If I could only remember my name
David Crosby, 1971
Read Erik Davis on Crosby’s quintessential album here.
Sus Grandes Exitos
Selena Quintanilla Pérez
(16 April 1971 – 31 March 1995)
Selena «was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, businesswoman, model, actress, and fashion designer. Referred to as the “Queen of Tejano music” (the music of Texan Latinos), her contributions to music and fashion made one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. She was shot and killed shortly before her 24th birthday, by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend, and the former manager of her Elena Etc. boutiques Saldívar was cornered by police when she attempted to flee, and threatened to kill herself, but was convinced to give herself up and was sentenced to life in prison with possible parole after 30 years. Two weeks later, Texas Governor (and future US President) George W. Bush declared Selena’s birthday Selena Day in Texas.» (Wikipedia)
EMI Latin | June 2020
Bico
Playing for Change | Songs Around the World
Peter Gabriel
Here’s a song about a man the world is not to forget, and one of my political heroes: Steve Biko, cowardly murdered in his prison cell in South Africa. The perpetrators of this hideous crime, two South African police officers, are the only people who were not forgiven in the country’s long process of truth and reconciliation. The series Playing for Change «is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. Our primary focus is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos we call Songs Around the World.» Lots of great stuff to explore.
Available here
| February 2021
Medicine at Midnight
Foo Fighters
The tenth studio album of the Foo Fighters had to be rescheduled and appeared only recently instead of 2020. Music critics don’t like it, they say its sounds is interchangeable, but everybody like’s Dave Grohl and his bandmates «who have this wonderful shabby chic Venice dad look now» (Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork) «A certain dependability might be the point – Dave Grohl presumably having had enough surprises to last him a lifetime while he was a member of Nirvana.» (Alexis Petridis, The Guardian) «Launched as a solo project in 1995 when Mr. Grohl was still shaken by the death of Kurt Cobain, his bandmate in Nirvana, Foo Fighters turned into a reliable outfit that, across nine studio albums, has never veered far from the post-grunge alternative template.» (Mark Richardson, Wall Street Journal)
RCA | February 2021
Pà Pá Pà
Femi Kuti
Taken from the album Legacy+, this political song convinces with its urgency and drive. Femi Anikulapo Kuti is the oldest song of Fela Kuti, the «King of Afrobeat», whose musical legacy he continues. It is characterized by a large horn section and a driving beat, as well as criticism of the lack of perspective and corruption in African politics. Femi Kuti was born in Lagos, Nigeria, sings and play the saxophone. To support his political resistance, he opened the New African Shrine club in Lagos in October 2000, the successor to his father’s legendary club African Shrine. Femi despises drugs and rejects his father’s sexist attitude towards women. After differences with his family, he founded his own band «The Positive Force» in 1985, with which he has also performed in Europe since 1988.
Knitting Factory | February 2021