The very first concert I ever attended many years ago was sometime when I was still in middle school. My family was living in Potsdam, New York and Bobby McFerrin was performing on the State University campus at the Crane School of Music. The exact year of the concert, I remember not, but I do recall that it was some time after McFerrin's 1988 pop hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy," one of the very few a cappella songs to actually chart on top 40 radio. This song was noticeably absent from McFerrin's set for the concert my family attended.

I don't know what possessed my mother to bring myself and my two younger brothers to see this particular show, but I remember being impressed by the performance. True, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" - the only song my pre-teen ears would have recognised wasn't performed, but McFerrin's decision to dive into his classical and jazz work certainly left a positive impression upon this young listener.

I mention Bobby McFerrin because, in the word of popular music, a cappella performances are next to unheard of. While Björk can't exactly be classified as "pop," she has certainly sold far more albums than Rockapella or Diamanda Galás (whose Schrei X is technically an avant-garde a cappella album). The fact of the matter is that crafting a song, to say nothing of a song cycle, where the sole instrument voice (either solo or overdubbed) is a considerable undertaking - one that most pop and rock singers can't handle because, frankly, many pop and rock singers can't hold a tune in a fucking bucket.

No mere mortal musician, it should come as no surprise that Björk would eventually follow her muse towards tackling an a cappella album. Medúlla is an intimate, yet lush affair, Björk's voice taking centre stage, alternately being her own accompaniment and sharing that responsibility with numerous other vocal artists (including Mike Patton, Robert Wyatt, Rahzel, Dokaka and Icelandic and British Choirs).

Medúlla is not a difficult listen, but it is a certainly a seductive album. One is hard pressed not to dive in and swim through the sonic layers making up this work. Individual songs matter less as the whole is sequenced perfectly - like a well thought out journey to exotic destinations. I could list "stand out" tracks, but what would be the point when this is a CD which demands to be listened to from front to back in the order Björk chose to place the songs on it.

Here we go with another one.
1. How did you get into 31?
Eve 6:
searched for similar artists for a band i like on last.fm and they came up. got some stuff, and immediately fell in love!

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
Bowling for Soup:
That would be 1985. I only had the SR-71 one, and searched for another one.

3. What's your favourite lyric by 29?
Hammerhai:

'Ich bin besser als du!' denkt sich der Porschefahrer,
der mich aus Holland kommend, links überholt,
vermutlich zentnerweise Drogen im Gepäck,
an der deutschen Grenze von lächelnden Beamten freundlich durchgewunken wird,
dieselben, die Augenblicke später zu Bestien mutieren,
und akribisch meine alte Karre filzen,
ob nicht doch ein Grämmchen Haschisch, darin zu finden wäre!

'Haben oder Sein?' ist die Frage über die du dich definieren musst in dieser Welt!

4. What is your favourite album by 49?
Crash Test Dummies:
God Shuffled His Feet is great!

mclusky:
The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not On Fire was the first one I had, and in my opinion the best one.

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
The Offspring:
actually I own every single Album + some Live Bootlegs, that were released by other 'Record Companies' without a booklet and a cheap look over all.

6. What is your favourite song by 50?
(while there is no 50., I'll go with 51. here)
Mad Caddies:
All American Badass is awesome!

7. Is there a song by 4 that makes you sad?
Zaunpfahl:
Like I said before, songs don't make me sad, but Alles Glück und Pech is kinda sad.

8. What is your favourite song by 15?
The Bates:
way too many! But let's say:A Real Cool Time

9. What is your favourite song by 5?
Die Ärzte:
Same here, but Richtig schön evil is pretty awesome to play (no, not just because it's damn easy ;) )

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
Reel Big Fish:
Well, that would be almost every song.

11. What is your favourite album by 40?
Box Car Racer:
Since they only have one (which is pretty sad, cause I love 'em!), it's Boxcar Racer

12. What is your favourite song by 10?
Fall Out Boy:
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More "Touch Me"

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?
P.R. Kantate:
He's from Berlin, like I am, so there's just good memories ;)

14. What is your favourite song by 37?
Böhse Onkelz:
Kirche

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Billy Talent:
Red Flag

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?
Bela B.:
I think he isn't that good live, so never.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Tenacious D:
Friendship

18. What is your favourite album by 11?
Dritte Wahl:
Halt mich fest

19. Who is a favourite member of 1?
Terrorgruppe:
I don't have favourite members

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Dropkick Murphys:
I'm afraid I haven't, but if they come to germany, i will

21. What is a good memory involving 45?
Jan Delay:
Can`t recall one.

22. What is your favourite song by 16?
Arctic Monkeys:
The View From the Afternoon

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
AFI:
Can't really remember.

24. What is your favourite album by 21?
Big D and the Kids Table:
How It Goes

25. What is your favourite song by 18?
Lit:
Sunny Weather

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 38?
Die Toten Hosen
Hier kommt Alex

27. What is your favourite lyric by 3?
Wise Guys:
'Egal ob man schwitzt oder friert, Sommer ist was in deinem Kopf passiert!'

28. What is your favourite song by 2?
Green Day:
almost every song again. But F.O.D. is awesome.

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Goldfinger:
Superman

30. What is you favourite song by 8?
Rancid:
Stand Your Ground

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones:
Same here, didn't notice them being in germany

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
In Extremo:
Nur ihr allein

33. What is you favourite album by 12?
Sondaschule:
Klasse 1a

34. What is the worst song by 46?
Rockapella:
I can't really tell.

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
Since Mundstuhl is a comedy act (yeah they have Songs, but shush!) I'll go with 35 here.
The Aquabats:
Fashion Zombies

36. What is you favourite album by 42?
Kettcar:
Du Und Wieviel Von Deinen Freunden

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?
Catch 22:
COME TO GERMANY, DAMNIT! ;)

38. What is you favourite album by 36?
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes:
Blow in the Wind

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
Joachim Deutschland:
marie

40. What is you favourite album by 7?
Streetlight Manifesto:
I can safely say: BOTH ;) Keasbey Nights && Everything Goes Numb

Blah blah blah ... I don't know why I fill these out so much

1. Death Cab for Cutie
2. Galt MacDermot
3. The Beatles
4. Eels
5. Jonathan Larson
6. Everclear
7. Sufjan Stevens
8. Green Day
9. The Who
10.Say Anything
11.Modest Mouse
12.Hot Hot Heat
13.Weezer
14.Gavin DeGraw
15.Beck
16.Wilco
17.Howie Day
18.Elliott Smith
19.John Mayer
20.The Smashing Pumpkins
21.Kelly Clarkson
22.Will Smith
23.Nightshade
24.The Strokes
25.The Decemberists
26.Imogen Heap
27.The Arcade Fire
28.The Pussycat Dolls
29.Nirvana
30.Frou Frou
31.Franz Ferdinand
32.Blink-182
33.Red Hot Chili Peppers
34.No Doubt
35.The Killers
36.Led Zeppelin
37.Gwen Stefani
38.Rockapella
39.The Offspring
40.Bob Dylan
41.Motion City Soundtrack
42.The Doors
43.Jane's Addiction
44.Jimi Hendrix
45.Backstreet Boys
46.Kanye West
47.Queen
48.The Postal Service
49.Incubus
50.Lenny Kravitz

1. How did you get into 31?

Franz Ferdinand - When I went to this camp thing, I was introduced to them ... it was also right after Take Me Out came out.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?

Will Smith - Well, I'm sure it was Miami or Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

3. What's your favourite lyric by 41?

Motion City Soundtrack - Uhhh ... I really like "you said we were an accident, with accidents you'll never know what could have been, so we were an accident, you'll always be my favorite one" from My Favorite Accident

4. What is your favourite album by 49?

Incubus - definitely Make Yourself

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?

Weezer - I have 4, from Weezer to Maladroit

6. What is your favourite song by 50?

Lenny Kravitz - well, I always loved Fly Away, but I really love Are You Gonna Go My Way

7. Is their a song by 4 that makes you sad?

Well, it is the Eels ...

8. What is your least favourite song by 15?

Beck - Probably Analog Odyssey ... mainly b/c it's just a bunch of beeps and analog sounds

9. What is your favourite song by 5?

Jonathan Larson - oooh ... so many ... I suppose Seasons of Love, What You Own, and Take Me or Leave Me are my faves.

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?

Everclear - Well, Santa Monica is me and my dad's song, so that one :)

11. What is your favourite album by 40?

Bob Dylan - I don't really own any of his full albums, sadly enough. But I do love Knockin' on Heaven's Door

12. What is your favourite song by 10?

Say Anything[/track] - Admit It!!! and Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too are two of my faves

13. What is a good memory you have involving 33?

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hmmm ... probably when my mom heard Californication, and freaked out because she though they were saying "fornication" haha

14. What is your favourite song by 37?

Gwen Stefani - my choices are rather limited ... her solo stuff is only good when on a treadmill. But I suppose it's [track artist=Gwen Stefani]Hollaback Girl

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?

John Mayer - Yeah, a bunch ... I really like 83 and Daughters ... dunno why that last one would make me happy, but it does, haha

16. How many times have you seen 24 live?

The Strokes - nada

17. What is the first song you heard by 23?

Nightshade (not the weird metal one, a local a cappella group called Nightshade) - Well, it was whatever songs they performed in concert. Probably a version of Penny Lane or some such song

18. What is your favourite album by 11?

Modest Mouse - probably Good News for People Who Love Bad News

19. Who is your favourite member of 1?

Death Cab for Cutie - well, obviously it's Ben Gibbard. Really, I like Chris Walla, but Ben gets all the attention and I love The Postal Service, too.

20. How many times have you seen 14 live?

Gavin DeGraw - almost once, but it didn't happen, sadly

21. What is a good memory you have involving 45?

Backstreet Boys - well, the two concerts I dragged my poor dad to, the many preteen years of idolizing Brian Litrell and the singalongs in college when we needed silly stress relief

22. What is your favourite song by 16?

Wilco- well, Jesus, etc. is an AMAZING song

23. What is the first song you heard by 47?

Queen - Well, probably Another One Bites the Dust or Bohemian Rhapsody

24. What is your favourite album by 3?

The Beatles - wow, tough question ... do I like the original pop-rocky sound or their later, more psychedelic sound? I've always been a really big fan of A Hard Day's Night, as silly as that sounds

25. What is your favourite song by 18?

Elliott Smith - I don't really know ... I don't really know song titles with him ...

26. What is the first song you heard by 38?

Rockapella - Well, I think this is "Rockapella" - not the real group. I think it's a mistag on the part of LOTS of people. But it was probably Breakfast at Tiffany's

27. What is your favourite lyric that 21 has sung?

Kelly Clarkson - Oh dear ... my fave song by her is probably Breakway

28. What is your favourite song by 2?

Galt MacDermot - probably The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)

29. What is the first song you heard by 32?

Blink-182 - probably What's My Age Again?

30. What is your favourite song by 8?

Green Day - probably Basket Case

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?

Howie Day - never, that woudl be fun

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?

Jimi Hendrix - definitely Hey Joe, Fire, and Purple Haze. The first is because it reminds me of a cool guy at this summer camp named Joe

33. What is your favourite album by 12?

Hot Hot Heat - Elevator

34. What is the worst song by 29?

Nirvana - I don't really like Sliver

35. What was the first song you heard by 34?

No Doubt - Definitely Don't Speak

36. What is your favourite album by 42?

The Doors - ummmm ... The Very Best of The Doors is the only one I have

37. How many times have you seen 39 live?

The Offspring - Never

38. What is your favourite album by 36?

Led Zeppelin - all I have is a greatest hits album, but I like the songs from Led Zeppelin IV

39. What is the first song you heard by 28?

The Pussycat Dolls - I'm sure it was Don't Cha

40. What is your favourite album by 35?

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Last.fm-Mainstream-O-Meter result
chapsticky's top artists:

• 1 - Lemon Demon: 2% mainstream
• 2 - Cake: 38% mainstream
• 3 - XTC: 9% mainstream
• 4 - Ben Folds Five: 26% mainstream
• 5 - Barenaked Ladies: 21% mainstream
• 6 - They Might Be Giants: 14% mainstream
• 7 - Weezer: 73% mainstream
• 8 - Self: 2% mainstream
• 9 - The New Pornographers: 25% mainstream
• 10 - Off The Beat: 0% mainstream
• 11 - Kottonmouth Kings: 2% mainstream
• 12 - Bloodhound Gang: 36% mainstream
• 13 - Richard Cheese: 11% mainstream
• 14 - Logan Whitehurst & The Junior Science Club: 0% mainstream
• 15 - System of a Down: 74% mainstream
• 16 - The Dandy Warhols: 26% mainstream
• 17 - Ben Folds: 28% mainstream
• 18 - Tom Jones: 11% mainstream
• 19 - U2: 79% mainstream
• 20 - Sublime: 36% mainstream
• 21 - Maroon 5: 44% mainstream
• 22 - Green Day: 87% mainstream
• 23 - Cowboy Mouth: 1% mainstream
• 24 - Counting Crows: 42% mainstream
• 25 - The Offspring: 54% mainstream
• 26 - IMA Robot: 5% mainstream
• 27 - Dane Cook: 12% mainstream
• 28 - Rockapella: 3% mainstream
• 29 - Guster: 13% mainstream
• 30 - Mandy Moore: 10% mainstream

chapsticky is 24.35 % mainstream

mainstream.vincentahrend.com

Take your top 20 artists. For each of these artists, collect the top 5 similar artists. The resulting number of unique artists is your eclectic score. If the score is small (extreme = 5) your musical preferences are very limited, and if it is large (extreme = 100), then you have an eclectic musical preference. You can compute your own score at http://anthony.liekens.net/pub/scripts/last.fm/eclectic.php

My eclectic score is currently




The 80 related artists for my profile are 50 Cent Air (2) Alanis Morissette Barbara Higbie Belle and Sebastian Billy Joel Blue Devils Britney Spears Bryan Adams Clannad Coldplay Céline Dion Danny Elfman (2) David Arkenstone David Lanz Dido (2) Disney Doves Elton John Eminem Enigma (2) Enya (2) Frances Ruffelle and Steve Shocket Frou Frou Genesis George Winston Girls Aloud Guns N' Roses Gwen Stefani Hans Zimmer (2) Harry Gregson-Williams (2) Howard Shore (2) Interpol James Blunt James Horner (3) John Tesh John Williams (3) Jonathan Larson Judy Kuhn, David Bryant, Frances Ruffelle Klaus Badelt (3) Kruder & Dorfmeister Led Zeppelin Les Misérables Liberty X Liz Story Loreena McKennitt (2) Madonna (3) Massive Attack (2) Maynard Ferguson Michael Jackson Michael Maguire, Students, And The Citizens Moby Natalie Imbruglia No Doubt Ohio State University Marching Pink Floyd Placebo Rachel Stevens Radiohead Red Hot Chili Peppers Robbie Williams Rockapella Sarah Brightman Sarah McLachlan Sean Paul Shania Twain Steve Shocket Sugababes (2) Terrance Mann, Michael Maguire, Braden Danner and Students The Arcade Fire The Beatles The Cardigans The Cranberries The Futureheads The Smashing Pumpkins Thievery Corporation Tosca U2 (2) Will Young Zero 7

All contents copyrighted 2000-2007 Anthony Liekens unless otherwise noted.

(hed) Planet Earth, 100 Demons, 2 Vibez, 2Cents, 3 Inches of Blood, 311, 36 Crazyfists, 40 Below Summer, A Life Once Lost, A Perfect Murder, A Tribe Called Quest, Accuface, Acid Bath, Adema, Aeon, After Midnight Project, AfterImage, Agathodaimon, Agents of Man, Akon, Alex Fakey, Alex Hecker, Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys, All Out War, All Shall Perish, All That Remains, American Hi-Fi, Amon Amarth, Amorphis, Anacrusis, Andalucia, Andrea Bocelli, Andy McKee, Angels & Airwaves, Aphrodite, Apocalyptica, Aqua, Arch Enemy, The Arrogant Worms, Arsis, Art of Trance, As Blood Runs Black, As I Lay Dying, Ásmegin, ATB, Atreyu, Avantasia, Avenged Sevenfold, Baby Bash, Baby Boy, Baghead, Barenaked Ladies, Battlelore, B.B. King & Eric Clapton, Becoming the Archetype, Behemoth, benassi bros_, Between the Buried and Me, Beyond The Embrace, Billie Holiday, Binary Finary, Björk, Black Label Society, Black Sabbath, Blackstreet, Blank & Jones, Bleed the Sky, Bleeding Through, Bless The Fallen, Blinded Colony, Blood Red Throne, Bloodbath, Bloodshoteye, Bloodsimple, Blue October, Bob Marley, Borknagar, Brainstorm, Brand New Sin, Bridge to Solace, Brooklyn Bounce, brown boy, Bryan Adams, Buckcherry, Bullet for My Valentine, Burn Season, Bury Your Dead, C-quence, Caliban, Candiria, Cannae, Carcass, Carnal Forge, Cary Brothers, Cataract, Centinex, Cephalic Carnage, Chaoswave, Children of Bodom, Chimaira, Chimera, Chris Brown, Christopher Plummer & Julie Andrews, Cipher System, CKY, Clokx, Colin Hay, Common, Communic, Various Artists, Conjure One, Cosmic Gate, Counting Crows, Cradle of Filth, Craig Armstrong, Cronics, Crossfade, Da Hool, Daath, Damageplan, Daniel Powter, Dark Lotus, Dark New Day, Dark Tranquillity, Darkane, Darkest Hour, Darude, Dave Matthews Band, Daysend, Dead to Fall, Deadlock, Deathchain, Deathspell Omega, Deibler, Delerium, Demiricous, Demon Hunter, Demons & Wizards, Depeche Mode, Derdian, Descend To Rise, Despised Icon, Destroy The Runner, DevilDriver, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Diecast, Dim the Lights, Dimension Zero, Dimmu Borgir, Dirty on Purpose, Disturbed, Ditchwater, DJ Pontos, Dj Qbert-Whoodini_vs_Dj_Icey, DJ Roberto K_, DJ Sammy, Dogfight, Downthesun, Dr. Dre, DragonForce, Dream Evil, Dream Theater, Drowning Pool, Dry Kill Logic, DuMonde, Dutch Force, Dylan Leff, Dynamite Hack, Edguy, Eighteen Visions, Einherjer, Eisbrecher, Ektomorf, Emigrate, Eminem, Endthisday, Endwell, Energy 52, Ensiferum, Enslaved, Entwine, Enya, Eric Clapton, Escape The Fate, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Evanescence, Eve 6, Evergrey, Exhorder, Extinction, Extol, Falconer, Fates Warning, Faulter, Fear Factory, Ferry Corsten, Finntroll, Five for Fighting, Five Pointe O, Fjoergyn, Flametal, Foo Fighters, Fort Minor, Fountains of Wayne, From Autumn to Ashes, Frou Frou, Full Blown Chaos, Future Breeze, Gaias Pendulum, Gamma Ray, Gnarls Barkley, God Dethroned, God Forbid, Godsmack, Gojira, Goldenscan, Goldfinger, Green Day, Groove Coverage, Guardians of the Earth, HammerFall, Hand to Hand, Hanzel and Gretel, Hate Eternal, Hatebreed, Hatesphere, Heaven Shall Burn, Hell Within, Hellogoodbye, Hellyeah, Hit the Switch, Hourcast, House Negro, Howie Day, Ian Van Dahl, Iced Earth, iiO, Ill Niño, Ill Niño, Imogen Heap, Import, In Flames, In This Moment, Incubus, Index Case, Insomnium, Into Eternity, Iommi, Iron & Wine, Iron Maiden, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, It Dies Today, [unknown], Jaco Pastorius, James Blunt, Jamie Cullum, Jay-Z, Joachim Witt & Will Heppner, Jodeci, Joe Satriani, John Mayer, Jon Secada, Joni Mitchell, Josh Groban, Julie Andrews, Kaamos, Kalmah, Kamelot, Kataklysm, Katatonia, Keane, Killswitch Engage, KISS, Kittie, KoЯn, Korpiklaani, Krid P_, Krisiun, Lacrimosa, Lacuna, Lacuna Coil, Lamb of God, Lazard, Liam Lynch, Libra presents Taylor, Light This City, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram, Liquid Tension Experiment, Lit, Live, LL Cool J ft. K-Ci & JoJo, Looptroop, Lost Soul, Louis Armstrong, Lullacry, Lustral, Manntis, Manu Chao, Maroon 5, Martyr AD, Matt Darey & Marcella Woods, Mauro Picotto, Megadeth, Mendeed, Menno de Jong, Merauder, Mercenary, Mercury Tide, Meshuggah, Metallica, Michael Bublé, Michael Bublé, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ministry, Misery Index, Mnemic, Moguai, Morbid Angel, Movies, Mudvayne, Murderdolls, Mushroomhead, My Chemical Romance, N-Trance, Naglfar, Nas, Neaera, Necrophagist, Nelly feat. Jermaine Dupri, Paul Wall & St. Lunatics, Neo Cortex, Nevermore, Nickelback, Niels Van Gogh, Nightrage, Nightwish, Nile, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, [unknown], No Doubt, Nocturnal Rites, NonExist, Nonpoint, Nothingface, NY Loose, O-Zone, Oasis, OceanLab, Old Man's Child, Opeth, Osyrus, Otep, OutKast, Outside, Over It, Paul van Dyk, Paul Wall, Peter, Petey Pabloe, Pissing Razors, Placebo, Planet Punk, Plummet, Plus-44, PodCasts, Powerman 5000, Powerwolf, Prince Genesis, Punk Freakz, Push, Pyrexia, Queens of the Stone Age, Queensrÿche, R. Kelly, Rammstein, Ram-Zet, Rancid, Randy Katana, Rank 1, Ray Charles, Ray Charles & Nina Simone, Reconstructed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jonathan Larson, Rhapsody, Roadrunner United, Robert Miles, Rockapella, Rufus Wainwright, Samael, Sasha, Say Anything, SCAM, Scar Symmetry, ScarCulture, Scars of Tomorrow, Scatman John, Schiller, Scissorfight, Sean Paul, Seether, Sentenced, Sepultura, Sevendust, Shadows Fall, Shakira, SikTh, Silent Civilian, Simple Plan, Sirenia, Six Feet Under, Six Reasons to Kill, Skillet, Skinlab, Skinless, Skyclad, Skyfire, Slayer, Slipknot, Snoop Dogg, Snot, Soilwork, Solar Stone, Solefald, Sonata Arctica, Sonic Syndicate, Sosa, Soulfly, South Park, Special D_, Spineshank, Staind, Stampin' Ground, Static-X, Still Remains, Stone Sour, Stormlord, Strapping Young Lad, Stratovarius, Styx, Sublime, Sunbeam, Sunrise, Susperia, System F, System of a Down, T.I_, Tad Morose, Talla 2XLC, TEAM, Tenacious D, The Acacia Strain, The Agony Scene, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Black Maria, The Blank Theory, The Classic Struggle, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Distillers, The Doors, The Dying Light, The Esoteric, The Faint, The Haunted, The Human Abstract, The La's, The Mars Volta, The Red Chord, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Thrillseekers, The Veronicas, the7method, Theme - Instrumental, Threat Signal, Three Drives, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Throwdown, Tiamat, Tila Tequila, Toto, Trance Allstars,