With the recent pairing of two superstar pop artists together on a song served to be the perfect distraction as we shelter-in-place, why not have another one? Lady Gaga, who had decided to delay the release of her sixth album, "Chromatica" until the fall over COVID-19 concerns but will now drop the record next week on May 29th, has partnered with Ariana Grande (fresh off her hit single with Justin Bieber) on her second single, "Rain On Me". This throbbing dance-floor jam (with production by Bloodpop and Burns) was inspired by conversations these performers had about trauma and difficult situations they had both experienced while being constantly in the public eye yet still appreciating all that they have accomplished. This empowering song will surely become a classic and the dynamic music video (directed by filmmaker, Robert Rodriguez) is wild, colorful and full of dancing bodies.
Mike Hadreas, better known as the performer, Perfume Genius, has spent his career creating boldly, theatrical pop music that never shied away from intimate details involving his life as a queer artist. Last year, the thirty-eight year old singer had worked with choreographer, Kate Wallich on a dance project called "The Sun Still Burns Here" which he wrote music. This collaboration helped inspire songs for his fifth studio album, "Set My Heart On Fire Immediately" and changed his approach on how he created his songs, opening himself up with others present instead of first working on his music in an isolated way. And the songs here remain dramatic, filled with odd sounds, dark themes and aggressive energy yet also gentle and deeply emotional. Hadreas has decided to incorporate dance in to the videos for some of the songs which pay tribute to the homoerotic cinematic works by Claire Denis and Derek Jarman, particularly with the clip for "On The Floor" which the singer impressively dances with wild, sensual abandon. Here are some sights and sounds from the new album so you can completely experience the artistry of Perfume Genius:
One of the most dazzling voices in soul music, Betty Wright has sadly passed away on May 10th at the young age of sixty-six. She died in her home in Miami from complications of cancer. The singer, born Bessie Regina Norris, was also an acclaimed songwriter (winning her only Grammy out of six nomination in 1974 for Best R&B Song for co-writing, "Where Is The Love"), producer and worked with virtually everyone in all genres of music as a background vocalist. Wright would help nurture new musical talent including George and Gwen McCrae, Peter Brown and Joss Stone.
Music had always been a passion for Wright since she was a child as she became a part of her family's gospel group, Echoes of Joy. She performed and recorded with them until she was eleven years old. She then decided to move in to secular music and after being discovered at a Miami talent show, Wright signed to her first label, Deep City Records at the age of twelve in 1966. By the age of 15, she released her first solo album, "My First Time Around" and had her first top twenty r&b song and Top 40 on the pop charts with "Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do".
In 1971, Wright would have her biggest commercial hit with "Clean Up Woman" that reached number two on the r&b chart, number six on the US pop chart and sold over a million copies. While she never had another major hit again, Wright would continue to record and tour throughout the rest of the 1970's and '80's. She started her own record label, Miss B Records in 1985 and would spend time writing and arranging music for other artists like Gloria Estefan, Tom Jones and Jennifer Lopez. Wright was asked to appear as a vocal coach on on the reality television series, "Making the Band" in 2006 and teamed-up with the Roots for her last studio album, "Betty Wright: The Movie" in 2011. Here is a small sample of music featuring the amazing voice of Betty Wright:
Little Richard, the wildly flamboyant performer and self-proclaimed yet factual, "Innovator, Originator, and Architect of Rock and Roll", has passed away today at the age of eighty-seven. The singer/piano player had been struggling with bone cancer over the last few years and sadly succumbed to the disease at his brother's home in Nashville.
Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, GA, his family was deeply religious and attended several churches in the area. As a child, Richard sang in church, perhaps too loudly for some, and was inspired by the great gospel performers of the day like Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Mahalia Jackson. In 1947, Tharpe heard a fourteen year old Penniman sing one of her songs and invited him to open for her show. After getting paid, this would fuel his desire to become a professional performer.
At sixteen, Penniman left home and joined a secular R&B band, Dr. Hudson's Medicine Show as a featured vocalist despite the dire warnings from his parents about singing the "Devil's music". He would later join Buster Brown's Orchestra with Brown giving him the name "Little Richard". As he watched popular r&b singers like Roy Brown and Billy Wright on stage, this was when Richard would start developing a taste for extremely flashy style and outrageous performance.
Richard toured vigorously throughout the South with different bands and as a solo artist trying to make a living. With Wright's help, he was signed with RCA Victor and recorded several singles with one, "Every Hour" becoming a local hit in Georgia. But after a year, Richard left the label when he couldn't achieve any national success.
Richard was known to perform original songs in front of audiences first to see their reaction before recording them. That's what happened with "Tutti Fruiti" which was performed live as a dirty blues number. Songwriter, Dorothy LaBostrie was brought in to help replace some of Richard's controversial lyrics before making a single for his new label, Specialty Records. Recorded in three takes, "Tutti Fruiti" was released in 1955 and became an immediate success, reaching number two on the r&b chart, crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100 chart (which made him one of the first black artists to do this) and the British singles chart and selling over a million copies.
Other major crossover hits followed including "Long Tall Sally", "Good Golly, Miss Molly", "Slippin' and Slidin'", "Rip It Up", "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Lucille" with Little Richard becoming a pop star and helping to usher in the sound of rock & roll. But this was at a time when Richard's hits were re-recorded by white artists (most notably Pat Boone) who were considered "safer" and their versions tended to move higher up the pop charts.
Richard briefly left secular music in 1958 after having some experiences (including plane troubles) that rattled him and took as "a sign from God" to change his wicked ways. During this time, he enrolled in college to study theology, formed an Evangelical group to preach across the country, recorded a gospel album produced by Quincy Jones and got married to Ernestine Harvin, a secretary from Washington, D.C.
But by 1962, Richard was asked to go on a European tour since he was still very popular there. With Sam Cooke as his opening act and a young Billy Preston who was a member of his gospel band, Richard reluctantly agreed and initially only performed gospel music. However, after he saw the reaction that Cooke was receiving during his set, Richard eventually let loose with his early rock & roll hits. During the tour, a rising new British group, The Beatles were allowed to open for Richard on some dates where he took them under his wing and offered some advice.
Richard would enthusiastically resume his music career however rock & roll had changed in America with the arrival of the British Invasion, making it difficult for him to tour or get played on the radio in his home country. Ironically, he was very much in demand in Europe where he was still able to fill arenas. But by the 1980's, music artists who first found fame generations ago would once again become hot and in-demand (James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick) with Little Richard making a comeback during this time as well. An authorized biography, "Quasar of Rock: The Life and Times of Little Richard" was published in 1985 and an acting appearance in the 1986 comedy, "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" would lead to a charting faith-based rock and roll song, "Great Gosh A'Mighty" from the movie's soundtrack. A spiritual rock album, "Lifetime Friend" from later that year was Richard's first release in seven years and even featured some gospel rap on one track.
While he would spend a lot of time in his later years expressing this idea himself however it's actually very true; Little Richard has never received proper acknowledgement for his contributions to the invention of rock & roll. He is rarely mentioned when people speak of the early days of rock and his music simply doesn't get played anymore. Perhaps his progressively androgynous persona or wild stage antics might have played some part in his being left out of the discussion. But with his inventive sound and earth-shaking vocals, there is no denying that Little Richard was a true original whose great talent completely changed the pop music landscape and greatly influenced many artists who have followed him. To honor the legacy of this incredible performer, here are just a few songs from the great Little Richard:
The previously announced charity single which teams Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber together in song has finally been released. As a thank-you to all of the healthcare workers, paramedics, police officers and firefighters serving on the front lines during this global pandemic, "Stuck With U" was created. The video for this romantic ballad features plenty of homemade clips submitted by fans and celebrity figures as well as footage from Bieber with the wife, Hailey Baldwin and Grande with her current flame, Dalton Gomez near the end. The proceeds from the purchase or stream of "Stuck With U" will go towards the First Responder's Children’s Foundation and at least $0.80 is going directly to the fund to help with grants and scholarships for children of these essential workers.
Here are a few new songs out now that I like and would like to share:
ZZ Top, the Southern rock band from Houston, TX, reached the height of their fame during the 1980's after changing their image and musical direction from their early beginnings in the '70's. After many successful years of extensive touring yet feeling creatively drained, the band (made up of founder, Billy Gibbons on lead vocals and guitar, Dusty Hill on bass and Frank Beard on drums) decided to introduce synthesizers and elements of Nu-Wave music that was popular at the time in to their blues rock sound. With their eighth studio album, "Eliminator" in 1983, ZZ Top crossed over to the pop-charts with the help of the singles, "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", "TV Dinners" and "Legs" to find international success. And the music videos for these songs certainly added to the band's appeal which where released during the reign of MTV. These fun, story-driven clips featured fast cars, sexy girls and spinning furry guitars which perfectly represent the 1980's in all of it's delightfully gaudy, neon-colored glory. Here are a couple of ZZ Top's most popular songs to relive this moment in pop history:
