Alicia Keys: Another Stellar Single
The latest favorite from Alicia Keys, is her new single, No One. If you watched the VMA’s a few weeks ago, you would have seen her perform this song and needless to say, it was a spectacular performance, as all Alicia Keys’ performances are.
Alicia always sings songs of love, hope, and positive things. She’s definitely one of those singers that will stand the test of time. I would put her up there with Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, and all those other talented artists with phenomenal voices. Alicia doesn’t have to do anything but sing to get attention. She’s definitely a good role model for young women out there.
Check out the video for No One below…
Music Enhances Verbal Communication Skills
A recent study has been done titled Musicians Have Enhanced Subcortical Auditory and Audiovisual Processing of Speech and Music. It’s been found that music training may be more important for enhancing verbal communication skills than learning phonics.
All the more reason for children to learn music at a young age!
I like what Tim Smith of Critical Mass has to say about this study:
“If only governments, local and federal, could ever fully grasp the significance of such findings. Maybe we could finally see the day when arts are as valued as sports, starting from the earliest school days. How promising that could make the prospect of all the next generations to come.”
Read more about the study over at Scientist Live…
Related Post:
Don’t Take Away the Music From the Children
Nostalgic Sunday With The Jets
Sirius Satellite Radio - Love Songs: Nothing else puts me in a mellow mood - the type of mood needed to engage in some Sunday light housekeeping.
One of the songs I heard today was The Jets: You Got It All. I came across the video over at YouTube:
I get a little nostalgic when I hear this song. Memories of junior high dances standing on the sidelines just waiting for that crush to walk over and ask me to dance!
I actually was able to see The Jets in concert on a trip to Japan back in the early 90’s. I’ll have to dig up those pictures and post them here…
When Will Rap & Hip Hop Grow Up?
One of my more popular posts over at my other blog, The Good Life, is this one titled, “This Hip-Hop Controversy“. I aired my grievances about hip-hop/rap music and how it just wasn’t inspiring anymore. Granted, there are some great beats and I like to dance or work out to hip-hop, but as far as the words go…bleh.
Well, there are one or two hip-hop artists out there right now who are saying
things that actually mean something. Common is one of those artists who knows how to stimulate a person’s mind. Nas is another. Hmm…who else?
During my early 20’s Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, LL Cool J, and others were always bumpin’ in the club and sure, they had good songs to groove to. However, I’m growing up now and aren’t they too? When will hip-hop grow up? All I’m asking is that we get a few songs that don’t talk about drinking, sex, or how blinged out your car is.
True Inspiration: Child Music Prodigies
Yahoo! News features some child music prodigies. One in particular - Rex - is blind, but he doesn’t let that stop him from expressing his true self.
This is a prime example of how you can turn a life challenge into something truly positive. Stevie Wonder is also a great example!
80’s Music Video: Boy George - “Karma Chameleon”
During the 80’s I always had the radio on…Maybe that’s why I know so many songs. Plus, back in those days we had to listen to music during road trips. There was no such thing as car TV’s, GameBoys, or DVD players - at least not in our household!
One of my favorite artists to listen to back then was Boy George. For whatever reason, the song Karma Chameleon was on my mind tonight so I thought I’d check out YouTube to see if I could find it. Sure enough…
Remember back then when there was substance to videos? I don’t watch too many videos nowadays because many of them lack creativity or even a story line…
Drama With the VMAs and It Hasn’t Even Started Yet…
The Video Music Awards (VMAs) are upon us and the blogosphere is a buzzin’ about Britney Spears opening the show. As usual, Kanye West has something to say about that… The MTV News website published this account:
“I can’t believe she would perform/ She hasn’t had a hit record in years,” he freestyled, sublimating the song’s true lyrics with his off-the-cuff rhymes. He then referred to last year’s VMA opener, Justin Timberlake, and rapped, “I gotta get my money right/ Or maybe I gotta get my skin white.” After the song died down, he joked — in a high-pitched voice — “That’s one angry black man.”
I used to admire Kanye West for the trials and tribulations on his journey to being a successful rap artist - including surviving a tragic car crash, but some of his actions as of late has caused me to think that perhaps he isn’t really all that humble. Well, I did like that statement he made about the president not liking black people, but other than that… Of course, that’s just my honest opinion. I know, I know, I shouldn’t be judging Kanye for speaking his mind…
I’m actually excited to see Britney Spears make a “comeback”. That woman has been to Hell and back. There are others who think she’s a “train wreck waiting to happen” and that’s just not fair. All that negativity is probably one of the reasons she had all those issues. I’m just for lifting up my fellow woman - not bringing her down.
Here’s a video of her rehearsing for tonight’s show…
