Now here’s a blast from the past. In 2008, Duffy rode the Amy Winehouse retro pop wave to a hit record, ‘Mercy,’ from her debut album, Rockferry.
She was never heard from again!
That’s not exactly true. She released a sophomore album, Endlessly, two years later and was met with shrugs from critics and record buyers alike. Then nothing.
You know the whole Bob Dylan bootleg thing has gotten out of control when I’m looking for a YouTube clip of today’s Random SOTD and I dig up at least four outtake versions, none of which appear to be the one I need.
Last year Dylan released an 18 CD set of every song recorded during the 1965-66 studio sessions that resulted in Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde.
My final Moana selection comes courtesy of Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement, who plays a large blinged-out crab named Tamatoa.
‘Shiny’ is a glam rock song that Clement performs in full-on David Bowie mode. Lin-Miranda Manuel says that he was inspired to write the track after Bowie’s passing.
Though Moana‘s title character is obviously in the lead role, the film’s biggest star is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who voices the demi-god Maui. Based on an actual figure in Hawaiian mythology, Maui is said to have wielded a giant fishhook, raised islands from the deep, lifted the sky, slowed down the sun and invented the coconut tree.
Johnson is a hoot in what’s essentially the genie role from Aladdin with a lot more tattoos. But unlike Robin Williams, he complements the film more than takes it over.
While Moana’s father tells her their people have never ventured beyond the island reef, the truth is (SPOILER ALERT) Polynesian people have been beast-mode explorers for generations. Just imagine how ballsy you have to be to venture into the open ocean with no idea what, if anything, you’ll find.
And then you’re rewarded by finding Hawaii! Respect.
Meet Me In Montauk 