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Sunday, July 5, 2009

New Found Glory's Don't You (Forget About Me) Cover Is A Breath of Hip and Youthful Air

By Timothy Q. Mason

Don't You (Forget About Me) is one of the defining songs of the 1980s, an era where some of the greatest films and soundtracks have emerged. It was originally recorded by the new wave band Simple Minds for the breakout movie The Breakfast Club. It was probably because of its relevance and brilliance that New Found Glory decided to include it in their From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II album.

The song was written by Ketih Forsey and Steve Schiff. You'd be surprised to know that this classic theme song almost did not make it to the radio because two of the original artists intended to record it (Bryan Ferry and Billy Idol) refused. Then the writers pitched it to Simple Minds who also refused to do the song. It was only after the band's record label persuasion that Simple Minds finally decided to accept.

It turned out to be a wise decision for the band. When the movie The Breakfast Club, which featured the song, was shown in theaters, it became a major hit. The song became the band's only number one hit in the United States. It was also their most famous song to date.

The song's history and haunting effect makes it the perfect cover for a pop-punk band. It would be a great irony to have a band who's used to shouting songs take on a serene, slow-paced up to the point of being haunting song from the 80s.

New Found Glory's version is very much different than the original. It did not have the eerie feel of the original's vocals. It is more hip, youthful, and, obviously, loud. It's not unexpected to hear a louder version of this song since a pop-punk band is meant to sing something loud. The vocals, though, are not impressive since there was more shouting. However, the words were loud and clear.

It was great that the band did not make any major changes with the song's melody. People would expect a band like New Found Glory to not make drastic changes in a song's melody. What's expected from them is loud, upbeat and fun music. And they did deliver that. By sticking to the original score, they were able to retain the spirit of the song but still make it their own.

Frankly speaking, there is no evident purpose in re-recording the song. Aside from being hip and more current, nothing new is given. There was not much to anticipate for instead of loud singing. There was even a growl at the bridge, which, surprisingly, is very good. It did not make the song sound weird nor it seemed awkward. Hats off to the band for pulling it off.

The song is okay. I don't dislike it but I'm not jumping in my seat either. It was good to listen to but there is nothing to get from it but a nice listening experience. - 18418

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Learn Acoustic Guitar DVD: Learn In Just A Couple Weeks

By Dexter Hodge

Understand that becoming a better guitarist means becoming a better musician as well. When developing your musical skills, make sure to think beyond skills that are specific to guitar.

Like you probably have done, I have read a ton of interviews with great players and articles written by many of these same players. I often found it frustrating whenever the subject of learning to play guitar came up or when advice was offered on improving one's playing. With a small number of exceptions, very little time and space was offered on this.

But for many people, it is a very disconcerting experience. I have gotten letters from people who have read some things I have written, and become afraid to practice! They are so aware of, and on their guard against, excess muscle tension, and the devastating effects for the developing player, they are afraid to touch a string!

Don't compare yourself to others. There is no need to do this anyway. Music should not be a competitive sport among people, only within yourself. Compare yourself only in relation to where you are in your strategy! Are you on your way to reaching your next short term and medium term goal towards your ultimate goals? Are you on schedule, does your strategy need to be revised?

As I have said, some people become paralyzed, afraid to play, afraid of undoing work done in practice sessions by what they do when they play. And for those who play professionally, it is of course, absolutely necessary that they continue to play, even if they are doing "remedial" work on their technique.

Chopin's natural ability was his ability to improvise. He was the master, but he worked very hard to become the virtuoso pianist that he would later become. Chopin also was the master at small forms, but struggled with large scale forms.

Knowing the fact that the approach you use to learn the guitar is the key-determining factor in your success or failure to actually learn, this conclusion follow:

I believe "Self Expression" is the pinnacle of all art. Anything less, "is less" in my opinion. I'm not going to debate that view or try to persuade any of you to also believe it. Instead I am going to assume you already hold that view and discuss ways in which I may be able to offer you both philosophical and practical advice. - 18418

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Love Story is Taylor Swift's Tribute To Young Love

By Stevie Clark

Taylor Swift, despite her young age, has proven herself in the music scene as a talented singer/songwriter. In such a short span of time, she was able to gain the respect and praise not only of her fans but by her peers in the music industry as well. As a matter of fact, she managed to bag the Album of the Year award at the most recent Academy of Country Music Awards.

When she broke out in the music scene, Taylor Swift immediately showed great potential to be a certified hit maker. Due also to the fact that she writes her songs and she plays the guitar well, she was able to sell herself a true-blue country music artist. This she proved once again when she made a big hit out of the first single of her second album Love Story.

Love Story is from the Fearless album. It talks about a young forbidden love. In it, the girl (obviously Taylor since she tells her story through her songs) is struggling to be with her Romeo which her daddy doesn't approve of. She sings about going somewhere they can be alone; where she will be the princess and he, the prince.

She narrates how she met Romeo at a dance, where he made his way through a crowd just to say hello to her. Since Daddy doesn't want her to be with Romeo, she sneaks out to the garden to rendezvous with her love and begs him not to go away.

Because people were telling her what to feel, Juliet struggles with the external pressure and her deep feelings for Romeo. She remains true to her love and is hopeful that one day they will be together. However, just like most romances are destined to be, she starts to lose faith because she got tired of waiting for Romeo.

Using the characters of the classic Shakespearian play Romeo and Juliet was a wise move for the singer/songwriter. This made the song more appealing to the audience because they will be able to understand the song better. Who doesn't know the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet? Alluding the characters of this classic added more appeal to the story of the song. It adds to the aesthetic value of the song.

However, it doesn't matter if you relate to the message of the song clearly or not. This is one of the case where you take a song in its entireity. It's undeniable, the song sounds great. Good writing combined with great melody and interpretation.

Love Story is one great song. It was written and interpreted very well. Good writing combined with great music and excellent interpretation. Nothing else needs to be said. Taylor Swift creates a love anthem with this one. - 18418

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Learn To Play Guitar DVD: Repeat Your Lessons Many Times As You Need To

By Robert Fanene

It seems strange to me how many incorrect assumptions and teachings there are about becoming a better guitarist. Here is one thing that is NOT true.

You know what everyone says, "Teaching yourself is the best way to be original". This is so obviously false its hard to believe that anyone could actually believe it - yet some people still do. Don't fall into the trap of thinking this is the best way to learn.

Listening and studying the music of great classical composers inspired me to study music composition. I wanted to write great music. Watching the movie Star Wars when I was a kid, reading Lord of the Rings, etc. inspired me as well.

Doing that alone won't work well and even if it does eventually work, it will take 10 times aslong! Besides, how will you know if what you are trying to do is original if you don't learn about what has already been done?

If you are wondering why I haven't given you a detailed explanation of the strategies I used in the past, it would be pointless for me to tell you what my strategy was, because it was specific only to my goals. Chances are, your goals may differ greatly from mine in many different ways.

People ask, "should I stop playing everything I am used to playing, until I get rid of all my bad habits"? Well, if you have a lot more discipline than I have, go ahead and do that! If you can stand not making music for months, go ahead, but I don't recommend it.

They start to feel like that song by Al Yankovich, "Everything You Know Is Wrong". They realize that even though they may have been playing for 25 years, there are certain really fundamental things they have never known, and if they did know them from the beginning, everything would have gone differently for them in their growth as guitarists.

Well, that is the truth. That is the message I am always trying to get across. I am always trying to convey to people that if you have tried to learn the guitar and failed, it is not you, it is the approach to it all that is at fault. If you are stuck at a certain level of development, it is not you, it is your approach that is keeping you there. Change the approach, and you will create different results. I know this is a fact, because I do it every day, for myself, and for others. - 18418

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Guitar Instructional DVD: Focus On The Essentials

By Mike Crocker

Like you probably have done, I have read a ton of interviews with great players and articles written by many of these same players. I often found it frustrating whenever the subject of learning to play guitar came up or when advice was offered on improving one's playing. With a small number of exceptions, very little time and space was offered on this.

Surround yourself with better players (or at least with those on your same level.) When you started out playing guitar, everyone was better than you, but now you have grown and there are less people better than you than before. The better you get, the harder it will be to find others who are superior to you to hang around or jam with.

Remember that its ok to daydream and fantasize about where you are planning to go, but it can't stop there. Don't wish without planning! Don't dream without doing! And always, always, have a strategy.

Create a strategy! You need a strategy that will layout exactly how you are going to reach your goals. Dreaming alone won't take you anywhere. Telling yourself that you are going to play your guitar everyday isn't enough. There is a lot more that goes into being an excellent player than simply playing your guitar.

Ultimately you should work backwards. State your ultimate goals (on paper) then make a bunch of short and medium range goals. Think of reaching your goals as a relay race, NOT as a marathon. Each short term and medium term goal is the end of one segment of your plan and the beginning of the next segment (just like a relay race.) There are many benefits of looking at things this way as you will discover for yourself in your own way.

I notice the finger responsible for playing that note is the third finger. It is not getting to the note because it is going up in the air in reaction to the second finger being used right before it in that particular scale passage. In other words, it is tensing in reaction to the movement of it's neighboring finger, and I have not been paying attention to it. I realize this is a bad habit that pervades my playing, a third finger that tenses up in reaction to the use of the second finger.

You can undo bad habits you have learned along the way. You can begin the process of undoing bad habits right away, when you begin to acquire the correct understandings, and use the approaches based on them.

Bar chords are what I am referring to. I am going to address the physical, technical aspects of learning these chords in a way that will enable you to avoid the difficulties that attend the learning of them for most players. - 18418

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