ABC’s “Duets” and Colbie Caillat

OH MAN has it been a busy month!  Not only did I get the privilege of working with Colbie Caillat’s music director recently,  I have been busy working on an amazing new music competition show called “Duets”.

We are in the throws of taping our first few episodes with our fantastic Superstars….Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke, Jennifer Nettles, and John Legend.

Everyday I come to work, it’s like having a private concert in my backyard!  Their singing blows me away!

Make sure you tune in to your local ABC station on May 24th for the first show.  You won’t be disappointed!

Remembering Dick Clark & American Bandstand

Dick Clark was American music, pop culture, and of course the “oldest” teenager that ever lived.  When he died yesterday at the age of 82, it caused me to reflect on how important American Bandstand was in my life.

Back in the day American Bandstand ruled my senses.  I couldn’t wait until Saturday morning to see the show.  I was enthralled with everything…from the dancing, the fashion, and of course the music.  Still too young to go to concerts, that was how I connected with my favorite rock stars.

I remember Barry Manilow’s opening song, putting on my “boogie shoes” and mimicking all the latest dance moves from those cool cats on screen.  These guys had it going on, and I wanted to be just like them! I would turn the music up on my mono-television, and take full command of my family’s living room. Yes, I was a rock star…every Saturday morning.

Dick Clark always had the most reverent musical guests on the show.  He was so important to pop culture, that my guess is that when an artist’s phone rang, and he asked them to be on the show, the word “no” was not an option. That artist’s career was gonna hit a new level.   He pioneered rock and roll television, starting in the 1950′s back in Philadelphia, and he was an inspiration to other shows such as “Soul Train”.

American Bandstand has been off the air for a while now.  But thanks to YouTube, you can watch some of it there.  Dick Clark is now on that big stage in the sky.  I’m sure he’s still producing all the talent, rating records, and waiting for some kid to say, “It has a great beat, and you can dance to it”.  Forever young, Dick Clark will surely be missed.

He was a huge part in cultivating my love for music, and for making me a rock star every Saturday.

Gotye single “Somebody That I Used to Know” = Eargasm

You know that moment when you hear a song for the first time? It stops you in your tracks, almost paralyzing you, time stands still.  All you want to do is listen to it over and over?

Well, that just happened to me.  I heard the song “Something That I Used To Know” by Goyte (feat. Kimbra), and it has invaded my soul.  I stumbled across it as I was fast forwarding through tonight’s episode of “Glee”.  Oh my gosh, why haven’t I heard this song before?  I mean, my ears couldn’t believe what they had just heard!

I immediately went to the Glee music website to find out the title of the song.  Jumped over to Spotify to listen to it in it’s entirety.  Hopped over to Youtube to watch Goyte’s   video, and when he performed it on Jimmy Kimmel,  Read his bio on Wikipedia, and THEN looked up the lyrics while I listened to it one more time. And yes, I did download it.  I couldn’t get it fast enough!

The song talks about a break-up, and it really hit me on various levels.  This Belgium born, Australian raised musician sounds like a young Peter Gabriel. Goyte (pronounced Go-tee-yay) sings so clearly, and his tone is beautiful.  The melody is fresh yet haunting in a way that you can truly feel his pain.  That’s what damn good songwriting is all about.  Hit your audience over the head, connect with them. Make them feel something.

I’m anxious to hear more of Goyte’s music.  But for now, all I can do…ahhh all I want to do is put this song on a loop.  Do yourself a favor and check out Goyte.  He is so different, which makes him so great!

That Metal Show – Season 10

Four shows in the can, 6 more to go!  This week I am excited to be working on this show that runs on VH1 Classic.  It’s centered on everything hard rock and heavy metal.  Ten seasons folks!  That’s how important this kind of music is, and it shows how much the public wants it!

The co-hosts are Emmy winner & comedian Jim Florentine; Eddie Trunk, the walking encyclopedia of heavy metal, author and radio personality; and Emmy award winner/comedian & musician Don Jamieson. They are the BIGGEST supporters of heavy metal that I’ve ever met.

They turn into the most excited fans when their idols appear on the show. AND they seem to know everything about everybody!  Shoot…I even walk away from each taping with more metal I.Q. points, with the thought that I can take on the average Joe at the local dive bar in a round of metal trivia!

This season, we’ve got some pretty amazing guests.  I can guarantee that you’ll see some interviews from some guys, and a gal, that have put their stamps on the heavy metal scene. You won’t be disappointed.

So tune into VH1 Classic.  Episodes air at the end of this month.  And make sure you stay until the end of the credits.  Look for my name, and throw me some horns dammit!

Davy Jones made me a believer.

Although I’m untimely with this post, I just wanted to share my thoughts  on Davy Jones.

When he died on February 29, a little part of my youth went with him.  Of course I liked him in the Monkees, I mean, how could you NOT?  That cute, little, mop-head Brit, with so much humor and charm.  I just wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home.  I didn’t think of him as boyfriend material  (that was Peter Tork), he was the type of guy I wanted to take to Disneyland, or take to the movies, hang out and laugh our bums off.

Davy’s music with The Monkees was fun.  One of my favorite song intros, which I believe is unscripted is at the beginning of Daydream Believer. It’s unconventional, but captures the spirit of Davy, and what The Monkees were all about.

Davy says, “What number is this Jim?”

“7A!”, Jim shouts.

With a chuckle, Davy’s reply is, “Ok, no need to get excited man.  It’s cuz I’m short, I know.”

Davy Jones will be missed, and as cliche as it sounds, The Monkees would not have been the same without him.

Been a little busy lately!

Right now I’m in the middle of back to back shows.  Last week I worked on the “Hall of Game Awards”, which will be airing tomorrow night (Feb. 20) on the Cartoon Network.  Shaquille O’Neal was the host…BIGGEST kid ever!  Should be a fun show!

Next day I started on the Oscars.  Can’t divulge my job, but all I can say is that it’s music related.  So excited to be back.  This is my 4th Oscar telecast, and I just love it!

Feeling so blessed right now!

Peace.

Where were the Grammy Awards?!

For a 3 1/2 hour show, according to my tally, there were 18 performances and only 9 actual Grammy awards given out.

In a struggling industry, I get the idea that they should be showing more of the musical talent, than actually televising the artists receiving their awards.  It’s good business sense, but I still think there needs to be a balance between the two.

As a Recording Academy member, I look forward to seeing what my annual dues partly pay for.  The performances are marinating in my mind, and after a few replays on my DVR, here are some of my highlights.

Bruce Springsteen and Bruno Mars set the tone for the evening with their energetic performances.  Bruno’s song “Runaway Baby” was hip and new, in a classic kind of way.  I loved the choreography, and I could feel his energy through my tv.  I can only imagine what it was like in the house!

Let me say that I am NOT a fan of Chris Brown, and I don’t think he should have been allowed to perform on the show.  I’ve never liked his singing or who he is as a person, but with that said the projection and choreography in his first performance were amazing.  If you were to take him completely out of the performance…it would still be awesome. Major props to the screens, lighting and choreography departments.

Paul McCartney and Adele had wonderful performances.  Sir Paul is almost 70 years old, and is still cranking out the tunes.  I hope I’m still able to do what I love when I’m his age!  Adele was the belle of the ball with all her wins, and “Rolling In The Deep” sounded amazing  since she had her throat surgery.

Jennifer Hudson’s tribute to Whitney Houston was beautiful.  I honestly believe that her voice has gotten better.  She was the perfect choice to come in at the last minute and deliver this song.

All I can say about Nicki Minaj…I don’t get it.  I think those kind of dramatics should be left for her live performances.

And then there are the Foo Fighters.  My oh my.  I love the Foo Fighters.  I’m a hardcore rock and roller, and they scored a perfect 10 in my book.  They performed twice, and in my opinion, they were the nuts and bolts of the show.

So there you have it.  I only touched on a few of the 18 performances that were in the show.  The rest weren’t worthy of a word here.  I have my opinions, but I will keep them to myself.  Tell me what YOU thought!