Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Celebrity Friday: Mariah Carey Is Pregnant
Music: Refugee All-Stars in Fairfield Saturday
This is nice mellow music, made by the Sierra Leonian refugees portrayed in the (devastating) documentary, Refugee All-Stars. These men have been through an awful civil war- imagine the most heinous crimes you can think of, and it happened to them- and still made music to entertain others in the camps. If you are free, it's worth a trip up to Fairfield. Buy tickets for this Saturday's show here or see a trailer for the documentary on the Refugee All Stars' website. The documentary is great- I recommend it.
Happy Birthday, Prince!
Today is Prince Rogers Nelson's 52nd Birthday. Let's celebrate by listening to "Adore" which is #1 on my list of Top 10 favorite Prince tracks I blogged about here way back in 2006.
Hat/tip to David Dust for reminding me!
GLEE: The Power of Madonna
Thanks to f******* American Idol going long I missed the last three minutes of Glee last night on my DVR since I was watching Lost live. It figures that is the part of the show that has the amazing rendition of Like a Prayer. Watch it now!By my count the Madonna songs in the episode were Express Yourself, Like A Virgin, Ray of Light, Burning Up, Open Your Heart, Vogue, Borderline, What It feels Like For A Girl and (the execrable) 4 Minutes.
Lots of websites are claiming that Crazy For You was in the episode, but I don't remember hearing it at all.
The soundtrack to last night's episode,Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna, has been released an is available at Amazon.com.
Religion and Rock and Roll
As this Lenten season draws to close, I find myself going over two song in my head and contemplating their potential for religious insight. The two songs are Like a Stone by AudioSlave and Michael Jordan by Five for Fighting.
Near the beginning of Lent, I read through the Catechism in my Book of Common Prayer. When I got to the section on prayer it said:
That is what brings me to Like a Stone. In this song Chris Cornell sings:
How could an athlete or a singer or an actor, garner so much more adoration from so many people than we are honestly willing to give to the creator of our entire universe? And yet, if many of us were honest with ourselves we would find that we are willing to do more to see or be close to these types of people than we are to truly be close to God. How do we get past the immediate and the physical to adore someone who is eternal and yet not physically visible to us in a manifest form? Are we willing to do the things that God asks us to do on a daily basis? Would we be willing to do them if our favorite athlete, actor or singer asked us to do them? I wonder.
Now keep in mind that I am not leaving myself out of this equation, nor do I have a real answer to my own questions. These are simply some of the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head this Lenten season and I felt the need to share them with anyone who felt inclined to read them.
Near the beginning of Lent, I read through the Catechism in my Book of Common Prayer. When I got to the section on prayer it said:
Q. What is adoration?This was the beginning of my musings on these two songs. First, there was Michael Jordan by Five for Fighting. (I actually hadn't heard the song in some time; it just came into my head.) In it John Ondrasik sings about his adoration for Michael Jordan and lists off the many seemingly outrageous things he would be willing to do in order to be Michael Jordan. At one point in the song he says "my god, my Jordan" and if you think about it, it is apparent that Michael Jordan really is his god, at least in the context of the song. And I thought about it in context of the previously quoted excerpt from the Catechism. It seems to me that this is the type of adoration that God wants us to have for him. Then I have to ask myself, do we? Do we just adore God and wish to do anything to simply be in his presence, or do we always want something in return.
A. Adoration is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God,
asking nothing but to enjoy God’s presence.
Q. Why do we praise God?
A. We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because
God’s Being draws praise from us.
That is what brings me to Like a Stone. In this song Chris Cornell sings:
on my deathbed i will prayThe truth in this song has struck me for a quite a while now. Do we really just pray to God because we believe that doing so will get us to heaven? To get to some great reward that is often even depicted in a material, worldly fashion (streets paved with gold, pearly gates, etc.)? Is it about the chance to be with God, or is it simply a chance to reunite with loved ones who we have lost?
to the gods and the angels
like a pagan to anyone
who will take me to heaven
How could an athlete or a singer or an actor, garner so much more adoration from so many people than we are honestly willing to give to the creator of our entire universe? And yet, if many of us were honest with ourselves we would find that we are willing to do more to see or be close to these types of people than we are to truly be close to God. How do we get past the immediate and the physical to adore someone who is eternal and yet not physically visible to us in a manifest form? Are we willing to do the things that God asks us to do on a daily basis? Would we be willing to do them if our favorite athlete, actor or singer asked us to do them? I wonder.
Now keep in mind that I am not leaving myself out of this equation, nor do I have a real answer to my own questions. These are simply some of the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head this Lenten season and I felt the need to share them with anyone who felt inclined to read them.
VIDEO: Des'ree "Kissing You (Love Theme from Romero+Juliet)"
This is the video for one of my favorite songs of all time... It is Des'ree's "Kissing You" (the Love Theme from Romeo + Juliet). You might notice a theme from my previous post of one of my favorite tracks ("This Love"): both songs feature the orchestration of Craig Armstrong. The 1986 movie by director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) stars a very young Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet in this very faithful but expertly updated adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. Enjoy!
Celebrity Friday: Nhojj
Nhojj has the #1 video on MTV's Top100 list. And he's openly gay. Born in Guyana but raised in Trinidad, he has a degree in Economics from NYU. And now he is being considered the vanguard of a gay music revolution by Billboard magazine. Represent!
Here's the award-winning video for the song called "Love."
TAP Cafe at Palace Theatre... Drinks and Music Thursday!
This TAP Cafe thing sounds really cool! I didn't see this event, which happened last night, until today, but I'll be looking out for the next one next month. I caught wind of this one at the Fairfield County Happy Hour Club site:
TAP Café (Thursday At the Palace) -5:30-7:30pm
The Palace Theatre in downtown Stamford is launching their own monthly social event for young professionals and area residents alike. They will be featuring live entertainment from Irish Fiddler and Dan Tessler, as well as drinks and appetizers. Cost for the event is $20, but includes 2 drinks and appetizers.
The Palace Theatre is located at 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT 06901
I think this sounds like it's worth a try!
I will say, I think they should lower the price to $10 and have people just buy drinks. Twenty bucks is kind of a lot.
TAP Café (Thursday At the Palace) -5:30-7:30pm
The Palace Theatre in downtown Stamford is launching their own monthly social event for young professionals and area residents alike. They will be featuring live entertainment from Irish Fiddler and Dan Tessler, as well as drinks and appetizers. Cost for the event is $20, but includes 2 drinks and appetizers.
The Palace Theatre is located at 61 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT 06901
I think this sounds like it's worth a try!
I will say, I think they should lower the price to $10 and have people just buy drinks. Twenty bucks is kind of a lot.
VIDEO: Craig Armstrong and Liz Fraser's "This Love"
The following song is one of my favorite songs of all time, "This Love" by Liz Fraser (of Cocteau Twins fame) and Craig Armstrong (who mastered many of Massive Attack's hits), from the album The Space Between Us by Craig Armstrong.
WATCH: new Sade video for "Soldier of Love"
Finally!! Sade's new album Soldier of Love is available in stores today. It is her first album in over a decade, following 2000's Lovers Rock.
I got mine through the power of Amazon.com.
You can see my list of Top 5 favorite Sade songs here.
I got mine through the power of Amazon.com.
You can see my list of Top 5 favorite Sade songs here.
LISTEN: First Single from Sade's "Soldier of Love"
Recently I told you all about the fabulous news that British-Nigerian sultry songstress Sade will be releasing her new album Soldier of Love on February 8, 2010. Now, the first single from the album is streaming on her website.
Sade's New Album 'Soldier of Love' Debuts Feb 8, 2010
Sade is back! This is huge news in the Black and gay community: the Queen of Quiet Storm will be releasing her next album entitled Soldier of Love on February 8, 2010. The last two albums from the British-Nigerian diva was 2000's Lovers Rock and 1992's Love Deluxe. Sade first debuted in 1984(!) with Diamond Life and will turn 51 on January 16, 2010.What are your favorite Sade songs? My top 5 (don't make me rank them!) would be:
By Your SideThis list is just from on the top of my head, and that doesn't even include "Lovers Rock" and "King of Sorrow" from Lovers Rock or "Your Love Is King" and "Is It A Crime" from the first album. Hmmm, maybe it should be a Top 10. Post your favorites in the comments.
Smooth Operator
The Sweetest Taboo
No Ordinary Love
Siempre Hay Esperanza
Protest in LA Tonight Against Buju Banton at 8:30pm
There's a protest set for tonight, October 15th in Hollywood to protest a quietly rescheduled show by reggae artist Buju Banton, who is unabashedly homophobic and is most well-known for singing what is commonly called "murder music."
What Buju Banton is most well-known for is the song "Boom Bye-Bye" which is basically all about the killing of gay men.
Here's an ACTION ALERT from the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Lorri Jean:
Perhaps he thinks that because of that, the boycotts and protests will diminish? Hardly, likely!
What Buju Banton is most well-known for is the song "Boom Bye-Bye" which is basically all about the killing of gay men.
Here's an ACTION ALERT from the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's Lorri Jean:
Despite the Cabana Club’s initial decision to do the right thing and cancel Banton’s concert, the venue has quietly re-booked him for a show TONIGHT (Thursday, Oct. 15).PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PEACEFUL PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE CLUB TONIGHT, and remind Sunset Entertainment Group (SEG), which owns and operates the club, that it is not acceptable to profit from hate-peddlers like Banton.
Where: Cabana Club
1439 Ivar Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
When: 8:30 p.m.
Bring your signs and show your solidarity with activists around the world—especially in Jamaica, where prominent LGBT activists have been murdered—against musicians whose hateful lyrics foster this anti-gay sentiment.
Spread the word by joining the “Cancel Buju Banton's Los Angeles Show!” Facebook group, and watch www.lagaycenter.org/stophatelyrics for developments.
You can also contact the Cabana Club’s owners directly and let them know we’re outraged that they are profiting from a singer who won’t apologize for his vile hate speech or promise to stop performing violently anti-gay songs.
Cabana Club owners
Phone: 323-463-1473
Chris Breed – chris@sunseteg.com
Drew Greeley - drew@sunseteg.com
Please join me in demanding that SEG silence murder music!
Interestingly, earlier this week Buju met personally with a bunch of LGBT activists in Northern California that was widely publicized.
Perhaps he thinks that because of that, the boycotts and protests will diminish? Hardly, likely!
Jennifer Hudson Sings "Over The Rainbow"
Jennifer Hudson sang "Over the rainbow" in New York City's Central Park last night celebrating the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.
Hat/tip to Rod 2.0
Hat/tip to Rod 2.0
Whitney Houston Album Debuts At #1
Whitney Houston returned to the top of the Billboard 200 Album charts with the debut of her latest release I Look To You at #1, her fourth album to do so."I Look To You" becomes Houston's fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 304,801 copies during the week ended September 6, according to Nielsen SoundScan.Go, Whitney! I haven't bought the album yet, what do you all think of it?
It's by far Houston's best opening sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.
"I Look To You" is also the singer's first chart-topper since the Houston-fueled "The Bodyguard" soundtrack spent 20 weeks at No. 1 in 1993. The albums are joined by Houston's two previous toppers: her self-titled set in 1986, and her 1987 sophomore set, "Whitney."
Early returns showed "I Look To You" also debuted at No. 1 in Canada, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, according to her Arista Records label.
Houston's previous album, "Just Whitney," debuted at No. 9 in 2002 with 205,000 copies.
Whitney Houston Single "Million Dollar Bill"
The first single from Whitney Houston's comeback album, I Look To You, is called "Million Dollar Bill" and was written by Alicia Keys. The single will be released next Monday August 17th, the album comes out two weeks later on the 31st of August.hat/tip to Wonder Man
Celebrity Friday (Extra): Whitney Houston
Thanks to Maybe, it's me for the pic. Whitney houston's new album is called I Look To You and will be out in the fall (September).
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