I had barely begun to listen to the Style Councilor-in-chief's new album, "Fat Pop," when I saw Paul Weller had a guest star at his live (with minimal audience) Live From the Barbican orchestral concert that aired this week. First Kim Wilde and now the Modfather? This Boy sure gets around!
These two blue--eyed soul singers go way back, starting with "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Here's a dream duet from my childhood -- and the song even sounds like it's from the '80s. (Do kids even know what "name and number" means?) This appeared on Boy George's recent YouTube-only album called "Cool Karaoke Vol. 1," which led me to believe it's a cover of Curiosity Killed the Cat's song of the same name. (Karaoke = covers, no?) It's not, so I still don't understand the album title. But the song is fun just the same.
P.S.
You might hear "Name and Number" live this summer if you catch the Mossless Culture Club's U.K. tour along with the "Kids in America" singer, Bananarama and others.
Have been on a bit of a Boy George solo kick lately and was a little stunned by this long-forgotten ditty from his quite good debut, "Sold." I sincerely do not believe he and co-writer Lamont Dozier are guilty of plagiarism. But if this didn't warrant a lawsuit from the writer of the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited," how do these other cases (Sam Smith v. Tom Petty; Robin Thicke/Pharrell v. Marvin Gaye; Radiohead v. The Hollies; George Harrison v. The Chiffons; et al.) get going? Would love to hear from experts. Something tells me it's more about how litigious/and powerful you are than how similar the music is.
For what it's worth, I've always thought "Love Makes the World Go Round" (Madonna) was awfully similar to "Let's Hear It for the Boy" (Deniece Williams) -- and I could name 10 others, starting with what I believe is the most blatant ripoff of all: "Telephone (Pick Up The)" written by Bobby Orlando for the Flirts, which is the exact same tune as the Go-Go's "Vacation."
Came across this homemade video for a great song from Culture Club's fourth album, "From Luxury to Heartache," which was overshadowed by Boy Georgia's drug addiction and the band's subsequent implosion. Culture Club would not release its next album for 13 years -- another underappreciated effort that never even saw release in the United States, where the band had briefly ruled the charts with three platinum albums (one four times over) plus six Top 10 singles in barely three years
My friend joked that Culture Club must have gotten a new singer -- yes, Boy George's voice isn't what it used to be on the band's latest album, "Life" -- but the songs are pleasingly catchy, which is more than half the battle.
One of the standout tracks from the new Culture Club album, "Life." Sure, Boy George's voice is much deeper (grizzled?) than it used to be. But the quality of the melodies is what's so impressive, even all their years later. Interestingly, the song I've chosen for today was one of the ones that had been written a few years ago for the scrapped album "Tribes." It started out as a country-tinged tribute to Johnny Cash, but wound up with more of a soul feel. Both are good, but if you prefer the former you'd better not tell Miss O'Dowd, who had this to say to a fan on Twitter:
Has it really been 19 years since their "reunion" album (that never even got a U.S. release)?
Boy George's voice will never be what it was -- and since it was so good to begin with, he had a lot farther to fall. But his famous band's first new song since 1999 is enjoyable enough, in a familiar reggae-infused Culture Club kind of way. It's from a forthcoming album called "Life." Longtime fans will remember that 2014's "Tribes" (via PledgeMusic) inexplicably never saw the light of day, but I'm guessing the remnants are included here.
Nice new song from Marilyn, that he produced with Scott Houzet and Victoria Wilson James. It was recorded at the Barbican, and features Claudia Fontaine ("Cry and Be Free," "Every Day I Write the Book") on backing vocals and Eric Robinson fingering the Steinway. Sadly, the singer laments on social media that it will never see the light of day beyond this slideshow video.
Read my review of the reissue of "Despite Straight Lines" HERE.
Maz shows he can sing Culture Club better than Boy George, these days ...
I don't know which thing I'm more excited about -- Marilyn's comeback or Goldie Hawn playing Amy Schumer's mom in a new film! The blond bombshells were both guests on "Loose Women" today, along with Boy George, who was instrumental in the "Calling Your Name" singer's second chance.
P.S.
Listen to Maz's comeback single, "Love or Money," HERE.
I haven't had a chance to check out Cyndi Lauper's new country album, "Detour." But I still have time to cram before she arrives in New York City for the supporting tour. Boy George is co-heading at her Beacon date, as well as others -- see below!
Hello, page slaves! So much to discuss since my last book report . First off, I can now say that I have (essentially) read every book in m...
Fake Jan Alert
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Little Kenny
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The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Oceans 11
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
A Death in the Family
Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
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'Jungle' Fever
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Roger & Me
With Roger Federer
Step Brother McMullen
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