Ryan and Michele Wedding

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Mumford & Sons I Will Wait

It has taken nearly a year since its original release but Mumford & Sons I Will Wait is finally getting the commercial success it deserves!

“We wanted to do something unashamed,” says Ben Lovett. “We’re confident and happy to be where we are as a band — everything that’s happened with us has exceeded expectations, and it’s all been a surprise, it’s all much bigger than what we were prepared for. So when we came to recording this record we had a choice: to shy away from that, or to realise that people dig what we’re doing, and make something robust, with that energy.” Mumford & Sons Website

Mumford & Sons I Will Wait with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Mumford & Sons I Will Wait Critical Response

The song has received generally favourable reviews. Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly gave the song a positive review, saying how the song “hearkens back to their Grammy-nomination-festooned single “The Cave” with its shouted refrain, triumphant horns, a driving kick drum, and an earnest lyric about a relationship so perfect it has Marcus Mumford kneeling down in reverence, raising his hands, and wishing for his mind to be “freed from the lies.”” Stephanie Middleton of The Celebrity Cafe said, “With untouched vocals and harmonies, the boys manage to create yet another genuine Mumford & Sons track.”

Katie Hasty of HitFix gave the song a B+, saying “Marcus is a softie, but he’s got a problem with repetition,” but also said “they bring it home when they jump up an octave and beat the hell out of the chorus.” She concluded with, “This song could be really huge.” Liv Carter of Urban Country News awarded the song a ‘thumbs-up’. Reviewing the song after it started receiving airplay at country radio, she called it “a perfect piece of folk-rock that more than deserves to be introduced to the wider country radio audience.” Rolling Stone magazine named the song the 13th best song of 2012.

Mumford & Sons I Will Wait Music Video

The Mumford & Sons I Will Wait Story

During the year, the band had been releasing new songs from their second album online or performing them at concerts. Marcus Mumford told MTV that the song “reflects the band’s hectic life on the road – which shaped the new album’s sound.” Ted Dwane told Rolling Stone, “Being away so much for the last couple of years is inevitably a theme on the record, because it’s something that we’ve all shared.” The song was played live in various forms through 2010-2011 under the working title ‘Nothing Is Written’.

What is your favorite part of Mumford & Sons I Will Wait?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Great Night at Hoboken International Film Festival

Last Thursday Night was my fourth year as festival DJ for the Hoboken International Film Festival. It was a very fun night supporting an outstanding film festival. As usual, the Hoboken International Film Festival Awards Gala was filled with celebrities, which always adds to the excitement.

Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

Along with playing a hard-driving set of 80’s Rock Music beforehand, the Hoboken International Film Festival music of choice, I played the music that each presenter and award recipient walked to and from the stage. This year, although present, Robert Loggia did not present any awards, so, the Frank Sinatra I usually play for him was left out of the night’s entertainment. His film roles include An Officer and a GentlemanMercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771, based on the Air New Zealand Flight 103 incident, ScarfacePrizzi’s HonorOver The TopIndependence DayNecessary RoughnessReturn to MeArmed and Dangerous, and Big (for which he won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor).

Robert Loggia at Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

Great Night at Hoboken International Film Festival

Kenneth Del Vecchio, Founder and Chairman of Hoboken International Film Festival  entered the stage to Rush “Limellight”, which was his personal choice. The Hoboken International Film Festival Host, Gilbert Gottfried was brought to the stage by several songs, the first was Joe Walsh “Life’s Been Good”. Joyce DeWitt ran up to present awards with The Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour” echoing through the beautiful, historic Paramount Theatre. She is such an amazing woman and still rocks the stage like few others. Nina Transfeld, a friend and talented, beautiful woman, bounced up to the stage with her lively presence to Queen, “Now I’m Here”. I recalled how much Nina enjoys Queen from festivals past.

Queen at Hoboken international Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

Jeff Davis, lead Producer of the Film and Broadway hit, “Rock of Ages”, entered the stage to Offspring “Self-esteem” smiling from ear-to-ear. Always feels good to get a man who makes shows and films about Rock Music to appreciate your music.  Film Editor Ron Kalish was beaming as Joe Jackson “I’m The Man” filled the theatre. Rachael Robbins, Playboy model, stand-up comedian and actress, lit-up the stage with her strut to Lenny Kravitz version of “American Woman”. She is so much fun and enjoys the spotlight more than most. Michael Rivera, who does not have the same fondness of 80’s Rock Music as the rest of the team, was pumped-up when Run-DMC “Rock Box” was his selection. Robert Bogue, best known as A.C. Mallet on The Guiding Light for 338 episodes, was playing the air guitar to Heart “Barracuda” across the stage, it was hilarious!

Robert Bogue Rocks the Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

 

As the night was closing, Kenneth Del Vecchio was called back to the stage to present the award for Best Narrative Film to his favorite song, another one from years past, Peter Gabriel “Solsbury Hill”. As the theater began to empty to Uncle Kracker “Follow Me”, Joyce DeWitt came to the DJ station with arms wide open offering a hug and these words to complete an amazing night, “Wow! That was the best music at any event I have ever been at! Thank you so much for making this such a great night!”. Trust me, I am one the needing to thank you Joyce for all the laughs and fun you gave me growing-up watching Three’s Company!

Joyce DeWitt star of Three's Company at Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

What a fun night to be the Festival DJ!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Country, Rock and Pop Music

This past Friday Night we did a really fun Rhode Island Wedding in Wayne, New Jersey. One the aspects that added to the fun was the fact that the Bride had two daughters that loved all kinds of music and dancing! The younger one, who was ten years old, requested everything from Sugarland to Selena Gomez and Macklemore and even some Tango!  The Tango was especially fun watching the daughter and mother dance and then her older sister. It was that kind of a fun night!

Fun Rhode Island Wedding

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Dancing Bride and Rhode Island Wedding DJ

They also enjoyed plenty of Country Music. The First Dance was the Country version of Hunter Hayes “Wanted” and the Last Dance was Garth Brooks “The Dance”. Of course there was some Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton mixed-in with Modern Country Hits like Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert. The Groom was more of a Classic Rock  enthusiast and we played Lynyrrd Skynyrd “Simple Man” for his Mother-Son Dance and Nickelback “Never Gonna Be Alone” for a special dance with the Bride, Groom and her daughters.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Dancing Bride and Rhode Island Wedding DJ

After dinner, their friends and family were ready to party, and we partied!

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Dancing Bride and Rhode Island Wedding DJ

The Rhode Island Wedding DJ connected with the Wedding’s guests and it was exciting for all!

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Dancing Bride and Rhode Island Wedding DJ

This was so fun to experience!

IMG_3131

And we finished where we started, with the Bride and Groom dancing together.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding with Dancing Bride and Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Another great night of fun, celebration and dancing for the Rhode Island Wedding DJ!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

DJ Classic Rock Mix III

This is the third download in the DJ Classic Rock Mix series, DJ Classic Rock Mix III. This DJ Classic Rock Mix begins with The Kinks, includes The Rolling Stones and a medley by The Who and finishes with The Allman Brothers, and a host of other Classic Rock songs. As all these DJ Mixes have been, so much fun to make and hard to leave-out songs that would work great. My definition of Classic Rock is more expansive than any listed below, but thought you might appreciate some of these.

DJ Classic Rock Mix III

      Classic Rock Mix III - DJ Mystical Michael

Classic Rock. There are usually few people who would deny that this genre has some of the best music ever, especially with legendary bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors.

Definitions of Classic Rock

But one debate about classic rock still lingers on… and that is about the actual definition of classic rock. Some people say it’s a style of sound. Some people say it’s rock music that is older than 25 years old. Its often mentioned on this site, and people often ask my opinion. So I thought I would shed some more light on this long standing debate regarding the definition of classic rock.

To quote Wikipedia, here is their rather too detailed definition of classic rock

Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the 1970s. The first station to broadcast the format full time, and the first station to use the term “classic rock” on the air was KRBE-AM (Houston) in 1983. Program director Paul Christy designed the format to play only early album rock, from the 1960s and early 1970s, without any current music or Top 40 material. In the United States, this rock music format now features a playlist of songs ranging from the 1960s and 1970s. The traditional classic rock genre usually ends in the early 1980s, with mid-80s additions from the hair metal genre only recently being considered “classic rock.” Some stations continue to (wrongly?) include a limited number of current releases.

Unfortunately in my opinion this doesn’t address a few key issues with this definition, which I have attempted to address with my very own definition of classic rock.  From, the Classic Rockers Network

DJ Classic Rock Mix III with DJ Mystical Michael - Rhode Island Rock DJ

A definition of classic rock which helps clarify things

‘Classic rock is a genre of music that combines a particular guitar-driven rock sound with a particular era of time. The classic rock era began in early 1960’s with rock n’ roll based bands like The Beatles and Rolling Stones, diversifying into bands like Led Zeppelin and The Doors.

The classic rock era ended in the early 80s, with the rise of modern pop music. It should not be confused with other rock genres like glam rock (e.g. David Bowie), heavy metal (e.g. Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica) and hair metal (e.g. Poison and Motley Crue). Even though new bands sometimes mimic the classic rock sound (e.g. The Black Crowes), they are not considered a true classic rock band because they are in the wrong era (not early 60s to early 80s). However, classic rock bands from the original era who still produce new music outside of that classic rock era (like The Rolling Stones) are grandfathered in and are still defined as classic rock (as long as their style hasn’t changed).

There is an entertaining debate about what is and what isn’t classic rock on this forum on Classic Rockers Network. Worth reading if you have the time.

If you would like me to send you a CD copy of the DJ Classic Rock Mix III or any of the DJ Classic Rock Mixes, I invite you to send e an email and I will mail it to you free of charge!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

I am so excited to return for a fourth year as Festival DJ for the Hoboken International Film Festival. In past years, stars like Robert Loggia, Charles Durning, Paul Sorvino, Cloris Leachman and Bille Dee Williams have been winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, the Winner of the Hoboken International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Eric Roberts!

http://youtu.be/QSpNU2sImUU

One of my favorite aspects of the Hoboken International Film Festival is the Awards Gala. This year it will be on June 6th and I will be Festival DJ again. It is a really fun might night featuring all the Celebrities and Stars and the red carpet. Of course, it is also fun to see how everybody comes tressed for such a exciting event.

Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

Hoboken International Film Festival

Now in its eighth year, the 2013 Hoboken International Film Festival (“HIFF”) is being held May 31 to June 6, 2013 at the breathtaking Paramount Theater in Middletown, New York. With the Gala Awards Ceremony hosted by Gilbert Gottfried, HIFF will showcase numerous film and TV stars, and the world’s most cutting edge films. Hoboken International Film Festival continues to grow – in 2012 Hoboken International Film Festival had over 1,500 film submissions from all over the world, and accepted just over 90 films (the competition is fierce). Festival attendance has eclipsed 15,000 people in each of the past few years. A star-filled event,

Now in its eighth year, the 2013 Hoboken International Film Festival (“HIFF”) is being held May 31 to June 6, 2013 at the breathtaking Paramount Theater in Middletown, New York. With the Gala Awards Ceremony hosted by Gilbert Gottfried,

Now in its eighth year, the 2013 Hoboken International Film Festival (“HIFF”) is being held May 31 to June 6, 2013 at the breathtaking Paramount Theater in Middletown, New York. With the Gala Awards Ceremony hosted by Gilbert Gottfried, HIFF will showcase numerous film and TV stars, and the world’s most cutting edge films. HIFF continues to grow – in 2012 Hoboken International Film Festival had over 1,500 film submissions from all over the world, and accepted just over 90 films (the competition is fierce). Festival attendance has eclipsed 15,000 people in each of the past few years. A star-filled event, HIFF has had several Academy Award and Emmy winners and nominees, and numerous other fan-favorite celebrities at screenings, award ceremonies and special events.

Robert Loggia Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

With a celebrity jury comprised of Academy Award and Emmy winners, and powerhouse partners that include The New York Post, Coca-Cola & Vitaminwater, WCBS FM, ShopRite, News 12, The Comfort Inn, Anheuser-Busch, RealBeanz, Breakdown Services, Mid-Hudson News, Zombie Apocalypse Vodka, SDL, Fuze, Charity Kases Cosmetics, the Paramount Theater, and many more, HIFF is a worldwide renowned film festival.

Academy Award nominee ERIC ROBERTS (The Pope of Greenwich Village; The Expendables; The Specialist; Star 80) will personally accept the 2013 HIFF Lifetime Achievement Award at the HIFF Gala Awards Ceremeony on June 6, 2013…Past recipients of the HIFF Lifetime Achievement award include Robert Loggia (Academy Award & Emmy Nominee; Independence Day; Scarface; Jagged Edge; Big); Cloris Leachman (Academy Award, 4-Time Golden Globe,19-Time Emmy Winner & Nominee); Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas; Romeo + Juliet; The Cooler; Nixon); Billy Dee Williams (Empire Strikes Back; Return of the Jedi; Batman; Lady Sings the Blues; Emmy nominee), Carroll Baker (Academy Award Nominee & Golden Globe Winner; How the West Was Won, Baby Doll, Kindergarten Cop); and Charles Durning (2-Time Academy Award, 4-Time Golden Globe, 8-Time Emmy winner & nominee; Tootsie; The Sting; O’ Brother Where Art Thou).

Robert Loggia Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael

Hoboken International Film Festival awards the winning filmmakers with cash prizes in several categories. There are also awards given in several other categories, and there are numerous top distribution companies in attendance of the festival and monitoring the Official Selections…And then there is the very special New York Post Feature Film Trailer Competition held on NYPost.com!

The Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael also features upcoming stars like Deirdre Lorenz and Nina Transfeld. They are both talented, beautiful and awesome women!

Can’t wait for the Hoboken International Film Festival with DJ Mystical Michael this year!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

DJ Classic Rock Mix II

This is the second in the DJ Classic Rock Mix Series, DJ Classic Rock Mix II! It is full of great Classic Rock Songs spanning music from the 60’s to the 80’s. It begins with Supertramp and ends with Simon and Garfinkel. Some of the bands that are included are The Beatles(of course), Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Heart, to name a few.

DJ Classic Rock Mix II – DJ Mystical Michael

      DJ Classic Rock Mix II - DJ Mystical Michael

 

Classic rock music is a musical genre that relies heavily on popular songs that were produced in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Typically, the term is used to refer to radio stations. Most cities in the United States and in many other countries have at least one radio station that is dedicated to playing music from these decades. However, the term “classic rock” can also apply to musical groups in general.

DJ Classic Rock Mix II with U2 at Live Aid - Rhode Island Rock DJ

The earliest form of classic rock music radio station was called album-oriented rock, or AOR. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, these stations played current music as well as music from the past, but in the mid-1980s, most AOR stations stopped playing new music and began to focus exclusively on playing classic rock. The first radio station to call itself a classic rock music station was Philadelphia’s WYSP, in 1981; by 1984, more than 40 stations in the United States were using this term.

Some of the bands that are commonly associated with classic rock music are the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi HendrixAerosmithAC/DC, Queen, and the Eagles. Though some of the artists played on these stations are still actively recording music, only their earlier hits are represented on the airwaves. Some classic rock stations also include popular hard rock and metal bands from the 1980s, such as Guns ‘n Roses and Metallica. Recently, some stations have also begun to incorporate 1990s bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains into their rotation.

Classic rock music is typically most popular among people who were young when the music first came out. Today, that group includes 50 year olds who listened to the Beatles when they were young, 40 year olds who listened to the Eagles, or even 30 year olds who listened to Nirvana in their teenage years. The audience is primarily male, and so are most of the DJs associated with classic rock radio stations. There are also several magazines devoted to this style of music, such as Relix and Uncut. wiseGeek

 

If you would like me to burn you a CD copy of DJ Classic Rock Mix II, I invite you to send me an email with your address and I will ship it to you free! Let me know what you think of DJ Classic Rock Mix II.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Julian Lennon Someday

Julian Lennon Someday is now released globally! Julian Lennon Someday features Steven Tyler on backing vocals. It is a beautiful song with an equally moving music video.

Julian Lennon Someday Music Video

John Charles Julian Lennon (born 8 April 1963) is a British musician. He is the only child of John Lennon and Cynthia Powell (Lennon’s first wife). Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal grandmother, Julia. He remains close friends with his father’s former bandmate Paul McCartney (although there was a public falling out in 2011, when Julian publicly complained about being snubbed for McCartney’s wedding and reception, although many of his friends and acquaintances were asked to attend).

Julian directly inspired three Beatles songs: “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds“, “Hey Jude“, and “Good Night“. He is also devoted to philanthropic endeavors, most notably his own White Feather Foundation and the Whaledreamers Organization, both of which promote the co-existence of all species and the health and well-being of the Earth.

His sixth studio album Everything Changes was released on 3 October 2011.

Julian Lennon Valotte Music Video

Valotte” is a song by British singer Julian Lennon, the title track and second single (first single in the US) from his debut album Valotte. It was a top-ten hit single in January 1985 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US, peaking at number nine.

It was co-written by Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales and recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The first line of the chorus, “Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar”, was written by Lennon, inspired by theTennessee River in Muscle Shoals.

The music video for the song was directed by Sam Peckinpah.

Julian Lennon Too Late For Goodbyes Music Video

Too Late for Goodbyes” is the first single (second in the US) from Julian Lennon‘s 1984 album Valotte. It featured the harmonica of Jean “Toots” Thielemans, and it was a top-ten hit in the UK and the US, reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart in November 1984, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late March 1985.

“Too Late for Goodbyes” peaked at number one on the US Adult Contemporary chart in 1985, spending two weeks at the top of this chart. The music video for the song was directed by Sam Peckinpah.

Julian Lennon has had an inconsistent career as a musical artist. He enjoyed immediate success with his debut 1984 album Valotte. The album was produced by Phil Ramone. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1985, and produced two top ten hits, the title track “Valotte“, and “Too Late for Goodbyes“. Lennon promoted the album with music videos for the two hits made by movie director Sam Peckinpah and producer Martin Lewis. The song “Valotte” has remained a staple on adult contemporary radio stations since its release. After the release, Paul McCartney sent him a telegram wishing him good luck. Later that year, the two met up backstage at the New York studios of the TV show Friday Night Videos. His second album, 1986’s The Secret Value of Daydreaming, was panned by critics, but reached number 32 on the Billboard magazine‘s album chart, and produced the single “Stick Around”, which was his first #1 single on the U.S. Album Rock Tracks chart.

Julian Lennon Someday at the unveiling of the John Lennon Peace Monument  with Rhode Island DJ

Julian Lennon at the unveiling of the John Lennon Peace Monument

It is very inspiring to me to hear Julian Lennon attempt to follow in his father, John Lennon’s, footsteps with Julian Lennon Someday and its message of world peace, love and community.

What do you think of Julian Lennon Someday?


DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

 

DJ Classic Rock Mix I

I am producing a series of DJ Classic Rock Mixes to share with you. It has been fun creating the playlist to choose songs. As has been the case with all the DJ Mixes I have produced, it is so hard to select songs when they are so any incredible Classic Rock Songs to choose from. This particular DJ Classic Rock Mix starts out with Electric Light Orchestra and ends The Eagles. There is some U2, Dusty Springfield and The Beatles mixed in with a bunch of other great music.

DJ Classic Rock Mix

      Classic Rock Mix I - DJ Mystical Michael

 

Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on hard rock popularized in the 1970s. Although the format appeals mainly to adults, many classic rock acts consistently attract new generations of fans. Some classic rock stations also play a limited number of current releases which are stylistically consistent with the station’s sound, or from established classic rock artists who still produce new albums.

Jimi Hendrix and the DJ Classic Rock Mix from Rhode Island Rock DJ

The classic rock format evolved from AOR radio stations that were attempting to appeal to an older audience by including familiar songs of the past with current hits. In 1980, AOR radio station M105 in ClevelandOhio began billing itself as “Cleveland’s Classic Rock”, playing a mix of rock music from the mid-1960s to the present. In 1982, radio consultant Lee Abrams developed the “Timeless Rock” format which combined contemporary AOR with hits from the 1960s and 1970s. By 1986, the success of the format resulted in oldies accounting for 60–80% of the music played on album rock stations. Although it began as a niche format spun off from AOR, by 2001 classic rock had surpassed album rock in market share nationally.

DJ Classic Rock Mix from Rhode Island Rock DJ

If you would like a CD version of DJ Classic Rock Mix from Rhode Island Rock DJ, please write and I will send you one free. The next DJ Classic Rock Mix from Rhode Island Rock DJ in the series will be released next week!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147