Musicians Who Competed on ‘Dancing With The Stars’

The latest cast of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ has been announced, and as is to be expected, it includes a few singers amongst its celebrity ranks. Singers competing in season 28 (which starts September 16) include Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke, The Supremes’ Mary Wilson and ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar Lauren Alaina.

Though not always a given, musicians tend to do well on ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ There have been multiple occasions where they have risen to the final rounds and even won the entire season.

In honor of the new ‘Dancing With The Stars’ cast, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the most memorable musicians to grace the ballroom stage. Here are seven singers / groups whose performances captivated viewers.

1.       Normani Kordei: Ally Brooke isn’t the first member of Fifth Harmony to put on her dancing shoes. Back in 2017 bandmate Normani Kordei took to the stage to compete, finishing in third place on season 24. At the time, the group was still going strong, having released their third, self-titled album just months after her appearance. Going by just her first name, Normani’s solo career is heating up now as her single featuring Sam Smith, “Dancing with a Stranger,” peaked in the top 10 this year.

2.       Drew & Nick Lachey: 98° singer Drew Lachey was an early contestant on the show, winning season two all the way back in 2006. It took his older brother and bandmate Nick 11 years to follow suit. Nick became part of the second married couple to compete against each other on the show, as he was joined by his wife Vanessa Lachey (a former MTV V-Jay), and first couple to be partnered with another married couple (dancers Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy). When Drew competed, 98° had been on hiatus for several years, but by the time Nick danced, the band was back in the swing of things with a studio album, a Christmas album and a couple of tours under their belt.

3.       Nick Carter: Surprisingly the only Backstreet Boy to compete, Nick Carter placed second in season 21. A fan favorite, he was a high-scorer from the beginning. He even performed to two of BSB’s songs. While on the show, BSB were in the midst of a comeback of sorts (though they never really left), having just gotten off an extensive world tour behind their album ‘In A World Like This.’

4.       Joey Fatone & Lance Bass: Though they participated in different seasons, the tongue-in-cheek rivalry between *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Lance Bass was one of the drivers during Bass’ season. Fatone came in second on season four, which meant Bass had a lot riding on his appearance. He ended up coming up at tad short, placing third on season seven. *NSYNC never managed to spark a real reunion after the show (they’ve sang together at a few one-off events), but Fatone did get some acting and hosting gigs out of the show, while Bass’ brand has never been stronger.

5.       Donny Osmond: In a season filled with musicians, teen star all-grown-up Donny Osmond came out on top for season 9, beating out Mya (2), Kelly Osbourne (3), Aaron Carter (5) and Macy Gray (15) for the mirror ball trophy. Osmond had been a fan-favorite from the beginning, especially with older viewers and his success most likely came from that fan base pushing him through.

6.       Nicole Scherzinger: Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger went for the gold on season 10, winning the whole competition. It was around this time that Scherzinger’s solo career was taking off, though she became better known for judging musicians than being one.

7.       Kellie Pickler: Lauren Alaina is also not the first ‘American Idol’ alum-turned-country superstar to hit the dance floor. Back in 2013, Kellie Pickler won season 16 of the program. At the time, Pickler was working on her fourth studio album, ‘The Woman I Am,’ releasing first single “Someone Somewhere Tonight” while still competing.

Musicians have usually done well competing on the reality dancing competition ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ Like the artists above, the show has seen several take the top or runner-up spots with memorable performances. With season 28 starting in September, time will tell how this year’s musicians fare against the other celebrities competing for the mirrorball trophy.

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Find music from these ‘Dancing With The Stars’ competitors and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Year's Eve Musical Television Specials to Ring in 2019

Watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve is a time-honored tradition in New York. Times Square is filled with revelers who come down just to witness the LED-lit orb usher in the coming year. However, many people dislike the chaos of it all, making it as much a tradition to stay home and watch the event unfurl on television.

Music is often a deciding factor in which New Year’s Eve program you tune into. Over the last month, news has been creeping out about which programs will get which performers. And from what we know so far, between all the specials, a lot of this year’s hottest artists will be present to ring in 2019.

With New Year’s Eve only a week-and-a-half away, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the musical specials ushering in 2019. From pop and R&B to country and rock, here are the biggest television options to help you make the best New Year’s Eve choice possible.

1.       ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’: Ryan Seacrest fills the shoes of Dick Clark for a 12^th year to ring in the New Year. The special takes the celebration national with musical acts taking the stage in three different time zones. Christina Aguilera is the big headliner this year with additional performances by Bastille, Dan + Shay, New Kids on the Block and more taking place in New York City, Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers, Halsey and more in California, and Florida Georgia Line in New Orleans. (8PM, ABC)

2.       ‘New Year’s with Steve Harvey’: After the success of last year’s broadcast, Steve Harvey and Maria Menounos return for a second year as hosts of Fox’s New Year’s Eve celebration. The special will include performances from Sting, Florence & the Machine, Jason Aldean, Robin Thicke, Juanes and Why Don’t We, among others, as well as appearances by comedians Ken Jeong and  Kenan Thompson and Fox’s NFL Sunday commentators. (8PM, Fox)

3.       ‘New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly’: Learning from last year’s New Years programming flub, NBC is bringing back their Carson Daly-hosted holiday eve program.  Joining Daly as co-hosts will be ‘SNL’s’ Leslie Jones and Chrissy Teigen. The event will have performances from Kelly Clarkson, Andy Grammer, John Legend, Blake Shelton and headliner Diana Ross. Also performing are Keith Urban and Brett Young, though their sets will be telecast from Nashville’s ‘Music City Midnight’ event. (10PM, NBC)

4.       ‘New Year’s Eve Live’: Anderson Cooper takes you into the New Year for his 16^th time and second with co-host Andy Cohen. The straight-man/funny-man nature of their relationship made last year’s broadcast the network’s most watched NYE of all time. No music announced yet, but there are sure to be a lot of celebrities dropping by. (8PM, CNN)

This year’s New Years Eve programming line-ups are filled with some of the hottest artists in music today. Whichever you watch, there are sure to be some great performances leading up to the midnight ball drop.

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Ring in the New Year with Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres to satisfy most music lovers’ tastes. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for holiday gifts or the perfect song to usher in 2019, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Surprising (and Not-So Surprising) Musicians Who Contributed to ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’

Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of long-running cartoon ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ has passed away. The animator and marine biologist lost his battle with ALS on Tuesday. He was 57.

Over the last two decades, Hillenburg’s ‘Spongebob’ has become one of the most popular characters in cartoon history, appealing to both kids and the adults who grew up with it. The show became so popular that it has attracted many celebrity guests to become involved. That includes top-name musicians, who have lent their talents to the television show, as well as its first movie and subsequent Broadway production.

In honor of Stephen Hillenburg’s work, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the big name musical artists who have been a part of the ‘SpongeBob’ universe. Here are seven artists that have either voiced characters or written music for the show and its properties.

1.       David Bowie: David Bowie, who’s children were fans of the show, is one of the only artists to have both voiced a character on an episode of the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ TV series as well as contribute a song to the Broadway show. The episode in question was an hour-long musical called “Atlantis SquarePantis” which featured Bowie as Lord Royal Highness, the ruler of Atlantis. As for Broadway, his 1995 collaboration with Brian Eno, “No Control” was chosen after the singer gave director Tina Landau permission to use something from his catalog.

2.       The Flaming Lips:  When it came time to make the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, Hillenburg was adamant about having off-beat artists on the soundtrack. Artists like Wilco and Ween made the cut, as well as The Flaming Lips, who provided the song “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy.” Because of the film contribution, the band was also asked to write a song for the Broadway musical, which became “Tomorrow Is.”

3.       Ween: As mentioned above, Hillenburg liked off-beat bands and Ween seems to have been an early favorite. According to an old Ween message board, the band was asked by Hillenburg, who was inspired by their album ‘The Mollusk,’ to write and record a song about tying shoes (“Loop de Loop”) for the show before the cartoon ever aired. The band ended up working with ‘SpongeBob’ again, this time providing their song “Ocean Man” (from ‘The Mollusk’) for the first movie’s soundtrack.

4.       Pantera: Another early ‘SpongeBob’ inclusion, Pantera rearranged one of their songs for the show’s second season. The song was “Death Rattle,” which was turned into “Pre-Hibernation,” and was included in a montage of scenes where Sandy and SpongeBob were getting ready for Sandy’s hibernation.

5.       Gene Simmons: Another famous metal face, Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, also contributed to the show. Simmons lent his voice to the character of Sea Monster during the show’s fifth season. Announcing the part on the Kiss website in 2007, he said “I was born for this part. I've been waiting all my life to be a Sea Monster. It's in my blood. It's what I do. It's my job.”

6.       Dee Snider: Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is apparently a big fan of ‘SpongeBob.’ Like Simmons, he provided a voice for the show’s sixth season, playing a snail shell salesman named Angry Jack who was far from angry (you know, until “stuff” happens). The fandom must have been mutual, as original movie track “Goofy Goober Rock” was supposed to be a parody of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock.”

7.       Mötorhead: Mötorhead also had one of their tracks parodied for the first ‘SpongeBob’ movie, except the band actually recorded the track themselves. “You Better Swim” is a reworking of “You Better Run” from ‘March ör Die.’

 ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ has been providing inspiration to fans both young and young at heart with its wacky, off-beat nature. Such is why there have been many musical artists (like the ones above) and actors who have jumped at the opportunity to voice characters or contribute music to the franchise. As long as people continue to be inspired by the show, Stephen Hillenburg’s characters will continue to live on in television (and music) history.

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Find music from these ‘SpongeBob’-loving artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Music-Focused Specials Hitting Television Screens for the 2018 Holiday Season

What would the holiday season be without all the special programming that will be saturating television viewing for the next month? From movies and holiday-themed episodes of your favorite shows to the numerous specials both classic and new, it’s almost as inescapable as holiday music.

Of course, many of these specials center on music as well. Such yearly television offerings began last week with the Thanksgiving Parade, which saw a handful of popular artists cruising down 34^th Street “performing” their own music as well as holiday classics. Between now and New Years, even more musical specials will be hitting the small screen, ranging from tree lightings and parades to concerts and Disney’s complete takeover of the holidays.

In gearing up for the holiday season, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at all the musical Christmas and holiday specials coming to a television set near you in the next month. Here are nine programs to get you into the festive spirit. (Note: Not included are specials where music comes second to the event, like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion show or the ‘A Home for Christmas’ special. Also not included is New Years programming, as it deserves its own list.)

1.       ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’: A New York tradition for decades, ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ ushers in the holiday season by building up to the lighting of the Rockeffeller Center Christmas tree. This year’s performers include Diana Ross, Tony Bennett and Diana Krall, Pentatonix, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Brett Eldredge, Ella Mai, John Legend and Rob Thomas. (11/28, NBC)

2.       ‘A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy’: Speaking of John Legend, following the success of April’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert’ (which won him a coveted EGOT), the soulful R&B singer/renaissance man returns to holiday television with his wife Chrissy Teigen to host a traditional variety show. ‘A Legendary Christmas’ will feature Legend performing music from his new holiday album of the same name, as well as special guests and tons of lovey-dovey schmaltz. Music-focused guests include fellow ‘The Voice’ judges Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, Raphael Saadiq and many more. (11/28, NBC)

3.       The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration’: Not to be outdone by NBC, ABC will be airing their annual ‘Magical Holiday Celebration’ special direct from Disney’s amusement parks. This year the program is being hosted by ‘Modern Family’s’ Sarah Hyland and ‘Dancing with the Stars’’ Jordan Fisher (both of which are ABC shows) and will feature musical performances from Gwen Stefani, Becky G, Meghan Trainor, Aloe Blacc, Andrea Bocelli and more, plus appearances from your favorite Disney characters. (11/29, ABC)

4.       ‘Garth: Live at Notre Dame!’:  Back in October, best-selling country artist Garth Brooks played a stadium show at the University of Notre Dame in October, the first time in the stadium’s 88-year history that an artist of his magnitude has performed there. Fans across the country will get to experience the show on the small screen this holiday season as a concert special. (12/2, CBS)

5.       ‘Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas’: Amy Grant apparently loves Christmas. In addition to her annual block of holiday shows at the Ryman in Nashville, the country/gospel singer will have her own special on Hallmark. ‘Tennessee Christmas features performances from her, her husband Vince Gill and special guests Kellie Pickler and Michael W. Smith. (12/3, Hallmark)

6.       ‘CMA Country Christmas’: Another yearly tradition, the Country Music Association will be airing their ‘CMA Country Christmas’ again this year. Reba McEntire hosts for the second year in a row, with a list of performers new and established lending their voices to holiday classics. Artists performing this year include McEntire, Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Dan & Shay, Brett Eldredge, Martina McBride, Dustin Lynch, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Lindsey Stirling, Old Dominion and more. (12/10, ABC)

7.       ‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’: The west-coast’s equivalent to the Thanksgiving Parade in New York, the ‘Hollywood Christmas Parade’ marches through the heart of Hollywood to ring in the holiday season and you’ll be able to see every detail on the small screen. Erik Estrada and Laura McKenzie host the broadcast, which will feature balloons, floats and performances of all kinds, including a 100^th anniversary tribute to ‘Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.’ Musical performances include ‘American Idol’ alums Kimberly Caldwell-Harvey, Mikalah Gordon, Ruben Studdard, Blake Lewis, Elliot Yamin and David Archuleta, Ashanti, Claire Dunn, The Tearaways and supergroup Band of MerryMakers. (12/14, The CW)

8.       ‘iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018’: iHeartRadio begins its annual Jingle Ball tour tonight, bringing the year’s hottest artists to an arena near you over the next three weeks. Artists on the tour include Cardi B, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Kalid, Alessia Cara, Bebe Rexha, Meghan Trainor, Sabrina Carpenter, G Easy, Bazzi and more (though the line-up differs depending on the particular stop). If you can’t make these shows, The CW will be airing an amalgam of performances as a special this holiday season. (12/16, The CW)

9.       ‘Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade’: Disney continues their holiday domination with their annual Christmas day parade. The broadcast will feature the same performers as their ‘Magical Holiday Celebration’ a month earlier performing different songs, except with all the fanfare of a parade. (12/25, ABC)

Featuring concerts, parades, tree lightings and more, music is at the heart of many of the season’s holiday specials. Check out some of the musical Christmas and holiday specials mentioned above and feel the holiday spirit.

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Find holiday music and much more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles in a vast array of genres to choose from. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Songs Made Famous by Commercials

Television commercials are a great way to get one’s product in front of the eyes of the masses. They are also a great way for a band or artist to get heard. A commercial with the right soundtrack can launch an artist into the mainstream overnight or reintroduce an artist to a new audience.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at songs that have gotten a boost from their appearances in television commercials. From new artists whose TV spots earned them a place on the charts to old songs that have now become synonymous with a particular company, here are six songs from commercials that became extremely popular.

1.       Feist, “1 2 3 4”: With their series of silhouettes dancing in front of brightly colored backgrounds with iPods, Apple helped bring a lot of artists to the limelight. One of which was Feist. Her song “1 2 3 4” became a hit in 2007 after the company started using it for their iPod campaign. It was so popular that the song was launched her album into the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and got her nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy that year.

2.       Portugal. The Man, “Feel It Still”: If you haven’t heard “Feel It Still” at this point, you’ve probably been living under a rock. Arguably one of the best songs of the year thus far, it’s been getting a boost from Vitamin Water over the last few months with a prominent placement in their current commercial starring Aaron Paul. It is now their first song to place in the Hot 100 chart and is currently number one on the alternative charts and the radio charts.

3.       The Ting Tings, “Shut Up and Let Me Go”: Like Feist, The Ting Tings also benefited from being featured in an iPod commercial. Before the advert, the band’s second single, “Shut Up and Let Me Go,” wasn’t even released in the United States. After the commercial’s release, the song was quickly made available in the US, where it promptly charted in the Hot 100, the first time one of their singles has done so.

4.       Dirty Vegas, “Days Go By”: While “Days Go By” was a minor hit among the club scene upon its initial release, it wasn’t until the remixed version was picked up by Mitsubishi and used in a commercial for their Eclipse that it really took off. The ads turned into radio airplay and more Mitsubishi ads, which meant more exposure. It became really hard to think about the song without thinking about purchasing cars.

5.       Iggy Pop, “Lust For Life”: Obviously “Lust For Life” was written way before it was ever considered for commercials. But following the renewed boost it got from its usage in the film ‘Trainspotting,’ the song became fair game again. In 2001, Royal Caribbean started using a cleaned-up version of it in commercials for their cruises. With the lack of drug and sexual references, the song became synonymous with luxury and having fun, and made Iggy Pop relevant to a whole new generation.

6.       X Ambassadors, “Renegades”: When “Renegades” was first introduced in commercials for Jeep’s Renegade SUV, no one knew who X Ambassadors was. But the song’s catchiness caught the ears of viewers who started Shazaming the song. The song caught on, reaching the top 20 of the Billboard 200 and becoming one of the hottest songs of 2015.

Television commercials are a great tool for artists to get their music heard by a wider audience. These songs have proven that, as their commercials have boosted their artists’ listenership and positioned them for chart success.

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Find music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from spanning a wide array of genres. Browse our growing selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or shop online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Memorable Saturday Night Live Musical Performances

'Saturday Night Live' logo. Found on Wikimedia Commons.

On this day in 1975, ‘Saturday Night Live’ aired its first show on NBC. The show was an overnight sensation, propelling many of its cast members to comedy stardom and becoming one of the longest running shows in television history.

‘Saturday Night Live’ has also become a big player in the music industry. The show has introduced countless new artists and bands to US audiences and cemented their places in popular culture. Musical performances have even made for some of the most iconic moments in the show’s 43-season run.

In honor of its 42^nd anniversary, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the most iconic musical moments from ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ run. Here are seven times ‘SNL’s’ musical performances have shocked the world, made people laugh and made history.

1.       Elvis Costello, “Radio, Radio”: Making his American television debut on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1977 with the Attractions, Elvis Costello made quite an impression. Told by his record label to play “Less Than Zero,” Costello obliged… for about 10 seconds. He then stopped his band and prompted them to start playing “Radio, Radio,” a then-unreleased song about the sanitization of radio, a song he was told specifically not to play. The stunt got Costello banned from ‘SNL’ for 12 years. (video)

2.       Sinead O’Connor, “War”: One of the most hardcore political statements made on ‘Saturday Night Live’ didn’t even come from one of their sketches. When Sinead O’Connor stepped in as musical guest in 1992, she shocked the world by tearing up a picture of Pope John Paul II during a cover of Bob Marley’s “War.” She was trying to bring awareness to the problem of sexual abuse in the Irish Catholic Church, but her protest fell on deaf ears and angered many viewers. (video)

3.       The Replacements, “Kiss Me on the Bus”: There are only a few artists that have gotten themselves banned from the ‘Saturday Night Live’ stage, The Replacements being one of them. During the band’s stint as musical guest in 1986, the band came out extremely drunk and during their second song, “Kiss Me on the Bus,” guitarist Bob Stinson mooned everyone who tuned in to the show that night. (video)

4.       The Blues Brothers, “Soul Man”: The Blues Brothers was one of the most iconic and successful skits in ‘Saturday Night Live’ history. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd performed many times as “Joliet” Jake E. Blues and Elwood J. Blues on the show, but their most recognizable performance was their cover of Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.” It was because of performances like this that The Blues Brothers became more than just a skit. After they performed several times on the comedy show, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi started performing together as The Blues Brothers in real life with actual blues musicians backing them up. They even recorded several albums. (video)

5.       Arcade Fire, “Afterlife”: There aren’t many artists that get an extra half hour special following their ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance. But while Arcade Fire were promoting their 2013 album ‘Reflektor,’ the band did just that. Following their final performance on the episode proper, the cameras followed the band as they ran to a nearby theater for a 22-minute, star-studded mini-concert special. (video)

6.       Green Day, “East Jesus Nowhere”: There are many more iconic performances than Green Day’s musical performances on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2004, but in my mind none too many that are as funny. Blurring the line between bit and performance, when the band started playing “East Jesus Nowhere,” Will Ferrell came out with a cowbell and proceeded to play with them, calling back to the iconic cowbell sketch from 2000. Rather than dismiss him or get angry, Billie Joe Armstrong conducts him to hit the bell at the right time so it complements the song. (video)

7.       Funky 4 + 1, (1981): ‘Saturday Night Live’ made history in 1981 by having Funky 4 + 1 on as a musical guest. Before their performance, a hip-hop group had never performed live on national television. (video)

These are just some of the most iconic music moments in ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ 42-year history. Aside from the comedy gold it has produced over the years, the show has also been a major platform for helping new artists break through and for more established ones to promote their new music. The show still pushes the boundaries of comedy and music, continuing to create even more iconic moments for a new generation of viewers.

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Find music from ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ most iconic performers and more at Long Island’s top new independent record shop, Vinyl Bay 777. We have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in our Plainview store or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

MTV at 36: How “Music Television” Shaped Popular Music

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, looks back at MTV’s legacy and if it will ever reclaim its glory days

MTV Logo. Found on Wikimedia Commons.

Thirty-six years ago today, MTV made its debut, filling a niche in the television schedule that no one ever knew was necessary: a 24-hour music channel. Through the airing of music videos and other music-related programming, the channel has become a juggernaut, launching the careers of countless new artists and giving rise to the term “Video Jockey.” And while the channel may have lost its musical direction nearly a decade ago, the channel’s legacy of cutting edge cultural programming remains.

MTV wasn’t always as popular as it is today. In fact, when the channel first launched in 1981, cable carriers were weary of picking it up. There were very few instances of channels completely devoted to music before and providers weren’t sold on whether people would actually watch something like that. Even carriers in the channel’s home market of New York didn’t start carrying it until two years later, after proving that it was going somewhere.

With that being said, when MTV took off, it took off. The channel’s Top 40 format proved to be a success amongst teens and young adults. It gave new life to the music video, which, while existing prior to the 1980s, was not an overly popular means of promoting an artist in the United States at the time. With the popularity of the music video, MTV was able to launch the careers of artists that were not getting the kind of radio airplay other popular artists had been. Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses, Madonna, Prince and more all saw spikes in popularity from having their music in MTV’s rotation.

Particularly in the last decade, MTV has drifted away from music programming in favor of reality-based and scripted shows. The shift prompted the channel to drop the words “Music Television” from its name in 2009, officially ending the channel’s hold on the music industry. Though you will still hear new music on the channel, it’s usually embedded in television shows with just a short prompt in the lower eighth of the screen telling you to visit the MTV website. The only music-influenced programming currently airing new episodes is Nick Cannon’s ‘Wild ‘N’ Out,’ which gives rappers and comedians a chanced to roast each other through rap battles.

MTV has tried to bring back some of their past music programming in some form or another over the last few years. ‘Unplugged’ and ‘120 Minutes’ were both revived in the early 2010s, but ended up either being relegated to specials on the MTV website. Attempts at bringing back music videos in the early hours of the morning failed. This week, it was announced that ‘Total Request Live,’ the music video countdown show that premiered in 1998 and gave rise to boy bands like The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and 98 Degrees, and bubblegum pop princesses like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, would be making a return in October.

The one thing that MTV never lost throughout its entire run is its ability to push the envelope with its programming. They put black artists into their rotation when it didn’t seem popular to do so. They gave comedians a shot at getting their material out there, no matter how racy. Their news and documentary broadcasts were cutting edge and showed real life problems that people in the channel’s demographic were dealing with. Even now, MTV’s unscripted programming is some of the most inclusive in terms of portraying people of all races, religions and sexual orientations.

MTV has been a pioneer in music television and cultural programming. Early on, the channel was a force in the music industry, popularizing the music video and launching the careers of many artists along the way. Though it has gotten away from the music programming it was once known for, its ability to break boundaries has continued to guide the channel’s current programming. MTV might not be the musical influencer that it once was and probably never will be again, but it will always be remembered for what it has done, no matter what comes next.

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Find music from MTV’s hottest artists at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres ranging from pop, rock and R&B to hip-hop, dance, classical and more. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more. Stop by our Plainview, NY location or shop online from the comfort of your own home. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, there is always something new to find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Seven Musicians Who Have Had Big Parts in ‘The Simpsons’

News broke Monday that Ed Sheeran will be making a guest appearance on ‘The Simpsons’ next season. The popular singer will be playing a young musician named Brenden in what’s being described as a parody of ‘La La Land.’ Sheeran’s character will be a love interest for Lisa in the episode.

Ed Sheeran will be joining a long list of musicians and actors who have guest starred on the show. And while it is somewhat unusual that a musician gets a part where they further the story, there have been a few instances where they have done just that.

Inspired by Sheeran’s latest acting role, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island's music outlet, is taking a look at some of the musicians who have had substantial parts on ‘The Simpsons.’ Here are seven that went beyond the normal cameo.

1.       David Byrne: Talking Heads frontman David Byrne made two appearances on the cartoon, but it was his cameo in the episode “Dude, Where’s My Ranch” that stands out. In it, Byrne plays producer to Homer’s song “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders,” a song which ends up taking over the airwaves so completely that no one could get away from it. The incident drives the Simpson family to leave Springfield for a while. Byrne is still at it when they come back, only this time with a song featuring barkeep Moe.

2.       Lady Gaga: Lady Gaga is often portrayed as being this beacon of hope for people who feel like they don’t belong. ‘The Simpsons’ took that to the next level when they had “Mother Monster” on the show. In “Lisa Goes Gaga,” the singer, while en route to a concert, senses through some sort of ESP that Lisa was down in the dumps. Gaga stops her train in Springfield to try and cheer her up, at the same time spreading the message that everyone should be themselves.

3.       Fantasia Barrino: ‘American Idol’ season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino had the opportunity to be on the show in 2005, playing a young singer vying against Lisa in a singing competition in the episode “A Star Is Torn.” Barrino’s character ends up singing the same song as Lisa, prompting Homer to write Lisa a new song, forwarding the storyline.

4.       Mandy Moore: Mandy Moore, the “wholesome” singer of 90s bubblegum-pop hit “Candy,” got to play a much raunchier version of herself in the episode “Marge and Homer Turn a Couple Play.” In the episode, her character, Tabitha Vixx’s marriage to Springfield Isotopes slugger Buck Mitchell is on the rocks and it is up to Homer and Marge to repair it.

5.       Carrie Brownstein: Slater-Kinney guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein and her onscreen comedy partner Fred Armisen brought their ‘Portlandia’ style to ‘The Simpsons’ for the episode “The Day the Earth Stood Cool” during the show’s 24^th season. The two played a couple who moves next door to the Simpsons, exposing the title family to a different kind of culture, one filled with pork pie hats and breastfeeding. As if the episode couldn’t get any “cooler,” it also has a cameo from The Decemberists.

6.       Michael Jackson: In perhaps one of the weirder casting scenarios from the series, the episode “Stark Raving Dad” finds Homer put in a mental institution and sharing a room with Leon Kompowsky. Kompowsky believes that he is Michael Jackson, and even helps Bart right a song for Lisa’s birthday when he and Homer are released. Though the credits don’t name him as such, Kompowsky is played by Michael Jackson, meaning the character wasn’t crazy when he said he was the “King of Pop.”

7.       Shawn Colvin: Best known for her 1997 single “Sunny Came Home,” Shawn Colvin made an appearance in the very intense episode “Alone Again, Natura-Diddily.” The singer plays the lead singer of a Christian rock band, Rachel Jorden, who becomes a love interest for Ned Flanders after he loses his wife Maude earlier in the episode. The romance is brought back in a second episode where Ned, still obsessed with Maude, tries to turn Jorden into her likeness.

There have been a number of musicians who have been animated into the universe of ‘The Simpsons.’ Some of them were even given roles that advanced an episode’s storyline. Though we will have to wait until next season to see it, Ed Sheeran now joins this list of musicians honored with story lines on the long-running show.

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Find music from many of these animated stars and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store and online. With more titles being added every week, it’s always a great time to stop by and see what’s new.