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Last posts

Electronic Beats by The Prodigy

Mónica Boixeda Barcelonian

They hit the lists with their famous songs “Firestarter” and “Smack my bitch up”. Do you know which band I’m talking about? That’s right, The Prodigy! This drum and bass band consisted initially of Keith (Vocalist/dancer), Maxim (DJ/Vocalist) and Liam (composer/Keyboards), who is also the musical force behind this band. He is educated as a classical pianist and as you can hear in many of his songs he is very fast on the keyboard. They have sold over 20 million records all over the world, which is outstanding in dance music history. Prodigy started with pretty small gigs with 9 people in the crowd, including five staff. The gigs grew and the crowd became more and more. And later on they became one of the most popular bands of the 90s. Sweat soaked with adrenaline diven breakcore attitude; rushing keyboards come on like a flashback; guitars crack and vocals snap. This is the sound of Prodigy! In the early 90s they started create rave and hardcore, and also mixed into heavy techno. Later they created a new sound: electronic “Breakbeat” mixed with rock and punk. They are inspired by late-early 70s funk, 80s hip hop, rare grooves, etc. In short, they have a lot of music styles. The band itself says that they actually don’t have a special category for their music, but most would agree they fit neatly in the category Rave or Techno. They also have had gigs with some famous artists such as Chemical Brothers, David Bowie, Moby, Rage against the machine, and with the famous DJ Paul Oakenfold from UK. They have tours all over... read more

Why do humans laugh?

Mónica Boixeda Malagueño

It´s ironic that most of the academic research done on laughter and humour is so un-funny. In fact, it´s usually downright boring. And the results are not really all that conclusive. We kind of know why humans laugh (a physical reaction to humour) but all the theories about why we find things funny are really just that – educated guesses. Here´s what we do know about laughter: – Humans are not the only ones who do it. Apes definitely laugh, although the sound is a bit different from ours. Theirs is more like a pant. But this sound only occurs when playing, or when being tickled. Occasionally it happens when a fellow ape slips on a banana peel (well, perhaps that last part was made up). – Rats laugh too. Yep, rats, and most other rodents too. Ferrets in particular are known to respond well to rough physical play (not the kind that hurts) like being swung around in a bag. Disneyland isn´t just for the Mouse. – We laugh long before we can talk. Humour, or at least the laugh-response, isn´t just limited to language-based jokes. Play peek-a-boo with a five-month old and you´ll see what we mean. – Laughter is a social bonding mechanism. There is something about hearing laughter that relaxes us, and it is really is infectious. We almost never laugh alone, but almost always laugh when someone else is laughing. This is why the laugh-track was born – so that even unfunny shows could occasionally raise a smile. – Surprise humour needs to be non-threatening to make someone laugh. If Dad is playing gentle... read more

International Children’s Festival – Where Kids Rule

Mónica Boixeda Istanbulite

Around the world there are many children that don’t live in the same conditions as other kids. Some of them don’t have someone who cares about them, someone to tell them about rules like you can only eat candy on Saturdays or establish bedtimes. But when the festival where kids rule begins, there is going to be a change, at least for a week in the beginning of June. International Children’s Festival is an event which is celebrated on various days in several places worldwide. The Festival starts on the 1st of June and ends on the 5th of June. It is not clear why they chose to have the festival on this date; maybe it has something to do with the Chinese generals in San Francisco who gathered a few Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat festival in 1925, which coincidentally happened on 1st of June that year. This festival is set to honour children and minors and is an opportunity for children around the world to share their cultures through language and art. It provides an opportunity for kids to be involved in art activities and presentations, and it is both educational and entertaining. You can have a chance to play a major role in the International Children’s Festival; you can be a volunteer! Make an impact in the community and explore what life is like in a world where kids rule. Over 650 people around the community gather together to make this festival possible! You can help with things like paint faces, sell merchandise, assist artists, and much more. Take an advantage of this amazing... read more