Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
A Waltz for the Final Fragmenting Symphony
Fading, I watch you skip to the dressing table. No longer having to stand on your toes, you turn on the radio. I’ve watched you every day, yet you seem so different. Yes, you’re taller and older; but you also seem to be someone I’ve never known before.
By Jamie Wills8 years ago in Beat
8EEZ Playlist: Richard Marx
"It don't mean nothin' till you sign it on the dotted line" Hello again and welcome to our little fun 'list. This artist is a "cherry pick" indeed. My buddy Calvin "Oates" Cherry has seen this artist numerous times in concert (he's seen him seven times) and he is a lifelong fan. Don't believe me? Here's the proof.
By Carlos Gonzalez8 years ago in Beat
Memphis Rapper Young Dolph Survives Shooting Again This Year; LAPD Says Yo Gotti is Not Currently a Person of Interest
On Tuesday, September 26, Memphis, Tennessee-bred rapper Adolph "Young Dolph" Thornton ended up in a Los Angeles-area hospital after being shot multiple times in the torso, according to the LAPD.
By Victor Trammell8 years ago in Beat
8EEZ Playlist: U2. Top Story - September 2017.
"It's alright, it's alright, it's alright. She moves in mysterious ways." Hello, one and all. This one's a special list, as it profiles a band that both my BFF, Oates, and I love. They're a band from Dublin, Ireland who had already established themselves as stars in their native UK, but took awhile to make a stronger dent here in the states — and it happened exactly 30 years ago!
By Carlos Gonzalez8 years ago in Beat
Being a Music Student and How To Get Through It (Part 1)
Now, before anyone loses their minds about the title, being a music student is hard, painful work. Especially in Illinois, collegiate music programs are some of the most strict and in-depth programs in the country. Since there's a lot to talk about, and I don't want to make this too long, I'll be breaking this up into parts. Part one will primarily focus on preparing to be a music major and practicing outside of class.
By Lanie Jose8 years ago in Beat
Best US Summer Music Festivals
Summertime, and the livin' is easy. Festival season! The most wonderful time of the year. Good music, warm weather, and copious amounts of bad decisions. What more can you ask for? The states are filled with various festivals, and it's important to decipher which are worth going to. Here are my top 4 favorite US summer festivals that you should definitely consider being at.
By Josh A. Gutkin8 years ago in Beat
15 Great Alternative Halloween Tracks
Any good Halloween party needs a pitch-perfect soundtrack. But how many times can you listen to "Monster Mash," or, if you're the edgier type, "Bela Lugosi's Dead"? This list of suggestions for your party playlist should help diversify your Halloween music library.
By Eden Roquelaire8 years ago in Beat
Different
It was once suggested that I like the extreme music I like and the often-strange films just to be different. While I am happy to be different, it’s not intentional. I like the music I like because of what it is, how I feel listening to it and the enjoyment I get. It’s not down to me if I am in a minority. My music doesn’t make the charts, rarely sells stadium tours but is truly cathartic and life saving for me.
By ASHLEY SMITH8 years ago in Beat
Top 3 Most Influential Musicians
The greatest singer of all time, Whitney Houston, once said, “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will” (“Music.” Pinterest). And so she did, as she created a timeless array of music that will live on forever in the hearts of many other artists and be passed down to our posterity. For the most part, she was trying to convey an honest and poignant message that we are all on this planet for a limited time and our job is to find our purpose—what we are supposed to give back to the world—and not to die with the music still inside of us. Notably, 2016 was a rough year for many music lovers all over the world. They mourned the deaths of Michael Jackson, George Michael, David Bowie, and just recently Glen Campbell who passed away on August 8th of this year in his late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, these artists all died at a young age. As the world of music lost some of its most prolific, innovative, unique and charismatic artists, all of these musicians have left something behind that people centuries from now could dig out of the ground. When I come to think of the musicians that left a footprint in my heart, three people stand out the most. Even though Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and Whitney Houston all struggled with addiction, they still launched successful careers and remain very influential in today’s youth.
By Giulia Elena Salice8 years ago in Beat
'Hamilton': An American Musical Soundtrack Review
When people first started raving about Hamilton on Broadway, the first response was "It can't be that good." Mixing hip-hop with a musical? It sounded like showrunner Lin Manuel-Miranda was trying to combine two audiences together and would attract neither one of them. After listening to the soundtrack, Manuel-Miranda did a fantastic job at weaving in the elements of both from seemingly opposite and conflicting genres. After all, rap and musicals are practically oil and water when it comes to their fanbase. The fans of one genre aren't likely to go and try the other. In fact, I'd argue, Hamilton is more musical than rap album.
By Michael Bergonzi8 years ago in Beat
10 Best Fiona Apple Songs
Though she has a relatively small catalog, Fiona Apple is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 1990s. Her powerful voice, confessional lyrics, and heavy playing style have made an indelible mark in music, and these are 10 of what I think are her finest tracks. For this list, I considered popularity, songwriting quality, and emotional intensity. It was difficult to choose, so here are a few honorable mentions:
By Eden Roquelaire8 years ago in Beat
8EEZ Playlist: The Cars
"I guess you're just what I needed". Hello and welcome. This latest spotlight is on a band that just has only one thing going for it. Fun! Do I sound like a broken record? Maybe. But, that's what I firmly believe about music - it should be fun. Growing up that way I did, not allowed initially to listen to rock music because it was considered sacrilege, it was years after rediscovering the joy of my lost youth through music.
By Carlos Gonzalez8 years ago in Beat
