Classic Hits

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced the short lists in several categories for the upcoming 95th Academy Awards and documentaries about two iconic musicians are in the running. 

The David Bowie doc Moonage Daydream, as well as the Leonard Cohen documentary Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song are among the 15 films in the running for a possible nomination in the Documentary Feature Film category.

Moonage Daydream, directed by Brett Morgen, focuses on Bowie’s catalog from 1970 to 1977 and was described as “a sublime kaleidoscopic experiential cinematic odyssey that explores Bowie’s creative, spiritual, and philosophical journey.” Hallelujah, created by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, tells the story of Cohen’s life and how his song “Hallelujah” became such an iconic track.

The short list was also announced for the Best Original Song category, with LCD Soundsystem making the cut for their White Noise song “New Body Rhumba.” The David Byrne/Mitski track “This is a Life,” from Everything Everywhere All at Once, is also in the running, as are songs by Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga.

The 95th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, are set to air March 12 on ABC. Nominations will be announced January 24.

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Dionne Warwick doesn’t have anyone romantic in her life these days, but she hasn’t totally ruled out falling in love again, although she’s not overly concerned about it. 

“Everybody needs companionship, of course,” the 82-year-old tells People. “Let’s not be crazy. However, it is not my priority right now. When I feel the need to have company, I know where to go and who to call. Ain’t Ghostbusters either.”

As for who she may be interested in, Dionne recently called out Pete Davidson for not giving her a shot and also expressed interest in Leonardo DiCaprio.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, Dionne recently told People she wants to meet Twitter owner Elon Musk to find out his true intentions regarding the social media site. Well, folks on Twitter want Dionne to do more than that — they want her to take over.

After Elon held a Twitter poll asking if he should step down as CEO and users voted that he should, Dionne held her own Twitter poll, asking her followers, “Should I take over as Twitter CEO?” As of Wednesday afternoon, 85% voted “Yes.” But to be fair, the only other option was “Yeah,” with 15% choosing that.

And if folks want to learn more about Dionne, they’ll soon have their chance. The new CNN film Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over airs New Year’s Day on CNN at 9 p.m. ET.

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R.E.M. announced they were calling it quits back in 2011, and since then we’ve only heard sporadic music from the band’s frontman, Michael Stipe. Well, that’s about to change. 

In an interview with Departures, Stipe reveals that he’s working on his first-ever solo album, which he says “should come together next year.”

“I’m working on a solo album, my first,” he says. “I’m collaborating with a bunch of different musicians and each of those songs, if I get my way, which I think I will because I’m paying for it, will be very different.” Stipe adds that he currently doesn’t have a manager or label, “So I get to do whatever I want.”

“Anyway, there will be a visual representation for each of the songs, and it should come together next year,” he explains. “I’m hoping to build slowly.”

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Dead & Company will be heading to Mexico next month for their annual Playing in the Sand festival, and now fans who can’t make it across the border will be able to enjoy the show.

The band just announced that the festival, set for January 14 to 17 in Riviera, Cancun, will be livestreamed on Nugs.net. 

Fans can purchase tickets for individual shows, as well as a four-show package, which includes three Dead & Company performances and one performance, on January 15, of opener Goose. 

This year’s Playing in the Sand will be the last for Dead & Company, who previously revealed that their upcoming summer tour will be their last. The summer tour is set to kick off May 19 in Los Angeles, California.

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Elton John‘s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is paved with gold: It’s topped Billboard‘s list of the highest-grossing tours for the month of November. It’s the sixth time Elton has been number one on that chart, and it extends his record as the artist with the most months at number one overall.

Elton’s eight concerts in November took in a whopping $60.2 million, including $23.5 million alone for his three concerts at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium on November 17, 19 and 20. Those shows represented the final North American concerts of his farewell tour; the show on November 20, featuring Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee and Brandi Carlile, was livestreamed on Disney+.

Since mid-July, Elton’s been playing North American stadiums, and those 33 shows together have brought in a hefty $222 million. Overall, the tour currently ranks as the second-highest-grossing one of all time, behind only Elton’s pal Ed Sheeran‘s Divide tour, which ran from 2017 to 2019.

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In his recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Bob Dylan revealed he’s a fan of the British series Coronation Street, a soap opera that has been on since the 1960s. Producers of the show were so flattered they’ve actually offered him a part on the series.

“I’ve binge-watched Coronation Street, Father Brown, and some early Twilight Zones,” Dylan said in the interview. “I know they’re old-fashioned shows, but they make me feel at home.” He added, “I’m not a fan of packaged programs or news shows, so I don’t watch them. I never watch anything foul-smelling or evil.”

Well, Coronation Street producer Iain MacLeod couldn’t quite believe the comments, telling The Daily Telegraph he could “dine out on this forever”: “To hear that Bob Dylan is a Coronation Street viewer blows my mind.”

MacLeod says he “would absolutely love the idea of him turning up” on the show, suggesting “we could write in an open mic night and a mysterious singer could roll in out of the Manchester rain and do a turn.”

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Keith Richards and his wife, Patti Hansen, celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary on Sunday, which also happened to be the Rolling Stones guitarist’s 79th birthday. The couple’s daughter Theodora shared a photo from the celebration, revealing a picture of the couple recreating a kiss from their big day, with Patti actually donning her wedding dress.

“A jubilee happened yesterday 🎂💋🍯🇦🇷💕🪩 My parents had a party where we celebrated my dad being another year older and that my parents have been married for 39 years (really it’s 43yrs of togetherness but we’ll go off the legitimacy of their 1983 Cabo wedding ),” she writes on Instagram. “I am so proud of this family. We’ve been through a lot but the love is so strong and powerful that it carries us forever forward on a cloud of compassion and courage. I love you mom and dad. You guys are my inspiration.”

Keith also marked the occasion, sharing a picture from their wedding day, writing, “Happy Anniversary, Patricia❤️. Love, Keith.”

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While out promoting his new memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs One Story, Bono has been talking a lot about his dad and says it’s actually changed his feelings about his father.

“I always loved my father,” the U2 frontman shared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky. “But now, I’m starting to like him even more because his put-downs were funny and he was a funny man, and there was mischief in him.”

He adds, “I had a very, not that unusual relationship with my father. I think a lot of males have difficulty sometimes with their father. I try to be a good father to my kids, but it’s harder if you don’t have that relationship yourself, so I’m working on it.”

Bono’s mom passed away when he was just 14. Since his father didn’t talk about her much after she died, he says he and his brother didn’t have “many memories of our mother.” But, thanks to the book, he says he has “found her again.”

“I have some beautiful memories that I discovered. She was wonderful, and I’ve made peace with all that,” he says. “Through that ache, I filled that hole with music, so I wouldn’t be in U2 and I wouldn’t have the life I have without all the stuff that got me here, so I’m very grateful going into Christmas for everything, from both my father and my mother.”

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Rolling Stone‘s ranking of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is now available in book form.

A hardcover tome features the most recent edition of the list, which was unveiled in 2020. You can order your copy now via Abrams Books publishing.

The #1 album on Rolling Stone’s ranking is Marvin Gaye‘s What’s Going On, followed by The Beach Boys‘ Pet Sounds at #2, Joni Mitchell‘s Blue at #3, Stevie Wonder‘s Songs in the Key of Life at #4, The Beatles‘ Abbey Road at #5, Nirvana‘s Nevermind at #6, Fleetwood Mac‘s Rumours at #7, Prince and the Revolution‘s Purple Rain at #8, Bob Dylan‘s Blood on the Tracks at #9 and Lauryn Hill‘s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at #10.

The list was voted on by a number of different journalists, producers and industry executives, as well as artists including U2‘s The Edge and Adam Clayton, Stevie Nicks, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Alice Cooper, Nile Rodgers, Questlove, FINNEAS and KISS‘ Gene Simmons.

Rolling Stone will celebrate the release of the book with an event taking place at New York City’s Rizzoli Bookstore on January 31.

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Add Brian May to the list of Yungblud fans.

In an Instagram post, the Queen guitarist shares his reaction to the young English rocker’s recent cover of “We Are the Champions.”

“Every now and then, while idly scrolling in the park, you come upon something that makes you go ‘WOW,'” May writes.

While May enjoyed Yungblud’s spin on the Queen classic, he noticed that some commenters weren’t as impressed.

“I’m smiling quietly at all the ‘noooo’ comments,” May writes. “I remember so clearly the same kind of derision being poured on Freddie [Mercury] when we started out as Queen.”

May adds, “As soon as I see someone who can inspire such strong reactions – positive and negative – I’m sure this person is a star performer.”

Other rock legends who’ve shared their love for Yungblud’s music include The Rolling Stones‘ Mick Jagger and The Who‘s Roger Daltrey.

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