Music

Blood on the Dance Floor (song) — Michael Jackson single from the 1997 remix album Blood on the Dance Floor (song) A 1997 dance-oriented single by Michael Jackson, released as the lead track from the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix; blends electronic beats, funk and 199…

Blood Red Shoes: English indie rock duo from Brighton Blood Red Shoes Blood Red Shoes are an English guitar-and-drums indie rock duo formed in Brighton. Known for energetic live shows and blunt songwriting, the pair have released several albums begin…

Bloodhound Gang American comedy rock band from Pennsylvania known for satirical lyrics, genre-blending songs and hits like “Fire Water Burn” and “The Bad Touch.” Formed in 1992; notable for provoc…

Blue (Da Ba Dee) — Eiffel 65 song Blue (Da Ba Dee) 1998 eurodance single by Italian group Eiffel 65 from Europop, notable for its "da ba dee" hook, international chart success, Grammy nomination, and enduring presence in pop cultur…

Blue (British pop and R&B group) Blue (group) Blue are an English pop–R&B boy band formed in London in 2000. Known for early‑2000s hits, several studio albums and a 2011 Eurovision appearance, the quartet have reunited periodi…

Blue Christmas (song) Blue Christmas A melancholic Christmas standard written in the late 1940s, popularized by country artists and made iconic by Elvis Presley's recording; widely covered across genres and featured i…

The Blue Danube Waltz (An der schönen blauen Donau), Op. 314 Blue Danube Waltz A concise encyclopedic overview of Johann Strauss II’s 'The Blue Danube' waltz: origin, musical structure, performance history, cultural significance, and common arrangements.

Blue Lines (Massive Attack album) Blue Lines Debut album by Massive Attack, released in 1991. A landmark record blending electronic, hip hop, dub and soul that helped define trip hop and the Bristol Sound.

Blue Slide Park — Mac Miller's debut studio album Blue Slide Park Blue Slide Park is the debut studio album by American rapper Mac Miller, released November 8, 2011 by Rostrum Records. It takes its name from a playground in Pittsburgh and spawned…

Bluebeard's Castle (Bartók) Bluebeard's Castle One-act opera by Béla Bartók with a Hungarian libretto by Béla Balázs. A psychological chamber drama built around seven locked doors, premiered in Budapest in 1918 and based on Per…

Bluegrass music: American roots, instruments, history and influence Bluegrass music Bluegrass is an acoustic American roots music genre from the Appalachian tradition, known for virtuosic instrumental breaks, high vocal harmonies, and a mix of British Isles melodi…

Blues (American music genre) Blues An African American musical form that emerged in the southern United States in the early 20th century, characterized by blue notes, call-and-response, and the 12-bar structure; a f…

Blues scale: structure, history, and musical use Blues scale Overview of the blues scale: its interval structure, relation to the minor pentatonic and blue notes, history in African‑American music, common uses in blues and jazz, and typical…

Blues-rock: origins, style, and legacy Blues-rock Blues-rock is a hybrid musical style that fuses blues forms and phrasing with rock energy and instrumentation, centered on amplified guitar, rhythmic drive, and extended solos.

Blur (band): English alternative rock group and Britpop pioneers Blur (band) English alternative rock band formed in London in 1988. Known for Parklife and The Great Escape, they helped define Britpop. Core members: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James an…

Blurred Lines (song) 2013 single by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I., known for its chart success, provocative video, critical controversy and a high-profile copyright lawsuit.

Blutengel (German futurepop and gothic band) Blutengel Blutengel is a German musical project led by Chris Pohl, known for blending futurepop and darkwave with gothic visual themes, bilingual lyrics and contrasting male and female vocal…

Bobby Rush — American blues musician, singer, and composer Bobby Rush (musician) Bobby Rush (born 1933) is a veteran American blues singer, songwriter and performer whose career blends blues, funk and R&B; Grammy winner and Blues Hall of Famer.

Body Count (band) American heavy metal band formed by rapper Ice‑T in 1990, known for merging rap and metal, the controversial song "Cop Killer," and a career marked by lineup changes and notable me…

Bohemian Rhapsody An influential 1975 song by Queen that blends ballad, opera and rock sections. Written by Freddie Mercury and released on the album A Night at the Opera.

Bon Iver (American indie folk band) Bon Iver Bon Iver is an American indie folk project led by Justin Vernon, known for intimate songwriting, layered arrangements, and acclaimed albums For Emma, Forever Ago; Bon Iver; 22, A M…

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in Sayreville, New Jersey, in 1983. Renowned for arena-sized anthems, hit singles and sustained commercial success, the group has influence…

Boney M.: Euro-Disco Group of the 1970s Boney M. Boney M. was a popular vocal group assembled in West Germany in the mid‑1970s, known for disco, R&B and reggae‑inflected hits and theatrical stage shows produced by Frank Farian.

Boogie-woogie: an American piano blues style Boogie-woogie Boogie-woogie is a blues-based piano style marked by a repeated left-hand bass figure, energetic right-hand riffs, and a strong dance connection. It arose in Southern U.S. Black co…

Boom Clap — Charli XCX song Boom Clap A 2014 electropop single by Charli XCX, released as the lead song from The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack and later on her album Sucker; noted for its upbeat synth production and ch…

Borderline (Madonna song) Borderline is a 1984 single by Madonna from her self-titled debut album. Written by Reggie Lucas, with additional production by John "Jellybean" Benitez, it helped establish her ma…

Born to Be Wild 1968 rock single by Steppenwolf written by Mars Bonfire; a chart hit and cultural anthem known for its driving riff, association with biker freedom, and early use of the phrase "he…

Bossa nova: Brazilian musical style blending samba and jazz Bossa nova Bossa nova is a Brazilian music style that emerged in the late 1950s combining samba rhythms with jazz harmony and a restrained, intimate aesthetic. Key figures include João Gilber…

Boston Pops Orchestra A Boston-based orchestra specializing in light classical, popular and film music; known for accessible concerts, recordings and the annual Fourth of July performance.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day song) A detailed overview of Green Day's 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams': its place on American Idiot, musical qualities, narrative role, reception, and enduring influence.

Bourrée (dance and musical form) Bourrée A lively French dance and musical movement in quick duple time, the bourrée appears in folk traditions and Baroque suites; it is notable for its upbeat, dactylic rhythm, lively ste…

Bow (musical tool for bowed string instruments) Bow (music) A bow is a handheld stick with hair used to set the strings of bowed instruments into vibration; its design, materials, and handling shape tone, articulation, and repertoire.

Bow Wow Wow (British new wave band) Bow Wow Wow British new wave group formed in the early 1980s, best known for the cover of 'I Want Candy', noted for percussion-led sound, provocative image, and fronted by Annabella Lwin.

Bowling for Soup: American pop-punk band from Wichita Falls Bowling for Soup Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band formed in 1994 in Wichita Falls, Texas, known for upbeat, humorous songs, mainstream hits in the 2000s and the theme for the animated…

Box Car Racer Short-lived American alternative/post-hardcore side project formed by Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker; released one studio album in 2002 and influenced the later sound of Blink-182.

Boy band A boy band is a marketed pop vocal group of three or more young male singers who emphasize harmonies, choreography and image. They shaped mass-market pop, fan culture and modern mu…

Boy with the Blues (EP) A short digital EP by Oasis issued in July 2009 as an iTunes exclusive, featuring two previously unavailable tracks and a remix connected to the Dig Out Your Soul era.

Boys Like Girls American pop rock band formed in Boston, known for mid-2000s radio hits such as "The Great Escape", "Hero/Heroine" and collaborations that bridged pop and alternative rock.

Boys Like Girls (debut album) Boys Like Girls (album) Self-titled debut album by American rock band Boys Like Girls, released in 2006. A mid-2000s pop-rock record recorded in 2005–2006 that produced four singles and introduced the ban…

Boyz II Men: American R&B Vocal Group Boyz II Men Boyz II Men are an American R&B vocal quartet from Philadelphia, famed for smooth harmonies, chart-topping ballads in the 1990s, and significant influence on contemporary vocal gro…

Boyzone: Irish pop vocal group formed in 1993 Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin in 1993 by manager Louis Walsh. Known for 1990s hits, a 2000 split and a 2007 reunion, the band included Ronan Keating and the…

Brass band A brass band is an ensemble of brass instruments and percussion. This article explains its instruments, history, main traditions (British, New Orleans, military), repertoire and co…

Brass instrument Wind instruments that produce sound by lip vibration into a cup-shaped mouthpiece; includes trumpets, trombones, horns, tubas, and their role in ensembles and history.

Brazilian National Anthem (Hino Nacional Brasileiro) Brazilian National Anthem The Brazilian National Anthem, composed by Francisco Manuel da Silva and with lyrics by Osório Duque-Estrada, is Brazil's official patriotic song, formalized in the 19th and early…

Bread (American soft rock band) Bread (band) Bread was an influential American soft rock band formed in late 1960s Los Angeles, known for mellow ballads, smooth harmonies and hits such as “Make It With You” and “If.”

Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson album) Breakaway is Kelly Clarkson's second studio album, released in 2004. A commercial and critical breakthrough, it produced five major singles, won multiple Grammys and established he…

Breakaway (song) — Kelly Clarkson single written by Avril Lavigne and collaborators Breakaway (song) 2004 pop-rock song written by Avril Lavigne, Bridget Benenate and Matthew Gerrard, recorded by Kelly Clarkson for The Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack and included as the title track…

Breakbeat (music and drum rhythm) Breakbeat Breakbeat denotes syncopated drum patterns taken from recorded 'breaks' and the electronic music styles built on them, foundational to hip hop, jungle, drum & bass and many dancefl…