Music Notes with Jess

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Finishing Passover and Easter this month, I reminisced the first movie I heard of Val Kilmer as he passed away 4/1. Dreamworks released animated religious film The Prince of Egypt in 1998, based on the Bible's Book of Exodus - 40 Chapters, and 1956 movie The Ten Commandments. Along with an all-star cast, Val Kilmer starred as Moses and the voice of God. I summarize the epic movie and soundtrack in this episode.

The Prince of Egypt: Peacock, Amazon

The Ten Commandments - Amazon Prime Video

"When You Believe" - Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey

Musical movie clips

Lyrics

Hey Alma's soundtrack critique

Related Episodes: Ep. 113 - Annie/MJ The Musical/West Side Story
Ep. 119 - Encanto Songs                                        Ep. 138 - Top Gun Songs
Ep. 203 - Barbie: The Albums
Ep. 233 - Mariah Carey Top 10
Ep. 251 - Celine Dion Top 10
Ep. 277 - Grammys 2025 Predictions
Ep. 281 - Wicked & A Compete Unknown (Reviews)

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Record Store Day is 4/12, and Post Malone is ambassador! I made my own playlist: 

“Old Time Rock & Roll” - Bob Seger (1978); Risky Business ; The Nanny; "Like a Rock" Chevy ads; (single)

“Music” - Madonna (2000); “Put Your Records On” - Corrine Bailey Rae (2006) / Ritt Momney (2020); "Breathless", "Green Aphrodisiac" (2016)

“I Love Rock & Roll” - The Arrows (1975), Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1981), Britney Spears (2001), Crossroads

“Add Some Music to Your Day” - The Beach Boys (1970)
“Sir Duke”, "I Am Singing" - Stevie Wonder (1976)

Britney, Madonna, Mariah, The Beach Boys

Pick a Disc, Album Nerds, Polyphonic Press, Astrovert

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Jess Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) have been together almost 20 years. Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley both announced they're expecting a new baby with their spouses! Dave Hayward also welcomed his third child last summer. This trio is one of my top 5 favorites bands, and I saw them 10 years ago working in country radio. I countdown 10 songs you're probably familiar with.

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

Lady A Top 10 playlist: 10. “You Look Good” (2017)
9. “What If I Never Get Over You” (2019-2020); 8. “Bartender” (2014)
7. “We Owned the Night” (2011); 6. “Compass” (2013-2014)
5. “American Honey” (2010); 4. “Just a Kiss” (2011); 3 .“Downtown” (2013)
2. “I Run to You” (2008-2009); 1. “Need You Now” (2009-2010)

Jess recommends: "Our Kind of Love" "Goodbye Town" "Long Stretch of Love" "Good Time to Be Alive" "Wanted You More" "As You Turn Away"  "Heart of the World"

Pretty In Pink house scene; "I'll Always Love You" - Grand Ole Opry 100th

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Doechii just won Best Rap Album at the Grammys for Alligator Bites Never Heal. Finding strength with her unique personal life, her music's appealing to many fans and R&B's Janet Jackson! Doechii quoted "Someone to Call My Lover"'s chorus on her X account, and Janet replied! Along with current single "Anxiety", I'll discuss both women's inspirations behing the lyrics and the songs they sample.

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

"Anxiety" lyrics
"ANXIETY" - Sleepy Hollow feat. Doechii (2023)
Doechii's TikTok dance
"Anxiety" TikTok Dance Challenge Montage                                                                                Will Smith & Doechii  / Tatyana Ali/Will/Doechii
1990 clip - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air pilot

"Somebody That I Used to Know" - Gotye feat. Kimbra (2011-2012)
Grammy win; SNL digital short

Janet's music notes; Who Sampled
"I'm His, He's Mine" - Katy Perry feat. Doechii; VMAs

Related Episodes: Janet Jackson Documentary, Halsey's "Lucky" Song Samples, Grammys 2025 Predictions, Chappell Roan’s “The Giver”

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Chappell Roan's the Grammys & MTV's reigning Best New Artist. Her single "The Giver" sounds country, not departing from alternative. 

Theme: "Dance Track" - Jessica Ann Catena

"Pink Pony Club"; SNL; Grammys; The Late Show: "Red Wine Supernova"

"Good Luck, Babe!": The Tonight Show; VMAs; SNL: The Giver"; Grammys speech

Shania Twain: Come On Over: "Any Man of Mine" "Man! I Feel Like a Woman"

The Village People: "Macho Man" "Y.M.C.A." "In the Navy"; Hot 100, 2025

Getting Down & Wordy

Related: Maren Morris, VMAs, Top 40 2024, Grammys, Lola Young, Dolly Parton

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At 79, Dolly Parton's on Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please" remix, and just wrote "If You Hadn't Been There", mourning her husband Carl Dean. (lyrics)

Short n' Sweet (Deluxe) (2025); "Espresso", "Taste", "Please Please Please" (2024); Remix's studio shoot, music video, lyrics

Thelma and Louise; 9 to 5, CMT Hot Twenty; "Jolene", "I Will Always Love You", "Hard Candy Christmas" - Dolly Parton, "You're Still the One", "The Woman In Me" - Shania Twain, "Hard Candy Christmas" covers: Kelly Clarkson, Caylee Hammack

"Feather", COWBOY CARTER, 2024 Summer, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)", 'F-1 Trillion', Top 40 of 2024, Carly Pearce, Grammys 

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Lady Gaga's new album Mayhemis a bold return to her dance/pop theatrics. Almost a year in the making, she's handled diverse music in between and with a special partner in its production. I provide my critique, and recap 6 months back how the music played into what's out now.

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

Interviews: Rolling Stone Now, Elle magazine, Hot Wings, Billboard, Good Morning America, Apple Music

SNL

Music Videos: "Die With A Smile", "Disease", "Abracadabra"

Related Episodes: interviewed on Seeing Them Live
Seeing Them Live & Lyrics Chat

Lady Gaga Top 10
"Houdini" Songs
French Lyrics Playlist
"Die With A Smile"
Top 40 Songs of 2024 (Part 2)                                                                                                 Grammy 2025 Predictions

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In 2025's movie awards season, 2 music films have been nominated: Broadway musical Wicked, and Bob Dylan's biopic A Complete Unknown. Based on books and 5 years in the making, both films have been well received and worth the wait by fans. I share my personal reviews and backstories in this episode.

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

Wicked film soundtrack
Wicked Broadway soundtrack 

Wicked interviews on Kelly Clarkson Show

A Complete Unknown soundtrack
Fact vs. Fiction: Screen Rant, Rolling Stone

60 Minutes - Timothee Chalamet

SAG Awards speech

97th Oscars

Related Episodes: 

A Year Since Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen's Biopic

ADELE Top 10 Countdown

Ariana Grande Top 10

Class of 2007 Playlist 

Earth Day Playlist

Ariana's "yes and?" & J. Lo's "Can't Get Enough"

Quincy Jones Favorites

Coldplay & Dick Van Dyke 

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Lola Young's been into music her whole life, and making a young debut crossover from the UK! "Messy" got some pickup on TikTok and has expanded into lot of opportunities over the last month! Learn how and Lola's background in this episode.

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

Lollapalooza 2024

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon:
Lola Young interview; "Messy"

BRIT Awards 2025 nominations (Pop Act)
BRIT Awards YouTube (3/1 ceremony)

Z100's Elvis Duran in the Morning

iHeartRadio Exclusive Interview
Coachalla 2025

"Voices Carry" - 'Til Tuesday (1982)

"Too Sweer" - Hozier (2024)

Related Episodes:
Ep. 31 - Mother's Day Top 10 Countdown
Ep. 54 - ADELE Top 10 Countdown
Ep. 106 - ADELE's "Easy On Me" Comeback
Ep. 123 - Z100's Radio History
Ep. 126 - Gayle's "abcdefu"
Dua Lipa Top 10                                                    2024 Summer Song
Charli XCX Top 10

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Six years after suddenly quitting The Voice, Maroon 5's frontman Adam Levine is back to do vocal coaching! Fans begged his return on social media, but why is it so significant now? Learn about Adam's highlights first time around, the real reason he was persuaded, and how it's resulting.

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

Favorite Team Adam Performances:
"Time After Time" - Javier Colon (2011)(Season 1 audtion - winner)
"Redemption Song" - Tessanne Chin (2013) (Season 5 Winner)
"Collide" - Morgan Wallen (Season 7 audition)
"God Only Knows" - Matt McAndrew (2014)  (Season 7 runner-up)
"Velvet" - Chris Jamison (2014) (Season 7 Finalist) - original song
"Lost Stars" - Adam Levine & Matt McAndrew (Season 7 Finale)
"Fields of Gold" - Joshua Davis (Season 8 runner-up)
"Chandelier" - Jordan Smith (Season 10 audition)  (Winner)
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - Team Adam - Season 10
"I Can't Help It" - Nick Hagelin (Season 10)
Abbey Road Medley - Adam Levine & Laith Al-Saadi (Season 10 Finale)
"Sweet Thing" - Rayshun LaMarr & Tish Haynes Keys (Season 14 - The Battles)

“Lost Stars” - Adam Levine (2014)            "You Get What You Give" - New Radicals (1998)

Related Episodes:
Ep 40 - Maroon 5 Top 20
Ep. 62 - Christina Aguilera Top 10 Hits
Ep. 88 - Blake Shelton Top 20
Ep. 116 - Top 40 Songs of 2021 (Part 1)
Ep. 155 - Kelsea Ballerini Top 10
Ep. 177 - The Voice's Season 23 Changes
Ep. 179 - Morgan Wallen's Music History

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