Black History Month Song of the Day - Together Again - Janet Jackson

Today is the last day of February, thankfully, and spring is well on its way.  What better way to celebrate the oncoming of the nicer weather with a shiny happy song by a black artist who's made huge contributions to the American songbook for a long, long time now.  This is a very special song with a very special meaning, so click play, enjoy, and then go out and have a great day!

  
Janet Jackson - Together Again by Hakunamatata67






I hope you've enjoyed the wide variety of songs I've shared during this very special month, and stay tuned as we return to regular Song of the Day posts...

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Black Music History Month Song of the Day - Without Me - Eminem

Though I'm not the first king of controversy
I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley, to do Black Music so selfishly
and use it to get myself wealthy 


djxizmusic

From Elvis to Eminem, R&B to hip hop, dance, and pop music, black music has clearly influenced mostly all facets of the music industry over the past 60 plus years, and sometimes, as in the case of both Elvis and Em, success with the genre has been astronomical.


 
Eminem - Without Me from qolpacino-M on Vimeo.





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Black History Month Song of the Day - Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

Dave's Music Database

I couldn't finish off Black History Month without including Elvis Presley.  This song, one of the singer's most famous hits, was a remake of a 1952 blues song by "Big Mama" Thornton.  It was the first time of many that a white singer would make a big hit out of what was originally black music.  This one's for all of you fans of "The King."  Enjoy!


Hound Dog - Elvis Presley - Milton Berle Show (sottotitolato) from Gocciadiluna57 on Vimeo.





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American Horror Story: Asylum "The Name Game"

I FINALLY got to watch the second season of American Horror Story: The Asylum last week and though it wasn't nearly as good as the first one, I did like it.  Me and my pal Laura Kim had decided a long time ago to watch it as a marathon all in one day, as that is practically how I watched the first one, and we weren't able to get together to do it until last week.

sfx

Unlike the first season, this one didn't feature ghosts and haunted houses, but was set in an insane asylum up in Massachusetts run by the Catholic church in the 1960's.  I won't give away the story, but the fabulous Jessica Lange, who won an Emmy for her performance in the first series, plays a less than pure nun who runs the asylum at first, but then succumbs to the evil forces surrounding the place, becoming one of the patients.

After dealing with a round of electric shock therapy, 'Sister Jude' has simply lost it and walks over to the jukebox in the common room and tries to shut off the music.  Lana, our heroine, walks over to her and asks if she remembers her name.  That's when a totally serious scene becomes highly entertaining!  Watch and smile as this insane asylum goes truly insane, dancing that is, to a suddenly transformed Sister Jude.

LOVE IT!

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Black History Month Song of the Day - Carry On - Donna Summer

Back to work Monday and time for a little Donna Summer. This is a great song from the diva that earned her her last Grammy. Now, click play, enjoy, and then carry on with your day, hehe...


Donna Summer - Carry On (Live) by kaz1988






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Black History Month Song of the Day - Good Feeling - Flo Rida

Today's song combines some of the best of black music past and present, as Etta James' voice makes this modern day rap/dance song one for the ages.....Happy Sunday!

 
Flo Rida - Good Feeling from kest92i on Vimeo.






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Black History Month Song of the Day - Everybody Dance - Chic

Here's a classic disco song from one of the greatest disco bnds of the 70's, the inimitable Chic.  The foursome of Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Norma Jean Wright and Luci Martin (the members would change over the years, but this was the original lineup) created such disco classics as Le Freak, Dance, Dance, Dance, I Want Your Love and more.  This was one of my favorites and it was covered by none other than Ms. RuPaul on her debut set, Supermodel of the World.  Enjoy!


EVERYBODY DANCE (PERFORMANCE) by Chic by Discolarry125






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Black History Month Song of the Day - Love Roller Coaster - Ohio Players

livingelectro

I'm back from Atlantic City and I didn't want to miss the last Funk Friday, and here's a song that plays soundtrack to many a slot machine. Funny, funky, and I love the title!

 
Ohio Players .Love RollerCoaster [Show Tv 1975] by capitainfunkk





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Off to AC

Well, I am off to Atlantic City for a couple of days.  I go there about twice a year, and not just for the gambling.  When you do goo to AC and you gamble, offers for free rooms abound, and these days it's really the only way I get to go away for awhile and be pampered with a beautiful room, nice eats, world-class casinos, and one of my favorite things...shopping!

Atlantic City is a cool place for a weekend (or weekday) getaway, so good that I'd written a piece on the place a long, long time ago which you can check out here.  Anyway, I am going to try and post from there, but just in case I can't, have a great end of week!

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Black History Month Song of the Day - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On - Cherrelle

The 1980's was a great time for R&B music, and here is one of my favorite singers from that era.  Cherrelle never really hit the mainstream, making Billboard's Hot 100 only three times (I Didn't Mean to Turn You On (#79), Saturday Love (#26) and Never Knew Love Like This (#28)...the latter two were duets with Alexander O'Neal), but she fared much better on the magazine's R&B chart, with 13 charting singles between 1984 and 1999.

Cherrelle's cousin, Pebbles, was another R&B star from the decade who fared better than her on the pop charts, though to me there was really no comparison.  Simply put, I still love Ms. Cherrlle's music and I still find myself poring through my favorite album of hers, the classic Affair.  My ex, Joe, is the only other person in the world who shares my love for the R&B diva, and many of her songs would surely make the soundtrack of our relationship.

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On was the singer's first single, and it hit #8 on the R&B chart and #6 on the Dance chart when it was released in 1984.  Late British singer Robert Palmer remade the song in 1986 and had a top ten hit with it, but I undoubtedly think the original is way better.  Check it out...


RETRO CENTRIC// Cherrelle "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" from Centric TV on Vimeo.






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Music News Bytes: Mariah's New Song; Gaga Cancels Tour; R.I.P. Mindy McCready

Music News Bytes is a collection of short news items that I follow on the Web.  If you're into the same type of music I am, that is pop, dance, R&B, and such, check it out...

There hasn't been too much going on in the world of pop music this week, but here are a couple of stories that piqued my interest:

Neon Limelight

Mariah's Got a New Song

Mariah Carey has released a new song, which is the first single from the soundtrack to the upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful. The tune is called Almost Home and it's an inspirational mid-tempo track that I actually liked the very first time I heard it.  The song was released this morning on iTunes and you can check out an audio preview of it at Neon Limelight. Carey is currently working on the video for the song, as well as her 11th studio album, which is due out later this year.

Gaga Cancels Remainder of Tour

As you've probably heard by now, Lady Gaga has cancelled the remaining dates on her Born This Way Ball Tour after announcing that she needs to have surgery to repair a damaged right hip.  The injury was caused by some of the repetitive and rigorous movements the singer does in the show.  The timing of this is ironic since I'd just penned a piece for Yahoo on the eccentric timing of Gaga's tours, noting that the album she had been currently promoting is now two years old and her next set, ARTPOP, is due out within months.  She'd been scheduled to appear at Madison Square Garden this coming weekend and I was hoping to catch it, but what can you do?  Here's to a speedy recovery and to hoping that the ARTPOP Ball will start out somewhere in this vicinity somewhat soon.

In the meantime, check out Gaga's Eccentric Timing as Born This Way Ball Draws to a Close.  The timing of this story turned out to be perfect, as the singer's announcement, which was not included in my original piece, was made in time for me to update before publication. Phew!

Angela Weiss/Getty Images

R.I.P. Mindy McCready

The country music world is mourning the passing of troubled star Mindy McCready, who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sunday.  From initial reports, the incident seems to be related to the passing of her boyfriend David Wilson about a month ago.  Though I do not follow country music, I have heard of the singer and am deeply saddened by her tragic passing.  McCready was 37 years of age, and she and I shared the same birthday...Read more on the story at EOnline.


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Black History Month Song of the Day - Who's Loving You - Jackson 5

"The little fella in front is incredible."   - Ed Sullivan


mjlyricsonly

The video below is a clip from the Jackson 5's first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in December of 1969, and you can see just how special Michael was even back then.  When I heard him belt out that first line...wow!  Enjoy!


M.jackson Who's Loving You by nicobus





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Black History Month Song of the Day - Ghetto Supastar - Pras, featuring O.D.B. and Mya

Here's a 1998 hip hop/R&B jam from Fugees' alumni Pras along with rapper Old Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mya.  The song effectively samples the melody of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' country hit, Islands in the Stream, and was a major hit across the globe.

  
Pras Ft. ODB & Mya Ghetto Supastar by lucile18






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Black History Month Song of the Day - Hey Ya - Outkast

Here's a happy song for a Sunday Funday!  Enjoy!

 
outkast hey ya from Johnny Wu on Vimeo.





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Black History Month Song of the Day - Rapper's Delight - Sugar Hill Gang

hangout.altsounds

It's hard to believe we're past the halfway point of the month and I haven't even touched upon rap music yet.  Well, here's the granddaddy of all rap/hip hop music, Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight, as fun and funky today as it ever was.  I could've supplied a better quality video, but this was the only one I could find with them singing it.  Enjoy and Happy Saturday!


Rappers Delight from Rage McAngerfist on Vimeo.






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A Message from Your Kids' Teachers

theawesomer

Vacation!  After what feels like some of the longest weeks of my life since the last vacation, Winter Break is finally here.  Many of my poor fellow teachers have had to give up their breaks because of time lost from Hurricane Sandy...some even gave up President's Day.  Ever since becoming a teacher ten years ago, I've been especially sensitive to how my profession is vilified.  Well, here's a great piece from Jimmy Kimmel Live  that gives it right back to where a lot of the blame on the state of education belongs...

This'll show you why these past weeks have been so grueling.

 

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Black History Month Song of the Day - Brick House - The Commodores

Brick......HOUSE!

It's Funk Friday on John's World Black History Month and we celebrate it with the Commodores before they were Lionel Richie-ized.  There is no other genre of music to put this one into other than funk!

She's mighty mighty

Just lettin' it all hang out...

The Commodores - Brick House - Top Of The Pops 1977 from Adele319 on Vimeo.






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Nelly Furtado's 'Parking Lot' - A Different Perspective

Bring your car to the parking lot

And ride all night till you get a spot

Cause We ain't doing nothing

No we ain't doing nothing...

A couple months ago I posted a song from Nelly Furtado's latest album, Spirit Indestructible.  The song is called Parking Lot and back then I called it a "funky, funky song with an irresistible backbeat and some nice 'na na na na's,' too! I can't help but bop whenever I listen to it."  Well, a couple of weeks ago I was turned on to another version of the song that's a little less dancey, less electronicized, and a lot more mainstream pop.  

arjan writes

A friend of a friend of mine shared it with me and though I still like the version I posted, I think this one's worth a share, as well.  There are a couple of versions like this, and the other one I like is only on YouTube, which won't allow me to post it here.  Both are live and both are similar to one another and different than the album version.  If you love Nelly like I do, then I highly suggest you check it out...

Nelly Furtado 'Parking Lot' from Adam Goodall on Vimeo.

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My Valentine's Day Post Number 3

Valentine's Day 2013

Valentine's Day.  Some people love it, some hate it.  Me?  I'm kinda somewhere in the middle.  Hi, I'm John and this is my yearly Valentine's Day post.  I started two years ago after one of the most painful breakups of my life and I continued last year from a whole new perspective, an acknowledgement of the symbolism of the 'holiday' and a fresh perspective on being single.  

mastermarf

This year's been a little different as I feel I am changing, ever so slowly, but changing my perspective on things nonetheless. Really, Valentine's Day is the one holiday that can make a single person feel like shit for being alone.  Just tonight I was in my local Dunkin Donuts when the girl who works there asked me a question.

"Shouldn't you be out to dinner or at least shopping for your love?'

I just smiled back and shook my head.  "Nah!"  The words "maybe next year" followed, but only in my head.   Yes, while couples all over the place were sharing romantic evenings at a nice restaurant or exchanging sweetheart gifts, I was all bundled up, taking my nightly walk to DD's, and then coming home to an empty house to sit here and write.  

I don't feel in the least bit bad or down about being alone.  It just is.  After more than five years now of being single, I think that in a lot of ways I've settled into it, enjoying the freedom it affords me, with an eye out always for "the one."

Besides, although I am alone on yet another Valentine's, I wasn't forgotten.  Several people went out of their way to make my day a little brighter and each gesture was truly appreciated.  It started off with a card from my mom, and it said something I don't hear her say too often, and it meant a lot:

          Three little words that make me proud...

  

                              That's my son!

Mom, I don't know if you'll ever read this, but it meant a lot!  Thank you...I'm proud that you're my mother!

The next person who made my Valentine's Day pretty special was a student of mine.  I tutor her at her home twice a week after school and when I arrived today for our session, she was busy in the kitchen working on something.  As I walked in the door, she looked up and smiled.  "This is for you!"

Thanks Tati!

Finally, on my way home, I got a text from one of my old BFF's, Vera.  "Are you home yet?'  I thought that was a little strange, she never usually texts me like that.  

"No, I'm just leaving tutoring...I know, my life sucks sometimes," was my reply.

"Well the day isn't over yet."  

"Okay," I thought to myself, leaving the text conversation to get in my car and drive home.  I left it at that and ran a couple of errands before coming home.  When I got there, there was something, a bag, hanging from my front door.  I had ordered something recently and just thought it was that, but when I picked it up I saw it was a Target bag with a red gift bag inside.  I got a little nervous.  

I went in my kitchen and opened up the bag.  There was a tag on it, but no writing.  I peered inside to find a bag of Reese's Valentine's peanut butter cups and it hit me.  

" Aww, that had to be you," I texted back to Vera.  "Mwah!  Peanut buttery chocolate deliciousness!"

You see, Vera and I have known each other for a very long time, but our relationship has been reduced to the occasional text message, she a mom of two little ones now and me with my busy-ness.  Both our birthdays had passed over the past three months and we hadn't even seen one another.  My heart felt warm!

So yeah, I am alone, but not really.  Through all of the hard times, the busy times and the lonely ones, I've still got people out there who care about me and I'm a lucky man.  Perhaps I'll find the right one one day...I don't know why, but I feel it's on the horizon.  I just know that I'll know it when it happens.  

After the sorrow in losing Joe and the hurt of "D", pain still exists somewhere within my aching soul and sometimes there's a fear in baring myself again for fear of getting hurt.  As I said in an earlier post, there've been potential people out there for me, but I can't just go with whoever comes along.  I need to get it right next time.  And so holding out may be lonely for me for the time being, but hopefully in the end it'll be worth it.  I'd rather be in an enduring, happy relationship than one that I can recognize will be doomed from the start.  So mister, are you out there?  I'm waiting...waiting till next Valentine's Day! 

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Ya-hoo! I'm a Top 1000 Contributor Again

Ya-hoo!  

I just saw on my Yahoo Contributor page that I have been awarded a badge as being one of YCN's Top 1000 Contributors for 2012.  This is the third straight year I've received such an honor, and this was a little surprising because last year I'd written less articles than in any year prior.  Even though the new stuff still gets page views, a lot of what I've written in the past still gets read, which is pretty cool!

I wanted to copy the badge to post here, but the site wouldn't let me, so here's a screen shot of my page featuring the badge.  I know it's small, but the new one is the yellow one on the bottom right, preceded by the prior two years' badges and a Hot 500 one, which I've been awarded five months running now for being one of the network's top 500 most read readers.  Pretty kewl, too, huh?  

Any-who, since I'm plugging myself on what I still call AC (Associated Content, the site's old name), here are a few pieces that have been getting the most reads this past month:

The Top 20 Pop Songs of 2012

Top 20 Dance/Club Hits of the 90's

Top 20 Dance/Club Hits of the 80's

Diana Ross' Top 20 Songs

Yeah, so who would have guessed it?  Some of my best performing articles are about music.  They're not the only ones, though, that get great page views:

A Not So Gay Time in Florence, Italy

Weight Watchers: In the End, It's Still a Diet

Fag Hags and Gay Men: Hopeless BFF's

Kingda Ka: The Scariest Ride Ever!

As you can see, like my writings on this blog, my pieces on Yahoo run the gamut on topics I find interesting.  Music is assuredly my first love, as anyone can see from reading anything I put out there, but I've done stories on travel, commentaries on everything from news stories to politics and anything and everything concerning my so-called gay life.  I've done recipes and reviews, quotes and school stories...a little bit of everything to go around for people of different flavors.  

Some of my favorite pieces, though, are the personal ones.  Either poetic pieces having to do with moments in my life or personal anecdotes of interesting things in my life.  Here are a couple of them:

Invasion of the Men's Department: Who's to Blame?

I hate when I am in the fitting room in the men's department and wives, girlfriends and mothers feel free to just walk in...grrrrr!!!!

The Soundtrack of a Relationship

This was a tough one to write!  Enough said!

Experience and Prejudice

Oh man, I can go on and on and on...  It seems that over the past week or so I've got my writing bug back a bit, so hopefully my readers will have some new things to read from me soon.  The next milestone for me on Yahoo should happen within the next couple of months: 1/2 million page views.  John's World is closing in on that milestone, too, which would give me over a million altogether.  Hella cool!  

Thanks to anyone and everyone who reads me on a regular or even a once in awhile basis.  I really appreciate it!

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A Valentine's Song of the Day - My Love Is Your Love - Whitney Houston

If tomorrow is judgement day

And I'm standin' on the front line....

There are so many songs I could choose for Valentine's Day, and I did check out a lot of sources, including two pieces I've written on the subject (see below).  Since it is Black History Month and I was going to feature Whitney Houston sometime, this song just made perfect sense for today.  To me, love and devotion go hand in hand, and the truest of love songs intertwine the two.

This song, especially this version (the club remix was also a big hit for Houston), is sooo good....soulful and heartfelt, and even though I am still single, this is the type of love I'd love to have....

Happy Valentine's Day lovers! 

thedailysydney

Whitney Houston, My love is your love (Lyrics on sceen) (Horticinum) from Horticinum on Vimeo.

For more great love songs to celebrate the holiday, check out:

Songs of Love and Devotion for Valentine's Day

A Valentine's Day Songbook

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Black History Month Song of the Day - Fat Boy - Max-A-Million

live 80's-90's

From classic reggae to a little 90's style reggae, here's a group that hit it big in the early part of the decade with reggae-tinged versions of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing and The S.O.S. Band's Take Your Time, and this, their first single.  Kinda funny, kinda cute, and very catchy!  Happy Hump Day!







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Black History Month Song of the Day - Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley

Reggae music is yet another genre within the very large realm of black music.  The tribute to Bob Marley at the Grammy's the other night put him into the inner workings of my musical-loving brain, and I wanted to share him here.


weedhead

Buffalo Soldier was the very first Bob Marley song I ever heard.  It's a tribute to the black U.S. Cavalry regiments who fought in the Indian wars in the late 1800's, their struggle for survival cast as "a symbol of black resistance."  The track is pure, classic reggae, with the familiar Jamaican percussion and of course Marley's island-tinged vocals.  It's one of the last songs the late, great Marley ever recorded, and it's definitely worthy of a listen...

 
Bob Marley-Buffalo Soldier by harrison73

 



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A Winter Evening's Walk

I'm not a person in this world - I am a place

Seven o'clock

I grab my cigs, my phone, and my iPod 

Head off into the night

The air had warmed,

Turning to fog over the snow strewn landscape

It's a potentially dangerous walk

On these perilous streets

"Don't forget my wallet!"

I rush back into the house

A morbid reminder of potential disaster

I risk my evening walk anyway

For the solace of darkness

And the solitude

That jars my thinking

I am at peace, if just for a little while

Oh, the beautiful stillness of such a night!

Remnants of a blizzard not long gone

Have kept everyone inside

Only a very few cross my path this evening

I am virtually alone

The walk is not long

Tonight's I follow the short route

But for that little while

I am king of the world

At one with my surroundings

And it is beautiful!

If only I could feel like this forever...

.  

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Music News Bytes: Adele Spanks Chris Brown; JT Does R&B in B&W; Ri-Ri's 'Stay' Video Premiere

Music News Bytes is a collection of short news items that I follow on the Web.  If you're into the same type of music I am, that is pop, dance, R&B, and such, check it out...

Adele Spanks Mr. Brown

Well the big story of the day today, of course, was the Grammy Awards and all the little side stories that came out in its aftermath.  I found one particularly interesting, one that involved the unlikely trio of Chris Brown, Frank Ocean, and Adele.

A photo appeared today on the Facebook page of my friend Dane McFadden, one that was taken last night just after Ocean had won an award for Best Urban Contemporary Album, a category in which Brown had also been nominated. The photo shows Ocean getting up to accept his Grammy, with everyone else around him standing and applauding, that is everyone else except Brown, who can be seen directly behind the winner in his seat with a not-so-happy look on his face.

 

metro.co.uk

It was after that when the British songstress confronted the sore loser, apparently giving him a good scolding for being so rude.  Though cameras never picked up what Mama Adele said to the brat, you can clearly see that Brown had met his match.  You go girl!  (For more on the story, check out metro.co.uk)

J.T. Does R&B in B&W

Looking all dapper in suit and tie, and magically transformed into black and white, Justin Timberlake did a two-song set that made me even more nervous about how I'm going to like his upcoming The 20/20 Experience.  The first song he did was the album's debut single, Suit n Tie, which to me is not very memorable and waaaayyyyy too much rhythm and blues.  I'm not saying I don't like R&B, but I prefer dancey stuff, like a lot of what he put out on FutureSexLoveSound.  

iamboigenius

The second song, called Pusher Love Girl, was very similar.  Oh it's smooth and it's good for what it is, but it doesn't make me as excited as I was upon hearing that JT was back.  Anybody else feel that way?  Anyway, the performance was good, with Jay-Z joining in on the first and some smooth moves by JT throughout.

By the way, I came across a review, with audio, of another new song by Justin called Mirrors.  The track is 8 minutes long, but as the reviewer says, this one sounds much more like old Justin.  Check out the review, and the song, on Popcrush.  Justin did another song at his pre-Super Bowl gig last week...another R&Bish ballad called That Girl, which I kinda like.  Check that one out here.   Ooh, I can't wait to review this album!

New Music

I love the prospect of new music, especially when everything I've got in my iTunes library seems old.  More tidbits have leaked out on new stuff from J-Lo, Destiny's Child, Eminem, and a brand new song by Depeche Mode, Heaven, which you can check out on zap2it. It's a little dark, not unlike old Depeche Mode stuff, but maybe just a wee bit darker...

missinfo.tv

Ri-Ri's 'Stay' Video Debuts

I'm very excited to announce that Rihanna has debuted her new video for the song Stay, which is one of my favorites off of Unapologetic.  The video for the haunting duet with Mikky Ekko features our star nekkid in a bathtub for mostly all of the four-minute clip, and it's somehow pretty poignant.  Check it out on Eonline.

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Grammy Winners

Well I've yet to watch the Grammy Awards (I've got it on my DVR, which I will watch later), but of course the winners have all been awarded and I must say, not bad on my part!  On Saturday, I posted a few notes and predictions on the major pop categories and I did alright.  Let's take a looksie...

Record of the Year - Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye

I said that this one should have won and it did!  Go me!

Song of the Year - We Are Young - Fun

Two for two!

Best Pop Solo Performance - Set Fire to the Rain - Adele

You see, here's where I have sort of a problem with award shows.  This is a great song, but it was released two years ago!  I know, I know, it hit the charts in 2012 so it was eligible.  I wanted Katy Perry's Wide Awake to win this one, and I believed that Carly Rae would take it.  Adele's tune is better than both, but hmmmm?????  By the way, did you see her horrible dress last night?  That thing was louder than her pitch!

capitalfm

Best Pop Duo/Solo Performance - Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye

I guess if this one won Record of the Year, it would win in this lesser category.  I should have guessed it!  Ah well, 2 out of 4 ain't bad.  Here are some other winners from last night's show:

Album of the Year - Babel - Mumford & Sons

Best New Artist - Fun

Best Pop Vocal Album - Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

Best Rock Song and Performance - Lonely Boy - Black Keys

Best Rock Album - El Camino - Black Keys

Best Alternative Music Album - Making Mirrors - Gotye

Best Dance/Electronica Album - Bangarang - Skrillex

Best R&B Performance - Climax - Usher

Best Traditional R&B Performance - Love on Top - Beyonce

Best Urban Contemporary Album - Channel Orange -- Frank Ocean

Best R&B Album - Black Radio - Robert Glasper Experiment

Best R&B Song - Adorn -- Miguel

Best Rap/Song Collaboration - No Church In The Wild - Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream 


Best Rap Performance - N****s In Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Best Rap Album - Take Care - Drake

Best Rap Song - N****s in Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Best Latin Pop Album - MTV Unplugged - Juanes

Best Country Solo Performance - Blown Away - Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo Performance - Pontoon - Little Big Town 


Best Country Album - Uncaged - Zac Brown Band 


Best Country Song - Blown Away -- Carrie Underwood (Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters)

For the complete list of winners, check out Billboard or the Grammy's.

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Black History Month Song of the Day - Chain Reaction - Diana Ross

You took a mystery and made me want it 

You got a pedestal and put me on it

You made me love you out of feeling nothing

Something that you do

Diana Ross is my diva, and here's a song from 1985 that kind of returned her to a place where she had started.  This song was written and produced by the Bee Gees for her album, Eaten Alive, and it's a bona fide throwback to her days at Motown, with an upbeat, melodic sound and lots of backing vocals by the brothers Gibb.  I remember Chain Reaction getting a lot of airplay back in the day and it's one of my favorites from the superstar.  Happy Monday!

 
Diana Ross - Chain Reaction by Discodandan






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Cabin Fever Gives Me Time to Think

Well it's Sunday night, just about 48 hours since Blizzard Nemo dropped all of that snow on us and 48 hours of being cooped up in the house.  It's times like these when I most wish I had somebody to share the time with, but ah well, I know I'm not the only one.  Still... loneliness sucks especially while you've got cabin fever!

my backyard

It's been a long time since I written a personal post.  It seems that John's World has become a music, roller coaster blog, I know, but although those two things are big parts of my world, they're not the only things.  For the past several months now, I've kept the personal mostly to myself, sometimes because I feel like I have nothing to say, and other times it's because when I do talk about personal stuff, I can get a little sappy.  I know some of my readers like those types of posts and I hope to get to them more often.

Overall I've been a little numb of mind lately, not really focused on anything, and I can pinpoint exactly why or even how to get out of it.  Things have been really strained with my family ever since July and so that part of my life has left me a bit isolated.  I've had an incidence or two with some of my friends, and that's surely contributed.  Work has been grueling...teaching is NOT the glamorous job some people think it is.  And as for guys, well, that part of my life has been the most active, though unfulfilling.

Sometimes I feel as if I'm living the single life I'd envisioned for myself when I first left Joe.  Between the bowling league and the opening of Nuts & Bolts, my social life has gotten so busy out here on Long Island that I've hardly had any time to venture into the city, which I miss.  There've been enough potential suitors out there, though finding someone to date regularly from among them has been next to impossible.  Either they're too into themselves, they just want sex or they're a bit too strange for my taste to pursue.  I'm still waiting for that one to come along that I will know will be "the one" when I meet him, and the longer I go on, the more the prospects for that look bleak.

And so, this is what cabin fever does...it makes me think, and not in a good way.  I keep going back to what I said at the beginning of the new year, that I need to delve back into myself in order to start thinking clearly and start caring about something again.  I've got so many ideas in my head, covering all facets of my life, that I have trouble focusing on any one of them...and so the writer's block that comes with all of this.  (I'm thinking that the place I should start would be Millman's book.  I'm such a 25/7!)

Well, I'm writing now, so that's a start! Let's see where this takes us...

Nemo

In the meantime, look at these pictures of what I am seeing in my world right now.  For those of you living out of this area, be glad...

     

my street

my front door

the driveway is shoveled!

look how high

We're expecting an ice storm sometime during the night tonight, so tomorrow morning's commute is going to be as big a nightmare as Friday night's was for many people.  The roads here are still pretty impassible, with many of them not even plowed yet.  A thick, slushy mess covers the well traveled roads, such as this one near my house:

 

That's Route 112 in Patchogue, a road that sees plenty of action during a day.  If this is what it looks like after two days, you can imagine what we've got out here...not as bad as Hurricane Sandy, but pretty comparable.  The lesser traveled streets like the one I live on have become very narrow, with plowed-up piles of snow 3 to 4 feet high on either side.  The roadway itself is a highly uneven, packed down mass of icy snow, with slushy mounds like the ones above thrown in around the corners and such.  Here's my street:

As you can see, traveling in the morning is going to be a mess with icy precipitation falling on top of all this.  To make matters worse, my school is one of only a handful that has decided to open tomorrow, albeit late.  Since I work more than 40 miles from my home, this is not good news and I will just have to play it by ear in the morning as to how I should proceed.  One of the things I abhor about our society is that we place work over safety whenever stuff like this happens.  Why do we feel as if the world is going to end if we miss a day or two?  I just don't get it.

Anyway, to those of you traveling in the morning, be safe!

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