# data[].attributes.body
1. Freddie Mercury (Lead vocals, piano)

2. Brian May (Lead guitar, vocals)

3. Roger Taylor (drums, vocals)

4. John Deacon (bass)

# data[].attributes.body
Jeremy Tang, the band leader and drummer has seen his background in music from an early age. From partaking in music classes to scribbling down the lyrics of hit songs from the 2000s onto his (very well hidden) notebook. He would go on to occasionally post his covers online for some to see. Classically trained on the piano at the young age of 5 and soon followed by up taking lessons on the drum.

He is also an alumni of the Performing Arts programme from Sunway, finding his unexpected home in theatre foremost, then in film. He was previously also appointed the role of ‘Music Director’ in SUNFM (now popularly known as the SUN4U Broadcast Club). Upon graduating, he has taken up projects from the likes of KONGSIKL, AmberJadeArts, and howls collective. In his downtime, he likes to occasionally write and pursue photography.

# data[].attributes.body
1966 - In June 1966, Bjorn met Benny for the first time when they already had successful careers. At the time, Bjorn was an active member of the Hootenanny Singers who were a notable/renowned folk music group in Sweden. Meanwhile, Benny session-ed and played keyboards in The Hep Stars, Sweden’s biggest pop group of that era.  After acquainting each other, they wrote their first song together a few weeks later and soon established a connection and even became regular partners for composition. More about their individual work, the Hootenanny Singers released their songs with the Polar Music record label which was owned by Stig Anderson, who coincidentally became ABBA’s manager and also contributed lyrics writing to many of ABBA's early hits. Since the Hootenanny Singers never met the stage lights but only remained in studios, Bjorn slowly shifted his focus on his work with Benny. Moreover, Benny would also leave The Hep Stars weeks after his encounter with Bjorn.

1969 - Within this period, Bjorn and Benny had the last 2 puzzle pieces for ABBA who were coincidentally, their soon-to-be fiancees. Agnetha Fältskog started as a successful solo singer upon releasing her first hit single in 1967. On the other hand, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who was also known as Frida, started her singing/recording career right before Agnetha. Bjorn and Agnetha were married in July of 1971 while Benny and Frida married in October of 1978.

1970 - The four members made their first collaboration act, Festfolk, where they blended all four voices, giving them the idea to put together a cabaret act. Their attempt at this, however, was unsuccessful.

1972 - In spring, the group had their first proper recording song called “People Need Love” which gained them a medium-sized audience and listeners within Sweden. Because of this success, it kick-started their passion and soon entered the Swedish selection to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest, the  Melodifestivalen 1973. They placed third with another one of their songs “Ring Ring” but the exposure earned their single biggest hits of the year in Sweden, competing within the top music charts within the country. Ring Ring would soon reach internationally as it became a hit as well in several other European countries.

1974 - The group entered Melodifestivalen once more in 1974 but this time as ABBA and with their new song “Waterloo”. Their success had rocketed them to the Eurovision finals in Brighton, England. Coincidentally, ABBA was also the name of a Swedish canned fish company that, fortunately, agreed to lend their name to the pop group. Shockingly, ABBA stole the show and was awarded the win over the different international competitors/participants by winning over the juries with “Waterloo”.  Right after their huge milestone, “Waterloo: was ranked number one on the music charts all over Europe while also even reaching internationally, placing top 10 in the US charts. However, ABBA was not able to ride this momentum as they were only labeled “winners” of the contest and were never taken seriously. Just 18 months later, they broke this stigma and achieved another worldwide hit again with “SOS” from their album also named “ABBA”. Furthermore another song from the “ABBA” album “Mamma Mia” shot the group up to the UK’s number one spot in the music charts where they remained so for nine times between 1974 and 1980. Australia was another continent/country they conquered as “Mamma Mia’ blew up, causing an “ABBA fever”.

1976 - ABBA had finally solidified themselves as one of the most popular pop groups in the world, defining an era. In late 1976, ABBA released their fourth album entitled “Arrival” which dominated the charts internationally. This was followed by a concert tour of Europe and Australia between January and March 1977. When the tour reached Australia, there was already a feature film of ABBA in the works. This film was soon released in December 1977 which coincided with the release of the “ABBA’ album where it all began.

1980 - In March of 1980, ABBA finally took their tours to Japan for the very first time. However, it would also be the very last live concert in front of a wide, paying audience. On the other hand, in the following months, the band dedicated their time to recording and working on their next album, “Super Trouper”.

1981 - This moment marked the start of an end to the ABBA era as Benny and Frida announced their divorce. Nonetheless, the four of them still kept it professional and released another album titled, “The Visitors”, with “One Of Us” as the album’s biggest hit single.

1982 - The group’s energy and passion started to die down as Bjorn and Benny shifted their focus on writing a musical entitled “Chess” while Agnetha and Frida were trying to bring back their solo singing careers. Towards the end of 1982, the nail of the coffin was finally struck as ABBA announced that they were to be taking a “temporary” break and could always get back together after a few years apart from the band.

1999 -  Despite the band’s hiatus, a widely successful musical “Mamma Mia!” premiered in London in 1999, basing off of ABBA’s hits. The sought-after musical was finally opened on Broadway two years later which had spread across the globe. To this day, the musical has been seen by more than 60 million people in over 440 cities. Shockingly, when the premier happened in ABBA’s home country in February of 2005, it was attended by none other than all 4 of the band members.

2021- Being inactive did not stop the band from gathering awards after awards year after year. On March 23rd, ABBA was announced as the winners of the Swedish Government’s 2021 Music Export Prize award. And on the 5th of November, ABBA released another studio album, “Voyage” after a whole 40 years of inactivity. ABBA had kept the album exactly how it was supposed to be done with it being produced by Benny and Bjorn while vocals were by Agnetha and Frida. Furthermore, most of the mixing, arrangement, and programming was done by Benny, with the album featuring the Stockholm Concert Orchestra as well.

2022 - On the 27th of May, it marked a special day as the ABBA Voyage Arena opened in London. The four members had created a concert they always wanted, performing for their fans as digital versions of themselves backed by fine musicians as the ABBA members sit back and enjoy their own concert from their fans’ perspective. This whole performance was well documented and could also be found on platforms such as YouTube.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rock and roll | History, Songs, Artists, & Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rock and roll, style of popular music that originated in the United States in the mid-1950s and that evolved by the mid-1960s into the more encompassing international style known as rock music, though the latter also continued to be known as rock and roll. Learn more about the history of rock and roll in this article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Written by

Published

October 13, 2023

James Picken

There's a whole world of music out there (the medal for the most obvious statement goes to us). It's estimated that there are anywhere between 97 and 230 million songs in the world, although we're sure you understand, this is an impossible stat to measure.

Us humans like order. We like to put things into boxes so they make sense to us. And we like to use these boxes to help us form an identity ourselves. That's why music genres are so important.

We recently did a crash-course on what genre is, but now it's time to start deep diving into some specifics. And what better place to start than the most popular genre, pop?

What is pop music?

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.

What 'pop music' is has changed throughout time, and the genre isn't specific to one sound. However, it is often distinguished from other subgenres by stylistic traits such as danceable rhythm or beat, simple melodies and a repeating structure, with lyrics that are often related to love or dancing.

Some people consider pop music to be a style rather than a genre, as the types of music that are a part of it are so varied. The genre has included elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz, electronic and folk music throughout time. If we look at the 1920s-1950s, pop music leaned heavily on jazz music. Then we began to see R&B influences, and hip hop since the 1980s. What seems to separate the genre from others is its mass popularity.

The sound

As we said, pop music has drawn from a plethora of genres in its time. Put simply, it's an amalgamation of the genres that are popular at the time.

Generally, the genre uses a simple, memorable melody, with emphasis on the rhythm, and a basic riff or loop which repeats throughout much of the song. Structurally, pop songs usually have a verse and a chorus, each with different musical material, as well as a bridge connecting them.

Pop music is often 'commercial' sounding - although this has often been a criticism, and isn't always the case, it helps us to identify the genre on platforms like radio or TV.

The history
- Magnus, Startle's Music Consultant
The phrase 'popular music' is said to have appeared first at the beginning of the 19th century, to distinguish the popular songs at the time from the production of 'cultured' music, and was used to indicate musical forms with mostly simple structure.

"One of the main strengths of pop music is the relationship between the standardised framework of what makes pop pop (structure, rhythm, instrumentation) and the richness of its history as a genre."

In the 1950s, with industrialisation beginning to advance, pop music started to advance. TV and radio began to advertise the songs and gain more traction. Of course, in the 1960s, we saw bands like The Beatles start to appear. Since the 1960s, the genre adapted and each decade saw new pop artists making their mark - the 1970s saw ABBA and Elton John, the 1980s had Michael Jackson and Madonna, and the 1990s had Destiny's Child and TLC. Of course, entering the 2000s, we saw artists like Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears take to the main stage, and the 2010s gave rise to singers like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.

Some say that the pop genre we know came in 3 phases:

1. The explosion of British groups like the Beatles and Rolling Stones, who embedded rock influence into the genre

2. The use of new technology and instruments in the 1980s like synthesisers, electronic drums and samples

3. The 1990s influence of hip hop and rap having a huge impact on the genre

We're excited to see how the genre continues to develop and evolve in the future.

Identifiable pop artists

Although we've talked about some of the iconic pop musicians throughout history, here are a few more examples.

According to YouGov, the top 5 most famous pop artists of all time are:

‍

Real life application

We asked our Music Consultant, Magnus, to about the real life applications of pop music for brands, with behavioural science in mind.
What you want, baby we got it... our music library contains every style and genre that you could imagine. 100-odd mood, genre and behaviour-based playlists ready to use in your business. Get in touch here
Today, we hear influences of varying strands of pop music from the past (for example the return to disco and other pioneering dance movements). This inclusion of musical elements made popular over the last 60 years, but done so in a way that feels fresh and modern, creates a sound that is familiar and relevant. With that in mind, current pop music works well when a business' objective is to set an approachable and straight-speaking tone.

As we hear pop music so much in everyday life, e.g on the radio, in adverts etc., it exists more at the surface when compared with some other styles of music. As a result, the standardised sound world of pop music is also one of its weaknesses as it can result in a compromise of the musical nuances that really draw listeners into the environment around them - it's too generic. So, pop music may not be the best option for brands that pride themselves on immersive, unique experiences.

‍

Say hello on LinkedIn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Music Genres Explained: Pop | Blog | Startle Music

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let's take a deep dive into the most popular music genre in the world - pop.

# data[].attributes.body
Queen

https://calendar.songfacts.com/timeline/queen/

https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/entertainment/music/queen-career-timeline/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Queen-British-rock-group

https://study.com/academy/lesson/queen-overview-history-songs.html#:~:text=Queen%20is%20a%20British%20band,theatrical%20presentations%20and%20great%20voice

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-queen-albums/

ABBA

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1755868/bio/?ref_=nmbio_ql_1

https://abbasite.com/story/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/ABBA

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q68213642

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Queen, British rock band whose fusion of heavy metal, glam rock, and camp theatrics made it one of the most popular groups of the 1970s. Although generally dismissed by critics, Queen crafted an elaborate blend of layered guitar work by virtuoso Brian May and overdubbed vocal harmonies enlivened by the flamboyant performance of front man and principal songwriter Freddie Mercury. The members were Freddie Mercury (original name Farrokh Bulsara; b. September 5, 1946, Stone Town, Zanzibar [now in Tanzania]-d. November 24, 1991, Kensington, London, England), Brian May (b. July 19, 1947, Twickenham, Middlesex, England), John Deacon (b. August 19, 1951, Leicester, Leicestershire, England), and Roger Taylor (original name Roger Meddows-Taylor; b. July 26, 1949, King's Lynn, Norfolk, England).

Members of two bands composed of university and art-school students combined to form Queen in London in 1971. Aided by producer Roy Thomas Baker, Queen shot up the international charts with its third album, Sheer Heart Attack (1974). A Night at the Opera (1975), one of pop music's most expensive productions, sold even better. Defiantly eschewing the use of synthesizers, the band constructed a sound that was part English music hall, part Led Zeppelin, epitomized by the mock-operatic " Bohemian Rhapsody," Britain's top single for nine weeks. Spectacular success followed in 1977 with " We Are the Champions" and " We Will Rock You"-which became ubiquitous anthems at sporting events in Britain and the United States. The Game (1980), featuring "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Another One Bites the Dust," was Queen's first number one album in the United States.

Their popularity waned for a period in the 1980s, but a stellar performance at the charity concert Live Aid in 1985 reversed their fortunes commercially. Mercury died of AIDS in 1991, and the band issued its final album in 1995. Queen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. The band's formation and its rise to stardom are the topics of the blockbuster film Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Queen, British rock band whose fusion of heavy metal, glam rock, and camp theatrics made it one of the most popular groups of the 1970s. The band was known for the hit songs 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' 'We Are the Champions,' 'We Will Rock You,' and 'Another One Bites the Dust.'

# data[].attributes.body
Who influenced Queen?

Before Queen, there was Yes, Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator, and Pink Floyd who came to be inspirations to the band known as Smile, who we now better know them as Queen. Their flamboyantly cavalier approach would soon go on to inspire such modern masters as Dream Theater, Queensrÿche and Muse. Their famed track ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ encapsulated one of the key things that gave Queen such a distinct identity. Like The Beatles and Beach Boys before them, they used the studio as an instrument – not least when it came to their vocals.

How Queen influenced the Music Industry

Some of the greatest Queen influences can be felt in genres such as rock and disco. Bands such as Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Radiohead have cited Queen as one of their greatest inspirations and have implemented their style into their own music. Their style of music goes beyond just delivering a message, with Queen having an influence on so many artists today because of how Mercury handled his opennesses with his sexuality and how the band lived their life. Many artists, such as Kurt Cobain, cited Queen as their main inspiration and role model for the way they handled their fame.

Since his passing, rather than replacing the iconic Freddie Mercury, Adam Lambert joined Queen as a featured artist alongside the active band members. Their synergy was first showcased during a performance of We Are the Champions, with Lambert and Kris Allen on American Idol. This collaboration has since blossomed into a global musical phenomenon. Queen + Adam Lambert embarked on a series of tours, starting with the Queen + Adam Lambert Tour in 2014 and 2015, which took them across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and South America.

# data[].attributes.body
Queen was a British rock band and one of the most popular groups back in the 1970s, with their diverse genres being a fusion of heavy metal, glam rock and progressive rock. Queen had millions of fans worldwide and millions of records sold, as well as holding top positions on the music charts for several weeks. One of the reasons they were so successful was that they had a significant influence on other artists and cultures.

In 1970, the four original members of Queen formed the band in London. Lead singer Freddie Mercury proposed the name Queen, which he chose because it is a bold, outrageous, international term that is easy to memorise and repeat even in areas where English is not spoken. Anthems include "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Their popularity fell in the 1980s, but a memorable performance at the charity concert Live Aid in 1985 turned around their commercial fortunes. Mercury died of AIDS in 1991, and the band released their final album in 1995. Queen was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

# data[].attributes.body
1. A night at the opera (1975)

2. News of the world (1977)

3. The game (1980)

4. A day at the races (1976)

5. Sheer heart attack (1974)

# data[].attributes.body
https://medium.com/@g.shevtsov1989/what-were-some-distinctive-elements-of-abbas-musical-style-adcec80542fe

https://www.britannica.com/topic/ABBA

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Queen-British-rock-group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now (Official Video)

# data[].attributes.body
Who influenced ABBA?

Benny Andersson (Keyboardist) explained and has acknowledged the influence in songwriting from the legendary songwriting duos of his era –– Leiber/Stoller (Elvis Presley), Goffin/King (The Animals, The Chiffons), Lennon/McCartney (The Beatles) - as well as influence from The Beach Boys, Motown, Joni Mitchell, Chuck Berry, and The Kinks. He pointed out that his group possessed a rarely acknowledged capacity for the sorrows of artists living within the "melancholy belt" above the 59th latitude, where the sun virtually disappears for two months and snow falls for nearly half a year. He argued that this despondency runs through Swedish folk, Russian folk, classical composers like Finland's Jean Sibelius and Norway's Edvard Grieg, Ingmar Bergman movies, the voice of Swedish-born actress Greta Garbo and, sometimes, the harmonies of Lyngstad and her front line vocal partner Agnetha Fältskog.

ABBA would go on to epitomize a sense of pop maximalism that masqueraded as intellectual and musical simplicity. But there is no denying that their music is unapologetically culturally homogenous and exceedingly catchy. Taking direct influence from traditional Swedish folk music and European schlager, their sound is completely void of influences from genres like hip-hop, reggaeton, R&B, and soul — giving it a unique, northern-European flair that stylistically sets their discography apart from those of their contemporaries.

How ABBA influenced the Music Industry

ABBA’s influence and impact on the music industry is unparalleled. Ulvaeus (Guitarist) and Andersson's attempts to maximize the symphonic and choral elements of their recordings results in a meticulously harmonic production with each layer of sound adding new textures to their vivid soundscapes. Brilliantly juxtaposed, ABBA's expressive melodies, when stripped bare of the flamboyant piano, heavy drum mixing, and ambient synths, manage to permeate a bittersweet, immediate intimacy deep in your gut: a feat that speaks volumes about their mastery in their craft.

Their signature sound has served as a blueprint for several prominent producers in the pop scene including figures like Max Martin, a Swedish producer for leading pop artists today (such as Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and more). Their discography has also spawned several tribute albums, ranging from Cher's “Dancing Queen” (2018) and the London Symphony's Orchestra’s “ABBA Played by the London Symphony Orchestra” (1991). Perhaps the most notable piece of media they’ve inspired is the “Mamma Mia!” musical (1999).

# data[].attributes.headline
Madonna sampled ABBA's 'Man After Midnight'

# data[].attributes.subject
Madonna sampled ABBA's 'Man After Midnight'

# data[].attributes.body
Original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEjLoHdbVeE

Sampled:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwb9jOVRtU

# data[].attributes.body
ABBA

https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/05/23/408844375/abbas-essential-influential-melancholy

https://stuyspec.com/article/the-lasting-legacy-of-abba#

Queen

https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-prog-were-queen

https://coronadoexplorer.com/2509/entertainment/queen-the-band-that-set-the-stage/

https://www.therichest.com/meet-adam-lambert-the-new-frontman-of-queen/

https://www.queenonline.com/queen

# data[].attributes.body
I've been cheated by you since I don't know when
So I made up my mind, it must come to an end
Look at me now, will I ever learn
I don't know how, but I suddenly lose control
There's a fire within my soul

and I can hear a bell ring
(One more look) and I forget everything, whoa

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?

Mamma mia, now I really know
My, my, I could never let you go

I've been angry and sad about things that you do
I can't count all the times that I've told you we're through
And when you go, when you slam the door
I think you know that you won't be away too long
You know that I'm not that strong

and I can hear a bell ring
(One more look) and I forget everything, whoa

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, even if I say
Bye-bye, leave me now or never
Mamma mia, it's a game we play
Bye-bye doesn't mean forever

Mamma mia, here I go again
My, my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again
My, my, just how much I've missed you?

Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know
My, my, I could never let you go

# data[].attributes.body
I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive
And the world, I'll turn it inside out, yeah
I'm floating around in ecstasy, so
Don't stop me 'cause I'm having a good time, having a good time

I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky
Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by, like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go, go, go there's no stopping me

I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man outta you

Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now
(Don't stop me now) 'cause I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all, yeah

I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars on a collision course
I am a satellite, I'm out of control
I'm a sex machine, ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to oh, oh, oh, explode

I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman of you

Don't stop me, don't stop me
Don't stop me, come on
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't stop me, come on, do it
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm not stopping

Have a good time, good time
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Move it
I like it, like it, yeah

Alright, alright, yeah

Alright, alright, do it
Everybody do it
Everybody do it

Don't stop me, don't stop me
Oh, oh, oh, I like it
Don't stop me, don't stop me
Have a good time, good time

Oh, I'm burning through the sky, yeah
Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man outta you

Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don't stop me now
(Don't stop me now) 'cause I'm having a good time
I don't wanna stop at all, yeah

# data[].attributes.body
In the intro, the song started with the chord progression of D Major and D Augmented. The D major chord provides a sense of grounding and home, while the D augmented chord introduces a dissonance that seek resolution. It is used effectively in the beginning of the song to draw the listener in right from the start.

However, instead of playing the the whole triad chords, the harmony section omit the third note of the chords. Which mean the melody line oscillating back and forth between root and fifth, and the root and sharpened fifth for tension. It is because this simple expression of ostinato make the into an iconic motif. Notice how the composer use syncopation here, the chords are actually change on the beat four and not beat one.

The intro of "Mamma Mia" by ABBA not only use this simple harmonic techniques to create a memorable and engaging opening, this motif is also repeating and appearing throughout the song.

# data[].attributes.body
Another catchy and iconic element of the song that we all think of when we think about “Mamma Mia” is the “my, my” attack. How the “my, my” attack became such a catchy part goes back to how the composer structure the harmony. Except for intro, the other part of the song like verse and pre-chorus just stick within the diatonic of the key of D Major. However, the “my, my” attack in the chorus give a surprise to the listeners’ ears by using a non-diatonic chord.

Notice the C/G and G in the above chord chart. The move to C/G (bVII/5) introduces a slight surprise and a shift away from the tonic, borrowing from the parallel minor. The "my, my" attack on the C/G and G chords adds a striking and memorable hook to the chorus. The G major chord resolves the tension introduced by the C/G, creating a satisfying progression back towards the tonic. The melodic line on "my, my" aligns with this chord change, emphasizing the leap and creating a hook that is instantly recognizable. The rhythmic placement of "my, my" on the C/G and G chords creates a syncopated feel that adds to the excitement and forward momentum of the chorus.

# data[].attributes.body
Intro

Verse 1

Pre-Chorus 1

Chorus 1

Interlude

Verse 2

Pre-Chorus 2

Chorus 2

Chorus 3

Outro

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Queen - Somebody To Love (Official Video)

# data[].attributes.body
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?

Ooh, each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look at yourself in the mirror and cry
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord, what you're doing to me? (Yeah, yeah)
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord

Somebody (Somebody)
Ooh, somebody (Somebody)
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love?
Yeah

I work hard (He works hard) every day of my life
I work 'til I ache my bones
At the end (At the end of the day) I take home (takes home)
My hard-earned pay all on my own
(Goes home, goes home on his own)

I go down (down) on my knees (knees)
And I start to pray (praise the Lord)
'Til the tears run down from my eyes
Lord, somebody (somebody), somebody (please)
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

(he works hard) everyday (everyday)
I try, and I try, and I try

But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm going crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
I got no common sense (he's got)
I got nobody left to believe in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oh, Lord
Somebody (somebody), somebody (somebody)
Can anybody find me somebody to love?
(Can anybody find me someone to love)

Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat (you just keep losing and losing)
I'm OK, I'm alright (he's alright, he's alright)
I ain't gonna face no defeat (Yeah, yeah)
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
One day (someday) I'm gonna be free, Lord!

(Find me somebody to love)
(Find me somebody to love)
(Find me somebody to love)
(Find me somebody to love)
Find me, find me
(Find me somebody to love)
Find
(Find me somebody to love)
(Find me somebody to love, love, love)
Find me, find me
(Find me somebody to love)
Somebody to love
(Find me somebody to love)
(Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody)
(Somebody find me, somebody find me somebody to love)

Can anybody find me somebody to love?

(Find me somebody to love)
(Find me somebody to love)
Find me, somebody, somebody
(Find me somebody to love)
Somebody, somebody to love
(Find me somebody to love)
Find me, find me, find me, find me, find me
(Find me somebody to love)
Ooh, somebody to love
(Find me somebody to love)
Find me, find me, find me somebody to love
(Find me somebody to love)
Anybody, anywhere, anybody, find me somebody to love
Love, love, love, love
Find me, find me, find me, yeah

# data[].attributes.body
1. Benny Andersson (Songwriter, producer, and keyboardist)

2. Björn Ulvaeus (Songwriter, producer and guitarist)

3. Agnetha Fältskog (Vocalist)

4. Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Vocalist)

# data[].attributes.body
1970 - The group’s name changed from “Smile” to “Queen” and performed for the very first time. Mercury said it sounded wonderful and was royal. It's a powerful, instantly recognisable, and global name.

1973 - Queen released their self-titled debut album. Trident Studios was a popular recording studio; thus, the band recorded the album there primarily during downtime. After the artists left, they were allowed to utilise the equipment for free.

1974 - In October 1974, Queen appeared on Top Of The Pops with their hit "Killer Queen." They appeared on the popular show twice, this time. When David Bowie cancelled his own performance on Top Of The Pops in February 1974, they made their TV debut as his replacement. 'Seven Seas of Rhye' was performed by Queen, an obscure up-and-coming band at the time.

1977 - One of Queen's greatest dreams came true when they performed before a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Gardens in New York. In a matter of seconds, all of the tickets for the event at the storied venue were sold out.
1985 - The event, which was organised by Bod Geldof and Midge Ure, took place simultaneously in John F. Kennedy Stadium in the US and Wembley Stadium in London. At Wembley, Queen shared the stage with such legendary performers as David Bowie, Status Quo, Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello, Paul Young, U2, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sir Elton John.

1986 - The Magic Tour, which was the last tour that Queen had with frontman Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, served as support for the album 'A Kind Of Magic'. Not until the start of the Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour 19 years later did Queen go on another tour. The tour was one of the largest ever, drawing well over a million attendees.

1990 - This marked Freddie Mercury's last formal public appearance as the frontman of Queen. The 11th annual BRIT Awards were held at Earls Court in London. The seriousness of Freddie's condition was only known by his fellow bandmates, despite years of rumours circulating about his health.

1992 - A concert known as "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness" was staged in Freddie Mercury's honour, following his tragic death. More than one billion people watched the broadcast from Wembley Stadium, where 72,000 individuals attended. Performers like David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Guns N' Roses, Robert Plant, Liza Minelli, Metallica, Def Leppard, and Queen's Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon were among those taking part in the event.

2004 – 2014 - Paul Rodgers, a singer, performed live with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor of Queen from 2004 to 2009. John Deacon was not present because he retired in 1997. Queen has shared the stage with vocalist Adam Lambert, and in 2014, they started a global tour. Adam Lambert is an active member of Queen and is not Freddie Mercury's replacement, according to Brian May and Roger Taylor.

# data[].attributes.body
ABBA is a pop group formed in the heart of Sweden, Stockholm in 1972. Its founding members are notably Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Moreover, the band’s name was derived from the first letter in each member’s first name, bringing us to “ABBA”. The band had their big break soon after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 hosted at The Dome in Brighton UK meanwhile, bringing glory to Sweden in their first Eurovision win. Their mega-hit songs such as “Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie!”, “Dancing Queen’ and “Mamma Mia” sold over 500 million records over the years, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time and one of the most successful groups to ever partake in Eurovision within that era.

Unfortunately, the band met their early end after as they disbanded in December 1982 mainly due to burning out and lacking motivation. That, however, has not stopped them from being one of the most well-respected and timeless bands of all time. They would soon come back together for one last ride in 2022 but with a twist in their performance.

# data[].attributes.body
There are several reasons of why these songs are selected. These bands and songs are related as they are based from the 70s. Each song has their very significant and well-remembered short melodic hook that listeners could hear it in their head when we mention the song names, or may even instantly thought of these songs when we mention the classics of the 70s. The melodic hooks of these songs are a key element in the enduring appeal of these tracks. Both ABBA and Queen are renowned for their vocal performances and rich in vocal harmonies.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Arrival (1976)

2. Super Trouper (1980)

3. ABBA: The Album (1977)

4. Voulez-Vous (1979)

5. The Visitors (1981)

# data[].attributes.body
These digital versions of ABBA were actually created by motion capture along with their stage performance techniques.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Your Official First Look at ABBA Voyage. Only at the ABBA Arena, London, UK | ABBA Voyage

# data[].attributes.body
Genre Exploring

Both ABBA and Queen were bands that were open to experimenting and trying out different genres, and played a big part in thinning out the line between what defines a genre.

International Fame

Both share the similarity of being successful in their eras and played a major part in history, redefining and reshaping the music industry.

Harmonies

Both ABBA and Queen were known for their rich vocal harmonies. ABBA's harmonies were often characterized by lush, layered arrangements, while Queen's harmonies were often more intricate and operatic, thanks in part to Freddie Mercury's incredible vocal range.

# data[].attributes.body
Brandon Cheong, the band’s guitarist and musical director, started his musical journey quite late at the age of 13. He officially started electric guitar courses at the age of 14 and was heavily influenced by rock and metal music. He then moved on to more RnB, Funk, and Pop once officially enrolling into Sunway’s CMAT course.  He is heavily influenced by guitar players such as Mateus Asato, Plini, and Paul Davids.

In his 8 years of playing guitars, Brandon has been involved in multiple projects and shows and continues to do so to this day. He is the founder and the MD of the local Jrock band namely, Grand Endeavour which has met stages such as Noizucon KLCC and Jrock Tamashi Rex KL. He is also a frequent sessionist for BrightBurn and helped session-ed mainly for Comic Fiesta 2023 and Ani-Pop Melaka 2024. On the R&B side, Brandon has been involved in MJPF and other gigs either as a sessionist or a guitarist/leader for BandOne, a local pop band. Besides being a guitarist, Brandon also teaches guitar at a center while trying to pursue his career as a recording/post-production engineer.

In his free time, Brandon likes to research and improve his guitar tone while trying to hone his skills both in guitar and post-production.

"Hobbies? I kind of forgot about them. I devout my time in improving myself and the music that I bring"

# data[].attributes.body
Pop music — (also known as popular music), is a genre of music that saw its origins from the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom, though its definition has wavered and changed over the years.

Some people consider pop music to be a style rather than a genre, as the types of music that are a part of it are so varied. The genre has included elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz, electronic and folk music throughout time. If we look at the 1920s-1950s, pop music leaned heavily on jazz music. Then we began to see R&B influences, and hip hop since the 1980s. In short, pop music has drawn inspiration from a plethora of genres as time goes by. The genre is also loosely used to reference songs that are currently ‘popular’ at the time.

The Structure

Generally, the genre follows a simple form and structure, with repeating structures and simple melodies — making it easy for the popular mass to digest and catch on to its ‘catchiness’ making it more danceable and rememberable. Structurally, pop songs usually have a verse and a chorus, each with different musical material, as well as a bridge connecting them.

The History

In the 1950s, with industrialisation beginning to advance, pop music started to advance. TV and radio began to advertise the songs and gain more traction. Of course, in the 1960s, we saw bands like The Beatles start to appear. Since the 1960s, the genre adapted and each decade saw new pop artists making their mark - the 1970s saw ABBA and Elton John, the 1980s had Michael Jackson and Madonna, and the 1990s had Destiny’s Child and TLC. Of course, entering the 2000s, we saw artists like Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears take to the main stage, and the 2010s gave rise to singers like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.

# data[].attributes.body
Jake Moy, the keyboardist and music transcriber for the band, started his music journey at the age of 14 when he started going to church, that first time in his life there are so much music surrounding his environment. At the age of 15, he begin to show interest on the piano and begging parents to send him for piano lessons even though the family is struggling with financial. To prove to his parents, he worked very hard and practice several hours a day and almost 365 days a year. He did proven himself to his parents when he is able to play on stage within just two years of learning and completed Grade 8 within 5 years despite being born in a family without musical genetic (which his whole family is tone-deaf, and Jake only able to get rid of tone-deaf at the age of 17).

Even though he is classically trained, he loves contemporary music on genres such as pop, jazz, gospel, and musical. Notice that classically trained musician may not know how contemporary music work, he studied and learned to play contemporary style through self-learning. Soon, he became the main keyboardist in his church and play on stage every week where he gain even more experiences on contemporary music skills such as live sound, music production, studio recording, and accompanying different kinds of events and moods and able to deal with sudden changes swiftly.

Now, he has continuously been involved in jobs like commercial advertisement music production, live sound for small and medium size event, gigs for variety of events, and releasing songs. Additionally, he is also the keyboardist of the local pop band called Band One.

# data[].attributes.body
Farah Alia, commonly known as Alia or Lia, is the band’s front woman and vocalist. She is also in charge of scheduling rehearsal times and other the necessary planning for the band. At the age of 4, she started learning music, beginning with the violin and piano. Alia's mother, who is a musician herself and has taught music at a university for 7 years, made this possible. It was her mother who inspired Alia to pursue music. She then began learning how to play the acoustic guitar at the age of 11. At the age of 12, she discovered her new passion for singing after placing first in a singing competition and receiving encouragement from her teachers to pursue her passions. Although Alia's primary genres of singing are pop and R&B, she is willing to explore other styles.

She started doing more performances and gigs after that and has continued to do so up until this point. In addition, Band One is a local pop band that Alia fronts and sings for. As an aspiring singer-songwriter, Alia draws inspiration from artists such as Renee Rapp, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter. Her love of singing and music inspires her to continue learning and developing.

Besides music, she also loves her cats!

# data[].attributes.body
Band Leader: Jeremy Tang

Music Director: Brandon Cheong

Bookings: Farah Alia

Music Transcriber: Jake Moy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ABBA Mamma Mia | Acoustic Guitar Cover by the Moon Loungers (with guitar tab)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Don't Stop Me Now (Queen) || Radius feat. Maya Lisa || Funk Cover

# data[].attributes.headline
Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen - Rhythm Structure

# data[].attributes.subject
Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen - Rhythm Structure

# data[].attributes.body
Before talking about the harmony part of the song, I would like to bring up something that I notice while doing the lead sheet that interest me a lot. While almost every pop and rock music use either 4-bar or 8-bar progression, the song “Don’t Stop Me Now” uses the unconventional use of 5-bar and 10-bar progression. So that I have to transcribed into 5-bar per line.

This 5-bar progression adds a unique rhythmic and structural complexity to the song, contributing to its energetic and unpredictable feel. By using 5-bar phrases instead of the more common 4-bar phrases, Queen creates a song that feels continually fresh and engaging. This unconventional structure keeps listeners excited, as the extended phrases create a sense of unpredictability and excitement. It’s a clever technique that contributes significantly to the song's energetic and uplifting character.

# data[].attributes.body
As for the harmony of the song, the song uses a very special chord in the end of the chorus transition into the verse. Notice the A6/B in the last line. The chord of A6/B in the key of F# is interpret as bIII6/2, connecting from the chord C# to F# (which is the first chord of the verse). The move from C# to A6/B to F# features colorful voice leading and a spark to the listeners’ ears, As the A6/B chord introduces tension with its suspended and added tones, which resolves nicely to F♯ (the tonic). This chord enhances the song's dynamic and contributing to its overall energetic and uplifting feel.

# data[].attributes.body
Intro

Verse 1

Pre-Chorus 1

Chorus 1

Verse 2

Pre-Chorus 2

Bridge

Guitar Solo

Pre-Chorus 3

Chorus 2

Outro

# data[].attributes.headline
What inspired the song 'Don't Stop Me Now'

# data[].attributes.subject
What inspired the song 'Don't Stop Me Now'

# data[].attributes.body
Freddie Mercury, the band's charismatic vocalist, wrote Don't Stop Me Now for Queen’s 1978 album Jazz during a period of his life when hedonism was the norm. The song's main themes are about living life to the fullest, letting go of everything that might hold you back, and believing that you can soar to the stars. In addition, the song tells the story of a man who is determined to have a crazy night out in every way imaginable and is encouraging everyone to either join him or get out of his way. However, "wild night" can be referred to Freddie's wide-ranging sexual experiences when he composed this song.

# data[].attributes.body
Boshita Masahiro, the band’s bassist, is heavily inspired by Jpop. His talent as a musician and his love of music are undeniable.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen (Cover by First To Eleven)

# data[].attributes.body
Lyrical content

Both ABBA and Queen do not share the same lyrical contents in their songs. Queen’s songs are usually about the celebration of life and freedom and personal empowerment.. For example, in Don’t Stop Me Now, Freddie Mercury sings about feeling invincible and unstoppable, capturing a sense of self-confidence. To compare, ABBA’s songs are more about romantic love and heartbreaks. In the song Mamma Mia, the song talks about emotional turnoil of longing and confusion about their romantic feelings., a past relationship that they were not able to let go of.

Instrumentation

Queen has a more diverse and rock-oriented approach, whereas ABBA's instrumentation is more keyboard and synth-driven and has a polished, pop-oriented production style. In Don’t Stop Me Now, the euphoric attitude of the song is largely conveyed by the instrumentation. The song's momentum is increased by Brian May's electric guitar solo, which has a catchy riff and adds layers of complexity, supporting both melodies and harmonics. In Mamma Mia, the song's themes of love and confusion are supported by the appealing and engaging instrumentation. It has a prominent synthesizer riff that is instantly recognisable. The primary melodic hooks of the song are provided by Benny Andersson's keyboard work.

Fanbase demographic

Although the fan bases of Queen and ABBA are broad, there are noticeable differences in the demographics of these groups, which can be defined to their different musical genres and cultural influences. The European fan base of ABBA is very large, notably in Sweden and other Scandinavian nations, where the group is originally from. They have significant followings in Germany and the UK as well. With large followings in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, Queen's fan base is international. Their music is loved by people all around the world. Besides that, numerous lovers of pop and dance music who value ABBA's songs and melodies make up the group's fan base. Queen’s fanbase includes many rock music enthusiasts. Overall, followers of pop, disco, and musical theatre make up ABBA's fan base, whilst followers of rock, the LGBTQ+ community, and cinematic storytelling form Queen's.

# data[].attributes.body
https://abbasite.com/articles/mamma-mia-the-song-that-saved-abba/

https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/queen/dont-stop-me-now-lyrics-meaning/

https://storyofsong.com/story/dont-stop-me-now-2/

# data[].attributes.body
In the intro and some of the interlude section of Somebody To Love, we could find a some rhythm syncopations that make the song interest. Note that this song has a time signature of 6/8, which means that the down beat is on beat 1 and beat 4 (two down beats in one bar). The score above includes accent symbols on the accent / stress notes, highlighting these rhythmic nuances. You may realize that the intro part have a mixture of 6/8 rhythm and a 3/4 feel, where it stress the notes on beat 1, beat 3, and beat 5 in the 6/8 context. When listeners somehow get the 3/4 rhythm and the song suddenly start the verse back to 6/8 accents. This give the song a unique and engaging rhythmic texture, as this combination creates a dynamic interplay between the two time feels, enhancing the complexity and overall appeal of the song.

# data[].attributes.body
At one glance (as musicians), we can already notice that the song continuously introduce the chord “Bb”, which is not a diatonic chord in the key of Ab. However, it plays quite an important role in the song.

First, we could notice that every time there is a Bb chord, it will follow by an Eb chord, which indicate that the Bb is function as a dominant 7th just without the 7th. This dominant of the dominant (V/V), creating a sense of forward momentum and anticipation.

Additionally, in some part like bar 34 and 40 in the image above, we can see that the melody include the special note of the Bb chord, which is the natural D that suppose to be Db in the key of Ab. Having melody emphasize the dominant of the dominant (V/V), creating a another layer of excitement to the song.

Lastly, notice that the Bb is used between Ab and Eb, effectively creating a 4-5-1 cadence in the key of Eb. This clever use of Bb enriches the harmonic progression, providing a temporary modulation that enhances the overall harmonic texture.

# data[].attributes.body
Intro

Verse 1

Chorus 1

Interlude 1

Verse 2

Chorus 2

Interlude 2

Bridge

Guitar Solo

Chorus 3

Interlude 3

Verse 3

Refrain

Chorus 4

Outro

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Marc Martel - Somebody To Love - Featuring One Vision Of Queen (Queen cover)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Joe Victor - Somebody to Love (Queen Cover) | Sofar Milan

# data[].attributes.body
Interestingly, not all band members were first delighted by the song, despite the fact that it is today praised for its cheerful quality. Particularly Brian May had concerns that the song's lyrics revealed aspects of Mercury's perhaps self-destructive lifestyle at the time. In spite of this, one of Queen's most well-known anthem is now this song.

# data[].attributes.body
In the summer of 1975, just a few months after releasing their third album (simply titled ABBA), the group were unsure about the future of their international career. In most of Europe, their singles and albums were well-received, except for in Great Britain. According to their official site, Björn (guitarist) recalls that he and Benny (keyboardist) composed it in the library of his and Agnetha's previous home in the Stockholm district of Lidingö. One time, Benny gave an explanation that “They have managed to organise all the little whims, harmony parts, riffs, and other stuff that make up ABBA, but it's far too reliant on them." The need to add a little extra variety to the recording resulted in the overdub of a marimba, whose tick-tocking sound can be heard clearly at the beginning of the song. This was one of those "whims.". The reason for that was the marimba that was occupying this small space in the Metronome Studio. Benny decided to start playing on it and see what it sounded like, which made the really catchy start.

# data[].attributes.body
Jeremy Tang (Band Leader)

Pop (Genre)

Similarities

Influences

Brandon Cheong (Music Director)

Rock (Genre)

Timeline (ABBA)

Farah Alia (Bookings)

Timeline (Queen)

Comparisons

Inspirations

Jake Moy (Music Transcriber)

Song Analysis

Lead Sheets

# data[].attributes.body
Rock and Roll, better known as Rock music, is a style of music that first originated in the United States around the 1950s. But Rock and Roll then was still in its rawest form. It wasn't until around the 1960s that it evolved into the more internationally known style which ultimately became “Rock music”. Rock and Roll was the result of a merger of multiple music genres, notably country music and blues/rhythm music. One of the more influential and bigger genres that helped shape and start rock and roll was of course blues music. The Blues genre was heavily dominated by and marketed towards African Americans and it created musical icons such as Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix. Despite the lack of attention the Blues genre had, small blues record labels in the 1940s to 1950s distributed blues records around the world. Due to this exposure, some musicians such as Elvis Presley started imitating and studying blues guitar progressions and riffs and would implement them into their music. With the already existing popularity of Elvis, in the 1960s, more American people started to like this “new sound” and more attention was brought to Blues music. By the 1970s, the influence of blues in this soon-to-be-new genre evolved into a more electric guitar-based, louder music genre compared to blues. Soon enough the louder and more aggressive blues style evolve into classic rock and roll. The instrumentation of rock and roll remained almost identical to its previous self as blues throughout the years, mainly consisting of electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals.  Its rhythmic sound along with aggressiveness is what makes it distinct and separates it from other genres.  To summarize, without blues and the push to evolve and try new things, rock would not be here today.

# data[].attributes.body
Inspired by 'The Greatest Hits' -- a film by the same name.

A double reference to 'Greatest Hits' compilation albums of artists and bands.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Greatest Hits (2024) ⭐ 6.2 | Drama, Music, Romance