I decided to do a little spin on this week’s theme, which is child stars. Again, I’ll be featuring female artists for Women’s History Month.
My picks weren’t child stars although they should have been. My first pick, in particular, sent more chills up my spine with her sent-from-heaven voice at 11 than she does now at 22. Not surprising when you were singing with Stevie Wonder at age 13.
Watch Jazmine Sullivan singing “Home” in her elementary school production of The Wiz followed by her appearance on Showtime at The Apollo where completely destroyed me with “Accept What God Allows.”
Finally, for some reason, Babygirl has been on my mind this week…and in my iPod. Check out a clip of Aaliyah performing on Star Search.
Here’s some of the blog posts I’ve enjoyed over the past week.
FREE music is never a bad thing right? Get your download on.
As if there needed to be any icing on the cake, the DJ at the Foreign Exchange show on Friday night was ridiculous. We all kept looking up, saying “who is the DJ?!” After some investigation, I found out it was DJ Cuzzin B of True School. You’ve heard about him here before. He and 9th Wonder do a radio show live from the NC area each Friday night and he sent a mix from one of the shows. Download it here.
nOvaslim over at SoulBounce has put together what I consider one of his hottest mixes, His Soulful Materials.
This week marked twelve years since we lost Biggie. Honeysoul links you up to a few tribute mixes.
What do you think were the greatest R&B albums of the 70s? Soul Tracks polled their readers and announced the results. Of course any listicle of this kind inspires spirited debate. Head on over and join the conversation. While there, place your vote for top albums of the 80s.
Tah-Nehisi Coates does a really stupid thing by offering a list of what he feels are essential hip-hop albums. Last I checked, it was 144 comments deep.
I know how I’ll be spending this evening – over on Fab Channel watching classic concerts from artists like Rahsaan Patterson, Eric Roberson, Amp Fiddler, Lizz Wright, Bebel Gilberto, Jose James and Chaka Khan. Only one more day before this site shutters it’s “doors”
I am swooning over the After Midnight Series, which combines art and music (two of my favoritest PG13 things in the world). Moovmnt has all the details.
It should go without saying that this is going down as one of the top live performances I attended this year. Ain’t nothing changed.
Correction.
Something did change with this stop through DC for Phonte and Nicolay. At last, we had all of the artists that blessed Leave It All Behind on stage. DC showed it’s appreciation with a sold out venue.
Darien Brockington, who I last feasted eyes on when he performed withLittle Brother here in DC back in 2007, rejoined the tour to lend his smooth and soulful vocals (and dashing good looks – but we’re focusing on the music here!)
While it was all peaches and cream seeing DBrock perform with Foreign Exchange, I made sure to badger him after the show as to when we will see another full length effort from him.
Sir, it’s been more than a minute.
1,577, 846, give or take a few, to be exact.
He said he was in the studio working on it. I’ve heard that before! So he shall continue to get the side eye of death until we get something more concrete – like a single perhaps.
Anyway we kissed and made up and and cheesed it up for a nice photo.
Couldn’t forget about Phontigallo aka Cat Daddy. He was in rare form as usual and looking quite suave and debonair in his Harlem Nights attire.
Enough preliminaries.
Check out a few videos from the show. You know, after listening to this album for the fifty eleventh time that morning and then seeing this show, I think I will go ape-shit, literally, on the next person who dares to bump their gums and say any of the following:
“There’s too much sangin!”
“Phonte needs to rap more!”
“This album ain’t like Connected!”
Evolve people. Seriously. I simply don’t understand anyone who doesn’t get this album. You’re a stranger to me.
As always, I got the entire show for you over at my You Tube channel. I’ll post different songs from the last review. They performed all of my favorites (and yours I’m sure). So head over to the channel and check them out. Subscribe while you’re there. More goodies coming!
All Or Nothing
Darien Brockington shining on Come Around
Something To Behold
Covering the Rude Boys Written All Over Your Face
Enjoy responsibly and support whatever they come out with collectively and individually.
It’s been four years since we’ve had an album from Bay area songstress Goapele. I’m sure she’s another artist on your wishlist for a new release post haste.
Meanwhile, many thanks to the good folks over at Bama Love Soul for alerting me to two “newish” tracks she released late last year. Both these songs really spoke to a sista!
Believe it or not, Viv is pretty shy when it comes to the fellas. No, seriously. “Don’t Be Shy” may help me muster up some gumption as we move into prime flirting season. Classic Goapele that has me feenin for more.
“Chocolate” was commissioned by LG to introduce their Chocolate 3 phone. Now this is the kind of song about chocolate that I want on repeat! My longtime readers know that with lyrics like “I could never get enough. My love for chocolate’s got me wanting you,” this one definitely one spoke to me! I also love Goapele’s voice over more uptempo tracks and this has a bit of a techno vibe.
She has been performing pretty consistently, mostly out on the West Coast. She brought in 2009 with Mos Def at his Sneakers Required party. View a clip from that party here. She opened her set with Prince’s 1999. I would kill to have seen that.
No word yet on a release date for her fourth album. Rumor has it that she’s in the studio working with Krucial Keys. Music heads if you know something, drop me a line in the comments. I’ve seen mention of a live DVD of 10 tracks taped during a performance at the Great American Music Hall in the Bay Area. We’ll keep watch for more information on that.
I didn’t mean to be away so long but I’m coming back swinging (now watch ten other people have my same picks because I said that).
Today’s theme is songs with the word “heart” in the title. I found a plethora of songs but decided that since it’s women’s history month, I have to give the ladies some shine in all my OSF posts this month.
Michel’le– Something in Your Heart(1989) Ya’ll know you used to screetch and squeal right along with her. This was thesong back in ’89. I didn’t know what I was singing, but I was sanging. It’s a crime that this video isn’t on You Tube in it’s proper form. Someone was kind enough to upload it to Myspace.
View it here
Tamia, You Put A Move On My Heart (1995)
This song still gives me chills 14 years later. The lovely Tamia at her best. Notice she’s fully dressed and still hotter than all of these chicks out here today
Whitney Houston -Where Do Broken Hearts Go (1988)
Actually it makes me sad to post old Whitney especially after I watch this fuggery, which I do from time to time when I need a good laugh. I guess I hold a special place in my heart for her since I sang her music at my recital when I took voice lessons. This is one of my favorite songs off the Whitney album.
This ends my official picks. But if you want to enjoy some more good music, here’s some runner-ups which I hope you’ll see posted on other OSF blogs.
Atlantic Starr–If Your Heart Isn’t In It (this is on repeat when I play my best of Atlantic Starr. And yes, I play it often!)
Luther Vandross – Anyone Who Had A Heart (Luther doesn’t need any help but I absolutely love the “duet” with Elton John on the So Amazing tribute album. He’s one of the few that didn’t massacre poor Luther’s music on that one)
Whitney Houston, Faith, & Kelly Price– Heartbreak Hotel (Another of my favorite Whit songs. Killer combination. Beautiful scenery. Everyone looked stunning…though years later, I’m still just not sure about that powder blue coat on Kelly.)
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 