First up, the Grammys. Well, they didn't disappoint. This is always an entertaining show, regardless of what music genre you love. If you don't like the current performers, stick around. Actually the good part about these shows is that different musical styles come together during one performance. It's colorful, amusing and entertaining all in one. It was one of the higher rated shows in recent memory.
I've always been a music fan going back to (and well before) the seventies, the first decade that the awards show was televised live. It always sort of bothered me that my favorites rarely won...I mean why sit around watching artists that I'm lukewarm about win all the time? Yes, there were favorites, and many of them performed on these shows, but when it came time to hand out the gramophone trophies, well, that was another story. It bothered me somewhat that "American Pie" didn't win Record of the Year at the 1973 awards, but c'est la vie.
By the 1990's, and early 2000's I pretty much lost interest in music awards shows. Perhaps it was this blog that brought my interest back. That plus a plethora of pop acts, that, although maybe not artistically innovative and stylish, at least brought back palatable music back to the forefront. My genre, Alternative Rock (with more emphasis on 'alternative' than rock these days), has at least been contributing to the current pop scene; artists like Lorde, Imagine Dragons, fun., Gotye, and a few others, have gotten airplay, and have melded in with the rappers and pop princesses of the day.
This year's awards show was very gratifying, from Beyonce and Jay-Z's performance in opening up the show, to LL Cool J's consummate hosting, to the many popular acts performing with classic ones...definitely something for everyone.
I had looked forward to Robin Thicke's performance with one of my all time favorite bands, Chicago. The veteran jazz-rock band performed a brief medley of two classics, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Beginnings", with Thicke adding his vocals; then going into his smash "Blurred Lines". It was an unlikely pairing, and to be honest, the duet didn't really mesh will on last summer's smash (it wasn't really cohesive adding horns to "Blurred Lines", but again, it at least underscores the willingness to combine old and new.
Then there was Daft Punk, who nabbed the Record of the Year honors with "Get Lucky", appearing in their robot uniforms and not saying a word, getting together with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder. The first two were no surprise; they played on the recording (and you gotta love Pharrell's hat). Wonder was a surprise guest, and he fit right in with the aura of that song. As for Rodgers, he's an unsung hero. People know him basically as the guitarist for Chic, a disco band that had a big, albeit brief time in the spotlight circa 1978-79, but faded along with disco. But music fans remember him as a big-time producer in the 1980's, mainly from David Bowie's "Let's Dance", but also with Duran Duran, Southside Johnny, Debbie Harry from Blondie, and Diana Ross records in the early 80's. He was a big part of "Get Lucky" as well as other songs from Random Access Memories, which won for Album of the Year.. These artists performed, aside from "Get Lucky", Chic's hit "Le Freak", and Stevie's "Another Star", which is one of my favorites from his landmark "Songs in the Key of Life" album from 1976.
Imagine Dragons, one of the few new rock-oriented bands (mixing rock with hip-hop) also collaborated with rapper Kendrick Lamar (who in last week's blog, I said I had no idea who he was....I learned pretty quickly in that he's one of the biggest hip-hop/rap stars of the day). Unfortunately he lost out on the major awards, as well as some key rap categories, to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
Speaking of which near the end of the show, with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis doing "Same Love" with Madonna and Mary Lambert helping out, while Queen Latifah was marrying 34 couples, both straight and gay (the subject of the rapping duo's song).
And no I didn't forget something. We saw Ringo Starr, not looking like his 70+ years, jamming with Peter Frampton, and Don Was (of Was Not Was), and Judith Hill. Paul McCartney got a colaboration award with the members of Nirvana, including Pat Smear, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic.
Oh yeah, later on McCartney performed with Ringo....a reunion of the surviving Beatles, almost fifty years to the day they first appeared on American TV on the Ed Sullivan Show, performing one of Paul's new songs. Although reaction from my Facebook friends was mixed, it brought chills of my childhood. I plan to blog about my first experiences listening to and about The Beatles in the next couple of weeks.
It was definitely worth the time to check out, as well as to check out what's going on in the music business outside your genre.
Depending on when I finish this blog, the Super Bowl is either about to take place or has happened. Unless you've been living under a rock, it is being played right here in New Jersey, at MetLife stadium. It's the Seattle Seahawks against the Denver Broncos, led by star quarterback Peyton Manning, brother of Eli, whose stadium he'll be playing in this evening. It's the first time a Super Bowl is being played in an outdoor venue in a cold-weather area. It looks like we are lucking out, since, after a few weeks of very cold. polar vortex weather, we will have a 50 degree day. And of course, there is the New York/New Jersey issue, as the game is being played west of the Hudson, but much of the week's festivities are in New York's Times Square. As for the halftime entertainment, that will come from Bruno Mars, in my opinion the best male vocalist on the current pop scene. With the decision to move from classic rock acts in the halftime shows in the late 2000's, to current stars in the 2010's (remember that Beyonce performed last year), some felt that Jersey artists were short changed. Many felt Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen should have performed. Remember, though, The Boss performed in 2009. Bon Jovi performed one year after the game, but never during it. It does look like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the left coast will perform with Mars, so it is something to look forward too.
FAME: I really didn't want to talk any more on the whole Bieber thing, but there were more developments with that...he got arrested in Toronto, and there was a story that some drugs were found in a plane that he owned in a hanger at Teterboro Airport, although that wasn't confirmed. A friend posted this on Facebook, and there was a debate about it. One friend indicated that the pop star needs a lot of help, not hate, and also where was all the media frenzy and hate back in the days of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, all who made great music, but died as they couldn't deal with the pressures and all the drugs.
But there's a difference and I'm not talking artistic credibility. Those artists emerged in the counter-culture of the late 1960's. The mainstream media didn't focus on them, they were a rock phenomenon with the younger generation, who aside from Vietnam War protests, really didn't get coverage. Plus, the average rock fan didn't know about Big Brother & the Holding Company, The Doors, or the Jimi Hendrix Experience until they became big. We knew their hits, their albums, their concert performances. We knew they were on drugs, but that was part of the culture.
Bieber is from the social media era. Unlike those I mentioned above, he didn't pay his dues. We knew that his mother posted his performances on You Tube, we know that Scooter Braun and Usher took him under his wing. He was the kid next door, but became too big too fast. All of him fame was documented, unlike the sixties rock stars. A media wrought with sensationalism broadcast every move he made, good or bad. He is obviously naive, is like a deer in the headlight, and his path to drugs was different from the others. His "friends" took advantage of his fame and money. Bieber should drop off the scene for awhile and get some help. It was too late for the others.
HIS LAND WAS OUR LAND: Finally, I need to acknowledge the passing of legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, who passed last week at the age of 94. He, more than anyone, got America back to its folk roots, and championed many causes, controversial and otherwise. He was an influence on many other singers after him, including Woodie Guthrie and his son Arlo Gutherie. Many of his songs, such as "If I Had A Hammer" and "This Land Is Our Land", are still sung today. I had the fortune of seeing him back in 2004 at a fall festival near his residence of Beacon NY. He had lost much of his voice, but his spirit remained in full embodiment. His music will definitely live on as long as there is an America.
Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100
February 2, 2014
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER ONE:
SHANNON MARSYADA TRIO
"What You Do To Me"
Album: For You
(2 weeks at #1)
|
11
|
2
|
2
|
Capital Cities - Kangaroo Court
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - The Walker
|
12
|
4
|
5
|
Caveman - Shut You Down
|
9
|
5
|
7
|
Tired Pony - All Things All At Once
|
10
|
6
|
6
|
Haim - Forever
|
11
|
7
|
8
|
Young the Giant - It's About Time
|
9
|
8
|
4
|
Wild Belle - Backslider
|
12
|
9
|
11
|
San Cisco - Fred Astaire
|
15
|
10
|
10
|
Cate Le Bon - Are You With Me Now
|
11
|
11
|
9
|
Capital Cities - Safe and Sound
|
24
|
12
|
14
|
Man Man - Pyramids
|
9
|
13
|
12
|
Field Mouse - How Do You Know
|
24
|
14
|
17
|
Eminem f. Rihanna - The Monster
|
7
|
15
|
18
|
Broken Bells - Holding On For Life
|
8
|
16
|
13
|
Lorde - Royals
|
22
|
17
|
25
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
KATY PERRY
"Unconditionally"
Album: Prism
|
8
|
18
|
16
|
Cold War Kids - Lost That Easy
|
15
|
19
|
26
|
Lorde - Team
|
8
|
20
|
60
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
FOSTER THE PEOPLE
"Coming of Age"
Album: Supermodel
|
2
|
21
|
19
|
Zedd f. Foxes - Clarity
|
19
|
22
|
22
|
Emiliana Torrini -Speed of Dark
|
13
|
23
|
45
|
Paul Czekaj - Elvis in Heaven
|
4
|
24
|
15
|
Bad Attitude - Merry Christmas Anyway
|
7
|
25
|
21
|
King Tuff - Sun Medallion
|
13
|
26
|
54
|
Phantogram - Fall in Love
|
4
|
27
|
31
|
Portugal. the Man - Modern Jesus
|
8
|
28
|
32
|
New Politics - Tonight You're Perfect
|
8
|
29
|
41
|
Dum Dum Girls - Lost Boys and Girls Club
|
6
|
30
|
40
|
Eli Young Band - Drunk Last Night
|
6
|
31
|
44
|
Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know
|
7
|
32
|
36
|
The Fray - Love Don't Die
|
10
|
33
|
42
|
Alt J - Tesselate
|
9
|
34
|
24
|
Terraplane Sun - Get Me Golden
|
25
|
35
|
27
|
Ylvis - The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)
|
10
|
36
|
52
|
Kings of Leon - Temple
|
8
|
37
|
30
|
Cut Copy - We Are Explorers
|
9
|
38
|
28
|
Florence + the Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name)
|
22
|
39
|
34
|
Cage the Elephant - Come A Little Closer
|
23
|
40
|
23
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - Keeping Our Eyes Out
|
21
|
41
|
46
|
Passenger - Let Her Go
|
26
|
42
|
33
|
Golden Void - Rise to the Out of Reach
|
23
|
43
|
58
|
Those Darlins - In the Wilderness
|
5
|
44
|
39
|
Valerie June - You Can't Be Told
|
10
|
45
|
57
|
Of Monsters and Men - Dirty Paws
|
7
|
46
|
20
|
Paul Czekaj - Christmas Is Forever
|
8
|
47
|
29
|
Taylor Centers - Alibi
|
17
|
48
|
38
|
Those Darlins - Optimist
|
15
|
49
|
67
|
Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes
|
4
|
50
|
43
|
Man Man - Head On
|
24
|
51
|
49
|
The Satelliters - Where Do We Go
|
19
|
52
|
50
|
Wild Belle - Keep You
|
45
|
53
|
35
|
The Joy Formidable - Silent Treatment
|
12
|
54
|
63
|
Sara Bareilles - Brave
|
32
|
55
|
53
|
OneRepublic - Counting Stars
|
24
|
56
|
64
|
Imagine Dragons - Demons
|
18
|
57
|
37
|
Avicii - Wake Me Up
|
19
|
58
|
51
|
Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball
|
8
|
59
|
61
|
Jagwar Ma - Come Save Me
|
11
|
60
|
62
|
Twin Forks - Cross My Mind
|
10
|
61
|
47
|
Eagulls - Nerve Endings
|
13
|
62
|
56
|
Emeli Sande - My Kind of Love
|
17
|
63
|
79
|
Phoenix - SOS in Belaire
|
2
|
64
|
48
|
Of Montreal - Fugitive Air
|
12
|
65
|
55
|
Phosphorescent - Ride On/Right On
|
13
|
66
|
59
|
Paul Czekaj - Wheels On Fire
|
11
|
67
|
78
|
Hellogoodbye - Everything Is Debatable
|
4
|
68
|
73
|
Wild Club - Thunder Clatter
|
4
|
69
|
72
|
Lucius - Turn It Around
|
6
|
70
|
76
|
Franz Ferdinand - Bullet
|
5
|
71
|
95
|
Zedd f. Hayley Williams - Stay the Night
|
2
|
72
|
75
|
St. Lucia - Elevate
|
5
|
73
|
84
|
Arcade Fire - Afterlife
|
4
|
74
|
68
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - Out of My League
|
48
|
75
|
91
|
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Lariat
|
2
|
76
|
90
|
Imagine Dragons - On Top of the World
|
2
|
77
|
93
|
Vance Joy - Riptide
|
2
|
78
|
71
|
Boy and Bear - Southern Sun
|
5
|
79
|
77
|
Pixies - Indie Cindy
|
5
|
80
|
88
|
Mind Spiders - The Steady
|
6
|
81
|
69
|
Lady Gaga - Applause
|
21
|
82
|
86
|
Colbie Caillat - Hold On
|
5
|
83
|
70
|
The Veils - Another Night on Earth
|
21
|
84
|
---- |
TOP DEBUT:
 GROUPLOE "Shark Attack" Album: Spreading Rumours |
1
|
85
|
66
|
Portugal. The Man - Purple Yellow Red & Blue
|
29
|
86
|
81
|
Goo Goo Dolls - Come to Me
|
9
|
87
|
---- |
Silversun Pickups - Cannibal
|
1
|
88
|
---- |
Avicii - Hey Brother
|
1
|
89
|
---- |
Bear Hands - Giants
|
1
|
90
|
83
|
Phillip Phillips - Where We Came From
|
17
|
91
|
85
|
Smith Westerns - Varsity
|
17
|
92
|
96
|
U2 - Ordinary Love
|
2
|
93
|
---- |
Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardner
|
1
|
94
|
94
|
Hunter Hunted - Keep Together
|
4
|
95
|
---- |
Lost in the Trees - Past Life
|
1
|
96
|
92
|
Christina Perri - Human
|
4
|
97
|
---- |
Temples - Shelter Song
|
1
|
98
|
---- |
Parquet Courts - Stones and Starving
|
1
|
99
|
74
|
Jack Johnson - Radiate
|
7
|
100
|
87
|
Bastille - Pompeii
|
13
|
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