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Miami Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miami's Olympia theater holds lifetime of memories for this reporter. And probably you
Imagine being a fan who helped lure a superstar singer to perform her first and only major concert in your own hometown. That fan was me, in my role as pop music critic at the Miami Herald. That star was Carly Simon. And a big part of the draw was the allure of Miami's elegant Gusman Center, also known as the Olympia theater. Simon, now 82, is a music legend who wrote and recorded one of pop culture's most famous songs — so enduring that Taylor Swift cited the 1972 hit, 'You're So Vain,' as 'the best song that has ever been written.' That's coming from Swift, who built a legion of fans on chronicling breakups. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer became a star attraction in the 1970s but stage fright largely kept her off the road for most of her career. It was May 2007 when I made my call. A key to my pitch was that Florida International University's theater department was staging her family opera, 'Romulus Hunt.' The event was conceived by then FIU head theater director Phillip Church to support a not-for-profit that helped children in foster care. Getting Simon to put on a show the night before her opera would be a huge boost for the benefit. I can still remember part of my conversation with Simon 18 years ago touting the Olympia. '...Oh, and the venue is beautiful. It's historic. You'll like it and it's not too big and overwhelming like an arena.' The following year, the theater added Simon's rare live concert to its long list of memorable moments. Olympia's fate? Now Miami's talking about giving away the Gusman? The clouds in my coffee are forming twisters. Do our memories go along with that deal? Mine are priceless. Bet yours are, too. As the Herald has reported, Miami officials are considering turning over control of the historic Olympia Theater on Flagler Street in downtown Miami to a Little Havana charter school. MORE: In murky deal, Miami may give storied 1926 Olympia theater to Pitbull's charter school The Olympia is also known as the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts from the mid-1970s to 2014, in honor of philanthropist Maurice Gusman who donated the property to the city in 1975. Whatever its name, the theater has such a storied history. Olympia's history The Olympia opened on Flagler Street as a silent movie palace in 1926 as one of the original Publix Theatre movie palaces. Yep, Publix before the Publix you go to for Pub Subs and BOGOs. Publix founder George Jenkins liked the sound of the name 'Publix' so he took it when the Florida-based movie chain folded at the time of the Great Depression. Jenkins needed a name for his first store in Winter Haven, Florida, in 1930, and 'Publix' sounded right, according to his 1979 memoir. MORE: How did Publix supermarket get its name? It's a Florida story made for the movies From Elvis to Buffett The Olympia/Gusman hosted the Miami Film Festival in the 1990s and 2000s as its premier venue. Elvis Presley performed in concert there in 1956. So did B.B. King, Etta James, The Marx Brothers and Gypsy Rose Lee. Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Canadian rocker Bryan Adams played the venue too. Jimmy Buffett played a three-night gig at the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center on Aug. 14-16, 1978. These shows were taped and formed much of the material featured on his 1978 two-disc live album, 'You Had to Be There.' The rest of the set's live material was recorded days earlier from Atlanta's Fabulous Fox concert venue. Gosh, I wish I had been there at his Gusman concerts when I was 15. On the Gusman stage, Buffett 'Floridized his songs and commentary, with references to stolen sunglasses from Eckerd's, beer at Captain Dick's in the Grove. Pelican Pete's in Key Largo, Stuckey's with its pecan rolls and 'free alligators for the kids,'' future Herald theater critic Christine Dolen wrote in her review of opening night. Buffett premiered new material from the Gusman, too. One of those songs, 'Morris' Nightmare,' made it onto 'You Had to Be There.' It was a song about a cruise-ship couple, alias 'condo commandos and snowbirds,' Buffett quipped at the Gusman. Can you imagine that track originating anywhere else but Miami? That live album was a perennial on boomboxes at swim meets with my fellow Hurricanes teammates, I told Buffett in December 2021. We were chatting on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the launch of his career from Key West. One of many conversations. I miss Jimmy. He was his endearing stage persona Miami fans who were there at the Gusman saw so many years ago. MORE: 'The longevity of mischief.' Jimmy Buffett looks at 50 years after his first Key West gig The Police and Cash Around that time in 1978, The Police were a fledgling late-'70s New Wave rock act led by Sting when they graced the Gusman. I hadn't started going to rock concerts just yet. But I got to walk around the backstage catacombs at the Gusman with Police drummer Stewart Copeland about 16 or so years later in 1994 when he was checking out the venue at a soundcheck. He performed with a group of African percussionists on its stage to promote his post-Police project, The Rhythmatist. 'I've been always interested in music from around the world,' Copeland told the Herald at the time. Johnny Cash played the Gusman in 1995 when he was enjoying a musical and commercial renaissance that sustained him for the rest of his life. 'This hasn't been my best night, but I loved being with you,' Cash apologized to his audience toward the show's end. Puzzled, I shook his hand backstage moments after and continued a chat we'd had in an interview pre-show. The Man in Black was a perfectionist. He was all smiles afterward. So much for the brooding reputation. The man's charisma wattage was tuned so high in person the City of Miami probably saved a few bucks on its electric bill for running the theater's stage lights that night. Carly Simon's Miami debut Carly Simon, however, is my most cherished Gusman memory. A career highlight. FIU's Church wanted to stage Simon's 'Romulus Hunt' after seeing a production in North Carolina. Simon's family opera tells the story of a 12-year-old New York boy who is shuttled between divorced parents who plots to bring his incompatible parents back together. Simon wrote the parents as 'exaggerated' versions of herself and ex-husband, musician James Taylor, she said. The former couple share two children. 'I've seen a lot of divorces, unfortunately, and so many kids are left confused [or] in a state of denial,' Simon said. 'The fights can be worse. The children can feel grabbed at and totally in the middle.' Church knew I'd had connections to Simon. I'd written about her often for the Herald. Flew out to see her in rare one-off concerts in Columbus, Ohio, and New York's famous Apollo for a Christmas show. He wondered if I'd reach out and gauge Simon's interest in taking part in some way with his production. I'd admired Church's work at FIU when I was a grad student just before joining the Herald in 1991. A concert and opera, both to benefit CHARLEE, the not-for-profit that supported foster children in Miami, was what Church had in mind. Simon's participation would sell that concept and fill the Gusman. 'I seem to find less and less pleasure in doing theater for theater's sake. These days, I feel I have to be compelled by a social need,' Church told me then. He's retired from FIU but still staging stories for his local community theater group What if Works. He was a fan of Simon. So was the late Marilyn March, who died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer. She was development director for CHARLEE, the foster care organization that stood to benefit from Simon's 'Romulus Hunt' and her concert the night before. 'Many of our children are the product of broken homes, and the divorce rate today is staggering,' March told me. 'We all grew up with Carly Simon's music and we knew how much of her personal life's journey is reflected in her lyrics.' Could I possibly convince the stage-shy Simon to say yes by simply vouching for these people? Simon sang an array of her hits from the Gusman stage. 'You're So Vain,' of course. 'Let the River Run' and 'Anticipation.' She sang a song about her and Taylor's daughter Sally from her then new album. Their son Ben Taylor played guitar and sang harmonies with his famous mom at the Gusman. Simon sang her son's song, 'Island.' 'If I can recommend a life experience, have Carly Simon play one of your songs on stage,' Taylor told the Miami audience. 'These songs have different meanings because we're old now,'' Simon, then 64, teased as she introduced her familial 'Coming Around Again.' I'm so vain. I apparently convinced Carly. A memory as precious as the Olympia.
India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Approved by God: Sabrina Carpenter shares alternate cover for Man's Best Friend
Singer Sabrina Carpenter recently faced backlash for the cover art of her latest album, 'Man's Best Friend'. The singer has shared an alternate album cover, while poking fun at the sharing the cover on her social media, the artiste captioned "I signed some copies of Man's Best Friend for you guys & here is a new alternate cover approved by God ". (Photo Credit: Instagram/sabrinacarpenter) advertisementThe 26-year-old singer, first came under public scrutiny in 2023. When she released the music video of her song 'Feather'. According to Rolling Stone, the Diocese of Brooklyn called the music video "violent and sexually provocative". Additionally, she faced backlash for non-violent but sexually provocative performances of 'Juno' and 'Bed Chem'. Then, earlier this month, she received hatred for her album cover art. In the cover, Sabrina was seen in a dog-like pose with a person grabbing her the alternate cover, the artiste evokes the glamour of a Hollywood starlet, caught candidly by the paparazzi. Dressed in a beaded gown, she leans against the arm of a man gazing off into the distance. The playful reference marks the first time the musician has subtly responded to the backlash surrounding the original cover, also shot by Bryce Anderson. While she hasn't directly addressed the controversy, she has spoken more broadly about the growing wave of criticism that holds her accountable for how others choose to perceive Carly Simon best known for her song 'You're So Vain' came to Sabrina's defence, 'She's not doing anything outrageous. It seems tame. There have been far flashier covers than hers. One of the most startling covers I've ever seen was (The Rolling Stones') Sticky Fingers. That was out there in terms of sexual attitude. So I don't know why she's getting such flak,' she told Rolling is all set for the release of 'Man's Best Friend' on August 26. This follows after the singer received great reception for her 'Short n Sweet' album. The album also won Best Pop Vocal Album at the GRAMMYs.- Ends
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carly Simon Defends Sabrina Carpenter Against Album Cover Backlash: 'She's Not Doing Anything Outrageous'
Carly Simon is defending Sabrina Carpenter amid the backlash against her album artwork for Man's Best Friend In an interview with Rolling Stone, the "You're So Vain" hitmaker said the LP cover seemed "tame" Man's Best Friend is due Aug. 29Carly Simon is standing by Sabrina Carpenter. In an interview with Rolling Stone published on Wednesday, June 18, the "You're So Vain" hitmaker came to the pop star's defense amid the backlash surrounding the cover for her forthcoming album Man's Best Friend. The album artwork features a photo of Carpenter, 26, on her hands and knees as someone who appears to be a man grabs her by the hair. In the image, she's donning a short, black dress and black heels. Simon herself released a similarly controversial cover with her 1975 album Playing Possum, which featured the "You Belong to Me" artist on her knees wearing black lingerie and black leather boots. "Everybody looked at it, and people definitely had a reaction to it,' Simon, 81, told the publication of the controversial album cover. 'But they wouldn't have told me what they really thought.' When the album was shipped to stores, she was met with bolder reactions. 'Suddenly, I'm getting calls from Time and Newsweek, saying, 'This is one of the sexiest covers that has ever known,'' Norman Seeff, the photographer who shot the cover for Playing Possum, told Rolling Stone. He continued: 'There's this whole controversy around what did it represent? It felt very much like that energy in a woman, but I just thought of it as a beautiful shot. None of that stuff they were talking about was the intention." Simon also addressed the criticism Carpenter has faced for her Man's Best Friend album artwork, which she didn't understand. "She's not doing anything outrageous,' she told the outlet. 'It seems tame." Added Simon: "There have been far flashier covers than hers. One of the most startling covers I've ever seen was [The Rolling Stones'] Sticky Fingers. That was out there in terms of sexual attitude. So I don't know why she's getting such flak." Carpenter announced the release of her seventh studio album and its cover art on Wednesday, June 11. The news came after she shared the album's lead single "Manchild" earlier this month. In the days after she shared the album cover, Carpenter responded to an X user who reshared the singer's Man's Best Friend album cover, saying, 'Does she have a personality outside of sex?' The 'Espresso" hitmaker then reshared the post and said: 'girl yes and it is goooooood.' Man's Best Friend follows Carpenter's chart-topping LP Short n' Sweet, which was released last August. Read the original article on People
New York Post
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Carly Simon defends Sabrina Carpenter's controversial album cover, says it's not ‘outrageous'
Carly Simon is coming to Sabrina Carpenter's defense. During a recent interview, Simon reacted to Carpenter's album cover that caused quite a stir. Carpenter's album artwork for 'Man's Best Friend' showed a photo of the singer on her hands and knees, as a man appeared to be grabbing her by the hair. The 'Busy Woman' singer wore a black mini dress and matching heels in the photo. Simon argued the current outrage surrounding Carpenter's album is relatively mild, compared to past examples of bold artistic expression in the music industry. 'She's not doing anything outrageous,' the 'You're So Vain' singer said in an interview with Rolling Stone. 'It seems tame.' 'There have been far flashier covers than hers,' Simon said. 'One of the most startling covers I've ever seen was [The Rolling Stones'] 'Sticky Fingers.' That was out there in terms of sexual attitude. So I don't know why she's getting such flak.' 6 Sabrina Carpenter on her album cover for 'Man's Best Friend.' Sabrina Carpenter Once Carpenter shared her latest album cover of 'Man's Best Friend,' fans were quick to comment. 'This cover makes me uncomfortable…' one person wrote. Another comment read, 'That's disgusting!!' Other fans enjoyed Carpenter's album and wrote, 'Sue her she wants to be iconic.' While Simon is no stranger to pushing the envelope herself, the singer reacted to the similar criticism she received for her famous 1975 'Playing Possum' album. 'Everybody looked at it, and people definitely had a reaction to it,' Simon told Rolling Stone of her own cover at the time. 'But they wouldn't have told me what they really thought.' 6 Carly Simon poses for a portrait in New York City in 1981. Getty Images 6 Carly Simon performs onstage at Radio City Music Hall on April 19, 2017. Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival The 'You Belong To Me' singer famously posed in a lacy black dress with matching leather boots. Simon's face wasn't shown, but she was photographed on her knees for the album cover. That photo was shot by Norman Seeff, who still remembers the stir it caused. 'Suddenly, I'm getting calls from 'Time' and 'Newsweek,' saying, 'This is one of the sexiest covers that has ever [been] known,'' Seeff recalled. 'There's this whole controversy around what did it represent? It felt very much like that energy in a woman, but I just thought of it as a beautiful shot.' 6 Sabrina Carpenter shares a photo celebrating her number-one debut album. sabrinacarpenter/Instagram Meanwhile, the former Disney star has been known for her racy performances and turning heads. In March, Carpenter shocked fans with her explicit dance moves at her concert in Paris. During every show on her 'Short n' Sweet' world tour, the singer simulates a different sexual position while performing her hit 'Juno.' Carpenter shows off each move when she sings the lyrics, 'Wanna try out some freaky positions? / Have you ever tried this one?' 6 Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during her Short and Sweet tour at Barclays Center on Sept. 30, AEG 6 Sabrina Carpenter performs at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 29, 2024. Rolling Stone via Getty Images At her Paris performance, Carpenter paid tribute to the City of Lights when she and two male backup dancers simulated a three-way sex act, known as the Eiffel Tower. In a photo from the performance that the account Buzzing Pop posted on X, Carpenter, who donned a sparkly green and silver halter top with a matching miniskirt, was seen bending over between the two dancers who leaned into her and held hands above her. The position is meant to emulate the structure of Paris' famed historical landmark. The post divided fans when it went viral on social media, with some fans slamming Carpenter's performance as too inappropriate for the younger members of her fan base, while others contended that she had the right to evolve as an artist after transitioning to adulthood.
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
David Beckham flies over to USA as Brooklyn buys £10.5m LA mansion
David Beckham was joined by his youngest son, Cruz, and wife Victoria as they dropped into Miami, Florida, to check on the progress of a new sports facility being built David Beckham jetted to the USA to check on the progress of a new sports arena amid ongoing family trouble. Fans of the footballer have noticed he has barely interacted with his eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, in recent weeks. The 26-year-old social media influencer - who has just bought a £10.5million mansion in LA - did not offer any congratulations to his father publicly when he turned 50 earlier this year. After David jetted to Miami to check on a project, fans will still be left unclear if father and son are in contact. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Dave shared a series of snaps of himself at a new stadium in Florida where sports will be held. He was noticeably joined by his youngest son, Cruz, who posed alongside him in snaps. The dad-of-four captioned his collection, writing: "Our beautiful new home is taking shape. For me, Jorge & Jose Mas our dream for our club is becoming a reality. Miami Freedom Park... Coming soon." Spice Girls wife Victoria, 51, was also available at the venue for a snap and posed alongside her husband and 20-year-old son. Days earlier, Victoria had celebrated her family on Father's day. She uploaded a string of images to Instagram - including photos of David with Brooklyn as well as their other kids Cruz, Romeo and daughter Harper Seven. She wrote in an accompanying caption: "Happy Father's Day to the best daddy there is! You always lead with love and our four beautiful children are a reflection of that. We all love you so so much!! @brooklynpeltzbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven xxx." Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that Brooklyn and his billionaire heiress wife Nicola Peltz had bought a £10.5million home in California - on the other side of the USA from Florida. While some fans fear Brooklyn's move could be so he can be further from his family, sources have moved to block any rumours the new home location had anything to do with the feud. Instead, a source told us: "This house has nothing to do with family dynamics. "Both Nicola and Brooklyn's careers are based in Los Angeles, and Brooklyn spent part of his childhood there while his father played for LA Galaxy. During that time, he attended school in LA for several years and built a life and friendships in the city. LA has always felt like home to him." Meanwhile, Romeo recently shared a post of himself with a pal on Instagram, labelling it "family" with a crossed fingers emoji. He later shared a series throwback snaps of his mum Victoria and dad David looking very youthful. Youngest son Cruz shared a similarly cryptic post. He uploaded a screengrab of Carly Simon's hit You're So Vain, before going on to share a poster with the words: "If I would stick my pen in my heart/ Spill it all over the stage/ Would it satisfy you?" As the family continues its fallout, David is finally set to be honoured with a knighthood. David will be honoured at Buckingham Palace later this year, but the special day that he has dreamed of for so many years will be tinged with sadness as Brooklyn and his wife Nicola are not set to attend, according to reports. While David will be supported by his wife Victoria, 51, sons Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20, and daughter Harper, 13, Brooklyn is likely to skip his dad's biggest career milestone yet.
