Tag: Best of Year

Pop Culture Roundup (Best of 2011 Edition)

New Year hat 2012 Happy new year! In case you have been too busy preparing for the new year, here is a sample of recent pop culture stories you might have missed. As you might guess, many of the interesting stories look back at the best and worst of 2011.


— Best of 2011 —

A number of websites and blogs consider the best music of 2011. The New York Post featured Twitter-sized reviews of the best songs of 2011. Ickmusic has a 2011 best-of list of albums and songs. Uprooted Music Revue listed its 50 Favorite Audio Releases of 2011. Entertainment Weekly listed its top 10 albums of 2011. USA Today critics picked their best albums of 2011. Cover Lay Down presented mp3s of the best cover songs of 2011.

A number of sites considered the best and worst films of 2011. Chicago Tribune critic Michael Philips picked his 10 worst films of 2011, and he also picked his 10 best films. Just Go With It was the number one rented film at Redbox kiosks in 2011. All of top 5 rentals were comedies. Leonard Maltin picked the 11 Best Films You May Have Missed In 2011.

Some posts examined the top books. For example, NPR listed its Best Music Books Of 2011. (Thanks @robertloerzel.) The New York Daily News picked the best under-the-radar books of 2011.

There were other end-of-the-year lists. For example, Salon featured the viral videos of 2011. Frontier Psychologist listed The Top 10 Not That Special People of 2011. (Thanks @HipandCritical.) Salon featured the best and worst Tweets of the year. Slate had the worst catchphrases of 2011. TV critic Robert Bianco put together a list of the best and worst of TV in 2011.

DJ Earworm created a mashup of the top 25 pop songs of 2011 in one 5-minute clip. It’s pop. There ain’t no Lucinda Williams or Ryan Adams in here.

— Other Recent Music News —

Beyond “more cowbell!” The New York Post examined Blue Oyster Cult in pop culture.

Kelly Clarkson received a big boost in album sales after she endorsed Ron Paul.

stuffed puppy toy
Thanks for saving me, Pink!

Pink saved a puppy thrown in a river. How cool is that?

Singer-actress Kaye Stevens passed away. She performed with the Rat Pack, on Johnny Carson, etc.

Bob Seger recently explained his 2011 highlight was playing with Bruce Springsteen.

The Los Angeles Times interviewed Woody Allen about his career playing New Orleans jazz.

Bono and Glen Hansard played on the streets of Dublin for charity on Christmas Eve.


— Other Movie News —

Me Tarzan, you ?? Maybe it isn’t true that the chimp that just died was the 80-year-old Cheetah of Tarzan movie fame.

Scientists have discovered the reason for the strange bird behavior that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.


— Other Television News —

Anne Serling has written a memoir about discovering her father Rod through his show The Twilight Zone.

Slate has the best and worst ads inspired by director Wes Anderson.

Barry Livingston, who played Ernie on My Three Sons, is still acting and has a book out.

What were your favorite stories of the year? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Bono and Glen Hansard: The Auld Triangle
  • “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and . . . Eddie Vedder (Duet of the Day)
  • ‘Fairytale of New York’ at Shane MacGowan’s funeral
  • Death in Movies That Remind Us to Enjoy Life
  • Springsteen and Bono Sing “Because the Night” in Dublin
  • Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen “Shout” In Their Third Performance Together

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)

    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (18 Dec. 2011)

    Captain America In case you were too busy planning and then canceling a debate because nobody was going to show up, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed. This week’s roundup features some “Best of 2011” lists.

    —– Best of 2011 —–

    Salon listed its 10 Best Movies from 2011.

    Chicago Tribune critic Michael Phillips selected his top 10 films of 2011.

    Slate listed the best jazz albums of 2011.

    The African-American Film Critics Association named Tree of Life the best film of 2011.

    Time Magazine    ‘s “Person of the Year” is. . . The Protester.

    Here are 10 movies from 2011 that you may not have seen but should have.

    The Americana Music Association listed its 2011 Top 10 Most Played Albums.


    —– Movies —–

    Where’s the Batsuit when you need it? Christian Bale got a little roughed up in China while trying to visit a dissident in the country.

    Cuban horror spoof Juan of the Dead, satirizes socialism using zombies.

    Poptimal has a review of Tinker Tailor Solder Spy.

    The first trailer for Men in Black III has been released.

    Orsen Welles’s 1942 screenplay Oscar for Citizen Kane went up for auction.

    Here’s an interesting video essay about “the Spielberg face” used in the director’s movies:

    The Screen Actors Guild Award nominations may change predictions for the Oscars.

    Say it ain’t so! Daniel Ruettiger, who inspired the film Rudy, settled w/ the SEC regarding allegations against him.

    Paramount Pictures is tweaking its logo.


    —– Music —–

    No Depression featured a review of a Ryan Adams show in Baltimore.

    Questlove from the Roots listed his top five hip-hop concept albums.

    On Monday, Billy Joel became the first nonclassical musician to be inducted into Steinway Hall.

    In January, Ani DiFranco will release her first album in three years.

    Hasidic Jewish reggae musician Matisyahu announced upcoming changes and shaved.

    The Los Angeles Times reviewed one of Aimee Mann’s annual holiday shows.

    Etta James is terminally ill with chronic leukemia. Since we posted recently Rachel Crow’s version of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” let’s give a listen to James singing her great song.


    —– Television —–

    The FCC ordered TV stations to regulate the volume of loud TV commercials, taking effect Dec. 2012.

    Howard Stern is replacing Piers Morgan on America’s Got Talent.

    Steve Carrell of The Office got snubbed in the Golden Globe nominations. That’s what she said.

    After interviewing the Kardashians and others on her special, Barbara Walters revealed that her “Most Fascinating Person” for 2011 is the late Steve Jobs.

    —– Other Pop Culture News —–

    Joe Simon, the co-creator of Captain America, passed away Wednesday night. Vanity Fair has a nice tribute to Christopher Hitchens, who also passed away in the last week. RIP.

    Ho Ho Ho! Check out these photos from Life magazine of Santa making kids cry. We hope that your wishes come true without any crying in the upcoming holiday weeks.

    What were your favorite pop culture stories of the week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Etta James and Dr. John on the Classic Heartbreak Song Written in Prison: “I’d Rather Go Blind”
  • What if William Randolph Hearst Could Hack?
  • I’d Rather Go Blind: Rachel Crow
  • Treasure Island & Wallace Beery
  • Billy Joel is Turning the Lights Back On After The Longest Time
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

    • (Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)