Dark Monday • Tony Awards 1975

Clockwise: The Tony Award, Bernadette Peters, Ted Ross, and Rita Moreno.

While thinking about the telecast for the latest Tony Awards last night, I decided to look back 40 years to the 1975 Tony Award show, and some of the incredible work celebrated. I will begin with a performer I love, who was nominated but did not win in 1975. Bernadette Peters was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for her work in 'Mack and Mabel'. She played opposite Robert Preston, playing real life Hollywood lovers Mack Senett and Mabel Normond. The show featured music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, and I still love hearing some of the music today. In this clip, Bernadette sings "Time Heals Everything" from 'Mack and Mabel'.

Rita Moreno sings her big number from 'The Ritz'. She won the Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, performing a song also sung by the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical, Angela Lansbury. Ms. Lansbury played Mama Rose in a revival of 'Gypsy'. Moreno played Googie Gomez, a performer in a gay bathhouse in Manhattan. The place gets invaded by some mobsters, and, of course, hilarity ensues. This is Rita singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" in the film version of the Broadway hit, 'The Ritz'.

The musical that earned many of the trophies in 1975 was the new look at an old favorite. With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown, 'The Wiz' told the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' in a more modern, urban setting. The Broadway show was such a success, it was soon also made into a film. One of the actors who made both the Broadway and film versions of the show was Ted Ross, who played the role of the Cowardly Lion. In fact, Ross was named Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical at the 1975 Tony Awards. I found this clip of him playing the role with Diana Ross, the late Michael Jackson, and Nipsey Russel in the film version. This is Ted Ross singing "I'm A Mean Old Lion" from 'The Wiz'.

Have a great week!

The Voice Season 5 Top 12 Recap

Left to right: Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green.

Season 5 has been rolling for a bit now, with the Blind Auditions, the Battle Rounds, Knockout Rounds, and the playoffs have come and gone, leaving all four coaches with a team of three performers, two chosen by the viewers, and the other by the coach. Blake Sheldon and Adam Levine continue to lead teams, while Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green are back, reuniting the original coaches. The four big personalities are grounded by host Carson Daly, trying to rein them in to stay on schedule. Which can't be easy. This week we have the Top 12 performing, and two will be sent home after the public votes are tallied.

With twelve performers to sing in the next two hours, host Carson Daly gets down to business right away. Caroline Pennell was the first to perform, making a strong star for Team Cee Lo. She sings "Wake Me Up" by Avicii, an uptempo song that was a surprise. "Wake Me Up" was the song of the summer, and a great way to kick off the show.

Caroline was a true delight, on key and sassy every step of the way. I can't think of a single negative from that performance, except I wouldn't mind it being longer! I think she is a real contender for the title, and the music charts after the show, as long as Cee Lo stays out of her way. Team Xtina is up next as Josh Logan takes on the great Michael Jackson song, "Man In The Mirror". Both Josh and Christina realize he needs to do something to connect with the voters, so they go with a softer approach, a smooth acoustic take on the classic. For me, his vocals were a bit all over the place, washed out at one moment, overdone the next. I loved his audition, and have not been impressed since. The next artist we get to hear is Team Adam's frontrunner James Wolpert. He sings a song from the Las Vegas-based rockerd, The Killers. The band has a distinctive sound, well-defined by the vocals of frontman Brandon Flowers. The song is "Mr. Brightside", the first introduction to the band in 2003. I loved the song then, and it is still a great one. James did a nice job, although at times lacked a bit of control here and there. The energy was strong, and he was moving strongly around the stage. He is a funny dude, for the minute the music stops, he relaxes back into the nerd role, quiet and quirky. But he is a bold performer. Austin Jenckes is the second artist for Team Blake to go this evening. He will be singing "It's A Great Day To Be Alive", a wonderful song by Travis Tritt. Blake is hoping to temp the Country voters to back Austin. I have to admit I wasn't too impressed with the performance, stripping a bit of the joy out of it, and it felt like it did grind on a bit. I couldn't help feeling he was sounding a little Hootie & the Blowfish to me. After a commercial break, it was time for Team Xtina's Jacquie Lee to take the stage. She will be singing "Love Is Blindness", a song off U2's album 'Achtung Baby', but Christina references the Jack White cover from 'The Great Gatsby' soundtrack.

I must say, I am not as sold on her as others might be. For me, she is more volume than depth. I don't get too much emotional connection from her performances. She tends to get a bit shouty to me, which leads her tone to sound sharp. I wish Christina would give her some Amy Winehouse, to have a subtle performance rather than blast. The sound changes up a bit, as we get ready to hear Ray Boudreaux from Team Blake. He will be performing John Legend's "All of Me". Blake hopes this will allow the audience, especially the ladies, to connect with Ray. He is a handsome man, with a strong voice. He offers a sweet and quiet vocal, one of his best so far. I thought this was rather wonderful. He was on key, and so connected to the emotion of the material. I truly enjoyed this. Next up, we have Kat Robichaud from Team Cee Lo. I was a bit surprised Cee Lo saved her last week, after a performance that failed to impress. She takes on "Sail" by AWOLNATION, a bombastic hit for the band in 2011. I didn't love this one, for I didn't think it worked well with her voice. She sounded more shrill than bold and strong. She stalks the stage, but I want more than a Miss Jay strut. After a commercial break, it is time for Jonny Gray to take his turn, singing Phil Collins' big hit, "Another Day In Paradise".

Jonny takes to the stage with his guitar, offering a quiet acoustic version of the song. The beginning seemed a little lost to me, and I am not sure why. Jonny seemed to pull it together as best he could, but the song never comes to a strong moment to take advantage of the strongest part of his voice. He is not a delicate vocalist, which the song really calls for. After another break, it is time for Tessanne Chin from Team Adam. She sings "My Kind of Love" by Emile Sandé. This song is a big and bold Pop song that shows off her emotional commitment, and her great vocals. For me, this was the strongest of the night so far. There is a great richness and depth to her voice, and never fails to deliver. I loved her. Matthew Schuler is up next, representing Team Xtina. Christina wants to change it up again and return to Matthew's Gospel roots. He sings "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. My first response is to heave a heavy sigh, for this has been done far too often. He does a nice enough job, but I didn't really feel the emotional side of the song, the darker side of the song. It was more technical than from the heart. I was a bit disappointed. Somehow, we are left with two more performers, both the only two 'steals' to survive so far. The final artist from Team Blake is Cole Vosbury. I really like him, but wasn't thrilled with Blake's song choice last week. Rather than a rock classic, Cole sings "Adorn" by Miguel. Blake also convinces Cole to not play the guitar. I really like this week, for he gives a bit of a whole bunch of heart in the song, infusing it with soul. This guy is really so good, with plenty of upside. He is giving Tessanne a run for her money tonight. After a commercial break, it is time for the final performer of the night. Will Champin has the interesting history of being on Team Adam, only to be stolen by Christina during the Battle Rounds, and stolen back by Adam during Knockout Rounds. Tonight, Will will be singing for Team Adam. He sings "Demons" by Imagine Dragons.

Adam thinks this might be a 'moment' for him. Will starts out in the audience, soft and vulnerable. He builds wonderfully, so filled with emotional and vocal textures. I would have liked to hear the entire song, rather than this truncated version, but it is impossible for me to deny Will's inherent talent. Well, they got it done, all twelve artists had their turn on the stage in the two hour time frame. My top three for the night would be Tessanne, Cole, and Caroline, who all managed to have excellent performances. The bottom three for me is Kat Robichaud, Josh Logan, and Austin Jenckes. Part of the problem for me with them was in song choice, which didn't really do them any favors. While I certainly had my favorites, I am not sure the viewers and voters will agree with me. How about you, did you have a favorite tonight that I missed out on? We will learn who will be singing next week Tuesday night, 9PM EST, when they will give us the results on NBC.

Michael Jackson • Thriller

How could I start out Halloween without Michael Jackson singing "Thriller"? I couldn't, for it is just about a amazing now as it was thirty years ago when it was released. If the song wasn't already enough, the highly stylized video featuring the King of Pop made it heaven on a stick. So, without further ado, this is Michael Jackson with "Thriller".

You can purchase "Thriller", the song or the album, from iTunes and Amazon.

The Voice Season Four • Top 10 Perform

As we prepare to hear The Voice Season 4 Top 10 take to the stage, I also look back at last week, when the voters sent VEDO and Garrett Gardner home. They were certainly among the weakest of the performance show, but I think Garrett has been handcuffed by song selection two weeks in a row, something that is tough to beat when you are going against artists who have picked, either themselves or by the coaches, songs that were perfect for them. I really thought Garrett stood a chance of making it further, but alas, it didn't happen. Like last week, the bottom two vote totals will be eliminated, no matter the team. As both Usher and Shakira lost an artist, both are in danger of being bounced out of the competition, so they should give special attention to the songs and performances this week. Speaking of which, it is time for the show!

Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton and Shakira.

Carson Daly greets us once again, and reminds us the two lowest vote totals will be sent packing, but first, this week begins with a performance by the band featuring one of the judges. Yes, it is Maroon Five and Adam Levine, on stage to perform the latest single, "Love Somebody".

Adam was in great voice, and the song sounded like a fun Pop song. And the boys were all dressed in white, looking amazing. You can find the single on iTunes and Amazon. We are told the coaches brought some help, with their advisor's returning. Only Shakira's gets the help of former (and future) judge Cee Lo Green. The first singer will be from Team Blake, who is worried about the people of Oklahoma. Blake picked "How Great Thou Art", a Christian hymn written in the 19th Century. Holly Tucker is up first, and feels Gospel is a big part of her, and so glad she doesn't want to hide it. She has a strong voice, but I feel very little depth to it. I heard no richness, just volume. Usher was somewhat vague, but nice. Shakira loved it, and Adam thought it showed off her pristine vocals. Blake loved it, and thought it was her most important performance to date. He thought it was also a wonderful, and perfect timing with the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Next up, Adam chose "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson for Judith Hill. She is unsure, for she worries about what might be said about her relationship with the King of Pop. Adam tells her to worry less, and just do the song to pay respect to someone who was important to her.

The opening bars are given a smooth Jazz feel, and her vocals are flawless. Then the tempo picks up, and she delivers a wonderful Pop performance. Her vocals is so strong, and her delivery so tight, it is wonderful to watch week to week. Blake can't find a single fault with her performance, and Usher thought it just reminded him about The King of Pop, and how much he missed him. Adam was just so proud of her, and what she did on that stage. Team Blake is back, with The Swon Brothers singing "How Country Feels" by Randy Houser. In rehearsal, Blake and Cheryl Crow offered some suggestions, but really love they way the boys have grown. This is definitely a Country song, but while I love the Swon Brothers, I thought this performance lacked a bit of energy, a bit of zip. Shakira loved it, and thinks they always just make her feel better. Adam thinks it was great fun, and he is a bigger fan after each song. Blake is so proud, and feels they keep picking up momentum. As we go away to commercial, Carson reminds up they are the only duo or group to make it this far in the four seasons of The Voice, a true credit to their talent. Adam is back with adviser Hillary Scott, as he has picked Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" for Amber Carrigton. Adam sees her has an artists who could sing either Country or Pop, and this is a great song for her. Hillary has faith in her, sure she is a talent bound for the finals. But first, here is Kelly Clarkson singing "Breakaway".

The opening bars are a little light, a bit low for her, but the song quickly builds to the strength of her voice. Once it does, she oars with the chorus, and delivers a great performance. With the wind blowing, she was so comfortable, it was great. Blake loved it, and loves her. Usher was blown away, and loved her. Shakira thought it was a great choice, really in Amber's wheelhouse. Adam thinks that is great, for Kelly has one of the best voices in the business, showing how strong a competitor Amber is this season. The first of Shakira's two remaining contestants, Sasha Allen will sing "Next To Me" by Emeli Sandé. Shakira brings in Cee Lo Green to assist her. Cee Lo loves Sasha, and thinks this is a great song for her. Sasha comes out looking fantastic, and sounding even better. That was a great performance. I thought Sasha just killed it, It was my favorite of the night so far. Adam loved it, and was so glad she was singing something contemporary. Blake agreed, and thought it was a great job, and the vocals were amazing, as they always are. Usher thought she was amazing, and showed everything he needed to see. Shakira was giddy, and so proud and thrilled by the outstanding job done. Usher and Pharrell are back to give their time to Josiah Hawley, who will be singing "Clocks" by Coldplay.

This seems like it should be a good choice for him, but he struggles a bit on the high end of the chorus, and that is such a shame, for he is sounding fantastic on the rest. Couldn't they come up with a fix for that? As he was performing, you could see he knew it was problematic. I thought it was wonderful, but fell short. Shakira thought it was a tough to take on Coldplay, and while he did well, it was not great. Adam agreed, noting there were moments when he had command of the song, and times he was so not comfortable. The inconsistency was a problem for him, but he really likes Josiah. Blake thought it was musically good, but failed to tell the story, which is a problem for him. Usher can't agree with everything said, and instead reaffirms how much faith he has in the handsome man. After the break, it was time for Blake to offer some coaching for Danielle Bradbery, who will be singing "Heads Carolina, Tails California" by JoDee Messina, with Sheryl Crow. Crow loves the talented young lady, but wants the young lady to connect with the audience, and share her journey with them. She comes out and sings bold and strong, but I actually thought this was her weakest thus far. There were a few moments that were problematic with breath control, but I thought the biggest thing was the lack of connection Sheryl was looking for. Usher thought it was great, and she made Country cool again. Adam thought she was a superstar, and was still a shining example of the teenager. Blake could not be more proud of Danielle, and thinks she will once again rule iTunes sales tonight. After another long commercial break, The Voice returns for Team Shakira. Kris Thomas will be singing "Adorn" by Miguel, only Cee Lo wants to change it up a little bit, and give Kris some swag. But first, here is Miguel with "Adorn.

While his voice sounds sweet on the song, he does not feel comfortable with the upbeat tempo. He also has more problems with breath control, and his falsetto is a bit timid because of it. However, at the end of the song, when he starts to freestyle, he does come back to life a bit. Adam thought it was great vocally, but he would like to see Kris relax a bit more, have some fun. Usher thought it was a strong performance, but that it was not a great song choice. Shakira stood up to say he showed everything you needed with that song, and while he might have a few nerves, he has the vocals and talent to make it in the music business. Other judges tried to interrupt her, but she had none of it, defending her artist. Soon it was time for Adam and Hillary to check in with Sarah Simmons, who will be singing "Mamma Knows Best" by Jessie J. This is a shocking pick for me, as it is going against what we have heard from her so far. The song is bold and bluesy, not light and ethereal.

Sarah really connects to the song, and the lyrics, so she really wants to lay it down. Hillary just wants her to remember control, and to not let the song get ahead of her. She starts well, but after a few bars of the song, she is being drowned out by the band. I don't know if it is the mix or what, but I am straining to hear her, and losing half the song. I fear the song won that battle, not Sarah. Blake thought she radiated sexy, and showed a new side of her. Usher thought it was an incredible performance. Adam loved it, and thought she was so awesome. Adam thought it was the performance of the night, so it must have been an issue with my television... Finally, the last performer of the night is Michelle Chamuel. Usher and Pharrell are there to help her in rehearsal with Pink's "Just Give Me A Reason". It seems like it was a perfect song for her, combining the edgy Rock with the Pop impulses that make Michelle so amazing. Pharrell really believes in her, as does Coach Usher. She starts off the performance much better, and it grows from there. She is on fire tonight, and this was her night. This is easily the best of the night for me, and there were a couple of really good performances. I loved it. Adam just loved it, and said he is such a fan of her. Blake just loves her style. Usher thought it was the best of the night, and tells her so. They are running late, so they are in a hurry to get done. Carson reminds Oklahoma the thoughts and prayers of all on the show are with them, and the results are coming tomorrow. For me, there are a couple who should be worried. Holly, Kris, Sarah, and Josiah were not at their best. I hope Josiah can make it through, but you can never tell when it is all in the hands of voters. Speaking of votes, to learn how you can place your vote, visit the official website. In brief, you can vote via a toll-free phone number, online at NBC.com, with the special NBC App, or Facebook. Unlike some shows, The Voice limits the amount of votes people can place per method. You can vote 10 times per phone, or 10 times via Facebook, or 10 times via NBC App between now and 10AM Tuesday morning. The phone number is (877)553-37XX, filling in the 'XX' with the artist number. Those numbers would be Holly Tucker 01, Judith Hill 02, The Swon Brothers 03, Amber Carrington 04, Sasha Allen 05, Josiah Hawley 06, Danielle Bradbery 07, Kris Thomas 08, Sarah Simmons 09, and Michelle Chamuel 10. Don't forget, your iTunes purchase also counts as a vote, if you are so inclined. There is a link to all the songs on the iTunes front page.

Top Songs of 1983

As I was writing about Anthony Callea's new album 'Thirty', I couldn't help but think about what I was doing 30 years ago. Unlike Anthony, who was busy being born and getting his diapers changed, I had completed my college education and moving to New York City. I had done my internship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in the Fall of 1982, and came back to regroup before the big move. I would be joining Bill, who was there already doing his graduate work at Columbia. We were moving into an apartment on the Upper West Side. We were young and poor, so we didn't have air conditioning to keep us cool. Instead, we had screens for the windows, and a box fan to keep the air moving. What this also meant was we were getting the full sounds of the city, including the music that was playing on the boomboxes down below.

Clockwise: Michael Jackson; Men At Work; The Police; and Irene Cara.

I can be fairly sure we often heard the Top 5 songs of 1983, according to Billboard Magazine. I shall begin with the #5 song of the year, the first of two in the countdown by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. His rocking song "Beat It" was a sensation, and it is easy to hear why. Michael certainly was a multifaceted entertainer, able to write, sing, play the instruments, produce, and dance in ways most musicians could not even dream about. Check out the music video for "Beat It".

Australia has long been a good trade partner with the United States, especially when it came to music. They shared The Bee Gees with us, as well as a very young Kylie Minogue doing the "Locomotion". And there was also Midnight Oil, with their big sound on "Beds Are Burning". But in the #4 spot for 1983 we find another Australian band that made the trip across the Pacific worthwhile, Men At Work. They tore up the charts with the song "Down Under", offering us Americans a little slice of Australia, complete with a vegemite sandwich. So here is Men At Work, with Colin Hay on lead vocals, with "Down Under".

In 1983, there might not have been any movie with a bigger influence on Pop culture than 'Flashdance'. The movie was stylishly directed by Adrian Lyne, who used everything at his fingertips, from lighting to steam, to create sexy imagery, from the dancer working in the steel mill, to the ladies dancing in the club. And all this was tied up with a pretty musical bow, as there seemed to be song after song on the soundtrack that was making it up the charts. That includes the #3 of 1983, "Flashdance...What A Feeling" as recorded by Irene Cara. She wrote the song with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. Cara was already a proven singer, having placed two songs from the soundtrack of "Fame" on the charts in 1980. Enjoy as she sings "Flashdance...What A Feeling".

I have to say, I was surprised when I learned that Michael Jackson's second entry was not at #1, but at #2. You see, I didn't think anything scored on the Billboard charts like Jackson's "Billie Jean", off his album 'Thriller'. But after checking several places, it does seem like "Billie Jean" placed #2 in 1983, one of the many songs off the album that burned up the charts and off the selves of the record stores. And it had this great music video, with the lighting sidewalk that was so innovative at the time. You see, Michael was always pushing the boundaries. Have fun watching Michael Jackson sing "Billie Jean".

The song that ended up on top of the Billboard charts for 1983 is by on the the oh-so-many British Imports of the 1980s, The Police. Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland came together to form a Punk band in the mid-1970s, and I remember clearly loving their first album, 'Outlandos d'Amour'. The songs off the album were getting airplay on college radio, and I knew some of the DJs at my college station, so I got to hear the music early. "Roxanne" and others were so different, so new. five years later, they were still making music people wanted to hear, including the #1 song of 1983, "Every Breath You Take" from their album 'Synchronicity'.

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. All the music is available for purchase on most music services, like iTunes and Amazon.

Dance Hits of 1992

Clockwise from top: Madonna; Michael Jackson; Kriss Kross; Clubland; and En Vogue.

While I was wondering what I would write about for this start of the weekend, I just didn't know. So I started thinking about some excuse or another, or a new angle. "So," I asked myself, "what was up 10 years ago? How about 20 years ago... Hey, wait a minute." I remembered that it was twenty years ago this month I moved out of New York City, ending a nearly 10 year run. You see, for the prior several years I was working freelance in the City, doing a variety of media-related gigs, from real estate slide show to trade shows to corporate sales meetings. For years, I always had the next gig booked, but told myself when I don't have a next job booked, that is time to head for the hills. So I packed up my apartment and returned to Delaware, with no real idea what was coming next, but whatever it was, it would be happening outside the city. So what was playing in the clubs and on Urban radio when all this was going on? Well, I will start with the fifth most popular dance track of 1992, which I seriously thought might be number one when I started looking. The song is "Jump" by Kriss Kross, the young boys who garnered a bunch of attention when they wore their clothes backwards. Well that might have made people look, but they kept watching as the boys made some magic with their music.



As we approach the 30th anniversary of Madonna's time in the music business, it is hard to imagine a time without her being a big presence on the music charts. And yes, I did say charts plural, for she has managed to cross over with Pop, Dance, and other categories through the years. But in 1992, she was really feeling her power as an agent provocateur, and she released an album and a book both called Erotica, and both were aptly named. Both projects saw Madonna not just toying with the fine line between art and sex, but completely blurring it. Whips, chains, leather, lace, bondage, nudity, and so much more came into the discussion, as you can see in the video for the first single off the album, "Erotica". The title cut was the fourth most popular dance song for the year.



No list of top songs from just about anytime in the last 50 years would be complete without the King of Pop, would it? I didn't think so either. So the third most popular dance track of 1992 was the devastatingly catchy "Black Or White", off Michael Jackson's Dangerous album. The song stormed up the Pop charts in 1991, and it wasn't long before everyone was trying their hand at remixes, and the song was playing in every club! Watch and enjoy the original video for "Black Or White".



I will be the first to admit when I read the name of the #2 song of the year, I was confused, not remembering it, nor the band playing it. I thought I remembered a club named Clubland, but not a group. So I had to look up Clubland, and discover they were a dance group comprised of Swedish producer Jan Ekholm, British musician Morgan King, and Jamaican/Swedish singer, Zemya Hamilton. In 1992, they had the #2 dance song on the charts, "Set Me Free".



So that only leaves us with one more song on this trip down memory lane. Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis had a chemistry and bravado that burned bright on the stage when they first arrived in 1990. You might know them better by the name they performed as, En Vogue. The ladies were beautiful and talented, and wore some of the greatest outfits. They had many hits, but the one we were listening to in the clubs in 1992 was the unforgettable "My Lovin'(You're Never Gonna Get It)", the top dance track of 1992. Give a listen, and hear just how irresistible En Vogue were.



Have a great weekend!

A Salute to Soul Train

With the tragic death of Don Cornelius, I thought it only appropriate to offer this tribute to Soul Train, a show that aired throughout the United States for 35 years, from October 1971 to March 2006. Cornelius was the creator of the show, as well as the original host and the Executive Producer. He remained the driving force behind the show for the run. I won't lie, I used to watch it all the time when I was younger. One of the strong images I have of the show is the dancing down the line. There were some incredible dancers on the show, and this really showed them off. So I chose to highlight that segment, and the first one I have is the dancers moving to Curtis Mayfield's Get Down, first released in 1971.



And I certainly remember the O'Jay's well. The Philadelphia-based R&B group had many a hit, including the 1972 smash, Love Train. When you hear the song, you can't help but be joyful.



In 1983, Michael Jackson had yet another big hit on his hands with PYT (Pretty Young Thing), off his mega-successful album Thriller. In an odd note, it is said that despite the popularity of PYT (Pretty Young Thing), Michael never performed it live. Also, the background vocals were recorded by Michael's sister, Janet and La Toya.



In 1977, you couldn't go anywhere dancing was being had, and not hear a song by the Commodores, especially the great hit Brick House. I remember going to high school dances and getting groups out on the floor, groovin' to this tune.



Don Cornelius was found dead in his home on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, of an apparent suicide. It is rumored that he was suffering from the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and fading health. May he rest in peace.

GLEE Redux • Michael

The show opens with Mercedes and Santana complaining about not performing Michel Jackson at sectionals a few weeks ago, and Blaine and Kurt wanting to perform more. In fact, Blaine knows just the song he wants to sing, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'.



Of course, he is joined by the group, all dressed from a variety of periods/videos of Michael Jackson. Soon they are talking about performing Michael for Sectionals. But soon we find out the Warblers are going to do an MJ tribute, too. In fact, Sebastian gloats that he got the idea from Blaine. The New Directions get into a tizzy about it, but soon decide they need to move forward, and take the argument to the streets, and perform Bad.



At the end of the number, Sebastian hits Blaine with a slushy. Blaine is taken to the hospital, needing surgery on his right eye. In the chorus room, the kids are talking about wanting to get even, since they know Sebastian did it on purpose. Artie is angry, and not wanting to hear the whole 'it gets better' crap, he wants it to be better now. He yells at Mr. Schue, and gets up out of his wheelchair. He is joined by Mike Chang, and performed Scream.



Back in the room, Artie is still confined to his wheelchair, and still upset. We follow Rachel to the ladies room, and we find Quinn. She tells Rachel about her early acceptance to Yale, and Rachel mentions that Finn proposed. Quinn suggests she needs to take it easy, and tell Finn no. Quinn sings Never Can Say Goodbye.



After the class applauds her song, she announces her plans to go to Yale. She thanks everyone for their support and their love, their unconditional love. She looks Rachel when she explains she needed to let the past go, in order to move forward. Next, Santana is walking down the hallway, and sees Kurt, and the two talk about beating Sebastian, but taking the high road. The continue to plot, but we join Sam and Mercedes in the auditorium, Sam looking cute with a guitar. He wants to sing a duet with Mercedes, who he still loves. Mercedes tries to leave, but Sam stops her when he starts to play Human Nature.



The song ends with a kiss. This reminds me just how happy I am that Sam is back on the show. We cut to the chorus room, and Kurt's Dad is there. He has a letter from NYADA. Kurt is a finalist, still up for admission. His father is so proud of him, it brings a tear to my eye. Kurt rushes to tell Rachel, how has not heard from NYADA, and collapses into Kurt's arms, crying over her lack of a future, sure she will be denied by NYADA.

Kurt is reading the trade magazines, when Rachel and Finn come to visit the eye-patched Blaine. Upset he is missing MJ week, they bring it to him, and Kurt, Finn and Rachel sing the haunting Ben.



We go to Warblers rehearsal, and see Santana coming to call Sebastian on his nefarious behavior. Soon they are dueling, with the aide of the spectacular 2Cellos, the handsome duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser. They sing Smooth Criminal.



Santana is laying it down. Afterwards, Sebastian admits to putting rock salt in the slushy meant for Kurt, but has nothing in the one he tosses on Santana. Back in the chorus room, and Santana is explaining she had a tape recorder attached to her underboob. However, Kurt doesn't want to hit back, or get Sebastian arrested. He has an idea, and takes the kids to the auditorium. But Finn stops Rachel, and tells her there is something he left out of his proposal. He brings in the band members, and sings I Just Can't Stop Loving You.



Of course, Rachel joins in on the song, and it is quite lovely. Rachel accepts Finn's proposal, and there is much hugging. He is, after all, the love of her life. The Warblers walk into McKinley High, and the New Direction are on stage, saying they won't do Michael for Regionals, but if they did, they would be better, because the Warblers don't do it justice. To prove it, they sing Black or White.



Soon, the other members of the Warblers are on stage dancing, except for Sebastian. He claps a sarcastic round of applause, only to be put in his place by Santana. The other Warblers learn of his treachery, and it seems as though this is a victory to truth, justice, and the American Way. With a gay flair, of course. Next, we are at Kurt's locker, and Rachel walks up, with a letter in hand. She has been made a finalist at NYADA, and they are both overjoyed. But when Kurt asks if she has told Finn yet, there is an awkward silence. Well, except for the dramatic score. Hmmmm.

2Cellos Do Sting

Standing: Stjepan Hauser and Sitting: Luka Sulic.

I have already written about the amazing music being made by the absolutely brilliant duo of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, better known as 2Cellos. They have made some excited interpretations of some Pop and Rock classics, by Nirvana and Michael Jackson. Watching them play their instruments with the amazing passionate and kinetic energy just keeps me entranced. But this fine Saturday morning, I will go just a little bit easier, as the handsome duo takes on Fields of Gold, written and performed by Sting.



I will also share with you a rather beautiful version of a song by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They add something just a little special to Michael Jackson's 1983 hit Human Nature. The song was off the colossal album Thriller.



While I am mentioning Michael Jackson, I see that the boys will be appearing of the next episode of GLEE this Tuesday, the episode devoted to Michael. They will be performing the 1988 hit, Smooth Criminal. I think it will be Santana singing it with Kurt's rival for Blaine's affection, Sebastian. Should be great, since I have been loving Santana's voice each time we hear it. But first, let me move on. And for the last song this morning, the boys tackle Californication, the song written and performed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from the 2000 album of the same name.



They are a brilliant combination of Classical music with a renegade twist, tossing a bit of Jazz and Pop in the mixture, along with some real Rock Star bravado as well. You can find many of the songs on the album 2Cellos, on iTunes and on Amazon. I am so glad I made my purchase, and sure you will be too.

GLEE Redux • Hold On To Sixteen

Rachel stops by the school to pick up her homework, and runs into Quinn, who tells Rachel she plans to get MS. Corcoran fired, and announces when she tells everyone about it, she will get Beth back. Rachel argues with her, and asks her to think more about her daughter, and less about herself. Rachel meets up with Finn, who decides they need to get Sam back if they are to have a chance at Sectionals. Kurt is having a time as he thinks he and Rachel are both doomed to be baristas for life, not able to get into NYADA. Soon Warbler Sebastian comes up to flirt with Blaine, and to irk Kurt. He announces to Kurt he plans on stealing his man. Rachel and Fin find Sam dancing in a strip club as White Chocolate, as apparently all the seniors at Ohio and Kentucky are 18 at the beginning of the year. Rachel goes up to Sam, tips him a buck, and makes an appointment to talk after the show. Finn and Rachel ask him about coming back, but he needs to talk to his parents. They, of course, allow him to do it, despite the fact they will miss him greatly. Back in the chorus room, the kids are getting together. They fear they will not get the chance to perform, even though the competition is at McKinley High. Then Sam comes in, and is greeted by Santana with a list of barbs. They hug, and Sam sings his first song of the season. He brings a bit of country when he sings Toby Keith's Red Solo Cup.



The boys of New Directions are dancing, struggling to figure out what they will do. Quinn talks to Sam about resuming their relationship, but Sam wants nothing to do with it. Sam wants to add some sexy moves, from his time as White Chocolate. Tina and Mike have a fight when he asks about him applying to dance schools. He has already applied to Stanford, to the pre-med program. They fight. Sam finds Mercedes, and talks to her. Yes, he heard about her boyfriend, by he wants her back! Finn follows Blaine to the gym, and apologizes to him, saying his jealousy made him not treat him right. But he wants to win, and without Rachel around, Blaine is the most talented member. He hopes they can all work together. Tina goes to talk to Mr. Chang, and bring him a tape of Mike dancing in West Side Story. Of course, Mr. Chang wants nothing to do with any of it. As the New Directions get ready for competition, The Troubletones stop by and offer to work together once they win the competition. The New Directions are insulted, and Quinn smacks back at Ms. Corcoran,hinting she knows about her relationship with Puck. The first act of sectionals goes on. The Unitards are up, and they sing Buenos Aires from Evita, starring Patti LuPone.



They are good, and everyone is frightened. Rachel follows Quinn in the hallway. She tells Quinn to beware of telling about Ms. Corcoran, and doing something she might regret. Rachel knows what that is like. Quinn goes to Ms. Corcoran, and spills about her the plan to tell Principle Figgins about her relationship with Puck. Shelby tells her to enjoy her youth while The Troubletones are up next, and Santana and Mercedes sing a mash-up of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.



and Destiny's Child's Survivor...



It is not surprising that the girls kill it on stage. It is time for the New Directions to take to the stage and Tina leads with The Jackson 5's ABC.



At the beginning of the song, Mr. Chang comes to see the performance. Mike sees him in the audience, and is overjoyed. The song ends, and the kids perform Janet Jackson's Control. It starts with Quinn talking about talking control of her life, directed at Ms. Corcoran.



And Finn follows that up taking the lead along side Blaine, Sam, Artie and Puck. They sing Michael Jackson's Man In The Mirror.



Of course, they get a standing ovation at the end of the performance, including from Mr. Chang. He actually smiled! Mike seems so proud. Puck gives Quinn a big hug, and Finn and Blaine fist-bump. Everyone is excited back in the chorus room. Mr. Chang tells Mike he must follow his dreams, and and he will support his son. Mike is so happy, but has missed the deadlines to apply to dance schools. But Tina already applied for him. Then it is time to find out the results. Third place goes to the Unitards. Second goes to the Troubletones, meaning the New Directions win!

Quinn sees Rachel in the Principal's office, and thanks her for stopping Quinn from making a big mistake. Quinn knows she doesn't want to grow up quite yet, and might want to apply to Yale Drama School. Rachel offers to help with the application. They are kinds friends, after all. Maybe she could help her with a few other things. Quinn goes to see Brittany, Santana, and Mercedes, to see if they will rejoin the New Directions. Mercedes isn't good with that idea, not ready to take a back seat again. But Quinn negotiates a deal, and soon the girls are singing with the kids in the chorus room. They join together on a joyous version of We are Young, originally performed by Fun featuring Janelle Monae.



Next week, Christmas will come early for the kids!

X-Factor Top 7 • Who's Bad?

The show opens with two bits of information right away: it is Michael Jackson night, and it is another double elimination this week, and two will go home. Introductions are made, and LA Reid, Nichole Scherzinger, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Steve Jones all settle in. We also learn that three of Michael's brothers, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie Jackson, will be joining the show for the week. They introduce a few very special guests for the night, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson are there, accompanied by the matriarch of the family, Katherine.

Josh Krajcik is the first up, introduced by Nicole as her lone remaining act. Josh will be playing the guitar, and feels unprepared for his performance. He performs Dirty Diana, from 1988.



After much consternation, he performs, and I am underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, but it was mediocre. His vocals were a bit lost in the din of the performance. I thought it was his weakest to date. That is a shame, cause I like Josh. However, LA Reid and Paula thought he was stretched, and very good. Huh. Simon thought the overall production distracted from the weakness of the performance, which is what I thought. Nicole was all rude about Simon, and I am immediately glad I won't have to listen to her defend any other acts tonight. And while I thought it was Josh's least successful so far, his mediocre is better than the best of a few remaining. LA introduces his first act of the evening, Astro. He says the youngster will pay homage to the King of Pop. Astro opens up rapping centerstage, and soon the music of 1991's big hit, Black Or White is playing.



For me, this is Astro's weakest so far, as it is seems just to be low on energy and joy. Astro was seemingly lost to me. It is just lacking. But I did like the dancer's outfits. Nicole agrees with me, which I find worrisome. Paula and Simon think he is wonderful. LA thinks he is just fantastic, of course. Next up, Simon introduces one of his favorites, Drew. She will be singing Michael's huge hit from 1983, Billie Jean.



She does a slow rendition, much like the one Simon saw David Cook do on Idol a few years ago, which was much like the amazing cover done by the outrageously talented Chris Cornell. Drew is in great voice, I think she sounded better than ever tonight. And I find there is power in the spotlight and and the chair, the simplicity of it. I thought it was great. LA liked it, although it pained him to admit it. Nicole loved her vocals, but hated she just sat there. Paula basically agreed with Nicole, and thought it was her best vocals of the show. Simon scoffed at them both, and told Drew how proud he was of her performance. Bickering between Paula, Nicole and Simon sadly distracted from a wonderful performance. Simon has the next act coming on, the joyful Rachel Crow. She is singing Can You Feel It, tonight, originally sung by the Jacksons in 1981.



Rachel did a great job with the song, which I feared could have sounded dated. She was energetic and bold, although there was one part of the song which seemed a little fumbled, like she might of forgot lyrics or something. LA, Nicole, and Paula all said they loved her, but thought she was not connected to the song. Nicole and Paula both turned it on Simon, which seems like the easy way to criticize the teen without owning the critique. Simon loved her, and thought she did him and Michael proud. LA takes a moment to introduce whom he calls the 'hardest working contestant in the competition,' Marcus Canty. He will be singing P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), the 1983 hit.



Interesting. I feared Marcus would sound dated, but that was hardly the case. It was a great arrangement, but the vocals were lacking. Too much dancing, not enough air for the singing. It was very disappointing to me. I didn't even like the dancer's costumes. Nicole was up first, and exclaims Marcus is a pretty young thing, and that it was great. Paula thinks it was a great homage to Michael Jackson, and that he left it out there on the stage. Sigh. Simon points out the lacking in the vocals, and Nicole attacks Simon, rather than defending the bad notes. Next up, LA introduces his final act of the night, Chris René. He tells us about how his grandfather, Leon René, wrote Rockin' Robin, later performed by the Jackson 5. Tonight, he sings I'll Be There, a hit for the Jackson 5 in 1970.



Wow, that was Chris' best performance of the show for me. Sure, he put in some reggae beats, but it was strong. His rap-break was good, and his voice strong. I was impressed. Nicole loved him, and Paula thought he is heart in abundance. Simon thought the vocals were somewhat weak, and he will need strong support from his fans this week. WTF, Simon? Oh, well. LA thinks he is "the truth." Simon thinks the show has saved the best for last. Melanie Amaro, with her Island accent. She is performing Earth Song, a worldwide hit in 1995.



Melanie lays it down with a big and bold performance, for me the strongest of the night. Indeed, they did save the best for last. She looks fantastic, and blew it up on that stage. And it was unanimous, the judges all loved her too. Simon is particularly proud she would perform so well in front of the Jackson family!

Well, this was an interesting week, that is for sure. For me, Marcus Canty had the weakest performance of the night, and should be going home. However, once again, two will be leaving, so he will not be alone. I would hope Josh stays safe, and presume Melanie is clearly safe. That leaves Chris, Astro, Drew and Rachel fighting for the bottom two. If I were making up the bottom two, I would guess it would be Astro and Rachel, for I thought Chris and Drew were quite good. But I can never be quite sure, and that is why I am gonna be sitting in front of my television tomorrow night to find out for myself!

X-Factor Results • Silver Screen Swansong

Left to right: Simon Cowell, Paul Abdul, L.A. Reid, and Nicole Scherzinger.

After the show last night, I picked Stacy Francis and Lakota Rayne to be in the bottom, with Stereo Hogzz close behind. There were also a couple of groups in the middle, which is never a safe spot this early on. Keep in mind, however, that neither of my pick for the bottom two was in the bottom last week. LOL! The show kicks off with a recap of last night, and then the Top 11 performed Save The World by the Swedish House Mafia. Nice song, could have done without this group cover.



After show performance, LA Reid speaks up that he was too harsh on Melanie Amaro, which is true. No one apologizes for being too easy on some of those acts last night... Soon, though, we see a recap of the performances, and it certainly reminds me that the judges should spend less time coming up with trite lines for Simon, and more time working with their acts... After a discussion of some convoluted contest I completely ignored, Willow Smith comes out to perform here latest single, Fireball. The single features Nicki Minaj, although she wasn't there performing.



Although Steve Jones teases about finding out which 9 acts are safe this week, we find out British singer Jessie J will be performing her latest single, Domino. It is actually quite a catchy tune, and unlike Katy Perry, she can really sing.



After some feeble flirting by Steve stiff-as-a-board (and not in a good way) Jones and humorous Jessie J, who brought an extra outfit for the announcer, it was time for a commercial break before the safe contestants are announced. Remember, they will put 9 through as safe, and the bottom two will perform for the judges, who will then make a choice. After the commercial, Paula comes out with the Groups, Nicole is with the Over 30s, L.A. is with the Boys, and Simon escorts the Girls. In no particular order, the Top 9 begin with Stacy Francis, followed quickly by Astro. Melanie Amaro is also safe, as is Marcus Canty. The next in safety is LeRoy Bell, and adorable Rachel Crow. Josh Krajcik is safe, making all the Over 30s through. Drew is also safe, making all the Girls through. The final entry making it through is Chris Rene, and leaves the two groups in the bottom yet again. For the second week in a row, The Stereo Hogzz are singing for survival, joined by another group, Lakota Rayne. One was in my bottom, the other a close runner-up. Once again, Paula has the privilege of introducing both acts. The first is Lakota Rayne, singing Jordin Spark's gorgeous No Air.



Well, that was somewhat unimpressive. The vocals were at times breathy and weak. Paula quickly introduces The Stereo Hogzz, who will perform Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone.



Somehow, they manage to make it sound older than it really is. And I still find the voice of the lead singer to be really nasal, and a bit sharp. This puts it in the hands of the judges, and I don't know what they will do. I think ultimately, neither is particularly strong nor marketable, but I might keep the Country singers around just to have the genre represented. But I would have sent The Stereo Hogzz home last week, too... After a break, Steve Jones polls the judges one at a time, on who will go home. LA is up first, and Nicole votes to send the Hogzz as well. Paula abstains, and then chooses to send home Lakota Rayne. If Simon picks the Hogzz, they leave. If he picks Lakota Rayne, the group with the lowest number of votes will leave. Simon chooses to send home The Stereo Hogzz, and all we know about next week is that for the first time, an act not from Paula's category will be in the bottom. See you next week for the Top 10!

Michael Jackson • Thriller

Getting an early start on Halloween, here is the full-length feature version of Michael Jackson's Thriller. From choreography, to great music, to the amazing vocal performance we always expected form the King of Pop, this song does nothing but set the standard so damn high for all the Pop music to come.



Just brilliant.

Making Classics Rock with Sulic & Hauser

Nirvana. Guns 'N Roses. Micheal Jackson. Shostakovich. The Cello. New Classic Rock. Have I lost you? Well, when Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser play together, they go by the rather descriptive name of 2Cellos, and that string of words makes sense. The Croatian duo first took YouTube by storm, using a video of a song by the King of Pop to conquer the world. Soon, they were signed by Sony Masterworks, getting an album out, and touring with Elton John, opening his show. All the while, the boys were putting the classic back in rock, playing their cellos with a strength, passion, and talent that is hard to miss. And, of course, their dashing good looks.



Both Sulic and Hauser are classically trained cellists, and in fact went to school together, and often had to compete while playing at school. Now, instead of competing, they are playing together, making some incredible music. One of the things I love about the first clip I will bring to you, is the interpretive nature of their work. While you will be able to clearly recognize they are playing Guns 'N Roses Welcome To The Jungle, it certainly doesn't sound as if they are just imitating Slash. No, they are bringing something of their own to this very special song.



And if I thought Welcome To The Jungle was cool, I was blown away by their version of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. I don't know if it is just the nature of the cello, but their Teen Spirit has an even greater moodiness, increased sexiness, and an almost heightened intensity that drew me in immediately.



But this was the video that started the sensation that is 2Cellos, Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal. Within two weeks of the video being posted, it had over 3 million views, and grabbed a great deal of attention for Sulic and Hauser. Soon they were appearing on the Ellen Show, and with Perez Hilton. But first, there was the music.



In many interviews, both Sulic and Hauser maintain they have no plans on leaving Classical music behind, but instead would like to get to a place where they can play both the Pop songs and Classical compositions. Here is a clip of them playing their arrangement of Prelude by Dmitri Shostakovich.



For more about 2Cellos, check out their official website here. You can find their album on iTunes here, and on Amazon here. For me, this album is a breath of fresh air, bringing new beauty to the aural landscape. They combine the beauty and finesse one would expect to hear and feel from classical musicians, with a power and strength that, at times, exudes masculinity. Along with the above, I love their covers of U2, Sting and Nine Inch Nails, although I could have done without the Coldplay song. I am so glad this is a part of my music collection.

GLEE Redux - The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle

Clockwise from top: Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, Lady Antebellum, The Zombies, Katy Perry, and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs.

Once again I am recapping the latest episode of Glee, only using the videos of the original songs rather than the covers. Hope you enjoy.

The show opens with the Cheerios rehearsing the latest number they put together for the regional championships. The do Katy Perry's California Gurls, complete with sparkling boobs... Sadly, Sue is dripping in malaise and cannot get excited about the number.



The football team is struggling a bit with team spirit - Karovsky and the jocks are poking at the GLEE Squad every chance they can, causing Finn to panic and fumble a snap. So Coach Bieste and Mr. Shue put their heads together, and they decide to make the jocks join together. To show what they do, Rachel & Puck sing the booty call anthem, Lady Antebellum's Need You Now.



Sue decides what the Cheerios need is some danger, so she wants to shoot cheerleaders across the field. Brittany isn't happy about risking her life, so she and Quinn go to Mr. Shue for help. He takes it up with the Principal, who forbids Sue from shooting students around, which causes Sue to trash the school like she was Charlie Sheen. And she arranges so the cheer regional to the same time as the football championship, leaving the team with no support. Will decides to mount a new number, the iconic Thriller.

The kids start rehearsing, leaving Quinn, Santana and Brittany in a tough position - will they choose to perform with the New Directions or with the Cheerios. Sue makes them decide, handing them resignation letters for the Glee club.

Finn and the boys sing She's Not There by The Zombies, as a kind of warm-up for Thriller. The nail the 60s classic, having some fun with it.



The hockey players meet up with Glee-Jocks in the hall, and the jocks get their first taste of a 'Slush Facial', which doesn't go over well. Karovsky leads to charge to quit GLEE, and Coach Bieste explains if anyone leaves, they are off the team. The closeted football players leads the group off the team.

We come upon the Dalton Academy Warblers rehearsing a new number, Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny's Child. Blaine is of course singing the lead, and we see several shots of Kurt singing in the background.



Blaine & Kurt meet Rachel & Mercedes for coffee, with the boys glowing about their latest rehearsal, and the girls drooping because of the events at McKinley High. But Blaine plants an idea in the minds of the ladies - they just need another 4 players on the football team to actually play.

Coach B and Mr. Shue commiserate over the fact no one has signed up to play for the football team, and the boys are sad, too. So Rachel steps up to declare her intention to play, as well as the other ladies as well. And by play, they will line up, and lay down once the ball is hiked, leaving the rest to the boys. With signed permission slips in place, a plan begins. Sue talks Brittany into becoming human fodder for the cannon.

The championship game begins with big talk from Finn about the ladies having the balls the boys didn't. Then he throws an interception. McKinley is trailing at half-time. Finn has a new plan, and gets Puck to talk the boys into performing Thriller with them, and he goes off to get pick up Quinn, Santana and Brittany. Everyone but Karovsky decide to join in with Finn's plan, and the show it a huge hit - even with Karovsky as a last minute addition. The medley of Michael Jackson's Thriller and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Head's Will Roll is perfect.






The boys take to the field in full Zombie make-up and make it a close game. With 10 seconds to go, Finn starts to the team chanting 'Brains', and soon everyone is chanting it too. It freaks out the other team, and soon the football team is crowned champions.

Sue is interviewed by Katie Curic, as one of the big losers of the year. It seems the Cheerios couldn't win without the ladies. And part of the budget for the cheerleaders is now going to the Glee club. Quinn is no longer a Cheerios, but feels good about it. She thanks Finn, and tells him how great he has been. It reminds her of why she loved him, and she kisses him, while Rachel and Sam are nowhere in sight.

The next new episode of GLEE will be this Tuesday, February 8. It called Silly Love Songs, and includes a song sung by the Warblers in a GAP-like store. Blaine sings Robin Thicke's When I Get You Alone. Hmmmm....

Billboard Top 5 - 1991

Music was going through another period of change, but my life hadn't changed very much. I was working my butt off in NYC, a freelancer doing all kinds of corporate communications gigs - your basic corporate rah-rah. Sales meeting, computer shows, video sales training, it was still going strong. I had my long hair, with my 'John Lennon' wire-frame glasses, quite the rebel in the corporate world. It would not be unusual for me to show up to meetings with my hair flowing, a t-shirt, shorts and purple flip-flops, charming some, irritating others. I had a clear identity at the time, while music, on the other hand, did not. The rough-hewn sound of Grunge was still forming in Seattle. New Wave music had pretty much started to fade. Some of those bands started to change their sound, either moving toward a pop theme, while others went to a rock vein. This allowed for Pop to reign supreme on the charts. Take, for example, Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), the song by C+C Music Factory, which was not really a band, but a duo of producers who lined up talent to perform the music. Robert Clivillés and David Cole put together the talent in the studio, with Martha Wash (of The Weathergirls fame) taking the lions-share of the vocals, and hunky Freedom Williams rapping. When it came time to make a video, Clivillés and Cole made the decision to put Zelma Davis in front of the camera, leaving Wash in the studio. She was also left off the credits for the song. Following a lawsuit, it was official, Wash was awarded a settlement, and given credit. None of this managed to distract from the popularity of the song, which hit #1 all around the world, and made it the #5 song of the year.



Mariah Carey broke on to the music scene with the release of her debut album in 1990. That was followed up by her second album in the fall of 1991, Emotions. Still soaring from the success of her debut, the sales for the 2nd took off, including for the first single, Emotions. To date, the album went quadruple-platinum in sales, while the single went gold. The song was written by Carey as well as the guys from C+C Music Factory, David Cole and Robert Clivillés. It was the #4 song of the year.



Paula Abdul had a huge success with her debut album, Forever Your Girl. That was released in 1988, and it wasn't until 1991 when she had the second, Spellbound. The first single, Rush, Rush, moved up the charts, making Gold status sales. The ballad made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the top-selling single from the album.



The King of Pop had his first solo song to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, with Ben. Ten #1 songs later, Jackson was once again on top with Black or White, from his chart-topping album Dangerous. The song made it to #1 across the globe. The song blended dance with rock, including a hot guitar track by Slash of Guns 'N Roses. The video had an intro that featured Jackson's friend, young Macaulay Culkin, and Cheers actor George 'Norm' Wendt as his father. Check out the #2 song of 1991.



Canadian rocker Bryan Adams had his first #1 song in 1985 with the ballad Heaven. His second time to top the US Billboard Hot 100 was in 1991, when (Everything I Do) I Do It For You not only topped the chart, it was also the top-selling single of 1991. While it did appear on his album Waking Up the Neighbours, it went into heavy rotation thanks to being the theme from the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The song went on to earn a Grammy for Adams and co-writers Michael Kamen and "Mutt" Lange, named Best Song Written for a Movie, as well as being nominated for an Academy Award.

Michael Jackson's Thriller

What can you say about this video, other than it is such a classic? And perfect for this Halloween season? So turn up the volume, hit the full-screen option, and enjoy!