TGIF

Friday's Quote of The Day

"Let your smile be your umbrella"

-Florida Evans from Good Times

Friday's Song of The Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r08xhL0jI1Q

I picked this song because in my opinion its a good song. It has a great beat and it makes you want to dance or bop your head. I feel that we should maintain happiness not be sad. It is Friday, the LORD granted another weekend, enjoy & be safe.

Family Weekend

This weekend I went home to NJ to see my NEW YORK KNICKS play in the first round of the playoffs. Even though, my knicks were swept in the playoffs to take my mind off the heartbreak, I learned more about music. During the times that I'm home to visit my family we always play music and have a "couple" of drinks. Meanwhile this Saturday, my mother began to play music that she knew would give me inspiration for my blog. She started off by playing the Fifth Dimension, Wedding Bell Blues. I knew this song but I was surprise the group were African Americans. I thought that the group were white. I never saw a picture of the group, I just remember their songs. I was very unaware of the situation of the group. Finally, my mother pulled the group up on youtube. Here is a couple of hits from the group, 5th Dimension.

WEDDING BELL BLUES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMhWQgkZ8c

AQUARIUS/LET THE SUNSHINE IN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EegRh8Z4H-o

STONE SOUL PICNIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUyTKl815MU&feature=related

Hopefully those songs made you feel good and bring back some memories. If you are around my age, hopefully this is enjoyable music for you. So, the night carried on and my mother decided to play Walk On By by Dionne Warwick. This song was remade many times. It seemed like it was remade each year from the 60's to 00s. We played from Dionne's version to Kelly Clarkson's version on American Idol. That showed me that music is definitely here to stay because different types of genres remade the same song. Listen for yourself

DIONNE WARWICK VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzCkD3vRukA

ISSAC HAYES VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nHlwliWFi0

ARETHA FRANKLIN VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1q_P7RjR6M

D-TRAIN VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-1tGqt3l9w

JO JO ZEP VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbngYPU1jus

SYBIL VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DL8jmpUxMI

KELLY CLARKSON VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZzO-BTgPrM

The only version I can do without is Issac Hayes. Issac Hayes never did anything for me with his music. I think the only thing I liked from Issac Hayes was Shaft. But not saying his music wasn't classic, but it just didn't do anything for me. But the versions that stand out is the original from Dionne, D-Train's version, and Kelly Clarkson's version. But as I stated I like all of them.

PICK YOUR FAVORITE VERSION!!! 

Songs For Moment...Just A Feeling Part 2

Maybe- Kelly Clarkson

When I'm feeling down this is the first song I listen to because it describes me. I sing this song to the top of my lungs. After I feel so relieved. In my opinion, this is one of the song on the My December that has so much emotion.

FEEL THE EMOTION.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhWUHlEfY4s 


Tried- Kelly Price

I went to see "Madea's My Big Happy Family" and during the movie this song began to play. From the start of Kelly's voice, it gave me chills. I started to tear but I had to try to hide my tears, but after a while I couldn't. It started to make me think of my family and how we are so tired of things not going right. But we know GOD is has us. But Kelly Price did it on this one

HEAR THAT GOSPEL FILLED VOICE..SO SOUFUL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOzfujTwDIA


He Believe/I Believe(Live MSG 88')- Whitney Houston

I listen to this song every morning, but today I couldn't pass this song and I ended up listening to it for 3 hours straight. Whitney Houston was reaching my soul with this one. Her voice makes me believe that GOD is always with me, so as I believe he will believe

HEAR THE GOD GIVEN VOICE

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

TGIF

Friday Quote of the Day

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"

-Maria Robinson

Friday Songs of the Day

Today I am going to the First NEW YORK KNICKS home playoff game in 7 years. I have to do two songs for my knicks & the knicks diehard fans

Swizz Beatz- GO NY GO NY(REMIX)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PDTMUsJg2k&feature=related

ORIGINAL GO NY GO NY 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSCdq1s5ekI

LET'S GET THIS WIN TONIGHT!!! LET'S GO KNICKS

3 Favorite Artist Now

Favorite Artists Now

• Mary J. Blige
• Adele
• Lady Gaga

Mary J. Blige will always my favorite artist. It seems that Mary J. Blige comes out with a song that explains what I'm going through with my life.  Someone To Love Me with Lil' Wayne & Diddy is definitely what I need in my life right now. Mary seems to talk for me with her songs. But this song not even Mary's first single. If you know Mary, she gives you a promo song before her first single so she can get you ready for her return. I can't wait until Mary comes on September 20, "My Life Part II: The Journey Continues

Someone To Love Me.....LISTEN TO THIS FIRE 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sfNq2gwyB4

When it comes to Adele, I didn't really know about her. The only thing I knew about her is that she won the 2009 Grammy for Best New Artist. But one of twitter followers told me about her. He explained to me that she has Dusty Springfield style, the soul-pop. With me loving the soul music, I had to check her out. Her album "21" in my opinion is the album of the year. It's so soulful, I listen to this album every day. Meanwhile, when my twitter friend told me about her, I actually laughed because I didn't think I would like her, but I feel in love with her.

Rolling In The Deep...LISTEN TO THE GREAT SONG...ALSO CHECK HER ALBUM 21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBRUkdQa6Is

Lady Gaga has been out since 2008, even though she has written songs for other people since 2005. I actually didn't start to like her until I heard Pokerface on the radio. It had such a different sound. Then I started to play a little attention to her. But it was until I moved into my own place, I really started liking her songs. Songs like Alejandro, Love Game, and Monster cause me to pay close attention to her. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga is releasing her new album and she has released two songs Born This Way & Judas. I feel that Born This Way was definitely a bold single to start with. Born This Way is not a song that I like, not because of it's lyrical content. Lyrically the song is great but just not a song that I like. But her latest single Judas, I like everything about it. Meanwhile, while listening to her new stuff, I started going back to her 2008 album FAME, and I wish I had the album earlier, because she has some great songs on it. The song that I really now is Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say). 

Judas....LISTEN TO THE DEEP LYRICS...Note: She is not worship the devil

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

Now these are my favorite artist right now, but it can definitely change. LET ME KNOW WHO YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST OF RIGHT NOW IS...ANY GENRE: SOUL, HIPHOP, GOSPEL, POP, COUNTRY, ETC.

TGIF

Friday Quote of the Day

"Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect, It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections"

-Unknown

Friday Song of the Day

(2 Artists with Same Song)

"Got To Give It Up"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRcVQDELAd4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz09QUPvmfs&feature=related

It's Friday, yall be safe out there this weekend. Just remember just continue to walk with GOD because he will always PROTECT & GUIDE you. Have a good weekend!!!



Family Reunion

O'JAYS "FAMILY REUNION"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tp-9gAuNME

This blog entry is going to be about family. In my life, family has been very important to me. Even though, my blog is about music but my family is a big part of my wide musical selection. This weekend my family decided to throw my Aunt Joyce a surprise 50 birthday party. With this being a milestone, this birthday was a lot more meaningful. In 2006, my Aunt Joyce was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During the last couple of years, she has been going through a lot but this cancer hasn't changed her. I remember when I called Aunt Joyce when she was diagnosed she told me "this cancer will not break me, I am gonna keep on keeping on". She is such a big inspiration to me because every time I think about the bad things in my life, I look at what she's going through and she still remains positive. Meanwhile, the doctors told her that the survival rate of this cancer is small, as I stated this still doesn't change her at all. 

About a month ago, my mother called me to tell me that the family decided to throw her a birthday party, my answered was a yes, because Aunt Joyce supported me throughout my life. She attended my high school and college graduation, she just shows me so much love, I felt that I owed her to be there, to show her that I loved her dearly. So, the day of the party my family is getting ready to drive to Brooklyn for the big celebration. Now with my family being so close, I felt that she would have suspect something. But when she got to the party and the family yelled surprise you could tell that she didn't know about anything (or Aunt Joyce is a good actress...lol). So, doing the singing of Happy Birthday everyone said some good things. My mother wanted me to speak, but I felt too nervous for some reason. However, I felt Aunt Joyce had the best speech of the nice. She told the family, "GOD blessed her with family and friends and that means everything to her, because of family and friends it keeps her going". Her speech brought tears to my eyes because she is such a survivor. Her speech showed me the importance of family.

THE WORDS I SHOULD HAVE SAID AT THE PARTY

Aunt Joyce I didn't get to speak at your birthday party, but I want to tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. I feel that you are the true meaning of survivor, because the devil tries to keep you down, but you still come out fighting. I'm so blessed to call you my aunt. I want you to keep living because GOD has you here for a reason. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

AUNT JOYCE & I AT MY COLLEGE GRADUATION

MUSIC THAT REMINDS ME OF MY FAMILY

(My Family Gets Down On The Dance Floor)

Songs Got Everyone On The Floor Young & Old

(No Disrespect to the Older Folks...lol)

McFadden & Whitehead -Aint No Stoppin Us Now

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

Marcia Griffiths-Electric Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PyLFzcTiYA

Mtume-Juicy Fruit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MucY5wRYByU

Aly Us-Follow Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WkcnbAKRRI

TELL ME A SONG THAT YOUR FAMILY DANCE TO THAT GETS THE YOUNG & OLD ON THE DANCE FLOOR!!!!!

TGIF

Quote of The Day

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Song of The Day

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

It's the end of the week yall be safe. Let GOD guide you because he is never wrong!

THE QUEEN!!!

Mary J. Blige



Normally today is Compare & Contrast Thursday, but since I have begun to do this blog I haven't done one on The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J Blige. Mary is one of the reason why I fell into soul music. Even though, my family raised me to love soul music, but Mary J. Blige helped me to find it for myself.

I can remember the first time I heard Mary J. Blige's voice. It wasn't from her first single Real Love. Even though, I didn't know who Mary J. Blige it was from Guy's song Goodbye Love. My mother and father loved Guy's 1988 self-titled album. Even though, the album consisted of Groove Me, Teddy's Jam, and I Like. But it was one song on the album I really loved which was Goodbye Love. What I loved about the song was the girl singing background, her voice was so raw. Later I learned that was Mary J. Blige. Fast forward to 1992, my mother and I moved to South Carolina because she wanted to further her education. Meanwhile, music because a big part of our lives. So, one day we were listening to the radio while studying and this song Reminise came on. My mother and I fell in love with the song, we had to find out who this person was. The man on the radio said "she's a new artist her name is Mary J. Blige". From that day, Mary became part of my life.

During this time, family used to come visit us a lot. Many people would come with cassette tapes(lol), so we could play it in the house. As a result, many tapes were left at our house. So, one of these particular times someone left Mary's "What The 411?". I remember my mother say "Junior remember that girl we heard on the radio, someone left the album". I was answered "Ok, pop it in". While we studied we listened to that album from beginning to end. From listening to the album, you can tell that Mary was real and raw from the sound of her voice. It's like she connected with you soul over a hip-hop beat. That's the reason why she was given the title "The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul".

Now it's 1994, we haven't heard anything new from Mary. Finally, my mother and I was studying and of course the radio was playing, we heard Be Happy for the first time. As soon as we heard "how can I love somebody else, if I can't love myself enough to know....". My mother and I knew it was Mary. As the song finished, my mother and I looked at each other and said we have to get her album when it comes out. Fast forward, we had another big family visit, once again someone left the "My Life" album. This time mom didn't even tell me about it, when I came home from school I can remember opening the door and hearing Mary Jane(All Night Long) coming out the speakers. "My Life" was an album about what Mary was going through with her relationship with KC-I from the group, Jodeci. It was musical letter from her heart. As a result, you can definitely feel her. With the "My Life" we listened to this album more than we did "Whats The 411?". This album made me fall in love with music and soul. Meanwhile this album made Mary become part of my family. During these times, my mother and I was struggling as well. When we would sing along to the album, we felt free from all the things we were going through. From then to now, I think my mother and I together have brought "My Life" over 100 times.

As you can see, GOD wanted Mary to be a part of our lives because each of her albums were left for us to have, we didn't have to buy it. GOD knew that the way you could get our attention was through music. As a result, I think GOD everything from being Mary's music into my life because I don't know where my life would have been without Mary's music.

In 1997, we finally had to buy a Mary J. Blige album. My mother went to the record store and brought "Share My World". I remember playing that tape so much it popped. This was the time when I was starting to fall in love with Janet Jackson, but Mary J. Blige was always there. From then on, I have brought every Mary J. Blige she did. It seems like every time she comes out with a new album, I'm going through a struggle, and her album helps me through it. 

Remember when I said Mary J Blige sung the background vocals to Guy's Goodbye Love she used the sample for her song Don't Go Listen To both!!!

Guy's Goodbye Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f-7kas66K4

Mary's Don't Go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn8yMVWmLhY

Favorite Song From Each Her 9 albums (Which It Was Very Hard To Pick One)

What's The 411? (LOVE NO LIMIT)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMokNEsJ7Sg

My Life (I NEVER WANNA LIVE WITHOUT YOU)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l50ljpa4Boc

Share My World (SHARE MY WORLD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACFe8r-wJJ8

Mary (THE LOVE I NEVER HAD)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EkAwL0TM_c

No More Drama (NEVER BEEN)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNY86zE1mc

Love & Life (FEEL LIKE MAKING LOVE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TZjj66ySH0&feature=related

The Breakthrough(GONNA BREAKTHROUGH)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB-Xij3yolw

Growing Pains (SMOKE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1L0RyOH9zU

Stronger With Each Tear(IN THE MORNING)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_gxm1ehwq8

MY LIFE PART 2 SEPTEMBER 20 2010

First Single(SOMEONE TO LOVE ME)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sfNq2gwyB4

RANDOM BLOG!!!

Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson

For the last couple of days, I have been listening to live performances of Whitney Houston & Kelly Clarkson. While I listen to these women sing, it sends chills up my spine. At times I shed a few tears because their voices are so beautiful. Their voices are definitely a gift from GOD. As a result, I figured I would share a few of my favorites and explain why these two are in my 10 singers of all time.

Starting with Whitney Houston, she is considered "THE VOICE". During the 1985-1995, her voice could not be matched. After 1995, Whitney took advantage of her gift and GOD took it away from her. In 2009, Whitney came back with her new album, which was very successful but her live performances were not the reason for her being considered "THE VOICE". But thank you for www.youtube.com, you can go there to her some of Whitney's best performances.

Favorite Whitney Houston Live Performances:

5. SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU ON THE IM YOUR BABY TONIGHT TOUR

    During this performance, she turns soul-pop jam into a jazzy number. She does it so

    effortlessly with runs and all. The background vocalists makes the performance so 

    much better, its better than the original version to me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=earJYHP6bLQ      

4. YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE LIVE ON JOHNNY CARSON

    During this performance she slow mid tempo jam down with her and the piano. She gets

    you from the 2:00 point until the end of the video. Her voice sounds so smooth and clear,

    she makes you feel what love is on this on. CHECK IT OUT!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI3YrAv0C-I

3. PORGY, AND I'M TELLING YOU, I HAVE NOTHING AT THE 1994 AMA

    During this performance she showed the world why she was the artist of the year for 1992

    - 1994. She killed this performance and looked good doing it. Her band was on point with

    her voice anything was just going her way that night. She won 8 awards and had the best

    performance of the night. SPEECHLESS

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eGIo_SCrN8

2. ALL THE MAN I NEED ON ARSENIO HALL SHOW

    This is my favorite Whitney Houston song, with this she shows me why. You can feel

    she was singing to a then ex-husband Bobby Brown. Whitney has feeling this performance

    from beginning to end. CHECK FOR YOURSELF!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcCNp8YWAnw

1. THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL AT ARISTA'S 15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

    My opinion this is Whitney's best performance ever. Her voice and everything is just

    flawless. NO WORDS LEFT, JUST WATCH!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIfypx2wlWg&feature=fvsr

    

ON TO KELLY!!!

Kelly Clarkson is the first winner of American Idol. In my opinion, she is the best idol. Kelly's voice she can sing any type of music from country to gospel. During the her season of American Idol I had her going to the finals, but I thought Tamyra Gray was going to win. But Kelly definitely proved why she is the best with her live performances. Kelly is still out so she still have time to make more great performances, but these are my favorites.

Favorite Kelly Clarkson Peformances:

5. MISS INDEPENDENT LIVE ON AOL

    During this performance, she turned a pop song into a rock song. Her vocals on this

    is flawless. This was actually the first performance that made to really started me to 

    like her more than I did on idol, because she really made this song hers. WATCH

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgr4DOMbNvw

4. HEAR ME LIVE ON ROLLING STONE

    This is my favorite song from Kelly. This performance she sounds on good. She sounds 

    just like the song. LISTEN

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7TBguassE

3. BECAUSE OF YOU LIVE ON DUTCH RADIO

    During this performance, I can feel her through my soul. She sounds so soulful, everytime

    I listen to this performance I just close my eyes and listen. TRY IT!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToW56Hj3U0w

2. BREAKAWAY LIVE ON VH1 UNPLUGGED

    This Breakaway album was that cd I listened to when I finally left home for college. I

    listened to this album because I was breaking away from my shelter up bringing. This

    was the album that helped me through this life changed. But this performance of 

    Breakaway is the best. She makes me feel so good, I sing along everytime I hear it, 

    I try to listen to hit every hit too. CHECK IT OUT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwkM_BBUtk8

1. UP TO THE MOUNTAIN LIVE ON IDOL GIVES BACK

    This is my best Kelly Clarkson performance in my opinion. She takes this song to church.

    She she makes me cry. She sings with so emotion. SPEECHLESS

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shTQ5UTbfsM&feature=related

    

Now if you don't feel anything from these performances something is wrong.