Curious George is the mischievous child that still lives inside us all, a swinging catastrophe with an envious joie de vivre. But everyone’s favorite chimp almost didn’t make it to the page. The story goes way back to 1940 as Nazi forces prepared to invade France. German-Jewish artists H.A. and Margret Rey fled Paris by bicycle, carrying the original manuscript that would later become “Curious George.” From there George traveled the globe, trekking down to Lisbon, sailing across the pond to Rio de Janeiro, finally making his home in New York. The rest, of course, is history, as our primate protagonist climbed his way into our hearts and onto the world’s stage.
Photo Gallery: Chris de Burgh at the St. Catharines Meridian Centre
All photos taken by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Watch Prince Play Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” At Super Bowl Press Conference In 2007
At a pre-Super Bowl press conference back in 2007, Halftime entertainer Prince appeared onstage strapped with an electric guitar, two dancers, and a full band. This wasn’t your average way to answer a few inquires.
“Contrary to rumor, I’d like to take a few questions right now,” Prince told the room full of reporters.
“Prince, how do you feel about …”
NPR Music recently hosted what it dubbed “the best party band in years.” Here’s Red Baraat’s Tiny Desk Concert
Red Baraat’s fusion of bhangra, go-go, hip-hop and jazz is driven by frontman Sunny Jain’s percolating playing of the dhol, a double-sided drum which forms the rhythmic lattice of support for their boisterous horns and guitar. And though Red Baraat graced the Tiny Desk five years ago, we had to have Jain’s band back to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of color, of good over evil, and the coming of spring. Usually you’d see the dusting of brightly colored perfumed powders strewn in the air, covering bodies and clothing. The notion of doing that in the office was a fun thought, but the band (with my nudging) opted instead for confetti cannons and passing candied treats. It made for quicker cleanup, but their uplifting spirits lingered on, giving us a chance to shake off the final days of winter and demonstrating why music is so essential to the soul. – Bob Boilen, NPR, March 13, 2017
Chuck Berry Reviews Punk Singles in 1980
From the punk zine Jet Lag!, here’s a 1980 interview with rock n’ roll godfather, Chuck Berry, where he reviews singles from artists like The Clash The Sex Pistols, and The Ramones.
20-Minute Doc On The Making Of Happy Monday’s “Bummed”
ITV Schools “Information Technology” programme focussing on Factory Records and Happy Mondays during the making of the 1988 album Bummed. This album arrived at a time when the Madchester genre was only beginning to formulate into the scene, closely connected to acid house.
When You Try All The Sounds And Beats On Your Synth, While Only Playing Coldplay’s Viva La Vida
Praise Seth Everman for two things” His great talent, and for accurately titling this video simply as: “When you try all the sounds and beats on your synth (while only playing coldplay – viva la vida).”
Ice Cube’s Positive Affirmations
Jimmy Fallon takes a suggestion from the audience asking to hear positive affirmations from Ice Cube.
If Steve Reich Wrote The iPhone Marimba Ringtone
Steve’s Reich’s style of composition influenced many composers and groups. His innovations include using tape loops to create phasing patterns and the use of simple, audible processes to explore musical concepts (for instance, Pendulum Music and Four Organs). These compositions, marked by their use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm and canons, have significantly influenced contemporary music.
Writing in The Guardian, music critic Andrew Clements suggested that Reich is one of “a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history”.[6] The American composer and critic Kyle Gann has said that Reich “may … be considered, by general acclamation, America’s greatest living composer”
“Steve Reich is calling” creates the iPhone’s Marimba ringtone as if it was created by the musical genius.
Miguel Finds a Magical Guitar and Dreams Of Being A Musician In Pixar’s “Coco”
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Directed by Lee Unkrich (“Toy Story 3”), co-directed by Adrian Molina (story artist “Monsters University”) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” opens in theatres on November 22, 2017.