Think you know everything there is to know about music? Prepare to be blown away as we take a look at some of the most interesting, unbelievable facts about musicians and the music industry!
1. Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687);
was the first documented conductor. Before him, most musical groups followed their first violinist or their keyboard player. He was the first musician ever to use a baton. However, his “baton” was a heavy staff about 6 feet long, which he pounded on the ground in time to the music. Unfortunately, the staff prove to be his undoing. He missed the floor and crushed his toe. That gave him a fatal case of gangrene.
2. Albert Magnoli;
While shooting the movie purple rain the director Albert Magnoli needed one more song to provide the soundtrack for a mid-movie montage that touched on the themes of the film, so he asked Prince if he could write an additional song as all the other songs for the film had already been written. The next morning Prince came to the director with 2 fully written and produced songs for him to chose from. One of those songs was when doves cry.
3. David Bowie and John Deacon;
Almost got into a fist fight while recording 'Under Pressure.' They broke for lunch and came back drunk as hell and/or high on coke, and John Deacon couldn't remember the baseline they had written. Bowie corrected him because he did remember it, John objected that he knew better as a bassist, and they nearly came to blows and had to be separated by Roger Taylor.
4. Richard Wagner;
There's substantial evidence that composer Richard Wagner was the lover of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, and part of the reason he built Neuschwanstein Castle was due to Wagner breaking his heart.
5. Aerosmith;
Were working on a song, but Steven Tyler was having trouble coming up with lyrics. The decided to take a break, see a movie and clear their mind. They saw “Young Frankenstein”. One line really stuck with Tyler and he came back and wrote the lyrics to Walk This Way.
6. Rachmaninov;
Had no time to practice concerto no. 3 (affectionately the “Rach 3”) extensively prior to its debut in NYC circa 1909. He practiced on a silent keyboard while en route across the Atlantic via ocean liner. It’s notorious as one of the most technically challenging pieces ever written for the piano.
7. When they asked for Queen's approval of the song bohemian rhapsody;
Queen theirselves had no idea who or what Wayne's World was. Freddie himself saw the scene prior to passing away, found it hilarious and said it reminded him of what Queen theirselves would do from time to time as well. Also, Dana Carvey didn't even know the lyrics for bohemian rhapsody at the time as well
Weird Music History
Folktronica
As far as genres go, folktronica does sound pretty corny. However, it’s also a pretty accurate description. Bibio (not Bibi) is a UK artist who often blends electronic and folk or acoustic music, his music is a perfect example of folktronica music.
Bibio’s influence on Boards of Canada manifested in the Scottish duo’s 2005 album, The Campfire Headphase. This album is one of the best blends of folk with electronic music.
Other notable artists include Alt-J, Animal Collective, The Books, and Caribou. Of course, these artists additionally play other genres too.
Electronic music has existed in popular music since the late 1960s, so it’s highly possible that it merged with folk on many other releases over the last few decades.
VIDEO
AUDIO