by Dictionary Scoop The 60s were truly a magical time, weren’t they? If there’s one word that truly defined this decade, it would be the word “freedom”: After all, the 60s were defined by their revolutionary new takes on music, art, and society in general. In fact, this era was so groundbreaking that …
Tag Archives: jazz
What Do Cats And Jazz Have In Common?
by Dictionary Scoop Are you a cool cat? Or a groovy alligator? The Age of Jazz had a vast cultural influence on both American music and culture, but one of its most curious aspects was “jive talk”” the quirky jargon it birthed. Largely influenced by jazz singer Cab Calloway – who authored at least two dictionaries …
Ten Expressions With Musical Origins
Dictionary Scoop Music influences almost every single aspect of our modern world, and our language is no exception. We have gathered ten of our favorite musical terms that have found their way into becoming everyday words: 1 Gig The word “gig” refers to a job, usually a single-time event for which a musician …
Steely Dan To Songwriters’ Hall of Fame
by Kevin Burton Steely Dan and four others will be inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame this year, according to multiple reports. R.E.M. and three non-performing songwriters, Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Moseley (Timberland) and Dean Pritchard will also be inducted. I don’t know if the Songwriters’ hall has toxic politics the way …
World Record Pepper Brings Serious Heat
by Kevin Burton We’ve got a hot story for you today. Record hot. It’s also news I can use, but I’m not going to. The BBC reports that the Guiness Book of World Records has certified Pepper X as the hottest chili pepper in the world. It has surpassed the Carolina Reaper …
Georgia (And Ray Charles) On My Mind
by Kevin Burton Whether in jazz, blues, pop or country, the late great Ray Charles was not just comfortable but masterful. Somebody asks you, “quick who was Ray Charles?” You’re probably going to say he was a soul singer. You wouldn’t be entirely wrong but he didn’t see himself that way. He …
Lieber & Stoller’s “Kansas City” A Classic
by Kevin Burton The musical catalog of lyricist Jerry Lieber and pianist Mike Stoller has been described as “some of the most authentic rhythm and blues that white Jewish guys ever wrote.” Eight years before Norman Mailer published “The White Negro,” these two transplanted easterners submerged themselves in the LA black culture and began …
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The Story Behind “Sultans Of Swing”
by Kevin Burton It turns out there really was a band called Sultans Of Swing that inspired the great 1978 Dire Straits hit. “Sultans Of Swing” is one of those tunes that stops you in your tracks. It just exudes cool. We tell its story, evoking a musical proverb from “Take It …
“Free Man In Paris” Peaked At Number 22
by Kevin Burton Oh my goodness how did I ever miss this one? Earlier this year to mark the year 2022 I did a series of posts about songs that peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. It turns out one of my all-time favorite songs, “Free Man in Paris,” …
Fruit Of The Spirit: Biblical Gentleness
by Kevin Burton One of the most unfortunate rhymes is meek rhyming with weak. Those two words are much closer to opposites than to synonyms. This is the eighth in a series on the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. We’re looking at those characteristics that will become more evident in a …
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