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Pop Rock Nation

Category: News

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

  • Rock Hall Inducts Van Halen and REM, Among Others

    Might as well jump.

    According to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Eddie, Davy and the boys can be buddies again on stage in New York before they are enshrined in Cleveland. Joining them will be The Ronnettes, who won’t be their baby, REM and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Patti Smith.

    The eclectic group is going to be overshadowed with Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar on stage at the same time. In more positive news, Reuters is reporting that REM drummer Bill Berry, who left a decade ago (!) will rejoin his mates on stage.

    Spinning In The CD Player Today
    A ripped copy of REM’s original EP (yes, I still have the original) featuring the wonderfully poppy Boxcars.

  • Beyonce Goes For Cumpleanos

    Having ripped up the Latin charts with Spanish language tracks off B’day, Beyonce is apparently unwilling to leave the pesos to Shakira. The sultry singer and star of Dreamgirls told Univision that she is planning to record four tracks from B’day in Spanish for release to the Latin market.

    The singer’s Irreplaceable is not only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B charts, but even #12 on the Latin charts.

    This dreamgirl has always known how to market herself. Slick move.

    Spinning In The CD Player Today
    I am one of Jason Mraz’ remaining fans, and I am still digging Mr. A-Z after his live set, Tonight, Not Again didn’t leave my tray for a week. This Virginia boy can sing. Between him and Chris Brown, the Old Dominion may be undergoing a little music revival, one that even Elliot Yamin singing Michael Buble singing Donny Hathaway can’t diminish. (Seriously, you’re cool, Elliott. Now go get a job backing up Stevie Wonder already)

  • The Godfather Is Gone

    James Brown has died after complications from pneumonia triggered problems with his heart. Brown, who had more than his share of problems with the law and never claimed to lead the life of a choirboy, was a massive influence on hundreds of well known performers. In a somewhat ironic twist, Brown’s death was announced the day that Eddie Murphy finally got to do more than a three minute version of his JB impersonation in the hit movie Dreamgirls.

    Musicians can be measured by chart success or how they impacted others. Jimi, for example, was hardly Mr. Hot 100. Neither was Led Zeppelin, but I somehow doubt either would be denied a place in popular music’s pantheon. Brown brought us both, and for all his personal demons, was still out there kicking out new music, well past 70 years of age.

    God rest you, JB.

    Spinning In The CD Player Tonight: I didn’t want to play any song that said “I feel good” so a little loop of his massive comback on the Rocky IV soundtrack, Living in America. If you haven’t seen the film, try to catch Brown’s performance taunting a Russian boxer during the song Livin’ in America. It was the time of Springsteen’s Born in the USA and The Scorpions singing about the wall coming down, but the Godfather of Soul put it to a faux Commie boxer.