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Pop Rock Nation

Category: Videos

  • Kate Bush announces London gigs 35 years after her only tour!

    Kate Bush announces London gigs 35 years after her only tour!

    Could it be true? Will fans finally get to see Kate Bush perform live again?

    I have been a Kate Bush fan since the early 1980s, when my older sister bought her 1982 album, The Dreaming, and played it for me. It took another seven or eight years before I finally started buying her albums myself. I was enchanted by her otherworldly singing and unusual musical arrangements. Kate Bush’s music is not for everyone, but I have loved most of it for a good portion of my life. I would have loved to have seen her perform live when I was younger. Unfortunately, Kate Bush hasn’t been on tour since 1979, when she famously played at Hammersmith Odeon. That was her one and only tour and it left many of her fans pining for more.


    Kate Bush sings “Wuthering Heights” and proves that she can dance and act.


    The Red Dress version of “Wuthering Heights”.

    I don’t know what has kept Kate from the stage for all these years. She’s clearly very talented at everything that makes someone a great live performer. While she has been somewhat reclusive in recent years, she hasn’t completely disappeared. In 2011, she released 50 Words for Snow, which included some innovative new songs. It was her first album since 2005’s awesome Aerial, which is probably one of my favorite albums by her.


    Kate Bush’s very moving song, “This Woman’s Work”.


    Mesmerizing duet with Peter Gabriel, “Don’t Give Up”.

    Kate Bush’s Before the Dawn show will be at London’s Eventim Apollo in August and September 2014. Tickets for the fifteen shows go on sale at 9:30am GMT on Friday, March 28th. Patrons are limited to four tickets per booking and must show photo identification to the booker upon arrival at the venue the night of the show. I wish I could be among the lucky people who will get to see Kate Bush perform live again after 35 years. Those who attend her concerts are definitely in for a treat.


    Cool version of Kate Bush singing “Running Up That Hill” with Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.


    “The Sensual World” is one of many favorite songs by Kate Bush. There’s something so seductive about this song.

    I’m sure someone will make a concert DVD of this show, which I’m certain to get my hot little hands on. For now, I can only be green with envy that those who are lucky enough to live in the United Kingdom will get the chance to see this rare event.


    One more for good measure! “Cloudbusting” is one hell of a cool song!

    Have a great weekend, everybody!

  • New discovery! Zucchero’s La Sesion Cubana!

    New discovery! Zucchero’s La Sesion Cubana!

    Zucchero “Sugar” Fornaciari’s La Sesion Cubana gives me a taste of Havana!

    One of the greatest things about being a music blogger is that I occasionally get to discover artists and promote them. Italian rock star Zucchero “Sugar” Fornaciari has been around a long time, but I just discovered him days ago when I scored a promotional copy of his latest album, La Sesion Cubana. I really knew nothing about Zucchero when I agreed to review this album, but was impressed by his Latin flavored cover of “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime”, a song that was originally a hit in 1980. Since I am a sucker for retro hits from the 70s and 80s, I wanted to hear more of Zucchero’s music.

    I played Zucchero’s La Sesion Cubana for the first time on Sunday afternoon. As soon as the music started, I immediately felt like dancing. This album was obviously a labor of love for the Italian blues-rock singer, who has long dreamt of recording in Cuba with the best native musicians in Havana. The end result is a fun mix of Latin, Cuban, Tex-Mex, and Mexicali sounds that practically beg you to get to your feet. This album was released on February 18, 2014 and includes music recorded live at the Legendary Concert in Havana, Cuba on December 8, 2012. La Sesion Cuba features seven brand new songs and six newly arranged versions of Zucchero’s previously released European hits.

    My deluxe copy of La Sesion Cubana includes a DVD. As much fun as it is to just listen to the CD, watching the DVD really adds to the experience. Zucchero and his band have a lot of fun with their live performance, which includes festive backup singers dressed in colorful Cuban inspired costumes. I enjoyed watching the horn section accompany Zucchero’s soulful singing, and the acoustic guitar player’s fingers nimbly dance across the guitar strings with intricate Latin infused melodies. The DVD is a treat for the eyes as much as the music is a gift for the ears.

    Interspersed within concert footage, there are video clips that depict Cuban people and the complexities of life there. Besides the docufilm, the DVD also includes bonus videos for two songs, “Never Is A Moment” and “Quale Senso Abbiamo Noi”. Though you can purchase the CD or download alone, the deluxe CD/DVD package is definitely worth it– you get more than two solid hours of entertainment and the pleasure of watching Zucchero perform with his excellent band.


    Zucchero sings one of his new songs, “Guantanamera (Guajira)”. Try to sit still for this one!


    Zucchero’s haunting cover of “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime”, a song that was originally made popular by The Korgis in 1980.

    Zucchero actually first covered “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” in 2004, when he performed it as a duet with Vanessa Carlton. The version on La Sesion Cubana is a new one, performed as a solo with subtle Latin accents.


    Zucchero performs “Pana”.

    The song “Pana” features Spanish singer “Bebe”, who adds even more spice to this very saucy number. I’m listening to this song in my office this morning and I have to admit, it’s getting the blood flowing! The music is so festive and energetic that I can’t help but wake up and greet the day. I am especially impressed by the high octane horn section on this song.


    “Ave Maria No Morro” is an inspirational duet with Brazilian star, Djavan.

    I really enjoy the soulful collaboration of Zucchero and Djavan, another artist with whom I was not acquainted before I listened to La Sesion Cubana. The slower, more emotional sounds of this song nicely complement the lively salsa rhythms on the rest of this album.


    By contrast, there’s the very frisky “Baila”, which I think is my favorite song on this album!

    “Baila” is remade Latin style for La Sesion Cubana and from the looks of the way the audience reacts to it, I think it’s a hit! This song reminds me a little of something I might hear by Santana.

    While La Sesion Cubana is my first taste of Zucchero’s music, I can say without hesitation that it won’t be the last. I really enjoyed La Sesion Cubana and now I want to hear more by Zucchero! It gets five stars and a hearty recommendation from me!

    If my review has turned you on to Zucchero’s La Sesion Cubana, you should try to catch him live. He’s on tour in the U.S. and Canada this spring!

    I received a complimentary copy of this album in exchange for my honest opinion of it.

  • Dental ditties…

    Dental ditties…

    This week, my teeth take front and center priority, since I just got a new crown preparation. Check out my dental ditties…

    I’ve had another rough week, despite my resolve to cheer up. Yesterday, I went to the dentist to get another molar prepared for a crown. I was pretty much dreading that appointment, even though it really did need to be done. The anticipation of a dental visit is often worse than the actual appointment. I came through my crown prep just fine, though I was left thinking about songs that have to do with teeth. The first one to pop into my head is this one from Little Shop of Horrors…


    Steve Martin sings about being a dentist.

    Fortunately, I don’t get the impression that my dentist is a sadist. She’s actually pretty good at preventing pain, at least during the procedure. In fact, the most painful part of yesterday was probably the bill, which included a small balance left over from my last dental adventure. Still, given how much people dread visiting the dentist and the fact that it can be very unpleasant, Steve Martin’s turn as a sadistic dentist in Little Shop of Horrors seemed perfect for this post full of dental ditties.

    The next thing I was reminded of was Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, you know, from The Muppets? A few weeks ago, Jim Henson’s son, John, died suddenly on Valentine’s Day. The Muppets have been on my mind since that sad day.


    Dr. Teeth and Electric Mayhem perform Chopin’s Polonaise in A Flat on The Muppet Show.

    This clip from The Muppet Show is proof positive that a person could be exposed to culture while watching The Muppets.

    Naturally, I had to include a song by Spooky Tooth, especially since when I saw my tooth photographed before I got my crown preparation, I was pretty spooked. It had three cracks in it that looked really scary.


    “Waiting For the Wind”

    I’m not sure what the significance of this band’s name is. They were a bit before my time, though I’ve heard plenty of references to their brand of English rock. Spooky Tooth was notable for being one of the few rock bands to implement dual keyboards; that is, they used both piano and organ in their music. I might not have been reminded of their sound as the dentist ground away my tooth yesterday, but they definitely belong on my list of dental ditties.


    Savoy Truffle is a song about needing all your teeth pulled after eating too many sweets.

    My love of sweet stuff is probably why I spent two hours in the chair yesterday. I’m sure it didn’t help that I love sugar and, when I was younger, didn’t take care of my teeth the way I should have.

    I could have just as easily ended up in the chair after an injury. AC/DC cover this nicely with their dental ditty, “Kicked In The Teeth”.


    Ouch!

    I actually did once get kicked in the teeth by a horse. I didn’t think I came away from the experience any worse for wear until a dentist in North Carolina told me she suspected that one of my front teeth was dead. Fortunately, it doesn’t look dead unless you look closely.

    And finally, Lady Gaga’s addition to my dental ditties post…


    “Teeth” certainly is enough to make you want to get up out of the dental chair…

    This song certainly has some “teeth”, doesn’t it? Fortunately, since yesterday, I still have mine. Hopefully I can avoid the dentist’s chair for treatment in the near future.