Tag: Pop Music

Brian Larsen – Twitter Thursday

English: Larsen in January 2011

Brian Larsen is a singer-songwriter out of Laurel, Maryland.  Interestingly, he has recorded since 1997, when he was 11 years old.  Kudos for that.  In the years since then, he has recorded 11 albums and EPs with a 12th coming in April.  This a man than lives, breathes and loves music.

The first video is from his 2009 album “Breaking”.

In The Winter

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Brian is an active self promoter, with extensive forays into social media.  I was quite happy to note that he had followed me on Twitter, and a bit surprised.  I have had a couple of quick conversations with him (very quick) and he is very upfront with his answers.  I say, good on you Brian, and keep rolling out the music.  I will finish with a couple of more videos, one live (I love live) and one from his new record, out April, 2012, titled “Building”

Part of Me

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Hold Me Down

Remembering Jimmy Castor

Publicity photo of musician Jimmy Castor.

The music world lost another familiar name on January 16.  Jimmy Castor, sax player and leader of the Jimmy Castor Bunch passed away at the age of 71.  Best known for the tune “Troglodyte”, he had many hits that made the Billboard 100 charts for both Pop and R&B.  He last charted in 1988.  He also released 15 albums in his time.  His first record was in 1956, titled “I Promise To Remember”, where he performed as a doo-wop singer.  He switched to the saxophone in 1960, becoming more of a pop/funk stylist.  A few of his songs are extremely popular with the hip-hop crowd with parts of Troglodyte being sampled on multiple occasions.  Please spend a minute and smile in memory of Jimmy Castor while watching the attached video.

Continue reading “Remembering Jimmy Castor”

The Jelly Bean Video

Remember this post?  Kina Grannis‘s stupendous video!!  If not, the link is just below.

Music Video Made With Jelly Beans???

The video itself is here.

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One comment made was “What did she do with the jelly beans after you finished”.  Being the shy retiring type, I fired off an e-mail to her.  Two months later (she likely gets a lot of e-mail), I got an answer.

FROM:
TO:
Friday, January 20, 2012 1:44:07 AM

they are in boxes at my parents’ house :)kina

On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 10:00 PM, John Phillips <joebeans2002@yahoo.ca> wrote:

What happened to the beans after you were done the video?

Sent from my iPhone

Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 7

Been feeling really tired here lately.  Winter is setting in with a vengeance (minus 25 predicted next week), the snow is here and no chinook in sight.  Had to work 5 days this week for the first time in what seems like months. All in all, very depressing and hard to motivate to do any posts other than the really easy stuff, therefore I apologize.  In an effort to cheer myself up, and I am posting another 5 Canadian tunes.  Hope you enjoy.

1. Gino Vanelli

“People Gotta Move”

Gino Vannelli, Festival de Jazz Riviera Maya 2009

A second entry from Montreal singer Gino Vanelli.  Kind of sings about what I need to do this weekend.  Gotta move.  This is a live version (I love live music, it separates talent from pretenders) and has a great vibe.

2. Blue Peter

“Radio Silence”

Some 80’s stylish rock from a pretty good band.  This song channels Bryan Ferry and David Byrne.

3. Bryan Adams

“Somebody”

Somebody (Bryan Adams song)

Another Bryan Adams classic.  A true anthem.

4. Paul Anka

“You’re Having my Baby”

Paul Anka at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival

Canadian 70’s crooning.

5. Jayne Sibbery

“Mimi on the Beach”

Jane is an interesting artist.  Quite the songwriter, yet she seems to shun the spotlight.

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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 5

Time to bring in the New Year with some more of Canada’s best music.  In this grouping we find 4 classic Canadian acts, including Bryan Adams second entry, a song by a Canadian institution and a newer rock group who have set some low expectations with their name and exceed them.

;Bryan Adams live in the Color Line Arena, Ham...

1.  Bryan Adams

“Heart’s on Fire”

A live version of another Bryan Adams classic. always electric.

2. Burton Cummings

“I’m Scared”

Burton Cummings of The Guess Who
Burton Cummings

The voice of one of the greatest bands ever, the Guess Who, Burton Cummings.  He had a fairly successful solo career after the band broke up.  This is a nice ballad that focuses on his piano work and, of course, the voice.

3. Gino Vannelli

“Wild Horses”

Canadian singer Gino Vanelli performing in Ams...
Gino Vannelli

A great singer out of Montreal, he had a terrific run in the 80’s and 90’s with a string of hits.  He still tours and is well worth the price of admission.

4. Lowest of the Low

“The Eternal Fatalist”

Lowest of the Low

Great song, nuff said.

5. Toronto

“Daddy Don’t Know”

Some hard-driving classic rock from my youth.

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My Top Tunes of 2011

Raphael Saadiq, American singer-songwriter.
Raphael Saadiq

This post includes songs that were new to me in 2011, meaning some of them may not be real 2011 releases.  Once again, my blog, my rules.  Now that I have set the ground rules, I will not mince words or platitudes on these bands or songs and will simply post the video with a link to their website.  Please visit them, and remember, support these artists and any others that strike you, be they authors, musicians, sculptors etc.  It is hard to be creative when you are starving.

10. Adele        Rolling In The Deep

Could have picked any of the songs on this album.

9. Matthew Barber    Keep It Alive

A beautiful ballad.

8. Foster The People   Pumped Up Kicks

The lyrics are what sets this song apart from the pack.  Easy to sing along, but what is it that you are singing.

7. Sara Bareilles    King of Anything

A light pop sound, but done, oh so well.

6. Amos Lee    Windows Are Rolled Down

This guy has been blowing me away for years.  Great, great song.

5. Cake    Sick Of You

My solar-powered entry.

4. Frank Turner   If Ever I Stray

British folk songs, sung by ex-punk stars with really cool videos seem to be very popular now.

3. Eliza Doolittle   Pack Up

Another cool retro style British pop song, and I have no idea why I liked it so much.

2.  Raphael Saadiq   Stone Rollin’

Saw him at the House of Blues in New Orleans.  PERFECT!!!  If R&B hadn’t been invented, he would be right now.

1. Trombone Shorty     Do To Me

I was stunned when I first heard this album.  Couldn’t download it fast enough.

Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 3

;Bryan Adams live in the Color Line Arena, Ham...

This time out we have a bit more country/bluegrass, my first entry from a Canadian icon, some classic rock and a Christmas collaboration used for a fundraiser.

1. Eagle and Hawk

” NDN Cars”

A North American native anthem, the only version I can find on YouTube that wasn’t crap was the attached by Keith Secola.  Although not a Canadian, I will allow this as a pseudo-Canadian version.  My post, my call.

2. 5440

“She-La”

A Canadian classic, this is also a first entry, there will be more by this band.  One of our best bands, they never got the recognition they deserved.

3. Various Artists (Northern Lights)

“Tears Are Not Enough”

Part of the “We Are The World” famine relief efforts in the 1980’s, this song was Canada’s contribution.  The song, written by Bryan Adams, and features such artists as Neil Young, Geddy Lee, Burton Cummings and Anne Murray, a who’s who of Canadian artists at that time.

4. Bryan Adams

“It’s Only Love”

The first entry by a Canadian icon, this song was a major hit with Tina Turner.  The version I have inserted is a live one, recorded in Lisbon, Portugal and highlights the energy he can create on stage.  Oh, and Keith Scott is great on guitar.

5. Headstones

“Settle”

A 90’s band, they settle nicely into the classic rock genre.  A very successful group in their time.

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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 2

Don't Call Me Baby (Kreesha Turner song)

Today brings 5 more Canadian songs that I would like to share.  The mix this time out includes some bluegrass/country with the Good Brothers, some modern pop with Justin Bieber (sorry, but he is Canadian), some classic rock with the Ian Thomas Band (Dave Thomas of Strange Brew‘s brother), some hip hop/dance with Kreesha Turner and some out and out rock and roll with Billy Talent.  As always, please follow-up on these people using the links, and on YouTube.

1.  The Good Brothers

     “Fox on the Run”

Some mighty fine picking on this live version of the song.  These guys have been around a LOOOONNG time, their first album was out in 1967 and they are still recording and touring.

2.  Billy Talent

  “Try Honesty”

Another hard-working band that made it big world-wide, Billy Talent has recorded since 1999 and together in one form or the other since 1987.  Great song.

3.  Ian Thomas Band

“The Runner”

A couple of things on Ian Thomas.  First, he is the brother of Dave Thomas of SCTV fame, and Mackenzie brother fame, the hoser.  Second, you may recognize the song as a Manfred Mann song.  Not so, Manfred Mann’s version was a cover of the 1980 original.

4. Justin Bieber

“Baby”

Catchy, other than that – No comment.

5. Kreesha Turner

“Don’t Call Me Baby”

As if in response to Justin.

Listening to Foster The People

Mittwoch ist heute,
Image by baerchen57 via Flickr

This song is kind of a hoot.  The band, Foster The People, is an indie pop band out of California.  They enjoyed success with the song “Pumped Up Kicks”, the video for which is attached.  Released in early 2011, the song is infectious and could almost be called a perfect summer song.  It reached number one on several charts, including Canada.  I enjoy the song, but not as much as Lori, who really likes the beat and, for some reason, really likes saying “pumped up kicks”

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