Xposition - July, 2018

Attention!!!

The nominations for the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards were announced with Cardi B leading the pack with a whopping 10 nods including Video, Song and Artist of the Year and The Carters (Beyonce & Jay-Z)  with 8 nods. The Video of the Year nominations are:

• Ariana Grande - No tears left to cry
• Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B - Finesse (Remix)
• The Carters - APESHIT
• Drake - God's plan
• Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug - Havana
• Childish Gambino - This is America 

The shortlist for this year's coveted Mercury Prize has been revealed which will be awarded in September. Among the known names are:

• Lily Allen - No Shame
• Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino 
• Jorja Smith - Lost & Found 
• Florence + The Machine - High as Hope

Forbes has released its list of 100 Highest Paid Celebrities and some of our favorite musicians are on it. Highest on list at No.6 is the Irish band U2 with a massive USD 118 Million followed by Coldplay at No.7 and Ed Sheeran No.9. In the top 20 we have Bruno Mars at No. 11 and Katy Perry at No.19. The others featured in the Top 50 are:

21 - Taylor Swift

25 - Jay-Z

27 - Guns N' Roses

32 - Sean Combs

35 - Beyonce

37 - Kendrick Lamar

39 - The Weeknd

41 - The Eagles

44 - Depeche Mode

45 - Pink/Luke Bryan 

49 - Lady Gaga

50 - Calvin Harris 

It appears that the X Factor UK panel for 2018 has been completely reformed with the exception of Simon Cowell. Robbie Williams, his wife Ayda Field and former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson replace Louise Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger for the newest season of this global reality show which seeks to find the next best superstar. 

Rumours have it that Dua Lipa will in fact be recording the theme song for the next James Bond movie. In a massive slip up Years & Years member Mikey Goldsworthy said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, that Dua Lipa had been selected to sing the theme. Her appeal may be after she won British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Artist at the 2018 BRIT Awards coupled with her back to back hits with New Rules, IDGAF and One Kiss.   

Former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams has checked into a mental health center for depression. It is a known fact that she has been struggling with mental health issues, particularly during the peak of Destiny's Child's fame and success where she admitted she even felt suicidal at times. 

In chart news, in the US, Cardi B, J Balvin and Bad Bunny's I Like It opened the month at the top overthrowing XXXTentacion's Sad! which had peaked at the end of June following the latter's death. However, this was short-lived as Drake returned to the top with Nice for What which he replaced with In My Feelings which remained at its peak for the remainder of the month. Meanwhile, with Drake's newest album Scorpion out in July saw all of the singles from the album enter the Billboard Hot 100 including several into the top 10 such as Nonstop, Emotionless and I'm Upset. 

Meanwhile, in the UK, George Ezra's Shortgun was the first No.1 of the month as it replaced Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato's Solo. It continued for two weeks at the top after which Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds' Three Lions roared to the top propelled by the United Kingdom reaching the semi finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was again overthrown next week by Drake's In My Feelings. During the month Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack's Rise, Ariana Grande's God is a Woman, Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B's Girls Like You and XXXTentacion's Sad! entered the top 10. 

Other songs which became popular during the month were:

1. 5 Seconds of Summer - Youngblood
2. Drake ft. Michael Jackson - Don't matter to me
3. Tiësto & Dzeko ft Preme & Post Malone - Jackie Chan
4. Cheat Codes & Little Mix - Only you
5. Kygo & Imagine Dragons - Born to be yours
6. Rudimental & Major Lazer ft. Anne-Marie & Mr.Eazi - Let me live 
7. Jax Jones ft. Mabel & Rich the Kid - Ring ring 

Till the next beat...

At Ease!!!

Saddest Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

Sadness is a subjective feeling which can be generally termed as emotional pain associated with feelings of despair, rejection, loss, loneliness, disappointment and sorrow. Music as we know is quite capable of generating emotions. There are songs which can tug at your very heart strings to invoke those depressing feelings and leave you quite miserable. While happy songs are quite upbeat with a peppy melody and positive lyrics, sad songs take on slow gloomy rhythms accompanied by soft vocals and disheartening lyrics. These songs are mostly tributes to loved ones who have passed away and some are dealing with heartbreak while others are about personal loss. While there is a blurred line between sad songs and songs about heart break, the tone, mood and emotion sets apart the latter from the sad songs as well as the fact that the sad songs which are also about heartbreak deals with the pain one is going through instead of bitter feelings towards the other party. 

So Evanescence's Hello is crowned as the saddest song with its extremely emotional lyrics accompanied by a haunting Amy Lee on the piano. The song is about how Amy Lee still remembers how she found out about her 3 year old sister's death when she was 6 years old. At second place is Ross Copperman's Holding On and Letting Go with Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven at a close third. Evanescence has 4 entries on the list with Sarah McLachlan having 3 entries. So here are the saddest songs of all time:

1. Evanescence – Hello
2. Ross Copperman – Holding on and letting go
3. Eric Clapton – Tears in heaven
4. Don Mclean – Vincent
5. Vonda Shepard – 100 tears away
6. R.E.M. – Everybody hurts
7. Spiritualized – Lay it down slow
8. The Carpenters – Goodbye to love
9. Elton John – Candle in the wind
10. Skeeter Davis – The end of the world
11. The Band Perry – If I die young
12. Nelly Furtado – All good things come to an end
13. Evanescence – You
14. Vonda Shepard ft. Emily Saliers – Baby don’t you break my heart slow
15. Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera – Say something
16. Pearl Jam – Last kiss (Original by Wayne Cochran)
17. Gary Jules – Mad world
18. Boz Scaggs – We’re all alone
19. Chental Kreviazuk – Leaving on a jet plane (Original by John Denver)
20. Gabrielle – Out of reach
21. Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on heaven’s door
22. Timbaland ft. OneRepublic – Apologize
23. Sarah McLachlan – Angel
24. Enya – Only time
25. Gilbert O’ Sullivan – Alone again (naturally)
26. Mariah Carey & Boys II Men – One sweet day
27. Jewel – Foolish games
28. Sarah McLachlan – Rainbow connection (Original by Kermit the Frog)
29. Evanescence – My immortal
30. Simon & Garfunkel – The sound of silence
31. The Beatles – Yesterday
32. U2 – With or without you
33. Sam Smith – I’m not the only one
34. James Blunt – Goodbye my lover
35. Peter & Gordon – World without love
36. Patti Smith – No mistakes
37. Miranda Lambert – Over you
38. Adele – Someone like you
39. Joshua Radin – Closer
40. Whitney Houston – I will always love you (Original by Dolly Parton)
41. Lifehouse – Broken
42. Roy Orbison – In the real world
43. Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – See you again
44. Cyndi Lauper – Time after time 
45. Avril Lavigne – Nobody’s home
46. Radiohead – Creep
47. Johnny Cash – Hurt
48. Sarah McLachlan – I will remember you
49. Mike + The Mechanics – The living years
50. Coldplay – Fix you

Till the next chord…

At Ease!!!

Happiest Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

In the past I have covered the most inspirational songs of all time, the most upbeat songs of all time and now I have compiled the happiest songs of all time. These are the chirpiest songs, of course ones that have entered the mainstream and become extremely popular. I believe that music must necessarily uplift one's spirits. While the genre of music you listen to may depend on the mood you are in, at the end of the day music should be able to fill that gap in your soul. The following songs are not the most favorite of some as they are considered barfingly too happy for some people's tastes. However, their beats, lyrics and melodies are extremely bubbly and high-spirited. These cheerful songs are almost always about beautiful sunny days, feeling good, being young, and living care free. Almost all the songs belong to traditional pop with some elements of alternative rock. American Authors with their Best Day of My Life tops the list as the song was clearly made about just being happy. So here are the happiest songs of all time:

1. American Authors – Best day of my life
2. Imagine Dragons – On top of the world
3. Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of sunshine
4. Michael Buble – It’s a beautiful day
5. U2 – Beautiful day
6. Katrina and the Waves – Walkin’ on sunshine
7. Colbie Calliat – Brighter than the sun
8. Johnny Nash – I can see clearly now
9. Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella – Hakuna matata (The Lion King: Original Soundtrack)
10. Pharrell Williams – Happy
11. Elton John – Crocodile rock
12. The Chiffons – One fine day
13. Sheryl Crow – Soak up the sun
14. The Carpenters – Top of the world
15. Hanson - MMMBop
16. Kid Rock – All summer long
17. Samuel E. Wright – Under the sea (The Little Mermaid: Original Soundtrack)
18. Fleetwood Mac – Go your own way
19. Savage Garden – The animal song
20. Snoop Dogg ft. Wiz Khalifa & Bruno Mars – Young, wild and free
21. Spice Girls – Never give up on the good times
22. Counting Crows – Accidentally in love
23. S Club 7 – Bring it all back
24. The Wonders – That thing you do
25. Smash Mouth – I’m a believer (Original by The Monkees)
26. Des’Ree – Life 
27. Sheryl Crow – All I wanna do
28. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re the one that I want
29. Ace of Base – Life is a flower
30. Bobby McFerrin – Don’t worry be happy
31. Celine Dion – I’m alive
32. Rascall Flatts – Life is a highway (Original by Tom Cochrane)
33. Glee Cast – Light up the world
34. Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway
35. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head
36. Taylor Swift – Shake it off
37. Robert Guillaume, Liz Callaway, Gene Miller & Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Upendi (Simba’s Pride: Original Soundtrack)
38. One Direction – Live while we’re young
39. Pink – Raise your glass
40. The Corrs – So young
41. The Beatles – Here comes the sun
42. Five – Keep on movin’
43. Hilary Duff – What dreams are made of
44. Whitney Houston – I wanna dance with somebody
45. Ellie Goulding – Burn
46. Michael Franti & the Spearhead ft. Cherine Anderson – Say hey (I love you)
47. Owl City ft. Carly Rae Jepsen – Good time
48. Train – Hey soul sister
49. Black Eyed Peas – I gotta feeling
50. Bruno Mars – The lazy song

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Best Songs with a Social/Political Message

Attention!!!

There are some songs which are so bad that they end up on the worst songs lists like mine. Then there are those songs which are cheesy love songs and about petty breakups. However, certain artists and bands focus on something much more. They convey social messages and make political statements and when these songs enter the mainstream through popular artists and bands, they have a significant impact. The King of Pop is definitely the main contributor to this niche as he has three entries in this list and we all know that it was Michael Jackson who wrote We Are The World which claims the top spot. Whilst there are certain differences between the original and the cover by 25 for Haiti they both carry the same message. Other artists and bands with more than one entry are Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Bob Marley, Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Bob Dylan.

1. USA for Africa/25 for Haiti – We are the world
2. Michael Jackson – Heal the world
3. Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the wind
4. Black Eyed Peas – Where is the love?
5. Pink – Fuckin’ perfect
6. Michael Jackson – Earth song
7. Lady Gaga – Born this way
8. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert – Same love
9. Michael Jackson – Black or white
10. Artists Stand Up to Cancer – Just stand up
11. Joni Mitchell – Big yellow taxi
12. TLC – Unpretty
13. Marvin Gaye – What’s going on
14. U2 ft. Mary J. Blige – One
15. Kelly Clarkson – People like us
16. Bob Marley – Redemption song
17. Avicii – Hey brother
18. Suzanne Vega – Luka
19. My Chemical Romance – Teenagers
20. The Cranberries – Zombie
21. Pink – Dear Mr. President
22. Dixie Chicks – Not ready to make nice
23. John Lennon – Imagine
24. Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall Part II
25. Midnight Oil – Beds are burning
26. Phil Collins – Another day in paradise
27. Rise Against – Make it stop (September’s children)
28. Lily Allen – Fuck you
29. Shania Twain – Kaching
30. The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby
31. Snoop Lion ft. Drake & Cori B. – No guns allowed
32. Beyonce – Pretty hurts
33. Green Day – American idiot
34. Lady Gaga ft. R.Kelly – Do what u want
35. Bob Dylan – Ballad of Hollis Brown
36. Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
37. Miguel – Candles in the sun
38. Kelly Clarkson – Dark side
39. Cyndi Lauper – True colours
40. Tracy Chapman – Talkin’ bout a revolution
41. Sarah Brightman – Shall be done
42. J.Cole ft. TLC – Crooked smile    
43. Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
44. Boyzone – A different beat
45. Jessie J ft. B.o.B – Price tag
46. Bob Marley – One love
47. Woody Guthrie – This land is your land
48. Madonna – Papa don’t preach
49. Pink – Stupid girls
50. Beyonce – I was here

Till the next composition…

At Ease!!!

Whiniest Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

There are those songs which when you hear them, you want to pull out your hair one by one and then cause irreversible damage to your ears. These are those pathetic, whiny, sad and lamenting songs sung by losers and bitter exes in order to get over their hurt feelings or to show that they are obsessively still in love with them. Sigh… Yes, there are such people in this world. U2's With or Without You takes the crown for the whiniest song of all time as the lover clearly is whining about how he cannot live without the one he loves and he is debating on that as well, GET OVER IT. Some artists have numerous hits on the list such as Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Michael Bolton and everybody's favorite Justin Bieber. These songs are overflowing with emotions, the listeners would want to shoot the artist and then themselves as well. So let's not whine more about these songs and see what the others are:

1. U2 – With or without you
2. Bruno Mars – It will rain
3. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking ball
4. Justin Bieber – Baby
5. Arash ft. Helena – Broken angel
6. Mariah Carey – My all
7. John Legend – All of me
8. Enrique Iglesias – Hero
9. Sam Smith – Stay with me
10. Air Supply – All out of love
11. Daniel Bedingfield – If you’re not the one
12. Justin Timberlake – Cry me a river
13. Leona Lewis – Bleeding love
14. Celine Dion – Think twice
15. Phil Collins – Against all odds
16. Avril Lavigne – When you’re gone
17. Harry Nilsson – Without you
18. Rihanna ft. Mikki Ekko – Stay
19. Michael Bolton – How am I supposed to live without you
20. Fergie – Big girls don’t cry
21. Akon – Lonely
22. Meatloaf – I would do anything for love
23. Foreigner – I want to know what love is
24. David Guetta ft. Usher – Without you
25. Lady Antebellum – Need you now
26. Taylor Swift – You belong with me
27. Bruno Mars – When I was your man
28. Enrique Iglesias – I have always loved you
29. Celine Dion – My heart will go on
30. LeAnn Rimes – How do I live
31. Rascal Flatts – What hurts the most
32. Ne-Yo – So sick
33. Beyonce – If I were a boy
34. Chicago – If you leave me now
35. Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera – Say something
36. Mariah Carey – We belong together
37. Sam Smith – I'm not the only one
38. Roy Orbison – Crying
39. Mandy Moore – Only hope
40. Backstreet Boys – Incomplete
41. Alicia Keys – If I ain’t got you
42. Demi Lovato – Heart attack
43. Eric Carmen – All by myself
44. Jason Derulo – The other side 
45. Ricky Martin – She’s all I ever had
46. Jennifer Heart – The power of love
47. Maroon 5 – She will be loved
48. OneRepublic – Apologize
49. Journey – Open arms
50. Sinead O’ Connor – Nothing compares 2 u
51. Justin Timberlake – Mirrors
52. One Direction – Story of my life
53. Enrique Iglesias – Heart attack
54. Adele – Someone like you
55. Roxette – It must have been love
56. Ne-Yo – Let me love you
57. Katy Perry – Thinking of you
58. Maroon 5 – Love somebody
59. Backstreet Boys – Show me the meaning of being lonely
60. Carrie Underwood – Jesus take the wheel
61. Avril Lavigne – I'm with you
62. Take That – Patience
63. Bruno Mars – Grenade
64. Don McClean – And I love you so
65. Skeeter Davis – End of the world
66. Dixie Chicks – Not ready to make nice
67. Trey Songz – Heart attack
68. Jewel – Foolish games
69. Demi Lovato – Give your heart a break
70. Britney Spears – Perfume
71. Justin Bieber – As long as you love me
72. Shania Twain – It only hurts when I’m breathing
73. Arash ft. Helena – Pure love
74. The Moffats – Miss you like crazy
75. OneRepublic – Say (all I need)
76. Kelly Clarkson – Hear me
77. Whitney Houston – I will always love you
78. Jason Derulo – Fight for you
79. Michael Bolton – Murder my heart
80. Alicia Keys – No one
81. Mandy Moore – Cry
82. Hoobastank – The reason
83. Lana Del Rey – Young and beautiful 
84. Simple Plan – Perfect
85. Ricky Martin ft. Christina Aguilera – Nobody wants to be lonely
86. Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer – Give me everything
87. Rihanna – Unfaithful
88. Roy Orbison – In the real world
89. Righteous Brothers – Unchained melody
90. Bryan Adams – Please forgive me
91. Bonnie Tylor – Total eclipse of the heart
92. No Mercy – Please don’t go
93. No Doubt – Don’t speak
94. Linkin Park – Numb
95. Dido – Don’t leave home
96. Selena Gomez & The Scene – A year without rain
97. Beyonce – Best thing I never had
98. Jojo – Too little too late
99. Mario – Let me love you
100. Kelly Clarkson – Because of you

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Xposition - January 2014

Attention!!!

With the dawn of 2014, everyone is hoping that this year would be better than the last. 2013 was definitely a tough year to beat, with Pop music once more gaining the forefront in the industry along with Electronic Dance Music and Indie Music. The Grammys along with the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and People's Choice Awards were held in January. 

Music's biggest night the 56th Annual Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles hosted by LL Cool J. The only good performance of the night was Pink with her medley of Try and Just Give Me a Reason with Nate Ruess. Other notable performances included Katy Perry with Dark Horse, Lorde with Royals, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney with Queenie Eye and Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams performing a medley with Stevie Wonder and Nile Rodgers. The significant awards were won as follows:

• Record of the Year: Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
• Album of the Year: Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
• Song of the Year: Lorde - Royals 
• Best New Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 
• Best Pop Solo Performance: Lorde - Royals
• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
• Best Dance Recording: Zedd ft. Foxes - Clarity
• Best Rock Performance: Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
• Best Rap Performance: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz - Thrift Shop
• Best Rap Song: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz - Thrift Shop
• Best Music Video: Justin Timberlake ft. Jay-Z - Suit & Tie
• MusiCares Person of the Year: Carol King

The 40th People's Choice Awards were held in LA hosted by Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings. The awards are as follows:

• Favourite Male Artist: Justin Timberlake 
• Favourite Female Artist: Demi Lovato
• Favourite Breakout Artist: Ariana Grande
• Favourite Pop Artist: Britney Spears
• Favourite Country Artist: Taylor Swift
• Favourite Hip-Hop Artist: Drake
• Favourite R&B Artist: Justin Timberlake
• Favourite Band: One Direction
• Favourite Alternative Band: Fall Out Boy
• Favourite Song: Katy Perry - Roar
• Favourite Album: Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
• Favourite Music Video - Katy Perry - Roar

The 71st Golden Globe Awards were held and the award for Best Original Song was won by U2 for Ordinary Love in the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom soundtrack. The 19th Critics' Choice Awards were also held and the Best Song was won by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez for their Let It Go in the Frozen soundtrack. 

In the Billboard Hot 100 Eminem's Monster ft. Rihanna managed to stay in first place for the first two weeks before Pitbull's Timber ft. Ke$ha swept in claim the crown and remained there for the final two weeks. The only contender which may replace Pitbull would be Katy Perry with her Dark Horse who has been steadily climbing up the charts and her performance may aid her in dethroning Pitbull and Ke$ha. Lorde's Team, Jason Derulo's Talk Dirty and Bastille's Pompeii have all entered the Top 10 in January. 

In the UK Timber was the first number one which replace Pharrell Williams' Happy. However, Williams managed to reclaim the crown the next week and held on for two more weeks before Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne's Rather Be peaked in the last week. Other good songs released in January are:

• Shakira ft. Rihanna - Can't Remember to Forget You
• Enrique Iglesias ft. Pitbull - I'm a Freak
• Ellie Goulding - Goodness Gracious
• Lily Allen - Air Balloon
• The Vamps - Wild Heart

At Ease!!!