Salon.com > Kanye West http://www.salon.com Wed, 03 Jul 2013 01:14:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Lou Reed is a big fan of “Yeezus” http://www.salon.com/2013/07/02/lou_reed_is_a_big_fan_of_yeezus/ http://www.salon.com/2013/07/02/lou_reed_is_a_big_fan_of_yeezus/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:37:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13349565 Velvet Underground guitarist and vocalist Lou Reed is a huge, huge fan of hip-hop artist Kanye West. Reed wrote a rave review of West's latest album, "Yeezus," for TheTalkhouse.com, describing the record as "majestic and inspiring," "glorious," "beautiful" and "seriously smart."

Reed swoons:

Kanye West is a child of social networking and hip-hop. And he knows about all kinds of music and popular culture. The guy has a real wide palette to play with. That's all over Yeezus. There are moments of supreme beauty and greatness on this record, and then some of it is the same old shit. But the guy really, really, really is talented. He's really trying to raise the bar. No one's near doing what he's doing, it's not even on the same planet.

Addressing the most controversial aspect of "Yeezus"-- West's lyrics -- he says that West is "just having fun":

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/07/02/lou_reed_is_a_big_fan_of_yeezus/feed/ 8 What Kanye has in common with Bret Easton Ellis http://www.salon.com/2013/06/22/what_kanye_has_in_common_with_bret_easton_ellis/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/22/what_kanye_has_in_common_with_bret_easton_ellis/#comments Sat, 22 Jun 2013 18:30:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13330176 Rap's often cross-pollinated with literature or film -- it would take weeks to chronicle all of the references in hip-hop to Armitage Trail's "Scarface," via Al Capone, via Al Pacino. But Kanye West's new "American Psycho" short film might be the most post-postmodern crossover yet, featuring Scott Disick as homicidal yuppie Patrick Bateman, and allowing him to chop apart Kim Kardashian's best friend Jonathan Cheban in some kind of Freudian passion play. Chatter about the rapper's adventurous new album, "Yeezus," is at a fever pitch, and since his mesmerizing interview in the New York Times, some have been making the direct connection between the public persona of Kanye West, and that of novelist Bret Easton Ellis. Parallels can certainly be made particularly since Ellis wrote the initial treatment for the "Yeezus" clip: Both are impressive chroniclers of their generational predicaments. Both are prone to outlandish statements and to strong opinions (sometimes these things are separate). Both enjoy music in the "new wave" genre. And they would probably have a lot to talk about in the love department. (Seriously, where is their Interview interview? And will it include quotes from the baby?)

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/22/what_kanye_has_in_common_with_bret_easton_ellis/feed/ 14 The eight categories of bizarre celebrity baby names http://www.salon.com/2013/06/21/the_eight_categories_of_bizarre_celebrity_baby_names/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/21/the_eight_categories_of_bizarre_celebrity_baby_names/#comments Fri, 21 Jun 2013 18:52:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13332994 If Kim Kardashian is famous for being famous, her baby daughter may soon be famous for having a crazy name. That name, reportedly, is North West.

Although a source earlier this week said that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's baby's name was Kaidence Donda West, TMZ reports that "North" is the name on the child's birth certificate at Cedars-Sinai.

As various media outlets have noted, Kardashian had talked about the prospect of turning her child's name into a cute jokey plaything-of-a-name with Jay Leno several months ago:

That is not true, [North is] not one of the names on our list. But you know what name I do like but it probably won’t be on is, I do like — ‘cause it kinda goes with North — I like Easton. Easton West. I think that’s cute.

Easton West? North West? Why not SXS West? (Kimye just missed out on a major endorsement deal.)

Sadly, "North" is only the latest in a long tradition of bizarre names celebrities have chosen for children. There are so many bad baby names that we've developed a system of categories to help you keep them straight:

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/21/the_eight_categories_of_bizarre_celebrity_baby_names/feed/ 11 Seven famous apologies that were just as bad as Serena’s http://www.salon.com/2013/06/20/seven_famous_apologies_that_were_just_as_bad_as_serenas/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/20/seven_famous_apologies_that_were_just_as_bad_as_serenas/#comments Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:19:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13331154 After "Rolling Stone" quoted Serena Williams blaming the 16-year-old girl victim in the Stuebenville rape case, the tennis star issued a statement that fell short of a sincere apology, or anything resembling one. Rather than own her remarks or express genuine repentance, Williams interspersed her statement with burden-shifting qualifiers, placing herself on a long list of public figures whose poorly crafted, transparent attempts to rectify lies, stupid gaffes and serious moral transgressions would surely make Aristotle weep.

Cringe-worthy mea culpas have become something of a regular occurrence, but Chris Brown ranks high on the growing list of famous people who don't seem to understand the basic elements of an apology.  Over the last four years, the 24-year-old R&B artist has repeatedly squandered second chances he doesn't deserve after physically abusing on-again-off-again girlfriend Rihanna, and generally acting like a sociopath.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/20/seven_famous_apologies_that_were_just_as_bad_as_serenas/feed/ 18 All about Kaidence, the reported name of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s baby http://www.salon.com/2013/06/18/all_about_kaidence_the_reported_name_of_kanye_west_and_kim_kardashians_baby/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/18/all_about_kaidence_the_reported_name_of_kanye_west_and_kim_kardashians_baby/#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13329731 The musician Kanye West and media personality Kim Kardashian have been slow in revealing the name of their new baby girl to the world -- but a report today indicates that they may have been inspired by a kommon letter.

Kaidence Donda West is the name of the new baby, according to Media Take Out, a reliable source for scurrilous gossip (the site claims to have been tipped by a Cedars-Sinai nurse). While first reports of baby names are often dubious -- just ask baby girls Amelie Jane and Isla Marcheline Jolie-Pitt -- Donda is a believable middle name. It's the name of West's late mother, whose premature death has inspired much of his latter-day work. And Kaidence isn't entirely preposterous -- it's not made up by reporters or by West and Kardashian.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/18/all_about_kaidence_the_reported_name_of_kanye_west_and_kim_kardashians_baby/feed/ 5 No one understands how hard it is to be Glenn Beck, says Glenn Beck http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/no_one_understands_how_hard_it_is_to_be_glenn_beck_says_glenn_beck/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/no_one_understands_how_hard_it_is_to_be_glenn_beck_says_glenn_beck/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:14:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13329011 Glenn Beck is working so hard for America, but America is being a total ingrate and trying to tell him how to live his life. (Please do not tell Glenn Beck how to live his life!)

He is "hemorrhaging money" and "paying the ultimate price with his family" while trying to "fundamentally transform the media" and save this country because America is "the Titanic" and unless someone steps up, "we're all going to die."

Think you're ready to give your life over to conspiracy theories and the kind of self-important monologuing that would make Kanye West blush? Then go right ahead, says Beck.

Judging from Monday's outburst, he could clearly use the break.

h/t Right Wing Watch

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/no_one_understands_how_hard_it_is_to_be_glenn_beck_says_glenn_beck/feed/ 40 Kanye West’s sex problem http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/kanye_wests_sex_problem/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/kanye_wests_sex_problem/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:30:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13328725 Kanye West is about as subtle as a Range Rover. From the pink-Polo prep of debut “College Dropout” to 2010's ominous “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” each of his albums has arrived with the force and presence of a runaway train, crashing over anything in sight. He has evolved from a producer with a chip on his shoulder to rap royalty through constant challenge and innovation. Kanye has a penchant for drama, unfortunately for Taylor Swift, but he also has the musical prowess to back his swagger. But an obsession with making his point by denigrating women continues to blunt his impact.

In an interview with the New York Times, the Chicago-bred rapper indicated that his sixth album, “Yeezus,” would provide articulate commentary on race, a subject that he first tackled in "College Dropout's" "All Falls Down." A "Saturday Night Live" preview of album cut "New Slaves" demonstrated bold, anti-pop beats rallying against privately owned prisons. It was a perfect opportunity to start a real conversation. Kanye has the audience, he has the gravitas, and he has the intelligence to make people actually listen.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/17/kanye_wests_sex_problem/feed/ 41 Kim Kardashian gives birth to baby girl http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/kim_kardashian_gives_birth_to_baby_girl/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/kim_kardashian_gives_birth_to_baby_girl/#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:43:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13327913 Kimye has given birth to a baby girl, gossip site TMZ reports.

According to the Daily Mail, the 32-year-old reality star checked into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and went into labor on June 15. The daughter is the first child for both Kardashian and boyfriend Kanye West, whose album "Yeezus" will be officially released this week.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/kim_kardashian_gives_birth_to_baby_girl/feed/ 25 Feminist Kanye Twitter follows tradition of Feminist Taylor Swift http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/feminist_kanye_twitter_follows_tradition_of_feminist_taylor_swift/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/feminist_kanye_twitter_follows_tradition_of_feminist_taylor_swift/#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:44:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13327824 In the same vein of Clara Beyer's Feminist Taylor Swift Twitter feed, which reimagines the non-feminist singer's lyrics as messages of female empowerment, a Feminist Kanye Twitter account has emerged. The tweets, delivered entirely in capital letters, elevate the rap lyrics and quotes from the nucleus's recent New York Times profile beyond the heteronormative:

[embedtweet id="345668052085530624"]

[embedtweet id="345668919413063680"]

[embedtweet id="345672057238982658"]

[embedtweet id="345673569369481216"]

[embedtweet id="345679632718254080"]

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/feminist_kanye_twitter_follows_tradition_of_feminist_taylor_swift/feed/ 1 Kanye West album “Yeezus” leaks on Internet http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/kanye_west_album_yeezus_leaks_on_internet/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/kanye_west_album_yeezus_leaks_on_internet/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:43:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13327015 Kanye West's highly anticipated album, "Yeezus," leaked onto the Internet Friday afternoon, ahead of its Tuesday release date (listen to it here). As EW predicted it would be, the most hyped lyric of the album, from the track "I Am a God" is -- wait for it -- "Hurry up with my damn croissants."

The lyric is pure Kanye at its core: indulgent and nonsensical and totally cray, and all-the-more annoyingly catchy for it. Given the sudden, bizarre rise of the croissant as a cultural phenomenon, however, at first glance it could seem like Kanye -- the man who understands culture, the man who is the nucleus -- somehow predicted the coming of the cronut.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/kanye_west_album_yeezus_leaks_on_internet/feed/ 2 Kanye West: “The idea of Kanye and vanity are like, synonymous” http://www.salon.com/2013/06/12/kanye_west_the_idea_of_kanye_and_vanity_are_like_synonymous/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/12/kanye_west_the_idea_of_kanye_and_vanity_are_like_synonymous/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:20:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13324066 "Anti-celebrity" Kanye West is all about Kanye West, the idea. In an off-the-rails interview with The New York Times, the rapper with the most "sui generis hip-hop career of the last decade" demonstrated that he's also the most grandiose.

Kanye on why he doesn't like to apologize to anyone, even Taylor Swift:

  • [My instincts have] only led me to complete awesomeness at all times. It’s only led me to awesome truth and awesomeness. Beauty, truth, awesomeness. That’s all it is.
  • “Dark Fantasy” was my long, backhanded apology. You know how people give a backhanded compliment? It was a backhanded apology. It was like, all these raps, all these sonic acrobatics. I was like: “Let me show you guys what I can do, and please accept me back. You want to have me on your shelves.”
  • I would hear stories about Steve Jobs and feel like he was at 100 percent exactly what he wanted to do, but I’m sure even a Steve Jobs has compromised. Even a Rick Owens has compromised. You know, even a Kanye West has compromised. Sometimes you don’t even know when you’re being compromised till after the fact, and that’s what you regret.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/12/kanye_west_the_idea_of_kanye_and_vanity_are_like_synonymous/feed/ 5 Beyoncé debuts new song http://www.salon.com/2013/06/01/beyonce_debuts_new_song/ http://www.salon.com/2013/06/01/beyonce_debuts_new_song/#comments Sat, 01 Jun 2013 21:00:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13315035 On Friday night, Beyoncé performed new song "Standing on the Sun" for the first time in Antwerp, Belgium as part of her world tour. Although the singer used 90-second clip of the song in an H&M ad, this is the first full recording to appear, via RollingStone:

Aside from a few new singles, little is known about Beyoncé's fifth album, which remains untitled.

With any luck, it will have a better cover (and name) than Kanye West's upcoming release.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/06/01/beyonce_debuts_new_song/feed/ 4 The truth in Kanye’s anti-prison rap http://www.salon.com/2013/05/20/the_truth_in_kanyes_anti_prison_rap/ http://www.salon.com/2013/05/20/the_truth_in_kanyes_anti_prison_rap/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 16:10:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13303359 The backdrop to Kanye West's "Saturday Night Live" performance was a lie. Projected behind the rapper, as he let loose with two rage-filled and politically fueled tracks, were the words "Not For Sale."

Yeezy wouldn't have graced the set if he wasn't hawking a soon-to-be released LP. But his incendiary performance was peppered with damning truths: Angry and pointed condemnations of institutional racism and the prison industrial complex, which disproportionately jails young men of color to fill state budget holes and enrich private corporations.

In the final verse of "New Slaves," a track released Friday with the coordinated projection of a video on 66 buildings worldwide, and the second performance in his "SNL" set, West raps:

Meanwhile the DEA
Teamed up with the CCA
They tryn'a lock niggas up
They tryn'a make new slaves
See that's that private owned prison
Get your piece today

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/05/20/the_truth_in_kanyes_anti_prison_rap/feed/ 27 Kanye West performs new music, claims he is not a celebrity http://www.salon.com/2013/05/16/kanye_west_performs_new_music_claims_he_is_not_a_celebrity/ http://www.salon.com/2013/05/16/kanye_west_performs_new_music_claims_he_is_not_a_celebrity/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13300530 Adult toddler and occasional hit music maker Kanye West threw another tantrum at his performance at the Roseland Ballroom Wednesday night, reports Complex.

The rapper, who will help end the last episode of "Saturday Night Live's" 38th season this weekend, insists that he's not a celebrity:

"One thing about me. I'm the worst kinda, worst kinda, worst kinda celebrity...because all I do is make real music. All I do is sit in the studio and make real, real shit. and that's it. That's motherfucking it. That's motherfucking it. So I don't want nobody trying to run up on me with no cameras, trying to sell pictures and shit to magazines, asking me no dumbass questions. throwing me off of my focus and shit. Harassing you all motherfucking day. I ain't no motherfucking celebrity..."

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/05/16/kanye_west_performs_new_music_claims_he_is_not_a_celebrity/feed/ 4 Watch Bill Hader’s last “SNL” promo, featuring Ben Affleck http://www.salon.com/2013/05/15/watch_bill_haders_last_snl_promo_featuring_ben_affleck/ http://www.salon.com/2013/05/15/watch_bill_haders_last_snl_promo_featuring_ben_affleck/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13299528 "SNL" has released the promo for the last episode of its 38th season, which bids farewell to comedian Bill Hader after eight seasons. Ben Affleck guest stars, with music from Kanye West:

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/05/15/watch_bill_haders_last_snl_promo_featuring_ben_affleck/feed/ 1 Hip-hop goes for gay marriage http://www.salon.com/2013/04/02/hip_hop_goes_for_gay_marriage/ http://www.salon.com/2013/04/02/hip_hop_goes_for_gay_marriage/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:27:00 +0000 http://www.railrode.net/?p=13258772 Throughout his career, Lil’ Wayne has gone to considerable lengths to ensure that no one thinks he’s homosexual. As the beat begins for his hit “Lollipop,” which is clearly about a woman performing fellatio on him, he mumbles what had become his catch phrase in 2008: “No homo.” It’s his way of letting the audience know he isn’t homosexual (though it seems unfathomable that someone would hear a song about a woman performing fellatio on him and come to that conclusion).

That attitude permeated rap for most of its existence -- until now, it would seem. This past week, rap titans Russell Simmons, Jay-Z and Kanye West have expressed support for marriage equality. And they aren’t alone. Fat Joe, A$AP Rocky and The Game, among others, have been clear that they don’t discriminate based on sexuality. This past year’s breakout hip-hop/R&B artist Frank Ocean famously announced his fluid sexuality via a Tumblr message and received the support of many artists, including his former rap-troupe partner Tyler the Creator, who is paradoxically known for using homophobic slurs in his music.

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/04/02/hip_hop_goes_for_gay_marriage/feed/ 2 Salon’s 2013 Grammy Awards liveblog http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/salons_2013_grammy_awards_liveblog/ http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/salons_2013_grammy_awards_liveblog/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:55:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13195018 [liveblog id=63]

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/salons_2013_grammy_awards_liveblog/feed/ 0 The Grammy Awards: Who won? http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/the_55th_grammy_awards_the_winners/ http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/the_55th_grammy_awards_the_winners/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:30:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13194823 RECORD OF THE YEAR

Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young - Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

WINNER: Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

El Camino - The Black Keys

Some Nights - Fun.

WINNER: Babel - Mumford & Sons

Channel Orange - Frank Ocean

Blunderbuss - Jack White

 

SONG OF THE YEAR

The A Team - Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)

Adorn - Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Call Me Maybe - Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)

WINNER: We Are Young - Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

 

BEST NEW ARTIST

Alabama Shakes

WINNER: Fun.

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

 

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

WINNER: Set Fire To The Rain [live] - Adele

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2013/02/11/the_55th_grammy_awards_the_winners/feed/ 0 Kim Kardashian is pregnant with Kanye West’s baby http://www.salon.com/2012/12/31/kim_kardashian_pregnant_with_kanye_wests_baby/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/31/kim_kardashian_pregnant_with_kanye_wests_baby/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:56:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13158552 ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – A kid for Kimye: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are expecting their first child.

The rapper announced at a concert Sunday night that his girlfriend is pregnant. He told the crowd of more than 5,000 at Revel Resort's Ovation Hall in song form: "Now you having my baby."

The crowd roared.

Most of the Kardashian clan tweeted about the news, including Kim's sisters and mother. Kourtney Kardashian wrote: "Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!"

West also told concertgoers to congratulate his "baby mom" and that this was the "most amazing thing."

Representatives for West and Kardashian didn't immediately respond to emails about the pregnancy.

The rapper and reality TV star went public in March. Kardashian, 32, is about 12 weeks along, according to TMZ.

Kardashian married NBA player Kris Humphries in August 2011 and their divorce is not finalized.

West's Sunday night show was his third consecutive performance at Revel. He took the stage for nearly two hours, performing hits like "Good Life," "Jesus Walks" and "Clique" in an all-white ensemble with two band mates.

 

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/31/kim_kardashian_pregnant_with_kanye_wests_baby/feed/ 18 “It’s only Sandy wasteland”: 50 years’ worth of rock and pop acts come together for disaster relief http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/its_only_sandy_wasteland_50_years_worth_of_rock_and_pop_acts_come_together_for_disaster_relief/ http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/its_only_sandy_wasteland_50_years_worth_of_rock_and_pop_acts_come_together_for_disaster_relief/#comments Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:47:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=13123600 Last night in New York, Madison Square Garden rocked to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey with an enormous roster of veteran talent that one friend jokingly described as AARP's A-list (Alicia Keys and Kanye West excepted). The playlist favored the classics — the Stones, a Beatle, the remaining two members of the Who, but Pete Townshend was mindful to amend his timeless anthem to address their reason for being there: "It's only Sandy wasteland." And the performers hit all the right notes — moving (Billy Joel, below, will still melt even the most cynical New York crowd with "New York State of Mind"), rousing (Jersey guys Bruce and JBJ, Alicia Keys closing the concert, leading everyone in "Empire State of Mind II"), surprising (Michael Stipe pops in on a solo acoustic Chris Martin) — and one deeply odd one, the much anticipated mashup of a Beatle knight, Sir Paul McCartney, and two grunge-y Nirvanans, who performed a song they wrote together. It was not exactly inspiring. Just ... weird. The concert was live broadcast on TV and livestreamed on YouTube last night.

Here, the highlights:

Chris Martin got a surprise, when Michael Stipe popped in for a duet:  "Losing My Religion."

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]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/12/13/its_only_sandy_wasteland_50_years_worth_of_rock_and_pop_acts_come_together_for_disaster_relief/feed/ 2