Canvas

Canvas is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame. It is also used in such fashion objects as handbags, electronic device cases and shoes.

Etymology

The word "canvas" is derived from the 13th century Anglo-French canevaz and the Old French canevas. Both may be derivatives of the Vulgar Latin cannapaceus for "made of hemp," originating from the Greek κάνναβις (cannabis).

Physical characteristics

Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, although historically it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavy cotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave. Canvas comes in two basic types: plain and duck. The threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven. The term duck comes from the Dutch word for cloth, doek. In the United States, canvas is classified in two ways: by weight (ounces per square yard) and by a graded number system. The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.

Canvas (band)

Canvas is a rock band from Austin, Texas whose active period was from 1996 to 2005. For most of their history the lineup has been Joseph King (guitar, lead vocals), Julian Mandrake (lead guitar), Ben Rada (rhythm guitar), Brad Byram (bass, backing vocals), and Scott Thomas (drums). The band was extremely popular and influential on the Texas music scene, and the members of the band have all gone on join or form other successful bands.

History

The roots of Canvas begin in San Francisco in the mid 1990s with singer-songwriter Joseph King and guitarist Ben Rada while they were students at Stanford. The two met at a coffee shop, became fast friends, started jamming, and decided to put a band together. The band soon also included bassist Geoff Piper and drummer Jean-Paul Labrosse. The band was originally named Labrosse King, but by the time they released their first EP in 1998 had renamed themselves Canvas. In 1999, Canvas played the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and became so enamored with the city that they decided to move there. They added established Austin musicians Julian Mandrake (formerly of Oynxx and Brother Love) on lead guitar and Scott Thomas (formerly of Dexter Freebish) on drums. Brad Byram (formerly of Ugly Tribe and Zen Merchants) eventually replaced Geoff Piper on bass, rounding out the band with King on vocals and Rada on rhythm guitar. Immediately after recruiting the new members, the band began work on their first full-length album Invocation, which they recorded and produced in their garage. While in California, the band had a light rock sound which drew comparisons to Matchbox Twenty. When the band moved to Texas, they quickly made friends with bands such as Johnny Goudie, Spoonfed Tribe and Blue October and found a new harder-edged sound influenced by their musical peers.

YouView

YouView is a smart TV set-top box platform in the United Kingdom, developed by a partnership of three telecommunications operators and four broadcasters. It was formed from a project originally titled "Project Canvas", which was rebranded as YouView in September 2010. The service was due to launch by the end of that year, but was delayed until 4 July 2012. At its launch, YouView's then-Chairman Alan Sugar stated his ambition for the service to replace Freeview devices.

YouView provides access to free-to-air Digital Terrestrial Television channels (both DTT and DVB-T2 channels in common with the Freeview television platform) and to TV on demand (catch-up TV) services via a 'hybrid' set-top box purchased by users, connected with both a broadband Internet connection and a normal television aerial. No contract is required, and there is no subscription charge. Catch-up and on-demand content is delivered over the Internet, which may be chargeable by the Internet service provider (ISP) or subject to limits and fair usage clauses.

Bigger (Justin Bieber song)

"Bigger" is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber, included as a track on his debut release, My World, released on November 17, 2009. It was written by Bieber, Frank Ocean, Dapo Torimiro, Kevin Risto and Waynne Nugent of Midi Mafia, with the latter duo and Dapo producing the song. Musically, the song is a R&B number which infuses elements of teen pop and dance-pop, while including influences of new jack swing. The song's lyrics refer to one maturing in a relationship and working to reach goals. The song received generally positive reception from critics who reviewed the album, with a Billboard reviewer commenting that Bieber had "genuine swagger" on the song. Some reviews however questioned the lyrical content. After the release of My World, due to digital sales, the song charted in the lower regions of charts in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Background and composition

"Bigger" was co-written by Bieber, Odd Future collective member Frank Ocean, Dapo Torimiro, Kevin Risto and Waynne Nugent of Midi Mafia. (Midi Mafia also worked with Bieber on the ballad "Down To Earth") Midi Mafia and Dapo have production credits. It was recorded at Icon Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and it was mixed at Larrabee Studios in North Hollywood, California. The track was one of three songs on the standard edition of the album that Bieber co-wrote.

Bigger (Backstreet Boys song)

"Bigger" is the second single from the Backstreet Boys seventh studio album, This Is Us. The song was co-written and produced by collaborator and producer Max Martin. The band stated that the song was one of their best hits since "I Want It That Way", a song written and produced by Martin for the band in 1998.

Background and composition

"Bigger" was written by Max Martin, Johan Schuster and Tiffany Amber, while produced by Martin and Shellback. It was recorded by Al Clay at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, California, and by Martin and Shellback at Maratone Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. It was mixed at Mixstar Studios by Serban Ghenea. Audio engineering was done by John Hanes, while assisted by Tim Roberts. Shellback played the guitar, bass guitar and drums, and Martin played the keyboards. When asked about the track, A.J. McLean said:

Music video

The music video, directed by Frank Borin, was filmed in Tokyo, Japan, on October 2, 2009, during a mini-tour there to promote their album This Is Us. It premiered worldwide at the official Backstreet Boys website on November 2, 2009. Nadia Mendonza of The Sun said, "In the video, the quartet can be seen strutting their stuff against the backdrop of busy capital city Tokyo. The lads look in their element as they enjoy a traditional feast in a restaurant with a host of Japanese women dressed as maids. And despite having been in showbiz for almost two decades, they prove they're still just big kids with a game of karaoke."