Rock
10 Timeless Political Songs for Election Day
This feature originally ran November 2008 and has since been edited for Election Day 2020. Everyone hates politics. Election Day is among us, though. So, it doesn’t matter if you get nauseous any time you flip by C-SPAN or that you once had an asthma attack during your eighth-grade field trip to Washington, D.C. Truth be told, the country’s future is on the line, and it’s your civil duty to get out there and cast a ballot. As a source of inspiration, we scrambled together a cliché collection of the best political anthems out there. Because, really, sometimes you just need to hear the hits again to feel good about something — it’s sort of like how every sports team relies on the same three or four songs to get everyone in the mood. Editors’ Picks So, slap on those headphones, pump up ...
The 5 Best Covers of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World”
Very few were originally sold on The Man Who Sold the World, whether talking about David Bowie’s now-admired third album or the title track nestled near the back of that same recording. After a debut album of boyish, quirky pop juvenilia and a follow-up known mostly for the novelty of the future Starman’s first foray into outer space (“Space Oddity”), The Man Who Sold the World saw the English songwriter shift towards a harder brand of rock alongside producer Tony Visconti and future Spiders from Mars guitarist Mick Ronson and drummer Mick Woodmansey. Still, the departure gained Bowie little notice, and the title song itself did little to stand out at the time on the single-less album. It wouldn’t be until Bowie’s success two records later as Ziggy Stardust that critics and fans alike bega...
Local Natives on Obsessing Over At the Drive-In
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Radio Public | Stitcher This Must Be the Gig is joined by Local Natives. As two of the founding members of the Southern California band, Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn first came together when they were just high schoolers. Not long later, Local Natives’ debut record Gorilla Manor solidified their radiant credentials. Over a decade later, the five-piece have now released four studio albums and spread their sunshine and wonder at festivals and sold-out shows around the world. Most recently, the band put out the four-track Sour Lemon EP, collaborated with Sharon Van Etten, and put together an incredible live-streamed concert for eager fans. In this week’s episode, host Lior Phillips sp...
Elvis Costello’s Aim Remains Remarkably True on Hey Clockface: Review
The Lowdown: English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has about three dozen studio LPs under his belt (including collaborations), yet he’s never lost his inimitable knack for crafting scornful witticisms, tender ballads, catchy-as-hell rockers, and everything in-between. Likewise, his skill at working within multiple genres while both modernizing his sound and staying true to his distinguishing DNA is virtually unmatched by his peers or proteges. In other words, he’s always staked out his own path within the realm of popular music, and with Hey Clockface, he continues that legacy. It doesn’t rival his greatest LPs — not that anyone expects it to — but it’s a surprisingly wide-ranging and substantial venture that reveals how much creative spark and ability is still there after all these yea...
Eddie Van Halen’s Son Blasts ‘US Weekly’ For Publishing ‘Lies’ About Family
Van Halen took exception, however, to a cover story in the entertainment magazine which features his mom Valerie Bertinelli alongside the headline, “Love, Loss & Staying Strong.” “F— this, and f— you US Weekly,” Van Halen writes. “The only thing printed in this piece of toilet paper that’s true is that we all loved my father. This is not a new interview. My mother did not speak to them for this. That is all.” The thread continues, “I know what a lot of you are going to say. ‘Just ignore it, bro!’ I’m not going to stand by and let people publish lies and make my family’s tragedy someone else’s entertainment.” Wolfgang has been a member of the rock band since 2006, when he replaced founding Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony. He contributed to Van Halen’s final studio al...
The Neighbourhood Score Best On-Demand Streaming Weeks Yet For ‘Sweater Weather’ & ‘Daddy Issues’
Meanwhile, a non-official single from the group’s back catalog — 2015’s “Daddy Issues” — has similarly seen its metrics rising every week. That’s also thanks to its popularity on TikTok, where videos using the transition to the song’s “go ahead and cry, little girl…” chorus have recently been omnipresent. Over the same timespan as mentioned for “Sweater Weather,” the song has risen from 2.4 million weekly on-demand streams in late August to 3.8 million this past week, a gain of 58%. Both the 5.0 million on-demand streams for “Sweater Weather” and the 3.8 million for “Daddy Issues” mark respective career highs for the two songs. The previous streaming high-water mark for “Sweater Weat...
Steve Earle, Bobbie Gentry, Kent Blazy to Be Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Three-time Grammy winner Earle has released 18 studio albums, beginning with his acclaimed 1986 debut, Guitar Town, and is known for writing songs such as “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand.” Singer/songwriter/producer Gentry is best known for her 1967 No. 1 smash “Ode To Billie Joe,” as well as “Fancy” and “Mornin’ Glory.” Blazy’s songwriting credits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes” (Garth Brooks), “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up)” (Garth Brooks) and “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song)” (Chris Young). James has a long list of songwriting credits, including “Jesus Take The Wheel” (Carrie Underwood), “When The Sun Goes Down” (Kenny Chesney & Uncle Kracker) and “Summer Nights” (Rascal Flatts). Oldham has written such R&B and pop hits as “I’m...
Here Are All the Livestreams & Virtual Concerts to Watch During the Coronavirus Crisis: Week of Nov. 2
A day earlier, Nine Inch Nails will be reminiscing about the influential band’s decades-long history during a discussion with journalist David Farrier. The event comes ahead of NIN’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For more events, check out the list below. We’ll update this page as more virtual music events are announced for the week. Nov. 3: Members of both My Morning Jacket and The Decemberists, as well as many other musicians, are participating in the #iVoted virtual Election Day concert. The event begins at noon; RSVP here to watch it. Nov. 5: Ted Leo is performing live from the Columbus Theatre at 9 p.m. ET. Tickets are $15. Nov. 6: Ahead of their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Nine Inch Nails is livestreaming a discussion hosted b...
Nikki McKibbin, ‘American Idol’ Season 1 Contestant, Dies at 42
“Even at the end she is still giving. She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us. There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead,” Sadler wrote. He added that McKibbin was a longtime fans of Stevie Nicks and that Fleetwood Mac‘s 1975 song “Landslide” would be played for her before doctors performed her final surgery. “If you are able, you can pause at 3:00 wherever you are and listen to it with her,” Sadler wrote. “She will know that you’re sharing her farewell. She loved so many of you and I know you loved her too.” McKibbin is best known for placing third on the debut season of American Idol in 2002, finishing behind runner-up Justin Guarini and champion Kelly Clarkson. ...
Bruce Springsteen Lends His Voice to Joe Biden’s ‘Hometown’ Campaign Ad: Watch
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has enlisted Bruce Springsteen to narrate a new campaign advertisement about the former vice president’s “hometown” of Scranton, Pennsylvania. “Scranton, Pennsylvania. Here, success isn’t handed down. It’s forged in sweat, grit and determination,” Springsteen says in the ad. “This is his hometown. In Scranton, good times aren’t promised. But here, and in towns across America, times are harder than they ought to be. Lives are on pause, dreams on hold, futures in doubt.” Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. track “My Hometown” also appears in the minute-long ad, which premiered Friday (Oct. 30) on YouTube and will air during Saturday night’s broadcast of the college football game between Penn State and Ohio State. You Dese...
Joy to the Polls Enlists Swizz Beatz, Billie Joe Armstrong, Maggie Rogers & More for Voting-Inspired Playlists
Need some music for Election Day on Nov. 3? Look no further than a new playlist series on Spotify from non-partisan group Election Defenders, whose Joy to the Polls campaign has helped develop voting-inspired playlists from artist like Swizz Beatz, Billie Joe Armstrong, Maggie Rogers and others. “We’re thrilled to announce these playlists from so many wonderful partners, people and communities in every corner of the country,” Nelini Stamp, campaign director at Election Defenders, said in a statement. “We are calling on all voters to make their own playlists to deliver a clear, joyful message that we will protect our democracy from this pandemic and from voter suppression wherever it shows up.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined ...
Selena Gomez, Joe Jonas, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Kacey Musgraves and More Stars Who Voted Early
More than 14 million Americans have voted so far, and with less than three weeks left until the Nov. 3 election, this year’s tallies are on track to be historic, with some states already posting 10-40 percent of the total votes counted in 2016 through a combination of absentee and in-person early voting. And, well, stars, they’re just like millions of other patriotic Americans who trust the nation’s election system: They’re getting out early too. “Just finished filling out my ballot!” Selena Gomez wrote on Instagram Thursday (Oct. 22). In a slideshow of pics, she shows off her “I VOTED” sticker. Mandy Moore cast her ballot, but made it fashionable, posting a short video in which she busted out her black leather Stuart Weitzman 5050 ...
