Music has been a part of human life since time immemorial. It penetrates our souls and becomes a part of us, just as we, its creators, are a part of it. We and our creations grow and learn together, and each phase of human development brings with it new tools to create the aural extension of our soul.

The future will be no different. As we progress into the horizon of time, these ten instruments of tomorrow will sing the soundtrack of our ascension.

10 Pocket Synths

As music technology advances, the production of music and musical instruments becomes more accessible, more affordable, and more casual. The need for massive studio setups, at least below the highest professional echelons of the industry, is rapidly dwindling in favor of simplicity and the capacity to create and display music casually and on the fly. Enter: pocket synths.

These compact yet versatile systems for the creation of music are a perfect fit for the needs of tomorrow’s aspiring musicians. Models like the Korg Volka and even models by Teenage Engineering that cost as little as $49 are giving modern songsmiths all the tools they need in a pocket-size package at a fraction of the price of the typical studio and stage synths that are much more expensive and much less convenient.^[1]

And, if the simplicity of pocket synths is, for some reason, still too much for you, there are the wearable triggers made by DrumPants, which integrate with your clothes to allow you to create drumbeats simply by tapping your lap and stamping your feet, just like you already do to your favorite tunes, anyway!

9 Enhanced Guitars

Guitars have been a mainstay of music since their invention, through the creation of the first electric versions, and into the present day, with recent advancements like extended-range models (seven-, eight-, nine-string, etc.) and the synth pickup. Given the continuing relevance of this instrument, it’s safe to say that it won’t be disappearing anytime soon. How, though, will they manage to remain relevant in the ever-changing landscape of modern music? The same way they always have: by adapting and advancing. Any of the older versions of the guitar could be included in this list, but the way they are used in most music is the same as it always has been, so we’ll focus on the guitars of the future.

The aforementioned synth pickups in particular allow guitars a level of sound control generally reserved for synthesizers, and Boss’s GK series even allows for the articulation of electric guitar—the trait that gives instruments their ability to create feeling, and a trait for which electric guitar is particularly renowned—to be utilized with synthesized sounds, which are usually especially lacking in this regard.^[2] Additional add-ons, fringe components, and various other Frankenstein-esque technologies are constantly in development, assuring that this instrumental mainstay is here for the long haul.

8 Digital Simulated Instruments

Much like the synth pickup guitars mentioned above, many other instruments are attempting to modernize through digitization. Electric versions of classical strings, for example, are readily available, and electronic wind instruments feature the ability to simulate various wind and brass instruments with a single interface. (These instruments are usually all played differently and require separate training.)

Perhaps the most prevalent of these digitized classics is the electronic drum kit. Acoustic kit drums are not particularly versatile in their sound, regularly replaced by electronic versions in professional recordings, difficult to transport, and a nightmare to record (despite the fact that they will likely be mostly dubbed over regardless). Electronic drums, however, feature a wide variety of sounds (both acoustic-sounding and synthy) which are performance- and recording-ready and are far more convenient for both recording and travel, not to mention the adjustable volume which allows you to play and practice—even late at night—without making mortal enemies of your roommates and neighborhood.^[3]

7 Pan Drums

One type of preexisting instrument that requires no technological advancement to survive the progress of the musical world is the pan drum. In fact, one type of pan drum—called the tongue drum—is thought to be the most ancient instrument besides the voice! Some African cultures even have a language developed for them. So if that’s the case, then why is it that these instruments are featured on a list of the instruments of tomorrow?

There are actually a few collected reasons that keep pan drums relevant and even presently rising in popularity:

Firstly, pan drums are easy to learn and play, making them accessible to beginners and those intimidated by the perceived difficulty of learning a musical instrument.^[4]

Second, they are convenient. As stated above, they do not require the additional accessories, particularly amplifiers and other electronic elements, making them easy to carry and perform publicly and on the fly. This is often done by even the most notable of lap drum artists, such as Hang Massive.

Third, and possibly most importantly, the etheric and almost psychedelic sound created by pan drums is strikingly dynamic and complex for an acoustic instrument. The sound is otherworldly and speaks to a primal part of the soul which is as ancient as the instrument itself. This naturally mystical tone conjures a dreaminess unparalleled by even most synthetically created and richly layered musical sounds.

6 Nomis

The main pitfall of DJing and performing other forms of loop-oriented music is the lack of showmanship of performing the utilized instruments. Well, for those in the loop world looking to up the performance ante, the Nomis by Jonathan Sparks is here to answer the call in a fantastically theatrical fashion.

The Nomis features a flashy, vertical octagonal controller framing the person playing it. This controller is flanked by two lighted towers. The first towers displays a color representing the sound being used. A rotation of the large octagonal controller loops the melody played and activates a similar light on the second tower which pulses as the looped notes play, not only creating an amazing light show but also allowing the audience a detailed look at the essence of the music they are enjoying.^[5] This engrossing display of electronic musicianship is sure to bring the art of electronic music performance headlong into tomorrow.

5 Expressive Synths

Expression and articulation are shortcomings of synthesized instruments, as well as keyboard-based instruments in general. The keys of a piano cannot be bent like the strings of a guitar, and even the digital bending and expressive features of a synthesizer pale in comparison to those of a string or wind instrument played with all the infinite subtlety and detail of precise, articulate human movement and the natural dynamics of a real-world vibrating instrument.

There are, however, various new models of synthesizer that are challenging this notion and increasing the degree of detailed expression in digital instruments dramatically. Take, for example, the Continuum Fingerboard; a synthesizer featuring a flat, rectangular surface with evenly spaced notes—similar to the keys on a keyboard but digitally projected—on which the finger can slide and move to generate expressions such as pitch-bending and dynamic touch sensitivity based on pressure and other intricate elements of human touch.^[6] The ROLI Seaboard features similar dynamic traits but is controlled by flexible silicon rubber keys. There are also various other options for expressive keyboard synthesizers and even drum machine-style synthesizers which feature similar dynamic touch controls to the aforementioned keyboard versions.

4 Metatonals

Imagine you were told that literally every piece of music you’ve ever heard, save for a cappella and a small, select collection of horns and fretless string instruments, was played incorrectly, or at least inaccurately. Would you believe it? Well, you should, because it’s the truth, and here to prove it, as well as to correct the mistakes, is a collection of instruments referred to as “metatonals.”

Music is a much more complex science than the vast majority of people realize. The precise pitch of a note varies depending on the notes with which it is resonating. For example, a G-sharp on its own is a slightly different pitch than a G-sharp resonating with an E, and those are different than if they were resonating with different notes, and so on. No instrument with notes in controlled locations, such as with the keys of a keyboard or the frets of a guitar, can match these minute variations accurately and thus settle for roundabout pitches that resonate well together but not perfectly in each context.

Additionally, there are many intervals at which resonant notes can be organized. The standard set used collectively as a standard by modern musicians (known as diatonic) is only one of an infinite set of choices, picked for the sake of uniformity of instruments and the ability for musicians to communicate.^[7] After all, if instruments didn’t share the same notes, they wouldn’t be able to play together, and their players wouldn’t be learning and understanding the same information.

As instrumental technologies advance, however, the ability is growing within them to have more options to make them more versatile in their types of resonance and more precise within the keys and context in which they are being played. There are various new technologies, including removable and/or adjustable fretboards as well as fretboards with different spacing that allow guitars and basses more versatility.

Most significant of the metatonal instruments, however, is likely the Tonal Plexus, a keyboard-like instrument featuring a massive amount of intervals in between each standard musical note, making for a virtually unlimited set of keys and the precise ability to harmonize notes for any context. Instruments like these not only explode the amount of potential melodies and other tonal elements that a musician can use but also make the music we already love sound significantly better, both increasing creative options and making all music sound better at its foundation.

3 Eigenharp

One of the most important elements of the future of musical instruments is convenient versatility. This is plainly evident in the rise of synthesizers as opposed to singular instruments, which have greater dynamics, expression, and articulation (though, as stated in items above, synthetic instruments are rapidly catching up). The Eigenharp is perhaps the greatest example of this notion.

Combining the features of synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers in an instrument that can be played similarly to a guitar, keyboard, a wind instrument, or some custom hybridization of those and with expression in both the fingers and the “breath pipe” (the feature which allows wind-style playing), this instrument is the ultimate in versatility and expression. Not only that, but the guitar-style playing position of the instrument makes it ideal for live performances as well. The Eigenharp is the ultimate all-purpose instrument.^[8]

2 Bioinstruments

Okay, time to get wild. What if the human body itself was included on this list? One would likely assume that this means singing, perhaps beatboxing, maybe even ham-bone, but that’s not it at all. Granted, these things are not going to disappear by any means, but as they also aren’t likely to change dramatically in the way they are used, it would be imprudent to have them take up extra space on this list. What this item represents is, in fact, none of these things but rather technologies that are used to collect signals from the natural functions of the body, such as the heart and brain, to create music. Sound confusing? Let’s frame it this way:

What if you could think music and make it happen? Seriously.

The encephalophone is a device that converts brain waves into musical signals. This fantastically inventive instrument is a revolutionary way to express the music imagined by a musician regardless of technical instrumental talent and academics. Research is also being done to use this amazing tool to help musicians suffering from some form of injury or ailment that prevents them from singing or interacting with a musical instrument to be able to create music despite their condition.

In addition to the encephalophone, there is also a device called the cardiophone, which uses the heartbeat to generate rhythmic tones for either musical or medical monitoring purposes.^[9] Clearly, the human body is one of the emerging musical instruments of our time.

1 Computers

Perhaps this item seems like a bit of a cop-out, but the necessity of computers to the future of music is undeniable. Every item on this list requires a computer to operate, save for the pan drum, which still requires a computer to be recorded (unless you consider more outdated recording methods, like tape or wax, but these methods are largely abandoned except for in certain enthusiast circles). Recordings on computer can also be manipulated and fine-tuned in a seemingly infinite collection of ways in order to make a piece of music into precisely the form imagined by its creator.

Additionally, computers can be used to manually enter musical information into a program, bypassing the need for another instrument entirely.^[10] There is no doubt that the computer is the most quintessential piece of musical equipment for now and into the foreseeable future.

The music that will resonate through our own futures and the lives our children is unforeseeable. We may, however, get a taste of the sound through the instruments on which the songs will be written, and if the tools listed above are any indication, the sound will be most wondrous.

Jason Karras writes, therefore he is.

Not all musical moments in TV shows happen in musical shows such as Glee, HSM: The Series, or more recently, Katy Keene. From time to time popular drama series, sitcoms or even shows about the supernatural make musical performances a part of one or more episodes. On this list are some surprisingly good (and also very bad) musical performances in non-musical shows.

10 Legendary Reasons We Have Music

10 Friends

Friends is most fondly remembered for, well, friendship, and great one-liners. The hugely popular show gave us “Smelly Cat”, Pivot!, a holiday armadillo, Chanandler Bong and so much more. There are many funny songs by Phoebe, but a truly surprisingly awesome musical moment happens when The Pretenders frontwoman, Chrissie Hynde, sings “Angel of the Morning” in Central Perk.

Chris Isaak also has a cameo role in the show and sings “Smelly Cat” with Phoebe, letting loose his incredible vocal range. He is rewarded by Phoebe telling him “you might want to pick a more masculine note.”

9 The Big Bang Theory

Love it or hate it, The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. It wrapped after 12 seasons and is the longest-running multi-camera comedy in TV history. The series includes some terrible music moments including Raj and Howard singing “Hammer & Whip”, Raj and Leonard singing “Bust a Move” and Howard and Bernadette singing “I Got You Babe” during a car trip. Although to be fair, it is a sitcom and all these musical moments are done in jest.

There is one stand-out performance however that somewhat tugs at the heartstrings. Howard and the rest of the group singing “If I Didn’t Have You” to Bernadette who has been quarantined in hospital. While the singing is not great, the performance has heart and it makes for a beautiful moment.

8 Grey’s Anatomy

If ever there was a musical episode that divided viewers, it is “Song Beneath The Song” from Grey’s Anatomy. Some fans loved it, while others hated it so much that they threatened to stop watching altogether. There are several performances during the episode including an all-cast version of “How To Save A Life”, “Breathe”, a toe-tapping version of “Running on Sunshine”, and “Wait”.

An outstanding rendition of “The Story” is performed by Sara Ramirez towards the end of the episode. The scenes accompanying the performance are arguably rather strange, with Sara’s character, Callie Torres, simultaneously lying prone in a hospital bed while also walking around and singing. It doesn’t take away from Ramirez’ fantastic performance though.

7 Riverdale

It would be easy to mistake Riverdale for a musical series considering there has been more than 50 music performances over its four seasons. However, it is billed as a teen drama series and one can only guess as to why so much singing happens during the show. There are several cringey performances such as “Exquisite Corpse”, “Our Love is God”, “You Shine”, and “Sufferin’ Till Suffrage.”

Some of the better performances include “Candy Girl”, “Kids in America”, “Amazing Grace”, and “Back to Black”.

This video includes a compilation of both the good and the not so good.

6 Ally McBeal

Ally McBeal is a quintessential 90s comedy-drama TV series. It’s funny, heartbreaking, weird and audiences absolutely loved it. Especially the dancing baby, The Biscuit dancing to Barry White, the butt-sniffing and the ‘getting-stuck-in-the-toilet’ scene. There were also many, many performances by Elaine and a host of celebrity cameo performances including Barry Manilow, Elton John, Barry White, Anastasia, Tina Turner, Gloria Gaynor and more.

There were several beautiful moments too, including Josh Groban’s emotional performance of “You’re Still You” during a prom scene. Some fan-favorite musical moments came from an unlikely source: none other than Robert Downey Jr. In the show, Downey plays Ally’s love interest who ultimately leaves her to move back to Detroit. He sings Joni Mitchell’s “River” during a Christmas episode and also sang Ally a song he wrote for her called “Chances”. Downey even had a duet with Sting which was intended as both a belated birthday gift and apology to Ally. On top of that he also performed a rousing rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s Sherry Darling.

10 Sublime Moments in Classical Music on Youtube

5 Once Upon A Time

It would probably have been a crime for Once Upon A Time to have existed for 7 seasons and never feature a musical episode, and this is exactly what happens in the 20th instalment of the 6th season. Some of the most beloved characters got to show off their musical talents with original songs.

Charming and Snow White had their own “Disney” moment and kicked off the episode, with the Evil Queen following soon after. Captain Hook and Emma have their own moment as well.

The Wicked Witch (Rebecca Mader) gave an outstanding performance of “Wicked Always Wins” with fans going wild over it and calling it the best song of the episode.

4 Dawson’s Creek

Dawson’s Creek has become somewhat of a joke in the years that followed its cancellation. This is thanks in no small part to James Van Der Beek, aka Dawson, and his terrible crying face which has spawned hundreds of memes. The dreadful dialogue also didn’t do the show any favors.

There were some musical moments in the teen drama too. Some quite good, others quite terrible. There was a drama-laden rendition of “Daydream Believer” that unleashed a thick cloud of teen angst and a drunken duet by Dawson and Andie that was more cringe than song.

A fitting performance in Season 1 by Joey Potter of “On My Own” from Les Miserable, had some fans reaching for the tissues. Potter was often teased about her shy and prude-like demeanor and this led to some pretty memorable music moments when she eventually let loose. In this clip she sings “I Hate Myself For Loving You” alongside Chad Michael Murray’s character Charlie, to the great delight of the audience.

3 Stranger Things

The very last thing anyone expected while watching Netflix’s Stranger Things 3, was for any of the characters to spontaneously burst out into song. But this is exactly what happened during a very tense scene in the finale of the third season. While the Mind Flayer is wreaking havoc in Hawkins and Hopper and Joyce impatiently await the code (Planck’s constant) needed to unlock a safe, Dustin and his long-distance girlfriend Suzie start singing “The NeverEnding Story” at Suzie’s insistence.

The result is a fantastic performance of the song by the two teenagers and one of the most unforgettable moments that fans still excitedly talk about as they await the arrival of the fourth season of the hugely popular series. Interestingly, this moment almost didn’t happen as the song wasn’t the first choice for that particular scene. Before settling on “The NeverEnding Story”, the show’s creators considered using the Ent’s song (The Ent and the Ent-Wife) from The Lord of the Rings.

2 Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a great soundtrack featuring songs by Sarah McLachlan, Joss Whedon, Christophe Beck, Garbage and Alison Krauss. The show was presented as a low-budget supernatural comedy when it first aired on The WB in 1997. No one expected much from it. Little did they know what an impact the show would have and that it would soon become a pop culture force to be reckoned with.

Naturally, the show explored a relationship between Buffy and a vampire (Angel) and later on between Buffy and bad boy vampire, Spike. Much the same as the somewhat modern-day Team Jacob and Team Edward, there was definitely a Team Angel and a Team Spike with some Angel fans leaning more towards Spike as the seasons progressed.

During the seventh episode of the sixth season, the plot centers around a demon compelling the people of Sunnydale to randomly break into song, and, in doing so, reveal hidden truths. Buffy sings of her ‘boring’ life when she performs “Going Through The Motions” and there is a big closing number with everyone singing “Where Do We Go From Here?”. There are several other hits in the episode with a fan favorite being “Rest in Peace” sung by Spike.

1 House

Gregory House is still one of TV’s most iconic anti-heroes. The show House has been nominated for several awards, including SAG, Emmys and Golden Globes and holds the distinctive title of being the most watched TV show in the world in 2008. Hugh Laurie, who brought Gregory House to life, has stated that playing the character was a nightmare and that at first, he didn’t believe that House could be a main character. Hugh Laurie is also pretty much the last TV actor you would expect to start singing at any given time.

And yet, House dons a top hat and magician-looking suit and sings a creepy version of “Get Happy” with Lisa Edelstein’s character, Lisa Cuddy. He can definitely sing, but the eyeliner and weird cinematography is hugely disconcerting.

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Are you bored of hearing the same, semi-whispered, vaguely English sounding female singer that pronounces every ‘s’ as ‘zsh’? Interested in expanding your musical horizons so far that you may just find yourself in another universe? Check out these fringe musical genres, shed the notion that ‘current’ and ‘new’ means ‘good’ and you may just find your newest old jam… this is not a suggestion that you eat twelve-year-old jam. Enjoy.

Top 10 Musicians Who Were Ahead Of Their Time

10 Bardcore

Taking existing songs and re-imagining them within a different, often older genre has been a view-generator online for a while now (check out the views gathered by Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox). This trend is normally limited to taking contemporary songs and making them seem like songs of a by-gone 20th century style. What if we go back further? Much further? Welcome to the beautifully weird world of Bardcore.

Where nostalgia could be considered the main driver for the success of retrofication of modern pop songs, who is going to feel nostalgic for music from the medieval era? In part, it’s exposure to this little-known era and the accessibility of the modern song that allows for listening to Bardcore to be as much of a journey of discovery as simply listening to good music. Before long, you’ll forget the original lyrics to Lady GaGa’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ and find yourself singing Hildegard von Blingin’s version instead:

‘I want thy horror, I want thy design/Thou art a criminal whilst thou art mine’.^[1]

9 Chillhop

This genre is great when you want to relax and fall asleep. It is also great when you want to sit down and study. It is also great to wake up to instead of a shrill, jangling alarm clock. This genre is so chill, so laid back, it is hard not to like. One cannot imagine a person who really hates hard on chillhop (unless you don’t understand that definitions of art are not generated by any given individual). It is conversely difficult to imagine a person whose whole life is defined by listening to this microgenre in the same way as a punk or a metal-head. That is the beauty of chillhop; don’t think too hard for a while, recharge your batteries, Wagner can wait. Right now, stick those ear pods in, hold your mug of coffee close, close your eyes and get ready for whatever comes next.^[2]

8 Japanoise

Let’s cut out all this blissed-out ceiling gazing shall we? Let’s get some blood pumping! Japan has a solid pedigree when it comes to extreme, avant-garde metal. This is most evident in the amorphous, ever evolving genre of Japanoise (Japan—Noise).

Noise music is hard to get into. Most people do not have a proclivity for enjoying ‘extreme’ musical genres. Japanoise bands have always felt slightly more accessible to non metalheads due to the worth the put on musical competence as well as innovation. Still, it may be a tough sell if you want your grandma to listen. Try to imagine listening to bands like ‘Merzbow’ or ‘Melt Banana’ as similar to attending a good, immersive conceptual art exhibition (they do exist, promise). You don’t have to love it, but try to let the complexity and the discord make you think.^[3]

7 Gypsy Punk

When you listen to Django Reinhardt’s recordings, it feels revolutionary for the time. It sounds explosive when you consider that his music was published around the same time as Cole Porter and Bing Crosby were topping the charts stateside. The stripped back, free, joyful sounds that Reinhardt gave the world, drawing on tradition Romani music, is still getting banged out and getting people moving in the form of gypsy punk.

The cultural influences go beyond Romani music—polka, klezmer, rockabilly, English folk, it really is the ‘world music’ of punk. One of the main themes you’ll find is the notion of life being about seeking new experiences, allowing for wanderlust to drive your impulses. Next time you get married, make sure the band is a gypsy punk outfit and you can ensure the party will be remembered forever.^[4]

6 Traditional Georgian Folk Music

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. In the case of this age-old musical tradition, beauty will be in the ear of the listener.

The history of polyphonic folk singing in Georgia dates back into antiquity, pre-dating Christianity coming to Georgia in the 4th Century. Back in 2001, Georgian polyphonic music was listed as one of the first entrances to UNESCOs list of ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’. Both Werner Herzog and the Coen Brothers have made use of the genre in their movies, offsetting their counter-culture films with songs that not only sound as though they’re from a time before we knew what time was, but also sound as though they come down from heaven itself. Hamlet Gonashvili, owner of one of the sweetest voices ever recorded, was a huge star within the genre. In 1985, at the height of his fame and gaining acknowledgment outside his native land, Gonashvili died from injuries after a fall from an apple tree. When you listen to the atmospheric, tragic-sounding songs he recorded, you’ll realise how fitting this way of dying seems.^[5]

10 Crazy Conspiracy Theories Clouding The Music Industry

5 Witch House

This is what Blade sticks on after a long day of pumping vampires full of silver. This is the music the CIA should blast at buildings housing key targets they wish to flush out. Good goat-headed god, this music is disconcerting. And yet…

The unholy marriage of EBM (electric body music), trance and industrial metal is haunting in every sense of the word. Why is it so difficult to stop listening to this stuff? Maybe it is infused with black magic that ensnares your soul and binds it to the tunes? Or maybe, if you can get over the overwhelming sense of foreboding and the uncanny, they’re pretty good tunes. Great as a soundtrack for your next community sacrifice, goat or baby!^[6]

4 Zeuhl

Lots of people hate ‘prog rock’. People who love prog often claim that any hate levelled at bands like ‘Emerson, Lake and Palmer’ or ‘Yes’, must be coming from a position of ignorance; you just don’t get it, loser. This elitism and unapologetic embrace of intellectualism can be off-putting to the uninitiated, much as the bar-wrecking, foul-mouthed, saliva drenched crowds of weird looking teens were a barrier for many with regards to punk. The barrier to entry into the ‘Zeuhl’ sub-genre of prog? Well, avant-garde musician and writer Dominique Leone summed it up quite well: ‘Zeuhl’ is “about what you’d expect an alien rock opera to sound like”. You’re human, how could you possibly ‘get’ it?

Originating in late 60s France, Zeuhl means ‘celestial’ in the ‘Kobaïan’ language, an invented, ‘alien’ tongue created by Christian Vander, a drummer with the band ‘Magma’. The vibratory nature of the music really does conjure a sense of otherworldliness (or perhaps that should be offworldliness) along with a feeling of vastness which reflects the limitlessness of the universe… or something like that. Cosmic.^[7]

3 Italian Occult Psychadelia

Horror is a genre that works well in literature. Horror works, arguably, better in film (if we consider that the goal of the horror genre is to scare, the visual nature of film allows for the fear to get in to the bloodstream quicker, so to speak). It tends to suck in music. When a band dons the ‘horror’ motif, it is usually cheesy (overuse of fake blood, crappy costumes and groan-worthy band names) or overly reliant on a sense fandomish homage. It is not scary.

Italian Occult Psychadelia seems to have solved that problem. This music can be truly unnerving, even frightening, whilst avoiding a loss in the translation from the literary and filmic tropes that inform the music, especially the work of legendary Italian film director Dario Argento, Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini, along with the banned ‘Cannibal’ movies of the 70s and 80s, and even Spaghetti Westerns. You’ll either love it, embracing the chills that’ll run up and down your spine, or throw your ear pods against a wall and run and hide in a cupboard (which is exactly where the serial killer wants you to hide).^[8]

2 Time Lord Rock

When Led Zeppelin took great inspiration from the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, they opened up Middle Earth for hordes of rock music lovers as a great accompaniment for their music, along with cannabis and not cutting your hair. Will bands like ‘Chameleon Circuit’ do the same for Doctor Who? Definitely not. But as far as IP-fan driven music goes, ‘Time Lord Rock’ isn’t half bad. Why does it hurt to write that?

The best way to enjoy this is to try and forget Doctor Who exists (unless you’re a fan, then you’ll be in heaven). It beats most other types of fandom pop into a cocked hat; these bands are pretty good. It also proves once and for all that Potterheads are the least creative, least open to new experiences and least talented people in all fandom culture.^[9]

1 Dark Cabaret

This is maybe the most commercial of all the genres on the list (maybe), having made a splash with 1998’s hit musical ‘Shockheaded Peter’ by the group Tiger Lilies who sing about crucifying Jesus (edgy!), or the popularity of bands like the ‘Dresden Dolls’. Still, one cannot imagine this type of music occupying spots 10-1 in the Billboard Chart. Unless, of course we, we go through some sort of Armageddon, allowing for the new, dark troubadours to wander the wasteland and delight us with accordion-driven songs about man’s follies. So, there’s hope, I guess.^[10]

Top 10 Crazy And Unconventional Music Genres

About The Author: C.J. Phillips is a storyteller, actor and writer living in rural West Wales. He is a little obsessed with lists.

In 1927, The Jazz Singer was released which marked the end of the silent-film era. The film was lauded for revolutionizing the industry as it was the first motion-picture to include synchronized speech, music and sound effects. As such it was also the first in what would become a long line of musical films, including Going My Way, Babes on Broadway, Singin’ in the Rain, Hello Dolly!, and Grease.

Some of the most captivating scenes in musical movies include the main character or several characters performing a heartfelt song or powerful anthem. On this list are just some of the memorable musical performances that still get people talking.

10 Great Scenes in Musical History

10 “Over the Rainbow”—The Wizard of Oz

“Once there was a wicked witch in the lovely land of Oz

And a wickeder, wickeder, wickeder witch there never, never was.”
The 1939 musical fantasy film, The Wizard of Oz, brought to life the unfor
gettable characters of the L. Frank Baum book in a most successful way. It features fantastic musical numbers and was ranked third on the list of most watched films of all times in 2013.

Judy Garland starred as Dorothy Gale and performed Over The Rainbow which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The 17-year-old Garland celebrated her big break as an actress by giving her all in this performance which has gained iconic status.

9 “America”—West Side Story

In 1961, the film West Side Story adapted the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, for the big screen. The story was inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the film won 10 Academy Awards.

The film’s soundtrack spent 54 weeks at No.1 on the Billboard chart and won a Grammy award for “Best Sound Track Album – Original Cast.” It includes “Jet Song”, “Something’s Coming”, “Maria”, “I Feel Pretty”, “Somewhere”, and the catchy “America.”

“America” is the biggest dance number in the film. It was written by Stephen Sondheim and composed by Leonard Bernstein and makes for an exceptional scene.

8 “The Sound of Music | The Hills Are Alive”—The Sound of Music

Based on Maria von Trapp’s memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music documents the journey of an Austrian postulant, Maria, who brings music and joy into the lives of a retired naval officer and his seven children. The film was released in 1965 and by the end of 1966 had become the highest-grossing film of all time. It won a slew of awards and is preserved in the National Film Registry.

Julie Andrews accepted the role of Maria, even though she once made fun of the theatre production that preceded the film, a year after playing the iconic role of Mary Poppins. She brought her musical stylings with her to The Sound of Music and sang “The Sound of Music | The Hills Are Alive” as the prelude. The scene during which the song is sung, is one of the most memorable in movie history and has been referenced many times in TV series and movies.

7 “Don’t Rain on My Parade”—Funny Girl

Funny Girl is based on the life and career of Fanny Brice, who was an American comedienne, singer and actress. Barbra Streisand starred as Brice in the Broadway show and was then handed the movie role for the character in what was her film debut in 1968.

The film has been deemed one of the greatest musicals ever and includes memorable songs such as “I’m the Greatest Star”, “You Are Woman, I Am Man”, “My Man” and of course “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

6 “Time Warp”—The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Show was a musical that paid tribute to terrible horror movies as well as science fiction movies from the 1930s to the 1960s. The original production was staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1973 and closed in 1980 after 2,960 performances.

In 1975, the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show saw the light and went on to become the movie with the longest-running release in film history. It has a huge and faithful cult following, even though it initially flopped, and is preserved in the National Film Registry.

Some of most well-known songs in the film include ‘Damn It, Janet”, “Sweet Transvestite”, “Hot Patootie”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature” and “Time Warp.”

“Time Warp” featured in both the stage production as well as the movie and the dance that accompanies it has become a major audience-participation activity over the years.

5 “Tomorrow”—Annie

A comic strip called Little Orphan Annie eventually turned into a Broadway musical in 1977 and then into a full-length feature film in 1982 starring Aileen Quinn, Carol Burnett, Albert Finney and Tim Curry. In the movie, Annie is convinced that she was left at an orphanage by mistake, and eventually gets to live in a mansion all the while longing to meet her parents.

Of course none of this happens without several musical numbers, including “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here”, “Little Girls”, the well-known “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” and the very well-known “Tomorrow.” It is thought that “Tomorrow” was influenced by the Sherman Brothers’ “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” which was written for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. It has been covered many times over the years, but that first earnest performance by a young Aileen Quinn, still outshines the rest.

4 “Cell Block Tango”—Chicago

Several movie stars show off their musical chops in the movie, Chicago, including Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The film follows the lives of two female prisoners awaiting trial on Murderess’ Row in Chicago in the 1920s. The two women eventually become entangled in a battle for fame and celebrity.

Chicago became the first musical film to win the Best Picture Oscar since 1968.

Some of the best performances featured in Chicago include “All That Jazz”, “Mr. Cellophane”, and the dark “Cell Block Tango.”

“Cell Block Tango” was originally composed for the 1975 musical, Chicago, and each of the song’s first six words is identified with a murder suspect. In the movie, the song is performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Susan Misner, Denise Faye, Deidre Goodwin, Ekaterina Chtchelkanova and Mýa.

3 “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”—Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls was also adapted from a Broadway musical and released in 2006. It stars Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy and depicts the history of American R&B during the 60s and 70s.

Effie White, the character inspired by Supremes singer Florence Ballard, is portrayed by American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson. Hudson won a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role. In the movie she performs many great songs including “One Night Only”, “I am Changing”, the spectacular “It’s All Over” alongside several cast members and the beautiful “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”.

2 “On My Own”- Les Misérables

There are very few uplifting moments in the film, Les Misérables. After all, there is sorrow and death everywhere. However, there are some musical performances that shine very brightly (Russell Crowe’s weirdness aside).

The best of these included the emotional rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” by Fantine, played by Anne Hathaway (second clip above – filmed in one take!), “Bring Him Home” by Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman and “One Day More” by the cast.

Samantha Barks made her mark with her character, Eponine, singing “On My Own.” She won the role after playing the same character in London’s West End, even though more experienced singers and actresses vied for the movie opportunity, including Lea Michele, Scarlett Johannsson and Taylor Swift.

Barks later said she truly related to the role, as she had been performing “On My Own” karaoke-style since the age of seven.

1 “Always Remember Us This Way”—A Star Is Born (2018)

A Star Is Born (2018) was Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut and Lady Gaga’s big Hollywood movie debut. Both Cooper’s direction and Gaga’s performance were a hit with critics and audiences worldwide. Gaga and Cooper’s onscreen chemistry led to many fans believing that the two had a real-life romantic connection, something both have denied.

The music in the movie is predictably great with “Shallow” winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. A stand-out performance from Gaga however, was “Always Remember Us This Way” sung by her character Ally, after Jackson (Cooper) tells her he loves her.

+ “This Is Me”—The Greatest Showman

The Greatest Showman is a spectacle of showmanship and music that gave the world the much-karaoked “Million Dreams” performed by Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams. Zac Efron and Zendaya also had their own moment to shine in the film, with “Rewrite The Stars.” And then, of course, there is “This Is Me” brilliantly performed by the astoundingly talented Keala Settle and several co-stars. The song has become an anthem for people around the world and brims with optimism and defiance all at the same time.

Top 10 Film Musicals

From piano and flute to violin and guitar, we are familiar with various kinds of musical instruments. And as with any other things, there are some odd specimens among musical instruments as well. They are considered unique owing to their design and sound among other things, and are the results of the innovation and hard work of some geniuses. This is the list of 10 of the most bizarre, unique but strangest musical instruments in the world.

Top 10 Strangest Musical Instruments

10. Pikasso Guitar

Designed by luthier Linda Manzer, the Pikasso Guitar is one of the odd musical instruments. It is named for its similarity to the appearance of the cubist works of the legendary artist Pablo Picasso. This instrument is actually a modified harp guitar with a wedge-shaped body, having four necks, two sound holes and 42 strings. It was originally made for jazz musician Pat Metheny who has incorporated its sound in his various works.

See also: The 10 hottest women singers.

9. Nyckelharpa

Regarded to be one of the oldest existing musical instruments today, Nyckelharpa is a traditional Swedish instrument. Literally meaning ‘key harp’, it is believed to have been invented in early 14th century. Usually the musical instrument is composed of 16 strings and 37 keys, though various types exist.

8. Glass Armonica

The brainchild of the multifaceted genius Benjamin Franklin, Glass Armonica is also known as Bowl Organ and Hydrocrystallophone. The instrument consists of several glass bowls and goblets of varying sizes fixed on a rotating axis which would produce music when touched on the rims with wet fingers. The original version was introduced in 1762. For a brief period, the instrument was very popular across Europe. It has been undergone many modifications since then.

7. Zeusaphone

Also known as Singing Tesla Coils or Thoremin, Zeusaphone is one of the most bizarre instruments out there. Its two names are derived from the gods Zeus and Thor. It is made from Tesla coil which is modified to produce music by controlling its spark output. Even though the frequency of resulting wave is beyond the limit of human perception, it is digitally modulated to audible wave.

6. Branching Corrugahorn

This experimental musical instrument was invented by Bart Hopkin. It is made from flexible corrugated pipes, which are normally found in hospitals or workshops. The Branching Corrugahorn consists of a mouthpiece and several corrugated pipes of varying lengths. The artist blows into the mouthpiece while keeping the tubes closed with fingers. When he takes a finger, that tube will emit sound.

5. Hydraulophone

As its name indicates, Hydraulophone is basically an organ powered by water or other liquids. It was invented and named by Steve Mann. The instrument has several holes, and the sound producing mechanism emanates music when the water flow through one hole is blocked. It is often used as a sensory exploration device for visually challenged persons. The Ontario Science Center in Canada houses the largest hydraulophone in the world.

4. Singing Ringing Tree

Another absolutely strange musical instrument, the Singing Ringing Tree is actually a sculpture located in Pennine Hills, England. It was designed by architects Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu and was installed in 2006. Having a height of 3 metres, the sculpture is made of galvanized steel pipes of various lengths which have several holes. The instrument produces sounds of musical quality with the passage of wind through the holes.

3. Theremin

Originally known as Aetherphone, Theremin is a unique musical instrument. The most amazing feature of the electronic instrument is that it is played without physical contact, and was the first one to be so. It was designed by Russian inventor Leon Theremin in 1920 and was named after him.

The Theremin consists of two metal antennas which can sense the relative position of the performer’s hands and two oscillators connected to them. The performer moves his hands within the range of the antennas.

The distance between one hand and an antenna determines the pitch while the distance between the corresponding others determines the volume. It is actually one of the earliest electronic musical instruments.

2. Sharpsichord

One of the unique things about Sharpsichord is that it is solar-powered. Also known as Barrel Harp, it was invented by instrument maker Henry Dagg. The sharpsichord is a perforated cylinder containing 11,520 holes into which the musician plugs pins to create music.

These cylinders rotate and the pins trigger a mechanism that plucks the appropriate strings. Anyone can create his own music with the instrument. However, it can only be played for a maximum of 90 seconds after which it has to be reprogrammed.

1. Stalacpipe Organ

Created by Pentagon scientist LeIand W. Sprinkle in 1956, the Great Stalacpipe Organ is the world’s largest musical instrument. Occupying more than three acres of Luray Caverns in Virginia, the organ produces music tones by striking the stalactites of different sizes with rubber mallets using a keyboard console.

The music produced by the instrument can be heard from anywhere in the caverns without a loudspeaker. Scandinavian group Pepe Deluxe was the first artist to record an original composition on the instrument in 2011.

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Most of us are familiar with all sorts of musical instruments, whether they’re played by members of popular music bands or orchestras. However, we may not have heard of—much less actually heard—some such instruments, both ancient and contemporary. Those on this list are likely to come as surprises.

Some were invented by composers and musicians, others by a scientist and a statesmen, and still others by artists. Some were reproduced from historical and artistic sources. Each, in its own way, is a fascinating look, so to speak, into the wonderful, multi-faceted world of melodious and harmonious sound.

Related: 10 Bizarre Versions Of Musical Instruments

10 Art Farm Instrument

The Art Farm instrument that Rebecca Reineke and William Jason Raynovich created isn’t really called the Art Farm instrument. It doesn’t have an official name yet. A prototype was constructed only in June 2020, a month after Reineke and Raynovich began to work together on its creation.

Mostly, Raynovich developed the idea for the percussion instrument. Reineke, a sculptor, gave shape to it. The instrument is played using rubber mallets to strike a box above which a parallel elevated board extends. The instrument is environmentally friendly too. As reporter Jessica Votipka observes, it is built of reclaimed wood, “a plank of carefully carved out redwood serving like a ‘key’ on a xylophone or marimba.” Various sounds are created, depending on where and with what implement the instrument is struck.

To showcase its unique sound, Raynovich wrote a composition in which the instrument’s music is the foundation. The music is then interpreted by a computer program. As Raynovich explains, “The composition…has a lot of computer programming. It’s a lot of math,” which frightens off some performers.^[1]

9 Gittler Guitar

According to its official website, the Gittler Guitar is an experimental instrument. During the 1970s, its creator, Allan Gittler, was motivated by the idea of “reducing the electric guitar to the most minimal functional form possible.” Described as resembling something out of an H. R. Giger painting and consisting of frets, strings, a nut, and a bridge, today’s version, as further streamlined by Russ Rubman, the president of Gittler Instruments, looks like nothing more than a fretboard.

Only 60 of Gittler’s stainless-steel originals now exist. Twenty-nine inches long and three inches wide, they weigh in at five pounds, boasting 31 frets. Rubman’s version is constructed of solid aircraft-grade Titanium with the tuners on the bottom, rather than the top, of the instrument, which comes with a shoulder strap and a strap-on polyurethane “neck shape.” It is lighter—at three pounds—but of the same width and with the same number of frets as the original.^[2]

8 Ransingha

As YK Murthy writes in an online article for the Antiques Home Museum website, the copper, curved ransingha trumpet is an updated “royal and vintage instrument.” It consists of two pieces, the upper dhaturo and the narrower lower section, the dhopbana. These pieces are embellished with five brass trims. Joined with one another, the two pieces form an “S”-shaped trumpet.

A cord strung on hooks at the upper and lower ends of the dhaturo is practical as well as decorative. When the ransingha is not being played, the dhopbana is inserted into the dhaturo, and the cord is hung on a nail in the wall. The cord also allows the musician to carry the instrument. It hangs on the player’s shoulder, the trumpet’s “curved section” resting behind the musician’s shoulder.

The ransingha is 60 inches long but, because of its shape, it is only 42 inches tall. One inch in diameter at the small end of the dhopbana, the instrument’s diameter increases to 5.3 inches at the far end of the dhaturo; the blowhole measures 0.2 inches in diameter. As Murthy explains, the metal balls with which the five hollow trims are filled “produce musical sound when the trumpet is jingled or [its] position is changed.” The ransingha’s alternate name, narsingha, which means “buffalo horn,” recalls the material from which the instrument was originally made.

The ancient Indian trumpet can be heard as far away as 15 kilometers and was played during auspicious occasions, including marriages, when the bridal party approached “holy places.” An adept player could make sounds like someone calling out a name, scolding, or alerting other parties to their presence, allowing them to pass by safely on the narrow roads. The ransingha was also played at “religious processions” to frighten off evil spirits, during military battles, and during victory celebrations.^[3]

7 Mogao Caves Instruments

Half of the 400 Mogao Caves—or Thousand Buddha Grottoes—constructed in 366 depict musical instruments recreated as modern sculptures. Lutist Chen Haiqi first saw them during a performance in an exhibition hall at the 10th Dunhuang Tour—Silk Road International Tourism Festival in northwest China’s Gansu Province in September 2021. The sight of them, she said, transported her 1,000 years into the past.

According to the China.org website, in all, 240 of the 6,000 musical instruments depicted in the grottoes’ ancient Buddhist artwork have been brought back to life, including percussion instruments, string instruments, and wind instruments. Among them are ruans (“moon guitars”), bamboo panpipes, flutes, and ancient konghou. The replicated versions were played in art performances during the expo, the website notes. “From silent murals to melodious music played by the restored instruments, I witnessed a dialogue between history and art,” said Chen.^[4]

6 Telharmonium

In an alliance of electricity and music, the telharmonium creates “electrical waves of musical sound,” says Thomas Commerford Martin, in his review of the unusual instrument. Dr. Thaddeus Cahill’s invention, a complex array of inductor alternators, switchboards, keyboard, “tone mixers,” and wiring, works, Martin explains, in a manner similar to that of the pipe organ, with electricity replacing the organ pipes’ air as the medium upon which the musician plays. The resulting music then passes through transformers and is blended by “tone mixers” and is heard as chords, beautiful and pure in tone.

Players can create complex music that mixes the sounds of “string [and] brass [as well as] wood effects…simply by mixing the harmonics—that is, the currents—in the required proportions,” Martin adds. He identifies many potential markets for telharmonium music, including homes, hospitals, factories, restaurants, theaters, hotels, and orchestral venues, all at the “throw [of a] switch.”^[5]

5 Cristal Baschet

It’s unlikely that a shopper will find a Cristal Baschet in a music store. The organ, also known as a Crystal Organ, is made of glass rods, metal, and wood. Brothers and fellow artists Bernard and François Baschet invented the unusual instrument in 1952. Composer Marc Chouarain explained and demonstrated how to play the Crystal Baschet by stroking its 56 chromatically tuned rods with his wet fingertips.

The instrument delivers sounds in 3.5 to 6 octaves. Stroking the rods, Chouarain says, vibrates them, and the vibrations pass “to the [instrument’s] heavy block of metal by a metal stem whose variable length determines the frequency.” The instrument amplifies the sounds using fiberglass cones fixed on wood and…a tall cut-out metal part shaped like a flame. In addition, “‘ whiskers’…under the instrument…increase the [volume] of high-pitched sounds.”

The versatility of the unusual instrument is shown by the diverse musical styles of those who have played it. This includes sitarist Ravi Shankar (1920-2012), Blur lyricist and instrumentalist Damon Albarn, electronic music duo Daft Punk, the rock band Radiohead, singer-songwriter-actor Tom Waits, and songwriter-musician Manu Dibango (1933-2020).^[6]

4 Musical Sculpture

Amazon’s rainforest may be disappearing, acre by acre, but its slow passing has not escaped The Burned Instruments Orchestra, whose members, composers Marco Scarassatti and Livio Tragtenberg, create “music from the silent witnesses of [its] destruction,” writes Eduardo Simantob. A mix of Brazilian and African rhythms with British and American psychedelia and rock, the orchestra’s sounds are produced by musical sculptures constructed from the burned and deadwood of the rainforest fires and are intended to increase listeners’ “awareness of the plight of the rainforests.”

Scarassatti and Tragtenberg were inspired by Swiss cellist, composer, and inventor Walter Smetak (1913-1984), who invented nearly 200 musical sculptures that he played as instruments. His music, which is now digitized, seems more in tune with Asian than with Western traditions and challenges the latter’s “tonal system,” Simantob says.^[7]

3 Dune Instruments

Composer Hans Zimmer wanted the music he scored for Frank Herbert’s Dune to sound unique. To this end, he created his own sounds using innovative techniques, such as scraping metal, and included Indian bamboo flutes, Irish whistles, guitar distortions, and spasmodic drumming he called an “anti-groove.”

In addition, Zimmer used both conventional instruments, such as bagpipes and completely new, unusual instruments such as Pedro Eustache’s 21-foot-long horn and a “contrabass duduk,” a modern version of an ancient Armenian woodwind instrument. Zimmer said he composes in surround sound, creating “big sound for the big screen.”^[9]

2 Armonica

In addition to composers, sculptors, professional inventors, and artists, a politician and statesman—in fact, one of America’s founders—invented an unusual instrument: a glass harmonica, or armonica. Although Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was not the first armonica inventor, his instrument was a definite improvement on the set of water-filled glasses he saw the British Royalty Society’s Edward Delaval play.

Franklin’s armonica consisted of 37 glass domes, each of which had a hole in its middle, ranging from three to nine inches in diameter, arranged along a spindle of iron, atop a wooden case mounted on four legs. A player, seated before the instrument, played it by tuning a rod with their foot while stroking the domes with their fingertips. To differentiate the keys of the octaves, Franklin employed a color scheme, using white to designate the semitones, and the seven prismatic colors to mark each of the three octaves’ other notes. The inventor also described its advantages. It produced “incomparably sweet” tones, which could be “swelled and softened” and lengthened or shortened by finger pressures and needed to be tuned only once and never again.^[9]

1 A Stalactite Organ

Human ingenuity teamed with icicle-shaped mineral deposits created the Great Stalacpipe Organ in the Luray Caverns of Virginia’s famed Shenandoah Valley. As “the world’s largest musical instrument,” the unusual organ takes up 3.5 acres of the caverns. When electronically tapped by rubber-tipped mallets, the organ produces “tones of symphonic quality.”

Its inventor, Leland W. Sprinkle of Springfield, Virginia, worked at the Pentagon as a mathematician and electronic scientist. His knowledge helped him identify the specific stalactites to tap, both literally and figuratively, so that each would be an exact match for a musical scale.

The Oddmusic.com website explains how the instrument was created and how it is played. After the stalactites were chosen, “electronic mallets were wired throughout the caverns and connected to a large four-manual console.” Presses of the console’s keys cause particular mallets to strike specific stalactites, all of which are tuned to concert pitch.^[10]

What’s a good television series without a good soundtrack? Memorable music moments take on a life of their own within a TV series, and this list is full of them. We’re counting down the top 10 musical moments from musical V shows that had you singing along. (WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

Related: 10 Captivating Performances In Musical Films

10 Star – “I Don’t Know Why”

Star was a musical drama on FOX network about a poor, success-driven young girl named Star Davis (Jude Demorest) and her two-girl group bandmates as they tried to achieve fame in the Atlanta music industry. This three-season drama was full of original songs and shiny pop and R&B performance numbers.

One of the top musical moments was Star’s performance of “Don’t Know Why” in season one. This powerful R&B ballad was in response to the titular character being physically abused by her season one boyfriend, Hunter (Chad James Buchanan). With raw intensity, the song details the battle of staying in a toxic, abusive relationship and not being able to let go.^[1]

9 Nashville – “Sanctuary”

Nashville was a musical TV drama about country music queen Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton) and her rivalry with new generation country star Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), as well as the drama that unfolds in the Nashville music scene. In season five, Rayna’s character tragically dies from injuries she suffered in a car crash, changing the trajectory of the show and bringing about emotional music moments.

One of the most moving musical moments of the show is when Rayna’s family comes together to sing her song “Sanctuary” to honor her at the CMT Awards. The oldest daughter, Daphne (Maisy Stella), breaks down while singing her late mother’s song, so her father and sister come on stage to comfort her and help sing in a raw emotional performance. The beautiful moment had viewers crying along with the family.^[]

8 Galavant – “Galavant”

First aired in 2015, Galavant was a two-season ABC medieval musical comedy. The series showcased the adventures of the title character Galavant (Joshua Sasse) in his quest to save his captured girlfriend, Queen Madalena (Mallory Jansen), from the hands of evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson). The music on the show was composed by famed composers Alan Menken and Glenn Slate, so there were sure to be some catchy tunes featured.

Perhaps one of the catchiest tunes is the theme song “Galavant.” Being the first song that Menken and Slate wrote, the song establishes the tone for the show perfectly. It set the series in motion by describing the general plot in a fun melody that you can’t help but play over and over again.^[3]

7 Smash – “Let Me Be Your Star”

Imagine a TV show about the making of a Broadway show. That was Smash, a short-lived NBC musical drama about two playwrights creating a Broadway play about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The series focused on the rivalry between two actresses, Ivy (Megan Hilty) and Karen (Katharine McPhee), competing for the role of Marilyn. Packed with covers and original songs, Smash was loved so much by theater geeks everywhere that there have been talks of taking the play within the show to Broadway.

One song stuck out above the rest—”Let Me Be Your Star.” Sung in the pilot episode in competing verses by Ivy and Karen, it set the tone for the show and described how many aspiring performers feel.^[4]

6 High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – “All I Want”

When High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (HSMTMTS) was announced in 2018, it had big shoes to fill as it was perceived to be a continuation of the Disney Channel sensation High School Musical trilogy. However, HSMTMTS takes on a life of its own, and the TV characters have no relation to the beloved characters of the original as it takes place in the real world where they attend the school that the movie was filmed in. The musical series follows the young theater students of East High as they put on a theatre production of High School Musical and the drama and relationships that form behind the curtain.

While most songs performed within the series are from High School Musical, there are a few original songs. One of the most popular original songs from the first season is the Billboard Hot 100 hit, “All I Want,” performed by lead female character Nini (Olivia Rodrigo). Nini sings this heartbreak anthem after having boy troubles dealing with a betrayal from her current boyfriend while still reeling from the breakup with her ex, Ricky. With lyrics like, “All I want is love that lasts / Is all I want too much to ask? / Is it something wrong with me? / All I want is a good guy / Are my expectations far too high?”, this song is relatable for teen girls and adults alike.^[5]

5 Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist “I Lived”

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist was an NBC musical dramedy about a young, smart computer coder named Zoey (Jane Levy) who begins to hear people’s innermost thoughts in the form of elaborate musical numbers. Despite the challenges her newfound powers bring about, she finds that they are a gift as they allow her to connect with her father, who cannot communicate as he suffers from a neurological disease called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Zoey’s relationship with her father Mitch (Peter Gallagher) can be considered the anchor of the show, and their performance of One Republic’s “I Lived” is one of the most heartwarming moments within the series. After passing away in season one, Mitch returns to the show in the series finale in a dream sequence to sing to Zoey and encourage her to take chances, sending viewers to immediately reach for their tissue boxes.^[6]

4 Empire – “You’re So Beautiful”

When Empire first emerged on the FOX network in 2015, the hip-hop drama was a huge success, capping its first season with more than 17 million viewers, according to Variety. The show, featuring music produced by Grammy-winning producer-rapper Timbaland, focuses on the family drama between music mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrance Howard) and his wife, Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson), and their three sons as they all seek control of the family music label—Empire Records. With music and drama guaranteed in each episode, there are several memorable moments to choose from.

One of the most memorable, however, comes from season one with the performance of “You’re So Beautiful.” Most fans can recall the shock and tension this performance caused when Lucious’s middle son, Jamal, performed his father’s song and used it to come out by switching the words from “this the kind of song that makes a woman love a man” to “man love a man.” The relationship between Jamal and Lucious was very rocky as Lucious initially did not accept his son’s sexuality. But watching Jamal use the song to stand in his truth and take pride in his sexuality had many viewers cheering him on and singing along with him.^[7]

3 Julie and the Phantoms – “Unsaid Emily”

Netflix’s Julie and the Phantoms is based on the Brazilian series Julie e os Fantasmas and is directed by Kenny Ortega, the man behind many Disney hits, like High School Musical and Descendants. The musical comedy-drama is about a 15-year-old girl, Julie (Madison Reyes), struggling with the loss of her mother and finding her passion for music again. However, her passion returns after meeting three teen ghosts from 1995 who used to be a band in her garage. Only she can see them, but everyone can hear them when they play together, so they form a band, and viewers’ ears are blessed with a song each episode.

Despite the quirky concept, there is a lot of emotional depth within the show and in the music. One of the more emotional songs is sung by the lead male singer of the group, Luke (Charlie Gillespie), who sings an emotional ballad about his estranged relationship with his mother, and all the words he never got to say to her before he passed away. It was a very touching moment for a kids’ show, reminding viewers of their mortality and to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you while you’re still here.^[8]

2 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – “The End of the Movie”

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was a satirical musical comedy featuring original songs in each episode. The show follows the life of Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), a quirky lawyer who leaves her seemingly perfect life in New York and moves to West Covina, California, following her childhood summer camp boyfriend after a chance encounter. The show has a surprising amount of heart and touches on mental illness in a way that balances comedy and seriousness in a relatable way.

One of the more somber songs comes from season three, when Rebecca hits her lowest point after sleeping with her ex-boyfriend’s dad. Grammy-nominated singer Josh Groban lends his musical talents, making a cameo with a song describing the randomness of life and how situations don’t always end up resolved like they do at the end of a movie. Despite the specific context of this song, it can be relatable for any viewer, except for the part where Groban beautifully sings “never bang your ex-boyfriend’s dad,” which is pretty sound advice, nonetheless.^[9]

1 Glee – “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Anyone who watched television during the 2010s has heard of the phenomenon that was Glee. Its pop culture relevance was undeniable, and that’s why it takes the top spot as it has inspired many of the other shows on this list. Glee was a smash hit when it first came out, racking up 19 Emmy Awards and 4 Golden Globe nominations at the end of its first season. It also has been referenced in many other shows like The Office, which had a whole episode about a Glee watch party. Although the musical comedy was a bit outlandish at times, it’s not just known for the music, but its inclusivity in covering topics about LGBTQ+ youth, teen pregnancy, and bullying.

With over 700 songs to choose from, there are many contenders for the top song, but the clear winner is Glee’s rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” It was the show’s first official hit and held such a special place that they sang it four times! The most memorable performance was the one at the end of the pilot, where they sang successfully as a group for the first time as the music teacher, Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison), proudly watches, signaling the beginning of something special.^[10]

Arguably the most important aspect of music is sound. The Oxford English Dictionary defines music as “the art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds to produce beauty of form, harmony… etc.” When people think of music, they may think of short, melodically pleasing pieces that comforted them in their childhood. They may think of grating, overplayed earworms that they constantly hear on the radio. They may even consider avant-garde, purposefully unmelodic experimentation as musical compositions.

But what happens when artists release or compose music that is completely silent? How is it possible to gain meaning from these pieces? To answer that question, here are ten silent musical compositions and why their silence gives them artistic or historical value.

Related: Top 10 Crazy And Unconventional Music Genres

10 John Cage, “4’33″”

Possibly the most famous silent composition, avant-garde composer John Cage created “4’33″” in 1952. Originally performed by David Tudor on August 29 of that year, the transitions between the three movements of the piece were marked by the opening and closing of a piano lid. The duration of the performance itself was marked with a stopwatch. To the surprise of no one, many were baffled that a piece of what was supposed to be melodic sound would be performed without, you know, sound.

However, Cage was serious about his intentions. After visiting Harvard’s anechoic chamber in 1950, he discovered that there was no true silence. As such, he decided to show his audience that the sounds they heard in everyday life were, in fact, music. As the composer explained, “Music is continuous. It is only we who turn away.”^[1]

9 John Denver, “The Ballad of Richard Nixon”

Songwriter John Denver claimed that nuclear disarmament was a major goal of his. President Richard Nixon considered using nuclear weapons four times during his administration. Denver wanted to cut the defense budget. Nixon wanted to raise it. It’s safe to say that the two men had their fair share of political disagreements.

On his 1964 album Rhymes & Reasons, Denver expressed his opinions of Nixon’s administration twice. He composed a dig at Nixon’s vice president titled “The Ballad of Spiro Agnew,” of which the lyrics consist entirely of the words: I’ll sing you a song of Spiro Agnew and all the things he’s done. Denver didn’t bother thinking of anything good to say about Agnew, and his silent song dedicated to the President himself demonstrates that he bothered even less to think of good things about Nixon. Who knows what he would have done by the time Watergate rolled around?^[2]

8 Soulfly, “9-11-01”

Now onto a more serious subject matter. The American metal band Soulfly released their album 3 on June 25, 2002, less than a year after the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Soulfly dedicated a minute of silence to those affected by the event on their first release since the attacks occurred.

Historically, the United States has commemorated the attacks with six moments of silence, all linked to the exact times that the four planes crashed across the country and the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed. This piece can be used as a method of mourning during those moments of silence and has hopefully motivated people to commemorate the moment of silence on their own terms.^[3]

7 Vulfpeck, “Z”

There are ten Vulpeck songs eligible for this list, but this is the opening track of the album they all came from—Sleepify, an album of ten thirty-second snippets of complete silence. Here was Vulpeck’s plan—get users to stream the album, earn enough money from it to fund a tour, and allow admission to be completely free. Simple, right?

It turns out, yes! It took a month before Spotify took the album down, and they even responded in the meantime, calling the work “derivative of John Cage.” All in all, the band made $20,000 from streams and was able to fund the Sleepify Tour. Not bad for an album they called “the most silent album ever recorded.”^[4]

6 Taylor Swift, “Track 3”

At this point, there’s no way a household name like Taylor Swift won’t break charting records. When she released Folklore, only having announced the album the day before its release, the physical edition sold over 1.3 million copies, and the digital edition broke streaming records on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. It should be no surprise, then, that anything that Swift releases will be talked about—even when that release is a complete glitch.

In October 2014, days before the release of her synth-pop album 1989, iTunes released a song simply titled “Track 3.” Eager Swifties purchased the song only to discover…it was composed solely of eight seconds of silence. Despite this, it shot to No. 1 on iTunes in Canada before eventually being taken down. It just goes to show that excited fans will take whatever they can get their hands on.^[5]

5 Brett Black, “Silence–5 Seconds”

Once again, this is the opening track of a completely silent album—Brett Black’s Silent Tracks of Various Useful Lengths. The album is described as the first commercially available album of silence. Black claims he created the album after waking up one morning and hearing a “catchy” piece of silent music repeating in his head.

He cited John Cage and French mime Marcel Marceau as inspirations, saying he wanted to “take silence to new levels” with the album. He hopes that someday, Coldplay will be interested in performing the compositions.^[6]

4 John Lennon, “Nutopian International Anthem”

Threatened with deportation from the United States after a marijuana charge, beloved Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono held a press conference on April 1, 1973, to announce the birth of a brand new nation. This conceptual nation, Nutopia, had no boundaries or laws, only people.

As ambassadors of the nation, they asked for diplomatic immunity and recognition from the United Nations, giving 1 White Street in Tribeca as their address. On his 1973 album Mind Games, John Lennon included a five-second silent track titled the “Nutopian International Anthem,” demonstrating his true intent to have only people in his civilization. So, what, no music, either?^[7]

3 Yves Klein, “Monotone-Silence Symphony”

This entry is slightly cheating because Yves Klein’s symphonic piece does not contain complete silence. It opens with a single D major chord played for 20 minutes straight and then transitions into a 20-minute period of silence.

Klein conceptualized this piece in the 1940s, claiming that this expressed what he wished his own life to be. In 1960, in the only documented performance of the symphony during Klein’s lifetime, ten musicians participated in performing the piece. Over five decades later, in 2013, a New York performance of the piece consisted of 70 musicians and singers bringing this conception of Klein’s wishes to life. If only he could see his work now.^[8]

2 Raymond Scott, “Silent Music”

In 1941, Time Magazine reported on a 13-piece orchestra that performed a piece that its audience found rather strange. The brass and woodwind instruments mimed playing, the pianist softly pressed the keys, but hardly any sound came from the stage. To bandleader Raymond Scott, this was silent music.

It is still unknown why Scott decided to perform this silent piece. However, philosopher of music Julian Dodd claims that it could have been either an ironic comment on effort and failure or intended for comedic effect. Regardless, audience members were confused during the performance. They giggled, finding the performance amusing. According to the writer for Time, “it was just provocative enough to make listeners wonder whether the silence of other bands might sound better than Scott’s. Yikes.^[9]

1 Stiff Records, The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan

Closing out today’s list of silent musical compositions is another politically charged release. Clearly, someone had a beef against President Ronald Reagan, much like John Denver’s beef with Richard Nixon. The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan was not a song but a completely silent album released by Stiff Records.

The record contained grooves where you could play it, but it included no music. According to the BBC, it was intended as “an ironic alternative to more traditional protest songs.” Despite the silence of the album, the release was evidently somewhat popular as it sold over 30,000 copies during its release. It really is crazy what people will buy sometimes.^[10]

Part of the enduring appeal of professional wrestling lies not in the ring but in what happens behind the scenes. Backstage stories, contractual negotiations, and life beyond the mat all add to the allure of this larger-than-life form of entertainment. But for some wrestlers, being an entertainer runs deep, and when they are not wrestling, they need other ways to vent their creativity.

For better or worse, this can often take the form of a musical career. Below, we give you 10 wrestlers who unleashed their musical talents on the world.

10 Macho Man Randy Savage

Macho Man Randy Savage was, at one point, equally at the level of superstardom that Hulk Hogan was. His larger-than-life attitude and testosterone-fueled vocabulary made him a huge draw. With the addition of his wife, Elizabeth, by his side, he had a human side that ingratiated him with fans. However, an unknown fallout with Vince McMahon, the cause of which is still unknown to this day, saw him banned with subsequently very few mentions of his name.

After WWF, he joined WCW, and toward the end of this career, when WCW was bankrupt and with little hope of returning to his old company, he started a music career. His first album was a collection of rap songs titled Be a Man, which was released in 2003.

While most of the album concentrates on ripping into Hulk Hogan, it does have some genuinely touching moments. The final track, “Perfect Friend,” was written for the then-recently deceased wrestler Kurt Hennig, also known as Mr. Perfect. It has many ham-fisted lines like “It’s hard to keep it going day to day, I know you wouldn’t want it any other way,” but it does contain genuine childlike emotion.^[1]

9 Jerry Lawler

Jerry “The King” Lawler has one of the oldest music careers in the whole of professional wrestling. Before his time as a commentator in WWE, he had a highly successful career on the Memphis wrestling circuit. He was so popular that he cashed in with Jerry Lawler Sings, a compilation that featured covers of songs by Van Morrisson and Ringo Star.

Unlike most wrestlers, Lawler sold enough to justify a second album. This time, he returned with Jerry Lawler and the Nunnery Brothers Band. While still containing covers such as “Monday Monday” and “Catch The Wind,” it also had some themed originals such as “World’s Greatest Wrestler.” This would be his last effort until a ’90s single with WWE titled “Puppies,” which was a homage to his love of breasts. Most recently, a Kickstarter campaign was opened to create a repress of the album.^[2]

8 The Rock

Anyone who has raised a daughter over the last five years is familiar with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s most recent musical efforts. Playing Maui in the animated feature Moana, the track “You’re Welcome” is a heartwarming song littered with playful arrogance and sung by a god who is discussing his fantastic achievements. However, it was not the first outing for this wrestling superstar.

During the attitude era, rap star Wyclef Jean from the Fugees and Melky Seldeck would collaborate with the wrestler on “It Doesn’t Matter.” Taken from his famous catchphrase, it features a fairly standard 2000-era rap interspersed with soundbites and samples from The Rock. A repetitive trumpet riff gives it a Latin feel, which is the most exciting aspect of the whole track. Borrowing heavily from other songs, it even namechecks “Country Roads” at one point. Cleverly, it manages to be a diss track on the whole financial posturing of rap while celebrating it simultaneously.^[3]

7 John Cena

John Cena is one of the few wrestlers that has made a musical gimmick work, barring the Honky Tonk Man, of course. When Cena first arrived at WWE, he played the part of a rapper, taking the nickname “The Doctor of Thugonomics.” Despite being slightly cringeworthy, he would prepare rap promos which were often very amusing. This helped propel him into the star he is today, but not before a small cash-in.

Cena’s first and only album was You Can’t See Me. A collaboration with the rapper ThaTrademarc, it was poorly executed and lacked the wit of his in-ring promos. Cena would continue his musical efforts throughout his career unfazed. His most recent effort was in 2015 when he recorded “All Day” with Wiz Khalifa for the video game 2K15.^[4]

6 Terry Funk

Terry Funk never achieved the headline success he should have. He worked across multiple generations, in different promotions around the world, and in a multitude of styles. Yet most people in the west only knew him through his unbelievable deathmatches played out in Japan. So, it may come as a shock to many that Terry Funk had a musical career.

His first album came in 1983 under the name Texas Bronco Terry Funk. It was a strange collection of wrestling-themed songs and dialogue taken from promos. The next year he would follow it up with Great Texan, which included tracks such as “We Hate School” and “Barbara Streisand’s Nose.” Strangely, it had backing vocals from a genuine Japanese pop star named Noriko Miyamoto.^[5]

5 Captain Lou Albano

Captain Lou Albano may not have the superstar status of many others on the list. Most of his career was spent as a manager. He was most famous for his feud with singer Cyndi Lauper, with whom he began a real-life friendship, even appearing in some of her videos. He also managed numerous top superstars, such as Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.

In 1985 he teamed up with the rock quartet NRBQ, who had previously worked with luminaries such as Sun Ra and Carl Perkins. Creating the album Lou and the Q, they crafted a bizarre selection of tunes that included “Boarding House Pie” and “Tiddlywinks Radio Ad” alongside well-known songs such as “La Vie en Rose” and the nursery rhyme “Michael Row the Boat Ashore.”^[6]

4 Freddie Blassie

Freddie Blassie was a professional wrestler and manager. He began his career after the Second World War working as a babyface. However, when he dropped this in favor of being a bad guy, he became the benchmark for the heel, pioneering the concept of a superstar villain.

In the ’70s, Blassie began recording some voiceovers on songs that included musicians such as rockabilly act Johnny Legend and punk rocker Billy Zoom. Tunes from this would later be included on his album I Bite The Songs. Cementing his heel status, it contained several antagonistic tracks such as “Pencil Neck Geek” and “Loser Leaves Town.” Oddly, the album opens with the gruff voice of Blassie himself, giving a disclaimer in case his heel character offends.^[7]

3 Lita

Lita was the punk rock heroine of the attitude era, taking more heavy bumps than anyone should endure in a career. This led to her having a short run-in wrestling which ended in 2006. In her final match, she wore a t-shirt from a band called The Luchagors. This was her new band and her first project after leaving the pro wrestling world.

They began playing in the Atlanta area and recorded their first self-titled album in 2007. Soon after, they set about on a huge American and European tour, but due to poor reception in the UK, they called a hiatus on the project. This may have been due to poor reception all around. Songs such as “Goodbye” and “All There Is” did little more than provide standard noughties punk rock fare, which saturated the music scene at the time and sounded dated before it was even released.^[8]

2 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho is the most successful wrestler turned musician. This is due to the fact that he has devoted as much time and attention to his career with his band “Fozzy” as he has to his in-ring one. Throughout his life, he has switched between wrestling to tours and writing with the band. Formed in 1999, they have now released eight studio albums and one live album and toured worldwide.

Their first two albums were covers of hard rock and metal classics, including Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. By their third album, they had turned to original material and had built quite the following. Famous figures such as Zakk Wylde joined them on tracks to cement their reputation as accepted rock gods. Not only have they continued to produce quality material, but they have been used as the soundtrack for multiple events by WWE and other promotions.^[9]

1 The WWF Roster

No music produced by wrestlers has ever reached the heights of the classics that WWF created themselves. In a bid to turn into an all-around entertainment machine, Vince McMahon commissioned numerous albums. It was the first two that were the standout weird ones. These were The Wrestling Album and Piledriver: The Wrestling Album 2.

The first album had classics such as “Grab Them Cakes.” Sung by the Junkyard Dog, it was his theme tune and a euphemism about grabbing your partner’s unmentionables. It has not aged well.

For the second album, mid-carder Koko B Ware sang the title track “Piledriver,” in which he picked out the similarities of being in love with taking the famous neck-breaking move.

However, the standout moment of wrestling oddness is the final track, “Stand Back” sung by Vince McMahon himself. As the album was released on a VHS in which eight songs got their video, this has to be the most ridiculous as the company executive performs a stunted dance routine at the 1987 Slammy Awards. A host of superstars stand behind him pretending to play instruments, all oblivious to the car crash they are participating in.^[10]