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#1 |
Dawn's private genie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: the Canadian wasteland
Posts: 4,461
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![]() Let's see if positioning herself as a liberal pays off for her career.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal film maker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said on Monday. Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=5710258 |
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#2 |
BANG BANG BANG (repeat as necessary)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Soon to be elsewhere
Posts: 1,327
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![]() Only in America.
__________________
"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction" Dick Cheney - August 26, 2002 "I did not authorise the leaking of the name of David Kelly. Nobody was authorised to name David Kelly. I believe we have acted properly throughout" Tony Blair - July 22, 2003 |
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#3 |
===\/------/\===
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,704
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![]() I always liked "Youre No Good".
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#4 | |
Thanks for being with arse
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of the world
Posts: 10,343
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#5 |
even the losers
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,090
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![]() don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy, she'll eat you if she's able.
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#6 |
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New England
Posts: 10,017
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![]() Political Praise Polarizes Linda Ronstadt's Fans At Humphrey's
George Varga Linda Ronstadt, a late-blooming rabble-rouser? The woman with one of the most glorious voices in pop music and several decades' worth of hits, a political agitator at 58? This 10-time Grammy Award-winner didn't burn a flag or shout out a raging manifesto of sedition during her Sunday night concert at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay. But by dedicating her encore to someone she hailed as "a great American patriot and certainly the man of the hour" – "Fahrenheit 9/11" filmmaker Michael Moore – the Tucson-born singer ignited a fiery response. Like a musical Moses staging a song-fueled parting of the Red Sea, the veteran star instantly split her sold-out audience of 1,360 in two. Half the crowd heartily applauded her praise for Moore, the other half booed. In an instant, the intimate outdoor venue on Shelter Island filled with a roar of cheers and jeers that grew to a near-fever pitch. As Ronstadt started to perform her encore, an impassioned version of the Eagles' "Desperado," dozens of concertgoers angrily streamed toward the exits, while others gave her an ovation. It was a remarkable display of how a spoken introduction to a song, not the comparatively innocuous tune itself, could arouse the same crowd that had warmly greeted each of her 17 previous selections. In this pivotal election year, it was also a demonstration of just how polarized our nation and its people have become. According to Ronstadt, audiences at each stop on her ongoing summer tour have reacted to her Moore dedication with a similarly intense mix of emotions. "I don't try to instruct people how to vote or think," she told the Union-Tribune in a recent interview. "But Michael Moore has raised some really important points (about President Bush and the war in Iraq) that a lot of people haven't given thought to . . . So if I can just lend my voice to his efforts . . . " Ronstadt had only commented on current events once earlier in her 71-minute Sunday night concert. She dedicated her soaring version of the Nat "King" Cole classic "Straighten up and Fly Right" to "the good folks at Enron, who brought you the California energy crisis." She also dedicated the song to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom she chided for his recent claim that Democrats in Sacramento opposing his proposed budget cuts are "girlie men." "Now I'm wondering," Ronstadt mused, "what if you're a female legislator? Does that make you a 'manly girl?' Or a 'manly woman?' " The rest of her stage patter focused almost entirely on her repertoire, which offered a fetching mini-retrospective of her 38-year career. She began with eight big band-era ballads and swing tunes, including the show-opening "What's New?" and the sumptuous "Lush Life," from her three mid-1980s albums with legendary arranger Nelson Riddle. Improvisation, the essence of jazz, was missing from her note-perfect interpretations. But Ronstadt's luminous voice and expert phrasing generally compensated for her lack of spontaneity. The rest of her set revisited her pop hits, beginning with "Just One Look" and concluding with "Poor Poor Pitiful Me." Ronstadt performed each song with a winning combination of soul and finesse, rising from a whisper to a full-bodied vocal swoop and back again. She benefited from the expert backing of her six-man band, three harmony singers, and – on many selections – the crisply amplified Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. But the most memorable moment came with her brave dedication to Moore. (Her on-stage salute to him Saturday night at the Aladdin hotel-casino in Las Vegas created so much controversy that hotel management barred her from her suite and had her escorted off the property after the show.) Those who complain that Ronstadt should just sing, rather than express her opinions, forget that all art has a responsibility to inspire and provoke, not just soothe and entertain. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/f...c20linda.html# |
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#7 |
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New England
Posts: 10,017
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![]() Elton John Claims Anti-War Music Has Been Silenced
Elton John tells Interview magazine that the U.S. government is using "bullying tactics" to prevent anti-war music from being heard, and that performers are so scared that they are just letting it happen. "There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now and that is deadly," John explained, according to the New York Daily News, noting, "Everyone is too career-conscious. They're all too scared... things have changed." The British pianist pointed out that supporters of the war in Iraq--such as country star Toby Keith--are given free reign, while the Dixie Chicks faced a huge backlash after singer Natalie Maines made an anti-Bush comment to a London audience last year. "They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable," John said. He added that in the 1960s, artists took pride in using their freedom of expression. "People like Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, the Beatles and Pete Seeger were constantly writing and talking about what was going on. That's not happening now." John just wrapped up his five-night stand at Radio City Music Hall in New York City last night (Sunday, July 18). The 57-year-old pianist and his band performed with a full symphony orchestra and choir made up of students from both the Juilliard School in New York City and the Royal Academy Of Music in London. http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=219012 |
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#8 |
My eyes are now open.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oxford uk
Posts: 1,409
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![]() In the words of Jim Royle.
Free speech. My Arse. For those of you who don't know Jim. He's one of Royle family.
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#9 |
Earthbound misfit
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Moses Lake, Washington
Posts: 2,563
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![]() Don't blame the U.S. Government, it's the American people that drive music sales. People don't like to have their opinions contradicted by celebrities and they vote with their wallets. Elton John is basically complaining that doing what he thinks is right is unprofitable; once again the music business is demanding that the government protect their revenue stream.
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,742
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![]() It's a bit late in the game to be demanding a refund after the show is over.
All that over dedicating a song to Moore? Holy bananas batman! It's an avalanche of idiots!!! Run!!! |
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#11 |
flippin 'em off
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the real world
Posts: 3,232
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![]() Where's the freedom to not hear things. If some Nazi of KKK-er started ranting on stage you'd be hearing a whole different tune from the liberal whiners.
She could put a warning in her advertisments, but then she could kiss a whole lot of money goodbye; same as the other "censored" artists. They're not censored at all, they just lose a lot of money when they shoot their mouths off so they have to choose; and of course they choose money but bitch about censorship. Two faced greedy asswipes. |
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#12 | |
Keebeck Canuck
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Close to a border of LUNATICS
Posts: 1,771
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#13 |
flippin 'em off
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: the real world
Posts: 3,232
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![]() That's not freedom.
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#14 | |
One half won't do
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 270
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That should read "Certain people don't like..." Civilized human beings are conscious enough to remain calm in the face of a minor inconvenience. OTOH there is another bunch who fits this profile: You know, the violently intolerant, unprincipled and uncivilized thug throwing a little temper tantrum cause eveything isn't just so. Behavior more commonly seen in the animal kingdom. I'd like to see the demographic of the rioters. I bet that'd be a real laugher. All good church-going republicans fresh and funky from a night of trannie-hopping and dominatrix ass whipping. All fired up on demon rum to complete the transformation to wild-eyed sub-human Berserker. Behold! The Chosen Ones of GOD! ![]() ![]() ![]() We're gonna have to shoot those mutherfuckers before it's all over just to save ourselves and our country from this tidal wave of barbarism. ![]() I got dibs... ![]()
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No matter how powerful our political and religious leaders think they are, they are as dust before the immense and implacable forces of history and progress. Alan Moore [in Salon] ![]() |
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#15 | |
===\/------/\===
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,704
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Thats funny. ![]() |
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#16 | |
Earthbound misfit
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Moses Lake, Washington
Posts: 2,563
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,742
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![]() How much truth is in this report?
The flashy headlines read in big bold letters, Singer Booted From Vegas Casino. In much smaller letters the story says she was "escorted" out of the building after some of the crowd became violent and were breaking stuff. Were any of the rowdy patrons arrested? Did anyone receive a refund? While this story is taking up headline space, the real stories, the ones that do have a direct bearing on most people's lives in some way or another are not getting any airtime. Why? |
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#18 |
Dawn's private genie
Join Date: May 2001
Location: the Canadian wasteland
Posts: 4,461
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![]() This article even includes a review of the show.
![]() Aladdin expels Ronstadt after political remarks By Jerry Fink LAS VEGAS SUN Aladdin President Bill Timmins ordered security guards to escort pop diva Linda Ronstadt off the property following a concert Saturday night during which she expressed support for controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Timmins, who was among the almost 5,000 fans in the audience at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, had Ronstadt escorted to her tour bus and her belongings from her hotel room sent to her. Timmins also sent word to Ronstadt that she was no longer welcome at the property for future performances, according Aladdin spokeswoman Tyri Squyres. How much weight that carries is debatable, since the bankrupt Aladdin is in the process of being sold to a group headed by Planet Hollywood International Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Earl. Near the close of her performance, Ronstadt dedicated the Eagles hit "Desperado" to Moore, producer of "Fahrenheit 9/11," and the room erupted into equal parts boos and cheers. She said Moore "is someone who cares about this country deeply and is trying to help." Ronstadt has been making the dedication at each of her engagements since she began a national tour earlier this summer, but it has never sparked such a reaction. Hundreds of angry fans streamed from the theater as Ronstadt sang. Some of them reportedly defaced posters of her in the lobby, writing comments and tossing drinks on her pictures. Timmins told Las Vegas Sun gossip columnist Timothy McDarrah: "We live in a city where people come from all over the world to be entertained. We hired Ms. Ronstadt as an entertainer, not as a political activist. "Whether you are politically on the left or on the right is not the point. She went up in front of the stage and just let it out. This was not the correct forum for that." Timmins said she was wrong to bring her politics to the stage. "Our first and only priority is the enjoyment of our customers," he said. "I made the decision to ask Miss Ronstadt to leave the hotel. A situation like that can easily turn ugly and I didn't want anything more to come out of it. There were a lot of angry people there after she started talking. "If she wants to talk about her views to a newspaper or in a magazine article, she is free to do so. But in a stage in front of four and a half thousand people is not the place for it." Squyres said half the audience walked out, an estimate that might have been high. But the number was substantial, nevertheless. "The hotel's policy is that we hired her to entertain guests, not to express her political views," Squyres said. According to Squyres, the 58-year-old singer did not create a scene as she was escorted out of the hotel and to her tour bus. "She wasn't happy, but she was cooperative," Squyres said. Attempts to reach Ronstadt and her manager were unsuccessful Sunday and this morning. Squyres said a number of ticket holders had asked for their money back after an article appeared in a local newspaper last week quoting her making disparaging remarks about Las Vegas. "She said Vegas isn't the best place to perform anyway," Squyres said. Other fans asked for their money back shortly after the Saturday night show got underway, when Ronstadt informed the audience that ads publicizing the concert were incorrect. The advertisements called it her "Greatest Hits Tour." Ronstadt started the evening with her 1983 hit "What's New?" and then set her fans straight about what they might expect during the concert. "In case you are wondering what I'm going to do," she said, "Driving into town I saw this big billboard up there with my picture on it saying 'The Greatest Hits Tour.' "That was news to us. We didn't know it was 'The Greatest Hits Tour.' " Squyres said Ronstadt was wrong. "Her management gave us the information and approved the ad," she said. According to Squyres, Ronstadt lopped off about 20 minutes from the show, walking away from an encore portion of the concert, which I attended as the reviewer for the Sun. The incident capped a generally lackluster, unenthusiastic performance by one of the top singers of the '70s and '80s. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra opened the concert. The highlight of the 30-minute segment was a rendition of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," featuring pianist Terrance Wilson. Ronstadt began with several songs from the 1920s, '30s and '40s she and arranger Nelson Riddle recorded, among them "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Straighten Up and Fly Right." She performed Cole Porter's "Get Out of Town," Frank Loesser's "Never Will I Marry" and jazz great Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life." And then she gave fans some of what they came for, several of her hits from the '70s and '80s, including "Just One Look" (1979), "Ooh Baby, Baby" (1978) and "Somewhere Out There" (1987). Although she still has that powerful, distinctive voice, Ronstadt was merely going through the motions. The only song she had trouble with was "Blue Bayou." She stumbled over the lyrics, seemed to gasp for breath at one point and ended the song in Spanish, screaming the words rather than singing them. Her performance was uninspired and generally flat. She lacked stage presence, doing little more than sleepwalk from song to song. The fiasco at the end was the most exciting part of the show. |
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#19 |
Rebel With A Cause
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: VA-USA
Posts: 5,088
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![]() daddydirt hit a funny one. napho...are you a computer? ...sometimes I'm emarrassed to be American ...do we look bad? Don't answer that ...it's getting worse everyday.
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#20 | |
One half won't do
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Florida
Posts: 270
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Looking at napho's post I think it was probably less than half of the audience that left. A lot of these groups come from tour busses who cater to a certain group of people. It may have been one of the bus loads that went apeshit. So you really can't say it was a representative slice of the audience. I don't want to bust your balls man but there's one thing different about left and right wing people. Left wingers tend to protest by not voting and withdrawing from other participation and right wingers tend to protest by turning out in droves, all fired up and ready to lash out at anybody they perceive disagreeing with them. If you took a scientific poll of the whole of the eligible voters in America you would see that the electorate leans decidedly to the left about 60/40%. Lefties just don't get off their ass and vote (or are prevented from doing so by various chicaneries of the right) because they overestimate the hopelessness of the system. As far as that casiṇ is concerned having Arnold on the new board of directors sure won't make things any better for free speech.
__________________
No matter how powerful our political and religious leaders think they are, they are as dust before the immense and implacable forces of history and progress. Alan Moore [in Salon] ![]() |
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