High Heels, Sneakers, and Stilettos, Best songs about Shoes: Elvis Presley, Run DMC, The Eagles, Kelly Picker

"MY ADIDAS"  RUN D.M.C.

Old school rap at its finest.  You better be singing along here!  Run DMC made Adidas the go-to sneakers of the mid 80's until Michael Jordan's Spike Lee commercials.  Come on, who doesn't love this rap "they're black and white, white with black stripe, the ones I like to wear when I rock the mic."  My first concert that I paid money to see was a young LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, and the headliners, Run D.M.C.  Of course during My Adidas, people in the crowd were waving their shoes over their head.   Even though I'm partial to retro Nike and Jordan brand shoes, this song always described my sneaker obsession.   Run sings about having 50 pairs of Adidas, I'm not far off.  

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA:   Run DMC recorded a CD with multiple guest stars called Crown Royal.   What song did they sing with Kid Rock?   Yesterday:  Todd Rundgren


"BLUE SUEDE SHOES"    ELVIS PRESLEY

"Well, it's one for the money, Two for the show, Three to get ready, Now go, go, go!" The epitome of cool, Elvis in '68, black leather outfit, ultimate swagger, his signature hip shakes, and he's even playing guitar on "Blue Suede Shoes".   Elvis was in comeback mode on these live shows and he re-established his role as The King with electric performances that worked the crowds into a frenzy.   These TV special performances preceded MTV's Unplugged and opened up bands performing intimate shows with their fans.    One question though for the ladies, would you really be impressed by a guy who not only wears blue suede shoes but he's so obsessively worried about getting them scuffed up?

"RED HIGH HEELS"      KELLY PICKLER

Oh Kelly, she is 100% a love her or hate her kind of artist.  Yes, I can see how her voice can be annoying.   Her innocent, dumb blonde routine on American Idol either made you laugh and love her or you couldn't wait to see her kicked off the show.  I didn't think her talent was incredible but her chemistry with Simon Cowell and her sex kitten style had me totally rooting for Kelly.  Her first big hit, Red High Heels, is a great kiss-off breakup song.   Love the line, "I put up a barbed wire fence around my heart, Baby, just to keep you out.  Well, you thought I'd wait around forever But, baby, get real I just kicked you to the curb in my red high heels." 

"THOSE SHOES"    THE EAGLES

Stripper anthem:  "You get whatever you choose, oh no, you can't do that, once you started wearing those shoes."  From their 1980 CD, The Long Run, Don Henley and Glenn Frey trades lines about the singles scene.  Guys being like sharks trying to pick up and prey on the sexy women in the high heels "with the little ankle straps".  And women wielding their power over men, standing up for themselves, and not taking any more crap.   It's easily the sexiest song in The Eagles catalog especially with Don Felder using the talkbox that Joe Walsh used superbly on Rocky Mountain Way.   

Sting Backs Up Craig David: RUN-DMC, Craig David With Sting, Alabama Shakes,

"KING OF ROCK"    RUN D.M.C.

This is THE rap song that crossed over to rock fans and exploded rap onto MTV's heavy rotation.    Give some credit to Eddie Martinez, the lead guitarist for his memorable guitar licks.    Who doesn't get pumped up hearing those opening words:  "I'm the king of rock, there is none higher, sucker MC's should call me sire, to burn my kingdom, you must use fire, and I won't stop rockin' till I retire!"   No one has ever matched RUN D.M.C.'s influence on the rap/rock connection, true legends!

"RISE and FALL"    CRAIG DAVID Featuring STING!

After Craig David's massive success with "7 Days" and "Walking Away", he put out a CD called "Slicker Than Your Average" that didn't grab the audience like his previous release.   But there is a hidden gem on the disc, "Rise & Fall" features Sting and a prominent "Shape Of My Heart" reinterpretation.    The Sugababes tried to capitalize on the song's success but nothing beats this collaboration.

"I FOUND YOU"    ALABAMA SHAKES

I don't like to overplay any artists on my blog but I can't stop playing the Alabama Shakes.   Brittney (the lead singer) and Zac Cottrell shared their love of music in a high school psychology class and found they were musical soulmates.   This new band fuses multiple genres with true heart.   Faithful to their music influences, "I Found You" is breathtaking.

Old School Rap, Run DMC with LL Cool J: Evans Blue, Huey Lewis, Paula DeAndra

"ERASE MY SCARS"                    EVANS BLUE

Imagine losing your 8 year old nephew to cancer.     The lead singer is shouting out to God his anger, confusion, and outrage.    But the song isn't all about aggression, it's about moving on from the pain and wreckage in your life.    Even if you can't let go of the past, you've got to fight, quit feeling helpless.   "Erase My Scars" is intense but it's a wake-up call to get off your ass!    It almost looks like the drummer will get paid extra if he can destroy the drums before the song ends!   Beast Mode!

"HOPE YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO"   HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS

Before they became the most overplayed band on MTV, Huey Lewis and the News were the perfect "bar band" with high energy horns, a charismatic lead singer, and a no-frills all-American rock and roll sound.    From their 1982 debut CD, comes their first video that will have you singing along before the video ends and you hit "replay"!  


What does a girl like you, see in a man like me ?
Just cause I love you baby, don't think I'll be,
Just what you want me to be.
Ooh, yes I'm stubborn, I'm hard headed, but baby I love you.

"WALK AWAY"                      PAULA DeANDRA

A recent one-hit wonder pop song with a little Latina hip hop flavor, "Walk Away" has a catchy beat, a memorable hookline ("you're gonna remember me") and a cute video.   This song co-written by Ne-Yo and Christina Milian almost made the Top 10.   The legendary Clive Davis signed Paula DeAndra, who only released just one CD.  Her follow-up included "Easy" featuring Bow Wow (oh no! that was probably the kiss of death) and now she's onto acting :)

"KRUSH GROOVIN'"   FAT BOYS, RUN D.M.C., KURTIS BLOW, SHEILA E.

Krush Groove was a 1985 biopic of hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam.   In the movie, Russell is trying to sign artists to his new label, Krush Groove (aka Def Jam) with producer Rick Rubin.   Even LL Cool J was first introduced in this retro film.  The movie concludes with an all-star old school jam where all of the superstars join together for this moment of early rap history.