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Hiroko Moriguchi , best known for her theme song works for the Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise, will release her debut's 40th anniversary album in the winter of 2025. Moriguchi made her singer debut with "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" ( Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam second opening theme) in August 1985, releasing 34 singles and 11 original albums. In August 2021, she released her debut's 35th anniversary album "Aoi Inochi." Because "Aoi Inochi" included seven songs while her yet-titled upcoming 40th anniversary album will include 11, her official website states that the latter will be her first "full" original album in 28 years since "happy happy blue" released in 1997. Various artists and writers who have provided songs to Moriguchi in the past will participate in this 40th anniversary album. For the first time in 40 years, lyricist Masao Urino , who wrote her debut song “Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete,” and singer-songwriter and composer Neil Sedaka, will team up.

Rick Derringer, who had a No. 1 hit with The McCoys in “Hang on Sloopy,” created a classic rock staple in “Rock and Roll, Hootchie Koo,” produced the Edgar Winter Group’s hit “Frankenstein” and songs for “Weird” Al Yankovic, died Monday. He was 77.

A family spokesman announced the news on social media, but did not provide a cause or other details. His wife and longtime bandmate, Jenda Derringer, noted in February that her husband had angioplasty for two blockages in his leg that was followed by surgery and complications. She also said he had Type 2 diabetes.

Born Richard Zehringer on August 5, 1947, in Celina, Ohio, Derringer was 17 when his band The McCoys opened for The Strangeloves, who picked the young group to record its song “My Girl Sloopy.” Derringer had the title and lyrics changed, and with its loping rhythm and singalong chorus “Hang on Sloopy” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early October.

As the progenitor of the Real Robot mecha subgenre of anime, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise was a veritable trendsetter. This mostly manifested in mecha anime in particular, but science fiction anime as a whole is indebted to this brand. Nevertheless, as influential as it is, Gundam has a rather strange history with plagiarism in the most surprising way.

Many Gundam anime have songs that are seemingly outright stolen from other sources, which is a rather odd thing to associate with the mecha franchise. Some of these can actually be explained away due to one album in particular, while others are simply a result of Japan's loose copyright laws. Ironically, Gundam isn't even necessarily an anime franchise known for its music, further explaining how it's "gotten away" with this.

Zeta Gundam Doesn't Actually Steal Its 1st Opening Theme Neil Sedaka Had a “Pure Time” With the Theme Image via Sunrise...

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Patti Smith’s debut album Horses. To commemorate that moment , an array of indie and alternative rockers will gather at New York’s Carnegie Hall on March 26 for a Smith tribute concert.

The lineup for “People Have the Power: Celebrating the Music of Patti Smith” will, so far, include Michael Stipe, Kim Gordon, Matt Berninger of the National, Karen O, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Harper, Courtney Barnett, the Kronos Quartet, Angel Olsen, and the Kills’ Alison Mosshart. Additional artists are expected to be announced in the months ahead.

“Screamin’ Scott” Simon, who played piano in the early-rock revival group Sha Na Na for more than a half-century and co-wrote the song “Sandy” that John Travolta crooned in Grease, died September 5 of sinus cancer in Ojai, CA. He was 75.

His daughter Nina Simon announced the news.

“Screamin’ Scott” Simon in an undated family photo

The elder Simon joined Sha Na Na in 1970, the year after its founding as a 1950s/early-’60s rock ‘n’ roll and doo-wop revivalist act and its appearance at Woodstock. He remained with the group, along with original members Donny York and Jocko Marcellino, until it disbanded in 2022. He played piano — banging out energetic covers of “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “At the Hop” and others — and was known for his signature shirt whose sleeves bore piano keys, which he often pretended to play.

The group basked in the ’50s and early-’60s nostalgia craze...

60s Gold (Ch. 73) wants to know: What are your favorite summer songs from the 1960s? The votes are in, so now it’s time to join us as we play your picks in order. Hear the full countdown throughout the rest of the summer in cars or on the SiriusXM app with a subscription and free trial.

’60s Satellite SurveyTop 60 Summer Hits of the ’60sListen on the App

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From the summer of “The Twist” to the “Summer of Love” and “3 Days of Peace and Music,” enjoy this year’s fan-voted Top 60 Summer 60s Hits countdown.

’60s Summer Hits

Here are the possible song choices for the “Top 60 Summer Hits Of The ’60s” countdown:

“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones

“A Boy Named Sue” – Johnny Cash

“A Hard Day’s Night” – The Beatles

“A Whiter Shade Of Pale” – Procol Harum

“Ahab The Arab” – Ray Stevens...

Warning: This article will make several references to varsity-level sex acts.

In Tim Miller's 2016 film "Deadpool," the title superhero, also known as Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), meets and romances the charismatic and beautiful Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Wade and Vanessa are able to bond over their mutual trauma and even compare bitter childhood memories as part of their courtship. "Your crazy matches my crazy," Wade says. They also soon learn that they are 100% sexually compatible during a year-long montage (set to Neil Sedaka's "Calendar Girl") amusingly reveals their varied bedroom antics. They quickly incorporate themes and costumes into sex play, customized to match the holiday; they have Easter sex, Christmas sex, and even Lent sex.

On International Women's Day (March 8), Vanessa gets Wade on his hands and knees and dons a certain strap-on appliance, enthusiastically penetrating him from behind. Wade is game to participate, although he doesn't seem wholly enthused by the activity.

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Pretty Little Liars: Summer School episodes 1 through 8.

"Pretty Little Liars: Summer School" offers a bright summer slasher vibe with familiar characters and a new villain. Returning characters face new challenges as they navigate summer school and encounter the mysterious "Bloody Rose." The Max show's soundtrack includes popular songs like "School's Out" by Alice Cooper and "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama.

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School is a stark contrast to Original Sin, with brighter tones, sunny vibes, and, of course, several pop hits that are perfect for summer break. The slasher and horror elements are still present (proven by the haunting instrumental additions to the show's score) as the five teenagers recover from their experience with "A," aka Archie Waters, and try to move on. However, a new villain named "Bloody Rose" throws a wrench into the characters' plans in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School.

Pop history is littered with prolific partnerships, but the artist-producer pairing is arguably one of the most indispensable. Not only can an intrepid knob-twirler coax the best out of an artist, the most fruitful of these collaborations are often reciprocal. Think George Martin and the Beatles; Timbaland and Missy Elliott; or Jam & Lewis and Janet Jackson. Taylor Swift and former Fun guitarist-drummer Jack Antonoff have both achieved commercial and critical success outside of their work together, but their alliance over the last several years has, more often than not, resulted in pop magic.

The duo first worked together over a decade ago, on the unassuming “Sweeter Than Fiction,” a song from the British-American film One Chance. The following year, Antonoff co-wrote and co-produced three tracks for Swift’s blockbuster album 1989, the success of which propelled him to the top of every A&r exec’s wish list, helming tracks for Pink,...

“I wonder what it’s like up there?” ponders 83-year-old Chip Taylor on The Cradle of All Living Things, the extraordinary new album he feared would be his last. He’s addressing his wife, Joan, as he tilts tenderly into a chorus that imagines love beyond death: “Do you close your eyes/ And look into mine?/ You are my closing time.”

The woman he married in 1964 can’t hear the song, though. A series of strokes have left Joan deaf. Which is why several of the songs on the album stress the importance of their remaining senses. Taylor sings, “I know that I don’t see much/ Close my eyes and it is you that I touch/ I touch your hair, I touch your nose, I touch your lips/ baby, I suppose…”

Fifty years on since he wrote some of rock’s rawest declarations of youthful passion – including “Wild Thing...

Click here to read the full article.

Charles Koppelman, former music executive and Martha Stewart chairman, died on Friday. He was 82. A cause of death was not given at the time.

His son, showrunner Brian Koppelman, announced the loss on his social media, saying, “I’ll write more about my dad, Charles Koppelman, when I can. But the only thing that matters is how much I loved him. And how much he taught me about every single thing that matters.”

The Billions co-creator continued, “He lived exactly the life he wanted to live. And he spent his last days surrounded by those he loved the most. Pop, thank you.”

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Koppelman began his career in entertainment as a member of musical trio The Ivy Three, which had a Top 10 hit in 1960 called “Yogi.” Shortly after, the singer and his bandmate,...

Charles Koppelman, whose publishing and talent development vision made him one of the recording industry’s top executives, has died at 82.

No cause was given by his son, Brian, showrunner of Billions, and daughter Jenny Koppelman Hutt. “He spent his last days surrounded by those he loved the most,” his son wrote on social media.

Koppelman saw the potential of music publishing early in his career.

He began his career as a singer and songwriter, part of the legendary Aldon Music staff under CEO Don Kirshner that included Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

He moved on to CBS Records in the 1970s, rising to VP/Gm of worldwide publishing. He saw the potential of owning songwriter rights and formed his own company with CBS executive Martin Bandier and Bandier’s father in law, NY real estate king Samuel LeFrak. The company managed song catalogs for Barbra Streisnd,...

Brooks Arthur, the Grammy-winning record producer, engineer and music supervisor behind films such as “The Karate Kid,” died on Oct. 9. He was 86.

Arthur was a highly respected producer who engineered hits such as Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” on which he sang backup. He reached the high point of his producing career with Janis Ian’s Grammy-winning 1975 debut album “Between the Lines,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.

Throughout his career, Arthur worked with artists including the Grateful Dead, Art Garfunkel, Burt Bacharach, Dusty Springfield, Liza Minnelli and Peggy Lee, and he gathered 20 Grammy nominations — including three wins — as well as an Oscar nod for “Glory of Love” from “The Karate Kid II.”

Arthur began a 29-year relationship with Adam Sandler after producing his Grammy-nominated comedy hit “The Chanukah Song.” He went on to produce all of Sandler’s comedy albums...

Click here to read the full article.

Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died. He was 89.

Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).

Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the...

It doesn’t matter how pure a sound is when it catches the ear’s attention, someone in the music industry will find a way to infect it. Pop music is infectious by design, and Netflix’s This Is Pop, reveals the delivery system. The eight-part docuseries focuses on some of the less unexamined moments of the most scrutinized genre in music. It is as depressing as it is exhilarating, and it barely skips a beat.

Much like the recent Apple TV+ series 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, This is Pop shows how pop music reflects and influences culture. Music has always been a great unifier, both for listeners and musicians. Regardless of race, faith, or sexual preference, everyone has a favorite song, and people are drawn to the art of music from every background. What starts as a neighborhood sound moves beyond the streets, and for every Boyz II Men,...

Shania Twain, Chuck D, Abba’s Benny Andersson, T-Pain, Brandi Carlile, Boyz II Men, and more artists, producers, and songwriters delve into the historical resonance of pop music in Banger Films’ This Is Pop. The eight-part docuseries hits Netflix on June 22nd.

Each episode explores pop music beyond its musical aspects, examining its societal impact as well. Racism, sexism, classism, queer politics, and social injustice are addressed, according to a statement.

Episodes are grouped by style, era, and/or genre. The Boyz II Men Effect features Boyz II Men’s Nate Morris,...

This week, a very old recording industry tradition took center stage. We’re talking, of course, about the answer song.

Answer records are songs that “answer” a previous recording by a different artist, sometimes directly addressing a specific incident, other times playing off its themes. The novelty has been around for decades, crossing over from blues to R&b to country to hip-hop, and often is an answer by one gender to another.

The trick originally was designed to capture the sales momentum of the original song. Rarely has it achieved equal success, but certainly gave fans and the industry something to latch onto in the wake of a hit.

For example, the 1963 song by Andrea Carroll, It Hurts To Be Sixteen, was the answer record to Neil Sedaka’s Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen. In this case, sales-savvy Sedaka wrote the melody to both, using different lyricists to convey the differing perspectives.

Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 4, Episode 9 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Nov. 26 on Fox.

Paul Anka is thankful for his time on “The Masked Singer,” even though he was the latest celebrity to be revealed on the hit competition series. On a special Thanksgiving airing, Anka was unmasked as the Broccoli. (Scroll down to watch Anka’s reveal from the episode.)

Anka said “The Masked Singer” was the perfect way for him to perform during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also take a break from recording his latest album, which he’s currently producing for release next year.

“I was really locked in a studio and with Covid-19, not socializing or getting out, obviously,” Anka told Variety. “Once I talked to my son and my girlfriend and then some people in my staff I said, yeah I got to get out of here...

Today's Horror Highlights includes details on the virtual edition of the Chattanooga Film Festival, the trailer for Painter, details on Joe Bob's Haunted Drive-In, and the trailer for Blind!

Chattanooga Film Festival Announces its Virtual Edition: "This year marks the 10th edition of the Frightening Ass Film Fest (Faff); the Chattanooga Film Festival’s seasonal festival held in and around Halloween. Slated for October 30 and October 31, Faff will be an exciting mix of short films, new indie features, and carefully curated cult classics. Organizers are also putting together a series of live events, similar to the events that made Cff’s virtual edition in May an interactive fan-friendly experience.

Faff All Access Badges are available now for the price of $25 with individual tickets for certain films being made available closer to the event. Attendees will be able to access all films beginning 12:00am Est October 30, and access ends 6:...

Al Kasha, the Academy Award-winning composer who, along with songwriting partner Joel Hirschhorn, won Oscars for the soft rock disaster movie classics “The Morning After” and “We May Never Love Like This Again,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 83.

His death was announced by spokesperson Deborah Radel. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Dominating music charts – and Oscar’s Best Original Song category – in 1973 with “The Morning After,” from The Poseidon Adventure, and again in ’75 with “We May Never Love Like This Again” from The Towering Inferno, Kasha and Hirschhorn returned to film songwriting with 1977’s Disney classic Pete’s Dragon. The duo was Oscar-nominated for that song score and the song “Candle On The Water,” sung by Pete’s Dragon star Helen Reddy.

For his Broadway stage work, Kasha received Tony Award nominations for the scores of 1981’s Copperfield and 1982’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Both Broadway productions were short-lived,...

The 1970s were a pivotal period in both American and global pop culture. It was the decade that witnessed the birth of the “American New Wave,” with helmers including Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola establishing a new filmmaking vernacular and making their indelible marks on cinematic history.

In India, Bollywood was producing such wildly popular films as “Sholay.” It was the year “Jaws” put great white sharks on the big screen while also unleashing the era of the summer blockbuster. The iconic, surrealistic comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” graced theaters, directed by first-time feature helmers Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. The “soft sounds” of 1975 were evident in the string of mellow and groovy Yacht Rock chart-toppers, from the Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together,” which earned the Grammy for record of the year, to Neil Sedaka’s “Laughter in the Rain.” Other easy listening tunes...

Welcome to this week’s review of Nxt UK, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have Donny Osmond singing like a girl. Donny Osmond and Wayne Newton…they sound like the Pointer Sisters on helium. Anyway, A-Kid debuts here, so let’s make sure he’s got a hall pass. There’s no screwing around during school hours, damn it! Get to class, you little bastards! Nxt UK starts…some place else. This is just a review. We can’t afford a broadcast of a WWE show.

Match #1: Rhea Ripley & Piper Niven def. Jinny & Jazzy Gabert The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Several weeks ago, Rhea Ripley shocked the WWE Universe when she came to the aid of her adversary Piper Niven against Jazzy Gabert and a meddling Jinny. As a result, they formed an unlikely alliance to battle their common enemies. Although Jinny...

Unlike many teen shows of its era, Beverly Hills 90210 never had an episode where the gang formed a band. But in the critical second-season episode Wildfire that introduced the agent of chaos known as Emily Valentine, there was a talent show in which the power trio of Brenda Walsh, Kelly Taylor, and Donna Martin dressed up like Robert Palmer’s video backup singers to perform Neil Sedaka’s 1962 hit “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” The whole thing is even weirder than it sounds, but you can see the video right here.

Warning: The following contains massive spoilers for Tuesday’s Animal Kingdom. If you’d rather be surprised when you watch, look away — fast!

Neil Sedaka wasn’t kidding when he sang “Breakin’ Up Is Hard to Do.” In Tuesday’s Animal Kingdom, J and Mia’s volcanic split erupts in a round of tit for tat that doesn’t end until one of them no longer has a pulse. You can probably guess which — or (hint, hint) Morgan could tell you, were she still breathing. But read on, anyway. How it — and this sociopath — went down is some of the...

Daryl Dragon, the keyboard-playing “Captain” of Seventies hitmakers Captain and Tennille, died at a hospice in Prescott, Arizona on Wednesday. Associated Press reports the cause of death as renal failure. He was 76.

As Captain and Tennille, Dragon and his then-wife Toni Tennille scored a string of catchy, easy-rolling hits in the mid-Seventies, including the Grammy-winning, Number One hit “Love Will Keep Us Together,” “The Way I Want to Touch You,” “Lonely Night (Angel Face)” and “Muskrat Love.” Dragon was known for wearing a captain’s hat and playing multilevel keyboards,...

Elton John kicked off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour this week with a spectacular show packed with hits from his long career. Nearly every blockbuster song from his catalog was in the set, including “The Bitch Is Back,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Your Song” and “I’m Still Standing.” But there was one big song from his Seventies heyday that didn’t make the cut. It was all over the radio in 1975 and even hit Number One on the Hot...

Anyone who saw singer Mandy Barnett playing the title role in Always… Patsy Cline or heard her splendid 2013 tribute LP to singer-songwriter Don Gibson is already aware of Barnett’s ability to deliver polished Nashville Sound classics with panache. The Tennessee native, who grazed the country charts in the late Nineties with Americana-ready material when that movement was in its infancy, earned considerable praise for her vocal range and should be well-positioned to do the same with regard to the breadth of material on her forthcoming album.

Barnett will end...

After announcing his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Neil Diamond and his wife Katie are overwhelmed by the fan support.

The music legend, responsible for hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “America” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” shared a statement on his website Monday evening revealing that he canceled concert dates in Australia and New Zealand based on doctor’s advice.

“Wow, I’ve received a bunch of messages from people in Aus & Nz who are donating their ticket refunds to good causes: Parkinson’s research, animal rescue groups, fire victim funds, etc,” Katie, 46, tweeted on Tuesday.

“My heart is so full of joy to see this silver lining.

The entertainment world is reeling from the news of Neil Diamond’s retirement from live performance following his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. The music legend, responsible for hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “America” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” shared a message to his website Monday night announcing the cancellation of concert dates in Australia and New Zealand, where he had been scheduled to play as part of his 50th anniversary world tour in March.

The statement explained that the onset of the Parkinson’s has “made it difficult to travel and perform on a large scale basis but will allow Mr. Diamond to continue his writing,...

Caroline Preece Oct 25, 2017

The Big Bang Theory's latest episode proved once again how charming this cast can be...

This review contains spoilers.

See related Red Dwarf Xii episode 3 review: Timewave Red Dwarf Xii episode 2 review: Siliconia Red Dwarf Xii episode 1 review: Cured

11.5 The Collaboration Contamination

When all else fails on The Big Bang Theory, the writers seem to fall back on a shakeup of dynamics. They did the the arc where Sheldon and Raj teamed up at work, and the awkward hilarity of the scavenger hunt pairings a couple of years back, and now it appears we’ll be allowed to enjoy a new friendship between Howard and Amy.

Well calling it ‘new’ is a bit of a stretch, but then nothing is exactly new or fresh on a show that’s been running for more than a decade. At this stage, most viewers are happy to settle for...

Little Kids Rock, the national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in public schools, has announced more stars will be among the special guests who will take the stage at their annual benefit.

The organization has announced actor and comedian Mike Myers; award winner Darlene Love; Grammy nominated soul singer Bettye Lavette; Grammy winning blues musician Keb’ Mo’; Musical Director Will Lee; and past honorees Paul Shaffer, band leader and musical director for the Late Show with David Letterman; and famed Yankee and Latin Grammy nominee Bernie Williams will take part in the event.

This year’s event, which will honor Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt and Michael Dorf, will take place on Wednesday, October 18th at PlayStation Theater in New York.

The Little Kids Rock Benefit brings together artists and individuals who are passionate about giving the transformational gift of music to children in public schools across the Us.

Little Kids Rock, the national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in public schools announced the honorees for its annual benefit being held Wednesday, October 18th at PlayStation Theater in New York.

This year’s event will honor Elvis Costello with the Rocker of the Year Award, and Bonnie Raitt with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Founder and CEO of City Winery, Michael Dorf will be honored for his extensive philanthropic work, including efforts on behalf of expanding music education for underprivileged youth through the annually produced “Music of” tribute concerts.

The Annual Little Kids Rock Benefit, produced by Mark Krantz and Michael Matuza brings together artists and individuals who are passionate about bringing the transformational gift of music to children in public schools across the Us. Prior years’ honorees include Smokey Robinson, Steve Miller, Steven Van Zandt, Lady Gaga, Graham Nash and Joan Jett.

Heading for Spring Break somewhere? Long before Girls Gone Wild, kids of the Kennedy years found their own paths to the desired fun in the sun, and most of them came back alive. MGM’s comedic look at the Ft. Lauderdale exodus is a half-corny but fully endearing show, featuring the great Dolores Hart and the debuts of Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss and Jim Hutton.

Where the Boys Are

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1960 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date July 25, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Connie Francis, Dolores Hart, Paula Prentiss, Jim Hutton

Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton, Frank Gorshin, Barbara Nichols, Chill Wills.

Cinematography: Robert Bronner

Art Direction: Preston Ames, George W. Davis

Film Editor: Fredric Steinkamp

Original Music: Pete Rugolo, Neil Sedaka, George Stoll, Victor Young

Written by George Wells from a novel by Glendon Swarthout

Produced by Joe Pasternak

Directed by Henry Levin

Ah yes, in 1960 first-wave Rock...

With February 12th swiftly approaching, Milan Records have finally unveiled the full track list for the upcoming original motion picture soundtrack for 20th Century Fox's R-rated superhero extravaganza Deadpool, which stars Ryan Reynolds (Mississippi Grind) as the titular hero with Morena Baccarin (Gotham), T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley), Ed Skrein (The Transporter Refueled), Gina Carano (Fast & Furious 6), Brianna Hildebrand (First Girl I Loved), Stefan Kapicic (Big Miracle), and Leslie Uggams (Nurse Jackie) rounding out his supporting cast. The score features original compositions from Tom Holkenborg a.k.a. Junkie Xl, who recently received acclaim for his amazing work on George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road and who is also scoring Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. As for the rest of the soundtrack, well, it should be interesting to say the least... A few of the artists featured are Dmx, Salt-n-Pepa, Neil Sedaka, Juice Newton, and Wham!

Racing into cinemas next powered by attitude, f-bombs, and a good dose of violence, "Deadpool" is hoping to be the antidote to basically everything you're going to see on CW tonight. Aiming to deliver the unexpected at every turn, the soundtrack to the comic book movie is no different. Read More: Graphic Violence Will Keep 'Deadpool' Out Of Chinese Cinemas Junkie Xl ("Mad Max: Fury Road") has scored the movie, but it's the song choices that stand out. Yep, you'll hear Dmx's "X Gon’ Give It To Ya" which has been in every piece of marketing so far, along with tracks from Salt-n-Pepa, Neil Sedaka, and uh, Wham! And listed as the last, it suggests that "Careless Whisper" will be the last song of the movie. Interesting.... "Deadpool" will be released digitally the same day as the movie on February 12th, with physical copies arriving on March 4th.

Drug Cabin is part of the wave that has softly landed on the shores of the Los Angeles indie scene that echoes the 1970s singer-songwriter artists and soft rock bands like Steely Dan, Chicago, Todd Rundgren, and Neil Sedaka. Drug Cabin’s third release, “Wiggle Room”, is teeming with mellow grooves and clean guitar chords on all 12 tracks. It is essentially a release of an additional 12 songs Nathan Thelen of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Moonrats and Marcus Congleton of Ambulance Ltd. wrote and recorded with Brandon Owens on bass, Sheridan Reily on drums, and Frankie Palmer on pedal […]...

Here we thought that love would keep them together. But Daryl Dragon and Cathryn "Toni" Tennille, the couple better known as singing duo Captain & Tennille, are getting a divorce after more than 39 years of marriage. Tennille filed for divorce on Jan. 16 in Prescott, Ariz., according to Rumorfix, which was first to report the sad split news. She and Dragon do not have any children. The pair married in November 1974 and released their debut album, Love Will Keep Us Together, featuring their hit title cover of the Neil Sedaka tune, the following year. "Love Will Keep Us Together" stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for nine weeks and won the Grammy for...

Say it ain't so ... there's no Muskrat Love left for Captain & Tennille ... they're getting divorced ... and the Captain tells TMZ he didn't see it coming.Toni (Tennille) filed legal docs in Arizona, claiming the marriage was "irretrievably broken."  They've been married for 39 years.If you don't know ... you should.  They had a string of hits in the 70s, including "Love Will Keep Us Together," "Muskrat Love" and  "Do that to Me One More Time."They...

Hugh Jackman had one heck of a 45th birthday party. The Wolverine actor invited 4,500 guests to celebrate the occasion, but there was a caveat—admittance didn't come cheap. The Aussie sang, danced and made people laugh at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 12, where his One Night Only act raised $1.85 million for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Backed by a 17-member orchestra, Jackman performed a modified version of his recent Broadway show. Famous attendees included actors Tom Cruise, Olivia Munn, Terrence Howard, Kristin Davis, Darren Criss and Maria Bello; musicians Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Neil Sedaka; fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors; and professional...

There've been complaints that last night's American Idol, themed around the hits and performances of past Idol winners, was old-fashioned and schmaltzy. Hey, morons: That's why I watchAmerican Idol. I want ancient, Wayne Newton-y performances from Mormon teenagers in pain. I want the new Rosemary Clooney to woo me in a collared denim dress that her great-grandmother weaved. I want singers who pick songs by Kenny Rogers or Alannah Myles to feel "naughty." Bring me the home-schooled!

I loved last night's episode, even when truly awful songs like Ruben Studdard's "Flying Without Wings" threatened to curbstomp us with hopelessness. For me, ranking the top 10 was a cinch -- though apparently I disagree with most of you about how interesting Angela Miller is. Guys, her emotions range from "happy" to "happy, but quiet sometimes." Come on.

One last note before I write another 200 words about Lazaro Arbos that amount to "Good try,...

To think the world’s only jellyfish man movie would have been lost to the annals of time had it not been rescued from obscurity by Something Weird Video. And if you think a jellyfish man is something weird, then just wait until you hear Neil Sedaka’s theme song, “Do the Jellyfish.”

From 1966 comes Sting of Death, South Florida b-movie maestro William Grefe’s outrageous Creature from the Black Lagoon Everglades-style about an uptight scientist and partying teens being terrorized by a half-man/half-jellyfish.

To be more specific, the monster is a were-jellyfish!

The bullied Igor-like assistant to a swamp scientist in love with his boss’ daughter develops a means by which to transform himself into a jellyfish man - that looks suspiciously like a decorated wetsuit with an inflated plastic bag mask - by dunking his head in a computerized fish tank. Trust me; it doesn’t make...

The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene stages a tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka at The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street, on yesterday June 12 at 730pm. The gala concert, with performances by the Broadway actor and Israeli singer Dudu Fisher, Jay Black of Jay and the Americans, Klezmatics star Lorin Sklamberg, and the actor-singers Eleanor Reissa, Lori Wilner, Robert Abelson, Dani Marcus, and Rebecca Garfein, among many others, celebrated the wide-ranging impact of Yiddish culture on other popular cultures.Check out photos from the event below...

If you think Nigel Lythgoe has an easy job, consider this: Despite producing the No. 2 show of the 2011-2012 TV season in terms of total viewers and the coveted 18-49 demo, American Idol‘s executive producer is still in the unenviable position of defending the show’s ratings and creative direction in the face of public criticism from his own boss.

We caught up with Lythgoe prior to Idol‘s Season 11 finale to get his thoughts on how the season had played out, why female contestants can’t win seem to take home the top prize, what he thinks of his high-profile singing-show competitors,...

I've sailed through the eleventh season of American Idol and the second season of The Voice like a damn trooper. I've skewered them both for your entertainment. But now the time has come to pick the better show, and I'm using seven categories of criteria to reach a verdict. Idol is better in some regards while The Voice wins in others, but the overall results are in! Dim the lights and let's crown one singing competition king. We'll start the showdown with my favorite category: hosting.

1. Hosting: Carson Daly vs. Ryan Seacrest

Is there a reason why the hosts on talent competitions aren't discussed more? Frankly, they're the most critical element of the proceedings. Both The Voice and American Idol are uncontrolled blitzes of power ballads, lighting cues, and talky interludes, and it takes the finesse of a killer emcee to rein it all in. And if we're being honest,...

In 1958, Don Kirshner was an unknown 23-year-old kid from the Bronx. Two years later, he was on his way to becoming one of America's most powerful and influential music producers. In five years, through his company Aldon Music, Kirshner launched Carole King, Neil Sedaka and Bobby Darin, among others, to superstardom and ushered in a new era of rock and roll.

"Those five years represented rock and roll's last gasp of innocence," writes Rich Podolsky in his recently published "Don Kirshner: The Man With The Golden Ear." "They were the last songs written before the Beatles changed the landscape of American music forever. They were great years for me and 60 million other baby boomers."

Kirshner went on to develop the Monkees and the cartoon band the Archies, whose "Sugar, Sugar" became a classic. In 1973, he produced and hosted "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert," a hugely popular live (not lip-synched) weekly TV...

After a bit of a hiatus, Clay Aiken is back.

The American Idol runner-up is releasing his seventh studio album Steadfast March 27th, which will feature selected cuts from 2010's release Tried and True, along with a newly recorded, original single, Bring Back My Love. The new album will also feature covers, including Neil Sedaka's Breaking Up is Hard to Do, and Connie Francis' Who's Sorry Now.

Pics: Out & Proud: 22 Proudly Gay Celebs

"These musical gems have stood the test of time, and I am incredibly proud and privileged to have had the opportunity to make them my own," Aiken says. "I stand by this recording 'steadfastly,' which is why I chose the title and how I feel about moving forward in my career in general – being focused and steadfast."

Aiken will also be back on television soon as a contestant on the new season of The Celebrity Apprentice, premiering February...

Zap2it has been looking back at the best performances from each stage of the "American Idol" finals and now we're taking a gander at the Top 5. This week on "Idol," the contestants get the theme "Now and Then," having them sing something current and something from the 1960s.

But who are you favorites from the Top 5 phase of year's past? Vote below. As of this writing, you've voted Carrie Underwood's "Alone" as the best Top 11 performance, David Cook's "Billie Jean" as the best Top 10 performance and David Archuleta's "Smoky Mountain Memories" as the best Top 9 performance, Adam Lambert's "Mad World" as the best Top 8 performance, Archie's "When You Believe" is the best Top 7 performance and Clay Aiken's "I Could Not Ask for More" is the best Top 6 performance.

So who wins your vote for the best Top 5 performance?

Kelly Clarkson, "Walk on By," Burt Bacharach,...

Anatomy of a Relationship

An Episodic Examination of Huddy in Love

“Fall From Grace” 7.17

First of all I’d like to thank you for waiting patiently for this post this week. If you didn’t read my last post I warned you I’d be on vacation this week. I had a great time. Thanks for asking. Now onto this week’s episode.

Hmmmmmmm. Uhhhhhhhhh. Weeeeeellllll. I’m not sure how to take this episode. You’ll remember in last week’s episode House went all loco in his pain for the loss of his true love. Hookers. Vicodin. Cannonballs. And it appears that he doesn’t quiiiiiiiite have all of that pain out of his system in this episode as his juvenile pranks around the office seem to escalate, rather unbelievably at times, in his attempt to make Cuddy feel guilty or use Cuddy’s guilt or… See, I don’t know.

…”Songs By Your Musical Idol,” according to our Fox sources. Which means all of us can breathe a sigh of relief that we won’t see Scotty McCreery forced to attempt disco (yet). The theme, of course, is a double-edged sword for the contestants: The Top 13 can show us tonight what kind of artists they hope to be — but can they do it without being compared to their much-more-established idols? Contestants in the past few seasons have typically fared better performing songs from artists whose style is remarkably different from their own. Just see: David Cook on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,...

A review of last night's "The Chicago Code" coming up just as soon as I butcher your favorite Neil Sedaka song... I like "The Chicago Code" a lot, but the show has a number of potentially problematic elements, and several of them seemed more prominent than usual. First, there's this idea of Wysocki and Evers as this elite unit that gets to roam the city and bigfoot their way onto any case they want. I get that this gives the show a lot of built-in variety in terms of locations and types of stories so that the episodic stuff doesn't get...