songs
Before Aretha Franklin Made ‘Respect’ Her Own, It Was Otis Redding’s
The late great singer died tragically at 26, just as the Queen of Soul was turning his minor hit into a feminist anthem
A Salute to ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome),’ Tina Turner’s Forgotten ‘Mad Max’ Anthem
In the midst of her well-deserved 1980s comeback, the iconic singer decided to play the villain in ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.’ The soundtrack smash that accompanied the film may be a bit cheesy, but it’s had a surprising afterlife in the worlds of high art and indie-rock.
How a Snowstorm and Rick James Conspired to Create Eddie Murphy’s Unlikely Radio Smash ‘Party All the Time’
In the 1980s, Eddie Murphy could do anything. And so, he decided to become a pop star.
The Civil Rights Anthem ‘Strange Fruit’ Is Never Easy to Hear
With the release of ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday,’ it’s time to remember that one of America’s greatest protest songs is also one of its most painful. It’s as ugly and discomforting as the racist violence it depicts.
