Are You Ready for a New Wave?

Welcome to New Wave Month on John's World.  I tell ya, for the past week I've been so looking forward to this.  Like all music, new wave brings me back to another time in my life, a happy time, and so most of what you'll hear, see and read on this blog for the next month will be memories, really, for me, and I hope some of you, too!

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I first became aware of new wave music probably a little later than many, but around the same time as most. For many of you, like me, MTV will certainly invade your minds this month because the then-innovative and groundbreaking channel gave new wave not only a place to be heard, but a visual, too, which contributed to the style, the fashion, and the popular culture at the time.  An alternative lifestyle that went mainstream.

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So look for posts that will jar your memories if you were growing up at the time.  I hope to bring you to a happy place, too, reliving great times spent in blissful youth, with songs that are like precious files tucked away in the documents of your mind. Look to see and read about some great 80's new wave bands like Blondie, The B-52s, Duran Duran, INXS, Erasure, New Order, Depeche Mode, Bananarama, Dead or Alive, and some classic one-hit wonders that were the Call Me Maybe's and Somebody That I Used to Know's of their time.

I'm looking forward to it, for sure, and to get things started, here's a little known ditty by Bananarama and Fun Boy Three.  I kind of remember it from MTV, and I always thought it was catchy.  I'd be singing it for hours after I heard it, like I will tonight, lol.  Here's It Ain't What You Do It's the Way That You Do It...LOVE IT!!!

Fun Boy Three / It Ain't What You Do from Big Sur® on Vimeo.

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones

Well, today is the last day of February and tomorrow begins New Wave Month here on John's World. New Wave music came as a direct result of the death of disco and punk in the late 70's, early 80's, and the new genre sort of melded the two, with danceable songs that had a punk edge to them.  Well, since punk pre-dated new wave, I thought that today would be a good day to post a punk song from one of the most well-known punk bands around.

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The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in 1974 and though they were never a huge commercial success, they epitomized what would come out of this country in the punk movement and their legacy endures today. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award the following year for their storied existence.  With songs such as Rock n Roll High School, Do You Wanna Dance, Blitzkrieg Bop and others, they've had punk rock fans dancin' in the aisles for 40 years now.  Here's one of their most popular tunes ever, a song that plenty of people can relate to in this crazy world of ours.  Check out I Wanna Be Sedated...

 

The Ramones - I Want To Be Sedated from Fallout Entertainment on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - Find Your Love - Drake

I'm not a huge fan of Drake, but the songs of his that I love, I LOVE!!!  Oldie, but a goodie!  (Ooh, and there's a remix with Shaggy that rocks da house!)

I'm more than just an option

Hey, hey, hey...

Drake - Find Your Love from IN-THE-RAVE on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - In the Bush - Musique

Last night at bowling, a couple of my buddies and I were fooling around and we were reminiscing about this song and since it's Hump Day, I figured...

IN THE BUSH by MUSIQUE by Discolarry125

Song of the Day - Who's That Girl - Robyn

Ooh, I've been missing Robyn so much lately, and for whatever reason I decided to check her out on iTunes the other day and downloaded a whole bunch of stuff I didn't even know existed.  Man, she was always good!  This one's from her 2005 album, Robyn, and it's very catchy, very Robyn!  Enjoy!


Who's That Girl from Robyn on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - California Gurls - Katy Perry

After talking about Katy Perry's Dark Horse video last night, how could I not post her today?  Here's one that makes me think of summertime, which is good because we're in for another deep freaking freeze this week after a few days of niceness and warmth.



California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy Dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Oooooh Oh Oooooh


California Gurls ft. Snoop Dogg - Katy Perry from José H. Conde on Vimeo.

Katy Perry's Dark Horse Video: Loved It!

Have you seen Katy Perry's new video for Dark Horse yet?  You know how I love that song and I just had my first chance to check it out...


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Thumbs up!

Katy often makes good videos, entertaining, visually appealing and sometimes with a little humor thrown in for good measure.  Well this one's got all of the above, and it's as entertaining as the song.  I would have expected a coven-like theme like she did at the Grammy's, but this one's equally good, all-Egyptian, with Katy playing a queen and the bopping choreography that you kind of do anyway when you listen to the song. If you like Katy Perry and haven't seen Dark Horse yet, check it out at VEVO.

March is New Wave Month

I had a revelation the other day whilst riding in the car.  I was listening to my 80's New Wave playlist on my iPod and found myself jamming to the music and reliving fond memories for hours.  So I began thinking about doing a whole month of New Wave music on John's World.  Good idea, right?


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Anyway, here's how it's going to work:

Everyday in the month of March, dubbed New Wave Month, I will post new wave songs for Songs of the Day.  Since there is so much to choose from, there will be days when I'll do multiple songs by the same artist, and I'll even try to throw in some tidbits.  All of my articles on Yahoo about the genre generate lots and lots of page views, so hopefully this will stir up some interest.  I've already got several Facebook friends in on the idea, so I am sooo looking forward to it!  Requests are being accepted, so if you like, leave a comment on any blog post with the label New Wave and I'll try to get yours in, with a mention, of course!

In the meantime, here's a teaser from one of my favorite, albeit short-lived bands of new wave.

Don't mind me honey
I'm just looking
Smelt your chicken
And I watched you cooking
Souped up, jacked up, cracked up, stacked up
You're a bad stain
And you need to be cleaned up 

 

Estelle Gets Dirty (and Funky!) with "Make Her Say (Beat It Up)"

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Estelle is Back!  Yes, that British R&B singer who's always been a whole lot more than her 2008 Grammy-winning song American Boy, has just put out a new song, Make Her Say (Beat It Up).  The song is from her upcoming third in a series of EP's titled, Love & Happiness (where the hell have I been?), and it's very funky, and very, very explicit...but sexy!  Haha.  Check it out...

Make Her Say (Beat It Up)

Song of the Day - Cheers (Drink to That) - Rihanna

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It's odd that I post two consecutive songs by the same artist, but I heard this one when I listened to my RiRi folder on Friday, and I thought about posting it yesterday, but chose Who's That Chick instead.  Then I was at a bar last night and what song comes on?  I think it was a sign, and besides It's still the weekend. Cheers!

Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That) by Artan_Prenaj

Riding Solo...

I'm feeling like a star, you can't stop my shine, 
I'm loving cloud nine, my head's in the sky,
I'm solo, I'm riding solo, I'm riding solo, I'm ridin solo, sooloooo


wikipedia

Well, not exactly, but maybe that last line.  You see, I just spent the last four days completely alone, and that's okay, but sometimes it bothers me that I can be like that.  The kind of "riding solo" that Jason Derulo is talking about is not the type of riding solo that I do.  I've had that for the past six-plus years and in a lot of ways I'm starting to get tired of it.

Dan Millman says that 25/7's (like me) "need a great deal of privacy and sense of independence.  Due to subtle fears of being shamed or betrayed (uh huh!), they tend to draw back 'inside themselves' emotionally; they don't feel safe enough to let people see their private thoughts or feelings...they feel "isolated emotionally ...[they] may seek 'Spirit,' but avoid intimate human relationships."   

Woof!  That was one of the things about his book, The Life You Were Born to Lead, that struck me.  This particular quote is so close to home, today and always, that I am bound to believe that there must be something to what he says.  I've said it before that the book is not a self-help book, by any means, but it does shed some light on your inner nature. They say that the first step to fixing any problem is to admit you have one, and I am not liking this part of me one bit.  I am social and I have a lot of friends, but I don't think I'm ever going to find someone to be with until I stop drawing back inside myself like I do.

As I said this morning, I went away for a few days, by myself, and there were two parts of me that were on that trip: one that was enjoying doing what he wanted to do without having to account for or answer to anyone, and then there was the part that felt super lonely and super alone.  Ugh!

So what to do, what to do???  Well, there really is no easy answer.  It's in my nature to be that way...I've just got to learn to work that in a positive way somehow.  Maybe go back to reading Millman some more.  I think a lack of self-confidence has a lot to do with it.  I know, I know, a lot of people that know me will say that I seem to have a lot of that, but deep down inside...well, I don't.  Maybe there's a place to start!

Anyway, here's Jason Derulo...

   

Jason Derulo - Ridin Solo Official Video from Tyler Ransom on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - Who's That Chick - David Guetta, feat. Rihanna

She's been a crazy dita disco diva
And you wonder
Who's that chick
Who's that chick



Good morning and Happy Saturday!  Well, it's a beautiful day out for a change and I am back after a short, unplanned two-day break.  During the time I was away I listened to a lot of music and here's one I really jammed to. Enjoy!



David Guetta Feat. Rihanna - Who's That Chick from HD VIDEOS on Vimeo.

Song of the Day - Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child

Happy Hump Day to everybody! Holla if you got your own bills, bills, bills to pay....

 
Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills by Hakunamatata67

Song of the Day - On and On - Erykah Badu

Eh, it's snowing again!  Soooo tired of it!  Here's a good song for today because this winter just keeps going on and on and on and on.

I think I need a cup of tea

Cause my high is coming down...

Erykah Badu - On & On by foxysoul

Happy President's Day, from Aunt Barbara

Since I didn't follow today's theme of President's Day for my Song of the Day post this morning, I still wanted to do something to commemorate the day.  Thank goodness for Aunt Barbara!  Though I'd seen some of these before, others I had not, they all gave me a chuckle and a smile when I saw them.  Auntie posted these and more on her Facebook page this morning and I share them here with you to make your day a lil brighter...

Happy Birthday Mr. Pwesident!

Bill looks a little too good here, no?

Wha, this one doesn't seem all that different?

LOVE It!

Jimmah, ugly as a man, uglier as a woman!

Oh Bill, hmmmmm!!!!

 

See the family resemblance?

A big thanks to Aunt Barbara for always giving me a smile!

Song of the Day - My Old Piano - Diana Ross

Wow, I am super-excited!  After reposting a cool picture of Miss Diana Ross off of Disco, Soul, Gold on Facebook yesterday, I knew I wanted to post a Diana song today.  I don't know why, maybe I was thinking of my friend Evan, who plays the piano, but I immediately thought of My Old Piano from that first ever Diana album I bought (Diana - 1980).  I never knew there was actually a video for the song...thus my excitement!  Check it out...

 

Diana Ross - My old piano by hiphopmomo

Hey Friends, I Like You...I Do!

I have no idea how I found this kid, but I have to say, he's pretty entertaining.  His name is Alex Constacio and he's part of a larger network of yungins' who put out a lot of videos on YouTube.  Anyway, I first came across his Minnie Mouse, sped-up version of Katy Perry's Wide Awake, and then I watched it a couple of times and checked out some of the suggestions that came on the right hand side of the page, which included this one.

I never heard this song before, and I still don't know anything about it, but the lyrics and the vocals, coupled with Alex's expressions and lip-syncing had me singing the song for hours later, so much so that it is now filed away with the rest of the songs in the iPod of my mind, lol.

Anywho, throughout my evening in the city last night with my friends I kept singing this song in my head.  The guys I went with were my bowling buddies and I'm still getting to know them more and more with each outing together.  During several of my conversations with the guys, the song just kept popping into my head. I guess I was appreciating the moments I was having with these people and I was just thinking subconsciously that I did indeed like them!

So to Gary, Kyle, Al, Sal, Rick, Eric, Steve and Jim, this one's for you!  Lol.... I like you!

Who couldn't love these guys...

Song of the Day - If You Could Read My Mind - Stars on 54

Last night I went to the city with a few good friends and had the awesomest of times!  The reason for going in was to see a show, Soiree, which was really, really good, but the show ended up just being a small part of a really nice evening spent with some really special people.

In all, there were nine of us, Al, Gary, Kyle, Sal, Eric and Rick, Steve and Jim, and yours truly. We headed to this barbecue place in Grammercy Park for a nice dinner and then to Phoenix Bar for a few cocktails before the show, and then back to Phoenix for a couple afterwards.  The whole night made me realize once again how lucky I am to have the friends I do.

Soiree was very entertaining (and hot, if you like hot guys with smoking bodies doing acrobatics) and fun, and this song was the first number.  So here's to a great night with great friends and looking forward to many more in the future!

Stars On 54 - If You Could Read My Mind from ETV on Vimeo.

Okay Facebook, Now I Am Pissed!

Okay now, so this is war.  I haven't ranted in a long time, but I am fed up with Facebook!  You see, I've been having this problem with my posts to this blog and sharing them on that site, and it's costing me page views, along with giving people something to chuckle at at my expense.  I just reported the issue for the 4th time.  The first three times I tried were not answered.  Take a look at this screen shot I took of my Song of the Day post from this morning:

I joked about it on the Facebook link.  That's all I can do these days, as many of my friends have been commenting how funny this has been.  Well it's not funny to me!  Take a look at a couple more from yesterday:

Since yesterday was Flashback Friday, I hadn't even thought of posting an older love song for Valentine's Day, and so I reposted Songs of the Day from Valentine's past on Facebook in the hopes of generating some page views.  Look at the photos Facebook chose for me to go along with my posts.  Don't you think people would be more likely to click on these posts if there were pictures of Sade and Whitney Houston were attached?  Both pieces had appropriate pictures, yet for whatever reason Facebook chose these two ridiculous ones. Grrrrr!!!!!  Here are two more...

At this point, I don't know what to do.  All I can hope is that Facebook will look at the issue and fix it.  I mean, even if I had the option of posting no thumbnail to the post that would be better than this.  What pisses me off even more is that Facebook seems it's okay to do things when its to their financial benefit.  They're always changing their app, and almost always it's advertising creeping in.  

My friend was telling me the other day that she had been looking online for a red wool coat she wanted to buy, and a little while afterwards, guess what happened?  Red wool coats started appearing on her Facebook "news feed."  I tell ya, a free market economy is not good for anybody when our own browsing is not safe from the prying eyes of "social networks."  

Facebook was a great thing for a long time, and still is in its own way, but it's gotten way too commercial for anyone's good, and who knows, I may soon find myself away from it for good.  So let's see what they post with the link to this piece when I share it.  In the meantime, if you are a FB friend of mine, please click the "like" button or leave a comment and maybe someone over there will pay attention.  Thank you!

Seven Simple Home Remedies

I've been cleaning out my emails and I found this shot at humor I thought I'd share.  It's a list of home remedies someone sent me awhile ago.  They're kinda funny, but whoever wrote them seems a little mean, lol.  

1. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.

prettyawfulthings

2. Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet sear by using the sink.

3. For high blood pressure sufferers, simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins.  

4. A mouse trap placed on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

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5. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives.  Then you'll be afraid to cough.

6. You only need two tools in life: WD-40 and duct tape.  If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shoudln't move and does, use the duct tape.

7. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

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DAILY THOUGHT:

Some people are like Slinkies, not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.  

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