some people like freakin' in the morning, some people like freakin' at night

Ahoy-hoy and a Happy New Year to you all. My much-needed New Year's Resolution? Blog more! Considering that in 2010 as a whole, I posted a grand total of not enough times, I guess I owe you another in a long string of apologies.

Truthfully, part of the reason for my lag in posting has been Dibbly Fresh. Since I started reading it, whenever I go to blog, all I think is "AHHH I WILL NEVER BE THAT CLEVER". But, really, you can't live your life worrying you don't compare to the greats. When I get dressed, I don't worry that I don't have Anita Pallenberg's wardrobe. When I open my monthly bank statement with quivering hands, I don't despair that I don't have Bill Gates' money. When I play piano, I don't concern myself with Beethoven spinning in his grave (which is partially because Beethoven never played what is now considered to be the piano. He died before it was finished. What he composed his music on an earlier, different version. If Beethoven heard me playing piano, he would probably be more interested by the instrument than whatever the hell I was doing. This is how I think, okay!)
Since it has been almost a year, it's really most important that I let you know

10 Songs I'm Into at the Moment:

1. "I Can't Wait" by Sleepy Brown featuring Outkast
It is very unlike myself to want an Andre 3000 verse to end, unless it is to let me squeeze in an "I do" at our wedding, but I just wish they'd put his verse at the end, because when I put this song on, I am so anxious to get to Sleepy's smooth "Oooh, baby, come on". Not that Andre "Chameleo Salamander" 3000's verse isn't amazing, because it is. The beauty of this song is the soul-funk in Sleepy Brown's amazing, Stevie Wonder-like voice.
Normally, I wouldn't advise willingly becoming a hostage to the man holding up your neighborhood pancake joint, but I can't judge the girl in this video. Andre had me at "You hoped to meet a gentleman one day, well this is that".



2. "I Can Change" by John Legend feat. Snoop Dogg
Look, I want to like Snoop Dogg. He seems like an amusing guy. He coaches a preteen football league! But he's really making it tough for me. Get off this beautiful soul jam, Snoop! "I can make your zoom-zoom go boom-boom?" Is that supposed to be romantic? Because it sounds like a car bomb threat to me.
All lame rap ad-libs aside, I wasn't super familiar with any of John Legend's work before, but I'm thinking I should start investigating. This song is amazing.



3. "Remember (Walkin' In the Sand)" by the Shangri-La's
I'm not crazy about early 60's girl groups, but this song has a dark, almost ominous quality to it that makes me giddy.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no" is my favourite part.


4. "Make Ups 2 Break Ups" by Method Man feat. D'Angelo
One of the thing you, dear readers, have been deprived of since I stopped blogging an insane amount of time ago is my obsession with D'Angelo. The guy kills it on a regular basis, except for, oh, that pesky little arrest in 2010 for soliciting a blow job for $50. Crack kills, kids...brain cells and careers.
After exhausting the Voodoo album, I found this little gem. Sure, D'Angelo is restricted to one line, repeated, the one song and there is a crazy mixed-message vibe going (Method Man rages on and on about how much he hates his ex-girlfriend and how he'll never get back together with her, while D'Angelo croons "I'm still in love with you, babe"), but if you pair a great rapper and a soulful singer, I'm there. Listening, John Legend?


5. "Monster" by Kanye West feat. Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver and Rick Ross
Epic douchebag, sure, but Kanye West is famous for a reason: He is brilliant at what he does. He hasn't released a single I've loved since "Can't Tell Me Nothin'", so I was pleasantly surprised by the latest (and the delightfully disturbing video). Kanye's verse is fantastic ("Goose and Malibu, I call it Mali-BOOYAH"; the sarcaphogus line always gets a giggle out of me), Jay-Z's is sold if unspectacular, but Nicki Minaj, from whom I've never heard previously anything particularly thrilling, hits it out of the ballpark and down the street ("Just killed another career, it's a mild day"). Rick Ross just mumbles something generic for two lines, so I don't even know why he bothered showing up.


6. "Def Squad Meets Flipmode Squad" by Def Squad (Jamal, Redman, Keith Murray) and Flipmode Squade (Busta Rhymes, Rampage The Last Boy Scount, Lord Have Mercy)
If I had to pick the most all-around lyrically killer, rollin'-in-yo-caddy hip-hop song, I'd probably go with this one. Off Busta Rhymes' first album, each rapper really brings their A-game - no filler.


7. "Closet Freak" by Cee-Lo
Yep, I'm also lovin' "Fuck You", but my favourite Cee-Lo is still this funky number off "Cee-Lo Green Is A Soul Machine". He's so versatile, from rapping to singing, from Dungeon Family to Gnarls Barkley. Does anybody else remember his daughter on My Super Sweet 16? Just me? Alright.


8. "Fear Da Tiger (Who Dey?)" by Bootsy Collins and the Cincinnati Bengals
Okay....for musical quality alone, this song doesn't quite pass muster with the rest of the list. However, I am a huge NFL fan (despite my residency, Canadian football is an oxymoron) and Cincinnati is my second favourite team (after the Carolina Panthers...and before any of you savvy NFL fans ask, yes, it's been a rough season), so when I learned they did a song with BOOTSY FREAKIN COLLINS, I knew no matter how much it would inevitably suck, I would love it.
And yes, the players rap.


9. "One More Drink" by Ludacris feat. T-Pain
This video is brilliant by Ludacris standards, so that really says something. Featuring T-Pain and Big Boi? When I get to the very heart of my T-Pain adoration, it is his dancing. So if Ludacris has ever made you smile, you will enjoy this video.


10. "Hayloft" by Mother Mother
Arctic Monkeys aside, I'm hardly a modern rock fan, but I've been really enjoying this track lately! I don't know how famous these guys are in North America, since they are pretty wellknown here, but semi-local. I'm diggin' the girls and the riff, and it's mixes things up a bit amongst all the hip-hop/R&B in my life right now.

y'all don't wanna hear me, you just wanna dance

I really don't know whether this will be a shock to you or not, but I love pop music. Bring me your vapid, shallow, empty, AutoTune-soaked, emotionless masses and I will consume. Yeah, you're talking about somebody who actually got excited when Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" came on the radio yesterday - "Oh, man, haven't heard this one in ages!" - and then proceeded to get into an indepth discussion on whether the lyrics on the original (I have the CD) are actually "Shawty wanna fuck" or "Shawty wanna hump". (It is in fact "hump", and I just found myself thinking that the first verse is pretty romantic)
For awhile, I tried to deny my true feelings about pop music, but then I realized that if it makes me so happy, why fight it? Since I'm getting fully confessional on ya, I'll tell you that I have within the past hour danced to NSYNC. Will you still respect me in the morning?
Anyway, I'm going to lay on you my favourite pop songs of the 00's - and I'm talking the type of pop songs that you'd actually hear on the radio (probably fairly regularly), not just any song released by a pop artist. Sorry, Britney's "Why Should I Be Sad".

My Top 5 Favourite Pop Songs of the 00's:

5. "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown feat. T-Pain
I can never resist this one...from "Yo, this is Nappy Boy Radio live with your boy T-Pain, we love. Rap music." to "Five, four, three, zero, yeah", I'm hooked. Though, I'm obviously unimpressed by Chris Brown's recent, uh, douchebaggery, but I ain't gonna be hatin' at his anatomy - this is about the music, and most of the props must go to T-Pain. Any guy who throws a one-two "I got money on me" "Let's hit McDonald's" punch has got my interest. If he's actually got money on him, this McDonald's feast should be one of the record books indeed. Maybe he'd even spring for a milkshake...

4. "1 Thing" by Amerie
I love pretty much all things Amerie (who else would throw an Emerson, Lake and Palmer sample on a R&B joint? Nevermind that it turned out mediocre...it's the idea that counts!) but the ridiculously awesome drums are what make "1 Thing" so special. I also adore Amerie's voice - raspy-ish, but still pretty.

3. "Me & U" by Cassie

This is a tough one to explain. She can't sing. The lyrics are unspeakably stupid. The beat is generic. And yet, it's just so good. It's almost....hypnotizing in its mediocrity, but it makes me feel amazing.

2. "Promise" by Ciara

I have so much love for this song because it's so heavily Prince-influenced. The drum machine in particular makes it sound like one of those kinky little numbers he produces for his talentless protegées. Again, not a lot of vocal power here, but it's fully unnecessary - the stellar production speaks for itself.

1. "Hey Ya" by Outkast
So genius in that its both 100% a pop song and simultaneously not pop at all. Its far too unique and bizarre to be pop, but its too fun, happy and, well, pop-y to be anything but. If you haven't heard it since its assault on every kind of radio station ever faded out, give it another go - I can understand how hearing it 32353084390 per minute made you a bit tired of it, but now your brain has rested and you are ready to plunge into the magical world of Andre 3000 once more. The video is fully worth your time as well.

top 5 pop songs of the 00s
(Click on the link to hear the songs in their entirety)

i don't go round trying to be what i'm not, i don't waste my time trying to get what you got

Stuff That Impress Me:

• How somebody manages to find a way to rhyme "ballin' ya" with "angels calling us" in that mediocre Lil' Wayne song "Mrs. Officer"
  
  


• Exactly how far VH1 can push their spinoffs. Case in point: The Surreal Life becomes Strange Love which turns into Flavor of Love which produces I Love New York which gifted the world with Real, the love of my short life and Real Chance at Love.
  
• This whole Miss California debate and how far beyond the point it's reached. Even though I personally believe gay people should be allowed to wed, I've gotta side with Miss California on this one. She was asked a straightforward question and she answered it honestly and, I thought, pretty diplomatically. With all the furor, I'd thought for sure that she'd revealed a forked tongue and screamed "FAGS MUST DIE" into the microphone. I'd really like to establish that I do support gay marriage and I do think beauty pagaents are silly and shallow, but how people are treating her is cruel and damn near hypocritical. She's not actually denying anyone of their rights - she's just saying her opinion.
  
  
• This picture. Too. Much. Awesomeness. Cannot. Compute.
  
  


• Lady Gaga's acoustic piano performances - how she takes her dance-pop hits and then plays them live just her and a piano, usually incredibly dramatically. I love it, this is how pop music should be.
  
  
• Life, and how it always works out. And spring!!
  

getting to know you is something that i chose to do

A blogging pal of mine from way back when, Crazy Eddie, has tagged me in a fun sort of getting-to-know-you (cue tremendously cool Parliament song "Gettin' To Know You") tag that (even though I've been blogging for close to - yikes - three years and some of you probably know me better than I know myself) might offer some insight into my being.
Here are my thoughts, feelings and opinions on...

Music

As you may have noticed, I do enjoy listening to music every now and then. I'd tell you that I love music or that I live for music or that I would be a completely different person without music, but I don't think I have to. It's almost like telling you "I breathe air". Your response (to both questions) would be, "Yeah, so what, me too." In terms of what music I listen to, I think it's no secret that Parliament/Funkadelic rocks my world to no end. The other artists that I've loved most consistently over my life are Prince, Marvin Gaye, Outkast, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and Jefferson Airplane.

Humour

Like Eddie, my life would be a sad tale without the inclusion of humour. What tickles my funny bone most often are Doonesbury, Will Ferrell, Seinfeld, 30 Rock (and most specifically Dr. Spaceman ["Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing where the heart is. See, every human is different."]), South Park and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Cosmopolitan, other blogs (maybe even yours!) Demetri Martin and a well-timed "That's what she said" will do it for me as well.

Video games

I don't even give a fuck, I love Sims and I don't care what you think.

Family
They're alright. My dad saw the Grateful Dead a bunch of times.

Bacon Double-Cheeseburgers
Yesss, please.

Dudes

I do enjoy the company of the odd male species, though my blog is specifically a blog that avoids talking about my personal life and most importantly that aspect of my personal life. (Nothing against blogs that are about that, cuz it is entertaining, but I'd be way too worried that someone would say what I'm saying about them!) In terms of fantasy, my ideal man would probably a combination of Andre 3000, Mick Jagger, Hyde, Alex Turner, Glenn Goins and Lester Bangs.

Lindsay Lohan

I have hated on her in the past, but the truth is that there is something about her I find charming. Not a big fan of most of her movies and definitely not a fan of her music, but I like a lot of her style and think she has a very cool speaking voice. Also, Perez Hilton kind of pisses me off, so I have taken to starting to actually like a lot of the celebrities he picks on, just because I think he's obnoxious.

Corny sunsets

Love 'em. How can you not! The colours, the atmosphere - it's just an all-around good feeling.

Dark art

Well, now that you mention it, I do have some pictures saved onto my computer that if they were people, I would consider them "not to be trifled with." If you're talking dark art as in witchcraft, well, I'm going to have to plead the Fifth on this one (even though I'm Canadian).

My heritage
I am Canadian, as I just mentioned (for those of you with ADD, or short-term memory loss, or the like), but my father is American and my maternal grandparents immigrated from Holland. So, pretty much, I would consider my heritage to be Dutch.

This was such a fun little tag and I won't get all exclusive and tag specific people. If you feel like introducing yourself to your readers a little more (especially if you're a new blogger!), I definitely suggest trying this out.

i could be in love with almost everyone, i think that people are the greatest fun

I've been tagged by the fantastic Daughters of Dawn Vintage to list for you my top five favourite albums of all time. Yeah, don't make it something tricky or anything, Tag. I've attempted this impossible feat before, but already a little over a year later, it's changed. It should be pointed out that I'm going for all over quality of an album itself, how much I'd want to listen to the entire thing, which is why some of my favourite artists (Parliament, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, etc.) are nowhere to be found.

Top 5 Favourite Albums of All Time
(subject to change)

1. Forever Changes by Love

I can hardly put my feelings toward this album into words. It's the most beautiful, stirring, breathtaking masterpiece I've ever heard. I haven't even listened to it in probably about a year because I react to it too emotionally. It really isn't for everyone, but if you "get it", it becomes vital.
If you only hear one song... "You Set the Scene"

2. Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
I bought this album pretty much because I felt like I should own it because it was such a "classic" -stupid I know, and I figured I'd probably listen to it once or twice then to the back of my record box it would head. My idiocy did not deserve to be rewarded with the agonizing gorgeousness and gorgeousity that is Let's Get It On. Like all good albums, this one grew on me. At first, I only listened to the title track...and then the title track and the next song...and then the first side...and so forth until I could listen to the entire album and just feel the soul wash over me, like a warm hug.
If you only hear one song... "Come Get To This"

3. After Bathing at Baxter's by Jefferson Airplane
I absolutely love Surrealistic Pillow but for me, After Bathing at Baxter's is a superior album. Much less radio-friendly than their previous album, it also features Marty Balin vocally more, which makes me happy as I adore his voice. However, my favourite song has Paul Kantner on lead vocals. Really, though, the whole album is phenomenal, definitely one of those LP's that you can put on a listen to from beginning to end.
If you only hear one song... "Watch Her Ride"

4. One Nation Under a Groove by Funkadelic
It was almost hard to choose one album to represent my P-Funk love, but then it wasn't, because this one is a clear favourite from beginning to end. One of the most brilliant tracks, frankly, I think is probably too avant-garde for most people, but "Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad" has a very special place in my heart. Another song with personal meaning is "Cholly (Funk Gettin' Ready to Roll)", about a certain "Cholly" (rhymes with Molly?) who discovers the funk and it changes their life. Hmm, sounds kinda familiar. If you're clever like me and copped the bonus edition, you'll also be treated to the heavy metal/funk (believe it or not, it totally works) cut "Lunchmeataphobia (Think!...It Ain't Illegal Yet)".
If you only hear one song... "One Nation Under a Groove"

5. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
It easy for an album to have a bunch of great songs when it has 40 tracks. It isn't easy for an album for have 40 songs and have most of them be great. Ya dig? The split album was a brilliant move: Big Boi brings the innovative hip-hop and Andre 3000 brings the most awesome un-categorizable music.
If you only hear one song... "Prototype"

I shall tag Libby, Allison, Maya, Crazy Eddie and Jill.

we'll tiptoe to the sun and do thangs i know you like

Everyone loves a good, classic love song, with all the "love's too weak to define just what you mean to me" and "if God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see" that that entails. Those lyrics are beautiful...but let's face it, just a little bit cheesy (and besides, the best part of "Adore" is the killer vocal performance).

Personally, I find much more unconventionally romantic songs to be much more personal and engaging.

Here's some of the songs I would be honoured to have played at my wedding and, boys, how you can translate the sentiment behind them into a killer Valentine's Day card sure to woo the woman of your dreams.

Favourite Unconventionally Romantic Songs

"The Goose" by Parliament
Maybe it's not wisest to compare your special lady to a goose, a peanut machine, and eagle eyes for a mole. But then again, George Clinton was never really all about the "Oh, baby, I love you so much". Frankly, I'd be much happier if a guy said to me, "I'm as happy as a monkey with a peanut machine since I found you, but I don't need no nut machine cuz I'm nuts all over you."
"Prototype" by Outkast

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know that my love for this song runs very deep. Some girls might be offended by his suggestion that she is very possibly not his soulmate, but perhaps the prototype. Also, that he feels the need to add "...again" to his "I think I'm in love"s. I find its honesty stunningly endearing.

"I Love My Chick" by Busta Rhymes
Yeah, I know the original is "I Love My Bitch", but that one has completely different vibes and so this is one of the very rare times when I prefer the edited version of a song to the original. Here Busta praises his lady for wanting to "fuck in the clubs" and being "quick to do what she can, even if she had to get up and just lie on the stand." Among the other felonies he appreciates her committing for him is her willingness to "hold a stash for a fella" when he has to skip town.
Still, if a guy told me that his favourite thing about me was that I'm "the shit" and that I'm "truly thorough about the way that I be reppin' it hard", I would probably melt a little.

"If I Was Ur Girlfriend" by Prince
Undoubtedly one of the most stirringly beautiful love songs of all time, though the....phrasing of it all is undeniably quirky. Now, for those of you who couldn't figure it out, when Prince says "girlfriend" in this case he means "female best friend" - he's jealous of the closeness between between his girlfriend and her best friend. Even when taking this creative approach, Prince still knows exactly what women want to hear: "Would you run to me, if somebody hurt you, even if that somebody was me?" "Maybe you think I'm being a little self-centered but I want to be all the things you are to me" However, what strikes me most is "Can I dress you? I mean, help you pick out your clothes before we go out...I ain't saying you're helpless, but sometimes, sometimes those are the things that being in love's about"
My greatest dream would be to have a boyfriend that we could play dress-up and pick out our clothes together. Ahh, Prince.

unconventionally romantic

make me want you, make me miss you, make me wonder where you are, then forget you

You thought you'd heard every song they'd ever made a billion times...

Deep Tracks by Overexposed Artists:

"The Lady in My Life" by Michael Jackson

Okay, it's on Thriller, so it's probably the "deep track" most people have heard. Still, this is the song that proves my longtime belief that Michael Jackson is the best ad-libber of all time. (And here I'm using 'ad lib' to mean all the "ooh", "baby", "yeah", etc.) I usually start this song at the 2:30 point, as the last two and a half minutes are all gorgeous adlibbing. MJ 4 Eva y'all!

"Why Should I Be Sad" by Britney Spears
My favourite track off Blackout, this slow - but not, God forbid, a ballad - number is pop genius. Clearly intended as a kiss-off to K-Fed, I think it's beautiful. The one included on the playlist below is slightly slowed-down, but still fantastic.

"She Lives in My Lap" by OutKast
The B-side to the equally-genius "Prototype" (which I've raved about before), this dreamy song featuring voices and laughs from Rosario Dawson is quirky, sweet, creative and eccentric. I'm glad it wasn't played eight trillion times on the radio a la "Hey Ya" - it's much more meaningful this way.

"Wavin' Bye to the Train or Bus" by the Arctic Monkeys
This is another case, in my opinion, of a song that has kickass verses and a weak chorus. But the verses? Kickass indeed! Maybe one of my favourite Arctic Monkeys lines ever with the "Oh, baby, I'm wantin' to do you a swap/I'll give you anything, yeah, in return for them noises you've got"

"Distant Lover" by Marvin Gaye
I used to really dislike this track from Let's Get It On, in fact, it was the only song I didn't love off that album. However, suddenly one day, I listened to it and realized its genius and beauty in one flash. Especially the "please, please, baby" at 1:03.

deep tracks...