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Barack Obama Summer Music List: Sam & Dave, Tribe Called Quest, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Police, Last Minute Glen Hansard

Roger Friedman
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Barack Obama Summer Music List: Sam & Dave, Tribe Called Quest, Beatles, Marvin Gaye, The Police, Last Minute Glen Hansard

Barack and Michelle Obama’s summer music list is out.

Talk about reading the room: they chose a Glen Hansard song, “Song of Good Hope,” and put it right at the top.

The Obamas have good taste. Their classic choices include Sam & Dave, the Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan, The Police, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Sonny Rollins, and The Temptations.

But they also get edgy, with acts like Yebba, Temper City, and Baby Rose & Leon Thomas.

 

I’d love to know who their curator is. Building the Obama Library, making weekly podcasts, speaking all over the world — who has time for this? Even their daughters must be in awe of their choices.

I’m particularly impressed they took back Sam & Dave’s “Hold On I’m Coming” from the dark side. Trump was using it at his rallies until Isaac Hayes’s estate stopped them. Check mate! The late, great Sam Moore, btw, performed at the White House for the Obamas.

MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

Roger Friedman
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MUSIC PREMIERE! Carly Simon Wrote, Produced, and Played Almost Everything on “Peaches,” Her Seductive New Single

We’re a week away from legendary singer songwriter Carly Simon’s first album of new music in 18 years, called “Comes in Waves.”

The first single, “Howl,” is already getting airplay and views on YouTube for the famed artist behind all time classic hits like “You’re So Vain” and “Nobody Does it Better.”

Tonight we’re premiering the second single, the seductive “Peaches,” produced and written by Carly, and featuring son Ben on arpeggio keyboards. All other instruments — keyboards, drum programming, bass — are by Carly. Her old friend and producer, Frank Filipetti, did the mixing.

“Peaches” is deceptively simple at first. But with its kind of bossa nova rhythm and Carly’s rich vocals, you’ll find you’re humming this one in your sleep. Peaches were never this ripe or tasted this good! (She sings that she wished she liked peaches, but I think she does.)

PS “Peaches” hits Spotify, iTunes, and all platforms at midnight.

Publishing Scandal Uncovered: Minotaur Books Cancels Crime Novel by Young Black Author, Says AI Was Used, He Insists It Wasn’t

Roger Friedman
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Publishing Scandal Uncovered: Minotaur Books Cancels Crime Novel by Young Black Author, Says AI Was Used, He Insists It Wasn’t

Jeff Sneider is the super sleuth scoop detective of Hollywood. If you don’t read his Substack, you’re missing out.

Jeff broke a great publishing story last night — I’m jealous. (PS Deadline.com has lifted it right up for themselves without credit. Terrible.)

Sneider is reporting that Minotaur Books signed a whopping $2.5 million contract with a young black writer, a PhD candidate here in the US.

The guy — whose name Sneider kept anonymous right now — was ecstatic. Everyone was breaking out Champagne.

But then, the writer’s UK agent, UK book agent, Sandy Hodgman of Hodgman Literary, said that when they were doing a check to make sure no AI was used in the writing of the book, they turned up evidence of AI infiltrating the writer’s work.

Hodgman sent word to the UK agent, and the publisher. All deals were suddenly off, although Minotaur still said they’d hear the writer’s story.

The writer denies using AI at all. “I was on the verge of success, and then all of a sudden, there were rumors, but no one asked me anything. I don’t know why my agency did not have my back,” the writer told Sneider.

AI is a tricky deal these days. I’ve written about it being used in music and films, and projects being made by magic. But publishing is the new frontier. Will writers plagiarize parts of existing material through AI? Or will vetting turn up false positives in the research? Will books be sampled, like music? And does no one have any shame? Plus, is everyone so scared of winding up in a scandal that no defends their client?

Do read Jeff’s story. As for Deadline.com, they are famous for snatching stories and claiming exclusives. No amount of complaining seems to stop them.

Sneider, by the way, has wrapped this story with books scoop that you will find fascinating about a novelist who’s now in tears after her book was turned into a movie set for release in a few months.

Tom Cruise’s New Movie, “Digger,” in Trouble? Views for YouTube Trailer Lag Behind Other Fall Releases from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise’s New Movie, “Digger,” in Trouble? Views for YouTube Trailer Lag Behind Other Fall Releases from Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain

Remember when Tom Cruise “saved” Hollywood with “Top Gun Maverick”?

When movie theater attendance was greatly lessened by the pandemic and apathy, Cruise was credited with bringing audiences back.

Then his “Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning” was also a massive box office hit.

But audiences are fickle. They knew Cruise from those franchises. Original, quirky films are not Cruise’s strong suit.

Such may be the case with Oscar winner Alejandro Innaritu’s “Digger,” set for release October 2nd from Warner Bros. John Goodman is the main co-star.

“Digger” is not Tom Cruise jumping off buildings or cliffs. Instead, it’s him in what looks like a broad comedy, wearing heavy prosthetics.

The trailer, frankly, resembles a lesser Coen brothers movie, like “The Hudsucker Proxy.” And that’s a problem.

So far, Warner’s has only promoted the movie to “influencers,” hoping that by plying them with food, light interviews, and personal photos with Cruise would send interest in the film zooming.

But a check of YouTube shows disappointing results.Even though the studio had a special vanity event to debut the film’s official Warner’s trailer, results have been wanting. YouTube shows only 4.5 million views for “Digger” in the US. (Australia has 1 million views, if that helps.)

A Tom Cruise retrospective trailer for “Digger” that relies heavily on clips from his older, more famous movies actually exceeds the regular version at 4.7 million views.

By comparison, trailers for other September and October movies show a lot more interest from potential ticket buyers. Jessica Chastain’s “Other Mommy,” Jon Cena’s “Matchbox the Movie,” and Brad Pitt’s “Heart of the Beast” each have two to five times the views of “Digger.”

Warner’s 2025 was a banner year, with “One Battle After Another” winning the Oscar and the box office, and a parade of other hits including “Sinners” (Best Actor Michael B. Jordan) and “Weapons” (Amy Madigan, Best Supporting Actress). This year is clearly one for rebuilding toward 2027 — and “Digger” may be collateral damage along the way.

And let’s not forget: Warner’s will come in very strong later this fall with “Dune 3,” sure to be a blockbuster and multiple awards nominee.

The big question is why Warner’s entertained TikTok celebrities to promote this film (which is explored in today’s Page Six). Innaritu has two of his Oscars for directing, plus a huge following among serious critics for films like “Birdman,” “The Revenant,” and “Amores Perros.”

PS “Digger” isn’t the only movie star driven film with a lack of trailer excitement. Even worse is Ryan Reynolds aka Deadpool in “Mayday” with Kenneth Branagh. That trailer only has 638K views for its Apple release.





Social Media Star Caleb Simpson Says He and 8 Year Old Niece Met Rapper D4vd, Around Time of Brutal Killing (Video)

Roger Friedman
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Social Media Star Caleb Simpson Says He and 8 Year Old Niece Met Rapper D4vd, Around Time of Brutal Killing (Video)

Like a lot of people, I follow social media star Caleb Simpson. He’s the guy who goes around asking people where they live, what their rent is, and can he have a tour of their home?

Simpson has made a name for himself in a tough business.

Now he says in a video — posted with his 8 year old niece — that the two of them met rapped D4vd (aka David Anthony Burke) almost exactly around the time Burke, 21, is accused of killing his underage girlfriend.

Simpson says during their interview, “I asked him what’s the difference between you and Kanye West? He said he wasn’t crazy. and his girlfriend was in the trunk of the car.”

Simpson points this out to his niece, who’s wearing a bright blue party dress. When he asks how she feels about all this, the little girl replies, “Annoyed.”

The internet personality made a second video, but this one is the stand out.

Burke, meantime, is in jail after being accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her remains were found in his Tesla. She was also pregnant, likely with his child, after reportedly having several abortions.

Again, I like Simpson, but his niece may need therapy soon.

RIP Glen Hansard: Watch Poignant Video An Hour Before His Death, Read Bono’s Eulogy: “He was such an angelic presence”

Roger Friedman
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RIP Glen Hansard: Watch Poignant Video An Hour Before His Death, Read Bono’s Eulogy: “He was such an angelic presence”

Glen Hansard’s friend, Joe O’Neill, posted a video of the singer performing, he says, an hour before he died in a motorcycle accident yesterday.

It will break your heart. It’s chilling. Warning: You will cry.

Also, Bono, his fellow Irishman, published a moving eulogy to the “Once” actor and singer. He writes of Hansard: “He really was who you thought he was. He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK…”

God bless Glen Hansard. His loss is tremendous.

Tom Holland is Now Set to Be the Biggest Movie Star in the World with “Spodyssey” — New “Spider Man” Will Break Records This Weekend

Roger Friedman
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Tom Holland is Now Set to Be the Biggest Movie Star in the World with “Spodyssey” — New “Spider Man” Will Break Records This Weekend

The world loves short actors named Tom.

First there was Tom Cruise, star of so many mega hits (despite his attachment to religious cult and estrangement from his daughter).

Now comes Tom Holland, who’s already in “The Odyssey,” the summer’s Oscar buzzed giant release sold out in every IMAX theater everywhere.

“The Odyssey” is currently up to around $325 million in the US.

Tomorrow night, Holland opens in his fourth “Spider Man” Movie, “Brand New Day.”

Guess what? “Brand New Day” will break a box office record this week, and it was set by Tom Holland in the last Spider Man movie.

READ ALL OF TODAY’S SHOWBIZ411 STORIES CLICK HERE

If “Brand New Day” takes in more that $260 million between Thursday and Sunday, it will be the second highest weekend opening of all time. In third place will fall “Spider Man Far from Home.”

This means that literally this weekend, movie theaters will be jammed with fans just seeing Tom Holland on screen.

Who is he? He’s 30 years old, from the UK, and now married to one of the most famous actresses anywhere, Zendaya. In interviews, Holland is self-effacing, sweet, and endlessly polite. There’s no drama, he’s not a diva.

But he is the biggest actor in the world.

Next up, he plans to play Fred Astaire in a biopic. Holland can dance! Although I insist he play Mickey Rooney in a film set during the Mick’s heyday as Hollywood heart- throb. Holland would be perfect!

Get ready for a lot of box office headlines starting Friday morning!

Korean War: KPop Group BTS Rudely Takes Itself Out of the Grammy Awards, Won’t Submit 2026 Album or Music

Roger Friedman
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Korean War: KPop Group BTS Rudely Takes Itself Out of the Grammy Awards, Won’t Submit 2026 Album or Music

We just learned that “Arirang” means ‘rude’ in Korean.

Super KPop group BTS says they won’t submit their 2026 releases for the Grammy Awards this year.

Why? They evidently didn’t like the Grammys adding a category for Asian music. It was a gesture to make sure they were covered for at least one award if they lost in other categories.

But BTS says they “want the music to speak for itself.”

A boy band, bubble gum group, they were not going to win Album of the Year anyway. But based on sales, their “Arirang” album would have probably been nominated.

More likely Album of the Year nominees for 2027 would be Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, and so on.

The Grammys will be fine without BTS, but the group will find as they age that US awards attention could extend their careers.

Members of the band each posted notices individually to their social media accounts announcing the news.

Glen Hansard, Irish Singer Songwriter Star of “Once” Dies in Motorcycle Accident, Oscar Winner for “Falling Slowly”

Roger Friedman
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Glen Hansard, Irish Singer Songwriter Star of “Once” Dies in Motorcycle Accident, Oscar Winner for “Falling Slowly”

Tragedy: Glen Hansard, star of the movie “ONce” and an Oscar winner for the song “Falling Slowly,” has died at age 56.

Reports say Hansard was involved in a motorcycle accident in Ireland.

Hansard — who also appeared in the Irish music movie, “The Commitments” — was a popular figure in Dublin and New York on the music scene, where he often participated in a variety of tribute shows. He also released new music regularly. He was just lovely, and this is terrible news.

His management company says: “Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time. The family is grateful for the support they have received and wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene. As this matter remains the subject of an active Garda investigation, no further comment will be made at this time.”

“Once” was a huge indie hit movie that went on to become a Tony winning musical. He won one Grammy Award and was nominated for two others.

Hansard reportedly leaves behind a wife and four year old son.

The Beatles Confirm “Rubber Soul” Ultra Deluxe Box Set With Unreleased Tracks, CD, LP, BluRay Details Here (UPDATING)

Roger Friedman
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The Beatles Confirm “Rubber Soul” Ultra Deluxe Box Set With Unreleased Tracks, CD, LP, BluRay Details Here (UPDATING)

The Beatles are announcing a “Revolver” Ultra Deluxe box set this morning at 9am. But here’s a link to the Amazon page already up.

The box set of CDs retails for $149 and releases on October 2nd. The LP set is $229. The box includes ‘the American album,’ which I guess is remastered or remixed but was already available in the Beatles US albums box set.

From Amazon: “This 4CD Special Edition Super Deluxe Box Set includes the new stereo mix, a disc of the 28-track collection of Sessions recordings that includes early versions of songs that deepen and expand the story of the album, as well as the non-album single, ‘Day Tripper’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’, the original mono album, and the original Capitol US album. Each disc sits in an individual album wallet within a 12” gatefold disc holder sleeve, alongside an 88-page hardback book with a John Lennon foreword, introduction by Paul McCartney, photos, in-depth album background and track notes, all housed in a 12” slipcase. ”

Disc 2 – Sessions, Demos and The Singles

1. Wait (Take 3 – instrumental backing track)

2. Run For Your Life (Takes 1-5 – instrumental backing track)

3. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (First version –Take 1)

4. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second version –Take 2)

5. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Third version – Take 3)

6. Drive My Car (Takes 1 and 2 – instrumental backing track)

7. Day Tripper (Songwriting work tape)

8. Day Tripper (Take 1 – instrumental backing track)

9. Day Tripper (Takes 2 and 3 – instrumental backing track)

10. If I Needed Someone (Take 1 – instrumental backing track)

11. In My Life (Take 1)

12. In My Life (Extract with unused organ solo)

13. We Can Work It Out (Paul’s demo)

14. We Can Work It Out (Take 1 – instrumental backing track)

15. Nowhere Man (First version – Take 2)

16. Nowhere Man (Second version – Take 5 – instrumental backing track)

17. I’m Looking Through You (First version – Take 1)

18. I’m Looking Through You (Second version – Take 2)

19. I’m Looking Through You (Second version – Take 3)

20. Michelle (Guitar rehearsal)

21. Michelle (Take 1)

22. What Goes On (Take 1 – instrumental backing track)

23. The Word (Takes 1 and 2 – instrumental backing track)

24. Girl (Take 2 – instrumental backing track)

25. Beatle Talk (Think For Yourself vocal overdubs)

26. Little Girl (John’s demo)

27. Day Tripper (2023 mix)

28. We Can Work It Out (2023 mix)

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