Set List Anniversary - Uptown Funk

Mark Ronson
Featuring Bruno Mars

"Uptown Funk" Background -

Genres considered - 

Funk Pop, Soul, Boogie, Disco Pop, Minneapolis Sound

Lead single from Mark Ronson's 4th album, Uptown Special (2015)

Released via download in November 2014

Message through lyrics - Fashion, Self Love, Male Bravado

"Uptown Funk" Charts -

No. 1 in 19 countries

Top 10 in 15 countries

No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart

No. 1 on Canadian Hot 100

No. 1 on Irish Singles Chart

No. 1 in France 

No. 1 in Australia

No. 1 in New Zealand

"Uptown Funk" Certifications -

Gold in Austria and Japan

Platinum in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden

2x Platinum in Denmark

3x Platinum in Belgium and Norway

4x Platinum in Spain

5x Platinum in New Zealand, Italy, UK

11x Platinum in the U.S.

18x Platinum in Australia

Diamond in Canada and France

3x Platinum+Diamond in Mexico

"Uptown Funk" Honors -

British Single of the Year at the 2015 Brit Awards

Record of the Year at the 2016 Grammy Awards

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards

2015 American Music Awards nominations*

*Song of the Year, Collaboration of the Year

...to name a few

Point of intrigue -

As of March 2020, the music video is the 6th most viewed YouTube video with 3.8 billion views.

Point of intrigue -

In 2017, "Uptown Funk" was inducted into the Guinness World Records for spending the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Digital Songs Sales chart.

The full background and pop culture impact, among many other notes about the song, can be found on Wikipedia.

Many years ago, an evening baseball game was played...I think between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians.  Anyway, the win for one of the teams seemed certain as the score was well in their favor.  The other team, though, came out of nowhere when they matched and surpassed the score that was in the double digits.  They won.  The game became an instant classic...an exceptionally rare honor.

"Uptown Funk" was an instant classic in pop culture with impact that remains to date...an impressive honor.  

"Uptown Funk" was and remains an instant classic on Set List.

History Lesson - Pawn Stars Guitar

Welcome to the miniseries, History Lesson - Pawn Stars Guitar!  In each edition of this miniseries, I will share a Pawn Stars YouTube video showcasing iconic guitars and their respective worth to the seller and to the pawn shop.

Pawn Stars background -
American reality television program on the History Channel
Debuted in July 2009
Customers offer artifacts to sell or pawn
Artifacts come with a brief historical background by any of the staff
Experts clarify validity and appraisal of the artifacts

Point of intrigue -
Celebrities have been to appear on Pawn Stars - such as George Stephanopoulos, Steve Carell, Roger Daltrey, Katie Couric, and others.

Pawn Shop background -
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada
World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
Family owned business since 1989
Main Staff - Richard "Old Man" Harrison (deceased), Rick Harrison, Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison, and Austin "Chumlee" Russell

(Wikipedia)

In this launch edition of History Lesson - Pawn Stars Guitar, I am sharing a 1952 Fender Telecaster Guitar.

The guitar will say the rest of it.  Enjoy the video below -

zZounds Music for Professionals

Due disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

On zZounds, the guitar is the most coveted instrument and is best meant for the professional level.  There are select exceptions, such as the Les Paul electric guitar player pack and the Tobias bass guitar player pack perfectly suited for budding guitarists.  Overall, though, the guitar is best for the pros.

In this edition of zZounds Music for Professionals, I am featuring the Squier brand with a classic vibes twist.

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar
Maple Fingerboard
Black
$399.99 OR 4 Payments $100

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--SQU0374023

The Squier classic vibes can be felt in the details.  Follow the link above.

If you are curious about the Squier brand, follow the link below -

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/cat--Squier--3588

If you are seriously interested in the Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar, follow the guitar link for more information and a payment plan.

If you are seriously interested in any of the Squier brand guitars, follow the link just above to explore.

As always,

Play it!

Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow

"What Happens Tomorrow"

Background -

Released in January 2005 

Second single from the 2004 album, Astronaut

Genres considered - Rock, New Wave

Charts (2005) -

No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart 

No. 2 on Billboard Dance Club Songs

No. 15 in Scotland 

No. 2 in Italy

No. 47 in Ireland

No. 80 in Germany

No. 8 in Belgium

(Wikipedia)

Versus Tuesday

Astronaut2005 Drummer v. Original Performance

In this edition of Versus Tuesday, I am featuring "What Happens Tomorrow" by Duran Duran and the drum cover take by Astronaut2005 Drummer.

Duran Duran - "What Happens Tomorrow"

Astronaut2005 Drummer Cover

Duran Duran - "What Happens Tomorrow"

Live from London

zZounds Music for Beginners

Due disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

In previous editions of zZounds Music for Beginners, I featured the electric guitar by Epiphone and Silvertone.  I featured the acoustic guitar by the brand, Dean.  In the most recent edition of zZounds Music for Beginners, I opted to feature the entry level drum kit as offered by the brand, Pearl.

In this edition of zZounds Music for Beginners, I am once again featuring the drums by the brand, Ludwig - the ultimate destination for budding drummers.  Consider the offer below -

Ludwig Element Evo Complete Drum Kit (6-Piece)
Black Sparkle
$849 OR 8 Payments $106.13

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--LUDLCEE622

Intrigued?

Consider more offers below -

Ludwig LCEE22 Element Evo Complete Drum Kit (5-Piece)

Blue Sparkle

$749 OR 8 Payments $93.63

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--LUDLCEE22

Ludwig LC179XX Breakbeats by Questlove

Compact Drum Shell Kit, 4-Piece

Azure Blue

$429 OR 6 Payments $71.50

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--LUDLC179XX

A brief background behind the Ludwig brand -

Ludwig Drums, established in 1909, is a U.S. instrumental manufacturer primarily on percussion.  The brand produces drum kits and hardware.  In the 1960s, Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, endorsed Ludwig which helped launch popularity.  To name just a few well known drummers with Ludwig preference -

John Bonham (Led Zepplin)

Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac)

Don Henley (The Eagles)

Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)

Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead)

Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)

Mitch Mitchell (the Jimi Hendrix Experience)

Keith Moon (The Who)

Alex Van Halen (Van Halen)

Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones)

A full list of artists as well as detailed history of Ludwig can be found on Wikipedia.

Legendary drummers, such as the names listed above, had to start somewhere.  Aspiring drummers with sight set on the concert stage have to start somewhere.  Why not opt for Ludwig?  

zZounds Music Sunday

Due disclaimer - This post has affiliate links and I may be compensated on any purchase made.

In this edition of zZounds Music Sunday, I am comparison shopping on Set List - Gibson Bass Guitar v. Ibanez Bass Guitar.  Which brand do you prefer?  Share your thoughts in the comments section at the end of this post!

Gibson Bass Guitars
Follow the link below for a full Gibson offer.  Consider the examples below -

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/cat--Gibson-Bass-Guitars--3933

Gibson 2019 EB4 Traditional Electric Bass
(with Gig Bag)
$979 OR 12 Payments $81.58

"Pick up a classic rock bass!"

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--GIBBAEB19

Gibson Thunderbird Electric Bass (with Case)

Tobacco Sunburst

$2,299 OR 12 Payments $191.58

"A favorite of bassists for decades..."

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--GIBBAT400

Ibanez Bass Guitars

Follow the link below for a full Ibanez offer.  Consider the examples below -

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/cat--Ibanez-Bass-Guitars--3140

Ibanez SR305E Electric Bass, 5-String, Pearl White
$399.99 OR 4 Payments $100
(Also available in Root Beer Metallic, Silver Sunburst, Root Beer Metallic Blemished)

"...iconic series..."

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--IBASR305E

Ibanez SR2600 Premium Electric Bass (with Gig Bag)

Cerulean Blue

$1,599.99 OR 12 Payments $133.33

"...pro-level details..."

https://www.zzounds.com/a--3960264/item--IBASR2600