MAJOR MAESTRO: The Beatles

Showing posts with label The Beatles. Show all posts

Xposition - December, 2017

Attention!!!

While the awards season officially came to a close we had other accolades to be given. These were the year-end coronations. Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was a no-shocker there as it crowned almost all the major year-end charts worldwide from US and UK to Canada and Australia. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber’s Despacito was a close second as it was released later in the year as a Spanglish remix. In the US, it was a clearly male dominated chart with Halsey being the lone female within the top 10, even that only as a featured role in The Chainsmokers’ Closer. In the UK too it was not too different as there were only two females featured in the top 10: Zara Larsson featured on Clean Bandit’s Symphony and Raye featured on Jax Jones’ You Don’t Know Me. The top 10 for the major markets are as follows:

#	United States	United Kingdom	Australia	Canada
1	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you	Ed Sheeran – Shape of you
2	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito	Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – Despacito
3	Bruno Mars – That’s what I like	Ed Sheeran – Castle on the hill	Ed Sheeran – Castle on the hill	The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer
4	Kendrick Lamar – Humble.	French Montana ft. Swae Lee – Unforgettable	Ed Sheeran – Perfect	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this
5	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	Ed Sheeran – Galway girl	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	French Montana ft. Swae Lee – Unforgettable
6	Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – Bad and boujee	Ed Sheeran – Perfect	Imagine Dragons – Thunder	The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – Starboy
7	The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – Closer	Clean Bandit ft. Zara Larsson – Symphony	Ed Sheeran – Galway girl	Bruno Mars – That’s what I like
8	Sam Hunt – Body like a bad road	Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Human	Kendrick Lamar – Humble.	Kygo & Selena Gomez – It ain’t me
9	Imagine Dragons – Believer	The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something just like this	Macklemore ft. Skylar Grey – Glorious	Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
10	Post Malone ft. Quavo – Congratulations	Jax Jones ft. Raye – You don’t know me	Shawn Mendes – There’s nothing holdin’ me back	DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – I’m the one

Although the BRIT Awards 2018 are to be held in February, as per the norm the winner of the BRITs Critics Choice was announced. Beating competition from Mabel and Stefflon Don, Jorja Smith was announced as the winner of the coveted award. She follows in the footsteps of Adele, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and most recently Rag ‘n’ Bone Man who proved he indeed has what it takes to be a superstar.

In reality TV news, the X Factor had its grand finale in December where Rak-Su emerged victorious over Grace Davies after an intense last battle. Rak-Su won with their own original song Dimelo which features Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy. Another significance of this victory is that they are only the second group to have won the show after Little Mix and the only boy band to win it. Mentored by Simon Cowell, the foursome managed to win the audience and was a much easier win being the clear favorites unlike the year before.

It was also revealed at the end of the month that The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Bee Gees founder member Barry Gibb had been awarded knighthoods in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Other honorees include grime star Wiley, real name Richard Cowie, who is awarded an MBE for his services to music.

On the other side of the world, the lead singer of K-Pop band SHINee Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious at his home and dead upon admission to hospital at the age of 27. His death is considered to be ruled as an apparent suicide.

In the US, Post Malone ft. 21 Savage’s Rockstar continued its reign till the third week until Ed Sheeran’s Perfect took the crown fueled by a duet version with Beyonce and continued at the top for the rest of the month. During the month Migos, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B entered the top 10 with MotorSport and Mariah Carey entered the top 10 with her Christmas classic All I Want For Christmas Is You, which achieved its chart peak 23 years since it was originally released.

In the UK, Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug’s Havana began the month at the top but was dethroned again by Ed Sheeran’s Perfect. Perfect remained at the top throughout even grabbing the coveted Christmas No.1. During the month Clean Bandit ft. Julia Michaels' I Miss You, MK’s 17 and Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran’s River all entered the top 10.

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. NF – Let you down

2. Dua Lipa – IDGAF

3. Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran & Future – End game

4. Inna – Nirvana

5. Camila Cabello – Never be the same

6. Halsey & G-Eazy – Him & I

7. Jason Derulo ft. French Montana – Tip toe

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Xposition - March, 2016

Attention!!!

While February was quite eventful, March was relatively quiet with only a few movements on the charts. In early March, Sir George Martin, the legendary record producer who propelled The Beatles to fame also referred to as the fifth Beatle passed away at the age of 90. It was in 1962 that he signed on the Fab Four and thereafter made them a worldwide phenomenon with 30 No.1 hits in UK alone.

The 29th Annual Kids' Choice Awards was also held in March with Blake Shelton hosting the event. Out of the three performances only DNCE's Cake By The Ocean stood apart as being good. The Favorite Music Group was awarded to Fifth Harmony while Adele took away the coveted Favorite Song of the Year for Hello. The other awards for music included:

Favorite Male Singer: Justin Bieber
Favorite Female Singer: Ariana Grande
Favorite New Artist: Shawn Mendes
Favorite Collaboration: Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth - See You Again

The Box Plus Network have released the Pop Powerlist for 2016 wherein Justin Bieber unsurprisingly has been ranked 1. No doubt the current Prince of Pop is No.1 as he managed to score three back to back No.1 hits in the UK from his latest album Purpose. Closely behind Bieber we have Adele whose album 25 and worldwide smash Hello was enough for her to make that titanic comeback. The top 10 are:

Justin Bieber
Adele
One Direction
Rihanna
Coldplay
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
ZAYN
Little Mix
Ed Sheeran

Fall Out Boy and Biffy Clyro have been announced as the final headliners for the Reading and Leeds Festivals 2016. Disclosure and Foals were already announced as headliners with the fifth and final headliner being Red Hot Chili Peppers who return to the festival after nine years. Also confirmed to perform are HAIM, Chvrches and The Vaccines.

Moving onto chart news, in the US, Rihanna ft. Drake's Work took over the crown from Justin Bieber's Love Yourself on the first week of March itself and continued her reign throughout the month. Work is Rihanna's 14th No.1 and now she moves up the ladder passing Michael Jackson as the artist with the third highest number of chart toppers behind The Beatles with 20 and Mariah Carey with 18. Work is also the ninth Hot 100 No.1 by a non-US born act with the final week of March witnessing 36 straight weeks of non-US born acts ruling the roost. During the month DNCE's Cake By The Ocean, Flo Rida's My House, Lukas Graham's 7 Years, Mike Posner's I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix) all entered the top 10 along with Kelly Clarkson's Piece By Piece which soared into the top 10 after an emotional performance during an episode of the final season of the American Idol.

In the UK, Lukas Graham's 7 Years had a strong presence at the top with the global hit remaining on at the summit for the first three weeks and completing 5 consecutive weeks atop the UK Charts and surpassing Whigfield and Aqua as the most successful Danish act in the UK in terms of chart position. This reign came to an end as Mike Posner's I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix) overthrew 7 Years and stayed at the top for the final two weeks of the month. During the month Zara Larsson's Lush Life achieved a peak of No.3 and Rihanna ft. Drake's Work crept up to No.2 while Major Lazer ft. Fuse ODG and Nyla's Light It Up reached No.7.

Some of the hits that became popular during the month are:

Coldplay - Hymn for the weekend
Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dollar $ign - Work from home
Sigala ft. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say you do
Sia ft. Sean Paul - Cheap thrills
Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls like
Meghan Trainor - No
Alan Walker - Faded

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Ultimate Birthday Playlist/Best Birthday Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

This post is dedicated to Tharindri Rupesinghe!

Your birthday comes only once a year and some love it while others hate it. Some people celebrate that they are one year older while others mourn that their nearing death. Whatever said and done it is the commemoration of one's birth and what you do on that day is up to you. As usual music provides for all occasions and birthdays are no exception. These songs are to wish the birthday girl or boy a very happy birthday and an awesome year ahead. Of course Happy Birthday To You sung at all birthdays takes the crown and according to the Guinness World Records it is the most recognized song in the English language. The melody is attributed to the Mill sisters in 1893 from their Good Morning To All which ultimately throughout the ages took on the version that is sung today at birthdays. So here are the 15 best birthday songs of all time:

Patty Hill & Mildred J. Hill – Happy birthday to you
New Kids On The Block – Happy birthday to you
Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday
Katy Perry – Birthday
The Beatles – Birthday
Will.I.Am ft. Cody Wise – It’s my birthday
Selena Gomez – Birthday
Andreea D – It’s your birthday
Destiny’s Child – Birthday
Altered Images – Happy birthday
Jeremih – Birthday sex
Pixie Lott – Birthday
Rihanna – Birthday cake
The Click Five – Happy birthday
2 Chainz ft. Kanye West – Birthday song

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.

The Beatles – Hey Jude
Chubby Checker – The twist
The Monkees – I’m a believer
The Supremes – Baby love
The Archies – Sugar, sugar
Elvis Presley – It’s now or never
The Beach Boys – Good vibrations
The Everly Brothers – Cathy’s clown
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary
Mary Hopkins – Those were the days
The Ronettes – Be my baby
Tom Jones – Green, green grass of home
Manfred Mann – Do wah diddy diddy
Roy Orbison – Oh pretty woman
Sonny & Cher – I got you babe
The Rolling Stones – Paint it, black
The Shirelles – Will you love me tomorrow
Cliff Richard – Congratulations
Engelbert Humperdinck – Release me
Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra – Somethin’ stupid
Marvin Gaye – I heard it through the grape vine
The Troggs – Wild thing
Bob Dylan – Like a rolling stone
Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs.Robinson
Bobby Lewis – Tossin’ and turnin’
Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki
Del Shannon – Runaway
Peter and Gordon – A world without love
The Four Seasons – Rag doll
Cilla Black – You’re my world
Little Eva – The loco-motion
Nancy Sinatra – These boots are made for walking
The Shadows – Apache
Ray Charles – I can’t stop loving you
Four Tops – Reach out, I’ll be there
Cliff Richard & The Shadows – The young ones
The Drifters – Save the last dance for me
Lesley Gore – It’s my party
Ben E. King – Stand by me
Dusty Springfield – You don’t have to say you love me
Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody
Louis Armstrong – What a wonderful world
The Mamas & the Papas – Monday, Monday
Young Rascals – Groovin’
Lulu – To sir, with love
The Byrds – Mr.Tambourine Man
Brenda Lee – I’m sorry
Connie Francis – Everybody’s somebody’s fool
Petula Clark – Downtown
The Animals – The house of the rising sun
The Marvelettes – Please Mr.Postman
The Dave Clark Five – Glad all over
The Chiffons – He’s so fine
The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
The Marcels – Blue moon
The Seekers – I’ll never find another you
Roger Miller – King of the road
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs – Sugar shack
Dean Martin – Everybody loves somebody
Bobby Vee – Take good care of my baby
The Cascades – The rhythm of the rain
Jim Reeves – He’ll have to go
Percy Faith – Theme from a Summer Place
Martha and the Vandellas – Dancing in the street
The Tornados – Telstar
Ken Dodd – Tears
The Kinks – You really got me
Dionne Warwick – Walk on by
The Crystals – Da doo ron ron
The Temptations – My girl
Percy Sledge – When a man loves a woman
Jimmy Dean – Big bad John
The 5^th Dimension – Aquarius/Let the sunshine in
Frank Ifield – I remember you
Jerry Butler & Betty Everett – Let it be me
The Tremeleos – Silence is golden
Bobby Vinton – Roses are red (my love)
Sandie Shaw – (There’s) always something there to remind me
The Moody Blues – Go now
The Searchers – Needles and pins
Lou Christie – Lightnin’ strikes
The Tokens – The lion sleeps tonight
Betty Everett – The shoop shoop song (It’s in his kiss)
The Hollies – Stop, stop, stop
The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the city
Joe South – Games people play
Acker Bilk – Stranger on the shore
The Doors – Light my fire
Sly & The Family Stone – Everyday people
The Foundations – Build me up buttercup
Peter, Paul and Mary – Leaving on a jet plane
The Dixie Cups – Chapel of love
Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders – Game of love
Bobby Goldsboro – Honey
Skeeter Davis – The end of the world
Gerry and the Pacemakers – You’ll never walk alone
The Turtles – Happy together
The Boxtops – The letter
The Shangri-las – Leader of the pack
Tommy Roe – Sheila
Herb Alpert – This guy’s in love with you
Danny Williams – Moon river
Dick and Dee Dee – The mountain’s high
Glen Campbell – Galveston
The Angels – My boyfriend’s back
Mary Wells – My guy
Barry Sadler – Ballad of the Green Berets
Bobbie Gentry – Ode to Billie Joe
Lonnie Donegan – My old man’s a dustman
Otis Redding – (Sittin’ on) the dock of the bay
Joe Cocker – With a little help from my friends
Gary Lewis & the Playboys – This diamond ring
Brian Hyland – Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini
Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas – Bad to me
The Association – Cherish
Paul Mauriat – Love is blue
Ike & Tina Turner – River deep - mountain high
Ricky Valance – Tell Laura I love her
James Brown – I got you (I feel good)
Rolf Harris – Tie me kangaroo down, sport
The Contours – Do you love me
Harry Nilsson – Everybody’s talkin’
Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye – Ain’t no mountain high enough
Big Brother and the Holding Company – Piece of my heart
The Who – I can see for miles
Chuck Berry – You never can tell
Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (Be sure to wear flowers in your hair)
The Zombies – She’s not there
Bobby Darin – Things
Sam Cooke – Chain gang
John Lennon – Give peace a chance
Pat Boone – Speedy Gonzales
Jimmy Jones – Handy man
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap – Young girl
Eddie Cochran – Three steps to heaven
Frankie Vaughan – Tower of strength
John Leyton – Johnny remember me
Herman’s Hermits – I’m into something good
Paula and Paula – Hey Paula
Buddy Holly – Bo Diddley
Jewel Akens – The birds and the bees
Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
Gene McDaniels – A hundred pounds of clay
Marmalade – Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Helen Shapiro – Walkin’ back to happiness
Johnny Preston – Cradle of love
Johnny Rivers – Poor side of town
Patsy Cline – I fall to pieces
Peggy Lee – Is that all there is?

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Most Successful Solo Artists Who Were Once Part of a Band/Group

Attention!!!

There are some bands/groups that consist of certain key performers who outshine the rest. And we all know that most of these bands especially the boy/girl bands do not stay together for long as they disband, split up or go their separate ways due to various reasons such as management disputes, being dropped by labels and more often than not internal strife among members. In certain cases such as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Rogers and Selena Gomez the bands include the name of the key performer or the lead vocalist. However, there are others who leave the band as their talents are not recognized such as Louise from Eternal and Robbie Williams from Take That. Sometimes the face of the band is more or less the lead vocalist and they proceed to launch their solo career such as Gwen Stefani, Rob Thomas, George Michael etc. When one is part of a duo it is also quite easy to become prominent when launching a solo career as in the cases of Cher, Tina Turner, Paul Simon and CeeLo Green.

The King of Pop - Michael Jackson tops the list as his solo career trumped the success of the Jackson 5 by way more than he even anticipated. The Supremes although considered as the best selling Motown act of all time can be overshadowed by the fame earned by Diana Ross during her solo career. However, it is Beyonce and Justin Timberlake who can be considered as being the most influential solo female and male artists of all time in terms of starting their career as being part of a band. This is a compilation of the most successful artists who were once part of a band/group in comparison to the success of the band/group.