Dear Readers,

Welcome back to a more substantial issue of ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE. We've survived a couple server changes and server breakdowns, a few changes in personnel (please welcome our new writers, Kris Howell - new age, world, jazz and misc.; Amarra Simien - R&B and Urban; Chad Murphy - rock, metal, pop, and misc.; Joe Hartlaub - alt/country, soundtracks, pop/folk and misc. and Graham Finney, our London correspondent for metal), "real life" intruding on our work with AMZ, lost Press Kits, concert guest list and photo pass screwups, the dearth of new music until about 2/22/00 and a few other mishaps.

We hope you like our new look, our new sponsors (who we sincerely hope you will visit them by clicking through on their ads on all the pages of AMZ) and our new format of updating over about a 2 week period so we can bring you the latest in concert reviews, interviews and CDs that just can't wait until the next issue. Oh, and I'm back for my comments and rants about what's going on in the music industry.

Since I haven't written an editorial for a few months, and all the major music award shows are now past us (except the Oscars - with only 5 nominees there!), I guess it's time for my annual rant on the various music awards presented. Only this year it won't be much of a rant. Especially about the Grammy's! I may not be a fan of the "boy toy" groups, no matter what their race, or the way oversewed teen girls out there, or even the MASS MEDIA coverage of the new Latin craze (Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the Latin music. I just don't want the same 3 songs by the same 3 artists played over and over ad nauseum), but at least the artists I've mentioned have brought the competition for awards back to the categories where they belong. Well, most of them anyway. For a while there I thought rap (Puff Daddy and the hangers on) and semi-rap (Will Smith, much as I love him) were the only people putting out any music! At least if you believed the awards shows! Things appear to be getting back to a normal division of categories and I'm really pleased to see that. In fact, I congratulate the winners at the, gee, - was it 50 or 100? - awards shows we were subjected to starting in early January and ending with the Grammy's two weeks ago. I was very surprised by some of the winners, and pleasantly so. How about that? Not a rant, but props to the awards this year!

As I'm meandering through this editorial, I guess I'll jump into the latest controversy - Madonna's version of "American Pie" from "The Next Best Thing" soundtrack. Heaven forbid that Presidential Primaries are going on, or more kids killing kids. Madonna's song is getting top priority over this other mundane stuff!

I've spent some time really LISTENING to Madonna's version of "American Pie," as well as the rest of the soundtrack (Beth Orton has an outstanding track!), and of course I'm on the wrong side again. The original version by Don McClean is never going to be outdone by Madonna. The story behind the song is never going to go away either. BUT, these days, when Beatles songs are elevator music, when you pretty much can't buy an album that doesn't have at least ONE cover song on it, when there are so many songs "Featuring so and so" on just about every album that comes out now - and I don't just mean rap albums - what exactly is wrong with Madonna covering "American Pie?" I can think of a whole lot worse cover songs that have come out!!

I keep seeing and hearing about this American Icon of a song and how Madonna has ruined it, but is it that the song is ruined or because it's Madonna singing it? If you really LISTEN, Madonna does a great job singing the song. William Orbit may have taken quite a bit of liberty in the accompaniment and production, but the singing itself is pretty damn good. If a female is going to cover the song, who better than Madonna, an icon herself? I've never been much of Madonna fan personally, but give the woman credit. She's got a voice that just won't quit - no matter what she does!

So, now I've entered the fray of the latest musical controversy. If you read my editorials frequently, you know I do that a lot, but only because I believe what I'm saying. Besides, a whole new generation is going to gain appreciation of the song "American Pie" because of Madonna's release!

The opinions expressed in this editorial are mine alone as Editor of this magazine. If you agree or disagree with anything, please send your comments, keep tuning in, and keep those letters coming. Without you, we wouldn't be the fastest growing Music E-zine on the Net!

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ACCESS to the MUSIC ZONE: marellg@music-reviewer.com

See You In Cyber Space!

Mary Ellen Gustafson, Editor