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Alison & Robert Wedding
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7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex – Rhode Island Wedding DJ
7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die
For the record, I do not necessarily agree with the author of this article but thought it was interesting and makes for fun conversation. Some Wedding Traditions do seem a bit outdated for many young couples but, have value for others. One of the benefits of being a Wedding DJ these days is that Brides and Grooms can create whatever they want for your Wedding together with your Wedding DJ. You can include, recreate or leave out whatever Wedding Traditions you want.
By Cosmopolitan.com | Love + Sex – Thu, May 9, 2013 5:24 PM EDT
7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die
A recent poll showed that more women are changing their last names after getting hitched, and I plan on following the crowd after I get married next summer. But there are a ton of other outdated traditions that my man and I need to figure out about before the day comes. IMHO, these are totally old-fashioned…
1. The bouquet toss
I used to think the bouquet was the most exciting part of a wedding. When I was 12. As I got older, and the crowd of women around me hungering for the bride’s flowers thinned out to a handful of tweens and me, I realized how awful this tradition really is. Plus, I’m selfish and want to keep my bouquet to myself, m’kay?
2. The garter retrieval
There’s nothing less sexy than your guy burrowing his head under your wedding dress while your dad-and his-watch. Not to mention your mother, your mother-in-law, your friends…need I go on? My groom can put his head between my legs all he wants on our honeymoon, but not in front of our nearest and dearest.
3. Bridesmaids
Why, in 2013, are we still down with the idea of forcing our friends to buy ugly coordinated dresses and stand up in uncomfortable high heels next to us while we get married? There is literally no reason to do this, now or ever. Sure, I suppose some people like the cuteness of taking pictures with their friends in matching outfits, but I did enough of that at the mall’s glamour shot booth in middle school. Not trying to hate on gals who dream of a big bridal party, but I honestly don’t see the point.
4. The white dress
Full disclosure: I bought a white dress for my wedding. But I can’t say I wasn’t tempted by the blush, pink, and red frothy creations that have been floating down runways and taking up valuable real estate in bridal salons. While I chose to wear white-mainly because it fits my personal vision of how I’d like to look as a bride-I don’t like the kinda sexist, virgin-y undertones of the tradition.
5. The father give-away
This is another thing I’m probably going to do, even though I’m not totally down with the origin of the tradition-as in, the suggestion that a woman is an object given to her husband from her dear old dad. Still, I don’t want to walk down the aisle alone (I’ll trip and fall on my face, knowing my lack of composure in these types of high-pressure situations), my mom has politely declined the job for fear of the same aforementioned clumsiness, and I have two amazing fathers-my dad-dad and my step-dad-who would happily escort me. And, more importantly, keep me upright.
6. The not-seeing-each-other-beforehand thing
Honestly, I love this tradition of not seeing my groom until I’m walking down the aisle. It’s kinda romantic, right? But I don’t like the idea of following a superstition that, if we happen to catch a glance of each other, bad luck will befall our marriage. Plus, I’m going to be nervous as sh*t pre-ceremony and I want to be able to hug my fiancé and hear him tell me how pretty I look before we swap vows.
7. The cake smashing
It’s become custom for couples to get into a mini food fight after cutting their ungodly expensive wedding cake. I get it. It’s funny to see people in fancy clothing with food on their faces. Maybe I’m a bit uptight, but I’d prefer not to have chocolate ganache smeared up my nose (or on my dress) on my wedding day. Considering that most couples don’t get a chance to eat at their receptions, I’d much rather put that cake where it belongs-in my belly. And then get myself back out on that dance floor.
via 7 Wedding Traditions that Need to Die | Love + Sex – Yahoo! Shine.
What do you think about this article? Which Wedding Traditions do you agree or disagree with the author that should be removed from Modern Weddings?
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
973.908.8147
Brent & Joanna Wedding
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Brent and Joanna Fun Wedding photos from Excellent Wedding with great couple, family and friends at Nauvoo Grill Club Fair Haven NJ with Rhode Island Wedding DJ DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ 973.908.8147
The Things We Would Blog: Wedding DJ Wednesday: What’s Your Song?
This is a great, fun blog post about Wedding DJ First Dance Songs. It is helpful when an article like this is written by professional Photographers, not a Wedding DJ. It offers another perspective and more credibility, since they are not trying to promote their Wedding DJ, they are not Wedding DJs. Let me know what you think about Jenny and Teresa’s advice and JKOE Photography portfolio. I like their work and attitude and want to promote them, even though I have never met or worked a Wedding with them. You can feel how much fun and professional they are, it is evident in what and how they go about their business.
Note: The images on this page are not from JKOE Photography, they are from DJ Mystical Michael. They do much better work and do not want to give the impression that they are amateurs like me:)
Wedding Wednesday: What’s Your Song?
Posted by Jenny
Wedding DJ First Dance Songs
Some couples have a song long before they get married, the first song they danced to years ago or something from a special moment in their relationship. Others pick something for their first dance and it becomes their special song.
Jason and I danced to “Blue Eyes” by The Cary Brothers and although it was a song we both loved, it didn’t’ really have any major significance before our wedding. Teresa and Patrick chose Iron and Wine’s “Love and Some Verses”.
“At Last” by Etta James is probably the first dance song I hear the most, a great choice for sure, beautiful and classic. Ray Lamontagne “You Are the Best Thing” is also super popular and for good reason, the title says it all!
Wedding DJ First Dance Song Recommendations
If you’re still in the market for a song, here are some of my favorites that you might not have considered:
Bright Eyes “First Day of My Life”
Eva Cassidy “Songbird”
The Beatles “In My Life”
Dave Barnes “On a Night Like This”
The Civil Wars “Dance Me to the End of Love”
Van Morrison “Crazy Love”
Ingrid Michaelson “You and I”
Frank Sinatra “The Way You Look Tonight”
Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes”
Iron and Wine “Such Great Heights”
Ben Harper “Forever”
Billie Holiday “The Thought of You”
Ben Folds “The Luckiest”
The Moldy Peaches “Anyone Else But You”
The Lumineers “Ho Hey”
The Arctic Monkeys “Baby I’m Yours”
A couple of first dance tips…
If your song is super long, let the DJ know to fade it out at a certain point or have the band only do the first couple of verses. 6 minutes of having people watch you dance will seem like forever.
Even if you aren’t planning a whole choreographed routine, taking dancing lessons can be a fun thing for couples to do together and a way to make you just a tad more graceful.
Whether you take lessons or not, you should definitely do a little practice. Try out dancing to your song at least once. Make sure you’re both on the same page with how you’re planning on dancing.
While you’re at a dress fitting, take a spin around the dress shop too. Make sure you’re comfortable moving around in your dress, that you’re not tripping over the hem and everything is staying in place!
If you have a special song that isn’t ideal for slow dancing to, why not incorporate it in somewhere else? One of my favorite weddings last summer had a live band that did an amazing rendition of Edward and the Magnetic Zero’s “Home” as part of the processional. Another couple walked back down the aisle to The Star Wars Theme, which was super cute because only some people caught the reference, the rest just thought it was a classy instrumental piece!
What’s your song? I’d love to hear!
via The Things We Would Blog: Wedding Wednesday: What’s Your Song?
What songs do you like and think will make great Wedding DJ First Dance Songs?
I have used Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros “Home” and it always works out fabulously!
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
973.908.8147
Perfect Weddings Budget with Rhode Island Wedding DJ
These Wedding Statistics may shock you but they are true & from well known reliable sources about Perfect Weddings Budget! Read them all here and learn from other Brides & Grooms mistakes! It will make you rethink Wedding Reception Priorities!
Shocking Wedding Statistics: Perfect Weddings Budget!
Perfect Weddings Budget After Your Wedding Reception
72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is their wedding dress, attire, followed by the reception site and caterer – reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities!
Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!
When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment (Band / DJ).
65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding reception, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey!
*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine . Sources include: Simmons; USA Today, National Bridal Service, The Knot, Brides Magazine.
Wedding Disc Jockey rates are vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability & personality. Not all Wedding DJ’s are Created Equally, as many of you know – we have all seen the “Bad” Cheesy Wedding DJ!
Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to $3,500.00 with an US average of $1,200.00 for a 4-5 hour reception.
The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As the surveys above conclude that 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment & made it their #1 priority in hindsight!
A Professional Wedding Entertainment company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for “4 hours”.
Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up & tear-down, education, phone calls, travel & other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special once in a lifetime day.
Modern Bride Magazine: Entertainment is 5% of your Wedding Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember your entertainment, more than anything else!
The numbers don’t lie, Perfect Weddings Budget…
The cost of entertainment at your reception is only a small portion of your overall budget. As Modern Bride Magazine states above, only 5% of your overall budget will be spent on entertainment. However, over 50% of your guests will remember the performance of your disc jockey more than anything else at your reception. Think back to the last affair you attended, what did you eat? What Color was the Napkin? What was the guest of honor wearing? The Chart Below shows you what was spent compared to how well it will be remembered….
Percentage of Money Spent Percentage of What Guests Remember Most
When you’re spending thousands of dollars on a once-in-a-lifetime event, doesn’t it make sense to reserve the finest entertainment, especially since it is only 5% of your over all budget??
Yes, your Gown & your Food are very important. Still, the selection of Music & Entertainment can determine the success of your event!
A qualified Wedding MC can guarantee your guests will stay after dinner to party; the Photographer & Videographer will have something to shoot & your guests will stay long enough to really remember your gown!
Perfect Weddings Budget – Rhode Island Wedding DJ
I think they raise some interesting and revealing points. What do you think about this information? Is it correct or skewed? Does it match your experiences at Weddings?
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
973.908.8147
10 Dirty Secrets of a Wedding DJ with Rhode Island Wedding DJ
I have been trying to be consistent in offering Brides and Grooms quality information on hiring their Wedding DJ to make more intelligent decisions. This has lead to me to constantly scan the Internet for Wedding DJ Companies around the world to find different opinions on what makes a good Wedding DJ and how to distinguish one from the other. it is not easy and I hope these articles help. This one comes from a Wedding DJ and Event Company in the Buffalo area of Upstate New York named Phenomenon Events and Productions. I do not support the ideas of this particular article completely but still think it is worth reading and discussing.
10 Dirty Secrets You Should Know About The Wedding DJ Before You Hire Them!
1. Beware of the DJ Company who tries to beat everyone’s price or offers you a dirt cheap price. Why? In the industry he is referred to as a bottom feeder. He can not book weddings based on his performance so therefore he has to offer you the cheapest price in order to lure you in. Usually, you will get sub-standard services. Remember the old cliché; you get what you pay for. Why trust your wedding or event to someone who is a bottom feeder?
Price is an important component in making quality decisions for hiring your Wedding DJ, but not the only important factor.
2. Watch out for hidden fees. Ask about fees for lighting, wireless microphones, extra music, planning sessions etc. You may be lured in by a low price and then of course you want all those extras. Next thing you know, you are paying a lot more than you initially thought. Even more importantly, a lot of companies charge travel fees or even charge you for the time period where the DJ is setting up. Be sure that everything is clear before you sign anything.
Hidden fees can really add-up. Ask your Wedding DJ specifically about each item you want for your Wedding.
3. Beware of hiring a friend of the family or a DJ who does not give you a contract. Quite often they do not reserve your date or something else comes up and you are left searching for a DJ or Sound System a week before your wedding. Not to mention, you probably won’t get the professionalism and experience your night deserves. As you may trust your friend/family, you do not want to take any chances on your special day.
An excellent professional Wedding DJ makes all the difference at your Wedding, please take your time and choose carefully. You do not get a redo…
4. Does your Wedding DJ just talk about his equipment? What is this equipment going to do for you in terms of making your reception or event, a dream come true? Most people will not notice the clarity of the speakers so if he tells you that his equipment is better because he has “X speakers”, more than likely you would not notice the difference from another type of professional speakers. The main thing is that most professional Wedding DJ equipment is great and it really depends on the Wedding DJ to get your event going.
Good quality equipment is essential, high quality Wedding DJ skills and experience are far more critical to creating a spectacular Wedding for you.
5. Avoid the Wedding DJ that talks about himself too much and has poor hygiene. Why? If he talks about himself too much then he will try to be the main focus at your reception. The main focus at a reception should be the Bride and Groom or Guest(s) of Honor. Most unprofessional DJ’s do not even own suits. Can you imagine a gorgeous reception that you have invested thousands of dollars and it is ruined by an unprofessional, poorly dressed MC and DJ. If he does not care about his appearance then more than likely, he will not care about the quality of your reception or can come unprepared. Sloppy!
You are the main attraction and all the spotlight should shine on you. With that said, who wants a Wedding DJ that looks awful in all your Wedding Photos?
6. Can you imagine a Master of Ceremonies that does not have a good command of the English Language? You have sophisticated guests and your Wedding DJ is using slang or continues to be embarrassing or inappropriate on the microphone. Not only will that affect you, but the Wedding DJ and entertainment is what sets the mood of the night. Do you want your wedding to be remembered as the one with the embarrassing DJ? You have the right to be picky about whom you choose as your Wedding DJ.
A good professional, experienced Wedding MC adds life, energy and elegance, not to mention fun to your Wedding. Listen to how he or she speaks from the minute you first speak with them. Do they meet your standards for an enjoyable and exciting voice?
7. DJs who say they use iPods or iTunes to DJ your wedding reception may not be the smartest choice. As nice as an iPod may be, it’s not meant for professional use. Did you know consumer reports, reported that 3 out of every 4 iPods will randomly lock up or freeze! This would be horrible especially during the first dance!
There is no place for an iPod at Wedding, except as an emergency back-up. Hire a Wedding DJ that has top level DJ software, CDs or vinyl for a smooth, quality sound.
8. What about the Disc Jockey that stands behind the DJ booth and acts bored. He does nothing to get the guests motivated. He could be playing the best music but unless he reflects motivation and action, it will affect your guests. You want to choose a Wedding DJ with personality and energy, that will make all the guests enjoy and remember your wedding.
A fun, excited Wedding DJ shares that excitement and energy throughout your Wedding. If they are not interested, why would your friends and family be?
9. Most Bottom Feeders are not licensed nor are they insured. Most banquet facilities require the DJ Company to have liability insurance. You may hire him and then find out weeks before your reception that he does not have liability insurance and then you are not allowed to use him. This leaves you searching for a Wedding DJ within days of your reception.
You never know what can happen at any event. Please hire a Wedding DJ with insurance.
10. Here is the most important item: Does your facility require you to use the house DJ. With a House DJ most often you do not know who you will be doing your wedding or will he play what you like. You may not know what DJ you will get from that company until a few days before your wedding. It would be in your best interest if the banquet hall would let YOU decide who will be in charge of creating your Dream Day! You should be able to make your own choices and choose quality entertainment. Some companies install speakers in a banquet facility so the hall will only refer one sound company. Ask to see those DJs in person and hear the quality of that sound system before you book!
I invite you to be smart and not let someone else choose your Wedding DJ for you. Your Wedding is too important.
via 10 Dirty Secrets of a Wedding DJ – Phenomenon Events & Productions.
As with most of these articles, they left out the two factors I consider greatest, guarantee and diversity. Does the Wedding DJ offer a guarantee that holds them accountable for their performance at your Wedding? Is your Wedding DJ experienced in performing with diverse audiences like the friends and family that will be guests at your Wedding? Do they excel with all ages, cultures, social groups and styles of music? Is your Wedding DJ a Multicultural Wedding DJ?
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!
15 Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ Before You Hire Them from RI Wedding DJ
Earlier today on Pinterest, I saw this great info gram from Premier Event DJs in Georgia. I see many Wedding DJ infograms and some are better than others. I think this one has merit and wanted to share it with you. I thought it might be helpful to you if I went ahead and answered therm as if you were asking me the questions yourself.
15 Questions To Ask Your Wedding DJ Before You Hire Them
1) I started as a DJ in 1980, believe it or not! I was not professionally performing as a Wedding DJ all of the years since, but have been a full-time Wedding DJ the last three.
2) About 80% of my DJ business is dedicated to being a Wedding DJ. The other 20% is performing as a Party DJ for Sweet Sixteens, Graduations, Birthdays and Reunions.
3) Yes I have many references from past clients who have loved my Wedding DJ and Party DJ performances! Just ask and I will connect them to you or you can view some reviews right now. I have some videos but they are mostly from Sweet Sixteens. You are welcome to view them as well.
4) I am fortunate that when I started as a Wedding DJ, we all were ‘traditional’ DJs who seamlessly beat-match. Today I am more known for my skills and experience as a professional Wedding MC in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
5) Of course, you can choose your music, it is your Wedding! It baffles me that there are Wedding DJs that do not let you choose your music for your Wedding.
6) I will be performing at your Wedding or Party. If this is not the case, I will inform you of this during our first conversation, if I am not available but one of my excellent Wedding DJs are and would be a good match for your Wedding. You will know who is your Wedding DJ and it will be written into our DJ contract.
7) I typically have a second DJ with me about 75% of the Weddings we do. You decide in advance if you want to hire a one-person or two-person team of Wedding DJ and MC. I generally will recommend a two-person team for most Weddings but sometimes it is more than necessary, still your choice.
8) Yes, every good Wedding DJ should have several forms of back-up DJ equipment including emergency DJ equipment in case of power failures, you never know what can happen…
9) I use The BOSE L1 System with B1 Bass. It is amazing! My music is stored on my MacBook with several forms of back-ups for technical problems. My current DJ library of music is over 40,000 songs!
10) I would be honored to MC your Wedding! It is fun, exciting and helps me build connections to you and your friends and family. Of course, if you have a friend or family member you would prefer to MC, that is great too.
11) Yes my equipment is used by professional musicians and DJs who know the best. I only use BOSE for my audio sound and Shure wireless mics. By the way, The BOSE L1 System even looks good in your Wedding photos as a bonus.
12) My light show is simple and fun. I do not typically bring a real fancy light show because I want the focus to be on you, it’s your Wedding.
13) I generally do not take breaks. Some venues ask for the Wedding DJ to eat in another room. When this is their policy, I will put on a preprogrammed playlist of your music during dinner, but stay close enough to hear if there are any problems.
14) Overtime is paid in cash if you request this during your Wedding at $150/hour.
15) I have a Guarantee, all professional Wedding DJs should have some guarantee to give you complete peace of mind that I am as committed to your Wedding being amazing as you. Well maybe not as much as you, but you get the point. Do not pay me the balance if you are not completely satisfied with my performance as your Wedding DJ!
There, I answered all 15 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Before You Hire Them. Now you don’t have to ask:) If you have any more questions or want greater detail, just ask.
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!
Rhode Island Wedding DJ Without Competition
I have been noticing that Rhode Island Wedding DJs are competing more and more for the Rhode Island Wedding DJ market. Competition is good for any industry, it creates fair price points and promotes excellence. These are the positives to industry professional competition. Of course, there are negatives to Rhode Island Wedding DJ competition as well. They are the area of concern for me.
It seems that some of the newer, younger Rhode Island Wedding DJs think that trying to create negative public impressions of the competition is helpful. These inexperienced to the professional Wedding industry do not understand that what you said or wrote bad about Rhode Island Wedding DJs on Craigslist, Twitter, Facebook or You Tube, also reflects on them as well. This is not to mention that public insults and gossip are bad for the Soul of the individual. Let’s be honest here, we all know that many of you have experienced some really awful Wedding DJs ruin an otherwise great Wedding. This is unfortunate for the Bride and Groom, since we do not get a redo the following week to make it right.
Rhode Island Wedding DJ Preparation
I was just on the phone with an interesting Bride getting married this summer. We were laughing at the fact that the Wedding DJ that is not prepared for your Wedding may ruin it and not have the opportunity to fix their lack of preparation or attention to detail. Weddings take a very focused and concentrated effort by the Wedding DJ before we arrive. We need to make sure all equipment is functioning optimally and this is true for our back-up gear as well. It is not enough to just download all the music that the Bride and Groom have put on their Must-Play and Would-Like Played lists, we need to make sure each file works with our DJ software before we leave home. Early on I learned the hard way that every now and then, about 1:500 ratio, we have a bad music file. This happened two summers ago for a Bride and Groom’s First Dance! I felt awful and quickly switched to another song but there was no way to fix it live. They were so disappointed and it has left a mark on me to be ridiculously diligent when preparing for each Wedding. I recognize that it borders on obsessive, but I think it is worth it to never experience that again, especially for the Bride and Groom!
I think it is important that all Rhode Island Wedding DJs show respect and support for each other. I am fortunate that I have never experienced any of the bad blood that seems to be cultivated these days between the couple thousand of us in the area who provide Music, MC and DJ services in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for local Brides and Grooms. It is hard enough trying to find an excellent Wedding DJ without having all the negativity added to the equation.
I invite all professional Rhode Island Wedding DJs to respect their competition and more importantly, provide excellent DJ & MC services to all the Brides and Grooms we are hired to create amazing Weddings for. You deserve nothing but excellence at your Wedding and should be able to count on your Wedding DJ to give you at least that, if not more.
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
973.908.8147
Great Music of Boston
After the horrific bombings yesterday, I thought it would be helpful to create a piece based on the great bands and great music from the city of Boston. Boston has a long history of producing great bands and great music, These are the most popular bands and great music from Boston.
Great Music of Boston
Aerosmith The stats alone would be enough to secure this spot for the Bad Boys of Boston – more than 100 million albums sold, worldwide stadium tours, enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a raft of awards from Grammys to MTV moon men. But numbers and trophies can’t possibly tell the whole glorious, raunchy, tumultuous, debauched, and defiantly rocking story of this quintet that synthesized the sounds of its ancestors – gritty blues, stomping Brit rock, classic pop – into a hard rock sound at once ferocious and irresistible. The band has flirted with implosion time and again, but 40 years, three acts, nine lives, and countless imitators later, fantastical frontman Steven Tyler, guitar ace Joe Perry, and the locomotive trio of guitarist Brad Whitford, bass player Tom Hamilton, and drummer Joey Kramer are still laying down attitude and fire with great music.
The Cars Every single song on the Cars’ debut album is still in rotation on rock radio – no small feat considering the competition for nostalgia programming. The Cars were utterly canny, expert at cherry-picking the most iconic and broadly appealing elements of new wave, hard rock, and Top 40 and fusing the parts into savvy anthems that were somehow as exhilarating as they were slick. Rigorously affectless, the band’s off-kilter, design-driven aesthetic made them MTV staples in the thrilling early days of the music video era. The result? For a few shining years, the Cars achieved that most attractive and elusive state of pop great music grace: a hit machine with credibility.
Boston From the fertile mind of an MIT whiz kid (Tom Scholtz) and an angelic vocalist from Danvers (the late Brad Delp) came an arena-rock band that broke ground in melding state of the art with state of the heart on its blockbuster debut. More than “just another band,” Boston, which included guitarist Barry Goudreau, drummer Sib Hashian, and bassist Fran Sheehan, expanded the vision of what rock music could look and sound like.
Pixies The Pixies released only four albums in three years and never cracked the mainstream, but their artful embrace of musical extremes and radical subversion of conventions created a blueprint for the alternative rock explosion that would follow: whiplash dynamics, a ferocious collision of noise and melody, and cryptic lyricism that flirted with the primal and the surreal. How influential were they? Kurt Cobain was famously fond of saying that Nirvana was trying to rip off the Pixies, and interest in and regard for the band has only grown over the years. Their recent reunion shows, in venues larger and swanker than any they played the first time around, are filled with kids who genuflect at the altar of real musical heroes and great music.
James Taylor The Beatles saw so much potential in a barely-out-of-his-teens James Taylor that he was the first non-British signee to their Apple label. We can’t argue with them. They were likely impressed, as so many still are, by the warmth of his resonant tenor – still undimmed by age – his elegantly intricate guitar style, and his gift for delivering pathos, humor, and ruefulness, often all in one finely honed tune. No matter how personal the demons Taylor has wrestled in song, his voice has been the sound of solace, celebration, and sustenance. Along the way, he has racked up multi-platinum sales, immense peer respect, and a place alongside Aerosmith in the rock hall of fame of great music form Boston.
Peter Wolf & J. Geils Band Long before the No. 1 hit “Centerfold” catapulted the group onto a world stage, the J. Geils Band was known around here as something much more meaningful – New England’s blues-rock saviors. There’s a lot to be said for a band that sticks it out for 15 years before becoming famous, but you got the impression the guys weren’t initially hungry for just that. They were in it for the music, a down-and-dirty mix of R&B and rock that morphed into a more pop-oriented sound in the ’80s. Reunions have been sporadic since the group disbanded in 1985, and when frontman Peter Wolf left the lineup two years before that, he enjoyed a successful solo turn as a jive-talking hellcat who thinks the nighttime is the right time. Still a man about town, Wolf recently released his thoughtful seventh solo album, Midnight Souvenirs.
Donna Summer Disco was the genre that unleashed Donna Summer’s astonishing voice upon the masses, and she reigned supreme in the Studio 54 glory days. The woman born LaDonna Gaines transcended the ephemera of that era by bringing erotic heat and a beating heart to Giorgio Moroder’s icy synths and pulsating beats on hits like “Love to Love You Baby” and her powerhouse face-off with Barbra Streisand, “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough).” But even as the mirror ball turned, Summer ambitiously looked beyond dance-floor catnip by exploring concept albums and new sonic frontiers. And long after the glitter faded she was still working hard for the money and scoring hits. Every big-voiced diva who has emerged since, from Whitney Houston to Alicia Keys, owes a debt to Summer and her great music.
Aimee Mann & Til Tuesday Til Tuesday, the band Aimee Mann formed in the early ’80s after dropping out of Berklee College of Music, enjoyed one big single with the moody new wave anthem “Voices Carry.” But it was Mann’s whip-smart songwriting that leapt off the page and became her stock in trade when the frontwoman set out as a solo artist. She stepped boldly into her role as proto-poster girl for independent musicians, fleeing the hits-obsessed major-label system to establish a thriving career on her own terms. More to the point, Mann became a master craftswoman, a cobbler of beautiful, barbed narratives that define a singer-songwriter’s task: to illuminate our deepest, darkest selves.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones This rowdy, plaid-clad bunch, led by mischievous carnival barker frontman Dicky Barrett, was a true DIY success story long before the major labels got hip to its blend of serrated metal guitar, buoyant rock-steady ska grooves, a jubilant horn section, and a whole lot of punk snarl. The band’s Top 40 breakthrough in 1997 was icing on a long-cooking cake.
Dropkick Murphys If the concept of working-class Boston could be scientifically translated into a musical equivalent, it would be the sound of this endearingly scruffy band of punks. Whether celebrating Celtic pride or the heart of the working man, rooting on our home teams, or lionizing misfits, barflies, and brawlers, the Dropkick Murphys manage to marry menace, mirth, and meaning into something brutal yet inviting.
Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her singles “Fast Car“, “Talkin’ ’bout a Revolution“, “Baby Can I Hold You“, “Crossroads“, “Give Me One Reason” and “Telling Stories“. She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist. Chapman’s activism extends further than her lyrics. She has performed at numerous socially aware events, and continues to do so. In 1988, Tracy Chapman performed in London as part of a worldwide concert tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with Amnesty International. The same year Chapman also performed in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute, an event which raised money for South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement and seven children’s charities. More recently, in 2004 Chapman performed (and rode) in the AIDSLifeCycle event. A true legendary artist producing great music with social impact and commentary.
Great Music from Boston – Tracy Chapman Revolution Live
New Edition The Roxbury group may have set a record for successful spinoffs, as Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, and Brown replacement Johnny Gill all enjoyed solo careers, and Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe teamed up for the ’90s sensation Bell Biv DeVoe. But it was the ’80s R&B bubble gum confections like “Cool It Now” and “Candy Girl” that first had girls swooning. With five distinct personalities, voices, and styles, New Edition hewed to the familiar boy-band formula of predecessors like the Jackson 5. But the teens also injected a streetwise swagger into their sweet pop-soul nothings that became the modern template for harmonizing, synchronized-dancing heartthrobs everywhere, including another famous group of Boston kids.
Joan Baez, pop musician? Not exactly, but the folk matriarch ultimately transcended genre: She was the embodiment and lightning rod of her generation, a beacon of its hopes and indestructible spirit. New York had Dylan, but we could claim Baez, since she moved to Belmont when she was 17 and dropped out of BU soon after enrolling. With nothing more than an acoustic guitar and that sterling soprano, the so-called “barefoot Madonna” quickly established herself as a formidable talent around here, most notably at Cambridge’s Club 47 (now Club Passim). Some 50 years later, Baez is the grande dame of folk music and as committed as ever to activism. And her influence is still felt around the world every time a young woman steps up on stage with just a guitar and a mission.
New Kids on The Block If you attended high school anywhere in the country in the late 1980s, there’s a good chance you heard a familiar refrain in your lunchroom: Who do you love most, Jordan or Joey? New Kids on the Block were global pop stars, but you could tell from those accents that they were the pride of Boston. Assembled by producer Maurice Starr, who had previously discovered New Edition, the band rocketed up the charts with teen-pop anthems such as “Hangin’ Tough” and “You Got It (The Right Stuff).” Initially dismissed by critics, they were the blueprint for the boy-band revival in the early ’90s. And when NKOTB reunited in 2008 for a new album, it was as if time had stood still. The Block debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart that year, proving that they still had the right stuff, even if they weren’t kids anymore.
Portions of this article have been taken from Boston’s 25 Greatest Pop Music Acts Ever Boston.com.
Great music and musicians from Boston. It does little to console the pain and sadness over the tragedy in Boston at the Boston Marathon yesterday, but it is still of value.
What great music and artists from Boston are your favorites?
DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ
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