Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with music and resolved

Please find this song for us.

multivalent — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:32:56 -0800

Findthatsongfilter: Lyrics containing "die together"...we think! My girlfriend is looking for a song that was released around a year ago and got some radio play. Have googled the lyrics so the phrasing may not be exact. Song was indie ish lyrical and ballady. Male singer. Sorry this is all so vague; this question is as much wanting to know the song as to demonstrate the power of the hive mind to the unconverted.

Thanks for your help.

Is there decent music gear for kids?

ejoey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:04:51 -0800

I've got a ~1 year old baby that seems to really like music, especially hip hop and electronic type beats, and I'm wondering if there exists any cool and relatively "babyproof" music gear? It seems like most baby music toys default to awful lite-reggae and kids standards which quickly drive me insane. I'm hoping for something like functions like a simplified version of this with palatable built in sound effects or even maybe the ability to load your own sounds. My own searching has turned up nothing so far beyond iPhone apps. Is this a pipe dream?

What does this song sound like

rebent — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:28:49 -0800

What song does the intro to this song my friend wrote sound like? It is not from napoleon dynamite or a wes anderson movie (I checked). Maybe it is from an iPod commercial from a few years ago? Please help me out! It's driving me nuts!

An Aeolian Christmas?

bryon — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:37:25 -0800

Music theory meets Christmas filter: I have been a good musician in my day, but my training was long on how to do it and woefully short on theory. I'm curious about the Christmas music that sounds like it's in a minor key (i.e., "Watchman Tell Us of the Night," "We Three Kings," "O Come, O Come Emanuel"). I have read that these pieces are written in Aeolian mode, but that source was quite brief and unhelpful. Can someone walk me through these songs? This question is interesting but doesn't go far enough in my direction.

"This is the..." forgotten song!

broadway bill — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:46:44 -0800

ForgottenSongFilter: I am trying to help a friend recall a song, with dismal results (so far). All we know is that it is a hip hop/R&B/radio-pop type song, likely from the mid-1990s, with a female vocal in the chorus. The chorus is something along the lines of "This is the..." with a spelled out phrase following that, likely beginning with the letter L. There may or may not be "party sounds" in the background. HELP!?!

Onoken off again

citywolf — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:50:40 -0800

Recommend goa trance and digital hardcore musical acts (similar to Onoken)? Friend of mine recently discovered Onoken and CANNOT get enough. What similar musical acts can you recommend?

Wikipedia classifies Onoken as "goa trance" and "digital hardcore."
An example of one of his songs is here (SLYT). (This particular song is a favorite of his.)

Friend says he likes the stuff most that focuses on strings and synth.

Wading through the VU bootlegs

ryanshepard — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:11:47 -0800

What are the best Velvet Underground bootlegs in terms of sound / performance quality? I'm interested in picking a few more up via blogs like The Nuns Are On The Sea Wall, but want to aim first for those with high sound/performance quality. Can any VU collectors out there point me in the right direction?

Who designed this dress?

Joe Beese — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:11:57 -0800

Who designed the gorgeous dress Anne-Sophie Mutter wears on the cover of her box of Mozart sonatas and related DVD?

Too much music! I should have such a problem...

chez shoes — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:39:12 -0800

Perl script to manage enormous, and growing, music library? First things first - I am not a programmer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have some SQL and Perl knowledge (more SQL, less Perl). And, I'm willing to learn more.

The problem: 1000's of MP3 files. Some are duplicates (and triplicates) from compilation albums, some have really bad metadata. What I'd like to do is run a script that will pull all the dupes into a file, so I can see how bad it is. Then, in the interest of saving space, I'd like to delete all redundancies. And further, I'd like to be able to manipulate the metadata - normalize such things as &/and, bulk-change misspellings, etc.

If a tried and true script to do this sort of thing exists, can you point me to it? Thanks in advance.

Help for a musically challenged future guitar player

nokry56 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:25:56 -0800

Want to learn to play the guitar. Recently discovered the guitar I have is classical, not western acoustic. Can I still learn how I want? And other questions from a non-musical dreamer. I picked up a 1984 Garcia classical guitar. It was free so I can't complain, but I was somewhat disappointed when I realized it wasn't what I envisioned (steel string Western). I'd rather stick with what I have than investing money into another hobby I'm not fully committed to, but if I have to, I have to.

Here are my basic questions, which I haven't been able to find a solid answer on.

-Eventually I want to buy a steel string acoustic, but for now can I learn on this guitar then easily transfer my knowledge over to a Western style if I enjoy it as much as I expect?

-Should I use a pick? I know I COULD but is it proper?

-Do you strum on a classical or just finger pick one string or something?

-Will the beginners course located here work for learning how to play? The lessons seem oriented towards a steel string, and I'm not musical enough to know if it matters. What particular things should I look out for that I'll have to do differently with a classical?

-I plan to buy a kapo. Are there different kinds for steel strings vs. classical?

Any other advice/lesson sources, thoughts, explanations are welcome. I know nothing about music but am pretty motivated to learn the guitar.

I want to make my own Geogaddi

tumples — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:42:08 -0800

Where do I start if I want to make my own electronic music? Like many, many people I love music. My tastes have always been pretty rock based, but in the past couple of years I have branched off into the amazing world of 'electronic' music and I am pretty much hooked. However, I also play bass and half of the fun for me about music is imagining how I would create the tracks I am listening to, or blend everything I like together into one sound that I could label as my own.
Making music with a guitar is very easy, just plug in and play whatever you like, but when it comes to electronic music I have no idea where to start, or even how my favourite musicians do what they do.

What software, hardware or otherwise would you recommend so that I could start combining the ideas in my head with the instruments and techniques that my favourite artists use?

For reference, when I talk about electronic music (which I know is a massive and largely useless term), I am talking about acts like:
Four Tet
Amon Tobin
Burial
Boards of Canada
Bonobo
Fila Brazilia
Nightmares on Wax

These artists all create a lot of atmosphere, dozens of layers of foundation beats and melodies, all with the general aim of creating a feel and mood as opposed to a fast soulless dance record etc.

Thanks!

Who'd you rather be; The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?

Lorc — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:50:03 -0800

The song Gimme Sympathy by Metric has a line: "After all of this is gone, who'd you rather be; the Beatles or the Rolling Stones." What would you interpret that to mean? What characteristic of those bands is being contrasted here? Googling suggests that there was some Beatles/Stones dichotomy, but I'm not 100% clear on how it relates to that lyric.

I've sussed that the later lyric "play me something like Here Comes The Sun" is a reference to that Beatles song, so are The Beatles the "right" choice? Maybe?

Sorry for overthinking a plate of beans, but you know how when one line of a song sticks in your mind?

Full lyrics for the song are in the linked vid's description.

Music for a good mourning

b33j — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:18:53 -0800

Copyright issues with memorial DVDs? I recently produced a DVD of photographs and music for a friend of a friend's funeral. None of the photographs were professional, but the music was from my personal collection of mp3s. As I was not paid for this, I didn't give it a second thought. Now, however, the funeral director has contacted me asking whether I can provide this service to his clients. What issues are there with scanning professional photos (there's bound to be a couple in every set) and buying music to use as a soundtrack? Where do I start to look for this information? If the client provides me with the mp3s to embed, is that okay?

I'm in Australia and I have read the 31 music + copyright questions

What kinds of music does London deserve credit for?

yankeefog — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:50:49 -0800

What musicians would you consider to be London musicians? I'm not talking about people who have merely passed through London to do a few gigs or record an album -- otherwise, you'd have to list everybody who ever recorded at Abbey Road! Instead, I'm looking for folks whose work grew out of the city's cultural scene in some real way, whether London natives like Dizzee Rascals or transplants like George Frideric Handel. More broadly, what styles of music originated (entirely or partially) in London? I know about grime and dubstep--what others are there? (As the Handel example probably suggests, I'm equally interested in historical and contemporary examples.)

Stellar Concert Performances on DVD

netbros — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:46:11 -0800

What are the live performance concert DVDs that stun you with their excellence and excitement? I recently purchased The Way Up concert DVD by the Pat Metheny Group and found it mesmerizing. The combined talent, the cohesiveness and preparation of PMG on this particular tour is astounding. Surely there is other contemporary live concert footage on DVD that is equally inspiring.

While I am a big fan of jazz, I'm an even bigger fan of music in general. Just about anything that is stellar from a tight, talented individual or group is what I'm looking for.

Please suggest your favorite live concert performances.

What did Elvis Costello say about Boston?

ibmcginty — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:06:37 -0800

At 2:15 of this brief clip, the interviewer asks Elvis Costello if he wants to defend what he'd said in Newsweek about Boston (the band, I'm pretty sure, given her exchange with Nick Lowe starting at 1:58). I've been unable to figure out on the Google just what was said about Boston; can you tell me?

MP3 Needle in Music Library Hay Stack

StimulatingPixels — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:35:58 -0800

I need a little help finding a song in my music library. I've got a pretty large music library and am trying to find a song that's in there somewhere, but I don't know the name or artist. Here's what I do know:

I'm 99% sure it came from one of the SXSW MP3 samplers that are available. I'm less certain of which one, but for some reason think it was either the 2006 or 2008 sampler.

The song has a bit of a story-telling feel to it.

It talks about Adam and Eve and there's mentions of tangling DNA.

One of the lines is something about never having seen a lion lay down with a lamb.

I'm pretty sure Darwin is mentioned by name.

Anybody know the tune I'm talking about, or at least the artist that I can look for?

Much appreciated.

(Aside: if you want a wide variety of legal free music, search around for "SXSW Showcasing Music Torrents". Between all the years, it's 4,000+ songs.)

Tunes for toddlers: Help me find music that provides 'instant gratification' for my 2 year old

dimon — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:54:10 -0800

Tunes for toddlers: Help me find music that provides 'instant gratification' for my 2 year old I have a little toddler who, like all toddlers, has a short attention span but loves music.

The other MeFi threads about music for toddlers have been really really helpful to me - especially because I have very narrow knowledge of (and quite dreadful taste in) music.

However, my son only gives a song a moment to allow him to fall in love with it. Otherwise he demands another song. Occasionally, I'm not at the iPod quick enough, and then he does listen to another song, and this can lead to him liking the new song too. Eg this happened with Sound of the Underground (girls aloud) which randomly led onto Banana Pancakes (jack johnson). I wish this would happen more often, and I'd like to create that opportunity for him more. But my music knowledge is just not deep enough.

Soooo, I was wondering if there are - specifically - songs that your children loved INSTANTLY? Tunes which have great intros (eg Jailhouse Rock/ Dancing in the moonlight) or a initial strong beat (Sound of the Underground (Girls Aloud) or That's Not My Name (Ting Tings)), or other things, like an interesting voice, or weird noises etc.

I do have a few of these tunes already - alot of Elvis stuff, Beach Boys, some TMBG stuff but then I started struggling and now he also loves Ghostbusters, Eye of the Tiger and far far too much Abba! So please help if you can. It's also helping me discover a love for music that I never knew I had!

Name that vaguely show-tuney tune

miriam — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:53:40 -0800

What song plays over the closing credits in the last episode of The Simpsons? It's season 21, episode 6, "Pranks and Greens," guest-starring Jonah Hill. The song starts around 20:47 here. We thought maybe it was Holst, Vaughan Williams, or Gilbert & Sullivan, but can't identify it. I don't see any mention of it in the closing credits or in the googles.

The fish part, I'm sure of.

Solon and Thanks — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:52:06 -0800

Argh! Please help me figure out this song fragment stuck in my head based on a clue or two. I heard it on the radio during a commercial. The song had an upbeat indie-pop sound. Male singer. I'm unsure of the lyrics I heard, but they involved blind/deaf/other disability blowfish (or other kind of fish.) I think the next part was "just doing their own thing" or "doing" something. I've tried googling a combination of the above lyrics, but clearly no dice.

I'm hoping that indie songs involving disabled fish are rare enough that the above will ring a bell.

Tell me your memorable, exciting learning experiences!

Cygnet — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:10:31 -0800

What are the most fun, memorable, interesting, exciting, and long-lasting learning experiences you have had? I'm talking about academic-type learning here, not "life learning", though I realize that sometimes the two are intertwined. I'm interested in things you did that made a subject, era in history, scientific principle, work of literature, or whatever come alive. The opposite of dry, textbook learning and cramming for tests. Engaging, open-ended, low-pressure, and, most of all, deeply memorable - the kind of learning that really gives you a lasting fondness for the subject.

Examples of the kind of thing I mean:
1. When I was 13 I toured the Castle of Edinburgh, and they had a fantastic audio tour that made me fall in love with the dark and mysterious history of the castle - and the whole region.
2. In high school, I took a European History class that put on a Greek Olympics (complete with Greek drama and hand-made masks, home-made Greek food, sporting events, traditional offerings to the Gods), a Welsh Eisteddfod (poetry, daffodils, Welsh music), and a Sienese Palio (with teams, bribing of the judges, sonnets for each mascot, traditional food, Italian art and architecture), and a Victorian Tea (with Oscar Wilde skits, appropriate outfits and food, Gilbert and Sullivan, and appropriate social and political discussions for the era). Totally memorable.
3. As a kid, I had the magnificent Classical Kids tapes, which introduced music history and the greatest works in story-form, with amazingly good quality acting and musicianship.
4. Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" videos, and Lawrence Blair's "Ring of Fire" videos - informative, beautiful, and memorable.

What other things, places, and experiences would you suggest? I'm interested in pretty much anything, but bonus points for things that are possible for me, a not-so-wealthy female graduate student (in the sciences) in Boston, to do without heroic measures. Even more bonus points if friends could participate in said learning.

Looking for an alternative nightclub in chicago

bwilms — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:22:50 -0800

Going to chicago this weekend and would like something other than the standard club. Where should I go? My wife is headed to Chicago with some friends and wants to go dancing Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night. She's looking for a place that plays more indie/alternative/80's dance music and not the standard clubbing stuff. I have heard that there isn't much, but NEONightclub.

Sheet music for Eileen Ivers' Bygone Days

jaden — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:59:00 -0800

My Mom loves the Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection and would like the piano accompaniment for track 2, Bygone Days by Eileen Ivers. Her birthday is in late December and I'd like to buy it for her, if I can find it. I've searched all the sheet music sites I've found but my Google/Bing-fu has failed me. All I've located is the same song (track 3) on Crossing the Bridge and a live version of the song on YouTube.

It's possible the song was written by someone else and only performed by Ivers, but the only alternate version I've found by Rudolf Friml is a different song.

Does anyone know where I could look (or if it exists)?

Where can I find easy to learn tin whistle music online?

emperor.seamus — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:14:52 -0800

Does anyone know where I can find short or easy songs for the tin whistle online? I've spontaneously decided I want to play the tin whistle, however, I have an infamously short attention span and I'd ideally like to be able to play something just about bearable sounding within about two weeks.

I know that this isn't how learning to play musical instruments works, and I have got a couple of songs that I'm practicing in the hopes that I won't lose interest really quickly, but just in case, are there any spectacularly easy songs that might encourage me into sticking with it? And if so, where can I find them?

The Birth of Rock and Roll

netbros — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:50:03 -0800

What was the really good music of the fifties and sixties? Even though I am a child of the fifties, I didn't really start paying attention to music until I was in high school in the late sixties. I know... my head was somewhere else.

So what did I miss? Who were the really good groups, bands, singers, musicians and songwriters of the fifties and sixties? It's never too late to learn and enjoy.