MAJOR MAESTRO: Backstreet Boys

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Best Love Songs of 2019

Attention!!!

The decade ended with some inspiring yet extremely love-gushing records that are bound to be deemed as classics in the years to come. In the ever expanding genres of the industry, all artists with the certain exceptions of rap and rock have had their attempt at the production of a love song. This compilation takes a closer look at those tunes of love of yesteryear which made us cherish our loved ones and reminisce the endearing memories we have shared with them.

1. Taylor Swift – Lover

It took Swift almost a decade to perfect another love song after Today was a Fairytale. However, this pop ballad is clearly the best love song of 2019 with perfect vocals and mushy lyrics. It is the title track off her latest album and is clearly the best production out of the record. It is one of those tunes that is gushing with love and is accompanied by a duet with Shawn Mendes as well as a First Dance Remix catered particularly for weddings. Her work was paid off as it received a Song of the Year nomination at the 2020 Grammys.

2. Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber – 10,000 Hours

In one of Bieber’s latest ventures other than marriage, we see the superstar collaborate with country duo Dan + Shay for one of the sappiest tracks of the year. The ballad proved to be extremely commercially and critically successful and is accompanied by a music video featuring the wives of the three vocalists.

3. Backstreet Boys – No place

The third release off the critically acclaimed ninth studio album of BSB is a refreshing and light pop track with a focus on loved ones and family. The boy band makes the production even more wholesome with a music video featuring their respective families.

4. Zayn & Zhavia Ward – A whole new world

We are all familiar with this track where the original from Aladdin by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle won the coveted Best Original Song at the 1993 Academy Awards as well as the Song of the Year at the 1994 Grammys. This Middle Eastern reworked production was well received by critics where Zayn and Zhavia’s vocals complemented each other perfectly to coincide with the ambience of the remake.

5. AJ Mitchell ft. Ava Max – Slow dance

Two newcomers to the industry have attempted and succeeded in their endeavor to produce an awesome track with just the correct dose of romance. While Mitchell has not yet broke through into the mainstream, this collaboration is a clear stepping stone towards that direction.

6. Tom Walker – Just you and I

It is the rerelease of the full production of the track that was only available as an acoustic release in 2017. This slow love song was critically acclaimed and was one of the most successful singles in Europe of 2019. The record marks Walker’s second biggest hit in the mainstream.

7. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello – Señorita

This sultry Latin pop duet marks the second time the duo has collaborated following I Know What You Did Last Summer in 2015. The record is the biggest hit in this compilation topping the charts in over 35 countries. The steamy track also sparked off a new found romance between Mendes and Cabello.

8. Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber – I don’t care

This up tempo dancehall-influenced duet served as the lead single off Sheeran’s surprise studio album, No.6 Collaborations Project. This sprightly tune was one of the biggest hits last year and is accompanied by a less than appealing video where the two artists “have fun” in front of the green screen at the viewer’s expense.

9. Westlife – Hello my love

Of course Westlife’s much anticipated comeback must be a love song. The pop-EDM track was the lead single off the band’s eleventh album, Spectrum, which sees the beloved boy band do what they do best, sing about love.

10. Jonas Brothers – Sucker

Clearly there is a pattern for the comebacks of boy bands. Shedding their solo careers, the brothers ended their hiatus with their up tempo pop rock production. This edgy earworm dance anthem heralded the successful return of the Jonas Brothers which has led to a multiplatinum album and autobiography. The music video features the three alongside their significant others.

Till the next ballad...

At Ease!!!

Mother's Day Playlist: Best Songs About Mothers

Attention!!!

Although everyday should be Mother's Day where we celebrate those special ladies who gave birth to us, the West has made it a tradition to honour their mothers on the second Sunday of May, which has slowly seeped its way to the East. Spice Girls' Mama takes the top spot with its emotive lyrics, mellow beat and a very personal and unique music video which features the super stars' mothers. Their rival boy band Backstreet Boys' The Perfect Fan comes in second place followed by Boyz II Men's A Song for Mama. So these are the top 20 songs about mothers. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere.

Spice Girls – Mama
Backstreet Boys – The perfect fan
Boyz II Men – A song for mama
Jamie O’ Neal – Somebody’s hero
Christina Aguilera – Oh mother
Carrie Underwood – Mama’s song
Taylor Swift – The best day
The Band Perry – Mother like mine
Mr.T. – Treat your mother right
Good Charlotte – Thank you mom
Kanye West – Hey mama
Elvis Presley – Mama liked the roses
Blake Shelton – The baby
Ashanti – Mother
Girls’ Generation – Dear mom
Dolly Parton – Coat of many colours
Metallica – Mama said
Eminem – Headlights
2 Pac – Dear mama
Justin Bieber – Turn to you

Till the next chord…

At Ease!!!

10 Greatest Contributions of the 90s to Music

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Well we all know that the 90s were definitely the best decade for music (well at least I do). Although I am a fan of the 60s, 70s and the 2000s, nothing can beat the 90s with its plethora of genres branching into further sub-genres and laying the foundation for the future of coming eras. 60s had its Beatles and Elvis etc. 70s had the peak of Disco and the 80s, well there was nothing special about that decade. The 2000s introduced Electro pop, Romanian pop, K-Pop and several genres of rock, hip-hop and house music to the industry. However, the 90s was a memorable decade due to most of its achievements, accomplishments and contributions to the industry.

1. Influx of Boy Bands and Girl Groups

The 90s witnessed the entrance of a host of boy bands and girl groups in mainstream pop such as the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees, 911, Destiny’s Child, TLC, Eternal, All Saints, B*Witched, Cleopatra, Hanson, 3T, Boys II Men, Five, Westlife, New Kids on the Block, Take That, Boyzone, No Mercy, Damage, The Moffats, BBMak, SWV, Wilson Phillips etc.

2. 90s Alternative Rock

Alternative rock music emerged and took over as the most popular genre of rock during the decade. This genre’s distinction from mainstream rock is expressed primarily in a distorted guitar sound, subversive and/or transgressive lyrics and generally a nonchalant, defiant attitude. Legendary bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Creed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Goo Goo Dolls, Alice in Chains, Third Eye Blind, Green Day, 3 Doors Down, Counting Crows, Hootie and the Blowfish, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, No Doubt etc. had their roots in the 90s.

3. 90s Eurodance

Although it emerged in the latter part of the 80s, eurodance established itself as a clear genre in the 90s. It combines elements of disco, techno and electro music and a chorus rich in melodic vocals and the verses mostly being rapped. Ace of Base, La Bouche, 2 Unlimited, ATC, Culture Beat, Real McCoy, Haddaway, Whigfield, Snap!, Fun Factory, Twenty 4 Seven, Vengaboys, DJ Bobo, Dr.Alban, Cappella, Captain Hollywood Project, Corona, Le Click, Alexia, Centory, Amber, Rozalla, Aqua, Eiffel 65, Mr.President etc. are some who became extremely popular during the decade.

4. Entrance of Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez

The decade saw the entrance of various artists and bands to the music industry but the entrance of Britney, Enrique, Martin and Lopez was definitely a highlight as the foursome with their hits Baby One More Time, Bailamos, Maria, Genie in a Bottle, I Need to Know and If You Had My Love clearly made an impression worldwide as they have now gone onto become six of the biggest selling artists of all time.

5. Whitney Houston, Elton John, Janet Jackson and Santana reach their peak

While Whitney, Elton, Janet and Santana were not new names to the music scene in the 90s, the biggest hits of their careers were during the decade. Whitney’s cover of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You became a global sensation. Elton John’s second rendition of Candle in the Wind sung for late Princess Diana is the biggest selling single of the 90s. Janet’s That’s The Way Love Goes and Santana’s Smooth reached the top in almost all the countries they charted.

6. Make Way for Vocal Heavyweights

The decade undeniably recognized talent and was rich with artists with brilliant vocals and the 90s witnessed the start of singers such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman Michael Bolton, R.Kelly, Seal etc.

7. Oh! Those Sappy Country Love Songs

While there can be several types of love songs, there are certain slow country types which are extremely sappy and due to their extremely romantic nature are chosen for weddings. The decade witnessed the floodgates being swung open by the likes of Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Lonestar, Kenny Chesney and Martina McBride and their hits You’re Still The One, Breathe, It’s Your Love, How Do I Live, Amazed, You Had Me From Hello and I Love You.

8. Mixed Pop Bands

While the boy bands and the girl groups were flourishing during the decade we can see that there were bands composed of a mixture of teenage girls and boys sprouting like mushrooms all over the world all based in mainstream pop like Steps, Solid HarmoniE, S Club 7, The Corrs, Ace of Base, ATC, No Doubt, Vengaboys, A*Teens etc.

9. Ladies enter Rap & Hip-Hop

Whilst hip-hop and rap continued to gain mainstream success in the 90s female artists and bands entered the genre, which was heavily dominated by men and managed to gain significant commercial success. Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj can thank Missy Elliot, Salt-N-Pepa, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown etc. for their efforts and attempts in establishing a feminine presence in the genre.

10. The Macarena

This is the Gangnam Style of the 90s and I believe if social media was as popular as it is now, the quirky dance track Macarena by Los Del Rio with its unique dance moves would have achieved even more commercial success and influence at the time. It is considered as the number one dance song of all time by Billboard and is ranked at No.7 on Billboard’s All Time Top 100.

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Best Boy Bands of All Time

Attention!!!

What is a boy band? Traditionally a boy band would compose of boys in their teens or early twenties selected carefully by a eager music producer and their squeaky clean images carefully pruned by a controlling manager. They normally don't play instruments, especially those bands that popped up in the nineties like mushrooms on a rotting log, so we wonder why they are actually called boy bands and not performers. Their target fan base is of course prepubescent girls and teens who of course believe that the boy bands are the reason for living. However, particular individuals in boy bands have also shaped the trends for boys in their late teens from clothes and shoes to hair styles.

Some boy bands have also paved the way for worldwide superstars such as the King of Pop himself Michael Jackson from the Jackson 5, Justin Timberlake from NSYNC and Ricky Martin from Menudo. With the recent trend in the increasing sprouting of boy bands once more like in the late nineties with One Direction, Rixton, The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer all gaining monumental success in the mainstream music scene I thought of compiling this list. The Backstreet Boys snatch the crown for taking the concept of boy bands to another level. With their advent it was exceedingly difficult for any other boy band to follow up their act, with probably the exception of One Direction who are also immensely popular at the moment. So here are the Best 50 Boy Bands of All Time.