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Toto's "Africa"
News
Science weighs in on the best song ever totos-africa-sciences-take-best-song-ever

Toto's "Africa": Science's take on the "best" song ever

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A combination of scientific analysis and stylistic gut-checking suggests that Toto's classic No. 1 hit might be the best song ever made
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 19, 2017 - 2:49 pm

For as long as we've had toes to tap, society's great minds have tried to explain the inner workings of music, searching for what makes it "good."

The results of this search range from the most basic reductions like minor-key-sad/major-key-happy to sophisticated brain wave data analysis and dopamine measurements — all aimed at decoding how a composer's decisions impact the quality of a song.

So when Gizmodo asked a small group of neuroscientist and music enthusiasts for their take on science's role in determining what makes a song "good," the answers touched on every aspect of music interpretation from the most analytical to the most visceral.

"We can measure how people respond to a song in a bunch of ways, including brain scans," neuroscientist and Director of the Science Gallery at King’s College London Daniel Glaser explains. "Actually measuring foot tapping or the smile muscles is probably just as good as more 'scientific methods.'"

In the end, perhaps the most convincing argument is the impromptu tweetstorm that prompted Gizmodo's investigation to confirm that, indeed, GRAMMY-winning band Toto's "Africa" is the best song ever made. Just ask a scientist:

"Science says 'Africa' is the best song ever made," jokes David Poeppel, professor of psychology and neural science at New York University, after concurring with the sentiment on Twitter and pointing to Toto's respected musical credentials.

While we love this song too, somehow we think this is a case that is far from closed.

Read more about the universal language: Why humans need music

Robot playing a piano

Robot playing a piano

Photo: VCG/Getty Images

News
Is Music Moneyball A Reality? music-moneyball-future-our-industry

Is Music Moneyball The Future Of Our Industry?

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The rising prevalence of music generated by Artificial Intelligence creates problems – or opportunities – for the music industry
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Sep 13, 2017 - 4:09 pm

Imagine a world where a computer can write music instantly to suit almost any need. As you may have already guessed, that world is here.

Programs like Amper Music and Jukedeck can pump out the jams in seconds, and with tools like Spotify's "Discover Weekly" algorithms, and artificial experts like Siri and Alexa at our fingertips, the era of music moneyball has, arguably, arrived.

While the marriage of AI and music has been decades in the making, a recent court ruling on the viral sensation "Monkey Selfie" may inadvertently provide a portal into future treatment of copyright as it applies to music created solely by AI.

In the ruling, which declared that ownership of copyright does not extend to content created by animals, the Copyright Office also deemed ineligible “[w]orks produced by a machine or mere mechanical process that operates randomly or automatically without any creative input or intervention from a human author.”

This is great news for the many artists who have devoted their lives to developing their craft, as the Copyright Office clearly recognized human input as essential element of protectable intellectual property. However, as the craze of AI mounts step for step with the creation and implementation of AI-created music, the music industry has an issue on its hands that will no doubt require some hard-thought decisions.

In a recent guest column for Hollywood Reporter, entertainment lawyer James Sammataro draws up an outline of this complex issue, presenting the good cause for excitement and trepidation alike from various factions of our business before ultimately surmising, "AI is the future of the music industry." Whether this will manifest as the next "Napster moment" or continue along the path of "plotting the dots between artist and audience…delivering a frictionless musical experience" remains to be seen.

One way or another, Sammataro points out that "the technology is a long way from producing a perennial hit like Toto’s “Africa” or a concept record like Pink Floyd’s The Wall"

Read More: 4 Top Announcements From Apple's Live Event

Acoustic cover songs

Photo: Joby Sessions/Guitarist Magazine/Getty Images

News
How Acoustic Covers Can Become Viral Hits anatomy-viral-hit-acoustic-cover-song

Anatomy Of A Viral Hit Acoustic Cover Song

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A closer look at how viral videos reveal key takeaways for artists looking to mix their taste and talent with YouTube to find a new audience
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 26, 2018 - 3:17 pm

Posting a cover on YouTube is a well-worn path for independent artists seeking to traverse the internet jungle and land the attention of an audience. From Shawn Mendes to Alessia Cara, many artists of many genres have taken this tack to success, but many, many more have tried and missed the mark.

Shawn Mendes On Connecting With His Fans & More

In Mendes' case, he spent his early teenage years covering everyone from Adele and Rhianna to Leonard Cohen and Lynyrd Skynyrd on his way to pop stardom. Cara covered the likes of Amy Winehouse, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, and more. For these two budding pop stars, covers were the ticket to success. But cover songs are all around us (consider the popularity of modern singing competition shows). And as an emerging artist, covers can be a tool to get your talents in front of a new audience. 

So what makes a cover work and what doesn't? Perhaps a revisit of Mike Masse's 2010 viral cover of Toto's "Africa" can shed some light.

It's tempting to look at the video's 11+ million views and point to the success of the source material – after all, you read it right here that "Africa" is allegedly considered by science as the "best" song ever (a case we would bet is far from closed). But as SonicBids' blog points out, the crux of why this YouTube cover took off like a rocket is talent. Masse's voice not only evokes visions of Toto singer-at-the-time Joseph Williams, he sings the song with a combination of skillful accuracy and authentic passion listeners are looking–or rather listening–for today.

What about the look? Masse's video is a single shot of he and a bandmate playing at a pizza parlor. In fact, many viral YouTube cover videos rely on their low visual production quality to highlight the musical performance. [However, for the best of both worlds, check out the cover versions of GRAMMY ReImagined].

In the case of many viral hits, choosing the right cover is where the magic happens. A familiar tune can bridge the gap between the eager fan and an unfamiliar artist, but a quick search of any of today's biggest songs can also turn up a sea of competition. But popularity doesn't necessarily mean a song should be avoided. A request for Weezer to cover "Africa" recently caught enough web attention to convince the band to tackle the classic, so clearly all of the song's fans worldwide still hadn't–or couldn't–get enough.

SonicBids' analysis goes on to note that Masse's consistency in posting new material on YouTube contributed to the success of their "Africa" cover, but also reiterates the importance of the talent of the collaborators you choose, calling out spot-on harmony vocals from bassist Jeff Hall as the viral video's x-factor. "Don't work with musicians unless they meet your standards," the blog advises, wisely.

Despite the strategy, for many artists, there is a joy of covering songs that is a reward in itself. Sometimes it's easier for songwriters to get lost in a composition they didn't create, the same way it's easier to get lost in a house you didn't build. The trick is knowing what will take off next and, more importantly, having the talent and consistency to capitalize on the opportunity. Happy covering!

GRAMMY ReImagined Is Back With More Covers
 

Rivers Cuomo photographed in 2017

Weezer's Rivers Cuomo

Photo: Scott Dudelson/WireImage.com

News
Listen To This: Weezer Covers Toto's "Africa" how-fan-got-weezer-cover-totos-africa

How A Fan Got Weezer To Cover Toto's "Africa"

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OK, drop what you're doing and listen to Rivers Cuomo and Weezer bless our ears with their version of "Africa"
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
May 29, 2018 - 10:23 am

Weezer have been in a Toto mood lately. Following last week's cover of the GRAMMY-winning "Rosanna," Rivers Cuomo & Co. have swung for the fences in tackling another Toto tune, "Africa," not only a No. 1 hit but a song science has deemed the best song ever. So, what gives?

It turns out the group's take on blessing the rains down in "Africa" comes with a unique social twist. The rendition has materialized after a Cleveland-based teenage fan named Mary lobbied for months via Twitter to get the group to cover the popular 1982 hit.

Starting back in December 2017, Mary tweeted Rivers Cuomo that "it's about time you bless the rains down in Africa." Last week, it seemed Weezer may have been listening when they released their cover of "Rosanna." However, Mary confirmed via Twitter today — from her aptly titled handle @weezerafrica — that the band released their version of "Africa."

Looks like @Weezer finally blessed the rains...#WeezerCoverAfrica pic.twitter.com/r1xT30iVoz

— weezer cover africa by toto (@weezerafrica) May 29, 2018

Why "Africa"? In an interview with Noisey, Mary explained that it was one of those happy accidents.

"It was just a goofy joke," she said. "It was from Weezer talking about [how] they were inspired for their new album Daydream, what inspired them. So I jokingly said, 'Oh I bet they were inspired by 'Africa' by Toto for their new album.'"

As for their version, Weezer stay true to form on the classic rock gem, save for more modern-sounding takes on David Paich's swirly keyboard solo and Steve Lukather's patented power chord riffing.

"Rosanna" and "Africa" were a pair of hits on 1982's mammoth Toto IV album. At the 25th GRAMMY Awards, "Rosanna" captured Record Of The Year Honors and Toto IV earned Album Of The Year.

Weezer were recently featured on the GRAMMY Museum's "Required Listening" podcast, during which the group detailed their 2016 self-titled album (aka "The White Album"). Will the group go for a third Toto cover?

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Music Gives Us Chills

Music Gives You Chills

News
Does Music Give You Chills? does-certain-music-give-you-chills-heres-what-it-might-mean

Does Certain Music Give You Chills? Here's What It Might Mean

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Studies show those of us who experience the physical phenomenon of musically induced chills are wired differently
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 27, 2017 - 10:56 am

You know the feeling. Listening to certain songs can deliver an experience beyond explanation, where all your body knows to do is shiver in the presence of this grand emotional moment. The hair on your arms stands tall and the moment takes over. In France they call this "frissons." Here, we call it the chills.

Evidently, this physical phenomenon in reaction to music doesn't happen to everyone. Studies show those of us who experience the physical phenomenon of musically induced chills usually have more active imaginations and reflect more deeply on emotions. Turns out that not only does your skin tingle, but brain scans show chill-prone individuals may be hard-wired for stronger emotions.

"We found that people who reliably and frequently get the chills from music have more fibers connecting the auditory cortex to the emotional feeling and emotional processing states," says lead study author Matt Sachs, in an interview with the University of Southern California.

But why does certain music do this to us while other music doesn't? Reader's Digest suggests a few commonalities in chill-inducing music, including songs that build with anticipation, citing Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" and Pink Floyd's "Great Gig In The Sky."

Other musical elements that strike a nerve are moments that "subvert expectation" such as a key change or vocal harmony or anything that connects with a strong emotional memory for the listener.

For me, there are ineffable moments in Björk's "Hyperballad," Machine Head's "Burning Red" and Ani DiFranco's "Hour Follows Hour" and "School Night" that strike this magic nerve, but as they say, results — and opinions — may vary. One thing's for sure, chills are not something we can summon without the right inspiration. For further reading check out some more psycho-musical and see what your favorite music reveals about your personality.

Read More: Björk Teases New Album, Calling It Her "Tinder Record"

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.