DJ Polished Solid has done it once again! This time she’s put together some straight audio goodness in celebration of Pharrell’s 40th Birthday! Let’s get it!!!
DJ Polished: “I created this mix on April 5, 2013, Pharrell’s 40th bday, to give back for all of the amazing music he has given the world. He has put a smile on my face a many, many day, and I know he will continue to do so. Also, Pharrell is the best bass keyboard player since Ray Manzarek;)”
Happy Valentines to all those who are taken, almost taken, taken for granted, waiting to be taken, assumed to be taken, & those who aren’t taken seriously!
Share this free download among your friends to bless them with some musical joy on this special day!
This mix contains music from:
Joe, Usher, BlackStreet, Brian McKnight, Marques Houston, Bobby Valentino, Boyz II Men, Maxwell, Tamia, Avant, Eric Roberson, Keith Sweat, Jamie Foxx, Jodeci and many more R&B-allstars.
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Luther brought his heart felt respect for this time-honored song and his ultimate influence Ms. Dionne Warwick, who originally recorded A House Is Not A Home for her 1964 album, Make Way for Dionne Warwick. As the fate of any great composition, this single has been rotated through the voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and many other icons. However on the flip side, this song has also been “punked” by Twista featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx so it hasn’t gone unscathed. But despite it’s musical travel, this song holds an emotional agony that I absolutely love to hear through the riffs, runs and “on the edge of your seat” anticipation of Luther. While I respect the original version from Dionne, the song seems to find “a home” in the expression of the late Luther Vandross.
Here is Luther giving a well deserved tribute to his idol with that wonderful song. Oh and by the way, you new artists and BET, let this be a teachable moment. This is what a real tribute looks like. Those Trey Songz and Tamar Braxton performances you’re passing off as tributes ain’t cutting it. Please take note and properly execute.
You may or may not have heard about a recently released movie about a high school band getting back together. That movie is “Thundersoul”- a documentary that was brought to the masses once it received attention from Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. Foxx serves as the narrator on an 83 minute journey chronicling the reunion of the baddest high school band ever, the Kashmere High School band and their fearless band leader Mr. Conrad “Prof” Johnson. You’ll see in the film that Prof was much more than a band leader. He was a mentor, father figure, and a revolutionary in the way that high school bands performed. Prof had a knack for not just technique but also uniqueness. Kashmere is located in Northeast Houston, an area that is not necessarily known for music. That will all change after you see this film. Kashmere High School’s bad band was so good that one of the students reveals that his father actually moved their family so that he would be within the zone to attend Kashmere High and participate in the band.
Personally, this film brought back memories of my days playing alto and tenor sax in my high school’s marching and jazz bands respectively. Nonetheless, you do not need to be a musician to enjoy this film. If someone needed to wrap up the overall theme for a program such as Vh1′s “Save the Music”, this film accomplishes that goal. “Thundersoul” shows just how important a great music program can be not only to the students who participate in it, but also for the morale of the entire school. It’s been more than 30 years since the band last played music together. A lot can happen in 30 years. Will the band be able to recreate the magic of the ’70s? You’ll have to see the movie yourself to find out. “Thundersoul” is a movie for all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The film is currently in limited release. Trailers from the movie and recorded releases from the band are available on ITunes. For a theater near you, check out the movie’s website.
Yeah, we know it’s “Valentine’s Day” but who said we gotta pay Cupid some damn tribute!!!! If you’re one of those lovesick puppies and hopeless romantics looking for your fix on V-Day, we got your fix but it sure as hell ain’t what you think!!! On this day of love, we wanted to send Cupid a special mixtape! A list of songs that really express our deep passion in the subject of amour. So if love has kicked you in the ass, made a complete fool of you, had you crying like Lenny Williams and broadcasted your shame all over Facebook and Twitter, then welcome my friends to our official “F!ck, Cupid,!!” mixtape!! A Valentine’s mix that is sure to have you burning down someone’s car and lighting a cigarette afterward!!!
And Cupid, in case you missed our sentiments, let us say it again……….”F**K YOU!!!” (in my Cee-Lo voice) (more…)
Fans of Tank, Pleasure P, and Chris Brown should be well acquainted with the sound of Lonny Bereal. Lonny has applied his writing and producing touch to such hits as “Please Don’t Go” , “Under” , and “I Can Transform Ya”. Lonny is a multi-dimensional vocalist whose talents are truly unmatched. His ability to write, produce, sing, and arrange, makes him a “complete artist”. (more…)
Intro: In our final entry for the series we take on a slightly different subject matter than the redemptive nature of last week’s focus. Yes, we are poised to deal with all the lasciviousness of a rather un-saintly nature. But honestly, not all of the messages that we will feature today will put you on the express to you know where. As always, we start with the now and when we compare it with the then, we focus on the connection that what’s being said is absolutely nothing new. The delivery, the audience, and possibly the reactions may change but sentiment operates in the realm of the eternal.
This week’s topic: Material Boys and Girls
Blame It-Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain/Let The Good Times Roll-Louis Jordan
The Message
The message is pretty clear in both of these songs…a good time, although “Blame It” takes a more dionysian approach in its heavy reliance on alcohol and subsequent abdication of all responsibility. Where this pair fits into our material theme is that they squarely fit the old adage “You have to pay to play“.
The Music
“Blame It” see: auto-tune. “Let The Good Times Roll” generally credited(and rightfully so)as the bridge between the swing era and rhythm blues and rock and roll. Louis Jordan’s “jump blues” was primed for dancing, and Jordan set the standard for many an entertainer to follow his suit in the decades to come.
