Christmas is in the air!

Hello everyone!

Today is the last sunday before Christmas, so I would like to start this blog post with "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!" Obviously, to suit the situation, I will write about the importance of Christmas music.

Caroling has been a Christmas tradition for centuries. It's an amazing feeling to share Christmas joy with others through song and music. I have been learning Christmas music on the piano, and that has brought the Christmas spirit to everyone's ears. Christmas music is used for celebration and the feeling of togetherness. It's the ultimate Christmas gift to give, and to share with others.

Here are a few facts on Christmas:
1) The Nordic people had the original yule-tide traditional celebration, done in winter, because it was the time when all the animals needed to be slaughtered (because it was cold and there was no food for the animals to eat), so there was more meat, and, therefore, more cause for celebration. It wasn't until the Christians came in that it was called "Christ-mas"
2) Christ's birthday was chosen from the Nordic people's day for the sun-god's birth. (Jesus= son of God). The Nordics wanted to be part of secular celebrations. The Christians were trying to put Christ into the winter-solstice holiday. Christ was probably born in the Spring time.
3) The Christmas tree was also a Nordic original tradition, beginning with an Evergreen tree because it would stay green all year, through the cold winter. The Christians took that idea and put apples on the tree to symbolize the garden of Eden, which began Christmas ornaments.
4) The first description of Santa Clause came from the poem "The Night before Christmas."
5) Rudolf the Red-nose reindeer was created by Macy's for advertising during the holidays.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

Music is Poetry

For English class, we have an assignment to write an essay on what music we feel is poetry. I am having EXTREME difficulty with this assignment, as I feel all music is poetry, and there is a reason for that.

When you think of poetry, what comes to mind? A couple of stanzas of words that don't make sense to you? Well, poetry is not limited to what you discuss in English class or read in books assigned for summer reading at school. Poetry is a form of art that humans use to express themselves. Poetry is grouping words that you love. Words that make you smile or make you feel relaxed because you've written down your feelings of anger, hatred, or despair. All of these emotions are expressed in poetry, and in music. Therefore, music is poetry.

Music and poetry share a bond that artists use to it's maximum potential. Writing a song requires artistic imagination and ability that few people have true posession of. However, any type of poetry is amazing to it's author. Poetry is created to act as a self-comforting exercise to let loose and share your thoughts. After all, keeping something bottled up isn't good for anyone, now is it?

Poetry is more than a group of words that don't make sense. Music is more than notes on a page. Both of these expressions of art are created to be enjoyed by whoever wishes them to be so. All music is love, expression... and life. All music is poetry.

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

International Music (Market) Place

"Hey soul sister. Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know.Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight." The lyrics to "Hey Soul Sister" were sung by America, Kazakhstan, and Australia this week in my car. Having exchange students is an opportunity with benefits you couldn't receive in any other way. For example, the true spread of music in all cultures.

Korean music is played in Mexico, Spanish music is played in the UK, and English music is played in Japan. That is a fact. Music spread internationally is an incredible way to show the spread of information and cultures. Music is not only entertainment, not only joy, not only a life, but it is diplomacy: the source of communication for/of lives.

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

Sublime & The Dirty Heads (REVIEW)

November 19, 2010, Sublime with Rome and the Dirty Heads put together an unforgettable, incredible concert. These are the bands that form the improvement of rock music for America! Together, the concert was full of nothing but screaming and love for music. I personally will add that I've made photos from the concert my computer and phone wallpaper because of it's amazing impact.

Both bands were amazing live. Of course being in Hawaii helps a band's attitude automatically improve :D, but, despite that fact, the audience was screaming for love, making Sublime with Rome AND The Dirty Heads fall into the rock spirit. Everyone at Kaka'ako Beach Park Ampitheatre had an amazing night.

What did you do your sixteenth birthday? A 5-hour concert isn't so bad, is it? My friend's birthday was the cause of attending this concert, and boy is she lucky. It was outstanding in every way. The entire weekend following the concert included me listening to The Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome albums...non-stop. Now, that's the life.

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving fellow music lovers and bloggers!

I hope you all have a GREAT Thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey :)

I'll have a post this week Sunday on the Sublime & The Dirty Heads concert (Review) so check it out then! :)
Have a good day!

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

Music in the Movies

It's about time I bring up the importance of music in movies, don't you agree? Sounds change the way a movie is viewed, and the way the audience is impacted by it. Whether it's sound effects or a theme song, music affects a movie's capabilities and success.

Sound effects bring meaning to an action. That is music's way of exercise. Sound effects bring impact to a movement, changing the way one will look at it. For example, if a loud "BANG!" sound is heard when someone shoots a gun, the audience will fly back in their seats. However, not all sound effects have to be loud and obnoxious. A slight squeak when someone is walking, coming from their shoes, gives the audience an idea of what shoes the star in the movie is wearing. If a head-shot was all visually given to an audience, the sound effects from shoes will give them a bigger picture of the scene.

Music also affects a movie's capabilities and success in a theme song. We all recognize Harry Potter's theme "tune" when we hear it, making it a trademark. Another example is for a TV series. Every TV show today has a theme song that is played at the beginning of an episode. This little song presents/ explains the show in a minute. Without a theme song, most TV shows would have little recognizable material. A theme song makes, or breaks, a video.

Now, when you add sound effects to a movie with a theme song, you get a genius invention ready for any audience to enjoy. When you go out to make your own movie, remember the importance of a little squeak from a shoe or a minute-long song in the beginning. Once you've included these aspects, your movie is on it's way to the big screen.

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

P.S. This Friday I am going to Sublime & The Dirty Heads concert for my best friend, Kelsey's, birthday...stay tuned for that review!!! :D

Crash Kings: Brothers Together with Music

When brothers play music together, they are bound to make unique magic made to be expressed. Alternative/Rock's history includes countless amazing bands, and, today, I am adding Crash Kings to the top. Antonio (Tony) Beliveau and Michael (Mike) Beliveau; Tony on keyboards and vocals, Mike on bass make up Crash Kings. The Beliveau brothers have a past of music. Their dad played piano, and grandma played organ, and Tony and Mike have played in five bands together prior to Crash Kings. These guys make magical music together. Then again, that’s what happens when you’ve been doing something together for a long time, with passion.

Jason Morris, the perfect drummer, makes Crash Kings come together. This is Jason’s third band experience with siblings, so he brings that brothers feeling to it. "Brothers have a much closer relationship and are much quicker to fight than strangers or friends who get into a room together to make music. At the same time things move faster because brothers tend to think similarly and ideas get out more quickly."- Jason

With writing songs, it's a strange how nature is involved in Crash Kings. Tony says, “I visualize a place where I feel complete peace – usually a place of natural beauty, immersed in nature. Songs like “Mountain Man” and “Come Away” came out of me being out in nature. Most of the songs start with a chorus. When I find a strong chorus, I start building the song, writing verses and eventually a ‘middle eight’ comes. Then Mike, Jason and I work out the arrangement. It’s really important for us to make every verse, every bridge, every part of every song as important as its chorus."

This three-man-band brings the level of "family" bands to a whole new level. Very aggressive and hard-hitting, yet meaningful and highly tuneful, Crash Kings have a loving, strong-supporting audience. Tony's vocals are absolutely amazing and soar above the average band's capabilities. Crash Kings are full of real passion, and you will know they've got talent when you hear their magic.

Eat, breathe, and live music...
musicbytori

Sources Cited:
http://crashkingsmusic.com/home/blog