Secret Garden from the "Back On The Block" album

Last week was quite the week for the remix. While I’m an advocate of creativity and stamping your own individuality to a song, I do have boundaries when it comes to certain songs. The other week I was glad to see artists coming together for the relief efforts in Haiti however the remake of “We Are the World” shouldn’t have been the song they rallied behind. I can’t say the remix didn’t have “any” hopeful moments but honestly the bad faded out the good efforts. I, like many fans, probably agree with Jay’s statement given to MTV about the remake efforts.

“I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. … So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but We Are the World is [musically] untouchable like Thriller is untouchable.  It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.”

Truthfully, there are some songs that just have a magic. Maybe the stars are perfectly aligned or Jupiter just happens to rise in Leo’s moon – hell, I don’t know, but they have a timeless, “Sistine Chapel” appeal to them. In this case, “We Are The World” happens to be one of those songs. Unfortunately, when you touch a song of that caliber, it can lose the magic and take an awful turn as we saw in that remake. Another song that’s been placed on the assembly line for a “spit shine” remix is (more…)

Courtesy of clipartspace.com

Hola mi amigos!!!! Once again, it’s that special time of the year!! A time for lovers to come together to celebrate that funny little thing we call L’ amour. In celebration of this “unofficial” holiday, I decided to share some Grown Folks love songs. Now, please understand these songs are not in any particular order nor do they encompass all I would like to share – we’d be here forever if it did. However, they’re just a few songs to make you think about the one you love or wish to be with. :) (more…)

“Secret Garden” (El DeBarge, Siedah Garrett, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton) from the Quincy Jones, Qwest debut album (1989) Back on the Block, which epitomized bridging the gap by seamlessly fusing jazz, hip hop, pop & R&B on a star studded epic.

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