“I Like It” by Cardi B with Bad Bunny and J Balvin topped the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cardi B’s second number one—the most for a female rapper in the chart’s history, and the first for both Bad Bunny and J Balvin. It also reached the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Critically acclaimed, Billboard staff, Los Angeles Times, and Apple Music’s editorial selection ranked it as the best song of the year, while Rolling Stone named it “the best summer song of all time.”
“Waving Through a Window” is the second song in the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack. In this song we get to see Evan Hansen’s (Ben Platt) character in a much deeper depth.
The Hood Internet mashed together 50 separate music videos from 1985 featuring (takes a deep breath), Aretha Franklin, Billy Ocean, Cameo, Commodores, The Cult, The Cure, DeBarge, Dire Straits, Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew, Dream Academy, Duran Duran, Echo And The Bunnymen, Eddie Murphy, Faith No More, Grace Jones, Huey Lewis & The News, INXS, Jesus & Mary Chain, Kate Bush, Katrina & The Waves, Killing Joke, LL Cool J, Madonna, Miami Sound Machine, Mike + The Mechanics, Minor Threat, Motley Crue, Mr. Mister, New Order, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Outfield, Pat Benatar, Pet Shop Boys, Phil Collins, Prince & The Revolution, The Replacements, Robert Palmer, Run-D.M.C., Schoolly D, Simple Minds, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Stacey Q, Starship, Talking Heads, Tears For Fears, Tom Waits, Whitney Houston, and Yello.
Tobique First Nation, NB-based, award-winning and 2018 Olympic Games-featured Indigenous folk rock artist Mike Bern has released his debut solo EP Waponahkew — available now.
Meaning ‘Person of the Dawn,’ Waponahkew and its title track pay stunning homage and gratitude to Bern’s Waponahki Ancestors, while “First Mother draws on the book “The Red Man” for inspiration; the release’s single “Apatapasiq” honours the suffering and stories of residential school survivors — including those in his own family.
At three tracks on the release, Waponahkew wastes no time before showcasing Bern’s masterful roots within the genre set. Previously, he has sung in award-winning bands Kickin Krotch and District Avenue, the Indigenous Music Countdown chart-climbing single “First Mother,” and opened for Seaway, The Trews, One Bad Son, The Motorleague, and more.
Additionally, District Avenue’s music video for song “Revival” was featured at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Between his signature raspy rock vocals harmonizing with traditional folk acoustic melodies, Bern doesn’t leave his penchant to pepper in a hint of Southern Gospel behind; crediting influences in the likes of Chris Otepka, Frankie Miller, and Ben Schneider, it’s of little wonder Mike Bern’s music exudes a purity and pain throughout its soundscape.
Nowhere on Waponahkew is this more notable than the album’s second song, “Apatapasiq.”
“Wolastoqey language is sung ‘Apatapasiq Wasisok’… Children come home,” Bern explains. “The song is about the experience my Aunt and Uncles went through in the Shubenacadie Residential School.
“I remember a story my uncle told me once: They were always thirsty when they went to bed and the nuns would never give them anything to drink.”
To solve it as best they could, the kids would “keep one stall clean in the bathroom and take turns dipping their socks in the toilet for a drink.
“I want the listener to experience the heartache and pain these children suffered,” Bern continues. “Being away from loved ones and forced to take on a new world and lifestyle…
“This song is dedicated to my family, and all the Residential School Survivors.”
On a mission to relive days watching MTV and MUCH in the basement so you didn’t drive your parents crazy, Abducted By The 80s presents upcoming virtual concert Back To the Basement — featuring the Spoons — this Saturday, June 13th!
The event will take place via Facebook Live and, beyond their live-from-home performance slots, the artists will be on-hand for an online chat with fans.
“We are super excited to represent Canada in the ‘Back To The Basement’ virtual concert for Direct Relief and in support of health care workers on the front lines,” Spoons members Gord Deppe and Sandy Horne say. “This is going to be the 80s music event of the summer!”
They aren’t kidding… The event will feature live-from-home performances from A Flock Of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Naked Eyes, Animotion, The Escape Club, Nu Shooz, Annabella of Bow Wow Wow, Farrington & Mann of When In Rome, The Vapors, and – of course – the Spoons!
There will also be special guest appearances from Tiffany, Downtown Julie Brown, and Richard Blade.
Limited edition shirts marking the event will raise funds in support of Direct Relief and their aid to doctors, nurses, first responders, and health care workers during COVID-19, as well as artist merch to offset calendars of cancelled tours. “Direct Relief is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a stated mission to ‘improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care,’” Abducted By The 80s shares. “We are raising funds for their COVID-19 Relief program: Making sure the courage of health workers on the front lines is honoured with meaningful support, and the people most at risk in this pandemic are cared for – regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay.”
There will be two screenings of Back To The Basement — one at 2:00pm EST and another at 7:00pm EST.
“June 13th is the date,” the Spoons add. “See you then!”
She’s got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories…
Sweet Child o’ Mine is the first and only picture-book interpretation of Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” lyrics, inspired by the adventures of Maya and Natalia Rose, two young girls who have grown up touring with the band.
With evocative, sweeping paintings from artist Jennifer Zivoin, Sweet Child O’ Mine celebrates love and music, and how they bring us together in the sweetest ways.
Following the group’s 1985 formation, Guns N’ Roses injected unbridled, unrivalled, and unstoppable attitude into the burgeoning Los Angeles rock scene. The spirit went on to captivate the entire world with the release of their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction -the best-selling U.S. debut ever, moving 30 million copies globally. In 1991, the seven-time platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II occupied the top two spots of the Billboard Top 200 upon release. Over the course of the past decade, Guns N’ Roses have performed sold out shows and headlined festivals worldwide following the critically acclaimed release of 2008’s RIAA platinum-certified Chinese Democracy. Six studio albums later, Guns N’ Roses are one of the most important and influential acts in music history, and continue to set the benchmark for live performances connecting with millions of fans across the globe. Since reuniting in 2016, Guns N’ Roses has gone on to sell over 5 million tickets worldwide on the Not In This Lifetime Tour. Guns N’ Roses’ are Axl Rose (vocals, piano), Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboard).
Jennifer Zivoin worked as a graphic designer and then as a creative director before becoming a professional illustrator. Her artwork has appeared in books, magazines, and an exhibit at the world’s largest children’s museum. Jennifer lives in Indiana with her husband and two daughters.
The Old Town School of Folk Music has been a Chicago institution since it opened in 1957. Since then, the school has grown beyond acoustic guitars and banjos to teach everything from African dance to music for toddlers.
Recently, the school went from teaching zero classes online to teaching all of its classes online — in a matter of days.
WTTW TV stopped by to see how they’ve tuned in to the new normal.
GRAMMY-winning producer Shooter Jennings hit the ground running, born into a family of musical royalty with parents Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings. And Shooter has taken what he learned from those early experiences and turned them into a spectacular career as a producer. In the latest episode of Behind The Board, we learn more about his journey and how he’s never done learning from the artists he works with in the studio.
The Fratellis have been keeping busy during the Covid-19 pandemic by collaborating remotely with legendary US soul singer P.P. Arnold on a very special new version of a track from their forthcoming album ‘Half Drunk Under a Full Moon’, due for release October 30th on Cooking Vinyl.
“Strangers in the Street (featuring P.P. Arnold)” is the result of an idea that began to take root in the winter of 2019. When both artists’ touring plans for 2020 were postponed due to the Covid-19 lockdown they used this unexpected spare time to complete the track, The Fratellis working from their homes in Scotland and P.P. Arnold working from her home in Spain. Like so many artists who are now finding new ways of working during this crisis, The Fratellis and P.P. Arnold, who have yet to meet in person, adapted quickly to the new restrictions and have created a beautiful, emotive, piano and strings arrangement of a song that lyrically appears to have been written for the moment, but was in fact written last year.
Comments Jon Fratelli: “I think this collaboration is a perfect example of how music communicates in a way that sets it apart from other mediums. Even now as this song is being released the band and P.P. Arnold have never been in the same room together or had a discussion about how the track would play out, our work took place whilst miles apart yet we understood one another perfectly, in its own small way it’s an example of our endless ability to connect with one another even when it seems like there are obstacles in the way. PP Arnold has one of those rare voices that can’t be imitated, replicated or taught so it has been a joy and an honour for us to have her sing with us on this song.”
Comments P.P. Arnold: “When I first received “Strangers In The Street’ to listen to and was invited to sing the vocal I instantly loved the song and felt a connection with it. When I asked Jon to explain his meaning of the song to me, it all made sense and the song has made something very beautiful happen in my life. I’m very happy that the song is being released at this time to support all the brave souls on the frontline supporting all of us.”
The Fratellis are donating 100% of their income from this track to the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief Project and other charities supporting those on the frontline as well as those impacted by the economic consequences of the global shutdown.
Recorded in LA with producer and long-time collaborator Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, Supergrass), ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’ is Glaswegian trio The Fratellis sixth album and the follow-up to 2018’s ‘In Your Own Sweet Time’, a UK Top 5 chart entry which contained the Radio 2 playlisted single “Starcrossed Losers” and saw the band perform on BBC1’s The One Show.
