Inspirational, Spiritual, Feel Good Messages: Kirk Franklin, Foreigner, Gloria Estefan, Jaci Velasquez

DAILY MUSIC TRIVIA QUESTION:  What college did Gloria Estefan attend and is still a big supporter?  Yesterday's Answer:   Eddie Van Halen asked Patty to join Van Halen

"STOMP"    KIRK FRANKLIN and GOD'S PROPERTY

"For those of you who think we've gone too far and radical with our message, well I've got news for you, you haven't heard nothing yet!  And if you don't know, NOW you know!"  The first time we all heard this song you had to be amazed.   A Christian Gospel hip hop song with beats and rapping hotter than anything on the radio at the time.   Kirk Franklin made his spiritual message contemporary, accessible, and "cool" to the masses.   Adding Cheryl, "Salt", from Salt N Pepa to the mix, brilliant!   A 90's jam that always brings a smile to my face.

"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS"   FOREIGNER

Out of all of the arena rock bands from the 70's and 80's, Foreigner is my favorite.   So many classic rock favorites including "Hot Blooded", "Juke Box Hero", and "Feels Like The First Time" although most of my favorites weren't their biggest hits.  The band never hit #1 on the charts (although "Waiting For  A Girl Like You" is the longest running #2 hit of all-time) until "I Want Know What Love Is".  Lou Gramm's one-of-a-kind voice got challenged when they added the New Jersey Mass Choir to their 1984 epic power ballad.   It was the FIRST #1 Billboard Pop hit for Foreigner and the video is equally as inspiring.  

                                                                                     

"HEAVEN'S WHAT I FEEL"    GLORIA ESTEFAN

I had the biggest crush on the young Gloria Estefan.  On her ninth CD, gloria!, she reached for an younger audience and released a dance/disco record.  She promoted the CD with a performance at the famous Studio 54 discotheque.  The song, Oye! hit #1 on the dance charts and "Heaven's What I Feel" got a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Record.  The beat/message is so upbeat and contagious.   The song was also used in the underrated 1998 movie, Dance With Me, starring Vanessa Williams and Chayanne.  If you love sexy Latin dancing and a charming love story, check out the film!  

"ON MY KNEES"  JACI VELASQUEZ

I jumped on the bandwagon late for this song.   First time I heard of Jaci, she was starring in a B-Movie called Chasing Papi with Sofia Vergara and Roselyn Sanchez.  Jaci is a Christian singer and regardless of your religious views, you can't deny the sincerity and conviction in this spine-tingling song.   The power of prayer, belief in a higher power, and hope for a better tomorrow, three simple concepts that can improve the world today.

 

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!