Not all medicine tastes bad! A new research claims that your favorite music can protect your heart. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have done a survey that indicates that your favorite music can make your arties to expand so your blood flows easier through your body.
We have previously known that positive emotions such as laughter are good for the blood system. So a logical question was about other emotions, such as those who are triggered by music, can have the same effect. And that seems to be correct. In both directions. While the fine and easy listening music expands the blood vessels, it seems that the “tiresome” music gets the blood vessels to contract.
To investigate the music’s impact, we are including a survey, on this post, from a researcher called Michael Miller. He got hold on 10 healthy, non-smoking volunteers. They had to pick out music that made them feel happy, and music that they found irritating. The next few months they went through various listening and video tests. After each test, Michael Miller used ultrasound to measure the blood flow in their blood vessels.
It turned out that their favorite music expanded the blood vessels as much as 26 percent compared to normal state. The irritating music contracted the blood vessels with 6 percent.
It appears that music may have its impact on cardiovascular health. The study is small, and it requires a whole lot more researches on both the music’s effect on the blood vessels, and also which types of music that gives the different effects.
Miller is enthusiastic towards the new findings:” These results are music to my ears, because they suggest a new preventive strategy that we can incorporate into our daily lives for a healthier heart,” he says.
Music can really make you sleepy. Look how tired these people are!
For many, this name can conjure up many images. Britney is everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time. You may know her as the crazy girl who shawed her hair off, or your little sister's idol. You may know her songs as the "noisy sounds the stupid girls listen to", or the songs on your top-10 playlist on your iPod.
Anyway, here's Britney Jean Spears story, from how she achieved her dream of the spotlight, to how the dream made her life a nightmare.
Britney was brought to this world the 2nd of December, 1981. Achieving her dreams of fame, first seemed impossible in 1991. When as a 10 year old girl she snared her first job with a minor part in an off-Broadway play. The role seemed like a dream opportunity for an inspiring child star. But after six month on stage, the reality of it was far from glamorous. She worked six days a week, with the Sundays off. When she even had to work on Christmas day, they decided to go home. When she returned home, she continued to perform at local fares. Then in 1992, she got a shot on a show she had hoped for, called “Epic mans star search”. She won the first round, but lost the second one. Britney’s second round loss, only increased her desire for stardom. In the spring of 93, she headed to Orlando in Florida for a second audition for a Mickey Mouse club. She soon found herself competing in a room full of future stars, like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Britney spent two years of dancing in the house of the Mouse, until the show was canceled in 1995.
Putting her dreams of fame on hold, the up becoming star returned to Louisiana, in the life of a small town girl. The break was a welcome one, but less then a year after returning to Kentwood, Britney was itching for the spotlight.
In the spring of 1996, Britney spurned an offer to join a new Orlando base girl group called “Innocence”. Instead the Spears asked Larry Rudolph, a long time family friend, to help her get a solo record deal. She sent in her demo, and they ended up sending her to New York, where she sang in front of executive people. Three of the labels rejected Britney outright. Her fourth and last audition was on Jive Records. Jive signed Britney up to a development deal. But for almost a year she struggled to find her sound. Then, in the fall of 1997, Jive executive received a sample cut written by a Swedish sensation Max Marten. That was the beat called “Baby one more time”. Britney flew to Sweden and recorded five songs in five days. With her debut album shaping up, she then returned to America, and embarked on a mall tour, showcasing her first songs to young fans. Britney couldn’t know it, but soon her fans would number in a millions.
Today, Britney is one of the most sought after pop artist on the planet. But in the fall of 1998 she was a virtual unknown, trying to figure out how to introduce herself to the world. Her debut single, “Baby One More Time”, was ready for release. Bur Britney was beset by doubts over her plans by a cartoon-like video to accompany her song. The music video with the typical school girl, was all her idea, and the minute the camera was turned on, it was like a change of her personality.
In October in 98, Baby One More Time was released as a single, and within weeks it was a top-ten hit. To sixteen year old Britney Spears, the song success, and a long time dream had suddenly been realized.
So what happened to the successful, innocent and beautiful girl? We believe that the spotlight crushes you. Britney has struggled with breakups, breakdowns, drugs, being a mother but at the same time making hits and be a successful artist. If you look at this video we found on YouTube, we hope that it will give you the same understanding from a different point of view, as we got.
We believe that there's no wonder why she couldn't keep up with that life. Celebrities are normal people, who have their good and bad days, as well. Even the ruff struggles, Britney managed to get her life back on top again, and now: Britney is back!
Bette Midler is an 64 years old succesful american singer, actress and comedian, also known by her informal stage name as "The Divine Miss M".
Bette Midler has blasted singers including Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera for not showing any 'emotion' in their performances.
The musical legend – who is currently in Las Vegas completing her 'Showgirl Must Go On’ residency – argues young stars need to put more depth into their shows.
She said: 'They don't speak. They don't talk to their audience. They may say, 'Hello, New York' or 'Hello, Las Vegas,' in the beginning, and 'Thank you' in between songs, but they don't talk. They don't tell stories or take the time to make a connection, build a rapport. There's no emotion.'
Bette also blamed music video channel MTV for encouraging people to lip-synch to their songs when performing 'live’.
She added to the New York Daily News: 'Video really did kill the radio star. After MTV came along, people were seeing their favourite singers in videos, and suddenly there was a certain vision of a song - how it should sound, how it should look.
'Then in concert, there was no room for improvisation - everyone wanted an exact replica.'
What do you think? Do you think younger singers have it easier?
Here are some simple advices on how to be a better singer:
1. Standing posture Stand up straight with your feet apart. Next, suck in your stomach, push your hips forward and stick your chest up. You want to be standing in an upright and comfortable position. It’s a bonus to have a full-sized mirror in front of you, so you can see yourself while you’re singing. 2. Breathing: Proper breathing comes from your belly, from the core. Your shoulders shouldn’t go up when you’re breathing. Try to practice breathing slowly in with your stomach, and not with the chest. When you’re doing this right, you notice your stomach slowly contracts inwards. Take several deep breaths before you start to sing. Imagine blowing a candle without putting out the flames. 3. Song choice: When choosing a song to sing, consider your range and choose a song that suits your voice. You need to feel comfortable with this song, and it’s not too high or too low for your range. Pick an artist and a song you like and enjoy to sing. But remember to challenge your voice. This is hardly recommended for everyone who wants to be a better singer. Try to sing a notch higher than you would normally do, to increase your vocal range. If you’re running out of breath, take a deep breath before you enter long notes. 4. Listening: When learning to sing, a good method is to sing along with a song, and try to identify the pauses, and tempo of the song. You would learn how to sing any song much faster when you become familiar with the lyrics and the beat of the song. 5. Record your voice: In order to become a great singer, you need to listen to your voice so you can make improvements and ingest your style. It’s important to know how you sound. 6. Practice: Sing anywhere and everywhere, not just in the shower, where no one can here you. Then you will have a lot more possibilities to practice a lot more often. If you’re shy, you can of course start in front of the mirror. 7. Warm up your voice. This is very important to not strength your voice. Singing is like a sport. Like before a soccer game, you should always run and warm up especially the biggest muscle groups, before the game starts. Therefore, before singing demanding songs, you should always warm up.
Do you like to sing? If you have any more tips, please let us know!
Here's a list of songs and bands that helps you relax and fell asleep faster:
- Coldplay (Fix you, Yes, Viva la vida) - Enrique Iglesias (have a lot of songs, fex: Say it, Hero, Addicted) - Radiohead (Reckoner) - Lifehouse - Enya (Adiemus, Relaxation, Now we are free) - Josh Groban - John Mayer (one of our favorites - Your body is a wonderland, Free fallin', Daugters, and so on) - The fray - How to save a life - Eva Cassidy ( more appealing to girls, but has a beautiful, relaxing voice) - Celine Dion (I want you to need me, Think Twice, I am your Lady, ..) - "Fast car" ( You should download Mutya Buena's version, it's much better then the original, I think)
...And, if you haven't felled asleep after all those songs, you can always try to count sheeps. Good luck!
Here's a video of relaxing music. If you feel stressed, it's amazing how much it can help to lay down for 9 minutes, (the time this video takes) and forget about all the things you have to do today. Think through your body, muscle by muscle, and try to relax them as well as you can. - Or, as our brilliant teacher Richard recomends as relaxing,go and hug a tree!!:)
Here's a contribution from our teacher Richard. Thank you!
Feel free to add your personal favorite "sleep-songs" to the list!
Kanye West, who is known for being an outspoken person, outdid himself by storming the stage after Taylor Swift was announced the winner of the Best Female Video. As the thrilled country singer began her speech, Kanye grabs the microphone from the stunned 19 year old, and announces that Beyonce was the one who really deserved the award for her “Single Ladies” video. Beyonce looked horrified and the crowd booed as the camera cut away from the rapper. But later when Beyonce won for the Video of the Year, in an all so classy move, she asked Taylor to come up on the stage and have her moment.
Taylor Swift walked on staged and gave Beyonce a hug, before she finished where she left off. Later, Taylor told the reporters that she was standing on the stage and was really excited because she just won the award:” And then I was excited because Kanye West was on the stage! But then, I wasn't excited anymore, after that..”
Kanye, who was seen drinking before the show, apologized to Taylor Swift on his blog, saying:”I'm so sorry to Taylor Swift, her fans and her mom.” But, only couple of days later, the apology was nowhere to be found.
This week's artist is the new and very young talent from Canada; JUSTIN BIEBER !
The last six months, the Canadian sixteen-year-old boy Justin Bieber set the American music industry on its head in a way not seen since Britney Spears released "Baby One More Time". The little charmer's mother posted videos of her little superstar singing on You Tube, were he was discovered by Scooter Braun, who later became his manager. Braun flew Bieber to Atlanta, Georgia, to consult with Usher. He soon was signed to a joint venture between Braun and Usher called Raymond-Braun Music Group. There was no big surprise to us when he was listed as one of the top 10 You Tube stars of the 2000s decade.
His breakthrough single, "One Time", was released in the summer of 2009, and charted within the top thirty in over ten countries. Here's some other hits from Bieber:
-"One Less Lonely Girl"
- "Love Me"
- "Baby"
This kid is obviously going to conquer thousands of little girls now that he's a celebrity, but we think he was "cuter" when he was sitting on a chair with a guitar playing cover-songs. Here's two videos of him, one of his old from You Tube and one of his new hits, now you can determine if he's as cute now as before!
What do you think? Still cute, but not that innocent maybe?
Hi,
we are two very sweet girls from Sandefjord, Norway, with excellent music taste=) We are new to the blogging world, so we would love some feedback from you.
