March 15 – Song of the Day

Germany, France and Italy are pausing administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine due to safety concerns. The move is being billed as a temporary halt (after a number of other Europeach nations took similar steps). Obviously, halting any vaccine in the midst of a pandemic has ramifications, but its nice to see these nations doing what’s believed best for citizens. Since we’re talking safety today, revisiting a huge, 1980s hit by Men Without Hats seems appropriate.

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March 14 – Song of the Day

It is March 14, or 3/14, which pakes it Pi Day. Although Don McLean’s “American Pie” isn’t about math, I’m not sure how I could pass up the opportunity to present it as our Song of the Day.

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March 14, 2021 · 10:26 am

March 13 — Song of the Day

Reportedly, the first COVID-19 stimulus checks are going out this weekend. So, we’re turning to the Pink Floyd’s meditation on money that first appeared on the 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon.”

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March 12 — Song of the Day

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that experts are starting to tout the health benefits of silence. Simon & Garfunkel wrote and performed the definitive tune about silence way back in 1964. Now, it’s our Song of the Day.

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March 11 – Song of the Day

Today, President Joe Biden said that he believes American life can be closer to normal by Independence Day. Trouble is, many Americans probably don’t know exactly what normal is after a year of adapting to pandemic life. This idea is reflected in the AJR song, “Normal.” So, it’s our Song of the Day.

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March 10 – Song of the Day

Today, Variety is reporting that Kenneth Branagh has been tapped to direct a Bee Gees biopic. Branagh is a great talent, so music lovers have reason to be optimistic. Since it looks like the project is moving forward and putting the Gibb brother in the spotlight again, today’s Song of the Day is “Stayin’ Alive.”

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March 9 – Song of the Day

Today, we are continuing to see fallout from Oprah Winfrey’s blockbuster interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The interview fanned the flames of controversy that has followed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since they announced their engagement. The Genesis song “Duchess” actually tells the story of a singer who attains immense fame … and the negatives that can accompany it. Considering the title and subject matter, it seems like a perfect choice for our Song of the Day.

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March 8 – Song of the Day

Today is International Women’s Day, so it seems appropriate to deliver one of the best songs ever written about female empowerment. The Queen of Soul had many incredible songs, none better known than “Respect.” Interestingly, the tune was originally written and performed by Otis Redding, but Franklin’s version is the one most remember.

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And the Critics Choice Award winners are …

The 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards were doled out Sunday night, and the complete list of winners follows.

FILM CATEGORIES 

BEST PICTURE 

Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures) 

BEST ACTOR 

Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) 

BEST ACTRESS 

Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 

Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros.) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Studios) 

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS 

Alan Kim – Minari (A24) 

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix) 

BEST DIRECTOR 

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures) 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 

Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman (Focus Features) 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 

Chloé Zhao – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures) 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

Joshua James Richards – Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures) 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN 

Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale – Mank (Netflix) 

BEST EDITING – TIE  

Alan Baumgarten – The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix) 

Mikkel E. G. Nielsen – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios) 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN 

Ann Roth – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) 

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS 

Tenet (Warner Bros.) 

BEST COMEDY 

Palm Springs (Hulu and NEON) 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 

Minari (A24) 

BEST SONG  

Speak Now – One Night in Miami (Amazon Studios) 

BEST SCORE 

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste – Soul (Disney) 

SERIES CATEGORIES 

BEST DRAMA SERIES 

The Crown (Netflix) 

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 

Josh O’Connor – The Crown (Netflix) 

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 

Emma Corrin – The Crown (Netflix) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 

Michael K. Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 

Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Netflix) 

BEST COMEDY SERIES 

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES 

Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) 

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES 

Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek (Pop) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES  

Daniel Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES 

Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) 

BEST LIMITED SERIES 

The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) 

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION 

Hamilton (Disney+) 

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION 

John Boyega – Small Axe (Amazon Studios) 

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION 

Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION 

Donald Sutherland – The Undoing (HBO) 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION   

Uzo Aduba – Mrs. America (FX) 

BEST TALK SHOW 

Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) 

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL – TIE  

Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill (Netflix) 

Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia (Netflix) 

BEST SHORT FORM SERIES 

Better Call Saul: Ethics Training with Kim Wexler (AMC/Youtube) 

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March 7 — Song of the Day

Tonight is the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards broadcast. As a longtime film critic and Critics Choice member, I typically attend. This year, however, there is no big party due to the pandemic. Still, it will be fun to see who wins the big awards during a year that movies were — arguably — more important than ever. So, our Song of the Day is “Movies” by Houthouse Flowers.

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