Arizona Zervas’ Roxanne peaked at #4 on the Hot 100 before enlisting Swae Lee’s signature falsetto to add some magic on the hit record’s remix.
https://youtu.be/Pa40pDVyaXY
…and here’s the original:
1-minute tip for bands and artists stuck on social media: What’s the greatest lyric you’ve heard in a song?
What’s the greatest lyric you’ve heard in a song? Who is the artist? Why do you love it? Where did you first hear about it? What does it mean to you. Open up to the audience talk about if it makes you cry, angry, did it make you think so much it sparked an interest in something or someone else, or was it the way the words were put together that it changed the way you wrote, even for a song?
5 Famous Recording Artists and the Games They Love
Being a musician on tour isn’t always as glamorous as it seems, being whisked through one backstage fire exit to the next, via a stinking tour bus or sterile airport lounge.
It’s no wonder that many artists struggle to write when they’re on the road and sometimes that frustration can spill over, with all the excesses that the rock and roll lifestyle is known for. To keep themselves on the straight and narrow, modern artists are now frequently turning to games to wile away the lost hours spent on the road or in the air.
Here are some of the big names of past and present who fell in love with the games that kept their brains ticking, no matter where they found themselves in the world.
Once the mic’s dropped at the end of a set, all that’s left to do is game
The Eagles – Poker
Members of The Eagles made no secret of their love of card games, whether they were on tour, backstage or just enjoying some leisure time.
The two main protagonists were Glenn Frey and his song writing partner Don Henley. Such was their love for the game that Frey even claimed he invented Eagle Poker, a derivative of Acey Deucey or Red Dog as it’s also known.
During the 1970s Frey even turned his own house nestled in the Hollywood Hills into something of an after-hours poker den, hosting celebrities long after LA’s clubs and bars shut for the night. Further proving their devotion to the game, the band recorded songs such as Out of Control and Desperado both whose lyrics paid homage to the vagaries of the game.
The Eagles couldn’t resist a late-night game of Texas Hold’em
Drake – Fortnite
While The Eagles were too old to have witnessed the online revolution during the height of their careers, that certainly isn’t the case for Drake, who while taking the recording world by storm has also found time to develop a deep appreciation for multiplayer online blaster Fortnite.
Always open to a good business deal, Drake has even appeared alongside the most famous Fortnite player and streamer in the world Ninja, with both playing the game side-by-side on Ninja’s Twitch channel. We’re sure that the fact Ninja has 15 million subscribers had no influence on Drake deciding to make the link-up.
When he’s not pulling in the viewers and listeners, Drake and his crew like nothing more than to kick back in the recording studio and rack up their respective kill-counts.
Jack Black – Minecraft
Jack Black went from being part of comedy rock outfit Tenacious D, which he formed with Kyle Gass, to being one of the premier Hollywood funny men. Never one to shy away from his slightly nerdy side, Black has even done voiceover work for the game Brutal Legend and has previously bragged about completing Project Gotham Racing.
His most recent foray into gaming was with the online sensation that is Minecraft, with not even his hectic acting career being allowed to get in the way of him and his button bashing.
Ronnie Jones – Video Games in General
Ronnie Jones was an American soul crooner who eventually moved to sing in Italy. He first went to Europe as part of the US Airforce, but never stopped recording tunes. Perhaps it was his time holed up in barracks that led him to record the song Video Games, which featured on his album, Games.
Whatever did inspire Jones to write the song, it has stood the test of time, being made famous in contemporary music by Daft Punk who sampled Video Games on their smash hit Technologic in the mid-2000s.
Justin Bieber – Pokémon Go
That’s right beliebers, the Canadian dreamboat himself is a gaming nut, loving nothing more than hunting Pokémon wherever he goes. Some of his haircuts and outfits could one day see him become a Pokémon himself.When not poking Pikachu, Beiber also enjoys a spot of Call of Duty and Halo.
Kiesza Releases “All Of The Feelings”, Confirms New Album
Canadian singer-songwriter Kiesza releases “All Of The Feelings” today. The bubbly, high-energy track is the second taste of her upcoming album out this spring. The track follows first single of 2020 “When Boys Cry”, which The FADER calls a reflection on “emotional expression and masculinity with light lyrics and bouncy production.” Kiesza proclaims her feelings for a love interest in the sparkling new song, celebrating the person who “makes [her] believe in love again” over an explosive pop beat.
The neon-hued accompanying video was shot entirely on iPhone 11 Pro and features performance artist Kirby Jenner and Ottawa-born rapper Charle$. Shot in a limousine where the “larger-than-life” (PAPER) performer vamps about as she sings the song and laughs with Jenner & Charle$, the video premiered on YouTube.
On the video for “All Of The Feelings,” Kiesza says it was “a work of the tribe,” referring to her new independent collective Zebra Spirit Tribe. “It was shot on essentially no budget, on an iPhone 11 Pro and a limo we found on Craigslist. What you see is a car full of friends who love and look out for one another. I’m so proud of the people around me and grateful for their presence in my life.” She adds that “shooting on iPhone made the making of the video feel less intimidating. I felt like I was in a limo with my friends, like there wasn’t a camera there at all—and I was able to open up even more. I love that we were able to produce such a high quality, stylized video.”
Kiesza is set to promote her new music this summer on the road with alt violinist Lindsey Stirling and indietronic artist Mako. Spanning the end of June to the start of July, the tour will take Kiesza across both coasts and include shows at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Last year she supported MIKA on tour and played special headlining comeback shows at Las Vegas Pride and NYC Pride, as well as a string of stripped-down sets for her mini acoustic tour.
Re-emerging as an independent musician and staking her claim in the electro-pop scene, Kiesza ended 2019 by releasing two new singles, “Sweet Love”and “You’re The Best” via her label Zebra Spirit Tribe. With more new music on the way starting with “When Boys Cry”, 2020 is set to be a big year for the “eccentric” (Billboard) singer-songwriter who took the last decade by storm.
Nicole Atkins Creates A French Electro Wonderland On “Domino”
Last week, Nicole Atkins released “Domino,” the French electro-inspired, Muscle Shoals-recorded radio single from her upcoming album Italian Ice. The track takes listeners on a strut through the singer-songwriter’s hometown Jersey Shore, in all its wild magic and scrappy beauty. “Domino” finds Atkins pushing genre boundaries to glorious effect. Specifically inspired by Prince, The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” and the Shore boardwalk’s many curiosities, “Domino” is a groove-heavy pop gem with the utmost swagger. It’s her mission statement for living fully in a troubled world: “I’m not gonna play / Safe and sound / When the world comes tumblin’, tumblin’ down.”
Listen to “Domino” below:
Like each of the eleven tracks on Italian Ice, “Domino” was recorded at the hallowed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with a group of her “best musical friends” – who just happen to be Jim Sclavunos and David “Moose” Sherman of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Dap-Kings’ Binky Griptite, and drummer McKenzie Smith (St. Vincent, Midlake) – along with Spooner Oldham and David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Co-produced by Nicole and Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes), Italian Ice also features special guests Britt Daniel, Seth Avett, John Paul White and Erin Rae, and songs co-written with Daniel, Hamilton Leithauser and Carl Broemel.
Nicole Atkins is a songwriter and performer with a fearless and frank style. Fans of Atkins’ previous release Goodnight Rhonda Lee include Rolling Stone (which before named her a “Top 10 Artist to Watch”), NPR, and American Songwriter. In addition to writing, recording, and playing music, the Nashville-by-way-of-Asbury Park musician is an art school graduate who specialized in wildlife illustration and is an active painter. Nicole has also shared her original artwork with fans through her newly-launched Patreon page, Natkins Funhouse. Fans who join will have access to items from Nicole including hand-designed monthly calendars and seasonal 8×10 art prints – as well as exclusive content like unreleased videos, demos and brand new covers. Step inside the Natkins Funhouse on Patreon here:
ITALIAN ICE TRACKLIST
AM Gold
Mind Eraser
Domino
Forever
Captain
Never Going Home Again
St. Dymphna
Far From Home
A Road To Nowhere
These Old Roses
In The Splinters
Travis Scott’s Isolated Vocals For “Blame”
Who to blame? Who to trust? Who to love? / I been layin’ on the rough
…and here’s the original:
A Tribe Called Quest’s Isolated Vocals For “Scenario”
“Scenario,” the third single from A Tribe Called Quest’s second album The Low End Theory features members of Leaders of the New School. The song is commonly considered a breakout moment for Leaders of the New School member Busta Rhymes, who was 19 when this song was released.[2]
and here’s the original:
Corinne Bailey Rae’s Isolated Vocals For “Put Your Records On”
“Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae from her self-titled debut studio album in 2006 is still one of great soul songs of all time. It was a huge commercial success, topping the UK R&B Chart and charting at number two on UK Singles Chart, and nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
https://youtu.be/VBTqW3CvCVo
…and here’s the original version:
Unison Announces COVID-19 Relief Program
|
Kanye West’s Isolated Vocals For “Good Morning”
Uh, good morning
Wake up, Mr. West, Mr. West, Mr. Fresh
Mr. by-his-self-he-so-impressed
https://youtu.be/HsTMaYNujuo
…and here’s the original version: