxmyxdreams · 3 years

Text

OC Profile

Mercedes Reyes (Encanto.)

Bio

Name: Mercedes Yarisel Cordova Reyes. Nicknamed Mercie or Merce.

Age: Story would start when she's 10; majority when she's in her mid-late teens and she passes away at 35.

Ethnicity: Colombian.

Species: Human.

Height: Exactly 5 feet tall. She's 4 inches shorter than Bruno.

Weight: 122 pounds.

Hair color: Dark brown.

Hair style: Mid-back length and no bangs. Likes changing it day by day: a loose braid, a bun, two braids etc. She starts wearing her hair down and free more often when she turns 16.

Eye color: Jade green. (Maybe have a pic of what color I mean in a separate post.)

Birthday: October 20th, 1899. She's three days younger than the triplets.

Gender: Female.

Sexual Orientation: Straight.

Powers (if any): None.

Distinguishing features (if any): Round face, arched eyebrows, full lips and small narrow nose. Small hands, long legs, and petite hourglass figure. (Hips and bust size got a little bigger after her pregnancy.) Skin tone like Agustin.

Blood Type: A+

Clothing

Day to day outfit: Spring green tiered skirt with tiered lines in a slightly darker shade. Dark teal lacy petticoat. Short sleeve white top that has a ribbon laced through neckline that matches her skirt. Black alpargatas.

Pajamas/What they wear to bed: A white nightgown with some lace and olive-green ribbon.

Formal Clothes: Two of them. Her wedding dress which was her mother's. Her Quinceanera dress was champagne colored because she thought it looked romantic.

Work/School uniform: When working in the tavern she wears a reddish-pink skirt and blouse.

Other (glasses, jewelry, etc): Her wedding ring which is simple gold. Small hoop earrings that have a few light green beads. Sunhat with a minty blue ribbon. Wears a green hair ribbon(s) that match her skirt and later on Bruno's ruana.

Health

Physical Illnesses: Uneven menstrual cycle. Eventually dies from Malaria.

Mental Illnesses or disorders: Struggles with depression during her marriage.

Medications?: Different meds to help her with malaria, but they didn't work. If Julieta had been there Mercedes would've steadily recovered.

Addictions (Drugs, alcohol?): Nope.

General Health: Its mostly fine though she dies at 35 years old.

Life/Preferences:

Likes: Long walks, exploring, swimming, dancing, and reading romance novels. She likes listening to Bruno's ideas of telenovelas and sometimes napping with him under the trees after a bad day.

Dislikes: Arguing, being bored, her mother's dismissiveness and people mistreating others, especially Bruno.

Career: Dreamed of being an artist but ended working in a tavern with her in-laws.

Hobbies/Talents: Collecting rocks and painting.

Habits (good or bad): Chews pencils. Used to be a thumb sucker until she was 5.

Family: Her mother Maria Reyes and deceased father Vicente Cordova. Later on, she gains a stepfather, Armando Orozco and a half sister, Desideria. Mercedes calls her Desi. Reluctantly marries Pablo Salazar but has her beloved fraternal twin daughters Francisca and Alejandra.

Friends: Julieta and Pepa. Bruno is her best friend.

Romantic/Love Interest(s): A big crush on Enrique Beltran, a boy she and Pepa were both pining for at some point. Bruno sees a vision of him not treating either of them well.

Pets: Two donkeys: Diego (Bruno had a vision of him dying) and Eliana.

Social Status: Middle class.

Favorite Food: Arroz de Lisa (rice, vegetables and salted mullet which is a type of fish.) Favorite drink is Limonada de Coco (Lime juice, sugar and cream of coconut.)

Favorite Color: No particular favorite color. She loves soft shades, and it changes a lot as she grows. When she was little, she loved pink. Starts wearing spring green more often as a teen.

Favorite genre of music: Vallenato (A folk music genre of Colombia.)

Favorite movie genre: I don't think they have movies yet in Encanto. If there were, she'd love romantic dramas.

Favorite Animal: Coatis.

Degree of Education: Regular education. I think Jared Bush said there's a school in Encanto.

What language(s) can they speak?: Spanish and English.

Can they cook?: Yes. She's not as good as Julieta, but that's fine enough for her.

Personality

Positive Traits: Compassionate, loyal, idealistic, easygoing and romantic.

Negative Traits: Self-conscious, overly private and avoids conflict too much.

Archetype: The Lover.

Way they interact with others: Polite, but she's very private about herself. She won't open up to just anyone which makes people frustrated when they try to get to know her. When she's trustful of someone then she reveals more of herself. She prefers being alone/spend time with one person than a big group.

Way of speaking: Voice inspiration (like I usually do for ocs) is American-Colombian actress Zulay Henao.

Introvert or Extrovert?: Introvert. Her MBTI is INFP.

Backstory

Mercedes was born in Bogotá to Maria Reyes and Vicente Cordova. Unfortunately, Vincente passed away when she was little. Maria spent her grieving by traveling and finally settled in the Encanto when Mercedes was 10. She became friends with the triplets, but especially was close to Bruno. When Mercedes was 19, she was in an arranged marriage to Pablo Salazar thanks to Maria making a deal years before with old friends. Though Pablo was kind, Mercedes only liked him. They had little in common and she didn't want 10 babies! She was crushed to leave Encanto and never saw Bruno again.

Life Goals

Mercedes desires her own adventures like in her novels. They're romantic and theatrical. Her adventure just turned out different than she expected. Yet just because she passed away, didn't mean her adventure was over. It's connected through her daughters, and they're adventures which led them to Encanto and her childhood best friend.

#mercedes reyes #encanto #oc #not sure what to title the fanfic for this but we'll see #fanfic #fanfiction #maybe have Alejandra next?#bruno madrigal #encanto oc

1 note · View note

goldenmusicmoments · 2 years

Text

A Dive Into 'Humble Quest':

Maren Morris has established herself as an extremely talented and versatile artist. Her songwriting and vocal ability are both stellar. ‘My Church’ was the song that introduced her to the world, however it achieved most of its commercial success in the USA. Making her now a known name over there. She released her debut album ‘Hero’ a great body of work that was a fusion of country and pop. It managed to perform really well as it debuted at the top spot on the Top Country Albums chart and in the top five on the Billboard 200 all genre chart. She then was selected out of the many artists that had recorded demos for ‘The Middle’ to be the one to officially record the song. The track went on to be an international hit that now opened her up to an even bigger audience.

A year after that Maren began the single run for her sophomore album with a women empowerment anthem titled ‘Girl’. The track performed well and she really showcased her growth particularly in terms of her vocals. She then released the album that shared the lead singles title ‘Girl’. The album featured an infusion of genres, here she explored country pop, pop itself and even R&B. Giving us an insight on how much more she is capable of as an artist. She took risks with production choices and really explored her vocal range a lot more than she had done on her debut. The body of work explored empowerment, sensuality and the strength of love. Then she released ‘The Bones’ as the second single from the album and the track went on to become her biggest solo hit as a lead artist. The final single from the album ‘To Hell & Back’ failed to do much as it was released just as the pandemic began and thus it didn’t get the proper single push.

Maren waited till after the pandemic was over, she’d also had a child during the time, to start releasing new music. Now we will divulge in a deeper discussion or review of her third album. ‘Humble Quest’ is a body of work where she pulls back on the production. She makes her journey and marriage the focal point of this body of work. ‘Circles Around This Town’ serves as the album opener and it was also the lead single. It was a great single choice and its placement on the album is perfect. Here she takes you on a journey through her life and how she’s got to where she is now. This bass driven track is an instant catch on as it has you singing along to it immediately. The chorus will surely be stuck in your head. Her referencing her first two singles ‘My Church’ & ‘80s Mercedes’ is definitely a highlight. She’s talked about how she often finds driving as a tool to get her creative juices flowing and that serves as an inspiration behind this song. A strong and attention grabbing start to the album.

Now we move on to a more mellow moment with ‘The Furthest Thing’ where she sings about her husband and even though they aren’t similar, they are still perfect for each other. Her gentle vocals on this track give you this feeling of serenity. Ryan Hurd who’s her husband provides harmonies on the track which is rather fitting and adds to the dynamic of the track. The production compliments the vocal with the piano keys threaded through the other instruments featured. We move on to ‘I Can’t Love You Anymore’ which sounds like a track you’d hear playing at a country bar or even at the rodeo. Don’t get scared by the title, as Maren isn’t falling out of love here. All she is trying to say is that as she can’t love her partner anymore than she already does. The song has a warm and cosy feel to it.

The title track ‘Humble Quest’ hosts a sense of nostalgia, where she looks through her life journey. She sings about how growth seems to be continues journey that may seem never ending. She sings about her struggles and the things she’s been conflicted by. There is a touch of double standards she’s faced being a female. The song feels empowering with its vast feeling chorus that really showcases her down to earth nature. She’s not late anything from fame or success faze her in any way. A captivating track where her vocals really depict her emotions so well. There is a sense of urgency to the track as well both put forward through the production and her vocal. She continues on with the feel on ‘Background Music’, which makes you feel the need to contemplate life and all that it has been. Not only that but also where it is headed. You get lost in the track and her vocals paired with the production leave you in quite the trance. It has this electric guitar featured in a very gentle manner that just adds such a mesmerising dynamic to the track. It captures the realisation of even though we tell each other that love will last forever, we still know of the inevitable as well.

‘Nervous’ picks up the pace and the head banging moment surprises you. She delivers the lyrics with so much sass and comes alive on this electrifying track, that is a shift in sound from the rest of the record. Though she sings about the person of interest making her feel nervous, her vocal delivery doesn’t show a hint of nerves. A guitar opening leads us on to the next track ‘Tall Guy’, which is a charming moment about her attraction to tall guys. That being said she does acknowledge men of all heights as well. A groovy moment that’ll have you moving your head along to its beat. The vocals at the end provide it with a dreaming outro.

She gets back onto the journey of life with the foot thumping track titled ‘Detour’. The tracks focal topic is one that many will be able to resonate with. She sings about how she was following a planned out path that she felt disappointed by. However when life took a turn in an unplanned direction she then came to discover love and it led her to who she’s with now. Life doesn’t always go as planned, however that could end up being something greater than what you initially had in mind. A track you’d enjoy whilst taking a long drive, which could be said for the album in its entirety. There is passion and grit behind her vocal here. She closes the track with these dreamy vocals.

‘Hummingbird’ opens with the most precious moment on the record and that is her son saying ‘mama’. It is very fitting as she began writing the song when she found out she was pregnant and completed it once she had given birth. The song feels like a lullaby she’s singing to her child. She sings about how her son has impacted her life and her hopes for him. She says although she may hold him in her arms, she wants him to be free to chase his dreams. A mellow moment with stripped back production that allows her vocal and lyrics to be the focal points. The second to last track ‘Good Friends’ is one that you’ll want to dedicate to the friends who you are truly close with. She sings about a friendship with no ties. Another moment on the record that holds this feeling of warmth to it and it makes you think of that friend that fits the description here. Her vocals have a soulful feel to them here and it just adds to the feel of the song.

Maren closes the album with ‘What Would The World Do?’, a stunning and thought provoking end. This one will draw every emotion possible from you and leave you on the verge of tears. On this piano driven closer she sings about how she wonders at times how the world would go on without the person of topic. Even though its something her mind is riddled by, she doesn’t want to know the answer to that question. Her vocals paired with the lyrics heighten the feel of the track. A perfect ending to a beautifully crafted album with its scenic feel. This album surely is one of the standout releases amongst those of 2022 so far.

Maren even though she has come this far is still to somewhat of a degree underrated. She deserves a lot more recognition than she gets. The album hasn’t performed commercially to the extent that is deserves to have as it debuted at No.21 on the Billboard 200 chart and was her first to miss the top spot on the Top Country Albums chart. However you may have not been aware of the records release or chose not to give it a chance. This is your moment to go and do so now. We often glorify releases that aren’t great, but are released by artists that are huge. Then we also complain that artists aren’t making great music. That is a false take as artists are making great music, it is just that the general public aren’t bothering to give anything other than what they know a chance.

#Maren Morris #HumbleQuest #Zedd #Girl #Hero #Billboard #CirclesAroundThisTown #Music #Album #Artist #Female Artist #Country #Ryan Hurd #2022 #New Release #MarenMorris #CountryMusic #Nashville

0 notes

themusicenthusiast · 6 years

Text

Single Review: “Jumpsuit” by Twenty One Pilots

“…My jumpsuit is on steady…” and “…I'm careless when I wear my rebel clothes…” Those are two lines from “Nico and the Niners” that allude or outright mention the jumpsuit, leading one to wonder what exactly it is in the context of this believed concept album that Twenty One Pilots has concocted with Trench (due out on October 5th via Fueled by Ramen). The lead and primary song from the forthcoming record, “Jumpsuit” (along with the accompanying music video), aims to provide context to that. In this fictional city ruled by Nico and nine bishops, it is apparently these jumpsuits that allows rebels to safely traverse the city and carry out their work to undermine their oppressors, all because the outfits have a color that can’t be seen by the bishops. It’s a creative idea, the song fleshing out a crucial aspect of the story, which is poised to be massive in scale, leaving a great deal of ground yet to cover on the other tracks that will comprise Trench.

On top of that, “Jumpsuit” is -- for the most part -- a beast of a song. The rhythm section rules the track, the thick, pulsating bass riffs that get it underway along with the restrained yet sonorous beats that accent it quickly letting the listener know they are in for something heavy. Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun are artful chameleons, impossible to pigeonhole in terms of style because no genre is off the table for them. That’s easily one of the most appealing factors that Twenty One Pilots has going for them; this song being deeply rooted in rock, though it also includes components of pop and electronic genres which enhance how compelling it is. Loud and authoritative, it demands one’s attention, even during the lull that the bridge provides; Joseph being incredibly restrained until the end, the frontman suddenly seething as he lets loose all of this anger and frustration that has welled up in him/the protagonist of the story that he is portraying. It’s visceral, the raw feelings he captures calling further attention to what a sensational vocalist he is, his pipes seemingly capable of anything. However, “Jumpsuit” succumbs to the pitfalls that made Blurryface such a lackluster follow-up. For starters, it’s overproduced. The excessive voice modulation diminishes Joseph’s natural talent, masking it in unnecessary effects that provide nothing to the song. It’s more as if it’s for the sake of being “poppy”, since that has become a hallmark of current pop music. And like “Nico and the Niners”, “Jumpsuit” is just too repetitive, something that becomes readily apparent early on. To it’s credit, it’s definitely going to be a song people will sing along with, though it’s a song that lyrically is lacking any significant substance. There is a grand total of sixty-four words used throughout the track, many of them reused multiple times. It would be near impossible to write anything that had a significant meaning when limited to such a minuscule vocabulary. Despite that, some of the lines can be taken out of context in order to provide a sense of encouragement or support to those who might need it. For example, “I can't believe how much I hate pressures of a new place roll my way…” could potentially apply to an individual who doesn’t like to go beyond their comfort zone, due to anxiety, unease or whatever else could be a contributing factor. The track soon suggesting that sometimes you have to push yourself. “Jumpsuit” easily stands as one of the most intense songs that Twenty One Pilots has written to date, though out of these first two singles released to promote Trench, it’s the other that is the better quality of song. This one does do a great job at capturing their live energy that have made their shows so outstanding, though the other qualities on the production side foil it, making it mediocre at best. Still, one has to be curious about what all this story will entail. Where does it begin? How will it end? Because as hopeful as both of these songs can sound, there’s clearly a grave threat lurking in the shadows. That’s something that Trench will (hopefully) adequately explore. Purchase “Jumpsuit / Nico And The Niners – Single” on: iTunes | Google Play | Amazon MP3 Visit Twenty One Pilots’ websites: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube Current Shows: 2018 October 16--Bridgestone Arena--Nashville, TN 17--United Center--Chicago, IL 19--Enterprise Center--St. Louis, MO 20--Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center--Milwaukee, WI 21--Xcel Energy Center--Saint Paul, MN 23--Quicken Loans Arena--Cleveland, OH 24--Little Caesars Arena--Detroit, MI 26--TD Garden--Boston, MA 27--NYCB Live, Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum--Uniondale, NY 28--Wells Fargo Center--Philadelphia, PA 30--Madison Square Garden--New York, NY 31--Capital One Arena--Washington, DC November 2--Philips Arena--Atlanta, GA 3--Amalie Arena--Tampa, FL 4--BB&T Center--Sunrise, FL 6--Toyota Center--Houston, TX 7--American Airlines Center--Dallas, TX 9--Talking Stick Resort Arena--Phoenix, AZ 10--The Forum--Inglewood, CA 11--Oracle Arena--Oakland, CA 13--Vivint Smart Home Arena--Salt Lake City, UT 15--Moda Center--Portland, OR 16--Tacoma Dome--Tacoma, WA 17--Taco Bell Arena--Boise, ID 19--Pepsi Center--Denver, CO 20--Pinnacle Bank Arena--Lincoln, NE 21--Sprint Center--Kansas City, KS December 7--Perth Arena--Perth, Australia 10--Adelaide Entertainment Centre--Adelaide, Australia 13--Rod Laver Arena--Melbourne, Australia 16--Qudos Bank Arena--Sydney, Australia 18--Brisbane Entertainment Centre--Brisbane, Australia 21--Spark Arena--Auckland, New Zealand 2019 January 30--Palace of Sports--Shevchenkivs'kyi district, Ukraine February 2--VTB Arena--Tsentralnyy administrativnyy okrug, Russia 4--Ice Palace--Sankt-Peterburg, Russia 6--Ice Hall--Helsingfors, Finland 8--Ericsson Globe Arena--Stockholm, Sweden 9--Telenor Arena--Oslo, Norway 11--Royal Arena--København V, Denmark 12--Barclaycard Arena--Hamburg, Germany 14--Mercedes-Benz Arena--Berlin, Germany 15--Atlas Arena--Łódź, Poland 16--The O2 Arena--Prague, Czechia 17--Wiener Stadthalle--Vienna, Austria 21--Unipol Arena--Bologna, Italy 23--Hallenstadion Zurich--Zürich, Switzerland 24--Hanns-Martin-Schleyerhalle--Stuttgart, Germany 25--Lanxess Arena--Cologne, Germany 27--Genting Arena--Birmingham, United Kingdom March 1--3Arena--Dublin, Ireland 2--SSE Arena Belfast--Belfast, United Kingdom 4--The SSE Hydro Arena--Glasgow, United Kingdom 5--Manchester Arena--Manchester, United Kingdom 7--The SSE Arena Wembley--London, United Kingdom 8--The SSE Arena Wembley--London, United Kingdom 11--Accorhotels Arena--Paris, France 12--Ziggo Dome--Amsterdam, Netherlands 13--Palais 12--Brussels, Belgium 15--Bizkaia Arena (BEC!)--Bilbao, Spain 16--WiZink Centre--Madrid, Spain 17--Altice Arena--Lisbon, Portugal

youtube

1 note · View note

archiveiseverythingornah · 5 years

Text

Curious wanderer Kat

Her curiosity had won over her fear of meeting these people, in a way the advice Mr Shue had given her was helpful. She didn’t fear these strangers that much anymore now she had spoken with them. Her clothes had been folded neatly, arranged to be found quickly. With that, she took the step to walk out the door, scribble a note for the nurse that she simply was checking out the rooms second hope had to over and would return when she had seen all of them. For a brief moment, she took the time to focus on her rapid heartbeat and focussed to steady her breath. When she found herself calm enough she walked out of the door and went to explore. Maybe she would meet Kurt Hummel or his sister Kat Hummel, or even Quinn, Mercedes who she had been talking before. She recalled the short conversation with Finn as well, having a brief idea of how they looked like due to their profile pictures and started softly humming as she walked.

Kat was walking the place after her little adventure out of the place. And here she had been interacting with one of the other patient on line. It was nice to meet someone new for a change and well she would love to see who the person was in person. She had a book reading or had been reading when she put it down for the time being. As she to wanted to take a walk., and she smiled when she saw someone familiar from there picture.

Hello there how are you “ she said as she had come around to her. ‘I think we chatted online, but I’m Kat and now you can meet me in person” she said as she didn’t want to scare her either.

---

She was quick to turn around and realize who she was talking to. “Oh heavens you are Kat, I didn’t expect us to meet so soon.” She chuckled before nodding. “I’m very happy to meet you face to face. I hope you didn’t think our conversation was odd or anything?” She felt a bit unsure as to what first impressions had given Kat, but she was quick to smile again.

“What were you doing before?” Rachel asked, more curious than anything before apologizing. “Sorry I do not want to intrude your business.”

Kat smiled as she watched the other woman see her right there and than “Yep I know , and here I didn’t think I would meet you that soon either. ‘I’m happy to meet you as well Rachel’ she said. “Oh no you didn’t make the conversation odd to me if you think anything. I like to get to know everyone around me to be honest.

“Oh I was just reading , I sometimes can be a bookworm and wanted to read for a bit. , but also here i wanted to take a walk as well.

---

Rachel couldn’t help but smile. It certainly was unexpected. “Well, I’m certainly excited meeting everyone. And I’m glad, I was a bit nervous when I logged in. New people tend to…scare me at times.”

“What novel were you reading?” Rachel didn’t really read books often, but she did read a lot of screenplays. And those screenplays were often based on books so those she did in fact read. “This place is a bit large, I keep getting the feeling I would end up lost.”

Kat smiled right back her, it was something to do . It been awhile since she had a face to face conversation with someone. “It’s okay to be nervous, it can be scary not knowing everyone, but here we are now. I hope I’m not scaring you now, since were meeting in person.

She looked down at her book, and smiled “A repeat , but I’m reading David Copperfield as well.

“Thank you for understanding Kat.” It wasn’t something rachel was used to. Rather if anything she was used to it was the bullying, the namecalling the hatred she was shown wherever she went - how her passion was her weakness. And how she just wasn’t a great person. People can be cruel.

“Can’t say I know that writer. What kind of genre is he known for?”

You’re welcome Rachel, its not a problem, I understand the shyness of not knowing anyone or anywhere. “ Kat didn’t mind helping her as she wanted to make sure that she was welcomed here. “Ah that’s a all right, but you might like him. Well first what about this, have you heard of the classic Christmas Carol? If you have that is one of his well known book.

“Oh he is the writer of the book, I’m known with the movie - but that’s just because these past years I didn’t find the time to read that often. If I do it certainly wasn’t that long, more short stories or poetry rather than a full novel. I sometimes miss reading, but with dance, singing and music being such a big part of my life - I failed to spend time on literature.” She sighed. “Maybe I should take the opportunity now I’m in second hope.”

“Yes he’s the writer of the book, and so many famous books” she said smiling as she really love the way he wrote his characters. And that there were movies on such a few of them to. “I think you probably have more time here to read anyways. Short stories are good as well. I can lend you some of the books I have of his if you’re interested?”

“Sure if you don’t mind lending it out - I’d love to familiarize with his works.” She chuckled seeing the enthusiasm Kat portrait while talking about his works, which she assumed meant it was something she liked to do. “I’m open for anything, it might be fun to find out myself what makes you enjoy his novels so much, considering I haven’t read them yet.”

“Of course I don’t mind lending it out” she had read it so many times that she might know it by heart now. She loved the man , and she smiled “Great, we can do a lot of things here, even the rec room is a good place to as well.

“Oh that sounds interesting, certainly a place I’d spend a lot of time at.” She chuckled. “Glad to know someone agrees with me.” She looked at the doors. “So I assume these are the room part of the facility?”

“It really is interesting , I think you would enjoy it” she said glad that she had someone to talk to outside of the room. “Yes these are most of the rooms out here, and still looks like we haven’t seen my twin yet”

“So it seems.” Rachel smiled. “Do you aside from reading spend time on other things? Are there things you enjoy doing here in the facility?” She decided to continue the questions, deep down a little afraid what would happen if the conversation would die down.

“I do enjoy colouring, and just taking small walks “ she really did and well she liked just sitting outside. “I enjoy the rec room, the music room when I have a chance, and when its nice out I like to sit on the lawn and just well watch people. i like people watching sometimes to” she wonder what else Rachel liked. “Is there anything else that you like?

She wasn’t really sure anymore what it was she enjoyed, the things she loved to do were still the things she did. But the hatred she had been given for it, it scared her in a way - could she still continue the things she loved. She found herself growing almost silent before she softly whispered. “Dancing, singing and flowers.” It almost turned into a mutter at the end.

“What do you mean when you say colouring?

I mean like coloring books, or just stencils or color pencils. I like to color as it is a stress reliever. It has been for awhile and I Just wanted to let you know.

“That actually sounds like a fun activity, do you use those adult coloring books - I’ve seen them at the bookstore but didn’t take the effort to buy one.” She smiled as she waited on Kat. “Nothing wrong with it, I like how you share your likes with me.”

“it really is a fun activity, and sometimes I do use those adult coloring books as well” It was really relaxing to color from time to time. It was just something she really enjoyed. “Oh I’m glad, I was a little worried there that you didn’t like it though is all”

“No, I can imagine it’s a very relaxing thing to do. Even if It’s not my direct idea of spending time doesn’t mean I dislike or judge it.” Rachel was quick to explain her thoughts. “I just had a lot of difficult reactions when I voiced out my likes so having to talk about the things I enjoyed makes me at times remember some unpleasant things.”

I’m glad to hear that than, sometimes you got to do things that are more comfortable for you than. Well you can always talk to me no matter what than.

Thank you Kat that was very sweet of you. I feel even more welcomed than I already have.

You’re welcome and its not a problem, you’re a wonderful person that I’m starting to get to know Rachel

I’m glad you think so Kat. It means a lot, especially since I enjoy talking to you.

I’m honored to talk to you as well

“Isn’t honor a big word to say.” Rachel hummed with a smile. “You make it sound like I’m special.”

I like my big words from time to time, sometimes Im a walking bookworm. So you better watch out for me

I actually like that you sound clever from time to time. So I guess I’ll ignore your advice and keep a close eye on you.

Oh really , and you don’t always have to listen to me if you don’t want to at times either.

I’m..sorry. I didn’t want to come across as unfriendly. What I meant was I’ll listen…Nevermind.

Its okay, I can help you with that part, you might want to watch how you word things. I want to be you’re friend and i will listen to you

“…You still do?” Rachel softly whispered as she glanced over in Kat, her nervous habit of biting her lip returned and she nodded. “Yeah..I know. I’m sorry.”

Of course I do, I want to bring your friend , and its all right it happens.

Alright, let’s go and explore and have some fun.

Great lets go and look

“So this is the Rec room?” Rachel’s eyes moved across the room before she turned around and faces Kat. “Is this often used?” She was merely curious about the hospital.

“Yes this is the rec room” she said smiling as she looked around as it had been awhile since she gone there. “Why yes it is, well once in awhile. You can even practice music here if you wanted to .

“Well, this certainly seems like a room I’d love spending time in.” Rachel smiled as she moved around, looking to see what this room had to offer. “This hospital surely seems like it received a huge funding.”

Yes I guess you can say it has some of good funding, but sure “I think you would like it here more” she said as she got them in to the rec room

Oh my god, this is perfect!” Rachel smiled as she explored the room. “It certainly had a great funding, I can already see myself spending a lot of time here.”

“See I knew you would like it in here” she said with a smile glad that she admired the rec room

“How can I not like this. This is perfection in it’s purest form.” It was as if they had a tiny room build for her alone.

It’s a lovely place isn’t it, so much to do in this room if you ask me, “ Kat smiled at the way Rachel liked iti

“ I know it makes me want to sing and dance.” She gleamed. “Though I’ll refrain from it for now.”

Hey do what pleases you, I mean I love doing what I want to do in here, so dancing and stuff would be fun as well

“Yeah but I’m not brave enough to sing in front of anyone again. A lot happened when I did - I’d hate to be reminded of that.” Rachel’s voice softened. “Maybe someday, when I feel better I’ll sing in front of everyone again. Now I’m a bit too…scared.”

Well don’t worry about those people, they were the jerks, and not you. I’m sorry that you have to be reminded of that “ she said. “All right it sounds good to me, if you ask

“It’s still a bit hard not to, but you are right they were jerks, they were cruel.” She wavered but then was reminded this wasn’t a topic she should exchange with fellow patients. “But I have hope this place can offer me courage again.”

“See they were the jerks no” she said “You will and it get there. Shit I been here forever and I’m stuck

“Thank you, Kat, I really hope that someday I will appreciate the things I love to do again. Though I still need a little more time.”

You’re welcome, I hop it will” she said to her

“Well, what’s the next place to visit?” Rachel said as she let her fingers glide against one of the bars in front of the all too familiar mirrors. “I still have a lot to see after all.”

Hmm well that was the rec room, “What about the library? Would that work for you? There so many places here to show you

“Well, I do like books so why not?” Rachel twirled around and offered Kat a bright smile.

I’m glad you do, as so do I. Books are always fun

They certainly are, though I am pretty picky when it comes to the genre of the books.

Yes same here, Im more into the classics, that’s what I am as well

Say, Kat, what is your all-time favourite fantasy novel? You seem like a girl with good taste in novels?

I have so many fantasy novels, but I also think you would like Lady in the river by Phillipa Gregory.

I don’t know that one, what’s it about?

Its about the Queens, adn how they came about.

Like Queen Victoria? And Queen Elizabeth, or fictional queens?

Nope you got the first few

So it’s historically based, I remember some of those historical facts aren’t the prettiest, should I be worried about certain topics, or is it generally more clean?

I think its pretty clean, but its historical base and I think that you would like it or something like that

I see then I certainly will give it a shot.

That’s great glad that you’re going to

Well of course, one should keep an open mind after all.

I know and I agree that they should

The mood swings took her completely by surprise, Rachel found herself growing almost silent. As if all the energy, the happiness of the conversation was taken out of her by a single second. Her body began to weight heavy, and her mind clouded as she began to fret about the things that happened before. This closeness reminded her of the girls who she had trusted. And the pain that followed after. The scars she could never erase, and the humiliation that was brought upon her that day.

“I need to go.” She muttered softly, as she moved to her phone to send a text to Mr. Shue. Perhaps he could help her. Who was she fooling, no one could help her. And she certainly couldn’t trust anyone.

With a quickened pace she moved back to her room, slamming the door shut and cried.

Kat didn’t know what was happening, but she was worried about Rachel. Even though she didn’t know here that well yet, she was here to help Rachel. But she was worried for her. “Rachel?” she asked as she wasn’t sure if she should go or stay. How was she suppose to help her if she left.

#Curious wanderer Kat #Curious wanderer #Gleehab

0 notes

ginnyzero · 5 years

Text

Mash Up Genre: Science Fantasy

So, what is the big deal? What type of mash up is this? Science Fiction and Fantasy share the same bookshelves in the bookstore. They sit side by side looking innocent and friendly. Until you realize that they rarely cross their strict lines of what is science fiction and what is fantasy and woe betide to you if you try to say they’re remotely the same. That’s a duel at dawn statement right there. There is science fiction and there is fantasy and they have their own little camps and publishing corners.

But there is a little secret, science fiction fantasy does exist. It sits there on the shelves quietly hiding what it truly is behind covers of pure fantasy written by authors you probably know. Or it is in the hand of those who play with miniatures and enjoy role playing. And occasionally, very occasionally it shows up on the silver screen out of Hollywood. It’s like this secret genre that is occasionally flirted with but never really talked about. The science fiction versus fantasy camps are so established. The fact that some agents will look at one but not the other. It makes it extremely difficult to cross lines and tell stories that blend these two genres with burying the fact they are a mash up.

You see, currently the science fiction fantasy swings two ways. It is either blatantly fantasy with hints of science fiction that aren’t purely stated until the second or third book. Or, it is blatantly science fiction with all fantasy elements being explained by science! (Of course, by science, what else?) Which is how the movies does it. There is very little in between.

The classic example of science fiction buried in a fantasy story is Anne McCaffery’s Pern. Ah, Pern. Time traveling dragons that flame spores that come from the heavens to eat a feudal society level planet. It wasn’t until book two or three that you found out, ‘oh, this isn’t a purely fantasy world, these are settlers from Earth!’ It took half a dozen books to explore ‘dragons in space’ and genetic engineering and artificial intelligence and talking dolphins. So what started as a pure fantasy world ended up really being a cleverly disguised science fiction story about dragons and colonization. (McCaffery had this thing about being able to tie all of her books together, some were cleverer tie-ins than others.)

Most of the time it is even more obscure than that and you have to read between the lines to know what is going on. Mercedes Lackey’s Free Bard books are this way. On the surface, they’re a pure fantasy story about bards who make magic through music and their adventures and misadventures. They encounter elves and other fantasy style races as they travel across the world of Alanda. Once again, the first book mostly ignores the other races in favor of setting up the bards who make magic through music plot. It isn’t until the second book that you learn if you read between the lines, that this is some sort of fantasy world that has been part of a war that started in space. And that the people on this world originated from space. Nothing is ever really done with this plot line in that series of books. It just sits there as forgotten background information. Everything else with elves and/or bards were either pure fantasy or straight up urban fantasy.

In parody though, anything goes, so if you want to read something that pokes fun at the whole genre, try Robert Asprin’s Myth Inc. series. Demons are dimensional travelers and the science fiction elements aren’t hidden at all, it just depends which dimension you’re in! (Having laser technology in a medieval dimension is considered a bad thing and punishable by law.)

However, if you want pure straight up ‘elves in space’, you need to look no further than Warhammer 40K. The miniature role playing take off expansion of Warhammer. It is a war game, not necessarily played for story. The races of the original Warhammer which was a pure fantasy universe are tossed 38,000 years in the future and given a science fiction spin. Jack Emmert sells it as both alien and familiar, the strangeness of space and war with the familiar actors of the fantasy setting players already enjoyed. They, of course, have created plenty of spin offs from the original war game including card games, board games, computer games and yes, role playing games. There are also some books and graphic novels.

Hollywood has done science fantasy. The biggest franchise of science fantasy would be Star Wars. In a galaxy far far away, the Jedi Knights wield powers akin to magic and duel with laser swords. It was revealed in Episode One that the power of the Jedi was in their blood, small creatures that lived in symbionts with all life forms and the more of these little creatures a person had, the more ‘in tune’ with the Force they would be. Hollywood has also dabbled in science fantasy horror. In Ultraviolet, vampirism is a disease transmitted through bodily fluids, including a single tear and those who are infected are sought out and exterminated. There were gravity changing devices, hair and clothes that changed color, guns that could fit into bracelets. It’s a dystopian future vaguely reminiscent of Aeon Flux. The other example is Priest, a dystopian future where humans live in huge protected cities and vampires have their own reservations and are fought by martial artist wielding priests. Priest wasn’t as obvious science fiction as Ultraviolet and held more of a western setting than a science fiction one.

Basically, there hasn’t been a lot of playing around with this genre. Urban Fantasy (fantasy creatures in the modern world) could be considered a bridge between them. Otherwise, science fiction and fantasy are still two boxers in a corner ready to duke it out with very little common ground. Which is really kind of sad, we can’t leave dragons in space to just Anne McCaffery.

0 notes

avaliveradio · 5 years

Text

9.16 New Music Monday Release Radar with Jacqueline Jax

Explore some exciting new music from creators all over the world recently discovered by our host Jacqueline Jax as she searches the far corners of the globe for talented songwriters and music creators who are telling their truth to bring the listener a unique experience.

SUBSCRIBE to our broadcast here: www.wavve.link/avaliveradio

NEXT SHOW

Listen to the show across all broadcasts today at 2pm et

CURRENT SHOW NOW PLAYING:

LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE NETWORK:

Anchor FM: https://anchor.fm/ava-live-radio Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/2toX0f3dPmI8gmUSOKZicx?si=TGb4QHaSRSu-JIcfWZ_WHQ

spotify:show:2toX0f3dPmI8gmUSOKZicx

iHeartRadio station page : https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-AVA-Live-Radio-Musi-29336730/

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/ava-live-radio-music-6913mD

Overcast Fm: https://overcast.fm/itunes1307621014/a-v-a-live-radio-music

Pocket Casts: http://pca.st/0Skw

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-v-a-live-radio-music-marketing/id1307621014

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ixl4ww7zxmhv2mfymrzj3abikja

Sticher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ava-live-radio

BTalkRadio: www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio

Apple CarPlay: https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/

Android Auto : https://www.android.com/auto/

Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/5x3w7-61273/A.V.A-Live-Radio-Music-Podcast

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/ava-live-radio-music-marketing

Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-v-a-live-radio-music-marketing/id1307621014

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xNmUxNWY4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Artist: Beautiful Things

New Release: Dream World (Sky Mix)

Genre: Pop /Adult Comtemporary /Alternative Rock

Located in: Los Angeles, CA

We are an ethereal rock band from So-Cal with the essence of a singer song-writer. We are heavily influenced by 80s alternative rock and pop. This is a song about betrayal and how it can change you. After it happens to you it’s like you were in a dream as far as your relationship with the betrayer was concerned. The harsh truth of your relationship comes at you quickly when the betrayal is revealed to you and it stings. You lose your innocence and you’re never the same. This ‘Sky Mix’ is a new version of a song that we had originally released ten years ago on our first album. We ended up making changes to the tempo, guitar pattern and sound fx of the original version to enhance its energy when we performed it live. We thought it would be great to record and release the song again in this new way. We incorporate more electronic elements to our music than we did before. We love to experiment with music technology and this new mix of an older song of ours is an example of the new direction we're going in.

We are currently recording a new single and will be making a video to promote it.

LINKS: https://open.spotify.com/track/6aeGsnssMKFMNkd45JkYkU https://twitter.com/officialthings https://www.facebook.com/beautifulthingsmusic https://www.instagram.com/beautifulthingsmusic

Artist: Chris Driver

New Release: Transparent Hearts

Genre: Folk-Country-Pop / Singer-Songwriter

Located in: Brighton, UK

'Transparent Hearts' is about my Dad. He passed when we were all in the room. It was one of the toughest and most powerful experiences I've ever had. The song references the process of grieving through to now and reminds us of the importance of remembering the good times and laughing about the amazing memories you have. We all have these memories to keep with us as a family.

He always encouraged me with all aspects of my love for music. He was an amazing guitarist, arranger, teacher and all-round musician. His overall knowledge of music from classical, jazz, blues, folk, opera, musicals, rock'n'roll, and pop was insane.

Music, love, and laughter can get you through the toughest of times, and make the best of times truly incredible.

So big man this one's for you. Thanks for the music, love, laughter, and the amazing memories x ❤️ x

Note from the artist: This song is the final release before the EP. This collection of songs captures the last 15 years of my life. A celebration of past and present and moving on.

Right now I am in the process of preparing the release of my first EP at the end of the year. This includes the three singles I have released already and an exclusive track. I am also in the process of writing for my new album.

LINKS: https://open.spotify.com/track/64SsViMuxgMLIfSHNyxjdO https://www.facebook.com/chrisdrivermusik https://www.instagram.com/chrisdrivermusic https://twitter.com/ChrisDriverMus1

Artist: Dave Molter

New Release: Foolish Heart

Genre: Rock

Located in: Pittsburgh, PA USA

A contemporary rocker with amazing guitar work from Steve Dudas (original member of Ringo Starrs band The Roundheads), "Foolish Heart" features lyrics that anyone who has loved in vain can relate to.

After a 55-year career in music, "Foolish Heart" is the title track of his debut EP of the same name.

Dave's first full CD "Mid-Century Man" will be released in early 2020. The music is an assemblage of eclectic influences, everything from Tin Pan Alley to British Invasion, psychedelia, and pop.

LINKS: Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/davemolter/song/31091465-01-foolish-heart Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1TKrXQIkeko9qqgIa7ihms Twitter: molter_Dave Facebook: www.facebook.com/davemoltermusic Instagram: dave_molter_music Website: www.davemoltermusic.com

Artist: Sarantos

New Release: Coming Home

Genre: Rock

Located in: Chicago, IL

We all have a story. It began somewhere. Home can be many things. Home is usually our beginning. For some, home is where they begin and where they end. For others, home is only something they find after many years of searching. For still others, home is something they ran away from or got tired of, only to realize years later how much they truly love it and miss it and how comfortable it feels when they go back there. For me, this is the story of Greece. When I was in grammar school, my mom would take us to Greece for 2-3 months every summer. This meant 7 trips and as I grew older I complained that I wanted to stay back in Chicago to hang with my friends.

LINKS: https://play.spotify.com/artist/0fSzbfDxSHL10T1ryPsRLQ http://www.twitter.com/sarantosmelogia https://www.facebook.com/Sarantosmelogia https://www.instagram.com/sarantosmelogia http://www.reverbnation.com/sarantosmelogia

Artist: Suniil Bhatia (Artist)/ Sound Machine (Band)

New Release: You're My Sunshine (Acoustic)

Genre: Indi Acoustic Pop Rock

Located in: Mumbai

This is the acoustic version of a new song called 'You're My Sunshine'. It’s a happy friendship song mostly in Hindi with some parts in English but the vibe and energy is clearly expressed for all listeners.

The song is part of the Album called 'Yeh Din' which means 'These Days'. The album has every song in an Acoustic and Modern Techno/ Electronica version.

Right now I am working on more songs to complete the Album.

LINKS: Reverbnation : https://www.reverbnation.com/sunilbhatia/song/31126128-youre-my-sunshine-acoustic Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/sunil-bhatia/your-my-sunshine-acoustic Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/2YN7ZCGcV9hame4JWJnwci (Link to Electronica album) Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/YoursMusically Intagram : https://www.instagram.com/sonu.sunil.bhatia Twitter : https://twitter.com/sunilbhatia

Artist: Pablo Mercedes

New Release: Sweet sweet Rose

Genre: Alternative country - folk punk

Located in: : Leicester Leicestershire UK

The song is about the end of life and the departing of a dear sweet friend. It’s for those of us left behind.

These two 21st Century Cowboys have formed a new musical Collective (PABLO MERCEDES Y LOS COJONES DEL DIABLO) both were born and raised in the Tex area.

Built on historic wastelands next to the Rio Grande, this Wild West sector, where the Gunslinger is adored and the gift of music is worshiped. Forgotten movies and Prairie sounds fill their minds. Dodge city utopias form their music. Living within an Old Number 7 soaked ritual that releases your heart to the Colt 45's daughter, they go down & dirty into the heart of the wild west and drink at the devil's side. These two amigos of Folk Country unite to form the NEW country ! ! ! Pablo Well he's a NEW disciple of Acoustic Country Music and the gifts from Diablo have a price that we all have to pay in the end.

3rd Album Released 30/08/2019 "Devil made Two"

Right now we are gearing up for our return to SWSX festival 2020 - and a tour of UK/Europe.

LINKS: https://open.spotify.com/track/7htlzcMa5aiTE9trFbZuIt?si=XvF7lWkJQliabh6dc7Ra5A https://twitter.com/Pablo_Rocksey_M

Artist: Vovkulaka

New Release: my Devil

Genre: Metal/Dubstep

Located in: Odessa, Ukraine

Have you ever been in a relationship where you find yourself doing things that normally, you never do? The situation almost possesses you to struggle but still, you can't manage to break away. The desire is the conundrum. Like Demons with thoughts... A living Hell. You stop and think this is my Devil.

The music we are creating is Dark... Angry... Evil... Metal

Right now we are preparing to release our CD.

LINKS: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3928niLRX3PB1EbxuRvhpu?si=OSLSKd0JRA-g8eghCufsrQ Twitter: Twitter.com/VovkulakaMusic Facebook: Facebook.com/VovkulakaFanPage Instagram: Instagram.com/VovkulakaMusic

BREAKING NEWS:

The legendary Front man of the cars died today he was found in his New York City townhouse by his wife Paulina. These are some questions and answers from previous interviews. This episode also includes Music from our current Release Radar Playlist.

New Music Release Radar Playlist

#Beautiful Things #pop music

0 notes

mrmichaelchadler · 6 years

Text

The Best Current Source for Streaming Classic Movies is ... Amazon Prime?

What is the classic movie fan to do in the era of Netflix? For a few glorious years FilmStruck was our salvation, offering a rich, well-curated collection of films from the silent era through the 1970s, something Netflix gave up on years ago.

So with FilmStruck dead, where can the fan of classic movies—let's say, just for the sake of argument, anything older than 40 years—get their fix without resorting to renting each and every title on iTunes or Fandango?

The answer might surprise you. The meatiest streaming source for world cinema classics is Kanopy, a free service offered through most (though not all) public and college library systems. But there's a limit of five streams per month and while they carry hundreds of titles from the Criterion Collection from such directors as Akira Kurosawa and Ingmar Bergman, the collection of classic American cinema is relatively small.

That's where Amazon Prime Video enters the picture. Netflix has maybe a dozen Hollywood feature films from the years between 1940 and 1980, along with a collection of war documentaries and rarities from pioneering women filmmakers and African-American directors. Interesting, yes, even admirable, but awfully limited in scope and selection.

Prime Video offers a rich, rapidly-churning catalog of sixties and seventies cinema: "Chinatown" and "All the President's Men," "A Clockwork Orange" and "Raging Bull," "The Great Escape" and "Mickey One." And back it goes through Billy Wilder's "Some Like it Hot" and "The Apartment," John Huston's "Moby Dick," Howard Hawks' "Red River," "Born Yesterday" with Judy Holliday and William Holden, "Platinum Blonde" with Jean Harlow, and holiday perennial "It's a Wonderful Life" just to name just a few.

Dig a little deeper and you can find the deliriously baroque western "Johnny Guitar" with Joan Crawford, end-of-the-world drama "Five" from radio drama pioneer Arch Oboler, "Dead Reckoning" with Humphrey Bogart, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" with Ray Harryhausen effects, and Ben Gazzara in "The Strange One," the first film from "Private Property" director and Actor's Studio legend Jack Garfein. There are silent films, crime pictures, westerns, and musicals, plus gialli, spaghetti westerns and Italian crime thrillers, Japanese gangster pictures, cult oddities like Slava Tsukerman's "Liquid Sky" and Teruo Ishii's "Horrors of Malformed Men," and even a few international classics.

So why isn't Prime Video getting more attention?

Amazon's catalog of Hollywood and international classics is admittedly on the shallow side compared to the height of FilmStruck, which married two amazing catalogues with a deep collection of film history. But it's an eclectic collection and it's always churning out new titles. In 2018, Amazon Prime members could stream "Mean Streets," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "The Man Who Would Be King," "Barry Lyndon," "Bullitt," "Performance," "Point Blank," "Bonnie and Clyde," "Gone With the Wind," and "The Wizard of Oz."

Still, there's a major problem: finding the films in Amazon's catalog. FilmStruck was curated, and told subscribers what was new and it provided spotlights on directors, actors, and various themes to encourage exploration. The classics of Prime Video are buried amongst scores of B-movies, old and new.

There are others problems: Amazon offers both a Prime Video service of streaming movies with a subscription along with its huge selection of Amazon rentals. Recommendation galleries and search results often bring up a mix of both. Even some individual films—"Red River," for example—are offered from multiple sources, only one of which is included in the Prime subscription. The search results don't always favor the free version, which is usually indistinguishable in quality. The only difference is that one will cost you a few dollars to rent. It may simply be a flaw in the system but a more cynical take might see this as a sneaky way to grab a few extra bucks. Whatever the reason, it's doesn’t help the Amazon Prime subscriber make the most of their service.

While the majority of films are presented in fine editions, indifferent quality control means that there are scores of poor copies of public domain titles (as well as some more recent films) that don't look or sound much better than the bargain bin videotapes you could find 20 years ago. That's an instant turn-off in an age where studios routinely remaster their catalog for the HD era.

Browsing by genre on Amazon Prime is like wading through the donations bin of a library sale and counting on Amazon's own recommendations isn't much better. For a company that built its success on targeting consumers based on their buying patterns, the metrics of Amazon's search function fail to sort the wheat from the chaff of its streaming library.

And there's a lot of chaff in their vast collection. For example, when I log in to my account and click my way to "Movies" and "included with Prime," I get plenty of recent releases front-loaded on the page. There are even a few genuine classics in my "Top Rated Movies" feed: "A Clockwork Orange," "The Big Country," "The Great Escape." But when I scroll down to "Classic Movies" the pickings are, shall we say, a little less promising. 1983 "Animal House" knock-off "Screwballs," "Lone Wolf McQuade" with Chuck Norris, and the vile "The Evil That Men Do" with Charles Bronson are all offered up before "All the President's Men" and "The Apartment" appear. Definitions of the term "classic" aside, what in my search history churns up these suggestions?

With FilmStruck gone and no real alternative filling the void at present, Amazon is in a prime position to grab up fans of classic movies. But why isn't there some kind of mailing promoting those older classics cycling through the catalog every month? And why aren't Amazon's Facebook and Twitter feeds alerting movie buffs of what's new beyond "Mrs. Maisel" and "You Were Never Really Here" and other Prime Originals? For a marketing powerhouse like Amazon, they can't seem to find my sweet spot, and I'm a guy who is constantly clicking on classic titles to spotlight in my newspaper columns and website.

There's a great selection of films for film buffs, classics fans, and adventurous viewers. All they need is a little help finding them. So here's a sampling of just a few titles from across the spectrum that you can stream now with a Prime subscription, a little something for all tastes:

Bonafide Classics:

Alan J. Pakula's "All the President’s Men" (1976) with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.

Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" (1974) with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.

World War II adventure "The Great Escape" (1963) with Steve McQueen leading a grand cast of escapees.

Stanley Kubrick's anti-war classic "Paths of Glory" (1958) with Kirk Douglas.

George Cukor's "Born Yesterday" (1950), which earned an Oscar for Judy Holliday.

Howard Hawks' epic western "Red River" (1948) with John Wayne and Montgomery Clift.

George Stevens' "The Talk of the Town" (1942) with Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, and Ronald Colman.

Leo McCarey's "The Awful Truth" (1937) with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

Gregory La Cava's screwball masterpiece "My Man Godfrey" (1936) with William Powell and Carole Lombard. There are plenty of bad editions out there; this is from an excellent source.

"Gumshoe"

A Deeper Dive:

"Images" (1972, R) – Susannah York won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her performance as a deeply schizophrenic author in Robert Altman’s richly textured psychological thriller.

"Gumshoe" (1972) – The feature debut of director Stephen Frears is a playful tribute to American crime movies starring the late Albert Finney as a small time Liverpool entertainer playing private detective.

"Age of Consent" (1969) – James Mason is an artist who flees England for Australia to go Gauguin on a tropical island and a young Helen Mirren is his muse in Michael Powell's final feature film.

"Mickey One" (1965) – Warren Beatty is a nightclub comic who goes on the run when the mob tries to kill him in the offbeat psychodrama from director Arthur Penn.

"Zulu" (1964) – Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, and Michael Caine are hopelessly outnumbered in Cy Enfield's end-of-the-empire military epic set in a colonial 19th century African outpost.

"Underworld U.S.A." (1961) – Organized crime is merely another form of big business in Sam Fuller's punchy, pulpy revenge drama with Cliff Robertson, one of the director's best.

"The Big Country" (1958) – William Wellman's sweeping cattle country epic stars Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Burl Ives, and a gloriously epic score.

"The Barefoot Contessa" (1954) – Ava Gardner is the title character in the Joseph L. Mankiewicz drama, but Humphrey Bogart took top billing and supporting actor Edmund O'Brien took home the Oscar.

"Johnny Guitar" (1954) – Scarlett businesswoman Joan Crawford takes on repressed Mercedes McCambridge in a psychological western with political reverberations from Nicholas Ray.

"Merrily We Go To Hell" (1932) – Dorothy Arzner, a rare career woman director in the Hollywood’s early sound era, directs this sassy pre-code drama of society decadence and excess with Fredric March and Sylvia Sidney.

"Cockfighter"

Cult Movies:

"Cockfighter" (1974) – Warren Oates is an obsessive cockfighting trainer who takes a vow of silence after his hubris costs him the championship in the offbeat adaptation of Charles Willeford's novel directed by Monte Hellman.

"Wake in Fright" (1971) – The brutal, blackly funny thriller of an urban schoolteacher (Gary Bond) stranded in a grimy mining town in the sun-blasted Australian Outback anticipates the New Australian Cinema. Donald Pleasance co-stars.

"Death Laid an Egg" (Italy, 1968) – Italian murder mystery intertwines with surreal satire in Giulio Questi's "film blanc" starring Jean-Louis Trintignant as a gentleman poultry farmer who unwinds from a hard day by murdering prostitutes. Gina Lollobrigida and Ewa Aulin co-star.

"Homicidal" (1961) – If William Castle is the B-movie Hitchcock, then this devious little gem is his "Psycho," an inspired twist with a shocker of a first-act murder, a third-act psychologist’s explanation, and Castle's own invention: the "Fright Break."

"The Golden Coach"

Foreign Affairs:

"Perceval" (France, 1978) – Eric Rohmer’s most unique feature, a strange, sophisticated mix of theater, medieval literature, story-song, and cinema, is a glorious odyssey into the very nature of stories and storytelling.

"The Firemen's Ball" (Czechoslovakia, 1967) – A satirical edges of Milos Forman's dark comedy of a small town fire brigade's annual fund raising party unraveling in chaos was not lost on the Soviet government, which tried to ban the film.

"The Golden Coach" (France, 1952) – Anna Magnani is the earthy, vivacious diva of a traveling troupe of Italian commedia dell'arte players in a Peruvian backwater in Jean Renoir's loving tribute to the theater of love and the power of art. Amazon offers the English language version, which Renoir acknowledged as the definitive version.

"Zero for Conduct" (France, 1933) – Jean Vigo's anarchic gem celebrates the rebellious spirit of adolescent boys in the first masterpiece of pre-pubescent self-actualization, a strange and wonderful film full of unbridled imagination, flights of fantasy, and delirious images.

from All Content http://bit.ly/2GCnDMa

0 notes

fulfilledbytheafterglow · 6 years

Text

When I was young, my dad and I would go for late night drives in his old Mercedes and listen to classic rock songs in the darkness. It was usually after dinner and we would get out of the house and spend time together in the silence. There are some songs that transport me back to those days because I was so engulfed in the songs that they became engraved in my memory. Something about it was inspiring. The rhythm of the tires on the asphalt and the rhythm of the music calmed my heart and mind. I felt so utterly relaxed and alert at the same time. Cars and music are a pairing that I adore. My dad had to sell his car a while back so we didn’t go on drives like we used to way back when. However, this summer my mom and I began to do it. She would pick me up from work and we would drive without a destination. I would make mix CDs full of different songs, artists, and genres, and we would just explore our city with our own soundtrack. At times, it almost felt like we were in our own movie. Sometimes we would get ice cream or drive past a cool spot and stop to take some pictures or drive really slowly through neighborhoods, pointing out the houses we liked. I always picked the right song for whatever we were doing, even if it was nothing. For such a simplistic activity, it made me so happy. Music has always been a big part of my life. I am constantly finding new artists, going to concerts, and jamming out in my room when I’m home alone. Being able to listen to what I love with someone I love while doing something I love was perfect. I have always craved adventure. Maybe it was because of the drives I went on when I was young but I love being in the car and getting to see so many different environments and people so fast. Or at least whatever the speed limit it. When my best friend got her driver’s license, we would find every excuse to go somewhere. At lunch, we would go to the drive-thru McDonald’s just because we could. On weekends we would drive to random locations and have spontaneous photoshoots. Once for my birthday, she drove me to Bellingham just to get Panda Express. These adventures were never without tunes from our driving playlist. Over the years we had shared so many artists with each other that every song that came on shuffle would be belted out, often being filmed on my snapchat or sung in a dramatic duet. When I look back at my snapchat memories and see the videos of us unapologetically singing at the top of our lungs, I crave it. In those moments, I am beyond happy. I am overjoyed. Everything seems to feel like it is in its place because no matter where we are going or coming from, the journey in between can be the most fun.

0 notes

robertkstone · 6 years

Text

Celebrity Drive: Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter Darius Rucker

Quick Stats: Darius Rucker, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Daily Driver: 2018 Mercedes G 550 (Darius’ rating: 9 on a scale of 1 to 10) Other cars: See below Favorite road trip: Columbia, SC to Key West Car he learned to drive in: 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass First car bought: 1995 Ford Explorer

Cars come and go, but Darius Rucker’s 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is the kind of car he plans on keeping forever. It’s also the car he drives when he feels like “having a lot of fun.”

“A Karmann Ghia has always been my dream car. Ever since I was a kid, I just thought they were the coolest things in the world. When my second single went to number one, my manager found one and had it redone and gave it to me and I just love that automobile,” the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Motor Trend.

His manager gave it to him after his single “It Won’t Be Like This for Long” went to number one, and his third single, “Alright,” from his 2008 country debut album Learn To Live, was moving up the country charts.

“[My manager] had ‘Alright’ on the license tag, and that was pretty cool. I still have that on the front of the car. It’s a beautiful machine,” he says.

Rucker’s manager for more than 20 years surprised him when Rucker was in Nashville. “I see this great-looking car parked out front of my hotel, and I go, ‘Man, that’s an awesome Karmann Ghia.’ I walk up, and he’s standing outside and he said, ‘It’s yours!’” Rucker says, laughing. “I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ It was pretty awesome.”

After it was presented, it was delivered to Rucker’s home, where he then got to take it for a spin. “It’s such a great car to drive. You put the top down and just drive around,” he says. “For me, it’s everything I want in a car like that, a little sports car that I can drive around. I feel free. I like to drive the beaches when I’m in that car. I love to drive anywhere near water and turn the music up and just enjoy it.”

Rucker rates the manual Karmann Ghia a 9 on a scale of 10. “I had some back seats put in it, but I never put anybody back there. It’s always just me and maybe somebody else. Usually I drive it by myself. It’s my go out and chill and relax and have a good time car. When I’m in it, I feel 23. I don’t know why,” he says with a laugh.

Karmann Ghias are a rarity on the road, so when he drives it, it turns heads. “It’s red, and when you’re in it, people do look at it,” Rucker says. “For me, when I was a young kid, 10, a couple times I saw the Karmann Ghia, and I just went, ‘Man, that’s the car I want.’ I love the sleekness of it and the classic design. I always wanted one.”

With the Karmann Ghia as an exception, Rucker isn’t a car person. His daily driver is his 2018 Mercedes G 550 SUV.

2018 Mercedes G 550

Rating: 9

“I love this automobile. I had a deal with Mercedes, and they asked me what car I wanted. I’m not a car driver, so I wanted a truck and the G wagon. I love it.”

He loved Suburbans and drove those for years. “I’m a big truck kind of guy. I drove a pickup for a while and the Suburban. I need a place to put my golf clubs,” he says, laughing. “Having three kids, when we’re all getting in the car, it seems to be comfortable in a big Suburban, but the G wagon is comfortable also.”

The only thing that he dislikes about the G 550 is that it doesn’t have a push-button start. “With the Suburban, I’d gotten used to the push start, and I really liked it,” he says. “That’d be the only thing. But everything else, I love it. It drives great, good gas mileage. It’s one of those cars—I sit in it [and] I feel comfortable, which is important to me with a car.”

Car he learned to drive in

Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Rucker’s mom taught him how to drive in her 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Although learning to drive the Cutlass wasn’t difficult, parking was a bit of a challenge. “It was a big car,” he says. “Parking these cars these days is easy because that car was so big. Parallel parking was always an adventure.”

They only had one car, so Rucker drove it to work and to school, as well. “It was my baby, I love that car. That’s the car I took to prom twice,” he says. “That was the car that was everything to me, so I loved it. … We called it the ‘Cut Ass’ because the ‘L’ was missing on the ‘Cutlass’ badge on one side. Eventually the ceiling just started to fall in with that felt cloth, and the window wouldn’t open, and we couldn’t put the window down.”

The Cutlass was also the inspiration of his song “Radio.” “It was about the car because the whole gist of the song was that I didn’t care what the car was like, as long as it had a great radio,” he says. “And it did have a great radio.”

Even though the Cutlass got Rucker through high school, when he went to college, his mom bought him a 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit. “That just died. It died six months after we got it,” Rucker says, laughing. “It was bright yellow, and that was a fun car while it lasted. I was shocked. The pump went out, and it would have cost more to put the pump in than to get a new car, and of course I didn’t have any money to fix the car back then.”

First car bought and Hootie & the Blowfish

When Rucker first made it in the music business with Hootie & the Blowfish, he bought a 1995 Ford Explorer.

“When the first album hit, the first two things were pay off my student loans and buy me an Explorer,” he says. “That was the car that turned me into a truck guy, because up until that point, I loved cars. I got the Explorer, and I really haven’t driven [any cars] except the Karmann Ghia.”

Rucker loved the size of the Explorer. “Maybe it’s just me, but when I’m in a truck, I feel safer. When I’m driving the Karmann Ghia, I’m so looking out for everybody around me,” he says, laughing. “That car is a small car. When I’m in these trucks, you just feel safer.”

Photo Credit: Steve Lowry

Rucker kept the Explorer for a couple years and then got an Expedition. “When I got the Explorer, I lived in Columbia, South Carolina. About a year after I got it, I moved to Charleston. That was how I moved and how I got everywhere,” he says. “Those cars were so good to me. I only made one trip with my clothes.”

The Explorer was also great for carrying music gear. “When you go to the studio and some local gig, you just throw your amp in the back and you go play. That was perfect for being in the band,” he says. “When I got the Explorer, it was, ‘Wow, I should have had one of these for a long time.’ It was a great vehicle for what I needed.”

Favorite road trip

Rucker has many favorite road trips, including one with roommate, best friend, and bass player Dean Felber. “We took his old blue Ford station wagon to High Point [North Carolina], and we got eight guys in that car,” he recalls.

Another favorite trip was spring break during college when he drove from Columbia, South Carolina, to Key West. “We had a little two-door Hyundai, and we had five guys in there, 5-foot-11 or over, a couple guys were 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5, and all of our luggage.”

Although Rucker says it was a “very uncomfortable time,” he still has fond memories of that stage of his life. “We were in college,” he says. “We didn’t have a place to stay in Key West; we basically slept in the car. Five great friends who were doing one thing—just trying to have a good time, and we did. It was Mark and Dean, the bass player and guitar player of the band, and a couple of other guys from college.”

It was during his sophomore year in college, and what made the trip special wasn’t the scenery outside; it was what was going on inside the car. “It was bonding, and we had the luggage in our laps in the back seats the whole time,” he says. “Everybody’s complaining but having a blast. It was just one of those memories that you have and you think about years later and you smile.”

The When Was the Last Time Album and the “Summer Plays On” Tour

Rucker went on tour yesterday with Lady Antebellum on the “Summer Plays On” tour. He’s also supporting his new country album When Was the Last Time.

“I think it’s the best record I’ve made,” he says. “For me, it’s always about the songs. You make a record, and it’s doing great for me; I’m still loving country music.”

Photo Credit: Steve Lowry

He still plays up to six shows a year with Hootie & the Blowfish, most of them for charity. “But I’ve always been a huge fan of country music, and said, ‘Someday, I’m going to get me a country record, and [I] finally got to do it,” he says of his crossover into the country genre.

Rucker’s show on SiriusXM’s PGA TOUR channel

In another unique crossover in Rucker’s career, last year he became a radio host of his own monthly radio show on golf. For as long as he’s been a musician, Rucker has also been an avid golfer and fan.

“The president of Sirius was a fan and knew about my love for golf and said, ‘It’d be a great idea if we did a golf show,’” Rucker says.

It took Rucker some time to finally decide on doing the show. “We went around about it for about a year, like, ‘I don’t know.’ And finally, it’s been a blast,” he says.

Rucker’s enjoyed having guests such as Steve Stricker and the legendary Jack Nicklaus. “It’s a challenge. I’ve got to get up there and talk for an hour about golf. But I love the challenge of not doing music, even though I have all kinds of music guests on the show, but we talk about golf.”

For more information on Rucker’s album and tour dates, please visit DariusRucker.com.