Home Archive for April 2015

Don’t be too proud to perform – perform anywhere, at any time, for anyone. -says Lisa Popeil

Edward “Ed” Sheeran was born in 1991 West Yorkshire, England and grew up in Suffolk, in the east of England.

Beginning with singing in his local church choir at age 4, Sheeran learned guitar at an early age and started writing songs when in secondary school (high school).

Ed Sheeran at age 11, during his first concert

His early memories include seeing Van Morrison and Damien Rice perform.

Constant Collaboration

In 2005, Sheeran recorded his first EP and went onto record another five EPs before signing with Asylum/Atlantic Records.

Constant collaboration seems to have been a key theme in Sheeran’s rise, writing and performing with a large number of writers, singers and bands.

After deciding that going to university was not going to be his path, Sheeran left home at 17 and spent the next three years traveling throughout England, playing clubs and pubs and busking on the street.

Sofa Surfing

Technically homeless during that period, Sheeran, with his large circle of friends, ‘sofa-surfed’ and sometimes had to sell CDs from his backpack to pay for train tickets and food.

Sheeran worked as a guitar tech for the UK band Nizlopi for two tours and later was asked to open for them in 2008

In 2007, Sheeran auditioned for and was accepted into the National Youth Music Theatre.

Though he has a passion for acting, his main focus became music. Grabbing a behind-the-scenes music job, Sheeran worked as a guitar tech for the UK band Nizlopi for two tours and later was asked to open for them in 2008.

Throughout the year of 2010, Sheeran built his fanbase on YouTube and SB.TV (a UK music site), piquing Elton John’s interest.

His competitive nature and ambition drew him to Los Angeles later that year, though he had no contacts there.

After playing at open mic nights all around the city, Sheeran caught the ear of Jamie Foxx at Foxx’s open mic night “The Foxxhole”.

This led to an appearance on Foxx’s Satellite radio show of the same name and an invitation to record in Foxx’s home studio and stay at his house for the duration of Sheeran’s planned visit to LA.

Both albums ‘+’ and ‘x’ are platinum in America

The Landmark Album +

Back in the UK, Sheeran performed constantly, even, at least on one occasion, playing for free for fans in the street after a venue closed.

In 2011, Sheeran released an independent EP which led to an offer from Elton John’s management team.

Sheeran’s debut album, +, (pronounced ‘plus’) which included the songs “The A Team” and “Lego House” was certified quintuple platinum in the UK in 2012 and Sheeran was nominated as “Best New Artist” at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

His second studio album “x” (pronounced “multiply”) was released in 2014 and went on to rank #1 on the UK Album Charts and the US Billboard Charts.

What This Means For You:

If you want to write songs – write constantly and with everyone whom you respect.
You don’t have to look like a model to be popular.
Sometimes taking extreme risks can pan out.
If you’re a pleasant person, you can make friends anywhere you go.
Perform anywhere at any time for anyone. Don’t be too proud to perform.
There’s no experience like experience. Too many people hide behind formal educations and are passed up by people out there making it happen.

-Lisa Popeil

This is the tenth and final article of this series. Missed any articles? Read last week’s: How Beyoncé made it! or read from the beginning: How Katy Perry made it!

BBC One’s The Voice Coach, Juliet Russell, reveals her view on the power of singing.

When we asked Juliet to reveal her inspiration for unique community-choir focused tour (see more at the end of the article), here is what she said:

In my work with singers and choirs across the country, I’ve experienced how we can all reap the benefits of the power of singing:

1. It releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals – including endorphins, that are associated with pleasurable activity. Singing can be a brilliantly effective mood lifter and there is an increasing body of research to show that it is a valuable tool in alleviating depression.

2. It brings you closer to others – Singing with other people has been found to be more beneficial to promoting feelings of psychological well being than being involved in team sports or singing solo. Oxytocin, the chemical that bonds lovers together and mothers to their babies is produced when we sing. This reinforces group identity and a sense of community and belonging.

3. It’s really good for your health – Singing is an aerobic activity incredibly beneficial for your heart and lungs. It increases levels of oxygen in the bloodstream. Singing can also help us become more aware of our posture and alignment, as well as working muscle groups in the upper body.

4. You’ll become a better listener - By learning to sing, you develop your musical ear and start to listen to yourself and other singers with a greater level of appreciation and understanding. When singing in an ensemble, you learn to hear more nuance and subtlety in vocal performances, musical arrangements and develop your ability to discern musical detail.

5. It’s a stress- buster – Research studies reveal that choral singers experience a significant reduction in cortisol after a rehearsal. Far greater than if a group just listens to choral music. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced when we are stressed or anxious. It is useful when we need it (e.g. In fight or flight situations), but levels can also be raised when we are unnecessarily stressed. Singing gives us an enjoyable and effective way to combat this.

watch?v=JF8BRvqGCNs

Stay (Rihanna song)

"Stay" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her seventh studio album, Unapologetic (2012). It features guest vocals by Mikky Ekko, and was released as the second single from the album on January 7, 2013. "Stay" was co-written by Ekko and Justin Parker. A pop and R&B ballad, that features both piano and guitar chords. The song's lyrical content speaks of temptation and the inability to resist true love. Music critics were divided in their opinion regarding the balladry, with most describing it as a standout track on the album, while a few labeled it as boring.

Upon the release of Unapologetic, "Stay" charted on multiple charts worldwide. Following its release as a single, it reached number one in Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark and Israel and the top five in twenty-four countries worldwide including Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's twenty-fourth top ten on the chart, thus surpassing Whitney Houston's tally. Furthermore, it has charted at number one on the US Pop Songs chart and 16 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Worldwide the single has sold over 10 million copies making it one of the best selling singles of all time.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Sophie Muller, depicts Rihanna naked in a bathtub filled with cloudy water, while Ekko sings in a separate bathroom. Critics likened the vulnerability and raw emotion in the video to the song itself. Rihanna premiered "Stay" on Saturday Night Live in the United States, while she performed the song in the United Kingdom on the ninth series of The X Factor. Rihanna and Ekko also performed "Stay" at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The track was included on the set list of the majority of her 777 Tour promotional tour dates, in support of the album, while it is included on Rihanna's fifth headlining tour, the "Diamonds World Tour".

Rihanna began working on the new sound for her seventh studio album in March 2012, even though she had not yet begun recording. During the production of the album, several musicians and producers were recruited including American singer Mikky Ekko and producer Justin Parker. According to Ekko, the production of the album was massive, "Their pace is insane. They had the studios we were working in booked out for three months, on a cycle. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. "Stay" was written and produced by Parker, Ekko and Elof Loelv. Initially, when they wrote the song, Ekko didn't like it because of its vulnerability; however, collaborators convinced him to listen to "Stay" again. After another listen, he understood that the song is very important to him, "The track had become so special to me as well, and knowing what the track means to me and what I think it means to her too.

Shortly after Rihanna's management took over the song, Ekko met her in Los Angeles where she told him she already sang the vocals, on which he reacted positively. Rihanna's and Ekko's vocals were recorded at two recording locations by three different people: Mike Gaydusek at Nightbird Studios and Marcos Tovar and Kuk Harrel at Westlake Recording Studios, both in Los Angeles. Vocal engineering was done by Gaydusek and assisted by Blake Mares and Robert Cohen. Vocal production was completed by Kuk Harrell. It was mixed by Phil Tan at Ninja Club Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional production was performed by Daniella Rivera. "Stay" impacted the United Kingdom on January 7, 2013 as the second single fromUnapologetic. In the United States, "Stay" was released to contemporary hit radio and rhythmic radio on January 29, 2013, as the third single in the country following "Diamonds" and "Pour It Up". It was released as a CD single in Germany on February 15, 2013.

"Stay" is a pop and R&B ballad that consists of piano and guitar instrumentation. It is written in the key of A aeolian, a natural minor system, having the chord progression of C-Dm-Am-Am₇. The song has a moderate tempo of 112 beats per minute. Rihanna's vocal range in the song ranges from the low note of A₃ to the high note of E₅. Greg Kot for the Chicago Tribune described the song as being "stripped-bare". The lyrics revolve around "failing to resist true love", according to Dan Martin for NME, as Rihanna sings "Funny, you're the broken one/ But I'm the only one who needed saving." According to Jocelyn Vena for MTV, Rihanna "punctuates the emotions of the track" on the lyric "It's not much of a life you're living/ It's not just something you take [it's] given. Rihanna also makes a plea to her lover, singing "'Round and around and around and around we go/ Now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know/ Not really sure how to feel about it/ Something in the way you move/ Makes me feel like I can't live without you/ it takes me all the way/ I want you to stay. Lewis Corner for Digital Spy wrote that Rihanna's vocals glow over the simple yet effective piano riffs.

Live performances

As part of promotion for the release of Unapologetic on November 19, 2012, Rihanna premiered "Stay" on Saturday Night Live on November 10, 2012. She also performed the album's lead single "Diamonds". Rihanna performed a solo version of "Stay", without guest vocalist Ekko. Rihanna wore a Bob Marley dress and adorned red lipstick. Jocelyn Vena for MTV praised the singer's performance, writing "Rihanna used her touching vocals to prove that not only can she sex up a performance but she can also sing the heck out of one. Erika Ramirez noted that Rihanna "belted out the song.

During the seven days prior to the release of the album, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, a seven-date promotional tour where she performed seven concerts in seven different cities in seven different countries across North America and Europe. Not included on the set list at the first concert in Mexico City, she performed "Stay" at the second concert in Toronto as part of a medley with "Love the Way You Lie". The solo version of the song was performed the third concert in Stockholm. At the fourth concert in Paris, it was performed as the ninth song out of 13 in between "S&M" and "Where Have You Been", preceded by a snippet of "Take Care". The fifth and sixth concerts were held in Berlin and London, respectively, where Rihanna performed "Stay" both nights in between "S&M" and "Unfaithful". The seventh and final concert was held in New York City, where "Stay" was also performed. Erika Ramirez for Billboard attended all seven concerts as part of the press committee, where she described the audience as being in a "trance" as the singer performed the song.

Rihanna performed "Stay" at the final of the ninth series of The X Factor on December 9, 2012. Once she had finished performing the song, it transitioned into an acoustic version of "We Found Love" followed by the original version. Rihanna wore a short white dress, with white T-bar shoes, diamond earrings and matching silver jewellery. The singer performed "Stay" together with Mikky Ekko at the 2013 Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013.The performance featured the singer standing in front of a "dimly lit set" and was dressed in a long "curve-hugging" dark dress. Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times positively reviewed the performance and wrote that it was the most memorable moment of the night. Charley Rogulewski of Vibe in a review of the rendition wrote, "Her [Rihanna's] beautiful voice took center stage during the duet, assuring those watching why she was worthy of her six Grammys". A reviewer of Capital FM wrote that Rihanna looked visibly moved by the performance as she showed her "impressive vocals". The solo version of "Stay" is included as part of the set list on Rihanna's fifth headlining concert tour, the "Diamonds World Tour", as the twenty-seventh track and first of the encore.

It’s an indisputable fact that Iron Maiden are one of the biggest and most influential metal bands of all time. Yet there continues to be a vocal division between those who think Paul Di’Anno, who performed on the first two albums, was the band’s best vocalist or if that honor should be bestowed to Bruce Dickinson, who sang on most of the other records. What it comes down to is a matter of taste.

The band’s self-titled debut album, which came out on April 14, 1980, clearly demonstrates the differences between the two singers. Di’Anno had far more limited vocal range, but a more raw, abrasive style that makes songs like “Running Free,” “Charlotte the Harlot” and especially the title track punchy and punk-tinged.

“I came from more of a punk background than a rock background,” says Di’Anno. “I didn’t even know who Iron Maiden were back then. Then a friend of mine told me about them. At first I didn’t know what to think, but their music grew on me.”

Iron Maiden were different than other bands from the nascent New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene. Even though Saxon, Def Leppard and Diamond Head were also stirring the pot at a London Club The Soundhouse, Maiden had a level of musicality that was a cut above the other bands, and the combination of galloping riffs, ear-fetching guitar harmonies and complex arrangements made Iron Maiden instantly jaw-dropping.

“The only ones doing anything slightly different were us and Motorhead, ” Di’Anno says. “But Motorhead had been around for years and everyone know what they were like, they just didn’t know what to call them – punk, metal, whatever. People could tell we were a new kind of metal and they came to check us out. And a lot of them welt, ‘Wow, this is fantastic.’”

There was no lack of material for the record, which was filled with a variety of punky stormers anthems and complex, rhythmic sound labyrinths. There was even a classic instrumental, “Transylvania.” Right from the start, the aggression and attitude of “Prowler” — which starts with a killer serrated riff, a memorable wah-wah-saturated lick and some fiery lead work even before the vocals star — demonstrated that Iron Maiden would be a showcase of blazing guitars to rival anything by Judas Priest. And that was even before Adrian Smith joined the band (guitar duties on Iron Maiden were shared between Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton, who quit to join Lionheart in October 1980).

Even so, then, as now, the driving force of Iron Maiden’s sound was bassist Steve Harris, who wrote or co-wrote all of the songs and lyrics; Di’Anno only contributed to the lyrics of “Remember Tomorrow” and “Running Free.” Over the next year, the unbalanced division of lyric labor would become a sticking point between Di’Anno and Harris, but when Iron Maiden recorded their debut album, everyone was excited to be in the studio and had a positive attitude about the entire creative process.

Maiden knew most of the songs before it inked a deal with Harvest/Capitol records, and recorded the album at Kingsway Studios in West London in a mere 13 days in January 1980; they mixed at Morgan Studios in Northwest London in February. After firing the two other producers, the record was produced by Will Malone, who reportedly lacked an interest in the band and allowed Iron Maiden to set their own labels and record much of the record on their own. Some have praised the unpolished, punk-ish sound of the record, but even Di’Anno feels like Iron Maiden suffered from mediocre production.

“If Iron Maiden actually had a better production, I don’t think there’d be another album around to touch it for 1,000 years,” he says. “The guy who produced it mixed the triangle on the fucking Mike Oldfield album and that’s about all he ever did. But we were so naïve, we didn’t know what we was doing.”

For the public, Iron Maiden was a tremendous first glimpse at a band that would continue to evolve over time, but would, at the core, remain a band in the NWOBHM tradition. The album also offered a first glimpse at the artwork of Derek Riggs and band’s mascot Eddie. Iron Maiden’s management discovered Riggs, who brought his portfolio to their studio with the hope of commissioning some of his work. The original Eddie painting was called “Electric Matthew Says Hello,” and featured a hairless Eddie designed for a punk album. The band liked it, but wanted it to look more touch, so Riggs added wild, untamed long hair to the painting, and the immortal Eddie was born.

Loudwire contributor Jon Wiederhorn is the primary author of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal, as well as the co-author of Scott Ian’s autobiography, I’m the Man: The Story of That Guy From Anthrax, and Al Jourgensen’s autobiography, Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen.

You Think You Know Iron Maiden?

50 CENT

urtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent, is known as one of the biggest hip-hop stars of the 2000s, famous for his streetwise raps and his rags-to-riches life story.“I come from the bottom and I have risen up and I have changed but I have never forgotten.”

—50 Cent

Synopsis

Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, was born on July 6, 1975, in the borough of Queens in New York City. After an early life of crime, drugs and violence, he turned to a career as a rapper. He was promoted by hip-hop legends Dr. Dre and Eminem, and he became a star with his debut release,Get Rich or Die Tryin', in 2003. He is considered one of the major figures in early 21st century "gangsta" rap.

Childhood in New York

Curtis James Jackson III, now known by his rap name 50 Cent, was born on July 6, 1975, in the borough of Queens in New York City. He was raised in a broken home in the rough neighborhood of Jamaica. His single mother worked as a drug dealer and was murdered when Jackson was only 8 years old; after her death, he was raised by his grandparents. He had boyhood aspirations to be a boxer, but he began selling drugs when he was a teenager. He also began to rap during his high school years.

Breaking Into the Hip-Hop World

50 Cent's first important contact with the New York hip-hop scene was an introduction to Jam Master Jay from the group Run-D.M.C. Jay was impressed by 50 Cent's rapping ability and produced an album for him; however, it was never released. 50 Cent also made a false start with the Columbia label, recording an album that was shelved before its release.
In 2000, 50 Cent was the victim of a severe shooting incident that left him with multiple wounds and injuries. After his recovery, he began rapping again and made low-budget recordings with his friends Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, as a crew called G-Unit. Their efforts were noticed by the hip-hop stars Eminem and Dr. Dre, who promoted 50 Cent as a solo act and signed him jointly to their record labels.

Success and Stardom

50 Cent's debut release, Get Rich or Die Tryin', was produced by Eminem and Dre. It was a massive success that eventually reached sales of 9 million units. Its singles, including "Wanksta" and "In Da Club," were crossover hits on the pop charts, since 50 Cent's gritty lyrics were backed by catchy musical hooks that appealed to audiences beyond the hip-hop scene. His personal appearance—muscled and tattooed, wearing a bulletproof vest and toting a handgun—was also a strong factor in his appeal, as was the fact that his rap lyrics were based on real-life experiences.
Get Rich was followed another hit album, 2005's The Massacre, on which 50 Cent continued to rap about drugs, crime and sex on tracks like "Candy Shop" and "Just a Lil Bit." Later releases, including Curtis in 2007 and Before I Self-Destruct in 2009, didn't achieve the same sales figures. However, 50 Cent's personal history as a "gangsta," a criminal and a survivor of drugs, violence and poverty who had lived to tell the tale, had made him an influential figure in hip-hop culture.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: Мари́я Ю́рьевна Шара́пова; IPA: [mɐˈrʲijə ˈjʉrʲjɪvnə ʂɐˈrapəvə] (

listen); born 19 April 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player, who as of October 6, 2014 is ranked world No. 2 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). A United States resident since 1994,^[4]Sharapova has competed on the WTA tour since 2001. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles by the WTA on five separate occasions, for a total of 21 weeks. She became the world No. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005 at the age of 18, and last held the ranking for the fifth time for four weeks from June 11, 2012 to July 8, 2012.^[5]^[6] She is the reigning champion in singles at the French Open.

Sharapova’s 34 singles titles and five Grand Slam titles — two at the French Open and one at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open — rank third amongst active players, behind Serena and Venus Williams. She won the year-ending WTA Finals in her debut in 2004. In 2012 she won an Olympic silver medal for Russia at the London Games. She has also won three doubles titles.

Despite an injury-prone career, Sharapova has achieved a rare level of longevity in the women’s game. She has won at least one singles title a year from 2003 until 2015, a streak only bested by Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilovaand Chris Evert. With her victory at the 2012 French Open, Sharapova became only the sixth woman in theOpen Era (tenth all-time) to complete a career Grand Slam. Sharapova’s trademark is her unyielding fighting spirit and will to win. Several tennis pundits and former players have called Sharapova one of tennis’s best competitors, with John McEnroe calling her one of the best the sport has ever seen.^[7]

Sharapova has been featured in a number of modeling assignments, including a feature in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She has been featured in many advertisements, including for Nike, Prince, and Canon, being the face of several fashion houses, most notably Cole Haan. Since February 2007, she has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, concerned specifically with the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme. In June 2011, she was named one of the "30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future" by Time,^[8] and in March 2012 was named one of the "100 Greatest of All Time" by Tennis Channel.

Early life

Maria Sharapova was born on 19 April 1987 in Nyagan, Russian SFSR. Her parents, Yuri and Elena, are from Gomel, Belarussian SSR. Concerned about the regional effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, they left their homeland shortly before Sharapova was born, moving from Gomel to Nyagan.^[9]

Introduction to tennis

In 1989, when Sharapova was two, the family moved to Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia. There her father Yuri befriended Aleksandr Kafelnikov, whose son Yevgenywould go on to win two Grand Slam singles titles and become Russia's first world No. 1 ranked tennis player. Aleksandr gave Sharapova her first tennis racquet in 1991 when she was four, whereupon she began practicing regularly with her father at a local park.^[10] Maria took her first tennis lessons with veteran Russian coach Yuri Yutkin, who was instantly impressed when he saw her play, noting her "exceptional hand-eye coordination".^[11]

Start of professional training

In 1993, at the age of six, Sharapova attended a tennis clinic in Moscow run by Martina Navratilova, who recommended professional training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, which had previously trained players such as Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Anna Kournikova.^[10] With money tight, Yuri Sharapov borrowed the sum that would enable him and his daughter, neither of whom could speak English, to travel to the United States of America, which they finally did in 1994.^[11] Visa restrictions prevented Sharapova's mother from joining them for two years.^[9] Arriving in Florida with savings of US$700,^[11] Sharapova's father took various low-paying jobs, including dishwashing, to fund her lessons until she was old enough to be admitted to the academy. Before she entered the IMG business, she trained with Rick Macci, in the Rick Macci Tennis Academy. She then was offered a deal from IMG which forced her to change academies. Originally, she did train with Rick Macci, but after the deal with IMG, she could not see Rick Macci anymore. In 1995, she was signed by IMG, who agreed to pay the annual tuition fee of $35,000 for Sharapova to stay at the Academy, allowing her to finally enroll at the age of 9.^[10]

Tennis career

Junior and early career

Sharapova first hit the tennis scene in November 2000, when she won the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in the girls' 16 division at the age of just 13.^[12] She was then given a special distinction, the Rising Star Award, which is awarded only to players of exceptional promise.^[13] Sharapova made her professional debut in 2001 on her 14th birthday on April 19, and played her first WTA tournament at the Pacific Life Open in 2002, winning a match before losing toMonica Seles. Due to restrictions on how many professional events she could play, Sharapova went to hone her game in junior tournaments, where she reached the finals of the girls' singles events at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2002. She was the youngest girl ever to reach the final of the Australian Open junior championship at 14 years and 9 months.^[14]

Sharapova reached No. 6 in the ITF junior world singles ranking on October 21, 2002. In all, she won three junior singles tournaments and was runner-up at five, including two junior Grand Slam events. Her win-loss record in junior competition was 47–9.^[15]

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Only Music

How Did Ed Sheeran Make It?

Constant Collaboration

Sofa Surfing

The Landmark Album +

What This Means For You:

5 Reasons to Never Stop Singing

Heartbroken Taylor Swift Gets Advice On Coping With Mom’s Cancer Battle — From Angelina Jolie!v

Tyga Tattoos Kylie Jenner's name on his arm .

‘Friends’ Forever? Tyga Tattoos Kylie Jenner’s Name On His Arm

Rihanna - Stay