music

  • Weird Song Titles That Somehow Became Real Music

    ByIlya

    Every now and then, a song title stops you cold. Not because it’s poetic. Not because it’s beautiful. But because it makes absolutely no sense — and yet, there it is, printed on an album sleeve, played on the radio, and loved by someone somewhere. Music history is full of songs that sound like jokes…

  • Vortex I: The State-Sponsored Festival

    ByIlya

    The Vortex I festival, a unique occurrence in U.S. history as the only state-sponsored rock concert, was held in Oregon. This event was strategically planned to coincide with President Nixon’s visit to showcase the peaceful aspects of the anti-War Movement and to deter any potential violent protests during the President’s scheduled appearance in the state….

  • Stevie Wonder: From Frustration to Masterpiece

    ByIlya

    In 1975, the legendary artist Stevie Wonder found himself growing increasingly frustrated with the state of the U.S. government. At one point, he seriously considered leaving his music career behind and relocating to Ghana. Ultimately, however, he chose to channel his emotions into his work, which led to the creation of the now-iconic album, Songs…

  • Resusci Anne’s Echo: The CPR Dummy Behind Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ Refrain

    ByIlya

    In the iconic Michael Jackson track “Smooth Criminal,” the memorable refrain “Annie, are you OK?” derives its inspiration from Resusci Anne, a mannequin commonly employed for CPR training. Interestingly, Resusci Anne, also known as the “most kissed face” in the world, was designed in the late 1950s to help teach people lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques….