Saturday, May 20, 2023

Music History Today: May 21, 2023

May 21, 2019: Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Quentin Tarantino stated the soundtrack for American Graffiti influenced his music choices in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He "went nuts. It had Wolfman Jack DJ stuff filtered through. That was probably my first soundtrack album."

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
When it came to using Neil Diamond's "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," Tarantino stated, "Brother Love sounds a bit like Charles Manson" and "I have a connection to Neil that goes back to the Urge Overkill song [Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon"] in Pulp Fiction." "I think this might be [my] best [soundtrack] yet." 

Read more: Hollywood Elsewhere

May 21, 1971: Marvin Gaye released his eleventh studio album, What's Going On.

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On is a concept album revolving around the bittersweet homecoming of a Vietnam vet. The LP delivered pointed social commentary about inequality in America. The title track marked a turning point in Gaye's career, finding the "Prince of Motown" swapping upbeat singles for honest and introspective lyricism.

Marvin Gaye What's Going On album cover

Considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time, the LP was met with broad critical acclaim and commercial success, remaining on the Billboard 200 for more than a year and spawning several hit singles, including the title track, "Mercy Mercy Me," and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)." 
Read more: NPR

May 21, 1977: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album took over the Number 1 spot in the US from the Eagles' Hotel California.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac won Album of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards and received Diamond certifications in several countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US. Rumours is the sixth best-selling album of the 1970s and the 12th best-selling album of all time.

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album 

Some of the songs may be too familiar, whether through their repeated FM radio exposure or use in presidential campaigns. Still, in the context of the album, each tune and each phrase regains its raw, immediate emotional power. Rumours has since transcended its era to be one of the greatest, most compelling pop albums ever. 
Read more: Wikipedia

May 21, 1980: Wouter André "Wally" De Backer, better known by his stage name Gotye, was born in Bruges, Belgium.
The De Backer family moved to Australia when he was two years old. There "Wally" revealed his musical talent, becoming proficient on keyboards and drums. He graduated from high school, inherited an extensive collection of old LPs at the University of Melbourne, he began experimenting with sample-based music. In 2011, he released Making Mirrors. The album's first single, "Eyes Wide Open," was a major hit in Australia, but the follow-up, a duet with Kimbra titled "Someone That I Used to Know," became an international smash. 
Read more: Wikipedia

May 21, 1992: MTV aired the first episode of The Real World, which got huge ratings and began a shift in programming away from music videos. It encouraged other networks to try this "Reality TV" thing.


Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Neil Diamond

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