MADONNA FRIDAY: TRUE BLUE

Romantic, girly, rapturous, splendid: just some of the words to describe the love song from Madonna's album of the same name, True Blue. The song bops along to a classic 60s girl-group beat and conjures hearts and rainbows all the way through. In September 1986 Madonna's True Blue album was already a smash with two hit singles under it's belt (Live to Tell and Papa Don't Preach) and the time came to get cozy and lovey-dovey. Written as a Valentine to her husband at the time, Sean Penn, True Blue is the ultimate song-as-a-kiss. "No-whoa more sadness. I'll kiss it goodbye. The sun is bursting right out of the sky. I've searched the whole world for someone like you." Sigh..... The song became Madonna's 10th consecutive top 10 Billboard hit, reaching #3. The video that Madonna made didn't air in the US, being replaced by an MTV contest for "Make Your Own Video", but it did air overseas and featured Madonna's good friends Debi Mazar (Entorage) and Eric Belle. A 6os inspired clip directed by James Foley, it is shot on a sound stage and is simple and clean. Classic Madonna femininity. Enjoy the summery, blissful True Blue. I LOVE this song.

THINKING OF BOYOTTING COMPANIES SUPPORTING GAY RIGHTS? READ THIS...

I didn't write this. It's going around on facebook......

"Yes, please boycott Oreo for their support of Gay Rights. We’ll all appreciate you going on a diet. While you’re at it, please also throw away your iPod, iPhone, and iPad since Apple supports as well. Hopefully you have lots of clothes, because you’ll need to ditch your Levi’s and Nike’s too. Perhaps you bought them at... JC Penney’s or Sears? Sucks you’ll have to take them back…or actually, any...thing you wear from anywhere probably had a gay involved. Flying somewhere soon? Better not be on American, Delta, Southwest, or United…you’ll need a new ticket. Airline wasn’t mentioned? Just be sure your jet isn’t Boeing made. Don’t sleep at Marriott or Hilton (or any of their family brands) because you might catch the gay they support. That morning coffee from Starbucks will have to go as well, go ahead it replace it with a McCafe…oh wait, McDonald’s supports gay rights too. Hmm, do you clean with Tide, Gain, or Bounty? Use Duracell batteries, shave with Gillette, or use Fixodent? Brush with Crest, use Pantene, Scope, Tampax, Venus, or Old Spice products? Those are all gone too, stupid P&G supporting the gays. Damn, you’re using Internet Explorer or Crome to see Facebook and read this status? Download something else, Microsoft and Google show their Pride as well. Ah, but your drinks are safe. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Budweiser are on your side…if your side is on the right side of history since all three also support Gay Rights. Hopefully, you or your lawyer will never need in-depth research. Both LexisNexis and Westlaw, who together control the market, support Gay Rights. Drive that big, manly, Ford F350? It’s a Friend of Dorothy too, as it’s company Ford and General Motors also support the rights of all. So, do us all a favor, don’t take it all out on a festive cookie…just stay home and boycott everything." (Share if you like, do research if you don't)"

JUST BECAUSE: DANNII MINOGUE IN AUSTRALIAN INSTYLE MAGAZINE

Haven't heard from Dannii Minogue in a while, but this is worth the wait. The Aussie singer/actress/presenter and sister of Kylie is looking GORGEOUS in these new photos from Australian InStyle Magazine. Wow. Stunning. Click on the Photos to enlarge. Enjoy.

REVIEW: CHERYL COLE - A MILLION LIGHTS (DELUXE EDITION)

Cheryl Cole, the former (and presumably future) Girls Aloud member is rocking the UK again with her #1 single Call My Name, had the fastest selling #1 single this year so far with that song, has recently given up on taking over America, and has released her third full length solo album, A Million Lights, which debuted at #2 in the UK behind that pesky Justin Bieber. Ha. Busy, busy girl!! Well, I'm happy to say that A Million Lights is a better album than 2010's completely underwhelming Messy Little Raindrops, but just misses the mark enough to come in second to her excellent 2009 debut album, 3 Words. What's keeps it from topping her first solo effort? Too much filler and sound-alike songs. Call My Name, Girl in the Mirror and Sexy Den a Mother (I can't with that title) are all virtually interchangeable, generic tracks that could have just as well been left off of the 15 song deluxe edition. I'd much rather listen to a 12 track stunner than a 15 track album I have to skip through. That being said, there are some very magical moments on this disc, especially the standout track Mechanics of the Heart, a lush ballad with great lyrics and swelling choruses. The best ballad Cheryl had produced yet. There are a few great slow songs this time around like the title track with it's electronic undertones and whispered voice, All Is Fair and the album closer Telescope. Of course the album isn't all ballad, there are some great dance floor songs and dub breakdowns in Under The Sun, which opens the album to great effect, and Screw You, the song that HAD to have been inspired by Rihanna, Love Killer, and Boys Lie. My favorite dance track so far has to be the weirdly titled Ghetto Baby, a sexy come-on of a song written by Lana Del Rey (aka Elizabeth Grant) that is a surefire hit as far as I'm concerned. Glad to see Cheryl back in form this time around. Like I said, this album is not getting a US release as of now, so you'll have to find it on your own if you live here, but if you live elsewhere, I'd give this a try if I were you. It's worth a spin. I added the full song of Mechanics of the Heart below so you can hear it for yourself. It really is kind of amazing.

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: I NEED A MAN - EURYTHMICS

Damn, Annie Lennox can sing!! Back in 1988 Eurythmics were going through their rock and roll resurgence and I Need A Man, from their album Savage, allowed Annie to prowl, growl and tell it like it is....to VERY sexy effect. One of the most recognizable and favorite songs of the group, the video, directed by the great Sophie Muller, finds Lennox in full sex mode; blond wig, tight dress and tipsy dancing. HOT!! Here is your Humpday sexy song to dance around to this afternoon. Enjoy and you're welcome, sexy people!

LANA DEL REY IS JACKIE KENNEDY & MARILYN IN NEW VIDEO...

Lana Del Rey is sure to stir up some attention with her new video for the fourth single from her excellent Born to Die album, National Anthem. The sultry singer takes the roles of both Jacqueline Kennedy and Marily Monroe, singing Happy Birthday, Mr. President pretty damn well, while JFK is portrayed by A$AP Rocky (I have no idea). Shot in a very retro-60's way, the video features some rose smelling, a lot of knee fondling, some very cute kids and a reenactment of a very famous assassination. I love the song, and it's fireworks and summer theme make it the perfect 4th of July-time single. The video is pretty brilliant as well. It's controversial, but also artistic and beautiful. What do you think?

GEORGE MICHAEL'S NEW SINGLE COMING SOON...

George Michael's song White Light, which he stated was the "best dance record (he's) ever made" will hit radio on Friday, 30 years after their first song Wham! Rap charted in the UK. Quite a run so far, George. Mr. Michael posted the tweet and photo shown here to tease fans. The photo is from the video shoot. Can't wait to hear it!!!

MADONNATHON: INTO THE GROOVE

Madonna has many, many classic songs, but high -- WAY high on that list would sit a little song I like to call (because it's the name of the song) Into the Groove. Jebus lawd, this song is amazy!!! What most people DON'T realize is that it was never actually released as a single in the U.S. It was merely a B-side to Madonna's song Angel from her Like a Virgin album. Her record company released as a B-side so it wouldn't compete with the songs on her LAV album, but also to promote her film debut in Desperately Seeking Susan. The song was released in the UK, reaching #1 in the summer of 1985, and in many other countries around the world. The song is without a doubt a highlight in not only Madonna's long career, but in the dance music genre in general, changing the beats, the sound and the groove of the 80s. The music video is made up of clips from Madonna's first starring role in a movie, Desperately Seeking Susan, and shows THE image of Madge's early career. Madonna still performs it in concert, most recently and notabley on her Sticky & Sweet tour she sang it while doing double-dutch. She's over 50, people!! She is working for you! Anyway, here is the classic song Into the Groove. Love love love it!

MADONNATHON: CHERISH

Thought I'd swith things up and save Madonna for the end of the day. Madonna's third single from her Like a Prayer album was quite a gem. Cherish is a tribute to those sweet sounding girl groups from the 60s, much like the song True Blue before it. The song was released August 1, 1989, eventually peaking at #2 on the Hot 100 and becoming Madonna's 16th consecutive top 5 single, 17th top 10. Definitely one of Madonna's sweeter songs, Cherish is all about love, comparing the lovers in the song to Romeo and Juliet, but better! The video is a simple black and white shot on the beach by famed photographer Herb Ritts. Madonna is joined by a bevy of hot, hunky mermen, including her boyfriend at the time Tony Ward (hot hot hot. see here). The song stands the test of time and is as fun to listen and sing along to as it was in 1989. Enjoy Cherish by Madonna.

MADONNATHON: LIKE A PRAYER

In early 1989 Madonna decided to make a little masterpiece and blow my 17 year-old mind. "Like a Prayer" was a gospel inspired, enchanting song about how her lover's voice sounded....well, you know how it goes. The song came out to radio in February and was used in a Pepsi ad depicting Madonna as a little girl on her birthday. Very cute and innocent and a great little commercial. THEN THE SHIT HIT THE FAN!!!! Madonna released the video. Burning crosses, stigmata, a black Jesus, rape, stabbing. Oh, my!!! It was HEAVEN!!!! Of course everyone went batshit crazy. People started threatening to boycott Pepsi, so they stopped airing the commercial (pusses). Consequently, Madonna got to keep the 5 million dollars she was paid (cha-ching) for the spot and the video is on just about every "most kick ass videos in history" list you can find (suck it). The delicious controversy turned the song into an epic event. It was a number one hit and sold 5 million copies worldwide at the time of it's release. Arguably one of the most inspired songs of her career, "Like a Prayer" is a little slice of pop music history that will live on and on and on .......

MADONNATHON: VOGUE

Vogue in an undeniable pop classic, one of Madonna's most successful singlesand has glamour running out of it's ass! Originally released in 1990 on the album I'm Breathless (Music from and inspired by the film Dick Tracy), Vogue was written originally to be a B-side for the single Keep It Together from Like a Prayer. Shep Pettibone and Madge wrote it, but the record company thought it was too good to be a B-Side and so they included on the I'm Breathless album, adding in the middle spoken part about classic movie stars to tie-in with the theme of the album. I think anyone worth their salt knows that part of Vogue. If you don't, you must be a deaf nerd. The song reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and also reached No. 1 in 30 countries. It was a record at the time for Madonna. (Since taken over by Hung Up which hit No. 1 in 45 countries). The video is thought by many to be one of Madonna's greatest. Shot in black and white with bright, beautiful lighting, Madonna and her dancers "vogue" and dance their way through several setups inspired by 1930s Hollywood and the Art deco artist Tara de Lempicka. The song and video are, dare I say, pop masterpieces that have really stood the test of time. Enjoy Vogue.

GAY PRIDE MADONNATHON!!!

It's Gay Pride week here in NYC and in celebration of that amazy occasion, That's a Good Blog is having a Madonnathon weekend!!!! Watch for all Madonna, all weekend. Exclusives you can't see anywhere else (except on the internet and pretty much anywhere else you want to see them. ha!) All right. Let the games begin!!!!!!

MADONNA FRIDAY: A GROUP OF KINDERGARTENERS PERFORM VOGUE

Quite a few questions can be answered by this adorable video:

Q.What would it be like if I taught a kindergarten class?
A. See video and multiply by 1,000.

Q.Is the teacher of this class a sassy gay man?
A. Probably.

Q.Is Madonna dating one of the boys in this class?
A. Most likely.

Now enjoy.....

MADONNA FRIDAY: HAPPY PRIDE!!! GET TOGETHER

In honor of NYC Pride I thought I'd give you a little message of togetherness from the Queen of All That Is Gay, Madonna. Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor album was filled to the brim with amazing songs, but my second personal favorite was the third single released from the album, Get Together. (Jump was the fave, and actually my favorite Madonna song of all time) The song is giving us absolute-pure-pop-dancefloor-anthem realness and the video is an amazing animation/live action ride through a world of limitless Madonna's. I WANT TO GO TO THERE!! It's also pulsing with love and hope, which is why I picked it to celebrate and kick off NYC Pride! Enjoy the Queen and live with her all weekend in your heart. HAPPY PRIDE!!

BEST SELLING GIRL GROUPS OF ALL TIME

The list of best selling girl groups, worldwide, might surprise some. Might not surprise others. Whether it does or not, I'm giving it to you with color commentary. While I was surprised at how many albums Bananarama had sold (BTW, I WORSHIP BANANARAMA), I was also surprised to NOT see The Go-Go's or The Bangles on this list. Or even Expose. They were pretty big back in the day. I guess this tells us who stood the test of time, sales-wise. With only three albums and eight years active, the leader of the pack worldwide by a LONG shot is....Spice Girls! The British fab five have sold over 75 million albums since 1996 and their first two albums are the top selling albums by a girl group with Spice selling 28 million and Spiceworld selling 20 million worldwide. Not too shabby, ladies. Now, in the US the top selling girl group belongs to Destiny's Child and the top selling album by a girl group is TLC's album CrazySexyCool. Spice Girls albums hold the 3rd and 6th position in the US. Still, worldwide the Spice Girls have it over the runner-up by 25 million albums. See the list below and enjoy some videos!
BEST SELLING GIRL GROUPS WORLDWIDE: (# indicates albums sold)
1. Spice Girls - 75 million


2. Destiny's Child - 50 million

3. TLC - 45 million

4. Bananarama - 40 million


5. Speed (Japan) - 20 million

6. The Supremes - 20 million

7. En Vogue - 20 million albums


8. Morning Musume (Japan) - 16 million

9. Salt -N- Pepa - 15 million


10. SWV - 15 million

11. Pussycat Dolls - 15 million

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: GEORGE MICHAEL - FATHER FIGURE

Back before everyone had a clue and didn't know that George Michael was gay (I always sensed it) he could get away with the ultra-sexy videos of him sexing women. This song and video set my little heart on fire when I saw it. The sunglasses at night, the scruffy face, the earring: I was in love. George originally intended Father Figure to be a dance track, but in the studio he took out the beat and realized it was a stunning, sexy, atmospheric track without it. Thank goodness for that!! This is one of my favorite songs of all time and it still melts my heart when I hear it. Sex it up today, sexy people!! Happy Humpday!!

PHOTO OF MADONNA & DANCERS ON SET OF "TURN UP THE RADIO" VIDEO

I CAN'T WAIT!!! This has been my summer song for months and it ain't even summer yet! Madonna's manager Guy Oseary recently tweeted a photo of Madonna and her dancers in Florence, Italy on the set of her latest video for Turn Up The Radio. YAY! Even though Interscope has done a piss-poor job promoting this album, I am super glad that this song is getting a release and a video. It's one of the best on MDNA, and that's saying a lot, IMHO. Looks like Madonna is taking on the role of mother to her dancers on this tour too as they all sit in the convertible with Madge holding court in a busty top and biker cap. HOT! I guess she's feeling pretty confident about her body these days since she's showing quite a bit of it in concert lately. ha. She should feel good. Women half her age would KILL for that body. Anyway, here is the song below so you can go ahead and start falling in love with it before the video comes out. Just do it. It's Gay Pride Month. You owe it to Madonna!!!

KATY PERRY IN WONDERLAND. NEW VIDEO FOR WIDE AWAKE

Katy Perry continues her string of success with the next single off her special edition of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, Wide Awake. While this song and video are CERTAINLY better than Part of Me, her last inexplicable #1 song, I have no idea what is going on in this video. It's very pretty though!! Katy is shown on the set of her video for California Gurls, then goes into her dressing room and tree sprouts out of her head, I guess, and takes her to a dream world where there's a little ghost girl (I'll give you a hint: it's Katy as a kid), she's stuck in a maze (fame?) and where she punches a super-cute prince for crossing his fingers (Russell Brand, except cute?). Don't be so hasty, get yours first, girl!! Anyway, then she is all of the sudden rising up from below the stage on her tour singing Teenage Dream (the completely deserving #1 song from the Teenage Dream album). Anyway, come to your own conclusion about the clip. At least she looks pretty. Wide Awake currently sits at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Watch.

THE BEACH BOYS BEAT THE BEATLES CHART RECORD

The Beach Boys debut at #3 this week on the Billboard 200 with their latest effort, That's Why God Made the Radio, and with that, they topple the Beatles record for longest span between top 10 albums by a group on the chart. The Boys' first album to chart was Surfin' USA, 49 years and 1 week ago. WOW!! That was June 15, 1963. The record was previously held by the Beatles, who last saw the top 10 with their greatest hits album, 1, on October 1, 2011. That was 47 years, 7 months and 1 week after their debut on the chart with Meet the Beatles on February 8, 1964. Of course, it should be noted that The Beach Boys new album is all original material. Shouldn't that count? I get it, most of the Beatles on no longer with us. Don't bite my head off. Now, when you talk ALL artists, Frank Sinatra holds the record for the longest span, 52 years 2 months and 1 week. So the bands have a way to go. Congrats to The Beach Boys though! Here is an album sampler of the tracks off of their excellent new album That's Why God Made the Radio. Check it out!![source]

MADONNA FRIDAY: TAKE A BOW & YOU'LL SEE

Madonna upped the ante with a music video miniseries, if you will, when she decided to make a continuation of her excellent video for Take a Bow. Take a Bow is one of Madonna's biggest chart hits, spending 7 weeks at #1 in February 1995. The video was a lavish production shot in Antequera, Spain. The story revolved around Madonna as a bullfighter's lover who is being ignored. The bullfighter was played by real-life Spanish bullfighter Emilio Munoz. He abuses her emotionally and uses her before eventually abandoning her. WHAT AN ASS!!! You'll See, (#6) released off Madonna's 1995 Something To Remember ballads album saw the video pick up right where TAB left us. Now Madonna has decided to leave Spain and her bullfighter lover is feeling remorse and wanting her back. He attempts several times to kill himself over his loss, finally walking into the ocean as Madge's plane flies off overhead. These are both beautiful videos and gorgeous songs. Enjoy Take a Bow and You'll See.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOY GEORGE!

Boy George, the androgynous 80s icon, is 51 today. Boy came to prominence as the lead singer of Culture Club in the early 80s and took America, and the world, by storm. Can you believe that not everyone knew he was gay right away? Well, to be fair, not everyone knew he was a "HE" right away either. ha. Boy George and Culture Club had hit after hit in the 80s and are still kickin' it occasionally these days, and Boy has become a quite sought after dj as well, when he's not chaining hustlers to radiators that is. Below I present to you Boy George's biggest UK solo hit, Everything I Own (#1, 1987) and his biggest US solo hit, The Crying Game (#15, 1992).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBYN!

Swedish pop darling Robyn is 33 today!! Robyn may not yet be a household name in the US, but who cares!??!! She's fierce! Her last trilogy of Body Talk albums blew my mind and produced some of the best dance/pop anthems in recent history. This past January Robyn also tweeted that she was working on new music, so hopefully we'll have more to dance about by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed!! Here are the major singles from Body Talk for you to enjoy today. Happy bday, Robyn!!!

MADONNA GIVES ISTANBUL A PEEK AT HER BREAST

OH MY! Madonna has kicked it up a notch on the MDNA World Tour, flashing the crowd in Instanbul this past weekend. For no other reason than SHE CAN, Madonna gave the crowd shot of her ample bossom during her performance of Human Nature and they apparently LOVED it! So would I!!! Check out the sexy mamma drop bra for the audience below. She's still go it, and she looks AMAZING!! I don't remember her ever doing this before. I mean, We've all seen Madonna's nipples before, but live on stage? Correct me if I'm wrong. Anway, watch, BUT NOT AT WORK!

MADONNA FRIDAY: WHO'S THAT GIRL?

By 1987 Madonna was already pop music royalty. Coming off the massive success of True Blue, Madonna decided to try her hand, after disastrous results with Shanghai Surprise, at films again. The film Who's That Girl? (although I LOVE it) was a complete bomb, but nothing could hold Madonna back from the charts. The title track from the film, released in June 1987, continued the Spanish theme that Madonna had dabbled with in La Isla Bonita, and became her sixth #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as topping the charts in several other countries around the world. The video features clips from the film and an avatar that looks like Madge dancing around to the song while Madonna, with short dark hair and a group of kids, get into some mischief searching for treasure. It's not one of my fave vids of hers, but I'll take it. The song has only been performed once in concert, on the Who's That Girl World Tour, but it remains a fan fave. In 2000 in a poll conducted by Billboard magazine, Who's That Girl came in 10th as voters favorite Madonna song (Vogue was #1). Every time I hear it, this song takes me back to that summer because I remember getting really mad at a friend of mine for not liking it. Kids....whattaya gonna do? Enjoy the latin rhythms of Who's That Girl?.

SOUNDTRACK DAY!!

I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my world by listing my top 5 favorite soundtracks of all time. These are based solely on the merits of how much I personally enjoyed them, so if you don't agree that's okay. You're 100% wrong, but that's okay. ha. Anyway, just a little trip down memory lane for me and hopefully for you! Some of my fondest memories are attached to these movies and their music. Here we go. Oh, and yes, they're all from the 70s an 80s. DUH!

5. Saturday Night Fever - I mean, HELLO! This album is a freakin' masterpiece and defines an entire decade of music. The incomparable Bee Gees put together a soundtrack that perfectly captured the sexy, gritty disco era and produced unforgettable songs in the process. The title track, More Than a Woman, If I Can't Have You, How Deep is Your Love are all classics. It doesn't even matter that I can only understand about five words of Night Fever, it's still one of my favorite songs of all time. Watch the video for the song and try not to shake that ass!


4. 9 1/2 Weeks - Arguably the sexiest movie of the 80s, especially since it was basically one long sex scene, 9 1/2 Weeks also had an amazing soundtrack that went along with it!! Though not has hugely successful as other 80s soundtracks, it did spawn the hit by Duran Duran member John Taylor, I Do What I Do. But more importantly, the whole album was great! Contributions by Eurythmics, Devo, Corey Hart (Eurasian Eyes, my fave), Dalbello and Luba all unimaginably great, and of course the gem of them all, You Can Leave Your Hat On by Joe Cocker which Kim Basinger does her strip tease to. Hot!! Watch the NSFW VIDEO below and check out this album if you never have.


3. Footloose - DANCE!!! Footloose was undeniably a phenomenon when it came out. Everybody had seen it and everybody had the soundtrack. Hit after hit after hit, including two #1 song, Footloose and Let's Hear It For The Boy, flooded the radio for months. Of course, every song was a hit to me, especially Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero and Dancing in the Sheets by Shalamar. You all know a song from Footloose. Here is the INCREDIBLY 80s video for Holding Out for a Hero for you to enjoy/laugh at. But the song is amazy!!


2. Flashdance - Another film that completely changed the way I thought about music and movies. Flashdance was like watching a really long music video, and I LOVED it. Still obsessed with Jennifer Beales to this day, as a matter of fact. From the smash, Academy Award winning title track by Irene Cara to the #1 hit Maniac, Flashdance's sountrack was chock full of energy and electronic goodness. Find a better group of songs than Manhunt, Imagination and Romeo. I dare you. Here is the video for Flashdance...What a Feelin' by Irene Cara. Amazing.


1. Purple Rain - If you don't like Purple Rain, you don't like MUSIC!! Prince & the Revolution let loose a masterpiece that was, is and always will be my favorite movie sountrack of all time. The album stayed at #1 for 24 weeks and spawned the moster hits When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy, the title track, Take Me With U and the glorious I Would Die 4 U. Every song is amazing and complex and done in only a way Prince can do. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. It's regarded as one of the best albums of all time. Here is the final scene from Purple Rain with I Would Die 4 U & Baby, I'm a Star. Wow. That's all I can say. Wow. Enjoy.

Prince - I would die 4 U/ Baby I'm a Star from mark Daley on Vimeo.

WATCH GRACE JONES SING AND HULA-HOOP FOR THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

Not much to say about this except when is the last time you saw a 64 year-old woman hula-hoop for four-and-a-half minutes? WHILE SINGING?? The legendary Ms. Grace Jones took the stage at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert to sing her classic hit Slave to the Rhythm and showed off some serious skills at the same time. Always bringing something unexpected. You go, Grace!! Watch in awe...

REVIEW: THE BEACH BOYS - THAT'S WHY GOD MADE THE RADIO

From the opening piano/vocal track Think About the Days, you can tell EXACTLY who you are listening to; the glistening five part harmony, the melancholy tone, the sunny gleam over a slightly sad melody....The Beach Boys are back!! Their first full length album of original music since 1992's Summer in Paradise finds The Boys in more than fine form, with the classic lineup back together and updating their sound without losing their trademark beach groove. But don't worry, you're not going to find any guest rappers on this one, folks. Each member gets a lead vocal on the album. If you already love The Beach Boys, you will ADORE this, their 50th ANNIVERSARY ALBUM, That's Why God Made the Radio. If you don't, you're stupid. Just kidding. No, I'm not. The title song takes us right back to their 60s heyday. The perfection of the harmony is astounding really. Isn't It Time, with it's doo-wops in the background, makes you wanna grab your letter jacket and go parking. You'll find that feeling happening all over the place with songs like Spring Vacation and Daybreak Over the Ocean. Meanwhile, if you wondered where the Fleet Foxes got their sound, look no further than the masters of melancholic beauty in the sounds of the last three tracks on this record From There To Back Again, Pacific Coast Highway and Summer's Gone. I have been highly anticipating this album. I only recently, in the last couple of years, REALLY got into The Beach Boys (don't know why) but of course grew up knowing most of their songs. I mean, Kokomo was an 80s staple, right? This set is a real treat and shows that Brain Wilson and The Beach Boys can still make magic. Here is the super cute lyric video for the first single, That's Why God Made The Radio. It's kinda fabulous, y'all. Enjoy and go get this record when it comes out next Tuesday.

MADONNA FRIDAY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARILYN MONROE. MATERIAL GIRL

In honor of what would have been Marilyn Monroe's 86th birthday, I give you the very first Madonna video paying homage to the image of the late, great sex symbol: Material Girl. Madonna made no secret about how much Marilyn's image inspired her early career, and this video took a direct approach in reveling in the pink glory of her famous Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend number from the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Material Girl was, of course, a take on the song and image, reversing it to make it clear that Madonna was indeed NOT a material girl. The irony was lost on almost everyone and the moniker of "Material Girl" has stuck with Madonna throughout her career. Well, could be worse! ha. Monroe inspired Madonna many times throughout her spectacular career in images, especially the pin-up poses, and of course continues to be an icon to millions around the world. Here is the video for Material Girl (#2 1985) and the clip for Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend. Enjoy and Happy Birthday, Marilyn.