The Grammys sideshow
Lady Gaga
Seriously? Why would you wear something like this? This is Lady Gaga at the Grammys.
Entries Tagged as 'Music'
Alicia Keyes at Hope for Haiti
This was the opening performance for Hope for Haiti. Alicia Keyes was just awesome. The song was perfect.
Artist: Alicia Keyes
Usher – Yeah
Get up and hit da’ floor.
Artist: Usher
Tune: Yeah
Grab bag: how ’bout that Friday snowstorm?
- The snow has stopped for now. Yesterday, there were estimates of 2-5 inches of snow in the Asheville area. The weatherman stated that there would be more in higher elevations. It appears that most of the Asheville region has received 7-10 inches of snow. The snow was expected to crank up again before it finally moves out of the area sometime tomorrow afternoon.
- Pres. Obama went to a Republican caucus today. He thought he would keep the lines of communication open. One thing I have to say, I do admire our president. He gave a short speech then took questions from the audience. Some questions were civil. Others tried to make political points. The president did a fabulous job answering the questions and not being cornered. He also pointed out when some congressmen were trying to make cheap political points at the expense of the president. Many major networks carried this event. When it appeared obvious that Pres. Obama was not going to make some major gaffe, FOX News cut away and began running with the story that Obama was lecturing Republicans. I guess it was more important to FOX to stay within their narrative as opposed to actually cover the event in its entirety.
- A really interesting thing went on in England today. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was grilled for about six hours over his decision to take Britain into war with the United States in Iraq. I think it is no surprise that Tony Blair was unapologetic about his decision. Although there were no breakthroughs and as far as I know, and nothing of substance will come from this, I think the exercise is interesting. Can you imagine a congressional committee calling President Bush or VP Cheney to answer questions about the invasion of Iraq? On one level, it would be political theater. On another, it would be nice for us, the American people, to get specific answers to specific questions. I know, I’m dreaming. One thing is clear, with the neoconservatives in charge at that time, I don’t see how we will get any other answer after 9/11. These were not just war hawks. They were hawks on steroids. With Bush and Cheney in the White House, I don’t see how Saddam Hussein could ever avoid war. They asked for, and wanted complete and unfettered access to Iraq in order to search for weapons of mass destruction. No sovereign nation would submit to that. Plus, what Bush, Cheney and the CIA didn’t know was that the Saddam Hussein regime depended upon the threat of weapons of mass destruction in order to stay in power. Saddam Hussein had the Kurds in the north, the Shiites in the south and Iran to worry about. In 10 or 20 years, when we look back upon this mess that we created in the Middle East, we’ll ask ourselves how we let this happen. We don’t have to look any further than allowing neocons in the White House.
- 47-year-old former NFL star Herschel Walker is fighting whom? Why?
- New FOX news contributor and former Gov. Sarah Palin thinks that the GOP and the tea baggers need to merge in one big party of love. (I added that party of love. She just wants them to merge into one party.)
- It took the jury less than 40 minutes to find Scott Roeder guilty of murdering Dr. George Tiller.
- The Errington Thompson Show has been moved to 4 PM on Saturday afternoons. You can still listen to my show through my blog whenever you want to. My guest this week will be Grammy award-winning bassist Larry Fulcher. I have given Larry the following scenario — you know that you’re going to be stranded on a tropical island. You can take your stereo and 20 CDs with you. You’ll be stranded for one year. What CDs would you take? I think you like Larry’s answers. This is a great show.
Jill Scott
Artist: Jill Scott
Tune: Golden
Pat Metheny and the Orchestrion
Now this is really cool. Pat Methany is really pushing the envelope of the one-man band.
Artist: Pat Metheny
Wyclef responses
I don’t know Wyclef Jean. I have heard only a couple of his tunes. I did see that special that 60 Minutes did on him and I thought it was awesome. Anytime that you put yourself out there, you are a target for those that simply look to tear people down. A black man from Haiti is by definition a target.
From HuffPo:
Wyclef Jean posted a video statement on YouTube today to respond to accusations against his Yele Haiti Foundation, which has been collecting Haiti relief donations following Tuesday’s massive earthquake.
A Washington Post article raised concerns about the Yele Foundation’s “fiscal scrutiny,” first reported by The Smoking Gun.
Apparently Yele Haiti Foundation’s tax returns raised questions about how money has been spent in the past on administration and various other expenses.
In his 5:30 response, Jean discusses the history of the organization and stresses that as a native of Haiti he has “always been committed to the people of Haiti.”
He states plainly, “I never would ever take money for my personal pocket when it comes to Yele. I myself have put $1 million inside of my own foundation.”
He added that he was “disgusted” by the recent criticism.
Bad Romance
I’m sorry. Why is this the number two song in the land?
Artist: Lady Gaga
Tune: Bad Romance
Teddy Pendergrass
This is Soul Train version of Teddy P’s Love TKO. I think that Love TKO shows the power and smoothness of Teddy’s voice. Close the Door is another great tune (see below). Teddy was a staple in the late ’70s and early ’80s. If you were throwing a party and needed a slow tune, you could throw on some Isleys, Luther or Teddy.
When I think of Teddy P’s life, I’m kind of sad. He was a hit with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Then he exploded in his solo career. He had that Philly sound. (Think O’Jays.) He was about to enjoy some of the crossover success that Lionel Richie and Jeffery Osborne (and Michael, of course) enjoyed in the early ’80s. In 1982, he had a near fatal motor vehicle crash, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He returned to the stage, but it was never the same.
From RS:
Teddy Pendergrass, one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1970s and ’80s, passed away yesterday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 59. Pendergrass was diagnosed with cancer last year and had a difficult time recovering from surgery; he died at Bryn Mawr Hospital outside of his native Philadelphia, ABC News reports. The five-time Grammy-nominated singer had chart-topping hits in three different decades with 1978’s “Close the Door,” 1988’s “Joy” and 1991’s “It Should’ve Been You,” plus well-known songs like “Love TKO,” “Two Hearts” with Stephanie Mills and “Hold Me,” a duet with Whitney Houston that featured on Houston’s 1985 debut album.
Remembering Teddy Pendergrass: photos of the smooth soul singer.
Pendergrass’ rise to international fame was briefly halted after he was involved in a 1982 car crash that left him in the hospital for six months and paralyzed from the waist down, but he didn’t let the accident prevent him from making music. “He had about 10 platinum albums in a row, so he was a very, very successful recording artist and as a performing artist,” Pendergrass’ friend and collaborator Kenny Gamble, of Gamble & Huff, told the AP. “He had a tremendous career ahead of him, and the accident sort of got in the way of many of those plans.” (more… )
Acoustic Alchemy
This is a strange group. They fuse jazz and classical guitar with some new age sounds and rhythms and come up with something completely unique.
Artist: Acoustic Alchemy
Tune: Casino
Sting – “Ain’t No Sunshine”
I love You Tube, because you never know what you will find if you just start clicking.
Sting sings the great Bill Withers song on Night Music in 1989. He’s accompanied by Bill Frisell, Fareed Haque, David Sanborn, Hank Roberts and Don Alias.
Artist: Sting
Tune: Ain’t No Sunshine
I thought that I should post the original with Sting’s version. This is Bill Withers. I love Sting, but Bill is simply soulful. Enjoy.
BTW, I would be grateful if someone can ID the guys playing with Withers.
Artist: Bill Withers
Tune: Ain’t No Sunshine
Raul Midon
I have posted a video from Raul Midon before. He is an outstanding musician. He has a GREAT voice. I love this guy.
Artist: Raul Midon
Tune: All the Answers and Tembererana
Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
Although Nat King Cole is known as a great singer, he actually broke into the record business has a piano player. His smooth baritone voice became a staple of American music throughout the 50s. Although I do not know the history of the Christmas Song, it will be forever linked with Nat King Cole, at least in my mind. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Eminem and Beatles most popular artists of the decade
The Fab Five… sounds better than the Fab Four, don’t you think? Of course, there were only four Beatles.
Eminem sold more CDs than anyone else in this decade.
From RS:
Over three decades after their breakup, the Beatles still released the top-selling album of the 2000s. The Fab Four’s greatest hits compilation 1 sold over 11,448,000 copies since its release in November 2000 according to Nielsen SoundScan’s decade-end sales numbers. Eminem was the 2000s’ top-selling artist with 32.2 million combined in sales, plus two albums in the decade’s Top 10: The Marshall Mathers LP was fourth with 10,195,000 sold and Eminem Show was fifth with 9,789,000. Slim Shady edged out the Fab Four for the distinction of the decade’s top-seller as the Beatles claimed Number Two with 30 million. (more…)
So, what do you think?
Teddy Pendergrass
Now, this is a ballad.
Artist: Teddy Pendergrass
Tune: Close the Door
New book on Louis Armstrong
I have been given an opportunity to give away several copies of this new book which is featured on NPR -
‘Pops’: Louis Armstrong, In His Own Words
Jazz icon Louis Armstrong didn’t just leave behind a treasure trove of musical recordings; he also documented hundreds of his private conversations on tape. Those recordings served as the basis for Terry Teachout’s new biography of the legendary musician, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong.
I’m happy to say that Tom of Flat Rock won the first book. You can win a book by listening to my show!! Saturday mornings at 9 am.
The Rolling Stones
I am somewhat drained today, so I am not going to have much to post tonight. I will say this, though. I will be giving away a copy of a new book called Pops, about the life and times of Louis Armstrong. I will also be giving away a gift certificate for $100 from Amazon.com. So listen tomorrow at 9 AM (Eastern Standard Time).
Does it get any better than this?
Artist: the Rolling Stones
Tune: Start Me up
Earl Klugh
Let’s mellow out with Earl Klugh.
Artist: Earl Klugh
Tune: This Time
Shakira
Now this is a sexy woman and the tune is kind of catchy.
Artist: Shakira
Tune: She Wolf
Say, Say, Say
Okay so, my Michael Jackson kick hasn’t faded yet. It isn’t my fault. MJ has stayed in the news. He just won two awards at the America Music Awards.
Artist: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Tune: Say, Say, Say
-
Errington C. Thompson, MD, is a surgeon, scholar, full-time sports fan and part-time political activist. He is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats...
I support Malaprop’s
