Well, call me ignorant, but until the other day I hadn’t realized that Otis Redding wrote Aretha Franklin’s anthem “Respect.” And he sang it, too. Differently… …than she did: Aretha’s version was a sister act, although I don’t know whether … Continue reading →
[NOTE: This post of mine sparked the following reflections.] Our responses to music are closely tied to emotion as well as memory. People who are brain-damaged and cannot speak can sometimes access music and even lyrics; different parts of the … Continue reading →
I know, I know. You look down on “American Idol,” think it’s trash, yada yada yada. Well, sometimes I watch it for fun, along with other fluff du jour, despite the fact that I’m not ordinarily all that keen on … Continue reading →
[Hat tip: “Gringo.”] Here’s an update on Tom Lehrer, that bitingly sarcastic troubadour of the 50s and 60s. But because he’s a reclusive sort, the article really doesn’t have all that much to say except that at 85 he’s alive … Continue reading →
One of the things that draws me to YouTube is its ability to collapse time. I’ve written other posts before that use this then/now format, but I don’t really tire of it. So here’s another. Petula Clark, then: And now … Continue reading →
There’s a big discussion in this yahoo article about who invented the moonwalk, and the answer isn’t Michael Jackson. I can’t say I much care, although I always thought Jackson’s dance moves were his greatest talent. But the article included … Continue reading →
There’s a big Yahoo feature on Justin Timberlake’s new video tribute to his grandparents and their 63-year-long marriage. Made me think of this Leonard Cohen video, which I think is far superior (although I kind of like Timberlake in general) … Continue reading →
I first heard her sing when I was in college. I had some friends who’d been to Europe and had brought back a few of her records. I didn’t much care for her music and promptly forgot about her, until … Continue reading →
[NOTE: It’s been a long time since I took any classes in music theory, and even back then I never learned very much of it. So I’m uncertain whether I’ve used the right musical terminology here when I compare major … Continue reading →
…is 80.
Continue reading →I watched them last night while I was doing some other chores (note the use of the word “other”), and I have two things to say. The first is: what’s up so many black dresses with the gauzy see-through stuff … Continue reading →
Iceland finally lets a girl use her own name. The amount of cultural control in these countries is very very foreign to us: A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her … Continue reading →