Saturday Night Dance Party, Michael Jackson Demo: David Guetta with Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Cheryl Cole, Heatwave

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA QUESTION:   Cheryl Cole was almost a judge on the US version of the X-Factor, who replaced her?  Yesterday: "It's All Over Now"

"YOU ARE MY WORLD"  R. KELLY   

Robert wrote this song for Michael Jackson and here's the unbelievable demo version updated and released on R. Kelly's new CD, "Write Me Back".  As you may recall, R. Kelly wrote Michael's #1 hit, "You Are Not Alone", the video starred his wife, Lisa Marie Presley.  One unique distinction with "You Are My World" is that Robert actually sounds like he's emulating Jackson's voice.   Rumor has it that he wanted to give MJ a feel for the song in Michael's key.   It sounds like this could have fit on Dangerous or Invincible.   I could totally see MJ adding some signature ad-libs and having a big hit with this jam!  This version is Updated, not the one heard on the internet last year.

"I CAN ONLY IMAGINE"    DAVID GUETTA with Lil Wayne & Chris Brown

Watching this video you wonder if this is a preview of a new summer blockbuster Sci-Fi movie.  David Guetta's record company broke the bank with this ultra-expensive music video reminiscent of Tron and Promethus.  So many special effects, Holograms, 3-D images, a skateboard ramp, and six different sets all fit into a four minute dance track.  The trio of David, Chris, and Wayne also performed this song at the 54th Grammy Awards.    "Nothing But The Beat", Guetta's platinum CD has now reached SIX singles hitting the charts!

"BOOGIE NIGHTS"   HEATWAVE

Heatwave is no One Hit Wonder, in fact, they have 2 massively huge singles and they've scored a number of smaller hits.   You have the wedding song, the ultimate love theme, "Always And Forever", later covered by Luther Vandross.    Then you have their funk/disco party jam, "Boogie Nights".   From the oriental chimes and beats in the introduction leading to the slow chant of "boogie nights, ooh, ooh, ooh", till the beat drops, "Boogie Nights" is a timeless dance party jam. Heatwave also scored big with "The Groove Line", a prerequisite at many house parties.

"SEXY DEN A MUTHA"  CHERYL

Cheryl Cole was a member of the best girl group (Girls Aloud) out of England since the Spice Girls.   Cheryl was voted the World's Sexiest Woman in 2010 and this video shares some reasons why.  Since leaving Girls Aloud and going solo, she's released 3 CDs, and dropped her last name.   Like Madonna and Rihanna, she's just CHERYL now.  Unlike Madonna and Rihanna, I'm not sure her talent would last long on Simon Cowell's TV show, The X-Factor, a show she's been a judge for in England.   This dance track is the highlight of Cheryl's new CD, which isn't saying much :)  The lyrics are too "urban" for Cheryl but that club beat is slamming, reminiscent of Rihanna's "We Found Love".

Your Mama's So Poor, She Went To McDonalds and Put A Shake On Lawaway: David Guetta with Sia, Lil Wayne (Heart Sample), Biz Markie, James Ingram

"TITANIUM"    DAVID GUETTA with SIA

"I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet.  You shoot me down, but I get up.  I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose" - Titanium is another club smash by producer David Guetta.  Teaming up with Sia was an unexpected match.   Sia is primarily a jazzy, introspective singer-songwriter but her vocals on this dance track work flawlessly with David's party beats.   The original version of this song had Mary J. Blige and even Katy Perry was offered the track but she turned it down.  The song has topped the charts in multiple countries and the supernatural themed video is definitely worth checking out.

"JUST A FRIEND"   BIZ MARKIE

I dare you not to sing the hook!  "Oh baby, YOU got what I need, but you say he's just a friend"  This is old school rap at its finest, a simple rhyme, funny storytelling, and a chorus that gets the entire crowd chanting with Biz!  This song and his other big hit, "The Vapors" earned him the nickname, the "Clown Prince Of Rap".    Some other fun facts about Biz:   Won the first season of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, appeared as an alien in Men In Black II, and the only guy who has rapped on a Rolling Stones song, "Anybody Seen My Baby".

"SHE LOVES ME"   JAMES INGRAM

Remember the first time you heard James Ingram's voice?   Incredible, a deep baritone, strong yet sensitive, James Ingram was discovered by Quincy Jones.  "100 Ways" and "Just Once" are two of the prettiest love songs of all time.  "She Loves Me" wasn't a big hit but it's very similar to his most famous hits.   What I love about the song is how the slow, vulnerable, romantic first half builds up until the last minute where James gets funky, soulful, no holds barred!    I wish James took more risks in the studio, could've had a longer career mixing up his predictable style.

"SOMETHING YOU FORGOT"   LIL' WAYNE

Say what you want about Weezy, he's one of the hardest working guys in music today.   Not only does he release his own CD's, he's a guest rapper on countless songs, he's releasing new mixtapes every few months, and one of biggest influences on today's music scene.   One of these mixtapes including "Something You Forgot" - a heartbreaking song sampling Ann Wilson and Heart's 80's classic, "What About Love".    One of my favorite Lil Wayne facts, his given name is Dwayne Jr. but he's goes by Wayne, why?  His dad wasn't involved in his life and he didn't want the reminder.  When asked if his dad knows why he changed his name, Lil Wayne said with a smile, "He does now!".

  

New Lil Wayne Video: Bruno Mars, Daughtry , and Evanescence

"MIRRORS"   LIL WAYNE Ft. BRUNO MARS

Dwayne Carter is back with a hot track, over 5 million hits on YouTube in 3 days!   The red paint as blood, the Jesus imagery, and the closeups of Lil Wayne, adds up to a powerful visual experience.  The haunting chorus by Bruno Mars works great softening the painful lyrics of Lil Wayne.

"START OF SOMETHING GOOD"   DAUGHTRY

Chris Daughtry is back with a song similar to his first #1, "Home", a tender ballad describing those emotions when your world is flipped upside down by a new love entering your life.   Great opening lyrics:

You never know when you're gonna meet someone
And your whole wide world in a moment comes undone
You're just walking around and suddenly
Everything that you thought that you knew about love is gone

You find out it's all been wrong
And all my scars don't seem to matter anymore
Cause they led me here to you 

"MY HEART IS BROKEN"  EVANESCENCE

The beautiful vocals of Amy Lee mixed with Evanescene in full Gothic rock mode took the music world by storm a few years ago.   Their 2nd single from the new CD, captures the perfect blend of hard rock with the softness of the lyrics.  Check out Amy at the piano with the sun sneaking through the window at 3:06, stunning!