Trip Meter Music

Archive for September, 2009

Drums, and percussion instruments in general, have been a key part of ceremonies, communications, and other uses throughout history. From the Karate Drums of Japan to the Steel Drums of Trinidad and Tobago, drums have reached across cultures and centuries of societal evolution.

Percussion drum sets are a popular component of musical groups across many styles. Individual components of the drum sets are used in orchestral compositions and these drum sets are also used in rock bands. The diversity of the sounds created by the components, both individually and combined, allows the percussion drum set to be both diverse in the genres it’s used in and a stable provider of rhythmic components to a song.

The percussion drum set comes in multiple variations and can be changed to fit the musician’s need. Below are some of the more common percussion drum types in use.

• Bass Drum (Kick Drum) is used predominantly in rock and jazz and has a deep, low sound.
• Crash Cymbals (Hi-Hat) is two matching cymbals that are stacked one above the other and played by either a pedal or by striking with a stick.
• Snare Drum is used in orchestral, band and jazz and is named for the strings stretched across the lower of the two heads.
• Tom Drum is a cylinder drum that does not have a snare and is most commonly used in jazz and rock music.
• Ride Cymbal is a single Cymbal that is positioned at an angle and comes in varying degrees of thickness based on the need of the musician.
• Splash Cymbal is a single cymbal that sits at an angle and is named for the “splash” sound that it makes when struck.

These are some of the more commonly used drums and cymbals used in a percussion drum set and their uses. Each one has its own distinct sound. Due to this, musicians have needed to evolve in order to include the various types of sounds produced by each into their compositions

The 90s was a time of Bill Clinton, Friends and Sienfield. In regards to music, here are the top five songs
and musicians along with a little trivia.

1.  Britney Spears :  ‘…Baby, One More Time’

This Mouseketeer became a pop phenomenon shortly after this first hit single.  Jive Records released the song on October 13, 1998.  With a sexy and somewhat controversial video, the single peaked at number on the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks.

The song was originally written for TLC, claimed the song’s writer, Max Martin.  Unfortunately for TLC the song was nominated for a Grammy that year, and has since become Spear’s most successful song performed.  Britney said, “ever girl can relate to it”.  This claimed to be somewhat true, as the song sold over 750,000 copies, earning a three-times golf certification.

2. Nirvana:  ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’

Off the release of Nirvana’s album, Nevermind in 1992, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, quickly became a hit.  Some believe this song sparked a teenage revolution of alternative rock, which is still well recognized today.  The song was Nirvana’s biggest hit, even getting a fluke remake out of Weird Al Yankovic.

‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ received many MTV Video Music Awards.  Cobain stated, “I was trying to write the ultimate pop song”.  Even after Kurt Cobain’s death critics recognized the song as being one of the greatest alternative rock songs of all time.

3.  Alanis Morissette:  ’You Oughta Know’

Grammy-Award winning song written and performed by Alanis, herself, was placed on Morissette’s album Jagged Little Pill in 1995.  The song’s love/hate lyrics were rumored to be about Morissette’s boyfriend Dave Coulier of TV’s Full House.

This pain-ridden song, with a shocking set of musical words, was one of the first attempts to state heartache so explicitly.  The song became mainstream across the teenage universe, becoming a hit in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

4. Cher:  ‘Believe”

This spark of one of Cher’s many comebacks became the single, most-listened to, hit of her career.  The song has been remade four times, to fit the club scene, dance re-mix genre and ballad arena.  Earning a Grammy, this multi-platinum song was written collaboratively by six individuals (Paul Barry, Matt Gray, Steven Torch, Brian Higgins, Timothy Powell and Stuart McLellan).

The song, ‘Believe’ was released in 1998, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.  After it’s release, it also became a number one song in over twenty-three countries worldwide, within two weeks.

5.  Rob Thomas:  ‘Smooth’

This collaborative effort between Rob Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty), and Santana wowed music audiences with its slick lyrics and amazing guitar riffs.  Rob Thomas originally wanted George Michael to sing the song for the recreated lyrics he had constructed from the song, ’Room 17’.

The song became a hit in 1999, spending over twelve consecutive weeks at number one, on the Billboard Hot 100.  The same year, ’Smooth’ won three esteemed Grammy Awards, including, Song of the Year.  Rob wrote the song for his wife, Marisol Thomas.