Goodbye Golden Ear

Don Kirshner, Carole King, Gerry Goffin

This article by Greg Shaw of Rock's Back Pages is a great look into the bottoms-up publishing life of dynamo Don Kirshner (1934-2011).  Responsible for (what seems like) thousands of hits, Kirshner, as one half of Aldon Music is one reason we have so many great pop standards thanks to "the Brill Building Sound" Kirshner sweated out of his writers - “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “The Loco-Motion,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”).  A few of the great songwriters/songwriters-turned-artists with Aldon: Neil Sedaka, who brought in Carole King; Carole/Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann, Barry/Cynthia Weil, & Neil Diamond.  Also, not to forget is the incredible success Kirshner later found and developed with the Monkees and the Archies.

"The Brill Building Sound" is in honor of the actual Brill Building, up the block at 1615 Broadway (Aldon was at 1650 Broadway).  The Brill Building had been the home of the American music publishing industry for an earlier generation of predominantly Jewish entertainers and businessmen on Broadway and Tin Pan Alley.      

You Feel Like Paradise and I Need A Vacation

My forever fave, Britney Spears, is back as of Monday with her new single, "Hold It Against Me". Very club (à la Necto on Friday nights), very energized, very produced. Energy and pop-music-forever props go to producer Max Martin, while thumping-beats and perhaps over-production goes to Dr. Luke. The chorus breakdown reminds me of the Luke-produced "Right Round" (Flo Rida), with the abrupt fallout of instrumentals and bass and the introduction of a twirling, sparkling background underneath the vocals.

Not my favorite Britney single, but I like that she's back with Martin. This single reminds me a lot of many cuts from her 2003 album In the Zone, as well as Blackout...neither of which were the most appealing to me either. I prefer the less rave-like, more standard pop Britney ("Lucky", "Crazy", "Toxic","Radar", "Stronger", "...Baby") that Jive is so well known for (Justin Timberlake, *NSYNC, BSB, Ciara, Usher).

Either way, I'm always a happy lass when Britney saves the day.

Hear the single:

Isadora Kim - The Classical O.G.

Well, Color Me Ivoried!...


Tonight, I witnessed a mind-blowing performance at Carnegie Hall by 16 year old Isadora Kim (Ji Eun Kim). She was the solo pianist backed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra with the Jerusalem Orchestra of Promise Ministries International. She commanded the stage, the orchestra, the piano, the jaws-dropped audience, and likely, the building itself through Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, and two encores, both of which, of course were amazing, but the first was completely outrageous and somebody should be slapped in thanksgiving for her insanity! Her trills, her technique, her superb dynamics, and her speed are like nothing I've seen, but the closest I could think of, especially in the speed, was Lang Lang.

I demand everyone to rewind their clocks and go to the concert from tonight. But, if that's not possible, you shall book a flight to catch Isadora at her next performance. Must. Do. Noow-uuuuu. (That was Ahhhnald Schwarz accented).

Proof:
Pieces Played Tonight (Isadora is 13-15 in these videos)
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1


Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2


Not From Tonight, But A Must-Witness
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, 3rd Movement

Idol Worthy

Thanks to Metro New York's article today, I found my future child's idol: Crystal Harris! She is already very successful at the young age of 24, has been able to overlook her Love's...obstacles, and recognizes the importance of befriending elders.

What's that? She is succesful because of Pl--nooo!!!! Her Love's obstacles are...what??? Her befriended elder is who???

I am doomed. My future child will be crushed. Crystal deceived me! She looked so innocent in the paper, see for yourself:



Oy vey. In case you are scratching your cabeza, let me fill you in. Crystal's Playboy success has hurled her to Hef-marriage status, as her $90k engagement ring screams. Fine. We know how the Hef rolls. But what about those previously mentioned "obstacles"? You know, the one that says, "Hi. I'm marrying a man 60 years older than I."...? Or, how about the one that says, "Hi. I'm marrying an 84 year old and on our honeymoon..."--wait a minute, I don't want to talk about an 84 year old's relationship at all, let alone the honeymoon.

Most perplexing of all, is Ms. Harris's totally PR'd statement. "I don't notice the age difference with Hef at all. If anything, I have to keep up with him!" Come onnnn, can I be spared even a teensy weensy bit??

I am shocked. I am baffled. I am crying. Although, I don't know if these emotions are due to oozing desire for fame & money their relationship, the fact that HH is still (dare I say) going strong, or the fact that I now have to begin searching for future baby's celebridol all over again.

She Sings Too!

Her first and new single, "Turn It Up", is ready to be launched with a music video, but until we have the pleasure of viewing said video, Kim Kardashian has been gracious enough to share a couple of "sneak peak" photos:




And while not great audio, this video from her Premier at Tao in Vegas is the only option out so far of the single:
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According to certain articles, the success (or lack thereof) of Paris Hilton's music career (Stars Are Blind) is seeming to be laid out as a what-not-to-do book for Kim K and others coming through the mic straight out of reality-TV-Land. However, the single was written by The-Dream (Single Ladies, Umbrella), video produced by Hype Williams (If I Ruled The World, Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See, No Scrubs, Big Pimpin', Rock The Boat), and there is a rumored music video cameo by Kanye; all of which equal a very good potential for a nice ride up SoundScan.

But, back to what we've learned from the likes of Paris, Lindsay Lohan, etc., my bets aren't skyrocketing...though this is not to say I won't be "Turning It Up" when it hits!!