There’s no competition really. Beck takes the prize for Most Perverse Offering by an Artist in 2012. OK, there is that giant bathtub adjunct to Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum. So maybe Beck should win for Most Delightfully Perverse Offering for Song Reader, his new album, which is indeed an album but one containing no CD, LP, or MP3 download code. Instead, in a format more at home in 1912 than 2012, Beck has given us 20 new songs on sheet music.
If you want to hear this music, you’ll have to play it yourself: on piano, guitar, ukulele, ocarina, whatever. If you don’t know how to read standard notation, you’ll have to find someone to play it for you.
So much for the who, what, when, and where. As for the why, Beck understands that he has some explaining to do, and includes a self-penned preface and an introduction by Slate’s Jody Rosen. For his part, Beck acknowledges that some people encountering Song Reader “will dismiss it as a stylistic indulgence, a gimmick,” and further that a project such as this risks “neutralizing the past” by “encasing it in a quaint, retro irrelevancy and designating it as something only fit for curiosity-seekers or revivalists.” I hope he’s wrong about that.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Brown said drugs were part of Houston Is life
I was hurt ... because, you know, me being off of narcotics for the last seven years - I felt that she was, you know, I didn't know she was struggling with it still. But at the same time, you know - listen, it's a hard fight," he said.
Brown said drugs were part of Houston's life before he met her in 1991. "I smoked weed, I drank the beer, but no, I wasn't the one that got Whitney on drugs at all," he said.
"So this was a part of her life before you and she got together?" Lauer asked.
"Way, way before. Yeah ... It's just, it's just unexplainable - how one could, you know, (say that I) got her addicted to drugs. I'm not the reason she's gone," Brown replied.
Brown said Houston had a "glow about her" when he last saw her about a week before she died. He was at a restaurant having dinner with their daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
"She just looked like she was in a good place," he said about the "I Will Always Love You" singer.
The interview will be aired on "Today" show on Wednesday and Thursday.
Brown turned up for Houston's funeral in New Jersey but left before the service started saying he felt unwanted and disrespected.
Brown said drugs were part of Houston's life before he met her in 1991. "I smoked weed, I drank the beer, but no, I wasn't the one that got Whitney on drugs at all," he said.
"So this was a part of her life before you and she got together?" Lauer asked.
"Way, way before. Yeah ... It's just, it's just unexplainable - how one could, you know, (say that I) got her addicted to drugs. I'm not the reason she's gone," Brown replied.
Brown said Houston had a "glow about her" when he last saw her about a week before she died. He was at a restaurant having dinner with their daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
"She just looked like she was in a good place," he said about the "I Will Always Love You" singer.
The interview will be aired on "Today" show on Wednesday and Thursday.
Brown turned up for Houston's funeral in New Jersey but left before the service started saying he felt unwanted and disrespected.
Superboy to superstar
After winning third place on Super Boy, China's most popular televised singing competition, in 2007, Wei Chen became another pretty boy singer-actor in mainland showbiz. But he has been trying to break out his image by releasing three albums and starring in two movies. The 27-year-old will stage his first concert at Beijing Workers' Gymnasium. From his first smash single, Disparate, to his latest dance song, Daybreak, Wei will show his fans his transformation.
Actor and singer Shirota Yu will make his singing debut in Beijing. He'll release his first album, UNO, in China in both disc and digital formats, following its March 7 Japan release. The album will include Japanese and Spanish tracks - a few which were originally composed by Backstreet Boys member Howie D - and a special song featuring Yu's brother, Shirota Jun. The Japanese Spaniard cooperated with Howie D on his third single, Worth Fighting For, which was released on Feb 22 and was digitally distributed in 31 countries.
Actor and singer Shirota Yu will make his singing debut in Beijing. He'll release his first album, UNO, in China in both disc and digital formats, following its March 7 Japan release. The album will include Japanese and Spanish tracks - a few which were originally composed by Backstreet Boys member Howie D - and a special song featuring Yu's brother, Shirota Jun. The Japanese Spaniard cooperated with Howie D on his third single, Worth Fighting For, which was released on Feb 22 and was digitally distributed in 31 countries.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sinead O Connor cancels tour due to bipolar disorder
Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O'Connor has cancelled her tour schedule due to bipolar disorder, she said in a statement quoted by British media and fansites on Tuesday.
She said she called off plans to tour North America "with enormous regret" and was "very unwell due to bipolar disorder."
O'Connor added that she had a "very serious breakdown" between December and March, but ignored her doctor's advice not to go on tour because she did not want to let people down.
"So very stupidly I ignored his advice to my great detriment, attempting to be stronger than I actually am. I apologize sincerely for any difficulties this may cause."
O'Connor's website and Twitter account were not accessible on Tuesday morning. A spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment on the statement.
The 45-year-old singer, who released a new album entitled "How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?" in March, has had a tumultuous few months, ending her marriage after only 16 days in December before announcing shortly afterwards that her relationship was back on.
O'Connor rose to fame in the late 1980s with her shaved head and haunting voice, and is best known for her chart-topping cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U", released in 1990.
She said she still hoped to appear at a tribute concert for Curtis Mayfield at the Lincoln Center in July.
She said she called off plans to tour North America "with enormous regret" and was "very unwell due to bipolar disorder."
O'Connor added that she had a "very serious breakdown" between December and March, but ignored her doctor's advice not to go on tour because she did not want to let people down.
"So very stupidly I ignored his advice to my great detriment, attempting to be stronger than I actually am. I apologize sincerely for any difficulties this may cause."
O'Connor's website and Twitter account were not accessible on Tuesday morning. A spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment on the statement.
The 45-year-old singer, who released a new album entitled "How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?" in March, has had a tumultuous few months, ending her marriage after only 16 days in December before announcing shortly afterwards that her relationship was back on.
O'Connor rose to fame in the late 1980s with her shaved head and haunting voice, and is best known for her chart-topping cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U", released in 1990.
She said she still hoped to appear at a tribute concert for Curtis Mayfield at the Lincoln Center in July.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Music to our ears, but not to Westerners
A group of international music agents and festival programmers gathered in Beijing recently and saw shows from more than 10 Chinese bands. The result was rather disappointing: None of the bands really impressed them.
"From my perspective as a Western promoter, I think it's very important that you have some certain identity if you want to play abroad. What I'm looking for is not a band that copies a famous Western band. I'm looking for music that brings something extra," says Bertus de Blaauw, a booker from Mojo Concerts, presenter of the Netherlands' Lowlands Festival.
Jerome Williams, another Dutch agent, with the Earth Beat company, shares the same opinion.
"It is very important to be original. That doesn't mean it has to be traditional. It can be punk, electronic, or rock, but try to create your own style as a band," he says.
They were speaking at the International Urban Music Culture Summit, held last week as part of the Sound of the Xity, a series of musical events that also included performances and screening of music documentary films. Present at the summit were also programmers from the Sziget Festival of Hungary, Ulsan World Music Festival of South Korea, and Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Every now and then some Chinese bands take overseas tours, but few of them, if any, have been really accepted by the international market.
"From my perspective as a Western promoter, I think it's very important that you have some certain identity if you want to play abroad. What I'm looking for is not a band that copies a famous Western band. I'm looking for music that brings something extra," says Bertus de Blaauw, a booker from Mojo Concerts, presenter of the Netherlands' Lowlands Festival.
Jerome Williams, another Dutch agent, with the Earth Beat company, shares the same opinion.
"It is very important to be original. That doesn't mean it has to be traditional. It can be punk, electronic, or rock, but try to create your own style as a band," he says.
They were speaking at the International Urban Music Culture Summit, held last week as part of the Sound of the Xity, a series of musical events that also included performances and screening of music documentary films. Present at the summit were also programmers from the Sziget Festival of Hungary, Ulsan World Music Festival of South Korea, and Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Every now and then some Chinese bands take overseas tours, but few of them, if any, have been really accepted by the international market.
Monday, December 24, 2012
The cultural industry
Li Ruigang, also chairman of China Media Capital, said the company aims to become the largest animation production base in China and explore opportunities in copyright distribution, consumer goods, online games and musicals in the hope of establishing a complete home entertainment industry chain.
Xiang Yong, deputy director of the cultural industry research institute at Peking University, added that for Chinese domestic animators, who have suffered from an extended recession, DreamWorks' entry into China brings a great chance to learn from an industry leader.
"The cultural industry should always target a global market. We can now adapt to having global competition on our own doorstep."
China's animation industry had its first heyday in the 1960s, when the film Uproar in Heaven was screened at renowned international film festivals.
But the industry has struggled of late, burdened by a lack of original ideas and professionals, said experts.
Some local animation firms said they are looking forward to learning from DreamWorks, especially from its world-leading 3D technology.
During a visit to Shanghai in March, Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, said the Shanghai studio will concentrate on stories that "have a connection to the culture, history and literature of China".
He also promised to bring the 3D technology that DreamWorks has developed during the past five years to Shanghai.
Xiang Yong, deputy director of the cultural industry research institute at Peking University, added that for Chinese domestic animators, who have suffered from an extended recession, DreamWorks' entry into China brings a great chance to learn from an industry leader.
"The cultural industry should always target a global market. We can now adapt to having global competition on our own doorstep."
China's animation industry had its first heyday in the 1960s, when the film Uproar in Heaven was screened at renowned international film festivals.
But the industry has struggled of late, burdened by a lack of original ideas and professionals, said experts.
Some local animation firms said they are looking forward to learning from DreamWorks, especially from its world-leading 3D technology.
During a visit to Shanghai in March, Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, said the Shanghai studio will concentrate on stories that "have a connection to the culture, history and literature of China".
He also promised to bring the 3D technology that DreamWorks has developed during the past five years to Shanghai.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Gospel singer Marvin Sapp
Country music band Rascal Flatts saw their 9th studio album, "Changed," enter at No. 3 with 130,000 copies, while newcomers Of Monsters and Men, a British folk-rock band, saw their debut album "My Head is an Animal" come in at No. 6 with 55,000 copies.
Gospel singer Marvin Sapp was the fourth new entry in the top ten as "I Win" took the No. 9 position with 37,000 copies sold in its opening week.
Indie trio fun. climbed back to the top of the Digital Songs chart this week with their youth anthem "We Are Young," ousting last week's chart-topper, "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber, which fell to No. 3, below Gotye's break-up melody "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra, which clocked in at No. 2.
Gospel singer Marvin Sapp was the fourth new entry in the top ten as "I Win" took the No. 9 position with 37,000 copies sold in its opening week.
Indie trio fun. climbed back to the top of the Digital Songs chart this week with their youth anthem "We Are Young," ousting last week's chart-topper, "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber, which fell to No. 3, below Gotye's break-up melody "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra, which clocked in at No. 2.
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