Michael Mode

How I Was Exposed To Music

2011-08-07T04:40:00.027-05:00

July 4th, 2011, I got an idea to make a search into what would it take to start your own online radio. You see, the idea came from some friends that regrouped after leaving the Dallas radio station K104 and they came back to broadcasting online. Skip Murphy, the Wig, Chris Arnold and Nanette Lee were, to me, the funniest radio show ever. When they ALL came back it was as if they never left. (even though they left K104 five years ago) I was and am very happy they are back. After a few mornings of listening to them, I began wondering exactly how they did it. I was sure it was expensive but how much of an expense was it? So, I made the search of "radio station" and I spotted this link to listen2myradio with the caption (start your own radio station for free) The word "free" caught my attention. I clicked the link, and the rest is history.

How am I doing so far?

One thing have discovered is that one person CAN run an online radio station but it will be grueling. The first thing you lose is allot of sleep because if you're like me, a perfectionist, you have to make sure everything is running as you intend.

The second thing that happens is you begin to see yourself in a vulnerable state. Vulnerable, because you quickly discover that not only are you not perfect but that unless you have a degree in broadcasting (and you cannot be shy about this) it will be a struggle, lots of embarrassing moments.

It has been exactly 1 month and three days since I signed up and today I was thinking, Why music? I mean, How did I become so focused on music? Why not sports, like most guys? Why not business marketing? Why not politics? (it's my favorite subject)

The reason I like and love music so much came from a few words that my aunt Doris said to me: "Boy you really like singing. You are always listening to that song. You are gonna a singer when you grow up." Well, I didn't become a singer. However, it was the other part she mentioned that became so prominent about me.

Today, some people meet me and quickly begin saying that I know everything about music. I have never said that about myself. Some people do say this about themselves. I mean, How could any human know EVERYthing about music? (and there are some smart, smart people out there) My aunt Doris saying "you always listening to that song." is who I am. That song I was listening to was by an artist or singer Chaka Khan. Back in the day, she sang in a group called 'Rufus, featuring Chaka Khan'. Then, they changed the group's name to Rufus and Chaka Khan. I would always wondering, 'Why Rufus? I mean, Why not a cooler name?' but I was a kid and hadn't learned about the world of advertising and marketing when it came to music.

Today, I have discovered that some people are jealous of my knowledge of music. Plain and simple: as I told a friend, "I only know what I listen to." And, I have done my research on the artists I follow, very extensively. I had no idea that I was quickly labelled as THE person to go to if you want to know anything about music. One guy approached me and asked me if I could find this underground cd never released 'Love For Sale' by a cat named Bilal? I told him that I had never heard of him but research it for him. He was shocked when he exclaimed, "You of all people have never heard of Bilal??? I thought you knew everything about music!" I was embarrassed at first because I felt that because of my love for music that I should have known who Bilal was or any other artist, but I did not. There is a ton of ambiguity in that statement because on one hand I can see why some would say that, but on the other hand I cannot believe that some WOULD believe that about anybody.

When I was old enough to be trusted walk alone to the store, I would always detour to this place called Milton's Record Shack. There was this black man with a raspy voice that ran the store. From the first day I started going into his store, just before my purchases, he would always ask me if I had heard certain songs. He would observe my purchases and would always, always suggest something else for me to listen to, really it was for a suggestion something for me to buy. I would always reply "No." because I was still cutting my teeth when it came to music genre. My mom listened to Burt Bacharach, Fifth Dimension, and lots of Motown. My step-dad looked allot like Lou Rawls, listened to Blues. As a family we often watched Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Stevie Wonder on TV. The record store owner would play the song or songs for me and if I liked it (which was almost all of the time) then I would find myself standing in front of the cash register trying to figure out how I was gonna make $5 buy four 45's. One day, he gave me a free record and I never stopped going into his shop. I was at that record store so much and called so often that he once told me as soon as I walked in the door "That album by The Emotions didn't come in today! So, you don't have to call everyday asking DID THE EMOTIONS' ALBUM COME IN YET? DID THE EMOTIONS' ALBUM COME IN YET?!!!" I was thinking, I'm bringing him money and now he's making fun of me? My step-dad and a man that went by the CB name Old Crow had a record store right next to E Z Way Quick Mart, and I painted a big black crow on the window. It was called Old Crow Records. Hardly anybody ever came in to buy anything because they only carried a few trays of blues 45's. I remember looking around in that store thinking 'y'all ain't be open no longer than a month.' But I kept on painting the window.

THEN, after moving moving to Dallas at the eve of my 21st birthday, I used to go into the record store (yeah I know that sounds funny, RECORD STORE, 45's and cash register) and I noticed that people were shopping for music. One couple I had walked past was trying to remember how a song went. I backed up and told them "Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam." They were like "THANK YOU SO MUCH! Do you work here" I was like, hmmm, I like doing that for people. When they had asked me if I was an employee is when I became ashamed and embarrassed. So, I guess you can call me a music nerd instead a music fan or desperate for attention (which is another subject). "No," I answered the couple. I just enjoy helping people, when it comes to music. Then I got the bug and began going back to that record store was all I could think about. (Sound Warehouse on Knight and Lemon Avenue, today the building is a bank) Yep, I got the big head of helping people figure out a song with only a snippet of its information. But see, back in my hometown, Midland, Texas, KCRS had this music contest that kept me glued to the radio. The rules were simple: be the first to call-in when you figure out the name of a song. I never won but I found myself knowing most of the songs played in that contest.

Another reason I think people equate me with knowing everything about music is because of my school background when it came to music. I was exposed to classical music in the 7th grade and up into my college years because I was in band. (now playing Amy Winehouse "Black To Black" [shuffle is on]) When I started high school this is really where my exposure to many genres of music became so prominent in my life. Each year, I signed up for band and each year we would have these fundraisers in order to make money so each band student could pay for their way to go on the Band Spring Trip. We would go door to door selling fruit cakes and ads spaces in our school yearbooks. It was so cool because this was more than 300 students, on 4 greyhound buses, with chaperones, headed to a distant state and just having fun. These trips made learning how to play classical music and studying its history fun. On one of those greyhound buses racing down a highway at night, I sat listening to all the conversations and especially all of the music played while on those trips. We had this thing where anybody could play a song (FOR A SHORT WHILE) as long as it had cuss words. This is how I learned about rock: Queen, Black Sabbath, Lynard Skinard, Ambroisia, Little River Band, Toto, and Pop: Olivia Newton John, Elton John, and Country: Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Juice Newton and Alabama...etc... I could go on.

Why do I talk so much about music? Because it is really all I know and have the most fun listening. One of my friends says that it a way I escape. In college I took this fascinating course, I think it was called 'Music Advertising' during summer....for free......while everyone else was on summer-break. This course gave me a closer look into the mechanics of music and how it was massed produced and targeted for specific audiences.

How is my radio station doing? Do I have tons of listeners? The station is steady as she goes. About my listeners? There are 3-4 that regularly stop by. Many times they only stay a few minutes but that's ok. The most listeners I have had was 20. But one thing I have quickly learned is that since we have this explosion of information which includes music, there are so many bands and so many, many songs that having a radio station back in the day would be a big deal. Today, not so much. Most people have the time or patience to be serenaded. But it's fun playing to my audience of 3.

(song that just shuffled into play La Caution - "Thé à la menthe" [the laser dance] Ocean's 12)

I Love You, Mom

2011-08-03T04:34:00.007-05:00

A few years back, a radio station played only one song for, what I can remember, an entire week. Talk around town raced about that a brand new radio station was emerging but they only played one song over and over again. Almost everyone was talking about it, inquiring of why the same song was being looped, and what was the point. But we all figured out that it was a gimmick to get our attention. I remember thinking, 'Wow! What a cool gimmick. Now, nobody will forget that radio station.' The song the station played was by Newcleus, and their song was "Wicky, Wicky."

I am replaying one of my favorite songs ("Cinema" - Benny Benassi [Skrillex remix]) all day Wednesday up until midnight.

Why?

It will become apparent, especially if you are a regular reader of my blog.

A Milestone In My Life

2011-07-20T13:13:00.009-05:00

Since the days of Napster, when it was free and the rush to download as much music as possible was better than almost any drug, I've stumbled across another milestone in my life. I now have my very own online radio. However my reason for bringing up Napster is not moot. Napster allowed person-to-person sharing which is what also drew attention to it. The authorities were in their boundaries to censure Napster because it was grand theft to SOME degree. Either way, now a person can have their very own online radio. ([whispers] except its not a radio station. It is a glorified way if you pay to share your music with someone else or with a mass audience)

August 4, I will be turning 50 years old. At times, especially since starting my radio station, it seem like I am about to turn 22 way back when good ole Napster gave us that rush of blood to the head to share with another person our taste in music.

My radio station <<<---click My...

My Blog Read By Many From Around The World? Seriously???

2011-07-02T02:10:00.018-05:00

Never underestimate the power of social network, should have been the title of this entry but I wanted to be specific about that power. Since the social network is evermore popular it is easier to reach a broader audience.

Back in 2009, I started the hobby of a music blog. Really this blog is all about me discussing music's effect on myself and others. It also about the people that make music, which I think is profound at any degree. In those past 2 years I have found some staggering statistic about my blog. I'm no famous writer, although I want to be. I'm no official music critic, although I want to be. But you see because of the social network as long as a person is true their word and/or craft, in my opinion this is a person one can rely on for the truth about a subject.

My niche is music, and I love it so much, as stated in small circles with my friends. However, I was editing an article and I have been noticing that I had lost count on my blog's counter. The last time I remember the number was around 580 hits. Now, I haven't always had a counter, I think I placed it on my site about a year ago. To date, I did a double-take because the last hit showed 997 hits. It was just a few months ago that this number was cresting at 600 hits. But this is not what I found so profound. Attached to this counter is a globe of actual location of those stopping by my site.

People have stropped by from 50 countries, with almost 500 initial hits. This was confusing until I really thought about it: How is it that the counter has 997 hits but I counted only 489 hits? Then it hit me and I was a bit embarrassed: PERHAPS MANY OF THOSE STOPPING RETURNED. I only have 9 subscribers, and I am one of those subscribers. But I am grateful with these numbers. Man! These social networks really DO have power for the little people like you and me.

Below are some of those places and countries:

South America, Caribbean Islands, Mexico, United States, Canada, Finland, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom, Italy , Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Sudan, Russia, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech republic, Croatia, Romania, Turkey, Greece, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Morocco, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, New Zealand, Australia

Just when I thought almost nobody was reading or stopping by...

Thanks guys!

Thievery Corporation's "Fragment"

2011-07-01T15:11:00.001-05:00

Fragments by Vv.

Where Were You June 25th, 2009?

2011-04-20T02:55:00.008-05:00

**June 25th, 2011 will mark the second year since Michael Jackson died. Time has flown by and I still find it hard to believe it when famous people like Michael die because it always seems too soon and too final. Below is a blog I posted 2 years ago and I thought I'd update it a bit and repost. ("Hollywood" video has been added to this soon to be 2 year old blog) Thanks for reading folks...

I hadn't heard that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital. I hadn't heard that Michael Jackson had slipped into a coma. And, I hadn't heard that Michael Jackson had died. On that day, it was almost 5 o'clock and I had just finished packing all my belongings because I was being transferred to downtown Dallas, TX. No more 45 minute commuting to work. I was elated for 2 reasons; my day was ending and I would FINALLY be working within walking distance from my home. So while I was busy with all of my last minute packing on June 25th I got the shock of my life.

"DUUUUUUUUDE!!!!!!!" exclaimed Jared
"What?" I asked, thinking what the hell are you yelling like that for?
"Michael Jackson died!!!" Jared was standing as he announced to me and loud enough for the entire office of people behind cubicles to hear.

My first reaction was, of course, disbelief. You know? No matter how many people we know, close or distant, we are never really quite ready for the news of their death. Where there is shock, awe, denial and disbelief, there is or once was a love for that someone or hatred that has now become a loss.

I never wanted to admit that I am still a Michael Jackson fan. Buying "INVINCIBLE" is when I was forced to realize that I still am a listener of Michael Jackson's work. Like at an AA meeting where individuals stand up to accept the responsibility of their inebriated days by announcing out loud their recreation dependency: Hi. My name is Michael Bryant...and...I am a Michael Jackson Fan. Corny but there are many closet Michael Jackson fans out there.

Now, I didn't rush out to the stores to hoard up on Jackson memorabilia like most fans and since I am a music fan expected some of my friends and family expected to hear something from me about Michael Jackson on my facebook status. After his death and for many weeks, I wrote nothing. However, one day, thought hit me that my saying nothing WAS making a statement, which seemed a bit negative. So I decided to put to words my thoughts about one of my great musicians and distant brother, Michael Jackson.

I actually tried to go as long as I could to never mention his name, to never play his music and to never re-hash with others about his death, especially what led up to it. Emotions were raw and a chasm had ripped through society between those glad he was dead and those devastated by the news. Eventually, I caved and began writing about a man that changed my life forever, music-wise.

Michael Jackson was one of those people that even though thousands of miles away, if you are a fan or were one, you thought you knew him. His song choices and lyrics pontificating always seemed to draw people in to the heart of his themes. When he did write, you became closer to Michael, seeing the glimpse of fractals he allowed each of his fans to see. But it was his voice: the clarity, the pitch, almost perfect, and the sometime annoying "HEEEEw!!!!!" was his signature.

The reason I decided to break my silence and write about Michael Jackson came from an idea I read in a Tweet. I echo a few of this guy's words. "If I call myself a lover of music, I should write about the good AND the bad." If this is so, writing about Michael Jackson should have been written about, regardless of those court hearings. He was and still is the biggest part of the music business.

America has their positions of how each individual feels about him, but when you take a poll of the world's position, the fame of this guy is astounding! America is just 1/4 of the world's view. Once, Michael was spotted walking through an Oriental airport and what totally blew me away was the zillions of camera flashes from paparazzi. It was not just awesome but astounding. I don't think you have any idea what I mean by saying this, but then again, if you're a Michael Jackson you know what I am talking. Those flashes were at such a high frenzy that it was as if 10,000 people had 10,000 cameras and all of them were flashing at the same time and as fast as they could take pictures. That's when I realized that my idea of knowing Michael Jackson's fame and affect around the world was only minute and scratching the surface. The world was, simply put, mad about this guy. And I will tell why...

Normally merchants go for creating inventions because advertising cost is cheaper when boasting about their product. However, when Michael appeared on the scene, merchants and bankers knew one thing: CHA$$$$$$$CHING! This would be a guy that would change history, move billions, and yes, make them very, very very rich. But the one thing they never ever thought, and maybe they did, but I doubt it was how Michael Jackson affected the Economy like no other product has and the magnitude of his popularity. Never have so many people decided to buy while broke when hearing of his death.

My life during the life of Michael Jackson was a good one even though I did not know him personally. I thought I did, and that was all that mattered. I felt sorry for him and I thought he and those parents made huge mistakes.

Do I miss Michael Jackson? Tremendously! Am I sad that he died? Yes.

Do I wish that he never had died?

Hmmm.... Now that last question is a tough one, seeing how The Business can eat people alive and as deep as Michael was in The Business, that his entire life became a circus and a fishbowl for the world,

that's a tough question to answer...

A Band I Want You To Get To Know...

2011-04-17T21:08:00.008-05:00

Firstly, scroll down and listen to this video first, then read this...

They finally did it! Lam Rim released their first music video from their new album 'Lost Insane'. The little I know of lead singer Joao Mirat, from our conversations on facebook, I have observed that he is very modest. When I told him how much I really like his band's music video his response was, "Thank you Michael, it's great to know you enjoyed the video!!!" A songwriter buddy of his, Orlando Robson has posted the band's video "Why Don't You...?" on his facebook page that I have made comment ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbout it's content. (It's a really great piece of cinematography, and it makes me think of those shows like ER)

I was telling the band members that I met Greg Glienna on Twitter, a writer of 'Meet The Parents', and that I had mentioned their songs to him and sent him their website link. I suggested "Why Don't You...?" to Mr Glienna as a song to add to one of his new movie ventures. I'm not sure how those things work. Joao said, "Lets see what happens with the soundtracks..." Maybe something will come of our Twitter chat.

link to an older blog about Lam Rim

L Before We Knew Of LL

2011-04-01T19:09:00.006-05:00

Before we started hearing about LL Cool J there was El DeBarge. El DeBarge is one of those artists that you really watched because he is just that good. A second generation of musicians from the DeBarge family SWITCH was a group his older brother Bobby DeBarge sang in and were really successful in the late 70's and early 80's until Bobby's untimely death. Guys and the ladies watched this cat and saw that although Michael and Prince dominated the charts back in the day, he seemed to eek some type existence in the business. I'm ashamed to say this but I am a year behind in my El update.

I do remember his release of 'Second Chances' but for some freak of a reason I never gave his latest work a listen. This saddens me because today, while paying bills with my sister I heard this song. At first i thought and would have sworn it was Mary Mary, since they did release a brand new project. But when I shazamed the song playing boy was I surprised. I even tried to convince my sister that it was Mary Mary. But even she had begun to say "I think that's El..."

Shazam gave me the shock of my life. And when I say about a song it is because if I didn't find out who it was by would keep me up ALL NIGHT wondering who it sang if. Thank you El. And I hope you all of the success and recovery needed to be back with your fans. I have been following you since you brother, Bobby, was alive and singing with SWITCH. But I will tell how I miss this hit, I was stuck in a genre and I do not listen to radio anymore. Check this one out folks. It is a keeper and a hit, and I could not have picked a better duet partner than the lovely Faith Evans. How time passes by…

Rap Star Turned Movie Star Will Not Forget His Roots

2011-03-29T16:02:00.016-05:00

I have followed Will Smith since he was rapping back in the day. Back then he seem to stand out, especially when he landed the lead role in The Fresh Prince Of Bell-Air. I often thought his standing out was like that of Salt N Pepa due their looks and that seemed unfair to DJ Spinderella and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Jazzy and Spinderella seem be the backbone and Will and Salt N Pepa were the camera friendly faces. But, I had to learn that it was their schtick. Since then, Smith has become one of the most powerfuliest men in show business. But here is an interesting factoid about Will. According to an episode on the E Channel, his worth is around 3.5 billion dollars, and even though Smith's accomplishments have earned him tons and tons of cash and many awards and an Oscar accolades, he has stated that he wants to do more rapping.

But what I found profound was that Will Smith turned down the lead role of Neo in the Matrix, which was offered to Keanu Reeves, for a role in the movie Wild, Wild West. Making $10-20 million. Keanu Reeves earned, from all 3 movies of the Matrix, $250 million.Still not too shabby even though turning down one of the most memorable roles in Hollywood but we don't hear either one of these guys complaining.

Tops In THE BUSINESS

2011-03-26T18:14:00.023-05:00

Billboard is always one of those sites I keep close tabs on and if you go to their site you will see 5 pictures of music artists uncontested thus far in the business.

Now, in my opinion, when watching artists struggle to make it in the business one of two things always, ALWAYS happen. Let's start with Chris Brown. A person whom I think is really smarter than most give him credit for and is secretly following in the footsteps of Kayne. Kayne??? You ask. Well, most all of Kayne's CD and album promotions have been due his "rudeness:, i.e...The Grammys with Taylor Swift and all of his tantrums. Getting a clearer picture why I compared Chris Brown to him. I think Chris Brown has wised up and risks his career, not really much of a risk since his fans will follow him ANYwhere, with tantrums. And I think these tantrums are scheduled and on purpose. The latest NBC debacle was planned and nobody can tell otherwise, and I do not hold Chris Brown solely responsible for the Rihanna thing. My reason? He just released a new cd and it cost thousands of dollars to promote such an adventure when you could DO some things to bring attention to yourself, negative or positive for free. My favorite, hands down, is "Beautiful People". At times this can backfire but since many of us are so high-strung with all of the wars the United States has involved themselves in, plus the political and racial climate can do a number on the masses. He looks better blond, or gold as some have stated. Call me an optimistic.

P!nk, I know for a fact is one of the hardest working female artists in the business. I have been following P!nk since she distributed through LaFace Records. LA Reid watched like a hawk, some would say. Others said he had her best interest at heart.
Either way P!nk has become the person she wants the world to see and know. Although, I think she can sing R&B just as good as those predicted to, P!nk is like James Brown.

Until I saw the E Hollywood True Story about Katy Perry, I would have always disliked her. Mainly because I thought she sold out. I thought she sold out because her career wasn't going as she had wanted it to by selling sex instead of music. Although this IS the business, Katy Perry is an artist many underestimated and have mostly always overlooked.
That is the story of many artists trying to make it. Very few musician get the recognition I think all should receive. The song that sent Katy Perry's music career into orbit was "I Kissed A Girl". There is a saying that every guy secretly loves the idea of their girlfriend or wife in a one-on-one or menage a tois. Katy was bold enough to put into song what many voiced. The song was undeniably forceful at its debut, true of many of her listeners and fans and a great sounding tune that many play in secret.

Speaking of artist underrated and overlooked, Adele is that sweet British chick. She's probably gonna kill me for saying such a thing about her. But I love Adele. I remember when I saw perform on a late night TV show, probably Craig Kilborn and I knew that eventually people would get her. "Chasing Pavement" was my introduction to her, but that wasn't what sold me on her. Back in the 80's there were 2 singers that stood out to me and were extremely underrated in their time: Allison Moyet and Helen Terry. I like Adele. I get Adele. She is fun, which is what is missing from the business.

What can I say when it comes to Lady GaGa? This is a woman who can get the eye of the world on her, play the music demanded and deliver what she promises to her distributors. As always, when another force as strong as the current surfaces war ensues amoung those following.
Lady GaGa is one of those artist that you cannot deny, even if you hate her, even if you lie to yourself about her. She is a musician's musician, said Clive Davis, Whitney Houston mentor and one to sign her to Arista Records. Many compare her effectiveness to that of Madonna, and everyone knows how much Madonna was hated at the budding of her career. When Lady GaGa sat across from Elton John at the Grammy's was what convinced me that she was no fly-by-night act. She can play. She can sing. She can dance. if I were her agent I would get up each day with a smile.

The Images One Song Can Bring To Mind

2011-03-18T05:01:00.010-05:00

I spend an incredibly amount of time on SoundCloud searching for new and different music. I found some stuff by this cool duo Space Life. Click here to sample more of their work. These guys are incredible and have given one of my favorite jams, "Rock With You" a new sound. A funny thing happened while listening to this remix (originally written by Rod Temperton) The images of Martin (Lawrence) Payne out on the dance floor at an awards party where Gina was nominated. Right after Martin had injured his back playing basketball and after a guru quack doctor fixes Martin's back pain, it took only a slap on the back, from Gina's boss that caused waves of excruciating back pains to start up again for old Marty. Everyone at the party thought Martin was a smooth dancer, with his leg extended and his toe pointed to the ground, but it was the Charlie Horses in leg and stabbing Muscle Spasms in his back that caused him to dance new moves that all of those out on the dance floor to copy him. Kind of an homage to the movie Airplane when the man pointing at the knife in the back but everyone thought he was dancing. Enjoy.

Free Is The Way To Promote Your Craft

2011-03-15T23:24:00.002-05:00

Sara's Smile

2011-03-15T00:40:00.009-05:00

There are literally so many musicians out there and so, so many songs bouncing around in the music sector that you would have to make it a career to keep abreast with it all. So, when I come across an artist whose songs knock my socks off and leave me wondering why haven't I been listening to them, I have to remind myself of the aforementioned.

Sara Bareilles is one of those artists. If you don't know her, you should. In this video a host of other famous musicians are featured in it, and some weird little guy. i can't tell if he is a midget or has some severe defect. But I think I have seen him before but I cannot remember why. I know it ahs to do something with Youtube. Keep discovering new music and artists. It's well worth your time. Enjoy.

Songs That Strike You To The Core Of Your Character

2011-03-09T02:49:00.011-06:00

The song "Character" by Van Hunt is one I used to listen to heavily when it was released. The USA Network begun airing a brand new show this month called Character Approved. Van Hunt's song came back to mind as I watched this program. The show is a documentary honoring 12 people from various backgrounds and charting the success in their lives and how that success has affected others. Now, I didn't write this to promote a cable show (too late, indirectly), I wrote this blog because back in the day this song struck me to my core. The experiences of an epiphanies resurfaced that the true content of a man and woman is key to doing almost anything and being the best you can be. And, how character really makes the person or the lack of it can a person and leave them void signs of life came flooding back. It was as if I was listening to this song for the first time. Further speaking of that show, a musician I admire allot is being honored: Janelle Monae. And below is a synopses and a question that is asked of each person honored.

WHY JANELLE MONÁE IS CHARACTER APPROVED
Singer, songwriter, dancer, futuristic funkstress—and now, Character Approved honoree—Janelle Monáe and her music transcend genre and definition. With a unique and soulful voice, the Kansas City native first burst onto the music scene in 2007 with her EP Metropolis. Her songs—and her distinctive style—have garnered a Grammy nomination. In 2010, Monáe released the brilliant and imaginative The ArchAndroid (Suites II & III), which was lauded as one of the best albums of the year by the industry and fans alike. It broke into the Billboard Top 20 and earned her two more Grammy nods. It won't be long before this character's music is on everyone's playlist. When finishing up this blog I thought it appropriate to post a song that best explains why I think Janelle Monae is more than character approved but that this song is the sole reason and first exposure to her and the reason why I started buying her music.

Kaskade Is King

2011-03-03T23:20:00.006-06:00

One of the Kings of House music turns almost every song he remixes to gold. As long as I can remember, my love for music often trades orbit with the remix of a song. I remember remixes by James D-Train, Curtis Blow and Whodini which dates my notice of the remix all the way back to the 70's. Back then, the remix was not as big as it is today, almost a trillion dollar industry within the business.

Since Nicole Scherzinger won the Popstar finals, she hasn't let me down. Quickly forming a tandem with The Pussycat Dolls and currently involved in a solo project, with a brand new release "Don't Hold Your Breath" (Kaskade Mix). I'm really excited about this new solo album because I think we will see the person that we should have seen right after her win at Popstar. This tune is a smoker. However, this particular cut from Kaskade's Youtube does not have funky intro that found on the internet. Check it on my blog's playlist in the righthand colomn (What I'm Currently Replaying)

Jada's Willow

2011-03-02T19:42:00.005-06:00

I had forgotten that Oprah Winfrey would have a special featuring young musical geniuses in the music business. When I realized it, it was already 4 o'clock. Turned on the TV and Willow was singing this song. I barely missed its debut. Well now iTunes and other venues have the finished version of Willow Smith's "21st Century Girl". Such fire and passion reflects from within herself coming from the woman in her foreground, her role model, her icon, her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Adele: "Rolling In The Deep"

2011-02-23T06:06:00.002-06:00

This song has Grammy Nomination written all over it... Experience the voice of a woman many don't know about and others underestimate.

Willow Smith: 10 Going On 21

2011-02-16T14:48:00.009-06:00

Ever so often, there comes a song that in my opinion epitomizes the diversity and beauty of the music business. However this song has a twist and it's not too far fetched from the formula used to promote a singer to become a future star. Willow Smith is that singer, daughter of movie mogul and rapper Will Smith and super sexy mom, heavy-metal singer and actress Jada Picket Smith. With already one hit song under her belt, "Whip My Hair", "21st Century Girl" is that song I think will last my months on Billboard's Hot 100, Dance, Pop and R&B charts. The twist? She is only 10 years old but check out Ryan Seacrest's interview with Willow when she was 9 years old. It is amazing how much children can learn if taught well by their parents.

The music business can make children sound older. The twist about this song is that it doesn't make her sound older, it makes her sound believable as a singer. Trust me, when this single hits it will take a few people by surprise. When hearing Willow Smith's music prowess you too will see what Jay-Z sees and why he wanted to work with her in the studio. But some may question about this hoopla surrounding young Willow Smith. Think back and you might be surprised of how many singers had their start at the same ages or at younger ages:
By age 13, Stevie Wonder had a major hit, "Fingertips (Pt. 2)", a 1963 single taken from a live recording of a Motor Town Revue performance, issued on the album Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius. The song, featuring Wonder on vocals, bongos, and harmonica, and a young Marvin Gaye on drums, was a #1 hit on the U.S. pop and R&B charts and launched him into the public consciousness.Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists. Charlotte Church was born Charlotte Maria Reed in Llandaff, a district of Cardiff, Wales. She was brought up as a Roman Catholic by her mother, Maria, who was separated from Church's biological father, Stephen Reed. Church was adopted by her mother's second husband, James Church in 1998. Her break came at 11 when she sang "Pie Jesu" over the telephone on the television show "This Morning" in 1997, followed by her performance on ITV's Big, Big Talent Show in 1997. This led to concerts at Cardiff Arms Park, the Royal Albert Hall and opening for Shirley Bassey in Antwerp. She also received a vocal scholarship to Howell's School Llandaff in Cardiff where she started in 1998 after leaving The Cathedral School, Llandaff. She balanced performing and school with help from tutors for when she was on the road and said in many interviews that she was "just like every other girl her age".
During his childhood, Justin Bieber was interested in hockey, soccer, and chess; he often kept his musical aspirations to himself. As he grew up, Bieber taught himself to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet. In early 2007, when he was twelve, Bieber sang Ne-Yo's "So Sick" for a local singing competition in Stratford and placed second. Mallette posted a video of the performance on YouTube for their family and friends to see. She continued to upload videos of Bieber singing covers of various R&B songs, and Bieber's popularity on the site grew.
Tisha Campbell’s first TV appearance was at the age of 6, in a 1974 episode of the PBS show The Big Blue Marble. As a child, she competed in, and won, many talent shows, going on to appear in such children’s programs as Kids Are People Too, Unicorn Tales, and Captain Kangaroo. At age 18, she traveled to London to star as Chiffon, one of The Supremes-like “Greek Chorus”, in the film version of Little Shop of Horrors along with future Martin co-star Tichina Arnold. After graduating from the Arts High School in Newark, she moved to Hollywood, where she became a star on the short-lived series, Rags to Riches.

Here is a snippett of a tune I can see as a Grammy contender. Enjoy!

Grammy and Its' History

2011-02-14T02:49:00.021-06:00

Grammy evening is my Superbowl, and I could hardly wait for this year's Grammy Awards. Before I get into a few of my favorite highlights on Sunday night, I want talk about music's history and popular opinion about it. The history of music and how it must have moved the first person writing it and transfering that emotion to the first person that heard it is one of the most interesting subject to people around the globe.

Some say that Adam's poem to his wife Eve was an ode and the first song written. Others quibble about that statement with their opinion that Solomon's Song Of Solomon was the first and the most beautifulest ever written. (his undying admiration for a girl whose heart was promised to a lowly shepherd boy. Solomon continued in pursuit, thinking his riches could give him the advantage. Solomon lost and true love won out) Some people say that David's arias were so exquisite that God himself allowed for them all to be recorded as the Psalms. Whatever the opinion about music, one thing that can be stated: music moves the entire world.

We live in an age where each of us can fill our entire days with only the songs we love. I see the Grammys as THE platform that sheds light on music we know and love, and shedding light on the songs we haven't heard. The Grammys is like a big brother defending a waif, like an attorney defending the little guy with no monetary means to have a fair trial. Grammys boasts not just to be a platform for Hip Hop, or for R&B, or for Rock, or for Pop...etc. And many people annually voice their disgust or exhilaration about some of the Grammy winners but allot of this I think is due to personal taste and not in lieu of the musical ability. I think that when people say "I'm not watching Grammys" is mostly because they know of other kinds of music that shouls have been heard, or they just want only the music they love nominated.

Grammys is the defender of music or should be. I also liken the Grammys to that of a city of refuge: a place where criminals, outlaws and other types of lawbreakers could run to for shelter when after paying their time for their crime to society but when released they still had to flee because some people did not think the time they served was long enough to met justice. My reason for saying this is that some music and musicians are treated this way in the music business and the heart of the reason why is how music moves people to feel. It can be so emotional. A few winners last made Grammys, in my opinion a true music-lover's dream at witnessing musicians awarded for the MUSIC ability. Why do I say this?

Sunday night, the Best New Artist favorite front-runner was Justin Bieber, but children and teens do not make up the entire world that listens to music. Heck, even I was re-thinking my prediction of that category and was almost about to change it until I decided to distant myself emotionally and go with the musician I thought exuded raw music talent.

Big Winners I chose: Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga and Esperanza Spalding Miranda Lambert and Eminem

The winner of Best New Artist was the person I chose, Esperanza Spalding. When her name was read, I cheered out loud. Now, many people do not know who she is, and most of those are young people. Esperanza Spalding is such a talent of music and just a popular good-looking female. She is like Alicia Keys but of the bass guitar. Still not convinced she should have won the award? Please just give her a fair listen.
A Grammy Award (originally called Gramophone Award) — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. The annual awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely viewed televised ceremony. It is the music equivalent to the Emmy Awards for television, the Tony Awards for stage, and the Academy Awards for film.

For the complete list of the nominees and winners click here. Don't look if you have a weak stomach. I think the Grammys are getting back to the core of honoring the music and the music ability of each musician, and not just because a musician is popular.

FEMME FATALE Stronger Than Yesterday

2011-02-07T23:02:00.036-06:00

If you've been living under a rock, this blog will make no sense. However, if you are an avid twitterer, you will notice a trend in support for Britney Spears under the pseudonym and name of her CD, 'FEMME FATALE'. * #HIAM = title of her new release, is also a strong contender on Twitter's trend list. Don't be surprised to see usurp tons of trends on it's to the top the closer we get to Britney's "Hold It Against Me" video release.

During the Superbowl this past Sunday, an event that has the potential of spawning so many trends and dominate Twitter's trend list, the phrase #FEMME FATALE flexed it's muscles by rounding off the top 10 trends and rose to the 9th position.

This might sound like a little thing but think about this: How many people on average tweet? And, How many people tweet during the Superbowl and events like it? Those numbers are huge. Literally thousands of tweets are tagged each second. No doubt almost all of Britney Spears' fan-base probably watched the Superbowl and multitask tweets, video chat and jamming her music as background filler. However, I noticed something unique about Britney Spears' fans: They are loyal. Her fans are so loyal in showing their support in the wake of her CD 'FEMME FATALE', despite turmoils that tried to chip away at her character and career as most of the world were potatoes on couches distracted with the Superbowl. How did Britney's fans keep her in the top 10 trend on Twitter? Simple. Most of her 6+ million fans sent tweets with the CD title included.

At the beginning of the Superbowl the trend FEMME FATALE disappeared from the top 10 trend list but around halftime the trend peaked at number 9. (at present, the FEMME FATALE trend sits at 4th position) Britney Spears announced her 7th studio album is titled 'Femme Fatale' due for release March 29th. There have been 12 video teasers, plus a 30 second video teaser, of the new release "Hold it Against Me". Below are those teasers of this new video. Look fast! These are some of the most exciting shots of Britney and an uber excellent way of letting her fans know that she alive and stronger than yesterday, as cliche as that may sound. I can hardly wait to see how the choreography is worked in during the Dub Step part of the tune, which will debut on MTV February 17th. If you think that my listening to Briney Spears is something new, think again. I have been listening to her from the start. Her first single "Baby One More Time". This should be epic!

::NOTE:: After this article was posted a few things have happen: #Femme Fatale and #HIAM are almost and if not have completely disappeared from twitter's top ten trends. Trending for Britney Spears to this date is BRITNEY FATALE at number 8.

Teaser #1

Teaser #2

Teaser #3

Teaser #4

Teaser #5

Teaser #6

Teaser #7

Teaser #8

Teaser #9

Teaser #10

Teaser #11

Teaser #12

Hold It Against Me (30 second video)

Hold It Against Me (audio)

What Kind Of Music Makes Film, Movies And TV Shows Commercial Quality?

2011-02-04T22:39:00.049-06:00

I had the rare privilege of listening to Lam Rim's latest CD 'Lost In Sane' released February 3, 2011. You can hear all of the tracks on Lam Rim's Music site.
This CD takes a closer look into how people digest love and pain. Lam Rim are: Fernando F. Krogmann: Drums, Joâo Mirat: Vocals, piano, guitars and programmings, Noël Rayo: Guitars, backing vocals. Additional musicians: José Vera: Bass guitar and Lucia Imán: Vocals on “I cry...”. All songs written by Joâo Mirat and special collaboration with lyrics by my buddy Orlando Robson. Orlando is an excellent writer and lyricist and I know this project will not be the last time we hear from him.

All tracks are a bit melancholy. My favorites tracks and songs I can hear soundtrack a few of my favorite television shows: Grey's Anatomy, The Good Wife and CSI Miami are "Why Don't You...?" "Broken Bones" and "I Cry".

The track I think would be perfect on a soundtrack for the Disney cartoon, Phineas and Ferb, is "I Feel Fine". If that thought is a stretch to imagine, then the comedy How I Met Your Mother would be a close contender for "I Feel Fine".

When it comes to the cinema screen, I can hear "I Cry" on soundtrack for the movie 'I Am Number 4'.

Speaking on terms of bands covering Lam Rim's work, I think the track "Why Don't You...?",
I really think the teen group Big Time Rush
could sing this track and reach a younger audience. I think this song is age appropriate simply because the lyrics alone will strum the hearts of millions of teenage girls following BTR.

I haven't begun to scratch the surface of the hundreds of thousand of video games and the myriad of commercials this CD could also soundtrack. The possibilities are endless.

I think this CD has it all, especially when it comes to commercializing, movies, film and television shows a sound and quality that only Lam Rim possesses.

What kind of music makes film, movies and commercials a higher standard of quality? Give Lam Rim's 'Lost In Sane' a listen and that question will be answered. Great work youguys!

**NOTE** Lam Rim's CD will hit digital stores in March, because it takes time for iTunes and other venues to process the applications of new albums, so it takes about a month. Until then, CD can be ordered from the band's web site.

2010's 10 Best Movie Soundtracks

2011-01-08T20:40:00.013-06:00

2010's 10 best movie soundtracks - PopWrap

There are many movies out today I have not seen. I'm known for going to see all of those wonderful blockbusters. I think it was the high I got, you know the excitement of endorphins that hits you when you're the first in line to see an epic. I was that type of person. Nowadays, I find myself not able to make it to theaters. Many movies are either rated R, violent and/or are horror. I now have a 12 year old. What she is not able to watch I do not watch. Life-changing. However, there have been a few movies with soundtracks that have helped me not miss that rush I got when I'd run off to see the latest movie.

Dance With Wolves
One of the soundtracks is by John Barry, he did Dances With Wolves. The entire soundtrack is a symphony that fits the movie to a T. The buffalo scene alone had that vast field of buffalo roaming and grazing. He used the french horn in his scores. The french horn is majestic and so perfect for that scene. The french horn has a more bold baritone sound not deep burping as the tuba and not nasally as a cornet. I thought that arrangement was appropriate.

The Transporter
Another soundtrack I thought was really cool was the one for Transporter. And this one was more hip hop, featuring Missy Elliot, Benzino, Nate Dog and Tweet. This was one soundtrack that I thought was pretty hip, and it fit the movie, although the movie was super graphic and had extreme violence. The soundtrack was really cool.

The Abyss
The Abyss was another good soundtrack. I don't remember allot of the soundtrack, except for that one scene: the approaching of a hurricane and when those navy guys marched through the submerged satellite a mile deep in the sea. The snare drums rhythmically beat as if a band marched along, signifying an entrance for a captain of the ship or the knight at a precipice to war.

Tron
And then the ultimate right now that I consider a great soundtrack is the one for the movie Tron soundtrack. This soundtrack, although a little similar to Dances With Wolves, this soundtrack is so close to that of Mahler No. 5. Score Daft Punk. And if you are familiar with Mahler, you know that it's really dramatic, it's really moving and adventurous sounding.

So these are just a few soundtracks I like. Click the above link to see the top 10 soundtracks of 2010. (a Popwrap website poll)

Enjoy.

A Different World For A Familiar Actress

2011-01-07T13:27:00.003-06:00

Remember Freddie from A Different World? She is a singer. Who knew? And, not a bad one at that. This is one of favorite songs by her. I think Lenny Kravitz played some type of role in it, after they broke up. They remained friends and did a few songs on her sophomore album, 'Street Faerie'. I thought she would have turned out to be one of those artists that painted or starred in a movie on Lifetime. Not a bad song. Looking forward to new song by this actress and very talented songwriter.

The Invisible King of Pop and R & B

2011-01-06T14:28:00.007-06:00

If I told you that there is one man that almost single-handedly raised R & B and Pop music to the status that we know it, your answer would probably be Michael Jackson. If I told you that this same man has worked with just about every famous singer in the business, your answer might be Quincy Jones. But if I told that this man was once in a band and had decided to leave this band to go write music for artists, your answer might be Jimmy Jam James & Terry Lewis. But I'm only talking about one man.

For years, Heatwave had this quiet gentleman, whom at first glance would not conjure up any threat to others music composers and writers of becoming the top sort-after songwriter of all time. This songwriter even gave the group Heatwave first dibs on a song that made Michael Jackson famous down to this day, "Rock Wit You".

Rod Temperton was a member of the group Heatwave and is this man that still to this day is favored to write music by artists. It's interesting how looks can be deceiving but how hard work is the key to being an invisible king. I look forward to hearing more songs by this master of music.

Below are just a partial list of his myriad of accomplishments.

Michael Jackson: "Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "Burn This Disco Out", "Baby Be Mine", "The Lady in My Life", "Thriller", "Someone in the Dark", "Hot Street".

Heatwave: "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", "The Groove Line", "Gangsters of the Groove", "Lettin' It Loose", "Keep Tomorrow for Me", "Party Suite"

James Ingram & Michael McDonald: "Yah Mo B There".

Tamia: "You Put a Move on My Heart".

Rufus: "Masterjam", "Live In Me".

The Brothers Johnson: "Stomp!" and "Treasure" "Light up the Night", "All About The Heaven".

Donna Summer: "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)", "Livin' In America" and "Love Is Just A Breath Away".

Quincy Jones: "The Dude", "Razzamatazz", "Somethin' Special", "Turn On The Action", "The Secret Garden" and "Back On The Block", "You Put a Move on My Heart" and "Q's Jook Joint".

Herbie Hancock: "Lite Me Up", "Getting To The Good Part", "Motor Mouth".

Aretha Franklin: "Livin' In The Streets".

Jeffrey Osborne: "We Belong To Love" (which Temperton also produced).

Bob James: "Sign Of The Times" and "The Steamin' Feelin'".

The Manhattan Transfer: "Mystery", "The Spice Of Life", from their Bodies and Souls album.

George Benson: Give Me the Night LP, including "Love x Love", "Turn Out the Lamplight" and the title track.

James Ingram: "One More Rhythm" from his It's Your Night LP (also includes "Yah Mo B There").

Anita Baker: "Mystery" from her Rapture album.

Patti Austin: Every Home Should Have One LP; "Do You Love Me?", "The Genie", "Baby, Come To Me" (with James Ingram).

Second Image: "Lights Out" on Strange Reflections

Michael McDonald: "Sweet Freedom".

Stephanie Mills: "Time of Your Life" and "Hold On to Midnight".

Karen Carpenter: "Lovelines" and "If We Try".

LL Cool J featuring Boyz II Men: "Hey Lover" (Temperton listed as co-writer for sampled section from Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life").

Mica Paris: "Love Keeps Coming Back", "Two in a Million", & "You Put A Move On My Heart".

Mýa: "Man in my Life".

Klymaxx: "Man-Size Love".

C+C Music Factory: "Share That Beat of Love".

Angie Stone: "Lovers' Ghetto" from her Stone Love album.

Mariah Carey: "I'm That Chick" (Temperton listed as co-writer for sampled section from Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall") from her E=MC² album.

Aria Of The Waif

2011-01-05T13:59:00.069-06:00

Confronting the premature death of one's own mother is a concept we normally don't hear about in music these day. If you're like me, you know what a son's love for his mother feels like, that there is no other comparison like that bond. As friends and family, we listen to others and loved ones bear their souls in a lieu of comforting them in time of mourning.

Lam Rim, a band out of Madrid, Spain does just that thing: it turns this most sacred moment into a song. Their latest, "Why Don't You", is a work of art. It gives us a glimpse into the world many find difficult sharing. The song delves into the mindset and heart wrenching of a son whose mother has died and how he digests that event. He pours out about how his heart is affected by that death. He wants to die.

I thought the band name weird until I learned of its meaning: "gradual path to enlightenment" (in Tibetan Buddhism) Joao Mirat is the brains and founding member of Lam Rim. This song reminds me of the story "Where The Red Fern Grows". It is a famous saga about an elderly couple and their two dogs. The theme of that saga mirroring Lam Rim's newest song. One of the dogs died tragically and the other dog never stopped mourning about it. For decades we hadn't paid close attention to the fact that animals mourn. As profound as that may sound, most women believed and many have raised their boys not to cry, thinking this was a way of being more of a man. This is a band with a mellow sound and lyrics of great spatial extension. Lam Rim reminds me of U2, Coldplay an Oklahoma band named The Hero Factor. Great vocals and promising music future.

When it comes to music, I take hunting for songs very seriously. So, I'm not just looking for something that only sounds good but I'm looking for something with depth, clarity and stamina. I hunt for music almost every day. I check certain sites. One being a Soundcloud site where a DJ friend of mine, Leo Barbera (known as Kumokraft ), uploads his latest projects. This guy is really good at his craft. Other sites on my route are Youtube, Beatport, and freelance writer and blogger and Grammy blogging official Arjan.

So one might think that in all of that hunting that I found Lam Rim's latest track on one of the aforementioned sites. However, I found this song through my friend's facebook page, (Orlando Robson).

"Why Don't You" is one of those songs I think is a universal statement, explaining the human condition when it comes to death. I really like this concept, specifically because many people have suffered such a tragedy and are in need of that shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to their plight. I hope more songs are written in this same line of thought, speaking up for billions of people mourning about that great love, that close bond, the death of a mother.

More information about Lam Rim can be found here . Their music will soon be at iTunes (February).

Mario Sang With The Best

2011-01-04T19:43:00.004-06:00

Mysteriously, Mario Vasquez dropped out of the American Idol competition. I wondered why, and then knowing how the business goes, thought that he got a contract. Well, months later, I was right. But something that escaped my notice about Mario. On Michael Jackson's 'Invincible' album, Mario sang background on a song with Michael and Carlos Santana, "Whatever Happens".

For years I never this and was satisfied with just knowing that this guy got a contract. But I also thought that he dropped out to quell a scandal. That happens too, you know. Then one day, I was watching a recap on American Idol, and Mario has come in to audition. He told Paula, Randy and Simon that he had done work on Michael Jackson's 'Invincible' CD. And I was like....WHOA!!! This guy is good. I look forward to some more stuff from him...Enjoy.

The Eastern Invasion

2011-01-03T13:22:00.006-06:00

It seems thought of great sounding music coming only from America is more than just fad and a slogan. But even before the turn of 2011, there are more than enough proof that great music has been made on earth and not just in the United States. Producers are discovering an age-old secret that there are more faithful followers outside the U.S. and this had been a mainstay for artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Milli Vanilli (believe it or not) and superstar Rain. It is time we Americans step outside our box and take a look around the world at the treasures in music many other artists have to offer. Great music only in America. How arrogant of us to think such a thought. Enjoy.

Teena Marie: a Soul Underrated

2010-12-30T19:36:00.008-06:00

Someone I will miss for a lifetime... Teena Marie

In her last few months alive, I would shoot Teena Marie a tweet on Twitter. I never thought she would respond and if there were a response, would it be her? One incident, I read tweets from Teena about her admiration for Aretha Franklin.

She wrote, "Nobody has more love for Aretha Franklin than I do."

I wasn't offended. I saw my opportunity to try chatting with a celeb.

I responded, "Wanna bet."

She compared Aretha to the Sistine Chapel and then it was I knew that I was really talking to the real Teena. Only she would use such grammar and metaphors when describing someone. It's her trademark. She is also a wordsmith. And my recollection of Teena Marie starts here because I don't think allot of people really understood what kind of woman she was. She was more than just a musician. She was a genius.

When I first heard of Teena Marie, I noticed that she wasn't quite welcomed completely into the black community that surrounded me, including Freshman and High Schools. What I noticed was that many black women quietly, some vocally, resented Teena. My thought was that even though she was not like most in white America, she was the face and the closest to that of what prejudice black women, slavery stricken black women among the black community could could see and were reminded an age-old ancestry pillage. Even though Teena's love for R&B music was a genuine dedication to R&B, it was her white face we saw, even though she was far from a prejudice white woman. Her voice is what made her stand out. In my opinion, she had too much bravado. My mom sings like that too. I remember, in the late 80's, a friend of mine (white guy) making comment about Teena Marie. I would never play my music around most of my friends because my selection of genre and artist were not always popular.

"She tries too hard."

I was instantly offended and tried to make excuses about my music choices. It all boils down to this fact: I liked and still like Teena Marie's music. But we all know that if someone does not get to play their music whenever they want to, they hate ANY other kind of music. It's an enraged shark. But that wasn't the only reason he made that statement. Teena did try hard, and I'm glad she never gave up.

When most black women finally began accepting Teena Marie as a true talent and not as a threat was at her release of 'Irons In The Fire' and the single "I Need Your Loving". Then Teena became staple in black culture. The advocate. The egalitarian for black music and the lessor people.

Here is an interesting essay about Teena Marie's affect on race, written by Christopher J. Tyson.

My reason for pontificating about black women accepting Teena Marie into the fold is because it had only been about 15 years since Martin was assassinated, and black people were still reeling from that, and the hope that came to fruition finally in Obama. Now, here came this white chick, down for the cause though, knows music (most of us were still learning how to read music), and she was classically trained. Teena was more than a triple threat, she was underrated by most black and white people. She proved that musicians were just that: musicians, not black peopleonly or white people only, just musicians.

Angela Bofill, Randy Crawford and Phyllis Hyman were a few icons that were the epitome of black women in R & B music that seem to deserve to be in the crossover lane. For some, black women bristled at Teena's arrival, and hated that Rick James, a black man, for chosing to back a white woman instead of first backing a black woman. Rick saw what many other people saw: talent and experience in music theory, the commodity of making money in the business.

These are a few issues I saw that surrounded Teena Marie. I can only imagine what the road was really like for Teena Marie to be finally accepted, you knwo, the behind the scene issues the publice never sees about celebs. She just reminded me of this white girl that was disowned by her white peers and had to fight to be understood and was taken in by the black community. But she had to first be accepted by black women, the nurturers of the flock, and that took some time.

Today, a few days after Teena's death, it seemed that it was easy to lay claim on her as 'our own', that she was an innovator and pioneer of R&B music. She was, and she was the hardest working woman in the business. Now millions, maybe even billions of people know this about her.

What I have seen in my days of loving Teena and watching her struggle to the tops of the charts was how afraid I was to admit that I liked her music. I mean, really, liked her music. Let's face it folks, without Teena Marie, the song "Fire and Ice" would have been missing a crucial element. Back then it was cool to like Rick James, but not Teena. It was cool to like Al Green, not Marvin Gaye. It was cool to like Isaac Hayes, not Barry White. It was cool to like Diana Ross and The Supremes, not Love Unlimited. It was cool to like The Osmonds, not The Jackson 5. It was cool to like Diana Ross as Dorothy and not Stephanie Mills.

I grew up on so many music genre that if attached to rings would amount to the size of a New York City phone book. Speaking of dedications, Afrobella published this piece about Lady T.

I love Teena Marie. My top 10 songs by her:

I Need Your Lovin'
Honey Call
Trick Bag
Sugar Shack
Lover Girl
Portuguese Love
A Rose By Any Other Name
Baby, I'm Your Fiend
The Mackin' Game
Out On A Limb

When I see pictures of Teena I am reminded of a fighter against odds of many strengths and armies. But I know one thing about her, she fought them all. I wonder if there are any recordings of Teena Marie laying around her house...

It's Been A While... Staind

2010-11-27T04:39:00.001-06:00

Whenever I hear this song by Staind, I often think of things I've done that have alienated myself from family and friends. This is what I enjoy so much about music is that you can hear chords in a song or lyrics that trigger within you thoughts and emotions true to our core.

June 2009 was the last time I blogged here. I was never gonna return, since my life took on a change for more hospital visits that I had expected. Since then, I have retired from AT&T, moved from Dallas to Irving, and have really buckled down to hone in on what exactly I want this blog say. I love music so much that at first I wanted it to be just a blog that covered music. But, I wasn't clear or sure about how I wanted to go about that. I mean, there are thousands of web sites about music and I read many but am often and quickly bored with them. So, I thought I could say it better when speaking on music and the artists producing it do. I came up short and now this site has but become a ghost town.

I began looking at sites that were practically about anything. However I was focusing on what they were doing to maintain regularity. I'm lazier when it comes to putting my dreams into action. Back then, I had allot on my mind. Today, i still carry those mental thoughts but I'm able to block them out. Who wants to die? Nobody I know of, and these were thoughts barraging around in my head. i still get depressed but there is not too much I can do except keep a routine of regular blogging of what I enjoy. The music that I want to cover is whatever I find interesting to listen to. When I say that, I really mean ANYTHING. So, for now on, I will be in and out here, blogging short and long blogs. If the blogs are long, please bare in mind that my rambling is purposeful with me in mind and not to bore you.

DK

2009-06-17T20:04:00.001-05:00

If it wasn't for the social network I would never have met some many musicians and celebs. Here is some work by a friend I met on Facebook. All I can say is, 'AWESOME!!!' Artwork, and music. (David)

When Old Songs Become New Again

2009-05-20T23:42:00.000-05:00

When I hear a song that really gets me crazy about it, you know, really crazy like on the edge of my seat crazy, I'm a loyal patron of it forever. I will listen to it at least a dozen times before I return to my senses. Well, I was in Nordstroms at Northpark Mall with some friends when I almost made what I will call the discovery of a life-time, songwise.

I say almost because I have an iPhone and I use the app Shazam, to find songs that I don't know or recognize. This was one those moments. I'm looking for my friends but in the background I hear this song. And I was like OMG! OMG! OMG!!!! I couldnt pull out my iPhone quick enough and punch the Shazam app to tag the song playing. So, I'm waiting for the app to tag the song and I get this message:

"Connection lost. Please try again later."

And then the song ends. Yah! I wanted to exclaim like Camden did in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', when Ferris talked him into joy-riding his dad's Porsche and afterwards trying to rewind the mileage back, and the vibration of the reving motor caused it to fall off of the bricks and backout of a window into a creek. Yah!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Later on, we went to eat and that song was still on my mind. You see, I go through a ritual in order to try retaining and remembering the most minute detail about a song, especially if what happen tonight happens. After getting that devestating message, I knew that I had my work cut out for me. But I was only discouraged not beat.

I went over to blip.fm to write something and for some reason I was thumbing through my WIFI settings. Oh yah. I was turning the WIFI settings off. I stopped by the Shazam app and saw those dead tags that had turned up nothing. But then I noticed that Shazam had found one of the songs it couldn't find back at Nordstroms. And I saw that last one, the song that I so wanted to know about. It just said untagged item. So I hit it and it started analyzing it's remains. And,...AND!....OMG! Was it true?

IT FOUND THE SONG!!!

Evidentally, all of the information was still stored into my phone. The song: "Erase and Rewind", by The Cardigans. I know the group but I could not distinguish that it was them singing. I bought the song from iTunes and have been playing, by now, 20 times in a row. Yes, during this writ. But I was surprised that it was a song from their Gran Turismo album, in 1998.

Wow! I love it either way but I am not imited by the age of the song, then throw itr away because I found a new song. No. It hit me also that many others are too pushing aside their differences about song age and bringing back the cool, tight and killer tunes, despite the song's age. There are some gems out there. Go out and keep making your discoveries. You will never be disappointed. Awesome! I will sleep rather soundly since this latest discovery.

(pressing play to hear "Erase and Rewind" again)...

If I were a singer....What would my cd cover look like?

2009-05-06T23:28:00.000-05:00

I have been spending tons of time playing around with Juxtaposer, an app on my iPhone. I know, I know it's not really a camera. I have a friend, Jeremy McKane. Awesome photographer. His beautiful wife poses for shots, from time to time. Now, HIS camera is really sweet. It's one of those real expensive ones. Photographers would die hearing that jargon, '...one of those real expensive ones.' Anyway, his work will be featured the end of this month. Check him out on Facebook. He's pretty awesome, and Facebook only has a tiny collection of his work.

I once had a camera...and lets just say that it was stolen and it now has a new home, the pawn shop. Jeremy's work has caused me to pick back up my camera (Ok, iPhone) and just practice shooting. Since I am always gabbing about music and how much I love (you really have no idea how much) I came up with a so-called album/cd cover shot that, if I were a singer, this is what it might look like...

When Albums Are Known For Both Their Music & Cover

2009-05-04T23:07:00.000-05:00

In October, 2005, the Canadian band, Nickelback, released their studio album, ‘All The Right Reasons’. Word buzzed around that even though their sound was unique it was becoming cookie-cut. I would say that about the track, “Rock Star”. But I wouldn’t say that about a few of my favorite tracks. The track “Animals” was...oh well, will make some, weak at heart and stomach, blush. “Savin’ Me” shows great promise of the band’s focus. (You will hear more of their focus from their new CD ‘Dark Horse’) But what I found rather beautifully complete about this album can be heard and seen.

What's beautiful when you hear this album come from two songs. One: from the song, “Far Away”, a song that I consider The Ultimate Love Song. It seems that everyone appreciates a love song, especially if that song can describe a person's love for someone. Two: from the tune, “If Everyone Cared”. This song sounds almost like a rock-gospel. Imagine that a song with a moral overtone and not too boring or sappy or overly religious. Hmm...

I sat down to write not just about the sound of Nickelback. I wanted to write specifically about this album's cover shot. I love photography. I think it interesting and quite unique, and that there is never an identical shot. This cover is one of my all-time favorites: It’s a simple photo shot. It's about a place we’ve all found ourselves, whether it was behind the wheel or as passengers, speeding down a highway and headed towards that party or vacation spot. One might say that this is just a photo of a vehicle on a highway. To me, this photo says a lot more. It is said that a picture can be worth a thousand words, and some of those words could be in the form of questions. Doesn't the cover invite you into the photo? Were you ready to hit the brakes when you first saw this shot? How fast do you think the driver is going? Can you can almost feel the horsepower of a fine engine as your back is pressed into plush seating? What song would you listen to while on that road and in that car? Can you imagine your vehicle of choice? (Mine would be the Maybach)

I must confess that most of the time, I do tend to choose music by the artists' album cover. To me, the more interesting and unique it is, the better. SOMEtime (shhh!) I will buy an album only for that reason and later try acquiring a taste for the artists' music. This method is not the way of finding better music but don’t count it out completely. There are some gems out there packaging great music. I have found my share of duds using this method, but every now-and-then, I come across that album cover that knocks my socks off and causes me to wonder if and when will I stumble across that next spectacular album cover?

Click here and keep up with so-called DJing @ blip.com

2009-05-01T20:10:00.000-05:00

A Few Crossover Comedians

2009-04-26T20:48:00.000-05:00

Carol Burnett
Jerry Lewis
Lucille Ball
Vicki Lawrence

What do these 4 stars have in common?

Carol Burnett was and is the woman to pattern yourself after when it comes to comedy. She never took herself too seriously, she always knew who she was, and she could sing-which you would find out after each of her shows.

Vicki Lawrence was a person I thought was mistreated by Carol. Boy was I wrong. And when I discovered that I had been singing one of songs, "The Night The Light Went Ot In Georgia", I was like....wha.....?

If you ever watched Jerry in any of comedy shows and movies, you knew that this was a super funny guy. But to boast his career further was to hear him sing, especially on his telethons.

I was and am forever a fan of Lucille Ball, for her slap-stick comedy. The timing she held was...well, it just left me laughing so hard. The bet she made with Ricky about him losing his temper before she would buy a hat. Awesome! Well, I never knew that Lucy sang, until I saw the movie Sorrowful Jones, and quite well. The reason I say this is she convinced me in her comedy shows that she could not sing.

[Solange] - ((((("T.O.N.Y.")))))

2009-04-25T15:22:00.000-05:00

I wrote about Solange, Beyonce's sister April 18th. But I didn't find this video until after I had finished that blog. If you like R&B and NEO Soul, you will love this song and you will see the talent in this woman which has many people talking and looking in her direction. Enjoy your weekend.

[Shakedown]-((((("At Night"))))) & [David Bowie]-((((("Let's Dance")))))

2009-04-25T14:54:00.000-05:00

Who is Music Fan Mic

2009-04-25T11:30:00.000-05:00

(About MFM)

Over to your right (About Me: MFM) is a snippet of a bio about who I am, in a few choice words due to limitation of space. If I had the space to jot exactly who I am this site would be boring. So, my trek with this blog is to describe who I am through the passion I've developed and have for music. This might get strange but I can always fall back on the fact that while getting my start, I was but a boy: a child. [halo]((((TING!))))

I grew up in the small town of Midland, Texas. 7 kids to a struggling mom and her sort of new husband. He married my mom when she already had 4 children. They had 3 others to make the seven. But where I got my musical roots was first from my mom, (mom #1) and then from a lady whom I love so dearly, I call mom #2.

(Mom #1)

Mom #1 would sometimes rush into the house with a 45 and put on the record player. (the record player became a Turntable after the TV and radio were no longer attached) I remember one song, "Mr. Big Stuff", by Jean Knight. "Ohhoyeah... Whoo!... Mr. Big Stuff... Who do you think you are?..." I remember not REALly liking that song because I could tell it wasn't my type. But it made my mom dance and when she was happy, she was dancing and this made me happy. She worked so hard and got very little pay: this happens to most maids and back in the day, we were po. My dad drank all of his money until the 3 were born. From days like those, which didn't come as often as I would have wanted them to, I began to surrender to music she liked. This opened me up considering music's affect on people. No, I wasn't thinking those exact words back then, I was just remember the experience of watching people around music. When I look back on those days this is what I was what I was witnessing. Call it the Pied Piper's Effect, except also on adults and not just children. We moved from a shack to finally a house, where we lived on after I went off to college. In that house was where I learned about artists such as, Dionne Warrick, Burt Bacharach, The Temptations, B. B. King, Green Onion, The 5th Dimension, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Blue Bland. You know Bobby really traumatized me. My mom loved him so much that I thought she would run away with him and leave us in that house with our sometimey-Dad. But where I think I got my real passion for music was from mom #2.

(Mom #2)

My reason for saying is that mom #2 gave me a choice as to what type of music I liked. My aunt Doris. When I say her name come the flood of days when she would tell me about how black people can do anything that anybody else can do, they just have to be educated. I had never heard this from #1. When she told me this I remember stopping and thinking about what she said. "...and you can do anything, too, Michael." I don't hate my mother. I just realize that it takes a village...

Aunt Doris would kept me while mom worked, their schedules where different so everything worked out. Heck, I was a kid, and all I wanted was my record player.
One day, me and my aunt Doris stood in front of her door, while she tried unlocking it, and holding me at bay. All I thought about was that aqua colored record player that sat on the floor. From there, I would walk in, ok, I would run in and sit in front of it, turn it on, SHE would put a record on it, and as long as I didn't touch it, I could watch it play all day long. Aunt Doris exposed me to BT Express, James Brown, Roberta Flack, Barry White, Areatha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Kool and the Gang, Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman, Randy Crawford, and The Emotions.

(Mom #1)
My mom got wind of my being exposed to different music from my Aunt Doris, and she began allowing me to choose music for myself, just as long as it wasn't nasty, as she would put it. So, I would buy The Emotions, (everything they put out), Michel Jackson, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Tom Tom Club, Lips Inc, Janis Joplin, Thompson Twins, General Public, Howard Jones, Toto, Chic, Rene' and Angela, Sugarhill Gang, and Cheryl Lynn. I remember my mom not liking two artists I would always listen to: The Emotions, and Cheryl Lynn. To this day I don't know why but my speculation would hone in on jealousy of better sounding music than hers. (just laying that on the table and I'm walking right out)

(Jr. High, High School & College)
School played an enormous part in my musical exposure to Rock, R&B, Jazz and Polka. The artists that I remember so well are Heart, Queen, ELO, Exile, Dolly Parton, Glen Campbell, Beethoven, Bach, Kansas, Led and Zeppelin. I was in the band for all 8 years of my junior and high school life. But what would always plague me is what the kids would say to me about my musical choice. Allot of them didn't like me because of it, and they were harsh critics. Some only hung around me after they had exposed me to their music choices and when I wanted to play my choices, they hit the road. But I had no idea that this life I lived was getting ready for something real cool, really sweet, and often controversial: standing up for my musical choices. That's a pretty brave thing to do when today people lose friendships for such pettiness.

And there were days when I would purposely go to Sound Warehouse and other music stores, to just help people find their favorite artists, or song. I remember this one incident where I ove-heard a couple talking and questioning about a song that I knew all too well. The song was "Am I Dreaming?", by Atlantic Starr. I just butted in and mentioned to them that it was Atlantic Starr, and that the reason why she, the wife. could not think of the group is because the group had two lead singers: Sharon Bryant being one first lead singer, followed by Barbara Weathers. I had to look up the 2nd lead singer, I knew it was Barbara but was uncertain about the last name, plus I never really liked the group after Sharon left the group. I don't know what they were thinking, maybe like psycho (((((Twilight Zone music))))). But they thank me and seem to think that I worked there. What would give them that idea?

AT&T launched a commercial that allowed viewers to make up a word best describing them. My conjucted word best describing me is:

MUSICFANMIC

(NOTE: I just had to tell this story because it will explain so such of the How's and Why's about this site and its direction)

Degrees of separation or just good ole' fashion record producing? Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis: The Kings of Music

2009-04-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

Everyone has heard of the game 6 Degrees of Separation punned at Kevin Bacon. I think the same can be said about producers and musicians, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But I think the degrees are a shrinking number.

(Swiffer)
Televison commercial about the cleaning product, Swiffer has a theme song by the band, Human League. Human League later recorded a song titled 'Human' and that song was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Quincy Jones)
Quincy Jones worked with Rod Temperton, a member of the band Heatwave. Temperton and Jones assisted Michael Jackson with the song "Rock Wit You", from the 'Thriller' album, which also had a recorded track "PYT" with his sister, Janet, singing background. Janet recorded an album 'Control', produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

(The Young & the Restless)
The soap, The Young and The Restless once had a summer promotional 'Heat' geared to recruiting summer viewers. The song used was "The Heat of Heat", by Patti Austin, from the album 'Getting Away With Murder', on Quincy Jones' Qwest label and the song was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Geffen Records)
In 2005, Geffen Records released Mary J. Blige's project, 'The Breakthrough', with 19 tracks, two tracks were produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Paula Abdul & Debbie Allen)
Choreographers, Paula Abdul and Debbie Allen worked with Janet Jackson, who is famous for dwarfing her brother's career when she released her album 'Control', produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Carly Simon)
Carly Simon's recording of "You're so Vain" was remixed by a host of artists, Missy Elliot among them. Janet Jackson co-produced this track, alongside Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Toto)
David Paich, member of the band Toto, had a background singer, named Cheryl Lynn (song "Georgie Porgy"). Cheryl Lynn recorded a song titled, "Got To Be Real". Cheryl use to jam and play drums with Jam & Lewis in their early days. She would later record the song "Encore," produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Wham)
Former Wham lead singer, George Michael left band to pursue solo career and recorded a song titled, "Monkey", remixed and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Bryan Adams)
Bryan Adams released his CD 'Bryan Adams Anthology' among the host of producers and playing keyboards are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

(Prince)
Sheena Easton sang a song "Morning Train", and later recorded a song by a writer with a last name of Nevermind. That person (Nevermind) was Prince. Prince had a movie titled, 'Purple Rain', about love and band rivalry. The band in rival with Prince was, in real life, known as the The Time. The Time was formed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Today, Jimmy Jam holds a seat of Chairman at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and is a philanthropist. The Kings still produce and play for the artists they produce.

I can go on and on because the list of artists that these guys have worked with is extensive. Click link below to view this list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_produced_by_Jimmy_Jam_%26_Terry_Lewis

Soundtracks Can Make A Career & A Movie

2009-04-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

From these 3 projects by Massive Attack sprang a few of the most eventful song contributions to the music & show business: Hugh Laurie's 'HOUSE' theme, Madonna's ode to the late singer, Marvin Gaye

Song colabs involving Massive Attack:

"I Want You" Marvin Gaye (re-make by Madonna)

"Tear Drop" theme to the television show 'HOUSE'

"Unfinished Symphony" the movie 'Sliver'

A God-given Name?

2009-04-19T01:04:00.000-05:00

Everyone should be called by their name. Solange calls it your "God Given Name". From personal experiences, I think nicnames are only for those closest to the person penned them. Solange Knowles made this a subject matter on the first track of her cd, 'Sol Angel & the Hadley St. Dreams'.

I always find myself rooting for the underdog: If there are two brothers and society treats one brother slightly better than the other one because the other brother is better-looking, my tendency leans towards the brother that society has dumped.

You say the name Beyonce and tons and tons of songs come to my mind, and Jay-Z. And she does have a great voice. However, her does not sound great with every song she has chosen. When you say the name Solange, I'm sorry, but the information that comes to my mind is a black girl that got pregnant at a very young age, married, and is quite fiesty or rude, some have said. And to further boot, I never thought Diva, Songwriter, and Contender when hearing her name. Beyonce, yes. But as I also mentioned, song choice is key. Solange Knowles epitomizes a Diva, Songwriter and a contender. Why? Because she knows what she is doing and does not have to be Beyonce to accomplish that. If you know of a person who is fat, never use the phrase: "Big (and their name)." It's rude. People are sensitive, and not just that, nicnames really express a type of laziness.

With Solange, so many people never, at first, called her by her name. It was always "Beyonce's sister", or "What's Beyonce's sister's name?" Phrases like these would make me angry too. So, I'm not saying Solange should remain angry. I think she is quick-tempered and that can kill a music career. People tend to black-ball artists and actors in this business. Many do not like to play The Game in the Business to get ahead. I believe Solange is one of few that will never start to play the Game but instead change how the game is played.

About 30 years, a certain Jackson sibling, started carving out for herself the reason why a name is important, especially if your brother is Michael Jackson. Back then, that name dwarfed almost all of the Jacksons, except 3: LaToya, Jermaine, and Janet. Solange's cd has alot to offer, if a person is looking for great music. Yes. This cd has great music on it. Many people thought that from the stereo-typical assumptions attached to Solange would crush her career as an artist. Instead, her music has made Solange a force to be reckoned with, just like her sister.

Here are the tracks I enjoyed:

Rates Songs
*** God Given Name
***** T.O.N.Y.
*** Would've Been The One
**** Sandcastle Disco
*** I Decided
*** 6 O'clock High
***** Ode To Marvin
***** Cosmic Journey
**** This Bird
***** I Decided (pt.2)

A link to a really song, in video, by James Morrison (featuring Nelly Furtado)

2009-04-18T16:57:00.001-05:00

"Broken Strings"

2009-04-18T16:40:00.000-05:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid3338928001?bctid=3393346001

"Broken Strings", by James Morrison. From his cd 'Songs For You, Truths For Me'

"A Different Me"-Keyshia Cole

2009-04-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

"What's going on?" The first 3 1/2 words uttered on the first track: "A Different Me" and is an appropriate opening to further define why Keyshia titled the cd 'A Different Me'. It fits a more personal, one-on-one touch, as if she is conversing with a beau. And anytime you want someone to really get to know you, it's gonna be one-on-one. Well, when each person pops this cd into a player or presses Play on their iPods and iPhones, mission accomplished.

The first cd I bought by the artist Keyshia Cole was her 'Just Like You' cd. I had heard that song that almost EVERYone was so upset about, "Love". Radio tends to over-play tunes. But it's still one of the cheapest ways to get your music out to the public, without having to sell your soul. When I heard the song, "Love", I thought, 'Wow, she really has guts to sing such a big song. I also remember thinking that this is not a bad singer. She can really sing. But I still didn't like it and humbly admitting, it was mostly due to the radio over-plays. But it was the way she sing the song that gave me more to think about her as an artist and her direction of music. She sing as if she didn't care if I nor anybody else hated her song. She was still gonna be the artist that she set out to be. Real and a challenge to herself. Yah, How did I get all of that from just one song. You might be quite surprised at what can be taken away from a song and how capitvating an artist can be through their prose, mixed with your own experiences in life.

Keyshia is someone I know very little about, and I think she has fallen through the cracks of society when comes to just giving her a fair listening. I did. And here are my favorite tracks found on her new cd 'A Different Me'.

Rates: Tracks

***** A different Me (should have been longer)

***** Make Me over (I can see a video a Missy E./P!nk-style)

***** Please Don't Stop (My most favorite track)

**** Erotic

***** No Other (My second favorite track)

**** Oh-Oh, Yeah-Yea

*** Playa Cardz Right

***** Brand New

*** Trust

***** Where This Love Could End Up

**** Beautiful Music

*** A Different Me "Outro"