John Lennon's Death 31 Years Ago Today

John Lennon was killed 31 years ago today and, shortly afterward, Roxy Music added his song "Jealous Guy" to their set while on tour in Germany, as a tribute. They recorded and released it a few months later... just a beautiful remembrance of John.

'Young Americans'

I had to run into the office yesterday morning to pick up my jacket, which I'd forgotten on Thursday. Here's The Sound L.A. Friday morning on the drive back home. I'm on a Bowie jag, so here you go, "Have you been an un-American?":

9:38 - It's Only Rock And Roll by Rolling Stones

9:50 - Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy

9:55 - My My, Hey Hey by Neil Young

9:58 - Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane

10:02 - Young Americans by David Bowie

10:08 - Life In A Northern Town by Dream Academy

10:12 - Shooting Star by Bad Company

'Girl Panic'

Via Cindy Crawford:

More supermodels from Duran Duran.

Britney's Femme Fatale Tour, London

Lots of pics, at Daily Mail: "Britney bares a whole lot of skin in risqué stage outfits as the Femme Fatale tour hits London."

Britney Spears Femme Fatale Trailer

Via Britney, on Twitter:

Glen Campbell's Spirit Still Shines Through

A great music review, at Los Angeles Times, "Live: Glen Campbell at Club Nokia."

It was thrilling too to watch the spirit rushing through Campbell. At times these gusts of musical inspiration blew harder than his fingers could contain, like a delicate kite weathering a windstorm. But then the clouds would break and the guitarist and his muse would reveal blue-sky lines as effortlessly as he did on “Wichita Lineman” in 1968. The man who stepped onstage and kicked off his first solo hit in 1967, “Gentle on My Mind,” had less hair but just as much insight, and the knowledge that this man was part of the legendary Wrecking Crew session team responsible for hits by Phil Spector and the Beach Boys' classic hits, among others, added extra weight.

And I posted on Campbell back in August: "'Rhinestone Cowboy'."

'Someone Like You'

Some music until later:

RELATED: At Entertainment Weekly, "Adele releases heartbreaking, beautiful 'Someone Like You' music video," and Billboard, "Adele Wanders Paris in 'Someone Like You' Video."

Keeping MTV Hip

I loved MTV when it first came out. I hardly watch it nowadays. I just liked the music videos, I think, like Wall of Voodoo, "Mexican Radio." Anyway, an interesting piece at Los Angeles Times, "MTV remakes itself for the millennial generation."

Lady Gaga or Britney Spears?

During the drive out to Rincon for the Don Henley show, my wife said she'd like to go see Lady Gaga in concert. I wasn't surprised, although I quickly replied that I'd rather see Britney Spears. She just seems so much more wholesome. And that statuesque beauty is irresistable:

Rocker Billie Joe Armstrong Kicked Off Southwest Flight

At NME, "Green Day's Billy Joe Armstrong ejected from US flight over pants dispute."



And so what the heck? Some Green Day live. Those Japanese fans rock:

'Don't You (Forget About Me)'

Listened to Simple Minds during yesterday's drive time, on The Sound LA:

8:25 - Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac



8:29 - Don't Stop Believin' by Journey



8:33 - Don't Take Me Alive by Steely Dan



8:44 - Don't Tell Me You Love Me by Night Ranger



8:48 - Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds



8:53 - Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder

I'll have more blogging tonight:

'For All We Know'

If you clicked through at the Sheri Donovan interview the other day, recall she confesses that she's got The Carpenters on her iPod, but "don't worry, I won't play them on The Sound."



Actually, I wouldn't mind hearing The Carpenters once in a while. I had a crush on Karen Carpenter when I was a kid:

Britney Spears at VMAs: The Modern-Pop Definition of 'Statuesque'

From Spencer Kornhaber, at The Atlantic, "Lady Gaga and Britney Spears Share a Surreal Moment at the MTV VMAs." Here's the kicker:

The two almost kissed, and then broke off at the last moment. But Gaga kept leering, standing uncomfortably close to Britney as she attempted to give a barely felt acceptance speech. What's more, Britney had to simultaneously thank the world and introduce the next performer, Beyonce Knowles. It was a moment of weird indignity for Spears: a younger star awkwardly hogging the spotlight, a roughly contemporary diva waiting in the wings to take the stage.



But the optics of the things were the most striking. Britney, at 29, remains sturdily, conventionally beautiful. Outfitted in boots and a short but glamorous black dress, she appeared the modern-pop definition of "statuesque." And then there was Gaga as Calderone: blonde hair replaced by dark mop, her features elfin and unspectacular, her get-up shapeless and drab, her stature tiny. By pairing the two for a kind of lifetime achievement award, MTV was necessarily asking us to contrast the women. Gaga, it seemed, had picked out her shtick for the night in part to play up that contrast. And why not? With her endless parade of costume changes and her guilt-free lyrical message, Gaga's obsessed with remaking standards of beauty and achievement so that they're set by individuals, not establishments. She's the incredible, cross-dressing, anti-Britney.

Video at the link, in case this one gets yanked.



RELATED: At London's Daily Mail, "What a difference four years makes: Britney Spears gets her sparkle back as she returns to scene of THAT awful MTV performance."

'Under Pressure'

Well, I'm back to my weekday commute and tuning into The Sound LA regularly. And that's good. I had Foster the People on the brain there for a while.



Anyway, this should hold readers over until tonight when I'm back home and can blog. That Queen concert is something else, by the way, and David Bowie's live version is below. Until then...

On the Road to Vegas for Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil

I imentioned it a week or so back. As this post goes live, I'm heading out the I-15 to catch up with my family at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. My oldest boy invited his (sorta) girlfriend along, so it's a big deal. A couple of weekends ago my wife and I went over to talk with (sorta) girlfriend's mom for a couple of hours. We shared stories and (sorta) girlfriend's mom laid down the line. She said she trusted her daughter. It was everybody else she was worried about. We assured her that we don't give our son too much free rein, that he's only allowed to walk across to the New York New York Hotel to ride the roller coaster there. All the hotels are connected by walkways so it's not like you're being accosted by a bunch of drunks or beggars down on the Strip. Anyway, girlfriend's mom loves my son so much permission for her daughter to go with us was a foregone conclusion.



The show's tomorrow night. I'll have regular blogging tonight, once I get set up in Vegas.



PREVIOUSLY: "The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil." Plus, "'A Day in the Life'," and "Impressions: The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil."

'Rhinestone Cowboy'

Heard it yesterday while out driving my wife's new Jeep Liberty (been meaning to post pics, and no excuses other than lagging). She's got Sirius radio in there, and she loves it. What a variety!

'In For The Kill'

At the request of my youngest, and I really like La Roux:

Another version here (reminds me of Siouxsie Sioux).

'Pumped Up Kicks'

When you drive around with a teenager you get bombarded with the lastest hipster pop music. And I like Foster the People:

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet (link).

Lady Gaga on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

I didn't even know she was in L.A.

At Los Angeles Times, "Lady Gaga takes over Hollywood Boulevard, peacefully."

Here's the clip. It might be taken down for copyright violation, so enjoy it while it lasts:

And at MTV, "Lady Gaga Finally Confirms 'You And I' As Her Next Single."

RELATED: At Daily Mail, "Lady Gaga takes the plunge in a daring low cut number slashed to the thigh", and "Forget your skirt Lady Gaga? Cheeky singer leaves little to the imagination in a pair of see-through tights." Gaga looks a little chunky at that last link.

Dan Peek, 1950 – 2011

Just learned of Dan Peek's death, at Wizbang, "Dan Peek, RIP."

I posted this clip last year, "This Is For All the Lonely People..."

See the write-up at Ultimate Classic Rock, "FOUNDING AMERICA MEMBER DAN PEEK DIES AT 60." Also Aaron Goldstein at American Spectator, "Dan Peek, R.I.P."

Plus a news report at Kansas City Star, "Dan Peek, founding member of soft-rock trio America, dies at 60."

Sixties too young. God bless Peek's family.