Category: Right

Giorgio By Moroder

8/13/2015

Legendary record producer. Italian. Giorgio Moroder is one of the most legendary people that you may or may not have heard of. I've brought him up a few times on the blog and mentioned him on the YouTube channel. He's worked with everyone from Blondie to Daft Punk and is an icon in his own right.

Personally, I'm surprised that he's never worked with Madonna. This is the man who built the disco sound. During the eighties Madonna had relatively small set of collaborators, but still when she went retro with Confessions on a Dancefloor I'm surprised she didn't enlist Giorgio Moroder.

The man is in his late seventies at this point. But, as he addressed in a recent song he released “74 is the new 24”. The person he most directly helped achieve international stardom was Donna Summer. He produced most of her iconic hits. The ones that everyone knows.

These range from “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff” from Donna's highest selling album Bad Girls to her breakout hit “Love To Love You Baby”. Her duet with Barbra Streisand “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” was also deftly handled by his hit making skills. Other accomplishments with Donna Summer include “Last Dance”, “MacArthur Park”, “On The Radio”, and “I Feel Love”. Giorgio Moroder is the man who pioneered the sound that disco heralded.

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He never found another voice that mirrored the success he had with Donna. But, he still translated his skills into multiple hits for other singers. He's the man responsible for Blondie's most iconic hit “Call Me”. This isn't that surprising as it was written for the movie American Gigolo. The highlight being Richard Gere's full frontal scene. Giorgio Moroder was the man behind the soundtrack.

In his later career he made a lot of work with the film industry, producing and writing the instrumentals that heralded a movie. Some of these included Cat People (David Bowie was in it), Flash Dance, and Over The Top.

Surprisingly enough he was not one of the main producers behind the Top Gun soundtrack. The movie that launched Tom Cruise to super stardom and the soundtrack that sold over 9 million copies in the United States. He was however the one behind two of it's most prominent hits. The song that launched Berlin “Take My Breath Away”. Otherwise known as the love theme to Top Gun and the always up tempo Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone”.

Giorgio Moroder was anything if not pliable to what different artists need. The vivacity a Kenny Loggins track produces is inherently different then what would be required of a Donna Summer hit.

He lay dormant to the pop scene for two solid decades. Then, what was old became new again. Dance music was back in. The sound Giorgio Moroder lead was back. This was made infinitely clear when Daft Punk enlisted him for their Grammy award winning Random Access Memories. The album that's sold 3.2 million copies and allowed him to return for a solo debut as a DJ.

Not only as Giorgio Moroder being hosting raves in the desert. He recently dropped his own LP in the style of Calvin Harris and David Guetta featuring numerous high profile guest stars. On Deja Vu he hits his stride with his female lead tracks.

Sia nails it with “Deja Vu”, Kylie Minogue voice throbs over an addictive bass with “Right Here, Right Now”, Charli XCX sounds every bit the rebel she is with “Diamonds”, Britney Spears nails and I dare I say improves “Tom's Diner”, but the highlight is most certainly Kelis's “Back and Forth”. Kelis hasn't sounded this good or this current since her collaboration with Calvin Harris on “Bounce”. It's gritty and ecstatic.

It's all thanks to Giorgio Moroder.

Buy "Right Here, Right Now"

Buy "Tom's Diner"

Buy "Back and Forth"

Buy "Deja Vu"

His two dalliances with male artists just don't land. “Tempted” gives off a filler track vibe that Cobra Starship is famous for delivering. And, the Mikky Ekko led “Don't Let Go” is far too serious for such a light and enjoyable album.

The one thing Deja Vu proves is that 74 might not be the new 24, but it certainly has circled around to it. Giorgio Moroder sounds current without sacrificing his artistic merit and with over 40 years in the industry, there's a lot.

Buy Deja Vu

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We Live For Pat Benatar

6/4/2015

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Sometimes I forget that Pat Benatar is a classically trained opera singer and that I can't hit the notes that she can hit. That doesn't stop me from trying. I am that person who will jam out to Pat Benatar in the shower. I grew up on Pat Benatar. It was christian music, Celine Dion, and Pat Benatar. It was really great. Faith Hill was there too.

My love for Pat Benatar definitely comes from my childhood. My father loves all that eighties rock. He's such an archetype for the middle aged white heterosexual male. I don't feel male singers. So many just disgust me at their core. It's so funny, because my father doesn't consider Pat Benatar a “rocker”. I just feel like that's drenched in misogyny. Because, Pat Benatar is a rocker. If you want to come for Sheryl Crow and not file her under rock. Okay. But, you can't come for Pat Benatar.

Right now Pat Benatar is on her 35th anniversary tour. My father bought tickets. For him and my mother. I am the hardcore Pat Benatar fan in this family and I'm just like what the actual fuck. I am trying to convince him to bring me along. He probably won't. It's fine. I didn't want to spend time with him anyway.

I could have been a child of the eighties as far as the music goes. I jam pretty hard to some of these people. Now, I don't know if I would have been a Pat Benatar fan. I do enjoy a strong female, but in all honesty, I would have been on that Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Samantha Fox train. If you don't know who Samantha Fox is you need to get on that. She gave us good sexual realness in the eighties with “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)”. It's slinky and the exact opposite of quality recording.

The eightes were a great time for women in rock. Debbie Harry was fronting Blondie, Joan Jett was killing it solo and with the Blackhearts, Stevie Nicks was not letting up, and Pat Benatar was releasing a string of hits from 1979-1985. Pat Benatar was an album a year girl. Much like Rihanna was dipping and doing it for us.

Her break out hit was “Heartbreaker”. The classic, iconic, hard rock song. She followed it up with “We Live For Love”, which has those warm chugging guitars, and I love it. This is probably where my father is coming from when he says she isn't a rocker. She's had some very pop moments like “We Belong”, but balancing between pop and rock is part of being a successful musician.

Buy "Heartbreaker"

Buy "We Live For Love"

Her follow up album was Crimes of Passion and it's certainly the defining moment of her career as far as sales and hits go. It features “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Treat Me Right”, and “You Better Run”. All hard rock staples. This is also the album that has “Hell is for Children” on it. It discusses child abuse and really does what music is supposed to do. Talk about social issues and comment on them. Love songs are great, but once in a while we really do need to make a statement. Crimes of Passion is definitely one of her most coherent albums. It also includes one of my favorite album only tracks “Wuthering Heights”.

Buy "Wuthering Heights"

She followed this album with five more albums and subsequent hits “Fire and Ice”, “Little Too Late”, “We Belong”, “Love is a Battlefield” and “Invincible”. Pitch Perfect 2 covers “We Belong” and did they succeed the way Pat did. No of course not. But, it's a classic song. “Love is a Battlefield” was on her live album and Joyce loves this song. She knows every word. Joyce and I jam out to Pat Benatar. My place of business also places that song. It is not my favorite Benatar song, but I feel it.

Pat Benatar kept her name out there during the eighties. It's why she's still as remembered as she is. She had a string of consecutive hits and she was hard to get away from. It was after Seven The Hard Way that she took a three year break between studio albums. Then, she released Wide Awake In Dreamland (which has a horrible album cover) and it had a hit. It sold well, but it was not the colossal success of her other lead singles and “All Fired Up” really doesn't rank among Pat Benatar's most recognizable hits.

Her singles had lukewarm response, then she took another three year break. Recorded a jazz album. It just was not a solid plan. She didn't transition into the nineties. People weren't feeling it. This was the time of TLC and the alternative sound of Nirvana. When she did go back to her rock sound radio was not receptive to it. Maybe if she'd gone a Courtney Love/Hole kind of sound she could have maintained her success. But, then I feel like the only reason we really bought into Courtney Love's band is because of Kurt Cobain and the massive success he had with Nirvana.

Madonna was also charting new territory at the time. Female singers had a shelf life of a decade. Madonna was the one trail blazing. Pat Benatar was not able to reap the benefits that Britney Spears and Mariah Carey have been able to by maintaining their careers without people looking at them side eyed.

Personally, I would be here for a Pat Benatar comeback and I definitely think with the right kind of promotion Pat could release a new album of solo material and sell. Look at what Bruce Springsteen has been doing. I think she has a market if she wants it. I'm sure she doesn't need the money, though. She's killing it with these tours. The woman is also 62. Pat Benatar has earned the right to sit down if she wants to. We're still going to love her anyway.

We live for Pat Benatar.

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Mama Kelis

1/1/2015

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You know Kelis as the woman behind “Milkshake” and “Bossy”. I love her to death and I have taken to affectionately calling her Mama Kelis. Which, is really not a good idea. When, I went out to buy her latest album Food, I could not find it anywhere.

I asked a clerk if they had the Mama Kelis album Food and he looked it up and he said they didn't carry any artists named Mama Kelis. I had to explain to him that is just what I call her. I did end up getting the album. It came out the same day as when Iggy dropped The New Classic. If you read the Friday Favorites article last week you know how underwhelmed I was with that album.

Kelis to so many people is just a footnote in pop culture. She is more popular in Europe. Her first hit song was “Caught Out There” and the chorus is a screaming match of “I hate you so much right now!” She kills her man in the video. It kills. It was a minor hit in the United States, but over the seas it was immensely and launched her career.

Buy "Caught Out There"

Her second album was not even released in the United States. It was her third album Tasty that achieved the greatest chart success for her in her home country. It produced the ubiquitous “Milkshake” and is an all around great record.

Kelis is an albums artist. She releases fantastic works. All of her albums have received critical acclaim, the critics love her. Radio just tends not to. Even, when she turned to dance music for a little moment, radio said LOL. No.

Buy "Tasty"

That's too bad, because she's fantastic. You may also know Kelis for her marriage with nasty Nas. That boy. I kind of love their love, but it was ratchet. The music they did together, though. Oh, my god. They were having good sex. I am sure of it. Listen to either “In Public” or “Blindfold Me” and you will be like god damn.

Buy "In Public"

Buy "Blindfold Me"

It is steamy. It is hot. It's nasty of course. Their collaborations are everything. The reason I probably refer to Kelis as Mama Kelis now is that since she had her child the music has changed. Not in a bad way. I love it all, but when she was doing the music video for “Acapella ” if you find that the reason her life is no longer acapella is because of her baby.

She's also a very mature 35. I see her as a vivacious sexy mother figure. I'm not really sure why. I love Jenny Lewis and I hardly call her Mama Jenny and she's almost forty. There's just this deep love between me and Kelis. I want everyone to love her.

Speaking of that. I love Food, but if you are not into soulful retro R&B, stay far away. Go for the more contemporary Tasty or Kelis Was Here. If you want that dance music pick up Flesh Tone. She also supplied these fizzy seductive vocals to a fantastic Calvin Harris song, “Bounce”.

Buy "Bounce"

Critically speaking Kelis Was Here was nominated for a Grammy award for best contemporary R&B album, so I suppose it's better then Tasty. I would disagree. Kelis Was Here did not win, but she was up against Beyonce and it's Beyonce. Like if Kelis had won. She would have been murdered. No one beats Beyonce. That doesn't happen.

Hopefully you have been reminded of “Milkshake” if nothing else and honestly. If that's all Kelis ever contributes to pop culture. Her stay has been more then welcome.

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The Art Of Sex

11/8/2014

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There are so many good reasons to hate someone. Their sexuality shouldn't be one of those reasons. This applies everything. Their skin tone, their gender, their religion. These are not good reasons to hate anyone.

I have been considering doing an over arching throwback on a subject for a while. When I was writing for another blog, I did one on marijuana. That was fun. I did another on abuse. This didn't even start out as a throwback. I wanted to write about Pussy Riot for a Media Monday. It just didn't happen.

If you haven't heard of them, you should look them up. Basically, they are these group of Russian women who are fighting for rights in Russia. The media focuses most of their attention on the feminist and LGBT side of the group, however they protest for other basic human rights as well. They are very interesting and inspirational women.

Madonna with two members of Pussy Riot

This article really got started due to Hozier and his song “Take Me To Church”. The song is beautiful and well written. It's definitely worth a listen if you haven't yet. However, it really was the music video that moved me. It told the story of a closeted gay couple in Russia, and the physical violence that results when its discovered that one of them is gay.

I don't know how this did not garner some form of attention. It's a stunning, relevant video. I love Iggy and her Clueless themed “Fancy”. But, “Take Me To Church” is art. It is what pop culture is for to get a conversation started.

I found the video to be so moving I was going to do a whole throwback on Hozier. His influences alone would have made for an interesting article on. Van Morrison, Jackie Wilson, Jeff Buckley. Even, Bon Iver, although he is a little too current for a throwback.

Buy "Take Me To Church"

Before the 90's there was very little gay support in media. Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” may be considered a gay anthem, but it wasn't directed towards that purpose. Gay rights came to head when everything else was coming up. Women's rights, black rights. All these rights movements and it was put on the back burner.

This is not a criticism of how it was handled, because it is certainly not. There was a lot happening and you have to pick what you can focus on. The 90's, though was when it became more talked about. I don't want to say accepted.

Although, you did see the emergence of RuPaul. A black drag queen into social media. He became the face of MAC cosmetics, had a stint as talk show host on VH1, and his signature song “Supermodel (You Better Work)” that thrust him into the spotlight. It says something about he 90's that this was allowed to happen. Still, he never did have that top ten hit. He never truly became an A-List star.

Madonna was also influential in the 90's. As she is today. Something I feel like people do not realize about Madonna, or at least people my age. Is what she's done for us. Madonna has always supported gay rights, she has pushed feminism forward. Madonna has changed the world and we sometimes get too lost up in the controversy to realize that. More then once in the nineties, Madonna opened up the conversation to the public. Her hit song “Deeper and Deeper” is about a boy who comes to terms with his homosexuality, and even the broader all encompassing “Secret” dealt with these kind of issues.

These were mainstream hit songs, in the times when MTV still ruled the world. She was forcing America to look at it.

Buy "Secret"

Buy "Deeper and Deeper"

No matter how much I like Lady Gaga or any of the other pop stars who support LGBT rights. Now its almost popular to support gay rights. Madonna did it when it wasn't in vogue. She did it because she thought it was the right thing to do. She thought it would make a difference and it did.

One of the many things I hold against Katy Perry despite her stated support of gay rights, is “I Kissed A Girl” and “Your So Gay”. In one album. It presented the concept of: lesbians are hot, gay boys disgusting. She used this for her own fame. She may not have meant it that way, but its how it comes across. It honestly would not surprise if born and raised Christian girl Katy Perry did not like gays. It really would not. It would not shock me or make me dislike her more then I already do. It was the same with Paula Deen. Was anyone really that surprised that good old southern Paula Deen was racist.

It shouldn't have.

Before the 90's there really weren't any mainstream movies about the gay 'agenda'. Don't you love how the agenda is that they want to be married. What a terrible thing the gays are trying to do. They will bring down America with all this marriage.

Now there was The Rocky Horror Picture Show, that movie is really rough. No plot. No point. Really. You could argue that the underlying point is to allow for sexual freedom, but who really knows what that movie is about.

During and after the 90's there were a string of movies made about gay culture: The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Saved!, Brokeback Mountain, But, I'm A Cheerleader, GBF.

You might not have heard of a few of these movies, but some are mainstream. The Adventures of Priscilla is a funny movie. Two drag queens and a transexual cross Australia in bus. You should need no more convincing.

Then, you have both Saved! and But, I'm a Cheerleader. The first tells the story of a girl who tries to save her gay boyfriend by having sex with him. Believing it is the Lord's will, she doesn't realize she will get pregnant, or that he's still gay. With supporting roles played by Mandy Moore and Macauley Caulkin it's surprisingly heartwarming if tempestuously dull.

Then, you have But, I'm a Cheerleader. The premise being about a girl who is sent away to gay camp in order to get back on the right path. They complete typical gender related tasks in order to get the gay away. Of course with RuPaul as one of the counselors and sexy Eddie Cibrian running around. No one is truly getting rid of the gay.

Of course you've heard of Brokeback Mountain. You know Heath Ledger is in it. It's a great movie. The thing about it that troubles me is that it is so often referred to as a 'gay' movie. When these men are bisexual, not gay. There is a difference.

This movie was watched in GBF (Gay Best Friend) when one of the mother's tries to convince her son that she is okay with him being gay. It is basically the 2010's attempts at a Clueless or Mean Girls. One of the boys is outed and the three leading prom queen contenders battle over him to gain the upper edge in the polls. All the obvious flaws you are seeing with this movie are supposed to be there. It's about realizing that just because someone's gay doesn't make them any less human with any less feelings.

And, there are other movies of course. These are just the ones I have seen. Milk I've been told is a great movie about gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. You probably know I feel about Sean Penn, which is why I haven't made a point of seeing it. And, of course the documentary Paris Is Burning is a must see. People still quote all the time. Brooke Candy in “Opulence”, even RuPaul took his “Shantay, Sashay” from this movie. It's a classic.

TV of course. The first mainstream, mention of homosexuality on TV had to be Three's Company. The only reason Jack is allowed to live with Janet and Chrissy is the fact that he isn't attracted to them. Which we all know isn't true. Now TV has gay relations on it all the time. Modern Family, Glee, White Collar.

It certainly is better. It has gone past the point of being under the conscious level, but don't let anyone tell you that there isn't discrimination against homosexuality. The fact that not every state has legalized gay marriage is an obvious point. There is no critical thinking involved in that. GBF was rated R. Actually all the movies I listed were rated R. I guarantee when you watch them you'll wonder how that happened. Some of them you'll be like, yes that deserved that rated R, and others you will just not understand.

Take other countries into account. Russia, Pakistan, Egypt. You cannot tell me that homosexuality is not persecuted because it is. It is the same thing as telling me racism does not exist. Are you kidding me. The people who fought discriminatory laws are still alive. The same oppressors are still around. There may be less violent racism, but it still happens. It's just not the same thing.

Is it better. You can make your mind up about that. I do think the younger generation is going to be a lot more accepting. The YouTube community being a prime example of that. Young people watch YouTubers and the fan base of Tyler Oakley, Superfruit, Troye Sivan are obvious points to favor this.

Do not change who you are for anyone. Home is where you are. You do not need people who do not support you. If you're parents do not like gays. Fuck them. You don't need to tell them. Move out. Become your own person. You don't need parental permission.

It really upsets me that it would be impossible to tell my parents thatf I was gay. They would freak out. It would be a major issue. That's heartbreaking parents. They wouldn't love me anymore. I would be a disappointment. That's not sort of upsetting. It's horrific that this is how my parents would feel about it.

Me over here in my intro to pysch class has learned that trying to change your sexuality is not a good thing to do. It is very unhealthy. It causes depression. Don't change yourself. Accept who you are. And, realize that there are people on your side. Even, if you can't reach out to them, even if you can't verbally acknowledge something it is okay. It will get better.

We all have to be adults some day and you don't have to live anywhere near your parents.

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T.G.I.F. (Thank God I'm Fergie)

10/24/2014

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Has the world waited longer for anything more then the return of Fergie and Gwen Stefani? Gwen made a recent appearance in a mildly entertaining duet “My Heart Is Open” on Maroon 5's new set V. Still announcements of an upcoming album from her have yet to appear.

Dutchess Fergie on the other hand recently dealt us a blow with “L.A. Love”, which you may or may not have heard on the radio. Now, we all l loved The Black Eyed Peas. I enjoyed “Boom Boom Pow”, “Meet Me Halfway”, “Imma Be” and “I Gotta Feeling” as much as the rest of the world. But, what I yearned for was a follow up to The Dutchess.

Over the course of eight years since “London Bridges”. We saw a re-release of The Dutchess that included four extra tracks “Labels or Love”, “Barracuda”, a duet with Nelly, “Party People”, and a remix of “Clumsy”.

We saw a misfitted dance pulse of “Feel Alive” on a Step Up Soundtrack and euphoric party peak of “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)” for The Great Gatsby movie. The song is the reason for why I bought the soundtrack. And, Lana Del Rey's “Young and Beautiful” goes without mention.

Buy "Feel Alive"

Buy "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)"

2006 was a great year. Fergie ruled. Just think about. The start of the reign with “London Bridge”. The heavy sexual innuendo of that song was lost on me for a good bit of time. It took me a while. Just like Flo Rida's “Right Round”. That song is nasty. I can't listen to it the same way, now that I know. What I know about that song.

Buy "London Bridge"

Then, came “Fergalicious”. What happens when you combine “Fergie” with “Delicious” apparently. The ubiquitous song set in the candy factory and also the song I got turnt to at prom. I thank this song for my life choices, for my excellence in grammar. Where Gwen Stefani taught me how to spell “B-A-N-N-A-N-A”. Fergie with the assistance of Will.I.Am instructed me on “D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S” and “T-A-S-T-E-Y”.

That explains a lot about my English grades.

Buy "Fergalicious"

Finally “Glamorous” came to us. A video with guns and gangsters and Ludacris. That was the last time that man was relevant to me. Actually that's not entirely true. I was very intrigued by his reworking of the classic “Barbie Girl” song into “Party Girl”. And, as he instructed. If you ain't got no money, take your broke ass home.

Buy "Glamorous"

With “Big Girls Don't Cry” we finally got the hit ballad every pop star needs. Just like Madonna needed “Crazy For You” and “Live to Tell” or Rihanna has requisites of “Take a Bow” and Stay” every great pop star has released a ballad to great critical acclaim at some point in their career. That is what “Big Girls Don't Cry” was for Fergie. I still know every word. It's just like when “Back to December” comes on the radio, I like to pretend I hated it, but I can still sing every word from memory. This song needs no reminders. Although, I do wonder if Sia heard of it. Her song is “Big Girls Cry” and Fergie's is “Big Girls Don't Cry”. Where is the lie?

Buy "Big Girls Don't Cry"

Clumsy was the final hit off the album that we all now. My mother is obsessed with this song. My mother loves Fergie. I just don't love this song, the way the world does. I like it. I wouldn't change the radio station. But, it is not my jam for life.

Buy "Clumsy"

This album is classic. If you don't have it. You must not enjoy pop culture. Besides the obvious tastemakers. Album only tracks “Pedestal” (A venemous diss off) and “Here I Come” are all reason enough to buy the album. My mother also thoroughly enjoys the closing ballad “Finally”. It's a little too syrupy sweet for me, but if my mother likes it. Fergie likes it. I might just be missing something. I do thoroughly enjoy a hidden part at the end, that consists of a minute of “Maybe, we can take a real long ride...”. I can't imagine what she's suggesting.

Buy "Pedestal"

Buy "Here I Come"

Buy "Finally"

Buy "The Dutchess"

Eight years after The Duchess was released everything on it is still fresh and relatable. It's no wonder the world is clamoring for new Fergie music. The only way our appetites have been whetted is by her work with The Black Eyed Peas. But, after a four year break from the Peas. We need Fergie.

This extended stay away from the spotlight has moved Fergie from the dutchess to the Queen. And, Queen Fergie recently dropped “L.A. Love”. One of the slickest hip-hop productions to come around in recent times. The album is coming. Be prepared world. She's ready. And, she's coming for you.

Buy "L.A. Love"

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Giorgio By Moroder

We Live For Pat Benatar

Mama Kelis

The Art Of Sex

T.G.I.F. (Thank God I'm Fergie)

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