Tears for Fears-Sowing the Seeds of Love

Music Appreciation

When I was in my early teens, I remember watching this video on MTV.  I quickly absorbed the imagary and the message of Tears for Fears Sowing the Seeds of Love.  In a sense, this has had an influence in my own personal ideology--"the end to need and the politics of greed."

Source: Youtube

George Goodwin Kilburne

ART APPRECIATION

Born in 1839, George Goodwin Kilburne was known for his paintings of the rich and prestige of the 1700s and 1800s in thier luxury.

He became a sought after and well known English artist during his tenure with Brothers Dalziel.  In 1863, his works were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

The New Spinet (1924)

Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.haynesfineart.com/artists/george-goodwin-kilburne-uk.htm

Deee Lite - Groove is in the Heart

Music Appreciation

"How do you say degroovy? How do say DEGORGEOUS!?"  You know what's next.

At one point or another, we've heard of Deee-Lite.  Whether if it was dancing on the livingroom couch or at a dance club or driving lip-syncing to the rap verse with Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, we know Groove is in the Heart.

Lady Miss Kier, Super DJ Dmitri and Tōwa Tei, Deee-Lite, gave us a sound mixed with disco, funk and hip hop and introduced us to a very groovy seventies in the nineties with Groove is in the Heart.  Using samples from Herbie Hancock, Ray Barretto, Eddie Jefferson, Billy Preston, Groove is in the Heart connected the baby boomers and the Gen-Xers together on the dance floor.

Sources: Wikipedia

Sugar Hill Gang - Rapper's Delight

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

It was August 1979 when the Sugar Hill Gang introduced hip hop to the disco scene with "Rapper's Delight," sampling Chic's Good Times as its instrumental background sound.

What was I doing when this video came out?  I was about three years old.  I actually don't remember watching this music video until I was already in middle school.  By that time I was into other hip hop with rappers such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince , RUN DMC, and Kid N' Play.

Back then, I didn't understand or care when or where hip hop or rap originated. All I cared was whether others thought it was cool to listen to.  And at my school, it was pretty cool to listen to hip hop.

It was probably not until Rosie (Ellen Albertini Dow) sang it in The Wedding Singer, when I really paid attention and wondered where and when hip hop originated. 

So who started it all?  DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa are credited by most as being the pioneers of hip hop music.  Their new style of music incorporated several songs to make a new sound, rhythm and song.  Needlesstosay, their influence continues to have a role in pop culture for years to come.

Source: Wikipedia

The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Robert Pittman introduced Music Television to the teens and tweens of the 1980s.  MTV became the outlet that connected musicians to music lovers to each other.  The cable channel also provided a new way to introduce fashion trends quicker than magazines and movies.  Soon, kids dressed like Madonna or Michael Jackson one day and Jon Bon Jovi and Debbie Gibson another. 

MTV changed the world, and this was the first music video played on August 1, 1981, 30 years ago.

Covered by The Presidents of the United States of America in 2000.

Source: Wikipedia

Crowded House - Don't Dream it's Over

I was about 10 years old when I first watched the surreal music video for Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over. The dream-like video shows singer Neil Finn walking through rooms with clips of dishes breaking and reels un-reeling over the music video.  Back then the effects were cool and added visual emotion to the song.

The song is about perseverance through obsticles in a relationship.  Although, it wasn't until 2003 when Sixpence None the Richer covered the song that I was able to decipher half the lyrics. [See below for Sixpence's music video for Don't Dream It's Over.]

Formed in Melbourne, Australia, Neil and Tim Finn's Crowded House hit the international billboard charts in 1986 with Don't Dream It's Over. They received several awards for the song and video including MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and an ARIA Music Award for Song of the Year.

Source: Wikipedia

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Music Appreciation

I was in high school when I first watched Smells Like Teen Spirit. It was terrifying, yet sexy and wonderful. I couldn't pull away my eyes from the TV screen. Nor could I resist listening to the guitar riff and power chords of the song. I soon found myself engulfed with inner anger and rebellion.

GQ article on the "grudgy dudes" from Seattle: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/music/201106/nirvana-20-years-later#slide=1.

Source: Wikipedia