Sunday, December 21, 2025
Donate
Home Blog Page 746

Bracing for ABBA Return on Friday: Winners Take it All with New Music, Concert Tour by Avatars

Roger Friedman
-
0
Bracing for ABBA Return on Friday: Winners Take it All with New Music, Concert Tour by Avatars

ABBA is back.

It’s not like they never left. Although the the quartet – Agnetha Faltskog, Anna-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson – broke up in 1982, we’ve never heard the end of them.

First there was the Broadway musical “Mamma Mia.” Then two movies with their song.

In 2018 they returned to the studio, promising two new songs later that year.

Those tracks, “I Still Have Faith In You,” and “Don’t Shut Me Down,” have been repeatedly delayed – and the band are now planning to release five tracks to thank fans for their patience.

On Friday all will be revealed when some music will appear, and ABBA’s “Voyager” tour will be announced. The latter will not feature them live because the women, divorced from the men long ago, don’t get along with their former spouses.

Instead, the tour will be some kind of immersive experience featuring avatars or holograms. Their fans will no doubt Take a Chance on them, and the only person sending out an SOS will be me.

When “Waterloo” first hit the radio  in 1974, everyone thought it was bubblegum music. If you’d asked me then, will this last?, I would have said no. At some point both “Dancing Queen” and “Fernando” became number 1 hits and I was gobsmacked. But ABBA fans are mesmerized by this group, and no harm has come from it. Also, Cher has done very well by them.

So let’s brace ourselves. If the new records are good, ABBA will be all over the radio this weekend. And Atlantic Records will have a field day with the catalog!

Kanye’s Donda a Streaming Smash, Not So Much on Downloads, Album Still Has No Cover Art

Roger Friedman
-
0
Kanye’s Donda a Streaming Smash, Not So Much on Downloads, Album Still Has No Cover Art

Kanye West’s “Donda” is a smash on streaming outlets.

On Spotify, “Donda” takes up the top 10 spots on the US Daily Top 50. Then the rest of the 17 tracks fill most of the slots between 11 and 30. Same thing on the Global Top 50.

On iTunes, “Donda” is number 1 but no one knows what the means yet. On the iTunes singles chart, there is so far little impact in the top 25. I thought “Remote Control” would be a hit because it’s catchy and short, but that track isn’t happening so far. “Jail” is lodged at number 25. Kanye’s fans so far don’t care if they “own” the album, they’re just listening to it.

Meantime, “Donda” has no logo or cover art. I told you weeks ago that Kanye appropriated a painting by Louise Bourgeoise, but didn’t get a license for it. The artist’s estate put an end to that. For a time, Kanye was using a picture of the real Donda, his late mother, as a child. But if Universal did what Kanye claims, and released the album without his permission, they had no cover art. A Def Jam press release just has the word “Donda” in large black type.

West’ inability to make final decisions caused other of his albums not to have cover art. “The Life of Pablo” was just type. I guess this ensures that he won’t have the same issues as Nirvana. In the future, no one can sue him for being on the cover! (That Nirvana lawsuit from the former baby on the cover of “In Utero” is the lamest thing ever.)

We’ll get an idea tomorrow how “Donda” is really doing. It was a surprise release, a surprise to no one, but still the actual moment was unknown. Next situation is how Kanye will deal with the Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards. If he can get his act together, this might be his year!

MGM Now Stands for “Must Get Merged” After Failing to Chart “Respect” And Lowering the Flag on “Flag Day”

Roger Friedman
-
0
MGM Now Stands for “Must Get Merged” After Failing to Chart “Respect” And Lowering the Flag on “Flag Day”

It hasn’t been a great summer for the studio called MGM-slash-United Artists Releasing.

It’s the UAR part that’s got real trouble, as they– under cover of Annapurna Pictures–sent the Aretha Franklin movie, “Respect,” and the Sean Penn indie flick, “Flag Day” into theaters with a week between them.

Originally MGM was waiting to release “Respect” until the James Bond movie, “No Time to Die,” came out. MGM thought the revenue from “No Time to Die” would help them fund an Oscar campaign for “Respect.” Both pictures kept getting postponed because of the pandemic. T

Then Amazon came into the picture. saying they would buy MGM with presumably those movies. But that was in May, and not another word has been uttered in months.

In the meantime, MGM bought “Flag Day” as it was going into Cannes and set it for release on the same day, August 13th, that “Respect” had been moved to. When that was pointed out as maybe folly, “Flag Day” got kicked to August 20th. “Respect” was slotted for the ominous Friday the 13th despite “No Time to Die” still being held, and no Amazon money either.

“Respect” at least had Jennifer Hudson as a one woman marketing and publicity team. She worked doggedly to give the movie life while UAR did nothing. On Friday, “Respect” suddenly went to VOD after not making a killing at the box office in its first two weeks. Over the weekend, still in over 2,000 theaters, “Respect” raked in $2.6 million. Not a lot, but not totally insulting. Total is still under $20 mil now after 3 weeks.

And then there was “Flag Day,” which has suffered. What should have been a high profile Oscar release in the fall turned into a throwaway. In two weeks, UAR has managed to scrounge up just $116,000. “Flag Day” expanded from 24 empty theaters to 48. No one went. Poor reviews didn’t help, but there also aren’t a lot of them. UAR did nothing to release this movie. They didn’t even look for Penn-favorable reviewers to try and boost the quotes or the RT number. They just lowered the flag.

So there sits Sean Penn’s work, which may be okay. I was willing to pay to see it, but it’s not playing anywhere accessible to me. So much for that.

This should be a cautionary tale for the James Bond producers, and also for the producers of Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Soggy Bottom” (title be determined). They should be plenty nervous.

As for Amazon, I hope they put MGM-UAR in their cart and click on overnight shipping.

Watch Sensational Video: “This Is Broadway” Welcomes Audience Home with Hamilton, Wicked, Lion King, Rare Angela Lansbury Clip

Roger Friedman
-
0
Watch Sensational Video: “This Is Broadway” Welcomes Audience Home with Hamilton, Wicked, Lion King, Rare Angela Lansbury Clip

Play this video, and make it loud and big on your screens. Oprah Winfrey narrates “This Is Broadway,” welcoming back audiences after 18 months to the Great Light Way.

The filmmakers have done an excellent job weaving together the most popular current shows like “Hamilton,” “The Lion King,” and “Wicked” with landmark performances from the past including Angela Lansbury singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from the Tony Awards.

But the juxtaposition that will give you a lump in the throat is back to back clips from the two productions of “Fences” — first James Earl Jones, then Denzel Washington. Nicely done. The film includes footage from 99 Broadway shows, 735 actors and one dog!

“This is Broadway brings together the joy and excitement we all feel for this art form and the rebound of New York City.  Broadway reopening means 97,000 workers returning to their jobs and the insatiable desire for live performance back on stage,” says Charlotte St. Martin, President, Broadway League.  “I am so thankful for all the work that went into creating this moment of unity and I look forward to all theater fans seeing a show this fall!”

WIN ALL OF BROADWAY CONTEST

The League is launching a first-of-its-kind contest: one lucky winner will win four tickets to every Broadway show in the 2021-2022 season. The prize includes 37 shows, valued at eighteen thousand dollars. The contest will be hosted by Audience Rewards and is free to enter. All current Broadway shows are confirmed to participate.  The contest will run from September 1 to October 15, 2021.  To enter, visit https://www.audiencerewards.com/ and log in or sign up for Audience Rewards membership enrollment and opt in to email communications from Audience Rewards.

 

“General Hospital” Star Ingo Rademacher Doubles Down, Uses Joe Rogan Clip to Advocate Freedom to Die from COVID

Roger Friedman
-
0
“General Hospital” Star Ingo Rademacher Doubles Down, Uses Joe Rogan Clip to Advocate Freedom to Die from COVID

Australian actor Ingo Rademacher wants to go into the career ER on “General Hospital.”

An anti-vaxx advocate, Rademacher has posted a Joe Rogan clip to Instagram claiming eseentially that the choice to die from COVID is the equivalent of “freedom.”

Rademacher obviously learned nothing a few days ago when he posted another video in which he called his fans “bigots” and “Morons.” He’s sticking to his guns. He won’t shut up, and he won’t recant. His castmates on “General Hospital” must be furious. Rademacher is burying his head in the sand. Three right wing radio personalities who were also anti-vaxx have died from COVID. The real ER’s around the country are filled with people who didn’t get the vaccine and are begging for it now. If they die they will not come back as their long lost twins (a typical soap opera plot). They will actually be dead.

I’m not sure how long ABC/Disney will put up with this. Rademacher’s character may soon disappear down a well or his plane may go down over the Pacific, no bodies found. But it’s unlikely he’ll stop. As I wrote last week, he gave interviews in the past indicating he didn’t believe in ANY vaccines, and his children may not have had the ones necessary to remain healthy in life. Terrible.

Rademacher writes next to this Rogan video:
“Make no mistake, this is the fight of our lives. The fight to have the freedom to choose. It has zero to do with your political beliefs or wether you’ve been vaccinated or not. 🇺🇸stand strong America!”

UPDATED “Donda” Disaster: Kanye Claims Universal Music Dropped Album Without Permission

Roger Friedman
-
0
UPDATED “Donda” Disaster: Kanye Claims Universal Music Dropped Album Without Permission

Kanye West took to Instagram this afternoon and claimed Universal Music dropped his “Donda” album without permission.

Good for them. You could hear Lucian Grainge say “Enough with the mishegos.”

Kanye also claimed DaBaby’s manager blocked release of the track “Jail 2.” It wasn’t included on the original release but it’s out now, and on the iTunes chart at 25. The whole thing may be a set up. Who knows?

Universal had to get “Donda” out already. On Thursday they’re dropping Drake’s new album. They have to keep the trains running on schedule.

Who knows what beef Kanye has now? He also says they didn’t release a track called “Jail 2.” So he’ll have a bonus track up his sleeve. With 27 tracks on “Donda,” no one will miss it.

Kanye is not finding sympathy for the fans. Three delays for “Donda” was enough. The fans wanted it. He’s lucky he has fans at this point. And only someone with a number 1 would complain. Plus, considering he’s been hawking a $200 listening device for the album, I think he knew it was coming sooner rather than later.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ye (@kanyewest)

Oh, Mr. Grant: RIP God Bless Beloved Award Winning Actor and Activist Ed Asner, 91

Roger Friedman
-
0
Oh, Mr. Grant: RIP God Bless Beloved Award Winning Actor and Activist Ed Asner, 91

God Bless Ed Asner. The beloved actor and activist has died at age 91.

Asner will be known forever as Lou Grant, the crusty TV producer and then newspaper from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and from it sequel, “Lou Grant.” But he had a long career before and after Lou, and won kudos for many roles including the animated film, “Up.”

He won 7 Emmy Awards and was nominated 9 other times.

Condolences to his family and friends. Now all but Betty White, improbably, from “MTM,” are gone. Ed’s family posted to Twitter at around 1:45pm this afternoon. “We are sorry to say that our beloved patriarch passed away this morning peacefully. Words cannot express the sadness we feel. With a kiss on your head- Goodnight dad. We love you.”

I had many, many encounters with Ed over the years. Back in 2014, Ed came up to Fairfield, Connecticut to Sacred Heart University for a Sunday afternoon Q&A, where he was his usual jovial and gruff self. But there were plenty of other times, too, and he always so effusive and interested in talking about politics and show business. A lifelong Democrat, he was voluble on liberal subjects. He was a vocal member of the Screen Actors Guild, and his influence was key to their every election. He was president of SAG from 1981 to 1985.

He was also outspoken about US affairs, and considered the cancellation of “Lou Grant” was linked to his public criticism of the Reagan Administration. (He was right. The show was high rated, but CBS scuttled him.)

Anyway, there are myriad interviews and accounts of Asner’s life. He was a giant, and he will be sorely missed.

The crazy thing is he will be remembered for this exchange with Mary Tyler Moore on the first episode of their sitcom.

 

Is Kanye Forgiven for “Slavery is a choice” and His Trump Endorsements, White House Meetings, Failed Presidential Run?

Roger Friedman
-
0
Is Kanye Forgiven for “Slavery is a choice” and His Trump Endorsements, White House Meetings, Failed Presidential Run?

And so here is “Donda,” a PR spectacle for the summer of 2021.

It’s a hit, and it’s pretty good, the tracks are excellent, highly listenable and accessible.

But now: how short are memories?

It was only a year ago that Kanye West was running for president, supporting Donald Trump, meeting him in the Oval Office.

It was May 2018 when Kanye announced that “slavery is a choice.”

Everyone was outraged as Kanye melted down, carried on, ranted on Twitter like a loony toon.

Is all forgiven? Do we forgive and forget and just move on? “Donda” will be a referendum on short term memory loss.

Stay tuned…

Kanye UPDATE “Donda” is Number 1 on iTunes, Also on a $200 Remix Device, Here are the Credits

Roger Friedman
-
0
Kanye UPDATE “Donda” is Number 1 on iTunes, Also on a $200 Remix Device, Here are the Credits

“Donda” is here, it’s very good. It’s on streaming services and on iTunes for download. It’s already number 1.

It’s also on Kanye‘s website in a $200 device you can buy called a Stem Player. A small round beige object with lights, the device offers you a chance to remix the album at your discretion. There’s 8 gigabytes on it, and the website says you can add your own music. I’m not sure if that means you can also delete “Donda” and make it an expensive MP3 player.

Hell Freezes Over, Pigs Fly: Kanye West Releases “Donda” Album to Streaming Services, Sort of

Roger Friedman
-
0
Hell Freezes Over, Pigs Fly: Kanye West Releases “Donda” Album to Streaming Services, Sort of

After weeks of delays and three listening sessions in stadiums, Kanye West has released his “Donda” album, sort of.

Hell has frozen over, pigs are flying, and “Donda” has turned up on streaming services. Sort of. On Spotify there are different versions, in different orders, as playlists. On Apple’s iTunes, there’s a different version.

No word came this morning from Kanye’s record label. The thing has just appeared. There are lots of guest artists and no credits, so who knows what the samples are yet or how this thing is made. Lawyers will be poring over it.

“Donda” comes as hurricane “Ida” lands in New Orleans. Seems right. There’s a track called “Off the Grid,” which was supposed to be the name of Sean Puffy Combs’s new album next month. Coincidence?

“Remote Control” is very catchy. It’s still to be seen who actually wrote it.

Stay tuned…

 

 

1...745746747...2,324Page 746 of 2,324

Hollywood to the Hudson

Company

Trending

Categories

© Showbiz411.com