It is heartbreaking news to find out that powerhouse vocalist Anastacia's breast cancer has returned. The Chicago-born siren overcame her first bout with breast cancer 10 years ago. Anastasia is cancelling her performance at the Dubai World Cup as well as her European tour that was scheduled to kick off in London April 6.
Like Cher's 1995 album of the same name, Anastacia's It's a Man's World features remakes of material made famous by male artists. Here, the standouts include Anastacia's signature wail on AC/DC's "Back in Black," Aerosmith's "Dream On" and Foo Fighters' "Best of Me." Her 2004 self-titled album recounts her previous battle with breast cancer, as heard on the hits "Left outside Alone" and "Sick and Tired." The anthem "I'm Outta Love" exploded on the scene in 1999. Since then, her success stateside never measured up to her popularity overseas. The "Cowboys and Kisses" hitmaker is planning to continue to work on new material during her recovery.
Sally Shapiro offers dreamy electronic pop on Somewhere Else. The airy, feel-good vocals recall Ellie Goulding's, while the music shows inspiration from Italo-disco with a DIY sensibility. "All My Life" is a throwback to the Eurodance craze of the '90s. The album jumps into modern times with the standouts "If It Doesn't Rain" and "Lives Together." Shapiro has a title worthy of the Pet Shop Boys with "This City's Local Italo Disco DJ Has a Crush on Me." A remix companion to Somewhere Else is due out in April.
Shapiro's latest video, "Starman," is directed by openly gay German director Edwin Brienen. Here, a loveable, bearded gay man is admired and gushed over by many, even though nobody else out there is quite like him. The song has an absolutely heavenly, uplifting chorus that soars as the bisexual Shapiro draws out the lyrics, "I want to know you, Mr. Starman." It is definitely worth a listen.
Ever since Swing out Sister made a splash with the smash single "Breakout" in 1986, the band has been making clever pop music. On the new CD/DVD set Private View, Swing out Sister revitalizes its catalog with stylish, sophisticated arrangements. The opening number, "Incomplete without You," sets the mood for the 10-track album with its carefree feel thanks to soft horns and a breezy rhythm. Beloved favorites "La La Means I Love You," "notgonnachange" and a cover of Dusty Springfield's "Am I the Same Girl?" work very well with the new sound. Originally a trio and now operating as a duo, Swing out Sister is wildly popular in Japan, where the accompanying concert footage was filmed. Here, the material translates flawlessly to a live setting. A snippet of the Jacksons' "I'll Be There" proves that Mariah Carey is not the only one who can cover this timeless gem. Private View is out now via Shanachie.
There has been many a certain fascination in pop music with the LGBT community. Motley Crue chronicles an ex-girlfriend getting married to another woman on "Same Ol' Situation," more recently Joan Jett and the Blackhearts covered Sweet's lustful ode to a bisexual woman "A.C.D.C.," to name a few. Longreef adds to the theme with "She Likes the Ladies." Here, the hero is enamored by a woman who does not pick up anyone when she is seen out, so it is speculated whether she is lesbian. This just feeds the old joke that if a woman is not attracted to a given man, then she just has to be lesbian. The accompanying video for "She Likes the Ladies" is expected to surface on YouTube this month.
The Australian rock quartet comes to Pinch Penny Club, 700 E. Grand Ave., Carbondale, on Saturday, May 18. A free download of an acoustic live version of "Dirty Motel" is available at www.longreefmusic.com .
Baauer's "Harlem Shake" reigns at number one and I keep mixing it up with the '80s time capsule "Super Bowl Shuffle." "Harlem Shake" has spawned numerous homemade videos, similar to Carly Rae Jespen's sensation "Call Me Maybe." Part of the dance number's chart success is due to Billboard now tracking YouTube views. The music authority's website has a listing specific for YouTube views in its web section alongside Next Big Sound and MySpace Songs charts. It is still not clear if the methodology only measures official videos instead of fan made creations. Nielsen SoundScan handles the tally duties for Billboard. So does this mean we have to endure having "Call Me Maybe" and "Gangnam Style" being hits until the next phenomenon arrives?
Prince will not allow his music videos to be posted on the go-to website. It is unlikely that he will change his ways and become the Artists Formerly Not on YouTube.
Lady Gaga landed in hot water earlier this year when 156 million views were stripped from her account, because it was speculated that her team had a program to constantly cue up her clips online to tally up her count and bragging rights.
Billboard has seen many changes over the years. Fleetwood Mac was the first band to land a song on the Hot 100 singles chart from digital sales of "Peacekeeper" in 2003. Madonna followed suit a week later with "American Life." In the '90s, songs could only chart if they were also available for purchase. Many radio staples like "Killing Me Softly" by Fugees, "Don't Speak" by No Doubt and "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette did not have complete run of the charts since they were not for sale.
