Channel One

Following a post about drum solos, it's almost no surprise that I'd mention the works of Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich is one of the most famous jazz drummers of all time. It would definitely be safe to say that if you know anything about jazz drumming, you've heard of Buddy Rich. Buddy is known for his incredible displays of technique, and also the mind-blowing speed that he plays at. Personally, when I watch Buddy, I notice how fluid his movements are. Nobody looks as comfortable with playing drums as he does. Nothing comes out as forced, unless he's really trying to fit in that last 64th note into his solos.

It's hard to talk about Buddy Rich without seeing him firsthand. When you watch the following videos, notice how easy he makes some of the most difficult rhythms come out. Also notice how much he sweats and looks like he wants to kill the drum!

The first video is of Buddy in action with his Big Band. If you've ever seen West Side Story, you'll recognize the following song, but I bet you've never looked at the song this way before. This is one of my favorite Buddy Rich solos of all time, for the fact that it shows his ability to play with a band, along with being able to bust out an outstanding solo.



This second video I posted because it displays his amazing speed. If you want proof that he's fast, compare him to another very fast drummer: Ed Shaughnessy (from the Tonight Show) This is a drum battle, where one drummer plays something and the second drummer attempts to one-up it. Seriously, just watch the speed!



The third solo is another fantastic solo. In the song "Channel One Suite", which is an incredible song, Buddy's drumming is featured a lot. It opens with a solo, has another short solo soon after, and ends with three more solos. The solo here is the very last solo, which is the longest in the suite. I love this one because it's so "diverse". He changes a lot of things while he's drumming. At one point he'll be doing a lot of tom drumming. Then he'll focus only on the cymbals (one of the only people I know to play an amazing cymbal solo). Then all of a sudden he'll do a solo with just his drumsticks! After that, he'll switch to showing off his snare skills. In my opinion, it's one of the best solos he's ever done.



Of course, anyone who knows of Buddy Rich has probably also seen the Animal vs. Buddy Rich video off of The Muppet Show, but I'll just make a link for that one. Though, it is definitely worth watching.

Telepopmusik - Breathe

This is a very simple song from that past that sounds like a modern hip song. This song gives me the feel that I should pick a day, sit back, and reflect on something I have neglected for a majority of my life... breathing. The house elements, a happy melody and simple vocal, easily makes this song a very chill song for a lazy day until something happens to distract you from knowing that you are breathing.

A goal of this song is to send the message to the audience that they should believe... just as they believe. "Just" breathe" and "just believe" is trying to tell you what Nike ads tell you, just do it! Well, just have a listen for yourself, there is nothing to lose.

Deepest Blue

Deepest Blue - Deepest Blue

Compared to the BT love song from the previous post, this is by far a better trance love song. One reason is that there is no J.C. Chasez in this song. I got caught by the lyrics even after the first verse:

" The sun will always shine on you
You turn my ocean deepest blue
I'll never hide my thoughts from you
You're my deepest blue"

The whole deepest blue theme to me roughly translates into someone or something deep inside your body or mind. Through the years, the human mind or consciousness is compared to an 'ocean' of memories. If you feel that deepest blue relates to love in some way, that is probably the reason why. With that in mind... even though the word deepest is directly associated with the depth of the ocean where it is dark and cold. The delicate lyrics and smooth beat makes the listener feel pretty warm.

The melody and lyrics are slightly echoed for that wavy feeling to allow the listener to rally feel as if they are really by the ocean. This is a great song to sit back and chill as you dream about the summer of your dreams where you are with that special someone or something in your mind. Really does crack a smile on your face if you imagine the beach of your dreams and accompanied by something special.

Summer or not, this song is the perfect dance song for any holiday party. It is very uplifting and cheerful. Unlike most love songs, the vocals of this song are not themed around only dreaming about that special someone, but actually having that someone to call your deepest blue. Joel Edward’s voice is amazingly soothing and fits the beat and melody perfectly.

Deepest Blue - Give it Away

In this song, Joel's voice is infectious. It sounds like a gentle breeze that ruffles the leaves on the trees in a peaceful afternoon by the beach. During those choruses, his vocal and the beat make you want to groove to the song. The whole song is simply mesmerizing. The subtle keyboard in the ambient and the obvious drum beats create multiple layers of dancey tunes that allow you to pick which one to move to.

The chorus:

" When you slowly close your eyes
Replay the moment in your mind
Just give it away
Just give it away
When you slowly close your eyes
Replay the moment in your mind
Just give it away
Just give it away"

The way Joel sings the chorus and the music that accompanying it is just pure bliss. It has a very warm vibe and is simply fetching. Deepest Blue is a one out of a few bands that can create music with a perfect balance between beat and lyrics. In addition to the balance, the beat and lyrics are excellent themselves. Have a listen. Enjoy and Relax.

BT + Pop + Trance Fusion = this song

This is a fine example of BT's ability to fuse different genre's and trance them up to create something different and interesting. This synthesized pop, trance track is definitely one of BT's finest tracks. It is very upbeat, the melody is catchy by itself, but combined with a simple and repetitive lyric, this song does not get boring at all. Here is a short excerpt of the lyrics:

" some little joy some little joy...it's complicated
some little time some little time....be acclimated
some little hope some little hope...and I'm prayin' out with love (yeah)
some little time to make some change...been isolating"

If you listen to this song, I believe the only words you will hear are “simply” and “love” since they are repeated a million times. Thankfully, by the end of the song, when the vocals start to get annoying, the song is over. Interestingly, the song is better without the vocals. Listen to the instrumental here. Throughout the track, you get these broken record sounds that I found to be very entertaining because they have this ability to catch your attention. I believe that ability is derived from the fact that it is simply out of the usual and it is human tendency to focus more on new sounds.

Up until this moment when I found the video for this post, I really really liked this song. Simple, catchy male vocals (male vocals that are good are rare in trance tracks) and melody with an uncomplicated beat that keeps the song moving forward. HOWEVER... now that I've finally seen the video, I believe that is J. C. Chasez singing the vocals and I am now in awe. I don't really like J. C. and N'Sync, but BT was able to combine a "happy" (insert synonym that beings with the letter "g" and ends with "y") love pop singer with trance. BT succeeds in expressing love through trance in this track, but only in this track. The music video just ruins it. Just watch J. C... that dance is sooooooooo retarded...

I'll just pretend that J. C. was not part of this song to keep this song as one of my BT favorites...

Daft Punk: Discovery

Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are the amazing musicians behind Daft Punk's robot masks. They are the incredible talent that drives crowds all over the world, moves clubbers deep inside the discotheque, yet makes music so awesome and so accessible that it's had plentiful radio airplay alongside mainstream pop, even in the USA.

Daft Punk's mix of 70's funk, edgy house beats, and simple yet driving lyrics is not only a very unique sound; it also has so much strong emotion and raw, grooving energy that I easily declare Daft Punk to be my favorite artist of all time.

I want to convert any nonbelievers, and introduce anybody who doesn't even know the name Daft Punk. To start us off, I'm going to be tackling the whole album Discovery, one track at a time. Last month, I posted about Kanye West's Stronger, which uses a track off of Discovery as its basis. If you liked Stronger, take a look at the original, get the album, and immerse yourself in the rest of the tracks on what may well become your favorite album ever.

I haven't been posting much lately, but rest assured that I'll actually get through this album. It's damn hard to convey exactly how awesome each track is, and to do each one justice in a simple blog post with just a short sample of the song, but I'm on a mission from God here so I'll be bringing you the gospel of Daft Punk. Enjoy.