Picking up the MB clues
Hi everyone, this blog will be an attempt to keep my friends and other site lurkers updated on what’s been going on in our little MB world. I only want to write about newsworthy items relevant to his career and life when it’s appropriate. The main reason I’m doing it is to stop repeating myself and stop having to search for previous posts. Since I’m on the site on a regular basis, I thought it would be helpful. :D Take care and hugs to all, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Comment by sylvie boisvert on December 17, 2016 at 4:33pm
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Hi everyone, I have a few articles coming from various places andhelpful friends about Michael's upcoming Netflix special in February:
Netflix Brings in the New Year With MICHAEL BOLTON'S BIG SEXY VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL
Dec 16 2016
Kicking off the new year with a fresh 2017 lineup, Netflix, the world's leading Internet TV network, has announced all-new stand-up specials from CRISTELA Alonzo, Jen Kirkman and Neal Brennan, and an hilarious and wholly unique Valentine's Day event starring Michael Bolton.
A one-of-a-kind comedy experience, Michael Bolton'S BIG SEXY VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL (premiering Tuesday, February 7), directed by Akiva Schaffer (The Lonely Island) and Scott Aukerman (Comedy Bang! Bang!), follows Grammy winner Michael Bolton as he creates a sexy variety special that serves one very important purpose: to get people in the mood to make love. In the midst of the special's absurdist adventures, Bolton performs an array of love songs made up of both classic hits and all-new original love-making music. Special guests joining Bolton include Andy Samberg, Casey Wilson, Chris Parnell, ERIC ANDRE, Jorma Taccone, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Michael Sheen, Randall Park and Sarah Silverman. Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special is executive-produced by Michael Bolton, Christina Kline, David Jargowsky, Scott Aukerman and Akiva Schaffer.
Joining Netflix's growing slate of top original comedy specials in January are CRISTELA Alonzo, Jen Kirkman and Neal Brennan. Each of the following titles will be available globally on Netflix upon release:
Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Livin'? - Premieres Tuesday, January 3, 2017
In her second Netflix original comedy special, Jen Kirkman is back with her neurotic, storytelling brand of unflinchingly honest comedy. Filmed at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, she jokes about people who won't travel alone, getting a tattoo at 41, male feminists and her solution to street harassment. Just Keep Livin' is a follow-up to her first original comedy special, I'm Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine).
Neal Brennan: 3 Mics - Premieres Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Director, writer and comedian Neal Brennan is reimagining the hour-long comedy special with his acclaimed show 3 Mics -- his first for Netflix. In a break from classic stand-up comedy, 3 Mics sees Brennan alternating between three separate microphones: one for traditional stand-up; one for one-liners; and one for short confessional monologues, covering everything from managing his depression to his difficult relationship with his father. The show is fresh off a successful off-Broadway run in NYC, with superstar musician John Legend serving as Producer.
Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy - Premieres Tuesday, January 24, 2017
In her debut stand-up special for Netflix, actress and comedian CRISTELA Alonzo performs to a packed house in San Antonio, TX talking about life as the daughter of an immigrant, social class, breaking the glass ceiling and more importantly, how she can't get the hang of Zumba.
About Netflix Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 86 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Netflix-Brings-in-the-Ne...
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Netflix’s 2017 comedy slate will kick off with weekly stand-up specials, Valentine’s Day variety special with Michael Bolton and friends | The Comic's Comic
Netflix’s 2017 comedy slate will kick off with weekly stand-up specials, Valentine’s Day variety special with Michael Bolton and friends
Posted by Sean L. McCarthy | Dec 16, 2016 | News, TV | 0 |
Netflix has been pumping out a new stand-up hour almost weekly, and they’re already set to keep up that pace to kick off 2017, announcing four upcoming specials for January, plus Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Day Special to come in the first Tuesday of February.
Bolton has established some comedy cred, appearing alongside The Lonely Island guys in SNL shorts and their Popstar movie. Akiva Schaffer and Scott Aukerman direct Bolton’s Valentine’s Day variety special, premiering Feb. 7, 2017, with Bolton singing and joined by Andy Samberg, Casey Wilson, Chris Parnell, Eric Andre, Jorma Taccone, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Michael Sheen, Randall Park and Sarah Silverman.
As for stand-ups in January 2017 on Netflix, the release order looks like this:
Jen Kirkman: Just Keep Livin’? – Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017
•In her second Netflix original comedy special, Jen Kirkman is back with her neurotic, storytelling brand of unflinchingly honest comedy. Filmed at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, she jokes about people who won’t travel alone, getting a tattoo at 41, male feminists and her solution to street harassment. Just Keep Livin’ is a follow-up to her first original comedy special, I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine).
Jim Gaffigan: Cinco – Jan. 10
•Gaffigan’s fifth special captures his recent “Fully Dressed Tour,” which included a sold-out performance at The Madison Square Garden Arena in New York, and smashed a Salt Lake City record with 29,000 tickets sold. Netflix also acquired exclusive rights to Gaffigan’s four previous stand-up specials.
Neal Brennan: 3 Mics – Jan. 17
•Director, writer and comedian Neal Brennan is reimagining the hour-long comedy special with his acclaimed show 3 Mics — his first for Netflix. In a break from classic stand-up comedy, 3 Mics sees Brennan alternating between three separate microphones: one for traditional stand-up; one for one-liners; and one for short confessional monologues, covering everything from managing his depression to his difficult relationship with his father. The show is fresh off a successful off-Broadway run in NYC, with superstar musician John Legend serving as Producer.
Cristela Alonzo: Lower Classy – Jan. 24
•In her debut stand-up special for Netflix, actress and comedian Cristela Alonzo performs to a packed house in San Antonio, TX talking about life as the daughter of an immigrant, social class, breaking the glass ceiling and more importantly, how she can’t get the hang of Zumba.
http://thecomicscomic.com/2016/12/16/netflixs-2017-comedy-slate-wil...
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Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special heading to Netflix | EW.com
Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special to spice up Netflix
by Christian Holub• @cmholub
Posted December 16 2016 — 3:14 PM EST
It’s not even Christmas yet, but Netflix is already looking ahead to Valentine’s Day.
On Friday, the streaming platform announced it will be ringing in the loveliest holiday with a new special, featuring none other than Michael Bolton. Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special has one goal and one goal only: to make sure people are in a romantic mood on Valentine’s Day.
To that end, directors Scott Aukerman and Akiva Schaffer have assembled a murderer’s row of comedic talent: Andy Samberg, Casey Wilson, Chris Parnell, Eric Andre, Jorma Taccone, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Michael Sheen, Randall Park, and Sarah Silverman. Bolton will compliment that crew’s comedic stylings with his trademark love ballads and some “all-new original love-making music.”
Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy Valentine’s Day Special is set to hit Netflix Feb. 7. Before that, Netflix will also debut a trio of comedy specials in January from Cristela Alonzo, Jen Kirkman, and Neal Brennan.
http://www.ew.com/article/2016/12/16/netflix-michael-bolton-valenti...
Thanks Katia, Sylvia and Gail for the info, it sounds like fun! That's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi Robin, no problem girl. I didn’t have time to post a video Sylvia also posted yesterday. It’s not a YouTube video, but you can find it on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/RFKHumanRights/videos/vb.80824331898/10153...
It was posted on the Robert F Kennedy human rights Facebook page. Robin, to have access to it, make sure you’re on top of the page, use the Jaws key and F7 to get the list of links, then press “V” which should get you to the “video December 6 at 4:54 p.m.” and click on it. Michael comes in around 9 minutes, singing different lyrics to “Hallelujah". It’s not long enough, but it’s gorgeous! :D Take good care girlfriend. That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, big hugs to you girl, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Comment by robin rehder on December 8, 2016 at 7:16am
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Hey Sylvie, Thanks for coming through with the article. I loved it. Well-written. Go Cleveland.
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Hi everyone, Sylvia just posted this great article awaiting Michael's concert in Cleveland:
Singer Michael Bolton Brings His Greatest Hits and Holiday Favorites to Hard Rock Live_Cleveland Scene
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
C-Notes
Singer Michael Bolton Brings His Greatest Hits and Holiday Favorites to Hard Rock Live
Posted By Matt Wardlaw on Wed, Dec 7, 2016 at 11:30 AM
M2M Construction
The idea of writing a song with Bob Dylan is something that would make anybody a bit nervous. Michael Bolton received some helpful advice when the opportunity came along and knew that he had one shot to make it count.
“There was never any guarantee that ‘Steel Bars’ was going to get completed. When I received the call to go work with Bob Dylan, I was told I better try and finish the song in one session because he seldom asked people back for a second go,” Bolton recalls in an email interview. “So when we weren’t quite through with the song that first day, I was very nervous I wouldn’t get a chance to finish. But sure enough, he was happy with the song and we finished it quickly [later] and it became a big hit.”
The song needed just one final tweak by the time that he parted ways with Dylan for the second time. Bolton still had a couple of lines of lyrics that he wasn’t completely sure about. The legendary songwriter told him that he’d give it some more thought and be back in touch. Bolton began making plans to record the song and reached a point where he thought that he might not hear anything further — perhaps Dylan had forgotten or moved on. As he began the recording session, he received a fax from Dylan with 10 additional lines of lyrical possibilities. His song was finally completed and the whole thing felt really good. “I had been Dylan-ized. Seriously, no critic in the world could dent that armor,” he writes in his 2012 memoir The Soul of It All.
Beginning with “That’s What Love Is All About” in 1987, Bolton had scored 12 Top 40 hits across three albums, with “Steel Bars” arriving as the fifth and final chart hit from his 1991 Time, Love and Tenderness album. He continued to build on that success and admits that the memories of the struggle that it took to get there were never far out of his mind.
“Even when I had my first hit, or won my first Grammy, there was never a pause in my drive and discipline. It had been 18 years of struggling before achieving any success so I was determined to never let it go,” he says. “Actually sitting back and enjoying my successes along the way is something I have a hard time doing but should probably try to do more.”
He’ll take stock of his career with his Greatest Hits and Holiday Favorites tour, which arrives at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Hard Rock Live in Northfield. For Bolton, holidays have always been a special time.
“Holidays growing up in Connecticut have that magical quality to them with snowfalls and fireplaces and, of course, A Christmas Story and great holiday music,” he shares. One of the most poignant holiday songs for me is ‘Ave Maria’ which I had the opportunity to sing with Placido Domingo for the live performance and recording of Christmas in Vienna.”
According to Bolton, he grew up in a modest household, but his parents always found a way to save up for a special holiday gift, like a baseball glove.
That glove was an important formative gift that would have a lasting influence over the years that Bolton later spent out on the field playing charity softball games with local radio stations while he and his band were out on the road touring. It was fun, but also a learning experience. Not surprisingly, the radio stations would bring in heavy hitters to try and stack the deck and things quickly got competitive — Bolton had to eventually swap out band members and roadies for his own ringers — to prevent potential hand injuries that might knock them out of the most important lineup — that evening’s concert.
Backstage at a Playhouse Square concert several years ago, he admitted that his team, Bolton’s Bombers — an organization that had put him on the field with baseball heavyweights like Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas — had been retired, but there were no shortage of good memories that had been left behind from the experience.
These days, Bolton continues to record new music. He says his next album, Songs of Cinema, will feature “the most beloved songs from the most iconic movies of all time.”
“I’ve always been a huge fan of the movies. I love all the classics from Casablanca to The Wizard of Oz. And then I’m always watching movies on planes and you can imagine how many hours I clock in flight as I tour around the world,” he says. “I’m always noticing the score and song choices in films and I’ve also written and recorded [things] for soundtracks like 'Go the Distance' for Disney’s feature Hercules. I recently wrote and recorded the title song to Fathers and Daughters, a film [released in 2015] starring Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried.”
He’s using PledgeMusic to involve fans in the project, which is scheduled to be released next year and says that the process has been extremely helpful.
“I’m actually using [their platform] to source ideas from my fans and they’ve offered up some great suggestions so far, like ‘Stand By Me,’ ‘I Heard it Through the Grapevine,’ and ‘I Will Always Love You,’” he says. “They get to be a process of the making of the album and see behind the scenes, which has been cool to share. There will definitely be a few surprises on this album which the fans don’t yet know about.”
For fans of his hard rock past with Blackjack, the band he shared with eventual KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Bolton says there might just be room for a sequel one of these days.
“A lot of people seem to be reminiscing about Blackjack and there might be an opportunity to revisit that music.”
In a 2015 interview with this writer, Kulick shared that he and Bolton had been “closer than ever” in recent years and the singer even gave a virtual thumbs up of sorts to his old group when it was mentioned on Twitter.
“He retweeted when somebody said, ‘Bring back Blackjack.’ I got such a kick out of that,” Kulick says. “I really appreciate the fact that where I know at one point, he was kind of like, oh, I don’t want people to confuse me with this rock and roll / big hair era, now he gets it that he’s had a long career and he’s not shying away from the fact that he was part of that.”
For the moment, as Bolton heads back out on the road, he says he’s looking forward to coming back to Cleveland.
“I have been touring through Cleveland since the late '70s [when I was touring with] Blackjack,” he says. “It is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and WMMS was one of the first big stations on earth to play my music! Cleveland has a special place in my heart because it to me represents the potential of the comeback of the American Dream which I think Detroit is on the verge of and that is the spirit of what I am hoping to capture in my [Detroit] documentary Gotta Keep Dreamin'. We learned a lot about Dan Gilbert and all his initiatives not only in Detroit but in Cleveland and elsewhere to bring back jobs and industry and livelihood for a lot of people. Of course I had to become a Cavaliers fan as well.”
http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/12/07/singe...
That's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hey Girl, I went on to pledgemusic.com & whew, it has changed. I have no way of finding Michael's name. I have a ride @ 8:55 for an appointment my time. Oh! well! Hope you're well. I'm doing ok.
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Hi again everyone, here's Sylvia's update on Q&A time:
"Michael has tweeted with regard to time of Q&A session on Pledge Music tomorrow and here is his tweet:
Hey everyone!! My #live Q&A will start at 11am EST tomorrow Wednesday Nov 30th @PledgeMusic SEE U THERE!!"
So, there you have it: see you there! That's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, Sylvia picked this up on Michael's Twitter page about an hour ago:
"Hey everyone! You've been very patiently awaiting the next @PledgeMusic update about the new album. Tune in tomorrow for a live Q&A!!"
There's no mention of time, but I'm guessing Gail will post it when it's available. In any case, it gives us a few hours to think up questions. :D That's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, Sylvia just shared this article relating to Michael's upcoming concert in Maryland on Thursday:
Bolton ready to go the distance for his fans | Life | heraldmailmedia.com
Award-winning musician coming to Maryland Theatre
By MEG H.PARTINGTON megp@herald-mail.com
Updated Nov 27, 2016
Fans of Michael Bolton don’t have to live without seeing him if they can nab tickets to his upcoming show in Hagerstown.
The award-winning singer, songwriter and social activist is performing at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at The Maryland Theatre. It’s billed as a Christmas show, but Bolton, 63, said he’ll include plenty of greatest hits to please his lifelong fans.
He took a moment to answer some questions about his life and career via email.
HM: Where do you live?
BOLTON: I was born and raised in Connecticut, and that is where my home is, although I am traveling on tour most of the year, and spend a lot of time recording music and taping television shows in Los Angeles.
HM: What inspired you to start Michael Bolton Charities 22 years ago? Please explain its mission and accomplishments to date.
BOLTON: Early on, as a struggling artist trying to support a wife and three daughters, I was constantly facing the risk of homelessness. That was terrifying. But I had no backup plan. I vowed that if and when I ever came into success, I would find ways to bring support to women and children at risk. It was in the process of exploring the shelters around my hometown in Connecticut that I discovered that domestic violence was a leading reason women and their children were driven to seek safety in the shelters. Being the father of three daughters, it was just unthinkable to me that a man could ever raise his hand to a woman or child. It’s just not how I was raised. So I became very personally involved in legislation around the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA. I also realized from performing at various fundraisers that celebrity is a kind of currency, and so I started fundraising around my own foundation, the Michael Bolton Charities, which disperses funds to organizations around the country that are addressing this critical issue of women and children at risk. We are now working on building a Family Justice Center in Connecticut and continue to support our music-therapy program at Safe Horizon. The next mission will be to work to put an end to human trafficking.
HM: In what other humanitarian causes are you involved?
BOLTON: I try to support as many as I can.
HM: You have won numerous prestigious awards for your music. Does one mean more to you than the others, and if so, why?
BOLTON: I have had moments of pride in my accomplishments, from two Grammys for best male vocal performance and six American Music Awards, to many songwriter awards and earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Those are all important markers of achievement for sure, but I always want to do more, strive harder, go farther, experience new heights. Creativity is part of what fuels you as an artist, and that makes you always hungry!
HM: How do you work with others when writing songs? Do you have to be in the same room or do you utilize technology so less travel is involved?
BOLTON: The writing process always has to be in person. It’s a very personal kind of creative collaboration. I like to work with producers who are very musical. My voice becomes my instrument, and we can explore different melodies that would be interesting and challenging for me to deliver, while still creating catchy, memorable hooks. Once we have the song structure, we definitely take advantage of technology to continue the production process in spite of my touring schedule so I can be in any great studio in the world, recording vocals or listening to mixes and refining the final song. I’m very hands-on throughout the process.
HM: Of all the people with whom you have written music, who made the biggest impact on you, and why?
BOLTON: The range of songwriters I’ve written with and for — from Bob Dylan to Lady Gaga, to KISS, Streisand and Cher, to Marc Anthony, Kenny G and Patti LaBelle, to Ne-Yo and Rascal Flatts — is a great honor for me. Even Kanye West and Jay Z sampled two of my songs. Dylan revealed the poetic genius in songwriting. Gaga was bold and disciplined. Ne-Yo is a pleasure, and the Flatts were just so fun. There’s always a different dynamic, and each one teaches you something new about yourself and draws out new creative strengths.
HM: Do you have any input when another artist records your songs? If so, how do you contribute to the process?
BOLTON: Any artist can choose to perform or record any of my released songs. I’ve heard several artists perform my songs on shows like “American Idol” and “The Voice” in many countries around the world. It is always an honor to me to see my songs translate across cultures and transcend generations. Sometimes I will go in and help with an artist’s vocal recording, and that’s a lot of fun for me.
HM: How do you react when you hear your songs sung by a woman? Do you think that changes the whole tone of a song?
BOLTON: Everyone — whether male or female — brings their own unique take to a song. There is a legacy in a great song that lives on far beyond its singers, but each interpretation breathes new life into it. Hits from the Motown catalog, for example, have been covered multiple times by a wide range of artists. There is a personalization, but also a universal resonance of the original song and its intention.
HM: What was it like to perform with legendary talents such as Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles and BB King?
BOLTON: Ray Charles showed me the great joy of singing and taught me how to have a certain kind of freedom in interpretation, to make a song my own. He was one of my early influences. Luciano Pavarotti made me realize I was a tenor and the discipline required to support my voice. He challenged me to raise the bar. Playing guitar with BB King was just awesome, surreal and mind-blowing.
HM: While you are known for your ballads, you also have demonstrated comedic talent on YouTube and television. How much different is preparing for a comic role than rehearsing for a musical performance?
BOLTON: Completely different, really. There’s a lot of physical maintenance required to sing — vocal warm-ups, voice rest, sleep, diet, exercise. In comedy or acting, it’s more about being in the moment, taking direction and being wiling to take risks. What you do have in common is delivering great material and feeding off the energy of the live aspect and the people around you.
HM: What makes you laugh?
BOLTON: Funny people.
HM: Your Dec. 1 performance in Hagerstown will feature Christmas music. How did you select the songs you will do in concert? Will you perform classic Christmas music, originals or both?
BOLTON: There will definitely be some holiday favorites mixed into the set, but I’m always conscious that my lifelong fans are coming to hear the greatest hits. I often get messages and letters about certain songs that marked important moments in their lives, and so they are coming to celebrate those experiences. I also like to introduce my audience to new musical genres and guests. Every time I record a new album, we incorporate a few of those songs into the set, so the repertoire is always evolving. I like to make the concert into a real musical journey and tell stories along the way. The audience likes to chime in, and we always have a lot of fun together.
HM: Is Christmas particularly sentimental for you? If so, why?
BOLTON: It represents a time for me to spend with my family.
HM: Many people, including myself, grew up listening to your music. How have your songwriting and performing changed to keep you relevant to today’s audiences?
BOLTON: The main thing to stay relevant is to continue to work with a variety of great people — young, new music producers, television writers, artists and influencers from around the world.
WHAT: Michael Bolton Christmas Show
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1
WHERE: The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown
COST: $45 to $105
CONTACT: Call 301-790-2000 or go to www.mdtheatre.org (http://www.mdtheatre.org)
http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/life/bolton-ready-to-go-the-distance...
That's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, Gloria just posted the link to the entire “Hollywood Walk of Fame honors” show that was on last Wednesday. She says Michael is in between 48:34 and 49:00, with snippets of his speech when he got his own star, then his performance of WAMLAW is at 76:36 with David Foster’s wonderful introduction. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: David should introduce Michael wherever he goes... :D Anyway, Gloria says she doesn’t know whether this can be viewed outside the U.S. or how long the video will be available, but there it is so enjoy! That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
http://www.cwtv.com/shows/more-video/the-hollywood-walk-of-fame-hon...
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Hi everyone, I have a couple of items of interest today. First, since Susan Boyle’s CD “A wonderful world” is out, her duet “Somewhere out there” with Michael has been made available everywhere, including YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEt_tCy5PZU&feature=youtu.be
Now second, according to Sally, who went to see/hear Michael at Terrytown last night, Michael’s CD is finally scheduled for release in early February and he apparently finished taping a Netflix special for Valentine’s day. Great news for people with Netflix... Anyway, it’s wonderful to finally have at least a ballpark release date! That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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