Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 5/18: The Go-Go’s, “Our Lips Are Sealed”
I like the Go-Go’s, really I do. Their peppy power pop fit nicely with the New Wave movement of the early ’80s and MTV made sure you noticed how easy they were on the eyes. I saw them play at the UD Fieldhouse — the old one north of Main Street that had acoustics like […]
Song of the Day 5/16: Billy Preston, “Nothing From Nothing”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is deeply flawed, but it does serve to shine an annual spotlight on some musicians who have faded into obscurity. Billy Preston will be honored this year, 15 years after his death, with the Hall’s Musical Excellence Award, which it gives to sidemen, producers and the like. Sure, […]
Song of the Day 5/14: Todd Rundgren, “Couldn’t I Just Tell You”
The poobahs who run the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally got around to admitting Todd Rundgren this year, in his 25th year of eligibility as a solo artist. That says a lot more about the people making these decisions than it does about Todd Rundgren, who has disdained the institution from the first. […]
Song of the Day 5/13: Foo Fighters, “Big Me”
Yes, you are getting old. The Foo Fighters were among those selected for the 2021 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which means the band, which started as a solo project by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, has been around for 25 years. Grohl, now 52 years old, has […]
Song of the Day 5/12: Tré Burt, “Under the Devil’s Knee”
Protest songs are pretty common, but really effective ones are not. I heard this the other night on the folk show on WXPN, and I think it belongs in the latter category. All I know is about him is that he’s from Sacramento and has been signed by John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, signifying a […]
Song of the Day 5/11: Randy Rainbow, “Clang, Clang, Clang Went Josh Hawley”
Randy Rainbow, like the rest of the media, has mostly moved on from the Last Guy and has now focused his attention on the lesser imps and demons who populate Cult 45. Rainbow’s already-impressive production values also seem to have improved.
Song of the Day 5/10: Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
Tawny Kitaen, the model/actress who gained her greatest fame gyrating on the hood of a Jaguar in this Whitesnake video, died last week at age 59. Born Julie Kitaen, she began using “Tawny” by the time she was 12, and was a rock groupie at 14. She was living with Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby while […]
Song of the Day 5/8: Ringo Starr, “It Don’t Come Easy”
When the Beatles broke up, everyone knew that John, Paul and George would pursue solo careers. But what about Ringo? The guy Robert Christgau called “our representative on the Beatles” usually got one vocal turn per album and had scant songwriting experience. So people were surprised when this 1971 stand-alone single climbed the American charts, […]
Song of the Day 5/6: Steely Dan, “Don’t Take Me Alive”
Trying to determine the top five rock guitarists is like trying to establish the top five colors. It can only be done subjectively, and it begs the question — what does “best” mean? Do you base it on soloing, or is versatility important? Is speed crucial, or does melodic sense outweigh it? It’s a problem […]
Song of the Day 5/4: Rock Hall of Fame 2004 induction concert feat. Prince, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Did anyone in rock history rise to the big occasion better than Prince? His Super Bowl halftime show in the Miami rain stands as the best has come close to matching his concert in the Miami rain, and his blistering guitar solo at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame left a […]
Song of the Day 5/3: Curtis Mayfield, “Blue Monday People”
Curtis Mayfield’s 1975 LP “There’s No Place Like America Today” seems to get more attention for its pointed cover image (slightly altered from a 1937 Margaret Bourke-White photo) than its content, which a lot of critics think is uneven, and some thought even worse; Robert Christgau gave it a D+, calling it “noodling” and “incoherent.” […]
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: April, 2021
So many of you (well, my oldest daughter) have asked, ‘Where’s your Fave Tunes list for April’? It’s right here. It may still be a work-in-progress (logistical stuff), but it’s really good as it is. Enjoy! Simply gorgeous. A great kickoff to this month’s list: Pair the last one with this one, and you’ll be […]
Song of the Day 4/30: The Clash, “Rudie Can’t Fail”
They clearly weren’t singing about Giuliani, who doesn’t do much except fail. He did, however, use this tune as his intro song at campaign rallies when he ran for president in 2008. He failed at that, too. “London Calling” included a couple of Jamaican covers (“Revolution Rock,” “Wrong ‘Em Boyo”), but this one is a […]
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