Legendary rock band Queen has teamed up with Amazon for the newest Alexa interactive skill experience.
With over 400 questions, the Queen Trivia Challenge takes fans on an immersive trip through Queen’s music and history, revealing some surprising facts and insights into one of the most iconic bands in the world.
Queen Trivia Challenge skill for Alexa includes clips from the band’s greatest hits, documentaries, and live performances. On Alexa-enabled devices with screens, not only can you hear the music, you can also see the videos.
Click here to test your Queen knowledge and ask Alexa to play the Queen Trivia Challenge.
Today, Arkells announce their sixth studio album, Blink Once, to be released on September 30th via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. This new collection of songs prove Arkells continue to push their sound to new heights, with the anthemic Blink Once promising to live up to their famous live show.
“Now more than ever, it seems our lives can change in the blink of an eye,” says frontman, Max Kerman. “We began working on this album before the world changed and this title felt right given where we’ve collectively landed. Everyday you wake up and you think you know a lot of stuff, then it turns out – you don’t.”
The bi-coastal project, recorded in LA and completed in Toronto, includes current hit single, “You Can Get It” featuring K.Flay, which has charted in the #1 spot at Canadian Alternative Radio for 4 weeks and is their fifth #1 at the format. “You Can Get It” was prominently featured in the E3 launch of the Forza Horizon 5 video game trailer this summer. Blink Once also includes #1 track “Years In The Making,” as well as “All Roads,” which serves as the soundtrack to #TogetherAgain, a national vaccine awareness PSA to combat vaccine hesitancy.
The announcement comes alongside the release of sure-fire live stand-out, “One Thing I Know,” a rowdy, feel-good sing-a-along that is bursting at the seams. The music video was filmed after-hours at No Frills’ Dufferin Mall location in downtown Toronto, and finds the band mischievously performing the track at full throttle. “This song is about not being ashamed of who you are and where you come from,” notes Kerman. “The best version of yourself lets your colours show – to feel free, weird and unburdened by all the things out of our control.”
Regularly credited as one of the hardest working bands (period), Arkells have stayed ever-present, even in a global pandemic. Releasing three #1 singles and picking up the 2021 JUNO Award for Group of The Year, Arkells also filled their time off the road by releasing their first acoustic-leaning project, Campfire Chords – a deluxe LP & play-at-home guitar chord book inspired by their most beloved hits, and the band’s live streamed interactive music lessons that moved fans to learn new skills while “flattening the curve” from home.
On The Tom Jones Show episode that aired on October 9, 1970, Tom was joined by Aretha Franklin, and it’s one of the classic performances of either’s television career – and they were both still in their 20s.
Tom: “What should we talk about?”
Aretha: “I don’t know, but the more we talk, the less time we have to sing.”
To start season 7 of The Office, the entire cast starred in an a great “lip dub,” set to the Human Beinz’s 1968 hit single, “Nobody But Me,” a song written by O’Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.
A number of years ago, there was a list going around the industry of why radio won’t play your song. I wish I knew where it came from, but it had a few dozen reasons. And now, here’s the updated version for today, with thanks to the many radio pluggers for their input.
1. Not for us or our sound
2. No room
3. No label support
4. I want to give record the best shot, so we will have to wait till when we have more room
5. There are no local sales
6. There is national action
7. Considering…
8. I’m watching and waiting
9. It’s the wrong image
10. It’s not modal
11. I need another copy
12. Poor reaction from test marketing it
13. The jocks don’t like it
14. No phone reaction
15. We played the import
16. We’re going to wait and see what the competition does
17. Will wait for the single
18. The record’s not in any kind of stores around here
19. Need approval from head office
20. I like it but the PD doesn’t
21. It was vetoed in the music meeting
22. Too hard
23. Too soft
24. It’s wimpy
25. Not as good as their last release
26. It needs to be re-listened to
27. It sounds too EDM-ish
28. It sounds too pop
29. We didn’t get the co-promotion
30. Trade #’s don’t merit airplay
31. Sounds like everything else
32. It’s not a good record
33. I don’t like it
34. The MP3 file wouldn’t play
35. The music file crashed my computer
36. We only play stuff that “rocks“
37. Saving room for when new releases get scheduled
38. Going into the library
39. We already have a female-fronted band on the playlist
40. We want to hear a hook
41. No tip sheet advertising
42. Nothing about it hits me
43. Don’t like the mix
44. Not enough guitar
45. Too many strings
46. Over-produced
47. Under-produced
48. Don’t like the band’s name
49. This song is not consistent with their last release
50. Our listeners won’t be able to relate
51. Too rhythm oriented
52. Send all our jocks copies
53. Can’t play too many singles
54. That music only works in the big markets
55. We’ll wait till more stations play it
56. Not our kind of music
57. Too alternative
58. Not alternative enough
59. Where’s the beat…the BEAT!
60. I’ve misplaced it, but its here somewhere, call me back
61. Our competition got on it first, we have to be different
62. I don’t like the cover
63. We didn’t get a co-presents on their last show
64. Too many vulgar words
65. We’re going for a younger demo
66. We’re going for an older demo
67. We don’t have an MD right now
68. We’re not the right station for this
69. The chorus comes in late
70. The intro is too quiet
71. We have too many song by the featured artist in rotation
72. There’s no release date
73. We missed the release date
74. No radio edit
75. I don’t like the radio edit
76. No campus radio promotion
77. Let’s talk when the tour starts
78. The .wav file was block because of the size
79. The YouSendIt file was blocked by my spam filters
80. There’s no story happening
81. They’re overexposed
82. I’m still waiting on feedback
83. Too much CanCon right now
84. Too much International right now
85. It sounds like something my mom would hate
86. We never received your submission
87. I don’t agree with the political view
88. We’ll play the song next week (they didn’t)
89. I’m watching the charts, it’s not very impressive
90. I’m waiting the charts, it’s pretty impressive
91. Their set at CMJ/SXSW/NXNE/CMW was way too long
92. It’s too country (and this from a country station)
93. It sounds like karaoke
94. We’re playing too many covers now
95. We love the song and band but have no room
96. The intro is too long
97. The chorus is too long
98. You know what? The whole song is too long (with Stairway To Heaven playing in background)
99. I’ll listen, but no promises
100. We should be playing this song but haven’t played the artist for years
101. I know this doesn’t help but your band has no relevance
102. I can’t take this band seriously until they sell 100,000
103. What are you going to do for ME?
104. Let’s face it, would you be working this song if you weren’t being paid?
105. We can’t play this. He’s/She’s way off-key in the chorus
106. Too much rap in the middle
107. The stations on BDS aren’t on it
108. There’s only one original member left
109. Didn’t the lead singer die?…oh…I thought they broke up
110. They’re only big in the east
111. They’re only big in the west
112. They’re only big in the north
113. I don’t care if they’re big down south
114. You sent us the wrong promo cds
115. We only play established acts
116. Why should I play a band that sounds LIKE Led Zeppelin when I can PLAY Led Zeppelin
117. Their website hasn’t been update in a year
118. It sounds like their last song
119. It sounds so different from their last song
120. We get no calls
121. Ever since they cut their hair….
122. I’m having trouble with DMDS
123. I can’t find my PD. Can you help me find my PD?
124. We’re a talk radio station
125. Sounds too ‘Active Rock’ for us
126. Sounds too Hot AC for us
127. Sounds too ‘Modern Rock’ for us (this, and the above 2 were all the same song!)
128. They don’t sound as good as they do live
129. They suck live
130. It sounds like something my mom would hate
131. Their video on YouTube doesn’t have enough views
132. Nobody’s listening to them on Spotify
133. Not enough Twitter followers
134. Not enough fans on Facebook
135. Not enough followers on TikTok
136. Didn’t they break up last week?
Never seen in full, “Brothers of a Feather” captures Black Crowes founders Chris and Rich Robinson performing as a duo at an intimate, sold-out concert from San Francisco on March 6, 2020 — about a week before the pandemic shutdown. Free of the full band treatment, the stripped-down arrangements give the music’s lyrics and structures a fresh perspective. Watch The Black Crowes’ ‘Brothers Of A Feather’ on The Coda Collection here: https://bit.ly/3jPivYK
Italy/Germany-based, collaborative Alt/Pop duo Anaté have released their latest single, “One Last Time” — available now.
The song is from their debut album, Confessions, due out this Fall.
Composed of singer-songwriter Ana and central producer Andrea, the pair say the song is about addictions and recurrent mistakes.
“It doesn’t point out any specific one,” they explain. “An unhealthy relationship, substance abuse, addiction to a bad job, self-harm, etc…
“It was inspired by the thought of how most of us experience some of this in our life.”
Produced while Andrea was traveling through Croatia, the electronic track is dark and brooding, surrounded by layered synths and Ana’s rich, echoing vocals.
Anaté was formed in 2019 when Andrea was searching for a vocalist to work with for a trip-hop project. When he could find no one who fit the bill, a friend suggested Ana, who ended up sending Andrea “an awesome melody and perfect lyrics”. Meeting for the first time in Brussels merely weeks later, the pair decided their musical chemistry was undeniable and continued to collaborate together. Ana lives in Berlin, and is trained in classical piano. Andrea is based out of Milan, and in addition to producing, has a background playing guitar in various bands for over a decade. Anaté’s influences encompass a broad range of genres and artists, including brit-pop, trip-hop, Pink Floyd, Lenny Kravitz, Massive Attack, and Sade.
Since joining forces, the pair has produced over 20 songs, with a majority of them recorded remotely. Anaté has also been featured in several music outlets and magazines, including Notion, Vents, and Music Crowns, A&R Factory, among others.
With the world in need of some love and unity, now’s the time to listen to what Trinidadian-born, Brampton-based reggae master and renowned producer Rasta Phil has to say on this, his latest track, “Livin’ Ain’t Easy” — available now through Slammin’ Media and distributed by Believe Distribution.
“We live in a time like no other and the world needs this song more than ever!” he says of the song. “With the world at a standstill for almost two years, and civil uproar overtaking even the most advanced societies, everyone surely has learned that ‘Livin’ Ain’t Easy’…”
This track features the vocals of New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant, and was produced by Ali Durrani — a frequent musical collaborator of comedian/talk show host, Lilly Singh.
Rasta Phil — aka Philip Thomas — was the mentor, co-producer, and advisor to many famous musical groups through the ’80s and ’90s, including New Kids on the Block, New Edition, Marky Mark, and the Funky Bunch, and more.
This talented musical genius started his musical career as a popular local DJ in Boston, and soon became a force in the local music scene. His originality and positive lyrical content are well known internationally along with his acting and production work.
Over the years, Rasta Phil has successfully nurtured close ties with a broad network of famous actors, artists, producers and directors in both Hollywood and the Canadian entertainment industry.
“Livin’ Ain’t Easy” is available now from Rasta Phil Entertainment through Slammin’ Media and is distributed by Believe Distribution.
Harrington, Delaware’s Dutchman have arrived, and this four piece are on the “Run Run Run” with this, their new single — available now.
Freshly pressed from their debut offering, Dutchman Vol. 1 — a follow-up to the group’s breakthrough EP, A Broken Man’s Life and precursor to Dutchman Vol. 2 — the song harnesses the sonic talents of the band’s initial lineup: Jake Dutcher (vox/rhythm guitar), and Connor Johnson (vox/lead guitar), alongside Garrett Gravatt (lead/rhythm guitar) and Franco Solorzano (keys/bass), who were added shortly after first forming in 2017.
The group gelled quickly, finding themselves in the throes of writing an entire collection of tracks that would ultimately make up Volumes 1 & 2 of their eponymous offerings.
“To this day, Dutchman Vol. 1 stands as our quickest collection of songs, only taking a month in the studio from start to finish,” the band reveals.
“During this period, we were mostly recording and taping footage ‘in house’ with all master mixes and video editing being done at my place, except for some stuff,” Johnson adds. “Two songs that were shelved during the making of Volume 1 happened to be ‘These days’ and ‘Last year;’ they ended up on Volume 2.”
Along with the full-length comes the group’s leading single, “Run Run Run” — an alternative-rock soundscape with ambling guitars, and catchy, ear-worm melodies.
Dutchman plucks apart a variety of generations of rock and roll music, and blends them into a sound uniquely their own. From staging pulsating riffs with tightly woven harmonies, “Run Run Run” executes a good time vibe, amped up to eleven.
Much like the album, the song was recorded primarily at Johnson’s pad — with the band handling the vocal tracks at their local studio, Electric Fossil. Owner/engineer, Kirby, assisted fine tuning the production and final edits.
“The making of Vol. 1 started in October 2019, and was done in order of appearance on the track listing,” Dutcher explains. “Starting with ‘It’s A Wild Life,’ we knew we had something good.
“Not to mention that, after ‘Run Run Run’ was completed, we were really on a roll.”
The subsequent music video for “Run Run Run” currently streams on YouTube, with a brand new edit mix for the visual. “The video was filmed locally at our very own Electric Fossil Studios in early November of 2019,” the band says. “Our Engineer Kirby delightfully made a cameo on the bass for us.”
Dutchman Vol. 1 is an impressively sketched album of intricate detail, and rousing melody. Each track on the record seamlessly bleeds into the next, providing an epic soundtrack for the best of summer nights, bonfire get-togethers, and patio mixers.
What’s enchanting about Dutchman is their penchant for being both loud and resounding, without complicating it. The group is built on good music, good times, and good old-fashioned rock and roll — the kind you pour a pint for.
Dutchman Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 — and “Run Run Run” — are available now.
On June 20, 2021, after 466 days without live music, Foo Fighters reopened Madison Square Garden to a sold-out crowd, marking the first full capacity concert in a New York arena since the start of the pandemic. This short documentary “The Day The Music Came Back” highlights the cathartic and highly anticipated experience that our city, whose heart beats to the sound of live music, had long been waiting for.
