Appearances Old

Appearances

PARK CITY, UT - DECEMBER 20: The Red Hot Chilli Peppers perform before the superpipe finals of the Chevy Truck U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix on December 20, 2002 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)1A: Jingle Sells, But Who’s Buying?

What is it that makes so many artists want to sing about Christmas? Why not other holidays, in other times of year? And after decades of holiday hits, is there anything new to do with the genre?

 
PARK CITY, UT - DECEMBER 20: The Red Hot Chilli Peppers perform before the superpipe finals of the Chevy Truck U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix on December 20, 2002 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

1A: Jingle Sells, But Who's Buying?

What is it that makes so many artists want to sing about Christmas? Why not other holidays, in other times of year? And after decades of holiday hits, is there anything new to do with the genre?

Janet Jackson onstage during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards on May 20 in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Gist: Halls of Fame Need Diversity, Too

The 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees are less progressive rock, more progressive politics.

Heat Rocks title over photo of George Michael, with a photo of Chris Molanphy in the corner

Heat Rocks: EP60: Chris Molanphy on George Michael’s “Faith” (1987)

In the fall of 1987, it wasn't a foregone conclusion that George Michael's solo debut, Faith, would be a hit. As successful as Michael had been as half of the Wham! duo, going solo was always going to be a risk but as it turns out, it was one worth taking. Faith turned out to be a runaway hit, not simply a #1 album but spawning four different #1 singles, including the lively title song which became the best-selling song of 1988 in the U.S.