Celebrity Rumors

Circus or Freak Show

Having been hand a demo of Britney Spears upcoming album Circus I was loathe to actually listen to it and really didn’t want to review but this was the first bit of prerelease I have had in my possesion for a while .  I was actually surprised I liked the first track Womanizer.  The song synth pop beat took me back to a time in the mid eighties.  The second track Circus has a similar feel and beat to her first big hit, Baby One More Time.  The lyrics and vocals have matured, but it still has that catchy beat.  Kill The Lights is much the same way for me vocally more mature but still with that dance beat that she debuted with.  Shattered glass will be a song popular with fans of Oops I did it again.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Britney Spears Circus - release date 12-2-2008. "][/caption]

Most of the other tracks are a mix of old and new Britney Spears which is either a circus or freak show depending on how you feel about her.  The songs are filled with danceable synth pop and forgetable lyrics.  There are two songs that really stand out for me though.  Out From Under could be an anthem for anyone who wants to make a clean break from their past, something that would be very good for her.  It would be good to see her move wild child to mother and no what her real priorities should be.

The last song that really struck me is My Baby.  My daughter having been born just nine days ago made this somewhat of a special song for me.  When it came on and spoke of tiny hands, my baby, had hers wrapped around my finger and it was just a moment frozen for me.  None of the other lyrics really matter, but the whole tone of the song not only kept me listening but made it a worth iTunes pruchase.

Dr Pepper to Make Good on Chinese Democracy Stunt

The long awaited Guns N’ Roses Album Chinese Democracy is nearly here and there is something to drink in it for you.  While I can’t say I am not impressed with free Dr Pepper, I really hope Chinese Democracy is more impressive than getting something for free.

As a long time GnR fan I have always been saddened by how little they sound like they did back in the ‘93 Stadium Tour with Metallica.  Axl still sounds great and looks stupid doing the Patience Shimmy, but the rest is too different.  Different isn’t necessarily bad, but it just isn’t the same for those of us who remember that Appetite for Destruction was an album title long before it became the motto for George W Bush’s presidency.
Dr Pepper to Make Good on Chinese Democracy Stunt | Listening Post from Wired.com

Earlier this year, soda manufacturer Dr Pepper promised a free soft drink to everyone in America if Guns N’ Roses released its long-awaited Chinese Democracy album before the end of 2008. The offer excluded former GNR members Slash and Buckethead.

Now that Axl and company have set a release date of November 23, Dr Pepper says it will make good on the offer. Those who want to claim a free soda can go to the Dr. Pepper website on November 23, enter some personal information and get a coupon for one 20-ounce drink that should arrive within the following 4 to 6 weeks. They’ll expire in February 2009.

That’s No List

I have spent many an hour wandering the archives of Mental Floss and I highly recommend it for wating time or if you’re just bored. But I ran across one of their lists and it struck me (and all the commenters) as highly incomplete.

The title of the list is “8 songs inspired by Real Life Women”. Instantly my mind conjures up several. But are any of these on the list? HELL NO. Instead there are songs that, admitedly, I had no idea were (possibly) inspired by real women, but some of the reasons? Mind boggling.

Elton’s John’s “Philadelphia Freedom”, written for Billie Jean King because she gave him a track suit? Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”, they’re really listing a CLASSICAL song???? What the hell were they thinking??? Now the others listed, I can kind of see. They have “Oh Carol” by Neil Sedaka, “Oh Mama” by Tupac, “It Ain’t Me Babe” by Bob Dylan, “Our House” by Graham Nash and two songs that did come to mind when I saw the list; “Lola” by the Kinks and “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone.

But this doesn’t include some of the more obvious and in my mind famous songs that are inspired by real women. Where’s Clapton’s “Layla”? Or “My Sharona” by the Knack? “Rosana” by Toto? “Donna” by Ritchie Valens? The comments to this article list quite a few more, but honestly? How on earth could the author of this list forget such obvious songs? It’s a travesty and speaks to either their obliviousness of pop culture or lack of musical education. If the list had been “8 songs you didn’t know were inspired by real women”, I might have found it in my heart to forgive them. But no, it’s touted as a list of songs that we should all be able to know and recognize as inspired by said women and well frankly, it isn’t.

If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my list of MP3’s and make my own playlist of the songs that are quite obviously missing from this list.

That’s No List

I have spent many an hour wandering the archives of Mental Floss and I highly recommend it for wating time or if you’re just bored. But I ran across one of their lists and it struck me (and all the commenters) as highly incomplete.

The title of the list is “8 songs inspired by Real Life Women”. Instantly my mind conjures up several. But are any of these on the list? HELL NO. Instead there are songs that, admitedly, I had no idea were (possibly) inspired by real women, but some of the reasons? Mind boggling.

Elton’s John’s “Philadelphia Freedom”, written for Billie Jean King because she gave him a track suit? Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”, they’re really listing a CLASSICAL song???? What the hell were they thinking??? Now the others listed, I can kind of see. They have “Oh Carol” by Neil Sedaka, “Oh Mama” by Tupac, “It Ain’t Me Babe” by Bob Dylan, “Our House” by Graham Nash and two songs that did come to mind when I saw the list; “Lola” by the Kinks and “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone.

But this doesn’t include some of the more obvious and in my mind famous songs that are inspired by real women. Where’s Clapton’s “Layla”? Or “My Sharona” by the Knack? “Rosana” by Toto? “Donna” by Ritchie Valens? The comments to this article list quite a few more, but honestly? How on earth could the author of this list forget such obvious songs? It’s a travesty and speaks to either their obliviousness of pop culture or lack of musical education. If the list had been “8 songs you didn’t know were inspired by real women”, I might have found it in my heart to forgive them. But no, it’s touted as a list of songs that we should all be able to know and recognize as inspired by said women and well frankly, it isn’t.

If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my list of MP3’s and make my own playlist of the songs that are quite obviously missing from this list.

Wynton and Willie: Two Men with the Blues

Willie Nelson has been singing, and recording, the blues since the 1960s, as an integral part of his country sound. Wynton Marsalis, born into a musical family, has been playing and recording blues, jazz, and classical music since 1980. Between Nelson and Marsalis, you can hear dozens of albums’ worth of classic blues and long-loved standards. Finally, Willie and Wynton have come together and recorded “Two Men with the Blues“, released July 8, 2008 by Blue Note Jazz, Marsalis’s label.

Recorded January 12th and 13th, 2007 during a Jazz at Lincoln Center event, “Two Men with the Blues” highlights the best of the show’s performances, when both Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis were at their best. Back-up and other solos come from the Wynton Marsalis Quintet regulars, with Mickey Raphael, a long-time cohort of Nelson, on harmonica and Willie, of course, providing his own guitar solos.

While not every song on “Two Men with the Blues” works as well as Caldonia, every note of this album displays the joy that these two men take in playing classic New Orleans jazz together. Willie Nelson romps through tracks like My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It and Ain’t Nobody’s Business while Wynton Marsalis demonstrates how smooth and sassy combine to make the trumpet the instrument for this style of the blues. When people who share a passion and an deep enjoyment of music get together, you know that the results will be magic. Nelson and Marsalis are just such people, and this album proves the point.

The Gits

In between trying to finish a collection of short stories and novellas, editing another novel, and the general depression that has been hounding me like a bad hangover I have found myself falling back in step with my second musical awakening, a period between 1990 and 1994. Facing my own mortality of late, I have thought about all the greats who are no longer with us and it saddens me. Yes, yes, this is where I pine for the loss of Kurt Cobain, Andrew Wood, and Shannon Hoon. I may feel a sadness for their loss, but unlike some people I accept that they are really and truly dead. Another of those laments is for Mia Zapata of Git.

For those of you who don’t know Git, you are at a loss. Git was one of those bands that really had potential to mainstream by holding the course. They were raw and powerful, just what grunge was supposed to be. Then it was cut short all to suddenly with the murder of Mia. A few days ago I saw they released a greatest hits, which I always find ironic since so few people even know their name. This is industry semantics that always grind me raw. I prefer to think of this CD as simply some of their best work. it was a pleasure to listen to and took me back to a defining time in my musical existence.

Next time you light a candle for Kurt try lighting one for Mia too, she is just as deserving.

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson is a plain ordinary name for a very complex voice. Stunning melodies compliments a heart pulling guitar. I stumbled onto Jack’s music through my Pandora feed and instantly was hooked with Traffic in the Sky off of On and On. I was taken with how his native Hawaiian sounds infiltrate his indie folk-rock tunes.

There is not a lot of online places you can hear Jack Johnson, but when you do his rich voice is worth pumping through full range speakers. You can hear a few songs and watch a couple of vids on his MySpace profile. The best place is on his website Jack Johnson Music. To hear Jack and similar artists you add my Pandora Radio for Jack Johnson.

SYTYCD Top 8

Courtney Ann Galiano and William Wingfield start off with a Hot, Hot Hot Samba! which all the judges loved. The judges loved it. They all said there were some technical issues, but the chemistry made up for it by a high degree.

Comfort Fedoke’s solo is hot! They way her hips and legs moved spoke to parts of me with no ears.

Mia Michaels gets to choreograph Twitch and Katee. We get our first stage kiss in the boyfriend girlfriend number between them. Nigel is going WOW! The performance was fantastic. It was one of the most entertaining dances they have ever seen is his final comment. he gets his usual banter with Mary. Mary loved it with a serious scream. Toni Basil loved it. No note taking because she couldn’t stop watching.

William Wingfield is James Brown in his solo. The music is great and with the wig on he looks like Debbie Allen moving a young James around the floor. he gets the standing O from the judges.

Mark and Comfort pick Hip Hop and draw Napoleon and Tabitha. Detention was never so fly. The over the head backflip was hot! Nigel thinks comfort is a much better hip hop dancer when she is choreographed than when she goes solo. Mary thought it was excellent and Mark nailed it. Toni recognized how hard it was because she takes classes from Napoleon and Tabitha.

Katee’s solo showed off how well she moves and her musicality. it reminds us why she was picked in the first place. i am still missing Natalie Reid though, her roommate. We haven’t seen her in the audience, which might mean there is nothing to the rumors the two of them are lesbian lovers.

Chelsie Hightower and Joshua pick the Argentinian Tango and get choreographed by SYTYCD Season Two dancer Dimitri. This is Chelsie’s second go with this dance and it is far superior this this time. Mostly I think it worked because of Josh’s strength and power to go along with her grace and beautiful body. For me Josh looked a bit uncomfortable, but the judges all loved his performance as much as hers. Well I think Nigel Lythgo enjoyed his dancing, but like me, I see how he looks at Chelsie and know there is no way he is enjoying any dude as much as he is her.

Mark’s solo is always well done and interesting, but what is up with the Faux-hawk?

William Wingfield and Courtney Galiano perform a slow hip-hop. The theme is to turn back time and be with someone you love just once more, ala Ghost. As much as I love Demi Moore, I would much rather rolla around int the wet clay with Courtney Ann Galiano. Nigel was emotionally moved. Mary Murphy was blown away. Toni Basil said great art makes you feel, and she was feeling alot of things about this performance.

Chelsie Hightower’s solo was beautiful and showcased her wonderful legs. it is also her birthday, but that is not any better of a reason to keep her around than the fact that she is hot. Okay on that note maybe it is a good reason.

Twitch and Katee Sheen are up next. She is dressed in a shiny red dress for this Tyce Diorio number. Choreographed to Sweet Georgia Brown her little ass wiggle is going to be YouTube Fodder for some time to come.

Joshua’s solo is his typical coolness.

Courtney Galiano’s solo was beautifully matched to Missy Higgins’s Where I stood. I always feel something when this song is played and watching her dance with such joy to it nearly brought me down again.

Comfort and Mark get the foxtrot as their second dance. Choreographed by Jean Marc Généreux and and France Mousseau. Jean Marc and France heen together since 1977, which incidently is how long Penn and teller have been together who the pair of them remind me of. France is the quiet Teller to Jean Marc’s Penn. This means she is actually the brains of the duo.

During the interview phase Marc looks uncomfortable touching her, like he is just uncomfortable touching girls. This doesn’t translate well into the perception of the actually routine, especially when it is as bad as this one is. Gay straight or otherwise if the guy leading the routine doesn’t look happy about his partner being a girl, America will have a hard time voting for them. After the performance, it wouldn’t have matter if he had his head or hand up her dress getting her off for the entire time, I don’t think America would vote for them. okay maybe they would for that, but anything less than that probably not.

Last but not least Chelsie and Josh go Night Fever with disco. it was fabulous. The judges all loved it. Toni though made it clear that they stole the show with it.

I Fell In Love

When I first heard James Blackshaw’s music several years ago I literally fell in love with his 12 string guitar. There are so few who really play the instrument well, even those that play it in the genres it developed in. James however pulls out the most beautiful music in a thoroughly modern tones and techniques. He may claim that his influences are classical European minimalists composers and other twelve stringers like
Jack Rose, Steffen Basho-Junghans, and Robbie Basho, but I hear the undertones of Clapton, Petty, and Beck through out many riffs. intentional or not, the music is still beautiful and can’t wait to have my copy of the new disc in a few days. Litany of Echoes. For the mean time, I am just enjoying the music on his MySpace page and what I already have.

I Kissed A Girl Too

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-jFKW4vrCw]

When I first heard this song a couple of weeks back I only heard the name and thought she was going to cover the Jill Sobule song of the same name. I have always liked Jill’s version so I was apprehensive no matter how hot Kate was standing around in a short yellow skirt. Of course, Kate Perry kissing Jill Sobule would have been really, really hot! Then I heard the song with the hard drum beat and power guitars riffs and was sold. Not only was it not a cover and from a hot woman, the song was music to my ears and rocked hard. The video to say the least is also hot. It would have worked really well had you switched the music over to something by Warrant or Whitesnake and inserted Tawny Kitaen from twenty years ago. (Tawny has seen better days and so has David Coverdale)

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