Fine Fine Boy by Darlene Love

The greatest musicians in popular music aren’t always the ones that are the most popular and some of the most popular musicians owe their success to people who are not credited for their work.

20 Feet From Stardom is the Oscar winning documentary that explores the role of back-up singers and reveals the struggles of a generation of singers who contributed to some of the greatest songs in popular music history.

While their names may not ring a bell, their voices and the songs that they contributed to are unforgettable.



It’s a story like the film “Standing In The Shadows of Motown,” (which I discussed in this previous post), which seem tragic and victorious all at the same time.

The sad part is that these singers never “made it.” There are stories of singers who sang on songs while other artist got credit for them. Some of them rationalize this as a good thing but you can tell that there’s sadness, a feeling of regret as they reflection of their careers.

The amazing part is the music. These singers sound amazing from back when they were teenagers to now that they are past middle age. The passion and the shear joy that they express in their singing is simply breathtaking.

Phil Spector gets so much credit for his production work with songs like “Unchained Melody.” However his songs would not have had nearly the impact they did if these songs didn’t feature some of the best voices in pop music history. This becomes clear when you hear Darlene Love perform “Fine Fine Boy.”

20 Feet From Stardom ends with Darlene Love performing this song with Bruce Springsteen at the 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Concert.

Springsteen states in the documentary that one thing that made Spector productions so great is the youthfulness of these voice and yes Darlene Love sounds different than she did in her twenties:



Her voice is deeper now with more soul. After watching 20 Feet From Stardom, you know her struggle and how she went from singing to cleaning houses and finally came back and owned her true destiny as a singer. This knowledge gives her voice much more depth. Yes, “Fine Fine Boy,” is a teenage-centric song, but it’s about joy. It’s about hope and Darlene Love, expressing this so beautifully after all that she has gone through is truly inspiring.


One of these days Ollie will ask me about "Fine Fine Boy," after years of me singing this song to him.  Then I'll explain to him who Darlene Love is and we'll watch some of 20 Feet From Stardom.  He may not understand what it's all about, but he'll understand the joy that comes from these amazing singers.  I can't think of a better tribute to their work then to pass their music and their stories on to one more generation. 

I Don’t Wanna Fight by Tina Turner

What is a normal amount of fighting in a relationship? Is a screaming match healthy if it happens once a month or once a week? Is it okay if the fighting goes beyond the verbal to the physical?

People have a wide variety of what they consider a “normal” amount of fighting. These expectations are usually set up from observing their parent’s relationship. In my view physical fitting is never okay and which most people agree with but at the I also think that it’s never okay to raise your voice to someone you love. Some families and yelling isn’t necessarily out of bounds, but its’ just not something that my wife and I feel is appropriate.

I’ve been thinking a lot about conflict in relationships lately.  Tina Tuner’s reflective and powerful call for understanding, “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” has helped me put some things in perspective.


“I Don’t Wanna Fight,” was part of the soundtrack to the biopic about Turner, What’s Love Got To Do With It. This film, one of the best films about a musician, shows Turner’s rise to stardom but also the abusive relationship she endured with Ike Turner and how she broke free and reinvented herself.



There are so many remarkable things about Tina Turner and the message of “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” showcases the most amazing part of her story. Turner has every right to be better, hateful and angry not only at Ike for the troubles in her life but also God and the cosmos for putting her through what she endured. Her response instead is that “it’s time for letting go.”

When someone has wronged you, they can apologize and you can be mad at them. You can fight it out and scream at each other but after all the dust is settled, it’s your responsibility to let go of the past, the hurt emotions, the bitterness and move on with your life. If you don’t the anger will fester in your soul and continue to make you unhappy. The only person who can do anything about that is you.

Letting go is one of the hardest things to learn how to do in life, but it’s one of the most important.

Fighting and winning is overrated. When you best someone you love in a fight, you may win and that’s great but it’s at the price of someone you care about loosing. If you enjoy conflict and have a winning spirit, that’s great, go play basketball, however keep this out of your relationship. Even when you win against your partner you lose.

If fighting helps you and your partner be more open and honest with each other, great, than have it out. Here’s the thing though, for most of us, fighting an is unproductive expression of insecurities, hurt and misunderstanding. No one really wants to fight. So stop it.

8th Grade Playlist: 8 - Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles

There are a lot of songs that reflect on break-ups and tell the stories of relationships that ended. However there aren’t a lot of songs that put you right in the middle of a break-up while it’s happening.  That doesn’t really seem like a fun place to be, but Ray Charles manages to make it entertaining.



“Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles is one of the most popular songs in the history of pop music. It was written by Percy Mayfield and released in 1961. This song is a conversation between a fed-up woman and a man she is trying to make leave. He tries to convince her to let him stay, but she stand her ground and demands that he “hits the road.”

This is a short song with only two alternating sections. The opening “Hit the road jack,” section sung by the Raylettes (Ray Charles’ female back-up singers) with interjections by Ray.

During Ray’s first response he lashes out, telling the woman she’s mean. But then he pulls back and states that if she says he has to go, then he’ll leave. It’s almost like he’s trying to play a sympathy card to change his mind. But then she snaps right back singing “that’s right.”

During the second verse Ray takes on a different strategy. He tries to convince her that he’ll get his act together. Then we hear one of the most powerful phrases in pop music, “don’t care!” These two words aren’t sung as much as they are growled. It’s full of attitude, strength and one of the greatest “oh, snap,” moments in the history of popular music.

The relationship dynamics portrayed in this song are fascinating. This was released in the early 1960s. The power in relationships was more often in the hands of men both legally and socially. So here’s a song about a girl dumping a guy.  The guy is unable to convince her to let him stay and she proceeds to kick him out. Her reasoning is sound, he has no money and he’s no good.

Ray puts himself out there as the guy who gets dumped. This is the opposite of a rap star bragging about how much money he has or how many “ho’s in different area codes,” he “possesses.” It’s this willingness to be the man who gets dumped, the butt of the joke and that makes this song so much fun.

“Hit The Road Jack” is empowering to women and it’s a good lesson to men to remember get their act together before a girl gets fed up because there’s a good chance that if you don’t, you may be hitting the road. 

You Gotta Be by Des’ree

As graduation season comes into full swing people start thinking about songs to address this transition in life. Often people think about “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day or “Seasons Of Love” from the musical rent (which my 8th graders are singing for their graduation).

One of my favorite “advice” songs is Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be,” a beautiful song full of love and encouragement from 1994.



This is Des’ree’s most popular song. Other notable recordings she made include “Kissing You,” the love song from Baz Luhrman’s Romeo And Juliet.



The phrase “you gotta be,” seems to have a sense of urgency, but Des’ree sings it with such calm that its meaning changes. Usually this phrase is followed with an or statement, like “you gotta study for the test or you will fail.” So what is the consequence if you aren’t all these things?

Des’ree never says it straight out but what you begin to realize when listening to this song is that she is saying that you gotta take an active role in your life or else you will miss out on what life’s all about.

Des’ree sings about opening your eyes to the world, thinking about your parents and not getting bothered by other people’s lives. She talks about being “bad,” which goes beyond the 1980s slang to another meaning. This is more about speaking truth to power and being a little mischievous to accomplish great things in life.

While she encourages us to be strong, she also sings about embracing the pain in life and working through fears. It’s a viewpoint that accepts the dynamics of who we are but doesn’t accept the idea that we can’t do anything to change our position in life.

Des’ree sings this song with confidence and power. She’s not aggressive in her strength but rather cool and calm. Through her rich and soulful voice you believe that she truly is everything that she is singing about.

Songs that give this kind of message don’t seem to come around very often, but we need them so badly. Des’ree represents the best of what pop music can say to a wide audience. Yes, songs that have controversial lyrics get a lot of attention but it’s the ones that truly have soul and a life-affirming message that stay with us.  Des’ree reminds us of the great potential in pop music and what we should strive for every day in our lives.

634-5789 Vs. 867-5309

Best songs featuring a phone #?

Wilson Picket's "634-5789"


or Tommy Tutone's "867-5309"?



Wow, this one is tough.   Picket is one of the greatest soul singers ever, but Tommy Tutone's name using alteration.  I'll leave this one for the ages.

Whitney Houston-The Voice

When I wrote this post a couple weeks ago about Whitney Houston.  I didn’t imagine that less than a month later I would be writing about losing her.

As much as I would like to think that I’m an expert on music, at the end of the day, I simply a man who loves music. What I speak from is my experiences and my life.  So when Etta James died, I didn’t feel much. I respect her as one of the most important artists in music history and I never formed an emotional attachment to her music. Hearing the news Saturday night that Whitney was dead hit me in the same way that the death of Michael Jackson affected me. It’s like her death left an open space inside of me somewhere and it hurts. No it’s not the same as when my grandparents died, but it's hard to deal with.

Like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston was an idealized picture of what it means to be American. The image of her singing the National Anthem at the Superbowl and her singing “I Will Always Love You,” is my vision of what was a pop star. But when I was a kid, I needed that. And when things started falling apart for Whitney, it was at the exact time when I began to realize that no one is perfect and the fact that we all have our battles. And as this reality came crashing into my idealized worldview, Whitney’s life came crashing down right in front of us.



Even though, I know now that Whitney like all of us is not some super-hero, the image of her smiling, dancing around and being that perfect artist is one of my fondest childhood memories. Whitney at her best was one of the greatest singers in American history. She managed to balance her soul and gospel background with pop sensibilities influencing every musical artist that heard her. Now we may have artists who didn’t grow up listening to her but I bet they listen to people who did. Her image was sensual, but not overly sexualized. The grace she carried herself with was something that we just don’t see anymore.

When pop music got dark, she kept to her guns and melded modern sounds, which other female artists utilized to objectify themselves and continued to spread a message of love and strength.

We all have to grow up. We all have to go through a stage when we realize the heroes of our youth are flawed, that the images we look to have dark edges and the that sometimes, no matter how much we hope, we have to watch the people who inspired our souls pass along to another place.

I just wish it didn't have to be this way.

Thanks Whitney for the music, the memories and the dreams.

Northern Soul = Happiness

Long day at work, lots of stuff to do, huge headache. . . bleh. . . the solution a little lesser known but taooly awesome Northern Soul:



oh that's the stuff. . .and forget "December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)," here's the Four Seasons REALLY rockin'.



Oh and then there's Smokey



Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this.

My Love Is Your Love by Whitney Houston

This is how I like to remember Whitney Houston.



With brilliant production by Wyclef Jean and simple but beautiful lyrics, Whitney proved in 1998 after years of controversy that she still had it.  She started in 1987 simply wanting to dance with somebody. . .



While this song is fun, that hair . . .wow.



Of course there's her unforgettable cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."



I guess I go back to "My Love Is Your Love" which is one of my favorite songs of all time because it feels so much more real.  There's a warmth and relaxation in her voice and an honestly.  It's hopeful, where as "I Will Always Love You," really is a break-up song.   There's something so profound she captures in the second verse that gets to me every time I hear this song.   

If I lose my fame and fortune,
And I'm homeless on the street.
And I'm sleeping in Grand Central Station,
It's okay if you're sleeping with me.

 While you imagine the loneliness and despair of this situation, her voice is liarms warm embrace.  

Someone Like You by Adele

This is how a lot of us feel about this song (including Coldplay). The weird thing is that my fifth graders on the bus ride back from a retreat sang this song as if it was a happy sing along song. At first I thought they were completely off base, but right now I’m not so sure.  Is this song as song as it seems?

Adele’s performance of “Someone Like You” at the this years MTV VMAs this questions in a way that the studio recording doesn't.

2011 VMA - Music - Adele

As the first chorus comes to a close you see a tear start welling up in the corner of Adele's eye. There’s a deep sadness that is expressed.  When she sings the second verse it’s like the words are spontaneously coming out of her soul, not a rehearsed performance. Instead of ending this verse with sadness there’s a little sense of bitterness as she sores into the second chorus.

There is a sense of anger in the second chorus as we begin to understand that this song is more then an expression of a moment but a journey of emotions as this woman works through the feelings of heartache and regret.

After Adele sings “ . . . bittersweet, this would taste,” she pauses for moment and you aren’t sure what’s going to happen next. How is she going to come out of this? Will it be through the sadness of the beginning of the song or the anger of the second chorus?

What emerges is something completely different: strength, resilience and determination. When she sings “never mind, I’ll find someone like you,” it’s not a word of self-comfort as it is in previous verses, it’s a statement of belief. While she wishes again that this other person finds love, what she emphasizes is how “she begged” stating it not out of desperation but a promise to herself that she will never beg again.

Yes, sometimes love lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.  What Adele teaches us is that sometimes the times it hurts leads to strength.

Mo Money Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Mase & Puff Daddy)

Yes, Mase’s rapping skills were suspect, yes, Puff Daddy comes across as a shameless
self-promoter but man this song was fun.



“Mo Money Mo Problems” was the second single off the Notorious B.I.G.’s second and final album Life After Death. Released posthumously after his murder, this song was a huge success topping the Billboard charts for two weeks and saturating MTV and radio stations.

This song comes from a quote from Notorious B.I.G. stating that with more money came more problems in life. And while this song warns of this adage the many of the lyrics and the sample feel more like celebration then a warning.

The sample which comes from 1980 Diana Ross hit “I’m Coming Out,” which features the greatest (and one of the only) trombone solos in popular music history.



Let’s not talk about that jacket she’s wearing . . .

This song really could not have been more perfect for a rap song sample and Puff Daddy arranged it so well that people hardly cared about the skill or the content of the raps in this song. I know I didn’t when I was listening to this song as a teenager.

Listening to this song, the beat is infectious but the variation of the rapping styles comes across very clearly, illustrating how great the Notorious B.I.G. was a rap artist. Mace just barely gets through his verse. I could deal with his monotone and unaffected delivery if he rhythms of his rap were so monotonous. Every phrase has the same cadence and his lack of momentum and energy juxtaposed over the sample is pretty painful.

Puffy does bring it with his verse. There’s variations in the phrase lengths, he sues alliteration and check out how he flows when he starts “team much stronger than yours . . . “ (2:40). He works through the beat placing accents against the what you expect before landing back down later in the verse.

Then Biggie comes in and blows both Mase and Puffy away. From the initial spell-out of his name, his superior skills are immediately clear. There is a rhythmic energy and punctuation with every syllable he says. His words are by-far the most meaningful illustrating the theme of the song and the struggles that come with wealth. What’s interesting is that it doesn’t really come across as bragging so much as an honest expression of insecurities.

Puff Daddy makes a great choice to clear the top layer of the instrumentals to let Biggie rap over the base line. It not only provides a great moment of space in the song but really highlights what Biggie is doing with his verse and how he uses his rhymes to create momentum in the song.

"Mo Money Mo Problems," while not coming across as the deepest song is a fascinating reflection about the life and times of the Notorious B.I.G.  This song is a party song but on another layer, it's a statement about the flaws and the misconceptions of having lots of wealth.  I can't help but wonder if it's these problems that led to the death of Biggie, one greatest rappers of all time.  With every positive thing in life, there's a potential for something bad to happen.  Like this song the good feelings can't last forever and eventually with have to deal with out lives.

Unfortunately for the Notorious B.I.G. when the party stopped so did his life.

Save The Best For Last by Vanessa Williams

Man I loved this song when I was a kid.  Vanessa Williams just looked so beautiful.  She owned the emotion in this song with the elegance of her voice.  There's a delicateness and vulnerability that the dynamic orchestra brings out.  Sometimes there's a full orchestra and other times it's just her voice and just enough backing to move the harmony along.

"And now I'm standing face to face, isn't the world a crazy place" is such a beautiful moment, I get chills when she just draws us into that feeling of uncertainty and anticipation. 

Oh wow, I forgot about that great moment when she just sighs over the orchestra.  Yes, this song is a little "adult contemporary" but I don't care, it's that cleanness, the craft in the songwriting that sometimes seems so lacking in a lot of the current music.

This song is ALL good, there's nothing that you can criticize about this thing . . . wait a second.  Yes, sometimes the snow comes down in June, but um, the sun NEVER goes around the the moon.  What?!?  Really.  When it sometimes snows in June, it makes for some funny weather but if the sun every went around the moon, I'm pretty sure we would no longer be alive.

Seriously?

Rolling In The Deep by Adele

Listen to her voice. What is going on here?

There’s this fascinating tradition of “Blue-eyed soul,” British singers who sing soul music so remarkably well giving America soul singers a run for their money. Adele adds to this tradition with her first album 19 and her most recent album 21. Right now she is demolishing any American representation of soul music in sales and it’s because she's good, really good.

If you pay attention to pop music you’ve probably heard Adele’s most successful single “Rolling In The Deep.”



Adele is one of the best arguments against the idea that success in pop music is reliant on how much like a supermodel you look and how sensually you can dance. I’m not saying she doesn’t have great stage presence but most people wouldn’t pick her out of a line-up as the most successful artist of the year, but after hearing her perform it’s easy to understand why she has connected with the world.

Adele has a rich, velvety alto voice. Unlike many less skilled singers, Adele mixes dark chest tones with her lighter head voice with ease. She belts out higher notes but it doesn’t sound strained and out of tune. There’s a lightness to the weight to her voice combines with darkness of her tone that is simply amazing and breathtaking.

Then there’s the music itself. “Rolling In The Deep” and all of the other songs on 21 are beautifully constructed works of pop art. What makes great pop music is the ability to connect with a wide range of audiences. It’s not about being all things to all people but creating music through it’s subject and sonic landscape that is universal but are also interesting.

“Rolling In The Deep” is catchy. It’s features a thumping four on the floor drum pulse, rising chorus and a great breakdown in the end of the song. You basically have the best out of pop song structure that appeals to younger audiences. Combine this with a voice that is reminiscent to older audiences of Aretha Franklin with intriguing but non-threatening lyrics and it’s no wonder why Adele has been ruling the sales charts for the past year.

I asked my 5th grade students to list some of their favorite songs and "Rolling In The Deep" came up multiple times.  It's one of the only songs they listed that I wouldn't hesitate to buy for my mom.  It's easy to get disillusioned by pop music, but there's really great stuff out there and Adele's a prime example.

Just in case you're not convinced . . .

Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston

The Disco genre of the 1970s is unfortunately one of the most unpopular historical music eras in pop music. I understand that the popularity of the Disco music got out of control and that people yearned for something different, but the backlash and anti-Disco events like Disco Demolition Night were ridiculous in retrospect.

Whenever something becomes popular, it’s usually based in the core of something that is of a high quality and then it’s the knock-offs and the imitators that breed annoyance. You can’t let the mediocrity in the genre overshadow the great stuff. It’s like saying the Harry Potter books are garbage because you read some slapped together children’s novel about a wizard. “Disco Duck” was a pretty atrocious song but you can’t let it get in the way of Thelma Houston’s masterpiece “Don’t Leave Me This Way.



Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes originally recorded this song with Teddy Pendergrass singing lead.



This group is best known for one of the most heart-breaking soul hits of the 1970s.



Teddy’s vocals are incredible. It’s impossible to really compare what he brings to this song with Houston’s performance. They are both incredible. What gets to me more about Thelma Houston’s version is that there is a sense of both desperation and strength. Coming from a woman’s perspective there’s something tragic yet beautifully liberating about this song.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" starts as being heartbreaking. She is singing about how she “can’t survive, can’t stay alive” without his love. The chorus changes tone to a joyful celebration of how great his love has made her feel. Here is a woman laying it out on the line how much she needs her man. In a way, it’s a statement of dependency but there’s something else going on here.

At the same time this is a song that is a celebration of love and the fact that it is in this feeling that you can freedom. Like the way music can help you become free in the joy of dance, his love brings her that feeling. Instead of dwelling on the pain that he brings her she focuses on the feeling of ecstasy. Maybe it’s not about begging a man who is treating her poorly to stay but elevated a man and making his realize how great a person he is and how the power of his love.

There is something haunting and unforgettable about this song. The opening humming and the beautiful orchestration capture the best of Disco and really the best of music.  For me this song is a plea to people moving on from Disco music to not leave in anger.  While people at the time expressed annoyances towards this genre it's nice to see that people years later revel in the joy disco brought to their lives and I'm so glad that this song is around to remind people of that feeling. 

To Miss Winehouse

"When the headline 'Amy Winehouse found dead at 27' came barging into our Saturday afternoon, the word 'dead' felt like a long-promised punch to the gut. It may not have surprised anyone, but it still hurt like hell."



Chris Richard of the Washington Post to started his tribute to the late Amy Winehouse who was found dead last weekend with this quote.  While jokes reverberated around the internet calling her death the "least surprising news ever," people like myself who loved her music and respected her art are left not with dark humor but rather a sadness.  Any schadenfreude that anyone may feel from this is the worst kind of reaction and a reflection of a darkness and insensitivity that is sub-human.  

Why am I sad that Amy Winehouse is dead?  I mean it's not like she was a life-saving surgeon.  Sometimes we overact when celebrities die, just because someone is famous doesn't mean their life means anything more than any other person who dies outside of the limelight.  Of course I'm more sad thinking about the loss of my grandfather, but there is something meaningful in a different way about the loss of Winehouse.

Music can be an expression of the whole range of human emotions.  While I respect the art of creating music that explores the darker emotions of anger and hate, I don't the enjoy music that does expresses these emotions.  There is so much darkness in this world.  The last week has seen unimaginable tragedy in Norway, so I don't want hear a song about killing and Satan.  What we need in this world, what I need is music that brings us joy.  We need music that reminds us how great it feels to be alive.  In her short career Amy Winehouse dedicated her life to creating music that did just that.



I still remember the first time I her "Rehab," and her cover of "It's My Party."  I was giddy.  It simply felt righteous.  Her work with Mark Ronson grabbed popular music by the collar and said "hey, you remember how good music felt the in the 1960s with live instruments, great arrangements, imaginative song-writing and soulful vocals felt?"  Every so often an artist comes around and shake us out of forward-thinking music trends and remind us that is it in the glories of the past, reveling in music of a cultural ancestors that we find truly meaningful art.

Winehouse isn't alone.  Cee-Lo is playing off of 1970s soul, Lady Gaga is reflecting the greatest of the 1980s and Glee has created a whole musical movement based on embracing the past.  It is this respect, this admiration, and this dedication to old music that has created the greatest music in our culture.

Amy Winehouse's music made me feel amazing.  I can't help but move when I hear her songs and I can't help but smile when I hear her sing.  It doesn't seem fair how good she was, it's unreal.  Yes, her voice is a warbaly mess at times but like Janis Joplin, it's not about the vocal technique, it's about the soul.  There was a direct line from her heart to her voice and what you heard in her singing was human expression at its purest.



Thanks Amy for sharing your music and your soul with the world.  I hope you find the same joy wherever you are that you're music brought into my life.

"This is what star wars would be like with more black people"

Feel like smiling?



"Move yourself and glide like a 747."

Round 12: Beyonce Vs. Sir Mix-a-lot

Deep thoughts. . .

Is Beyonce too "Bootylicious" for Six Mix-a-lot?!?



I mean he does state his love, fascination and respect for ladies that have "back."



Can the Six Mix really handle Beyonce? I'm not sure if he's ready for her "jelly."

Pounder this important question today as you face the world and the challenges of your day.
-Tang

Round 10: Ben E. King Vs. John Lennon

Ben E. King recorded one of the most unforgettable songs in popular music "Stand By Me" in 1961. 



Powerful, soulful and beautifully recorded it's no wonder that John Lennon knew this song by heart, like so many of us who have experienced this song.

Vs.



Lennon recorded "Stand By Me" in 1975 for his album Rock 'n' Roll.  With a different driving beat and a vocal styles uniquely Lennon's, this song stands as one of Lennon's most popular solo works.


The Winner:
This is a tough one.  Both songs are touching and unique in very different ways.  While I like the rawness of Lennon's recording, the cleanness and clarity of Ben E. King's recorded showcases his amazing vocals which express the profound meaning of longing and hope in this song. 

Round 6: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terell Vs. Amy Winehouse

In 1967, Motown released one of the most beloved duets in popular music, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."



Marvin Gaye's and Tammi Terrell's voices blended beautifully as two lovers committing their deep love for each other.  The Funk Brothers, Motown's session band created a mysteriously haunting opening that blossomed beautifully into the celebratory chorus.  

Versus:

Amy Winehouse featured "Tears Dry On Their Own" on her breakout album Back to Back.  This song flawlessly rerecorded the insturmental backgrouds of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and added new lyrics and a new melody.



It's like a dream to hear the backgrounds recorded with such reverence and soul.  It's a reminder of the power of live musicians and how great the Funk Brothers original arrangements were.  Winehouse adds a flowing melody and through her unique almost Tom Waits-like singing tells a passionate and bluesy story.

The Winner:

I love Winehouse but she's no Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell.  The way that they duet is pure joy.  You could listen to just the insturmental background of both "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Tears Dry On Their Own" and be floored by the power of that music, heck you would feel it with the just bass line.  And listening to just the vocal teack of Marvin and Tammi is a relevation.  However Winehouses performance on this song is just not on the same level.

Next Week: Coolio Vs. Stevie Wonder

The Long Way Home by Tom Waits/Norah Jones

Sometimes when I read a book or listen to a song it seems like I am reading a first draft. Other times I feel like I’m experiencing the fiftieth draft, a piece of art that has carefully and painstakingly crafted. That’s how I feel every time I listen to a song by Tom Waits.

Most people’s exposure to Tom Waits is limited to Rod Stewart's cover of “Downtown Train,” (which I discussed in this earlier post). In addition, the Eagles recorded “Ol’ 55” which was from Waits first album.



Then there’s Springsteen’s cover of Waits’ “Jersey Girl.”



The list goes on and on of famous artist who covered Waits work. Last week I discovered one more. Norah Jones’ cover of “The Long Way Home” on her second album Feels Like Home.

For the past three weeks I’ve been on a Tom Waits kick and when I typed his name up
in iTunes her version of “The Long Way Home” came up and I was simply mesmerized.



Usually Jones plays somewhere between Jazz and Blues so it was a surprise to hear her sing this relaxed country ballad with a guitar part straight out of early Johnny Cash.  Like every other recording I have of Jones, her smoky, subtle and beautiful voice makes everything else in the world disappear. Waits on the other hand voice has a completely different kind of smoky to his voice:



Waits sounds like something between Louis Armstrong and a drunk homeless guy, and even though it’s ugly at times there’s something genuine and real in his voice.

Waits beautifully constructs a song about commitments, giving and love. The first verse expresses a sense of loneliness while Waits sings about not having the hope in him to wait for the light to show him the way home. Instead, he stubbornly takes the long way home.

The third verse talks continues this idea as Waits sings he would rather be on the highway than be at home putting food on the table. He warns that “watch your back if I should tell you, loves the only thing I’ve ever known.”

The lyrics in the last verse finally relfect the hopeful and peaceful melody as Waits commits his love to her in a gentle and beautiful way.

You know I love you baby,
More than the whole wide world.
You are my woman,
I know you are my pearl.

Waits shares his doubts, flaws, fears and insecurities with his love. After all of that she is still there and he realizes that he really does love her.  If she’s still with him after hearing all of this, than maybe he can commit to be with her, they can take the long way home, together.

Man, this guy is good.  These lyrics are so well crafted. Every syllable is laced with meaning. Whether its Jones or Waits singing, this song is truly amazing.

Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey

I was watching television with my father-in-law the other day when news of Mariah Carey’s pregnancy came on he commented that he understood the appeal and vocal prowess of Beyonce but he wasn’t sure about Mariah. At first, I was surprised to hear this, I mean this is the girl with that ridiculous garage door-opening, making dogs run away super-high whistle tone (remember “Emotions”?).

After I thought about it a second I understood. Mariah isn’t the pop dynamo that she used to be. Once upon a time she was at the pinnacle of pop superstardom but now artists like Lady Gaga have taken her place. She has tried to reinvent herself to more modern sensibilities but she has failed to recapture her past glory.

None of this changes the impact she had and how she influenced mainstream popular culture. In the 1990s, Carey crossed R & B music into popular culture with soulful music.  Along with immediate and accessible lyrics, Carey creating music that was had universal appeal without being cheesy. Yes, it may not have effected social change but it was music you weren’t uncomfortable to listen to with your parents and sometimes that’s not such a bad thing. No song captures this quite as well as her eleventh number 1 hit, “Always Be My Baby.”



This song feels like a Coca Cola commercial in the best way possible. The opening “dududu, hum” rises softly and settles in a relaxed and smooth way as this mid-tempo song unfolds. There is a level of Beach Boys-like innocence in the music that reflected in the lyrics about a girl telling a boy who’s leaving her that he will always be hers.

Now, I agree that this song also works if you take it from a “crazy-girlfriend who refuses to let go” perspective. I mean it’s kind of a like the letter you keep getting from an ex right before you get a restraining order: “don’t you know you can’t escape me.”

Then there’s the use of the 5-syllable word, “indefinitely.” I’ve never found another instance of a 5-syllable word in a song ever. I’m not sure if this is a over-the-top or the greatest thing ever but somehow it works within the context of this song.

What really sticks with you in the optimism and hope in the face of a break up. This song is an expression of strength and self-confidence, “If you’re determined to leave boy, I will not stand in you way, but inevitable you’ll be back again.”

What makes all of this work is Mariah’s vocals. She effortless dips low into her range gliding up to higher vocals blending the tone of her voice like a master painter. Like a great soul singer she embellishes her long notes but never overdoes it like many amateur singers.

Pop music is a lot of thing but at its core, it's an expression of joy and this is exactly what "Always Be My Baby" is all about.  Mariah Carey may not be the biggest pop star out right now but for a period of time she was and what she left us is some of the best pop music you will ever hear.