Black Friday: The Zenith

I braved the streets on Black Friday. Went to a bunch of stores and malls to browse; I had nothing in particular that I wanted to buy.
The last stop we made was to Goodwill to see if they restocked the fiction bookshelf. Also, I had a 30% off coupon. After looking at the books and coming up empty handed, my sister and I saw this standing on the other side of the room.


It was a Zenith Solid State Stereophonic.

It was the exact same model that my Grandma had in her living room. We grew up listening to music on a radio just like that. Every Christmas, Motown and Johnny Mathis.

The price tag said $20.
I snatched it up. I didn't even bother to see if it worked. I just wanted it for decorative purposes/sentimental reasons. But, my sister and mom tried it out while I was in line. The record player and radio worked.

With my 30% coupon, the grand total was......$15.11
Happy Black Friday to me.

Get Up

It's Monday. Here's a boost.

Michael Jackson : 1958 - 2009

No matter how anyone feels about Michael Jackson, his impact on music can not be denied.

And, he transformed another medium. The Music Video.

Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone
Michael Jackson - Thriller

I remember...
~ Crying with my cousin when we were about 7 wanting to go to a Michael Jackson concert
~ His music playing in the background of our family summer barbecues
~ Owning the Michael Jackson doll
~ Watching Moonwalker almost every.single.day.
~ Being terrified of the Thriller video at 5 years old
~Being in awe of the Thriller video at 15 years old
~ Waiting for the premiere of the Black or White video. The whole family gathered.
~ Trying to Moonwalk in my Grandma's living room. It was the room with the slickest floor.
~ When I was older... playing Jackson 5ive records and looking at all the hearts drawn on the covers by my mom and aunt over 20 years ago.
~ Wanting to believe Jermaine when he said the brothers will get together for another tour.
~ watching the Wiz and saying "I'm most like the scarecrow."

These are just a handful of memories.
It's hard to part with a musician who was the soundtrack of your life. Rest in Peace Michael Joseph Jackson.

Rewind Wednesday: Kris Kross'll make ya

I don't know why I woke up with this one stuck in my head.

Jump
by Kris Kross

Rewind Wednesday: Bad Mutha...

I posted a mixtape of Isaac Hayes in June, after I went to his concert.
That was the last time I would every see him live... Here is his classic song Shaft.

Rewind Wednesday: Roooooxanne

Roxanne
by The Police

Rewind Wednesday: So Very Hard

So Very Hard to Go

by Tower of Power

Rewind Wednesday: Egypt

Rewind Wednesday: Simply Beautiful

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

In conjunction with my Throwback Thursday feature, I am beginning Rewind Wednesday. I love using Mixwit, so every Wednesday I will feature a song from my muse, my Mp3 player.

Today's feature song is Simply Beautiful by Al Green. Enjoy.

Synthesizer Just Doesnt cut it.

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Ravinia (outdoor concert venue) invited Roberta Flack and Isaac Hayes to perform on Saturday. I had the privilege to attend. I don't know much of Roberta Flack's music, besides her duets with Donny Hathaway and Killing Me Softly. But, that didn't matter too much, considering the fact that she didn't sing any of those songs.

She walked onto stage twenty minutes late. Because she was on a time restraint (Isaac Hayes was to take the stage an hour and half later), she slurred through unknown abbreviated songs. And, when she finally got to Killing Me Softly, she sang the first verse and then slipped into some story about how she does Janet Jackson impressions.... I see how Amy Winehouse concert-goers feel.

Isaac's set faired better (younger people may know him better as Chef in South Park) . He didn't mix inaudible political anecdotes in between songs. He performed some of his top hits and kept the music going. The thing missing... a horn section. A synthesizer replaced the horn section. It also replaced the string section.

*Sigh* I'll just listen to my Mp3 player. I can hear what Walk on By was suppose to sound like.

Throwback Thursday: Look at that, Look at that

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

What do you get when you cross neon colored sweatbands, a first semester college 3d arts student, and quasi Mario Bros? One of the most memorable 80s videos. Money for Nothing by Dire Straits.

This video came up in discussion while my sister and I were watching a commercial. I said, "This commercial's 3d animation is so college level. It reminds me of that 'We've got to move these refrigerators' video." My sister couldn't remember the video. And, I couldn't remember the song title.

And to the rescue, as always when pop culture references need to be cleared up, was Youtube. I remember in the 90s watching this video with my friends at sleepovers. That's back when VH1 would show marathons of 80s music videos (that's right, they showed videos). This video stuck in my memory. That, and Herbie Hancock's, Rock It. The creepiest damn video ever made.

Now, I need to go. I've got some things to move.

Stacks

Narrator: Tabitha of Pairadactyl

I found a great stack of old children's records over the weekend. Some of them are a little scratched or water damaged. But, the imagery on the records are wonderful. If you're like me and don't have a working record player (sigh) then these would be nice to hang on the wall.

Some of the ones found: A Barbie (1970) record, a Ken (1970) record, and my favorite, a Wonder Woman Story Record.

***shameless plug*** I will be adding these to my Pairadactyl shop very soon.

I am a Bear

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

The video for Hikaru Utada's song ぼくはくま (Boku wa Kuma) is a sweet way to start off your morning of tea and toast. The lyrics mean "I am a bear, not a car."

Follow this little kuma (bear) through his day. Even if you are not into cute, kawaii things, this is good morning riser.

(Not) Cool as Ice

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

How this gem passed me by, I do not know. I just found out Vanilla Ice had a movie in the early 90s. Why don't I remember this? The only reason I found out is because my brother was watching it on tv. I saw enough of the movie to know why my brain suppressed all traces of that movie. My brother, who obviously has a higher tolerance for pain than I do, watched almost the entire comedy romantic drama.

I walked out of the room crying tears of laughter after Ice told the damsel "Drop that zero and get with a hero." Are we on the Ricki Lake Show, now?

Youtube supplied me with the music video for one of the songs on the OST. Guess who sings the movie's title song? Vanilla Ice, of course. And, yea, that is the Airport Diva herself, Naomi Campbell.

Bill Withers, Cyon, Daniel Henney

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

I heard Bill Wither's Ain't No Sunshine today on the radio. I forgot how much I enjoyed the lyrics. And then I remembered the Cyon commercial featuring that song. The commercial included model/actor Daniel Henney. Nice looking (actor)commercial with a very appropriate song. A beautiful blend of soul, loneliness, and realization.

Open Letter to "The Radio Station"

Dear "The Radio Station,"

I am a pretty big fan of yours. You are one of of the very few radio stations that I can get out here that play old school soul. Plus, you play some modern rhythm and blues. That being said, please stop trying to fit old songs within the time restraints of new songs. According to most Mp3 player companies, the average song is about 4 minutes long. I'm assuming they are referring to modern songs. With some of the older songs, the intro could last a good 2 minutes. Not to mention, there are guitar solos, drum solos, trumpet solos...

For example, you played Minnie Riperton's Memory Lane today. Those of us familiar with the album version know that she does her high note part, twice. But, there is a small instrumental version between both of the high note parts.

You cheat us. You don't even play the single version. You played a 2 minute soundbite. When you cut the instrumental part out, Radio Station, those of us who try to imitate Minnie are not prepared. That instrumental part gives us time to take a few deep breaths, clear are throat and get ready to, unsuccessfully, hit those high notes.

I know you have time restraints, but if you are going to cut a song short, at least fade the song out. At least let me think the song is only 2 minutes and 10 seconds long. Instead, Radio Station, you cut into the song so that a DJ can tell a joke, a bad one at that.

I'm only writing this because I am a music fan. I enjoy music too much to hear miniature versions of a song. It's like watching The Wizard of Oz, but skipping the entire Munchkin Land scene. The whole magic is gone.

Thank you,
Tabitha (Music Fan)

Throwback Thursday

I first saw this commercial starring the melodic 5th Dimension on the channel MeToo (shows classic shows as well as a few vintage commercials).

Who wouldn't want to drive an Impala after seeing this?

American Lolita

I had some hankering for Prince today.

Prince... the first American to bring Lolita style to the masses? Hmm. The evidence is pretty damning.

And, more evidence. Check out the gear he puts on after freshening up in the bathtub. It must have been chilly crawling from the bathtub to his dresser.

Retro Love Playlist

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

With Valentines fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to give you a few love playlists. I entitled this series of playlist Modtroment. Mod/ meaning modern. /Tro meaning retro. -Ment meaning Basement. Mod-tro-ment. Naturally, this series of playlists contain modern melodies with a retro feel. And, songs from the past, found in the basement, that need to resurface.

The third Modtroment love playlist is Retro Amour. These are songs that give the essence of love for anything and everything. May that be a person, nature, a place, a feeling. I combined modern and old songs into this harmonious list. A slick list of Jazz, Funk, and Soul. These songs, I feel, you should get to know, or be reminded of their existence.

Retro Amour

1. An Italian Story by Daniele Luppi


2. Quiet Storm by Smokey Robinson


3. Peaceful Ones by Lonnie Liston Smith


4. Prototype by Outkast


5. Girl Next Green Door by Fantastic Plastic Machine


6. Playing Your Game, Baby by Barry White


7. We're Together by Donald Byrd


8. Distant Land by Madlib
   
9. Sun Bath by Woody Shaw


10. Sun Goddess by Ramsey Lewis


11. Heaven and Earth by John Beltran


12. You by Raheem DeVaughn


13. No Stranger to Love by Roy Ayers


14. Summer Love by The blackbyrds


15. High John by MF Doom


16. Sun Worshipper by Mylo


17. Happy Feelin's by Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly


18. Red Clay by Soil & Pimp Sessions

I inadvertently put in a lot of songs that deal with Nature and the Sun. I guess this shows my heart is with the environment.

I hope you get plenty of joy out of this list, or at least find a few new songs. Naturally, I could not include every wonderful love song. If there is one you feel I should hear, please leave a comment. I love adding music to my collection.

Original Graphite Drawing

Found at: The Pairabirds

Basement Love Playlist

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

With Valentines fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to give you a few love playlists. I entitled this series of playlist Modtroment. Mod/ meaning modern. /Tro meaning retro. -Ment meaning Basement. Mod-tro-ment.

Naturally, this series of playlists contain modern melodies with a retro feel. And, songs from the past, found in the basement, that need to resurface. The second Modtroment love playlist is Basement Amour. All of these songs are at least 25 years old. Several of them I discovered in the basement of my Grandmother's house, hence the playlist title, Basement. A slick list of Jazz, Funk, and Soul. These songs, I feel, you should get to know, or be reminded of their existence.

Basement Amour

1. Adolescent Funk by Funkadelic


2. Love Dance by Woody Shaw


3. Devika (Goddess Chants) by Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes


4. Canyon Lady by Joe Henderson


5. Sensuality by The Isley Brothers


6. Munchies for Your Love by Bootsy Collins


7. Papillon (Hot Butterfly) by Chaka Khan


8. H2Overture by War


9. From the Bottom of My Soul by Eddie Hazel


10. Sure Know How to Love Me by Darondo


11. First Light by Freddie Hubbard


12. Heaven Must be Like This by The Ohio Players


13. Sexy Mama by The Moments

I must warn you. Some of the songs on this list are long (some last eleven minutes). So, if you planned on making a CD of this playlist, be prepared to use two CDs. Thank goodness for Mp3 players allowing for limitless playlist.

There are certainly Jazz/Funk songs that I missed. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. I'm always trying to discover new music.

Handmade Digital Piece

Found at: Not Available at the time