Successes received by tracks produced by real-life couples

It has been a usual occurrence when music artists form real-life connections to be couples. No matter how seemingly busy their schedules can be some just fell onto the magic of love and managed to sustain a relationship outside their careers.

Who would ever disagree when two musical prodigies decided to collaborate for a track that’s definitely going to be a smash? Music, and the lovebirds enclosed therewith, has ventured into crafting entertainment by infusing their talents every now and then.

One would be the singer or the other would create the lyrics, it’s surely going to be patronized by the general music populace. Below are some of the most memorable amalgamation of voices and brains into releasing well-favored tracks that we get to love these past few years.

Former husband and wife Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez can easily be remembered by their song No Mes Ames released in 1999. Despite the fact that they are now divorced, we can all nod in agreement that the aforementioned song is one of the most memorable Latin tracks of modern music which peaked for a whopping 7-week stay on the US Billboard Hot 100 and generally received fair to excellent reviews.

With their controversies, on and off relationship, R&B superstars Rihanna and Chris Brown are a power couple that cannot be easily forgotten. Given the fact that both have established bountiful solo careers, their song Birthday Cake has stormed through the radar in 2012 and is still a track everyone dances to.

Country music’s most famous real-life couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill never left their fans without a mighty collaboration as they released It’s Your Love in 1997. The McGraw’s have a string of duets, but this song is something that cemented their love story as it shoot up the ranks of famous chart listing bodies.

The said ballad is their own cover and given the soul that both singers can channel, they have created a worthwhile version of It’s Your Love. John Mayer’s association with Katy Perry is a hot topic in 2013 and so is the song that has been the result of their dating phase, Who You Love. 

Though not favored as their past singles as soloists, this song never failed to disappoint as it zoomed to US Billboard’s 48th spot a few weeks after its initial release.

The 1990s can be tagged with former couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson and so is their collaborative song Where You Are. This track is part of Jessica Simpson’s debut album Sweet Kisses and ultimately has been received well by listeners as the song peaked at the 22nd spot on the Pop Songs chart.

Sadly, the real-life husband and wife divorced last 2005 despite their life being watched at their reality show The Newlyweds shown on music outfit MTV. American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and singer Jason Derulo had been known dating and so the song Vertigo has been released.

The song has been on the radio, radar since 2013 and is still being listened to by their infused fandom to date.

The music industry’s most powerful couple Jay-Z and Beyonce might have had the most exposure on their crafts and the release of duets such as Crazy in Love and Bonnie and Clyde paved way for them to become even more famous. The perfect voice of Beyonce as a songbird and Jay-Z’s iconic rap styles and stints had been a perfect equation into releasing soulful and relevant tracks such as the one’s stated.

Both tracks have smoothly placed on huge charts and have been the reasons for Beyonce’s continuous streak as a soloist and Jay-Z’s venture in producing.

http://laurenceourac.com/successes-received-by-tracks-produced-by-real-life-couples/

Truth or hoax: Is Katy Perry up for a Christmas album?

Are we just expecting a Christmas album from enormous pop star Katy Perry? Rumors spreading and fans have come anticipating all because of a photo posted on the singer’s Instagram account recently.

Why, this must’ve been a pleasant surprise if true. It’s been a while since the world heard an album tailored for the holiday season and hearing it straight from the ‘Fireworks’ songstress is definitely a thrilling idea we all hope that would come fold to reality.

Yet again, social media has shown its wide reach and influence as the buzz about Perry’s alleged new venture has resurfaced. With a photo caption saying ‘ When your derp squad writes a Christmas song in August, ‘ netizens were left wondering and the curious came whispering as to what the post really implies.

No words about this plan have come out even before the said picture was posted. First, read and the line conveys a straight and immediate message. As to whether this post communicates direct note or not, the expecting crowd has to wait.

Anyway, “-ber” months are just around the corner and before we know it, December was already at the footstep of the doorway. With several months before the 12th month of the year, the wait may seem long, but knowing that a preparation for a Christmas album is on the ropes, then definitely this year’s celebration has an added taste of the excitement of it.

We’ve heard her sing pieces of holiday songs before and hearing it again is undeniably a charm. Her take on Have a Merry Little Christmas is one for the books while her version of White Christmas during her Hotel Café performance was nonetheless outstanding.

As to whether the songs from the rumored album be all original is something we have to wait and see. After all, the world has been confided with hearing same old classic Yuletide songs. Having an addition is definitely a welcomed change.

http://laurenceourac.com/truth-or-hoax-is-katy-perry-up-for-a-christmas-album/

No one comes close to the icon – Who is Aaliyah?

Aaliyah could’ve been standing still as one of the most known pillars of R&B if she’s alive today. The untimely demise of this very talented artist has been so infected it brought the rise of women dominating a man-saturated genre. Truthfully, the thick voice, the always-on-beat dance moves and the sheer passion in singing made Aaliyah a superstar of her generation.

Despite the fact that she’s been missing since 2001, the presence and musical mark that Aaliyah has left to serve as inspiration to a various lot of rising stars and her tracks are far well-remembered as sound tracks of modern relationships, young love and heart-wrenching separations.

There are no words to explain how badly the current music industry needs an Aaliyah right now and all we can do is to succumb to the truth that she’s never coming back and her legacy is all that we can hold on to.

Born Aaliyah Dana Haughton in the concrete jungle that is New York City in January 1979, Aaliyah have received the dubbing of being the Princess of R&B. While she also submerged herself into being into pop and hip hop, it is in R&B that she managed to keep the luster of her music career shining through.

Starting out on the early age of 12, the singer has been exposed to the bloodbath of the music arena through her uncle Barry Hankerson via Jive Records. Destiny has moved mysteriously and have allowed Aaliyah to bump with R. Kelly, which served as her mentor slash producer to ignite her music venture at the age of 14 via highest-selling album Age am not Nothing But a Number.

Easily, Aaliyah’s debut album careened to the lists of US and UK Billboard Charts with over four million copies sold in just a span of weeks. Redefining the path that the R&B had taken during the 1990s, Aaliyah’s first album had been a breath of fresh air with the tracks I’m so into You and At Your Best carrying the Aaliyah’s name to fame effortlessly.

Aaliyah’s smart and strong connections have truly helped her in cementing her name in the industry as she collaborated with an equally famous music conglomerate Atlantic Records with Missy Elliott and Timbaland is supporting her career.

Her second album, One In A Million, is such an effective follow-up as it’s been patronized well and great by the general music audience amounting to eight million copies purchased worldwide.

This is the time of Aaliyah’s career that her name is a staple to every music fast and list and this very album yielded famous songs such as Hot Like Fire, 4 Page Letter and If Your Girl Only Knew, all of which placing a respectable rank on US Billboard Hot 100.

Aaliyah also managed to penetrate the Hollywood scene with the movie Romeo Must Die alongside the action superstar Jet Li and this is where Try Again was born and released. The last known album that Aaliyah has released is her self-titled compilation in July 2001.

The heat’s on singing have been much needed as Aaliyah somewhat focused on being onscreen via couple of movie stunts and leads such as that on Queen of the Damned.

The Princess of R&B have been praised and recognized by numerous award-giving bodies such as Billboard Music Awards (Top R&B Single of the Year, Top Hip Hop/R&B Singer of the Year, Top Hip-Hop/R&B Single Airplay Single of the Year), several nominations from Grammy Awards, wins from the MTV Video Music Awards (Best Female Video, Best Video From Film, Best R&B Video), Rolling Stone’s Best R&B Album in 2001 and 2002 World’s Best Selling Female R&B Artist Of The Year for World Music Awards.

http://laurenceourac.com/no-one-comes-close-to-the-icon-who-is-aaliyah/

Janet Jackson 2015 album could possibly be worth the wait

Janet Jackson, more than a great performer in the studio or on stage, has influenced the shaping of pop music for already three decades since the 80s overcoming the shadow that can’t be helped but be imposed by the massive success of her brother’s career, Michael Jackson. Of course, her iconic figure would not come to be without her albums and singles that are adored by fans and highly acclaimed by music critics churning her awards after awards. Yet, is being an icon in music enough to bring back the craze today of her then glory days?

It was seven years ago that the diva lost her shine and left the industry with no trace of her name the following years to come prior her comeback except for a few mentions of the Jackson Family. There is also a minimal to none exposure of her songs on radio airplays particularly of the US when her name was blighted with an unsuccessful attempt to keep her career from flat lining after the sparkless Discipline in 2008 and the then controversial wardrobe malfunction. So for the music community, how can Janet Jackson make her name shine again?

Perhaps the fall of her golden era will forever remain and be attached to her name and to make up for the scrape on an otherwise flawless surface is to prove and make the listeners of today remember what we have come to love about Janet Jackson on an even better version. And for the effort, we can see the diva is making up for the lost time. On a tour with a new album, Janet Jackson, for those who are still critical of her comeback should be given the chance.

While being an icon is already a given bonus to entice us to listen to her music, another factor is the curiosity of what she has in store for us. It is 2015 and in where does her album place? While she has sold record-breaking albums in the past, today’s era is different where there might be a different need you have to cater compared to the past.

A more concrete factor on why her 2015 album should be worth the wait is her team up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. On Discipline, we notice the absence of those two producers who has helped Janet Jackson in creating her signature sound that her longtime fans love. Now that those two are at it again, the possibility of a worthwhile album to contest her previous ones are high. And to raise that possibility, even higher and establish the fact that, indeed, “The Janet Jackson” is back is the release of her latest single, “No Sleeep” – a slow and sexy jam dedicated to her lover that seems to slink its way through our hearts.

http://laurenceourac.com/janet-jackson-2015-album-could-possibly-be-worth-the-wait/

Deeply in love with Wilson Phillips

Even before the iconic TLC and Destiny’s Child have made us love girl trios like madmen, there is one group that’s undeniably one of the most memorable acts of all time.

Besting songs that are played during your lazy Sunday mornings, the general music populace has been magnetized into loving their soulful and heartfelt ballads.

You might have overlooked at giving praise to this girl trio due to the hastened changes in taste within the music industry, but it will never be too late to adore them as their smash tracks are still being played onto the radio almost every day.

They have been frequent names on huge chart-topping lists, their albums sold worldwide with unfathomable sales and the respect that has been established under their wing is more than just for what they have contributed. Wilson Phillips actually isn’t a solo act, thus, this mighty girl group is really something that’s worth your attention.

Spawned from The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas, Wilson Phillips is actually their last names combined and have worked wondrously into the girl group’s branding.

Formed during the last years of 1980s, Wilson Phillips is comprised of Wendy Wilson, Chynna Phillips and Carnie Wilson and have been a famous household name until the 90s music era.

The group has been known to make the pop rock genre afloat and the smart way of creating songs that focused on mature heartbreak and feelings have been an innate gift.

During the entire span of the group’s career, Wilson Phillips have released five studio albums— Wilson Phillips (1990), Shadows and Light (1992), California (2004), Christmas in Harmony (2012) and Dedicated (April 2012). All of the aforementioned albums have easily careened to worldwide success and even reached quintuple platinum status in the United States and Canada.

Some of the songs that have reached palpable success on the charts are the songs Hold On, Impulsive, Release Me, You Won’t See Me Cry (all peaked at Number 1 on various country charts) while The Dream Is Still Alive, Daniel, Give It Up, Flesh and Blood, Go Your Own Way, Already Gone, Get Together and Good Vibrations have reached respective slots of their own.

It can be said that the girl group have been best remembered via their bittersweet track entitled You’re In Love which is an exposition of a love that cannot be continued due to the other party being happy with another person already. The rawness of the lyrics and the emotions that have been put into making this track the soundtrack of so many forlorn and broken souls.

Wilson Phillips might not be heard right now releasing new tracks, but the legacy they have left is indelible to everyone’s hearts. The trio has been nominated by humongous award giving bodies such as the Grammy Awards (Song of the Year for Hold On, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group), American Music Awards (Favorite Single – Pop / Rock, Favorite New Artist) and Billboard Music Awards by where the group won the Hot 100 Single of the Year for their carrier song Hold On. As of the current count, Wilson Phillips’ albums have a net worth of 10 million copies sold worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups of their generation.

http://laurenceourac.com/deeply-in-love-with-wilson-phillips/

A meager start and a bright future for 5SOS

The social media have been one of the most effective ways of expressing one’s thoughts via posts. It can be proven that almost everyone existing, at one point; has harnessed a trinket of information, which will then be cascaded via word of mouth.

Truthfully, being involved in this modern complex of thoughts and exposure has been deemed amazing in retrospect to influencing and being influenced. In lieu with the music industry, we all have been witness to some acts and artists who have started their careers via gaining a following through being active in social media.

Millions of covers are uploaded, watched and shared everyday so it’s really no surprise that a singer, if enjoyed by the majority, would soon rise to fame and given proper recognition by music outfits.

People are always on the search of something or someone different, and this is where the group 5 Seconds of Summer found it’s tuning and later on penetrated the seemingly impenetrable canopy of mainstream music.

5 Seconds of Summer is a music quartet composed of Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin. Normally being compared to One Direction, the band changed the game to fame by being known first through by being prolific in uploading their covers via YouTube.

Their humble beginning has paid off well as they managed to magnetize a huge following comprised of youngsters and teenagers. It was in the glorious year of 2012 when they posted a series of songs that was generally acclaimed by crazed music addicts and the moment that they have toured with One Direction on its Take Me Home Tour that 5 Seconds of Summer becomes an internationally-acclaimed pop group on the rise.

The quartet focused on genres such as pop punk, pop rock and power pop and is currently being handled by music brand Capitol.

Currently, 5 Seconds of Summer have an established fan base in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, United States and United Kingdom and have released their debut self-titled album in 2014.

They are also being associated as front acts to singers such as Hot Chelle Rae and Hey Violet.

Their first album contained much-loved tracks such as She Looks So Perfect, Don’t Stop, Good Girls, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, 18, Beside You and End Up Here.

This first venture in making everything legit has been quite a success as it careened into being a chart lister with 140,000 copies purchased in Australia alone.

Last July, the band has released the track She’s Kinda Hot which is a prelude to their upcoming second studio album, which is in the works of being finished at the last quarter of 2015.

The singing quartet has pegged onto artists like Mayday Parade, Boys Like Girls, Greenday, All Time Low, Blink 182, Busted and McFly as their music influences.

The group also have managed to have some accolades and awards on their belts which include Alternative Press Music Awards’ Best Fandom in 2015, American Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year last 2014, nominations for Top New Artist and Top Duo/Group by the Billboard Music Awards for this year, iHeartRadio Music Awards’ Best Fan Army, MTV Video Music Awards’ Best Lyric Video for their track Don’t Stop, Nickelodeon Kids Australian Choice Awards’ Aussies’ Fave Hot New Talent in 2014 and some well-praised nominations on award-giving outfits such as World Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards and wins from Channel V.

http://laurenceourac.com/a-meager-start-and-a-bright-future-for-5sos/

Weekly jukebox Kamasi Washington – The Epic

The way in which Washington breaks the pattern of gender is impressive, and so the “spiritual” names or “fusion” are just the least unjust that it sounds when one gives play to The Epic.

Spiritual Jazz. Most of the time, we have not come across this name very often. But the work of Kamasi Washington, the name fits him perfectly. Who knows, it might even be one of the major figures of this genre of Jazz, apparently young (or small).

Just like the legend of John Coltrane (and his wife Alice) or perhaps Pharoah Sanders; pure heavyweight saxophone. This phenomenal debut Kamasi is not too far from those feats.

Of course, The Epic lasts three hours, so who ventures into this magnificent introspective journey will separate a good evening. And, of course, it will pay off.

The start of the first third of the album is exultant. The main melody of “Change of Guard” step is done in the second ten with a majesty that recalls the progressive jazz to Frank Zappa Hot Rats.

It is a ride cymbal dance guided and led by the sax of Washington. Like many cuts on the disc, the piece takes time to prove every point and say all there is to say; this, of course, through music, as most tracks are instrumental.

“The Rhythm Changes” is the first exception and its entry could not be more accurate. It comes as a relief after the overwhelming “The Next Step”, one of the most spiritual album.

Suddenly, The Epic seems to start again. After almost a minute of suspense, saxophone gets screwed, this time with much more speed in “Miss Understanding”.

For moments, because the playful melodies and their explorations, Kamasi Washington shows some Fela Kuti, the Afrobeat that monster whose relevance only put a name to their type of Jazz fusion.

After all, The Epic is a mixture of a lot, and “Re Run” helps illustrate this idea. The bass is another proof; by times mark the rhythm of the songs as expected from a more traditional jazz, but other exploits and eats the world.

The way in which Washington breaks the pattern of gender is impressive, and so the “spiritual” names or “fusion” are just less unjust than it sounds when one gives play to The Epic.

With three hours it seems easy to carry the listener on tour in history, but is also likely to fall into redundancy. Kamasi Washington, however, manages to sound relevantly during that long.

With his first film, the Californian just sealed the time- -such best jazz album of the millennium, gender returning to higher categories.

It seems incredible, but in only half a year, Kamasi is already responsible for two of the three best albums of this competitive 2015: the saxophonist and arranger jewel Kendrick Lamar, which sounds suspiciously as Jazz.

It will be reason to be aware of what you do next. At the moment, we must be attentive to their extensive world tour and fall in the closest point.

http://laurenceourac.com/weekly-jukebox-kamasi-washington-the-epic/