Live Aid is all things to all people. The Tories could use it as 'a shining example of individual action and individual responsibility.' The Communists would say, 'It’s the proletarian rage against the excesses of the First World.' The acme of my media career was getting the cover of the [conservative] Spectator magazine and the cover of Marxism Today on the same week. And both thought Live Aid was a good thing. | | | | Feeding the world, 34 years ago this weekend at Wembley Stadium, London.
(Mike Cameron/Redferns/Getty Images) | | | | | | “Live Aid is all things to all people. The Tories could use it as 'a shining example of individual action and individual responsibility.' The Communists would say, 'It’s the proletarian rage against the excesses of the First World.' The acme of my media career was getting the cover of the [conservative] Spectator magazine and the cover of Marxism Today on the same week. And both thought Live Aid was a good thing.”
|
| |
| | rantnrave:// I heard "ROCK WITH YOU" on the radio in a LYFT Thursday afternoon, sandwiched between TLC and MARY J. BLIGE songs, and it occurred to me it was the first time I'd heard it since the idea of hearing it became problematic to the point that I don't want to anymore. It's a fantastic song in every way, written by the late ROD TEMPERTON with the irresistible self-assurance of a composer who knows exactly what he's got, and who knows radio listeners will swoon over it as surely as the woman he's writing about will swoon over him. It's just kind of understood; the song is that good. Producer QUINCY JONES makes it sound like he simply stepped back and let all the swooning be, though you know that's not at all how it happened. It's a masterpiece of pop production. The reality of the singer's life doesn't change any of that, nor does any of that change the fact that I have no interest in hearing it. My ears, my rules. A few hours later, news arrived of R. KELLY's arrest on federal charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. Kelly is a few rungs higher on the list of singers whose music I've lost all interest in hearing. As I've written before, I arrived there later than I should have, but I did arrive. I won't cheer for his arrest because there's nothing cheerful about this, but I will allow myself a smile and a note of gratitude for my colleagues in the media who have continued to shine a light on his awful behavior for years past the point when most people would have given up, and for a system that seems to be trying its best to follow up and follow through. Justice may be slow, but that doesn't make it any less just... What's the fastest-growing music subscription company? Step aside, APPLE, and stop crawling, SPOTIFY. It's AMAZON, at least according to this (paywalled) FINANCIAL TIMES report, which quotes unnamed insiders to say the internet goliath has grown its music subscriber based by 70 percent over the past year—about three times Spotify's growth rate. Amazon is still behind on its total sub numbers but it's gaining ground, Amazon's STEVE BOOM tells FT's ANNA NICOLAOU, by targeting middle America and older music fans. "We’re not battling for the same customers as everyone else," Boom says. Call it the flyover music service... "Four or five middle-aged cis white men in suits, and they’re gathering in an office space and discussing who and who isn’t worth supporting or promoting anymore." – MACKENZIE SCOTT, aka TORRES, on her former label, 4AD... It's FRIDAY and that means new music from BLOOD ORANGE. ED SHEERAN, PURPLE MOUNTAINS, BIG K.R.I.T., YUNA, KHRUANGBIN, RANKY TANKY, AFRICA EXPRESS, IMPERIAL TEEN, BANKS, BLEACHED, JOANNA STERNBERG, JEFRE CANTU-LEDESMA, TYCHO, NEW ORDER, KOOL KEITH, ELLE VARNER, CLARE BOWEN, MERZBOW, PERE UBU, ANGIE STONE, CFM, GLITTERER, TORCHE, WEAR YOUR WOUNDS, KYLE CRAFT, GAUCHE, NAN TURNER, K.FLAY, the DOLLYROTS and a FRIGHTENED RABBIT tribute album featuring AARON DESSNER, LAUREN MAYBERRY, BEN GIBBARD and more... And the LION KING soundtrack... RIP JERRY LAWSON.
| | | - Matty Karas, curator |
|
|
| Some say an anti-disco rally in Chicago 40 years ago was merely protesting a musical genre, but others argue something nastier was at its core. | | |
|
| A campaign meant to help Kenny Burrell has left many uneasy. | | |
|
| The South Central rapper faces life in prison. After a month in a Los Angeles courtroom, after countless witness testimonies and the lyrics of his own songs used against him, his fate remains murky. | | |
|
| It took a fire, a wedding, and an eerily familiar episode of 'Black Mirror,' but ELLE's August cover star feels more powerful than ever. | | |
|
| The reclusive Silver Jews front man has reappeared after nearly 10 years in the wilderness with new songs and a vow to beat back the demons and defeat the man who has haunted him his entire life. | | |
|
| While Pussy Riot hosts a protest rally in Birmingham, Alabama, other artists have been vocal on social media against the abortion laws -- but so far, it’s unclear what more may happen. | | |
|
| He had to rant and rave and badger and cajole, but in the end he managed to put together the biggest rock benefit ever. | | |
|
| Our chat with Steve Schnur. | | |
|
| Billboard removed Lil Nas X’s “country trap” record from a country chart. So why did Blanco Brown’s “trailertrap” song make it to No. 1? | | |
|
| Previous weekend I had the pleasure of playing Berghain for the first time. I thought I'd share my experience and a few impressions with you all, so here goes. | | |
|
| 17 artists, writers, thinkers and theorists share their thoughts on the music that best encapsulates the groundbreaking philosophy. | | |
|
| On record deals, stardom and the inexorable link between the two. | | |
|
| Sugar Ray’s lead singer talks the band’s new album, the '90s, and why he’ll never ditch the highlights. | | |
|
| As the imprint turns 35, owner "Screamin’ Rachael" Cain keeps lobbying to turn the distinctive dance sound into a fully established genre. | | |
|
| It's 22 years later and we really just want Winamp back. | | |
|
| "I basically maxed out a credit card, and have yet to pay it off, to make that record." | | |
|
| For these musicians, transitioning can mean risking their careers -- and their art. | | |
|
| We asked an astronomer to listen to Brian Eno's reissued "Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks," which features brand new music, to answer the question: "What do we think space should sound like?" | | |
|
| Nikki Fury jumped and smashed his skull against a low-hanging beam. It wasn't part of his routine. Fortunately, his shimmering black wig -- which paired nicely with his leopard-print vest and Queensrÿche undies -- cushioned the worst of the blow. He rubbed his scalp with a playful smirk, then put his headphones back in and started strumming again. | | |
|
| 'Liking weird s*** is what makes you different.' | | |
|
| © Copyright 2019, The REDEF Group |
|
|
