If you are interested in learning more about cellos, these fascinating instruments, you can find out more about them in our recent post, where we have analyzed the best cellos and how to choose the one that is right for you. Now is also a great time to listen to more cello music, not only because of self-isolation but also because instrumental music is beneficial for our health.
Classical music is wonderful, but not everybody can fully enjoy it right away, and it takes time to learn to appreciate it. Modern instrumental rock, on the other hand, is a very popular music genre that appeals to rock fans as well as classical music fans. 2cellos is one of the most popular cello rock bands, and self-isolation is a good time to discover some of the best 2cellos songs.
Instrumental music is good for our brain and our creativity
This unique period where we had to deal with self-isolation and a lack of social interactions was an opportunity for self-discovery and development. A lot of people rediscovered their passions and hobbies, and others found some new interests and became more creative than they were before. self-isolation also gave us the opportunity to finish projects or to study more.
Music is not just for fun, and it has a deep influence on our mood and even energy levels. Music can be a therapy by itself, and it’s a great companion during self-isolation when we are more focused on ourselves and our own development. But not every kind of music has the same positive effects when it comes to our mental wellbeing and creativity.
According to a study published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences and cited by the New York Post, there is a connection between the preference for instrumental music and intelligence. The author of the study found that people with higher intelligence scores also tend to listen to classical music, jazz, ambient or electronic music, which are all forms of instrumental music.
Listening to music was also found to have a direct influence over neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. Dopamine is responsible for making us feel not only happier, but also more motivated, and listening to music increases the level of this neurotransmitter, therefore making us feel a lot better. We associate listening to music with good vibes and enthusiasm.
Music increases dopamine levels, and it can even alter our brain waves, which is why, as neuroscientist Jonah Lehrer has stated, music is the easiest way to relax our mind, and anybody can use it. Because vocals can be distracting or even annoying for some people, especially when the mind is focused on a task or a project, instrumental music can be the best choice.
Whether you want to let your mind drift and unleash your creativity, or to focus on your projects and to relax while you are working on something, instrumental music is the best choice that will undoubtedly help your mind calm down, relax, and perform better.
If you are new to classical music or even if you are familiar with it, listening to instrumental music, such as instrumental rock, can turn out to be of great help during self-isolation, when you are feeling stressed and maybe worried. Cello music can help you relax, feel more motivated, and have more creative ideas.
Instrumental rock and cello rock
Instrumental rock is a type of music that minimizes or even eliminates vocals in favor of instruments, which are at the forefront. It became well known in the mid-fifties, and it was popular throughout that decade. It continued to evolve over the years, and it extended to most rock subgenres, with specific tendencies and trends for every decade.
During the first decade of rock and roll, instrumental rock gained a lot of notoriety, and a lot of instrumental songs became popular hits. Some of the musicians focused on the saxophone, with songs inspired by jazz or rhythm and blues. The combination of guitar, bass, and drums also became very popular, and some of the best guitarists began their careers during this time.
During the eighties, instrumental rock was best known for guitar solos, and guitar soloists became the major representatives of this genre. Over the years, artists experimented with several genres and mixed classical music with rock music or jazz and rock with ethnic influences.
Indie-rock bands dominated the scene in the nineties, and this was another important step in the evolution of instrumental music. Indie-rock and post-rock continued to gain notoriety throughout the years, and a lot of fusion music groups added new hit songs to the instrumental genre.
In 1971, a band called Electric Light Orchestra introduced rock songs that were arranged for cellos and added four cellos on stage for their tour. This is how cello rock was born, and it quickly became one of the most popular rock subgenres. Cello rock combines traditional rock instruments, including drum sets, electric bass guitars, and electric guitars with cellos.
Other bowed string instruments, such as violins and violas, also became hugely popular for rock song renditions. In cello rock, you can usually hear three or more cellos. Oftentimes, these classical string instruments are amplified and electronically modified so that their sound becomes more similar to that of electric guitars. The result is a distinctive, unmistakable sound.
Classical covers of famous pop songs or rock songs also became very well known in the past decades. Surprising and sophisticated, classical covers offer the best of both worlds, classical and rock or pop, with innovative interpretations and nuances. Brooklyn Duo, for example, covered Taylor Swift’s song “Blank Space” and the combination of piano and cello expressed just as much, if not more than the original version with vocals.
2cellos popular songs
2cellos is an internationally acclaimed cellist duo that plays instrumental renditions of famous rock and pop hit songs. The group originates in Zagreb, Croatia, and is composed of Stjepan Hauser, born in Croatia and Luka Šulić, born in Slovenia. Hauser studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in London.
Šulić also studied music, first in Zagreb and Vienna and then in London, at the Royal Academy of Music. Initially, they were both competing in various music competitions but eventually started to play music together. The two recorded their first album in 2011 and quickly became known worldwide, thanks to their first video, which received millions of views in a short time.
At first, even though they were known on the UK music scene, the two cellists did not have financial success. This was when a friend suggested that they would have more success with pop music renditions because they would be able to reach a larger audience. Their first popular hit is still one of the 2cellos songs worth listening to anytime.
Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” is a popular pop song, and 2cellos succeeded in transforming it into a great cello song as well. Their rendition of “Smooth Criminal” is still one of the band’s most popular cello songs, with over thirty million views on YouTube. In 2012, 2cellos also performed “Smooth Criminal” on one of the episodes of the “Glee” television series.
Another 2cellos song that you should definitely listen to during this time is “Thunderstruck”, the rendition of the famous rock band AC/DC’s top hit. The video of the two cellists playing “Thunderstruck” in front of an unsuspecting classical audience went viral, and it is one of the most popular 2cello songs.
2cellos has a remarkably versatile style, and the two cellists have created cello arrangements for a variety of songs from different music genres, including “My Heart Will Go On”, “Despacito” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. According to the members of the band, they try to choose songs that can be adapted for two cellos because it’s not easy to create good covers with only two cellos and a drum set.
In2ition was the band’s second album, released in 2013, and it featured covers of rock songs such as “Highway to Hell”, pop songs such as “Clocks”, as well as classic tracks with vocals performed by famous guest stars. Their third album, Celloverse, included a cover of Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” and a cover of “Wake Me Up”, from Avicii.
2cellos’ fourth album was launched in 2017, in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.
