Tag: popular music

  • Album Histories Monthly: The Buggles – ‘The Age of Plastic’

    Album Histories Monthly: The Buggles – ‘The Age of Plastic’

    Welcome back to our new series on Flypaper, Album Histories Monthly, which brings you the story of a single album each month, in the month that it was originally released. Last month, we covered Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock. This month:  The Buggles – The Age Of Plastic Release Date: January 10, 1980 The Buggles became forever associated with MTV when their music video…

    Read more

  • Can Descending Chords Ever Sound Happy?

    Can Descending Chords Ever Sound Happy?

    Descending melodies and progressions often sound sad, but one of the most resoundingly happy songs ever, Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” begs to differ.

    Read more

  • Album Histories Monthly: Afrika Bambaataa – ‘Planet Rock’

    Album Histories Monthly: Afrika Bambaataa – ‘Planet Rock’

    Welcome back to our new series on Flypaper, Album Histories Monthly, which brings you the story of a single album each month, in the month that it was originally released. Last month, we covered Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n Roll. This month:  Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock Release Date: December 1, 1986 “Back then there was no such…

    Read more

  • Songwriting School: Verse Two – Now What?

    Songwriting School: Verse Two – Now What?

    + Welcome to Soundfly! We help curious musicians meet their goals with creative online courses. Whatever you want to learn, whenever you need to learn it. Subscribe now to start learning on the ’Fly. A common stumbling block for songwriters is how to handle the second verse. After all, many songs only have two verses structurally, and the second verse often…

    Read more

  • Philip Tagg’s Everyday Tonality

    Philip Tagg’s Everyday Tonality

    This article originally appeared on The Ethan Hein Blog. I complain a lot on my blog about the traditional teaching of music theory. Fortunately, a better alternative exists: Everyday Tonality by Philip Tagg. Don’t be put off by the DIY look of the website; the book is the single best explanation I know of for how harmony works across…

    Read more

  • Album Histories Monthly: Joan Jett – ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’

    Album Histories Monthly: Joan Jett – ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’

    Welcome back to our new series on Flypaper, Album Histories Monthly, which brings you the story of a single album each month, in the month that it was originally released. Last month, we covered the Replacements’ 1984 goofball-punk classic, Let It Be. This month:  Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘n Roll Release Date: November 18, 1981 “Looking…

    Read more

  • 17 of the Greatest Televised Moments in Music History

    17 of the Greatest Televised Moments in Music History

    If you missed these 17 moments when they were broadcast on television, relive them and learn their historical impact on not only music but also pop culture.

    Read more

  • Iris Lune on Being Open to Take on New Roles, Writing Conflict Music, and Hot Sauce

    Iris Lune on Being Open to Take on New Roles, Writing Conflict Music, and Hot Sauce

    Welcome back to Soundfly’s weekly interview series, Incorrect Music, curated by guitarist, singer, and composer Lora-Faye Åshuvud (of the band Arthur Moon). In this series, we present intimate conversations with artists who are striving to push the boundaries of their process and craft. Recently, I was talking with Asher Kurtz and Ella Joy Meir (one half of…

    Read more

  • Album Histories Monthly: The Replacements – ‘Let It Be’

    Album Histories Monthly: The Replacements – ‘Let It Be’

    Welcome back to our new series on Flypaper, Album Histories Monthly, which brings you the story of a single album each month, in the month that it was originally released. Last month, we covered Blondie’s 1978 classic, Parallel Lines. This month:  The Replacements – Let It Be Release Date: October 2, 1984 “We were all kind of long-haired, dope-smoking teens…. We’d light…

    Read more

  • Simian Ghost on Being Fed Up with How Stupidity is Celebrated Today

    Simian Ghost on Being Fed Up with How Stupidity is Celebrated Today

    Welcome back to Soundfly’s weekly interview series, Incorrect Music, curated by guitarist, singer, and composer Lora-Faye Åshuvud (of the band Arthur Moon). In this series, we present intimate conversations with artists who are striving to push the boundaries of their process and craft. Swedish indie-pop band Simian Ghost told The Independent this summer that they “never rehearse.”…

    Read more

Elijah Fox at the piano