Kanye West is among the most acclaimed musicians of the 21st century, and is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 32 million albums and 100 million digital downloads worldwide. It’s his rapping, songwriting, record producing, fashion designing, and entrepreneurship that got him to the forefront of the media and our minds, and now you can hear for yourself a mashup of all his hoots and hollers that got the people going.
The Paintings Of David Bowie Will Make You Appreciate Him Even More…If That’s Even Possible
The death of David Bowie is still being felt today. Jared Leto has revealed Bowie was part of the inspiration behind his version of The Joker in the new Suicide Squad film. The actor cited the late musician as an inspiration for “almost anything you could do creatively.”
Bowie’s own art collection, which included works by Damien Hurst, Henry Moore and Jean-Michel Basquiat among others, was valued at over $20 million in mid-2016, and it’s this collection that will be be sold off at auction in late 2016. And while Bowie once called himself an art addict, one who obsessed over collecting it, he did both, even painting his own masterpieces. Take a look.
Self-Portrait
Child In Berlin – 1977
Self-Portrait
Berlin Landscape With JO – 1978
(Portrait of Iggy Pop)
Sketch
Hearts Filthy Lesson – 1995
Self-Portrait – 1978
Inspired by the cover for the album cover of Heroes (Victoria and Albert Museum)
DHead series
Bowie continuously painted these DHeads during his career, but it only went public around 1994.
DHeads II
Ancestor
South Africa series An exploration of Bowie’s thoughts on the “white ancestor” story, gleaned from his trip to South Africa. The artist wrote: “In 1995 Iman and I took our first trip to South Africa. One of the prevailing stories handed down is that when the first tribes saw the white man they presumed they were being visited by their ancestors, as in their mythology the ancestors appear as a ghost-like white form.”
Ancestor II
Dry Heads Capetown – 1995
Evol For The Missing – 1996
I Am A World Champion – 1977
The Rape Of Bigarschol – 1996
Portrait Of JO – 1976
Squeeze 2000 – 1996
Turkish Father And Son – 1978
Present Future Accepted – 1995
Sketch
Self-Portrait
Sketch
Sketch
The Man Behind It All
Thanks to Pokémon Go, sales of smartphone backup batteries are soaring
According to The NPD Group’s Weekly Retail Tracking Service, unit sales of portable power packs designed to charge mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, have grown 101 percent during the two week period between July 10 and July 23 compared to the year prior. While product promotions played a role in the sales increases experienced within the category, it was the extraordinary popularity of the mobile video game, Pokémon Go, that drove the most demand over this time period.
Demand for portable power packs has been strong this year, with unit sales increasing 35 percent year-over-year for the 12 months ending June 2016. More recently, though, sales growth for the devices has slowed. In the six weeks leading up to Pokémon Go’s launch, unit sales were just four percent above the same period a year ago. However, in the two weeks since the game launched, sales of portable power packs reached nearly 1.2 million units, representing a marked increase in sales growth.
“Pokémon Go is the summer’s hottest game partly because it utilizes features like location, motion sensors and augmented reality in your smartphone- however, these features consume more of the phone’s battery life,” said Ben Arnold, executive director, industry analyst for consumer technology at The NPD Group. “As a way to compensate for the extra battery usage, consumers are buying portable power packs so they can continue to play, uninterrupted.”
Sammy Davis Jr. really loves Suntory Whisky in this TV commercial from 1974
The always amazing Sammy Davis Jr. works Japanese Suntory Whisky in this TV ad from 1974.
Colin James Announces Tribute To Blues Singers, Guitar Players On “Blue Highway”
Juno Award winning singer-songwriter Colin James will release his 18th album, Blue Highways, on October 14 via True North Records.
Blue Highways was co-produced by Colin and Dave Meszaros (Wake Owl, Old Man Canyon) and recorded at The Warehouse Studios in Vancouver.
Blue Highways pays tribute to some of the singer/ guitarist’s longtime blues idols including Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Freddie King, Jr. Wells & Buddy Guy, Peter Green, Robert Johnson and William Bell to name a few.
In the Spring of 2015 Colin wrapped up his Hearts on Fire tour. After a couple of months of straight touring, Colin was loving playing with the band and really happy with the sound they had created on stage. What better time to make a record? Especially the record Colin had been itching to make for years – a collection of some of his favorite blues tracks. In less than a week Colin and his touring band went into The Warehouse Studios in Vancouver and in just 2 days, Blue Highways was born.
The lead single, “Going Down” inspired by the great Freddie King features; Geoff Hicks (Drums), Steve Pelletier (Bass), Jesse O’Brien (Piano), Craig Northey (Rhythm Guitar), and of course Colin James (Vocal/Guitar).
Colin James has been named as an inductee into the 2016 Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame presented by FACTOR. In addition to this honour, Colin will be headlining the Western Canadian Music Awards Show at Casino Regina on October 13, kicking off BreakOut West’s 14th year of celebrating western Canada’s talent.
BLUE HIGHWAYS TRACK LIST
1. Boogie Funk (Written by Freddie King)
2. Watch Out (Written by Peter Green)
3. Big Road Blues (Written by Thomas Johnson)
4. Bad Bad Whiskey (Written by Thomas M Davis)
5. Going Down (Written by Don Nix)
6. Gypsy Woman (Written by McKinley Morganfield)
7. Goin’ Away (Written by James A. Lane)
8. Lonesome (Written by Peter Chatman)
9. Hoodoo Man Blues (Written by Amos Blakemore (Jr. Wells)
10. Riding In The Moonlight / Mr. Luck (Riding In The Moonlight Written by Chester Burnett (Howlin’ Wolf) (Mr. Luck Written by Jimmy Reed)
11. Don’t Miss Your Water (Written by William Bell)
12. Ain’t Long For Day (Written by Blind Willie McTell)
13. Last Fair Deal (Written by Robert Johnson)
David Bowie, Radiohead, and The 1975 among Mercury Prize shortlist
David Bowie, Radiohead, and The 1975 are among the finalists for this year’s Mercury Prize. The annual prize recognizes what the panel judges to be the best album from an artist in Great Britain or Ireland; this year’s winner will be announced on Sept. 12. Here’s the complete shortlist of finalists:
Anohni: Hopelessness
Bat For Lashes: The Bride
David Bowie: Blackstar
Jamie Woon: Making Time
Kano: Made in the Manor
Laura Mvula: The Dreaming Room
Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate
Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool
Savages: Adore Life
Skepta: Konnichiwa
The 1975: I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
The Comet Is Coming: Channel the Spirits
Toronto Bars And Venues To Show Tragically Hip’s Last Concert
As the Tragically Hip inch closer to what is called their final concert concert at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston on Saturday, August 20, a number of Toronto bars and venues will be joining in to allow people to catch it.
In addition to the venues listed below, the CBC will also stream the show starting at 8:30 p.m. local time on CBC Television, CBC Radio One and CBC Radio 2, and it’ll stream on CBC Music and CBC’s YouTube channels.
Here’s where to watch a live stream of the Hip’s final concert in Toronto.
Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street)
Junction City Music Hall (2907 Dundas St. West)
Drums and Flats (1980 Avenue Road)
Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West)
Folly Brewpub (928 College Street)
If you hear of any other places to watch it, other than my house, let me know.
Music Canada voted onto IFPI’s Main Board
Graham Henderson, President & CEO of Music Canada, has been voted onto the Main Board of IFPI, the organization that represents the recording industry worldwide. This marks the first time a representative from Canada has held a position on the Main Board. In addition, Music Canada now has a seat on IFPI’s ILC (International Legal Committee), a group of leading legal experts from IFPI and its member organizations.
IFPI (International Federation for the Phonographic Industry) represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. IFPI’s mission is to promote the value of recorded music, campaign for record producer rights and expand the commercial uses of recorded music in all its member markets. Its membership comprises around 1,300 major and independent music companies in 62 countries.
The Main Board provides direction and guidance from leading global organizations, markets and music companies to steer IFPI’s priorities. Currently, the Main Board is comprised of representatives from major and independent labels, as well as regional and national trade associations.
“I am honoured that Music Canada will have the opportunity to represent Canada’s music labels on an international level,” says Graham Henderson. “As the music industry continues to adapt alongside new technology, I am proud that Music Canada will be able to collaborate with international colleagues on issues of crucial importance to artists and rights holders worldwide.”
According to Canada’s Department of Heritage, Canada is the third largest exporter of musical talent in the world.
That new U2 album? 2017. The big tour? 2017.
Despite saying that they were hoping to have a new album by the end of 2016, it’s looking less and less likely that U2 will have the follow-up to 2014’s Songs of Innocence out until next year. According to lead singer Bono, they are also lining up a tour for 2017.
Billboard is quoting Spanish reporters who asked Bono about the status of the record while he, guitarist the Edge and their friend Gavin Friday were in Valencia, Spain, to attend the wedding of a friend. “It’s not finished yet but you will like it,” he said, before comparing it favorably with one of their most beloved albums. “In terms of lyrics it is stronger than [1983’s] War; it has more clarity.”
As for going out on the road, that will likely coincide with the album’s release. “The second part of the tour is for 2017,” he continued. “You might see a few things in September or October though.”
A Supercut Tribute to ’80s Movie Dance Scenes
August 5th marks the 30th anniversary of Lionel Richie’s album “Dancing On the Ceiling” and to celebrate here’s a nostalgia overload of 80 movie dance scenes from the 80’s getting down. Las Vegas-based video editor Robert Jones perfectly synced 80 memorable dance scenes from classic 1980s films with Lionel Richie’s hit.
https://youtu.be/NihK8KSQ3pU