Remix! Fusion Music (2)

Jazz Rap 
For every well-known musical fusion, there are any others with small followings. For instance, fans of jazz and rap no longer need to keep those tastes exclusive because of jazz rap. It started as an endeavor to bring the past and present of African-American music together and to give a positive alternative to aggressive gangsta rap.

Glitch 
Electronic music has perhaps been experimented with more than most other styles, creating lasting hits while also causing confusion, as the glitch genre tends to do. Glitch doesn't mix two styles of music as much as it adds noises of computer errors, or glitches, to electronic music. Glitch musicians often damage electronic instruments and equipment until they barely work, then play them to achieve the desired sound.

Nintendocore 
This style integrates electronic music as well, specially the sound of early Nintendo video game music. However, tunes like those from Super Mario Brothers are played in a heavy metal style, sometimes with a singer screaming lyrics over them.

Just like rock 'n' roll or folk rock before, new fusions will bring transformations to the path of music. Only time will tell what new mixes of older styles are down the road.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Other Definition of “Or” (換言之)
我們都知道英文裡 or 的意思是指或者, 還是,
但or 還有一個定義, 就是換言之,
這個用法比較會出現在深奧或比較少見的字眼上,
例如: Some people suffer from acrophobia (懼高症), or the fear of heights.
作者為了解釋 acrophobia (懼高症)的意思, 就加上or 去解釋,
在這裡是指換言之, 也就是的意思


Grammar Gym
Glitch musicians often damage electronic instruments and equipment until they barely work, then play them to achieve the desired sound.
to achieve the desired ... = to get the kind of result that is wanted 
- To achieve the desired mood for the show, the light engineer spent hours adjusting the stage lights.
- The bride wanted to look like a movie star and hired a professional make-up artist to help her achieve the desired look.


Language Lab
endeavor n.努力, 盡力
/ɪnˈdɛvɚ/
a serious effort or attempt
- The residents' endeavor to keep the park succeeded.
- The director's artistic endeavor of telling the story creatively was well-received.
endeavor v.
to seriously or continually try to do (something)
- We endeavored to keep the company but failed.

rap n. 饒舌音樂;
a type of popular music in which the words of a song are not sung, but spoken in time to music with a steady beat:
- This leading rap group just released its 8th album last week.
rap v. 唱饒舌音樂
to say the words of a rap song
- That singer can rap in several different languages.
rapper n. 嘻哈歌手
someone who speaks the words of a rap song
- This famous rapper used to belong to a gang.

integrate v. 結合, 合併, 使一體化
if two or more things integrate, or if you integrate them, they combine or work together in a way that makes something more effective
- The curriculum integrated leadership with team-building skills.
integrate (something) into/with something
- It's not hard to integrate exercise into your daily life.
integration n. 結合, 合併
the combining of two or more things so that they work together effectively
racial integration 種族融合

transformation n. 轉化, 轉變
a complete change in someone or something:
- Rachel made the transformation from a single woman to a wife very smoothly.
transform v. 轉化, 轉變
to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it:
- Helen totally transformed her style after she became a model.


mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20140812baa3d93418f039ee60a2dd71f2e1b65efe83de4ae144ea6c6ede6f4e2f31bcb048c.wma

Remix! Fusion Music (1)

Yesterday’s music becomes today’s

Musical taste is very individual yet built on the musical taste and talents of others. As time goes on, different styles and voices produce more and more musical combinations with no end in sight. Here are a few.

Rock 'n' roll
During World War II, a quarter of the U.S. population moved around the country, getting regional styles like blues, gospel and country-western acquainted. Add the first mass-produced electric guitar and the later appearance of Elvis Presley, and the new rock 'n' roll music quickly took the nation by storm.

Folk rock
Rock 'n' roll influenced other genres in turn, like folk music - but change within genres didn't come easily. When the most famous of all folk musicians, Bob Dylan, picked up an electric guitar at a concert in 1965, people shouted him off the stage. But folk rock caught on and is still popular because of bands like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.

Classical Crossover 
Another popular contemporary genre evolved by crossing classically trained singers like Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban with pop music. Classical pieces are given an electric flavor, and well-known tunes become Italian arias. For examples, "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic was turned into "I'll Mio Cuore Va."


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Classic vs. Retro (Classic與Retro的差別)
當20~30年的音樂再度流行,
原因可能是因為這個音樂本身是 classic 經典作品,
但也有可能是個retro的現象,
retro來自拉丁文, 表示向後, 倒退, 追溯, 回復,
就像 retrospective 這個字是指回顧
retro 就是復古的意思,
retro & classic 雖然都源自於過去,
但最大的差別就是 classic 就是貨真價實真品,
而retro因為是重新流行的,
所以很有可能是個複製品或復刻版,
但retro這個字沒有負面的意思,
如果有人說你的穿著很old-fashioned,
你可以說並不是old-fashioned,
這是叫做retro


Grammar Gym
with no end in sight: going on and on, endless, continuous
- As time goes on, different styles and voices produce more and more musical combinations with no end in sight.
- The 24-hours all-you-can-eat buffet is amazing; the restaurant just keeps bringing food out with no end in sight.
- As Barney washed the dishes, he noticed the dirty dishes kept coming with no end in sight. Cinderella's step-mother gave her so many chores to do with no end in sight.

Language Lab
fusion n. 融合, 融化, 融合物
a combination of separate qualities or ideas;
fusion music 混合多種曲風的音樂
a type of music which mixes jazz with other types of music, especially rock
- That band's fusion music album is quite popular in Asia.
fusion cuisine 無國界料理
- This chef is famous for his creative fusion cuisine.

blues n. 藍調音樂, 憂鬱, 沮喪
feelings of sadness;
a slow sad style of music that came from the southern US;
- Patty sings in a blues bar in Chicago.
- B. B. King was a legendary blues singer.
- The sudden layoff from his job gave Lawrence the blues.

genre n. 文藝作品的種類, 類型
/ˈʒɑːnrə/
a particular type or category of literature or art
- Norman's favorite movie genres are comedies and thrillers.
- The cafe plays music from all genres.
- In her time, the writer successfully created a new genre of drama.

contemporary adj. 當代的, 同時代的;
belonging to the present time [= modern]
- The exhibition of contemporary British artists attracted many visitors.
contemporary n. 同時代的人事物
happening or beginning now or in recent times
- These two artists were contemporaries and admired each other's work.


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The History of Women's Trousers (2)

Practical Matters
When men went off to fight in World War I, Women's roles changed. They were forced to take jobs that were traditionally performed by men. As women began working in factories and fields, they discovered that skirts weren't practical. So they wore trousers on the job.

Women once again performed traditional male jobs during World War II. Often they would borrow pants and overalls from their husbands, fathers and brothers. But trousers still weren't acceptable outside of work.

Fashionable influences
Hollywood began to change that concept, though. When stars Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly appeared wearing pants, many fashionable ladies copied the look. However, most women during the 1940s and 50s still preferred to wear dresses and skirts.

Teen choice
In the 1950s teenage girls chose rolled-up blue jeans for casual wear. In the 60s, they chose bell-bottom jeans, and in the 70s, designer jeans.

In the 21st century, women feel free to wear different types of pants on most occasions. From bloomers to business suits, women and their trousers have come a long way.

Info Cloud
Hi, friends. Let’s take a look at a very simple word today – look.
Now I don’t mean the verb look but the noun look.
So Steve, do you know what the preferred look for this summer is?
Ha, Ken, that’s a great example of how to use “look” as a noun when it refers to a distinctive manner of dress or fashion.
A singer might change her outfit several times in a concert, and each outfit would be a different look.
And no, Ken, I have no idea what the preferred look for this summer is.
Not important.
Now if we use… “looks,” plural, it has a different meaning.
It just means the appearance of something.
You might like the looks of a place when you first see it.
But looks can be deceiving.
Good point.
So don’t be fooled by the looks of something.
Now a person may also have good looks.
And “looks” here refers to his or her physical appearance, especially when it’s pleasing.
Right.
We can’t say somebody has bad looks – only good looks.
And good looks generally refers to one’s facial appearance, like a movie star has good looks.

Language Lab
practical adj.實用的, 實際可行的
practical plans, methods etc are likely to succeed or be effective in a situation
- Mom's suggestions are always objective and practical.
媽媽給的建議可觀有實用
- Their shoes are not flashy, but they are very practical for everyday life.
他們的鞋子雖然不花俏, 但每天穿是很實用的

overalls  [plural]  n. 連身褲, 連身工作服
a pair of pants with an extra piece attached that covers the chest and has straps that go over the shoulders
- Dad loves to wear his old overalls while working on his car.
overall  adj. 整體的，全身的，全面的
including everyone or everything
- Paula's overall job performance is above average.

fashionable adj. 流行的，時尚的
 currently popular
- These magazines introduce the latest fashionable designs.
- The fashionable hairstyle made him look 10 years younger than his real age.

occasion n.場合
a special event or time;
an important social event or ceremony:
- Richard decided to save his nicest suit for special occasions.
- We met at an occasion last Christmas.


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[Advanced] A New Spin on an Old Sound (2)

A band with a plan
Their strategy — not that they'd ever call it that — begins with touring, and lots of it. As Lovett suggests, he and his bandmates more or less live on the road, performing crowd favorites and honing new material in a variety of settings across the globe, from tiny pub gigs (including several recent ones in Dublin) to roomy amphitheater concerts to the daylong mini-festivals it put on this summer in out-of-the-way American cities such as Dixon, Illinois, and Bristol, Virginia.

The band has been careful too with exposure, limiting interviews and television performances but encouraging easy access to its music. During the first week of "Babel's" release Mumford & Sons allowed listeners to stream the album for free on Spotify — something the online service said happened more than 8 million times.

A sense of belonging
Lovett singles out the group's performance with Bob Dylan at the 2011 Grammy Awards as a pivotal moment, and he's certainly not wrong: "Sigh No More" enjoyed its biggest-ever sales week in the days following the telecast.

"I think it introduced us to people who watch [awards] shows the way we grew up watching music on TV," he said. "It makes sense that it would widen our audience. But we weren't thinking about that at the time."

Indeed, all of this maneuvering seems secondary to the powerful sense of belonging the band's songs engender among its fans. Not unlike Adele, whose "21" was last year's bestselling album, Mumford & Sons offers a chance to stand up for hand-played music in an age of machine-made pop; it embodies the feel-good realism of people singing and playing instruments onstage.

And yet the group isn't didactic about its position, vastly increasing its appeal for listeners with no horse in the authenticity race. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Marcus Mumford declined to describe the band's music as bluegrass or any other traditional form, saying, "We just call ourselves a rock band, really."


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[Advanced] A New Spin on an Old Sound

Mumford & Sons’ handmade aesthetic is rocking the music world

Describing the latest album from his band Mumford & Sons, Ben Lovett sidesteps much of the language artists often use to talk about their music. He doesn't, for instance, refer to "Babel" as a bit of creative risk-taking, or as the product of divine inspiration.

Instead, the 26-year-old keyboardist says that the record was "forced out of this internal desire to prove that we have many more songs in us."

Mumford & Sons released its debut, "Sigh No More," in 2009 and immediately set about touring the world, playing concerts that grew steadily to a scale Lovett called "crazy." (Last year it performed before an audience of approximately 75,000 people on the main stage at Coachella.)

Unlikely pop stars
Before long the London-based group — which also includes singer-guitarist Marcus Mumford, 25; bassist Ted Dwane, 28 and banjo player Winston Marshall, 25 — had all but exhausted the tunes on "Sigh No More." For 2012 it needed new ones.

"And I'm sure the third, fourth and fifth records will happen the same way," Lovett continued, speaking recently after a show in Cairns, Australia. "There was absolutely zero calculation [with 'Babel']. No one ever came into the studio and said, 'Turn that banjo up and we'll make you into pop stars!'"

Yet pop stars are precisely what the band's members have become. In October "Babel" entered Billboard's album chart at No. 1, scoring what was then the year's biggest sales week — bigger than Justin Bieber and Madonna — with more than 600,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

So how did these London lads carve out such an impressive space singing original songs about struggle and redemption?


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[Advanced] Musical Legends Get Better With Time (3)

The gospel-truth, if you believe most of the history books: Aretha Franklin didn’t really find her true voice until she began working with producer Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records in 1967.

"My idea was to make good tracks, use the best players, put Aretha back on piano and let the lady wail," Wexler wrote.

But the Aretha before and after her soul golden age often gets short shrift. In his latest book, “The Fan Who Knew Too Much” Aretha Heilbut argues persuasively that even before Aretha walked into a studio to record with Wexler, she had already begun to change the game for women, African-Americans and music culture.

As the daughter of one of the most powerful ministers in America, Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha already had a platform at Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church  to showcase her extraordinary multi-octave, multi-hued voice.

At 14, she was not just recording gospel, but imbuing it with drama and depth of feeling that were miles behind her years. Still, in her late teens she was touring the gospel circuit alongside the Staple Singers and Sammie Bryant second-billed to her father, the star preacher.

She signed to Columbia Records in 1960, a move widely interpreted as her leaving gospel to pursue wealth and fame on the wider stage of pop. But her father approved of the changeover, and his voice carried immense weight with his numerous followers. Franklin herself made a persuasive case in 1961, when she framed her transition in the context of the emerging civil-rights movement, a viable means of expression that didn’t repudiate her gospel roots so much as expand them.

Heilbut goes a step a further. He suggests that Franklin didn’t bend to pop, so much as bend pop toward her: She “was really the first gospel star to switch fields without switching styles.”

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[Advanced] Musical Legends Get Better With Time (2)

Neil Young opens up in wistful documentary
It's only fitting for a documentary about Neil Young to venture to Canada's Northern Ontario region — his birthplace and the subject of a song. It certainly stays alive in this spare and intriguing film directed by Jonathan Demme, who has helmed two previous Young concert films.

Here, the 66-year-old rocker pilots a 1956 Crown Victoria through his rural hometown, casually pointing out a school named for his writer father Scott Young. But he has somewhere else to be: Toronto's Massey Hall, site of his solo Le Noise concert tour stop in May 2011.

His distinctive alto voice has become seasoned over the years, conveying all the power imaginable in his lyrics, underscored by a range of emotional urgency from his guitar licks.

Young performs simply with a guitar and harmonica, or piano. minus a back-up band that we never miss.The music is haunting. His storytelling has always plumbed the depths of the emotional landscape. Artistic integrity is a recurring theme.

There's something appealingly wistful about both the concert and Young's hometown tour. Down-to-earth and affable, Young recalls key moments in his youth but doesn't mourn the loss of it. Similarly, he doesn't skim the cream from his vast catalog of songs. He chooses a deeply personal mix of old and new, each song exploring fascinating emotional terrain.

Demme is clearly fascinated by Young's musical integrity and wants the audience to share his passion.

Neil Young Journeys underscores the continuing relevance of Young's artistry over the last 45 years and why he is regarded as one of rock's most influential musicians and songwriters. The introspective tales of his youth are an artful counterpoint to the urgency of his musical selections. He doesn't tout it or even refer to it, but Young endures. He hasn't burnt out and he's certainly not rusting or fading away.


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[Advanced] Musical Legends Get Better With Time (1)

These well-known singers show resilience and talent as their legacies continue

For more than 25 years, Anita Baker’s voice has been one of the most distinctive and beloved in R&B.  The 54-year-old singer release her first studio album in seven years last December. The single, “Lately,” like other tunes on the collection, “Only Forever” exudes the elegant but earthy warmth that has made her singing synonymous with romance.

“I’d love to be the political voice of my generation, but that’s not my gift,” says Baker, “Typically, the theme of my albums, if there is a theme, is, ‘How does it feel?’ And that always leads to love songs. It just does.”

“Lately, I’ve been writing odes to my family,” Baker says. Her younger son, Ed, 18, starts college next month; like brother Walter, he’s studying music.

“So I’m an empty nester now,” Baker says. “There’s a song, ‘Free,’ that just came through me, watching them go out into the world. I want them to hear my voice and to have advice readily available to them.”

Her sons’ decision to enter into their mom’s famously risky profession hasn’t been a source of anxiety. My father worked on assembly lines in Detroit while I was growing up. But he told me, ‘Life is short. Do what you want to do.’

Baker continues to apply her father’s counsel in her own career. For “Only Forever,” she “initially recorded everything live to analog, to be true to my soul. But I also want to be an artist of this time, to embrace 21st-century recording techniques. And with amazing producers, I was able to balance those goals.”

Essence entertainment director Cori Murray expects that the classic sound suggested by Lately will resonate with fans “who have been waiting for Anita to come back. Her popular songs were true love songs. Even if she sang about heartache and pain, there was a beautiful sweetness.”


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