John Clayton Mayer

The one and only John Mayer is certainly my favorite musician. In my opinion he is just brilliant. Check out his guitar skills on any song he preforms, absolutely mind-blowing. He is certainly one of the most talented musicians (guitar-wise) I have ever seen in my whole life [obviously there are lots of talented musicians (Slash, Angus Young, Joe Perry, etc...)]. I personally love all of his songs. Some may call him a sentimental musician but in my opinion he is a genius musician with both: soft lyrics and powerful guitar.

Biography taken from here:

John Clayton Mayer was born in October 16, 1977 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Even though he was born in Bridgeport, Mayer grey up in Fairfield, Connecticut. His inspiration to play the guitar (at the age of 13) was a tape he got from his neighbor with Stevie Ray Vaughan songs (mainly blues and pop). Two years later Mayer was already playing blues in blues bars and other venues. After several years of playing he enrolled in the Berklee College of Music (Massachusetts) at the age of 19. During his second year at Berklee he realized that he didn't want to study music, he wanted to write and play songs.

Memorable dates:

In 2002 he released his famous single called:

Your Body Is A Wonderland

In 2003 he won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Your Body Is A Wonderland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2toCVD09G6A

sorry embed wasn't available for this video. This is a video of the 2003 grammy awards, John Mayer plays Your Body is a Wonderland which would later win the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

In 2005, John was nominated for both Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. He won both of them. The song that won both titles was Daughters

Grammy Acceptance

Daughters Live in Los Angeles

Also in 2005 John Mayer won Best Pop Album with the album Continuum and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Waiting on the World To Change.

Waiting on the World To Change ( from the album Continuum)

In 2009 John Mayer won: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Say ( a song for the movie Bucket List, awesome movie by the way... just watched it today in blu-ray) and also Best Rock Male Performance for the song Gravity.

Say

Gravity

Discography:

John Mayer has 9 albums.

• Inside Wants Out, 1999
• Room For Squares, 2001
• Any Given Thursday, 2003 (live)
• Heavier Things, 2003
• 
• As/Is, 2004 (live)
• 
• Continuum, (2006)
• 
• The Village Sessions, 2006 (acoustic)
• 
• Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles, 2008 (live)
• 
• Battle Studies, 2009
• 

C.F Martin Guitars & Co.

History:

It all started when Christian Frederick Martin was born in Markneukirchen, Germany in January 31 1796. Mr. Martin was born in a family that made cabinets. When he reached the age of 15 e traveled to Vienna to work with the famous guitar maker named Johann Stauffer. Later on he went to the U.S and started his ever successful career as a guitar producer/maker/designer.

The company stated in 1833 (hence the date on the logo) and until now (177 years later) his company is the finest acoustic guitar makers in the country. Without many "rivals", (just the brand Talyor) Martin guitars made his way into the hearts of every acoustic guitar player with the dream that one day they might buy it (yes it is my dream).

Acoustic Guitars History:

As soon they (the company) made their way into the world's finest acoustic guitar "award" [there was no award but if there was my vote would be for them (martin guitars)] many famous musicians stated to use their guitars and were very famous with them.

For example:

Elvis Presley:

1.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=D-28%20Elvis%20Presley&p=a&d=367

2.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=D-28M%20Elvis%20Presley&p=a&d=367

Eric Clapton:

1.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-28ECB%20(Eric%20Clapton)&p=a&l=a&d=100

2.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-ECHF%20Bellezza%20Nera&p=a&l=a&d=280

3.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-42ECB%20(Eric%20Clapton)&p=a&l=a&d=41

4.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-ECHF%20Bellezza%20Bianca&p=a&l=a&d=331

5.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-42M%20Eric%20Clapton&p=a&l=a&d=368

6.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-42M%20Eric%20Clapton%20Sunburst&p=a&l=a&d=368

7.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-28M%20Eric%20Clapton%20Sunburst&p=a&l=a&d=388

8.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=000-28M%20Eric%20Clapton&p=a&l=a&d=388

Ben Harper

1.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=HM%20Ben%20Harper&p=a&l=a&d=370

John Mayer:

1.http://www.mguitar.com/guitars/choosing/guitars.php?m=OMJM%20John%20Mayer&p=a&d=332

PLEASE ENTER THE LINKS AND LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL ACOUSTIC GUITAR :)

One of my many dreams is to have one of this Martin guitars. They are actually perfect (in my opinion) and if i had one i would be very happy hahahah. If i had to choose one guitar i would choose the John Mayer artist signatures but it costs about 2000 dollars therefore i am not believing i'll ever get that one hahahahah.

take a look at this video of the John Mayer signature guitar...absolutely breath taking...

FAVORITE POST

Category: Entertainment

Gibson Les Paul's History:

The Gibson Les Paul is considered to the the Holy Grail of rock. This guitar was developed during the early 1950's by Ted McCarty (1910-2001) and Les Paul (1915-2009). During the year 1950 the Gibson Guitar Cooperation president Ted McCarty hired Les Paul (which was a jazz musician at that time) to be his advisor on the Gibson vs Fender rivarly (which exists until today and will forever exist). Les Paul was encharged to design a inovating guitar which was able to compete with the Fender Telecaster (later there will be a review on the Fender Telecaster) which made people go wild for that guitar. Yes, it was a challenging thing to do but with Les Paul's incredible imagination they created the Gibson Les Paul which became rapidly more popular than the Fender Telecaster. After making the first Gibson Les Paul the Gibson Guitar Cooperation decided to make the Les Paul guitar a top class guitar (which would later be used for famous artists) so the Les Paul was the "perfect" guitar at that time. Now-a-days people still argue about which guitar is better the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Stratocaster.

Gibson Les Paul Models:

Goldtop:Custom:
Standard:
Studio:
Robot:
Famous Musicians That Use the Gibson Les Paul:

• Slash (Guns n' Roses / Velvet Revolver)
• Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
• Eric Clapton
• The Edge (U2)
• Ace Frehley (Kiss)
• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
• Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)

And many others...

Pictures taken from http://www.gibson.com/

Let It Be 40'th anniversary

40 years ago the great band "The Beatles" launched their final album together, Let It Be. The album has the famous songs "the long and winding road" and "across the universe". This album would later become their most celebrated album, ranking 86 in the Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time.

Despite the album's success in rock history, the members of the band were not satisfied with Phil Spector's production of the album. The result of the album was criticized by a lot of critics including John Mendelsohn a album reviewer from the Rolling Stones. Later on Paul McCarteney fixed the criticized album from John Spector and created a new album called Let It Be... Naked which eliminated Spector's production.

The album is a great album with a lot of successful songs. From this album "The Beatles" had the name of their documentary sorted out, "Across The Universe"... interesting fact: the documentary was supposed to be called "Get Back".

Article taken from www.rollingstone.com

Wavin' Flag Celebration Mix - K'Naan

lyrics for Celebration Mix

in case you are lazy to go to the site here are the lyrics =)
p.s warning, the site is a image and the image "cooler" than just the lyrics...

Give me freedom

give me fire,

give me reason

take me higher.

See the champions

take the field now.

Unify us

Make us feel proud.

In the Streets our

hands are lifting.

And we lose our,

inhibitions

Celebration

it surrounds us

Every nation

all around us

Staying forever young

singing songs underneath the sun

let's rejoice in the beautiful game

then together celebrate the day

we all say

When i get older

i will be stronger

they'll call me freedom

just like the wavin' flag

and then it goes back (x3)

This song is the anthem for the world cup 2010 in South Africa. Great song, the rhythm makes you happy and makes you feel alive, which by the way is the very essence of the world cup. The lyrics are also very powerful and festive, see the site above, when in the verse K'naan says "see the champions take the field now unify us make us feel proud" that's the inner core of the world cup, making people proud by unifying countries from all the corners of the world. In my opinion great song, i could listen to it the whole day...

the original song was the Wavin' Flag and it is too a awesome song, again.. strong lyrics.. check it out:

when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a waving flag
and then it goes back (3x)
ahhho ahhho ahhho

born to a throne
stronger than rome
but violent prone
poor people zone
but its my home
all i have known
where i got grown
streets we would roam

out of the darkness
i came the farthest
among the hardest survive
learn form these streets
it can be bleak
accept no defeet
surrender retreat
(so we struggling)
fighting to eat
(and we wondering)
when we will be free
so we patiently wait
for that faithful day
its not far away
but for now we say

when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a waving flag
and then it goes back (3x)

ahhho ahhho ahhho

so many wars
settling scores
bring us promises
leaving us poor
i heard them say
love is the way
love is the answer
thats what they say

but look how they treat us
make us believers
we fight there battes
then they deceive us
try to control us
they couldn't hold us

cause we just move forward
like buffalo soldiers
(but we strugglin)
fighting to eat
(and we wonderingg)
when we will be free
so we patiently wait
for that faithfully day
its not far away
but for now we say

when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a waving flag
and then it goes back (3x)

and then it goes when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a wavin flag
and then it goes back (3x)
ahhhooo ahhhoooo ahhhooo

and everybody will be singing it
and you and i will be singing it
and we all will be singing it
wo wah wo ah wo ah

when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a wavin flag
and then it goes back (3x)

and then it goes when i get older i will be
stronger they'll call me freedom just
like a wavin flag
and then it goes back (3x)
a oh a oh a oh

when i get older
when i get older
i will be stronger

just like a wavin flag (3x)
flag flag
just like a wavin flag

Fender Stratocaster

i'm back with guitar reviews! =)

in know.. not so interesting but good posts anyways...

Fender Stratocaster's History:

The Fender Stratocaster was made in 1951, and its main objective was to follow the Fender Telecaster's success and to maintain Fender's success as the main guitar builder in the country.Often referred to as the "Strat", the guitar is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender , George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured until today. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top horn for balance while standing. Along with the Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, and the Fender Telecaster, it is one of the most common and enduring models of electric guitar in the world.

Fender Stratocaster Models:

Standard

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0144700332

Classic

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0137000306

Lone Star

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0139410380

Road Worn

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0131012303

see them.. they are pretty and awesome too =)

Some famous musicians that use the Stratocaster:

• John Mayer
• Eric Clapton
• Stevie Ray Vaughn
• Jeff Beck
• Jimi Hendrix

My opinion on this guitar:

awesome guitar, very solid and beautiful. the nice and simple model makes the guitar more attractive. great sound out of the guitar and awesome for all styles. overall great guitar, i am dying to buy one for me =)

Nothing to do....

well, today i really have nothing to post about music so i'll post about sports because just like the "rolling stones" magazine i will try to bring articles that are varied.

so, today is the opening of the MLB and we have one of the most classic clashes there ever was, New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Soxs. Right now its at the top of the 4th inning and it is 2 to 1 to the Yankees... i like both of them so it doesn't matter much, but it is a awesome game always so i watch it. Alex Rodrigues' salary is absurd, i mean look at this....

Salary: $27,000,000

source

i mean per month thats: $2,250,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he is the best player in the Yankees and probably in the whole MLB.

Derek Jeter is also awesome.... his salary is also awesome!

Salary: $21,000,000

source

per month: $1,750,000

WOW... i would be very happy to have that salary....

with A-rod's salary i would be able to buy my favorite guitar Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster:

a Gibson Les Paul : 577 per month. (a les paul costs $3899 source)

a Fender Stratocaster: 1607 per month ( a standard stratocaster costs $1399.99 source)

awesome....

David Guetta "new single"

David Guetta will remix his song "Gettin' Over" and make it "Gettin' Over You"(yes, weird but it's true). This new rendition of David Guetta's song will be officially published in April 13 (2 days before Martin and Christian's birthday, and 3 days before Caio's birthday, maybe David Guetta did that as a pre-birthday gift... maybe...). For the voices of the song: Fergie, Chris Willis, and LMFAO will be participating; their voices will certainly spice the song up. The old song "Gettin' Over"was on the latest album called One Love which contained most of his new famous songs (very good cd... buy it =] ). Fortunately the song has already been published on Youtube so I can post it here.

David Guetta ft. Fergie, Chris Willis, and LMFAO

my opinion:

great song!

B.B King in São Paulo

it was once said that B.B King was going to retire, but he has decided to play until his age won't permit him. B.B king a 84 year old blues men preformed live in Via funchal in são paulo this Saturday 20/03. His show was mostly a sit-down show from his part (well, we can't argue about that, he is 84 years old) but nevertheless, the great blues master can't be underestimated. he sung his famous songs and also was very kind and funny at times during the show. The show was 2 hours long, but he didn't sing the whole 2 hours. He talked a lot during this presentation, he was comic at times and sentimental at times saying that 3 years away from Brazil was too long. At the end the show was a success and all his fans went crazy with his marvelous, extraordinary, original guitar skills.

picture taken from this site

my opinion:

i didn't get to go to his show but I wanted a lot. B.B King is one of the most influential blues men there ever was in history. He not only inspired amateur guitar players as he also inspired many famous players, such as John Mayer. He is a blues legend and is sad to say that he is nearly not playing anymore because at the age of 84 it is hard to travel around the world and give shows.

I-tab

The new I-tab is a revolutionary invention for guitar players. It is a tablet that is attachable to the top of your guitar ( the "head") and it displays all the chords, tablature (used for guitar solos or normal riffs [significant parts of songs]), and lyrics for a song. It is perfect for gigs, friendly reunions, and also solo learning. I-tab is also practical, it is a 5" touch screen with in-built speaker and headphones. Also, I-tab has a 4GB memory that gives you plenty of room to organise your songs into handy playlists and build your own song library.

pictures taken from this site

My Opinion:

I, as a guitar player, think that this invention is very handy because when i am with my friends and they ask for a song i can immediately look at my i-tab ( if i had one =] ) and learn it and play it there. It looks funny when you look at the name"i"-tab but it has nothing to do with the Apple industries. I would love to have one but sadly it costs 200$ and it is only available in the US for now...

Oca Exposition Roberto Carlos

Last friday (5,3,2010), at the Oca in the Ibirapuera park, started a exhibition of Brazil's music king Roberto Carlos 50 years of music. The exposition is called Roberto Carlos - 50 Anos de Musica which embraces various phases of this carrer together with all of his albums and a special documentary by Carlos Nader about a Jovem Guarda and some of this famous cars (Cadillac, a "Calhambeque", and a Mercedes-Benz 1978.

image taken from this site

Roberto Carlos - O Calhambeque

(one of his most famous songs)

Roberto Carlos - Eu Sou Terrivel

(also one of his most famous songs)

My Opinion:

I think that this is a very prestigious exhibition, Roberto Carlos has made history in Brazil and it is very necessary to remember all his works during his 50 years of music. He was a role model in the old days and still is today. His songs are not my favorite but its always good to listen to the classics. Long live the king!

We Are The World 25 For Haiti

The recording of ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’ has the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago.

The "We Are The World 25 For Haiti" was sung by a variety of today's signers and artists. The purpose of the song was the same of the " We Are the World - USA for Africa", to make money and send it to a needing place.

List of artists participating:

Soloists:

• Justin Bieber
• Nicole Scherzinger
• Jennifer Hudson
• Jennifer Nettles
• Josh Groban
• Tony Bennett
• Mary J. Blige
• Michael Jackson
• Janet Jackson
• Barbra Streisand
• Miley Cyrus
• Enrique Iglesias
• Jamie Foxx
• Wyclef Jean
• Adam Levine
• Pink
• BeBe Winans
• Usher
• Celine Dion
• Orianthi (on guitar)
• Fergie
• Nick Jonas
• Toni Braxton
• Mary Mary
• Isaac Slade
• Lil Wayne
• Carlos Santana (on guitar)
• Akon
• T-Pain
• LL Cool J (rap)
• Will.i.am (rap)
• Snoop Dogg (rap)
• Busta Rhymes (rap)
• Swizz Beatz (rap)
• Iyaz (rap)
• Nipsey Hussle (rap)
• Kanye West

List taken from Wikipedia

My Opinion on this "fund raising":

I think that this song is amazing, just as the last one. Just by having a lot of famous singers the song gets a new taste. The idea of separating parts of the lyrics (again) for specific artists was very well done. Some of the artists (in my opinion) shouldn't have the honor to sing this song, such as Justin Bieber. John Mayer deserved way more than Justin Bieber. The Rap part was innovating but not necessary, I mean: we can get the meaning of the song without the rap, and also in my opinion it was just created to put more artists in the list of soloists.

"We Are The World 25 For Haiti"

Cavaquinho

Cavaquinho is a brazilian instrument very used in Samba and Pagode genres. Cavaquinho is an instrument with 4 chords tuned in re-si-sol-re, re-si-sol-sol, mi-do#-la-la mi-re-si-sol and re-la-si-mi (a very unique combination used in Portugal). It has a very high pitched sound and that is it's beauty. The Cavaquinho is used in Mozambique, Portugal and Brazil.

My desire to learn the Cavaquinho is big. It is a very fun instrument because ou pick fast and the sound is "cool"

Example of a Ukulele:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Example of a Cavaquinho:

Cover of Fui - Exaltasamba

and if you want to see a cute boy playing the ukulele:

Im Yours cover - Jason Mraz

Axé

Axé is a brazilian music genre which is safe to say that it can entertain almost all Brazilians. Axé was created in Bahia in 1980, and it is very popular during the carnaval week. Today Axé music is attributed to all the music that come from Bahia.

The meaning of the word Axé, in the religion candomblé and umbanda, means positive energy. With media, Axé was quickly spread throughout Brazil. The most common way of "spreading" was the "Micaretas" ("shows" of axé music)

Popular Axé artists and one of their songs for example of axé are:

Claudia Leitte

Ivete Sangalo

I personally like axé, it is not my favorite genre of music but its nice to go to micaretas (which i went on the carnaval). i like the rhythms and the guitar playing behind the songs.

52nd Annual Grammy Awards

I was thinking about my first post and I decided that I would write about the most prestigious music award, Kind of a good way to start 2010's posts

I'll start by listing the winners form the 52nd grammy awards:
info by CNN Entertainment

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxxjrXPPQCMRiJFnCPV_cbK4tt2aAB-lkkfgx2Lp9hgQGVuBJklZHEY_HtSzYkZdd25HERvXydHC8hxfpSHOphzScy3ErK7PSHtCCEfaZjS1KNSUoUU-JY6CJlgFHLqMT5HZvbzQrnoD-/s400/grammy.jpg

Album of the year

"I Am...Sasha Fierce," Beyoncé
"The E.N.D.," The Black Eyed Peas
"The Fame," Lady Gaga
"Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King," Dave Matthews Band
[WINNER] "Fearless," Taylor Swift *

Record of the year

"Halo," Beyoncé
"I Gotta Feeling," The Black Eyed Peas
[WINNER] "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon *
"Poker Face," Lady Gaga
"You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift

Song of the year

"Poker Face," Lady Gaga and RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
"Pretty Wings," Hod David and Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
[WINNER] "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé) *
"Use Somebody," Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon)
"You Belong With Me," Liz Rose and Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best new artist
[WINNER] Zac Brown Band *
Keri HilsonMGMT
Silversun
Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best female pop vocal performance
"Hometown Glory," Adele
[WINNER] "Halo," Beyoncé *
"Hot N Cold," Katy Perry
"Sober," Pink
"You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift

Best rock album
"Black Ice," AC/DC
"Live from Madison Square Garden," Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
[WINNER] "21st Century Breakdown," Green Day *
"Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King," Dave Matthews Band
"No Line on the Horizon," U2

Best rap/sung collaboration
"Ego," Beyonce and Kanye West
"Knock You Down," Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
[WINNER] "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna *
"I'm On a Boat," The Lonely Island and T-Pain
"Dead and Gone," T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Best country album
"The Foundation," Zac Brown Band
"Twang," George Strait
[WINNER] "Fearless," Taylor Swift *
"Defying Gravity," Keith Urban
"Call Me Crazy," Lee Ann Womack

Best comedy album
"Back From the Dead," Spinal Tap
[WINNER] "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All," Stephen Colbert *
"Internet Leaks," Weird Al Yankovich
"My Weakness is Strong," Patton Oswalt
"Suckin' It for the Holidays," Kathy Griffin

"Tall, Dark and Chicano," Geroge Lopez

For the full list go to 52nd Grammy Award Winners

My Opinion of the awards:

All of the awards were fair enough, but i have to disagree with the Best Rock Album. Green Day is a good band and all but there is no way they can win the award having the classic/legendary AC/DC competing with them with their new album "Black Ice" (FYI, AC/DC are currently on their tour "Black Ice").

Taylor and Beyoncé really deserve all the awards, they "dominated" 2009....

Comedy awards were useless in my opinion... but whatever...