Music

Ben Folds American singer-songwriter and pianist known for leading Ben Folds Five and for piano-driven alternative rock; acclaimed solo career includes Rockin' the Suburbs and Songs for Silv…

Ben Folds Five: piano-driven alternative rock trio Ben Folds Five Ben Folds Five was a piano-led American alternative rock trio known for melodic songwriting, frank lyrics and hits such as “Brick” and “Underground.” This article outlines members,…

Bend Over and Pray the Lord — unreleased 1997 album by Lordi Bend Over and Pray the Lord Unreleased 1997 demo album by Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band Lordi; its tracks surfaced on the 2012 compilation Scarchives Vol. 1, offering a glimpse of the group's formative s…

Benjamin Britten: English composer, conductor, and Aldeburgh founder Benjamin Britten Biography and assessment of Benjamin Britten (1913–1976): life, musical style, major works such as Peter Grimes and War Requiem, collaboration with Peter Pears, the Aldeburgh Festi…

Benjamin Dale: British composer, teacher and Ruhleben internee (1885–1943) Benjamin Dale Overview of Benjamin Dale, his life (1885–1943), major works, musical style, wartime experience at Ruhleben, teaching career at the Royal Academy of Music, and later revival effort…

Benny Golson: Tenor Saxophonist, Composer, and Arranger Benny Golson American tenor saxophonist and composer Benny Golson is a major figure in bebop and hard bop, noted for standards like "I Remember Clifford" and for co-founding The Jazztet with Ar…

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Berlin Philharmonic Leading symphony orchestra based in Berlin. Founded in 1882, known for its Philharmonie home, distinguished chief conductors, wide repertoire, recordings and educational and digita…

Staatskapelle Berlin — the orchestra of the Berlin State Opera Berlin Staatskapelle One of the world’s oldest orchestras, the Staatskapelle Berlin serves the Berlin State Opera and has a continuous history from the 16th century through major premieres, conductors…

Besitos — song by Selena Besitos “Besitos” is a track recorded by American Tejano singer Selena, released as the fourth single from her 1989 album. It is a romantic Latin-pop song that reached number 20 on the US…

Best of My Love (Eagles song) “Best of My Love” is a 1974 soft-rock single by the Eagles from On the Border. It became the band's first US No. 1, topped adult-contemporary charts, and prompted a famous dispute…

Bidi Bidi Bom Bom — song by Selena Bidi Bidi Bom Bom A lively Tejano-pop song recorded by Selena, known for its cumbia rhythm and onomatopoeic title. A signature hit that helped define her stage persona and enduring legacy in Latin p…

Biffy Clyro — Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro Biffy Clyro are a Scottish alternative rock trio known for dynamic compositions, emotive lyrics and a dramatic rise from cult favourites to mainstream success, led by frontman Simo…

Big Bands in Jazz: Instrumentation, Arrangement, and Historical Role Big band Overview of jazz big bands: typical 12–25 musician instrumentation, written arrangements balancing ensemble and solo, their Swing Era role, and how universities and groups sustain…

Big Bang (South Korean boy band) Big Bang (band) Big Bang is a South Korean boy band formed in 2006, noted for musical innovation, strong individual members, global influence in K-pop, and a mixed history that includes lineup cha…

Big beat (electronic music genre) Big beat Big beat is a late-20th-century electronic dance music style combining heavy breakbeats, rock and hip-hop influences, sampling and loud, anthemic arrangements that reached mainstre…

Big Black — American punk/noise rock band Big Black Big Black was an influential American punk and noise-rock band formed by Steve Albini in 1981, known for abrasive sound, drum-machine percussion and confrontational lyrics. Key rec…

Big Flow Music (BFM) — Mexican rap and trap collective from Uriangato Big Flow Music Big Flow Music (BFM) is a Mexican rap and trap collective formed in Uriangato, Guanajuato around 2013, known for underground releases and regional contributions to Mexico's trap an…

BIGBANG 2 — Japanese album by Big Bang BIGBANG 2 BIGBANG 2 is a Japanese studio album by South Korean boy band Big Bang, released May 11, 2011. It features several Japanese singles and editions aimed at the band's Japanese market…

Billboard charts: how music rankings work and why they matter Billboard charts Overview of Billboard music charts, their methods, history, major lists (like the Hot 100), uses in the music industry, and distinctions among album, single and genre charts.

Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the principal weekly singles chart of the U.S., combining sales, radio airplay and online streaming to rank the most popular songs.

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson song) Billie Jean Single from Michael Jackson's Thriller (released 1983). Written by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones; famed for its bassline, Motown 25 performance, chart success and lasting cu…

Billy Talent — Canadian rock band from Mississauga Billy Talent Overview of Billy Talent, a Canadian rock band formed in Mississauga (originally Pezz): members, musical style, history, major albums and singles, live reputation, health and lineu…

Binary form (music) Binary form A musical structure in two related sections (A and B), common in Baroque dance movements and early keyboard sonatas; often features repeats and contrasting keys or themes.

Björn Ulvaeus — Swedish songwriter, ABBA member and musical composer Björn Ulvaeus Swedish musician Björn Ulvaeus is best known as a principal songwriter and former member of ABBA and as co‑composer of stage musicals including Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla and Ma…

Black Eyed Peas American musical group from Los Angeles known for blending hip hop, pop, dance and Latin influences; rose from underground hip hop to global pop success while exploring social them…

Black Flag (American hardcore punk band) Black Flag Black Flag, formed by guitarist Greg Ginn in California in the late 1970s, became a defining American hardcore punk band known for its abrasive sound, DIY ethic, iconic artwork, an…

Black Hole Sun — Soundgarden song (1994) Black Hole Sun 1994 single by Seattle rock band Soundgarden from Superunknown; written by Chris Cornell. Noted for its surreal lyrics, acclaimed music video and awards including a Grammy for Best…

Black metal Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal noted for high-speed playing, shrieked vocals, lo‑fi production, dark or anti‑religious themes, distinctive imagery and a contenti…

Black or White (Michael Jackson song) Black or White 1991 single by Michael Jackson from the album Dangerous. A pop-rock anthem about racial harmony, co-written with Bill Bottrell, featuring Slash on guitar and a high-profile, techni…

Black Panties (R. Kelly album) Black Panties is the twelfth solo studio album by R. Kelly, released December 6, 2013; a deliberate return to explicit, sexually themed contemporary R&B after his preceding, more r…

Black Sabbath — English pioneers of heavy metal Black Sabbath Black Sabbath, formed in late 1960s Birmingham, are widely regarded as pioneers of heavy metal. Known for dark themes, downtuned riffs and an influential original lineup: Ozzy Osbo…

Black Sabbath (song) Title track from Black Sabbath's 1970 debut album; a slow, ominous heavy metal song that helped define doom metal and has been frequently covered and sampled.

Black Stone Cherry — American hard rock band from Kentucky Black Stone Cherry American hard rock band formed in Edmonton, Kentucky, known for a blues-tinged Southern rock style, the single "Lonely Train" and multiple Billboard Mainstream Rock chart entries.…

Blackout (Britney Spears album) Blackout (album) Blackout is the fifth studio album by Britney Spears, released in 2007 by Jive Records. Noted for its electronic, dance-pop production and hit singles like "Gimme More."

Blackpink: South Korean girl group, history, members, and global impact Blackpink Blackpink is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, known for global chart success, high-profile performances, distinct musical style, and members' solo projects and…

Blackstreet: 1990s American R&B Group Founded by Teddy Riley Blackstreet Blackstreet is an American R&B group formed by producer Teddy Riley around 1991, known for 1990s hits like "No Diggity" and a blend of R&B, new jack swing and hip hop–influenced so…

Blah Blah Blah (Kesha song) Blah Blah Blah A 2010 electropop single by Kesha featuring 3OH!3 from the album Animal. Produced by Benny Blanco, it attracted commercial success and mixed reviews for its provocative lyrics and…

Blame It on the Rain (Milli Vanilli song) Blame It on the Rain Pop single released in 1989 by Milli Vanilli that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; notable for its chart success and its place in the group's later lip-syncing controversy.

Blaqk Audio Blaqk Audio is an electronic music duo formed by AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget, known for synth-driven songwriting, dark pop textures and a side-project history distinct f…

Bleeding Love — Leona Lewis song and cultural impact Bleeding Love “Bleeding Love” is Leona Lewis’s breakout 2007 single from Spirit, written by Ryan Tedder. A pop–R&B ballad that topped international charts and became a defining hit of Lewis’s ca…

Blessthefall — American post-hardcore band blessthefall Blessthefall is an American post-hardcore band formed in Phoenix in 2004. Known for mixing screamed and clean vocals, they rose through the 2000s with albums on Fearless Records an…

Blest Pair of Sirens — Hubert Parry's choral setting of Milton's ode Blest Pair of Sirens Overview, musical features, history and notable performances of Hubert Parry’s 1887 choral-orchestral setting of John Milton’s ode ‘At a solemn Musick’ (commonly called ‘Blest Pair…

Blind Faith — short‑lived English rock supergroup formed in 1969 Blind Faith Blind Faith was a British rock–blues supergroup formed in 1969 by established musicians. Their single album, brief tour and contentious cover art made the group a memorable short c…

Blind Melon: history, music, and legacy of the American alternative rock band Blind Melon Blind Melon, formed in Los Angeles in 1990, gained fame with the 1993 hit “No Rain.” Known for Shannon Hoon's voice and 1990s neo-psychedelic sound, the group released several albu…

Blink-182 American pop-punk band formed in 1992 in California; noted for energetic rock, irreverent humor, radio hits and global influence with over 50 million records sold.

Bloc Party: British indie rock band — history, style, and major albums Bloc Party Concise encyclopedia entry on Bloc Party: formation, core members, musical style, key albums (Silent Alarm, A Weekend in the City, Intimacy, Four, Hymns), live reputation and legac…

Blondie — American new wave and pop-rock band Blondie American new wave and pop-rock band led by Debbie Harry, known for hits like "Heart of Glass" and "Call Me" and for mixing punk, pop, disco and early hip-hop influences.

Blood Fire Death (album) Blood Fire Death Blood Fire Death is Bathory's fourth studio album (released 8 October 1988). A bridge between raw black metal and the emerging viking metal style, it is notable for its epic passag…