Song of the Day: Deep in Vogue-Malcolm McLaren//Avante-garde Visionary//

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9KDmJQjS_0&feature=player_embedded

WGSN presented the Global Fashion Awards 2010 last night at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria, and BES had the esteemed pleasure of hosting the Absolute Vodka after-party .  In honor of our gracious guests and generous sponsor, I offer Malcolm McLaren’s glossy riff, and video featuring exquisite voguing and vocal stylings of a true pioneer Willi Ninja….WERK!

The late 80’s underground gay scene remains unparalled…(considering contradicting this statement?…then please watch the documentary Paris is Burning as fast as you can!) 

Thank you Malcolm McLaren, through your deep appreciation for Ball culture you brought new rythym and light to mainstream music.

“This has got to be a special tribute to the Houses of New York, Le Beija, Extravaganza, Magnifique, St. Laurent, Omni, Ebony, Dupree.”, M.M.

Rapt in Beats and Love (…and “my black tights just throwing shade”),

Benna

Song Of The Day//Hot Like Fire//Aaliyah cover by The XX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaCnHl0XAVk

A couple of weeks ago I was inspired to blog about the original Hot Like Fire track sung by Aaliyah and written by Missy Elliot and Timberland by listening to this cover by The XX.  So I thought it fitting to give much deserved kudos to the London born Indie Rock band.  Along with playing most every notable festival in the U.K., U.S., and abroad, The XX went on to win the Barclaycard Mercury Prize in September of this year.

Covers by band of other bands is generally a treacherous endevor that either fails or at best pales in comparision to the original in my opion.  However, the slow sexy deliberate delivery of the 90's R&B lyrics create an orgasmic trippy listening expirence that parralles the yumminess of Aaliyah's original...but firmly juxtaposed in style owns the 3 minutes and 26 seconds of listening time before you go, "wait isn't that an...Aaliyah song?!"  

Thank you Romy Madley, Croft Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith//The XX for demonstrating such artful ability to recreate whilst maintaining the truth and intention. Your work has shown great respect and appreciation to an R&B track.

Rapt in Beats and Love,

Benna

Song of the Day: For the Love of Funk...and George Clinton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vBDET3kbI

For me, Cosmic Slop captures Funkadelic at its peak, communicating thier point of view on African American inner-city life (note the token white guy...Ron Brykowski, who was the lead guitarist....for a bit....) as being both celebratory and bleak while maintaining a humor which allowed people to digest this strong juxtaposition for the inarguable truths it holds.  
Though I was blessed enough to have seen George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars as a freshman in High School 1994( two decades after Cosmic Slops release), I am grateful to YouTube and the fierce funk enthusiast who uploaded this video.
Thank you for the freaky funk Funkadelic your epic!
Rapt in Beats and Love,
Benna

Song Of The Day: A Little Bit Of Green//Elvis Presley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRAqUBJjdh8
A Little Bit Of Green was written by Chris Arnold, Geoffry Morrow, and David Martin. It was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1969 in Memphis during The American Sound Sessions set up by producer Chips Moman. These sessions would mark the begining of Elvis' come back. Having begun his career as the first notable performer of what would become known as rockabilly (an uptempo blend of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat), The King's career had shifted in to neutral for 11 years prior, due to his well worn stage and "life" habits. The strong new material was substantial and reestablished Elivis’ musical dominance.



Elvis your brave unyielding effort to recreate yourself successfully solidified you as the King of Rock and Roll…and a very adept performer whose versatile voice succeded in crossing and encompassing genres from gospel to ballads. Thank you for your huge body of work.

Rapt in Love and Beats,

Benna

P.S.

There is a Sirus Radio station dedicated completely to Elvis, and that got me wondering how many days of music he must have recorded... I worked it out...he recorded over 800 songs which is approx. 2.5 days of Elvis music...You bettah WERK Elvis...oh right you did!

Song Of The Day: Hot Like Fire//Aaliyah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLvckcTHoqA
Hot Like Fire was released on Aaliyah's second album One In A Million and written written by Missy Elliot and Tim "Timberland" Mosey. It was released as a single and remixed over 10 times for various releases.

I was listening to a cover of this song by The XX, which is awsome, but there is nothing like the original right?! This sexy quintisentially 90's RB track asking the perverbial him to wait just a little longer makes my heart race.



Thank you Aaliyah for lighting that fire and taking me higher...you are missed.



Rapt in Love and Beats,

Benna

Song of the Day: Les Amants d'un Jour

In Les Amants d'un Jour, the legendary Edith Piaf assumes the role of a bar maid who is haunted by the memory of two tragic young lovers that rent a room one afternoon, and the next day are found to have taken their own lives.  One can only assume that the pair were forbidden to be together in life, and saw no option but to be together in death. 

If it were not for Madame Piaf’s powerful committed delivery the premise of this song would come off as well perhaps a bit trite.  The swimming melody under the chorus played in minor key contiguous with the characters seemingly inimical demeanor allows the listener to feel between the lyrics.  I find myself drowning in flickering pictures of my imagined barmaids mind, but then again I do over-romanticize most everything.

Thank you Madame Edith Piaf for your epic contribution to music.  You continue to be an inspiration.

Rapt in Beats and Love,

Benna

Translated lyrics via Morgan Delamarre and http://www.ooltra.net/

Shine another glass, make the hours pass

Working every day in a cheap cafe

Who am I to care, for a love affair

Still I can't forget, I can see them yet

They came hand in hand, why can't I forget

Above they've seen the sign that said 'Room to let'

The sunshine of love was deep in their eyes,

So young, oh so young - too young to be wise

They wanted a place - a small hide away

A place of their own- if just for one day

The wall was so bare, the carpet so thin,

But they took that room and heaven walked in

And I closed the door and turned to depart

With tears in my eyes and tears in my heart

Shine another glass, make the hours pass

Working every day in a cheap cafe

Who am I to care, one more love affair

Love is nothing new, I had work to do

We found them next day the way they had planned

So quiet, so cold, but still hand in hand

The sunshine of love was all they possessed

And so in the sunshine we let them to rest

They sleep side by side, two children alone

But I'm sure they found a place of their own

So why must I see the ribbon she wore, the glow on his face

when I close the door

Be still, children, still, your shadows they start the tears in my eyes and tears in my heart

Shine another glass, make the hours pass

Working every day in a cheap cafe

Everything is fine, 'til I see that sign

 How can I forget: it says 'Room to let'

Song of the Day: This Land Is Your Land-Woodie Guthrie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-aeweP-BFU

On this most American of holiday's I thought it fitting to post This Land Is Your Land by Woodie Guthrie.  This video seemed the right version of the most famous folk song, with an intro by Studs Terkel full of gusto and encouragement for us to take pride in ourselves and our individuality.  Performed by Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and Fred.

There are many ways to look at Thanksgiving...and though many of them are dark...and true...we cannot change the past.  So, focus with me if you will on the blessings...inspired contributions are made daily in devotion to our diversity and unity. Thanksgiving celebrates this conscious harmony and that is something for which we can all be thankful.

Rapt in Beats and Love,

Benna

Song of the Day: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others-The Smiths

This song was released in 1986 on The Smiths third album The Queen Is Dead .  Composer Johnny Mar, lyrics/vocals Morrisey, and engineered by Stephen Street who, in my opinion, cleverly choose to fade the track out long enough to make you wonder then bring it back in again.  Simon Guddard thoughtfully described this choice in his book Songs That Saved Your Life as, "A bit like opening a door, closing it, then opening it again and walking in".

For the longest time the tender way Morrisey delivers the lyrics made me want to believe that the lyrics meant so much more than they probably do.  I endowed them with the tale of a love affair so deep that the gentleman did not notice another woman until the lovers had to be parted by distance. Hence the "send me your pillow the one that you dream on".  Yes I was younger then...

Moving into a more synical stage of life the lyrics became of a kind mockery.  As to say, "so I just noticed some girls are bigger than others but who cares because I dig boys", which I found amusing...still do.  

I don't know wether Morrisey is addressing our breast size, bum size, or brain size...all delicate subjects.  There have been times that I thought he was calling me fat, but that's so cliche'. Maybe Morrisey really did in some innocent childlike way realize that girls are just generally different sizes. Hells bells maybe he's just mocking Marr's beautifully melancholy composition...anywhere the truth lies it's one of my favorite tracks by The Smiths, and I have discorvered that it's more enjoyable when I'm not trying to decifer the meaning.

Thank you Morrisey//The Smiths for creating such mystery upon which I can muse, but most of all thank you for all the really really good music.

Rapt in Beats and Love,

Benna

*One bit of trivia for those of you who may not know... the lyrics, "Send me your pillow, The one that you dream on, send me your pillow, The one that you dream on, And I'll send you mine"...are actually taken from Johnny Tillotson an American singer from the 50's.