Russian Roulette: Rihanna, Ginuwine, and Ziggy Marley

"RUSSIAN ROULETTE"   RIHANNA

My favorite song from 2009, Rihanna's powerful turning point of her career.    After the Chris Brown mess, Rihanna was at a crossroads.   Her career, her dating relationship, and image changed after this song and CD was released.   The lyrics say it all, "I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, I know I must pass this test."  Intense song and video, Rihanna is the new Madonna, reinventing her image with every new single.   From R&B to reggae to hip hop to techno dance tracks & rock-influenced jams, Rihanna meshes it all yet always stays true to her Island roots, Rihanna is at the top of her game right now.

"IN THOSE JEANS (Remix)"   GINUWINE

Ginuwine first hit the charts with the insane funky beat of  "Pony" and hit #1 with his ballad "Differences" released during the 9/11 tragedy after his father committed suicide.   "In Those Jeans (explicit version)" is classic sexual R&B, Ginuwine's  complimenting the ladies for driving us guys wild!  The remix version has a hot dance breakdown at 3:22 between Ginuwine and his partner.      

     
"BEACH IN HAWAII"   ZIGGY MARLEY

Ziggy is the oldest son of Bob and Rita Marley.   He was the first to have a big hit after his father's death when "Tomorrow People" became a reggae favorite.   "Beach In Hawaii" is a simple longing love song wishing he could share the beautiful Hawaiian Islands with his distant loved one.   

New Halestorm and Springsteen Videos: Bruce Springsteen, Halestorm, and Ricky Martin Ft Wisin Y Yandel

"WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN"  BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

He opened the 2012 Grammy Awards with a live performance of this song.   Here's the new video!   Mighty Max Weinberg on the drums in prominent on this track.   "Where's the Promise from Sea to Shining Sea" - great message, it starts at home, a true spirit of giving, and an open heart to those in need.   Springsteen's USA theme has been prominent in his music since Promised Land, Born In The USA, American Skin, etc. - looking forward to the new CD.

"LOVE BITES (and SO DO I)"  HALESTORM

I love Lizzy Hale!   2nd song from her band's EP that I've added to this blog.    Here's the rocker, with a rap in the middle check out 1:47, then a heavier transition.  Great video shot primarily in black & white highlighting Lizzy and the drummer.    Glee covered "Here's To Us" but cleaned it up for Fox TV :)

"FRIO"   RICKY MARTIN with Wisin Y Yandel

Don't hate on Ricky Martin!   He's got a great voice and here he mixes it with a little Cuban Reggaeton, hot track!    Paula Chaves, a model from Argentina, is the beautiful woman in the video.    These 3 songs today are on heavy repeat on my IPOD!

 

Before Coco, Spartacus, and VH1: Godsmack, Ice-T & Body Count, and RATT

"CRYIN' LIKE A BITCH"   GODSMACK

I saw Godsmack in concert when they opened for Metallica.   They definitely had the Zeppelin mixed with Alice In Chains sound complete with heavy riffs, layered drum solos, and a commanding vocalist but I wasn't blown away by them that night.    "Cry Like A Bitch" has a great UFC themed video to go with that awesome manly title.    This song comes from their 2010 CD, Saints & Sinners.

"THE WINNER LOSES" (rare)  ICE-T and BODY COUNT

This song lets lead guitarist, Eddie Martinez, shine but this is basically one of the few BALLADS by Body Count.    The song's theme to a user:  drugs will get you one way or another, you can't hide from it.   Inspired by Fugazi, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Ice-T loved the hardcore L.A. punk scene and used this side project to get out some inner demons.   "Cop Killer" got the press but many intense classics like "There Goes The Neighborhood" and their title track made a mark on music history.   This is a rare video, I was surprised to find it online!

"BACK FOR MORE"     RATT

Steven Pearcy and Ratt were one of the first of the hair bands to explode onto MTV.   What makes Back For More so memorable is the first appearance of Tawny Kitaen.   This was before she was dating and married to Whitesnake's David Coverdale.   Tawny is so hot that she made guys reconsider their thoughts on redheads.    It's a classic MTV favorite complete with secret cameo at the end of the video!

    

Michael Jackson Backs Up Jermaine? : Lenny Kravitz, Framing Hanley, and Michael Jackson With Jermaine Jackson

"MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD"   LENNY KRAVITZ

The love affair and marriage of Lenny to Lisa Bonet was intense.  His early CD's were filled with passion, powerful, raw lyrics of desire and love.   This song from Mama Said is haunting, intense, and easily one of my Top 5 Lenny songs of all-time.   Love that their daughter Zoe is making things happen for herself, big star potential for sure!

"YOU STUPID GIRL"   FRAMING HANLEY

YES!  Love this video and song.  Like most people I got introduced to Framing Hanley with their cover of Lil Wayne's Lollilop.   Classic dilemma:  can't live with them, can't live without them!   "You're like an angel with broken wings", "You've got me right where you want me", "You'll be the death of me", great lyrics, crank this one up!

"TELL ME I'M NOT DREAMING" JERMAINE JACKSON Ft. M.J.

Released on Jermaine's self-titled 80's CD, this song got its biggest exposure because of Michael's backing vocals.    Released during Thriller-mania, everything Michael touched then went Gold.   This has that Jackson family harmony complimented by a great 80's retro beat!

Rolling Stones Sing County?: The Rolling Stones, Simply Red, and Salt-N-Pepa

"DO YOU REALLY WANT ME"   SALT N PEPA 

Cheryl and Sandy (Salt N Pepa) and their friend, DJ Spinderella, became the first female rap group to go gold, then platinum, then do it again!   The first female rap Grammy Winners, on and on goes their legacy.   Summer jams like "Push It", "Shoop", "Shake Your Thing" can still instantly fill a dancefloor.   "Do You Want Me" is another of those 90's hip hop club bangers!  I wore out those S&P CD's back then.  

"SUNRISE"    SIMPLY RED

Shoot the video in Rio de Janeiro, perfectly mix in a sample of the one of the definitive 80's pop songs, and add in the underrated blue-eyed soulful voice of Mick Hucknall of Simply Red and you get an incredible pop video experience.  This was the perfect song to stump people back in the day, ask them who sings this song?  The Hall And Oates sample gives way to a familiar but distant voice.    The lyrics are hopeful, romantic, and it's a beautiful song to share with someone special.

"FAR AWAY EYES"   ROLLING STONES

My favorite Stones Era, the Mid 70's (Sticky Fingers, It's Only R&R, Black & Blue, Some Girls), they made CLASSIC rock but experimented with everything from disco to reggae to ballads to punk, even an old-fashioned country song like "Far Away Eyes".   This one comes from "Some Girls" and you've never seen or heard the band like this before, ENJOY!   Mick's crazy expressions and his laugh, Charlie's playful disgust at this song, hysterical!

The Original O.G.: Ice-T, Raydio, and Say Hi

"O.G. Original Gangsta"   ICE-T

This week saw the return of Ice-T's reality TV show with Coco, Spartacus, and the 2012 version of Ice-T.    Tracy Murrow (aka Ice-T) was one of my favorite rappers in the 90's, explicit but honest street rhymes with intelligent lyrics.   He was one of the first to mix in heavy metal guitar riffs and his side hardcore metal band, Body Count, is legendary for their attitude and aggression. Ice-T has since moved away from rapping.   He's an author, a cop on Law & Order, a popular public speaker, and now he's a reality TV star, amazing transition for the Original Gangsta!   This video is edited but it's such a great description of Ice's mindset of the time.

"FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO GROOVE"  and "YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT"  RAY PARKER JR and RAYDIO

A decade before Ghostbusters, Ray Parker Jr. was one of the most sought after session guitar players.   Featured on albums by Stevie Wonder, Barry White, writing songs for Chaka Khan, and penning Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", Ray never had confidence in his voice.   So his first couple of albums were with a group called Raydio to help with the vocals.    Here are two classics, one is just a funk jam, Ray on guitar and Soul Train dancers loving it!  I dare you not to move on this one.   "You Can't Change That" dips a little Motown flavor on one of Ray's first crossover hits.   If you put spooky beats and slow down the tempo on "You Can't Change That" it would be the creepiest stalker song! :)

"NOVEMBER WAS WHITE, DECEMBER WAS GRAY"    SAY HI

Really cool song I heard for the first time this week!   A Seattle band who's been around since 2002, their sound here is definitely Indie.   Love how it kind of puts you into a trance then blasts you with a great keyboard and drum track. The build in intensity without going over the top is magical.    Definitely a group I'm going to discover more music by them! 

Remember Martha Davis? Dashboard Confessional, The Motels, Pepper, and Joe Walsh

"STOLEN"  DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
One of the best of the Emo bands, Chris Carrabba's ability to set a mood sets D.C. apart from many of the pop-punk bands.  Hailing from Boca Raton, FL, "Stolen" was released in 2006 on the Dusk & Summer CD.    There is something so mesmerizing is Chris' soft chant of "You have stolen my heart".   Such a romantic song, this would be a perfect Valentine's Day dedication song!

"TOTAL CONTROL"  THE MOTELS

Martha Davis of the Motels was one of the first sex symbols of the MTV era.  Boasting a powerful vocal register, long dark hair and smoky eyes, Martha had the audience in "total control".    On the compilation CD, We Are The World, Tina Turner covered this song.   The Motels include a memorable saxophone solo on this lost classic.  One of my favorite song titles ever, The Motels - "Take The L Out of Lover (and It's OVER!)"

"WAKE UP"    PEPPER
This was on my own Wake Up Playlist all year in 2010.   Pepper is the pride of Hawaii and they bring rocking guitars and drums to their reggae/ska style.  This song was on an EP along with "Drunk Girl", great song to kickstart your day and give you a little boost!   BAD ASS VIDEO!!  Don't miss it!

"LIFE'S BEEN GOOD"  JOE WALSH

Growing up in Wisconsin, we'd make an annual camping trip to Shawano, WI.   Camping and fishing isn't my personal favorite but our campgrounds were next to a go-cart track.   Didn't matter when we came to this place, they had 5 songs on repeat.   "Life's Been Good", "Hot Blooded", "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "2 out of 3 Ain't Bad" and "More Than A Feeling".    Love Joe's line:  "my Maserati does 185, I lost my license now I don't drive!"

  

Jody Watley: Spiritual Lost Gem: Nelly with Keri Hilson, Alexander O'Neal

"IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU"   JODY WATLEY

One of the trio in Shalamar and Soul Train dancer, Jody Watley, smashed onto the charts with 6 big hits from her debut CD.   Jody has funky dance tracks like "hasta la vista baby, I'm looking for a new love", killer hip hop duets like "Friends" with Whodini, and touching love songs.   Her best CD in my opinion was "Affairs Of The Heart", it captured the true essence of Jody with a wide variety of styles.   Here is a "spiritual" song from the disc that sadly failed to chart.

"LIV TONIGHT"    NELLY with KERI HILSON

Nelly's 5.0 CD released last year featured guest stars on almost every track including T.I., Diddy, T-Pain, Chris Brown, and this club banger with Keri Hilson.    This song will get the fists pumping Jersey Shore-style with its infectious party beat accompanied by the energetic hook, "I just want to live tonight, live my life tonight"

"IF YOU WERE HERE TONIGHT"   ALEXANDER O'NEAL

I had the pleasure of meeting Alex in Minneapolis outside of the studio.    He is one of the greatest R&B voices of the 80's.  Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis struck gold with their production with Alex.    His legendary duets with Cherrelle include "Saturday Love", "Never Knew Love Like This".    Sadly, Alex battled with drug addiction since the 90's and his voice has never been a shame, it's our loss, Alexander O'Neal what might have been!

Kardashian's Step-brother Hot New Video: New Jack White, Acoustic Katy Perry, & Brandon And Leah

"THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY"  (acoustic)    KATY PERRY

Katy Perry is on top of the music world, SIX consecutive #1  singles from her latest CD "Teenage Dream".  Nominated for Grammy Album of the Year, Katy Hudson does an acoustic take on her latest smash.

"LIFE HAPPENS" BRANDON and LEAH

If you're a fan of either Jack Johnson or Colbie Caillat, you'll love this sweet, cheeky, pop ditty by Brandon Jenner (yes, Bruce's son) and Leah Felder (daughter of the Eagles guitarist).    Cute couple, laid-back summer jam, hit potential!
                       CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO


"LOVE INTERRUPTION"    JACK WHITE

April 23, 2012, the release date for the first solo CD by Jack White.    The CD is to be titled Blunderbuss (another word for "idiot).   This new track reminds me of "We're Going To Be Friends" with Jack's band, the White Stripes.

Van Halen Thesis, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

Van Halen:  my Guitar Hero Band!

1974-1985   lead: David Lee Roth  

This is "classic VH" with Roth's powerful vocals and flamboyant style, Eddie's classic "finger-tapping style" and some of the greatest guitar riffs of all-time.   Love Van Halen's down and dirty L.A. strip signature sound of this era.    Michael Anthony and Alex VH arguably the greatest rhythm section of the modern rock era.

"Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" 
My favorite Van Halen song of all-time.   Hard rocking, dramatic vocals, and a killer guitar solo!  ".....I've been to the edge, stood and looked down, you know I lost a friends there baby, got no time to look around!"

"Panama"   

Capturing the lighter side of the band, here's their big hit from David's last CD with the band.   It's Van Halen's finest ode to a car.  Love that line:  "reach down between my legs, ease the seat back" 

1985-1996    Sammy Hagar Years

These were Van Halen's most successful years in terms of chart success, MTV exposure,  Grammy Awards, and the music went a little more commercial but still maintained that classic Van Halen sound.   Incidentally, Patty Smyth of Scandal was first asked to be the new lead singer!

"DREAMS"   
From 5150, an inspirational song that Sammy has said is his favorite song from the Van Halen years.   Here's their video with the Blue Angels Air Team

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT LOVE CAN DO"    

Van Halen with Sammy took on "message" songs during this time.    This song about universal love tied in a connection to Kurt Cobain's suicide.

1996-1999  Gary Cherone's one CD experiment

2003-2010 back and forth Roth/Hagar, no new full CD's


2012  Back to David Lee Roth

Oh my excitement for a NEW Van Halen CD this year.   But times have changed, David Lee Roth is a lounge singer with a weak voice at this point.    I can't remember being more disappointed by a new CD that I was anticipating so greatly.    Lead single "Tattoo" is cliche, weak, and a poor choice for their comeback.    "Big River" has Eddie's best guitar work on the CD, "She's The Woman" is a vault gem reworked for the new CD, but overall it is a weak effort from this legendary band.  


So who's the best lead singer?   I've always loved the original line-up, one of my favorite bands of all-time.  Sammy kept the band together and provided many classics.  I LOVE so many solo songs by Hagar but I think he saved his best for his solo CD's.  Although Van Halen's new CD is hurting my opinion of David Lee Roth.   I'm still choosing Roth over Hagar.


Let's finish with another classic,
Van Halen turning up the rock on a dance song.   
"DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY"

Chester Bennington with G-Unit?: The Police, Rock Therapy , and Young Buck Featuring Chester Bennington

"CAN'T STAND LOSING YOU"  THE POLICE

Check out the giant glasses on Sting in this "lost" alternative video!    From the debut CD, Outlandos d'Amour, this preceded "Roxanne" as the first Police hit song.  You might think the BBC would have banned this song for the lyrics, but it was their controversial artwork that got it banned.   Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland, one of the top trios in rock history!

"REACHING OUT"  ROCK THERAPY 

Rock Therapy was a super group comprised of Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), Brian May (Queen), and Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones).   They only released one VERY rare CD but this song was sampled heavily by Eminem in "Beautiful".    The revamped Queen added this song to their setlist in the late 2000's. 

"SLOW YA ROLL"  YOUNG BUCK FT. CHESTER BENNINGTON

Linkin Park doesn't hide their love of rap music.    Usually it's Mike Shinoda but this time Chester jumps in as a guest vocalist for Young Buck.   Originally a member of G-Unit with 50 Cent, Young Buck was dismissed for disloyalty with the crew.   He's most famous for his "beefs" with Lil Wayne, The Game, DJ Khaled,......  Warning:  This song/video has "explicit" lyrics

Pay It Forward: Martina McBride, Robbie Williams, and John Lee Hooker

"LOVE'S THE ONLY HOUSE"   MARTINA McBRIDE

Martina packs arguably the biggest female voice in country music with one of her earliest, yet most powerful videos.   Small things in life can mean the biggest things.  A kind word, letting a frustrated driver into traffic, lending an ear when someone desperately needs a ear, even a sweet note in your packed lunch can make someone's day.  Great scene, Martina as a cashier paying for a pregnant woman's groceries when she has no money.   "Pay It Forward" - simple principal, amazing results.

"BETTER MAN"   ROBBIE WILLIAMS

Robbie is one of the biggest selling acts in music history and he's practically an unknown to many in the States.  Originally from the boy band, Take That, Robbie was named the UK's "Greatest Artist of the 90's".   "Angels" set records for chart longevity.   His videos for "Come Undone" and "Rock DJ" are creative, disturbing, and legendary.   "Better Man" is my favorite song by Robbie, simple, sincere, and lyrics that should affect any true man.

"BOOM BOOM"   JOHN LEE HOOKER
The embodiment of the Delta Blues, John Lee Hooker was a sharecropper, a blues pioneer, and as authentic as any artist of any genre.    A true "gangsta", this video captures his talking-blues style and his "don't mess with me" attitude.   I dare you not to tap your feet on this song!   To underestimate his legacy on Southern blues music and electric guitar would be criminal.   He had a notable scene in the Blues Brothers movie which to many was their first memory of this legend.

 

  

Sia Before Titanium: Jonny Lang, Sia, Stories, and Frente!

"STILL RAININ'"    JONNY LANG

Saw Sting in the late 90's and his opening act was teenage blues guitarist, Jonny Lang.  Couldn't wait to see Sting, left the concert wanting to buy EVERYTHING Jonny Lang ever recorded.   So much soul, passion, a guitar maestro, now compare the 16 yr old Lang to Justin Bieber, wow, music has deteriorated.  By the way, Sting performed in leather pants.   I understand he's a rock star but this is "save the world" Sting, ex-punk rocker, it was in a word, disturbing.  

"BREATHE ME"     SIA

A breathtaking song from a relative unknown in the States.  Sia is Australian and has been very popular in her native land.  "Breathe Me" was released in the late 90's and did not crack the US Charts yet the song has legs and was used on HBO's Six Feet Under finale and Oprah's last season.   

"BROTHER LOUIE"   STORIES

One of my first 45's, "Brother Louie" is 70's Gold!  One of the best inter-racial love songs of all-time, even with it's cheesy lyrics of "brown sugar" :) Originally written by Hot Chocolate, a group called the Stories took it to #1 in the U.S.  

"BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE"  FRENTE!

A great cover takes the original in a direction.   Hearing Angie Hart's soft, hopeful version of New Order's biggest song is like hearing it for the first time.  Frente! also do a great cover of the Flintstones, "Open Up Your Heart and Let The Sun Shine In"!

In The Studio with Stevie Nicks: Stevie Nicks, INXS, and GOOD CHARLOTTE

"AFTER THE GLITTER FADES"    STEVIE NICKS

From Stevie's debut LP, Bella Donna, studio footage of the entrancing queen of rock.   Stephanie Nicks was added to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in '98 with Fleetwood Mac and her solo work has added even more to her legacy.  "After The Glitter Fades" has a country-twinge and features Roy Bittan from Springsteen's band and Duck Dunn of Booker T & The MG's.

"ORIGINAL SIN"    INXS

Another amazing talent lost too early, Michael Hutchence of INXS, was one of a kind.  Fronting Australia's INXS, Michael made New Wave sexual, macho, and his songwriting was impeccable.  "Original Sin" features Daryl Hall on backing vocals and includes the classic line "Dream on white boy, dream on black girl".   A cover by Rob Thomas with INXS was released in 2011.

"CHANGE"    GOOD CHARLOTTE

Criticized for being "fake", too "Tiger Beat magazine", and more emo than punk, Good Charlotte hits a home run with this acoustic ballad. Joel and Benji Madden's last song on 2000's self titled CD has a great line:  "The first time that I met you standing in a crowded room.  But I only see you, and I hope my words will get through, 'cause now I can't forget you." 

 

Princess of Crunk: Ciara, New Editon, new DMX

"PROMISE"    CIARA

Ciara exploded onto the music scene in 2004 with the mega-hits  "Goodies" and "1-2 Step".   She was originally branded the Princess of Crunk but her style has become more contemporary R&B now.   This incredibly beautiful video captures Ciara's innovative dance moves, her breathy baby-making vocals, and Ciara looks as sexy as ever.   I saw Ciara during her first tour in St Pete at the Last Damn Show, you could sense right away she would be incredible.

"I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU"  NEW EDITION

From their reunion CD in 1996, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, BBD, and Johnny Gill got back together for a masterful CD.   "Still In Love" was the first single and it features the classic NE harmonies backing Ralph's amazing falsetto voice.   Sadly the tour to support this CD resulted in rivalries and the band quit again after the tour.  Johnny, Ronnie, and Bobby have toured together recently as have Bell Biv Devoe, so who knows if $$$ and nostalgia brings them together again soon.

"LAST HOPE"     DMX

Earl Simmons, aka DMX, promised a new CD for 2012 and released a video in late 2011 to whet our appetite.  DMX has had his share of incarcerations, police run-ins, and drama.   Yet throughout it all, DMX always included prayers, positive message songs on each of his CD's.   He has changed a lot through the years and is currently a pastor.   I can only imagine how those church services go!   "Last Hope" describes his struggles and transformation.