Category Archives: Music Musings

I know this is mainly a political blog, but I love to write about music too. This wouldn’t be my blog if I didn’t.

Music Musings

Music Musings: Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea “Problem”

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Every so often, a singer comes along that forms an immediate, tangible connection with her or his fans.  They possess that unique combination of talent, dedication and relevance which allows them to become the voice of their generation.  For younger millennials  one of those voices seems destined to be Ariana Grande.

A native of Florida, the singer actually got her start in theater, landing a banner role on Broadway at the tender age of thirteen.  From there, she went to Nickelodeon, starring in hit shows Victorious and Sam and Kat.  Before belting a single professional note, Grande was on her way to becoming a pop phenom with a legion of fans.

But with a pop-friendly vocal tone and four octave range (particularly strong in the whistle register), music was never too far away.  Ariana has a very active YouTube channel, and posted several covers of songs by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and other artists, sharing her voice with the world.  It all proved to be a great lead-in to her  debut album Yours Truly, which spawned the smash hit The Way.

Now, Grande is back with her Sophomore effort, and it’s lead single Problem featuring rapper Iggy Azalea. This is a catchy tune that proves a nice venue for Grande to show off a nice power range in her upper register, along with some other vocal skills. Though she’s often compared to Mariah Carey due to the strength of her whistle register, Problem further reveals the singer’s voice as a true soprano with a strong head voice.

But enough with the musician’s speak. Take a listen to Problem and see what you think…

 

Music Musings

Music Musings: DJ Cassidy’s Paradise Royale

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Is 2014 the year that Disco makes a huge comeback??

If DJ Cassidy has anything to do with it, the answer is a resounding yes.

Cassidy’s upcoming album, titled Paradise Royale and expected to be released this spring, is something seldom attempted in contemporary “pop” music… a full-on exploration of the Disco genre, using the talents and expertise of the original musicians. But it’s not a cover album. Greats like Nile Rodgers, Phillip Bailey, Verdine White and Patrice Rushen join forces with some of today’s biggest stars to create all new, original tunes. Here’s more from DJ Cassidy in a recent interview with Billboard.com…

Cassidy began the process by assembling a playlist of 25 of his favorite dance hits from that era and making notes about which musicians played on them. “What I saw was the same names repeating over and over again,” Cassidy recalls. “It became apparent that the recording artists and producers of these songs were recruiting the same session musicians. Those were the men behind the music, the architects of the sound. At that point I realized that in order to fulfill my mission I needed to go back to the source.” He ultimately recruited 22 musicians for the recording, while making a deliberate decision to use modern hit makers for the vocals.

Those ‘modern hit makers’ are the likes of Jessie J, Robin Thicke, Kelly Rowland, John Legend and a host of others.

The lead single for the album is Calling All Hearts… due to be released in February. And if this track is any good predictor, expect big things from this album. The beat is driving, infectious, and proves to be a real relief from the reigning trends in dance music. The use of real instruments and real production is a real gem in a world where we’ve grown accustomed to manufactured sounds. As a result, doing things “the old way” sounds as new and as fresh as ever. It’s quickly become my favorite song of 2014. Check it out, and decide for yourself.

Updated March 4th to include the Music Video for Calling All Hearts!!

Music Musings

Music Musings: The Houston Chamber Choir

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For a singer and lover of all types of music, the recent resurgence of choirs has been a stunning event to witness. Of course choral groups have always had their fan base, but the broad-based popularity is something new, at least for the millennial generation.  No doubt it’s due to in part to shows like Glee and The Sing-Off… people have discovered that something magical happens when voices come together in song.

It’s been especially great to experience this resurgence as a member of one such group… the Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of Robert Simpson. Now in its eighteenth season, the ensemble has firmly distinguished itself as a national leader in classical choral music. The choir has performed with a diverse group of artists, including singing sensation Jackie Evancho, Grammy Award winning Gospel star Cynthia Clawson, and the late great Dave Brubeck.

One way this group sets itself apart is not just through beautiful sound, but a commitment to innovative and relevant concert programs. Just in 2013, Houston Chamber Choir concerts celebrated the election of Pope Francis, and commemorated the 50th Anniversary of JFK’s assassination. Members of the ensemble will also perform for the 2014 inauguration of Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Controller Ronald Green, and the Houston City Council.

Along with stunning musical performances, the Houston Chamber Choir is equally committed to educational outreach. The choir is currently hosting a multi-year residency at Rusk Elementary school, working with young, economically- challenged students to foster music appreciation and creativity. 

To kick off 2014, here is the choir singing a brilliant new piece… O Magnum Mysterium by composer Wayne Oquin. Enjoy the sounds of the Houston Chamber Choir. 

For information on upcoming performances, visit www.houstonchamberchoir.org.

Music Musings

Music Musings: 2013’s Biggest Moment in Music

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Did you hear it? There’s a quiet revolution overtaking the music industry. 

If you’re trying to guess what Texas Leftist chose as the most significant event in music for 2013, here’s a hint… it ain’t Beyoncé. But I can guarantee you that what Beyoncé did was partly in response to this. Without Delay, the definitive moment in music was…

This is a list of the Grammy nominations for album of the year. By this point, few people are surprised to see Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ smash hit album The Heist listed as a nominee. But we often forget that how they managed to get there represents a transfiguration of the music industry as we know it. The duo produced the album head to toe, front to back, as unsigned artists. The single Thrift Shop broke records by becoming the first song by an unsigned artist to reach number 1 on the Billboard charts since 1994. The single did this largely independent of the music industry’s traditional infrastructure… endless marketing/promo tours, heavy reliance on regional radio stations, and lengthy contract obligations. Instead, fans promoted the duo’s album by social media, which allowed it to go viral outside of the industry’s careful, calculated pre-destiny. Much to the envy of signed acts, the back end reward is just as significant. Being the sole writers, artists and producers means Macklemore and Ryan Lewis reap what they get in record sales, and the profits go directly to them. They also set their own touring and promo schedules. 

As evidenced by Beyoncé’s decision to follow in Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ footsteps by ditching industry convention for social media, The Heist was a true game-changer, and pop music as we know it may never be the same. Who knows if this trend will continue, but to go from minor league tours to seven Grammy nods in one year? Let’s just say it takes some serious Wing$. This is without a doubt the most significant event of 2013 for music. 

Music Musings

Music Musings: Ylvis: The Fox (What the Fox Say?)

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Move over David Guetta… your repetitive song formula has finally met its match.

The summer’s most infectious pop music apparently comes at the very end. Television hosts Bård Ylvisåker and Vegard Ylvisåker, or better known in Norway as Ylvis, have stumbled upon something so silly that it can only be described in measures of greatness. A Guetta style Euro-pop beat with hilarious dance sequences, you’ll probably enjoy it better if you take it at face value from the start. But if you really insist on trying to understand what the song is about, it seems to be a guessing game of why we don’t have standardized sounds for fox noises.

So like I said… just enjoy the silly song and dance. Glad that Gawker posted this!!

Music Musings

Music Musings: Clouds- Travis Garland

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He may not have reached super-stardom, but Travis Garland is a pop singer that needs to be on everyone’s radar. He was formerly a member of the boy band NLT, which also produced Glee star Kevin McHale. After NLT parted ways, Travis decided to go solo. A good decision in my opinion, because Garland has all the talent, creativity and perseverance needed to make it to the music industry’s top tier. Besides an exceptionally strong Tenor voice akin to Stevie Wonder or Bruno Mars, what I appreciate most about this artist is his willingness to experiment with unique sound combinations. His recent duet with JoJo, titled Paint, is a testament to this.

Travis Garland’s long-awaited debut album will be released on September 10th, and if the first single Clouds is any indication, it should be something to look forward too. It’s a sultry R&B cut with sound influences from the Middle East, and an infectious beat. Check out the video for Clouds below.

Music Musings

Music Musings: Marching Band Kickin’ It

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Even if August doesn’t feel like Fall in Texas, some Fall activities are beginning to take place. Parents are rushing stores for kids’ school supplies and clothing (and hopefully NOT shopping for them at Macys), colleges are buzzing with high preparation, and marching bands have once again taken to the field, or over-cooked parking lot, to their basic maneuvers. For me growing up, August was always the toughest part of the year because of the relentless HEAT. But by September and October, marching band was actually fun.

So in looking forward to the actual football games, here’s some inspiration for all of the hard core band geeks out there. Check out this amazing formation from the University of Hawaii Marching Band. They form a football player, who actually walks down field, and kicks the ball. Cool stuff!