web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Lenny Kravitz

  • Morning Tunes

    Morning Tunes

    Here in Germany, it’s cold and dark in the morning until after 8:00am during the winter months. Sometimes morning tunes are the only way to get my eyes to open.

    So what are my favorite morning tunes? I’d say it depends on my mood. Some mornings, I prefer something energetic and loud. For instance, this morning I’ve got Earth, Wind, & Fire’s classic 1981 album Raise! playing on my computer. There’s something about Philip Bailey’s soaring falsetto and heavy electric guitars that was on my mind this morning. So the first song I decided to play was “Evolution Orange”, which is a song that is kind of special to me. Back in the mid 90s, I was still somewhat interested in trying to be fit and used to jog to this album. “Evolution Orange” is a great song for running. Sadly, I can’t find a video for it on YouTube. Just so you know, finding videos in Germany is harder than it is in the United States because Germany is a lot stricter about content sharing and copyright enforcement.


    I did, however, find a video of “Let’s Groove”, which is from the same album.

    Some mornings, I’m in a more low key mood and prefer something less energetic. I especially prefer these calmer songs when I’m working on something that requires intense thought. When that happens, there’s no telling what I’ll end up playing. A little Phil Coulter when I need to think is a good thing…


    Phil Coulter’s version of “Going Home”…

    When I worked as a technical writer in South Carolina, I used to listen to a lot of Eden’s Bridge in the morning. Eden’s Bridge is a Christian band from Ireland. I am not particularly religious; I just really like good music. Eden’s Bridge is comprised of very talented musicians and they play beautiful and often original Celtic style music. I found it easy to think and create when listening to them play, so I’d often wear a pair of headphones while writing passages about how certain chronic diseases were trending in the state of South Carolina.


    I probably would have chosen an original tune to post here, but again, it’s hard to do that in Germany! Besides, I do like Eden Bridge’s spiritual rendition of “Awesome God”. It’s not cheesy… it’s Celtic!

    If I’m feeling more secular and need something good for thinking, I might choose something by Zero 7 or Dead Can Dance. They’re also great choices for when I need “evening tunes”.


    Zero 7’s “In the Waiting Line”. This song is both sexy and sort of clinical. It’s great for thinking.


    Dead Can Dance never gets old, though “The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove” has been around since 1993.

    And then there are the mornings when I’m feeling both soulful and energetic. I may reach for Ray Charles… or Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint.


    I miss Ray Charles. He was just brilliant. At least I can listen to him sing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”.

    Seriously… I wasn’t even thinking of Ray Charles before I started writing this post and watching the above video just put a big smile on my face. Ray Charles was just an amazing entertainer and musician.


    Elvis Costello and Allen Touissant are a winning pair, especially in the morning.

    And finally, there’s Lenny Kravitz and his Led Zeppelinesque “Are You Gonna Go My Way”…


    This song never fails to get the blood pumping.

    I think there’s definitely a good reason why morning news shows play rock songs during their broadcasts. They are a great way to get going in the morning. On a totally unrelated note, once again I’m realizing how eclectic my musical tastes are. You never know whats going to be playing at my house.

  • Chart Chat 1/13/10: All About Ke$ha

    Susan Boyle has finally met her match.

    After a six-week run at the top, Boyle loses the #1 spot on the Billboard Albums Chart to another new female artist. Dance/pop singer Ke$ha opens at the top with her debut album “Animal”. The album scans 152,000 copies in its’ first week out-easily beating Boyle’s total of 93,000.

    As is customary for this time of the year, the chart is very quiet. The next highest debut comes all the way down at #27, where “American Idol” Katharine McPhee debuts with her latest, scanning 15,000 copies. Only a small handful of albums showed an increase over the previous weeks’ sales, with an iTunes promotion being responsible for the biggest increases-for Radiohead’s “Kid A” and Lenny Kravitz’ “Greatest Hits”. The two decade-old albums more than doubled in sales this week, and it’s not a stretch to think that Lenny’s involvement in the leaked Michael Jackson track that briefly lit up the internets last week was also a catalyst in his sales increase.

    Another increase this week occurs towards the bottom of the Top 200, where Vampire Weekend’s debut re-enters at #199, with an 11% increase in scans over the previous week. Look for VW’s sophomore release, “Contra”, to challenge for the top spot next week. However, with Ke$ha being a new artist and people just now finding out about her, she could maintain her stronghold on the top of the charts for a second week.

    Here’s this week’s Top 20:

    1) Ke$ha “Animal”
    2) Susan Boyle “I Dreamed a Dream”
    3) Lady GaGa “The Fame”
    4) Alicia Keys “The Element of Freedom”
    5) Mary J. Blige “Stronger with Each Tear”
    6) Soundtrack “Alvin & the Chipmunks 2-The Squeaquel”
    7) Taylor Swift “Fearless”
    8) The Black Eyed Peas “The E.N.D.”
    9) Justin Bieber “My World”
    10) Lady GaGa “The Fame: Monster”
    11) Rihanna “Rated R”
    12) Michael Buble “Crazy Love”
    13) Young Money “We Are Young Money”
    14) Owl City “Ocean Eyes”
    15) Glee Cast “Glee: The Music Vol. 2”
    16) Eminem “Relapse”
    17) Lady Antebellum “Lady Antebellum”
    18) Carrie Underwood “Play On”
    19) John Mayer “Battle Studies”
    20) Glee Cast “Glee: The Music Vol. 1”

  • First Listen (Kinda): New MJ

    My major prediction for 2010? TONS upon TONS of unreleased Michael Jackson music is going to hit the internet and the airwaves. The first example of this is “Another Day”, a song that’s leaked all over the interwebs. It represents a collaboration between Michael and rock star Lenny Kravitz. Lenny acknowledged working with Michael at one point, and honestly speaking, it would have been cool to see what the two could have done together.

    If the song itself sounds familiar, that might be because after Michael decided against using it, Lenny kept it for himself and released it on his album “Baptism”, renaming the song “Storm” and adding a verse by Jay-Z. It was probably the only worthwhile thing on that entire damn album.

    “Storm” wasn’t a particularly big hit, so it’s definitely feasible that the MJ version can be released and be huge. Michael definitely sounds like he was giving his all on the track vocally. Stay tuned. I’m sure there’ll be much more to come.