by vivrant thang on old school friday

Party people! I hope everyone has had a great week. Mine has been mostly sweet with a touch of sour but I roll with the punches.

This week’s OSF theme is Girl Groups. This was a rough one to narrow down! As I anxiously await Tuesday when Raphael Saadiq’s The Way I See Itdrops, I thought about giving ya’ll some Motown sounds. Maybe some Marvalettes, Supremes, or Martha Reeves and The Vandellas.

Then I thought that since I’ve been in a sassy mood this week I should drop some Klymaxx, “The Men All Pause.” and “Meeting In the Ladies Room.” I play “The Men All Pause” is mood music when I’m headed out on a Saturday night.

However, as I’ve mentioned, the 90s is my favorite decade in music in part because of the proliferation of girl groups. So many to choose from: Jade, Changing Faces, 702, En Vogue, XScape, Total, Blaque, and two of the best selling female groups of all time: TLC and SWV.

And then there was Zhane.

Should be no need to introduce you to Zhane.  For the one or two…

When I tell you I let my tape rock til my tape popped, I’m not exaggerating. My freshman year of college as I was getting over an unrequited love, I estimate Pronounced Jah-nay got about 8,873 spins and Mary’s My Life twice that (but that’s another post).

They also won a hard fought spot on my Top Fifity Songs list. It wasn’t easy to choose just one from that album.

Sweet Taste of Love

“Love Me Today,”  “Everything Happens For A Reason,”  “Off My Mind,” and “La La La,” are my other favorites from that album.  I guess I’ve covered the whole thing! These songs still bring back some very deep emotions even fourteen years later. That’s real music.

However, I got to end it with their first hit, “Hey Mr. DJ,” the ultimate party starter. I dedicate this one on the “request line” to DJ YZO of Industry Soul.You’re the greatest mannnnnn!

Where are they now?

Both Jean Baylor and Renee Neufville are both enjoying solo careers.

Jean’s album Testimony: My Life Story is available for download on her website. I think I am going to cop that!

Renee performs with Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor. Check out her You Tube channel for some outstanding live performances. and Check out some of her new music that will presumably be on her album, Sovereign whenever it’s released. I will get my hands on that as well. She sounds great with RH Factor.

Party is not over. Be sure to visit the other OSF participants.

Electronic Village | Mrs Grapevine | Quick | Cassandra | Danielle | Lisa C | Chocl8t | Kreative Talk | MarvalusOne | Regina | LaShonda | AJ | Sharon | Invisible Woman | Believer 1964 | Dee |SJP | sHaE-sHae | Thembi