Annie Zaleski
@anniezaleski.bsky.social
NYT Bestselling Author, “Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs.” 33 1/3 book on Duran Duran’s ‘Rio.’ Other books: Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Pink, Christmas songs, Cher. Trans + disability rights are human rights. apstudiozaleski@gmail.com; anniez.com.
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Annie Zaleski
@anniezaleski.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Annie’s Newsletter | Annie Zaleski | Substack
Music musings with a personal twist. Click to read Annie’s Newsletter, by Annie Zaleski, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
anniezaleski.substack.com
An intro! I'm a music journalist who also (sometimes) writes about culture, business, healthcare + marketing. I've written books on: Duran Duran's 'Rio,' Pink, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Christmas music (and soon): love songs and Cher! I have a newsletter too: anniezaleski.substack.com
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
NPR’s awesome Books We Love package is out today: Such bounty! There goes my nightstand! Here is my blurb for Jeff Chang’s magisterial cultural biography of Bruce Lee.
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
NPR’s awesome Books We Love package is out today: Such bounty! There goes my nightstand! Here is my blurb for Jeff Chang’s magisterial cultural biography of Bruce Lee.
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
I was the assistant editor on MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO. I have 9000 stories from that time, and many of them feature this man who passed away this morning, Udo Kier. He would talk about Fassbinder, Warhol and Paul Morrissey for hours. I was so lucky to get to know Udo and he will be missed by so many.
November 24, 2025 at 2:01 AM
I was the assistant editor on MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO. I have 9000 stories from that time, and many of them feature this man who passed away this morning, Udo Kier. He would talk about Fassbinder, Warhol and Paul Morrissey for hours. I was so lucky to get to know Udo and he will be missed by so many.
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
Great piece. Much about me can be summed up by the fact I was pretty obsessed with the Boo Radleys in high school.
Deeply delighted to share out @zachschonfeld.bsky.social's @pitchfork.com Sunday Reviews piece on one of my all time fave albums, the #BooRadleys 1993 masterwork _Giant Steps_. I helped Zach a touch with research and he kindly quoted from my 1993 interview with bassist Tim Brown.
The Boo Radleys: Giant Steps
Read Zach Schoenfeld’s review of the album.
pitchfork.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Great piece. Much about me can be summed up by the fact I was pretty obsessed with the Boo Radleys in high school.
So formative for me. ♥️
I remember this from Sesame Street, 1979! Cathryn Aison & Philip Glass's Geometry of Circles!
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/film_screeni...
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org/film_screeni...
Geometry of Circles - animation: Cathryn Aison / music: Philip Glass (Classic Sesame Street)
YouTube video by MonsterpieceTheatre
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:37 AM
So formative for me. ♥️
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
I REPEAT BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
I REPEAT BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
November 22, 2025 at 11:57 PM
BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
I REPEAT BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
I REPEAT BEYONCÉ DOING A HOT LAP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
We are shocked and saddened to hear of Jellybean Johnson's sudden passing. To know that this amazing personality will no longer randomly show up (like here on @recordstoreday.bsky.social 2023) to light up the store and talk music and life and Minneapolis Sound Museum with us is heartbreaking.💔
November 22, 2025 at 11:13 AM
We are shocked and saddened to hear of Jellybean Johnson's sudden passing. To know that this amazing personality will no longer randomly show up (like here on @recordstoreday.bsky.social 2023) to light up the store and talk music and life and Minneapolis Sound Museum with us is heartbreaking.💔
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
R.I.P. Jellybean Johnson (drummer for Morris Day & The Time and hitmaking producer) 😿
Jellybean Johnson, drummer for The Time and hitmaking producer, has died
In addition to Johnson’s work as a musician, he was also a proponent of preserving local music history as a co-founder of the Minneapolis Sound Museum. He died on Friday.
www.thecurrent.org
November 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
R.I.P. Jellybean Johnson (drummer for Morris Day & The Time and hitmaking producer) 😿
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
What a bummer. Jellybean Johnson was one of the best living musicians. Dude could do anything. You may not know his name but you absolutely know his work. Rest in funk to an all-timer.
What a terrible drag to wake up to the news that Jellybean Johnson, one of the all-around funkiest, coldest drummers, guitarists and songwriters of all Time—not just The Time —- is now an ancestor. Sleep well, brother—well done. #MusicSky #BlackSkyOver50
November 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
What a bummer. Jellybean Johnson was one of the best living musicians. Dude could do anything. You may not know his name but you absolutely know his work. Rest in funk to an all-timer.
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
RIP, Jellybean Johnson. He held it down for the greatest band of all-Time. youtu.be/IE0lAfjoT9o?...
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
RIP, Jellybean Johnson. He held it down for the greatest band of all-Time. youtu.be/IE0lAfjoT9o?...
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
For the Guardian, I wrote about the lovely new Selena documentary, which is worth your time. ♥️ www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
November 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
For the Guardian, I wrote about the lovely new Selena documentary, which is worth your time. ♥️ www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
He said "Amen" straight into the drop
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
Lmao Pope Leo threw a rave for an archbishop's 75th birthday this is kind of incredible
For the Guardian, I wrote about the lovely new Selena documentary, which is worth your time. ♥️ www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
November 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
For the Guardian, I wrote about the lovely new Selena documentary, which is worth your time. ♥️ www.theguardian.com/film/2025/no...
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
Anna McGarrigle, Kate McGarrigle, Sylvia Nicosia, and Jan Kerouac at Bookcellar / Harvard Square - Jan had talked about her estate battle (having been banned from Kerouac conference in Lowell by Jack's in-laws), and was signing a copy of her Parrot Fever chapbook for the McGarrigle Sisters.
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Anna McGarrigle, Kate McGarrigle, Sylvia Nicosia, and Jan Kerouac at Bookcellar / Harvard Square - Jan had talked about her estate battle (having been banned from Kerouac conference in Lowell by Jack's in-laws), and was signing a copy of her Parrot Fever chapbook for the McGarrigle Sisters.
I appreciate a good rock cocktail menu, and the one at Blue Öyster Cult tonight does NOT disappoint.
November 21, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I appreciate a good rock cocktail menu, and the one at Blue Öyster Cult tonight does NOT disappoint.
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
Hi I’m a squirrel. I was crossing the street but then it was time for me to chill for a sec. Gonna finish crossing in a minute here. Hold your horses you don’t got anyplace you need to get to that fast. Ok well nice chatting gotta bolt
November 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Hi I’m a squirrel. I was crossing the street but then it was time for me to chill for a sec. Gonna finish crossing in a minute here. Hold your horses you don’t got anyplace you need to get to that fast. Ok well nice chatting gotta bolt
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
And if so inclined, I do have a book for a deeper dive into the wild and wacky world of college radio since 1978: uncpress.org/978146967725...
Live from the Underground
Bands like R.E.M., U2, Public Enemy, and Nirvana found success as darlings of college radio, but the extraordinary influence of these stations and their DJs ...
uncpress.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
And if so inclined, I do have a book for a deeper dive into the wild and wacky world of college radio since 1978: uncpress.org/978146967725...
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
So great to see college radio in all its glory featured in today's NYT. I interviewed for the piece (WFUV is at Fordham, WFMU is independent, formerly of Uppsala--such is the way with radio, which has more acronyms than the New Deal): www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/s...
College Radio Keeps Its Cool
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
So great to see college radio in all its glory featured in today's NYT. I interviewed for the piece (WFUV is at Fordham, WFMU is independent, formerly of Uppsala--such is the way with radio, which has more acronyms than the New Deal): www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/s...
Can’t believe Mani died. Was listening to the Stone Roses a few weeks ago, and I never get tired of “I Wanna Be Adored.” That opening is cinema, desperation and optimism all rolled into one. youtu.be/kmAZWKdCvmI?...
The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
YouTube video by burnleybadguy
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Can’t believe Mani died. Was listening to the Stone Roses a few weeks ago, and I never get tired of “I Wanna Be Adored.” That opening is cinema, desperation and optimism all rolled into one. youtu.be/kmAZWKdCvmI?...
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
I was on the fence about going tonight but I’m so glad I did. This was nuts.
November 20, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I was on the fence about going tonight but I’m so glad I did. This was nuts.
Reposted by Annie Zaleski
...and the following day he met with four trans women! clubbing and then brunch with the dolls? shit, I'd love a weekend like that
Very disappointed nobody told me about the pope rave. adventmessenger.org/pope-leo-xiv...
Bot Verification
adventmessenger.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:39 AM
...and the following day he met with four trans women! clubbing and then brunch with the dolls? shit, I'd love a weekend like that
The DJ played a remix of the Guns n Roses cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” I MEAN. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UdLoFW/
November 20, 2025 at 4:40 AM
The DJ played a remix of the Guns n Roses cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” I MEAN. www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UdLoFW/
Very disappointed nobody told me about the pope rave. adventmessenger.org/pope-leo-xiv...
Bot Verification
adventmessenger.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Very disappointed nobody told me about the pope rave. adventmessenger.org/pope-leo-xiv...
Hi, Swifties! Great news: There is a Walmart-exclusive version of my expanded and updated version of "Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs.” This version has a unique cover, silver sprayed edges, and four exclusive Taylor photo prints! www.walmart.com/ip/Annie-Zel...
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Hi, Swifties! Great news: There is a Walmart-exclusive version of my expanded and updated version of "Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs.” This version has a unique cover, silver sprayed edges, and four exclusive Taylor photo prints! www.walmart.com/ip/Annie-Zel...