MUSIC NEWS: MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016
ALESSIA CARA - NEW VIDEO
Brampton, Ontario's Alessia Cara is predicting symbolic success if not actual success in the new video for her song ``Seventeen.'' The video shows Cara riding a bus at different ages and includes a scene where she holds up a Grammy. Oops: Cara was a notable snub when the Grammy nominations came out two weeks ago. A fan asked her about that on Twitter and Cara said, ``It symbolizes my hopes for long-term success in my career. Putting it out into the universe, in other words.'' Cara doesn't say when she shot the video, only that it was ``a while back.''
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CEE LO GREEN - CELLPHONE
Cee Lo Green says he's alive and well and don't worry about that video that seems to show a cellphone blowing up in his face. Green posted a Facebook video saying he's upset that people were ``emotionally disturbed'' at the cellphone video. That video looks like surveillance footage of Green in a studio talking on a phone that explodes and knocks him off a chair onto the floor.
Green says it's actually a clip from a project he's doing called Gnarly Davidson that sets up a character. He says he still plans to release the music and he thanks fans for their concern.
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SEVYN STREETER - ``WE MATTER'' SHIRT
Sevyn Streeter finally got to perform the national anthem before an N-B-A game and she got to wear the shirt she wanted. Streeter sang before the Philadelphia 76ers' game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday wearing her ``We Matter''
jersey. She was supposed to sing the anthem before the 76ers' home opener in October. Her performance was scrapped two minutes before it was to happen because she was wearing the ``We Matter'' shirt.
The team apologized to her two days later and invited her to sing before another game. Streeter was applauded upon her introduction and cheered when she finished the song.
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``I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS'' - SINGER
The 10-year-old girl who sang ``I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas'' is now 73 and still singing that song.
Gayla Peevey says Mitch Miller brought her that song and it became the first one she recorded for Columbia Records. She loves that ``I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas'' still gets airplay and has spawned its own industry of toys, greeting cards and ornaments.
Peevey actually did get a hippopotamus for Christmas that year. It was named Matilda and she donated it to the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Peevey says Matilda and her mate, Norm, had nine babies, so the hippo legacy lives on beyond just the song.
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LAURA BRANIGAN - AGE CORRECTED - 12 YEARS LATER
Twelve years after Laura Branigan died, we finally find out her true age. Branigan died in 2004 of a brain aneurysm. She had complained to a friend about a headache for two weeks but did not seek medical attention. At the time, her management company had said she was 47. One of Branigan's fans recently contacted The Associated Press, disputing her age. The A-P conducted a review based on school records, newspaper articles written about her in the 1950s and '60s and testimonials from childhood friends. The A-P's conclusion is that Branigan was born in 1952, making her 52 when she died.
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DAVID FOSTER - TRUMP INAUGURATION
Canadian music producer David Foster denies he's doing anything with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Foster writes on Instagram he was asked to participate some time ago and he ``politely and respectfully declined.'' He says any news outlet that is reporting otherwise is ``misinformed.''
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BLUES TRAVELLER - SALVATION ARMY
Blues Traveler are helping The American Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign by donating a song. Blues Traveler recorded a version of ``Go Tell It On The Mountain.'' All of the proceeds from the sale of the song go to the campaign.
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THE ROOTS - NBA ALL-STAR GAME
The Roots will play as part of a presentation about the history of basketball before the N-B-A All-Star game. They will perform before player introductions at the game on February 19th in New Orleans. John Legend will sing at halftime.
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(The Canadian Press)
