Never Can Say Goodbye

So, it appears that the Jackson 5 — complete with Michael — will be coming to a city near you in 2008 on their “Reunion Tour”. Evidently, Michael’s vast empire has eroded to the point where he’s going to have to get back out on the road. Can’t say that I’m sorry as the J5, in their prime, were BOSS.

Color me crazy, but I would definitely pay to see Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and the Gloved One, once again. You see, in 1970, when I became musically aware, these guys were rivaled only by The Osmonds. Each had Saturday morning cartoons that I NEVER missed.

Of course, this was before Michael’s solo career and subsequent change from black to white.

Scary, I know. But in the ’70s the J5 were the epitome of Pop Music Dynasty and Michael was the Prince (no pun intended).

While their body of work is not put up against the greats of the era like The Beatles or The Stones, The Jackson 5 were just as important to music during the same time frame. Their music was fun, endearing and exposed their extreme talent. Whatever happened to cause Michael’s foray into nutdom is unfortunate, but he was an integral part of a revolutionary band of brothers that produced some pretty phenomenal stuff….and dance!! OMG….

I Want You Back

I’ll Be There
Talent.

Let it Be
More talent.

Ben
I remember watching this in ’72 on the Sonny & Cher show. I was mesmerized.

Rockin’ Robin
One of my absolute favorite songs…2nd grade, on the swings…

Got to Be There
Hard to believe that this kid is like 12, singing this with such presence.

Pappa Was a Rollin’ Stone
Ah yes, 1977….when there was no such thing as political ko-RECK-ness.

J5 + 2 on Carol Burnett (Is it just me or is Michael way too comfortable playing Diana Ross?)

ETA:    The Love You Save — per brc

Blame it on The Boogie

Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

No matter what zaniness the years has brought the Jacksons, it’s hard to ignore the obvious talent and dedication that this family had to performing music. It will be interesting to see if they can fill up the auditoriums and if anyone really cares anymore.

Never Can Say Goodbye

 

We Ain’t in Dogpatch No Mo’

Although the drumbeat is the same, Lefsetz shines a spotlight today on NY Magazine’s shining a spotlight on Wired Magazine’s recent spotlight on Universal Music’s CEO, Doug Morris. The piece in question is very interesting. Evidently, it’s all of the people who are downloading music, using iPods and demanding better, easily-accessible music that is prohibiting the major labels from concentrating on developing good acts and good music.

Really.

Here’s a piece of information for all of the middle-aged old men who have controlled the world for decades. WE AREN’T IGNORANT ANYMORE! A little thing called the World Wide Web opened up the Information Age for people to “get a clue” regarding issues that were previously unknown to most of us. We have multiple sources to learn about relevant issues and come to our own realizations. And what have we found? That those nagging little hunches we had were right and can be confirmed by many others. So, all of the hoodwink games that have been played over the years are now exposed.

Executive dinosaurs like Doug Morris are becoming extinct. Hopefully, in a few years the music business will be overhauled to provide what the public is pining for. Good, affordable music that is readily available and accessible.

Gone will be the days of master manipulators who bury new innovation to keep the old business models in place so that they don’t have to spend any money on new development or changing their formats. Maybe we won’t have to endure any more “stories” about how “there are no technologists in the music industry”.

As for now, please explain why we’re supposed to embrace the Total Music strategy when the leader admits that they don’t understand the technology and they wouldn’t know technology if it bit them in the butt. Oh yeah….I remember….because they need more money.

It’s time for some younger, tech-savvy management in the music business. Like, maybe the artists themselves? The one thing that the music moguls didn’t count on when they attempted to subvert ignored the market’s desire for on-line music, is the surge in independent musicians and their grasp of the aforementioned technology. The Indies (with a little ingenuity assistance from Steve Jobs) let the Genie out of the bottle and no amount of intimidation and or waxing nostalgic for the mega-million days are going to stuff him back in. There will be more and more new strategies, like Radiohead, Prince, and subscription services tried and eventually, the business model WILL conform to the will of the people.

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Money, Pink Floyd

ETA:  Lefsetz adds a Perspective from the Bottom.  As always, money ^^^^^ is the root of all evil.  Don’t get me wrong.  I like living well, and eating.  It’s just when greed causes people to have an obscene level of living that I get ticked.

In today’s comments, Shrew linked to a very powerful George Michael (yes, I said George Michael) video that is transparently about him and his “journey”.  I think that he encapsulates a lot in Freedom 90:

I won’t let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It’s the one good thing that I’ve got
I won’t let you down
So please don’t give me up
Because I would really, really love to stick around

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn’t know what I wanted to be
I was every little hungry schoolgirls pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me
To win the race? a prettier face!
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll tv
But today the way I play the game is not the same
No way
Think I’m gonna get me some happy

I think there’s something you should know
I think its time I told you so
There’s something deep inside of me
There’s someone else I’ve got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

Chorus:  All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don’t belong to you
And you don’t belong to me
Freedom
You’ve gotta give for what you take
Freedom
You’ve gotta give for what you take

Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy
What a kick just a buddy and me
We had every big-shot goodtime band on the run boy
We were living in a fantasy
We won the race
Got out of the place
I went back home got a brand new face
For the boys on mtv
But today the way I play the game has got to change
Oh yeah
Now I’m gonna get myself happy

I think there’s somethig youshould know
I think its time I stopped the show
There’s something deep inside of me
There’s someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

Chorus

Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybodys got to sell
But when you shake your ass
They notice fast
And some mistakes were build to last

That’s what you get

I say that’s what you get

Thats what you get for changing your mind

And after all this time
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

I’ll hold on to my freedom
May not be what you want from me
Just the way its got to be
Lose the face now
I’ve got to live

 

 

Stormy Monday

Yeah, it’s a Stormy Monday here…in more ways than one. We need the rain, so I’m not too disappointed in the storms that we’re having. Yet, facing a rainy Monday after a long holiday weekend is excruciating pain. A pain that can only be captured by the Blues.

T-Bone Walker (The Original)

Stormy Monday was written and recorded by T-Bone Walker in 1947 , reaching #5 on the R&B Charts in 1948. It was one of the first hits to feature the electric guitar and has served as a pre-requisite for every great blues guitarist. Even the great B.B. King has said that hearing Stormy Monday lit the spark in him to be a guitar man.

The song appropriately captures that Monday feeling. You know, the “you’d rather be dipped in honey and lay down in a bed of ants” feeling? The Allman Brothers re-popularized the song in the ’70s, but I couldn’t find their version. You’ll just have to be satisfied with these other fine performances.

Stevie Ray Vaughn & Albert Bell Eric Clapton

Eva Cassidy

John Mayer

Now, you’re going to tell me that a man that “gets” and can play Stormy Monday like THAT, seriously thinks Justin Timberlake rawks?

1 + 1 <> 3.

 

Saturday Smörgåsbord

Well, trying to get my mind off of the devastating loss and the thought of having to work on Monday. Still thankful, however.

Tears Dry on Their Own, Amy Winehouse. Dig the Ain’t No Mountain High Enough beat.

Say, John Mayer. From the new movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman — can’t wait for that one.

Wait For Me, Susan Tedeschi. No explanation needed.

Dragonforce. Mini DD’s favorite song….from Guitar Hero.

Groaning the Blues, Eric Clapton. “Slowhand” is still da man.

All I Want For Christmas is You, Mariah Carey. Because “here it comes”….and this song is just so fun.

House. Because I love him.

Lastly, this, right here, is funny….. don’t care who ya are. Messin’ with cats is just so damn fun.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

 

Battle for the Boot

ETA:  ARKANSAS 50, LSU 48

Well, that’s the way it goes. The Boot goes to Arkansas and LSU is relegated to an “also ran” again. Too bad. However, it was theirs to lose and they couldn’t convert….in triple overtime….at home. If you can’t secure an inferior opponent at home, you don’t deserve a shot at the National Championship. I still love the Tigers, but don’t think they are deserving of a National Title shot.

 

10-1. #1 Ranking. Favored to take it all. Today, 25 Seniors at LSU — the last of Nick Saban’s recruits — will make their final walk down Victory Hill and into Tiger Stadium to take on a mediocre Arkansas Razorback team. While these Seniors have played every game of their storied college careers as ranked opponents, none of them were part of the team when Arkansas last beat LSU.

It was 2002, in Little Rock when the traditional meeting was held on “Black Friday”, when all between LSU and a consecutive SEC Championship Game appearance were the underdog Hogs. I vividly recall this game as I had to run to the restroom and puke after this:

Last year, the Hogs (due to a soft schedule) had sewn up the SEC West before the LSU meeting. LSU beat the Razorbacks in a tough game in Little Rock, 31-26, securing a Sugar Bowl birth but no SEC Championship shot. While LSU didn’t represent the West in the SEC title game, they did end up beating the snot out of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to secure a final #3 ranking. The West “champion” ended up losing to Florida in the Championship game, 38-28 and to Wisconsin in the Capitol One Bowl, 17-14 and ended up with a #15 ranking.

Today, the Tigers have sewn up the West title and will play in Atlanta in a couple of weeks. The Razorbacks come to Baton Rouge unranked and 3-4 in league play. Their coach, Houston Nutt, is likely on his way out. But, he’s a crafty little devil and there’s nothing more fierce than a wounded animal, so LSU needs to stay on task and finish this thing up right.

Their quest is bigger than just the SEC — it’s for the National Title. There can be no more losses — particularly, not Arkansas at home.

Forget the Miles to Michigan talk and if they’ll play Tennessee or Georgia in Atlanta. Today is about pounding the Hogs…for “The Boot”, for the SEC West, for the SEC, and for the National Championship.

Hopefully, these 25 talented Seniors will provide the leadership and focus needed to secure this victory and march on to Atlanta for the next leg in the Championship journey. Perhaps, a little We Ready would be appropriate for the lockeroom….

GEAUX TIGERS! ROAST THOSE HOGS!

 

Thankful

 

 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” —Psalm 100:4

The first time I heard this song, over a year ago, I completely identified with it. Jonny Lang shows his versatility and sincerity in this wonderful tune.

Thankful – Jonny Lang

Someones standing in a welfare line
Or off the freeway with a hungry sign
Someones stressing bout to lose their mind
I gotta be thankful, thankful

Someone just became a single mother
Someone just lost a sister or brother
Its so important that we love each other
And be

Thankful, thankful
Ive gotta take the time to say, that Im
Thankful, thankful
For every single breath that I take
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful

Someones sitting in a prison cell
Wasting away in their own personal hell
Everybodys got their own story to tell
Ive gotta be thankful, thankful

Man, I used to think I didnt have a lot
Now I realize just how much Ive got
Now every day Im gonna take the time and stop to be

REPEAT CHORUS

Any one of these so easily could have been me
But if it had not been for grace and mercy who knows where Id be

I’ve been riding on this roller coaster ride
Round and round Ive seen the up and downside
And I’m here to tell you that the secret of life is being

While it’s easy to find things to complain about on a daily basis, there is so much to be appreciative of today.

* Considering the unbelievable terror of six years ago, we haven’t experienced any real terror strikes.

* Personally speaking, I’ve been given a chance for a career change.

* For the most part, everyone’s healthy.

* For the first time in 10 years, my Mother is visiting for Thanksgiving.

* Our family is full of young, promising people.

For example, here is a rising star in young 17 year old Arielle Boutin, who is from Lafayette, LA and on scholarship at the Boston Conservatory of Music. She happens to be Mr. D and I’s great-niece. (GEAUX Arielle!!!!)

I hope that you are all feeling as blessed in this life as I am today.

Blessed - Martina McBride

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 

Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye…

John Mayer’s latest blog is titled “Pop Rocks” and extols how there is some really good Pop music out there. Now, I know not all Pop music is bad, but the ones he’s listed has got me questioning John’s “tool” factor. I understand John’s need to conform to the industry early on in his career so that he could get a foothold into the industry — which he did.

I admired his dedication to becoming a top notch guitarist with a blues funk, reeling in friends like B.B. King and Eric Clapton. I thought Continuum was a brilliant piece of work that truly showed his range and talent and didn’t compromise in trying to throw out the sappy bubblegum that Pop fans are doled on a daily basis from terrestrial radio.

Then the list. I have to scratch my head as the guy who paints himself as the music biz rebel, obviously is throwing a bone to the record companies in endorsing these (with the exception of Sara Bareilles, where he evidently made an indie stand). You tell me:

1. Misery Business and When it Rains by Paramore

While a cheap Joan Jett imitation…makes me yawn.

When it Rains is a bit more compelling but I prefer Sara or FEIST!

2. Lovestoned/I Think She Knows – Justin Timberlake

Seriously? What a poser. He is the 21st Century Vanilla Ice. Is Mayer trying to be sarcastic? God, I hope so.

3. Tattoo – Jordin Sparks

This has to be an obvious payback to the record label gods. Can you listen to Mary J. Blige and Beyonce’ and really feel awed by Jordin? She’s not terrible by any means but there’s hundreds of Jordins and those kind of songs out there…cookie cutter.

4. Love Song – Sara Bareilles

Mayer picks the “poppiest” of Sara’s repetoire, when Gravity is clearly superior and shows Sara’s obvious talent. This is the only one I agree with, however for this kind of sound, I’d have chosen Bubbly by Colbie Caillat.

…..and the piece de resistance….

5. Over You – Daughtry

And, exactly how do Daughtry and John Mayer even fit in the same sentence? Has Mayer started wearing a wallet chain?

For good measure JM throws in his new BFF, Alicia Keys with Like You’ll Never See Me Again. Oh, the drama. While the girl has pipes, this certainly doesn’t show off her talent. Again, **yawn**.

I just don’t get it….other than this is John’s professional butt-kissing to take some chances on his next CD. Sort of an ace up his sleeve. It’s quite interesting that all of these artists, except for Paramore are signed to a Sony-BMG label, which just happens to be John Mayer’s label.

Jus’ sayin’.

That’s the only way I can rationalize the guy’s choices of “good” Pop music noted here. His own new song, Say (see Mayer’s November 16th blog for a preview), is really quite good and perhaps he’s trying to SAY something?

Take out of your wasted honor
Every little best frustration
Take out all your so called problems
Better put them in quotations
Say what you need to say (8x)

Walkin like a one man army
Fightin with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say (8x)
[Say lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com%5D

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for getting older
You better know that in the end its better to say to much
Than to never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Why?
Say what you need to say (20ishx)

 

Where I’m From

There’s not many songs, particularly of the pop or country variety, that I am not at least acquainted with. However, when I first heard Taylor Hicks singing some song about Alabama, my ears perked up from curiosity. It was from one of those “sessions” before AI. After a bit of research, I found out that the song, Where I’m From, was written and performed by Shelby Lynne, who is labeled a Country artist.

Amazingly, I also found out that Shelby grew up in Jackson, AL, just north of Mobile. Her backstory is quite compelling. She grew up with a musical family with her father being a musician and her mother, a music teacher. At 17, her alcoholic father shot and killed her mother and then himself, rendering her and her little sister Allison, to the custody of relatives. After a brief marriage at 18, Shelby set out for Nashville and at 20, ended up recording a duet with Country Music icon George Jones, If I Could Bottle This Up, in 1988.

While success seemed inevitable, Shelby didn’t seem to “catch on” until her breakout album I am Shelby Lynne in 2000. This album, a rebellion from her label over artistic control, ended up winning her a Grammy for “Best New Artist”, although she’d been in the business over 10 years. This CD has a variety of styles and genres, but Where I’m From, is clearly an acoustical country gem.

I love this song and love the instrumentation. Violins and steel guitar. The bridge towards the end kept evoking a familiar tune to me that took me a while to pinpoint, but I finally got it.

Sleep Walk, Santo & Johnny Farino

Back to Where I’m From. When I attended the Taylor Hicks concert in Mobile, back in February, he included his version as an encore.

Taylor butchers the lyrics in several places (as usual), but when I first heard the refrain, I thought it was some kind of pig latin. Once I looked up the lyrics, I recognized it as French, although the lyrics are listed phonetically. Evidently, Shelby Lynne has some Cajun in her somewhere because that refrain is in the French of my ancestors.

Elégamment les bateaux passent en banc, On la flotte avec du vent

Which translates loosely to: “Elegantly the boats pass the bank, They float by with the wind.” Now, I don’t know about you, but that French phrase is not remotely close to what I hear Taylor saying. I give him an A for effort, though, and an A+ for great taste in tunes that kun-NECKS.

This song particularly resonates with me because I live in Alabama and can relate to all Shelby sings about but the French verses are what reels me in. I’m a sucker for my heritage and all that entails, particularly the wonderful Cajun French language that I was raised with. I thought you all might like to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak….so here it is.

Anyway, pay some attention to Shelby. You might recognize her as Carrie Cash (Johnny’s Mother) in Walk the Line. She has rebelled against the music industry a number of times and is currently working on a tribute CD dedicated to Dusty Springfield (produced by Barry Manilow).

I Only Want to Be With You

Her sister is Allison Moorer, a Country artist who had an Alabama song of her own. Allison is married to Steve Earle. (yes, we’re all related somehow down here.)

Alabama Song

and she sings a tune that might be a little familiar:

A Change Gone Come, Allison Moorer

Lastly, here’s another Shelby Lynne song off of the I Am Shelby Lynne CD that is primo.

Your Lies

Shelby’s an original and definitely NOT a one-trick pony. Here’s a recent collaboration with the band Live.

Run Away

These two Alabama ladies are extremely talented.

Shelby Lynne’s MySpace

Allison Moorer Website

 

 

 

My Presidential Candidate

I think that I have found my guy for ’08. I mean…a Southerner, moderate Conservative and CHUCK NORRIS APPROVED!

I don’t care who ya are, that…right there, is funny.

Since this is a music blog, here’s a little something for a Monday…

Can’t Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones

 

Geaux to Hell, Ole Miss!

ETA: Relatively painless win, save getting banged up a bit. LSU rolls….10-1 with Arkansas on Friday.

LSU 41, Ole Miss 24

************************************************************************

Sorry. For those of you who are not aware, this has been a LSU war cry for decades.

On Saturday, LSU faces yet another arch-rival in the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” Rebels in lovely downtown Oxford, MS. Ole Miss is a different world. They tailgate in Southern opulence in a square filled with lovely moss-draped oak trees. Ladies are in high dress while men sport starched shirt and tie.

“The Grove”

This will be the 96th meeting between the Tigers and the Rebs, with LSU leading the series 54-37-4. However, the animosity between the two teams goes back 50 years. Between 1958 and 1962, both teams were ranked in the top 10 each time they played. The most feared man in Oxford, MS is this guy:

Billy Cannon

On Halloween, 1959, defending National Champion and #1 ranked LSU trailed Ole Miss 3-0, late in the game in Tiger Stadium. Then, this…

The Halloween Run

An 11 year old Mr. D and two of his brothers and Dad were watching in the wings on their way out of the stadium for their three hour drive home and witnessed, “the run”, first hand. He still remembers the deafening roar when Cannon broke the 7th tackle and sprinted into the endzone.

Archie Manning, the legendary Ole Miss QB, was 10 years old listening to the game with his father in his Cleveland, MS home. When time expired and LSU emerged the victor, 7-3, young Archie cried. Then, he listened to the replay of the game, hoping for a different result which of course, didn’t happen. He then cried himself to sleep. In a few short years, he would beat LSU two of three years that he started against LSU. He lost his last start against LSU playing with a broken arm. Today, the speed limit signs in Oxford are set for 18 m.p.h. , the 18 being Archie’s number. Archie later went on to fame in the NFL as the Saints QB and is of course, the father of Peyton and Eli Manning. Although a hero in Mississippi, Archie has called New Orleans, Louisiana home for the last 35 or so years.

As for Billy Cannon, the Missississpi native went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1959, having his #20 retired at LSU — the only jersey to ever be retired at LSU. As with many public figures in Louisiana, however, he fell from grace in the ’80s when Billy Cannon, the orthodontist, was convicted of printing counterfeit money. He’s still a hero to many in Louisiana.

This year’s game in Vaught Stadium shouldn’t be close. Ole Miss is 0-5 against #1 teams in recent history and have lost the last five years to LSU. Besides, they REALLY need an updated cheer.

Hotty Toddy?

I think LSU’s cheers are much better:

 

CBS, 2:30pm CST

 

GEAUX TIGERS!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!