DarkStar Spouts Off

I Wanna Love Music Again

I am no longer in love and I know it's wrong, but there it is.

I don't love music anymore.

Yeah, this ain't original 'cuz Common said it best, but I'm still going to have my say.

Today the wife just said chill and today is, according to the doctor, the last day I'm contagious. I'm feeling a lot better so I'm puttering around the house doing a little bit here and there and doing a "bleach wash" behind where I go. Today would be THE perfect day to crank up the music system, turn on the best radio station for the moment and just let the music play, but I can't.

The stations that don't offend my sensibilities crank out good tunes every so often, but they are all old school. That's fine, because right now I'm cranking Loose Ends in the background, but I need to get the good NEW feeling again.

I used to be able to listen to the radio, hear what I like, go to the store, get the album and  while in the store, ask around for new music "like this" that they might suggest and give it a listen. You know, when they had a turntable in the store and would spin some stuff for you.

My music fan friends are like me, and no longer in tune to some of the new stuff coming out. Buying a CD or downloading some group just isn't a high priority. Getting Miss D.S.'s Zune to listen to some of her stuff is impossible these days. I have to admit, my daughter's taste is not too bad when it comes to non-hip-hop.

I wanna fall back in love.

I wanna turn on a station and just jam.

Hell, somebody tell me, WHERE'S THE FUNK AT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Music: If You Like...

Sometimes I just wonder why certain artists don't catch fire on "Black radio".

If you like Prince, how can you tell me you don't feel Lenny Kravitz?
If you like Tank, how can you tell me you don't feel Seal?

This one may be out there, BUT,

If you like OutKast, you mean you don't feel Jamiroquai?

Or maybe it's just me.

What Did I Do Wrong?

What did I do wrong?
My offspring disappointed my pride.
She told me recently,
She doesn't like Slave's Slide.

How can she tell me,
She is about the crunk?
But don't want to hear
That old school funk!

I can't tell you
How it was such a thrill
For me to first hear,
Fencewalk by Mandrill.

Candy by Cameo
Can't make you Shake Your Pants?
And you thought school troubles
Only produced long winded rants?

I think it was the summer
I remember that hot sun
Listening to ConFunkShun
Jamming that song Fun.

My baby don't like the
Ohio Players or Dazz or
Bootsies Rubber Band?

Oh what rap hath wrought,
that music wasteland!

How can her mind be free?
She don't like
Brothers Johnson,
Strawberry Letter 23!

To the father of the funk
To the late James Brown
I apologize profusely
This funk disciple let you down!

The Next Time That Song Comes On...

Remember what the phrase means...

RIAA Says You Can't Rip CDs! NOT!

I got this bit of information off of Slash Dot.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In an Arizona case against a defendant who has no legal representation, Atlantic v. Howell, the RIAA is now arguing — contrary to its lawyers' statements to the United States Supreme Court in 2005 MGM v. Grokster — that the defendant's ripping of personal MP3 copies onto his computer is a copyright infringement. At page 15 of its brief (PDF) it states the following: 'It is undisputed that Defendant possessed unauthorized copies... Virtually all of the sound recordings... are in the ".mp3" format for his and his wife's use... Once Defendant converted Plaintiffs' recordings into the compressed .mp3 format and they are in his shared folder, they are no longer the authorized copies...'"

[ UPDATED ] Please note that the MP3's were placed on the SHARED drive which makes them available to anyone if file sharing is not turned off. In other words, RIAA is doing the same thing RIAA has been doing. It's going after someone who they believe are sharing files. They are NOT saying that ripping a file to MP3 format is illegal. If the files had been ripped to a non-sharable drive, here would have been no issue.

Music Video Of The Day

Music To Grill By

Loose Ends:

• Cheap Talk

Trouble Funk:

• Drop the Bomb
• Trouble
• Pump Me Up
• Let's Get Small

Jesse Johnson:

• Can You Help Me
• Jungle Love

Amy Winehouse:

• Rehab

Maceo Parker:

• Basic Funk: 101
• Speed Reading
• Advanced Funk

Maroon 5:

• If I Never See Your Face Again
• Makes Me Wonder

Macy Gray:

• Shoo Bee Do
• What I Gotta Do
• Okay
• One For Me
• So What

Loose Ends:

• Don't You Ever (Try To Change Me)
• Look How Long
• Cheap Talk

Los Lonely Boys

• Memories
• Texican Style

Cameo

• Single Life
• Candy
• Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck

Robert Randolph And The Family Band

• Diane
• Ain't Nothing Wrong With That

The J.B.s

• Givin' Up Food for the Funk

Jam Of The Day

This is the jam of the day!

Cobb Done Did It: Funk

Cobb asks for the 100 Greatest Funk Songs of All Time

Bar Kays
Holy Ghost
Move Your Boogie Body
Hit And Run

Keep It Funky -- James Brown
Money -- Chuck Brown
Pump Me Up -- Trouble Funk

Cameo
Candy
Rigor Mortis
Talkin' out the Side of Your Neck

Con Funk Shun
Shake and Dance With Me
Fffffun
Too Tight
Chase Me

Heat Wave
Boogie Nights
The Groove Line
Ain't No Half Steppin'

Lakeside
It's All The Way Live
Fantastic Voyage
Something About That Woman
Love Is On The One

Loose Ends
Hanging On A String
Stay Awhile
Slow Down

Rick James
Super Freak
Mary Jane
Give It To Me
You And I
Bustin Out

Brothers Johnson
Strawberry Letter 23
Ain't We Funkin Now
Get The Funk Out of My Face
Stomp!

The Gap Band
Burn Rubber
You Dropped a Bomb On Me
I Don't Believe You Wanna Get Up and Dance

SOS Band
Take Your Time

The Time
777-9311

Maceo Parker
Blow Your Brains Out

Crazay -- Jesee Johnson & Sly Stone

Parliament
Mothership Connection
Aqua Boogie
Magget Brain

Average White Band
School Boy Crush
Pick Up The Pieces
Cut The Cake

Brick
Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody

Fire Cracker -- Mass Production

Play That Funky Music -- Wild Cherry

What Is Hip -- Tower of Power
Do It Till You Satisfied -- BT Express

All The Way Live -- Lakeside

Dusic -- Brick

Sir Duke -- Stevie Wonder

Zapp
Doo Wah Ditty
More Bounce To The Ounce

Machine Gun -- Commodores

Slave
Slide
Just A Touch Of Love
Watching You
Snap Shot

Steve Arrington
Weak At The Knees

Macy Gray, "Big"

I heard about the latest Macy Gray release, but I didn't want to take a chance buying the CD, so I did something, as a rule, I don't do: I downloaded DRM protected singles. Yeah, I did the iTune thing.

Well, for Macy Gray, the download model worked. I sampled some of the cuts and downloaded those. First I downloaded "Okay" because it had a slightly funky feel to it and I'm feenin for some funk. After listening to the full song, I wasn't disappointed. It was well worth the $0.99.

Then I downloaded "One For Me" and, again, I wasn't disappointed. When I heard the first few seconds, I was hot, and then it got into the melody and I calmed down. It is a nice song and dare I say that her voice is sounding better or is it the production?

Her CDs have always shown that she likes sex and is crazy. Some men will swear that combination means she is very good in the sack, but that's not about this post. To see what I'm writing about, listen to "Harry" on "The Id" CD or "I've Committed Murder" or "Gimmie All Your Lovin' or I Will Kill You" on "How Life Is".

Straight. Up. Wacky woo.

Back to my review.

I downloaded "Shoo Be Do" and, again, I liked what I heard. This was another $0.99 well worth it. However, that was it until the other night when I decided to crank up iTunes and let some of the music I labeled as 3 and above play. I realized then the "Big" CD met my minimum buy requirements: 3 songs that I really like.

I downloaded the entire thing and I like it.

And there is "Strange Behavior."

Yep. She's nuts.

Ghetto Pass

D.S. 2.0 was in his crib as Mrs. D.S. and I were getting ready for church. We had put on a Veggie Tales CD. When I entered the room, "Belly Button" was playing.

People, that song is the JAM!!!

I was joking with Mrs. D.S. when I told her that if the Veggie Tales has another song like that, they may have to get a ghetto pass.

So, my list of Ghetto Pass artists are:

• Teena Marie -- Do I even have to explain why?
• Hall & Oates -- Again, do I even have to explain why?
• Average White Band -- Look, NO ONE will even blink an eye at the brothas of anotha color from Scotland.
• K.C. and The Sunshine Band -- Some called it airy pop, but I don't care. There is no way you can listen to a "best of" and NOT agree they had music to keep a house party going.
• Wild Cherry -- "Play That Funky Music" gets them at the door. The music they had afterwards wasn't of that high quality, but they gave it a good effort. The album covers gets them in the door! ;-)
• The Doobie Brothers -- Yes, this one is controversial given their early stuff and some people have suggested that MY PASS gets revoked for even mentioning them. But I still say they have it, if not, then I acknowledge the controversial nature of my choice by substituting Michael McDonald.
• Eric Clapton -- Listen to his blues work and what he did with B.B. King.

I need to tell you something...
I don't got no belly button...

Rap Offended

I am offended by much of what goes as rap on commercial radio. I don't like it and it has driven me from listening to commercial radio after the morning drive time period. I am offended that some people are saying that rap IS Black culture when rap is a sub-culture of entertainment and a sub-culture of America.

Some have said the term "gangsta" comes from the Black community. As I wrote earlier, the term is nothing but slang for gangster, which came about from the gangs that arose during alcohol prohibition.

Some have said that "hip-hop" promotes anti-intellectualism, but I don't know the songs that support that assertion. Better yet, no songs have been provided that support that assertion. This weekend, Mother's Day weekend, many HBCUs hold graduation ceremonies. One can assume that most of the graduates listen to rap. So, why are they immune from the alleged anti-intellectualism in rap?

Rap does glamorize drug use, but when you look at the drug use statistics, except for marijuana use, Blacks use drugs in smaller proportions than whites use drugs. Meth use is rising fast, but unless I'm mistaken, rap isn't glamorizing the use of meth.

Much of commercial rap is offensive, but blaming the many ills in the Black on rap is a lame excuse. I just wish people will come out and say that they think Black people are sheep. That would get it out into the open and properly dealt with; or not.

I guess I should write that this is not a defense of rap. I don't care for the language, I don't care for the images and I don't care for the "bling bling." They are the present day minstrel show.

Wind Em Up Chuck!

Sometimes I buy music from people on the G.P. When I do that, they have been in the music business for some time and I love their prior work, so I just have to show my respect by getting the new CD.

Ladies and gentlemen, Chuck Brown has a new CD out today and believe me, I'm going to get it TODAY!

Donnie Simpson has been playing parts of the CD this morning and I like what I've heard.

[ Update ]

The new CD is titled "We're About the Business".

A Musical Funk Ride

On a quick drive to Baltimore, I started thinking about Robert Rudolph and the Family Band. I was thinking about the songs that I like off of the Colorblind CD:

• "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
• "Thrill of It"
• "Diane"

I started thinking about what I liked about the songs. All of the songs have strong guitar tracks and I like that. But they also have some bass and a groove. I was thinking that they had a funk feel to it without the funk.

It took me back to early Slave that had the bass line but still had that "rock guitar" to help fill out. To me, that defined Slave's early sound. I started thinking about "Slide" and I was on my way.

I'll say here that while I was thinking about this on the drive, I had the James Brown 50th Anniversary Collection CD in the car. I was listening to the 2nd CD at the time. This comes in handy later.

I started thinking about funky songs with a strong lead guitar.

I thought about Cameo, Slave, and Wild Cherry.

But then my mind went straight to Jesse Johnson.

Yeah, I have to burn a funk(y) CD with strong lead guitar. The pieces I have to put on there:

• Parliament:
• I know they have a couple but I can't think right now
• Jesse Johnson
• Can You Help Me
• Baby Let's Kiss
• The Time
• Jungle Love
• Prince
• Gold Experience
• Slave
• Slide

But it hit me. I LOVE bass! You know the bass I'm talking about, right?

That bass that is in your behind like a nurse giving you an enema!

Cameo, Candy. Again, Slave, Slide,...

AND THEN IT HITS ME!!!!

The FUNKIEST INTRO TO A SONG *EVAH*!!!!!

Track 17, Disc Two on the James Brown 50th Anniversary Collection CD:
"My Thang"

*BAM*

I think the first 30 seconds provided at least 3 samples that provided the hooks for 3 of Herbie Lovebug's classics with Kid n Play and Salt n Peppa.

In fact, I think that first 30 seconds is the best part of the song. So much that the rest of the song, to me, is a let down.

FUNKY. "Brand new funk!"

Later, track 29, "Funky President (People It's Bad) comes on and there I am, I've gone to the full circle. That bass line that feels like an enema! It makes you get ugly all up in the face!

FUNKY!!!!

I gotta burn a CD with the funk up the butt!

Hot Music

Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Ain't Nothing Wrong With That

Thrill of It

Diane

All hot. All from the Colorblind CD.

IMO, their CDs are over rated, but I would like to see them in concert.

I Remember James Brown

The God Father of Soul...

When I was a kid in West Baltimore, James Brown owned a radio station, WEBB, which was 5 blocks away from where I lived. The radio station was in a one story building on a corner. The D.J.s did their work in front of a "store front" window. James Brown also owned a hotel in Baltimore. At the time I didn't think much of it. Now I understand that he was trying to build upon the money he made in the music business.

About 3 years ago, Mrs. D.S. and I went to the 9:30 Club in D.C. to see The God Father of Soul, Mr. Jameeeeeeeesssssssssssssss Brown!

First, the Jay Bees came out. They KILLED three instrumental songs! I mean they KILLED it! My goodness, I was listening to pure funk!

Then, Mr. Dynamite! Jameeeeeeeesssssssssssssss Brown! came out and proceeded to rock funk up the 9:30 Club.

I was in heaven until he let his wife "get some" in the middle of the set. Afterwards, I was in heaven again.

I'm glad I got to see the man do his thing, live, even if he couldn't do splits.

James Brown's band was THE TIGHTEST BAND I HAVE EVER WITNESSED in concert!

Because I Was Called Scrooge

Because I was just called Scrooge, I just ordered Alexander O'Neal's Christmas CD and I'm going to pick up Bootsy Collins Christmas Is 4-Ever CD and I'm going to wear that sucka out!

Bah THIS baby!

Ooooo Baby Baby

Almost home from a weekend journey, the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles classic, Ooooo Baby Baby, came on.

Then THAT LINE came and I sang that one LINE with all of my heart:

Mistakes, I know I've made a few
But I am only human
You've made mistakes too, I'm crying...

OK, it's a few lines, but DANG!!!!!
CLASSIC!!!!

Gerald Levert

Gerald Levert died at the age of 40 from a heart attack.

We were on I-95 North, on our way to Philly, stuck in traffic, when we heard the news. Patty Jackson was on the radio crying. Someone came on and said she was obviously distraught and said this had to be done. He announced Gerald Levert had died from a heart attack.

I changed stations waiting for a confirmation. About 20 minutes later, only about 50 feet past the point where it was first stated, we got the confirmation.

Later that night, Patty Jackson was still on the radio only she had been joined by Patty Labelle. They were talking about Gerald Levert.

He was 40 years old and has a 16 year old daughter.

RIP.

One of my Top 5 Songs

I've decided that one of my Top 5 Songs is "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

I heard the song this morning. It's on one of "DS 2.0"'s CDs. While we get dressed in the morning, we put on a CD to "keep him company."

So, I looked up the song and found the Wikipedia entry.

I just like the song.

When I first heard it, I was a kid. I was on a bus trip to a planetarium in New York. When the song came on, it seemed like the world stopped and all that was there was me and the song on the radio.

"DS 2.0" loves the song.

A Tune

You call me your friend
But You only want the ends
And I'd never see you if I had no loot

I'm just glad I know the deal
And I'm paying my own bills
And I'll never ever depend on you

Why I Still Buy CDs

These 2 articles that appeared in today's Washington Post are the reason why I still buy CDs. DRM is the devil himself.

A Messy Age for Music

These days, in the age of digital distribution, we don't need to buy CDs anymore. What we have, instead, are a bunch of online music services, offering songs for sale or rent via quick download to a bunch of digital music players that might or might not actually play them.

Take music fan Chauncey Canfield: He has a whopping 180-gigabyte music collection, an iPod and a smartphone he can fill with songs from his subscription Yahoo Music account. But he can't put Yahoo Music songs on his iPod, and he can't put songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store on his phone.

Canfield knows that iTunes is the most popular online music store, but he avoids it because of the playback restrictions. Instead, he prefers to shop at eMusic, which sells its tracks in the MP3 format, an open technology that works on every music player on the market. Even the iPod.

"The fact that they don't have [anti-piracy controls] on them is absolutely a major plus," he said. "I don't have to segregate my music into various ghettos."

And then this one:

Changing Her Tun on Apple's iPod

I've basically stopped buying music because I'm stuck at a digital music divide.

Every 99-cent song I buy from the iTunes Music Store digs me deeper into an ecosystem that depends on $250 (or more) replacement iPods and closes me off from other cool-but-incompatible devices made by non-Apple Computer companies.

But who among us doesn't find the ease of iTunes totally seductive? The 30-second sample clip? Love it. The option of buying one song off an album? Brilliant. And no more peeling off that super-adhesive tape they put on CD packages!

Once upon a time, music used to account for a measurable chunk of my monthly spending. Now, I agonize, scrutinize, and often forgo clicking "buy" on a song.

I got to this point the way I imagine many others might have.

Three birthdays ago, my generous, tech-loving boyfriend bought me an iridescent green iPod Mini I named Jazzhands. She was cute, light, and way outclassed the generations of Walkman cassette players that came before her.

Please read both of these articles because they are good.

I may be buying a digital player soon, but I won't use the download services. I'll just buy the CD and then rip it to the device I buy. Besides, I still have lots of vinyl as well.

Why I Gave Up On Hip-Hop

While I never had a crush on LL Cool Jay, I echo this sister's setiments. And while my daughter is older than her daughter, the conversation she lets us know about, closely matches that I've had with my daughter, except she never asked about "Black people on the radio."

My 12-year-old daughter, Sydney, and I were in the car not long ago when she turned the radio to a popular urban contemporary station. An unapproved station. A station that might play rap music. "No way, Syd, you know better," I said, so Sydney changed the station, then pouted.

"Mommy, can I just say something?" she asked. "You think every time you hear a black guy's voice it's automatically going to be something bad. Are you against hip-hop?"

Her words slapped me in the face. In a sense, she was right. I haven't listened to radio hip-hop for years. I have no clue who is topping the charts and I can't name a single rap song in play.

But I swear it hasn't always been that way.

My daughter can't know that hip-hop and I have loved harder and fallen out further than I have with any man I've ever known.

That my decision to end our love affair had come only after years of disappointment and punishing abuse. After I could no longer nod my head to the misogyny or keep time to the vapid materialism of another rap song. After I could no longer sacrifice my self-esteem or that of my two daughters on an altar of dope beats and tight rhymes.

I like the piece.

Lionel Richie: Coming Home

I'm giving the first listen to Lionel Richie's new CD, "Coming Home."

It's uneven but enough cuts are nice to make it worthwhile. I'm going to have to listen a few more times to be able to rate it.

I think I like cuts:

1. I Call It Love
3. Why
4. What You Are
6. I'm Coming Home
7. All Around The World

Brand New Heavies: Get Used To It

HOT!!

HOT!!

HOT!!

HOT!!

HOT!!

WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That is all