Latest news with #RollingStones
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
70 years on and Stalin's ‘gifted' skyscraper still looms over this Polish city
Seventy years after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin 'gifted' Warsaw its towering Palace of Culture and Science, the skyscraper at the heart of Poland's capital still stirs strong feelings. The Palace, marking its 70th anniversary on 22 July 1955 when Poland was part of the Soviet-led communist Eastern Bloc, was conceived by Stalin as a symbol of Soviet domination and initially bore his name. "If you put a big palace, a kind of skyscraper at the time, in the middle of the city that can be seen from 30 km (19 miles)away, it shows the power," said Dorota Zmarzlak, a member of the palace's board. Younger people no longer see it that way, she said. After the end of communist rule in Poland in 1989, many Soviet-era monuments were removed and street names changed. The Palace remained, even though prominent politician Radoslaw Sikorski, who is now Poland's foreign minister, called for it to be demolished in 2007. It has been used as a concert venue and hosted political events, exhibitions and fashion shows. A riot broke out when the Rolling Stones played there in 1967, long before communist rule ended. "It was an escape for me, I could go somewhere," said Zygmunt Kowalski, 89, a retired railway worker who moved to Warsaw a month after the Palace opened, and swam with his daughter in its pool as well as seeing films and concerts there. "Everything can be torn down, but let this stay for future generations, as proof of what once was ... the next generations will have evidence that communism was here," he said. The Palace still has four theatres, a large cinema and museums, and hosts exhibitions. The concert hall is being renovated. Some younger Warsaw residents focus less on the Palace's political history than on its status as a Warsaw landmark. Karol Los, a 23-year-old student, said the Palace, now surrounded by modern skyscrapers, is inseparable from the city's identity. "For me, it's a symbol of Warsaw. I think young people see it very differently than the older generation," he said. Ukrainian architect Valerii Shcherbak, 32, admires the palace's architectural detail and its popularity with tourists. "This is history and we need to respect it," he said, noting that many Soviet-era buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed. "What happened in the past should be kept for history, not destroyed."
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
At 70, skyscraper Stalin 'gifted' to Warsaw still evokes strong feelings
WARSAW, July 22 (Reuters) - Seventy years after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin "gifted" the Palace of Culture and Science to Warsaw, the towering skyscraper at the heart of Poland's capital still stirs strong feelings among Poles. The Palace - which is marking the 70th anniversary of its official opening on July 22, 1955, when Poland was part of the Soviet-led communist Eastern Bloc - was conceived by Stalin as a symbol of Soviet domination and initially bore his name. "If you put a big palace, a kind of skyscraper at the time, in the middle of the city that can be seen from 30 km (19 miles)away, it shows the power," said Dorota Zmarzlak, a member of the palace's board. Younger people no longer see it that way, she said. After the end of communist rule in Poland in 1989, many Soviet-era monuments were removed and street names changed. The Palace remained, even though prominent politician Radoslaw Sikorski, who is now Poland's foreign minister, called for it to be demolished in 2007. It has been used as a concert venue and hosted political events, exhibitions and fashion shows. Singers Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras have performed there. A riot broke out when the Rolling Stones played there in 1967, long before communist rule ended. "It was an escape for me, I could go somewhere," said Zygmunt Kowalski, 89, a retired railway worker who moved to Warsaw a month after the Palace opened, and swam with his daughter in its pool as well as seeing films and concerts there. "Everything can be torn down, but let this stay for future generations, as proof of what once was ... the next generations will have evidence that communism was here," he said. The Palace still has four theatres, a large cinema and museums, and hosts exhibitions. The concert hall is being renovated. Some younger Warsaw residents focus less on the Palace's political history than on its status as a Warsaw landmark. Karol Los, a 23-year-old student, said the Palace, now surrounded by modern skyscrapers, is inseparable from the city's identity. "For me, it's a symbol of Warsaw. I think young people see it very differently than the older generation," he said. Ukrainian architect Valerii Shcherbak, 32, admires the palace's architectural detail and its popularity with tourists. "This is history and we need to respect it," he said, noting that many Soviet-era buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed. "What happened in the past should be kept for history, not destroyed."
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Aretha Franklin hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy': Mick Hucknall's honest playlist
The first single I bought One of the first albums I bought was Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones; the first single was The Last Time. I was about 11 when my dad bought me my first record player, and I wore it out by listening to it so much. The first song I fell in love with My first love was an unrequited crush. I heard Let's Stay Together by Al Green on the radio, went out and bought it, and played it over and over to heal the pain of teenage rejection. The song that changed my life I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles was the first song I remember performing. It was when I was about six, with a band at a wedding. I've since been told that I was singing even younger than that. A friend of ours was a landlady in a pub, and she used to stand me up on the bar when I was about three and have me sing to customers. Those Beatles double LPs, the red and the blue, 1962-66 and 1967-70, were among the first albums I bought when I was a kid. The song that is my karaoke go-to Papa Don't Take No Mess by James Brown, who is probably the most influential figure in the history of recorded music. The first gig we did as Simply Red, right after we signed our contract, was opening for him at Hammersmith Odeon. I remember him watching from the side of the stage with curlers in. The song I inexplicably know every lyric to Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) by British songwriter Harry Dacre from 1892. I'm enamoured with some of the old songs. The melody just glues in your head and the lyric is beautifully visual. The song I can no longer listen to Mother by John Lennon. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is a stark masterpiece. This song is a little too close to the mark. The song that I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate 24 hours from Tulsa by Gene Pitney. The recording is tinny, even for the 60s. His nasal approach to the voice exacerbates that. However, that has its own charm too. It's an excellent song. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion The song that makes me cry There are moments in Mary, Don't You Weep by Aretha Franklin where the first lady of soul hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy. A monumental performance. The song that gets me up in the morning Ravi Shankar has been my alarm clock for a few years. I've got his entire catalogue on shuffle and that's the first thing I hear every morning to get me ready to face the day. Simply Red tour Ireland and the UK from 23 September.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Aretha Franklin hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy': Mick Hucknall's honest playlist
The first single I bought One of the first albums I bought was Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones; the first single was The Last Time. I was about 11 when my dad bought me my first record player, and I wore it out by listening to it so much. The first song I fell in love with My first love was an unrequited crush. I heard Let's Stay Together by Al Green on the radio, went out and bought it, and played it over and over to heal the pain of teenage rejection. The song that changed my life I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles was the first song I remember performing. It was when I was about six, with a band at a wedding. I've since been told that I was singing even younger than that. A friend of ours was a landlady in a pub, and she used to stand me up on the bar when I was about three and have me sing to customers. Those Beatles double LPs, the red and the blue, 1962-66 and 1967-70, were among the first albums I bought when I was a kid. The song that is my karaoke go-to Papa Don't Take No Mess by James Brown, who is probably the most influential figure in the history of recorded music. The first gig we did as Simply Red, right after we signed our contract, was opening for him at Hammersmith Odeon. I remember him watching from the side of the stage with curlers in. The song I inexplicably know every lyric to Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) by British songwriter Harry Dacre from 1892. I'm enamoured with some of the old songs. The melody just glues in your head and the lyric is beautifully visual. The song I can no longer listen to Mother by John Lennon. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is a stark masterpiece. This song is a little too close to the mark. The song that I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate 24 hours from Tulsa by Gene Pitney. The recording is tinny, even for the 60s. His nasal approach to the voice exacerbates that. However, that has its own charm too. It's an excellent song. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion The song that makes me cry There are moments in Mary, Don't You Weep by Aretha Franklin where the first lady of soul hits notes that bring me to shivering tears of ecstasy. A monumental performance. The song that gets me up in the morning Ravi Shankar has been my alarm clock for a few years. I've got his entire catalogue on shuffle and that's the first thing I hear every morning to get me ready to face the day. Simply Red tour Ireland and the UK from 23 September.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Rolling Stones Made Their First Appearance on the U.S. Charts With This Cover Song 61 Years Ago
The Rolling Stones Made Their First Appearance on the U.S. Charts With This Cover Song 61 Years Ago originally appeared on Parade. Since the Rolling Stones have been one of the most successful and beloved rock bands in the world for over 50 years at this point, it's easy to forget that they were essentially a cover band when they started out, first gaining attention in the U.K. for playing sets featuring tunes from the likes of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. In fact, it was a cover song that first landed the Stones on the U.S. charts in 1964. Originally recorded by Buddy Holly in 1957, "Not Fade Away" was the Rolling Stones' third single in the U.K., where it reached number three on the charts after being released on Feburary 21, 1964. The track didn't enjoy quite the same level of success in the U.S., where it was released shortly thereafter — but it did land them on the Billboard charts for the first time on July 18 of that year, when it peaked at number 48. The song's popularity was likely buoyed by the band's iconic appearance one month prior on The Mike Douglas Show, where they performed "Not Fade Away" just two weeks after arriving in the U.S. for the first time, according to Rolling Stone. It was nearly a year later — on July 10, 1965 — that the Rolling Stones had their first number one hit on the Billboard charts with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which held its position for four weeks. 'It was the song that really made the Rolling Stones, changed us from just another band into a huge, monster band,' Mick Jagger said later, per American Songwriter. 'You always need one song," he continued. "We weren't American, and America was a big thing, and we always wanted to make it here. It was very impressive the way that song and the popularity of the band became a worldwide thing. It's a signature tune, really."The Rolling Stones Made Their First Appearance on the U.S. Charts With This Cover Song 61 Years Ago first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
