To cut a single

d

To disband (see also split up)

e.g. Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980 after Bonham died from an alcohol overdose.

DJ

drum

drumbeat

drum kit

Drummer

f

fame

to be at the height of one’s fame/popularity

fan

e.g. He is a big fan of “The Beatles”.

pop fan

fans scream/yell/shout

fan club

fan base

e.g. I want a Sting career where you have a fan base who always want to hear what you’re saying about the world.

g

gig

e.g. Live gigs are the most enjoyable part of my work.

play/do a gig

e.g. Buffalo Tom play a one-off gig at London’s Powerhaus on March 21.

group

e.g. How did the group come about? – The group took shape from a union of 2 groups.

a bubblegum pop group

an all-female group

h

hit

old hit(s)

sb’s greatest hits

sb’s hit single/album/record

to become a hit on the air

To be/become a one-hit wonder

i

image

a bare-to-the-waist image

k

keyboards

e.g. She plays keyboards in a rock group.

l

line-up

an original/remaining, current/final line-up

e.g. Original line-up: Andy Bright, vocals; Jim Flays, guitar; Nick Adams, drums; Erik Guss, bass; Derek Lynch, keyboards.

lip sync(h) (n/v)

e.g. They said it was live but I think she was lip-synching from her record.

live (a/adj)

to broadcast/play/record/show sth live

live music/concert performance/album

to perform in front of a live audience

lyrics

e.g. The Eagles’ music featured demanding instrumentals, bittersweet lyrics, and straightforward melodies.

lyricist

e.g. Two years later, John met British lyricist Bernie Taupin, forming a prolific song-writing partnership.

m

music

to aim at creating music for enjoyment

to put music on

e.g. The neighbours got cross every time we put our music on.

music video/music clip (see video)

musician

a jazz/rock/classical musician

rock musicians: a drummer, a bassist, a keyboard player, a (solo) guitarist

p

popularity

to be at the height of one’s fame/popularity

pyrotechnics

the use of exploding pyrotechnics

r

record (n/v)

a record company

to secure a recording contract with (a company)

to record in sb’s studio

a live recording from the Japanese/Russian, etc. tour

on the road (see on tour)

e.g. The band was on the road for seven months last year.

s

to sell

e.g. Their last CD sold an amazing 2 million copies.

sing(er)

singer-songwriter

e.g. She started singing along with the song on the radio.

single

to cut a single

e.g. All the group’s hit singles have been collected on an album.

song

to co-write a song

to compose a song

sb’s songs have a fast and rhythmic beat/catchy tunes/are sweet and sentimental

e.g. When I heard that song for the first time it just blew me away.

e.g. The song plays over the opening credits.

to do a song

e.g. To start with, we’d like to do a song from our first album.

sound

sound effects

soundtrack

e.g. He plays an original jazz-gospel sound.

to split up

e.g. In 1970 the Beatles split up and each member pursued another musical career.

success

the secret of one’s success

synthesiser

t

talent

to have a multifaceted talent

top

to reach #1 in top lists

to top the charts

to displace sb from the top of the charts

to reach the top ten on the Billboard magazine popular music charts

e.g. He was the second top-selling solo artist behind M.Jackson.

tour (see on the road)

to be on tour in GB/ the US, etc.

track

e.g. The 14 tracks vary from happy pop songs to sombre ballads.

title track

v

video (also music video/music clip)

e.g. MTV is hyper-rotating the video for her single Hyperventilating.

e.g. The showing of her music videos on MTV was a major factor in Madonna’s tremendous success in the pop music scene.

vocal

e.g. It’s a song by E.Bros, with Andy martins on vocals.

e.g. Who is on backing vocals?

back vocal

vocalist

a backing vocalist

VJ

video jockey

w

words

e.g. She knew the words to every song that came on the radio.