MUSICOLOGY 101
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Justin Timberlake Announces Tour With Jay-Z

“SexyBack?” More like JustinBack.

More than six years after the release of FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake is back.  His third solo album, The 20/20 Experience, hits store shelves on March 19.  Two singles from that opus have already been released: “Suit & Tie” and “Mirrors.”

To support his latest effort, Timberlake is embarking on a stadium tour of North America with Jay-Z. The pairing may seem like it’s coming out of nowhere but “Hova” appears on the aforementioned “Suit & Tie” and in 2007 Justin released a single with Jay-Z’s future wife, Beyoncé (“Until the End of Time”).

Their highly anticipated outing, dubbed “The Legends of the Summer” begins July 17 in Toronto and ends 11 concerts later on Aug. 16 in Miami.  Tickets to see Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z will be collected in New York, Detroit, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Just saying “Timberlake and Jay-Z are touring together” makes people say “wow.” However, these two behemoths have very impressive resumes.  If you have Timber and Jay-Z concert tickets you’re not just seeing two great artists you’re seeing two legends.  Their joint venture will be a historic one.

If you’re going to a JT & Jay-Z concert you’re going to see…

…two artists who each have four number one singles to their credit…
Justin Timberlake has reached the top spot on the Billboard 100 with “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” and Timbaland’s “Give It to Me.” Jay-Z has one number one single as the main artist (“Empire State of Mind”) and three more as a featured artist.

…the solo artist with the most number one albums…
Jay-Z has a dozen number one albums.  That’s more than Elvis, Michael Jackson, Madonna, or Bruce Springsteen.

>>For more information about Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z tickets for The Bronx Click Here!!!

…an artist with an album that has sold more than ten million copies…
It’s relatively rare for an artist to sell ten million copies of one record.  Jay-Z hasn’t done it.  The Rolling Stones have only done it once and that was a greatest hits compilation.  JT did it with FutureSex/LoveSounds.

…winners of 23 Grammy Awards…
Jay-Z has won 17 Grammy awards and JT has won six.  However, Timberlake has four Emmys Awards on his mantle (all for his work on Saturday Night Live).

>>For more information about Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z tickets for Chicago Click Here!!!

…a member of the “5 Timer Club…”

Justin Timberlake has hosted Saturday Night Live five times.  He joins an exclusive club that features Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Drew Barrymore, and Christopher Walken.

…an owner of the New Jersey Nets…
Jay-Z is part owner of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.  By part owner we mean he owns “this much” of the team (our index finger and thumb are nearly touching).  Jay-Z’s share of the Nets is one-fifteenth of one percent.  Basically, Jay-Z owns the uniforms.

>>For more information about Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z tickets for Boston Click Here!!!

…an owner of the Memphis Grizzlies…
Justin Timberlake owns an equally small part of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.  He’s part of an ownership group that includes former NBA player Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway and NFL legend Peyton Manning.

…an actor who starred in a movie nominated for Best Picture…
Justin Timberlake was in the 2010 movie The Social Network.  The film picked up eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.

>>For more information about Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z tickets for Philadelphia Click Here!!!

…two successful businessmen.
We don’t quite know how this will translate to the stage but JT and Jay-Z are both very successful businessmen.  Each has their own record label, clothing line, piece of an NBA team, and both are in the restaurant business.

…husbands with famous wives.
Justin Timberlake is married to actress Jessica Biel.  Jay-Z’s better half is pop diva Beyoncé.

>>For more information about Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z tickets for Miami Gardens Click Here!!!

Jimmy Buffett Lyrics Reveal Wit & Wisdom

Jimmy Buffett is an accomplished songwriter.  Unfortunately, his compositional prowess is overshadowed by margaritas, Parrotheads, and the party-like atmospheres he fosters at Jimmy Buffett concerts.  If you look over his catalog of music, you’ll not only find revelry and mirth but a slew of well-written songs.

When it comes to JB’s music, most focus on his melodies.  After all, who doesn’t sing-a-long to “Margaritaville,” “Fins,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise?”  Here at Musicology-101, we believe not enough attention is paid to J.B.’s words.  Jimmy Buffett lyrics aren’t poetical like those penned by Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and Lou Reed, but they still resonate with millions of people who yearn to get away from the nine-to-five doldrums and lose themselves on a beach.

Below, Musicology-101 looks at eight of Buffett’s better lyrics.  Our list isn’t necessarily his best words, or even his most poignant verses.  It’s just a rundown of eight lyrics that deserve further consideration and prove that Buffett is more than just the mayor of “Margaritaville.”  This may not be news to hardcore Buffett fans but for those who haven’t closely followed his career it’s a revelation.

“So every now and then when I’m in a grocery I’ll take a little but not much
‘Cause you never know when the hard times will hit ya and I don’t want to lose my touch.”
– “Peanut Butter Conspiracy”
“Peanut Butter Conspiracy” is a song about being on hard times and shoplifting for food to eat.  Now that things are going well, Buffett talks about keeping his skills sharp just case those hard times return.  The pessimistic outlook is refreshing and certainly more entertaining (or at least more dramatic) than Buffett singing about giving back.

“And Rama of the jungle was everyone’s Bawana,
But only jazz musicians were smokin’ marijuana.”
– “Pencil Thin Mustache”
Who knows what a “Bawana” is but we love rhyme.  These lines take us back to those halcyon days when jazz musicians were the “bad boys” and marijuana was the worst drug imaginable. 

>>To learn more about tickets to Jimmy Buffet & Jackson Browne in Austin, Texas CLICK HERE!!!

“My head hurts, my feet stink, and I don’t love Jesus.
It’s that kind of mornin’”
– “My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don’t Love Jesus”
Leave it to J.B. to write a great song about a hangover.  While it borderlines on sacrilegious, especially if you take it out of context, the above lines certainly sum up the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

“With all of our running and all of our cunning,
If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”
– “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”
In my opinion this is Buffett’s most sagacious song.  In the aforementioned verses he succinctly and accurately gives us the secret for a happy life (you gotta laugh!).  This is the type of wisdom people put on bumper stickers and lower back tattoos.

>>To learn more about Jimmy Buffet concert tickets for his show in Camden, New Jersey CLICK HERE!!!

“Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame,
But I know it’s nobody’s fault.”
– “Margaritaville”
Although Buffett never puts the blame on the woman, we all know that when a man is alone and drinking it usually has to do with a failed relationship.  That doesn’t mean it’s her fault, it’s just that she’s somehow involved.

“Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks,
And I’ve learned much from both of their styles.”
– “Son of A Son of A Sailor”
There’s a thin line between good and bad and it takes someone as wise as Buffett to convey the sentiment in a simple couplet.  Whether we like it or not we’re sometimes inspired by bad people.

>>To find out more information about Jimmy Buffett’s concert in Cincinnati, Ohio CLICK HERE!!!

“Sea monster night pulling nothing but pride and fear
St. Christopher may not get our asses outta here”
– “Surfing in a Hurricane”
All throughout the song “Surfing in a Hurricane,” Buffett describes the terrible storm but the previous two lines of illustration are the funniest.  It takes talent to make a joke while describing what is generally thought of as a tragedy.  It’s another display of Buffett’s ability to mix pessimism with optimism. 

“If it takes all the future
We’ll live through the past
If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me”
— “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring It’s Me”
Here’s more of Buffett’s unique brand of humor.  Even though the sentiment is absurd, it’s a situation we can all relate too.  Everyone has either been the person not calling or the person not getting the call.

Fun. Tour Gets Underway July 6, Showcases Historic Grammy Winners

Fun’s 2013 tour of North America launches July 6 in Toronto.  The band is routed to stay on the road until Sept. 26 when they roll into Charlottesville, Virginia for a gig at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion.  The Platinum-selling, Grammy-winning, alternative trio is scheduled to play 26 cities along with opening act Tegan and Sara.

The trek, to support the Fun’s second album, Some Nights, will be an historic one.  Not The Beatles performing on top of a building historic, or U2 performing on top of a building historic, but historic nonetheless.   At the very least, it’s significant enough that you’ll want to save the stubs of your fun tickets.

Remember how we called fun. “Grammy winning?”  Well, the band recently took home trophies for Best New Artist and Song of the Year.  They are just the fifth artist to ever win Grammys in those two categories in the same year.

That’s only half of it though.  What’s really impressive is fun. is the first BAND to have been nominated for Best New Artist as well as the Grammys’ other three bigggies: Album, Record, and Song of the Year.

So if you have .fun tickets to their concert in Rochester, New York on July 13 or .fun tickets for their performance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 18, you’ll be seeing a band that has done something no other band has ever done before in the history of the Grammy Awards (since 1959).

There has been artists nominated in all four categories in the same year before but none have been bands and only once was the feat accomplished by a man.

The first singer to receive nominations in all four categories was Bobbie Gentry in 1968.  She won Best New Artist but lost the other three.

The “Gentry” has since been duplicated by Cyndi Lauper (1985), Tracey Chapman (1987), Mariah Carey (1991), Paul Cole (1998), and Amy Winehouse (2008).

>>For More Information About fun. & Tegan and Sara in Cleveland on July 9 CLICK HERE!!!

It should be noted that Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter (s) not the artist who performed the song.  There have been times when a singer, or a band, has won the Grammy for Best New Artist and has picked up nominations for Album and Record of the Year, but they didn’t write the song they sang that was nominated for the Song of the Year.

>>For More Information About fun. & Tegan and Sara in Santa Barbara on Sept. 7 CLICK HERE!!!

This happened to The Carpenters in 1971.  They won Best New Artist and picked up nominations for Album and Record of Year. Their song, “We’ve Only Just Begun,” was nominated for Song of the Year but it was written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams not The Carpenters.  Had “We’ve Only Just Begun” won Song of the Year only Nichols and Williams would have received trophies.

>>For More Information About fun. & Tegan and Sara in Charleston on Sept. 24 CLICK HERE!!!

Has anyone won all four awards in the same year?  Yes, Christopher Cross won the quad in 1981.  Cross was an amazing singer who unfortunately had a face for radio.  MTV arrived shortly after his Grammy sweep and pretty much killed his career.

>>For More Information About fun. & Tegan and Sara in Charlottesville on Sept. 26 CLICK HERE!!!

In 2003, Norah Jones got “Carpentered” as she won Best New Artist, Album & Record of the Year, and the song she sang, “Don’t Know Why,” won “Song of the Year” but she didn’t write it.  Jessie Harris did.

India.Arie holds the ignominious title of being nominated in all four categories but going home with nary a statue.  She lost Best New Artist to Alicia Keys.

Joan Osborne almost beat poor India.Arie to that embarrassing milestone in 1996 but she didn’t write the song that was nominated for Song of Year (“One of Us” is composed by Eric Bazilian).

I doubt that prior to .fun & Tegan and Sara’s concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 22 they’ll be introduced as the first band to ever be nominated for Best New Artist, Album, Record & Song of the Year at the Grammys but they should.  The band is now members of a very small and illustrious club.

Artists Nominated For Grammys In Best New Artist, Album, Record, & Song of the Year Categories
**=Won all four categories
*=Nominated in all four categories
1960 – Bobby Darin – Best New Artist and Record of the Year
1961 – Bob Newhart – Best New Artist and Album of the Year
1965 – The Beatles – Best New Artist (nominated for Song and Record of the Year)
*1968 – Bobbie Gentry – Best New Artist (nominated for Album, Song & Record of the Year)
1971 – The Carpenters – Best New Artist (nominated for Album & Record of the Year; song they sang but didn’t write was nominated for Song of the Year)
1975 – Marvin Hamlisch – Best New Artist and Song of the Year
1977 – Starland Vocal Band – Best New Artist (nominated for Song and Record of the Year)
1978 – Debby Boone – Best New Artist; song she sang but didn’t write won Song of the Year (nominated for Record of the Year)
**1981 – Christopher Cross – Best New Artist; Album, Song & Record of the Year
*1985 – Cyndi Lauper – Best New Artist (nominated for Album, Record & Song of the Year)
*1989 – Tracey Chapman – Best New Artist (nominated for Album, Record & Song of the Year)
*1991 – Mariah Carey – Best New Artist (nominated for Album, Record & Song of the Year)
1995 – Sheryl Crow – Best New Artist and Record of the Year (nominated for Song of the Year)
1996 – Alanis Morissette – Album of the Year (nominated for Best New Artist & Song of the Year)
1996 – Joan Osborne – (Nominated for Best New Artist, Album, & Record of the Year; song she sang but didn’t write was nominated for Song of the Year)
*1998 – Paula Cole – Best New Artist (nominated for Album, Record & Song of the Year)
1999 – Lauryn Hill – Best New Artist & Album of the Year
2002 – Alicia Keys – Best New Artist & Song of the Year (nominated for Record of the Year)
*2002 – India.Arie – (Nominated for Best New Artist; Album, Record & Song of the Year)
2003 – Norah Jones – Best New Artist; Album & Record of the Year; song she sang but didn’t write won Song of the Year
2005 – Kanye West – (nominated for Best New Artist; Album & Song of the Year)
2007 – James Blunt – (nominated for Best New Artist; Record & Song of the Year)
2007 – Corinne Bailey Rae – (nominated for Best New Artist; Record & Song of the Year)
*2008 – Amy Winehouse – Best New Artist; Record & Song of the Year (nominated for Album of the Year)
2009 – Adele – Best New Artist (nominated for Song & Record of the Year)
2010 – Bon Iver – Best New Artist (nominated for Song & Record of the Year)
*2013 – fun. – Best New Artist & Song of the Year (nominated for Album & Record of the Year)

Paramore Tickets Collected For First Time In Nearly Three Years

I won’t do it.

I can’t do it.

It’s just not right.

I refuse to say Paramore is back.

My refusal is not based on any dislike for the Tennessee band or their fiery brand of alternative music. Truthfully, I can’t wait to get my hands on some Paramore tickets. I can’t write “Paramore is back” because they’re just too darn young to have gone anywhere in the first place.

The oldest member is just 28 years old (Jeremy Davis).

The band’s lead singer and creative force (let’s face it, she IS the band), is Hayley Williams. This pint-size red head just turned 24.

If you add their ages (the remaining member, Taylor York, is 23), the members of Paramore are old enough to be in the Rolling Stones.

You say a band is “back” if they’ve started going gray, are grandparents, or have been a judge on a reality show. You don’t say a band is back when half of them aren’t old enough to rent a car.

Therefore, I’m not going to write that the youthful Paramore are back. Instead, I’ll pen that 2013 will be a huge year for them and their fans.

The band’s fourth studio album will drop April 9. It was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen (former Beck collaborator). The opus’ first single, “Now,” was released Jan. 22, 2013. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. “Now” is a well-written track with a clean but indelible guitar riff and an infectious beat.

Paramore will launch a tour to support their latest effort on April 25. Paramore’s first stop will be Houston, Texas to play a gig at the Bayou Music Center. After that they’ll travel to Phoenix (April 29).

From H-Town they work their way west. Look for Paramore to perform in Los Angeles (May 1), Las Vegas (May 3), San Francisco (May 4), Salt Lake City (May 6) and Denver (May 7).

Their route then takes them to the Midwest. On May 9, Paramore rocks the famed Chicago Theatre.

From there it’s on to Detroit (May 10), Toronto (May 13), and Boston (May 15).

The final destination on Paramore’s calendar is New York City. The emo outfit is scheduled to play the Hammerstein Ballroom on May 16.

Right now there are only 12 dates on the band’s docket but that should change in the very near future.

Another reason not to call it a “comeback,” and a better idea to label it a reboot, is the fact that the band is now a trio. Original members Josh and Zac Farro left Paramore in December of 2010.

The remaining three members said they weren’t surprised by their departures. They may have been surprised however by their parting remarks. Josh Farro blogged that Paramore was “a manufactured product” and claimed that Hayley Williams was the only member of the group actually signed to a record deal.

Five days later, in an interview with MTV News, the band confirmed Josh Farro’s claims but said the issues had been address earlier in their careers.

The band’s upcoming self-titled album will be their first without the Farro Brothers (so will the tour). However, Paramore did release a single, “Monster,” for the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon, in 2011.

Rush Announces North American Tour, Geddy Lee Appears On CBS Sitcom

Rush frontman Geddy Lee recently made an appearance on the 175th episode of the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”

In the show, Lee played himself (a role he was born to play) in a documentary patterned after “Behind the Music” called “Underneath the Tunes.” The episode featured a slew of Canadian personalities including Paul Shaffer, Alan Thicke, Alex Trebek, Jason Priestly, Luc Robitallie, Steven Page, Dave Coulier, and KD Lange.

Interestingly enough, Dave Thomas was also in the show. He played producer Chuck “Chuck” Gerussi. If you’ve seen even one rock and roll documentary then you know just how funny that name is.

Anywho, back in the 1980s Lee appeared on Thomas’ comedy album, The Great White North (Thomas and partner Rick Moranis played Bob and Doug McKenzie). Lee sang the chorus in the song “Take Off.”

In the previously referenced HIMYM episode, titled “P.S. I Love You,” the alter ego of character Robin Scherbatshy, Robin Sparkles, is the subject of a documentary chronicling her fall from teen pop star to grunge rocker. According to the documentary, Sparkles brought grunge to Canada… in 1996. It was Robin Sparkles’ fourth (and probably final) appearance.

As an avid fan of the series, I have to say that Lee’s episode was one of the best in the show’s eight seasons.

Lee’s performance, albeit brief, was quite good. He held his own against big-time actors and celebrities that are frequently in front of the camera. He certainly did much better than Robitallie and Lang. It’s not always easy to be yourself in a scripted show.

Over the years, the iconic bassist and lead singer of Rush has been interviewed for several documentaries—perhaps he drew from those experiences. Lee appeared in “Metal: A Headbangers Journey,” “Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage,” an episode of “Classic Albums,” and various episodes of “Metal Evolution.”

For fans of Rush, Lee’s appearance on “How I Met Your Mother” must have been an exciting reminder that the 2013 edition of the band’s “Clockwork Angels Tour” is just around the corner.

The tour launched in 2012 and was a resounding success. Of course it was! Who doesn’t want tickets to see Rush? Their outing will visit cities missed during last year’s sojourn. So if you saw them in 2012 you’ll probably have to travel to see them in 2013.

The band begins their North American leg on April 23 in Austin, Texas. After that they’ll be in Fort Lauderdale on April 26 and then in Orlando on April 29.

Rush’s tour continues in May with stops in Nashville, Raleigh, Virginia Beach, Baltimore, Uncasville, and Atlantic City. Their performance in Atlantic City on May 11 is set to go down at Etess Arena. It’s the trio’s last scheduled show on the continent.

By the way, for their trip to Uncasville, Connecticut on May 9 Rush will be rocking out at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

More dates might be coming as there’s an 11-day gap between their concert in New Jersey and their next show planned for Manchester, England. The “Cottonopolis” gig is the first of ten planned for the United Kingdom and Europe.

Rush is touring to support their 2012 opus, and 20th overall, Clockwork Angels.

Before the launch of their pending expedition, Rush will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Albert King, Donna Summer, Heart, Public Enemy, and Randy Newman.

Blake Shelton: Wedding Singer

If you could pick anyone to perform at your wedding/reception who would you pick? Would you go the romantic route and book someone like Enrique Iglesias or would you go with a big voice and schedule Adele?

For most of us, the question is nothing more than an exercise in imagination. It’s a decision we’ll never have to make. The same can’t be said for Kelly Clarkson.

The original American Idol is getting married in the autumn and she has already accepted an offer from country music superstar Blake Shelton to sing at her wedding reception.

No one can fault Clarkson for programing Shelton at her reception, but one has to wonder if she seriously considered saying no. After all, she’s already confused for a country music singing and this won’t help matters any.

Clarkson is marrying Brandon Blackstock. He proposed to the “Since U Been Gone” singer in early December.

Shelton, who is the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and a household name thanks to his stint on The Voice (is that the only show on NBC?), just so happens to be managed by Blackstock (Brandon’s father just so happens to be Clarkson’s manager and current husband of Reba McEntire).

Also, Clarkson appeared on The Voice as a mentor to Shelton’s team—whatever that means. By the way, Shelton recently announced that for the fourth season of the NBC singing competition his team’s mentor will be Sheryl Crow.

If you don’t receive an invitation to Clarkson nuptials you’ll still have ample opportunity to hear and see Sheldon perform live in 2013. Best of all, you won’t have to sit through one second of The Voice or a boring old wedding.

On July 19, Blake Shelton begins his “Ten Times Crazier Tour” in Virginia Beach. Shelton’s trek contains 30 dates but the furthest west it takes him is Wichita, Kansas. That’s also the final stop on his itinerary. He’ll be in Wichita for a performance at the INTRUST Bank Arena on Oct. 5.

Highlights of the craziness include a Blake Shelton show in Tinley Park, Illinois on Aug. 3; a Blake Shelton gig in Atlanta, Georgia on Aug. 29; and a Blake Shelton performance in Mansfield, Massachusetts on Sept. 7.

Looking at his complete docket, there’s really no room to add a western swing and it’s doubtful he’ll extend his tour after Wichita with his current television commitments.

Either way, fans out West, or in city’s not on the Blake’s schedule should blame The Voice for not getting to see him. In the press release announcing his tour, Sheldon admitted that the show keeps him from touring as much as he would like.

Joining Blake Shelton on his “Ten Times Crazier Tour” will be Jana Kramer and Easton Corbin.

Top Seven Songs Over Seven Minutes In Length

We apologize to all eras of music this list ignores. The seven songs on our rundown are from a short period of time, late-August 1968 to early-February 1974. The years 1970 and 1971 are responsible for four of our seven selections. It’s not that we don’t like songs recorded after February of ’74. It’s just that long pop songs were still in their infancy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. When a big-time rock band recorded a track of seven-plus minutes and released it as a single it was usually a milestone. As time went on, long songs faded into the background and stopped standing out. Since historical significance played a huge factor in our decision making process newer seven-minute songs were overlooked.

“American Pie” by Don McLean, 8:33 (1970)
When asked what “American Pie” meant Don McLean replied it means I never have to work again. While the folk singer has been quiet about the denotations of his magnum opus, I like to think the sentiment behind his epic is clear. McLean is singing about what he sees as the death of rock and roll. He equates the literal deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper (“the day the music died”) with the figurative death of the genre. According to me, McLean believes rock music deteriorated from the innocence of school gyms, malt shops, and hot rods cruising down Main Street to the maliciousness of free love, hard drugs, and corporate avarice. “American Pie” is a lament. McLean probably felt the same way about rock music in the late 1960s that many felt about rock and roll in the late 1950s. By the way, the “jester” is Dylan, the “Sergeants” are The Beatles, and “Jack Flash” is Mick Jagger.

>>For More Information About Your Tickets To See Crosby, Stills & Nash in Hollywood, Florida CLICK HERE!!!

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles, 7:11 (1968)
Rock lore says Paul McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” to help Julian Lennon deal with the divorce of his parents. Apparently, Paul was closer to Julian than John. The song was originally titled “Hey Jules” but Macca changed it to “Hey Jude” because it’s easier to sing. Folks, that’s genius. Even though there have been successful singles longer than the industry standard of three and half minutes, songs of “Hey Jude’s” length were still considered novelties in 1968. “Hey Jude” was the longest single to ever top the British charts and is still one of the longest songs to ever reach the pinnacle position in the states. In America, it stayed at number one for nine weeks. That tied a record eventually broken by “You Light Up My Life.” If The Beatles had returned to touring this probably would have been their encore. McCartney sang a rousing rendition of “Hey Jude” to conclude the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

“Layla” by Derek and The Dominos, 7:02 to 7:11 (1971)
“Layla” has been bandied around as a candidate for greatest rock song of all-time. It should definitely be in the conversation. I think a more appropriate honorific is “rock’s definitive love song.” With the guitar driven first-half and the piano-heavy second, this track embodies the two sides of rock: the hard and raucous versus the soft and tender. Eric Clapton wrote the first half of “Layla.” It was his torch song to Patti Boyd, wife of George Harrison, Clapton’s best friend. The second half was composed by Jim Gordon. There’s a third guitar God associated with the track, Duane Allman. He played slide guitar.

>>For More Information About Your Tickets To See Crosby, Stills & Nash in Jacksonville, Florida CLICK HERE!!!

“Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, 8:02 (1971)
Jimmy Page said “Stairway To Heaven” “crystallized the essence of the band.” No truer words have ever been spoken. It’s a masterpiece and one of the greatest rock songs of all-time. Of course, if you’re a really big fan of Zeppelin this eight-minute marathon isn’t your favorite song. It’s “Kashmir.” Anywho, “Stairway To Heaven” was never released as a single and was the final song on side one of Led Zeppelin IV. Page and Plant originally played the song for John Paul Jones in front of a fire inside a country manor located in the Welsh countryside. Can you imagine a better setting to hear this song? It must have given him chills.

“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills and Nash, 7:28 (1969)
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” is responsible for Crosby, Stills and Nash. One night at a party, David Crosby and Stephen Stills performed an acoustic version of this song. Graham Nash heard it and asked them to play it again. Eventually, he began to harmonize with Crosby and Stills who just so happened to be looking for a third singer to form a vocal trio. The rest, as they say, is history. This opus is broken into four parts and was written by Stills about his relationship with folk singer Judy Collins (who has blue eyes). This was the band’s second single from their self-titled debut album. With your Crosby, Stills and Nash tickets you’ll definitely be hearing this song. It’s one of their best known tracks and a staple at their live shows.

>>For More Information About Your Tickets To See Crosby, Stills & Nash in Orlando, Florida CLICK HERE!!!

“Time” by Pink Floyd, 7:01 (1974)
Most of the songs on this list have some historical significance. Pink Floyd’s “Time” makes our list solely because it’s a great track. One could argue though that since it does have historical significance to the band Pink Floyd, who is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, than by extension it’s important. After all, this is the only song from the Dark Side of the Moon credited to all four members. The clock sounds you hear at the beginning were recorded individually by Alan Parsons at an antiques store. He had recorded them independently of the song (that was the kinda stuff Parsons did for fun). The song ends with a reprise of “Breathe” which was introduced earlier in the album. “Time” is the second song over seven minutes on Dark Side of the Moon, one of the greatest rock albums of all-time. “Us and them” clocks in at 7:46.

“War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, 7:58 (1970)
“War Pigs” is one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all-time. It’s one of Black Sabbath’s most memorable ditties and the opening track of their most successful album, Paranoid. The song was originally called “Walpurgis,” which is the name of a festival associated with paganism. At the behest of their label, the band changed the title, lyrics and theme to avoid connotation with Satanism. Nonetheless, some critics still failed to realize the song was anti-war not pro-war. “War Pigs” was one of the songs Clear Channel deemed inappropriate after the 9/11 attacks and the encore for Guitar Hero II for Playstation and Xbox 360.

Les Misérables: The Film Vs. The Musical

Les Misérables, the film adaptation of the world famous musical, hit American theatres on Christmas Day. Should you go see it? Will the film irk fans of the musical? Will the film turn people off to what is arguably the greatest musical of all-time? Should I buy popcorn?

While there are a few missteps, Les Misérables is a decent film. Those who have seen the musical on Broadway or the West End will appreciate it. The movie is easy to understand and clears up a lot of stuff you may not have gleaned while sitting in theatre. That means it’s a great place to start if you’ve never seen the stage production. While it’s a good movie, and as much fun as a flick can be in which just about every major character dies, it does NOT replace seeing the musical live. That’s good to know because the musical returns to the Great White Way in early 2014.

What To Expect
For the first 20 minutes of the movie I wanted to actually hear some singing. It seemed like the acting and the filmmaking kept getting in the way. I finally got what I wanted when Anne Hathaway, portraying Fantine, sang “I Dreamed A Dream.” It was at this point that the film finally “breathed.”

Sadly, Hathaway doesn’t have the voice to sing that song properly. She has a nice tone, and hit most of the notes, but she lacks vocal power. If you see Les Misérables when it comes to Denver or Les Misérables when it comes to Baltimore you’ll hear a much better rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” than the one we got from Ms. Hathaway.

The film really picks up with the “Master of the House” number. Then, a few scenes later, we’re in Paris where we meet the students and they were all played by actors who know how to sing: Aaron Teveit as Enjolras, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and Samantha Barks as Eponine (although Eponine is not a student). This is when the movie really hits its strides. From here to end, the film is downright captivating. It’s not a coincidence that when the real singers show up the movie turns for good to great.

Jackman, Crowe & Hathaway
I don’t like the tone of Hugh Jackman’s voice, he played Jean Valjean, but he is a legitimate Broadway star (he won a Tony Award for portraying Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz). His Valjean was perfect for the silver screen. Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway can act, but they can’t sing. Nonetheless, Crowe was a stalwart Javert. He has a singing voice that’s suits the character just fine. I’ve already dissected Hathaway’s voice and acting-wise she was great. If adding star power is a legitimate movie role then these three did their job with aplomb.

The Musical & Film Differ
I’ve never understood why filmmakers find it necessary to alter a plot for their adaptation. For instance, Les Misérables the film differs from Les Misérables the musical in several ways: songs have been moved, numbers have been truncated, and a new song, “Suddenly,” has been added. Why? Was it necessary to move “I Dreamed A Dream” from after “At The End of The Day” to after “Lovely Ladies?” The answer is no, it’s not necessary. Then why did they do it? Simple, they do it for job security. Directors, writers, and producers make changes to source material to justify their huge paychecks. If studio heads realized all they had to do was use a musical’s original book to make a film they could just hire film school flunkies and save a bunch of money. Les Misérables the musical has been running for 25 years. It’s been seen by millions and millions of people all over the world. It’s a success. It does not need alternation.

With that being said you hardly notice the rearrangements. Unless you’re a huge fan that has seen Les Mis a bazillion times, or you had tickets to Les Misérables the musical the night before, all you’ll really notice is a few songs have been cut short. Happily, there are no major changes. The filmmakers didn’t make Fantine live, they didn’t give Javier a cracked team of rogue soldiers, and they didn’t insert a character that pals around with a talking bear.

Live Recording
The actors in the film Les Misérables sang live. So unlike a Rihanna concert there was no lip syncing. I knew this going in and found it very distracting. Only because I kept wondering how they did it. You just can’t start singing after the director yells “action.” There are major timing issues to address. Afterwards, I learned that the actors wore earpieces which allowed them to sing along to a piano track. The orchestra accompaniment was added in post-production. Promoters said it was the first time a movie musical had been made this way but those in the know argued that the technique has been used several times before. Nonetheless, it sounded great and worked really well for a musical with as much drama as Les Mis.

It’s Loooooong
Be prepared, Les Misérables is a long film. It’s running time is 158 minutes. Unlike the musical, the flick does not have an intermission. To avoid missing anything good take a bathroom break when Marisus is trying to woe Cosette outside of Rue Plumet and refill your popcorn right after Eponine dies.

Show Stealer
As always, the “Master of the House” number is a show stopper. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are magnificent as the Thénardiers. The best part of the movie though is when Samantha Barks sings “On My Own.” It’s a revelation.

Why So Long?
Les Misérables debuted in Paris in 1980, London in 1985, and New York in 1987. As soon as it was translated into English it has been an overwhelming success all over the world. So why did it take so long for it to reach the big screen especially when lesser musicals like Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch have already been immortalized on the silver screen? Why we’re on the subject, where are the film adaptations of insanely successful musicals like Wicked, Miss Saigon, and Jersey Boys (which seems tailor made for a movie)?

The only thing I can think of is it’s not about how well a musical is received but the age of its audience. The average age of a Broadway show attendee is much older than the average age of a movie goer. Therefore, Hollywood doesn’t look at the best musicals but the ones they think young people will want to see. That’s why musicals that skew young get turned into flicks so fast.

Little Big Town: Good Or Bad Parents?

Kids need lots of things. One of the most important things they need is attention from their parents especially when they’re young. Attention from a nanny or a grandparent doesn’t count. We’re talking quality time with mom and dad.

We must now ask the question should we heap praise or ridicule on country music superstars Little Big Town? The four vocalists frequently bring their children along with them when they tour.

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman said in a recent interview that the band travels with their families “most of the time” and they “try not to leave them at home too much.”

Schlapman has a 5-year-old daughter. So does her bandmate Phillip Sweet. The remaining two members of the group, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook, are married and have a 2-year-old son.

That’s three small children on the road with a major country music act. Is this good parenting? Is this bad parenting? Is bringing your child along with you as you perform at arenas all over the continent better than not seeing them for months on end?

Last year, Fairchild told a publication that her favorite time is when her son crawls into her bunk at night. She also says being on the road with her family is no different than being home and having a full-time job.

Even without kids around, it’s a safe bet that backstage at a Little Big Town show is pretty tame. Their post-concert parties probably resemble a church social and not the antics we generally associate with a rock band.

Furthermore, when the band isn’t performing they have a lot of down time like traveling by bus to their next tour stop. For example, on Feb. 15 Little Big Town plays a gig in Atlantic City. The following day, Little Big Town is scheduled to perform in Lowell, Massachusetts. A five hour drive separates those two locations. While it’s likely they’ll be sleeping for most of the commute, it’s still five hours they can spend with their kids that they couldn’t if they were back home.

I guess that means Little Big Town should have their tickets punched to the “Parent of the Year” banquet.

Not so fast.

Little Big Town doesn’t perform between the hours of nine and five. They come on stage in the evening and finish quite late. The adrenaline produced from performing is bound to have them up for quite a while. That means they are keeping weird hours that are not conducive to children.

Kids need lots of things and one of the things they need is a consistent schedule.
It’s impossible to keep a schedule when you’re a musician. Not only for the reasons I previously enumerated but the band has more responsibilities than just performing. For example when Little Big Town plays Los Angeles on Feb. 7 they’re going to do promotional appearances. Are those appropriate places to bring a child? If not will the band have any quality time to spend with the family?

We mentioned LBT’s squeaky clean image before and we have no doubt they’re upstanding individuals but even so they are part of one of the most decedent, vapid, and licentious industries on the planet. While they might be good people can they vouch for every promoter, publicist, roadie, and groupie their kids may come in contact with? The answer is they can’t.

Furthermore, on the road do these kids have their own room? Do they socialize with other children? Are they really spending time with their parents or do they just get glimpses between media appearances, sound checks, and country music concerts? Remember, kids need lots of things.

Little Big Town bringing their family on the road sounds like a good idea but it’s really not. What they should do is stay at home where the kids have their own space, a consistent schedule, and none of the seedy people associated with the music business. The members of Little Big Town can tour once their kids turns eighteen.

Ultimately, what kids need more than anything is to come first in the lives of their parents. No child should play second fiddle to their parents’ music career even a career that’s going as well as Little Big Town’s.

Marilyn Manson: Ten Things You May Not Know About The Macabre Singer


Marilyn Manson launches a headlining tour of North America Jan. 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It concludes Feb. 23 when Manson rocks Las Vegas and the House of Blues. Other stops on his itinerary include Marilyn Manson in Boston on Jan. 26, Marilyn Manson in San Francisco on Feb. 19, and Marilyn Manson in Los Angeles on Feb. 21.

To get you ready for Manson’s upcoming trek of North America, we thought it would be interesting to compile a list of little known facts about the macabre singer. Below are ten things you probably don’t know about Marilyn Manson.

>>Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Hugh Warner. “Brian Warner” is about as far from the Marilyn Manson persona as you can get. Furthermore, Warner was born in the ghoulish city of Canton, Ohio.

>>Marilyn Manson’s first name is taken from actress Marilyn Monroe. His last name is taken from serial killer Charles Manson. It certainly conjures up a different image than “Elvis Costello.”

>>Marilyn Manson is related to Pat Buchanan. Yes, that Pat Buchanan. The conservative pundit is a distance, distance cousin. Sure, they’re twice removed but they’re still related.

>>Marilyn Manson has been nominated for four Grammy Awards! He has a chance to win his first in 2013. His track “No Reflection” has been nominated in the category “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance.”

>>Marilyn Manson has been romantically linked to actresses Rose McGowan and Evan Rachel Wood as well as model Dita Von Teese, porn star Stoya, and photographer Lindsay Usich.

>>Marilyn Manson had his first art show in 2002 in Los Angeles. While his art has been dismissed by serious critics, Manson has named his movement “Celebritarian Corporation.”

>>Marilyn Manson has his own brand of absinthe. It’s called “Mansinthe.” The brew has received mixed reviews but has won a few awards. For a while he had his own energy drink, it was called “Eat Me Drink Me.”

>>Marilyn Manson has been sued a number of times for a variety of reasons. He’s been sued for royalties by former band members, assault by the editor of Spin, and sexual misconduct by a security guard.

>>Marilyn Manson has been working on his cinematic directorial debut since 2004. It’s very likely that his movie, Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll, will never see the light of day. Clips leaked to the internet have been poorly received.

>>Marilyn Manson needed 24 stitches in his ear after getting hit with a glass table during a brawl. The incident occurred in Switzerland while he was on tour with Rob Zombie.