Smooth Criminal - Awesome

War at War with PepsiCo?

The AP reports:

Members of the original funk band War say they can't be friends with PepsiCo.

They're suing the soft drink maker for more than $10 million, saying it did not negotiate with them to use their song "Why Can't We Be Friends" in a new commercial.

Here's what the fuss is about:




I think they've got a legitimate beef.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles, some of the group's original members and a relative said they learned the 1975 hit was in the ad for Pepsi MAX only when the commercials launched in July.

But PepsiCo fired back.

PepsiCo said in a statement it believes the lawsuit has no merit.

"Pepsi has a long history of partnering with iconic celebrities and musicians and we value our relationship with the music and entertainment industry," the company, based in Purchase, N.Y., said in a statement Thursday.

BUT, did they clear this with the artists? Their attorney Ken Freundlich noted: "Pepsi is selling its billion-dollar brand based on their voices and they have to pay for it." That seems reasonable to me. But while there at it, maybe the group should sue THIS guy, too!




But definitely not these cuties!!

Adam Lambert and Gay Panic

It appears that American Idol voters were suffering from gay panic. What's up with that? Kris Allen is good, and very cute, but Adam Lambert has much more star appeal. I only watched the show a few times this season, but it seemed clear that Adam deserved to win.

So hey AI voters ... when are you going to let the gay guy win?

John Lennon: I Never Really Knew Him

Walk into any book store and you will see shelves of books about famous people. I once thought I might write one about John Lennon and title it: "John Lennon: I Never Really Knew Him". If I had, it might be part of a new museum collection on John Lennon soon to open in NYC.

...“John Lennon: The New York City Years,” [is] an exhibition of memorabilia that opens on Tuesday and provides a glimpse of the nine years he lived in the city, from 1971 until his death in 1980. The show offers a good overview of his creative world, with examples of his art (drawings and collages, some never seen before), video clips of his performances and, most crucially, a collection of lyric sheets and production notes that, if you look closely at Lennon’s changes, additions and annotations, tell a lot about his working methods and his ways of thinking about music.

A display case along one wall in the museum’s large exhibition room holds the white New York City T-shirt, the rhinestone Elvis pin and other items of clothing he wore in famous photographs (with the photographs beside them). Another includes letters, documents and newspaper clippings about his fight to avoid deportation, ostensibly because of a drug conviction in Britain (but really, Lennon always believed, because the United States government found his peace campaigning and political engagement irritating).

Four large video screens play music clips and experimental films. And five cases in the middle of the room present songwriting memorabilia, including handwritten manuscripts for “Imagine” (on New York Hilton note paper), “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” (with cross-outs and lyric changes) and about a dozen others, as well as picture sleeves from a few of Lennon’s singles and the Grammy he won, posthumously, for “Double Fantasy,” in 1981.

John was my absolute favorite Beatle. From the moment I first watched the group perform on The Ed Sullivan Show I was hooked. I wanted to BE John Lennon.

I might just need to take a train ride to the city.

Let's Dance!

For Your Morning Commute

Susan Boyle: You Go Grrl

~ click image to play video ~
Overnight sensation Susan Boyle. You Tube videos of her performance have been watched by millions. Oprah has come calling. How exciting for a 47 year-old who says she's "never been kissed."

Talent and the kiss of luck belong to Susan Boyle ... you go grrl!

No time for blogging today ...

Dr. Zaius, this was for you!

Flash way way back

That Old Black Magic - Louis Prima & Keely Smith


Sing Sing Sing - Gene Krupa & Benny Goodman


An amazing drum solo - by a 12 year old

Defenders of Marriage

I just saw this at Nailing Jello to the Wall and was reminded how much I like Roy Zimmerman. He performed this favorite (below) in a program I helped produce last year, that was shown in 37 theaters nationwide.

Holiday Music

Relient K ~ Sleigh Ride

Vatican forgives John Lennon for Jesus quip

WHO CARES? I certainly don't.

John Lennon made a valid point when he compared the popularity of religion versus the popularity of The Beatles at the peak of their musical career. It seems a safe bet to say that The Beatles were more popular than religion with kids in England, and around the world.

"Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. ... I don't know what will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. We're more popular than Jesus now. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."

He later said:

"I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I would have got away with it, but I just happened to be talking to a journalist friend (Maureen Cleave), and I used the words "Beatles" as a remote thing, not as what I think — as Beatles, as those other Beatles like other people see us. I just said "they" are having more influence on kids and things than anything else, including Jesus. But I said it in that way which is the wrong way."

Reporter: Some teenagers have repeated your statements — "I like The Beatles more than Jesus Christ." What do you think about that?

Lennon: "Well, originally I pointed out that fact in reference to England. That we meant more to kids than Jesus did, or religion at that time. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down. I was just saying it as a fact and it's true more for England than here. I'm not saying that we're better or greater, or comparing us with Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing or whatever it is. I just said what I said and it was wrong. Or it was taken wrong. And now it's all this."

The comment caused a stir among some religious leaders in the United States. Albums were burned, and some parents refused to let their kids attend a Beatles concert. I was 13 at the time and it didn't seem like such a big deal to me.

It actually seems like a bigger deal that the Vatican has decided to make a statement about it today! Is it a moved designed to try and bring Baby Boomers back into the fold? Is the Vatican simply trying to get attention, and if so why? I'd be curious to know what my good friend Fran at Fran I Am thinks.

What do you think is the motivation behind this? Inquiring minds want to know.

Music Break

"Mercy" by Duffy from her CD "Rockferry"

I bought this a few months ago because of DCup at Politits. She posted the video and I fell in love with this song. The entire CD is great!

Music Break

Everyone seems to be dealing with a lot these days, and mostly because of the current administration. And it doesn't help that next crop of Republicans are more of the same. So this song is dedicated to them.


I love this mix of Amy Winehouse and Linda Ronstadt. Ronstadt was just honored tonight by the National Council of La Raza. She has one of the best voices ever!

Music Break

Heather Small - "Proud"


Ru Paul - "Supermodel"


Geri Halliwell - "It's Raining Men"

Saturday Morning Music Break

Music Break

For Ms. Gregarious ...

... because non-violence isn't always the answer?

The minute I saw this I immediately thought of Germaine Gregarious and The Nefarious Lair of LGPPP, Inc.

Enjoy!


h/t to Katie at all the way from oy to vey

Sunday Night Song

h/t to SueJ for reminding me how much I love this song.

For a friend ...