Song of the Day - Spark the Fire - Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stfefani is back again with the second single from her forthcoming, as yet untitled album. Spark the Fire was co-written and produced by Pharrell Williams and was probably meant to be the modern day equivalent of her cheer leading-inspired Hollaback Girl, only it's not nearly as good. This one, I guess, is supposed to be more hip-hop inspired, and the lyrics seem just plain silly...

O.M.G., O.M.G., I'm back again

Original feelgood is what I defend 

I'mma believe and no, I don't pretend

Know what it's like when you look up and grin

The person next to you, feel that energy

Let's lift em up as high as can be (what?)

That is what happens when I get with P

Um, yeah, Stefani and Williams aren't going to win any songwriting Grammys for this one, that's for sure, but on the plus side the tune is high energy and thereby good for being silly and just dancing. Take a listen for yourself...

Song of the Day - Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi, Afrojack, and Steve Aioki

Tell me what you know about dreamin dreamin
you don't really know about nothin nothin
tell me what you know about them night terrors every night
5 am, cold sweats wakin up to the skies
tell me what you know about dreams, dreams
tell me what you know about night terrors, nothin
you don't really care about the trials of tomorrow
rather lay awake in a bed full of sorrow



I'm on the pursuit of happiness and 
I know everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold
I'll be fine once I get it, 
I'll be good

I've posted a couple of tunes off of this awesome dance mix CD called Casablanca Nights in the past couple of months, including the loungey and melodic Colors and the bouncy, happy Just Girly Things, and now we bring out another track from the deep-voiced rapper, Kid Cudi with the hypnotic and very applicable to us all, Pursuit of Happiness.  Great dance jam!

Song of the Day - Dumb For You - Hoodie Alen

I'd never heard of indie hip hop artist Hoodie Allen until a couple of weeks ago when I discovered him on...you guessed it, Spotify.  I found this song in the "New Releases" category and quickly put it in a folder for a possible future download.  I kinda sorta liked it, but I didn't love it at first or even second listen to download it right away.  Sometimes a song's gotta sink in for you to get it, and this one definitely did.  The tune is very rhythmic and catchy and it gets regular airplay in my iTunes "Current" folder.  I wouldn't necessarily cull it a hip hop song, but more in the category of pop.  Check it out, you might find that you like it, too...

   

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Expression - Salt n Pepa

You know life

Is all abput expression

You only livin' once and your not coming back

So express yourself

I'm beginning a new thing in my classroom today, a weekly lesson for my ESL students using songs to learn English.  I've been pondering which song to begin with, and though this one's a little too risque for the classroom, I've always liked its message.  So even though I won't be using this particular tune with my students today, I still wanted to put it to good use.  I mean, Salt n Pepa were soooo good at what they did back in the day.  Happy Friday!

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Check It Out - will.i.am & Nikki Minaj

Video killed the....um...wait...that's not right!  This one comes straight outta 2010 and it's one of master sampler will.i.am's biggest hits outside of his Peas posse.  It's always a fun song to listen to and I think it's a perfect way to start the weekend.  Happy Friday!

Song of the Day - Anaconda - Nicki Minaj

thehonestyhour

It definitely took me awhile to get into this one, and even though I kinda sorta like it now, I can see why a lot of people wouldn't.  I mean, for one thing, kids today think this song is 100% original, but we know better.  It seems like everything in entertainment these days, from movies to television shows to music, is recycled, and this one is a blatant recycling of not only some beats and lines, but was even titled from one word in Sir Mix A Lot's classic.  And the expletives, oh the expletives. Necessary?  Hey, it's a part of life and language, but to me, as a teacher, it's not a very admirable way to make a song that you know kids are going to listen to.  I'll bet that there are several of the many that could've been left out, but ah well, Nicki is a talented rapstress and her own imprint on the tune does give it some worth.  Happy Saturday!    

Song of the Day - Stayin' Alive - N-Trance

Everybody in the house

C'mon, lemme hear you say

Ho oh!....(Ho oh!)


usatoday

Today's Song of the Day is all about the NY Rangers, who successfully fended off the LA Kings last night to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The game sure wasn't pretty, with seemingly the whole 3rd period being played on the Rangers' end of the ice, but this time Lundqvist and the rest of the team were able to prevent a Kings' goal to tie the very tight game and they won by the thinnest of margins, 2-1.  So now the series moves back to LA with the Rangers down 3-1 and the Kings still needing only one win to take home the Cup, which I'm sure they'd love to do at home tomorrow night.   Of course the situation is still dire for the Blueshirts, but you know what, they're still alive!

Song of the Day - Fancy - Iggy Azalea, featuring Charli XCX

prettydirtball

Iggy Azalea is kind of brand new to me, but she is pretty hot these days.  Other than her appearance on Ariana Grande's Problem, I hadn't heard anything else from her until this one.  After watching the video I'm still not quite sure what to make of her, but I am digging the bass!  Check it out...

Song of the Day Dedication - It Takes Two/Joy & Pain - Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock

Right about now

You are about to be possessed

By the sounds of M.C. Rob Base

And D.J. E-Z Rock

Hit it...

Today we've got a sad dedication for Song of the Day on John's World.  I am saddened to report that D.J. E-Z Rock, of this song's fame, passed away suddenly yesterday.  He was only 46 years old.

Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock weren't the most popular or enduring rap stars out on the scene when this came out in 1988, but It Takes Two was, and still is da bomb!  In fact, I once named it the 4th greatest rap/dance song of all time.  As a club-goer and a longtime deejay myself, I can attest to the popularity of this song, filling up dance floors whenever it was played, with everybody singing every word to this catchy and funky song.  So rest in peace D.J.  You will be remembered!  As for you, enjoy...

Here's a second song that came off the same album as the previous one.  It wasn't nearly as popular, but I always loved it, too...

Joy, and pain

Like sunshine and rain