In the best sense of the word, Bette Midler has always been a bit of a throwback, a link to a great tradition that has its spiritual roots in vaudeville, burlesque, and the smokey…
Category: Music
Blog posts
Obscure Laura Branigan, Volume 3: “The Lucky One” and the Bruce Roberts/Kerli Connection
My dear friend Bruce Roberts is an L.A-based songwriter, manager, and all-around connector. He’s been talking to me about an artist named Kerli on Island Def Jam that he has managed for a while…
Obscure Laura Branigan, Volume 2: Her Not-to-Be-Believed Dr. Pepper Jingle
If you are a Laura Branigan fan, a devotee of huge 1980’s brooches, Dr. Pepper or radio jingles of yore, this is the blog post for you. I assure you that no other piece…
10 Songs Aretha Franklin Wrote That You’ve (Probably) Never Heard
When most people think about the great Aretha Franklin, they don’t realize that in addition to being one of the greatest vocalists of all-time, she is also an accomplished writer, having written or co-written…
Obscure Laura Branigan, Volume One: “Gloria”
“I remember where I was the first time I heard Laura Branigan’s Gloria the way folks remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, and I’m comfortable with whatever it is you think that…
Stargayzing Retaliates: I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow!
Stargayzing was recently quite disappointed by the legendary Barry Manilow, or at least his representative, in a perfect illustration of the old media/new media divide that runs like a fault line through our culture…
Bad Songs I Love: Marcia Strassman’s “The Flower Children” (1967)
[Editor’s note: Marcia Strassman passed away on October 25, 2014. She is now with all of “The Flower Children” who have moved on to the great VW Microbus in the sky.] Actress Marcia Strassman…
“Sweet Bitter Love”: My Favorite Aretha Franklin Recording Ever
With such a bounty to choose from, you might think that coming up with one favorite Aretha Franklin recording should be rather difficult, but for me it’s easy: Sweet Bitter Love, a song written by…
Stargayzing’s Opinion on Three Trending Topics: or, a Blatant Attempt to Be Relevant
Dear Stargayzers: In a completely transparent and crass attempt to boost the readership of #Stargayzing by joining the army of self-referential hashtag harpies, here are my thoughts on three trending topics including #MichelleObama’sbangs, #Lance Armstrong’slies,…
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