Page 1053 – That Eric Alper

Lady Gaga Releases “Disease,” First Single From Her Forthcoming Album, Due February 2025

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 25, 2024

Lady Gaga Releases “Disease,” First Single From Her Forthcoming Album, Due February 2025

13-time Grammy Award-winner Lady Gaga today released “DISEASE,” the first single from her forthcoming album (affectionately dubbed LG7), due Spring 2025. Stream/download “DISEASE” HERE. Watch the accompanying lyric video HERE.

Marking her highly anticipated return to pop, LG7 will follow the release of Harlequin, a concept album that serves as a companion piece to the film Joker: Folie à Deux. Harlequin—which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Jazz chart and in the top 20 on the Billboard 200—was praised by critics including ROLLING STONE, who described it as “[a] luxuriant album of jazzy swing, mostly standards, right in her sweet spot,” while THE NEW YORK TIMES remarked that “Gaga can, of course, nail a theatrical tune like this in her sleep, but she brings a fresh energy to ‘The Joker’ by giving it a kind of rock operatic arrangement, complete with electric guitar and a punkish growl in her voice,” with USA TODAY calling it “easily one of her finest moments on record,” noting that “it is impossible to hear Harlequin and have nothing but increased respect for the singer/actress.”

Lady Gaga continues to reign on the Billboard Global 200 with her smash hit “Die With a Smile,” which has topped the chart for eight consecutive weeks, making it the longest-running #1 on the Global 200 this year. The song has amassed 1.06 billion all time global streams across DSPs since its release. Currently the #3 most-listened-to artist in the world on Spotify (and one of only five artists in history to reach over 100 million monthly listeners), Lady Gaga’s other 2024 projects include her collaboration with The Rolling Stones on “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” and the concert film GAGA: CHROMATICA BALL, both of which earned critical acclaim upon release.

Brenda Lee’s Iconic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Released in Spanish with Help from Soundlabs AI’s MicDrop Technology

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 25, 2024

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Brenda Lee’s Iconic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Released in Spanish with Help from Soundlabs AI’s MicDrop Technology

Brenda Lee’s iconic holiday hit, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” first recorded 66 years ago, has been released today in Spanish for the first time, thanks to an innovative use of responsibly-trained AI technology.

Last holiday season, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was the No. 1 song in the U.S. for three weeks, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart more than half a century after it was recorded and released in 1958, by the then 13-year-old star.

“Noche Buena y Navidad” was refreshed under the production of acclaimed four-time Latin GRAMMY Award-winning producer, Auero Baqueiro, keeping the original music and background vocals while replacing Lee’s original lead vocals with a newly translated Spanish language vocal, created using a new AI vocal model, derived from her voice that has been fully approved by Lee.

The result is a new version of the familiar and cherished holiday classic that sounds as if 13-year-old Brenda Lee was in the booth, singing it for the first time.

The track’s new vocal was created with the help of SoundLabs AI’s MicDrop, a cutting-edge AI audio plug-in which allows a user to transform their voice into another voice or instrument. In partnership with UMG, SoundLabs is creating official ultra-high fidelity vocal models for artists, using their own voice data for training while giving them full artistic approval and control of the output.

Earlier this year, Universal Music Group (UMG) entered into a groundbreaking strategic partnership with SoundLabs, an innovative new AI technology company founded by GRAMMY-nominated producer, composer, software developer, and electronic artist BT.

“Noche Buena y Navidad” is the first collaboration with a UMG artist to be released and marks the first time that a music company has used ethically trained AI to release a new language version of a classic song, created responsibly with the artist’s involvement and authorization.

“I am so blown away by this new Spanish version of ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,’ which was created with the help of AI,” says Brenda Lee. “Throughout my career, I performed and recorded many songs in different languages, but I never recorded ‘Rockin’’ in Spanish, which I would have loved to do. To have this out now is pretty incredible and I’m happy to introduce the song to fans in a new way.”

“We are thrilled to work with Brenda Lee to making ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ the first classic song translated responsibly into another language with the power of AI, says UMe President & CEO, Bruce Resnikoff. “We are also very excited about the possibilities of this emerging technology and look forward to harnessing its capabilities to introduce new material created by and approved by our artists.”

“The minute you hear Brenda Lee’s iconic voice on ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ you know it’s the official start of Christmas,” says UMG Nashville Chair & CEO, Cindy Mabe. “The global hits has touched people all over the world and kept this young 13-year-old spirit of Christmas captured in a time capsule. We are all so excited for this new Spanish version created with the help of AI from that legendary voice and approved by Brenda Lee herself to help celebrate this enduring, timeless classic.”

This past summer, UMe, the global catalog division of UMG, proposed the idea of creating “Noche Buena y Navidad” to Lee for release for the holidays. As the legendary Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer enjoyed singing her songs in different languages throughout her illustrious seven-decade career, including French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, Lee provisionally approved the request. She approved its release upon hearing it and marveling at how authentic it sounds.

The process was much more involved than one might realize and featured a team of accomplished music professionals from across the spectrum to bring the idea to life. Four-time Latin GRAMMY-winning producer and songwriter, Auero Baqueiro, was enlisted to help produce “Noche Buena y Navidad.” His first step was to adapt the lyrics from English to Spanish, making sure to capture the essence of the original but also ensuring that the lyrics, phonetics and rhyming structure felt natural to the Spanish language. Leyla Hoyle, a Chilean born, LA-based Latin vocalist was then brought in to sing the vocals in Spanish while mimicking Lee’s unique vocal patterns – matching pitch, tone breaths and phrasings of the original recording.

Next, Baqueiro delivered the Spanish vocal stem to SoundLabs, who was provided hours of isolated vocal stems from Lee’s UMG archives to create a unique bespoke AI vocal model based on her voice, including the original version of “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which was recorded when she was 13 years old. Hoyle’s Spanish vocal was then put through the “Brenda Lee” vocal AI model (built leveraging the MicDrop technology), which modified the Spanish vocal to sound like Lee’s voice. Lastly, Baqueiro mixed the AI-created Spanish vocal back into the original music bed.

The result is the new Spanish version “Noche Buena y Navidad,” which harnesses the creative capabilities of ethical AI and demonstrates how AI can be used to expand the horizons of artistry while being respectful of artists and used with their full authorization.

“This project was a tremendously exciting showcase for MicDrop, our real-time voice-to-voice plugin,” says SoundLabs founder, BT. “Training a model based on the 13-year-old Brenda Lee, using original masters, was both a rewarding challenge and a creative breakthrough. We’re thrilled with how this technology breathes new life into a beloved Christmas classic, blending innovation with tradition in a truly human way.”

SoundLabs’ goals is to place powerful new compositional tools at artists’ fingertips, while supporting proper management of their intellectual property. SoundLabs was founded with a foundational respect for intellectual property rights and is focused on helping artists retain creative control over their data and models.

UMG supports bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress to protect individuals’ voice and visual likeness from unauthorized computer-generated recreations, using generative AI and other technologies, like deepfakes and voice/image clones. The bill, known as the “NO FAKES Act” (S. 4875 in the Senate and H.R. 9551 in the U.S. House of Representatives) has overwhelming support from a broad swath across the creative community. Recently, Brenda Lee joined hundreds of artists, songwriters, and other creators supporting the legislation in an open letter published by the Human Artistry Campaign, the global organization backing Responsible AI. More information is available at www.humanartistrycampaign.com/nofakesact

Brenda Lee signed with the legendary Decca Records label before her 12th birthday and went on to record such landmark hits as “Sweet Nothin’s,” “All Alone Am I,” “Break It To Me Gently” and “I’m Sorry.” Though she had success in multiple genres including rockabilly, pop and rock, Lee found her home in country music. Lee’s best-loved hit, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” celebrated its 65th anniversary last year and continues to top the charts year after year. Not only has Lee sold more than 100 million albums globally, throughout her career she shared stages and earned the respect of the world’s most revered performers. The Beatles opened for her and the lads from Liverpool became good friends with the Southern belle from Atlanta, and Elvis Presley and Lee made their Grand Ole Opry debut on the same night. Lee had nine consecutive top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits from 1960 to 1962 and set a record for a female solo artist that was unequaled until over two decades later. Lee churned out country hits such as “Sunday Sunrise” and “Big Four Poster Bed” and continued to have country hits into the 80s, including “I Love Her So,” a duet with George Jones. Lee was the first woman inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Fames and she is a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Her hit song “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA and reached 1 billion streams on Spotify. In November 2023, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time ever, 65 years after the song’s debut, and was at the top spot for three weeks. By hitting the No.1 spot, Lee broke several records, many of which were held by Mariah Carey and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” whom Lee beat out for the top. Lee claims just the third holiday No. 1 ever on the Hot 100. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” is also Lee’s third No. 1. She now holds the record for the longest gap between an artist’s first and most recent week at No.1 on the Hot 100, as her first No.1 was her single “I’m Sorry” in 1960. Lee and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” now also hold the record for the longest climb to the top of the Hot 100, as the Johnny Marks-written hit was released 65 years ago, when Lee was just 13 years old. Now, at 79-years-old, Lee is also the oldest woman to top the Hot 100, surpassing previous record-holders Cher (“Believe,” age 52) and Carey (“All I Want for Christmas is You,” age 53).

5 Surprising Facts About Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’

Eric Alper

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Oct 25, 2024

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5 Surprising Facts About Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’

Released in 2000, Radiohead’s Kid A has become a touchstone of modern music, not only for its ambitious sound but also for its surprising twists and innovations, a must-listen of an album and one of the greatest critically acclaimed records of all time. Here are five lesser-known facts about this genre-bending album still making waves for musicians and critics:

1. Origins in Burnout and Breakthroughs
After OK Computer, lead singer Thom Yorke experienced intense burnout, leading to a period of writer’s block and disillusionment with rock music. Yorke retreated to Cornwall, immersing himself in electronic music, which influenced Kid A‘s shift toward electronic and experimental sounds. This detachment from the traditional songwriting process fueled the album’s unique ambiance and Yorke’s abstract, impersonal lyrics.

2. Recording in a Tent Tour Across Europe
In a bold move to disconnect from corporate influence, Radiohead embarked on a European tour in a custom-built tent, free of logos and branding. The tent shows provided a raw experience for fans, presenting the new material live while dodging mainstream promotional avenues. This approach, combined with minimal interviews and no singles, created a mysterious aura around the album’s release.

3. Early Internet Promotion Pioneers
Rejecting traditional promotion like sending out advance copies to media, Radiohead embraced the internet in a groundbreaking way, sharing animated “blips” and teasers online. This avant-garde marketing strategy was a first for a major band and set a precedent for digital album rollouts. Although unconventional at the time, these online visuals helped Kid A capture the curiosity of a global audience, nearly 20 years before YouTube Shorts.

4. Hidden Meaning in the Artwork
Yorke and longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood created the album’s chilling artwork, inspired by the Kosovo War. The stark, jagged mountains in the cover art represent a looming sense of apocalypse, fueled by environmental concerns and societal unrest. The blood-red swimming pool on the spine symbolizes state-sanctioned violence and was inspired by Alan Moore’s graphic novel Brought to Light, underscoring the album’s dark themes.

5. An Influential “Anti-Rock” Statement
With its unusual instruments, like the ondes Martenot and synthesizers, and a heavy use of electronic effects, Kid A diverged from rock conventions. The album’s structure challenged fans’ expectations by omitting choruses and traditional song formats, even testing the band’s relationships. The bold experimental move divided listeners but ultimately won praise, with Kid A being hailed as one of the most influential albums of the 2000s.

In its break from convention, Kid A helped redefine what a rock album could be, blending genres and reshaping the music landscape. These lesser-known aspects of the album’s creation reveal just how radical Radiohead’s approach was at the turn of the millennium – the perfect album for the start of the new century.

The Dos for Future Real Estate License Applicants Taking Real Estate Classes

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 25, 2024

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By Mitch Rice

The fundamental knowledge and abilities needed to pass the real estate license exam and launch a lucrative real estate career are taught in real estate classes. Knowing the dos, however, is essential to getting the most out of these programs and improving your learning process. We will examine a brief guide on the dos of real estate classes for licensing candidates in this article.

Select the Appropriate Course Format for Real Estate Classes

When choosing in-person or online classes for real estate, consider your learning style and schedule. The online real estate class can be perfect for you if you are at ease with self-paced study. But if you learn best when you interact with people directly, think about taking real estate classes in person, where you can interact with classmates and teachers and ask questions. Selecting the appropriate course format offers several advantages that are critical to your long-term performance. Among the advantages are improved learning efficiency, cost-effectiveness, flexibility and convenience, motivation and engagement, improved information retention, and enhanced access to resources. Making the correct course format a priority is crucial if you want to lay hold of all these advantages. To find the ideal course format for you, you can look at this website.

Engage in Active Participation in Real Estate Classes

Whether enrolled in real estate agent schooling near me or real estate license school near me, it is imperative that you actively participate in class lectures and discussions with other future applicants. Ask questions, participate in conversations, and do not be afraid to ask for clarification on subjects that are difficult for you. This is due to the fact that active involvement offers long-term advantages that extend beyond the course material and simply earning your license. These advantages include, among other things, greater knowledge and retention, prompt answers to questions, better test preparation, the growth of critical thinking abilities, networking opportunities, and increased self-assurance in practical applications.

Make Thorough Notes

The secret to thriving in real estate classes is taking comprehensive notes. It facilitates improved retention, rapid exam preparation, a deeper comprehension of difficult subjects, enhanced study efficiency and organization, and a stronger basis for practical applications. But there are methods for taking thorough and efficient notes in real estate programs online as well as offline. Organizing your digital workspace, selecting the appropriate note-taking tool, employing a systematic note-taking technique, actively listening and summarizing important points, and underlining and marking important topics are all methods to use when attending online classes. By putting these tactics into practice, licensing candidates create the conditions for exceptional results in practical applications.

Final Conclusions

For every professional in the sector to succeed, real estate classes are vital. However, going into your studies with purpose and a plan is key if you want to do well in your real estate program and earn your license. License candidates lay the groundwork for a smooth and prosperous real estate career by carefully implementing the dos discussed in this article.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Shawn Mendes: For Friends and Family Only (A Live Concert Film) in Cinemas November 14

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 24, 2024

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Shawn Mendes: For Friends and Family Only (A Live Concert Film) in Cinemas November 14

Tickets are on sale now for Shawn Mendes: For Friends And Family Only (A Live Concert Film) coming to select cinemas worldwide on November 14 only.

Shawn Mendes: For Friends And Family Only (A Live Concert Film) is a one-night-only concert film event celebrating the debut of Shawn’s highly anticipated new album, Shawn. Available exclusively in cinemas, the film features a heartfelt performance of the self-titled album in its entirety – for the very first time. Filmed at the historic Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, Shawn treats the audience to more than just a concert as he shares personal stories and the inspiration behind each track from the album, giving fans an intimate look at the creative journey that shaped the music. The cinema events will provide an unforgettable opportunity to experience Shawn in a completely unique way before its official release date.

Inspired by Shawn’s travels and experiences over the past two years, Shawn is his most musically intimate and lyrically vulnerable album to date, guiding listeners through a profound self-dialogue with each song. Pre-order it HERE. Shawn’s latest singles, “Nobody Knows”, “Why Why Why” and “Isn’t That Enough” from the upcoming are all available now. Listen HERE.

GRAMMY-nominated & multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes was born in Toronto, ON and has released 4 acclaimed studio albums, with his 5th studio album Shawn due out in the Fall of 2024. His most recent album Wonder debuted as #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and in multiple worldwide markets, marking Shawn’s fourth straight #1 album. In 2019 Shawn was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” for “Señorita,” his hit single with Camila Cabello.

In 2018 he released his self-titled platinum album, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Chart as well as multiple worldwide markets. The album became one of the top best-selling album debuts of 2018 and made Shawn the third youngest solo artist to ever have three consecutive #1 albums. Shawn was also nominated in two categories for the 61st annual GRAMMY® Awards for his tracks from the album, including “Song of the Year” for “In My Blood” and “Best Pop Vocal Album” for SHAWN MENDES. The same year Shawn debuted his 3x platinum single, “If I Can’t Have You,” at #1 on iTunes and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With “Señorita” at #1 and “If I Can’t Have You” at #2, Shawn is the first male solo artist ever to simultaneously hold the #1 and #2 place on the Top 40 chart. On his last world tour, he sold out his first ever stadium show in minutes at Rogers Centre in his hometown of Toronto.

In April 2017, Shawn released his 6x platinum hit “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back.” The track scored Shawn his second #1 single at Top 40 radio and on Billboard’s Pop Songs chart, joining his 8x platinum single “Stitches.” Shawn has over 62 billion global streams and 13 billion video views. He topped Billboard’s “21 Under 21” in 2017 and 2018 and has been featured on Forbes “30 Under 30,” Spotify’s “25 Under 25,” and Time Magazine’s “Time 100 Most Influential”. In 2018, ROI Influencer Media recognized Shawn as the #1 Most Influential Artist and #1 Most Influential Teen across all social media platforms.

In 2019 Shawn launched The Shawn Mendes Foundation, which seeks to inspire Shawn’s audience, the youth generation of today—to learn about those causes that they are passionate about and help empower them to use the voice they have to bring change to the world by taking action & giving back. As part of its ongoing mission, the Foundation provides resources and support to amplify the voices, messages, and platforms of young leaders driving positive change.

Shawn Mendes Performing “Shawn” the Album Live
October 14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
October 22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Ford
October 24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
Oct 28 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Nov 13 – Berlin, DE – Tempodrom
Nov 25 – Toronto, CA – Massey Hall

That Time Andy Warhol Appeared AT A WWF Event In 1985

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 24, 2024

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That Time Andy Warhol Appeared AT A WWF Event In 1985

In a memorable and unexpected moment in pop culture history, legendary wrestling interviewer Mean Gene Okerlund interviewed iconic artist Andy Warhol during the 1985 WrestleMania I event at Madison Square Garden. Warhol, known for his groundbreaking work in visual art and pop culture, was an unlikely but intriguing figure in the world of professional wrestling and people still can’t believe this actually happened.

The Terry Bradshaw Show to Score a Touchdown at the Avalon Theatre this April

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 24, 2024

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The Terry Bradshaw Show to Score a Touchdown at the Avalon Theatre this April

No flags down on any plays here! Legendary NFL Hall of Fame inductee and entertainer Terry Bradshaw to bring The Terry Bradshaw Show to the Avalon Theatre on April 13, 2025. The showtime is 7:00pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10:00am EST through ticketmaster.ca.

“From his time as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in history to his Emmy Award-winning broadcasting, Terry Bradshaw has such an incredible energy that he brings to everything he has done,” says Cathy Price, Vice President of Marketing at Niagara Casinos. “His charm and humour are entertaining, and we are thrilled to welcome the show to the Avalon Theatre.”

One of the only NFL players with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Terry Bradshaw is a four-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP and an inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A multi-Emmy Award winning broadcaster and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee, the former quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers joined FOX NFL Sunday as co-host and analyst with the show’s inception in 1994. Bradshaw is also a popular actor who has starred in the box office hits Failure to Launch, Father Figures and Robots, television appearances including The Masked Singer, Better Late Than Never and two seasons starring alongside his family in E! Entertainment’s hit reality show, The Bradshaw Bunch. The multi-faceted entertainer is also a New York Times best-selling author, gospel/country singer, the star of his own stage production, The Terry Bradshaw Show, a motivational speaker and a successful entrepreneur.

Tickets for The Terry Bradshaw Show go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10:00am EST.

U2 Releases New, Previously Unreleased Track “Happiness” Out Now

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 24, 2024

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U2 Releases New, Previously Unreleased Track “Happiness” Out Now

U2 have today shared a new track titled ‘Happiness’ from How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb, the forthcoming collection of ten songs taken from the original recording sessions for ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ – U2’s critically acclaimed, eight-time Grammy winning album – which includes new, previously unreleased songs recently rediscovered in the band’s archive and available for the first time as a standalone shadow album on 29th November. Listen to ‘Happiness’ here. Watch lyric video here.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition) – featuring both How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb + How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb – will be available as a dual digital release on 22^ndNovember to mark the 20th Anniversary of this seminal album.

‘Happiness’ follows the first two songs to be made available from How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb: lead single ‘Country Mile’ and ‘Picture Of You (X + W)’, listen here.

The Edge said of How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb – “The sessions for ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ were such a creative period for the band, we were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early music influences, and it was a time of deep personal introspection for Bono who was attempting to process – dismantle – the death of his father.

For this anniversary edition I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot. We chose ten that really spoke to us. Although at the time we left these songs to one side, with the benefit of hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts about them being contenders for the album were right, we were onto something.

What you’re getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room… this is the pure U2 drop.”

To further celebrate the anniversary of this seminal album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb has now been remastered for the first time, a process which saw the band go back to the vault to revisit those early ‘00s recording sessions, a period of intense creativity for U2 in the studio, as well as a time of deep personal and artistic reflection following the passing of Bono’s father Bob in 2001. This special 20th anniversary edition – out 22^nd November – will include the bonus track ‘Fast Cars’. See below for a complete list of formats. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition) – featuring both How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb + How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb – will be available as a dual digital release on 22^ndNovember.

How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb is a collection of ten songs taken from the original recording sessions for ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ – U2’s critically acclaimed, eight-time Grammy winning album – recently rediscovered in the band’s archive and now released for the first time as a standalone album. This shadow album includes new, never-before-heard or previously released songs – ‘Treason’, ‘Evidence Of Life’, ‘Country Mile’ and ‘Happiness’; plus a song called ‘Luckiest Man In The World’ – familiar to fans under its working title ‘Mercy’, an early demo of which was leaked online almost 20 years ago – which now gets its official release; as well as five newly remastered songs – ‘Picture Of You (X+W)’, ‘I Don’t Wanna See You Smile’, ‘Are We Gonna Wait Forever?’, ‘Theme From The Batman’ and ‘All Because Of You 2’ – all collected together for the first time to mark the 20^th anniversary of ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’.

The tracklisting for How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb is:

Picture Of You (X+W)
Evidence Of Life
Luckiest Man In The World
Treason
I Don’t Wanna See You Smile
Country Mile
Happiness
Are We Gonna Wait Forever?
Theme From The Batman
All Because Of You 2

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is U2’s eleventh studio album. Released by Island Records / Interscope on 22^nd November 2004, it went to No. 1 in 34 countries around the world, including Ireland, the UK and the US. Described by Bono at the time as “our first rock album”, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was recorded at the band’s studio in Hanover Quay, Dublin and the South of France, and produced by Steve Lilywhite, with additional production from Chris Thomas, Flood, Jacknife Lee, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Nellee Hooper and Carl Glanville. The 11 tracks included the songs ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own’, both of which debuted at No. 1 in the UK charts, the first time a U2 album produced two chart topping singles. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and its singles won a total of eight Grammy Awards, sweeping all of the categories in which the band were nominated, with ‘Vertigo’ alone winning three in 2005, including Best Rock Song. The band were the night’s big winners in 2006, taking home the Grammy for Album of the Year, as well as Song of the Year for ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ and Best Rock Song for ‘City of Blinding Lights’, with Steve Lilywhite also winning Producer of the Year.

The tracklisting for the remastered How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 20^th Anniversary Reissue is:

1. Vertigo
2. Miracle Drug
3. Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own
4. Love and Peace or Else
5. City of Blinding Lights
6. All Because of You
7. A Man and a Woman
8. Crumbs from Your Table
9. One Step Closer
10. Original of the Species
11. Yahweh
12. Fast Cars

The remastered How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (20th Anniversary Edition) will be released in the following formats on 22^nd November: Vinyl 8LP Super Deluxe Collectors Boxset (Limited Edition); Vinyl 2LP; Exclusive D2C 2LP Black & Red Ink Spot Vinyl (Limited Edition); 5CD Super Deluxe Collectors Boxset (Limited Edition); CD; and Exclusive Red & Black Cassette (Limited Edition). The digital releases include HTDAAB remastered (12 tracks); and HTDAAB & HTRAAB (22 tracks). How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition) – featuring both How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb + How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb – will be available as a dual digital release on 22^ndNovember.

How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb will be exclusively available in physical format for Record Store Day Black Friday as a Limited Edition Black & Red Marble 1LP Vinyl; and as a standalone 10 track digital release. Out 29^th November.

5 Surprising Facts About Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’

Eric Alper

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Oct 24, 2024

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5 Surprising Facts About Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly is widely regarded as one of the most impactful albums of the 21st century, blending genres like hip-hop, jazz, and funk with profound social commentary. While its themes of racial identity, inequality, and personal reflection are well-known, there are lesser-known facts that shaped the creation and legacy of this groundbreaking record. Let’s dive into five fascinating, hidden aspects of To Pimp a Butterfly that you might not have heard before.

1. The South African Inspiration
Kendrick Lamar’s visit to South Africa had a profound impact on the creation of To Pimp a Butterfly. After visiting Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robben Island, Lamar scrapped “two or three albums worth of material” and reoriented the project. The experience fueled the album’s themes of racial inequality, personal introspection, and African-American cultural history, turning it into a deeply political and personal masterpiece.

2. Prince Almost Collaborated on the Album
During the recording of To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar nearly collaborated with the legendary Prince. Though they spent time in the studio together, the duo ran out of time and couldn’t complete any work for the album. However, Prince’s influence is still felt in the album’s eclectic blending of funk, jazz, and soul, making it an even more layered project.

3. David Bowie’s Blackstar Was Influenced by the Album
Lamar’s boundary-pushing artistry extended beyond the hip-hop world, influencing none other than David Bowie. While working on his 2016 album Blackstar, Bowie and his producer Tony Visconti were inspired by To Pimp a Butterfly. They admired how Lamar fused various genres, like jazz and funk, into a hip-hop record. Bowie sought to replicate that same open-mindedness and genre-blending approach on his final album.

4. The Concept Was Originally Linked to Tupac
The album’s title underwent a key change during its development. Originally, Lamar planned to call it Tu Pimp a Caterpillar as a nod to Tupac Shakur, with the initials spelling “T.U.P.A.C.” However, he later changed the title to To Pimp a Butterfly, symbolizing the beauty and struggle of transformation and growth, while retaining the powerful social messages.

5. The Unseen Contributions of Bilal
While Bilal is credited for his vocals on tracks like “These Walls” and “Institutionalized,” his influence runs even deeper. He provided uncredited backing vocals on several tracks, including “U,” “Momma,” and “For Sale? (Interlude).” Much of his input was improvised in the studio, adding layers of richness and texture to the album’s already complex sonic landscape.

To Pimp a Butterfly stands as a cultural and musical milestone, but it’s the hidden layers and behind-the-scenes details that make it even more compelling. From South African inspiration to nearly lost collaborations, Kendrick Lamar’s masterwork is a reminder that some of the most powerful art comes from unexpected places. As we continue to unpack its influence, one thing is clear—To Pimp a Butterfly will be played for generations to come.

5 Surprising Facts About Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’

Eric Alper

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Oct 22, 2024

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5 Surprising Facts About Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61 Revisited’

Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, but there are plenty of lesser-known details about its creation and legacy. Here are five surprising facts about the album:

1. The Album Title Faced Resistance
Dylan had to push back against Columbia Records to name the album Highway 61 Revisited. Executives didn’t initially grasp the significance of the highway, a route deeply rooted in blues history, stretching from Dylan’s birthplace in Duluth to the Mississippi Delta. After climbing the chain of command, Dylan eventually got his wish, solidifying the album’s connection to the musical and cultural heritage of America.

2. Al Kooper’s Organ on “Like a Rolling Stone” Was Improvised
Al Kooper, primarily a guitarist, was invited to the recording session as a spectator. Despite having little experience on the organ, he jumped in and played an improvised riff during “Like a Rolling Stone.” Dylan loved Kooper’s unexpected contribution, which became a defining feature of the song’s sound. The spontaneous organ part is now regarded as one of the most iconic moments in rock history.

3. “Desolation Row” Was Almost Recorded Electrically
Dylan initially recorded “Desolation Row” as an electric song, with Al Kooper on guitar and Harvey Brooks on bass. However, the electric version didn’t capture the atmosphere Dylan was aiming for, and he ultimately decided to record it acoustically. The final version, with its sparse instrumentation, became a poetic, haunting 11-minute epic that closed the album with a powerful sense of isolation.

4. A Siren Whistle Played a Key Role on the Title Track
In the title track “Highway 61 Revisited,” Dylan used a police siren whistle to punctuate the lyrics, giving the song an erratic and playful energy. This unconventional addition complemented the surreal storytelling, where biblical figures and modern characters intersect along the famous highway. The whistle became a quirky, unforgettable detail that helped capture the chaotic spirit of the album.

5. The Album Cover Was Shot at Albert Grossman’s Apartment
The cover of Highway 61 Revisited was shot by photographer Daniel Kramer outside the New York City apartment of Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman. Dylan’s casual pose, wearing a Triumph motorcycle T-shirt and Ray-Ban sunglasses, exudes cool detachment. The image, which includes a partial view of Dylan’s friend Bob Neuwirth, perfectly matched the rebellious and mysterious aura that defined the album.

These facts provide just a glimpse into the creative process behind Highway 61 Revisited, a record that continues to influence generations of musicians and fans alike.