Music Fridays: Down Here In Hell With You
My speakers at work blew. I have no idea how in the hell this happened. It ain’t like I’m in here bumping Dre and Rick Ross “Chevy Ridin’ High” or anything.
Or some of that ol’ skool Outkast.
Or Luke for goodness’ sake.
Nope, I just listen to some of that good old fashioned quality good good shit.
So since I can’t listen to it, I’m going to list the top 10 most played songs on my work iTunes and discuss them a little bit. You see, I’m quite obsessive with some of the music that’s on here. I have songs that I’ve listened to well over 200 times…that I only put on here a week ago.
Repeat is my oyster.
Oh, and while we’re here, the other day, in my comments, HC stated that Guy’s self-titled album, Guy, (of course you already know it was called Guy because I said “self-titled” which would imply that it would be titled after the self as opposed to perhaps the id or superego or some other overly arrogant subconscious narcissistic notion) was a better album than Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel. Well, as any good researcher would do I went back and revisited Guy’s album.
No comparison homey. Not even close. I think I will do an indepth Panamalysis on this sometime next week.
So, being as I’m in the purgatoratious hell-hole that is work without the sultry sounds of melodious splender, let us begin the sharing…as you know…
…sharing is caring.
Panama’s Purgatory Playlist: Making It Thru The Day
1. Psapp - Cosy In The Rocket
This is the theme song from Grey’s Anatomy. When I tell you I love this song, I mean I want to hug and kiss and hold and cuddle the music on this song. Umm…no brokeback. Seriously, the music on this has such a hypnotic feel to it I get lost in it every time. And I STILL have no clue what in the fuck they’re talking about on it. I just know its gangsta. I wish I could produce a song like this. In fact, I don’t think I’ll stop trying until I make something that hits me the way this did the very first time I heard it.
2. Phyllis Hyman - Be Careful (How You Treat My Love)
I remember the first time I ever really listened to Phyllis Hyman. It was at my boy’s crib quite a few months back. He played her big hit “You Know How To Love Me” and its a good song but it didn’t really draw me in. I’d heard of her but I wasn’t all enthralled. So one day, I was in Tower Records blowing more money I didn’t have and I saw this compilation. I was like, fuck it, so I picked it up. The next day I was driving to New York and I put it in as I left my street.
Do you know I listened to this one CD on the entire 4 hour drive to NY. AND on the way back. And this song? It made a fan, a believer, and a sad sap out of me. Her voice is so beautiful I can’t believe I never discovered it before. And the way she sings on this song nearly brought a tear to my eyes. Shit sounds authentic even if she didn’t write it. You betta…bee-eeee-eee careful how you treaaaaaaaaaaaat my loooooooooooove. Hands down one of my favorite songs ever. This is the second most played song on my iTunes and only because I intentionally stopped myself from listening to it.
This song also made me really really sad that she took her own life. Then again, that fits in right nice with my other favorite singers who have tragically met their end or got head in the whip one too many times.
3. Jefferson Airplane - Somebody To Love
Between the drugs, white rabbits, and peace signs, I love hippie shit from the 60’s and ’70s. Most of it was just so fun and drug oriented. Not that I’m into drugs or anything. Just say no! However, Jefferson Airplane was that hot drug music way before Cam’ron and Dipset flooded the market. They were the Clipse before Malicious niece felt that chinchilla. Of course the difference being they were using it and the other niggas are distributing but we’re just splitting hairs. Hell the album this song came from was called Surrealistic Pillow. If that ain’t a drug induced album title, well call me Jeb and make me governor of Florida.
All I know is that I love this song and Grace Slick’s voice works really well with their sound. Viva white rabbits and San Francisco!
4. The Mad Lads - Make This Young Lady Mine
Another of my favorite songs of all time is De La Soul’s song “Eye Know” off the 3 Feet High and Rising album. This song with an assist from Steely Dan (I love Steely Dan) are the reasons why. I’m a sucker for horns. The horns that kick this song off make me want to hug squirrels…then boot them little fuckers down the street. Speaking of hugs then kicks, similar to kicking and pushing, Lupe Fiasco style, have you seen the commercials for the sour gummy bears? Where the bears do something evil and then like give you a hug…because they’re sour and then sweet? I William H. Holla LOVE those commercials. They crack me up everytime.
Yoski.
5. Tom Scott - Today
I paid 30 dollars for the album (Honeysuckle Breeze) that this song was on. It’s a Jefferson Airplane cover from the same album that “Somebody To Love” was on. I won’t say too much more. Aaron McGruder used this song in an episode of the Boondocks and I nearly spit my Kool-Aid all over the television. There’s a really good reason why too, but if you don’t know…then I ain’t tellin.
I should tell you here that I don’t really put too much rap on my computer at work. Reason being, I refuse to use headphones. I blast shit out of my speakers and figured that blasting 50 Cent’s “Many Men” wouldn’t be such a good look around the office. Especially since people like me like to forget to turn my music off when I leave my office for a few minutes.
Not. A. Good. Look.
6. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
This is an old school rock song from the 70’s. Talk about a weird as group but this song knocks hard as hell. It has a very subdued sound to it but its some quality good shit, trust me. It reminds me of drinking Long Island Iced Teas with my home C-Breeze sitting under some trees down in the West Indies…word life. I don’t know how many of you boho’s out there are anti rock ‘n roll but this is definitely a good song to have in the repertoire. Sounds like some shit Babyface would have written if he wasn’t black, was high, wasn’t into R&B, and was into strange pseudo-weird rock ‘n roll.
See, just like Babyface.
7. Rick James featuring Smokey Robinson - Ebony Eyes
Two things to say with this song: 1) I do not like Smokey Robinson, at all. I can only think of like 2 of his songs that I like, maybe 3 and they were all with the Miracles. 2) I remember hearing this for the first time in May. I’m so ashamed.
When I tell you I can’t get enough of a particular song…well, I suppose that would mean I can’t get enough of a particular song. This song would be one in particular that I can’t get enough of…particularly. “And I bet you didn’t know thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat…ebony eyes…” This is the kind of song you sing to a woman you’re really feeling but since its so goofy feeling you can fuck it up and have all kinds of fun with it. You should own this song.
Actually, you should own every song I tell you about. All my choices are topshelf homey. No bottom shelf here.
I am Panama Jackson.
8. Soul Survivors - Soul To Soul
This is some of that blue eyed soul straight from the streets of Philly. These fellows were one of the first groups that Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff worked with when they began developing the sound that would take over the city and eventually add another sound to the national landscape. I don’t know why I like this song so much, it isn’t especially great but the beginning just makes me want to slap Stedman. So maybe that’s it. Either way, it stays on repeat around here something vicious.
Freak of the week.
9. The Doors - Light My Fire
This is possibly one of the most popular songs of all time and for good reason. Jim Morrison was one drugged out white boy. But he did his thing until his untimely but seemingly predictable demise in 1971. Everybody’s heard this before so it doesn’t need much discussion, but I love it. Im a big Doors fan. Despite the horrible sound that some of these recordings possess they got a lot of raw energy involved.
10. Jimi Hendrix (as part of Band of Gypys) - Who Knows?
Talk about your resident party starter if you’re a part of the neo-soul or just drug loving set. This song is so damn smoking. I get my whiteboy on everytime this song comes on. I will drive down the mean streets of NW DC blasting this song as loud as it can go. Okay, saying I get my whiteboy on is kind of stupid considering two of the three people playing on this album were black (Jimi and drummer Buddy Miles), but you know how you black people get when it comes to rock and shit. And further, the whole song is just one long ass question mark.
They don’t know…I don’t know…
It’s just a bunch of clueless folks trying to find answers to questions they don’ t know. I’m sorry, but music doesn’t get any better than that.
And as a bonus:
(I also have it up at my regular MySpace site [panamadjackson] but that shit is trippin’ right now. )
Yeah so, a lot of people don’t know this, but I’ve been working on an album for a little while now with a one of my boys/producers I know. It’s a work in progress and slow moving but I got a hell of a shot in the arm like two days ago. Could be big news, could be unbig news. Either way, somebody will find out something soon. I don’ t know. (see song #10) Anyway, I linked one of my songs to MySpace, so in the even that you want to hear one of my songs, just click on the link and check it out. If you want to offer feedback, please do. Of course if you hate it, kiss my ass. I’m sexxy.
[***Also, if you're looking for a party to go to tonight and you can't think of shit else to do, go to this link, RSVP before 5pm and get in free before 11pm. It's a good party, I always have fun and wyle out, and its for charity (Sudan). You just can't lose. ***]
July 17th, 2006 12:10
Panama,
I can now figure out what things you have wrote like you are a famous black author. Case in point, I was reading the website, “my momma’s music” or whatever that’s called that u link on your site. Reading it, a good 2 paragraphs in, I said Panama wrote this sh-t. Srolled to the bottom to confirm, then kept on reading, cause it was funny.
July 17th, 2006 13:33
Okay… okay.
See, I know it’s Monday and this was written on Friday. I know this. BUT, I must retort.
Don’t Be Cruel by my standards was a classic for it’s first six songs. All classic R&B, no doubt. But only those first six songs. Still, lets examine this further…
1. We must go BEYOND the music first and state that Guy’s first album was a genre changer. It was a New Jack Swing album that birthed a sound that was so influential that it was essentially carried into BBD’s reign over the charts and radio in the 90s.
So in terms of music history, Guy (and Babyface) changed the way music was packaged for damn near a decade. The next big change would happen when Mary came out and started the hip hop soul movement (of which we have never recovered).
2. I can listen to every song on Guy’s album. Every song! Well, I may skip one here and there but it is not a consistant thing. But the real beauty is that ONE of the songs is the MUSIC ONLY “Teddy’s Jam”. (Save a couple of “JAAAAMS” and few “Yup Yups”, of course.)
3. The great amount of sampling done to Guy’s album further validates the greatness of the music.
4. Aaron Hall had a song about a philandering man… in which he called his side piece a “dumb bitch”. How gangsta was THAT? (Not that I condone such behavior)
Now, the album doesn’t fit all mood and all times. But neither does Don’t Be Cruel. As far as Babyface is concerned, his album changed R&B music to the point where it still often copies his style.
I stand by my statement with both albums.
July 17th, 2006 14:03
Re: #11…me likes!
I’ll be on “The Lookout” (sorry couldn’t resist, lol) for big news from the “young, gifted and Black” Petey Jakes!
Have a good week!
T
July 19th, 2006 09:11
Hmmmph. I must say that even though I read through each and every song… a lot of it was old hat to me… *yawn* and I’m still mad that you never heard Ebony Eyes before like… yesterday. LOL And I’m equally as mad that you didn’t mention the Babyface Tender Lover/ Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel debate. Hmmph. Tender Lover all day.
Anyhoo… you love Steely Dan and I love Fleetwood Mac, we’re clearly a match made in gypsy (a song sung expertly by Stevie by the way - and that’s Nicks, NOT Wonder… thanks.) heaven. LOL
Blue Oyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper - UGGH *groaning* and you know WHY!!!
Just an aside, but… HURRY UP AND GET YO’ AZZ DOWN HERE!!!!
X =)