Last year marked the 80th anniversary of Irving Berlin’s classic song 'White Christmas,' which was first released by Bing Crosby in 1942. Since then, there have been around 500 versions of the song, making it one of the most covered songs in history. The enduring popularity of 'White Christmas' is discussed, with its significance during World War II highlighted. The article also mentions the stage adaptation of the song, 'Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,' which is currently running and features 17 Berlin songs. The review praises the performances of the cast and the seamless integration of the songs into the plot. It also mentions a stage mishap during one performance, but notes that the cast handled it professionally. The article concludes by mentioning upcoming musicals for 2024 and ticket packages available.
Fairytale of New York, released in 1987 by The Pogues, is another beloved Christmas song that has remained popular despite controversy over its lyrics. The song has spent a total of 93 weeks in the official UK Top 75 and is the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK. It has been covered by numerous artists and was performed by Saoirse Ronan and Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show in 2018. The song faced criticism for its use of the word 'faggot', leading to calls for censorship. However, Shane MacGowan, the songwriter, defended the use of the word, stating that it was in line with the character's dialogue and not intended to offend. In 2020, the BBC announced that it would censor the lyrics by removing the words 'faggot' and 'slut'. Despite the controversy, Fairytale of New York continues to be a Christmas classic and is widely played during the holiday season. Yann Liotard has written a book about The Pogues and their song 'Fairytale of New York'. The book provides a biography of the band and focuses on the history and significance of the song. It covers the genesis of the song, its different versions, and the story behind its lyrics. The author also discusses the cultural and emotional impact of the song, as well as its controversies and censorship. The book is considered a valuable read for fans of The Pogues and anyone interested in the history of the song.
Folk music is a genre deeply rooted in tradition, storytelling, and cultural heritage. The best folk music songs are more than just musical compositions; they are windows into the collective experiences, struggles, and triumphs of humanity. The 15 best folk music songs of all time, according to Singersroom.com, include 'Blowin' in the Wind' by Bob Dylan, 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' by Bob Dylan, 'This Land is Your Land' by Woody Guthrie, 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?' by Pete Seeger, 'If I Had a Hammer' by Pete Seeger & Lee Hays, 'Mr. Tambourine Man' by Bob Dylan, 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon & Garfunkel, 'The Boxer' by Simon & Garfunkel, 'Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell, 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' by Peter, Paul and Mary, 'Puff, the Magic Dragon' by Peter, Paul and Mary, 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow' (traditional), 'House of the Rising Sun' (traditional/The Animals), 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' by Pete Seeger/The Byrds, and 'Fresh Fish' by Gordon Lightfoot.
According to Singersroom.com, some of the best folk music songs of all time include 'Blowin' in the Wind' by Bob Dylan, 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' by Bob Dylan, 'This Land is Your Land' by Woody Guthrie, 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?' by Pete Seeger, 'If I Had a Hammer' by Pete Seeger & Lee Hays, 'Mr. Tambourine Man' by Bob Dylan, 'The Sound of Silence' by Simon & Garfunkel, 'The Boxer' by Simon & Garfunkel, 'Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell, 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' by Peter, Paul and Mary, 'Puff, the Magic Dragon' by Peter, Paul and Mary, 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow' (traditional), 'House of the Rising Sun' (traditional/The Animals), 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' by Pete Seeger/The Byrds, and 'Fresh Fish' by Gordon Lightfoot. These songs are considered timeless in their appeal, transcending cultural and generational boundaries to resonate with listeners of all backgrounds. They serve as windows into the collective experiences, struggles, and triumphs of humanity, making them more than just musical compositions.
The article by Bill Perkins discusses the author's love for soul music from the 1970s and the songs he would take to a desert island. The author recalls hearing a song by the Isley Brothers in a grocery store and realizing it was from the Golden Age of Soul. The author reminisces about listening to soul music on an old Bakelite radio and mentions a favorite DJ, Mit deWitt, who played soul music on WDIG. The author shares a request log from Mit deWitt that includes songs from 1973 by artists such as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Eddie Kendricks, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Barry White, Billy Preston, Sly Stone, the Isley Brothers, Chi-Lites, Millie Jackson, Bobby Womack, James Brown, Ann Peebles, and Curtis Mayfield. The author reflects on his love for soul music and his ability to mimic Al Green. The author mentions a book called 'Stranded: Rock and Roll for a Desert Island' and shares that his own desert island music list includes soul hits from the early '70s, a couple of Elvis songs, and songs by the Rev. Gary Davis. The author invites readers to share their own desert island music lists.
An analysis of hundreds of chart hits from the past 70 years has shown “a significant decline” in the complexity of rhythm and pitch in song melodies, UK researchers said. The biggest transitions occurred in the years 1975 and 2000. The team also found “moderate evidence” of a “melodic revolution” in 1996. The complexity of melodies in the most popular songs has shown a significant decline since 1950. When it comes to extremely popular music, we no longer listen for complex vocal melodies, but perhaps for something else – maybe interesting chord progressions, lyrics, or sound textures. The researchers believe this shift in complexity from melody to other elements stops the music from sounding overwhelming to listeners. While the complexity of song rhythms and pitch arrangements declined over seven decades, the average number of notes played per second increased. [8f485277]