"Hips Don't Lie" - Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean [Groovin' It Up]

Good day my musical darlings! Are you ready to kick it up a bit this week?
So far we've covered a bit of rock and a bit of country, so this week we're going for some exciting dance tunes!

As it came out in 2006 and was a major chart-topper for several years, I'm going to assume that most of you have heard Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" before. Promise not to think less of me for having not really stopped to listen to it until recently? That very fact is what makes me want to blog about it. I love the fact that a song is prevalent enough for me to make me drag it out of the woodwork and feature it six years later! How many songs can claim to have such an impact?

It's truly the cultural influences that make this song what it is. Shakira brings her Colombian heritage and her Arabic dance interests, plus Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean- this song is a real schmorgasbord of culture. Shakira herself is a cultural craze! Did you know she speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently, plus bits of Arabic, French, Catalan, and Italian? If only I were that good! I'm barely keeping up with college French!

Choreography is really Shakira's strong suit. Her voice is unique and beautiful, but her body is her most-used instrument. I've seen Moroccan belly-dancers who don't manage to captivate me as much as this woman does! She manages to take something as ethnically significant as belly-dancing and twist it to incorporate her Spanish costuming and hip-hop interest. She has excellent control over muscle isolation- the ability to move a singular part of one's body without moving others. Go ahead and try it. Hold up your hand and try to curl one finger into a full fist position without moving any other muscles. Hard? Stand up and try moving your hips from side to side without moving your torso at all. It's crazy how hard muscle isolation is! But Shakira is a master.

Not only can the lady dance, she can sing as well. Her strong vibrato is what sets her apart from other musicians. She puts emotion into her voice, but doesn't overdo it. Have you ever heard someone try to be emotional and hit sixteen notes without taking a breath OR changing their syllable? Some folks like that, but for me, it's a bit of a pet peeve. I love artists like Shakira who can add even more feeling to their music without driving me away by overdoing it.

Of course, madame Shakira isn't the only talented one here. In this song, her lovely voice is balanced with the smooth operations of Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean. Having not heard most of his music before, I can't say much about his overall talent, but I can definitely say that he did a good job with this one. Just look at the list of things he says during the song! He brings in a "gangster" opening like any American rap star, but also manages to throw in his Haitian accent and even pick up bits and pieces of the Spanish influence when he calls Shakira "senorita", among a few other Spanish words. All of this in addition to the African drums- that part speaks to me personally, since I actually do play world hand drums in my spare time. I love hearing ethnic drumming! Most of us feel and sound out of place when we're not in our own comfort zone culture. Wyclef Jean and Shakira both get ten stars for their ability to just flow from feel to feel without a thought. That's what makes their music appeal to all of us.

If you're not busy, you should also watch the "Bamboo" version of the song used for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Linked here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op3XAETs9Io
It's a tad bit different, but equally as amazing in quality. From the very sound of the audience's voices echoing from around the world, you can tell taht this song reaches everyone. I can't stress enough how amazing that is.

Ladies, can I give you a tip? Next time you're cleaning, put on a skirt and let this song play in the background. Sing along, don't be afraid to dance around while you do it. It's a great way to exercise, and it's just plain fun. Don't we all need some of that sometimes?
I know, I know, I sound like a crazy person. Just try it. You might be surprised by how much fun you have!

Well, time for this web editor to step away from the keyboard and  try out her dancing skills!

Tune in next week for your fix of Additive Noise!

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"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum [For The Ones Who Need It]

Welcome back to Additive Noise.

Boys and girls, this one's one of my favorites. I honestly don't listen to a lot of Lady Antebellum, but someone recommended this song to me because I needed it, and it's proved to be one of those songs that just helps me through. Sure, it makes me miserable, but sometimes you need a good cry, you know? It's in the title. Need You Now.

First things first, the lyrics make this song. They're quite simple, very direct. You don't have to think about what this or that means, or translating symbolism. No questions. No sitting there thinking about why or how, it's just a feeling. I need you now. That's easy enough for everyone to understand.

The song's theme is equally simple and universal. Everyone gets hurt, and everyone copes differently, but we all feel the same sometimes. The song itself proves that. As two vocalists, one male and one female, sing the same choruses, you get to hear two sides to the story. She waits by the phone and looks at old pictures, he tries to move on with alcohol.

The chorus is particularly memorable. "It's quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now". Does anyone else get depressed easily at wee hours of the morning? Personally I find that I get upset far more often late at night than during the day. "Said I wouldn't call, but I lost all control and I need you now." I've fallen asleep clutching my phone before, hovering on his number, unwilling to press the send button. Sometimes you just have to fight with yourself. "And I don't know how I can do without- I just need you now." It doesn't make sense, there's no reason to it- it's just the basic human emotion. Need. I need you. Almost as if I don't feel the same without you, something's wrong and you don't know what.

This song resonates within every one of us at some point.

Music-wise, the song is...well, it definitely strikes a chord. While there may be many instruments, the entire song is carried on eight simple piano notes. They appear at the beginning and end of the song, isolated, clear. The mix of six major "good" notes and two minor "bad" ones captures the bittersweet essence of the song, and I don't know about anyone else, but those piano notes sound like teardrops to me.

The quiet but rhythmic guitar in the background keeps things going, and the slight electric guitar solo keeps a sad melody line moving throughout the piece. It keeps the mood where it's supposed to be, restricting the song from becoming something it's not.

Trivia fact: Lady Antebellum, though consisting of only three members, used nince performers to officially produce the track.

Call it a guilty pleasure song, but this song speaks to people. Even if you're not a huge fan of country music, this one's for you. Having won eleven out of sixteen American music awards in the past two years, plus having broken several significant award-holding records...well, I'll just let that speak for itself.

So next time you need it, when you feel like making a late-night phone call you'll regret in the morning- know that we've all been there and the music industry has proved it.

Speaking of needing things, I believe I need lunch.

Tune in next week for more Additive Noise!

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"Tonight" - Seether [Let's Get This Started]

Well hello there my lovely readers. Welcome to today's episode of Additive Noise. It took me a while to decide what song I was going to use to start off my music blog, and I really think I've found the perfect song. My choice? "Tonight", by Seether.

Now for those of you who don't know anything about the band, I beg you not to wander off believing that you couldn't possibly like a hard rock band. Even if you've never joined the rock scene before, this is a good song to start with. But first, some background!

One of the things most people don't know about Seether as a band is that they are from Pretoria, South Africa. But do they sound any different than most American rock bands? In essence, no. They've managed to bridge a cultural gap with amazing finesse. However, I firmly believe that their history influences their music more than we realize. They grew together doing club and university venue concerts, and supporting more well-known artists such as Evanescence, even after their first release. Many of their songs such as "Fur Cue" and "Fake It" are very bitter, a reflection of the negativity that surrounds them. However, when I first heard "Tonight", I replayed it ten times, just to hear that even a group like Seether can have a happy moment.

The song begins with a very important verse: "I'm not gonna waste this, this opportunity's mine- I'm sick of complaining about a beautiful life". This is excellent. Don't we all need to hear that now and then? Or at least be reminded that there is a positive light if we choose to view it? All of our lives are beautiful, and to waste such a gift would be terrible. Now and then, everyone's got to just roll their windows down and blast music as loud as they want. Sing like no one can hear you, dance like there's no one watching. Live life to the fullest!

"I feel so alive tonight, you got me feelin' sublime- I wanna yell it from the rooftops down".

Yell. Yell it from the rooftops, tell the world how you feel! Remind yourself that you are truly alive, and don't let anyone forget it!

Of course, even a leading rock band knows that it's not always hunky-dory out there in the real world. The comparison of sugar and cyanide, wondering 'how did we get here' and 'do we pretend everything's alright'- these lyrical cues tell us one thing clearly. You can do it. No matter what, no matter if you feel like you're just pretending, your sugar and cyanide are gonna collide. Life is a roller coaster, but you'll learn to just yell it from the rooftops and not let it overcome you.

Now about that literal music....

The real driving force behind this song is the powerhouse rhythm guitar. The lead guitar's tense melody keeps things edgy, but the constant and quick-paced rhythm guitar keeps the listeners...well, listening. It's strong, steady, and the music itself holds up the 'keep going' theme. The drums work well with it, providing a steady bass for support as well as some lighter deviation (just to keep it interesting).
Shaun Morgan's vocals are a bit weak at first, but the minute he hits the chorus, you can tell he knows what he's singing in his soul. That's one of Morgan's strong points. If nothing else, he really can feel his music. Seether is one of those groups that isn't quite as good live as they are in the studio, but Morgan's magic voice just makes the performance anyway.

So there you have it, kids. Add this one to your "bad day" playlist, and keep it handy for those moments when you need something to keep you going. Remember, sugar and cyanide are gonna collide, but don't let that get in the way of your opportunity for a beautiful life.

YELL IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS DOWN!

This is Rebecka McAleer with Additive Noise, signing off.

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