mp3jukebox.info

When it comes to music, I like to think that I have quite an open mind, and don’t tend to limit myself to one genre. Whether it’s dance, rnb or even a touch of indie, anything with a catchy beat that I can sing along to in the car on the way to work is fine by me.

However, I have now realised that I do have musical boundaries, and that there is some utter shite out there that would make even the most broad minded person want to slit their wrists- step forward the insufferable Jedward.

Their debut song (and I use that term very lightly), Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby), is quite simply the biggest load of dross that I’ve heard since Bob the Builder, and the fact that it’s already at no2 on iTunes downloads makes me think that there are a lot of people out there with some serious issues!!

I have noticed that you will gravitate to a certain type of music depending on your lifestyle and the people you surround yourself with, and this is something you don’t really notice. I have noticed that recently since I have decided to go out more and have fun with my friends, I find myself humming dance tunes and breaking into Beyonce and Shakira dance moves spontaneously! I used to be into rock and indie tunes and only listen to XFM if I had to listen to the radio and not my ipod which was packed full of cool music, however over the past few months I have become a fan of Galaxy and Radio 1. Honestly, if my 18 months ago self could see me now..

Back in September 2009 I received my usual weekly e-mails from all the concert/gig websites informing me that Muse were doing a tour in 2010 and were going to be playing Lancashire County Cricket Club in Manchester. I couldn’t wait to see them again, then that I noticed the date – September 2010!! I was booking tickets for a concert nearly 12 months in advance – I’m the type of person who doesn’t know what they’re doing at the weekend on Friday, let alone where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing in 12 months time!

This seems to be a growing trend as Peter Kay (ok, I know he’s not music) released tickets for his 2011 tour in 2009. Gone are the days of queuing up in the rain on the day of concert for tickets – now you have to be poised over a computer 2 years in advance!

So I have been quite behind the times and only just got an iPod. I know I’m traditional and should’ve got with it years ago however my mp3 player that could only hold about 150 songs had served me well and being sentimental I have held onto it. My new iPod has 80g of memory and I don’t know what to do with it! So I’ve been putting my CD’s onto my iTunes and have spent hours and hours adding the names of the songs and albums and artists and genres, you name it, I’ve done it! I haven’t got a wireless computer and so settled myself into my bed with my laptop and stormed through the CD’s. It was only after an entire weekend of going almost blind from doing so that I plugged my laptop into the internet and realised that if you are on the internet and you put a CD into your iTunes it automatically pulls the info and fills in the boxes for you. I could not have been more furious!

No matter how many songs there are out there in the world, you always end up hearing the same 6 or 7 songs on the radio over and over again. We did a test a few weeks ago and were listening to a certain radio station for about a week. Myself and a friend made our bets about what songs we should hear in the space of an hour on the decided radio station. I guessed at the prodigy, muse, bloc party, kasabian, temper trap, greenday, paramore and stone roses. Every single one of the current singles by these artists were played. Radio time is a very effective proven method of selling your records. I find that currently I always have Iyaz replay in my head even though this is so far from my usual music taste. It’s as if I’ve been programmed to like it. I even know all the words. The power of music eh?!

I have recently had a clear out of my house and come across a box of MINI DISKS! I had totally forgotten about them and seriously for the past 8 years or so I have never even considered their existence. It was amazing to think that they were popular for about five minutes when I was a teenager. I found a compilation and put it into my old mini-disk player (which still worked even though it’s Sellotaped together!!) and had a listen to the tunes an old boyfriend had put onto it for me. Talk about a blast from the past. I would recommend it to anyone to dig out any old compilation CD’s or even tapes and get them played. Music can evoke such memories and I have since ordered several albums including Nirvana’s ‘smells like teen spirit’, Counting Crows’ ‘August and Everything After’ and Greenday’s ‘Dookie’!

Rage Against the machine has become the UK number one single for Christmas 2009.

Picked as an anti Simon Cowell, Anti X Factor relief to the juggernaut of Christmas numbers ones that Cowell has relentlessly produced over the last few years. A middle aged man is surprisingly behind the campaign, which started the beginning of December on the social networking site Facebook. Jon Morter Picked the title as it contains some pretty graphic lyrics, which he thought would show the feeling that the majority of music lovers have towards the song in the charts these days. – especially at Christmas.

The song repeatedly contains the lyrics “F**k you I wont do what you tell me” Although not originally written as a anarchistic punk track against pop music, but in fact its a protest song against the Klu Klux Klan.

Ironically Mr Mortimer failed to realise that Rage are in fact signed to the Sony record label, The same label that signs the X Factor winner each year! Thankfully Simon Cowell does not get any additional funds from the race but his bosses at Sony certainly do.

Credit where credit is due however, Rage have publicly stated that any funds made from the single sales this year will be given to the Charity Shelter.

The race for the 2010 Christmas number one is already hotting up with rumors that due to this years disappointment for the winner of X Factor, Joe McElderry, the power of the internet is already talking of getting this years failed X-factor song to number one next year..

Lobby action is being taken by a group of EU officials to reduce the volume that mp3 players can be played at. Research has shown that when sound reaches over 78dB (78 decibels) the human ear can receive damage if exposed to noise at this volume for anything over a few minutes.

The current batch of mp3 players that are available in the UK and Europe can produce volume up to, and over 115dB. The officials are lobbying to introduce a maximum volume setting of 85dB, which is to apply to all brands including iPods. The health and safety legislation report that current existing for places of work carries the advice that people should not be exposed to 115dB for 30 seconds, or longer.

Apple had already dropped their maximum volume to 100dB, but if the new legislation is passed on personal devices throughout Europe, they will have to re-adjust it down a further 15dB for consumers.

An audiology study confirmed that nerve damage to the inner ear is permanent and cannot be treated. SO once damaged, the patient cannot regain the hearing back to what it previously was.

Seems people are getting very attached to their personal music devices and mobile phones, so much so they are prepared to die for them. The first reported of someone dying for their mobile case was 5 years ago, when a teenage girl jumped on the subway tracks at Grand Avenue station in the Queens suburb of New York, to retrieve her mobile phone. It was around 2pm in the day when she jumped down, but was not able to get back to the platform before being hit by a train.

More recently, but again in New York, a man died at Pennsylvania Avenue Station when to jumped on to the tracks at 8.30am to retrieve his dropped mp3 player, but unfortunately he was struck by on oncoming train and died instantaneously.

Central Park West Station, New York, is the latest station where a death has occurred. It was reported a Hispanic man in his early 30’s was seen having a heated argument on his mobile phone when he accidently dropped his mp3 player down on to the tracks. After jumping down to get it, he was not able to get back up in time before the next train came, which ploughed him down. The station was closed for several hours while the cleanup of his dismembered body was undertaken.

Research developers based at the University of Bristol are working on new technology which will power up by the vibration the item picks up from its surroundings.

The technology, which would be ideal for MP3 players, is based on vibration energy harvesting equipment which utilises a spring and mass mechanism, which captures the resonance given off in the form of small vibrations, which is then amplified to become a usable energy.

At present, tests are showing that this method can harness movement and convert it to energy. First working trials are using low frequencies of the vibration, but it is hoped that higher ranges of frequency can be utilised, which could potentially will generate more power.

As well as MP3 players, phones could be charged in the same fashion and even heart monitors. The test equipment can currently pick up vibrations ranging from choppers flying close by, to passing trains, to even some human body movements.

It is hoped that in 5 years time, we shall see various consumer products powered by these means, with the possibilities of larger items like cars being powered expected in 10 years time.