New Age and electronic music is commonplace now, but it was an exciting new development back in the 1970s. One of the biggest influences on the genre was the French composer, Jean Michel Jarre.

His pioneering use of strange musical instruments and his dynamic live shows brought him considerable critical acclaim and commercial success. Music was in the genes, as his father was the film composer, Maurice Jarre.

The electronic music, which Jarre produces, is both futuristic and melodic in its sound. The strong emphasis on melody is probably responsible for his mainstream popularity, which other electronic exponents such as Tangerine Dream didn’t quite achieve.

The album which brought Jean Michel Jarre fame was Oxygene; even spawning a hit single, and his output has been prolific over the years. He consolidated his position by performing in concerts in unusual locations and using laser displays and fireworks. These include a concert in the Egyptian desert, in the Place de la Concorde in Paris and on the Docklands in London.

He has also performed in Moscow, Gdansk, Hong Kong, Japan, Beijing and Shanghai. There are several live albums from these performances.

Experimentation with different instruments has been a trademark of the music and some instruments have been specially built for Jean Michel Jarre. He has used a Theramin, an old electronic instrument that many rock artists were later to embrace, and a Laser Harp that uses laser beams to produce notes.

In addition to album releases, Jarre has written original film scores, following in his father’s footsteps. His existing music has also been used in films such as Gallipoli, starring Mel Gibson, and 9 1/2 Weeks, starring Mickey Rourke.

As a handsome man, there has always been a lot of media interest in the romantic associations of Jean Michel Jarre. He has been married three times, his second wife being the English actress, Charlotte Rampling. When they were together, they were pursued as a celebrity couple.

The present day popularity of electronic dance music and ambient, chill music owes a debt of gratitude to Jean Michel Jarre.

His commercial success may have declined but he is still recognized as a pioneer. His concerts were must see events, rivaling the visual splendor of any rock band before or since. 

He also proved that you could use electronic instruments without sacrificing melody. His music sounds as if it comes from outer space but it has a soul.

 

I have been listening to the music of Johnny cash for a long time – ages before “Walk the Line” came out. You see, I was practically raised on Johnny Cash songs. My father was not a cowboy, so don’t you go and get that idea into your head.

Maybe it would have been cool if he had been a cowboy, but I suppose that my old man was just about alright as he was. He was one of the many non-cowboys who are touched by Johnny Cash songs.

One thing is for sure, my dad grew up long before you could download Johnny Cash songs on the internet. He was actually one of the pioneering computer science people working on the old mainframes. One thing that you will never hear about those guys is how much they all loved country music. It is absolutely true, though.

They would listen to Johnny Cash songs day in and day out as they were wiring those giant, infernal machines, trying to get a hundredth of the power out of them that we now take for granted in a modern desktop. They were sort of like John Henry in that way, although in truth they were working to build the fabled steam drill that would one day replace him.

I got my first Johnny Cash t shirt in high school, and it made me feel like quite the rebel, truth be told. The thing about it was that none of the other kids had heard a single Johnny Cash song, and when I would play them, few of them would get it.

They all listened to top 40 and junk like that, and thought that I was really weird for listening to music that was different than their own, but I really did not care at all. I was too busy enjoying my Johnny Cash songs to really give two hoots about any of it. Now I can download Johnny Cash songs on the internet, but I already have all of his albums, either on cd or on vinyl.

I even have a Johnny Cash poster up on my bedroom wall, reminding me to “Walk the Line” in my daily life. For a man who lived such a complex and difficult life, the Man in Black has managed to be an inspiration to a tremendous number and variety of people in his life.

What is the deal with music now days? As I’m sure everyone over the age of 25 has noticed, music has changed drastically from what it used to be. I’m even comparing it to the early 90s.

Now I realize that times are constantly changing and we all need to evolve, but music in general is sort of going down hill lately. Image has become more important than talent. Why the heck is this? I believe that this sends a terrible message to our youth. Are we supposed to tell them that it’s great to be talented, but more crucial to be pretty?

That just seems so superficial and bogus. However, there are some talented musicians out there who have both. For example, what do you think of jessica simpson music? Do you like this bubble gum pop genre? All I can say is at least she has a good singing voice.

Are you a jessica simpson music fan? Or maybe you’re just a fan of her appearance. I have met more than a few guys who think she is the ideal looking woman.

I certainly can’t argue that she’s not attractive; however, I do think she is very fortunate to have both, looks and a good singing voice. Many potential artists aren’t so fortunate, and sadly end up on the sidelines. That’s not fair to say the least. On the other hand, it is definitely our modern-day reality. I don’t care what field you enter, your looks can play a large part in whether or not you acquire the job.

Anyway, as far as jessica simpson music goes, I will admit that its’ just not my thing. However, I can obviously see that oodles of teenage girls love it. Then there is her little sister. What in the world happened with Ashley? The poor girl got booed off the stage. That has got to be a career killer.

If only she could be as fortunate as her older sister. I all honesty, I don’t think Ashley Simpson’s tunes will ever sell as good as jessica simpson music.

Are you looking for some decent jessica simpson music? Hey, if you’re not ready to purchase her new album just yet, you can always check out her stuff on the World-Wide-Web. Watch that latest music video “Public Affair.” Heck, I checked it out just to see the cute girls.

Get a dose of jessica simpson music before you buy the whole CD. It’s the Internet way.

Britney Spears is another high-profile mass media target (though one might suggest anyone entering celebrity village does so knowingly and of her own volition).  Beautiful and entertaining pop star Britney Spears gets much coverage for her antics, attitudes, actions, and values, even. 

But what we wonder is this: which are intentional as contributions to her publicity campaigns and which are unintended leaks to the public?

“Oops, I did it again/I played with your heart…,” smirks the cheeky, sexy Spears.  But is it really an innocent faux pas?  With the debut and platinum catapult to success of her first album, Baby One More Time, Spears was the school girl with sex appeal…and the singing/dancing star at the top of the pop charts. 

Innocent, cute, but Lolita-esque at best.  So the information begins…or, that is, the rumors take up housing in her high-profile life: she’s only seventeen (read: still a minor), and she has had breast implants.  The publicity has begun!

Next, with only three years (and many best-sellers and awards) to her credit, Britney drops the maulable baby doll persona, drops a few more yards of material, and picks up a giant albino snake to writhe about with for her performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, and picks up slack from PETA.

Next, a Razzie Award for worst actress ever later, Britney’s painful separation from Justin Timberlake exposes the possibility of infidelity on her part.  Britney opens a restaurant; it closes a year later.  Britney goes into hiding for a bit—fueling fires of chat about her loss of pop princess status….  Britney tongues Madonna, and sparks of media coverage resuscitate….

Britney then marries a boy from her childhood years, the marriage getting annulled three days later.  Two months beyond this, she gets engaged to Kevin Federline, divorced father of two at 26 years old.  Within six months, Spears is married; three smash (and a few not so) hits, a moderately successful fragrance, and a crashing five-episode reality show failure later, Britney gives birth to baby Sean Preston Federline.

And though Britney has purportedly an “Original Doll” album in the making, clearly suggesting her awareness that her Lolita image is what works (or worked best), it is that image that has incurred the disdain of many:  Governor Robert Ehrlich’s wife, First Lady Kendel, would “like to shoot Britney Spears;” is questioned as a fit role model; and is, of course, likened to Madonna—though she is far less the savvy and knowledgeable one, and cannot claim anywhere near the struggles and creative challenges Madonna has earned the right to.

So, consider the latest kinds of coverage on Britney Spears: first, while a star-search online usually yields a Wikipedia entry on page one of Google, for example, when you search for Britney Spears, the wiki entry shows up half way down page two. 

Hmmm.  Next, in the latest edition of Us Weekly (which is generous with Jessica Simpson shots or plastered with Angelina Jolie articles and features), the items that appear on Brit involve 1) a photo of her in a food-stained dress, which she wore, Us said, on March 14; 2) a photo of her coming out of a gas station bathroom sans shoes.

August 04 [also shown in earlier grocery store rags, btw]; 3) a photo of her standing on July 04 on a Ritz-Carlton balcony fondling her mate Kevin Federline’s crotch; and a one-paragraph dossier of sorts, with a three quarter page photo of Spears walking with Federline—the paragraph a discussion of her wanting Kevin back if he would only quit smoking cigarettes AND pot…for the sake of the baby. 

But where are the shots of the baby?  In that same issue, motherhood (and father hood) is a predominant theme—a three-paged bit is done on Angelina Jolie, featuring a full-paged and an additional inset photo of Jolie with newly adopted Zahara; centerfold “Mommy & Me” photographs appear with Liv Tyler, Kate Moss, and Denise Richards hanging out with their kids; and in “The Stars are Just Like Us!” we even see monumental stars like the great Dustin Hoffman taking his son to a NY Nicks game. 

So is lack of baby evidence to protect the baby as well?  Is it to protect and endure Britney’s teeny-bopper image?  Is it to protect the hearts of the wishful thinking fans who fantasize being with Britney without baby or happily married mate in tow? 

It may be we will never know, as the line between popularity (candid, serendipitous coverage) and publicity (intentional stagings) is paper thin.

Unlike, say, pop diva Janet Jackson, whose publicity stunts are either passed off as bloopers or feigned “secret”, Britney Spears seems to be a relatively innocuous target who doesn’t use much more than a mock marriage or a crotch-grab to sell covers. 

But then, maybe she has us all fooled.