Music

Agnez Mo (album) Fourth studio album by Indonesian singer Agnez Mo, released digitally in Indonesia on June 1, 2013. English-language songs, distributed by Sony Music via Souniq Music and marketed…

Ai Otsuka: Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist Ai Otsuka Overview of Ai Otsuka, a Japanese pop singer-songwriter and pianist from Osaka, her musical style, early breakthrough with 'Sakuranbo', career development, and cultural influence.

Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix) A hip-hop/R&B reworking of Jennifer Lopez's song featuring Ja Rule, Cadillac Tah and backing vocals by Ashanti; a commercially successful remix noted for its altered lyrics, produc…

Ain't Nobody — Rufus and Chaka Khan (1983 song) Ain't Nobody “Ain't Nobody” is a 1983 R&B/soul single by Rufus and Chaka Khan, written by David “Hawk” Wolinski. Known for its memorable hook, chart success and long-lasting influence in pop, R…

Air Force Ones (song) — Nelly and St. Lunatics Air Force Ones (song) 2002 hip hop single by Nelly featuring the St. Lunatics from the album Nellyville, celebrating Nike Air Force 1 sneakers; reached top three on the US charts and influenced sneaker…

AKB48 (Japanese idol group) AKB48 AKB48 is a large Japanese idol group founded in Akihabara and produced by Yasushi Akimoto. Known for its theater shows, rotating teams, fan events and major commercial impact on J-…

Akwid (Mexican‑American hip hop duo) Akwid Akwid is a Mexican‑American rap duo known for blending hip hop with regional Mexican music, formed by brothers Francisco “AK” and Sergio “Wikid” Gómez. They fuse styles, language a…

Alabama Song — Weill and Brecht's English-language number from Mahagonny Alabama Song A detailed overview of the 'Alabama Song': origins in the 1930 operetta Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, authorship questions, musical traits, notable covers (including The…

Alaska's Flag: design, history, and symbolism Alaska's Flag Overview of Alaska’s flag: its design by Benny Benson, adoption and meanings of the Big Dipper and North Star, connections to the state song, and its cultural importance.

Aldeburgh Festival: British summer music and arts festival Aldeburgh Festival A summer arts festival founded in the mid-20th century, associated with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, held around Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings in Suffolk featuring concerts, op…

Alejandro (song) — Lady Gaga single from The Fame Monster Alejandro (song) Overview of Lady Gaga's 2010 single "Alejandro": musical style, composition, reception, chart performance and cultural impact from The Fame Monster era.

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725), Italian Baroque composer Alessandro Scarlatti Italian Baroque composer celebrated for his operas and chamber cantatas; a leading figure in the Neapolitan school and the father of Domenico Scarlatti, influential in vocal and dr…

Alfonso und Estrella — Franz Schubert's German Romantic Opera (D.732) Alfonso und Estrella Alfonso und Estrella (D.732) is a German-language opera by Franz Schubert with a libretto by Franz von Schober, composed 1821–22 in Vienna and first staged in Weimar in 1854.

Alfred Cortot: pianist, conductor, teacher and editor Alfred Cortot Alfred Cortot (1877–1962) was a French–Swiss pianist, conductor and pedagogue, famed for his Romantic interpretations, chamber collaborations with Thibaud and Casals, and influenti…

ALI PROJECT – Japanese musical duo known for baroque-pop and anime themes ALI PROJECT Japanese musical duo Arika Takarano and Mikiya Katakura blend baroque, gothic and pop elements into theatrical songs; active in recording, live shows and anime theme collaborations…

Alice (Avril Lavigne song) Alice (song) Mid-tempo alternative rock ballad by Avril Lavigne written for Disney's 2010 film Alice in Wonderland; appears on the Almost Alice soundtrack, produced by Butch Walker and mixed by…

Alice in Chains — Seattle rock band known for heavy harmonies and dark themes Alice in Chains Alice in Chains, formed in Seattle in 1987, combined heavy guitar riffs and close vocal harmonies with bleak lyrics; key grunge-era act that later resumed with a new singer after a…

Alive III — Kiss live album (1993) Alive III Alive III is the third official live album by American rock band Kiss, released May 18, 1993. It documents the group's early 1990s touring era and features live renditions of class…

All Apologies — Nirvana song All Apologies “All Apologies” is a song by Nirvana from their 1993 album In Utero, released as a double A‑side single with “Rape Me.” It received broad radio play, award nominations, and endurin…

All at Once (Whitney Houston song) A 1985 ballad from Whitney Houston's debut album written by Michael Masser and Jeffrey Osborne; released as a single in parts of Europe and Japan and notable for its radio impact a…

All for You (Janet Jackson album) Seventh studio album by Janet Jackson, released April 24, 2001. A return to upbeat dance-pop and R&B, produced with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; spawned several hit singles and a glo…

All for You (Janet Jackson song) A concise overview of Janet Jackson's 2001 single "All for You": creation, musical elements (including its sample), chart success, video and live legacy.

All Good Things (Come to an End) — Nelly Furtado song All Good Things (Come to an End) A concise encyclopedic overview of Nelly Furtado's ballad 'All Good Things (Come to an End)': origin, musical character, release, reception and legacy.

All Hope Is Gone (Slipknot album) All Hope Is Gone All Hope Is Gone is Slipknot's fourth studio album, released August 20, 2008 on Roadrunner Records. It marked a commercial peak and a focused, aggressive sound that broadened the b…

All Hope Is Gone (song) "All Hope Is Gone" is the title track by Slipknot from their 2008 album. A heavy, aggressive single, it exemplifies the album's themes of anger and despair and has been a staple of…

All I Want for Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey's modern Christmas classic All I Want for Christmas Is You Overview, composition, release, chart history, covers and cultural impact of Mariah Carey’s 1994 holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

All Killer No Filler (Sum 41 album) All Killer No Filler Debut studio album by Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41, released in 2001. Featured hit singles like "Fat Lip" and "In Too Deep," helped define early-2000s pop-punk and became the band…

All My Hits Vol. 2 (All My Hits/Todos Mis Éxitos Vol. 2) All My Hits Vol. 2 Second volume in the All My Hits series of posthumous compilations featuring Selena; a greatest-hits package issued with a collectible heart necklace and notable sales in the Unite…

All My Loving (song) All My Loving A 1963 Beatles song written by Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon–McCartney, from the album With the Beatles. Noted for its driving rhythm, close harmonies and enduring popularity.

All Shall Perish American deathcore band from Oakland, California, formed in 2002. Known for blending death metal and hardcore influences and for albums such as Hate, Malice, Revenge and Awaken the…

All Star (Smash Mouth song) All Star (song) 1999 upbeat pop-rock single by Smash Mouth from the album Astro Lounge; reached top five on the Hot 100, featured in Shrek, and became a lasting pop-culture and internet phenomenon…

All Time Low (American pop-punk band) All Time Low American pop-punk band formed in 2003 in Maryland. Known for upbeat, hook-driven songs, extensive touring and albums such as So Wrong, It's Right (2007), Nothing Personal (2009) an…

All We Know (Paramore song) All We Know A song by American rock band Paramore from the album All We Know Is Falling, issued as the album's final single in 2006; noted for its early pop-punk sound, emotive lyrics, and rol…

All-Female Bands: Definition, History, and Cultural Impact All-female band An all-female band is a musical ensemble composed only of women. This article explains the concept, musical roles, historical development, notable examples, genres, and cultural si…

All's Well That Ends Well (album) Debut full-length by American post-hardcore band Chiodos, released July 2005 on Equal Vision Records; noted for its theatrical vocals, aggressive dynamics and four promotional musi…

Allegro (musical tempo marking) Allegro Allegro is an Italian tempo marking indicating a fast, lively pace in music. Used since the Baroque and Classical eras, it denotes speed and character and appears with many modifie…

Allemande — Baroque dance and instrumental movement Allemande An allemande is a moderate-tempo Baroque dance and instrumental movement, commonly found in suites of the 17th and early 18th centuries; it has German origins and specific rhythmic…

Allman Brothers Band: pioneers of Southern rock and improvisational jam music Allman Brothers Band American rock band formed in 1969, noted for twin guitars, dual drummers, extended live jams and influential recordings such as At Fillmore East, Ramblin' Man and Jessica.

AllMusic: an online music database and reference guide AllMusic AllMusic is a comprehensive online database of music recordings, artists, genres and reviews, originally launched in 1991 as the All Music Guide to help listeners and buyers explor…

Aloha ʻOe — Hawaiian farewell song by Queen Liliʻuokalani Aloha ʻOe Aloha ʻOe is a short Hawaiian song composed in 1878 by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Its melody and words express parting and longing and have become a widely recognized symbol of Hawaiian…

Alpha (Selena y Los Dinos album) Alpha (album) Alpha is the third studio album by Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos, an early release that helped shape Selena's voice and the group's regional popularity with a mix of Tejano, cumbi…

Alphaville (German synth-pop band) Alphaville Alphaville is a German synth-pop group formed in the early 1980s, famed for the singles "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young" and for influencing the era's electronic pop and new wave…

Alternative country (alt-country, Americana) — an overview Alternative country Alt-country (also called alt-country or Americana) is a roots-influenced strand of country music that blends traditional instrumentation with rock, punk and folk sensibilities and…

Alternative hip hop: origins, style, and notable artists Alternative hip hop Alternative hip hop is a branch of hip hop defined by eclectic production, experimental influences, and socially conscious or unconventional lyrics distinct from mainstream subgenr…

Alternative metal: origins, characteristics and notable bands Alternative metal A survey of alternative metal, a hybrid heavy-music style blending metal with alternative rock, funk, industrial and experimental elements; its sound, history, key bands and legacy…

Alternative rock: origins, styles, and cultural influence Alternative rock Overview of alternative rock: a broad rock movement rooted in independent scenes, its sonic traits, major subgenres, key artists, history from punk roots to 1990s popularity, and l…

Alto: voice type, choral part, notation and historical roles Alto Comprehensive overview of 'alto' in Western music: vocal classification (contralto and countertenor), choral function, notation (alto/viola clef), historical practice, repertoire,…

Alto flute: characteristics, repertoire, and role in modern ensembles Alto flute The alto flute is a transposing concert flute in G, sounding a perfect fourth lower than the C flute. It has a longer tube, a distinctive timbre, occasional curved headjoints, and…