Monday 9 November 2009

The sounds of Scotland


Scotland is not only about beautiful landscapes and old castles, friendly people or ancient cities, it also can be seen as the land where talented artists and bands have emerged.
From pop, indie to rock and electronic music, Scottish acts have gained a good position among different audiences in Great Britain.
Talking about contemporary examples let's start with the classic band Texas who for more than a decade released around 20 singles that reached the UK Charts.
The band became famous in 1989 with the song 'I don't want a lover' who was his first major single. Unfortunately, they separate recently in 2006 when the front man of the band, Sharleen Spiteri, decided to took her on way in the music as a solo artist.
With nostalgic ballads and catchy pop songs, K.T. Tunstall has raised as one of the most prominent talents not only as a singer but as a composer.
Even though, her last album, Drastic Fantastic, didn't become as popular as the first one, she is got now a prominent place in british music.
Who can forget songs like Suddenly I see and Other side of the world?


The rock scene
Scotland has also brought incredible bands that have enjoyed a quite big popularity in the charts.
I will mention some of the latest and probably most popular ones: The View, Glasvegas and Biffy Clyro.
Probably from the three, indie rocker's Biffy Clyro has been the most successful, specially with their current album.
Recent singles like Folding stars, Mountains and The Golden Rule have reached at least the UK top 20. In fact, Mountains has become their major single to date when reached the 5th position last year.
Biffy Clyro's new album, Only Revolutions, was actually released in stores yesterday.
With a catchy and alternative sound, Same Jeans debuted in 2006 in the UK Charts and became The View's most popular rock anthem.
This year, the band released their second album Witch Bitch? and the leading single was Shock Horror.
Last year, Glasvegas became massively popular with their singles: Daddy's gone, Geraldine and Flower and football tops, and even though it was their first album success came steadily.

The electronic sounds
Electro pop best defines Calvin Harris who has become one of the most respectable Dj's in the current electronic scene.
With only two albums, Harris has enjoyed fame and popularity among the whole country with songs like Girls, Ready for the Weekend and Acceptable in the 80's.
Also, he worked with the acclaimed Dizzy Rascal in the song Dance wiv me, which stayed for 3 weeks in the top of the charts last summer.
I'm not alone became his first solo chart-topper to date and currently his third single Flashback reached yesterday the top 20 in the UK Charts.


Now is time to enjoy all of these magic sounds of Scotland that I have been talking about, have a listen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uIFISklvXY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clY2RAgXpM0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm5PFIRdPfQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhEDbqktSEM

*Main photographs by Luis Dominguez

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