Every year, Jon Snow describes a popular song for the Big Fat Quiz of the Year and it shouldn’t be compared to the original, and in some cases, it’s even better. No one will be inviting him to Coachella – although they should – so here’s the past videos from Jon Snow Dance Party:
Drake – Hotline Bling
Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
The B-52s – Love Shack
Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling
Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass
A day before the 21st anniversary of the release of Pop, U2 announced the release of three new vinyl reissues from the group – Pop (1997), Wide Awake In America (1985) and All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000).
Remastered and pressed on 180gsm vinyl, each reissue includes a download card and faithful reproduction of original artwork and will be released on April 13.
All That You Can’t Leave Behind, the band’s tenth studio album, garnered multiple Grammy awards following its release in October 2000 and shot to #1 in 32 countries. Produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, and recorded in Dublin (HQ, Windmill Lane, Westland and Totally Wired) and the South of France, it includes the singles Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, Elevation and Walk On. The artwork comprises a 16-page booklet featuring lyrics and photography by Anton Corbijn.
Pop, U2’s ninth studio album, which reached #1 in the UK, US, Ireland and 26 other countries around the world following its release in 1997. Produced by Flood, with Howie B and Steve Osborne, the album was recorded in Dublin (Hanover Quay, Windmill Lane, The Works) and Miami (South Beach Studios). It features the singles: Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, Last Night On Earth, Please, If God Will Send His Angels and Mofo.
Wide Awake In America is a four-track half live/half studio EP from 1985. Originally released only in North America and Japan, it was subsequently re-released internationally in the late 1980s. Side A features live performances of A Sort Of Homecoming and Bad from UK shows on The Unforgettable Fire tour in late 1984. Side B features two B-sides from the 12” single of The Unforgettable Fire – The Three Sunrises and Love Comes Tumbling.
What is needed in order to throw a great party at home? That is what IKEA wants to explore together with Teenage Engineering, a collective of creatives known for making music, designing electronic instruments like synthesizers and speakers.
Music is today a natural part of our everyday life. You hear it on the subway, in stores and out on the streets – music is everywhere. When we asked people what sound they associate with their homes, most mentioned things like the sound of voices or children playing, and for many it is music. 65% of all Millennials said that they play music to get a “homely feeling” meaning that music is important in the home. And we also know that it is great music that gets the party going.
Insights of how important music is in young people’s life will be the starting point in the upcoming collection FREKVENS, where IKEA will explore how to engineer new solutions for having fun, together with Jesper Kouthoofd from Teenage Engineering.
“We know that for younger people spontaneity is key. The idea of gathering some friends could become a reality in minutes. What is then needed at home? Or maybe you want to bring along the party somewhere else? Together with Teenage Engineering we want to explore the possibilities of bringing the party with you and what else you need for a great party.” says Michael Nikolic, Creative leader at IKEA Range & Supply.
The collection FREKVENS will consist of products such as an electronic choir, vinyl player, party lighting and everything else you need in order to throw a really good music party wherever you are.
“When you are younger you usually come up with the idea of a party the same day and I think a lot of people uses IKEA that way. ‘I’m going to have a party, I need some glasses, napkins, candles and stuff and will go to IKEA to get it.’ For us, it is about finding a reason to make and play some music. Thinking about the totality of what you need for a party is a good start.” says Jesper Kouthoofd, head of design and CEO at Teenage Engineering.
The collection will be in stores globally by February 2019.
The cases of bands like Hedley and Brand New show that men can’t use their lifestyles as an excuse anymore in the #MeToo era.
We can’t begin to have encouraging, productive conversations about how to handle instances of sexual assault and abuse or the prevention of it until music listeners and behind the scenes industry execs stop believing in, and always bringing up, this idea of the rock star, specifically when we talk about the men who assume that persona. That lacks a substantial effort of accountability. Following through on consent and respecting boundaries doesn’t make a rock star any less of a rock star. Sex has always been fundamental in music and that can still exist if we get rid of the need to define our men by how fucking awful and badass we need them to be to be desired.
It feels as though casual rock fans still have this loop playing in their head that “badness” has merit or currency and that barrier prevents us from fully pushing through. We have been urgently trying to re-script this. Without moving forward and away from this foolish, antiquated notion, we’re still sacrificing the safety of fans; still saying it’s fine to put women in positions that may harm them. And that’s not something anyone should be indifferent to.
Transcendent, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning rock band Evanescence and acclaimed Billboard Award-winning electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling today announce their co-headlining 2018 summer amphitheater tour across North America. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off July 6 in Kansas City, MO at the Starlight Theatre and will make stops in 31 North American cities. The trek will wrap September 8 in Ridgefield, WA at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater.
Artists’ pre-sales will begin tomorrow (Wednesday, March 7) at 10am local time. Tickets for the tour will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 9 at 10am local time at LiveNation.com. Evanescence will offer a limited number of VIP packages for purchase that include premium seating, attending sound check and a champagne toast with Evanescence.
Both artist’s shows will be accompanied by a full orchestra, highlighting both acts musicality and their incredible performance abilities that continue to blow fans away. The orchestrated performances will also perfectly accent the astounding amphitheater venues across the U.S. and Canada that the two will be performing in, making for a magical summer evening.
The two artists recently collaborated on the song, “Hi-Lo” from the latest Evanescence album, Synthesis, which features a virtuosic violin solo by Lindsey Stirling.
EVANESCENCE AND LINDSEY STIRLING 2018 TOUR DATES:
| DATE | CITY | VENUE |
| Friday, July 06, 2018 | Kansas City, MO | Starlight Theatre |
| Saturday, July 07, 2018 | St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre |
| Monday, July 09, 2018 | Detroit, MI | DTE Energy Music Theatre |
| Tuesday, July 10, 2018 | Chicago, IL*+ | Ravinia Festival* |
| Thursday, July 12, 2018 | Noblesville, IN | Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center |
| Saturday, July 14, 2018 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center |
| Tuesday, July 17, 2018 | Camden, NJ | BB&T Pavilion |
| Wednesday, July 18, 2018 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center |
| Friday, July 20, 2018 | Charlotte, NC | PNC Music Pavilion |
| Saturday, July 21, 2018 | Raleigh, NC | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek |
| Tuesday, July 24, 2018 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live |
| Wednesday, July 25, 2018 | Uncasville, CT | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| Friday, July 27, 2018 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage |
| Saturday, July 28, 2018 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Saratoga Performing Arts Center |
| Friday, August 10, 2018 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| Saturday, August 11, 2018 | Wantagh, NY | Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater |
| Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | Simpsonville, SC | Heritage Park Amphitheatre |
| Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | Atlanta, GA* | TBD* |
| Friday, August 17, 2018 | Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre |
| Saturday, August 18, 2018 | West Palm Beach, FL | Coral Sky Amphitheatre |
| Monday, August 20, 2018 | Jacksonville, FL | Daily’s Place |
| Wednesday, August 22, 2018 | New Orleans, LA | Bold Sphere Music at Champions Square |
| Friday, August 24, 2018 | Dallas, TX | Starplex Pavilion |
| Saturday, August 25, 2018 | The Woodlands, TX | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion |
| Tuesday, August 28, 2018 | Albuquerque, NM | Isleta Amphitheater |
| Wednesday, August 29, 2018 | Phoenix, AZ | Ak-Chin Pavilion |
| Friday, August 31, 2018 | Chula Vista, CA | Mattress Firm Amphitheatre |
| Saturday, September 01, 2018 | Irvine, CA | FivePoint Amphitheatre |
| Wednesday, September 05, 2018 | Mountain View, CA | Shoreline Amphitheatre |
| Friday, September 07, 2018 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre |
| Saturday, September 08, 2018 | Ridgefield, WA | Sunlight Supply Amphitheater |
All photos taken by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
In 1967, Sesame Street puppet creator Jim Henson used the “Wheel-Stealer” puppet for an IBM training film called Coffee Break Machine. In the sketch, called “The Computer Dinner”, the monster (with frightening eyes and fangs) devours a complex coffee making machine as it describes its different parts. When he is finished, the machine announces the monster has activated the machine’s anti-vandalism system, which contains the most powerful explosives known to man.
Two years later, Henson used a similarly-designed and equally ravenous monster for three commercials selling Munchos, a Frito-Lay potato chip. This time, the puppet was called Arnold, the Munching Monster. After the three ads were produced, Henson had the opportunity to renew the contract. He chose not to, because at that point he was working on Sesame Street — and that monster puppet was moving on to the next stage in his career. According to Frank Oz, in a later routine the then unnamed monster won a quiz show and for winning was “given the choice of $10,000 cash, a new car, a trip to Hawaii, or a cookie.” He took the cookie and from then on he was Cookie Monster.
By the way, the Cookie Monster’s real name is Sid. Really.
The Monkey’s Uncle is a 1965 Walt Disney production starring Tommy Kirk as genius college student Merlin Jones and Annette Funicello, a former Mouseketeer from The Mickey Mouse Club, as his girlfriend, Jennifer. The title song, written by the Sherman Brothers, is performed by Funicello, with The Beach Boys doing backup.
Got about a half hour to spare today? Then check out this documentary film by Kurt Vincent & Irene Chin about Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile, and the community of the Loew’s Jersey Theater.
Robert Plant has announced a new series of North American headline dates celebrating his acclaimed new album, Carry Fire. The dates, for which Plant is once again accompanied by The Sensational Space Shifters, begin June 8 in Atlanta, GA, and then continue through the month. Special guests on the tour will include Sheryl Crow, Jim James solo acoustic, Elle King, Seth Lakeman, Jon Langford, Los Lobos, and Lucinda Williams. The complete itinerary is below.
Spotify will offer special presale access to Plant’s biggest fans. A presale code will be sent out via email on March 7 at 10am ET/7am PT. Pre-sales begin Wednesday, March 7 from 10 am – 10 pm (local); local pre-sales follow on Thursday, March 8 from 10 am – 10 pm (local). Remaining tickets to most announced dates will be released to the general public on Friday, March 9 at 10 am (local). Every ticket purchased online for Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters’ headline shows includes a CD or digital copy of Carry Fire (festival dates not included). Instructions on how to redeem the album will be emailed after ticket purchase.
Rolling Stone recently named the album among the “50 Best Albums of 2017,” writing, “With a title that evokes primal discovery and heroic burden, Carry Fire finds Plant nuancing the mystic stomp of yore for darkening times… It proves that Plant’s athletic power, like his musical idealism, burns undiminished.”
ROBERT PLANT AND THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS
CARRY FIRE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2018
JUNE
8 – Atlanta, GA – Venue TBD w/special guest Elle King
10 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! At Richmond Raceway
w/special guest Elle King
12 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion w/special guest Sheryl Crow
13 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium w/special guest Sheryl Crow #
15 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage w/special guest Sheryl Crow
17 – Chicago, IL – Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion w/special guest Jon Langford
19 – Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater w/special guest Seth Lakeman ###
21 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre w/special guest Jim James Solo Acoustic
23 – Stateline, NV – Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena w/special guest Los Lobos
24 – Pasadena, CA – Arroyo Seco Music and Arts Festival
26 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield w/special guest Lucinda Williams
27 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park Amphitheatre w/special guest Lucinda Williams
29 – Vancouver, BC – Vancouver International Jazz Festival
w/special guest Seth Lakeman ##
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Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
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