Details on ‘Stop Making Sense’ tribute album revealed

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Earlier this month, the studio A24 teased an upcoming tribute album dedicated to Talking Heads’ classic soundtrack Stop Making Sense — and now we finally have some details.

Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense features 16 reworked versions of the songs on the soundtrack, from artists like Paramore, The National, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, The Linda Lindas, girl in red and more.

The first single released from the record is Paramore’s take on the classic “Burning Down The House,” which is available now via digital outlets and on YouTube.

The tribute album is part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the movie and the soundtrack. The celebration kicked off with A24’s 4K restoration of the film debuting at the Toronto Film Festival last September, which included a Q&A with the reunited band. It streamed live at IMAX theaters across the country, selling out 25 theaters to become IMAX’s highest-grossing live event.

The film was also rereleased in theaters on January 27, with monthly screenings planned in cities like Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

Considered by many to be the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, was recorded over three shows at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre in December 1983; the documentary came out the following October.

In addition to “Burning Down the House,” the soundtrack, released in September 1984, featured live performances of songs like “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Take Me To the River.”

On This Day, February 1, 2009: Bruce Springsteen headlines halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, February 1, 2009 …

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band headlined the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Boss performed four songs — “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “Born to Run,” “Working on a Dream” and “Glory Days” — which were each edited to fit into the allotted 12-minute performance.

According to a video put out by the NFL, they had been trying to get Bruce to play the halftime show for years, but he was never interested. It was only after Tom Petty headlined Super Bowl XLII that Springsteen’s people called up and said “we think it’s maybe time to talk about this.”

Bringing the normal Bruce energy, the halftime show got the crowd on its feet. In fact, he brought so much energy to the performance that at one point, Bruce did a knee slide across the stage and smashed into a camera.

As for the game, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.

The handmaid’s tale: Elisabeth Moss reveals she’s pregnant

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Moss in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ – Hulu/Elly Dassas

On Tuesday night’s installment of Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Handmaid’s Tale Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss revealed she’s pregnant with her first child.

To be fair, her very visible baby bump made the announcement before she did.

“So I feel like I need to ask you, are you pregnant, or are you just an incredibly committed Method actor?” Kimmel asked.

“A little bit of both,” Moss laughed.

Jimmy asked how she was feeling, and she replied, “Not bad, actually. I’ve been really lucky, it’s going really well.”

From the father of four — “five, if you count Guillermo,” Jimmy cracked of his sidekick — Moss wanted some advice about the impending big day.

Jimmy passed along advice Bill Murray had given Kimmel’s wife, Molly McNearney: bring Christmas lights to the delivery room. “Because the lighting is terrible in the room. It’s Walmart-style lighting for this blessed event that’s going to happen and you don’t want that,” he said.

Moss also admitted she “can’t wait to start” using her pregnancy — and her baby to be — to get out of social obligations. “It’s the best,” she enthused.

Kimmel also asked Moss about Handmaid’s, to which she revealed, “We are going back to shoot this summer … our final season.” She joked they last worked on the show “37 years ago.”

Moss continued, “People are really starting to get upset … especially when I tell them we haven’t even started shooting yet,” guessing the sixth season of the show will debut in 2025.

The actress said those fans will really get upset when they find out she “cheated on Handmaid’s Tale” with her new spy series The Veil, which debuts in April on Hulu.

Listen to Paramore’s “Burning Down the House” cover off upcoming ’Stop Making Sense’ tribute album

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Paramore‘s “Burning Down the House” cover has finally arrived.

As previously reported, Hayley Williams and company put their spin on the Talking Heads tune for an upcoming tribute to the iconic concert film and live album Stop Making Sense. The project was put together by the entertainment company A24, which released a new theatrical restoration of Stop Making Sense in 2023.

Paramore previously teased their contribution with a video featuring Williams opening a package containing Talking Heads frontman David Byrne‘s oversized suit, which he famously wore in Stop Making Sense. Now, the “Burning Down the House” cover is officially out via digital outlets and is streaming alongside a visualizer on YouTube.

A24 has also unveiled all the artists taking part in the tribute album, including Lorde, The National, Miley Cyrus, girl in red and The Linda Lindas. An official track list and release date has yet to be revealed, only that the record is “coming soon.”

The “Burning Down the House” cover marks the first release from Paramore since the band mysteriously wiped all of their social media in December.

Victoria Monét & Black Music Action Coalition to launch music grant

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Ten-time Grammy nominee Victoria Monét has partnered with the Black Music Action Coalition to launch this year’s Music Maker Grant, worth $5,000.

Named the BMAC x Victoria Monét Music Maker Grant, the money will be awarded to an emerging artist to “aid in economic empowerment” and offer mentorship opportunities for the singer.

The award will be officially announced at BMAC’s Grammy Week Music Maker Dinner hosted by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on January 31 in Los Angeles.

The initiative is part of BMAC’s ongoing mission to push the current generation of Black artists forward.

“We are honored to partner with Victoria Monét to uplift a young and deserving Black artist and help further their dreams within the music industry,” Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, BMAC co-founder, president and CEO, said. “Her story is one of resilience and perseverance and it is in that spirit we will continue to pay it forward. BMAC’s mission is to create a more equal playing field by breaking down barriers to entry for our community.”

The recipient of the Music Maker Grant will be selected through a nationwide search hosted by BMAC. For more information, visit bmacoalition.org.

Miley Cyrus and Lorde contribute to new Talking Heads tribute album

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Miley Cyrus and Lorde are among the artists contributing to an album called Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Stop Making Sense. The album marks the 40th anniversary of Stop Making Sense, the 1984 concert film by Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Talking Heads that’s often called one of the best music movies ever made.

The movie and its hit soundtrack were rereleased last year, and the film has returned to theaters for more showings this year. The tribute album features 16 artists recording the songs featured on the movie’s soundtrack; the first single is Paramore‘s rendition of Talking Heads’ only top-10 hit, “Burning Down the House.”

Other artists on the tribute album include Taylor Swift‘s pals The National, Swift tour opener girl in red, female punk rockers The Linda Lindas, Blondshell and more.

Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, was filmed over three nights in Hollywood in December 1983. It features Talking Heads — David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Chris Frantz — performing their best-known songs, including “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime” and “Life During Wartime.” Aside from Paramore, no word yet on who sings which song in the tribute album.

But here’s a fun fact: Remember how Latto‘s hit “Big Energy” was based on Mariah Carey‘s hit “Fantasy,” but both were based on the same 1981 song, “Genius of Love” by Tom Tom Club? So, Tom Tom Club was a Talking Heads side project started by Weymouth and Frantz, who are married — which is why “Genius of Love” is part of the Stop Making Sense movie and the soundtrack, as well.

Huey Lewis says “rewarding” Broadway musical saved him

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

Seven years ago, Huey Lewis was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. It led to the loss of much of his hearing, effectively ending his recording career. That’s why he says working on the new Broadway musical The Heart of Rock & Roll has been his “salvation” during this difficult time.

Speaking to People, Huey said the show, which is based around his hits with The News, has “been a salvation for me personally, and it’s really been gratifying.” He adds, “I can’t sing or perform, but I can do this.”

“Musical theater is probably, I think because it’s the most demanding, also the most rewarding form of artistic expression and it’s immensely collaborative,” Huey notes. “So we’ve been working as a group for almost a decade now on this, and [we’re] very excited to see it all come together.”

Huey spoke with People at the premiere of The Greatest Night in Pop, a new Netflix documentary about the making of the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.” He says he was “nervous out of my mind” at the recording session because he was singing with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to Ray Charles and Bob Dylan.

However, he says he was brave enough to suggest that they run through the song all the way through, no matter how many times the participants messed up their parts, just so that everyone would get a chance to practice their lines.

“Michael [Jackson] was so sweet, he said, ‘That’s a good idea,’” recalls Huey. And after the session, he and Michael “exchanged messages once or twice,” adding, “He congratulated me on my next record.”

But even more exciting, says Huey, “I got a note from Bob Dylan that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. It was a special evening.”

Police searching for Oregon woman wanted for husband’s murder

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

(PORTLAND, Ore.) — Portland, Oregon police are asking for the public’s help to find a woman wanted for her husband’s murder.

On Friday morning, officers responded to a missing persons report and found 37-year-old Phillip Pierce shot dead inside a home in Portland’s Lents neighborhood, police said.

Police initially said no suspects were located.

On Tuesday, police identified Pierce’s wife, Analiesa Golde, as the suspect, and said she was wanted for second-degree murder.

Golde’s whereabouts are unknown and she should be considered armed and dangerous, according to police.

She may be driving a burnt orange 2015 Toyota 4Runner with Oregon license plate 501HSB, police said.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call 911.

House to vote on bipartisan tax bill that would expand child tax credit

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — After long negotiations, the House is set to vote Wednesday on a bipartisan tax bill that would enhance the popular Child Tax Credit to benefit millions of American families.

The $78 billion tax package called the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would increase the child tax credit and restore critical research and development deductions. It includes new low-income housing tax credits and disaster tax relief and tax benefits for Taiwan. If passed, the changes would be in effect through 2025 when previous Republican tax cuts expire.

Despite overwhelming support for the bipartisan bill in the House, there are still several issues lawmakers have with the legislation, including the child tax credit and state and local tax deductions.

Several New York Republicans (Reps. Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, Anthony D’Esposito and Andrew Garbarino) were angered that the tax bill does not have state and local tax deduction limits — also known as SALT provisions. This is a top priority for New York lawmakers. Speaker Mike Johnson met with this group late Tuesday to discuss SALT provisions.

Meanwhile several conservatives including members from the far-right House Freedom Caucus (Reps. Bob Good and Byron Donalds) criticized the bill for expanding the child tax credit. Many liberal Democrats will vote against the bill because they argue the bill does not expand child tax credit enough.

Clearly not all lawmakers will get what they want. However, this legislation — if passed in the House — would be a rare bipartisan win.

The tax bill was negotiated by Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden of Oregon and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith of Missouri. It passed with bipartisan support out of the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 19 by a vote of 40-3.

The vote, expected to occur between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., will be fast-tracked and voted on under suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds vote to pass.

The bill’s fate is uncertain in the Senate.

Five asylum-seekers arrested for assault on police officers in Times Square

January 31, 2024 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Five asylum-seekers have been arrested on charges they assaulted police officers in Midtown Manhattan, the New York City Police Department said.

The assault occurred Saturday afternoon near Times Square as officers were trying to take a person into custody.

According to police, officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group on West 42nd Street when a physical altercation occurred. When officers attempted to place an individual in custody, the suspects began to kick and punch the officers, according to the NYPD. The suspects then fled.

The officers sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene.

The suspects were identified Wednesday as Yorman Reveron, 24; Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19; Wilson Juarez, 21; Kelvin Serita Arocha, 19; and Jhoan Boada, 22.

They face charges including assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and gang assault.

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