Review Of: The Moody Blues – Nights In White Satin

This may be the most controversial line on my blog: ‘Nights In White Satin’ is the best song produced by The Moody Blues. Now, I don’t want to start any kind of fight here, but this is my opinion; and music is a field wherein everyone has their own opinion regarding a certain song/artist. I know, I know… You all may be asking, “Why this song? Why not the other masterpieces like Question, Melancholy Man and Tuesday Afternoon?” Well, the answer is quite simple: ‘Nights In White Satin’ was the first (and the best) Moody Blues song I ever heard, and that dates way back to 1996. I still remember vividly – I was just 4 years old, and snoozing comfortably on my mom’s lap. There was apparently a power cut, so we had to resort to the battery powered radio to fulfill our entertainment needs (my family just can’t live without music). The song ‘I’d Love You To Want Me‘ (Lobo) just ended, and the next song which was on air was this. I’ll never forget that haunting melody. Anyways, back to the review!

The Moody Blues (Band) [Random]: Pinder, Edge, Hayward, Thomas, Lodge

History: ‘Nights In White Satin‘ is a song produced by the English rock band The Moody Blues. The song was included as a part of the album titled ‘Days of Future Passed‘. The song also has a quirky feauture – Majority of the background rhythm is monotonous (it is played in the E minor key and the Neapolitan chord F). The song did amazingly well around the world, grabbing the Number 1 position on several occasions such as the Cash Box (US), Canada, and many other instances. It also just about ended up losing the race with ‘Hey Jude’ (The Beatles), settling for the second position on the Billboard Hot 100. Other honorable mentions include the Number 9 (1972) and Number 14 (1979) on the UK SIngles Charts. For the complete list of Chart performances, click here. Here’s a very mysterious incident that occured with this song – After being demoted to Number 17 on the Hot 100 List (unfortunate, really), the song COMPLETELY vanished. How spooky is that? It did, however, reclaim the Number 9 position (1979 re-release) on the UK charts. Band member Justin Hayward wrote this song after a friend of his gifted him a satin sheet for his birthday. The last part of the song was composed by the London Festival Orchestra. There are three total versions of this song, which are the 7 Minutes 38 Seconds long Album Version, 3 Minutes 6 Seconds Single Edit, and another Single Edit spanning for 4 Minutes 26 Seconds. [Source – Wikipedia]

Review: Okay, I have to be frank with you – Getting a song which fitted the official release timelines was a very hard job. I happened to have a 5 Minute 3 Second song with me, and the Moody Blues CD that I own (Best Of The Moody Blues) has a 4 Minute 56 Second version of the song. However, I did find one that just about suits the timeline.

The reason why I call this song a masterpiece is because the song is composed of nothing but light use of percussion instruments (Ray Thomas & Graeme Edge), a heavy bass guitar (John Lodge) and haunting vocals (Justin Hayward) (and a flute [Ray Tomas] too, but later on). The song starts with a heavy bass outline, and the mild percussion instruments are heard in the backdrop (might have to strain your ears a bit). The vocals (starting from 00:23) are awesome, but the emotion Justin Hayward has put in this song is almost unreal. They seem to be a surge of emotions breaking – Desperation, loneliness, love, frustration, depression, hope, and the list goes on and on. My favorite line of the song?

“Letters Are Written, Never Meaning To Send”.

At around 00:44 (and henceforth), you can hear the alternative board percussions. The chorus is initiated for the first time at 00:59, which is like a roller coaster of vocal and instrumental pitches. To be frank, it really shouldn’t be called a ‘chorus’, because it is repeated two times after a short stanza; but we’ll go with the flow anyways. The flute interlude begins at 02:19 (right after the chorus). Now, I’m not accustomed of hearing flute interludes in a Rock song, but I have to say, this one gave me the chills. It is a touch on the psychedelic side, so if you close your eyes and let the soothing music flow through your ears, you’ll never know when sleep hit you. I have to admit, it’s the best damn flute solo I’ve heard – 53 seconds of pure ecstacy. Hayward commences the vocals at 03:12, with a previously looped stanza. The song spirals down to a trippy rhythm accompanied with “Cause l Love You”. The beats get dramatic, and slowly fades off, until it ends at 05:30. When it does end, I recommend checking your forearm, for if there aren’t any goosebumps, you definitely haven’t indulged yourself in the song. Yet another masterpiece from the amazing band! Hats off to the oldies!

Lyrics For ‘Nights In White Satin’: http://artists.letssingit.com/the-boat-that-rocked-lyrics-the-moody-blues-nights-in-white-satin-oncjpxm#axzz2cy0p3iOM

Download Link For ‘Nights In White Satin‘: http://fs.tistory.com/attach/4790/1081696519.mp3 (Right Click on link, click ‘Save Link/Target As’)

‘Nights In White Satin’ is a song by the band ‘The Moody Blues’ and a part of their album titled ‘Days Of Future Passed’.

Review Of: Sting – Fields Of Gold

The very first song one would recollect when I say ‘Sting’ would be ‘Desert Rose‘. Granted, the artistically made song captures everyone’s mind, but what about his former hits like ‘Shape Of My Heart’ or ‘Fields Of Gold’? Now, I’m going to go straight out and say it – I like ‘Fields Of Gold’ more than ‘Desert Rose’. Why? Probably because the song has a more ‘realistic’ approach to it, it’s much softer and pleasant to the ears, and the main reason – The lyrics. The song I’m reviewing today has amazing lyrics, compared to those in ‘Desert Rose’. So, let’s get to it!

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (a.k.a Sting)

History: ‘Fields Of Gold‘ is a song from the English artist Sting, a former member of ‘The Police‘. The song was released as a part of the 1993 album titled Ten Summoner’s Tales. The song didn’t do particularly well, reaching Number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, Number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The best position it secured was that of Number 2 on the Adult Contemporary Charts. All in all, the song did pretty well in the western hemisphere. What I have to say after reading all these facts is – pitiful. In my opinion, this song should have fared more than ‘Desert Rose’. The number of Youtube hits the Official Video of this song has is also something to be ashamed of – nearly 5 million. In today’s time, a measly viral video of a drunken man falling off his car gets 5 million+ views. What people really need to do is forget new age music (which are completely ruining the English language) and indulge in oldies like this. The duration of the song is 3 Minutes and 41 Seconds (Album Version).

Review: Sometimes, you know the song is brilliant just by listening to the starting. This song gives you the chills as soon as kicks off. The bass creeps in sharply, and the subtle undertones of the Northumbrian smallpipes (courtesy Kathryn Tickell) and harmonica (Brendan Power) add a haunting overlay to the song. Add Sting’s deep vocals to the mix, and you have a beautiful song in the making. The lyrics – Not overtly mushy, but hitting the perfect notes to make your heart melt. They (the lyrics), however, compose the winning formula for this song. They’re simply amazing! Take this piece of the second verse for example:

“So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold”

Can a song get any better than this? Simple, yet elegant – Just the way everyone loves it. The interesting part about this song is that it doesn’t have a chorus, and every verse ends with (more or less) the same line. The only time when Sting breaks his rhythm is at the fourth verse (starts at 01:47), after which the song proceeds to the interlude (02:11). The guitar solo, well, is just indescribable. It’s very soft, and literally gives you the motions. It’s perfectly tuned (between an acoustic and a Spanish guitar), so it’s 18 seconds of pure, unadulterated heaven.A short verse ensues post the interlude, after which the first verse is looped again (02:48), which marks the end. The song dies down elegantly after a looped “As We Walked The Fields Of Gold”. Ending notes? Amazing song, but very unlucky. People should really look back to the past and reflect upon what they’re listening to now.

Lyrics For “Fields Of Gold”: http://artists.letssingit.com/sting-lyrics-fields-of-gold-4gr5cqz#axzz2cPmUt6n5

Download Link For “Fields Of Gold”: http://jdmanagement.com/hughpadgham/music/padgham.sting.fields.mp3 (Right Click on link, click ‘Save Link/Target As’)

‘Fields Of Gold’ is a song written by the artist Sting, for his album titled ‘Songs From The Labyrinth’

Didn’t expect this from you, WordPress

I’ve been blogging on WordPress since July 2012, and this is the first time I’ve experienced this – I can’t comment on anyone’s blog page! It’s been going on from the past two months now, and it’s getting very frustrating.

This notice is for all my fellow bloggers – Please don’t think I’m not leaving comments on your posts. I regularly visit everyone’s blog, and read all the amazing things they have to share.

The site has probably mistaken my page for spam and blocked my IP address. I’ve contacted them and told them to undo it as soon a possible. Till then fellow bloggers, don’t think I have forgotten you! I will be back to commenting on your pages as soon as this scenario gets behind me.

Keep up that love for music,

AudiophileParadise

 

—————UPDATE————————————————————————————-

Beetleypeter just suggested that I give a shout out to all my fellow bloggers and ask them to check their spam mails. If, by chance, WordPress has mistaken me as a spammer, I request you all to undo it as soon as possible. Please, please check your spam mails as soon as possible.

Thanking you in advance,

Your music buddy,

AudiophileParadise

Top 10 Songs To Listen To On Rainy Days

It’s raining outside, you’ve cuddled yourself in the warmest blanket you could find, you have a hot cup of cocoa kept in your reach, and a melodious, soothing playlist is playing softly in the background. What else can you ask from life in those moments? Unfortunately, sometimes we choose a song which is either too loud/harsh or too soft/mushy to suit the rainy environment. The songs we choose should be fresh, just like the newly wet earth; and the combined feeling of the aroma of the ground and the music should make the hair on your skin stand up.

I’ve had many people ask me for a suitable playlist on a rainy day, and I decided to make a universal playlist that everyone can listen to. But what if its not raining in your country? Fret not, there is a website that will make you feel right in the middle of a heavy downpour.

I really have to thank the creators who came up with this amazingly ingenious idea – and actually got it to work. I’ve seen websites where you can morph your voice, virtually make coffee, and what not. But this? Completely out-of-the-box thinking.

Okay, so the website is as follows:

http://www.rainymood.com/

Can the name of the website get any better? Probably not. When you’re in the mood for a virtual downpour, just head on to this site, and turn the speaker volume up. It has an awesome background too- that of a fogged up window, with rain pellets knocking on it. Really, all you need now is a shower hose drenching you, and you have a mini downpour!

Okay, getting straight down to business, here are the top 10 songs that I personally think HAVE to be on everyone’s rainy day playlist. Some are old, and some are relatively new. So here we go!

Rain Songs

Number 10: Coldplay – The Scientist

Why I included this – The song’s tempo and the rhythm suit the noise of the rain perfectly. The vocals also make the rain much more enjoyable. Sit back and enjoy!

Number 9: The Eagles – New Kid In Town

Why I included this – This song has a bass and rhythm that compels you to get out of your chair and jump in the rain. It’s subtly paced and has a smooth flow of vocals to it. This is one song you don’t want to forget adding in your playlist!

Number 8: Simon And Garfunkel – The Boxer

Why I included this – Does it need an explanation? Soft melody, powerful lyrics, and a feel-good atmosphere all around when you hear the song. Beautiful vocals are just the topping to the cake. Hum to this one while it pours outside!

Number 7: Michael Learns To Rock – The Actor

Why I included this – The vocals are probably the softest ones I’ve ever heard. The pace of the song, the steady beats and the mild rhythm in the backdrop make it a must-listen-to song during the rains.

Number 6: Pink Floyd – Time

Why I included this – Ah! Nothing like sitting inside and reflecting on the time spent in your life! You, dear reader; just sit back, turn the rain volume up, close your eyes and relax. Sir Gilmour will do the rest!

Number 5: Abba – Fernando

Why I included this – ABBA – Enough said.

Number 4: Chicago – If You Leave Me Now

Why I included this – Probably the best vocals (next to SImon & Garfunkel), this song just flows! The song may sound all mushy, but it’s not. Listening to this song whilst the rain actually brought a tear in my eye – it sounds that beautiful!

Number 3: Credence Clearwater Revival – Who’ll Stop The Rain

Why I included this – Isn’t the song name quite ironic? But no; nobody wants to stop the rain. The classic country vocals and the lively beats make for a memorable evening in the rain. The lead guitar is the main reason I recommend this song to you.

Number 2: Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love

Why I included this – Absolutely mesmerizing vocals and a soft, subtle melody and soft beats are the factors which make this song Number 2 on the list. Don’t miss it!

Number 1: Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars

Why I chose this as the Number 1 – The “If I Just Lay Here” part seems so relevant to the rain outside. It creates a totally different atmosphere altogether.  Okay, maybe the song is a little romantic, but I urge you to listen to this song in the rain. I’m sure it’ll be the most memorable downpour you’ll remember! The chorus was enough to move me to tears. Don’t you dare miss this one!

Hope you like the collection! To download the complete list, I have provided a link to 4shared below. Sign in using your Social Network id and password to download! Enjoy!

Link To Download Above Songs: http://audiophileparadiserainmusic.4shared.com

Again, don’t forget to type in this website and leaving it on for the rain sound:

www.rainymood.com

Poll Time!

Review Of: Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb

‘Comfortably Numb’ is probably the most potent song when it comes to going into a trance, or enjoying the feeling of being high. Having taken an oath to stay sober until I start earning my own money, I have no idea whatsoever of what this song does to a person who is high, but I have gathered countless accounts from close friends who listen to this song while smoking/drinking. According to them, this song triggers deep, hidden emotional feelings. Some of them have even claimed to cry when the song played. For the sober people, I feel that the effect is nothing different. The soft, mellow tone and the trippy vocals are sure to get all your inner demons exorcised. The loud, but slowly played guitar adds a haunting feeling to it, which guarantees chills. So all in all, ‘Comfortably Numb’ is a song which makes sober people high. Don’t believe me? Close your eyes, concentrate on only the vocals and the music, and see for yourself.

Pink Floyd [L-R]: David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Richard Wright

History: ‘Comfortably Numb‘ is a song by the (very well renowned) English band, Pink Floyd. This song was first released as a part of their 1979 double album titled ‘The Wall‘. The main task of composing the song was done by Gilmour, while Waters chipped in by giving the song it’s lyrics. The song is said to be Pink Floyd’s best song ever (2nd best for me, with ‘Time’ in the 1st place). It was placed at Number 314 on the Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list. It was also the last song sung together by Gilmour, Wright and Mason. The song ranked at Number 5 on the BBC Listener Radio’s Desert Island Discs choices. While the ‘Single Edit’ version is very short (3:59), the Album Edit spans relatively longer, lasting for about 6 Minutes and 25 Seconds.

Review: From the very moment the song starts, your head feels light. The melody of the song and the beats are kept at a very slow pace initially, which help to create that trance effect. Gilmour starts the vocals at 00:08. Once they (the vocals) start, you get a gut feeling that you’re going to zone out. Just remember what I said: Keep your eyes closed when you listen to the song for the first time. I guarantee a complete black out. The echo effect coupled with the synthesizer rifts is probably the major contributer in the trance environment.  The chorus, which is (needless to say) amazing,  begins at 00:53. The lyrics are simply indescribable.  Pure language, great composition, and an unbelievable vocabulary! One particular part of the chorus that I’d like to point out:

“When I was a child I had a fever, My hands felt just like two balloons; Now I’ve got that feeling once again…”

It just goes to prove how matured the members of Pink Floyd were. Now, I mean no disrespect, but most of the times, other Rock bands just witnessed their creation purely by chance.

Next comes the second verse at 02:46. If you thought the first stanza was trippy, just wait and listen to this one. According to me, it’s meant to be a double entendre. The chorus begins again at 03:16, with slight modifications. Okay, a bit more than ‘slight’- a lot. After the chorus falls, the guitar solo rises. Now, the junkies might already be too stoned to notice, but sober people will most probably wake up from their trance when this piece begins.

The 3 (almost) 3 minute solo leaves your nerves in tatters, and you are left wondering what hit you. It (the solo) defines brilliance and the very epitome of mastery of the guitar. Gilmour makes the strings glide through all the highs and lows as if it were butter. It takes pauses as if it is waiting for us to catch our breath. I’ll give the link to a live version of this song below, and I dare you- Listen to the last solo without squirming in your chair. If you do so, you’re oficcially inhuman.

 

Lyrics For ‘Comfortably Numb‘: http://artists.letssingit.com/pink-floyd-lyrics-comfortably-numb-wcmpt8t#axzz2bHvZ2vzM

 

Download Link For ‘Comfortably Numb’: http://iwanazis.net/lagu/01%20Comfortably%20Numb.mp3 (Right Click on link, click ‘Save Link/Target As’)

 

‘Comfortably Numb’ is a song from Pink Floyd’s album named ‘The Wall’

Review Of: Deff Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

An apology to all my fans: I severely ruptured my ACL while playing football, and I had to spend 45 days recuperating. That was followed by two and a half months of exhausting physiotherapy, and I was finally set free of all those monotonous exercise regimes yesterday. Interestingly, I got acquainted with a lot of music lovers, and started liking a band which I previously tried to avoid – Deff Leppard.

Unlike the other 80’s Rock artists, Deff Leppard had their own signature style – Bad boy looks, fancy guitars, loud music and a swagger that oozed confidence – The perfect recipe. Of course, the long hair, the torn (or should I say, shredded) jeans and the outrageous dressing sense all came with the package too.

Deff Leppard’s first song to fall on my ears was ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’, which remains my personal favorite till date. The pace of the song itself makes you groove to the rhythm. Add a little raunchy bass, a badass guitar, and awesome vocals, and TA DA! Unforgettable song created.

History: ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me‘ was a single by the British Rock band Deff Leppard. It also starred in their 1987 hit album, Hysteria (which is their most selling album). The song itelf sold around 4 million copies worldwode. It seems as if this song has the number ‘2’ written all over it, because it seemed to retain that position all the time. It was placed at Number 2 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It also stayed on that spot when VH1 released their ‘100 Greatest Songs Of The 80’s‘ list. However, it did clinch the top spot on many occasions. It won the Number 1 spot in the ‘Top 300 Videos Of All Time’, ‘Dial MTV (for 85 consecutive days), and the Top Pop Albums. The AVN (Adult Video News) also rated this song as ‘Number 1 Song Used By The Strippers’ of all time. Now THAT is rare! The different versions of the song alongwith their time spans are:

Album Version – 4:25
Hysteria video edit version – 4:52
2012 re-recorded version – 4:21
Extended version – 5:35                                                                   [Source: Wikipedia]

 

Deff Leppard (Band)

 

Review: The song begins with the unanimous chant: “Step inside, walk this way, you and me babe, Hey Hey”, followed by an engaging and snazzy guitar rift. When the beats merge with the rift, the whole song bursts to life. If you listen to only the musical piece, you can clearly imagine a man with dirty hair, torn jeans and a loud boombox on his right shoulder, walking through the civilized citizens and making their heads turn. The song’s vocals then crank in the first gear at 00:17. The vocals are harsh, which adds another notch of badass to it. The first pre-chorus begins at 00:51, which is immediately followed by the chorus at 01:02. The transition from the verses to the chorus (and back) is surprisingly smooth, unlike other Rock songs of that time. You hardly feel a glitch when it happens. The beat then dies suddenly at 01:20, signaling the start of the second verse. The style of the verses is the same throughout, but it never fails to catch your attention. It’s like this:

da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-DA-DA-DA (if you catch my drift)

The last few words of every line are escalated in tone, which makes it awesome to hear (the ‘Sugar Me’ part in particular is amazing). The pre-chorus (also called hook) begins again at 02:11, followed by the chorus at 02:22. However, after this particular chorus, the song goes into a sudden musical seizure, with random guitar and synthesizer rifts, the beats remaining constant throughout the interlude. A short pumped up speech follows, and it escapes the musical loop and returns to the pre-chorus (followed by the chorus) at 03:30. The song ends in the same manner, with ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ gradually fading off, before ending completely at 04:27.

 

Lyrics For “Pour Some Sugar On Me”: http://artists.letssingit.com/def-leppard-lyrics-pour-some-sugar-on-me-9g19l46

Download Link For “Pour Some Sugar On Me”: http://cfs.tistory.com/attach/7103/1126769278.mp3 (Right Click on Link, click ‘Save Link/Target As”)

 

‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ is a song by Deff Leppard for their 1987 album, ‘Hysteria’