Category: Music

Posted on by

Billie Eilish, What AI Has to Say

I asked AI (artificial intelligence), Please tell me 30 unusual, unexpected facts about Billie Eilish. You may want to do some fact checking. Some of this may not be true.

Here is the response:

Sure thing! Here are 30 unusual and unexpected facts about Billie Eilish:

Her full name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell

She was born on December 18, 2001

Billie was homeschooled alongside her brother Finneas

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

She started writing songs at the age of 11

Her first single, “Ocean Eyes,” was released on SoundCloud in 2016

Billie has Tourette syndrome, which she has mostly learned to control in public

She has been vegan since around 2014

Billie’s favorite TV show is “The Office,” and she even used samples from it in her song “My Strange Addiction”

She never smiles in photographs because she feels it makes her look “weak and powerless”

Billie is ambidextrous and can write and draw with both hands equally well

She has synesthesia, which causes her to see colors when she hears certain sounds or music

Billie’s music is heavily influenced by artists like Lana Del Rey, The Beatles, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Bieber

She has songs on both of the “13 Reasons Why” soundtracks

Billie’s brother Finneas is her co-writer and producer

She has a fear of elevators

Billie once broke her arm while dancing with seniors in her dance class

She has never used drugs or smoked

Billie is the first artist born in the 2000s to have a number one album

She loves horror movies and has incorporated elements of the genre into her music videos

Billie’s first real composition is about the apocalypse, inspired by “The Walking Dead,” called “Fingers Crossed”

She has a tattoo of a small bird on her arm.

Billie’s style is inspired by Tyler the Creator

She has won four major Grammy awards in one night, making her the youngest artist to do so

Billie’s entire family is very musical

She has a passion for environmental activism

Billie once performed for a crowd of 40,000 people when she was just 16

She has a pet cat named Shark

Billie’s favorite book is “The Catcher in the Rye.”

She has a collection of vintage clothing.

See Also: Other Articles About Billie Eilish.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s middle name is Alison.

She is a trained ballerina and used to perform in musical theater productions when she was younger.

Taylor was named after James Taylor, one of her parents’ favorite musicians.

She has a fear of sea urchins and snakes.

Swift has a younger brother named Austin.

She started playing guitar at the age of 12 and wrote her first song “Lucky You” at the age of 14.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

Her debut album, “Taylor Swift,” was released in 2006 when she was just 16 years old.

Swift has won 10 Grammy Awards, making her the first female artist to win Album of the Year twice.

She has sold over 50 million albums and 150 million singles worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Swift is also known for her philanthropic work and has donated millions of dollars to various charities.

She was homeschooled for most of her childhood and completed her high school education through an online program.

She has a Scottish Fold cat named Olivia Benson, named after the character on “Law and Order: SVU.”

A Scottish Fold cat, like Olivia Benson, owned by Taylor Swift
A Scottish Fold cat

Swift’s favorite number is 13, and she often incorporates it into her music and performances.

She is an advocate for LGBT rights and has been vocal about her support for the community.

Swift has appeared in several films, including “Valentine’s Day” and “Cats.”

She co-wrote the song “Better Man” for the country band Little Big Town, which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2018.

Swift’s album “1989” was inspired by the music of the 1980s.

She is good friends with fellow musicians Ed Sheeran and Lorde.

Swift has a close relationship with her fans and has been known to surprise them with gifts and visits.

She is a self-proclaimed baker and loves to make desserts.

Swift’s favorite food is chicken tenders.

She has a tattoo on her foot that reads “13.”

Swift has dated several high-profile celebrities, including Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, John Mayer, Tom Hiddleston and British actor Joe Alwyn.

Swift released two surprise albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore,” in 2020, both of which received critical acclaim and commercial success.

Posted on by

Dua Lipa

When Dua Lipa started out, she thought she was going to make it as a model. Instead, it seems music is her main career. While struggling to make a name for herself, she worked as a hostess or greeter in a cocktail bar in London.

Early in her music career before success came her way, she considered giving up. If it had not been for emotional support from her family, she might have been a hostess until this day.

In grammar school, she was turned down for the school choir because her teacher said she was a lousy singer.

Dua Lipa’s parents are originally from Kosovo, and she proudly embraces her Albanian heritage.

Her Name Means “Love”: In Albanian, “Dua” means “love” or “I want.”

While most people have 32 teeth, Dua had 33 teeth until she had the extra one extracted.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

Although born in London, she moved to her parents’ home country of Kosovo when she was thirteen years old. Two years later, at fifteen, she moved by herself back to London.

Kosovo is a landlocked country in Europe a few hundred kilometers due east of Italy with a population of 1.8 million. That’s about the same as the population of West Virginia or Idaho.

Kosovo is a tiny country with an area about the same size as Connecticut or less than half the area of the Hawaiian islands.

Posting covers of popular songs on YouTube was a major factor in launching her career.

Music runs in the family: Her father, Dukagjin Lipa, was a musician in a Kosovar rock band.

Self-Taught Musician: Dua taught herself to play the guitar by watching YouTube tutorials.

She has admitted to being quite superstitious, with rituals like knocking on wood for good luck.

Unlike many pop stars, Dua Lipa is actively involved in writing her own songs, contributing to their deeply personal content.

Dua is a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality and LGBTQ+ issues, and she often uses her platform to speak out about social justice issues.

She co-founded the Sunny Hill Foundation, which raises funds to help those in need in Kosovo.

She worked with the legendary Elton John on the hit “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” in 2021.

Early in her career, she struggled with stage fright but has since become known for her confident performances.

Music Is Her Therapy: She has said that writing music helps her process emotions and life events, acting as a form of therapy for her.

In 2021, Dua became the first female artist to have an album reach 10 billion streams on Spotify with Future Nostalgia.

See also:

Dua Lipa’s Acts of Kindness

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Take Me To The River – Haygoods




Enjoy this inspiring video by the Haygoods, an underrated musical family with their own theater in Branson, Missouri, United States.

The Haygoods are one of the most famous performing families in Branson, known for a high-energy stage show that blends music, dance, and elaborate special effects. Their story is a mixture of small-town grit, family harmony, and a lot of fiddles.

Here are some interesting facts about them:

1. It’s literally a family band

The group performing today consists of five brothers and one sister: Timothy, Patrick, Dominic, Michael, Matthew, and Catherine Haygood. They sing and play more than 20 different instruments during a typical show.

2. They grew up performing as kids

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

The Haygood siblings began performing together in 1993 at Silver Dollar City when they were still children. At the theme park they sometimes performed six shows a day, six days a week, which became their training ground as entertainers.

3. Their childhood was very modest

The family grew up in the Ozarks in a single-wide mobile home, and their father worked as a carpenter to support eight children. Their mother found music teachers and mentors to train them on many instruments and performance skills.

4. A Sesame Street moment started it all

The oldest brother, Timothy, saw violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman playing on Sesame Street when he was five years old. Inspired, he begged for violin lessons, which sparked the musical journey for the entire family.

5. They’ve sold millions of tickets

Over the decades, the Haygoods have sold more than 7 million tickets and performed thousands of concerts for audiences from all over the world.

6. They helped define the Branson family-show style

Their performances mix country, rock, pop, and classic hits with choreography, acapella harmonies, lasers, pyrotechnics, and comedy. They redesign the show nearly every year to keep it fresh.

7. Their show is famously high-tech

A typical Haygoods performance may include:

laser light shows

drones and holograms

instruments that light up

flying musicians and acrobatic stunts

It’s part concert, part Broadway-style spectacle.

8. They became Branson entrepreneurs

In the 2000s the family even owned and operated their own theater on the Branson Strip before later focusing primarily on performing.

9. They are one of Branson’s longest-running family shows

Their act has been performing in Branson for more than three decades, making it one of the longest-running first-generation shows in the city’s entertainment history.

10. Christmas shows are a huge tradition

Every winter they produce a major Christmas show, which has become a popular seasonal attraction for visitors to Branson.

See also: Country Boy.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Bugles are like trumpets, but they have no valves, and so can play only some notes.

The Andrews Sisters were one of the most energetic vocal groups of the swing era. Their music bounced like champagne bubbles through radios, dance halls, and wartime barracks. Here are ten fascinating facts about them.

1. They sold an enormous number of records

The trio sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best-selling female vocal groups of all time.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

2. Their harmonies were famously tight

Their style was called “close harmony.” The sisters sang extremely tight vocal parts that locked together like gears in a clock, which became a defining sound of the swing era.

3. Their biggest hit was “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”

Their most famous song is Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, released during World War II.
It became an anthem for American troops and remains one of the most recognizable swing songs ever recorded.

4. They helped boost morale during World War II

During World War II, the sisters performed for U.S. troops around the world and recorded numerous patriotic songs. Their music was widely played on military radio broadcasts.

5. Their career began when they were teenagers

The trio began performing in Minneapolis in the 1920s, when the sisters were still very young. They originally imitated another famous group called The Boswell Sisters before developing their own style.

6. They appeared in many Hollywood films

The sisters didn’t just sing on records. They appeared in several movies in the 1940s, including Buck Privates, which starred the comedy duo Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.

7. Their real names were LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty

The trio consisted of the three Andrews sisters:

LaVerne Andrews

Maxene Andrews

Patty Andrews

Patty, the youngest, usually sang the lead.

8. They recorded songs in many languages

To reach soldiers and international audiences, the trio recorded songs in several languages, including Spanish, German, Italian, and Yiddish.

9. Their music influenced later pop groups

Their vocal style influenced many later harmony groups, including the The Pointer Sisters and even some rock and pop vocal arrangements.

10. They had one of the longest-running careers of the swing era

The group remained active from the late 1920s through the 1960s, surviving changing musical trends long after many big-band acts disappeared.

🎶 A fun historical note:
At the height of their fame in the 1940s, the Andrews Sisters were second only to Bing Crosby in record sales in the United States. That’s a pretty lofty perch in the musical skyline of the swing era.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Crazy Frog



Crazy Frog is one of the most popular videos ever on YouTube, with more than 4 billion views. Could it be that half the people on the planet have seen this video? Not yet. It turns out that many people watch it over and over. Still, I’ll bet more than seven in eight have not seen this. If you’re one who has seen it, you may enjoy watching it again.

You may be wondering what he’s doing with his hands. You’ll see he’s doing a twisting motion with his right hand, and a squeezing motion with his left. He’s operating a motorcycle. The right is turning the throttle, and the left is operating the clutch of a bike with a manual transmission. You may see him shift gears with a foot also.

What’s with the onomatopoeia at the beginning of the video? For that matter, what’s onomatopoeia? That’s the act of making sounds with ones mouth that imitate sounds made elsewhere such as by machines. It turns out our little froggie man is emulating the sounds of an old two-stroke motorcycle. Until the past 20 or 30 years, a good many of the world’s motorcycles had two-stroke engines that don’t burn gas as efficiently as modern four-strokes. When idling or decelerating unburned gas gathers in the mufflers of these bikes and catches fire or explodes from time to time, sounding much like Crazy Frog. Here’s an earlier video of him that focuses more on his motorcycling:

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Sun Valley Serenade

This full movie is cued up to start at the musical and dance entertainment portion. You can rewind to the beginning to see the full movie if you wish. This is a level of entertainment that is probably not possible today.

The orchestra was led by Benny Goodman who was as big as the Beatles in his day – about 25 years before the Beatles. Benny’s instrument was the clarinet, something that’s been nearly entirely missing from the mainstream music scene for at least fifty years.

Sun Valley Serenade was recorded in Sun Valley, Idaho. The venue still exists to this day. Your author and his wife had the pleasure of staying in the Sun Valley Lodge 20 or so years ago where we met ice skating legends Scotty Hamilton, Katarina Witt, Oksana Baiul, and others in person. The room the orchestra played in looks the same to this day.

Skating stars tend to vacation in Sun Valley and neighboring Ketchum, Idaho in the summers during their off season. Many of them practice in the two skating rinks and some participate in public shows on Friday or Saturday nights. Sun Vally has a year-round outdoor ice rink, one of the few, and perhaps the only year-round outdoor rink in the world. To keep the ice frozen, they have four Diesel-powered refrigerators each as big as a full-size cargo container.

I believe you’ll agree with me that the dance sequence is one of the best ever. It is performed by the Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge. The brothers were born in 1914 and 1921 to a pianist mother and drummer father.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

The Nicholas Brothers, Harold and Fayard, who lived to the age of 92, later taught master tap dance classes as teachers-in-residence at Harvard University and Radcliffe College. Janet Jackson and her brother Michael studied under the Nicholas brothers.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Charlie Brown Medley – The Piano Guys

The actual name of this song is “Linus and Lucy.” It was recorded in 1964 by Vince Guaraldi. This piece was commissioned by Lee Mendelson for the upcoming movie, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.”

From Wikipedia, “Within several weeks, Mendelson received a call from an excited Guaraldi who wanted to play a piece of music he had just written. Mendelson, not wanting his first exposure to the new music to be marred by the poor audio qualities of a telephone, suggested coming over to Guaraldi’s studio. Guaraldi enthusiastically refused, saying ‘I’ve got to play this for someone right now or I’ll explode!’ He then began playing the then untitled “Linus and Lucy” for Mendelson, who agreed the song was perfect.”

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Bebo Best and the Super Lounge Orchestra – Sing, Sing, Sing

From the website, bebobestofficial.wixsite.com:

Bebo Best, a.k.a. Bebo Baldan, theAlchemist

Producer, musician, arranger (1987 – present)

Very early he gained a main role in the world music scene as a promising composer, arranger and session man. His works have been released, from various European labels, in the same albums with personalities such as Jon Hassel, Steven Brown, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman, Wim Mertens, David Torn, Ruichy Sakamoto, Frank Zappa (see DISCOGRAPHY). He composed soundtracks for cinema, tv, theatre, ballet. He received international recognitions for his original use of electronic instrumentation melted with world, jazz, classical and pop music.

He begins as a young man studying contemporary classical music, joining the school of “Percussione e ricerca Ensemble”, with teachers of “Orchestra La Fenice” Gottardo Paganin and Eddy de Fanti in Venice (first as a student, then as a teacher).
He dedicates to the study and performance of the music by composers such as E. Varese, J. Cage, S. Reich. T. Riley.
He continued his studies with great masters such as Kenny Clarke, Nana ‘Vasconcelos, Trilock Gurtu, Dave Weckl.
He also began composing, experimenting with early forms of electronic music along with ongoing research on ethnic music.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

The first published work is Pangea (1987 – now sold out). The first cd “Soniasikri” comes out in Belgium for the Sub Rosa label in 1991.
Since then, Bebo participates on over 400 album in Europe, USA, Japan, for SONY MUSIC, EMI, CINEDELIC, CHIN -CHIN, RAMBLING/JAPAN, as a composer, arranger, musician, sound engineer.

The main projects came out with the names of: Bebo Baldan, Tantra, Tantra Tribe, Magnetic 4, Bebo Best, the Super Lounge Orchestra (in chronological order).

He has shared the stage with: Subsonica, Tambours du bronx, Sabri Brothers, Punjabi Mc, Sufi Dervisci Rotanti, Carmen Consoli, F. De Gregori, P. Pelù, Tiromancino, Nick Cave, Transglobal Underground…

He participate to the project “Asian Garden”, with: TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND, NITIN SAWHNEY, TRILOK GURTU, ASIAN DUB FOUND., SINEAD O’ CONNOR , and highlight at the “1 Maggio- RAI national TV” festival in Rome, with an audience of over 700.000 people.

• AS a Session-man he’s a well-known bass player, percussionist and drummer. Also plays Sitar, keybs and guitar. He has played infinite genres (jazz, funk, blues, classical, contemporary classical, Brasilian, salsa, house, pop, Indian, Afro, Ethnic, chill-out, experimental, minimalism) in music festivals abroad in like England, U.S.A., Italy, France, Switzerland, Curacao, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, working with/for U.S.A. top musicians David Torn (david bowie, jan garbarek, don cherry, david sylvian), Mark Abrams, Duck Baker, Cheryl Porter, Stephen James, and Mad Professor, Visnadi, Max m’bass’ado’, Pietro Russino, Victor Mc Surely (from Robert Fripp’ League of crafty guitarists), Patricio Morales, Vincenzo Zitello, Makam, Tintin, Sheik Omar Sanogo, Nour Eddine, Ghassan Mawlawi, Hakkah, Alex Masi, Alex Monti, Aldo Tagliapietra (le orme), Roberto Bortoluzzi (marisa monte), Gigi Masin (bjiork), Estasia, Francesco Boldini, Renato Nota, David Soto Chero; blues men Andy J. Forest, Dick Herstall-Smith, Tolo Marton, James Thompson, David Srb, Fabio Treves; world music projects as Tantratribe, Paki Zennaro, Leo d’ Angilla, Anita Sief, Arlo Bigazzi; pop Pitura Freska, Skardy, Nossa alma Canta, Sabrina Salerno, Angela Milanese, Ricky Gianco, Andrea Braido, Bruno Lauzi, Magnetic 4, with top jazz players Marco Tamburini, Francesco Bearzatti, Edu Hebling, Maurizio Scomparin, David Boato, Danilo Gallo, Marco Castelli, Massimo Donà, Saverio Tasca, Marco Ponchiroli, brazilian singers Luma, Ligia Franca, Silvania dos Santos, Rosa Emilia, Gilberto Gil​

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Fred Astaire Biography

Fred Astaire’s birth name was Frederick Austerlitz. He lived to the age of 88, continuing to perform up to 82 years old. Fred was born in 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was more than just a dancer, also being highly skilled in singing and acting as well as playing clarinet, accordion and piano.

Not being happy with Omaha, Fred’s mother hoped he, and his older sister Adele might take up vaudeville performing so she could move to some place more interesting to her, such as New York City. Adele enjoyed her dance lessons, but Fred was simply not interested – at first.

Around 1933, Fred was hoping to break into movies. After an early screen test, a casting director reported, “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Balding. Can dance a little.”

Posted on by — Leave a comment

This Drummer is at the Wrong Gig


What’s in a name?

Someone posted this video of the incredibly skilled Steve Moore at the drums under a different title. For two years the video just sat there with very few visitors. Then the video was relabeled, “This Drummer is at the Wrong Gig.” Suddenly the video went viral. As of today, it has been seen 53 million times.

Do you have a product or service that’s not getting the attention it should? Whether on Craigslist, social media, or YouTube, you might simply renaming it and see what happens.

I set this video to start 60 seconds in. That’s where Steve really starts cutting loose. If you were to see it from the beginning, you might not know what’s about to happen and quit before you see Steve’s magic.

There’s more about Steve Moore, especially as the tactical move of renaming the video relates to business at General Business Action Pack.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...
Posted on by — Leave a comment

10 Strange Facts About Music

Music can significantly reduce pain and anxiety, leading to its use in various therapeutic settings.

The world’s longest concert lasted for 639 years. It began in 1349 and is still ongoing in the St. Burchardi Church in Germany.

The famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven was deaf, yet he continued to create extraordinary music.

Listening to upbeat music can improve your physical performance and make exercise feel easier.

The shortest recorded song is “You Suffer” by the British grindcore band Napalm Death, which lasts only 1.316 seconds. See it on YouTube

Playing a musical instrument can improve cognitive skills, memory, and attention span.

This is a showcase site for Jeff Napier of US-Web-Design. Surprisingly low-cost solutions for all your website and marketing needs. More...

The oldest known musical instrument is a flute made from a vulture’s wing bone, dating back around 43,000 years.

Some people experience a phenomenon called “earworm,” where a catchy song gets stuck in their head and plays on repeat.

The brain of a musician is structurally different from that of a non-musician, particularly in areas related to motor skills and auditory processing.

In the 1500s, it was common for wealthy families to hire composers to write music specifically for their pet birds.

The world’s largest playable guitar measures over 43 feet in length and weighs more than 2,000 pounds.

The term “Rock ‘n’ Roll” was originally a euphemism for sex in African-American blues songs.

The word “piano” is an abbreviation of its original name, “pianoforte,” which means “soft-loud” in Italian.

Music with a strong beat can make you feel more confident and powerful.

Researchers have found that cows produce more milk when they listen to relaxing music.

The world’s largest music festival, Rock in Rio, has attracted over 1.5 million attendees for a single event.

The famous composer Mozart wrote his first symphony at the age of eight. They say he had perfect pitch from the age of two. Perfect pitch can be identified when someone hear a note and can tell you what it is.

The Guinness World Record for the most people playing the same song on electric guitars simultaneously is 7,273.

In 1989, the world’s first internet-delivered live concert took place, featuring The Rolling Stones.

Playing a musical instrument can delay the onset of age-related hearing loss.

The melody for the iconic “Star Wars” theme was composed by John Williams in just a few hours.

The “Brown Note” is a hypothetical sound frequency that, if played at a high volume, could cause people to lose control of their bowels.

The guitar legend Jimi Hendrix was left-handed but played a right-handed guitar flipped upside down.

The “devil’s interval” or “diabolus in musica” is a musical interval known for its dissonance and was once considered evil by the Catholic Church.

The song “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is famous for its simple guitar riff, which many beginners learn to play.

The world’s oldest known song, called the “Hurrian Hymn No. 6,” is over 3,400 years old.

In the 1980s, psychologist Alfred A. Tomatis claimed that listening to the music of Mozart could increase IQ scores temporarily.

Music can evoke strong emotions and memories due to its ability to activate the brain’s limbic system, which is associated with emotions and memory.

The world’s most outrageous musical instrument was made in France during 1450. A long row of spikes was connected to a keyboard. Under each spike was a pig, arranged according to the pitch of its oink.


World's most outrageous musical instrument