Andrew Budgell

Review: Janet Jackson "Number Ones"

Janet Jackson “Number Ones”
Long overdue look back at an incredible career

Long overdue, “Number Ones” is Janet Jackson’s first greatest hits album since “Design of a Decade 1986/1996”, which was released in 1995. Record label politics made me wonder if a comprehensive collection of Janet Jackson’s greatest hits would—or could—ever be released. (Janet originally signed with A&M, then moved to Virgin for the “janet.” album, and then to Def Jam for 2008’s “Discipline”.) But comprehensive is what exactly what we’ve got here with “Number Ones”, which is a worthy look back at one of the most successful recording artists of all-time.

The album, which is in chronological order, begins with “What Have You Done For Me Lately” from the 1986 album, “Control”. While Janet had had already released “Janet Jackson” and “Dream Street”, it was “Control” that established Jackson as a superstar, propelled to that level by hit makers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. After that the hits kept coming with albums including the socially conscious “Rhythm Nation 1814”, “janet.”, the album that explored Jackson’s sexuality, “The Velvet Rope”, which Janet recorded during a bout with depression, and “All For You”, which explored her fun side. It’s amazing just how fresh these songs still sound. This is helped All of the songs from these albums have been digitally remastered to a very high standard. Songs like “Rhythm Nation” have never sounded better. Everyone has their own opinion as to why Janet’s last three albums, “Damita Jo”, “20 Y.O.” and “Discipline” have not been received as warmly by the public, but all three spawned number ones and are of course are included here.

I appreciated the fact that Janet’s number one collaborations with other artists, including “Diamonds” with Herb Alpert, “The Best Things In Life Are Free” with Luther Vandross, “Scream” with her brother Michael, and “What’s It Gonna Be?” with Busta Rhymes are included here. This is an extra incentive to purchase “Number Ones” since none of these singles have appeared on any of Janet’s own albums.

The album concludes with one new track called “Make Me”. The disco inspired song is infectious, and is a return to her lighter, more fun roots and whets the appetite for what we can expect from Jackson’s next studio album, due out in the first quarter of next year.

While these compilation releases often spark debate on what should have been included—or left off—I think most of Janet’s diehard and casual fans alike will be completely satisfied with “Number Ones”. The only thing that could have made this release better would have been the option of a deluxe package with a DVD of all of Janet’s iconic music videos. However, that’s just a slight quibble and “Number Ones” is truly a comprehensive look back at one of the greatest entertainers of all time and some of the best pop music ever recorded. It was worth the wait.

Review: "Britney Spears: The Singles Collection"

Britney Spears: The Singles Collection
Great music; largely unnecessary collection

In 2004, when Britney Spears released her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, many scoffed. Why, after only four studio albums, would Britney release a greatest hits record? However, I defended her. Love her or loathe her, few artists have churned out hit after hit quite like Britney, and evidently a solid album’s worth of greatest hits.

It’s now five years later and Britney is releasing her second hits package, The Singles Collection. This time around I am less than enthusiastic. Don’t great me wrong, her music is still great. But in the five years since the first collection, Spears has released two studio albums: Blackout (the album I consider to be her greatest work) and Circus, its decent follow-up. However, do only two additional albums warrant another hits collection? Perhaps, but what we are given here is a below par effort.

The lead single to promote the album, “3” is another infectious pop track from Britney, one that debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, that’s pretty much where my enthusiasm for this release ends; “3” is the only new track. That being said, my biggest gripe with this release is that her entire catalogue of singles isn’t even represented here. Forgotten singles include “Sometimes,” “Lucky,” “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart,” “Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know,” “My Prerogative,” and “Break the Ice.” If all of Britney’s singles were included this would have been a 2-disc set. A 2-disc set would have provided the perfect opportunity to include unreleased songs such as “Love Is (A State of Grace)”, thus making this set worthwhile to owners of the previous hits album.

In the end this is a collection of songs that actually includes only one more track than the previous hits collection. While these songs have been digitally remastered, I highly doubt that would benefit some of the newer songs. I recommend this release to fans that didn’t get around to purchasing Britney’s first greatest hits. Like I said, the music is great. But for the rest there is little incentive to buy this. To me this seems like a decision to gouge Britney’s fans during the holiday season.

Book Review: "How To Be A Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor In Hollywood"

How To Be A Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor In Hollywood by William J. Mann

William J. Mann’s excellent new Elizabeth Taylor biography, “How To Be A Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor In Hollywood” is now available from Amazon and other booksellers! I was fortunate enough to be sent an advance copy of the book and I can assure all Elizabeth Taylor fans that this is an enthralling read from start to finish. Mann, author of the critically acclaimed Katharine Hepburn biography “Kate”, details how Elizabeth created the blueprint for fame that is used by today’s stars. The book is meticulously researched to provide readers with the behind-the-scenes of the behind-the-scenes story of how Elizabeth Taylor and her team created the quintessential Hollywood movie star. So many individuals who were previously just ignored as footnotes in previous Taylor biographies are paid special attention here and we realize just how instrumental they were in establishing Elizabeth’s unparallelled career. This is a book that is not to be missed!

Also, be sure to check out Amazon for a small video interview with Mr. Mann on “Movie Star”.

Concert Review: Beyoncé's "I Am... Tour"

July 20, 2009
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto

As the sun was setting Monday night at the Molson Amphitheatre, a true star lit up the night sky. The curtain had parted to reveal the silhouette of 27 year old superstar Beyoncé Knowles, standing in a signature Sasha Fierce pose. For what seemed like minutes the superstar soaked up the thunderous applause before beginning her set with the 2003 song that launched her solo career, Crazy in Love.

With the inclusion of Crazy in Love at the beginning of the show, there was worry that perhaps the I Am… Tour would simply be a rehash of 2007’s acclaimed The Beyoncé Experience. But it wasn’t.

Still, if you were one of the lucky ones who saw that tour live or on DVD, you might think that this latest tour, with its less ambitious set list, is a bit of a comedown. Perhaps now that her status as a touring act is solidified, Beyoncé decided to do a more manageable, yet still very impressive show.

Upbeat songs like Naughty Girl, Freakum Dress and Get Me Bodied helped to get the party started before a trio of slower songs from her latest release, I Am… Sasha Fierce were showcased. Ave Maria was beautifully performed with an excerpt of Sarah MacLachlan’s Angel. Beyoncé also employed another excerpt from a Canadian singer later in the show: You Oughta Know by Alanis Morrissette during the hit If I Were A Boy.

One of the few missteps of the evening was when Beyoncé opted to use the infectious Sweet Dreams in a video interlude between songs rather than perform it live. The track, which is Beyoncé’s latest single, was a real departure for the singer with its electropop feel. It would have been interesting to see how she would have performed and interpreted the song live.

Probably the biggest highlight of the night was the performance of Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). The song—and especially its dance!—has become a cultural phenomenon. If you didn’t know that, a compilation of YouTube fan clips (including Justin Timberlake doing his own version on Saturday Night Live) got the crowd going.

The popular ballad Halo concluded the set. Beyoncé used the song to pay tribute to her idol, the late Michael Jackson. A touching moment came when home movies of young Beyoncé, excited about attending her first Jackson concert, were played.

Beyoncé, like her idol, is a star who is clearly here to stay. If anyone dared question that, all they had to do was look around at the capacity crowd which was filled with people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds. Beyoncé, like another idol of hers, Cher, is a performer who manages to unite all sorts of people, if only for just an evening.

Yes, Beyoncé is here to stay.

Reading to Write

I am desperately trying to hone my writing skills. I honestly think one of the best ways to do so is by reading. Being an English Rhetoric and Professional Writing major, I’ve read my share of great literature. Or at least I was supposed to, anyway. Now I’m finding it imperative that I read the as many of the “greatest books ever written” in order to become a better writer.

I’ve just started Gone with the Wind. Being a massive fan of the 1939 film, I first tried to read it when I was in about ninth grade, but I became overwhelmed with the sheer size of the thing, put it down and never picked it up again. Until now. Sometimes I feel that I am too much a product of a dumbed down society where we are limited to 140 characters in a Tweet. Is that why still, close to a decade on, I am struggling to get through all of the necessary character development with Margaret Mitchell’s tome? Perhaps. Anyway, please stick with me. I think I’m going to blog about this process of immersing myself in many of the greatest books of all time.

Michael Jackson: Never Can Say Goodbye

I’ve tried to write this blog several times now and just can’t quite seem to come up with the words to suggest how the death of Michael Jackson has impacted me. Mostly I feel emptiness and sadness for the man who I have adored since I was a kid. I’m saddened that one of the world’s greatest entertainers was taken from us so close to the beginning of his triumphant return to the stage in a 50 concert residency in London. I also find myself saddened for a man whose life was seemingly robbed of him and “sold for gold” at such a young age. This will be focused on for years to come, so I don’t want to now. But most of all I’m saddened for his children, family and friends who have lost such a bright light in their lives. Most of all I’d like to get into just why Michael Jackson was such an important entertainer, but I simply do not feel qualified to do so. I can say that my feelings are summed up in that famous Jackson 5 song, “Never Can Say Goodbye”. Thankfully, his music survives so I, and the rest of the world, won’t have to.

Farrah Fawcett: A True Angel

Farrah Fawcett

Just moments ago the news broke that Farrah Fawcett has died at the age of 62 from cancer. My admiration of this woman doesn’t come from her iconic turn on “Charlie’s Angels” or even her other notable roles. Instead, it stems from her willingness to use her celebrity to bring awareness to anal cancer, a type of cancer that is rarely mentioned. When Fawcett was diagnosed in 2006, it was clear that the media would not allow her any privacy in this very personal ordeal. At one point medical records were leaked. Still, Fawcett maintained her strength and detirmination and even allowed cameras to document every grueling step of her battle. She had no intention of releasing the footage publicly, but realizing the awareness that would stem from doing so, the hours of footage were woven into a documentary called “Farrah’s Story” that aired recently on NBC. Watching this documentary, her strength and unfailing optimism during this dark period in her life proved to be especially inspirational. She gave anal cancer a face and thrust it into the public consciousness. While her bright smile will be missed desperately, Farrah Fawcett’s courage will live on and continue to inspire and save lives.

Carol Burnett: Laughter & Reflection

Carol Burnett

In comedy, try as you might, sometimes the most meticulously prepared sketch can’t quite live up to the spontaneous, off-the-cuff humour that can seemingly creep up out of nowhere. That was often true on The Carol Burnett Show, when Burnett would “bump up the lights” and take questions from the audience. Sure, such sketches as “Went With the Wind” or Nora Desmond were brilliant, but it was Burnett’s ability to provide quick and witty responses to some peculiar audience questions that made for some of the most memorable television.

With that premise Burnett has been touring with the show “Laughter & Reflection,” where fans of all ages get to ask the TV icon anything. The laughter rarely let up during the 90 minute show at Toronto’s Massey Hall which seemed to fly by. Burnett was asked all sorts of questions about her legendary career, including working with Elizabeth Taylor in the 1983 HBO movie, Between Friends. “She was a hoot,” said Burnett. So much so that the two legends have been friends ever since.

One of the funniest stories Burnett told was of filming reshoots on Annie. She had to redo part of one of the film’s musical numbers from the point where she walks out of a closet. That sounded simple enough, but Burnett had recently had a chin implant. Worried about upsetting the film’s director, John Huston, she told him she’d be walking out of the closet with a chin. Without missing a beat he told her to walk out “looking determined.”

The most emotional part of the evening came when Burnett paid tribute to her Carol Burnett Show co-star, Harvey Korman. “He made me better,” Burnett said. “He was like a brother to me.”

Four decades after the premiere of The Carol Burnett Show, for many Burnett has come to feel like family. With “Laughter & Reflection” Burnett gave her fans an incredible evening that we won’t soon forget. Perhaps most of all she reminded us that there is a huge void of intelligent humour on television, one that isn’t likely to be filled anytime soon. Not unless there is another Carol Burnett out there, but that hardly seems likely…

The Tony Awards

This past weekend the Tony Awards honoured the best on Broadway this season. And what a remarkable season it was. Even with the economy doing so poorly, Broadway has never done better financially. Earlier this Spring I was lucky enough visit New York and see three shows (33 Variations, Exit the King and Blithe Spirit), each of which garnered at least one Tony nomination. Earlier I had planned to review each of them individually, but time got away from me and instead I will discuss each of them here.

When it was announced that Jane Fonda would return to the Broadway stage after a nearly half century absence in Moisés Kaufman’s 33 Variations, it came to many as a surprise. In her stage return Fonda played Katherine Brandt, a dying woman who spends her last days trying to understand why Beethoven was compelled to create 33 variations of a simple waltz. Out of the three shows that I saw during my New York trip, this one was my favourite. I was impressed by Fonda’s ability to effectively portray the disintegration of her character’s health. Sadly Fonda did not win the Tony for Leading Actress in a Play, but bravo to Jane for a triumphant return to the stage after all these years. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait so long to see her again.

Jane Fonda in “33 Variations”

My least favourite show I saw was Exit the King. I felt Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist comedy was long, drawn out and boring, but redeemed itself near the end. However, Geoffrey Rush, who took home the Tony for Leading Actor in a Play, was a marvel. Watching Rush was a master class in acting. It was also a treat to see the wonderful Susan Sarandon and Andrea Martin act onstage.

The highlight of the Tonys for me was Angela Lansbury’s win for Blithe Spirit. This was her fifth, tying her with Julie Harris as the actor with the most wins. Lansbury is acting royalty, having had success in film, stage and television. However, it’s hard to believe that between her 3 Oscar nominations and 18 Emmy nominations she never took home a statue. The theatre world has shown more appreciation: Lansbury has gone home with the Tony nearly every time she has been nominated—the only time she didn’t win was in 2007 for Deuce. This latest win, for her role as Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, was the part that fans had been patiently waiting for. Her participation in this production completely eclipses the show itself. She is, after all, one of the leading Grande Dames of the Broadway stage. When you’re watching Lansbury onstage you get the impression that the 83 year old legend is enjoying every minute. She’s also grateful to be there: in the past Lansbury has said just how difficult it has been to find film roles. At one point there was even talk of her returning of returning to the small screen but nothing came of it. Here’s hoping the attention from this latest triumph changes that or at least prompts the Academy and Emmys to her the adulation she deserves.

Angela Lansbury in “Blithe Spirit”

I’d also like to mention Liza Minnelli’s win for Best Special Theatrical Event for Liza’s At The Palace. While I didn’t get to see this on Broadway, Liza has been touring with a similar show for the past few years, which I was fortunate enough to see in 2007. The show is largely a tribute to her beloved godmother Kay Thompson and the show Kay did with the Williams Brothers. If you ever get to see Liza onstage, don’t hesitate: GO! Liza Minnelli is a vulnerable performer who goes for broke and bares her soul with every performance she gives.

Something tells me that Broadway’s upcoming season will have a hard time competing with all of this legendary star power…

Diane Keaton: Unique Lives & Experiences

Diane Keaton, “Unique Lives & Experiences”
April 21, 2009, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto

In today’s world of celebrity obsession, it’s becoming increasingly rare to get to know the real person behind the celebrity facade. With their every movement analyzed and exploited, celebrities are desperately trying to retain a part of themselves that hasn’t appeared on TMZ. However, Diane Keaton, in her talk for “Unique Lives & Experiences,” managed to invite her audience into her private world to gain a better understanding of who she is.

Diane Keaton has never been your average celebrity. Woody Allen called her acting a “nervous breakdown in slow motion.” Winning the Oscar for 1977’s Annie Hall, Diane Keaton has made a career out of playing slightly neurotic characters. However it was apparent early on that the evening would not centre around her famous roles. It would be more about the people and experiences that shaped her as a person.

Listening to hear speak, one gets the impression that Diane Keaton has become very comfortable in her own skin. But she admitted that she wasn’t always so secure. Keaton’s mother encouraged her to express her individuality through fashion, something that Diane was initially reluctant to do. Looking at the woman standing in front of me wearing a polka dotted skirt overtop of black tights, it was easy to see that her mother’s advice on that particular subject had stuck.

Keaton’s relationship with her mother, and the all too often unexamined relationship’s women have with their mother’s in general, was the theme of the evening. Keaton admitted that since her mother’s passing she has been going through her things to gain a better understanding of the woman who had such a profound effect on her life.

But her father’s impact was evident, too.  Shortly before his death he told her that he wished he had done more in his life and hadn’t worked so long doing a job he didn’t like. While the words didn’t have an immediate effect on Keaton, they did stick with her. She has tried to become more fearless in her life. It seems to have worked. At an age when most women become empty nesters, Keaton adopted her daughter, Dexter, and then later a son, Duke. Showing off home movies of her young family, it’s easy to see that they, too, have made Diane Keaton more comfortable in her own skin. Luckily for us, comfortable enough to share her own unique lives and experiences with her adoring public.