LGBTQ news and entertainment
Throwing it back to 1977 for today’s Christmas music selection: Bing Crosby & David Bowie sing “Little Drummer Boy” (written in 1941) and “Peace on Earth,” a counterpoint written especially for the duet. Continue reading “Christmas Music: David Bowie & Bing Crosby “Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth””
L-R David Bowie and Bing Crosby (screen capture)
Some new items you might have missed: • Variety: After months of negotiations, the estate of legendary rocker David Bowie (above) has sold the singer’s formidable publishing catalog to Warner Chappell Music for a price upwards of $250 million, sources confirm to Variety. Continue reading “News Round-Up: January 3, 2022”
Bing Crosby & David Bowie sing “Little Drummer Boy” (written in 1941) and “Peace on Earth,” a counterpoint written especially for the duet. Continue reading “Bing Crosby & David Bowie ‘Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy’”
According to Billboard, David Bowie’s final album – released on his 69th birthday just days before he passed away – could be his first #1 on the Billboard 200.
The set, which was released through ISO/Columbia Records on Jan. 8 (Bowie’s 69th birthday), could sell perhaps 130,000 albums in the week ending Jan. 14, according to industry forecasters, and debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Jan. 30. Bowie died on Jan. 10 after an 18-month battle with cancer.
In his lifetime, Bowie charted seven top 10 albums on the Billboard 200. His highest-charting album was his last album, 2013’s The Next Day, which debuted and peaked at No. 2. He previously visited the top 10 with Let’s Dance (No. 4 in 1983), ChangesOneBowie (No. 10, 1976), Station to Station (No. 3, 1976), Young Americans (No. 9, 1975), David Live (No. 8, 1974) and Diamond Dogs (No. 5, 1974).
It’s telling that the lead single for the album, “Lazurus,” begins with the lyric “Look up here! I’m in heaven.”
David Bowie died and now we're going to have to sit through a 10 minute memorial at the Grammys when we could have Gaga perform instead.— Salvatore. (@HausOfJordane) January 11, 2016
Wow. A true rock legend has passed. And at the very young age of 69.
Bowie died last night after an 18 month long battle with cancer.
Complexly androgynous, Bowie was a leader in his generation of rock stars who created and presented music as theater. Showmanship, gender-bending and “glam-rock” were all a part of his mystique.
From the Hollywood Reporter:
“David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief,” read a statement posted on the artist’s official social media accounts.
The influential singer-songwriter and producer excelled at glam rock, art rock, soul, hard rock, dance pop, punk and electronica during his eclectic 40-plus-year career. He just released his 25th album, Blackstar, Jan. 8, which was his birthday.
Bowie achieved his first major American crossover success with the No. 1 single “Fame” off the top 10 album Young Americans, then followed with the 1976 avant-garde art rock LP Station to Station, which made it to No. 3 on the charts and featured top 10 hit “Golden Years.”
Other memorable songs included 1983’s “Let’s Dance” — his only other No. 1 U.S. hit — “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” “China Girl,” “Modern Love,” “Rebel, Rebel,” “All the Young Dudes,” “Panic in Detroit,” “Fashion,” “Life on Mars,” “Suffragette City” and a 1977 Christmas medley with Bing Crosby.
My two favorite Bowie songs below – his huge hit “Fame” from YOUNG AMERICANS in 1975, and his collaboration with Queen, “Under Pressure.”
And from his 1971 hit, “Changes:”
Journey on, Ziggy Stardust – RIP.
Very cool. The Queen/David Bowie hit a cappella. When there was no auto-tune and singers could really sing.
According to Mark Blake, author of a biography of Freddie Mercury, in 1981 they began a 24 hour marathon of wine and cocaine that ended up with this musical gem.
This clip from a 1977 Bing Crosby Christmas special always makes me smile for the cross-generational aspect AND the surprising ease that Bowie and Crosby seemed to have in the performance. As the story goes, Bowie didn’t think “Little Drummer Boy” was a good fit for him. From the Washington Post:
The original plan had been for Bowie and Crosby to sing just “Little Drummer Boy.” But “David came in and said: ‘I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?’ ” Fraser said. “We didn’t know quite what to do.”
(Writers) Fraser, Kohan and Grossman left the set and found a piano in the studios’ basement. In about 75 minutes, they wrote “Peace on Earth,” an original tune, and worked out an arrangement that weaved together the two songs. Bowie and Crosby nailed the performance with less than an hour of rehearsal.
The recording was released for sale in 1982 and remains in heavy rotation on radio during the holidays. https://youtu.be/lCpXMy5GalI