Ok a short thread. Once heard a rumor of @Bourdain oustin a chef for rockin #BillyJoel in the kitchen. Of course i was like “that is a ridiculous musical crime (I once dumped a potential girl I was into cause she didn’t see what the big deal in Prince was) he thought i agreed lol
I meant the crime of hating Joel’s music! He said “my kitchen/my rules” —i thought he was joking. He wasn’t. Mofo posted a sign in the kitchen banning Joel’s music from being played In the kitchen
So of course I was like “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED”
I laughed and asked “was he rude? did he send anything back?” Nope. He just resented soft pop. I mean could he acknowledge great work tho? No food is more frustrating than crabs (especially when HUNGRY) but I’m not dismissing the experience cause the payoff is tedious lol
Y’all know how human nature is, you try to connect on some level and you feel a sense of accomplishment if you can “change” that person. So I went all out tryna get this mofo to acknowledge the artistry in #YachtRock
Maybe I took it to heart because I often seen/heard critical detractors say that our neo soul offerings ain’t exactly the thangs that driving your car 110 mph could lead to (in other words we weren’t true hardcore—and not hardcore like literally but meaning “the real”
Ok i said short thread. I’ll speed it up lol
Even this couldn’t help my argument youtube.com/playlist?list=…
welp y’all know me and playlists: Djn, mixtapes, & playlists & teaching about all the music is ALL I DO so in the beginning I had a modest 100 jawns (the Capn obvious stuff)—but I never gave Ant the link. I mean I knew i wasn’t gonna convert him, but it was worth seeing his scowl
But when he passed I became more and more obsessed in getting the last word in our musical merit battles. I compiled 600 song playlist (I really think I can make it to 1000—and these ain’t throw-a-ways either) I just couldn’t stop adding on.
subthread note: Yacht Rock is the easy listening soft pop songs you hear in the dentist office or supermarket. Rich in melody and harmony. But somewhat saccharin in have the life choked out of it with the most pristine engineering and “feel”
I gained my musical knowledge cause of another musical rule “AHMIR DONT TOUCH THE STEREO”—-I grew up in a place where the law was enforced or else. So I was forced to listen to the music my 3 collectors played (Dad: easy listening vocal stuff Mom: funk/jazz Sis pop/rock)
So I really didn’t get a say in what station is played in the car til like 16 —but even then I got Stockholmed Syndromed
So here is my tribute offering: most Yacht Rock classics and filler. And some 60s pop that was the YR of its day cause that’s what my dad ODd on, and as a completist historian I couldn’t ignore the “Crossover” plight of my people
The idea of making a living w your art has been a hard battle for black folk. So think of the early 80s as their version of the 60’s “white flight”. —well not really but just ride w me—-
The 80s saw a MASS movement of funk/soul artists readjusting for survival in the new decade: Kool & The Gang, LTD (Jefferey Osbourne), The Commodores (Lionel Ritche) The Pointer Sisters, The Jacksons (Michael Jackson), EWF (see post I AM ewf), Cameo, Switch (see Debarge last lp)
& for you “What About Us!!!?” squad yes I will include you too. This is “Dear Anthony: In Defense Of Yacht Rock & Dentist Office Pop” open.spotify.com/user/121485152…
I’ll miss you pal
Damn I wore a battery out. This coulda been my 5th book lol
