Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” movie portrays a dramatic moment where Elvis Presley shows up to perform for a TV special and surprises Col. Parker with “If I Can Dream.” Did it really happen that way?
For singer-songwriter-activist Joan Baez’s January 9 birthday, watch a wonderful live television performance from 1965.
Merry Christmas to our readers who celebrate the holiday. Today’s Christmas song is “Christmas in Washington” by Steve Earle. The song first appeared on his El Corazón (1997) album, which is one of my all-time favorite records. As Earle explains in this Austin, Texas performance from 2000, the song is about some of his heroes. … Continue reading “Christmas in Washington: A Song About Heroes”
During the summer of 1969, Zager and Evans dominated the radio with their hit song “In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus).” The song stayed in the number one spot for six weeks, including during the Woodstock Music Festival and when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot … Continue reading “Summer of 1969: “In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)””
HBO’s movie adaptation of Robert Schenkkan’s play about the early presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson is worthwhile viewing for largely one reason, Bryan Cranston in the lead role. With some help from make-up designer Bill Corso, Cranston gives the viewer what it might have felt like to have been around Johnson while he struggled with … Continue reading “Bryan Cranston As LBJ in “All the Way” (Short Review)”