dance
"Dance; the hidden language of the soul."
I FEEL GHOSTS AROUND
With Halloween, it is a time to embody your wild and mischievous side, as this playlist is meant to encourage. This selection is a myriad of rock, and other genres that will make people want to dance at a late night Halloween party. My first song,"black sheep" by "Clash at Demonhead", is inspired by that feeling of wanting to become the guitar; become the vibrations of the chords, as you feel the tempo climbing. I want people to feel inclined to party, in their favourite, most empowering costume. That's why my next song is from a superhero movie, with relatively no lyrics. People create the words with their dancing, and essentially create their own lyrics, from the beat. The third song, is a classic by Iron Maiden, "fear of the dark". The title may be enough, to invoke a spooky feeling, but the album art acheives this even better. The fourth song is about "ghosting", referring to when someone doesn't show romantic interest in you anymore, and ignores your text messages...indefinitely. That is rather scary to some people...ha ha. But I chose the song, specifically to further the dancing mood, because it has a playful edge. Then this leads into the next high intensisty rock song, Zombie, by the Cranberries. This, I find, is oddly empowering. It's not just a great song to rock out to. Telling people that they are acting like zombies, is a way of subtly bringing down the vibe of my playlist. To make people think for a moment, and stop behaving like a sluggish zombie, if they are. So that they can truly enjoy themselves, and have a great Halloween. I also like that in the music video, there are unique outfits, and body paint, which I think more Halloween costumes should look like. Like they are showing off a work of art. So, as the playlist dipped in tempo for this song, it rises again with the sixth masterpiece. This is a personal favourite of mine, from the movie "The Corpse Bride", called "remains of the day". Tim Burton's unique animation style, has an interesting affect on me. Because the animation can feel creepy, and simultaneoulsy not creepy at all. This is a funny song, and great to force out certain dance moves, that you didn't know you would think about expressing. The next song is by "The Smashing Pumpkins". Their song, "tonight, tonight", has a romantic quality to it, other then the theme of the music video. Although the smashing pumpkins are formally known as an alternative rock band, this has a romantic feeling to it. But I don't necessarily see the meaning of this song is as an ode to romantic couples. People can feel this way by themselves, or with friends, when the night and the stars are so beautiful, that it brings romantic feelings out in you. That's how I want people to experience Halloween through this song, it's a special day, and night. My final song, is actually a female cover, of the song "this is halloween" from the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas". This was an unexpected version to find, and just like Halloween, new and unexpected experiences/situations can arise, because people are being a bit more adventurous and playful. Or letting their imagination roam, creates a new and unexpected experience. I hope to be able to play this for people I know, because I think it is something that inspires people to let go of old habits. Halloween is a time period when the veil between the invisible world, and the visible world, thins. People actually have purported seeing ghosts around this time, and connecting with them. Everything can change on this day/night, when you are simply aware of the possibility that ghosts might reveal themselves to you.
By Laura Lidster4 years ago in Beat
Shake Your Skele-bones
I'll be the first to admit I'm an absolute scardey-cat. I, for one, cannot handle any type of suspense or gore. I do my best to make it through your typical Blaire-Witch-Esque movie, but I almost always end up watching it through the cracks in my fingers.
By A.R. Zeller4 years ago in Beat
She Braced, Channeled, and Danced
She was at a party. In fact, it was her tenth birthday party. Her aunts, uncles, cousins, and older siblings came out to New Jersey from New York, and her friends from all over the 22-acre apartment complex joined in for the fun. The adults were enjoying the music, conversation, and food, while the neighborhood boys stirred up trouble and the girls giggled and gossiped – when they weren’t joining in whatever mayhem the boys were getting into. She felt a sense of giddy blissfulness the entire time, until she heard the dreaded words from one of her friends. “Let’s have a dance contest!” Why? Just, why? Weren’t they having enough fun already? The audacity of Kira to suggest a dance contest at Janelle’s birthday party. Janelle quickly devised a plan to thwart the dance contest. Just as excitement for the neighborhood dance contest was building, she shouted, “Hey! How about we have a spelling bee instead?” Yes – a spelling bee would work. See, Janelle could spell. As a straight-A student, Janelle could compete academically across any subject, really. But if there was one thing she could not do, it was dance. Her inability to dance was not from lack of effort. Seeing her struggle, friends and family would give the unhelpful advice to, “feel the beat.” Processing that piece of advice is what most would feel like if being asked to interpret hieroglyphics (barring Egyptologists). Janelle looked around to gauge how others were taking to her brilliant diversion, confident that there would be no need for her to embarrass herself on her own birthday. The party chatter stopped, and the children and adults alike exchanged incredulous and confused glances at each other. In those glances, they came to an unspoken agreement that they would ignore the birthday girl’s inane suggestion and carry on with the dance contest. At this defeat, she drew in a deep breath. She braced herself; she channeled the strength; and she danced.
By Cha Doring5 years ago in Beat
Bobby Doll
Bobby Newberry, best known for choreographing music videos for Eminem, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliot, is busting a move today in the music video for his own summer jam, “Ride.” The song is a feel-good track he co-wrote about taking chances and chasing after life’s wildest dreams.
By Ben Nelson5 years ago in Beat
Romantic and Classical Ballets
The ballet as known today was a development from the entertainments devised for the court of King Louis XIV of France in the 17th and 18th centuries. These involved a range of skills, including dance, mime and music, performed by heavily costumed dancers. Over time, the costumes became less cumbersome and the movements defined and codified, so that by the early 19th century ballets were being performed that would be recognised as such today.
By John Welford5 years ago in Beat
Happiness just came by
Prior to this whole pandemic mayhem we're experiencing right now I used to organize weekly dance practices. It was a good year and a half but I remember how much it fulfilled me while helping me physically and mentally. Now I yearn for the world to go back to normal so that I can get that same sense of happiness that I once knew. I never really felt that I took this happiness for granted but the lockdown made me realize just how lucky I really was.
By Brian Anonymous5 years ago in Beat
ICON
When I was in the ninth grade, I taught myself how to dance— In secret. I’d never really been the daring type, but I had become inspired. Early that year, when it became apparent that I had no real taste in music, I set off on an expedition to find songs I actually liked. The right genre for me was quickly discovered: dubstep. Ah, yes, a strong bassline, powerful drops, and, often, few lyrics. What more could you want in a song? Little Josh, at least, was satisfied. Note for clarity: dubstep is not the same as club music, which blends every song together, typically with an endlessly thumping bass. No, the music I liked had a little more substance.
By Joshua McMullin5 years ago in Beat
Dancing Through the Early '50s
Dancing Through the Early “50’s Got time for a little time travel? I hearken back to the days before I-pods, CD’s, Walkmen, 8-Tracks, tapes, stereo, and even LP records. Music was live, on the radio, on records, or on jukeboxes. By the mid 50’s forty-five rpm records were the height of technology and adapters were needed to adapt them to spindles built for 98 rpm records. Those records were a buck apiece at a time when kids were lucky to make 50 cents an hour and many adults were making only $1 an hour.
By Cleve Taylor 5 years ago in Beat
