I sat down at 1:37am thursday morning to write a song about someone who has been clouding my thoughts recently. Finding myself lost for words, i turned to jazz music to find a key to unlock my inspiration. I’ve never actually taken the time out to listen to jazz in moments when i am looking for artistic aid, especially in temperamental moments, when a million thoughts still can’t find their way though your pen and onto your pad.
I now find myself lost an infinite maze of passion, love, grace, humility, and absolute genius. Artist’s like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Louie Armstrong, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, have opened up a new door for me. A door to a magical world where emotions are so perfectly depicted by music and lyrics, a world where, on any particular day (sunny, preferably at the beach), i can find what makes me forget all life’s dramas – LOVE………..*sigh*
Next time you find yourself thinking about a certain someone, try listening to some Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald………let me know what you think : )
I must LOVE you and leave u….back to writing my song,
One of the most exciting things for me in life is finding (or being shown) new music from which i can draw musical influence!
This weekend saw the discovery of a few new tracks that i would like to share with u and also give a brief review.
It is no secret that here at Jaden, we are big fans of the production of Mr Ryan Leslie. My first discovery is a song titled “Get it right tonight” by an artist named Corey Gunz ft. Ryan Leslie. As always Leslie drops a simple yet PHAT beat, along with a hypnotizing synth hook (think it sounds a little like the one in Coolio’s “gangsta’s paradise” – musical coincidence?) which has my head bobbing throughout the whole track! Leslie is a master of keeping the right tracks simple and once again he has achieved another killer track while keeping this formula. This is the first time i hear any track by Corey Gunz and must say that i am a fan of his flow. Somewhat similar to that of lil wayne, but has his own vibe and as for lyrics, they’re on the money for this track.
The second discovery excites me for a few different reasons. The track is titled “Killer instincts” by Rick Ross and Produced by Cool and Dre.
The first reason this excites me is because my good friend’s band will be heading to Miami in a month to record their album with Cool and Dre. This dynamic producer duo have been recently producing their Hip Hop tracks with a lot of rock influence so i can’t wait to hear what else these guys will be coming up with.
Back to the track……It has a killer beat with a raw sounding live kit (as a drummer i love raaaaaaawwww sounding kits!), great vocal production, and one catchy ass vocal hook! Another track that has me bobbin my head and i’m loving the flow of Rick Ross’ verses.
Third track! – “Believe” By Q-Tip and D’Angelo! – I did find 2 versions of this track so check this 1;
Without even listening to the track i already had a feeling this would be an awesome track! Well, why wouldn’t you……Q-Tip and D’Angelo wouldn’t drop an ‘average’ track.
Once again……raawwww live kit, with a slight swing to make it sound as if its just ahead of the beat. LOVE IT! The key chords are amazing and the little guitar licks throughout the verse are sooooooo tasteful. Great lyrics, great production……and what can u say about D’Angelo’s performance?? well lets just say it’s what anyone would expect. – Smooth.
With this great sadness comes my realization of the joy that was shared to the world by an extraordinary man, a man who will never be replaced as not only the ‘King of Pop’ but the ‘King of Entertainment’ period.
So why is it that millions of us who have never even met the man feel such ‘closeness’, a sense of family, a sense of understanding?
MIchael Jackson’s music has something for everyone, It has something we can all relate to. No matter what emotion one may be going through there is a soundtrack to match. His music is so powerful and delicately pieced together, his lyrics simply genius and stage performance so brilliant that it set a standard never to be matched.
History was the 1st album that i bought with my own money and am extremely fortunate i was able to witness the MJ ‘History’ concert in Sydney ’96 thanks to my mum! Throughout high school i returned home most days to an MJ dvd and would copy every dance move (as best i could!) until i knew the choreography for whole concert. This is the impact MJ had on me.
His accomplishments are nothing short of astonishing and have left a permanent mark on the world’s music industry. Unlike my other personal musical favorites such as The Beatles, Stevie, Bob Marley, and Prince, Michael Jackson’s music crossed through many different genres, captivating a vast number of dedicated followers from around the globe. Not to take anything away from these other amazing/influential artists, but Michael Jackson was an individual in a league of his own.
No one will ever be able to relate Michael Jackson, an entertainer who lived the life of a celebrity since he was aged 5. We may be able to understand his pain and loneliness but no one will ever be able to know exactly what this person experienced. One thing we can be sure of is that this is simply a sad end to a story that touched many of our lives and will continue to be told from generation to generation just as his legacy will live though the many entertainers here today and in the years to come.
Much like most other internet trends i’ve caught onto, never did i think there would come a time when i would be blogging!
My question for you today is this:
“In a time where popular music is loosing quality, being simplified, and is sold mostly on image, is there anything the consumer or artist can do to restore pop’s ‘musical goodness’?
