Tracy Chapman "Fast Car"

The first time I heard this song, my friend and I were getting ready to go for a late night bike ride. It was summer and we were trying to decide if we wanted to take a year off, or go straight to college. We rode our bikes until the wee hours of the morning. She and I still talk about that night and laugh about some of the crazy plans that we made. "Fast Car" is such a beautiful song! When I listen to it, I think about the people that Tracy's singing about and what kind of life they must have had. The sense of hopelessness and the need to overcome it all, is very heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

Did you know?

"The song is a narrative tale of generational poverty. The song's narrator tells the story of her hard life, which begins when her mother divorces her jobless, alcoholic father, forcing the narrator to quit school in order to care for him. Eventually, she leaves her hometown with her partner in hopes of making a better life. Despite her employment at a grocery store, she falls victim to the cycle of poverty, as her life begins to mirror her mother's: her partner remains largely unemployed and becomes an alcoholic. She is left alone with her children while her partner spends time drinking with friends. Finally, after getting a job that will support her family, she comes to accept her life as the way it is and to give up chasing empty dreams. She tells her partner to leave her; to take "your fast car and keep on driving." The final refrain is sung in variation, changing from "We gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way" to "You gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way."

Madonna "Borderline"

 I'm probably one of the few people in the world who isn't a fan of  Lady Ga Ga's. I just feel that it has all been done before, and done better IMO.  She lacks originality and is a little too over the top for my taste. Whether you  love Madonna or hate her.. one things for sure, you're going to talk about her.

Did you know?

"Borderline" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her self-titled debut album. It was released on February 15, 1984 as the fifth single from the album, by Sire Records. Written and composed by producer Reggie Lucas, the song received remix treatment from Madonna's then boyfriend John "Jellybean" Benitez. She used a refined and expressive voice for the song. Its lyrics dealt with the subject of a love that is never fulfilled and was written as a rebellion against male chauvinism.

Contemporary critics and authors applauded the song, calling it harmonically the most complex song from the Madonna album and complimenting the dance-pop nature of the song. "Borderline" became Madonna's first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at ten. Elsewhere, the song reached the top twenty of a number of European nations while peaking the singles chart of Ireland. In 2009, the song was placed at eighty-four on Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" article.The accompanying music video portrayed Madonna with a Latin-American man as her boyfriend. She was enticed by a British photographer to pose and model for him, but later returned to her original boyfriend. 

 

The video generated interest amongst academics, who noted the use of power as symbolism in it. With the video, Madonna was credited for breaking the taboo of interracial relationships and was considered one of her career-making moments. The release of the video on MTV increased Madonna's popularity further. Madonna has performed the song on her Virgin Tour (1985) and the Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008), where a punk-rock version of the song was performed. "Borderline" has been covered by a number of artists, including Duffy, Jody Watley, and Counting Crows."

Rickie Lee Jones - "Satellite"..

This is another one of my favorites by Rickie. She has such a unique voice. You can hear her influence on artists like Sheryl Crow and Lisa Loeb.

Did you know?

"Rickie Lee Jones was born on the north side of Chicago to Bettye and Richard Jones. Her paternal grandfather, Frank Jones, the son a West Virginia dry goods store owner, lost a leg as a young boy, playing by the railroad tracks. This handicap would become an asset on stage, when Frank 'Peg Leg Jones' became a Vaudevillian of some notoriety, A singer/dancer/comedian, Peg Leg Jones routine consisted of playing the ukelele, singing songs like 'Bye Bye Blackbird' and 'The Sunny Side of the Street', danced the soft shoe, and telling stories in a Civil War costume. 

His wife, Myrtle Lee, a chorus girl, had been adopted into a Virginia family, and while her ethnic origin is unknown, Frank was Welsh and Irish. The family traveled the Vaudeville circuit with their four children, making Chicago their home when not on the road. Richard Loris, the third child, returned to Chicago after four years in the army in WW II. There he met Rickie Lee's mother, Bettye Glen. Rickie was the third child, named after her father and grandmother, spending her early childhood in Chicago. Her elder brother and sister spent formative years in catholic boarding schools, before their father moved the family to Phoenix in 1960.

Rickie grew up in the wide open spaces of Arizona, a powerful imagery that would haunt much of her writing throughout her life. Her early childhood was spent in the company of imaginary friends. Her elder sister was married at the age of 15, while her elder brother was severely hurt in a motorcycle accident at the age of 16. The young Rickie Lee struggled socially, the itinerant outside, the family moving and changing schools every year or two. Luckily she was a gifted student, though teachers reported that she 'daydreamed' all day. It was hard enough being new, but having a name like 'Rickie' put her on the defensive in each new school. Like a boy named Sue, perhaps, Rickie got tough or died and her sense of self was indisputable. This uniqueness of character would eventually find a home on stage. By 1966, her father had become a violent alcoholic. Bettye, on the other hand, had an intrinsic strength that carried the family no matter what befell them, perhaps due largely to her own childhood spent in orphanages with her three brothers. 

She vowed her children would never know poverty and would have a chance to do everything she could not. Richard, it seemed, provided the dreams and Betty provided the food. She often worked two shifts at her waitress jobs and made sure her children wanted for nothing. By the age of twelve, Rickie Lee had studied ballet and tap, acting, modeling, and was an AAU swimmer. When she ran away from home in 1969, she enrolled in Little Theater in Phoenix."

QOTD...

Melissa Manchester "Don't cry out loud"

Before there was Celine Dion, there was Melissa Manchester. She beautifully hits the money notes.

Turn the lights down low by Colbie Caillat ..

I really like her voice and she sounds great on this song. I purchased "Realize"  and heard a sample of this and ended up purchasing this too.

The hottest song of the summer.."Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera ..

I just love this song!

My favorite performance on last nights AI

I liked Casey's performance and I also like Haley's ( who looks like my Sister-in-law) and Durbin's. Who did you like?

" Casey James Lands Record Deal"

"Casey James, who finished third on Season 9 of 'American Idol,' is going country .... in a big way. The Ft. Worth, Texas native is in the process of signing a record deal with Sony Music Nashville, home to a huge roster of country superstars, including Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride and Alan Jackson.

"Country music is a big wide open space for you to do what you want to do if you're within a certain realm," Casey told Yahoo. "They are going to let me play the guitar, they're going to let me be edgy and rocky and a little bit bluesy, a little bit old school, a little bit new school."

The L.A. Times reports that Casey first met with Sony back in June, during a one-day trek to Music City. Chief executive officer Gary Overton, who had watched the singer's weekly performances on 'Idol,' flew to New York a month later for the American Idol Live tour and was clearly impressed by Casey's performance.

Sony is no stranger to signing 'Idol' alums, as Carrie Underwood (Arista Records), Kellie Pickler (BNA Records) and Danny Gokey (RCA Nashville) have made big waves after signing with various imprints under the label. While our source has confirmed Casey is in talks to be a part of the Sony Music Nashville family, it's not yet known which imprint he will fall under."

My favorite AI performance..

I was waiting to hear something that would give me goosebumps and it finally happened with Stefano's performance last night. I sent the original  song to my buddy D-Ro last year and he really liked it.  If you get a chance check out Smokie's version.

Please post your thoughts on tonight's American Idol...

One of the most important rap songs ever written.. "The Message"..

My brother had this LP and played it over and over again. I couldn't help but like it, but it wasn't just something to dance to, it was telling us what life was like for young men growing up in the inner city. I was happy to hear that Grandmaster Flash was the first rap act to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.