Pop-Culture | Posted by Brian C on 08/29/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Cat Power
Cat Power is the stage name of American singer/songwriter Chan Marshall (born Charlyn Marie Marshall on January 21, 1972). She is known for her minimalist style, sparse guitar and piano playing, and breathy vocals.
Chan Marshall was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Marshall’s father, Charlie, is a blues musician and itinerant pianist. Her childhood involved much upheaval, with Marshall living throughout the Southern United States (Greensboro, North Carolina; Bartlett, Tennessee; and Georgia and South Carolina), back and forth between parents and her grandmother. In interviews she has openly discussed her childhood and stated that the constant traveling prepared her for the touring life of a professional musician.
After dropping out of high school, she started performing under the name Cat Power while in Atlanta, backed by musicians Glen Thrasher, Marc Moore, …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 07/18/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Pat Benatar
In 1971, Pat married her High School sweetheart, GI Dennis Benatar, and they moved to Virginia where he was stationed. Working as a bank clerk and a waitress, Pat began to sing in a Roaring Twenties theme restaurant and in hotel lounges.
On her return to New York, Pat divorced and started to take her singing seriously. From musicals she moved on to the cabaret circuit, her voice developing into a hard pop/rock sound.
At an open mike night in the New York City club, Catch a Rising Star, the owner liked Pat’s look and sound, and gave her a regular slot. Chrysallis Records signed her and, in 1979, she released million-selling ‘In The Heat Of The Night’. She followed it with multi-platinum ‘Crimes Of Passion’ the next year.
The …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 04/20/2010
The Runaways (Filmed and Real)
Yesterday, I went to see the movie The Runaways. I am simultaneously a huge fan of Dakota Fanning and Joan Jett herself while not such a huge fan of Kristen Stewart, and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. And I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.
The movie itself is interesting. It’s not exactly plot driven, but rather a documentation of The Runaways – their success, their sex-drugs-rock and roll lifestyle and predominately both of these factors mixed with their very young ages (lead singer Currie was 15 and Jett was 17). Dakota Fanning, as always, gave a fantastic performance and I have to admit, despite my previous statements against Kristen Stewart’s acting and her inability to be a good role model, she was very good in this movie.…
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Jessie W on 03/28/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Pixie Lott
Victoria Louise Lott, better known as Pixie Lott (a nickname given to her by her mother because she was an extremely little baby), is one of the new and upcoming pop singers of today. This young and charming singer, actress, and dancer was born on January 12, 1991 in London. From the young age of five, Lott found interest in the arts and attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts; as soon as she became a teenager she moved to Essex where she appeared in musicals such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chorus Line, and the Sound of Music. However, it was her soft natural jazzy voice, her many covers, like Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” and her debut single which caught people’s attention. …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 03/21/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Marina and the Diamonds
Marina Lambrini Diamandis (born 10 October 1985), better known by her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Greek-Welsh singer-songwriter. She rose to fame after reaching number two on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll list, coming second to Ellie Goulding. After releasing one private extended play, Diamandis released her second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP, with help from Neon Gold Records in 2009. Now signed to 679 Recordings, she released her debut full-length studio album,The Family Jewels, in 2010. Diamandis will be releasing her third extended play, The American Jewels EP, on 23 March, 2010.
Her eponymous name “Marina and the Diamonds” consists of Diamandis’ first name and the translation of her surname which means “Diamonds” in Greek. “The Diamonds” refers to …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 02/28/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Sia
Sia (full name Sia Furler) hails from the famously laid-back Australian city of Adelaide. Boasting a powerful, soulful voice, she worked the Adelaide jazz circuit during the ’90s as a vocalist for the band Crisp. However, the blonde, blue-eyed antipodean’s big break came only after she followed in the footsteps of many other Aussie artists and hopped on a plane to the U.K.
While in London, Sia landed a gig as a backup singer for the very popular and extremely hip English outfit Jamiroquai. In early 2000, she released her first solo single, the alternative pop tune “Taken for Granted,” which debuted at number ten on the busy U.K. singles chart. Soon after, a string of big names in the British music scene asked for Sia’s services; projects with …
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