Another sad day for music. Levon Helm, the son of an Arkansas cotton farmer who rose to fame as a singer and drummer for the Band, died Thursday in New York of throat cancer. He was 71.
Charles Pierce of Esquire posted a beautiful remembrance:
Levon Helm Was the Real Voice of America, by Charles P. Pierce
Tony Orlando said it best: “Only God is responsible for making more stars than Dick Clark.”
I’ll remember Dick Clark, who died at 82 on Wednesday, as the man who brought rock ‘n roll into my living room as the host of “American Bandstand.” “Bandstand,” with its blend of kids dancing, musical performances and easy interviews, was a cultural icon and the forerunner to future musical shows. Clark was a pioneer as well, bridging racial and political divides.
The eternally youthful Clark continued to be a television friend down through the years, on game shows, music specials and New Year’s Eve celebrations. It was tough to watch Clark on New Year’s Eve after his stroke in 2004, but it always good to see him in his familiar Times Square spot. The ball drop will never be the same.
Entertainment Weekly names the “30 Greatest Artists Right Now” in its music issue. Pictured: Gotye (“Somebody I Used To Know”), who is the musical guest on “SNL” this week.
30. Beach House – Dreamy Indie Duo
29. Kimbra – Quirky Chanteuse
28. Calvin Harris – Dance-Floor Director
27. Gotye – Awesome Aussie
26. Beyonce – R&B Goddess
25. Florence + The Machine – Alt-Pop Siren
24. Lady Gaga – Mother Monster
23. Bruce Springsteen – Forever The Boss
22. Coldplay – Kings Of The Road
21. Azealia Banks – Hip-Hop Wild Child
20. fun. – Pomp-Rock Breakouts
19. Jake Owen – Nashville Casanova
18. Kelly Clarkson – America’s Pop Idol
17. Fiona Apple – Swoony Songstress
16. A$AP Rocky – Mixtape Prodigy
15. The Civil Wars – Americana All-Stars
14. Jay-Z – CEO Of Rhyme
13. Kanye West – Mad Genius
12. Foo Fighters – Hard Rock Royalty
11. Bruno Mars – Pop-Soul Showman
10. Rihanna – Dance-Pop Muse
9. Mumford & Sons – Platinum Folkies
8. Nicki Minaj – Radical Raptress
7. The Black Keys – Garage Gods
6. Jack White – Indie MVP
5. Katy Perry – Bubblegum Queen
4. Carrie Underwood – Country Belle
3. Drake – Hip-Hop Heartbreaker
2. Taylor Swift – Everygirl Superstar
1. Adele – Undisputed World Champion
We’re finally getting a “Smash” soundtrack. It’s due out May 1, from Columbia Records. The soundtrack will include many of the originals, penned for the show by Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and “Touch Me,” which OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder wrote specifically for Katharine McPhee’s character, Karen Cartwright. There are also covers of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” Colbie Caillat’s “Brighter Than The Sun,” and Florence + the Machine’s “Shake It Out.”
Track listing
1. “Touch Me” featuring Katharine McPhee
2. “Stand” featuring Katharine McPhee and Leslie Odom
3. “Who You Are” featuring Megan Hilty
4. “Crazy Dreams” featuring Megan Hilty
5. “Beautiful” featuring Katharine McPhee
6. “Haven’t Met You Yet” featuring Nick Jonas
7. “Shake It Out” featuring Katharine McPhee
8. “Brighter Than the Sun” featuring Katharine McPhee
9. “Let Me Be Your Star” featuring Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty
10. “20th Century Fox Mambo” featuring Katharine McPhee
11. “Mr & Mrs Smith” featuring Megan Hilty and Will Chase
12. “Let’s Be Bad” featuring Megan Hilty
13. “History Is Made At Night” featuring Megan Hilty & Will Chase
Listen to Kanye’s new singel that he is pushing hard. He raps about a certain $6000 pair of shoes.
Official cover art above.
listen
Check out the new video for ‘Warrior.’ You wouldn’t guess it till the end, but this entire video is a commercial for Converse.
British artist Sir Peter Blake has recreated the iconic album sleeve for The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on his 80th birthday.
Gone are cutouts of actress Marilyn Monroe, comedians Lenny Bruce and WC Fields to be replaced by Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss, artists Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst and musicians Eric Clapton and Noel Gallagher. The Beatles are missing too because Blake doesn’t own the copyright.
Sir Peter has used what he called “family, friends and icons” on the latest poster. Though he has craftily managed to get round the Beatle-ban by including not one but three McCartneys – Sir Paul, designer daughter Stella and her sister, photographer Mary.
Click here to see an enlarged version of the artwork
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