Grammy-awarded musician, producer and self-proclaimed musical genius Chilly Gonzales has worked with the likes of Daft Punk, Drake, Feist and Peaches. Now German radio station 1LIVE teamed up with Chilly for “1LIVE Chilly Gonzales Pop Music Masterclass” – a video column in which Chilly explains what we love about pop music and analyses why a hit becomes a hit.
Here Are The Rest Of The Big Winners at the 2015 JUNO Awards
It was a star-studded night of musical celebrations as Canada’s top talent took to the red carpet and stage for Canada’s biggest night in music, THE 2015 JUNO AWARDS, on Sunday, March 15. CTV’s live broadcast from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre dazzled viewers with an all-star lineup of performances, special tributes to Canadian music legends, and the presentation of JUNO Awards in six categories.
Performer Kiesza was the weekend’s big winner, garnering a total of three JUNO Awards. Having already picked up two JUNO Awards at Saturday night’s JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards for Dance Recording of the Year and Video of The Year (Sponsored by MuchFACT, exclusively funded by Bell Media) for her chart-topping hit “Hideaway”, the electro-dance starlet added another statuette to her collection during the broadcast: the JUNO Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, Radio Starmaker Fund and Canada’s Private Broadcasters). She also graced the stage for a dynamic mash-up performance of “Sound of A Woman” and “Hideaway.”
Saturday’s Breakthrough Group of the Year (sponsored by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, Radio Starmaker Fund and Canada’s Private Broadcasters) winners, Magic! were awarded Single of The Year Sunday for their hit “Rude”, while The Weeknd garnered the award for Artist of the Year during the broadcast, adding to his Gala night win for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
Arkells won Rock Album of the Year (Sponsored by SiriusXM Canada) for High Noon to top off their Saturday victory for Group of the Year. The band also took part in the broadcast with a unique performance of “Come to the Light” accompanied by Boris Brott and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada.
The JUNO Fan Choice (presented by TD) award went to Michael Bublé, and internationally acclaimed songwriter Leonard Cohen took home the win for Album of the Year (Sponsored by Music Canada) for his striking record, Popular Problems.
American songwriter, lyricist, and producer Glen Ballard, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette’s multi-platinum album Jagged Little Pill, welcomed Alanis Morissette into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Hamilton rocked the nation during tonight’s live two-hour broadcast. The show opened with a surprise appearance by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, The Trailer Park Boys, and past JUNO AWARDS broadcast host, Michael Bublé. The broadcast boasted 11 unique performances including an explosive opening by Hedley and host Jacob Hoggard; a medley of his hit singles “Life of the Party” and “Something Big” by Shawn Mendes, in his JUNO Award debut; a show-stopping performance of single “Earned It” by 2015 JUNO Award winner The Weeknd, accompanied by co-writer and producer Stephan Moccio; a fun performance by 2015 Breakthrough Group of the Year, MAGIC!; Bobby Bazini, who charmed in his JUNO AWARDS performance debut; deadMau5, who was joined on-stage by singer Colleen D’Agostino for “Seeya”; Lights, who joined the Sam Roberts Band for their hit “We’re All In This Together”; and 2015 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Alanis Morissette, who delighted fans with a medley of three songs from her seminal 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, including anthem “You Oughta Know”. Host Jacob Hoggard, who kept the energy high throughout the two-hour broadcast, closed the show with his version of Morissette’s “Thank You” on piano.
The evening’s exceptional roster of presenters included electric-pop duo Adventure Club; chart-topping country singer Dallas Smith; Big Wreck’s Ian Thornley; the leading men of Bravo’s hit series 19-2, Jared Keeso and Adrian Holmes; alternative rock band July Talk; country artist Kira Isabella; R&B/soul artist Melanie Durrant; alternative-rockers USS; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Shelly Glover; Canadian throat-singer Tanya Tagaq; and pop singer Trevor Guthrie.
Mel Brooks Interview From 1975
Mel Brooks was interviewed on April 15, 1975 during his visit to the UK to promote his film Young Frankenstein.
Fox-Rank film distributors assisted with clips from the film as well as from Blazing Saddles. Brooks explains that Westerns were a considerable part of his childhood, part of his “subliminal beginnings,” and he wanted to tell the truth about the wild west. Although he told the truth about cowboys eating beans, the one thing Brooks would not show was the little known fact that cowboys “do not make love to women in Westerns.”
“People say I am in questionable taste, you know what I mean? Well, I must tell you that I used the utmost discretion [and] I did not tell the whole truth about the Western, because they do not make love to women, you know that. They are very straight, very Christian and very with it, you know. They do make love to their horses. They do, they do. They don’t marry them, there is no formal ceremony, but they go off somewhere in the night with their horses.”
Via Dangerous Minds
4-Year-Old Teaches You About Self-Esteem
A 4 years girl – wise beyond her years – offers a valuable lesson in self esteem.
Winners at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards
Canada’s music elite gathered to toast 35 JUNO Award winners at the 2015 JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards presented by SiriusXM Canada last night in Hamilton. Hosted by Jessi Cruickshank at the Hamilton Convention Centre, the evening’s festivities featured performances by a spectacular lineup of 2015 JUNO Award nominees and winners, as well as unforgettable tributes to some of the most influential names in Canadian music.
Multiple Award winners at the Gala included alternative singer-songwriter Bahamas, who won honours for both Songwriter of the Year* and Adult Alternative Album of the Year; and electro-dance sensation Kiesza, who earned Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year*. Kiesza will also be making her JUNO Award performance debut during the Sunday night Broadcast on CTV from Hamilton’s FirstOntario Centre.
Four other JUNO Awards Broadcast performers also took home statuettes last night, including Hamilton’s own Arkells for Group of the Year; Magic! for Breakthrough Group of the Year*; Lights for Pop Album of the Year* and The Weeknd for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
The night’s special award winners included Rush, who received the 2015 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award (sponsored by Bell Media), and music executive Ray Danniels, who was honoured with the 2015 Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.
Guests at the performance-packed Gala enjoyed numbers by 2015 JUNO Award winner Dallas Smith, nominees Alvvays, Daniel Lanois, and Matt Andersen, as well as a special Blues Jam featuring Crystal Shawanda, JW-Jones, Steve Hill**, Steve Strongman, and The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer.
Winners of the 2015 Juno Awards as announced at the Hamilton Convention Centre Saturday, March 14.
International Album of the Year: In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith
Group of the Year: Arkells
Breakthrough Group of the year: Magic!
Songwriter of the year: Bahamas
Country Album of the year: Lifted, Dallas Smith
Adult Alternative Album of the year: Bahamas is Afie, Bahamas
Alternative Album of the Year: July Talk, July Talk
Pop Album of the Year: Little Machines, Lights
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year: Red, Diana Panton
Jazz Album of the Year, Solo: Vista Obscura, Kirk MacDonald
Jazz Album of the Year, Group: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
Instrumental Album of the Year: Encuentro, Quartango
Francophone Album of the Year: Maladie d’amour, Jimmy Hunt
Children’s Album of the Year: Where in the World, Fred Penner
Classical Album of the Year, Solo or Chamber Ensemble: Bartok, Chamber Works for Violin Vol. 3, James Ehnes
Classical Album of the Year, Large Ensemble: Mozart, Piano Concertos Nos. 22 & 24, Angela Hewitt
Classical Album of the Year, Vocal or Choral Performance: Schubert, Winterreise, Gerald Finley & Julius Drake
Classical Composition of the Year: Airline Icarus, Brian Current
Rap Recording of the Year: The Legends League Presents, Naturally Born Strangers
Dance Recording of the Year: Sound of a Woman, Kiesza
R&B/Soul Recording of the year: Often, The Weeknd
Reggae Recording of the Year: Welcome the King, Exco Levi
Aboriginal Album of the Year: Animism, Tanya Tagaq
Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, Solo: The Raven’s Sun, Catherine MacLellan
Roots & Traditional Album of the Year, Group: Let It Lie, The Brothers Landreth
Blues Album of the Year: Solo Recordings, Vol. 2, Steve Hill
Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: VIP, Manic Drive
World Music Album of the Year: 500 Years of Night, Quique Escamilla
Producer of the Year: Adam Messinger, for “Rude,” by Magic!
Recording Engineer of the Year: Eric Ratz, “Ghosts,” by Big Wreck
Recording Package of the Year: Roberta Hansen, Mike Latschislaw for “Pilgrimage,” by Steve Bell
Video of the Year: Kiesza, Blayre Ellestad, Rami Afuni and Ljuba Castot, for “Hideaway” by Kiesza
Electronic Album of the Year: Our Love, Caribou
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year: Z2, Devin Townsend Project
Adult Contemporary Album of the Year: Shine On, Sarah McLachlan
Astronaut Chris Hadfield on Success and the Meaning of Life
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sat down with Peter Mansbridge on CBC’s The National to discuss his experience aboard the International Space Station.
Two thoughts stand out – his words on success and his version of the meaning of life:
If you view crossing the finish line as the measure of your life, you’re setting yourself up for a personal disaster. … Commanding a spaceship or doing a spacewalk is a very rare, singular moment-in-time event in the continuum of life. You need to honor the highs and the peaks in the moments — you need to prepare your life for them — but recognize the fact that the preparation for those moments is your life and, in fact, that’s the richness of your life. … The challenge that we set for each other, and the way that we shape ourselves to rise to that challenge, is life.
I’ve had a tremendous privilege of perspective that almost nobody has had. When you talk about the meaning of life, we tend to think about it as life on Earth. To be away from the planet for a long time and to be able to see it constantly out the window allows you a reflection on it that is really hard to get just in regular day-to-day. So I think if there is any sort of meaning of life, it’s got to be very personal. How does the life that you lead affect your own conclusions about what’s important to you?
The Making Of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is found on their 1975 album A Night at the Opera and every few minutes on the radio. The song has no chorus, instead consisting of several sections: a ballad segment ending with a guitar solo, an operatic passage, and a hard rock section. At the time, it was the most expensive single ever made and sold a gazillion copies since then.
Breaking Bad music supervisor on soundtracks, sync budgets
From Music Week:
Interviewed by Music Week editor Tim Ingham at AIM’s recent Sync Conference in London, music supervisor extraordinaire Thomas Golubic discusses his job at length – especially his tricky role as a middle-man between labels/publishers attempting to maximise music fees and TV studios trying to minimise music spend. Golubic managed the soundtracks for hit shows Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, The Killing and The Walking Dead – gives his thoughts on all aspects of the modern sync world.
Golubic explains that for Breaking Bad, overseen by Sony Pictures, he managed on a significantly smaller music budget than he did years before on Six Feet Under.
“These are big corporations,” he says. “Some of the companies you deal with are a bit more respectful of the role music has, some are less so. It was a bummer to us all the way through that Sony would not loosen the purse strings [for Breaking Bad]. Even when the show was successful, they still didn’t. But I have to recognise they’re a corporate culture and they operate within certain parameters. And to be honest, most studios are not filled with the bravest people. None of them are going to say: ‘It’s important for us to make music a bigger thing.’ They’re just going to say: ‘Here’s what you have, good luck.’”
“I think the honest truth of it is that music was in a way overvalued in the past,” he says. “If you look at it from a purely economic level, the amount of money music was costing to licence and the amount of extra revenue generated as a result was probably not commensurate. It was a set of rules essentially established by different publishers and labels saying: ‘This is how much it should be.’
“Now, the studios ultimately have the power, and they’re saying, screw that, you only have $20,000 to spend so… you’re going to have to shave everything down. We all have to readjust to the idea that the way this ecosystem is going to work has shifted – the Arctic just got colder.”
Led Zeppelin’s Isolated Vocal, Guitar, Drums and Bass Tracks For “Whole Lotta Love”
Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” is one of the greatest opening tracks on any album. This one, though, happened to be on one of the greatest rock albums in history – Led Zeppelin II. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold in April 1970, having sold one million copies. As with other Led Zeppelin songs, no single was released in the United Kingdom, but singles were released in Germany (where it reached number one), the Netherlands (where it reached number four), Belgium and France.
In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed “Whole Lotta Love” at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. In 2014, listeners to BBC Radio 2 voted “Whole Lotta Love” as the greatest guitar riff of all time.
VOCAL only (Robert Plant):
GUITAR only (Jimmy Page)–check out what Page does starting at the 1:54 mark:
SLIDE GUITAR/THEREMIN/MISC. GUITAR overdubs only (Jimmy Page)
BASS (John Paul Jones):