Break it to Justin Bieber Gently...

Burton Cummings
and Youtube

Burton Cummings is the lead singer and keyboardist for The Guess Who. I was cruising youtube one day and a video caught my attention. The video is an interview of him with George Stroumboulopoulos discussing...the youtube phenomenon... Justin Bieber. Yes, I know we hear about him a million times a day, but love or hate him; he is HUGE in pop culture right now. Watch the video below to hear Burton`s opinion and let me know if you agree or disagree with what he has to say.  

 It`s crazy how the internet has changed the way bands are discovered and how we listen to music. It has effected the music industry because instead of buying an entire album, we can download particular song by an artist OR access music on youtube. I only recently discovered my love for listening to music through youtube, and now I`m addicted to it. Archives of music (old and new), live performances, interviews and music videos of any genre are accessible with a click of a button.  

I will leave you with a video of my favourite song by Burton Cummings. Listen to the story in the beginning, as he explains how he wrote the song in minutes...Personally, I agree with Burton Cummings that singer-songerwriters tend to last longer in the industry; however, although Burton Cummings doesn`t think Justin`s fame will last, I wouldn`t have been able to listen to his opinion on the matter if youtube didn`t exist.

Again, let me know your opinion!
Love: Danielle

1978 "Break it to Them Gently``

Note: I found this video on youtube. ;) 

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain

Bob Marley
Music and Stress Relief

Born: Robert "Nesta" Marley (1945-1981)

It's funny how music can completely switch your mood. Between juggling classes, assignments, work, volunteer work and my "social life" (which I haven't had much time for), I've been stressing myself out. I came home from work tonight exhausted and stressed and decided to throw on a Bob Marley C.D. Honestly, my mood totally turned around and I felt a lot better.

I know many people struggle with stress so I decided to list some tips on how music can help relieve stress. The link is below (if you're interested in reading it), but I will list the main ideas in it.

 http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/daily_music.htm

How to use Music for Stress Relief

1) Getting reading the morning- Put on an uplifting song in the morning. It will help set the tone for a 

lower-stress day.

2) During a commute- If you're frustrated waiting in traffic, I'm sorry but realistically there's usually nothing you can do about it. Put on your favourite tunes; you'll feel better.

3) While Cooking/Cleaning- I know you probably come home from a busy day of school or work, and the last thing you want to do is make dinner or clean the house. Throw some tunes on and try to make these tasks less of a chore. 

4) While Eating- Studies show that soothing music can trigger the relaxation response which can lower cortisol levels, making it easier to digest your food.

5) Paying Bills- Lets face it, paying bills is not much fun. If you have to devote time to paying bills, putting music on can reduce financial stress you may be struggling with.  

6) Before Bed- Listening to mellow music before bed can counteract the effects of your stress by taking your mind off what is stressing you, slowing down your breathing, and soothing your mind.

Now that you have reasons to listen to music, go out and find some great songs to listen to.

A Bob Marley song I find very uplifting is "Three Little Birds".

                                                                  "Three Little Birds"

                                                                  Album Exodus- 1977

I'm a big fan of many music styles that are very mellow. Jack Johnson, and Ben Harper are my favourite "newer" artists and both admit their music styles are strongly influenced by Bob Marley. Again, it goes back to the notion of the '60s and '70s being recycled back into the ideas, styles, and music of today.

I will leave you with a performance of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper partnering in a cover of the Bob Marley song, "High Tide and Low Tide". Thanks for reading. If you're stressed out, I hope this helps!

Love: Danielle

“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!”- Bob Marley

Joni Mitchell: "I never loved a man as far as I could pitch my shoe."

Joni Mitchell
Recycled Fashion

Joni Mitchell (born Roberta Joan Anderson; November 7, 1943)

With spring around the corner, I couldn't help but pick up a few magazines to check out the "new" 2011 fashion trends. Joni Mitchell is an icon because of her music and fashion sense in the '60s and '70s. I’m going to discuss some of the top fashion trends of the season and show you how they are similar to Joni's clothes from this era.

Trend #1: Bold Colour Blocking

According to Marie Claire magazine, bold colour blocking is used this season by pairing mostly primary colours or complimentary jewel tones. The top photo is taken from Marie Claire magazine, and the picture below is of Joni Mitchell wearing a "colour-blocked" shirt that displays some of the same colours. It is also evident that Joni Mitchell's signature bangs is still a very popular hair style.

     

            

 

Trend #2: 70s Retro Chic

According to Marie Claire, designers are using soft fabrics and exaggerated lines with pieces featuring "statement sleeves, faded denim and flared-legged trousers,” and are influenced by 70's “Swagger".  The first picture is also from Marie Clair magazine displaying the style and the second photo is of Joni... who obviously rocks the hippy chic look.

 

Trend #3: The All-White Ensemble

The all-white ensemble is one of the most popular new trends that I took from Marie Claire magazine. Although the magazine did not mention the look to reflect a style from the 60s and 70s, it is evident in the picture of Joni Mitchell taken from the 70s wearing... an all-white jumper. Also, when I think of a bohemian-style outfit, I often think of a lot of white (or off-white).  

I’m personally a huge fan a lot of the styles taken from the 60s and 70s; therefore, it makes me very happy to see they’ve been recycled back into current fashion trends. Again, going back to the Bob Dylan quote I mention in my "about me", people today are still living off of the table scraps of the 60s, and it is awesome that even after 50 years, the era is still making a huge impact in the fashion world.

Thanks for reading. I'll leave you with a live video of Joni Mitchell playing "Big Yellow Taxi".

Love: Danielle

Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll

Janis Joplin
A Woman Who Rocked

Jan. 19, 1943- Oct. 4, 1970

Janis Joplin brought her strong bluesy voice to the psychedelic rock scene, where she became a rock and roll icon of her generation. Janis was an influence of her time because women normally did not play music with such intensity and soul. They "scratched the surface" of the music instead of really getting into it. She didn't care if she seemed unlady-like. She did her own thing and was admired by many because of it.  

Quick Facts about Janis

Janice grew up in Texas and was known as a misfit in highschool where she began singing blues in a local choir. Many years later, she left Texas to join the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco where she joined Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Janis Joplin and band Big Brother and the Holding Company, had their break-through performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. I will share a video of the band performing Big Mama Thorton’s “Ball and Chain”, at the Festival. Near the end of the video you will notice Cass Elliot (from the Mama’s and the Papa’s), mouth the words “Wow! That was heavy!”. Below is a video clip of the performance and it shows the affect she had on her audience.                   

                            Janis Joplin performing "Ball and Chain" at the Monterey Pop Festival

Shortly after the performance, their debut album was released by Columbia Records.

 Below is a video clip of her second appearance on the Cavett Show. The clip shows her passion for performing. Cavett discusses the fact that Janis is unlike other women in the music scene and she explains her opinion on the issue.


                                               Interview with Dave Cavett

Getting too Caught up in Rock 'n Roll

Janis left Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968 and formed backup group, Kozmic Blues Band.

Janis struggled with addictions to speed, and heroine during her career. The band performed at Woodstock Festival '69; however, it was not included in the documentary film
"Woodstock", because Janis was noticeably drunk and high. The 25^th anniversary Director’s cut of the film finally included her. 

Janis Joplin and Kozmic Blues Band broke up at the end of the year, and Janis Joplin and Full Tilt and Boogie Band was formed (consisting of mainly Canadian musicians). Their last performance together was August 12, 1970 at Havard Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts. In September 1970, the band began recording a new album. During a recording session in Oct., Janis didn’t show up to the studio. Janis' road manager drove up the her hotel to find her dead on the floor due to a heroin overdose.

“Mercedes Benz” was her last recording. It was only a first take and was not accompanied by music because Janis was supposed to work on it the day she was found.

"Mercedes Benz"

Although she died at a young age, her unique style made a huge impact in the music industry. In my opinion, there still aren`t many woman innovators of rock music. Janis was truely one of a kind. She is a rock legend and her legacy will live on. 

Thanks for reading.

Love: Danielle

Forever 27

Jimi Hendrix
The Medium is the Message: Comparing Death Announcements

Real Name: James Marshall Hendrix (Born Johnny Allen Hendrix)

Born: Nov. 27, 1942

Died: Sept.18, 1970

Jimi Hendrix is an icon. He is an influential musician of his era and has also been considered the greatest electric guitarist of all time. He is a self-taught musician, well-known for his ununsual guitar sounds and his bold fashion sense. He also is one of the many musicians whose life was cut short at a young age. Jimi Hendrix death at 27, includes him in the 27 Club (or Forever 27 Club), along with Brian Jones (Rolling Stones founder and guitarist), Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. 

I have included a video of a news reporter announcing the death of Jimi Hendrix in order to give you a sense of how a death was handled in 1970.          

                           
                                                The Death of Jimi Hendrix
                                                         Sept. 18, 1970

It is interesting to watch a video from this era and to compare it to how we are beginning to receive our news now. If an pop icon died today, we would probably turn to the internet, facebook or twitter for information because it is more immediate than a newspaper or television report.

A great example is an article discussing how facebook handled the death of Michael Jackson. I first found out about MJ's death through facebook and I know I'm not alone on this one. The article discusses that the immediacy of facebook and how it was problematic following Michael Jackson's death. Instead of a reporter unveiling the news, people on facebook were writing disrespectful messages immediately following Michael Jackson's death.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-hollywood-ham/michael-jackson-dead-face_b_221170.html

Let me know if you have any opinions (positive or negative), on how facebook is changing the way we receive our news.

Thanks,

Love: Danielle 

Yesterday...

The Beatles
Music and Nostalgia

The Beatles are a huge influence in my life and will always be one of my favourite bands. I started listening to them when I was young because my dad's band used to continuously play their songs. When I listen to The Beatles, I remember certain days when I was young; I find it amazing that music can trigger your memory like that.

I read an article on why a particular song can trigger a memory. A link for the article is below (if you would like to read it), but I thought this quote explained an sense of nostalgia.  

“Most people have this idea that music can be a powerful memory cue,” Harris said. “You hear a song on the radio and it brings up memories of senior prom or graduation That’s why oldies stations are so popular — not because the music is good but because it reminds us of specific times in our lives,” he said.

http://www.impactlab.net/2009/01/22/why-do-songs-trigger-memories-specific-memories/

Music has always been a huge part of my life. My parents love music and I grew up listening to A LOT it. Also, as I mentioned before, my father and uncle also played in a band together and they covered many by The Beatles. When I listen to certain songs by them, it always reminds me of listening to them play when I was young. I LOVED going to my uncle John's because it meant my dad and their band mates were going to jam. My love for and appeciation for The Beatles started at a young age because I heard their songs so many times.

One song that brings me back to them playing together is "Here Comes the Sun". Every time I hear it, I remember great memories.

                                                         The Beatles: "Here Comes the Sun"

Let me know what particular song brings you back to a time in your life.

Love: Danielle 

It's Better to Burn out than to Fade Away...

Neil Young

A Canadian boy from Toronto, Ontario, has been widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.

Neil Young is one of my favourite artists because I grew up listening to him. My dad and uncles used to play in a band together, and Neil Young was one of their favourites to play. I inherited the love of playing guitar after forcing my Uncle John play Neil Young songs whenever he had his guitar handy. He bought me a guitar for my sixteenth birthday and also took me to a Neil Young concert at the Air Canada Centre; what a guy! I will now give you a bit of background information on Neil Young and I will share some of my favourite music by him.

Neil began performing in Canada in 1960 before he moved to his ranch in California, where he still resides. In his early days, he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield, later joined the group Crosby Stills and Nash, and also played heavier rock music with his band Crazy Horse.

He is best known for his deep lyrics and his unique guitar work. His music is described to have "dream-like" lyrics that include subjects of drugs, interpersonal relationships, environmental concerns and anti-racism.

Later on in his career, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young broke up and Crazy Horse got their own record deal, leaving Neil to begin his solo career in 1971. Little did he know his solo career would be a HUGE success; a time when "Heart of Gold" became his #1 hit single.

                       "Heart of Gold"

"Needle and the Damage Done", is a GREAT song inspired by the death of fellow band mate, Danny Whitten (from Crazy Horse), who died of a heroin addiction. "A lot of great art goes down the drain"...    

"Needle and the Damage Done"

"Old Man" is one of my favourite Neil Songs that he wrote about an old man who worked on his ranch.            

"Old Man"

"Hey Hey, My My", is a song comparing the public's view on Johnny Rotten (lead singer of the Sex Pistols), with Elvis Presley who had recently died when the song was composed.

"Hey Hey, My My"

Neil Young is a great artist and creates music that I love. The songs I have shared with you are ones I have listened to a silly amount of times. Each song personally means something to me and I hope you are able to take a few minutes of your time to appreciate them. I hope you have learned something from my post and I strongly encourage people to add anything they want to share.

"Keep on Rocking in the Free World",

Love: Danielle