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The history of a major music artist in the time it takes to play one of their songs

Rewinding the History of Music

Apple launched its streaming service in 2015, and to celebrate, the company made their customers an offer they couldn't refuse: three months free subscription. The problem: during these three months, the artists streamed will not receive a penny. But that was without reckoning for Taylor Swift, who published an open letter to the firm on her Tumblr detailing why refusing to pay artists for their work was unacceptable. Apple backtracked. 

Taylor Swift

August 19, 2014. Nicki Minaj releases the music video for Anaconda. The message is clear: down with the dictatorship of skinny pop stars and make way for XXL shapes and XXX speech. Provocative? Maybe. Feminist? Definitely.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj says down with the dictatorship of skinny pop stars, and make way for XXL shapes and XXX speech

United States, Gabon, Bahamas... Serge Gainsbourg wasn't just an artist, he was also a traveller. The wanderings of this icon led him to Jamaica, the Mecca of musical renewal.

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United States, Gabon, Bahamas... Serge Gainsbourg wasn't just an artist, he was also a traveller

Serge Gainsbourg

Metallica's 35-year career is still going strong: they are timeless. To celebrate their latest album, 
Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, TAPE revisits the history of a music group that became a global movement. 

Metallica's 35-year career is still going strong: they are timeless

TAPE: Metallica

Dave Grohl is the co-author of only one Nirvana song: Scentless Apprentice, on the 1993 In Utero album. Frontman Kurt Cobain said, "I found it a bit stupid." But since the end of Nirvana, Grohl went on to release ten albums with the Foo Fights, wrote 76 songs and had 9 US hits. Not bad for a once-overlooked drummer.

Foo Fighters

Was Dave Grohl's talent ignored in Nirvana?

January 20, 1997. Daft Punk released Homework and began their conquest of the planet. But Inrockuptibles music critic Christophe Conte was scathing. 24 years, 6 grammys and 11 million albums sold later, he's had to eat his words. Daft Punk's victory begs the question: what if everything the journalist hated about them was precisely what made the band so successful?

Daft Punk

What if everything that critics hated about Daft Punk was precisely what made the band so successful?

In the 1990s Marilyn Manson got a kick out of upsetting American society. His videos and stage shows were designed to provoke and force the USA to face its cultural contradictions.

In the 1990s Marilyn Manson got a kick out of upsetting American society.

TAPE: Marilyn Manson

The Nobel prize, the Prince of Asturias Award, the National Medal of Arts: All prizes that Bob Dylan won but refused. Is this how he stays true to his counter-culture ideas?

TAPE: Bob Dylan

Céline Dion married her agent. Was it him who made her career or was it the other way around?

Céline Dion

When international superstar Beyoncé wanted some new dance moves for her latest video, she chose little known Mozambique dance trio Tofo Tofo to create the choreography.

When international superstar Beyoncé wanted some new dance moves for her latest video, she chose little known Mozambique dance trio, Tofo Tofo to create the choreography.

TAPE: Beyoncé

How did Tupac go from being gangster king to the paragon of the underdog? TAPE tells the story.

Tupac

From Paul McCartney to Bono, pop stars love to talk about their green credentials. But in the midst of all this ecological commitment, one artist stands out: Icelandic superstar Björk

Björk

At first glance, nothing connects Mylène Farmer with  ultraviolence. But… TAPE puts the spotlight on the dark side of the French-Canadian popstar.

Mylène Farmer

Pharrell Williams manages to combine coolness and super-geekdom à la Star Trek. But how?

Pharrell Williams manages to combine coolness and super-geekdom. But how?

Pharrell Williams

With the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles took a step into the avant-garde. TAPE tells the story of its famous album cover juxtaposing Marilyn Munroe, Stockhausen and Hitler.

With the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles took a step into the avant-garde.

TAPE: The Beatles

How the 2005 music video for their hit Stress got French duo Justice in trouble.

Justice

TAPE looks at the relationship between the Red Hot Chili Peppers and on-again-off-again band member John Frusciante, a toxic love affair.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

To accompany the release of their first album in 1967, the Doors send their biographies to the press. The bio of their singer Jim Morrison is worth a second look. Full name: Jim Douglas Morrison. Eye color: blue. Parents: dead. Hmm… Really?

The Doors

Why did Jim Morrison lie to the press about his parents being dead?

How did counter-culture icon Patti Smith get invited to the most hallowed hall of the French republic?

Patti Smith

Old and young, everyone seems to agree that Kate Bush is amazing. TAPE looks into the success of the most discrete and the most creative star in pop. 

Kate Bush

Old and young, everyone seems to agree that Kate Bush is amazing. TAPE looks into the success of the most discrete and the most creative star in pop.

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Rewinding the History of Music

All videos

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Taylor Swift

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Nicki Minaj

Serge Gainsbourg

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TAPE: Metallica

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Foo Fighters

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Daft Punk

TAPE: Marilyn Manson

TAPE: Bob Dylan

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Céline Dion

TAPE: Beyoncé

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Tupac

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Björk

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Mylène Farmer

Pharrell Williams

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TAPE: The Beatles

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Justice

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Red Hot Chili Peppers

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The Doors

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Patti Smith

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Kate Bush