8 Music Genres You Cannot Afford To Miss
Or No Music, No Life!
Most of the music I have loved over the last 60 years has originated from the British Isles or the USA. However, I have sought out music genres worldwide in the last few years. You may well be acquainted with some of these bands, but looking outside your comfort zone is the point. In doing so, you will be surprised by what you find to enjoy. Ok, here we go!
The Hu Band
When the pandemic first hit, I read about a rock band that was touring Australia and could not return home to Mongolia. My first thought was, a rock band from Mongolia? There is much to see and hear from The Hu Band, but here's one example of how different cultures can make incredible music.
The Dead South
Since studying for my American Studies degree in England, I have been deeply engrossed in Bluegrass music. There are multiple examples to check out, but the Canadian band, The Dead South, has an interesting take on folk-bluegrass.
Nightwish
Although this band has been around since 1996, I did not come across them until recently. When I first watched this video, I almost turned it off as it seemed kitsch at the start. Man, was I grateful I watched and listened to the end? Floor Jansen is one of the most amazing singers I have ever heard anywhere in any genre.
Rammstein
I am certain almost everybody has heard Rammstein; however, I have included this German band for their longevity and amazing showmanship and because they sing in their native language, German. If you have never seen them, you are in for a treat.
Disturbed
An American band in the heavy metal genre since 1996; however, I had no choice but to add them because they cover the Simon and Garfunkel classic, The Sound of Silence. If you have never seen or heard this live version, you may well be totally thrown for six. I loved the original, and my memoir is based upon the ‘sounds of silence,’ yet this haunting version illustrates how one genre can transfer successfully to another.
Volbeat
Volbeat is a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll, heavy metal, and rockabilly. Twenty years ago, I was sitting in my friend's tattoo shop, having my back tattooed, when he said to me, “You’re gonna like this.” That was the first time I had heard of Volbeat. These Vikings can sure play.
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to as the Hip, was a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1984. I have a terrible admission; I had never heard of this band until their last concert. Their lead singer, Gord Downie, was about to die of brain cancer, and I watched a movie, Long Time Running, about Gord Downie and the Hip. If you have time to watch the movie, you will not regret it. Against all odds, it is amazing what a human can do if you want it enough. Their music catalog is immense, and I must admit I love everything they have done.
Blackfield
Blackfield is a collaborative music project by the English musician and founder of Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, and Israeli rock singer Aviv Geffen. I have always been a fan of Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree and all his other projects. Still, the melding of an Englishman and an Israeli illustrates how people from different cultures can make amazing music. This particular track is personal to me; amid smiles, there are always tears.
Hey, thanks for checking out these videos. It was fun compiling them for you. I hope you got a taste of just some of the outstanding music out there! Of course, there is more, but give me a break! More to come another time.
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