Post by Tin on May 19, 2008 22:08:32 GMT -5
www.newsadvance.com/lna/entertainment/local/article/guilty_pleasures_still_sound_sweet/4989/
By MELISSA RUGGIERI
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: May 19, 2008
You know you have them; it’s time to face the music: Tell us, who do you love? In last week’s Music Notes column, I mentioned that Sweet - the ‘70s glam rock band behind “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox on the Run” - was reuniting for a summer tour.
Reader Peter Kaufman e-mailed to thank me for the news, noting that the band has always been one of his guilty pleasures. Same here.
But Kaufman also offered a suggestion: to put you all on the spot and make you confess your guilty musical pleasures.
You know, the artists you unabashedly adore - in private. The ones whose entire catalogs cram your MP3 player - alongside respectable fare such as U2, The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen - but you’ll refuse to acknowledge ever having heard anything but their ubiquitous hits if asked in front of a roomful of strangers.
Not that I’ve ever hidden my devotion to Duran Duran and Bon Jovi. Look, I grew up with them. They were my teen crushes, and I’ll argue that if any bands can sell 85 million and 100 million albums, respectively, I’m obviously not the only one who finds some connection to their music.
It might not be hip to say John Taylor is a tight, funky bass player or Richie Sambora is a wonderfully nimble blues-rock guitarist, but there it is. I believe both of those things. Now go listen to your Superchunk downloads and leave me alone to sing background vocals in the car on “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
But I’m not even going to stop there. My Duran and Jovi boys aren’t the only musical pleasures I feel a tinge guilty about. The list is actually fairly endless (and contains the names Laura Branigan, Savage Garden and Paul Davis), but here are my top three, in no particular order:
1. Deborah Gibson: The girl formerly known as Debbie never, ever got the respect she deserved. Look at the résumé.
At 17, she was the youngest person to write, produce and perform a No. 1 single ("Foolish Beat"). She idolized Billy Joel and learned more than a few tricks about melodic songwriting from listening to him.
After the pop world kept confusing her with the decidedly less talented Tiffany, Gibson headed to Broadway to star in “Les Misérables,” then continued to hone her theater chops in London’s West End.
I recently caught her “Pop Goes Broadway” revue at Harrah’s in Atlantic City and walked away with even more admiration for her ambition. It’s a curious combination of show tunes, charming off-the-cuff banter and her own collection of hits. ("Electric Youth” sounded pretty amazing played by a 10-piece band.)
While the gray-hairs that composed much of the audience politely clapped for the perky “Out of the Blue,” they expressed genuine admiration at her singing and dancing through “All That Jazz” and Petula Clark’s “Downtown.” (She’d also make a great “Dancing With the Stars” contestant.)
Gibson’s show runs through May 24 - and it’s a worthy reminder of a talent who belongs on a bigger stage.
2. Rick Springfield: Yeah, OK, fine. He’s 58 and still looks about 35. A hunky 35, too. But good looks aren’t my only attraction to Mr. Springfield.
Casual’80s music fans think he had two hits - “Jessie’s Girl,” which I could really do without ever hearing again, even though I named my cat Jesse in honor of the song - and “Love Somebody.”
What they don’t realize is that Springfield’s popularity extends to 13 other Top 40 hits, including “Affair of the Heart,” “Human Touch,” “Souls” and “State of the Heart.” (Sirius"80s channel might want to review this list as well, because its programmers also seem to think Springfield has only those two hits in his canon.)
But even more important than his past is what Springfield is doing now.
His live shows are invigorating exhaust-a-thons - that perfect combination of fun and nostalgia. But his new music is also worth hearing.
His current “Who Killed Rock and Roll,” available on a YouTube clip near you and expected on his July album, is a gritty examination of the music industry.
He’s a pretty boy, sure, but anyone who bothered to look also would find some depth.
3. Gloria Estefan: This fascination is largely a product of my upbringing in South Florida, where Estefan was/is the Dave Matthews of the area.
She was also my first big celebrity story, and I guess I’ll always have an affinity for the woman who walked down the driveway of her Miami mansion barefoot to greet a 21-year-old journalist and immediately offered her a drink. C’mon, that’s cool when you’re 21. Or, uh, now.
But, while I want to strangle any wedding DJ who plays “Conga” and reflexively gag anytime I hear one of those drippy Miami Sound Machine ballads, I’ll admit to wearing a goofy grin whenever “Get on Your Feet,” “1-2-3-4” or “Live for Loving You” comes on satellite radio.
I know it’s hopelessly dorky to declare any fondness for Estefan, but what can I say? I’m loyal to my guilty pleasures.
So what about you? Now that I’ve opened up my Hall of Shame, it’s your turn to spill. mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.
By MELISSA RUGGIERI
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: May 19, 2008
You know you have them; it’s time to face the music: Tell us, who do you love? In last week’s Music Notes column, I mentioned that Sweet - the ‘70s glam rock band behind “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox on the Run” - was reuniting for a summer tour.
Reader Peter Kaufman e-mailed to thank me for the news, noting that the band has always been one of his guilty pleasures. Same here.
But Kaufman also offered a suggestion: to put you all on the spot and make you confess your guilty musical pleasures.
You know, the artists you unabashedly adore - in private. The ones whose entire catalogs cram your MP3 player - alongside respectable fare such as U2, The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen - but you’ll refuse to acknowledge ever having heard anything but their ubiquitous hits if asked in front of a roomful of strangers.
Not that I’ve ever hidden my devotion to Duran Duran and Bon Jovi. Look, I grew up with them. They were my teen crushes, and I’ll argue that if any bands can sell 85 million and 100 million albums, respectively, I’m obviously not the only one who finds some connection to their music.
It might not be hip to say John Taylor is a tight, funky bass player or Richie Sambora is a wonderfully nimble blues-rock guitarist, but there it is. I believe both of those things. Now go listen to your Superchunk downloads and leave me alone to sing background vocals in the car on “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
But I’m not even going to stop there. My Duran and Jovi boys aren’t the only musical pleasures I feel a tinge guilty about. The list is actually fairly endless (and contains the names Laura Branigan, Savage Garden and Paul Davis), but here are my top three, in no particular order:
1. Deborah Gibson: The girl formerly known as Debbie never, ever got the respect she deserved. Look at the résumé.
At 17, she was the youngest person to write, produce and perform a No. 1 single ("Foolish Beat"). She idolized Billy Joel and learned more than a few tricks about melodic songwriting from listening to him.
After the pop world kept confusing her with the decidedly less talented Tiffany, Gibson headed to Broadway to star in “Les Misérables,” then continued to hone her theater chops in London’s West End.
I recently caught her “Pop Goes Broadway” revue at Harrah’s in Atlantic City and walked away with even more admiration for her ambition. It’s a curious combination of show tunes, charming off-the-cuff banter and her own collection of hits. ("Electric Youth” sounded pretty amazing played by a 10-piece band.)
While the gray-hairs that composed much of the audience politely clapped for the perky “Out of the Blue,” they expressed genuine admiration at her singing and dancing through “All That Jazz” and Petula Clark’s “Downtown.” (She’d also make a great “Dancing With the Stars” contestant.)
Gibson’s show runs through May 24 - and it’s a worthy reminder of a talent who belongs on a bigger stage.
2. Rick Springfield: Yeah, OK, fine. He’s 58 and still looks about 35. A hunky 35, too. But good looks aren’t my only attraction to Mr. Springfield.
Casual’80s music fans think he had two hits - “Jessie’s Girl,” which I could really do without ever hearing again, even though I named my cat Jesse in honor of the song - and “Love Somebody.”
What they don’t realize is that Springfield’s popularity extends to 13 other Top 40 hits, including “Affair of the Heart,” “Human Touch,” “Souls” and “State of the Heart.” (Sirius"80s channel might want to review this list as well, because its programmers also seem to think Springfield has only those two hits in his canon.)
But even more important than his past is what Springfield is doing now.
His live shows are invigorating exhaust-a-thons - that perfect combination of fun and nostalgia. But his new music is also worth hearing.
His current “Who Killed Rock and Roll,” available on a YouTube clip near you and expected on his July album, is a gritty examination of the music industry.
He’s a pretty boy, sure, but anyone who bothered to look also would find some depth.
3. Gloria Estefan: This fascination is largely a product of my upbringing in South Florida, where Estefan was/is the Dave Matthews of the area.
She was also my first big celebrity story, and I guess I’ll always have an affinity for the woman who walked down the driveway of her Miami mansion barefoot to greet a 21-year-old journalist and immediately offered her a drink. C’mon, that’s cool when you’re 21. Or, uh, now.
But, while I want to strangle any wedding DJ who plays “Conga” and reflexively gag anytime I hear one of those drippy Miami Sound Machine ballads, I’ll admit to wearing a goofy grin whenever “Get on Your Feet,” “1-2-3-4” or “Live for Loving You” comes on satellite radio.
I know it’s hopelessly dorky to declare any fondness for Estefan, but what can I say? I’m loyal to my guilty pleasures.
So what about you? Now that I’ve opened up my Hall of Shame, it’s your turn to spill. mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.