2009 is the year when the US welcomed its first black president, Barack Obama, who promised hope and change. People still suffered economic hardships that started during the previous year, although some signs of improvement appeared.
In the world of music, 2009 saw the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Taylor Swift’s popularity skyrocketed, thanks to various American Music Awards and Grammy Awards nominations. Lady Gaga dazzled with her crazy costumes, colorful wigs and bubbly pop music. Many indie music bands became mainstream stars. Singles continued to become popular because of the prevalence of iTunes and YouTube, which somehow replaced CD stores and music shops as the place to enjoy music.
"Crystalised" from The XX one of the best album of 2009
Below are the best albums of 2009, tallied from the best music magazines:
Movie musicals provide delight to those who enjoy singing and dancing interwoven into the story. As such, they usually appeal to music enthusiasts who like to follow the story while listening to the music. This genre evolved from the stage musicals, and indeed many of the best movie musicals are adapted from Broadway and theater musicals. The movie versions are made more grand and spectacular both in the casting and the arrangements, but not always better than the original version.
Movie musicals reached its height of popularity in late 40s to early 50s with Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Kathryn Grayson, Gordon McRae, and Howard Keel. Most of the music comes from the Tin Pan Alley composers such as Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and Richard Rogers.
The popularity suffered in the 70's when movie musicals produced a series of flops. The generation seemed unable to appreciate the unrealistic convention of characters breaking into songs.
Recently, movie musicals appear every now and then, many even proving to be successful in the box office and in album sales. Many modern animated features feature musical numbers usually found in traditional movie musicals.
Below are the best movie musical albums from the best movie musicals:
A movie soundtrack or motion picture soundtrack conveys emotions that the dialogues or the visuals of the film cannot. It adds texture to a specific scene, pumping it with energy, adding a hint of irony and humor, or punctuating its melancholy.
Many soundtracks feature original songs by established recording artists. Some of the best are compilation of songs that are surprisingly hidden gems, unearthed by the auteur director. The best soundtracks take you to the world that the movie inhabits. Many of them gives you pure listening pleasure, even without the movie context.
Although some of the most effective movie soundtracks consist of instrumental and classical music that enhances the film’s mood, many contain pop and rock music that help not only the movie’s artistic merit, but its commercial success as well.
Below are the best pop and rock movie soundtrack albums that should be a part of an enthusiast’s music collection:
"Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf from Easy Rider Movie Soundtrack