Monday, November 25, 2024

BLOGS

The Making of Coming to America

Walking on Planet C

The Making of Coming to America

Yesterday I talked about John Landis reaching out to me and how I was really happy to hear from him. The rest of the day I thought a lot about the time I spent making the soundtrack for "Coming to America." It was my first big orchestral film score and I detail the story in my book, "Le Freak."

I wanted to share yet another behind-the-scenes video. This time of me conducting the orchestra for Dottie's big scene.

I'm sure you'll remember Dottie - Cleo McDowell's faithful poodle - as she chases away Darryl "Prince of Soul-Glo" Jenks.

Thank you again John, for giving me that opportunity and for an amazing time during The Making of Coming to America.

John Landis and I discussing the music for the scene when Cleo McDowell finds out that Akeem is a Prince and is trying to keep him from leaving

Here's the finished scene with the revised score

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Category: Biography & Autobiography - Personal Memoirs; Biography & Autobiography - Composers & Musicians; Music - Popular
Format: eBook, 336 pages
On Sale: October 2011
Price: $ 12.99
ISBN: 978-0-679-64403-3 (0-679-64403-2)

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Today's pop music—genre-crossing, gender-bending, racially mixed, visually stylish, and dominated by dance music with global appeal—is the world that Nile Rodgers created. In the 1970s and 1980s, he wrote and produced the songs that defined that era and everything that came after: "Le Freak," "Good Times," "We Are Family," "Like a Virgin," "Modern Love," "I'm Coming Out," "The Reflex," "Rapper's Delight." Aside from his own band, Chic, he worked with everyone from Diana Ross and Madonna to David Bowie and Duran Duran (not to mention Mick Jagger, Debbie Harry, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Prince, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, Depeche Mode, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Grace Jones, Bryan Ferry, INXS, and the B-52's), transforming their music, selling millions of records, and redefining what a pop song could be.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Written by Nile Rodgers

Full of Surprises

Walking on Planet C

Full of Surprises

Eddie Murphy and me Nightclubbing in the 80's after we'd finished Coming to America

Life is always Full of Surprises. Last week I received a mysterious letter when I was in London doing interviews for my memoir Le Freak, and today I got an email from that same person. Both made me smile. They were from John Landis, the director of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video and Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" film. The latter being my first big orchestral film score. I was really happy to hear from him. The story of scoring Coming to America is detailed in my book.

My recording studio on the Paramount lot was the place to be. On any given day James Earl Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Apollonia, Paula Abdul and any number of artists could drop by, but the heartbeat of that studio was the musicians and the music. Thanks John for giving me that opportunity, and thanks for writing me - both times. Life is always Full of Surprises.

Director John Landis giving me directions to revise the score of the edited African Dance Scene, which I'd pre composed in order for Paula Abdul to choreograph before filming and this locked edit

Here's the finished scene with the revised score

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Written by Nile Rodgers

Bass In Your Face

Walking on Planet C

Bass In Your Face

Bernard Edwards

When I started The CHIC Organization with Bernard Edwards, it was before sub-woofers were in wide usage. To accentuate the low end, we'd always feature the bass drum and bass guitar a little more than pop records. This is an old school R&B technique that serves me well to this day.

I've been thinking a lot about Bernard lately and all that we've achieved. It all started with our first CHIC recording "Everybody Dance." We learned to keep the Bass In Your Face.

Me and Bernard Edwards

CHIC "Everybody Dance" 1978

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Category: Walking on Planet C

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Written by Nile Rodgers

Rising Sun

Walking on Planet C

Rising Sun

The end of my morning walk

Early this morning I took a walk in the brisk air. As I was leaving I looked back and I could see the Rising Sun's reflection on my house. I don't know why but the Rising Sun's reflection made me think of Bernard Edwards, my former partner and co-founder of The CHIC Organization. He passed away fifteen years ago and earlier this year the Japanese network WOWOW did a documentary on me. An important part of this film deals with Bernard's death, he died in Japan, known as the land of the Rising Sun.

The Rising Sun's reflection on my house

WOWOW TV JAPAN
Documentary: Nile Rodgers
Duration: 43:45
Format: NTSC 16:9

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Category: Walking on Planet C

Published Date

Written by Nile Rodgers

My Guitar Tonight

Walking on Planet C

My Guitar Tonight

My guitar tonight

My Dear e-Family, I love you all very much. Your thoughts, prayers and guidance are key to helping me fight my ongoing cancer battles, but I've been away from My practice Guitar for two weeks. It's an Epiphone ES-295 that sat on the stage of the Broadway musical "Grease" as a prop - until I snagged it. I love it too and I've really missed it. I'll be back up to speed with the blog tomorrow but all I want to do is play My Guitar Tonight.

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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I'm Headed Back Home

Walking on Planet C

I'm Headed Back Home

I'm headed back home

Today I leave England to head back home for a few days. Soon, I'll be going on tour with Seal, Alison Moyet, and Stanfour.

We'll be performing in Germany, doing Aida - Night of the Proms. I've played with the Night of the Proms Orchestra before, they feel like family, in fact, they are featured at the end of my Video Bio Clip.

I've traveled extensively since I was a child and like to think of myself as a world citizen. Since I was attacked by cancer last year and started this blog, I feel even closer to people around the world. Regardless of where I'm going I always feel like I'm Headed Back Home.

Nile Rodgers Video BioClip

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Category: Walking on Planet C

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Written by Nile Rodgers

It's Funny You Should Ask

Walking on Planet C

It's Funny You Should Ask

The early morning view from my hotel room

I got up early this morning to meet with a film director/producer who was in town shooting a film, and who'd read my memoir, "Le Freak." We talked about doing a film about my life.

At one point I was asked, "Did anybody shoot any home movies of you before you became CHIC?" I replied, "A few weeks ago I saw some footage of me performing in the band that would eventually become CHIC. It's Funny You Should Ask."

The Big Apple Band performing "Getaway." We'd soon become The CHIC Organization.

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Category: Walking on Planet C

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Written by Nile Rodgers

I Will Listen to My Body

Walking on Planet C

I Will Listen to My Body

I'm back in London promoting my memoir "Le Freak"

I'm back in London promoting my memoir, "Le Freak." I'm also doing a charity concert Thursday night.

I had a stimulating radio interview before I basically collapsed from exhaustion. The massive amounts of interviews and concerts have taken their toll. I will spend the rest of the day gathering my strength and I Will Listen to My Body.

Nile Rogers and Chic - Let's Dance by: afarquhar1962

Talking about Giorgio Moroder's influence on him by: ursamyn0r

Nile Rodgers on his first day at The Apollo by: redbullmusicacademy

Nile Rodgers & CHIC - "I Want Your Love" (LIVE Teatro Kapital) by: selectormarx

Le Freak:
An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny
Written by Nile Rodgers

Available as a hardcover and eBook.

You will hear a Nile Rodgers song today. It will make you happy.

Read more about order the memoir here:
"Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny"

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Category: Walking on Planet C

Published Date

Written by Nile Rodgers

A New Beginning

Photo Credit: Olivier Maghe

About one year ago, I was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. A few days later I had a neurological event that rendered my right hand almost completely unusable. I had a number of painful test that showed I'd suffered some form of muscle damage but the origin was unclear.

Though I'm still not back to one hundred percent, you can see from this recent London show that my right hand is recovering.

"Le Freak" is the most difficult CHIC song to play because my right hand is continuously playing and it must be precise. This video shows a lot of people on stage having fun - but it also shows A New Beginning.

CHIC - 'Le Freak' live at the London Forum [HD] by: PatrickAlanMcL

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Category: Walking on Planet C

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Written by Nile Rodgers

More Friends of CHIC

Walking on Planet C

More Friends of CHIC

Me and The CHIC Organization playing for More Friends of CHIC - Photo: Steve Gillett / LivePix

I'm here in Madrid with The CHIC Organization. We had yet another incredible show last night, and it's not over yet.

I've gotten no sleep, but I keep seeing amazing videos taken over the past few days. I'd like to share with you some of my favorites, taken by More Friends of CHIC.

CHIC with Johnny Marr (The Smiths) by mrssharples