On this day: the curiosities from the world of music on January 12

The well-known specialized magazine Rolling Stone published in 2003 the list of the 500 best music albums of all time.

The list was determined through voting by a special jury composed of 273 musicians, critics, historians and personalities of the music industry. Each juror could express up to 50 preferences.

This ranking has then been updated twice, undergoing radical changes: the first change was in 2012, the second in 2020. In the latest version, 154 new albums have been added, 86 of them from the XXI century.

Very short, but intense: some songs last only a few minutes (or even a few seconds), but are enough to remain in the history of rock and music in general.

In this ranking, we find some of the most famous rock songs, but also those of shorter overall length.

These songs include some famous ones by artists such as RHCP, Led Zeppelin and, of course, The Beatles, who are somehow always present when it comes to charts.

Here are some of the shortest songs in rock history!

The definition of a phobia indicates an irrational and persistent fear and revulsion of certain situations, objects, activities, animals or people that can, in severe cases limit the autonomy of the sufferer.

Even the most famous singers are affected by some phobias, more or less peculiar, from the classic fear of flying to the unusual fear of owls: in fact, phobias are often related to traumatic events and can appear strange in the eyes of the sufferer.

Here are the fears that some of the most famous singers have admitted having.

How many times in your life have you listened to songs extracted from the best-selling albums of all time? Some albums have changed the history of music and art in general, and their value has been certified by the number of copies of the album purchased.

These records are iconic and have marked an era: even today, many people buy a copy of such albums to keep a historical product with them, especially now that vinyls are popular again.

Here are what are the best-selling albums of all time according to data provided by the certification bodies made available by different nations, taking into consideration, of course, the number of officially declared sales.

The well-known US magazine Rolling Stone in 2021 has updated the list of the 500 most beautiful songs of all time.

The ranking was first published on December 11, 2003 and was compiled by a jury chosen by the editorial staff, composed of 172 musicians, music critics and experts in the recording industry. Subsequently, the ranking was changed twice: the first in 2010, the second in 2021, when 254 songs that were previously not present were added.

Obviously, there is nothing more subjective than music: these songs are considered the best according to the criteria defined by Rolling Stonemagazine, but each of us has his own personal ranking of the best songs ever. Here, however, is the Top 20 of Rolling Stone.

Sleeper Hit: this term refers to songs that achieved international fame long after their release as singles, months, years or even decades later.

There are many reasons why a song that initially went unnoticed can later become a hit: for example, the inclusion of the song on the soundtrack of a film or TV series, or the release of a remix of that single.

Here are some of the most famous cases of sleeper hits, songs that reached success late.

In 2008, 'Rolling Stone' compiled a list of the 100 best singers of all time.

This ranking was compiled 15 years ago by 180 people, including several musicians (e.g. Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Justin Timberlake, George Michael, Keith Richards), journalists and music experts.

On 1 January 2023, however, 'Rolling Stone' published an update of the ranking that revolutionised the list, especially with regard to the Top Ten. As the well-known US magazine was keen to point out, this ranking does not only take into account technical and vocal abilities (it is not a list of the best voices of all time), but also the originality of the vocal timbre, the record catalogue, the writing ability and the musical legacy of the singers in question. Here are the top 20 positions.

What are the most listened to songs on the unforgettable wedding day? Spotify reveals the complete ranking of the most listened to songs in 2022.

There are almost 15 million playlists on the music streaming platform and many of them are dedicated to the wedding day itself: from the most romantic songs to those for going wild and dance.

To come up with this ranking, Spotify checked which songs are the most added on wedding-related thematic playlists: browse the photo gallery to find out which songs are the most played in the world

The world of music is full of legends, alleged secrets, anecdotes and little-known stories: some tales are true, others totally invented, the product of fantasy or some hypothesis that has never been verified.

These are urban legends, for which there is no certain source. Among the most interesting legends is the one about musicians and singers who may have died in the past and then been replaced by a double. 

Proponents of this theory also cite evidence of, according to them, aesthetic differences or subliminal traces left behind in albums and songs: here are five of the most famous cases of singers who supposedly died and were replaced.

In the history of music, there are many singers who have also tried their hand at acting, including in Hollywood major productions.

Many musicians have also been nominated for best actor (lead and supporting), such as Lady Gaga or Mary J. Blige, but few have then managed to win the coveted statuette for their acting skills by entering this special ranking.

Here are some singers who have won the Oscar for best actor, lead and supporting.

LoveAntiques.com, the leading online antiques resale web platform, has created a ranking of the world's most valuable vinyls.

To make this list, LoveAntiques.com turned to the invaluable help of Phil Barton, one of the world's leading experts on rare vinyls and records.

What determines the value of the record is not the high number of copies sold, but the factor that drives up the price is errors, such as a misprint or a censored cover. Here are what vinyls are worth a fortune, according to Phil Barton and LoveAntiques.com.