Category: music

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Behold the Octobasse: an Enormous Stringed Instrument with Sounds Too Low for Humans to Hear

How familiar are you with all the stringed instruments out there? Sure, you probably know violins, guitars, cellos, and basses. But I’m betting few of you are familiar with the granddaddy of them all – the octobasse, which genuinely sounds more like a legendary monster than a string instrument.

The octobasse is a string instrument that can create sounds so low, humans can’t hear them. What is the point of that, you ask? Maybe to feel the vibrations? Unclear, but it’s pretty metal.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Though this totally sounds like the invention of a bored millennial, the octobasse was built in 1850 by the French instrument maker Jean-Baptise Vuillaume. The octobasse is quite a lot larger than a human and not very practical to transport; also, there are rumored to only be seven in existence. But there is a playable replica at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The octobass is in use by exactly one (1) orchestra in the world: the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Playing an octobass is different than playing other stringed instruments, because it’s too big for musicians to use their hands on the strings. Instead, there’s a system of levers and pedals that create each note.

Watch some musicians experimenting with the octobasse in Phoenix:

Is it amazing or is it terrifying? Maybe a little of both.

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James Jamerson, regarded as…

James Jamerson, regarded as the greatest electronic bass player ever, recorded Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, while being flat on his back as he was too intoxicated to stand upright. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s.

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In 2008 and at the age of 45…

In 2008 and at the age of 45, Flea, bass player of the multiplatinum rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, enrolled as a freshman at University of Southern California’s music program to learn the academic side of music.

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5 Popular Love Songs That Aren’t Acually Romantic At All

Ah, to be young and in love. Isn’t it great when you hear a love song and the lyrics just seem to describe your feelings perfectly? There’s nothing better!

Well… you may wanna change your mind about cranking the volume too hard on these 5 tunes, because even though most people think they’re romantic, the truth is that they’re just… not.

#1. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Setting aside the fact that Denver, you know…died on a jet plane, the song was never meant to be a love song. Instead, Denver penned a heartfelt farewell from an unfaithful lover.

And who wants that person to come back, really?

#2. “Always” by Bon Jovi

Image Credit: Wikipedia

It starts out all mushy, talking about how the singer will “love you, always” but takes a quick turn into the tragic with lyrics about the bleeding, abandoned heart of a man left behind when his lover moved on with someone else.

#3. “More Than Words” by Extreme

Image Credit: Wikipedia

It sounds like a song about telling someone you love them, but singer-songwriter Nuno Bettencourt is quick to point out that it’s actually about how words can’t fix everything, and that “I love you” so often isn’t enough.

“People use it so easily and so lightly that they think you can say that and fix everything, or you can say that and everything’s OK.”

#4. “Here Comes Your Man” by The Pixies

Image Credit: Wikipedia

This isn’t a cutesy romance song, like the twanging and purrs would suggest – it’s actually “about winos and hobos traveling on the trains, who die in the California Earthquake,” explained frontman Black Francis back in 1989.

Sexy.

#5. “Got to Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles

Image Credit: Wikipedia

You might not believe it, coming from the wholesome Beatles, but Paul McCartney said that fooling “square” parents was the point.

Because the song? Sir Paul said “it’s actually an ode to pot.”

There are plenty of real love songs out there, so I’m sure it won’t take you long to find some great replacements!

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Here’s the Mystery Man Voicing Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Rami Malek is the talk of the town all around Hollywood thanks to his recent Oscar win for Best Actor, portraying the legendary Freddie Mercury in “Boheminan Rhapsody.” But you’d better believe taking on a role like that took a LOT of hard work learning to sing… and another vocalist.

Marc Martel is a Canadian singer who plays a prominent role in the hit movie Bohemian Rhapsody – but you wouldn’t recognize his face if you passed him on the street. The film relied heavily on Martel’s uncanny ability to mimic Freddie Mercury’s voice in order to get the perfect soundtrack for the film, while still allowing star Rami Malek to portray the Queen vocalist onscreen. Malek’s voice and master recordings of Mercury, who died in 1991, were also used in the film, but Martel played an important part in the process.

Martel is credited in the film with providing “additional vocals”, but he signed a nondisclosure agreement, so he can’t get into too many details about how much his voice was actually featured.

Martel has previously gained notoriety on YouTube for his ability to imitate the iconic singer. His audition tape for Queen drummer Robert Taylor’s tribute band went viral in 2011.

Martel tours with his tribute band Ultimate Queen Celebration and has released an album of Queen cover songs. And though Malek is a bone fide star, Martel’s YouTube videos singing Queen songs have made him a minor celebrity in his own right.

Martel previously fronted a band called Downhere, and it was the bass player in that band that originally commented on his ability to sound like Freddie Mercury. Good thing he spoke up!

Learn how Rami Malek “sunk his teeth” into the role of a lifetime

Rami Malek also got a lot of help from dental technician Chris Lyons, who’s given actors like Meryl Streep and Tilda Swinton their chops. Learn all about about Malek’s teeth transformation:

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7 Little-Known Facts About The Beatles’ Famous Debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show”

Whether or not you’re a fan, there’s simply no denying that The Beatles are right up there amongst the most iconic bands of all time. Their debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964 was a total game-changer that sparked a musical revolution.

Here are 7 things you might not know about The Beatles’ first trip to America.

#1. Seeing it live was like winning the lottery.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Only 728 lucky people were chosen to attend, out of 50,000 fans who requested tickets.

#2. One of The Monkees was there that night, too.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Davy Jones was on the show to promote Oliver! on Broadway, in which he played the Artful Dodger (and was nominated for a Tony).

#3. They got paid for their appearance.

Image Credit: Pixabay

While most acts appeared on the show in exchange for mere exposure, The Beatles would only agree to hop the pond if The Ed Sullivan Show agreed to not only cover their travel expenses, but to pay an additional $10k fee (around $80k in today’s dollars).

After getting an agreement for 3 appearances and not just one, a deal was struck and history was set in motion.

#4. That said, it was a bargain.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Close to 74 million people – an astonishing 40% of the country’s population – tuned in for the band’s first U.S. performance.

#5. The “very nice” telegram from Elvis Presley wasn’t actually from Elvis Presley.

Image Credit: Pixabay

The telegram reportedly wished the Fab Four “tremendous success,” but it was actually sent by Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker, because he thought it would make The King look good. Elvis was notoriously jealous of The Beatles, and the feeling was likely mutual – Harrison responded to the telegram backstage with a mocking “Elvis who?”

#6. They weren’t the only act that night.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Don’t feel badly if you don’t remember Brill & McCall – few do. They followed The Beatles performance and recall that they couldn’t hear each other during their sketch because of the screaming still going on.

Still, McCall doesn’t regret it, saying “we were there when the world changed.”

#7. The show’s musical director didn’t think much of the band.

Image Credit: Pixabay

His comment to The New York Times? “The only thing that’s different is the hair, as far as I can see. I give them a year.”

Keep on rockin’!

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