It's been a long time and I shouldn't have left you with a good post to read. Sorry that I've been gone so long but it seems the past couple of weeks have been a stalemate in terms of finding good postings to provide so I wanted to hold off. But if you're back, thank you for coming back.
Vh1 Divas Celebrate Soul was a wonderful program that I urge anyone who loves soul or pop music past or present will enjoy this program. It features people who don't need auto-tune (except maybe Travie McCoy) to sound good.
The show was centered around cities that are hubs of soul music both past and present such as Philadelphia, London, Chicago, Memphis, and Detroit. And I really enjoyed the couplings of artists. The show opened with Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige doing a medley of the Supremes and their own hits in Motown style. And from there it only got better.
The only artists missing were probably Christina Aguilera who seems to be caught up with The Voice and denouncing rumors of a breakdown and Adele who is still recovering after vocal surgery. Other than that, I loved the performers there.
Some standouts were former Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius, neo-soul breakout Ledisi, and of course icons like Chaka Khan and Mavis Staples.
I highly recommend watching or tivoing this program, you will not regret it.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
A Rock and A Hard Place
Nicole Scherzinger aka the only Pussycat Doll we can identify by name had to make a troublesome decision last night in the X Factor eliminations. However instead of making the tough calls, she acted more like Rachel Crow, the thirteen year old being eliminated.
Let me be clear, I haven't watched the X Factor beyond the clips and soundbites on the entertainment news shows. But I am well aware of the judges' constant bickering, contestants' attitudes and anxieties, and the general tepid nature of the show.
Last night, Scherzinger decidedly didn't vote and the deadlock sent the decision to a higher authority who sent Rachel home. Rachel collapsed but ultimately knew this wasn't her end. Nicole, well. She continued to hear booing from the crowd and disappeared at the end of the show.
This incident pretty much illuminates the core problems of shows like the X Factor. Judging is never easy or completely objective. The judges have to place themselves in the ears and expectations of the audience. And that's hard when these shows rely on judges who aren't complete household names in their own right.
And it's not just Scherzinger who isn't that well known beyond the musically fickle youth. You can also lump Sara Bareilles a relatively new singer/songwriter in that category. Ironically enough she replaced Scherzinger on the Sing Off. Not that her musical insights are wrong, but let's be honest if we don't know the name of the person on the screen, it's harder to trust them. Now there is one show that did get it right. NBC's The Voice has the perfect combination of talented judges and a unique approach that sets them apart.
But this latest happening only challenges the authority and insights of the ever-changing television landscape. They may have the money, but they don't always have the power.
Let me be clear, I haven't watched the X Factor beyond the clips and soundbites on the entertainment news shows. But I am well aware of the judges' constant bickering, contestants' attitudes and anxieties, and the general tepid nature of the show.
Last night, Scherzinger decidedly didn't vote and the deadlock sent the decision to a higher authority who sent Rachel home. Rachel collapsed but ultimately knew this wasn't her end. Nicole, well. She continued to hear booing from the crowd and disappeared at the end of the show.
This incident pretty much illuminates the core problems of shows like the X Factor. Judging is never easy or completely objective. The judges have to place themselves in the ears and expectations of the audience. And that's hard when these shows rely on judges who aren't complete household names in their own right.
And it's not just Scherzinger who isn't that well known beyond the musically fickle youth. You can also lump Sara Bareilles a relatively new singer/songwriter in that category. Ironically enough she replaced Scherzinger on the Sing Off. Not that her musical insights are wrong, but let's be honest if we don't know the name of the person on the screen, it's harder to trust them. Now there is one show that did get it right. NBC's The Voice has the perfect combination of talented judges and a unique approach that sets them apart.
But this latest happening only challenges the authority and insights of the ever-changing television landscape. They may have the money, but they don't always have the power.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Halftime Girl
It's been officially confirmed that Madonna is serving as the Halftime entertainment for the upcoming 46th Superbowl this February. It's been rumored since October that the Material Girl would be doing the big show and now that it's confirmed, one has to wonder what the NFL is thinking.
No offense but Madonna is not the first artist I associate with football. Up until a couple of months ago, it was Hank Williams Jr. But since his foot was formally introduced to his mouth, that's a no go. I know that the NFL wants to include as many demographics as possible, but Madonna doesn't sound like an artist most families or football dads can relate to.
Well, it's obvious that we don't want to see a repeat of the 2004 nip slip seen around the world, it's also a brazen reminder that youthful ad demographics and football don't mix. I'm sure that previous acts were unknown by the biggest demographic until they were on the Superbowl.
However, with Madonna she automatically carries an audience because she is such an icon. And in that, an icon known for wagging tongues with her controversial approach to her music and image. Well, we can at least know this won't be a boring set like the lean years post JJ and JT at the Superbowl.
Here's hoping for a brilliant, not crazy nor drab expression of self and music at the Superbowl for once.
Madonna Superbowl
No offense but Madonna is not the first artist I associate with football. Up until a couple of months ago, it was Hank Williams Jr. But since his foot was formally introduced to his mouth, that's a no go. I know that the NFL wants to include as many demographics as possible, but Madonna doesn't sound like an artist most families or football dads can relate to.
Well, it's obvious that we don't want to see a repeat of the 2004 nip slip seen around the world, it's also a brazen reminder that youthful ad demographics and football don't mix. I'm sure that previous acts were unknown by the biggest demographic until they were on the Superbowl.
However, with Madonna she automatically carries an audience because she is such an icon. And in that, an icon known for wagging tongues with her controversial approach to her music and image. Well, we can at least know this won't be a boring set like the lean years post JJ and JT at the Superbowl.
Here's hoping for a brilliant, not crazy nor drab expression of self and music at the Superbowl for once.
Madonna Superbowl
Friday, December 2, 2011
History of Hip-Hop
I was really excited this morning to hear that there's an actual hip-hop sociology class at the prestigious Georgetown University focused on the one and only Jay-Z. This makes me wish I could pay another semester's worth of tuition just to take a class like that. When I was in college there was a course on hip-hop history as well as DJ history but since I happened to not receive the best registration time, it was an unfulfilled dream.
However as much as I'd like to revisit the days of yore, I'm glad this class is being offered. Now of course some of you reading may have a disdain for hip-hop but let's face it, it's not going anywhere. And for all the criticism it endures, the same could be applied to other genres. Hip-hop is targeted mainly because it was a genre that broke the unwritten rules of music, but didn't rock and roll? Either way, how hip-hop has influenced our culture is very important.
I will be honest and say, I'm not the biggest hip-hop head but I respect and appreciate it's finer points. There are so many things about it that give commentary to society and race that are fascinating. It also serves as a great way to have a good time. I mean who doesn't get happy to hear "Rapper's Delight?"
Anyways, Professor Michael Eric Dyson used Jay-Z since he is considerably the greatest living rapper and a multi-media mogul who has transitioned into the mainstream due to his business savvy and his commitment to helping others in music and in life. I think Jay-Z is the best ambassador of new school hip-hop with old school ideas. I read Decoded over the summer and it is one of the most fascinating books you can read. Jay-Z talks about his rhymes as I would imagine Shakespeare mentioned his works.
Word play, cultural references, and analogies frame his work and more importantly he says his rhymes are not all fact. Will this soothe the parents in middle America? I doubt it, but if you don't understand something, the best way to learn about it is to immerse yourself in it.
The clip from "Today" shows kids at Georgetown doing just that, immersing themselves in issues they may not have experienced. While there are students who understand Jay-Z's raps from a personal standpoint, the class seems to open all of the students' eyes to the complexities of everyday life and how we're more alike than different. Now that's what I call higher learning.
Jay-Z Class
However as much as I'd like to revisit the days of yore, I'm glad this class is being offered. Now of course some of you reading may have a disdain for hip-hop but let's face it, it's not going anywhere. And for all the criticism it endures, the same could be applied to other genres. Hip-hop is targeted mainly because it was a genre that broke the unwritten rules of music, but didn't rock and roll? Either way, how hip-hop has influenced our culture is very important.
I will be honest and say, I'm not the biggest hip-hop head but I respect and appreciate it's finer points. There are so many things about it that give commentary to society and race that are fascinating. It also serves as a great way to have a good time. I mean who doesn't get happy to hear "Rapper's Delight?"
Anyways, Professor Michael Eric Dyson used Jay-Z since he is considerably the greatest living rapper and a multi-media mogul who has transitioned into the mainstream due to his business savvy and his commitment to helping others in music and in life. I think Jay-Z is the best ambassador of new school hip-hop with old school ideas. I read Decoded over the summer and it is one of the most fascinating books you can read. Jay-Z talks about his rhymes as I would imagine Shakespeare mentioned his works.
Word play, cultural references, and analogies frame his work and more importantly he says his rhymes are not all fact. Will this soothe the parents in middle America? I doubt it, but if you don't understand something, the best way to learn about it is to immerse yourself in it.
The clip from "Today" shows kids at Georgetown doing just that, immersing themselves in issues they may not have experienced. While there are students who understand Jay-Z's raps from a personal standpoint, the class seems to open all of the students' eyes to the complexities of everyday life and how we're more alike than different. Now that's what I call higher learning.
Jay-Z Class
Dumb and Dumber
If you've heard in the past couple of days Vinnie of Jersey Shore fame recorded a rap song (ear curdling scream #1) and in one verse talks about having sex with some poor drunk guidette "like he's raping it" (ear curdling scream #2). It was bad enough he insulted our musical intelligence by releasing music, it's even worse that he's mentioned something as horrible and sensitive as rape.
Whoever gave him this opportunity needs to be slapped and so does Vinnie. When has rape ever been a popular subject? And if it has, is it ever appropriate to mention it in the same breath as consensual sex? Okay then, you see my point. Rape is a horrible experience that should never be compared to pleasure in any way.
And furthermore, it is in bad taste to actually think you can change the public opinion in the confines of a rap song. No matter if you are a publicity hound like these cray-crays from Seaside Heights or Slim Shady himself, it's never going to work.
My thing is this, it's bad enough we have to deal with these fools in reality television, but how about for once not letting them impose their stupidity in other mediums. There's enough stupidity from career musicians to solve that problem.
Whoever gave him this opportunity needs to be slapped and so does Vinnie. When has rape ever been a popular subject? And if it has, is it ever appropriate to mention it in the same breath as consensual sex? Okay then, you see my point. Rape is a horrible experience that should never be compared to pleasure in any way.
And furthermore, it is in bad taste to actually think you can change the public opinion in the confines of a rap song. No matter if you are a publicity hound like these cray-crays from Seaside Heights or Slim Shady himself, it's never going to work.
My thing is this, it's bad enough we have to deal with these fools in reality television, but how about for once not letting them impose their stupidity in other mediums. There's enough stupidity from career musicians to solve that problem.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
JB Aims for a JT
Justin Bieber just released his Christmas album which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Now, he's readying his next release for early 2012. However, in place of "Baby", the vibe he's looking to attract is one of "Lady."
Is it possible? Well, that depends on the appetite of the Belieber community and the quality Bieber is looking to give his fans. In a recent interview with MTV, he stated that he's inspired by fellow teen star turned adult megastar Justin Timberlake and his FutureSex/LoveSounds album. Not necessarily by the content, but the idea of a new sound.
Unfortunately, I think it may not work unless he really focuses on being a pure expression of his life at the moment. What made Justin Timberlake's effort succeed was the fact that he was older and people saw him in such a way.
When we (or maybe I) look at Justin Bieber, I think of the annoying kid I went to school with. However, to be fair that can be said for a lot of people in show business but I digress. Justin Bieber is part of another generation and to me, his image has been so managed and staged, that it's hard to know what he really wants to do.
Now of course, I'm not talking about his charity efforts, I applaud the fact that he aims to give back and cherish his fans. But in terms of his musical persona, I can't see any real maturity.
But then again, it might work to his advantage. He could surprise us or not. Either way, it'll be a water-cooler moment.
Bieber Wants to Grow Up
Is it possible? Well, that depends on the appetite of the Belieber community and the quality Bieber is looking to give his fans. In a recent interview with MTV, he stated that he's inspired by fellow teen star turned adult megastar Justin Timberlake and his FutureSex/LoveSounds album. Not necessarily by the content, but the idea of a new sound.
Unfortunately, I think it may not work unless he really focuses on being a pure expression of his life at the moment. What made Justin Timberlake's effort succeed was the fact that he was older and people saw him in such a way.
When we (or maybe I) look at Justin Bieber, I think of the annoying kid I went to school with. However, to be fair that can be said for a lot of people in show business but I digress. Justin Bieber is part of another generation and to me, his image has been so managed and staged, that it's hard to know what he really wants to do.
Now of course, I'm not talking about his charity efforts, I applaud the fact that he aims to give back and cherish his fans. But in terms of his musical persona, I can't see any real maturity.
But then again, it might work to his advantage. He could surprise us or not. Either way, it'll be a water-cooler moment.
Bieber Wants to Grow Up
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
VH1 Divas is Back
Now with most of you thinking that there aren't any specials for those of us who actually like music that you don't need an urban dictionary app for, we're in luck. VH1's much acclaimed Divas is back and airs December 19th. But the real excitement is that the theme for this year is soul. And in particular soulful cities like Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Philadelphia and London. It looks to be awesome.
Featured performers include Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Estelle, and non-divas Boyz II Men and Travie McCoy. While every artist isn't a headliner, it looks to be interested and Divas is well known for dynamic twists on classic cuts, mash-ups, and great duets. And with the Roots is the house band, there's no reason not to miss this. I know I won't.
Divas Lineup
Divas Lineup
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