Music

West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys song West End Girls 1985 synth-pop single by British duo Pet Shop Boys. Blending urban lyrics with electronic and hip-hop‑influenced production, it topped charts worldwide and became a defining 1980s…

Westlife: Irish pop vocal group — history, members, and legacy Westlife Overview of Westlife, an Irish pop vocal group formed in 1998: formation, members, musical style, career milestones, global reception, hiatus and reunion, and lasting cultural infl…

Wham! — English pop duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley Wham! Wham! were an English pop duo formed in 1981 by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, noted for energetic 1980s pop hits such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and the perennial seaso…

Whamola — single‑string electric bass instrument Whamola A single‑string electric bass derived from the washtub bass, used in funk and experimental music; notable for its pulley-and-lever pitch control and distinctive vocal-like bends.

What a Girl Wants (Christina Aguilera song) What a Girl Wants 1999 pop single from Christina Aguilera's debut album. A mainstream hit that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Perform…

What About Us (song by Pink) What About Us Lead single from Pink's 2017 album Beautiful Trauma; a dance ballad addressing exclusion and social concerns, widely charting internationally and certified platinum in the US.

What About Your Friends (song by TLC) What About Your Friends A single by American girl group TLC from their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip. Reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the group's third consecutive top-ten sin…

What I've Done — Linkin Park song What I've Done Lead single from Linkin Park's third album Minutes to Midnight (2007). A rock single that addresses remorse and change, noted for a stark video and wide international exposure.

What Is This? — Los Angeles rock band and early RHCP connections What Is This? What Is This? was a late-1970s Los Angeles rock band notable for its members' close ties to the early Red Hot Chili Peppers and later projects such as Eleven.

What the Hell (Avril Lavigne song) What the Hell 2011 upbeat pop-rock single by Avril Lavigne from the album Goodbye Lullaby; produced with Max Martin and Shellback, noted for its catchy chorus and generally positive reviews.

What Time Is It? (song) Opening ensemble song from the High School Musical 2 soundtrack. An upbeat cast performance that celebrates summer and served as a prominent opening number and promotional track fo…

What's It Gonna Be (Beyoncé song) What's It Gonna Be A non-album single by Beyoncé released as a bonus and promotional track in 2003–2004, appearing on special editions and used in advertising and soundtrack tie-ins.

What's Love Got to Do with It (song) 1984 pop single by Tina Turner from Private Dancer. Written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle; it became her first US No. 1, won multiple Grammys and helped revive her solo career.

What's Your Name (Usher song) What's Your Name A 2008 single by Usher featuring will.i.am from the album Here I Stand; an electronic-tinged mid-tempo pop/R&B track written by Usher, will.i.am and Toby Gad, with mixed critical r…

Whataya Want from Me — Adam Lambert song Whataya Want from Me Overview of Adam Lambert's recording of "Whataya Want from Me": origins with Pink, production by Max Martin and Shellback, release, reception, live performances and legacy.

When Doves Cry — Prince (1984) lead single from Purple Rain When Doves Cry 1984 single by Prince from the Purple Rain soundtrack. A groundbreaking pop‑rock track notable for its spare production, first US #1 hit, multiweek chart dominance and lasting cult…

When I Come Around (Green Day song) When I Come Around A concise encyclopedic overview of Green Day's pop-punk single "When I Come Around," its musical traits, release and chart performance, music video, and enduring legacy from the al…

When I'm Sixty-Four A nostalgic Beatles song by Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon–McCartney, from the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Music‑hall style, theatrical arrangement, and t…

When the Tigers Broke Free A concise encyclopedia entry about Pink Floyd's song 'When the Tigers Broke Free', its themes, origins tied to Roger Waters' family history, releases, and legacy.

When We Were Young (Adele song) A ballad by English singer-songwriter Adele from her album 25, exploring nostalgia and memory; a soul-influenced piano song that was a commercial hit and a staple of her live shows…

When You're Gone (Avril Lavigne song) When You're Gone A piano-led ballad recorded by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne for her 2007 album The Best Damn Thing, released as a single and noted for its themes of absence, longing and emotional…

Whenever You Need Somebody (song) 1987 pop–dance single by Rick Astley, title track of his debut album; produced and written by Stock Aitken Waterman and released as his second European single.

Where I'm Coming From (Stevie Wonder album) Where I'm Coming From Where I'm Coming From is Stevie Wonder's thirteenth studio album, released by Motown in April 1971. A transitional record that broadened his songwriting voice and set the stage for…

Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) (Alan Jackson song) Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) A reflective country song written and performed by Alan Jackson in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks; debuted at the CMA Awards, released on the album Drive, and reached N…

Whip (percussion instrument) Whip (instrument) A percussion clapper known as the whip or slapstick: construction, variants, playing techniques, orchestral uses, history and notable repertoire.

White & Nerdy — parody single by "Weird Al" Yankovic White & Nerdy A 2006 comedy rap parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic that reimagines Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" with jokes about nerd culture, a popular music video, and broad commercial success.

White Christmas (song) — Irving Berlin and the Bing Crosby recording White Christmas (song) A classic Christmas song written by Irving Berlin and popularized by Bing Crosby in 1942. Noted for its wistful mood, many covers, and status as one of the best-selling singles in…

White Lion — American glam metal band White Lion White Lion is a New York–based glam metal band known for melodic hard rock and late-1980s hits like "Wait" and "When the Children Cry." Formed in the early 1980s, it has undergone…

White Zombie (American rock and heavy metal band) White Zombie White Zombie was an American rock band that evolved from underground noise rock into a commercially successful heavy metal act in the 1990s, noted for horror imagery and groove-dri…

Whitesnake — English hard rock band led by David Coverdale Whitesnake Whitesnake is an English hard rock band formed in Middlesbrough in 1978, known for blues-tinged metal, stadium hits and the long-running career of singer David Coverdale.

Who Is It (Michael Jackson song) A detailed overview of Michael Jackson's song "Who Is It", its themes, production, music video, release as a single from Dangerous, and its place in Jackson's catalogue.

Who Wants to Live Forever — Queen song from A Kind of Magic Who Wants to Live Forever A cinematic power ballad by Queen written by Brian May for the film Highlander. Released on A Kind of Magic (1986), it explores immortality and grief and remains a notable Queen ba…

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? A popular song introduced in Disney's 1933 short Three Little Pigs; an emblematic morale-boosting tune of the Depression era and a phrase that entered wider culture.

Who's Next (1971 album by The Who) Who's Next Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band The Who, released in 1971. It collects songs from an abandoned rock-opera project and is celebrated for its anthems and in…

Whole-tone scale A six-note (hexatonic) scale built from consecutive whole-step intervals, noted for its symmetry, lack of tonal center, and use in impressionist, classical and jazz music.

Why (3T song) “Why” is a mid-1990s R&B song by American trio 3T, written by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and produced with Michael Jackson. It appeared on their debut album and found commercial in…

Wicki–Hayden note layout Wicki-Hayden note layout An isomorphic button layout for melodic instruments that gives identical fingering in every key; used on Hayden duet concertinas and some modern controllers, patented by Wicki (189…

Wide Awake (Katy Perry song) Wide Awake 2012 electro-pop ballad by Katy Perry from the reissue Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection; noted for reflective lyrics, wide chart success, and a symbolic music video.

Wigmore Hall: London's historic recital hall for chamber music and song Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a London concert venue famed for chamber music and song recitals, noted for its intimate acoustics, early-20th-century architecture, distinguished artists and an ac…

Wilco (American alternative rock band) Wilco Wilco is an American band from Chicago known for blending alt-country roots with experimental rock, notable albums like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and a changing lineup led by singer-so…

Wild Dances — Ruslana's 2004 Eurovision winning song Wild Dances “Wild Dances” is a 2004 single by Ukrainian pop singer Ruslana that won the Eurovision Song Contest and blended modern pop production with elements of Ukrainian folk music.

Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones song) Wild Horses A 1971 Rolling Stones ballad from Sticky Fingers, written by Jagger–Richards. A slow, country-tinged rock song noted for its melody, emotional lyrics and many reinterpretations acr…

Wildest Dreams (song) “Wildest Dreams” is a single by Taylor Swift from her 2014 album 1989. A mid-tempo pop ballad produced with Max Martin and Shellback, it reached the US top five and earned multi-pl…

Wildest Moments — song by Jessie Ware Wildest Moments A concise encyclopedia entry on Jessie Ware's 2012 single "Wildest Moments," from her debut album Devotion: style, release, reception, certifications and cultural significance.

Wilson Phillips: American pop vocal trio known for rich harmonies Wilson Phillips Wilson Phillips is an American pop trio formed in California in 1989, famed for their close three-part harmonies and early-1990s hits including 'Hold On'. They split in 1993 and re…

Wind chimes: design, sound, history and uses Wind chimes Objects of suspended tubes, rods or bells that sound when moved by air; used as decoration, musical devices, wind indicators, and cultural symbols across many traditions.

Wind instrument A wind instrument produces musical sound when a player sets a column of air vibrating by blowing into or across an opening; includes woodwinds and brass with many types, techniques…

Wind It Up (Gwen Stefani song) Lead single from Gwen Stefani's 2006 album The Sweet Escape; a pop single notable for sampling "The Lonely Goatherd" and blending nursery-rhyme motifs with dance-pop production.