C'mon People Now

 This has been an incredibly trying month for screenwriters, actors, and all the important (and nearly invisible) people who keep costumes cleaned, lighting and sound just right, fresh flowers in vases, candy dishes refilled, schedule keepers, and deadline meeters.

It hasn’t been much easier for folks in the music industry.

Appearing on the broody “Blue-eyed soul” music scene in 2017 with his independently released single “Bruises,” Irish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi became the first artist to sell out an arena tour before the release of an album. In 2019, “Someone you loved” became the breakthrough single that charted in 29 countries. The song reached #1 on Billboard Hot 100s, making him the first Scottish solo artist to top the US charts since Sheena Easton in 1981. Capaldi achieved 4 more #1 hits before announcing he would be taking an extended, indefinite break from touring due to a recent diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome, a debilitating bout of which led to adoring concertgoers finishing his performance for him last month at the Glastonbury Festival.

Country music star Jason Aldean is no stranger to controversy. But he is a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in American history in 2017 at the Las Vegas Route 91 Music Harvest Festival. Aldean was performing onstage when the shooting began, and like most everyone else, he thought the sounds he heard were fireworks signaling the end of the concert. The 3-time winner of the ACM Entertainer of the Year award (2016-2018) is now being chastised for his latest release, “Try That in a Small Town” (lead single from his upcoming 11^th album). In fact, CMT removed the music video from rotation; while the AMA played pre-recorded footage of Aldean performing, ABC refused to show the video for the CMA Fest. Meanwhile, Billboard reports record plays. Apparently, honest response and references to actual news footage of crimes and violence on American streets makes Aldean an inciter of vigilantism, a promoter of violence. He should know better, they say. He’s probably racist, they quip. Eye-roll.  

And just yesterday, the music world lost another icon. At 95 years old, Tony Bennett made the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to release an album of new material.  Among the American jazz and Pop singer’s many accolades were 20 Grammy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Do you have a favorite artist or thoughts you'd like to share?

BOTB July 2023 Battle Results

 

Contenders and votes for this month's "Memphis" themed battle are:

"Memphis"  Johnny Rivers - 3 votes

"Walking in Memphis"  Marc Cohn - 4 + 1 = 5 votes

Not exactly the outcome I expected, but I'll take it! 

Here's a little duel to get us in the mood for August:

And the pleasing sounds of strings - and rain. Because we could use some ;-)

Thanks, everyone! See you next month ;-)

BOTB July 2023 The Memphis Sound

 

The Battle of The Bands (BOTB) is your basic Which-do-you-like-best contest, where the one that gets the most votes wins. All you have to do is show up (the 1^st and/or 15^th of every month), give a listen and cast your vote in the comment section. Votes will be tallied and the winner revealed on or about 8 days later.

Hi again, everyone!

Move over, Werthers; there’s a new treat in town! According to emcee McC, who passed the suggestion on from his Brother the Judge, Al Bondigas, Mango Ginger Chews are the snacks to chow – and it’s healthy for you too!

It took a while for the song “Summer Rain” to quit strolling around in my mind! Now that I’m over the initial shock of last month’s Johnny Rivers blowout battle against The Motels, I’ve decided to see how well he’ll do in a Memphis-themed contest.

Did anyone know there’s a Memphis in Egypt? Something new every day. Memphis, TN., is also a five-time winner of the nation’s cleanest city award.

First up is actually a cover (of a Chuck Berry) song that, charting at #2 in America, spawned a live album called “Johnny Rivers at the Whiskey a Go Go,” with “Memphis” as a single that effectively launched his career.

Marc Cohn wrote this next one himself after an unremarkable visit to Graceland. A weathered sign along Highway 61 that read “Hollywood” led him to a small diner/music joint called “The Hollywood Café,” where a lady played piano in a corner and sang songs in a smoked-honey voice that brought him to the heart of what he'd been walking around looking for.

There you have it, folks! Which do you like best? And how come? Let me know in the comment section below. Oh! And, before you go, hop around and see the rest of today’s battles (participating sites are located in the top right sidebar of this page)

I’m likely on the road as you read this, but no worries. My destination is only half a day away, so I’ll check back in real soon!