Thursday, May 29, 2025

This was #1 song in Japan "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/5NzfqW_Yt6Y?si=aMzqBw8FALGQsggL 

"Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" is a song by Japanese hip-hop group Creepy Nuts, released in January 2024. It became a viral hit, particularly known for its use as the opening theme for the anime series Mashle: Magic and Muscles. The song's energetic and catchy style, combined with the anime's popularity, has made it a global phenomenon.

What is vocaloid

Gemini: 
Vocaloid is a revolutionary singing voice synthesizer software developed by Yamaha Corporation. It allows users to create synthesized singing by simply inputting lyrics and a melody. Essentially, it turns your computer into a vocalist.
Here's a deeper dive into Vocaloid:
How Vocaloid Works
At its core, Vocaloid uses specially recorded vocal samples from real voice actors or singers. These samples form "voice banks" that users can purchase and load into the Vocaloid editor software. To create a song:
 * Input Melody: Users typically use a piano-roll interface to input the musical notes and their durations, much like composing with a traditional MIDI keyboard.
 * Input Lyrics: For each note, users type in the corresponding lyrics.
 * Refinement and Effects: The software allows for extensive manipulation of the voice. Users can adjust parameters like pronunciation stress, vibrato, dynamics, tone, and even add effects like doubling and harmony parts to create a more natural or unique vocal track.
 * AI Integration (Vocaloid6 and beyond): Newer versions, like Vocaloid6, incorporate AI technology (VOCALOID:AI) to generate even more expressive and natural-sounding singing voices. This allows for greater freedom in manipulating accents, rhythmic feel, and other nuances. Some voice banks can even handle multilingual lyrics (Japanese, English, Chinese) within a single track.
History of Vocaloid
 * Early Development (2000-2003): Yamaha began developing the technology in March 2000, initially codenamed "Daisy." It was first publicly announced at the Musikmesse trade fair in Germany in March 2003.
 * First Commercial Release (2004): The first commercial Vocaloid products were released in 2004, initially with English voice banks (Leon, Lola, Miriam by Zero-G) and Japanese voice banks (Meiko and Kaito by Yamaha, sold by Crypton Future Media).
 * The "Boom" with Hatsune Miku (2007): The true explosion of Vocaloid's popularity came with the release of Hatsune Miku by Crypton Future Media in August 2007. Miku was marketed with an anime-style avatar, which resonated deeply with internet users and creators.
 * Continued Evolution: Subsequent versions of the software and new voice banks (Vocaloid2, Vocaloid3, Vocaloid4, Vocaloid5, Vocaloid6) have added features, improved realism, and expanded language support to include Spanish, Chinese, and Korean.
Popular Vocaloid Characters (and their Impact)
While Vocaloid is the software, the "Vocaloids" people often refer to are the avatars associated with specific voice banks. These characters have become virtual idols in their own right.
 * Hatsune Miku: Undoubtedly the most iconic and popular Vocaloid. Miku's success transformed Vocaloid from a niche software into a global cultural phenomenon. She has "performed" in holographic concerts worldwide, collaborated with major artists, and has an immense fan-created catalog of songs, art, and content. Her impact led to the rise of virtual artists.
 * Kagamine Rin & Len: A popular "twin" duo, often depicted as mirror images or siblings, known for their versatile voices and frequently used together for harmonies or duets.
 * Megurine Luka: Noted for her bilingual capabilities (Japanese and English), Luka has a more mature vocal tone and sophisticated character design.
 * MEIKO & Kaito: The original Japanese Vocaloids from Yamaha/Crypton Future Media. While initially less popular than Miku, they have built dedicated fanbases over time and are considered "senpai" (seniors) within the Vocaloid community.
 * GUMI (Megpoid): Based on the voice of Japanese singer Megumi Nakajima, GUMI is another highly popular Vocaloid with a wide vocal range.
 * IA: A popular Vocaloid known for her clear and powerful voice.
 * Kasane Teto: While often grouped with Vocaloids, Teto actually originated as an "UTAU" voicebank (a different, often freeware, singing synthesizer) and gained immense popularity, often performing alongside official Vocaloids.
Impact on the Music Industry and Culture
Vocaloid has had a profound impact, particularly in Japan, but increasingly globally:
 * Democratization of Music Production: Vocaloid lowered the barrier to entry for music creation. Individuals who couldn't sing or afford human vocalists could now produce songs with vocals, fostering a massive community of amateur and independent producers.
 * Emergence of "Producers" (ボカロP - Vocaloid-P): Many successful professional musicians and composers in Japan today got their start by creating songs using Vocaloid software and uploading them to platforms like Niconico Douga (a Japanese video-sharing site).
 * New Musical Genre: Vocaloid has effectively created its own distinct musical genre, characterized by the synthesized voices and unique song structures often favored by Vocaloid producers.
 * Virtual Idols and Concerts: The concept of virtual idols, led by Hatsune Miku, has revolutionized live performance. Holographic concerts draw thousands of fans, blurring the lines between real and virtual performers.
 * Global Reach and Fandom: Vocaloid music transcends geographical boundaries. While originating in Japan, it has massive global fandoms, with significant streaming shares coming from countries like the United States, South Korea, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
 * Community and Collaboration: The Vocaloid community is highly collaborative, with fans creating not only music but also art, animations, MMD (MikuMikuDance) videos, and even live performances based on Vocaloid characters and songs. This intense fan engagement is a hallmark of the Vocaloid phenomenon.
 * Influence on Mainstream Music: Vocaloid songs and artists have entered the mainstream, with some Vocaloid producers going on to write songs for human artists, and Vocaloid characters even featuring in commercials and other media.
In essence, Vocaloid is more than just software; it's a cultural movement that has empowered a new generation of creators and redefined what a "performer" can be in the digital age.

Saturday, May 17, 2025

The backstory "The Night Chicago Died - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Chicago_Died 

"The Night Chicago Died" is about a shoot-out between the Chicago Police and gangsters tied to Al Capone. It was inspired by the real-life Saint Valentine's Day Massacre,[3] although that involved Capone's men killing seven of Bugs Moran's gang members and had nothing to do with the police. No confrontation large enough to leave around one hundred police deaths ever happened. Al Capone was arrested in 1932 for income tax evasion.."

" The Night Chicago Died" By Paper Lace

The Night Chicago Died https://g.co/kgs/oGGfXD8 

Sunday, May 4, 2025

"16 years after his death, Michael Jackson’s gravity-defying lean is called a sham – was it?"

'We were scammed': 16 years after his death, Michael Jackson's gravity-defying lean is called a sham – was it? Source: We Got This Covered

https://share.newsbreak.com/cxh1q4oj 

Saturday, February 15, 2025

"Nigeria: Burna Boy Graces Billboard France's 1st Cover Ahead of 'No Sign of Weakness' Release - "

https://allafrica.com/stories/202502140340.html 


"With over seven billion streams and a Grammy Award to his name, Burna Boy's signature Afrofusion--a blend of Afrobeats, hip-hop, and global sounds--has captivated audiences worldwide, fueling a cultural revolution...*

Saturday, October 26, 2024

condolences 🙏 ✝️💜"Deadheads descend on SF's 'Grateful Dead House' following death of Phil Lesh "

"Deadheads descended on the Haight-Ashbury house Friday that the band called home in the 1960s, to say good-bye to Grateful Dead founding member Phil Lesh

https://share.newsbreak.com/9ikk94n2 

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Monday, September 9, 2024

"Hollywood Bowl loses power amid intense heat wave, forced to cancel concert" - ABC7 Los Angeles

"Hollywood Bowl loses power amid intense heat wave, forced to cancel concert - ABC7 Los Angeles" https://abc7.com/post/hollywood-bowl-loses-power-amid-intense-heat-wave-forced-cancel-concert/15280344/ 

"
The scheduled performers were Vance Joy, Grouplove and Tiny Habits, as part of a KCRW Festival event."

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Condolences ✝️🙏😦 "Fatman Scoop 56 dies after collapsing on stage during US show"

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyn0z93p11o 

"
Scoop, whose legal name is Isaac Freeman III, has been credited as an influential figure in New York City's hip hop scene in the 1990s.
He has featured on popular songs including Grammy award-winning Lose Control by Missy Elliott and It's Like That by Mariah Carey..."

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

"WATCH: 'Where Did America🇺🇲 Go?' 90-year-old Pat Boone belts out new song to help save nation "

https://www.wnd.com/2024/07/watch-where-did-america-go-90-year-old-pat-boone-belts-out-new-song-to-help-save-nation/ 


"Pat Boone has been releasing songs, well, just about forever. At age 90, his newest is called "Where Did America Go?" and it's earning the praise of Samaritan's Purse chief Franklin Graham.."

Saturday, July 27, 2024

memories of woodstock

The 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, New York featured 32 musical act

The 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, New York featured 32 musical acts over four days, August 15–18:
  • Day one
    Richie Havens, Sweetwater, Swami Satchidananda, Bert Sommer, Ravi Shankar, and Tim Hardin
  • Day two
    Quill, Canned Heat, Grateful Dead, Mountain, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly & The Stone, The Who, and Amazing Journey
  • Day three
    Jefferson Airplane, Eskimo Blues Day, Joe Cocker, Country Joe & The Fish, Ten Years After, and The Band
  • Day four
    Blood Sweat And Tears, Johnny Winter, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Paul Butterfield Blues Band 

"Janis Joplin's death in October 1970 at age 27 stunned her fans a

"Joplin's death in October 1970 at age 27 stunned her fans and shocked the music world, especially when coupled with the deaths of Canned Heat singer Alan Wilson a month earlier, and rock icon Jimi Hendrix 16 days earlier, both aged 27. All three musicians performed at the two biggest rock festivals of the 1960s:.."

Thursday, July 4, 2024

April 2024 "Moody Blues co-founder Mike Pinder, last surviving original member of band, dies at 82 "

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/moody-blues-cofounder-mike-pinder-last-surviving-original-member-band-rcna149501 


"Moody Blues co-founder Mike Pinder, last surviving original member of band, dies at 82
Pinder's family's statement described him as a "musician, father, cosmic philosopher & friend" who "lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.".."

Tuesday, April 30, 2024