Thunder

Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending on the distance and nature of the lightning, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble (brontide). The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave, similar to a sonic boom, which produces the sound of thunder, often referred to as a clap, crack, or peal of thunder.

Cause

The cause of thunder has been the subject of centuries of speculation and scientific inquiry. The first recorded theory is attributed to the Greek philosopher Aristotle in the fourth century BC, and an early speculation was that it was caused by the collision of clouds. Subsequently, numerous other theories were proposed. By the mid-19th century, the accepted theory was that lightning produced a vacuum.

In the 20th century a consensus evolved that thunder must begin with a shock wave in the air due to the sudden thermal expansion of the plasma in the lightning channel. The temperature inside the lightning channel, measured by spectral analysis, varies during its 50 μs existence, rising sharply from an initial temperature of about 20,000 K to about 30,000 K, then dropping away gradually to about 10,000 K. The average is about 20,400 K (20,100 °C; 36,300 °F). This heating causes a rapid outward expansion, impacting the surrounding cooler air at a speed faster than sound would otherwise travel. The resultant outward-moving pulse is a shock wave, similar in principle to the shock wave formed by an explosion, or at the front of a supersonic aircraft.

Thunder (Andy Taylor album)

Thunder is the first solo album by British guitarist Andy Taylor, released in 1987. It features former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones on guitar. Jones also co-wrote most of the songs on the album.

The album went out of print in 1990, but would reemerge in a newly expanded version on online music services like iTunes when Taylor made his entire catalog available in 2010. In addition to the original version of Thunder, Taylor's previous solo singles such as "Take It Easy" were included as well.

Track listing

Personnel

Thunder (Jessie J song)

"Thunder" is a song by English recording artist Jessie J. It was written by Jessie J, Claude Kelly, Benjamin Levin, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen for her second studio album Alive (2013), while production was helmed by StarGate and Benny Blanco.

Background

"Thunder" was written by Jessie J, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Claude Kelly and Benny Blanco. It was produced by Eriksen and Hermansen, credited under their production name StarGate, along with Blanco. Jessie's vocals were recorded by Chris Sclafani, Joel Peters, and Justin Pancionendon, with Mark "Exit" Goodchild serving as its engineer. Kelly provided additional vocals on the song. "Thunder" was mixed by Phil Tan and assistants Daniela Rivera and Phil Seaford. Eriksen and Hermansen recorded the song's instrumentation, and Tim Blacksmith and Danny D. were assigned as its executive producers. Andrew "McMuffin" Luftman and Scott "Yarmov" Yarmovsky were credited as production coordinators on the song.

Numb (Rihanna song)

"Numb" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her seventh studio album Unapologetic (2012). It features guest vocals by American rapper Eminem, making it the pair's third collaboration since the two official versions of "Love the Way You Lie". Following the album's release, "Numb" charted on multiple charts worldwide including in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"Numb" lasts for a duration of 3:25. The song's instrumentation consists of an Egyptian flute riff and "a crashing bombastic beat." "Numb" contains a sample of Kanye West's song "Can't Tell Me Nothing", written by West and Aldrin Davis. The lyric "Let the champagne smash/ Let that man get cash" from "Can't Tell Me Nothing" is the sample used in "Numb". The song's lyrical content is "controversial" as it is about feeling "numb after taking drugs." and a "homage to getting high." Rihanna performs the lines

I don't care Can't tell me nothing I'm impaired

in the first Verse. Eminem "spits" his verse, performing the lines

Numb (Linea 77 album)

Numb is the third studio album from the Italian nu metal band Linea 77.

Track listing

Numb (U2 song)

"Numb" is a song by rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1993 album Zooropa and was released in June 1993 as the album's first single. The song features a monotonous mantra of "don't" commands spoken by guitarist the Edge amidst a backdrop of various sound effects and samples. The noisy composition and lyrical concept for "Numb" were inspired by the theme of sensory overload, which had prominently been incorporated into the Zoo TV Tour. Lead singer Bono and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. provided backing vocals on the track.

"Numb" originated as a discarded song from the Achtung Baby recording sessions called "Down All the Days." While recording Zooropa, the band transformed the song with mixing assistance from co-producer Flood, the addition of keyboards and samples by co-producer Brian Eno, and the addition of the Edge's monotone vocals. The song was released as a VHS single, featuring a music video directed by Kevin Godley, but it did not attain widespread commercial success. U2 added "Numb" to their live setlists after resuming their Zoo TV Tour in May 1993, but like most songs on Zooropa it has never been performed live since the end of that tour.