There aren’t too many hip hop songs from back in the day, where I considered them one of my most favorites. However, this song happens to be one of them. “Teach Me, Tease Me,” by Foxy Brown, Case and Mary J. was legendary in my opinion. I don’t know if I can say the song was the greatest of all times, but, certainly I feel it’s a song worthy of adding to any musicophile’s playlist. It peaked #14 on the Hot 100 Billboard Chart. I can’t stand Foxy Brown, but, I got to admit, her voice worked for this song. Then again, there were two other talented artist on the song that sort of made up for her lack of vocal talent. Just my opinion guys. It’s an easy listening type of hip hop that most can enjoy!
I was actually inspired by this question because of a rude facebook comment I got a while back, of a song I posted. To be honest, I don’t remember the song I posted. However, I was kind of shocked at the person’s comment, saying something to the effect that the song was garbage, yadda, yadda, yadda. Now, I wasn’t emotionally distraught, as we all know a troll when we see one. But, that brought up an issue that I never really heard anyone talk about. that is, a “hit song” really depends on not only the city you’re living in, but the radio stations you actually have access to. Now, in today’s streaming era, I don’t think this is a huge factor as it was back in the day. Or maybe it still is, as we still have many men and women of my generation who are still scared to touch a computer, damn it!
I think this really brings home the importance of having an open mind when it comes to music. Especially in regard to younger people. This lack of open mindedness is one of the many reasons a significant amount of our people now have no music culture.
I think this really brings home the importance of having an open mind when it comes to music. Especially in regard to younger people. This lack of open mindedness is one of the many reasons a significant amount of our people now have no music culture.
The fact that people are so closed minded to consume other genres, is one of the many reasons I started this blog in the first place. We need more musicophiles who actually posses diverse musical tastes, that can blog examples of good music outside of today’s genre norms. One of the most beautiful things about having a personal blog, is that you have total control of your own creative content! If anyone tries to judge you and say a song you post is crap, assume that idiot has absolutely no culture of their own! Sometimes even within cities themselves, can have several entirely different demographics within them! Let’s stop being so snobbish, and open your mind to something different for a change. A hit song should not be defined by record sales, but the spirit and the soul of a song itself.
I have to make a confession to you guys. Ever since I saw that Whole Foods commercial with this song in it, I’ve gone crazy I think.. I absolutely love this song. This 1963 song was a huge hit 4 years before I was born. I’ve listened to such a variety of music growing up, I can’t say for sure I’ve heard it before. But man…. If this was out on a 45rpm record to day, I would have certainly played this to the ground. LOLOL It has a catchy tune. This girl group is loud, yet talented. Their harmonization on this record reminds me a lot of groups like The Bluebells. I highly recommend my followers check the song “Every Beat Of My heart.” In fact, I’ve heard quite a few of their music since then. Look for them on your favorite streaming service.
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Now, first off, I never heard of Lee Fields and The Impressions. Surprisingly, they’ve been around since the late 60’s, and I’m kind of a shamed that I never heard of them, ’cause their music is darn good. I guess this only proves just how vast our music culture actually is. You know, his music and sound reminds me a lot of Charles Bradley (in fact, he kind of looks like him too). I’ve searched hard on the net, and I can’t seem to find any of his songs on the billboard charts. However, I did see an article written about him on the Billboard website. That is such a beautiful thing, this can only mean that he has worked with a lot of big names in the business, and the fact that Billboard recognizes his contribution (a long with his band) to music is huge (despite not landing anywhere on the charts)!
I 🖤 the fact that he kept practically all his albums’ vibe Black old school!
I love the fact that he kept his vibe old school. In fact, I had no idea that most of his albums in the last 10-15 years where not 70s music. The classic authentic(ness) was unreal! The soul in his voice was so present… It was phenomenal guys. I’m not sure if my young followers could understand. But, this was what people of my age group considering real talent, real soul, and real voices. I don’t even have a song to recommend, because I’ve liked so many. If you love jazz and soul music, definitely listen to these guys album, “Big Crown Vaults (2020)” The first song, “Two Timer,” I really loved. But, I think I’ve enjoyed the entire Album. Check it out!
Believe it or not, this is a very difficult subject matter for me to write about. Because as music streaming permanently cements itself firmly into our culture, and after more than a decade, I can truly see how the quality of playlists has declined. There is literally no care that is put into most playlists that are being promoted today! As a die-hard music fan and musicophile, it kind of makes me feel bad for saying that, as it could be misconstrued as me saying everyone’s musical tastes sucks ass, and my taste is better than everybody else! However, anybody who followed my blog for a long time know that’s not where I’m coming from! The reality is today, over the years I think we now have three (unexpected) major problems we have within the music streaming industry, in regards to it’s use:
- First, in the context of classic music, we still have huge problem of not enough of the older generation are interested in learning how to use music streaming, or choose to stay in their comfort zone by being comfortably computer ignorant. Please don’t react in a negative way to my statement. It’s NOT an attack on the character of older people. But, the fact that we all know how expensive music is, and that most older folk are on fixed incomes, why are some of you still waiting for stores like Target to get that CD you wanted since 50 years ago, when you can listen to it on YouTube? At this point, the only reason why an older person would get mad at reading my prior statement, is because they actually have no idea the plethora of of musical enjoyment you can experience by using streaming services. And to stay being offended is just stupid and silly. If people of my generation would make the effort to use streaming services, we’d have more playlists created by us, and for us. Perhaps our classic culture would not be as forgotten as it is now. Oh f&ck it, what’s the sense of our classic music being on these services, if our memories of them are wiped clean from memory? Because we don’t listen to them anymore?
- Playlists have now become a racket. I saw someone on twitter mention something I didn’t even think of. That was huge streaming service paying musicians to create music for the expressed purpose of putting them on playlists, and misguiding the public by making them appear as being the hottest tracks. Now, on the surface, they’re not breaking any laws, or breaking any sort of moral conduct (technically). However, we can look at this in two ways. The first way is services like Spotify could potentially make more money by putting together a team to write and produce their own songs and make money. I guess there is nothing wrong with that either, however, that also means that well known professional veterans in the business would be cut off from making money if their music are not on promotional playlists. Realize that any playlist that are created by services like Spotify, will be immediately followed by several thousand people in a matter of days, just because it’s Spotify.
- The last problem I think are many of the most popular music blogs. Many of them (if not most of them) are not musically diverse, or lack articles of classic music (regardless of the genre). If someone were to ask me how would I describe the music coming from some of these music blogs today, I wouldn’t know how. Honestly. Many of these artists/bands I hear from these music sites such as BandCamp, sound like they were in a drug induced creative moment (for lack of a better term). The nerve of those artists at BandCamp to think that music fans should be paying upwards of $15 for some of their work. While the internet has leveled the playing field for artist, and made them “equal opportunity,” on the other hand, it opened the flood gates for people who have absolutely zero professional talent. Don’t let me even get started on the rap genre.
Again, don’t get me wrong, I know there are plenty of talent out there, they’re just incredibly hard to find now. Not only that, with the changes in algorithms in both search engines and social media, I’ve noticed that a few legitimate music blogs are no longer easily found either! The truth of the matter is, unless you’ve been using streaming since its inception, a lot of people wouldn’t even know where to go! I think my old self rule still applies today. Depending on where you’re getting your playlists from; if a playlist has more than 75 songs in it, its more than likely not worth listening. Playlists needs to be manageable, and easily consumable. No one has the time to listen to a 5,000 song playlists. It’s more than likely that playlist is just a marijuana fueled album dump. In fact, do you realize that even services that allow you to create stations from songs you’re listening to, don’t put that many songs on a playlist (unless you have unlimited or infinity turned on). Bottom line, I guess playlist are still a vital way to find new music on the scene. Just remember to be selective and diversify the sites you visit, unless you really dig the site you’re on. Like mine!! 🤣
Man! Talk about an outstanding blend of funk and disco! This was my groove back in the day. as a matter of fact, I think this was the very song they used, when Michael performed the “robot dance” to the world for the first time. I don’t remember what show it was tho. I’m guessing it had to be between Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, or Soul Train. I think every boy in America imitated him for years after we saw him do this. The song Dancing Machine was #1 on the Hot Soul Singles category, and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. But, as fast as it became popular, it became for gotten just as quickly (relatively speaking). It’s fascinating how songs that once had considered to have immortalized a band/singer, still become not only obscured, but out of the airwaves of our current music culture.
Seeing Michael Jackson dance the robot to this song, caused a dance frenzy. Everybody was doin’ it (young and old). These were the days when music was fun and innocent.
From the 50s ’till about the 70s, we’ve had a steady stream of dance crazes. However, I think this was the best of all time (next to “The Buss Stop”). Even when I listen this song today, its almost a guarantee it will be a sweat-athan. This single song alone (not the album), sold over a whopping 3 million copies. Years later, the song was sampled by several other artists. Including, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, and Paula Abdul, just to name a few. If you were ever wondering what’s a good old school tune to play for a 70s party, Dancing Machine should definitely be on the top of your list!
I have to be honest, I don’t understand a lot of the kinds of “art” Gnarls Barkely creates. there is no debate in saying that Gnarls is DEFINITELY an eccentric artist. But, you wanna know something else? Most artists are inspired by other artist in some way shape or form. At the moment, there’s absolutely no one I can think of I can compare him to. This guy literally seems like he’s from another fucking planet! 🤣 However, if you concentrate and listen through all what sounds like disorganized notes from the instruments being played, Gnarls actually has a great voice! But, you’d never know it because his music beats are pieces of shit (in my opinion, sorry). I also think (in my opinion) that his voice fits better singing the kinds of music that Curtis Harding makes. Gnarls voice almost sounds like it belongs in a different era.
Sadly, I think Gnarls will continue to be a one hit wonder, because he was just too eccentric then, and now for the music culture of today.
Unfortunately, Gnarls Barkely is a one hit wonder, and it happens to be the only song he produced I actually like. That song is called “Crazy (2006).” This has such an awesome sick beat, anyone of any age can groove to this beat. It’s also sort has an old school sound too. It’s the only song from this album were the music beats themselves appear to be coherent. According to my research, the song has hit #3 on the American Pop Charts, and number #1 in the UK. From what I’ve read, after his one hit reign, he went on hiatus in 2010. As far as I can tell he hasn’t been performing (with the exception of a few commercials here and there). I found a nice remix on SoundCloud of Crazy that sounds nice as well. This song is a very unique hit, and I think any changes made to this song would fuck it up royally.
I wonder how many of my readers remembers this group? Or do you at least remember the song? As far as the hood is concerned, the song OPP, was almost like an anthem growing up. By the way, for those of you who don’t know what OPP stands for; it means Other People’s Property. Normally, I don’t like songs that degrade women, or songs that encourage degradation of others. But, this song has a REALLY catchy tune. Perhaps the other thing about the song was, the group sampled one of little Michael Jackson’s most popular songs, which put a familiarity to what we were hearing. I don’t know.. When I heard this song, I felt kind of like I had no other choice but to bop my head up and down, simply because I immediately connected with the song. I connected with the beat, and growin’ up in the hood myself, I connected with the lyrics, because it was literally the mindset and culture back then. Still is actually, the only thing is, I’m not sure people are rappin’ or singin’ about it as much as they used to.
This song truly represented our 90s culture
I’m not gonna lie, I was NEVER attracted to thuggish dudes. But, there was something about Treach that made him very attractive when he got older. By the way, I’m not necessarily talking about his beautiful hard body. I guess, you know how people learn a lot about life, and they finally “grow up,” they eventually start to look attractive. I believe our life lessons and life experiences can actually change the way we look; very much in the same way how drugs accelerate the body’s aging process 30 fold. Now, keep in mind, I don’t know anything really about the group, so I could be totally wrong. Anywayz……. Another song I liked by Naughty By Nature, was a song that got really popular as well. That song was “Hip Hop Hooray,” which was released in 1993. This too had an incredibly catchy tune, and it got stuck in my head for a very long time!