BEYONCE & THE FIFTY SHADES OF GREY INSTAGRAM
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Beyonce |
BEYONCE GREY --- You won't find the teaser trailer for one of 2015's most anticipated films in any movie theatre. Instead, head to Beyoncé's Instagram page. The singer subtly revealed her Fifty Shades of Grey involvement last night, posted a video that shows brief clips from the film accompanied by what sounds like a goth rendition of Beyonce's 2003 hit "Crazy In Love" and the hashtag #fiftyshades. We'll probably hear more from Beyonce when the Fifty Shades of Grey trailer formally arrives this Thursday, July 24th.
Beyoncé's connection with the adaptation's soundtrack was initially hinted back in March when Beyoncé's "Haunted" popped up in Fifty Shades footage that premiered at CinemaCon. While she didn't elaborate on more details last night regarding her contribution to the Fifty Shades soundtrack – she didn't even confirm whether or not she'd be on the disc – it'd be strange if Beyoncé wasn't involved and was simply getting fans hyped for the film's trailer by posting the teaser. Or maybe Beyonce, like every soccer mom in America, is just really eager for Fifty Shades of Grey to hit theatres around Valentine's Day 2015. Rita Ora, who will appear in the film, also re-posted the same clip.
Beyoncé is no stranger to soundtracks, but Fifty Shades of Grey is a rare instance where the singer contributes a track to a film that she doesn't also appear in. In 2002, Beyoncé recorded for "Work It Out" and "Hey Goldmember" to accompany her big screen debut in Austin Powers in Goldmember, and for 2006's The Pink Panther, Knowles offered up "A Woman Like Me" and the Number One single "Check On It."
She also lent her vocals to the Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records and Obsessed soundtracks, three more films where Beyoncé had a starring role. Only twice has she given a new track to a Beyoncé-less movie's soundtrack: "Wishing On a Star" for Roll Bounce and a cover of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" for 2013's The Great Gatsby soundtrack, which was excursively produced by partner-Jay Z.
GARNER GONE --- We lost a giant this weekend, James Garner. Pete Hammond’s tremendous memories in Deadline Hollywood were spot-on perfection. Take a read: “James Garner just made it all look too easy.
DONNY AT 50 --- Donny Osmond will celebrate fifty years in show business with his new album, Soundtrack of My Life, out January 13, 2015 on Verve.
According to Osmond, each track on the album tells a story about his life in the music business. While a full track list has not been released, a press release talks about Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour, which was the first record Osmond ever bought and he has even was able to get Wonder to play harmonica on the track.
Also on the album is Michael Jackson's Ben which was originally offered to Osmond but he was not able to accept because he was touring, so Jackson recorded the song himself.
Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" is included as Osmond's wife used the song to encourage Donny, as is Elton John's "Your Song," the song that Osmond heard at one of his concerts at the moment he knew he would marry his wife (and she was going out with Donny's brother at the time!).
The album also will include three originals.
Also new is an app that Osmond has released that includes the stories behind the songs on the upcoming album and a short snippet from each. "After fifty years of entertaining, I wanted to do something unique to celebrate a milestone in my career, as well as the launch of my 60th album. These are more than just great songs; each holds personal significance to a long-lasting career. In essence, these songs are the soundtrack of my life . . . so far."
Kind of sounds like the game plan Micky Dolenz used in his latest solo album Remember.
BEACH BOY BRIAN --- From the new Rolling Stone: Brian Wilson was deep into writing songs for a new Beach Boys album when Mike Love pulled the plug on the group's 2012 reunion tour. "It was a shock," Wilson says. "I was so proud of how the Boys were singing. Then it just ended."
For a while, Wilson let the music go: "I was writing for the Boys, so I thought, 'What am I gonna do without them?'"
But last year he got the idea to bring in guest singers to finish the songs. Wilson had loved working with female vocalists since his early Beach Boys days, when he'd moonlight producing tracks for girl groups like the Honeys, which featured his first wife, Marilyn Rovell. He invited some of his favorite young singers to Ocean Way studios in Hollywood, including Lana Del Rey, Kacey Musgraves and Zooey Deschanel.
Frank Ocean rapped on "Special Love," though the track remains unfinished and may not make the album. A track with Nate Ruess from fun. was more successful: Wilson said he “Sounds a little like my brother Carl.”
Today, Wilson sits at the console at Ocean Way, recording Musgraves' vocals for "Guess You Had to Be There." He sips wheat grass juice and munches on a chocolate doughnut. The song is lighthearted and fun, but the session didn't start that way. "Kacey said, 'Boy, he really tells you when he doesn't like your pitch,'" says Wilson's manager.
Wilson is often passive in social situations, but in the studio he barks instructions to musicians and creates complex vocal arrangements on the spot. "When it's good it's good, when it's not – do it again," he says. "But after three tries, Kacey nailed it. I like the way she just slides over the notes – she has a very cool sound."
"Brian's really on it," says Don Was, the president of Blue Note Records, who also plays bass on the album (which is due out this fall). "I was knocked out by a couple of songs on that last Beach Boys record – 'Summer's Gone' ranks with his greatest work. I didn't expect that he's got a whole other album of stuff on that level."
The tracks come from all over the place: "Summer Means New Love" is a remake of a 1965 Beach Boys instrumental; "On the Island" is a space-age bossa nova with Deschanel; "Danny Boy" is a harmony-drenched take on the old standard, which features Jeff Beck on a track salvaged from aborted Wilson-Beck sessions last year.
"Last Song," the album's centerpiece, is a heartbreaking ballad that was recorded in two versions – one with a haunting vocal by Del Rey and one with Wilson's lead vocals. The song recounts his sadness about the Beach Boys' dissolution. "It started out being about lost love," says co-producer Joe Thomas. "But after the tour fell apart it became more about a missed opportunity for Brian and the guys to ride into the sunset together."
"I got really choked up playing bass on that track," adds Was. "There's something about Brian signing off with it, saying, 'This is it, this is my last song.' It's really intense. If 'Last Song' turned out to be his last song, can you imagine? Wow. That'd be some coda."
CLOSING NOTES --- From one vampire to another: Micky Dolenz will be front-and-center tonight at the Hollywood Bowl on L. A., checking out the performance by the legendary Alice Cooper. The two were part of the infamous Hollywood Vampires in the 70’s in Hollywood. The other members were Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr, Bernie Taupin and John Lennon …
Jade Starling, pioneering dance pop icon as lead singer of Pretty Poison (“Catch Me I’m Falling” – classic Top 10 ‘80s dance pop hit just featured on the final season of Breaking Bad) who’s about to release her first solo album, owes a great deal of her career longevity to the unfailing support of the gay community. The flame-tressed diva’s devotion to drag queens, in particular, was cited this week by First Things, America’s most influential journal of religion and public life, in an article titled Androgyny: “Drag queens are amazing,” she tells the anti-secular monthly. “Their artistry, their makeup, their hair. They are always stunning.” Back on the dance charts, Starling has just added an Aug. 9 EDM showcase at Steve Walter’s Cutting Room in NYC. She also performs at the DJ Times Expo Aug. 11 at Scores Atlantic City …
Fox’s Peter Rice, who is credited as the architect of the 24 limited series Live Another Day, was asked at yesterday’s TCA’s in L. A. will there be more? “I’d love to see another season of 24,” he said. “(Live Another Day) was twisted and fantastic. It’s a wonderful franchise, and when you look at the show itself, it has many more stories to tell.” That means yes! Count on another limited-run.
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