SAWAYAMA

What better time to have a collection of new music that manages to simultaneously deliver an old-skool vibe while taking us a thrilling dance-pop journey that feels fresh and modern. That record would be "Sawayama" the debut album from Rina Sawayama, the twenty-nine year old Japanese-born, British-raised artist.

While studying in college to pursue a practical career, Sawayama decided to move in to music. In between classes, she performed with a hip-hop outfit called Lazy Lion before graduating with a degree in political science. In 2013, she self-released her first song, "Sleeping in Waking". That was followed by few more singles before independently releasing a mini-album, "Rina" in 2017. This would help deliver Sawayama some buzz, leading to a small tour in the US and a opening slot for Charli XCX on her tour through Britain last year.

At the beginning of the year, Sawayama was signed to Dirty Hit Records and began releasing the singles, "STFU!" a ranting, heavy-metal influenced track (and my favorite song from the record), "Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)" a slinky dance tune which takes on the narrow ideas of masculinity and another favorite, "XS" that examines a world in crisis due to capitalism and global climate change.

It is very easy to see how Sawayama's music certainly found inspiration from Lady Gaga along with many other dance-pop acts from the early 2000's. But the singer, who co-wrote the entire album, brings her own sense of musical style and razor-sharp wit to her songs, making this already one of the most exciting pop albums of the year.

I have become a huge fan so please listen to a little sample of the music of Rina Sawayama:

MY TUNE OF THE DAY

This tune of the day is actually a reason to talk about the television special, "Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince" that aired on April 21st. This program was in order to honor the memory and career of the prolific, gifted musical artist who passed away on this date four years ago which is still really shocking to believe. The actress and comedian, Maya Rudolph hosted the event (and briefly performed with Gretchen Lieberum as a part of their tribute band to Prince, Princess) with a a variety of musicians coming out to entertain with their versions of the Purple One's Greatest hits.

As to be expected, there were some thrilling performances (H.E.R. and Gary Clark, Jr. doing a guitar-heavy cover of "Let’s Go Crazy"; the Foo Fighters delivering their version of "Darling Nikki" and the reunion of Morris Day and The Time who came together to do several of their big hits) and a few that failed to generate much excitement (Susanna Hoffs teaming with Chris Martin of Coldplay to turn the Bangles', "Manic Monday" in to an odd ballad; Beck singing a lackluster cover of "Raspberry Beret"; Usher doing a reprise of his Prince medley performance from this year's Grammys but singer, FKA Twigs was still only being used as a back-up dancer). Sheila E. was a constant presence throughout the show, playing as a backing musician for all of the acts and the dazzling percussionist even had the chance in the spotlight with an electrifying performance of her Prince produced smash, "The Glamorous Life".

One of my favorite moments of the evening was Earth, Wind and Fire doing an impressive cover of Prince's "Adore" from his 1987 album, "Sign o' the Times". Philip Bailey's distinctive falsetto sent this beautiful ballad soaring and the band made their version a highlight of the show. As "Adore" is one of my favorite songs by Prince, I have made it my tune of the day. Please listen and enjoy:

NEW SOUNDS

FIONA APPLE

It's been eight years since we last heard from the gifted yet reclusive performer, Fiona Apple but the very long-awaited new album is finally here and I think it's absolutely well worth the wait. "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" (which the title comes from a quote in the British television crime drama, "The Fall") is a fascinating eclectic and eccentric collection of music filled with moods, ruminations, raw emotion and odd sounds that takes us on an inimitable journey inside of the mind of this singular artist. With a very small band of musicians to help execute her ideas, the forty-two year old vocalist felt free to allow herself to wander musically, restructuring and misshaping each song in any way she deemed fit. The timing of this release may have been to benefit her fans who may be looking for some fresh musical stimulation while under the stay-in-place orders due to the pandemic but I'm sure it's also to help Apple avoid having to leave the comfort of her home to promote this album. I love the entire album but here are two of my favorites from the latest by Fiona Apple:





KELLY ROWLAND

After Destiny's Child parted ways, Kelly Rowland has continued her career in music although she has not gotten nearly as much attention as another member of her former group. She has released four studio albums to date with them achieving greater success internationally. Rowland has also dabbled in acting, appearing in a few films including the horror flick, "Freddy vs. Jason", and hosted or participated in several reality television programs with her currently serving as a judge on the Australian version of the singing competition show, "The Voice". But Rowland has returned to music in a big way with her recently dropping a fantastic new single, "Coffee". This seductive song is simply about having a hot cup of java and even hotter intimacy in the morning with a loved one. And I love, love, LOVE the music video for the song with it's sensual energy and emphasis on all shades of African-American beauty. Please check this clip out for "Coffee":



Sam Smith has decided to delay his forthcoming album (which was due in May and will get new title as it was going to be called, "To Die For") due to the pandemic facing the world. While there had been several singles previously released, these songs may not appear on the new record as Smith has just released what he is calling the first single. "I'm Ready" (co-written and produced by one of the hottest music craftsmen right now, Ilya Salmanzadeh) is throbbing dance track and features a duet with Demi Lovato. This passionate song is about being open to accepting love. For the music video, Smith fully embraces being non-binary and features drag queens, racing in glamorous gowns and heels, in an Olympics-themed clip.

RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

John Prine, the Grammy Award-winning, Americana singer/songwriter sadly lost his battle against COVID-19 and passed away from complications on April 7th at the age of seventy-three. He was certainly a brave fighter, having previously battled against throat and lung cancer while also having heart issues. Prine received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Grammys after years of writing wonderful songs filled with humor and thoughtful insights on the human condition. I have to admit I had never heard any of Prine's recordings but I am familiar with his songs. Two of my favorites are Bonnie Raitt's 1974 cover of his "Angel From Montgomery", a song about a married, middle-aged woman looking for an "angel" to help her escape from a life of desolation. The other is "Hello In There", a heartbreaking tune about aging that Bette Midler recorded for her debut album back in 1972.





Here are a few unexpected pairings that provide some wild musical duets I found as I traveled down a YouTube rabbit hole that I would like to share:









And finally here is Finneas, the recent winner of the Grammy Award for Producer of The Year (for his work on his sister, Billie Eilish's album) who is showing off his skills as a performer. The single, "Let's Fall In Love For The Night", from his debut EP, "Blood Harmony" which was released last year, now has a music video that was recently released. This fun and whimsical clip perfectly enhances the song, giving off a vibe that makes it feel like it would fit right in place with the movie, "La La Land":

BILL WITHERS (1938 - 2020)

Bill Withers, the smooth-voice behind the hit songs, "Lean On Me" and "Lovely Day", has sadly passed away at the age of eighty-one. The gifted folk-soul singer/songwriter died from heart complications on March 30th. Withers had kept a low profile over the years (with recent appearances in a 2009 documentary, "Still Bill" and during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 which he disappointingly did not perform) and hadn't recorded any new music in the last thirty-five years.

William Harrison Withers Jr. was the youngest of six children born in the small coal-mining town of Slab Fork, WV. He had a stutter as a child which made it difficult for him to fit in. At seventeen, Withers joined the Navy where he would begin to become interested in singing and songwriting. After serving for nine years, he moved to Los Angeles to try a career in music in 1967. Withers made demos and performed in clubs around town for a number of years before he got a chance to audition for Clarence Avant, owner of Sussex Records.

Withers was signed to the label with musician, Booker T. Jones assigned to produce his debut album. "Just as I Am" was released in 1971 and was an immediate success thanks to the singles, "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" which Withers had written. This would lead to him becoming a popular performer and sought-after writer and producer. Not long after his acclaimed live album recorded at Carnegie Hall was released, Sussex Records folded and Withers would sign with Columbia Records in 1975.

However, this was not a smooth pairing as the label would continuously not approve songs he would write for his albums, causing friction between the artist and Columbia. Withers released three albums (with only "Lovely Day" from "Menagerie" in 1977 was a significant hit) and would release one last album in 1985, "Watching You Watching Me" after an eight year hiatus between records. With some of the rejected songs he had written back in 1982 approved for what would ultimately be his final album (and were actually released as singles), Withers was done butting heads with label executives and refused to re-sign with Columbia Records and would leave the music business.

Withers was married to actress, Denise Nicholas in 1973, while she co-starred on the sitcom, "Room 222". After her claims of domestic violence, the couple divorced the following year. He is survived by his second wife, Marcia Johnson, who he married in 1976, and they had two children, Todd and Kori.

NUMBER ONE FLASHBACK

The number one song in the U.S. during this week back in 1990 was "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles. This would become the only major hit for the Canadian singer with this bluesy rock tune paying loving tribute to the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley.

She was born Alannah Byles in 1958 on Christmas Day in Toronto, Canada and the daughter of William Douglas Byles, an early pioneer in the country's broadcasting industry. Her childhood was focused on learning to write and play music. At eighteen, Byles began to pursue a career in music, performing with bands doing rock covers and polishing up her own original material. After changing her surname to "Myles", she managed to get her demos in the hands of executives at Atlantic Records and was signed to the label in 1987.

While working on songs for her debut album, songwriter, Christopher Ward (who was Myles' boyfriend at the time) was inspired during his trip to Memphis by a bus filled with Elvis Presley fans riding to Graceland. He brought a song idea to Myles' producer, David Tyson and made a demo with Myles. However, the record label would give the song to American country singer, Robin Lee to record. Myles still went ahead and made her own version of "Black Velvet" for her album.

"Black Velvet" by Myles was released first in Canada in 1989, reaching the top-ten on the pop chart. After the song was released to the rest of the world by 1990, "Black Velvet" become a major international top-ten hit, peaking at number one in four countries, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the US. Myles would win the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the song and the Canadian Juno Award for Single of the Year. Robin Lee's version of "Black Velvet" was released two months after Myles' and also found some success, charting at number twelve on the Billboard Hot Country Songs.

This song has remained the biggest hit for Myles in the US although she would later have three more top-ten singles in her native Canada including her first number one song there, "Song Instead of a Kiss" in 1992.



And as a bonus, here is Robin Lee's more country version of "Black Velvet":