Mega Music Talent

Archive for October, 2008

November 2008 Showcase – Steven Hitchens

Review Of ‘Whoops’

When I heard the title of talented young singer songwriter Steve Hitchens debut single ‘Whoops’ I thought ‘oh no not one of those naff, catchy songs that are usually released in the run up to Christmas’. You know what I mean – the type of song that gets played for years to come at weddings and birthday parties that gets the grandparents up dancing with the kids. But, I promised to listen to and review Whoops so here goes.

On first listen I was pleasantly surprised. Yes it is one of those catchy songs, but it doesn’t remind me of anything else and has grown on me every time that I’ve listened to it. ‘Whoops’ suggests mistakes and the song is about a guy who cheats on his partner and is caught out and not for the first time. He wants forgiveness from the partner that he loves but you sorta know that it will happen again.

The chorus ‘Whoops did I do it again’ made me think about works Christmas parties and the embarrassing mistakes that happen. Imagine for weeks afterwards your workmates compounding your embarrassment with a rendition of the chorus every time that they see you!

As a debut single I like ‘Whoops‘. It’s catchiness, upbeat tempo and singalongability score in its favour and especially as we are heading towards Christmas when it could become popular as a party livener. As a dance tune it also scores good in my book. I found myself wanting to dance and if a dance craze attaches itself to ‘Whoops’ who knows how well it will do.

Singer Steven Hitchins who comes from Surrey in the UK certainly has the look of a pop star. I’m sure that the girls will love his moody good looks – I know that I do! Whoops is now available from most digital retailers. As Steve will be releasing his first album next year I’m sure that we will hear much more from him in the future.

Competition so far for the Christmas season is Alesha Dixon’s ‘The Boy Does Nothing’. Played back to back with ‘Whoops’ at a club or party – that sounds like a fun time to me.

Exclusive Interview with Steven Hitchens

Whoops the Video

You can buy the MP3 download of Whoops
now at Amazon

So you have been taking singing lessons for a couple of months already. However you noticed that you have made little or even no improvements in your singing and vocal quality. Your voice is still little shaky and cracks when you attempt to sing higher notes. So, are you taking the correct singing lessons from the right singing teacher?

Since you are paying good money for your lessons and not getting good results, then ultimately the responsibility rest with you. You have to take full responsibility for your own singing lessons and you must get good singing teacher to facilitate your voice training.

So how do I know that you have the right singing teacher or not? Well, if you have chosen the right vocal coach, you would have noticed the improvements in your singing within weeks. Yes, in just weeks, you should be able to sing much better than before.

The issues regarding your singing would be getting addressed and remedied by your own singing teacher by now. This is what you should expect from your singing teacher since you are paying good money for.

The problem these days is that that anyone can just call themselves a singing teacher and start charging for singing lessons whether or not they are competent in what they do. Since the American Idol TV series started, there are many so called “singing teachers” popping up all over the world.

So, how can you ascertain that a teacher is competent? Well, you have to try their lessons for yourself or get a reliable referral from someone who has tried it and gotten good results.

Since you have to pay for the lessons, it is your prerogative to choose and shop around until you find a singing coach who can deliver the results you desire. This method be expensive because each time you go to a new singing teacher, you will pay for the lessons, whether or not the lessons are effective.

What I am going to say next may be obvious, but people are still doing it. Don’t ever pay for a second bad lesson! Keep on looking until you find a teacher who can give you solid results.

Very few if any singing teachers will give you free trials and if they do, then that probably means that they have plenty of time and this probably translates to that they have few, if any students. Your radar should be up if this is the case.

There is another method of getting good singing lessons. In the age of the internet, many competent singing teachers are marketing their services online. Many even recorded their lessons on CDs so that students can practice their singing anytime and anywhere in the world.

As these teachers market their singing lessons online, you will be able to check their competency, credibility, surf their reviews as well as contact some of their students to verify their testimonials.

Of course, it would be ideal if you could find a competent vocal coach for one on one coaching. However, if traveling, distance, time and expensive singing lessons are issues to you, then getting pre-recorded singing lessons from a proven singing teacher is a good option.

The author Chris Chew owns a music education website at http://www.playmusicsing.com

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

Every month we at Mega Music Talent showcase a band or artist who we enjoy listening to and we believe are talented and will do well with their music. Our October showcase is the Norwegian band Toxic.

October 2008 Showcase - Toxic

Heavy rock band Toxic was formed in 2003 in the Norwegian town of Stavanger. The band was formed by two workmates, two brothers of a workmate and the vocalist replied to an advertisement in a newspaper.The complete line up is: Trash Hamer: Vocals, Guitar Geir Ove Bernhoff: Guitars, Backing Vocals Daffy: Guitars Rolf Lura: Bass, Organ, Cello, Double-Bass Kristian Moen: Drums

Order Fear from Amazon Now!

Initially Toxic played cover songs but after a few months guitarist Geir Ove Bernhoff started to put together some songs for the band and now they have their own music for us to enjoy.

After playing together for a year Toxic started gigging and made 2 demo tapes which helped to get them a record deal with the Norwegian company Downbeach Music. Toxic’s first album was called Intoxicated. It was released to good reviews and especially the track Chronos.

Toxic made a video for Chronos featuring bikers as the good guys. The video is great to watch and unsurprisingly earned a gold medal at EuroFilmForum Skandinavia. Although I liked Chronos on first hearing it grows on me every time that I listen to it. You can see and hear the video yourself below.

Toxic – Chronos

After playing together for 5 years the Toxic sound has matured well. When I first heard them I likened them to 70s bands Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and even Rainbow – that’s a compliment for Toxic because I love listening to those bands. Even so Toxic has some exciting originality and that shows on their second album Fear which was released under the UK label Rocksector Records in September 2008 – just in time for their October UK Tour Of Fear and Halloween!

That sounds scary but I can assure you that there is nothing scary about Toxic or Fear. They are a friendly bunch of guys producing a great atmospheric sound with lyrics that have a conscience. The looked forward to UK tour kicks off with a Red TV/Sky 186 TV interview on October 14th.

16th October 8.00 pm Grand Central 80 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH UK With: Killheathen and Propax www.myspace.com/rockcentralmanchester 17th October 8.00 pm Hark to Towler 43 Market St, Tottington, Bury, BL8 4AA UK With: Killheathen http://www.myspace.com/hark2towler Hard Rock Radio Live Chorley, Northwest UK Live live radio interview @ Hard Rock Radio Live With: Killheathen www.hardrockradiolive.com 18th October 8.00 pm Sanctuary Rock Bar 73 Cow la, Burnley, BB11 1NN UK With: Killheathen & more TBC http://www.myspace.com/sanctuaryrockbar 19th October 8.00 pm The Snooty Fox 1 Brunswick St Wakefield, WF1 4PW UK With: Killheathen & more TBC http://www.myspace.com/snootyfoxlive 20th October 8.00 pm Manchester Radio Online Manchester, Northwest UK Live acoustic session @ Manchester Radio Online With: Killheathen www.manchesterradioonline.com 21st October 8.00 pm Yorkshire House 2 St. Marys Place, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, With: Killheathen http://www.myspace.com/theyork 22nd October 8.00 pm Sawyers 44 Montagu St, Kettering, NN16 8RU UK With: Killheathen + more TBC www.myspace.com/sawyersvenuecouk 23rd October 8.00 pm The Racehorse 15 Abington Sq, Northampton, NN1 4AE With: Fury UK, Killheathen www.myspace.com/sawyersvenuecouk 24th October 8.00 pm The Bedford Park 223 Streatham High Rd, London, SW16 6EN UK With: Killheathen + more TBC http://www.myspace.com/theoldkingsheadrocks Total Rock Radio Live interview @ Total Rock Radio With: Killheathen www.totalrock.com 25th October 8.00 pm Hall Cross Rock Bar 33-34 Hall Gate, Doncaster, South Yorkshir With: Killheathen www.hallcross.co.ukPurple Turtle 65 Crowndale Rd, London, With: Killheathen, Sigil, Muted http://www.myspace.com/turtlesmurtle

You can find Toxic at: www.toxic-rock.com MySpace Facebook Toxic Photos Toxic Posing Toxic Chilling Toxic Rocks More Posing From Toxic Toxic Live Toxic Rocks The Stage Toxic Order Fear from Amazon Now!

Everyday, new bands come out wanting to make it big in an industry that is so highly competitive and full of talent. Live performances of music bands are one of the most popular displays of how good a band is. This is also a chance for their fans to see their favorite bands live and for all other reason, a promotion that can either make or break their career. Existing bands, new and aspiring has to promote their gigs to make it big in the music industry. A successful gig can give that desired break .

Every gig is an opportunity to showcase your band and an opportunity to breakthrough the music industry. Follow through is the key not the lack of information.

If you are playing in the same venue for an extended period, it is preferred that the cycle of your audience would be every 3 weeks at least to ensure that different people are watching you every time you perform. Promote only upcoming gigs and not recent ones to give fans the impression that they can only watch you on those days and that your current gigs are already sold out. This will give you a chance to spread out your audience. Promote every show like it’s the only show. If you do not promote, nobody will come, if nobody will come, no one will want you to play again.

Bands get noticed for their unique style of presenting themselves. Some may sport weird hairdos or wear self-expressing wardrobes to get noticed. The point of it all is expression. That is what gets the eye of people no matter how weird it may seem.

Conservative bands normally fail to make it big because they lack character. They don’t have anything different from the usual bands that have made big strides. But while that is a given fact, it would be wise to consider it to support your band music’s success. It is bound to become a step towards fame and fortune.

One is, if the band should come back together, would everything be the same? Can everyone co-exist in the same way that they were planning to get back on top?

There are things to consider and that is the fact of being sincere and aiming to make good music together. If and when all egos are defeated and everyone is open to starting anew then there is a chance to pick up where you left off. But one thing you can be sure off, the opportunity lost is already there and the chance to shine has already passed.

Normally, there are people who would become egotistic. They feel that they can perform even on their own. If that is the case, they do not need to be in the band. They can go solo.

This is something we often see in bands which break up when they are on the verge of fame and success. We have seen great bands disband due to selfish desires. It should not be surprising if you see this happening if the band members do not complement and get along.

The author Jon Caldwell is a professional content manager. Much of his articles can be found at http://bandgigsdaily.com

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

It is no secret that high incarceration rates are an epidemic in the Black community. Many of today’s biggest celebrities, from sports to music, are survivors of this epidemic. Some of today’s biggest hip-hop stars often rap about their struggles growing up in the Black community, but few return to their old neighborhoods and mentor children about avoiding the temptation of street life.

Few rappers have been criticized as much as Long Beach legend Snoop Dogg, whose early success led to the popularity of “gangsta” rap in the early 1990s. Despite the raw lyrics of Snoop’s early records, he is determined to see that the youth in the Black community do not follow in his footsteps, which led to his incarceration before achieving international fame.

According to reports, the West Coast rapper has teamed up with documentary director Gabriel London, filmmaker Alex Munoz and Black Entertainment Television’s (BET) Urbanworld Film Festival to present Bigg Snoop Dogg’s Youth Authority: California, an autobiographical streets-to-prison documentary production.

According to a released statement, “The resulting documentary weaves together Snoop’s experiences growing up in the midst of daily violence and gang activity with the stories of young men still caught up in the streets-to-prison cycle. Bridging generations, London has painted an intimate portrait of Snoop and the ‘young G’s,’ current prisoners and parolees who struggle to find their way in a system that is too often focused on punishment rather than education and rehabilitation. The film is Snoop and the filmmakers’ attempt to break a vicious cycle that leads to over 10,000 youth being locked up annually in California alone.”

Before signing to Death Row Records in the early 1990s, Snoop was active in the nefarious street gang the Crips, experiencing frequent run-ins with the law. The rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, actually spent time inside California’s infamous “Youth Authority” (also known as CYA).

Not long after high school graduation, the future rapper was arrested on cocaine possession charges and spent the next three years in the judicial system. Unlike so many others in the Black community, Snoop was able to find an alternative lifestyle when he discovered a love for hip-hop. Snoop, along with Nate Dogg and hip-hop producer Dr. Dre’s step-brother Warren G, founded the group 213 and began recording mixtapes hoping to impress Dr. Dre. At a NWA house party, Warren G persuaded the disc jockey to play a 213 mixtape, and Dr. Dre was so impressed with Snoop’s rhymes and charisma that he collaborated with him on his debut solo single “Deep Cover.”

Snoop would go on to become an overnight sensation in the world of hip-hop. However, he could not escape his violent past, and at one time was charged with the murder of a rival gang member, Phillip Woldermarian, a charge he was later acquitted of because of self-defense.

Despite his numerous run-ins with the law, he is determined to see a change in the mentality of youth in the Black community. Snoop’s idea for the documentary was to use his personal story to teach children in the Black community that there are alternatives to the criminal lifestyle.

Bigg Snoop Dogg’s Youth Authority screens Friday, September 12 at the Urbanworld Film Festival.

The author Todd A. Smith is the publisher of http://www.regalmag.com, an online magazine dedicated to issues affecting African American men. The website tackles such topics as social and political issues, health, relationships, business, sports and entertainment.

Article Source: http://megamusicsite.com

It’s all over the news- from countless newspaper features (including a write-up in the Wall Street Journal), online articles and even the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. It’s the vinyl record revival and more importantly, the resurrection of analog sound.

Yes, vinyl records, left for dead with the advent of the ‘digital age’ are selling again. In fact, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), sales of vinyl records jumped to 1.3 million last year, which represents a 36.6% increase from 2006; a figure that some industry experts feel does not accurately represent the true sales figures. The experts deem it to be too low because independent record stores sales, where vinyl does the best, are not usually included in these figures. Additionally, according to Billboard Magazine, vinyl record sales jumped 77% in the first half of 2008 (when compared to the first half of 2007), selling more than 803,000 units.

This is not a fad or cycle; music lovers young and old are being drawn to this historic audio format. Moreover, it seems to be a worldwide event, preorders and sales of vinyl records are on the increase in many countries across the globe. In the UK alone, sales of seven-inch singles (45′s) have climbed 87.3% compared to the same three month period last year.

Vinyl is cool again. Teenagers, who once may have scoffed at their grandparents’ and parents’ record collections, now wait in line to get the latest releases. More and more mainstream artists are releasing new material via the format and Capitol Records (along with many other major record companies) are now reissuing classic albums on vinyl. And now, along with the baby boomers, a new generation is discovering the special allure that vinyl records have – the limited editions, colored vinyl, picture discs, audiophile records (180-220 gram), the album cover art and the sound – all elements in this grand resurgence.

This resurgence is fueled by many other factors. Let’s explore some interesting aspects of the vinyl record.

The Sound

Yes, the hiss, snap and crackle of a record are soothing music lovers around the globe. Vinyl records use analog recording methods; it is a clear, well-defined sound. The music is not compressed and digitized into the ones and zeros that you get with the CD or MP3; or what I term as “binary sound.” There is a warmth, an ambience that vinyl brings to the music and since the human ear hears in analog-not digital-vinyl records naturally sound better. So this is the secret that the DJ’s, record collectors and audiophiles knew all along!

The Collectible Factor and Availability of Vinyl

Most recording artists are also fans of other artists’ music; they own vast and eclectic record collections. Sometimes finding rare and collectible vinyl created by artists who have influenced their own music and whom they admire can be just as satisfying as creating and recording their own music. They also delight in finding rare vinyl of their own music. In fact, John Lennon was an avid record collector and amassed quite a collection of Beatle’s bootlegs.

Buying and selling records is big business. Besides the garage sales, flea markets and yard sales, online auction sites such as eBay sell millions of records. It is reported that eBay users buy and sell six vinyl records each minute (or an average of one every ten seconds) totaling more than three million records each year. Some records still maintain their value decades after their initial release and have sold for thousands of dollars. It’s been reported that the album that is bought and sold the most in the vinyl format is the Beatles’ “White Album.” Other acts such as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Led Zeppelin, among many others, are highly sought after and still command top dollar for specific releases. Soul and jazz music, along with classic rock, are always in demand. Additionally, online giant Amazon is committed to expanding their ‘vinyl section’ offerings to include thousands of music artists.

There is also a lot of vinyl support in such musical genres as hip-hop, punk and heavy metal. “Indie” music is now being pressed into colored vinyl, limited edition releases and picture discs. These are the future collectibles and sometimes sell for higher-than-average prices. The online community has responded as well with literally thousands of web sites dedicated to the vinyl format. Many music artists are making sure that they give their fans a choice of music formats, with vinyl appearing to be taking the lead.

The Vinyl Experience

In our age of iPods and MP3 music, playing a record is almost a ritual experience. There is the physical interaction between the person playing the album, the music itself and the machine. Playing a record can be a communal event where the music is shared with friends and family. But it is not only the music that intrigues the masses. Add unique and compelling album cover art and deluxe packaging, and a whole new generation of vinyl record lovers can share in this phenomenon.

Going hand-in-hand with the increase in vinyl record sales is the increase and availability of turntables. Nationally, turntable sales shot to over 500,000 last year compared to 275,000 in 2006. Manufacturers of turntables have given the consumer a plethora of options to choose from, from the very affordable unit to some that cost thousands of dollars. Students in colleges around the U.S., as well as globally, are now beginning to consider a turntable in their dorm room one of their necessities.

The Perks

Many recording artists are not only releasing their new material via vinyl but in digital format for those who choose that medium. Many records may come with a certificate for a free Internet download, which can sometimes be a bonus cut that may not be included on the record. It also allows the music to be portable, and the consumer can choose between the alternate formats. As the demand for vinyl continues its upward climb, so to will the affordability of the records. Many mainstream releases via the vinyl format are competitively priced, allowing for more units to be sold. Add to this the already flourishing used vinyl record market, where a music lover can pick up an LP for under five dollars, and we have a new vinyl model that will flourish for decades to come.

Will vinyl records regain their dominant position in the music industry that they once held? One can only guess, but with CD sales continuing to plummet and more and more music lovers discovering the value of vinyl, this historic audio medium will not fade away anytime soon.

Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music, vinyl record collecting and operates http://www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can pick up a copy of his FREE ebook called “The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting.” Have your vinyl records appraised at http://www.vinylrecordappraisals.com.

Article Source: http://megamusicsite.com

Personally I think of Mega Music Talent as musicians who have a major natural talent for music, though there are some musicians who have a lesser talent but a greater showmanship than others. Some artists become superstars because of that higher level of showmanship whereas the more talented musicians might struggle more for recognition.

I’ve been thinking about some of the superstars from the last 50 years and trying to determine whether or not they achieved superstar status through raw talent, showmanship or both. Then I decided to choose my favourite superstars from each decade and explain why.

(1950s) Elvis – The King Of Rock And Roll

The third best selling recording artist of all time, American idol Elvis Presley was the first major pop or rock superstar. That guy had a lot going for him: smouldering good looks, sex appeal, showmanship, rhythm – he wasn’t called Elvis the Pelvis for nothing – and a good but not great singing voice. Those qualities combined to help Elvis achieve worldwide superstardom throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s. Even after his death in 1977 his songs have continuing popularity and reissues and remixes are still released over 30 years on.

Elvis made 31 musical films during the 60s. His acting wasn’t all that and the films themselves were a bit naff but they were still popular and a financial success. Probably because the ladies loved to drool over the sex symbol. My favourite 3 Elvis tracks are ‘Hard Headed Woman’, ‘In The Ghetto’ and ‘The Wonder of You’.

(1960s) The Beatles – Britain’s First Super Group

The Beatles phenomena emerged from Liverpool in the early 60s and they released their first hit single ‘Love Me Do’ in June 1962. It wasn’t long before they achieved worldwide success and although they stopped recording together in 1970, over 40 years on they are still the most successful top selling group ever. Many artists claim the Beatles as their influence and the band were so huge that even in remote areas of the world people knew who the Beatles were and even today lots of youngsters know their songs.

The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. What they had going for them apart from their musicality was fresh good looks, cheekiness, likability and well marketed showmanship. Although John and Paul were the vocalists and main songwriters George and Ringo both contributed in the singing songwriting department. To me the 4 band members were the perfect fit and I wonder if the Beatles would have become such a legend without any one of them. Many of their early tracks were simple love songs but during the 60s their music evolved with the psychedelic age. My favourite 3 Beatles tracks are ‘I Am The Walrus’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and ‘Here Comes The Sun’.

(1970s} Queen – And Not Her Majesty!

I was torn between several 70s super stars including Led Zeppelin, Abba, David Bowie and The Eagles, but my favourite 70s mega talent are English rock band Queen. Although Queen are listed as only 25th of the all time best music sellers in my opinion Queen were the ultimate in musical talent and showmanship. If I could go back in time and choose the artists that I would most like to see perform live it would be Queen with Freddie Mercury centre stage.

The band were formed in London in 1970 and consisted of Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon and Roger Taylor until Freddie Mercurys death in 1991. Now in 2008 Brian May and Roger Taylor still perform as Queen with the collaberation of Paul Rodgers. Although good Queen could never be the same without the mega vocalist – prancing, dancing drama queen Freddie Mercury. That guy was awesome to watch and listen to. The amazing video for their massive hit Bohemian Rhapsody is generally regarded to be the forerunner in music videos. My favourite 3 Queen tracks are: ‘Seven Seas Of Rhye’, ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ and of course ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

(1980s) U2 – The Band!

Way down at number 97 of the all time music best sellers are the rock band U2 – but they have received 22 Grammy awards which is more than any other band. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr are the band members who all come from Dublin in Ireland. U2 may seem a strange choice when there were other superstars around in that decade who achieved more but out of all of the big stars I find U2s often beautiful, haunting and anthemlike tracks the most memorable and they are the band still around today that I would most like to see live.

What I like about U2 apart from their music is that fame doesn’t seem to have taken away their humility. Individually and as a band they have consistently supported human rights and social justice causes – a band with good hearts. My favourite 3 U2 tracks all come from the Joshua Tree album and are: ‘With Or Without You’, ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’, and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’.

(1990s) Celine Dion – Her Majesty!

Canadian vocalist and songwriter Celine Dion is the all time 12th best music seller and is still releasing hits today. Although Canadian, Celine won the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland with the song ‘Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi‘. Many Eurovision Song Contest winners sink without trace – probably due to the cheesiness of the contest and the songs. Like Abba who won the contest in 1984 Celine went on to achieve well deserved worldwide fame and emerged in 1990 as one of the most talented divas ever.

Celine has a powerful voice with a great vocal range, probably shown off best in her massive hit ‘The Power Of Love’ a track which has become for many the ultimate love song. Although Celine displays some showmanship I believe that her singing talent is enough to make her a major superstar. A few years ago I interviewed a millionaire ex record company director who claimed to have discovered Celine in a Canadian bar. I came to the conclusion that he was having me on but who could blame somebody for wanting to discover such a talent! My 3 favourite Celine Dion tracks are: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (a duet with Peabo Bryson), ‘I Drove All Night’ and ‘The Power of Love’.

(2000s) Linkin Park – Really!

Number 167 in the all time best music seller list American band Linkin Park get my vote as mega music talent of the 2000s. I almost chose Britney Spears as many others would, but I prefer listening to Linkin Park. The band consists of 6 members Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon, Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, Joe Hahn and Phoenix.

What I like about Linkin Park is their versatile rock, rap music with a conscience style – or indeed varying styles! They have been compared to U2 but the only thing I can see that they have in common with U2 is winning Grammy awards 2 as opposed to U2s 22, but there is time for them to win more yet. My favourite 3 Linkin Park tracks are: ‘What I’ve done’, ‘Given Up’ and ‘Breaking The Habit’,

There you have it, my favourite mega music talent by the decade. I could have included some more obvious names like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Pink Floyd, REM, Diana Ross and the Bee Gees, but the decision had to be based on who I believe to be the biggest mega stars of each decade. My prediction for the 2010s mega music superstar is the UKs Leona Lewis – what do you think?

Please comment below, let us know who you think the biggest superstars are and why. Do you agree or disagree with this post? Who do you think are going to be the mega music talent of the future?

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At the beginning of series 5 of the X Factor I can’t help wondering why some contestants put themselves through excruciating auditions. Some are embarrassingly bad and I can only think that they are either suffering from delusions or they know just how bad they are but still think it worth the embarrassment to appear on TV.

This year the popular UK TV music talent contest has attracted over 180,000 contestants at auditions up and down the UK. All of them dream about hitting the big time and winning a lucrative record contract. Though this year one of them was more interested in meeting and giving her idol, panellist Louis Walsh a red rose. Just as well she was there for love – she isn’t exactly a singer!

The panel of 4 judges has altered this year after Sharon Osborne quit. I liked Sharon being in the show and felt that she offered experience, compassion and was pretty good at standing up to judge Simon Cowell – billed as the most influential man in pop. She knows what she is talking about and calls a spade a spade – sometimes OTT but not to the point of cruelty as sometimes happens on the X Factor.

The official reason for Sharon quitting is not being offered enough money to work on the show for 6 months a year, but there are also rumours that conflict between Sharon and panellist Danni Minogue was the real reason. On the Graham Norton chatshow Sharon likened Danni to her backside and said “She knows she’s there because of her looks, not because of her contribution to the music industry.”

Personally I have wondered why Australian singer Danni Minogue is on the panel. She seems a bit too wishy washy to me and not as knowledgeable as the other panellists. Although her act Leon Jackson won last year I agreed with the other judges when they often criticized her choice of songs as a mentor. Maybe my view isn’t totally fair, it’s supposed to be reality TV but I wonder how much is real.

Replacing Sharon is Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole. The girl band won TV talent show ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ 6 years ago and having been a contestant herself should understand what the contestants are going through. It’s early days with Cheryl as a panellist but there are already rumours that her and Danni don’t get on!!

Simon Cowell is the mastermind of the X Factor and is also behind the TV shows Britain’s Got Talent and American Idol. A very busy man who to me appears to have a Jekyll and Hyde personality. Sometimes his remarks about contestants singing or appearance are very caustic and rude. Then at other times he mellows and is really nice and helpful to the contestants. I’ve often wondered if the cruel or blunt comments might be purposeful to help increase the viewer ratings!

Dubbed King of the Irish Pop Scene Louis Walsh is the fourth panellist. I sorta like Louis but not enough to give him a red rose! There occasionally seems to be some rivalry between Louis and Simon but not enough to mar the proceedings.

The first 2 shows of the 2008 series have already produced some dramas. Notably one contestant made claims about his childhood that were then disputed in the press. As he is a great singer and a hunk I couldn’t give a flying fig what the press says. I want him to do well in the series because of his talent and not because of his background whatever it is.

On the first show panellist Cheryl Cole walked out of the audition room in tears when she realised that she knew the contestant Nikk Mager. Nikk was a fellow contestant of ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ and Cheryl did not want to make public judgments about somebody that she knew. I don’t blame her for that; I couldn’t have done it.

Once the initial auditions are over the selected contestants go through to bootcamp where they go through a further selection procedure. After that they are split into 4 groups: bands, female singers, male singers and over 25s. Each of the panelists is allocated a different group to mentor and the contestants in their group get to visit the panelist’s homes where the finalists are chosen – 3 for each group.

By then only the best acts remain and we should be treated to some great shows. Last year my favourite act was Welsh singer Rhydian Roberts. He put on an amazing performance every time that he hit the stage. His Phantom of The Opera gave me goosebumps, a great singer and performer that left me spellbound.

This year it’s wide open with many auditions still to be seen. I would like to see a band win for the first time instead of a solo artist. Next year who knows? It won’t be me that’s for sure, I don’t want my mouth comparing to a cave or my singing likened to stepping on a cat even if it is true!

The author Patricia Jones writes for several websites including the UK travel guide where you can search freely for the best hotel deals worldwide.

Patricia is also the co owner of Mega Music Videos where musicians can upload their videos and audios for members to watch, download and share and the Mega Music Site where you can find lots of music information.

The X Factor has become very popular in the UK with millions of viewers glued to their television sets every Saturday evening whilst the series lasts. Some watch the talent show because they want to have a laugh at the awful auditions, some watch because they want to see new performers do well.

Personally I feel uncomfortable watching some of the really awful auditions. I hate it when the panel (Simon Cowell, Danni Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole) laugh inanely at the efforts of others. I don’t find singers trying their hardest to impress funny, just sad when they clearly can’t sing. Neither can I, but like those poor singers I wish that I could sing. I’ve got to admit to laughing at the effect scary Ariel Burdett had on the panel during her audition.

After the auditions the contestants who have got through the first round go to bootcamp. Bootcamp sounds like a tough camping exercise but on the X Factor the contestants split into 4 categories and visit the panel’s luxorious homes. The categories are: male singers, female singers, over 25s and groups. The acts get some training and perform in front of the panel who become mentors. Each mentor chooses their 3 favourite acts and the final rounds begin.

The mentors choose the songs and help with rehearsals, the acts come up against each other and each week 1 act is voted off by the panel and telephone votes. I like watching the progress of the different acts. Some improve tremendously over the weeks and not just in the way that they sing. You can see a massive gain in confidence with some of the acts as they change from would be singing stars to performers.

Eventually a winner emerges though we might not always agree with that choice. Every year on the day of the final show there are discussions and arguments up and down the country about who we think should win. The prize is a £1m recording contract and the promise of stardom but do the X Factor winners become stars.

Steve Brookstein won the first series in 2004. After that he released a cover version of Against All Odds which became number 1 for one week in the UK single charts in January 2005. Steve released his first album Heart and Soul in May 2005 which came into the UK album charts at number 1. His record company dropped him in August 2005 after he reportedly refused to record another album of covers instead of his own material.

Steve then formed his own record label and released his second album 40,000 Things in October 2006 but it didn’t do well. Currently in September 2008 Steve is touring with the Madness musical Our House. Not so much fame and fortune as you would expect but I still like his singing.

Shayne Ward won the second series in 2005. Shayne’s first single That’s My Goal became the Christmas number one single and stayed in the top 75 for over 5 months. The single became the fourth fastest selling record of all time. After a second hit single he released his first album called Shayne Ward, which gained second place in the UK album charts.

Shayne had problems with vocal chord nodules in 2006, but fortunately they were treated successfully and he was able to continue his singing career. After releasing his autobiography ‘My Story’ Shayne completed a successful solo UK tour and after a hit from his double sided single If That’s Ok With You/No U Hang Up released his second successful album Breathless. He is currently working on a third album that is due out late 2008. Dishy Shayne has done well for himself and he certainly has the X Factor in my eyes.

Leona Lewis won the third series in 2007 and has become a big international star, certainly the most successful of the winners so far. Her first single A Moment Like This became the UK Christmas number one and sold more than the rest of the top 40 put together. It also broke the record for Internet downloads.

Leona’s first album ‘Spirit’ was released in November 2007 and became the fastest selling first album of all time in the UK and Ireland. Spirit also became the fourth fastest selling album ever. In January 2008 Spirit became the number one album in several countries worldwide and in April hit the US Billboard 200 at number one. Leona’s second album is planned for 2009 and then she goes on a world tour in 2010.

I wholeheartedly agreed with the choice of Leona as the X Factor 2007 winner. She was impressive on every show and her singing gave me goosebumps. Leona has a wonderful voice and came across as a really nice young lady. She seemed a little shy on the first few shows and although her confidence grew she never seemed to realise just how good she was.

Leon Jackson was the controversial winner of the fourth X Factor series. Scottish Leon won a lot of hearts with his cute looks, big gorgeous eyes and self-effacing manner. His singing performances never seemed to be winning performances but he still pulled it off in great style.

Leon’s first single When You Believe was the 2007 Christmas number one – that sounds familiar! His first album ‘Right Now’ is due to be released in October 2008. The highlight of his singing career so far is a joint performance at Wembley arena with his hero Michael Buble. Although Leon’s win was controversial it’s extraordinary that he didn’t start singing until not long before the X Factor auditions.

Who knows how successful Leon and the other X Factor winners will be in the future. Success isn’t guaranteed despite winning, but the television talent show and all of its competitors give winning entertainment value – including scary Ariel!

The author Patricia Jonesis the co-owner of a music information site and a music download site. Patricia has been writing reviews and articles for several years. You can find more of her work at www.bb-articles.com where you can also submit your own articles and find free content for your websites and ezines.

If you are over 40 and want to meet like minded people visit the over 40s club now.

The origin of rap started sometime in the mid 1970′s in communities thriving with people of African American and Hispanic descent who were music performers in New York city. During the foundation of rap, this genre of music was associated with a nimble style of dancing that is known today as break dancing. The term rap was derived from a slang word for conversation during the 1960s.

It generally consisted of song, usually spontaneous verses along with a range of well known recordings such as funk or disco music. Critics have condemned most rap music for its endorsement of violence and hatred of women; while others have recognized it as a creative exploitation of cultural expression and acclaim many rappers with an ardent social and political awareness.

Rap music has influenced several forms of popular culture, mainly the film industry, and has been increasingly incorporated in pop music. Some of the early rap groups include Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. Some of the more well-known rap artists include the legendary Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Ice Cube, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, and Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony.

Rap music is a form of musical poetry; the beat has rhythm and the song lyrics flow to it. The lyrics to rap songs give the listener a glimpse to a certain point of view, the lyrics describes the lives of the rapper and usually tells the listener the struggles the young black rapper had to go through in his life. Some rap song lyrics also have a dark side and most people associate rap lyrics with disrespect for women and violence because many rap lyrics talks about killing rival rappers and shooting cops. In the early 1990′s the rivalry between west coast rappers and east coast rappers claimed the lives of the two biggest rappers of their era, Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

The positive side of rap music consists of a lot of artistic value, but one has to look for it real hard. Take 2Pac (Tupac Shakur) for example, 2Pac might have had the same kind of sound as most of the so called rappers that are putting out album after album now a days, however, 2Pac was a true poet and lyricist. One could take some (not all) of his lyrics and find art within them. He chose rap to deliver his poetry through his lyrics, because that is what he was most at ease with doing.

To most people, the music is half the song; the song lyrics are just as equally important as the music. In the song lyrics to 2Pac’s Dear Mama he talks about how his mother didn’t always do the right thing but he still appreciated all the sacrifices that she had to make to raise him. Not all rap lyrics are about putting down women, shooting cops, driving Escalades and making money.

Today’s rappers may have catchy rhythms and lyrics to their music and many young people are impressed with the fancy cars and half naked girls in the videos, but it’s just all the same, in every song. Most of the songs and lyrics have the same or similar rhythm with semi-carefully placed keyboard melodies and pounding bass that’s good for dancing. So maybe it’s art in its own realm.

Author: Daniel Millions

Website: http://www.lyricloop.com – Rap Lyrics
http://www.lyricloop.com – Lyrics

Article Source: www.megamusicsite.com