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The CHIRP Blog
Josh Friedberg: Music Historian's Corner writesMichael Jackson Review Extravaganza, Part 2 of 2: Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory
by Josh Friedberg
[Read Part One]
After releasing the best-selling album ever, Thriller, in 1982, the expectations for Michael Jackson’s success were understandably high. So by lots of different measures, 1987’s Bad was inevitably a disappointment, but it also showed Jackson’s growth as a songwriter and an artist.
On Thriller, Jackson wrote four songs out of nine, whereas on Bad, he wrote nine songs out of eleven. And despite the clunky and very dated production, Jackson’s voice, though more strained than on Thriller, performs well throughout, especially on ballads like “Man in the Mirror” and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” a duet with Siedah Garrett. He sounds rougher from the get-go, bragging about his edginess on the opening title track and sounding hellbent on obtaining his object of desire on “The Way You Make Me Feel,” a standout hit from the album.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writes@CHIRPRADIO (Week of November 13)
New Media
- Amelia Hruby speaks with Ali and Nicole of Upset
- Dylan Peterson interviews Kweku Collins
- Kyle Sanders reviews the 53rd Annual Chicago International Film Festival
- Clarence Ewing and Kevin Fullam discuss sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood
Kevin Fullam writesThe Fourth Wall: Sexual Assault and Harassment in Hollywood
Welcome to The Fourth Wall, CHIRP's weekly e-conversation on cinema. This week's subject is the recent news reports of sexual assault and harassment in the arts and entertainment worlds.
This edition is written by CHIRP Radio volunteers Kevin Fullam and Clarence Ewing.
Clarence:
Kevin, I’m sure you’ve heard about what’s going on with Hollywood mogul and serial rapist Harvey Weinstein. I've been following this story along with the string of others after it and thinking about what it means for the film industry.
While I never followed the details of the personal lives of Harvey or his brother Bob, for the last few decades I have been a huge fan of the company they founded, Miramax (producer and/or distributor of a string of '90s landmarks like Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The Crying Game, and Clerks).
To me, this was a company that proved quality and profitability are not mutually exclusive in mass-market filmmaking. Even after the Weinsteins sold Miramax to Disney in 1993, they represented the idea that an independent operation could not only compete but be successful in movies, an idea that was inspirational to me and many others.
With the architect of this media miracle now hiding overseas, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the “casting couch” mentality that so many people (myself included) dismissed as just a fact of life of Tinsel Town is, literally and definitively, rape culture.
Lily writesCHIRP Radio Welcomes Nick Mulvey to Schubas on Saturday Nov. 11
Stop on by Schubas (3159 N. Southport Ave) on Saturday, November 11th at 7 p.m. to hear Nick Mulvey play his latest album Wake Up Now.
Nick Mulvey strayed away from his crew, Portico Quarter, and put away the hang instrument in 2011, so that he could officially focus in on his singer-songwriting solo career. It didn’t take long for him to take off with his solo work as he started to tour, put out EPs, a debut album and even performed at Thailand’s music festival, Wonderfruit.
Now that he officially has two albums under his belt, he is back on the road. Catch him here singing his new tunes that focus in on finding his place in the world, combined with a groove-based beat and his melodic vocals. This British singer will once again make his grand return, so you can get a glimpse of his music as he’s on the verge of taking the music world by storm.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
KSanders writesReview: The 53rd Annual Chicago International Film Festival
by Kyle Sanders
Bonjour, my fellow CHIRPers! As we close out the month of October by dressing in costume and raising the dead, we also bid adieu to another year of foreign film viewing at the 53rd annual Chicago International Film Festival! This is my second year reviewing the fest for CHIRP, and this year did not disappoint! From big screen debuts to reflective re-releases, this year's crop of celluloid offered a little something for everyone.
There were special presentations of upcoming mainstream films such as Guillermo Del Toro's fanciful The Shape of Water and Reginald Hudlin's biopic Marshall. Audiences also got a peek at The Square (this year's winner of the Palm d'Or at Cannes) and Call Me By Your Name, both of which are considered early Oscar contenders. There were special tributes to acclaimed performers Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Stewart, and Alfre Woodard thrown in as well. Finally, there was the presentation of awards, and this year's Golden Hugo award went to the Argentinian film A Sort of Family. All high-profile events were eagerly anticipated, and all the above events I was--naturally--unable to get into (damn you, expensive passes!).