Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
COVID-19 Has Changed Our World - Part 1
It is surprising how much our world has changed within this calendar year of 2020. Back in January, the world was operating in a normal manner. All restaurants were open for dine-in service (in addition to take out and/or drive thru). Similarly, movie theatres and bars were open for business. Shortly after January however, these services were shut down due to the coronavirus. Events such as concerts and important meetings were either being cancelled or postponed. In addition, schools were closed and people were laid off from their jobs. In today’s society, many people are working from home. Business meetings are now being held through means of virtual communication Those who are not able to work from home (with the exception of essential emergency services) have had to file for unemployment. The large number of people who have had to file for unemployment has led to a financial crisis. This financial crisis is in addition to the health crisis that the coronavirus has caused.
Frank SartainPublished 4 years ago in BeatCOVID-19 Has Changed Our World - Part 2
The second piece on the release (Foreign Area) titled “Beauty in the Unfamiliar” is a short and calm piano piece which is meant to convey the nature of everything being shut down by COVID-19. The piece begins in a very calm manner and then maintains a steady eighth note motion in the accompaniment line. On this steady rhythmic motion begins in the key of B Major, the chords in this piece travel in unexpected directions as a way of highlighting uncertainty and the unexpected. However, the piece returns to B Major occasionally to illustrate stability and confidence moving forward in this challenging time. Eventually the eighth note momentum ceases and the piece concludes with a B Major chord. This ending is meant to help the listener feel at ease. In general, this piece can help the listener relax whenever they are stressed or trying to go to sleep. (See links below.)
Frank SartainPublished 4 years ago in BeatRick Astley
I never knew about crushes until I fell for Rick Astley in the late eighties. Time and age meant that it was probably the prime time for my first major crush, for the first time I would see someone as more than just a popstar. I would dream of Rick every night. Play his music all the time, my parents and younger sister deranged with the continual playing of “Never Gonna Give you Up”. It was his first hit and spent weeks at the top of the charts in ’88 and meant that I wasn’t the only one who doted on him.
Top 5 Modern Male R&B Artists.
Usher, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Mario. All talented musical artists in the R&B/Soul genre. Their music lives on even to this day, but fortunate for us, Rhythm and Blues is far from dead today. The following is a list of my top five modern male R&B artists as of September 2020. Feel free to share your opinions.
When Both Our Cars Collide
I'll never forget the moment I first laid eyes upon Gerard Way. It was 2006. I was a teenage girl who had just decided she wanted to get into rock music. I started with the classics and was working my way up to the present day. While Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and a slew of other dad-rock bands were cool and all, I had a real hunger for something to move my modern soul. I didn't have a clear sense of what that would feel like yet. I just heard the call. It brought me to MTV.com.
CHELSEA CRISTOFFORPublished 4 years ago in BeatI WAS IN LOVE WITH THE KING
It was a long time ago, I can still remember seeing Elvis on the television. I remember sitting in the living room and watching the Ed Sullivan show. When Ed Sullivan introduced Elvis to the world! I watched him, and at that time I wished I was seated at the Ed Sullivan show. Elvis was singing and playing the guitar. He was shaking his body with the rhythm singing That's All Right Ma Ma! Then as soon as it started the gig was over with. I wanted to watch him more but Ed Sullivan put someone else on his show. I was hoping Elvis would sing again but it was not to be. I told my Mom I wanted the record Elvis sang and I loved seeing him play. I was a young teenager, I had a boyfriend and both of us loved to dance. We went to all the school dances, and when we danced everyone watched us. I told my boyfriend about Elvis and told him I wanted his song. My boyfriend would do anything for me and I knew it! We went to the store but we did not find the record. I was greatly disappointed we could not find it. The next day I was listening to the radio when all of a sudden Elvises song played. My mom was in the other room and I called her. She came and listened to the song and she liked it. I asked her if she would buy the song for me but she did not have the extra money. I was on the lookout for the song I wanted it so bad!
rose m lewisPublished 4 years ago in BeatMy First Crush
I was raised in an ultra-conservative home. There were four of us, two brothers above me, and one below me. An eight and nine-year spread between me and my older brothers allowed me to hear the great music of their age. I was not allowed to listen to any popular music or purchase any albums. My girlfriends had all the teen idol magazines and top ten albums so I would hang out with them and listen to Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, John Cougar Mellencamp, and all the rest.
Catherine DeMaria SheetzPublished 4 years ago in BeatArea57 Music Group Masterminded By "Houston Hip-Hop Veteran Tink"
IN his varied forms from an underground Houston ghetto to an internationally recognized trend and commercial industry, hip hop has imagination and innovation at its heart. Either musician manufacture new musical instruments from record players, wave spoken words mysteriously over rhythms, or now use digital media to create collaboration networks; imagination is a cultural trait and continues to be relevant today.
sibca awanPublished 4 years ago in Beatbring on the songs.
When wanting to share with you all my favorite jams I started to think about all the music I listen to, and realized most of them are mashups or tik tok songs. When I say I am addicted to that app, I am way too addicted. But I have compiled a list of five of the most amazing songs for the week, cause my life changes moment by moment.... So be prepared for some songs next week as well, cause I am pretty sure I wanna do a weekly top 5 songs. I think it will be cool to see just how many different genres there are in my life, and to see how all the songs collide with eachother. You will see a very diverse group of songs. I literally can go from country, to classical, to rap, and to the 60's all in a span of ten minutes, and I have no shame in my game. I hope you enjoy these songs, and add them to your next banging playlist.
catch an adventurePublished 4 years ago in BeatMy Celebrity Crush
On September 25, 1968, my first celebrity crush began. It also came crashing down on April 3, 1970, with the cancellation of "Here Comes The Brides."
Susan Fleck PenningtonPublished 4 years ago in Beat- Top Story - August 2020
To the Beat: August 2020
To the Beat is back with a brand new playlist featuring the songs you shared in your stories this August. The music preferences of our creators cover a vast range, so this month's roundup includes a bit of everything. This time around we have some oldies (but goodies), 90's throwbacks, and 00's hits, with some indie jams, K-Pop, and a bit of rap sprinkled in. No matter what you're in the mood for—from 1930's jazz to August's new releases—you'll surely find it on this month's To the Beat.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 4 years ago in Beat Glen Goins Just Funkin for fun
In 1976, Parliament/Funkadelic released The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. One of the singles on the album was Funkin for Fun. The song was written by George Clinton, Gary Scheider and Glen Goins and Goins sang lead. The song can be interpreted in several ways, with most people think it's someone striking out on their own in the world. Others, however, believe the recording to be prophetic as the lead singer died only 2 years later.
Cheryl E PrestonPublished 4 years ago in Beat