Song of the Day: Trouble Man (by Marvin Gaye)

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Arleigh

I just got back from watching an early screening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Now, what does this have to do with the latest “Song of the Day” featuring musical legend Marvin Gaye. Well, I’m glad you asked. The song gets mentioned by a major character in the film and gets some airplay towards the end. The lyrics of the song itself could almost be synonymous with the storyline for this follow-up to Captain America: The First Avenger.

The song is also the theme song to the 1972 Soul Cinema Classic film production Trouble Man.

While the song remains a classic R&B song that does consistent radioplay I’m sure it won;’t hurt for new listeners coming to listen to it even more after experiencing it for the very first time watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Trouble Man

I come up hard, baby, and that ain’t cool!
I didn’t make it sugah, playin’ by the rules!
I come up hard, babe, but now I’m fine.
I’m shakin’ trouble sugah, & movin’ down the line.
I come up hard, but that’s OK.
‘Cause

Trouble Man don’t get in my way!!

I come up hard, baby!

I mean fo’ real, baby, cuz I’m a Troubled Man!
Gonna keep movin’, gonna go to town.
I come up hard, and now I’m gettin’ down!
There’s only 3 things that’s fa sho*:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby. this I know.
Yeah, you never let it sweat you baby,

Whooooo

Got me singin’, yeah, yeah, hooo

I come up hard, baby, I had to fight!
To keep my dignity with all my might!
I come up hard, I had to win!
Then start all over. And WIN AGAIN!!
I come up hard, but that’s OK!
‘Cause Trouble Man don’t get in my way

Hey,Hey!

Now I been some places and I seen some faces
I got my connections they take my directions
Don’t care what they say. that’s OK, they don’t bother me
I’m ready to make it, don’t care ’bout the weather
Don’t care ’bout no trouble, got myself together
No laughin’, no cryin’, my protection’s all around me

I come up hard, baby
I mean for real, baby
With the Trouble Man
Movin’, goin’ tight
I come up hard, come on, get down
There’s only 3 things for sure:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby, baby
This I know, baby, baby
Hey now, let it sweat, baby

I’ve come up hard, but now I’m cool
I didn’t make it, baby, playin’ by the rules
I’ve come up hard, baby, but now I’m fine
I’m shakin’ trouble, sure movin’ down the line

Song of the Day: Who Is He (And What Is He to You) (by Bill Withers)

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Arleigh

February is almost over and I’m sure those who celebrated Valentines Day a couple weeks back are either flying high on love or becoming bitter by the day at things not turning out the way either party have imagined.

The latest “Song of the Day” puts into words such a a scenario that those in the latter might be going through right about now. It’s a song by soul and blues singer Bill Withers. He’s better known for classic soul hits such as “Lean On Me”, “Just the Two of Us” and “Ain’t No Sunshine”.

“Who Is He (And What Is He To You)” is a song of infidelity and betrayal. I just love the bass line that goes throughout the song. The song’s lyrics also hints at a sense of malice and and built-up rage at the betrayal. One could almost imagine how things will erupt after the final note and lyric has faded in the background.

Who Is He (And What Is He to You)

A man we passed just tried to stare me down
And when I looked at you, you looked at the ground
I don’t know who he is but I think that you do

Dag gummit
Who is he and what is he to you

I have something in my heart and in your eyes
Tell me he’s not someone just passin’ by
And when you cleared your throat was that your cue

Dag gummit dag
Who is he and what is he to you

Now when I add the sum of you and me
I get confused and I keep coming up with three
You’re too much for one man but not enough for two

Dag gummit
Who is he and what is he to you

Hey you tell me man don’t have not much for intuition
That what you really think or are you wishin’
Before you wreck your old home be certain of the new

Dag gummit
Who is he and what is he to you

Songs of the Day: Let’s Get It On and Sexual Healing (by Marvin Gaye)

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Arleigh

Well, finally reach Valentine’s Day and to the finish line of the romance-themed choices for “Song of the Day”. We’ve had quite a list of songs which looks at romance and love from many differing angles. In the end, all of the previous songs were just foreplay and led up to the choices made for today. I couldn’t decide which song from Marvin Gaye to pick so I went with both.

What better way to close out Valentine’s Day and Night but with the two songs which probably led to some exceptional endings to couples’ Valentine’s Day for decades since their release. So, here’s Marvin Gaye with “Let’s Get It On” and “Sexual Healing” and I hope everyone have a safe, exceptional and epic Valentine’s Day.

Let’s Get It On

I’ve been really tryin baby
Tryin to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel baby
Come on, oh come on, ooh

Let’s get it on, ow baby
Let’s get it on, let’s love baby
Let’s get it on, sugar
Let’s get it on, woo

We’re all sensitive people with so much to give
Understand me sugar
Since we got to be, let’s live, I love you
There’s nothin’ wrong with me lovin’ you, baby no no
And givin’ yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true, oh baby ooh

Don’t you know how sweet and wonderful life can be, ooh ooh
I’m askin’ you baby to get it on with me, ooh ooh ooh
I ain’t goin’ to worry, I ain’t goin’ to push, won’t push you baby
So come on come on come on come on come on baby
Stop beatin’ round the bush, hey

Let’s get it on, ooh ooh
Let’s get it on, you know what I’m talkin’ about
Come on baby, hey hey, let your love come out
If you believe in love let’s get it on, ooh
Let’s get it on baby, this minute, oh yeah
Let’s get it on, eeeeeeeeee
Please get it on, hey hey

Come on come on come on come on come on darlin’
Stop beatin’ round the bush, oh, gonna get it on
Beggin’ you baby I want to get it on
You don’t have to worry that it’s wrong
If the spirit moves you, let me groove you
Good, let your love come down, oh

Get it on, come on baby, do you know I mean it
I’ve been sanctified, hey hey
Girl you give me good feelings, so good
Somethin’ like summertime

Sexual Healing

Ooh baby, now let’s get down tonight

Baby I’m hot just like an oven
I need some lovin’
And baby, I can’t hold it much longer
It’s getting stronger and stronger

And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that’s good for me

Whenever blue tear drops are falling
And my emotional stability is leaving me
There is something I can do
I can get on the telephone and call you up baby, and
Honey I know you’ll be there to heal me
The love you give to me will free me
If you don’t know the thing you’re dealing
Oh I can tell you, darling, that it’s Sexual Healing

Get up, Get up, Get up, Get up – let’s make love tonight
Wake up, Wake up, Wake up, Wake up – ‘cos you do it right

Baby I got sick this morning
A sea was storming inside of me
Baby I think I’m capsizing
The waves are rising and rising

And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing is good for me
Makes me feel so fine, it’s such a rush
Helps to relieve the mind, and it’s good for us
Sexual Healing, baby, it’s good for me
Sexual Healing is something that’s good for me
And it’s good for me and it’s so good to me
My baby ohhh

Come take control, just grab a hold
Of my body and mind soon we’ll be making it
Honey, oh we’re feeling fine
You’re my medicine open up and let me in
Darling, you’re so great
I can’t wait for you to operate

(Heal me my darling)
I can’t wait for you to operate

When I get this feeling,
I need sexual healing
oh when I get this feeling,
I need Sexual Healing,
I gotta have sexual healing, Darling
‘cos I’m all alone
sexual healing, darling,
’till you come back home

Song of the Day: Let’s Stay Together (by Al Green)

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Arleigh

We’re now at the penultimate choice leading up to Valentine’s Day. With the previous “Song of the Day” speaking of just how difficult staying in love can be it’s only natural that this pick for the latest song deals with a much more hopeful version of “Love Is”.

“Let’s Stay Together” is one of the most iconic soul tracks one can ever be introduced to. It comes from the same named album by soul artist Rev. Al Green and has been a staple in the playlist for pretty much every fan of R&B, soul and gospel music. Even President Obama has been seen and heard belting out a verse or two from the song of recent. It’s the quintessential song about taking a chance and becoming a couple no matter circumstance.

This is definitely a song which would be on my Valentine’s playlist for the night which would lead up to the song which would end the night. A song I shall save for tomorrow which also happens to be Valentine’s Day and the final song in this week-long romance-themed list.

Let’s Stay Together

I, I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
‘Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

Since, since we’ve been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue

Let’s, let’s stay together
Lovin’ you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can’t see
You’d never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here’s what I want us to do)

[Repeat to fade:]
Let’s, we oughta stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Arleigh

Some sad news has hit the music industry and it’s fans as one of the iconic singers of the 1980’s and 90’s passed away today at the age of 48.

Whitney Houston was one of the major voices of the music scene from the time she came into it with her self-titled debut album in 1985. Her sound was a combination of the R&B, soul and Gospel sound which Motown had popularized during it’s hey day during the 60’s and 70’s, but she also injected a major dose of pop to her singing which allowed her to cross genre boundaries to become a mainstream pop star.

Her success with the mainstream scene would cause her some problems with those who were R&B fans first and foremost. This personal struggle to both acknowledge her R&B roots and also maintain her foot within the mainstream would plague Whitney Houston throughout her career.

In the end, one doesn’t need to be in the camp of either side to acknowledge her vocal talent of which it was staggering. She dominated the Billboard during her reign as pop music’s female answer to Michael Jackson during the 80’s and early 90’s. Sadly, a contentious marriage to another pop star in Bobby Brown during the early 90’s would lead to drug use and subsequently a degradation of the very voice which brought her fame and success.

For me, two songs which would forever cement her star in the constellation of greatest singers of any era would be her cover of the song “The Greatest Love of All” and her powerful rendition of the national anthem, “Star-Spangled Banner”, during Super Bowl XXV. These two songs proves that she was a talent that arrived on the music scene once a generation and who would influence uncounted singers following in her footsteps.

Source: Associated Press

Song of the Day: What Kind of Man Would I Be (by Mint Condition)

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Arleigh

The next song for the current romance-themed “Song of the Day” column comes direct from 1996 and from one of the most underrated and under-appreciated R&B bands of the past 20 years.

“What Kind of Man Would I Be” by the band Mint Condition remains one of those songs that people always say they love, but never knowing just who sang it. It’s been a long and hard road for Mint Condition, but the fact that even now the band remains together, strong and still putting out albums. Not many R&B groups from the 80’s and 90’s ever last beyond a few releases. One of the secrets which makes Mint Condition always relevant in the music and R&B scene is the fact that these are musicians. Their sound is not overdubbed, auto-tuned and they sing with an honest passion about subject matters without bragging about themselves.

This song, at first listen, sounds like a very depressing track. Some have mistaken it as a story sung about one man’s infidelity when in fact it’s a song about staying true and loyal to that one special person in their life. It’s a song that tells that age’s long story about the temptation to stray and cheat on one’s partner.

“What Kind of Man Would I Be” is a celebration of how true love will always win out over temptation. It also tries to dispel the notion that all men cheat no matter who they are. At least, for one song, it makes a point that not all men are dogs and will cheat at a moment’s notice. This is a song that I try to live my life by and hopefully others would find inspiration to do the same.

What Kind of Man Would I Be

[Intro]

You know
We can’t do this
We just can’t
listen

[Verse 1:]
You say u feel disintented
Cause latley he takes you for granted
Still faithful and true you remained and to hurt so have I
You pore out your heart and I listen
And we catch a vibe reminiscing
Temptations so strong not to mention
The urging inside

[Chorus:]
But what kind of man would i be
If i lived unfaithfuly
And what kind of girl would you be
If you did the same
Cause I dont wanna see her cry
And you dont need a reason to lie
Cause if we laid down tonight
It wont justify on the lovers side

[Verse 2:]
This feeling is strong and we know it
But we gotta see past the moment
Theres too much to lose if we blow it
This is no lie
Still here we are both together
With promises made that we never
Yet feeling it now more than ever
I cant denie

[Chorus x1]

[Bridge]
Here we are all alone
But some how we’ve got to stay strong

[Chorus: until song fades out]
(Makes me wanna say ohhhhhhhhhhhhh)
(Just gotta say ohhhhhhhhhh)
(She makes me wanna say ohhhhhhhhh)
(Just gotta say ohhhhhhhhh)
But what kind of man would I be ohhhh can’t be unfaithful
sorry baby

With promises made that we never
Yet feeling it now more than ever
I cant denie
[Course x1]
[Bridge]
Here we are all alone
But some how we’ve got to stay strong
[Course: until song fades out]
(Makes me wanna say ohhhhhhhhhhhhh)
(Just gotta say ohhhhhhhhhh)
(She makes me wanna say ohhhhhhhhh)
(Just gotta say ohhhhhhhhh)
But what kind of man would I be ohhhh can’t be unfaithful
sorry baby