B*Witched (Irish pop girl group) B*Witched Irish four-piece pop group formed in the late 1990s, known for upbeat hits such as "C'est la Vie" and "Rollercoaster". They split in 2002, reunited in 2012 and later returned for r…
Baba O'Riley An influential 1971 rock anthem by The Who, written by Pete Townshend for the abandoned Lifehouse project; known for its repeating keyboard motif, anthemic chorus and the lyric oft…
Baby Boy — Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul Baby Boy Overview and analysis of "Baby Boy," a 2003 R&B/dancehall single by Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul: composition, production, chart success, video, awards and legacy.
Baby Don't Forget My Number (song) Baby Don't Forget My Number Dance-pop single by Milli Vanilli released in late 1988; a U.S. No. 1 hit and one of the group's most successful singles, later associated with the group's lip‑syncing controversy.
Baccara — Spanish pop duo famous for "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" Baccara Baccara was a Spanish female vocal duo formed in 1977. They scored international hits including "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie", represented Luxembourg at Eurovision 1978, and split in 198…
The Bach Choir (London) Bach Choir Long-established London amateur choir best known for performances of Bach and large-scale choral works, with a broad repertoire, recording and broadcast history, education activity…
Bachman–Turner Overdrive Canadian hard rock group known for riff-driven hits like “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” influential in 1970s rock and still active in various lineups.
Back to Basics (Christina Aguilera album) Back to Basics Back to Basics is Christina Aguilera's fifth studio album, released August 10, 2006. A double-disc project that blends vintage jazz, soul and blues influences with contemporary pop…
Back to December (Taylor Swift song) Back to December A remorseful pop-country ballad by Taylor Swift from Speak Now (2010). Released as the album's second single, it received strong reviews and was a commercial hit on country and pop…
Back to You — Selena Gomez song (2018 lead single) Back to You (Selena Gomez song) Pop single by Selena Gomez, released May 10, 2018; co-written by Gomez, Amy Allen and others, produced by Trackside and Ian Kirkpatrick, and issued as the lead single from the seco…
Backmasking: recording technique, history, uses, and controversies Backmasking Backmasking is a recording method that embeds reversed audio into forward-playing tracks. This article explains how it works, its history, cultural uses, and the controversies over…
Backstreet Boys American pop vocal group formed in the early 1990s; five members, one of the best‑selling boy bands with reported sales over 130 million records, known for harmonies, choreography…
Bad (song) 1987 single and title track by Michael Jackson from the album Bad, known for its hard-edged sound, Martin Scorsese music video, and role in reshaping Jackson's public image.
Bad Balance — Russian hip hop group (Bad B.) Bad Balance Bad Balance, also known as Bad B., is a pioneering Russian hip hop group formed in 1989. Founded by Vlad Valov (SheFF) and DJ Gleb Matveyev (DJ LA), they helped establish hip hop c…
Bad Blood (Taylor Swift song) A pop single from Taylor Swift's 1989 era; known for its remixed version featuring Kendrick Lamar, a star-studded music video, and chart and awards success.
Bad Brains (American hardcore punk band) Bad Brains (band) Influential American hardcore punk band formed in 1977, noted for fusing very fast punk with reggae, Rastafarian themes and virtuosic musicianship; core lineup includes H.R., Dr. K…
Bad Guy (Billie Eilish song) A 2019 single by Billie Eilish from her debut album, noted for its minimalist production, trap-influenced closing section, chart-topping success, and Grammy wins.
Bad Religion — American punk rock band and influential melodic hardcore act Bad Religion Bad Religion is a Southern California punk band formed in 1979, known for literate lyrics, tight three-part harmonies and influential albums such as Suffer and Stranger Than Fictio…
Bad Romance (song) Bad Romance Pop single by Lady Gaga from The Fame Monster (2009). A worldwide commercial hit noted for its hook, stylized video, French lines, chart success and Grammy wins.
Badfinger: British rock group, hits, business troubles and legacy Badfinger Badfinger was a Welsh-English rock band best known for melodic, Beatles-influenced pop-rock hits, a famous songwriting legacy, and tragic financial and legal problems that affected…
Bagpipes: construction, history, and cultural uses Bagpipes Bagpipes are air-driven reed instruments with a bag, chanter and drones. Found worldwide, they have a long history, many regional types, and roles in folk, ceremonial and military…
Baila Esta Cumbia — Selena song and cultural impact Baila Esta Cumbia Overview and history of Selena's 1990 cumbia single “Baila Esta Cumbia”, its musical traits, chart history, remixes and lasting legacy in Latin music and dance culture.
Baker Street (song) A 1978 rock ballad by Gerry Rafferty, celebrated for Raphael Ravenscroft's saxophone riff. A major international hit that reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains an embl…
Balalaika: Russian three‑stringed folk instrument and its family Balalaika A compact guide to the balalaika: structure, family of sizes, history, tuning and playing techniques, and its role in Russian folk and orchestral music.
Ballade (instrumental musical form) Ballade (musical form) Instrumental ballades are 19th-century piano and orchestral pieces that suggest narrative mood. This article covers characteristics, history, key composers, form and legacy.
Bama Boyz (the Bamaz) — American production and songwriting trio Bama Boyz The Bama Boyz (also the Bamaz) are an American record production, songwriting and artist-development trio—Grammy-nominated and Dove Award winners—consisting of Eddie "E-Trez" Smith…
Bambuco (Colombian folk music and dance) Bambuco Bambuco is a traditional Colombian musical genre and dance from the Andean region, noted for its 6/8 or 3/4 rhythm, courtship choreography, and mixed Indigenous, Spanish and Africa…
Bananarama British female pop group formed in London in 1979. Originally a trio, best known for 1980s hits such as “Cruel Summer” and their cover of “Venus”; now a duo of Sara Dallin and Kere…
Band (musical ensemble) Band A band is a group of musicians who perform together using varied instruments and voices. This article explains types, typical roles, historical development, common uses and how ban…
Band Aid (band) British–Irish charity supergroup formed in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for Ethiopian famine relief; later re-recordings and a lasting…
Bandleader: role, duties, history, and musical contexts Bandleader A bandleader directs and shapes a musical ensemble’s performance, repertoire, and organization across genres from big band and jazz to blues and rock.
Banjo: history, construction, styles, and cultural role Banjo The banjo is a plucked string instrument of African origin that developed in North America. This article explains its parts, types, history, playing styles, and notable distinction…
Bar (music): structure, types, and role in musical notation Bar (music) A bar (or measure) divides written music into equal time segments defined by the time signature. This article explains bars, barlines, meters, repeats, conducting cues, history, an…
Barbie Girl — Aqua song and cultural phenomenon Barbie Girl 1997 dance-pop single by Aqua that playfully references Mattel's Barbie and Ken; a worldwide hit that topped charts in several countries, sparked legal controversy, and became a la…
Barenaked Ladies: Canadian pop-rock band known for wit and hit singles Barenaked Ladies Canadian band formed in Toronto (1988), known for witty lyrics, strong harmonies, energetic live shows and hits such as “One Week”; active with lineup changes and a long touring hi…
Baritone (male singing voice) Baritone Baritone: the common male singing voice between tenor and bass, its range, subtypes, repertoire in opera and song, notable singers, and instruments named 'baritone'.
baroque (Japanese visual kei band) Baroque (band) baroque (stylized with a lowercase b) was a Japanese visual kei rock band known for theatrical makeup, elaborate stage clothes and a dark alternative rock sound; they attracted con…
Baroque music: styles, history and defining features Baroque music Baroque music (c.1600–1750) is a European classical style marked by contrast, ornamentation, basso continuo and the rise of opera, concerto, sonata and fugue forms.
Baroque pop: orchestral textures in 1960s pop and its legacy Baroque pop Baroque pop is a 1960s pop/rock style that blends pop songwriting with classical instrumentation and arrangements, noted for harpsichords, strings, woodwinds and ornate production…
Barrel organ: mechanical pipe organ played by a pinned rotating barrel Barrel organ A barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument that plays pipes by opening valves with pins on a rotating barrel. It ranges from small hand‑carried street organs to large fairgr…
The Barrio Boyzz: bilingual Latin pop vocal group from New York Barrio Boyzz A New York–formed Puerto Rican-American vocal group known for bilingual Latin pop, a 1994 duet with Selena that topped Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks, a film appearance, and a 1991 S…
Bartolomeo Tromboncino: Renaissance composer of frottole and controversial court musician Bartolomeo Tromboncino Italian Renaissance composer Bartolomeo Tromboncino (c.1470–c.1535+) is known for lively frottole, service at princely courts, some sacred music, and a notorious episode in which h…
Bass (music, voice, and fish) Bass Bass: the low register in music and sound, the lowest adult male singing voice, bass instruments and parts, and several unrelated groups of fish; covers characteristics, instrument…
Bass (male singing voice) Bass (singer) Bass is the lowest adult male singing voice. This article explains typical range and tessitura, principal subtypes (basso profondo, buffo, bass-baritone), common roles, vocal techn…
Bass (sound) — low-frequency tones in music and audio Bass (sound) Bass refers to the low-pitched, low-frequency range in music and audio. This article explains its characteristics, common instruments, historical development, musical roles, and pr…
Bass (vocal range) Bass is the lowest common male singing voice type, characterized by a low vocal range and distinct subtypes used in choral and operatic classification.
Bass clarinet The bass clarinet is a low-pitched member of the clarinet family, a single-reed woodwind used in orchestras, bands, chamber groups and jazz. It has an extended lower range and dist…
Bass drum A large, low-pitched percussion instrument used in orchestras, marching bands, and drum kits. Covers construction, history, playing contexts, variants, and maintenance basics.
