Everyone knows Party All The Time right? Well, Eddie Murphy came back to the scene with an album in 1993. It was interesting because it had a pretty stellar cast at the time. He was able to get a ton of artists to sing one word on the song Yeah like MC Hammer, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and Janet and Michael Jackson. He had Shabba Ranks on lead single I Was A King which was terrible and then Michael Jackson again on Whatzupwitu, which was bad as well, but still fun at the same time.
– Why is Ed in a wife beater? Probably to show off his new physique. Though I wasn’t really impressed with that double bicep shot.
– I couldn’t really see Mike’s lipstick in black and white, but when the picture went color, bam, it hit me right in the face.
– Why is Ed singing into Mike’s ear?
– I actually like the song without the video, but the video is so bad that I’m starting to hate this song.
– For the last half of that video I had so many things to say, but my fingers just couldn’t type them.
If I see Ed and Mike in the same room again, I’d ask them, “Whatzupwitu?”
Hey, folks…after having guests for a few weeks, I’m back in control of the Sunday Seven and it feels good! So without any further ado, here’s a random trip through my iPod, where I pull seven musical selections and talk about them.
Track 1: Just Can’t Get Enough by Depeche Mode (1981)
This was Depeche Mode’s first “hit”, I guess. Well, considering it didn’t do much in the States when it was released, let’s just say that it’s the band’s oldest popular song. This dates back from when Vince Clarke (later of Yaz and Erasure) was in charge of the band. Although Clarke split really quickly, DM kept his sound and, in a move uncommon when it comes to breakups, both parties went on to super-successful careers.
Track 2: Brass Monkey by The Beastie Boys (1986)
I knew the time would come when a song came up that I’d already discussed. Needless to say, I love Licensed To Ill, I love Brass Monkey (the song, never tried the concoction), and I wish I had a beer right now because this song always makes me thirsty.
Track 3: I Was a King by Eddie Murphy feat. Shabba Ranks (1993)
OK, I need to explain why this song is on my iPod. About a year and a half, I was visiting our own GG back in his home in the Garlic Capital of the World. Looking through his CD collection, I noticed he owned two of Eddie Murphy’s three non-comedy albums (well, OK, his three unintentionally funny albums). I figured there was tons of joke material to be found, so I burned them onto my laptop. Remember when the video for this premiered on Fox? Did Eddie think he was Michael Jackson or something like that? Ooh, and the video’s on YouTube! You guys are in for a treat.
Track 4: For You I Will by Monica (1997)
This earnest ballad was written by (you guessed it) Diane Warren and wound up on the soundtrack to the Michael Jordan’s Space Jam. Monica’s one of those singers who had so much potential, and she wound up taking what was probably a too-long break from recording followed by a couple of sub-standard albums. Her last album, The Makings of Me, was a chore to get through. Here’s hoping that she ditches Jermaine Dupri and Missy Elliott and make the album her voice is capable of. I was going to say that this song was originally recorded by All-4-One, but i’d be getting my big-voiced divas confused. That song would be I Turn to You, later recorded and turned into a smash by Christina Aguilera.
Track 5: Now I’m Here by Queen (1975)
It’s widely acknowledged that Freddie Mercury had one of the most unique and powerful voices in all of music. I think that voice was used to best effect on hard rocking songs like this. Brian May’s guitar work is fantastic, and Freddie delivers (for him) a restrained vocal performance, complete with those stacked harmonies and a weird screaming effect (is that someone’s voice or is that a guitar?)
Track 6: Stan by Eminem (2000)
Stan was the song that convinced me that Marshall Mathers was a genius. I remember listening to this song on a cassette Walkman on my way home from work (I’d bought the tape the day it came out) and being completely bug-eyed by the end of the song. I rewound that tape God knows how many times after the first listen. It’s easily one of the best rap songs of all time, and worth listening to for the simple fact that it makes you remember how talented the guy was. I still get lost in this song when I hear it. Hell, this song made Dido’s career.
Track 7: Any Foolish Thing by Michael McDonald (1985)
We end this week’s Seven with a favorite of my buddies over at Popdose, Michael McDonald. This is also the only song in this week’s Seven without video accompaniment. Ah, well. I say this with no snark whatsoever-Michael McDonald is the fuckin’ man. Have you ever tried to sing What a Fool Believes? How does he get his voice up that high? This song’s not one of his best, but it has a pleasant midtempo bounce and a twinkly synth arrangement that makes it perfect to close up shop for the week…
…Till next time. And as a reminder, if anyone wants to guest-write this column, just email kingdemon01@gmail.com and let me know.
Hey Mikey. Sorry I deleted your comment. Oops!! (he mentioned “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar as one of the other courtroom videos from the mid-Eighties. See, man? I’m giving you your props.)
It’s been…hmmm…about two weeks since I last bought a CD, which is fairly major stuff for me. I went record shopping in Cambridge yesterday, though, although I was tempted to break my streak and buy Eddie Murphy’s “So Happy” on CD (which would actually give me the entire Eddie Murphy non-comedy collection on compact disc…yes, I’m lame), I ended up picking up a few records, including Talking Heads’ “Fear of Music” (which only cost $1 and I already own on CD, but the dualdisc won’t burn onto my computer), LaBelle’s “Chameleon”, Spandau Ballet’s “Greatest Hits” (because I misplaced the CD), and this little gem.
I’ve seen pictures of Mike Sembello performing “Maniac” on TV, and he looks like this burly, heavy-set dude. So why the hell did he decide to come out with what might be the gayest album cover in history? Beats me.
Anyway, the current tally on the iPod is currently over 17K. Let’s get right down to bidness.
Track One: “Say You Want it All” by Amel Larrieux
Those of you not familiar with the name may remember Amel Larrieux as the voice behind the R&B duo Groove Theory, who had a Top 10 hit in 1995 with “Tell Me”. I’m surprised it wasn’t a bigger national hit because they played the shit out of it in New York City. Anyhow, she only made that one album with GT partner Bryce Wilson before going solo. To date, she’s released three pretty good albums of new material in addition to one collection of standards that I really haven’t devoted a lot of time to. This song is pretty standard midtempo neo-soul, with the addition of a peppy horn section, and it comes from her second solo album “Bravebird”. If you cross Sade with Erykah Badu, you’d have a pretty good idea of what Amel sounds like. Good stuff.
Track 2: “Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing” by James Brown
Can’t go wrong with The Godfather, who was also the master of catchprases. “Say it Loud-I’m Black & I’m Proud”, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”, that line “I don’t know karate, but I know ka-razy!!” from “The Payback”. We miss you JB. Hmmm…I wonder if we can find that Eddie Murphy “singers” skit on YouTube. Well, I’ll be…
Track Three: “Better Days” by JOE
R&B singer Joe Thomas, who until recently used only his first name professionally, has actually been in the news recently. Apparently, he’s been accusing his former labelmate R. Kelly of sabotaging his career by calling radio stations and telling him not to play Joe’s songs for fear that Joe would take some shine away from him. While I wouldn’t put that past Kells, didn’t he give Joe two of his “Loveland” leftovers for one of his albums? Wouldn’t that almost be self-sabotage, then? Regardless, Joe, despite being somewhat inconsistent, overall is a much better listen than Kelly, capable of writing songs that are nuanced and melodic. This is the title track from his somber 2001 album, which took some inspiration from the 9/11 tragedies. It’s a pleasant midtempo song with an uplifting message, and it also starts with a quote from The Five Stairsteps’ “Ooh Child”, adding to the song’s optimistic feel.
Track 4: “Territorial Pissings” by Nirvana
And now for a COMPLETE change of pace, let’s go with one of the most frenetic offerings from “Nevermind”. Two things come to mind when playing this song. One is, did Nirvana really kick-start the whole alterna-rock changing of the guard, or did R.E.M. do it six months earlier with “Out of Time”? Second, this song opens with a sarcastically sung snatch (ooh! alliteration) of The Youngbloods’ “Get Together”, making it the second straight song (ooh! alliteration) played that references another song in it.
Track 5: “Selena” by Wyclef Jean feat. Melissa Jimenez
True story: Wyclef Jean’s “Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant” is actually good (much better than you’d expect from ‘Clef after a trio of solo records that went from OK to terrible to OMIGOD this sucks!). Unfortunately, this belated tribute to the Tejano superstar is…oh, about 13 years too late and is one of the weaker songs on the album. I think I’ll be unchecking this. Actually, there’s a pretty neat breakdown in the middle of the song that elevates it to average status. I won’t be unchecking it, but it’s still one of the weaker tracks. Still, check the album out. You might be surprised. Who else can get Paul Simon on a rap record?
Track 6: “Tell Me What You See” by The Beatles
This is definitely one of the more incidental songs on the “Help!” soundtrack, although even incidental Beatles songs are pretty good. Some interesting organ playing on this (shades of “Louie Louie”!) and some pretty harmonies too.
Track 7: “Sulky Guy” by Elvis Costello
The man who was originally Declan MacManus ranks as my favorite Elvis (hell, if I had that name, I’d change it too), and while I can’t place what album this song may have originally come from (I burned it from a compilation), it sounds late Eighties/early Nineties, right in line with songs like “Handle With Care” by Traveling Wilburys (only slightly messier and garage-y) or “My Brave Face” by Paul McCartney (a song that Costello co-wrote). My two questions of the evening to close this edition of the Sunday Seven out.
1) How in the name of Jeebus did Elvis Costello snag Diana Krall? That’s almost as bad as Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri!
2) If Lenny Kravitz and Elvis Costello did a duet, would you be able to tell who was singing what??
