HOLLYWOOD—January is usually a month full of discarded resolutions, debts and diets- its arguably the perfect time to dive in to a new sonic soundscape in all its rich, diverse wonder. So can a daily dose of classical music change your life? Seriously, who has the luxury of making time to actively listen to a particular piece of music? We need to make time each day to make some emotional space for music. Scientific research is increasingly proving that regular acts of so-called “self care” can have untold benefits on our mental health and well-being.
There’s a reason everyone from film to funeral directors invariably relies on classical music when they want to ramp up the feelings. Classical music is an art form that, for myriad complex reasons, is often perceived to be the preserve of a narrow elite; an exclusive party to which few are invited. As with practically every other industry, technology has disrupted the music industry in both positive and negative ways. It’s true that the decimation of traditional financial models is generally leaving artists and labels less well off than they were previously.
The emergence of legal streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music has blown open the door to that party in a thrilling, democratizing way. Now anyone with a half-decent internet connection can explore a musical universe that was previously closed to all except those who already knew what they were looking for and had the resources to pay for it. Sometimes we need that classical music to soothe newborn babies to fall asleep.
Wonder if Kanye West and Kim Kardashian will use classical music or rap to soothe their third baby to sleep? They just became parents to a baby girl, delivered via a surrogate. Kardashian-West announced the news on her official website, in a post revealed the weight of the newborn was seven pounds and six ounces. “Kanye and I are happy to announce the arrival of our healthy, beautiful baby girl,” wrote the reality TV star. “We are incredibly grateful to our surrogate who made our dreams come true with the greatest gift one could give.” She said her other two children, four-year-old North and two-year-old Saint, were “especially thrilled to welcome their baby sister.”
Kim previously revealed she decided to use a surrogate after doctors warned of serious health risks if she became pregnant again. Kim’s sister Khloe confirmed in December that she was pregnant with her first child, while it has been widely reported their sister Kylie Jenner is also expecting. In her post, Kim said the new arrival-whose name is not yet known- was born 00:47 on Monday, January 15.
While, the Kardashian-West clan are happy about their new bundle of joy, Katy Perry is having serious conversations with her record label. The boss of Capitol Records says he’s had “tough conversations” with Katy Perry following disappointing sales of her latest album, “Witness.” Perry released her fourth album last June but despite appearances, it failed to catch on with fans. According to published reports, to date it has sold less than 60,000. Her best-seller is “Teenage Dream,” which earned four platinum discs, representing sales in excess of 1.2 million.
He said the four-year gap between Perry’s third and fourth albums damaged fans’ “engagement” with the star. I beg to differ. Look at Guns N’ Roses, how long was the gap? Their fans remained faithful for years until “Chinese Democracy” finally came out. Perry is currently in the middle of her “Witness” world tour, which has fared better than the album it’s named after. The lavish, fun-filled show made $28.1 million last year-despite the odd technical malfunction. Perry will also make her debut as a judge on “American Idol” in March. Looks like she will start plotting a musical comeback.
Rose’s Scoop: The sudden death of Cranberries singer Dolores O’ Riordan at the age of 46 has shocked fans, who remember the band for rock pop 90s hits such as the yearning love song Linger and the politically-charged Zombie.
