About Me

London, United Kingdom
Im just the bartender here....I serve you the Long Island tea, the olives and listen to you.....then I blog...neat isnt it..

Saturday 21 August 2010

Heather Headley - I Wish I Wasn't



If there was a woman who could give you soul and not break sweat (amongst the other queens of my heart music wise) Heather would be that one woman who could drop it on a penny. I think I have gotten her more followers over time than any other individual fan on earth (take that to the bank!) She croons it like it should be, her lines like cocaine make you high and her facial expressions........blaquesque (yes I made up a word) are as amazing as they come. She embodies every black woman in her pain and her longing and her fears.

Ever since I have been old enough I have seen every woman as a queen and seen them struggle through hurt and pain and sanity of life. I would go crazy if I was a woman (maybe not, life could be interesting....hmmmm the things I'd do!) but then me as a woman would just be one great insane world.

The world we live in is one big puzzle with pieces littered everywhere. Heather has almost all the time helped me put some of the pieces together, she sings and I understand and I go try make the woman happy.

For those who fall in love with this track check out,"In my Mind, He Is and Me time which I will definitely share sometime soon!

Friday 20 August 2010

John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change



This is one guy that should have been born black and in either Louisiana or somewhere down South. With all the Orleans type tracks John Mayer has had; he has put himself in the world map with tracks that make you swoon.
A guitar playing kid is what I saw then someone, my one time BFF said "seriously Listen to this" and that was me hooked. There was gravity, there was Daughters and Im sure if I go on I will get to list the whole Continium album.
My first copy was a live one and it was awesome to me, sounded like I was in a smokey bar (pardon the ban people, it just makes you smell fresher) and just taking it all in, the string buzzing on a Yahama guitar, the foot tapping and the body movement of all those that appreciate good music. I think this is one of the best songs ever made. The lyrics are absolutely amazing.
It'll be a disgrace if there is even one person who dies without listening to this song.
Amazing beats, piano, vocals, harmonies mixed with such a great message.
As John said we keep waiting, on the world to change!

Officially Missing You - Tamia



I didn't really pick Tamia this evening,I was just humming to myself another Tamia track (Nope, I ain't gonna tell which one!) and this came up. I like lil lady, she does things to me. Older, matured, no funny bunny mood here, she's one of my axis ladies.

Anita Baker, Paula Abdul, Pebbles, I could go on. Some ladies in music have been my teenage years, my 20's, my 30's spooners (I spoon to them!) They make you not want sex but want to hold and be held.

She has served up "Into You" which to me is one of the most amazing "I love you" songs ever. If you appreciate music you'll appreciate Tamia and everything about her. Just so you know.....I am officially missing you, live it up!

Can You Stand The Rain - New Edition



I know, I have objections to the video too, but tell me who in the 90's (some till now) did not have a BBD, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill or Ralph Transvant track on their walkman? Yeah Bobby wasn't always there (thank you Bobby, you took a great thing from the group!)
But then if Bobby didn't take the journey he did how would we appreciate Johnny's voice, Ralph's sexiness, Ricky Bell's tune it in "no pressure from me...." Michael Biven's producing and Ronnie Devoe's...........ok I'm really not sure what Ronnie did but this was New Edition!

I couldn't remember going a month, nay a week without hearing their music, they were super with a capital S. No one not even B2M could give them a run, they were the group to be and they set the pace.

When times are rough and you see a bit of grey all over the place, best thing to do is to ask yourself, "Can You Stand It". There was a day I couldn't really stand the rain but then I had a friend borrow me a shoulder to lean on, that's what friends are for I guess. I got the wizard of Oz, some booze and a great evening that cemented a great period in time. There's no better way to stand the rain, find a friend!

Ladies and Gentlemen, New Edition!

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Diddy - Dirty Money - Hello Good Morning ft. T.I., Rick Ross



My name is Diddy, I hold the keys to the city.....Vanity is well and truly alive and probably never left his domain. P-Diddy is the only other person apart from JayZ that can make a line word holy in the name of rap.
How many people put their BB status to "hello; Good morning"...way too many that I know. It is catchy, it is modern and it has the Boss, Rick Ross. What more can you want? The lyrics were sublime, the rhythm is catchy, the track is a club banger in all senses. If you're a DJ and you ever want to get people out of their seats all you need is this track...while its still banging though!

Id Die Without You - PM DAWN



How do you describe a track that says it all. How do you say the words "Id die without you" to a partner and not remember this track. It was the tune from Boomerang that made Eddie Murphy look like he was a love struck little boy, it sent him into mush mode.
PM dawn suffered from bad management as many people thought they deserved to have been bigger than they ended up being. This track and "Set Adrift on memory bliss" were a really good listen to me and I am sure they were to a lot more people.

I do hope you all enjoy this. I sure did.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Boyz II Men - I Can't Make You Love Me



There should be a recommended dosage for how much you can love songs that preach love, there should also be a warning for how much you can love Boys II Men. From the "End of the Road" to "I'll Make Love to You" we all have at some point in time listened to them and thought to ourselves where are these guys! What have they done to me! How come they haven't graced us with more over the years!
I know of very few people that have heard the album "Love" but those that have swear by its potency. Not since Chante Moore and Kenny Latimore's album "Things That Lovers Do" has a track made me wonder, "I Can't Make You Love Me" is deep, deeper than a lot of things that you can ever find in the journey any of us would make in the name of music.
I sat in on a flight from JFK to Heathrow in December 09 and listened to this on my Ipod, it made me shudder a minute later I was asleep till we were over London, good music does that to you. How could a group like this not have more albums over this period? 20 years and their music is still relevant to all of us, its a long time but then so is life!
I'm sorry I didn't get an official video, their videos are as awesome as their music, those who remember the movie Boomerang will tell you

Matchbox Twenty - If You're gone



This has to be my heartbreak love song of the 90's. Rob Thomas has to be (if I was a girl) one of the most handsome and gifted singers that isn't black in my opinion!
I pride myself as being the real life walking music library, nothing grows old on me and this is one track that has always led to memories.
I think I've already lost you, I think you're already gone, I think I'm finally scared now, you think I'm weak, but I think you're wrong....
That my dear audience (great to assume I have one Lol) is the heart of a real man talking. Men are built not to show emotion as we all feel we are strong and hard and all but we seem never to realize that the thing that makes us hurt the most is that small fact that we never acknowledge how much we love, and darn are we lovers.
A guy can only fake it for so long (not as long as a girl obviously) one thing he cant fake is the truth when he's in love.
Rob Thomas said he wrote this when he fell in love and realized he could lose the woman he loved,the thought of how he would feel if he ever lost his woman spurred this song, that's plenty of love.

Note the beautiful black chic with short hair laughing at the story in 0.28 seconds. The look on her face alone tells you how much love means to black women, now think of how emotional it is coming from a white guy, it isn't jungle fever its love TKO!

Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire



I try to understand music, no matter how much I try there are some tracks that just make you wonder. Kings of Leon have been around for a minute and sound like they could be listed on an act with U2 in the early years (on this track especially).
For an American mainstream band they're actually more well versed in knowing how to "rock the crowd"
Most of the present day rock bands tend to want to make noise and just toss in the guitar in a "we are rock" type state of existence but K.O.L did a bit better, they polished up on this track and the result is a track that keeps you humming (especially when you're thinking why am I humming!)
I know what you're saying, dude if you're having issues on what makes them tick why are you talking about them? Well I saw this on my mates status and it was bewildering, listened to it and since then when I want to remember the crazy smile of mischief the name of the track brings I just play it.
Here's to you mischief, here's to Kings of Leon.

Sunday 8 August 2010

Lifehouse - You and Me



Ok, Im a sucker for really good songs, Lifehouse made the list based on a few things,one of which was they rocked my world in the early 2000's and they left an impression. That impression not only blew sky high like a rocket from Cape Canaveral but sent me to swooning when I heard "You and Me".

Lifehouse is American and for a rock band formed in 1996 (under the original name Blyss) they have come a long way.
After one album as Blyss, the band changed to Lifehouse (for No Name Face in 2000 I will give you another track from that particular album sometime soon....maybe). The success of the album was due in part to the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" (ok, cats out of the bag!)and much of the focus was on the frontman and creative force in the band, Jason Wade.

Jason did what a lot of frontmen do for a band, he gave them a presence and a being. It was a toss up between this track and "Broken". I felt the time isnt ripe for that track yet, it is going to come and it will be insane because it will bring back insane memories to anyone who has ever been broken in heart or mind.
You have to give it to them, the yanks do have some of the best rock bands ever when it comes to good music, from the East coast rapper who can drop it on a dime to west coast rock star who can give it to you straight and sweet. From Jason Wade to Chad Kroeger ....(Is that a hint for what the next track is?)
Lifehouse is not for everyone, it takes getting into...and Im in deep!
To the Ladies....make the guy in your life listen to this, you'll love him more after he appreciates this type of music!

Luther Vandross - Can I Take You Out (Tonight)?



Luther Vandross is a god! His every breath oozed love and life and he registered his time on earth with more than just ballads but gave us memories of how good we all have it when we are wooing a partner/mate/girl friend etc..
I got to know this track in 1995 and when he got a Grammy I knew it was deserving of the award. It is a science to know what will make a woman listen to you, it is an art to be able to deliver the line the way it is meant to be delivered and get the girl.
Excuse me miss, what's your name, where you from, can I come? Possibly, can I take you out tonight. That track alone can get you the girl! So good, JayZ had to borrow the line!
Luther gave the world more than love songs, he gave the world love. His music from his tracks alone to the duets with Janet Jackson, Gregory Hines and beyond let you feel the passion he puts into his music and you will appreciate the effort put into the production.
This track will be one of maybe 50 Luther tracks I will review. This however is a special one being not only the first in this blog but to me the best track to open your way into a beeline to a woman, you can only use the tools you have they say!
8 time Grammy Award winner Luther gave us love and I give you the Late Luther Vandross; Can I take you out tonight......If only.
Lil message however.....to the movies, to the park, I'll have you home before its dark, let me know......Let me know.
For more on Luther check Wikipedia

Thursday 5 August 2010

The Fray - You Found Me



Years ago someone introduced me to The Fray, never and I mean never had something sounded so there to me as "How to save a Life". It practically pulled me up from some hard memories of a loss. The title of this track "You Found Me" says a lot. First line; I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad....I lived in the States when I was younger and 1st street was always hard...usually means it could go all the way from there to a hundred and twenty first!!!! Amistad on the other hand was a movie any black man has to see, it helps you to realize how cold life is when you're tied down as a slave to life or love.
I could break down all the lines in the song but listening to it is way better.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you, The Fray.... You found me.
My best and worst line in this song was the line "But in the end everyone ends up alone"....so cold, yet so true.

Music and Me

You'll be amazed. I have criss crossed genres with as much mileage as a Virgin Atlantic Airbus! I love music and it cant be helped. I'm the guy who you'll find with over 25000 tracks on his Ipod (hey apple did say it was to carry your music library around with you!)
I once left my Ipod at home and stood at duty free contemplating if I could survive without music, guess what, a quick stroll into Dixons and £200 less later I had another 160GB pod and all it took was half the plane ride from Heathrow to JFK to fill it!
This blog is my view on music and I can assure the poor sod whose reading this I'm probably as insane as you think, I've got more than 1000 musicians and 40000 tracks I could review and today begins one of the best days of my life!
I invite you to my world, those who know me well know I tend to find a song for every situation or a song that says I'm happy, I'm sad, I'm helpless about my situation and I'm the happiest man alive. That's what music does to you, it makes you whole. Share in my wholeness.
I will be choosing a song a post and hopefully You tube will have a great video to lead you into it.