Covers Sundays – 20 Covers that Reinvent the Original

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Abel Testefaye, Antony and the Johnsons, Atlanta, Australia, Beyonce, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bob Dylan, California, Canada, Cassandra Wilson, Cee-Lo Green, Chris Cornell, Citizen Cope, Closer, Cover, Cover Songs, Cover Sundays, Covers, Crazy in ove, Damien Rice, Delhia de France, Diplo, Easy Star All Stars, Elastic Heart, FKA Twigs, Foo Fighters, Frank Ocean, Gary Jules, Georgia, Gnarls Barkley, Gotta Get: Closer, Heartless, Hurt, iPhone, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, José González, Josef Salvat, Joy Division, Kanye West, Karma Police, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia Walker, Lost, Macy Gray, Mad World, Major Lazer, Maxwell, Music Mondays, NIN, Nine Inch Nails, Nouela, Prince, Radiohead, Reckoner, REM, Rihanna, Robot Koch, Sacramento, Sail, San Andreas, Sia, Sia Furler, Soundgarden, Stina Nordemstam, Swann, Tears For Fears, The Church, The Fray, The Hunger Games, The Mamas and the Papas, The Rock, The Weeknd, trent reznor, U2, UNC, UNC Chapel Hill, Under The Milky Way Tonight, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Yul Anderson

Based on a conversation with my best friend last night and subsequent article that I read upon his recommendation, I felt compelled to share some of the best covers that I have heard. I wanted to identify cover songs that create a new sonic experience that often confuses the listener to whom the song should originally be attributed to. Common examples that come to mind are Jimi Hendrix classic rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Along the Watchtower,” and Johnny Cash’s iconic cover of Nine Inch Nails opus “Hurt,” which I would have preferred to put in the top slot.

The following twenty covers re-imagine and recreate the original songs. In many cases, they reinvent the songs and the new versions make them listenable music.

New 30 Day Music Challenge – Day 5 – Favorite slow song – Then, Middle, End

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1993, 1997, 2000, 550 Music, 90210, Amel Larrieux, Beverly Hills, Blisslife, Brian McKnight, Brooklyn, Bryce Wilson, Columbia Records, Epic, Folk, Funk, Gerald Maxwell Rivera, Giant Records, Groove Theory, Infinite Possibilities, Jazz, John Keller, Kate Bush, keyboardist, keyboards, Make Me Whole, Manhattan, Maxwell, Michael Caruso, Mondo Grosso, MTV Unplugged, neo soul, New York, New York City, Producer, quiet storm, R&B, record producer, She's Having a Baby, Singer-songwriter, Singing, Soul, Sweetback, This Woman's Work, Tonio K, United States, Vanessa Williams

When I was young, and had no idea what it was.

When I had a concept. “…the angels…”

Now. “…all the things I should’ve said, taht I never said…”

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – The Alchemist feat Twista & Maxwell – “Smile”

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Blue Lines, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Key Yemaya Walker, Koch Records, Maxwell, Prodigy, Smile, The Alchemist, Twista

The shuffle has been great with music today.

I hide my tears from the crowd
By smiling

(talking)

Chorus (Maxwell):
I’m even smiling for me,
Smiling so you know why you can’t hurt me,
Smiling for something,
I’m hiding from falling,
Now what you know about what smiles are all about

The Alchemist:
Gotta keep moving the weight
Winter Summer Spring to the Fall
Gotta keep food on my plate
Gotta keep plaques on my wall
Gotta keep proving I’m great
I’m so sick of it all
Gotta keep a smile on my face
Even if I slip and I fall
Gotta have a mask for the pain
If you wanna master the game
I was only after the props
Really I was never after the fame
I was never after the range
Now I’m like a rat in a race

Blue Lines Blog – Fiction – “Our” Shared Morning in Bed

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Barclays Center, Blue Lines, Brooklyn, California, concert, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Key Yemaya Walker, Little Dragon, love Stormy Weather, Maxwell, neck, New York, Rain, Sacramento, Skin, Starwood, W Hotel

“…like I said before, the fact that you’re still giving her attention…allows her to be comfortable, complacent, and able to take you for granted. She’s not going to do anything until she has to…”

This idea/story was inspired in my mind while in the car and Little Dragon’s “Stormy Weather,” began to play.

The patter of the rain drops ricocheted off of the panel windows of our hotel room. I peered over and watched your uneven respiration as the New York sky was hidden by dark clouds and torrential downpour. The sweat beads were still fresh and sparsely sat atop your long neck. Your neck of a model always mesmerized me, and still did. I gazed upon your back running into your legs, and the sweet way they all connected. We had wasted time, not experiencing this, and though the future sat behind a murky cloud, again, we couldn’t say that we had not tried. Your creamy beautiful skin, still supple and sun kissed as you recovered from what seemed longer than a couple of hours ago. I sat thinking of the things I had missed, you in my hands. The way you wrapped your arms around me, tight, unwilling to relent. I heard your sound, and finally breathed your scent.

Cover Sundays – Maxwell – “Gotta Get: Closer” NIN Cover

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1994, 1997, A&M Studios, Alan Moulder, alternative rock, Beverly Hills, Blue Lines, Brooklyn, California, Closer to God, Columbia, Contemporary R&B, Cover Sundays, Electronica, Flood, Funk, Gotta Get: Closer, Halo 8, Halo 9, Halo 9 - Closer - Closer To God, Hard Rock Cafe, industrial metal, Industrial rock, Jazz, Key Yemaya Walker, Le Pig, Maxwell, Maxwell MTV Unplugged EP, MTV Unplugged, MTV Unplugged EP, Musze, neo soul, New York, NIN, Nine Inch Nails, Nothing/TVT/Interscope, Producer, Puerto Rico, quiet storm, R&B, Record Plant Studios, Se7en, Singer-songwriter, Soul, The Downward Spiral, The Fan, trent reznor, United States, USA, Vieques

Most people do not realize that the “Gospel-esque” song “Closer,” performed by Maxwell, highlighted by MTV Unplugged, and his live shows, was actually a cover of Nine Inch Nails song with has appeared by official release under the the titles, “Closer,” and “Closer To God.” Also played in the opening credits of the 1995 film Se7en and the San Francisco Giants themed, The Fan.



The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Music Mondays – Maxwell – “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)”

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Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder), Blue Lines, Key Yemaya Walker, Maxwell, Music Mondays, Urban Hang Suite

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Music Mondays – Valentine’s Day Edition (Morning)

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Beautiful, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Cassandra Wilson, Esthero, Frou Frou, Key Yemaya Walker, Let Go, Maxwell, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Sky And Sea (Blue in Green), This Woman's Work, Valentine's Day

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Updated Again 2012: Dynamic Post – Artists Who Need To Put Out New Material

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Alice Smith, Alien Ant Farm, Amel Larriuex, Ayo, Billie-Eve, Black And White America, Blu, Cassandra Wilson, Coachella, Coldplay, Common, CRS, Damien Rice, Esthero, Every Opposite, Everything Is Expensive, Foo Fighters, Gnarls Barkley, HotHeavy&Bad, I'm With You, I'm With You Sessions, Joi Gilliam, Kenneth Suffern, Key Yemaya Walker, Lenny Kravitz, Maxwell, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Mylo Xyloto, Nine Types Of Light, OutKast, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santigold Blue Lines, Santogold, Spank Rock, The Believer, The Dreamer, The Dreamer/The Believer, The King Of Limbs, TKOL RMX 1234567, TV On the Radio, Wasting Light, Weather, Zaki Ibrahim

Updated 1/31/12 11 of 23 wish list items from this time in 2011 completed, not bad.
In no specific order:
Kenneth Suffern’s Blue Lines Still waiting.
Ayo – Billie Eve
Zaki Ibrahim (No, “Ansomnia” was it only whet the appetite) Still waiting. Every Opposite

Alice Smith
Amel Larriuex Still waiting. (Ice Cream Every Day rumored)
Blu Give Me My Flowers While I Can Smell Them
Outkast (as a group) still waiting (headlined Coachella 2014) .
Alien Ant Farm still waiting.
Red Hot Chili Peppers I’m With You (still growing n me) and I’m With You Sessions (much better material)
Foo Fighters (yeah, you say you are, prove it) Wasting Light (LOVE)
Common The Dreamer, The Believer
Radiohead The King Of Limbs and remix album TKOL RMX 1234567
Coldplay Mylo Xyloto (ehh)
Cassandra Wilson
CRS (Waiting on the album) gave up.
Maxwell (I thought this was a 3 album series) gave up
Damien Rice.
Gnarls Barkley (Cee-Lo the solo album was cool, but we need more Gnarls) still waiting.
Esthero (ummmm yeah…) still waiting. Everything Is Expensive
Joi Gilliam (HotHeavy&Bad, need it) want Joi only, however HotHeavy&Bad had mix tape that was my NYC soundtrack.
Lenny Kravitz Black And White America
Me’Shell Ndegeocello Weather
TV On The Radio Nine Types Of Light
Santogold/Santigold some appearances, and will be at Coachella, great performance and new album Master of My Make-Believe

The manuscript Blue Lines is the fictional coming of age narrative of a young California woman Key Yemaya Walker, and her 2 year growing journey through school, love, and life period piece, written by Kenneth Suffern, Jr., taking place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between the years of 1997 – 1998. Loosely based on true events, and experiences during that time, told through the eyes and voice of the main female protagonist, a freshman first attending the school.

Road Tripping – GSU vs Alabama iPod Playlist

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Aaron Lewis, Alicia Keys, Band Of Horses, Björk, Blu, Blu & Exile, Bozoo Bajou, Bush, Cee Lo, Cee-Lo Green, Citizen Cope, Coldplay, Corinne Bailey Rae, Des’ree, Esthero, Georgia State University, Georgia State University Athletics, GSU, GSU Football, GSU Panthers, James Blunt, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Keegan Dewitt, Kelis, Los Claxons, Maxwell, Mogwai, Mos Def, Mychael Danna, Noreaga, Paty Cantu, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, Staind, The Gracious Few, Tori Amos

My Playlist on the way to and back from Tuscaloosa for our last game of the Inaugural Goergia State Panthers Football Season.
Complicated – Rihanna
No Greater Love – Blue and Exile
Afortunadamente No Eres Tu – Paty Cantu
I Can’t Hear The Music – James Blunt
Tal Vez Me Estoy Tomando el Pelo – Los Claxons
Closer – The Gracious Few
I Miss You – Bjork
Body In The Trunk – Noreaga
Golden Porsche – Mogwai
Way Down – Bozoo Bajou
Trouble (acoustic live) – Coldplay
Kalifornia – Mos Def
Kissing You – Des’ree
Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gone – Esthero feat Cee-Lo
Venus As A Boy (Q Covermount)/Bjork Cover – Corinne Bailey Rae
That’s The Truth – Joi

My 2009 Superlatives: Music

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50 Cent, 9/11, Andy Allo, Antony and the Johnsons, BLACKsummers'night, Blueprint III, Chrisette Michelle, Common, Jay-Z, John Frusciante, Kanye West, KiD CuDi, Kip Malone, Lil Wayne, Maxwell, Michael Jackson, Mr. Hudson, music, ODB, Prom Queen, Raekwon, Rain Machine, Revel The Masses, Santogold, Silversun Pickups, Spike Jonze, Straight No Chaser, Swoon, The Rebirth, TV On the Radio, Unfresh, Va$tie, War Child, Wu-Tang Clan

Alternative album of the Year: Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Hip-Hop Album of the Year: Mos Def – The Estatic

Best Indie Artist of Year (just dropping songs): Blu

The female artists that you should like because she’s good, not because everybody tells you that you should of the Year (the Joi Gilliam Award): Andy Allo – Unfresh

Mixtape of the year 50 Cent – War Child (better than his album)

Hot Album of the Year that I can’t quantify: Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light

Best Video of Year (longform): Kanye West/Spike Jonze “We Were Once A Fairytale”

Going Solo Album of Year: TVoTR’s Kip Malone – Rain Machine

Surprising Sequel to a Classic 90’s Album: Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx Pt II (I can’t even do most Wu-Tang anymore, but they produced a winner here)

Experimental Album of the Year: NASA – The Spirit of Apollo (appearances by ODB, Kanye West, John Fruciante, and Santogold do not hurt) Runner up Basement Jaxx – Scars

Spanish language Album of Year: Nelly Furtado – Mi Plan

Album that “everybody” is “supposed” to love and not criticize of the Year: Jay-Z – BPIII

Guilty pleasure song of year Lil’ Wayne – Prom Queen (Gulity pleasure album the as of yet unrealeased Rebirth)

Best “music” blog (tie): Va$htie (http://www.vashtie.com/blog/) / Kanye blog (http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/) 

Most slept on album of the Year: Mr. Hudson – Straight No Chaser (aka 2009’s 808 and Heartbreaks)

Comeback Album of the Year: Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night

Best Insight into a band of the Year: Revel The Masses (http://www.myspace.com/revelthemasses)

Rainy Day/Chilling at House/Writing album of Year: Norah Jones – The Fall

Best concert of Year I didn’t attend: Jay-Z 9/11 Tribute concert at MSG

Concert of the Year: Maxwell/Common/Chrisette Michelle BLACKsummers’night Tour (Runner up Coldplay at Philips Arena)

Musical event of the Year: Death of Michael Jackson

Album of the Year:KiD CuDi – MAN on the MOON: the END of DAY

Artist of the Year: Michael Jackson