web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Category: News

music-news-from-breakups-to-the-lastest-buzz

  • Variety shows are a lost art…

    Variety shows are a lost art…

    Adding a little schlock to my rock today by examining the lost art of variety shows…

    Last week, I got on a serious Olivia Newton John kick. I bought a couple of her 70s era albums and learned a couple of her songs. I reminisced about the days when I adored Olivia in all her fluffy, sweet, squeaky clean glory. Or, at least she was that way until she sang songs like “Physical”, “Tied Up”, and “Soul Kiss”. Remembering an old song she sang about divorce called “Changes”, I took to YouTube to see if I could find it. The album it came from is very hard to find these days. I did end up finding Olivia’s old song. In fact, I found that she’d used it on a variety show she did back in the 70s. Check this out.


    Here’s a video from 1976. Looks like Olivia tried to turn the song into a scripted scene from a variety show. This kind of makes me cringe and laugh at the same time.


    Here’s another 1976 era video featuring Lee Majors… and Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman!

    It’s been a very long time since I last saw an artist like Olivia Newton John host a variety show. Lynda Carter, herself a singer sometimes, also had a variety show back in the day. It’s pretty damn cringeworthy.


    I actually remember when this originally aired in the early 80s.

    The song Lynda is singing is called “You’re Moving Out Today”. It was written by Carole Bayer Sager, Bette Midler, and Bruce Roberts. It was a hit for Sager in 1977 and notable since though Sager has written a lot of songs, this one was the only one that she sang herself.


    Here, she sings “Could It Be Magic” after telling her audience an entertaining anecdote about Mozart.

    This is a song that was made famous by both Barry Manilow and Donna Summer, both of whom I’d rather hear sing it than Lynda Carter. But judging by the comments on YouTube, people were not tuning in to hear the lovely Lynda Carter sing “Could It Be Magic”. I think most of them were hormonally provoked.

    While Lynda and Olivia had the odd musical special on primetime TV, there were other variety shows that were weekly affairs. Of course, I’m thinking about Donny and Marie Osmond, who had a very big hit with their show, Donny & Marie.


    Here’s a clip of Donny and Marie Osmond introducing Roy Clark, who was on his own cornball variety show Hee Haw.

    Roy Clark is kind of near and dear to my heart, since he was born in Meherrin, Virginia, a little town very close to where I went to college. The local hospital even had a plaque in the emergency room dedicated in his honor.


    A little wholesome banjo picking on Hee Haw… I used to watch this show all the time when I was growing up. I’d watch it today, too.

    And even imaginary television families got in on the variety show action. The stars of the 70s sitcom The Brady Bunch were guests on Donny & Marie. The episode was so popular that the powers that were at ABC decided to give them their own show. It was called The Brady Bunch Hour and it was truly a weird creation.


    This show was based on a truly ridiculous premise. Apparently, Mike Brady gave up being an architect to get into show biz.

    The Brady Bunch Hour didn’t last very long, but several big name stars were embarrassed on it, including Tina Turner, who at the time had just divorced ex husband Ike Turner.


    I give her credit for being so game to entertain!

    Sonny and Cher also had a great variety show back in the day. I actually love seeing old episodes of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. They were very entertaining.


    A less country version of “Jackson” as interpreted by Sonny Bono and Cher.

    And here Cher does a Stevie Wonder number with The Osmonds… This clip never fails to crack me up. I love how the electric keyboard comes down from nowhere and Donny pretends to play it.


    Check out the dance moves on this lot… They’re pretty great, except at the end, when they finish off in a weird pose.

    I love watching this shit. At the same time, I can’t imagine how this medium could be recreated for 2015. I doubt it would be very successful. These shows are so schlocky and corny. Oh well, I guess I could always go to Branson, Missouri for an evening of wholesome variety show fun.

    [AMAZONPRODUCT asin=”B00004WMP2″]

  • Discovering Vasco Rossi…

    Discovering Vasco Rossi…

    One of the most interesting things that happened on my recent trip to Hamburg was discovering Vasco Rossi, an Italian rock star I’d never heard of.

    Whenever I travel, I always keep my ears open for new music. Last Friday, my husband Bill and I went to Hamburg, Germany for the long weekend. Getting to Hamburg was quite an ordeal because there was a strike going on at the Stuttgart Airport. The people in charge of handling security were striking instead of processing passengers, so there was a two hour line to get through before we could board our one hour flight. When we landed in the early evening, I was pretty tired and ready to relax. We found a taxi and on our way into the city, I noticed that the driver was playing some music I liked. I peeked at his sound system and saw that he was playing the latest U2 album. But then he switched channels and started playing music by a guy named Vasco Rossi. I had never heard of Mr. Rossi before, but he’s a big star in Italy.

    Our cabbie was very Italian and was even showing us pictures of the Sicilian beachside town he came from while driving into Hamburg. Aside from showing us pictures, he was also into his music. I decided that while his driving skills were a little scary, the cabbie had pretty good taste in tunes. I liked Vasco Rossi’s raspy, sensual, dreamy sound, even if I didn’t understand much of what he was singing.


    Vasco Rossi sings for an enthusiastic audience.

    I found myself paying closer attention to the music, noting the singer’s name. Then the cab driver started telling us about Vasco Rossi and how he’s much loved in Italy. I started thinking about all the great musicians around the world who never get heard because their music doesn’t come from a place where it’s widely distributed. Think about it. People in the most obscure places on Earth have heard of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, and The Beatles. How many Americans know about singers like Vasco Rossi, who obviously enjoys much success in his homeland? Travel is a great way to discover things, especially new music. Travelers then take their discovery home, where they share it with others, just like I’m sharing my discovery with the people who read Pop Rock Nation.


    Vasco Rossi plays live in Milan.

    Some of my favorite souvenirs from my travels are musical selections I’ve found in other countries. When we go to new places, I always notice the music, whether it’s in a cab or playing in a restaurant where I’m having breakfast. I stop and listen to street music and have discovered some really gifted musicians that way. Vasco Rossi certainly doesn’t need me to “discover” him. He already has plenty of people enjoying his music. But thanks to a talkative and friendly cab driver in Hamburg, his music is now even more broadly known, if only in a micro way.


    A pensive album track by Vasco Rossi… “Sto Pensando A Te”

    Here’s something else I learned about Vasco Rossi. He’s known as a bit of a provocateur. Indeed, he’s even complained that his music doesn’t get broad representation in England and the United States. Well, now I can say I’m doing my part.

    The album I’m featuring below, Sono Innocente (I’m Innocent) was what was playing on our cab ride. It was released on November 4, 2014.

    [AMAZONPRODUCT asin=”B00LPBFVIE”]

  • Morning Tunes

    Morning Tunes

    Here in Germany, it’s cold and dark in the morning until after 8:00am during the winter months. Sometimes morning tunes are the only way to get my eyes to open.

    So what are my favorite morning tunes? I’d say it depends on my mood. Some mornings, I prefer something energetic and loud. For instance, this morning I’ve got Earth, Wind, & Fire’s classic 1981 album Raise! playing on my computer. There’s something about Philip Bailey’s soaring falsetto and heavy electric guitars that was on my mind this morning. So the first song I decided to play was “Evolution Orange”, which is a song that is kind of special to me. Back in the mid 90s, I was still somewhat interested in trying to be fit and used to jog to this album. “Evolution Orange” is a great song for running. Sadly, I can’t find a video for it on YouTube. Just so you know, finding videos in Germany is harder than it is in the United States because Germany is a lot stricter about content sharing and copyright enforcement.


    I did, however, find a video of “Let’s Groove”, which is from the same album.

    Some mornings, I’m in a more low key mood and prefer something less energetic. I especially prefer these calmer songs when I’m working on something that requires intense thought. When that happens, there’s no telling what I’ll end up playing. A little Phil Coulter when I need to think is a good thing…


    Phil Coulter’s version of “Going Home”…

    When I worked as a technical writer in South Carolina, I used to listen to a lot of Eden’s Bridge in the morning. Eden’s Bridge is a Christian band from Ireland. I am not particularly religious; I just really like good music. Eden’s Bridge is comprised of very talented musicians and they play beautiful and often original Celtic style music. I found it easy to think and create when listening to them play, so I’d often wear a pair of headphones while writing passages about how certain chronic diseases were trending in the state of South Carolina.


    I probably would have chosen an original tune to post here, but again, it’s hard to do that in Germany! Besides, I do like Eden Bridge’s spiritual rendition of “Awesome God”. It’s not cheesy… it’s Celtic!

    If I’m feeling more secular and need something good for thinking, I might choose something by Zero 7 or Dead Can Dance. They’re also great choices for when I need “evening tunes”.


    Zero 7’s “In the Waiting Line”. This song is both sexy and sort of clinical. It’s great for thinking.


    Dead Can Dance never gets old, though “The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove” has been around since 1993.

    And then there are the mornings when I’m feeling both soulful and energetic. I may reach for Ray Charles… or Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.


    I miss Ray Charles. He was just brilliant. At least I can listen to him sing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”.

    Seriously… I wasn’t even thinking of Ray Charles before I started writing this post and watching the above video just put a big smile on my face. Ray Charles was just an amazing entertainer and musician.


    Elvis Costello and Allen Touissant are a winning pair, especially in the morning.

    And finally, there’s Lenny Kravitz and his Led Zeppelinesque “Are You Gonna Go My Way”…


    This song never fails to get the blood pumping.

    I think there’s definitely a good reason why morning news shows play rock songs during their broadcasts. They are a great way to get going in the morning. On a totally unrelated note, once again I’m realizing how eclectic my musical tastes are. You never know whats going to be playing at my house.

    [AMAZONPRODUCT asin=”B000H0MNOE”]