Andrew Martone

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted & Black is a Masterpiece

January 24, 2017

Young, Gifted & Black: The Queen On The Throne 45 years ago Aretha Franklin was at her peak. 3 major events mark this era: First, her show stopping 1971 performances at the Fillmore West in San Francisco helped expose her to a brand new audience. Second, her game-changing 1972 gospel album Amazing Grace redefined the gospel genre, and helped bring

Music·Then

Is Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” An Undercover LGBT Anthem?

Introduction Before I get started on “Ain’t No Way”, I want to address a few things (in case this crosses Miss Franklin’s eyes). The intention of this piece is not gossip. No malice is intended in these words. I’m simply working off information I’ve learned, and a theory I came up with as

Where Are You Christmas? Mariah Carey’s Unsung Holiday Classic

Faith Hill’s “Where Are You Christmas?” To some, it’s ‘that song from

Me. I Am Misunderstood… The Elusive Chronicles of Mariah’s 14th studio album

Introduction In 2014, Mariah Carey released her fourteenth studio album, Me. I

lil kim the naked truth marc jacobs joan of arc

Get Naked: Lil’ Kim’s ‘The Naked Truth,’ Revisited

September 27, 2015

Featured·In Depth·Music·Then

In 2005, Lil’ Kim sat in a very different place than she does now. A trial for a perjury charge stemming from a 2001 shooting found the Queen Bee in court. She watching her former Junior M.A.F.I.A. affiliates testify against her. Soon after Lil’ Kim was found guilty of perjury

EP Review: ‘WILD’ by Troye Sivan

September 9, 2015

Featured·Music·Now·Reviews

Troye Sivan’s journey to a full-length album continues with his second EP in just over a year, WILD. He follows up last year’s TRXYE stronger, more focused, and a more well-rounded artist. The EP was recorded over the last year. Thematically it touches on crushes, relationships, and family, reflecting how

“I’m thinking of”… Mariah Carey’s 13th #1: “My All”

September 7, 2015

In Depth·Mariah Carey·Music·Then

“I’m thinking of you” declares Mariah in the opening line of 1997’s “My All,” the second single off her magnum opus Butterfly. The Spanish guitar-driven song went on to become her 13th #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the most for a female artist at the time, and remains an

Album Review: “Nina Revisited… A Tribute To Nina Simone”

July 12, 2015

Music·Now·Reviews

Love her? Then leave her. Nina Simone was, by all accounts, a musical pioneer. Her seamless integration of classical music into jazz, show tunes, blues, gospel, and soul is, in it’s own, monumental. Pair that with her unmistakable voice- by her own account was sometimes like coffee with cream, and

How Mariah Carey’s first recorded cover, “I’ll Be There,” became her 6th #1

July 1, 2015

Featured·In Depth·Mariah Carey·Music·Then

In 1992, a young Mariah Carey still had a lot of people to prove wrong. With two #1 albums, 5 #1 singles, and 2 Grammy Awards, she had accomplished a lot for a 22 year old with barely 2 years in the music business under her belt. Despite her success,

Lil’ Kim’s The Notorious K.I.M.: 15 Years Later

June 27, 2015

Featured·In Depth·Music·Then

“This album I get to show my creativity, my versatility” – Lil’ Kim, 2000 After the death of The Notorious BIG in early 1997, the legacy he was building was left hanging in the balance. For the artists he was helping establish, especially Lil’ Kim, it became public question what

“I Don’t Wanna Cry” … the ballad of Mariah Carey’s historical fourth #1

June 18, 2015

In Depth·Mariah Carey·Music·Then

After the trifecta of “Vision of Love”, “Love Takes Time” and “Someday” all soaring to number one from her debut album, Mariah Carey finished out the US promotion of her first body of work with the slow-burning, intense-climaxing “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” The song went on to be Carey’s fourth consecutive

THROWBACK: Lauryn Hill and Jazmine Sullivan pay tribute to Nina Simone at the Apollo Theater

June 3, 2015

For the Nostalgia·Music·Then

A special performance rocked the 2015 New York City premiere for Liz Garbus’ Nina Simone documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone? at the legendary Apollo Theater. In conjunction with the film’s premiere on Netflix, an album will be released featuring contemporary artists including Mary J. Blige, Usher, and Jazmine Sullivan interpreting

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Andrew Martone

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted & Black is a Masterpiece

Is Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” An Undercover LGBT Anthem?

Where Are You Christmas? Mariah Carey’s Unsung Holiday Classic

Me. I Am Misunderstood… The Elusive Chronicles of Mariah’s 14th studio album

Get Naked: Lil’ Kim’s ‘The Naked Truth,’ Revisited

EP Review: ‘WILD’ by Troye Sivan

“I’m thinking of”… Mariah Carey’s 13th #1: “My All”

Album Review: “Nina Revisited… A Tribute To Nina Simone”

How Mariah Carey’s first recorded cover, “I’ll Be There,” became her 6th #1

Lil’ Kim’s The Notorious K.I.M.: 15 Years Later

“I Don’t Wanna Cry” … the ballad of Mariah Carey’s historical fourth #1

THROWBACK: Lauryn Hill and Jazmine Sullivan pay tribute to Nina Simone at the Apollo Theater

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