Music News: These are not the Grammy winners. Or are they?
by Jade
January 29, 2019
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It's good to approach most things in life with a bit of cautious skepticism, especially on Twitter. But, if you'll indulge me for a moment, let's talk about the possible leak of Grammy results.
On Monday night, a post appeared that shared the upcoming Grammy winners including results naming Cardi B's "I Like It" Record of the Year, H.E.R. for Album of the Year, Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson's "Shallow" for Song of the Year, and Chloe x Halle winning Best New Artist.
Apparently, the winning information came from an archived version of the Grammys website. The Recording Academy was quick to respond and a spokesperson for the Grammys said: "There is no legitimacy to this. Grammy Awards results are not shared, even with Recording Academy staff members, until the day of the Grammy Awards ceremony, when names of the recipients are delivered by Deloitte in sealed envelopes." (BuzzFeed)
Jagged Little Pill headed to Broadway
You oughta know (I'm sorry) that Alanis Morissette's 1995 hit album, Jagged Little Pill, was turned into a play written by Diablo Cody (of Juno and last year's Tully fame) featuring music from the album. The news of the show came out last year, along with a short trial run of the show at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The response to the play was good enough to score the show a slot on Broadway. According to the New York Times, the show tells the story of a troubled family, featuring a pill-popping mother; a workaholic, porn-addicted father; an "overprogrammed" high school senior son; and an adopted daughter, who is black and "basically lives in a permanent state of having her hair touched by white girls." Prepare to feel the angst of the '90s on Broadway later this year.
Christina Aguilera announces Vegas residency
Do people even gamble in Vegas anymore? It seems like all I ever see any more are announcements about giant music residencies. This week the word is Xtina. Christina Aguilera has announced her Las Vegas Residency at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
Aguilera calls the residency her "most ambitious show yet." She continued, "For years I have been collecting ideas and concepts that have yet to be implemented on my stages, and Las Vegas is the perfect opportunity for me to collectively showcase my artistry. I cannot wait to bring you into 'The Xperience.'" The Xperience Residency starts May 31. (Rolling Stone)
Backstreet's back
The reign of the early aughts continues with a double dose of Backstreet Boys news. The boy band recently released their first new album in six years, DNA. And if projections are correct, it could be their first number one album in 18 years on the Billboard 200 chart. It would also be the group's tenth top ten album and their third number one. (Billboard)
And, they are getting some love from the most endearing artist making music today, Chance the Rapper. When the Backstreet Boys appeared on Jimmy Fallon last week, Chance appeared briefly as a coach getting the Boys into shape. Now, an ad that's going to be airing during the Super Bowl has appeared online.
In the Doritos ad, Chance dances with the Backstreet Boys and raps over their 1999 hit "I Want It That Way." (Pitchfork)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTMzIZhI7q8
First Ziggy Stardust TV appearance found
The first televised images of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, once considered a "Holy Grail" for Bowie fans, has been discovered. This would-be video of a 1972 Bowie performance for ITV's Lift Off With Ayshea was thought to be long lost, according to the BBC. The broadcaster said that the original tapes had been destroyed when they tried to digitize them.
Luckily, a fan managed to tape the show, and their copy is beginning to fall apart, so with the help of the BBC, they are hoping to restore the master and allow all of us a glimpse of the introduction to Ziggy Stardust.
Ziggy, as a character, came from Bowie's love of theater and acting. After the album, had been recorded, the character was developed as a bisexual alien rock superstar. The character was so ingrained into Bowie, that it was hard for him to shake it. Bowie once said that Ziggy "wouldn't leave me alone for years. That was when it all started to go sour...my whole personality was affected. It became very dangerous. I really did have doubts about my sanity."
If the BBC can restore the film in time, it will be featured in next month's BBC2 documentary, David Bowie: Finding Fame. Rolling Stone notes that until now, the earliest available footage of Ziggy Stardust was Bowie performing "Starman" on Top of the Pops in 1972.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtRp9UNx8Y
Today's viral clip: Tracy Morgan tells the "story" of Lou Bega
Our viral clip today is from the "Mambo No. 5" hitmaker Lou Bega's biopic...er, well, a parody of one, starring Tracy Jordan. While Jordan was on Jimmy Kimmel Live promoting his movie What Men Want he shared a fake trailer for the parody biopic. Jordan "reenacts" the struggle of Lou Bega trying to come up with his lyrics and ultimately writing what he knows. (Stereogum)
Audio sampled in podcast
BoxCat Games: "Against the Wall" (CC BY 3.0)
Jesse Spillane: "Ruffling Feathers" (CC BY SA 4.0-02)
Chance the Rapper and Backstreet Boys: Doritos ad
David Bowie: "Starman" (Live on Top of the Pops)
Cardi B feat. J Balvin and Bad Bunny: "I Like It"
Tracy Jordan and Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Mambo No. 5 trailer
Lou Bega: "Mambo No. 5"