Xposition - December, 2018

Attention!!!

Hip-Hop rules 2019 Grammy Awards Nominees

Kendrick Lamar and Drake lead the Grammy Awards nominees with the two receiving 8 and 7 nods respectively. Lamar’s All the Stars with SZA is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while the original soundtrack of the film, Black Panther wherein he is featured is nominated for Album of the Year. Drake’s God’s Plan is also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Rap Song while his Scorpion in nominated for Album of the Year. Cardi B and Childish Gambino have also garnered 5 nominations each.

Musicals lead the 2019 Golden Globe Nominations

The Golden Globe nominations were announced last week with the musicals leading the way. A Star is Born has 5 nods including Best Picture, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Lady Gaga and Best Original Song for Shallow. Mary Poppins Returns has been nominated 4 times followed by Queen-biopic Bohemian Rhapsody with 2 nods. Shallow goes up against stiff competition like Black Panther’s All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar & SZA and Boy Erased’s Revelation by Troye Sivan.

Billboard releases its 2018 Year-End Lists

Billboard has released its most anticipated year-end lists for the US with Drake named as the Top Artist, Top Male Artist and claiming the biggest single of the year with God’s Plan. The biggest album of 2018 was Taylor Swift’s Reputation with her being named as Top Female Artist as well. Cardi B is the Top New Artist while Imagine Dragons topped the Artists – Duo/Group category and BTS was dubbed the Top Social Artist.  

Final Judgment in ‘Blurred Lines’ Suit 

US District Judge John Kronstadt delivered the final judgment in the Blurred Lines copyright lawsuit wherein Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and Williams’ publishing company, More Water From Nazareth Publishing Inc. was ordered to pay the Marvin Gaye estate over USD 4.9 million. The lawsuit which began in 2013 was filed by Gaye’s estate over copyright infringement of his 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. Gaye's family was also rewarded 50% of the song's future royalties.

Spotify Settles a USD 1.6 Billion Claim Over Songwriter’s Rights

Music streaming giant Spotify has settled a USD 1.6 billion claim over songwriter and publishing rights for an undisclosed amount. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by Wixen Music Publishing over the alleged use of more than 10,000 songs without a license or compensation. Wixen looks after compositions of many high profile artists including Neil Young, Stevie Nicks, Rivers Cuomo and the late Tom Petty.

Ariana Grande breaks record with Thank U, Next video

Ariana Grande premiered the music video for her biggest hit to date, Thank U, Next, breaking the record for most-watched video in YouTube within 24 hours, achieving over 50.3 million views surpassing the views for BTS’ Idol. The video is inspired by iconic 2000s flicks Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Bring It On and 13 Going On 30.

Artists face backlash over imminent performances in Saudi Arabia

The Black Eyed Peas, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, OneRepublic and David Guetta are to headline the Saudi Ad Diriyah E-Prix, an auto racing series and multi-day music festival. The Human Rights Foundation has called for the cancellation of their performances due to the human rights violations by Saudi Arabia and its crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mary Poppins Returns with new tracks

The sequel to Walt Disney’s beloved musical-fantasy film is coming to cinemas this December after a lapse of 54 years. The soundtrack featuring 27 songs out of which 9 are brand new was released last week. Songs are performed by Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke.

Brexit Poses Threat to UK’s Music Industry

The recently formed Music4EU initiative in an open letter warned of how Brexit represented a significant threat to UK’s music industry. The letter was signed by over 550 industry representatives including musicians such as Annie Lennox, Paloma Faith, Chrissie Hynde and Nick Mason. Post-Brexit, the UK artists will find it more expensive to reach consumers and fans, and international markets will be harder to access. Moreover they will be unable to benefit from EU’s proposed copyright reforms.

Cher Announces Memoir and Biopic

Cher announced on Twitter that she will be releasing a memoir in 2020 which would be followed by a biopic. Prior to this, Cher released a collection of essays titled The First Time covering major events of her life in 1998.

Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert

A tribute concert for the late superstar has been announced to be held on 13 January 2019 by the Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS titled Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul. Performing songs from Franklin’s repertoire are Grammy winners Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and BeBe Winans as well as current Grammy nominees Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, and SZA.

Shakira Charged With Tax Evasion

Colombian singer Shakira has been charged with tax evasion in Spain. The singer is alleged to have avoided Euros 14.5 million in tax by claiming she lived in the Bahamas, whereas she actually resided in Catalonia, Spain. It will be left to a judge now to decide if there is enough evidence for her to face trial.

Chris Brown Charged Over Exotic Pet Monkey 

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has charged Chris Brown with two counts of owning a restricted species without a permit for his exotic pet capuchin monkey, Fiji. The maximum sentence for the offence is 6 months in jail. They had obtained a search warrant for his home, but he voluntarily agreed to hand over the monkey before his property was raided.

Chart News

In the US, Ariana Grande continued her reign into the month of December with Thank, U Next which was dethroned by Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode, but Grande returned with force and held on to the crown for the remainder of the month. During the month Meek Mill ft. Drake’s Going Bad and Andy Williams’ Christmas classic It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year entered the top 10.

In the UK, Grande continued her reign with Thank U, Next as well, although she missed out on the coveted Christmas No.1 which went to LadBaby’s comic version of Starship’s We Built this City. During the month Ava Max’s Sweet But Psycho, Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus’ Nothing Breaks like a Heart, Ariana Grande’s Imagine and the X Factor UK winner Dalton Harris coronation single, a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s The Power of Love featuring James Arthur, all entered the top 10 during the month.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Cardi B – Money

2.       Stephen Puth – Sexual vibe

3.       Marc E. Bassy ft. G-Eazy – Love her too

4.       Ariana Grande – Breathin’

5.       Alan Walker ft. Sofia Carson, K-391 & CORSAK – Different world

6.       Rita Ora – Falling to pieces

7.       Bebe Rexha – Knees

8.       Skylar Grey – Everything I need

9.       Post Malone & Swae Lee – Sunflower

10.   Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars & Kodak Black – Wake up in the sky 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - August, 2018

Attention!!!

So many accolades were given this summer. The always anticipated MTV Video Music Awards were held with Cardi B leading the nominations with 12 nods out of which she won 3 including Best New Artist. Childish Gambino also won 3 awards Video with a Message, Best Choreography and Best Direction all for This is America. However, it was Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug who took home the coveted Video of the Year for Havana. The night included star studded performances including Nicki Minaj with a medley of her newest singles Majesty, Barbie Dreams, Ganja Burns and Fefe, Shawn Mendes with In My Blood, Ariana Grande with God is a Woman and Post Malone, 21 Savage and Aerosmith with a medley of Rockstar, Dream On and Toys in the Attic. However, the best performance of the night was from Jennifer Lopez, the recipient of the Video Vanguard Award, who performed a medley of her hits including Waiting for Tonight, On the Floor, Love Don’t Cost a Thing, All I Have and Dinero. Other significant wins of the night included:

·         Artist of the Year: Camila Cabello

·         Song of the Year: Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – Rockstar

·         Best Collaboration: Jennifer Lopez ft. Cardi B & DJ Khaled – Dinero

·         Best Pop: Ariana Grande – No tears left to cry

·         Best Dance: Avicii ft. Rita Ora – Lonely together

·         Song of the Summer: Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – I like it

Next up we have the 2018 Teen Choice Awards where 5 Seconds of Summer was the clear leader with 3 wins including Choice Music Group, Choice Summer Group and Choice Song: Group for YoungBlood. In terms of performances Meghan Trainor performed a medley of her hits No Excuses and Let You Be Right, Lauv performed I Like Me Better and Bebe Rexha performed I’m a Mess. Other big winners include:

·         Choice Male Artist: Louis Tomlinson

·         Choice Female Artist: Camila Cabello

·         Choice Breakout Artist: Khalid

·         Choice International Artist: BTS

·         Choice Song: Male Artist: Ed Sheeran – Perfect

·         Choice Song: Female Artist: Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – Havana

·         Choice Collaboration: Zac Efron & Zendaya – Rewrite the stars

·         Choice Summer Song: Selena Gomez – Back to you

Finally we have the 2018 iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards where Shawn Mendes swept 4 awards out of whopping 8 nominations including Best Pop Artist or Group, Artist of the Year, Fan Fav Artist and Fan Fav Video for In My Blood. Mendes opened and closed the night as well with performances of Lost in Japan and In My Blood. Other noteworthy performances were Halsey with a medley of Sorry and Bad at Love, 5 Seconds of Summer with YoungBlood and Marshmello & Anne Marie with a medley of 2002 and Friends. Some of the other major victors were:

·         Video of the Year: Logic ft. Khalid & Alessia Cara – 1-800-273-8255

·         Best EDM/Dance Artist or Group: Marshmello

·         Best Director: Drake – God’s plan

·         Best Collaboration: Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – Meant to be

·         Song of the Summer: Loud Luxury ft. Brando – Body

·         Fan Fav Single: Selena Gomez & Marshmello – Wolves

  

The music industry suffered a massive blow in August as cancer took its latest victim, this time the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Franklin passed away in her home in Detroit at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer for a while. She is one of the best-selling artists of all time and is the recipient of 18 Grammy Awards. She held the record for the highest chart entries in the US till the 2010s and remains an icon and a legend for those succeeding her legacy. Her contribution to music and the industry as a whole is unmatched, and her achievements shall remain historic compared to the discrimination suffered by her gender and ethnicity during her heyday.   

In other news Sir Cliff Richard has announced a new album called Rise Up to be released in November. This will be Richard’s first new material in 14 years. Speaking of new material Culture Club has been re-branded as Boy George & Culture Club and they released a new song in nearly two decades called Let Somebody Love You. It appears you may have to wait a little bit longer for Ed Sheeran’s Minus (-) which will complete the set, as the pop star has expressed that the next record will not be a pop record but something experimental. Nevertheless, the fans may not have to wait as long as a big pop record as Sheeran has stated the new material may be out as early as next year.

Boyzone began their 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour and their first gig was in Sri Lanka where they paid tribute to their former band mate Stephen Gately as well as going on to perform their newest single Because live for the first time (catch a glimpse of the live debut on the Major Maestro FB page). Meanwhile, Alan Walker was announced to play live in Sri Lanka during the Asian Leg of his global tour.

In chart news first and foremost congratulations to the Billboard Hot 100 which celebrated their 60th anniversary since its launch on 04th August 1958 with Ricky Nelson’s Poor Little Fool as the first ever No.1. At present Drake’s reign in the US continued with In My Feelings throughout the month with no competition to its position whatsoever boosted by the Kiki Challenge going viral on social media. During the month 6ix9ine featuring Nicki Minaj & Murda Beatz’s Fefe, Tyga featuring Offset’s Taste, DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo’s No Brainer and Travis Scott’s Sicko Mode all entered the top 10.  

In the UK too, Drake continued atop the charts with In My Feelings which was ended by George Ezra’s Shotgun in the fourth week of the month and continued its reign in the final week as well. During the month DJ Khaled’s No Brainer, Loud Luxury featuring Brando’s Body, Calvin Harris & Sam Smith’s Promises and Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid’s Eastside all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1.       Jess Glynne – All I am

2.       Marshmello & Bastille – Happier  

3.       The Chainsmokers ft. Emily Warren – Side effects

4.       Martin Garrix ft. Bonn – High on life

5.       Meghan Trainor – All the ways

      6.    Bazzi ft. Camila Cabello – Beautiful

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Ultimate Anthems of All Time

Attention!!!

There are those songs which speak to your core that you can't help but sing along to them. These songs are a part of our lives wherever we are and knowing the lyrics of these songs are as mandatory as knowing the national anthems of our respective countries. Actually knowing the lyrics to these songs is not from memorizing, but from the fact that they are super easy to remember as the beat and the rhythm that go along with these songs have made it so that we do not forget them. From cricket, rugby and football matches these songs are played all over the world at world cups and championships. 

CCR's Have You Ever Seen The Rain is numero uno on this list as it is a clear classic and an unforgettable anthem. All of them are Rock with most of them leaning towards Pop Rock. Some of the most iconic artists and bands such as Elton John, Janis Joplin, Glen Campbell and Ben E. King are on this list alongside Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen and Survivor. Queen leads the number of entries with 3 followed by Elton John with 2. One thing to note is that there are only a few entries by women with Gloria Gaynor with her I Will Survive the only female entry cracking the top 10. So here are the 25 ultimate anthems of all time:

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have you ever seen the rain
2. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet child of mine
3. Bon Jovi – It’s my life
4. Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69
5. Ben E. King – Stand by me
6. John Denver – Take me home, country roads
7. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
8. Queen – We will rock you
9. Gloria Gaynor – I will survive
10. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone cowboy
11. Elton John – Crocodile rock
12. Puddle of Mudd – She hates me
13. Whitesnake – Here I go again ‘87
14. Big Brother and the Holding Company – Piece of my heart
15. Bob Marley – Could you be loved
16. Smokie – Living next door to Alice
17. Tom Jones – Green, green grass of home
18. Queen – I want to break free
19. Survivor – Eye of the tiger
20. Tina Turner – The best
21. Elton John – Saturday night’s alright
22. Aretha Franklin – Respect
23. Queen – We are the champions
24. Village People – Y.M.C.A.
25. Anastacia – I'm outta love

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Best Songs about Female Empowerment/Top Girl Power Anthems

Attention!!!

Happy Women's Day. This year the theme for the International Women's Day is "Be Bold For Change". Surprise, surprise, we have songs about female empowerment and here I have compiled a list of the top girl power anthems which address themes such as female empowerment, equality, independence of women etc. In terms of genre we have mostly Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B. Beyonce aka Queen Bey leads the fray with her Run The World (Girls) and she also has two other entries on the list along with two more entries as part of Destiny's Child. Aretha Franklin's classic hit Respect is at No.2 with Destiny's Child's global smash Independent Women Part 1 at No.3. So without much further ado, here are the 28 top girl power anthems of all time. 

1. Beyonce – Run the world (girls)
2. Aretha Franklin – Respect 
3. Destiny’s Child – Independent women part 1
4. Little Mix – Salute
5. Lily Allen – Hard out here
6. Madonna – Express yourself
7. Gloria Gaynor – I will survive
8. Fifth Harmony – That;s my girl 
9. Pussycat Dolls – I don’t need a man
10. Rihanna – Only girl (in the world)
11. Girls Aloud – Something new
12. Cher – Woman’s world
13. Pink – So what
14. Fifth Harmony – Bo$$
15. Demi Lovato – Confident
16. Daya – Sit still, look pretty 
17. Ciara – Goodies
18. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (what doesn’t kill you)
19. Beyonce – Single ladies (put a ring on it)
20. Katy Perry – Roar
21. Destiny’s Child – Survivor
22. The Band Perry – Done.
23. Beyonce – Irreplaceable
24. Idina Menzel – Let it go
25. Charli XCX – Body of my own
26. Shania Twain – Man! I feel like a woman
27. Katy Perry – Part of me 
28. Meghan Trainor – No

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Ultimate Hits of the 60s

Attention!!!

I welcome you all to the golden era of music. Some hate the 80s and some hate the 70s. Everyone hates the 2010s but no one really dislikes the 1960s. The 1960s is when the modern music revolution took place with the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. The foundation for mainstream pop was established, rock and roll took on new forms and the Motown sound took charts by storm. Although my favourite decade is the 90s and thereafter the 2000s, I've always had a special place for the 1960s for making the music industry for what it is today. 

The bands were more or less named after some random collaboration like for the males: The Marcels, The Foundations, The Monkees, The Zombies etc. and for the females: The Chiffons, The Dixie Cups, The Crystals, The Shirelles etc. What is evident from this era is that bands had more to do with being established than solo artists and also mixed bands were quite rare other than those formed by families such as Sly & The Family Stone. The doo-wop style was extremely popular during this era along with Jazz, Blues and Soul music. 

This list is a compilation of the greatest hits released between 1960-1969 by different artists and bands with the exception of a very few artists having collaborated on songs. I have deliberately excluded other double entries for the sole purpose of providing space for one-hit wonders and to prevent artists or bands such as The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Chubby Checker, Tom Jones and The Everly Brothers from having double entries. Therefore, painstakingly I have had to research and find out the best song released by these artists and bands. Thus, these are the Ultimate Hits of the 60s based on chart performance as well as accolades received. 

1. The Beatles – Hey Jude
2. Chubby Checker – The twist
3. The Monkees – I’m a believer
4. The Supremes – Baby love
5. The Archies – Sugar, sugar
6. Elvis Presley – It’s now or never
7. The Beach Boys – Good vibrations
8. The Everly Brothers – Cathy’s clown
9. Aretha Franklin – Respect
10. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary
11. Mary Hopkins – Those were the days
12. The Ronettes – Be my baby
13. Tom Jones – Green, green grass of home
14. Manfred Mann – Do wah diddy diddy
15. Roy Orbison – Oh pretty woman
16. Sonny & Cher – I got you babe
17. The Rolling Stones – Paint it, black
18. The Shirelles – Will you love me tomorrow
19. Cliff Richard – Congratulations
20. Engelbert Humperdinck – Release me
21. Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra – Somethin’ stupid
22. Marvin Gaye – I heard it through the grape vine
23. The Troggs – Wild thing  
24. Bob Dylan – Like a rolling stone
25. Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs.Robinson
26. Bobby Lewis – Tossin’ and turnin’
27. Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki
28. Del Shannon – Runaway
29. Peter and Gordon – A world without love
30. The Four Seasons – Rag doll
31. Cilla Black – You’re my world
32. Little Eva – The loco-motion
33. Nancy Sinatra – These boots are made for walking
34. The Shadows – Apache
35. Ray Charles – I can’t stop loving you
36. Four Tops – Reach out, I’ll be there
37. Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The young ones
38. The Drifters – Save the last dance for me
39. Lesley Gore – It’s my party
40. Ben E. King – Stand by me
41. Dusty Springfield – You don’t have to say you love me
42. Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody
43. Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful world
44. The Mamas & the Papas – Monday, Monday
45. Young Rascals – Groovin’
46. Lulu – To sir, with love
47. The Byrds – Mr.Tambourine Man
48. Brenda Lee – I’m sorry
49. Connie Francis – Everybody’s somebody’s fool
50. Petula Clark – Downtown
51. The Animals – The house of the rising sun
52. The Marvelettes – Please Mr.Postman
53. The Dave Clark Five – Glad all over
54. The Chiffons – He’s so fine
55. The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
56. The Marcels – Blue moon
57. The Seekers – I’ll never find another you 
58. Roger Miller – King of the road
59. Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs – Sugar shack
60. Dean Martin – Everybody loves somebody
61. Bobby Vee – Take good care of my baby
62. The Cascades – The rhythm of the rain
63. Jim Reeves – He’ll have to go
64. Percy Faith – Theme from a Summer Place
65. Martha and the Vandellas – Dancing in the street
66. The Tornados – Telstar
67. Ken Dodd – Tears
68. The Kinks – You really got me   
69. Dionne Warwick – Walk on by
70. The Crystals – Da doo ron ron
71. The Temptations – My girl
72. Percy Sledge – When a man loves a woman
73. Jimmy Dean – Big bad John 
74. The 5^th Dimension – Aquarius/Let the sunshine in
75. Frank Ifield – I remember you
76. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett – Let it be me
77. The Tremeleos – Silence is golden
78. Bobby Vinton – Roses are red (my love)
79. Sandie Shaw – (There’s) always something there to remind me
80. The Moody Blues – Go now
81. The Searchers – Needles and pins
82. Lou Christie – Lightnin’ strikes
83. The Tokens – The lion sleeps tonight
84. Betty Everett – The shoop shoop song (It’s in his kiss)
85. The Hollies – Stop, stop, stop
86. The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the city
87. Joe South – Games people play
88. Acker Bilk – Stranger on the shore
89. The Doors – Light my fire
90. Sly & The Family Stone – Everyday people
91. The Foundations – Build me up buttercup
92. Peter, Paul and Mary – Leaving on a jet plane
93. The Dixie Cups – Chapel of love
94. Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders – Game of love
95. Bobby Goldsboro – Honey
96. Skeeter Davis – The end of the world
97. Gerry and the Pacemakers – You’ll never walk alone
98. The Turtles – Happy together
99. The Boxtops – The letter
100. The Shangri-las – Leader of the pack
101. Tommy Roe – Sheila
102. Herb Alpert – This guy’s in love with you
103. Danny Williams – Moon river
104. Dick and Dee Dee – The mountain’s high
105. Glen Campbell – Galveston
106. The Angels – My boyfriend’s back
107. Mary Wells – My guy
108. Barry Sadler – Ballad of the Green Berets
109. Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe
110. Lonnie Donegan – My old man’s a dustman
111. Otis Redding – (Sittin’ on) the dock of the bay
112. Joe Cocker – With a little help from my friends
113. Gary Lewis & the Playboys – This diamond ring
114. Brian Hyland – Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini
115. Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas – Bad to me
116. The Association – Cherish
117. Paul Mauriat – Love is blue
118. Ike & Tina Turner – River deep - mountain high
119. Ricky Valance – Tell Laura I love her
120. James Brown – I got you (I feel good)
121. Rolf Harris – Tie me kangaroo down, sport
122. The Contours – Do you love me
123. Harry Nilsson – Everybody’s talkin’
124. Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye – Ain’t no mountain high enough
125. Big Brother and the Holding Company – Piece of my heart
126. The Who – I can see for miles
127. Chuck Berry – You never can tell
128. Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (Be sure to wear flowers in your hair)
129. The Zombies – She’s not there
130. Bobby Darin – Things
131. Sam Cooke – Chain gang
132. John Lennon – Give peace a chance
133. Pat Boone – Speedy Gonzales  
134. Jimmy Jones – Handy man
135. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap – Young girl
136. Eddie Cochran – Three steps to heaven
137. Frankie Vaughan – Tower of strength
138. John Leyton – Johnny remember me
139. Herman’s Hermits – I’m into something good
140. Paula and Paula – Hey Paula
141. Buddy Holly – Bo Diddley
142. Jewel Akens – The birds and the bees
143. Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
144. Gene McDaniels – A hundred pounds of clay
145. Marmalade – Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
146. Helen Shapiro – Walkin’ back to happiness
147. Johnny Preston – Cradle of love
148. Johnny Rivers – Poor side of town
149. Patsy Cline – I fall to pieces
150. Peggy Lee – Is that all there is?

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Who Owned It: 25 Cover Songs Better Than The Original

Attention!!!

There comes a time in all our lives when our jaws drop when we realize that a song that we really like is merely a cover. However, does it really matter that we like the cover better than the original. What if the cover is better than the original? This list is about those artists who have done a much better job than the original artist or band and how they made it their own. Almost all the songs on the list are identified with the covering artist and most of these happen to be their signature songs. 

This list is carefully compiled after considering whether we actually know the original artists. You will find them in the brackets next to the song title. Whitney Houston's global smash hit I Will Always Love You from the soundtrack of The Bodyguard is numero uno as she definitely owned the song originally sung by Dolly Parton and even covered thereafter by Kenny Rogers. Songs like Santana's Black Magic Woman, Gloria Estefan's Turn the Beat Around, Bananarama's Venus and particularly Aretha Franklin's Respect are their signature songs. 

It is fundamental to realize that this list is not about the best covers of all time, as there is a separate list in relation to that, and that this is about how most of us think that these 25 songs are covered by the artists in front and not the ones in brackets. So close your mouth as you read this list as I guarantee your jaw will drop…

1. Whitney Houston – I will always love you (Dolly Parton)
2. Aretha Franklin – Respect (Otis Redding)
3. The Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody (Todd Duncan)
4. Willie Nelson – Always on my mind (Gwen McCrae)
5. Celine Dion – The power of love (Jennifer Heart)
6. Janis Joplin – Me and Bobby McGee (Roger Miller)
7. Sinead O’ Connor – Nothing compares 2 u (Prince)
8. Santana – Black magic woman (Fleetwood Mac)
9. UB40 – Red red wine (Neil Diamond)
10. Soft Cell – Tainted love (Gloria Jones)
11. Ike and Tina Turner – Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
12. Natalie Imbruglia – Torn (Ednaswap)
13. Jennifer Lopez – Waiting for tonight (3^rd Party)
14. Gloria Estefan – Turn the beat around (Vicki Sue Robinson)
15. Michael Andrews ft. Gary Jules – Mad world (Tears for Fears)
16. No Doubt – It’s my life (Talk Talk)
17. Bananarama – Venus (Shocking Blue)
18. Los Lobos – La bamba (Ritchie Valens)
19. Vengaboys – Sha-la-la-la-la (Walkers)
20. Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse – Valerie (The Zutons)
21. Sheryl Crow – The first cut is the deepest (Cat Stevens)
22. Johnny Cash – Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
23. Monica – Angel of mine (Eternal)
24. The Corrs ft. Bono – When the stars go blue (Ryan Adams)
25. Boyzone – Baby can I hold you (Traci Chapman)

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!