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  • A review of Linda Ronstadt’s book, Simple Dreams

    A review of Linda Ronstadt’s book, Simple Dreams

    Linda Ronstadt
    Linda Ronstadt

    I just finished reading Linda Ronstadt’s book, Simple Dreams…

    It’s safe to say that Linda Ronstadt is one of my musical idols. I have loved her music since the late 1970s, when my sister, Becky, brought home a copy of her Greatest Hits on vinyl. At the time, Becky was about 18 years old. I was six. I remember being enthralled by Linda’s searing soprano on songs like “You’re No Good”, “When Will I Be Loved” and “Heat Wave”. As I got older, I found more songs by her that I loved and when I became a singer myself, I learned many of her best known hits. I have fond memories of performing “When Will I Be Loved” at a gay bar in Key West, Florida and getting a very appreciative round of applause!


    Linda Ronstadt sings “When Will I Be Loved”…

    A couple of months ago, Linda Ronstadt announced that she suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, which has robbed her of her ability to sing. A few weeks later, her brand new book, Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir was released to the public. Naturally, I purchased it and just spent the last few nights reading about Linda Ronstadt’s life and extraordinary career. She has won twelve Grammys and worked with some of the biggest names in the music business, yet her upbringing in Tucson, Arizona was very normal and perhaps even idyllic. Her childhood was spent riding ponies and harmonizing with her musical sister, Suzy, and brother, Peter, and sharing Mexican songs with her father.

    I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of Ronstadt’s writing, which is very relatable and down to earth. Though she’s been a “girl singer” since she was a teenager, Ronstadt comes across as very learned. I appreciated the warmth she conveyed toward other musicians she has worked with, like Nelson Riddle, Rosemary Clooney, Andrew Gold, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, The Muppets (and their puppeteers) and Aaron Neville, just to name a few. Ronstadt’s book includes photos that illustrate her many anecdotes about her time in the music industry. Some of her stories surprised me as much as they entertained.

    As a music lover and fellow singer, I found Linda Ronstadt’s revelations about how she decided on songs and how she learned them very interesting. Ronstadt writes that all artists emulate those they admire. That’s certainly true in my case. She’s one of several female singers who inspire me. She also explains that she can often hear who influences certain singers. As someone who listens to a lot of music and enjoys a broad range of styles, I agree with her comments about emulation and inspiration. Also, having spent so much of my youth on the back of a horse, I loved reading about Ronstadt’s love of equines.

    Several subjects are conspicuously absent in Ronstadt’s book. She writes very little about her love life, though she does mention “keeping company” with California governor Jerry Brown. Ronstadt has two adopted children that she mentions once or twice, but writes nothing about them. I imagine she omitted information about her love life and her children out of respect for their privacy, though her children, in particular, are a big part of her life. Ronstadt makes no mention of her diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease and its effect on her voice. As there are many people afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, it might have been a kindness if she had shared about her experiences, especially for others who sing and have lost their ability due to this disease. Many Ronstadt fans may also be disappointed that she keeps her comments about her albums somewhat shallow.

    On the other hand, I was actually grateful that another topic was also conspicuously absent. In recent years, Ronstadt has come under fire for making political statements at her concerts. While I appreciate that everyone has a right to their opinions, I don’t go to musicians for their political views. I’m happy to report that Linda Ronstadt makes no mention of politics, except for the little bit she wrote about her time “keeping company” with Jerry Brown.

    Overall, I basically enjoyed Linda Ronstadt’s memoir and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about her life and career. However, be advised that some subjects one might expect to read about in her memoir are not extensively covered. If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1-5 stars, I would award three stars. I think it’s mostly a solid effort, though it could have been more complete and comprehensive.


    Linda Ronstadt talks about Parkinson’s Disease…

  • Bruno Mars Future: Channeling Stevie, Phil Or MJ?

    So where do we stand on Peter Gene Hernandez?  Still well under 30, Bruno Mars draws comparisons to everyone in the pop rock pantheon.  How does the Bruno Mars future career look to you?

    Chart success?   The only male artist to beat Bruno to five #1 Billboard Hot 100 singles is Elvis.

    He is as sought after as a song doctor as Stevie was and turns out pop candy singles like 1980s Phil Collins.  Dare we say he has the potential to reach post-childhood Michael?  No one is even remotely close to the four decade thrill ride Michael Jackson took through entertainment, but among male artists, who else combines performance, production, songwriting and commercial success like this after only two solo albums?

    I listened to Unorthodox Jukebox one time and knew the new album would be a hit.

    Bruno has one Grammy and 14 total nominations in 2011-2013.  Expect multiple nominations in 2014’s awards. Grammys nominations are usually held in December with an early February show, and I’m convinced he scores nominations for Best Pop Album  and the trio of Record, Album and Song of the Year.  Mind you, he many not win any awards, but at that point, the nomination count is crazy for a 4 year run.

    The RIAA certified these sales during 2013:

    • Locked Out of Heaven – 4 million sales
    • It Will Rain – 3 million sales
    • The Lazy Song – 3 million sales
    • When I Was Your Man – 3 million sales
    • Treasure – 1 million sales

    This is typical Bruno territory.  Grenade sold 5 million copies, Just the Way You Are sold 4 million and so on.

    Even in a very changed album environment, first solo album Doo-Wop & Hooligans has sold 2 million copies while Unorthodox Jukebox already has 1 million sales.

    Peer acceptance and commercial success is a great combo.

    Bruno burnout is possible, of course, but the ability to chart four and five singles from the same album and turn them all platinum is unique.

    So let’s turn the conversation.  What is your take on Burno Mars, and at this point in his career, where does he stack up against the greats?  If you’re going to say that he is the Next [Insert Name], whose name are you putting there?

    Remember it’s that mix of being able to write, dance, sing and produce that make him such a potent artist.

    You’ll laugh until you look at the career trajectory.  I’m going with Neil Diamond’s career, he sold 125+ million records, 10 Number One singles and a bunch of Grammys.

    Your turn.

  • Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Sinead O’ Connor…

    Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Sinead O’ Connor…

    This has been an interesting week in the music world, especially for Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, and Sinead O’Connor…

    First thing’s first. I am not really a fan of Miley Cyrus’, Justin Bieber’s, or Sinead O’Connor’s. I listened to Sinead back in the late 1980s because she had a hit song that was always on the radio and I listened to the radio a lot in those days. But I can’t honestly say that I purposely follow their careers much nowadays. Of course, because I am on the Internet all the time, I constantly see gossip pieces about them.

    The first one I saw this week concerned Justin Bieber, who apparently felt his bodyguards should carry him up the Great Wall of China. This incident follows a number of other weird incidents in which Bieber is caught acting out in public. In April, he was criticized for writing an egotistical remark at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. In June, he was seated next to a pretty young lady at a Miami Heat game and apparently treated her very rudely. A few months ago, he was in the news again for peeing in a mop bucket in a restaurant’s kitchen and for abandoning a monkey in Germany.

    Personally, I don’t really get the massive appeal of Justin Bieber. I mean, he was kind of cute when he was younger, but now he looks a little like Vanilla Ice back in the day. And he certainly doesn’t indicate that he’s a very charming person. In August, he rubbed a fan’s cell phone on his balls while performing at a concert. Granted, he was sick of people throwing stuff at him while he was performing, but still… Yuck! It looks to me like Justin Bieber holds most people in contempt. Money doesn’t seem to have made him very happy. But yeah, the trip up the Great Wall of China on the backs of his bodyguards really takes the cake.

    What happened to this kid?

    Moving on, a friend of mine in Ireland alerted me to an open letter Sinead O’Connor addressed to Miley Cyrus, advising her not to let the music industry exploit her. I read Sinead’s letter and I really didn’t think it was offensive. Maybe if I were Miley Cyrus, I would think it was out of line, but as a regular person, it appears that Sinead O’Connor was trying to do Miley a solid.

    Miley apparently didn’t think so, though. She took to Twitter, bringing up Sinead’s painful past. Sinead responded, asking Miley who was advising her and chastising Miley for mocking Sinead for her issues with mental illness. There’s nothing like a cat fight between pop stars.

    I think Miley Cyrus was rude in how she responded to Sinead O’Connor, but I also think her response is typical for someone her age. She no doubt thinks she has things handled, just like a lot of young people do. It takes awhile before age and experience starts to humble you and you learn that you don’t know nearly as much as you think you do. In any case, I guess Sinead O’Connor has learned that no good deed goes unpunished.

    Have a great weekend everybody!