Curated knowledge, trenchant insights & witty bon mots
On Aug. 11, 1973, at a back to school party in the South Bronx of New York City, a young DJ named Kool Herc did something revolutionary for the time: Using two turntables to extend the instrumental breaks so people could dance longer. This was the Big Bang of hip-hop.
Fri, August 11 2017 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on Happy 44th birthday, hip hop
July 2 marked the 40th anniversary of Donna Summer’s landmark hit “I Feel Love.” More than a disco song, it was the birth of modern electronica, and the obstetrician was genius producer Giorgio Moroder. Listen to it through headphones if you have them:
Sun, July 2 2017 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on After 40 years, ‘I Feel Love’ still sounds exciting
Fri, December 9 2016 » Film, Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia » Comments Off on Blue Velvet’s 30th anniversary re-release trailer
This is Apple’s 2007 ad for iTunes, back when it was just a music device: From Kevin Speicher.
Fri, November 25 2016 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on One cool retro music commercial
Garry Shandling, a veteran American comic genius, passed away Thursday at age 66. But he lives on through his influence on the work of others.
Thu, March 24 2016 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia » Comments Off on The legacy of genius comic Garry Shandling
One year ago today, two brothers yelling Allahu Akhbar! (God is Great) shot up the offices of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, killing 11 people there. They executed another policeman on their way out. In response, France held a massive rally on Jan. 11, 2015, many people showing up with “Je Suis Charlie” (I […]
Thu, January 7 2016 » Main Page, Media, multimedia » Comments Off on The Charlie Hebdo massacre, one year later
The Pogues’ Christmas classic, Fairytale of New York, is laced with salty language — language that BBC managers decided was inappropriate for its listenership. But lo, there’s been a change of heart. The heavy hand of censorship is being lifted!
Thu, December 3 2015 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on BBC Radio 1 listeners to hear ‘Fairytale of New York’ uncensored
This late 1960s Creedence Clearwater Revival tune was a famous protest song of the Vietnam War era. Its name was used as a book title for a critical tome on former U.S. president George W. Bush:
Mon, November 11 2013 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on ‘Fortunate Son’
My favourite Remembrance Day song, courtesy of the Pogues:
Mon, November 11 2013 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia, Music Monday et al » Comments Off on And the band played ‘Waltzing Matilda’
Fri, July 5 2013 » Main Page, Minutiae, multimedia » Comments Off on Wacky Japanese TV commercials
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