WHAT ABOUT GENRES?

A very good evening I would like to wish all my readers. Yeah, it's been awhile since I last updated my blog as I have been really busy with studies and exams coming up as we all know. You can say that time management is a bit of a problem for me as I tend to astray from time once in awhile so to speak. First of all, I would like to dedicate this blog post to all music lovers out there as I would be talking about the types of music genres rather than the types of movie genres. If you're a music lover, you would probably enjoy what I am about to talk about and if you're not a music lover and more of a movie lover, I assure you that you would not get bored and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy blogging about my passion which is music.

Genres, what are genres?. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this word genres?. Some people would describe genres as categories, a type or class or a realistic style of painting that depicts scenes from everyday life. Well, the first two meanings that people would describe genres are very true and that is what I would be talking about in today's post. The word genre comes from an old French word, kind and also from a Latin word, Genus. This word originates from it's Indo-European roots. Based on my own understanding about the word genre, genre is a categorization of artistic composition, as in music or literature or even movies, marked by a distinctive style,form or content.

If you are a music lover, what type of genre do you love or listen to and if you are a movie lover, what type of genre do you love watching?. If you would have to ask me, the type of genre that I love listening to is no other than the rock genre. Since when I was a kid growing up around the age of 9 or 10, I was exposed to various types of music genres by my family in particular my dad. Every night after dinner, I would head to the living room and just sit right next to him and listen to all types of music that he plays every night on his stereo set. As i recall clearly, back in the day stereo sets were pretty big and you would sort of have to work it manually. He would play all sorts of genres from jazz to blues to classical, basically everything. You could say that my dad is a very musical person as he has hundreds of CD album collection from different types of artists around the world that he still listens to till today.

I was first introduced to rock music by my cousin at the age of 10 who currently lives in the United States. The first rock band that I was introduced to which i fell in love the very moment I listen to them till today is no other than.......Here's a little suspense. Only my close friends and people who know me know that I really love this band and it has inspired me in many ways. This band has been voted one of the best bands in the world during the late 80's throughout the 90's. It's debut album was voted best debut album in 1987 with tracks such as Welcome to the Jungle and Paradise City and they have their debut album, My appetite for Destruction has sold millions of copies in the United States alone. If you are a music lover, you would probably know which band I am talking about. This band is no other than.....

From left: Steven Adler, Slash, Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, Duff Mckagan

Yes, if you are guessing Guns N Roses, you guessed it right! They have sold millions of records around the world, played in full house crowds and has become one of rock's greatest band of all time. The members consisting of Steven Adler on drums, Saul Haudson or Slash as he is more commonly called on the lead guitar, Axl Rose on vocals, Duff Mckagan on bass guitar and Izzy Stradlin on the rhythm sections on guitar. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 and this classic line up was signed by Geffen Record in 1986. Guns N Roses were also labeled one of the most self destructive band of all time as all of it's members were very heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. During that period of time in the late 80's and 90's, it was very common for rock bands to be involved with drugs and alcohol. Steven Adler was so heavily involved in cocaine that he was not able to even hold his drumsticks during rehearsals, Duff Mckagan was drinking half a gallon of Vodka every single day till his pancreas expanded to the size of an American Football which nearly cost him his life. Now let's take time off to listen to one of their classic hit songs from their Appetite for Destruction Album, Sweet Child O mine which reached number 1 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1987. Enjoy! ;)

The lead guitarist of Guns N Roses, Saul Haudson or Slash as he is more commonly known as has actually  inspired me to pick up a guitar and start playing. He was the sole reason for me to even start learning guitar when I was much younger around 12. I wanted to be like him and I wanted to be on stage performing and showing my love for music to people. Here's a picture of him if you are not too sure who is he. He is one of rock's greatest icons and one of the best guitarist in the world if not the best.

I got that chance when I first formed my band way back when I was fifteen years of age with my best friend and drummer, Mahathir Jefferey called Nightrain. We have performed quite a number of times on stage prior till today for many various types of occasions. Our latest performance or gig that we last did was for Taylor's College's Heart Rock Carnival which was to raise money for 2 charity organizations. When we got the offer to perform there, we did not hesitate to agree as it was for a good cause and also Taylor's College is one of the best crowds we have performed for. We have performed there a number of times previously in the past for occasions such as SAM Fiesta, SAM Spotlight and their last occasion Heart Rock Carnival. Our passion for music has kept us going till today.

Last but not least, I would like to say this to all my fellow readers to never give up chasing your dreams. When I was fifteen, I never thought that I would formed a band and to be able to perform on stage. Dreams do come true! Till the next post. Have a good evening :)