Swing It, Ella

I always wanted to write a post about my musical tastes, and everybody's favorite blogger Clay Cane's new article inspired me to finally write it. Everyone, please open up your Limewires to chapter 6, verse 9, and get ready to download.

"Wrote a song about. Wanna hear it? Hear it go." (Sorry, En Vogue moment)

Anybody who knows me very well will know that my favorite singer is the lovely, beautiful, amazing, showstopping, never-fading Ella Fitzgerald. How high the moon? Does it touch the stars? If you haven't heard a word from Ella, check up on it! She has the best jazz voice, the best ballad voice, the best musical-number voice, shit- every motherfuckin' voice. And the good thing about loving her is that she has over 200 albums so you'll never run out of songs to listen to (don't listen to her 70's ish though, lawd, stick to the 30s-60's). It's a shame more people my age are listening to Ashan-man instead of real music. If you're feeling Ella, you'll also want to check out Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Sarah Vaughn.

Now can I say somethin? I'ma say somethin. I think black people are way too fixated on R&B/Hip Hop. Yes, even the old classic R & B! Black people (and other minorities) need to explore their musical horizons because there is so much other good music out there besides what's playin' on 87.9 The Beat!

Don't get me wrong, because I have much much love for classic R & B (Marvin Gaye [Distant Lover/Mercy Mercy Me], Patti [All This Love/You Make Me Feel], Stevie [For Once In My Life/My Cherie Amor], Al Green [Still In Love], The Stylistics, The Delfonics, EARTH WIND AND FIRE [don't get me started]!). But my favorite black artist from the 70's has to be Donny Hathaway. Yes, people, he has songs other than "A Song For You". Once again, check up on it.

But let's step away from the black arena of music for a minute. Let's discuss classic rock. Now classic rock is some good shit. You got Simon and Garfunkel,The Beatles,Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Doors, the Mamas and the Papas, the Fifth Dimension (ok, they were black, though). Do not hate because they are white! Give it a chance. Then there's one of my personal favorites (don't laugh). The Carpenters. Karen's voice is so soothing and she is one white corny lady who can have some soul when she wants to. I'm always feelin' their records when I have to wake up early in the morning. Some good songs from them are Close To You, Masquerade (Luther covered this), and We've Only Just Begun. Good shit I tell you. Also, do not sleep on the screechin' drugged out bitch Janis Joplin. She tore shit UP! Some good ones from here are Work Me Lord, Son of a Preacher Man, and...shit I forgot my other favorite.

Um, now I might be takin' yall a little farther than you wanna go with this next topic: today's indie music. You have Radiohead (Paranoid Android, Karma Police, The Arcade Fire (Rebellion Lies, Wake Up), Rilo Kiley (Does He Love You, Science Vs. Romance) and others. There is really too many good indie bands to name/ I don't have time for all that.

Please do not get me wrong. I loves me some (quality) R & B. But I am frustrated with seeing people my color only listening to shitty mind-numbing shit. You got to balance it out. Take some peas with that greasy-ass meat! Your arteries will thank you later.

I might come back later and add some more musical artists because I really listen to a lot more than what I've listed. I'm going to see Brokeback Mountain in a few hours, so the review for that will be up.

What's your musical tastes? Let Me Know!