Review Of: Boney M – Rasputin

Boney M may be world renowned because of their awesome songs such as “By The Rivers Of Babylon“, “Daddy Cool“, “Ma Baker“, etc; But I love them because of “Rasputin“. Sure, “By The Rivers Of Babylon” has awesome lyrics and a haunting melody (Which made the song an anthem back then), but there’s no leaf left upturned with “Rasputin” too. This song was a major hit because it struck gold in not one, but two different group of people all over the world. It was a phenomenal hit with the disco-goers because of it’s incredibly fast tempo, and it also hit bull’s-eye with Folk-lovers – Yes, FOLK lovers! Why? Because the whole of the song is portrayed like a story (And a very interesting one, too). It’s my favorite Boney M song, and following suit are “By The Rivers Of Babylon”, “Daddy Cool” and “Ma Baker”. So, let’s get to it!

Boney M [L-R]: Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams, Liz Mitchell, Bobby Farrell

History: “Rasputin” is a 1978 single by the Germany-based Pop band Boney M. It also hails from their hugely popular album “Nightflight To Venus”. It is also well known all over the world because of Boney M’s stupendous mixing (The tune is derived from the Serbian song called “Ruse kose curo imaš”, and the Russian song titled “Üsküdar’a Gider İken / Kâtibim“) and the ending line “Oh, Those Russians” (EPIC!). The song performed extremely well on the music charts worldwide. It reached Number 1 in Germany, Australia and Austria, not to mention the Number 2 it attained in the U.K. and Switzerland. The song has been covered by a number of other bands in varying musical styles, perhaps most notably by the Finnish Folk Metal band Turisas. Boiled in Lead also covered it in a Heavy Metal version (What’s up with that?). The song has three versions of itself made; One being the 4 Minutes 42 Second 7″ Single Version, the second being the 7 Minutes 33 Seconds 12″ Single Version, and lastly the 5 Minutes 51 Seconds Album Version. [Source : Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: The song is a semi-biographical account of the life and death of Grigori Rasputin, also known as “The Devil In Flesh” (See the National Geographic account – click HERE to download the .torrent file). It deals with his manly charms, his manipulating the Czarina, and his betrayal towards the Czar. For the complete story about Rasputin, click here.

Review: The song starts with a high tempo beat and clapping of hands, and gradually turns out into a Spanish guitar rift from 00:08; which later transforms into the popular Russian rift music. The bass is pretty heavy, and goes along with the beats pretty well. Bobby Farrell starts off with the vocals from 00:30, followed by the voices of Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams. At first, you may think the song lacks the punch, because of the low tone vocals and mediocre tune. But that perception of yours changes COMPLETELY from 01:18. That’s the exact time when the clapping starts again; but this time, there is no background music. And then, from 01:29, you feel your gut churn. No, literally! The bass is… er…. well, different! But it’s original, and I love it! Sort of fits the glove for a story about a man so mean huh? If you don’t like the bass, don’t worry. The song changes YET again from 01:37, and this time; the tune is here to stay (Saying this while I put on my sunglasses, imitating Horatio from C.S.I. Miami). The song gets it’s awesome groove from 01:35. And then you finally know why the song was (And still is) a Disco Mega Hit – And that’s because you involuntarily move your feet and snap your fingers to the groove of the beats. From 01:59, the song gets even more awesome as Bobby starts with the first verse again, but with renewed vigor. The song is INCREDIBLY fast paced. The girls do an outstanding job in holding the song together; for without them, the song would have never prevailed. The first stanza tells us a little introduction about Rasputin – How he looked, how he was to the girls (“Chicks”, rather) of Russia. The first chorus starts from 02:30, which is undoubtedly the most famous part of the song. The song literally JUMPS from one stanza to the other in almost no time, all because of the incredible background music, which keeps us hooked throughout the song. The second verse begins (After a brief instrumental interlude) at 03:09, telling us about the kind of charm he had imposed on the people of Russia, including the Czar and the Czarina. The lyrics of the song are quirky, and extremely catchy (Don’t forget to open the lyrics tab before you listen to the song!). After the second verse though, things slow down completely; with the initiation of the infamous “Rasputin Speech”, which tells us how the people (Men) in Russia slowly began to regain their senses, and started to demand to do something about Rasputin. Think of the speech as a breathing space given to disco goers, because this song takes all of us on a hell of a ride! The speech is followed by clapping and “Hey, hey” chants, which ultimately leads to the Russian guitar rift (04:27). The last, and the final verse begins at 04:42, with a decision of putting an end to the tyranny of Rasputin. It tells us about how ‘Some men of higher standing’ set a trap, and tried to poison him with a high dose of cyanide in it. But the plan failed miserably, with Rasputin left just as he was. But these people weren’t ones to give up. They shot him for (More than) 10 times, and finally proclaimed him dead. The song ends with the ever awesome tagline, “Oh, Those Russians”. Epic, isn’t it?

Rating: Great beats, insane tempo, awesome lyrics and a nasty plot to top it all off. What else do you need to make the perfect figure of 10? Nothing! Straight on 10/10!

 

Lyrics for “Rasputin” : http://artists.letssingit.com/boney-m-lyrics-rasputin-32f3438

Download link for “Rasputin” : http://mp3.mp3ray.ru/006_BONEY_M_-_RASPUTIN_[mp3ray.ru].mp3 (Right Click on link, click “Save Target/Link As”)

 

“Rasputin” is a single from Boney M

Review Of: George Michael – Careless Whisper

I now present to you the man who changed the face of Pop (Yes, even before Michael Jackson) forever – George Michael. With a voice (And according to a few of my lady friends, looks too) to die for, and smooth rhythms, he certainly is a strong competitor for the second “King of Pop” (We all know who the first one is, right?). Even if he comes second here, he surely is the Number 1 in the R&B genre. In fact, it will be valid to state that “Careless Whisper” changed the face of R&B forever. This song is Incredibly sexy sounding; and it sends every inch of your body in overdrive. The lyrics make any ordinary human being melt from the inside. I was listening to my oldies Pop playlist when I stumbled upon the song after quite a long time, hence deciding to review it right away. I frantically searched the internet for a Karaoke Version of the song, and finally got it (I’ll post the link below)! The reason why I’m providing the karaoke link is because this song played on the karaoke has the power to bring all the family together. So without any further adieu, let’s get to it!

George Michael

History: “Careless Whisper” is a single (Released in 1984) by George Michael. However, the U.S. version has the “Wham!” band, featuring George Michael (Funny, as he was a member of their band at first!). When released as a single, it did wonders everywhere, and reached Number 1 in almost 25 COUNTRIES, selling about 6 MILLION units worldwide! For the complete chart performance, click here. It is also the song which has the most derived Cover Songs (Ranging from covers in English to Japanese!) The music video is also really nicely made, with George Michael playing the lead (For complete info, click here). The violin saxophone was played by Andy Hamilton. “Careless Whisper” has two versions, one being the 5 Minutes 4 Seconds Single Version, while the other is a 6 Minute 30 Seconds Album Version (I’ll be reviewing the former one, but I’ll provide the download link for the latter version too. You’re welcome!)

What it tries to convey to us: If you’re listening to the song for the first time, you’ll think that the song is about a man who feels guilty about something, and a dance, and what not. Long story short – You’ll make a complete mess out of the real meaning. You’ll HAVE to see the video in order to know what the song is really based on. But being the person who always thinks two steps ahead, I’ll brief it out for you. It’s about a man who is in a relationship with two women at the same time. The song portrays the guilt the man feels when he’s with either one of them. And then Murphy’s Law comes in – His game plan is finally discovered when one of the women walks in on the other cuddling up with him. The song is a real mood changer, so be prepared for some deep thoughts, heavy breathing and recollection of affairs gone bad (If you’ve had any, that is).

Review: The rhythm of the song is INCREDIBLY sexy. The saxophone riff (Andy Hamilton) really, really suits the song. The beats (Trevor Morrell) are moderate and the bass (Deon Estus) is heavy, which help to raise the intensity of the seriousness by a couple of notches. The song starts off with the saxophone riff, followed by the beats. Although you may not REALLY like the riff, it will take time before you do (Patience, people!). Listen to the song for a couple more times, and feel the riff seeping into your head. You’ll know when you start liking it (You’ll start mimicking the saxophone riff – At least I did!). George Micheal makes an outstanding entry with his incredibly smooth and sexy voice at 00:26. The tempo of the song is slow, which will help you get more out of the song. You can make out every word he’s saying, thanks to the slow rhythm. The lyrics, as I previously stated – Are absolutely amazing (Especially the chorus lyrics)! The first chorus starts at 00:51, and it’s EXTREMELY catchy. After a brief acoustic guitar interlude, the second stanza takes flight at 01:29. This time, the tempo drops another notch. The mixture of the acoustic guitar, bass and the saxophone catches on quickly. The second chorus starts at 01:54, added with a few more effects (Like a few background vocals). The saxophone riff is initiated after the solo, and it acts like a bridge connecting two mountains; because the part after the saxophone interlude is COMPLETELY different from the former one. George Michael steps on the throttle, and increases his tone without changing the tempo of the song from 02:44. The part emphasizes on the post red-handed catching part, where the man tries to convince himself that there was nothing he could do to get her back. The vocal bridge blends in beautifully with the chorus at 03:10, and the song continues in normal mode from there onward. The saxophone riff starts and plays for a brief amount of time, before George kicks in with his terrific vocal highs. Till today, I haven’t been able to make out what the highs say. The rest of the song is instrumental, with the occasional “Ta da da da”. The song starts to fade off from 04:45, and ends at 05:04.

Rating: For the man who has us totally mesmerized with his vocals, rhythm and lyrics; full marks are a must. 10/10 for this amazing song! Hat’s off to you, George Michael!

Lyrics for “Careless Whisper” : http://artists.letssingit.com/george-michael-lyrics-careless-whisper-2f7sdl3

Download link for “Careless Whisper (Album Version)” : http://solamusic.net/music/GEORGE%20MICHAEL%20-%20CARELESS%20WHISPER.mp3 (Right click on link, click “Save Link/Target As”)

Download link for “Careless Whisper (Single Version)” : http://i2.pinger.pl/paud1083/8e8dc8b9002ab883486b57fa/george%20michael%20-%20careless%20whisper.mp3 (Right click on link, click “Save Link/Target As”)

Karaoke Version Of “Careless Whisper” : http://www.4shared.com/file/of6XVC1f/Careless_Whisper.html (The file has a .kar file format. I recommend you download Van Bosco’s Karaoke Player for Windows from here.)

Youtube link for “Careless Whisper (Official Video)” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ

“Careless Whisper” is a single from George Michael

Review Of: Kenny Rogers – Coward Of The County

When it comes to Country music, one of the great legends is Kenny Rogers. His songs make a simple 5 mile car drive one to cherish forever; especially if you’re playing his ballads. His best piece of work is, without a doubt, “Coward Of The County“. Not only did it win many awards, but also broke and remolded millions of hearts worldwide. His songs contains all the emotions possessed in nature – Happiness, Sadness, Revenge, Hatred, Lust, Honor, Loyalty and Bravery. This is the Number 2 song on my Best Ballads Ever list (Number 1 will be up in a few days though). So, let’s get to it!

Kenny Rogers

History: “Coward Of The County” is a ballad recorded by Kenny Rogers. The reason I said ‘recorded’ is because the song was actually WRITTEN by Roger Bowling and Billy Ed Wheeler, and sung by Kenny Rogers. The song was released as the second single from his album titled “Kenny”, and was released on 12th November 1989. The song was one of Kenny Rogers’ best ones ever, and won recognition almost all over the world. It also did wonders on the music charts. It reached Number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, Number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and Number one on the UK pop chart. For the complete chart performance, click here. It also inspired Dick Lowry, who made a television series based on the song’s story line in 1981. For the full info, click here. The song has only one Version (Studio Version) having a duration of 4 Minutes 33 Seconds. [Source: Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: It all begins when Tommy is 10 years old, and his father dies in prison (Nothing mentioned about his mother here). In his final minutes, he makes Tommy promise that he will not fall prey to any fight or whatsoever, because fighting won’t make him a man. Fortunately, the father has a brother who agrees to take care of Tommy and treat him like one of his own. The entire ballad is written as if Tommy’s uncle is narrating the story. Tommy is called ‘Yellow’ by all the other folks of the county, as yellow resembles cowardliness (Hats off to Kenny Rogers!). However, he has the love of his life by his side, who loves him unconditionally; her name being Becky. Once, three members of The Gatling Boys (The Rowdy gang of the County) make a move on Becky (In other words, they rape her). When Tommy sees her crying with the torn dress and the shattered look, it’s too much to handle for him. So he does what a real man would do. He takes the picture of his dad from above the fireplace, and silently cries and recalls his saying. But anger and vengeance take over him, and he decides to go to the local bar to confront the beastly gang, As he enters, one of the members of the Gatling Boys gets up and meets him halfway from the door. Tommy isn’t in a mood for a fight, but wants to settle things with them in a verbal manner; so he turns his back to the man. They mock him when he does so, and that’s exactly the trigger Tommy needs. Years of pain being bottled inside him, he stands up for his love and gives them a thrashing to remember for the rest of their lives; spitting on their ego.

Review: The meaning of the story is dead simple, but having the same magnitude of effect. The song has a slight hint of bass, drums and a banjo. The real star of the show is Kenny Rogers himself. The song starts and ends with the same lines (“Everyone Considered Him  The Coward Of The County”), making it the signature. The song is extremely fast paced, although being a Country song. The vocals start at 00:11, followed by the first chorus, which starts at 01:05. The story keeps you hooked throughout the ballad. Kenny Rogers has a calm, but commanding voice which accentuates the song perfectly. Even though the stanza’s are awesome, the chorus’ deliver an equally superb blow. The second stanza starts with a slight change of tune and pitch, maybe because this stanza transforms Tommy forever. The chorus starts again at 02:27, and is followed immediately with the third stanza. This stanza is my personal favorite, because it is at that time when Tommy stands up for his love, and gives the Gatling Boys all he’s got. When Kenny Rogers narrates “He Wasn’t Holdin’ Nothin’ Back, He Let ‘Em Have It All”, he gives an edgier voice to the “Let ‘Em” words, which make you smile involuntarily. Whenever this part is playing, I always visualize Tommy throwing the hardest punch he can land on one of the Gatling Boys. It feels just like the time when a superhero gets a terrible beating from the super villain at first, but then retaliates just when he is losing, at beats the hell out of the bad guy; just a hundred times better. The chorus is altered just a bit this time, with Tommy saying that sometimes, you have to fight to be a man. The song ends with Kenny Rogers’ signing off in his signature style (Same sentence at the beginning and at the end) and saying “Everyone Considered Him The Coward Of The County”.

Rating: A Perfect 10/10! As always, Kenny Rogers has delivered yet another show stopping performance. Impeccable lyrics, fast moving story line, awesome vocals and an authentic taste of Country music. You have to listen to this one, guys!

 

Lyrics for “Coward Of The County” : http://artists.letssingit.com/kenny-rogers-lyrics-coward-of-the-county-kvgfsqm

Download link for “Coward Of The County” : http://totally80smusic.com/songs/1980/19%20-%20Kenny%20Rogers%20-%20Coward%20of%20the%20County.mp3

 

“Coward Of The County” is a song from Kenny Rogers’ album titled “Kenny”

Review Of: John Williams – Schindler’s List (Theme Song)

How many instrumental songs can you recollect in under 30 seconds when I tell you to name your Top 10? Sure, there’ll be the “Pink Panther Theme” or “The Godfather Theme”, but undoubtedly, the Number 1 song will be “Schindler’s List Instrumental”, right? Well, at least it hits Number 1 on my Top 10 Instrumentals list. The bow used to play the violin pierces through your heart (No pun intended!). Just visualizing the aftermath of the unfortunate and ruthless Jew assassination, coupled with this instrumental masterpiece is enough to send chills down my spine. *Note*: “Schindler’s List” is the only movie wherein I have ever cried. No wonder I always cry at the ending scenes! There’s no doubting it – Schindler’s List is THE best movie ever made! Hat’s off to you, Steven Spielberg! There are actually two main reasons I love this movie – The entire movie, and the ending music. John Williams and Itzhak Perlman have absolutely nailed this one straight onto the wall of fame! The rift, the emotion – It’s just too much to handle sometimes. I know it might sound crazy, but sometimes when I’m alone in the house, all I ever want to do is play this song on the home theater and lie down on the floor, visualizing what those poor Jews must have gone through. This song is like a key to the next dimension. Everything this song possesses is just perfect! Let’s begin then, shall we?

[L-R]: Itzhak Perlman, John Williams

History: “Schindler’s List (Soundtrack)” was released along with Steven Spielberg‘s best production till today, “Schindler’s List“. The song was composed totally by John Williams, and Itzhak Perlman gave the violin cover. The soundtrack (The entire album, in fact) won the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Original Score, and also bagged the Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television”. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award. The soundtrack has a running time of 4 Minutes and 12 Seconds. [Source : Wikipedia]

Review: The song has a quite sober opening, but starts to rip open your heart from 00:14. when it starts that loop which made it so famous. It brings tears to many a people I know. The violin play throughout the song.. SIMPLY EXCEPTIONAL! Itzhak Perlman completely steals the show! The song slows down for a bit, but then starts again with that loop at 01:05. The high tones of the violin really make it through your heart. I get the goosebumps when I listen to this instrumental masterpiece. The tone changes completely  from 02:02; Going off the looping, but never off the track. The interlude blends in with the loop at 02:35, and it does it ever so beautifully. There’s a hint of bass noticeable all throughout the song. The song continues with the occasional eye-blinding loop; and it’s the violin which steals the show with it’s solo performance from 03:20. All throughout the song, you feel as if the loop is trying to convey the sorrow of 6 million unfortunate Jewish souls to you. Trust me; sometimes – it’s just too much to handle. I break down many a times when I listen to this piece. And coupled with the movie, I’ll just have to order a water tank to contain my tears (Especially the ending part of the song wherein the people pay their condolences to the poor souls).The song fades off from your ears, but NEVER from your heart. The ending is soft, and the grand total of the song – FANTASTIC!

Rating: It’s the best instrumental movie track ever! It just doesn’t deserve anything less than a 10! Hat’s off to the exceptional violin cover to Itzhak Perlman, and to John Williams as well – For his undoubtedly best composition! We salute you! A perfect 10/10! For those who haven’t watched Schindler’s List – GO WATCH IT NOW! For those who haven’t heard the movie’s theme song – GO LISTEN TO IT RIGHT AWAY!  The download link is right below!

Complete Score for “Schindler’s List (Soundtrack)” : http://en.scorser.com/Out/4759585.html (Right click on link, click “Save Link/Target As”)

Download link for “Schindler’s List (Soundtrack)” : http://7995.tw/images/sad.mp3 (Right Click on link, click “Save Target/Link As”)

 

“Schindler’s List (Soundtrack) is a movie from Steven Spielberg’s movie titled “Schindler’s List”

Review Of: The Who – Behind Blue Eyes

What do you visualize when you hear the name of “The Who”? Violence – Sheer Violence! Destruction everywhere! But wait, there’s more. There’s a side of The Who very few know. Although there aren’t many ‘Soft’ songs by their name, this one totally nails it. In fact, it’s my favorite song by The Who. Sure, “Baba O’ Riley” or “My Generation” are awesome songs; but according to me, NONE of their songs can top this one. So, let’s get started!

The Who [L-R]: Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, John Entwistle

History: “Behind Blue Eyes” is the second song from The Who’s 1971 album titled “Who’s Next”. The song is one of The Who’s most well known recordings and has been covered by many artists, especially Limp Bizkit. It did pretty well all over globally, but not as quite as well as “Baba O’ Riley” or others. It did, however, peak in the Top 5 positions in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (No. 1) and Switzerland. Whew! For the complete chart performance and year end performance, click here. An interesting fact – “Behind Blue Eyes” was going to be C.S.I: NY’s OST (Opening Sound Track), but the director went along with “Baba O’ Riley”. There is only one version of the song – The Studio Version, running for 3 Minutes and 42 Seconds. [Source : Wikipedia]

Review: The song starts off with a mellow acoustic guitar rift, with the vocals (Roger Daltrey) following suit at 00:07. This song is really different from the other ‘disturbing’ ones by The Who, as more than three quarters of this song is Soft. The lyrics are gravity defying. No, seriously! Go check them out! The tempo of the song is slow, and the vocals are also just perfect. The second stanza starts at 01:13. Throughout the mellow part, you can hear background vocals and an arpeggiated acoustic guitar rift. Even though the song is soft, there are plenty of mean punches like “And I Blame You”.. My favorite part of the slow part is the vocal interlude (“But My Dreams…”). The song finally comes  out into the open  at 02:18 after a “Hmm” by Roger. The song transforms from a mellow one to a rock anthem within no time; with the mean lyrics consistent. I don’t know why, but the ending guitar rift sounds awfully similar to the one in “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. Am I the only one who thinks that?

Rating: A perfect 10/10 for this masterpiece! Never tired of listening to this one!

Lyrics link for “Behind Blue Eyes” : http://artists.letssingit.com/the-who-lyrics-behind-blue-eyes-gb6f2g7

Download link for “Behind Blue Eyes” : http://img.crazys.info/files/music/2008.7/the_who__behind_blue_eyes.mp3

“Behind Blue Eyes” is the second single from The Who’s album “Who’s Next”

Review Of: The Animals – The House Of The Rising Sun

If you’re in the mood for a straightforward and blunt song, I can’t recommend anything better than this – “The House Of The Rising Sun” by “The Animals“. Hailing from the sixties, this song just oozes class, with exceptional lyrics; and a dead easy (But really powerful) melody and rhythm. My grandfather told me this was the first lead guitar rift he ever learnt. The tone and the pitch of the vocals may not please you, but if you check out the lyrics; you’ll surely be stunned. The most famous part of the song is “..And God I know, I’m One.” It’s so simply put, but it makes SO much meaning! They just don’t make songs like these anymore, do they? Let’s get reviewing, then!

The Animals [L-R]: Eric Burdon, Alan Price, Chas Chandler, Hilton Valentine, John Steel

History: “The House Of The Rising Sun” (Also known as “House Of The Rising Sun” or “Rising Sun Blues” is a folk song from the United States, which tells us a story of life gone wrong in New Orleans. There were many cover versions produced (For the complete list, click here), but the most prominent among them was produced by the English Rock band “The Animals”. It hit the Number 1 position in U.S., U.K., Canada, Sweden and Finland. The most prominent thing about the song is the fact that it’s played with a continuous C Minor (Or Chromatic Minor). It’s a really easy rift to play. Surprisingly, The Animals chose to release the song at two different dates in the U.S. and the U.K. It was released on June 19, 1964 (U.K.) and August 1964 (U.S.). There are two versions of the song, one being the 4 Minute 29 Seconds U.K. Full Song Edit Version and the other being the 2 Minute 58 Seconds U.S. Edited Version. [Source: Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: It tells us about a boy who has experienced life as hell, and he lives to tell about it; long story short – It’s about life gone bad in New Orleans. Ironically, the title of the song has a completely different meaning, wherein in reality the song is actually a depressing account of a boy’s life (Talk about oxymoron usage!)

Review: The song starts with the famous electric A Minor chord (Hilton Valentine), and a minor hint of bass. Eric Burdon starts the vocals at 00:12, in an ever so ferocious tone. After all, it has been described as a “Howling” and “Soulful” tone by the critics. The song starts with the chorus itself (A very rare spectacle). The first stanza starts after a brief interlude (00:46), and indeed, he does ‘howls’. Now here’s the awesome part. What do expect after a stanza? A chorus, right? Nope. Not here. The second stanza starts as soon as the first one ends (Of course, after a brief interlude). The lyrics are downright amazing. There are simply no words to describe them. Simple, but very elegant. Even though the song is fast paced, it seeps every minute detail of what the boy is trying to tell us into our brain. The tune is, of course, really catchy (Just as all the simple tunes are). Then there’s the interlude starting at 01:42, all the way through till 02:26. It’s fast paced, but engraves every detail of the the horrible situation in your head. That’s what real guitar solo’s were; not the ones played by the ‘Oh-So-Cool’ Linkin Park. Please! If you want to get a taste of genuine Rock music, listen to the songs from the 60’s to the 90’s. The best 30 years of English music, I would say. Getting back to the point, the third stanza is a bit slower compared to the previous two, and the pitch is also a little slow, but it regains the tempo slowly, and completely regenerates itself from 03:00. That’s when Eric Burdon starts with the lines which made the song what it is today – “I’ve Got One Foot On The Platform, The Other Foot On The Train; I’m Going Back To New Orleans, To Wear That Ball & Chain”. Just amazing, isn’t it? The chorus starts after the stanza (Finally!), but just as an aid for assisting the song to it’s end. The vocals end at 03:55, so do the vocals (04:05), and the the song ends with the long piano Minor key (04:29).

Rating: This song officially changed the face of Rock music, if not Folk Rock music. We have Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, The Who, etc. etc. because of these geniuses. A straight-from-the-heart 10/10 for this song! Awesome vocals and lyrics, and a haunting tune. Go for it guys! A must listen-to!!

Lyrics of “The House Of Rising Sun” : http://artists.letssingit.com/the-animals-lyrics-the-house-of-the-rising-sun-xk5r54w

Download link for “The House Of Rising Sun” : http://migratingtaste.oldeenglish.org/music/animals-houserisingsun.mp3 (Right Click on link, click “Save Link/Target As”)

“The House Of The Rising Sun” is a single from the American band “The Animals”

Review Of: Culture Club – Karma Chameleon

“Karma Chameleon” is perhaps one of the best happy-go-lucky songs out there. It’s the perfect song for long drives, and a perfect remedy for quick stress relief. I had never heard of neither Culture Club nor “Karma Chameleon” till 2000; and the first time I ever heard it was at a Millennium party held at one of my aunt’s. I forgot the song as time progressed, but heard it again in the movie “Scary Movie 4” (The part when a huge iPod nano falls from the sky, and this song starts playing). I searched frantically over the internet, and finally got acquainted with the song (Long lost love finally found!). It is one of my most cherished ‘happy-go-lucky’ songs from that day onwards. Let’s get started then!

Culture Club

History: “Karma Chameleon” is a song from Culture Club‘s 1983 album “Colour By Numbers“. The song hit markets like an epidemic, and made the song one of the most popular songs of the 80’s. It spent 3 weeks on the Number 1 position on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It performed equally well all over the world, and gained the Number 1 position in over sixteen countries, and made it in the Top 10 in many more. It also cut it’s way to the Number 1 position on the U.K. Singles Charts. It’s widely considered to be their signature song. “Karma Chameleon” also won the Best British Single at the 1984 Brit Awards. For the complete Charts and Certifications, click here, and for their Chart Positions & Certifications, click here. There are two versions of the song; one being the 4 Minute 12 Seconds Album Version, and the other being the 3 Minute 51 Seconds Single Edit Version. [Source: Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: Boy George (Band Front man) has explained (And I quote) “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It’s about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren’t true, if you don’t act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that’s nature’s way of paying you back.”

Review: The song starts with the bass guitar (Mikey Craig) and joins in with the drums (Jon Moss) at 00:03. They further mix in with the harmonica (Judd Lander) at 00:07, and Boy George starts the vocals straightaway at 00:12. His tone is really soothing (The stress relief I was talking about), and the background vocals add another bit of spice to the song. The soothing vocals, coupled with mellow beats and bass, and a typical Country harmonica gives the song it’s amazingly subtle properties. Going on a long drive? Lighten up the mood on the highway or in the traffic by listening to the song. It’s also the perfect song to listen when you’re having a backyard barbeque, or pool party – keeps the air really lively. Anyways, the first chorus starts at 00:44. This is the best (And most recognized) part of the song; the frittering vocals, and the quirky harmonica add a really nice feel to the song (Especially “Loving would be easy..”).

The second para starts immediately, and before you know it; you’re listening to the chorus (01:36). No, this is not a fast paced song; the verses are shorter than normal. Then starts the vocal interlude (01:57), which results in a brief instrumental (Harmonica) interlude. The “I’m A Man..” ‘pre-chorus’ takes over again, and then starts the chorus again at 02:49. This time, however, it (The chorus) is looped, playing with only the drum beats for the second time (The third one onwards is normal). The song starts fading off at 03:54, and ends at 04:14.

Rating: If it’s a song which will make you happy in traffic, it surely deserves a perfect score, doesn’t it? 10/10 for this lifesaving song! Hallelujah!

Lyrics for “Karma Chameleon” : http://artists.letssingit.com/culture-club-lyrics-karma-chameleon-6j7j1bs

Download link for “Karma Chameleon” : http://silentragedy.net/stereo/music/cultureclubkarmachameleon.mp3 (Right Click on link, click ‘Save Link/Target As”)

“Karma Chameleon” is a song from Culture Clubs’ 1983 album “Colour By Numbers”

Review Of: Michael Jackson – Thriller

“Thriller” is the best song (And album) delivered by Michael Jackson. The ‘King Of Pop’ also starred in the 11 minute (What they called at that time) gory music video, which propelled the song even further to fame. It is undoubtedly one of the best Pop songs (If not the best) ever made. The creaking and howling sounds, and the extraordinary ending commentary makes the music video (And the song too) an unforgettable experience. It was the first ‘horror’ clip I ever saw, and BOY did it scare me! I was scared to death! For a music video produced in 1984, it really is a masterpiece. My top 5 Michael Jackson favorites are: “Bad“, “Black Or White“, “Heal The World“, “Ghosts” and “Thriller”; which I’ll be reviewing today. So, let’s get to it!

Michael Jackson (Artist)

History: “Thriller” is a song from Michael Jackson’s seventh single from his sixth Studio album titled “Thriller” (1984). The song has also featured in many of his compilation albums like HIStory (1995), Number Ones (2003), The Essential Michael Jackson (2005), and Michael Jackson’s This Is It (2009). It was remixed to the Immortal album in 2011. The ending commentary was given by Vincent Price. The music video was a phenomenal success, and it scribbled it’s name in the Guinness Book of World Records for “Most Selling Video”, making a turnover of around 9 Million units! It also enjoyed phenomenal success all over the world. For the complete chart performance, click here, and for Charts and Certifications, click here. For the complete info on the music video, click here. There are two versions of this song; one being the 6 Minute 2 Second Studio Version, and the other being the 10 Minute 53 Second Music Video Version. [Source: Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: Simply put, NOTHING. For the complete story, watch the music video (I’ve provided the Youtube link below). It’ll tell you everything you need to know. But I’ll brief it out. It’s about a couple who are walking home one night, and are exposed to the zombie infestation. That’s it.

Review: Rod Temperton, the composer of the song; suggested that some extra effects like the sound of howling, creaking doors, thunder and feet walking on wooden planks be added to make the song sound a bit more ‘awake’. And of course, it was the perfect formula to create the Frankenstein of Pop music – “Thriller”. The tempo of the song is moderate, being a little to the faster side (120 beats per minute). There are a TON of instruments used in this song; the synthesizer, guitar, trumpet, flugel horn, saxophone, flute and trombone, to be precise. The song starts in a REAL spooky manner, commencing with the sound of a creaking door opening. The man/ghost/whatever-it-is is heard walking into the open, where sounds of thunder and howling are eminent. The song goes downwards spirally at 00:18, and picks up pace with the synthesizer and the howling, and the actual music starts at 00:38, with the addition of a funky disco theme to it. Michael starts with the vocals at 00:59 with his famous ‘swallow’ sound. Now, the pace of the song – It’s really well paced, and keeps the mood alive. Don’t expect soul ripping lyrics here, they’re really cheeky (And equally fun!). The first chorus starts at 01:30. The chorus, amazingly, isn’t the part which everyone finds attracting. Then what is? You’ll know shortly. After a brief interlude, Michael takes over and starts with the second stanza and before you know it, you’re facing the second chorus, which begins at 02:27. After the chorus, he (Michael) makes his pitch a bit slurry, and slows down the song (You know, as if it’s gone into slow-mo). The vocal bridge is accompanied by trumpets and the synthesizer. The bridge comes to an end, and merges with the interlude at 03:06. The third para starts immediately, with that creepy horror tune which was so commonly used in the early ages (The creepy whistle tune, remember?) Anyways, the third chorus starts at 03:38, and is looped once again. Then comes the fun part from 04:15, with the CREEPY music and awesome lyrics (Courtesy Vincent Prince) combined, you’re into a real treat! I always get shivers up my spine when I hear this vocal interlude. The lyrics used here are really classy (And spooky, too). The use of English language is impeccable! Try “And Though You Fight To Stay Alive, Your Body Starts To Shiver; For No Mere Mortal Can Resist; The Evil Of The Thriller” on for size! The song ends with a final dose of spookiness, guaranteed to keep you awake for the night – That evil laugh.

Rating: One of Michael Jackson’s greatest songs (For me, it IS the greatest), it deserves a perfect score. So, a 10/10 it is!

Lyrics for “Thriller” : http://artists.letssingit.com/michael-jackson-lyrics-thriller-fwltnzk

Download link for “Thriller” : http://www.pipedreamer.org/~tim/RHPS/Micheal%20Jackson%20-%20Thriller.mp3 (Right click on link, click “Save Target/Link As”)

Youtube link for “Thriller” (Official Music Video) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

“Thriller” is a song from Michael Jackson’s album titled “Thriller”

Review Of: Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

Probably one of the mushiest song ever, “Right Here Waiting” created a phenomenon worldwide. It won the hearts of millions all over the globe. Richard Marx has used his dreamy voice, coupled with (What I claim is) the best piano rift ever, and teary eyed lyrics and blended everything together to create the ultimate drug for romantics. For those who think it’s a pop song; think again. The genre of the song is actually ‘Soft Rock’ (Falls in the same class of “Jealous Guy” or “Bohemian Rhapsody“). Well, it’s placed at Number 2 on my ‘Top 10 mushiest Love Songs of all time’ list, and I’ll be reviewing this song today. Cheers to all the romantics who longed for this song! Let’s get started!

Richard Marx (Artist)

History: “Right Here Waiting” is actually a ballad composed and sung by Richard Marx, for his second album titled “Repeat Offender” (1989). The song went on, not only to break millions of hearts, but also records all over the world. It peaked at the Number 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and at Number 2 on the U.K. charts. For the complete chart performance, click here. For more peak positions, click here. It was certified Gold by Canada, Silver by U.K., and Platinum by U.S. The music video was censored and considered a bit too ‘steamy’ for the public, because it featured a 42 second “softcore” sex scene. There is just one version of the song, viz. The Studio Version; having a duration of 4 Minutes 24 Seconds. [Source: Wikipedia]

What it tries to convey to us: Richard Marx actually dedicated “Right Here Waiting” for his wife, Cynthia Rhodes, when she was acting in South Africa. For us people, it’s about a loving couple who, unfortunately, break up; and the man tells her, “No matter whom you love in the future, remember this – I’ll always be there for you.” True love, isn’t it?

Review: The theme of the song is really soft – the bass, the vocals, even the piano and the acoustic guitar. The song starts off with a synthesizer rift (bass of the song). The Oh-SO-BEAUTIFUL piano rift (Courtesy Vanston) starts at 00:17, and it REALLY is magnificent. I always feel like crying (Out of joy, or sadness – who knows?). Richard Marx starts off with the vocals at 00:45. You can clearly see how beautifully he has modulated his pitch and tone, for accentuating the song. You can actually feel what he is trying to convey (For example – his “Oh can’t you see it Baby, You’ve got me going crazy”). He starts off with the first chorus at 01:17, and after a brief 6 second gap, starts off with the second stanza. The thing that keeps all of us hooked to this song is definitely it’s chorus, because.. Let’s just face it.. It’s stupendous! Richard Marx has cleverly added more number of choruses in the song, to keep the feel ‘alive’. Saying thus, the second chorus begins already at 02:16. The song may seem slow in tune and rhythm, but it’s really fast paced in terms of tempo. The song suddenly shifts all of it’s momentum and starts off with a completely different tune from 02:37, with Marx increasing the pitch by a notch. And then comes the moment we’ve all been waiting for – That epic guitar rift (Courtesy Bruce Gaitsch). Don’t get confused here: It’s not an electric lead, or any type of shredding that I’m talking about here; it’s an acoustic guitar rift. And yet, it’s just so beautiful. The simplicity of the song is the factor which completely won me. The rifts are extremely easy to perform (I learned the guitar 2 years ago, and this was the second rift I could ever play). It’s soft, subtle, and perfectly suits the song mood. Marx takes over again at 03:21, with starts with the chorus at 03:32. He makes sure to maintain the ‘edge’ in his voice till the very end. The vocals end at 03:52, and the song proceeds into ending mode with a dual of the acoustic guitar and the piano rift, and the ends at 04:24.

Rating: A flat out 10/10 for this one! Awesome vocals, soft melody, even better guitar and piano rift – all bundled in one! A must listen to!!

Lyrics link for “Right Here Waiting” : http://artists.letssingit.com/richard-marx-lyrics-right-here-waiting-hrnnzh2

Download link for “Right Here Waiting” : http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/67853/audios/601417.mp3

 

“Right Here Waiting” is a song from Richard Marx’s album “Repeat Offender”

 

Review Of: Europe – The Final Countdown

 

Okay, let me be really frank here. I didn’t even know Europe until 2004 (Guilty as charged!). The first time I heard them was when I was in the fourth grade. I still remember it clearly – I was in a gathering, where a bunch of my friends had decided to perform a small skit. The theme song was, of course, the musical version of “The Final Countdown“. From that day onwards, the song was embedded in my brain. But the problem was, no one knew the title of the song. At last, I finally got acquainted with the song in 2006, when my older sister played it on her computer. Ah, the memories! Today, I’ll be reviewing “The Final Countdown”, for reliving those cherished days. So, let’s get to it!

Europe [L-R] : Ian Haugland, Mic Michaeli, John Norum, Joey Tempest, John Levén

 

History: “The Final Countdown” is a song from Europe’s 1986 album, “The Final Countdown“. Performance wise, it tore through the charts, and reached Number 1 in over 25 countries! How cool is that? It peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and Number 18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. “The Final Countdown” was released in the spring of 1986 and became the most successful song from The Final Countdown (Album) on the American rock charts and as well as the band’s most recognizable and popular song (It was undoubtedly their signature song). For the complete chart performance, click here. There are two versions of this song, one being the 5 Minute 9 Seconds Album Version (Which I’ll be reviewing) and the other being 4 Minutes 3 Seconds Radio Edit Version.

Review: The song starts with some rumbling noises (Till today, I really couldn’t make out what the instrument is. If you guys know which one, please leave the answer in the comments). Then the legendary instrumental music (It’s a piano rift, actually) starts at 00:13. It’s what made this song so famous. The tune is REALLY catchy, and becomes more so once the beats kick in at 00:51. The momentum of the song is suddenly disrupted at 01:18, and Joey Tempest initiates the vocals at 01:26. Another thing about the beats. It raises the tempo of the song quite considerably; and helps it stay fast paced. The vocals are well suited for this song; the tone being a little submissive, but packing enough punch. It accentuates the rhythm of the song perfectly. The first chorus starts at 01:57, and ends like a breeze. Just like that, the second stanza begins (02:15); and you never knew what hit you. The tempo of the song is just amazing! (An ideal workout song!) The second chorus starts at 02:46, succeeded by the groovy tune, and a little bit of “Final Countdown” chanted here and there. The whole song momentarily turns around at 03:12, and then an EPIC guitar solo is initiated from 03:16. It’s absolutely stunning. It’s got a kind of monotonous tune to it, but accompanied by some really fast shredding; and a REALLY well executed loop (03:32 – 03:39). The guitar solo merges with the piano rift at 03:49, and it all comes together again at 04:09. The stanza’s end there itself; and it’s actually an instrumental rift from 04:09 till the ending, with the exception of the addition of those “It’s The Final Countdown” parts in between. The song fades off at 04:56, and ends at 05:09.

Rating: The REALLY addictive piano rift, hardcore beats, awesome vocals and an astounding guitar solo make “The Final Countdown” easily eligible for the 10/10 it deserves! Go listen to this one guys!

 

Lyrics for “The Final Countdown” : http://artists.letssingit.com/europe-lyrics-the-final-countdown-x516sfv

Download link for “The Final Countdown” : http://static.blog4ever.com/2006/02/109139/artfichier_109139_267826_201108181935485.mp3 (Right Click on link, click “Save Target/Link As”)

 

“The Final Countdown” is a song from Europe’s album titled “The Final Countdown”