Rueben's Ramblings

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson was the winner of the first season of American Idol back in 2002. Since that time she has released four albums. Her debut album “Thankful” was released in April of 2003 and her popularity in the United States was solidified by her win at the 2003 People’s Choice Awards as Choice Female Music Artist.

Her sophomore album “Breakaway” was released in November of 2004, leading to her win in 11 different categories in 2005 at the Billboard Music Awards for singles from this album. She also won four American Music Awards; two in 2005 and two in 2006. This was topped off by her winning two Grammy Awards in 2006 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single “Since U Been Gone” and Best Pop Vocal Album for “Breakaway”. Kelly has also won three MTV Video Music Awards and countless other People’s Choice Awards.

In June of 2007, she released the album “My December” and later followed up with her most recent album “All I Ever Wanted,” which came out in March of 2009.

You can read more of this article at my Examiner.com Page here.

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Daughtry

When Chris Daughtry was voted off season 5 of American Idol, a lot of fans were outraged that he was eliminated too early and wondered what his next step would be in the music industry. Soon enough, Chris formed the rock band Daughtry and they released their self-titled debut album in 2006. While Chris was, of course, lead vocalist and guitarist for the band, Josh Steely was lead guitarist, Jeremy Brady was rhythm guitarist, Joss Paul was bass guitarist and Joey Barnes was drums and percussion on that debut album. All four also performed backing vocals on the album.

The album Daughtry sold more than four million copies and was named the number one selling album of 2007 by Billboard. The first single from this album was “It’s Not Over,” which became the 8th most played song on US radio in 2007. But it was their second single from that debut album – “Home” – which is today’s Song of the Day (July 2, 2010). “Home” went on to become the 10th most played song in the US in 2007. As the story goes, Chris wrote the song the day before he left for American Idol. The theme of the song centered around his being grateful for what he had, but still longing for his family. The song “Home” also won Favorite Rock Song at the People’s Choice Awards in 2008.

You can read more of this article at my Examiner.com Page here.

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Jason Mraz

On their own, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat have successful music careers; but it was their joining on the January 2009 single “Lucky” – which was one of the songs on Mraz’s third studio album “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things” – that caught the attention of many more music lovers.

Colbie Caillat

While singer-songwriter Jason Mraz’s sound is heavily influenced by reggae, pop, rock, folk, jazz and even hip hop, singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat is all-American pop music. Their harmonious sound combined together beautifully in this light and refreshing love song about being in love with “my best friend”.

The pair came together on this song because of Mraz becoming a fan of Caillat after hearing her music on MySpace. He liked her sound so much that he cold-called her to see if she would write and sing with him. Thankfully, she agreed and the single went on to peak at number 48 on Billboard’s Pop 100 chart and hit number 9 on Billboard’s Adult Top 40 Tracks. It also performed well in the overseas music market.

You can read the rest of this article at my Examiner.com Page here.

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The Cardigans

The Cardigans were a Swedish band formed in 1992 by guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson. They teamed with drummer Bengt Lagerberg, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and lead singer Nina Persson, who were from their small hometown of Jonkoping, Sweden.

They recorded 6 albums between 1994 and 2005: Emmerdale (1994) – Life (1995) – First Band on the Moon (1996) – Gran Turismo (1998) – Long Gone Before Daylight (2003) and Super Extra Gravity (2005). Life was the album that broke ground for the band in the music industry, but it wasn’t until their single “Lovefool,” from the album First Band on the Moon, was featured on the soundtrack for William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (as directed by Baz Luhrmann) and their hit single “My Favorite Game” from their Gran Turismo album turned the tide for the band.

Another hit single from their Gran Turismo album is today’s song of the day (June 30, 2010): “Erase/Rewind”. This lilting, easy-to-sway-to song was featured in the 1999 Drew Barrymore movie Never Been Kissed in the scene where Josie Geller (Barrymore) is named prom queen

You can read more of this article at my Examiner.com Page here.

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Bush

The British alternative rock band Bush was formed in London in 1992 by singer/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford. The name of the band came from where Rossdale and Pulsford used to live in Shepherd’s Bush, London. Eventually, the pair recruited bassist Dave Parsons and drummer Robin Goodridge to make the band Bush.

The band released 6 albums between 1994 and 2010 even with a 6-year break-up that lasted from 2003 to 2009. Their albums include their debut “Sixteen Stone,” which was released in 1994, and was considered their most popular album; “Razorblade Suitcase,” which was released in 1996 and “The Science of Things,” which was released in 1999. They released “Golden State,” in 2001, but disbanded in 2002. They did eventually release a greatest hits album in 2005 called “The Best of: 1994-1999” and a live album that same year called “Zen X Four”.

You can read more of this article at my Examiner.com Page here.

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