Seven Songs for the Week #101 - 12th Mar 25

Lady Gaga put out her new album this week and she was host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. To pull off a performance like this in the middle of hosting a 90 minute variety show is really incredible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjbInjYp2ew especially when compared to the low energy, aw-shucks will this do attitude of the previous week's host Shane Gillis. The live version of Killah is better than on the record, but here it is anyway. Yes, it sounds like Bowie & Lennon & Alomar's Fame, and that opening line sounds like Lennon's New Your City. They are not credited. However, I was surprised to find out that album single Abracadabra is based off a Siouxsie & The Banshees song and they are credited. Hope that gives them a nice financial boost.

Picked up this album recently having never listened to it - an oversight. This track is lovely, and you must assume Tom Petty was listening intently when this came out.

Viral video time. One of the house teenagers is now listening to Joni Mitchell because Amanda Seyfried performed this track on Jimmy Fallon this week. That's a win.

While waiting for the new series of The Righteous Gemstones, I found Vice Principals to watch instead. From 2016 it's also a Danny McBride show with Walton Goggins. This track pops up in the first episode, and I have to admit, it doesn't strike you as a Tangerine Dream type of show.

I got my Pulp tickets for Dublin in June - can't wait. Pulp have also announced that they've signed a new record deal, which logic dictates tells you that a new record is coming. After You, from 2013, is the only new music they've put out since they started their on & off reunions 15 years ago. Produced by James Murphy, it gives a modern sympathetic sheen to the Pulp sound. I'd be happy of Murphy was involved in any new record.

There was a thread on the Hoffman Forums about Sinatra performances. This is a good one.

The magic of streaming is that having been exposed to this track/band via the movie Baby Driver, another of the house teenagers can summon up this whole album and away we go. I'm enjoying my kids schooling me about music I don't know.