Zappagram #94: Taylor Swift wins Super Bowl LVIII and today I'm 50 freaking years old
LVIII is 58 in Roman numerals and if you add 5+8 you get 13. Just sayin'.
Hey Zappagrammers,
I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Taylor Swift on her Super Bowl win last night. Helluva game, especially that 4th quarter.
I’d also like to congratulate myself on making it 50 years without getting hit by a bus or an asteroid or a piano falling out of a window. I hope to play a helluva game in my 4th quarter, too. Hey, maybe I’ll even get lucky and my game will go into overtime. Who knows?
Anyway, Rolling Stone published an article, “Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best” which is, unsurprisingly very, very wrong. Any list that ranks a performance by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez as being better than a performance by Bruce Springsteen can burn in hell. However, they did get it right by putting Black Eyed Peas at the bottom of the list and Prince at the top. I’ll give them that much.
On a completely unrelated note, Kanye West is a nazi asshole, but you already knew that. I just wanted to take the opportunity to say fuck him and the stupid-looking trash bag clothing he rode in wearing.
I’m not the only one to tell Kanye West to fuck off—the estate of Donna Summer and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne recently told him the same thing. You can read more about that below in this week’s music news.
As you know, one of my 2024 goals is to include a piece of original artwork in every week’s newsletter. This week, the artwork and quote of the week are both Damo Suzuki, legendary lead singer of the Krautrock band Can, who passed away this past week at the age of 74.
Ground control to reader: Take your protein pills. Put your helmet on.
This newsletter ain’t gonna read itself.
“I can't sing so I use the voice as an instrument. I'm not so much interested in anything in particular, that's why I sing about nothing. I improvise melody and texture too. Sometimes it sounds like English, French or German, but it really is the language of the Stone Age.”
—Damo Suzuki
ROCK THE VOTE
:: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Last week’s poll: 73% of you got it right—Gordon Lightfoot’s song “Sundown” was written for the woman who…sold John Belushi the drugs that killed him.
WEEKLY PLAYLIST
:: NEW MUSIC EVERY WEEK
Featuring: Low Pressure System, Caroline Polachek & Weyes Blood, Andrew Belle, Tyler Ramsey, Cory Wong, Chelsea Wolfe, Mk.gee
ZAPPAGRAM #94
ZAPPAGRAM PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
:: WHAT’S GOING ON
Damo Suzuki, Can Singer, Dead at 74
The Japanese vocalist appeared on krautrock legends' classic albums Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, and Future Days [RollingStone]
Mojo Nixon Dies While on Country Music Cruise
Nixon, whose real name is Neill Kirby McMillan Jr., was found dead aboard the annual Outlaw Country Cruise, where he was a regular presence both as a performer and co-host [Variety]
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Unveils 2024 Nominees
The Class of 2024 nominees include a ton of first-timers [Billboard]
Donna Summer’s Estate Refuses to Clear Sample on Kanye West’s New Album
West apparently disregarded Summer's rejection and featured "I Feel Love" on Vultures Pt. 1 [Consequence]
Sharon Osbourne to Kanye West: You “F*cked with the Wrong Jew This Time”
West apparently sampled Ozzy Osbourne's performance of "Iron Man" after being denied permission [Consequence]
Jason Isbell Files for Divorce From Amanda Shires
The two songwriters, pillars of the country and Americana music worlds, had been married for nearly 11 years [RollingStone]
Beyoncé Announces New Album Act II, Due Out on March 29th
First two singles, "Texas Hold 'Em" and "16 Carriages," are available now [Consequence]
Vampire Weekend Announce New Album Only God Was Above Us
First full-length in five years is out on April 5th [Consequence]
The Cure to Reissue Live Album, Paris, with Unreleased Recordings
The live set was remastered by Robert Smith [Consequence]
Snoop Dogg Sues Post and Walmart for Conspiring Against His Cereal
Rapper accuses packaged food giant and big box retailer of "underhanded dealing" and "diabolical actions" amid Snoop Cereal partnership [RollingStone]
Nick Cave, Warren Ellis to Score Amy Winehouse Biopic ‘Back to Black’
"Their sensibility as well as understanding of this story has led to a profoundly deep and moving film score," said director Sam Taylor-Johnson [RollingStone]
R.E.M. Reunites Onstage at ‘Murmur’ Tribute Concert in Athens, Georgia
The four founding members appeared onstage together for the first time in 17 years [AmericanSongwriter]
Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” Movie Coming to Disney+ with Five Songs Not Shown in Theaters
Arriving March 15th with some bonus content [Consequence]
Z-REX
:: ZAPPA’S RECOMMENDATIONS
My friends Johnny and Ashley make music as Golden Blue. NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series is hosting a contest for an artist or band to win their own Tiny Desk concert, and I’m doing all I can to help promote Golden Blue. Please check out their Tiny Desk submission video here and give them a listen wherever you stream your music.
NEW RELEASES
:: RECENTLY DROPPED MUSIC
Band Of Horses: Acoustic at the Ryman, Vol 2 [listen]
Brittany Howard: What Now [listen]
Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She [listen]
Madi Diaz: Weird Faith [listen]
Tyler Ramsey: New Lost Ages [listen]
RELEASE RADAR
:: UPCOMING RELEASES
- FEB 16 -
Grandaddy: Blu Wav
Idles: Tangk
Matthew Logan Vasquez: Frank’s Full Moon Saloon
Nouvelle Vague: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Slayer: Show No Mercy (40th Anniversary Edition)
- FEB 23 -
Bombay Bicycle Club – Fantasies EP
Can: Can Live in Paris 1973
Laetitia Sadier: Rooting for Love
MGMT: Loss of Life
Modern English: 1 2 3 4
Motörhead: The Löst Tapes
The Cult: Dreamtime (Vinyl Reissue)
The Waterboys: 1985 (Deluxe Edition)
- MAR 1 -
Faye Webster: Underdressed at the Symphony
Kaiser Chiefs: Kaiser Chiefs’ Easy Eighth Album
Liam Gallagher & John Squire: Liam Gallagher & John Squire
Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
Ministry: HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Nils Frahm: Day
Thundercat: Apocalypse (10th Anniversary Edition)
The Who: Live At Shea Stadium 1982
- MAR 8 -
Air: Moon Safari (25th Anniversary Edition)
Alice Cooper: Billion Dollar Babies (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Bleachers: Bleachers
The Cars: Candy-O (Vinyl Reissue)
Grateful Dead: American Beauty (Vinyl Reissue)
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Glasgow Eyes
Kim Gordon: The Collective
The Libertines: All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade
Norah Jones: Visions
The Rolling Stones: Live At The Wiltern
- MAR 15 -
The Black Crowes: Happiness Bastards
Dan Boeckner (of Wolf Parade): Boeckner!
The Dandy Warhols: Rockmaker
Lenny Kravitz: Blue Electric Light
Miles Davis: Volume 2 (Vinyl Reissue)
Nina Simone: Nina’s Back (Reissue)
ON THIS DATE
:: MUSICAL HAPPENINGS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
- FEB 12 -
Birthdays: Ray Manzarek of The Doors (1939) • Michael McDonald (1952) • Yours truly! Chris Zappa (1974) • Brian Chase of Yeah Yeah Yeahs (1978) • Lisa Hannigan, Irish singer with Damien Rice (1981) • Mike Posner (1988) • Blondie, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and the Ramones all appeared at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. (1977) • Screamin' Jay Hawkins died at the age of 70. (2000)
- FEB 13 -
Birthdays: Peter Tork (1942) • Peter Gabriel (1950) • Peter Hook of Joy Division (1956) • Henry Rollins (1961) • Matt Berninger (1971) • On this day, Friday the 13th, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled studio album. (1970) • Waylon Jennings died in his sleep after a lengthy fight with diabetes. (2002)
- FEB 14 -
Birthdays: Maceo Parker (1943) • Gregory Hines (1946) • Tim Buckley (1947) • Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls (1951) • Rob Thomas (1972) • Frank Zappa appeared on an episode of the television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrayed a crime boss named 'Mr. Frankie.' (1986) • American drummer Sandy Nelson died at the age of 83 from complications of a stroke. (2022)
- FEB 15 -
Birthdays: Record producer Glyn Johns (1942) • Brandon Boyd of Incubus and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. of The Killers (1976) • Gary Clark Jr. (1984) • Megan Thee Stallion (1995) • Linda Ronstadt went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “You're No Good,” the singer’s only solo chart topper out of 12 other top 40 hits. Also, today, Ronstadt went to #1 on the U.S. album chart with Heart Like A Wheel. (1975) • Glen Matlock was fired as bass player from the Sex Pistols and replaced by Sid Vicious. (1977) • Guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose at age 37. (1981)
- FEB 16 -
Birthdays: Sonny Bono (1935) • Ice-T (1959) • Andy Taylor of Duran Duran (1961) • Dave Lombardo of Slayer (1965) • Danielle Haim (1989) • Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd (1990) • Lesley Gore died of lung cancer at the age of 68. (2015)
- FEB 17 -
Birthdays: Taylor Hawkins & Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (1972) • Ed Sheeran (1991) • American musician and sound engineer Bob Casale, best known as a guitarist and keyboardist in the new wave band Devo, died of heart failure in Los Angeles, aged 61. (2014)
- FEB 18 -
Birthdays: Yoko Ono (1933) • Dennis Deyoung of Styx (1947) • John Travolta (1954) • Brian James of The Damned (1955) • Dr. Dre (1965) • American guitarist Bob Stinson from The Replacements died from a drug overdose; his body was found in his Uptown, Minneapolis apartment. (1995) • American rapper, songwriter, and producer Prince Markie Dee died at age 52. He was a member of the Fat Boys, a pioneering rap group that gained fame during the 1980s. (2021)
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Peace and love to all,
🤘🏻🖤
