music u were playing really blew my mind 6

Beyonce – Beautiful Nightmare (Demo)
Britney Spears – Sometimes (JM’s Thunderpuss Edit)
TLC – Hands Up (Richard X Radio Mix)
Robyn - Crash & Burn Girl (Cat5 Remix)
No Doubt – New (New & Approved Remix)
Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop (Mike Mago Edit)
Deborah Cox – It’s Over Now (JM’sHex Hector Retro-Future Edit)
B-52’s – Deadbeat Club
Garbage – Push It (JM’s Victor Calderone Edit)
Kylie Minogue – Disco Down

grammy night 2008

School prevented me from going overboard on the Grammy coverage this year. So in hot anticipation of this year’s ceremony in just 2 hours (and the first time I’m eating pasta in 2008), here’s my quickie run-down of who I call to win in the categories I’m concerned with. We’ll see how right I am…

UPDATE 2/11/08: How’d I do? Updates in bold.

Record of The Year: Umbrella - Rihanna Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Album of The Year: Graduation - Kanye West River: Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock

Song of the Year (Songwriter’s Award): Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Best New Artist: Amy Winehouse (and to celebrate she’ll OD and die…)

Best Female Pop: Say It Right - Nelly Furtado (longshot) Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Best Male Pop: What Goes Around… - Justin Timberlake

Best Group Pop: Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5

Best Collabo Pop: Gone Gone Gone - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Pop Vocal Album: Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Best Dance Recording: Don’t Stop The Music - Rihanna LoveStoned - Justin Timberlake

Best Dance Album:  † - Justice We Are The Night - Chemical Brothers

Best Rock Solo: Timebomb - Beck Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen

Best Alternative Album:  Volta - Bjork Icky Thump - White Stripes

Best Female R & B: No One - Alicia Keys

Best Male R & B: Woman - Raheem DeVaughn (Big up Baltimore!!) Future Baby Mama - Prince

Best Group R & B: Hate That I Love You - Rihanna & Ne-Yo Disrespectful - Chaka Khan & Mary J. Blige

Best Urban Alternative: Daydreamin’ - Lupe Fiasco &  Jill Scott

Best R & B Album: Funk This - Chaka Khan

Best Rap Solo: Stronger - Kanye West

Best Group Rap: Southside - Common & Kanye

Best Rap/Sung: Let It Go - Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliott, & Lil’ Kim Umbrella - Rihanna & Jay-Z

Best Rap Album: Finding Forever - Common Graduation - Kanye West

Best Soundtrack: Hairspray Love (The Beatles)

Best Song for a Movie:  Song of the Heart - Prince (Happy Feet) Love You I Do - Dreamgirls

Producer of the Year: Timbaland Mark Ronson

Best Remixer: Dirty South Benny Benassi

Best Musical Show Album: Spring Awakening!!

BEST of 2007: singles

1. Kylie Minogue - 2 Hearts: I’m reserving ‘X’ to be the best album of 2008, since it doesn’t get released in the US until then. However this song was everything I never hoped it would be. Kylie known for her cutting edge dance-pop, kicked off her new project with a glam rock dancefloor stomper, that the first time I heard it I thought,
what the fuck? And then every time since that I’ve been singing and rocking (and WOOing) along.
2. Rihanna - Umbrella: This song had 1 of the most unique vibes for any R & B/pop song this year. With all the guitars and noise, it was either gonna tank miserably, or become unescapable. Too bad she followed it up with ‘Shut Up & Drive’.
3. Beyonce - Get Me Bodied: I’m a sucker for a good party song. And this isn’t just a good party track, it’s 1 of the best ever.
4. Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around…: I loved this songs for personal reasons, but also because it’s 1 of the most well-crafted breakup anthems ever. And then when the interlude kicks in about 4 minutes into it… chills down my spine!!
5. Timbaland - The Way I Are: Poor grammar choices aside, Timbo KILLED it with this 1. It’s like a bunch of robots had a dance party in the middle of the hood. And this was the soundtrack.
6. M.I.A - Boyz: This song works me on so many levels. World music meets hip-hop meets gay runway meets Baltimore club meets dance. Then they have an orgy. And this song is the baby.
7. Kanye West - Stronger: Out of nowhere, everyone’s favorite rapper tapped an unlikely host for a sample. Daft Punk. The results? MAGIC!
8. Amy Winehouse - Rehab: The first 10,000 times I heard it, it was cute, unique, & catchy. And then radio picked it up. And it’s taken me months to enjoy the song again.
9. Tori Amos - Bouncing Off Clouds: Despite my mixed feelings on the album, this song is a career highlight for the crazy redhead I love so much. If only some remixes were cut for this song, it could have reached even higher heights.
10. Eve - Tambourine: The album may never get released at this point, & apparently this song underperformed? Apparently the powers that be don’t live in Baltimore, because everyone I know loves this song, & barely an hour went by without it being on the radio.
11. Bjork - Earth Intruders: This album underwhelmed me too, but this single was a true return to her pop/dance roots for Bjork. More beats Bjork, please!?
12. Diddy - Last Night: Diddy has been kind of a laughing stock in my book for a while, but this song was a total slam dunk. Keyshia on the hook, and then Lil’ Kim on the remix… reunited and it feels so GOOD!
13. Pink - U + Ur Hand: I thought for sure her last album was dead in the water, and then radio picked up this song, and Pink’s career was resuscitated. Cuz who can’t relate to a sassy kiss-off song!?
14. Gym Class Heroes - Clothes Off!: I’m a sucker for a good 80’s sample. And a fun party song.
15. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Catch You: This lady makes music that someone how is classy, yet still makes you want to dance. Welcome back, dear!
16. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder: I doubted if they’re return would be successful, then their lead single was upbeat, and hearkened to excellent 80’s pop-rock. And Adam is cute. Good combo!
17. Keyshia Cole with Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim - Let It Go: As if the team-up of these 3 couldn’t be great enough, the song is based around a BIG hook. Hell yeah!!
18. Mason vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect Exceeder: The best mash-ups make the 2 songs sound like they were made for each other. And my ears were made for this single!
19. Tracey Thorn - Grand Canyon: One of the most gorgeous songs of the year. Even the remixes didn’t hurt the song at all. Tracey, everybody loves YOU here!
20. Armand Van Helden with Fat Joe - Touch Your Toes: Wouldn’t expect Fat Joe to pop up on a dance song. Wouldn’t expect to love a song this repetitive. Skip the radio edit and go straight for the LP version!

Honorable Mentions:
Lil’ Mama - Lip Gloss, Fall Out Boy - Thnks fr the mmrs, Common & Lily Allen - Drivin’ Me Wild, Nelly Furtado - Do It, The Gossip - Listen Up, JoJo - Anything, Kelly Rowland - Like This, Lily Allen - LDN, Joss Stone - Put Your Hands On Me

why I love kylie: dotcom

Have you been to Kylie.com lately?

It’s had a great update, making it more use friendly AND has more fun things to see & do. Kylie’s team really did a great job of reviving the site into something both useful & pretty.

And here’s some tracks… heh… (cuz that’s what you really want!)
Kylie Minogue - 2 Hearts (Freemasons ‘Ring the Alarm’ Edit)
Kylie Minogue - Got To Be Certain (Live on The Kylie Show)

the days of Christmas - 24

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
It all ends tomorrow kids… and I can’t believe I haven’t shared this next one yet. It could be one of the best Christmas songs of all time, even if it is by the crazy ho Mariah!

Destiny’s Child - Christmas Medley
Since we’re running out of time, the medley from the DC3 xmas cd crams several songs into one file. And it’s kinda fun and bouncy. Enjoy!

the days of Christmas - 14

Destiny’s Child - 8 Days of Christmas
Trite. Materialistic. Craptastic. All 3 combine to make DC3’s first Christmas hit. It’s kinda funny to hear now.

Hilary Duff - Last Christmas
My friend Shelly despises this song. So December becomes the month where I call her up everytime this song is on the radio to leave it on her voicemail. I’m a great friend that way. Usually it’s the original though!

grammy noms are in!!

Okay, so if you weren’t around at the beginning of 2007, you may have missed how the Grammy’s are basically like my SuperBowl (just like Kanye West). I can’t wait to watch them, & even stay up past my bedtime to enjoy the whole long affair! So I’ll delve into categories & my picks closer to the actual ceremony. For now, here’s the categories & nominees that interest me most!

Record of the Year: Irreplaceable - Beyonce, The Pretender - Foo Fighters, Umbrella - Rihanna, What Goes Around - Justin Timberlake, Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Album of the Year: Echoes Silence Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters, These Days - Vince Gill, River - Herbie Hancock, Graduation - Kanye West, Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Song of the Year (Songwriter’s Award): Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood), Hey There Delilah (Plain White T’s), Like A Star (Corinne Bailer Rae), Rehab (Amy Winehouse), Umbrella (Rihanna)Best New Artist: Feist, Ledisi, Paramore, Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse
Best Female Pop: Candyman - Christina Aguilera, 1234 - Feist, Big Girls Don’t Cry - Fergie, Say It Right - Nelly Furtado, Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Best Male Pop: Everything - Michael Buble, Belief - John Mayer, Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney, Amazing - Seal, What Goes Around… - Justin Timberlake
Best Pop Duo/Group: Make A Memory - Bon Jovi, Home Daughtry, Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5, Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s, Window In The Skies - U2
Best Pop Collaboration: Steppin’ Out - Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera, Beautiful Liar - Beyonce & Shakira, Gone Gone Gone - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani & Akon, Give It To Me - Timbaland & Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake
Best Pop Vocal Album: Lost Highway - Bon Jovi, The Reminder - Feist, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5, Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney, Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Best Dance Recording: Do It Again - Chemical Brothers, DANCE - Justice, Love Today - Mika, Don’t Stop The Music - Rihanna, LoveStoned - Justin TimberlakeBest Electroni/Dance Album: We Are The Night - Chemical Brothers, + - Justice, Sound Of Silver - LCD Soundsystem, We Are Pilots - Shiny Toy Guns, Elements of Life - Tiesto
Best Alternative Album: Alright Still - Lily Allen, Neon Bible - Arcade Fire, Volta - Bjork, Wincing The Nights Away - The Shins, Icky Thump - White Stripes
Best Female R&B: Just Fine - Mary J. Blige, When I See You - Fantasia, No One - Alicia Keys, If I Have My Way - Chrissette Michele, Hate On Me - Jill Scott
Best Male R&B: Woman - Raheem DeVaughn, BUDDY - Musiq Soulchild, Because of You - Ne-Yo, Future Baby Mama - Prince, Please Don’t Go - Tank
Best R&B Duo/Group: Same Girl - R. Kelly & Usher, Disrespectful - Chaka Khan & Mary J. Blige, Hate That I Love You - Rihanna & Ne-Yo, Baby - Angie Stone & Betty Wright, Bartender - T-Pain & Akon
Best Rap Solo: The People - Common, I Get Money - 50 Cent, Show Me What You Got - Jay-Z, Big Things Poppin - TI, Stronger - Kanye West
Best Rap Duo/Group: Southside - Common & Kanye, Make It Rain - Fat Joe & Lil’ Wayne, Party Like A Rockstar - Shop Boyz, Int’l Players Anthem - UGK & Outkast, Better Than I’ve Ever Been - Kanye West, Nas & KRS-1
Best Rap/Sung Collabo: I Wanna Love You - Akon & Snoop Dogg, Kiss Kiss - Chris Brown & T-Pain, Let It Go - Keyshia Cole, Missy Elliott, & Lil’ Kim, Umbrella - Rihanna & Jay-Z, Good Life - Kanye West & T-Pain
Best Rap Album: Finding Forever - Common, Kingdom Come - Jay-Z, Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas, TI vs TIP - TI, Graduation - Kanye West
Best Musical Show Album: Chorus Line (2006 Cast), Company (2006 Cast), Grey Gardens, Spring Awakening, West Side Story (??)
Producer of the Year: Howard Benson, Joe Chiccarelli, Mike Elizondo, Mark Ronson, Timbaland
Best Remix: Delerium - Angelicus (Andy Moor Full Length), Public Enemy - Bring The Noise (Benny Benassi Sfaction Remix), Junior Boys - Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix), Pink Floyd - Proper Education (vs Eric Prydz), Kaskade - Sorry (Dirty South Mix)

Overall, some people got the credit they deserve, but there are a LOT of missing names on the list. I’ll get into that later though. Stay tuned!

the days of Christmas - 1

It’s that time of year, & from now until Christmas, I’ll be sharing a sampling of my overly abundant Christmas music collection. Enjoy, and let me know if there is anything special you’re looking for!

Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby
My girl turns in a sexy take on the Eartha Kitt classic. And it’s just the way to start us off!!

Destiny’s Child - This Christmas
My all-time favorite Christmas song. Surprisingly, DC3 managed to turn out a re-invented version that didn’t suck.

a little sweat ain’t never hurt nobody

They did it!!! An official dance remix was made for 1 of my most favorite songs of 2007, & possibly ever. Apparently Hex Hector did the remix, & it’s Hex rocking a sound that’s a far cry from his anthems of the early 200o’s. However the sound is perfect for today’s dancefloor, & I’m in love. Rock it out with the edit below!!

Beyonce - Get Me Bodied (Hex Hector QB Edit)

ABC’s of music - D

like in deeez nuts.

Dannii Minogue - Don’t Wanna Lose This Feeling (Al Stones Radio Edit)
I enjoyed the official mash-up with Madonna’s ‘Into the Groove’ so much, that I forgot how good this song is on it’s own. Go Dannii!!

Beyonce - Deja Vu (Junior Vasquez QB Edit)
This was my favorite of the remixes, & wouldn’t you know it… the record company never released it. Oh well. Thank God for the web!