This has got to be one of the most monumental days for pop music. Michael Jackson has died. I'm still in complete shock over it. It's just somehow unbelievable that someone who seemed so immortal is gone.
He was not a perfect person. We all know this. But he was an AMAZING performer and musician. He will be missed.
He will always be our King of Pop.
Here's my favorite song of his. I'll be listening to it all day today. Sadly, there was never a video for it, but this is a nice retrospective of all the different Michaels we've seen over the years.
And no tribute would be complete without the two of his biggest (and longest) videos:
Thriller
Watch Michael Jackson - Thriller (Full Length) in Music | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Bad (directed by Scorsese, feat. Wesley Snipes)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A Favor
I don't do this very often, but I'm about to get real personal on this blog.
When I was in undergrad, I became friends with a fabulous, gorgeous mezzo named Jamie who was married to an equally fabulous man named Jimmy. A few years ago, we lost Jimmy to suicide. You never think that it will happen to anyone that you know. You never think that it could happen to you or the ones that you love. But it does. It affects so many people in our country. Someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes. This statistic boggles my mind.
So this weekend, I'm walking in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's "Out of the Darkness Overnight" in memory of Jimmy and for all the people that struggle with suicide and depression. I would really appreciate any donations possible, and please know that every little bit helps. If you can't donate yourself, please spread the word.
It will make a world of difference and can help save someone's life.
Please donate to my page here
Many Thanks,
Chitownmez
When I was in undergrad, I became friends with a fabulous, gorgeous mezzo named Jamie who was married to an equally fabulous man named Jimmy. A few years ago, we lost Jimmy to suicide. You never think that it will happen to anyone that you know. You never think that it could happen to you or the ones that you love. But it does. It affects so many people in our country. Someone dies from suicide every 16 minutes. This statistic boggles my mind.
So this weekend, I'm walking in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's "Out of the Darkness Overnight" in memory of Jimmy and for all the people that struggle with suicide and depression. I would really appreciate any donations possible, and please know that every little bit helps. If you can't donate yourself, please spread the word.
It will make a world of difference and can help save someone's life.
Please donate to my page here
Many Thanks,
Chitownmez
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Another Week Gone By
It has been a really LONG week, hence no posting. I'm wrapping up a set of concerts tonight in Millennium Park so next week, it'll be back to regular postings. For now, to tide you over, here's a little somethin' somethin' to remind everyone that summertime is finally here in Chicago! Now, you'll have to excuse me while I put off my homework (again) to go play in the sunshine. (This video makes me miss Daytona...almost.)
You know what else comes with summer? Dating. And with dating comes crushes, expectations, excitement, and heartbreak. Here's one of my favorite slam poets, Big Poppa E. It pretty much sums up what I'd like to find right now. *sigh* I mean, really? What girl wouldn't want to make a fort with the guy she likes?
So what are you all waiting around here for? Get out there! It's summer!
You know what else comes with summer? Dating. And with dating comes crushes, expectations, excitement, and heartbreak. Here's one of my favorite slam poets, Big Poppa E. It pretty much sums up what I'd like to find right now. *sigh* I mean, really? What girl wouldn't want to make a fort with the guy she likes?
So what are you all waiting around here for? Get out there! It's summer!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Fight
I have been fighting so hard to ignore Lady GaGa. She's all over the damn place, but after what I saw today, I had to post.
The girl is talented. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind. She's truly outrageous (in that Jem kinda way) and I'm slowly falling in love with her. This will probably be the first of many posts that I will write.
But at least it's better than the Kenny Chesney concert that I'm forced to listen to right now. He's playing at Soldier Field and there is no escaping what is coming in from my porch. *sigh* (actually, to tell the absolute truth...I started up the grill and have been eating my dinner on the porch listening to the crowd singing along. It's not as bad as I thought)
Update:
The girl is crazy. I love her. Found another acoustic version which is a bit more raw and edgy than the one up above. Take a look. Very interesting to see how she can differ her artistic interpretation of the same song.
The girl is talented. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind. She's truly outrageous (in that Jem kinda way) and I'm slowly falling in love with her. This will probably be the first of many posts that I will write.
But at least it's better than the Kenny Chesney concert that I'm forced to listen to right now. He's playing at Soldier Field and there is no escaping what is coming in from my porch. *sigh* (actually, to tell the absolute truth...I started up the grill and have been eating my dinner on the porch listening to the crowd singing along. It's not as bad as I thought)
Update:
The girl is crazy. I love her. Found another acoustic version which is a bit more raw and edgy than the one up above. Take a look. Very interesting to see how she can differ her artistic interpretation of the same song.
Rain
The weather in Chicago these past few weeks has sucked. Today was no exception. It's been raining all morning long, and I have yet to even open one book to start my homework. It's been one of those days where I've just been ruminating on things that I shouldn't be reflecting on. But from stormy skies and rainy days come better things...like Missy.
I've been meaning to write a blog post exonerating all the amazing creativity that comes from this one woman. Missy Elliott is one of the few women artists that I truly respect and admire. Every video she puts out is unique and surprising. She is a woman who is always ahead of her time.
When The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) first came out back in 1997, everyone was amazed at the trashbag on her body, the stopmotion camera work, and the overall weird feel of the video. Nothing like this had ever really been seen before in the pop music of the 90's. The angles of her body, the overly magnified facial features, and futuristic sets all came from the genius mind of Hype Williams, who's worked with the likes of Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, t.A.T.u., and Coldplay. Check out his extensive videography here.
What many people don't realize however, is that producer Timbaland sampled the chorus from an old 70's hit by Ann Peebles. Check out the original song along with some pictures of Ann from back in the day.
What can I say? Homegirl can still work it after all these years. (There's some great footage at the beginning of this next video of the the writers talking about what inspired them to write this song followed by Ms. Peebles singing it live. Definitely worth watching.)
So yes, the rain and haunting memories might suck right now, but there's always something just a bit better right around the corner, like the afternoon sunshine that's finally breaking through all these damn clouds.
I've been meaning to write a blog post exonerating all the amazing creativity that comes from this one woman. Missy Elliott is one of the few women artists that I truly respect and admire. Every video she puts out is unique and surprising. She is a woman who is always ahead of her time.
When The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) first came out back in 1997, everyone was amazed at the trashbag on her body, the stopmotion camera work, and the overall weird feel of the video. Nothing like this had ever really been seen before in the pop music of the 90's. The angles of her body, the overly magnified facial features, and futuristic sets all came from the genius mind of Hype Williams, who's worked with the likes of Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, t.A.T.u., and Coldplay. Check out his extensive videography here.
What many people don't realize however, is that producer Timbaland sampled the chorus from an old 70's hit by Ann Peebles. Check out the original song along with some pictures of Ann from back in the day.
What can I say? Homegirl can still work it after all these years. (There's some great footage at the beginning of this next video of the the writers talking about what inspired them to write this song followed by Ms. Peebles singing it live. Definitely worth watching.)
So yes, the rain and haunting memories might suck right now, but there's always something just a bit better right around the corner, like the afternoon sunshine that's finally breaking through all these damn clouds.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
On Being a Student
It sucks being a broke student, having to wait on money that you know is coming (thank you financial aid office), but just unsure of when it is coming (again, thanks a lot financial aid. really. any day now would be great.)
So to rejoice in all that is great (and awful) about being a student, I give you:
It's a classic that everyone knows and loves, For the Love of Money by The O'Jays.
Some days, I really wish I had been born just a few years earlier. The 70's look so fun, what with their sparkly suits and big hair. Of course, it was far from perfect though, with a crap economy, continual struggle for civil rights, and oh yeah, a little something called the Vietnam War.
But still, I would love to go back just for one day to experience what our culture was like back then. Pop music was made for celebrating good times (and bad), artists weren't afraid to sweat on stage to put on a good show, and there was no such thing as lip-synching. Musicians knew how to really play live and having a brass section backing you up meant you were the shit. Funk was truly badass.
I can haz disco nau plz?
So to rejoice in all that is great (and awful) about being a student, I give you:
It's a classic that everyone knows and loves, For the Love of Money by The O'Jays.
Some days, I really wish I had been born just a few years earlier. The 70's look so fun, what with their sparkly suits and big hair. Of course, it was far from perfect though, with a crap economy, continual struggle for civil rights, and oh yeah, a little something called the Vietnam War.
But still, I would love to go back just for one day to experience what our culture was like back then. Pop music was made for celebrating good times (and bad), artists weren't afraid to sweat on stage to put on a good show, and there was no such thing as lip-synching. Musicians knew how to really play live and having a brass section backing you up meant you were the shit. Funk was truly badass.
I can haz disco nau plz?
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Something Brand New
Today you get two posts for the price of one!
I have to admit though, I'm not too thrilled about this second post of mine. DMB has released their first video off of their newest album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. The song, Funny the Way it is, has already become a great summer anthem among fans and the general public alike. But I was in for a shock when I clicked play.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to post the video itself yet. Here's the link to watch it. Take a look and you tell me. Just what in the hell were they thinking?
I have to admit though, I'm not too thrilled about this second post of mine. DMB has released their first video off of their newest album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. The song, Funny the Way it is, has already become a great summer anthem among fans and the general public alike. But I was in for a shock when I clicked play.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to post the video itself yet. Here's the link to watch it. Take a look and you tell me. Just what in the hell were they thinking?
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