The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
This sub-category of Culture would be used to discuss items related to music. It might be songs I’ve downloaded, CD’s I’ve purchased, or musical performances I’ve attended.
I know that today, somewhere on a football field in heaven, a band of angels is trying to keep up eight to five, and a bald-headed guy is getting right in front of them and yelling through a megaphone to pick up their knees. I also know at the end of the day they’ll not only be a better band but better angels. Thank you, Mr. Deal, for calling all of us to be our better angels. Godspeed and “horns up.”
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Wow was all I could say as the credits started to roll on this film. What a great story and great movie, and I can’t say enough about how much outstanding music they got in and how well it advanced the story. I had goosebumps, tears and laughs throughout, and this might be one of my favorite movies of all time. You’ve gotta watch it.
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The movie delivers an edgy, powerful film, and should stand the test of time as an accurate portrayal of seminal moment in music history. Starting in 1987, a group of 5 individuals start what came to be, the group N.W.A and with their powerful lyrics, strong wills, and big dreams, they got the ball rolling for the hip hop and rap music industry that we see today.
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Celebrated hip-hop recording artist Michel’le will speak up and speak out about the darker side of Compton hip-hop as she narrates the Lifetime Original Movie, “Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le,” based on her life story, premiering Saturday, October 15 at 8PM ET/PT. The first lady of Ruthless Records, who triumphed over a life riddled with abuse and adversity, is ready to share her story with the world.
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We went again to San Francisco two weekends ago for the Gay Men’s Chorus Concert, Tales of Our City, which included Armisted Maupin speaking about his adventures in San Francisco in 70s, 80s, and 90s, and his remembrances of people like Harvey Milk and other gay leaders of the time.
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My expectations were not too high, and I was surprised that Lay was interested at all. I was in the band in high school, a great band at that, with a tough (but nothing like the J.K. Simmons character, Terence Fletcher) band director. I just didn’t see how it could be that compelling. Boy, was I wrong. Everything about this film was stellar; casting, writing, acting, directing, music and cinematography all came together to just tell an incredible story. You really need to see this movie, which is already out on DVD, Amazon and Redbox.
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I think all the presents are purchased. Most are wrapped. Tree and decorations are up, and we had a great
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Follow a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles — some of them of his own making. I really expected I would enjoy this movie, as did Lay. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it at all.
Read moreHere’s a beautiful piece, again by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles with students from the Creative Planet School of the Arts performing a David Bowie song, “Peace on Earth.” Coincidentally, this performance took place the day after the Newtown Shooting in 2013, and the performance was dedicated to those who’s lives were touched by violence.
Read moreHere’s another video from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles performing “12 Rockin’s Days of Christmas. This will get your blood going as you head on the last weekend before Christmas. The choreography is amazing. I wanna go see them now. Happy Holidays everyone!
Read moreWhat a voice. This is Melissa Manchester singing Cradle in Bethlehem with the Gay Mens Chorus of Los Angeles. Worth the few minutes…trust me.
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