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4 No. 2 Songs From 1978 That We Think Deserved the Top Spot
The article argues that four singles which reached No. 2 on the US charts in 1978 were strong enough to have deserved the top position. It frames their near-misses against a chart year dominated by songs associated with Barry Gibb, while highlighting each record’s musical appeal and its artists’ wider careers. – “Short People” by…
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Melissa Barrera Takes Weekend Off From Broadway’s ‘Titanique’ After She “Lost My Voice” On-Stage
Melissa Barrera will miss this weekend’s performances of Broadway musical parody Titanique after losing her voice during the week. The actress said the demanding eight-show weekly schedule had caught up with her, underscoring the physical strain placed on performers in long-running stage productions. Barrera, who plays Rose DeWitt Bukater, called out of Thursday’s show after…
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The 1985 mutiny that almost destroyed ‘Saturday Night Live’: “The show is an embarrassment”
In 1985, Saturday Night Live’s returning writer Michael O’Donoghue publicly criticised the programme, calling it “an embarrassment” and comparing it to watching old men die. His remarks followed a short, troubled return under creator Lorne Michaels and illustrated the creative turmoil that threatened to undermine the show’s relaunch. O’Donoghue had been rehired when Michaels returned…
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The admirer Prince was most proud to have: “How much more his words mean”
Prince reportedly regarded funk pioneer George Clinton as an especially meaningful admirer, valuing his approval above that of professional critics. The article argues that this mattered because Prince was famously hard to please and often sceptical of the music industry and its commentators. Prince recalled Clinton praising his 1985 album Around the World in a…
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“We’d order eight pitchers of margaritas and by the time the gig started we were out of our heads and barely able to finish the show”: How a group of rock’n’roll outcasts made the first great debut album of the 1990s
The article recounts how The Black Crowes, then known as Mr Crowe’s Garden, developed from an unpopular local Atlanta band into the group behind 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker. It presents the record as an important rock debut of its era, while highlighting the band’s improvised live approach and chaotic early behaviour. Frontman…
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Joe Jonas says he sought therapy for his low album sales
Joe Jonas has said that the poor commercial performance of his debut solo album, ‘Fastlife’, prompted panic attacks and physical pain, eventually leading him to seek therapy. Speaking on the Hey Jonas! podcast, he said he had tied the album’s success to his self-worth after expecting it to match the Jonas Brothers’ popularity, illustrating the…
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The now-iconic 1970 Elton John song written in 20 minutes
Elton John’s 1970 breakthrough hit “Your Song” was reportedly written in around 20 minutes, illustrating how some of the most enduring songs can emerge with little effort. The track marked a turning point for John, who was still relatively unknown in mainstream rock, and it launched his creative partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin into one…
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The 1972 Black Sabbath song that almost featured Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham: “I’d love to hear it”
John Bonham, Led Zeppelin’s drummer, nearly played on Black Sabbath’s 1972 track ‘Supernaut’ after becoming a strong admirer of its groove. The proposed collaboration never happened, but it highlights the close connections between two leading British hard-rock bands and Bonham’s respect for Sabbath’s music. ‘Supernaut’ appeared on Black Sabbath’s 1972 album Vol. 4. Drummer Bill…
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Four criminally underrated guitarists from the 1980s that are guaranteed to melt your face off
An opinion piece from Fox News’s Outkick Culture argues that the 1980s produced the greatest era of guitar playing, and highlights several guitarists the author considers overlooked despite their talent. While icons such as Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads dominate popular memory of the decade, the writer contends that other equally skilled players were…
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The 1995 role that “terrorised” John Goodman: “I don’t need the dough, but I do need this”
John Goodman has recalled how taking on Shakespeare’s Falstaff in 1995 shook him out of a creative rut brought on by years of steady, high-paying work on Roseanne. Approaching the sitcom’s later seasons, the actor admitted he had grown professionally lethargic and increasingly unhappy on set, a period that also coincided with his struggles with…