No one benefited from the disco explosion more than Donna Summer. A Boston-bred singer/actress who found herself performing in Germany, she hooked up with European producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and proceeded to light up the latter half of the Seventies with a thunderous voice and a collection of hits that traversed a wider musical terrain than many folks give her credit for. Beginning her run of hits with some funk-laden erotic cooing on the Barry White-esque “Love To […]
Posts tagged "Michael Jackson"
Reading Is Fundamental: “My Friend Michael” by Frank Cascio
Books / Michael Jackson / music / news / pop culture / Pop Music / Reading is Fundamental / soul music
Although Michael Jackson was well-known throughout his career for his association with children (and you can take that any way you want to), what’s been interesting is the fact that none of his young friends have gone the tell-all book route, whether during his lifetime or in the 2 1/2 years since his death. Well, if any of MJ’s friends is qualified to write a book about the pop star, it would probably be Frank Cascio. Also known as Frank […]
Reading Is Fundamental: A Preview of Frank Cascio’s “My Friend Michael”
The name Frank Cascio might not be immediately familiar to you unless you’re a Michael Jackson fan, but if you are, like me, a major KOP obsessive, then that name will immediately ring a bell. Cascio was MJ’s personal assistant and right hand man for well over a decade until his tragic 2009 death. Frank met Michael when he was barely out of diapers, and the two formed a lasting, close friendship that withstood all of the drama that entered […]
Blerd Briefs: The Black Keys, The Roots, Dr. Murray & Have Faith For George
Blerd Briefs / hip-hop / Michael Jackson / New Releases / news / pop culture / rock music / soul music
After being found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced yesterday. The disgraced doctor will receive four years in prison, which will likely be reduced to a few months in county jail due to prison overcrowding in California. I’ve resisted discussing this in any sort of detail so far just because I’m torn about whether his conviction or sentencing was appropriate. At the end of the day, whether Michael Jackson was a drug […]
Spin Cycle: Michael Jackson’s “Immortal”
Cirque Du Soleil and the Estate of Michael Jackson have collaborated to produce the show “MJ Immortal”. Mike D. takes a listen to the soundtrack, which features some clever reimagining of the King of Pop’s biggest hits.
New Release Report 11/21/11: Super Regal Monday
Rihanna, Nickelback, Daughtry, Mary J. Blige and Michael Jackson…a HUGE week for new releases. Click for the full list.
Reading Is Fundamental: A Michael Jackson Double Feature
Two recent books celebrate the life and music of the King of Pop. But are they worth buying? We investigate.
Blerd Briefs: Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson & The Black Keys
Blerd Briefs / Michael Jackson / music / New Releases / Pop Music / rock music / soul music / Videos
When Amy Winehouse passed away last summer, there was a bit of a question as to whether there was enough material left behind to create a posthumous album. Well, you’ve now got your answer. Lioness: Hidden Treasures will be released on December 5th, and will contain 12 tracks of unreleased material in the form of “new” original songs, demos and alternate versions of previously unreleased songs. According to Universal, Amy’s label, the album is “a collection of songs that were […]
Duet or Don’t, Volume 1: The Wonder of Michael
Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder were Motown prodigies who went on to become Grammy-winning behemoths. Mike Duquette takes a look at their collaborations in the first volume of “Duet or Don’t”!
Spin Cycle: Patrick Stump’s “Soul Punk”
Has it already been half a decade since Fall Out Boy was a thing? Despite initial reservations about digging something that was clearly not targeted to my age demo, I found myself liking these guys quite a bit during their glory period, and that had a lot to do with lead singer Patrick Stump. Although bassist Pete Wentz was the public face (and other body parts) of the band, and wrote much of the band’s material, something told me there […]
The Blerd Playlist: “I Feel The Earth Move (Songs For Earthquakes)”
As most of you know, the East Coast was rocked today by a seismic, 5.8 earthquake that caused chairs to fall over, cats to become briefly startled, and a rash of hasty, terrified status updates. As most of the Blerd staff is located in the Northeast – with the exception of our Californian contributors, who regard earthquakes with the same concern as a hearty fart – we were notably shaken by this disaster. In remembrance of those who were lost […]