Category Archives: Music

Elegance, humility and grace don’t often find themselves as descriptors in the career of any pop superstar, but Annie Lennox has embodied those traits, and so many more wonderful aspects. in her storied journey. An icon since the 80’s, when she burst onto the scene in the Euythmics, she eventually came into her own with color albums like ‘Medusa’, ‘Bare’, ‘Nostalgia’ and my personal favorite ‘Diva’ – the latter of which absolutely illuminated and guided me through the formative years of my life. To this day her voice remains a sterling treasure, but it’s her attitude and advocacy for all those in need of help or support that have kept her legacy so impressively untarnished. She earns this Dazzler of the Day because of those efforts, and because she’s just so fucking cool.

On this particular date there’s only one person who could possibly live up to the Dazzler of the Day: Snoop Dogg. I’ve been a fan long before his friendship with Martha Stewart thrilled the world, tickled by his mellow way of making his journey through life. There is something very Zen about how he navigates the tricky world of celebrity. And even though I’m not into the gin these days, ‘Gin & Juice’ is still a jam – but my main joint will always be ‘Drop it Like It’s Hot’.

Putting on a show-stopper of a Super Bowl Halftime Show is no mean feat in this socially-distant time of COVID, but that’s precisely what The Weeknd did earlier this year, taking a cavalcade of hits to the middle of the field and entertaining the entire world. He’s more than earned this Dazzler of the Day, and was requested on FaceBook, as well as recommended for a road trip soundtrack by Skip. All good references. See more of The Weeknd’s majesty at this site.

Every now and then a Dazzler of the Day is crowned and I feel like it’s not enough, like it’s almost redundant to try to capture their magnificence in something as silly as a blog post, and then I remember that no matter how big you get, and no matter how many accolades you have already received, there is always grace in giving and receiving any sort of praise. And so we honor the already-award-festooned Cher as today’s Dazzler, and her accomplishments are too numerous and weighty to list out here, so I’ll let you recap your own favorite moments of this timeless diva, here are but a scant few of mine:

Favorite Song: ‘All Or Nothing’

Favorite Movie: ‘Mermaids‘

Favorite Album: ‘Believe’

This Dazzler of the Day is dedicated to the owner of dp: An American Brasserie, whose adoration of Taylor Swift got me re-thinking my lackadaisical lack of enthusiasm for her early years. A performance with Madonna and two of the best albums of the decade, released just months apart, turned me into a die-hard fan. She’s now officially the Dazzler of the Day, an honor Taylor-made for someone with such multi-layered talents. For evidence of her musical dazzle, do yourself a favor and check out ‘folklore‘ and ‘evermore‘ – they’re the greatest hours of musical atmosphere we’ve had in a long time – and perfect for these trying days. Swift conjures a sonic land of enchantment while exploring ever-mounting emotional complexities that love and loss and the inevitable creep of time render into poetic form. It puts her previous musical efforts into clearer focus, making a revisiting of past work something you should put on your to-do list. (And then grab a bite at dp: An American Brasserie where you might find a cocktail named ‘Tis the Damn Season‘, ‘The Archer‘, ‘Bad Blood’ or ‘Lover‘ if you’re lucky.)

The majesty and magnificence of Tina Turner is in full display in the HBO documentary on her life, though by rights any single moment in her glorious career could have justified this Dazzler of the Day honor. Her reach and influence over the pop culture landscape looms large and widely varied, most recently as the backdrop for one of the most poignant scenes of ‘Schitt’s Creek’. Her energy, talent, and endurance – not to mention an uncanny knack for reinvention before it was de-rigeur for pop stars – combine in combustible fashion to make for one of the most legendary icons in music history.

For the ‘Montero’ video alone, Lil Nas X deserves an instant crowning as Dazzler of the Day. Add it to his Hunk of the Day honor, and get ready to assemble a shelf for all the awards to come. 

A majestic career that spans and conquers several decades is not something that happens often, particularly in the entertainment world, and those who manage to do so earn their place in the celebrity firmament. When that is sustained by talent as well as a knack for endearing yourself to the world, you instantly become a Dazzler of the Day – and today that honor belongs to Dionne Warwick. Her string of musical hits – culminating with the classic ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ – cemented her place in pop culture, and now she is conquering new lands with her hilarious Twitter feed, earning her a new generation of fans and enthralled adorers. Count me among them. 

Mexican-American singer Omar Apollo released his album ‘Apolonio’ last year, from which the featured song and video below originate. Apollo earns his first Dazzler of the Day honor thanks to his musical prowess – as much as for his blue hair. We love a guy in blue. Visit his website for more fascinating vibes.