The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day is uncanny. Read on for what it means, how it’s used, and more, including a video of Daryl Hall and Kenny Loggins singing the Hall & Oates song “It’s Uncanny” during an episode of Live at Daryl’s House. Enjoy!
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Photo Credit: Joe Newberry.
The Blue Sky Riders, a wonderful country-rock group with Kenny Loggins at the helm, just announced a new docuseries, All Access Pass, providing fans with an inside look at the creative process behind their upcoming album, Why Not, which is officially coming out in 2016.
Stay tuned because when Why Not is release in 2016, I’m going to interview Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr. In the meantime, the full press release announcing the details of the Blue Sky Riders’ All Access Pass is below, as well as the band’s latest tour dates and a video.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, the sequel to the 2004 comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, opened this weekend following what I consider to be one of the most creative advertising campaigns ever for a feature film. The question is, does this sequel live up to the hype? Read on my curious friend.
Unlike the first film, which was set in the 1970s, Anchorman 2 takes place in the 1980s – my favorite decade! Despite the questionable fashion choices in this decade of decadence, the music, movies and TV shows were awesome. Speaking of which, Anchorman 2 has a killer soundtrack. You’ll find everything from John Waite’s “Change” to Neil Diamond’s “Shilo” to “Every 1’s a Winner” by Hot Chocolate. And the obligatory Kenny Loggins’ track is on here too – the terrific “This Is It” featuring backing vocals by Michael McDonald. It’s a feast for the ears that compliments the movie’s visuals perfectly.
While the classic one-liners from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy are a tough act to follow, Anchorman 2 does its best to deliver the goods. As a fan of the first film and Will Ferrell, I’m glad to report that the majority of this movie delivers the goods. However, it does drag on longer than it should and it felt as though the plot lacked focus toward the end.
The bottom line is this – if you didn’t see the first movie or don’t like Will Ferrell’s brand of humor, don’t bother seeing Anchorman 2. On the other hand, if you love the first film and can’t get enough of Will Ferrell, give this one a shot. It’s not as good as the first, but it features excellent music, solid performances across the board, countless cameos by Hollywood A-listers, and, most importantly, gut-wrenchingly funny moments.
Over the past 40 years, Kenny Loggins has sold millions of albums, charted numerous hits and won two Grammy awards. He first achieved success as one half of Loggins and Messina, and then went on to greater heights as a solo act with chart-topping songs like “Footloose,” “I’m Alright” and “Danger Zone.” Now that he’s 65, one would think he’d be slowing down, but that’s not the case. Instead, Loggins has started a new band, the Blue Sky Riders, and their first album, Finally Home, drops tomorrow.
I listened to this album today, from start to finish, and it’s very good. It’s an amalgam of rock and country music, and it’s filled with infectious melodies. It’s comprised of a well-balanced mix of upbeat, mid-tempo and slow songs, and all of them feature excellent musicianship. Moreover, all three members of the group are given the opportunity to shine. The music is layered with beautiful harmonies and soulful vocals that will make you want to sing along.
Kenny Loggins career has been like a three-act play; each act has had different tone. The first two acts were excellent, and based on the music being produced by the Blue Sky Riders, it’s safe to say his third act is going to be a memorable one. I highly recommend you check out Finally Home. It’s a terrific debut album by a band with an extremely bright future.
Below is the official video for one of the best songs on the album: “Dream.”
One of my favorite Christmas standards is the beautiful song “The Bells of Christmas” by Kenny Loggins. It’s from his terrific Christmas album, December.
For your listening and reading pleasure, below you’ll find a Spotify Play Button for the song as well as the lyrics. Enjoy!
“The Bells of Christmas”
Imagine a boy
Kneeling by the window
Lookin out across the driveway at the rain
Will it always rain
I remember the bells
Comin’ from the churchyard
And I thought they played their music just for me
And day by day
The rain turned to snow
I don’t hear them anymore
The bells of Christmas
Will ring for us again
When we truly do believe
What Christmas really means
So light a candle
That every man may see
The world of hope and promise
Like the one we knew back when and
We’ll ring the bells of Christmas
Once again
There was a girl
Lived around the corner
With eyes as black as Mary’s must have been
I wonder
Does she miss her friend
I remember the day
All the bells were ringing
As I watched her cross the churchyard in the snow
And all my searching
For all I lack
Is just trying to get that feeling back
The bells of Christmas
Will ring for us again
When we truly do believe
What Christmas really means
So light a candle
That every man may see
A world of hope and promise
Like the one we knew back when and
We’ll ring the bells of Christmas once again
The future of the world, they say
Is in the children’s hands
Perhaps if we could let them lead
We’d come to understand
The bells of Christmas
Will ring for us again
When we truly do believe
What Christmas really means
So light a candle that every man may see
The world of hope and promise
Like the one we knew back when and
We’ll ring the bells of Christmas once again
We’ll ring the bells of Christmas once again
