tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71904121209163112502024-03-12T21:16:11.711-07:00Great Influence Of Music In Our LivesMonina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-6271989957553251412009-05-26T05:05:00.000-07:002009-05-26T05:12:41.113-07:00"Falling In Love Again With Alejandro"Taylor Swift / Colbie Caillat - Breathe
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<br />Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-10739884461559076122009-03-22T05:12:00.001-07:002009-03-22T07:39:26.816-07:00"What's cooking David Cook?Nice Name Huh!"<a style="font-family: courier new;" title="David Cook with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/david-cook-b65fp/overview">David Cook</a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> - Biography<br /></span> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3f4Vd2jTUEhU7zASOBSCtB3NgIEqVFWN9YzdqTeIyupuPvRRlAVsPgpY7tCLAXkVMvM9tl6U04B46MV1fUN7nza6mXfD5ehhHat8RLjSAxsRWkIQPO-nWNPLQvjZXx9KYaMNbG0y4Hg/s1600-h/DavidCook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3f4Vd2jTUEhU7zASOBSCtB3NgIEqVFWN9YzdqTeIyupuPvRRlAVsPgpY7tCLAXkVMvM9tl6U04B46MV1fUN7nza6mXfD5ehhHat8RLjSAxsRWkIQPO-nWNPLQvjZXx9KYaMNbG0y4Hg/s400/DavidCook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316016990136203938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />When David Cook traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to be his younger brother's moral support at the American Idol auditions, he never could have imagined where his journey would take him. Only auditioning himself after his mother and brother's prodding and encouragement, David made it through the first </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">round and then into the top 24.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSrt-Inyo9A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSrt-Inyo9A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">David's knack of choosing and arranging songs that fit his vocal style, along with his consistently strong performances, kept him out of the bottom three and earned him praise from the judges. Despite being something of an underdog next to favorite David Archuleta, David won over the fans and the competition, receiving 56% of the final vote. Born December 20, 1982, David grew up in Blue S</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">prings, Missouri, and started singing in school pageants in the second grade. In high school he played sports, acted in school plays and musicals, and started a band, </span><a style="font-family: courier new;" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/axium-qdhb8/overview" target="_blank">Axium</a><span style="font-family:courier new;">, with his friends.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ3E-LaF97Ce-_qIZuYVqCP7bolI2pax7CqdCw4tme37o0q1rQyyoSHt6V5abV0o4w1CahEkESyd13t4DclSNa2OytMVtIW5yocuifnWO0RQ6NhKEV5HNyD6w7vRYIqGbkAnaGCYXQMU/s1600-h/david_cook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ3E-LaF97Ce-_qIZuYVqCP7bolI2pax7CqdCw4tme37o0q1rQyyoSHt6V5abV0o4w1CahEkESyd13t4DclSNa2OytMVtIW5yocuifnWO0RQ6NhKEV5HNyD6w7vRYIqGbkAnaGCYXQMU/s400/david_cook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316016999161179186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">He received a musical theater scholarship at the University of Central Missouri, but decided it wasn't for him and got his degree in graphic design instead. David was still playing with Axium until the band was peacefully dissolved in 2006, the same year that he </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">released his first solo record, Analog Heart. Before he auditioned for American Idol, David was working as a bartender in Tulsa, Oklahoma, playing bass with the band Midwest Kings (</span><a style="font-family: courier new;" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/mwk-ll1w4/overview" target="_blank">MWK</a><span style="font-family:courier new;">), and finishing up his second solo record.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSrt-Inyo9A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSrt-Inyo9A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Now that he has released a new album on the 19 Entertainment / RCA Records label, it is not clear whether that album will be rel</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">eased. Notable Statistics For the Billboard chart week of June 7, 2008, a week following Cook's American Idol victory, Cook broke several Billboard chart records. Most notable was his record shattering feat of having eleven songs debut on the Hot 100 that week, beating the previous record set by Miley Cyrus in 2006 when she had six songs debut on the chart. Cook's first single, "The Time of My Life" led the pack, debuting at #3 on the Hot 100.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kjY5nq9Ls3HbARKUJvT4ox_oyYSk7xvclQOcOfHlHokg4J2eGDGiIqy7h5MuKsu422VsREdH4FpxtPuX_ufWfTTVp-hgiTohorl8zRGnz_QLUCcNxKRgEyWOfcAg7D79W9QX3wTprKQ/s1600-h/David-Cook-david-cook-1234493_1280_800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kjY5nq9Ls3HbARKUJvT4ox_oyYSk7xvclQOcOfHlHokg4J2eGDGiIqy7h5MuKsu422VsREdH4FpxtPuX_ufWfTTVp-hgiTohorl8zRGnz_QLUCcNxKRgEyWOfcAg7D79W9QX3wTprKQ/s400/David-Cook-david-cook-1234493_1280_800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316017004796100274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Cook's eleven charting songs also gave him the most songs by on</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">e artist on the Hot 100 of any week in the Nielsen Music era (which began in 1991), and the most of any era since The Beatles placed 14 songs on the chart the week of April 11, 1964. In addition, that same week Cook also broke the record for the most debuts on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart, where he placed 14 debut entries, the record of which was previously six, set by Bon Jovi in 2007.<br /><br /></span>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-1274309986004314292009-03-17T08:01:00.001-07:002009-03-22T07:55:21.896-07:00"Techno Music Rules"<h1 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: courier new;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qJKVMBAWU9cT3MJoGrEzg45JpjmGPmJlXLjwjObFcPZsyEarJZYx7AB3atHMClBtg57FfIQoB_8n4afhKcrzNJxiHoTb9Bvf3Vbx3M_J4DNKnSF3yoJLameC92QO9_zIX0yZcdAt0PQ/s1600-h/Poster_for_techno_Music_Djs_by_Yaku.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qJKVMBAWU9cT3MJoGrEzg45JpjmGPmJlXLjwjObFcPZsyEarJZYx7AB3atHMClBtg57FfIQoB_8n4afhKcrzNJxiHoTb9Bvf3Vbx3M_J4DNKnSF3yoJLameC92QO9_zIX0yZcdAt0PQ/s400/Poster_for_techno_Music_Djs_by_Yaku.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314176616130028338" border="0" /></a></h1><h1 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: courier new;">Techno Music</h1> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">Techno music came out of Detroit in the 1980's, and carried the influences of popular electronic music of the 1970's to the dancefloors. The music features regular, pouding beats coupled with distorted synthesized sequences.</p><p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHeqe0CRdUncVnXyd49Ww_QhOkZ-l-HEeuXrsLoHfx7QfPI0hGOq7FeWrHu7wGPOG0TL3Yu9m1TX4P4Aj5Ts4jxbK-fVhw_2a1IV-eamJWx98UVZ8YdnlwDdQijpj_5wUpqN45WWx03s/s1600-h/tb303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHeqe0CRdUncVnXyd49Ww_QhOkZ-l-HEeuXrsLoHfx7QfPI0hGOq7FeWrHu7wGPOG0TL3Yu9m1TX4P4Aj5Ts4jxbK-fVhw_2a1IV-eamJWx98UVZ8YdnlwDdQijpj_5wUpqN45WWx03s/s400/tb303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314172670539790082" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">The best known early techno producers are Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, sometimes known as the Belleville Three. They made music for clubs that was a urban take on the music of German musicians like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream were making. While Techno made it to the clubs in Chicago and New York, it was a largely underground style throughout the eighties.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: courier new;"><strong>What is Techno?</strong></p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">Techno is pure electronic music, originally designed for dances, that combines the sound of classic German electronica with an american Urban feel. The music emphasizes the machine sound of electronic drum machines, especially the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/synth_review/RolandTR-808.html">Roland TR-808</a>, and often is based around repetitive riffs played on bass line sequencers like the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/synth_review/RolandTB-303.html">Roland TB-303</a>.</p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">The history of techno starts in Detroit. The style emerged there when musicians took cheap, used electronic instruments and abused them in ways never intended by their creators. Early techno artists drew on science fiction and futuristic themes in their music. The techno sound depicted a place unlike the aging Detroit city where it was born. The music and the themes of the songs were intended to sound like something from the future. “It’s an attitude to making music that sounds futuristic,” according to techno pioneer Juan Atkins, “something that hasn’t been done before.”</p><p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">One of the best known early techno songs is "Alleys of your Mind", by techno artists Cybotron. Works from Atkins, May and Saunderson didn't make the charts, but were very influential because they were played in major clubs in the US. In 1988, a compilation called Techno! The New Dance Sound helped define the style.</p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">In the 90's, artists in Europe began to take the Detroit sound of early techno songs and morph it. New variations were created, including acid, ambient techno, hardcore, and jungle. The techno style has gained more popularity in Europe than it has in the United States, because electronica has been popularized more in Europe than in the US.</p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: courier new;">Techno has been associated with raves since the nineties. The idea of a rave is just a techno party where like-minded techno fans can get together and dance to continuous dj mixes of electronic music. These have been particularly popular in Europe. In 2000, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival became one of the largest and most significant electronica events in the world. It was free and attracted hundreds of thousands of techno music fance from all over the world.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NiXbRBS5Z58&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NiXbRBS5Z58&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-50387251975441686972009-03-07T06:47:00.000-08:002009-03-17T08:37:19.902-07:00"Snow Patrol-Eyes Open"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;" >s n o w p a t r o l</span><br /></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYdcU74Q_vsJQAiBMol_lkESPvFkOuP_qIEIwdmZDny0Mr8ViZNFSuRlILnNT0IGOt9vGo85EQEAJ7ehY7MU12pbYUqtXMfHI2TSZd7MCtrmWKNtyr3XaZZ8-pY-CoDI880oc-x3eVOU/s1600-h/Snow%2520Patrol.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYdcU74Q_vsJQAiBMol_lkESPvFkOuP_qIEIwdmZDny0Mr8ViZNFSuRlILnNT0IGOt9vGo85EQEAJ7ehY7MU12pbYUqtXMfHI2TSZd7MCtrmWKNtyr3XaZZ8-pY-CoDI880oc-x3eVOU/s400/Snow%2520Patrol.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310457985999017074" border="0" /></a></p><p><b>Snow Patrol</b> are a <a title="Northern Ireland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Northern_Ireland">Northern Irish</a> and <a title="Scotland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Scotland">Scottish</a> <a title="Alternative rock" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a> band which formed in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Dundee, Scotland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dundee,_Scotland">Dundee, Scotland</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_0-0"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-allmusic-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> They are based in <a title="Glasgow" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Glasgow">Glasgow</a> and are signed to <a title="Polydor Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polydor_Records">Polydor Records</a>. Originally formed as an <a title="Indie rock" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Indie_rock">indie rock</a> band, Snow Patrol have sought a more <a title="Alternative rock" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" title="Powerpop" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Powerpop">powerpop</a> sound in recent years on the heels of mainstream success with the songs "<a title="Run (Snow Patrol song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Run_%28Snow_Patrol_song%29">Run</a>", "<a title="Chasing Cars" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chasing_Cars">Chasing Cars</a>" and "<a title="Signal Fire (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Signal_Fire_%28song%29">Signal Fire</a>" from the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Spider-Man 3 soundtrack" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Spider-Man_3_soundtrack"><i>Spider-Man 3</i> soundtrack</a>.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3CwAQzT-jGI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3CwAQzT-jGI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>The band's first three records, including their last <a class="mw-redirect" title="EP" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/EP">EP</a>—<i><a title="Starfighter Pilot" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Starfighter_Pilot">Starfighter Pilot</a></i>, <i><a title="Songs for Polarbears" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Songs_for_Polarbears">S</a></i><i><a title="Songs for Polarbears" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Songs_for_Polarbears">ongs f</a></i><i><a title="Songs for Polarbears" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Songs_for_Polarbears">or Polarbears</a></i> and <i><a title="When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/When_It%27s_All_Over_We_Still_Have_to_Clear_Up">When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up</a></i>—were commercially unsuccessful and were released by independent labels Electric Honey (for their first EP) and Jeepster (for their first two albums). When the band moved to a major record label <i>Polydor Records</i> they released their 2003 album <i><a title="Final Straw" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Final_Straw">Final Straw</a></i> which crossed 4x platinum sales in the <a title="United Kingdom" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Kingdom">UK</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> The band achieved worldwide success due to 2006's <i><a title="Eyes Open (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eyes_Open_%28album%29">Eyes Open</a></i>, which sold 4.7 million copies worldwide. Snow Patrol have been nominated for three <a class="mw-redirect" title="BRIT Awards" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BRIT_Awards">BRIT Awards</a> and have won five <a title="Meteor Music Awards" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Meteor_Music_Awards#Winners">Meteor Ireland Music Awards</a>. Worldwide, the band have sold over 7 million albums.<span>[</span>3]</p><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-2"><span></span></a></sup> <table class="toc" id="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2> <span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" id="togglelink" href="javascript:toggleToc()">hide</a>]</span></div> <ul><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Early_years_and_development"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Early years and development</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Final_Straw_and_breakthrough_success"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Final Straw and breakthrough success</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Eyes_Open"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Eyes Open</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#A_Hundred_Million_Suns"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">A Hundred Million Suns</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Band_members"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Band members</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Current_members"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Current members</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Former_members"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Former members</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Discography"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Discography</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#Major_tours"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Major tours</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#References"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a> </li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a id="History" name="History"></a><span class="mw-headline">History</span></p> <p><a id="Early_years_and_development" name="Early_years_and_development"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Early years and development</span></h3> <p>Originally formed in late 1994 as "Shrug" by students <a title="Gary Lightbody" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gary_Lightbody">Gary Lightbody</a>, Michael Morrison and <a title="Mark McClelland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mark_McClelland">Mark McClelland</a> (all from Northern Ireland) at the <a title="University of Dundee" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/University_of_Dundee">University of Dundee</a> in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Dundee, Scotland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dundee,_Scotland">Dundee, Scotland</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brianbebo_3-0"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-brianbebo-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> the band started by performing gigs at the university and surrounding pubs such as Lucifer's Mill. They recorded an EP funded by DUSA Music Club, called the "Yoghurt vs Yoghurt debate" which was a rousing success. In 1995 they changed their name to <i>Polar Bear</i> (or <i>Polarbear</i>) and shortly afterwards drummer, Mike Morrison left the band, returning to Northern Ireland with health problems.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-brianbebo_3-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-brianbebo-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> In mid 1997, they again renamed, this time to</p> <p> Snow Patrol,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_0-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-allmusic-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> and released a three-track <a title="Extended play" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Extended_play">EP</a>, <i><a title="Starfighter Pilot" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Starfighter_Pilot">Starfighter Pilot</a></i>, on the <a title="Electric Honey (label)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Electric_Honey_%28label%29">Electric Honey</a> label.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pilotis_4-0"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-pilotis-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 177px;"><a class="image" title="Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol frontman, during the January 2005 Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert in aid of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Lightbody1.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Lightbody1.jpg/175px-Lightbody1.jpg" border="0" width="175" height="233" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <a title="Gary Lightbody" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gary_Lightbody">Gary Lightbody</a>, Snow Patrol frontman, during the January 2005 <a title="Tsunami Relief Cardiff" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tsunami_Relief_Cardiff">Tsunami Relief Cardiff</a> concert in aid of the victims of the <a title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake">2004 Indian Ocean </a> <a title="2004 Indian Ocean earthquake" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake">earthquake</a> </div></div></div> <p>At this point, <a title="Jonny Quinn" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jonny_Quinn">Jonny Quinn</a>, from <a title="Northern Ireland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Northern_Ireland">Northern Ireland</a>, joined as permanent drummer. With him the band released their next EP "Little Hide" on <a title="Jeepster Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jeepster_Records">Jeepster Records</a> while still living in <a title="Dundee" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dundee">Dundee</a> (its cover was a blurred photo of a football crowd watching [Scotland v Estonia] at <a title="Celtic Park" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Celtic_Park">Celtic Park</a>, taken by Gary Lightbody and the video included a number of their friends). A follow-up single "One Hundred Things You Should Have Done in Bed" was a minor independent chart hit. Both of these early singles were heavily promoted by Jeepster - with videos included as computer files on the CD singles, and Snow Patrol starting to appear on television. Their first <a title="MTV" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/MTV">MTV</a> interview was in 1998, and they briefly appeared on a <a title="Channel 4" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Channel_4">Channel 4</a> documentary about Jeepster Records (which concentrated mostly on <a title="Belle & Sebastian" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Belle_%26_Sebastian">Belle & Sebastian</a>) that same year. Two albums on Jeepster followed: <i><a title="Songs for Polarbears" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Songs_for_Polarbears">Songs for Polarbears</a></i> in 1998 (including a slightly remixed version of their debut single "Starfighter Pilot") and <i><a title="When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/When_It%27s_All_Over_We_Still_Have_to_Clear_Up">When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up</a></i> in 2001 (both recorded while the band lived in Glasgow). Also in 2001, Gary collected a group of Scottish musicians, from such acts as <a title="Mogwai" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mogwai">Mogwai</a> and <a title="Belle & Sebastian" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Belle_%26_Sebastian">Belle & Sebastian</a> together to perform as a "<a title="Supergroup (music)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Supergroup_%28music%29">supergroup</a>", The <a class="mw-redirect" title="Reindeer Section" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Reindeer_Section">Reindeer Section</a>, who have so far released two CD albums. Gary also performed vocals on a single by Cut La Roc.</p> <h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdcvh2zBLsWnLgq0bTDDowMNCWWRnwfGyRYlAiieoIruGQEqwMrnFLkebxCO05xhRV4_eR96m7minjUzERESdKk_-IoMsvTOKbjH55xf7PgxabJ0wbeKDKUcW5ovVHGzgvvtQTJEBEU8/s1600-h/SnowPatrol%2520.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdcvh2zBLsWnLgq0bTDDowMNCWWRnwfGyRYlAiieoIruGQEqwMrnFLkebxCO05xhRV4_eR96m7minjUzERESdKk_-IoMsvTOKbjH55xf7PgxabJ0wbeKDKUcW5ovVHGzgvvtQTJEBEU8/s400/SnowPatrol%2520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310736432133795154" border="0" /></a></h2> <p>The band's website addresses the naming question in their FAQ, item #6:</p> <table class="cquote" style="border-style: none; margin: auto; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: transparent;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 35px; color: rgb(178, 183, 242); font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: left;" valign="top" width="20">“</td> <td style="padding: 4px 10px;" valign="top">SP were originally called Polar Bear but had to change their name due to the <a title="Jane's Addiction" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jane%27s_Addiction">Jane's Addiction</a> bassist also having a side project called Polar Bear. <p>The name Snow Patrol came from a friend of the band who while called Polar Bear always referred to the group as Snow Patrol.</p> <p>When the time to change the name came, it was a logical step.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></p></td> <td style="padding: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 36px; color: rgb(178, 183, 242); font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; text-align: right;" valign="bottom" width="20">”</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>After the critical successes but commercial failures of the band's two albums on the Jeepster label, the band became increasingly disillusioned with their relationship with their label. The band began to feel that <a title="Belle & Sebastian" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Belle_%26_Sebastian">Belle & Sebastian</a> got all the attention from the label, and little effort was being made to promote Snow Patrol. Since the band was not making much money, the members were under financial pressure, with Lightbody having to sell off his CD collection in order to pay for his rent.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since April 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed</a></i>]</span></sup></p> <p>Musicians like <a title="Bono" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bono">Bono</a> from <a title="U2" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/U2">U2</a>, <a title="Michael Stipe" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Michael_Stipe">Michael Stipe</a> from <a title="R.E.M." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/R.E.M.">R.E.M.</a>, <a title="Nikki Sixx" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nikki_Sixx">Nikki Sixx</a> and Tommy Lee from <a title="Mötley Crüe" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/M%C3%B6tley_Cr%C3%BCe">Mötley Crüe</a> declared in interviews their admiration for Snow Patrol.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Final_Straw_and_breakthrough_success" name="Final_Straw_and_breakthrough_success"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>Final Straw</i> and breakthrough success</span></h3> <p>After being dropped by Jeepster, guitarist <a title="Nathan Connolly" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nathan_Connolly">Nathan Connolly</a> joined, and the band signed to the mainstream <a title="Polydor Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polydor_Records">Polydor</a> label. They gained mainstream success with their song "<a title="Run (Snow Patrol song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Run_%28Snow_Patrol_song%29">Run</a>" (which debuted at No.5 in the <a class="mw-redirect" title="UK singles chart" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/UK_singles_chart">UK singles chart</a>), as well as the album it was from, the 2003 release, <i><a title="Final Straw" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Final_Straw">Final Straw</a></i> which was produced by <a title="Jacknife Lee" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jacknife_Lee">Jacknife Lee</a> and written by Matthew Drake of Seattle, WA. The record peaked at #3 in the <a class="mw-redirect" title="UK albums chart" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/UK_albums_chart">UK albums chart</a>. Archer's final date with the band was September 27, 2003 in the St Andrews Students' Association. They followed the success of "Run" up with three more singles from the album: "<a title="Chocolate (Snow Patrol song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chocolate_%28Snow_Patrol_song%29">Chocolate</a>", as well as a re-release of "<a title="Spitting Games" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Spitting_Games">Spitting Games</a>", both reaching the top 30, and "<a title="How to Be Dead" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/How_to_Be_Dead">How to Be Dead</a>" reaching number 39.</p> <p>The release of <i>Final Straw</i> in the <a title="United States" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_States">United States</a> in 2004 saw the album notching up well in excess of a quarter of a million sales and becoming the 26th most popular album in the <a title="United Kingdom" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Kingdom">UK</a> of that year.</p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="Jonny Quinn, drummer, performing at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Jonny_Quinn.JPG"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/78/Jonny_Quinn.JPG/180px-Jonny_Quinn.JPG" border="0" width="180" height="135" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <a title="Jonny Quinn" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jonny_Quinn">Jonny Quinn</a>, drummer, performing at the <a title="University of Miami" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/University_of_Miami">University of Miami</a> in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Coral Gables" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Coral_Gables">Coral Gables</a>, <a title="Florida" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Florida">Florida</a>.</div></div></div> <p>On March 16, 2005, McClelland left the band, with Lightbody stating 'a whole new set of new and unexpected pressures... have unfortunately taken their toll on working relationships within the band, and it was felt the band could not move forward with Mark as a member.' Former <a title="Terra Diablo" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Terra_Diablo">Terra Diablo</a> member <a title="Paul Wilson (musician)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Paul_Wilson_%28musician%29">Paul Wilson</a> replaced him on bass. In April 2005, Snow Patrol declared longtime touring keyboardist <a title="Tom Simpson (musician)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tom_Simpson_%28musician%29">Tom Simpson</a> an official member of the band.</p> <p>In mid-2005, during their tour to support <i>Final Straw</i>, the band toured with <a title="U2" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/U2">U2</a> as an opening act on U2's <a title="Vertigo Tour" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Vertigo_Tour">Vertigo Tour</a> in Europe. The band returned to the United States afterwards to continue touring in support of <i>Final Straw</i>. That summer also saw Snow Patrol playing a small set in London at the worldwide benefit concert <a title="Live 8" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Live_8">Live 8</a>. After finishing their opening act duties and extensive 2-year tour of <i>Final Straw</i> in late July, the band took a few weeks off and began writing and recording songs for a new album. Snow Patrol's new version of John Lennon's</p> <p> "<a title="Isolation (John Lennon song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Isolation_%28John_Lennon_song%29">Isolation</a>" was released on December 10, 2005 as part of the Amnesty International campaign, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Make Some Noise, Amnesty International" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Make_Some_Noise,_Amnesty_International">Make Some Noise</a>. The song was later issued on the 2007 John Lennon tribute album, <i><a title="Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Instant_Karma:_The_Amnesty_International_Campaign_to_Save_Darfur">Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur</a>.</i></p> <p><a id="Eyes_Open" name="Eyes_Open"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>Eyes Open</i></span></h3><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8FJiYQlOLKI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8FJiYQlOLKI&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><p>The band completed recording <i><a title="Eyes Open (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eyes_Open_%28album%29">Eyes Open</a></i> in December 2005, with <a title="Jacknife Lee" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jacknife_Lee">Jacknife Lee</a> returning for production, and this album was released on April 28, 2006 in Ireland, and the UK on May 1, 2006, with the first UK single "<a title="You're All I Have" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/You%27re_All_I_Have">You're All I Have</a>" having been released on the April 24, 2006. The album was released in North America on May 9. While "Hands Open" was the first American single, "<a title="Chasing Cars" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chasing_Cars">Chasing Cars</a>" pushed its way onto the download and pop charts after it was heard during an emotional and (plot-wise) huge scene in the second season finale of the television show <i><a title="Grey's Anatomy" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Grey%27s_Anatomy">Grey's Anatomy</a></i> on May 15, 2006. Due to the song's surprise popularity, it was released as an overlapping single in early June and the video was re-recorded to include clips from the show. On December 30, 2006, it was voted by virgin radio nyc listeners to be the #1 song of all time.</p> <p>On July 30, 2006, Snow Patrol appeared on the finale of the long-running BBC music show <i><a title="Top of the Pops" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Top_of_the_Pops">Top of the Pops</a></i>, performing "Chasing Cars". The band was the last act to ever appear on the show.</p> <p>Snow Patrol recorded a live session at <a title="Abbey Road Studios" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Abbey_Road_Studios">Abbey Road Studios</a> for <a title="Live from Abbey Road" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Live_from_Abbey_Road">Live from Abbey Road</a> on October 4, 2006. The performance was included on an episode shared with <a title="Madeleine Peyroux" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Madeleine_Peyroux">Madeleine Peyroux</a> and the <a title="Red Hot Chili Peppers" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers">Red Hot Chili Peppers</a> and shown in the UK on <a title="Channel 4" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Channel_4">Channel 4</a> and the US on the <a title="Sundance Channel" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sundance_Channel">Sundance Channel</a>.</p> <p>The band was forced to postpone a majority of the American Eyes Open tour after <a title="Polyp (medicine)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polyp_%28medicine%29">polyps</a> were discovered on Lightbody's vocal cords, and failed to heal after initial postponement of three dates on the tour. Dates were rescheduled for August and September. The year would continue to be difficult on the band for the U.S. legs of their tours, as they were also forced to cancel two west coast festival appearances in mid-August due to the <a title="2006 transatlantic aircraft plot" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/2006_transatlantic_aircraft_plot">threat of terrorist attacks on U.S.-bound flights from the UK</a>. Two band members made it to the U.S. while two were stuck in London. Subsequently, they all made it to the lone U.S. tour stop in <a title="Boston" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Boston">Boston</a> days later but failed to recover any of their luggage, forcing them to shop for clothes on <a class="mw-redirect" title="Newbury St." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Newbury_St.">Newbury St.</a> that afternoon. Their gear arrived hours before show time, just in time for sound check. The band also had to cancel appearances in Germany and France after bassist Paul Wilson injured his left arm and shoulder.</p> <p>On November 26, 2006, <i>Eyes Open</i> had become the UK's best-selling album of the year, overtaking previous leader <i><a title="Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Whatever_People_Say_I_Am,_That%27s_What_I%27m_Not">Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not</a></i> by <a title="Arctic Monkeys" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Arctic_Monkeys">Arctic Monkeys</a>. Despite very strong sales for <a title="Take That" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Take_That">Take That</a>'s comeback album <i><a title="Beautiful World (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Beautiful_World_%28album%29">Beautiful World</a></i>, <i>Eyes Open</i> marginally earned the title of the UK's best-selling album of 2006, with 1.6 million in sales. The album reached platinum certification in the US as well, selling over 1,000,000 copies, and it maintained a spot in the upper quarter of the <a title="Billboard 200" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> list for over fifteen weeks, on the heels of the popularity of "Chasing Cars". The band also holds the distinction of having one of iTunes' top downloaded albums and songs of 2006. Ahead of the band's February tour, <i>Eyes Open</i> topped the Australian charts some eight months after its release on January 22, 2006. Back home in Ireland, <i>Eyes Open</i> became one of the best selling albums of all time, staying at the top of the charts from the end of 2006 to early - mid 2007, and remaining in the charts to the present.</p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="Snow Patrol live in Madison Square Garden in 2007" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Gary_Lightbody_-_MSG.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Gary_Lightbody_-_MSG.jpg/180px-Gary_Lightbody_-_MSG.jpg" border="0" width="180" height="135" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> Snow Patrol live in <a title="Madison Square Garden" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Madison_Square_Garden">Madison Square Garden</a> in 2007</div></div></div> <p>Snow Patrol appeared as the musical guest on the March 17, 2007 episode of <i><a title="Saturday Night Live" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live">Saturday Night Live</a></i>, hosted by <a title="Julia Louis-Dreyfus" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Julia_Louis-Dreyfus">Julia Louis-Dreyfus</a>. They performed "You're All I Have" and "Chasing Cars". The band toured Japan in April, followed by European festival dates, Mexico, and the US in the summer. They ended their tour in Australia in September 2007.</p> <p>The band contributed the song "<a title="Signal Fire (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Signal_Fire_%28song%29">Signal Fire</a>" to the <a title="Spider-Man 3: The Official Soundtrack" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Spider-Man_3:_The_Official_Soundtrack"><i>Spider-Man 3</i> soundtrack</a>, as well as the <a title="Spider-Man 3" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Spider-Man_3">film</a>. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack and was featured in the credits to the film.</p> <p>On July 7, 2007, the band performed at the <a title="Live Earth concert, London" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Live_Earth_concert,_London">UK leg</a> of <a title="Live Earth" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Live_Earth">Live Earth</a> at <a title="Wembley Stadium" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wembley_Stadium">Wembley Stadium</a>, <a title="London" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/London">London</a>. Shortly after the band's performance, Simpson was arrested at <a title="RAF Northolt" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/RAF_Northolt">RAF Northolt</a> for missing a court date in <a title="Glasgow" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Glasgow">Glasgow</a> after having been charged for possession of a Class A drug (cocaine).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>September 1, 2007 saw Snow Patrol headlining a "home coming" mini-festival in <a title="Gary Lightbody" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gary_Lightbody">Gary Lightbody</a> and <a title="Jonny Quinn" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jonny_Quinn">Jonny Quinn</a>'s home town of <a title="Bangor, County Down" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bangor,_County_Down">Bangor</a>, <a title="County Down" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/County_Down">County Down</a>. Around 30,000 people came to see the band.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>On November 25, 2007, Snow Patrol performed an acoustic session for the charity Mencap, in a small chapel in Islington. They were one of the main bands to take part in the project, called "Little Noise Sessions" which was curated by Jo Whiley.</p> <p><a id="A_Hundred_Million_Suns" name="A_Hundred_Million_Suns"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>A Hundred Million Suns</i></span></h3> <p>Gary Lightbody stated that recording for the follow-up to <i>Eyes Open</i> was to begin in Autumn 2006, with <a title="Jacknife Lee" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jacknife_Lee">Jacknife Lee</a> returning a third time for production.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=5038725197544168697#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Since then the band stated that they wished to take a year off after the back-to-back tours of <i>Final Straw</i> and <i>Eyes Open</i> and intended to emerge at the end of 2008 with their next album. Gary Lightbody is also set to release an album as part of a solo project called "<a title="Listen... Tanks!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Listen..._Tanks%21">Listen... Tanks!</a>" but a date for this has not yet been publicly announced.</p> <p>A post, dated May 23, 2008 on the band's official website stated that recording for the next album had been under way for a week; they began on May 19, 2008. The new album, entitled <i><a title="A Hundred Million Suns" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/A_Hundred_Million_Suns">A Hundred Million Suns</a></i>, was released on October 24, 2008 in Ireland and October 28 in the UK and US. The first single entitled "<a title="Take Back the City" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Take_Back_the_City">Take Back the City</a>" was released in Ireland on October 10, 2008. Filming for the music video to "Take Back the City" took place on the week of August 11, 2008 in Central London, as one of the band members was getting married the next day. The music video was directed by <a class="mw-redirect" title="Alex Courtes" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Alex_Courtes">Alex Courtes</a>.</p><h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj6dI5DXAP9lEkAAQuoqhfdL2AF8V_4VxkIdiY-4UJFTyQ3spIHYnzJITNYqLzENY04zMrPBsCWqWmj6C_ZE6El68ToJW272YDCxa5PBgkCzqs0-fV_mwkPodXl9aEAb0SlI8PisjFMA/s1600-h/Snow+Patrol+d+b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj6dI5DXAP9lEkAAQuoqhfdL2AF8V_4VxkIdiY-4UJFTyQ3spIHYnzJITNYqLzENY04zMrPBsCWqWmj6C_ZE6El68ToJW272YDCxa5PBgkCzqs0-fV_mwkPodXl9aEAb0SlI8PisjFMA/s400/Snow+Patrol+d+b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310736436042108018" border="0" /></a></h2> <p>The band kicked off their 2009 UK/Irish/Australian tour at Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, southern England on Sunday 22nd February 2009. For this tour, tha band have been joined by the former front man of well known band The Alleycats, Kieran Dooley. The final date of this tour will be at Claremont Showgrounds, Perth on April 5th. This will then be followed by a tour consisting of mainly German dates but starting in Stockholm, Sweden on May 18th and ending in Stuttgart on May 31st.</p> <p><a id="Band_members" name="Band_members"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Band members</span></h2> <p><a id="Current_members" name="Current_members"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Current members</span></h3> <ul><li><a title="Gary Lightbody" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gary_Lightbody">Gary Lightbody</a>– <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lead vocals" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lead_vocals">lead vocals</a>, <a title="Rhythm guitar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Rhythm_guitar">rhythm guitar</a> (1994–present) </li><li><a title="Jonny Quinn" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jonny_Quinn">Jonny Quinn</a> – <a class="mw-redirect" title="Drumkit" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Drumkit">drums</a>, <a title="Percussion instrument" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Percussion_instrument">percussion</a> (1994–present) </li><li><a title="Nathan Connolly" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nathan_Connolly">Nathan Connolly</a> – <a title="Lead guitar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lead_guitar">lead guitar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Backing vocals" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Backing_vocals">backing vocals</a> (2002–present) </li><li><a title="Paul Wilson (musician)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Paul_Wilson_%28musician%29">Paul Wilson</a> – <a title="Bass guitar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bass_guitar">bass guitar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Backing vocals" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Backing_vocals">backing vocals</a> (2005–present) </li><li><a title="Tom Simpson (musician)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tom_Simpson_%28musician%29">Tom Simpson</a> – <a title="Keyboard instrument" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Keyboard_instrument">keyboard</a> (2005–present although a touring member since 1997) </li></ul> <p><a id="Former_members" name="Former_members"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Former members</span></h3> <ul><li><a title="Mark McClelland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mark_McClelland">Mark McClelland</a> – <a title="Bass guitar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bass_guitar">bass guitar</a>, <a title="Keyboard instrument" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Keyboard_instrument">keyboards</a> (1994–2005) </li><li>Mike Morrison – <a class="mw-redirect" title="Drumkit" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Drumkit">drums</a> (1994-1995) </li></ul>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-74848392725587488612009-03-07T06:46:00.001-08:002009-03-07T06:46:43.972-08:00<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Linkin Park</h1> <div id="bodyContent"><!-- start content --> <div class="metadata plainlinks topicon" id="protected-icon" style="z-index: 100; right: 55px; position: absolute; top: 10px;"> <div><a title="This article is semi-protected." href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi"><span class="" style="border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 255); display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; background-image: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="display: inline-block; width: 1px; height: 1px;"></span></span></a></div></div> <table class="infobox vcard vevent" style="font-size: 0.9em; width: 23em; line-height: 1.4em; text-align: left;"> <tbody> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(176, 196, 222) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 1.4em; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;" colspan="2"><span class="fn org summary">Linkin Park</span></th></tr> <tr> <td class="" style="text-align: center;" colspan="2"><a class="image" title="Linkin Park performing at 2007's Nova Rock Festival held in Nickelsdorf, Austria." href="/wiki/File:Linkin_Park_at_the_Novarock_Festival.jpg"><img alt="Linkin Park performing at 2007's Nova Rock Festival held in Nickelsdorf, Austria." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Linkin_Park_at_the_Novarock_Festival.jpg/220px-Linkin_Park_at_the_Novarock_Festival.jpg" width="220" border="0" height="165" /></a><br /><div><small>Linkin Park performing at 2007's <a title="Nova Rock Festival" href="/wiki/Nova_Rock_Festival">Nova Rock Festival</a> held in <a title="Nickelsdorf" href="/wiki/Nickelsdorf">Nickelsdorf, Austria</a>.</small></div></td></tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(176, 196, 222) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;" colspan="2">Background information</th></tr> <tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Also known as</th> <td class="nickname">Xero (1996–1998)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><br />Hybrid Theory (1998–1999)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></td></tr> <tr> <th>Origin</th> <td><a title="Agoura Hills, California" href="/wiki/Agoura_Hills,_California">Agoura Hills</a>, <a title="California" href="/wiki/California">California</a>, <a title="United States" href="/wiki/United_States">USA</a></td></tr> <tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;"><a title="Music genre" href="/wiki/Music_genre">Genre(s)</a></th> <td><a title="Nu metal" href="/wiki/Nu_metal">Nu metal</a>, <a title="Rap rock" href="/wiki/Rap_rock">rap rock</a>, <a title="Alternative rock" href="/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a></td></tr> <tr> <th style="white-space: nowrap;">Years active</th> <td>1996–present</td></tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em; white-space: nowrap;"><a title="Record label" href="/wiki/Record_label">Label(s)</a></th> <td><a title="Warner Bros. Records" href="/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records">Warner Bros.</a>, <a title="Machine Shop Recordings" href="/wiki/Machine_Shop_Recordings">Machine Shop</a></td></tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Associated acts</th> <td><a title="Dead by Sunrise" href="/wiki/Dead_by_Sunrise">Dead by Sunrise</a><br /><a title="Fort Minor" href="/wiki/Fort_Minor">Fort Minor</a><br /><a class="mw-redirect" title="Grey Daze" href="/wiki/Grey_Daze">Grey Daze</a><br /><a title="Jay-Z" href="/wiki/Jay-Z">Jay-Z</a><br /><a title="Relative Degree" href="/wiki/Relative_Degree">Relative Degree</a><br />Tasty Snax</td></tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(176, 196, 222) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;" colspan="2">Members</th></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2"><a title="Chester Bennington" href="/wiki/Chester_Bennington">Chester Bennington</a><br /><a title="Rob Bourdon" href="/wiki/Rob_Bourdon">Rob Bourdon</a><br /><a title="Brad Delson" href="/wiki/Brad_Delson">Brad Delson</a><br /><a class="mw-redirect" title="Dave Farrell" href="/wiki/Dave_Farrell">David "Phoenix" Farrell</a><br /><a class="mw-redirect" title="Joe Hahn" href="/wiki/Joe_Hahn">Joe Hahn</a><br /><a title="Mike Shinoda" href="/wiki/Mike_Shinoda">Mike Shinoda</a></td></tr> <tr> <th style="background: rgb(176, 196, 222) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; line-height: 1.5em; text-align: center;" colspan="2">Former members</th></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2">Mark Wakefield</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Linkin Park</b> is an American <a title="Rock music" href="/wiki/Rock_music">rock</a> band from <a title="Agoura Hills, California" href="/wiki/Agoura_Hills,_California">Agoura Hills</a>, <a title="California" href="/wiki/California">California</a>. Since its formation in 1996, the band has sold more than 50 million albums<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup> and won two <a class="mw-redirect" title="Grammy Awards" href="/wiki/Grammy_Awards">Grammy Awards</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a title="" href="#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> It achieved mainstream success with its debut album, <i><a title="Hybrid Theory" href="/wiki/Hybrid_Theory">Hybrid Theory</a></i>, which was certified <a title="RIAA certification" href="/wiki/RIAA_certification#List_of_certifications">Diamond</a> by the <a class="mw-redirect" title="RIAA" href="/wiki/RIAA">RIAA</a> in 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a title="" href="#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup> Its following studio album, <i><a title="Meteora (album)" href="/wiki/Meteora_%28album%29">Meteora</a></i>, continued the band's success, topping the <a title="Billboard 200" href="/wiki/Billboard_200">Billboard 200</a>’s album charts in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a title="" href="#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup> In 2003, <a title="MTV2" href="/wiki/MTV2">MTV2</a> named Linkin Park the sixth greatest band of the music video era.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a title="" href="#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Having adapted the <a title="Nu metal" href="/wiki/Nu_metal">nu metal</a> and <a title="Rap rock" href="/wiki/Rap_rock">rap rock</a> genres to a radio-friendly yet densely-layered style in <i>Hybrid Theory</i> and <i>Meteora</i>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ew_7-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-ew-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-msn_8-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-msn-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a title="" href="#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup> the band explored other genres in their next studio album, <i><a title="Minutes to Midnight (album)" href="/wiki/Minutes_to_Midnight_%28album%29">Minutes to Midnight</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-No_new_10-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-No_new-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lat_11-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-lat-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup> The album topped the <a title="Billboard charts" href="/wiki/Billboard_charts">Billboard charts</a> and had the third best debut week of any album that year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a title="" href="#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billm_13-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-billm-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> They have also collaborated with several other artists, most notably with <a class="mw-redirect" title="Rapper" href="/wiki/Rapper">rapper</a> <a title="Jay-Z" href="/wiki/Jay-Z">Jay-Z</a> in their <a title="Mashup (music)" href="/wiki/Mashup_%28music%29">mashup</a> album <i><a title="Collision Course (album)" href="/wiki/Collision_Course_%28album%29">Collision Course</a></i>, and many others on <i><a title="Reanimation" href="/wiki/Reanimation">Reanimation</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-msn_8-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-msn-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <table class="toc" id="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2> <span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" id="togglelink" href="javascript:toggleToc()">hide</a>]</span></div> <ul><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Band_history"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Band history</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Early_years_.281996.E2.80.931999.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Early years (1996–1999)</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Hybrid_Theory_.282000.E2.80.932002.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Hybrid Theory (2000–2002)</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Meteora_.282002.E2.80.932004.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.3</span> <span class="toctext">Meteora (2002–2004)</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Side_projects_.282004.E2.80.932006.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.4</span> <span class="toctext">Side projects (2004–2006)</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Minutes_to_Midnight_.282006.E2.80.932008.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.5</span> <span class="toctext">Minutes to Midnight (2006–2008)</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="#Future_direction_.282008.E2.80.93present.29"><span class="tocnumber">1.6</span> <span class="toctext">Future direction (2008–present)</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Style"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Style</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Band_members"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Band members</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Discography"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Discography</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Videography"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Videography</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Awards"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Awards</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#Further_reading"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Further reading</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a> </li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a id="Band_history" name="Band_history"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Band history</span></h2> <p><a id="Early_years_.281996.E2.80.931999.29" name="Early_years_.281996.E2.80.931999.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Early years (1996–1999)</span></h3> <p>Originally consisting of three <a title="High school" href="/wiki/High_school">high school</a> friends, Linkin Park’s foundation was anchored by <a title="Mike Shinoda" href="/wiki/Mike_Shinoda">Mike Shinoda</a>, <a title="Brad Delson" href="/wiki/Brad_Delson">Brad Delson</a>, and <a title="Rob Bourdon" href="/wiki/Rob_Bourdon">Rob Bourdon</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> After graduating from high school, the <a title="California" href="/wiki/California">California</a> natives began to take their musical interests more seriously, recruiting <a class="mw-redirect" title="Joe Hahn" href="/wiki/Joe_Hahn">Joe Hahn</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Dave Farrell" href="/wiki/Dave_Farrell">Dave "Phoenix" Farrell</a>, and Mark Wakefield to perform in their band, then known as Xero. Though limited in resources, the band began recording and producing songs within Shinoda’s make-shift bedroom studio in 1996.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-3"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bio2_14-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Bio2-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> Tensions and frustration within the band grew after they failed to land a record deal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-4"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> The lack of success and stalemate in progress prompted Wakefield, at that time the band's <a class="mw-redirect" title="Vocalist" href="/wiki/Vocalist">vocalist</a>, to leave the band in search for other projects.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-5"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bio2_14-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Bio2-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> Farrell would also leave the band to tour with <a class="mw-redirect" title="Tasty Snax" href="/wiki/Tasty_Snax">Tasty Snax</a> and other bands.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a title="" href="#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>After spending a considerable time searching for Wakefield's replacement, Xero recruited <a title="Arizona" href="/wiki/Arizona">Arizona</a> vocalist <a title="Chester Bennington" href="/wiki/Chester_Bennington">Chester Bennington</a>. <a title="Jeff Blue" href="/wiki/Jeff_Blue">Jeff Blue</a>, the vice president of Zomba Music, had referred him to the band in March 1999.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LPT_17-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-LPT-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> Bennington, formerly of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Grey Daze" href="/wiki/Grey_Daze">Grey Daze</a>, became a standout among applicants because of his unique singing style. The band changed its name from Xero to Hybrid Theory.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The newborn vocal chemistry between Shinoda and Bennington helped revive the band, inciting them to work on new material.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-6"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> The band’s renaissance culminated with a change in name; from Hybrid Theory, the band changed its name to Linkin Park, a play on and homage to <a class="mw-redirect" title="Santa Monica, CA" href="/wiki/Santa_Monica,_CA">Santa Monica</a>’s Lincoln Park.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-7"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> However, despite these changes, the band still struggled to sign a record deal. After facing numerous rejections from several major <a class="mw-redirect" title="Record labels" href="/wiki/Record_labels">record labels</a>, Linkin Park turned to Jeff Blue for additional help. After failing to catch <a title="Warner Bros. Records" href="/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records">Warner Bros. Records</a> on three previous reviews, Jeff Blue, now the vice president of Warner Bros. Records, helped the band sign a deal with the company in 1999. The band released its breakthrough album, <i><a title="Hybrid Theory" href="/wiki/Hybrid_Theory">Hybrid Theory</a></i>, the following year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LPT_17-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-LPT-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Hybrid_Theory_.282000.E2.80.932002.29" name="Hybrid_Theory_.282000.E2.80.932002.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>Hybrid Theory</i> (2000–2002)</span></h3> <p>Linkin Park released <i><a title="Hybrid Theory" href="/wiki/Hybrid_Theory">Hybrid Theory</a></i> on October 24, 2000.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a title="" href="#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a title="" href="#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup> The album, which represented half a decade’s worth of the band’s work, was edited by music producer <a title="Don Gilmore" href="/wiki/Don_Gilmore">Don Gilmore</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-8"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Hybrid Theory</i> was well received by music fans; the band sold more than 4.8 million records during its debut year, earning it the status of best-selling album of 2001, while singles such as "<a title="Crawling (song)" href="/wiki/Crawling_%28song%29">Crawling</a>" and "<a title="One Step Closer (Linkin Park song)" href="/wiki/One_Step_Closer_%28Linkin_Park_song%29">One Step Closer</a>" established themselves as staples among <a title="Alternative rock" href="/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a> radio play lists during the year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> Additionally, other singles from the album were featured in movies such as <i><a title="Dracula 2000" href="/wiki/Dracula_2000">Dracula 2000</a></i>, <i><a title="Little Nicky (film)" href="/wiki/Little_Nicky_%28film%29">Little Nicky</a></i>, and <i><a title="Valentine (film)" href="/wiki/Valentine_%28film%29">Valentine</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-3"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Hybrid Theory</i> was also nominated for three <a title="Grammy Award" href="/wiki/Grammy_Award">Grammy Awards</a>, including best new artist, best rock album, and best hard rock performance (for "Crawling").<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a title="" href="#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> <a title="MTV" href="/wiki/MTV">MTV</a> awarded the band their Best Rock Video and Best Direction awards for "<a title="In the End" href="/wiki/In_the_End">In the End</a>".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-9"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Through the winning of the Grammy for best hard rock performance, <i>Hybrid Theory’s</i> overall success had catapulted the band into the <a title="Mainstream" href="/wiki/Mainstream">mainstream</a>'s attention.</p> <p>During this time, Linkin Park received many invitations to perform on many high-profile tours and concerts including <a title="Ozzfest" href="/wiki/Ozzfest">Ozzfest</a>, <a title="Family Values Tour" href="/wiki/Family_Values_Tour">Family Values Tour</a> and <a title="KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas" href="/wiki/KROQ_Almost_Acoustic_Christmas">KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-4"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a title="" href="#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup> The band also formed its own tour, <a title="Projekt Revolution" href="/wiki/Projekt_Revolution">Projekt Revolution</a>, which featured other notable artists such as, <a title="Cypress Hill" href="/wiki/Cypress_Hill">Cypress Hill</a>, <a title="Adema" href="/wiki/Adema">Adema</a>, and <a title="Snoop Dogg" href="/wiki/Snoop_Dogg">Snoop Dogg</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LPT_17-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-LPT-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> Within a year’s stretch, Linkin Park had performed at over 320 concerts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-10"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> The experiences and performances of the precocious band were documented in its first <a title="DVD" href="/wiki/DVD">DVD</a>, <i><a title="Frat Party at the Pankake Festival" href="/wiki/Frat_Party_at_the_Pankake_Festival">Frat Party at the Pankake Festival</a></i>, which debuted in November 2001. Now reunited with former <a title="Bassist" href="/wiki/Bassist">bassist</a> Dave Farrell, the band began work on a remix album, dubbed <i><a title="Reanimation" href="/wiki/Reanimation">Reanimation</a></i>, which would include works from <i>Hybrid Theory</i> and <a title="Hybrid Theory (EP)" href="/wiki/Hybrid_Theory_%28EP%29"><i>Hybrid Theory</i> EP</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-5"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Reanimation</i> debuted on July 30, 2002, featuring the likes of <a title="Black Thought" href="/wiki/Black_Thought">Black Thought</a>, <a title="Jonathan Davis" href="/wiki/Jonathan_Davis">Jonathan Davis</a>, <a title="Aaron Lewis" href="/wiki/Aaron_Lewis">Aaron Lewis</a>, and many others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a title="" href="#cite_note-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Reanimation</i> claimed the second spot on the <a title="Billboard 200" href="/wiki/Billboard_200">Billboard 200</a>, and sold nearly 270,000 copies during its debut week.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a title="" href="#cite_note-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Meteora_.282002.E2.80.932004.29" name="Meteora_.282002.E2.80.932004.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>Meteora</i> (2002–2004)</span></h3> <p>Following the success of <i>Hybrid Theory</i> and <i>Reanimation</i>, Linkin Park spent a significant amount of time touring around the United States. The band members began to work on new material amidst its saturated schedule, spending a sliver of their free time in their tour bus' studio.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dvd_24-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-dvd-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup> The band officially announced the production of a new studio album in December 2002, revealing its new work was inspired by the rocky region of <a title="Meteora" href="/wiki/Meteora">Meteora</a> in <a title="Greece" href="/wiki/Greece">Greece</a>, where numerous <a title="Monastery" href="/wiki/Monastery">monasteries</a> have been built on top of the rocks.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a title="" href="#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> <i><a title="Meteora (album)" href="/wiki/Meteora_%28album%29">Meteora</a></i> featured a mixture of the band's previous <a title="Nu metal" href="/wiki/Nu_metal">nu metal</a> and <a title="Rapcore" href="/wiki/Rapcore">rapcore</a> styles with newer innovative effects, including the induction of a <a title="Shakuhachi" href="/wiki/Shakuhachi">shakuhachi</a> (a <a title="Music of Japan" href="/wiki/Music_of_Japan">Japanese</a> flute made of bamboo) and other instruments.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-11"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Linkin Park's second album debuted on March 25, 2003 and instantly earned worldwide recognition,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-12"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> going to #1 in the US and UK, and #2 in Australia.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bio2_14-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Bio2-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><i>Meteora</i> sold more than 800,000 copies during its first week, and it ranked as the best selling album on the <a title="Billboard charts" href="/wiki/Billboard_charts">Billboard charts</a> at the time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a title="" href="#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup> Music videos for some of the album's singles, including "<a title="Somewhere I Belong" href="/wiki/Somewhere_I_Belong">Somewhere I Belong</a>", "<a title="Breaking the Habit" href="/wiki/Breaking_the_Habit">Breaking the Habit</a>", "<a title="Faint (song)" href="/wiki/Faint_%28song%29">Faint</a>", and "<a title="Numb (Linkin Park song)" href="/wiki/Numb_%28Linkin_Park_song%29">Numb</a>", received significant radio attention.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a title="" href="#cite_note-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup> By October 2003, <i>Meteora</i> sold nearly three million copies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a title="" href="#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> The album's success allowed Linkin Park to form another <a title="Projekt Revolution" href="/wiki/Projekt_Revolution">Projekt Revolution</a>, which featured other bands and artists including, <a title="Mudvayne" href="/wiki/Mudvayne">Mudvayne</a>, <a title="Blindside" href="/wiki/Blindside">Blindside</a>, and <a title="Xzibit" href="/wiki/Xzibit">Xzibit</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-13"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> Additionally, <a title="Metallica" href="/wiki/Metallica">Metallica</a> invited Linkin Park to play at the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003, which included well-known acts such as <a title="Limp Bizkit" href="/wiki/Limp_Bizkit">Limp Bizkit</a>, <a title="Mudvayne" href="/wiki/Mudvayne">Mudvayne</a> and <a title="Deftones" href="/wiki/Deftones">Deftones</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-vh1_29-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-vh1-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup> The band released an album and <a title="DVD" href="/wiki/DVD">DVD</a>, entitled <i><a title="Live in Texas" href="/wiki/Live_in_Texas">Live in Texas</a></i>, which consisted of audio and video tracks of some of the band's performances in <a title="Texas" href="/wiki/Texas">Texas</a> during the tour.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ask-Bio_0-14"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Ask-Bio-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> In early 2004, Linkin Park started a world tour titled the <i>Meteora World Tour</i>, supporting bands on the tour include <a title="Hoobastank" href="/wiki/Hoobastank">Hoobastank</a>, <a title="P.O.D." href="/wiki/P.O.D.">P.O.D.</a> and <a title="Story of the Year" href="/wiki/Story_of_the_Year">Story of the Year</a>.</p> <p><i>Meteora</i> earned the band multiple awards and honors. The band won <a title="MTV" href="/wiki/MTV">MTV</a>'s awards for Best Rock Video ("Somewhere I Belong") and the Viewer's Choice Award ("Breaking the Habit").<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ring_30-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-ring-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> Linkin Park also received significant recognition during the 2004 <a class="mw-redirect" title="Radio Music Award" href="/wiki/Radio_Music_Award">Radio Music Awards</a>, winning the Artist of the Year and Song of the Year ("Numb") awards.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ring_30-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-ring-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup> Although <i>Meteora</i> was not nearly as successful as <i>Hybrid Theory</i>, it was the third best selling album in America during 2003.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-6"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The band spent the first few months of 2004 touring around the world, first with the third Projekt Revolution tour, and later several European concerts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-7"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Side_projects_.282004.E2.80.932006.29" name="Side_projects_.282004.E2.80.932006.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Side projects (2004–2006)</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 152px;"><a class="image" title="Bennington appears on the band's behalf at MTV Asia Aid" href="/wiki/File:Chester_Bennington_LP.JPG"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Chester_Bennington_LP.JPG/150px-Chester_Bennington_LP.JPG" width="150" border="0" height="226" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="/wiki/File:Chester_Bennington_LP.JPG"><span class="" style="border: 2px none rgb(0, 0, 255); display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; background-image: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="display: inline-block; width: 1px; height: 1px;"></span></span></a></div>Bennington appears on the band's behalf at MTV Asia Aid</div></div></div> <p>Following <i>Meteora'</i>s success, the band postponed working on a new studio album for the next few years. Instead, Linkin Park continued to tour and work on many side projects. Bennington appeared on <a title="DJ Lethal" href="/wiki/DJ_Lethal">DJ Lethal</a>’s "State of the Art" and other work with <a title="Dead by Sunrise" href="/wiki/Dead_by_Sunrise">Dead by Sunrise</a>, while Shinoda did work with <a title="Depeche Mode" href="/wiki/Depeche_Mode">Depeche Mode</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-8"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> In 2004, the band began to work with <a title="Jay-Z" href="/wiki/Jay-Z">Jay-Z</a> to produce another remix album, entitled <i><a title="Collision Course (album)" href="/wiki/Collision_Course_%28album%29">Collision Course</a></i>. The album, which featured intermixed lyrics and background tracks from both artists' previous albums, debuted in November 2004. Shinoda also formed a new band, <a title="Fort Minor" href="/wiki/Fort_Minor">Fort Minor</a>, as a side project. With the aid of Jay-Z, Fort Minor released its debut album, <i><a title="The Rising Tied" href="/wiki/The_Rising_Tied">The Rising Tied</a></i>, to critical acclaim.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a title="" href="#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a title="" href="#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup> At the same time, the band's relationship with <a title="Warner Bros. Records" href="/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records">Warner Bros. Records</a> was deteriorating rapidly on account of several trust and financial issues.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a title="" href="#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup> After months of feuding, the band finally negotiated a deal in December 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a title="" href="#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Linkin Park also participated in numerous charitable events. Linkin Park helped raise money to benefit victims of <a title="Hurricane Charley" href="/wiki/Hurricane_Charley">Hurricane Charley</a> in 2004 and later <a title="Hurricane Katrina" href="/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina">hurricane Katrina</a> in 2005.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-RockD_15-9"><a title="" href="#cite_note-RockD-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> The band donated $75,000 to the <a title="Special Operations Warrior Foundation" href="/wiki/Special_Operations_Warrior_Foundation">Special Operations Warrior Foundation</a> in March 2004.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a title="" href="#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup> They also helped relief efforts for the <a class="mw-redirect" title="2004 tsunami" href="/wiki/2004_tsunami">2004 tsunami</a> victims by staging several charity concerts and setting up an additional fund called "Music for Relief".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a title="" href="#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup> Most notably, however, the band participated at <a title="Live 8" href="/wiki/Live_8">Live 8</a>, a series of charitable benefit concerts set up to raise global awareness.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-liv8_37-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-liv8-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> Alongside Jay-Z, the band performed on Live 8's stage in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" href="/wiki/Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania">Philadelphia</a>, <a title="Pennsylvania" href="/wiki/Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, to a global audience.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-liv8_37-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-liv8-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> The band would later be reunited with Jay-Z at the <a title="Grammy Award" href="/wiki/Grammy_Award">Grammy Award Ceremony 2006</a>, during which they performed "Numb/Encore", en route to winning a Grammy for <a title="Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap/Sung_Collaboration">Best Rap/Sung Collaboration</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a title="" href="#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup> They would later go on to play at the 2006 <a class="mw-redirect" title="Summer Sonic" href="/wiki/Summer_Sonic">Summer Sonic</a> music festival, which was hosted by Metallica, in Japan.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a title="" href="#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Minutes_to_Midnight_.282006.E2.80.932008.29" name="Minutes_to_Midnight_.282006.E2.80.932008.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline"><i>Minutes to Midnight</i> (2006–2008)</span></h3> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="Linkin Park in Prague, 2007" href="/wiki/File:LinkiPark.JPG"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/LinkiPark.JPG/180px-LinkiPark.JPG" width="180" border="0" height="135" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="/wiki/File:LinkiPark.JPG"><span class="" style="border: 2px none rgb(0, 0, 255); display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; background-image: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="display: inline-block; width: 1px; height: 1px;"></span></span></a></div>Linkin Park in <a title="Prague" href="/wiki/Prague">Prague</a>, 2007</div></div></div> <p>Linkin Park returned to the recording studios in 2006 to work on new material. To produce the album, the band chose producer <a title="Rick Rubin" href="/wiki/Rick_Rubin">Rick Rubin</a>. Despite initially stating the album would debut sometime in 2006, the album was delayed until 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-No_new_10-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-No_new-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup> The band had recorded thirty to fifty songs in August 2006, when Shinoda stated the album was halfway completed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a title="" href="#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup> Bennington later added that the new album would stray away from its previous nu metal sound.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a title="" href="#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup> <a title="Warner Bros. Records" href="/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records">Warner Bros. Records</a> officially announced that the band’s third studio album, entitled <i><a title="Minutes to Midnight (album)" href="/wiki/Minutes_to_Midnight_%28album%29">Minutes to Midnight</a></i>, would be released on May 15, 2007 in the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a title="" href="#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup> After spending fourteen months working on the album, the band members opted to further refine their album by removing five of the original seventeen tracks. The album’s title, a reference to the <a title="Doomsday Clock" href="/wiki/Doomsday_Clock">Doomsday Clock</a>, foreshadowed the band's new lyrical themes.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a title="" href="#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>Minutes to Midnight</i> sold over 600,000 copies in its first week, making it one of the most successful debut week albums in recent years. The album also took the top spot on the Billboard Charts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-billm_13-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-billm-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>The album's first single, "<a title="What I've Done" href="/wiki/What_I%27ve_Done">What I've Done</a>" was released on April 2, and premiered on MTV and <a title="Fuse TV" href="/wiki/Fuse_TV">Fuse</a> within the same week.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a title="" href="#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup> The single was acclaimed by listeners, becoming the top-ranked song on the <a title="Billboard (magazine)" href="/wiki/Billboard_%28magazine%29">Billboard's</a> <a class="mw-redirect" title="Modern Rock Tracks" href="/wiki/Modern_Rock_Tracks">Modern Rock Tracks</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" title="Mainstream Rock Tracks" href="/wiki/Mainstream_Rock_Tracks">Mainstream Rock Tracks</a> charts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a title="" href="#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup> Later in the year, the band won the "Favorite Alternative Artist" in the <a class="mw-redirect" title="American Music Awards" href="/wiki/American_Music_Awards">American Music Awards</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a title="" href="#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup> The band also saw success with singles such as "<a title="Bleed It Out" href="/wiki/Bleed_It_Out">Bleed It Out</a>", "<a title="Shadow of the Day" href="/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Day">Shadow of the Day</a>", "<a title="Given Up" href="/wiki/Given_Up">Given Up</a>", and "<a title="Leave Out All the Rest" href="/wiki/Leave_Out_All_the_Rest">Leave Out All the Rest</a>", which were released throughout 2007 and early 2008. The band also collaborated with <a title="Busta Rhymes" href="/wiki/Busta_Rhymes">Busta Rhymes</a> on his single "<a class="mw-redirect" title="We Made It (Busta Rhymes song)" href="/wiki/We_Made_It_%28Busta_Rhymes_song%29">We Made It</a>", which was released on April 29.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a title="" href="#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Linkin Park's touring and live shows have, among other things, included a performance at <a class="mw-redirect" title="Live Earth Japan" href="/wiki/Live_Earth_Japan">Live Earth Japan</a> on July 7, 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><a title="" href="#cite_note-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></a></sup> and headlining <a title="Download Festival" href="/wiki/Download_Festival">Download Festival</a> in Donington Park, England and <a title="Edgefest" href="/wiki/Edgefest">Edgefest</a> in <a title="Downsview Park" href="/wiki/Downsview_Park">Downsview Park</a>, <a title="Toronto" href="/wiki/Toronto">Toronto</a>, Canada. The band completed touring on its fourth <a title="Projekt Revolution" href="/wiki/Projekt_Revolution">Projekt Revolution</a> tour before taking up an Arena tour around the United Kingdom, visiting <a title="Nottingham" href="/wiki/Nottingham">Nottingham</a>, <a title="Sheffield" href="/wiki/Sheffield">Sheffield</a> and <a title="Manchester" href="/wiki/Manchester">Manchester</a>, before finishing on a double night at <a title="The O2 arena (London)" href="/wiki/The_O2_arena_%28London%29">the O2 arena</a> in <a title="London" href="/wiki/London">London</a>. Bennington stated that Linkin Park plans to release a follow-up album to <i>Minutes to Midnight</i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-follow_49-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-follow-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup> However, he stated the band will first embark on a United States tour to gather inspiration for the album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-follow_49-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-follow-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></a></sup> In an interview with <i><a title="Rolling Stone" href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>, Bennington said that the band had already begun writing new material for the album, and Shinoda too stated that the album could well be released in late 2009. Mike Shinoda also announced a live CD/DVD entitled "<a title="Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes" href="/wiki/Road_to_Revolution:_Live_at_Milton_Keynes">Road to Revolution: Live at Milton Keynes</a>", which is a live video recording from the Projekt Revolution gig at the <a title="National Bowl" href="/wiki/National_Bowl">Milton Keynes Bowl</a> the 29th June 2008, which was officially released on the 24th November, 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-50"><a title="" href="#cite_note-50"><span>[</span>51<span>]</span></a></sup> In October 2008 Shinoda revealed on his blog that he, Farrell and Hahn had begun working on two song ideas at Hahn's home, with studio recording to begin in earnest soon.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51"><a title="" href="#cite_note-51"><span>[</span>52<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Future_direction_.282008.E2.80.93present.29" name="Future_direction_.282008.E2.80.93present.29"></a></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline">Future direction (2008–present)</span></h3> <p>In <span lang="my" lang="my">2008</span>, Bennington announced that Linkin Park's fourth studio release will be a <a title="Concept album" href="/wiki/Concept_album">concept album</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52"><a title="" href="#cite_note-52"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a></sup> The band has not released many specific details about the album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtv-08_53-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-mtv-08-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup> In an interview with <a title="MTV" href="/wiki/MTV">MTV</a> in November 2008, Bennington stated, "It sounds a little daunting to me, so, I think my confidence level will drop, but when it was presented to us by this friend of ours, we liked the idea. It was an inspiring idea, and it was something we could relate a lot of the things we like to write about to."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtv-08_53-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-mtv-08-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup> He also added that the band planned to begin recording in December for a six-week session. He expects the album itself to be released in mid 2009.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-mtv-08_53-2"><a title="" href="#cite_note-mtv-08-53"><span>[</span>54<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Style" name="Style"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Style</span></h2> <p>Both <i>Hybrid Theory</i> and <i>Meteora</i> combined the <a title="Nu metal" href="/wiki/Nu_metal">nu metal</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MusicMight_54-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-MusicMight-54"><span>[</span>55<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Popmatters_55-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Popmatters-55"><span>[</span>56<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NME_56-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-NME-56"><span>[</span>57<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Rolling_Stone_57-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Rolling_Stone-57"><span>[</span>58<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IGN_58-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-IGN-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a title="Rap rock" href="/wiki/Rap_rock">rap rock</a><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Allmusic_59-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-Allmusic-59"><span>[</span>60<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-IGN_58-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-IGN-58"><span>[</span>59<span>]</span></a></sup> sound with influences and elements from <a class="mw-redirect" title="Hip-hop" href="/wiki/Hip-hop">hip-hop</a>, <a title="Alternative rock" href="/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60"><a title="" href="#cite_note-60"><span>[</span>61<span>]</span></a></sup> and <a title="Electronica" href="/wiki/Electronica">electronica</a>, utilizing <a class="mw-redirect" title="Music programming" href="/wiki/Music_programming">programming</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" title="Synthesizers" href="/wiki/Synthesizers">synthesizers</a>. William Ruhlmann from <i><a title="Allmusic" href="/wiki/Allmusic">Allmusic</a></i> regarded it as "a <a class="extiw" title="wiktionary:Johnny-come-lately" href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Johnny-come-lately">Johnny-come-lately</a> to an already overdone musical style,"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61"><a title="" href="#cite_note-61"><span>[</span>62<span>]</span></a></sup> whereas <i><a title="Rolling Stone" href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i> called "<a title="Breaking the Habit" href="/wiki/Breaking_the_Habit">Breaking the Habit</a>" "risky, beautiful art".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62"><a title="" href="#cite_note-62"><span>[</span>63<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>In <i>Minutes to Midnight</i> the band experimented with their established sound and drew influences from a wider and more varied range of genres and styles, a process <i><a title="Los Angeles Times" href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times">Los Angeles Times</a></i> compares to a stage in <a title="U2" href="/wiki/U2">U2</a>'s work.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63"><a title="" href="#cite_note-63"><span>[</span>64<span>]</span></a></sup> In it, only two of the songs feature rapping, and the majority of the album can be considered <a title="Alternative rock" href="/wiki/Alternative_rock">alternative rock</a>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64"><a title="" href="#cite_note-64"><span>[</span>65<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65"><a title="" href="#cite_note-65"><span>[</span>66<span>]</span></a></sup> rather than nu metal or rap rock. It also is their first studio album to feature guitar solos.</p> <p>Linkin Park's use of two separate vocalists has become a large part of their music. Chester Bennington is most known for using screaming vocals common in various forms of metal, while also using more melodic singing, and has placed 46th in Hit Paraders list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lplist_66-0"><a title="" href="#cite_note-lplist-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Mike Shinoda is the group's <a title="Master of Ceremonies" href="/wiki/Master_of_Ceremonies">MC</a>, and does all of the rapping. Mike has also done all of the backing vocals live, and in their latest album, <i>Minutes to Midnight</i>, he sings lead vocals on "In Between", "Hands Held High" and the B-side "No Roads Left". Shinoda has also been placed in Hit Parader's list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists" at number 72.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-lplist_66-1"><a title="" href="#cite_note-lplist-66"><span>[</span>67<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Band_members" name="Band_members"></a></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">Band members</span></h2> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 152px;"><a class="image" title="MTV Thailand interviews Mike Shinoda in 2006" href="/wiki/File:MikeShinodainBKK.JPG"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/MikeShinodainBKK.JPG/150px-MikeShinodainBKK.JPG" width="150" border="0" height="200" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a class="internal" title="Enlarge" href="/wiki/File:MikeShinodainBKK.JPG"><span class="" style="border: 2px none rgb(0, 0, 255); display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; background-image: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="display: inline-block; width: 1px; height: 1px;"></span></span></a></div><a title="MTV Thailand" href="/wiki/MTV_Thailand">MTV Thailand</a> interviews Mike Shinoda in 2006</div></div></div> <dl><dt>Current </dt></dl> <ul><li><a title="Chester Bennington" href="/wiki/Chester_Bennington">Chester Bennington</a> – <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lead vocals" href="/wiki/Lead_vocals">vocals</a> (1999–present) </li><li><a title="Rob Bourdon" href="/wiki/Rob_Bourdon">Rob Bourdon</a> – <a title="Drum kit" href="/wiki/Drum_kit">drums</a>, <a title="Percussion instrument" href="/wiki/Percussion_instrument">percussion</a> (1996–present) </li><li><a title="Brad Delson" href="/wiki/Brad_Delson">Brad Delson</a> – <a title="Lead guitar" href="/wiki/Lead_guitar">lead guitar</a> (1996–present) </li><li>Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – <a title="Bass guitar" href="/wiki/Bass_guitar">bass guitar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Backing vocals" href="/wiki/Backing_vocals">backing vocals</a> (1996–1998, 2001–present) </li><li><a class="mw-redirect" title="Mr. Hahn (turntablist)" href="/wiki/Mr._Hahn_%28turntablist%29">Joe Hahn</a> – <a title="Turntablism" href="/wiki/Turntablism">turntables</a>, <a title="Programming (music)" href="/wiki/Programming_%28music%29">programming</a>, <a title="Sampling (music)" href="/wiki/Sampling_%28music%29">samples</a> (1996–present) </li><li><a title="Mike Shinoda" href="/wiki/Mike_Shinoda">Mike Shinoda</a> – <a title="Master of Ceremonies" href="/wiki/Master_of_Ceremonies">MC</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lead vocals" href="/wiki/Lead_vocals">vocals</a>, <a title="Rhythm guitar" href="/wiki/Rhythm_guitar">rhythm guitar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Keyboards" href="/wiki/Keyboards">keyboards</a> (1996–present) </li></ul> <dl><dt>Former </dt></dl> <ul><li>Mark Wakefield – <a class="mw-redirect" title="Lead vocals" href="/wiki/Lead_vocals">vocals</a> (1996–1998) </li></ul> <dl><dt>Session </dt></dl> <ul><li><a title="Kyle Christener" href="/wiki/Kyle_Christener">Kyle Christener</a> – <a title="Bass guitar" href="/wiki/Bass_guitar">bass guitar</a> (1998–1999) </li></ul></div>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-69152293286202125522009-03-07T06:39:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:40:07.693-08:00Massari has a concert in Los Angeles !!<span style="font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:180%;" ><a title="Massari with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/massari-2kvgz/overview">Massari</a> - News</span><br /><br /><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/2kvgz/thumb_massari_43_.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" />Massari Live in ConcertFrom Forever Massari<br /><br />Hey all Fans<br /><br />I have a good news for all MASSARI'S Fans<br />Massari has a concert in Los Angeles, CA this April<br /><br />you can check all the details on this link:<br /><br />http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55093212751&ref=mf <br /><br />Start Time: Friday, April 10, 2009 at 9:00pm<br />End Time: Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 3:00am<br />Location: VANGUARD<br />Street: 6021 Hollywood Blvd. <br />City/Town: Los Angeles, CA<br /><br />DJ Alex presents Massari live in concert at Vanguard in Los Angeles on Friday, April 10, 2009. Grooves by DJ Alex, Omar Cash, David K.O.B.<br /><br />Doors open at 9pm.<br /><br />Tickets available online: www.wantickets.com<br /><br />info: 8182976437/8184825218Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-9802822403793484932009-03-07T06:37:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:38:33.797-08:00What about Aaliyah's life in a film ?<img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/5wlxp/thumb_img39577.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" /> The film about singer Aaliyah, dead too early in 2001 at 22 years old, is currently shot by "Dreamgirls" director Bill Condon... The filming will start in March.<br /><br />About the bio film about the R&B singer Aaliyah, dead 8 years ago at 22 years old, news is spreaded... We know that singer & actress Keisha Chante would play <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-m66q1p2">"Try Again"</a> (N°26 in 2000) singer. Bill Condon, director of the film "Dreamgirls", should direct this film. "<i>Chante is currently learning her role, talking to family members, watching videos & training with Aaliyah's dance teacher & her friend Fatima Robinson. This film will be for "Selena" fans, who loved <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-4r8dw/overview">Jennifer Lopez</a></i>" he said.<br /><br />The film should also talk about her marriage with <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-ddmvg/overview">R. Kelly</a>, when she was only 15. The filming will start next month.<br /><br />Aaliyah Dana Haughton was a R&B singer from the 90's. She got revealed with her first album <b>Age Ain't Nothing But A Number</b>, successful thanks to the singles <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-8skfwf3">"Back And Forth"</a> & "At Your Best". 2 years later, in 1996, she met <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-lw6nz/overview">Timbaland</a> who produced her second album <b>One In A Million</b>, including songs written by <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-jwmrz/overview">Missy Elliott</a>. After a collaboration with <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-4vnmx/overview">DMX</a>, she worked with Timbaland again for her self-titled third album. On August 25, 2001, in Bahamas, back from the filming of <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-wbdqhzn">"Rock The Boat"</a> video (which became a posthumous video), the small plane who took her & her team crashed at the takeoff, stopping her promising career.<br /><br />Watch the video for "Try Again" (2000) <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1izdb_aaliyah-try-again_music" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />Watch the video for "Rock The Boat" (2001) <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x16nh6_aaliyah-rock-the-boat_events" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Aaliyah/news-67515.html" target="_blank">chartsinfrance.net</a>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-52889341055149370512009-03-07T06:35:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:37:10.130-08:00Madonna - News,Listen to Keep The Trance<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" title="Madonna with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/madonna-kj2mn/overview">Madonna</a></span><br /><br /><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/kj2mn/thumb_img22148.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" />Produced by <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-jhplb/overview">Mirwais</a>, for the album <b>Confessions On The Dance Floor</b> in 2005, the song "Keep The Trance" hasn't been included on the album's tracklist. Today, it's available on the Net : listen to a short clip !<br /><br />In 2005, Madonna released one of her most sold albums, <b>Confessions On The Dance Floor</b>, including the hits <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-nn1cjnw">"Hung Up"</a> (sampling <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/artist-jbttl/overview">Abba</a>), <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-ptmbjcg">"Sorry"</a> & <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-gvr69d9">"Get Together"</a>. What we know less is that the song available on the Net, "Keep The Trance", produced by Mirwais, as part of the non-album tracks, should have been included in the tracklist & become a hit : it has finally been removed from it. <br /><br />Listen to a short clip of "Keep The Trance" <a href="http://static.chartsinfrance.net/mp3/extrait_1234429162.asx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Also, Madonna, whose new single <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-b5r3tht">"Miles Away"</a> hasn't got the expected success despite its catchy music, will go back on tour next summer. She will perform at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome on July 19. The tickets will be available from February 18.<br /><br />Last year, <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/lyrics-s84vf5m">"4 Minutes"</a> singer has given 3 concerts in France : on August 26, 2008 at Marseille's Charles Ehrmann Stadium & of course, on September 20 & 21, 2008 at Paris' Stade De France.<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://letizia47.unblog.fr/" target="_blank">letizia47.unblog.com</a>.<br />To know more about it, check <a href="http://www.madonna.com/" target="_blank">madonna.com</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Madonna/news-67508.html" target="_blank">chartsinfrance.net</a>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-77298503397347597022009-03-07T06:34:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:35:00.413-08:00Kimberley Plan Fires Missy's Ire<a title="Missy Higgins with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/missy-higgins-qjmmt/overview">Missy Higgins</a><br /><br /><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/qjmmt/thumb_missy_higgins_11.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" />Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett, an old activist singer, is facing a heartfelt appeal from a new young activist singer, 25-year-old Missy Higgins.<br /><br />Higgins has written a personal letter to Garrett, asking him to stop the proposed industrialisation of the Kimberley wilderness.<br /><br />Higgins, who has a holiday house in Broome and wrote her album On a Clear Night there, said yesterday from the United States, where she's touring: "When I found out that there were plans to build a major LNG gas processing precinct at James Price Point, just north of Broome, I really could not believe it.<br /><br />"How anyone can think it's OK to erect a gigantic dirty gas plant on that exquisite coastline is unfathomable.<br /><br />"It's one of the last completely untouched, pristine coastal areas left on the planet. <br /><br />"The contrast of industrial smoke against the piercing blue of that sky is one of the wrongest things I can imagine. What a horrifically vivid image of Man versus Nature."<br /><br />Garrett knows Broome and the Kimberley well, having performed there with his band Midnight Oil in the late '80s and early '90s. He's trekked the Kimberley, indeed camped at the contentious site, James Price Point, which he describes as "a very beautiful place".<br /><br />Higgins said people in Broome felt frustration, anger and complete helplessness about the LNG precinct, which is being pushed through by pro-development Premier Colin Barnett and backed by federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson.Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-36890924409309765452009-03-07T06:32:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:33:38.869-08:00Taylor Hanson's Big, Young Family 'Makes Sense'<img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/bd6mr/thumb_16.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" /> When 25-year-old Taylor Hanson says the words “I have four” out loud, even he admits that “it sounds pretty crazy.” It “all makes sense” when you meet his children Jordan Ezra, 6, Penelope Anne, 4 next month, River Samuel, 2 ½, and Viggo Moriah, 3-months, however, he says in a new interview with Rolling Stone. “The dots all come together…It may seem like a lot, but it’s great,” he adds.<br /><br />That he’s created such a large family at such an early age means that his own children are uniquely poised to carry on the tradition he created with his own brothers Isaac Hanson and Zac Hanson. Together, the trio comprised the musical group Hanson, and Taylor says it wouldn’t surprise him in the least if ‘Hanson Jr.’ forms someday soon.<br /><br /><a title="Hanson with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/hanson-bd6mr/overview">Hanson</a> - News<br /><br />“It’s funny, River is our second youngest; He’s two and he’s an incredible drummer. He’s got rhythm! And not just the way a parent thinks, ‘Hey my kids are great.’ I mean, you always think your kids are great. He really has rhythm. So we’ll see.”<br /><br />That’s not to say he’d encourage it! “I would never wish [a career in music] on anyone unless they were unable to not do it, which is what we’ve always said about our band,” explains Taylor, adding “if you can’t do anything else, then you should do it.” If it turns out that the kids are indeed ”addicted” to music, however, Taylor says his advice for them will be simple: “Go for it.”<br /><br />Ezra, Penelope, River and Viggo are Taylor’s children with wife Natalie Hanson. Taylor’s new band Tinted Windows — a side project with former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos and Fountains Of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger — is scheduled to release their self-titled debut album in stores April 21st.Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-20137436312958207172009-03-07T06:14:00.000-08:002009-03-07T06:21:40.513-08:00LL Cool J Says He Made Exit 13 'As A Hip-Hop Fan'<div style="text-align: center; font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:180%;" >LL Cool J</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGppBY70t3oc-aY89_dhZZvavTZnUC5_GD9joQWvzxO-fd7ee9yYUPABxvEtpnqajE_p1KM3LvIKpNHyyt1VxIsurWxgBPj44a9IeZST0pz8aW2W5KYS-ibVo9lQKEw0vdVHI_LD4cqU0/s1600-h/2wci3wg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGppBY70t3oc-aY89_dhZZvavTZnUC5_GD9joQWvzxO-fd7ee9yYUPABxvEtpnqajE_p1KM3LvIKpNHyyt1VxIsurWxgBPj44a9IeZST0pz8aW2W5KYS-ibVo9lQKEw0vdVHI_LD4cqU0/s400/2wci3wg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310449835816554082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/qzlg4/thumb_img13499.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" /> The first-week numbers for LL Cool J's Exit 13 will be released Wednesday, but hip-hop's G.O.A.T. said the only stat that matters is how many hits are on the album.<br /><br />"People can say what they want," he said. "But this is a Mayweather moment. I'mma take a page out of Floyd's book on this one. The album is hot. It's crazy. ... I can't guarantee the first-week sales, because retail is gonna be looking at my last albums' sales and thinking about that. They gonna be caught up in that. So I don't know what I'm gonna do the first week. That's all based on how many records you put out there in the first place. But let me tell you something: That word of mouth on that album and that second week, you watch. We're gonna see.<br /><br />"Mr. Smith did 80,000 the first week and sold 3 million," he added. "Mama Said Knock You Out did maybe 100,000 first week; that sold 3 million. Bigger and Deffer sold triple-platinum. I have a feeling that sold pretty well, but this is my favorite album that I've made. It is. It's hard for people to think that way. They have records that's embedded in their heads so deeply, you can't move them. But for those new hip-hop fans, its gonna be crazy."<br /><br />LL spoke with so much pride about the project because it's the LP he's worked the longest on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvpYd5djmKDCLoAFoYoAoHoz5dAVwnfZgXk0HfAvdluhzEGQyu4vLREKgbQVlhmBzonORWsqR9TrWpPSVKde2GJqpLbH79m7scWzBT7xcL4PS8VNNDB2jaizAsa4wu7OONl_ot_iRUXM/s1600-h/LL-Cool-J-Collection-for-Sears-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvpYd5djmKDCLoAFoYoAoHoz5dAVwnfZgXk0HfAvdluhzEGQyu4vLREKgbQVlhmBzonORWsqR9TrWpPSVKde2GJqpLbH79m7scWzBT7xcL4PS8VNNDB2jaizAsa4wu7OONl_ot_iRUXM/s400/LL-Cool-J-Collection-for-Sears-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310450128773266370" border="0" /></a>"Just hating on it, hating on yourself," he said about recording the album over the past two years. "I hated on the joint. Say what you want about me, but everything I do musically is on purpose and by design. I know what I'm doing. And that being said, when it's time to make a joint, I hated on the joint. 'Make a new joint, flip it. I'll make two types of joints.' There's two types of albums I make: Albums I make by myself when I'm being artsy and albums I make as a hip-hop fan. I made this album as a hip-hop fan.<br /><br />"Mama Said Knock You Out — that was, maybe, almost a year," he continued. "[Exit 13] is crazy. Two years to get it right, B. I'm telling you. I promise you. It's gonna be mailmen that ain't bought a hip-hop album in 10 years that's gonna buy this album. It's gonna be junior high schools that never bought an LL album buying this album once it gets in the system, God willing."<br /><br />LL is currently opening for Janet Jackson's Rock Witchu Tour. On November 21, he'll head to New Jersey's Izod Center for Hot 97's Check the Rhyme concert. Besides LL, 50 Cent, Q-Tip, T-Pain, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Ice Cube and Brandy are all on the bill.Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-73872124317657530932009-03-03T23:03:00.000-08:002009-03-03T23:19:52.877-08:00T.I. - Dead and Gone (feat. Justin Timberlake)<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: courier new;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">T . I . on the loose</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIowG9obD-adGEUIB9zx-sjjiuReVH64S_KPMkko2phyphenhyphenNtoy65hugycjkSO2Gq38Xb8w179OdxWdzvGxZc4bLWqC2K6nypxsYXX2UxRxzdOytWzqXdQOxbIf9xfOO_RdmoH_oINkMwPP4/s1600-h/ti_101307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIowG9obD-adGEUIB9zx-sjjiuReVH64S_KPMkko2phyphenhyphenNtoy65hugycjkSO2Gq38Xb8w179OdxWdzvGxZc4bLWqC2K6nypxsYXX2UxRxzdOytWzqXdQOxbIf9xfOO_RdmoH_oINkMwPP4/s400/ti_101307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309224982721617410" border="0" /></a><br />Clifford "Tip" Harris, better known as Atlanta rapper T.I., returns with "KING," his fourth major label full-length solo release, and third through his joint venture deal with Atlantic Records. Picking up where his previous effort left off, "KING" (Grand Hustle/Atlantic) builds on the sound and the success of 2004's "URBAN LEGEND" - a blockbuster project that debuted at the top of Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums" chart and at #7 on the Billboard 200, spawned the RIAA platinum-certified single, "Bring Em Out" and the Grammy-nominated smash, "U Don't Know Me," registered over three million in ringtone sales, and was certified RIAA platinum, going on to sell over 1.3 million copies in the U.S. alone.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;">T.I - Whatever you like (music video)</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yFehbloOgc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yFehbloOgc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Alongside its commercial success, "URBAN LEGEND" secured a multitude of award nominations, including Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album at the 2005 American Music Awards, Best Rap Video ("U Don't Know Me") at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and Choice Rap Track ("Bring Em Out") at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, plus landing T.I. his second annual VIBE Award for Street Anthem of the Year ("U Don't Know Me"). The kudos culminated with his Grammy nomination for "U Don't Know Me" for Best Rap Solo Performance, sharing the category with Common, Eminem, 50 Cent, Ludacris, and Kanye West.<br /><br />Since he first burst on the scene in 2001 with his impressive solo debut, "I'M SERIOUS," T.I. has proven himself to be more than just a maker of hit records. In addition to the millions of albums sold worldwide over the course of his career, T.I.'s striking good looks, impeccable sense of style, and charismatic personality have catapulted him onto cover of VIBE (January '05) and into the fashion pages of GQ (May '05), earned him the award for Most Stylish Male at the 2005 BET Awards, and secured him spots on BET's "All Shades of Fine: 25 Hottest Men of the Last 25 Years" and Teen People's "The 25 Hottest Stars Under 25" lists. In April 2005, he became the first rapper to appear/perform on the hit Fox TV show, "The O.C." and he's been featured prominently in print ad campaigns for Reebok's S. Carter sneaker line and Sean John clothing. T.I. will make his acting debut on March 31st 2006 in the Overbrook/Warner Bros. feature film, "ATL," directed by famed video director Chris Robinson.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HBZP24I44QHSf67TaXpMICmS6H6QAZ-CSJU8SM67bYom8ctCFlg0IX14QMfkvVhwtKGxC6IBSADprHM0szhsDITDax42AiW4Dxp_-t8mSxHaOOuEATunS25H23uBT65V1v1PWEVxV1w/s1600-h/TI_bio_image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HBZP24I44QHSf67TaXpMICmS6H6QAZ-CSJU8SM67bYom8ctCFlg0IX14QMfkvVhwtKGxC6IBSADprHM0szhsDITDax42AiW4Dxp_-t8mSxHaOOuEATunS25H23uBT65V1v1PWEVxV1w/s400/TI_bio_image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309226963603783570" border="0" /></a><br />Over the years, T.I. has also continued to expand his already impressive business portfolio. In 2005 alone, he launched his own film production company, Grand Hustle Films, signed a multi-artist joint venture deal for his label, Grand Hustle, with Atlantic Records, and established a music publishing deal for Grand Hustle Music with Warner Chappell. He also co-executive produced the soundtrack to the hit film, "HUSTLE & FLOW," and released the collection through Grand Hustle/Atlantic and did the same for the debut album of his group P$C, "25 TO LIFE."<br /><br />T.I. has stepped up his community involvement as well, taking the lead on several initiatives to help the victims devastated by Hurricane Katrina, including personally donating $50,000 to the relief effort while leading an on-air Labor Day pledge drive on Atlanta's V-103 FM that raised over $263,000 for Mississippi rapper David Banner's "Heal the Hood" Foundation. He also partnered with David Banner and Atlanta newcomer Young Jeezy for a two-day food and clothing drive at Atlanta's Club Vision and co-headlined a massive benefit concert on September 17, sharing the bill with heavyweights such as Nelly, OutKast's Big Boi, and David Banner - with 100 percent of the proceeds going to "Heal the Hood."<br /><br />T.I. Ft. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sQDVv48zSrE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sQDVv48zSrE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />In addition to his Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, T.I. worked with troubled youths at Paulding Detention Center in Atlanta, provided scholarships for single parent families at Boys and Girls Clubs, and headlined Boost Mobile's RockCorps concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall, which featured such performers as Fat Joe, Slim Thug, and Kanye West, and was held exclusively for community service volunteers. In June 2005, The Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez Foundation, named for the deceased member of multi-platinum female group TLC, and Atlanta's V-103 honored T.I. with the 2005 Lisa Lopez Award for groundbreaking achievements in music and community service. With this steady list of growing accomplishments in music, business, and community service, it's no surprise that Pharrell Williams of multi-platinum production team the Neptunes has called T.I. the "Jay-Z of the South."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedFsF0Q6uTa2dK6agSPYdiKIf8QmbGp01bQ4ArlSKZWCO10IpimhytH4FxF7hyphenhyphen6kS51oM0wGlMLWDAxT1VxeD-pDOM1YXOLbXdlVDn6cR4JE7_KdaPBQE8y5Rta1et2FwdgJGvi-XadI/s1600-h/12ti390.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedFsF0Q6uTa2dK6agSPYdiKIf8QmbGp01bQ4ArlSKZWCO10IpimhytH4FxF7hyphenhyphen6kS51oM0wGlMLWDAxT1VxeD-pDOM1YXOLbXdlVDn6cR4JE7_KdaPBQE8y5Rta1et2FwdgJGvi-XadI/s400/12ti390.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309226964948478642" border="0" /></a><br />"KING" marks the next phase in the evolution of T.I. as an artist. Featuring production by longtime collaborators the Neptunes, as well as Mannie Fresh, DJ Toomp, and a host of others, "KING" delivers just the mix of street bangers and club hits that the fans and the critics have come to expect from T.I.. Says T.I., "This album is a solidification of why I call myself the 'King of the South,' why I'm known as that, and a continued progression of what I've done musically and with my career." With surefire hits like "What You Know" and "Why You Wanna..." packed on to the project, coupled with T.I.'s tireless focus and determination to progress and stay on top of his game, there is no doubt that the "King of the South" will continue to reign supreme.<br /><br />T.I. Feat Rihanna- Live Your Life Official Music Video<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOFDaB1Sh20&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOFDaB1Sh20&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-73466969717780567292009-03-03T22:50:00.000-08:002009-03-03T23:00:56.299-08:00Lonely Island, The - News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHvCqCDB8GSk6JvgBAPBN1OmyQEF15bKHTJgEVVHX7CTfRSpkf-78B1YIPwgJnxjCD8fP0KUQ_tSyxu4C6m9yTGy2zAQHjdGcIDMGv10AFvBdMuIBX_eUud8FXOU8oVqTmNxRhHz1MFU/s1600-h/the_lonely_island_ft_t_pain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHvCqCDB8GSk6JvgBAPBN1OmyQEF15bKHTJgEVVHX7CTfRSpkf-78B1YIPwgJnxjCD8fP0KUQ_tSyxu4C6m9yTGy2zAQHjdGcIDMGv10AFvBdMuIBX_eUud8FXOU8oVqTmNxRhHz1MFU/s400/the_lonely_island_ft_t_pain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309223306376535442" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Lonely Island's Debuts</span> at #1 on iTunes</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">dream girl</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7SwWiUxQx4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7SwWiUxQx4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><img style="border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="http://img.letssingit.com/artists/44t6r/thumb_lonely_island_250.jpg" width="76" align="left" height="76" />Hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as 'the new frontier of white and nerdy,' and lauded on the cover of TV Guide magazine as 'the future of TV and digital comedy,' The Lonely Island (Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) can now add the title music super stars to their growing repertoire of entertainment milestones - their Incredibad debuted as the #1 Comedy Album on the Billboard chart, as well as hitting the #1 spot their first week out on iTunes' coveted album chart, giving them the best debut by a new artist in 2009.<br /><br />Released February 10th, the CD/DVD has garnered across the board acclaim as it also locks down the # 13 spot on Billboard's Top Album chart. 'The lyrics are hilariously simple and the music wildly catchy,' raved the New York Observer, 'without a doubt one of the funniest albums, music or otherwise in years,' wrote Paste magazine.com - 'good music and pitch-perfect style parodies.'<br /><br />Incredibad is packed with new parodies and signature musical versions of groundbreaking digital shorts that have transformed sketch comedy and online satirical fare. Among the breakout gems included on Incredibad is the Emmy winning YouTube sensation "D**k In A Box," featuring superstar Justin Timberlake, which snagged a record-breaking 30 million-plus views before being permanently housed at NBCs online destinations NBC.com and Hulu, and the more recent follow-up "J**z In My Pants," which had 15 million views in its first month on YouTube. And don't forget their current SNL/YouTube sensation "I'm On a Boat," a send-up of hip hop's status-seeking obsession featuring T-Pain, which Newteevee.com has hailed as 'the gold standard on how to be both clever and profane.'<br /><br />The CD features uproarious new surprises such as "Sax Man," featuring Jack Black, "Santana DVX," featuring Bay area rapper and The Click founder E-40, and "Like a Boss," among others. Audio renditions of past webisodes and SNL shorts round out the Universal Republic release, including fan-favorites such as "Lazy Sunday," which first aired on SNL in December of 2005, becoming a YouTube phenomenon and helping to brand the fledgling site as the internet's premiere must-watch online destination.<br /><br />The trio's inspired new musical creations feature a diverse arsenal of guest-artists including hip hop impresario T-Pain, Grammy winning superstar Norah Jones, comedian Chris Parnell, The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, and others.<br /><br />The Lonely Island will be celebrating their first release by doing two in store appearances in support of Incredibad - in New York City at Virgin Records Union Square and Newbury Comics in Boston. The "hometown" stop at Virgin will take place Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm with a Q&A and CD signing. The Newbury visit is on Friday, February 27th at 7pm following the same format.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4pXfHLUlZf4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4pXfHLUlZf4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7SwWiUxQx4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7SwWiUxQx4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-24618462087520892792009-02-24T00:03:00.000-08:002009-02-24T00:27:01.129-08:00"Alejandro Manzano A True Talent"<div style="text-align: center; font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">a l e j a n d r o</span><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtdM6ft9B50Ej1tGgdsyNy1XIXk86L-kGCH7uyudsF0HwbajBNLFEH89HUNKh32Fb0_XHSvzq1GUoCPR7U0S0Emvr8-ve05Vdtx0cLtvTgRBKTHd4IHrJwukPMBedXTo4bJcUPMIe1nM/s1600-h/l_8a7bf03c78654e338e1f5451509cdb2c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtdM6ft9B50Ej1tGgdsyNy1XIXk86L-kGCH7uyudsF0HwbajBNLFEH89HUNKh32Fb0_XHSvzq1GUoCPR7U0S0Emvr8-ve05Vdtx0cLtvTgRBKTHd4IHrJwukPMBedXTo4bJcUPMIe1nM/s400/l_8a7bf03c78654e338e1f5451509cdb2c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306276311621001938" border="0" /></a>After the success of their tour in the Philippines the band boyce avenue have'nt stop,they had a new cover of the song How far We've Come by Matchbox Twenty.It just show that the band particularly Alejandro Manzano do really have a passion in music that he continious to amazed his fans with his incredibly beautiful voice & being a true talented musician.This guy just won't get enough....the music lives in him!:)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uLYW94kxazHyi-026MRv0gKOXKA7cbkkreUWH1Qs-5HrbCs32FtYGz3kUsbxWYVp1XApbxTm0oRk6mQl03ImFjnz7s4_UbITZW4WDWcHpgxHEqGPCA4udn7Dn7uZtJiaIWZZifhz2jM/s1600-h/l_f7a10e7a6b124e2196c5842161dca084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uLYW94kxazHyi-026MRv0gKOXKA7cbkkreUWH1Qs-5HrbCs32FtYGz3kUsbxWYVp1XApbxTm0oRk6mQl03ImFjnz7s4_UbITZW4WDWcHpgxHEqGPCA4udn7Dn7uZtJiaIWZZifhz2jM/s400/l_f7a10e7a6b124e2196c5842161dca084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306276313821459554" border="0" /></a><br />Matchbox Twenty - How Far We've Come (acoustic) on iTunes<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QmzN37j4z0I&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QmzN37j4z0I&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IHEg0CozS6XsMkdfu4nFSM5zO-S5so6VHV1uqaog2ku6yAKFtvneNHkoBBz3fsRLWwNYg7CXzT7IZxZEbku7etvvB8VHmWCnr2Cb63dmCWiIkA0bmW_TWXB7GaCnTZAyHd4n2-6N0m4/s1600-h/l_f49ddba15b984e85ad15ddaa1bf1eca6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IHEg0CozS6XsMkdfu4nFSM5zO-S5so6VHV1uqaog2ku6yAKFtvneNHkoBBz3fsRLWwNYg7CXzT7IZxZEbku7etvvB8VHmWCnr2Cb63dmCWiIkA0bmW_TWXB7GaCnTZAyHd4n2-6N0m4/s400/l_f49ddba15b984e85ad15ddaa1bf1eca6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306276313402604706" border="0" /></a>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-45114109731751929072009-02-20T15:18:00.000-08:002009-02-21T06:00:32.138-08:00Boyceavenue's Live Performance (Philippines)<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:courier new;" > " b o y c e a v e n u e i n a s i a "</span><br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDiA-UPWEVoqqTch3WswwH_NvL0Av6scS57T7VhRMixlu5XHr13_hxakPKdvv-vPYFMSxl8USyh1v9S0CHPJzusEV65lYT951aZO2fBnW9Hr1iv32SK7dJtbMjp6xreBhLrUm6X8TJu4/s1600-h/71vx9nb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDiA-UPWEVoqqTch3WswwH_NvL0Av6scS57T7VhRMixlu5XHr13_hxakPKdvv-vPYFMSxl8USyh1v9S0CHPJzusEV65lYT951aZO2fBnW9Hr1iv32SK7dJtbMjp6xreBhLrUm6X8TJu4/s400/71vx9nb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305101740173390226" border="0" /></a>Are you one of those die hard fans of the most admired acoustic band today the boyceavenue?They had been popular on YOUTUBE doing such amazing covers of songs of various artists.The band is putting a unique touch in every song that they choose to cover.Their unique style & charisma is what bringing them to fame.Alejandro Manzano is really such a hunk....his voice ,his looks,his style everything about him makes him the MAN!I don't want to be unfair or bias i had to admit all of them are good looking but only Alejandro catches my eyes & my heart.He is so manly...ok,ok,i don't want to be sentimental here.This is my blog & i think i've got the authority to write what i had on mind...& it's just Alejandro Manzano I crave for....girls you can choose from the remaining three,i'm getting the vocalist :).<br /><br />Below are the following performances they had in the Philippines.Filipinos loves boyceavenue i've seen it myself.I've been with the band every step.<br /><h1>Boyce Avenue Live in Philippines</h1>SM North Edsa<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HVI9TPJcgng&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HVI9TPJcgng&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />SM Mall Of Asia<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eXD6mavzWyU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eXD6mavzWyU&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SumzRHp6_EA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SumzRHp6_EA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Rd8897lNLo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></object>SM Megamall<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/54CTkPol9lc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/54CTkPol9lc&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HIMcf9cY7NM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/plzl5QgUNh0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/plzl5QgUNh0&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Boyceavenue cd signingMonina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-59297347074829828632009-02-17T04:13:00.000-08:002009-02-20T20:41:27.243-08:00"Songs brings memories & make an impact in our lives"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7GEvrpdrW09HzwvTG7UuwBnp63lEBry0B4OcptmWnKyG8JW_5_nP_u36kRKjZztnbsrMWwejGBmrtPmey-LIZACDilYd8xBYUuDtd-fXA28UF7rXtok9wwpaQl_ZoI8q4ZMe6FzuZbY/s1600-h/YesterdaysMemoriesHeader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7GEvrpdrW09HzwvTG7UuwBnp63lEBry0B4OcptmWnKyG8JW_5_nP_u36kRKjZztnbsrMWwejGBmrtPmey-LIZACDilYd8xBYUuDtd-fXA28UF7rXtok9wwpaQl_ZoI8q4ZMe6FzuZbY/s400/YesterdaysMemoriesHeader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305105315114540690" border="0" /></a>Reminiscing the memories of my life by just listening to the songs that had been a piece of me.It brings back the old memories that we had.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I can take my eyes of you - lauryn hill</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dx2S3iOtz5k&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dx2S3iOtz5k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> killing me softly - lauryn hill</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YAEWrnOtrY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7YAEWrnOtrY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-41588173373818078332009-02-17T03:32:00.000-08:002009-02-17T04:12:34.885-08:00The Influence Of Gloria Gaynor In The World Of Music<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">G l o r i a G a y n o r</span></span><br /></div><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27PAq_5vP_dbSsXa1PKt4EdlVHbgHoqGQb9TUbPfRLnddwy3BSzREolVDzWLkFO1QR1fcCAJCpZDaHfVAvOcdSuXieDYznqYMMDFfNXLR7jiPjCsO53rTJGQVgrjinTwTsr0wzgNn0KQ/s1600-h/GloriaGaynor-sepia.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27PAq_5vP_dbSsXa1PKt4EdlVHbgHoqGQb9TUbPfRLnddwy3BSzREolVDzWLkFO1QR1fcCAJCpZDaHfVAvOcdSuXieDYznqYMMDFfNXLR7jiPjCsO53rTJGQVgrjinTwTsr0wzgNn0KQ/s400/GloriaGaynor-sepia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303736217774978914" border="0" /></a><b>Gloria Gaynor</b> (born <b>Gloria Fowles</b> on <a title="September 7" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/September_7">September 7</a>, <a title="1949" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/1949">1949</a> in <a title="Newark, New Jersey" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey">Newark, New Jersey</a>) is an <a title="United States" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_States">American</a> singer, best-known for the <a title="Disco" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Disco">disco</a> era hits "<a title="I Will Survive" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Will_Survive">I Will Survive</a>" (<a title="Billboard Hot 100" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100">Hot 100</a> #1, 1979), "<a title="Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Never_Can_Say_Goodbye_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">Never Can Say Goodbye</a>" (Hot 100 #4, 1974), "<a class="mw-redirect" title="Let Me Know (I Have A Right)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Let_Me_Know_%28I_Have_A_Right%29">Let Me Know (I Have A Right)</a>" (Hot 100 #42, 1980) and "<a class="mw-redirect" title="I Am What I Am (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Am_What_I_Am_%28song%29">I Am What I Am</a>" (Hot 100 #82, 1983). She was born in <a title="Newark, New Jersey" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Newark,_New_Jersey">Newark</a>, <a title="New Jersey" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/New_Jersey">New Jersey<br /></a></p> <table style="width: 6px; height: 8px;" class="toc" id="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody> <tr> <td><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I will survive</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xv6lHwWwO3w&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xv6lHwWwO3w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a id="Early_career" name="Early_career"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Early career" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Gloria_Gaynor&action=edit&section=1">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Early career</span></h2> <p>Gaynor was a singer with the Soul Satisfiers, a <a title="Jazz" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jazz">jazz</a>/<a title="Pop music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Pop_music">pop</a> band, in the 1960s. Her first solo single was "She'll Be Sorry/Let Me Go Baby" (1965).</p> <p>Her first real success came in 1975 with the release of her album <i><a title="Never Can Say Goodbye (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Never_Can_Say_Goodbye_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">Never Can Say Goodbye</a></i>, which established her as a <a title="Disco" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Disco">disco</a> artist. The first side of this album consisted of three disco songs ("Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There"), with no breaks in between the songs. This 19-minute dance marathon proved to be enormously popular, especially at dance clubs. All three songs were released as singles via radio edits, and all of them became hits. This album was so instrumental in introducing disco music to the public, that many later believed that Gloria Gaynor had been the first artist to record <a class="mw-redirect" title="Disco music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Disco_music">disco music</a>. "Never Can Say Goodbye" became the first song to top <i><a title="Billboard (magazine)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_%28magazine%29">Billboard</a></i> magazine's <a class="mw-redirect" title="Hot Dance Music/Club Play" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hot_Dance_Music/Club_Play">dance chart</a>. So, in that sense, she was the first. Capitalizing on the success of her first album, Gloria Gaynor quickly released her second album <i><a title="Experience Gloria Gaynor" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Experience_Gloria_Gaynor">Experience Gloria Gaynor</a></i> later that same year. While this album was also successful, it was not quite as popular as her previous album in the mainstream.</p> <p>Some of her lesser-known singles, due to lack of recurrent airplay - including "Honey Bee" (1974), "Casanova Brown" (1975), and "Let's Make A Deal" (1976) - became hits in the clubs and reached the Top 5 on <i>Billboard'</i>s disco charts. After her 1976 album, <i><a title="I've Got You" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I%27ve_Got_You">I've Got You</a></i>, Gaynor shifted from her hit production team, to work with other productions. While it seemed like a good move, her subsequent producers did not seem to match Gaynor's vocal approach and style as well. This caused the albums that followed such as 1977's <i><a title="Glorious (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Glorious_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">Glorious</a></i> and 1978's <i><a title="Park Avenue Sound" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Park_Avenue_Sound">Park Avenue Sound</a></i> to be regarded as merely good albums instead of excellent albums.</p><p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can't take my eyes of you</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7L0R9cOysKA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7L0R9cOysKA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p> <p><a id="Major_mainstream_breakthrough" name="Major_mainstream_breakthrough"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Major mainstream breakthrough" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Gloria_Gaynor&action=edit&section=2">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Major mainstream breakthrough</span></h2> <p>For the next few years, Gloria Gaynor would only enjoy a few moderate hits. However, in late 1978, with the release of her album <i><a title="Love Tracks (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Love_Tracks_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">Love Tracks</a></i>, she climbed the pop charts again because of her song "<a title="I Will Survive" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Will_Survive">I Will Survive</a>". The lyrics of this song are written from the point of view of a woman, recently dumped, telling her former lover that she can cope without him and does not want anything more to do with him. The song has become something of an anthem of female <a class="mw-redirect" title="Emancipation of women" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Emancipation_of_women">emancipation</a>, and is still a staple of office parties and <a title="Karaoke" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Karaoke">karaoke</a> nights. The song was awarded the only <a title="Grammy Award" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Grammy_Award">Grammy Award</a> for <b>Best Disco Recording</b> in 1980 (the category was discontinued upon disco's fall from favor shortly afterward). In 1999, <a title="Pixar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Pixar">Pixar</a> animator <a class="external text" title="http://www.navone.org/" href="http://www.navone.org/" rel="nofollow">Victor Navone</a>used this song to create an <a class="external text" title="http://amfilms.hash.com/search/entry.php?entry=539" href="http://amfilms.hash.com/search/entry.php?entry=539" rel="nofollow">alien music video</a> which for a time was a minor <a class="mw-redirect" title="Internet phenomenon" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Internet_phenomenon">Internet phenomenon</a>.</p> <p>In late 1979, she released the album <i><a class="new" title="I Have A Right (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=I_Have_A_Right&action=edit&redlink=1">I Have A Right</a></i> which contained her next disco hit, "<a class="new" title="Let Me Know (I Have The Right) (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Let_Me_Know_%28I_Have_The_Right%29&action=edit&redlink=1">Let Me Know (I Have The Right)</a>", which featured <a title="Doc Severinsen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Doc_Severinsen">Doc Severinsen</a> of <i><a title="The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Tonight_Show_Starring_Johnny_Carson">The Tonight Show</a></i> fame, on trumpet solo. Gaynor also recorded a disco song called "<a class="new" title="Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Love_Is_Just_A_Heartbeat_Away&action=edit&redlink=1">Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away</a>" in 1979 for the vampire movie "<a title="Nocturna" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Nocturna">Nocturna</a>" which featured a number of disco songs.</p> <p><a id="Stateside_career_decline" name="Stateside_career_decline"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Stateside career decline" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Gloria_Gaynor&action=edit&section=3">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Stateside career decline</span></h2> <p>In 1980 and again in 1981, Gaynor released two disco albums which were virtually ignored in the <a title="United States" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_States">US</a> due to the backlash against disco, which began late in 1979. Surprisingly, neither albums' singles registered on <a title="Urban contemporary" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Urban_contemporary">Urban contemporary</a> radio, where disco music remained popular. In 1982, she became a <a title="Christian" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Christian">Christian</a> and began to distance herself from a past she considered to be <a title="Sin" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sin">sinful</a>. She would not release an album in 1982. In 1983, she released an album entitled <i><a title="Gloria Gaynor (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gloria_Gaynor_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">Gloria Gaynor</a></i>, in which she rejected <a title="Disco" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Disco">disco</a> for mid-tempo R&B and Pop style songs. The album contained a patriotic song called "America" as well as a new version of "I Will Survive". In this new version of "I Will Survive", she changed the lyrics of the song in order to advertise her new conversion to <a title="Christianity" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Christianity">Christianity</a>. The words "It took all the strength I had not to fall apart" were changed to "Only the Lord could give me strength not to fall apart". The album was not a success in the Pop, Dance or Urban markets. This move proved to be a turn off to all other than her devoted fans.</p> <p>Gaynor would achieve her final success in the '80s with the release of her album <i>I Am Gloria Gaynor</i> in 1984. This was mainly due to the song "<a class="mw-redirect" title="I Am What I Am (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Am_What_I_Am_%28song%29">I Am What I Am</a>", which became a hit at dance clubs, and then on the Club Play chart in late 1983/early 1984. "I Am What I Am" made Gaynor a <a title="Gay icon" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gay_icon">gay icon</a>. However, her career went into sharp decline following this hit. She mainly made her living outside of the US where there was never any disco backlash. Her 1986 album, <i>The Power of Gloria Gaynor</i>, which was almost entirely composed of cover versions of other songs that were popular at the time, was both a critical and commercial failure.</p> <p><a id="Career_Revival" name="Career_Revival"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Career Revival" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Gloria_Gaynor&action=edit&section=4">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Career Revival</span></h2> <p>Gloria began to revive her career worldwide with the aggressive revival of disco beginning in the early to mid 1990's.</p> <p>During the late 1990s, she dabbled in acting for a while, guest starring on <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="The Wayans Bros" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Wayans_Bros">The Wayans Bros</a></i>, <i><a title="That '70s Show" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/That_%2770s_Show">That '70s Show</a></i>, and <i><a title="Ally McBeal" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ally_McBeal">Ally McBeal</a></i> before doing a limited engagement performance in <a title="Broadway theatre" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Broadway_theatre">Broadway's</a> <i><a title="Smokey Joe's Cafe" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Smokey_Joe%27s_Cafe">Smokey Joe's Cafe</a></i>.</p> <p>She returned to the recording studio in 2002, releasing her first album in over 15 years, entitled, <i>I Wish You Love</i>. The two singles released from the album, "Just Keep Thinking About You" and "I Never Knew", both topped <i>Billboard</i>'s <a class="mw-redirect" title="Hot Dance Music/Club Play" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hot_Dance_Music/Club_Play">Hot Dance Music/Club Play</a>. Both singles also secured moderate to heavy Dance format radio airplay. The latter song also charted #30 on <i>Billboard'</i>s <a class="mw-redirect" title="Adult Contemporary" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Adult_Contemporary">Adult Contemporary</a> chart.</p> <p>After almost 30 years of its release, Gaynor continues to ride the success of "I Will Survive", touring the country and the world over and performing her signature song on dozens of TV shows. A few successful remixes of the song during the 1990s and 2000s along with new versions of the song by <a title="Lonnie Gordon" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lonnie_Gordon">Lonnie Gordon</a>, <a title="Diana Ross" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Diana_Ross">Diana Ross</a>, <a title="Chantay Savage" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chantay_Savage">Chantay Savage</a>, rock group <a title="Cake (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cake_%28band%29">Cake</a> and others as well as constant recurrent airplay on nearly all <a class="mw-redirect" title="Soft AC" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Soft_AC">Soft AC</a> and Rhythmic format radio stations have helped to keep the song in the mainstream.</p> <p>On September 19, 2005, Gaynor was honored twice when she and her music were inducted into the <a title="Dance Music Hall of Fame" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dance_Music_Hall_of_Fame">Dance Music Hall of Fame</a>. She was inducted in the <i>Artist Inductees</i> category along with fellow disco legends <a title="Chic (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chic_%28band%29">Chic</a> and the late <a title="Sylvester" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sylvester">Sylvester</a>. Her classic anthem, "I Will Survive" was inducted under the <i>Records Inductees</i> category.</p> <p>In 2004, Gaynor re-released her 1998 album <i><a title="What a Life" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/What_a_Life">What a Life</a></i> under the name <i><a title="The Answer (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Answer_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">The Answer</a></i> as a follow up to her successful hit album, <i><a title="I Wish You Love (Gloria Gaynor album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Wish_You_Love_%28Gloria_Gaynor_album%29">I Wish You Love</a>.</i> The album includes her popular club hit, "Oh, What A Life."</p> <p>In January 08, The American Diabetes Association named Gloria Gaynor the Honorary Spokesperson of the 2008 NYC Step Out To Fight Diabetes Walk. The link to the Step Out To Fight Diabetes Walk is <a class="external autonumber" title="http://stepout.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut080058010?pg=entry&fr_id=5415" href="http://stepout.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut080058010?pg=entry&fr_id=5415" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>.</p> <p><a id="Controversy" name="Controversy"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Controversy" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Gloria_Gaynor&action=edit&section=5">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Controversy</span></h2> <p>Since Gloria Gaynor became a born-again Christian in 1982, she has persistently revealed in interviews that she believes that she has a new role to play in spreading Christianity.</p> <p>In 1997, Gaynor published an autobiography entitled <i>I Will Survive</i>. The book is filled up mostly with her religious convictions and her regrets about the sinful life she led during her disco days in the 1970s. In the book Gaynor claims to have regular conversations with God, "in which the Almighty is an active participant."</p> <p>On 13 July 2007, Gaynor was interviewed by <a title="BBC Radio 4" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BBC_Radio_4">BBC Radio 4</a>'s <a title="Woman's Hour" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Woman%27s_Hour">Woman's Hour</a>. The singer talked about her youth, her career, about some of her most famous songs, several of which have become gay anthems. She refused to describe herself as a feminist. She also talked about her becoming a born again Christian.</p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am what I am</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uj8C43r4zm0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uj8C43r4zm0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p> <p>Finally the interviewer asked her about her status as a gay icon. She said she was really pleased with this and that saw it as an opportunity to lead her fans towards Christ. The interviewer then asked several times if there might be a contradiction between her faith and her having a gay fan base, if she considered homosexuality as a sin. Gaynor each time refused to answer the question directly. She only said that she is leading her fans to Christ and what He has to offer to them. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=4158817337381807833#cite_note-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=4158817337381807833#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7190412120916311250&postID=4158817337381807833#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>The interview is available to listen to <a class="external text" title="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2007_28_fri.shtml" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/01/2007_28_fri.shtml" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-87490636732794445412009-02-17T01:24:00.000-08:002009-02-17T02:57:10.927-08:00"The Abba "<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjeaVT6JuAsue6lngtdZopZNiR4NNh9oUbzBG4_0dbUT572Pbth7NxvYeEENsVyPSuUii86yyw-On9evVG-v1Bz46IlK6sd9m8JD1h3skfGzA1q8tetbbtcUPpJf1xp_xvQgVX2U7i-Q/s1600-h/Abba+-+Forever+Gold-2CD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjeaVT6JuAsue6lngtdZopZNiR4NNh9oUbzBG4_0dbUT572Pbth7NxvYeEENsVyPSuUii86yyw-On9evVG-v1Bz46IlK6sd9m8JD1h3skfGzA1q8tetbbtcUPpJf1xp_xvQgVX2U7i-Q/s400/Abba+-+Forever+Gold-2CD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303696064123212562" border="0" /></a></h1><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">ABBA</h1><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFHbwikzNds&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFHbwikzNds&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><div id="bodyContent"><!-- start content --> <div class="dablink">"Abba" redirects here. For other uses, see <a title="Abba (disambiguation)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Abba_%28disambiguation%29">Abba (disambiguation)</a></div></div><p><b>ABBA</b> was a <a title="Sweden" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sweden">Swedish</a> <a title="Pop music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Pop_music">pop music</a> group. The band consisted of <a title="Benny Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Andersson">Benny Andersson</a> (<a title="Sweden" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sweden">Sweden</a>), <a title="Björn Ulvaeus" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulvaeus">Björn Ulvaeus</a> (Sweden), <a title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anni-Frid_Lyngstad">Anni-Frid Lyngstad</a> (Sweden, of <a title="Norway" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norway">Norwegian</a>-<a title="Germany" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Germany">German</a> origin) and <a title="Agnetha Fältskog" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Agnetha_F%C3%A4ltskog">Agnetha Fältskog</a> (Sweden). They topped the charts worldwide from the mid-<a title="1970s in music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/1970s_in_music">1970s</a> to the early <a title="1980s in music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/1980s_in_music">1980s</a>. The name "ABBA" is an <a title="Acronym and initialism" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Acronym_and_initialism">acronym</a> formed from the first letters of each of the group members' given names (<b>A</b>gnetha, <b>B</b>enny, <b>B</b>jörn, <b>A</b>nni-Frid).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-official_bio_2_0-0"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-official_bio_2-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>ABBA gained immense international popularity employing catchy song <a title="Hook (music)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hook_%28music%29">hooks</a>, simple <a title="Lyrics" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lyrics">lyrics</a>, and a <a title="Wall of Sound" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wall_of_Sound">Wall of Sound</a> achieved by <a title="Overdubbing" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Overdubbing">overdubbing</a> the female singers' voices in multiple harmonies. As their popularity grew, they were sought after to tour Europe, Australia, and North America, drawing crowds of near-hysterical fans, notably in Australia. Touring became a contentious issue, being particularly unpopular with Agnetha, but they continued to release studio albums to great commercial success. At the height of their popularity, however, both marriages of the band members (Benny with Frida, and Björn with Agnetha) failed, and the relationship changes were reflected in their music, as they produced more thoughtful lyrics with different compositions.</p> <p>They remain a fixture of radio playlists and are one of the world's best selling bands, having sold over 370 million records world wide;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-1"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-2"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></a></sup> they still sell two to four million records a year.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-3"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></a></sup> ABBA was also the first pop group from <a title="Continental Europe" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Continental_Europe">mainland Europe</a> to enjoy consistent success in the charts of English-speaking countries, including the <a title="UK Singles Chart" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/UK_Singles_Chart">United Kingdom</a>, the <a title="Hot 100 Singles Sales" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hot_100_Singles_Sales">United States</a>, <a title="Canada" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Canada">Canada</a>, <a title="Republic of Ireland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland">Ireland</a>, <a title="South Africa" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/South_Africa">South Africa</a>, <a title="ARIA Charts" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ARIA_Charts">Australia</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" title="RIANZ" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/RIANZ">New Zealand</a>. Their enormous popularity subsequently opened the doors for other Continental European acts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2l7goGcT2gVL1akvPC28iU6DBmSq0cFr4fVV3uIfFHbDZsdb53p7bL5nf0-Z7cW37qcHDKjGjyOcGoSyvgRHoh91NarmxAjDezTH8X-MkpLIJ4h1Pu7xT_ktA36TZoxcWm1xhcaOwhw/s1600-h/Abba-abba-64001_1024_768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2l7goGcT2gVL1akvPC28iU6DBmSq0cFr4fVV3uIfFHbDZsdb53p7bL5nf0-Z7cW37qcHDKjGjyOcGoSyvgRHoh91NarmxAjDezTH8X-MkpLIJ4h1Pu7xT_ktA36TZoxcWm1xhcaOwhw/s400/Abba-abba-64001_1024_768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303696064501314194" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The music of ABBA has been re-arranged into the successful musical <i><a title="Mamma Mia!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21">Mamma Mia!</a></i> that has toured worldwide and had a <a title="Mamma Mia! (film)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21_%28film%29">movie version</a> released in July 2008. All four of the former members of ABBA were present at the Stockholm premieres of both the musical (2005) and the film (2008). The film première took place at the <a title="Benny Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Andersson">Benny Andersson</a>-owned Rival Theatre at <a title="Mariatorget" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mariatorget">Mariatorget</a>, <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a> on 4 July 2008. A new museum devoted entirely to the pop supergroup was scheduled to open in Stockholm in 2009, but the project was postponed as of September 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <table class="toc" id="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2> <span class="toctoggle">[<a class="internal" id="togglelink" href="javascript:toggleToc()">hide</a>]</span></div> <ul><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Before_ABBA_.281960s.29"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Before ABBA (1960s)</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#First_live_performance_and_the_start_of_.22Festfolk.22"><span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">First live performance and the start of "Festfolk"</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#First_record_together_.22Hej.2C_Gamle_Man.22"><span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">First record together "Hej, Gamle Man"</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Forming_the_group_.281970.E2.80.931973.29"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Forming the group (1970–1973)</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Their_first_hit_as_.27Bj.C3.B6rn.2C_Benny.2C_Agnetha_.26_Anni-Frid.27"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Their first hit as 'Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid'</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#.22Ring_Ring.22"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">"Ring Ring"</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Official_naming"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Official naming</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Breakthrough_.281973.E2.80.931976.29"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Breakthrough (1973–1976)</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Eurovision"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Eurovision</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Post-Eurovision"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Post-Eurovision</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Superstardom_.281976.E2.80.931981.29"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Superstardom (1976–1981)</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#European_and_Australian_tour"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">European and Australian tour</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Polar_Music_Studio_formation"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Polar Music Studio formation</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#North_American_and_European_Tours"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">North American and European Tours</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Progression"><span class="tocnumber">4.4</span> <span class="toctext">Progression</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#The_final_album_and_performances_.281981.E2.80.931982.29"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">The final album and performances (1981–1982)</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Last_recording_sessions"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">Last recording sessions</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Last_performances"><span class="tocnumber">5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Last performances</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Breaking_up"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Breaking up</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#After_ABBA"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">After ABBA</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Andersson_and_Ulvaeus"><span class="tocnumber">7.1</span> <span class="toctext">Andersson and Ulvaeus</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#F.C3.A4ltskog_and_Lyngstad"><span class="tocnumber">7.2</span> <span class="toctext">Fältskog and Lyngstad</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Revival"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Revival</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Fashion.2C_videos.2C_and_advertising_campaigns"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">Fashion, videos, and advertising campaigns</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Discography"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Discography</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Awards_and_recognition"><span class="tocnumber">11</span> <span class="toctext">Awards and recognition</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Bibliography"><span class="tocnumber">12</span> <span class="toctext">Bibliography</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">13</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a> <ul><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#ABBA-related"><span class="tocnumber">13.1</span> <span class="toctext">ABBA-related</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Lists"><span class="tocnumber">13.2</span> <span class="toctext">Lists</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-2"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Other"><span class="tocnumber">13.3</span> <span class="toctext">Other</span></a> </li></ul> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">14</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a> </li><li class="toclevel-1"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">15</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a> </li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); } //]]> </script> <p><a id="Before_ABBA_.281960s.29" name="Before_ABBA_.281960s.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Before ABBA (1960s)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=1">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Before ABBA (1960s)</span></h2> <p><a title="Benny Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Andersson">Benny Andersson</a> (born in Stockholm, Sweden on 16 December 1946) was a member of a popular Swedish pop-rock group, <a class="mw-redirect" title="The Hep Stars" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Hep_Stars">The Hep Stars</a>, that performed covers of international hits, from the age of 18. <a class="mw-redirect" title="The Hep Stars" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Hep_Stars">The Hep Stars</a> were known as "The Swedish Beatles"; they even set up Hep House, their equivalent of the Apple Corps. <a title="Benny Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Andersson">Benny Andersson</a> played keyboards and eventually started writing original compositions for his band, many of which became major hits including "No Response" that hit #3 in 1965, "Sunny Girl", "Wedding", "Consolation", all of which hit #1 in 1966.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></a></sup> Andersson also had a fruitful songwriting collaboration with <a title="Lasse Berghagen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lasse_Berghagen">Lasse Berghagen</a>, with whom he composed his first <a title="Svensktoppen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Svensktoppen">Svensktoppen</a> entry "<i>Sagan om lilla Sofi</i>" ("The Story of Little Sophie") in 1968.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJEdJv7bhYg&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PJEdJv7bhYg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <p><a title="Björn Ulvaeus" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulvaeus">Björn Ulvaeus</a> (born in Gothenburg, Sweden on 25 April 1945) also began his musical career at 18 (as a singer and guitarist), when he fronted <a class="mw-redirect" title="The Hootenanny Singers" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Hootenanny_Singers">The Hootenanny Singers</a>, a popular Swedish <a title="Folk music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Folk_music">folk</a>-<a title="Skiffle" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Skiffle">skiffle</a> group. Ulvaeus started writing English language songs for his group, and even had a brief solo career alongside. The Hootenanny Singers and The Hep Stars sometimes crossed paths while touring, and on one occasion in June 1966 Ulvaeus and Andersson decided to write a song together. Their first attempt was "Isn't It Easy to Say", a song later recorded by The Hep Stars. <a class="mw-redirect" title="Stikkan Anderson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stikkan_Anderson">Stig Anderson</a> was the manager of The Hootenanny Singers and founder of the <a title="Polar Music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polar_Music">Polar Music</a> label. He saw potential in the collaboration, and encouraged them to compose more. Both also began playing occasionally with the other's bands on stage and on record, although not until 1969 did the pair write and produce some of their first real hits together: "<i>Ljuva sextiotal</i>" ('Merry Sixties'), recorded by Brita Borg and The Hep Stars' 1969 hit "<i>Speleman</i>" ("Fiddler"). On July 6, 1971, Björn and Agnetha Fältskog got married.</p> <p>Andersson wrote and submitted the song "Hej, Clown" for the 1969 <a title="Melodifestivalen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melodifestivalen">Mel</a><a title="Melodifestivalen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melodifestivalen">odifestivalen</a>, the Swedish <a title="Eurovision Song Contest" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest">Eurovision Song Contest</a> finals. The song tied for first, but re-voting relegated Andersson's song to second place.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></a></sup> On this occasion, Andersson briefly met his future spouse, singer <a title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anni-Frid_Lyngstad">Anni-Frid Lyngstad</a>, who also participated in the contest. A month later, the two had become a couple. As the two bands began to break up, Andersson and Ulvaeus teamed up and eventually recorded their first album together in 1970, called <i><a title="Lycka" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lycka">Lycka</a></i> ("Happiness"), that included original compositions sung by both men. Ulvaeus still occasionally recorded and performed with The Hootenanny Singers until the summer of 1974, and Andersson took part in producing their records.</p><p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jC8f8jrNas4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jC8f8jrNas4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></p> <p><a title="Agnetha Fältskog" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Agnetha_F%C3%A4ltskog">Agnetha Fältskog</a>, the blonde born on 5 April 1950 in Jönköping, Sweden, had a #1 record in Sweden when she was only 17, and was soon noted by the critics and songwriters as a talented singer/songwriter of <i><a title="Schlager" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Schlager">schlager</a></i> style songs. Fältskog's main inspiration in her early years were singers like <a title="Connie Francis" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Connie_Francis">Connie Francis</a>. Along with her own compositions, she recorded <a title="Cover version" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cover_version">covers</a> of foreign hits and performed them on tours in Swedish <a title="Folkpark" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Folkpark">folkparks</a>. She submitted an original song for Melodifestivalen at 17 years old, titled "<i>Försonade</i>" ("Redeemed"), but it was rejected. She briefly met Anni-Frid Lyngstad for the first time during a TV show in January 1968, and Björn Ulvaeus at a concert venue a few months later.</p> <p>During filming of a Swedish TV special in May 1969, Fältskog met Ulvaeus again, and they were married in 1971. Fältskog and Ulvaeus eventually got involved in each other's recording sessions,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a></sup> and soon even Andersson and Lyngstad added backing vocals to her 1970 album "<i>Som jag är</i>" ("As I Am"). In 1973, Fältskog starred as <a title="Mary Magdalene" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mary_Magdalene">Mary Magdalene</a> in the original Swedish production of <i><a title="Jesus Christ Superstar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jesus_Christ_Superstar">Jesus Christ Superstar</a></i> and attracted favourable reviews. Between 1967 and 1975, Fältskog released five studio albums.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anni-Frid_Lyngstad">Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad</a> (born on 15 November 1945 in Bjørkåsen in <a title="Ballangen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ballangen">Ballangen</a>, <a title="Norway" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norway">Norway</a>) sang from the age of thirteen with various dance bands, and worked mainly in a jazz-oriented cabaret style. She also formed her own band named Anni-Frid Four. In the summer of 1967, she won a national talent competition with the song "<i>En ledig dag</i>" ("A Day Off"), included in the EMI compilation <i><a title="Frida 1967-1972" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_1967-1972">Frida 1967-1972</a></i>. The first prize was a recording contract with <a title="EMI" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/EMI">EMI</a> Sweden and to perform live on the most popular TV show in Sweden. This first TV performance, amongst many others, is included in the 3 1/2 hour documentary <i><a title="Frida - The DVD" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_-_The_DVD">Frida - The DVD</a></i>. Lyngstad released several singles on EMI and had many hits in the Swedish charts. When Benny Andersson started to produce her recordings in 1971, she got her first #1 single, "<i>Min egen stad</i>" ("My Own Town"), for which all four future ABBA members sang the backup vocals. Lyngstad toured and performed regularly in the folkpark circuit and made appearances on radio and TV. She met Björn Ulvaeus briefly in 1963 during a talent contest, and Agnetha Fältskog during a TV show in early 1968.</p> <p>Lyngstad finally linked up with her future bandmates in 1969. On 1 March 1969, she participated in the Melodifestivalen, where she met Andersson for the first time. A few weeks later they met again during a concert tour in southern Sweden and they soon became a couple. Andersson produced her single "Peter Pan" in September 1969 – the first collaboration between her and Benny & Björn, as they had written the song. Later Andersson produced Lyngstad's debut album, <i>Frida</i>, which was released in March 1971 and praised by critics. Lyngstad also played in several revues and cabaret shows in Stockholm between 1969 and 1973. After ABBA formed, she recorded another successful album in 1975, <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Frida Ensam" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_Ensam">Frida Ensam</a></i>, which included the original Swedish rendition of "<a title="Fernando (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Fernando_%28song%29">Fernando</a>", which became a huge hit in Scandinavia before the English version was recorded.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-10"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="First_live_performance_and_the_start_of_.22Festfolk.22" name="First_live_performance_and_the_start_of_.22Festfolk.22"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: First live performance and the start of "Festfolk"" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=2">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">First live performance and the start of "Festfolk"</span></h3> <p>An attempt at combining their talents occurred in April 1970 when the two couples went on holiday together to the island of <a title="Cyprus" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cyprus">Cyprus</a>. What started as singing for fun on the beach ended up as an improvised live performance in front of the <a title="United Nations" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Nations">United Nations</a> soldiers stationed on the island. Andersson and Ulvaeus were at this time recording their first album together, "Lycka", which was to be released in September 1970. Fältskog and Lyngstad added backing vocals on several tracks during June, and the idea of them all working together saw them launch their own stage act, "Festfolk", which translates from Swedish to mean both "Party People" and "Engaged Couples", on 1 November 1970 in <a title="Gothenburg" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gothenburg">Gothenburg</a>. The cabaret show attracted positive reviews. The foursome performed the Andersson and Ulvaeus hit "<i>Hej, gamle man</i>" ("Hi, Old Man"); the first recording credited to all four – and solo numbers from respective albums, but the foursome did not feel like working together, and soon concentrated on individual projects again.</p> <p><a id="First_record_together_.22Hej.2C_Gamle_Man.22" name="First_record_together_.22Hej.2C_Gamle_Man.22"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: First record together "Hej, Gamle Man"" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=3">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">First record together "Hej, Gamle Man"</span></h3> <p>"Hej, Gamle Man"("Hello, Old Man"), a song about an old Salvation Army soldier, became the foursome's first hit. The record was credited to <b>Björn & Benny</b> and reached number 5 on the sales charts and number 1 on <a title="Svensktoppen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Svensktoppen">Svensktoppen</a>, staying there for 15 weeks. In the first half of 1971, the four artists worked more together, adding vocals to the others' recordings. Fältskog, Andersson and Ulvaeus went on a tour together in May, while Lyngstad toured on her own. Frequent recording sessions brought the foursome tighter together during the summer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Forming_the_group_.281970.E2.80.931973.29" name="Forming_the_group_.281970.E2.80.931973.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Forming the group (1970–1973)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=4">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Forming the group (1970–1973)</span></h2> <p>After the 1970 release of Andersson and Ulvaeus' album "<i>Lycka</i>", two more singles credited to 'Björn & Benny' were released in Sweden, "<i>Det kan ingen doktor hjälpa</i>" ("No doctor can help with that") and "<i>Tänk om jorden vore ung</i>" ("Imagine if the Earth were young"), but clearly with more prominent vocals by Fältskog and Lyngstad -and with moderate chart success. Fältskog released her fourth album in 1971 and married Ulvaeus on 6 July 1971. Andersson, Ulvaeus, and Fältskog started performing together on a regular basis during the summer of 1971.</p> <p><a title="Stig Anderson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stig_Anderson">Stig Anderson</a>, founder and owner of Polar, was determined to break into the mainstream international market with music by Andersson and Ulvaeus. "One day the pair of you will write a song that becomes a worldwide hit", he predicted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-12"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></a></sup> Stig encouraged Ulvaeus and Andersson to write a song for <a title="Melodifestivalen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melodifestivalen">Melodifestivalen</a>, and after two rejected entries in 1971,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-13"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></a></sup> Andersson and Ulvaeus submitted their new song "<i>Säg det med en sång</i>" ("Say It With A Song") for the 1972 contest, and they chose newcomer Lena Anderson to perform. The song won third place, encouraging Stig, and became a huge hit in Sweden.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-14"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></a></sup> The first signs of foreign success came as a surprise, as the Andersson and Ulvaeus single "She's My Kind of Girl" was released by chance by <a title="Epic Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Epic_Records">Epic</a> in Japan in March 1972, giving the duo a Top 10 hit. Thus, two more singles were released in Japan, "En Carousel" <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></a></sup> (earlier version of "Merry-Go-Round") and "Love Has Its Ways" (a song they wrote with <a title="Koichi Morita (songwriter)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Koichi_Morita_%28songwriter%29">Koichi Morita</a>).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Their_first_hit_as_.27Bj.C3.B6rn.2C_Benny.2C_Agnetha_.26_Anni-Frid.27" name="Their_first_hit_as_.27Bj.C3.B6rn.2C_Benny.2C_Agnetha_.26_Anni-Frid.27"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Their first hit as 'Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid'" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=5">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Their first hit as 'Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid'</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="The cover of "People Need Love"." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:People_Need_Love_Merry_Go_Round.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2d/People_Need_Love_Merry_Go_Round.jpg/180px-People_Need_Love_Merry_Go_Round.jpg" width="180" border="0" height="180" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> The cover of "<a title="People Need Love" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/People_Need_Love">People Need Love</a>".</div></div></div> <p>Ulvaeus and Andersson persevered with their songwriting and experimented with new sounds and vocal arrangements. "<a title="People Need Love" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/People_Need_Love">People Need Love</a>" was released in June 1972, featuring guest vocals by the women, who were now given much greater prominence. Stig Anderson released it as a single, credited to <b>Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid</b>. The song reached #17 in the Swedish combined single and album charts, enough to convince them they were on to something.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-17"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></a></sup> The single also became the first record to chart for the quartet in the United States, where it peaked at #114 on the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Cashbox" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cashbox">Cashbox</a> singles chart and #117 on <a title="Record World" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Record_World">Record World</a>'s singles chart. Billed as Björn & Benny (with Svenska Flicka), it was released there on <a title="Playboy Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Playboy_Records">Playboy Records</a>. </p> <p>However, according to Stig Anderson, "People Need Love" could have been a much bigger </p> <p>American hit, but a small label like Playboy Records did not have the distribution r</p> <p>esources to meet the demand for the single from retailers and radio programmers.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></a></sup> The foursome decided to record their first album together in the autumn of 1972, and sessions began on 26 September 1972. The two women shared lead vocal on "Nina, Pretty Ballerina", on this day, and the two women's voices combined in harmonies for the first time gave the foursome an idea of the qualities of their combined talents.</p> <p><a id=".22Ring_Ring.22" name=".22Ring_Ring.22"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: "Ring Ring"" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=6">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">"Ring Ring"</span></h3> <p>For 1973, the band and their manager Stig Anderson decided to have another try at the </p> <p>Melodifestivalen, this time with the song "<a title="Ring Ring (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ring_Ring_%28song%29">Ring Ring</a>." The studio sessions were handled by <a title="Michael B. Tretow" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Michael_B._Tretow">Michael B. Tretow</a>, who experimented with a "<a class="mw-redirect" title="Wall of sound" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wall_of_sound">wall of sound</a>" production technique that became the wholly new ABBA sound. Anderson arranged an English translation of the lyrics by <a title="Neil Sedaka" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Neil_Sedaka">Neil Sedaka</a> and Phil Cody and they thought this would be a surefire winner, but in the Melodifestivalen, on 10 February 1973, it placed third, and thus never reached the international contest. Nevertheless the proto-group put out their first album, called <i><a title="Ring Ring (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Ring_Ring_%28album%29">Ring Ring</a></i>. The album did well and the "Ring Ring" single was a hit in many parts of Europe, but Stig Anderson felt the true breakthrough could only come with a UK or US hit.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-19"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Official_naming" name="Official_naming"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Official naming" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=7">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Official naming</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"> <div class="thumbcaption"> The ABBA logo, as designed in 1976.</div></div></div> <p>In early 1973, Stig Anderson, tired of unwieldy names, started to refer to the group privately and publicly as ABBA. At first, this was a play on words, as <a title="Abba Seafood" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Abba_Seafood">Abba</a> was also the name of a well-known fish-canning company in Sweden. However, since the fish canners were unknown outside Sweden, Anderson came to believe the name would work in international markets. A competition to find a suitable name for the group was held in a Gothenburg newspaper. The group was impressed with the names "Alibaba" and "Baba", but in the end all the entries were ignored and it was announced in the summer that the name "ABBA" was official. Later the group negotiated with the canners for the right to the name.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-20"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a></sup> "ABBA" is an <a title="Acronym and initialism" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Acronym_and_initialism">acronym</a> formed from the first letters of each group member's name: Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid (Frida).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-official_bio_2_0-1"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-official_bio_2-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></a></sup> The first 'B' in the <a title="Logo" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Logo">logo</a> version of the name was reversed on the band's promotional material from 1976 onwards and became the group's <a class="mw-redirect" title="Registered trademark" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Registered_trademark">registered trademark</a>. The first time the name is found written on paper is on a recording session sheet from the Metronome Studio in <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a>, dated 16 October 1973. It was first written as "Björn, Benny, Agnetha & Frida", but was subsequently crossed out with "ABBA" written in large letters on top.</p> <p>The official logo was designed by Rune Söderqvist, used for the first time on "Dancing Queen" single in August 1976, and subsequently on all later original albums</p> <p> and singles. But the idea for the official logo was made by the German photographer <a class="new" title="Wolfgang Heilemann (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Wolfgang_Heilemann&action=edit&redlink=1">Wolfgang Heilemann</a> on a "Dancing Queen" shooting for the teenager magazine <a class="mw-redirect" title="BRAVO" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BRAVO">BRAVO</a>. On the photo, every ABBA-member held a giant initial letter of his/her name. After the pictures were made, Heilemann found out that one of the men held his letter upside down. They discussed it and the members of ABBA liked it. In 1992 Polygram redesigned the logo for the ABBA Gold compilation, having a different font along with a crown emblem. Still, the classic logo is more commonly seen, for instance being used on the official ABBA website. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-21"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="Breakthrough_.281973.E2.80.931976.29" name="Breakthrough_.281973.E2.80.931976.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Breakthrough (1973–1976)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=8">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Breakthrough (1973–1976)</span></h2> <p><a id="Eurovision" name="Eurovision"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Eurovision" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=9">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Eurovision</span></h3> <p>For their first Eurovision , ABBA entered with "Ring Ring" but failed to qualify as the 1973 Swedish entry, it came third in the preliminary round. Stig immediately started planning for the 1974 contest.</p> <p>Ulvaeus, Andersson, and manager Stig Anderson believed in the possibilities of using the <a title="Melodifestivalen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melodifestivalen">Melodifestivalen</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" title="Eurovision" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eurovision">Eurovision</a> TV contests as a way to make the music business aware of the band and Andersson, Ulvaeus and Stig as composers. In late 1973, they were invited by Swedish television to contribute a song for the <a title="Eurovision Song Contest 1974" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_1974">1974 contest</a>, and from a number of newly written compositions, the foursome chose the upbeat "<a title="Waterloo (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Waterloo_%28song%29">Waterloo</a>"; the group was now inspired by the growing <a title="Glam rock" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Glam_rock">glam rock</a> scene in England. "Waterloo" was an unashamedly glam-style pop track produced with <a title="Michael B. Tretow" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Michael_B._Tretow">Michael B. Tretow</a>'s wall-of-sound approach.</p> <p>ABBA won their national heats on Swedish TV on 9 February 1974, and with this third attempt were far more experienced and better prepared for the international contest. Winning the Eurovision Song Contest gave ABBA the chance to tour Europe and perform on major TV shows; thus the band saw the "Waterloo" single climb the charts in many European countries. "Waterloo" was ABBA's first number one single in big markets such as the UK, Germany and Australia. In the US, it reached #6 on the <a title="Billboard Hot 100" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100">Billboard Hot 100</a> chart, paving the way for their first album and their first trip as a group there. Albeit being a short promotional visit, it included their very first performance on American TV, <a title="The Mike Douglas Show" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Mike_Douglas_Show">The Mike Douglas Show</a>. <i><a title="Waterloo (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Waterloo_%28album%29">Waterloo</a></i> only peaked at #145 on the <a title="Billboard 200" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_200">Billboard 200</a> album chart, but received unanimous high praise from the US critics: <a title="Los Angeles Times" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times">Los Angeles Times</a> called it "a compelling and fascinating debut album that captures the spirit of mainstream pop quite effectively...an immensely enjoyable and pleasant project", while <a title="Creem" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Creem">Creem</a> characterized it as "a perfect blend of exceptional lovable compositions".</p> <p>ABBA's follow-up single, "<a title="Honey, Honey" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Honey,_Honey">Honey, Honey</a>", reached #27 on the US <a title="Billboard Hot 100" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100">Billboard Hot 100</a>, and was #2 in Germany. However, in the UK, a cover version of the song by the act Sweet Dreams made #10 because ABBA's British record company, Epic, decided to re-release a remixed version of "Ring Ring" instead. It failed to reach the Top 30, increasing growing speculation that the group were simply Eurovision <a title="One-hit wonder" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/One-hit_wonder">one-hit wonders</a>.</p> <p><a id="Post-Eurovision" name="Post-Eurovision"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Post-Eurovision" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=10">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Post-Eurovision</span></h3> <p>In November 1974, ABBA embarked on their first European tour, playing dates in <a title="Denmark" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Denmark">Denmark</a>, <a title="West Germany" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/West_Germany">West Germany</a>, and Austria. It was not as successful as the band had hoped, since most of the venues did not sell out. Due to a lack of demand, they were even forced to cancel a few shows, including a sole concert scheduled in <a title="Switzerland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Switzerland">Switzerland</a>. The second leg of the tour, which took them through <a title="Scandinavia" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Scandinavia">Scandinavia</a> in January 1975, was entirely different. They played to full houses everywhere and finally got the reception they aimed for. Live performances continued during the summer of 1975 when ABBA embarked on a sixteen open-air date tour of Sweden and <a title="Finland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Finland">Finland</a>, attracting huge crowds. Their <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a> show at the <a title="Gröna Lund" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gr%C3%B6na_Lund">Gröna Lund</a> amusement park was seen by an estimated audience of 19,200.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-22"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>The release of their next album <i><a title="ABBA (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA_%28album%29">ABBA</a></i> and single "<a title="SOS (ABBA song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/SOS_%28ABBA_song%29">SOS</a>" brought back their chart presence in the UK, where the single hit #6 and the album reached #13. S.O.S. also became ABBA's second number 1 single in both Germany and Australia. Success was further solidified with "<a title="Mamma Mia (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia_%28song%29">Mamma Mia</a>" reaching the #1 spot in UK, Germany and Australia in January 1976. In the US, "SOS" reached #10 on the <a title="Record World" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Record_World">Record World</a> Top 100 singles chart and #15 on the Billboard Hot</p> <p> 100 chart, picking up the <a title="Broadcast Music Incorporated" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Broadcast_Music_Incorporated">BMI</a> Award along the way as one of the most played songs on American radio in 1975. The success of the group in the United States had been so far limited to single releases. By early 1976, the group already had four Top 30 singles on US charts, but the album market proved to be tough to crack. The eponymous <i>ABBA</i> album generated no fewer than three real American hits, but it only peaked at #165 on the <i>Cashbox</i> album chart and #174 on the Billboard 200 chart. Opinions were voiced, by <i><a title="Creem" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Creem">Creem</a></i> in particular, that in the US ABBA had endured "a very sloppy promotional campaign". The group, however, enjoyed very warm reviews from American press. <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Cashbox" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cashbox">Cashbox</a></i> went as far as saying that "there is a recurrent thread of taste and artistry inherent in Abba's marketing, creativity and presentation that makes it almost embarrassing to critique their efforts", while <i><a title="Creem" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Creem">Creem</a></i> wrote about their latest album: "SOS is surrounded on this LP by so many good tunes that the mind boggles".</p> <p>In Australia, the airing of the videos for "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia" on nationwide TV in August 1975 started an immense interest for ABBA, resulting in #1 positions on both the single and album charts for months.</p> <p><a id="Superstardom_.281976.E2.80.931981.29" name="Superstardom_.281976.E2.80.931981.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Superstardom (1976–1981)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=11">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Superstardom (1976–1981)</span></h2> <p>In March 1976, the band released the compilation <i><a title="Greatest Hits (ABBA album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greatest_Hits_%28ABBA_album%29">Greatest Hits</a></i>, despite having had only six Top 40 hits in the UK and the US. Nevertheless, it became their first UK #1 album, and also took ABBA into the Top 50 on the US album charts for the first time, eventually selling more than a million copies there. At the same time, Germany released a compilation named "The Very Best of ABBA", also becoming a number 1 album there whereas the "Greatest hits" LP followed few months later to number 2 on the German charts, despite all similarities with "The Very Best" album. Also included on <i>Greatest Hits</i> was a new single, "<a title="Fernando (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Fernando_%28song%29">Fernando</a>". This song had first been written by Ulvaeus and Andersson in Swedish for Lyngstad's #1 1975 solo album <i><a title="Frida ensam" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_ensam">Frida ensam</a></i> (<i>Frida alone</i>). After Lyngstad's major success with the song in Scandinavia, the group decided to record an English version. With "Fernando" hitting #1 in twelve countries worldwide (including the UK and Germany), it occupied the top position in Australia for 14 weeks, tying <a title="The Beatles" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Beatles">The Beatles</a> </p> <p>for longest number one for "<a title="Hey Jude" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hey_Jude">Hey Jude</a>", making it one of the best-selling singles of all time in that country. That same year, the group received its first international prize, with "Fernando" being chosen as the "Best Studio Recording of 1975". In the US, "Fernando" reached the Top 10 of the Cashbox Top 100 singles chart and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Billboard Adult Contemporary" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_Adult_Contemporary">Billboard Adult Contemporary</a> chart, ABBA's first American number one single of any kind.</p> <p>The group's next album, <i><a title="Arrival (ABBA album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Arrival_%28ABBA_album%29">Arrival</a></i>, a number 1 bestseller all over Europe and Australia, represented a new level of accomplishment in both songwriting and studio work, prompting rave reviews from more rock-orientated UK music weeklies such as <i><a title="Melody Maker" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melody_Maker">Melody Maker</a></i> and <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="New Musical Express" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/New_Musical_Express">New Musical Express</a></i>, and mostly appreciative notices from American critics. In fact, hit after hit flowed from <i>Arrival</i>: "<a title="Money, Money, Money" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Money,_Money,_Money">Money, Money, Money</a>", another number 1 in Germany and Australia, and "<a class="mw-redirect" title="Knowing Me, Knowing You (single)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Knowing_Me,_Knowing_You_%28single%29">Knowing Me, Knowing You</a>", ABBAs sixth consecutive German number 1 as well as another UK #1. The real sensation of all was "<a title="Dancing Queen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dancing_Queen">Dancing Queen</a>", not only topping the charts in the loyal markets UK, </p> <p>Germany and Australia, but also reaching number 1 in the United States. In 1977, <i>Arrival</i> was nominated for the inaugural <a class="mw-redirect" title="BRIT Awards" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BRIT_Awards">BRIT Award</a> in the category "Best International Album of the Year". By this time ABBA were very popular in the UK, most of Western Europe and Australia. In <a class="mw-redirect" title="Frida the dvd" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_the_dvd">Frida the dvd</a>, Lyngstad explains how she and Fältskog developed as singers, as ABBA's recordings got more and more complex over the years.</p><h3><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZegOXWuI6-dzhnfEpCU4PK8FL-kW-KWb27-ytROKmHpF2CLwdcZTilfgyKuNGRIdeWrN2ucxITV5F-ml6x9MDS2E1YeaqybVm9apmY8wRLqchnqwrL8D8disdp1qIlW3zJ64-k518_LU/s1600-h/abba-404a_681092c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZegOXWuI6-dzhnfEpCU4PK8FL-kW-KWb27-ytROKmHpF2CLwdcZTilfgyKuNGRIdeWrN2ucxITV5F-ml6x9MDS2E1YeaqybVm9apmY8wRLqchnqwrL8D8disdp1qIlW3zJ64-k518_LU/s400/abba-404a_681092c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303696063669637746" border="0" /></a></h3> <p>Their popularity in the US would remain on a comparatively smaller scale, and "Dancing Queen" became the only Billboard Hot 100 #1 single ABBA ever had there (they did, however, get three more singles to the #1 position on other <i><a title="Billboard (magazine)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Billboard_%28magazine%29">Billboard</a></i> charts, including Billboard Adult Contemporary and <a title="Hot Dance Club Play" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Hot_Dance_Club_Play">Hot Dance Club Play</a>). Nevertheless, <i>Arrival</i> finally became a true breakthrough release for ABBA on the US album market where it peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold by <a class="mw-redirect" title="RIAA" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/RIAA">RIAA</a>.</p> <p><a id="European_and_Australian_tour" name="European_and_Australian_tour"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: European and Australian tour" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=12">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">European and Australian tour</span></h3> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 212px;"><a class="image" title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad at a press conference for ABBA in Australia 1977." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Frida_77_Australia.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c8/Frida_77_Australia.jpg/210px-Frida_77_Australia.jpg" width="210" border="0" height="287" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <a title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anni-Frid_Lyngstad">Anni-Frid Lyngstad</a> at a press conference for ABBA in <a title="Australia" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Australia">Australia</a> 1977.</div></div></div> <p>In January 1977, ABBA hit the road. The group's status had changed dramatically and they were clearly regarded as superstars. They opened their much anticipated tour in <a title="Oslo" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Oslo">Oslo</a>, <a title="Norway" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Norway">Norway</a>, on 28 January, and mounted a lavishly produced spectacle that included a few scenes from their self-penned mini-operetta "The Girl With The Golden Hair." The concert attracted immense media attention from across Europe and Australia. They continued the tour through Western Europe visiting Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Berlin, Cologne, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Essen, Hanover, Hamburg, and ended it with shows in the UK in <a title="Manchester" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Manchester">Manchester</a>, <a title="Birmingham" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Birmingham">Birmingham</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" title="Glasgow, Scotland" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Glasgow,_Scotland">Glasgow</a> and two sold-out concerts at London's <a title="Royal Albert Hall" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Royal_Albert_Hall">Royal Albert Hall</a>. Tickets for these two shows were available only by mail application and it was later revealed that the box-office received 3.5 million requests for tickets, enough to fill the venue 580 times. There were, however, complaints about the group's performance lacking the same intriguing qualities on stage as what was presented in the studio, as an article in <i><a title="The Times" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Times">The Times</a></i> accused the show of being boring.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-23"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></a></sup> One of the Royal Albert Hall concerts was filmed as a reference for the filming of the Australian tour for what became <i><a title="ABBA: The Movie" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA:_The_Movie">ABBA: The Movie</a></i>, though it is not known exactly how much of the concert was filmed.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G8bm6XlxuCY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G8bm6XlxuCY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>After the European leg of the tour, in March 1977, ABBA played eleven dates in Australia before a total of 160,000 people. The opening concert in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Sydney, Australia" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sydney,_Australia">Sydney</a> at the <a title="Sydney Showground (Moore Park)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sydney_Showground_%28Moore_Park%29">Sydney Showground</a> on 3 March before over 20,000 was marred by torrential rain and Frida slipped on the wet stage during the concert. However, all four members would later recall this concert to be the most memorable of their career. Upon their arrival in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Melbourne, Australia" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Melbourne,_Australia">Melbourne</a>, a civic reception was held at the Town Hall and ABBA appeared on the balcony to greet an enthusiastic crowd of 6,000 people. In Melbourne, ABBA played three concerts at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl with 14,500 at each including the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Australian Prime Minister" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Australian_Prime_Minister">Australian Prime Minister</a> <a title="Malcolm Fraser" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Malcolm_Fraser">Malcolm Fraser</a> and his family. At the first Melbourne concert, an additional 16,000 people gathered outside the fenced-off area to listen to the concert. In <a class="mw-redirect" title="Adelaide, Australia" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Adelaide,_Australia">Adelaide</a>, the group performed one concert at <a class="mw-redirect" title="AAMI Stadium" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/AAMI_Stadium">West Lakes Football Stadium</a> before 20,000 people with another 10,000 listening outside. During the first of five concerts in Perth, there was a bomb scare with everyone having to evacuate the Entertainment Centre. The trip was accompanied by mass hysteria and unprecedented media attention, and is vividly captured on film in <i><a title="ABBA: The Movie" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA:_The_Movie">ABBA: The Movie</a></i>, directed by <a title="Lasse Hallström" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lasse_Hallstr%C3%B6m">Lasse Hallström</a>.</p> <p>The Australian tour and its subsequent <i>ABBA: The Movie</i> produced some ABBA lore, as well. Agnetha Fältskog's blonde good looks had long made her the band's 'pin-up girl', a role she disdained. During the Australian tour, she performed in a skin-tight white jumpsuit, causing one Australian newspaper to use the headline "Agnetha's bottom tops dull show". When asked about this at a news conference, she replied: "Don't they have bottoms in Australia?"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>In December 1977, ABBA followed up <i>Arrival</i> with the more musically and lyrically ambitious fifth album <i><a title="The Album" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Album">The Album</a></i>, which was released to coincide with <i>ABBA: The Movie</i>. Although the album was less well-received by the critics in the UK, it did spawn more worldwide hits: "<a title="The Name of the Game" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Name_of_the_Game">The Name of the Game</a>" and "<a title="Take a Chance on Me" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Take_a_Chance_on_Me">Take a Chance on Me</a>", both of which topped the UK charts, and reached #12 and #3, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. Although "Take a Chance on Me" did not top the American charts, it has actually proved to be ABBA's biggest hit single in the United States, selling more copies than "Dancing Queen".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-25"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></a></sup> <i>The Album</i> also included the ABBA signature tune, "<a title="Thank You for the Music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Thank_You_for_the_Music">Thank You for the Music</a>", released as a single in the UK in 1983, and had been the B-side of "<a title="Eagle (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eagle_%28song%29">Eagle</a>" in countries where the latter had been released.</p> <p><a id="Polar_Music_Studio_formation" name="Polar_Music_Studio_formation"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Polar Music Studio formation" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=13">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Polar Music Studio formation</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 202px;"><a class="image" title="Agnetha Fältskog at a concert in Oslo in 1977." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Abba_28011977_15_200.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Abba_28011977_15_200.jpg" width="200" border="0" height="264" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <a title="Agnetha Fältskog" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Agnetha_F%C3%A4ltskog">Agnetha Fältskog</a> at a concert in <a title="Oslo" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Oslo">Oslo</a> in 1977.</div></div></div> <p>By 1978, ABBA was a megagroup. They converted a vacant theatre into the <a title="Polar Music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polar_Music">Polar Music</a> Studio, a state-of-the-art studio in <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a>. The studio was used by several other bands; notably, <a title="Genesis (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Genesis_%28band%29">Genesis</a>' <i><a title="Duke (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Duke_%28album%29">Duke</a></i> and <a title="Led Zeppelin" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Led_Zeppelin">Led Zeppelin</a>'s <i><a title="In Through the Out Door" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/In_Through_the_Out_Door">In Through the Out Door</a></i> were recorded there. During May, the group went to the US for a huge promotional campaign, and performed on <a title="Olivia Newton-John" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Olivia_Newton-John">Olivia Newton-John</a>'s TV show. However, a lot of effort was put into the new recording studio in Stockholm. The recording sessions for "<a title="Summer Night City" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Summer_Night_City">Summer Night City</a>" were an uphill struggle, but upon release the song became another significant hit for the group. The track would also set the stage for ABBA's foray into <a title="Disco" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Disco">disco</a> with their upcoming album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-26"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Several years ago, the original Polar Music Studios (by that time renamed Polar Studios) were closed because the landlord of the building had increased the rent required. The site is now a Fitness First gymnasium, and there is a display in its foyer acknowledging its history as Polar (Music) Studios.</p> <p>On 9 January 1979, the group performed "<a title="Chiquitita" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chiquitita">Chiquitita</a>" at the <a title="Music for UNICEF Concert" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Music_for_UNICEF_Concert">Music for UNICEF Concert</a> held at the <a title="United Nations General Assembly" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly">United Nations General Assembly</a> to celebrate UNICEF's Year of the Child. ABBA donated the <a title="Copyright" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Copyright">copyright</a> of this worldwide hit to the <a title="United Nations Children's Fund" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/United_Nations_Children%27s_Fund">UNICEF</a>; see <a title="Music for UNICEF Concert" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Music_for_UNICEF_Concert">Music for UNICEF Concert</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></a></sup> The single was released the following week, and reached #1 in ten countries.</p> <p><a id="North_American_and_European_Tours" name="North_American_and_European_Tours"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: North American and European Tours" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=14">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">North American and European Tours</span></h3> <p>In mid-January 1979, Ulvaeus and Fältskog announced they were getting divorced. The news caused a massive interest from the media, and led to speculation about the band's future. ABBA assured the press and their fanbase they were continuing their work as a group, and that the divorce would not affect them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-28"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a></sup> Nonetheless, the media continued to confront them with this in interviews.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CHk2I-sNoGI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CHk2I-sNoGI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>The group's sixth album, <i><a title="Voulez-Vous" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Voulez-Vous">Voulez-Vous</a></i>, was released in April 1979, the title track of which was recorded at the famous <a title="Criteria Studios" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Criteria_Studios">Criteria Studios</a> in <a title="Miami" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Miami">Miami</a>, U.S. with the assistance, among others, of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Recording engineer" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Recording_engineer">recording engineer</a> <a title="Tom Dowd" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tom_Dowd">Tom Dowd</a>. The album topped the charts across Europe and in Japan and Mexico, hit the Top 10 in Canada and Australia and the Top 20 in the US. None of the singles from the album reached #1 on the UK charts, but "<a title="Chiquitita" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chiquitita">Chiquitita</a>", "<a title="Does Your Mother Know" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Does_Your_Mother_Know">Does Your Mother Know</a>", "<a title="Angeleyes" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Angeleyes">Angeleyes</a>" and "<a title="Voulez-Vous (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Voulez-Vous_%28song%29">Voulez-Vous</a>" all charted no lower than #4. "<a title="I Have a Dream (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream_%28song%29">I Have a Dream</a>" was the exception, when the single reached #2 in UK and #1 on Eurochart Hot 100 singles. In Canada, "I Have a Dream" became ABBA's second #1 on the <a class="mw-redirect" title="RPM" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/RPM">RPM</a> Adult Contemporary chart, after "Fernando" hit the top previously. Later that year, the group released their second compilation album, <i><a title="Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (ABBA album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Greatest_Hits_Vol._2_%28ABBA_album%29">Greatest Hits Vol. 2</a></i>, which featured a brand new track: "<a title="Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gimme%21_Gimme%21_Gimme%21_%28A_Man_After_Midnight%29">Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)</a>", another number 3 hit in both, the UK and Germany. In Russia during the late 1970s, they were paid in oil commodities because of an <a title="Embargo" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Embargo">embargo</a> on the <a title="Soviet ruble" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Soviet_ruble">ruble</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>On 13 September 1979, ABBA began their first (and only) North American Tour at the<a title="Rexall Place" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Rexall_Place"> Northlands Coliseum</a> in <a title="Edmonton" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Edmonton">Edmonton</a>, Canada, with a full house of 14,000. During the next four weeks, they played a total of seventeen sold-out dates, thirteen in the U.S. and four in Canada. The last scheduled ABBA concert on U.S. soil, in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Washington, DC" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Washington,_DC">Washington, DC</a>, was canceled due to Agnetha Fältskog's emotional distress suffered during the flight from New York to Boston, when the private plane the group was on was subjected to <a class="mw-redirect" title="Windsor Locks, Connecticut Tornado" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Windsor_Locks,_Connecticut_Tornado">extreme weather conditions</a> and was unable to land for an extended period. The tour ended with a show in <a title="Toronto" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Toronto">Toronto</a>, Canada at <a title="Maple Leaf Gardens" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Maple_Leaf_Gardens">Maple Leaf Gardens</a> before a capacity crowd of 18,000. The shows also generated the same type of complaints that were expressed during the group's 1977 tour: many fans regarded ABBA as more of a studio group than a live band. On 19 October 1979, the tour resumed in Western Europe where the band played 23 sold-out gigs, including an unprecedented six sold-out nights at London's <a title="Wembley Arena" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wembley_Arena">Wembley Arena</a>.</p> <p><a id="Progression" name="Progression"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Progression" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=15">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Progression</span></h3> <p>In March 1980, ABBA traveled to Japan where upon their arrival at <a title="Narita International Airport" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Narita_International_Airport">Narita International Airport</a>, they were besieged by thousands of fans. The group played eleven concerts to full houses, including six shows at Tokyo's <a class="mw-redirect" title="Budokan" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Budokan">Budokan</a>. This tour was the last "on the road" adventure of their career. The same year saw the release of ABBA's seventh album <i><a title="Super Trouper (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Super_Trouper_%28album%29">Super Trouper</a></i>, which reflected a certain change in ABBA's style with more prominent use of <a class="mw-redirect" title="Synthesiser" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Synthesiser">synthesisers</a> and increasingly more personal lyrics. It set a record for the most pre-orders ever received for a UK album after one million copies were ordered before release. Anticipation for the album had been built up by "<a title="The Winner Takes It All" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Winner_Takes_It_All">The Winner Takes It All</a>", the group's eighth UK chart topper (and their first since 1978). In the US, the single reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became ABBA's second Billboard Adult Contemporary #1. The song was allegedly written about Ulvaeus and Fältskog's marital tribulations. The next single from the album, "<a title="Super Trouper (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Super_Trouper_%28song%29">Super Trouper</a>", also hit #1 in the UK as well as in Germany, becoming the group's ninth and final UK chart-topper. Another track from <i>Super Trouper</i>, "<a title="Lay All Your Love on Me" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lay_All_Your_Love_on_Me">Lay All Your Love on Me</a>", released in 1981 as a 12-inch single only in selected territories, managed to top the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and peaked at #7 on the UK singles chart becoming at the time the highest ever charting 12-inch release in UK chart history.</p> <p>Also in 1980, ABBA recorded a compilation of Spanish-language versions of their hits called <i><a title="Gracias Por La Música (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gracias_Por_La_M%C3%BAsica_%28album%29">Gracias Por La Música</a></i>. It was released in Spanish-speaking countries as well as Japan and Australia. The album became a major success, and along with the Spanish version of "Chiquitita", this signaled the group's breakthrough in <a title="Latin America" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Latin_America">Latin America</a>.</p> <p><a id="The_final_album_and_performances_.281981.E2.80.931982.29" name="The_final_album_and_performances_.281981.E2.80.931982.29"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: The final album and performances (1981–1982)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=16">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">The final album and performances (1981–1982)</span></h2> <p>In January 1981, Ulvaeus married Lena Källersjö, and manager Stig Anderson celebrated his 50th birthday with a huge party. For this occasion, ABBA recorded the track 'Hovas Vittne' (a pun on the Swedish word for Jehovah's Witness) as a tribute to him, and released it only on 200 red vinyl copies, to be distributed to the guests attending the party. This single has become a most sought-after collectible. In mid-February 1981, Andersson and Lyngstad announced they were filing for divorce. Information surfaced that their marriage had been an uphill struggle for years, and Benny had already met another woman, Mona Nörklit, whom he married in November the same year.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6MjH9mJcP6E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6MjH9mJcP6E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>Andersson and Ulvaeus had songwriting sessions during the first months of 1981, and recording sessions began in mid-March. At the end of April, the group recorded a TV special, <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Dick Cavett meets ABBA" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dick_Cavett_meets_ABBA">Dick Cavett meets ABBA</a></i> with the US talk show host <a title="Dick Cavett" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dick_Cavett">Dick Cavett</a>. <i><a title="The Visitors (ABBA album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Visitors_%28ABBA_album%29">The Visitors</a></i>, ABBA's eighth and final studio album, showed a songwriting maturity and depth of feeling distinctly lacking from their earlier recordings but still placing the band squarely in the pop genre, with catchy tunes and harmonies. Although not revealed at the time of its release, the album's title track, according to Ulvaeus, refers to the secret meetings held against the approval of totalitarian governments in Soviet-dominated states, while other tracks address topics like failed relationships, the threat of war, aging, loss of innocence, and a parent watching a child gr</p> <p>ow up. This change of content lead to the release of the album "The Visitors" including the UK #3 single "<a title="One of Us (ABBA song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/One_of_Us_%28ABBA_song%29">One of Us</a>", also the last of ABBA's nine number 1 singles in Germany in December 1981.</p> <p>Although it topped the album charts across most of Europe, including the UK and Germany, <i>The Visitors</i> was not as commercially successful as its predecessors, showing at a commercial decline in previous loyal markets such as France, Australia or Japan. A track from <i>The Visitors</i>, "<a title="When All Is Said and Done (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/When_All_Is_Said_and_Done_%28song%29">When All Is Said and Done</a>", was released as a single in North America, Australia and New Zealan</p> <p>d, and fittingly became ABBA's final Top 40 hit in the US, while reaching #4 on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart in Canada. The song's lyrics, as with "<a title="The Winner Takes It All" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Winner_Takes_It_All">The Winner Takes It All</a>" and "<a title="One of Us (ABBA song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/One_of_Us_%28ABBA_song%29">One of Us</a>", dealt with the painful experience of splitting up from a long-term partner, though it looked at it more optimistically. With the now publicized story of Andersson and Lyngstad's divorce, speculation increased of tension within the band. Also released in the US was the title track of <i>The Visitors</i>, which hit the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.</p> <p><a id="Last_recording_sessions" name="Last_recording_sessions"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Last recording sessions" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=17">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Last recording sessions</span></h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="The cover of The Singles: The First Ten Years." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:ABBA_The_Singles.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ca/ABBA_The_Singles.jpg/180px-ABBA_The_Singles.jpg" width="180" border="0" height="180" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> The cover of <i><a title="The Singles: The First Ten Years" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Singles:_The_First_Ten_Years">The Singles: The First Ten Years</a></i>.</div></div></div> <p>In the spring of 1982, songwriting sessions had started and the group came together for more recordings. Plans were not completely clear, but a new album was discussed and the prospect of a small tour suggested. The recording sessions in May and June were a struggle, and only three songs were eventually recorded: "<a title="You Owe Me One" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/You_Owe_Me_One">You Owe Me One</a>", "I Am the City", an</p> <p>d "<a class="new" title="Just Like That (song) (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Just_Like_That_%28song%29&action=edit&redlink=1">Just Like That</a>". Andersson and Ulvaeus were not satisfied with the outcome, so the tapes were shelved and the group took a break for the summer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Back in the studio again in early August, the group had changed plans for the rest of the year: they settled for a Christmas release of a double album compilation of all their past single releases to be named <i><a title="The Singles: The First Ten Years" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Singles:_The_First_Ten_Years">The Singles: The First Ten Years</a></i>. New songwriting and recording sessions took place,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a></sup> and during October and November, they released the singles "<a title="The Day Before You Came" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Day_Before_You_Came">The Day Before You Came</a>"/"<a title="Cassandra" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cassandra">Cassandra</a>" and "<a title="Under Attack" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Under_Attack">Under Attack</a>"/"<a title="You Owe Me One" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/You_Owe_Me_One">You Owe Me One</a>", the A-sides of which were included on the compilation album. Neither single made the top 20 in the UK, though "<a title="The Day Before You Came" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Day_Before_You_Came">T</a></p> <p><a title="The Day Before You Came" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Day_Before_You_Came">he Day Before You Came</a>" became a Top 5 hit in many European countries such as Germany, The Netherlands or Belgium. The album went to #1 in the UK and <a title="Belgium" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Belgium">Belgium</a>, Top 5 in the Netherlands and West Germany and Top 20 in many other countries.</p> <p>"I Am the City" and "Just Like That" were left unreleased on <i>The Singles: The First Ten Years</i> for possible inclusion on the next projected studio album from ABBA, though this</p> <p> never came to fruition. "I Am the City" was eventually released as a bonus track on the compilation album <i><a title="More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/More_ABBA_Gold:_More_ABBA_Hits">More ABBA Gold</a></i> in 1993, while "Just Like That" has been recycled in new songs with other artists produced by Andersson and Ulvaeus. A reworked version of the verses ended up in the musical <i><a title="Chess (musical)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chess_%28musical%29">Chess</a></i>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></a></sup> The chorus section of "Just Like That"</p> <p> was eventually released on a retrospective boxset in 1994. Despite numerous requests from fans, Ulvaeus and Andersson are still refusing to release ABBA's version of "Just Like That" in its entirety, even though the complete version surfaced on bootlegs.</p> <p>The group travelled to London to promote <i>The Singles: The First Ten Years</i> in the first week of November 1982, appearing on <i><a title="Saturday Superstore" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Saturday_Superstore">Saturday Superstore</a></i> and <i><a title="The Late, Late Breakfast Show" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Late,_Late_Breakfast_Show">The Late, Late Breakfast Show</a></i>, and also to West Germany in the second week, to perform on Show Express. On 19 November 1982, ABBA appeared for the last time in Sweden on the TV programme Nöjes</p> <p>maskinen, and on 11 December 1982, they made their last performance ever, transmitted to the UK on <a title="Noel Edmonds" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Noel_Edmonds">Noel Edmonds</a>' <i>The Late, Late Breakfast Show</i>, via a live link from a TV studio in <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a>.</p> <p><a id="Last_performances" name="Last_performances"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Last performances" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=18">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Last performances</span></h3> <p>Andersson and Ulvaeus began collaborating with <a title="Tim Rice" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tim_Rice">Tim Rice</a> in early 1983 on writ</p> <p>ing songs for the musical project <i><a title="Chess (musical)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chess_%28musical%29">Chess</a></i>, while Fältskog and Lyngstad both concentrated on international solo careers. While Andersson and Ulvaeus were working on the musical, a further cooperation between three of them came with the musical <i><a title="Abbacadabra" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Abbacadabra">Abbacadabra</a></i> that was produced in France for television. It was a children's musical utilising 14 ABBA songs. <a title="Alain Boublil" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Alain_Boublil">Alain</a> and Daniel Boublil, who wrote <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Les Miserables (musical)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Les_Miserables_%28musical%29">Les Miserables</a></i>, had been in touch with Stig Anderson about the project, and the TV musical was aired over Christmas 1983 on the British channel <a title="ITV" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ITV">ITV</a>.</p> <p>Lyngstad, who had recently moved to Paris, participated in</p> <p> the French version, and recorded a single, "<a title="Belle" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Belle">Belle</a>", a duet with French singer <a title="Daniel Balavoine" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Daniel_Balavoine">Daniel Balavoine</a>. The song was a cover of ABBA's instrumental 1976 track "<a title="Arrival (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Arrival_%28song%29">Arrival</a>". As the single "Belle" sold well in France, <a title="Cameron Mackintosh" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cameron_Mackintosh">Cameron Mackintosh</a> wanted to stage an English language version of the show in London, with the French lyrics translated by <a title="David Wood (actor)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/David_Wood_%28actor%29">David Wood</a> and <a title="Don Black" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Don_Black">Don Black</a>; Andersson and Ulvaeus got involved in the project, and contributed with one new song, "<a title="(I Am) The Seeker" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/%28I_Am%29_The_Seeker">The Seeker</a>". "Abbacadabra" premièred 8 December 1983 at The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London, to mixed reviews and full houses for eight weeks, closing on 21 January 1984. Lyng</p> <p>stad was involved in this production as well, recording 'Belle' in English as "Time"; a duet with actor and singer <a title="B. A. Robertson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/B._A._Robertson">B. A. Robertson</a>: the single sold well, this time produced and recorded by Andersson and Ulvaeus.</p> <p>All four members made their last public appearance, as four friends more than as ABBA, in January 1986, when they recorded a video of themselves performing an acoustic version of "Tivedshambo", which was the first song written by their manager, Stig Anderson, for a Swedish TV show honouring Anderson on his 55th birthday. The four had not seen each other for more than two years. That same year they also performed privately at another friend's 40th birthday: their old tour manager, <a title="Claes af Geijerstam" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Claes_af_Geijerstam">Claes af Geijerstam</a>. They sang a self-composed song ti</p> <p>tled "Der Kleine Franz" that later was to surface in <i>Chess</i>. The same year <i><a title="ABBA Live" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA_Live">ABBA Live</a></i> was released, featuring selections of live performances from the group's 1977 and 1979 tours. Their last appearance as a group was filmed privately by Anders Glenmark. They were guests on the 50th birthday of Görel Hanser in 1999. Hanser was a long-time friend of all four, and also former secretary of Stig Anderson. Honouring Görel, ABBA performed a Swedish birthday song "Med En Enkel Tulipan" <a title="A cappella" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/A_cappella">a cappella</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-33"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Benny Andersson has on several occasions performed old ABBA songs. In June 1992, he and Björn Ulvaeus appeared with <a title="U2" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/U2">U2</a> at a Stockholm concert, singing the chorus of "<a title="Dancing Queen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Dancing_Queen">Dancing Queen</a>", and a few years later during the final performance of the B & B in Concert in Stockholm, Andersson joined the cast for an encore at the piano. Andersson frequently adds an ABBA song to the playlist when he performs with his <a title="Benny Anderssons Orkester" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Anderssons_Orkester">BAO</a> band. He also played the piano during </p> <p>new recordings of the ABBA songs "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" with opera singer <a title="Anne Sofie von Otter" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anne_Sofie_von_Otter">Anne Sofie von Otter</a>, and "When All Is Said And Done" with Swede <a title="Viktoria Tolstoy" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Viktoria_Tolstoy">Viktoria Tolstoy</a>. Andersson and Ulvaeus both did an a capella rendition of the first verse of "Fernando" as they accepted their Ivor Novello award in London in 2002. Frida Lyngstad performed and recorded an a cappella version of "Dancing Queen" with the Swedish group <a title="The Real Group" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Real_Group">The Real Group</a> in 1993, and has also re-recorded "<a title="I Have a Dream (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream_%28song%29">I Have a Dream</a>" with Swiss singer Dan Daniell in 2003.</p> <p><a id="Breaking_up" name="Breaking_up"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Breaking up" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=19">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Breaking up</span></h2><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MfzmR7Wrj5U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MfzmR7Wrj5U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />ABBA has never officially announced the end of the group, but the group has long been considered dissolved. Their last public performance together <i>as</i> ABBA was on the British TV programme <i><a title="The Late, Late Breakfast Show" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Late,_Late_Breakfast_Show">The Late, Late Breakfast Show</a></i> (live from Stockholm) December 11, 1982. In January 1983, Agnetha started recording sessions for a solo album, as Frida had released her <i><a title="Something's Going On" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Something%27s_Going_On">Something's Going On</a></i> a year earlier to great success. Björn and Benny started songwriting sessions for the musical <i>Chess</i>—and ABBA was shelved in the meantime. In interviews, Björn and Benny denied the split of ABBA ("Who are we without our ladies? Initials of Brigitte Bardot?" ) and Frida and Agnetha kept claiming in interviews that ABBA would come together for a new album repeatedly during 1983 and 1984. Internal strife between the group and their manager escalated and the group sold their shares in <a title="Polar Music" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Polar_Music">Polar Music</a> during 1983. With this, the foursome did not come together publicly until all four members were reunited at the Swedish premiere of <i>Mamma Mia!</i> on 4 July 2008. In an interview with the <i><a title="Sunday Telegraph" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sunday_Telegraph">Sunday Telegraph</a></i>, following the premiere, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson confirmed that there was nothing that could entice them back on stage again. "We will never appear on stage again", Ulvaeus said. "There is simply no motivation to re-group. Money is not a factor and we would like peo <p>ple to remember us as we were. Young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition. I remember <a title="Robert Plant" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Robert_Plant">Robert Plant</a> saying <a title="Led Zeppelin" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Led_Zeppelin">Led Zeppelin</a> were a cover band now because they cover all their own stuff. I think that hit the nail on the head."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-34"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p><a id="After_ABBA" name="After_ABBA"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: After ABBA" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=20">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">After ABBA</span></h2> <p><a id="Andersson_and_Ulvaeus" name="Andersson_and_Ulvaeus"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Andersson and Ulvaeus" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=21">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Andersson and Ulvaeus</span></h3> <dl><dd> <div class="noprint relarticle mainarticle"><i>Main articles: <a title="Björn Ulvaeus" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulvaeus">Björn Ulvaeus</a> and <a title="Benny Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Benny_Andersson">Benny Andersson</a></i></div></dd></dl> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 122px;"><a class="image" title="Björn Ulvaeus at Gothenburg Book Fair 2007." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulveaus.JPG"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulveaus.JPG/120px-Bj%C3%B6rn_Ulveaus.JPG" width="120" border="0" height="176" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> Björn Ulvaeus at <a title="Gothenburg Book Fair" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gothenburg_Book_Fair">Gothenburg Book Fair</a> 2007.</div></div></div> <p>In October 1984, Ulvaeus and Andersson together with lyricist <a title="Tim Rice" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tim_Rice">Tim Rice</a> released the musical concept double album <i><a title="Chess (musical)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chess_%28musical%29">Chess</a></i>. The singles "<a title="One Night in Bangkok" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/One_Night_in_Bangkok">One Night in Bangkok</a>" (with vocals by <a title="Murray Head" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Murray_Head">Murray Head</a>) and "<a title="I Know Him So Well" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Know_Him_So_Well">I Know Him So Well</a>" (a duet by <a class="new" title="Barbra Dickson (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Barbra_Dickson&action=edit&redlink=1">Barbra Dickson</a> and <a title="Elaine Paige" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Elaine_Paige">Elaine Paige</a> and later also recorded by both <a title="Barbra Streisand" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Barbra_Streisand">Barbra Streisand</a> and <a title="Whitney Houston" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Whitney_Houston">Whitney Houston</a>) were both huge successes. In May 1986, the musical premièred in the <a title="West End theatre" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/West_End_theatre">West End</a> of London, and ran for almost three years. On <a class="mw-redirect" title="Broadway theater" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Broadway_theater">Broadway</a> it opened in April 1988, but closed within two months due to bad</p> <p> reviews. The musical has since been staged regularly on a smaller scale to great success, and even the concert version is popular<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since December 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed</a></i>]</span></sup>. In Stockholm, the composers staged "<i>Chess på svenska</i>" ('Chess in Swedish') in 2003, with some new material including the musical numbers "<i>Han är en man, han är ett barn</i>" ("He's a man, he's a child") and "<i>Glöm mig om du kan</i>" ("Forget me if you can").</p> <p>What is considered to be Andersson and Ulvaeus' masterpiece<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since December 2008" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed">citation needed</a></i>]</span></sup>, ho</p> <p>wever, is <i><a title="Kristina från Duvemåla" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Kristina_fr%C3%A5n_Duvem%C3%A5la">Kristina från Duvemåla</a></i>, an epic Swedish musical which the composers premiered in <a title="Malmö" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Malm%C3%B6">Malmö</a> in southern Sweden in October 1995. It was directed for the stage by Lars Rudolfsson and based on the <i><a title="The Emigrants (novels)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Emigrants_%28novels%29">The Emigrants</a></i> <a title="Tetralogy" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tetralogy">tetralogy</a> by Swedish novelist <a title="Vilhelm Moberg" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Vilhelm_Moberg">Vilhelm Moberg</a>. The musical ran for five years in Stockholm, and an English version has been in development for some considerable time. It has been reported that a Broadway production is in its earliest stages of pre-production.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-35"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a class="image" title="Benny Andersson during a performance in Minnesota 2006." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:Benny_Andersson_ABBA.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Benny_Andersson_ABBA.jpg/180px-Benny_Andersson_ABBA.jpg" width="180" border="0" height="120" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> Benny Andersson during a performance in <a title="Minnesota" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Minnesota">Minnesota</a> 2006.</div></div></div> <p>Since 1983, besides <i>Chess</i> and <i>Kristina från Duvemåla</i>, Benny Andersson has continued writing songs with Björn Ulvaeus. The pair produced two English language pop albums with Swedish duo <a class="mw-redirect" title="Gemini (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gemini_%28band%29">Gemini</a> in 1985 and 1987. In 1987, Andersson also released his first solo album on his <a class="mw-redirect" title="Own label" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Own_label">Mono Music</a>, called "<i><a title="Klinga mina klockor" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Klinga_mina_klockor">Klinga mina klockor</a></i>" ("Ring my bells"), all new material inspired by Swedish folk </p> <p>music - -and followed it with his 2nd album titled <i><a title="November 1989 (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/November_1989_%28album%29">November 1989</a></i>. In the 1990s, Andersson wrote music for the popular Swedish cabaret quartet <a class="new" title="Ainbusk Singers (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Ainbusk_Singers&action=edit&redlink=1">Ainbusk Singers</a>, giving them two hits: "<a class="new" title="Lassie (song) (page does not exist)" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=Lassie_%28song%29&action=edit&redlink=1">Lassie</a>" and "<i>Älska mig</i>" ("Love me"), and later produced <i><a title="Shapes (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Shapes_%28album%29">Shapes</a></i> - an English language album by the group's Josefin Nilsson with all-new material by Andersson and Ulvaeus. Andersson has also regularly written music for films (most notably to <a title="Roy Andersson" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Roy_Andersson">Roy Andersson</a>'s <i><a title="Songs from the Second Floor" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Songs_from_the_Second_Floor">Songs from the Second Floor</a></i>). In 2001, Andersson put together his own band, <a title="BAO!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BAO%21">BAO!</a>, which has released three successful albums in 2001, 2004 and 2007. Andersson has the record</p> <p> of staying in the longest ever run in the Swedish <a title="Svensktoppen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Svensktoppen">Svensktoppen</a> charts as of April 2007 (the song "<i>Du är min man</i>", "You're My Man", sung by <a title="Helen Sjöholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Helen_Sj%C3%B6holm">Helen Sjöholm</a> is still there, presently at <i>#4</i> in its <i>237th</i> week as of January 18th, 2009 <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-36"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></a></sup> Andersson has released his third album <a title="BAO 3" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BAO_3">BAO 3</a> October 2007 with new material with his band <a title="BAO!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/BAO%21">BAO!</a> and vocalists <a title="Helen Sjöholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Helen_Sj%C3%B6holm">Helen Sjöholm</a> and <a title="Tommy Körberg" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tommy_K%C3%B6rberg">Tommy Körberg</a>, as well as playing to full houses at two of Sweden's largest concert venues in October and November 2007 with an audience of 14,000.</p> <p>Björn Ulvaeus has not appeared on stage performing music since ABBA, but had a reunion with his co-members of The Hootenanny Singers on 16 July 2005 at a music festival in his hometown of <a title="Västervik" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/V%C3%A4stervik">Västervik</a>, singing their 1966 hit "Marianne".</p> <p>Andersson and Ulvaeus are highly involved in the worldwide productions of the musical <a title="Mamma Mia!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21">Mamma Mia!</a>, alongside Lyngstad who attends premieres. They were also involved in the production of the successful film version of the musical, which opened in July 2008. Andersson produced the soundtrack utilising many of the musicians ABBA used on their albums and tours. Andersson made a cameo appearance in the movie as a 'fisherman' piano player in the 'Dancing Queen' scene, while Ulvaeus is seen as a Greek god playing harp during the closing credits.</p> <p>Andersson and Ulvaeus are continuously composing new material; most recently the two wrote a song for Swedish singer <a title="Sissela Kyle" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sissela_Kyle">Sissela Kyle</a> for her Stockholm stage show "Your Days Are Numbered", titled "<i>Jag vill bli gammal</i>" ("I Wanna Grow Old"); last year they wrote "<i>Han som har vunnit allt</i>" ("He Who's Won It All") for actor/singer <a title="Anders Ekborg" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anders_Ekborg">Anders Ekborg</a> and "I Walk With You Mama" and "After the Rain" for opera singer <a class="mw-redirect" title="Anne Sofie Von Otter" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anne_Sofie_Von_Otter">Anne Sofie Von Otter</a> for her Andersson tribute album "I Let The Music Speak".</p> <p><a id="F.C3.A4ltskog_and_Lyngstad" name="F.C3.A4ltskog_and_Lyngstad"></a></p> <h3><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Fältskog and Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=22">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Fältskog and Lyngstad</span></h3> <dl><dd> <div class="noprint relarticle mainarticle"><i>Main articles: <a title="Agnetha Fältskog" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Agnetha_F%C3%A4ltskog">Agnetha Fältskog</a> and <a title="Anni-Frid Lyngstad" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Anni-Frid_Lyngstad">Anni-Frid Lyngstad</a></i></div></dd></dl> <p>Both female members of ABBA pursued solo careers on the international scene following the break-up of the band. In 1982, Lyngstad chose <a class="mw-redirect" title="Genesis" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Genesis">Genesis</a> drummer and singer <a title="Phil Collins" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Phil_Collins">Phil Collins</a> to produce the album <i><a title="Something's Going On" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Something%27s_Going_On">Something's Going On</a></i> and unveiled the hit single and video "<a title="I Know There's Something Going On" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Know_There%27s_Something_Going_On">I Know There's Something Going On</a>" in autumn of that year. The single became a #1 hit in France, where it spent five weeks at the top, Belgium, Switzerland and Costa Rica. The track reached #3 in Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Poland, and was also a Top 10 hit in Germany, Italy, South Africa and Finland. In the United States, the single reached #13. In all, "I Know There's Something Going On" sold 3.5 million copies worldwide and is the biggest selling single any of the four members have had outside ABBA. Lyngstad's album sold 1.5 million copies internationally.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-37"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></a></sup> <a title="Sveriges Television" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sveriges_Television">Sveriges Television</a>, documented this historical event, by filming the whole recording process. The result became a one-hour TV documentary, including interviews with Frida, Phil, Björn, and Benny as well as all the musicians. This documentary and the promotion videos from the album are included in <i><a title="Frida - The DVD" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_-_The_DVD">Frida - The DVD</a></i>.</p> <p>Frida's second solo album after ABBA was the experimental <i><a title="Shine (Frida album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Shine_%28Frida_album%29">Shine</a></i>, produced by <a title="Steve Lillywhite" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Steve_Lillywhite">Steve Lillywhite</a>. "Shine" was recorded in Paris and released in 1984. "Shine" reached the Top 10 on the album charts in Sweden, Norway and Belgium and the Top 20 in the Netherlands. The leadsingle was the title track "Shine". This album was Frida's final studio album release for twelve years. The promotion videos and clips for "Shine" are included in <a class="mw-redirect" title="Frida the dvd" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_the_dvd">Frida the dvd</a>.</p> <p>Agnetha Fältskog followed in 1983 with the album <i>Wrap Your Arms Around Me</i>. This included the hit single "The Heat Is On", which was a hit in Europe and Scandinavia. In the US, Fältskog scored a Billboard Top 30 hit with "Can't Shake Loose". In Europe, the single "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" was another successful hit, topping the charts in Belgium and Denmark, reaching the Top 5 in Sweden and the Netherlands and the Top 20 in Germany and France. Her album sold 1.2 million copies worldwide.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-38"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>Fältskog's second post-ABBA solo album was <i>Eyes of a Woman</i>, released in March 1985, which reached #2 in Sweden and performed reasonably well in Europe. The first single from the album was "I Won't Let You Go". In November 1987, Fältskog released her third post-ABBA solo album, the <a title="Peter Cetera" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Peter_Cetera">Peter Cetera</a>-produced <i><a title="I Stand Alone (Agnetha Fältskog album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/I_Stand_Alone_%28Agnetha_F%C3%A4ltskog_album%29">I Stand Alone</a></i>, (which also included the Billboard hit "I Wasn't The One (Who Said Goodbye)". The album sold very well in Sweden, where it spent eight weeks at #1. Later that year, however, Fältskog withdrew from public life and halted her music career for a while. In 1996, she released her <a title="Autobiography" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Autobiography">autobiography</a>, <i>As I Am</i>, and a compilation album featuring her solo hits alongside some ABBA classics. In 2004, she made a successful comeback, releasing the critically acclaimed album <i><a title="My Colouring Book" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/My_Colouring_Book">My Colouring Book</a></i>, which debuted at #1 in Sweden (achieving triple-platinum status), #6 in Germany, and #12 in the UK, winning a silver award, and achieving gold status in Finland. The single "If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" became Fältskog's biggest solo hit in the UK, reaching the #11 position. The single saw the #2 spot in Sweden and was a hit throughout Scandinavia and Europe. In January 2007, she sang a live duet on stage with Swedish singer Tommy Körberg at the after party for the final showing of the musical, <i>Mamma Mia!</i>, in Stockholm, at which Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus were also present.</p> <p>In 1992 Frida was asked and chosen to be the chairperson for the environmental organisation "Artister för miljön" (Artists for the Environment) in Sweden. Frida accepted and became chairwoman for this organisation from 1992 to 1995. To mark her interests for the environment, she recorded the <a title="Julian Lennon" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Julian_Lennon">Julian Lennon</a> song <i>Saltwater</i> and performed it live in Stockholm. She arranged and financed summer camps for poor children in Sweden, focusing on environmental and ecological issues. Her environmental work for this organisation led up to the decision to record again. <i><a title="Djupa andetag" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Djupa_andetag">Djupa andetag</a></i> (<i>Deep Breaths</i>) was released towards the end of 1996 and became a huge success in Sweden, where it reached #1 and Scandinavia. The lyrics for the single from this album, "Även en blomma" (Even a Flower), deal with environmental issues.In 2004, Lyngstad recorded a song called "The Sun Will Shine Again", written especially for her and released with former <a title="Deep Purple" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Deep_Purple">Deep Purple</a> member <a title="Jon Lord" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jon_Lord">Jon Lord</a>. The couple made several TV performances with this song in Germany. Lyngstad lives a low-profile life but occasionally appears at a party or charity function. On 26 August 1992, she married Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss von Plauen, of the German Reuss family. Von Plauen died of <a title="Lymphoma" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lymphoma">lymphoma</a> at the age of 49. In addition to losing her husband, Lyngstad had also lost her daughter in a car crash a year earlier.</p> <p>On November 15, 2005, due to Anni-Frid Lyngstad's 60th birthday, <a title="Universal Records" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Universal_Records">Universal</a> released the <b>Frida Box Set</b>, consisting of the solo albums she recorded for the Polar Label. Included is also the 3 1/2 hour documentary <a class="mw-redirect" title="Frida the dvd" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Frida_the_dvd">Frida the dvd</a>. On this dvd, which covers Lyngstad's entire singing career, the viewer is guided by Frida herself through the years. From her TV debut in Sweden 1967 to the TV performances she made in Germany 2004, singing "The Sun Will Shine Again" together with <a title="Jon Lord" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Jon_Lord">Jon Lord</a> of rock group <a title="Deep Purple" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Deep_Purple">Deep Purple</a>. Many rare clips are included in the set and each performance is explained by Lyngstad herself. The interview with Lyngstad was filmed in the Swiss Alps, summer 2005.</p> <p><a id="Revival" name="Revival"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Revival" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=23">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Revival</span></h2> <p>The same year the members of ABBA went their separate ways, the French production of a 'tribute' show; a children's TV musical named <i><a title="Abbacadabra" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Abbacadabra">Abbacadabra</a></i>, using 14 of ABBA's songs, spawned new interest in the group's music. The London staging of the musical had stars such as <a title="Elaine Paige" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Elaine_Paige">Elaine Paige</a> and <a title="Finola Hughes" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Finola_Hughes">Finola Hughes</a> singing new lyrics to the old ABBA hits.</p> <p>After receiving little attention during the mid 1980s, ABBA's music experienced a resurgence in the early 1990s due in part to the Australian tribute act <a title="Björn Again" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Again">Björn Again</a>, and the UK synth-pop duo <a title="Erasure" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Erasure">Erasure</a> who released an <a title="Extended play" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Extended_play">EP</a> featuring cover versions of ABBA's songs which topped the charts in the spring of 1992. As <a title="U2" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/U2">U2</a> arrived in <a title="Stockholm" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stockholm">Stockholm</a> for a concert in June of that year, the band paid homage to ABBA by inviting Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson to join them on stage for a rendition of "Dancing Queen", playing guitar and keyboards. September 1992 saw the release of <i><a title="ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA_Gold:_Greatest_Hits">ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits</a></i>, a new compilation album, which became a massive worldwide seller. The album became the most popular ABBA release ever, selling more than twenty-six milli</p> <p>on copies to date and setting chart longevity records.</p> <p>The enormous interest in the <i>Gold</i> compilation saw the release of <i><a title="More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/More_ABBA_Gold:_More_ABBA_Hits">More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits</a></i> in 1993. This collection also contained the bonus track "I Am the City", one of the unreleased songs from the 1982 recording sessions.</p> <p>In 1994 two Australian movies caught the attention of the world's media, both focussing on admiration for ABBA: <i><a title="The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Priscilla,_Queen_of_the_Desert">The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert</a></i> and <i><a title="Muriel's Wedding" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Muriel%27s_Wedding">Muriel's Wedding</a></i>. The same year, <i><a title="Thank You for the Music (album)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Thank_You_for_the_Music_%28album%29">Thank You for the Music</a></i>, a four-disc box set comprising all the group's hits and stand-out album tracks, was released with the involvement of all four members. For this release, several demo versions and odd tracks were discovered in the Polar vaults.</p> <p>ABBA were soon recognised and embraced by other acts: <a title="Evan Dando" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Evan_Dando">Evan Dando</a> of <a title="The Lemonheads" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Lemonheads">The Lemonheads</a> recorded a cover version of "<a title="Knowing Me, Knowing You" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Knowing_Me,_Knowing_You">Knowing Me, Knowing You</a>",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-39"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></a></sup> <a title="Sinéad O'Connor" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sin%C3%A9ad_O%27Connor">Sinéad O'Connor</a> and Boyzone's <a title="Stephen Gately" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Stephen_Gately">Stephen Gately</a> have recorded "<a title="Chiquitita" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chiquitita">Chiquitita</a>", <a title="Tanita Tikaram" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Tanita_Tikaram">Tanita Tikaram</a>, and <a title="Blancmange (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Blancmange_%28band%29">Blancmange</a> paid tribute to "<a title="The Day Before You Came" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Day_Before_You_Came">The Day Before You Came</a>", Cliff Richard covered "<a class="mw-redirect" title="Lay All Your Love On Me" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lay_All_Your_Love_On_Me">Lay All Your Love On Me</a>", while Dionne Warwick and Peter Cetera recorded their versions of "<a title="SOS (ABBA song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/SOS_%28ABBA_song%29">SOS</a>". U.S. alternative-rock musician Marshall Crenshaw has also been known to play a version of "Knowing Me, Knowing You" in concert appearances. Swedish metal guitarist <a title="Yngwie Malmsteen" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Yngwie_Malmsteen">Yngwie Malmsteen</a> covered "<a title="Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gimme%21_Gimme%21_Gimme%21_%28A_Man_After_Midnight%29">Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)</a>" with slightly altered lyrics. Tribute albums were released both in Sweden and the UK.</p> <p>In Sweden, the growing recognition of the legacy of Andersson and Ulvaeus resulted in the 1998 <i>B & B Concerts</i>: a tribute concert (with Swedish singers who had worked with the composers through the years) showcasing not only their ABBA years, but even hits from the 1960s and after ABBA. The concert was a huge success, released on CD, and later toured Scandinavia and even went to <a title="Beijing" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Beijing">Beijing</a> in the People's Republic of China for two concerts. In 1999, Sweden saw the birth of ABBA Teens, later re-named <a title="A*Teens" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/A*Teens">A*Teens</a>, recording techno-pop versions of ABBA songs to huge success worldwide: not only the English original versions, but ABBA's Spanish versions also.</p> <p>In April 1999, the <i><a title="Mamma Mia!" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21">Mamma Mia!</a></i> musical opened in London, and soon premièred in cities worldwide to huge success.</p> <p>In 2000, ABBA were reported to have turned down an offer of approximately US$1,000,000,000 (one billion US dollars) to do a reunion tour consisting of 100 concerts.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></a></sup> However, this information is widely considered an urban legend, whereas the actual amount was near 1 billion Swedish Kronor (140 million US dollars). Thomas Johansson, director of the concert arranger EMA-Telstar and manager of ABBA explains "That is a kind of urban tale where people has mixed together different pieces of information. But it is true that we have been offered breathtaking sums for a reunited ABBA." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <p>For the 2004 semi-final of the <a title="Eurovision Song Contest" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest">Eurovision Song Contest</a>, staged in Istanbul thirty years after ABBA had won the contest in Brighton, all four members of ABBA appeared briefly in a special comedy video made for the interval act, entitled "Our Last Video Ever". Each of the four members of the group made a brief cameo role, as did others such as <a title="Cher" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cher">Cher</a> and <a title="Rik Mayall" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Rik_Mayall">Rik Mayall</a>. The video was not included in the official DVD release of the Eurovision Contest, but was issued as a separate DVD release, retitled "The Last Video" at the request of the former ABBA members. Although it was billed as the first time the four had worked together since the group split, each member was filmed separately.</p> <p>In 2005 all four members of ABBA appeared at the Stockholm premiere of the musical Mamma Mia <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-42"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></a></sup>.</p> <p>With <i>Mamma Mia!'</i>s huge success worldwide, and the 2008 <a title="Mamma Mia! (film)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21_%28film%29">film</a> starring <a title="Meryl Streep" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Meryl_Streep">Meryl Streep</a> and <a title="Pierce Brosnan" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Pierce_Brosnan">Pierce Brosnan</a>, there is a huge interest in ABBA's music. However, in a November 2004 interview with the German magazine <i>Bunte</i>, Ulvaeus said a reunion would not satisfy ABBA's many fans, even though there are legions of them around the world often clamouring for one.</p> <p>In 2008 all four ABBA members were reunited at the Swedish premiere of the film <i>Mamma Mia!</i> on 4 July. It was only the second time all of them had appeared together in public since 1986.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-43"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></a></sup> During the appearance, they re-emphasized that they intended never to officially reunite, citing the opinion of <a title="Robert Plant" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Robert_Plant">Robert Plant</a> that the re-formed <a title="Led Zeppelin" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Led_Zeppelin">Led Zeppelin</a> was more like a <a title="Cover band" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Cover_band">cover band</a> of itself than the original band. Ulvaeus stated that he wanted the band to be remembered as they were during the peak years of their success. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></a></sup></p> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 402px;"><a class="image" title="Posing together with the actors from the motion picture Mamma Mia! The Movie on July 4, 2008, are the original ABBA members. Far left, Benny Andersson. Fifth from left, Agnetha Fältskog ("Anna"), with her hand on Anni-Frid Lyngstad's ("Frida") shoulder. Second from right, Björn Ulvaeus." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/File:ABBA_2008_Av_Daniel_%C3%85hs.jpg"><img class="thumbimage" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/ABBA_2008_Av_Daniel_%C3%85hs.jpg/400px-ABBA_2008_Av_Daniel_%C3%85hs.jpg" width="400" border="0" height="168" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> Posing together with the actors from the motion picture <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Mamma Mia! The Movie" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21_The_Movie">Mamma Mia! The Movie</a></i> on July 4, 2008, are the original ABBA members. Far left, Benny Andersson. Fifth from left, Agnetha Fältskog ("Anna"), with her hand on Anni-Frid Lyngstad's ("Frida") shoulder. Second from right, Björn Ulvaeus.</div></div></div> <p>The compilation album <i><a title="ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/ABBA_Gold:_Greatest_Hits">ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits</a></i>, originally released in 1992, returned to number one in the UK album charts for the fifth time on August 3, 2008.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></a></sup>. On August 14, 2008, the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Mamma Mia! The Movie" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Mamma_Mia%21_The_Movie">Mamma Mia! The Movie</a> film soundtrack went to number 1 on the USA Billboard Charts. While ABBA were together, the highest album chart position they ever achieved in America was No. 14. The year 2008 was the first time an "ABBA" album went to the top of the American record charts.</p> <p>In 2008 the Swedish band The Airwaves recorded an ABBA tribute song "Hey You, Ring Me Tonight". The song is written by Clive Jones, who is a member of an English band <a title="Black Widow (band)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Black_Widow_%28band%29">Black Widow</a>. Most recently all eight studio albums, together with a ninth of rare tracks, have been released as ABBA <a title="The Albums" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Albums">The Albums</a>. Amazingly, it has hit several charts, peaking at #4 in Sweden and reaching the top 10 in several other European territories. UK release was Monday, November 24.</p> <p>In 2008, <a title="Sony Computer Entertainment" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Sony_Computer_Entertainment">Sony Computer Entertainment</a> Europe, in collabaration with <a title="Universal Music Group" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Universal_Music_Group">Universal Music Group</a> Sweden AB, released <a title="SingStar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/SingStar">SingStar</a> ABBA on both <a title="PlayStation 2" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/PlayStation_2">PlayStation 2</a> and <a title="PlayStation 3" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/PlayStation_3">PlayStation 3</a> video game systems as part of the <a title="SingStar" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/SingStar">SingStar</a> music video games. The game features over 20 ABBA songs, most of them #1 hits. The game was released worldwide and as a stand-alone game.</p> <p>On January 22, 2009, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad surprisingly showed up together to receive the swedish music award "Rockbjörnen" (for "lifetime achievement") and gave an open-hearted interview onstage; the two wanted to express gratitude for the honorary award and to thank their fans. They also commented with concern on the old rumour that the two weren't friends.</p> <p><a id="Fashion.2C_videos.2C_and_advertising_campaigns" name="Fashion.2C_videos.2C_and_advertising_campaigns"></a></p> <h2><span class="editsection">[<a title="Edit section: Fashion, videos, and advertising campaigns" href="http://www.blogger.com/w/index.php?title=ABBA&action=edit&section=24">edit</a>]</span> <span class="mw-headline">Fashion, videos, and advertising campaigns</span></h2> <p>ABBA were widely noted for the colourful and trend-setting costumes its members wore. The videos that accompanied some of their biggest hits are often cited as being among the earliest examples of the genre. Most of ABBA's videos (and <i>ABBA: The Movie</i>) were directed by <a title="Lasse Hallström" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Lasse_Hallstr%C3%B6m">Lasse Hallström</a>, who would later direct the films <i><a title="My Life as a Dog" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/My_Life_as_a_Dog">My Life as a Dog</a></i>, <i><a title="The Cider House Rules (film)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/The_Cider_House_Rules_%28film%29">The Cider House Rules</a></i> and <i><a class="mw-redirect" title="Chocolat (film)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Chocolat_%28film%29">Chocolat</a></i>.</p><h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNswp_5m-dEP_zl8cl4aAHKMzWaWaXF5gnoH4Z-_VkJDbc5N933v3J4drP1eM2uBRtyla8X0TIkSlEXtWDcZhAkQNOMg6IkEvTxU92_FdGpn31ebNxSLeOydbQSgRE0zlaqDCNbpi4GY/s1600-h/abbaMS1512_468x549.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNswp_5m-dEP_zl8cl4aAHKMzWaWaXF5gnoH4Z-_VkJDbc5N933v3J4drP1eM2uBRtyla8X0TIkSlEXtWDcZhAkQNOMg6IkEvTxU92_FdGpn31ebNxSLeOydbQSgRE0zlaqDCNbpi4GY/s400/abbaMS1512_468x549.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303696067396042610" border="0" /></a></h1> <p>ABBA made videos because their songs were hits in so many different countries and personal appearances weren't always possible. This was also done in an effort to minimize traveling, particularly to countries that would have required extremely long flights. Fältskog and Ulvaeus had two young children, and Fältskog, who was also <a title="Fear of flying" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Fear_of_flying">afraid of flying</a>, was very reluctant to leave her children for such a long time. ABBA's manager, Stig Anderson, realized the potential of showing a simple video clip on television to publicize a single or album, thereby allowing easier and quicker exposure than a concert tour. Some of these videos became classics because of the 1970s-era costumes and early video effects, such as the grouping of the band members in different combinations of pairs, overlapping one singer's profile with the other's full face, and the contrasting of one member against another. The director somehow managed to produce the videos with acts that seem to be integrated with the music.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WCkOmcIl79s&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WCkOmcIl79s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>In 1976, ABBA participated in a high-profile advertising campaign by the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd." href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Matsushita_Electric_Industrial_Co.,_Ltd.">Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.</a>, which was designed to promote the brand <a title="National (brand)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/National_%28brand%29">"National"</a>. This campaign was designed initially for Australia, where "National" was still the primary brand used by Matsushita, who had not introduced the "<a class="mw-redirect" title="Panasonic" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Panasonic">Panasonic</a>" brand to Australia yet despite its widespread use in other parts of the world such as the U.S. However, the campaign was also aired in Japan. Five commercials, each approximately one minute long, were produced, each using the "National Song" sung by ABBA, which used the melody and instrumental arrangement of <a title="Fernando (song)" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Fernando_%28song%29">Fernando</a>, adapted with new lyrics promoting National, and working in several slogans used by National in their advertising.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></a></sup></p><p><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-46"><span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1n_1nOFTx5E&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1n_1nOFTx5E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span></a></sup></p> <p>In 2008, United States Senator <a title="John McCain presidential campaign, 2008" href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/John_McCain_presidential_campaign,_2008">John McCain</a> wanted to use the group's music in his 2008 presidential campaign but opted against it, citing licensing and other concerns.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><a title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7190412120916311250#cite_note-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></a></sup></p>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-75930925597995360992009-02-09T05:01:00.000-08:002009-02-09T06:00:47.620-08:00" All Time Favorites " Relax & Internalize"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6SXHbaN5Md1SCJgMPraWOVeUtmEN8t2uzP_bctMSYkh5SaOcRvohQauGUOjAJ-n_khaf6tjjF5pIK1NVh7YZWBsypq0fkijK-er-Q92gRdm49sUxctmcLHxX_WfjASa95Ok_wqMwgzw/s1600-h/mybanner483392a55a591hr1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6SXHbaN5Md1SCJgMPraWOVeUtmEN8t2uzP_bctMSYkh5SaOcRvohQauGUOjAJ-n_khaf6tjjF5pIK1NVh7YZWBsypq0fkijK-er-Q92gRdm49sUxctmcLHxX_WfjASa95Ok_wqMwgzw/s400/mybanner483392a55a591hr1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300797197804155378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:courier new;" >This is just some of my favorite songs.I never get tired listening to these songs even they are quite old for my generating.I appreciate how they sing their songs full of emotions that you can feel the love that surrounds you while playing these songs.I hope you enjoy viewing the video that i have compiled to open your hearts to the world of music.....</span><br /><br />Promise Me - Beverly Craven<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jtpjlX-P1nY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jtpjlX-P1nY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />TITANIC My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dione<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PtS45bh_INY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PtS45bh_INY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AYq6bdJF4ts&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AYq6bdJF4ts&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Unbreak My Heart - Toni Braxton<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YyBEVP7NFY4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YyBEVP7NFY4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />With Or Without You - U2<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Ye8GLPUVsM&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Ye8GLPUVsM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />How Do I Live - Trisha Yearwood<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFnD3uwKHag&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RFnD3uwKHag&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Aerosmith - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vo_0UXRY_rY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vo_0UXRY_rY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Bon Jovi -Always<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jn8XfKnDPlg&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jn8XfKnDPlg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />M2M "Everything You Do "<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PSlPdAEn1jw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PSlPdAEn1jw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />M2m " Pretty Boy "<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Dad3ne46J0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Dad3ne46J0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-64396046744863764702009-02-09T03:20:00.000-08:002009-02-09T04:59:02.782-08:00" Unbelievable " by craig david<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">c r a i g d a v i d</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5EApN0qhhaFSXIdysZR209EoxdNriX5-b1CNF0_DMakZ-unnpcQNQKPv0s2WvKMiIoAZ3HCRxk4rcHZV9SnrHxWrqlIMxVsX1L6BylClXcQRzVFor16dEgUsAB3VlvK946fMA7rZgf8/s1600-h/CraigDavid-02-big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5EApN0qhhaFSXIdysZR209EoxdNriX5-b1CNF0_DMakZ-unnpcQNQKPv0s2WvKMiIoAZ3HCRxk4rcHZV9SnrHxWrqlIMxVsX1L6BylClXcQRzVFor16dEgUsAB3VlvK946fMA7rZgf8/s400/CraigDavid-02-big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300769941555155954" border="0" /></a><h1 style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a title="Craig David with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/craig-david-nqn6f/overview">Craig David</a> - Biography</span></h1>R&B sensation Craig David was barely out of his teens when he took a hold of the U.K. pop circuit, twisted it around, and threw it back on its bum during fall 2000. This fresh-faced native of Southampton, England, was merely playing into his love of funkadelic hip-hop and crooning urban stylings when he started writing songs as a teenager. His love for Terence Trent D'Arby, Sisqo, and Donnell Jones allowed him to put his creative love for art, culture, and history into a musical beat all his own. And the new millennium belonged to him and garage had been redefined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2mq6GaMHRR-x5SoLl2KYiQidc301GRV3f0uYdndu0GbTAGrHu3eYxat1zonge_Or3bv0svO3jdxKwPCa-9-uK6NTiKqcaLXcmOsk-NQHTcAmDp9AGdI5cMN-5MuWq-Ck40aWGApDZMw/s1600-h/craigdavidps03em2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2mq6GaMHRR-x5SoLl2KYiQidc301GRV3f0uYdndu0GbTAGrHu3eYxat1zonge_Or3bv0svO3jdxKwPCa-9-uK6NTiKqcaLXcmOsk-NQHTcAmDp9AGdI5cMN-5MuWq-Ck40aWGApDZMw/s400/craigdavidps03em2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300769948070775730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWz2lwM2p779i9BsRcCibmhzWAMFhO7J2T9BuHpcKcScWQvr24rhgJbHwFmfk-hNbpyEAvpI8BRBjjYeWXAx1FBBKUm03DXhZaP1w5gLnJ9zVp5l3WKiHmocerT-rWS18nKTpTKG9dAk/s1600-h/craig-david6grande.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWz2lwM2p779i9BsRcCibmhzWAMFhO7J2T9BuHpcKcScWQvr24rhgJbHwFmfk-hNbpyEAvpI8BRBjjYeWXAx1FBBKUm03DXhZaP1w5gLnJ9zVp5l3WKiHmocerT-rWS18nKTpTKG9dAk/s400/craig-david6grande.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300769944071197058" border="0" /></a><br />Born Craig Ashley David on May 5, 1981, David was slicing and dicing ragga and R&B on the local station PCRS 106.5FM and found himself playing club gigs prior to rubbing elbows with some of music's finest. It was during this time he hooked with Artful Dodger's Mark Hill. After winning a national writing competition, Craig was more than ready to start producing with Hill. His big break came when he put his own additives on Damage's "I'm Ready," a B-side to "Wonderful Tonight." Soon thereafter he remixed his own version of Human League's "Human" and started himself a regular spot in area clubs during the weekends. "Rewind" was another underground smash, specifically a definitive move for David. His respect for Stevie Wonder, Faith Evans, and R. Kelly was most apparent, however his own vocal talent was beginning to shine. He and Hill's specialty show on Capital Radio provided another outlet for David to shape his musical work of genius. "Fill Me In" proved yet another hit, shooting straight to number one in summer 2000. David was now the youngest British male solo artist to have a number one single. He was 19-years-old.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G9jMYB5hFLbJrJ4d0qtjerd6Gx8Wa33OvwO4srViVpqaLKpEtVFFvj2VUM3aBcBteJsiiGQ5jAZ3yViKWMuIAW0WGkiNvc-04MlcVV5bAI-hKsfAq7Z4gpXD3CRTjo2t8vzASbOWko4/s1600-h/craigd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G9jMYB5hFLbJrJ4d0qtjerd6Gx8Wa33OvwO4srViVpqaLKpEtVFFvj2VUM3aBcBteJsiiGQ5jAZ3yViKWMuIAW0WGkiNvc-04MlcVV5bAI-hKsfAq7Z4gpXD3CRTjo2t8vzASbOWko4/s400/craigd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300769946722927266" border="0" /></a><br />A deal with Wildstar Records in the U.K. sparked toward the end of the summer as "Re-Rewind" and "7 Days" gained praise in late November. A stateside agreement with Atlantic also led to more global hype. He had sold 3.5 million records worldwide and garage was finally becoming massive overseas and it was David's debut Born to Do It that was at the head.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/01Gd57DZMQQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/01Gd57DZMQQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJOVFndaK4I&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KJOVFndaK4I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />But not all were pulling for this R&B prodigy. Aside from winning three awards at the MOBO's in October, Craig David walked away empty handed at the 2000 Brit Awards in February 2001. He was up for six nominations, including Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Newcomer, and Best British Single for "7 Days," but industry politics fell into operation. Many mainstream stars came to David's defense, artists such as Elton John, U2, and Robbie Williams, professing their disgust for the ill recognition for David and his musical efforts in the past year. Death threats soon followed for the superstar in spring 2001 as he took the stage in a show in London. An anonymous caller claimed a soldier would injure David with tear gas and hand grenades. Still, his record sales continued to soar in the U.K. with sales of Born to Do It increasing over 100 percent after his dismal beginning months of 2001. He bombared American Shores with a deal with Atlantic and released Born to Do It stateside in summer 2001. Mainstream radio flocked to him immediately. Missy Elliott, Beyoncé Knowles, and Usher called themselves fans.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qog5QsmdKjw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Qog5QsmdKjw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />The next year, things didn't simmer down for the now international pop star. Craig David returned with a sophomore effort Slicker Than Your Average in November 2002. This particular album saw a much grittier side from David. Debut single "What's Your Flava?" also became one of the year's hottest singles.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DDWkaDzZ6N4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DDWkaDzZ6N4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-89452978785641241862009-02-06T13:28:00.000-08:002009-02-09T04:22:04.666-08:00" The Undesputed J Lo"<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;" >J e n n i f e r <span style="font-family:courier new;">L o</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;"> p e z</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28uMxSvWGpHYz-DzyhqEK3rSN7u8Fq9y6bUFHvbtnSuDzUPCjLgOhna7HTORE92E6E0eHcE924HnJ8XCI6H-pUJLHx4hLxkVPw9BAHBHIK249II4qUjO7LoCpnMdJFGpoq43YdDx4P1w/s1600-h/Jennifer-Lopez-J-Lo-wallpaper-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28uMxSvWGpHYz-DzyhqEK3rSN7u8Fq9y6bUFHvbtnSuDzUPCjLgOhna7HTORE92E6E0eHcE924HnJ8XCI6H-pUJLHx4hLxkVPw9BAHBHIK249II4qUjO7LoCpnMdJFGpoq43YdDx4P1w/s400/Jennifer-Lopez-J-Lo-wallpaper-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299800241289291826" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" title="Jennifer Lopez with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/jennifer-lopez-4r8dw/overview">Jennifer Lopez</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > - Biography</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Lopez was born and raised in the Castle Hill neighborhood in the Bronx, New York City, New York to Puerto Rican parents Guadalupe Rodríguez and David Lopez. Lopez spent her entire academic career in Catholic schools. She also financed singing and dancing lesson</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >s for herself from the age of nineteen. After leaving a one-semester career at Baruch College, Lopez divided her time between working in a legal office, dance </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >classes, and dance performances in Manhattan clubs at night.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_jVtluL5ceY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_jVtluL5ceY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >After months of auditioning for dance roles, Lopez was selected as a dancer for various rap artists' music videos, and was given a guest spot at the American Music Awards as a backup dancer for the New Kids on the Block and </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >their performance of their song "Games" in 1991. After being re</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >jected twice, Lopez gained her first regular high-profile job as a "Fly Girl" dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color in 1991.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BJLGZTZr8B4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BJLGZTZr8B4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Soon after, Lopez became a backup dancer for famed singer Janet Jackson and made an appearan</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >ce in her 1993 video "That's the Way Love Goes". </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Lopez's debut album On the 6, a refe</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >rence to the 6 subway line</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > she used to take growing up in Castle Hill,</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > was released on June 1, 1999, and reached the top ten of the Bi</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >llboard 200. The album featured the multi-week Billboard Hot 100 number-one lead single, "If You Had My Love", as well as the top ten hit "Waiting for Tonight". It also contained the Spanish-language, Latin-flavored duet "No Me Ames" with Marc Anthony. Though "No </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Me Ames" never had a commerci</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >al release, it reached number one on the U.S. Hot Latin Tracks.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lvjRrwR2eA4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lvjRrwR2eA4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Despite this, the music video for "No Me Ames" received mo</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >derate airplay on the music channels VH1 (United Sta</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >tes) and The Box (United Kingdom). On the 6 also featured guest artists such as Big Pun and Fat Joe on the track "F</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >eelin' So Good",</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > which failed to make the top fifty of the Billboard Hot 100. "Let's Get Loud", the final single, earned Lopez a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Dance Recording" category in 2001. "Waiting for Tonight" was nominated for the same category the previous year. "No Me Ames" received two nominations at the 2000 Latin Grammy Awards — "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Bes</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >t Music Video". </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Lopez's second album, J. Lo, was released on January 23, 2001 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The lead single, "Love Don't Cost a Thing", was her first number-one s</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >ingle in</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > the United Kingdom and took her into the top five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. She followed it up with "Play" which gave her another top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number three in the UK.</span><br /><br /><!-- SpringWidgets | RSS Reader (#23) | Blogger | Generated on 02/06/2009 --><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" id="springwidgets_23" data="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=RSS Reader.sbw" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="300" align="middle" height="418"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="movie" value="http://downloads.thespringbox.com/web/wrapper.php?file=RSS Reader.sbw"><param name="flashvars" value="param_param=&param_style_borderColor=0xFF0099&param_style_brandUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonymusic.com%2Fartists%2Fjenniferlopez%2Fimages%2Fdoitwell_300.jpg&param_compactView=false&param_blurbLength=512"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgColor" value="0x000000"></object><div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; width: 300px;"><a href="http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets/view/23/?param_param=&param_style_borderColor=0xFF0099&param_style_brandUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonymusic.com%2Fartists%2Fjenniferlopez%2Fimages%2Fdoitwell_300.jpg&param_compactView=false&param_blurbLength=512&width=300&height=418" target="_blank" title="Get this widget!">Get this widget!</a></div><div><div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">Visit the <a href="http://www.springwidgets.com/" target="_blank">Widget</a> <a href="http://www.springwidgets.com/widgets" target="_blank">Gallery</a></div></div><br /><a style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqjBYvWCDki5NAbjDuLcpworKx7MQw_8ygOMDeYb3FBqToUjf9SizDsHLT39Lep4fsTHVe1yy3K5Rs2MZfm3kD78DU7fLuAE9K94L4BvmbQuDTWiW4tPTEBaGPMi9-xZJDyO8Z1_kxWY/s1600-h/jennifer_lopez_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqjBYvWCDki5NAbjDuLcpworKx7MQw_8ygOMDeYb3FBqToUjf9SizDsHLT39Lep4fsTHVe1yy3K5Rs2MZfm3kD78DU7fLuAE9K94L4BvmbQuDTWiW4tPTEBaGPMi9-xZJDyO8Z1_kxWY/s400/jennifer_lopez_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299800236090221986" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><br />Her next two singles were "I'm Real" and </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >"Ain't It Funny" which were quickly rising up the charts. To capitalize on this, Lopez asked The Inc. Records (then known as Murder Inc.) to remix both songs, which featured rap artists Ja Rule (on both) and Caddillac Tah (on the "Ain't It Funny" remix). Both remixes reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >She re-released J. Lo on her thirty-second birthday with the remix of "I'm Real" as a bonus track. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Following the success of the re-release of J. Lo, Lopez decided to devote an enti</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >re album to the remixing effort, releasing </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >J to tha L-O!: The Remixes, on February 5, 2002. This album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first remix album in history to debut at the top on the chart.[7] Featured artists on J to tha L-O!: The Remixes included P. Diddy, Fat Joe, and Nas, and the album also included rare dance and hip-hop remixes of past singles.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > It is still one of the most successful remix alb</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >ums ever. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >On November 26, 2002, Lopez released her third studio album, This Is Me... Then, which reached number two on the Billboard 200 and spawned four singles: "Jenny from the Block" (featuring Jadakiss and Styles P), which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100; "All I Have" (featuring LL Cool J), which spent multiple weeks at number one; "I'm Glad"; and "</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Baby I Love U!".<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/416542555" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=1189419193&playerId=416542555&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="510" height="550"></embed><br /><br />The album included a cover of Carly Simon's 1978 "You Belong to Me". It performed well on th</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >e charts, selling 2.5 million copies in the United States alone. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >After a year away from the music scene, Lopez released he</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >r fourth studio album, Rebirth, on March 1, 2005. Although debuting and peaking at number two on the Billboard 200, the album quickly fell off the charts. It spawne</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >d one hit in "Get Right", which reached the top fifteen in the U.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >S. and became her second Platinum</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > hit (after "If You Had My Love"). "Get Right" was also successful in the UK, becoming her second number-one single there. The second single, "Hold You Down", which featured Fat Joe, reached number sixty-four on the U.S. Hot 100; it peaked at number six in the UK and ascended to the top twenty in Australia. Another song, "Cherry Pie",</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" > was slated for a fall release, but the plans to make a video were cancelled as the album sales were definitely too weak and the promotion budget exceeded. It was released to rad</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >io stations in Spain.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/416542555" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=458854826&playerId=416542555&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="510" height="550"></embed></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" ><br />Rebirth was certified Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA. Nevertheless, Lopez was featured on LL Cool J's single "Control Myself", which was released on February 1, 2006. It reached number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was Lopez's first U.S. top te</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >n hit in three years. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >Lopez is also working on her fifth English studio album, in which she is mainly working with producer Swizz Beatz. "It's coming out incredible", he said. "</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >We're putting together some great things, and not what everyone's expecting. Think a little Jamiroquai, a little Sade. It's real feel-good music". Other rumored producers are Timbaland, Cory Rooney, Jermaine Dupri, and newcomer Peter Wade. It has been confirmed to be released in September, 2007 and that Jonathan "J.R." Rotem is working on some tracks as well.[8] On March 27, 2007, Jennifer appeared on MTV's TRL and stated that the album's first single would be released to radio in June with album confirmed to be released </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-family:verdana;" >in September, 2007. She said that she's choosing between 4 uptempo songs for the 1st single. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">She also stated she will finally be going on tour in late 2007 with a mix of her English and Spanish music.</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo3-31hVvJAP8ui90tpobkvz2zC-Gw_PjBp9BM4OYHxtU9FutHSubaD5SW4HfO2-yWHMPDrY9u80xV3x4wi5j-eoNPpyit2LCv6wVdHzV_XleBZjyK-4KCGAhYt6bjcbps4kgG3MwsxI/s1600-h/jennifer_lopez_56.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUo3-31hVvJAP8ui90tpobkvz2zC-Gw_PjBp9BM4OYHxtU9FutHSubaD5SW4HfO2-yWHMPDrY9u80xV3x4wi5j-eoNPpyit2LCv6wVdHzV_XleBZjyK-4KCGAhYt6bjcbps4kgG3MwsxI/s400/jennifer_lopez_56.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300755004024170786" border="0" /></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pS6ujqskFuE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pS6ujqskFuE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VszCspK3e6w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VszCspK3e6w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Gretz/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Gretz/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-29852567822278142992009-02-06T12:14:00.000-08:002009-02-06T18:21:59.029-08:00" Alluring Mariah Carey "<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:courier new;" >m a r i a h</span><br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWWj8ZSX-A-UxgG2FochHUQyOML6Z6Ll2OTmskDbnz2y5sSIAOkjTjqEghEgmgjQHOjLiyG3QqInRCSV74Ocil4G46_aQ2erOAlHstdy0wmn2vISyrBu-72ihwXBKXU0ChtXbgK7lnh0/s1600-h/mariah-carey-that-girl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWWj8ZSX-A-UxgG2FochHUQyOML6Z6Ll2OTmskDbnz2y5sSIAOkjTjqEghEgmgjQHOjLiyG3QqInRCSV74Ocil4G46_aQ2erOAlHstdy0wmn2vISyrBu-72ihwXBKXU0ChtXbgK7lnh0/s400/mariah-carey-that-girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299781120443050642" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" title="Mariah Carey with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!" href="http://artists.letssingit.com/mariah-carey-jcb8n/overview">Mariah Carey</a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> - Biography</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Born and raised in New York by her mother, a former opera singer with the New York City Opera and a vocal coach, Mariah Carey began singing at age four. By the time she was in junior high school, she had begun to write songs. After her high school graduation, she got her first big break, singing backup for friend Brenda K. Starr, a break that led to her signing with Columbia Records.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--202144604</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--157438911</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--57641798</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--60099879</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah's 1990 eponymous debut alb</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">um launched an unparalleled unbroken string of successes. Mariah Carey has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide, was certified 8x RIAA-platinum, and yielded a record-setting four consecutive #1 singles: "Vision of Love," "Love Takes Time," "Someday," and "I Don't Wanna Cry." </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">The title track of 1992's quadruple-platinum Emotions generated her fifth consecutive #1 single, placing Mariah Carey in the Top Ten All-Time achievers of Most Consecutive #1 Hits.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Emotions earned Mariah two Grammy® nominations ("</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">Best Pop Vocal, Female" and, with Walter Afanasieff, "Best Producer") and an American Music Award ("Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B"). On March 17, 1992, Mariah appeared on MTV Unplugged, leading to the release of Mariah's sixth #1 single ("I'll Be There") as well as an EP which has been certified triple platinum in the U.S. and has sold more than five million copies worldwide. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">In 1993, Mariah released Music Box, an album which has sold more</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> than 24 million copies worldwide, has been certified ten times RIAA platinum, and generated he</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">r seventh and eighth #1 singles "Dreamlover" and "Hero" as well as the Top 10 hit "Without You."<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah followed up with her holiday album, Merry Christmas, which sold eight million copies worldwide shortly after its release in November 1994 and has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah's 1995 album, Daydream, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart; generated three consecutive #1 singles </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">-- "Fantasy," "One Sweet Day" (her duet with Boyz II Men which,</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> having spent 16 weeks at #1, still holds the record as the longest-running #1 single in history), and "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah's ninth, tenth, and eleventh #1's) -- and has been certified 10x platinum. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vZ3AvcHJvZHVjdC9CMDAxS0wzR1lVL3JlZj1zOV9zaW1zX2MyX3MxX3AxNV9pMT9wZl9yZF9tPUFUVlBES0lLWDBERVImcGZfcmRfcz1jZW50ZXItMyZwZl9yZF9yPTBUTU0xNlRTSzEzRVBBOVo3SlhEJnBmX3JkX3Q9MTAxJnBmX3JkX3A9NDYzMzgzMzkxJnBmX3JkX2k9NTA3ODQ2" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.oneshotentertainment.com/mcarey_myspace/ballads/ballads_banner3.gif" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyxDVlMLgYsDrc7OIzhcN_e8bNaaVctyy7d6X4HMRZWIohdOecbCGbzNSO6JII2THvObyOYxqW5oa2lciAV_BdgDI7qshvP72JLT-0RrQMxsasK__lEoLMMSsk4jIMDiSFQ50TABWwKU/s1600-h/mariah_carey-6016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyxDVlMLgYsDrc7OIzhcN_e8bNaaVctyy7d6X4HMRZWIohdOecbCGbzNSO6JII2THvObyOYxqW5oa2lciAV_BdgDI7qshvP72JLT-0RrQMxsasK__lEoLMMSsk4jIMDiSFQ50TABWwKU/s400/mariah_carey-6016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299781114533404210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">With Daydream, she became the first female artist in history to have three studio albums to each sell in excess of eight million copies. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah's 1997 album, Butterfly, a heady sensuous mix of contemporary R&B and pop, generated the #1 hits "Honey" (featuring Ma$e & The Lox) and "My All" (her twelfth and thirteenth #1's).<br /><br />Butterfly has been certified quadruple platinum. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">In November 19</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">98, Mariah released her #1's album, a collection of 13 of her chart-topping megahits as well as four brand-new bonus recordings: "When You Believe (from The Prince Of Egypt)," a duet with Whitney Houston; "Whenever You Call," a duet with Brian McKnight; "I Still Believe"; and "Sweetheart." #1's has achieved RIAA triple platinum status. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Her 1999 release, Rainbow, featured Mariah's 14th </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">#1 Hot 100 single, "Heartbreaker," which also became her 6th chart-topping R&B single. Maria Carey has had more #1 singles than any female artist, surpassing both the Supremes (12) and Madonna (11), and more #1's than any currently active recording artist. </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />She has had more #1 singles (14) than any artist during the 1990s and seen more singles (3) debut at #1 than any artist in history. With more #1 albums (4) than any female artist in the 1990's, Mariah was the first female artist to see two of her albums (Music Box and Daydream) reach the 10 million mark in sales and is the only female artist to have eight albums certified triple-platinum or better (in Mariah's case, her entire album catalog has achieved RIAA multi-platinum status). </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">In fact, Mariah Carey is the only artist to have had a #1 single for every year of the 1990's. </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />The last decade to have an artist hit #1 every single year was the 1920's when Paul Whiteman & his Orchestra hit the top slot each year. (By the end of the 1920's, Whiteman had become a Columbia Records artist.) With the exception of Merry Christmas (from which there was no single release) and #1's (a collection of her first 13 chart-toppers), Mariah has hit #1 with the debut single </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">from every one of her albums. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">With the exception of her cover version of the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There," Mariah has cowritten all of her #1's, including "Heartbreaker." With the exceptio</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">ns of "I Don't Wanna Cry," "Someday," "Love Takes Time," and "Vision Of Love," Mariah has co-produced all of her chart-topping singles. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br />Mariah received 1990 Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Female ("Vision of Love"). The same year, Mariah picked up three Soul Train Awards: Best New Artist, Best Album (Mariah</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Carey) and Best Single, Female ("Vision of Love"). </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">A perennial favorite at the American Music Awards, Mariah won Favorite Female Artist/R&B in 1992; Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock and Favorite Album, Adult Contemporary in 1993; Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock in 1995; and Favorite Female Artist, Pop/Rock and Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B in 1996. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah picked up her first Billboard Awards in 1991 for Top Adult Contemporary Artist, Top Pop Artist, Top Album Artist, Top Pop Singles Artist, and Top Pop Singles Artist/Female.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">In 1996, she won a Billboard Award for Hot 100 Singles Artist of the Year and, with Boyz II Men, a Special Hot 100 Singles Award for "One Sweet Day." </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">At the 1998 World Music Awards ceremony, Mariah won an award for Best Selling R&B Artist and the Legend Award for World's Best Selling Recording Artist of the 1990's. She won her first World Music Awards - World's Best Selling Pop Artist, World's Best American Recording Artist, and World's Overall Best Performing Artist - in 1995. </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />The following year, she was presented with trophies for World's Best Selling R&B Female Artist of the Year, World's Best Selling Overall Recording Female Artist of the Year, World's Best Selling Pop Artist of the Year, and World's Best Selling American Female Artist of the Year. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah was presented with the Aretha Franklin Entertainer Award and named Entertainer of the Year at the 1998 Lady Of Soul Awards. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">As of September 1999, Mariah Carey had sold mo</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">re than 120 million albums and singles worldwide and earned an astounding 84 RIAA gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications for her singles, albums, and videos.<br /><br />As one of the most popular recording artists of the 1990s, Mariah has provided an ongoing soundtrack to the decade. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">In 2001, Mariah signed with Virgin Records, which released Glitter, the soundtrack album to the film of the same name, with Mariah in her first lead acting role. She has also been featured in the f</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">ilms The Bachelor (1999) and Wisegirls (2002). </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">In May 2002, Mariah signed an exclusive recording contract with the Universal Music Group's Island Records.<br /><br />In addition, Carey has formed her own label, Monar</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">C Music. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Mariah's Charmbracelet features the songstress writing and co-producing with such a-list names as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Jermaine Dupri among others. The album, which is lyrically very personal, showcases Mariah's stunning voice, prolific songwriting and incredible versatility. This is fully evident on the first single, the sweeping epic ballad, "Through The Rain" which is a perfect example of what Mariah does best. </span> <span style="font-family:courier new;"><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4kxU971_dfE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4kxU971_dfE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Carey's ninth studio album The Emancipation of Mimi was released in 2005 and contained contributions from producers such as T</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">he Neptunes, Kanye West and Carey's longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri. Carey said it was "very much like a party record ... the process of putting on makeup and getting ready to go out ... I wanted to make a record that was reflective of that." Mimi became the year's best-selling album in the U.S. with over five million copies (5xPlatinum) sold, won three Grammy Awards (including "Best Contemporary R&B Album") and received some of Carey's most favourable reviews in some time.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwQLEi9-jE4fkxoK4GzXD5PR7i1DFjEhOvMma_g66mGNyadIeayipXwKHf8lEhnDI-XepJrKUXQHuZrn08WqOa3POrD2AH10Yb3oHhG8R96r_jXOwyZbYih-mUAoS-8e9WVS3MfJ_BM/s1600-h/Mariah-Carey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbwQLEi9-jE4fkxoK4GzXD5PR7i1DFjEhOvMma_g66mGNyadIeayipXwKHf8lEhnDI-XepJrKUXQHuZrn08WqOa3POrD2AH10Yb3oHhG8R96r_jXOwyZbYih-mUAoS-8e9WVS3MfJ_BM/s400/Mariah-Carey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299781114267938850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">The second single "We Belong Together" held the Hot 100's number-one position for fourteen weeks (her longest run at the top as a solo artist) and was the biggest hit of 2005 in the U.S., while "Shake It Off" made Carey the only female artist to occupy the top two positions on the Hot 100 simultaneously. "Don't Forget about Us" became her seventeenth number-one in the U.S., which tied her with Elvis Presley for the most number-ones by a solo act according to Billboard magazine's revised methodology. By this count Carey is behind only The Beatles, who have twenty number-ones. The album became certified 6x platinum after her Grammy wins.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6zeGfBZxpY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6zeGfBZxpY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /></span>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-76864601592041449152009-02-04T04:09:00.000-08:002009-02-04T05:42:06.911-08:00" jordin sparks " american idol winner<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-size:180%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">j o r d i n s p a r k s</span></span><br /></div><h1 style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoH8WGuvxQCU-5d4Q6TD09nM9LccwwbYjiYF4HzR5QLSqwL7OPvhG7dusyYI1ygZDbCJU0o6DW_6emrw1uukNrT2oYsPP5mr-sBnHx93_bYShOGoe3Eq45ZmXSxmopshVkd2gIU2mVbc/s1600-h/l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoH8WGuvxQCU-5d4Q6TD09nM9LccwwbYjiYF4HzR5QLSqwL7OPvhG7dusyYI1ygZDbCJU0o6DW_6emrw1uukNrT2oYsPP5mr-sBnHx93_bYShOGoe3Eq45ZmXSxmopshVkd2gIU2mVbc/s400/l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298914113047142066" border="0" /></a></h1> <h1 style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/jordin-sparks-ggvrp/overview" title="Jordin Sparks with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!">Jordin Sparks</a> - Biography</span></h1>Birth name Jordin Brianna Sparks<br />Born December 22, 1989<br /><br />Origin Glendale, Arizona<br /><br />Genre(s) Christian, Gospel, Pop, R&B<br /><br />Occupation(s) Student, Model, Actress, Singer, Idol<br /><br />Jordin Brianna Sparks is an aspiring American singer, actress, model and American Idol finalist .<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Background</span></span><br /><br />Sparks is the daughter of former NFL football player, Phillippi Sparks, and wife Jodi Sparks. She has a younger brother named PJ (Phillippi Sparks, Jr.). As a daughter of a B lack father and a White mother, she is biracial. She is managed by maternal grandmother Pa m Wiedmann. Her aunt Shari is an actress & model.Sparks is currently homes chooled. She is a fan of football, reading, and music. She also attends church. She has been singing since she was 18 months old<br /><br /><div style="width: 424px;"><object width="425" height="350"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal"><param name="movie" value="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral"><param name="FlashVars" value="id=272696"><embed src="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal" flashvars="id=272696" thumbnail="http://myplay.com/files/imagecache/badge_image_bigger/files/video_stills/jordinsparks_onestep480.jpg" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><div style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; text-align: right; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 11px;"><div style="padding: 3px 6px;"><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.jordinsparks.com/" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Artist Site</a></div><a href="http://myplay.com/artists/jordin-sparks" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">More Videos</a></div></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Career</span><br /><br />In 2007, Sparks appeared on the January 17, 2007 broadcast of sixth season of American Idol, earning a "gold ticket" and the right to appear in the Hollywood Round. Already a favorite in the contest, American Idol judge Randy Jackson, made the an offhand prediction t hat "Curly hair will win this year." Which may have been made in reference to Sparks. Befor e going on to AI, she won Arizona Idol, she has progressed further through the AI process than any previous Arizona Idol contestant.<br /><h1 style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctVfkaJTo4zJ-ImHYLaGexH52JveZ3AYiJq7ClWeaxl17baR5UErzFm3baCKuXzSRaZ3K9Ci7q87OCWM_dwDqCPuKD-NsbqlBebChp7Kz4nEUNUAIU2agmqg2xGFmLN-AiOF8r1KeIPI/s1600-h/jordin-sparks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctVfkaJTo4zJ-ImHYLaGexH52JveZ3AYiJq7ClWeaxl17baR5UErzFm3baCKuXzSRaZ3K9Ci7q87OCWM_dwDqCPuKD-NsbqlBebChp7Kz4nEUNUAIU2agmqg2xGFmLN-AiOF8r1KeIPI/s400/jordin-sparks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298915239035302434" border="0" /></a></h1> In 2006, Sparks was one of two winners who won the Phoenix Torrid search for the "Next Plus Size Model". She was flown to California where she was used in a num ber of Torrid ads and promotional pieces. A full-page ad for Torrid featuring Jordin ran in the December, 2006 issue of Seventeen magazine.<br /><br />Sparks finished second in 2004 at the coveted Music in the Rockies national competition for aspiring Contemporary Christian Music artists.<br /><br /><div style="width:424px;"><object width="425" height="350"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal"><param name="movie" value="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral"><param name="FlashVars" value="id=136387"><embed src="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal" flashvars="id=136387" thumbnail="http://myplay.com/files/imagecache/badge_image_bigger/files/video_stills/jsparks.tatoo.480.jpg" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><div style="text-align: right; background: #000; font-size: 11px;"><div style="padding: 3px 6px 3px 6px;"><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.jordinsparks.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-decoration:none; color: #FFF">Artist Site</a></div><a href="http://myplay.com/artists/jordin-sparks" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-decoration:none; color: #FFF">More Videos</a></div></div></div><br /><br />In 2004, Sparks appeared in America's Most Talented Kids twice, and won in her first appearance. She was one of seven to appear in a special championship editio n of the show. This appearance followed two noted auditions in 2003, one with American Juniors and the other, Star Search<br /><br />Sparks has performed the national anthem at various sporting events, notably the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. She has also sung in such events as Country Thunder, a famous country music venue. She has appeared with celebrities Alice Cooper (in his 2004 Christmas show) and has twice toured with Christian con temporary singer Michael W. Smith. Smith has shown support of Sparks by encouraging Idol viewers to vote for her on his website.<br /><br /><div style="width:424px;"><object width="425" height="350"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal"><param name="movie" value="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral"><param name="FlashVars" value="id=257377"><embed src="http://myplay.com/share/widgets/viral" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="internal" flashvars="id=257377" thumbnail="http://myplay.com/files/imagecache/badge_image_bigger/files/video_stills/jordinsparks_noair480.jpg" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><div style="text-align: right; background: #000; font-size: 11px;"><div style="padding: 3px 6px 3px 6px;"><div style="float: left;"><a href="http://www.jordinsparks.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-decoration:none; color: #FFF">Artist Site</a></div><a href="http://myplay.com/artists/jordin-sparks" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; text-decoration:none; color: #FFF">More Videos</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Sparks recorded an album titled For Now in 2003, a five-song album at the age of thirteen, working with Matthew Ward, a legendary Christian music artist, and Gary Leach, an engineer who has worked on several of LeAnn Rimes' albums. She appeared in a compilation album titled Live at Mr. Lucky's in 2004.<br /><h1 style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJbsmF8U6qzW0JtCfRbOVvpuWTkT1xeVeavjXQ0xh5cfzVAwDV5H-1MkAQarLgPE0VUSCSR9OARqbpm7hgSR861gQKbBbBUn8b_YFCHjdAjBr_bEbi1ZUNWzVaANi53OfYJ9DBJYRIJ8/s1600-h/lll.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJbsmF8U6qzW0JtCfRbOVvpuWTkT1xeVeavjXQ0xh5cfzVAwDV5H-1MkAQarLgPE0VUSCSR9OARqbpm7hgSR861gQKbBbBUn8b_YFCHjdAjBr_bEbi1ZUNWzVaANi53OfYJ9DBJYRIJ8/s400/lll.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298914102154876210" border="0" /></a></h1> As an actress, Sparks has appeared in several plays, recently starring in a dual role as characters Deborah and Bea in Magdalene at the Plumbline Theater in Franklin, Tennessee. She has also performed several times with Valley Youth Theatre in Phoenix, AZ. Her first appearance was in March, 2002 as an Emerald City dancer and as a poppy in The Wiz. She also appeared in VYT's production of Cinderella in June, 2002 and another production of The Wiz in August, 2002.Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-56224486573335957772009-02-04T00:33:00.001-08:002009-02-04T02:43:12.067-08:00" r i h a n n a o n t h e r i s e "<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;" >r i h a n n a</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwY0rdiFfR8XRQi2B3E-aQUxJNk-tyqmsQuLnoaEuuUzgialS2q84KdtnOfQ4hJvoegGRa8vxG91xEr9e20ltNp_4UuLB3WU_kvgz87OTKxbvipk6T7M-esI2-6J_wmSR1DOLES9dKkw/s1600-h/rihanna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwY0rdiFfR8XRQi2B3E-aQUxJNk-tyqmsQuLnoaEuuUzgialS2q84KdtnOfQ4hJvoegGRa8vxG91xEr9e20ltNp_4UuLB3WU_kvgz87OTKxbvipk6T7M-esI2-6J_wmSR1DOLES9dKkw/s400/rihanna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298889704910223682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTwxEsQBy3xjx5zvJQvbTX_6XZqasP16RO80b1UEQ2Xq2V29REhyphenhyphenRHjZSHyHuVIqR5i3YblOniC6NLGh1XGCefnDy819-UEvivb2GybPbXCfldxsmUJlI4efJ-VEjjooez3_JwPoREh4/s1600-h/rihanna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTwxEsQBy3xjx5zvJQvbTX_6XZqasP16RO80b1UEQ2Xq2V29REhyphenhyphenRHjZSHyHuVIqR5i3YblOniC6NLGh1XGCefnDy819-UEvivb2GybPbXCfldxsmUJlI4efJ-VEjjooez3_JwPoREh4/s400/rihanna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298890628720460018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHF0eTXUF2qXkNh8kqqtoYXJ-kLqpbaJAHOfCwWCqIofKm1ybCywCepebcLrK826bzjBkzmEPfmgHi2XRt5DrP7oCMPhv60se_5z20ZgY-ZOfBIAK1xflc0YYOUawNhgQEG1kOuuosv8/s1600-h/rihanna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHF0eTXUF2qXkNh8kqqtoYXJ-kLqpbaJAHOfCwWCqIofKm1ybCywCepebcLrK826bzjBkzmEPfmgHi2XRt5DrP7oCMPhv60se_5z20ZgY-ZOfBIAK1xflc0YYOUawNhgQEG1kOuuosv8/s400/rihanna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298890620551653714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnC9jUqkQwLGtH21gwbCCCQ6f4n8OC4nS3vfr1V5ayT8hdSoHvoFgyOpTyBxUKm-o0jUNtD2w06VPQbjyTH251IcBtwK13h1tEDK0SN07lAXbO6lHQJT8PJCnL5a5ztnrSZHookCqcIU/s1600-h/rihanna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnC9jUqkQwLGtH21gwbCCCQ6f4n8OC4nS3vfr1V5ayT8hdSoHvoFgyOpTyBxUKm-o0jUNtD2w06VPQbjyTH251IcBtwK13h1tEDK0SN07lAXbO6lHQJT8PJCnL5a5ztnrSZHookCqcIU/s400/rihanna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298889696862584098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" >About Rihanna</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Since turn of the century, every American summer has seemed to produce one or two Caribbean-styled dance-pop hit sensations, and the summer of 2005 was no different, as the relentless dancehall-lite booming rhythms of </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rihanna</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">'s "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pon de Replay</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">" seemed as omnipresent as sunshine. Like </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Daddy Yankee</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> ("</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Gasolina</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">") and </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Sean Paul</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> ("</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Get Busy</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">") in summers prior, Rihanna emerged initially as an unknown superstar, known far more for her song than for herself. Unlike Daddy Yankee and Sean Paul, however, she is a woman — a young and beautiful green-eyed one, to be more specific. Born </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Robyn Rihanna Fenty</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> in the St. Michael parish of Barbados a brief 17 years before she reached the Top Two of Billboard's Hot 100 chart (held back from the number one spot by the undisputed song of the summer, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mariah Carey</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">'s "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We Belong Together</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"), </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rihanna</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> always exhibited a special quality, winning beauty and talent contests as a schoolchild. But because she lived on the fairly remote island of Barbados in the West Indies, she never foresaw the sort of stardom that would later befall her.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDFecO6TjLy-O5bQsn3-YHkWYfyf7fa7DVjfVkMHiP010Tg_MTKc6bgceijQTEnUl7S_ebzqs8_W4Aka2NCEnevzryOoxCt6jfuGwgYkfwMU3UC5LIq8RLjPw4889sr1eq3Dqf6KAH5k/s1600-h/Rihanna-id03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDFecO6TjLy-O5bQsn3-YHkWYfyf7fa7DVjfVkMHiP010Tg_MTKc6bgceijQTEnUl7S_ebzqs8_W4Aka2NCEnevzryOoxCt6jfuGwgYkfwMU3UC5LIq8RLjPw4889sr1eq3Dqf6KAH5k/s400/Rihanna-id03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298881981373483522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">That stardom came courtesy of a fateful meeting with a man named Evan Rogers. The New Yorker was vacationing in Barbados with his wife, a native of the island, when someone turned him on to Rihanna. </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Since Rogers</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> had spent years producing pop artists — including superstars like </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">*NSYNC</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Christina Aguilera</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jessica Simpson</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Kelly Clarkson</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Laura Pausini</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, and </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rod Stewart</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> — he offered her the opportunity to record some music after he recognized her talent and potential. Along with Rogers' production partner, Carl Sturken (the other half of Syndicated Rhythm Productions), Rihanna recorded some demos that sparked the interest of the Carter Administration — that is, Def Jam president Shawn "</span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jay-Z</b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">" Carter. This led to an audition and, in turn, an on-the-spot offer to sign with Def Jam, which Rihanna indeed inked on the spot.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Come summer 2005, Def Jam rolled out "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pon de Replay</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">," the lead single of </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Music of the Sun</i></b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, which was produced almost entirely by Rogers and Sturken and which synthesized Caribbean rhythms and beats with urban-pop songwriting. "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pon de Replay</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">" caught fire almost immediately, challenging "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We Belong Together</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"'s half-summer reign atop the Billboard chart before Music of the Sun even saw release. Her sophomore release, </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>A Girl Like Me</i></b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, appeared in 2006. Singles off it include the Hot 100 #1 record "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SOS</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">", the ballad "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Unfaithful</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">" (#6) and third release "</span><i style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">We Ride</i><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">". Fourth single "Break It Off" which features Sean Paul entered the Hot 100 Top 10 only being a digital download song. Now her third album </span><b style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><i>Good Girl Gone Bad</i></b><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> is coming in 2007.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Umbrella</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o_blODTYazc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o_blODTYazc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Take A Bow</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HpSWRffNy48&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HpSWRffNy48&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't Stop The Music</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xKsBs2LQRvI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xKsBs2LQRvI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><table><tbody><tr class="row6"><td><br /></td></tr> <tr class="row7"><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190412120916311250.post-46094764719383779202009-02-04T00:33:00.000-08:002009-02-04T01:46:31.206-08:00" Gwen Stefani " former vocalist of no doubt<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255); font-weight: bold;font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/gwen-stefani-4mtxn/overview" title="Gwen Stefani with news, biography, discography, albums, songs, lyrics, video clips, pictures, music, discussion, fanpages and more!"><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:180%;">G</span>wen <span style="font-size:180%;">S</span>tefani</span></a></span><br /></div><br /> <table><tbody><tr class="row6"><td><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRKrdsi-jFdPvPgXenunKGk1inyVmqbosGLVSOBomSjV_hHH-K7aXxwPcCEcfZve4v9cw7GPsZcYkTDZBteo5i0Gst9EE0LHj-IuMdmSWut8n3NinD0JTqY_6_HTuwMK6TijHkWcFi5g/s1600-h/Gwen_Stefani_-_Cool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRKrdsi-jFdPvPgXenunKGk1inyVmqbosGLVSOBomSjV_hHH-K7aXxwPcCEcfZve4v9cw7GPsZcYkTDZBteo5i0Gst9EE0LHj-IuMdmSWut8n3NinD0JTqY_6_HTuwMK6TijHkWcFi5g/s400/Gwen_Stefani_-_Cool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298873507091414834" border="0" /></a></td></tr> <tr class="row7"><td>Before she discovered she could write songs, Gwen Stefani was looking forward to a life of marriage, children, and white picket fences. When her brother introduced her to ska and new wave music, it set off a chain of events that would eventually lead to millions of albums sold and a Madonna-sized public image that extended past music and into the worlds of film, fashion, and technology.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeL-vfrYlesPfZKbZCS6hK_Z6ikjzT5icWWvZHWVSwTgtCNa7DSeAt2SHJOt5582RjMspukU4VzeU1VjhMX3nVNA54xvF9GSjeX23fDICeWHpsnWonlvTRIgKhwTLmYwSH8PK5jqOIMA/s1600-h/08-28-2007croppercapture1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeL-vfrYlesPfZKbZCS6hK_Z6ikjzT5icWWvZHWVSwTgtCNa7DSeAt2SHJOt5582RjMspukU4VzeU1VjhMX3nVNA54xvF9GSjeX23fDICeWHpsnWonlvTRIgKhwTLmYwSH8PK5jqOIMA/s320/08-28-2007croppercapture1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298874098463530706" border="0" /></a>Born and raised in Fullerton, CA, Stefani had a musical epiphany at the age of 17. She had fallen in love with the Madness and Selecter records her brother, Eric Stefani, was playing constantly. Seeing Fishbone, the Untouchables, and other bands involved in Los Angeles' ska revival scene only reinforced her interest in music, so she was more than ready when her brother asked her to join a ska band he was forming with a friend named John Spence. Gwen originally shared lead vocals with Spence but in December of 1987 he committed suicide, leaving the band -- now called No Doubt -- with an uncertain future. According to numerous interviews with the bandmembers after their breakthrough, Gwen was the glue that held No Doubt together during these hard times, pushing the group to keep trying. She was also romantically involved with the band's bass player, Tony Kanal, by this time.<br /><br />After playing numerous gigs and parties, No Doubt were signed to Interscope in 1991. The label considered their 1992 debut album a flop and refused to financially support a tour or further recordings, but the band refused to give up. The self-financed Beacon Street Collection appeared in 1994 and did well enough to make things nice with Interscope, but the band was once again going through a traumatic period behind the scenes. Eric Stefani left to become an animator for The Simpsons and Gwen and Tony's relationship had ended. Gwen wrote a collection of songs focused on heartbreak and rebirth that would become No Doubt's third album, Tragic Kingdom, and the rest, as they say, is history.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKVrvCqV0RoqN1-GoFzNpP4kd9SZfyI_hArHggKofJNMRiQfSvEV_uEVZzF4QcGajxo14gFnWiDfMIJphIARzweoipWZPfAmB0Fp91ruPqMshvoa2GJ1futXXIxcZZsM7Vc-b_ovTf2o/s1600-h/StefaniGwen.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKVrvCqV0RoqN1-GoFzNpP4kd9SZfyI_hArHggKofJNMRiQfSvEV_uEVZzF4QcGajxo14gFnWiDfMIJphIARzweoipWZPfAmB0Fp91ruPqMshvoa2GJ1futXXIxcZZsM7Vc-b_ovTf2o/s400/StefaniGwen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298873506550828434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With the smash singles "Just a Girl," "Spiderwebs," and "Don't Speak," the album reached the number one spot in Billboard and garnered two Grammy nominations. The press began to focus on Stefani's role in the band. Voted one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," video and photo shoots focused on her and rumors spread that the other three members of the band were unhappy with the lack of attention they received. This topic of discussion continued as the band released Return of Saturn in 2000 and Rock Steady a year later, but it was overshadowed during this time by new gossip -- Stefani's romantic relationship with Bush's frontman, Gavin Rossdale. She also started doing some work outside the band, lending her vocals to the remix of electronica artist Moby's "Southside" and rapper Eve's "Let Me Blow Your Mind." In 2002, she arrived 45 minutes late for her wedding with Rossdale in London.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRJj53nh3pVX4dswnkhIBwMy2C_dgFPGxw5F_V03s-QBWbiKVGl9mOnXnM6sdnV2h46ONvFc35mAJ74iqJALDXBpbT2zD1ipIKTViCNKev_sH5I-8Ra9ACrw669hHClB7LVbuTa3K3Vs/s1600-h/gwen-stefani-see-through3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRJj53nh3pVX4dswnkhIBwMy2C_dgFPGxw5F_V03s-QBWbiKVGl9mOnXnM6sdnV2h46ONvFc35mAJ74iqJALDXBpbT2zD1ipIKTViCNKev_sH5I-8Ra9ACrw669hHClB7LVbuTa3K3Vs/s200/gwen-stefani-see-through3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298875302327370770" border="0" /></a>After Rock Steady, No Doubt took a break. Stefani approached Kanal about producing an off-the-cuff solo project that would be influenced by her non-ska favorites. Prince, the Time, Club Nouveau, and Madonna were the names thrown around and the idea was to make the project "fast and easy." Over time, the "fast and easy" record morphed into something much bigger. Old friend, former labelmate, and hit songwriter Linda Perry became involved and the project became much more polished, slick, and dance-oriented. A pile of high-profile collaborators -- Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, Dallas Austin, Andre 3000, Nellee Hooper, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis -- became involved. In September of 2004, the infectious and hyper dance single "What You Waiting For?" appeared with its accompanying video dominating MTV.<br /><br />The album, Love.Angel.Music.Baby., hit the shelves in November with surreal artwork that introduced Stefani's four-woman "posse," the Harajuku Girls. The all-Asian Harajuku Girls were inspired by Stefani's fascination with the Harajuku girls of Japan, young club kids who have a flippant and fun attitude toward fashion. Appearing with Stefani live, in videos, and in photos, the Girls quickly drew criticism from the Asian community, angry about the rumor that they had to sign a contract to never speak English even though they could, and that Stefani's Girls looked nothing like the "real" Harajuku girls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunyjq_rhJ3oD8xSEUpnUj6Ja9ZCKd3zuHCG1DI42mf8H7vFkK3h_PrDyxC6x0aXR5mPSqFG9mUKg9V2JmeWvB2VARk_j3frgpO3NvYmdsb1dUtzX5-2erULFSwEBJPDlMmEBilQYC5xk/s1600-h/gwen-stefani-picture-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunyjq_rhJ3oD8xSEUpnUj6Ja9ZCKd3zuHCG1DI42mf8H7vFkK3h_PrDyxC6x0aXR5mPSqFG9mUKg9V2JmeWvB2VARk_j3frgpO3NvYmdsb1dUtzX5-2erULFSwEBJPDlMmEBilQYC5xk/s320/gwen-stefani-picture-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298874616000024482" border="0" /></a>Based on a dancehall cover of +Fiddler on the Roof's "If I Were a Rich Man," "Rich Girl" became the next smash single with the anthem "Hollaback Girl" becoming success number three. While the singles were dominating pop and dance radio, Stefani appeared as Jean Harlow in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator. With music and movies checked off, Stefani moved into the world of fashion and introduced her clothing line L.A.M.B. Taking her influence to the world of tech, she designed the Harajuku Lovers' 4.1 MP Digital Camera for Hewlett-Packard. The camera was released in a limited edition with a Stefani-designed case and biographical DVD.<br /><br />Late in 2005, Stefani discovered she was pregnant, but her schedule remained busy in 2006: along with working on L.A.M.B., she released a line of limited-edition Gwen Stefani fashion dolls complete with outfits from her videos and tours, and worked on her second solo album with producers including Akon, Swizz Beatz, and Nellee Hooper, as well as the Neptunes and Tony Kanal. That spring, Stefani gave birth to a boy, Kingston James McGregor Rossdale. The Neptunes-produced "Wind It Up" arrived that fall and heralded the full-length The Sweet Escape, which was released on the same day as the live DVD Harajuku Lovers Live.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Monina Musicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03798266180192059172noreply@blogger.com0