James Durbin, the memory of a beautiful disaster

Because of having the similar fascinating high range vocal, James Durbin was often compared to Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert by the audiences during the competition of American Idol Season 10. In fact, although they both have a rock vocal, James Durbin is more loyal to heavy metal, which during the competition, he often begs to the audiences for “give metal a chance”. Indeed, based on the current music industry, dance music and pop seem to dominate the music markets, heavy metal which was popular in the 70s seems to be difficult to be mainstream nowadays. However, James Durbin still sticks to his beloved music style.

Even though James ended up being the top 4 of the competition, it also happens to be the same position of the other rocker in the history of American Idol, Chris Daughtry, and Chris is one of the Idol alumni who are not the winners that sold more records than the winners. Therefore, maybe it is more than the coincidence for rock-lover James to be at the same spot as Chris. This also makes audiences wonder that whether James can continue or even surpass the glory of “No.4 rocker” by Chris.

James’s first single “Stand Up” was released in the end of September, this rock song prove us that James will stick to his own style. The beginning of the song uses a very heavy-metal style guitar solo, which set up the whole style of the song. Likewise, the high-range vocal that James must show every time in the competition is revealed at the end of the song. Honestly speaking, in rock music, such high notes can really make the songs better. In this song, James’s high vocal can no doubt ignite listeners’ emotion and get crazy with the music.

The second single “Love Me Bad” is a soft rock style song. Slow guitar solo at the very beginning gives the song a heart-break feeling. After repeating “I miss you”, the emotion spurts with the sudden drum beats in the chorus. This also shows the emotional side of James. These two singles also serve as the nice fast-slow appetizer to the debut album Memories of a Beautiful Disaster.

The album was released at November 21^st. Before the day of the releasing on AMA red carpet, James said that this album would be whole lot of rock. Indeed, James did not lie. The first song of the album “Higher Than Heaven” is such heavy metal style song. Guitar riff at the very beginning with guitar effect give people a strong energy. Nonstop screaming and the high note at the end of the last chorus gradually push the song to the climax. By just hearing this song, rock fans would not be disappointed to the album. Likewise, another song “Outcast” features the guitarist from heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, Mick Mars. With James’s unique rock vocal, Mick’s guitar solo continuously attacks our eardrum. In the bridge, Mick’s solo pushes the song to the peak. Indeed, as a rock album, it would not be perfect if there is no fascinating guitar solo. At the end, James’s incredible high note ends the song, leaving people to taste it.

However, the second song “All I Want” slows down the atmosphere. Although it is still a rock song, from the arrangement and the melody, it is not a heavy metal but an ordinary alternative rock song. Similarly, “Love In Ruins” and “Right Behind You” follow the same pattern of alternative rock. Even thought they are no as passionate as the first song, clean guitar strum and heavy drum beats are still something you can’t find in current dance music.

Besides, “May” and “Everything Burns” are the few ballads from the album, which also can make the album take a rest from the heavy guitar strum. In addition, these songs also prove that James is not a singer who just screams, when there is a slow emotional song, James can also do it.

Take a look at the whole album, James reduces his high note. Such high note during the competition makes James have the suspicion of showing off. Although such vocal can make the rock songs powerful, it is too much for slow songs. In this album, however, James’ biggest improvement is not to oversing all the songs. Not every song is suitable for screaming, for example, in “May” and “Everything Burns”, James softly sings the songs with piano and acoustic guitar to tell us one another heart-breaking stories. Besides, songs such as “Higher Than Heaven” and “Outcast” need some powerhouse vocal, and James appropriately shows his powerful vocal and high note in proper way.

It is hard to say whether Memories of a Beautiful Disaster can sell well. After all, heavy metal is no longer mainstream in contemporary music industry. However, if you are truly love rock music like James does, it is no need to worry about that. Comparing to that, why not just put this record into the player, and rock with the music.

The Music We Love Is Changing

In 1960s, the appearance of the Beatles and Elvis Presley made people addicted to rock music. Youths at that time were against war, against mainstream and against everything left by the older generations. Rock music became the tool for them to escape the world or vent their anger.

In 1970s, youths started to search for more fun with the end of wars. Therefore, a fast-beat style of music occurred. Nobody knows it was a pub film Saturday Night Fever ignited the heat of disco music or it was disco music got this film famous, but one thing surely that the people at that period were connected with flared trousers and disco pub.

In 1980s, with the emergence of MTV network, more and more people started to put their attention on visual sensation. At a result, artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Prince, who combined excellent vocals and fantastic outfits, achieved great success. Of course, we ought not to forget Michael Jackson’s unparallel Thriller in 1983 and Modonna’s flirting Like a Vrigin in 1984. In this decade, visual sensation went ahead which also served as the beginning of the later so-call Pop music.

In 1990s, no one would forget Backstreet Boys from the US and Spice Girls from the UK. This was also the golden age of “Pop” music. Young fans franticly chased those handsome boys and girls who singing love song excessively. In this age, Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync made people fascinating boybands that can dance, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera then made people know the shortcut of female artists getting famous was following the part of “Mickey Mouse Club—being sweet like sugar—the few clothes the better”.

Came to the millennium, people started to realize dancing “pretty-face” could not satisfy their hormone. After then, a phrase began to disseminate from corner to corner, it was “pop-punk”. Take a look at the highest reportage from magazine and the highest cover from radio, they all belonged to those kids holding instruments making cool looks. “BoyBands” like Good Charlotte and Simple Plan completely replaced those aged “boyGroups” like Backstreet Boys. People found out that singing with guitars was cooler than singing with dancing. Of course, we never should forget who “popul-ize” pop-punk: Avril Lavigne. 2001, her debut album Let Go surprised people that female singers undressed themselves worth nothing, singing with screaming was the real hot. Thus, more and more similar female singers, such as Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Kelly Clarkson and Ashlee Simpson, showed up and gained sufficient fame and fortune.

Actually, we can sum up from now that since the emergence of MTV, music was no longer a mirror that reflected a period. People listening to music were not about to express their emotion or escape the world, all their purpose was “being entertained”. These can explain why one of the Michael Jackson’s hottest songs Thriller was nothing but fantastic music video, why “material girl” was another name for Madonna, why dancing handsome boys such as Backstreet Boys could be so famous that even housewives could recognize…

From the music genres, we can classify that rock ‘n’ roll in the 60s, disco in the 70s, pop in the 80s and teen-pop in the 90s could represent a period of year. With the coming of 2010, we can begin to label 2000-2010 which is pop-punk/pop-rock, represented by Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan, Busted, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Jonas Brothers.

Then, what is the next genre that blows the world? How about saying Lady Gaga?

All I could say is dance music pop again! Heavy beat and songs made by synthesis effect processor re-permeated everyone’s life. Ke$ha and Pixie Lott all once were blamed to follow Lady Gaga. Although there were Justin Timberlake and Usher, who combined hip-hop, dance and R&B, that used to dominate the music industry, no one was like our Lady Gaga that can receive numerous compliments as a rookie. Dance music is so prevalent that some pop-rock bands like McFly add dance-music feature to the new single, then what should we say new artist like Adam Lambert showed up with dance music. Of course, there has Katy Perry that perfectly masters retro and dance.

Besides, we have to mention Miley Cyrus. She majored pop-punk in her first album but suddenly changed to dance in the second one. She is counted as a trend-follower.

Occasionally, comparing to the substitution, what came after 60s’ rock was dance/disco as well. Following this tendency, pop music would dominate the mainstream market after Lady Gaga. No wonder Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber become so attractive…