music Archives

12 Gift Ideas for the Music Lover in Your Life

Nothing brings people together quite like music. Music aficionados are a driven lot, whether they are banging on their preferred instrument, polishing a playlist, or spinning vinyl. There are several options for the ideal present; nevertheless, you want something that will truly speak to you. These twelve clever and considerate gift ideas will satisfy the music lover in your life.

1. High-quality Headphones

When selecting headphones, prioritize comfort, sound quality, and noise cancellation. Wired options often deliver superior audio quality, while wireless models prioritize convenience. Top brands like Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser offer a wide range of options to suit different budgets and needs. If buying for a friend, consider their musical preferences. For bass-heavy music, look for headphones with strong bass response. For those who enjoy acoustic music, prioritize clarity and detail. If your friend is an audiophile, consider investing in high-end audiophile headphones that deliver exceptional sound quality and an immersive listening experience.

2. Vinyl Records and a Turntable

For a good cause, vinyl has come back really dramatically. Analog sound has nothing quite like its cohesiveness. If they do not already have a turntable, think about giving it a beginner-friendly one. Companies like Audio-Technica and Crosley provide elegant yet useful choices. For those who already have a setup, choose a couple of records from their preferred genre or performer.

3. Concert Tickets or Festival Passes

Few presents could equal the excitement of watching a beloved performer perform. Look at their must-see bands and performers; surprise them with tickets to a local performance. Gift certificates to Ticketmaster or StubHub allow you to let them select their trip if you’re unsure about their calendar.

4. Music Lessons for Aspiring Musicians

Should they have ever shown an interest in learning to play an instrument, why not assist them in the beginning? Many sites, such as Fender Play or MasterClass, provide online guitar, piano, and drum classes, as well as more. Look for a local teacher who can customize courses to fit their goals and degree of ability for a more personal touch. If they currently perform, think about teaching advanced courses to let them explore other genres or hone their skills.

5. Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Any music enthusiast who wants to carry their playlists to life anywhere they go has to have a portable speaker. Search for little but mighty choices like the Bose SoundLink or the JBL Flip line. Outdoor fans would like waterproof models; smart speakers with voice assistants provide more flexibility.

6. Custom Playlist

The most valuable presents occasionally are not very expensive. Make a personalized playlist or old-fashioned mixtape loaded with songswith particular significance. Create recordings for shared experiences or introduce them to fresh musicians they may like. Record the playlist onto a blank cassette tape or burn it onto a CD for a nostalgic turn-around.

7. Home Audio System Upgrades

Change their listening environment with a premium house audio system. Based on your budget, this may be anything from a full surround sound system to bookcase speakers. For both casual listeners and companies like Sonos and Klipsch provide great choices. Moreover improving the sound quality of their current arrangement is a little amplifier or DAC (digital-to- analog converter).

8. Music-themed decor and Accessories

Allow their passion for music to radiate via original décor items. Think of giving wall art with famous album covers, neon signs fashioned like musical notes, or even produced lyric posters. Throw cushions, carpets, and coasters with musical themes can also provide their room with a subdued personal touch.

9. Subscription to a Music Streaming Service

Streaming services have transformed our listening to music; a premium membership makes all the difference. Ad-free listening, offline downloads, and well-chosen playlists abound from services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and TIDAL. Choose a provider supporting lossless audio if you enjoy high-fidelity sound.

10. Musical Instruments or Upgrades

A new instrument or gear update could be rather exciting for the musician in your life. Giving a ukulele, keyboard, or beginning guitar might motivate budding musicians. For those who already play, think about extras such as enhanced strings, drumsticks, or pedals. For people who experiment in songwriting or home recording, high-quality microphones or recording devices are fantastic.

11. Books and Biographies About Music

With an interesting reading, widen their understanding and respect of music. Both fun and instructive books on music history, artist biographies, or how-to manuals on instrument performance abound. Think of famous works like Life by Keith Richards or Just Kids by Patti Smith.

12. Music-Themed Board Games

Try games with music themes for an unusual and entertaining present. Group events call for games like “Songversations” or “Spontaneous,” but music trivia cards enable participants to highlight their expertise. If they enjoy their hobbies alone, a jigsaw puzzle with recognizable album covers or music-themed images might offer hours of enjoyment.

Conclusion

The appropriate present demonstrates that you have considered their love of music regardless of the genre they enjoy or the equipment they utilize. These gift ideas are likely to strike all the proper notes, whether they are an experience, a customized touch, or something to improve their voice. Thus, boost your imagination and ensure that the year will be unique for the music lover in your life.

10 K-Pop Songs for the Perfect Summer Vibe

K-pop has taken the world by storm, quickly becoming one of the biggest genres in music. You’ve heard of groups like BTS and Black Pink, but over 50 groups debut each year, and that number is growing exponentially. It feels like there’s a new hit song every week, but K-pop is often written off as something just for teen girls, but it is so much more than that. (check out this reaction here) The popularity of Korean music has helped people learn about Korean culture and the Korean language. Do you need the perfect K-pop playlist for summer? Give these ten songs a listen!

Nonstop – OHMYGIRL [MV] OH MY GIRL(오마이걸) _ Nonstop(살짝 설렜어)

It’s fun and upbeat, and the music video is a little campy, the perfect combo for summer

Cupid – fifty-fifty

FIFTY FIFTY (피프티피프티) – ‘Cupid’ Official MV

Pink, glittery, and bright, you probably heard this one on the radio last year. Unfortunately, three out of four members left the group after releasing this hit, making it one of their last.

After Like – IVE

IVE 아이브 ‘After LIKE’ MV

This song samples the instrumental from I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, creating a nostalgic yet modern hit.

ETA – New Jeans

NewJeans (뉴진스) ‘ETA’ Official MV

The instrumental is a little out there, but once you get used to the horns in the background, it is a song you can listen to all summer

Ghosting Tomorrow X Together

[최초공개] TXT (투모로우바이투게더) – Ghosting | TOMORROW X TOGETHER COMEBACKSHOW

This song is on the sadder side, but it creates the perfect vibe for those lazy summer nights. The group is currently on their 4th world tour, playing hits from their newest albums, Freefall and Minisode 3: T

ASAP – StayC

STAYC(스테이씨) ‘ASAP’ MV

This song was all over TikTok in 2021, and every fan knows the dance by heart. It’s bubblegum pop at its finest.

Alcohol-Free – Twice

TWICE “Alcohol-Free” M/V

In this song, Twice manages to encapsulate the feeling of a lazy day at the beach. The group is currently on their 5th world tour.

Easy – Le Sserafim

LE SSERAFIM (르세라핌) ‘EASY’ OFFICIAL MV

This song is less of a summer song and more of a chill song for when you’re feeling confident and relaxed. The group recently performed at Coachella, showcasing mesmerizing dance moves and stunning visuals to a large audience at the Sahara stage.

Magnetic – ILLIT

ILLIT (아일릿) ‘Magnetic’ Official MV

This is another abstract one, but it’s bright and playful, creating the perfect vibes for a warm summer day. Despite being the group’s first song, ‘ Magnetic’ reached 100 million streams on Spotify in less than a month, setting the record for “fastest K-pop debut song to reach 100 million streams.”

Why So Lonely – Wonder Girls

Wonder Girls “Why So Lonely” M/V

A bit of a throwback, Why So Lonely was one of the last songs Wonder Girls released before disbandment, making this hit both happy and sad for long-time fans.

Dive into Summer with these 10 K-Pop Jams!

Looking for the perfect soundtrack to your summer fun? K-Pop has you covered! Forget the stereotype – K-Pop offers a wide range of styles, and these 10 tracks are guaranteed to bring the summer vibes.

5 Crucial Tips To Improve Your Memory For Learning Piano

Playing the piano is a rewarding yet challenging endeavor that enriches your life with beautiful music while developing cognitive abilities.

As an intricate instrument requiring discipline and effective practice, mastering the piano necessitates strong memorization skills, especially when progressing to advanced repertoire meant to be performed without sheet music.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to establish foundational techniques or an experienced pianist hoping to improve your memory and confidence further, incorporating specialized memory training into daily practice is crucial.

Focusing on the five critical tips below that target long-term retention of musical passages can dramatically enhance your capacity to memorize and confidently perform pieces.

1. Practice Regularly and Consistently

Building piano proficiency requires regular musical memory training, as strength training builds physical fitness. Adhere to a daily practice routine as consistently as possible to nurture your creativity and reinforce neural connections vital for progress.

Schedule 15-30 focused minutes each day rather than lengthy, sporadic sessions. Consistent repetition trains your brain to absorb and retain intricate piano techniques over time, from finger dexterity to reading sheet music.

Supplement practice by playing colorful Lumi keys with friends and family to enjoy mutual encouragement while learning piano. The illuminations highlight finger placement, helping anchor muscle memory development.

While longer sessions seem valuable, skipping regular practice erases delicate memories and hinders skill growth. Stay dedicated to daily musical memory training for lifelong advancement. You can confidently strengthen piano skills and performance by integrating creative playtime with others and prioritizing small daily commitments.

2. Create Personalized Practice Strategies

As you seek to memorize piano music, start by analyzing your learning style. Are you more of an auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner? Auditory learners may memorize best by ear, visual learners through color-coded charts, and kinesthetic learners via muscle memory.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, meticulously study each new piece to devise a customized memorization strategy for your musical strengths. Experiment to discover the techniques that optimally motivate your memory. For instance, if you have strong auditory retention but weaker coordination, listen more before hands-on practice.

Find the right balance of harmonies, visual patterns, and physical movements that makes each piece resonate uniquely with you. Keep exploring tailored strategies aligned to your learning preferences for memorizing pianomusic and continuing to unlock your musical potential.

3. Engage Multiple Senses

Reinforcing musical memory requires engaging multiple senses simultaneously. Rather than just visually repeating sheet music, discover unique ways to experience piano playing through sight, sound, and touch physically.

Feeling the movement of your fingers on the keys, listening intently to the notes produced, and seeing your hands move across the piano creates a richer multi-sensory learning experience. This forms an exponential web of mental associations that mutually strengthen each other.

Experiment with exercises like playing passages with eyes closed to heighten tactile awareness or singing melodies aloud to anchor auditory memory. Tap out rhythms throughout your day for continual tactile reinforcement. Look for creative sensory connections beyond essential visual repetition.

The more dimensions across which your brain absorbs musical patterns – such as motor, auditory, and visual cues – the more robust and enduring piano memory becomes. Immerse as many senses as possible during practice sessions to thoroughly impress compositions into your long-term retention.

4. Utilize Mnemonic Devices and Visualization

Memory aids like mnemonic devices and visualization can be powerful techniques for memorizing piano music. Mnemonic devices create associations between musical elements and easy-to-recall concepts, transforming rote memorization into an enjoyable, engaging process.

You can devise clever acronyms, rhymes, quotations, or wordplay to represent complex note sequences, key signatures, or other concepts. Combine these with vivid visualization by actively picturing keyboard finger positions or imagining the melody’s flow as a scene or picture.

Anchoring the auditory experience to interactive visual imagery strengthens connections between memory, visual, and motor brain regions. Discover personalized mnemonics and imaginative visuals that speak to you. The more sensory dimensions across which your brain absorbs and creatively relates to the music, the more robust and more accessible piano memories become.

5. Break Down Music Into Manageable Sections

Effective memorization of piano compositions requires a segmented approach without overburdening oneself by tackling pieces simultaneously. Dividing musical works into bite-sized, manageable 2-8 bar segments enables a focused, stepwise process that avoids cognitive overload or burnout.

First, diligently train each short phrase separately by hand, thoroughly committing the unique patterns to memory through repetition before advancing. It would help to combine the hands only once a segment is perfectly engraved in each hand independently.

This incremental mastery concentrates your brain on accurately encoding each sequence before piecing parts together. As individually memorized sections gradually build upon one another in digestible blocks, comprehensive retention becomes progressively achievable.

Measurable gains made through this systematic partitioning of melodies facilitate memorizing the integrated work without the mounting pressure of tackling the entire musical production upfront. Memorize piano compositions in incremental steps for lasting results.

Conclusion

Mastering the piano requires transforming static notes into fluid performances. This journey relies fundamentally upon memory, your brain’s incredible capacity to absorb intricate details through deliberate techniques applied consistently. Implement personalized strategies catered to your distinct learning style. Celebrate small wins as skills develop non-linearly but confidently in the right direction.

Trust that diligent practice will strengthen neural connections and progressively build abilities. With great patience and commitment to daily sessions, memorization will prosper, and so will overall musicality. Stay motivated through incremental progress toward memorizing advanced compositions.

21 Songs that got me through 2021

If you are looking to add to your playlist, start organizing your Spotify wrapped or just need new music recommendations – look no further. As a Gen-Z college student, my music taste is constantly evolving and I find comfort in finding new music. Whether your year was amazing, crazy or you are just ready for a fresh start, I hope these songs can change your mood for the better.

I have curated this playlist with seven upbeat songs, seven mellow songs and seven “just because I like this” songs. I will state that some of these songs will be in Spanish, so don’t knock them until you listen to them. Who would I be if I didn’t include my culture in the mix?

7 songs for when you want to dance, sing, or get ready for a night out.

Get Into it (Yuh) – Doja Cat
Racecar (feat. Clairo, Coco & Clair Clair) – Deaton Chris Anthony
Whole Lotta Money – BIA
En Mi Cuarto – Jhay Cortez & Skrillex
Sad Gurlz Luv Money [Remix] – Amaarae & Kali Uchis (feat. Moliy)
Todo de Ti – Rauw Alejandro
Lo Siento BB:/ – Tainy, Bad Bunny, & Julieta Venegas

7 songs to drive to, cook, clean or just vibe to.

Money – ZHU
Heaven up there – Palace
Haciendo Que Me Amas – Bad Bunny
Your Power – Billie Eilish
Call U Tomorrow – Montell Fish
Drugs N Hella Melodies – Don Oliver (feat. Kali Uchis)
No Love – Summer Walker & SZA

7 “just because I like this” songs for whatever, whenever and to discover.

No Pegamos – Pol Granch
La Fama – ROSALIA (feat. The Weeknd)
To Be Loved – Adele
Traitor – Olivia Rodrigo
Hurricane – Kanye West
Fue Mejor – Kali Uchis (feat. SZA)
Wrecked – Imagine Dragons

As the year comes to an end, music has been a great outlet for the changes in my life. I hope that this list inspires you to share your music with your loved ones and explore new genres.

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Top 5 Reasons Why Clubbing Is Not Only Great but Also Necessary

In a way, clubbing is an interesting social phenomenon that relatively accurately represents the current state of our society. Clubbing in the 20th century was in many ways completely different from what the 21st-century nightlife is all about. Unfortunately, when the latest pandemic erupted, the concept of clubbing was amongst the first to be hit.

Still, no plight lasts forever, and as soon as clubbing is safe once again, you should give this lifestyle serious consideration. Why? Well, here are the top 5 reasons why clubbing is not only great but also quite necessary.

Live Interactive Environment

The first major advantage of clubbing is the fact that it’s a live, interactive environment that helps maximize all your senses. The place will probably play the music you like (after all, it’s one of the first criteria when choosing a nightclub). There are people everywhere around dancing, which heightens your tactile senses. The light, the ambiance, and the vibrations come from all sides, further enhancing your euphoria.

According to some surveys, you need roughly 6 hours of social interaction every day. However, it’s not just the quantity but the quality that counts. You spend 8 hours every day with your colleagues at work but are these interactions really meaningful? An hour of clubbing can be far more impactful, especially for someone determined to tune it up to the fullest.

Technically, you could host a party at home, but it’s not really the same. First of all, you’ll have the neighbors complaining. Then, there’s the pressure of knowing that if there’s any mess, it will be you who has to clean it up. When looking at this from a club’s perspective, all you have to do is pay the entrance fee, have some fun, and then go home. This allows you to shift your priorities in your favor completely.

Fighting Stress

It allows you to relieve stress and simply vent some of the things that you’ve been pressed by over the course of your workweek. The best thing is that this type of stress relief provides you with a systemic solution to your problems. How? Well, first of all, it is a place where you can go every weekend. Second, the entry fee is not that big of an expense, and you really don’t need alcohol (or too much of it) to have fun.

When talking about music, the majority of people are aware of how different tunes can help you relax. However, nightclub music is seldom described as calm or relaxing. If anything, it’s fast, intense, and even aggressive in order to get you moving. According to some studies, these are the exact properties that can help you process anger far more efficiently.

Keep in mind that nightclubs aren’t the only venues providing this kind of nightlife experience. For instance, your local bars could have different regimens depending on the part of the day or part of the week. This way, by experiencing the duality of nature of these venues, you might have an easier time letting go and allowing your own wild side to emerge.

Physical Benefits of Dance

You would be surprised to learn that dancing can burn as much as 400 calories in an hour. Sure, it’s fewer calories than you would burn in an hour of running or doing some other exercises, but at the same time, it’s much more fun, which makes it easier to endure. High motivation also helps you be more consistent when it comes to dancing when compared to workouts.

Other than this, dancing can help you improve your posture, balance, and coordination. As a matter of fact, some dance moves are clearly meant to promote greater flexibility. On top of it all, you get to boost your circulation, tone your body, and develop some of your neglected muscle groups. All of this can be done with a much lower likelihood of an injury, which is already a huge plus.

Previously, we’ve mentioned the fact that dancing can be used to fight stress. Well, seeing as how stress is a psychological phenomenon that produces negative physiological effects, the correlation between the two is quite easy to make. Simply put, dancing on a regular basis can provide you with the holistic support your body desperately needs. It is definitely one of the ways you can be more active to boost your health.

Social Interactions

This is the third time we talk about mental benefits and stress relief, so it’s finally time to address the elephant in the room – what is it in clubbing that soothes your mind that much? While there are a lot of factors here, the biggest one is probably the mental benefits of social interactions through partying.

While you can make deep and meaningful social interactions outside of clubs (even more so), the fact that all of this happens in such a vivid and chill ambiance makes things so much better. You’re surrounded by people who are relaxed, people who are there to have fun, as well as people who share at least one mutual interest. It creates a kind of a social lubricant that would be pretty hard to find elsewhere.

Some people have met their future partners in the nightclub, others have formed a group of friends that they can go clubbing with in the future. Either way, it puts you in a new environment and expands your social circle. It allows you to meet new people without the pressures created by long silences, idle conversations, and awkward social situations. This can be quite a significant boost to your self-confidence in the long run.

The Reward for All of Your Hard Work

Previously, we talked about going to the club after a hard week at work. This is incredibly important from the standpoint of motivation. Even the slowest of Mondays can be endured when you know that the weekend is just around the corner. Now, if you can fully visualize what you are going to do on that particular weekend, things become even simpler.

Leading a strict routine and being disciplined is a lot easier when you have a scheduled cheat day. By indulging in hedonism on the weekends, you’re making it easier for yourself to be responsible during the workdays. For instance, by going to bed before 11 p.m. every workday, you’re “earning” the right to stay up all night on Saturday. By avoiding alcoholic beverages during your workdays, you’re earning an extra drink or two.

When it comes to staying motivated at work, the key thing is that you remember what you’re working for. Long-term goals are great, but they are usually so far away that they may seem quite abstract at times. A release in the form of a night of clubbing can be a great compromise.

In Conclusion

In the end, clubbing is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. It is an intense experience that some people adore while others completely hate – there’s no middle ground. Still, not giving this lifestyle a chance means potentially missing out on something great. With all the benefits listed above, it really seems like you could gain quite a bit this way. The best part is that the list of benefits that we started above is still far from complete.

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About The Author

Stacey is a freelance writer living in Minnesota with her cat, and she’s passionate about yoga, languages, home improvement, and drinking strong coffee. Find her on Twitter @StaceyShann0n

30 Songs From The Late 90’s, Early 2000’s That’ll Hit Every 30 Year Old In The Nostalgia Feels

1. “Hot In Here” – Nelly

Pretty sure any Nelly song that came on MTV or the radio instantly made you wanna start dancing, and this one made you wanna take off ALL of your clothes.

2. “Oops!… I Did It Again” – Britney Spears

Yes you did do it again Britney. But hey, being 30 now, I totallyyyy understand why Britney Spears had that mental breakdown in 2007.

3. “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” – 3LW

You know it was real when playa’s had pagers. And blowin’ up their main chicks pager.

4. “Scrub” – TLC

I hear ya TLC, nobody is fucking with a scrub, then or now.

5. “It wasn’t me” – Shaggy

But was it you Shaggy? Cause I think it was.

6. “Bye, Bye, Bye” – Nsync

It ain’t no lie, Nsync was the shit. And the dance moves to this song? Epic.

7. “I Want It That Way” – The Backstreet Boys

Let’s be real, every girl wanted to be The Backstreet Boys ‘one desire’. ‘Tell me whyyyyy.’ (Because Nick Carter was the cutest thing we’d ever seen right?)

8. “21 Questions” – 50 Cent

50 Cent asked a lot of questions, but he was just lookin’ for a real ride or die right?

9. “Stacy’s Mom” – Fountains of Wayne

I felt for every person who’s mom was named Stacy when this song came out…Everybody was in love with Stacy’s mom.

10. “Sk8r Boi” – Avril Lavigne

And she said see ya later boyyyyy.

11. “Ignition Remix” – R Kelly

The ever famous line, “I’m sipping on coke and rum, so what I’m drunk, it’s the freakin’ weekend

baby, I’m about to have some fun” will never go out of style.

12. “All Star” – Smash Mouth

If you didn’t put your finger and your thumb in the shape of an “L” on your forehead when this song starts, then were you really living your best life in the early 2000’s?

13. “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” – Fall Out Boy

Don’t pretend that you didn’t bring out the air guitar and air drum sticks when this came on…Admit you, you still do.

14. “Ms. Jackson” – Outkast

Everybody knows he never meant to make her daughter cry, he apologized a trillion times.

15. “You Got It Bad” – Usher

If you didn’t own a burned CD with this song on it, you clearly didn’t ever go through a break up in middle school.

16. “Pimpin’ All Over The World” – Ludacris

Luda killed it with this one in 2004… Even if you didn’t fully understand what ‘pimpin’ meant back then, you knew it involved fancy cars, women, and caviar.

17. “Let Me Hold You” – Bow Wow Ft Omarion

This was the song that every girl told their middle school boyfriend at the time that this was “their song”.

18. “Iris” – Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls were a tad whiney, but how the fuck could you not fall in love with this song? And if you say you didn’t sit in your room with your CD player, headphones plugged in, with this song on repeat for hours, your’re a damn lie.

19. “Wannabe” – The Spice Girls

Am I the only one who STILL doesn’t understand the line, “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends”? Why do I want all of my friends to get with my “lover”?

20. “Say My Name” – Destiny’s Child

This song taught me about cheaters, and to be suspicious when they only call me baby…

21. “My Band” – Eminem & D12

Eminem is the GOAT, we all know this, but this song was just stupid enough to still love and play it at top volume in my car, on the way home, offending every 80 year old human stopped beside me.

22. “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” – Panic! At The Disco

It was frowned upon saying “GD” out loud, but secretly, I also sang it at the top of my lungs when no adults were nearby who could scold me for using such vulgar profanity.

23. “ What would you do” – City High

And this song taught me that, sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do, in order to survive.

24. “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio & L.V.

IDGAF who you are, if you don’t know this song, GTFO. Because if you can’t instantly start rapping to this song, you were 10000% born in the wrong fucking era.

25. “Milkshake” – Kelis

Kelis’s Milkshake brought all the boys to the yard, but all my Milkshake has done has brought the emotionally unavailable and mentally unstable boys to the yard. Where did I go wrong Kelis??

26. “1, 2, Step” – Ciara Ft. Missy Elliot

“This beat is automatic, supersonic, hypnotic, funky fresh.” Not gonna lie, I still am not quite sure what funky fresh means…

27. “All the Small Things” – Blink 182

If you owned Now That’s What I Call Music, Volume 4 on cassette, you know that this was the last song on the B side… and you also know, 11 years later, how much you relate to late nights and how much work sucks.

28. “Hollaback Girl” – Gwen Stefani

Speaking of Now That’s What I Call Music…Volume 19 included this song, and even though no one was sure of what exactly a “holla back girl” was in the 8th grade, everyone did know that, “This shit is B-A-N-A-N-A-S.”

29. “Ms. New Booty” – Bubba Sparxxx

Even at 30, when my ass is trying to slide through all the bodies on the dance floor, I still mumble sing under my breath, “booty, booty, booty, booty rockin’ everywhere…

30. “Don’t Forget About Us” – Mariah Carey

Nobody can do it like her because they’ll never be MC, and that’s a fact.

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About The Author

Kayla Leanne Goss. Just a 30 year old small town girl, trying to navigate this rollercoaster we call life, writing about relatable shit that WE ALL go through and struggle with daily.

To see more of my articles, visit my FACEBOOK PAGE

Spotify vs Apple Music: Which One is best for Music Streaming?

When you think about music streaming, Spotify and Apple Music are the top two choices that come to mind. Both these apps claim to be the best and have a lot to offer, which makes it hard to sort and decide which app meets your needs.

On one hand, Apple’s premium features and device integration look appealing. But Spotify’s extensive music library and diverse non-music programs makes it a leader in the world of music streaming.

In this article, we will review all the essential features of both Spotify and Apple Music to help you choose the best music streaming app. From the overview, music content, audio quality, and subscription plans, we have got them all covered. So, let’s get started!

Overview

Spotify

Launched in 2008, Spotify became extremely popular among the young generations. Talking about its popularity, Spotify has over 248 million active users and 113 million premium subscribers from all over the world, predominantly America, Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa.

Spotify offers millions of podcasts, music playlists, and DRM-protected tracks. It has recently added the video option on its app to make the user experience better. The best part about Spotify is that anyone can launch a Spotify music playlist or podcast and gain Spotify plays.

Apple Music

As compared to Spotify, Apple Music was launched later in 2015 as a strict music streaming platform. However, with the growing competition, Apple Music upgraded its platform and added video functionality as well.

Unlike Spotify, Apple Music does not include podcasts in its service. This feature is offered by Apple Podcasts. However, you can explore millions of songs from the Apple Music library and also listen to different radio channels.

Music Library and Content

The music library is one of the most crucial factors in choosing the best music streaming app. Both Apple Music and Spotify offer a plenitude of music tracks, but Spotify still has the largest collection. Spotify has around 4 billion playlists which keep expanding as thousands of new tracks are added every day.

Spotify

Spotify has an amazing partnership with Billboard. Therefore, users can expect to find all the new releases and mainstream hit songs on this music app. Spotify also offers unique genres such as Karaoke, Hip-Hop, Rock, Chill, Pop, and much more. Besides this, Spotify has an extensive Indie collection as well, which is popular among the young audience. Thus, helping budding Indie singers and composers gain Spotify plays.

Besides offering a plethora of music content, Spotify also offers traditional and video podcasts. You can also find a collection of audiobooks ranging from fiction, non-fiction, poetry, classic literature, and much more.

Apple Music

The content curation of Apple Music is equally impressive. The music library on Apple Music offers hundreds of genres and mood-specific playlists. Additionally, you can find fresh music and new releases on the ‘Browse Page’.

As compared to Spotify, Apple Music offers more organized playlists in every genre with over 100 options to choose from. Moreover, the Indie music collection at Apple Music is also extensive with over 40 playlists organized according to the artist, current top tracks, latest releases, and decade hits.

The non-music content of Apple Music usually revolves around live radio programs and music videos. The podcast feature is available exclusively on Apple Podcast. Besides live radio, you can find genre-specific radio shows and a collection of celeb-hosted shows as well. The music video feature offers short documentaries, live performances, behind-the-scenes and lyric videos.

Audio Quality

Spotify

Spotify Premium provides 5 audio quality settings that the users can choose from. The highest setting is around 320 kbps which consumes 7-8 MB per song. This allows a smooth playback with 1-2 seconds of buffering time.

Apple Music

Apple Music offers only four audio quality settings, the highest being 256kbps which consumes 3-6MB per song. Like Spotify, Apple Music also offers smooth playback with a few seconds buffer time. In addition to this, Apple Music also delivers spatial audio. This feature enables the listener to listen to music in all directions, unlike regular stereo.

Ease of Use

When it comes to the design and layout, both apps provide a minimalist and clean interface. You can easily navigate the music library, radio programs, and podcasts. Apple Music also offers a customizable sidebar that allows you to choose what sections you want to have on your app.

Both the apps come with a feature that lets you re-organize your playlist by date, duration, title, and artist. Although both apps are compatible with mobile and desktop, switching between devices while listening to music is more seamless on Spotify.

Pricing Plans

Both Apple Music and Spotify offer three similar paid plans. Coincidentally, both music apps offer the same bundles at the same prices. These include –

Individual Plan – It costs $9.99 per month for both Spotify and Apple Music respectively. This plan offers unlimited access to music, podcasts, and radio for a single user account. However, video functionality is not included in this plan.
Student Plan – This plan allows access to one account and offers all the facilities in the Individual plan along with video functionality. Here, Spotify users get unlimited access to ad-supported Hulu and Showtime shows. And Apple Music users in this plan get access to shows through Apple TV+ for a limited time. It costs around $4.99 per month.
Family Plan – This plan allows access to six user accounts with unlimited access to the music library, radio, and podcasts at $14.99 per month. Like the Individual plan, this bundle does not offer video functionality for both the music apps.

Conclusion – Which One is the Best Music Streaming App?

Considering the above features, it is clear that both Spotify and Apple Music have a lot to offer. Both the apps are reasonably intuitive and provide good sound quality. Moreover, they both are user-friendly and easy to navigate.

The difference primarily lies in the presentation and type of music content offered by each app. Spotify is more diverse and offers a variety of music playlists, and non-music content such as podcasts, radio shows, and video programs on the same platform.

Apple Music, on the other hand, is more music-centered. It is perfect for those who prefer music videos, live performances, music discussions, and documentaries. Moreover, the spatial audio feature will provide an amazing experience to all listeners.

Therefore, the choice between Spotify and Apple Music depends on your personal preference. If you are a casual listener who only likes to listen to music or any audio content then Spotify is the best music streaming app for you. Apple Music is a better option for those who are music enthusiasts.

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Reasons Why You Should Attend A Music Festival Abroad

There’s nothing quite like going away from home, letting free, and partying with great music and amazing people. Some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals and events take place abroad, so here are nine reasons why you should go:

1. You get to go across the world and party in a unique way. You get to explore what else is out there and totally party with the inhabitants of that place, especially when traveling to a foreign land! And you get to do it with the best partygoers on the planet! Is there anything else we can say?

2. You find new acquaintances from all around the world who share your interests. These friendships are one-of-a-kind and incredible! Especially since they have a passion for music. It’s amazing how distance divides us on a daily basis, yet music instantaneously unites us.

3. The variety of places. It’s such a unique experience to be surrounded by people of many colors and nations but still experiencing the love and connection that we all have as human beings. Most international events, such as Tomorrowland, are held on gorgeous spreading acres of green rural terrain with breathtaking vistas.

4. The people and the clothes. When we attend festivals, we all enjoy seeing all of the eye candy. You now have hundreds of gorgeous people and distinctive clothes to appreciate when you travel overseas for a festival. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet anyone your heart desires.

5. You’re having a good time at historically significant locations. Consider this: the United States has only been existing for 300 years, but every other culture on the planet has been for millennia. If you ask us, that’s quite terrible.

6. The delectable cuisine and beverages. Just thinking about that has my mouth watering! You get to eat genuinely prepared cuisine (which is usually delicious) and sample some of the world’s most bizarre beers and spirits.

However, we should be cautious during festivals because MDMA is the most common cause of drug-related damage. High-purity MDMA, dangerous substances, or environmental variables such as overheating or drinking too much or too little water are the most common causes of fatal and non-fatal MDMA overdoses. As a result, in order to decrease damages, we must address all of these issues.

High-dose MDMA has been connected to a number of deaths at the recent event. It is for this reason why MDMA testing kits are suggested.

7. Just getting there was a long journey. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy road trips and excursions since they provide such a sense of adventure. The sense of satisfaction you receive when you eventually get at your objective is the most fantastic feeling ever.

8. The producing value that is distinctive. It’s really nice to see new art and images instead of the same old stuff. Some events in other countries even employ technologies that we don’t have in the United States. At a music event overseas, you must see the flair and attention to detail.

9. You’ll be able to take a trip and attend a music festival. That should be enough to get your butts in gear and start preparing, so get your butts in gear and start planning. Keep in mind that you only have one life!

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About The Author

Andy Braddell is a UK citizen with tremendous experience in traveling. He wants to encourage people to be curious about the world and find ways to fit more travel into their lifestyle than they already have. He wants others to look at him and say ‘Because of you I didn’t give up’

30 Songs You Need For The Ultimate Summertime Playlist

Whether you’re driving across the country or just sitting outside by the lake, a kick-ass summer playlist is pretty much a necessity. Choose the right songs to set the mood, and you’ve got the soundtrack to your summer playlist all ready to go.

To be fair, most of these songs are retro and great any time of year, but you can’t deny that they’re just perfect for the summer months. Pop in your earbuds or turn up the stereo and enjoy! your summer playlist.

“I Like It” by Enrique Iglesias.
“Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard.
“Wipeout” by Fat Boys and the Beach Boys.
“All Summer Long” by Kid Rock.
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper.
“Hot in Herre” by Nelly.
“Summer Girls” by LFO.
“Pon de Replay” by Rihanna.
“California Gurls” by Katy Perry.
“Jack and Diane” by John Mellencamp.
“Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet.
“Get Busy” by Sean Paul.
“Tubthumper” by Chumbawumba.
“Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus.
“The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” by Jason Mraz.
“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.
“Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship.
“Country Girl” by DF Dub.
“I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas.
“Waterfalls” by TLC.
“Raspberry Beret” by Prince.
“Touch of Grey” by the Grateful Dead.
“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé.
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones.
“Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne.
“Love Shack” by The B-52’s.
“Love Drunk” by Boys Like Girls.
“The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson.
“This Love” by Maroon 5.
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How To Create A Music Room In Your Apartment

There was a time when every home had a music room, but as apartments started getting smaller and more and more people found themselves living with roommates, they quickly fell out of fashion.

However, if you’re sharing an apartment, stuck in close quarters at all times with other people, a dedicated room to decompress and either play or listen to music couldn’t be more important. You need somewhere to “get away from it all” that isn’t just your bedroom.

If you have the space, here’s a couple of tips to get your music room just right.

Sound Proofing

The first thing you need for a music room is sound proofing. If you’re playing music, you don’t want it blaring out and annoying the neighbors. If you’re listening to music, you don’t want every car driving past outside to interrupt the quiet parts of whatever music you’re enjoying.

The key here is to invest a good set of soundproof curtains to cover up the windows in the room – probably the biggest point of entry/exit for sound.

You may also want to look at panels for the walls if your roommates are especially noisy, but beware of putting egg cartons on the walls – that’s only good for reducing reverberation within the room. It does nothing to keep sound either in or out.

If your issue is noisy downstairs neighbors, consider picking up a thick rug to cover the floor, perhaps even with a layer of cork board underneath. This will both dampen the sound coming from you and protect you from the sound of their TV or even their kids.

Comfortable Seating

You want your music room to be comfortable, right? A music room where you’re just sitting on a plastic folding chair isn’t really going to be particularly enjoyable.

Invest in a decent thick armchair or a sofa large enough to lay out on and get as relaxed as possible while listening to music.

If the room is for creating music, you’ll want to put a little more care into selecting the correct furniture. If it’s electronic music, get a decent quality desk chair. If you’re looking to play guitar, you’ll want a chair either with no arms or with arms that can be put up or down. If the room will feature a piano, get a decent quality piano bench that can also double as storage for your sheet music, as well as a seat for visitors.

Remember as well that you’re probably not the only person that will be in there, and if you’re setting up a home studio in your music room, you will undoubtably be looking to have friends around to hear the music you’re creating. Consider adding a decent sized and comfortable couch opposite your workstation so that your guests will have a balanced sound of both of your studio monitors.

Ambiance

A music room that’s got bare walls and a bare bulb isn’t going to be very vibey now is it?

This is where you add all of the finishing touches to make your music room a super comfortable and fun place to hang out. Consider adding some green plants to the room (though if you do go the soundproof curtain route, make sure they can live with little sun). A couple of posters can go a long way. If you’re feeling extra flash, consider an aquarium with some colorful fish and changing lighting to really make it a place that you can chill out in.

Conclusion

It’s important to have a room in your house that isn’t pure function. A kitchen is for cooking, bedroom is for sleeping, and the living room in an apartment is often a place that you end up being around others.

Get your music room set up and soon you’ll have a space to get away from everyone and get lost in music.

What could be better than that?

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