After being diagnosed, and subsequently hospitalized, with COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic, Marianne Faithfull was one of the lucky ones who was eventually discharged. Though she technically recovered, the singer was left with three residual side effects — short-term memory loss, fatigue, and permanent lung damage — which she detailed during a recent interview with The Guardian. “I have to have oxygen and all that stuff. The side-effects are so strange,” she said. “Some people come back from it but they can’t walk or speak. Awful.” Unfortunately, the latter may end Faithfull’s music career. “I may not be able to sing ever again,” she confessed. “Maybe that’s over. I would be incredibly upset if that was the case, but, on the other hand, I am 74. I don’t feel c...
Source: Sugar Hill Records / Sugar Hill Duke Bootee, a name who OG Hip-Hop heads will recognize as one of the writer’s and rappers on Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s classic “The Message,” has passed away. He was 69. Rolling Stone reports that Duke Bootee, born Edward Fletcher, died on Wednesday, January 13 at his home in Savannah, GA. According to his wife, Rosita, the cause of death was end-stage congestive heart failure. Duke Bootee was a notable session player for Sugar Hill Records, the iconic Hip-Hop record label founded by the late Sylvia Robinson the recording home of acts like The Treacherous Three, the Sugar Hill Gang and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. While Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five gets credit for “The Message,” it featured rapping from memb...
While relaxation might not typically be associated with mau5trap releases, the deadmau5-led imprint is trying its hand at R&R with a new playlist exclusively for sleep and meditation app Calm. Released January 15th, the nine-track “flow & focus” playlist cycles through tracks by deadmau5 and friends, including ATTLAS, Getter and Midoca. Featured songs include Rinzen‘s ambient remix of deadmau5’s “acedia (ov),” ATTLAS’ slow-burning “Lavender God,” and an instrumental version of Getter and Allan Kingdom‘s “Numb,” among others. You can take a listen to “flow & focus”with a free seven-day trial here. While you’re there, you can also check out mixes and curated playlists from other m...
As it stands, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is still scheduled for April 9th-11th and April 16th-18th, 2021, with other large gatherings—including Stagecoach Music Festival and The Dinah—following suit with spring dates. However, a recent interview with Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege reveals the city does not have any plans to host large-scale events until at least the fall of 2021. The interview aired January 13th on Channel Q‘s popular 103.1 FM segment, “The Morning Beat with AJ and Mikalah.” While calling into the show, Holstege discussed current pandemic conditions in Palm Springs, the state of the city’s tourism industry, and high hopes for the future. “We’ve been focused on, you know, making sure that everyone’s wearing ...
“It was just such a great day.” This is how Disclosure‘s Guy Lawrence described working with Mac Miller on their single “Blue World,” released just under a year ago via the late rapper’s posthumous album, Circles. While Lawrence first spoke out about producing the track back in August, a new video posted to Disclosure’s social media accounts provides even more details through its first-person, behind-the-scenes look at the entire creative process. Clocking in at 44 minutes, the video first streamed on Twitch this past Christmas Eve. “This song, I wrote with Mac in LA at Capitol Records, Capitol Studios, Studio D, which is on the first floor upstairs. It was the first day that I’d ever met Mac,” Lawrence said. Arran...
But not everyone was convinced that Lopez’s beautiful wrinkle-free complexion results from good genes and the use of beauty products. “But can I just mention that brows and forehead doesn’t move at all when you talk or try to express… you definitely have Botox. And tons of it. And it’s all good. Just saying,” one person commented. J. Lo quickly came to her own defense, reminding the world for the “500 millionth time” that she hasn’t had plastic surgery or received Botox treatments. “LOL thats just my face!!! ….For the 500 millionth time… I have never done Botox or any injectables or surgery!! Just sayin’,” Lopez responded. “Get you some JLO BEAUTY and feel beautiful in your own skin!! The star wasn’t done quite yet. “And here is a...
Biden’s team wouldn’t comment, but here are five things you may not have known about the logistics of performances at presidential inaugurations — including this unusual week. Most Performances This Year Will Be Livestreams Biden’s team hasn’t announced details for each event, but nobody expects anything to be in person — the pandemic makes concert crowds a health risk, and Biden’s team is astutely aware of Trump supporters’ inauguration threats. “If you have any common sense at all, you’re doing this online,” says Sam Feldman, manager of James Taylor, a headliner for Sunday night’s “We the People” virtual concert. Though this year’s gigs will be virtual, “Everyone’s jumping at the chance ...
The Crystals, “Da Doo Ron Ron” (1963) After many of the first-wave American rock ambassadors dropped off the scene temporarily (such as Little Richard and Elvis Presley) or permanently (such as Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens), it seemed there wasn’t much innovation in rock until the Beatles arrived. Phil Spector was a major exception to that rule in the U.S., however, and the Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron” is a perfection distillation of musical approach: A simple, lyrically uncomplicated song delivered with a youthful enthusiasm from a group of young African American females, augmented by an impenetrable wall of orchestral pop at a breakneck pace (courtesy his group of studio pros known as the Wrecking Crew). With Dolores “LaLa” Brooks on lead, ...
Last week, Zayn topped the new music poll with his comeback single, “Vibez,” which earned nearly 70% of the fan vote. Nobody Is Listening arrives almost three years after the R&B singer’s 29-song 2018 album, Icarus Falls. In addition to “Vibez,” the new set features previously unreleased the previously unreleased track “Better,” which peaked at No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October. Placing second on the past week’s tally with 38% of the vote was Gomez’s new Spanish-language single “De Una Vez,” a rhythmic pop track that touches on healing and empowerment. It marks her first Spanish-sung song since “Un Año Sin Lluvia” in 2010. Coming in third with 10% of the vote was an all-star remix of Grande...