Super-band Duran Duran is releasing their 14th studio album, Paper Gods, tomorrow!!! I am so fucking excited!!!!!!! In celebration of this I have decided to give you the best single from each of their previous albums, from '81's Duran Duran to 2010's All You Need Is Now, here in one giant post! EAT IT!!! These are some classic pop songs right here, folks. 13 albums and 39 singles over the course of 34 years. WERQ! You don't get much better than this. Here we go, folks!! Some may disagree with my choices and to them I say GET YOUR OWN FUCKING BLOG! :) Girls On Film (Duran Duran - 1981)
Hungry Like The Wolf (Rio - 1982)
The Relfex (Seven and the Ragged Tiger - 1983)
Notorious (Notorious - 1986)
I Don't Want Your Love (Big Thing - 1988)
Serious (Liberty - 1990)
Ordinary World (Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) - 1993)
White Lines (Thank You - 1995)
Electric Barbarella (Medazzaland - 1997)
Someone Else Not Me (Pop Trash - 2000)
What Happens Tomorrow (Astronaut - 2004)
Falling Down (Red Carpet Massacre - 2007)
All You Need Is Now (All You Need Is Now - 2010)
......Vision of Love by Mariah Carey. Though Mariah has had her ups and downs..... and downs..... and downs over the years, she started off VERY strong with her first single and first of 18 #1 hits Vision of Love. Showing off her (then) powerful belt and stunning range, Mariah swept up the public, put them in her newly bought designer purse and vaulted up the charts to hit #1 on August 4, 1990 and stay there for four weeks with VOL. Her self-titled debut would produce three more #1s, but Vision of Love is a classic, y'all. I loved this song from the first moment I heard it. Here is the #1 song from 25 years ago this very day, Vision of Love by Mariah Scary Carey. Enjoy!
There were many, many 80s ladies of pop music. Some have stayed with us, some have faded away, but few had the powerful voice to stick in our brains as Taylor Dayne. This bitch could S-A-N-G, y'all!! The native New Yorker started singing professionally straight out of high school and never looked back and released two singles under the name Les Lee (A version of her real name, Leslie Wunderman) on an indie label in 1986 before signing a major record deal in 1987 with Arista and releasing her debut album, Tell It To My Heart in 1988. That album produced four top 10 hits in the US and made Dayne an international recording superstar. It didn't stop there, queen. Taylor released Can't Fight Fate in 1989 which yielded three more top 10 hits, including the #1 Diane Warren-penned ballad Love Will Lead You Back, and a fourth top 20 single. 1993 saw the release of the critically acclaimed album Soul Dancing and a top 20 hit with the Barry White cover Can't Get Enough of Your Love. Even though this album contained, IMO, her best song ever (Send Me A Lover) it failed to connect with and audience on the same level as her two previous records. Taylor took a break for a few years and came back with Naked Without You and, even though she failed to make an impact on the pop charts, she scored two top 10 hits on the US Dance chart. From that point on Taylor Dayne was mostly a dance music artist, but still maintains a presence on that chart to this day and putting a couple of top 40 hits on the US Adult Contemporary chart along the way. There is still a big place in the hearts of those who have heard and enjoyed her music, especially the late 80s/early 90s output. Listen to this voice and try not to ruin your panties. Here are some of Taylor Dayne's best and brightest, including an amazing live version of Send Me A Lover. Enjoy.
An inkling of what was to come from her Ray of Light album three years later, Madonna released Bedtime Story as the third single form her Bedtime Stories album and introduced the world to her electronic music glory. Co-written by Nellee Hooper, Marius De Vries and Bjork, Bedtime Story is an electro-ballad with hints of acid, house and ambient music tied in. The trippy, fantastic video, directed by music video auteur Mark Romanek, only upped the ante of it's Bjork-ishness and made for one of the most visually stunning works of Madonna's career. Though it just missed the top 40 in the US (#42), it was a top 10 hit in the UK and other territories and foreshadowed Madonna's massive Ray of Light incarnation that would catapult her back into critical and commercial success. It is most definitely one of the most unique singles of Madonna's career. Here is the trip-hop gem Bedtime Story. Happy Madonna Friday!
Those songs! Those harmonies! That musical pedigree! Wilson Phillips were no mere girl group, they were rock royalty. Chynna Phillips, daughter of The Mamas & Papas singers John and Michelle Phillips, and Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, grew up together. They knew each other from the time they were kids and started singing together, developing their own style of vocal harmony (supposedly. Just sounds like harmonies to me). The three signed to SBK Records and released their debut, self-titled album in 1990 and it was fucking ON!!! Wilson Phillips, the album, sold over 10 million copies worldwide and produced three US Billboard #1 hits, Hold On, Release Me and You're In Love, and another top 10 with Impulsive (#4). A fifth single, The Dream Is Still Alive, hit #12. Riding high on their popularity, the group was asked to cover the song Daniel for Two Rooms: Celebrating the Song of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. The cover hit #7 on the AC charts on airplay alone as it was never released as a single. Work, bitches!! At the time, their debut album was the best selling album by a female group of all time. Now......their second album, Shadows and Light, contained some pretty great songs, but lacked the cohesion and punch of their debut. The lead single, You Won't See Me Cry (their finest single, IMO), with its lush harmonies and Victoria Secret-like video (which featured a much heavier Carnie completely covered up and wearing a bed, basically) failed to connect with the masses and only hit #20 on the Hot 100. Follow up Give It Up stalled at #30 and the album faded away. Chynna decided she would try her hand at a solo career and the group disbanded. Sad. Then Wilson Phillips reunited in 2004 for a cover album called California and the sparks were still there. California celebrated the songs of 60s and 70s by artist like The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac, among others, and showed that the gals were still in fine form. They followed that album up in 2012 with Dedicated, an album of songs by their parents' bands. Their legacy at the height of their career may be short, but it has made a lasting impression on a generation. So much so that they made a cameo appearance in the finale of the mega-hit Bridesmaids featured as the lead characters', played by Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, favorite group. I still pop in some Wilson Phillips and sing along to whichever harmony catches my fancy, and so should you. Here are the ladies' best ones, IMO. Enjoy!!
.........Step By Step by New Kids On The Block. The boy band craze was in full effect in 1990 and NKOTB was right at the front of the line. Step By Step was the first single form their album of the same name and it was a huge hit. It spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Canada as well, hitting the top 10 in several countries around the world. The single went double platinum and was the groups biggest seller of all time. And yeah, that's Marky Mark, New Kid Donny Wahlberg's brother, making an appearance in the video holding a basketball. Enjoy the #1 song from 25 years ago today, Step By Step.
I hesitated to post a Throwback Thursday about Duran Duran because they are still rocking it out to this very day, but with such a long and rich history, I figured it's okay to do a little looking back. Duran Duran formed in the late 70s in Birmingham, England. Initially considered part of the British New Wave of the early 80s, Duran Duran quickly shed that name and outgrew most of the groups associated with that moniker in both sound and style. To say that they caused a stir when hitting US shores is a gross understatement. Panties were flying and boners were popping up where ever these boys went and their hits flooded the charts. The boys are the ONLY artists to chart at #1 in the US with a Bond theme, 1985's A View To A Kill, and were pioneers in the art of the music video, practically taking over MTV during its formative years. From Rio to I Don't Want Your Love, Come Undone to Reach Up For The Sunrise, Duran Duran assaulted the charts all over the world and inspired musicians ever since their arrival. This fall the men have a new album coming out produced by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers. Can't fucking wait!!! Until then, here are some of DD's greatest VIDEOSof all time, up to their excellent 2010 single produced by Mark Ronson All You Need Is Now. Some may be slightly NSFW, so beware, whore!!! Enjoy.
Is it possible? Is Cher really 69....and on a Humpday? Ha!!! Priceless. All of us gay boys have surely made out or at least sexy danced in a club to our fair share of Cher tunes, so it's fitting that the iconic goddess turns 69 today, letting us celebrate Humpday with some of her sexiest hits. Cher is not only one of the most successful and legendary performers in music, film and television, she helped many a young man, both gay and straight, come to terms with their own sexuality. Whether through her low cut Bob Mackie gowns and barely-there costumes or living vicariously through her penchant for younger men, Cher has given us all a little taste of the sexual revolution she lived through. Here are some of Cher's sexiest hits from across her remarkable SIX DECADE career. This bitch is still kicking it, y'all. All hail Cher!!!! Happy Humpday!!
Madonna's ballads always seem to get lost in the mix, but we must remember that her longest running #1 of all time is a ballad: Take A Bow.....which is not on my list. Ha. As a matter of fact, four of her twelve #1 songs were ballads. So shut up! Sorry. Here is my list of her top 10 ballads of all time. I did not include Ghosttown on this list because it's brand spanking new and I'll need time to judge it within the confines of a career-spanning ranking. Got it? Good. So here they are, with some surprise live performances thrown in that you'll definitely want to see. Grab the nearest hot piece and start slow dancing. Happy Madonna Friday!! 10. I'll Remember (1994)
...No Scrubs by TLC. I will say this is one of the most addictive sing-along songs of all time. When TLC released No Scrubs I thought it must be about a hot naked doctor, but no. A scrub, by definition, is "a guy who thinks he's fly and is also known as a buster". Does that clear it up for you? You get it. Written by members of the R&B girl group Xscape, Tameeka "Tiny" Cottle and Kandi Burrus, now an Atlanta Housewife, No Scrubs is one of TLC's signature hits and one of the biggest hits of the 90s. It hit #1 on the Hot 100 on April 10, 1999 and stayed for four weeks wedged in between Cher's Believe and Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca. That is the meat in one of the gayest sandwiches imaginable. No Scrubs was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammys that year and remained in the top 10 for 24 weeks. The video is directed by Hype Williams and has a futuristic theme. It took home Best Group Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. No Scrubs was a multi-platform, worldwide hit and a classic pop song by any standards. Here is the #1 song from today in 1999, No Scrubs. Enjoy!
Annie Lennox is definitely one of the most celebrated and compelling voices in modern pop music. As lead singer of Eurythmics, Lennox -- along with Dave Stewart -- created chart success paralleled by very few of their peers throughout the 80s. After Euythmics decided to take a break in 1990, Lennox took some time off, had a baby, and eventually, luckily for all of us, decided to return to music. Needless to say, she nailed that shit. Lennox unleashed Diva in the Spring of 1992 and the world took notice. From the first single, the beautiful Why, to the yearing soul of Cold, the brilliantly gleeful Little Bird, to the swagger of (my personal favorite) Money Can't Buy It, Diva was a masterclass in singing and songwriting. Lennox wrote an album of songs that dealt with motherhood, sisterhood, heartache, triumph and love. To accompany the record Annie released a video album featuring 9 of the 11 tracks from Diva directed by Sophie Muller, with whom she had collaborated during her time with Eurythmics. Visually stunning and owing much to the pure beauty of Lennox' face and her charisma, the video album went on to win a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female at the Grammys as well. The Brit Awards honored Annie with Best British Album, Best British Female Artist and nominated her for Best British Video for Walking On Broken Glass. Her producer, Stephen Lipson, was also nominated for Best British Producer. The album hit #1 on the UK charts, but only #23 in the US, although it has sold over 2 million copies in the States since it's release. Diva's amazing roster of singles were Why (#5 UK, #34 US), Precious (#23 UK, N/A US), Walking On Broken Glass (#8 UK, #14 US), Cold (#26 UK, N/A US) and Little Bird (#3 UK, #49 US). Diva stands as a stunning album that shows no signs of aging all these years later, and the same can be said of Annie. A true pop classic. Enjoy some videos from Diva below.
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Model, singer, producer, drummer and all around cool chic Florrie is back again with a nostalgic, romantic little tune called Too Young To Remember. The pop-rock track calls back to the early 90s and late 80s, dropping a couple of Madonna titles like Justify My Love and Like A Prayer along the way, and rocks along in a pastel-tinted video. Lots of bad old clothes and ancient technology to jolt your memory. Ha. Here is Too Young To Remember by Florrie and get the EP on iTunes now.
Picking between these songs is like picking which Kardashian or Duggar is the most revolting! Delving into Madonna's second decade as The Queen of Pop is an interesting adventure. Her sound continued to evolve with experimentation and changes in her personal and spiritual life. From the jazzy chanteuse of I'm Breathless, the oversexed vamp of Erotica, the soulful songstress of Bedtime Stories to the enlightened diva of Ray of Light, there was no shortage of revelatory singles and remarkable images. Her 90s output was eclectic, emotional and sexy. Here is my ranking of the lead singles from each of Madonna's 90s albums. Again, the rules apply: In determining this ranking I took into consideration not just which was my favorite song, but how well it represented what was in store for the album, sonically and tonally, and the impact it had on me personally during the era of Madonna's career it kickstarted. So take it in, y'all. 4. Vogue(I'm Breathless) - While Vogue is undeniably one of Madonna's biggest, brightest, most enduring hits, it really has little to nothing to do with the concept album I'm Breathless. Full of jazzy, Broadway-inspired numbers, including three by the King of Broadway Stephen Sonheim, I'm Breathless was inspired by the film Dick Tracy in which Madge played Breathless Mahoney, one of her most successful film roles. Vogue was written prior to the concept for the album even came about as a B-side to the Like A Prayer single Keep It Together. When record execs heard the amazing dance track they decided it was too good to throw away on a B-side (NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!), so Madonna and Shep Pettibone took it back, spruced it up and, to tie it into an old Hollywood theme, added the "rap" section, made possibly the greatest video of all time, and the rest is history. But, again, Vogue does not in anyway represent the tone of I'm Breathless, unlike second single Hanky Panky, so it's #4 on my list.
3. Secret(Bedtime Stories) - The three top songs on this list were hard to pick between. Each one is a perfect set up for the albums they promoted and each are very different. Secret is perhaps one of Madonna's most soulful singles ever, and Bedtime Stories in criminally underrated as an album. I guess that Secret did set up the album wonderfully, but there are also a few genres going on within Bedtime Stories. While Secret and it's accompanying Harlem-set video perfectly represent the soulful R&B of many of the tracks, there are also some hints of what was to come with Ray of Light in the songs Bedtime Story and Sanctuary and even some New Jack Swing on the excellent Human Nature. So Secret will sit at #3 on this ranking.
2. Frozen(Ray of Light) - Madonna discovers Kabbalah, becomes an evolved spiritual being and changes the music game in the process. Frozen was a revelation when it was released. Before Frozen and the album Ray of Light electronic music was confined to club and trance music. Madonna and William Orbit gave it heart, edge and even sorrow with their collaboration on Frozen. Electronic music is now as much a part of pop as anything else. The music incorporated some of the visuals of mysticism and Kabbalah as well, featuring dark, icy effects and Madonna dressed in black with dark locks. Frozen is easily one of Madonna's most dramatic and heartfelt efforts and opened the Ray of Light era with a bombastic array of sound and fury.
1. Erotica (Erotica) - I had never noticed that the lead singles from each of Madonna's 90s albums were all one word titles. Huh. Anyway, the best lead single from any of Madonna's 90s output, in my opinion, has to be Erotica. The album Erotica is an absolute masterpiece, untouched by any other album of its time, or pretty much anytime IMO, and the single Erotica set it up brilliantly. Cold, industrial and sexy all at once, Madonna coos over a hard beat and deep club sounds to bring out the dirtiest, darkest parts of our sexuality. The video gives a behind-the-scenes peak at the making of her SEX book, and it doesn't disappoint. The album supplied some of her best work ever and kept within the theme of icy sexuality even while bringing in the hidden longing of Rain and Waiting or the bitchy kiss-off of Bye Bye Baby. Erotica was the perfect opening for one of the greatest eras in pop music history, which is why its her greatest lead single of the 90s.
All this talk about the Happy Janet Trifecta (When I Think Of You, Escapade and All For You) and I totally forgot about this sunny gem!!! Runaway was a new track from Janet's very first greatest hits package, Design of a Decade 1986/1996. Written with her long time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the track is as bright and sunny as Janet's smile. Runaway made Janet the first woman to ever debut in the top 10 on the Hot 100 and eventually went on to peak at #3 on the chart. There is no denying that this is classic Janet and the video is a beautiful dance around the world that will bring a smile to your face and maybe some other body parts as well. So here is your Happy Monday song, Runaway by Janet Jackson.
I couldn't resist following up last week's Happy Monday Song (When I Think Of You) with another happy Janet classic. Escapade was the third single from Janet Jackson's mega-album Rhythm Nation 1814, also was the third of SEVEN top five hits and second of four #1 chart busters. Janet gives an absolutely joyous vocal performance over the funky track and the video is classic Janet: intricate choreography and elaborate sets. Escapade reached #1 on March 3, 1990 and stayed at the apex for three weeks, becoming the 15th biggest hit of 1990. Now settle down with your morning beverage of choice, hit play and get ready to shake your ass and smile because Janet is going to take you on an Escapade!
With the current resurgence of 90s house music, what better time to take a look back at some of its pop-influenced pioneers, Deee-Lite! Born out of the New York club scene, singer Lady Miss Kier, Supa DJ Dmitry and Towa Tei took the scene by storm with the release of their 1990 single Groove Is In The Heart and the groundbreaking album World Clique. The sound was fresh and new and influenced by the clubs and their look, mostly designed by Kier, was just as impressive, with most fashionistas and even Vogue citing Lady Miss Kier as a major style influence to this day. Though they only placed two singles on the Hot 100 -- Groove Is In The Heart (#4) and Power of Love (#47) -- World Clique was a top 20 album and Deee-Lite enjoyed worldwide exposure and several MTV Video Music award nominations. Their follow up albums, the politically charged Infinity Within (#67, 1992) and dreamy Dewdrops In The Garden (#127, 1994) failed to match the success of World Clique due to lack of promotion and problems with their record label, Elektra, but the group managed to place nine songs on the U.S. Dance charts, including six #1s. That's nothing to sneeze at, bitches. Lady Miss Kier has gone on to be a sought after international DJ herself, as has Dmitry, and Towa Tei continues to produce music as a solo artist, collaborating with, among others, Kylie Minogue. It's not bad to have a hit like Groove Is In The Heart as your legacy, I must say, and World Clique got me through my first year in college pre-school. Yeah. Pre-school. Anyway, here are some of my favorite Deee-Lite singles for you to enjoy on this Throwback Thursday. Enjoy!
.....The Sign by Ace of Base. Looking back, maybe Ace of Base was a total cheeseball, but you gotta admit they had some catchy-ass songs. The Sign hit #1 on March 12, 1994, knocking Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me off the top spot, spent four weeks at the top, lost the position to Bump n' Grind by R. Kelly for two weeks and then took #1 again for an additional two weeks. People REALLY liked this song, you guys. You know, not me. But OTHER people. The Sign went on to become the #1 single of 1994, the #11 single of the decade, and when Billboard released their top 100 songs of their first 50 years, The Sign was #51 of all the songs in Hot 100 history. Dayum! Not to shabby for a band that is basically an imitation, up-to-date ABBA. Anyway, sit back, relax and try not to bob your head along to this 90s gem. Here is the #1 song from 21 years ago today, The Sign by Ace of Base.
This song Joyride, inspired by singer Per Gessle's girlfriend leaving a voicemail that said "hello, you fool. I love you", is one of the most joyous songs I can think of. I mean it has the word "joy" in it for fudge sake!! Roxette had a good run of hits on the charts in the late 80s and early 90s before sadly fading away. Their brand of blending American and Swedish pop is unlike anyone else and Joyride is one of the best examples. It was the lead single off of their platinum-selling third studio album of the same name. Joyride hit #1 on the Hot 100 on May 11, 1991 and remained in our happy hearts ever since. Enjoy the Joyride!!
Kylie has a bottomless (no pun intended) well of sexy songs to hump to, but today we concentrate on one, Breathe. Released in 1998 from her album Impossible Princess, Breathe was a huge success on the charts, but critically it is considered a highlight of this experimental phase that she went through in the late 90s. It's quiet sexiness is perfect for Kylie's girlish purr and the video is simple, sensual and all Kylie. Here is today's Humpday Sexy Song, Breathe by Kylie Minogue.
