Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith made up the English pop-rock band, Tears For Fears who found fame in the mid-1980's most notably with the songs, "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". After working together for ten years, the duo ended their musical relationship with a nasty split in 1991. While Orzabal kept Tears for Fears going as a one-man project (releasing a couple of albums) and Smith made his own solo album, the men would make amends in 2000. The reunited Tears For Fears released another album together, "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" in 2004. And while Orzabal and Smith would tour occasionally over the ensuing years, there was no new music. That has changed as Tears For Fears have released a song, "The Tipping Point" which is the working title of their upcoming seventh studio album due out in February. The sixty year old musicians have been working on this project over the last ten years and the haunting, mid-tempo ballad deals with Orzabal's struggles with grief over the tragic loss of his wife, Caroline who died in 2017 after thirty-five years of marriage.
Please enjoy this collection of videos of new music by a few LGBTQ artists (and one long-time ally):
Kelis is back with a new single, "Midnight Snacks", the latest song by the artist that follows a theme on the art of eating. Following her 2014 album, "Food", a cookbook and a Netflix series on cooking with Cannabis, the forty-two year old performer is going in on what do when you have cravings late at night. And I'm pretty sure she's referring to food. . .
And for his thirty-second studio album, Elton John has released "The Lockdown Sessions", a duets collection that was recorded largely during the pandemic lockdown after the seventy-four year old performer was forced to put the brakes on his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road. This is an impressive line-up of musicians who have participated on this album; we have John's musical peers like Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks and the late Glen Campbell. There are contemporary performers Miley Cyrus, Rina Sawayama, Charlie Puth and Olly Alexander of Years & Years on board. And we have Young Thug, Nicki Minaj and Lil Nas X to bring some hip-hop to the record. "The Lockdown Sessions" features covers and new material with the first single, "Cold Heart", a duet with Dua Lipa and remixed by by the Australian dance music trio, Pnau who combines elements of John's singles "Rocket Man", "Sacrifice" and "Kiss the Bride" on the track.
The musical artists inducted in to this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be Foo Fighters, the Go-Go's, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner. In order for a performer to be considered, at least twenty-five years must have passed since the musician’s first recordings were released, ensuring that their contribution to music has stood the test of time.
The induction ceremony will be held this year in-person on October 30th at Rocket Mortgage Field-House in Cleveland. The event will air on SiriusXM satelite radio and will be broadcast on HBO and HBO Max at a later date.
FOO FIGHTERS
After the tragic death of front man Kurt Cobain brought an end to the band, Nirvana in 1994, drummer Dave Grohl began a one-man project with him playing every instrument and performing all vocals during the recording of the tracks. He came up with the name "Foo Fighters" from a World War II term for "unidentified flying objects". Signing with Capitol Records, Grohl formed a band in order to go on tour to support the album with him now playing lead guitar and recruiting bassist, Nate Mendel, drummer William Goldsmith and Nirvana touring guitarist, Pat Smear joining as second guitarist. Now an official band, Foo Fighters began work together on a second album, "The Colour and the Shape" but during the recording, Grohl was unhappy with Goldsmith's work, replacing most of his drumming with Grohl's own. Not surprisingly, Goldsmith decided to leave the band with longtime touring drummer, Taylor Hawkins joining to replace him.
While tastes in genres have changed in popular music over the years, Foo Fighters have successfully kept the spirit of grunge-rock alive, recording ten albums with their latest, "Medicine at Midnight" released last February. And even though they also just released a side-project as Dee Gees with "Hail Satin", a five-song collection of their version of disco songs by Bee Gees and Andy Gibb, Foo Fighters are still all about rock & roll.
THE GO-GO'S
Whilethe Go-Go's may be hailed as being the first all-female band who wrote their own material and played their own instruments to top the U.S. Billboard album chart (and it is quite noteworthy), they really should be remembered for being just a great rock band. And while I think it's shameful that it took this long for them to be inducted, I am glad this deserving group is finally part of the Hall. Rising from the L.A. punk scene in the late 1970's, the Go-Go's first came together with vocalist, Belinda Carlisle, guitarist, Jane Wiedlin, bassist, Margot Olavarria and Elissa Bello on drums. Charlotte Caffey joined later playing lead guitar and keyboards and Gina Schock replaced Bello on drums in 1978. After Olavarria had to drop out of the band due to illness (or forced out, depending on who you ask), Kathy Valentine would fill in as bass guitar. It was during this time that the Go-Go's began to move away from punk and shifted to a power pop-rock sound.
A British tour as an opening act for SKA bands, The Specials and Madness helped the Go-Go's gain a cult following and a demo of "We Got The Beat" first started circulating. The Go-Go's signed to I.R.S. Records in 1981 and their debut album, "Beauty and the Beat" topped the U.S. charts for six weeks, selling over two million copies. Their follow-up albums, "Vacation" in 1982 and "Talk Show" in 1984 were well received but certainly did not reach the same heights as their debut. But the pressures of fame, creative differences and an overindulgence in drugs by some members would cause the Go-Go's to disband in 1985. However, time tends to heal all wounds and The Go-Go's first reunited in 1990 for a benefit concert before recording new tracks for a retrospective album in 1994. The band has continued to tour over the years and recorded one more studio album in 2001, "God Bless the Go-Go's". And a documentary film, "The Go-Go's" about the history of the band was released last year, directed by Allison Ellwood.
JAY-Z
Born Shawn Carter in New York City, he became known known professionally as Jay-Z, bringing exciting and influential sounds to rap beginning in the 1990's. Carter had an interest in music at an early age, freestyling and writing lyrics. Known as "Jazzy" in his neighborhood, he would later take on the name, "Jay-Z" in honor of his mentor, Jaz-O, a local rapper in Brooklyn. Jay-Z worked hard trying to make his career in music happen but couldn't get a record deal, even selling homemade CDs out of his car until he formed his own label, Roc-A-Fella Records with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke in 1995.
He released his debut album, "Reasonable Doubt" the following year with the popular record bringing him plenty of attention and critical acclaim. With a new distribution deal in place with Def Jam Records, Jay-Z would release a follow-up in 1997 with "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1." that was produced by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and became another million seller. His next album, "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" would become his biggest success with the hit singles, "Can I Get A...", "Nigga What, Nigga Who" and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (which features the unexpected sample of "Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway musical, "Annie") helping the album sell over five million copies. He has become one of the world's best-selling music artists, selling over 125 million records and has won twenty-three career Grammy Awards. In addition to his remarkable achievement in music, Jay-Z realized that in order to gain even greater success, he should invest his wealth in other ventures. This lead him to creating a business empire that ranges from clothing lines, adult beverages, real estate, sport teams and media tech companies that has impressively made Jay-Z a billionaire.
CAROLE KING
Carole King began her career in music as a songwriter with then husband, Gerry Goffin as they wrote songs together at home following their day jobs. Their first hit was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (performed by the Shirelles) which reached number one on the U.S pop chart in 1960, allowing the couple to quit those day jobs. The New York-based team (with King composing the music and Goffin writing the lyrics) went on to write dozens of pop hits as one of the staff songwriters at the Brill Building which included "The Loco-Motion", "Up on the Roof", "I'm into Something Good", "One Fine Day", "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". The ending of her marriage to Goffin in 1968 and a move to Los Angeles lead King to begin writing and recording her own songs as an artist.
After being a part of a short-lived rock group and the commercial disappointment of her debut album, "Writer" in 1970, King broke through in a major way with her follow-up, "Tapestry". The album became an instant classic with new songs, "It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move" and her versions of previous hits she had co-written, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman". King would enjoy more success as a recording artist, live performer, film composer and a bit of acting. A musical based on King's life and career, "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" opened on Broadway in 2013 and became a popular hit. Having already been inducted in to the Hall (along with Goffin) as a writer back in 1990, this amazing talent is finally being recognized for her outstanding work as a solo performer.
TODD RUNDGREN
The prolific musician, songwriter and producer, Todd Rundgren developed a great love of music, having been exposed to a wide range from a very early age. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he taught himself how to play the guitar and after he graduated from high school, joined a local blues rock band. But Rundgren left after several months to form his first rock band, Nazz in 1967. The band was signed to Atlantic Records and recorded three albums ("Nazz", "Nazz Nazz" and "Nazz III") with their most notable songs being the Rundgren composed, "Open My Eyes" and "Hello, It's Me" from their debut. But by 1969, Rundgren had outgrown this band, moving towards piano-driven material after being inspired by singer/songwriter, Laura Nyro, and Nazz came to an end.
Rundgren moved to New York, getting involved in the club scene in the village, and met producer, Albert Grossman who offered him a job as a recording engineer. The then-twenty-one year old impressed with his skills and worked his way in to some record production. Rundgren soon wanted to return to performing and recorded his debut solo album, "Runt" in 1970. His first charting song was "I Saw The Light" from his 1972 album, "Something/Anything?", reaching the top-twenty on the U.S. pop chart. But the biggest hit song in his solo career was the follow-up single; a new version of the Nazz tune, "Hello, It's Me" that made it to number five. Rundgren went on to start another band, Utopia in 1973 with the progressive rock group recording nine studio albums with their most high-profile songs included "Love is the Answer" (made popular as a cover by England Dan & John Ford Coley in 1979), "Set Me Free" and "The Very Last Time". In addition to his distinguished career as a musician, Rundgren had become a sought-after producer having worked on albums for Hall & Oates, New York Dolls, Cheap Trick, XTC, The Tubes and Grand Funk Railroad.
TINA TURNER
Previously inducted in 1991 with her former musical partner and husband, Ike Turner, Tina Turner is being honored for her work as a solo artist. Following the end of her well-documented, tumultuous marriage to Ike in 1976, Turner was left heavily in debt and essentially had to start over. She appeared on television shows, played conventions and Vegas to settle what was owed but Turner still had a dream; she wanted to be a rock & roll artist. She struggled with her recording career, releasing a couple of albums on United Artists Records which included a brief foray in to disco that failed to chart, but kept her name out there by touring extensively. In 1979, Roger Davies agreed to manage Turner's career after catching a performance and worked towards making her become seen as a viable musical artist instead of a nostalgia act.
First, she recorded covers of the Temptations' "Ball Of Confusion" and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" that found great success in Europe. Based on this, Capitol Records decided to sign her, giving her only two weeks to record the album that would become "Private Dancer". The first single, "What's Love Got To Do With It" (a song Turner disliked but was talked in to recording) became her major breakthrough song, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1984. "Private Dancer" would go on to sell over ten million copies across the globe and win Turner three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year. Turner continued to have great success as a recording artist and performer with many popular tours including her final one in 2009, "Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour". The singer retired from performing at the end of that tour, which was one of the highest-grossing of all time, bringing an extraordinary end to an incredible career.
After an agonizingly long delay, Adele has finally reemerged with new music. It's understandable that the singer would want to take a break following the massive, global success of her Grammy-Award winning album, "25" but I didn't imagine it would take five years. The British singer first created some buzz last year when she made an appearance on an October episode of "Saturday Night Live" as the host. Yet surprisingly, she was not the musical guest and ultimately had nothing new to promote.
Then last week, Adele dropped a new single, "Easy On Me". This low-key, soulful ballad reteams the singer with Greg Kurstin, the co-writer and producer of "Hello", the low-key, soulful first single from "25". On the surface, this may not feel like much of a stretch and a relatively safe re-entry back in to the pop-music scene yet it's still a powerfully effective, welcome return. The emotionally moving song deals with a plea to her child to be easy on her as she tries to get a handle on their lives together post-divorce.
The music video for "Easy On Me" also has a feeling of continuation with Canadian filmmaker, Xavier Dolan, who was behind the clip for "Hello", returning to direct this new song. Utilizing the same location and black & white cinematography, Adele now is moving out of the house and drives off in a truck, with sheet music papers flying out of its windows.
And with "Easy On Me", Adele has broken the Spotify and Amazon Music single day streaming records. This is the first taste of Adele's fourth studio album which will be titled, "30", a continuation of naming her albums after the age when she begins the recording. The album, due out on November 19th, will examine the changes in the thirty-three year old singer's life; the divorce from her husband, Simon Konecki, motherhood, the challenges of fame, moving in to adulthood and perhaps the dramatic change in her physical appearance. In addition to Kurstin, previous collaborators from "25", Max Martin and Shellback will provide production assistance on the forthcoming album along with some new partners, award-winning, Swedish composer, Ludwig Göransson, Inflo of the British music collective, Sault and Tobias Jesso Jr. There will also be a concert special airing on CBS on November 14th called, "Adele: One Night Only" which will feature an interview of the singer by Oprah Winfrey.
The British artist, Laura Mvula first came to our attention with her 2013 debut release, "Sing to the Moon", a well received collection of neo-soul that merged smooth jazz, gospel and orchestral pop to create her singular sound. Three years later with her follow-up, "The Dreaming Room" Mvula shifted her musical direction, featuring soulful songs that were more lyrically abstract and political while utilizing rhythms that touched on her Caribbean background.
Now with her third album, "Pink Noise", Mvula has once again traveled down a new musical path. Inspired by the pop songs of her youth, the thirty-five year old artist has made an enjoyable album that features the influences of late '80's synth-pop and r&b of the early '90's. It's a great collection that has a retro vibe yet feels fresh and modern.
