Music

UB40 (English reggae band) UB40 English reggae/pop band formed in Birmingham in 1978, known for socially conscious songs and international hits like "Red Red Wine". Their name references the UK unemployment benef…

UHF (song) “UHF” is an original pastiche song by "Weird Al" Yankovic that imitates television station themes and serves as the signature tune for the 1989 film UHF.

Uilleann pipes — the Irish bellows‑blown bagpipe Uilleann pipes Uilleann pipes are the characteristic bellows‑blown bagpipe of Ireland, noted for a mellow tone, a keyed chanter, drones and regulators. Suited to seated performance and chamber se…

UK Albums Chart The official weekly ranking of the most popular albums in the United Kingdom, compiled from physical sales, downloads and streaming by the Official Charts Company.

UK garage (UKG): origins, sound, history and influence UK garage UK garage is a British electronic music genre from the early 1990s known for shuffled beats, chopped vocals and bass-driven grooves. It spawned 2-step, speed garage and influenced…

UK Singles Chart: official weekly ranking of the nation's top singles UK Singles Chart Weekly ranked list of the top 100 singles in the United Kingdom compiled by the Official Charts Company using sales, downloads, streams and video views.

Ukulele: small four‑stringed instrument from Hawaii Ukulele Compact overview of the ukulele: design, sizes and tunings, history from 19th‑century Hawaii, construction, playing techniques, cultural impact, and related instruments.

Ultra Beatdown Ultra Beatdown is the fourth studio album by British power metal band DragonForce, released in August 2008. It is noted for fast tempos, long guitar solos and was the final album w…

Ultratop: Belgium's Official Regional Music Charts Ultratop Ultratop compiles Belgium's official music charts for Flanders and Wallonia, publishing weekly singles and albums rankings used by the music industry, broadcasters and the public.

Ultratop 40 Singles (Wallonia) — Belgian weekly singles chart Ultratop 40 Singles Ultratop 40 Singles is the weekly singles chart for Wallonia, Belgium, compiled by Ultratop from retail sales and legal downloads and broadcast across radio and television.

Ultratop 50 Singles — Flanders weekly singles chart Ultratop 50 Singles The Ultratop 50 Singles is the weekly chart of the fifty best-performing singles in Flanders, Belgium, compiled by the Ultratop organization since 1995 and published in multiple la…

Un ballo in maschera Un ballo in maschera is an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi about political intrigue and a fatal masked ball; notable for its music, censorship history, and enduring place in the re…

Uncle B — debut album by N-Dubz Uncle B Uncle B is the debut studio album by British group N-Dubz, released 17 November 2008. Dedicated to Byron Contostavlos, it was recorded 2006–2008 and blends hip hop, R&B and grime i…

Uncle Tupelo: Pioneers of the American Alternative Country Movement Uncle Tupelo Uncle Tupelo was an influential alternative country band from Belleville, Illinois (active 1987–1994). They blended punk, folk and country and helped launch the careers of Wilco an…

Unconditionally (Katy Perry song) Unconditionally A pop rock/power-pop ballad by Katy Perry from her 2013 album Prism. Released as the album's second single, it deals with unconditional love and received mixed-to-positive reviews…

Under Construction (Missy Elliott album) Under Construction is the fourth studio album by Missy Elliott, issued in 2002. Produced largely with Timbaland, it mixes retro and futuristic hip-hop, spawned hit singles, and rei…

Under My Skin (2004 album by Avril Lavigne) Under My Skin Under My Skin is Avril Lavigne's 2004 second studio album. It introduced a darker rock sound, produced several international singles, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200…

Under the Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers song) Under the Bridge 1992 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers from Blood Sugar Sex Magik; a melodic rock ballad about isolation and addiction that became a breakthrough mainstream hit.

Under the Iron Sea (Keane album) Under the Iron Sea Second studio album by English rock band Keane, released June 2006; noted for its dark, synth-tinged piano rock, singles like "Is It Any Wonder?", UK No.1 debut and over a million…

Underclass Hero (Sum 41 album) Underclass Hero Underclass Hero is Sum 41's fourth studio album (2007), noted for its pop-punk sound, themes of youth alienation and class, lineup change, mixed reviews, and strong commercial show…

Underground hip hop Underground hip hop refers to independent, often noncommercial hip hop that prioritizes artistic freedom, social commentary, and DIY distribution through indie labels, collectives,…

Underneath Your Clothes — Shakira song Underneath Your Clothes A mid-tempo pop-rock ballad by Shakira from Laundry Service (2001). Released as a single in 2002, it emphasizes devotion and intimacy and became an international radio and chart hi…

Unfaithful (song) A 2006 R&B ballad by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her album A Girl like Me, written by Shaffer 'Ne-Yo' Smith and produced by Stargate; released as the album's second single.

Unfinished Sympathy 1991 single by Massive Attack from the album Blue Lines, featuring Shara Nelson's vocals and orchestral strings; widely regarded as a defining trip-hop song and influential 1990s r…

Unison (Céline Dion album) Unison Unison is the 1990 English-language debut album by Canadian singer Céline Dion, launching her transition from francophone success to the international pop and adult-contemporary ma…

UNKLE — British electronic music project led by James Lavelle UNKLE UNKLE is a British music project founded by James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy in 1994. Beginning in trip hop, it evolved into a collaborative, cinematic electronic collective known…

Unknown Pleasures Debut studio album by Joy Division, released in 1979 on Factory Records. Noted for Martin Hannett’s atmospheric production, Ian Curtis’s stark lyrics and Peter Saville’s iconic pul…

Unmasked (Kiss album) Unmasked Unmasked is the ninth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released May 20, 1980. It moved toward pop‑oriented, radio-friendly rock and produced the single "Shandi."

Unpretty — TLC's 1999 single about self-image and media beauty Unpretty 1999 single by R&B group TLC from FanMail; written by Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Dallas Austin, addressing body image and media beauty standards, reached No. 1 on the US Billboard…

Until the End of Time (Justin Timberlake song) Until the End of Time A mid-2000s R&B ballad by Justin Timberlake, later issued as a duet with Beyoncé; produced by Timbaland and Danja and noted for its orchestral arrangement and radio popularity.

Unwanted (Avril Lavigne song) "Unwanted" is a heavy, guitar-driven track from Avril Lavigne's debut album Let Go (2002). Released to radio and included on The Angus Drive EP, it stands out for its darker tone a…

Unwell (Matchbox Twenty song) Unwell A 2003 single by Matchbox Twenty written by Rob Thomas, 'Unwell' became a cross-format radio hit and a lasting adult-contemporary staple, exploring loneliness and emotional frailty…

Unwritten (song) “Unwritten” is a 2004 single by Natasha Bedingfield from her debut album Unwritten. A breakthrough international hit, it reached the US top five and became widely used in televisio…

Upgrade U (song by Beyoncé) Upgrade U “Upgrade U” is an R&B/hip hop song by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z from her 2006 album B'Day. It blends R&B vocal delivery with hip hop production and explores themes of partnership and…

Ur So Gay (Katy Perry song) Ur So Gay A satirical pop single by Katy Perry first released online and later included on her debut major-label album; known for its ironic tone and the controversy it generated over percei…

Urban contemporary (radio format) Urban contemporary Radio format blending hip hop, contemporary R&B and urban-styled pop with Caribbean and Latin influences; grew from R&B and soul radio in the 1970s and targets metropolitan audienc…

Uriah Heep (English hard rock band) Uriah Heep English hard rock band formed in December 1969. Known for Hammond organ, layered vocals and a blend of progressive and heavy rock; they rose to prominence in the early 1970s and co…

Used to Love You (Gwen Stefani song) Used to Love You A piano-driven pop breakup ballad by Gwen Stefani from her 2016 album This Is What the Truth Feels Like; written with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels and produced by J.R. Rotem.

Usher (debut album, 1994) Usher (album) Debut studio album by American singer Usher, released August 30, 1994 on LaFace Records. An early contemporary R&B record that introduced him as a teenage artist and helped launch…

UVERworld (Japanese pop-rock band) UVERworld UVERworld is a five-member Japanese pop-rock band from Shiga Prefecture, known for energetic live shows, genre-blending music and a major-label breakthrough in 2005, with notable m…

V6 (Japanese pop group) V6 (band) V6 was a six-member Japanese pop group formed by Johnny & Associates in 1995, known for J-pop singles, TV and film work, two subunits, and a long career that concluded with the gro…

Vals Vals is the common term for the waltz in several European languages and the name of a few spa towns and cultural references; it appears in music, dance, and place names across Euro…

Vampire Weekend American indie rock band formed at Columbia University, noted for literate lyrics and eclectic influences; acclaimed albums include Vampire Weekend, Contra, Modern Vampires of the…

Van Halen: American hard rock band and its influence Van Halen Van Halen, formed in Pasadena in 1972, was a pioneering American hard rock band led by guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Known for technical guitar innovations, energetic live shows, and…

Vande Mataram — India's National Song Vande Mataram Vande Mataram is a patriotic hymn composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in a Sanskritized Bengali style. It played a central role in India's independence movement and remains a…

Vanilla Ninja Vanilla Ninja is an Estonian pop-rock girl group formed in the early 2000s. They gained chart success in Europe and represented Switzerland at Eurovision 2005 with the song "Cool V…

Vanilla Twilight — Owl City single from Ocean Eyes Vanilla Twilight “Vanilla Twilight” is a melancholic synth-pop single by Owl City from the album Ocean Eyes, known for its wistful lyrics, soft electronic production and a memorable music video fea…

Variations (music): the theme-and-variation form and techniques Variations (music) A clear introduction to musical variations: what they are, common techniques, historical development, notable examples, and how variations function across genres.