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Lana Del Rey Delivers a Pop Masterpiece with Hit-Laden, Hypnotic New “Chemtrails Over the Country Club”

Roger Friedman
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Lana Del Rey Delivers a Pop Masterpiece with Hit-Laden, Hypnotic New “Chemtrails Over the Country Club”

You know you’re in for something unusual in 2021 when an album’s title track starts with this couplet:

“I’m on the run with you, my sweet love
There’s nothing wrong contemplating God”

And isn’t a Christian album, it’s one of ideas set to incredibly melodic music. Lana Del Rey’s 7th album in 11 years, “Chemtrails over the Country Club,” is so good it’s not a surprise really. But it’s this edgy, wonderful singer-songwriter’s most accessible work ever, full of hits, hummable, catchy songs shaped with producer Jack Antonoff into gems I’d like to hear on the radio (if there were a radio).

More than any other female singer songwriter working today, Lana Del Rey (her real name is Elizabeth Grant) is the descendant of Joni Mitchell. She’s ready to take on that mantel now, adding a haunting cover of Mitchell’s “For Free” to the end of this album as if to make an exclamation point. Mitchell should be flattered. This may be Lana’s “Court and Spark.”

Del Rey wants to make sure you’re ready for that point, so the penultimate song which precedes the cover is called “Dance Til We Die,” and begins with this news: “I’ve been covering Joni and dancing with Joan” and later remarks (maybe a nod to the watershed “Hissing of Summer Lawns”): “Joan said she was gonna quit/Tearin’ it up at the Afro-Caribbean two-step.” (Joan may also be a reference to Joan Baez, which is also cool.)

A Lana DelRey album always seems like it’s going to be serious, but this time she and Antonoff have found several compromises that lift this collection to place that I would call supremely enjoyable. The single, “Let Me Love You Like A Woman,” in a normal world, would not only be a radio constant but the best Record or Single of any year. “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” should be added to the movie “Nomadland” as its theme song.

Pop Read: Justin Bieber Uses MLK Speeches to Bolster Album of Love Songs

Two tracks need to be focused on right away. “Breaking Up Slowly,” written with Antonoff and Nikki Lane actually IS a hit record if hits were defined by concise lyrics and catchy refrains. But it may be too mordant for country music with a line like “I don’t want to wind up like Tammy Wynette.”

But the key to “Chemtrails” is “Dark But Just a Game,” the album’s centerpiece. A meditation on fame, DelRey and Antonoff say they got the idea after attending a celebrity party in Hollywood and being shaken after meeting some of their idols. This might also be the most Joni Like construction of a song, with a chorus you can imagine live audiences singing along to.

A decade is a long time. Lana DelRey has been out there for a while following her own path, gathering a cult audience. There have always been flickers of big breakthrough success. But “Chemtrails” may be it, and what a pleasure if this is her moment.

I can’t wait to get this CD, put it my car, and play it over and over. If you like real music, and not some of the stuff we’ve seen in recent days, this is for you.

“Grammy Salute to Sounds of Change” Ratings Disaster, But Show Was A-Plus: Maybe CBS Should Have Promoted It

Roger Friedman
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“Grammy Salute to Sounds of Change” Ratings Disaster, But Show Was A-Plus: Maybe CBS Should Have Promoted It

I received not one press release or communication about “A Grammy Salute to the Sounds of Change” special that aired last night on CBS. I didn’t even know it was coming until I saw a promo for it on Monday on CBS by accident. Nothing came from the Recording Academy or the network.

I guess I wasn’t alone in being surprised. Ratings were a disaster– just 1.5 million people tuned in to see Common host a show with some amazing performances from 9 to 11 pm. The special was beautifully written and executed. Meantime, an hour earlier, at 8 o’clock, around four-and-half million people watched the stupid “Masked Singer” on Fox.

Gladys Knight’s performance of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” with Sheila E. on drums was so spectacular, I stood up and clapped. Ditto John Fogerty on a new song called “Weeping in the Promised Land.” I’d put them up there from YouTube except there are no official clips. A Viewer posted a few, I’ll add Gladys here, and I’m sure it will be unavailable soon.

So that’s it. A lot of effort went into this and maybe one day this special will be available somewhere. For the people who saw it, we had a treat.

PS Gladys Knight needs to be inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors, and must be recognized by the Biden Administration for a Medal of Freedom and so on. With Aretha gone, Gladys is our Queen of Soul, a magnificent talent who is under appreciated.

 

Here’s the video for “Weeping in the Promised Land.” This is the Song of the Year.

Popped: Justin Bieber’s “Justice” Album Drops Tonight After Last Single Bombs, Pre-Sales Are Anemic

Roger Friedman
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Popped: Justin Bieber’s “Justice” Album Drops Tonight After Last Single Bombs, Pre-Sales Are Anemic

There isn’t a song on Justin Bieber’s new album, “Justice,” that hasn’t been labored over by a team of writers and producers.

Twenty one humans are individually credited with “backing vocals.” Five or six more have “backing vocals” listed under their multiple disciplines.

The first single, a hit during the winter called “Holy,” has 10 writing credits. 10! Same for a couple of other “hits.”

Also 10 writers conspired to compose “Hold On,” the latest single, which has bombed in its short life, failing to stay on the iTunes chart for more than a nanosecond. It’s already gone.

The album is having anemic pre-sales, currently sitting at number 89 on Amazon.com among all CDs and vinyl. I was surprised. By now it should have been in the top 10 at least. “Justice” drops at midnight and should bounce to number 1 on iTunes instantly, but then what?

Meantime, Bieber’s concert ticket sales remain largely unsold, with huge swaths of available seats at all venues. The first show is June 5th.

“Justice” is loaded with guest stars. Aside from those on the already released singles there are 6 more including Khalid and Burna Boy, two hot hot acts. “Holy” already depended on Chance the Rapper. Bieber is adding Black stars to his singles as Value Added, but I hope they’re getting paid a lot for their appearances.

Fans of the popster will clamor for the Walmart special edition of the album that includes a song called “Hailey” that must be about his wife, Hailey Baldwin.

Not included are “Crocs by Drew,” Bieber’s new marketing collaboration with the hard plastic slip on shoes. They’re also being released this week.

Competing with “Justice” tonight is Lana del Rey’s new “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” which is kind of a tour de force. Just FYI.

 

 

Billie Eilish Goes All Marilyn Monroe Blonde, Smiles, After Winning More Grammy Awards

Roger Friedman
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Billie Eilish Goes All Marilyn Monroe Blonde, Smiles, After Winning More Grammy Awards

Billie Eilish has gone blonde. She won a couple more Grammys on Sunday, so now she’s gone all Marilyn Monroe. In the Instagram video below, she actually smiles.

During the pre-Grammy show, when Billie and brother Finneas won their award for “No Time to Die,” brother and sister actually looked relaxed and happy. On the main show, when they won again, Eilish was articulate and focused.

She’s growing up! What will she sing about now? Just kidding. She has a nice smile. Who new?

MUSIC Break Today at 5pm Eastern on Facebook Live: Judith Owen Performs

Roger Friedman
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MUSIC Break Today at 5pm Eastern on Facebook Live: Judith Owen Performs

Bored? Depressed. The great Judith Owen is going live on facebook today at 5pm Eastern.

She better sing my favorite song hers, “Here.”

Here’s the link. You won’t regret it.

TV: “This is Us,” A Ratings Hype Machine for Five Seasons, Suffers Lowest Ratings Ever, Falls Under 5 Million

Roger Friedman
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TV: “This is Us,” A Ratings Hype Machine for Five Seasons, Suffers Lowest Ratings Ever, Falls Under 5 Million

Looks like fans may be tired of crying for the Pearsons.

This fifth season of “This is Us,” a five hanky weeper of a soap opera, is in a spiral down in the ratings this season.

Last night the drama hit 4.8 million, down from the season start last fall of 7.3 million. Each week this season has shown a deterioration as all the big “surprises” and reveals from the past and future have been used up. Jack is still dead, just like Generalissimo Franco (that’s an old SNL joke).

In its early days, “This is Us” was scoring 10 or 12 million viewers a night. After the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, it drew a staggering 26 million.

Little by little, the “This is Us” audience is moving on and moving away. Delayed viewing might help but the trend is there. And they still have to make it to the middle of May with eight more episodes. They may want consider wrapping it up now rather than go for a sixth even shortened season.

Now is the time for Sterling K. Brown to make his move into film. He should really be able to go along the trail blazed by Viola Davis. Fingers crossed.

NCIS News: Is Mark Harmon Downsizing Gibbs? Real Life Wife Pam Dawber Joining Show for 4 Episodes

Roger Friedman
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NCIS News: Is Mark Harmon Downsizing Gibbs? Real Life Wife Pam Dawber Joining Show for 4 Episodes

“Mork and Mindy” star Pam Dawber has only had two acting jobs in the last 20 years, each was one a shot on a series. She’s basically retired, living a pretty good life as Mrs. Mark Harmon.

But now Dawber returns to work for four episodes of “NCIS,” the show that made her husband a big star and very, very rich. The episodes will air “non-sequentially” beginning April 6th, meaning the last one will be the season finale. And that may be Mark Harmon’s overall  exit.

Harmon, who’s turning 70, is said to be downsizing his starring role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Apparently, Harmon’s contract is up, and he’s ready to cut his appearances to a handful to get the show through its 20 season. They have two more to go.

“NCIS New Orleans” has been cancelled, and “NCIS Los Angeles” is winding down at the same time. A new “NCIS” is being cooked up set in Hawaii since CBS has a big production presence there. But the main show is starting to show signs of ratings wear. Last night’s 9.5 million viewers still wins the night and is in the top 10 for the week of TV shows, but the end is coming.

It’s conceivable that Gibbs, who has never found love on “NCIS,” will find it with Harmon’s real life wife, and they will ride into the sunset. He can make a fortune doing Life Insurance commercials, or just fish off his yacht. God bless.

 

Ariana Grande Reportedly Settles Plagiarism Suit Over “7 Rings” with Rapper DOT, The Guy She Took it From

Roger Friedman
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Ariana Grande Reportedly Settles Plagiarism Suit Over “7 Rings” with Rapper DOT, The Guy She Took it From

Remember Ariana Grande’s song, “7 Rings”? It started with a cover of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things,” and we thought all the royalties went to that estate. If you’re too young to know what I’m talking about, R&H were the most famous Broadway songwriters. They wrote “The Sound of Music” and “Oklahoma.”

Anyway.

The rest of “7 Rings” was a rap song of some kind. A rapper named DOT aka Josh Stone sued Ariana, saying he’d pitched her an idea at a record company meeting. Well, today it was revealed that Ariana settled with Stone because, once you hear his song, “You Got It,” you’ll get it– it’s the non R&B part of “7 Rings.”

So none of “7 Rings” was original. It was all constructed from other peoples’ material.

The only people who really enjoy rap and hip hop are the lawyers.

 

 

Sunday Ratings: “Walking Dead” Nearly Deceased, Drops 25% Since February to 2.1 Million Viewers

Roger Friedman
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Sunday Ratings: “Walking Dead” Nearly Deceased, Drops 25% Since February to 2.1 Million Viewers

“The Walking Dead” faces actual death now.

The AMC show in its 10th season is seeing a quick ratings collapse week to week. Zombies remain as the only loyal viewers.

On Sunday The Walking Dead dropped 25% from its February return to 2.17 million viewers. In February they were low, but at 2.89.

Years ago, The Walking Dead had 13 to 15 million viewers and was so hot you couldn’t touch it. Now, I’m not sure why it’s on TV.

There are just three more episodes left in this season, with another season set for the summer. At this rate, there will be no one left to register their viewing for Nielsen.

This is what happens when a show goes on too long.

Let it go now, AMC.

“Grey’s Anatomy” Creator Shonda Rhimes Says Golden Globes Committee Ignored Her Shows Until They Were Hits

Roger Friedman
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0
“Grey’s Anatomy” Creator Shonda Rhimes Says Golden Globes Committee Ignored Her Shows Until They Were Hits

Queen of a Lot of TV, Shonda Rhimes, is taking the Hollywood Foreign Press to task. She says the people who vote on the Golden Globes ignored her shows until they were hits.

Rhimes reasons: “HFPA rejected our press conference. Until it was a “surprise hit” (Grey’s, Scandal, Murder -SURPRISE!) And yet they STILL asked me to show up in person to present at the Globes. We’re not the only ones. This is why HFPA’s house is on fire.They lit the flame w/their own ignorance.”

She adds: “And I’m the lucky one. More important: think of all the great talent and shows out there that never even got a chance.”

Rhimes’ observation comes on the heels of a published report on TheWrap.com that the HFPA routinely ignored Black movies and TV shows.

The HFPA said last night they would add 13 Black journalists to their group immediately after Hollywood publicists threaten to pull their clients from Golden Globes activities.

The HFPA is really in hot water in ways I never imagined, and I criticized them a lot over the years. But this was bound to happen. Where they’re going to find 13 Black journalists living in L.A. who cover foreign countries is a mystery to me. But I nominate Wilson Morales of BlackFilmandTV. Even though he lives in New York, Morales could cover for any country and is one of the top movie journalists of any color or continent. Just a suggestion.

As for Rhimes, she’s right when she says she’s not alone. So much of TV is ignored by awards groups. I really think once a show has won Best Drama or Comedy that should be it, no more. Actors, writers, directors that’s different. But once the basic gist a show has won, that’s enough. Shows don’t need to win six times.

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