Throwing it back to 1971 today with my man Al Green and his song “Let’s Stay Together.” Heard it on the radio the other day and it’s been stuck in my head since. Time to get it out of my head and into yours.

Al Green – Let’s Stay Together [YSI]

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Apparently this song came out in January, but today was the first day I came across it. Happened to see a friend post it on Facebook and decided it was good enough to post. I’ve posted both Das Racist and Katy Perry in the past so it’s time to combine them into one world.

Heems from Das Racist takes Teenage Dream and slows it into a weird Teenage Nightmare. Then throws some of his lyrical styling on top as a finishing touch. It’s got a neat sound and is enjoyable enough. Take a listen.

Heems (of Das Racist) x Katy Perry – Teenage Dream [YSI]

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I know I’m a couple years behind but I finally finished watching The Wire. About a month ago I watched seasons 1 and 2. Now this past week, I just marathon-watched seasons 3-5. Damn it’s such a good show. Dare I say the best I have ever seen. I mean, well, of course I loved it. It is #85 on the list.

Anyway, I’m still trying to cope with life without anymore episodes of The Wire to watch. So today to honor its magnificence, I chose two songs from the show to post. The first is the Tom Waits version of the opening theme song, “Way Down In The Hole,”  and the other is the song that was sung by the officers at the wakes in the bar for fallen officers. This song is “The Body of an American” by The Pogues – some good ol’ Irish folk.

Tom Waits – Way Down In The Hole [YSI]

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The Pogues – The Body Of An American [YSI]

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Cole’s Wake in The Wire

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVznnoptsmM[/youtube]

So I’m pretty sure, no wait, I’m positive that this is not what Kanye meant when he released this song. But it seems oddly appropriate (if you don’t listen to Kanye’s verses…)

But on a serious note, it’s taken me 7 years to really like this song. I’ve always appreciate the work Kanye’s put out. I haven’t always liked it, but certainly always appreciated it. He’s so musically talented that I didn’t even pick up on it at first. And lyrically, well:

We rappers are role models we rap we don’t think
I ain’t here to argue about his facial features, But here to convert atheists into believers
I’m just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathie Lee needed Regis that’s the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dog radio needs this
They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
But if I talk about God my record won’t get played Huh?

Kanye West – Jesus Walks [YSI]

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By this point if you haven’t heard Rebecca Blacks’ “Friday,” you’re one of the lucky ones. Well I can’t stand the song usually even with all the different versions I have heard. Well my mind was finally changed when Stephen Colbert performed it on Jimmy Fallon a couple weeks ago. There’s finally a version I don’t hate.

I’m come so close as to say I enjoy it… Uh oh.

But you know what? It is Friday! And in the words of Miss Black:

It’s Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend, weekend
Friday, Friday
Gettin’ down on Friday
Everybody’s lookin’ forward to the weekend

Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Partyin’, partyin’ (Yeah)
Fun, fun, fun, fun
Lookin’ forward to the weekend

Stephen Colbert – Friday (ft. The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and Taylor Hicks) (Rebecca Black Cover) [YSI]

So who is Karmin? I wish I could tell you, but I really don’t know much about the band. However, they definitely caught my attention with a recent Youtube video. Karmin, a duo from Boston, performed Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now.” At first, I wasn’t overly impressed with the sound of it, but once the girl got to Busta’s verse, I was blown away. She can certainly flow and then jump right into the hook even after being out of breath. And do me a favor, don’t compare her to Nicki Minaj just because she sounds a little like her in this track.

I’m also posting Karmin’s cover of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” because I am so impressed with Amy’s flow in these songs, but this also highlights some of her singing ability. Oh yeah and she plays guitar.

Nick and Amy of Karmin do their own original songs but seem to be making their name with the covers right now so they have two Youtube channels. Check out their covers here and originals here. And here’s where you can check out their website.

Karmin – Look At Me Now [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCokQt–l4[/youtube]

Karmin – Price Tag [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6L6sC6QTU[/youtube]

Ok, I couldn’t end this post with just two covers. Here’s one of their originals, too! This is one band I’ll be keeping my eye on. I really dig their sound. And now that you’re hearing an original, go buy their music!

Karmin – Take It Away [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn6V-sSkxSQ[/youtube]

Damn, I already broke my posting streak. I actually had stuff I wanted to post this weekend. I just went away for a few days and got too busy to get near a computer to post. So let’s start off this week with something happy and keep it up from there.

A few weeks back on Fox’s House, Hugh Laurie sang Judy Garland’s “Get Happy.” I really enjoyed his rendition of it and here it is for you. Just seems like a good way to start the week. Plus House is new tonight and as of last week 13 is back so it’s all good! O yeah, and the video of the performance is below.

Hugh Laurie (as House) – Get Happy [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2xoO_tU7HI[/youtube]

Not throwing it back too far this week. Only to 1999. Wow, that’s still 12 years ago. If 1970′s rock was considered classic rock in the 90′s, is 90′s alt rock considered classic now 20 years later? Just wondering.

Anyway, here’s an odd Youtube recording of BNL’s “One Week.” It’s part of their Bathroom Sessions on Youtube. The quality is really poor but the reason I’m posting is because I really enjoy the slightly modified lyrics. Hope you do too.

Barenaked Ladies – One Week (Bathroom Sessions) [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69cR9J-V-Qg[/youtube]

Donald Glover, what can’t you do? I mean, let’s just list the things that Donald Glover has accomplished that I know of:

1. Writer for 30 Rock
2. Actor on Community
3. Co-founder of Funny or Die comedy troupe Derrick Comedy
4. Stand up Comic
5. Now a rapper by the name of Childish Gambino

Oh, and did I mention he’s only 27?

Childish Gambino… yep, a name that game about from a Wu-Tang name generator[1]. You know, a little scary, but mostly cuddly.

Well, I love Glover’s stand up. You should really watch his Comedy Central Presents special. And I’ve come to really enjoy what I’ve heard of Childish Gambino. Below are an example of each. And here are the lyrics to the freestyle that he performed on Jimmy Fallon:

Yes I’m back with a whole new attitude
Flier than a cardinal, check my freakin’ latitude
Yes I’m so sick, man, somebody call a doctor
Girls stay wet like I’m messin’ with a lobster
I stopped talkin’, I’m tired of payin’, I’m lip service
I switched over to street, fuck the hipsters
I am so different, Donald Glover in this bitch
I don’t have to use my rapper name, that’s just childish
And they used to call me Oreo, dump me in that milk
Maybe then I would be white enough to hang out with them kids
‘Cause they have to call you names when they don’t know what you are
Now they notice what I are, baby girl, I am a star
APC kicks, lookin’ like a British boy
More money means more problems, I have been annoyed

Childish Gambino (ft. The Roots) – Late Night Freestyle [YSI]

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You can watch Glover perform that freestyle here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebAG6CPonU[/youtube]

Some rappers are creative enough to create their beats completely from scratch. Other sample classic songs from both hip hop and other genres. And yet the newest movement of rappers seems to be sampling indie artists. Yet A-1 isn’t following any of these examples. On his latest mixtape, he’s rapping over beats based on television themes. Gimmicky? Yeah, sure. Fun? Oh hell yes!

I first came across him this San Francisco area rapper when a friend of mine posted his Black Ranger rap on Facebook. I was sold right away. I love the gimmick and he’s an excellent lyricist on top of all that. Make sure to check out his site here and his Youtube. He’s got videos for so many songs.

Below are two of his songs: Black Ranger, over The Power Rangers theme, and All That!, over the Nickelodeon show of the 90′s theme. The videos are there too. Get his mixtape from his Bandcamp.

A-1 – Black Ranger [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krFVwSzM1S0[/youtube]

A-1 – All That! (The Nickelodeon Song) (ft. TLC) [YSI]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZC2sZkyoFA[/youtube]