humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of music professionals, amateurs, inspiring students, celebrities, lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories in the music sphere.
The Underappreciated Women of Rock
The band Heart is undoubtedly one of the greatest bands to come out of the classic rock era. Songs like "Barracuda" and "Crazy On You" put them on the map. The band formed in an era that female rock musicians were not taken seriously and were downright thwarted in comparison to their male counterparts. Notable female rock musicians from their era of the late 70s – early 80s were people like Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry, and so many others that made their mark on the genre. The common theme with all of them seems to be that they have, at one point, been discredited on the sole purpose of gender. The Wilson sisters of Heart have been particularly treated in a disgusting way just for the simple fact that they were women succeeding at being rock stars. In fact, the inspiration to write "Barracuda" came from the anger towards a false publicity stunt that claimed that the Wilson sisters were in an incestuous relationship, and geared its anger toward the music industry sexism that tried to put them down.
By Practical Stunts8 years ago in Beat
The Future of Music
I have come to realize through my life that passions once thought to be in the past can come back with an unpredictable force. Music will always be a massive part of my life, and the life of my family. I gave up dreams, knowing that it was best for my family, but giving something up doesn't always mean forever.
By Christopher Jardine8 years ago in Beat
Have We Lost the Ability to Really Listen to Music?
These days it's all about instant gratification - fast food, fast cars, fast money-making schemes, fast everything! I remember when we used to take time out to actually listen to a whole album and enjoy every nuance, every melody, and be a part of the creative journey the musician was sharing with you. It was something special - an occasion - something to be enjoyed and savoured, like a fine wine or a finely crafted meal by a master chef. That was back in the days when we had to wait for an album to be released, go into town to the record shop and buy the album, then bring it home and give our ears a long awaited treat. We had no other choice.
By Paula Mitchell8 years ago in Beat
Whether or Not You May Like It, Rap Music Matters
Many people in and out of the music industry would argue that rap music is becoming the most popular genre of music. It is prevalent throughout movies, video games, TV shows and contains a whole culture, filled with subcultures within itself. People seem to either hate or love rap music, with some people calling it the music of “this generation.” But since the beginning, the roots of rap music have been cemented in something that is still prevalent today: giving a voice to those unheard.
By S. A. Anderson8 years ago in Beat
How Kurt Cobain Changed My Life
When I was a six-year-old boy, I had a neighbor who had a lot of musical gear that his dad protected like it was part of his body. One day, we got into an argument and he told me he would shoot me with his dad's shotgun. I ran home screaming and crying for my mom and she spoke with his Mom and our friendship was ruined forever.
By Charlie Giknis8 years ago in Beat
Those Henry Who People?
The scene is this: two teenagers driving two hours from Amherst Massachusetts to Cambridge. A two hour drive all to see our favorite band at the time, Motion City Soundtrack. We were hopped up on Monster and Twizzlers, blasting all our favorite compositions that we had crammed onto an 80 minute disc. Windows were down. A riveting game of Marry, Sex, Kill was the entertainment. We go to the venue and excitedly waited in line to get in. Our hands were promptly stamped upon entering, and we didn't care. We were there to let live music intoxicate us, and we didn't need anything else.
By Madly Maxton8 years ago in Beat
The Healing Power of Music
Music, it’s not a strange word or concept. I mean we all listen to music while we go about our daily lives. The question is, do we ever really pay attention to music itself? To what the lyrics say or the beat of the music? Better yet, do we pay attention to ourselves while listening to music? We all know music has the power heal and it’s the universal language in this distorted world of ours. But have you ever really sat down and listened to yourself while you listened to music? Like really paid attention to your mood? Your heart beat? Just being completely in one with your inner self?
By Irene Maina8 years ago in Beat
Why I Choose to Love My Imperfect Singing Voice, and Why You Should Too
I have spent several years comparing my voice to professionals, my peers, even children in plays who are years younger than me. It seems we all have this bad habit of making our voices a competition. But why? For me, it is usually because of how touching the voices of those who are successful are. I become jealous, in a way. The ability to move someone through a song is like a hidden super power. In the better half of the past year, my voice and technique has grown immensely due to one change I made. I have accepted that although my voice will always sound imperfect to me, that doesn't decrease its value.
By Abby (1999)8 years ago in Beat
Music and Reminiscing
Life isn't just about living, it's also about enjoying it. Music makes life fun, full, and entertaining. Music differs so much that no song is like another. Just like how everybody is different. Music is so important to me because it makes me happy when I need to be happy, sad when I want to be sad, and boosts every emotion that I can possibly have. When I hear a melody, it makes me ponder about my life in the past, present, and future. I've had many years to listen to music and have just recently seen the what music means to me. Music makes me think about all the parts of my life because it has made such an influence in my heart.
By Brianna O'Connor8 years ago in Beat
Changing of a Decade
Scott flips through the vinyls sitting on a shelf in his room, dusty old Chuck Berry albums mixed with a new Stones record and everything in between. There’s a few odd ones, like the Beach Boys and Shirelles, more of his mom’s music than his own, but they act as a nice break sometimes from the regular Hendrix riffs or gruff vocals of Black Sabbath. His parents are gone for the next few hours, giving him the perfect amount of time to blast his music uninterrupted for a while. He pulls off a 7” “Stairway to Heaven” single he found back when he was probably ten or so with his dad. The album art is relatively bland, but the song definitely made up for it. He also picks off "Road to Ruin" to listen to as well, especially considering his dad’s hatred for the Ramones meant he couldn’t listen to them when he was at home. He finds them dirty, ill-mannered, and unkempt with their matching shaggy hair and ill-fitting jeans.
By C.K. Milton8 years ago in Beat
