Category Archives: Commentary

The Byrds (photo by By http://www.drb-fans.com/pre-drb.html, Copyright : Sony Music Entertainment, 1965 (then CBS, Inc.), Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22312881)

A Homage to THE BYRDS’ “Eight Miles High”

Text by Bruce Gallanther (DMG Newsletter for February 16th, 2023)
Photograph of The Byrds (1965): http://www.drb-fans.com/pre-drb.html, Copyright : Sony Music Entertainment, 1965 (then CBS, Inc.)

“Eight Miles High” written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn & David Crosby. Released as a single on March 14, 1966. Performed by The Byrds, from their Fifth Dimension LP,

Eight miles high, and when you touch down
You’ll find that it’s stranger than known
Signs in the street, that say where you’re going
Are somewhere just being their own
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town, known for its sound
In places, small faces unbound
Round the squares, huddled in storms
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes, and black limousines
Some living, some standing alone

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Burt Bacharach

Legendary Burt Bacharach, composer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, and producer…RIP!

Text by Dawoud Kringle

Burt Bacharach

By Phil Guest from Bournemouth, UK

The music world is in mourning following the news of the death of Burt Bacharach.

Bacharach started his music career after he met Vic Damone in the army in 1950. He worked with Damone for three years following his discharge. In 1956, he got a break when, after working with several musicians, he was introduced to Marlene Dietrich. He worked as her arranger, conductor, and musical director, and toured the world with her.

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TikTok

Editorial: Is TikTok Toast?

By Dawoud Kringle

In February 2020. I wrote a piece about TikTok. The gist of the article described TikTok‘s corporate structure as a subsidiary of ByteDance, how its marketed exclusively outside of the People’s Republic of China (by mandate of the CCP), its enormous financial success, and how it affects professional musicians.

Their success is collapsing.

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As “Musicians with Attitude,” we can and will – with absolutely no fear of consequences – say F**k You!

An Editorial by Dawoud Kringle

(Disclaimer: I respectfully ask the reader to forgive my use of ungentlemanly language.)

I like movies, and am absolutely fascinated by the art of cinema. But not all efforts to produce a great (and profitable) movie go according to plan. One example of this was in 2014 when Paramount tossed approximately $30 million into a remake of The Gambler. And it was pretty much a train-wreck.

However, as is often the case, there were a few gold nuggets in this cornucopia of brain candy. One was the scene where Mark Wahlberg‘s character, a reckless and probably suicidal gambler, borrowed $2.5 million from a charming but remorselessly vicious leader of a criminal organization brilliantly played by John Goodman. In this scene, Goodman’s character gave a magnificent discourse on an important life lesson: always put yourself in a position of F**k You.

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Kanye West or “Ye”…Oh Ye of Little Faith

This is a true test for the artist. Any fool can articulate pain and ugliness, but only an artistic genius who is conscious of his or her role and responsibility to the world, can transform it into something beautiful, inspirational, and ecstatic. – An Editorial by Dawoud Kringle

I never liked Kanye West, or “Ye,” as he calls himself these days. His music, while occasionally clever, never intrigued or interested me. His music seems to radiate a dark, narcissistic, joyless, and soulless ambience.

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