Sangers Of Yesterday & Today

My 3 Favorite Sangers of Yesterday & Today

Now I was at work just looking over my blog, and thinking about good ideas for the next couple of blog entries. And I saw that I came up with a good quote "Old & New Makes A Perfect Soundtrack" I figured I would do entries about my favorite female/male singers from yesterday and today. So, this blog entry will be about 6 women that can SANG!!!

Nowadays we have people that can sing and others that can SANG. In today's world for you to be popular, it's NOT about the talent anymore, so I just wanted to use this blog to remind people that talent will outshine gimmicks in the end.

OLD SCHOOL

I figure I start with my favorite sanger of all time "The Empress of Soul", Gladys Knight. Her voice to me is everything it's soulful and emotional at the same time. When Gladys sings "I Don't Want To Do Wrong", you believe her. 

JUST LISTEN: SING TO THEM GLADYS!!

YOU CAN'T TELL ME YOU DON'T FEEL THE EMOTION

I want to take you back when I was first introduced to Gladys Knight. Back in South Carolina, my mother was going college to further her education and music was a big part of lives because it was our only way to be free from the struggle. The love of music in my opinion made our bond stronger. Meanwhile, on campus, Friday nights on QUICKIE 93.9 it was always old soul night with Bob Dickels. Now you would think I would want to play video games, because I wouldn't want to hear that old music. But I actually forgot about the video games and chilled in the living with mom. Dickels would go from Motown to Stax to Chess. So I would hear Marvin Gaye to Otis Redding to Etta James, it was great but one night I heard this...

NEITHER ONE OF US..ONE OF THE GREATEST BREAK-UPS SONGS OF ALL TIME YOU CAN FEEL GLADYS PAIN...GO AHEAD LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!!

I remember asking my mother, "who is this?" "Baby that's Gladys Knight and the Pips, she is my favorite singer", she said. "I like her too mommy, she sounds good", I said. See I knew other singers like Aretha Franklin from her version of Otis Redding Respect and Patti Labelle because she kicked off her shoes when she sings, but I will discuss these two later. From the moment I heard, Neither One of Us every Friday I wanted to hear a song from Gladys Knight because her voice gave me a feeling like no other. Fast forward a few years, we moved back up north and I remember going through my grandparents 8 tracks (yup 8 tracks..lol), and the first thing I looked for was Gladys Knight. After about an hour of searching, I found this album...

(www.amazon.com)

I remember I wanted to hear this all night until my family said "Junior another 8-track please" This album had classics like I've Got To Use My Imagination, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, & the legendary Midnight Train To Georgia. About one year later, my mother and I was watching the classic movie, Claudine with Diahann Carroll. And I said "Ma, is that Gladys singing those songs". She said "yes Gladys Knight and the Pips did the whole soundtrack with Curtis Mayfield". I explained to her that I need this soundtrack and around this time, it was hard to find soundtracks like this. So we found out that that a guy in Brooklyn sold old records like this. So, one day my mother and I rode down to Brooklyn and brought it. It began my favorite soundtrack of all time. 

(www.ebay.com)

And with this soundtrack Gladys Knight will forever be my favorite SANGER of all time.

JUST LISTEN!!!

DIDN'T KNOW YOU

DADDY COULD SWEAR, I DECLARE

IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN

MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA

Now from the "Empress of Soul" to the "Queen of Soul", the legendary Aretha Franklin. Ms Franklin is my 2nd favorite SANGER. I think my first introduction to Aretha was also from listening to Dickel's Friday night show. This was the song that I heard...

ANGEL

RETHA SANGING AINT SHE???

Hmm you thought I would pick something like Respect or Chain of Fools. Nope Dickel was good for playing songs that was not that popular. Anyway, I asked my mother who this was she says "Aretha Franklin!" She explained that my grandparents had a lot of 33's & 45's with Aretha. So I said "ma what is a 33 and 45". Of course she laughed and explained it in great detail. Meanwhile, while Angel was playing and Aretha got to the bridge and it those high notes, I said "WOW she can sing". Now, on Friday I wanted to hear Gladys and Aretha cause they are singing. When we moved up north, I go to the 8 tracks again and found Sparkle 

(www.ebay.com)

And I remember I was blown away with songs like....

LOOK INTO YOUR HEART

IT'S LIKE ARETHA HAS A WAY OF SINGING A SONG IT JUST TAKES YOU SOMEWHERE

My mother explained to me that Sparkle was a movie and that was the soundtrack, even though Aretha's version was recorded before the movie, but it was "said" to be the soundtrack for the movie. So, that day we went to the guy in Brooklyn to get Claudine I asked my mother to get Sparkle too. (I am telling you that ride home listening to those two albums were amazing.)

And with that soundtrack Aretha became my 2nd favorite SANGER of all time. And here's why

DROWN MY OWN TEARS

GIVING HIM SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL

CALL ME

I'M IN LOVE

GOT ONE MORE GREAT SANGER NOW...STAY WITH ME...LOL

Finally to the woman that feels the music when she sings, Patti Patti, the legendary Patti Labelle. I wish they would have gave Patti a nickname or something because she DAMN sure deserves one. I will always remember Patti for kicking off her shoes and get down on the stage. I think my first time hearing about Patti is from my father's mother talking about how Patti sings Over The Rainbow when she was with the Bluebelles. She said when Patti sings she SANGS. So, I remember this song from Patti from the South Carolina days...

THE RIGHT KINDA LOVER

Ohhhh I remember joint, Terry and Lewis did Patti right on this one...I remember this use to come on the THE BIG DM 101 FM alot...when my mother use to pick me up from school. It had the smooth vibe going...

But it wasn't until college when I started learning about Patti's live performances. Patti can hang with the best of them. Just ask Diana Ross (LOL). Patti have performances that will bring tears to your eyes. But Patti still have classic songs like 

IF ONLY YOU KNEW

WHEN SOMEBODY LOVES YOU BABY

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Now for my favorite 3 performances from them.

GLADYS KNIGHT-NEITHER ONE OF US

ARETHA FRANKLIN- NESSUN DORMA

PATTI LABELLE- YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

Now from these performances if these don't put Gladys, Aretha, and Patti in your top 5 SANGERS of all time something is wrong with your hearing. Well at least one person agrees with me Oprah, because these are her top 3 singers she had them sing to her on her 40th birthday, the only time these 3 singers were EVER together...check it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFJYDTCNZ4

NEW SCHOOL

Now it seems these days talent is not the basics of many artist these days. Record companies are about gimmicks and not talent. Many people with the talent are getting pushed to the back instead of getting pushed to the front. But in my opinion, talent outshines all. Nowadays I have 3 singers that I feel can SANG. These ladies are Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, and Kelly Clarkson. These women are my favorites right now. When these women sing, it sends chills through me just like when I heard Gladys, Patti, and Aretha. 

Starting with my favorite right now the underrated Melanie Fiona. I was introduced to Melanie Fiona in my last year in college. One of my college friends, was always posting depressing songs on facebook. I never paid attention to it, I just used to looked at it and say "she needs to get over it". But one day, I saw her post "It Kills Me" and figured I would play the video. And from that moment, I have been #teamMelanieFiona every since...here's why..

IT KILLS ME

YOU CAN'T TELL ME MELANIE NOT SANGING!!!!!!...*praise dancing*

I knew I had to find more music on this girl because if you can make me feel something after a song, you are talented. But I felt I needed to hear her sing this live to really catch me and Melanie closed my mouth after this performance.

HOLD UP, I NEED TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE...JUST A GUITAR AND HER VOICE!!!! 

So after that performance I went to download her first album, The Bridge and I was amazed. This girl can SANG with songs like "Priceless", "You Stop My Heart" and "Teach Him". With her voice, I was like when she comes out with this 2nd album she will be a problem because she has talent. Two years later, her second album is released, The MF Life. Once again, she was amazed me with her voice with songs like these "Gone and Never Coming Back", "Rock Paper, Scissors, and "Wrong Side of A Love Song". Melanie sings with so much feeling and emotion and that's talent with a singer can do that. In my opinion, Melanie should be getting so much more respect then she gets...here's why!!

JUST LISTEN

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG

SAD SONGS

From these songs that's why Melanie Fiona is my favorite singer of the new school.

Now to the blue-eyed soul, Ms. Joss Stone. This girl has so much soul it's ridiculous. I was introduced to Joss Stone by my mother. When in high school my mother use to listen to Wendy Williams on WBLS, and she said one day Wendy played this girl from England her name is Joss Stone. My mother said "that girl can sang", she found out Betty Wright was her mentor. This was one time my mother went to Best Buy to buy her first album, The Soul Sessions. Then we was surprised that she was white, but after we put that album into the CD player when we heard this it didn't matter....

A CHOKIN' KIND

COME ON JOSS TOOK THIS JOE SIMON CLASSIC, AND MADE IT A CLASSIC HERSELF!!! WOOOO

Me and my mother loved The Soul Sessions because Joss Stone songs from the 60's and 70's and SANG them. It wasn't just normal covers, it make you forget about the original versions. (That's Crazy!!!) After that I continued to follow her career with Mind, Body, & Soul, Introducing Joss Stone, Free Me, LP1, & The Soul Sessions Vol 2. Like Melanie, Joss is another great voice that don't get the respect she deserves. Check out these videos to see why Joss needs to get more respect.

KILLING TIME

4 & 20

TEARDROPS

And to end this the last one is the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. I remember when I was introduced to Kelly during her first audition on American Idol. See this was a bonding time with me, my grandma, and my late grandfather. And when I heard Kelly sing "At Last" I said, "she is going to the finals, cause that girl can SANG". See why!!

AT LAST

THOSE RUNS SENDS CHILLS....KELLY IS SANGING RIGHT??

Then when she sung this I knew she was going to win...

NATURAL WOMAN

Then Kelly RIGHTFULLY won American idol and I have been following her career from Thankful to Stronger. Even Simon says that Kelly has the best voice of any American Idol winner. Kelly can just SANG, she can sing any genre: soul, pop, rock, blues, country, and etc. 

SOME KIND OF MIRACLE

HEAR ME

MAYBE

My favorite performances from Melanie Fiona, Joss Stone, & Kelly Clarkson

WRONG SIDE OF A LOVE SONG & GET IT TO ME RIGHT

SPOILED

UP TO THE MOUNTAIN

Maybe one day all three of these SANGERS can be on stage together, SOMEBODY make this happen. 

Now these are MY favorite singers, maybe yours are different but at least we can agree that ALL my picks can SANG!!! 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SANGERS FROM YESTERDAY & TODAY!!

  

The Album I Can't Get Enough Of

"Emotions" (1991)

Mariah Carey's "Emotions" for the last month I've been listening to everyday. I knew of this album but I really never listen to in its entirely. So, on twitter one of the trending topics was what was your favorite album from Mariah Carey most of my followers said the album "Emotions". See I never had a favorite Mariah album because she was not one of favorite artists. Now Mariah can SANG, but I never really listened to her albums in full expect "The Emancipation of Mimi". After seeing many of followers talking about the "Emotions" album I felt I will give it a full listen. Even though, I already knew songs like 'Emotions', the inspirational 'Make It Happen', and my then favorite song 'Can't Let Go'. When I finally listened to this album, it become one of my top favorite albums of all time. I absolutely love this album. Mariah was SANGING on this album. This album made me have so much more respect for her. Now as I give my "emotions" on this masterpiece, you will realize that I have 3 new favorite songs from her.

Track By Track Reviews (My Emotions of each song)

1. Emotions- The title track of the album was always great to me. I remember this song when I was in kindergarten and we used to play the radio during lunch and I remember singing this song with my class. (Yup this tells my age...lol) But I remember when the class used to try to hit the those high notes she did at the end. (Imagine high pitch 5 year olds trying to sing..classic!) This track was a very known track that I knew from Mariah because of the memories from kindergarten.
2. And You Don't Remember- One of my new favorite songs from Mariah. This was a track that I never heard before. The only time I knew about this song was when I saw Mariah do interview and they asked her what was her favorite song from this album she said 'And You Don't Remember'. This song sent chills through my body because the harmonies and her sanging was legendary. In addition, this song connected to me because made me think about situations that I have dealt it. It's like you gave your heart to someone and they don't remember the great/loving things they told you. But the thing that really gets you with this song is when she hits that high note graciously during the bridge.
3. Can't Let Go- This song use to be my favorite of mine from Mariah but since I have listened to this album in full this song is still great but 3 other songs in my opinion are better than this. But before my full listen, I used to love this song because of the smoothless, Mariah brought you into the song with her voice. During a time when I thought that someone really care for me but I turned out to be wrong, I really felt that Mariah was saying everything I wanted to say, and when she sings "and every night I see you in my dreams". I used to sing this and try to hit the note at the end, but one time I was singing with such emotion, I actually hit the note at the end. So that high note makes perfect sense at the end Mariah...lol 
4. Make It Happen- This song was also a song that I knew from her. I remember this song from the video with her in the church. This song is very inspirational, during my college days when I wasn't going to church on Sunday's I used to have Gospel playlist, this song was on there. Now we know Mariah is known for those high notes, but on this song it wasn't needed. She didn't over do it on this song. The part of the song that gets me is when she sings "I held onto my faith I struggled and prayed, and finally found my way". If you need a song with inspiration and a great beat, I recommend this song.
5. If It's Over - As I stated, I didn't know a lot about Mariah, so one day I was on youtube and I found this performance of her singing this song on the Grammys. That performance was epic, but it still didn't make me go listen to the album version. Every time someone would ask me about this song, I would say "have you seen her performance of this song on the Grammys". But finally after listening to the album version, I understand why Oprah wanted her to sing this song on her show. This song is great, but I feel that Grammy performance made the song legendary.
6. You're So Cold - This song is most definitely an album filler. But what draws me into this song is the beginning because it sounds like the beginning of the O'Jays "Backstabbers". With the O'Jays being in my favorite group of all time, Mariah had me from the beginning, when she hit that high note in the beginning then it was over, I was like "damn this girl has range". Every time this song plays, I rock out to it like if it's hip hop song. 
7. So Blessed - Another favorite of mine. I play this song every Sunday before church. Maybe Mariah talking about a person, but I feel like she is SANGING to GOD. It's like when you get to this song on the album, you realize maybe you have been hurt but you are blessed to see another day. "You are my heart, my everything, feeling you now is all I need". When she says this song, it continues to send chills up my shine. (I am listening to the song as I type this...*shakes from chills*). From this song and 'Make It Happen' you know that Mariah is very spiritual. Thank you Mariah for another inspirational song in my eyes.
8. To Be Around You - This song gives me the vibe of a 70s party, like from the scene in Claudine where Claudine plays "On & On" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and the party gets live where the people start doing the bump. Mariah gives me that vibe in this song. The end of the song where background vocalist harmonize with people talking was a great ending to the song.
9. Til The End of Time - This is my 2nd favorite track from the album. This song is so smooth. Mariah takes you to another place on this record. You can just close your eyes and imagine the person you want to be with and sing this to them. There is really no words to describe this song, but LEGENDARY!
10. The Wind - I love how she uses the wind in the background while the piano and her vocals sound great together. I feel that Mariah wanted this song to be more about the instruments which I love, which gives you that jazzy/blues vibe. This song was a great way to end an emotional album, as she lets instruments finish the album.

Well these are my emotions for each track of this masterpiece of an album. I see why many of my twitter followers love this album so much. I have such more respect for Mariah after hearing this album. I know it's late to give a review of this 21 year old album, but a masterpiece album like this I had to. If you don't have this album in your collection you need to get it.

MY TOP 3 FAVORITES SONGS

(LISTEN TO THE GREATNESS)

AND YOU DON'T REMEMBER

SO BLESSED

TIL THE END OF TIME

THE GRAMMY PERFORMANCE OF IF ITS OVER

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.