Song of the Day: 'We've Got Tonight' by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton

The great Kenny Rogers knew when to fold 'em. Thank you for the music -- and the memories. 

His turn on "Reno 911" was classic!

Song of the Day: 'It's Christmas All Over the World' by Sheena Easton

Underappreciated gem from the "Santa Claus: The Movie" soundtrack. I worked at the AMC Fiesta Village Theatres in Mesa, Ariz., back in '85 when the film was released and used to make a point of cleaning up the auditorium in which it showed so I could hear every last note!

When She Shines: A Night With Sheena Easton

Nearly had a hoot at last night's Sheena Easton show at B.B. King in Times Square -- barely working air conditioning and a slightly underwhelming set list being the only missing ingredients. Sheena took the stage looking a fraction of her 57 years, yet spent the majority of the evening poking fun at her "sagging body" and even more "sagging career." (Her delivery was so good I'm not entirely convinced her second act won't be as a stand-up.) She kicked the evening off by launching into "Got to Get You Into My Life," which left me scratching my head, even if she performed the Beatles classic with such enthusiasm that I almost couldn't remember whose song it really was. But then "Strut" quickly got the crowd into its '80s groove -- Sheena was quick to announce that she embraces her nostalgia -- and all was forgiven ... for a the moment. 

But this, it would turn out, was a prelude of things to come. She then alternated between her wonderful hits -- "When He Shines," "The Lover in Me," "U Got the Look/Sugar Walls" "Almost Over You," "We've Got Tonight" and the irresistible "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" -- and covers like "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" (Jackie Wilson), "You're No Good" (Linda Ronstadt), "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (Ashford & Simpson). It was all a lot of fun, but I couldn't help but wish she had more faith in her body of work than she did in her (self-proclaimed) shapewear-needing body. (I'd heard her voice was shot but all in all, it was just a bit huskier than we remember.) It was almost like she was embarrassed that we had actually paid money to see her, and figured she'd do us a favor by doing other people's songs we'd actually like. The show ended on a Sheenariffic note with "9 to 5 (Morning Train)" and "For Your Eyes Only" (surprisingly her version, not Blondie's!) bringing the crowd to its knees. But you don't have to be a superfan to realize a few of those covers could have easily been swapped out for singles like "Modern Girl," "You Could Have Been With Me" (a personal favorite) and "What Comes Naturally" (her last hit) -- and that "Do It for Love," "Jimmy Mack," "Machinery" and "So Far So Good" would have had hardcore fans eating out of her sugar walls -- even the gay ones. All nitpicking aside, that she did "I Wouldn't Beg for Water" almost made up for what was lacking -- and that's saying a lot when the AC was barely blowing on a 90-degree night in New York City when I was more than willing to do just that.

Boy Culture, who I didn't even notice in the audience, has more photos and video HERE.

Song of the Day: 'You Could Have Been With Me' by Sheena Easton

Tonight's the big night at B.B. King in Times Square! I peaked at recent set list and found there weren't any. But I did notice when she performed last year she went heavy on covers (Motown, Beatles, Jackie Wilson, Linda Ronstadt), which made me kind of sad that she doesn't believe in her own catalogue -- one that is chock full of gems like this one, which was not included in her set.

Song of the Day: 'So Far So Good' by Sheena Easton

A good one from one of my favorite '80s movies. Be prepared for more where this came from -- I just bought tickets to see the Scottish lass on Bastille Day!

Plus this other one from "About Last Night" ...



How do you say "Natural Love" in Spanish?!

Merry Christmas, All!

Heard this song from the closing credits of "Santa Claus: The Movie" a thousand times when I worked at the AMC Fiesta Village back in '85, and I could hear it a thousand more! Hope you and yours are having a wonderful Christmas ... all over the world.

Song of the Day: 'For Your Eyes Only' -- Sheena Easton vs. Blondie

It's funny that it was only years and years after Blondie inexplicably had a song called "For Your Eyes Only" on its 1982 album, "The Hunter," that I finally learned that it had indeed been written for the 1981 Roger Moore film. (Thanks, Internet!) Apparently the band, riding high on the success of the theme from "American Gigolo" and back-to-back No. 1 singles from "Autoamerican," were approached about doing the theme so Debbie Harry and Chris Stein wrote it before finding out the producers actually wanted Blondie to perform the one written by Bill Condi and Michael Leeson. Sheena Easton, as we all know, eventually recorded that version and rode to the Top 10 around the world. A psycho Blondie fan went to the trouble of creating a video for the Blondie version -- even changing the film's Bond to Timothy Dalton. Although I'm a HUGE fan of Sheena's song (and an admitted Blondie nut), I honestly think the latter's is a more haunting and Bond-like song. 

What do you think? Please listen and then vote below!

Which "For Your Eyes Only" do you think is a better Bond theme?

Sheena Easton

Blondie

pollcode.com free polls

Music Box: Sheena Easton

UPDATE: A good friend informs me that in the '80s, at the height of her fame, Sheena's first husband performed in drag AS HER -- as "Sandi Easton" -- in clubs in England. I can't help but wonder if this was the inspiration for Jane Krakowski's storyline on "30 Rock" everyone keeps telling me about!

In what amounted to an embarrassment standoff, Michael and I took turns quietly singing along to Sheena Easton's "You Could Have Been With Me" the other night in a diner, each waiting for the other one to be the first to admit that he LOVES that song -- or in my case, that lass. The year was 1981, Rick Springfield ruled the airwaves and I was in my fourth year of junior high -- in Michigan our junior high school became middle school the year I entered sixth grade, and then when we moved to Arizona the following year, they still had 9th grade in junior high, better known as hell on earth -- when "Morning Train (9 to 5)" hit the airwaves. The song was an instant smash -- shooting to the top of the American charts -- and I raced out to buy the 45.

Much to my surprise, I liked the follow-up, "Modern Girl," even better (I later found out it was actually her first single in her native Great Britain), and a love affair was born, which included many of the earliest -- and cheesiest -- music videos, countless appearances on "Solid Gold" and a series sizzling of commercials for Vic Tanny and Bally's health centers.

Looking back, Easton is practically considered a one-hit wonder of the '80s, yet the history books show she had an amazing decade-long run after winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1981, scoring 15 Top 40 hits -- eight of which made the Top 10 -- including "For Your Eyes Only" (which Blondie turned down), "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)," "Strut," "Sugar Walls" and "The Lover in Me," plus "We've Got Tonight" with Kenny Rogers and "U Got the Look" with Prince. (How many of today's artists would KILL for numbers like that?) The delightful "So Far So Good" from the "About Last Night" soundtrack just missed the Top 40 in 1986, but should have been a smash, as should have her cover of "Jimmy Mack."

I hadn't thought much about Sheena in the last decade or so until that night in the diner with Michael (I still smile when I think of her total slutformation and her later transition into fitness goddess!). But a recent purchase of "The World of Sheena Easton: The Singles Collection" has reminded me that the babe from Scotland -- whose speaking voice is completely unintelligible yet sings like an angel -- was far more than a footnote on the adult contemporary charts, but one of the most successful singles acts of the era.