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Saturday, August 14, 2021
The Beach Boys, The #16 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two
Friday, August 13, 2021
The Beach Boys, The #16 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One
"The Beach Boys are awesome!"
"One of the best bands ever."
"The Beach Boys are an American institution."
"I just love listening to these guys."
"Brian Wilson is a musical genius."
"Legends".
"Magnifique!"
"Genius is in style in any era."
"The Beach Boys had an outstanding sound."
"Amazing, legendary band."
"The best vocals of all-time in my opinion."
"Immortal."
"The masters of vocal harmony."
"Long live the Beach Boys!"
"Their music gives me chills."
"They were trailblazers."
"It is so beautiful how the Beach Boys harmonized."
"Pure magic."
"Some of the best harmonies ever."
"This music is so phenomenal."
"The best songwriters are the ones who can make complicated melodies and harmonies appear simple, accessible, and singable. Brian Wilson does that in spades."
"Their entire catalog is timeless."
"The Beach Boys are at the tippy top of best artists ever."
"Their harmony and songs were iconic."
"Awesome vocals. Makes the soul cry."
"Their music appeals to all ages and generations."
"Such beautiful harmonies. I love their sound."
"Phenomenal, iconic band."
Their innovative harmonies broadened popular music and influenced thousands of groups. They worked magic in the studio, and were one of the only groups popular prior to 1964 to withstand the Beatles' onslaught.
After listening to songs on the radio in Inglewood, California, 16-year-old Brian Wilson would teach brothers Dennis (13) and Carl (11) how to sing background harmonies. Such is the childhood of a genius. Brian received a reel-to-reel tape recorder for his birthday and he learned how to overdub, using the vocals of he and Carl and their mother.
Brian's first-such song was Surfin'". The Wilsons' father, Murry, was a songwriter and he helped the group at times, but was physically abusive and would undermine them in the years to come. Murry set up a meeting between the Pendletones and his publisher, Hite Morgan.
Besides surfing, the other passion was hot rods, and the group found plenty of inspiration for both. The flip side got airplay as well. Brian wrote "409" with Gary Usher, who told Songfacts:
Thursday, August 12, 2021
U2, The #17 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Six
(Continued from Part Five)
The video for "Vertigo" chalked up five nominations at the MTV VMA's, including Best Group Video and Breakthrough Video.
“Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” is another song about the relationship between Bono and his father, who died of cancer in 2001.
The band once again floored audiences on the Vertigo Tour, selling 4.6 million tickets and grossing $389 million, the second-highest grossing tour at that time.
In 2005, Bruce Springsteen inducted U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and U2 won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Musical Group or Band and another People's Choice in 2006 for Favorite Tour Artist.
In between albums, U2 performed with Mary J. Blige for their own cover of "One", featured on Blige's album, The Breakthrough. The superstars were nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the Grammy Awards.
The band released the collaboration U2 18 Singles in 2006, which earned them Grammy nominations for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (for "Window In The Skies") and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (for their remake of John Lennon's "Instant Karma!").
For the accompanying tour, the band performed "in the round" on a circular stage with a four-legged structure nicknamed "The Claw" built above the stage, which included a sound system and an expanding video screen on top. The Claw was 164 feet tall, the largest stage ever constructed.
The group recorded "Winter" for the movie Brothers, which was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards.
U2 closed the decade second only to the Rolling Stones in total concert grosses. They were the only band among the top 25 touring acts of the decade to sell out every show they played.
The 360° Tour from 2009-2011 is the most-attended and highest-grossing concert tour in history, with 7.2 million people spending a total of $736 million. In 2011, U2 won a Billboard Music Award for Top Touring Artist and were nominated for Top Duo or Group. They earned Top Touring Artist again in 2012 and were nominated for a People's Choice Award for Favorite Tour Headliner.
From The Sky Down, a documentary about U2 and the making of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, was nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
U2 released the album Songs of Innocence in 2014, with the album reaching the Top 10 in every major country and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. Many of the tracks are about the group's experiences in Dublin before making it big.
In 2014, the Grammy Awards inducted the 1987 album The Joshua Tree into their Hall of Fame. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree, U2 performed the album in its entirety at each show of their 2017 tour.
U2 has 32 career hits to their credit, with five reaching the Top 10 and two #1 songs. That's not as many as some of the ones just down the countdown, but they more than make up for it with a plethora of superb album tracks.
According to CBS News, U2 has sold over 170 million albums worldwide. Heading into their album Songs of Innocence, the group has a winning streak of 12 consecutive Platinum studio albums.
They have won 22 Grammy Awards (from an astounding 47 nominations), more than any group in history, four MTV Video Music Awards from 29 nominations, two People's Choice Awards out of three nominations, two Billboard Music Awards from five nominations, two Golden Globe Awards from five nominations and one American Music Award. U2 has also been nominated for two Academy Awards.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
U2, The #17 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Five
U2 released an experimental album later in the year called Original Soundtracks 1, which they credited to "Passengers" to distinguish it from other material by the group. Luciano Pavarotti sang the opera solo on "Miss Sarajevo". Bono later not only produced a documentary based on Sarajevo's underground resistance movement but he also donated funds towards the project.
U2 performed at Madison Square Garden in the televised special America: A Tribute to Heroes. In 2002, less than five months after the attacks, U2 performed during halftime of Super Bowl XXXVI, with the names of victims displayed in the background. At the conclusion of their performance, Bono opened his jacket to show an American flag in the lining. USA Today ranked U2's performance as the best halftime show in Super Bowl history.
U2 continued to be recognized at the Grammy Awards in 2002 and 2003. "Elevation" won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was nominated for Best Rock Song, while "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" earned Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and was nominated for Song of the Year, "Walk On" took Record of the Year and was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and All That You Can't Leave Behind won a trophy for Best Rock Album and was nominated for Album of the Year.