Music

Men at Work — Australian reggae‑influenced rock band Men at Work Men at Work, formed in St Kilda (Melbourne) in 1979, rose to global fame in the early 1980s with hits like "Down Under" and a distinctive mix of rock, pop and reggae rhythms.

Menıñ Qazaqstanym (My Kazakhstan): Kazakhstan's National Anthem Menıñ Qazaqstanym Menıñ Qazaqstanym ("My Kazakhstan") is the national anthem of Kazakhstan, officially adopted on 7 January 2006. It evolved from a popular patriotic song and expresses national unit…

Mer Hayrenik (Our Fatherland) — Armenian National Anthem Mer Hayrenik Overview of Mer Hayrenik: origins as a Mikael Nalbandian poem, musical setting by Barsegh Kanachyan, adoption in 1918, suppression during the Soviet era, and restoration after 1991…

Mercenary (Danish heavy metal band) Mercenary (band) Mercenary is a heavy metal band from Aalborg, Denmark, noted for combining melodic death metal with progressive and symphonic elements and for a steady presence on the European met…

Mercury Records: history, structure, and cultural impact Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label founded in 1945. Over decades it released music across many genres, developed technical innovations and underwent corporate mergers, now…

Mercy (song by Madame Monsieur) Mercy (Madame Monsieur song) “Mercy” is a 2018 single by French duo Madame Monsieur. A narrative electro-pop song inspired by a migrant rescue, it was France’s entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and led…

Mercy (OneRepublic song) Mercy (song) A song by OneRepublic from their debut album Dreaming Out Loud; an early MySpace favorite that helped raise the band’s profile and was issued as a UK single in 2008.

Mercyful Fate (Danish heavy metal band) Mercyful Fate Danish heavy metal band formed in Copenhagen in the early 1980s, noted for King Diamond's falsetto vocals, occult imagery, distinctive guitar work and enduring influence on extreme…

Merry Christmas (Mariah Carey album) Merry Christmas (album) Merry Christmas is Mariah Carey's 1994 holiday album featuring 'All I Want for Christmas Is You.' Released Nov 1, it mixed originals and standards and achieved multi‑platinum sales…

Mersey Beat (the Liverpool sound of the early 1960s) Mersey Beat Mersey Beat, or the Liverpool sound, is a regional form of British beat/pop music that emerged in Liverpool in the early 1960s and helped launch the British Invasion.

Meshuggah: Swedish pioneers of complex, heavy metal Meshuggah Meshuggah, formed in Umeå in 1985, are a Swedish extreme metal band noted for polyrhythms, extended-range guitars, complex meters and for influencing the djent movement. They have…

Messiah (Handel): overview, history, music and legacy Messiah (Handel) George Frideric Handel's oratorio Messiah (1741) is a landmark choral work famed for its "Hallelujah" chorus. Composed quickly, premiered in Dublin, and central to choral repertory…

Messieurs les noyés de la Seine French-language chanson performed by Belgian singer Fud Leclerc; Belgium's entry at the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, noted for its melancholic river imagery and place…

Metalcore — an introduction to the heavy music fusion Metalcore Metalcore is a crossover genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, known for heavy riffs, breakdowns and mixed vocal styles; it developed from underground scenes…

Metallica: Overview, History, Music and Legacy Metallica Comprehensive encyclopedia-style article on Metallica, covering origins, members, major albums and songs, stylistic traits, influence in metal, and notable facts about their career…

Metallica (The Black Album): overview, recording, songs and legacy Metallica (album) Metallica, commonly called The Black Album, is the band's fifth studio record (1991). A commercial breakthrough with several hit singles, it reshaped their sound and remains their…

Metamorphosis - Hilary Duff's 2003 pop album and commercial breakthrough Metamorphosis (Hilary Duff album) Metamorphosis (2003) is Hilary Duff's second studio album that launched her pop career—featuring hits like So Yesterday and Come Clean, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and e…

Meteora (Linkin Park album) Meteora (album) Meteora is Linkin Park's second studio album, released March 25, 2003. It mixes nu‑metal, rap‑rock and electronic production and produced major singles including "Numb" and "Faint.…

Method Man & Redman East Coast hip hop duo formed by Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (Def Squad), celebrated for their albums, chemistry, film How High, and energetic live performances blending h…

Methods of Mayhem (American rock band) Methods of Mayhem Methods of Mayhem is an American rock/metal project formed by drummer Tommy Lee in 1999, known for blending hard rock and hip-hop influences and for a self-titled 1999 debut and a…

Metric (Canadian indie rock band) Metric (band) Metric is a Toronto-based Canadian indie rock band led by Emily Haines and James Shaw, known for synth-driven songs, collaborations with Broken Social Scene, and albums including O…

Metronome: function, types, history, and musical use Metronome Comprehensive overview of the metronome: how it works, mechanical and electronic types, history, notation and practice uses, features, maintenance and guidance for musicians and co…

Metropolis Records Philadelphia-based independent record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave and gothic electronic music.

Mezzanine (Massive Attack album) Mezzanine Mezzanine is Massive Attack's 1998 album, noted for its darker, bass-heavy reinterpretation of trip hop, early online distribution, and standout tracks like "Teardrop" and "Angel."

Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a female singing voice with a range and timbre between soprano and contralto, prominent in opera, concert, and chamber repertoire and known for distinctive roles…

Mi Plan — Nelly Furtado's first Spanish-language studio album Mi Plan Mi Plan is Nelly Furtado's 2009 studio album, her first recorded entirely in Spanish, featuring collaborations with Cuban-Canadian musician Alex Cuba and a blend of Latin pop and i…

Miami Sound Machine American Latin pop band formed in Miami in 1975; rose to international fame after Gloria Estefan joined, blending Afro‑Cuban rhythms with pop and dance and later evolving into Glor…

Michael Friedman (1975–2017): American composer and theatre collaborator Michael Friedman (composer) Profile of Michael Friedman, an American composer and lyricist known for his work with The Civilians and the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson; his style, career, and l…

Michael Jackson singles discography Overview of Michael Jackson's singles discography: what the list includes, how chart peaks and sales certifications are recorded, notable singles and how to interpret the entries.

Michael Tippett English composer Michael Tippett (1905–1998) was a leading 20th‑century British musician, known for choral works, operas and distinctive rhythmic and contrapuntal style.

Middle C (musical pitch C4) Middle C Middle C (C4) is the central C on the piano and a common reference pitch in notation, pedagogy and instrument ranges; its position and name vary across clefs and notation systems.

Midnight Memories (One Direction album) Midnight Memories Midnight Memories is the third studio album by British–Irish boy band One Direction, released 25 November 2013. It marked a shift toward rock and folk influences and produced multi…

Midnight Oil (Australian rock band) Midnight Oil Midnight Oil is an Australian rock group known for forceful, politically engaged music, energetic live shows and campaigning for environmental and indigenous rights.

Midnight Sun (Garth Brooks song) Midnight Sun (song) A 2008 single recorded by American country artist Garth Brooks, released March 24, 2008 as the third and final single from his compilation album The Ultimate Hits.

Migos (American hip hop group) Migos Atlanta rap trio known for popularizing a triplet-flow style, chart-topping Culture albums, and hits such as "Versace" and "Bad and Boujee". Formed in 2008; members Quavo, Offset,…

Million Reasons (song by Lady Gaga) Million Reasons A piano-led pop ballad from Lady Gaga's 2016 album Joanne, released as its second single; noted for country influences, live performances and a US top-five chart resurgence after t…

Millionaires (American electronic trio) Millionaires (group) Millionaires is an American electronic pop trio from Los Angeles, formed in 2007. Known for MySpace-era promotion, party-themed songs, a DIY aesthetic and polarizing reception in o…

Milow (Belgian singer-songwriter) Milow Milow is the stage name of Belgian singer-songwriter Jonathan Vandenbroeck, known for acoustic pop songwriting and an internationally successful acoustic cover of "Ayo Technology"…

Mind Body & Soul (Joss Stone album) Mind Body & Soul Second studio album by English singer Joss Stone, released 15 September 2004 on S-Curve Records; notable for shifting from covers toward original songs and for its soulful R&B styl…

Mindless Behavior: American R&B and pop boy band Mindless Behavior Mindless Behavior is an American R&B/pop boy band formed in Los Angeles in 2008. Known for singles "My Girl" and "Mrs. Right" and their 2011 debut #1 Girl, they combined tight chor…

Mine (song) — Taylor Swift Mine (song) “Mine” is a 2010 song by Taylor Swift from the album Speak Now. A midtempo country-pop track about fear of commitment and hope, produced by Nathan Chapman and Swift and widely prai…

Ministry (American industrial metal band) Ministry (band) Ministry is a Chicago-based band led by Al Jourgensen, known for transforming electronic beginnings into pioneering industrial metal, influential 1980s–90s albums, abrasive live sh…

Minor scale — natural, harmonic, melodic, and related modes Minor scale Concise encyclopedia entry on the minor scale: definition, interval structures, common forms, historical development, examples (A minor), uses in composition and distinctions from…

Minor Threat — American hardcore punk band Minor Threat Influential early-1980s Washington, D.C. hardcore punk band that helped originate the straight edge movement and the DIY Dischord label through short, fast songs and a lasting infl…

Minority (song) “Minority” is Green Day’s lead single from their 2000 album Warning. A brisk, melodic punk-rock track about individuality, it topped the US Modern Rock chart and became a live stap…

Minoru Miki: Japanese Composer and Advocate for Traditional Instruments Minoru Miki Minoru Miki (1930–2011) was a Japanese composer who integrated traditional Japanese instruments and idioms with Western forms, wrote operas and chamber works, and helped found Pro…

Minstrel: medieval performer and 19th‑century American tradition Minstrel A minstrel is a historical performer: a medieval composer-poet and itinerant musician in Europe, and a term later used for performers in 19th-century American minstrel shows with a…

Minuet: courtly dance and classical music movement Minuet A graceful triple‑time dance of French origin that became central to 17th–19th century court etiquette and a standard musical movement in Baroque and Classical works.