Sondheim! The Birthday Concert (Blu-ray Review)
To celebrate renowned composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, this star-studded tribute concert was assembled by Lonny Price and held at the Avery Fisher Hall last March 2010. For those of you that aren’t aware of who Sondheim is, he has won an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer) including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammys, and a Pulitzer Prize. His best know works (as composer/lyricist) are A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Assassins, as well as the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
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Well here I am, the review that was not supposed to ever happen. I told myself due to time constraints with my most recent trip out here to California that I simply would not have the time, sadly, to review Shakira’s latest effort, Sale El Sol. That all changed after the publication of my last review, Shakira’s performance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 23rd (see the full review 
“Shakira, Shakira.” It seems like those are the most commonly used words “kind” people harmoniously respond with whenever I ask them if they are a fan of Shakira or not. And you know what? I seemingly never grow tired of it. You see, like the Arabic meaning of Shakira’s name, I have a lot to be “thankful” for when it comes to the music and hip-shakin’ moves of my favorite Colombian export. 
I thought this was pretty cool. I just stumbled upon this right now before heading out the door. You can listen to Shakira’s brand new album, Sale El Sol, in its entirety before it hits stores next Tuesday. Click the image below to listen to the album now on Facebook! I must be feeling very generous today because I was also kind enough to embed her newest music video below, “Loca.” She’s looking good. I know Shakira is not everyone’s cup of tea, but even if it puts a smile on a few faces today, you’re very welcome! 
If you count 2003’s Past, Present & Future and 2006’s 20th Century Masters: Millenium Collection: The Best of Rob Zombie, then I guess you can safely say this is Rob Zombie’s third greatest hits album on the Geffen Records label. But who cares? This is Rob Zombie! Even if he put his own line of dog food out there I would buy it all. But really, you are all probably wondering what’s so different about this third compilation album? I know I was. So if you have a few minutes, I would like to show you around Rob Zombie’s Icon 2, in stores now. 
So two things: I enjoy a good concert, and I have never been to Chicago. In an effort to satisfy both of these things, on the weekend of August 6th – 8th, I embarked on a trip to Lollapalooza 2010, located in Grant Park, Chicago, IL. For those unfamiliar, Lollapalooza is an annual music festival, consisting of a diverse range of bands (though mostly alternative rock), performing on about 8 different stages throughout the day. 
I am no longer a Gaga concert virgin. The controversial pop superstar recently arrived in Cleveland, Ohio for her July 14th performance along with a talented and sizable ensemble woven into the Monster Ball Tour. First things first; this was not a concert. Lady Gaga’s performance is an experience to the Nth degree on so many levels. If anyone out there is having any thoughts on attending one of the dates on her tour, let me say this…if in-your-face sexuality bothers you, stay away. 
It was only a couple weeks ago when WhySoBlu covered the June 26th mixed martial arts event that featured special guest and MMA star, Anderson Silva. The fighting spectacular featured four bands that day with the headliner being a hard rock band simply known as MUSH. The band played relentlessly, donned in black under the blistering summer sun. Belting out tunes like Frostbite and Remembrance, the five-member band unleashed a torrent of original works along with covers from bands like Korn. 
When Gregg Senko suggested that we write about three albums that changed our lives at first I thought that it would be pretty easy to do, until I really started to think about it. Should I cover only movie soundtracks or should it be non-movie related like my co-workers picks? Even now, as I am writing this, I have no idea what I will end up with as my picks. If you’ve read my bio section on the staff page of the website, you know that I have eclectic taste in music. 
Every once in a great while we’ll get one of those projects that we just can’t wait to devour. This be that kind of project. Three albums that changed us? It was kind of hard at first, but I feel that I was able to come through with my picks loud and clear. Funny enough, all three of my choices were discovered on or around the same time. Same decade, for sure. 
When fellow Why So Blu staff writer Gregg Senko asked me to come up with three albums that changed the world of music for me I jumped at the opportunity. I said to myself, “This will be a piece of cake.” Well, little did I know how hard it would be narrowing down my selections to just three. I mean, anyone that really associates with me knows that I have a very wide range of musical preferences and tastes in life. And then there are some people who know me as just that guy who only listens to Rob Zombie. 
All this week, Why So Blu will be featuring some of its writers albums that, while not necessarily their favorites, were recordings that changed our lives in some way, shape, or form. Each day, Monday through Friday of this week, will highlight a different writer. When the crew sat down and discussed this, we figured everyone likes music and this will give our readers a little insight into what makes us musically tick. 
Alexx Calise spent her childhood, like most great artists, buried alone in the pages of a notebook and finding comfort in her parents’ diverse and influential record collection. Around age 11, she showed her first sign of musical brilliance as she picked up a guitar and instantly began formulating melodies with the poetry she had already written in her head. Here’s where we usually say “..and the rest is history.” But wait! Not so fast! 
I found this story/video first posted on Facebook. Being huge Rob Zombie fans around here, it only feels natural to share the following video with all our readers who we hope are also big Rob Zombie fans (come on…you know you are…you’re never too old). Anyway, Rob returns to the 2010 scene more sinister than ever. Is that even possible? Hell yeah! I’m a believer. Check out his new video from the first day of the “Gruesome Twosome” Tour that he is currently on with none other than music’s legendary madman Alice Cooper. 
My girl is back! That’s right! The sexy hip-shakin’ Colombian superstar Shakira is back this May with a brand new track and this #1 fan here in Cleveland (please come here Shaki…please come to C-town on your tour) could not be happier about the news. Much like she did years ago with her World Cup remix of “Hips Don’t Lie,” Shakira is back again in support of FIFA’s 2010 World Cup. The song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” will be released to digital retailers the week of May 11th with a music video to follow shortly. 
Our love and admiration for Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures is no secret here on Why So Blu (see our other stories 
Every once in a blue moon you come across some unlikely artistic pairing that just makes you wonder how the two ended up together. The funny thing is, these odd combinations can somehow come together and pull it off. Call it fate, call it the planets being in alignment, or just call it two different forms of talent gelling with one another. There was Nelly and Tim McGraw, Def Leppard and Taylor Swift, but how about the 1960’s flavor of go-go dancing and the smooth sound of rockabilly? 
This past April 1st was no fool’s day, as rocker Chris Daughtry and company were in Cleveland performing in front of a capacity crowd. I’m still utterly dumbfounded when I mention Daughtry’s name (referring to either the man himself or his band’s namesake) and I still get retorts of “I don’t know” or “I don’t watch American Idol.” I wasn’t alive during the late 1700’s but I still know who George Washington is. My point is, I don’t watch the show either, but somehow through the magic of reading or some other kind of awareness, I know who the guy is. 
