Longtime readers know that I have been a voting member of the Critics Choice Association for more than a decade. In fact, I usually attend the ceremony in person. This year, due to the pandemic, the show will be handled like most major events, with few people in attendance and most celebrities attending virtually. But don’t worry. I am confident that it will be as entertaining as ever. In fact, there will be something particularly memorable about a distanced awards show. Would it really seem like 2021 if things were handled normally? Taye Diggs is hosting, and the president of our association — Joey Berlin — pointed out in a note I received today that — unlike the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — our membership is remarkably diverse both in terms of geography and demographics. That means a really interesting slate of nominees. We also pride ourselves on strong artistic choices. So, tune in Sunday and give the show a watch. You may find that you like it better than the Golden Globes. Presenters include: Kevin Bacon, Angela Bassett, Mayim Bialik, Phoebe Dynevor, Morgan Freeman, Gal Gadot, Jim Gaffigan, Chris Hemsworth, Jameela Jamil, Eva Longoria, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jared Padalecki, Kyra Sedgwick, Yara Shahidi, Courtney B. Vance, John David Washington, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The show airs Sunday, March 7, on the CW at 7 p.m. (6 central).
Tag Archives: Forrest Hartman
March 4 — Song of the Day
One of today’s top headlines is that Las Vegas Sands is selling the Venetian and the Sands Expo and Convention Center. Although these properties will remain (under new ownership), this basically means the end of major U.S. operations for the company. The sale comes about two months after the death of Sands founder Sheldon Adelson, a man who had outsized influence on Las Vegas culture. This major shakeup in Nevada business led me to choose “Waking Up In Vegas” by Katy Perry as the Song of the Day.
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March 3 – Song of the Day
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March 2 – Song of the Day
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March 1 – Song of the Day
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Feb. 28 – Song of the Day
This is the last day of Black History Month and — obviously — black artists have made far too many contributions to American music to pick a single song that could fairly represent that fact. I briefly thought about using a song by Chuck Berry or Jimi Hendrix or Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston … only to think about the countless other artists who created equally compelling music, changing the face of American culture along the way. So, choosing to celebrate the end of this important month with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” is not meant to downplay the contributions of any other artist … nor is it meant to argue that Gaye’s contributions to American music are somehow superior to those of his musical peers. I chose this song because Gaye was a wonderful artist who unquestionably changed music … like so many other black artists, living and dead … and because this particular song demands a higher standard from all of us, regardless of race. Arguably, the only way the world will improve is if we all address injustices and inequities head on. So, as we listen to Marvin Gaye on the final day of Black History Month, let’s move beyond his soothing voice and the fantastic instrumental performances and think deeply about the lyrical poetry. “You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some lovin’ here today.”
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Feb. 27 – Song of the Day
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Feb. 26 — Song of the Day
When Rage Against the Machine wrote “Testify,” the band was pretty clearly thinking about the U.S. government’s willingness to sacrifice lives for political goals, including greater access to foreign oil. Although the circumstances of the song do not perfectly match details surrounding the horrifying death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the outrage seems more than appropriate. Today, declassified intelligence shows that the U.S. has long believed his assassination was ordered by the Saudi Crown Prince. Yet the U.S. government response was nil. “Testify.”
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Feb. 25 – Song of the Day
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Feb. 24 — Song of the Day
The FDA says that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine appears to be safe and effective, paving the way toward availability of a third option. Considering all the bad news we’ve had in the last year, optimism seems appropriate, so I give you Howard Jones’ 1985 hit “Things Can Only Get Better.”
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