Duet featuring Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett airs tonight on PBS

Before you head out to the clubs, catch Tony Bennett performing a few very romantic and emotional duets with several of my favorite artists on Great Performances, an interview series airing on PBS tonight, Friday Jan. 27 from 9 PM to 10:30 PM. That's channel 1 here in Orlando on Brighthouse Cable (WBCC also airs on channels 455 and HD 1001). The show will focus on the recording of his newest project, Duets II, featuring Bennett with several of today's top performers of all genres.

Bennett travelled the world, recording in a variety of studios hand-picked to capture the perfect feel for Duets II, which he released on August 3 of 2011 to coincide with his 85th birthday. This was the second CD of this nature, the first being Duets: An American Classic. Duets II debuted at number one on Billboard's Top 200, in part due to the untimely passing of the Grammy award winning Amy Winehouse, who is one of the artists featured. The Duets II CD is also nominated for a Grammy.

It should be quite cool, a blending of old and new, hip and current with an institution – the fabulous Tony Bennett, who manages to continue to captivate audiences of all ages. A few performers featured tonight are: Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, John Mayer, and Queen Latifah.

The recordings are artfully done. A fun note: several of the duets were recorded at Ben Fold's symphony-sized studio (Ben's Studio) in Nashville, TN, including: Carrie Underwood, Alejandro Sanz, Faith Hill, and Willie Nelson.

The CD itself is a veritable who's who of the music industry. Here is the track listing:

1. The Lady Is A Tramp -- Lady Gaga
2. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) -- John Mayer
3. Body And Soul -- Amy Winehouse
4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore -- Michael Bublé
5. Blue Velvet -- k.d. lang
6. How Do You Keep The Music Playing -- Aretha Franklin
7. The Girl I Love -- Sheryl Crow
8. On The Sunny Side Of The Street -- Willie Nelson
9. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) -- Queen Latifah
10. Speak Low -- Norah Jones
11. This Is All I Ask -- Josh Groban
12. Watch What Happens -- Natalie Cole
13. Stranger In Paradise -- Andrea Bocelli
14. The Way You Look Tonight -- Faith Hill
15. Yesterday I Heard The Rain -- Alejandro Sanz
16. It Had To Be You -- Carrie Underwood
17. When Do The Bells Ring For Me -- Mariah Carey

Drama fills MTV’s Video Music Awards

Last night’s annual MTV VMAs (Video Music Awards) were filled with outrageous drama as star after star attempted to outdo each other in shocking the audience.

Best new artist, Lady Gaga, appeared to bleed all over her white gown as she performed, Paparazzi, which won best art direction. She later returned dressed in red lace from face to thigh to accept her moonman. Jack Black paid homage to the devil while wearing a muscle suit and carrying a plastic anvil. Pink did aerial acrobatics while suspended several feet above the stage.

But perhaps the most shocking event was when Kanye West jumped on stage and grabbed the microphone from best female video award winner, Taylor Swift, while she was giving her acceptance speech. West proclaimed, “Taylor, I’m really happy for you, and I’m gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time.”

I’m shocked by the number of inappropriate public outbursts on live television this week: First, Republican Joe Wilson rudely shouted, “You lie!” during Barack Obama’s health care reform speech on Sept. 9; Tennis star Serena Williams viciously threatened a line judge with, "If I could, I would take this (blanking) ball and shove it down your (blanking) throat," during a semifinal match at the US Open on Saturday, Sept. 12; and West’s embarrassing outburst marks the third this week. Wilson’s outburst cost him the respect of American voters; Williams’ outburst cost her a win and a $10,000 fine; and West’s outburst cost him his front row seat as he was ejected from the theater.

I actually don’t like Beyonce’s Single Ladies video. Maybe it’s my sourness over current politics that makes me prefer the colorful, sweet, storyline in Taylor Swift’s You Belong with Me video. Maybe it’s Beyonce’s crudely sexual, odd dance movements that make me too uncomfortable to enjoy the video (Even Britney Spears' Womanizer video is more tasteful). Maybe it’s the way the producers stretched the film to make Beyonce look unnaturally thin.

On the other hand, I did find Beyonce’s own good-natured parody of her Single Ladies video on Saturday Night Live with Justin Timberlake completely hilarious. Now, that was bey-rilliant and I would give her every award in the book for that fabulously entertaining performance. (found here on youtube – the baby intro is very short.)

In the end, West’s efforts were a foolish waste of words. Beyonce’s Single Ladies video won three awards, including the highest prize, “Video of the Year.” After receiving the coveted award, Beyonce courteously invited Taylor Swift to take the stage and finish her “best female video award” acceptance speech.

A complete list of award winners are found on MTV’s website.