Slave to the Music

Slave to the Music may refer to:

The Music

The Music were an English alternative rock band, formed in Kippax, Leeds in 1999. Comprising Robert Harvey (vocals, guitar), Adam Nutter (lead guitar), Stuart Coleman (bass) and Phil Jordan (drums), the band came to prominence with the release of their debut album, The Music, in 2002. The band released two further studio albums, Welcome to the North (2004) and Strength in Numbers (2008), before parting ways in 2011.

Career

The Music all met at Brigshaw High School, except Phil Jordan who went to Garforth, and began playing in 1999 as Insense. In 2001 the song "Take the Long Road and Walk It" circulated as a demo before being released by Fierce Panda as a 1000-copies-only single, a rarity from its day of release. Around this time the NME and Steve Lamacq were describing them as the best unsigned band in Britain. The band were quickly signed by Hut, who released their first EP You Might as Well Try to Fuck Me.

In 2002, following another EP (The People) they released their eponymous début album which reached No. 4 in the UK album charts. Their début single was re-issued as part of a two-disc set to promote the album, and reached No. 14 in the singles chart. Two further singles from the album, "Getaway" and "The Truth is No Words" reached No. 26 and No. 18 respectively. June 2003 saw them filling in for an absent Zwan on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

Slave to the Music (James Morrison song)

"Slave to the Music" is a song by British singer-songwriter James Morrison, released as the third single from his third studio album, The Awakening. The single was due for release on February 20, 2012 in the United Kingdom, however, the song received an advanced release on August 5, 2011 in the Netherlands. The music video was uploaded to Morrison's official YouTube account on August 19, 2011, and included on the bonus DVD contained within the Tesco deluxe edition of The Awakening.

Background

In an interview for Digital Spy, James described the track:

Critical reception

Allmusic's Jon O'Brien perceived that "only on the funky R&B beats and Michael Jackson-esque chorus of "Slave to the Music," where Morrison begins to show some of the invention that was allegedly so heavily restricted on his previous effort." Pip Elwood wrote for "Entertainment Focus" that the song is a "standout track, where Morrison explores deeper rhythms."

Chart performance

The song debuted at the Dutch Top 40 chart, at number fifty-four. In the second week, it climbed to number twenty-one. In the third week, it climbed again to number nineteen. In the fourth week, it reached number fifteen, where it stayed for another week. In the sixth week, it peaked at number nine. Later, it fell to number seventeen and in the last week, it fell to number twenty-two.

Twenty 4 Seven

Twenty 4 Seven is a Dutch Eurodance act, created by record producer Ruud van Rijen in 1989. Active sporadically ever since, the act has featured nine different vocalists, has performed across Europe and Africa, and as of 2010 is fronted by Li Ann and Stacey "Stay-C" Seedorf.

One of the earliest popular Eurodance projects, the project originated as a hip hop group, and transitioned to the mainstream Eurodance sound in the early 90s with "Slave to the Music", the band's most successful single to date. The group originally featured rapper Tony Dawson-Harrison, who created the Captain Hollywood Project in 1992.

History

Formation and Street Moves

Twenty 4 Seven was founded in 1989, when Dutch producer Ruud van Rijen hired rappers Tony Dawson-Harrison, Hanks & Jacks, and MC Fixxit to front a new dance project. To set Twenty 4 Seven apart from other similar groups, van Rijen decided to hire female singer Nancy Coolen. The combination of traditional rapping with female choruses proved to be a success, with their first single, "I Can't Stand It!" charting at no 3 in Israel, reaching #7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990. The next single, "Are You Dreaming", did similarly well, reaching number 17 in the United Kingdom. In mid-1990, Street Moves, the project's debut album, was released. Both songs had been remixed heavily by DJ/Producer Bruce Forest.

Slavery

Slavery is a legal or economic system in which principles of property law are applied to humans allowing them to be classified as property, to be owned, bought and sold accordingly, and they cannot withdraw unilaterally from the arrangement. While a person is a slave, the owner is entitled to the productivity of the slave's labour, without any remuneration. The rights and protection of the slave may be regulated by laws and customs in a particular time and place, and a person may become a slave from the time of their capture, purchase or birth.

Today, chattel slavery is unlawful in all countries, but a person may still be described as a slave if he or she is forced to work for another person without an ability on their part to unilaterally terminate the arrangement. Such situations are today commonly referred to as "practices similar to slavery". The present form of the slave trade is commonly referred to as human trafficking.

Slavery existed before written history and in many cultures. It was once institutionally recognized by most societies, but has now been outlawed in all countries, the last being Mauritania in 2007. However, it continues through such practices as debt bondage, serfdom, domestic servants kept in captivity, certain adoptions in which children are forced to work as slaves, child soldiers, human trafficking and forced marriage. Accordingly, there are more slaves today than at any time in history, with an estimated 20 million to 36 million slaves worldwide.