Highest scored questions
2,285 questions
14
votes
10
answers
7k
views
Band(s) in the vein of Dream Theater?
I really like the band Dream Theater, but I'm not very familiar with the Progressive Metal genre of which they're a part.
Can anyone suggest a band (or bands) that have a similar feel but aren't as ...
- 7,139
14
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Why do musicians play on carpets?
I oftenly see rock or metal bands playing on carpets while performing on stage or on studio.
It's nice to see, but is there a reason for these carpets? Is it for a better sound?
For an example, here'...
- 539
14
votes
2
answers
61k
views
Where does this famous rhythm pattern come from (oftenly used to knock on a door)?
This rhythm pattern seems very famous and is oftenly used to knock on someone's door, sometimes as a code:
Does it have an history? Where does it come from?
- 7,235
14
votes
2
answers
526
views
Looking for a term : end of song n is the beginning of song n+1
I'm looking for a term describing the fact that, on a music album, the end of a song is the beginning of the next one, which gives the impression that there is no cut between the two songs.
I'm ...
- 143
14
votes
1
answer
37k
views
What is meant by "Grandma Plays the Numbers"?
There's a song in the game Fallout 4 called Grandma Plays the Numbers. The full lyrics can be found at that link. It was written and performed by Wynonie Harris in 1949.
I'm not sure what is meant by ...
- 495
14
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Is a “brown-eyed girl” black?
Wikipedia reports, of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl”:
Originally titled “Brown-Skinned Girl,” Morrison changed it to “Brown Eyed Girl” when he recorded it. . . . It has also been stated that the ...
- 1,095
14
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What was the first vinyl record ever pressed?
I am wondering about, what was the first vinyl record ever pressed.
I am not interested in the first record ever (for example shellac), only the first vinyl record.
- 549
14
votes
1
answer
19k
views
What happened to Poe?
Poe (Ann Danielewski) had a rising music career in the late 1990s, but then she completely vanished from the public eye. I’ve heard a variety of stories about her disappearance, ranging from corporate ...
- 1,095
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Why is the Chaconne from Bach's Partita for Violin No. 2 so widely lauded?
I recently came across a recording of Bach's Partita for Violin No. 2, the fifth movement (the Chaconne), and upon researching it further, I learnt that it is often praised as a very important ...
- 141
14
votes
1
answer
207
views
Reason for ID3 "Bright colored fish"?
I noticed that ID3 has a list of types of images that can be embedded in an audio file:
The TYPE must be one of the following: OTHER, ICON, OTHER_ICON,
FRONT_COVER, BACK_COVER, LEAFLET, MEDIA, ...
- 251
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Album art for "Abraxas" (Santana) and "Bitches Brew" (Miles Davis)
Looking at the album art (below) for Abraxas by Santana and Bitches Brew by Miles Davis. Is there a commmon theme going on here? Specifically the African tribal people on the back covers?
It looks to ...
- 3,234
13
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How do I play a 16⅔ RPM record?
I bought an LP record from a local library and back home turned it on to hear it. And I get very funny voice like somebody is on helium.
I thought I had it on 45 and wanted to switch to 33, but it was ...
- 231
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Are there other "psychedelic" genres than rock?
Commonly I've seen psychedelic rock starts with The Doors and others, but is there any other "psychedelic-something" (i.e. "psychedelic jazz") genre? What are the examples (of the psychedelic-...
- 1,175
13
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why do many vinyl albums place sides I and IV on one record and II and III on the other?
Why do many vinyl albums of classical music have Sides 1 / 4 on the first record and 2 / 3 on the second? An example of this is the RCA Red Seal recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony by the Boston ...
- 151
13
votes
3
answers
21k
views
Is it true that Jimi Hendrix didn't know music theory?
I've often heard that Jimi Hendrix didn't know anything on music theory and harmony, and he was just playing 'by ear'.
Is this true or just a urban legend?
- 360
13
votes
1
answer
11k
views
What is the meaning behind *THE NAME* of "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
I don't understand why I couldn't find any questions relating to this, but only questions asking about the meaning of the songs lyrics. I know what Bohemia is, I know what a Rhapsody is, but I don't ...
- 233
13
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How common is it for club DJs to use vinyl these days?
Do any club DJs still spin vinyl? Or have most/all of them moved on to digital formats (such as WAV, FLAC, MP3)?
- 1,713
13
votes
2
answers
469
views
What was the last live concert the Beatles played together?
What was the last concert/show John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr played together as the Beatles?
Dom♦
- 4,219
13
votes
4
answers
50k
views
Origin of the phrase "Mustard on the beat"?
I have realized that in many rap songs by many different artists use the phrase, "mustard on the beat" at the begging of their rap.
Where did this originate? Why do many different DJs and ...
- 477
13
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Was The Who's album 'Quadrophenia' actually quadraphonic?
Quadrophenia was available on vinyl with stereo playback (and probably mono too, but I have only seen stereo copies).
If it was quadraphonic, why was it sold on vinyl appropriate for stereo playback?...
- 233
13
votes
3
answers
431
views
What is the first use of the 'tapping' method?
The ‘tapping’ method is an advanced guitar technique where both hands are placed on the fretboard, typically reserved for solos. Who was the first guitarist to use this method - live or otherwise?
- 1,580
13
votes
1
answer
312
views
How did Jaco Pastorius get nicknamed 'Jaco'?
The famous electric bassist was born as John Francis Anthony Pastorius III.
Is it known how he got nicknamed Jaco?
- 3,005
13
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Meaning of *Snow (Hey Oh)*
I'm a big fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and particularly the song Snow (Hey Oh) from Stadium Arcadium, however the lyrics just don't make any sense at all to me. A friend said he thought the song ...
- 626
13
votes
1
answer
22k
views
Weird piano chord on Police's Roxanne
On the intro of the song Police - Roxanne we can hear a weird piano chord (just before someone's laughing). The piano doesn't seem to feature elsewhere on the song.
Did they ask for a pianist to come ...
- 7,235
13
votes
1
answer
907
views
What was Ringo's influence in The Beatles?
How big was Ringo Starr's influence in The Beatles? Or to phrase it differently, how much of an impact did he have on their music?
We all know the impact of John Lennon and Paul McCartney after all ...
- 1,183
13
votes
2
answers
403
views
Gospel music, specific term for a certain style
Gospel is a very broad term for a lot of different genres and styles of music.
I really enjoy the "toe-tapping", "black gospel" variant, including songs as
"Oh happy day"
"I go to the rock"
"I can ...
- 263
13
votes
3
answers
269
views
Who decides whether a record should be labelled "Parental Advisory"?
Who decides whether a record should be labelled "Parental Advisory"? Are there any agreed-upon standards? If not, what individuals in the production chain are the people who actually decide whether a ...
user16
13
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why is Nickelback hated?
I recently heard a Nickelback song on the radio which reminded me of them doing some concert and the whole thing going viral.
People were planning to boycott their concert.
What was/is the reason ...
- 525
13
votes
3
answers
604
views
What was the first track to be sold through Internet?
I wonder what was the first track to be sold through Internet (and when / under what circumstances it took place).
13
votes
1
answer
8k
views
What were the specifics of Prince's "$100 million contract" with Warner Bros. Records in 1992?
In 1992, Prince signed a reported $100 million contract with Warner Bros. Records. What were the specifics of this contract?
- 2,904
13
votes
1
answer
651
views
Why do songs sometimes get left off a movie's soundtrack?
Sometimes I'll hear a song while watching a movie, and then later when I look at the movie's soundtrack, I find out the song isn't on the soundtrack. Why are songs in a movie sometimes left off the ...
- 1,713
13
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Which Taylor Swift songs are about her exes?
I heard that Taylor Swift sings songs about all her breakups and only skipped Taylor Lautner.
Is this right? And which songs were about which of her ex-boyfriends?
- 521
13
votes
1
answer
87
views
Percussion instrument used in a USAFE Band [closed]
We went to a concert last night by the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band (USAFE Band).
I'm looking for the name of this instrument.
- 133
13
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How to Clean Vinyl Records
My records are getting a little dusty, how can I clean them without damaging the grooves? Does dust affect sound/playback quality?
- 792
13
votes
2
answers
278
views
Why are instrumental chart toppers not as common as in the early days of the pop charts?
If you look at:
UK instrumental number ones : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_instrumental_number_ones_on_the_UK_Singles_Chart
US instrumental number ones :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
user16
13
votes
2
answers
609
views
Style of dress for a symphony orchestra
I'm an avid symphony patron, and I also watch different symphony orchestra recordings online. I've noticed that sometimes an orchestra will be in white tie, sometimes in black tie and other times ...
13
votes
1
answer
13k
views
"I wanna know have you ever seen the rain?" What did the singer really want to express?
I am wondering what John Fogerty wanted to express in this line in Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?":
I wanna know have you ever seen the rain?
Maybe the author liked ...
- 155
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What defines Bebop as a jazz style/subgenre?
What separates Bebop from other jazz styles and subgenres? Which new things did it brought when compared to other jazz of the era? Which are the defining elements of Bebop jazz?
- 4,312
13
votes
1
answer
222
views
How is song qualified for being categorized as Sufi?
In Indian/Pakistani music, there is a genre called Sufi. What is it about Sufi music that defines it as such?
- 521
13
votes
5
answers
63k
views
Apps for identifying classical music
I was pretty disillusioned with SoundHound when I attempted to identify a piece of classical music that I recognized but could not remember the name to and the app told me that the song could not be ...
- 1,014
13
votes
0
answers
204
views
Highest Billboard 200 rank for a Creative Commons licensed album?
Which album, released (also) under a Creative Commons license, had the highest Billboard 200 chart success?
(The album must have been licensed under a CC license before it entered the charts, so it ...
- 3,448
12
votes
8
answers
28k
views
Why does Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album cover show someone spontaneously combusting?
Why does Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" album cover show someone spontaneously combusting?
- 353
12
votes
6
answers
4k
views
What was the first "supergroup"?
Wikipedia defines "supergroup" as --
A music group whose members are already successful as solo artists or
as part of other groups or well known in other musical professions.
It also states that ...
- 1,014
12
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to understand free jazz?
Do you need to know music theory in order to fully appreciate Free Jazz? What is it that makes free jazz harder to understand than, say Bebop?
- 1,893
12
votes
4
answers
345
views
Is it OK to distinguish "songs" from "tracks" based on presence of vocals?
I often correct my friends from calling tracks "songs" because it's a music piece that does not come with vocals or audible lyrics (for example, dubstep tracks with messed up audio). Is this correct? ...
- 313
12
votes
5
answers
31k
views
Du Hast - You Have or You Hate?
Rammstein's song "Du Hast" apparently means "You Hate", but "You Hate" in German is "Du Hasst". However, "Du Hast" means "You Have" in German. Is "Du Hast" supposed to mean "You Have" or "You Hate"? ...
- 353
12
votes
3
answers
36k
views
Why does "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring start with a sample from "Rock of Ages" by Def Leppard?
As established in this question, "Rock of Ages" by Def Leppard starts with
"Gunter, Glieben, Glauchen, Globen"
because of an in-joke by the band and their producer, Mutt Lange.
...
- 571
12
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Why do artists not release backing tracks, instrumentals, and acapellas in their singles?
Currently, artists just release singles with 1 track - the song.
For example, Ariana Grande's single "Focus" has 1 track:
Focus
But wouldn't it be better to release additional tracks as well, like ...
- 141
12
votes
3
answers
5k
views
What is the significance of "the promised land" mentioned in many Bruce Springsteen songs?
Apart from the song The Promised Land, there are quite a few other songs by Bruce Springsteen whose lyrics make reference to a "promised land".
Some examples:
"For all the blown-off strangers ...
- 329
12
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Why do jazz guitar players rarely bend strings?
In pop, rock and blues guitar players very often use bending technique in their riff and solos.
Much more rarely it happens in jazz music, where guitar players prefer other techniques (e.g. hammer-on....
- 153