This is the little-seen promo video for Brian Eno’s song China, My China (from 1974’s Taking Tiger Mountain [By Strategy]). Eno appears with Polly Eltes and Judy Nylon.
https://youtu.be/76qPMv1tCfI
The Weeknd Replaces Beckham As Face Of H&M’s Spring Icons Collection
Spring Icons Selected by The Weeknd is a complete wardrobe of essential pieces, chosen by one of the world’s most celebrated artists. The campaign highlights The Weeknd’s vision on what’s iconic for him, a sincere talk that expresses the artist’s source of inspiration, creation process and the city of LA as an important element. The collection mixes utility and streetwear silhouettes with tailored lines, bringing together the important menswear statements of the season. The collection will be available in every H&M store that carries menswear, as well as online, from March 2.
“When I chose the pieces for Spring Icons Selected by The Weeknd, I was thinking about the way men dress today. It’s about finding the right balance between sharp and casual, with all the details that count,” says Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd
Second annual JUNO Cup Jam to kickoff JUNO events in Ottawa
JUNO Week begins on a musical high-note with the second annual JUNO Cup Jam, a unique experience showcasing one-of-a-kind musical collaborations and covers by some of Canada’s most talented musicians participating in the 14th annual JUNO Cup presented by TD. Happening at Ottawa’s Bourbon Room on Thursday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. EST, the event’s ticket proceeds will benefit MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS.
The evening’s lineup includes Adrian Sutherland (Midnight Shine), Amanda Rheaume, Barney Bentall (High Bar Gang), Cosmo Ferraro (Ferraro), Darryl James (The Strumbellas), Devin Cuddy Band, Doug Oliver (Cold Creek County), Gord Bamford, Jay Bodner (Eagle & Hawk), Jim Bowskill (Blue Rodeo/Sheepdogs), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), JJ Shiplett, Jon Gallant (Billy Talent), Jonathan Roy, Kathleen Edwards, Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk), Matthew Barber, Menno Versteeg (Hollerado), Peter Kesper (NQ Arbuckle), Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk), Beard Guy (Walk Off the Earth), Tim D’eon (Wintersleep) and Vince Fontaine (Eagle & Hawk/Indian City).
Individual tickets for JUNO Cup Jam are priced at $25 (plus tax and service fees) and go on sale March 1 at www.ticketfly.com.
The Moody Blues Announce ‘Days of Future Passed’ 50th Anniversary Tour
The Moody Blues will launch a special live tour celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their iconic, landmark album, DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, which was originally released in 1967. The band will reflect back on five decades of some of the most well beloved music in pop culture history this summer, when they perform live onstage, for the first-time ever, their epic album that marked the first time a rock band had fused their sound with a symphony orchestra. The tour, titled DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED – 50TH ANNIVERSARY, will bring the live excitement of seeing the band perform their greatest hits in the first half, and then finish with DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED performed in the second half. The tour begins on June 3 in Rancho Mirage, California, and continues through July 23 in Atlanta, Georgia, hitting 25 cities (and 28 performances), including Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Seattle, Baltimore, Denver, Cleveland, Nashville, and many more.
Fans will have waited 50 years to experience this moment in time, as the band’s first full-length studio album, DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, was a ground-breaking concept album when it was first released. So unique in its approach, the recording of their first studio album turned out to be piece of music history. Their record label, Decca Records, had requested that the band record an album to test “stereo recording,” which was in its infancy at the time. Being primarily a classical label, The Moody Blues were asked to record a rock version of Dvorak’s 9th Symphony. The band complied, but wanted to record it on their own terms. Behind closed doors, they came up with the concept of fusing classical music with rock, but written to their own soundtrack. The result was DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, an album that today, many consider a masterpiece – featuring one full album without breaks, chronicling “a day in the life of” a person with songs that include: “The Day Begins,” “Dawn: Dawn Is a Feeling,” “The Morning: Another Morning,” “Lunch Break: Peak Hour,” “Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon),” “Evening Time to Get Away”; Twilight Time” and “The Night: Nights In White Satin.”
From DAYS, the song “Tuesday Afternoon” became a massive worldwide hit, and “Nights In White Satin” marked one of the first four minute songs played on the radio, going on to become one of the biggest selling singles in history, and hitting #1 three separate times on Billboard. The ultimate result: one of the greatest-selling albums of all-time.
Says Hayward, “Little did we know when we made DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED that it would eventually change our lives — it took five long years to make it the top of the charts. But we mustn’t take all the credit for this remarkable project — there were many creative minds who contributed at the time, and who believed in us when we were young and inexperienced. We just wrote the songs — about every-man. My dearest wish is that maybe the album has made the world a better place. It will be a joy to return to it, live.”
Adds Lodge, “DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED…seven days that changed my world…”
From the time the British band first hit the rock scene, The Moody Blues have continued to produce music that bridge the gap between rock, classical and pop-rock genres. Featuring guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist/vocalist John Lodge, and drummer Graeme Edge, The Moody Blues’ sound has held its ground in a genre of music that is ever-changing.
The Moody Blues have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have been awarded 14 platinum and gold discs. Their roster of hits include: “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name a few. The Moody Blues’ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles, have generated sold-out tours on a consistent basis over the course of several decades, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands of all time.
Can an algorithm predict a chart hit?
Professor Armand Leroi uses data science to predict the BBC Introducing song most likely to enter the charts, but does the song sound any good?
Facebook is now taking steps to stop suicides and self-harm on Live
Faced with an alarming phenomenon, people taking their own lives on its live-streaming service, Facebook is stepping up efforts to prevent suicides.
On Wednesday, Facebook announced it will integrate real-time suicide prevention tools into Facebook Live. It also said it will offer live-chat support from crisis support organizations such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line through Facebook Messenger, and make it easier to report suicide or self-injury. The most novel of the new tools: Facebook is testing artificial intelligence to identify warning signs of self-harm and suicide in Facebook posts and comments.
The goal, says Facebook, to connect people in distress with people who can help.
Radioplayer Canada launched today. Let the radio station online battle begin.
The Radioplayer Canada streaming app launches today, putting more than 400 Canadian radio stations into the palm of your hand, including CBC and Radio-Canada. It was announced this morning that Canada’s public broadcasters would join a consortium of private broadcasters participating in Radioplayer, which showcases the vast majority of Canadian stations, with more joining every week.
“Radioplayer solidifies that radio in Canada remains vital and relevant,” said Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President, Corus Radio & Global News. “Corus Entertainment is proud to participate in this exciting initiative alongside nearly all Canadian broadcasters. We look forward to the impact this world class app will have on the radio listening experience.”
The free Radioplayer Canada app gives radio listeners access to nearly every style of music, news, talk, and entertainment content, in both official languages, on any connected device, at any time of day, from anywhere.
“The way Canadians listen to radio is changing, and we’re changing with them,” said Julie Adam, Senior Vice President, Rogers Radio speaking on behalf of the consortium. “Radioplayer gives our listeners access to their favourite local stations and allows them to discover others across the country like never before. With access on mobile devices and desktop, tuning to your favourite station has never been easier.”
The free Radioplayer Canada app facilitates listener discovery of radio content through search and recommendations based on listening history, geographical location and crowd-sourced trending.
“Joining the Radioplayer family is a part of our commitment to ensure that CBC content is available to all audiences and on as many platforms as possible,” said Susan Marjetti, executive director, CBC Radio & Audio English Services. “CBC Radio and Audio is already setting new records in its reach for smart Talk, dominating in popular podcasting and developing new Canadian artists through CBC Music. We look forward to making CBC’s public service programming available in this new way, today, with the announcement of our partnership with Radioplayer Canada.”
Listeners are able to access live and catch-up radio broadcasts across the country through Radioplayer Canada’s browser-player, and on connected devices through the iOS or Android app, including integrations with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Chromecast, and smartwatches.
BBC Radio joined forces with UK’s private radio broadcasters to launch the first Radioplayer five years ago, which has become the top-rated digital radio app in Europe and is currently rolling out in countries around the world.
“Having CBC/Radio-Canada join the Canadian Radioplayer effort is another very proud moment for Radioplayer,” said Michael Hill, Founder and Managing Director, Radioplayer UK. “Radio faces amazing, yet technically challenging, opportunities in cars, smartphones, and among younger audiences. Joining the ever-growing Radioplayer family is a great way for broadcasters to address these together – whether their focus is public service delivery or growing commercial revenue.”
Radioplayer Canada brings CBC/Radio-Canada together with the stations of Bayshore Broadcasting, Blackburn Radio, Blackgold Radio, Byrnes Communications, CAB-K Broadcasting, Central Ontario Broadcasting, Clear Sky Radio, Cogeco Media, Corus Entertainment, Durham Radio, Fabmar Communications, Golden West Broadcasting, Harvard Broadcasting, Larche Communications, Newcap Radio, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, Rogers Media, Rawlco Radio, RNC Media, Saskatoon Media Group, Vista Radio, and Westman Communications Group, as well as the National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC).
Franz Ferdinand Announce Rare North American Tour
Franz Ferdinand have revealed plans for a rare North American tour. The band will perform in several cities across the U.S including Nashville, Louisville, New York City, and Los Angeles. The run of dates will also include two stops in Canada, one in Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall and a performance at Metropolis in Montreal. The Scottish band will also make festival appearances at Hangout Music Festival in May, and Governors Ball and Firefly Music Festival in June.
It’s been three years since the band last played in the US, when they played in support of their critically acclaimed fourth album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action. All new tour dates are below.
North American Live Tour Dates
May 19 – 21st – Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Music Festival
May 22 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
May 23 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
May 25 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
May 26 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
May 27 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
May 28 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
May 30 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
May 31 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
June 2 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
June 3 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
June 4 – New York, NY @ Governors Ball
June 7 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
June 8 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
June 11 – Oceanside, CA @ Oceanside Pier Amphitheater
June 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Theater
June 14 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
June 15 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
June 15-18 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
The Guardians Are Back To Save Us All In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Set two months after the first film, the Guardians of the Galaxy travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together, while helping Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage.
