Miguel Expresses Artistic Musical Sexiness

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


Since Miguel released the video Arch & Point from Volume 2 of his Art Dealer Chic EP series, I've been obsessed!!  It just serves as another confirmation of his skill of not only expressing sexiness in his music but also complimenting it through his video interpretations.  How many videos of today can you say do that?  Most of the time you're left confused or disappointed as to how a video even relates to the vibe and content of the song.

With undeniable comparisons to Prince, I believe Miguel has picked up from where Prince left off but has also found his own style by incorporating this edgy, futuristic vibe.  In his catalog of videos, we are left with this sensual picture that is painted to convey the sexy sounds of Miguel's music, leaving our imaginations going wild. 

In Arch & Point, what first got me was the guitar riff. . . how can something so simple sound so effortlessly sexy, leaving you in a trance?  After watching the video a few more times, I then turned my attention to the visuals in the video.  Throughout the video, Miguel is seen playing the guitar at the mic, while a female dancer performs around him  You can't help but to draw your attention to her. . .the choreo is just HOT!  My fav part starts at 0:20. . . pay attention to her especially at 0:25. . . her moves goes with the beat as Miguel sings "arch your back, point your toes". . . that joint is just. . just. . .WOW!





Click here to download the Art Dealer Chic EP.

New Documentary Explores How Music Restores Lost Identities of Elderly

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


Many people have seen the clip below of the elder man named Henry who at first was unresponsive, comes alive when he hears music.




When asked if he likes music, Henry's response is like any other music lover. . . "I'm crazy about music!"  Then when asked what does music do to him, he responds "It gives me the feeling of love, romance."  My favorite part of the clip starts at 4:30 when Henry starts singing one of his favorite Cab Calloway songs and ends it with an "OW". . . too cute!  It's crazy how earlier in the clip, Henry couldn't even remember his own daughter name but ask him his favorite band/song and he'll tell you.  Kind of like ask a kid what they remember from school and they'll have a blank stare on their face but they can recite every word to a song.



To read the rest of the post, click here.

Analyze This: "Part of Me" by Katy Perry

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

Analyze This:  An in depth look at the lyrical content of a song to provide insight

Days like this I want to drive away
Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade
You chewed me up and spit me out
Like I was poison in your mouth
You took my light, you drained me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me

[Chorus:]
This is the part of me
That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no

I just wanna throw my phone away
Find out who is really there for me
You ripped me off your love was cheap
Was always tearing at the seams
I fell deep, you let me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me

[Chorus]

Now look at me I’m sparkling
A firework, a dancing flame
You won't ever put me out again
I’m glowin’ oh whoa
So you can keep the diamond ring
It don't mean nothing anyway
In fact you can keep everything yeah, yeah
Except for me

[Chorus]

This is the part of me
No
Away from me
No
This is the part of me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me...
No
Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no

J9's Analysis:   I've always liked Katy Perry and last year when I saw her in concert, I got a whole new appreciation of her talent.  Surprisingly, it just recently dawned on me how deep my love is for Katy.  To some, they may not appreciate or understand her artistic expression or lyrical content but I do!  When I first heard Part of Me, I couldn't help but hear the strength expressed in the song.  And what great timing to highlight now, during Women's History Month.  Katy is one of those artists that represents different facets of a woman which is visible in all her songs.

To read the rest of the post, click here.

Analyze This: "All Back" by Chris Brown

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

Analyze This:  An in depth look at the lyrical content of a song to provide insight

"All Back"

If I had the moment
I'd capture that moment
You would be right here next to me
If I had the secret,
The secret to your love
I would place the treasure beneath my heart
Lock it all up,
And throw away the key
I would never give it up
Cause I was just a fool,
A fool for you
When I loved you so childishly

Chorus:  

And I want it all back
I want it all, I want it all,
I want it all back
I want it all back,
I want it all, I want it all
Girl I want it all
You never miss a good thing 'til it's gone,
I want it all, now I want it all (back)

If there is a green light
And it starts to turn yellow
Pedal to the floor,
Cause I know your heart is turning red,
If I had the minutes, I would turn 'em into hours
And make love to your mind not your body instead
I was just a fool, a fool for you
That didn’t know what I had until I lost you
Every single moment
That you’re not here
It's evident to me that everything just seems so clear

Chorus

Now everything isn’t everything
If everything, everything isn’t with you
And I want it all back
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all back
I want it all back, I want it all, I want it all
Girl I want it all
You never miss a good thing 'til it's gone,
I want it all, now I want it all.
Now I want it all back
Now I want it all back
Now I want it all back

J9's Analysis:  This is one of my favorite tracks of his album.  The song is so sincere, raw, and emotional.  The lyrics of the songs makes you wonder if it's meant for Rihanna.  I mean it makes sense. . . CB sings about regretting what he's done and desperately wanted to re-do the damage done to have that relationship back.  “You never miss a good thing, til it’s gone”. .  everyone knows this line all too well and if this is about RiRi, CB is probably punishing himself for ruining their relationship and losing a good girl (that apparently has gone bad, or should I saw naughty, especially in her new album Talk That Talk).  

CB’s delivery of the song is so heartfelt.  You can feel the pain and regret he feels as his pours his heart out.  Many things that he points out can apply to anybody.  He talks about loving so childishly, something that happens way too often when you make stupid mistakes due to immaturity and don’t realize what you did until you grow older and wiser.

To read the rest of the post, click here.

The Obamas Fill The White House with Music

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

President Barack Obama has a great appreciation of music.  He has stated that "music is a great source of joy and solace in the midst of difficult days."  During a evening of poetry, music and the spoken word event held at The White House in 2009, Obama summed it up best. . .

"We're here to celebrate the power of words and music to help us appreciate beauty but also to understand pain.  To inspire us to action and to sear us on when we start to lose hope.  To lift us up out of our daily existence, even if it's just for a few moments."

Both the President and First Lady have a wide range of music tastes.  It has been said that artists like Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Earth, Wind, & Fire and even mainstream Rap artists like Lil Wayne and Nas can be found on Barack's iPod while Rihanna, Beyonce, Usher, Robin Thicke, Sara Bareilles, Herbie Hancock, and Anthony David can be found on Michelle's.  Their love for music doesn't stop on their iPods as it has also been reflected in the musical guests they have invited over the years to The White House for several events.


State Dinners

Last month, by the request of the Obamas, Janelle Monae performed during a state dinner to honor South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.  Surprisingly, The Obamas are huge Monae fans and even requested her to perform their favorite song Tightrope.

Others that performed during state dinners were Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and Beyonce are also others that have been asked to perform for state dinner. 


Evening of Poetry, Music and Spoken Word Events

In 2009, Grammy-award winning artist Esperanza Spalding performed for the second time at The White House for "An Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word"

Also, click here to view her first White House performance earlier that year during a tribute for Stevie Wonder.

For another poetry event, Michelle invited conscious rapper Common who recited some lines amidst piano accompaniment in front of an audience of children and adults.  View his performance here.  Obama states "...a great poem is one that resonates with us and challenges us and teaches us something about ourselves."  Remember the controversy this caused when people like Sarah Palin classified him as a "gangsta rapper" and didn't think his attendance was appropriate? 



To read the rest of the post, click here.

Interview w/ R&B Singer/Songwriter Avant

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

October 7, 2011 - The Park at Fourteenth - Washington, DC


Avant (real name Myron Avant) is best known for his chart topping hits like Separated, Making Good Love, Read Your Mind, as well as his beautiful ballad duets My First Love and Nothing in This World with R&B singer KeKe Wyatt.  It's hard to believe that this Cleveland, OH native has been in the game for 10 years.  In December, he released his sixth album The Letter, which holds the same smooth R&B vibe he is known for and contains many songs he co-wrote and co-produced.  I sat down with Avant to talk about his career, music, of course the new album, and discover his MusicLife.

One-on-one w/ Avant

MusicLife:  You're about to give DC a live performance to show them what you're all about.  Now I know for me, a live performance is the epitome of getting to know the artist and their style.  If you can name an artist or group that you've seen in concert, who puts on the best live performance?

Avant:  There's a lot.  I respect the ol' skool so an O'Jays concert, The Isley Brothers, my man Charlie Wilson, New Edition, R. Kelly.  There's a lot people that love music and it's about loving music to me.  Some people get up there just to get paid, but some people really love the music and that's what I'm into.


MusicLife:  You've done amazing duets and everybody knows you for the ones you've done with KeKe Wyatt with Nothing in This World and My First Love.  If you could name another artist that you would do a memorable duet with, who would it be?

Avant:  It used to be my man Michael Jackson.  I've been blessed to work with a lot of different artists.  If you got that true flavor and are about the music, it's about the voice so you have to have an amazing voice to pull off a true duet.  So, it would be Beyonce.  You know what, but I would say Kelly [Rowland] cause I did a song with her too so I'd do another one with Kelly.


MusicLife:  You know the sound of music is always evolving.  And you see sometimes artists that can't keep up with the times and they fall off.  Then you have some artists who feel they need to change their sound completely and be totally different.  In your musical career, have you ever struggled with that?

Avant: Nah, once you get a true fan base like me, I've been blessed to have over 12 hit records so for me to switch up and go all the way left, I would lose all of my fan base.  Now, if you're an artist that has been in the game and hasn't established a true base, then I understand you trying to figure things out.  But once you get a true base, you really gotta give 'em what they want.  You can do a few different things but you gotta basically stay with the base.


MusicLife:  At the end of last year, you released your sixth album, The Letter.  And you said that was like a testimony, a letter to your fans to tell them what you've been going through.  If you could tell your fans what you would want them to get out of the album, what would it be?

Avant:  It would be to just have fun. Know that your life is in part of this album.  I know the people that listen to my music.  That's why I try to really strategically sit back and plan the album.  I wanted to deal with the issues that my people go through.  So if you listen to it, just know that I wrote it directly for you.  I have a song called Wake Up on the album and if you've been in a relationship, you know exactly what that song means.  So that's what I try to do, I try to feed into what the fans really want to hear. 

To read the rest of the post, click here.

Artists Lend Their Expertise in the Classroom

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


More and more artists are being asked to step in the role as teacher and educate students about their first hand experience in the music industry.  According to a census conducted by the Hip Hop Archive, in respect to the hip-hop genre, more than 85 courses were being taught in American universities during the 2005-2006 academic year.  Here are a couple of artists who hold the additional title of Professor.

Ryan Leslie (Songwriter/Artist/Producer)
Last week, it was announced that R Les would be the first Artist in Residence at The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Art for the 2011-2012 academic year.  In this program, one-on-one sessions, group lectures, songwriting critiques, and mentoring will be offered to students.

Swizz Beatz (Rapper/Songwriter/Producer)
He was the first Producer in Residence at NYU's Clive Davis Dept of Recorded Music for the 2010-2011 academic year.








John Forte (Rapper)

In 2009, he taught a 12-week class called "Music Therapy" at the City College of New York. In this class, Forte taught at-risk students how to deal with their emotions and hardships through music.

Method Man (Rapper)

In 2010, Meth lectured a 1-day course called "The Laws of Success" at NYC The Learning Annex.  His class focused on dubbing, demos, and publishing while staying true to your artistic vision.

Esperanza Spalding (Singer/Musician)

At the age of 20, Esperanza became one of the youngest professors at the Berklee College of Music History.  Also, she is developing several courses at Berklee, including one that focuses "on transcribing as a tool for learning harmony and theory".  In 2010, she became the Artist in Residence at Michigan State University's College of Music where she gave a master class offering constructive critiques of various student jazz groups as they performed.

To read the rest of the post, click here.

Artists Use the Power of Music Videos to Spread Awareness

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


Most artists nowadays, display the glamorous life in their music videos. . you know the fancy cars, money, mansions, beautiful women, extravagant vacations and parties.  Rarely do you see artists depicting the reality that we common folk experience everyday or are at least exposed to more than what what is in the videos.  I guess some can argue maybe that's the point, to take us out of reality for a second.

However, sometimes we need that harsh reality check and it seems like artists are just the person to give it to us now that their views and opinions hold more clout than ever before.  With that said, more artists are now using their music videos as a platform to bring awareness to real issues that are affecting the community, especially the black community.  Maybe through their words and creative vision, people will start to become more aware.

Below are just a few artists who have used their videos to shed light on serious issues:


Breast Cancer

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among African American women, and among women nationwide?  If you haven't been directly or indirectly related to the disease, you might not show too much concern.  You might think it will never happened to you or someone close to you.  You might go as far as not taking the proper precautionary actions.

Last year, Eric Roberson used his video Still to spread awareness about the disease and just recently, Musiq followed suit and released his video for Yes, which he dedicated to breast cancer fighters.  Musiq was also named the ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Circle of Promise.  Watch both videos below as Roberson and Musiq take a different approach in depicting the seriousness of the disease.

Still by Eric Roberson

Yes - Musiq

Homosexuality/Bullying

Homosexuality, especially among black men, is a sore subject in the black community.  Recently, the topic of bullying has become a household term as a result of so many people committing suicide because of being bullied. 

To shed light on this sensitive topic, Marsha does amazing job of walking us through the life of a homosexual black man as he is ostracized.  It also serves as a personal testimony of Marsha's which shows how willing she is to make herself vulnerable by telling this story in hopes of spreading awareness of the negative effects of bullying.

Far Away - Marsha Ambrosius

To read the rest of the post, click here.

A Dynamic Duo: Music and TV

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


The radio isn't the only place to discover new music. . .sometimes the best place is on your very own TV screen!  All of my life, I've enjoyed watching TV shows not only because of its great content but also because of the music that was showcased.  Usually these songs appear at a pivotal point in the episode, capturing the mood of that particular scene.

Back in the day, it was difficult for me to find the song I heard.  Luckily, in this day in age, I have Google or Shazam to help me find the song's name and artist to then download.  Some shows even do the work for you and display the song information during or at the end of the program.
 
Today, I thought I would feature some of my favorite TV Shows throughout the years that incorporated some great music:


1.  The Cosby Show

Oftentimes music would be heard during special family occasions such as anniversaries or birthdays.  The whole family would perform their own interpretation of a song together.  Songs showcased were mostly jazz, blues or R&B classics.





2.  Beverly Hills 90210

Music became more prevalent towards the later seasons.  Music artists would perform at a nightclub called "The After Dark," which was attached to the gang's famous spot the "Peach Pit."  They would feature current music of that time as well as independent and up and coming artists.








3. New York Undercover

Famous music artists would perform at "Natalie's," a nightclub where the two detectives would come to unwind after work or music would be played during a important moments of the episode.  The show did a great job mixing old and new R&B. 








4.  Nip/Tuck

The best tracks came on when the plastic surgeons were about to begin surgery on a patient.  Most of the time, the song directly related to the particular patient's storyline.  A wide variety of music could be heard from artists like Billy Idol, Frank Sinatra, Bach, Teena Marie, and Kanye West.






To check out the rest of the list, click here.

Interview w/ Grammy Nominiated, R&B Singer Emily King

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

July 22, 2011 - The Park at Fourteenth - Washington, DC


In 2007, singer/songwriter Emily King debuted her soulful inspired album East Side Story.  If her name doesn't ring a bell, maybe her song Walk in My Shoes might bring back a musical memory to your ear.  Her album is definitely one of those hidden gems that slipped under the radar to most mainstream listeners but was still recognized in the music industry and was received a Grammy nominee for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

After being gone for 3 years, Emily is back with a new album to introduce the world.  She recently performed as part of The Park Unplugged happy hour event hosted by Beny Blaq Entertainment, LLC.  I was able to sit down with Emily before her performance to find out what she's been doing since releasing her debut album, being dropped by J Records and becoming independent, and the new EP Seven.

J9 talks it up with EK

MusicLife:  In 2008 I saw you perform at the Black Cat when you were promoting East Side Story.  So what have you been doing since then?

Emily King:  I've been writing a lot.  I parted ways with my label and I just took a lot of time to find and create the kind of music I enjoy.  And you know, just living, ups and downs.


MusicLife:  So you said you parted ways with J Records?  What happened and what made you decide to go the independent route?

EK:  They [J Records] dropped me.  But it wasn't really working out with us anyway for some creative reasons.  A lot of people were losing their jobs at the time and it's hard to have a common goal when everybody's just trying to survive.  So it worked out for the better and since then I've kinda learned to do everything they used to do and I'm still learning but it's a good skill.


MusicLife:  How is it being independent?  Is this going to be a permanent thing for you like do this for a while and then go back on the market for another label?

EK:  It's interesting because most people I talk to are just like labels are dead and then I do have a couple of friends who are still on labels.  People like Adele they have label support.  But there's something to doing it yourself and having the experience.  And I think that makes sense for me right now.  I don't know what's going to happen.  If the right deal comes along . .


MusicLife:  Seven dropped last week.  It is such a great album.  It's definitely a different sound from East Side Story.  Explain the creative process in developing the album and how is it different from East Side Story?

EK:  East Side Story was recorded over a long period of time as well, 3 years but the difference is the people. I was with the incredible Chucky Thompson.  This time I collaborated with Jeremy Most.  We didn't have the fancy studios, we didn't have the engineers.  I mean we had to learn a lot of things against our own will, which now I'm so thankful for.  Most of it was recorded from our homes.  So that was completely a new experience for me. 



To read the full post, click here.

Interview w/ Noel Gourdin

By Guest Blogger Stephanie of J9's MusicLife

June 26, 2011 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC

In 2007, singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin (pronounced Gor-deen) from Brockton, Massachusetts came on the scene.  Many will remember him by his popular single The River from his debut album After My Time.  To spark your memory, watch the video here.  Part II of the Up Close and Personal Concert Series, Guest Musiclife Blogger Stephanie sits down with Noel. 


Who would have thought there was so much depth within this fresh brother.  The 29-year-old holds an old soul, which is a good thing for the music industry.  Might I add that he exemplifies how to respectfully address the woman that captures his heart.  That is a good thing for the ladies.  The cover is very welcoming yet the content says so much more.  I sat in the lounge to find out more about Noel Gourdin.

Stephanie up close and personal with Noel Gourdin

MusicLife:  There are many new artists out there but what do you bring to the industry that makes you different and stand out from the others?

Noel:  I'd like to say it's just true music to me.  I don't go in trying to make a hit record. I go in spilling my soul and trying to make music that's true and pure.  What I mean by pure is just like how they made it back in the day, the Motown days, the Rhino days.  Just going in and making music that's from the heart, doesn't try to degrade people, it's tasteful and timeless.  I think the industry is missing music like that.  Music that has that live instrumentation implemented.  Music that's from the heart and soul like they used to do it.


MusicLife:  Who are you currently listen to?

Noel:  My iPod is filled with old music.  I'm talking about Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Johnnie Taylor, Tyrone Davis, Solomon Burke, Jerry Butler.  I've heard so many times that I've got an old soul so I'm starting to believe it. 


MusicLife:  What artists influenced you now?

Noel:  People ask me who is your favorite artist of all time and I just have to say Marvin Cooke cause I say Marvin Gaye and then Sam Cooke all in one.  To me, those voices are the epitome of soul.  To me, it's all about the tone that makes you memorable.  The Otis Reddings, the Marvin Gayes, the Sam Cookes, it's those people that at a young age my Pops was playing that music that made me fall in love with this music.  So I wanted to in turn, make music of my own to make people feel the way I felt at 5 years old.


To read more of the interview, click here.

Read Part I of the Up and Close Concert Series as Stephanie interviews Neo-Soul duo Kindred the Family Soul here.

Concert: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

On April 1, 2011, I attended my first ol skool concert in a longtime, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.  I went with my friend C, sister, and cousin.  It was a different concert experience for me, especially because this time I was the minority attending a concert where the majority of attendees were older than me.  So I had to take out the nice slacks and dress extra nice because older grown folks go all out!

To start the show, comedian Sherman Golden opened.  He used to be on the original Def Comedy Jam with Martin Lawrence.  Most of his material I couldn't relate to maybe because of age but the crowd seemed to love him.  After he finished, saxophonist Aaron Bing played.  He was good but it made me sleepy.  It would've been better if he played when people were arriving. 

Then for the main opening act Raheem DeVaughn came on stage, who dedicated his performance to the late Marvin Gaye who's birthday was the next day.   

Raheem definitely knew his audience and tailored his set accordingly. . . that's a true performer.  Before he went into his material, he played some ol skools songs to get the crowd warmed up like Gonna Have a Funky Good Time by James Brown and Rock With You by MJ. 

Check out the link below of his performance of Women.  Towards the end of the clip, he did a call and response with the crowd using the song's lyrics, asking the men to say "you are appreciated" and the women to respond with "thank you."  Then the women and men switched lines.  Great way to bring some love and appreciation in the house.  For Guess Who Loves You More, his band mixed in the beat of Computer Love by Roger & Zapp.  I also really liked how his backup singers complimented Raheem.

Towards the end of his set, Raheem started a DJ vs. Band battle.  His DJ started out by playing Love and Happiness by Al Green.  His band countered with Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye as Raheem suddenly walked through the audience on the main level and into the upstairs sections singing.  After singing B.O.B., his female backup singer responded with a great remix from a woman's perspective.  For those of you unaware, B.O.B. stands for, Battery Operated Boyfriend.  Of course Raheem ended his set with a little Go-Go and was accompanied on stage by Sugar Bear from EU to sing Da Butt.  Everybody got out of their seats for that one.

Setlist

1.  Bulletproof 2.  Woman 3.  Single 4.  Freakin' You (Jodeci cover) 5.  Believe in Me

6 & 7. You/Guess Who Loves You More 8.  B.O.B. 9.  Customer 10. Da Butt

Then for the main act. . .Maze featuring Frankie Beverly who entered playing Time is on My Side.  Frankie was wearing the same white cap, shirt, and pants that I remembered as a kid.  Unfortunately, no videotaping was allowed.  So pissed about that because I would've loved to have shown you guys their amazing performance.

Everyone stood up when they performed We Are One and the guy playing the organ did his thing!  You There was so much love and unity in place.  You could feel the energy.  People were dancing in the aisles and in their seats. 

When they sang one of my favs, Can't Get Over You, the vibe was so chill, you just wanted to close your eyes and soak up every moment.  It felt as if it was summer time and we were outside.  Boy, it was hot up in there.  I don't think I've ever been to a concert where I was getting hot.  We were grooving man!

During their performance of Golden Time of Day, the lead guitar had a solo.  He created a nice groove and killed it!!  For Joy and Pain, they had the disco balls going and everybody got up. . .it was a ol skool house party.


To read more and see photos, click here.

Concert: Janet Jackson, Number Ones, Up Close and Personal Tour

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

On March 24, 2011, I went with my girls Kelz, Pico, and Brwners to see Janet Jackson for the first time at her sold out concert at DAR Constitutional Hall in Washington, DC.  This concert was extra special because Janet was on my concert bucket list. . . CHECK!

I've been to DAR thousands of times so when the usher escorted us towards the front of the stage to our seats, we all were confused.  I just knew this lady didn't know her alphabet.  Janet wasn't playing when she called this tour intimate.  She built her stage to come out further making the first row start not at A but row I. . . making our row the 5th!!!!  For 5 mins, I sat in my seat speechless with tears forming in my eyes.  I was in shock that I was moments away from seeing the legendary Janet Jackson this close.

Around 8:00 pm, Janet's opening act, Mindless Behavior came out.  This young boy group reminded me of a B2K or Immature with Omarion, Lil Fizz, and Marques Houston look-a-likes.  I thought it was random to have them open for her but they were cute singing their songs #1 Girl, Ms. Right, Future, and their debut song My Girl.

9:00 pm the lights went off and it was Janet. . Ms. Jackson if ya nasty time!!!  For each city on the tour, she dedicated one of her #1s.  On the jumbo screen with an image of Janet, it said "Tonight, I dedicate the "I Get Lonely" video to the beautiful people of Washington, DC."  The crowd went crazy and the video began to play.  A little bit after it ends. . . Janet appeared on stage to Pleasure Principle.

I couldn't believe I was actually seeing her live!!  At 44, she looked great sporting a skin tight, black, leather bodysuit with mesh accents along with Christian Louboutin leather boats . . .FIERCE!!!

People who have seen her before said this time she even though her performance was great, she wasn't hitting the moves as hard as she did years ago.  But you know what, it didn't matter to me because she still did her thing.  She executed the choreo with so much easy and grace. 

I forgot that Janet's been performing for over 25 years and how many number one hits she has. This time she didn't do her normal routine of pulling a guy on stage or have an elaborate stage.  Instead, her set was very minimal and she was supported by a 5-piece band, 3 backup singers and 6 dancers (one being famous choreographer Gil Duldulao).

Her almost 2 hour performance was broken up by a short intermission where old clips of her from Good Times, Different Strokes, Poetic Justice, The Klumps, and Why I Got Married played.  This sequed to her sitting on a stool singing Nothing.

Janet had 4 costume changes.  Her second outfit was a causal look where Kelz turned to me and said "yo, who wears a collared black wife beater?"  Janet, that's who!  During her last song, Together Again, pictures of her and Michael appeared on the big screen. . . it was a sweet and touching moment.  There were definitely times when she reminded me of MJ with the same mannerisms.


To read more and check out video footage, click here.

Women's History Month: Ella Fitzgerald, First Lady of Song

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Women's History month, throughout March check out a series of features on women who have impacted history as it relates to music.

Ella Jane Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was born in Newport News, Virginia and raised in New York City.  She had a tough upbringing from losing her mom at an early age, being abused by family members and caretakers to living on the streets.  Ella stated those experiences helped her with the emotion in her performances. 

At the age of 17, Ella's name was picked in a weekly drawing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York where competed in one of the first Amateur Nights.  Originally planning to dance, she choose to sing because she was intimidated by the previous act.  Her performance of Judy by her favorite singer Connee Boswell gave her a standing ovation the first prize of $25.00.

In 1935, she won the chance to perform with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. It was there Ella met bandleader Chick Webb who gave her the opportunity to sing with his band.  In the band, she recorded many hits like Love and Kisses and (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have to Swing It.  However, her 1938 version of the nursery rhyme, A-Tisket, A-Tasket, which she co-wrote made her famous.  Sidenote:  I remember singing this song in my grade school chorus.

In 1942, Ella left the band to start her solo career and this is when she began to incorporate scat singing in her performances.  She scatted to emulate the sounds of the horns in the band.  Her 1945 song Flying Home was described by the New York Times as "one of the most influential vocal jazz records of the decade....Where other singers, most notably Louis Armstrong, had tried similar improvisation, no one before Miss Fitzgerald employed the technique with such dazzling inventiveness."  Ella's 1947 recording of Oh, Lady be Good! made her one of the leading jazz vocalists.

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Women's History Month: Josephine Baker, Entertainer & Activist

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Women's History month, throughout March check out a series of features on women who have impacted history as it relates to music.

Josephine Baker (June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), American-born French dancer, singer, and actress, was the first African American female to star in a major motion picture and to integrate an American concert hall.  Born Freda Josephine McDonald from St. Louis, Missouri, she lived on the streets at the age of 12.  By 15, her street-corner dancing got her into the St. Louis Chorus vaudeville show.  She then moved to New York City and performed at the Plantation Club and in the chorus of the popular Broadway revues.  Baker was considered "the highest-paid chorus girl in vaudeville."

Later, she went to Paris and performed at the jazz revue La Revue Nègre.  Even though the show failed, the attention she received gave her the opportunity to open at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in 1925.  There, she became a success, known for her erotic dancing.  Some might be familiar with the bananas costume she wore in the Danse sauvage.   These performances gave her the nicknames "Black Venus," "Black Pearl" and "Creole Goddess." 

Soon after, Baker became the most successful American entertainer in France.  Her most successful song was J'ai deux amours (1931) and she became a muse for contemporary authors, painters, designers, and sculptors like Langston Hughes, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, and Christian Dior.
 


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Women's History Month: Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, First Woman to Win Pulitzer Prize in Music

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Women's History month, throughout March check out a series of features on women who have impacted history as it relates to music.

In 1983, Ellen Taafee Zwilich became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Music for her Three Movements for Orchestra (Symphony No. 1) by the American Symphony Orchestra.  She has been called "one of America’s most frequently played and genuinely popular living composers." 

Zwilich began composing as a child and by the time she finished high school, she had studied piano, violin, and trumpet. In 1960, Zwilich earned a Bachelors of Music from Florida State University.  She then moved to New York City and from 1965 to 1973, played violin with the American Symphony Orchestra.  Zwilich then decided to compose full-time and in 1975 enrolled at Juilliard.  There she became the first woman to earn the degree of Doctor of Musicial Arts in composition. 


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Women's History Month: Martha Wash, Queen of Clubland

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Women's History month, throughout March check out a series of features on women who have impacted history as it relates to music.

Martha Wash is an American,  R&B, soul, house, and club singer/songwriter.  She's known for her powerful voice.  Wash started out as a backup singer for disco, soul, gay drag performer Sylvester in the 70s.  She then formed a group with fellow backup singer Izora Rhodes called The Weather Girls.  They are behind the highly successful, Grammy nominated 1982 disco song It's Raining Men.  

In the late 80s, Wash decided to go solo singing on various dance and house music tracks.  You may have heard sing on the popular 90s songs Everybody Everybody and Strike it Up by the group Black Box or Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by the group C+C Music Factory.

Controversy erupted when Wash was labeled "unmarketable" because of her size and replaced by skinner women in music videos and marketing materials for these songs.  Look at the video for Gonna Make You Sweat below.  One would automatically assume the woman, Zelma Davis, in the video is singing but in fact she is lip syncing to Wash's vocals.


To read more click here.

Black History Month: The Nat King Cole Show & Marian Anderson

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Black History month, through February check out a series of features acknowledging parts of black history as it relates to music.

The Nat King Cole Show, First Variety Show to Feature Black Star

The Nat King Cole Show premiered on NBC on November 5, 1956.  It was the first TV variety show to star a major black entertainer, Nat King Cole.  Hazel Scott (in 1950) and Billy Daniels (in 1952) were black hosts who tried it before but they were as famous as Cole and didn't have much success.  Cole, at the time, was the highest paid black star in America and one of the most successful entertainers in the world.  Before the Nat King Cole Show, blacks were portrayed as dumb stereotypes like in the shows Amos n' Andy and Beulah.

The 15 minute weekly show debuted during a time when there was still legal segregation in the South.  The show didn't have commercial sponsorship because many viewers and advertisers didn't want to support a show with a black host.  Despite the low ratings and lack of national sponsors, NBC kept the show on air (oh how things have changed today).  The network fit the bill hoping this would eventually change. 

In December, the network increased the show to 30 minutes thinking this would boast ratings.  Along with Cole, the show featured other black and white musical artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Mahailia Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tony Bennett.  To support Cole and the show, many of these acts agreed to get paid minimum wage.
 

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Marian Anderson is Denied to Sing in Constitution Hall

Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993) was an American contralto from Philadelphia, PA.  She is known to be one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century.  Anderson made her debut at the New York Philharmonic on August 26, 1925 and and in 1928, she sang for the first time at Carnegie Hall.

In 1939, Anderson became an important figure in the struggle for racial equality when she was denied permission by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall, in Washington, D.C. cause of her race.

The public was outraged, famous musicians protested, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR.  With the help of Roosevelt and the NAACP, Anderson gave a free open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  With Lincoln as her backdrop, she sang My Country 'Tis of Thee before a crowd of 75,000 people and million of radio listeners.  This performance is considered one of the most dramatic civil-rights spectacles ever.

To read more click here.

Black History Month: Francis Johnson & Betty Carter

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

To celebrate Black History month, through February check out a series of features acknowledging parts of black history as it relates to music.

Francis Johnson, Band Leader & Composer

Francis "Jack" Johnson (1792–1844) was an African-American musician and composer during the Antebellum period.  Being an African-American composer was rare in the U.S. during this time.  Some say he was born in Martinique in the West Indies and moved to Philadelphia as an adult.  Johnson played many instruments including the keyed bugle, cornet, and violin.  He wrote more than 300 compositions of various styles—operatic airs, Ethiopian minstrel songs, patriotic marches, ballads, cotillions, quadrilles, quicksteps, and other dances.  Today he's considered one of the "founding fathers" of the American musical style.

Johnson was the first:

• African-American composer to have his works published as sheet music.
• African-American to give public concerts.
• to participate in racially integrated concerts in the U.S.
• African-American musician and probably the first American musician to tour Europe with a band.

To read more and listen to some of Johnson's pieces, click here.


Betty Carter, The Godmother of Jazz

Betty Carter (1929 - 1998) was born Lillie Mae Jones in Flint, Michigan. Her father led a church choir and her mother, like most religious African-Americans during that time, believed Jazz was "the devil's music."  As a kid, Carter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory and as a teenager, went pro after winning a talent contest.  Later, she became a regular on the local club circuit, singing, and playing piano.

By the age of 20, Carter moved to New York and started touring with Lionel Hampton.  This is also the time she honed her scat singing ability.  Hampton was behind creating her stage name as it came from his nickname for her, "Betty Be-Bob".

Carter later went on to sing and tour with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Ray Charles.  She also did a series of duets with Charles including the classic, Baby It's Cold Outside.  Carter was known for her improvisational technique and idiosyncratic vocal style.  It was said she used her voice like a musical instrument.


To read more and view a clip of her singing, click here.

MusicLife Interview w/ Music Producer Focus...

“Sound without focus, is just noise”

By J9 of J9's MusicLife

A New York native based in Atlanta, Focus... is the namesake of Bernard Edwards Sr., co-founder of the 70s/R&B group Chic (known for their famous disco song Le Freak).  He's father was the one who introduced him to the production side of music at a young age.  Most recently, he was the former producer on Dre. Dre’s label, Aftermath.

If you don't know Focus… by name, you might be more familiar with the songs he's produced for Busta Rhymes (Respect My Conglomerate), The Game (Where I’m From), Beyonce (Yes), and Christina Aguilera (Sex for Breakfast) to name a few.  If that doesn't jog your memory, those who watch Real Housewives of Atlanta may have caught his cameo in an episode where Kim worked with him, Kandi, and other producers for her single The Ring Didn't Mean a Thing.  With all this under his belt, Focus... continues to find ways to take his production to the next level, refusing to let people put him in a box.

I had the opportunity to pick his brain about music and it was like I had stepped into a music 101 class.  Focus... had no problem keeping it 100 with me.  He provided some great musical insight and perspective.  We talked about how he got into the business, his relationship with Dre, the state of music today, and of course how in the world he got involved with Housewives of Atlanta.

Listen to the interview below (may load slow):

Thank you Focus... for such a great interview and for your continued support in what I do.  Much respect to you and the music you create!

To learn more about Focus... and his entertainment company, visit his website.  You can also follow him on Twitter @aFamFocus