News Roundup: 10/14/2009
October 14th, 2009 | 2:56 pm est |
Vocalist Al Martino died on October 13 at age 82. Best known for his performance as ’40s crooner Johnny Fontane in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic 1972 film “The Godfather,” Martino also sang the film’s title song, “I Have but One Heart (O Marenariello)” (better known as “The Love Theme From The Godfather”‘). Prior to his iconic film role, Martino had a two-decade long singing career and scored a trans-Atlantic hit in 1952 with “Here In My Heart,” which marked him as the first American artist to top the charts in Britain. [Telegraph.co.uk]
Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson lead the nominations at this year’s American Music Awards ceremony. Swift leads all nominees with 6 nods, including artist of the year. The American Music Awards will air on ABC on November 22. [LATimes.com]
Scandinavian pop sensation Annie has released a new single off her long expected sophomore album. “I Don’t Like Your Band” will appear on Annie’s album Don’t Stop, which is set for release on November 17. [Pitchfork.com]
Britney Spears’ latest single, “3,” is to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. [Billboard.com]
Legendary wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano has died. A well-known figure in the WWF world, Albano is also famous for wrestling Cyndi Lauper in her classic 1983 video for “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” [LATimes.com]
Pavement have announced yet more dates for the band’s upcoming reunion tour. [Pitchfork.com]
The WWF got sued by the World Wildlife Fund, and is now the WWE. And it’s all TOTALLY REAL WRESTLING!
Slightly off topic, but why is it that wrestling is the only thing on TV that people feel the need to point out the lack of realism? I don’t see people shouting “IT’S A CARTOON!” when The Simpsons are mentioned. I don’t see people shouting “THAT’S NOT A REAL HOUSE!” at Full House. So why pick on wrestling?
Anyway, that sucks about Al Martino.
Actually Brendan, the Simpsons is a real cartoon and Full House took place in a real house. The Simpsons do not claim to be ‘real’ people any more than the cast of “Full House” claimed to be a ‘real’ family. On the other hand, wrestlers and promoters claim that the matches are real, which can be dangerous when your audience is mostly kids who don’t know any better. I see your point, but you’ve got to work on your analogies.
I find it appaling that there is no real mention or even a blurb about Dickie Peterson of Blue Cher passing away.
Basically invented heavy metal, & had a breath of material in such a short span that saw them go from proto metal bombast to Byrds like explorations into country & Eastern scales, all while having some of the Left Coast’s greatest axemen in their ranks.
No offense to lou albano, but just because he “sang” on a WWF LP & was in a Lauper vid means he should get coverage??
I await an explantion…..
RIP Dickie
doh Blue Cheer …………….
Damien, you should have looked at the news page yesterday:
http://blog.allmusic.com/2009/10/13/news-roundup-10132009/
See? Right at the top.
Lou Albano may not have musical roots but his appearance in the Cyndi Lauper video in the 80s which was widely popular then (and probably iconic in status now), sort of made him famous in the music scene. But yeah with so many unheralded musicians passing away with nary a mention, it makes you wonder whether news is really just about the famous ones that most people will know and recognize.
Not really a huge fan of Al Martino but I loved the first two ‘The Godfather’ movies and Martino who served as a Sinatra-esque crooner was very effective. And is Britney Spears’ single yet to debut at Billboard 200 and it gets reported in the media as though it is a done deal and that we should care?
Back in the mid-70s, I was working in radio and was surprised to hear To the Heart of the Sun by Al on AM radio, next to Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, etc. The song fit in well with the music of the day and, along with such songs as The Last Farewell by Roger Whitaker, became a good-sized hit (this was before the mini pidgeon-holing that music finds itself in these days - but that’s a rant for another time). RIP Al.
allmusic needs to get back to being the fun and informative site it us to be. stop this political correstness..
One minor adjustment — the “Love Theme from the Godfather” is “Speak Softly Love,” not “I Have But One Heart” which is also used in the film but does not serve as the “Love Theme.” I have the album right here…
Shawn: “wrestlers and promoters claim that the matches are real” - when? It has been a long time since I’ve watched any wrestling, but the only thing I remember there being was a “do not try this at home” warning at the beginning of the program. Sure they hype it up for the entertainment purpose of the program, but with no more of a “real” edge to them than any other fictional show. Just because it is recorded in a stadium full of people there’s loads of folks out there unable to separate these two worlds, and I find it really funny.
Also, Full House did not take place in a real house. It was filmed in a television studio. Kinda the point I was making.
You don’t think that pro wrestling purposely distorts the line between reality and fiction? How many people have you met that believe that Danny Tanner was an actual widow who asked his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to move in with him and help raise his three daughters? That’s the point I was making idiot.
No I don’t think that, and now that insults have made their way to the argument, we’ll leave it at that. Well done.
When the American Music Awards have on a non major label act that’s when i’ll watch again.
WOW I missed the microscopic blurb on DP. it is still a shame. You can’t conjur up something more of a tribute? every half assed muscian gets a spread on this site.
That is a lame attempt @ a tribute..
This site is the pits
& so are the music fans that post on here too. having arguements over full hous
PLease