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  • It’s The Same Old Song

    It’s one thing for a writing or production team to have a signature sound, quite something else when someone basically writes 100 versions of the same song, right?

    At least back in the day, folks had a sense of humor about it, right? Motown stuck so close to formula on the first few Four Tops hits (“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”) that the next song they did was called “It’s The Same Old Song” (wink, wink…nudge, nudge).

    This process started getting really stale in the late Eighties, when every faceless dance act released a second single that sounded exactly like the single before (Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever”, Real McCoy’s “Another Night” and “Run Away” and Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” and “The Sign” being just a few examples), but the Norwegian production team of Stargate has gone just a wee bit overboard. Although for some reason I can’t quite pinpoint, I actually *like* all of these songs!!

    Compare for yourself:

    Ne-Yo’s “So Sick”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hvI9kAUTKA
    vs.
    Lionel Richie’s “I Call it Love”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx-PJfsvR5Q
    and Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEskpfHOTAk

    AND

    Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFtICBASrpY
    vs.
    Chris Brown’s “With You”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqumjziPTzk
    and Ne-Yo’s “Go On Girl”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49P8X438NZk

    What do YOU think??

  • There’s Something About Mary

    I’ll tell you one thing. If I’m reading about a TV telecast and it says Mary J. Blige is going to perform, I am *there*. Whether ripping the Grammys apart with performances of “No More Drama” and “Be Without You” or delivering an emotionally stunning version of “One” with U2, there is no question that Mary J. is one of, if not the most emotionally resonant performer in popular music today.

    It took all of two listens for her new album “Growing Pains” (currently the #1 album in the country, the fifth of her career) to make an impression on me. While some people may think Mary’s music caters to a very specific audience, her music is far-reaching, whether it hits you for the beats, Mary’s luxurious (if not always perfect) voice or for the messages of empowerment and self-love that she delivers with a fierce honesty.

    Here’s a CNN performance of “Come To Me (Peace)”, which is the last track on her current album and one of the best songs she’s ever done in my opinion. Enjoy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2PftBAidT4

  • Friday Throwback – I Love Your Smile

    Holy cow. Shanice is 34 years old. Time sure flies when your pop stars from the 90s get older. Everyone remembers Shanice right? And no, she’s not the light skinned one. That was Tracie Spencer. No, Eddie from Family Matters didn’t have a crush on her. Again, I believe that was Tracie Spencer. Shanice is the one with the smile. In fact, if you watched Beverly Hills, 90210 during season 1 or 2, you’d remember her very well. They played lots of Shanice at the end of that show as well as lots of Vanessa Williams and Jeremy Jordan (alright!).

    • Doesn’t she look like a young Tootie in that opening shot?
    • Man, she was being romantic with that mic.
    • That dude is taking pictures all up inside her nostrils too.
    • They should’ve created a special character for her on 90210. With those clothes, she would’ve fit in very well.
    • Where the hell did this rap come from?
    • Blow Branford blow.
    • I love your smile! Sike! That was so wrong.
    • She really does.

    Soon, she’d be Saving Forever For You and praying with Johnny Gill. And then she married Flex Alexander. Who knew?