Glee, Gwyneth Paltrow, And Gwen Verdon

Cee Lo's "Fuck You" ("Forget You" for the clean air crowd).

I was definitely anticipating tonight's "Glee" since Gwyneth Paltrow was performing. I've known Paltrow could sing since 2000 when I saw her perform in the movie "Duets" (which, by the way, is one hell of a movie, trust me -- go rent it and watch it). I love playing some of her songs for people and asking them to name the artist because NO one guesses it's her!

This song was not performed IN the movie, but it played over the credits. Just about everyone was able to identify the male singer (Baby Face) but NO ONE ever figured out it was Paltrow.



Her dance scene with Lea Michele doing "Nowadays" from "Chicago" was rather interesting.



And I certainly enjoyed the ending mashup of "Singing In The Rain" and Rihanna’s “Umbrella" which was pretty damn inspiring, as far as mashups go.



Here's Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon (who was 50 or so at the time of this airing in 1975) on Mike Douglas' show. Gwen was married to Bob Fosse for a long period of time, and she pretty much channeled Fosse.



Gwen Verdon has always been my dance idol. Those legs ... sheesh!

Some S. African Music Before The Finals!

Kind of in a South African mode tonight, in anticipation of the finals in the World Cup this weekend.

Some "commercial" S.A. music, courtesy of Elton John and his "The Lion King" score.

The Circle Of Life


The Lioness Hunt



Of course, I have already moved on to "Smokey Joe's Cafe."

The Tony's

Million Dollar Quartet is a Broadway musical surrounding a recording by four greats in the 1950's, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is the new smash-hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.

Here's a recording someone sent me a few years back in 2003.

The title which most critics seem to highlight is Presley’s rendition of "Don't Be Cruel," one of his major hits of 1956 (see 1956 in music). This is not Presley singing Presley, but his imitation of Jackie Wilson, then the lead singer with Billy Ward’s Dominoes, imitating him. It appears as though the Presley entourage spent a few days in Las Vegas (most likely during Presley's short-lived tenure earlier in the year at the Frontier Hotel) and went to watch Jackie Wilson, who had obviously built an impersonation of Presley into his act.

Presley describes Jackie Wilson tearing up Las Vegas audiences with a house-on-fire rendition of "Don't Be Cruel". He goes on to say that, "He tried so hard until he got much better, boy, much better than that record of mine.... I went back four nights straight and heard that guy do that," he says, imitating Wilson's bluesy smolder and big finish.

"He sung the hell out of the song," Elvis can be heard saying with admiration, adding with a laugh, "I was on the table lookin' at him, 'Get 'im off, get 'im off!'" Obviously on a roll, Presley, then ripped into a slower, sassier version of his latest RCA single "Paralyzed," backed up by Perkins and his trio.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man/Don't Be Cruel

Ok, Really Closing Out The Bar, With Circle Of Life, From The Lion King

I saw this live in Los Angeles. I think it was the most spectacular show I have ever seen on stage, eclipsing "Cats" which was pretty awesome.

I applaud those that brought this cartoon creation to life on stage, and am glad that I saw it performed live.