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What year is it again? 1974? That was the year of the Nixon impeachment, the classic Impeachment you might call it.
And on the iTunes chart today: many singles from the 60s and 70s today, more than usual, likely a result of low pricing but also because we need comfort music during this stressful time.
Number 14 is “My Girl” by the Temptations, 15 is Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay.”
Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” is 22. Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down on It” is 32.
“Respect” by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is number 36. “Super Freak” by Rick James is 45.
Number 50 is the remixed version of The Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go?” The Supremes’ “Baby Love” is at 74.
“The Supremes Number 1s” greatest hits is at number 16 on the album chart. These sales are in memory of Mary Wilson, who died much too young this week at age 76.
We need this music now. Lap it up, kids. Add the Beatles, the Stones, Sam & Dave, bring it on.
Here’s a combo you don’t think of right away: Donald Glover, of “Atlanta” fame and many other successes, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge of “Fleabag.”
This twosome are going to play Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from the great 2005 movie, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Donald and Phoebe will be married hit men-woman whatever. They’re teamed with Francesca Sloane, whose credits include “Atlanta,” and some kind of adaptation of Anais Nin’s erotic works,= to make this a reality for Amazon Studios.
How clever of Amazon to find a way to continue their relationship with Phoebe. And to bring in Glover, sometimes known as Childish Gambino, and a hot commodity in all regards, is brilliant. It’s got to be comedy, right? With these two it can’t be too dark.
Country singer Morgan Wallen said the N word on a tape made by TMZ and a small part of the world went crazy. His agent dropped him, his record company suspended him. The Country Music Awards banned him.
And Wallen’s fans didn’t care. This week he sold more than 200,000 records and finished at number 1 with his “Dangerous: The Double Album.”
An older album, called “If I Know Me,” is included in that count.
Until last night when new records were released, Wallen commanded the charts all week. At one point he had 20 of the top 100 iTunes singles. He still has half a dozen. And the albums are still selling.
Country music fans just didn’t care. Nevertheless, Wallen offered a perfunctory apology that no one paid any attention to.
So what now? I’m sure all is forgiven and Wallen’s “suspension” from his all white record and management company called Big Loud will welcome him back with ooen arms. It’s not the money, you know, it’s the money.
In his signature role, Yul Brynner played the King of Siam, now Thailand, in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.”
Brynner was not Siamese or Thai. He was Russian, born in Vladivostok. If he took the role now, there would be PC protests from here to Singapore.
So the new Paramount Studios version of the movie will have to find a Thai actor play the King. Otherwise, we will never hear the end of it. Cries of cultural appropriation will sound day and night.
Brynner was acting the role. He won a Tony Award for it, and then was one of 9 Oscar nominees when the original film was made.
But acting isn’t important anymore.
In the most recent Broadway edition Japanese star Ken Watanabe played the King. It was reportedly hard to understand him. But he had the look.
My favorite production starred Donna Murphy as Anna, the English teacher who melts the King’s heart, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Murphy was sensational.
There’s been one non musical version of the story of Anna and the King of Siam. Jodie Foster was Anna. Chow Yun-Fat was the King. Andy Tennant was the uninspired choice of director.
So we’ll wait and see how this all turns out. Choice of director and choreographer will be important since the producers– a company called Temple Hill — are known for TV productions like “Orange is the New Black.” Concord Music is helping but the Temple Hill gang would be smart to hire someone from Broadway ASAP as consultant. There are plenty of people available, unfortunately.
Everyone is sorry. To twist Bernie Taupin’s original lyrics, “Sorry seems to be the easiest word.”
Everyone’s got an apology this week. Morgan Wallen apologizes for drunkenly using the “N” word. “Bachelor Host” Chris Harrison is sorry he said stupid things in a discussion of racism on his show.
Now Justin Timberlake is sorry for throwing Janet Jackson under the bus at the Super Bowl years ago, and for writing a song about his nasty break up with Britney Spears.
The Apology Tour continues. At the 2004 Super Bowl half time show, Justin ripped Janet’s blouse, exposing her, and causing the first ever global “wardrobe malfunction.” She got blamed, he stayed mum, and she paid the price for years. He also let his ex girlfriend, Spears, suffer from taunting after they broke up. He got a hit record out of it, “Cry Me a River.”
Now a contrite Justin writes:
“I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond. I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right. I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism. I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed. I also feel compelled to respond, in part, because everyone involved deserves better and most importantly, because this is a larger conversation that I wholeheartedly want to be part of and grow from. The industry is flawed. It sets men, especially white men, up for success. It’s designed this way. As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this. Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognize it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again. I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career. I know this apology is a first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my own missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports. I care deeply about the wellbeing of the people I love and have loved. I can do better and I will do better.”
UPDATE: the men of the latest season have spoken out now too:
The TV kabal known as “Bachelor Nation” is imploding, and it’s over race, of all things. After one white season after another, Rachel Lindsay — a lawyer who was about 10 times smarter and better educated than previous contestants — became the first Black Bachelorette. Instead of returning to her old life when the show was over, Lindsay– articulate, smart, and attractive — saw she could have a broadcasting career. She took a job with “Extra.” I met her a few weeks ago on a Zoom call with other press for a Q&A about a movie, and was so impressed.
But everything’s come around for Lindsay. When a white “Bachelor” contestant this season named Raechel Kirkconnell was revealed to have a racist past, it was Lindsay who had to interview the show’s host, Chris Harrison, for “Extra.” At issue was a photo of Kirkconnell from a sorority party at a former Southern plantation, dressed as an Antebellum Belle of the Ball.
Lindsay wasn’t having it. At one point she says to Harrison, “If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?” It was the question of a prosecutor.
Harrison’s answer, as you can see in the video, was shockingly stupid. Since this party took place in 2018, he indicated that it would have been alright then– two years ago!
Harrison, a deer in the headlights, replied: “You’re 100 percent right in 2021. That was not the case in 2018. And again, I’m not defending Rachael. I just know that, I don’t know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was a type of party that a lot of people went to. And again, I’m not defending it. I didn’t go to it.”
Harrison has quickly backtracked. He’s “apologized” on Instagram for saying something so stupid. “To my Bachelor Nation family—I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology,” Harrison wrote on Instagram. “I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.”
The women of “The Bachelor” aren’t accepting it.
“We are the women of Bachelor Season 25,” the contestants wrote back on Instagram. “Twenty-five women who identify as BIPOC were cast on this historic season that was meant to represent change. We are deeply disappointed and want to make it clear that we denounce any defense of racism. Any defense of racist behavior denies the lived and continued experiences of BIPOC individuals. These experiences are not to be exploited or tokenized. Rachel Lindsay continues to advocate with ‘grace’ for individuals who identify as BIPOC within this franchise,” the statement concludes. “Just because she is speaking the loudest, doesn’t mean she is alone. We stand with her, we hear her, and we advocate for change alongside her.”
Lindsay has now emerged as the voice of reason for “Bachelor Nation” and “Extra.” She’s kept mum in response only to post this wide adage to her own Instagram: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.”
Meantime, the first Black Bachelor, Matt James, rolls toward the conclusion of his series. Did he find love? Was he just repelled by all of these people? For the first time, the answer may matter. I’d like to see him just wash his hands of the whole thing and walk away.
Taylor Swift has turned Shamrock Capital’s $300 million investment into her masters into junk bonds.
Taylor released her first re-record, of her 2008 single “Love Story,” last night. And it shot straight to number 1 on iTunes. And everywhere. The new single compares favorably to the original, too. It’s actually better.
The album, “Fearless,” from 2008, comes next, with six unreleased tracks. “Fearless” will be the first of six albums Swift will re-release re-recorded.
And that will obliterate the original six, paid for by Shamrock Capital for $300 million. Swift’s social media base and fan clubs will simply take up the new records and say good bye to the old ones.
What did Shamrock pay $300 million for? Future sales of the original albums. They didn’t buy the song publishing. Swift herself can stop them from licensing the records to commercials. So as the new records replace the old ones, the Shamrock purchase is going to turn into a write off, writ large.
The winner in the game is Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber’s manager, who bought Scott Borchett’s Big Machine Records and acquired the Swift back catalog. Swift threatened to re-record and people laughed. In the past, others had tried it including Prince.
But Prince was no Taylor Swift. He was a mess, unfocused. Also, he didn’t have the that huge organized following. Fans were sympathetic but not en masse. This was before there was an internet of any consequence. And he wasn’t involved his fans, he was aloof.
Swift is the opposite. She pays fans’ grocery bills. They feel an individual connection to her. And they respond in kind.
Shamrock can only have buyer’s remorse at this point. They defended their purchase last fall when it was announced. But they’d been outplayed by Taylor Swift.
I have a deep affection for the 5th Dimension’s Billy Davis, Jr. and Marilyn McCoo. They are highly underrated, and the whole group — which introduced many of Laura Nyro and Jimmy Webb’s classic songs — should be in the Rock Hall and Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Questlove of the Roots just featured them in his documentary, “Summer of Soul,” and rightly so. They were pioneers of pop R&B with amazing voices.
Marilyn and Billy have just recorded an album of songs by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, a great idea called “Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons.” Their first single, for Valentine’s Day, is “Silly Love Songs.” Billy really gets to show off his still amazing tenor. The rest of the album is coming this spring with some leads of course by Marilyn, one of the great pop singers of all time.
You know, the 5th Dimension was like the flipside to the Mamas and vice versa. Only the 5th D actually was more successful.
Stay tuned for rest of this album, it’s going to be a great one.
And what a Valentine this is! Marilyn and Billy have been happily married for 51 — yes FIFTY ONE — years!!!!
Chick Corea, the jazz great, has died at age 79 from what his family says is a rare form of cancer. Chick was heavily into Scientology so we always hope he was getting the proper treatment.
There are dozens of Chick Corea albums and projects but my favorite were with Return to Forever. I was lucky to see them a few years ago at the Blue Note. Altogether he won 23 Grammy Awards, and was a favorite at the Grammy show every year. They were all deserved. Check out the video below. An immense talent.
His family’s Facebook post is here:
“It is with great sadness we announce that on February 9th, Chick Corea passed away at the age of 79, from a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently.
Throughout his life and career, Chick relished in the freedom and the fun to be had in creating something new, and in playing the games that artists do.
He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, and a great mentor and friend to so many. Through his body of work and the decades he spent touring the world, he touched and inspired the lives of millions.
Though he would be the first to say that his music said more than words ever could, he nevertheless had this message for all those he knew and loved, and for all those who loved him:
“I want to thank all of those along my journey who have helped keep the music fires burning bright. It is my hope that those who have an inkling to play, write, perform or otherwise, do so. If not for yourself then for the rest of us. It’s not only that the world needs more artists, it’s also just a lot of fun.
“And to my amazing musician friends who have been like family to me as long as I’ve known you: It has been a blessing and an honor learning from and playing with all of you. My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly—this has been the richness of my life.”
Chick’s family will of course appreciate their privacy during this difficult time of loss.”
The Impeachment trial is doing great things for MSNBC.
Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell are still still trouncing Fox News’ Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham at night. Handily.
Last night, Maddow had 4.453 million viewers vs. a lowly 2,782,000 for Hannity at 9pm. In the hour following, O’Donnell continued the lead with 3,185,000 vs Laura Ingraham’s 2,321,000.
This is so great but completely the inverse of what it was a year ago. Or even six months ago. With Trump out of the White House, and his real crimes exposed, Fox News is drifting away.
The numbers were similar for Monday and Tuesday, and all of last week as well.
Figures for daytime show MSNBC leading the Impeachment coverage ahead of CNN and all other networks. Fox doesn’t cover the trial very well, and often cuts away to talk about butterflies and dog food and whether Jon Scott is a real person.
Meantime, Suzanne Scott re-signed as head of news, scotching the rumors that David Rhodes would take over. The signal is that Fox News will double down on fantasy and keep losing viewers until Rupert Murdoch can be neutralized by his sons.
Here’s a combo you don’t think of right away: Donald Glover, of “Atlanta” fame and many other successes, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge of “Fleabag.”
