Ann Powers

Don't Kill Your Idols: J. Cole Looks For His Place In Hip-Hop

Ann Powers — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:57:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AjD7nKiUQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vQ_VsTkn0

Country Music's Year Of The Woman

Ann Powers — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:19:00 +0000

Sometimes, it can be difficult to notice a cultural sea change. At first, there's just a little, unexpected turn in the tide. But then, whoosh! The new current takes over, and old preconceptions are swept away.

Lessons From SXSW 2013: Take The Middle Road

Ann Powers — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:48:00 +0000

That guy Prince has a sense of humor.

Listening To My Bloody Valentine Three Ways

Ann Powers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:48:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBKjhgHGVZs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUc5y1NljXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HhSS1hUUjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXJus1ajIU

The Roots Of Beyonce's Super Bowl Spectacular

Ann Powers — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

One of the Twitter hashtags devised by rabid Beyonce fans before last night's Super Bowl halftime show was religious in nature: #praisebeysus. Praise Beysus! This bit of hyperventilating resonated in interesting ways. Strutting into the very center of America's biggest television spectacle, the 31-year-old superstar intended to secure her place in the musical pantheon next to recent Super Bowl-approved legends Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen and Prince.

And that's not all.

Why Some Musicians Last

Ann Powers — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:37:00 +0000

The mists of eternity wafted over my Twitter feed the other night. Okay, not quite — but talk of eternity, or at least of the pop scene in thirty years, did make for a lengthy and spirited group exchange. It started when a friend who's not fond of singing competitions asked whether Kelly Clarkson will be remembered in 2042.