Pe scurt:
Daca ma pui sa-ti numesc o alta melodia de-a Aliciei, nu cred ca o pot face, insa asta - comerciala sau nu - reprezinta o mai veche slabiciune de-a mea.

In alta ordine de idei, au trecut sapte ani?

Videoclip: Alicia Keys - Fallin'

Linkuri:
Alicia Keys [ Site Oficial ]
Alicia Keys [ AllMusic ]
Alicia Keys [ Wikipedia ]
Alicia Keys [ RollingStone ]
Alicia Keys [ MySpace ]
Alicia Keys [ LastFm ]
Fallin' [ MVDBase ]
Fallin' [ Online MusikVideos ]
Fallin' [ Sing365 ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Va mai aduceti aminte de Joan Osborne si de al ei One of Us? Cam greu de uitat, nu? Ei bine, Joan, care nu e chiar oricine in muzica si e considerata drept una dintre cele mai bune voci ale generatiei din care face parte, a mai oferit lumii un album anul trecut, iar acest album s-a numit Breakfast in Bed.

Breakfast in Bed aduna 11 covers si cinci melodii originale. Dintre cele compuse de ea, mi-a placut la nebunie Baby Is a Butterfly. Dintre cele prelucrate, preferata mea este Midnight Train to Georgia, cantata in original de Gladys Knight & The Pips. Mai gasim aici Ain't No Sunshine a lui Bill Withers, Kiss and Say Goodbye a celor de la The Manhattans sau superba What Becomes of the Brokenhearted a artistului de la Motown, Jimmy Ruffin.

In concluzie, Breakfast in Bed este un album complet caruia eu nu-i gasesc nimic de reprosat. Mai mult, observ aici ca muzica soul ii vine lui Joan Osborne ca o manusa si nu ma pot abtine... La mai mare!

Melodie: Joan Osborne - Midnight Train To Georgia

Tracks:
01. Joan Osborne - I've Got To Use My Imagination (4:05)
02. Joan Osborne - Ain't No Sunshine (3:10)
03. Joan Osborne - Midnight Train To Georgia (4:16)
04. Joan Osborne - Baby Is a Butterfly (3:55)
05. Joan Osborne - Breakfast In Bed (3:36)
06. Joan Osborne - Cream Dream (5:11)
07. Joan Osborne - Natural High (4:17)
08. Joan Osborne - Heart Of A Stone (4:26)
09. Joan Osborne - Sara Smile (3:36)
10. Joan Osborne - Eliminate The Night (4:08)
11. Joan Osborne - Break Up To Make Up (4:28)
12. Joan Osborne - I Know What's Going On (4:32)
13. Joan Osborne - Alone With You (4:11)
14. Joan Osborne - Kiss And Say Goodbye (4:41)
15. Joan Osborne - Heat Wave (3:02)
16. Joan Osborne - What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted (4:21)

Imagini: Joan Osborne

Linkuri:
Joan Osborne [ Site Oficial ]
Joan Osborne [ AllMusic ]
Joan Osborne [ Wikipedia ]
Joan Osborne [ LastFm ]
Breakfast in Bed [ AllMusic ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Daca un urias m-ar prinde si m-ar pune sa aleg intre The Marvelettes si The Supremes sub amenintarea cu moartea, cred ca as alege moartea. Cele mai bune produse Motown, aceste doua grupuri au facut istorie in muzica soul incepand cu 1960. Daca The Supremes au avut-o pe Diana Ross, The Marvelettes le-a avut pe Wanda Young si Gladys Horton. Daca The Marvelettes au lasat in urma melodii ca Please Mr. Postman, Playboy sau Beechwood 4-5789, The Supremes au contraatacat cu Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love sau You Can't Hurry Love.

Si atunci, e de la sine inteles ca nu pot alege intre cele doua grupuri nici mort! Norocul meu ca nu exista uriasi...

Melodie: The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman

Tracks:
01. Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (2:29)
02. Marvelettes - Playboy (2:49)
03. Marvelettes - So Long Baby (2:52)
04. Marvelettes - Beechwood 4-5789 (2:13)
05. Marvelettes - Someday, Someway (2:39)
06. Marvelettes - Strange I Know (2:39)
07. Marvelettes - Too Strong to Be Strung Along (2:25)
08. Marvelettes - Twistin' Postman (2:31)
09. Marvelettes - Locking up My Heart (2:23)
10. Marvelettes - Forever (2:22)
11. Marvelettes - My Daddy Knows Best (2:30)
12. Marvelettes - As Long as I Know He's Mine (2:32)
13. Marvelettes - He's a Good Guy (He Is) (2:35)
14. Marvelettes - You're My Remedy (3:04)
15. Marvelettes - Too Many Fish in the Sea (2:28)
16. Marvelettes - I'll Keep Holding On (2:28)
17. Marvelettes - Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead (2:24)
18. Marvelettes - Don't Mess With Bill (2:51)
19. Marvelettes - You're the One (2:48)
20. Marvelettes - My Baby Must be a magician (2:35)
21. Marvelettes - Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (2:49)
22. Marvelettes - Destination: Anywhere (2:39)
23. Marvelettes - Here I Am Baby (2:49)
24. Marvelettes - When You're Young and in Love (2:40)
25. Marvelettes - That's How Heartaches Are Made (2:57)

Imagini: The Marvelettes

Linkuri:
The Marvelettes [ AllMusic ]
The Marvelettes [ Wikipedia ]
The Marvelettes [ VocalGroup ]
The Marvelettes [ LastFm ]
The Ultimate Collection [ AllMusic ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Ca gen muzical, Earth, Wind & Fire inseamna in primul rand funk, si abia apoi soul, disco sau gospel. Ca prestatii live, Maurice White & Co. inventau pe la jumatatea anilor '70 aparitii elaborate, pline de stralucire, dinamism si personalitate. Din punct de vedere vocal, contau in primul rand pe Philip Bailey care putea duce si un ritm sustinut cantand in falset dar si o balada lenta pe un ton grav. Altceva? Pai, vreo 30 de albume, o gramada de premii (printre care cateva Grammy), peste 20 de membri de-a lungul timpului iar de concerte, nici nu mai vorbim...

Greatest Hits-ul celor de la Earth, Wind & Fire strange pe un singur disc cele mai bune melodii ale lor aparute intre 1973 si 1981. Iar daca AllMusic.com spune ca acesta ar fi cea mai buna compilatie Earth, Wind & Fire din cate exista, cine sunt eu sa-i contrazic?

Melodie: Earth, Wind & Fire - Boogie Wonderland

Tracks:
01. Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star (2:50)
02. Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World (5:43)
03. Earth, Wind & Fire - September (3:34)
04. Earth, Wind & Fire - Can't Hide Love (4:07)
05. Earth, Wind & Fire - Got to Get You into My Life (4:10)
06. Earth, Wind & Fire - Sing a Song (3:22)
07. Earth, Wind & Fire - Gratitude (3:27)
08. Earth, Wind & Fire - Serpentine Fire (3:50)
09. Earth, Wind & Fire - Fantasy (4:36)
10. Earth, Wind & Fire - Kalimba Story (4:00)
11. Earth, Wind & Fire - Mighty Mighty (3:03)
12. Earth, Wind & Fire - Reasons (4:58)
13. Earth, Wind & Fire - Saturday Night (4:01)
14. Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove (5:35)
15. Earth, Wind & Fire - Boogie Wonderland (4:47)
16. Earth, Wind & Fire - After the Love Has Gone (4:24)

Linkuri:
Earth, Wind & Fire [ Site Oficial ]
Earth, Wind & Fire [ AllMusic ]
Earth, Wind & Fire [ Wikipedia ]
Earth, Wind & Fire [ MySpace ]
Earth, Wind & Fire [ LastFm ]
Earth, Wind & Fire [ VocalGroup ]
Greatest Hits [ AllMusic ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs au avut doar un singur hit, dar ce hit...

In 1960, dupa ce grupul isi schimba numele pentru a treia oara (din The Royal Charms in The Gladiolas, dupa aceea in The Excellos si abia apoi in The Zodiacs), apare melodia Stay, melodie care avea sa urce rapid pana pe primul loc in Billboard Top 40. Stay dureaza foarte putin (doar un minut si 38 de secunde) si este considerat cel mai scurt cantec care a ajuns vreodata pe primul loc intr-unul din topurile americane. A mai fost preluat si de The Hollies, The 4 Seasons sau de Jackson Browne si tuturor acestora le-a adus incasari enorme dar poate cea mai interesanta aparitie a avut-o pe coloana sonora a filmului Dirty Dancing, unde a fost vandut in mai multe exemplare decat aparitia originala.

Poate unii ar spune ca un Best Of pentru o formatie cu un singur hit este putin fortat dar nu e asa. Albumul contine si alte melodii frumoase, merita ascultat si recomand acest lucru tuturor indragostitilor de oldies...

Melodie: Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs

Tracks:
01. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay (1:38)
02. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Do You Believe (2:17)
03. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - I Remember (2:07)
04. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Always (1:58)
05. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - The Winds (1:58)
06. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - I Love You Baby (2:06)
07. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Do I (2:08)
08. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Come Along (1:42)
09. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Running Around (2:15)
10. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - But Not For Me (1:45)
11. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - The Nearness Of You (2:29)

Imagini: Maurice Williams
Linkuri:
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs [ Site Oficial ]
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs [ Wikipedia ]
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs [ LastFm ]
Maurice Williams [ AllMusic ]
The Best Of [ AllMusic ]
Doo Wop [ Moozica ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Revenim putin la actualitate (si in mainstream) cu albumul The Hits al lui Kelis...

Trebuie sa recunosc - niciodata n-am considerat suficient de important un album de-al ei pentru a fi pastrat. Sau cumparat. Mai ales cumparat! De ce? Pai, nu stiu... Probabil nu inghit genul asta de muzica sau nu adun destule melodii de pe un album de-al ei in playlist. In alta ordine de idei, nu contest... Kelis a avut hituri! Mai mult, Lil' Star, melodia aparuta prima data pe albumul Kelis Was Here din 2006 m-a fermecat total. De aceea, desi n-am apreciat intr-un mod deosebit vreunul dintre albumele ei, ma bucur destul de mult pentru o compilatie care sa contina cele mai bune melodii ale lui Kelis. Adica, The Hits!

Inca o observatie... Eu n-as fi inclus Got Your Money cu Ol' Dirty Bastard pe un Best Of al lui Kelis pentru simplul motiv ca ea apare doar pe refren repetand de cateva ori Baby I got your money, ceea ce e cam putin...

Si inca una... Citesc acum pe AllMusic.com despre albumul lui Kelis si ce vad? Folosesc eu notiunea de mainstream in deschiderea postului, repede si cei de la AllMusic.com. Cred ca ma copiaza... :D

Melodie: Kelis - Lil' Star (feat. Cee-Lo)

Tracks:
01. Kelis - Caught Out There (4:11)
02. Kelis - Milkshake (3:04)
03. Kelis - Got Your Money (Ol' Dirty Bastard) (4:01)
04. Kelis - Trick Me (3:28)
05. Kelis - Lil' Star (feat. Cee-Lo) (4:51)
06. Kelis - Get Along With You (4:29)
07. Kelis - Young, Fresh N' New Dance (4:38)
08. Kelis - Truth Or Dare (feat N.E.R.D & Pusha T) (3:38)
09. Kelis - Bossy (feat. Too $hort) (4:34)
10. Kelis - In Public (feat. Nas) (4:27)
11. Kelis - Millionaire (feat. André 3000) (3:46)
12. Kelis - Finest Dreams (feat. Richard X) (4:13)
13. Kelis - Suspended (4:55)
14. Kelis - Good Stuff (feat. Terrar) (3:54)

Imagini: Kelis

Linkuri:
Kelis [ Site Oficial ]
Kelis [ AllMusic ]
Kelis [ Wikipedia ]
Kelis [ MySpace ]
Kelis [ LastFm ]
The Hits [ AllMusic ]
The Hits [ PitchforkMedia ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Pentru ca mi-am adus aminte de Nina Simone intr-un post anterior si pentru ca muzica ei nu trebuie in nici un chip uitata, incerc sa scriu azi cateva cuvinte despre compilatia The Very Best Of Nina Simone scoasa de Sony BMG in 2006.

Cu peste 500 de melodii compuse si cu o discografie de aproximativ 60 de albume, Nina Simone - supranumita si "High Priestess of Soul", a fost una dintre cele mai prolifice canterete americane, muzica ei fiind o combinatie de soul, jazz, gospel si blues. Din pacate, ea a plecat dintre noi in 2003 dar mostenirea ei muzicala ne va bucura inca mult timp de acum incolo...

P.S. Cine asculta The Very best Of Nina Simone si da peste Sinnerman, cum am facut si eu, va fi surprins daca a ascultat ultimul album Timbaland, Shock Value. Acolo, Timbaland foloseste pe prima melodie de pe album, Oh Timbaland, un sample de pe Sinnerman.

Melodie: Nina Simone - Ain't Got No... I Got Life

Tracks:
01. Nina Simone - Ain't Got No... I Got Life (2:17)
02. Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me (3:37)
03. Nina Simone - Feeling Good (2:52)
04. Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You (2:34)
05. Nina Simone - I Love You Porgy (4:10)
06. Nina Simone - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (2:42)
07. Nina Simone - Look Of Love (2:22)
08. Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free (3:08)
09. Nina Simone - I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (2:32)
10. Nina Simone - Do I Move You (2:45)
11. Nina Simone - Do What You Gotta Do (3:35)
12. Nina Simone - To Be Young Gifted & Black (2:48)
13. Nina Simone - Since I Fell For You (2:49)
14. Nina Simone - Nobody's Fault But Mine (2:58)
15. Nina Simone - I Think It's Going To Rain Today (3:20)
16. Nina Simone - Sinnerman (10:21)
17. Nina Simone - Times They Are A Changin' (5:59)
18. Nina Simone - Mr. Bojangles (4:59)
19. Nina Simone - Here Comes The Sun (3:33)
20. Nina Simone - To Love Somebody (2:39)
21. Nina Simone - Ain't Got No... I Got Life (Groovefinder Remix) (3:22)

Linkuri:
Nina Simone [ Site Oficial ]
Nina Simone [ AllMusic ]
Nina Simone [ Wikipedia ]
Nina Simone [ MySpace ]
Nina Simone [ LastFm ]
Nina Simone [ About ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Povestea Micutului Anthony si a Imperialilor se intinde pe vreo 50 de ani dar eu as mai scurta-o un pic...

Inainte de a forma The Chesters (redenumit apoi Little Anthony & The Imperials), Jerome Anthony Gourdine a mai facut parte dintr-un alt grup doo wop, The Duponts, si asta chiar n-ar avea de ce sa ma mire pentru ca, se pare, in anii '50 - '60 in Statele Unite au fost in jur de 15.000 de asemenea grupuri si probabil fiecare tanar al vremii facea parte dintr-unul...

A urmat un hit rapid in 1958, Tears On My Pillow, care a ramas si cea mai cunoscuta melodie a lor. S-au despartit 3 ani mai tarziu pentru ca Little Anthony vroia o cariera solo dar acesta s-a intors in '63 si au luat-o de la capat. Le-a mers bine in deceniile 6 si 7 ale secolului trecut pentru ca au stiut tot timpul sa se reinventeze. Au plecat pe rand si pe rand s-au intors. Intr-un final, s-au reunit oficial in 1992, dupa aproximativ 17 ani de cand nu mai cantasera impreuna, si au avut din nou succes cu hiturile lor din anii '60. Iar partea frumoasa in toata povestea asta e ca, in 2007, inca merg impreuna in turnee...

Melodie: Little Anthony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow

Tracks:
01. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow (2:19)
02. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Two People In The World (2:37)
03. Little Anthony & The Imperials - So Much (2:26)
04. Little Anthony & The Imperials - The Diary (2:35)
05. Little Anthony & The Imperials - It's Not For Me (2:20)
06. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Wishful Thinking (2:44)
07. Little Anthony & The Imperials - A Prayer And Jukebox (2:30)
08. Little Anthony & The Imperials - I'm Alright (2:27)
09. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop (2:11)
10. Little Anthony & The Imperials - My Empty Room (2:32)
11. Little Anthony & The Imperials - I'm Taking A Vacation From Love (2:07)
12. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Please Say You Want Me (2:48)
13. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Traveling Stranger (2:04)
14. Little Anthony & The Imperials - I'm On The Outside (Looking In) (3:03)
15. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Goin' Out Of My Head (2:30)
16. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Hurt So Bad (2:19)
17. Little Anthony & The Imperials - Take Me Back (2:41)
18. Little Anthony & The Imperials - I Miss You So (2:35)

Linkuri:
Little Anthony & The Imperials [ Site Oficial ]
Little Anthony & The Imperials [ AllMusic ]
Little Anthony & The Imperials [ Wikipedia ]
Little Anthony & The Imperials [ LastFm ]
The Best Of [ AllMusic ]

Rating:

Pe scurt:
Melodia mea preferata de pe Back to Black este Love Is a Losing Game.
Mai jos, videoclipul...

Videoclip: Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game

Linkuri:
Amy Winehouse [ Site Oficial ]
Amy Winehouse [ AllMusic ]
Amy Winehouse [ Wikipedia ]
Amy Winehouse [ MySpace ]
Love Is a Losing Game [ AZLyrics ]

Rating: