Latest News: Prince

This Week In History

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1964: The Rolling Stones arrive in New York City for their first U.S. tour. The first date of the tour lands on June 5th in San Bernardino, California.

1969: Jimi Hendrix appears on the cover of Rolling Stone, which is sold at a reasonably priced 35 cents.

1970: The Kinks' Ray Davies makes a 6,000 mile round trip from New York to London to record one word. Davies changes the word "Coca- Cola" to "Cherry Cola" on the bands forthcoming single 'Lola' due to an advertising ban at BBC Radio.

1977: The BBC announces a ban on the new Sex Pistols single "God Save The Queen" saying it is, "in gross bad taste." A warning is issued to radio stations stating that playing the single would be in breach of the Broadcasting act. The single reaches No. 2 on the UK chart.

1984: Wham! have their first No. 1 hit with "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go".This George Michael-written jam was inspired by a note Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley left for his parents. Ridgeley originally intended to write "wake me up before you go" but with "up" accidentally written twice, he wrote "go" twice on purpose. “Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo” was Michael’s own contribution. 1985: Prince & The Revolution start a three-week run at No. 1 on the US album chart with Around The World In A Day which features everyone’s favorite song about a hat, “Raspberry Beret.” 1997: Singer Jeff Buckley’s body is discovered floating in the Mississippi River. A passenger on a tourist boat spotted the body near the southern tip of Mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee. The singer/songwriter had disappeared during a spontaneous night swim a week before on May 29th. 1998: Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell, announces she is quitting The Spice Girls saying, "This is because of differences between us. I am sure the group will continue to be successful and I wish them all the best." The group’s 1997/1998 reunion tour grosses more than $70,000,000. 2005: White Stripes singer Jack White marries girlfriend, British model Karen Elson, (a red head, of course), in a canoe on the Amazon in Manaus, Brazil. 2008: VSQ favorites Death Cab For Cutie are No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with their sixth release, Narrow Stairs, which features the lead single stalker anthem “I Will Possess Your Heart.” Be sure to check out: The String Quartet Tribute to The Rollings Stones Available now at iTunes and Amazon The String Quartet Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Available now at iTunes and Amazon The String Quartet Tribute to Jeff Buckley Available now at iTunes and Amazon The String Quartet Tribute to The White Stripes Available now at iTunes and Amazon Ghost: The String Quartet Tribute to Death Cab for Cutie Available now at iTunes and Amazon

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VSQ Guilty Pleasure Movies

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Did you see Fast Five last weekend? That’s not a trick question. Millions of people did, making this fifth installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise something of a surprise box office smash. In fact, Fast Five set the April weekend box office record, opening at number one and raking in 83.6 million dollars on its first weekend. We didn’t see that one coming. This Paul Walker/Vin Diesel shoot ‘em up, blow ‘em up, drive away real fast flick has got us thinking about other guilty pleasure movies that we love to watch when no one else is around. Here are five of  our favorite guilty pleasure films. Don’t tell anyone we told you. Road House

This 1989 flick stars an in his prime Patrick Swayze as Dalton, a professional bouncer with a philosophy degree and a Mercedes. He takes a gig at a rough club in a tiny southern town. Here, he gets the babes, takes down the bad guys and looks good (in his tight jeans) while doing it. That’s about all you need to know. This film also works with the volume turned down. Twilight

Laugh out loud preposterous as the dialogue might be (“You know, your mood swings are kinda giving me whiplash,” says Bella), there is something captivating about the forced drama of the film’s shaky hand held camera shots and the perpetually pained looks on Edward and Bella’s faces. Purple Rain

Yes, the script, plot and acting in this 1984 Prince vehicle all have the depth of a wading pool, but his Purple Highness carries the film on the strength of his charisma, musical chops, perfect curls and badass motorcycle. The Purple Rain soundtrack has stood the test of time with slightly more success. Con Air

When this 1997 action flick comes on basic cable on a random Saturday afternoon, it stays on. At least until the scene when hero Nicholas Cage, dirty, sweaty and sporting a long haired wig, demands that bad guy Billy Bedlam “put the bunny back in the box” in his ridiculous Southern drawl. ("Why couldn't you put the bunny back in the box?” Cage laments, after killing Bedlam). Zoolander

Clearly ridiculous from start to finish, but Will Ferrell’s turn as evil fashion impresario Mugatu added to the sheer comic brilliance of Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller’s “walk off" . Plus the scene where the male models have a fight with gas hoses; well, they all make us laugh. Bonus points for the David Bowie cameo, too. Be Sure to Check Out: Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Twilight and more! Available at iTunes and Amazon

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VSQ Employee Mixtape #3: Data Entry Dance Party!

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Mixtape # 3 of the VSQ Employee Mixtape series is here! Our marketing department gave you a nostalgic trip down memory lane with some alternative hits of the 90's in mixtape #1 and our art department filled in the blanks with some must-have post punk tracks in mixtape #2. But if you're looking for some good oldies and true pop classics to get your groove on then look no further. A quick browse through Kat's playlist will prove that even data entry be fun. VSQ Employee Mixtape #3: Data Entry Dance Party! A transplant from the Midwest, Kat spends her time at CMH entering data, helping out the royalties department, and testing out our digital sales and websites. She appreciates the musical juxtaposition within the VSQ collection and considers the upcoming release, VSQ to Modern Broadway Hits, her favorite. As she types away her day, she likes to keep it random, switching between the classics she grew up with and the hits she has come to love. From somber to silly, each of these tracks sound great in their string versions!


Ohio

Rusted Moon: The String Quartet Tribute to Neil Young






Jesus Walks

Vitamin String Quartet Tribute to Kanye West






Chicago

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young






Going to California

String Quartet to Led Zeppelin






People Are Strange

String Quartet Tribute to The Doors






Let's Go Crazy

Symphonic Tribute to Prince's Purple Rain






Do Ya Think I'm Sexy

String Quartet Tribute to Rod Stewart






You Oughta' Know

Strung Out On Jagged Little Pill: The String Quartet Tribute to Alanis Morrissette






Stupid Girl

Vitamin String Quartet: Per_Versions






Somebody to Love

String Quartet Tribute to Queen






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