Thursday, January 31, 2013

Cedar Point's all-new GateKeeper

Cedar Point is home to some of the best roller coasters in the world. Groundbreaking rides like Magnum XL-200, Millenium Force, Maverick, Mantis, Raptor and so many more have helped to make "The Point" the consistent favorite theme park around.  The park disappointingly hasn't added a new coaster since 2007's Maverick, but all that's about to change...

Coming May 11, 2013, Cedar Point's newest record breaker will burst on to the scene with a flourish and coaster enthusiasts from all around will be flocking in droves to ride the park's brand-new thriller.  Gatekeeper is the newest of so called "wing coasters" that have become the latest rage at theme parks all over.


The ride is being built on the site of the old Disaster Transport and will be one of the first things people will notice upon entering the park.  A wing coaster is one where riders sit on either side of the track, giving them a whole new perspective of flying.  These rides have become very popular and Cedar Point's is going to be a doozy, with the longest drop of any coaster of its kind at 164 feet, a 360-degree spiral, speeds of up to 67 mph, and tons of cool drops and loops.  Also featured on Gatekeeper is the first of its kind Zero-G Roll, in which riders fly through two support towers right near the main entrance of the park.

The Zero-G Roll

Gatekeeper looks like its going to be another classic among one of the most classic collections of coasters around, and I only wish I were going there this summer to give it a try.  In the meantime, check out a preview of this new monster:


Song of the Day - Beautiful - Akon, featuring Kardinal Offishall & Colby O'Donis



Here's a little bit of modern R&B from silky smooth-voiced Akon. Beautiful! Have a great Thursday!


Akon - Beautiful from Gil Green on Vimeo.






Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Song of the Day - Going On - Gnarls Barkley



Here's one of my all time favorite songs by Gnarls Barkley. Oh I wish they'd make another record...

Anyone that needs what they want 
And doesn't want what they need
I want nothing to do with...


Gnarls Barkley - Going On by zegonzag

 



Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Song of the Day - In the Closet - Michael Jackson


michaeljackson.com

Here's one of my favorites from one of Michael Jackson's most underrated albums, Dangerous. The words to the chorus are so singable, and Michael's voice and the music track are so, so good. Enjoy In the Closet:

 
Michael Jackson - In the Closet by sofresh305







 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Song of the Day - Danza Kuduro - Don Omar, featuring Lucenzo


I believe this is my first Spanish language song posting for Song of the Day.  The words "danza kuduro," loosely translated, means "dance hard," and that's just what I do when I hear it.  The song is kind of new age reggaeton, it's got an awesome Latin beats and a catchy, dancey chorus, even though I'm not sure exactly what they're saying, lol.  Check it out:










Sunday, January 27, 2013

New for 2013: Iron Rattler coaster, Six Flags Fiesta Texas

It's been a very long time since I've talked about roller coasters, but now that I am starting to craft a new Examiner piece about the newest rides coming to amusement parks in 2013, I figured I'd share some with you as I go along.  This one makes me want to go to Texas...


An all-new, record breaking hybrid coaster is coming to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio this year, and it's a doozy! Iron Rattler is a uniquely designed roller coaster that combines a wooden structure with a steel track, making for a very smooth ride. The monster will include four "over-banked" turns (a record!), and will be "the first to deliver an inverted barrel roll for an awe inspiring adventure in and around the surrounding 100-foot quarry wall setting. The first, 81-degree drop comes from a height of 171 feet, top speeds of about 70 miles per hour, and those innovative "over-banked" turns.  Cool

Check this out:








Love and Pride

Song of the Day - Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis


rapgenius

I'm gonna pop some tags 
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket 
I - I - I'm hunting, looking for a come-up 
This is f***ing awesome 

Here is THE jam of the moment.  With an infectious musical track and some pretty f***ing awesome and funny lyrics, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Thrift Shop is the first sleeper hit of 2013.

I wear your granddad's clothes 
I look incredible 
I'm in this big ass coat 
From that thrift shop down the road 




MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS - THRIFT SHOP FEAT. WANZ by fjagus






Saturday, January 26, 2013

Music News Bytes: 'Nuclear' and 'Suit & Tie' Reviews; New Music; Prince

Welcome and thank you for checking out another edition of Music News Bytes.  I subscribe to new music on Google Alerts and I read a lot of blogs, such as the ones on the left pane of John's World, so whenever I see new music items I find of interest, I like to share them here.

In this edition, I throw my two cents in on the new Destiny's Child and Justin Timberlake records and I've got some more new and exciting news about some new music heading your way.  So please read on...


Nuclear - Destiny's Child

The first song from Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle in a long, long time is a 90's-stye, R&B jam.  The track has a much more mature sound than earlier stuff from the girls, and reminiscent of some of the stuff off Bey's 4 album.  I'm not loving it, perhaps because I'm partial to the fast n funky stuff I'm used to from them.  Check out Nuclear.

The girls will be performing the song as part of Beyonce's Super Bowl Halftime Show set on February 3rd, along with old faves Survivor and Bills, Bills, Bills.  Should be fun to watch.


Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake

I'll be on my suit n tie, suit n tie, suit n tie...

Okay, now that I've had about two weeks to digest Justin Timberlake's newest song, I've concluded that I'm still not crazy about it.  Compared to SexyBack from his last album, FutureSexLoveSound, this one's a real sleeper.  Oh, it's not a bad song, but hardly a jump-out-loud, must-have song that one might expect from such a huge comeback.  The track is a little too slow for my taste, and like the new Destiny's Child record, it is very R&B.  I've still got confidence, though, that the new record's gonna be slammin! Check out Suit & Tie if you haven't heard it already.

Robyn on the Horizon

One of my favorite singers over the past couple of years, Robyn, has finally reached the end of a long round of touring in support of her Body Talk trilogy of stellar albums, and she's finally settling in to working on her next project.  She told Idolator's Pitchfork that she's been listening to a lot of Balearic House music for inspiration.  I for one, cannot wait!  Check out the interview at Idolator, and check out the club version of her Indestructible:

 

RiRi/Chris Brown Making New Music Again

Idolator is also reporting that Rihanna and Chris Brown are working on a new song together.  The former flames have been making a lot of music together over the last couple of years, including RiRi's Unapologetic track, Nobody's Business, and the remix for her Talk That Talk song, Birthday Cake.  No one knows when the song will come out just yet, but stay tuned...

Prince

The iconic Prince is making a return to the spotlight in a big way this month, as Billboard Magazine will be honoring the singer with a Billboard Icon Award for his contributions to the music industry.  Prince was a huge thing in the 80's, and even though he had faded from the spotlight, he's been continually making new music.  I featured his hit Erotic City as Song of the Day yesterday, and I've always been a fan, having seen him perform twice (both fantastic shows!).  I'm planning a piece on him and his music, but there's plenty of other stuff out there on the man these days, so in the meantime check out some of the links in this portion of the post.

Song of the Day - Make the World Move - Christina Aguilera, feat. Cee Lo Green


Well I finally did it! I made a second video, this time to a song of X-Tina's Lotus.  The song is upbeat and happy and fun to dance to, as you can see in the video.  This was very different than doing True Love, and I hope in some ways, video-wise, I did better.  Anyway, click play and check it out for yourself, and leave a comment if you like, but be nice!  :-)



Here are some shots from the different shoots:







Friday, January 25, 2013

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Erotic City - Prince, featuring Sheila E

WARNING: A bad video and some explicit lyrics ahead!


the paris review

Since it was announced this week that Prince was going to be honored at this year's Billboard Music Awards, I figured that Flashback Friday would be a good day to feature one of my favorite Prince songs.  Erotic City was originally the B-Side to his single Let's Go Crazy and it received plenty of airtime in the clubs and on my own stereo.  There was just something about that bassy sound and the nasty lyrics that made this one so irresistible , especially the callbacks by Sheila E.   I had a lot of trouble finding a video with the original version of the tune, it seems to have been banned everywhere else, and so this was the best I could find.

If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts so pretty, you and me, erotic city come alive...

   
Erotic City from Jeff Johnson on Vimeo.







Thursday, January 24, 2013

Song of the Day - Proud - Heather Small



Here's one of my favorite songs and it expresses how I'm feeling after last night. Happy Thursday!

 
HEATHER SMALL Proud (LONDON 2012) from cardandrewdj on Vimeo.










  • Proud

  • I look into the window of my mind
  • Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
  • I step out of the ordinary
  • I can feel my soul ascending
  • I am on my way
  • Can't stop me now
  • And you can do the same
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • It's never too late to try
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • You could be so many people
  • If you make that break for freedom
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • Still so many answers I don't know
  • Realise that to question is how we grow
  • So I step out of the ordinary
  • I can feel my soul ascending
  • I am on my way
  • Can't stop me now
  • And you can do the same
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • It's never too late to try
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • You could be so many people
  • If you make that break for freedom
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • We need a change
  • Do it today
  • I can feel my spirit rising
  • We need a change
  • So do it today
  • 'Cause I can see a clear horizon
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • 'Cause you could be so many people
  • If you make that break for freedom
  • So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • What have you done today to make you feel proud?
  • What have you done today
  • You could be so many people?
  • Just make that break for freedom
  • So what have you done today to make you feel proud?

  • Wednesday, January 23, 2013

    A Blissful Validation

    Every once in awhile, something happens in your life that validates what you're doing with it, and tonight something did.  I am feeling utterly blissful right now and it took an extremely nerve-racking event to bring me to this state that I wish I could bottle up and keep forever.

    As the lead ESL teacher in my school district, I often get asked to speak to the faculty, parents or at some other function to share what it is I do for a living, and tonight I was asked to make a presentation to the Board of Education.  The BoE are the real bigwigs in any school district.  They are five elected officials who make all of the big and final decisions for what's going to go down at school, so this was pretty important...and as such, very scary.


    I hate public speaking, but I have to admit I'm getting better at it.  Having done it so many times, I've gotten used to having an audience and I've come to act like I'm talking with my class of students whenever I do it, even though the butterflies always flutter leading up to the event.  And all of the board meetings are televised, too, so that did not help any.

    My goal for the presentation was to share what I do with the Board, which is actually easy because I live it, but as always I wanted to make an impact that will be remembered, so I wanted butts in the seats to help show these folks that the families of my students are just as vested in their children's education as any other parent.  I asked my students over and over for the last two weeks to show face, and boy did they!

    Both during, and especially after my presentation, people were speaking up.  The first comments and questions came from the president of the board herself, and a few parents followed suit.  I never took to complements well, but I tried my best to stay humble.  Then my students themselves got so caught up in the moment...they're the only ones other than myself who know what really happens in my classroom...and stood up to give their testaments to my program and what it has done for them and their lives.

    First up was Jorge, a student who graduated three years ago.  He and his girlfriend Emily came to support my presentation upon my invite, and had told me a cute story when they had first arrived.  You see, Jorge and Emily have a beautiful baby girl, Abigail, who's just about six months old, and earlier today Jorge had been singing a song to the little one as he held her in his arms.

    I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello  

    Emily had asked him how he knew the Beatles song, and as they were telling me this, I already knew.  You see, Hello Goodbye is a great song for learning opposites, and once upon a time I used it in my class to help me teach.  "I learned it from Mr. Myers," Jorge proudly told his girlfriend.  I could only smile.

    After a few parents had commented, Jorge felt the need to throw in his two cents about what learning English meant to him and his life, and I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear, beaming as he told his story, and then Can (pronounced John) spoke.

    "I remember when I first came into Mr. Myers' class.  I didn't know a word of English...and he couldn't speak Turkish.  I can't tell you how he did it, but he taught me to speak enough English that I got out of ESL in just three years."

    "Can, you learned English in only three years?" the Board president asked.  "Wow!" And she turned to me and smiled.  "That's a testament to what a great teacher you are, John."

    "And I want to add," Can wasn't finished, "that just the other day I got accepted to my first choice, St. John's, and they gave me a $12,000 scholarship."  I hadn't known this.  "I never, ever, would have gotten to this point without Mr. Myers.  I owe him..."  There wasn't a dry eye in the house.  The Board president, the parents, the principal, even me (of course!).  I was truly humbled!

    In a flash it was over, and a reporter from a local newspaper asked if she could take my picture with a couple of my students for next week's edition.  I ushered my students and their families out of the auditorium and into the lobby where everybody wanted a picture with me, including the reporter.

    Me and my peeps!

    For a little while, I felt like a celebrity, and on the ride home I couldn't help but bask in the afterglow of this wonderful evening.  Just the fact that more than twenty-five of my student showed up to support me reminded me that I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  Like I said before, I wish these kinds of reminders would pop up more often, but in the meantime, I'm going to keep this one at the front of my mind and bask in it for at least a few days.

    Song of the Day - Anything Could Happen - Ellie Goulding



    Here's one by Ellie Goulding that I just discovered.  This one's good, a little more up tempo than Lights, and it reminds me of something maybe Enya would have done.  Kinda chill!  Check it out...


    Ellie Goulding - Anything Could Happen from Could Happen on Vimeo.






    Tuesday, January 22, 2013

    Song of the Day - Va Va Voom - Nicki Minaj


    stacks mag

    Here's the newest from Nicki...so easy on the ears...

     
    Nicki Minaj Va Va Voom from juan david sanmiguel on Vimeo.







    Monday, January 21, 2013

    Obama: "Our journey is not complete..."



    Christina Aguilera's 'Lotus' Track Reviews: Shut Up


    I really like this final of three bonus tracks on Lotus.  With a slow, thumping beat and a bleeping, catchy "shut the f**k up" chorus, this is a nice way to end the record, hehe...and I can think of a few people I'd like to sing this song to.  Check out Shut Up, and check out the rest of my track reviews below:

    Check out the other Lotus track reviews below and stay tuned for Shut Up, the last of the bonus tracks:
    Lotus Intro/Army of One






    Lotus - Christina Aguilera



    Song of the Day - Chick Habit - April March





    Here's a song I Shazamed a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The song's been featured in the films But Mom I'm a Cheerleader and Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Ultra cool 60's mod! Yeah baby, yeah!

     

     

    Sunday, January 20, 2013

    Song of the Day - Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil




    Here's a song I had completely forgotten about. Aussie band Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning has that sound that was typical of 80's new wave: bass-heavy and punkish, yet danceable.  Oh, I used to play this one over and over and over....








    Saturday, January 19, 2013

    Christina Aguilera's 'Lotus' Track Reviews: 'Empty Words'



    The second of three bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of Lotus is actually a pretty nice ballad.  Seems that this one might possibly be referring to ex-husband Jordan Bratman...things that make ya go hmmm!  Check out Empty Words.

    Empty Words

    The funny thing about hurting people
    Is they tend to hurt people
    The funny thing about lies is
    They're only lies
    The funny thing about hearts is
    They tend to break easy
    The funny thing about healing is
    I'm alright

    Your voice was like a knife
    It used to make me cry
    You tried to cut my pride
    Not this time

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    You know you're only throwing empty words my way
    Cause you won't break me, you won't break me
    You can't take me down, no

    The funny thing about listening is
    I don't have to hear you and the
    Funny thing about talking is
    Your words are tired
    Now I've come to realize that
    Life can be cruel but
    The only approval that I need is mine

    Your voice was like a knife
    It used to make me cry
    You tried to cut my pride
    Not this time (yeah)

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    You know you're only throwing empty words my way
    Cause you won't break me, you won't break me
    You can't take me down, no

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    It's only empty words a million miles away
    Cause you won't break me, you won't break me
    You can't take me down, no

    The hardest part of this
    Cannot be heard or seen
    This journey starts when I begin loving me

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    You know you're only throwing empty words my way
    Cause you won't break me, you won't break me
    You can't take me down, no

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    It's only empty words a million miles away
    Cause you won't break me, you won't break me
    You can't take me down, no

    So go ahead and say the things you gotta say
    You know you're only throwing empty words my way


    Check out the other Lotus track reviews below and stay tuned for Shut Up, the last of the bonus tracks:
    Lotus Intro/Army of One





    Lotus - Christina Aguilera


    Song of the Day - Smile - Lily Allen


    Here's a favorite from multi-talented Brit singer/songwriter/actress and fashion designer Lily Allen. Lily's got a style about her that's uniquely hers. With pleasant sounding melodies and saucy, well-written lyrics, her music is irresistible.  Here's one her biggest hits and a typical example of what I'm talking about.  Smile is so sweet sounding, and then you listen to the lyrics....




                                              




    Smile


    When you first left me I was wanting more
    But you were fucking that girl next door, what cha do that for (what cha do that for)
    When you first left me I didn't know what to say
    I never been on my own that way, just sat by myself all day

    I was so lost back then
    But with a little help from my friends
    I found a light in the tunnel at the end
    Now you're calling me up on the phone
    So you can have a little whine and a moan
    And it's only because you're feeling alone

    At first when I see you cry,
    yeah it makes me smile, yeah it makes my smile
    At worst I feel bad for a while,
    but then I just smile I go ahead and smile

    Whenever you see me you say that you want me back
    And I tell you it don't mean jack, no it don't mean jack
    I couldn't stop laughing, no I just couldn't help myself
    See you messed up my mental health I was quite unwell

    I was so lost back then
    But with a little help from my friends
    I found a light in the tunnel at the end
    Now you're calling me up on the phone
    So you can have a little whine and a moan
    And it's only because you're feeling alone

    At first when I see you cry,
    yeah it makes me smile, yeah it makes my smile
    At worst I feel bad for a while,
    but then I just smile I go ahead and smile

    lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala lalala

    At first when I see you cry,
    yeah it makes me smile, yeah it makes my smile
    At worst I feel bad for a while,
    but then I just smile I go ahead and smile

    lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala

    Friday, January 18, 2013

    Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Give It to Me Baby - Rick James



    When I came home last night 
    You wouldn't make love to me....

    We want the funk!  Ooh, I used to love funk music....Rufus and Chaka Kahn, the Dazz Band, George Clinton, Ohio Players...you name it, but Rick James was da bomb!  Here's one of his most successful songs of all time, the funky, the sexy Give It to Me Baby:


    Rick James - Give It To Me Baby by jpdc11





    Thursday, January 17, 2013

    Song of the Day - Find Your Love - Drake


    I've been listening to a lot of R&B lately. I've even been thinking about doing a special week of R&B stuff. In the meantime, here's a smooth R&B groove that helped put Mr. Drake on the map. So smooth!

     

     


    Wednesday, January 16, 2013

    Song of the Day - Beautiful Disaster - Kelly Clarkson


    Here's the original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, performing Beautiful Disaster, a beautiful and touching ballad off of her debut album, Thankful.  Her voice is perfection and there is also an awesome live version of the song on her Breakaway album that is to die for!  I could listen to this one over and over.


    Beautiful Disaster (Live) - Breakaway


    Beautiful Disaster


    He drowns in his dreams
    An exquisite extreme I know
    He’s as damned as he seems
    And more heaven than a heart could hold
    And if I try to save him
    My whole world could cave in
    It just ain't right
    It just ain't right

    Oh and I don't know
    I don't know what he's after
    But he's so beautiful
    Such a beautiful disaster
    And if I could hold on
    Through the tears and the laughter
    Would it be beautiful?
    Or just a beautiful disaster

    He's magic and myth
    As strong as what I believe
    A tragedy with
    More damage than a soul should see
    And do I try to change him?
    So hard not to blame him
    Hold on tight
    Hold on tight

    Oh 'cause I don't know
    I don't know what he's after
    But he’s so beautiful
    Such a beautiful disaster
    And if I could hold on
    Through the tears and the laughter
    Would it be beautiful?
    Or just a beautiful disaster

    I'm longing for love and the logical
    But he's only happy hysterical
    I'm waiting for some kind of miracle
    Waited so long
    So long

    He’s soft to the touch
    But frayed at the end he breaks
    He’s never enough
    And still he's more than I can take

    Oh 'cause I don't know
    I don't know what he's after
    But he's so beautiful
    Such a beautiful disaster
    And if I could hold on
    Through the tears and the laughter
    Would it be beautiful?
    Or just a beautiful disaster

    He’s beautiful
    Such a beautiful disaster

    [Fading]
    Beautiful
    (Beautiful disaster)
    Beautiful disaster