The Very Best of Christmas Carols

Attention!!!

'Tis the season for all to celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What better way to praise His name than singing songs of worship. Christmas Carols are those hymns and songs which are sung during the feast, whose lyrics are based on the incidents surrounding the birth of Christ including the Annunciation, Adoration of the Shepherds, Star of Bethlehem, Visit of the Magi and the Massacre of the Innocents and those involved in the birth such Virgin Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, the Shepherds and the Three Kings. There are also carols about caroling itself or wassailing as it was referred back then. Carols have originated from all over the world for instance Germany, Austria, the United States, France and the Czechoslovakia. 

Carols must necessarily be related to the birth of Jesus Christ and all the others which are about Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph are Christmas songs which are sung and played during the holiday season. Carols can be distinguished from the other songs by the fact that these are the hymns/songs which are sung at the official carol service and christmas mass at church. 

Adeste Fideles or O Come, All ye Faithful takes the crown as the best Christmas Carol of all time as it is definitely the carol which has the most powerful lyrics accompanied by a unique and moving melody. Silent Night is at a close second as it is probably the most popular Christmas Carol around the world, translated into numerous languages and declared by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. So here are the 40 of the most loved Christmas Carols of All Time, with their writers/composers and the year or century of origin. 

1. O Come, All ye Faithful/Adeste Fideles (17^th Century)
2. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818)
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739)
4. Joy to the World (Isaac Watts, 1719)
5. O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam, 1847)
6. The First Noel (18^th Century)
7. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Edmund Sears, 1849)
8. Once in Royal David’s City (Cecil Frances Alexander, 1848)
9. What Child is This? (William Chatterton Dix, 1865)
10. Angels We Have Heard on High (18^th Century)
11. Mary’s Boy Child (Jester Hairston, 1956)
12. Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, 1904)
13. The Little Drummer Boy (Katherine Kennicott Davis, 1941)
14. Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks, 1865)
15. The Twelve Days of Christmas (18^th Century)
16. Away in a Manger (19^th Century)
17. God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen (18^th Century)
18. Angels from the Realm of Glory (James Montgomery, 1816)
19. When a Child is Born (Fred Jay, 1974)
20. I Saw Three Ships (17^th Century)
21. Ding Dong Merrily on High (George Radcliffe Woodward, 1924)
22. I Wonder as I Wander (John Jacob Niles, 1933)
23. Good King Wenceslas (John Mason Neale, 1853)
24. The Holly and the Ivy (19^th Century)
25. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (15^th Century)
26. Do You Hear What I Hear? (Harry Simeone Chorale, 1962)
27. Star of the East (George Cooper, 1890)
28. In Dulci Jubilo (14^th Century)
29. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (17^th Century)
30. Coventry Carol (16^th Century)
31. Personent Hodie (16^th Century)
32. Here We Come A-Carolling (18^th Century)
33. We Three Kings of Orient Are (John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857)
34. In the Bleak Midwinter (Christina Rossetti, 1904)
35. Little Donkey (Eric Boswell, 1959)
36. Wexford Carol (12^th Century)
37. Still, Still, Still (19^th Century)
38. Gabriel’s Message (19^th Century)
39. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1863)
40. Mary, Did you Know? (Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene, 1991)

Till the next season…

At Ease!!!

Xposition - November 2014

Attention!!!

November was indeed fantastic month for the music industry with three major awards ceremonies and the charts around the world being reformed. The 2014 Country Music Association Awards AKA the CMAs was held on November 5, 2014 and hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Miranda Lambert was the lead nominee with 9 including one for the Entertainer of the Year and she also made history when she won her eleventh award of the evening making her the most awarded female artist in CMA history. Some of the big awards of the night included:

• Entertainer of the Year: Luke Bryan
• Album of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Platinum
• Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
• Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
• Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
• Vocal Duo of the Year: Florida Georgia Line
• Single of the Year: Miranda Lambert - Automatic
• Music Video of the Year: Dierks Bentley - Drunk on a Plane

The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards was held on November 20, 2014. Eduardo Cabra led the nominations with 10 each whilst Joan Manuel Serrat was honored with Person of the Year. The other big wins of the night included:

• Record of the Year: Jorge Drexier ft. Ana Tijoux - Universos Paralelos
• Album of the Year: Paco de Lucia - Cancion Andaluza
• Song of the Year: Enrique Iglesias ft. Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona - Bailando
• Producer of the Year: Sergio George
• Best Short Form Music Video: La Vida Boheme - Flamingo
• Best New Artist: Marianne Vega

The 42nd American Music Awards, the biggest night of US music was held on November 23, 2014 hosted by Pitbull. Iggy Azalea led the nominations with 6 nominations. Taylor Swift opened the main show with a brilliant performance of her global hit, Blank Space. Other great performances included Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX of a medley of Fancy and Beg For It, Pitbull & Ne-Yo of a medley of Don't Stop the Party, Fireball and Time of Our Lives, Selena Gomez on The Heart Wants What It Wants and Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj on Bang Bang. Some of the significant wins were:

• Artist of the Year: One Direction
• Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist: Sam Smith
• Favourite Pop/Rock Female Artist: Katy Perry
• Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Iggy Azalea
• Favourite Soul/R&B Male Artist: John Legend
• Favourite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce
• Favourite Alternate Artist: Imagine Dragons
• Favourite EDM Artist: Calvin Harris
• Favourite Latin Artist: Enrique Iglesias
• Single of the Year: Katy Perry ft. Juicy J - Dark Horse
• Top Soundtrack: Frozen
• New Artist of the Year: 5 Seconds of Summer
• Dick Clark Award for Excellence: Taylor Swift

In the US, Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass ruled the roost for the first two weeks before being overthrown by Taylor Swift's Shake It Off after struggling at second place for eight weeks when it was initially displaced by Trainor in early September. Shake It Off regained the top spot after Swift's new album 1989 debuted at No.1 on the US Billboard 200. Shake It Off was replaced by Swift's own single Blank Space in the last week of November, where her performance at the AMAs would certainly have helped it to propel it to the top spot. By doing so she became the first female artist to replace herself at number one. We also saw Ed Sheeran's Don't peaking at number 9 and also Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd's Love Me Harder peaking at Number 7. Meanwhile, Hozier's controversial single Take Me to Church, Sam Smith's I'm Not the Only One and Nick Jonas' Jealous all entered the top 10.

In the UK, Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass remained at the top spot for the first week, but Ed Sheeran with his new single Thinking Out Loud dethroned Trainor, ending her rule in the UK as well. The third week belonged to Cheryl Cole with her second single off the new album I Don't Care. In the fourth week Avicii's Wake Me Up cover by Gareth Malone's All Star Choir took the top spot while Band Aid 30 with Do They Know It's Christmas? reigned in the fifth and final week of the month. Other popular songs in the UK and US over the month of November were:

• Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding - Outside
• The Veronicas - You ruin me
• David Guetta ft. Sam Martin - Dangerous
• Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Real love
• Olly Murs ft. Travie McCoy - Wrapped up
• Fergie - L.A. Love
• Meghan Trainor - Lips are movin'
• Imagine Dragons - I bet my life

Till the next chord…

At Ease!!!

Most Influential Artists/Bands of 2014

Attention!!!

Influence can be defined as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something. In the music industry this is quite significant as the trends are determined by the musicians as well as their record labels. One hit single could spark off and lay the foundation for an entire genre of music. 

2014 was indeed an interesting year as there was less controversy in the industry with Bieber and Gaga on the down low, and there were no really controversial songs as such, with the exception of Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. Whilst the influence exerted by some artists/bands is positive, others are detrimental to those fans who are highly influenced by these artists/bands. For instance when Miley Cyrus twerks or lights a joint of weed on stage, that sets a negative standard for young girls. 

However, out of all the artists and bands this year, country crossover artist Taylor Swift who entered the mainstream pop industry takes the crown as the most influential artist of 2014. She has also been shortlisted for this year's TIMES Magazine Person of the Year. #Swiftmania has affected from prepubescent teenage girls to old grandfathers who now love to Shake It Off. She has harped on and usurped her widely publicized break ups with prominent singers such as One Direction's Harry Styles and John Mayer.

The British boy band One Direction is the second most influential, as they are now considered the next best thing to enter the music industry from the United Kingdom after The Beatles and Spice Girls. Television stars who have entered the music industry are also quite influential such as Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. However, older artists/bands such as Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and OneRepublic also still wield quite a great deal of influence. So here are the 20 Most Influential Artists/Bands of 2014:

1. Taylor Swift
   
2. One Direction
   
3. Selena Gomez
   
4. Ariana Grande
   
5. Nicki Minaj
   
6. Pitbull
   
7. Miley Cyrus
   
8. Demi Lovato
   
9. Eminem
   
10. Beyonce
    
11. Iggy Azalea
    
12. 5 Seconds of Summer
    
13. OneRepublic
    
14. Pharrell Williams
    
15. Cheryl Cole
    
16. Ed Sheeran
    
17. Jennifer Lopez
    
18. Imagine Dragons
    
19. Sam Smith
    
20. Ellie Goulding
    

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!

Cheekiest Christmas Songs of All Time

Attention!!!

'Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way than to have a good laugh at the cheekiest christmas songs of all time. Apart from the christmas carols and the revered hymns, we also have christmas songs such as White Christmas, Blue Christmas and Jingle Bells. But there are those songs released by artists to heighten the holiday cheer, with whimsical lyrics about grandmas being run over by reindeer and a mother kissing a Santa Claus. Moreover, they have been covered by popular artists such as Ariana Grande, the Pussycat Dolls and the Jackson 5. Whilst there are perverted christmas songs out there with explicit lyrics, those have been excluded from the list, purely on the basis that they were not produced in the spirit and joy of christmas but to ridicule the festival. However, these songs are cheeky and funny, the top five of which are hilarious. So enjoy…

1. Ella Fitzgerald – Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney
2. Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
3. Jimmy Boyd – I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus
4. Elmo & Patsy – Grandma got run over by a reindeer
5. Art Mooney & His Orchestra ft. Barry Gordon – Nuttin’ for Christmas
6. Gayla Peevey – I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
7. Spike Jones & His City Slickers – All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
8. Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer – Baby, it’s cold outside
9. Chuck Berry – Run run Rudolph
10. Destiny’s Child – 8 Days of Christmas

Til the next carol…

At Ease!!!

Greatest Girl Groups of All Time

Attention!!!

A girl group is a music act featuring several hot/sexy/beautiful teenage girls or those in their early twenties who generally harmonize together. Whilst it is clear that looks and talents are not enough to end up in a girl group you need that star quality identity which their domineering managers and publicists can exploit in marketing them. Of course the first wave of girl groups hit the music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s between the decline of early rock and roll and the British Invasion many of whom were influenced by doo-wop style. The next tide came in during the late 90s with the next best thing after The Beatles hitting the pop world by storm, the Spice Girls. 

Whilst taking the crown as the best girl group of all time, they are definitely unbeaten in all their records from the best-selling female group of all time to the best-selling single and album by a female group of all time as well. Although short-lived probably due to the inability to handle that much success Scary, Baby, Ginger, Posh and Sporty parted ways in 2000. It appears that girl groups do tend to have a shorter lifespan than boy bands, probably due to girls being unable to stick together for long than guys. Pop is definitely the genre of the girl groups with R&B and Hip-Hop also in the fray. Girl groups have also set the stage for some of their members who went solo and became a global success. The success stories of Melanie B, Beyonce, Diana Ross, Nicole Scherzinger, Hyuna and Cheryl Cole are all examples of how these stars reaped the benefits of their post girl group days. In the recent past there has been another tide of girl groups coming in with groups such as The Saturdays, Little Mix, Neon Jungle and G.R.L. all gaining worldwide recognition and success. So here are the Best 50 Girl Groups of All Time.

1. Spice Girls
   
2. The Supremes
   
3. Destiny’s Child
   
4. TLC
   
5. The Pussycat Dolls
   
6. Sugababes
   
7. Bananarama
   
8. All Saints
   
9. En Vogue
   
10. The Bangles
    
11. The Shirelles
    
12. Atomic Kitten
    
13. The Pointer Sisters
    
14. Girls Aloud
    
15. Sister Sledge
    
16. Salt n’ Pepa
    
17. Eternal
    
18. Wilson Phillips
    
19. Little Mix
    
20. Girls’ Generation
    
21. The Three Degrees
    
22. SWV
    
23. The Emotions
    
24. The Andrew Sisters
    
25. AKB48
    
26. The Ronettes
    
27. 2NE1
    
28. The Chordettes
    
29. 4Minute
    
30. Mis-Teeq
    
31. LaBelle
    
32. B*Witched
    
33. The Chiffons
    
34. The Marvelettes
    
35. The Go-Go’s
    
36. Las Ketchup
    
37. Dixie Chicks
    
38. Expose
    
39. Brown Eyed Girls
    
40. Martha & the Vandellas
    
41. Bond
    
42. Wonder Girls
    
43. The Dixie Cups
    
44. The Saturdays
    
45. Neon Jungle
    
46. The Crystals
    
47. Fifth Harmony
    
48. The Shangri-Las
    
49. G.R.L.
    
50. Honeyz
    

Till the next beat…

At Ease!!!