Dancing is as old as time, and its one constant is music that you can do it to. And while not all music is designed for dancing, some revolutionary dance music has been produced since records began. Some of it is intentionally disposable, but it is surprising just how much of the dance music made in the last 50 years stands the test of time. A catch-all term, ‘dance music’ has ...
(Singer-songwriter, b. 1974) This Canadian singer recorded two teen-oriented albums that went nowhere in 1990 and 1992. Signed to Madonna’s Maverick label, major debut Jagged Little Pill (1995) was a multi-platinum success. Music aside, it was Morissette’s abrasive, honest, sharp lyrical concerns, ranging from anger at being jilted to confessional, that captivated. Singles like ‘Ironic’ and the Chilis-esque rock power of ‘You Oughta Know’ were huge hits. Second album Supposed Former ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1984–95) Mick Jones followed his stint as a founder member of The Clash with the genre-hopping BAD. He enlisted filmmaker Don Letts on ‘effects’ and adventurously married punk, hip hop and electronica on 1985’s This Is BAD. The album’s single, ‘E=MC2’ scored highly in the UK. Jones recruited old chum Joe Strummer for the similar No. 10 Upping Street (1986). An excitingly innovative outfit at the outset, BAD succumbed ...
(Vocals, b. 1965) Lead singer with native Icelandic band The Sugarcubes, Björk Gudmundsdóttir went solo in 1991. Debut (1993) was a starting collection of songs yielding hits like the dance entrancing ‘Human Behaviour’ and ‘Venus As A Boy’ complete with Indian soundtrack string arrangements. Björk’s unique keening and infectiously enthusiastic singing style was a refreshing change and Debut charted internationally. Always with an ear to the UK club scene – and ...
(Vocals, b. 1981) Britney Spears started life, after a short stage career, on American TV’s New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 onwards. Her debut single ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ (1998) was a masterly slice of melancholy pop that topped the charts – due in no small part to its suggestive video featuring the singer/actress in a school uniform. A year later, and the star’s level of fame was enormous, with ...
(Experimental vocal/instrumental group, 1973–94) Founded in Sheffield by Krautrock fans Chris Watson, Richard H. Kirk and Stephen Mallinder. The trio manipulated tapes and played conventional instruments against and over them. Signed to Rough Trade in 1978, an underground hit ‘Nag Nag Nag’ emerged. The group became more interested in danceable beats, but still retained an experimental edge. 1984’s ‘Sensoria’ and 1985’s ‘James Brown’ are seen as precursors of house music. Many ...
(Vocals, b. 1984) Scottish DJ Harris (real name Adam Wiles) made a big wave in British disco in the latter half of the Noughties, filling club dancefloors with tracks like ‘Acceptable In The 80s’ and ‘Dance Wiv Me’ – his collaboration with Dizzee Rascal. He courts controversy, voicing his opinions via social network site Twitter, but his talking on the decks made him a driving force in British music in the ...
(Vocals, b. 1946) Born Cherilyn Sarkasian La Pier in California, her early career yielded hits such as ‘All I Really Want To Do’ (1965) and ‘Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves’ (1971), alongside successes with husband, Sonny Bono (‘I Got You Babe’, ‘All I Ever Need Is You’). She emphasized her Native American heritage on ‘Half-Breed’ (1973) and ‘Dark Lady’ (1974); but apart from 1979’s ‘Take Me Home’ the next decade was a ...
(Vocals, b. 1980) NYC native Aguilera has been making records since 1999, but singing since her very earliest years, inspired by the talents of the likes of Whitney Houston and Madonna. Her own vocal ability has long been the selling point of her talent, but her ‘blonde bombshell’ looks have not hindered her progress. Breaking on to the scene with the single ‘Genie In A Bottle’, Aguilera’s overt sexuality was always evident. ...
(Vocals, b. 1981) Initially inspired by a musical father (a reggae bass guitarist), Craig David’s first appearance on the music scene to those outside the Southampton club circuit was his vocal for Artful Dodger’s ‘Rewind’ (1999). Subsequently signing to Telstar, David made his name with melodic, often acoustically laced R&B that reflected his casanova lifestyle in a down-to-earth fashion. ‘Fill Me In’ (2000) detailed suspicion over a girlfriend’s monogamy, while ‘Walking ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1982–86, 1998–99) The larger-than-life George O’Dowd is better known as Boy George. His smooth pop tenor, his outlandish get-up and the band’s catchy tunes made them unmissable. Roy Hay (guitar), Mikey Craig (bass) and Jon Moss (drums) provided the music for the lilting ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me’ which topped the UK chart in late 1982, and six smash hits ensued, including ‘Church Of The Poison Mind’, ...
One of the great chameleon figures in rock, David Bowie has also been among the most influential. Born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947, his earliest records with The King Bees, The Mannish Boys and The Lower Third were unsuccessful. In 1966 he changed his name to David Bowie and combined his songwriting with an interest in stage and visual arts. The Rise Of Ziggy Stardust It was not until 1969 ...
‘Groove Is In The Heart’, 1990 With the legendary P-Funk bassist Bootsy Collins on bass, the equally legendary Maceo Parker (of James Brown fame – as, incidentally, so was Bootsy) on saxophone, and A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip as a guest vocalist, all the elements were in place for a modern funk anthem. ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ was pop-funk perfection that reached No. 4 in the States, and No. 2 ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–present) The band was formed by Essex schoolboys Vince Clarke (keyboards), Martin Gore (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and singer Dave Gahan. New label Mute took a punt on their melancholic but hooky synth-pop and were rewarded with the Top 10 album Speak And Spell (1981) and classic dance track ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. Clarke departed to create Erasure, and Gore assumed songwriting duties, racking up hits that ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1978–present) The most glamorous of the new romantic bands, Birmingham’s Duran Duran (named after the evil scientist in the movie Barbarella) looked very good in the ambitious videos that accompanied their many Top 10 hits. These included ‘Girls On Film’ (1981), ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’, ‘Save A Prayer’ and ‘Rio’ (all 1982), ‘The Reflex’ and ‘Wild Boys’ (1984): a mixture of sexually charged, up-tempo pop and beguiling ballads, which ...
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Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.
