Music Monday 94 :: Gil Scott-Heron (remembrance)

Music Monday 94 :: Gil Scott-Heron (remembrance)

From Indy Hip Hop World: Gil Scott-Heron Dies

RIP Gil Scott-Heron: 3 YouTube Videos to Remember Him By

Gil Scott-Heron died on Friday, May 27, 2011.

From Mashable:

RIP Gil Scott-Heron: 3 YouTube Videos to Remember Him By
http://mashable.com/2011/05/28/gil-scott-heron-videos/

Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On': Songs We Love

Nice retro look at Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On ...":

Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On': Songs We Love
by Michael Katzif and NPR Staff
NPR - May 21, 2011

Marvin Gaye's masterpiece What's Going On turns 40 on Saturday. Click the link above to hear Gaye biographer David Ritz evaluate the album and its legacy on Weekend Edition Saturday.

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On was an instant classic, as well as one of the most influential records from a passionate and enduring icon. Released on May 21, 1971, the album is an introspective, politically charged nine-piece song cycle that addresses the ravages of the Vietnam War, urban decay, drug abuse, civil unrest and injustice. Gaye was singing to his generation in an effort to wake people up to the struggles no one was willing to discuss at that time. But these songs are universal; they've transcended their time and place. Listen carefully and you'll notice how much they still resonate.

While What's Going On ranks among the best R&B records to so openly and artfully reflect such social consciousness, it was not the last of its kind. What's Going On has become a template for how to marry a strong message with a pop sensibility in order to reach as large an audience as possible. Gaye's songs are filled with sophisticated yet instantly recognizable hooks and languid, jazz-inflected funk grooves that would keep anyone dancing and singing along. If it weren't for Gaye's skillful songcraft, his message might have been lost. Thankfully, 40 years later, this music lives on.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of What's Going On, Motown is reissuing a new "Super Deluxe Edition" of the record, complete with unreleased tracks and rarities. Most of these songs will be immediately familiar, so NPR Music has assembled a panel of Marvin Gaye fans to reflect on the album and its legacy. [Copyright 2011 National Public Radio]

My iPad and My Notes

My iPad and My Notes

I've been using my iPad for nearly six months now and I've grown to like it a lot (though this is only my second post about my iPad; see my first iPad blog post). It has some pluses and minuses, but in the end, I'd rather have it than not. Even though I don't have the 3G; that's my only regret about purchasing the first generation model.

But if I could make an adjustment, I'd make a simple keyboard update:

• There's a need for arrow keys; having to backspace or highlight a long word just to change one letter is a bit cumbersome and annoying. Usually the cursor will only set at the end or the beginning of a word. I just think arrow keys might be easier to maneuver.

One program that I'm starting to love is the Notes app that comes downloaded on the iPad. At first, I thought it wasn't a big deal, but now I know otherwise. The key here is that every note that you type gets emailed to the email account that you have tethered to the iPad. Even if you update an old note, a new email is sent with the updated notes.  Also, in my Gmail where the notes are sent, they are automatically labeled 'notes' with a label.

I've been typing a lot of notes, so when I discovered that all of the notes were in my Gmail, I was ecstatic.

One of my notes from the Broadcast Education Assn Conference, April, 2011

One downside of notes that I noticed is that when I emailed a note to my Tumblr account, the notes format did not transfer as it was displayed on the note in the iPad. That could be a Tumblr issue; I'm not sure. But knowing that the notes are in my Gmail, I can just email the notes from Gmail to post to Tumblr.  At the time, however, I was attending a conference and wanted to post my notes from the conference immediately; that did not work out so well.

Additionally, I'd like to see a few basic features for Notes; really just font related. The ability to increase the font size, bold, italicize, maybe add color. That would be nice.

Music Monday 93 :: Beyonce "Run the World (Girls)"

Music Monday 93 :: Beyonce "Run the World (Girls)"

If not feelin this song or this video. My disdain for the video is that Beyonce should move away from this crawling on the ground thing. I'm thinking that she thinks it's sexy or someone told her it's sexy or both. It may have been sexy a few videos ago, but it's played out now.

As for the song, for the most part it sounds empty; something sort of grabbed me midway through, but it did not grab my attention from the beginning. It sort of seems like she's trying to to "Survivor" and "Single Ladies," but it's not really working this time.

At Beyonce's level, I do expect more and I mean more than just changing your clothes several times in a a video. Now, the high heels, dancing, in the sand ... well, I'll give her props for that.

Music Monday 92 :: Common "The Light"

Music Monday 92 :: Common "The Light"

With all the talk of @Common in the news, thought I'd throw my iron in the fire.
Love this track "The Light." You'll like it too.

Common's "The Light"

Music Monday 91: Robert Glasper Trio "Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation"

Music Monday 91:: Robert Glasper Trio "Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation"

Discovered this gem while checking out the 2011 Tri-C JazzFest schedule (Cleveland). Love that the young folks have not abandoned the jazz genre. The Robert Glasper Trio also weaves in some hip hop too.

Check out this video and enjoy:
YouTube - WBGO Studio Session: Robert Glasper Trio - "Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation":

Music Monday 90 :: Raphael Saadiq "Heart Attack"

Music Monday 90 :: Raphael Saadiq "Heart Attack"

My bestie, April Baer's hubby put me on to this. His name is Ryan White and he knows a little bit about music.

No need for me to give all the props to Whitey, as we so affectionately call him. It's Raphael Saadiq who I should be gushing over.

I love the feel of this song: a bit old school and velvety and just the right tempo. You'll see what I mean:

• Raphael Saadiq's "Heart Attack" via NPR (the entire album/cd/project is there for you to listen to or purchase).