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Back in Black


Vinyl’s superior sonic qualities endear it to audiophiles, while younger people are beguiled by its aesthetics – not least of all the album covers

Back in Black


Vinyl’s superior sonic qualities endear it to audiophiles, while younger people are beguiled by its aesthetics – not least of all the album covers

Culture > Entertainment


 

Back in Black

August 29, 2018 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

The march of progress often tramples viable older tech underfoot, only for it to make a comeback later. The boom in artificial fabrics such as nylon, polyester and neoprene last century was followed by a return to cotton, wool and silk, eliciting in many a sigh of relief and comfort. Could vinyl records be set to do the same? 

The dramatic US cover of Whitesnake’s Trouble (1978)

The dramatic US cover of Whitesnake’s Trouble (1978)

As streaming and digital downloads have become dominant in our “connected world”, the compact disc has gone the way of the dodo. This is partly because new computers rarely come with CD players built in, but also because the tangible aspects of CDs, such as the flimsy plastic and paper packaging, hardly inspire devotion. For those who want to hold and feel their music, old-style records are rapidly replacing CDs. 

Vinyl sales are at a 25-year high, with pressing plants currently unable to keep up. Stores such as HMV are well-stocked with the black gold. Bands are excited about it, too – for one, 1980s legends Eurythmics are reissuing all their albums on vinyl this year. 

For most of the 20th century, the vinyl album was embedded in the world’s imagination and on its record shelves. But in the mid-’80s, the rug was pulled out from under music consumers when the CD was foisted on an unsuspecting public. It was digital, we were told, and therefore its reproduction must be perfect. 

In fact, however, it was a step backward for audio quality. To make a digital recording, analogue signals have to be “sampled”. The CD introduced the 44.1 kHz audio sampling rate, which takes “snapshots” of the analogue signal 44,100 times per second. Each snapshot is then measured with 16-bit accuracy, giving only 65,536 possible sonic values. 

Thus, CDs don’t capture the complete sound wave. Complex tones, such as trumpets or drum transients, may be distorted because they occur too fast to be converted adequately. On the other hand, the groove cut into a quality vinyl record mirrors the original sound’s waveform with a much greater frequency range. And while the analogue output of a record player can be fed directly to your amplifier, digital players need to convert the signal back to analogue. 

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Sounds Nice


A pair of customised high-end earbuds is the key to audio bliss. Step by step, let’s find the tailor-made sound that’s right for you – ready… play!

Sounds Nice


A pair of customised high-end earbuds is the key to audio bliss. Step by step, let’s find the tailor-made sound that’s right for you – ready… play!

Culture > Entertainment


 

Sounds Nice

June 6, 2018 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

Vision Ears

Vision Ears

Step 1

Grab your favourite digital audio player or your smartphone, filled with the music that you usually listen to. It’s ideal if you can load it up with lossless files, eg. WAV or FLAC.

Step 2

With your files and your player, head to your local audio shop and test a range of custom in-ear monitors from various brands. Each model tends to highlight unique sonic characteristics, so different ones are better for specific kinds of music. Choose the one that’s right for your needs and start the order process. 

CTM

CTM

Step 3

Pick your favourite shell colours and artwork (the pattern on the top). Some brands can even do different designs for the left and right sides. And of course, this is when you pay the bill. 

Step 4

Visit a reliable hearing centre to get a custom silicon mould of your ear, and send that mould to the brand or the shop.

Step 5

Now, you wait. Your earbuds should be done according to the time frame that the brand promises.

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Music: #10


Discover the hottest new releases that you’ve got to hear to believe

Music: #10


Discover the hottest new releases that you’ve got to hear to believe

Culture > Entertainment


 

Music

May 23, 2018 / by Shaun Kent

 
Janelle MonáeDirty ComputerThe multifaceted singer-composer from Kansas City has a little help from friends including Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams on this funky pop, rap and R&B opus that comes with a companion short sci-fi …

Janelle Monáe

Dirty Computer

The multifaceted singer-composer from Kansas City has a little help from friends including Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams on this funky pop, rap and R&B opus that comes with a companion short sci-fi film, Emotion Picture, that includes dazzling performances of her songs.

 
 
Sting & Shaggy44/876There was always a strong reggae influence in The Police’s music, so Sting is in familiar territory for this good-natured collaboration with Jamaican singer Shaggy. The album title comes from the telephone dialling codes for …

Sting & Shaggy

44/876

There was always a strong reggae influence in The Police’s music, so Sting is in familiar territory for this good-natured collaboration with Jamaican singer Shaggy. The album title comes from the telephone dialling codes for their two countries.

 
 
Willie NelsonLast Man StandingWillie Nelson may have seen the passing of several of his fellow country music greats, but at age 85, he makes it clear he doesn’t intend to join them any time soon. Far from a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the album…

Willie Nelson

Last Man Standing

Willie Nelson may have seen the passing of several of his fellow country music greats, but at age 85, he makes it clear he doesn’t intend to join them any time soon. Far from a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the album’s 11 self-penned songs are infused with an optimism and humour that are neatly summed up in the lines: “Heaven is closed / hell’s overcrowded / I think I’ll stay where I am.”

 
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Music


April heralds the arrival of spring and it has inspired generations of composers who have tried to capture its spirit in song. Explore four very different tracks that share one thing in common – they take their inspiration from the fourth month of the year

Music


April heralds the arrival of spring and it has inspired generations of composers who have tried to capture its spirit in song. Explore four very different tracks that share one thing in common – they take their inspiration from the fourth month of the year

Culture > Entertainment


 

Music

April 6, 2018 / by Shaun Kent

ProleterCurses from Past Times EPThe charmingly quirky opener “April Showers” may sound at first like a vintage 1920s recording, but it’s actually the creation of French indie producer Proleter (aka Benjamin Roca), who mixes old-style jazz with hip-…

Proleter

Curses from Past Times EP

The charmingly quirky opener “April Showers” may sound at first like a vintage 1920s recording, but it’s actually the creation of French indie producer Proleter (aka Benjamin Roca), who mixes old-style jazz with hip-hop beats.

Prince & The RevolutionParadePrince included the plaintive “Sometimes it Snows in April” on his 1986 album Parade; it enjoyed a poignant return to the charts in the wake of his death 30 years later on April 21, 2016.

Prince & The Revolution

Parade

Prince included the plaintive “Sometimes it Snows in April” on his 1986 album Parade; it enjoyed a poignant return to the charts in the wake of his death 30 years later on April 21, 2016.

Simon & GarfunkelSounds of SilenceInspired by a nursery rhyme he learned from a girl during a fleeting relationship in England, Paul Simon’s wistful “April Come She Will” from the duo’s second album uses the seasons as a metaphor for a partner’s…

Simon & Garfunkel

Sounds of Silence

Inspired by a nursery rhyme he learned from a girl during a fleeting relationship in England, Paul Simon’s wistful “April Come She Will” from the duo’s second album uses the seasons as a metaphor for a partner’s changing moods. At not even two minutes long, it’s a miniature masterpiece.

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis ArmstrongElla and LouisDon’t be misled by the homely cover photo – this 1956 album brought together two of the giants of jazz for a glorious selection of duets. Listening to their gorgeous “April in Paris”, you can almost…

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

Ella and Louis

Don’t be misled by the homely cover photo – this 1956 album brought together two of the giants of jazz for a glorious selection of duets. Listening to their gorgeous “April in Paris”, you can almost picture them singing it as they stroll along the banks of the Seine.

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Music


It’s been 50 years since Jimi Hendrix took the music world by storm with his groundbreaking double-album Electric Ladyland. To mark the anniversary, this month’s selection pays tribute to guitar heroes, past and present

Music


It’s been 50 years since Jimi Hendrix took the music world by storm with his groundbreaking double-album Electric Ladyland. To mark the anniversary, this month’s selection pays tribute to guitar heroes, past and present

Culture > Entertainment


 

Music

March 2, 2018 / by Shaun Kent

Jack WhiteBoarding House ReachIn the 20 years since he formed The White Stripes with Meg White, Jack White’s uncompromising guitar technique has made him one of the standout players of his generation. His latest solo album is set for release on Marc…

Jack White

Boarding House Reach

In the 20 years since he formed The White Stripes with Meg White, Jack White’s uncompromising guitar technique has made him one of the standout players of his generation. His latest solo album is set for release on March 23.

John MayerThe Search for EverythingEric Clapton calls John Mayer a master of the guitar. On his most recent album, he showcases the introspective, more mellow side of his artistry in a collection of self-penned ballads that includes the infectiously…

John Mayer

The Search for Everything

Eric Clapton calls John Mayer a master of the guitar. On his most recent album, he showcases the introspective, more mellow side of his artistry in a collection of self-penned ballads that includes the infectiously catchy “Love on the Weekend”.

Eric ClaptonLive in San Diego“Clapton is God” read the graffiti on walls across London when the guitarist burst on the scene in the 1960s. This live album, recorded in 2007 (with Clapton mentor JJ Cale as special guest) showcases his blues-infused m…

Eric Clapton

Live in San Diego

“Clapton is God” read the graffiti on walls across London when the guitarist burst on the scene in the 1960s. This live album, recorded in 2007 (with Clapton mentor JJ Cale as special guest) showcases his blues-infused mastery of the guitar on several of his best known songs, including “Layla” and “Tell the Truth”.

The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceElectric LadylandFrom his head-spinning use of the wah-wah pedal on “Voodoo Chile” to the psychedelia-laced “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” and his epic reworking of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”, Electric Ladyland…

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Electric Ladyland

From his head-spinning use of the wah-wah pedal on “Voodoo Chile” to the psychedelia-laced “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” and his epic reworking of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”, Electric Ladyland shows why Hendrix is still called the greatest rock guitarist of all time.

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Rock My World


Music talent shows have been all the rage in China

Rock My World


Music talent shows have been all the rage in China

Culture > Entertainment


 

Rock My World

March 2, 2018 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, American Idol… the television-watching world clearly has a great passion for talent shows. Take Idols (including its American Idol adaptation) – the UK-originated reality show franchise debuted in 2001 and has now broadcast in 150 countries to 6.5 billion viewers, making it the world’s most widely watched show. Before launching Idols, British television producer Simon Fuller was inspired by the New Zealand all-girl band singing contest Popstars in 1999.

Though the word “talent” refers to a variety of skills, the most popular one on these types of shows is music – specifically singing, though it’s sometimes accompanied by dancing. Music talent shows entertain their audiences by televising the selection process, discovering budding stars from a vast pool of non-professionals or beginner musicians. An open audition is usually conducted as a transparent step to give all participants a chance to strive for that final performance on the stage – in Chinese, the arduous process is called “sea selection” (hai xuan).

As in the West, Chinese music talent shows rose to prominence in the early 2000s. But China’s very first talent show on television was in 1984 – the National Young Singers Competition, hosted on China Central Television (CCTV). The show featured Peng Liyuan (now the country’s first lady), who took third place in the first year and first prize in 1986 for professional folk singing. 

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In 2003, CCTV introduced a new family pastime weekend show called Six Days and One Day Plus, hosted by Li Yong, who’s known for his humorous style – he’s also been a regular host for CCTV’s Chinese New Year’s Gala since 2002. In each 90-minute show, Li acted as a scout who discovered three people and invited them to a six-day training course with a group of stage professionals; on the seventh day, the contestants had to perform on the show’s grand stage in Beijing. It’s long been remembered as a signature show of Li and a nostalgic TV programme for many millennials in China – top model Sui He recalled standing behind Li, assisting him with the show’s popular “hitting golden egg” section, in which gifts were doled out to audience members around the country. Ten years later, the long-running show got a full revamp – and today, it’s hosted by Zhu Xun.

Among all the provincial satellite channels, Hunan TV is best known for creating entertainment shows – its Happy Camp is one of the most popular and longest-running variety shows in China. However, perhaps no other production can compare with the noise the all-girl singing contest Super Girl made, which debuted in 2004 and ran for three years. A spin-off of the previous Super Boy, the female version turned out to be far more successful and influential. “Regardless of genre, age, appearance and region, as long as you love singing” was the show’s open invitation for all in the nation to participate. With promises of lucrative bonuses and impressive rewards, plus an express pass to a star career, thousands of women were eager to join.

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2005 was the most heated year for Super Girl. From May to September, 15 women made the final cut – from the initial 150,000 contestants. Four hundred million people tuned in, with the average rating beating out the wildly popular CCTV Chinese New Year’s Gala. The audience participation was extraordinary; at the time, fans voted for their favourite singers via text messages that cost RMB 0.5 to RMB 1 each – this alone contributed approximately RMB 30 million to the show’s revenue. More than 8 million votes were collected in the final-round competition. Mengniu Dairy was the title sponsor that year, paying about RMB 10 million to add “Mengniu Suan Suan Ru” (a yoghurt-based beverage targeting young people) to the show’s name; the sales of this single product reached around RMB 2 billion that year, compared to RMB 700 million in the prior year.

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The top three winners of the 2005 competition all went on to successful singing careers after the show. Champion Chris Lee is planning her third world tour concert this March; she’s also a face of Givenchy and Gucci. Runner-up Bibi Zhou’s first album in 2006 was the bestseller of the year; she soon tapped into songwriting and has acted in a few big-budget films. And second runner-up Jane Zhang (nicknamed the “dolphin princess” for being able to hit those really high notes) became the first Asian singer to perform songs at the acclaimed Victoria’s Secret runway show in Shanghai last November; she sang “Work for It”, “808” and “Dust My Shoulders Off”. 

Controversy arose, too – specifically about how the show gave young girls unrealistic dreams of achieving fame overnight. The period in which the show aired was also a critical time — the intense preparation period for 12th- graders in China getting ready for the national higher-education entrance exam (gaokao). Ultimately, in 2007, China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television imposed a series of highly tightened rules to regulate all talent shows – and Super Girl was its main target. These included not allowing any talent shows to broadcast during prime-time hours (7.30pm to 10.30pm), which immediately pressed pause on the overall development of entertainment shows in China. 

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Music


The highs and lows of life, love and relationships are explored in these new releases from four very distinctive artists 

Music


The highs and lows of life, love and relationships are explored in these new releases from four very distinctive artists 

Culture > Entertainment


 

Music

January 26, 2018 / by Shaun Kent

Lana Del ReyLust for LifeThere’s a dreamy, spacey quality to this collection of contemplative ballads from American singer- songwriter Lana Del Rey, which features guest appearances by Stevie Nicks, Sean Ono Lennon and A$AP Rocky.

Lana Del Rey

Lust for Life

There’s a dreamy, spacey quality to this collection of contemplative ballads from American singer- songwriter Lana Del Rey, which features guest appearances by Stevie Nicks, Sean Ono Lennon and A$AP Rocky.

KelelaTake Me ApartThis eagerly awaited debut album from the LA-based singer finds her sultry R&B vocals superbly showcased by the luxuriant, multi-textured production woven by Jam City and Ariel Rechtshaid.

Kelela

Take Me Apart

This eagerly awaited debut album from the LA-based singer finds her sultry R&B vocals superbly showcased by the luxuriant, multi-textured production woven by Jam City and Ariel Rechtshaid.

TrickyUnuniformTricky draws on his Bristol trip-hop roots as well as Russian hip-hop and other influences in this powerful return to form that sees him reunited with Martina Topley-Bird, who sang on his 1995 debut album Maxinquaye.

Tricky

Ununiform

Tricky draws on his Bristol trip-hop roots as well as Russian hip-hop and other influences in this powerful return to form that sees him reunited with Martina Topley-Bird, who sang on his 1995 debut album Maxinquaye.

Baxter DuryPrince of TearsThe son of the late new-wave rocker Ian Dury takes a gritty look at life and relationships in this collection that borrows more than a little from the wry London-accented style of the old man.

Baxter Dury

Prince of Tears

The son of the late new-wave rocker Ian Dury takes a gritty look at life and relationships in this collection that borrows more than a little from the wry London-accented style of the old man.

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Let's Go Crazy


The world-renowned Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse launches its brand-new show and opens its backdoor to CDLP

Let's Go Crazy


The world-renowned Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse launches its brand-new show and opens its backdoor to CDLP

Culture > Entertainment


 

Let’s Go Crazy

January 26, 2018 / by Marine Orlova

Established in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Paris, the Crazy Horse cabaret is undoubtedly one of the most glamorous attractions in town. When avant-garde artist Alain Bernardin founded it in 1951, he wanted to create a unique and contemporary temple of femininity. He cast the “most beautiful women in the world”, created dazzling acts inspired by pop art and new-wave aesthetics, and designed what remains the Crazy Horse signature: dancers dressed in nothing but hypnotic lighting effects. Don’t expect to see gaudy feathers, French cancan dance or bulky costumes at “le Crazy”, as it’s commonly referred to by fans. 

Far from the clichés of the old Paris, the cabaret offers an iconic yet resolutely modern show. To enrich its repertoire over the past ten years, Crazy Horse has called on some of the trendiest artists and designers – among them Philippe Decouflé, Christian Louboutin, Chantal Thomass and Dita Von Teese – to co-create original tableaux. The new show, Totally Crazy, pays tribute to 65 years of creation and showcases the most glorious acts of the cabaret. And for the first time, Crazy Horse reveals its hidden world with the Crazy Experience, a private behind-the-scenes tour.

Mika Do is one of the dancers in charge of the Crazy Experience. Dressed in an elegant black-and-white suit, she retraces the cabaret’s history in an epic tale sprinkled with some crunchy anecdotes and fun facts. Did you know that the dancers use 500 litres of make-up per year? As she discusses the recruitment standards, the audience is brimming with questions; they yearn to know what the Crazy attitude is – and how to get it. “It takes three months of intense training to transform a ballet dancer into a Crazy girl,” Mika Do explains. “The way we walk, look or do our make-up – nothing is left to chance. Once you enter the Crazy Horse, you are changed forever!” 

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Yuletide Yodels


Love them or hate them, Christmas records are as much a part of the festive season as Santa Claus and turkey with stuffing. For this end-of-year Editor’s Choice, explore why they’re so popular among recording artists – and check out four that are packed with festive fun

Yuletide Yodels


Love them or hate them, Christmas records are as much a part of the festive season as Santa Claus and turkey with stuffing. For this end-of-year Editor’s Choice, explore why they’re so popular among recording artists – and check out four that are packed with festive fun

Culture > Entertainment


 

Yuletide Yodels

December 1, 2017 / by Shaun Kent

As the season of making merry bears down on us again, the radio airwaves – never mind the shopping malls and supermarkets – will be ringing to the sounds of “Jingle Bells”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman”.

If there’s one thing that has united pop bands, opera singers, rappers, country music stars and velvet-voiced crooners over the years, it has been the irresistible urge to produce a Christmas record. The results have so often been cringeworthy, so why have so many been willing to risk their hard-won credibility in search of a Christmas hit?

Nostalgia and a desire to create some Christmas cheer may be part of it, but the biggest incentives are commercial – a Yuletide hit can generate millions of sales and climb back up the charts every December. In fact, the biggest-selling single of all time is Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, which has sold more than 50 million copies since its release during the Second World War. Add this to multiple versions of the song – by Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and Coldplay, among numerous other artists – and “White Christmas,” written by American composer Irving Berlin, has racked up more than 150 million sales. 

Over the years, Christmas recordings have ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. Compare the majestic, soaring voices on the 2015 recording Carols with the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir to Bob Dylan sounding like a drunken uncle who just gatecrashed lunch on 2009’s Christmas in the Heart. And country outlaw Johnny Cash may have cultivated his tough guy image with “Folsom Prison Blues”, but that didn’t stop him from warbling through “The Little Drummer Boy” on his album The Christmas Spirit. The Beatles even used Christmas to send festive cheer to members of their fan club, recording songs and messages that were given away free on bendable, vinyl flexi-discs.

Bob Geldof raised millions of dollars for famine relief with the 1984 single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” It was a worthy cause, but the title prompted critics to respond with a resounding no: starving children in Ethiopia probably didn’t know it was Christmas.

More recently, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Destiny’s Child and Kanye West have all succumbed to the lure of recording a Christmas song. And this year is proving no exception, with acts including veteran boy band 98 Degrees (“Let it Snow”), Gwen Stefani (“You Make it Feel Like Christmas”) and the brother-trio Hanson (“Finally It’s Christmas”) all jumping on the Yuletide bandwagon.

So much for having a silent night on Christmas Eve…

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Screen Gems


This Christmas, skip the generic, sappy stuff you’ve watched a million times before – pop in one of these lesser-seen holiday classics and under-the-radar favourites that you’ll grow to love

Screen Gems


This Christmas, skip the generic, sappy stuff you’ve watched a million times before – pop in one of these lesser-seen holiday classics and under-the-radar favourites that you’ll grow to love

Culture > Entertainment


 

Screen Gems

December 1, 2017 / by Jon Braun

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Forget It’s a Wonderful Life and revisit this James Stewart holiday classic. Much-loved Hollywood director Ernst Lubitsch delivered this timeless gem – a comedy of errors about two sales clerks (Stewart and Margaret Sullavan) during the Christmas rush. As co-workers, their personalities clash, but we discover she’s his anonymous penpal and the two have fallen for each other through their letters, although they don’t yet know each other’s identity. This was remade in 1998 as You’ve Got Mail.

We’re No Angels (1955)

Humphrey Bogart leads an ensemble cast (also featuring Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray and Basil Rathbone) in this classic comedy about three hardened criminals who escape from the infamous Devil’s Island prison around Christmastime. Hiding out in a small French Guiana town and planning to steal supplies before boarding a ship in the harbour, they hatch a larcenous scheme at a merchant’s store – but begin to have a change of heart after preparing a Christmas dinner with the family.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

As noted for its Vince Guaraldi piano-jazz soundtrack as for its anti-commercialism message, this 25-minute made-for-TV animated special packs more emotion and reflection on the true meaning of the holiday than perhaps any other. Highly experimental in its approach, this wonderful showcase of Snoopy and the gang may become part of your annual Christmas viewing regimen – that is, if it hasn’t already.

Images: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (The Shop Around the Corner); Paramount Pictures/Paramount British Pictures (We're No Angels); Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)/Lee Mendelson Film Productions/Bill Melendez Productions/United Feature Syndicate (UFS) (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

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