News
Amid Boston Overdose Crisis, a Pair of Harvard Students Are Bringing Narcan to the Red Line
News
At First Cambridge City Council Election Forum, Candidates Clash Over Building Emissions
News
Harvard’s Updated Sustainability Plan Garners Optimistic Responses from Student Climate Activists
News
‘Sunroof’ Singer Nicky Youre Lights Up Harvard Yard at Crimson Jam
News
‘The Architect of the Whole Plan’: Harvard Law Graduate Ken Chesebro’s Path to Jan. 6
Here comes the sun, doo doo doo doo...
NEWSIES
I scanned the music magazines and surfed the web for music news this week, but it seems everyone's been caught up in industry-talk, such as Clive Davis being replaced by L.A. Reid (co-founder of LaFace Records) at Arista Records, or Metallica producing a list of more than 300,000 people who traded Metallica songs over Napster. Instead of talking, will someone please come up with a shimmery, slinky, smooth summer song? Aaliyah's "I Try" has good beats but it's hard to listen to the lyrics without gagging; Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" is fine but not fine.
There was one interesting story: Burt Bacharach and Hal David may be performing together for the last time this summer. I guess it's fashionable to either totally hate Bacharach or to like him only in an ironic way, but I think he's written some great stuff. Just think of Aretha Franklin's "I Say a Little Prayer," Naked Eyes' "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" or Dusty Springfield's "The Look of Love." Of course, Bacharach's reputation isn't improved by album covers like the one pictured here...
PLEASE HAMMER DON'T HURT US
So I'm scrolling through RockOnTV.com, a website listing upcoming TV appearances by musicians, and guess whose name pops up? Hammer, Mr. Too-Legit-to-Quit himself. (Actually, I was under the impression he had reinstated the M.C., but I guess I was wrong.) Unfortunately, while the other listings showed names of musicians featured on Leno, Letterman, Conan or on VH-1, Hammer was listed as about to perform on WB's "For Your Love" (tonight!). Performing on a WB Friday night show? Oh dear. I'm not sure this is a step up from being a delivery boy, or whatever he had become.
Having said that, I should confess the first concert I ever saw without my parents was a Hammer one, back in the days when he was M.C. Hammer. I was young. My friend had won a radio call-in contest. How was I to know this would affect my life in the future?
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
Has anyone tried singing the lyrics to Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" over the melody for "Oops... I Did it Again"? Try it someday.
CONCERTS
The concert round-up is being held over since it's reading and finals period, and it might be too cruel just to taunt people with what they can't have. Okay, just one: Travis, May 16, at the Berklee Performance Center. And yes, I'm obsessed with Travis. But it isn't just me- check out this quote from Spin magazine's Beth Wawerna: "for the love of God and country, people, please go see this band. They are wonderful." But for those of you who are staying in Boston for the summer, these are some of the concerts that go on sale in the next week:
Tracy Chapman (tickets go on sale May 5; actual concert date August 3)
Yes (May 5; July 21)
Tony Bennett and Diana Krall (May 7; August 25-26)
Marc Anthony (May 8; July 2)
Watch out next week for our summer concert preview for more details about tours.
Comments, Questions? E-mail dsng@fas
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.