Your DailyCrack

Alicia Keys - Wait Til You See My Smile

I’ve seen Ms.Keys perform a few times and she never lets me down. I actually went to her latest concert without having purchased the CD yet but what can I say - funds were low and my record money was tight. Alas, when she sat at her piano and launched into this song I was immediately sucked in on the first listen.

It’s so good I’m gonna just shut up now and let you get to the song already. Enjoy!

-CaliDre

Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

Whuddup DailyCrack? I know its been a while but after a whole lot of craziness (burnout, illness, work, artistic differences, and a broken toe) I’m back. Oh how I have missed you all and what better song to come back to you all with then Jackie Wilson? I’m sorry that I left you and I promise not to ever do it so abruptly again. So let’s just keep lifting each other up aiight? Here’s to a pleasent start to your day!

-CaliDre

PS - Looks like a lot has changed since I was gone. Still not sure how I feel about it but I’m sticking to what I know for now. I’d love to hear your thoughts on old v. new DC tho? Tell me - what do you think?

Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance

I think that I might have gone a little crazy trying to figure this one out. Apparently Lee Ann Womack recorded two versions of this song - the original country version and another more poppy version. They even have different groups contributing background vocals. I was really confused when I found the version I wasn’t used to hearing.

So…I’m not sure which version this is but I still enjoy it. It’s really just a lovely song with some of the best lyrics of our generation. So I hope you enjoy and get a dance or two in.

-CaliDre

Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder 
You get your fill to eat 
But always keep that hunger 
May you never take one single breath for granted 
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed 
I hope you still feel small 
When you stand by the ocean 
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens 
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
I hope you dance 
I hope you dance 

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance 
Never settle for the path of least resistance 
Living might mean taking chances 
But they’re worth taking 
Lovin’ might be a mistake 
But it’s worth making 
Don’t let some hell bent heart 
Leave you bitter 
When you come close to selling out 
Reconsider 
Give the heavens above 
More than just a passing glance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
I hope you dance 
(Time is a real and constant motion always) 
I hope you dance 
(Rolling us along) 
I hope you dance 
(Tell me who) 
I hope you dance 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
(Where those years have gone) 

I hope you still feel small 
When you stand by the ocean 
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens 
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance 

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance 
Dance 
I hope you dance 
I hope you dance 
(Time is a real and constant motion always) 
I hope you dance 
(Rolling us along) 
I hope you dance 
(Tell me who) 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
I hope you dance 
(Where those years have gone) 

(Tell me who) 
I hope you dance 
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder) 
(Where those years have gone)

John Williams, Yo-Yo Ma & Itzhak Perlman - The Chairman’s Waltz
(from Memoirs of a Geisha Soundtrack)

John Williams was absolutely genious in composing the soundtrack for this movie. Each song does exactly what its supposed to do - not overwhelm the scene but trigger your memory whenever you hear it thereafter.

The other reason this soundtrack is so genious is that Williams didn’t limit the genious talent to himself on this project. He brought in arguably the best cellist in the world to work with him (Yo-Yo Ma) and a violenist on par (Itzhak Perlman). I don’t know much about Perlman because I’m more of a cello girl myself, but from what I do know of Yo-Yo Ma…let me just say Williams wanted the best for the best.

I think a good percentage of people that REALLY appreciate music are those who have no musical inclination themselves. I SOOOO wish I could play an instrument. Alas…I grew up PO’ (not poor) and couldn’t afford lessons or rentals. And since VH1’s Save the Music hadn’t made their way to South Central yet, I was S.O.L. But…at some point I do plan on learning the cello. I just love the way it cries and sings. Such a beautiful instrument…beautiful track….beautifully performed. Enjoy!

-Calidre

Outkast - Mutron Angel (ft. Whild Peach)

first off r.i.p. Myrna “Peach” Brown the soloist in this song.  i was going to post a nice funky bbq song today, but when i saw this video about the history of memorial day i changed my mind.  memorial day was actually started as decoration day when free slaves would go and decorate the graves of union army members.

this is one of my favorite songs off of the idlewild soundtrack.  the song is intoxicating with the backwords drum sounds reminiscent to the scene in purple rain where prince seduces appolonia in his basement.  the song is simply beautiful peach sings her ass off and the lyrics (by big boi) are tear worthy.  nothing i can say can really describe the song fully, so just open up your ears.

[Verse 1]
In the eye of the storm
Looking out through the rain
Gabriel blow your horn
They shield me from tsunamis and the hurricane

[Chorus:]
Gangsta ride ride in the nick of time
Soldiers stay affronted then they blow your mind
Bold ass soldiers marching out for war
No idea what we in for
Powerful magnificent and so divine
Soldiers stay affronted it’ll blow your mind

[Verse 2]
Hear a thunderous voice
Shouting there will be no peace
Until our people rejoice
When every boy and girl is free
You see it’s going down
The war is a mystery
But my friends they’ll be better days
And a better way
According to the prophecy

[Bridge]
It would be so nice
To hook up in paradise
But all these things must go
Or are you in the know
Like all the way up so shy

You been a friend of mine

[Chorus]

You been a friend of mine

[Bridge]

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Grrrr - I just spent 40 minutes writing the perfect post for this song and my computer battery dies. Let’s try to recreate the magic…

So…LIKE I WAS SAYING…I went to the optometrist today. They dilated my eyes with an extra dose because the first didn’t work. So as I set in the waiting room with completely blurred vision, my mind went off on a tangent about losing senses. 

I wondered, IF i had to lose a sense, would I rather lose my sight or my hearing. Let’s debate the costs of each. Losing my vision - no eye candy, recreational reading would be a hassle, and television…well…prolly no tv or movies for me. Losing my hearing - no music. Hmmmmmm…

So while I never decided which I’d rather lose IF I had to choose one, those thoughts did get me to thinking about when I fell in love with music. Or more precisely, when I became obsessed with music. One of the first memories that came to mind was sitting on the school bus in the 9th grade. A guy named Gabe handed me his headphones and told me I had to hear this awesome Jimi Hendrix track. Those days on the school bus over the next two years would help me to discover not only Jimi’s awesomeness, but the sheer genius that is Prince (loved him since I was a kid but there are some things obviously lost on a little kid), and some funky ass rap groups. It also didn’t hurt to find someone to rant about music with that (for the first time) shared some of my tastes in auditory stimulation. 

So in the spirit of my random thoughts, here is a bit of Jimi Hendrix. I had to wait about 8 hrs for my eyes to go back to normal, but here it is. The first two songs I thought about posting were a tad long (over 13 min each) so I decided to go with a reprise of one of them. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the kick assedness that is Jimi Hendrix. 

-Calidre

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.
Well, I stand up next to a mountain,
Chop it down with the edge of my hand.
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island,
Might even raise just a little sand.
cause Im a voodoo chile,
Lord knows Im a voodoo chile, baby.

I didnt mean to take up all your sweet time,
Ill give it right back to you one of these days.
I said I didnt mean to take up all your sweet time,
Ill give it right back one of these days.
And if I dont meet you no more in this world
Then ill, Ill meet you in the next one and dont be late, dont be late.
cause Im a voodoo chile, voodoo chile,Lord knows Im a voodoo chile, hey hey hey.
Im a voodoo chile, baby.

Adele - Daydreamer

Don’t you hate when you are inspired to write something…everything just flows out of your thoughts and through your fingertips like water, and right at the end of you were writing - you do something stupid (like hit backspace in my case) and lose it all. Grrrrrr.

Not sure that version 2.0 will be as good as the post I had just almost completed, but lets try this again.

Today, I decided to cheat a bit and give you all a 2-for-1 post. It has recently come to my attention that certain Crack staffers (***ahem***) have not checked out British artist Adele’s debut album 19 yet. Let me just say that I cannot sing her praises enough. Like I was telling Happy Mushroom - she might have just taken over as my favorite current female artist with this album.

Daydreamer is the first track on her album and the most appropriate to post since I was having a hard time deciding. I have to admit, on first listen, I wasn’t sold on this song. By the time the CD had looped to play a 2nd time though, Adele had my hook, line, and sinker. The simple but beautiful piano chords, the showcasing of her voice, the simple but poignent lyrics entranced me.

When I listen to this song, I want to be the fly on the wall of someone realizing that the love of their life is the best friend next door who already loves them. It makes me want to watch people realize their passion, fall in love, come to quiet life changing realizations.

Part 2 of this 2-for-1 Tuesday is the track that made me ACHE to have Adele’s CD - Hometown Glory. I was watching one of my favorite shows (So You Think You Can Dance) and Mia Michaels choreographed an AMAZING routine to the song that you can see here. I don’t know how many of you watch dance a lot, but this routine gives me chills to watch - the power and grace are absolutely wonderful and the music is perfect for what Mia was trying to do. Katee & Joshua are awesome in this performance. Watch her leap through the air and be caught in a crazy standstill by Joshua. I digress…

The show really uses some top notch music. You can also see Adele perform Hometown Glory live here. Its just an awesome song thats different and soulful and beautifully sung. I know this was a lot for today, but Adele is amazing and I really just couldn’t decide. I hope you enjoy!

Adele - Daydreamer

Daydreamer, sitting on the seat
Soaking up the sun he is a real lover,
Making up the past
And feeling up his girl like he;s never felt her figure before
A jaw dropper
Looks good when he when he walks,
He is the subject of their talk
He would be hard to chase,
But good to catch
And he could change the world with his hands behind his back,
Oh

You can find him sitting on your doorstep
Waiting for the surprise
It will feel like he’s been there for hours
And you can tell that he’ll be there for life

Daydreamer, with eyes that make you melt
He lends his coat for shelter because he’s there for you
When he shouldn’t be
But he stays all the same, waits for you, then sees you through
There’s no way I could describe him
All I say is, just what I’m hoping for

But I will find him sitting on my doorstep
Waiting for the surprise
It will feel like he’s been there for hours
And I can tell that he’ll be there for life
You can tell he’ll be there for life

Adele - Hometown Glory

I’ve been walking in the same way as I did
Missing out the cracks in the pavement
And tutting my heel and strutting my feet
“Is there anything I can do for you dear?
Is there anyone I can call?”
“No and thank you, please Madam
I ain’t lost, just wandering”

Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh, the people I’ve met

Are the wonders of my world (4x)

I like it in the city
When the air is so thick and opaque
I love to see everybody
In short skirts, shorts and shades
I like it in the city when two worlds collide
You get the people and the government
Everybody taking different sides

Shows that we ain’t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united
Shows that we ain’t gonna take it
Shows that we ain’t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united

Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh the people I’ve met

Are the wonders of my world (4x)

-CaliDre

Higher - Blackberry Boyz

FRESH FACES FEATURE (we’re still working on the name)

Being an active user on Twitter (as I finally realize everyone should for various reasons), I stumbled across a very talented guy and just started twitting with him. Then I checked out his myspace. At first thought (before I clicked the link), I said, oh boy, let’s so what this sounds like. I come across so much BAD music on myspace, especially if they are in the south. It’s always the same random beat that you can get off of Garageband or equal or lesser value. No offence to anyone, step ya game up!

BUT Blackberry Boyz music, as soon as it came on, sounded like gold. It was actually really good. And he was actually rapping about SOMETHING, and it had substance and depth. This is what I’m talking about, I thought, I must tell the world.  Ok, well at least I thought I should put it on here for you all to listen. Ya’ll should check out his page to check more out. It’s http://www.myspace.com/daveflyer.

No lyrics! Just listen!

Oh and follow him too: @DaveFlyer and the rest of the Blackberry Boyz: @reisthefuture, @GetO2ed

Be easy everyone, back to work!

-@vyrtue77

Timothy Mitchum & Carol Woods - Let it Be (written by Paul McCartney)

this song and post is dedicated to a friend of mine who lost a loved one this past weekend (the same friend that calidre just did a post for).  i was thinking about what song i wanted to post all night then one of my friends hit me up to ask me if i saw “across the universe.”  we both immediately spoke about the cover version of ‘let it be.’  this was an extremely chilling and inpsirational moment that kind of came out of nowhere in the film.  however, the scene will give you goose bumps.

‘let it be’ was written by Paul McCartney after a dream he had where his mother who had passed during his childhood came to comfort him.  let it be was recorded during one of the toughest recording times for the group as they were on the verge of breaking up.  this song really speaks to you in whatever situation.  so for one of my brothers i hope you can enjoy and hit me up anytime.

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy,
There is a light that shines on me,
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music,
Mother Mary comes to me,
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.