Earth, Wind and Fire was one of the greatest bands of the 70’s. Now, I’m not sure if they were the best but there weren’t many that could compete for that spot. Their combination of spiritualism and soul was unique. By the time 1980, came around EWF was moving into the funk/disco arena. This produced a terrible tune which was very popular - Boogie Wonderland. It also produced Let’s Groove which is the best of these tunes in my opinion.
Crank up that way back machine - The Temptations - My girl
I just felt like some serious jazz tonight. This is the GREAT Dizzy Gillespie. This is the reunion of his Big Band. The song is called Things to Come.
I kissed a Girl. Very sexy video. Katy Perry.
This group may be the definition of flash in the pan. One CD. 3 mega-hits then nothing. Bell Biv Devoe. Poison.
I don’t think that you are ready for this jam. My body is too Bootylicious. Destiny’s Child. A sweet jam.
The Rolling Stone had a very nice tribute to this great Rock n’ Roll giant. I don’t think that he got the credit or the money that he deserved. The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton recognized Bo’s contribution to modern Rock n’ Roll.
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From RS:
Bo Diddley, one of the founding fathers of rock and roll, died today in his home in Archer, Florida, where he had lived for 20 years. The cause was heart failure, according to a spokesperson. Diddley performed live until May 2007, when he suffered a stroke; three months later, in August, he also suffered a heart attack. The spokesperson said that he was surrounded by family and friends when he died. Public and private services are scheduled for this weekend.
In the summer of 2005, Rolling Stone writer Neil Strauss caught up with Diddley for the magazine’s last major feature on him, the award-winning “Indestructible Beat of Bo Diddley.”
• The Indestructible Beat of Bo Diddley by Neil Strauss (RS 981, August 25, 2005)
• The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time: Bo Diddley by Iggy Pop (RS 946, April 15, 2004)
• Bo Diddley: The Rolling Stone Interview by Kurt Loder (RS 493, February 12, 1987)
There is just something about Louis Armstrong. Yes, he had a very unique voice. He played the trumpet as well, or better, than anyone but there was something more. He was a showman. Even in this very poor quality video, his showmanship shines through. Enjoy.
When you are so good that you can change your name back to what it was before you were famous and you still sell records, you are ‘the man.’ John “Cougar” Mellencamp is that man.
I have liked Harry Connick, Jr. ever since I first heard him about 15 years ago. Although he is well-known, he hasn’t really had a big hit. This tune, “Whisper Your Name,” did get some air play. The video was filmed in New Orleans, of course. It makes me want to go back and visit.
There seems to be a trend in Hip-Hop for rappers to have a Caribbean accent. Kardinal Offshall has some kind of island accent. This is a nice tune.
Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon - Dangerous
Free Music Videos at Www.blastro.com
I recently listened to a song called Mamavtu by a singer named Susheela Raman. Here are some of the lyrics:
you who reside in the temple of Kamakoti
rescue me
in your beautiful hands
you give truth to speech
your feet are worshipped by Emperors and kings
your eyes are as wild as Rajiva flowers
and your beauty bewitches.
Garlanded with gems
you fulfill the desires of the good
Indra himself bows down before you
I, Vasudeva, am your servant
for you are the divine word in its essence.
I like these lyrics for two reasons. The first reason is that they are clear and direct. I admire the ability to communicate in a clear and direct fashion in a complex world. This kind of communication is something we all have the ability to do with the application of some discipline and thought.
Everyone dance.
Madonna released her first single in 1982. Her first album, Like a Virgin, came out in the following year. Twenty-four years later (and 20 or 30 hits later), Madonna is dancing around the Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. I think that this is a testament to what a great performance artist she truly is. Very few in the music business can look at 25 years worth of work and smile and say that they are still on top. Here’s Four Minutes.
Alan Jackson has turned his struggling career into a blockbuster. One of his first singles was a cute little tune about a river that runs just outside of Atlanta then Chattahoochee. Nice tune.
It is hard to imagine the excitement over Michael Jackson’s album, Thriller, that debuted on MTV 25 years ago. There was no other music channel at the time. The following day, the video went on sale nationwide. I was in medical school at the time. One of the medical students in the class ahead of me got his wife to go to the store and wait in line to buy the VHS video. She brought the video to school and we used the A-V equipment there to show the video during our lunch break. Both members of the first-year class and the second-year classed stayed around to watch the video. As I recall, more than 150 students eagerly watched the video. We all loved it.
Thriller was the pinnacle of Michael Jackson’s music video career. Although he made tons more videos, with Smooth Criminal being the most notable, nobody else made any more of the super-production videos. Jackson was the only one.
Enjoy!
Leona Lewis’ voice sounds like someone very familiar, but I can’t think of who it is. Anyway, here’s her Billboard Top 10 song: Bleeding Love.
This is pretty clever– a Barack Obama and Jay-Z mash-up. I wouldn’t have thought it. This video does point out that Hillary Clinton has been attacking Obama for months: “That is not change that you can believe in, it is change that you can Xerox.” Yuck.
This is one of the best rap tunes that I’ve heard in the past five to seven years… Nelly’s Hot in Here.
I first heard these guys on the soundtrack of Mask. I love their infectious zoot suit style.
Here’s Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Errington C. Thompson, MD, is a surgeon, scholar, fulltime sports fan and part-time political activist. He is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats...
