Page 2991 – That Eric Alper

Home Blog Page 2991

20 years ago today, Shania Twain released “The Woman In Me”

Music

pssadm

Feb 7, 2015

20 years ago today, Shania Twain released “The Woman In Me”

The Woman in Me, released on February 7, 1995, is the second studio album released by Shania Twain and her first with the majority of the songs co-written by her. It went onto become her biggest-selling recording at the time of its release, selling 4 million copies by the end of the year, and was eventually certified 12× Platinum by the RIAA on December 1, 2000, representing 12 million shipments throughout the United States, and 20 million copies worldwide.

Here are 5 fun facts about this landmark release!

1. 8 of the 12 songs on the album were singles: “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?”, “Any Man of Mine”, “The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You)”, “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!”, “You Win My Love”, “No One Needs to Know”, “Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)” and “God Bless the Child”. “Home Ain’t Where His Heart Is (Anymore)” became the first from The Woman in Me not to reach the top 20 of the country charts.

2. “Any Man of Mine” also proved to be a critical success, it was nominated for both Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards. It won Single of the Year at both the Canadian Country Music Awards and Country Music Radio Awards in 1995. It also won Country Single of the Year at the 1996 Jukebox Awards and Song of the Year at the 1996 RPM Big Country Music Awards.

3. The music video for “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?” was shot in Santa Ynez, California and directed by John Derek, also known for marrying glamorous starlets and for launching the career of his last wife, Bo Derek.

4. “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!” became Twain’s second number-one hit at country radio, and the first single to be promoted with three different mixes worldwide to cater to international genre demand.

5. The single sales from “God Bless the Child” were donated to Second Harvest/Kids Cafe in the US, and from Canada to Breakfast for Learning.

The Story of Stack-O-Lee

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

The historical “Stagger Lee” was Lee Shelton, an African-American pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 19th century. He was nicknamed “Stag Lee” or “Stack Lee”, with a variety of explanations being given for the moniker: he was given the nickname because he ‘went “stag”‘, meaning he was without friends; he took the nickname from a well-known riverboat captain called “Stack Lee”; or, according to John and Alan Lomax, he took the name from a riverboat owned by the Lee family of Memphis called the Stack Lee, which was known for its on-board prostitution. He was well known locally as one of the “Macks”, a group of pimps who demanded attention through their flashy clothing and appearance. In addition to these activities, he was the captain of a black “Four Hundred Club”, a social club with a dubious reputation.

On Christmas night in 1895, Shelton and his acquaintance William “Billy” Lyons were drinking in the Bill Curtis Saloon. Lyons was also a member of St. Louis’ underworld, and may have been a political and business rival to Shelton. Eventually, the two men got into a dispute, during which Lyons took Shelton’s Stetson hat. Subsequently, Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left. Lyons died of his injuries, and Shelton was charged, tried and convicted of the murder in 1897. He was pardoned in 1909, but returned to prison in 1911 for assault and robbery, and died in incarceration in 1912.

The crime quickly entered into American folklore and became the subject of song as well as folktales and toasts. The song’s title comes from Shelton’s nickname, “Stag Lee” or “Stack Lee”. The name was quickly corrupted in the folk tradition; early versions were called “Stack-a-Lee” and “Stacker Lee”; “Stagolee” and “Stagger Lee” also became common. Other recorded variants include “Stackerlee”, “Stack O’Lee”, “Stackolee”, “Stackalee”, “Stagerlee”, and “Stagalee”

From The St. Louis Globe Democrat, December 26th, 1895:

“William Lyons, 25, a levee hand, was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o’clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis, at Eleventh and Morgan Streets, by Lee Sheldon, a carriage driver. Lyons and Sheldon were friends and were talking together. Both parties, it seems, had been drinking and were feeling in exuberant spirits. The discussion drifted to politics, and an argument was started, the conclusion of which was that Lyons snatched Sheldon’s hat from his head. The latter indignantly demanded its return. Lyons refused, and Sheldon withdrew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen. When his victim fell to the floor Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away. He was subsequently arrested and locked up at the Chestnut Street Station. Lyons was taken to the Dispensary, where his wounds were pronounced serious. Lee Sheldon is also known as ‘Stag’ Lee”

Via CJSW and Wikipedia

Tupac Wanted To Drop Collaboraive Album With Outkast, Buckshot, Smif-n-Wessun, Scarface and E-40

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

From Okayplayer:

A handwritten letter that appears to be one of Tupac’s personal documents has been unearthed. In the note to a friend, which likely dates back to 1996, Pac mentions his plans to drop a posse record featuring the likes of Outkast, Buckshot, Smif-n-Wessun, Scarface and E-40. Referred to as ONE NATION, the album-that-never-was would have been a landmark achievement: a bridging of the East-West-South divides of 90s hip-hop and proof that artistic respect can trump overblown beef when cool, conscious minds prevail. Read the full letter below:

What do you think?

Jack White Has Just Created The Greatest Tour Poster Of All Time

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Jack White continues to be one of the most creative musicians working – and might be up there in the all-time greats. He has now released a “scratch-off” tour poster for Las Vegas that Matthew Jacobson and Shelby Rodeffer have designed, which comes with a specially designed coin to scratch and expose underlying images. If you’re lucky and scratch a winning combination, there are a few prizes involved.

If you scratch to reveal a redhead, blonde, and brunette you win the “Three Women Prize Pack” containing three limited edition records: a 7″ single by Tempest Storm, a 7″ single by Amy Walker, and an album by Olivia Jean.
If you scratch to reveal Neitszhe, Freud, and Horace you win the “Three Thinkers Collection,” containing the limited edition live LPs by Bill Burr, Neil Hamburger, and Reggie Watts.
Three matching Third Man men will win you a $300 gift card to spend online or in-store at Third Man Records.

No word if he’ll continue this promotion, but these posters are as good as anything created in music.

Celebrities Read Mean Tweets About Themselves: Music Edition (Part Two)

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Celebrities Read Mean Tweets About Themselves: Music Edition (Part Two)

People write very nasty things on Twitter. From time to time on this program, we shine a light on that. Here is Jimmy Kimmel’s second all-music edition of #MeanTweets featuring Josh Groban, Drake, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Jessie J, Blake Shelton, Haim, Wiz Khalifa, Ed Sheeran, Iggy Azalea, Pitbull, Sia, Childish Gambino, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Jason Aldean, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Katy Perry and Psy.

How To Get Rid Of Guys On Tinder, With The Help Of Enrique Iglesias

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Category: Awesome, DGAF, FAIL, Funny, Idiot, Owned, WTF

Via The Chive

Jimmy Fallon and Will Smith Beatbox and Perform ‘It Takes Two’ by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Jimmy Fallon and Will Smith make a beatbox loop using an iPad app to sing “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock.

http://youtu.be/oazFK9awniE

…and here’s the original version:

Rare Footage Of Robin Williams Improvising To Help Promote Friend For A Job

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Rare Footage Of Robin Williams Improvising To Help Promote Friend For A Job

Here’s some rare footage from the 1980s showing the late Robin Williams improvising for a video to promote the career of Mork & Mindy director Howard Storm. As Williams says, “If he can work with me… he can work with anyone!”

This video was uploaded by Daniel Pastel, who worked at the production company that edited the video for Storm.

In the early 1980’s I was working at a production company. We were editing a segment for director Howard Storm. I was amazed then and after seeing it again amazed at Robin’s natural ability to make people laugh. I never had the privilege of meeting him but like us all, will miss him terribly. The world has lost a little happiness.

http://youtu.be/h1EIBtYf-A8

Imagine Dragons Announce The Smoke + Mirrors North American Tour

Music

pssadm

Feb 6, 2015

Imagine Dragons Announce The Smoke + Mirrors North American Tour

GRAMMY® Award-winning rock band, Imagine Dragons, are set to bring their electrifying live shows back on the road in 2015 with the SMOKE + MIRRORS TOUR in support of their new album, Smoke + Mirrors, due out on Feb. 17 on KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records. The multi-platinum selling band along with alternative rock band, Metric, announced the tour today at a special surprise performance event at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles, Cali. in front of hundreds of fans and for viewers worldwide via Yahoo! live stream. Metric will be special guests on the SMOKE + MIRRORS TOUR. Also joining the tour line-up will be Astralwerks’ recording artist, Halsey. Kicking off on June 3 in Portland, Ore., the Live Nation promoted tour will visit cities throughout the U.S. and Canada with dates lined up in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Vancouver and many more before wrapping up on Aug. 1 in Boise, Idaho. A full list of tour dates is below.

Tickets for the general public go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 17 at www.livenation.com.

On Smoke + Mirrors, Imagine Dragons use the frenetic energy of life on the road to infuse their music with both raw tension and intense vulnerability. As on their double-platinum full-length debut Night Visions, the band works with sharply crafted beats and grooves to dream up rhythm-driven rock music that’s artful yet visceral. Also revealing the band’s dedication to keeping it homespun, Smoke + Mirrors marks the first release recorded in their new self-built home studio. The album’s lead single, “I Bet My Life,” is currently Top 5 at Modern Rock radio and has over 11 millions views on Vevo. To support the release of the album, Imagine Dragons will be performing the new single on television appearances lined up throughout February including Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Formed in 2009 and featuring lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman, Imagine Dragons earned a grassroots following by independently releasing a series of EPs. After Alex Da Kid signed them to his KIDinaKORNER/Interscope label, the band made its major-label debut with the release of Continued Silence, a 2012 EP featuring the 2x platinum breakthrough single “It’s Time.” Night Visions arrived later that year and Imagine Dragons found themselves on a skyward trajectory that saw the album debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, sell nearly four million copies worldwide, and becme the No. 1 album on Spotify Worldwide for 2013. Night Visions’ second single, the 9x-platinum “Radioactive,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Rock chart and earned the band a 2014 Grammy for “Best Rock Performance.” It is the best-selling rock song in U.S. digital history. The third single, “Demons,” hit No. 1 at Alternative and Top 40 radio, and has sold 3.9 million copies in the U.S. The band has sold more than 24 million tracks worldwide.

A standard version of Smoke + Mirrors is now available for pre-order on iTunes. Those who pre-order the standard edition receive instant downloads of the album’s first single “I Bet My Life” and the songs “Shots” and “Gold.” In addition, an exclusive deluxe edition available only at Target, featuring four extra tracks and exclusive cover art, will go on sale in stores and on Target.com on Feb. 17. That version can be pre-ordered on Target.com now. Fans can also pre-order a limited edition “art box deluxe” version of the album HERE. This format includes lithograph prints designed by artist Tim Cantor for every song on the album as well as an oversized album booklet in a collectible box. Those who buy the limited edition gain early access to purchase tickets for the band’s 2015 tour. A standard version will be available at other retailers for digital download, streaming via subscription services and on CD/vinyl.

SMOKE + MIRRORS TOUR

All dates and venues below subject to change.

Wed Jun 03	Portland, OR	Moda Center
Fri Jun 05	Calgary, AB	Scotiabank Saddledome
Sat Jun 06	Edmonton, AB	Rexall Place
Mon Jun 08	Winnipeg, MB	MTS Centre
Tue Jun 09	Minneapolis, MN	Xcel Energy Center
Wed Jun 10	Omaha, NE	CenturyLink Center Omaha
Fri Jun 12	St. Louis, MO	Scottrade Center
Sat Jun 13	Milwaukee, WI	BMO Harris Bradley Center
Mon Jun 15	Chicago, IL	Allstate Arena
Tue Jun 16	Louisville, KY	KFC Yum! Center
Thu Jun 18	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
Fri Jun 19	Pittsburgh, PA	Consol Energy Center
Mon Jun 22	Cleveland, OH	Quicken Loans Arena
Tue Jun 23	Detroit, MI	The Palace of Auburn Hills
Wed Jun 24	Buffalo, NY	First Niagara Center
Sat Jun 27	Philadelphia, PA	Wells Fargo Center (Metric not performing on this date)
Mon Jun 29	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center
Tue Jun 30	New York, NY	Barclays Center
Wed Jul 01	Boston, MA	TD Garden
Fri Jul 03	Montreal, QC	Bell Centre
Sat Jul 04	Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
Mon Jul 06	Washington DC	Verizon Center
Tue Jul 07	Charlotte, NC	Time Warner Cable Arena
Wed Jul 08	Nashville, TN	Bridgestone Arena
Fri Jul 10	Tampa, FL	Amalie Arena
Sat Jul 11	Fort Lauderdale, FL	BB&T Center
Mon Jul 13	Memphis, TN	FedExForum
Tue Jul 14	Atlanta, GA	Philips Arena
Thu Jul 16	Houston, TX	Toyota Center
Fri Jul 17	Dallas, TX	American Airlines Arena
Mon Jul 20	Anaheim , CA	Honda Center
Tue Jul 21	San Diego, CA	Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University
Fri Jul 24	Los Angeles, CA	The Forum
Sat Jul 25	Phoenix, AZ	US Airways Center
Mon Jul 27	Denver, CO	Pepsi Center
Tue Jul 28	Salt Lake City, UT	EnergySolutions Arena
Thu Jul 30	Vancouver, BC	Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Fri Jul 31	Tacoma, WA	Tacoma Dome
Sat Aug 01	Boise, ID	Taco Bell Arena

3 Hours of Walking around Stereosonic Festival as Steve Aoki

Music

pssadm

Feb 5, 2015

3 Hours of Walking around Stereosonic Festival as Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki is an American house musician, DJ, record producer, founder of Dim Mak Records and all-around nice guy – I’ve done PR with him before, and I think he’d find this video to be just as funny as I do. Music fan and photographer Jarrad Seng walked around the Stereosonic festival in Perth, Australia dressed up as Steve Aoki (he admits he gets mistaken for him from time to time), and the results are hilarious – so many selfies to be taken with fans, so little time. The best part is when Jarred continues to walk around taking photos with oblivious (or just …um…not bright) fans while the actual Steve Aoki is onstage DJing.