Lady Gaga’s Newest: A 70’s Disco Vibe
Within hours of its release, “Stupid Love,” Lady Gaga’s first single in years, generated major Top 40 and Adult Top 40 airplay, and just as quickly brought to mind the beat and energy of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” –a throwback sound to late 70's San Francisco...
It Sounds Like Disco, But It Isn’t Disco…
Soulful singer/songwriter Sza (pronounced Siz-Uh) and “Mr. Cool” Justin Timberlake are dueting on "The Other Side," a cut from the upcoming soundtrack of the animated film "Trolls World Tour," scheduled to open April 17th. “The Other Side” reminds us of summer, 1975,...
He Loves Her So Much He’d Die for Her…
Almost all Top 40 and Adult Top 40 radio stations added Sam Smith’s new, emotion packed “To Die For“ on its Valentine’s Day release...it was perfect...as Smith himself explained, "This is for the all the lonely hearts out there on another Valentine’s Day xx." Smith’s...
LIzzo Channels Janis Joplin!
Soul is singing with honesty, intensity, and authentic emotion. Skin color is irrelevant. Think Janis Joplin's wild, raw "Cry Baby"... or ...listen to LIzzo's "Cuz I Love You," a Joplin-esque emotional blast that wowed 'em at this year's Grammy's and that's charting...
“Baby” as a Term of Endearment in a #MeToo World
Carla Thomas opened her 1966 hit “B-A-B-Y” with a breathy, girley, highly pitched: Baby, ooh, baby. I love to call you baby... Selena Gomez’s also opens her current hit, “Rare,” with a breathy “baby” but it’s not girlish, rather, it’s grown up and sensual, and quickly...
The Talent Known as The Weeknd
The Weeknd has a (highly anticipated) album drop planned, albeit without a title or release date, so fans are making-do with two new, single tracks, "Heartless" and Blinding Lights"—each song generated millions of Youtube views and streams within hours of its...
What the World Needs Now Is…A Really Good Pop Song!
The appeal of an up-tempo pop song has not diminished since Wham! reached #1 in 1986 with "I'm Your Man," written and produced by the late George Michael. Filling the niche this music cycle are the Jonas Brothers, who took advantage of their performance at the recent...
Ed Sheeran Sings “South of the Border”
Latin tinged pop has always been present in mainstream Top 40--think 1972's "Suavecito" by Malo--a cool and mellow song that oozed sexual desire and attraction. Today, the Latin influence is much more in your face (think Sunday's Super Bowl half time show with JLo...
“Roxanne!”
When Sting sang about “Roxanne,” in 1978, she was a prostitute whom he loved and wanted to “save.” The song had a plaintive, painful tone. Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight Today’s “Roxanne” is a...