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2018 Recap: A Year in Music

Attention!!!

Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for. It’s time to say goodbye to 2018. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be, and no tears will be left to cry for the past year. It’s a no brainer that it was a fantastic year for music. According to God’s plan all the stars aligned for Rap & Hip-Hop, as if I’m taken back to 2002. I like it how the Spanglish resurgence incorporated Rap and EDM into its fold. I've told you one, two, three, four, five, six thousand times that the recap is always under seven segments: genres, albums, singles, milestones, shockers, talent and obituaries. While we will never be the same after 2018, we have high hopes for 2019; thank u, next:

1. Genres

The most conspicuous changes in the mainstream genres were:

Continuing their reign from last year Rap and Hip-Hop ruled the first half of the year with Cloud Rap being the main subgenre on the charts.
Pop which took a backseat to the new trends in fusion music resurfaced in the latter half of the year.
The next phase of the Latin resurgence was the fusion of the genre with EDM and Rap with some hits and a few epic fails.
Mega collaborations was the order of the day be it any genre.
K-Pop conquered the world with BTS and BLACKPINK leading the fray.
The age of Hard Rock and Metal is definitely over with the few hits from the genre being produced only by mainstream artists.
Country music had a big year with the genre doing well on the charts particularly due to crossover artists.
It was a great year for movie musicals with their soundtracks performing extremely well.

2. Albums

Some of the best albums released in 2018 were:

Migos – Culture II (3rd studio album)
Justin Timberlake – Man of the Woods (5th studio album)
George Ezra – Staying at Tamara’s (2nd studio album)
Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour (4th studio album)
CNCO – CNCO (2nd studio album)
Kylie Minogue – Golden (14th studio album)
Charlie Puth – Voicenotes (2nd studio album)
Maluma – F.A.M.E. (3rd studio album)
Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes (3rd studio album)
J Balvin – Vibras (5th studio album)
Marshmello – Joytime II (2nd studio album)
Panic! At the Disco – Pray for the Wicked (6th studio album)
Ariana Grande – Sweetener (4th studio album)
Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys (2nd studio album)
Lily Allen – No Shame (4th studio album)
Jess Glynne – Always in Between (2nd studio album)
Christina Aguilera – Liberation (8th studio album)
Drake – Scorpion (5th studio album)
5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood (3rd studio album)
Eminem – Kamikaze (10th studio album)
BTS – Love Yourself: Tear (3rd Korean studio album)
XXXTentacion – ? (2nd studio album)
Nicki Minaj – Queen (4th studio album)
Clean Bandit – What is Love? (2nd studio album)
Rita Ora – Phoenix (2nd studio album)
Little Mix – LM5 (5th studio album)

Most of the anticipated albums in 2018 were debut studio albums:

Camila Cabello – Camila
Sigala – Brighter Days
Bebe Rexha – Expectations
Alan Walker – Different World
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Anne-Marie – Speak Your Mind
Calum Scott – Only Human
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
Mike Shinoda – Post Traumatic

3. Singles

Drake’s God’s Plan topped the charts in 14 countries and entered the top ten in 9 others and ended the year as the most successful single of the year.
Camila Cabello who left the girl band Fifth Harmony in 2016 achieved monumental global fame with her summer smash hit Havana featuring Young Thug.
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B’s Girls Like You was the most watched music video of 2018 with over 1.5 billion views. Due to this being her third chart topper, Cardi B extended her record in the US for most number ones by a female rapper.
BTS’ Fake Love became the highest charting K-Pop single by a group in the US while BLACKPINK became the highest charting K-Pop female act with Ddu Du Ddu Du.
Ariana Grande revisited the noughties in her Thank U, Next video which became her most successful hit to date and broke the record for most-watched video on YouTube within 24 hours by achieving 55.4 million views passing BTS’ Idol.
With the success of Drake’s In My Feelings boosted by the Kiki Challenge, biggest viral sensation on social media made the artist the rapper with the most number ones in the US.
Little Mix left Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Music over creative differences particularly their hit Woman Like Me featuring Nicki Minaj.
Lady Gaga returned to the top of the charts with Shallow a duet with Bradley Cooper from the soundtrack of their box office hit movie musical A Star is Born.
Lauryn Hill’s 1998-hit Ex-Factor was sampled by Drake and Cardi B in their hits Nice for What and Be Careful respectively.
Panic! At the Disco scored their biggest hit to date with High Hopes surpassing the success of I Write Sins Not Tragedies way back in 2006.
Dad blogger LadBaby claimed the coveted Christmas No.1 with his cover of Starship's We Built This City beating stiff competition from Ariana Grande's Thank U, Next and Ava Max's Sweet But Psycho.
Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You became the first Christmas song in 60 years to enter the top 5 in the US reaching a peak of No.3.
Pinkfong's Baby Shark became a viral hit with over 2 billion views on YouTube and several artists such as BLACKPINK and Girls Generation covering the song and parodies being done on talk shows such as Ellen Degeneres and James Corden and a performance at the X Factor final.
Drake's In My Feelings was the biggest viral sensation of the year with the Kiki Challenge being performed around the world and with its success, Drake became the rapper with the most number one hits in the US.

4. Milestones

Bruno Mars took home the big 3 at the Grammy Awards with Record of the Year for 24K Magic, Album of the Year for 24K Magic and Song of the Year for That’s What I Like
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards for Remember Me from Coco
US President Donald Trump awarded the late Elvis Presley, the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Martin Garrix took the No.1 spot on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs for 2018
Ariana Grande was named Billboard Woman of the Year
BTS became the youngest recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the South Korean government.
Jess Glynne broke Cheryl Cole’s record for most number ones by a British female artist in the UK with 7 chart toppers.
Billboard Hot 100 celebrated its 60th anniversary in August.
Jennifer Lopez received the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards
Justin Timberlake performed at the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show
Daddy Yankee was awarded the Icon Award for his contribution to Latin Music and Maluma was awarded the Extraordinary Evolution Award at the Latin American Music Awards
Janet Jackson received the Icon Awards at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards
Wolf Alice’s Visions of a Life won the coveted Mercury Prize
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa was awarded the Member of the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen’s 2019 Birthday Honours
Kelly Clarkson was honored with the Icon Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards
Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to Walt Disney’s beloved musical-fantasy film was released after a lapse of 54 years starring Emily Blunt in the titular role.
Cher, Reba McEntire, Philip Glass and Wayne Shorter were the honorees at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Taylor Swift became the most awarded female winner in American Music Awards history with a total of 23 awards, breaking the record held by Whitney Houston.

5. Shockers

Spice Girls excluding Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) announced their much anticipated return with the Spice World 2019 Tour with 13 shows.
Boyzone released their seventh and final album Thank You & Goodnight marking their 25th anniversary and a farewell tour with the same name.
Tulisa won the legal battle against Will.I.Am and Britney Spears for Scream & Shout ensuring a songwriting credit.
The remaining members of Fifth Harmony declared a hiatus to pursue solo endeavors.
The final judgment was delivered in favour of the Marvin Gaye estate in the Blurred Lines copyright suit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.
Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso confirmed that Swedish House Mafia have reunited and will tour and release new music in 2019.
The rap beef between Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly reached a climax with Not Alike released by Eminem with a response by MGK with Rap Devil and the final cannon shot at MGK by Eminem with Killshot.
In her new memoir, Brutally Honest, Spice Girl Mel B revealed that just before the X Factor UK final in 2014 where she was a judge she had taken 200 aspirin pills in an attempt to end her life due to her difficult marriage to Stephen Belafonte.
6ix9ine was arrested by US police for racketeering and conspiracy murder charges and if found guilty, the rapper may face 32 years to life in prison.
In the Woolsey Fires that burned through California several artists’ homes including that of Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Lil Pump were burned to the ground.

6. Talent

Here are the winners of those talent/reality contests which produce some of the best artists:

63rd Eurovision Song Contest – Israel with Netta’s Toy
The X Factor (15th Season) – Dalton Harris mentored by Louis Tomlinson
The Voice (14th Season) – Brynn Cartelli coached by Kelly Clarkson
The Voice UK (7th Season) – Ruti Olajugbagbe coached by Sir Tom Jones
The Voice (15th Season) – Chevel Shepherd coached by Kelly Clarkson
The Four: Battle for Stardom (1st Season) – Evvie McKinney
The Four: Battle for Stardom (2nd Season) – James Graham

7. Obituaries

Ray Thomas of The Moody Blues (29 December 1941 – 04 January 2018)
Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries (06 September 1971 – 15 January 2018)
Mark Salling of former Glee Cast (17 August 1982 – 30 January 2018)
Dennis Edwards of The Temptations (03 February 1943 – 01 February 2018)
Barbara Alston of The Crystals (29 December 1943 – 16 February 2018)
Yvonne Staples of The Staple Singers (23 October 1937 – 10 April 2018)
Avicii (08 September 1989 – 20 April 2018)
XXXTentacion (23 January 1998 – 18 June 2018)
Vinnie Paul of Pantera (11 March 1964 – 22 June 2018)
Aretha Franklin (25 March 1942 – 16 August 2018)
Ed King of Lynrd Skynyrd(14 September 1949 – 22 August 2018)
Mac Miller (19 January 1992 – 07 September 2018)
Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Starship (30 January 1942 – 27 September 2018)
Freddie Hart (21 December 1926 – 27 October 2018)
Roy Clark (15 April 1933 – 15 November 2018)
Devin Lima of LFO (18 March 18 1977 – 21 November 2018)

Till next year...

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!!!

Xposition - June, 2017

Attention!!!

The 2017 CMT Music Awards were held in June with Keith Urban as the top nominee and taking home the coveted Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year for Blue Ain’t Your Colour and Collaborative Video of the Year for The Fighter alongside Carrie Underwood. Other big wins of the night included:

• Female Video of the Year: Carrie Underwood – Church bells
• Duo Video of the Year: Florida Georgia Line – H.O.L.Y.
• Group Video of the Year: Little Big Town – Better man
• Breakthrough Video of the Year: Lauren Alaina – Road less traveled
• CMT Performance of the Year: Jason Derulo & Luke Bryan – Want to want me

Following the horrific bombing at the Manchester Arena in May, Ariana Grande returned to Manchester but this time to the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in order to pay tribute to her fans who died in the blast. She did not come alone as guest artists included Miley Cyrus, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Take That, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Little Mix, Niall Horan, Pharrell Williams, Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams. Proceeds from the event which exceeded £12 million went to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund established by the Manchester City Council and the British Red Cross. The funds were to help the victims and their families.

The Summertime Ball returned to the Wembley Stadium in London on June 10, for the eighth consecutive year headlined by Bruno Mars and Little Mix. All the contemporary megastars took center stage as Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, Julia Michaels, Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, Louisa Johnson, Olly Murs, Zara Larsson etc. with guest appearances from Hailee Steinfeld, Craig David, Imani Williams and Ella Eyre.

Sir Paul McCartney, Emeli Sandé and Ed Sheeran have been recognized in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List which will see the artists receive the prestigious MBE for their contributions to the arts and society.

It is the end of the Black Eyed Peas as we know it as Fergie has officially left the Hip-Hop group. Although not in the original line-up Fergie’s addition saw the group rising to new heights and making a massive breakthrough into the mainstream Pop, Rap and Hip-Hop industry. Her powerful vocals gave the group the much needed sync with the rapping of will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo. All in all Black Eyed Peas will never be the same, and her last contribution was to the fittingly reworked #WHEREISTHELOVE which is a charity song the proceeds of which was to will.i.am’s non-profit foundation i.am.angel, which funds educational programs and college scholarships.

Boyzone are to celebrate their 25th anniversary next year with an arena tour. They have also teased about new music, although it is unclear whether they will release a new album with fresh music or a greatest hits compilation with a few new singles.

Moving onto chart news, in the US, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber’s Despacito continued at the top of the charts throughout the month, with no competition whatsoever. There was hardly any activity at the top of the charts during the month with Miley Cyrus’ Malibu and Post Malone featuring Quavo’s Congratulations being the only two songs to crack the top 10.

In the UK too, Despacito reigned supreme until the cover of Bridge of Troubled Water by Artists for Grenfell peaked in the final week. The latter song was a charity single released to raise funds for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. During the month Liam Payne featuring Quavo’s Strip That Down, Niall Horan’s Slow Hands, David Guetta featuring Justin Bieber’s 2U, Little Mix featuring Stormzy’s Power and Jonas Blue featuring William Singe’s Mama all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – Wild thoughts
2. Katy Perry ft. Nicki Minaj – Swish swish
3. Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – Down
4. Olly Murs & Louisa Johnson – Unpredictable
5. Imagine Dragons – Thunder
6. Selena Gomez – Bad liar

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Best Songs about Anti-Racism/Non-Discrimination

Attention!!!

Are we not all guilty of racial profiling? In the wake of the terrible rise of ISIS, we see the gradual slow but steady ascension of racism. Discrimination is only skin deep, but not all of us are colour blind. The Holocaust was a horror for all of us, not just the Jews which suffocated in the gas chambers. The massacres and genocide in the name of purifying regions and nations has become a contemporary nightmare around the world, particularly in Africa and Asia. That does not in anyway mean that in the elitist areas of the developed Western world, that bigotry is dead. For those of African descent with dark skin have suffered immense discrimination at the hands of those with white skin, especially in the Americas.

The root cause of racism is the mistrust among communities and terror outfits such as LTTE and ISIS have paved the way for certain ethnicities being classified and profiled as terrorists. The ugly truth is that the violent separatism advocated by the Tamil Tigers and the incessant Jihadist butchery of the IS militants have lead the world to stereotype these communities. #SayNoToRacism is a slogan popularized by activists, mainstream and social media these days. However, it is relevant to note how much of it has had an actual effect.

Music has over the years dealt with many issues and non-discrimination is an area which it has touched upon, although there is no significant number. Bob Marley and the Wailers' War takes the crown as the Rastafarian sings bravely about the equal rights for different races. Michael Jackson with his 90s hit Black or White takes second place and the King of Pop is the only one to have two entries on the list. At a close third is Eddy Grant's Gimme Hope Jo'anna which refers to the Apartheid which prevailed in South Africa. There is no typical genre as it varies from pop and rock to reggae and rap. So here are the Top 25 songs about anti-racism and non-discrimination:

Bob Marley and the Wailers – War
Michael Jackson – Black or white
Eddy Grant – Gimme hope Jo’anna
Vanessa Williams – Colours of the wind
Billie Holiday – Strange fruit
Lady Gaga – Born this way
Bob Dylan – Hurricane
Black Eyed Peas – Where is the love?
John Legend & Common – Glory
John Lennon – Imagine
B.o.B. ft. Taylor Swift – Both of us
Sam Cooke – A change is gonna come
Race Against The Machine – Killing in the name
Boyzone – A different beat
Sly and the Family Stone – Everyday people
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony and ivory
En Vogue – Free your mind
Jay-Z – 99 Problems
Michael Jackson – They don’t care about us
Gwen Stefani – Long way to go
Aerosmith – Livin’ on the edge
Cher – Half-breed
Red Hot Chili Peppers – The power of equality
2Pac ft. Pogo – I don’t give a fuck
Scatman John – Scatman’s world

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.