Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Weather: Mist and frost this morning -- turning into low clouds that I hope have rain in them.

Wildlife: Damn! The bird baths were frozen over, and I forgot to remove the ice before I left. We have at least four species of ducks and other waterbirds on Middle Foy's Lake. There's reports of the Loon returning from last year.

Charity Alert: The Rainforest Site: Help Save Our Rainforests!

Media Watch: We missed the new Queer Eye for the Straight Guy last night. Oh well -- just catch it later!
I saw the last part of a strangely alright show on VH1 while doing the dishes:
VH1 Divas Concert "Saves The Music" at the MGM Grand -- Highlights:
Dressed in black "diva" dresses, legends LaBelle and Lauper were "workin' it." Newcomer, Jessica Simpson looked like she was having pure fun. Seventeen-year-old, Joss Stone sang Fell In Love With A Boy from her debut album "Soul Sessions." Tyra Banks introduced Patti LaBelle. Shortly thereafter, fellow Grammy award-winner, Cyndi Lauper introduced LaBelle as the godmother to her son, and her partner in tonight's venture. After singing "Stay" from her latest album, with Sheila E. playing the drums, Lauper sang "Time After Time" with LaBelle while Lauper played the dulcimer. The performance was like a jam session in Lauper or LaBelle's home. Jessica Simpson performed next. The most "Vegas-style" performers of the night were the Pussycat Dolls -- a burlesque cabaret led by Carmen Electra. Carly Simon, Usher and Vanessa Williams sang Softcell's "Tainted Love." (Written by diva Gloria Jones!) Sporting hot pink boas and black hats, the Pussycat Dolls backed up legendary ladies man Tom Jones who sang "You Can Leave Your Hat On." Blondie's Debbie Harry sang "One Way or Another" with Joss Stone. Gladys Knight sang "The Way We Were" with Stone, who said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I just sang with Gladys Knight." Stone and Simpson joined Knight on "Midnight Train to Georgia," then "Keep On Keepin' On." The last part of the show was an '80's medley -- Shiela E, Cindy, Debbie, et all doing the hits. The Pussycat Dolls did an excellent version of "Girls On Film," and Tom Jones sang "Kiss." The evening ended with "Attitude. Tickets to the MGM Grand Garden Arena cost $75 and $150. The divas helped raise over $300,000 for Save The Music Foundation.
Article heavily quoted from ~ Jennifer King. Rugged Elegance
BTW Patti LaBelle was the class act of the night, Stone and Simpson made musical mistakes -- partly because they were onstage too much. I like the Pussycat Dolls -- THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! It's an unpretentious sexy act that doesn't pretend to be anything except what it is -- and the singing's GOOD!
Otherwise, I updated the Hockaday Museum of Art's website instead of watching TV -- take a look: Hockaday Museum of Art - Prime visual arts resource in Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana.
Don't want to lose these guys again: Footsbarn - Welcome
Hmmm -- Blender Magazine declared "We Built This City" by Starship as their #1 worst song. Paul Kantner, official owner of the Starship name, said he sued and broke up the band (even though he had retired from the group) because this, and other songs, they were doing at the time sullied the legacy of "Jefferson Airplane/Starship." The rest of their top 10: "Achy Breaky Heart," Billy Ray Cyrus; (Minor forgettable song, but line dancing sure became big!) "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" Wang Chung; (I disagree.) "Rollin'," Limp Bizkit; (Don't know this one.) "Ice Ice Baby," Vanilla Ice; (The performer was a phony, but the record's fairly good in it's grim exploitive way.) "The Heart of Rock & Roll," Huey Lewis and the News; (Bubble gum that tastes like bubble gum -- nothing wrong with that.) "Don't Worry Be Happy," Bobby McFerrin; (I disagree! This guy was my FRIEND back in 1978-79. It's an ironic tune, but an example of the 'familiarity breeds contempt' syndrome.) "Party All the Time," Eddie Murphy; (Throwaway self-exploitation, but far far from being on any 'worst' list.) "American Life," Madonna; (Don't know this one either.) "Ebony and Ivory," Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. (McCartney did dozens of tracks worse than this!)
Other songs: Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" (No. 41) -- Yep, that one sux!
Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence" (No. 42) -- Nope, that record set a lofty standard for lyrical and vocal quality. Blender may hate it's success, but it's still an excellent song!

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