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It’s a vinyl world — we’re just spinning in it.
Over the last few years, artists from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé to Billie Eilish have released exclusive editions of their studio albums, giving music fans another reason to collect their favorites on vinyl.
Vinyl records have continued to explode in popularity, recently even outselling those little circular things called CDs. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (a.
It’s a vinyl world — we’re just spinning in it.
Over the last few years, artists from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé to Billie Eilish have released exclusive editions of their studio albums, giving music fans another reason to collect their favorites on vinyl.
Vinyl records have continued to explode in popularity, recently even outselling those little circular things called CDs. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (a.
- 6/7/2024
- by John Lonsdale
- Rollingstone.com
When you think of Michael Jackson, your thoughts probably go to his iconic songs, groundbreaking dance moves, and legendary persona. But when it came to endorsements, did you know that he also had astute business sense?
Also, did you know that the King of Pop wasn’t one for the limelight of sponsorship deals? Surprising as it may seem, when it came to his historic partnership with PepsiCo, his altruism shone as brightly as his talent. He agreed to the collaboration primarily for his family…how loving the late music icon-philanthropist was.
Michael Jackson from his music video – They Don’t Care About Us
Yet he had stipulations that highlighted his distinctive style: Jackson insisted he wouldn’t be caught on screen clutching a Pepsi can and that his face would grace the frame for no more than a brief “three-second” flash.
Michael Jackson’s Face-Time Limit in the Pepsi...
Also, did you know that the King of Pop wasn’t one for the limelight of sponsorship deals? Surprising as it may seem, when it came to his historic partnership with PepsiCo, his altruism shone as brightly as his talent. He agreed to the collaboration primarily for his family…how loving the late music icon-philanthropist was.
Michael Jackson from his music video – They Don’t Care About Us
Yet he had stipulations that highlighted his distinctive style: Jackson insisted he wouldn’t be caught on screen clutching a Pepsi can and that his face would grace the frame for no more than a brief “three-second” flash.
Michael Jackson’s Face-Time Limit in the Pepsi...
- 5/15/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Madonna‘s “Holiday” wasn’t a big hit, but it has a prominent place in our cultural memory. Case in point: one of Jessica Simpson’s songs is a massive rip-off of “Holiday.” Simpson herself discussed the obvious similarities.
Jessica Simpson said taking inspiration from Madonna’s ‘Holiday’ was for the greater good
In the early 1980s, dance music was dominated by a subgenre known as post-disco. It combined elements of traditional disco with synth-pop. Prominent examples of that style include Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang. Madonna’s self-titled debut album is one of the most famous post-disco albums of all time. Post-disco was not a prominent genre in the 2000s, but Simpson managed to bring it back for one brief moment.
During a 2006 interview with MTV News, Simpson said Madonna’s “Holiday” subconsciously inspired her song “A Public Affair.
Jessica Simpson said taking inspiration from Madonna’s ‘Holiday’ was for the greater good
In the early 1980s, dance music was dominated by a subgenre known as post-disco. It combined elements of traditional disco with synth-pop. Prominent examples of that style include Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” and “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang. Madonna’s self-titled debut album is one of the most famous post-disco albums of all time. Post-disco was not a prominent genre in the 2000s, but Simpson managed to bring it back for one brief moment.
During a 2006 interview with MTV News, Simpson said Madonna’s “Holiday” subconsciously inspired her song “A Public Affair.
- 4/30/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael Jackson‘s Bad has more great songs on it than most singers will produce over their entire careers. Quincy Jones revealed which track from Bad became the most prominent. He gave fans some insight into the creation of the song. Notably, the song was part of a major musical movement from the time period.
What Quincy Jones told Michael Jackson to do with ‘Bad’
In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, the defining album of his career and one of the most popular albums of all time. The record included classic tracks such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).” Following up an album like that would be difficult for anyone, even someone as talented as the King of Pop. Jackson took five years to release his next album, Bad. Bad became a blockbuster in its own right and some...
What Quincy Jones told Michael Jackson to do with ‘Bad’
In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, the defining album of his career and one of the most popular albums of all time. The record included classic tracks such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).” Following up an album like that would be difficult for anyone, even someone as talented as the King of Pop. Jackson took five years to release his next album, Bad. Bad became a blockbuster in its own right and some...
- 4/29/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant shared his thoughts on Taylor Swift‘s musical legacy, drawing comparisons to Michael Jackson’s iconic status.
While he acknowledged his admiration for much of Swift’s music, Tennant expressed his belief that she has yet to produce a standout single that can rival the star power of Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
“Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular, and I sort of quite like the whole thing, but then when I listen to the records … for a phenomenon as big, where are the famous songs?” Tennant told a panel discussion organized by The Guardian in London. “What’s Taylor Swift’s ‘Billie Jean’?”
While Tennant acknowledged Swift’s exceptional vocal abilities and the exquisite production of her music, he felt that, melodically, it lacked dynamism. “She’s got a great voice, and the production is beautiful,...
While he acknowledged his admiration for much of Swift’s music, Tennant expressed his belief that she has yet to produce a standout single that can rival the star power of Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
“Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular, and I sort of quite like the whole thing, but then when I listen to the records … for a phenomenon as big, where are the famous songs?” Tennant told a panel discussion organized by The Guardian in London. “What’s Taylor Swift’s ‘Billie Jean’?”
While Tennant acknowledged Swift’s exceptional vocal abilities and the exquisite production of her music, he felt that, melodically, it lacked dynamism. “She’s got a great voice, and the production is beautiful,...
- 4/27/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Michael Jackson‘s “Billie Jean” deeply impressed an important R&b musician. He said that the track could have been transformed into 12 different hit songs if Jackson had divided it up in a certain way. The R&b icon discussed how he tries to find songs similar to “Billie Jean” every day.
An R&b maetro explained why ‘Billie Jean’ is Michael Jackson’s masterpiece
Antonio “L.A.” Reid is a major pop/R&b producer. He has worked with stars like Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and Toni Braxton. In a 2011 essay he wrote for Rolling Stone, he said the King of Pop was the best entertainer of all time, comparing him to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. Reid recalled seeing The Jackson 5 at a state fair when he was young. Reid recalled Jackson’s voice resonating throughout the fairground.
“‘Billie Jean’ is the most important record he made,...
An R&b maetro explained why ‘Billie Jean’ is Michael Jackson’s masterpiece
Antonio “L.A.” Reid is a major pop/R&b producer. He has worked with stars like Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and Toni Braxton. In a 2011 essay he wrote for Rolling Stone, he said the King of Pop was the best entertainer of all time, comparing him to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. Reid recalled seeing The Jackson 5 at a state fair when he was young. Reid recalled Jackson’s voice resonating throughout the fairground.
“‘Billie Jean’ is the most important record he made,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant has questioned whether Taylor Swift has a song as “famous” as Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
During a conversation with The Guardian’s head rock and pop critic Alexis Petridisi livestreamed earlier this week, the topic turned to the ubiquitous pop star. While Tennant admitted Swift is a compelling figure, the singer said he finds her actual music “disappointing.”
Get Taylor Swift Tickets Here
“Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular and I sort of quite like the whole thing,” Tennant said. “But then when I listen to the records — we both have the same feeling actually — for a phenomenon as big [as she is]… where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift’s ‘Billie Jean’?”
After an audience member brought up “Shake It Off,” Tennant responded: “Is it though? No, ’cause I actually even know that that’s the answer,...
During a conversation with The Guardian’s head rock and pop critic Alexis Petridisi livestreamed earlier this week, the topic turned to the ubiquitous pop star. While Tennant admitted Swift is a compelling figure, the singer said he finds her actual music “disappointing.”
Get Taylor Swift Tickets Here
“Taylor Swift sort of fascinates me as a phenomenon because she’s so popular and I sort of quite like the whole thing,” Tennant said. “But then when I listen to the records — we both have the same feeling actually — for a phenomenon as big [as she is]… where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift’s ‘Billie Jean’?”
After an audience member brought up “Shake It Off,” Tennant responded: “Is it though? No, ’cause I actually even know that that’s the answer,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
The Beatles were the best rock ‘n’ roll band ever, but there was one way in which Michael Jackson surpassed them. The King of Pop was simply a better entertainer than the Fab Four. That is not to say he always made superior music — but the “Thriller” singer had some gifts that The Beatles did not.
1 way Michael Jackson’s era was better than The Beatles’
The Beatles gave the world many of the best and most innovative pop songs of all time, including “Tomorrow Never Knows,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “A Day in the Life.” However, their live performances never quite lived up to the magic they made in the studio. They would play professionally, but they weren’t much for razzle-dazzle. They were a band of their time. The Beatles stopped making music before 1970s acts like David Bowie, Kiss, and Alice Cooper revolutionized live shows and made them more theatrical.
1 way Michael Jackson’s era was better than The Beatles’
The Beatles gave the world many of the best and most innovative pop songs of all time, including “Tomorrow Never Knows,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and “A Day in the Life.” However, their live performances never quite lived up to the magic they made in the studio. They would play professionally, but they weren’t much for razzle-dazzle. They were a band of their time. The Beatles stopped making music before 1970s acts like David Bowie, Kiss, and Alice Cooper revolutionized live shows and made them more theatrical.
- 4/25/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael Jackson‘s “Billie Jean” is a song about a man who may or may not have fathered a child with a woman he doesn’t like. One of Jackson’s brothers explained the song’s connection to Motown founder Berry Gordy. Gordy is a musical legend, but his label’s music faced some criticism from one of The Beatles.
‘Billie Jean’ was 1 of several Michael Jackson songs inspired by Motown’s Berry Gordy
Jermaine Jackson was a member of The Jackson 5. In his 2011 book You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother’s Eyes, Jermaine discussed the Motown formula. “If Americans’ brains went to Harvard, America’s talent went to Motown — and artists graduated with a lifetime’s knowledge,” he said. “‘You’re entering the finest finishing school in the business,’ Mr. Gordy told us.
“Our education was fast-track: every song should be a three-minute story with a beginning,...
‘Billie Jean’ was 1 of several Michael Jackson songs inspired by Motown’s Berry Gordy
Jermaine Jackson was a member of The Jackson 5. In his 2011 book You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother’s Eyes, Jermaine discussed the Motown formula. “If Americans’ brains went to Harvard, America’s talent went to Motown — and artists graduated with a lifetime’s knowledge,” he said. “‘You’re entering the finest finishing school in the business,’ Mr. Gordy told us.
“Our education was fast-track: every song should be a three-minute story with a beginning,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It’s undeniable that Michael Jackson was the King of Pop and Madonna is the Queen of Pop — but only one of them had the higher net worth. While the two stars ruled the 1980s, they had very different careers. Shockingly, one of them was worth over a billion dollars more than the other.
Madonna’s net worth is huge
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Madonna was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. She debuted with the now-forgotten single “Everybody,” but her self-titled debut album produced three subsequent hits: “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star.” She became a megastar with her second album, Like a Virgin. Between the album’s title track and the song “Material Girl,” Madonna established herself as a provocative performer who was not afraid to flaunt her sexuality.
With her album Like a Prayer, the Queen of Pop started exploring spiritual topics through pop music. She reinvented herself repeatedly,...
Madonna’s net worth is huge
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Madonna was born on August 16, 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. She debuted with the now-forgotten single “Everybody,” but her self-titled debut album produced three subsequent hits: “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star.” She became a megastar with her second album, Like a Virgin. Between the album’s title track and the song “Material Girl,” Madonna established herself as a provocative performer who was not afraid to flaunt her sexuality.
With her album Like a Prayer, the Queen of Pop started exploring spiritual topics through pop music. She reinvented herself repeatedly,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One Michael Jackson song seems to be about a regular friendship. It’s actually about a friendship with a killer rat. Jackson revealed how this tune came together so fast, even though he struggled with a lot of self-doubt.
1 Michael Jackson song was the theme for a horror film
Listen to any of Jackson’s songs, and it’s clear he put lots of effort into his music. Even when he didn’t write or produce his music, his voice was impeccable. All these years later, he rhymes one of pop music’s best singers.
During a 1980 interview posted to Blank on Blank, Jackson said he was a perfectionist, but that didn’t mean he always worked slowly. “I do vocals pretty quick,” he explained. “But for instance ‘Ben,’ I did in one take. I went right in and cut it.” For context, “Ben” is a ballad about a killer...
1 Michael Jackson song was the theme for a horror film
Listen to any of Jackson’s songs, and it’s clear he put lots of effort into his music. Even when he didn’t write or produce his music, his voice was impeccable. All these years later, he rhymes one of pop music’s best singers.
During a 1980 interview posted to Blank on Blank, Jackson said he was a perfectionist, but that didn’t mean he always worked slowly. “I do vocals pretty quick,” he explained. “But for instance ‘Ben,’ I did in one take. I went right in and cut it.” For context, “Ben” is a ballad about a killer...
- 4/14/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael Jackson said disco was better than rock music in some regards. That was a very provocative statement at the time! The King of Pop went on to explain why he didn’t care much for diving up genres, likening music to bird calls.
Michael Jackson defended disco during a racist backlash to it
Today, disco music is about as controversial as apple pie. However, in the late 1970s, the genre was polarizing. Some critics and fans hated it because they felt it did not live up to the quality of the rock ‘n’ roll music of the previous decade. Others felt disco was taking up too much of the music market. Most disconcertingly, some audiences attacked disco because of its association with Black and LGBTQ communities.
Jackson wasn’t primarily a disco singer. However, he released disco/disco-inspired tunes such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
Michael Jackson defended disco during a racist backlash to it
Today, disco music is about as controversial as apple pie. However, in the late 1970s, the genre was polarizing. Some critics and fans hated it because they felt it did not live up to the quality of the rock ‘n’ roll music of the previous decade. Others felt disco was taking up too much of the music market. Most disconcertingly, some audiences attacked disco because of its association with Black and LGBTQ communities.
Jackson wasn’t primarily a disco singer. However, he released disco/disco-inspired tunes such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
- 4/13/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“Michael,” the upcoming biopic about pop legend Michael Jackson that seems guaranteed to spark conversation, debuted a dazzling and emotional first look at CinemaCon during Lionsgate’s presentation to theater owners on Thursday in Las Vegas.
The sweeping footage starts as hysterical fans scream along to Jackson as he owns the stage, flashing between performances of his biggest hits like “Man in the Mirror” and “Thriller.” The movie, which is still in production, will feature over 30 songs and recreate several performances of them, starting with Jackson 5’s classic rendition of “ABC” on “American Bandstand.”
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Michael” promises to be a sweeping look at the musician’s life, including the emotional toll that being a superstar took on the shy and private man behind the moonwalk. The trailer also captures Jackson as he’s stalked by adoring crowds and paparazzi.
“There might be some people who think you’re different,...
The sweeping footage starts as hysterical fans scream along to Jackson as he owns the stage, flashing between performances of his biggest hits like “Man in the Mirror” and “Thriller.” The movie, which is still in production, will feature over 30 songs and recreate several performances of them, starting with Jackson 5’s classic rendition of “ABC” on “American Bandstand.”
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Michael” promises to be a sweeping look at the musician’s life, including the emotional toll that being a superstar took on the shy and private man behind the moonwalk. The trailer also captures Jackson as he’s stalked by adoring crowds and paparazzi.
“There might be some people who think you’re different,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
A new documentary, Thriller 40, arrives to celebrate Michael Jackson‘s Thriller four decades after its landmark release. The doc will examine the groundbreaking album, including the iconic music video for “Thriller,” a Halloween staple.
Thriller 40 debuts December 2 at 8 p.m. Et on Showtime and will stream on Paramount+ (for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers).
The film “takes fans back in time to the making of the record-breaking album and release of revolutionary short films that redefined the music video format and captivated audiences globally,” the official press release teased previously. “’Billie Jean’ remains the most streamed Michael Jackson song and ‘Thriller’ is the only music video that has been inducted onto the elite National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.”
The upcoming documentary will feature “never-before-seen footage and candid interviews,” chronicling “the point in Jackson’s career that launched the singer into mega-stardom and created a pop culture...
Thriller 40 debuts December 2 at 8 p.m. Et on Showtime and will stream on Paramount+ (for Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers).
The film “takes fans back in time to the making of the record-breaking album and release of revolutionary short films that redefined the music video format and captivated audiences globally,” the official press release teased previously. “’Billie Jean’ remains the most streamed Michael Jackson song and ‘Thriller’ is the only music video that has been inducted onto the elite National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.”
The upcoming documentary will feature “never-before-seen footage and candid interviews,” chronicling “the point in Jackson’s career that launched the singer into mega-stardom and created a pop culture...
- 11/21/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Madonna kicked off “The Celebration Tour” with the first of four performances at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.
A true retrospective performance, the career-spanning setlist touched on all eras of Madonna’s career and featured numerous songs that hadn’t been performed in decades. The show opened with only the second performance ever of “N0thing Really Matters” from Ray of Light. A few songs later, she dusted off “Live to Tell” from True Blue for the first time since 2006.
Songs like “Justify My Love,” “Bad Girl,” and “Rain” were performed for the first time sine 1993, while “Bedtime Story” was dusted off for the first time since 1995. Other noteworthy performances included “Like A Prayer,” in which she was accompanied by topless dancers, an acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” and “Like a Virgin,” which was interpolated elements of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
Get...
A true retrospective performance, the career-spanning setlist touched on all eras of Madonna’s career and featured numerous songs that hadn’t been performed in decades. The show opened with only the second performance ever of “N0thing Really Matters” from Ray of Light. A few songs later, she dusted off “Live to Tell” from True Blue for the first time since 2006.
Songs like “Justify My Love,” “Bad Girl,” and “Rain” were performed for the first time sine 1993, while “Bedtime Story” was dusted off for the first time since 1995. Other noteworthy performances included “Like A Prayer,” in which she was accompanied by topless dancers, an acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” and “Like a Virgin,” which was interpolated elements of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
Get...
- 10/15/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
There’s a moment late on in the first night of Madonna‘s Celebration Tour when the Queen of Pop, acoustic guitar in hand, leads The O2 Arena in a solo rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s seminal disco hit ‘I Will Survive.’
It would be a fitting choice for any 65-year-old pop star who can still play a staggering six nights at an arena that fits 20,000 people, but for Madonna, the song seems even more appropriate. This tour, a career-spanning look back at 40 years at the top, was originally set...
It would be a fitting choice for any 65-year-old pop star who can still play a staggering six nights at an arena that fits 20,000 people, but for Madonna, the song seems even more appropriate. This tour, a career-spanning look back at 40 years at the top, was originally set...
- 10/15/2023
- by Nick Reilly
- Rollingstone.com
Michael Jackson’s Wikipedia page was updated within moments of the announcement of the singer’s passing in 2009. Two of the major broadcast television networks suspended their primetime schedule to air specials about Jackson, while radio stations across the country cued up songs from his extensive catalog of hits. One woman called in to New York’s Power 105 in tears, repeating, “I loved Michael Jackson! I loved that man!” over and over, before threatening to throw herself in front of a car.
Jackson’s songs still serve as a crucible for our various compromises and self-imposed psychological barriers. It sounds carefree, but it’s impossible to listen to the music without assessing its creator’s hidden torment. Even the smoothest, catchiest, most disco-tastic singles in Mj’s back catalog are a little obsessed. (Don’t stop ‘til you get enough? Got me working day and night?)
Which is our own...
Jackson’s songs still serve as a crucible for our various compromises and self-imposed psychological barriers. It sounds carefree, but it’s impossible to listen to the music without assessing its creator’s hidden torment. Even the smoothest, catchiest, most disco-tastic singles in Mj’s back catalog are a little obsessed. (Don’t stop ‘til you get enough? Got me working day and night?)
Which is our own...
- 8/29/2023
- by Sal Cinquemani
- Slant Magazine
In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s there was one young actor who personified the burgeoning ennui of Generation X but, you know, made it look cool: Christian Slater. After bursting onto the scene as a teen in films like The Legend of Billie Jean, The Name of the Rose, and the underrated Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Slater was leading a number of films that have left an indelible cultural impact in the decades since. Alongside the Winona Ryders and Ethan Hawkes, Slater quickly came to represent a very specific kind of post-Reagan, aggravated anti-ambition.
Metrograph has curated a new series of films (all on 35mm!) celebrating Slater. Titled “Christian Slater: Outsider,” it starts on August 18. The movies included are Gleaming The Cube, Heathers, Pump Up the Volume, and True Romance. A perfectly selected quartet of pictures that all underwhelmed upon initial release, only to all earn cult-classic status in short order.
Metrograph has curated a new series of films (all on 35mm!) celebrating Slater. Titled “Christian Slater: Outsider,” it starts on August 18. The movies included are Gleaming The Cube, Heathers, Pump Up the Volume, and True Romance. A perfectly selected quartet of pictures that all underwhelmed upon initial release, only to all earn cult-classic status in short order.
- 7/25/2023
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Tl;Dr:
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” includes a guitar solo from a major rock star. A sound engineer was impressed with the solo but wouldn’t listen to it being recorded. That sound engineer wanted Jackson to remove the opening synthesizer riff from “Beat It.” Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” famously includes a guitar solo from Van Halen’s Eddie Van Halen. An engineer who worked with Jackson said the solo was originally unbearably loud. Subsequently, he decided not to work on the song until after Van Halen completed the solo.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ has a guitar solo that repelled and stunned an engineer
Bruce Swedien was a sound engineer who worked on “Beat It”‘s parent album, Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, Swedien discussed the famous Van Halen guitar solo from “Beat It.”
“The highlight for me was the guitar solo,...
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” includes a guitar solo from a major rock star. A sound engineer was impressed with the solo but wouldn’t listen to it being recorded. That sound engineer wanted Jackson to remove the opening synthesizer riff from “Beat It.” Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” famously includes a guitar solo from Van Halen’s Eddie Van Halen. An engineer who worked with Jackson said the solo was originally unbearably loud. Subsequently, he decided not to work on the song until after Van Halen completed the solo.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ has a guitar solo that repelled and stunned an engineer
Bruce Swedien was a sound engineer who worked on “Beat It”‘s parent album, Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, Swedien discussed the famous Van Halen guitar solo from “Beat It.”
“The highlight for me was the guitar solo,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Do you remember what you were doing the evening of May 16, 1983? Well, you may have been one of the 47 million people tuned into NBC’s landmark special “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever.”
It was the star-studded celebration hosted by Emmy nominee Richard Pryor which saw Michael Jackson reuniting with his brothers for a medley of their Jackson 5 hits including “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.”
But it was Jackson’s solo performance of his blockbuster No. 1 hit “Billie Jean” from his breakthrough album “Thriller” which galvanized the audience. It was an electrifying turn where he introduced the fedora, black sequin jacket and glove and his momentous moonwalk routine during the bridge of the song, all of which became his trademarks when performing “Billie Jean.” The New York Times described the routine as “astonishing. He is clearly the heir apparent to the dazzling androgyny...
It was the star-studded celebration hosted by Emmy nominee Richard Pryor which saw Michael Jackson reuniting with his brothers for a medley of their Jackson 5 hits including “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.”
But it was Jackson’s solo performance of his blockbuster No. 1 hit “Billie Jean” from his breakthrough album “Thriller” which galvanized the audience. It was an electrifying turn where he introduced the fedora, black sequin jacket and glove and his momentous moonwalk routine during the bridge of the song, all of which became his trademarks when performing “Billie Jean.” The New York Times described the routine as “astonishing. He is clearly the heir apparent to the dazzling androgyny...
- 5/15/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Yeardley Smith is an American actress, artist and writer. She is best known for voicing Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons.
Yeardley Smith Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Yeardley Smith was born on July 3, 1964 (Yeardley Smith: Age 58) in Paris, France to Joseph Smith and Martha Mayor. The family moved to Washington D.C. in 1966 where Smith’s father worked as the first obituary writer for The Washington Post and her mother worked as a paper conservator for the Smithsonian Institute.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Smith revealed how she got started acting.
“There was a woman in my neighborhood in Washington, D.C. who used to put on, in the summer she would gather up all the kids, she had eight kids of her own, all the kids in the neighborhood and we would lip sync to songs like from Sound of Music or Fiddler on the Roof or...
Yeardley Smith Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Yeardley Smith was born on July 3, 1964 (Yeardley Smith: Age 58) in Paris, France to Joseph Smith and Martha Mayor. The family moved to Washington D.C. in 1966 where Smith’s father worked as the first obituary writer for The Washington Post and her mother worked as a paper conservator for the Smithsonian Institute.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Smith revealed how she got started acting.
“There was a woman in my neighborhood in Washington, D.C. who used to put on, in the summer she would gather up all the kids, she had eight kids of her own, all the kids in the neighborhood and we would lip sync to songs like from Sound of Music or Fiddler on the Roof or...
- 5/7/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Thirteen of Michael Jackson‘s songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Some of those songs are incredible. On the other hand, one of them is about a killer rat.
Michael Jackson | Chris Walter / Contributor 13. ‘Ben’
“Ben” is a ballad about a killer rat that became Jackson’s first solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was from the film Ben, the sequel to the killer rat movie Willard. The ballad is more of a weird piece of trivia than a real song.
12. ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’ with Siedah Garrett
Jackson dabbled in numerous genres. Sadly, he wasn’t able to elevate easy-listening music with “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” While this was a No. 1 single during Jackson’s peak period, it doesn’t have an accompanying music video.
11. ‘Say Say Say’
The best thing about “Say Say Say” is that it’s not Jackson’s other Paul McCartney duet,...
Michael Jackson | Chris Walter / Contributor 13. ‘Ben’
“Ben” is a ballad about a killer rat that became Jackson’s first solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was from the film Ben, the sequel to the killer rat movie Willard. The ballad is more of a weird piece of trivia than a real song.
12. ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’ with Siedah Garrett
Jackson dabbled in numerous genres. Sadly, he wasn’t able to elevate easy-listening music with “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.” While this was a No. 1 single during Jackson’s peak period, it doesn’t have an accompanying music video.
11. ‘Say Say Say’
The best thing about “Say Say Say” is that it’s not Jackson’s other Paul McCartney duet,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Let’s take a trip back in time to the early 1980s at the height of David Bowie’s popularity.
MTV launched in 1981 with the words, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The first video played was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.” Quite appropriate.
MTV stands for music television because that’s what it was. MTV played music videos all day, every day — 24 hours of videos.
The network brought artists into our homes for the first time. We no longer just listened to the music; we watched it. This helped launch some of the biggest names in music of the time. It turned artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Boy George, and Duran Duran into stars.
David Bowie had some of his biggest commercial successes during this time, partially because of MTV.
David Bowie’s career
Englishman Bowie burst onto the scene in the early 1970s during the...
MTV launched in 1981 with the words, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The first video played was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.” Quite appropriate.
MTV stands for music television because that’s what it was. MTV played music videos all day, every day — 24 hours of videos.
The network brought artists into our homes for the first time. We no longer just listened to the music; we watched it. This helped launch some of the biggest names in music of the time. It turned artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Boy George, and Duran Duran into stars.
David Bowie had some of his biggest commercial successes during this time, partially because of MTV.
David Bowie’s career
Englishman Bowie burst onto the scene in the early 1970s during the...
- 3/15/2023
- by Stacy Feintuch
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Michael Jackson is undeniably one of the greatest entertainers of all time. One thing that sets him apart are his electric live performances. He constantly introduced innovative sets, costumes, and of course, choreography, including the moonwalk. As it turns out, Smokey Robinson, a fellow Motown legend, says Jackson didn’t create the dance.
(L-r): Lionel Richie;Sheila E.;Elizabeth Taylor;Diana Ross;Michael Jackson;Harry Belafonte;Smokey Robinson | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Smokey Robinson says Michael Jackson learned the moonwalk from The Nicholas Brothers
Robinson first met Jackson when he auditioned at Motwoen as a child alongside his brothers. He was immediately impressed by the young Jackson and knew that he would be a star. Robinson was taken aback by Jackson’s performance skills, but he wasn’t surprised as Jackson grew to be the iconic entertainer he grew to be. In fact,...
(L-r): Lionel Richie;Sheila E.;Elizabeth Taylor;Diana Ross;Michael Jackson;Harry Belafonte;Smokey Robinson | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Smokey Robinson says Michael Jackson learned the moonwalk from The Nicholas Brothers
Robinson first met Jackson when he auditioned at Motwoen as a child alongside his brothers. He was immediately impressed by the young Jackson and knew that he would be a star. Robinson was taken aback by Jackson’s performance skills, but he wasn’t surprised as Jackson grew to be the iconic entertainer he grew to be. In fact,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Brenda Alexander
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
James Gunn and Peter Safran have laid out their future plans for DC Studios, and the results are pretty exciting. Having the ship steered by someone with a clear vision and an obvious love of the source material is exactly what DC movies need. Speaking of comics, Gunn recently tweeted the inspirations behind DC's new direction. He was careful to say that while these books are significant to upcoming projects, DC Studios won't be adapting them all. It's great news because the comics serving as "touchstones" are all excellent!
DC Studios may not be directly adapting all the books Gunn mentioned, but we know one recent comic that is definitely getting a movie: "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow." The eight-issue miniseries from Tom King and Bilquis Evely first hit stands in 2021, wrapping up the following year.
It might seem surprising to adapt such a recent tale, but King and Evely have...
DC Studios may not be directly adapting all the books Gunn mentioned, but we know one recent comic that is definitely getting a movie: "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow." The eight-issue miniseries from Tom King and Bilquis Evely first hit stands in 2021, wrapping up the following year.
It might seem surprising to adapt such a recent tale, but King and Evely have...
- 2/8/2023
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
Image Source: Getty / Araya Diaz / Barry King
With the explosion of celebrity biopics in recent years - "Elvis," about rock legend Elvis Presley, "Bohemian Rhapsody" about Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and "Rocketman" about icon Elton John, to name a few - it was due time for Jackson's simultaneously fascinating and tumultuous personal and professional life to be highlighted in a feature film. Well, it's happening. The King of Pop is coming to a movie theater near you soon, and we finally know who's portraying him: his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
It was announced on Jan. 18 via Deadline that the late Michael Jackson's story will be told in a new Lionsgate biopic directed by the acclaimed Antoine Fuqua and coproduced by "Bohemian Rhapsody" producer Graham King. On Jan. 30, Fuqua revealed Jaafar's casting in an Instagram post that included a photo of him dressed like his late uncle. He captioned it, "Proud...
With the explosion of celebrity biopics in recent years - "Elvis," about rock legend Elvis Presley, "Bohemian Rhapsody" about Queen singer Freddie Mercury, and "Rocketman" about icon Elton John, to name a few - it was due time for Jackson's simultaneously fascinating and tumultuous personal and professional life to be highlighted in a feature film. Well, it's happening. The King of Pop is coming to a movie theater near you soon, and we finally know who's portraying him: his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
It was announced on Jan. 18 via Deadline that the late Michael Jackson's story will be told in a new Lionsgate biopic directed by the acclaimed Antoine Fuqua and coproduced by "Bohemian Rhapsody" producer Graham King. On Jan. 30, Fuqua revealed Jaafar's casting in an Instagram post that included a photo of him dressed like his late uncle. He captioned it, "Proud...
- 1/30/2023
- by Simrin Purhar
- Popsugar.com
Making a massive action film like "Top Gun: Maverick" requires a meticulous amount of planning and attention to detail. One of the reasons that the blockbuster legacy sequel works so well is the commitment to not have an overreliance on the intrusive digital effects and CGI that dominate most of the big-budget landscape. That choice was decided well before one frame of film was shot, thanks to Tom Cruise's dedication to aviation and the entire field of stunt work over the past 40 years.
When Tony Scott's original "Top Gun" barreled its way into cinemas in 1986, practical effects were still king and audiences connected more with everyday heroes instead of caped crusaders. Scott's trademark visual style and the real-world flying captured by cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball helped wow audiences that had really never seen anything that eye-popping combined with the undeniable star power and magnetism of Cruise.
Inevitably, the decision...
When Tony Scott's original "Top Gun" barreled its way into cinemas in 1986, practical effects were still king and audiences connected more with everyday heroes instead of caped crusaders. Scott's trademark visual style and the real-world flying captured by cinematographer Jeffrey Kimball helped wow audiences that had really never seen anything that eye-popping combined with the undeniable star power and magnetism of Cruise.
Inevitably, the decision...
- 11/10/2022
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
The critical burst of momentum began last month, with Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson gossiping about a prominent Republican’s penis. It has climaxed, for now, with one the most egregiously zealous converts to the cult of authoritarian Trumpism finally on the inside track to securing a seat in the United States Senate.
J.D. Vance won Ohio’s Republican primary for Senate on Tuesday, riding Trump’s home-stretch endorsement to best fellow Maga devotee Josh Mandel and state Sen. Matt Dolan, who ran a more traditional conservative campaign while Vance...
J.D. Vance won Ohio’s Republican primary for Senate on Tuesday, riding Trump’s home-stretch endorsement to best fellow Maga devotee Josh Mandel and state Sen. Matt Dolan, who ran a more traditional conservative campaign while Vance...
- 5/4/2022
- by Ryan Bort and Asawin Suebsaeng
- Rollingstone.com
Lionsgate will distribute a new Michael Jackson biopic that will be produced by “Bohemian Rhapsody’s” Graham King. The film is being made with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate, which may impact how it deals with the multiple allegations of child sexual abuse that were brought against the King of Pop over the course of his career and following his 2009 death.
Entitled “Michael,” the film will be produced by King, who mined similar terrain with Freddie Mercury, and the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain. The screenplay is by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan. King and Logan previously collaborated on Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator.” Lionsgate will distribute the film worldwide.
Jackson’s life and music recently inspired a Broadway show, “Mj,” which takes place as Jackson prepares for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour — a period of time before Jackson was first accused of child sexual abuse.
Entitled “Michael,” the film will be produced by King, who mined similar terrain with Freddie Mercury, and the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain. The screenplay is by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan. King and Logan previously collaborated on Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator.” Lionsgate will distribute the film worldwide.
Jackson’s life and music recently inspired a Broadway show, “Mj,” which takes place as Jackson prepares for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour — a period of time before Jackson was first accused of child sexual abuse.
- 2/7/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Walter Yetnikoff, who rose from working-class Brooklyn to become the head of CBS Records and became a star as volatile, if not more so, than many of the million-selling artists he signed, died on Monday at age 87. The cause of death was cancer, according to The New York Times.
Yetnikoff came into power during the 1970s, as the modern music industry was becoming big business; he prided himself on a hard-charging, take-no-prisoners, booze-for-breakfast style that turned the industry into a series of gladiatorial contests — over artists, hits, headlines, women, and more.
Yetnikoff came into power during the 1970s, as the modern music industry was becoming big business; he prided himself on a hard-charging, take-no-prisoners, booze-for-breakfast style that turned the industry into a series of gladiatorial contests — over artists, hits, headlines, women, and more.
- 8/10/2021
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Dorinda Medley wants you to sweat for a good cause. The former “Real Housewives of New York” star and professional aerobics instructor is teaching an ’80s-themed aerobics — or Dorobics, as she likes to call it — class on Moxie April 23. All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.
To get ready for the workout, Variety asked Medley to name some of her favorite ’80s hits.
1. “Work That Body,” Diana Ross: “This song has the perfect aerobics eight-beat, and the music video of her dancing in a leotard is iconic. Diana’s solo career really blossomed in the ’80s, and this song fueled the aerobics movement to become more mainstream. It’s a must-play song in my Dorobics classes.”
2. “It’s Raining Men,” the Weather Girls: “Whenever I was with my girlfriends and this song would come on, we would just feel so sexy and empowered dancing in our leotards. Look at us!
To get ready for the workout, Variety asked Medley to name some of her favorite ’80s hits.
1. “Work That Body,” Diana Ross: “This song has the perfect aerobics eight-beat, and the music video of her dancing in a leotard is iconic. Diana’s solo career really blossomed in the ’80s, and this song fueled the aerobics movement to become more mainstream. It’s a must-play song in my Dorobics classes.”
2. “It’s Raining Men,” the Weather Girls: “Whenever I was with my girlfriends and this song would come on, we would just feel so sexy and empowered dancing in our leotards. Look at us!
- 4/21/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
The story of how Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went from underground comic book to the highest grossing independent film of all time is the stuff of Hollywood legend. But ask producer Tom Gray about the sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, and you are likely to hear an altogether different tale. One of a frantically rushed production, censorship backlash and a change of director and direction. Actors were replaced, there were clashes with the comic book creators and a series of strange and unusual characters were added to the mix – including Vanilla Ice.
Gray was head of production at Golden Harvest, the Hong Kong studio behind martial arts classics like Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon, when comedian-turned screenwriter Bobby Herbeck first approached him about a live-action film adaptation of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s cult comics.
It’s fair to say he took some convincing.
Gray was head of production at Golden Harvest, the Hong Kong studio behind martial arts classics like Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon, when comedian-turned screenwriter Bobby Herbeck first approached him about a live-action film adaptation of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s cult comics.
It’s fair to say he took some convincing.
- 3/22/2021
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Wamg Interview: Caroline Williams – Star of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and 10 Minutes To Midnight
Caroline Williams began her career in Texas, and quickly established herself in the Texas movie marketplace doing commercials, industrial films and voiceover work. She soon found herself busy with roles in such films The Legend Of Billie Jean (1985) and Getting Even (1985). After her star-making turn as Stretch in 1986’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pt 2., Caroline moved to LA and appeared in films such as The Stepfather 2 (1989), Days Of Thunder (1990), and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (2000)
In her latest, Ten Minutes To Midnight, Caroline Williams returns to the DJ booth for the first time since The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pt 2. Williams plays Amy Marlowe, a veteran late night radio host on the eve of forced retirement trapped inside the station by a violent storm after being bitten by a rabid bat.
Caroline Williams took the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about her career and about Ten Minutes To Midnight.
In her latest, Ten Minutes To Midnight, Caroline Williams returns to the DJ booth for the first time since The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Pt 2. Williams plays Amy Marlowe, a veteran late night radio host on the eve of forced retirement trapped inside the station by a violent storm after being bitten by a rabid bat.
Caroline Williams took the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about her career and about Ten Minutes To Midnight.
- 1/27/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
One of the things that made the Beatles, when they first arrived, seem magical was the uncanny way the look and sound of all four of them matched up. For all their iconic differences, they had variations on the same thick billowy dark hair, gleaming lemon-shaped smile, and Liverpool singsong and mocking twinkle. They seemed as related as brothers.
The Bee Gees, of course, were brothers (there were three of them), a fact that in itself isn’t remarkable, though like the Beatles they rhymed in ways that were at once visual, temperamental, and sonic. Born in the U.K. and raised (mostly) in Australia, they had different versions of the same overbite. All three exuded an angelic serenity. And those voices! To say that the Gibb brothers blended together with seamless perfection wouldn’t do the sound they created justice. United by a silky timbre that was in their DNA,...
The Bee Gees, of course, were brothers (there were three of them), a fact that in itself isn’t remarkable, though like the Beatles they rhymed in ways that were at once visual, temperamental, and sonic. Born in the U.K. and raised (mostly) in Australia, they had different versions of the same overbite. All three exuded an angelic serenity. And those voices! To say that the Gibb brothers blended together with seamless perfection wouldn’t do the sound they created justice. United by a silky timbre that was in their DNA,...
- 12/12/2020
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Bruce Swedien, the celebrated audio engineer and producer who worked on records by Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Donna Summer, Duke Ellington, Paul McCartney and many more, died Tuesday at the age of 86.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
- 11/18/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The struggling, pandemic-era state of the theater industry is about to be boosted by a bit of Turtle Power (as Partners in Kryme’s end-credits soundtrack song famously declared), with the big screen return of the celebrated 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
Fathom Events’ latest big screen retro release will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Renaissance reptiles’ iconic live-action feature, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set for a limited return run at select theaters on Thursday, November 5 and Saturday, November 7. Granted, said celebration will be a belated one, seeing as the film debuted on March 30, 1990, but it will nevertheless serve as a wantonly retro moment for a certain generation that can recall the original film’s release as a seminal moment in childhood and for pop culture in general.
“We are excited to celebrate 30 years of a film that brings families together in a fun, entertaining and hilarious way,...
Fathom Events’ latest big screen retro release will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Renaissance reptiles’ iconic live-action feature, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set for a limited return run at select theaters on Thursday, November 5 and Saturday, November 7. Granted, said celebration will be a belated one, seeing as the film debuted on March 30, 1990, but it will nevertheless serve as a wantonly retro moment for a certain generation that can recall the original film’s release as a seminal moment in childhood and for pop culture in general.
“We are excited to celebrate 30 years of a film that brings families together in a fun, entertaining and hilarious way,...
- 11/2/2020
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Yeardley Smith (iconic voice of Lisa Simpson and host of the podcast Small Town Dicks) joins Josh & Joe to discuss her favorite musical numbers from women.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)
Gilda (1946)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)
Dreamgirls (2006)
Respect (2021)
Chicago (2002)
The Dot And The Line (1965)
West Side Story (1961)
On The Waterfront (1954)
Funny Girl (1968)
A Star Is Born (1954)
Gypsy (1993)
Divine Madness (1980)
8 ½ (1963)
Nine (2009)
Other Notable Items
Stephen King
Dino De Laurentiis
The Simpsons TV series (1989- ), quite possibly the greatest show of all time
Gunsmoke TV series (1955-1975)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet TV series (1952-1966)
Lisa Simpson
Harlan Ellison
Yeardley’s podcast Small Town Dicks
Yeardley’s production company Paperclip, Ltd
J.K. Simmons
Zoom TV series (1972)
Rita Hayworth
“Put The Blame On Mame” performance from Gilda
Jane Russell...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)
Gilda (1946)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Pitch Perfect (2012)
Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)
Dreamgirls (2006)
Respect (2021)
Chicago (2002)
The Dot And The Line (1965)
West Side Story (1961)
On The Waterfront (1954)
Funny Girl (1968)
A Star Is Born (1954)
Gypsy (1993)
Divine Madness (1980)
8 ½ (1963)
Nine (2009)
Other Notable Items
Stephen King
Dino De Laurentiis
The Simpsons TV series (1989- ), quite possibly the greatest show of all time
Gunsmoke TV series (1955-1975)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet TV series (1952-1966)
Lisa Simpson
Harlan Ellison
Yeardley’s podcast Small Town Dicks
Yeardley’s production company Paperclip, Ltd
J.K. Simmons
Zoom TV series (1972)
Rita Hayworth
“Put The Blame On Mame” performance from Gilda
Jane Russell...
- 9/22/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
The success of MTV in the 1980s also helped propel the careers of many executives still working in music today, several of whom are featured in the A&e documentary “I Want My MTV” (read Variety‘s review), which premieres tonight (Sept. 8). Among those first employees: John Sykes, now the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and president of iHeartMedia Entertainment.
“The people assembled were the best thing about MTV,” Sykes says, giving full credit to Bob Pittman, the corporate visionary who was essential in bringing MTV to life and now runs iHeartMedia as its CEO and chairman. “None of us had any experience in television — we came from the music business, from Conde Nast, from marketing firms — so that’s why MTV looked like nothing else on television. But that was the plan from day one, to create something that was completely different than the status quo.
“The people assembled were the best thing about MTV,” Sykes says, giving full credit to Bob Pittman, the corporate visionary who was essential in bringing MTV to life and now runs iHeartMedia as its CEO and chairman. “None of us had any experience in television — we came from the music business, from Conde Nast, from marketing firms — so that’s why MTV looked like nothing else on television. But that was the plan from day one, to create something that was completely different than the status quo.
- 9/8/2020
- by Steve Baltin
- Variety Film + TV
After the stunning news of David Bowie’s death, people all over the world tearfully dug out their old Bowie records and re-lived the countless amazing moments from his five-decade career. One of the most interesting clips to emerge comes from MTV, who posted this interview that Bowie did in 1983 with original VJ Mark Goodman – even though it doesn’t paint the network in a very flattering light. While promoting Let’s Dance, Bowie takes the then two-year-old network to task for playing virtually no videos by black artists. “Having watched...
- 6/14/2020
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Scream Queen Caroline Williams joined the Dead for Filth podcast as a special guest for their latest episode. In it, the panel discusses Williams' many accomplishments and more. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Hellbound Hearts: The Dark Art of Clive Barker event at The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies - London and Don't Click production details.
Dead for Filth Podcast Welcomes Caroline Williams: "Scream Queen Caroline Williams is a featured guest on the latest edition of the “Dead For Filth” podcast hosted by the extremely accomplished screenwriter/producer Michael Varrati.
Iconic Scream Queen Caroline Williams began her career in Texas, co-starring for revered cinema master Louis Malle is his Corpus Christi-based film, Alamo Bay. She worked opposite stars Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in what was her first feature film, after only six months of training at the Studio For Actors, under the tutelage of Chris Wilson. She had...
Dead for Filth Podcast Welcomes Caroline Williams: "Scream Queen Caroline Williams is a featured guest on the latest edition of the “Dead For Filth” podcast hosted by the extremely accomplished screenwriter/producer Michael Varrati.
Iconic Scream Queen Caroline Williams began her career in Texas, co-starring for revered cinema master Louis Malle is his Corpus Christi-based film, Alamo Bay. She worked opposite stars Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in what was her first feature film, after only six months of training at the Studio For Actors, under the tutelage of Chris Wilson. She had...
- 4/29/2019
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
This Sunday marks one year since the passing of filmmaker Tobe Hooper. Last year we celebrated Hooper's legacy on a very special and solemn episode of our podcast, and one of the co-hosts on that episode was of course film journalist Patrick Bromley. Nobody on the planet has celebrated Hooper's work like Bromley has over the years, especially in the months after the director's unexpected passing, and Bromley's celebration of the influential director will continue in its biggest installment yet this Sunday in a live video tribute featuring some very special guests that will pay their respects to one of the horror genre's unsung heroes.
Beginning at 10:00am Cst on Sunday, August 26th on F This Movie! and running throughout the day, Patrick Bromley's live tribute to Tobe Hooper will feature special guests who worked with Hooper, including filmmaker and Post Mortem podcast host Mick Garris and actress Caroline Williams.
Beginning at 10:00am Cst on Sunday, August 26th on F This Movie! and running throughout the day, Patrick Bromley's live tribute to Tobe Hooper will feature special guests who worked with Hooper, including filmmaker and Post Mortem podcast host Mick Garris and actress Caroline Williams.
- 8/23/2018
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment sends word that John Carpenter's Christine is getting a 4K Ultra HD release this September just in time for the movie's 35th anniversary:
From the Press Release: Culver City, Calif. – The scare factor in John Carpenter’s terrifying classic Christine revs up even higher when it debuts for the first time on next-generation 4K Ultra HD on September 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35th Anniversary, Christine follows a sentient and violent vintage Plymouth Fury and its effect on the car’s new teenage owner. The film stars Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul and Harry Dean Stanton (Alien). In addition, the film will also debut in 4K via participating digital platforms.
Christine is presented in 4K resolution and includes newly-remixed Dolby Atmos audio – perfect for this dynamic and impactful film. 4K Ultra HD features four times the resolution of high definition, high dynamic...
From the Press Release: Culver City, Calif. – The scare factor in John Carpenter’s terrifying classic Christine revs up even higher when it debuts for the first time on next-generation 4K Ultra HD on September 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35th Anniversary, Christine follows a sentient and violent vintage Plymouth Fury and its effect on the car’s new teenage owner. The film stars Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul and Harry Dean Stanton (Alien). In addition, the film will also debut in 4K via participating digital platforms.
Christine is presented in 4K resolution and includes newly-remixed Dolby Atmos audio – perfect for this dynamic and impactful film. 4K Ultra HD features four times the resolution of high definition, high dynamic...
- 6/8/2018
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Nathaniel welcomes our first all Los Angeles panel for this discussion of the 1985 film year. Comedian/Writer Louis Virtel (Billy on the Street), Producer/Writer Abdi Nazemian ("The Authentics"), Actress Nora Zehetner and Director/Writer Michelle Morgan (It Happened in L.A.). We just wrote about the Supporting Actress nominated performances of 1985 but now it's time to zoom out on the films and the film year itself when Oprah Winfrey and Madonna began their global takeovers, Anjelica Huston became a third generation Oscar favorite, and Out of Africa eventually won Best Picture.
Smackdown '85 Companion Podcast
(58 minutes)
00:01 Anjelica vs Oprah with a little Amy Madigan on the side
10:00 Our entire group has a Jane Fonda "problem" - shout-outs to Klute and lots of head-scratching over the plot of Agnes of God
20:00 Meg Tilly and Jennifer Tilly and Oscar trivia
22:00 Should they remake The Color Purple?
28:00 Syphilitic Out of Africa,...
Smackdown '85 Companion Podcast
(58 minutes)
00:01 Anjelica vs Oprah with a little Amy Madigan on the side
10:00 Our entire group has a Jane Fonda "problem" - shout-outs to Klute and lots of head-scratching over the plot of Agnes of God
20:00 Meg Tilly and Jennifer Tilly and Oscar trivia
22:00 Should they remake The Color Purple?
28:00 Syphilitic Out of Africa,...
- 10/3/2017
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
No doubt about it: The 1980s was a strange time to channel surf. Those neon-tinted, big-haired, irony-free days have provided Internet curio-seekers with fodder for infinite terabytes of grainy, colorful ephemera. And one of the cornerstones of weird Eighties television was "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling" (G.L.O.W. for short), an all-female pro-wrestling league whose exploits were filmed in Las Vegas and syndicated nationwide.
It's the type of retro-kitsch from the Reagan era could have vanished down the YouTube black hole – until Netflix resurrected it, sort of. The cult...
It's the type of retro-kitsch from the Reagan era could have vanished down the YouTube black hole – until Netflix resurrected it, sort of. The cult...
- 6/23/2017
- Rollingstone.com
I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I can often spend hours upon hours trawling through iTunes looking for new movies to buy… Usually I’ll randomly come across a title I haven’t seen in years and use the “Cast & Crew” links to make my way down the rabbit hole to the more obscure side of Apple’s digital movie service.
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
Now whilst many will decry that iTunes is a terrible VOD service due to Apple’s desire to lock its audience to their platforms, if you have an Apple TV or iPad be aware – there are some truly obscure films hidden away in the depths of the vast collection of movies. Some of which have been made available in the UK for the first time since VHS and a Lot that have been added to the service in their original uncut form!
So, with...
- 3/24/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
There’s been a lot of talk recently regarding the lack of female superhero films in general and the lack of great ones in particular, but I’d argue the singular fun one has been sitting right in front of us since the mid-eighties. And it stars Helen Slater in the title role. And it’s not Supergirl. The Legend of Billie Jean is about a young woman who stands up for truth and justice, changes into a sexy costume (of sorts), has sidekicks and a nemesis and even has her own catchphrase in “Fair is fair!” It’s cheesier than a constipated cow, but the story and character beats deliver fun and excitement all set to a catchy ’80s soundtrack. The supporting cast is a roster of familiar faces in Christian Slater, Yeardley Smith, Peter Coyote, Keith Gordon and Dean Stockwell, but the film belongs to Helen Slater. The film just hit Blu-ray a few weeks...
- 8/7/2014
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The Weekend Watch is an open thread where you can share what you’ve recently watched, offer suggestions on movies and TV shows we should check out (or warnings about stuff to avoid) and discover queue-filling goodies from other Fsr readers. The comments section awaits. I’ll get the ball rolling with the movies/TV my eyeballs took in this weekend. It had been decades since I’d seen The Legend of Billie Jean, but the new Blu-ray (and its $5 price tag on Amazon) was too appealing to pass up. I expected it to feel even cheesier and more dated (obviously) than I recalled, and I was not disappointed. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy the damn thing so much. Yes it’s cheesy, dated and loaded with flat line delivery from glorified extras, but it’s also an underdog-fueled crowd-pleaser with a fine (albeit simple) message at its heart as well as a charismatic...
- 8/4/2014
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Mill Creek released several noteworthy Blu-ray releases on Tuesday, most of which were re-issues, but The Legend of Billie Jean makes its high-def debut. Those of you that are familiar with this film, or its practically non-existent home video presence, will realize immediately how big of a deal it is to have this film released to the Blu-ray format. The Legend of Billie Jean has always been an eighties favorite of mine. A lot of really cool movies came out during the decade, but this one always stood out. It could be that it got away with being as dark as it is, even with a PG-13 rating, or it could be it is one of Helen Slater’s few, and very best roles. I know, I know, Supergirl, The Secret of My Success, blahblahblahblah, but I genuinely consider this to be the seminal Helen Slater role. It doesn’t...
- 7/24/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
There is more to the ‘80s than time travel, fantastical adventures, and teenage angst with a happy ending, but it wouldn’t seem like that with the narrow tack nostalgia has taken. The era has been whittled down to a list of mainstream musts and little else. Sometimes other films get remembered for a fleeting instant, especially if an anniversary is nigh, but generally it’s a momentary vacation before the return to the typical rushes about forgotten scenes, wacky trivia, or new pricey figurines. After years of near-obsolescence, The Legend of Billie Jean finally returned to shelves with a Blu-ray release this week, reminding us that there are other great ‘80s films out there we can be talking about. Some are probably better off forgotten, like Prayer of the Rollerboys, which I was ashamed to revisit when my age got into the double digits. But there are others worth the revisitation. The Legend of Billie Jean...
- 7/24/2014
- by Monika Bartyzel
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week
"Dom Hemingway"
What's It About? Jude Law dons impressive chops and gold teeth to play a sleazy
safecracker fresh out of jail. Dom took the fall without ratting out his boss (Demián Bichir), and now it's time to pay the piper. Richard E. Grant co-stars as his best friend, whom Dom enlists on his quest to get paid. Emilia Clarke (the mother of dragons!) plays Dom's estranged daughter, Evelyn.
Why We're In: We love darkly funny crime thrillers, and it's cool to see Jude Law back in action.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
The Essential Jacques Demy (Criterion)
What's It About? This box set comes with the most beloved movies by the French auteur: "Lola," "Bay of Angels," "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," "The Young Girls of Rochefort," "Donkey Skin," and "Une Chambre en Ville."
Why We're In: In addition to the digital restorations of these delightful classics,...
"Dom Hemingway"
What's It About? Jude Law dons impressive chops and gold teeth to play a sleazy
safecracker fresh out of jail. Dom took the fall without ratting out his boss (Demián Bichir), and now it's time to pay the piper. Richard E. Grant co-stars as his best friend, whom Dom enlists on his quest to get paid. Emilia Clarke (the mother of dragons!) plays Dom's estranged daughter, Evelyn.
Why We're In: We love darkly funny crime thrillers, and it's cool to see Jude Law back in action.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
The Essential Jacques Demy (Criterion)
What's It About? This box set comes with the most beloved movies by the French auteur: "Lola," "Bay of Angels," "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," "The Young Girls of Rochefort," "Donkey Skin," and "Une Chambre en Ville."
Why We're In: In addition to the digital restorations of these delightful classics,...
- 7/21/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
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