Genres of Music

Dogs are commonly called man's best friend. Maybe not so much wolves and foxes, but read about how composers have been inspired by these wonderful creatures - Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Janáĉek, Prokoviev, Charles Lecoq, Franz Reizenstein and George Crumb.

This article suggests a list of the 16 Best California Rock Bands of All Time. Each band must have started its career in California and be known primarily as a rock and roll band.

This is the story about an AM radio hit song from 1963 called "Sukiyaki" that reached the top of the Billboard charts that year. This sad song has a connection to one of the worst air disasters ever.

Hip-hop is more than a music genre, it is a culture that has shaped America over the past three decades. Read more to find out how hip-hop has influenced society in the United States.

Fun facts and profile of the cutest and most handsome member of BTS, V (Kim Taehyung) and why he is one of the most charming K-Pop male idols of today.

In 1988 the avant-garde black/thrash metal band Celtic Frost released "Cold Lake" - a bizarre attempt to jump on the glam-metal band wagon. The band probably wishes this one would stay forgotten!

This article showcases the best rock bands of the 2010s.

Jeff Buckley is probably most well-known for his cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." But he also has an entire discography of equally stellar songs. Here's 10 of Jeff Buckley's best songs.

This article suggests a list of the 13 greatest Native American rock bands. It only includes bands from North America, that is, Canada and the United States.

John Dowland was a popular and prolific composer of the sixteenth and seventeenth century. His songs and instrumental music are still admired, enjoyed, and studied.

Read about classical music composers depicting morningtime, Ravel, Debussy, Haydn, Elgar, Roussel, Grieg and Delius all taking inspiration in different ways, from Greek classical literature and a painted ceiling to time spent on an orange plantation.

Make your own playlist using the best collection of done-me-wrong songs in country music. No one knows the heartache of lying, cheating, two-timing, and sweet revenge like country music does!

Famous Italian Composers of Classical Music - Biographies and videos demonstrate the history of Italian music, and the works of Verdi, Vivaldi, and others.

Twisted Sister's Dee Snider struck out on his own in 1992 with a new band called Widowmaker. Their debut "Blood and Bullets" never caught on but it qualifies as a great Forgotten Hard Rock Album.

Read on to find out why I found "Kaleefornya' to be a darkly ethereal track full of balanced sounds.

Formed in 1981, Loudness is the best known Heavy Metal band from Japan. They're mainly remembered in the U.S. for their hit "Crazy Nights," from 1985's Thunder in the East album.

This is a list of my favorite popular tropical "on 1" salsa songs that are fun and exciting. I love to dance and listen to these songs! There are songs for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers

Beethoven's musical output can be divided into three different periods. These are the early, middle, and late periods. Each corresponds chronologically with his life and each has its own distinct sound. Focusing on the middle period this article looks at the music that Beethoven wrote, that has since become his most popular.

The charts are filled with music by so called one-hit wonders, a surprising number of which went all the way to number one.

Souling in order to receive a small cake is an old tradition that was a forerunner of trick-or-treating. The lovely "Soul Cake" song has been recorded by multiple artists.

These Swedish sleaze merchants morphed from a generic glam-to-the-max band into a high tech, industrial-rock combo over the course of their three studio albums.

Fun facts and profile of BTS member, J-hope (Jung Hoseok) and the things you should know about the sunshine vitamin of the group.

The State of Texas has it's own distinct kinds of country music and folk music - here are five Texas singer songwriters that changed music, and made timeless songs.

"Hello Dolly!" was a song Louis Armstrong never wanted to record in the first place. But it became his greatest hit. Here's the story of how that happened.

This article suggests a list of the ten greatest rock bands of all time and provides a short biography of each group, as well as photos and videos.

Have you heard of the ondes Martenot, the lira organizzata, theramin, barytone, arpeggione, musical saw, musical clock or glass harmonica? Unusual instruments great composers have written for.

It's one of the "princes of punk"'s biggest hits, but what exactly are blink-182 singing about in "I Miss You"?

Over the years, soft rock has remained a chart-topping genre. This article showcases the very best soft rock songs.

1990 was a pretty good year for hard rock and heavy metal. Here are just some of the albums that are celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2020.

Read on to find out why I deeply enjoyed the combination of powerful vocals, great guest artists and diverse music on Oceanside85's latest album "Neon Dreams."

Here is a list of the most important guitar players in the history of rock. These are the guitarists who inspired millions to pick up the instrument and make their own marks in the music world. Every great guitarist had their own influential hero, and chances are it was one of these players.

"Creatures Of The Night" is considered one of KISS' best albums today, but in 1982 it seemed like their last gasp. It features new guitarist Vinnie Vincent and the anthem "I Love It Loud."

The cross-dressing heavy metal legends have hung up their makeup bags for good. The author, a longtime "SMF," looks back at 40 years of metal, mascara and mayhem.

Originally scheduled for a 1996 release, KISS' grunge-flavored "Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions" album was shelved in favor of a reunion of the original band.

This article is a synth album review of the album "The New Vessel," by Aeronexus.

Did the rock group Led Zeppelin really steal some of their music from other artists? This article tries to answer this question by providing analytical text and videos.

The recorder can create lovely music. A rich repertoire is available for ensembles and soloists. This article includes and describes twelve pieces for recorder ensembles.

Pop radio has become very diverse with indie music, folk pop, rhythm and blues and pop rock. Traditional guitar rock, which has been in decline for years, has yet to make a comeback.

The popularity of K-Pop is rising every day. There are many K-Pop girl groups, but the following top 10 bands are considered to be the most popular in the K-Pop world in 2019.

Famous Russian Composers of Classical Music - Historical biographies and videos to showcase the music of Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and others.

Do you want to play piano like Nodame, but are having trouble finding all the sheet music? Here is a collection of the featured piano music in the anime and live-action drama Nodame Cantabile.

The Ars Nova period in music history began in 14th century France and would lay the groundwork for modern music notation.

The meaning of "Hallelujah,’" a masterpiece of music, is perhaps best understood in its complex historical context. The song’s meaning has evolved with its history of surprises, pain, comfort, death, and life.

Beau Nasty was a "one and done" hair metal band whose lone album, 1989's "Dirty, But Well Dressed," is not only a decent listen, but a sought-after collectible too.

On the characteristics of music of the 1960s.

Michael Praetorius was a prolific composer of the seventeenth century. His compositions are loved today and his written work about music is a valuable resource.

The four members of KISS took a massive gamble when they all released solo albums on the same day in September 1978. Instead of platinum success, it was the beginning of the end for the original band.

This beloved folk song about a little boy and his imaginary dragon named Puff was released by the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. The song was written by Leonard Lipton, whose inspiration for the song came from the poem "The Tale of Custard the Dragon."

The cornett, cornetto, or zink produces a lovely sound that often resembles the human voice. It has finger holes like a recorder and a mouthpiece like a trumpet.

A few classical music fun facts. Maybe they will spark an interest or maybe they are just a bit of trivia to lighten your moodl

Classic metal stalwarts Metal Church released "From The Vault," a collection of rare and unreleased tracks, in 2020.

Read on to find out why I was intrigued by Kushna's approach to synth-based music on Retrodise.

England has a rich collection of traditional folk songs. This article includes performances of four songs and describes the interesting background of the music.

Jimmy MacCarthy is a leading Irish songwriter. He creates contemporary folk songs that often contain interesting imagery that can be interpreted in several ways.

Sergei Prokofiev was a major twentieth-century composer who has left us some beautiful music as a legacy. His compositions were often unusual for his time.

Queensrÿche's split with vocalist Geoff Tate was one of the most bizarre rock dramas in recent memory. Let's find out how it all went down and how it was resolved.

Some Christian songs are just cool. For example, the remake of Jesus is Just Alright by DC Talk and Stomp by Kirk Franklin. These are fun songs that can really get you in a great mood.

Read on to find out why I enjoyed the classic melodies, driving beats and emotionally expressive music on Time Navigators.

Celebrate your wild side by customizing a playlist about cowboys, outlaws and dangerous women using these top rock, pop, R&B and country songs.

The beauty of the moon and its symbolic meanings have inspired many songs around the world. Some lovely folk and traditional songs about the moon exist.

The best thrash metal guitarists from the legendary Big Four thrash bands shaped a genre and influenced a generation of guitar players.

A gallery of some of the most classically bad, painful to the eyes album covers in Heavy Metal history.

All current American popular musical styles, from rock to hip-hop, to bluegrass, can trace their origins to traditional African musical styles introduced by American slaves.

Wales has a wonderful musical heritage. Folk and traditional songs are an important part of Welsh culture. The country is known for its vocal music, singers, and choirs.

This is a comprehensive list of the top traditional Irish, Welsh, Celtic, and Scottish tunes (complete with song samples).

Read on to find out why I found "Black Sand" by Six Leaves Left so hopeful, soaring and energizing.

These are BTS' top 10 songs with the best lyrics.

Ozzy Osbourne knows how to pick a guitarist. Here’s a list of some of the guitar legends he’s toured and recorded with through the years.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has caused much debate over who is excluded. Here is a list of 15 artists that deserve to be considered for inclusion.

K-Pop girl groups have become a global phenomenon thanks to their addictive melodies, stunning choreography, and the exceptional beauty of their members. Here's the list of top 10 most popular and beautiful K-Pop female idols who will make your jaw drop!

These brilliant, but very different, contemporary blues artists showcase the great energy and diversity of styles within the modern blues genre.

Fun facts and trivia about BTS member, Suga (Min Yoongi) and the reasons why we love him!

2003's "St. Anger" is considered to be Metallica's worst album. In 2015, two fans recorded their own version of the disc (with better production) in hopes that people might give it another try.

Beethoven's musical output can be divided into three different periods. These are the early, middle, and late periods. Each corresponds chronologically with his life and each has its own distinct sound. Focusing on the late period this article looks at the music that Beethoven wrote that was his most ambitious, and was written while he was completely deaf.

Greatest hippie songs and videos from the '60s and '70s that convey the feelings and politics of the era.

Pop, rock, country, hip hop, and R&B music are full of songs about stalkers, creepy people, and obsessive love. How many of these songs do you know?

This article is an in-depth biography of the career of Mike Bloomfield, one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.

Julie Fowlis is a popular Scottish folk singer and musician. She generally sings in Gaelic and is involved in collecting the traditional songs of the Hebrides.

KISS' 1981 concept album "Music From The Elder" bombed when it was first released, but has developed a cult following over time.

Some of the best country songs ever made are male/female duets. There is something inherently powerful about the way these songs blend both voices and perspectives to create a relatable narrative.

Madonna and Cyndi Lauper appeared on the music scene around the same time. Both were huge but their singing careers took very different paths. Why did Madonna succeed while Cyndi failed?

Includes embedded videos, text and translations, general remarks about each piece and specific listening guides. Learn to love Renaissance choral music (no prior knowledge required)!

Famous German Composers of Classical Music - Biographies and videos to showcase the work of Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, and others greats from history.

Scotland and Ireland have a rich musical heritage. It's interesting, enjoyable, and sometimes educational to explore traditional folk songs from the two countries.

Read on to find out why I enjoyed the combination of bright synths, rich melodies and XENNON's strong singing voice on Hilt.

This article provides a list of facts and trivia regarding the life of rock and roll guitarist Jimi Hendrix. It also tries to answer the question: How did Jimi Hendrix really die?

This article provides excerpts and details from five of the meanest, harshest, and the most unsympathetic reviews of Classical composers that are viewed as geniuses today.

Man has been able to create fire for at least a million years. Read about how composers of classical music have written music inspired by fire, including Debussy, Beethoven, Manuel de Falla, Shostakovich, Haydn, Prokoviev, Handel and Stravinsky.

Read on to find out why I was fascinated by Baying Ridges' snapshot of a work in progress on "Sketches from the Den Vol. 1 - The Fisherman's Daughter."

Hearing your Symphony #9, I knew I would be connected to you forever. Your abuse, deafness, genius and disappointments along with the need to be loved resonate throughout your music.

Here is a look at ten of the most beautiful movements of Beethoven's music. This article comes highly recommended to people looking to expand their listening knowledge of Beethoven's music or Classical Music in general. Video/listening examples provided.

Some of the most beloved songs have been covered by a variety of artists over the years. We look at Bonnie Raitt's classic tune, "I Can't Make You Love Me" and rank 14 contenders. Who do you prefer?

Read on to find out why I felt that Trans Am Death was the soundtrack to a horror movie that never existed.

This list suggests a compilation of the greatest classic rock and roll songs of all time. It focuses on the period between the 1950s and the year 2000.

What is the meaning of Dark Side of the Moon? What are the themes and ideas that thematically unite Pink Floyd's timeless album together? The exploration starts here.

This article is a countdown of the 50 most important, successful, and influential Japanese metal bands of all time.

This list covers the 10 most popular K-pop boy groups. Find out how these groups are making the best K-pop songs of 2020!

A long time Dokken fan presents a brief history of the band and examines their extensive catalog of hard rock classics.

Trees can be beautiful and impressive. They have inspired the lyrics of many songs, including some lovely folk and traditional songs of England, Scotland, and Wales.

Samhain was the Celtic precursor of Halloween. The festival celebrated the last harvest of the year and the nearness of the Otherworld. Today's Samhain often includes music.