One day in 1992, Angélique Kidjo walked into a magazine editor’s office and found herself being introduced over the phone to one of her all-time favorite artists.
“Someone said, ‘Mrs. Kidjo, Mr. Brown wants to talk to you,’” she recalls. In stunned disbelief, she replied, “Yeah, and I’m Mother Teresa.” But it really was James Brown, the Godfather of Soul himself, asking to talk to her.
“I almost dropped the phone,” she continues. “He was speaking, and I couldn’t understand, so I started singing. He picked up the...
“Someone said, ‘Mrs. Kidjo, Mr. Brown wants to talk to you,’” she recalls. In stunned disbelief, she replied, “Yeah, and I’m Mother Teresa.” But it really was James Brown, the Godfather of Soul himself, asking to talk to her.
“I almost dropped the phone,” she continues. “He was speaking, and I couldn’t understand, so I started singing. He picked up the...
- 5/21/2021
- by Shamira Ibrahim
- Rollingstone.com
Update 12/1: The Red Hot organization honored World AIDS Day with a 30th anniversary reissue of Red Hot + Blue, releasing a PBS NewsHour piece and a message from Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Today on World AIDS Day I want to commend the Red Hot (+Blue) Organization for 30 years of art and activism that have provided critically needed assistance in the fight against AIDS,” he said. “Thank you for raising awareness and millions of dollars, including the grant that helped establish our long time community activist partners The Treatment Action Group (Tag...
- 12/1/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
When Muhammad Ali passed away on June 4th, 2016, those who knew him, admired him, fought him and loved him attested to his singular skill as a boxer, his fleet footwork and his way with words (especially of the trash-talking variety). What was often emphasized the most in these tributes, however, was how Ali was as much a political firebrand as a gamechanging pugilist – both the 20th century's consummate athlete and a social activist willing to sacrifice his career by standing up for what he believed. This was the heavyweight champion...
- 1/26/2017
- Rollingstone.com
In 2012, musician J. Ralph earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, and it was a historic bid. "Before My Time," which he wrote for the film "Chasing Ice," became only the third song from a documentary to be recognized by the academy. This year he's penned two more tunes that could join that exclusive group: "We Will Not Go" from "Virunga" and "Until the End" from "Garnet's Gold." -Break- Photo Gallery: Oscars Out of Tune The two songs represent opposite ends of the musical spectrum: "Until the End" is an old-fashioned standard performed by Liza Minnelli and Wynton Marsalis while "We Will Not Go" is a defiant anthem featuring iconic African musicians Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita and Fally Ipupa. But despite creating music in a wide variety of styles, he insists, "There's no difference between any form of music. You're trying to distill an emotion and a m..."...
- 1/2/2015
- Gold Derby
When it comes to cultural impact, mega-sales and drama, this year’s Best Original Song category at the Academy Awards is going to have an awfully difficult time competing with last year’s category.
The 2013 winner, you might remember, was “Let It Go,” the anthem from “Frozen” that became a hit around the world and spawned a zillion amateur YouTube renditions.
See photos: 15 Movies You Already Forgot About: TheWrap’s Best & Worst 2014 (Photos)
And “Let It Go” was joined as a nominee by another song that was so ubiquitous that most sentient human beings got sick of hearing it before the Oscars – Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,...
The 2013 winner, you might remember, was “Let It Go,” the anthem from “Frozen” that became a hit around the world and spawned a zillion amateur YouTube renditions.
See photos: 15 Movies You Already Forgot About: TheWrap’s Best & Worst 2014 (Photos)
And “Let It Go” was joined as a nominee by another song that was so ubiquitous that most sentient human beings got sick of hearing it before the Oscars – Pharrell Williams’ “Happy,...
- 12/23/2014
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Brandy tried to bring her act to South Africa last weekend, but it almost didn't count.
The "Boy is Mine" singer took the stage at the 90,000-capacity Fnb Stadium to a crowd of merely 40 people. Brandy was intended as a surprise performer during the music portion of the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, but the surprise element didn't work out in her favor. Attendees didn't know to expect the singer, and they poured out of the stadium after a series of performers -- David Jenkins, Elvis Blue, Salif Keita and D'Banj -- played sets before Brandy.
South African singer Kabomo witnessed the travesty and had this to report:
@SizweDhlomo Brandy performed to an empty stadium. With the stadium lights on. She sulked after two songs and walked off.
— Kabomo (@Kabomo) August 17, 2013
Not only did Brandy not have viewers in the stadium, but she was snubbed on TV as well.
The "Boy is Mine" singer took the stage at the 90,000-capacity Fnb Stadium to a crowd of merely 40 people. Brandy was intended as a surprise performer during the music portion of the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, but the surprise element didn't work out in her favor. Attendees didn't know to expect the singer, and they poured out of the stadium after a series of performers -- David Jenkins, Elvis Blue, Salif Keita and D'Banj -- played sets before Brandy.
South African singer Kabomo witnessed the travesty and had this to report:
@SizweDhlomo Brandy performed to an empty stadium. With the stadium lights on. She sulked after two songs and walked off.
— Kabomo (@Kabomo) August 17, 2013
Not only did Brandy not have viewers in the stadium, but she was snubbed on TV as well.
- 8/22/2013
- by Matthew Jacobs
- Huffington Post
On May 10, Across the Universe Records will release Jonathan Elias’ ‘Prayer Cycle 2: Path To Zero,’ a collection of music produced by the celebrated composer that features a stunning array of world-renowned musicians and activists. Proceeds from the record will be donated to Global Zero, an international organization dedicated to nuclear disarmament. Contributors include Sting, Trudie Styler, Angélique Kidjo, Robert Downey Jr, Sinead O’Connor, Serj Tankian and more.
“‘Path to Zero’ is a classically influenced set of world prayers, inspired by the survival of hope in a world living under the shadow of the nuclear threat. As an artist leaving a legacy to my children, it’s my prayer that they will be able to succeed in recognizing and changing the path we have chosen for the world, even if we cannot,” says Elias.
The CD is an eclectic mix of music with a sweeping number of influences from...
“‘Path to Zero’ is a classically influenced set of world prayers, inspired by the survival of hope in a world living under the shadow of the nuclear threat. As an artist leaving a legacy to my children, it’s my prayer that they will be able to succeed in recognizing and changing the path we have chosen for the world, even if we cannot,” says Elias.
The CD is an eclectic mix of music with a sweeping number of influences from...
- 2/1/2011
- Look to the Stars
Stars team up for Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero, a benefit record that also features a cameo from late Doors singer Jim Morrison
Sting, Sinéad O'Connor, Robert Downey Jr and, er, Korn's Jonathan Davis are among the contributors to a new album of "world prayers", due this spring. Created by composer Jonathan Elias, Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero also features the late Doors singer Jim Morrison reading an unreleased poem.
Although its title sounds like a post-apocalyptic video game, Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero is a "classically influenced" benefit LP for anti-nuclear organisation Global Zero. The follow-up to a similar 1999 compilation, which featured James Taylor, Alanis Morissette and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the album is a "sort of prayer for continuation", Elias told Billboard.com, "as it relates to the world today".
If this sounds like hippie talk, it comes form a hippie with lots of friends.
Sting, Sinéad O'Connor, Robert Downey Jr and, er, Korn's Jonathan Davis are among the contributors to a new album of "world prayers", due this spring. Created by composer Jonathan Elias, Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero also features the late Doors singer Jim Morrison reading an unreleased poem.
Although its title sounds like a post-apocalyptic video game, Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero is a "classically influenced" benefit LP for anti-nuclear organisation Global Zero. The follow-up to a similar 1999 compilation, which featured James Taylor, Alanis Morissette and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the album is a "sort of prayer for continuation", Elias told Billboard.com, "as it relates to the world today".
If this sounds like hippie talk, it comes form a hippie with lots of friends.
- 1/21/2011
- by Sean Michaels
- The Guardian - Film News
Beside busy with his big screen projects, Robert Downey Jr. has also worked on a charity album which is produced by composer Jonathan Elias to benefit anti-nuclear organization Global Zero. The actor joins a number of artists including Sting, Korn's Jonathan Davis and System of a Down's Serj Tankian.
Along with Tankian and Sinead O'Connor, Downey Jr. contributes "Fallout" which was penned by Jim Morrison before his death in 1971. Elias recalled how he got permission to use Morrison's recording from his estate, "I went to the family through their attorneys and told them about this project, and they agreed to license it. Being a Jim Morrison fan, I was pretty excited about it."
Titled "Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero", the album is due in the United States on May 10 and becomes a continuation to his 1999 release "The Prayer Cycle". It consists of 7 songs which are about "a little...
Along with Tankian and Sinead O'Connor, Downey Jr. contributes "Fallout" which was penned by Jim Morrison before his death in 1971. Elias recalled how he got permission to use Morrison's recording from his estate, "I went to the family through their attorneys and told them about this project, and they agreed to license it. Being a Jim Morrison fan, I was pretty excited about it."
Titled "Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero", the album is due in the United States on May 10 and becomes a continuation to his 1999 release "The Prayer Cycle". It consists of 7 songs which are about "a little...
- 1/21/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
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