Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Tina

No offense to the current crop of female performers out there...but y'all (with the exception of Pink) got nothing on one Tina Turner.

Enduring the Grammy's last Sunday simply reinforced in my mind that so many of today's performers rely on choreography and effects...rather than raw talent.

When a then 46-year old performer could tear it down like she did in London in 1985 (with the only prop being the totally ripped multi-instrumentalist Timmy Cappello)...there was nobody hotter.

On this Music Friday, we offer up the full 60-minute Private Dancer concert from 1985.

Short on time? There's nothing more sizzling than her duet with Bryan Adams at the 39:30 mark.

And...OMG, they're on key.

Hell yeah.

The Stupor Bowl Shuffle

It's coming up on 30 years since the Chicago Bears revolutionized the still emerging genre of Music Video with "The Super Bowl Shuffle." Today, a different style of "shuffle" is sweeping the nation.

Gotta love this Lip Synch Video as we prepare for the StuporBowlmageddon.

I want cake now. And, a Scoobie Snack.

And, yeah...Steve Fuller still can't dance.

The Peyton Effect

While you've no doubt heard of the "Butterfly Effect," today's media-fueled culture is more often about the impact of an individual than an insect.

And the individual that is redirecting attention in the Destination Marketing world these days is Peyton Manning.

Yes, his brother may have started shouting out "Omaha" first. But, his brother isn't a brand. Peyton is.

On this ramp up to the Stupor Bowl, Omaha is hip. It's on the tongues of media pontificators and watercooler wannabes.

And, Frontier Airlines.

Which is offering $48 fares to...yes, Omaha.

 

Glad it's, Like, Not Life Threatening

Apparently, there's a section of the tail of Boeing 767s that can jam, causing pilots to lose control of the aircraft. The condition was identified back in 2000.

On Monday, the FAA will ask airlines to inspect the elevators and, if appropriate, fix them.

By 2020.

What am I missing?

Insanely Cool

Last week, we hit a nerve with several readers on our poke at the alarm clocks some hotel chains have installed in their rooms in an attempt to exude a sense of cool. The only problem is, it isn't cool if it takes a manual for the guest to figure out how to set the alarm.

The reason that the Macintosh was "insanely great" 30 years ago was that it combined (for its time) never before seen design with an interface that was instantly intuitive. THAT is what made it so cool.

The stylish Umstead Hotel & Spa in the Greater Raleigh Region gets that...and offers not just an alarm clock, but a total room control station on its nightstands (click to enlarge image). Like an iPad touch screen, the options are a breeze for controling lighting (including the "mood" option) and the alarm. Current and future weather conditions are clearly displayed and a news headline crawl keeps insomniacs informed.

Insanely cool...because it works.

Tonight, We Have the Stars

There was a time that it seemed one couldn't go more than an hour or another radio station and not hear a Bryan Adams song. Ubiquitous is a word that comes to mind for that period in the '80s.

Today...not so much. But, he's still turning out great music and touring the world with a show we'd so like to see.

On this Music Friday, we give you a great track from 2008's 11 that was mixed with the producer in Los Angeles, the co-author in Canada and Bryan in Brazil using a private stream on iTunes and a real-time conversation on iChat.

This is "Tonight, We Have the Stars."

And I totally love that organ fill.

Sweetly Smart Hotel

WTF is it with the alarm clocks so many hotels have begun to deploy in their rooms? Setting a wake-up, getting music and any other option that these trendy units may offer takes a tutorial to do the simplest of tasks.

Of course, hotels could always install the standard $9.99 alarm clocks you can find at Walgreens and Wal-Mart to more effectively meet the needs of their guests. But, I guess that wouldn't be cool. So, instead, they subject their front desk staff to more wake-up call requests than ever before, as most guests give up after a few minutes of trying to arm their alarms.

So, kudos to the Hershey Lodge in Hershey PA. While the lure of installing a hip clock was too much to resist, they supply guests with instructions on how to use the maddeningly confusing chronograph.

And, cocoa scented body cream :)

Smart on both counts.

Talk to Me

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing three newspaper editors (separately) in two different destinations. In each case, I was gathering intel for upcoming Strategic Planning Retreats with DMO Boards. And, in each case, they shared with me a profound truth.

One of them said, "I can't support what I don't know and understand." He winked and continued, "our Destination Marketing Organization needs to keep me informed."

Another said that he wanted to support his DMO...he really did. "Tell them to call me. I'm sure they have a fabulous story to tell."

Just another reminder that not a quarter should go by that we don't check in with media thought leaders in our communities.

Because, these guys are right. We DO have a great story to tell.

Uh-Huh

A little bit of data is a dangerous sword to wield.

And clicks aren't always what they seem.

I love this ad.

Iron Man Sings

It's been blowing up on Facebook this week...but it happened a couple years ago.

Sting celebrated his 60th birthday in 2011 with Robert Downey, Jr., Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock with a concert at the Beacon Theatre

There were a lot of incredulous "who knew" comments on social media...but, it's not the first time the two have dueted, as Sting made a musical appearance years ago on Robert's comeback vehicle, "Ally McBeal."

On this Music Friday, we offer this inspired version of "Driven to Tears."

Enjoy.