Given the success rate of most marriages, especially ones made and marketed in Hollywood, it’s a testament to Jennifer Lopez’s unyielding faith in love that she recorded an entire concept album, This Is Me…Now, revolving around her rekindled romance with husband Ben Affleck. “When I was a girl they’d ask me what I’d be/A woman in love is what I grew up wantin’ to be,” she admits, feminism be damned, on the opening track.
Throughout her ninth studio album, Lopez repeatedly refers to the “destiny” and “fate” of her relationship with Affleck without so much as a hint of irony or skepticism. “We get to have a do-over, forever,” she confidently declares on “This Time Around.” Maybe she’s just always been playing the long game. After all, the whole conceit behind “Dear Ben,” a track from her 2002 album This Is Me…Then, aged terribly—until it didn’t.
Throughout her ninth studio album, Lopez repeatedly refers to the “destiny” and “fate” of her relationship with Affleck without so much as a hint of irony or skepticism. “We get to have a do-over, forever,” she confidently declares on “This Time Around.” Maybe she’s just always been playing the long game. After all, the whole conceit behind “Dear Ben,” a track from her 2002 album This Is Me…Then, aged terribly—until it didn’t.
- 2/15/2024
- by Sal Cinquemani
- Slant Magazine
Tl;Dr:
Michael Jackson’s “The Girl Is Mine” is a duet with Paul McCartney that the King of Pop sang in the dark. The tune was a huge hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. It wasn’t Jackson’s only collaboration with Paul. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson | Bettmann / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “The Girl Is Mine” is one of his most famous collaborations with Paul McCartney. Jackson recorded the tune in the dark for a special reason. Subsequently, he released the song before its parent album was finished.
Michael Jackson recorded ‘The Girl Is Mine’ in the dark because he hated the light
During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, engineer Bruce Swedien discussed the recording of “The Girl Is Mine.” “Interestingly, we always recorded with Michael in the dark — he hated light,” he recalled. “I mean I would have a little bit of light for him,...
Michael Jackson’s “The Girl Is Mine” is a duet with Paul McCartney that the King of Pop sang in the dark. The tune was a huge hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. It wasn’t Jackson’s only collaboration with Paul. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson | Bettmann / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “The Girl Is Mine” is one of his most famous collaborations with Paul McCartney. Jackson recorded the tune in the dark for a special reason. Subsequently, he released the song before its parent album was finished.
Michael Jackson recorded ‘The Girl Is Mine’ in the dark because he hated the light
During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, engineer Bruce Swedien discussed the recording of “The Girl Is Mine.” “Interestingly, we always recorded with Michael in the dark — he hated light,” he recalled. “I mean I would have a little bit of light for him,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
A Sherlock Holmes move inspired a sound effect from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Jackson created the sound effect himself when an animal wouldn’t do it. “Thriller” wasn’t nearly as popular as the album of the same name. Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
A Sherlock Holmes movie inspired part of Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller.” Surprisingly, the tune was not a No. 1 hit in the United States. Despite this, “Thriller” became an enduring Halloween song.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was inspired by an adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes book
Bruce Swedien served as an engineer on Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, he discussed the origin of a sound effect on the title track. “When we did ‘Thriller’ the song, the opening in particular, Rob Temperton — who wrote the track — had conceived us to have wolf howls in it,” he said.
Swedien said he was inspired by an adaptation...
A Sherlock Holmes move inspired a sound effect from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Jackson created the sound effect himself when an animal wouldn’t do it. “Thriller” wasn’t nearly as popular as the album of the same name. Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
A Sherlock Holmes movie inspired part of Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller.” Surprisingly, the tune was not a No. 1 hit in the United States. Despite this, “Thriller” became an enduring Halloween song.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was inspired by an adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes book
Bruce Swedien served as an engineer on Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, he discussed the origin of a sound effect on the title track. “When we did ‘Thriller’ the song, the opening in particular, Rob Temperton — who wrote the track — had conceived us to have wolf howls in it,” he said.
Swedien said he was inspired by an adaptation...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” includes a guitar solo from a major rock star. A sound engineer was impressed with the solo but wouldn’t listen to it being recorded. That sound engineer wanted Jackson to remove the opening synthesizer riff from “Beat It.” Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” famously includes a guitar solo from Van Halen’s Eddie Van Halen. An engineer who worked with Jackson said the solo was originally unbearably loud. Subsequently, he decided not to work on the song until after Van Halen completed the solo.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ has a guitar solo that repelled and stunned an engineer
Bruce Swedien was a sound engineer who worked on “Beat It”‘s parent album, Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, Swedien discussed the famous Van Halen guitar solo from “Beat It.”
“The highlight for me was the guitar solo,...
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” includes a guitar solo from a major rock star. A sound engineer was impressed with the solo but wouldn’t listen to it being recorded. That sound engineer wanted Jackson to remove the opening synthesizer riff from “Beat It.” Michael Jackson | KMazur / Contributor
Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” famously includes a guitar solo from Van Halen’s Eddie Van Halen. An engineer who worked with Jackson said the solo was originally unbearably loud. Subsequently, he decided not to work on the song until after Van Halen completed the solo.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ has a guitar solo that repelled and stunned an engineer
Bruce Swedien was a sound engineer who worked on “Beat It”‘s parent album, Thriller. During a 2009 interview with MusicRadar, Swedien discussed the famous Van Halen guitar solo from “Beat It.”
“The highlight for me was the guitar solo,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
One of the biggest all-star lineups ever will celebrate the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees this weekend. The ceremony filmed October 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, and now airs this Saturday, November 20, on HBO and HBO Max.
The event clocking in at 3 hour and16 minutes honors Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner in the performer category. Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron were chosen for early influence induction. LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads were honored in the musical excellence category. Clarence Avant received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
King had been previously inducted as a songwriter. Turner is now a solo artist inductee after going in with Ike Turner the first time around.
SEEThe Go-Go’s, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, Jay-Z among 16 artists eligible for 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
While the order of inductions was different during filming, here...
The event clocking in at 3 hour and16 minutes honors Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner in the performer category. Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron were chosen for early influence induction. LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads were honored in the musical excellence category. Clarence Avant received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
King had been previously inducted as a songwriter. Turner is now a solo artist inductee after going in with Ike Turner the first time around.
SEEThe Go-Go’s, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, Jay-Z among 16 artists eligible for 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
While the order of inductions was different during filming, here...
- 11/19/2021
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Malaga-based sales house Agencia Freak has picked up worldwide festival distribution rights to two new Spanish documentaries, “An Elephant on a Spider Web” by Cuban director Rolando Díaz, and Marcos Cabotá’s “Sonic Fantasy,” on legendary music engineer Bruce Swedien.
Both acquisitions were unveiled at the eve of the 2021 edition of the Spanish Screenings-Málaga de Cine, which runs October 20-22, and where Agencia Freak-handled Emma Tusell doc “Video Blues” is being shown to international buyers.
Produced by Alejandra Mora at Valencia-based company Quatre Films (“Tehran Blues”), “An Elephant on a Spider Web” follows a film director in his 70s who senses that sly death is approaching.
Since the helmer decides to make fun of life in what will be his last film, he will use a 109-year-old quixotic old woman, with a desire to die, and three young artists.
“Sonic Fantasy” revolves around five-time Grammy award winning sound engineer Bruce Swedien,...
Both acquisitions were unveiled at the eve of the 2021 edition of the Spanish Screenings-Málaga de Cine, which runs October 20-22, and where Agencia Freak-handled Emma Tusell doc “Video Blues” is being shown to international buyers.
Produced by Alejandra Mora at Valencia-based company Quatre Films (“Tehran Blues”), “An Elephant on a Spider Web” follows a film director in his 70s who senses that sly death is approaching.
Since the helmer decides to make fun of life in what will be his last film, he will use a 109-year-old quixotic old woman, with a desire to die, and three young artists.
“Sonic Fantasy” revolves around five-time Grammy award winning sound engineer Bruce Swedien,...
- 10/20/2021
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The Recording Academy announced on Monday that Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Lionel Hampton, Marilyn Horne, Salt-n- Pepa, Selena and the Talking Heads will be recipients of the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Awards. The presentations will take place during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards next month.
The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.
Other 2021 Special Merit Awards to be presented at the Jan. 31 ceremony include the Trustee Award to Ed Cherney, Benny Golson and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, as well as a Technical Grammy Award to Daniel Weiss.
The Trustees Award recognizes contributions in areas other than performance, and Technical Grammy Award recipients are individuals and companies that have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.
“As we welcome the new class of Special Merit Award honorees, it gives us a chance to reward and recognize...
The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording.
Other 2021 Special Merit Awards to be presented at the Jan. 31 ceremony include the Trustee Award to Ed Cherney, Benny Golson and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, as well as a Technical Grammy Award to Daniel Weiss.
The Trustees Award recognizes contributions in areas other than performance, and Technical Grammy Award recipients are individuals and companies that have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.
“As we welcome the new class of Special Merit Award honorees, it gives us a chance to reward and recognize...
- 12/22/2020
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Bruce Swedien, the celebrated audio engineer and producer who worked on records by Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Donna Summer, Duke Ellington, Paul McCartney and many more, died Tuesday at the age of 86.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
- 11/18/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Spike Lee's Bad 25 is fantastic. I saw it in Toronto and gave it one of my most positive reviews of the year. Centering on the creation of Michael Jackson's record-breaking 1987 album "Bad", the doc speaks with those closest to Jackson during those years and finally pushes aside the attention whores most commonly interviewed when talking about the late singer. Here's a snippet from my review: I was enthralled listening to Bruce Swedien discussing his work as Michael's audio engineer. Lee talks with Quincy Jones, Joe Pytka (director of "Dirty Diana" and The Way You Make Me Feel"), Steve Stevens on being called in to play guitar on "Dirty Diana", Ruben Blades on working with Michael to translate "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" into Spanish, Greg Phillinganes (synthesizer) and Matt Forger's genuine sincerity discussing his work with Michael at his Hayvenhurst home. Then, of course, there...
- 10/19/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Where the lackluster concert documentary This is It looked to capitalize on Michael Jackson's death, Spike Lee's Bad 25 explores the life and creative genius of Michael Jackson using the making of his 1987 album "Bad" as the narrative device on this, the album's 25th anniversary. Dedicating time to all eleven songs on the record-breaking album, Lee uses the making of each song and subsequent music video to shape a narrative that moves effortlessly despite its two hour and 11 minute running time. In short, it's excellent. I should mention first, I'm a huge fan of Michael Jackson. The news of his death was entirely surreal to me, hitting me harder a day later than it did the day it was first reported. Our world has plenty of tragic figures and, to me, the tragedy that befell Michael Jackson is rather gut-wrenching. This doc makes it even a little harder...
- 9/14/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Despite controversy surrounding the authenticity of Michael Jackson's voice in his upcoming posthumous album, Sony Music continues to release another track from the effort. The song, titled "Hold My Hand", will make its world debut on Monday, November 15 at 12:01 A.M. Est and serve as the official lead offering.
The song is a duet with Akon which they recorded in 2007 and was leaked a year later. "A handwritten note from Michael belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project," it was explained. "Akon recently completed the new and final production of 'Hold My Hand'."
The "Smack That" hitmaker promised the final version will be different from the leaked one. "The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago," he said. "We were devastated about it. But its time has...
The song is a duet with Akon which they recorded in 2007 and was leaked a year later. "A handwritten note from Michael belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project," it was explained. "Akon recently completed the new and final production of 'Hold My Hand'."
The "Smack That" hitmaker promised the final version will be different from the leaked one. "The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago," he said. "We were devastated about it. But its time has...
- 11/12/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
The attorney for the estate of Michael Jackson has insisted that the recently-released buzz track 'Breaking News' does in fact feature the late singer's vocals. Sony Music has rejected suggestions - including those from members of Jackson's family - that the trailer for posthumous Michael album was instead recorded by an impersonator. In an open letter, lawyer Howard Weitzman claimed that Jackson recorded 'Breaking News' with Eddie Cascio and James Porte in late 2007. He added that the authenticity of the track was only questioned the day after the tracks were selected for Michael, sparking an investigation at the request of co-executors John Branca and John McClain. "Six of Michael's former producers and engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years - Bruce Swedien, Matt Forger, Stewart Brawley, Michael Prince, (more)...
- 11/12/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
The title track of one of the best-selling albums of all time, Michael Jackson's "Thriller," continues to rake in sales. It's currently in the top 100 of iTunes digital downloads and the video is all the way up to #3. In a new auction, the song's original master will help send students to college.
The original master recording of the single version from 1983 is going to be auctioned off during the Bonhams & Butterfields auction of Entertainment Memorabilia in December 20, 2009. The test proof recording is from the mastering session at Allen Zentz Mastering Studio in Hollywood.
The master is being provided by Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Bruce Swedien. It includes the album version and instrumental of "Thriller" and was played only once to test sound quality before the single was released in 1984.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit scholarships for the students at California State University Summer Arts, which includes an award-winning performing arts program.
The original master recording of the single version from 1983 is going to be auctioned off during the Bonhams & Butterfields auction of Entertainment Memorabilia in December 20, 2009. The test proof recording is from the mastering session at Allen Zentz Mastering Studio in Hollywood.
The master is being provided by Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Bruce Swedien. It includes the album version and instrumental of "Thriller" and was played only once to test sound quality before the single was released in 1984.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit scholarships for the students at California State University Summer Arts, which includes an award-winning performing arts program.
- 10/26/2009
- icelebz.com
A book about Michael Jackson penned by his regular recording engineer has had its release date brought forward. In The Studio With Michael Jackson was originally scheduled for publication in October, but will now be available from July 27. Published by Hal Leonard Books, it is written by Bruce Swedien, who worked with the late singer on his Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory albums. Swedien won four Grammys and was nominated for 12. "I don't say anything bad about Michael in my book, it's (more)...
- 7/3/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
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