MetaFilter posts tagged with BBC and music

"Oh God, I could do better than that..."

Civil_Disobedient — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:22:52 -0800

Bored kid on a Friday night in 1974 in the States? The Midnight Special. Bored kid on a Friday night in the UK? The Old Grey Whistle Test! Wha… huh? On a shoestring budget of just £500 an episode, for 16 years the BBC2s OGWT played host to live performances* from some of the most influential musicians of the time at their artistic peaks. Like who? Well, there's…

…just to name a few. [Inspired by philip-random's great post] * - Incredibly good live performances.

BBC4 Documentary: Factory - Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays

Item — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:04:47 -0800

'This is the story of how Factory pioneered Briton's independent pop culture, imagined a new Manchester, and blew a shedload of money:

Factory - Manchester from Joy Division to Happy Mondays'

Jimmy Smith on the BBC

flapjax at midnite — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:02:14 -0800

If you're in the mood for some of that juicy, satisfying, blues-inflected and soulful-as-hell organ jazz served up Jimmy Smith-style, check out these 1964 BBC TV appearances from Smith and his trio: The Sermon, Wagon Wheels, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, Uptempo Blues and Theme from Mondo Cane. What a great trio Smith had here: Billy Hart is the consummate jazz percussionist, and Quentin Warren (on a Strat!) sounds mighty fine, smooth as silk. And the BBC cameramen did a fine job of shooting these kicking performances. Enjoy! BTW, the YT poster's titles all indicate that this performance was from 1964, but I notice one clip contains a caption indicating the year was 1965... well, whatever the year, it's damn good music. And... Jimmy Smith obit from 2005, previously.

Wobble board, wobble board, I'm so flipping bored

Artw — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:22:55 -0800

Australia song - Adam Buxton of the Adam and Joe show gives musical tribute to the epically long Baz Luhrmann movie. * Other adam Buxton youtube videos are available. ** Joe's Australia song was a bit rubbish.

glimpses of the African Rock n' Roll Years

nickyskye — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:45:01 -0800

Clips from the BBC documentary, The African Rock n' Roll Years - Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l Part 6 - a six-part series mixing interviews with key artists, concert footage and news archives, the series examines and explains the "styles that make up the continent's music, and the political and social pressures that led to their development." BBC documentary details. Found in YouTube member, Duncanzibar's, good collection of mostly African music videos. Details of the full documentary: "Episode 1: WEST AFRICA: Praise Singers and Superstars This is the story of how the musical caste lost their monopoly, taken over by state intervention and a craze for Cuban music, which helped to create one of the most exciting music scenes in the world today. Featured artists include Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Orchestra Baobab, Rokia Traore, Ali Farka Toure and Daara J. Ep 2: SOUTH AFRICA: Rhythms of Resistance South Africa's vibrant music scene developed in the apartheid era, when songs were used as a way of hitting back against repression. Featured artists include Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Thomas Mapfumo from Zimbabwe and newcomer Thandiswa. Ep 3: COASTAL SOUNDS: Sierra Leone to Cameroon This programme explores the effect of calypso on the 'palmwine' styles that developed in Sierra Leone and Nigeria. It tells how music from Sierra Leone and elsewhere affected the massively popular highlife dance styles of Ghana, and how palmwine music was also to influence the makossa dance scene in Cameroon. Featured artists include Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Osibisa, Alpha Blondy, Angelique Kidjo and Manu Dibango. Ep 4: CENTRAL AFRICA: Congo Jive Some of the most infectious dance music in Africa came from Kinshasa on the Congo river, as guitarists and band-leaders mixed local and Cuban influences to create the rumba and soukous styles that shook up dance floors across Africa and beyond. Featured artists include Franco, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Ray Lema, Pepe Kalle, Konono No 1 and Corneille. Ep 5: LUSOPHONE AFRICA: The Lisbon Legacy Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde were cut off from neighbouring states because the language of their colonisers was Portuguese and not French or English. The musicians developed distinctive styles; from the high-energy rhythms of Angola to the sad-edged blues and European-influenced ballads of the Cape Verde islands. Featured artists include Cesaria Evora, Manecas Costa, Mariza, Bonga and Mabulu. Ep 6: NORTH AFRICA: Rai Rebels and Desert Blues The programme follows the careers of rai stars like Khaled and the Arabic rocker Rachid Taha, and also the great female singers who have emerged from Islamic North Africa and from further east in Christian Ethiopia. Featured artists include Tinariwen, Khaled, Rachid Taha, Souad Massi, the musicians of Jajouka Amina and (from Ethiopia) Gigi and Aster Aweke." Each clip is about 1/7th the length of the original series but still worth watching. Lots of music, examples, so one can seek out music by those musicians and very listenable music history.

If you think you may be offended, switch off now.

gman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:25:02 -0800

Gilles Peterson does his thing which you can listen to weekly. Some of his mixes and podcasts are available for download. Dude even digs Obama. This week's show in the 'listen to' link is extra special and can also be recorded.

Guitar heroes

fearfulsymmetry — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:29:35 -0800

The website to tie in with the BBC series Imagine: The Story Of The Guitar has video interviews with The Edge, Bob Brozman, Johnny Marr, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Charlotte Hatherley and BB King. Forget Guitar Hero, it takes a lot to be a pro. There's a bit more on youtube.

Conducting an orchestra. How hard could it be?

rongorongo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:14:21 -0800

The theory is one thing - but if you have ever dreamed of having the chance to conduct a full, professional orchestra at a major concert then you are almost certainly (*) out of luck. Sorry. Unless you are a celebrity in which case the BBC might fix it for you (full program trailer on YT). Giving it their first go are actors Jane Asher and David Soul, Drum and Bass star Goldie, Blur bassist Alex James, broadcasters Katie Derham and Peter Snow, and comedians Sue Perkins and Bradley Walsh as they compete to be the "Maestro" [i-player link for UK only unfortunately]

Forget about this," she says, "it's for interest only."

le morte de bea arthur — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:54:47 -0800

A recently uncovered musical experiment by Delia Derbyshire predicted the sound of modern dance music three decades before it became fashionable. Derbyshire (1937 - 2001) is best-known for her long-uncredited contribution to the Doctor Who theme. After her death in 2001 a set of 267 tapes were found in her attic, and among them was this oddly prescient gem. Wikipedia article on Derbyshire. Previously and more previously.

Click click victorious, buzz buzz glorious, Long to reign over us, buzz buzz click click.

Artw — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:49:44 -0800

The first known recording of a digital computer playing music, recorded by the BBC in 1951. The music played on a Ferantti Mark 1, one of the first commercial general-use computers, and was entered via punchtape and played on a speaker usually used for making clicks and tones to indicate program progress.

The Yellow Shark [NOT MUDSHARK-IST]

not_on_display — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:18:06 -0800

In 1993, we said goodbye to Frank Zappa, fallen victim to prostate cancer. A 1993 Today Show interview with Frank. A 1993 BBC documentary about Frank. {Parts 2, 3, 4.} "Outrage at Valdez," from 1993's The Yellow Shark. [Zappa mega-post previously on MeFi]

BBC Sound Index

feelinglistless — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:13:51 -0800

BBC Sound Index -- an excellent way to confirm your worst fears about the music Internet users are listening to.

"You scumbag, you maggot / You cheap lousy BEEP"

fearfulsymmetry — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:06:04 -0800

Fairytale of New York... censored! No, not now... Shane will make 50 this Christmas... Sadly not Kirsty.

BBC Podcasts to learn about bakery fresh British popular music

Kattullus — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:47:16 -0800

BBC Introducing is an excellent way to keep tabs on what's fresh in the British popular music scene without having to live in a rainsoaked armpit. There are four podcasts for you to download, the flagship Best of Unsigned Podcast, Homegrown Mix with Ras Kwame, Scotland Introducing and BBC Radio Northampton's Weekender. All feature bands that are either unsigned or just recently signed and the music ranges from hip hop to punk rock to what sounds awfully like the soundtrack for a NES game with half-hearted chanting over it. This is an excellent resource whether you're casual searcher for new songs or the kind of anorak who knows which British indie band was first to use an 808.

I don't believe you, you're a liar. Play it fucking loud!

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:15:11 -0800

While its classical cousin may have been around a little longer, the second edition of the BBC's Electric Proms provided a true smorgasbord of special performances by the likes of Ray Davies, Sigur Rós, Paul McCartney and Mark Ronson - and many more. All performances can be streamed until the end of this week. Agaskodo Teliverek | Amar | Amplifier | Battles | Ben Westbeech | Basquiat Strings with guests | Blanche | Bloc Party with the Exmoor Singers | Breed 77 | Charlie Louvin with The Handsome Family and Blanche | The Chemical Brothers with Beth Orton and Tim Burgess | Cold War Kids | The Coral with Noel Gallagher | Editors with string quartet | The Enemy | Hadouken! | Kaiser Chiefs "via David Arnold", with the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain and the Dhol Foundation drummers | Kano with Craig David | Once in a Blue Moon: A tribute to Lal Waterson with the Waterson family, James Yorkston, Alasdair Roberts, Lisa Knapp, Tim Van Eyken and Kathryn Williams | Maps | Mark Ronson with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Adele, Candie Payne, Charlie Waller, Kyle Falconer, Mark Collins, Santogold, Sean Lennon, Terry Hall and Tim Burgess | The Metros | New Cassettes | Paul McCartney | Radio Luxembourg | Ray Davies (The Kinks) and friends | The Riff Raff and Riz MC | Sigur Rós: Heima | Siouxsie

Master of the TV Theme Tune

fearfulsymmetry — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:56:21 -0800

Ronnie Hazlehurst RIP. Who? Well if you've seen any of the BBC's sitcoms and light entertainment programmes from the 70s onwards, you would have probably heard his work... He wrote the theme tunes to, among others, Are You Being Served?, Last Of The Summer Wine, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (where the title is spelled out in Morse Code), To The Manor Born, Yes Minister, Sorry!, The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin (brief blurry nudity), Three Up, Two Down, The Two Ronnies, Blankety Blank and Wogan. And he arranged the themes for Butterflies, Only Fools And Horses and Just Good Friends. He was also heavily involved with the Eurovision Song Contest, being the musical director of the event three times when it was held in the UK and conducting the UK entry for seven years (one year conducting the German entry as well)... most notably on this occasion. Oh and, ahem, he co-wrote 'Reach' for S Club 7 as well. BBC Tribute.

Dead Western Christian white males galore!

Aloysius Bear — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:50:25 -0800

Explore a thousand years of classical music in 30 fifteen-minute programmes on BBC Radio 4.

Crack, baby, crack, show me you're real.

miss lynnster — Fri, 04 May 2007 23:01:23 -0800

David Bowie: Cracked Actor – a BBC documentary circa 1974. One|Two|Three|Four|Five (53 minutes)

Redoing the Beatles

darkripper — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:56:40 -0800

Sgt. Pepper's 2.0 . fourty years later, BBC 2 is preparing a recording session (with the original recording instrumentation and Geoff Emerick) to be aired on 2 June. Oasis, The Killers, Razorlight, James Morrison, The Fratellis, Travis and the Kaiser Chiefs are the artists currently announced. Not the first time someone covers the Beatles (there's even a mashup, previously covered on Mefi).
[via]

... which is to say to my mind, there is continuous repetition and propotionally they are a bit boring.

Afroblanco — Mon, 29 May 2006 16:25:56 -0800

On May 14th, 1967, the new British pop group The Pink Floyd makes one of their first ever TV appearances. Despite a stellar performance of the song Astronomy Domine, the pretentious host of the show, Hans Keller, has nothing good to say about the band. During the interview (youtube, performance comes first, interview starts about 5:50 in. transcript here.), he chastises the band for their "continuous repetition", "terribly loud" volume, and their "proportionately a bit boring" sound.

However, it seems that all Hans' show will ever be remembered for is this single interview. Pink Floyd, on the other hand.. Well, we all know what happened to them. Syd Barrett, on the other hand, was not so lucky.

BBC on Last.fm

Robot Johnny — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 08:25:14 -0800

Last.fm isn't just for humans. Matt Biddulph, a systems architect for the BBC, rigged a homemade plug-in for Last.fm (Previously on MeFi) that, over the course of a year, transmitted over 50,000 songs played on BBC 6Music to a Last.fm account named Sekrit. (Oh, and wondering what MetaFilter users listen to?) (via waxy)

Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!

holgate — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:13:30 -0800

It's not over until the fat lady sings, and she's not due up till midnight. BBC Radio 3 has devoted its schedule to a week of Beethoven and a month of Bach. Now it's going for the endurance record: devoting a day to a complete performance of Wagner's Ring cycle: a rare thing for a work and composer more often discussed than listened to, and more often excerpted or parodied than heard in full. The website offers even more lavish augmentation this time, including live libretto translation and commentary.

Heaven knows it's Manchester now

funambulist — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 08:17:42 -0800

Remember the announcement for the BBC's Manchester Passion? The full list of songs and lineup were recently announced, rehearsals are over, tonight the procession through the city will be broadcast live on BBC Three - for now you can watch trailers and interviews with the cast (only for UK viewers/proxy users).

All Bach, All The Time

yankeefog — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:29:13 -0800

BBC Radio 3 has spent the two weeks before Christmas playing Bach 24 hours a day. By the end of the day tomorrow, they'll have played his entire surviving body of work. Unfortunately, I just discovered this fact last night. Fortunately, Radio 3 makes their broadcasts available online for a full week, which means that Bach-heads who start listening now can get 192 hours of free streamed Bach via the BBC3 online radioplayer.

Mad scientist of music

NemesisVex — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:49:18 -0800

'A novel contained in a single sigh' On Sept. 15, 1945, Anton Webern stepped out to smoke a cigar. An American soldier, seeing the glow of the cigar, panicked and shot Webern three times. Webern, along with Arnold Schoenberg and Alban Berg, is credited with -- or blamed for -- ushering in an era of composition emphasizing strict, mathematical order over all elements of music, a reaction against the suicidal excess of Romanticism. On the anniversary of his death, BBC Radio 3 hosts Webern Day, during which Webern's complete works will be broadcast. The total time to perform his 31 works is about three hours. (Links grabbed mostly from ArtsJournal.)