Music Notes with Jess

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Country music fans, it's time for the 59th CMA Awards! The industry's gone through so much in 2025. Grand Ole Opry turned 100! The Grammys broke up 2026's country category in 2! MTV added country to the VMAs! Growing through these changes, I share my predictions who'd win CMA Awards' 11 categories ahead of 11/19's show! Check our social media links viewing before-and-after results.

Spotify's CMA playlist
Sirius/XM - The Highway
CMT Hot Twenty ending; show

Related Episodes: Top 40 of 2023 (Pt 2); Miranda Lambert’s “Wranglers"; Little Big Town; 'F-1 Trillion; Global Citizen; CMA Awards 2024; Top 40 2024 (Pt 1); (Pt 2);  Lady A; ACMs; Blake Shelton & Morgan Wallen; MTV Add Country and CBS to VMAs; VMAs



 

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2025's word of the year: "6 7" from Tiktok, means maybe or so-so. Test by this episode's 1967 playlist!

Theme Song: "Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena

The Monkees, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Johnny Cash, The Jungle Book, Dr. Doolittle, You Only Live Twice, To Sir With Love, The Four Seasons, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan,  CSNY, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, The Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, The Foundations, The Supremes, Vanilla Fudge, Aretha Franklin, California folk.

PACJ - vinyl; unveiling; Head critique; Anthology; "Foxey Lady"; Hall of Fame;  “White Rabbitt”; Fuller House; Austin Powers

The Monkees; Covers; Ecl

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Leon Thomas is a contemporary R&B singer, who first got introduced as a teen actor. Music passion passed down from his family, and he's finally getting his name out this year as a solo artist. Learn the timeline, creative writing behind "Mutt", and how a recent Billboard ruling earned a "top-dog" achievement for Leon's career officially mainstream. 

Theme Song: "Dance Track", composed by Jessica Ann Catena

Performances: Genius - lyrics breakdown (2024)

2025: NPR's Tiny Desk; The Late Show clip; Coachella clip

BET Awards - acceptance speech; MTV Push Artist

Variety - studio production session

"Snooze" cover

Related Episodes: Ariana Grande; Steve Lacy; Alicia Keys; Top 40 Songs of 2023 (Part 1); Teddy Swims and Benson Boone; 2024 Summer Song?

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All season, fans have celebrated The Rocky Horror Picture Show50th! Despite its risque quirkiness, it's the longest theatrical movie. Learn the franchise's history and reboots.

Theme Song: "Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena

Vinyl; Digital Soundtrack; props

Hollywood Theatre interview' Tim Curry interview: CBS Sunday Morning; edit
Vagabond memoir; Meat Loaf

Glee (2010); Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016)
"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter (2025)

Related: Halloweenish; Thriller; Monarch; Sounds; "Feather"; Eclipse; Ghostbusters; 2024; Gigi Perez & Lorde; Ozzy; Gaga & Florence 

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Leading up to Halloween, two contemporary songs are likely to set the mood: Lady Gaga's "The Dead Dance", Florence + The Machine's "Everybody Scream"! Learn the development stories about each.

Theme Song: "Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena
Sound effects - Soundscape's Pottery Barn Halloween CD (2001).

"The Dead Dance": Wednesday Netflix mini-series
Wednesday Season 2 scene; VMAs 2025: Live from Madison Square Garden
Gala event press release

Florence + The Machine - Favs
"Dog Days Are Over" (2009-2010) - Video 1, 2, VMAs
"Shake It Out" (2011)
"Sweet Nothing" (2012) - Calvin Harris
"Ship to Wreck" (2015)
"Call Me Cruella" (2021)
"Everybody Scream" @ Graham Norton Show, album

Cruella De Vil; Lady Gaga; "Goo Goo Muck"; Stevie Nicks; The Tortured Poets Department; 'Mayhem'; VMAs; Laufey; 'The Life of a Showgirl'; Bruno Mars

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Happy 40th Bruno Mars!

Playlist: 10. “Treasure”; Sample; 9. “That’s What I Like”; 8. “It Will Rain”; 7. “Finesse (Remix)” ft. Cardi B; 6. “Die With A Smile” - Lady Gaga; 5. “Leave the Door Open” - Silk Sonic; 4. “Grenade”; 3. “When I Was Your Man”;  2. “Just the Way You Are”; 1. “Uptown Funk” - Mark Ronson; SNL; Ellen

The Apollo; BET; "Leave the TV On"; "Am I Wrong"; 2011

"Nothin' On You"; "Billionaire"; "Blow"; "Wake Up in the Sky"

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Fans will be remember 10/3/25 being Taylor Swift's 12th album launch day for The Life of a Showgirl! Recorded secretly a year ago, she was inspired to note personal growth inspired by her then boyfriend / now fiancèe Travis Kelce, and coping a constant spotlight on her career. Metaphorically composing about love, family, scrutiny, and fame, the tracks were co-produced by 2 different pros than her prior albums over a decade! Learn the significance how certain events were expressed, my review, and publicity plan Taylor will promote soon.

Theme Song: "Dance Track", composed by Jessica Ann Catena

Watch The Eras Tour - Disney+

Media Coverage: Amazon Music / Apple Music

BBC One / Capital FM / Hits Radio

The Graham Norton Show

Sirius/XM Channel 13

iHeartRadio

NBC: Jimmy Fallon / Seth Meyers

Related : Ariana Grande Top 10; Back To School Playlist; Sabrina Carpenter's "Feather"; Christmas 2023 Playlist; The Tortured Poets Department - Review; Christmas 2024 Playlist; Top 40 Songs of 2024 (Part 2); Dolly Parton's 2 New Songs; Laufey's 'A Matter of Time' (Review)

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Bootleg record Buckingham Nicks, got re-issued this month since 1973's original release! Historically a climax for Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' relationship, and invited to join classic rock band, Fleetwood Mac. They haven't been amicable since then, what gave the go-ahead to finally remaster their duo's debut recordings?

Second, Miley Cyrus has involved Fleetwood Mac alumni on her new single "Secrets". It's not her first affiliation with them. Find out who was the first, collaborated now, and whom the song is about.

Theme Song: "Dance Track" by Jessica Ann Catena

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Buckingham Nicks & Fleetwood Mac merch

"Midnight Sky" / "Edge of Midnight"- Miley Cyrus (2020)

David Byrne /Talking Heads

Related Episodes: Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"; Top 40 Songs of 2020 (Pt. 2); Christine McVie Top 10; Miley Cyrus' "Flowers"; Stevie Nicks Top 10; Mariah Carey Top 10; French Lyrics Playlist; Billy Joel Top 10

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A decade after a Lifetime Achievement, CBS will air The 21st night of September for Earth, Wind & Fire! I countdown 10 hits. 

"Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena

Playlist: 10. “Sing A Song” (1975); 9. “Fantasy” (1977); 8. “Can’t Hide Love” (1975); 7. “That’s the Way of the World” (1975); 6. “Got to Get You Into My Life” (1978); 5. “Let’s Groove” (1981);4. “Reasons” (1975); 3. “After the Love Has Gone” (1979); 2. “Shining Star” (1975); 1. “September” (1978)

"Rescue Me"; "Free"; The Emotions; Creative Source; Lucky Daye; Edwin McCain;  The Beatles; HItch; Goldmember; Covers

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Laufey's a young jazz aficionado, and her 3rd album A Matter of Time just debuted #4 Billboard's 200.

Theme Song: "Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena

Fan Fav: "Like the Movies" - Jimmy Kimmel (2022)
"From the Start" (2022); New Years' Rockin' Eve; GMA
Remix: "Confess Your Love" - Jiandro; Tiktok dance (2025)

"Goddess"; Tonight Show; "Christmas Magic"; The Graham Norton Show (2024) "Silver Lining"; GMA3; "Tough Luck"; "Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self" & Barbra Streisand; "Lover Girl"; GMA; Studio; "Snow White" (2025)

CBS Sunday Morning (edit); MTV; Buzzfeed puppies
Related: folklore; Eclipse Playlist; Xmas '24; Prom '25

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