soulninja

 Zhane-Request Line. 

"Lovelite" by O'Bryan

For the love of Jill Scott.

I adore Ms. Scott and I am so excited about her new CD, "The Light of the Sun". Here are my favorite songs by her:

Golden-The feel good anthem of a lifetime. A melodic tribute to self-confidence and love.

A Long Walk (Jazzy Remix)-THE song that made me a fan. Tell me if you can't resist trying to sing all the words.

The Way-A seductive ode to post coital joy. Yes hunty!

Family Reunion-A song that highlights Scott's extraordinary songwriting talent. Listening to this just makes you feel like you're right there enjoying the celebration.

Not Like Crazy-One of the most realistic love songs ever.

Epiphany-Heh.

At the Prince concert last night. I was a lot closer than my crappy BB camera showed. It was an awesome show. The set list (as I remember). I'm sure I forgot one or two:

Some song from Musicology

Another song from Musicology

Take Me With You

Cool, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Hollywood Swinging Mashup

Cream

You Got the Look

How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore? (With Special Guest Alicia Keys)

She's Always in My Hair

DMSR

Controversy

If I Was Your Girlfriend

 I’ve been listening to Prince as long as I can remember. Even when I was too young to know what his more adult themed songs were about, he has always been a part of my musical landscape. Sure there were other artists that caught my fancy through the years, but Prince Rogers Nelson was always a permanent fixture on my turntable. 

Prince is known for not only being an astounding musician, he is one of the most prolific. He’s released 24 full length studio albums since 1978, and dozens of singles. It’s rather difficult to choose favorites from so many, but I’m going to try in this post.

Note: These are MY favorite songs. They aren’t necessarily his most well-known or his bestselling but for one reason or many, they have stuck with me. I hope there are some of your favorites too.

Private Joy-(Controversy) If only for just that one line, “If anybody ask you, you belong to Prince.”

Computer Blue-(Purple Rain) I love the guitar solo. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Lady Cab Driver-(1999) Although it’s over 8 minutes long, the funky bass line is enough to keep your interest.

Annie Christian-(Controversy) One of his strangest songs, but can a song about the Antichrist be normal?

The Ballad of Dorothy Parker-(Sign O’ The Times) Boy meets girl over an free flowing jam using rather esoteric lyrics. Works for me.

Diamonds and Pearls-(Diamonds and Pearls) Rosie Gaines completely makes this song.

Uptown-(Dirty Mind) Funky Funky Funky. An  anthem for personal freedom.

Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?-(Prince) I remember hearing this song and asking, “Guitars? In an R&B song?” Yes!!

I Would Die 4 You-(Purple Rain) This was my kind of love song. Plus, you got to do that cool hand thing.

Do Me Baby-(Controversy) Included on everyone’s getting busy tape. Fine with me, even with Prince’s faux climax at the end. I have a feeling many a child has been conceived due to this song.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World-(The Gold Experience) Just a wonderful song from a man who really loves women.

Little Red Corvette-(1999) The song that made Prince a crossover success. But even still, it kicks ass like nothing else.

Pop Life-(Around the World in a Day) A tale of caution with a pop beat. Brilliant.

U Got the Look-(Sign O’ The Times)  Another boy meets girl song, but who does them better than Prince?

His Royal Badness will be in concert in Los Angeles Friday April 22nd, at the Forum.

I can't remember what age I was when I heard my first Teena Marie song. I just know that her music was constantly bumped in our house. "Behind the Groove", "Must be Magic", and "Square Biz" were the background music for Saturday cleaning days. Like a lot of us, I had no idea she was white until I saw her on Soul Train and it didn't matter. For one, she wasn't the first white artist to make R&B records. She wasn't even the first white artist to appear on Soul Train. Elton John and David Bowie had already graced the stage. To me at least, Teena was the real deal. She wasn't a pop artist who dabbled into R&B on a whim or at the suggestion of a producer. She was an R&B artist to her very core. Teena had SOUL. It oozed from every note, bar and stanza. 

That was the reason why she was so beloved by black audiences. Her talent was undeniable. She was a musician, a songwriter, and a consummate performer. When she hit the chorus of "Ooh La La", all matters of skin color and culture melted away. Teena was an ARTIST. A TRAILBLAZER who was constantly in command of her music and her image. And thanks to her suing Motown for royalties, artists can now receive their fair share of royalties and aren't as vulnerable to predatory record companies. Thank God for her.

Some favorite Teena Marie joints:

Square Biz

I Need Your Lovin'

Portuguese Love

Fire & Desire (with Rick James)

Midnight Magnet

Dear Lover

Ooh La La

Playboy

I Love Him Too

If I Were A Bell