Raging Contagion
Music so good it will make you sick!
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RAC – Hollywood Feat. Penguin Prison (free download)
June 15, 2012
— 2 Comments
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
Collaborations of several artists on a music project can be a double-edged sword. Santana for instance, incredible guitars but there was a phase in the last 90’s/early 2000’s where he seemed to think that he could take any top 40’s artist as the vocalist for a song and it would be an instant hit. Yeah, there were some definite trainwrecks with that formula. HOWEVER, when you get someone as disco-ly clever as Penguin Prison and master of crafty remixes like RAC, magic happens! As you may recall, Penguin Prison was briefly mentioned for his dance remix of Kimbra’s song “Settle Down“, which we posted a few weeks back. Not only does he remix like a mad man, he sings also. LUCKY US! Penguin Prison (or by his real name of Chris Glover) has a very unique timbre of voice. I can’t figure out exactly how to describe it to you but when you hear it, you’ll remember it. RAC (which stands for Remix Artist Collective) is a mastermind and rising star in seeing the potential of original songs and then making them better. Truly, I think I have about 30+ remixes of his in my possession and each one is a gem to listen to.
“Hollywood” is about losing touch with friends. Not just friends that move and drift apart because of physical distance, but friends who drift apart because of “ego distance”. You know, they get a promotion, befriend someone by the name of Rumor, and then buy a pair of French imported high heeled shoes and all of the sudden, they’re a changed person, and not in a good way either. They get too full of themselves and create an intangible barrier between themselves and the perceived hoi polloi, which apparently you’re part of too now that you can’t keep up with them. Their ego is so big that they’ve made themselves unavailable as a friend. Which is why Facebook invented the “unfriend” and why this songs like this are made. The best ‘ouch’ moment is right at the beginning when he says “I’m not telling you again that what you need is just a slap around!” It’s a danceable number that I know you’ll fall in love with by the chorus.
On the plus side, it’s all free! Free things make Fridays even more amazing.
I hope you like it and please remember to follow or leave a comment. We love hearing from our Ragers!
Click here for the free download, courtesy of Green Label Sound!
Check out the new video for this too.
Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning
June 13, 2012
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
cheerlubber here.
Raging Contagion’s been a little quiet lately, hasn’t it? Sincere apologies. Guess we got a little caught up in finding new music that we forgot to update you guys on it. Today’s post features another New Zealander, Ladyhawke, with the song Paris Is Burning from her debut album. Once part of a band, Ladyhawke broke off and released an EP as a personal project in 2008. It wasn’t long after that we discovered her and we’ve been fans since, especially of this song and her other song Magic. It was a tough decision to pick which of the two we would highlight because they’re both excellent. Magic has a great 80s new-wave pop feel to it, but something about songs about Paris catch my attention more, I suppose. Paris Is Burning features more of a funky rock sound with almost some touches of disco, although I totally dig the instrumental bridge at 2:25-2:41 when it gets its own share of a little 80s love.
If you want to check out Magic as well (and this is me saying you should), find it here: Ladyhawke – Magic
Otherwise, enjoy Paris Is Burning below, and be sure to check out more of Ladyhawke! Actually, she just released a new album that we’re digging on as well (maybe we’ll highlight one of those songs too eventually), so really, go check her out.
Bleu – Watching You Sleep
June 8, 2012
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
We’ve all heard those scary stalker songs about being so in love with someone from afar that you follow their every move, learning all about them to the point where you practically know them better than they know themselves. This is not one of those songs. OK, this is not entirely one of those songs. My favorite way to introduce this song is, “The cutest/sweetest stalker song in the world”. It could be that I just love listening to Bleu sing so much that I’d be ok with the thought of him stalking me (I mean what girl wouldn’t be? He has incredible facial chops and used to wear his hair like Wolverine!!) But there are a few lyrical confessions in the song that make it rather tender too. For example: “I confess! I looked up your work address. It wasn’t fate I bumped into you that but it’s still me who holds your hand while you’re asleep.” Everyone say it together, “Awwwww”.
Musicality wise, the song isn’t complicated. It has a basic acoustic guitar, a sort of lazy clap & snare beat, and some solid vocal harmonies in the chorus. This song can be found on his album “Redhead” (Which is a treasure trove of audio goodness. Three of the songs ended up on 2 soundtracks back in the the early 2000’s!).
While I don’t condone stalking for the most part, this song will be stuck in your head so badly that you’ll be obsessed with it to the point where if it were a person, yeah, you’d stalk it too.
Happy stalking, er, I meant FRIDAY!
Amazon – “Redhead” album by Bleu
Diplo – Set It Off
May 31, 2012
— 2 Comments
This song is rated: 2 Pills – intermediate musicologist level
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
I want to apologize briefly for the botch of “Kimbra Week”. We had such bigger plans for it and it coincided with the epic Phoenix ComicCon, which is what diverted more of our attention that we had anticipated. I promise we’ll make it up for you by saving our favorite 2 songs of hers for early June posts.
Back to biz-nez! Get yo’ fine self ready for dancing and Friday because this song practically screams “I’m ready for the weekend, get me out of this office NOW!” It could be that the lyrics “I wanna set it off” and the gun shot cocking could literally be a warning of a person about to go postal…but we’ll think happy thoughts and say that it’s a party song. “Set It Off” doesn’t actually come out until June 12th, but i’m sure if you ask very nicely, a friend or two would consider giving it to you for your unbirthday! (hint hint) If you’ve never heard of Diplo, there’s no better time than now to start getting acquainted with his distinct electronic deliciousness.
Let’s break this song down for you. Do not be deceived by the seemingly ChillWave-esque beginning, there’s a serious reggaeton punch and beat that get cracking about :53 into the song. I’m loving the oscillating pitch wave going on too, it’s entertaining. As I said above, the phrase “I wanna set it off” peals through in an ultra high pitch throughout, getting gravely and highly distorted on occasion. This song even takes a turn to the hip-hop at one point (which leads me to think that there are going to be so many good rap remixes from it!). What I like best about this is that the beat doesn’t force itself onto the listener, there are definite moments where Diplo takes a step back, lets you rest and then eases back in.
Hope you enjoy it!
Amazon – Diplo “Set It Off” (available on June 12th)
Kimbra – Two-Way Street (Day 3 of KIMBRA WEEK!)
May 24, 2012
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
We are half way through Kimbra Week on Raging Contagion. What do you kids think so far?? Well get your seat belts on because this next song literally talks about driving (and refers to crashing, so you might just wanna be on the safe side). I have a very limited personal experience with falling in love but from what I’ve had I can tell you every lyric in this song is exactly true. You can’t force it one way or the other, it requires give and take by both. A meeting in the middle. Perfect timing. All of these somehow are what make that moment when you both confess that you love and that your love is returned so incredibly magical. For those who’ve been fortunate to have had this happen multiple times, you are truly lucky. For others (like me) who seem to keep hitting all the red lights and missing it but a few minutes/days, maybe one day we’ll have good timing like you.
Anyways, back to the song. I love that Kimbra not only makes this song incredibly visual with how the flow of traffic is compared to love, she’s also creative in the sounds you hear. If you’re attentive, you’ll notice there are several times throughout the song where she talks about how “the cars could all collide, the shards of glass won’t catch my eye…” and not too long before and after there is literally the sound of glass breaking. It’s incredible how much a an impact that adds to the lyrics when you hear more of them. Best part about this post today? This is the official video WITH illustrated lyrics! Best of both worlds. So yeah, while you’re listening/reading, think about this crazy process of falling in love is and how much of it has to do with crossing each others paths at the right time and place. Enjoy!
KIMBRA WEEK!! Kimbra – Settle Down (Penguin Prison Remix)
May 22, 2012
— 2 Comments
This song is rated: 2 Pills – intermediate musicologist level
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
For any of you that have been blasting Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” back to back for days on end, you need to be introduced to the other half of that brilliant song, her name is KIMBRA. Remember it. In honor of her album “Vows” being released tomorrow in the US (I ordered the Australian release months ago and love it to bits and pieces!), we are hosting KIMBRA WEEK on Raging Contagion. Every day, and I mean each and every day, we will highlight one of her epic tracks for you to fall in love with, as we have.
We already sorta introduced her to you when we had last months “Warrior” collab she did with A-Track and Mark Foster. Todays track is how I came to find her on my radar in the first place. The brilliant Penguin Prison remixed her song “Settle Down” and disco-fied it a few years back. It is an unsubtle proposition to the object of her desire that she wants to settle down, have a child named “Nebraska Jones”, and then she battles it out with “the other woman”, all in the matter of 1 song. And for being so pint-sized, Kimbra has vocal chords that seem as if they’re always on over-drive. Without further ado, here’s our first tidbit for Kimbra Week!
P.S. Check out the original music video link below, there are burning porcelain dolls in it!
Claude Debussy – The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
May 20, 2012
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
cheerlubber here for the Sunday classical post.
Continuing with the relaxing little ditties I’ve been featuring, today’s post features a piece called The Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy, the same French Impressionist composer that brought us lovely tunes such as Claire de Lune and Reverie, among others. Debussy has always been a favorite of mine. His pieces aren’t over-complicated or complex but they’re absolutely gorgeous and engaging. I’m not sure what this piece was originally composed for but I’ve had this violin and piano arrangement for quite some time. The mute on the violin makes the piece especially soft and I can just imagine myself sitting in a field of tall grass with the wind gently tickling my face and blowing my hair…until I realize that I’m still stuck in Arizona and that summer is upon us. Good thing there is music like this to transport us to those places. Enjoy this wonderful piece below, and please–don’t be afraid to comment!
Living Days – Let’s Kiss
May 15, 2012
— 1 Comment
This song is rated: 2 Pills – intermediate musicologist level
Hi there, Dr. Whuzzerface here!
I’m in a bit of a phase right now. My last few posts are heavily 80’s influenced and this goes right along with them. This song is a mixture of The Cars, The Cure, Berlin, & Gary Newman in a delicious blend of romantic newwave. Probably the best track off of Living Days “Make Out Room pt. 1” album (do you think they’re trying to get a message across??), Stephonik Youth sings her heart out (and yes, it’s a woman singing) to a person and oh-so-unsubtly states the fact that “You were the one that got away….Let’s kiss!” A fun peppy and yet alluring tune which makes me also want to just walk up to a perfect stranger at a punk concert and say it. Buuuuuut who am I kidding, if I have to type it out to think about it, I’ll never actually do it…..or will I??
Well, I hope you enjoy this song (and any lip action you may get from it!!!).
Edvard Grieg – Anitra’s Dance
May 6, 2012
— 1 Comment
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
cheerlubber again.
Last night, Dr. Whuzzerface and I, along with some friends, attended the Phoenix Symphony’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with acclaimed piano virtuoso Olga Kern. It was an amazing concert. In the first half, they played a symphony by a Polish composer whose work had been previously lost, due to him having to escape the Nazis and then barely survive through Russia under Stalin’s rule, but has recently been gaining more interest. The conductor told us that this was the North American premiere of this particular work. Pretty cool. I just love going to the symphony.
However, for today’s classical post, I’m going to highlight famous Norwegian composer of the late Romantic period, Edvard Grieg, with Anitra’s Dance from his popular Peer Gynt Suite. This music was originally written as incidental music for the play Peer Gynt but these few pieces collected into the suite have lived on as memorable works. You’re probably more familiar with the Peer Gynt Suite than you ever thought: I’m sure you’ll recognize the sounds of Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King very well. I’ve been familiar with Grieg for years; I’m pretty sure our Peer Gynt CD was one of my favorites for awhile growing up (alas, I think we have since lost that CD), and I also remember always dancing around when In the Hall of the Mountain King came on (more like running in place as if I’m running from the trolls that the song is about…). Some of my favorite piano pieces I’ve played over the years have been by Grieg. He’s probably the most well-known Norwegian composer and often includes Norwegian folk melodies in his music. Apparently, composing Peer Gynt was one of Grieg’s least favorite tasks, particularly In the Hall of the Mountain King, of which he said: “something that I literally can’t stand to listen to because it absolutely reeks of cow pies, ultra-Norwegian-ness and trollish self-sufficiency.” (NY Times article on Grieg)
Anitra’s Dance is one of my favorites from the Peer Gynt Suite. I managed to find a free copy of the violin sheet music online and I plan on tackling it someday, but I’d also love to get my hands on a piano arrangement. I’m not always good at explaining why I love certain classical pieces, so I’ll just let you listen and see if you can discover it for yourself.
Walter Meego – Forever (and 50 followers dance party!)
May 5, 2012
— 1 Comment
This song is rated: 1 Pill – entry-level for music novices
cheerlubber here.
Just had an impromptu dance party earlier today with Dr. Whuzzerface and our other sister, Cbisquit. We love dance parties. While this jamming song was not one of the ones we danced to today, it will be when we host an awesome dance party after we get
50 FOLLOWERS!
Help us reach this goal and you’ll be invited to get up ‘n jive with us in celebration! If YOU haven’t subscribed yet, be sure to follow us ASAP! Tell your friends, spread the music, post on Twitter or Facebook, whichever social medium you prefer. C’mon, who doesn’t want to dance to this, along with many other great, danceable songs we’ll be sure to play? In addition to a ballin’ dance party, we’re going to be hosting a giveaway here soon soon. Whuzzerface will be giving the deets in due time, so keep a look out for them!
Today we have Forever by Walter Meego, a band that unfortunately recently announced their disbandment. However, they will not be forgotten, and certainly this song will live forever in our hearts. Ah hah. See what I did there? I think you’ll feel the groove to move when the chorus drops, too. :D Enjoy the song below.
Even though they’ve disbanded, you can check them out on their official page here: Walter Meego’s Official Site
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