Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
The Struts: Your New Favorite Band
It may be a stretch, but I think the Struts might just save rock-and-roll. The first time I found the Struts, I was on the search for Humbug-esque (Arctic Monkeys 2009 album) music. I had Spotify on shuffle and was listening out for minor chords when I happened across the exact opposite: an album titled, Everybody Wants. Upon first glance, I was turned off, as the cover made it seemed too glitzy for my tastes. So I skipped past the album without even listening to one song.
By Hannah Adamson8 years ago in Beat
Highly Intellectual People Hovering Over Politics
1975There I was, standing in the crowd cheering for the fact the war was over, and our troops were leaving Vietnam. Defeated, it felt as though America was going through a drought. I felt so sad that we had lost so many, but our patriotism was strong; I could tell you that much. I walked through the streets of New York City, looking to find meaning for all I have been going through. As I walked, I thought to myself how thankful I was for music. I couldn’t wait to get home and play my Captain and Tennille record, my personal favorite was “Love Will Keep Us Together”. What this world needed was a bit of love. I felt lost in a country which had strived off of unity. I, for one, had never seen our communities so divided. I thought to myself the one thing I was always able to lean on was music. I didn’t listen to much rock. My folks were big on church. I listened to a lot of gospel, and hours of blues tracks. Back then, I didn’t have much of a choice in what I was listening to. Come the late 70s, Bambaataa was the “firestarter of the hip-hop generation” (Chang 2005, 92). Hip Hop came to me at a very young age. What was Hip Hop? Something so unfamiliar to the masses, to my family. Back then, Hip Hop was a total of four elements. These elements were MCing, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti art (Alim 2004, 272). This was seen everywhere before, but none of it had come together under the umbrella that is hip hop. A way to entice a young confused generation, I had never felt more connected to a genre in my life. I grew up to be an avid believer in the messages that resonated through my Walkman in the late 70s. I saw the potential of Hip Hop. The positive impact it held on me back then stayed with me until today, the day I chose to write about this growing memory of Hip Hop. Let’s be real, Hip Hop was created here, created in my city. “It's widely accepted that hip hop was born about 40 years ago at a Bronx house party on Aug. 11, 1973” (Lebeau 2013, 1). I felt it was essential to model what I had associated Rap to. Run DMC, huge in the 1970s, portrayed the ultimate look for B-boy fashion. As soon as I familiarized myself enough with what Run DMC was about, all I could rock were Adidas track pants with the sweater, bucket hats, with a whole lotta jewelry. I myself adored the Nike Cortez sneakers, which became huge after the 72 Olympics. I guess there was just something about Hip Hop that made me happy; Hip Hop made me feel hip, isn’t that ironic?
By Kayla Charles8 years ago in Beat
Fun, Dreams and an Adventure of a Lifetime: Recalling Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams Tour
“This was our first chapter. From now on we’ll only be full of surprises,” was recently posted on Coldplay’s Facebook page upon completion of the A Head Full of Dreams Tour in Buenos Aires. The sentiment reinforced the mysterious cloud of uncertainty which hangs over Coldplay’s future as a band. Chris Martin has alleged on more than one occasion the band’s seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams marks “the completion of something.” He’s also proclaimed he doesn’t envision another proper Coldplay full-length in the future. While it doesn’t sound like the band members themselves know for sure what lies ahead for the best-selling rock band of this century, it seems all but guaranteed it’ll be some time before we find out what will come next.
By Eric Allen8 years ago in Beat
Katy Perry's Dancer Brings The House Down In BRIT Awards Tumble
First there was Left Shark, now there is "Left House." Being a dancer for a multi-millionaire pop icon is no mean feat, I mean come on, first you are dressed like a Building Society piggybank, then you fall off the stage during a #KatyPerry performance in front of millions of viewers. 32-year-old Perry is known for her outlandish stage shows, and her #BRITAward show for 2017 was no exception, while also making being one of her dancers possibly the most dangerous job in showbiz.
By Tom Chapman8 years ago in Beat
Boo Who? The Internet Has Finally Found The Girl From Usher's 'My Boo'
They say that singing about heartache is a surefire way to a singing career, I mean, where would Taylor Swift be without her many exes? While the heart of Usher Raymond IV, a.k.a. Usher to many, may belong to Grace Miguel, his early songs seemed to be aimed at a certain someone.
By Tom Chapman8 years ago in Beat
How To Survive a DIY Tour
Eventually, artists that dream of taking their craft to the next level will have to make some moves outside of their home city. Touring can be nerve-wracking and expensive at the best of times, and downright depressing at the worst. But it can also be a lot of fun, and very worth the stress if you can weather it.
By emmett138 .8 years ago in Beat
The List: David Cassidy (The Partridge Family) R.I.P.
Hello one and all: Just two days before Thanksgiving, another iconic music star left our world at the age of 67, the exact same age as Tom Petty. David Bruce Cassidy, the one-time star of the hit 1970s music sitcom: "The Partridge Family" and who carved out an extensive career in television and music, died this past Tuesday of liver failure.
By Carlos Gonzalez8 years ago in Beat
BTS
As many of you may know, and many of you may not, the hottest new band on the charts right now is K-Pop sensation BTS. The group includes 7 members, RM (Kim Namjoon) as the leader and main rapper, Jin (Kim Seokjin) as the Eldest and Visual, Suga (Min Yoongi) as the main rapper, Jhope (Jung Hoseok) as the dance coordinator and main rapper, Jimin (Park Jimin) as the main dancer and main vocalist, V (Kim Taehyung) as the main vocalist, and Jungkook (Jeon Jungkook) and the youngest, main vocalist, and main dancer. BTS just released their new album Love Yourself 承 Her which includes 8 public songs, one skit, and 2 hidden tacks that were originally only on the physical album; The top songs being "DNA" and "Mic Drop," both being featured on radio stations not only in America, but all around the world. BTS has become so popular in 2017, that they performed live on Ellen, James Cordon, Jimmy Kimmel, and the 2017 American Music AwardsTgey have also collabed with Steve Aoki, Desiigner, and Chainsmokers, and have plans to collaborate with ZEDD and other English speaking artists.
By Mazie Watters8 years ago in Beat
A Colors Show: A YouTube Channel Fit for Everyone
About a year ago I stumbled upon the most unique, avant-garde YouTube channel in today’s society called Colors. Colors is based in Berlin, Germany, though their followers reach worldwide. Their motto is "all colors, no genres," providing a platform for not just a solo artist but also bands, to have a place to perform where they are associated with a color rather than a genre.
By Christie Ciberey8 years ago in Beat
It's A Kinda Magic: All You Need To Know About Rock Royalty Freddie Mercury
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? We've patiently awaited the release of #BryanSinger's Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody for what feels like forever. So far, pretty much all we know consists of the fact that Sacha Baron Cohen, who was long touted to star, dropped out of the project in 2013, with Rami Malek stepping in last year to replace him as the Queen frontman. Original band members Brian May and Roger Taylor will be acting as music producers, while the screenplay is being reshaped by Anthony McCarten of The Theory of Everything.
By RoAnna Sylver8 years ago in Beat
