Archive for June, 2008

Freddie Mercury Biography

Monday, June 30th, 2008

One of the most memorable show ever to step on a stage has been the Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. The interest in his professional and personal life has given rise to several versions of a biography of Freddie Mercury. He earned the status of legend following his tragic death in 1991 and is still conspicuous by its absence millions of fans. He was an unlikely candidate for the pop star when he entered the world in Zanzibar in 1946 as Farrokh Bulsara, the son of Indian Parsi parents. He grew up in India, was transferred to England, the Queen and the evolution of making his name, and the rest is history.

Many books tell the story of the singer. Unlike his  extrovert performance, he was a private man and did not give many interviews, but several authors have gathered interesting material that is available. The most fascinating insight into the biography of Freddie Mercury are friends and colleagues who knew him well. The book begins with children at university and to chart the success of Mercury and Queen solo career. He has written classic songs, but he remembers his emotion over his charisma and stage epic voice. In addition to fan adulation, he has the respect of many other performers and books discuss friendships his celebrity, including Elton John and David Bowie.

Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography by Lesley-Ann Jones  includes interviews with important people in his life. Freddie Mercury is written by Peter Freestone, who was the personal assistant of mercury for twelve years and was with him at the end. Peter Freestone also co-author of a biography of Freddie Mercury by David Evans on Freddie Mercury: The Afterlife. One of the most unusual books concerning the afterlife and spirit world. The Mercury Man: Freddie Mercury in My Life by Mary Howis in which, she says, messages from mercury beyond the grave.

The Show Must Go On: the life of Freddie Mercury by Rick Sky looks in the privacy of the star, including its relations with men and women in his life. The best way, however, understand the biography of Freddie Mercury, just read his own words. Freddie Mercury a Life, in his words, by the man himself quotes from his interviews are the most revealing.

Besides books, the story can be seen visually in a DVD entitled Queen – Under Review: 1946-1991-The Freddie Mercury Story. The story is told through images together, by reminding the world that the reason the singer has been so popular and why the legend persists.

Beatles Trivia

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008

Beatlemania is still on! Tell me what you know about John, Paul, Gringo and George.

  1. What was the last song John Lennon played to a paying audience?
    a. Across the Universe
    b. I Saw Her Standing There
    c. Imagine
    d. Bennie and the Jets
  2. Who was the first Beatle to marry?
    a. John
    b. Paul
    c. George
    d. Ringo
  3. Which Beatles crossed the  Abbey Road first?
    a. John
    b. Paul
    c. George
    d. Ringo
  4. What Beatles song was written for Mia Farrow’s sister?
    a. Dear Prudence
    b. Honey Pie
    c. For No One
    d. Julia
  5. What was the working title of “Yesterday”?
    a. All My Troubles
    b. I Believe
    c. The Day Before
    d. Scrambled Eggs
  6. Who was the first drummer of the Beatles?
    a. Stuart Sutcliffe
    b. Pete Best
    c. Bill Wyman
    d. Ringo Starr
  7. What Beatles song was taken from the Broadway musical The Music Man?
    a. Tomorrow Never Knows
    b. Till There Was You
    c. Your Mother Should Know
    d. Is not She Sweet
  8. Who has written  “Got to Get You Into My Life” ?
    a. Linda Eastman
    b. Dorothy Rhone
    c. Yoko Ono
    d. Marijuana
  9. What is the only song John Lennon recorded completely by himself during his time with the Beatles?
    a. In My Life Only
    b. The Northern Song
    c. Julia
    d. Mother
  10. Who took Ringo’s place on drums when he temporarily left the band during recording of The White Album?
    a. Paul McCartney
    b. Phil Collins
    c. Charlie Watts
    d. Pete Best

Brass Musical Instruments

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Probably the loudest instruments of the orchestra without amplification are brass. You can not ignore the musical instruments of brass. In the hands of a beginner, they sound terrible, but they produce beautiful music played by a virtuoso. They are used in many forms of music and are heard in symphonic works, rock, reggae and soul. These are instruments that are difficult to play well and need constant practice. Many children begin their musical studies by taking up the cornet. It takes a long time to get anywhere near the Louis Armstrong standard.

Dixieland style of New Orleans was popular in the early 20th century. Marching bands contain a trombone, cornet, clarinet, tuba, banjo and drum. Trombone, solos are not used as much as other musical instruments, brass instruments, developed with Jack Teagarden and Tommy Dorsey’s swing band. Everyone is familiar with the great jazz trumpeters and their cheeks swollen with all efforts. The Be Bop then the genius of Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, two beautiful whistle. The saxophone is another element of jazz, especially when Charlie Parker strutted his stuff.

The saxophone also find a home in the rock and roll, often heard in pleasing solos. Brass musical instruments that make a big contribution to the music of the soul in the form of funk. The era of funk was dominated by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown and George Clinton and Sly Stone and the family. Musicians such as trombonist Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker on saxophone defined sound. Miles Davis created his brand of jazz fusion in the 1970s with the merger of jazz and funk.

Classical music has also benefited from the brass section, especially in the use of the trumpet and French horn. These musical instruments brass appearing on the classical records also influence modern writers. When Paul McCartney heard a recording of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, he was intrigued by the sound of the piccolo trumpet and has included a series of his hit Beatles, Penny Lane. Another wrote McCartney Beatles track, For No One from the album Revolver, has a horn.

Reggae often makes use of a brass section, normally a three-part combination of saxophone, trombone and trumpet. The songs often begin with an introduction by the brass and horns, because they are covered, go through a play-against melody. Whatever the genre, the brass is here to stay and will be sorely missed.