Preparatevi, perchè sta arrivando un ciclone assoluto. Loro si chiamano Baseballs, vengono dalla Germania e hanno avuto una idea geniale: ricantare i successi del pop in chiave rockabilly. Fate conto di aver mandato indietro le lancette del tempo negli anni di Elvis. I ritmi sono quelli. Sono che invece di sentire il rock anni 60 sentite, per esempio, “Umbrella” di Rihanna (la trovate sopra).

Nel Nord Europa sono già impazziti, in Finlandia il loro album d’esordio ”Strike” è schizzato in vetta alle classifiche, così come il singolo di cui sopra. L’idea è geniale e divertente. Alcuni pezzi sono veramente esilaranti. Ricordate: “I don’t feel like dancing” degli Scissor Sisters? Loro l’hanno rifatta così.  E che dire di “Hot ‘n cold“, fresco successo di Katy Perry oppure di “Bleeding love” di Leona Lewis? O ancora, chi non ricorda “This Love” dei Maroon 5? No, così non le avete proprio mai sentite (soprattutto l’ultima in versione crooner).

Geni assoluti. Andiamo avanti. Eccovi le loro versioni di “Angels” di Robbie Williams, “The look” dei Roxette, “Hey there Delilah“, dei Plane White T’s (per chi non conescesse l’originale di questo successone del 2007, sta qui), “Don’t cha“ delle Pussycat Dolls, “Love in this club” di Usher. Per non parlare nientemeno che di “Pokerface” di Lady Gaga.  C’ è spazio anche per un pezzo meno noto come “Gives you hell” della band rock alternativa americana All American Rejects (l’originale è questo).  Troppo divertenti. Il modo migliore per cominciare la settimana.

I’ve got three work in progresses, all of them in the same place. There needs to be sexual heat. So I have a playlist that seems to fit all three. Yeah, there’s Britney on there. *shakes head*.

These two things are completely linked, but they both have me contemplating songwriting and music mixing today. First, is a video where Kanye West enlists Timbaland to help make his 2008 single “Stronger” sounds just right. Second, is a video from NY Times’ ArtsBeat Blog where Alicia Keys performs a solo version of “Empire State of Mind.”

I mean, considering how many reasons I find to bring him up, my affinity for Kanye West material is no secret. In this particular video, however, I’m most interested int he way Timbaland just throws out ideas, talks about the intricacies in creating a drum pallet that boots the bass in the song without muddying what’s already there, and goes through his plethora of “sounds” no samples. The great thing about mixing is, like with anything creative, there’s no right answer. Even as it seems excessive that it would take so many mixes to get one song to sound as close to perfect as possible, it’s also not entirely surprising. When it doesn’t sound right, it just doesn’t sound right. And so goes the eternal problem of “producer’s ear”.

I’m never sure whether or not to call something like this a straight-up remix. In the case of Maroon 5’s “Nothing Lasts Forever” (which Kanye borrowed from to serve as the chorus for his single “Heard ‘Em Say“), their song was written first, but Kanye’s song was released to the public before Maroon 5’s second album dropped. The two songs are intertwined, and yet, separately, they’re about completely different things. Alicia’s solo version of “Empire State of Mind” (performed here for Clear Channel and iheartradio and is still very much about an upbringing in New York and making to the top, the same way Jay-Z’s is, and yet what makes this version just as special is the differences in how two people paint their background and describe a city they love. Also, let’s be honest, that chorus is just extremely strong. Nice job, Alicia.

Back in September, the Telegraph published its list of the 100 songs that defined the noughties. Reading through it, I found myself nodding in agreement at times and throwing my arms up in shock and disapproval at others.

A few days ago I tweeted the story to my followers, asking them for the songs that had defined their decade. After a few days work, I’ve come up with 50 of the songs that have defined my decade. These are the songs that, in my opinion, tell the story of the noughties—from 2000 to 2009—and will be remembered for years to come, whether because of their artistry, their controversy, or their relevance.

A few things to remember about my list:

• I grew up with music from both the US and UK, so the list will reflect that fact.  This means you may not have heard of some of these songs.  If not, I highly suggest you listen to them.
• This list is by no means authoritative or complete.  Choosing 50 songs of that define a decade is nearly impossible, as everybody’s songs are colored by their own experiences.  I’m no music critic–just a fan–so keep that in mind.
• The songs are grouped by years, but that’s it; there is no ranking, no rhyme or reason why songs are ordered the way they are.
• The annotations are accurate, as I have done my research.
• Not all songs on here are songs I necessarily enjoy, but may be songs that have simply impacted pop culture in general.
• I tried to only pick one song from an artist–the exception being Justin Timberlake, who appears on the list as a member of *NSync and later as a solo artist.  If I hadn’t, for example, Leona Lewis’s cover of Run would have made the list, as would have Everytime by Britney Spears
• I tried to keep it to five songs per year, but as you’ll see, this didn’t completely work.
• I highly encourage you to debate my choices, comment with your own, and compile your own list.  The more music we can remember, the better off all our playlists will be!

With that, I give you my top 50 songs of the 2000s.

2000
“Bye, Bye, Bye” by *Nsync
A catchy song about breaking loose of a no good lover, it garnered the boyband a Grammy nod for Record of the Year and is arguably their most memorable song.

“Wonderful” by Everclear
“Please don’t tell me everything is wonderful now…” sings a boy to his emotionally absent parents. This song got me through the darkest hours of my life.

Britney Spears in her iconic music video for "Oops!... I Did it Again"

“Oops!… I Did it Again” by Britney Spears
The lead single from Britney’s sophomore album, it remains one of the most infectious pop songs of the past 30 years.

“I Hope You Dance” by Leann Womack
Still Womack’s only number one hit, “I Hope You Dance” was—and still is—played at high school graduations across America.

2001
“Island in the Sun” by Weezer
Though it never cracked the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and only charted at 31 in the UK, “Island in the Sun” proved that Weezer was still “hip, hip” and provided some musical escapism in the aftermath of 9/11.

“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)?” by Alan Jackson
It’s impossible to discuss 2001 in music with out mentioning Alan Jackson’s moving tribute to the 9/11 attacks. Eight years later, it is still the most poignant song to be written about that day.

“Fallin’” by Alicia Keys
Establishing Keys as the preeminent songwriter of our generation, “Fallin’” captured the 19 year old the Grammy for Song of the Year.

“Ms. Jackson” by OutKast
Not their biggest hit, but for a generation of high school students, “Ms. Jackson” provided a sick beat and a warning about the risks of teenage pregnancy. It also foreshadowed the great work OutKast would produce later in the decade.

2002
“I’m With You” by Avil Lavigne
Lavigne’s work leaves much to be desired, but there’s no denying the emotions behind her lyrics and vocals in this piece, which may epitomize the year between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq.

“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
Released on Christmas Eve, “Beautiful” is arguably Aguilera’s most artistic moment—and the video doubtlessly her most daring. A song that inspired all those “othered” by society.

“Clocks” by Coldplay
It captured the Record of the Year Grammy for Coldplay. More importantly, it was heard in practically every film trailer and television show for the next two years, and it has one of the most memorable melodies of any song this decade.

“Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” by Toby Keith
If Alan Jackson penned a moving tribute to 9/11, Toby Keith penned a shameful rallying cry for revenge against… well, he never really figured that part out. Still, even to this day, something about this song compels me to listen.

“Unchained Melody” by Gareth Gates
Admittedly more of a personal choice than anything, for a great number of Millennials (especially those from the UK), Gareth Gates is inexplicably connected with their adolescence.

2003
“Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson
The song that established Clarkson—the first American Idol—as more than a one-hit wonder, she showed the world that she would be around for years to come.

“Hurt” by Johnny Cash
Daring to cross genres and defy stereotypes, “Hurt” introduced Cash—and his amazing collection of songs—to a new generation of fans. It’s also one of the most moving songs of the decade, made all the more jarring because of the parallels with Cash’s own booze-soaked life.

“Mad World” by Gary Jules
Surprising everyone by taking the Christmas number one on the British charts, Jules’ version is arguably the most moving rendition of this song—including the original.

“American Life” by Madonna
Released on the heels of the invasion of Iraq, Madonna coupled it with a video so controversial even she decided to reshoot it. No song defines the Bush years better, proving even in a new century, Madge is still relevant.

“Leave Right Now” by Will Young
The first Idol ever—anywhere—produced one of the most emotional farewell songs in years.

2004
“What Became of the Likely Lads” by the Libertines
As Pete Doherty’s life spun out of control, he penned this lament about a friendship lost. (In this case, with fellow Libertine Carl Barat.) Fittingly, though sadly, it was the group’s last single.

“She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5
Not Maroon 5’s biggest hit, though possibly their most memorable, “She Will Be Loved” defined my first year of college.

“Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson
Say what you will about Gretchen Wilson, but “Redneck Woman” introduced Nashville to the Musik Mafia and brought about a renaissance in country music.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers from their video for "Mr. Brightside," one of the biggest hits of 2004

“Mr. Brightside” by the Killers
Las Vegas’ best resurrects glam rock. Enough said. Though not the first single from the Killers, “Mr. Brightside” is the song that cemented their place in the pantheon of noughties rockers.

“If Heartaches Had Wings” by Rhonda Vincent
You’ve probably never heard of this song, about a woman full of regrets, and that’s okay. Still, it is the best bluegrass song of the decade. Plus, the video stars Miley Cyrus before she was Miley Cyrus.

2005
“Gold Digger” by Kanye West
Kanye is one of the most controversial artists of the decade (to put it mildly), but “Gold Digger” was one of the biggest songs of the year. And rightly so, as it’s just as catchy as the rest of West’s work.

“Baby Girl” by Sugarland
Though released in 2004, Sugarland’s debut single didn’t climb the charts until early 2005, inaugurating lead vocalist Jennifer Nettles as the newest diva in the country music pantheon. On a personal note, the lyrics to this song was the first text message my grandparents ever received; I sent it to them requesting money.

“I’m ‘n Luv (Wit a Stripper)” by T-Pain ft Mike Jones
Admit it—you were singing along with the rest of us.

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day
A song about the death of Billy Joe Armstrong’s father, the video was yet another slap in the face of the Bush administration by the preeminent rockers of the day. The song struck a nerve with a nation growing weary of war.

“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
Blunt’s debut single may have made it hard to believe he is a former soldier, but it introduced him as one of the sappiest crooners of the decade.

2006
“SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake
We didn’t even know sexy had left until Timberlake told us so. With that voice and those beats, though, we believed him.

“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
One of the most romantic songs of the decade, this was the track that finally propelled Snow Patrol to mainstream American success.

“Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
Besides resurrecting 1960s soul, Winehouse’s salute to alcoholism and broken hearts established her as one of the most talented—and tragic—stars of the decade.

“I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks
After being shunned—and threatened—by country music fans for speaking out against the Iraq War in 2003, Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks came back with a vengeance, speaking for disgruntled progressives everywhere and nabbing five Grammys in the process.

“Last Request” by Paolo Nutini
The first single released from Nutini’s inaugural effort, this aching plea for one last night with a lover broke hearts across Britain. Though he’s struggled to find mainstream success in the US, “Last Request” has still managed to win over countless Yanks.

2007
“Rule the World” by Take That
A perfect song to accompany acclaimed fantasy film Stardust, “Rule the World” helped reestablish Take That as a premier British band—and is the song I will dance to at my wedding.

“Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis
The biggest thing to come out of a television talent show on either side of the Atlantic, Leona Lewis scored a massive hit with her debut single, penned by Ryan Tedder and Jesse McCartney. Arguably the most memorable song of the decade, “Bleeding Love” established Lewis as the definitive diva of her generation, thrusting her into the same league as Whitney, Celine, and Mariah. (Note: Yes, it didn’t come out in the US until 2008, but it was a massive hit in the UK in the autumn of 2007—which is when I first heard it.)

“Umbrella” by Rhianna

Rhianna's "Umbrella" was the defining song of summer 2007

An annoying but catchy tribute to unyielding friendship, with this song Rhianna told the world she wasn’t going anywhere. Plus, as the Telegraph pointed out, it provided the perfect soundtrack for a rain-soaked summer.

“Grace Kelly” by Mika
You can’t be faulted if, upon first listen, you thought someone had resurrected Freddie Mercury. With “Grace Kelly,” Mika helped usher in the era of wonky pop.

“With Every Heartbeat” by Robyn
Heartbreaking and infectious, Robyn proved that the Scandinavians are still better at making quality pop records than we are.

“Flourescent Adolescent” by the Arctic Monkeys
Not their biggest hit, and perhaps not even their best song, but “Flourescent Adolescent” still managed to define 2007 for those who rebelled against the previous five songs. Plus, with lyrics like “everything’s in order in a black hole/nothing seems as pretty as the past though/That Bloody Mary’s lacking in Tabasco/Remember when you used to be a rascal?” it was the perfect accompaniment to the onset of the Great Recession.

2008
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Swift’s biggest single up to that point, “Love Story” helped propel her out of Nashville and introduce her to an international audience. It also proved Swift as one helluva songwriter.

“No Air” by Jordin Sparks ft Chris Brown
The best duet of the decade, hands down. Though Chris Brown is now more infamous for domestic violence than famous for his music, the blended vocals of Sparks and Brown illustrate why they’re both young stars on the rise.

“I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry
Offensive to the gay community or an innocent anthem for bicuriosity? Either way, “I Kissed a Girl” was the song of summer 2008 and propelled Perry to stardom.

“My President” by Young Jeezy
Never a huge hit, but there is something special in remembering the election of America’s first black president—a defining moment not just of the noughties, but of modern history. This song is the celebration of a milestone preceded by centuries of struggle.

“Paper Planes” by MIA
No song better describes Britain’s and America’s irrational fear of brown people than does this anthem for immigrants and oppressed minorities everywhere. The gunshots and ringing cash registers only serve to make the song all the more memorable—and relevant.

Beyonce's video for "Single Ladies" is one of the most iconic of the decade. Just as Kanye West.

“Single Ladies” by Beyonce
God, this song is annoying, but Kanye was right—Beyonce did have one of the best videos of all time. Besides, you have to admit, it’s catchy as hell.

2009
“Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
If the noughties defined Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus defined the noughties. Surprising, well, everybody, Cyrus managed to actually produce a quality pop record that, probably unintentionally, embodied the optimism of youth in the Obama era.

“TikTok” by Ke$ha
If you haven’t heard this song yet, go listen. I don’t know what the future has in store for Ke$ha, but this is one of the best night-out-on-the-town songs to come along in years.

“Never Forget You” by the Noisettes
Sure, Duffy’s throwback to 60’s soul is more successful, but nobody, except maybe Winehouse, can touch the artistry of Shingai Shoniwa.

“Just Dance” by Lady GaGa
When I heard this song on the radio in January, I told my best friend it was the first song that made me feel like it was 2009. Turns out, 2009 was the year of GaGa. If the forecast “Just Dance” provides is any indication, the teens will be dominated by Lady GaGa.

“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum
An understated, underappreciated single from an underrated group, Lady Antebellum proves they are the future of country music with “Need You Now.” An aching song about longing for an old flame, it’s the best song Nashville has had to offer in 2009.

Maroon 5 will play the Smith Center tonight at 8pm as part of their Back to School tour of college campuses. WRGW News’ Jesse Regis talked with guitarist James Valentine about the tour, the band’s upcoming album, and what he would say if he could speak to dolphins.

Read the transcript below, or check out the complete interview here: Maroon 5’s James Valentine on WRGW

I’m Jesse Regis from the fishbowl. We’re joined by James Valentine, the guitarist for Maroon 5. Maroon 5, of course, will be performing live at the Smith Center on Friday night, James so good to be with you. 

Where are you calling us from?

I’m on the highway right now. I’m in the back of our tour bus. We’re driving to Connecticut now from New York.

So tell me about the college tour. What’s it all about?

We decided to do some touring this year because we’ve been in the studio all year so it’s kinda been time off for us. We tour a lot but this whole entire year we haven’t done any touring. So we thought a good place to start would be colleges. When we first started touring we spent a lot of time on campuses and we sort of missed it and wanted to come back. We like you college kids, we have the most fun playing for you.

What’s a college age audience like? It must be different than playing arenas or anywhere else.

There’s just an energy there that’s not there in the general admission crowd. We love all our fans, of course, but there’s an energy on the campuses that you can’t match anywhere else.

What type of music are you playing? Are you playing some of your more recent stuff, are you trying out new material?

We hope to play more of our new songs. We’re also treating this as a warm up to get some of these new songs into shape because we have to play these songs live, a lot of times, before they start to really evolve and take shape because the live arrangements of our songs will generally be pretty different from what you’re playing on the record. But we’re not done with our record yet so we don’t even really know what songs are going to go on there so we’re not playing as many new songs as we thought. We’re playing songs off of our first two records.

Yeah, and I wanna talk about the new record because you went to of all places, Switzerland. What are you doing in Switzerland?

The producer that we’re working with, this guy named Mutt Lange lives out there and his studio is out there. We basically had to go out there if we wanted to work with this guy. It’s a huge privilege and an honor to be working with Mutt Lange so we went out there. It was good for us because we usually record in Los Angeles and there’s a lot of distractions for guys like us so he was good to take us out of there.  We were just on a bunch of property out there, which was pretty remote. There were no distractions and we could just focus on working on the music.

Could you see a difference in the music you were making in Switzerland versus a studio in Los Angeles?

I think what we do is what we do. I think the main difference is that we just did it for longer hours. We were working harder and longer.

The album’s coming out in 2010. Any specific date yet?

I think it’ll come out late winter, early Spring.

What’s the motivation for the record? What’s the focus? Is it going to a dark record, is it going to be a more mature record, a poppy record?

It’s the next step forward for us. I don’t think the fans will be too mystified by what they hear. It’ll sound like a Maroon 5 record but we’re always pushing forward a little bit.

You do tons of live shows. You must have a few kinks in there at some point, have you ever had a problem, a broken string or something where you can’t go forward.

Oh, yeah, we’ve had all kinds of things go wrong. I fell off stage once - that was fun. There was a curtain that was sorta hiding the fact that the stage ended. I was jumping around and I fell off. Lots of stuff happens you just have to keep going. We’ve played so many shows over the years, we kinda know how to cover things before they go horribly wrong.

You guys still got crazy fans coming up on the stage?

Occasionally fans try to get up there but I think our fans are somewhere in between the Jonas Brothers hysteria, you know they’re not as crazy as those kids, they’re a little older so I think they’re a little more mellow. We played a radio festival with [the Jonas Brothers] once and our fans aren’t quite that crazy. And they’re not as intense as they’d be at a Metallica show. So they’re somewhere in between the Jonas Brothers and Metallica.

Speaking of other artists, do you have any interest in collaborating with other artists in the future? What types of bands do you admire that you’d really like to make a track with?

Since we’re in the DC area how about Fugazi? Maybe we could do something with them. I don’t know if they’d totally be down for that though.

You gonna have any time to sightsee when you’re in the DC area? Or are you guys just kinda running around and won’t have any time for that?

No, we’ll have a little bit of time. We were out there pretty recently. We were out there for the inauguration, actually.

You were out there in the cold?

Yeah, I was out there. I was in front of the White House. I actually saw the inauguration. The rest of the guys in the band actually gave up on getting in because it was crazy on the streets and people who didn’t have tickets were trying to get in and the security machine at our gate broke down, but I struck around and persevered and I finally made it in, which was such an amazing experience. We played the Presidential ball, we played a couple other balls, which was the coolest thing we’ve ever done.

And you went out on the [National] Mall just as a private citizen, just waiting in line with everyone else?

Yeah, yeah, it was awesome.

There’s this rumor out there that I want to talk about from my highly reliable source, Wikipedia that says this might be the last Maroon 5 record for awhile, is there any truth to that?

It says that on Wikipedia? I think that might stem from something Adam said in Rolling Stone awhile ago.

That the band had reached its peak and might be disbanding…

Yeah, and probably not. I think we’ll probably make a couple more records, but you never know. I would say the money is on probably a couple more records, for sure.

We want to have a little bit of fun with you. It’s our speed round. I’m gonna throw some questions at you, you’re going to give me the first thing that comes into your head.

Ok, Yeah this could be dangerous.

Yeah it could ruin your career. I’m just kidding, we’re gonna have some fun with it. If you were a side dish, what would you be?

Mac and Cheese

What’s your favorite type of sock? Tube sock guy, low cut sock guy?

I like Thorlos tennis socks.

Oh, that’s right you’re a big tennis player…

Yeah.

Favorite Muppet?

Animal.

Oh yeah!? But he plays the drums though…

Do you know the name of the guitar playing Muppet because I don’t

I don’t, we’ll look into it. Your favorite breakfast food?

Frosted Flakes.

Are you a fan of MC Hammer?

Yes. I mean, that was everywhere. I memorized all of it. My music hits you so hard, makes me want to say oh my Lord, Thank you for blessing me. With a mind to rhyme and two hyped feet.

Do you own a pair of parachute pants?

I don’t own a pair of parachute pants, unfortunately.

If you could speak to one animal, what would it be?

A dolphin.

What would you say to the dolphin?

I’d be like “what’s up, why you guys so smart?”

What’s your favorite member of the Beatles?

Let’s go with Paul, because nobody ever says Paul.

Do you think Elvis is really dead?

Yes.

Tupac?

Yes.

Twitter of facebook, which do you prefer?

Facebook.

Favorite founding father?

Jefferson.

Oh well, your friends at Thomas Jefferson University will appreciate that.

I was just saying that just to annoy you guys.

Guitar Hero or Rock Band?

How about picking up a real guitar and learning how to play it?

Would you rather be dead…..or alive in a box?

I’ll be alive, I would rather be alive, wherever I am.

We’ll have to leave it there. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

I can’t wait either, I’m gonna be intimidated. George Washington, you guys are, like smart, that’s a good school, it’s not that easy to get in there. They just don’t let just anyone in. If it’s going to be a smart audience we’re going to have to play our most high-brow stuff.

The show starts at 8pm tonight and tickets are still available at the Marvin Center Ticketmaster. Tickets are $30 for students and $33 for faculty, staff & alumni.

This week I am a little giddy. Music makes me giddy, especially new music or a going to a concert that I’ve been looking forward to. I got both this week and that’s why I’m giddy. It’s like I’m in high school and I’m about to go see New Kids!

My pre-order of John Mayer’s new CD Battle Studies should be making its way to the house in the next day or two. While I’m at work, I can’t help but listen to the preview of his CD. (You can find it on Rhapsody). And then this weekend I’m going to battle it out for seats to his show. Woo hoo!

Earlier this week,  I went to see Maroon 5. Second row. SECOND row! That’s the closest I’ve ever been, so that got me all pumped up, too. It was freaking awesome! But they didn’t let me take in my camera–had to go back to the car… in the rain–so no pics to share. It was a great show. Oh and Adam Levine… mmmm. Seeing him that close made me realize how pretty he is.

Do you get giddy from music? If so, what songs? Musicians? etc.? If you say Lady Gaga, you are banned from my life. Thanks.

So far, we’ve got a few things worth checking out. First of all, our myspace has four rough tracks. These were recorded at Five Towns College, the school which brought about some great bands such as Maroon 5. You can find them at www.myspace.com/whoweare2009

As far as graphic design is concerned, I’ve been very impressed with our first few designs. Here’s an interesting one, photoshopped from a picture taken on our last practice this summer before college started up again.

As we’ve begun recording the tracks for our first legitimate EP, Joey designed a sort of advertisement for what’s to come.

Once again, I really can’t believe how great it is to be involved with people with these types of skills, I’m more about the music, so who knows where I would get without them. 

Anyway, we’ve been talking a lot about figuring out some covers to do, as we definitely need to fill out our catalog before we’ll be able to play any extended sets. If you’ve listened to the myspace tracks, you’ve got an idea what we’re trying to do, leave a comment with some suggestions!

F      G               C
Sunday morning rain is falling
F          G                C
Steal some cover share some skin
F          G               C
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
    F                G              C
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
    F                  G            C
But things just get so crazy living live gets hard to do
            F              G               C
And I would gladly hit the road get up and go if I knew
     F                G               C
That someday it would lead me back to you
     F                G               C
That someday it would lead me back to you

Chorus:

            F   G C
That may be all I need
                   F   G C
In darkness she is all I see
                       F     G    C
Now come and rest your bones with me
                       F             G             C
Driving slow on sunday morning and I never want to leave

Verse:

F       G                C
Fingers trace your every outline
F       G               C
Paint a picture with my hands
F        G                  C
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
          F             G                C
Change of weather still together when it ends

Chorus:

            F   G C
That may be all I need
                   F   G C
In darkness she is all I see
                       F     G    C
Now come and rest your bones with me
                       F             G             C
Driving slow on sunday morning and I never want to leave

yep... a very nice chords indeed....haha... baru teringat da lama aku x wat mini concert ekk... hehehe...  

tensen kah kamu bila dgr bunyi alarm clock dari 3 jam yg lepas? tanpa henti…. jgn sampai aku p pecahkan pintu korang…adoii…brainless.. aku nk kua dari td lg tp mendung.. mmg cuaca mcmni bejaya mmbataskan pegerakan aku…tsk… =__=  dok kat bilik x tau nk wat pe…. this is why i hate holiday.. ahhh.. i just hate everything!!!

………

ade jerawat tumbuh… cam ne bole tumbuh nie.. adeii… x penah2 muncul tetiba ada plak.. hmmm..mggu ni mmg aku bnyk mkn bnda goreng. plus.. aku tuka krim baru… x tau da nk pakai apa pas ni.. mybe patut berenti pakai krim kunyit tuh… huhuh….. muka x der jerawat p cari lg krim jerawat… da tumbuh….. aaa!!suda tumbuh! cam tu gak ngan kes muka da putih tp masih tecari2 lg produk pemutih.. last2 efeknyer muka tu akan jd kehitaman …. (ape2 je la aku merapu)

brainless

hahaha

abaikan makhluk kat blakang tuh… yaa… ni la gitar baru aku yg lagi sebijik… kalo x kerna aku perabih duet beli bnde alah ni msti aku x miskin skang… hwaaaaaa~~ tp best nyer gitar ni ade tuner.. ley pasang karen… blablabla… tp last2 gitar yg paleng aku suka pakai ialah gitar lamaaku yg aku x ganti2 lg talinyer sejak taun lepas.. sbbnyer gitar baru ni besar. nk main sambil duduk lepak  atas katil x bole…hmmmm… silap…silap… haa.. td aku p check akaun…ehh ade duet ag rupenyer.. dari mana dtg aku pun x tau… sbb mak aku msukkan 50 je… hehehhe…… ari ni bole mkn bnyk2.    XDDDD

Now, with the concert of Howard Jennings/Vertical Horizon on the forefront of my mind, which goes to say a pretty high bar was set, going into Maroon 5 I naturally had high hopes.

Starting off with the fact that K’Naan (pictured above; single “Wavin’ Flag” is now the official song of the 2010 FIFA world cup; opened for Jason Mraz this summer) backed out for some unknown (or at least, undisclosed) reason, there seemed to be a half-hearted, last-minute replacement opener. No idea who she was, as she never said her name, but she had a keyboard, a guitar, and a voice that could’ve been used properly. Enough about her. On with the show.

Adam Levine proves himself to be a truly talented and unique musician, whose vocals cannot be mimicked, or copied, easily. It was a great travel back to 2002, but with their drummer missing for a “pressing family matter,” they seemed forced (dareisay, uncomfortable?) to re-vamp their whole show. They had Adrian Young of No Doubt filling in (impressive), but only for about 1/3 of the entire set. The rest of the show consisted of James Valentine (guitarist), Adam Levine, and an un-introduced keyboardist singing covers of Alicia Key’s “If I Ain’t Got You,” snippets of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”, and a revue of past #1 hits from Maroon 5.

I’m not complaining, but when Vertical Horizon (not to mention with an amazing opener like Howard Jennings) could come on stage after being gone almost as long as Maroon 5 and manage to hook fans from before into loving what is coming, one can’t help but think that most musicians would see that concert format as common sense. They mentioned that they are coming out with a new album that they are recording in Sweden, but gave no insight.

Altogether, good show to relax to, catch up on songs you haven’t heard in a while, be reminded of what true talent is, and hope that their next album is chock full of hits, as they previously have delivered.

Adam has also been quoted as saying that he believes the band is at its peak with the new upcoming album, and ultimately thinks that it will be their last.

GRADE: B-, subject to change with release (and review) of new album

“In view: a humble Vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villian by the vicissitudes of fate.  This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the Vox Populi, now vacant, vanished…”  Woohoo! It’s the fifth of November, and everyone knows what that means — “V for Vendetta” party.  But first…it’s basketball season again, time to head down to the arena and deal with customers — most sweet and kind, a few that make me want to rip the heads from their necks.  Hopefully, I won’t do that tonight for the first exhibition game.  I managed to make it through three quarters of last season without getting cussed out, so hopefully I can improve on that record.

Maroon 5 played the arena Monday night, and my supervisor was kind enough to give me a media pass so I could take my camera gear inside.  Managed to get a few decent shots.  Certainly not the best concert I’ve seen; the opening act(a one woman solo act with her piano) seemed far too mellow to open for such a high energy main act.  My bruise from the Jason Aldean show is starting to fade, though it’s still a little annoying when I sit or lay down.  Hooray for awesome arena jobs!

Alright, time to pay attention again.  Later.

I love Maroon 5 even before they became famous. I still remember there was one time, i went around telling my friends about Maroon 5 and they didn’t care much about it. I bought their first album and my friends said i had a weird taste in music. Months after that, Maroon 5 sored all radio speakers in the world. Hehehe…

Of all their songs, i particularly LOVE “Nothing Last Forever” from their second album. This song meant something to me back then…and means something now as well….

I know i posted this song a few times in the past, but i want to post it again. This one is the live version…

Just love this song….means a lot to me personally :-S Menusuk kalbu….huhuhu

My song of the day….been listening to it since morning…over and over…i can only wish to write lyrics like that…excellent writing and kinda deep!

Read the lyrics carefully line by line..and you’ll know it’s an excellent writing…my favorite verse:

If you don’t know
Then you can’t care
And I show up
But you’re not there
But I’m waiting
And you want to
Still afraid that I will desert you

Anyway, enjoy the song…yet again

It is so easy to see
Dysfunction between you and me
We must free up these tired souls
Before the sadness gets us both

I tried and tried to let you know
I love you but I’m letting go
It may not last but I don’t know
Just don’t know

If you don’t know
Then you can’t care
And I show up
But you’re not there
But I’m waiting
And you want to
Still afraid that I will desert you

Everyday
With every word whispered we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
But nothing last forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way

A bed that’s warm with memories
Can heal us temporarily
The misbehaving only makes
The ditch between us so damn deep

Built a wall around my heart
Never let it fall apart
Strangely I wish secretly
It won’t fall down while I’m asleep

If you don’t know
Then you can’t care
And I show up
But you’re not there
But I’m waiting
And you want to
Still afraid that I will desert you, babe

Everyday
With every word whispered we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
But nothing last forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way

But we have not hit the ground
Doesn’t mean we’re not still falling, oh..
I want so bad to pick you up
But you’re still too reluctant to accept my help
What a shame I hope you find somewhere to place the blame
But until then the fact remains

Everyday
With every word whispered we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
Nothing last forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way

Everyday
With every word whispered we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
Nothing last forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way

De Jesse Carmichael-Nos encanta The Harlem Children’s Zone , porque son una organización que está tomando medidas para mejorar las vidas de los niños necesitados en muchos niveles diferentes. Que están ofreciendo al mundo un modelo de cómo un sistema integrado de educación, el fortalecimiento de la familia, y la construcción de la comunidad pueden servir a todos los involucrados. Esperamos que nuestros fans no sólo puede apoyar la HCZ, sino también ser inspirados por ellos.

Video de  “Story“

http://hcz.org/maroon5

Done $ 30 o más para ganar un CD o una guitarra autografiada de Maroon 5

New Merch in the Official Store!

http://www.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/artist?artistName=Maroon+5&sourceCode=MARWEB

The $15K Challenge is Live!

http://www.twitvid.com/maroon5

Check out the third trailer for Maroon 5’s new album, coming out in 2010. Maroon 5 will be on tour this fall, go to maroon5.com for more info!

Devon Stewart rocks the Shaefer studios while working on his self-titled solo project

Lil Wayne. Kanye West. Maroon 5. Rascal Flatts. Music purists loathe them for at least one reason — Auto-Tune, a downloadable audio processor that corrects vocal and instrumental blunders in order to attain perfect pitch. By using this program, a producer can fill in a recorded performance’s holes, smooth its edges and polish its smudges.  Everyone must use this to attain musical nirvana, right? Negatory. In fact, musicians that admire large holes, adore peculiar edges, and worship pesky smudges are alive, well and plentiful. They are lo-fi artists.

Lo-fi is a shortened form of “low-fidelity,” fidelity meaning the extent to which an electronic device such as a radio or television can accurately reproduce a sound or an image. Taken literally, lo-fi can be defined as low-quality sound.

Performers like Beck, The Black Keys, Dinosaur Jr., Modest Mouse and Ween have all retreated from that glossy, synthetic, superficial world into a barebones, bare-necessities cosmos, recording sound in only its purest, most genuine state. But it’s not just a hit with more mainstream acts either, and has slowly found its way into Syracuse University’s own music scene over the past few years.

MUSIC WITH A HUMAN FACE

Ulf Oesterle, an Assistant Professor in the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries at S.U. and owner of local label Aux Records, managed a band between 1997 and 1998 that recorded an EP on South Campus over their Spring Break.

“People that are recording in lo-fi, they want to create something,” he said. “They don’t always have the means to create a product that is polished, but there is a certain beauty in these really cheap recordings.”

The band converted their apartment into a makeshift studio by flipping mattresses up against the wall for soundproofing, plopping the drums in the middle of the living room, and building a vocal booth out of three other mattresses. Some current students have been following a similar path.

Devon James Stewart, a junior film major in SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and guitarist for local ska/experimental outfit Native Informant, also started his own electronic project using some lo-fi techniques. He sees the genre as a response to today’s financial climate.

“I think with the economy and the way the world is, people think that it’s harder to get your music heard, or its harder to make some money playing music,” he said. “So more people, more bands that are trying to do things are thinking of innovative ways to just try new things.”

Stewart uses Logic Pro Studio, Apple’s music production suite, to create his art. Stewart, who’s also a DJ, has used it to record songs outside, in a hallway, or on a flight of stairs to capture different room sounds.  He said lo-fi is a positive force because the musical process becomes solely concerned with the individual, not a huge record company.

“It takes it out of the hands of the industry and out of the commercial world. It gives it more of a human face,” he said.

THE DEMO AESTHETIC

Bob Dylan’s 1975 record The Basement Tapes was the first landmark lo-fi pop album. The disc distinguished itself by holding on to its flaws, playing off mistakes, and recording live. Thus, Dylan invented lo-fi’s calling card — authenticity.

“What does a song sound like in its unfinished state?” asked Theo Cateforis, an Assistant Professor of Music History and Cultures in the Department of Art & Music Histories at SU. “I think the idea of intimacy is important to lo-fi, that if you can imagine, ‘Wow, this sounds like it was recorded in someone’s bedroom,’ it’s a lot easier to imagine yourself in that space than it is to imagine yourself in Metallica’s studio.”

Lo-fi is about that demo aesthetic, he said. That gritty, dirty, distorted sound comes from the equipment.

Artists like Buddy Holly, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd all recorded on a reel-to-reel tape recorders. More modern musicians have used four-track recorders, namely the Tascam Portastudio, the first of its kind. With these, the artist records four separate instruments on four separate tracks and then blends them all together at the end.

Although it has become the norm to produce demos, Bruce Springsteen recorded Nebraska on the Portastudio, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ axeman John Frusciante used it to create Niandra Lades & Usually Just a T-Shirt as well as Smile from the Streets You Hold. Newer models of this recorder have six and eight tracks, with some digital types going as high as twenty-four. People can find this kind of equipment on the street, Oesterle said.

“Some people are finding second-hand equipment and you’ve got a sense of trying to fix up this old gear, maybe analog gear that’s been discarded by most of the modern studios,” he said. “Some people, if they’re lucky enough to have GarageBand on it or some sort of rudimentary audio recording program, you can put together your music in that.”

FLOODING THE MARKET

But what about the critics who say lo-fi groups are flooding the market? It’s no fun if anyone can create some semblance of a studio in their own home, record some songs in low quality, and throw it on their MySpace page. Oesterle disagrees.

“From a perspective of music consumption, I think it’s great because people can put music together, offer it to fans or potential fans on any one of the social networks, and people can consume music, they can hear it, they can interact with it, download it, or stream it,” he said.

Kevin Hegedus, a sophomore music composition major also known as Mouf, began a lo-fi project called Mouth’s Cradle in the summer of 2008, making music based primarily on vocal loops. Using only his laptop, its internal microphone, GarageBand and a few outside instruments, Mouth’s Cradle recorded two EPs: Body Pop in 2008 and Beach Tales in 2009. He did it all for free.

“[Lo-fi] sounds very do-it-yourself-ish, but at the same time it has this really grainy rock quality, which, to me, is just so attractive and makes the music more real for me,” he said. “I think aesthetically, the raw sound is really beautiful.”

Another upside to marketing lo-fi is the live show. A fan may pick up a band’s album, like the music, and wonder about the quality, but still want to go see them live.

“I think if you have this really polished CD and then you go to the live show and the live show doesn’t hit the mark, doesn’t reach the level that the CD was, I think you’re disappointed a little bit,” Oesterle said.

“If you have a recording that is less than stellar but you go to the live show where they’re playing through a PA system that’s state of the art, which many of the venues have great PA systems, even small venues, the concert experience is more pleasurable at that point.”

GARAGEBAND NATION

Matt Gasda, a junior in The College of Arts & Sciences, sings and plays guitar and keyboards in the ambient act Bears in America, who are planning to record this winter.  He said some members of the group want to record in a more lo-fi way, with no mixing or overdubs, but he would prefer the expensive equipment.

“It’s a real choice — sometimes limiting gadgets in the studio results in a more spontaneous sound,” he said. “I think there is something worth investigating in that approach. Some bands, particularly pretty ones, could never do it. Pretty music requires delicacy.”

The lo-fi approach has become synonymous with old-time authenticity, a certain back-to-basics process designed to tickle our remember-when glands. People still buy and listen to vinyl records, not only so they can impress other people with their collection of trendy second hand knick-knacks, but also because the music can provide a sort of homely nostalgia.

Gasda had a somewhat humorous, ironic outlook on lo-fi and its future.

“It has certainly flooded the internet with atrocious, aesthetically empty music. But the radio is and was already flooded by bad music,” he said. “We used to have bad music controlled by major labels, now it’s controlled by young people with GarageBand.”

– Bill McMillan

The quality of the video is not great as it appears to be shot with a cellphone camera very far a way from the stage.  But, it captures the amazing audience chorus very well.  Must have been an amazing gig.

More Information on Maroon 5 or Official Web Site

2 hours ago, JJAMZ announced on their Facebook that they will record an entire album instead of the previously announced EP.

So, this means more songs — JJAMZ will record more songs to make a full-length album.

JJAMZ is Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley), James Valentine (Maroon 5), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Michael Runion, and Z Berg (The Like).

Are you musical? Want to hang out and do the same work as artists like Seal, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Rob Thomas, Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz, Kelly Rowland, Maroon 5, Daughtry, the Bacon Brothers, Brad Paisley, Avril Lavigne, and more? Musicians on Call is a charitable organization that brings the healing power of music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. The one-on-one contact between musician and patient is intimate and does wonders for mood and energy. While some of the leaders of the music industry lend their time and talent, you don’t have to sell out stadium arenas to be a part of this. Volunteer musicians are needed in New York, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Miami. Non-musicians can also help as guides who accompany musicians at performances and act as a liaison between the musician and hospital staff. MOC is also expanding the programs to Veteran’s hospitals nationwide, so you can jump in by signing up here.

One Song at a Time

If a boy tried to convince me to stay with him by song and I wasn’t so sure, I’d have to make a mental note to be aware of crooners who would have me saying yes within a few good seconds like this:

[My Dream]

cr: absolutemblaq

Maroon5’s [This Love]

I was pulled in right from the beginning X ) Seung Ho you babe your confident piano playing got me swooning, and “based on these two performances alone, it’s evident that the man with the ’stache carries the vocals of the group. Can I just add that I melt every time G.O. opens his mouth? G.O is P.R.O for S.H.O!”-BEASTmode from allkpop… ah~~ I’ve got to agree with you there..In the beginning I wasn’t liking his ’stache too much, but I reckon those days are quite long gone X )

cr: absolutemblaq
and check out the pictures of handsome pants 1,2,3,4 & 5 X )

X ) J xx

i began to write a little but about Maroon 5 and their obeine and how they are made over obeine

http://joernbackes.wordpress.com/music-and-bands-signification/music-other-signification/maroon-5/

absolutemblaq@youtube