My first #ThrowbackTrackThursday song was inspired by Justin Timberlake’s single “Filthy”. In that same week, Bruno Mars released a remix of his song “Finesse” that included a Cardi B feature. Hearing that remix for the first time took my ears back to the beats of the New Jack era and one of my favourite groups from that era (particularly ones that used similar drum tracks to the ones echoing in the “Finesse” remix), Boyz II Men. Boyz II Men, back in the day, was a four piece that demonstrated vocal prowess over Bell Biv Devoe’s Michael Bivins’ inspired beats. “Motownphilly”, in particular, was the first song that introduced me to Boyz II Men and the beauty of a capella harmonies mixed with danceable drum lines. My appreciation for their music inspired my first and only fan driven writings to MuchMusic for Master T’s RSVP show to play more of the “Motownphilly” music video at a time I knew I’d probably be able to watch it on television. Back in the day when MuchMusic actually played music videos, interviewed musicians, and featured live music performances. Back in the day when music came in a variety of tangible formats, compact discs still just making their forays into the market and the cassette tape was still a popular medium for many musicians to share their songs. The fact that the music video for “Motownphilly” showed a group of guys who could sing, harmonise, and create upbeat, uptempo music was an irresistible combination.
Author Archives: K
Tune of the Tuesday: “Girlfriend” – Anderson East
There’s a rasp and growl to Anderson East’s voice in this song that suggests Ray Lamontagne in style mixed with the groove and grit of soulful keys and horns. The theme of the song is one evoked before and one that will be echoed in the future, but the level of swag that East gives in this song is delicious ear candy. One line over the driving beats, and I find myself trying to stop from visibly bobbing my head to the rhythm as I move through my day with the song in my ears. A catchy collection of chords indeed.
Throwback Track Thursday: “Raspberry Beret” – Prince
To get more of my musical memories and musings in a place I can look back to, I’m trying to write more on that site. To help with the inspirations behind the moments, I am challenging myself to at least post on specific days, leaving random musically-related musings to be posted at whim. So starting this year, I have opted to co-opt the ubiquitous Throwback Thursday hashtag trend into a Throwback Track Thursday on this site.
Today’s #ThrowbackTrackThursday is one I dedicate to the phenomenon that is Prince. Admittedly, his name comes to mind today in particular while I listened to Justin Timberlake’s new track “Filthy”… and the beats and bass suggested the influence of his Purpleness to me for reasons perhaps only my aural memories can explain. Of the many tracks Prince influenced, inspired, and wrote… “Raspberry Beret” is the one I choose for today. Because not only was the original track a fond memory of my younger self, but it has also generated great covers by artists I dig in their own rights as well. See: Hindu Love Gods. Matt Nathanson. Chris Martin.
Throwback Track: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
The Proclaimers’ song, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) has been in my head as of late, not because of its frequency on radio stations or on playlists, but how the meaning of the song to me came and affected me moreso of late.
It’s easy to be with someone when things are going well, but it’s always telling who is around when times are less ideal. As I sat in a car driving three hours to try to be there for a friend, I was reminded of the song in how myself and others travelled the distance without question, travelling to and from in a day, just to try and provide what comfort we could in person rather than texted words or phone conversation. Length of the friendship had no role to play in whether we chose to go. Our friend was easily someone we would do whatever we could for however long we were able.
Back in high school, the song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” was a staple to my music back then. In many of the yearbook entries that year, quoted song lyrics were part of how I expressed sentiment. And while many of those persons I quoted lyrics about are not in my life, the song reminds me of the less complicated times and friendships of them that worked in high school if not anywhere else.
Whenever I hear the song, it brings back fond memories. A musical time capsule as well as a reminder to me to be there in the present for people I care about. A good song doing good things, I think.
Where I Started: Wide Mouth Mason
I remember the first moments of being aware of the Canadian rock band, Wide Mouth Mason. Back in the day when music channels actually played music videos and did music interviews (as opposed to the plethora of reality shows and dated March view typically airing on a music television channel near you), I recall a MuchMusic VJ doing a brief interview with the band before throwing to Wide Mouth Mason’s music video for the song “Midnight Rain”. That video struck a chord, but it wasn’t until an acquaintance started raving about Wide Mouth Mason, deeming the band amongst their favourites that my knowledge of the band got a bit deeper.
Although I regretfully couldn’t enjoy much of early Wide Mouth Mason performances live, my Wide Mouth Mason CD collection grew. I’ve enjoyed the musical permutations of the band Wide Mouth Mason proper, as well as the musical tangents members of Wide Mouth Mason became involved in as time passed. I mourned the departure of original bassist and co-founder Earl Pereira, yet also rejoiced in the bassists that helped Wide Mouth Mason maintain its live performance grit. When Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar frontman and past Wide Mouth Mason producer) opted to join Wide Mouth Mason as its permanent bassist, my favourite band ever became even better! To this day, being the completist collector I am, I have every single recording ever done by Wide Mouth Mason. And I love that their music always remains amazing to me, never boring.
What I’m Listening to Lately: McFly
There are definitely some benefits to discovering a band later than the usual, the most being that one can binge-listen to the catalogue available at the time without the usual wait for a new album with new music. Since a later discovery means everything is new to you!
I’m not particularly ageist in my musical listenings, thankfully, so when I started really listening to the catchy tunes and covers of a UK band named The Vamps, their decision to do two McFly covers on The Vamps YouTube channel had me curious about the original being covered. Thus, I searched for and found the music of McFly.
With some chagrin, I realised that I had inadvertently been introduced to a bit of the McFly music via the viral videos of McFly’s Tom Fletcher. I’d no idea that Tom’s wedding speech video was based on McFly melodies and the more I listened, the more McFly music that became part of my collection.
Without The Vamps, I might not have known of McFly. And now I join others in waiting for hopefully more McFly music.
Rainy Days
The weather outside is cold and wet, the rain reminding me of songs in my music listening history that are about the sometimes inclement weather. Here are ten songs about rain that came to mind, in no particular order:
- East 17 – “Let It Rain”
- Prince – “Purple Rain”
- Bruno Mars – “It Will Rain”
- The Beatles – “Rain”
- Wide Mouth Mason – “Midnight Rain”
- Adele – “Set Fire To The Rain”
- Blind Melon – “No Rain”
- Nelson – “After The Rain”
- Wide Mouth Mason – “Rained Out Parade”
- Eddie Rabbit – “I Love A Rainy Night”
First Times…
Other than the children’s albums by Anne Murray and Raffi that my parents bought as LPs and the complimentary 45 single I got on a visit to Disneyland and played on my Fisher-Price record player, much of the music I introduced myself to came from the library. I remember flipping through records in bins, pulling any album cover or track listing that seemed interesting and then bringing it home for an initial spin on the same childhood record player that 45 spin on. Atlantic Start. The Northern Pikes. The Shuffle Demons. Rob Bass. Glenn Medeiros. My ears opened up a lot in those years all for the price of a library card.
Re-grooving.
One of the things I want to remember as I get older is the music that captures my mind, be it the records and cassette tapes of a younger self to the digital tunes and the search for tangible forms of great music I want to keep in something more than an upgraded hard drive/smartphone. I’m unabashedly an admirer and consumer of all that is aurally pleasing to me. In my own world, from the spaces in life that I choose to fill with music, there are only two types. Good music. And the rest that will never really be beats that I want to belong to me.
Soundtracks of a Life 