The fade out is underrated. It should come back.
The fade out in music is one of those necessary tools in a record producers arsenal. But if you listen to today’s hits it’s much more likely you’ll hear a song that has a hard abrupt electronic ending. Bill Weir, wrote a great piece at Slate a few years ago tracking the rise and fall of the fade out in pop music: from one of the very first fade outs created by a literal wooden door to the epic 4 minute fade out of “Hey Jude.”
From behind the wheel of his car, Jack Black performed a brilliant a capella version of Nirvana’s Polly. I have no idea what he was singing, and I really don’t mind that I don’t know. Youtuber Bill Vapes took a stab at translating.
Lyrics
pehwn, shiga-flunu, tzuka flyny, m’bidu didu, daw.
flyny, ‘n, shuga flyny m’didu didu, daw.
Polly says her back hurts, shiga-flaow.
She just as bored as me, shiga-flaow.
She caught me on my guard, shiga-flaow.
Amazes me, the will, of instinct.
In me-e, uhh, I can never see-e, hmm.
Le m’éclair, ahm – I can nelly-weyhe-eehm.
I can – Let me take a raa-aa-aa, n’getchasayin’ aw. (gasp)
Once a meh-eh-awn’, I complete myseeh’-awwn.?
Oltedal, Norway musician Leo Moracchioli of Frog Leap Studios created a heavy metal cover of the Grammy Award-winning Smooth by Santana and Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas.
Hey, remember when it was a big deal for Marilyn Manson to cover Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This? And it exploded Marilyn’s career? Wonder what those times would have done for artists like Leo, when today you can find almost any hit song covered by any style.
Welcome to the mechanical version of Alice in Wonderland! To open the lid on the Phillips Pianella Paganini is like opening a door to a magic mechanical wonderland.
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Following the global phenomenon of Force Friday in 2015, Disney and Lucasfilm today announced Find the Force, a global augmented reality (AR) event rolling out on Force Friday II (September 1) to commemorate the worldwide launch of new products inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
The pop-up AR treasure hunt aims to unite fans around the world in the battle against the dark side in a unique three-day event at over 20,000 retail locations across 30 countries. As fans turn up to take home new The Last Jedi products, they will have the opportunity to activate a unique augmented reality experience featuring Star Wars characters, including fan-favorites and new surprise additions from the film.
From September 1-3, retailers around the world will invite fans to Find the Force by taking part in an AR treasure hunt. Here’s how it works: first, download the Star Wars App, which is your one-stop-shop for all things Star Wars (those who already have the app will need to download the latest version). Then, visit any one of 20,000 participating retail locations to find a graphic that contains the Find the Force logo. When you scan the graphic using the Star Wars App, you’ll reveal a character, who through augmented reality, will appear in the room with you. You can then take photos, record videos, and share the experience on social media.
Fans can download the latest version of the Star Wars App (v. 2.3 or higher) beginning Aug. 24 for an early look at the new Porg characters in AR before the AR treasure hunt goes live at retail.
By sharing photos or videos featuring the in-store AR characters on Twitter or Instagram using #FindtheForce and #Sweepstakes throughout Force Friday II weekend, fans in select global markets can participate in a sweepstakes for the chance to win the ultimate fan experience: tickets to the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere in December.
I had a chance to check out the products at Fan Expo Canada 2017 with other very enthusiastic media and hardcore fans. We all know Disney and Lucasfilm stands for trustworthy, kid (and adult)-focused content of the highest quality, full of educational lessons, interactive items, and attention-grabbing media elements. The virtual playworld has just become that much smarter, and better, with Star Wars: The Last Jedi collection.
Check out what I posted on Instagram for more details about the new products!
St. Vincent: You know what I find very strange? Airlines, like all airlines now, when you’re boarding the plane and when you land, they immediately turn on music. It’s a very strange idea to me that there would be some kind of music that pretty much everyone would like. I’m not a superstitious flier and I fly all the time and it doesn’t bother me at all, but it would really bum me out if a certain adult-contemporary song was the last song I heard before I went down in a blaze of glory.
What music is playing? This is why I wear headphones.
St. Vincent: It’s just aggressively middle-of-the-road. It’s weird and it just feels like capitalist propaganda. Even in airports now, there’s always music, although I will say Terminal 8 at JFK will put on some Tears for Fears. And JetBlue will actually have a song that you’re pretty psyched about hearing, ’80s hits.
Eighties hits have kinda crossed into the modern mainstream.
St. Vincent: Yeah, like, if the last song I heard was “Rich Girl” on an airplane, I’d be like “OK.” I get it, that’s a hilarious way to sum up my life.
Ice Cube goes undercover on the Internet and responds to real comments from Twitter, Reddit, Quora, YouTube, and more.
By Dawn Hamilton
On a cool crisp September evening fans of all ages showed up to the Budweiser Stage in Toronto to see not one, but three iconic bands that have been in the scene for quite sometime. The Edgar Winter Band, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple had no problems heating up the venue with their unending talents. Parents who were there tonight were now introducing these bands to their children with the same enthusiasm they had when they were first able to see them.
Toronto is one of the few dates left on their “The Long Goodbye Tour” before they hit the UK and the fans showed their appreciation as soon as they started their first song “Highway Star”. Deep Purple had no difficulties showing us individually what they are capable of performing, each one taking turns, showing us their unbelievable talents.
Deep Purple have been doing this a long time and it shows, they were flawless in their performance. It is always disheartening though knowing I could very well be watching their last performance in Toronto.
The fans in the crowd had no problem showing their gratitude, but, while sitting down. There was the odd person standing up at their seats dancing away, but for the most part they were enjoying the show seated while partaking in either a few beers or other substances. Hey, what can I say, we are all getting older and sometimes it is great just to sit back and enjoy the show which is exactly what they did. There was no need for pyro or confetti as Deep Purple let the music speak for itself.
Ian Gillan didn’t do much talking in between the songs, there was very little banter between him and his fans. I always find this a bit disheartening I want them to talk and tell short stories, it makes me feel a bit more connected to them. Halfway through the evening and much to my surprise Don Airey, during one of his “spotlight” moments, started to play “O Canada” on the keys and quite a few audience members rose to their feet. Nothing like a sense of pride sweeping through Budweiser Stage some fans even singing along with their hands over their hearts.
We are all a little bit older, a little bit wiser and maybe a little bit grayer but one thing will always remain the same, a good concert is always a good concert regardless of how much we have aged. This being called The Long Goodbye Tour” and if this is really the last time Deep Purple will play Toronto, the fans will miss you but your music will live on.
Once again thanks to the crew because without them there is no show!
All photos and review by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
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Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
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