So far, this October’s planned concert honoring the late Michael Jackson seems like a tribute to the behind-the-scenes turmoil of Jackson’s life rather than the impact of his music. Jackson’s mother said earlier this year that the concert will be held in Wales (for some reason), two weeks after Jackson’s doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
by Mike Breen
02.28.2012
88 days ago
This Date in Music History: Feb. 28
The 1984 Grammys and Hip Hop, plus Brian Jones' should've-been 70th birthday
On this day in 1984, Michael Jackson swept the 26th annual Grammy Awards, winning eight trophies, for everything from Record and Album of the Year ("Beat It" and Thriller) to Best Recording for Children (timeless children's classic, the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial soundtrack). No doubt because of Jackson's presence, the telecast remains the most watched in history; Whitney Houston's death this year almost helped the Grammys break that record, but it still came up about four million viewers short of the 43.8 million who watched in 1984.But there were other winners that night. Rounding out the "Big 4" categories: Sting won "Song of the Year" for writing The Police's "Every Breath You Take" and the coveted Best New Artist award went to Culture Club (which had scored three Top 10 singles off of its debut album in the U.S., the first band since The Beatles to do so). Elsewhere, former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Mike Reid won Best Country Song for writing "Stranger in My House" for Ronnie Milsap and the crappy movie Flashdance was all the rage, winning Irene Cara "Best Vocal Performance, Female" for "Flashdance (What A Feeling)" and Giorgio Moroder "Best Instrumental Composition" for "Love Theme from Flashdance", while the soundtrack won the awkwardly titled "Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special." Best R&B Instrumental Performance went to Jazz legend Herbie Hancock's "Rockit," the first popular single to feature DJ scratching (by pioneering turntablist, GrandMixer D. St.) and the first time "Hip Hop" was accepted by the Grammy committee. It would be five years before the awards added a "Rap" category, though that year (1989), most nominees (including winners DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) boycotted the ceremony because it was one of the awards not given out during the telecast. Here's Hancock, his band and D. St. doing "Rockit" live:Click the jump for Born This Day featuring Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones.
by mbreen
10.18.2011
Squeeze the Day for 10/18
Music Tonight: We usually (always) give suggestions for live music to check out in this space, but today, we're telling you to go to the movies. But there's still quite a "live music" component. For one night only, the never-before-seen concert flick Rolling Stones: Some Girls Live in Texas is being screened at movie theaters across the country. The film features footage from a July, 1978, concert in Fort Worth, Texas, during the band's tour for Some Girls (which featured hits like "Shattered," "Miss You" and "Beast of Burden"). The movie screens locally at the Deerfield Towne Center theater and the Springdale Showcase Cinemas at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The special screening also includes a recent 20-minute interview with Mick Jagger about the concert and era. The film will be released on DVD on Nov. 21. Below is a trailer for the film and rehearsal footage from the band's appearance later in ’78 on Saturday Night Live, performing Some Girls track "Respectable."
Obama v. Gaga, Name Changer and Rock Beards
0 Comments · Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The first African-American President of the United States of America is cyber-facing off with the first extraterrestrial Pop diva (Lady Gaga) in a race to see who can be the first living person to break 10 million friends on Facebook. President Obama immediately stopped work on the BP oil spill, economic rebuilding and fighting two wars and hired Ashton Kutcher as his Facebook czar.
Pink Floyd Maintains 'Integrity', the Jacksons Cash In and Sweating to the iPods
0 Comments · Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Reuters reported that Pink Floyd has succeeded in stopping its label, EMI, from unpackaging its albums and selling individual songs as downloads or ringtones. There goes our plan to hold the record for the world's longest ringtone, sides 1 and 2 of 'Ummagumma.'
Vatican Tunes and Carnival Blues
0 Comments · Wednesday, February 17, 2010
After blessing a Vatican MySpace site that featured a list of apparently Pope-endorsed songs that included ones by 2Pac and Fleet Foxes, the Vatican newspaper/Web site The Holy See recently released another list of “good/Godly” Pop songs.
This Is It (Review)
Michael Jackson music doc humanizes a misunderstood performer
0 Comments · Friday, October 30, 2009
The cynics among us will decry 'This Is It' as a money grab, the latest step in the exploitation of dead superstars to enrich the coffers of this or that financial entity (studios, record companies, family estates, etc.). Instead, the film proves once and for all that Wacko Jacko was one of us, but one who also happened to be an almost pure personification of musical expression. Grade: B.
Celeb Hair, Hot MCs, Radio Trouble
0 Comments · Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers recently auctioned off Elvis Presley collectibles featuring clothes and "sweat-stained scarves," as well as a clump of what is alleged to be The King's actual hair. The dark locks are believed to be from when Elvis received his crewcut upon entering the Army in 1958. The clippings sold for a meager $18,300.
Return of Albums, The Wal-Mart Bros. and MJ's Hair
0 Comments · Wednesday, July 29, 2009
According to a report from the AP, Apple and the four major music conglomerates are hashing out a plan to enhance sales of full album downloads. With the rise of iTunes and other legal download services, music fans have chosen to download single tracks over full-lengths, meaning less money for the cash-strapped music industry.
July 1-7: Worst Week Ever!
1 Comment · Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Those of us who have frequented West Chester in the past to purchase geometrically shaped light fixtures know how welcoming the township can be. That's why we were surprised today to hear that leaders there are considering converting the township into a city, which would give them the ability to impose a 1 percent income tax. Critics say that will upset members of the Cincinnati Tea Party because they've never had to protest in their own neighborhood before.
