I've always loved Rock 'n Roll - I guess this is what happens when your older brother has spent forty years to date as a DJ. So when I downloaded the Pandora app to my iPhone, I naturally started with Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, Chicago, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, the Beatles, and so forth. I was pleasantly surprised when the app then played songs from Traffic, Deep Purple, Jackson Browne, and a whole host of other bands, some of which I'd frankly forgotten.
Before I go any further, for the sake of those who are unfamiliar with one of the iPhone's top apps, I should mention that what Pandora does is ask you to pick an artist, a group, or a song, and then will play music not only from your selection, but also from artists whose music is similar. But the user is soon surprised at the range of music that is presented. For instance, on my Jimmy Buffet 'station', I soon got music from Israel 'Iz' Kamakawiwo'ole, the most famous purveyor of Hawaii's particular brand of music.
But I digress. I've developed a liking for anime, and I was turned on to Yoko Kanno, who has written songs for several of the most famous anime series in addition to a host of commercial jingles. Yoko Kanno is perhaps the most versatile musical artist I've ever heard - her styles range from grinding rock to techno to neoclassical to sweet romantic melodies. After all, who else is able to combine lyrics from English, Japanese, Russian, and Latin in the same song - Inner Universe - and make it sound good?
So while listening to her, Pandora also introduced me to U.K. born Imogen Heap, a Russian pair of girls called t.A.T.u., and Muse, who recently won the American Music Award for Alternative Rock. I have to wonder if their decision to make a song titled Supermassive Black Hole was to win a bet - but it's a pretty cool song nonetheless.
But the biggest surprise was my introduction to Latin music, starting with Si Se (check out Mariposa(en Havana)), Julieta Venegas (Eres Para Mi), and Ceu (Malemolencia).
Of all the new music I've found, my second-favorite is Kuero, which doesn't seem to have much on YouTube, but when you listen to their music it's doggone hard to keep your feet still - their Latin hip-hop/Cuban-fusion songs are so rhythmic yet so easy-going...check out Vivo en el Monte if you can get it to play. But the very best is Bebe, a Spanish singer/songwriter from Valencia. Even though I don't understand the Spanish language, it is so easy to feel the raw emotion she distills into her music - more than anyone I've ever heard with the probable exceptions of Aretha Franklin and perhaps Sade - yet does so with a soft and gravelly (yet so very compelling) voice that Alanis Morrisette would kill for. Check out her Latin Grammy-winning anthem Malo, and then enjoy Me Fui and Siempre Me Quedara. I promise you won't be disappointed! Again, I can't understand much in the songs, but one can't help but feel the rhythm and the emotion they contain.
Article comments
1 - Mike Phillips
I prefer www.exploretunes.com
2 - David
Good call Mike - I like how exploretunes shows you videos as well when available. Grooveshark is also a favorite, though I will say that Pandora was there for me in the beginning, so I appreciate it still.
3 - Glenn Contrarian
And Pandora was simply the start - the sites you're referring to are evidence of the growing trend to which I am referring.
4 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"And Pandora was simply the start"
Actually, Yahoo Music started it all (back in 2002?) including the rating system (star based). Plus, you could also be rated by the Yahoo Music Community based on a popularity of sorts. I think it was whether or not the community thought your choices were cool and, I believe, your page design.
Still, Pandora was a nice replacement,but, I still find much more new music by way of music sharing blogs & news sites for particular genres. Though, most of the music is great for a one-shot listen, there aren't too many bands that I care to own a whole CD by.
You guys ( & gals - if reading) should try out Bandcamp. If you find something you dig, you're actually supporting the artist directly by purchasing the music there (digitally). Plus, they offer the FLAC format...
5 - Glenn Contrarian
True.
And this bolsters my case of the long, slow death - or at least the debilitation - of radio.
6 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Oh, sure. Glenn, you are absolutely correct. Honestly, radio might possibly never go away,but, it hasn't been a viable source of good music, for me, in 10+ years.