Bad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1988,
reuniting keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist
Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in The Babys.
The members decided on a name for the band while playing pool. John
Waite missed a shot and Jonathan Cain made a comment on how bad his
"english" was (referring to the spin a player puts on the cue ball) and
the band decided to use the phrase.[1] The name is also thought to be a
reference to The Babys, since the name was misspelled and an example of
bad English.
Jonathan Cain and guitarist Neal Schon, who had enjoyed enormous success
in Journey, continued on to form Bad English with Waite after Journey
disbanded.[2] The first album, eponymously titled, was a big seller with
three hit singles, including the number one hit "When I See You Smile"
written by Diane Warren, the top 10 hit "Price of Love," and
"Possession." Another track from the debut album, the AOR song "Best of
What I Got", was featured in the soundtrack to 1989's Tango and Cash.[3]
The band's second album, 1991's "Backlash" came and went without any
fanfare. The only single, "Straight To Your Heart," just missed the Top
40, peaking at No. 42. Ricky Phillips writes on his website that the
group had parted company before the second album had been mixed. Both
Phillips and guitarist Neal Schon expressed frustration with the "pop"
side of the band's songs and wanted a harder edge. In the end, it proved
to be the band's undoing as everyone left to pursue other projects.
In later interviews Waite revealed that although he loved playing to
stadium-sized audiences, he was uncomfortable with the corporate rock
image that he felt the band had presented and has been a solo artist
ever since.
Bad English drummer Deen Castronovo later went on to join a reformed
Journey with singer Steve Augeri, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Ross
Valory. He also played on Ozzy Osbourne's album Ozzmosis in 1995.
Showing posts with label Musician. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musician. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Iwan Fals
Iwan Fals (born Virgiawan Listanto; September 3, 1961 in Jakarta) is an
Indonesian singer–songwriter. In 2002, Time magazine named him as a
Great Asian Hero.
Early life
Iwan was born Virgiawan Listanto in Jakarta, on September 3, 1961 to Harsoyo, a soldier,[1] and Lies Suudijah. He studied at SMP 5 Bandung and SMAK BPK Bandung. He continued his studies at Sekolah Tinggi Publisistik and then Jakarta Arts Institute. At the age of thirteen, he performed as a street performer at wedding ceremonies and other social events..
Personal life
On 1 January 1982, his first son, Galang Rambu Anarki was born. One of his best-known songs, Galang Rambu Anarki, was written for his birth and released on 1982's Opini (Opinion) album. Galang was a guitarist who became a folk musician in his own right, and he died on 25 April 1997 of a suspected morphine overdose. 'Galang Rambu Anarki' translates to "support the sign of anarchy" in English.
Three years later, his first daughter Anissa Cikal Rambu Basae was born.[4] His third child is Rayya Rambu Robbani. He and Rosanna, his wife live in Cibubur, West Java.
Galan Rambu Anarki had started to follow in his father's footsteps, playing in a band from a young age, but died in 1997, aged 16, either of asthma, or from a drug overdose.
Career
Aged 18, Iwan Fals, Toto Gunarto, Helmi and Bambang Bule formed a group named Amburadul. The group released the album 'Perjalanan' in 1979, which was not successful, but was re-released with the added track '3 Bulan' as '3 Bulan' (1980) in 1980. The group disbanded and played no further role in Iwan Fals' career.
As part of his early career, Iwan Fals also recorded some comedy albums, after winning a comedy country singing contest. He sang of comic situations and themes, and his first release was on 'Canda Dalam Nada' (the A-side featured five songs by Iwan: Generasi Frustrasi, Dongeng Tidur, Imitasi, Kisah Sepeda Motorku (aka. Kopral), and Joni Kesiangan while the B-side consisted of songs by Tom Slepe and Pusaka Jaya). The songs Dongeng Tidur, Joni Kesiangan and Kisah Sepeda Motorku were released, with one new song, Ambulance Zig Zag, on the Iwan Fals mini-album Canda Dalam Nada, while Generasi Frustrasi and Imitasi were also included on the 'Yang Muda Yang Bercanda II' multiartist comedy compilation.
During this time, Iwan supported himself by busking.
1981 saw Iwan Fals' breakthrough, when he signed to Musica Studio to record his first solo album, Sarjana Muda. This album shows Iwan Fals' signature country music style, with the protest song "Guru Oemar Bakrie", which talks of how a teacher is poorly paid but still responsible for educating future well-paid and successful people. 'Guru Oemar Bakrie' became very well-known and popular in Indonesia, and helped established Iwan's name. The album also contains several ballads. It benefited from considerable investment by Musica Studio, who used high-quality musicians and producer for the album.
1982's Opini, also on Musica Studio, cemented Iwan's reputation as a protest singer, but also as a balladeer. 'Galang Rambu Anarki', for his newborn son, combined both elements, commenting on both the happy event of the birth of his first child, but also commenting on rising prices, saying that perhaps his child would be malnourished if they could not afford to buy milk.
1983 saw the release of Sumbang, while 1984's album releases were Barang Antik and Sugali.
In April 1984, Iwan was arrested and questioned for two weeks after performing the songs 'Demokrasi Nasi' and Mbak Tini, both songs never recorded on album, in Pekanbaru. The song Mbak Tini was about a prostitute with a road-side coffee shop, married to 'Soeharyo' (Suharto). The events were retold on the song '14-4-84' on 1986's Ethiopia.
Iwan Fals continued to release albums throughout the 1980s, while in 1989 he formed the group Swami, which released two albums Swami I in 1989, and Swami II in 1991. A similar grouping was Kantata Takwa, which contained several Swami personnel. The musical style was "rebana rock", a blend of Jimi Hendrix and Rick Wakeman, to a Betawi rebana. The album Kantata Takwa' was released in 1990, featuring songs such as "Bento" and "Bongkar" ("Rip It Down"), two of several songs which they sang during a demonstration by college students.
Up to the release Orang Gila in 1994, Iwan had released approximately two new albums per year for 15 years. Since 1994, he has greatly reduced his release schedule, releasing two singles only in 1995, and one in 1996, while in 1998 Kantata Samsara, the second and final album by Kantata Takwa, was released.
To make up for the lack of new content, a number of Iwan Fals compilations were released in the 1990s and 2000s, including Best Of The Best, Akustik (3 volumes), and Salam Reformasi ("Greetings Reformation"), which sold more than 50,000 copies.
In 2002, Iwan Fals released his first new solo album since 1994, Suara Hati. In 2003 the album 'In Collaboration With' was released consisting of performances with other Indonesia artists. Manusia Setengah Dewa, in 2004, was a solo album.
In 2005, he released Iwan Fals In Love, essentially a compilation of existing Iwan Fals romantic reocrdings, but with the new song "Ijinkan Aku Menyayangimu" ("Let Me Love You") as the main single, and five re-recordings of old songs. Two songs, in collaboration with Indra Lesmana, Haruskah Pergi, and Selancar, were released as digital download in 2006.
In 2007, 50:50 was released by Musica Studios. The album's themes were romance and social criticism. One single of the album, "Pulanglah" ("Go Home"), tells about the death of Munir.[12] Six singles were written by himself and other six singles were written by his fellow musicians. Two songs were released in 2009 as Untukmu Terkasih.
In 2010, he released Keseimbangan, and in 2011 he released new album titled "tergila-gila" with 4 new songs inside. He has a large fans club which called OI (Orang Indonesia).
Lyrical Themes
Iwan Fals has been compared with Bob Dylan, who was one of his key influences, both on his early style, which made heavy use of the harmonica, and on his lyrics, which have frequently been in the protest song genre.
For instance, "Kamu Sudah Gila" ("You've Gone Crazy") and "Apa Kamu Sudah Jadi Tuhan?" ("Have You Ever Been as God?") criticized the New Order regime.
Other songs are more observational, but still could be seen as political. For instance, his song Galang Rambu Anarki, written for his newborn son, talks of being too poor to raise his son, while "Kembang Pete" ("Petai Flower") tells the story of the underestimated poor.[1] "Aku Bosan" ("I'm Bored") is about a child protesting to his parents because they left him alone at home. While "Hura-Hura Huru-Hara" ("Fake Riot") compares moneylender to blood-sucking vampires.
The 1988 song (and album) '1910', which could be interpreted as referring to the year 1910, was actually a reference to the date 19 October, the date, in 1987, of the Bintaro train crash, a disaster the song documents in observational style. "Celoteh Camar Tolol dan Cemar", on 1983's Sumbang, documented the sinking of the Tampomas II in Masalembu.
Aside from his observational protest songs, Iwan Fals is known for his love songs, which include "Yang Terlupakan" ("The Forgotten"), "Mata Indah Bola Pingpong" ("Beautiful Eyes, Pingpong Ball"), "Antara Kau, Aku, dan Bekas Pacarmu" ("Among You, Me, and Your ex-Boyfriend"), and "Pesawat Tempurku".
Although a songwriter, Iwan Fals' status as one of Indonesia's leading rock/pop performers has led to his recording material from numerous other song writers. Some of his most notable hits written by others include Barang Antik ("Antique"), "Kemesraan" ("Intimacy"), "Kumenanti Seorang Kekasih" ("I'm Waiting for a Lover"), "Aku Bukan Pilihan" ("I'm Not an Option") and "Ijinkan Aku Menyayangimu".
Early life
Iwan was born Virgiawan Listanto in Jakarta, on September 3, 1961 to Harsoyo, a soldier,[1] and Lies Suudijah. He studied at SMP 5 Bandung and SMAK BPK Bandung. He continued his studies at Sekolah Tinggi Publisistik and then Jakarta Arts Institute. At the age of thirteen, he performed as a street performer at wedding ceremonies and other social events..
Personal life
On 1 January 1982, his first son, Galang Rambu Anarki was born. One of his best-known songs, Galang Rambu Anarki, was written for his birth and released on 1982's Opini (Opinion) album. Galang was a guitarist who became a folk musician in his own right, and he died on 25 April 1997 of a suspected morphine overdose. 'Galang Rambu Anarki' translates to "support the sign of anarchy" in English.
Three years later, his first daughter Anissa Cikal Rambu Basae was born.[4] His third child is Rayya Rambu Robbani. He and Rosanna, his wife live in Cibubur, West Java.
Galan Rambu Anarki had started to follow in his father's footsteps, playing in a band from a young age, but died in 1997, aged 16, either of asthma, or from a drug overdose.
Career
Aged 18, Iwan Fals, Toto Gunarto, Helmi and Bambang Bule formed a group named Amburadul. The group released the album 'Perjalanan' in 1979, which was not successful, but was re-released with the added track '3 Bulan' as '3 Bulan' (1980) in 1980. The group disbanded and played no further role in Iwan Fals' career.
As part of his early career, Iwan Fals also recorded some comedy albums, after winning a comedy country singing contest. He sang of comic situations and themes, and his first release was on 'Canda Dalam Nada' (the A-side featured five songs by Iwan: Generasi Frustrasi, Dongeng Tidur, Imitasi, Kisah Sepeda Motorku (aka. Kopral), and Joni Kesiangan while the B-side consisted of songs by Tom Slepe and Pusaka Jaya). The songs Dongeng Tidur, Joni Kesiangan and Kisah Sepeda Motorku were released, with one new song, Ambulance Zig Zag, on the Iwan Fals mini-album Canda Dalam Nada, while Generasi Frustrasi and Imitasi were also included on the 'Yang Muda Yang Bercanda II' multiartist comedy compilation.
During this time, Iwan supported himself by busking.
1981 saw Iwan Fals' breakthrough, when he signed to Musica Studio to record his first solo album, Sarjana Muda. This album shows Iwan Fals' signature country music style, with the protest song "Guru Oemar Bakrie", which talks of how a teacher is poorly paid but still responsible for educating future well-paid and successful people. 'Guru Oemar Bakrie' became very well-known and popular in Indonesia, and helped established Iwan's name. The album also contains several ballads. It benefited from considerable investment by Musica Studio, who used high-quality musicians and producer for the album.
1982's Opini, also on Musica Studio, cemented Iwan's reputation as a protest singer, but also as a balladeer. 'Galang Rambu Anarki', for his newborn son, combined both elements, commenting on both the happy event of the birth of his first child, but also commenting on rising prices, saying that perhaps his child would be malnourished if they could not afford to buy milk.
1983 saw the release of Sumbang, while 1984's album releases were Barang Antik and Sugali.
In April 1984, Iwan was arrested and questioned for two weeks after performing the songs 'Demokrasi Nasi' and Mbak Tini, both songs never recorded on album, in Pekanbaru. The song Mbak Tini was about a prostitute with a road-side coffee shop, married to 'Soeharyo' (Suharto). The events were retold on the song '14-4-84' on 1986's Ethiopia.
Iwan Fals continued to release albums throughout the 1980s, while in 1989 he formed the group Swami, which released two albums Swami I in 1989, and Swami II in 1991. A similar grouping was Kantata Takwa, which contained several Swami personnel. The musical style was "rebana rock", a blend of Jimi Hendrix and Rick Wakeman, to a Betawi rebana. The album Kantata Takwa' was released in 1990, featuring songs such as "Bento" and "Bongkar" ("Rip It Down"), two of several songs which they sang during a demonstration by college students.
Up to the release Orang Gila in 1994, Iwan had released approximately two new albums per year for 15 years. Since 1994, he has greatly reduced his release schedule, releasing two singles only in 1995, and one in 1996, while in 1998 Kantata Samsara, the second and final album by Kantata Takwa, was released.
To make up for the lack of new content, a number of Iwan Fals compilations were released in the 1990s and 2000s, including Best Of The Best, Akustik (3 volumes), and Salam Reformasi ("Greetings Reformation"), which sold more than 50,000 copies.
In 2002, Iwan Fals released his first new solo album since 1994, Suara Hati. In 2003 the album 'In Collaboration With' was released consisting of performances with other Indonesia artists. Manusia Setengah Dewa, in 2004, was a solo album.
In 2005, he released Iwan Fals In Love, essentially a compilation of existing Iwan Fals romantic reocrdings, but with the new song "Ijinkan Aku Menyayangimu" ("Let Me Love You") as the main single, and five re-recordings of old songs. Two songs, in collaboration with Indra Lesmana, Haruskah Pergi, and Selancar, were released as digital download in 2006.
In 2007, 50:50 was released by Musica Studios. The album's themes were romance and social criticism. One single of the album, "Pulanglah" ("Go Home"), tells about the death of Munir.[12] Six singles were written by himself and other six singles were written by his fellow musicians. Two songs were released in 2009 as Untukmu Terkasih.
In 2010, he released Keseimbangan, and in 2011 he released new album titled "tergila-gila" with 4 new songs inside. He has a large fans club which called OI (Orang Indonesia).
Lyrical Themes
Iwan Fals has been compared with Bob Dylan, who was one of his key influences, both on his early style, which made heavy use of the harmonica, and on his lyrics, which have frequently been in the protest song genre.
For instance, "Kamu Sudah Gila" ("You've Gone Crazy") and "Apa Kamu Sudah Jadi Tuhan?" ("Have You Ever Been as God?") criticized the New Order regime.
Other songs are more observational, but still could be seen as political. For instance, his song Galang Rambu Anarki, written for his newborn son, talks of being too poor to raise his son, while "Kembang Pete" ("Petai Flower") tells the story of the underestimated poor.[1] "Aku Bosan" ("I'm Bored") is about a child protesting to his parents because they left him alone at home. While "Hura-Hura Huru-Hara" ("Fake Riot") compares moneylender to blood-sucking vampires.
The 1988 song (and album) '1910', which could be interpreted as referring to the year 1910, was actually a reference to the date 19 October, the date, in 1987, of the Bintaro train crash, a disaster the song documents in observational style. "Celoteh Camar Tolol dan Cemar", on 1983's Sumbang, documented the sinking of the Tampomas II in Masalembu.
Aside from his observational protest songs, Iwan Fals is known for his love songs, which include "Yang Terlupakan" ("The Forgotten"), "Mata Indah Bola Pingpong" ("Beautiful Eyes, Pingpong Ball"), "Antara Kau, Aku, dan Bekas Pacarmu" ("Among You, Me, and Your ex-Boyfriend"), and "Pesawat Tempurku".
Although a songwriter, Iwan Fals' status as one of Indonesia's leading rock/pop performers has led to his recording material from numerous other song writers. Some of his most notable hits written by others include Barang Antik ("Antique"), "Kemesraan" ("Intimacy"), "Kumenanti Seorang Kekasih" ("I'm Waiting for a Lover"), "Aku Bukan Pilihan" ("I'm Not an Option") and "Ijinkan Aku Menyayangimu".
Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernández (born October 8, 1985), known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Raised in Honolulu,
Hawaii, by a family of musicians, Mars began making music at a young
age and performed in various musical venues in his hometown throughout
his childhood. He graduated from high school and then moved to Los
Angeles, California to pursue a musical career. Mars produced songs for
other artists, joining production team The Smeezingtons.
Mars had an unsuccessful stint with Motown Records, but then signed with Atlantic Records in 2009. He became recognized as a solo artist after lending his vocals and co-writing the hooks for the songs "Nothin' on You" by B.o.B, and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy. He also co-wrote the hits "Right Round" by Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha, and "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan. In October 2010, he released his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Anchored by the worldwide number-one singles "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade", the album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.[2] Mars was nominated for seven Grammys at the 53rd Grammy Awards, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just the Way You Are". His second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox, was released on December 11, 2012.
Mars' music is noted for displaying a wide variety of styles and
influences, and contains elements of many musical genres. He has worked
with an assortment of artists from various genres. As a child, he was
highly influenced by artists such as Little Richard,[3] Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson and would often impersonate these artists from a young age. Mars also incorporates reggae and Motown
inspired sounds into his work. Worldwide, Mars became the best-selling
digital artist in 2011. He had three singles in the top ten, including
first place with "Just the Way You Are," which sold 12.5 million copies.[4] Mars won Best International Male Solo Artist at the 2012 BRIT Awards.[5] Bruno Mars has sold 6 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide.
Life and career
1985–2003: Early life and musical beginnings
Bruno Mars was born Peter Gene Hernández on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was raised in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu. He is the son of Peter Hernández and Bernadette "Bernie" San Pedro Bayot.[7][8] His father is of half Puerto Rican and half Jewish (from Hungary and Ukraine) descent, and is originally from Brooklyn, New York.[9][10] Mars' mother immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines as a child, and is of Filipino and some Spanish descent.[9][11][12] His parents met while performing in a show, where his mother was a hula dancer and his father played percussion.[10] At the age of two, he was nicknamed "Bruno" by his father, because of his resemblance to legendary professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino.[13][14][15]
Mars was one of six children and came from a musical family who exposed him to a diverse mix of reggae, rock, hip hop, and R&B.[16][17]
In addition to being a dancer, his mother was a singer and his father
used his musical ability to perform Little Richard rock n roll music.[3]
Mars' uncle was an Elvis impersonator, and encouraged three-year-old
Mars to perform on stage as well. Mars also performed songs by artists
such as Michael Jackson, The Isley Brothers, and The Temptations.[14]
At age four, Mars began performing five days a week with his family's
band, The Love Notes, in which he became known on the island for his
impersonation of Presley.[18] In 1990, Mars was featured in MidWeek as "Little Elvis", going on to have a cameo in the film Honeymoon in Vegas in 1992.[14][19]
His time spent impersonating Presley had a major impact on Mars' musical evolution and performing techniques.[20] He later began playing guitar after drawing inspiration from Jimi Hendrix.[21]
In 2010, he also acknowledged his Hawaiian roots and musical family as
an influence, explaining, "Growing up in Hawaii made me the man I am. I
used to do a lot of shows in Hawaii with my father's band. Everybody in
my family sings, everyone plays instruments...I've just been surrounded
by it."[22] In 2003, shortly after graduating from President Theodore Roosevelt High School at the age of seventeen, Mars moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a musical career.[14][19]
He adopted his stage name from the nickname his father gave him, adding
"Mars" at the end because "I felt like I didn't have [any] pizzazz, and
a lot of girls say I’m out of this world, so I was like I guess I'm
from Mars."[23]
2004–10: Production work and It's Better If You Don't Understand
I’d always been a working musician in Hawaii and never had problems
paying rent. And then it’s like, "Now I’m in L.A. and my phone’s getting
shut off." That’s when reality hit. I started DJing. It was something
silly. I told this person I could DJ because they said they could pay me
$75 cash under the table. I didn’t know how to DJ. I lost that job
pretty quick.
“
”
– Mars, speaking about his experiences of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a musical career.[24]
Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, Mars signed to Motown Records in 2004, in a deal that "went nowhere".[25]
However, Mars' experience with Motown proved to be beneficial to his
career when he met songwriter and producer Philip Lawrence, who was also
signed to the label. Mars, Lawrence, and engineer Ari Levine began
writing songs together, and formed the production team The Smeezingtons.[25] In 2006, Lawrence introduced Mars to his future manager at Atlantic Records, Aaron Bay-Schuck.[26]
After hearing him play a couple of songs on the guitar, Bay-Schuck
wanted to sign him immediately, but it took about three years for
Atlantic records to finally sign Mars to the label.[26] In the meantime, Bay-Schuck hired Mars and the Smeezingtons to write and produce songs for the label's artists.[26] According to Bay-Schuck in an interview with HitQuarters,
Mars had stated that although his ultimate goal was to be a solo
artist, he was willing to write and produce for other artists, both to
help improve his songwriting and help him discover the type of artist he
ultimately wanted to be.[26] Bay-Schuck credits this as a period of "self-discovery" that contributed significantly to Mars' later success.[26]
Before becoming a successful solo artist, Hernandez was an acknowledged music producer, writing songs for Alexandra Burke, Travie McCoy, Adam Levine, Brandy, Sean Kingston, and Flo Rida.[16][24] He also co-wrote the Sugababes' hit song "Get Sexy" and provided backing vocals on their album Sweet 7.[27][28] His first musical appearance as a singer was in Far East Movement's second studio album Animal, featured on the track "3D".[29] He was also featured on pastor and hip hop artist Jaeson Ma's debut single "Love" in August 2009.[30][31] He reached prominence as a solo artist after being featured on and co-writing B.o.B's "Nothin' on You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire"; both songs peaked within the top ten of many charts worldwide.[32][33][34][35]
He said of them, "I think those songs weren't meant to be full-sung
songs. If I'd sung all of "Nothin' on You", it might've sounded like
some '90s R&B." Following this success, Mars released his debut extended play (EP), titled It's Better If You Don't Understand, on May 11, 2010.[36] The EP peaked at the 99th position on the Billboard 200 and produced one single, "The Other Side", featuring singers Cee Lo Green and B.o.B.[37][38] Mars collaborated with Green once more in August 2010 by co-writing his single "Fuck You!" He performed a medley of "Nothin' on You" and "Airplanes" with B.o.B and Hayley Williams at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2010.[39]
2010–2012: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Bruno Mars' debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, was released digitally on October 4, and saw its physical release on October 5, 2010.[40][41] The lead single, "Just the Way You Are", was released on July 19, 2010,[42] and has reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 as well as several other charts worldwide.[43][44] The music video was released on September 8, 2010.[45] The second single, "Grenade", was released September 28, 2010, and has also seen successful international chart performance.[46][47] In the United States, Doo-Wops & Hooligans debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 for the week of October 13, 2010, selling 55,000 copies.[2] The album also received generally positive reviews from critics. Entertainment Weekly's
Leah Greenblatt praised Mars for his "instant-access melodies" and "sly
snatches of dance-floor swagger", but noted weaknesses in songs deviant
from his conventional pop and soul genres.[48] He opened for Maroon 5 on the fall leg of the Hands All Over Tour starting October 6, 2010 and co-headlined with McCoy on a European tour starting October 18, 2010.[41]
On September 19, 2010, Mars was arrested in Las Vegas for possession of cocaine.[49]
When talking to a police officer, Mars reportedly stated that what he
did was "foolish" and that "he has never used drugs before".[50][51]
Mars pled guilty to felony drug possession, and in return for his plea,
he was told that the charges would be erased from his criminal record
as long as he stayed out of trouble for a year, paid a $2,000 fine, did
200 hours of community service and completed a drug counseling course.[52]
On February 13, 2011, Mars won his first Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, having received six nominations; Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Nothin' on You", Record of the Year for "Nothin' on You" and "Fuck You", Song of the Year for "Fuck You", and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical at the 53rd Grammy Awards.
On September 16, 2011, Bad Meets Evil released their single, "Lighters",
which featured Mars in the song. The song was met with mixed reviews
from critics and many criticized Mars for doing this type of song.[53] On September 22, 2011, it was announced on Mars' website that his new song "It Will Rain" will appear on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack which was released on November 8.[54] On October 30, 2011, Mars gave an exclusive performance of "Runaway Baby" on the results show of The X Factor UK, the same day that Mars received six nominations for a Grammy Award; Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Grenade", and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical at the 54th Grammy Awards. During the ceremony, Mars performed "Runaway Baby" but he did not win any awards as Adele won in all the categories he was nominated in and also lost to Paul Epworth for Producer of the Year.
2012–present: Unorthodox Jukebox
Mars has confirmed on Twitter that his work on his second album has
begun. On March 22, 2012, it was announced that Mars had signed a
worldwide publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis US.[55] Mars told Billboard that his second album will be called Unorthodox Jukebox and that it was released on December 11, 2012. Mars also announced that the lead single would be called "Locked Out of Heaven",
which was released on October 1, 2012. Along with announcing the album
title and lead single, Mars announced 9 songs that are supposed to be on
the album. They are "Young Girls", "Gorilla", "When I Was Your Man",
"Natalie", "Treasure", "Moonshine", "Money Makes Her Smile", "Show Me",
and "If I Knew".[56]
He notes that the album will be more musically varied and refuses to
"pick a lane", explaining that "I listen to a lot of music, and I want
to have the freedom and luxury to walk into a studio and say, 'Today I
want to do a hip-hop, R&B, soul or rock record.'"[56]
Mars hosted and was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live October 20, 2012.[57] His performance as the host received positive reactions from critics and the public.
Unorthodox Jukebox debuted at #2 on the charts selling 187,000 copies.[58]
Musical style
Mars' music has been noted for displaying a wide variety of styles and influences, including pop,[60] rock,[60] reggae,[60] R&B,[61] soul,[48] and hip hop.[62]
His co-producer Philip Lawrence says, "What people don't know is
there's a darker underbelly to Bruno Mars." Mars himself says, "I blame
that on me singing to girls back in high school."[63] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times
called him "one of the most versatile and accessible singers in pop,
with a light, soul-influenced voice that’s an easy fit in a range of
styles, a universal donor."[64]
As a child, his time spent impersonating Elvis Presley had a major
impact on his musical evolution; he later reflected: "I watch the best.
I'm a big fan of Elvis. I'm a big fan of 1950s Elvis when he would go on
stage and scare people because he was a force and girls would go nuts!
You can say the same thing for Prince or The Police. It's just guys who know that people are here to see a show, so I watch those guys and I love studying them because I'm a fan."[20] Mars was initially influenced by R&B artists such as Keith Sweat, Jodeci and R. Kelly, as well as 1950s rock 'n' roll and Motown.[65] In high school, he began listening to classic rock groups such as The Police, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles.[65]
All of these genres of music have influenced Mars' musical style; he
observed that "It’s not easy to [create] songs with that mixture of rock
and soul and hip-hop, and there’s only a handful of them."[65] Mars also stated that he is a fan of Alicia Keys, Jessie J, Jack White and The Saturdays.[66]
In addition, Mars claims that his work with other artists influenced his musical style, saying that "'Nothin' on You' had a Motown vibe, 'Billionaire' was a reggae acoustic guitar-driven song, though one of my favorites is the Cee-Lo [Green] song ['Fuck You'].
I don't think anyone else could've sung that song. And there's 'Just
the Way You Are.' If you know my story, you know I love all different
genres of music."[67] He cites doo-wop
as a major influence on his music, referring to the genre as "just
straightforward love songs – so charming and simple and romantic."[67]
In addition, Mars states that growing up in Hawaii influenced his
music, giving the songs a reggae sound. He explains that "In Hawaii some
of the biggest radio stations are reggae. The local bands are heavily
influenced by Bob Marley.
That music brings people together. It's not urban music or pop music.
It's just songs. That's what makes it cross over so well. The song comes
first."[10] Lyrically, many of Mars' songs have been described as "feel-good", carefree, and optimistic,[68]
however, darker subjects are addressed in songs such as "Grenade",
"Liquor Store Blues", and "Talking to the Moon", which detail failed
relationships and self-destructive behavior.
Queen Band
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of the late Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen's earliest works were influenced by progressive rock,
but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and
radio-friendly works, incorporating more diverse and innovative styles
in their music.
Before joining Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had been playing together in a band named Smile with bassist Tim Staffell.
Freddie Mercury (then known as Farrokh/Freddie Bulsara) was a fan of
Smile, and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and
recording techniques after Staffell's departure in 1970. Mercury himself
joined the band shortly thereafter, changed the name of the band to
"Queen", and adopted his familiar stage name. John Deacon was recruited
prior to recording their eponymous debut album (1973). Queen enjoyed success in the UK with their debut and its follow-up, Queen II (1974), but it was the release of Sheer Heart Attack (1974) and A Night at the Opera (1975) that gained the band international success. The latter featured "Bohemian Rhapsody", which stayed at number one in the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks; it charted at number one in several other territories, and gave the band their first top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. Their 1977 album, News of the World, contained two of rock's most recognisable anthems, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions". By the early 1980s, Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world, and their performance at 1985's Live Aid is regarded as one of the greatest in rock history. In 1991, Mercury died of bronchopneumonia,
a complication of AIDS, and Deacon retired in 1997. Since then, May and
Taylor have infrequently performed together, including a collaboration
with Paul Rodgers under the name Queen + Paul Rodgers which ended in May 2009.
The band have released a total of 18 number one albums, 18 number one
singles, and 10 number one DVDs. Estimates of their album sales
generally range from 150 million to 300 million albums, making them one
of the world's best-selling music artists. They received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Phonographic Industry in 1990, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Early days (1968–1974)
In 1968, guitarist Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist Tim Staffell decided to form a band. May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a "Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker type" drummer; Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. The group called themselves Smile.[3]
While attending Ealing Art College,
Tim Staffell became friends with Farrokh Bulsara, a fellow student who
had assumed the English name of Freddie. Bulsara felt that he and the
band had the same tastes and soon became a keen fan of Smile. In late
1970, after Staffell left to join the band Humpy Bong, the remaining Smile members, encouraged by Bulsara, changed their name to "Queen" and continued working together.[4]
When asked about the name, Bulsara explained, "I thought up the name
Queen. It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds
splendid. It's a stro
Early days (1968–1974)
In 1968, guitarist Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist Tim Staffell decided to form a band. May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a "Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker type" drummer; Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. The group called themselves Smile.[3]
While attending Ealing Art College,
Tim Staffell became friends with Farrokh Bulsara, a fellow student who
had assumed the English name of Freddie. Bulsara felt that he and the
band had the same tastes and soon became a keen fan of Smile. In late
1970, after Staffell left to join the band Humpy Bong, the remaining Smile members, encouraged by Bulsara, changed their name to "Queen" and continued working together.[4]
When asked about the name, Bulsara explained, "I thought up the name
Queen. It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds
splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot
of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was
certainly aware of gay connotations, but that was just one facet of
it."[4]
The band had a number of bass players during this period who did not
fit with the band's chemistry. It was not until February 1971 that they
settled on John Deacon and began to rehearse for their first album. They
recorded four of their own songs, "Liar", "Keep Yourself Alive", "The
Night Comes Down" and "Jesus", for a demo tape; no record companies were
interested.[5]
It was also around this time Freddie changed his surname to "Mercury",
inspired by the line "Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me," in
the song My Fairy King.[6]
On 2 July 1971, Queen played their first show in the classic line-up of
Mercury, May, Deacon and Taylor at a Surrey college outside London.
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