Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Stolen from Paul Anka

Posted on October 14th, 2009 • Filed under Uncategorized • 2 Comments

I thought it sounded familiar.  Story goes, Michael and Paul wrote a song together in the 80s called “I Never Heard.”  The demo was recorded at Anka’s studio and then taken to a Hollywood session where Michael grabbed the tapes and later used the track with his voice and changed the title to “This Is It.”
Lawyers have swarmed in, and Anka will be getting his cut.

Way before stumbling upon this pot of gold, Paul Anka wrote the lyrics to a little Sinatra song you might know called “My Way.”

Here’s my friend Paul doing it his way:

Paul’s got old world charm, smooth vocal production and music in his blood.   He’s a dedicated showman who lives music, 125 albums, 900 songs to his credit, and still on tour – out there with the people, giving it to them night after night.

If you need some new material for your next cocktail party, try using this, “What do Paul Anka and Kurt Cobain have in common?”

Here’s your answer:

I salute you Paul.  And Paul, you can pay me back for this plug by covering my bar tab this month, deal?

As for Michael, I respect the spirit of his music, stage presence, footwork. Speaking of footwork, if you look at the following clip there’s no doubt you’ll notice he has clearly been to my show, or at least sent his spies.  After all, stealing is in his history.

Michael clearly had some issues, as do most major talents including myself.  He drank the ‘Cool Aid” of celebrity… It’s tragic his hair caught on fire shooting that Pepsi commercial, and there started the heavy meds… If that hadn’t happened, I imagine things would be cosmically different.  Why weren’t the music, his voice and dancing enough?  Did he really need that Pepsi commercial and those fatal pyrotechnics?

 

Jack Satin’s Las Vegas Movies Since Swingers: By The Numbers

Posted on October 12th, 2009 • Filed under Uncategorized • 8 Comments

At its core, the 1996 cult classic Swingers is much more then just a Vegas movie.  The film is extremely successful in capturing the charm and many savory nuances of the City of Sin.  And as a guy who has spent his entire life in Vegas, I can talk with considerable authority on the subject.

But what’s the hottest thing to me about Swingers?  It defies the Hollywood norm and calls back to a time of simpler storytelling – when it wasn’t about the money and the star power associated with a project, but with the story itself, the performance, a unique voice that could not be replicated.

The infographic below, which my buddy (a talented graphic designer) helped me create in honor of Vince Vaughn’s Couples Retreat coming out this past weekend, demonstrates the sheer awesome power of Swingers, how the little engine that could outplayed subsequent Vegas films from a financial growth perspective, and many would argue trumps them all as entertainment.

Vince Vaughn is one of my favorite actors working today.  There’s no mistaking why he’s on top – talk about an artist that works without as safety net.  So, I’m happy to throw him and Swingers this timely tribute.  Check it out, and let me know what you think.