Surprise! Madonna releases 6 new songs

Surprise! Madonna releases 6 new songs: http://t.co/WhZOkrlfzE pic.twitter.com/8Bjf9YNfGN

— AOL.com (@AOL) December 22, 2014

Rita Ora, Sam Smith, and more: Every UK artist that dominated the states in 2014

Rita Ora, Sam Smith, and more: Every UK artist that dominated the states in 2014 http://t.co/qYBZ1jF1ca pic.twitter.com/5ZGfvPe8pT

— Global Grind (@GlobalGrind) December 24, 2014

WATCH: Beyoncé shares a RARE glimpse into the making of her latest music video

WATCH: Beyoncé shares a RARE glimpse into the making of her latest music video: http://t.co/Fe6fJ2PGIt pic.twitter.com/pslR42v9mL

— Harper's Bazaar (@harpersbazaarus) December 24, 2014

Hugh Jackman Got A New Puppy

Hugh Jackman just got a new puppy that is one of the cutest we've ever seen! http://t.co/4PVCX3X4mf pic.twitter.com/T7iTVXphSF

— JustJared.com (@JustJared) December 24, 2014

New Noise Magazine Cover with Trail Blazers: Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver

Three powerful women, who are friends and colleagues. Each has characteristics that we need more of in this world, leadership, decisiveness, integrity, compassion, patience and tolerance. And this post features three issues that need more attention in our communities (adoption, poverty, education). These issues have influenced Barbara, Oprah and Maria as journalists and in their private lives. I hope by sharing information about their journey's involving the three issues listed, the readers of this blog will also be inspired to make a difference in their communities and globally.

Photo Variety, Icon Barbara Walters - Read BW Interview at Variety Online

Adoption

From ABC "Barbara Walters was unable to bear children for years and discusses how painful it was having three miscarriages. She wanted desperately to have a child. When the chance finally came through adoption, Barbara said that adopting her baby girl “made her life complete.”

Read More Online at the ABC Website 

Opening your heart and home to a child is an option you should consider. Adoption can be rewarding for you and your child. This is a great opportunity. There are many children out there in need of a good home. And there are many reasons why child adoption may be right for you. Different people may have different reasons for adopting a child. Here are a few. 

1. you're unable to have a child due to infertility or other reasons

2. when a child may need to be rescued from a dangerous environment

3. Same-gender couples often have the same dreams of parenthood

4. They are single and would love to be a parent

5. A couple already has a child and wants to expand their family

Fear is probably one of the major reasons holding people back from adoption. The process might be intimidating and scary but stay with it.  As Barbara Walters’ daughter says, her mom always told her that mommies can have babies from their tummies or their hearts, and she had me from her heart. 

Adoption organizations are located in every state in America. Learning more about adoption is easy, just call the adoption agency to begin! 

Above is a Barbara Walter's Memoir, you can pick up a copy at Amazon by clicking the photo. Oh and I would like to say that Barbara Walters has my admiration and respect and I hope she doesn't retire because I will miss her too much.. Love and Hugs Shelley ♥ 

Maria Shriver meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office to discuss the findings in “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink” in partnership with Center for American Progress.

Poverty 

Poverty is a women’s issue. Poverty rates are especially high for single mothers, women of color, and the elderly. Globally women living in poverty face gross inequalities and injustice from until death. The discrimination that a woman may suffer because of no education and low wages is unaccetable. And in my opinion (Equal Pay) for working women would reduce poverty and grow the economy. Don't listen to greedy politicians would are bought and pay for by cooperate interests. The same goes for raising the minimum wage, which should have been done years ago. After all this is "America" the richest, most powerful country in the world. Anyway, according to the overview from Amazon.Com, the "Shriver Report" by author Maria Shriver asks and answers the big questions about women who live in poverty. 

From Maria Shriver's Website - Shriver’s groundbreaking report examines America’s new economic reality

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Maria Shriver met with President Obama in the Oval Office at the White House to brief him on the findings from her latest Shriver Report. Her statement on that meeting is below.

“I’m delighted that the President could meet with us today to hear about the startling findings of the Shriver Report, produced in partnership with the Center for American Progress. I told the President that the bottom line message of our report is that, if you lead with women you’ll have a robust economy and healthier families, and if you leave them out, you won’t. President Obama told me that he would like the issues we highlight in the report– paid leave and sick time, pay equity, access to benefits and child care — to inform the summit he is hosting this spring on working families. We look forward to working with the Administration and a bi-partisan coalition on the important public, private, and personal solutions raised in our report.” 

Check out Maria's website for more information and get involved. 

From Amazon.com - Katherine Schwarzenegger, twenty-four, is an author, activist, and entre­preneur. She is also the bestselling author of Rock What You’ve Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who’s Been There and Back. A recent graduate of the University of Southern California, Katherine is a clear, sound voice for her generation. She hopes this book will offer the direction needed to help young graduates navigate through the unknown with just a little less stress and a little more certainty. Throughout her process, Katherine has learned that there is no right way to figure out the next steps in your life, just your way. Kather­ine also hosts her own lifestyle website, where she regularly posts conversations with up-and-comers of her generation. 

Graduation at Oprah's South African School 

Education 

Starting off part three by saying, education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for girls and women. Unfortunately, women and girls around the world are denied opportunities for education. Lack of education limits prospects and decreases family income and limits the economic advancement of entire countries.

Educating girls and women saves children's lives. Teaching women about health and nutrition reduces infant mortality rates. 

The bottom line is, empowering women and girls with education will improve the lives of families worldwide. 

Now here is an excerpt From Oprah's Harvard Commencement Speech. “You will find true success and happiness if you have only one goal. There really is only one, and that is this. To fulfill the highest, most truthful expression of yourself as a human being. You want to max out your humanity by using your energy to lift yourself up, your family, and the people around you. Theologian Howard Thurman said it best. He said, ‘Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’

Winfrey is an advocate for the education and well-being of women and children around the world. And now Oprah and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz have come together to create "Oprah's Chai Tea" that will be sold in Starbucks and Teavana stores across the U.S., with Starbucks making a donation for each product sold to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation to benefit educational opportunities for youth. Also, (according to the Steep Your Soul website) through the foundation, Oprah has contributed to the empowerment of scores of girls and their families. Read More. 

Oprah Teavana Chai Tea 

Oprah Steep Your Soul 

Oprah and Howard CBS Interview

Oprah Talks to Thich Nhat Hanh

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Please check out the front page and my "Book of The Month" selection. Actually, this month I have two books for you to check out. Also, please don't forget to check out the new Noise Magazine Cover I designed with Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver. Thanks for reading my blog. Have a good day. All The Best, Shelley 

Eminent Figures Get Behind Effort To Free Nigerian Schoolgirls

A group of over 40 eminent individuals from around the world are today calling for a global effort to free the more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped last month.

In an open letter published today, the high level group of business, civil society and religious leaders, calls on the Nigerian authorities and international community to mobilise all necessary resources and expertise to help locate and free the missing girls.

The letter says:
“On April 14, more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted at gunpoint from Chibok community in Borno State, Nigeria.

“24 days later, the girls are still missing.

“We urge all local, national and regional governments, with the full support of the international community, to dedicate their expertise and resources – from satellite imagery to intelligence services to multinational corporations’ supply chains – to #BringBackOurGirls.”

Signed by:
• Mar‎tti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Member of The Elders
• Mohamed Azab, Representative of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar
• Aïcha Bah Diallo, ‎Chairperson of the Forum of African Women Educationalists
• Ela Bhatt, Founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India and Member of the Elders
• Bono, Co-founder, ONE Campaign
• Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group‎ and co-Chair of the B Team
• Gro Harlem Brundtland, Executive Chair of the UN Foundation and Member of the Elders‎
• Susan A Buffett, Chairman of The Sherwood Foundation, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund
• Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation and B Team Leader
• President Fernando H Cardoso, Former President of Brazil and Member of the Elders
• Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
• Aliko and Halima Dangote, Dangote Group
• Bineta Diop, African Union Special Envoy for Women Peace and Security
• Andrew Forrest, ‎Founder of the Walk Free Foundation
• Bill and Melinda Gates, co-Founders and co-Chairs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Helene Gayle, ‎President and CEO of CARE USA
• Mort Halperin, Senior Advisor to the Open Society Institute and the Open Society Policy Center
• Arianna Huffington, Chair, President and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group‎, and B Team leader
• Mo and Hadeel Ibrahim‎, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
• Abdoulie Janneh, Former Executive-Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
• Guilherme Leal, ‎co-Founder of Natura and B Team Leader
• Graça Machel, ‎Member of the Elders
• Mark Malloch-Brown, Former United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
• Strive Masiyiwa, ‎Founder of Econet Wireless and B Team Leader
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women
• Amina J Mohamed, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advisor
• Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana, Chairperson of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa
• Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of NewsCorp and Chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox
• Jay Naidoo, Chair of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister of Nigeria
• Ronald Perelman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
• François-Henri Pinault, ‎Chairman and CEO of Kering and B Team Leader
• Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever‎ and B Team Leader
• Mary Robinson, ‎Former President of Ireland and Member of the Elders‎
• Salim Ahmed Salim, Former Secretary-General‎ of the Organisation of African Unity‎
• Toyin Saraki, Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation
• Bobby Shriver, Co-founder and Chairman of (RED) and Co-founder of DATA
• Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Bishop-Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Sciences, The Vatican
• Ted Turner,‎ Founder and Chairman of the UN Foundation and Founder of CNN
• Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Honorary Member of the Elders ‎
• Muhammad Yunus,‎ Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and B Team Leader
• President Ernesto Zedillo, Former President of Mexico and Member of the Elders
• Jochen Zeitz, ‎Former Chairman and CEO of PUMA and co-Chair of the B Team‎

LookToTheStars.Com

Martina McBride Talks about New Album

To paraphrase a famous ad, when Martina McBride sings, people listen. And for nearly an hour last night, the CMA- and ACM-award-winning vocalist held a select group of media at attention when she played finished tracks from her upcoming new album,Everlasting. A collection of soul covers, including Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” the project is the pop equivalent of her country classics album, Timeless.

“I kept coming back to the idea of a soul record,” Martina said during a discussion with music critic Robert K. Oermann at Nashville music-and-fashion boutique Two Old Hippies. “These songs all have beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, something you can really sink your teeth into as a singer.”

Produced by Don Was (The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt), Everlasting will be released March 4 and supported by a tour from Martina, who revealed she’ll be bringing along a full horn section. She joked that she may even work in some choreographed dance moves. “A little James Brown,” Martina said, laughing.

Here are Everlasting’s track list and album cover:

1. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
2. If You Don’t Know Me by Now
3. Suspicious Minds
4. Little Bit of Rain
5. Bring It on Home to Me
6. Come See About Me
7. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
8. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
9. Wild Night
10. In the Basement
11. My Babe
12. To Know Him Is to Love Him

2014 Billboard Music Awards

The Billboard Music Awards are known not only for exciting moments during the show, but also a dynamic red-carpet pre-show. Yahoo Music wants to make sure that you don't miss a single beat this year at the 2014 ceremonies, which include hosting from Lance Bass and Jordin Sparks. We've reserved a spot for you on the red carpet where you'll have a perfect view of all the stars and festivities!

Join us here on May 18 starting at 6 p.m. ET for our livestream of Samsung Red Carpet LIVE! at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, which includes exclusive red carpet access, celebrity arrivals, interviews, special musical performances, and a Vine 360 Station for stars to show off their red carpet fashion choices. Multiplatinum singer-songwriter Cher Lloyd will be rocking her latest tune "Sirens" live during the stream, with more pre-show performers to be announced.

Hosts Bass and Sparks are hoping you'll be there! Bass says he's "thrilled" to be hosting the event, adding, "I am looking forward to bringing fans around the world live coverage of their favorite musicians as they arrive." 

 Meanwhile, Sparks notes: "I am excited to be part of this year’s red carpet show. Through Yahoo, we will be able to bring celebrity interviews, fashion and news as it happens, so fans don’t miss a beat."

The 2014 Billboard Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, on ABC at 8 p.m. ET. For full coverage on the show and the pre-show, check here. 

Jennifer Lopez, Luke Bryan in Lineup for 'GMA' Summer Concert Series

  

By Billboard 

May 8, 2014 

GMA Summer Concert Series Video

This morning (May 8) ABC News’ “Good Morning America” announced its 2014 Summer Concert Series lineup. Throughout the warmest months of the year in New York City’s Central Park, acts from various genres will perform on “GMA” weekly beginning May 23, when Lady Antebellum rocks first.

Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Jackson, Keith Urban, and Kings of Leon are just are few acts to expect this summer.

Check out the full lineup and the accompanying “GMA”-suggested Twitter hashtags below:

Enrique Iglesias CBS Sunday Morning Video 

Lady Antebellum Letterman Video 

Jason Derulo Arsenio Video 

May 23 – Lady Antebellum (#LadyAOnGMA)
May 30 – Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (#50CentOnGMA)
June 6 – Demi Lovato (#DemiOnGMA)
June 13 – Paramore (#ParamoreOnGMA)
June 20 – Jennifer Lopez (#JLOonGMA)
June 27 – Afrojack (#AfrojackOnGMA)
July 4 – Jason Derulo (#JasonDeruloOnGMA)
July 11 – Keith Urban (#KeithUrbanOnGMA)
July 18 - Zedd (#ZeddOnGMA)
July 25 – Kings of Leon (#KOLonGMA)
August 1 – Enrique Iglesias (#EnriqueOnGMA)
August 8 – Luke Bryan (#LukeBryanOnGMA)
August 15 – Florida Georgia Line (#FGLonGMA)
August 22 – Robin Thicke (#ThickeOnGMA)
August 29 – Brad Paisley (#BradPaisleyOnGMA)

Sean Combs Receives Honorary Doctorate From Howard University

 

By Miriam Coleman

 May 10, 2014 

Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs was awarded an honorary doctorate from Howard University on Saturday morning during a ceremony where the hip-hop mogul delivered the commencement address.

Watch Puff Daddy Enlist Your Favorite Rapper for 'Big Homie' Video

"Ain't no homecoming like a Howard homecoming," Combs told the crowd, according to Billboard. Combs had attended Howard as a business major for two years before dropping out in 1990, and he spoke to the crowd of new graduates about the impact his time at the Washington, DC university made on his life. "Howard University didn’t just change my life – it entered my soul, my heart, my being and my spirit," he said as he received his honorary degree in humanities. "Nobody is going to invite you to the front of the line, you got to push your way to the front of the line."

Combs was recognized by the university on Saturday alongside CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, surgeon Clive Callender, jazz saxophonist Benny Golson and PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi.

"We are honored to have Mr. Combs serve as our speaker," Howard's interim President Wayne Frederick said in a statement. "He sat in classrooms where our students sit, walked 'The Yard,' and like many students, his entrepreneurial spirit was sparked at Howard."

The Bad Boy Records founder and entrepreneur has put out music under a host of names, including Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, Puff Daddy and his own real name. He announced in March that he was going back to Puff Daddy, just before releasing his new single, "Big Homie." "You could go to any hood / Bet they know me," he declares on the track. Perhaps from now on, they'll know him as Dr. Combs.

Neon Trees’ ‘Psychology’ Wins On Dual Fronts

By Dave DiMartino May 6, 2014 

Maximum Performance

The success of Neon Trees’ new “Pop Psychology” album— which entered the Billboard charts last week at No. 6 — on one hand illustrates that good, carefully crafted rock ‘n’ roll music still can draw a significant audience. And on the other? Publicly acknowledging that you’re a gay Mormon in Rolling Stone isn’t necessarily bad for business. The Provo, Utah-based band — whose sharp, colorful modern pop has never sounded smarter on this, their third album— drew recent headlines when its highly visible singer and songwriter Tyler Glenn chose the respected mag to announce his sexual orientation.

That the reaction to that revelation was comparatively muted — and perhaps no less controversial to some than the fact that all four members of the band were raised as Mormons, as often happens in Provo — seems particularly significant.

“I didn’t go seeking out approval, really,” singer Glenn recently told Yahoo Music. “What I’ve received is really overwhelming positivity, and it’s been a real moment for me — because I never associated being gay with happy things. You know, ever.”

Sleeping With A Friend Video 

I Love You But Hate Your Friends Video 

Glenn’s upbeat demeanor, and the conspicuous support of his longtime friends and bandmates, would appear to illustrate that in 2014, embracing openness on all levels — musical, sexual, personal — has very few commercial downsides.

“My biggest reason for doing the piece was to dictate my story,” says Glenn. “I guess there’s a lot of blanket statements made about gay pop culture people. Me wearing pink and sparkles and things like that — people have assumptions about who I am and what I’m about. I was really grateful that they gave me such a wide opportunity to tell them, ‘Yeah, I still believe in God. Maybe I’m still actually Mormon, too. And maybe I’m navigating this, and I’m human, and I’m figuring it out and I don’t know all the answers.’ It was really cool not to just tweet ‘I’m gay’ and see what people thought. I’m grateful for that.”

Glenn notes that he was especially moved by the reaction the piece brought from those in his hometown of Provo, with its vast Mormon population. “I really appreciate these married Mormon men that even hold leadership [positions] in the church saying, ‘This is awesome that you’re doing this.’ It’s cool to get surprised from the other end. It’s not just me surprising people, or me making this statement. It’s cool that [other] people are comfortable too, you know?”

The quartet’s recent visit to Yahoo Music’s studios in Santa Monica offered up three songs and was one of the most exciting shoots we’ve hosted in recent months. Top that with the candid and revealing interview with Glenn and bandmates Chris Allen (guitars), Branden Campbell (bass), and Elaine Bradley (drums), and you’ve got a bird’s-eye view of one of America’s best rock ’n’ roll bands in their prime. We were thankful, and you should be, too.

The Story of How Billy Joel Became the 'Piano Man'

By Chris Willman

May 8, 2014

Yahoo Music

"I'm gonna be turning 65 this year," Billy Joel told an audience in March, reminding the crowd that he had a significant birthday coming on May 9. "Most people retire at 65, but noooo! So," he explained, "I need a neck brace to hold my head up."

His loyal concertgoing fans knew better. They knew the "neck brace" he was putting on was actually a harmonica-holder, which meant that he was about to play the song that is the finale of his main set every night nowadays: "Piano Man." Even though it was his very first commercially released single, the tune remains his signature song, any one of dozens of other hits could suffice as his show-closer if not for that obvious shoo-in.

What gives "Piano Man" such enduring power four decades into Joel's 65 years? It's probably not the nation's enduring fondness for piano bars, where lone keyboard players perform cover songs just obtrusively enough to keep the tip jar full but softly enough to not interfere with the business of drinking or light necking. It's in the telling of the tale… and the kind of details mixed in among the metaphors that suggest his reminiscence of life among the barflies might be a true story.

[Related: 9 Things We Learned About Billy Joel at Howard Stern's Town Hall]

It is. "All the characters in that song were real people," Joel told a Harvard audience in 1994. "John at the bar was this guy named John — and he was at the bar," he added, pausing for the crowd to chuckle at the exactness of his verisimilitude. "Davy was in the Navy… and probably still is," Joel pointed out, shooting down theories that he renamed the character just to rhyme with a branch of the armed forces.

"And the waitress was actually my first ex-wife… a cocktail waitress while I was playing the piano at this place for a while." That would be Elizabeth Weber, Joel's wife for nine years and manager for five, in his pre-Christie Brinkley days. The "real estate novelist" was a fellow named Paul who seemed to have been working on the great American novel forever while he really split his time between being a realtor and being an alcoholic. "Old man making love to his tonic and gin — OK, a little bit of poetic license there. He wasn't really making love to his tonic and gin, because that could be pretty gross, actually."

Piano Man by Billy Joel Video 

And what of the character to whom everyone says, "Man, what are you doing here?"… as in "What's a brilliant future legend and billion-dollar tunesmith like you doing in a dump like this?" Joel has some pretty entertaining answers about that, too. He was slumming, to be sure, but he was also hiding out from the music business while he plotted how to get out of a bad contract.

"I dropped out of sight," Joel recalled in an interview with Alec Baldwin on the actor's MSNBC show. "I had to get out of this horrible deal that I'd signed. I signed away everything — the copyrights, publishing, record royalties, my first child — I gave it all away. And I said, 'I've got to get out of this deal,' and I hid in L.A. and I worked in a piano bar under the name Bill Martin."

In 1971, Joel had released his first solo album, "Cold Spring Harbor," on the Family Productions label. It did not bode well that the album was mastered at the wrong speed. Rather than change the timbre of his voice to match the one on the wrong-playing record, Joel knew he had to move on.

[Related: Stealth Guest Billy Joel Turns Fanboy at Kindergarten Tribute]

"I was just so happy to get a record deal, I didn't know what I was signing," Joel told "CBS This Morning." "I didn't really have a lawyer representing me… That's when I moved to the West Coast. And I hid out. I got an attorney, I got an accountant, and I said, 'I'm not gonna give them anything until I get out of this deal.' And to make a living, I worked at a piano bar in the Wilshire district in L.A., the Executive Room." (Although the bar was apparently torn down in the early '80s, a sleuth tracked down a photo of the place in the records of the L.A. Library.)

"Somebody would ask for a song," he told the Harvard audience, "and I didn't know the song from a hole in the wall, but if you play enough in major sevenths, you can make a lot of songs sound like other songs." He then sat at the piano and played the co-eds something that sounded vaguely like "Moon River."

"Not a song, yet reminiscent of a song! ... I did this gig for six months, and people would come up to me and go, 'You're too good for this place; what are you doing here? I could get you a record deal … Because everybody in Los Angeles is a producer … In Hollywood they produce producing … And I would say, 'No, I love it here. I hate the music business. I want to be here!' I was lying through my teeth, but I really didn't want to deal with another shyster ... So it was a true story. And I thought as I was playing in this gig, 'I've gotta write a song about this. Nobody is gonna believe this.' And that's essentially where the idea came from."

[Related: Billy Joel's SiriusXM Channel to Air Hits, Rarities, and Interviews]

In Hank Bordowitz's book "The Life & Times of an Angry Young Man," Joel revealed more of his shtick. "The characters that Bill Murray and Steve Martin do, I was doing too, only people didn't know I was kidding. They thought, 'Wow, this guy is really hip!' … if somebody asked for a Sinatra song, I would get into doing a whole put-on Sinatra thing. I'd be having a blast and they would think I was really into it…

"What you're doing in a piano bar basically is playing for tips, so you try to pick out what will get bread out of the audience. Is this guy Italian? You play the 'Godfather' theme or something like that. Is this guy Irish? You play 'Danny Boy.' You try to get those $5 bills in the brandy glass." Not his proudest moments, but "I've never given myself more than two seconds of self-pity, ever since I realized that the piano bar gig is something a lot of people have to do for years and maybe their entire lives. And they're happy to have the work."

Eventually, he blew his cover. "After a while, the music business in L.A. knew I was there," he said in Bordowitz's book. "They knew who I was, 'cause I'd played the Troubadour as Billy Joel and I'd played in L.A. a couple of times, so there was interest. I didn't want them to know … but toward the end of the gig, they'd heard I was playing in this piano bar and they'd come down and say, 'Why don't you play your own stuff?'"

[Related: Billy Joel's Garden Residency Begins With Salty Jokes and Singalongs]

It was hardly smooth sailing once he quit the Executive Room. Having written "Piano Man," he pitched it to Atlantic Records in an impromptu living-room session for some of the industry's biggest producers and moguls. A legend of the business, Jerry Wexler, listened to Joel's waltz-tempo future classic and said, "You know, it's kinda like 'Bojangles'" — meaning "Mr. Bojangles," which had been a huge hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. If 'Bojangles' wasn't written, you probably wouldn't have written that, right?'"

Eventually he was brought to the attention of Clive Davis at Columbia, and that label bought him out of his previous contract, although that meant paying royalties to Family Productions and putting the Family logo on all album sleeves through 1986. "Piano Man" was issued as a single Nov. 2, 1973, followed a week later by the sophomore album of the same name. But the single didn't enter the Billboard chart until April 6, 1974, and it quickly peaked at a measly No. 25 that same month before disappearing.

 Uptown Girl by Billy Joel Video 

"'Piano Man' was not a hit record," Joel told Baldwin. "It was a turntable hit. In other words, it didn't sell through, but this is back in the early '70s. In those days, they still had FM progressive radio. Disc jockeys could spin whatever they wanted."

Not until the late '70s did Joel become a bona fide superstar, at which point piano men everywhere who wanted to earn their tips were forced to play "Just the Way You Are" as well as, of course, "Piano Man."

Now, when Joel closes the main portions of his shows with the perennial favorite, he'll often throw in a snippet or two of a cover song before launching into the epic narrative. If he's playing in a stadium, it might be "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Sometimes it'll be a bit of "Like a Rolling Stone," since he already has the "neck brace" made famous by Bob Dylan conveniently strapped on. And for a few seconds, at least, he's Bill Martin, the on-the-lam cover artist, all over again.

Questlove’s Live Music Show ‘SoundClash’ to Air on VH1, Palladia

 

By Andrea Seikaly

May 9, 2014 

The Roots co-founder and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will exec produce the new VH1 and Palladia music performance series “SoundClash,” set to premiere on both cablers this summer. Hosted by DJ/producer Diplo, “SoundClash” will bring diverse acts together on one stage to perform both hits and new collaborations in front of a live studio audience, beginning with a premiere episode featuring Fall Out Boy, Lil Wayne and British group London Grammar. The second installment will welcome Sheeran, Sia and the up-and-coming U.S. band Grouplove. “Music fuels our passions here at VH1 and Palladia,” VH1 and Palladia prexy Tom Calderone said in a statement.

“‘SoundClash’ will showcase established acts at their peak, spotlight breaking artists on the rise, and introduce what’s breaking on the music scene at that moment. But it will be the collaborative spirit between the performers on the show that will have music fans buzzing throughout the telecast and for days afterwards.” “’SoundClash’ is all about convergence,” QuestLove added. “It’s a place where the cutting edge of the emergent act meets the winning assuredness of the established artist. It’s a lush, level playing field where the talented blend and the genres bend in ways that will resonate with even the most discerning lovers of today’s music.”

The series is also exec produced by Shawn Gee, Jac Benson of Blacjac Entertainment and Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter of The Roots, with Rick Krim and Lee Rolontz exec producing for VH1. “SoundClash” premieres July 23 on VH1 and Palladia.

See It First: Michelle Williams Premieres 'Fire'

 

By Billy Johnson, Jr.

It's been 10 years since Destiny's Child released its last studio album, "Destiny Fulfilled," and member Michelle Williams has yet to take a break. Her third album, "Unexpected," came out in 2008, and she's starred in back-to-back stage productions, "The Color Purple," "Chicago," "Fela," and has just signed on to join the national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Though Williams loves theater, she is stoked to unveil this fall her fourth studio album, "Journey to Freedom." On Friday, she premieres the video for the set's second single "Fire" exclusively on Yahoo Music.

Watch Video Fire here

Keeping with the song's theme, the video directed by Derek Blanks is scorching in the vein of the Ohio Players's "Fire" album cover, except that Williams is, ahem, clothed. Williams looks flawless against the flame inducing red, orange, and yellow filters, backdrops, and lighting, leaving computer screens smoking.

But aside from the visual, Williams offers a great message of overcoming trials, even lending a biblical reference over a booming, midtempo track, singing, "Just like them boys Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego/ I know when I come out the flames won't be smelling like smoke."

The new video simultaneously launches with her new website, iammichelle.com.

Last fall, Williams released the video for the album's first single, "If We Had Your Eyes."

Celebrating Filmmaker Steven Spielberg and Abraham Lincoln

Hello friends, today is Presidents Day. To celebrate this occasion I have posted information and videos about the Lincoln Film, directed by Steven Spielberg. It was not difficult to choose because the movie is a masterpiece.

February, is also (Black History Month). Please scroll down the front page of the website, to view the "Book of the Month" selection. Finally, Director Steven Spielberg is being honored with the Lincoln Leadership Prize. I provided several links if you want to attend the event. And while you are checking out the front page. Take a look at the new Noise Magazine cover I designed for this special occasion. 

This is not the first film, Steven Spielberg has directed about geocide and human rights. Inspired by his experience Schindler's List, Spielberg established the Suvivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation in 1994. And recently, he spoke at the Holocaust rememberance conference. I posted the video from the conference and links that will lead you all to more information. 

I take my leave, with a quote from Schlinder's List "Whoever Saves One Life. Saves The World Entire" 

Have a good day, Love Shelley 

2014 LINCOLN LEADERSHIP PRIZE RECIPIENT

Steven Spielberg, one of the entertainment industry’s most successful and influential filmmakers, is a principal partner of DreamWorks Studios. Among his myriad of honors, which include the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial and Cecil B. DeMille Awards, Mr. Spielberg is a three-time Academy Award® winner having received Oscars®, for Best Director and Best Picture, for the internationally lauded “Schindler’s List,” which received seven Oscars® and a third Academy Award®, for Best Director, for the World War II drama “Saving Private Ryan,” which earned four additional Oscars®.

In 2012, Spielberg directed Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln,” based in-part on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals,” with a screenplay by Tony Kushner. The film garnered 12 Academy Award nominations winning two Oscars, including Daniel Day-Lewis’ third Oscar for Best Actor playing the iconic 16th President, as well as Best Production Design.

With a history of addressing socially relevant issues, Mr. Spielberg brings films to audiences that reflect on humanity’s moral failings and oftentimes their indifference to issues such as human rights in films like “Lincoln,” “Amistad,” “The Color Purple,” “Schindler’s List,” or war and terrorism in films and TV like “Saving Private Ryan,” “War Horse,” “Munich,” “Band of Brothers,” and “The Pacific.” His films focus on individual courage and celebrate the resiliency of the human spirit.

Mr. Spielberg also devotes his time and resources to many philanthropic causes, having established The Righteous Persons Foundation, as well as the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation. He is also Chairman Emeritus of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Event Details

The 7th Lincoln Leadership Prize

Dinner Honoring Steven Spielberg

Presented by Sally Field

with Master of Ceremonies Bill Kurtis

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Hilton Chicago 720 South Michigan Avenue,

Chicago, IL 60611

Reception 6:00 p.m.

Dinner and Program 7:00 p.m.

Business Attire For further information: 312.553.2000

Purchase a table or ticket online

The Abraham Lincoln President Foundation Website

 

Winner of the Lincoln Prize

Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.

On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry.

Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

Purchase Book at Amazon

It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war.

We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through.

This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

Holocaust Remembrance

Shoah Foundation

United States Holocaust Museum

In 1994, after filming Schindler’s List, Steven Spielberg established Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation with an urgent mission: to chronicle, before it is too late, the firsthand accounts of Holocaust survivors and eyewitnesses, liberators and rescuers.

Recording more than 50,000 unedited testimonies, the largest undertaking of its kind, the Shoah Foundation launched its mission to create a multimedia Archive to be used as an educational and research tool. The Archive is comprised of 200,000-plus videotapes filled with more than 100,000 hours of testimony. To watch the collection straight through in its entirety would now take about 13 years and six months.

The ongoing process of cataloguing each testimony, moment by moment, will give end-users extensive access to the Archive. Technology developed by the Shoah Foundation allows researchers, educators, students, and others to search through the tens of thousands of hours of testimony, creating access to specific information contained within the Archive, for:

• inclusion in repositories and universities worldwide
• video enhancements for museum exhibits
• creation of interactive, traveling exhibits
• development of curricula, including educational CD-ROMs and study guides
• use in documentaries
• coordination of local and regional videotape libraries, internationally

With the world’s largest collection of digitized video testimonies, the Foundation is developing new and innovative ways of disseminating this information to promote tolerance and understanding worldwide.

The dream of making this Archive a reality was made possible by the people throughout the world who dedicated themselves to this common goal. Professionals, among whom include a culturally, ethnically, and religiously diverse group from a variety of backgrounds — more than 3,500 interviewers, 1,000 videographers, 4,000 volunteers, 2,000 community leaders and individuals, and 240 staff members worldwide — have brought with them their collective knowledge, expertise, and experiences.

Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation is promoting mutual understanding and respect among all races, by enabling people worldwide to see history through the accounts of tens of thousands of individuals who endured and survived the Holocaust.