Michael Jackson Dead - music lives on
OK, so he is dead… Michael Jackson is really dead. And he is leaving behind a mountain of debt to his family. But one thing i heard was that sales wer brisk for all of Michael Jackson’s music products. CD’s from Michael Jackon and the Jacksons were flying off the shelves.
In fact I heard that the stores were wondering WHY so many peopele were buying his cd’s and that’s how they found out he was dead. Because people were hoarding his music. (read more…)
Beyonce Shrugs Off Fake Recording
Someone made a prank on one of Beyonce’s song. She’s shrieking on a recording for the song If I were A Boy. But for Beyonce, it was just an honest joke which made it through national airwaves. She good-naturedly shrugged off the alleged soundboard recording.
The tape first appeared on The Howard Stern Show Wednesday and has since been dismissed as “a complete prank,” Matt Lauer told Knowles on Thursday morning’s Today show.
“I haven’t heard this, but I do know whoever did this did it as a joke,” the singer, 27, told Lauer, who described the recording as a combination of “dogs barking and fingernails on a chalkboard.”
(read more…)
Beyonce Concert Tour Is Kicking Off
Beyonce will start the concert itinerary on its U.S. leg of her “I AM …” world tour in New York on June 21.
It will start on Madison Square Garden, the tour, which officially kicked off March 26 in Edmonton, takes Beyoncé to arenas across the country, hitting Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas, Chicago, and 14 other cities before wrapping with a four night stand at Las Vegas’ Encore Theatre inside the Wynn. The singer is touring behind her 2008 album I AM … Sasha Fierce.
Beyoncé’s tour wardrobe, which includes 71 costumes, was designed by Thierry Mugler. The singer will also be joined on the road by her all-female band as well as winners of her “Single Ladies” dance contest – in which fans uploaded videos of themselves performing her hit – during a segment of the show.
Fan club members can buy tickets beginning April 20. Tickets to the general public will go on sale April 25. In addition, Beyoncé is making 2,000 seats available at each venue (save for the Las Vegas dates) available for $20.
Rihanna - Frankie Delgado Thing : Just A Rumor
Its been rumored that singer and hitmaker Rihanna has a thing going with The Hills star Frankie Delgado after her break up with battering boyfriend Chris Brown. However, The Hills star denied any thing going on with them with the Take A Bow singer. Its also been reported that, Rihanna treated Frankie with a sexy lap dance at Delux last Thursday night. He told Eonline.com that the report was made up, and told them “God bless any guy who does get to dance with her.”
Rihanne break up with Brown after their reconciliation following her alleged attacked on her last 9th of February. Chris Brown has been charged with 2 count of felonies in which it was reported that he beat, choked and threatened his girlfriend’s life during a drive to Los Angeles.
I just really hope that Rihanna won’t be reconciling again with his ex boyfriend after all that happened. As Oprah pointed out, a man who have beat you once will have a 100% probability that he will beat you twice. Goodluck to Rihanna!
Check out Rihanna live music concerts here to spice you up!
(read more…)
Rock of Love Bus - Bald Headed Smoking Hot Video
Have you seen the video Rock of Love Bus with bald headed Bret Michaels???
The bus - it’s where the action occurs on Rock of Love. Bret Michaels and his girls are rocking the bus in a new season of big boobed Rock Of Love Bus.
Riding the road of love with big breasted women in pigtails and short shorts!
watch the video to see it all for yourself. (read more…)
Another Successful Year For Britney Spears
Britney Spears is rocking the music industry once again. Her album “Circus is the No. 1 album in the country today selling more than 500,000 albums as of December 9, 2008. Her competitors are way below her numbers with Taylor Swift’s Fearless at number 2 selling more than 180,000 copies and Beyonce’s I Am…Sasha Fierce selling more than 148, 500 copies. (figures from Hitsdailydouble.com)
Her manager, Larry Rudolph, tells the Associated Press, “I think she is America’s pop princess, and the world’s pop princess, and this just reconfirms it to everyone who doubted it.”
(read more…)
Britney Spears “Circus” Will Be Out Soon!
Britney Spears will once again show of her musical side with the release of her upcoming album entitled “The Circus”. Her fans will surely be delighted knowing that the pop star has once again made another journey to the music industry. This latest album will be release on December 2 and already available for preview on the website for New York radio station WKTU.
The six-track mix features the hit single “Womanizer,” plus new songs “Circus,” “Out From Under,” “Kill the Lights,” “If U Seek Amy” and “Unusual You.”
The first single, “Womanizer”, became Britney Spears’s first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 since her debut “…Baby One More Time”, almost 10 years prior. The second single will be the title track “Circus”, it was announced the same day as the track listing on October 31, 2008.
(read more…)
Il Divo Will Release New Album On November
The operatic pop vocal group, Il Divo formed by pop impresario Simon Cowell, will release its fifth album, The Promise, on Nov. 18. One of its track entitled Halelujah which is a Spanish song will be going to be release, of course with the album. Il Divo is consists of internationally talented tenors including David Miller (American), Sebastien Izambard (French), Urs Bühler (Swiss) and Carlos Marin (Spanish). They had been track down by Simon Cowell for two years 2001-2003.
The band will perform another track from this album, “Amazing Grace,” on The Oprah Winfrey Show this coming Friday. The group will also soon announce plans for a 2009 tour.
(read more…)
Beyoncé Releases Two New Singles
Beyoncé has two new singles out in the market today from her new and upcoming album which has 70 tracks. The album will be out on November 18 this year.
In the ballad, If I Were a Boy, Beyoncé, 27, sings how she’d “chase after the girls” and “put myself first,” and belts out in the chorus how she’d “be a better man” because she knows “how it hurts when you lose the one you wanted/cause he’s taken you for granted.”
Beyoncé’s second single, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” aired on Z100’s sister station Power 105.1.
In the song, the secretly married performer croons, “We just broke up/I’m doin’ my own lil’ thing/And you decided to dip/ Now you wanna trip/Cuz another brutha noticed me/I’m up on him/He up on me.”
(read more…)
Jerry Reed - Much Loved Music Icon Dies at 71
Jerry Reed — Country guitarist, songwriter, singer and Smokey and the Bandit sidekick died Monday of emphysema at the age of 71. Best known to movie fans as the truck-driving, hound dog-loving Snowman from Smokey and the Bandit, Reed also penned his biggest hit for the movie, “East Bound and Down.”
The Atlanta-born Grammy winner, who never lost his Georgia drawl, backed Elvis Presley and Waylon Jennings on guitar before emerging on his own in the late ’60s.
Within a decade, he had a string of radio hits such as “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” and “Amos Moses” and “East Bound and Down” from the Bandit” movies, in which he played trucker Cledus “Snowman” Snow.
(read more…)
Bernie Mac Died Of Pneumonia Complications
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008), better known by the stage name Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley as The Original Kings of Comedy.
After briefly hosting the HBO show Midnight Mac, Mac appeared in several movies in smaller roles. His most notable movie role was as Frank Catton in the remake of Ocean’s Eleven and its two sequels. Mac also starred in several movies, including Mr. 3000. He was the star of The Bernie Mac Show, which ran from 2001-2006, and earned two Emmy Award nominations.
Bernie Mac’s wife and daughter were with him until the very end, says the late comic’s sister-in-law in a personal and touching interview with PEOPLE magazine that took place Saturday.
Speaking of a heartbreaking moment between her younger sister, Rhonda, and the 50-year-old actor-comedian – who succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Chicago hospital at 2 a.m. Saturday – Mary Ann Grossett says that the night before Mac died, “He struggled for his life. He couldn’t breathe.
“He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her. She smiled at him and told him, ‘Don’t leave me … ‘I’m waiting for you to come back.’ He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that’s when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired.”
Rhonda, Mac’s wife since 1977, and their 30-year-old daughter, Je’Niece, were with him when he died. “[The doctors] were working on him,” says Grossett. “They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time.”
Prior to that, the couple had last communicated on July 31. “He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out,” says Grossett.
Brooks And Dunn Received Their Stars On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Country stars Brooks and Dunn, consist of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have joined esteemed ranks of Bob Hope, Lucille Ball and Bugs Bunny. They just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The singing-songwriting duo were overwhelmed on Monday as Dr. Phil McGraw and wife Robin introduced them before unveiling the bronze star in the pavement.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing these guys really well for a number of years now,” said McGraw. ” It is truly an honor for me to be a part of this.”
Brooks told the crowd he was amazed “[to] see Morgan Freeman’s name right next to us.”
“I think people forget that Ronnie and I have dedicated our lives to music because originally we’re such huge fans,” Brooks, 53, said. “To have your name on a star on Hollywood [Boulevard] seems so out of reach.”
Dunn, 55, was practically at a loss for words. “There are hundreds of people that should be in the star with us,” he said. “We’re lucky to be here.
Sean Levert Died Of Unknown Cause
R and B singer Sean Levert, 39, died in the Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland late Sunday due to an unknown illness. Sean Levert was a memner of the Levert trio who reached commercial success in the 80s partly due to their songs Casanova and (Pop, pop, pop) Goes My Mind. He is scheduled for autopsy later today.
“Casanova” was nominated for a Grammy in 1988 for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal. It was also nominated for best R&B song.
In 2006, Sean’s brother, Gerald Levert, who was also a member of the Levert trio had died of accidental mix of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. He was 40 years old.
Sean Levert was in jail during his brief illness. He had pleaded guilty last week to six counts of nonsupport involving children ages 11, 15 and 17.
Home Theater Seating. Comfort Is Important
Home theater seating is important!
Well, you have decided on what home theater you are going to install in your home so what’s the next step? One important thing that is often overlooked is comfortable seating for you and your guests. And not only should the seats be comfortable, they should also be positioned for a great view of your new wide screen tv. Sure that spare couch or loveseat would work fine for the most part, but you can really enhance the overall experience by putting some thought into the seating in the home theater room. Let’s talk about the first and foremost thing to consider when looking at the available seats: comfort.
Your home theater seating needs to be comfortable. You will be spending many hours relaxing in it, watching movies and sporting events. The last thing you want is to have your back stiffen up or your neck to hurt. When you are comfortable you can focus on watching the television and listening to the surround sound, instead of thinking about how to get into a better position so you are not sore. One thing you can look for in your seating options is seats that are constructed of a plush material, but still give enough support for your body. Many of today’s home theater seats will also have additional pillows or cushions in strategic spots, to give your head and neck extra support. This provides a great way to enjoy your entertainment room, allowing you to easily relax. There are many specialty furniture companies out there that design their products to work specifically in home theaters. These (read more…)
Awesome Music in Ads
Awesome Music in Ads by Roxanne McDonald
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Some say it’s a sellout move, others beg to differ. |
The other day at a neighborhood picnic, I was wrinkling my nose at hearing some favorite music being what I thought was bastardized in a car commercial. My neighbor gently corrected my single-mindedness, reiterating comments from some musicians that he said express their pleasure at “finally getting some recognition/exposure.”
“Anyone,” he paraphrased, “ thinking otherwise—that bands are selling out to commercialization—are idiots.”
Now, I’m pretty non-confrontational, in person, anyway, so I just thanked my friend for the new take on music in ads. But when I got home, I decided that no, I was not settling for this attitude overall.
True, the appeal to authority approach is and has been an effective one for decades, with everyone from actors who play doctors on TV to celebrities peddling hair and beauty products to singularly sexy and identifiable voices doing ads for everything from cars to candy (James Spader’s voice seems particularly convincing in Acura ads, for example, while Sally Kellerman—of M.A.S.H. movie—can be id’ed talking seductively to and about the Milky Way bar).
And okay, granted, some musical artists need income, need to find their niche. For example, when I was a kid, my mother gifted me a copy of an album by Jake Holmes, formerly of the Yardbirds. I played the hell out of that album, and to this day can sing the lyrics. Then I heard that distinctively crisp voice as if it was a blast from a past I thought no one else had access to—on television in an ad for deodorant or something.
Now, you might know, Jake has had a tough go in the rock world, having his classic “Dazed and Confused” allegedly ripped off, for example. He also has a virtual career making backdrop music and jingles for some of the biggest companies in the marketing world. Maybe, then, musicians like Holmes have an appreciation for the income, regardless of what the product is they are hocking [or helping to hock].
Ding Dong the Bitch is Dead
Ding Dong the Bitch is Dead by Roxanne McDonald
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Finally! Bret got rid of Lacey. Eww. I’m still shaking off the slimy feelings. |
My friends who are also appreciators of TV came to visit this weekend. And though they don’t get into as many or the same reality TV shows I do, they patiently sat through not only the episode of “Rock of Love” where Lacey gets the boot but my explicit backstory on each of the remaining contenders and summaries of critiques by other TV writers of “Rock of Love” as a “train wreck” of a show.
Before I even fully expressed how much “we” can’t stand Lacey, one of my friends was shouting out how evil she looked and acted. He also got hooked on how funny Bret is in the interviews…, you know, when he does his mocking commentaries such as how those big breasts on blondie convinced him they could have a beautiful relationship. Grin.
But almost more delightful an experience than having my friends as company or enjoying Bret’s satire was watching Lacey implode, burn, and crash. Finally…, Heather gets hep to her two-faced, manipulative bullshit. Finally…, somebody [Heather] calls Lacey on her lies. And finally…, Bret gets equally hep and gives up the hope of Lacey being the underhanded, back-stabbing, front fouling hag she is.
And worse, but maybe what helped push Bret over the edge of real reality, was how appalling Lacey’s father was, as well.
Jordan Rudess Roland Video for V-Synth Wow!
Wow! I just ran into this performance by Jordan Rudess playing a Roland V-Synth. It’s hot! Just him and a drummer (who is that?)
http://media.roland.com/en/v/v0339/v033912M.mov
It’s a Quicktime Video so be prepared to stare at a blank page till it loads. It’s worth the wait!
Xtra Large lives on Youtube!
“I used to love animals - now I eat them!”
Wow! I keep getting amazed with what I am finding on youtube.com
I just did a search for the band Xtra Large not expecting anything and there they are! Videos for the band!
Xtra Large could have been as big as Janes Addiction or Smashing Pumpkins if they only stuck it out. But they got splintered apart and we lost them… one cd is all they did I believe (I’ll have to look that up).
But now it’s fun to check out the videos on youtube.
Here is the video for Hooker by Xtra Large
Josh Freese is an incredible drummer! I saw himn once playing with Dweezil and Ahmet… what was that??? Was that Dweezils band??? I forget…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHUhEmp38ks
Snip Clip with Devo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjfZ9m_tG64
Josh Freese DW commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxPNmEGYBm4
Live Earth - Watch the performances!
Hi, Mike Liebner here! Did you catch the Live Earth shows a few weeks ago???
Way cool! I just found that you can watch the performances from ALL of the LIVE EARTH shows online! MSN has all the stuff!
I was looking for the Japan show - found out there were 2 of them - Tokyo and Kyoto and MSN has the whole thing up there to watch online!
It’s really pretty amazing! I give Al Gore and the crew hats off for making this a cool experience. They are still pushing the messages but so what - th emusic is killer!
You can watch the bands like YMO, Linkin Park and so many others perform live!
http://entimg.msn.com/i/ExperienceData/p1-7/us/x.htm?sh=LiveEarth&ep=le_tokyo
They do have messages between all the songs but a small price to pay to see all the songs as they were performed!
Have fun at the Rock Show(s) !
Human Audio Sponge is Yellow Magic Orchestra - YMO
Hi, Mike Liebner here exploring the web for music… I found a ton of great stuff! Electronica and synth music fans will appreciate this stuff!
Man, it’s simply amazing how easy it is to find great stuff on the web! I was just searching for Yellow Magic Orchestra and their performance at the Live Earth Japan shows (they reunited for it) and found that they have been performing occasionally under the name Human Audio Sponge!
Human Audio Sponge is Yellow Magic Orchestra!
If you search on youtube and myspace you’ll find some great videos! I have yet to find the Live Earcth show on video but will keep looking.
Here is a link to video of a Human Audio Sponge live show performing Rhydeen. (read more…)
Gentle and Genuine Dynamo Joe
Gentle and Genuine Dynamo Joe by Roxanne McDonald
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Joe Strummer 1952-2002 |
From The Clash to The Mescaleros to Latino Rockabilly War to 101ers to The Pogues….
Joe Strummer, nee John Graham Mellor, made a dynamic impact on the punk rock and rock world(s)…all the while maintaining a contained, humble, personable character that is rarely paralleled.
If you saw as I did recently the short rockumentary, “Let’s Rock Again!”, you likely agree that Joe Strummer was not only a consummate performer but a self-effacing everyman who endeared instantly.
Yes, he was outspoken, vociferous, even. But his manner of delivering his bits of wisdom never alienated, never brought to bear any kind of misdirected egomania…from what I have seen and saw.
So rather than do a bio of the gentle dynamo, here, I would like to show some of the comments Strummer has made which are almost more indicative than his background of what a great human being he was, surely must have been, for those who knew him, worked with, and loved him. (read more…)
Greatest Dylan Songs and the Greats Who Have Covered Them
Greatest Dylan Songs and the Greats Who Have Covered Them by Roxanne McDonald
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How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man? Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly Before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind.How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry? Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind.How many years can a mountain exist Before it’s washed to the sea? Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist Before they’re allowed to be free? Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn’t see? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind, The answer is blowin’ in the wind. ~”Blowin’ in the Wind”; Bob Dylan; Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan |
“Like a Rolling Stone”; Highway 61 Revisited – named #1 Greatest Song of All Time by Rolling Stone; named #3 of 100 Greatest Rock Songs by Digital Dream Door
Anberlin
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Michael Bolton
Judy Collins
Cher
The Creation
Drive-By Truckers
Eiffel 65
The Four Seasons
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
John Cougar Mellancamp
Johnny Thunders
The Rolling Stones
Mick Ronson
Phil Lesh and Friends
Rotary Connection
Spirit
Neil Young
The Young Rascals
“Blowin’ in the Wind”; Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – named #14 of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone; included in “NPR 100” as one of the 100 most important American musical works of the twentieth century
Alanis Morissette
Bender [“Futurama”]
Chet Atkins
Sam Cook
John Fogerty
Etta James
The guinea pig in Dr. Doolittle
Joan Baez for Jenny, a.k.a. Bobbie Dylan [played by ] in Forrest Gump
Lemar
Marge Simpson
Marlene Dietrich
Elvis
Peter, Paul, & Mary
Dolly Parton
Stevie Wonder
Neil Young (read more…)
Rambling on a Piece of Rock
Rambling on a Piece of Rock by Roxanne McDonald
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What makes a song? What makes a song a favorite? What makes a song the greatest of all time? |
1. “Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan
2. “Satisfaction”, The Rolling Stones
3. “Imagine”, John Lennon
4. “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye
5. “Respect”, Aretha Franklin
6. “Good Vibrations,” The Beach Boys
7. “Johnny B. Goode,” Chuck Berry
8. “Hey Jude,” The Beatles
9. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
10. “What’d I Say,” Ray Charles
Top 10 of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”
What does it mean to say “I love that song!”? How does one explain or justify, if, say, he or she has a grade hanging over the head and is forced to, a “favorite” song?
Most challenging, yet, is how does one go about discriminating between such a massive passel of “great” songs to come up with that definitive fav?
Besides the obvious universality of music in general, that is, what is it that makes us like or love a particular piece and, further, share this profound appreciation whether we can articulate it or not?
The air-quotes as necessarily irritating as they are, here I sit, wondering such things.
Best Bob Dylan Songs
Best Bob Dylan Songs by Roxanne McDonald
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It ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe That light I never knowed An’ it ain’t no use in turnin’ on your light, babe I’m on the dark side of the road Still I wish there was somethin’ you would do or say To try and make me change my mind and stay We never did too much talkin’ anyway So don’t think twice, it’s all right~”Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right;” Bob Dylan; The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan |
Well-respected musicologist Paul Friedlander, in his explication of music analysis, “The Rock Window: A Systematic Approach to an Understanding of Rock Music,”
defines what goes into and what can come of, by way of good critical review, the quintessential rock song. He names the components and subcomponents to consider as, for instance, the music (the ensemble, the rhythmic emphasis, the instrumental style, and the vocal solo); the lyrics (the meaning and the message); the artist’s/artists’ history; and the societal context/impact.
Some consider these as they name their favorite Dylan songs…, some just unconsciously know and name what they like.
UberDylan
UberDylan: Greatest Song of all Time, Greatest Rock Artist of All Time by Roxanne McDonald
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Once upon a time you dressed so fine You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you? People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall” You thought they were all kiddin’ you You used to laugh about Everybody that was hangin’ out Now you don’t talk so loud Now you don’t seem so proud About having to be scrounging for your next meal.How does it feel How does it feel To be without a home Like a complete unknown Like a rolling stone? ~“Like a Rolling Stone;” Bob Dylan; Highway 61 Revisited |
It has been said and agreed upon that all art is a response to something. At the same time, the best of our musical artists are considered for the significant cultural impact they have made and continue to make [that they are the something to which others respond). Come up with a list of just such genii, be they intentional protesters of the period or inadvertent arbiters for an era, whether they are more passive social commentators or more active servants for the cause–and one name will surely be at the top: Bob Dylan.
So it seems reductive to toss out some trivia when the man so many of us would take a bullet for has contributed so much. Let the following, then, serve as the smallest of tributes to the greatest, the absolute best of the best of expressionist and influential artists extraordinaire.
