ART

A is for actor

James Franco = one of my favourite actors. MILK.PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.JAMES DEAN.

Adam Lambert = subject of much controversy lately – conveniently around the time of his album release. Just let the guy be already…

P.S. I’m still bumping “Broken Open”

A is for award

The prestigious Grammy Award Nominations were announced last night and Queen B is heading the pack with 10 nominations. I’m not one to disagree with this stat as it has most definitely been her year!

Click here to see the full list of the nominees/award categories

A is for

AMERIE

I think she is so beautiful

A is also for ASOS…Rachel Bilson appears on the cover of the December issue of ASOS magazine…

THE O.C. BELLE

A is also for

CLICK HERE

Anticipation has a habit to set you up

For disappointment in evening entertainment but
Tonight there’ll be some love

Afternoon

ARCTIC MONKEYS. ANIMAL COLLECTIVE. ALICIA KEYS.

ANDRE 3000 = insane = amazing

ARETHA. AUDIO BULLYS.

Aaliyah

Such a beautiful, wonderful woman, who is truly missed. I still bump her tunes.

She will never be forgotten.

KEYS, ARETHA, ROOTS BOOKED UNDER
NBC’S TREE

Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and
the Roots join a lineup of
performers for NBC’s 12th annual
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center,”
scheduled to air Wednesday, Dec. 2
from 8-9pm ET/PT.

DISNEY’S BLACK PRINCESS ALREADY A
HIT

“The Princess and the Frog”
merchandise is apparently flying
off the shelves despite the film
being weeks away from its debut in
theaters. Tiana is outselling other
Disney Princess merchandise by
double digit percentages.

TV ONE SETS THANKSGIVING TABLE

TV One is calling its Thanksgiving
weekend lineup “a schedule full of
family, fun and lots of music,”
including the TV One premiere of
“Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,
” starring Brandy and Whitney
Houston at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5
p.m. ET.

FANTASIA IS A “HOMEWRECKER”?

Star Magazine is reporting that
Fantasia Barrino is dating a
married man. Antwaun Cook, a 30-
year-old father of two, allegedly
left his teacher wife and their 4-
and 1-year-old sons — and moved
into the “American Idol” winner’s
$1.3 million mansion in North
Carolina.

MOTOWN’S 50TH DRAWS GORDY, STEVIE,
ARETHA

Motown Record’s 50th anniversary
was celebrated in its Detroit
hometown Saturday with an all-star
lineup of talent from the historic
label joining non-Motown Motor City
heroes to perform in concert.

GAYLE KING TO FILL OPRAH’S DAYTIME
VOID?

It certainly pays to have the title
of “Oprah’s Best Friend.” According
to the New York Post, Gayle King is
reportedly meeting with CBS to
discuss plans for a possible talk
show after “The Oprah Winfrey Show”
exits in 2011.

Oprah’s new cable network OWN will
debut in January 2011 — eight
months before Oprah Winfrey’s
syndicated talk show airs its final
episode and three years after the
joint venture with Discovery
Communications was originally
formed

In 1967, Aretha Franklin popularized an Otis Redding song titled, Respect.  You probably remember the chorus in which Aretha spells out R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  Aretha won two Grammys in 1968 for her rendition of the song which struck a chord with millions of women on its way to becoming a number one hit.  Regardless of Redding’s or Franklin’s original intent, the plea for respect at the heart of the song strikes a chord with everyone.  We all seek respect and recognition from those around us.  Aretha says, “find out what it means to me” and as I considered that statement it occurred to me that respect means a great deal to each of us. The desire for respect and recognition comes from a source deep within us - that desire originates within our soul!

I believe we all have a sense of our inherent value that springs from the fact that God created each of us in His image.  I believe the sense in which I have been created in God’s image refers to my eternal soul which forms the essence of my being.  My soul has inherent value regardless of how others may esteem me because I have been made in essence by God and I am loved unconditionally by Him.  In fact, we are each loved by God so much that He sent His one and only Son to earth to save us.  The question is: What will I do to recognize and respect the inherent value of the souls around me?  In my last post, I wrote about the agapé love we are to have for each other and I described how this type of love drives us to seek the best interest of those around us including our workmates.  I also told you I would introduce you to a special company that practices agapé love in the workplace in a very profound and effective way.  The name of the company is United Supermarkets, LLC.  United operates the United, MarketStreet and Amigos brand stores.

Dan Sanders, the Chief Executive Officer of United wrote a book in 2008 describing the United Supermarkets model for success.  The book is titled, Built to Serve: How to Drive the Bottom Line with People-First Practices and it described the people-first philosophy that makes United distinctive.  The United philosophy is centered on the notion that we are all here to serve one another (agapé love) and a good business model is one that is built on servant-hood.  Dan writes:

“We at United Supermarkets believe that servant-hood is about helping others realize their potential by focusing not on their weaknesses but on their strengths. Those who choose to lead, regardless of their position in an organization, have a responsibility to help people prepare to make the most of the opportunities afforded them.”

I know the business philosophies that Dan writes about in Built to Serve are not just words on a page or lofty platitudes on posters in a break room.  The associates at United believe and live this servant-hood agapé love philosophy.  If you want proof, go shop at a United or Marketstreet store. 

Our local Marketstreet is my family’s favorite grocery store.  We shop there for the quality and the great service.  However, in spite of the great service, high quality products, clean attractive stores and genuinely helpful friendly people, I have been most impressed by the Marketstreet folks that help me to my car with my grocery bags.  I noticed that several of my parking lot escorts were folks with special needs.  I have since found out that United makes a special effort to employ folks with special needs and put them to work in areas of the business where their abilities will lead to success for these individuals and the store.  Most of these happy, friendly and very capable employees have been shunned by other businesses that did not have an organizational model that could see past the weaknesses of these people to appreciate their strengths.  This is not charity, this is good business!  My experience with the Marketstreet associates especially my parking lot escorts prompted me to pick up Dan’s book from the end cap and explore what makes this unusual company tick.  Guess what?  It’s agapé love that makes United work!  They are looking after the best interests of the folks in the community beginning with the associates that work in the stores.  They have each others’ backs!

We all seek respect and esteem from those around us.  Let’s pay attention to this lesson from Dan Sanders and the folks at United.  The people you work with every day have been created by God in His image and they are loved by God individually just like you.  They have inherent value and specific strengths and talents given to them by God.  They are worthy of respect and esteem regardless of how society and has tended to value them.  Aretha was right about respect and what it means to you and me.  This week let’s have each others’ backs at work by showing respect for each other as fellow children of God.  I think that would make our Father proud.

Next Monday, let’s spend a little more time looking at United’s model for treating people right in the workplace.  Until then,

Meet me at the intersection!

Mike

I am a music lover. While I have not been especially blessed musically as far as talent goes- I have a huge passion for it. Lyrics are a part of a song that really make a big impact on me. I’ve had experiences where I cannot stand a song- until I’ve paid some attention to the lyrics- and then had my mind changed completely [for example the song Paralyzer by Finger Eleven.. the lyrics in question: "Well I’m not paralyzed/But, I seem to be struck by you/I want to make you move/Because you’re standing still/If your body matches/What your eyes can do/You’ll probably move right through/Me on my way to you"]

Don’t get me wrong, the way a song sounds is vitally important as well… songs are indeed a package deal. But for a comparative study, I’m just going to focus on lyrics. 

I am a huge Beatles fan, and a huge admirer of their song’s lyrics. So I have decided to take a look at some of the songs that topped the charts back in the year 1967, while they were consistently topping the charts, and compare those songs to the songs dwelling on the top of the charts today in an attempt to see if there is any difference in the quality of music that is ‘popular’ and being produced now. Here is a link to the website I found to help me out in finding top songs of the year 1967: http://tsort.info/music/yr1967.htm

And for the top 100 as of today (10/20/09): 

http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?begin=1&order=position

And now without further ado, I present to you

Lyrics: A Comparative Study

*I would like to mention quickly that I made these selections for the most part randomly.

1967 #1: A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum

“If music be the food of love/Then laughter is its queen/And likewise if behind is in front/Then dirt in truth is clean/My mouth by then like cardboard/Seemed to slip straight through my head/So we crash-dived straightway quickly/And attacked the ocean bed”

Today #1: 3 by Britney Spears

“Babe, pick a night/To come out and play/If it’s alright/What do you say?/Merrier the more/Triple fun that way/Twister on the floor/What do you say?/Are – you in/Livin’ in sin is the new thing (yeah)/Are – you in/I am countin’!/1, 2, 3″

1967 #3 All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done./Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung./Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game./It’s easy.
/Nothing you can make that can’t be made./No one you can save that can’t be saved./Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time./It’s easy./All you need is love”

Today #3: Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus

“So I put my hands up, they’re playin’ my song/The butterflies fly away, I’m noddin’ my head like “Yeah!”/Movin’ my hips like “Yeah!”/Got my hands up, they’re playin’ my song/I know i’m gonna be ok/Yeah! It’s a party in the USA!/Yeah! It’s a party in the USA!/Get to the club in my taxi cab, everybody’s lookin’ at me now/Like “Who’s that chick that’s rockin’ kicks, she’s gotta be from outta town”/So hard with my girls not around me/It’s definitely not a Nashville party/cause all I see is stilettos/I guess I never got the memo”

1967 #7 Penny Lane by The Beatles

“Penny Lane is in my ears and in my ears /Full of fish and finger pies /in summer meanwhile back /Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout /A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray /And though she feels as if she’s in a play /She is anyway /Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer /We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim /And then the fireman rushes in from the pouring rain /very strange.”

Today #7 Paparazzi by Lady GaGa

“I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me/Papa, paparazzi/Baby, there’s no other superstar, you know that I’ll be/Your papa, paparazzi/Promise I’ll be kind/But I won’t stop until that boy is mine/Baby, you’ll be famous, chase you down until you love me/Papa, paparazzi”

1967 #32 Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin

“Every chain has got a weak link /I might be weak child, but I’ll give you strength /You told me to leave you alone /My father said come on home /My doctor said take it easy /Whole bunch of lovin is much too strong /I’m added to your chain, chain, chain /Chain, chain, chain, chain, /Chain, chain of fools “

Today #32 Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship

“I know your type/Boy you’re dangerous/And you’re that guy/I’d be stupid to trust/But just one night couldn’t be so wrong/You make me wanna lose control/She was so shy/‘Til I drove her wild/I make them good girls go bad/I make them good girls go bad/I was hanging in the corner/With my five best friends/I heard that you were trouble but I couldn’t resist/I make them good girls go bad/I make them good girls go/Good girls go bad”

1967 #50 Baby, Now That I’ve Found You by The Foundations

“Baby, baby, since first we met (doot-doot)/I knew in this heart of mine (I wanna tell you, doot-doot)/The love we had could not be bad (doot-doot)/Play it right and bide my time/Spent a lifetime looking for somebody/To give me love like you/Now you’ve told me that you wanna leave me/Darling, I just can’t let you.”

Today #50 Please Don’t Leave Me by Pink

“Can’t you tell that this is all just a contest?/The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest/But baby I don’t mean it/I mean it, I promise/Da da da, da da/Please don’t leave me/Oh please don’t leave me/I always say how I don’t need you/But it’s always gonna come right back to this/Please, don’t leave me
I forgot to say out loud how beautiful you really are to me/I cannot be without, you’re my perfect little punching bag/And I need you, I’m sorry/Da da da, da da”

1967 #60 It Must Be Him by Vikki Carr

“After a while, I’m myself again/I take the pieces off the floor/Put my heart on the shelf again/You’ll never hurt me anymore
I’m not a puppet on a string/I’ll find somebody else someday/That’s when the phone rings, and once again/I start to pray
Let it please be him, oh dear God/It must be him , it must be him
or I shall die, Or I shall die/Oh hello, hello my dear God/It must be him but it’s not him/And then I die/That’s when I die”

Today #60 Ice Cream Paint Job by Dorrough

“Be around tint no window light/Car ride smooth so the rims all white/That right there see see I like /Got the top notch slab for da dirt cheap price/Press one button car automatic start (start)/Stand too close car alarm might bark (like what)/Arff Arff like a Q dog/Prime time click make you move like uhaul
Cream on the inside clean on the outside/Cream on the inside clean on the outside/Cream on the inside clean on the outside/Cream on the inside clean on the outside/Ice cream paint job”

1967 #70 Standing in the Shadows of Love by The Four Tops

“All alone I’m destined to be With misery my only company./It may come today, or it may come tomorrow/But it’s for sure I’ve got nothing but sorrow./I thought your conscience would kinda bother you/How can you watch me cry after all I’ve done for you?/Hold on a minute!/I gave you all the love I had, Now didn’t I,
When you needed me I was always there/Now wasn’t I, wasn’t I?”

Today #70 Uprising by Muse

“They will not force us,/They will stop degrading us,/They will not control us,/And we will be victorious/So come on
Interchanging mind-control,/Come, let the revolution take its toll,/If you could flick a switch and open your third eye,/You’d see that we should never be afraid to die,/So come on”

1967 #87 I Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson

“Maybe you think that love would tie you down/You ain’t got the time to hang around/Maybe you think that love was made for fools/So it makes you wise to break the rules
Oh little girl, in that case I don’t want no part/That would only break my heart/Oh, but if you feel like loving me/If you got the notion/I second that emotion/Said, if you feel like giving me/A lifetime of devotion/I second that emotion”

Today #87 Bonfire by Craig Morgan

“at the bonfire, out in the sticks/country backwoods, homegrown hicks/bonfire, dance a little jig,/hold up your cup and take another swig/won’t sleep til dawn, party right down to the wire/at the bonfire
everybody sees the headlights/when old Sheriff John pulled up/we all got a little nervous/it’s too late to hide our cups/he pops a top and hollers real loud/dont worry yall i came to hang out”

The End!

[Well... maybe not quite...]

I’d like to add that I am in no way trying to say that there is no good music being released anymore (I’m quite fond of a few of these songs actually)- or that talent has somehow dwindled over the years. That was not the point of this comparison. However, I do think for the most part the Billboard 100 is not necessarily the best selection of music to showcase lyrical talent of today in general. 

Which brings me to my own personal agenda… The following are lyrics from a few of my favorite songs/bands who are making music today (I’m going to try to give a few genre selections, I might fail at this however). If you havent heard of them I highly suggest you give them a listen. 

She Is Not a Hottie Hotty by Select Start

“Another Messed up melody /Just locked and loaded in my mind/I can’t decide which one I’ll use on you/And I’ll do it in the right time
Don’t be alarmed by what I say/You’re not excited anyway/And everyone is here to have a good time/So rest assured you’re still my friend til’ the end/And all I have to do is rest with you my dear”

Rollerskates by Treaty of Paris

“We’ll spike the soda cans with booze /The weather on the news says /We should expect /The sun to make it’s long /Awaited return /On the big blue screen /Now this I gotta /See for myself /To all my friends I hope /That every word I wrote /Finds you well you know /I loved you all along /To all my enemies /unwelcome memories /I hope these words connect /Like a swift kick to the head”

Reanimation by Blackalicious

“Like this, into me, it is a secret/Emcees pretend to be kin to the Gift/I’m mentally shitting the wisdom of centuries/Wit, go on like a centipede’s length/Rappers want flames, man, I injure these shrimps/Skew em on the barb’ with some hickory chips/I’m a level higher than the intermediate/Rappers, I don’t care about your gender, descent/Background, police records, history, rent/Unpaid evictions, charge penalties sent/Merciless in battle leaving enemies bent, it’s the Gift”

Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked by Cage The Elephant

“Now a couple hours past, /And I was sitting in my house, /The day was winding down and coming to an end, /So I turned on the TV, /And flipped it over to the news, /And what I saw I almost couldn’t comprehend, /I saw a preacher man in cuffs /Taking money from the church, /He stuffed his bank account with righteous dollar bills /But even still I can’t say much /Because I know were all the same/Oh yes we all seek out to satisfy those thrills.
You know there ain’t no rest for the wicked/Money don’t grow on trees, /We got bills to pay /We got mouths to feed /Ain’t nothing in this world for free./Oh no/We can’t slow down, /We can’t hold back /Though you know we wish we could. /You know there ain’t no rest for the wicked, /Until we close our eyes for good.”

Hot Knives by Bright Eyes

“She went to see a Mystic who made medicine from rain/And gave up her existence to feel everything, dream others’ dreams/Bid farewell to her family with one ecstatic wave (Please take care I love you all)/Out the window as the car rolled away/She just vanished into a thick mist of change/So let us rejoice (Let’s Rejoice!)/In all this Pink Noise (Out Pink Noise!)/An oscillation that we can pin point (We’re right here!)”

Everything Is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack

“I’m sick of the things I do when I’m nervous/Like cleaning the oven or checking my tires/Or counting the number of tiles in the ceiling../Head for the hills, the kitchen’s on fire!
I used to rely on self-medication,/I guess I still do that from time to time./But I’m getting better at fighting the future,/”Someday you’ll be fine..”/Yes, I’ll be just fine.”

Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

“True, it may seem like a stretch, but/Its thoughts like this that catch my troubled/Head when you’re away when I am missing you to death/When you are out there on the road for/Several weeks of shows and when you scan/The radio, I hope this song will guide you home
They will see us waving from such great/Heights, ‘come down now,’ they’ll say/But everything looks perfect from far away,/’come down now,’ but we’ll stay…”

Just Because by Cavashawn

“I remember when we laughed and said/”I really want my life to matter
But I don’t know what I’m chasing after”/Now I finally see/I’m not who I hoped I’d be/
Just because/We never called it love/Doesn’t make it right to leave/Does it hurt you /The way it hurts me/To have to tell you this is goodbye?/And all the time spent wondering “would we make it?”/Now we know, we know, we know”

White Lines and Red Lights by Between the Trees

“Me and you together/This is getting better /Just butterflies won’t do/I don’t want just red lights/I want more of these nights/Baby I love you
Cause you are the brightest star/I’m in love with who you are
And you are the brightest star/I’m lost without your love 
You and me is what matters most/It’s not the intimacy that brings me/Closer to you…”

Woe by Say Anything

“Please take me out of my body /Up through the palm trees /To smell California in sweet hypocrisy./Floating my senses surround my body. /I wake my nose to smell that ocean burn./So now I’m forging ahead /Past all the plutocrats who sold me out./Go sob in your bed. /If life is twice as pretty once your dead /Then send me a card./I’m still the optimist though it is hard /When all you want to be /Is in a dream./(A dream)”

Love Me Dead by Ludo

“Love me cancerously, like a salt-sore soaked in the sea./”High maintenance” means your a gluttonous queen,/narcissistic and mean./Kill me romantically, fill my soul with vomit/then ask me for a piece of gum./Bitter and dumb, you’re my sugarplum/you’re awful, I love you…
She moves through moonbeams slowly/She knows just how to hold me
and when her edges soften, her body is my coffin./I know she drains me slowly/She wears me down to bones in bed…/must be the sign on my head, it says,/”Oh love me dead!” Love me dead”

Going Back/ Going Home by Butch Walker

“There’s a lady on my block that has a kid. /As he swims in the above ground pool, she seals up the lid. /And he thinks it’s kinda normal that she hides, 
All the cuts and all the bruises /She says it’s warpaint for the eyes. 
She tells her son she did the best she could as she buries Dad. /Maybe he’ll grow up to be a man, or like his father did. /As they leave the driveway for the northern snow, /They finally know the difference between going back and going home. “

Consequence of Sounds by Regina Spektor

“My rhyme ain’t good just yet,/My brain and tongue just met,/And they ain’t friends, so far,/My words don’t travel far,/They tangle in my hair,/And tend to go nowhere,/They grow right back inside,/Right past my brain and eyes/Into my stomach juice/Where they don’t serve much use,/No healthy calories,/Nutrition values./And I absorb back in/The words right through my skin/They sit there festering inside my bowels/The consonants and vowels/The consequence of sounds”

Ok. That is seriously all for now. I have sososo many more songs that keep popping up into my head that I would love to be able to list, but this blog is much too long already. I suppose at points in the near future I can post more blogs featuring more songs, but for now this is it. Because this is now so long I’m not really going to add much of an original commentary in regards to the comparison, take from it what you will. Hopefully at the very least, you found it interesting. 

If you actually made it through reading this and are here now, I love you. 

I will do my best to never write a blog this long ever again,

Me

If you missed out on last month’s DEVIL’S PIE ARETHA TRIBUTE at VERDUGO BAR, don’t worry. We recorded DJ O-DUB’S Queen Of Soul mix and have made it into a beautiful limited edition CD which will be available ONLY at this month’s DEVIL’S PIE.

TRACKLIST:
1. “Drinking Again” – Aretha Franklin
2. “The Night Time is the Right Time” – Aretha Franklin
3. “Son of a Preacher Man” – Aretha Franklin
4. “Mr. Big” – Aretha Franklin
5. “Baby I Love You” – Aretha Franklin
6. “Cry Like a Baby” – Aretha Franklin
7. “Until You Come Back To Me” – Stevie Wonder
8. “Until You Come Back To Me” – Aretha Franklin
9. “I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby’s Face” – Aretha Franklin
10. “Chain of Fools” – Aretha Franklin
11. “You’re a Sweet Sweet Man” – Aretha Franklin
12. “Rocksteady” – The Marvels
13. “Rocksteady” (Alt. Mix) – Aretha Franklin
14. “Think” – Aretha Franklin
15. “Respect” – Otis Redding
16. “Respect” – Aretha Franklin
17. “Since You Been Gone” – Aretha Franklin
18. “Save Me” – Aretha Franklin
19. “Save Me” – Nina Simone
20. “Mockingbird” (45 Mix) – Aretha Franklin
21. “So Soon” – Aretha Franklin
22. “Soulville” – Aretha Franklin
23. “I Say A Little Prayer” – Aretha Franklin
24. “One Step Ahead” – Aretha Franklin
25. “I Never Loved a Man” – Aretha Franklin

REMEMBER!!
The CD will ONLY be available tomorrow in Los Angeles here:

Yo peeps, thanks for tuning in to the  show, we hope you enjoyed it!

If you would like to download the show, it is now available from the Brap archives RIGHT HERE!

Here’s the show tracklist…

* Parliament – P Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) (Polygram)
* The Jimmy Castor Bunch – It’s Just Begun (BMG)
* James Brown – Give It Up Or Turnit Loose (Universal)
* Rufus Thomas – Itch And Scratch (Part 1) (Ace)
* The JB’s – The Grunt (Parts 1 & 2) (Polygram)
* Kool & The Gang – NT (Polygram)
* The Dramatics – Get Up & Get Down (Ace)
* Maceo And All The King’s Men – Funky Women (House Of The Fox)
* Aretha Franklin – Rock Steady (Rhino Atlantic)
* Vicki Anderson – If You Don’t Give Me What I Want (I Gonna Get It Some Other Place) (UMG)
* Al Green – Here I Am (Come & Take Me) (Demon Music)
* The Chi-Lites – We Are Neighbours (Brunswick)
* Parliament – Flash Light (Island/Def Jam)
* Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up (Snapper)
* The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing (Sony)

* D-Funk – Young Boot (CDR)
* Jack Beats – Get Down – VIP Edit (Cheap Thrills)
* Dub Pistols feat. Lindy Layton & Rodney P – I’m In Love – Foamo Remix (Sunday Best)
* Martello feat. Herve – Wasted (Cheaper Thrills)
* Dr Dre – Next Episode – Rico Tubbs Edit (CDR)
* Crackerz & Jam – Big Up Girl (Upstart Music)
* DJ Icey – Jacks Or Better (Zone)
* NAPT feat. Louise Marshall – Make My Day (Funkatech)
* Splitloop – Ghetto UK (Against The Grain)
* Sam Hell – Logjammin’ – Kickflip Remix (Mofo)
* The Amplifetes – It’s My Life – General MIDI Vocal Mix (AMP Music)
* Odissi – Empty Vodka Bottles (Lot49)
* Baobinga & I.D. – No Bright Lights (Fat!)

Make sure you tune in to the next Hubie Sounds on Thursday 15th October @ 8pm UK time! Live and direct on www.Brap.FM!

Previous Hubie Sounds shows can be downloaded here

Hubie x

Um chiado no ar. Mosca. Nada seria mais divertido que uma implacável perseguição às moscas. Mas, repentinamente, perdeu o interesse. Ouviu passos no corredor. Sentiu um cheiro novo, meio tonto, ficou perdida em seus pensamentos. Quem seria? Deveria emitir algum som?

Os passos entraram pela porta. É, não era nada. Ela resolveu caminhar um pouco. Encontrou uma flor, despedaçada, triste como o dia nublado em que se encontrava. Pisou, terminando de esmagar o néctar que já não existia. Podia comer aquela flor inteira, mas estava sem fome.

- Correio.

A fúria corroeu seus olhos. Queria arrancar os braços daquele homem de amarelo. Onde já se viu atrapalhar seus devaneios primaveris? Quem ele pensava que era pra se vestir como gema de ovo e sugar toda a sua atenção? Os passos retornaram, e mãos sairam carregadas de correspondências, portão afora. Ela iria ficar mais uns quarenta minutos sem ter com quem falar.

Droga! Deu meia-volta, entrou em casa, deitou sobre a colcha xadrez. Tinha um coelho ali, para destruir. Não quis fazer nada com ele. Estava cansada de todos os sons. Passos, gritos, destruições. O tédio dominou seu pequeno corpo. Dormiu meia hora e só acordou com a voz que mais conhecia:

- Vem comer, Aretha, vem!

Aretha is back and sexier than ever!

Grrrowl

But seriously, her dress looks like a big ass Magic Eye Puzzle. I stared closely at it for 2 minutes and I swear I saw the bassist from Earth Wind and Fire…

You can call me "Scrumptious"

Spotted @ Dlisted

IN MEMORIAM

Aretha, como fue bautizada por la prensa inglesa ha muerto. Ella, por medios que nunca llegaremos a conocer, llegó a establecer un mini reino en un acantilado a casi 40 metros por encima del Mar del Norte. Aretha, estableció un pequeño estado en las costas de un país pionero de la democracia. El faro de Hawsker, cerca de Whitby, en el condado de North Yorkshire era la luz que guiaba una revolución ovina que no ha logrado su fin.

Era imposible que el desafío de esa oveja, sin pastor alrededor, con comida suficiente para vivir durante unos meses, pudiera tener éxito. Para evitarlo estaban lo servicios de auxilio. Los mismos que le habían puesto el nombre de Aretha, en honor de la cantante americana que hizo famosa la canción “Rescue me” (Rescátame), han sido los que han cambiado la tonada.  Para ellos era un insulto que una oveja los desafiara con su individualidad. Que, cerca del mar, hubiera decidido evadirse del rebaño.

Así que decidieron usar otra canción: “Killing me sotfly with his gun”. No importó que quienes iban a ver ese pequeño risco de libertad dijeran que Aretha parecía feliz, relajada, “como una reina cuidando su reino”.

Decidieron que la mejor manera de salvarla era pegándole un tiro.

Decidieron que la mejor manera de castigarla era haciéndola desaparecer. Total, es sólo una oveja…

Aretha en su reino

actually, i truly, deeply, madly adore Oprah so this is just me walking in her already glorious footsteps! 

*Kombucha-it’s like crack but good for you… i’m addicted… i mean really addicted… it’s SOOOOO revitalizing, refreshing, invigorating, delicious, flavorful, and has everything your body desires… “Kombucha (pronounced kom-BOO-cha) is a handmade Chinese tea that is delicately cultured for 30 days. During this time, essential nutrients form like, including active enzymes, viable probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants, and polyphenols. All of these combine to create an elixir that immediately works with the body to restore balance and vitality.” and it’s said to help with cancer… get it at whole pay! (i mean whole foods market)

*papayalicious-the most beautiful, artistic cards and journals. they make me happy! i love to give and receive papayalicious! http://www.papayaart.com/ 

*Daily OM-The DailyOM will send you inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day. And you can sign up to receive these inspirational emails for free! Also, they can send you great spiritual horoscopes… http://www.dailyom.com/

*You Can Heal Your Life-by Louise L. Hay… you can look up any ailment/illness in this incredible book and discover what  energetically/emotionally caused this illness. IT IS AMAZING! the book even gives you affirmations to change your perspective to help you overcome the illness. 

*Duchess-A motivational and inspirational blog for women written by my dear friend Jill Brown. Not only is Jill a phenomenal writer but she’s also an incredible life coach. http://www.theduchessguide.com/

*hula hooping- let’s bring it back!!! i remember the days timing myself in elementary school after school trying to beat my previous hooping time. i made it to 45 minutes without stopping!!! there’s an incredible movement already happening in CA… hula hoop classes and hula hoop parties! Bushwalla loves hula hooping… he even does it at shows! and who’s Bushwalla you ask?! well if you aren’t autodidactical about brilliantly unique artists enough to know read on my friend……

*BUSHWALLA’s music- truly one of the most unique and authentic artists in music today. he’s acoustic, he’s hip-hop, he’s funk, he can be so beautifully in your face then suddenly retract into this musically intimate place and you follow him there…of the 1000s of shows i’ve had the pleasure of seeing (and i’ve seen Prince, James Brown, Aretha, Mariah Carey, BB King, Erkyah Badu, Jill Scott, The Roots,Carlos Santana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sade, Janet…etc. etc. and sooo many up and coming LA artists) i can honestly say i’ve NEVER seen a show like his… he juggles, hula hoops, balances a guitar on his chin, strips (out of a onesy) while wearing a chicken head costume, he pumps the funk… he improvises, he jokes, he has ridiculously lovely dance moves, he raps, he beat boxes, but best of all he sings honestly, he sings truth (a rare thing)… check out this conscious artist at: http://www.myspace.com/bushwallamusic

ps-the most brilliant producer EVER- Andre De Sant’anna (who produced M.U.S.I.C.) also produced Bushwalla’s album and EP! You will LOVE them! commUNITY!

By Odeisel

We see potential in many things. From our baby’s first steps and first breaths, we imagine all that they could ever be and achieve in this life.  As they grow and change we still monitor their progress, altering and shifting expectation as they self actualize.

We feel achievement and live through their accomplishments and we drop our heads in disappointment when they don’t reach as far as we think they can.  The unfortunate consequence of potential is that there is no quantifiable mechanism to it.  What are the inputs that determine what we expect and what defines the level of success.

We may all be created equal, but the moment we step off that assembly line, difference is all there is. We must acknowledge that some are stronger, and more gifted at certain things than others.  In the field of music, that has never been more pronounced.  But there are two main factors that speak to realization in music: artistic and sales achievement. 

Artistically you aren’t racing contemporaries. You race against time and the field of human experience. As high as you get artistically the more opponents you find in your race. Once you outshine contemporaries, you chase ghosts and legends, each with their own defensive era denying you access.

Sales wise you can be the right person at the right time with the right style. DMX dominated an era with force of personality but artistically, his talent level was fairly pedestrian. Ditto Ja Rule. They sold records in droves and defined a few movements, but would either really warrant critical acclaim in 20 years? Ditto a Brittney Spears. For a few years she dominated the pop consciousness as her own movement but in the fullness of time, is her work truly memorable?

There’s one person presently who perhaps has dominated their contemporaries but has not made any dent into that timeless category. A person who is head and shoulders above her peers in terms of entertainment value, but who is perhaps not achieving much artistically. That person is Beyoncé.

Sure Jennifer Hudson can sing her under the table, but she can’t move like her.  Ciara may be a better dancer, but let’s not even entertain a voice battle. Beyoncé gives you her very best on stage, and while there are claims of swagger jacking, she is perhaps unmatched in today’s landscape as a performer. She has that star quality that a Keri Hilson could never possess, even when looks are close and songwriting skill may surpass.  But what about her catalog?  Does she have anything that you could consider timeless or classic?

Think about that for a moment. You can include her Destiny’s Child material if that makes it easier. Over a decade in the game and there isn’t really anything you can point to that would be anthemic or iconic as a song. If she were to stop recording today, and we had to look back at the last 10 years would we have any evidence that Beyonce was a musical icon?  Is there any moving ballad; anything that speaks to the world at large or that unifies human experience?

Her omnipresence has earned her the space to do presently whatever she wants, and by all accounts commercially she is a colossus who is showing no signs of slowing down. By that measure, I doubt that her career moves could have gone any better and that is to be lauded.  However if her aim is to be remembered in the annals of music (admittedly that may not be her aim) then she has to sing songs that matter to the world at large; that pervade into their hearts and minds. It’s very telling that she couldn’t sing any of her own material at the inauguration of Barack Obama.  Even R.Kelly, for all that he has been castigated for, has an “I Believe I Can Fly” and a few songs that speak to the human spirit and transcend the R&B landscape. Madonna, who has mastered the art of self reinvention, has songs in her body of work that will always speak to women no matter what era they inhabit.

If Beyoncé’s career stopped today, I would venture to say that her omnipresent image has made its stamp on this era. She has many hits, and even people imitating her videos dominate the YouTube generation; regular people who become internet stars by attempting to attain fleeting bootylisciousness. However, if musical immortality is something that she is striving for, then her body of work is not enough.

But who’s to say whether or not she achieved her potential. Perhaps she has done what her talent would allow, and she has what her heart desires. If that is so, then congrats.  It’s been quite a run of booty-driven hood anthem dominance. But when the Arethas and the Rosses and the Mariahs and the Whitneys sit down at that table with a side of Nina Simone, and even a bit of Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé wil be conspicuously absent when it comes to that transcendence. Here’s to hoping that the next ten years of her career strike to the heart of our spirits and souls with the same force as the first ten spoke to our feet and asses.

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  Did anyone else see the PBS special “A Capitol Fourth” this year?    I like to watch it if I am not outside and they usually have top notch entertainment and a lot of patriotism.  One thing you should know about Portland Firefly —she is very patriotic and I love my  country very much.

   Anyway my computer had been dead for over a week and it was just up and running and I had about 100 emails to deal with,  so I thought that I’d listen to the program while I worked on the computer in the other room.   I was so diasappointed in the main performers.  They sounded like they were screeming and both Barry and Aretha were not at their best last night in DC.  Still the orchestra and varied bands sounded great and were not disappointing in their performances.   

    Maybe if I had stayed and WATCHED them, they would have sounded better.  I do have to say that the fireworks display was outstanding..  we payed for it!   Hope you had a good Fourth of July!

“…se não vai, não desvie a minha estrela… não desloque a linha reta…”

é quase auto-explicativo, mas vamos lá…

todos sabemos que sim, a partir do momento que entramos na vida de uma pessoa e permitimos que ela entre na nossa vida, estamos e somos responsáveis por tudo o que acontecer nessa relação. não importa se é uma relação de amizade, de amor… ou mesmo profissional…

tem que prestar atenção nos detalhes… tem dar atenção e carinho, tem que rolar mto respeito… sinceridade (não aquela sinceridade ácida, que fere e maltrata) e confiança.

a partir do momento que vc entra na vida da pessoa, vc tem que saber que jamais as vidas de vcs serão as mesmas… e que às vezes, uma atitude ou meia dúzia de palavras que vc julgue inocente, pode estilhaçar a outra pessoa…

somos responsáveis sim pelo sentimento que as pessoas têm pela gente. ok, sentimento é de cada um, mas se alguém gosta de mim, por exemplo, tenho responsabilidade sobre o que essa pessoa sente por mim… afinal, eu sou a razão da felicidade ou da miséria dela… saca?!

é mto fácil enrolar os outros… levar no bico… um amor em cada porto… delícia ter hordas de pessoas ao nosso dispor… mas pense no que vc realmenter representa para as pessoas que vc conquistou… e pense que vc poderia ou poderá estar no lugar delas um dia… e por favor, não desviem a estrela de ninguém se não for essa sua real intenção…

então, zenthy… tomem cuidado com o que vcs dizem pros outros… não queiram apenas sair jogando charme a torto e a direito por aí… ok, colocar em teste o seu poder de sedução é legal, é válido e deixa a auto-estima láááá em cima… mas parem pra pensar se não tem ninguém se deixando levar ou se machucando…

como diria minha amiga aretha, “r-e-s-p-e-c-t!”

“…mas se vai… vc pode ir na janela…”

pq… se vc está realmente disposto a mudar a sua vida e a de alguém pra melhor… pra algo gostoso, leve… delícia, sabe?! ah, pode sentar na janela and enjoy the journey…

ah, o lance da flor e do moleque loirinho… pra quem não conhece…

“cada um que passa em nossa vida, passa sozinho, mas não vai só nem nos deixa sós. leva um pouco de nós mesmos, deixa um pouco de si mesmo. há os que levam muito, mas há os que não levam nada. essa é a maior responsabilidade de nossa vida, e a prova de que duas almas não se encontram ao acaso. ” saint-exupery

_listenin’: você pode ir na janela _ gram

This face is so much better when it's not in the silver screen.

So Beyonce…you wanna sustain your career and your place in the hearts and minds of the American people…then I ask you…I beg you…I EMPLORE YOU!!!…STICK TO SINGING!

If anyone told me that I’d ever see Michael Eric Dyson offering his imitation of Beyonce, I would have taken them straight to the nearest mental institution. But here he is in an energetic “debate” with Cornel West (aka the coolest black man walking the planet) about who is better. I wish I’d seen Tavis Smiley’s announcement about his movie on HuffingtonPost earlier because the movie (“Stand”) looks interesting:

Jerry Wexler y Adolph Rickenbacker son dos nombres a tener en cuenta a la hora de hablar de los principios del Rock.El primero, Wexler fue quien dio nombre a aquel nuevo estilo que nacía por aquellos 50 y que se dejaba acompañar por el sonido de la guitarra eléctrica, el Rhythm & Blues.El segundo, Rickenbacker fue el creador de las primeras guitarras eléctricas.

Jerry Wexler falleció el año pasado 2008 a la edad de 91 años.El productor musical y guía musical de gente como Ray Charles o Aretha Franklin fue quien uso por vez primera la denominación de Rhythm & Blues para referirse a las canciones compuestos e interpretados con  la guitarra eléctrica.Wexler además grabo algunos temas con personajes de la talla de Bob Dylan o Willie Nelson y fue uno de los creadores del famoso sello discográfico Atlantic Records a través del cual se dieron a conocer en los 60 muchos artistas afroamericanos.

Acompaño este apunte con las palabras del propio Jerry Wexler hablando de Bob Dylan y otros artistas con los que trabajó.

Adolph Rickenbacker es el inventor de la guitarra eléctrica. En 1931 se le ocurrió crear una pastilla magnética que amplificara el sonido de las cuerdas metálicas. Junto a George Beauchamp fundó la primera empresa de guitarras eléctricas ( La Rickenbacker ) que pronto se hizo famosa en todo el mundo. Pero no sólo se limitaron a la producción de guitarras, sino que también tienen mucho prestigio sus bajos.

La lista de músicos que han usado o usan esta marca es bastante larga músicos como Paul Weller “The Jam”, Johnny Marr “The Smiths”, Peter Buck “R.E.M.” o Susanna Hoffs “Bangles” son algunos de ellos.

En cuanto a los bajistas famosos que se decidieron por Rickenbacker se encuentran: Mike Rutherford “Genesis”, Chris Squire “Yes”, Lemmy Kilmister “Motörhead”, Roger Glover “Deep Purple” y Paul McCartney.

Existen muchos videos en la red relativos a las guitarras tipo Rickenbacker, os dejo este que a pesar de estar en ingles, creo que merece la pena.

gatos são previsíveis

Acho que vou sentir falta…

So…a couple really magical things have happened to me the past few days and I wanted to share them with you.  They’ve been marinating in my brain and really have been grouped together as something beautiful.  Rare experiences happening ad neuseum blah blah…:

1. Went to the Castro for the first time on wednesday (crazy, i know) for Booty Call.  Got drunk, per usual.  And then when I reached the cusp, that wasted cusp where you know a 3rd long island ice is a bad idea…i turn around to find this gorgeous face looking my way

Yup, that’s my husband.  Dustin Lance Black, academy award winning screenwriter and total dream boat was standing right in front of me and I’M HOLDING A LONG ISLAND ICE TEA IN A FUR COAT WITH GLITTER ON MY FACE.  Why couldn’t I have run into him at a book store.  I must’ve looked like an idiot.  Still magic though.

2.  Woke up at 9 AM to head to the Castro for the second time since living here to do a photoshoot.  The photoshoot ended up being IN the Castro Theater with a young musician from the SF/Bay Area named Rupa who has a band called Rupa and the April Fishes. She makes beautiful music and is being featured in 7×7’s best of issue.  Her favorite thing to do in San Francisco at night is go watch David Hegarty play the organ at the Castro Theater.  He’s been playing for 31 years, she wore a beautifully delicate Rodarte Cocktail dress.  So at 11 am I was given a private organ performance in the truly epic Castro theater.  MAGIC.

3.  Headed to the Fillmore to lurk around Harputs but first went to meet Ruth Dewson.  She designed and made THIS.  No, she did not make Aretha Franklin she was not Aretha’s mom.  She made the EPIC HAT.   And just like Aretha she was big, black and wonderful.  Black Magic.

4.  Finally Ended up at Harputs where Rachel cajoled the gentle owner Gus to give me a new pair of shoes.  Before gus opened Harputs, his family owned and ran an Adidas sneaker store for 30 years.  He told me to “go upstairs and find an old pair I liked”.  I proceeded to go a wooden staircase and through a thin white curtain hanging in a doorway that lead to a massive storage space filled with thousands of sneakers.  Adidas, Pumas, Reeboks, Nikes that dated back to 3 decades ago.  I was among the shoes my father spent his life wearing.  Campuses and Gazelles from the 80’s.  I called my father and told him where I was and he was touched.  I wish he could have been there.  I couldn’t find anything I felt comfortable taking so Gus insisted that I take a blue leather pair of LeCoq Sportifs that I’ll NEVER wear until I have the courage to put together a rainbow outfit worthy of these kicks.  Magic Magic Magic.

5.  That same night I went to the CCA graduates fashion show.  Afterwards I drank myself into a really gay stupor.  I hailed a cab down to head to like, my 5th destination of the night.  I stepped in the cab and was met with christmas lights that adorned the seats of the cab and mini posters of our taxi driver.  He was a jazz musician on the side, who sang songs about ex girlfriends and STDs and it was actually really good.  He gave us a live performance full out for our drunk asses and it was really fucking crazy.  I had a serious moment of drop jawed amazement for another San Francisco surprise.

So if you look for it, you’ll find the magic everywhere and in everyone.