Music

Heatseekers Albums — Billboard chart for new and developing recording artists Heatseekers Albums Heatseekers Albums is a Billboard chart that ranks top-selling albums by new and developing acts. It highlights emerging artists who have not yet reached the upper half of the Bill…

Heatwave (band) Heatwave was an international disco‑funk band formed in the mid‑1970s, best known for hits like "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever" and for a multinational lineup led by the W…

Heaven Can Wait (Michael Jackson song) A slow, R&B-styled ballad from Michael Jackson's 2001 album Invincible, co-written with Teddy Riley and originally intended for the R&B group BLACKstreet.

Heaven Shall Burn German extreme metal band formed in the mid-1990s in Saalfeld, known for blending metalcore and melodic death metal with politically charged, anti-fascist lyrics and intense live p…

Heavy metal — chemical elements and the rock music genre Heavy metal Dual-purpose entry describing heavy metals as dense, often toxic chemical elements and heavy metal as a rock music genre: definitions, examples, uses, risks, history, subgenres and…

Heavy metal music A loud, guitar-driven form of rock defined by amplified distortion, powerful rhythms, varied vocal styles, and a broad subculture; emerged in the late 1960s and developed many subg…

Heeding the Call — HammerFall song Heeding the Call A 1998 power metal single by Swedish band HammerFall, released August 3, 1998. An anthemic track from their late-1990s era, noted for driving riffs, chorus-led hooks and frequent i…

Heitor Villa-Lobos Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959) blended indigenous and popular Brazilian music with European classical forms, producing a vast, influential body of orchestral, ch…

Helen of Troy (John Cale album) Helen of Troy (album) Helen of Troy is the sixth studio album by John Cale, released in November 1975. It marked his final full-length work for Island Records and blends rock, experimental, and orchestr…

Hell's Pit — Insane Clown Posse album (2004) Hell's Pit Hell's Pit is the ninth studio album by Insane Clown Posse, released August 31, 2004. It closes the original 'Joker Cards' chapter with a deliberately darker, horrorcore sound and…

Hello (Adele song) “Hello” is the lead single from Adele’s third album 25, released in October 2015. A piano-led ballad written with Greg Kurstin, it achieved global chart dominance, major sales reco…

Helmet (band): American alternative metal group led by Page Hamilton Helmet (band) Helmet is an American alternative metal band formed in 1989 by Page Hamilton. Best known for the 1992 album Meantime and the single "Unsung", the group combines precise, riff-drive…

Helvellyn (opera) Helvellyn Helvellyn is a four-act English opera by George Alexander Macfarren with a libretto by John Oxenford, premiered in London in 1864 and based on Salomon Mosenthal's play Der Sonnwend…

Henry Mancini (1924–1994): Composer of Moon River and The Pink Panther Henry Mancini American composer, conductor and arranger famed for film and television themes such as "The Pink Panther" and "Moon River"; a major influence on jazz-inflected cinematic music.

Hep Stars Swedish 1960s pop band known for lively beat-pop, early hits like “Cadillac” and “Sunny Girl,” and for launching Benny Andersson’s rise toward ABBA.

Herbert Baumann (1925–2020): German Composer and Conductor Herbert Baumann Herbert Baumann (1925–2020) was a German composer and conductor known for music for theatre, film, ballet, choral ensembles and orchestra. Born in Berlin, he studied in Berlin and…

Herbert von Karajan: conductor, recordings, and influence Herbert von Karajan A concise encyclopedia entry on Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan (1908–1989), covering his career, style, recordings, major posts and enduring influence on orchestral sound a…

Here Comes Santa Claus A popular American Christmas song first recorded by Gene Autry in 1947, co-written with Oakley Haldeman, and later covered by many artists including Elvis Presley, Doris Day, and T…

Here Comes the Sun — George Harrison song from Abbey Road Here Comes the Sun A concise guide to George Harrison’s song “Here Comes the Sun”: its origin, musical characteristics, recording on The Beatles’ Abbey Road, legacy, and notable facts about its endur…

Here I Am (Bryan Adams song) A 2002 Bryan Adams pop-rock ballad written for the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron; released on the film soundtrack, charted internationally and received industry aw…

Herman's Hermits: English pop group of the 1960s British Invasion Herman's Hermits English pop/rock group formed in the early 1960s, led by Peter Noone ("Herman"). Known for clean, catchy songs, film appearances, and several transatlantic hits that defined a brig…

Hero (Mariah Carey song) An uplifting pop/R&B ballad from Mariah Carey's 1993 album Music Box. Released as a single in October 1993, it became a U.S. No. 1 hit and an enduring anthem about finding inner st…

Heroes of Our Time (DragonForce song) Heroes of Our Time A 2008 power metal single by DragonForce, opening track of Ultra Beatdown. Known for rapid guitars, soaring vocals and a shortened music video edit; exemplifies the band's high-spe…

Herreys — Swedish pop and schlager trio, Eurovision 1984 winners Herreys Herreys are a Swedish sibling pop-schlager trio best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the upbeat song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" and for their 1980s stage image a…

Het Wilhelmus — the Dutch national anthem Het Wilhelmus Het Wilhelmus is the national anthem of the Netherlands, originating in the 16th century. Its archaic lyrics adopt William of Orange’s voice; the tune is the oldest of any national…

Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) 2010 R&B single by Usher from Raymond v. Raymond, written by Rico Love, Usher, Plies and produced by Rico Love and The Runners; discusses its creation, composition, release and rec…

Hey Jude — Beatles song by Paul McCartney Hey Jude Overview, origins, structure, recording and legacy of the Beatles' 1968 single 'Hey Jude', written by Paul McCartney and noted for its extended sing-along coda.

Hey Monday (American pop-rock band) Hey Monday Hey Monday is an American pop-rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, known for hook-driven songs, energetic live shows, a 2008 debut album and the later solo success of lead sing…

Hey, Soul Sister — Train song Hey, Soul Sister Pop-rock single by Train released in August 2009 as the lead track from Save Me, San Francisco; known for its ukulele riff, strong chart performance (Billboard Hot 100 #3) and mixe…

Hi-hat (pair of cymbals in a drum kit) Hi-hat A hi-hat is two cymbals mounted on a stand with a foot pedal; it produces closed, open and pedal sounds and is central to many styles from jazz to rock and reggae.

High and Mighty Color Japanese rock band known for combining aggressive and melodic vocals, notable for the single "Ichirin no Hana" used as a Bleach opening and for reaching wider audiences through ani…

High on Fire (American heavy metal band) High on Fire High on Fire is an American heavy metal band led by guitarist-vocalist Matt Pike. Known for riff-driven sludge and stoner-influenced metal, extensive touring, critical acclaim and…

Highlights (Swedish dansband) Highlights Highlights is a Swedish dansband that plays dance-oriented popular music in the Scandinavian tradition, performing at dance halls, festivals and community events with a mix of orig…

HiiiPoWeR — Kendrick Lamar's debut single and its themes HiiiPoWeR Overview of Kendrick Lamar's 2011 debut single 'HiiiPoWeR': origins, themes of race and media, production, references, and its role in Lamar's early career and conscious hip hop.

Himni i Flamurit (Albanian national anthem) Himni i Flamurit An overview of Himni i Flamurit — its words by Asdreni, music attributed to Ciprian Porumbescu, its publication history and its role as Albania’s national anthem since 1912.

Himno Nacional: Spanish term and usage for national anthems Himno Nacional Himno Nacional explains the Spanish term for a country's national anthem, its literal meaning and formal use, and how naming practices differ across Spanish-speaking countries with…

Hinder (American rock band) Hinder Hinder is an American rock band from Oklahoma known for the hit single “Lips of an Angel,” a radio-friendly post-grunge sound, several studio albums, and lineup changes since their…

Hip hop soul: the fusion of hip hop beats and soulful R&B Hip hop soul Hip hop soul blends hip hop production with soulful, melodic R&B singing. Emerging in the late 20th century, it brought streetwise rhythms to mainstream soul and reshaped modern ur…

Hips Don't Lie 2006 global pop single by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean that blends Latin and Caribbean rhythms with pop and hip‑hop elements; it samples Jerry Rivera and became an international h…

Hit 'Em Up — 2Pac's 1996 diss track and its impact Hit 'Em Up A detailed overview of 2Pac's 1996 diss song 'Hit 'Em Up', its background, composition, targets, role in the East Coast–West Coast feud, and lasting cultural significance.

Hit record (popular recording) Hit record A hit record is a single or album that achieves wide popularity through strong sales, airplay, streaming and media exposure, often shaping careers and music charts.

Hitchin' a Ride (Green Day song) Lead single from Green Day's 1997 album Nimrod, 'Hitchin' a Ride' blends punk energy with darker lyrical themes about relapse and temptation and helped illustrate the band's broade…

Hokus Pokus (Insane Clown Posse song) A 1997 horrorcore single by Insane Clown Posse from The Great Milenko, produced by Mike Clark; noted for its carnival‑style dark humor, remixes and alternate covers on rare compila…

Hold It Against Me A 2011 dance-pop single by Britney Spears from her album Femme Fatale. Produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke, the song drew attention for its electronic production, chart impact and…

Hold Me (duet by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston) Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass & Whitney Houston song) A 1984 romantic R&B ballad written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, recorded as a duet by Teddy Pendergrass and a young Whitney Houston; appears on Pendergrass's Love Language an…

Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson and Akon song) A 2008 duet by Michael Jackson and Akon, released posthumously in 2010. A mid-tempo pop/R&B single that charted internationally and attracted attention for its production and relea…

Holding Out for a Hero — Bonnie Tyler song and cultural legacy Holding Out for a Hero An encyclopedia overview of Bonnie Tyler’s 1980s anthem “Holding Out for a Hero”: origins, musical traits, chart history, notable covers and its enduring use in film and popular cu…

Hole (American alternative rock band) Hole (band) Hole was an influential American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1989 by Courtney Love and Eric Erlandson. They released four studio albums and were active in severa…