Newest Questions
2,285 questions
9
votes
3
answers
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Why does the actor commit suicide at the end of the video to "You're Beautiful"?
In James Blunt’s song, You're Beautiful (album: Back to Bedlam) the actor commits suicide at the end. I never understood why did he does so.
What is the meaning behind it?
- 195
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How did music propagate before recordings?
In today's world one can listen to any piece of music from anywhere pretty much at the click of a button and we have radio and other methods to hear music we are not familiar with. However this was ...
Dom♦
- 4,219
30
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Should I store my vinyl records side by side or in piles?
What is the safest way to store my vinyl records:
Side by side or in piles?
I don’t care about ease of access or collection organization, only about preservation.
- 3,448
10
votes
6
answers
360
views
Before the days of downloads, were 'single' releases ever really only one song?
Every single I have on vinyl, cassette, and CD has at least two tracks, even if they are alternate mixes of the same song.
With downloads you can obviously buy individual songs these days, but ...
user16
9
votes
1
answer
186
views
Most studio album releases before finally scoring a number one album?
I noticed that Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers finally hit number one last year in the US with Hypnotic Eye, their 13th studio album. Is this a record? If not, which artist has released the most ...
user16
9
votes
1
answer
6k
views
How to check if a CD is copy protected?
When having a music CD in my hands, how can I check if it has a copy protection? (i.e., I’m in a store and can’t consult online sources)
In my country it’s not allowed to circumvent a copy protection ...
- 3,448
9
votes
1
answer
963
views
Code on Japanese CDs
All my music CDs from Japan have a code printed on the back (and sometimes also on the disk or the booklet). It seems to start with capitalized letters and to end with numerals.
For example, my ...
- 3,448
12
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Records with longest Billboard chart success
According to Wikipedia, The Dark Side of the Moon “topped the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes chart for one week and remained in the charts for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988” – that’s 15 years on the ...
- 1,095
12
votes
1
answer
190
views
What song has been sampled the most (ended up in the most other released tracks)?
Being a drum and bass and hip hop fan, I'm quite familiar with the Amen Break
and Funky Drummer.
Is one of these the most sampled sound of all time (in terms of then being incorporated into other ...
user16
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
11
votes
1
answer
677
views
Which song was dubbed into the most languages?
I have seen that Let It Go from Frozen was dubbed into 42 different languages.
Is there any song that holds the record for being dubbed into the most number of languages?
Please only include ...
- 929
9
votes
0
answers
315
views
Were "Mrs." and "Mustard/Parking ticket song" from Buffy ever released?
The Buffy episode Once More, with Feeling is performed as as musical, where the actors sing several songs. All of these songs were released on a soundtrack of the same name.
In a later episode (...
- 3,448
6
votes
1
answer
386
views
'Short edit' songs on best of compilations
I recently bought The Best of the Jam and was slightly dissapointed that 'Down in the tube station at midnight' fades out before the end proper.
Also, every (non original album) version of 'Barbara ...
- 3,234
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
9
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Does a genre describe an artist, a song, or both?
I've seen the term genre being used to refer to a specific song and other times to refer to an artist or their album. While typical there isn't much difference, many artists write songs of different ...
Dom♦
- 4,219
25
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What song has had the most versions that have made the singles charts?
I can think of a bunch of songs that have spawned many covers... sometimes too many. But which song has had the most covers / versions (including the original, if it charted) that have themselves hit ...
user16
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).
10
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Why did Paz leave A Perfect Circle
Paz Lenchantin was the original bassist for A Perfect Circle on the Mer De Noms album. However, she was replaced by Jeordie White for Thirteenth Step. What led to this change in lineup? Did Paz leave ...
- 1,237
16
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What's the shortest number one chart hit?
In any country, what's the shortest number one chart hit? (Either duration of the 'A-side' / main track, or total duration)
user16
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
17
votes
2
answers
797
views
In which countries does the music business contribute most to the economy?
Some countries are known for coffee, some for oil, some for consumer electronics...
Which countries' music industries contribute the most to their economies, as a percentage of their GDP? (Let's say ...
user16
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The "right here, right now" sample in "Right Here, Right Now"
In Fatboy Slim’s Right Here, Right Now, the lyrics contain repetitions of "right here, right now", spoken by a woman.
This sample seems to be taken from the movie Strange Days, where Angela Bassett ...
- 3,448
16
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Is Buckethead's trademark bucket hat an actual KFC bucket?
Buckethead is known for wearing a white mask and a KFC bucket on his head. Is that an actual KFC bucket, or is it a "replica" made from a more robust material?
- 1,206
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is Axl Rose the only original member left in Guns N' Roses?
It's pretty common to see a band break up or have a member or two leave, but in Guns N' Roses the only original member left is Axl Rose and most of the other band members still play together in bands ...
Dom♦
- 4,219
16
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Why does Buckethead's bucket say 'Funeral'?
Buckethead is known for wearing a KFC bucket as a hat:
Recently he stuck a 'Funeral' sticker to the bucket:
Has he ever given any explanation to the word 'Funeral' ? Why does he have it on his ...
- 3,005
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How did Led Zeppelin get their name?
How did Led Zeppelin get their name? Was it something they just came up with together, or was it based off of something else?
Dom♦
- 4,219
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
27
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Who started the encore tradition at concerts?
Was it one band, or is this more tied to a particular genre or era of time?
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16
votes
1
answer
23k
views
What do these lyrics mean in "The Nurse Who Loved Me"?
It's pretty obvious that the song The Nurse Who Loved Me by A Perfect Circle is about an institutionalized person who is convinced that his nurse is in love with him. However, there's always been one ...
- 1,237
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there any difference in terms of sound quality between different vinyl colours?
There are numbers of limited and special editions of vinyl LPs nowadays, and a lot of them differ from standard edition by vinyl colour: transparent, white, red, splattered…
Is there any difference in ...
- 804
36
votes
6
answers
62k
views
What is considered to be the first music video?
Just as the title says. Who was the artist, what is the track called? Bonus points if the video is available online!
I would say that silent film has the focus on the movie enhanced by the music. ...
- 2,267
52
votes
6
answers
8k
views
What was classical music called back in the days?
What was classical music called back in the days? (Pre 1900s?) Was it divided in to genres as we do today, or was it simlpy categorized by the type of instruments used, or just "concert music".
In ...
- 2,267
19
votes
3
answers
16k
views
What happened to the heads from the front cover of The Division Bell?
Steel head sculptures were used for the CD release of the album The Division Bell, and stone sculptures appeared on the cassette artwork.
Can you still see them anywhere?
9
votes
2
answers
163
views
Web resource with different genres as a graph (and samples)
I remember a page (flash based?, it was like 7 years ago i visited it) where the genres were displayed as a graph, with edges between related genres, and I think you could listen to samples on each of ...
- 2,267
17
votes
2
answers
24k
views
Why are bonus tracks so common in Japanese versions?
Just as the title says: Why are bonus tracks so common in japanese versions of a release?
- 2,267
31
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Hidden tracks on other media than CD?
I know about hidden tracks on CD's, but are there examples of hidden tracks on cassette/ vinyl?
- 2,267
5
votes
1
answer
220
views
How can I alleviate headphone discomfort?
I have always hated wearing headphones. They make me uncomfortable and sweaty and usually give me a headache. Earbuds are a lot better, although I still don’t like to wear them. However, there are ...
- 1,095
5
votes
2
answers
792
views
How is a winner decided from the nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song?
Over the weekend I watched the Oscars and I was wondering what process is followed to determine the winner from the nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
I can see from Wikipedia ...
- 929
11
votes
1
answer
23k
views
Do you need original artist's consent to cover their songs live?
This is a general question. I will use an example only to make it clearer.
Let's consider this Anathema's concert - they played covers of Oh! Darling and Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.
Did they ...
23
votes
4
answers
8k
views
What gives vinyl records their characteristic sound?
Many people swear by vinyls and claim that they sound warmer or just better in general. Why do vinyls sound different - is it the way that music is recorded onto them, or is it something in the ...
- 981
35
votes
6
answers
56k
views
What does 'The Dark Side of the Moon' mean?
One of the most famous albums of Pink Floyd is 'The Dark Side of the Moon'.
Besides the title of the album, this phrase also appears in the lyrics of one of the last songs of the album, 'Brain Damage'
...
- 3,005
16
votes
1
answer
648
views
Pictures from the recording of Pink Floyd's On the run
I remember a radio interview with some members of Pink Floyd concerning the making of The Dark Side of the Moon and in particular some comments around the track On the Run.
Anyone who knows this song ...
- 3,234
15
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Is every piece of music a "track"?
Coming from the question about distinguishing songs from tracks based on presence of vocals, I wonder if track is a term that can be used for every kind of musical work?
In the comments, Noach mi ...
- 3,448
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
15
votes
1
answer
5k
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What classifies a band as "indie"?
Is "indie" a moniker that indicates their record company is of a certain size, or not part of a larger music conglomerate, or is it a style or subgenre? Googling this seems to come up with multiple ...
- 981
24
votes
4
answers
39k
views
Where did the "rock on" hand sign come from?
A lot of rock musicians use a hand sign to symbolize the concept of "rock on" typically during a performance. The hand symbol is shown below.
Where did this hand symbol come from and who created it?
Dom♦
- 4,219
12
votes
3
answers
5k
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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 ...
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29
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are the historical roots of auto-tune?
Auto-Tune is a technique to hide bad vocals in a track. Good or bad, it seems that it's here to stay in popular music. Many people credit Cher's Believe as the first use of auto-tune in popular music. ...
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11
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4
answers
6k
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Who is the artist of a song?
When a song has performer A, composer B, and lyricist C, who is the artist of this song?
Is this decided by rules not based on the creative process, e.g., by producers? Or is the artist the party ...
- 3,448
11
votes
4
answers
972
views
Studies about stereotypes' accuracy of different genre listeners
We all have in mind when we think of a typical metal listener a person wearing black clothes, long haired, with big black boots and etc. For almost each genre, there exist stereotypes of the typical ...
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