These days, you’ve been a cranky, cruel, uncharming, so hard to love middle-aged asexual human. I’m no longer a religious devotee of you. But, still, I have to admit, you’ve had a significant impact in my pop culture adventure. So, yeah, happy birthday and sing your life, Moz!
Viva Hate, the debut solo album by Morrissey, turned 33 today!
Barangkali mengejutkan, tembang power pop “Dunia Belum Berakhir” oleh Shaden yang dirilis di tahun 2000 ini oh-ternyata punya peran lumayan signifikan di skena punk rock Bali Selatan, utamanya Twice Tape Shop (jalan raya Legian). Anak skena macam Superman Is Dead, Jihad (sebelum berubah nama ke The Dji Hard), Emocore Revolver, Commercial Suicide, dsb, mereka adalah saksi kunci.
26 years ago today, Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers vanished leaving no clues to his whereabouts. He left The Embassy Hotel in London, England, at 7am. Edwards & James Dean Bradfield (lead singer and lead guitarist of Manics) were due to fly to the United States on a promotional tour. His car was found on the Severn Bridge—a notorious suicide spot—16 days later.
Great art comes from great pain. Mungkin inilah fenomena yang sedang terjadi di skena musik Pulau Bali. Para seniman malah menjadi kian kreatif kala digencet nestapa. Musisi, terutama beberapa bulan belakangan ini, kembali meramaikan belantika. Entah merilis karya, entah konser virtual dan di jagat nyata. Faktor signifikan lain yang membuat kancah musik di Bali tetap tegar tentu saja karena ekosistem musik di Bali yang kokoh dan terbilang komprehensif, semua syarat telah komplet. Hantaman Covid-19 cuma menggoyahkan fondasi sementara. Cuma gegar sebentar, bukan ambruk.
Ten years ago today, one of the biggest moments in my life, the very day I changed my title from “writer” to “author”, I officially launched my first book: BLANTIKA – LINIMASA.
41 years ago today, The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” became the first hip hop single ever to reach the Billboard top 40.
Rod Stewart married New Zealand model Rachel Hunter in Beverly Hills, this week in 1990. After the wedding Stewart was quoted as saying “I Found the Girl that I Want, I won’t be putting my banana in anybody’s fruit bowl from now on.” They split in 1999. Four years later, still in December, Stewart played in front of 3.5 million people on Copacabana beach in Rio De Janeiro, and made into the Guinness Book of World Records for staging the largest free rock concert attendance in history.
One of rock’s most talented songwriters, Ryan Adams, shows his weird and wonderful sensitivity through “Sylvia Plath”. This piano-driven, hauntingly beautiful yet charming and tender tribute to the great poet, it truly makes you think as if between Ryan Adams and Sylvia Plath, they knew each other quite well, especially their obsession with death.
The members of Fleetwood Mac were experiencing emotional upheavals while recording “Dreams”. Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce. Christine McVie was separating from her husband John McVie. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were ending their eight-year relationship; Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood had just started an affair. What made it more complicated and worse was that all the band members were so addicted to cocaine during the production of the album, Rumours. Hard drugs, bad romances, excellent album.
A beautiful, melancholy Fleetwood Mac-esque indie rock. One of my most favourites of Rilo Kiley’s composition.
One of my biggest 90s crushes turned 57 today. Happy birthday and stay wonderful, Natalie Merchant!
