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So what kind of music does the Project want to promote? Music that gets people to move and to think, inspires them, and forms the soundtrack for good times.

It wants to bring special attention to music that isn't confined to one particular style or influence, which expand minds, not contain them; that is created by performers, writers, and producers of multiple races and both sexes, bringing the concept of music for everyone and by everyone closer to reality. It is not overlooking the popular music of today, but most of it does not fit these requirements.

An important goal for the Project is to showcase music that has been overlooked or forgotten; former hit songs that have faded from the radio and good songs that never got on it. It will not rest until everyone who wants to have these songs can obtain them legally.

Remember, true music lovers open themselves up to music from more than one genre or period of time. They may not like all of it but they are aware of and respect it.

Catapilla's Favorite Music

(Note: I am going to limit this section to talking about artists and songs that have been played on American top 40 radio and charted in Billboard. I'm not discounting indie artists but this gives the general public a reference to understand what my favorite music is and is more likely to have heard it.)

I like all different kinds of music, so it's hard to describe exactly what I like in one paragraph, let alone one section. But I'll try.

Continuing with the theme of equality, neither the singing or music should dominate the song. If a performer or the producer seems to be showing off, that's a turn-off for me. For singers, they shouldn't crush every high note out of the park. On the musician side, they don't impress me with how loud and fast they can play.

For me, the most important characteristics of any song are the rhythm, heart and emotion. If either the music or lyrics don't have heart or convey emotion, it's just a good song, and if it has no rhythm, then it's just noise. I also feel that unless the singer co-wrote or relates to the material they don't truly understand what it is about and can't be truly honest about the performance.

If I haven't just described what great music is, than I don't what it is.

I have said that I like pop songs from the mid '80s to early '90s the best, but my favorite artists and genres transcend that time period. This gives an idea of my favorite music; I don't even like everything that these listed artists have done. Unless otherwise noted, the material by these listed artists is from that time period.

Favorite Artists: Genesis, U2, R.E.M., Fine Young Cannibals, John Mayer

Genres:

British soul/R&B: Seal, Fine Young Cannibals, Sade, Londonbeat, Simply Red, Breathe, Robert Palmer, early Sting. The British seem to understand soul music better than Americans.

Rock/pop (prefer a balance of guitar and keyboards): Genesis, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Eagles, The Police, Tom Petty, The Cars, Duran Duran, Heart, Foreigner, Journey, early Richard Marx, Prince, later Queen, Bruce Springsteen, U2, R.E.M., Howard Jones, Audioslave, Foo Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls, Incubus, John Mayer, Matchbox Twenty, Live, Coldplay, Dido, Duncan Sheik, Dave Matthews Band. I wish I could break this down further.

R&B (including classic soul): Spinners, Smokey Robinson/The Miracles, Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Jody Watley, Mariah Carey, Karyn White, Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men. Sometimes it's more about the sound than who is singing.

Late 80's/early 90's dance soul/pop: Stevie B., Expose, Paula Abdul, Cathy Dennis (artists that have both dance and ballad hits); dance outfits such as Technotronic, C&C Music Factory, Black Box, Real McCoy, ect. See above.

Writing: Richard Marx, Gloria Estefan, Babyface, Goo Goo Dolls, Genesis/Phil Collins, John Mayer

Producing: Mutt Lange, Babyface

My favorite albums have their own section here.

In summary:

My favorite songs stick in my mind and/or remind me of a certain point of time or event in my life.

My favorite albums capture the point of time in which they were made.

My favorite artists impress me with almost everything that they've done, not just their hits.

A final word - What I recommend to people is that they should listen to all of the music they can. Then they can decide what they like best and, if they are aspiring performers, develop a sound of their own.