Well, I took to my blog last week complimenting and supporting Miley Cyrus after happening upon her Twitter comments @ Perez Hilton in regards to same-sex marriage and homosexuality. But now I feel even more compelled to soap-box it for a moment. Since Miley made her comments, she has been catching some negative responses from various organizations, who think Miley is "confused" and no longer a good influence. As I see it, Miley is the perfect scapegoat. Aside from the usual factor that she is so famous, and the easiest way to go through for publicity, she is not gay. Therefore, it comes off as less offensive to attack her. Had these organizations said nary a word against Perez Hilton, they would be in quite a stew.
It is not all bad news. Miley is going around the world, in promotion of her new movie. And, in an upcoming episode of "Hannah Montana," a duet between Hannah and American Idol runner-up (oh, I bet he wishes he could lose that epitaph) David Archuleta will be premiered (and on Radio Disney a day later.) I saw a clip of the two together on the show on youtube, and heard a bit of the song. Personally, I'm not a fan of Archuleta, but he does have a good voice, and I liked the duet. Hopefully, it will be on the long-delayed "Hannah Montana 3" soundtrack, which had been slated for January, but pushed back due to the movie soundtrack (and most confusingly, some season 3 songs were put on the movie soundtrack.)
Demi Lovato is busy to, doing some big concerts before her first headlining tour (with Archuleta as a supporting performer, by the way.) And, she has somehow managed to cut another album.. The girl works fast! She was already twittering to William Beckett of The Academy Is... that she is working on choosing a title (and may name the album after a song the two did together for it). She seems to be pretty confident on a July release, so, if that holds, I expect a single soon. I also learned that an International Edition of "Don't Forget" has been released, and carries an exclusive song, entitled "Back Around." It is a rock number that fits in with the rest of the albums heavier cuts.
Paul McCartney is very slowly popping up in the news in regards to a new album. A new album was hinted at when some reports claimed Paul and Ringo would play together on it, which would make it the first studio collaboration in over a decade. Now, it is said Paul has written a song about his girlfriend Nancy Shevall (who I think lives by my school, just to mention), and this song may appear on a new album. But before that, Paul appeared on a song "Boots And Sand", by Yusuf Islam (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens.) Dolly Parton also appears on the song. Also, a deluxe edition of Paul's Fireman release "Electric Arguments" has been delayed since January, but finally, on the MPL website (MPL is McCartney's publishing company), short samples of new tracks are available. There will be seven new tracks. They are remixes of songs from the album, often with less instruments or no vocals. A track like this called "Sawain Ambient Accapella" has already been on iTunes. This song it the album track "Lifelong Passion" minus bass and drums.
All this is exciting, but I am left wondering about Paul's next classical album. In 2007, Paul had made a mention or two about a guitar concerto album. Nothing has developed since. Perhaps dealing with the divorce derailed the project a bit. The album would be a quite a departure from his other classical works, which have been very symphonic.
Emily Osment has gotten a Twitter (so you can stop follow all the fakes now.) Her address is Twitter.com/emilyosment.
Speaking of Twitter, Miranda Cosgrove tweeted something about putting together a final tracklist for her full-length debut. For a while now, fans have been able to hear a song named "Adored", which was briefly on Miranda's myspace (probably by accident.) It, along with the two new songs from Miranda's EP "About You Now", show great promise for her album.
On a personal note, I met Lady Gaga. Well, sort of. I was at a performance at her alma mater in Manhattan, where her sister attends. Her sister played the bongo for a rather dada-esque take on the "Ave Maria" (also played on violin and piano.) Lady Gaga was standing like two feet away from me at one point, taking pictures. However, I didn't even see her. In fact, I didn't know she was there. She chose not to stay for refreshments later on.
Also, the Virgin Megastore is closing its' doors soon. I'd go on a rant about the death of CD's and such, but rather than do that, I'll just say that I will miss the store and its' slightly overpriced merchandise (but I will be there when they start slashing prices! They only cut CD's by 20% for now, but they will probably go down more eventually.) Tower Records closed for good three years ago, and that was really sad for me. Borders Bookstores are eliminating their CD sections (and I managed to hit one having a 50% sale, and picked up Cream's "BBC Sessions" and McCartney's "Ecce Cor Meum" there.)
If you're wondering what today's blog title refers to, "Stella May Day" is a song Paul McCartney recorded for daughter Stella to use on the runway while presenting some clothes she designed, while she was still in school. The song is on bootlegs only, but it is a cool track.
Showing posts with label Don't Forget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don't Forget. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
"Don't Forget" Won't Be Forgotten
With the threat of the "Conficker" virus, my family decided no computer use in the household for the past week. Thankfully, that spell is over, and I'm back.
And so much has happened!
First off, Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr together at Radio City! As part of a charity show for teaching children Trancendental Meditation (an, er, interesting cause), Paul and Ringo appeared in their own sets, plus an encore together! During this encore, they did "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Cosmically Conscious" (a Paul song from 1968, which he recorded solo in 1993), and "I Saw Her Standing There." Paul and Ringo had last appeared on stage in 2003 for the George Harrison tribute concert. Look up this show on youtube.
Miley Cyrus is working hard to promote the "Hannah Montana" movie. She is on the radio, on daytime talk shows, on late shows, singing "The Climb", doing interviews, and making sure you see her movie out this Friday (in America, anyway.) I hope to see it with my friend Chris, and some lady friends of his.
Miley's song "Butterfly Fly Away" will see a re-release tomorrow on Billy Ray's "Back To Tennesee" album, promising an extended version of the beautiful duet (I assume Billy Ray will take on some solo vocals on this version.)
Selena Gomez has returned to the continental US after spending an extended period in Puerto Rico with her castmates working on the "Wizards Of Waverly Place" TV movie. But before we get too excited by that, she will star alongside old pal Demi Lovato in "Princess Protection Program" due on TV soon. Looks interesting, especially to see the two friends on screen together for the first time since Barney.
Speaking of Demi, I purchased her "Don't Forget" album, in the deluxe format. The album was very good. It had a heavy pop-rock feel, with crunchy guitars on "La La Land" (which, by the way, may very well have been called Hollywood Land, 'cept for the fact that it might clash with the fact that her record label is Hollywood.) Demi's voice is in top form, more trained and powerful than on her demos. The production of the album works well too, giving it some glisten, but without sterilzing it. Aside from strings, and the dynamics of the arrangemnts, all of this album could be recreated on stage (well, even the dynamics could, I guess. It would be pretty clever and tricky, though)
The singles are great. "Get Back" is kind of cocky, kind of desperate, and very catchy. Demi wants to "get back" with and old flame, and with the guitars blazing, plus some buried keyboards creating a bed of sound for the quieter moments, it is a kickin' song. "La La Land" is defiant, as Demi claims she won't be changed by her stardom. It is cleverly written and performed, with the lines "Well, some may say I need to be afraid /Of losing everything /Because of where I /Had my start and where I made my name ", a thinly veiled reference to her beginnings on Disney (not more than a few months past.) "Don't Forget" is a very simple song, its' arrangement calling to mind the JoBro's "Lovebug." However, Demi's is even more subtle, after breakining into a full rock peak, it comes back with strings, and then piano, with effects making it sound as though Demi is coming off a crackly vinyl.
Some of the slower songs don't do as much for me as the more rock ones, while "Party" is a bit of confusing one. It calls to mind Led Zeppelin with the riff, but I thought Demi was uncharacteristically tame. "Two Worlds Collide" has a great, sweeping melody. Overall, the album is tops.
The new tracks are "Lo Que Soy" (the acoustic "This Is Me" with spanish lyrics) and "Behind Enemy Lines." This song was probably left off the original album because it is very different. But we should get used to it, as Demi has said on TV that it is the direction she will be going on as she continues her music (despite not having started at the time, the ambitous Demi said back in February that she hoped to have an album out in the summer/fall.) The song is very jazzy, with her vocals up close in front of a bluesy arrangement. She seems to channel her hero, John Mayer, whose influence on her is otherwise non-existant on this album. I'm excited for Demi, and hope for much more in the same vein as "Behind Enemy Lines." It is a very original, artsy, and creative direction.
I also hope for a duet between her and Selena, but I digress.
This edition also has a DVD. The best parts here are her singing "Don't Forget" live, almost crying, channeling the inspiration of the song perhaps too well (although still breathing full life into the song.), as well as scenes of her being driven to a show, shouting out the window, waving at fans who don't at first recognize her. It is the most candid part of the set, and is very pleasant and satisfying. It is hard to believe when Demi first started concerts last year, she was just another up-and-coming talent hoping for recognition. Now she shines brightly.
I also picked up a copy of "Hannah Montana The Movie" soundtrack, but perhaps I will review that tomorrow (spoiler: it is not Miley's best, though certainly not bad.)
And so much has happened!
First off, Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr together at Radio City! As part of a charity show for teaching children Trancendental Meditation (an, er, interesting cause), Paul and Ringo appeared in their own sets, plus an encore together! During this encore, they did "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Cosmically Conscious" (a Paul song from 1968, which he recorded solo in 1993), and "I Saw Her Standing There." Paul and Ringo had last appeared on stage in 2003 for the George Harrison tribute concert. Look up this show on youtube.
Miley Cyrus is working hard to promote the "Hannah Montana" movie. She is on the radio, on daytime talk shows, on late shows, singing "The Climb", doing interviews, and making sure you see her movie out this Friday (in America, anyway.) I hope to see it with my friend Chris, and some lady friends of his.
Miley's song "Butterfly Fly Away" will see a re-release tomorrow on Billy Ray's "Back To Tennesee" album, promising an extended version of the beautiful duet (I assume Billy Ray will take on some solo vocals on this version.)
Selena Gomez has returned to the continental US after spending an extended period in Puerto Rico with her castmates working on the "Wizards Of Waverly Place" TV movie. But before we get too excited by that, she will star alongside old pal Demi Lovato in "Princess Protection Program" due on TV soon. Looks interesting, especially to see the two friends on screen together for the first time since Barney.
Speaking of Demi, I purchased her "Don't Forget" album, in the deluxe format. The album was very good. It had a heavy pop-rock feel, with crunchy guitars on "La La Land" (which, by the way, may very well have been called Hollywood Land, 'cept for the fact that it might clash with the fact that her record label is Hollywood.) Demi's voice is in top form, more trained and powerful than on her demos. The production of the album works well too, giving it some glisten, but without sterilzing it. Aside from strings, and the dynamics of the arrangemnts, all of this album could be recreated on stage (well, even the dynamics could, I guess. It would be pretty clever and tricky, though)
The singles are great. "Get Back" is kind of cocky, kind of desperate, and very catchy. Demi wants to "get back" with and old flame, and with the guitars blazing, plus some buried keyboards creating a bed of sound for the quieter moments, it is a kickin' song. "La La Land" is defiant, as Demi claims she won't be changed by her stardom. It is cleverly written and performed, with the lines "Well, some may say I need to be afraid /Of losing everything /Because of where I /Had my start and where I made my name ", a thinly veiled reference to her beginnings on Disney (not more than a few months past.) "Don't Forget" is a very simple song, its' arrangement calling to mind the JoBro's "Lovebug." However, Demi's is even more subtle, after breakining into a full rock peak, it comes back with strings, and then piano, with effects making it sound as though Demi is coming off a crackly vinyl.
Some of the slower songs don't do as much for me as the more rock ones, while "Party" is a bit of confusing one. It calls to mind Led Zeppelin with the riff, but I thought Demi was uncharacteristically tame. "Two Worlds Collide" has a great, sweeping melody. Overall, the album is tops.
The new tracks are "Lo Que Soy" (the acoustic "This Is Me" with spanish lyrics) and "Behind Enemy Lines." This song was probably left off the original album because it is very different. But we should get used to it, as Demi has said on TV that it is the direction she will be going on as she continues her music (despite not having started at the time, the ambitous Demi said back in February that she hoped to have an album out in the summer/fall.) The song is very jazzy, with her vocals up close in front of a bluesy arrangement. She seems to channel her hero, John Mayer, whose influence on her is otherwise non-existant on this album. I'm excited for Demi, and hope for much more in the same vein as "Behind Enemy Lines." It is a very original, artsy, and creative direction.
I also hope for a duet between her and Selena, but I digress.
This edition also has a DVD. The best parts here are her singing "Don't Forget" live, almost crying, channeling the inspiration of the song perhaps too well (although still breathing full life into the song.), as well as scenes of her being driven to a show, shouting out the window, waving at fans who don't at first recognize her. It is the most candid part of the set, and is very pleasant and satisfying. It is hard to believe when Demi first started concerts last year, she was just another up-and-coming talent hoping for recognition. Now she shines brightly.
I also picked up a copy of "Hannah Montana The Movie" soundtrack, but perhaps I will review that tomorrow (spoiler: it is not Miley's best, though certainly not bad.)
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