Critics Slam Taylor Swift's Comeback Single (VIDEO)

Ms. Taylor's really not my generation of music, so I asked my oldest son what he thought of her new song. He said he hadn't listened to it yet, and that in fact he was avoiding the news and the criticism, because he didn't want to be brought down and polluted by the haters, in so many words.

In any case, at USA Today, "Some of the most ruthless digs on #LookWhatYouMadeMeDo (and there were a lot to choose from)."

Glen Campbell, of 'Rhinestone Cowboy' Fame, Dead at 81

At LAT, "Glen Campbell dies at 81; country-pop singer battled Alzheimer's."

Also, "'A shining light in so many ways': Music world remembers country-pop great Glen Campbell":

As news of the death of Glen Campbell spread, celebrities of all kinds took to the Internet to express their grief over the loss of the country music legend, who died Tuesday at 81.

"Had Glen Campbell 'only' played guitar and never voiced a note, he would have spent a lifetime as one of America’s most consequential recording musicians," Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, said in a statement.

"Had he never played guitar and 'only' sung, his voice would rank with American music’s most riveting, expressive, and enduring," Young added. "He left indelible marks as a musician, a singer, and an entertainer, and he bravely shared his incalculable talent with adoring audiences even as he fought a cruel and dread disease. To all of us who heard and loved his soulful music, he was a delight."

Others shared similar sentiments about the singer, songwriter, musician, television host and actor...

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'Something Just Like This'

Hearing this on satellite radio yesterday, driving back from Studio City after visiting with my mom, who turned 82 last Thursday, and my sister's family.

'Lust for Life'

It's Lana Del Rey, featuring The Weeknd.

My son just digs Ms. Lana. He's going to take me to one of her concerts, heh.

'I'm Bored'

It was the funniest thing: Early this morning, checking Twitter, I see this NBC fake news piece in my feed, "Former Soviet Counter Intelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer," and then all of a sudden I start singing Iggy Pop's "I'm Bored" in my head, lol.

That's a safe link at Memeorandum. No need to give the idiots at NBC any traffic from my blog.

I'm really bored with the Russia fake news story.

In any case, "I'm Bored" appeared as Track 4, on Side 1, of Iggy's 1979 album "New Values." I saw him in concert at least twice, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and at the Hollywood Palladium. He's everything that you've ever heard about him. I think some of his teeth were knocked out at the time. So fun.

New Album from Breakout Los Angeles Stars Haim

This is great.

They harken back to classic rock sounds, and it's all girls, heh.

At the Los Angeles Times, "Review: New album from L.A. breakout stars Haim makes you believe rock might have a future":

In the music video for “Want You Back,” the lead single from their long-awaited new album, the three sisters of Haim saunter down a deserted Ventura Boulevard, air-drumming as they pass the sushi joints and car dealerships of their native San Fernando Valley.

The video’s early morning shoot may have been the most alone time they’ve enjoyed since 2013. That’s when Haim released its hit debut, “Days Are Gone,” which after years of hard work around Los Angeles finally launched this crafty family band to stardom — and to highly visible relationships with a diverse array of pop luminaries.

Taylor Swift befriended the sisters and took them on tour. Calvin Harris put them on a thumping EDM track. Morris Day even recruited the trio to help him perform “Jungle Love” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Everywhere you turned, Haim was the life of someone’s party.

Now the group is back with “Something to Tell You,” which features contributions by what seems like half of L.A.’s musical community, including producers Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij and first-call instrumentalists such as Greg Leisz and Lenny Castro.

For all the voices in the mix, though, “Something to Tell You,” due Friday, still feels defined by the unique bond that connects singer-guitarist Danielle Haim, bassist Este Haim and guitarist-keyboardist Alana Haim, who grew up playing music in a family band with their parents. The record makes you believe in the image in the “Want You Back” video of three women sharing a vivid private language.

It also makes you believe that rock might have a future (even if it’s only the genre’s past). On “Days Are Gone,” Haim looked back to the polished sound of vintage Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles, and here the sisters continue to rely on guitars and the like at a moment when many of their peers have little use for them...

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'When Will I See You Again'

I was driving around in my wife's Jeep Liberty this morning, fitted with satellite radio, which I pretty much leave on the "'70s on 7" while I'm in there, heh.

And today I realized how much I love this old song, "When Will I See You Again." It's the Three Degrees, with great vocals.

Enjoy!

'See that girl, watch that scene. Dig in the dancing queen...'

I haven't been listening to the Sound L.A. so much this last couple of weeks. My routine's off, or something.

So, until I get back my mojo, here's Abba and "Dancing Queen": "The music video on YouTube has more than 160 million views as of March 10, 2017."

That's because it's wonderful!

You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl
Watch that scene
Dig in the dancing queen

Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music
Everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl
Watch that scene
Dig in the dancing queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave 'em burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another
Anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
See that girl
Watch that scene
Dig in the dancing queen
Dig in the dancing queen

'Turn The Beat Around'

Miami Sound Machine aluma, Gloria Estefan:

Time Won't Let Me

From yesterday morning's Egg McMuffin run, at the Sound L.A.

It's the Outsiders, a "garage rock" band who went to #5 on the Billboard chart with this song.

Enjoy!

More blogging tonight.

See See Rider
The Animals
10:41 AM

Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley
10:35 AM

Me and You and a Dog Named Boo
Lobo
10:31 AM

Born To Be Wild
Steppenwolf
10:28 AM

Thank You for Being a Friend
Andrew Gold
10:23 AM

Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
Carole King
10:19 AM

Time Won't Let Me
The Outsiders
10:11 AM

Gemini Dream
The Moody Blues
10:07 AM

You've Made Me So Very Happy
Blood, Sweat & Tears
10:02 AM

'Listen children all is not lost, all is not lost. Oh no, no...'

CNN's going to run the Chicago documentary on January 1st. I keep seeing the ads for it, "CHICAGO’S AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY NOW MORE THAN EVER: THE HISTORY OF CHICAGO PREMIERES ON CNN ON JANUARY 1."

As noted at Wikipedia:

Second only to The Beach Boys in Billboard singles and albums chart success among American bands, Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups, and one of the world's best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.

According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading US singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 40 million units in the US, with 23 gold, 18 platinum, and 8 multi-platinum albums. Over the course of their career they have had five number-one albums and 21 top-ten singles. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8, 2016 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York...

"Saturday in the Park" is one of my favorite all-time songs. I don't listen to it enough, come to think of it.

'We've Only Just Begun'

A cover of the Carpenters, from Bat for Lashes:

'Starboy'

Is there any wonder why youth culture's so crass nowadays?

I mean, I actually like the song, but the chorus goes, "I'ma mother-fuckin' starboy..."

Such casual profanity. But I guess it's pretty much always been like that, when you think about it. At least since the 1960s. Once you get away from prime-time television, and such, profanity is de rigueur.

Viewer caution on the opening scene at the video, which is pretty intense, considering it's pop music.

And see the Vigilant Citizen, "The Occult Meaning of the Weeknd’s “Starboy”."

Also, at the Bustle, "What Does the Weeknd's 'Starboy' Music Video Mean? There Are a Lot of Images to Comb Through — VIDEO."

'Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul. I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away...'

I actually heard this one on K-EARTH 101 a week or so back. I think my son was driving the van and I didn't even notice he'd flipped the digital dial. K-EARTH plays a lot of 1980s "new romantic," like Duran Duran and A Flock of Seagulls, which while nice, probably wears after one or two listenings.

Not so with Dobie Gray. I could listen to him over and over again. I remember first hearing this song in 1972 on the radio when I was just 11-years-old. So beautiful --- and spiritual. I could never forget it.

And the song's author just passed away a few days ago, coincidentally and strangely, considering I'm just paying attention this. See Billboard, "Mentor Williams, Writer of Dobie Gray's 'Drift Away,' Dies at 70."

'Spread your tiny wings and fly away...'

I listened to Elvis Presley's cover of "Snowbird" yesterday on satellite radio.

It's Anne Murray, however, who had the biggest hit with the song.

Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean
The unborn grass lies waiting
For its coat to turn to green
The snowbird sings the song he always sings
And speaks to me of flowers
That will bloom again in spring

When I was young my heart was young then too
Anything that it would tell me
That's the thing that I would do
But now I feel such emptiness within
For the thing that I want most in life's
The thing thing that I can't win

Spread your tiny wings and fly away
And take the snow back with you
Where it came from on that day
The one I love forever is untrue
And if I could you know that I would
Fly away with you

The breeze along the river seems to say
That he'll only break me heart again
Should I decide to stay
So little snowbird take me with you
When you go
To that land of gentle breezes
Where the peaceful waters flow

Spread your tiny wings and fly away
And take the snow back with you
Where it came from on that day
The one I love forever is untrue
And if I could you know that I would
Fly away with you

Blink 182 Recreates 'What's My Age Again?' (VIDEO)

At the Independent U.K., "Blink 182 recreate 'What's My Age Again?' music video with naked women for new single 'She's Out Of Her Mind'."

'Go Your Own Way'

On the Sound L.A., a little while ago, while dropping my kid off at school.

Fleetwood Mac:

Bad Company
Bad Company
8:33 AM

Let It Be
The Beatles
8:27 AM

Rock the Casbah
The Clash
8:24 AM

Barracuda
Heart
8:19 AM

Lonely Is the Night
Billy Squier
8:03 AM

No More Mr. Nice Guy
Alice Cooper
8:00 AM

Don't Stop Believin'
Journey
7:56 AM

Misty Mountain Hop
Led Zeppelin
7:51 AM

Under My Thumb
The Rolling Stones
7:38 AM

Somebody's Baby
Jackson Browne
7:34 AM

Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
7:30 AM

Rag Doll
Aerosmith
7:26 AM

Lady Gaga at the Bitter End Nightclub (VIDEO)

Following-up, "Deal of the Day: New Lady Gaga Album: $3.99."

At CBS News 2 New York:

REVIEW: Electric Light Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl (VIDEO)

Well, ELO lit up the place.

I can't remember reading a more enthusiastic music review, at least not recently.

From Randall Roberts, at LAT, "Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra makes flawless landing in Hollywood Bowl debut."

I would've loved to have been there. A real orchestra backing up Jeff Lynne and his band. What a treat:

Given the breathtaking melodies and arrangements propelling Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday night, it’s a wonder that the venue’s stage and shell didn’t blast off into the cosmos as the concert was ending.

Performing the first of three consecutive nights in a long-overdue appearance at the Bowl, the singer, songwriter, producer and pop-polisher Lynne and a dynamic backing band teamed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to play songs from another symphony, the Electric Light.

ELO’s exquisitely produced, aerodynamic hits, including “Evil Woman,” “All Over the World” and “Don’t Bring Me Down,” ignited FM radio throughout the 1970s and early ‘80s, soaring through arenas and into a generation’s collective memory.

The result four decades later was a dazzling concert that seemed beamed from another galaxy. Under the direction of conductor Thomas Wilkins, the Bowl Orchestra added a monumental depth to “Living Thing,” and made the disco strings on “Shine a Little Love” swirl with a wild physicality. When original ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy’s robot-synthesized voice saluted “Mr. Blue Sky” during the jubilant curio of the same name, the crowd might have been “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” witnesses watching a spaceship land.

Fans have seemingly been waiting light years for Lynne to return to his classics. Proof? How the sold-out crowd, during a roaring version of Lynne’s ode to longing “Turn to Stone,” bellowed word-for-word that classic, double-time vocal break: “Yes I’m turning to stone ’cause you ain’t coming home/ Why ain’t you coming home if I’m turning to stone? /You’ve been gone for so long and I can’t carry on/ Yes I’m turning, I’m turning, I’m turning to stone.”

That instrument-free refrain only lasted a few bars, but when the music — electric and acoustic guitars, synthesizers, sheets of strings and a backing track adding layers of studio effects — returned, it did so with a blast that likely echoed across the Hollywood basin.

Donning his omnipresent sunglasses and the same wavy mop-top he’s worn since the mid-1970s, Lynne between songs seemed overwhelmed by the attention, as if he hadn’t fully grasped the continued magnetism of his best work.

That’s understandable. Lynne, 68, attempted to resurrect ELO for a tour about 15 years ago, but interest had so waned that he scrapped the whole thing. Since then he’s focused on producing, all the while watching a new generation of fans latch on to his exquisitely crafted work. This time around, the tours are selling out.

Friday illustrated why. An effervescent celebration from a marvelous creator, the concert affirmed what critics at the time only begrudgingly acknowledged: that Lynne’s way with songcraft, arranging and production was a singular achievement. It’s no accident Lynne titled this round of dates the “Alone in the Universe” tour...

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'You've got the music in you...'

I had this song on the brain the other day for some reason, and then it came on the satellite radio out of nowhere.

The New Radicals, "You Get What You Give."

Health insurance, rip-off lying
FDA, big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining
Cloning while they're multiplying
Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson,
Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson
You're all fakes , run to your mansions
Come around, we'll kick your ass in...