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Featured topics in Beat's musical universe.
Songs About Immigrants and Refugees
In another piece on songs about roots, I concluded with a number that disparaged the very concept of roots, a song about following your dreams and searching for freedom. "People have the ability to lay down their own roots, wherever and whenever they want," I noted. "Maybe part of growing up is not accepting the roots you came with but setting down your own roots in a place and with people of your own choosing."
By Marco den Ouden4 years ago in Beat
Ray Charles, Amazing Grace and Rommi's Wager
I cannot say for sure, as so many years have passed, but I believe it was November of 1999. I was working as an audio technician for a sound company based out of Indianapolis. One particular day two coworkers and I traveled to Richmond, Indiana with a truckload of gear to do a show about which, at the time, I was not too excited.
By C. Rommial Butler4 years ago in Beat
A Letter To Modern Music Analysis
Dear readers and writers of Modern Music Analysis, I joined Medium in December of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. As many did at the time, I needed an outlet for creative expression and maybe a little extra cash on the side. Initially just writing okay poetry, I had little idea of what would come with time. My first piece, about The Weeknd, was the spark-plug for what would become the Modern Music Analysis publication. One day in January, I finally decided to make the seedling of an idea I had for a publication come to fruition.
By Josh Herring4 years ago in Beat
Rapper, Actor, Entertainer: Deniro Bossa
Career Explorer defines a music artist as someone who creates, performs, and releases music either independently or through a record label. The commitment level of a music artist is extreme, living sometimes a nomadic and taxing lifestyle and spending long days and nights in the studio recording music. They travel constantly, performing their music to small and large audiences with the goal of expanding their fan base.
By Tammy Reese4 years ago in Beat
When you Love a Narcissist
I like to tend to reserve this song for my bad days. I mean those terrible, darkness-filled days where all you feel is empty. I believe that it is okay to let yourself feel emotions to prevent them from spilling over onto other people. It's a hard lesson I have learned in this life. Especially while being inside a mental hospital this past year. It's hard not to bleed on people who didn't cut you, especially while you're still healing from your own wounds. I learned that lesson very loudly and proudly this year.
By Chloe Rose Violet 🌹4 years ago in Beat
Johnny Foreigner | Live Review
Well, well, well. Where to start? I met my lovely partner, Nick, four years ago today (the day I am writing), and it was through him that I was introduced to Johnny Foreigner. Although it wasn't quite as straightforward as that, he took me to see Yr Poetry and I adored them, met Alexei, added him on the ol' socials, bonded with him over the fact he said I looked like my aunt Donna, then listened to his other musical projects (Johnny Foreigner, itoldyouiwouldeatyou) and then commissioned him to write a soppy love song for Nick, as he is his hero, and I am a disgustingly romantic partner, and BREATHE.
By Connie Matthews4 years ago in Beat
Just An Ordinary Girl
I was very sad to hear that Sarah Harding has died, losing her battle with Breast cancer. Why do the good and beautiful die so young? She was only 39 years of age! A member of one of my favourite Girl Bands “Girls Aloud”, Sarah will always be the girl next door to me. She was so talented, being an actress as well as a singer, I’ll always remember Sarah in St.Trinian’s.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff4 years ago in Beat
Thoughts on Charlie
Charlie was our darling. Yes, the heartbeat of the band many consider to be the greatest rock and roll band of all time – the Rolling Stones, if you needed a reminder – has been taken away from us. Eighty years young and cancer stepped in to take him off the world stage. I was in front of a computer screen at home, surfing and scrolling at documents for work and to pretend I was into my job, and I just had to stop for a moment and consider the moment. Most of us knew that he was ill and that a tour had been delayed (now cancelled?) but this was not on my list of possibilities. Why not? Well, he was a Rolling Stone…
By Kendall Defoe 4 years ago in Beat
Courtney "O.C." Smith
Courtney “O.C.” Smith is a passionate woman who enjoys helping people from all walks of life through various endeavors. Growing up, Courtney was immersed in arts, culture, politics and introduced to entrepreneurship through her family. Courtney tried her hand at many career paths and majors in College before deciding that she had what it takes to do this on her own. Through her own research, Courtney then secured contracts with lobbying firms, real estate firms, and telecommunications companies. None of which truly allowed her the freedom she longed for. Organically, Courtney began to amass a network of friends who were artists, actors, and public figures.
By Tammy Reese4 years ago in Beat
