Category Archives: Music

How David Bowie’s “Blackstar” Taught Us How to Die

Posted on January 8, 2020 by ddeal

Four years ago on January 8, David Bowie gave us a majestic gift on his own birthday: Blackstar, his 25th and final studio album. I believe Blackstar is the most significant work of popular music in the 21st Century. For with Blackstar, David Bowie … Continue reading →

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How Kanye West Became the Reincarnation of Al Green

Posted on December 29, 2019 by ddeal

Kanye West has made a career of throwing people off balance, just as he is doing now with his embrace of Christianity. And when Kanye embraces something, he goes all the way. In October, he released a set of Christian … Continue reading →

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Why We Buy Vinyl

Posted on November 28, 2019 by ddeal

My name is David. And I’m a vinyl addict.  At a time when I should be de-cluttering my life, I’m accumulating vinyl records. I own four copies of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It’s not enough for me to … Continue reading →

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Three Lessons for Brands from Ellie Goulding’s Thanksgiving Day Stand Against the Salvation Army

Posted on November 17, 2019 by ddeal

The Ellie Goulding/Salvation Army controversy is the latest high-profile example of a brand/artist collaboration taking a left turn into the realm of political/social consciousness. Continue reading →

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How the Intersect Music Festival Demonstrates the Risks of the Band/Brand Relationship

Posted on October 27, 2019 by ddeal

Many brands try to create enduring emotional ties with people by being culturally relevant. Cultural relevance is about connecting with an audience through their beliefs, interests, and behaviors. Forming marketing relatinships with musicians is a way for businesses to achieve … Continue reading →

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The Myth of Fat Elvis

Posted on October 20, 2019 by ddeal

History has been cruel to Elvis Presley. Last impressions are usually the enduring ones, and our last impression of Elvis is the “Fat Elvis” of the 1970s: a sweaty, blubbery shell of his former self, spaced out on drugs in … Continue reading →

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How the University of Kansas Made Snoop Dogg Dangerous

Posted on October 7, 2019 by ddeal

God bless Snoop Dogg for proving that music still has the power to provoke. On October 4, the famous hip-hop artist lit up the University of Kansas Allen Fieldhouse basketball court by performing some of his profanity-laden hits, while dancers … Continue reading →

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“Absolutely Live”: A Portrait of Jim Morrison’s Creative Rebirth

Posted on September 24, 2019 by ddeal

Absolutely Live is the only official live album the Doors released in Jim Morrison’s lifetime. It’s also a misunderstood album. Rock historians remember Absolutely Live, released in 1970, as a document of an artist in decline. In fact, Absolutely Live captures a time when Jim … Continue reading →

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Vinyl Vibe: Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible”

Posted on September 20, 2019 by ddeal

Don’t let an algorithm define your tastes. Get out there and discover art with reckless abandon. Last weekend, I visited a vinyl record store, Plaza Records, in Carbondale, Illinois. I had not been there in three years. All record stores are … Continue reading →

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Al Green: The Spirit Is Willing . . .

Posted on June 6, 2019 by ddeal

When I told my sister Karen I was going to see Al Green perform at the Chicago Theater May 7, she replied, “You mean Reverend Green.” Yes. Reverend Al Green. The Al Green who sold millions of records singing about love and … Continue reading →

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