Morning Music Notes – Knocking Kanye’s Raps
No Surprises: American Parkinson Disease Association Dislike Kanye West’s “Shaking” Rap
As soon as I heard the lyric, I was wondering how long it would take for some Parkinson group to complain. Not to say they’re wrong to complain, but everyone gets offended about everything these days, so you just need to wait a few days and pick up the paper to see who is up in arms about what. The lyric in question is off of the first track on Kanye West’s Yeezus album. For the track On Sight, West busts out the rhyme “Soon as I pull up and park the Benz / We get this bitch shaking like Parkinson’s.”
Steve Ford, the chief executive from the British organization Parkinson’s UK said “Life with Parkinson’s is difficult enough without becoming fodder for insensitive celebrities, who should know better. Kanye West has shown an inexcusable level of stupidity and cruelty towards people living with an incurable condition … People with Parkinson’s have to cope with intolerable social discrimination on a daily basis — often to the point where they are afraid to go out in public. This sort of thoughtless, callous comment can only serve to make things even worse for them (via Billboard).”
I do see his point, but it’s just a throw away lyric. Shake it off. JUST KIDDING.
Bruce Springsteen Plays Born to Run Album, Dedicates it to James Gandolfini
I knew I liked James Gandolfini and his stunning portrayal of Tony Soprano, but I didn’t think I’d care this much when he died. I didn’t know the man, but I really admired his work as Tony Soprano, and have been gobbling up every article on the Internet that pays tribute to him. While in Coventry, UK, Bruce Springsteen played the entire Born to Run album last night and dedicated it to James Gandolfini (via Hollywood Reporter).
A guitarist in the band is Steven Van Zandt, who acted alongside Gandolfini for many years, playing the role of Silvio Dante. Van Zandt tweeted “I have lost a brother and a best friend. The world has lost one of the greatest actors of all time. Maureen and I send our deepest sympathy and love to Deborah, Michael, Lily and all of Jimmy’s family.”
Andrew W.K. Drums for 24 Hours Straight, Misses James Gandolfini Death News
He’s done it! Party animal Andrew W.K. has mimicked another kind of Animal – the drummer from Muppets – and broke the world record for consecutive hours drumming (via Billboard). When he finished, instead of sleeping, he tweeted “WE DID IT!!! 24 HOURS OF DRUMMING!!! Remember… I didn’t do it, WE did it. You were with me every beat. I feel very emotional and party.”
Andrew was drumming in Times Square in New York City, and received some help from Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Questlove from the Roots. Next up – beer drinking for 100 straight hours. I’ll help out with this one, Andrew.
Watch Florence Welch Cover Icona Pop’s I Love It
When I saw Icona Pop on the Camden Crawl last year, I was impressed with their energy and electro pop songs. I wasn’t a huge fan of their radio-friendly pop track, I Love It, though. It appears Florence Welch is, as the Florence + the Machine singer covered the song with producer Dev Hynes at a charity gig for Human Rights Campaign. Check out the interesting cover below.
Florence Welch and Dev Hynes – I Love It (Icona Pop cover)
