It seems as if I've been extremely busy for about a year now and I'm still processing how little I blog about anything these days. As I've written before, I blame Twitter. Today, I have a bit of a reprieve. And I happen to be obsessing on an artist I love -- Melanie Fiona. She did a song a few years ago that blew me away, Give It To Me Right, and after hunting down multiple versions of that song on YouTube today (click here to see an interesting version from German TV) I stumbled upon her doing Roberta Flack's classic, Killing Me Softly, at some German radio station in Hamburg one year ago. Check it out:
With the Florida-Georgia game approaching, and the Gators not quite looking ready this year for the clash, I find myself dreading actually thinking about the game but loving the thought of home and days gone by. Especially our great 20-year run over the Dawgs.
At some point today thoughts of northeast Florida brought to mind the music of the late, great Freddie Scott. A Providence, Rhode Island native, he's a little bit before my time but I remember often hearing some of his songs as a kid. In this post I want to present two of my favorites. Later this week I hope to do a post on the songwriter that Freddie Scott's most associated with, a songwriter that died far too early and has thus received far too little recognition for his great work in the 1960s.
First up, an iconic song that has never received its' proper due. As a Jacksonville kid, I'm biased of course, but this is a truly great R&B song:
And now, a really catchy song that I also love that served as the sample hook for Biz Markie on one of his big hits. Naturally, Freddie Scott's original is far, far better (Biz Markie's is funny stupid, if you know what I mean, but . . . damn):
Never in my life do I recall being aware that there are words -- words! -- to the Stars and Stripes Forever; now, thanks to Wretchard, that particular ignorance has been obliterated.
Hooray for the flag of the free,
may it wave as our standard forever
That was fascinating and I can only hope at least one of you will be as intrigued with it as I was. The lyrics are included in this Wikipedia entry.
Apparently, yesterday was James Taylor's birthday. And I love me some James Taylor (thanks to PowerLine's Scott Johnson for the reminder). As Scott indicated in his piece, Taylors' politicking is of the familiar "shut up and sing" variety, but he's not alone in that category. Although I love his music, I haven't listened to much of it beyond the favorites that make their way to top 40 radio. So, it was a treat to watch the video that accompanied PowerLine's post and I'm duplicating it here along with adding the lyrics to the video, "(I've Got to) Stop Thinkin' 'bout That".
I like to think about the time I met you, living with your people down in New Orleans. Mad at your mama cause she'd never let you ride in no nasty limousine. Later on the levee with the moon up above, I lost my heart and confessed my love, Oh Lucy, now, God have mercy, I've got to stop thinkin' 'bout that, somehow. Does me no damn good.
One Summer night in a field of wheat, God's sweet lanterns hanging in the sky. Moving light on your tiny feet, I knew I had to love you till the day I die. They talk about Amazing Grace, it meant something when I saw your face. Oh Lucy, now, God have mercy, I've got to stop thinkin' 'bout that. Oh, Lucy, babe, can't stop thinkin' bout you.
I think of all the little things that I never told you, I think I may get to hold you someday. It's my brain just like a man possessed, I can't do me no work, I can't get me no rest, I can't understand it baby.
Don't like to think about the way it ended, I hate remembering the things that I said. I dream a dream of love so splendid, I wake up hard in an empty bed. I wonder who'll be loving you next, some fool will be writing bad checks. Oh, Lucy, God have mercy, I've got to stop thinkin' 'bout you.
Now, take a listen:
That's good stuff, my friends. His rise was a little bit before my time but, hey, das mach nicht, right? Great voice, great singer. Happy belated birthday, James Taylor.
Finally, I'll end this post with a song from the only James Taylor album I recall purchasing; I don't even remember the name of the album but I do like the song -- That Lonesome Road:
Gator fanatic that I am, some of you may recall that Grooveshark is an award-winning online music search engine, music streaming service and music recommendation web software application created by University of Florida students.
I finished watching the new Kanye West longform music video "Runaway" last week just before Thanksgiving.
Truthfully, Kanye's never been much of a rapper to me but, of course, I'm not a rap aficionado. He is clearly creative, however, and obviously quite a producer. That said, here it is, all 30-something minutes, if you're interested (raw language is periodically used throughout):
My goodness, what a beautiful chick to feature in his video! Selita Ebanks is her name and she stars as something of a phoenix (defined as a legendary Arabian bird said to periodically burn itself to death and emerge from the ashes as a new phoenix; according to most versions only one phoenix lived at a time and it renewed itself every 500 years) who is alien to modern earth and ultimately repulsed by what she sees of life on earth in the 21st century.
Here's an unrelated picture of Selita that captured my eye, courtesy of TheBeauteeShop, from her work with Victoria's Secret:
Quite a woman, quite a phoenix. Skinny, to be sure, but quite a woman. I absolutely loved her in the "Runaway" video and I also thought the overall imagery in the film was impressive.
As for the story/video/theme --what can I do but sigh, and then slice.
Charitably speaking, okay, Kanye, okay. People are phony, unaccepting, sheep-like slaves to manipulation and conformity and host to all manner of other ills, and on top of all that they are sinful as hell (yourself included, Kanye??? Or are you an alien and different enough to except yourself from the norms of humanity? Like a phoenix? No, I think one point he was trying to make is he's screwed up but so are all of us -- okay, Kanye, okay).
Yep, ladies and gentlemen, go run and shout it from the hilltops. This world is doomed (freedom = free doom) . . . so, escape if you can. And, oh yeah, America is a bastard. At least that part of America that isn't with the conscience crowd and isn't still apologizing for African slavery (as opposed to Arab enslavement of Africans, or, one wonders, as opposed to world slavery in general?), blasé, blasé, blasé, yada, yada, yada.
Now it's time for me to be what some will surely describe as uncharitable: Kanye, this is what you are pushing as revolutionary and thought provoking? This is how you exhibit your creativity? Gil Scott-Heron and Comment #1 ??? Really? In 2010? With an African American as President? With black folks winning seats in Congress from districts that are primarily white in the South? And Republican? With Jay-Z as something of a music mogul, owning his music and more? With black athletes earning millions in multiple professional sports and some of them breaking into ownership of professional franchises? With black businesses open and productive all over the nation and African Americans indisputably the richest community of African descent anywhere on the planet?
Apparently so.
One approving reviewer of the film, Ken Tucker, wrote:
Late in Runaway, the phoenix speaks: “You know what I hate about your world? Anything that is different you try to change, you try to tear it down.” West’s visual and musical sophistication was constantly contrasted with images of the phoenix’s playful innocence, until she finally burst into flames and ascended back “to my world,” as she put it, leaving West’s character desperate, running down the road after her, left alone.
Me? What do I think of the video?
I say it's drivel dredged up from the time period of the late 60s, early 70s or so, a time when ABC Records wouldn't promote what would become Louis Armstrong's classic "What A Wonderful World" in America because it just wasn't revolutionary cool, don't you know. ABC apparently had to be shamed by the British public (who made Armstrong's classic a number one single over there) to really push it in the land of its birth.
How incredible is that? Quite incredible, to me.
The bitch-and-moan babies on the far left still insist on bitchin' and moanin' as a governing mindset in the 21st century, even as they earn millions while simultaneously disrespecting many more millions. As financial instability lurks on the global stage, as an era of making do with less, an era of genuine austerity when judged by the standards of the late 20th century, inches ever closer to becoming reality. In the face of all that, here comes Kanye with "Runaway."
Note to Kanye (George Bush Hates Black People) West: you might want to quit sucking from your Mama's revolutionary dead tit.
Yeah, brother, I got a plan. Runaway from your mindset as fast as I can.
I'm extremely pleased to say I love it. And very pleased that "Southern State of Mind" is a worthy song (No changing who I am, that's the way I've always been. No matter what state I'm in, I'm in a Southern state of mind!).
The reviewer in the Charleston Post and Courier thought "Love Will Do That" is one of the strongest tracks on the CD. I'm not sure about that. With 13 tracks, that song would have to be in the top four for me to give it that status. And I don't.
On first listen, I couldn't decide on a top four. So, my top songs from the entire roster, in no particular order of preference: I Don't Care, Things I'd Never Do, Southern State of Mind, Come Back Song, I Got Nothing, In A Big Way, Might Get Lucky, Whiskey and You, This.
That's just from the first listen, of course, but I love all nine of those songs. I like the others, too, but this strikes me as a strong CD and the competition was strong. For a pure country music fan, I'm sure the list would be different (Love Will Do That, for instance, might just top their list). But for a guy like me looking for a little Rhythmic Country Croonin' -- that's my list.
By the way, rhythmic country crooning -- have I just coined a term that defines darius rucker's entree into the country music genre??? It does tend to define the country music artists I like, all the way back to Charley Rich.
Man, am I envious Darius Rucker! He makes it appear effortless and I know it isn't but he is actually pulling off his immersion into country music -- and he doesn't appear to be making a big deal out of it at all.
Kudos to you, Darius!
Live your life, decide for your damn self who the hell you are and how the hell you're going to define yourself.It is especially gratifying to see a black man who appears to be so comfortable in the South and is in love with his city. His latest single is out and it shows off his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. As I've probably mentioned many times, I married a Carolinian and have grown to love the Palmetto State. I've also grown to love the music of Darius Rucker. Check out his new video:
Like I said, I am so envious of that guy! Today's Charleston Post & Courier has a review of Rucker's new CD. They walked through each selection on the CD and once I saw selection number five, I knew I was going to buy this baby:
5. ‘Southern State of Mind’
Any Southern boy whose mother raised him right will appreciate this song, which chronicles Rucker’s trials and triumphs while trying to show some South Carolina hospitality as he travels around the world.
“I could be anywhere, in my heart I’m always there. Where they drink sweet tea and teach you how to be polite,” sings Rucker, as he reveals how not everyone appreciates the manners we sometimes take for granted here in America’s most polite city.
I hope the song doesn't let me down. Judging from the music video posted above, I'm sure it will be just fine.
I was extremely pleased the other day to see that a website created by University of Florida students recently garnered some very positive press when it was included in Time Magazine's 50 Best Websites of 2010 (which they self-promote thusly: (From the helpful to the distracting, the big hitters to the unknowns, TIME offers a road map to the best of the Web). I've written about about the service I'm highlighting today multiple times (there's a Google Search box down the left panel of my website at present; do the search if you like) and I truly love the idea of Grooveshark. Here is Time Magazine's description of the service:
Free online music-streaming hub Grooveshark
is a pick-and-choose listening service that depends on its users to
upload content. With one of the most complete libraries of any music
site (we often find songs here that are missing from sites like Pandora
and MOG), users are able to create and save their own playlists or rely
on Pandora-esque Grooveshark Radio for song recommendations, clicking
happy-face and sad-panda icons to rate their approval. Free never
sounded so good.
I completely agree!
I drove back to Tallahassee this early this morning from Orlando and on the drive heard one of the satellite channels play an old favorite that I had not heard for years and years. In honor of Grooveshark, I'm posting that song ("Still Water" by the Four Tops) and a quick mix of other songs that may or may not be reflective of my general tastes (but I certainly love all of the 13 included tunes):
Consider this my Black History Month post for the year, okay?
I was in Atlanta last weekend and took the opportunity to visit with one of the "daughters" my wife and I have collected through her work in college theater. Marion Wright is a native of Gainesville (she's been involved with us for more than a quarter-century and our interactions with her began with the University of Florida Upward Bound program), a FAMU graduate, earned a graduate degree from Illinois, and is now lecturing at Spelman College:
Isn't she beautiful? Last weekend they were concluding their production of Crowns, a fantastic play by Regina Taylor and quite an homage to black women and their hats. As it turns out, my wife is directing that very same play at FAMU this weekend.
Yes, that's wifey. Isn't she beautiful? Though that shot is from a trip we took to St. Augustine back in the 80's, she's still got that Carolina Lowcountry beauty -- and she wears her "crowns" particularly well, too.
I'm expecting family and friends from Jacksonville (today is my mother's 77th birthday), Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York to make their way over to The Hill to see the show. So this is going to be a great weekend for me.
I want to close with a shot of the flyer FAMU's Essential Theatre produced for the show; it's just an incredibly good shot of a woman in her magnificent hat and I just hope it comes across on this blog. There's something about the photo; at times, I just can't seem to stop staring at it:
I hear that Valencia has put together an excellent cast and it's a great production. She is supremely talented at what she does so that doesn't surprise me at all. As you probably noticed, T"Keyah Crystal Keymah has come home to headline the show and it is complemented by a good collection of current FAMU students, a four-piece band from the music department, and one alumnus who is also a faculty member, Marci Stringer:
Marci, by the way, will probably be the next star to come from Rattler Nation (she got her graduate degree from U.F., by the way, so she's another one of us RattlerGators) and may very well be heading out to Hollywood soon.
I especially wanted my mother to see this show (she's fierce with her hats!) but she's been battling pneumonia and this winter just won't seem to let up. Hopefully she is able to make it over and enjoy the heck out of her special day.
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