If you’ve been a part of U.S. culture to any extent for the last four decades, you’ve most likely been exposed to Don McLean’s song “American Pie,” which has become a prominent cultural reference since its release in late 1971.  Exactly 40 years ago today, “American Pie” reached number one on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart, where it would stay for a total of four weeks.

In the past, the standard was that established artists would ask upcoming artists to join them on a single. Currently the trend seems to be the opposite. This last year emerging artists are featuring veteran artists on their tracks.

In 2011, Justin Beiber recorded “All I Want For Christmas Is You” with Mariah Carey as a guest. Lady Gaga recorded “Edge of Glory” with the late great Clarence Clemons. B.O.B recorded “Magic” with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer. Katy Perry featured Kenny G in her video last “Friday Night”.

Why did the change occur?

In the rock ‘n’ roll era, only one song has gone to number 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in its first chart appearance and then hit number 1 again during a second run on the charts.  That song?  Chubby Checker’s “The Twist,” which originally hit number 1 for one week in 1960, then exactly 50 years ago today, hit number 1 during its second chart appearance, this time spending two weeks at the top of the chart.

This feat was representative of Checker’s career, which was largely built on various incarnations of “The Twist.”  In 1961, a little less than a year after hitting number 1 the first time with “The Twist,” Checker hit number 8 with “Let’s Twist Again.”  In 1962, Checker followed up the second number 1 run for “The Twist” by hitting number 3 with “Slow Twistin’.”  Checker would also hit number 25 in 1963 with “Twist It Up” and then, 25 years later, hit number 16 in 1988 while teaming up with the Fat Boys for “The Twist (Yo, Twist!).”

If you were of an age to smell like teen spirit when Nirvana hit with their song of the same name, then you’re in your thirties now.  That’s because exactly 20 years ago today, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” peaked at number 6 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. 

The song was the biggest hit for the band that became synonymous with grunge rock in the early 1990s and whose lead singer, Kurt Cobain, has been considered by some to be the voice of the Generation X generation.  Like a lot of rock bands, Nirvana’s success came more from album sales than singles, and so they only hit the top 40 one more time–later in 1992, when “Come as You Are” peaked at number 32.

Welsh-born Shirley Bassey has been one of Britain’s most popular and successful singers over the past six decades.  That includes a string of singles that hit the top 10 in the United Kingdom.  However, Bassey only hit the top 10 once in the United States, back in 1965, when “Goldfinger,” from the James Bond film of the same name, peaked at number 8 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart.  Bassey, who was granted the title of Dame in 1999, turns 75 today.  Check her out above singing “Goldfinger” this past May.

I recently had the opportunity to finally catch the incredible Beatles show “Love” by Circus Soliel in Las Vegas. The visual gymnastics were beyond reason. The music was a tribute to the Beatles. There were points of the show where I felt I was actually at a Beatles concert. Below is montage of what you can expect at the show. Have you seen the show, what was your favorite part?

Michael Kaeshammer is a Canadian piano maestro. I recently saw Michael perform at a holiday concert and I was impressed. What do you think?

http://www.kaeshammer.com/

                                                         Image from Rock School official website

Looking for a good New Year’s resolution?  Consider listening to Rock School this year (and catching up on the last four and a half years of the show as well).  Rock School is a radio show on KSLU, 90.9 FM, which is the campus radio station at Southeastern Louisiana University.  The show, which broadcasts a new episode each week, features Dr. Joe Burns, a Communication professor at the university, and Chad P., a radio announcer and alumnus of the university.  For each episode, Chad and Joe offer a playlist of songs revolving around a theme, interspersing the music with interesting stories and information about the songs, the artsts, and the relationships between the songs/artists and the show’s theme, much of which comes from the hosts’ combined years of experience working in radio as well as Burns’ academic study of music and culture.

For more on Rock School, check out their website, which features info about the show and links for downloading past episodes.

The Monkees hit number one three times in their career.  The first time was “Last Train to Clarksville” and the third time was “Daydream Believer.”  The second time was exactly 45 years ago today, when the band hit the top of Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart with the biggest hit of their career, “I’m A Believer,” which would go on to spend seven weeks at the top.

DJ Earworm gives us the mashup “United State of Pop 2011 (World Go Boom)” a tribute to 2011. DJ Earworm says, “2011 gave us songs of regret and anger, pride and perseverance, and lots of fire. When someone’s taken everything from you, what do you do?” Download the song here. Happy New Year!