Like a timeless journey around the globe that make you feel all kinds of emotions is how Enigma can be described.
Inspired in new age music, gregorian chants, electronic innovations and mysterious voices and sounds the romanian producer and composer Michael Cretu created this musical project almost 30 years ago.
Everything began by the end of the 80's when Cretu started to produce some records for his wife Sandra Lauer, who was a very talented and popular singer.
After that by the beginning of the 90's he started to work as some solo production and he release his first creation MCMXC a.D., album that became massive through Europe specially with the release of the song Sadeness Part 1.
This album actually sold around 12 million units worldwide and became gold and platinum album in 25 countries.
In 1993, The Cross of changes was released and included a couple of special compositions for the movie Silver: Carly's song and Carly's loneliness.
In his following two albums, Cretu used a lot of chorus and old classical compositions to create most of the songs. He also decided to used the voice of famous singers, like the vocalist of the british band Olive.
In 2003 Cretu decided to change his musical creations and got more involved into the techno - pop - electronic music scene and sounds. Therefore, he released the album Voyageur, in which the first single, Voyageur reflected this new 'wave'.
His latest album, the seventh, was released in 2008 and it was a return to his basics with the use of old classical songs and mysterious sounds and a combination of techno - electronic sounds.
Seven Lives, Many faces was the name of this album which has been considered by many as a great return to Cretu's roots and creativity.
The most outstanding of Michael Cretu's creations is not only the creativity and originality but the magic that each composition has and the journey each make you feel.
* Source: www.enigma.de
Have a listen to some of my favourites songs from Enigma...
1) Sadeness Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F9DxYhqmKw
2) TNT for the brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD6sMFyUtNk&feature=related
3) Voyageur
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTekA4vGLVU&feature=relate
4) Mea Culpa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkzaT9yk9Y
5) Turn around
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtLkVbUq1pM
Tuesday 22 December 2009
Monday 21 December 2009
And the winner is...
Rage against the machine became this year's UK Christmas number one after beaten X Factor winner Joe McElderry to get to the top of the charts.
This Christmas was absolutely unexpected for the UK charts: for the first time the single of the X-Factor winner doesn't reach the number one.
After the past 4 years the name of the X-Factor winners was always in the top of the charts and their brand new songs became the number one in Christmas.
Alexandra Burke made it with 'Hallelujah' in 2008, Leon Jackson reached the top in 2007 with 'When you believe', Leona Lewis captivated the nation with 'A moment like this' in 2006 and finally the heart-throb Shayne Ward became the number one in 2005 with 'That's my goal'.
But 2009 will always be a remarkable year when Joe McElderry didn't get to the top of the charts with the single 'The Climb' (originally released by Miley Cirus).
The reason?
A campaign in Facebook started by a british couple with the aim of preventing another X-Factor number one in Christmas and supporting the song 'Killing in the name' by Rage Against the Machine to became the number one.
And this effort was successful when yesterday around 18:45 the Chart Show in BBC Radio 1 announced unexpectedly that this band was the number one Christmas with the sold of 500,000 downloads during the week.
Since that moment a lot of controversy has been in the news about people dissapointed with this results and claiming that this Rage against the machine's song is not proper for this time of the year as it is all about burning crosses, unholiness and rudeness.
Actually this song was released 17 years ago by this american band and it wasn't a massive success at all.
However, music experts predict that next sunday Joe McElderry will become the number one and might be the number one for New Year's Eve.
No Christmas in the UK Charts
This year seems to be quite different from, at least, last year. Here is the picture:
Last year during december and even january the UK charts were so full with classic Christmas songs and anthems, there was no much space for current singles, all you could see in the top 40 was Mariah Carey, Pogues, Wham, Chris Rea and some others, but was all about Christmas songs.
This year, so far, just a few Christmas songs have reached the chart, but when I say a few I really meant it: basically 4 or 5 songs at the most, while last year were like 10 or 12 songs.
And I reckon the same situation was in past years: in the Christmas period was a must to have the charts full by this kind of songs.
But, what is happening this year?
I guess, no one knows.
This Christmas was absolutely unexpected for the UK charts: for the first time the single of the X-Factor winner doesn't reach the number one.
After the past 4 years the name of the X-Factor winners was always in the top of the charts and their brand new songs became the number one in Christmas.
Alexandra Burke made it with 'Hallelujah' in 2008, Leon Jackson reached the top in 2007 with 'When you believe', Leona Lewis captivated the nation with 'A moment like this' in 2006 and finally the heart-throb Shayne Ward became the number one in 2005 with 'That's my goal'.
But 2009 will always be a remarkable year when Joe McElderry didn't get to the top of the charts with the single 'The Climb' (originally released by Miley Cirus).
The reason?
A campaign in Facebook started by a british couple with the aim of preventing another X-Factor number one in Christmas and supporting the song 'Killing in the name' by Rage Against the Machine to became the number one.
And this effort was successful when yesterday around 18:45 the Chart Show in BBC Radio 1 announced unexpectedly that this band was the number one Christmas with the sold of 500,000 downloads during the week.
Since that moment a lot of controversy has been in the news about people dissapointed with this results and claiming that this Rage against the machine's song is not proper for this time of the year as it is all about burning crosses, unholiness and rudeness.
Actually this song was released 17 years ago by this american band and it wasn't a massive success at all.
However, music experts predict that next sunday Joe McElderry will become the number one and might be the number one for New Year's Eve.
No Christmas in the UK Charts
This year seems to be quite different from, at least, last year. Here is the picture:
Last year during december and even january the UK charts were so full with classic Christmas songs and anthems, there was no much space for current singles, all you could see in the top 40 was Mariah Carey, Pogues, Wham, Chris Rea and some others, but was all about Christmas songs.
This year, so far, just a few Christmas songs have reached the chart, but when I say a few I really meant it: basically 4 or 5 songs at the most, while last year were like 10 or 12 songs.
And I reckon the same situation was in past years: in the Christmas period was a must to have the charts full by this kind of songs.
But, what is happening this year?
I guess, no one knows.
Sunday 20 December 2009
Illegal downloading remains high
Still a lot of internet users keep downloading music without paying a pence for it.
Even though music industry and online platforms have been investing a lot of money and efforts to reduce the illegal downloading of music, the reality reflects a dissatisfy true.
According to a survey by The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reveal that one in three internet users are using illegal sites to get their music.
When the 3,000 people that took part in the survey were asked about their future plans in the illegal downloading of music most of them agreed that in the coming six months they will intent to increase their illegal activities.
One of the executives of BPI said he is dissapointed that the number of people downloading illegal material remains high despite the efforts and publicity by the music industry.
Nowadays there are 35 legal digital music services in the United Kingdom.
However, the BPI registered a boost in the selling of UK singles specially in this year when the figures revealed more than 117 million sold.
Despite this the reality is not good: there are more than a billion illegal downloads every year in the UK.
Even though music industry and online platforms have been investing a lot of money and efforts to reduce the illegal downloading of music, the reality reflects a dissatisfy true.
According to a survey by The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) reveal that one in three internet users are using illegal sites to get their music.
When the 3,000 people that took part in the survey were asked about their future plans in the illegal downloading of music most of them agreed that in the coming six months they will intent to increase their illegal activities.
One of the executives of BPI said he is dissapointed that the number of people downloading illegal material remains high despite the efforts and publicity by the music industry.
Nowadays there are 35 legal digital music services in the United Kingdom.
However, the BPI registered a boost in the selling of UK singles specially in this year when the figures revealed more than 117 million sold.
Despite this the reality is not good: there are more than a billion illegal downloads every year in the UK.
Saturday 12 December 2009
The use of old songs to create dance music
Old songs and music, mainly from 70's and 80's, has become essential for current dj's.
The trend seems to be clear: dj's are using songs from these eras to create the latest electronic anthems of the night.
But this tendency started around 10 years ago or even in the mid 90's when popular dj's from the dance scene began to used sounds and make covers inspired in old former number ones.
Songs from the BeeGees like You should be dancing and Stayin' alive became a new inspiration for the new songs by N-trance and Blockbuster.
During the 90's Dj's like Armand Van Helden, Phats and Small, Yomanda, Bamboo and Stretch n Vern used 70's songs and typical sounds -melodies- from this era to create such songs as You don't know me, Turn Around and I'm alive.
By the beginning of 2000 and to date, the trend has kept growing very much that almost every dance tune has that influence of the music from the 70's and 80's.
Indeed, this massive influence, helped some dj's to reach the top spot of the national UK charts...Call on me by Eric Prydz, Lola's theme by The Shapeshifters, Out of Touch by Uniting Nations and some others became the most played songs for weeks. Also, they became the anthems of the clubs.
Even though, every song has a new vibe they still keep this influence from old sounds, either from the disco scene or the post-disco scene.
It is important to mention that sometimes the Dj just decide to use part of a song or the basic melody of it, meanwhile some others decided to make a full cover of the song and release a new version.
No matter what the case is, old songs and rhythm have become a massive influence for current dj's.
Take a look at some of the best new songs inspired by the oldies...
1) Eric Prydz - Call on me (cover of the song 'Valerie' by Steve Winwood's released in 1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fCqg92qks
2) N-trance - Stayin' alive by (cover of the song "Staying alive" by The BeeGees released in the 70's)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKOif0UKRM
3) Yomanda - Synth & Strings (inspired in the song 'Dance yourself dizzy by Liquid Gold, released in 1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbLpibHT5zY
4) York - On the beach (OTB) (inspired by the song 'On the beach' by Chris Rea, released in 1986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF9P5xcCzb4
5) Stretch n Vern - Im alive (inspired in the song 'Boogie Wonderland' by Earth, wind and fire, released in 1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNsbC5hopR8&feature=related
The trend seems to be clear: dj's are using songs from these eras to create the latest electronic anthems of the night.
But this tendency started around 10 years ago or even in the mid 90's when popular dj's from the dance scene began to used sounds and make covers inspired in old former number ones.
Songs from the BeeGees like You should be dancing and Stayin' alive became a new inspiration for the new songs by N-trance and Blockbuster.
During the 90's Dj's like Armand Van Helden, Phats and Small, Yomanda, Bamboo and Stretch n Vern used 70's songs and typical sounds -melodies- from this era to create such songs as You don't know me, Turn Around and I'm alive.
By the beginning of 2000 and to date, the trend has kept growing very much that almost every dance tune has that influence of the music from the 70's and 80's.
Indeed, this massive influence, helped some dj's to reach the top spot of the national UK charts...Call on me by Eric Prydz, Lola's theme by The Shapeshifters, Out of Touch by Uniting Nations and some others became the most played songs for weeks. Also, they became the anthems of the clubs.
Even though, every song has a new vibe they still keep this influence from old sounds, either from the disco scene or the post-disco scene.
It is important to mention that sometimes the Dj just decide to use part of a song or the basic melody of it, meanwhile some others decided to make a full cover of the song and release a new version.
No matter what the case is, old songs and rhythm have become a massive influence for current dj's.
Take a look at some of the best new songs inspired by the oldies...
1) Eric Prydz - Call on me (cover of the song 'Valerie' by Steve Winwood's released in 1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fCqg92qks
2) N-trance - Stayin' alive by (cover of the song "Staying alive" by The BeeGees released in the 70's)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKOif0UKRM
3) Yomanda - Synth & Strings (inspired in the song 'Dance yourself dizzy by Liquid Gold, released in 1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbLpibHT5zY
4) York - On the beach (OTB) (inspired by the song 'On the beach' by Chris Rea, released in 1986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF9P5xcCzb4
5) Stretch n Vern - Im alive (inspired in the song 'Boogie Wonderland' by Earth, wind and fire, released in 1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNsbC5hopR8&feature=related
Sunday 6 December 2009
Soundtracks: the magic behind the screen
A film is not only created by images, sounds, a nice plot or attractive actors, there is something further: the music composed for it.
Usually this genre is called Soundtracks or Scores.
But there is an important difference to point out about both terms, in the first case generally refers to popular or commercial songs that are used in the film, all of them with lyrics.
In the second case, score means that a specific composer is in charge of creating the music for a film.
The special characteristic about this genre is that the music is mainly instrumental, although most composers like to include a voice performing the song or some chorus to make the tune powerful.
To create this music, composers rely in the use of a quite big variety of instruments, from the traditional piano, keyboards to the strings including violins and cello, trumpets and sometimes even synthesizers.
Even though, people sometimes are not aware of the magic this music, believe me, a film wouldn't be the same with this music, it simply couldn't stand on its own.
Scores create a special magic to the film as they add a lot of emotions and feelings to the particular film, construct an unique atmosphere and literally bring into life the movie.
I don't believe a film would be the same without this special musical composition as it would lacks of certain emotions that images and sounds many times can't give.
The list of composers can be endless as well as their nationalities and the kind of films they usually tend to work. Even though nowadays most composers are quite flexible as they can create music for a drama and romance or horror.
In my personal opinion and, indeed, my favourites are Rachel Portman, Philip Glass, James Newton Howard, Thomas Newman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Dario Marianelli and Patrick Doyle.
Each of them with a different and unique style but still with something in common: make the movies magical.
Here are some samples, enjoy them
1) Dead things by Philip Glass (from the movie The Hours)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vvyktncO9Q&feature=related
2) Kissing in the rain by Patrick Doyle (from the movie Great Expectations)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEvISsgaAE
3) The Gravel Road by James Newtom Howard (from the movie The Village)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJEk824VIas
4) Dead already by Thomas Newman (from the movie American Beauty)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sWll2mqPD0
5) Main titles by Rachel Portman (from the movie Cider House Rules)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2H8p4uqCZ0
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