I can’t believe that it is already October!! Regardless, there have been some major albums coming out recently, and many of them are amazing; I truly love this time of the year. Recent favorites include Kings of Leon, Will Young, Jennifer Hudson, and the list just keeps growing with stuff that is on the horizon. What does this mean for the five song Friday? It just makes it harder for me to pick what to bring, because there is so much that I am carrying around! Alright, enough talk, let’s get down to the music.
Janelle Monae – Many Moons
First up today is a song by someone that I have seen a TON of hype about, Janelle Monae. I have to say, that initially, I loved her style and her look, but I wasn’t really sure I cared what she had to say musically. Well, after seeing the video for Many Moons, I am sitting here, struck with complete awe; this girl is a fucking artist, and she deserves all of that hype she is getting. The song is what you might expect if you took Outkast (circa Hey Ya) and Gnarls Barkley (circa Crazy), put them in a blender, and threw in a dash of spunky young spirit; the end result is brilliance from Janelle Monae. I can’t stop bopping my head and dancing around; this song is like a virus: infectious! Seriously, this is one of those occasions where the video completely sold me, and while the sound quality isn’t the best in this clip, I felt it would be a travesty to keep you from seeing it. Fantastic.
The Saturdays – If This Is Love
I will openly admit that I didn’t really like this song initially, because of the blatant sampling of Yazoo’s Situation, but after a few listens, it is exactly that same reason that I have come to love this track. They have taken a great 80’s song, and freshened it up enough for it to be a hit for this generation. These girls are a lot like their fellow music scene rivals (?), Girls Aloud, so I hope that they come up with something sort of unique so that they can last; Girls Aloud are definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to girl band pop super groups. The Saturdays have an album coming out this month, so I guess we will see when the record drops… here’s hoping it impresses, and that I like it as much as I have grown to dig this track. I do think that it is funny that another take on a clearly 80’s track can be a hit in this day and time; I guess it shows that all things really are cyclical.
Jennifer Hudson – If This Isn’t Love
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_jenniferhudson-ifthisisntlove.mp3]
Yes, the choice of this and the aforementioned Saturdays song are intentional; I love how the titles are so similar, yet so opposite to one another. I wanted to post a great song from Jennifer Hudson’s fantastic debut album, which came out earlier this week, and seeing the Saturdays song, and the title of this one, there is no way I couldn’t choose them both for today’s selection. I should start by saying that Jennifer Hudson has been a favorite of mine since her season of American Idol, and I have been watching this girl, just knowing that great things would come from her. Well, I have to say, that I have not been let down yet; her performance in Dreamgirls was amazing. Additionally, her new record, which is infused with ballads, pop songs, and even a few hip hop numbers, is a showcase that has succeeded in allowing her to show off her amazing voice. While this track admittedly isn’t the one that highlights her amazing instrument the best, it is a really fun track that I keep coming back to, and one that would most certainly be a hot single if it is chosen to be one. I hope that this record is just the first from Jennifer, because, based on what I have seen and heard so far, she is a real star, and a true talent, and one that should be around for a very long time. I am very pleased with her record, and glad that she took her time putting it out; every time I hear her sing, I am really, really impressed. I do have to say, however, that I wish T-Pain would quit with the vocoder. There is a song on the record that he guests on, and it is just too much. End the madness T-Pain!
Will Young – Let It Go
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_willyoung-letitgo.mp3]
Okay, I am going to make a pretty grand statement here, so get ready… This is probably the most powerful, well written, and amazing pop ballad of 2008. Will Young has released his fourth record, and he has proven (again) that he is way more than a flash in the pop pan; he plans on sticking around, and making some fabulous music while he’s here. As I mentioned last week, his record is a fantastic blend of jazz, pop, soul, and just overall musical greatness. It is definitely one of the albums of the year, in my opinion, and one that was well worth waiting for. Congratulations are in order for Will, who has succeeded in making another amazing album. And this song… well, I just cannot get enough of it. It is one of those songs that you hear, and think to yourself, “wow, that was pretty amazing, let’s hear that one again”, and then you listen to it again, and you realize not only that you were right, but that it was even better the second time around. It just keeps getting better with each listen for me, and it really makes me wonder why acts like Will Young aren’t popular here in the States. Oh well… at least I know about him, and can educate at least some of you about the pop brilliance that is Will Young.
Brett Anderson – Blessed
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_103_brettanderson-blessed.mp3]
So here’s the thing, apparently, he was the lead singer of a famous Britpop band called Suede… who I’ve never heard of. Okay, that may be a bad thing, considering how much I love pop music, but it is what it is. Now, I heard this song somewhere (I think it was iTunes), and I have to say, that it is literally, quite amazing. I have almost posted it several weeks before now, but it always got bumped for one reason or another; but this week, it is on the list! I love the feel of his vocals (they’re almost haunting me!), and the gentle piano that accompanies him on this track. This song is from his recently released solo album, which is his second one. Perhaps I need to spend some time exploring his past, and see how he got to this point, because this song is just amazingly beautiful, and I have been enjoying it for several weeks now.
Alright kids, there you have it… listen up, and let me know what you think. Doug, you are definitely a reason that the Saturdays made this week’s list; so all you other kids with your suggestions that you are keeping to yourself, let this be a lesson to you! Your suggestion might be in next week’s line up… but only if you let me know about it!!