Love After War- Robin Thicke

I was so excited when I got this CD that I hadn't really listened to it when I made my first blog about Robin Thicke.  But if you haven't heard Love After War, you are missing out on something very special.

When Robin sings it's as if he is singing to you or about you.  It's like you get a special listen to a love letter.  It goes without saying any guy wanting to impress his lady should just pick a song and and dedicate it to his lady.   You will get major points, I promise.

If I were giving singing tips, I would suggest listen to Robin Thicke to find out where soul starts and ends.  He sings about what he knows so it is so authentic.

I bet he he gave singing tips, it would to start with this album. It's 20 songs worth every cent.

New Edition- classic and sanging

New Edition- Classic R&B, Just a Sanging

They are coming to town....

Can't wait to see if they still got it.  I am going whether I have to scalp tickets or not.  I wonder if Ralph Trezvant still has that great tenor voice.  We know Johnnie Gill can blow.   

But as a group can they still stand the rain? Inquiring minds want to know.

I had a dream with Beyonce

I Had a Dream with Beyonce....


Okay, It wasn't that kind of dream.  What had happened was....

I was the set of her new video.  As a model and background dancer for Beyonce, I was desperately trying to win favor with the illustrious Destiny's Child lead singer.

I worked my way into her inner circle, to find out she is a cool girl.  She just seemed like a bitch because she was like so many of us keeping people way by seeming more aloof and more evil so people would not all try to befriend her.

So at the end of the dream the video was a success.  Her voice was phenomenal of course. and yes, even in my dreams she seemed perfect.

I have to admit, she seemed a little too perfect.  I think my plan in the the dream was to infiltrate her inner circle and expose her for- .....  That's the problem ever time i have the dream i don't know what to expose her for.  She's to perfect. Great vocalist. Great performer. Great live singer. Pretty. Beautiful. (not so great actress, but she is a movie star, sort of.)

Oh well, Beyonce til next time. I will figure out your weakness.

Rihanna- do we really like her?

Rihanna- Do We Really Like Her?  

I know we enjoy her music mostly and we like to find who she's sleeping with or home wrecking lately, but what do we really think of her voice?

I really want to like Rihanna, but the truth is i have a hard time time enjoying her completely.  The songs come out and its hard not to sing along or listen to it loud. 

Rihanna has a great sense of style and song selection.  I typically like what i see and the songs are fun.

Her collaborations are bankable. Enimem, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj and Jay-Z are just a few of the talents that run to Rihanna first to sing the hook.  (Remember she is label mates and with most of the top collaborates, thus they have a vested interest in promoting her.)

So let's get into.  What do we really think of her voice,  the funky sounds that are primal and Caribbean, the artistry of her sound?  What do we really think of the live performances?

The truth is whether you like Rihanna or not as a person or star, which i don't, you can't help but recognize that she has talent vocally.  Not in the Madonna, I can sing along way, but in a way that takes a vocal coach and voice lessons.

Rihanna is not the best singer, but she does give her audience more than just a few notes, when she's not badly dancing she delivers a very near sound like her records. She knows how to sing.  And could give her friends' Katy Perry and gang singing tips.

I admit for the last time Rihanna maybe we do like her a tiny bit.

Sutton Foster- the Voice of Musical Theater

I am still stuck on watching the clip on youtube for Anything Goes.  It's so great, there are no words.  The funny thing is her rise to fame and success is nothing short of amazing.  She has originated roles on Broadway and more importantly won 2 Tonys and nominated several other times.

Anything Goes, Foster delivers her triple threat awesomeness more than any other. I mean its so amazing here breathing and singing.  She dances, taps, jumps around and still delivers an amazing voice.

It's no wonder Foster is the golden child of Broadway.

My only regret is I haven't gotten a chance to see her in person.  But the showcase on YouTube shows just how amazing her talent is.  Her singing and breathing and tapping are extraordinary.

Excited to see what she'll do next.

It's about time for a new Robin Thicke LP

Robin Thicke- Love After War

I just bought Robin Thicke's latest album.  So far the songs are growing on me, his voice is more mature and still so soulful.  this effort comes with the simultaneous release of his wife's, Paula Patton's, new movie Mission Impossible.

Watch the video, it's extra hot and they both are edging for best looking couple in America.

Back to the music.  If you think about Thicke has had quite a journey in music.  His first album was a rock/ Jimmy Hendrix-esque effort that produced a major hit, but his image and long hair and his race didn't move him into the hearts of the massive R&B audience.

With the Evolution of Robin Thicke, he struck gold with Lost Without You.  The album was a beautiful traditional R&B love album.  Now, on his fifth effort it is clear, Thicke is continuing to push both the classic R7B sound and the more rock/ harder edge sound.

What is also clear is the man has chops.  He does not need any singing tips.  He should be showing, no schooling us how to sing  and how to sing high notes and even how to sing falsetto.  He does it with such as ease.

By the way, I saw him live in the Beyonce tour.  His voice blew me away.  The man is seriously talented.

Not sure yet, how Love and War will stack up to his first two albums, but I am already craving a few tracks, All Tied Up, An Angel On Each Arm and especially Love After War.

til next time.

Maxwell-an underrated Marvin Gaye

Maxwell- an underrated Marvin Gaye

If Maxwell is to ever truly get the credit he deserves, he will be listed as one of the best vocalists in music history. He can do things with his voice only a vocal coach can to help with.

What makes Maxwell stand out is his ability to evoke emotion while singing. He makes you fell every word that is being said. It is magical because he is transferring you the listener to another place. You feel the singing with emotion as if you are there.

Songs like This Woman's Work and Pretty wings are great examples of both vocal talents and singing with emotion. Maxwell balances his strong falsetto and mmix voice with a deep baritone that resonates and makes you wish you culled sing like that.

If You really wanna know my opinion is Maxwell is the best male vocalist is music. He is able todo things with his voice that many men cannot. He is like Marvin Gaye because only Maxwell really sings from his soul and makes you wanna have sex, feel his longing and pains and makes you wanna make a difference all in one.

If you ever want to sound like a singer, Maxwell is where it starts.