MY TOP 10: 90s/00s Pop/R&B Divo Music Video Jump-Offs – 4. Usher “You Make Me Wanna…”

So, it’s been a year since I started popolio.com and kicked it of with my first MY TOP 10 Countdown in September 2008.  Since popolio.com was jumping off, I kicked it off with MY TOP 10: 90s/00s Pop/R&B Diva Music Video Jump-Offs.  Well, this is the twelfth month, so I thought it would create nice symmetry if I presented the men as a bookend to that very first countdown before Year 2 officially begins.  This time around the Div-Os, or Divos, will get the spotlight.

4. Usher “You Make Me Wanna…”
Usher or JT?  Who’s is the Prince of R&B/Dance/Pop?  Did they really have a dance-off some years ago?  Well, Usher one ups JT — on this countdown, anyway.  Like many of the Divos on this countdown, this was not Usher’s first recording, but this is the one that broke through.  This is the first single from his sophomore release, My Way.  The BONUS is “U Remind Me,” the first single from his junior album, 8701.  I really liked this song when it came out.  Looks  like they purposely casted Mya, Brandy, and Tamia look-alikes (in that order) throughout the video and the real Chilli (from fave group, TLC) is featured at the end.  We all know how their story ended up, but we’re not going there.  Enjoy the videos.

***BONUS*** Usher “U Remind Me”

 

T-Boz on The Celebrity Apprentice Season 2

Official publicity photo from the NBC Celebrity Apprentice Website.

May 4, 2009 UPDATE:  This is a little late in coming, but here it is.  T-Boz went from winning as Project Manager 1 week (Episode 5) to being fired the following week (Episode 6). 

The team was harmonious in this task and no one had anything bad to say about Melissa Rivers as Project Manager or anyone else on the team, so she asked for volunteers in case they lost and were called back into the boardroom.  T-Boz volunteered to go back into the boardroom with Millissa in support of her leadership. 

Donald Trump saw this as weakness.  Apparently, he fired someone else in another season for “volunteering for execution” as he put it, which is a no-no in his book.  Well, if you’re going to get fired this is one of the most graceful ways to  go out.

Regardless, Ms. T-Boz has a new official website and MySpace Page.  A new solo album is in the works and it should be coming soon.  Fingers crossed on that one as any TLC fan knows the girls take forever to release any project.  Go check out those sites for a preview of what things to come might sound like.

* * *

Yes, my girl Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, from my favorite group of all-time, TLC, is going to be on The Celebrity Apprentice 2.  You know I’ve got to watch and support my TLC girl.  It premieres this Sunday, March 1, 2009, at  9PM Eastern Time (That’s 8PM for us Austin folks) on NBC with the first of a full season of 2 hour episodes.  Check it out!  I’ll be rooting for T-Boz.

 

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes Remembered — 7 Years Later

I found this online. Apparently, this individual, calling herself soykitty, makes little dolls like this. This seems to be the only one named after a real person. Does look like her and I thought it was cute. Check out her other dolls@www.flickr.com/photos/soykitty.

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (May 27, 1971 — April 25, 2002).

It’s been 7 years since Ms. Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was taken from us.  TLC and the world have never quite been the same since.  In January of this year her family in conjunction with Mass Appeal Entertainment released her first (and, hopefully, not only) posthumous solo release, Eye Legacy. 

It’s somewhat a reworking of Supernova (her first true solo release that was only released overseas in 2001) with some songs from thoses sessions and from FanMail as well that were not released. 

In anticipation of that release I interviewed her brother, Ron Lopes, in a popolio podcast.  I also dedicated a MY TOP 10 to her videos counting down to the release date of Eye Legacy on January 27, 2009.

Let’s remember Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, her exploits (both solo and with TLC), and never forget.  Here’s to the dynamic and outspoken personality, the great music left behind, and a legacy that was cut way, way too short.  LEFT EYE FOREVER!!!

Check out the popolio podcast with Ron Lopes here and
the MY TOP 10 here… intro, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, and outro.

 

MY TOP 10: Music Video Cameos — 6. Arsenio Hall “Straight Up”

I thought it would be fun to countdown MY TOP 10:   Music Video Cameos.  That is, music videos with cameos by non-musical personalities who are known for working in other areas of show biz.  My criteria were that:

1) the video be memorable, of course;
2) the featured personality not be another musical artist at the time (now if they became musical artists at a later point that’s another story; they’re still eligible);
3) the featured personality be known at the time (not be an unknown who became known later); and
4) the cameo be a worthwhile part in the video (not just a 2-second spot).

6. Arsenio Hall in Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”

I may have broken my own rule.  No, I think he’s in there more than 2 seconds.  Less is more in this case.  I wonder if people (especially the young’uns) still know who Arsenio Hall is or that Paula Abdul was once one of the hottest pop stars in the universe.  He’ s a comedian and had a successful late night talk show in the 1990s.  He may be most known for his role opposite buddy, Eddie Murphy, in Coming to America.

At the time, The Arsenio Hall Show, was the only place you could see urban musical acts on late night.  (What was my mamma doin’ lettin’ me watch late night TV during school nights, you ask.  Don’t ask me.  I do not know.)  Some hip hop and soul acts, such as Mariah Carey and TLC,  performed for the first time on national television on this show.  President Bill Clinton even made a stop and played his saxophone while on his 1992 campaign trail, which is viewed as a crucial moment on his path to the White House because he connected with young and minority voters.

Arsenio lounged on couches with his guests (not behind stuffy desks like the other hosts) and all the while kept it real and kept it funny.  Paula Adbul was one of his friends and he did her the favor of appearing in her video.  Goes to show that it really is all about who you know.  And at the time, Arsenio Hall was one of the ones to know.

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — OUTRODUCTION

1971-2002

Outroduction

So, today’s the day.  Eye Legacy is out and my tribute countdown is complete.  I did a MY TOP 10: TLC Videos once on my MySpace Page, which is  a little silly because they only really have about 1o videos.  This was a little different because it was about Left Eye.

I hope the CD does well, but there’s some stiff competition from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and others.  As a fan I was happy to celebrate Lisa’s memory in the form of this MY TOP 10.  I’ve ordered my copy of Eye Legacy online, so I should be getting it in the mail in the next few days.

It’s about more than the CD and the music to me as a TLC and Left Eye fan.  It is really just nice to have another artifact to remember and celebrate her life and memory.  It does make it extra special that it is a CD, though, because a solo career seemed be her next aspiration after conquering the world as part of the world’s biggest girl group.

I hope you enjoyed the videos.  For those close to my age, I hope it was a nice trip down memory lane.  And, for those not my age or not familiar with TLC’s work , I hope you were exposed to something you hadn’t seen before and that you ended up liking it.  Everything cycles, so I’m still waiting for that TLC-like funkiness to come back to music.  I’m ready to get my groove back.

Not much more to say except for Left Eye Forever!

Sincerely,

freddie beat
popolio editor

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — 1. Panther Soundtrack “Freedom”

1. Various Artists including Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
“Freedom (Theme from Panther)”
From Panther:  The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Released:  1995

If you listened to my podcast interview with Ron Lopes, brother of the late, great Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, you know I asked him what his favorite all-time Left Eye rap was.  Well, he didn’t just give me one; he gave me a few.  This was one of them.  And his mention of “Freedom” tickled me in a way the others didn’t. 

Originally written and performed by Joi for her debut album, The Pendulum Vibe, someone had the genius idea to include it on this soundtrack and make it an ensemble piece.  It’s a great song and I think it still stands the test of time.  Really an anthemic song.  I know I called “No Scrubs” anthemic, but this is a truly anthemic song.  “No Scrubs” is fun, but “Freedom” is anthemic in a whole ‘nother way.  I think it speaks for itself.

I think this is a nice song to end the countdown with (though I’ll post my OUTRODUCTION tomorrow) especially in the wake of our new president’s inauguration last week and our continued celebration of MLK’s legacy. 

I wish everyone freedom.  Freedom of expression.  Freedom to love whom you want to love.  Freedom to love them how you want to love them.   Freedom to learn, explore, and grow.  And, mostly, freedom to be yourself  fearlessly, fiercely, and unabashedly without fear of judgement, rejection, or regret, which is how I think Lisa lived.

I remember I posted a poem I wrote on a TLC fansite message board once.  Lisa opined on it right away.  She had nice things to say.  I’ll never forget that.

By th way – you get the rap version and the original R&B version as a BONUS! (T-Boz and Chilli representin’, too!)

And, yes, she kilt it.

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — 2. TLC “Waterfalls”

2. TLC “Waterfalls”
From CrazySexyCool
Released:  May 29, 1995

So, I said it had to be “No Scrubs” for Number 4, but really “Waterfalls” had to be the top TLC song of the countdown.  It is one of my favorites, but it’s so obvious that I would have chosen another, but I don’t think that would have been true to Left Eye’s memory.  This is the song the put TLC over the top and turned them from an R&B/hip-pop girl group to  a super-pop megastar girl group.

Ms. Lopes’ rap in this song is the one that she will most be remembered for.  It’s even engraved on her tombstone.  This video was one of the most expensive videos ever made and one of the few that actually visually interpreted the story/lyrics of the song.  Very cinematic, it won a ton of awards, and director F. Gary Gray went on to direct hit films such as Set It Off, The Negotiator, and The Italian Job.

I remember that each TLC album came out at a significant time in my life.  I was a freshman in high school when Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip was released.  CrazySexyCool marked my senior year of high school.  I was about to graduate college with my Bachelors when FanMail came out.  (3D not so much, but I don’t really count that one because Lisa had already passed.  Don’t get me wrong, I like a lot of it, but that release became a different kind of thing just because of how things happened to go down.)

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — 3. Donell Jones “U Know What’s Up”

3. Donell Jones  featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
“U Know What’s Up”
From Where I Wanna Be
Released:  September 14, 1999

So, this came out the same year that TLC came back with FanMail and “No Scrubs” was such a huge hit.  This is Donell Jones’ biggest hit.  And I think it goes without saying that that’s due in part to the Left Eye factor.  A lot of the songs by other artists that featured her climbed to Number 1 on various charts.

I think Ms. Lopes is underrated and doesn’t get enough credit for her individual contributions to modern pop, hip hop, and R&B music.  No, she never got to establish a solo career, but if her life hadn’t been cut short she more than likely would have.  She’ll always be most known as one-third of TLC and she’ll always get props for that, but she worked with a lot of other artists and to be able to enhance another artist’s song while still allowing them their individuality and maintaining yours takes some talent.

I remember when Number 4, “No Scrubs,” came out  I was in my last year of undergrad at UT.  I lived in the Jester Center dorms.  East Side!  When the video premiered on MTV I ran back to my dorm from one of my classes just to catch it.  I was blown away by that video.

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — 4. TLC “No Scrubs”

4. TLC “No Scrubs”
From FanMail
Released:  Spring 1999

Oh, yes!  It had to be “No Scrubs.”  When I first heard this song…Well, first off I was just so happy to have TLC back after 4 years.  I’ve always said that an artist has to come back strong with that first single off of a new project after they’ve been away for awhile.  And the promotional single, “Silly Ho,” just didn’t do it for me.  It sounded like a wannabe Missy song. 

So, I was weary of the first official single.  But this, just sounded like something else.  Today it just sounds like “No Scrubs.”  But, when I first heard it.  I knew it was TLC, but it was like I hadn’t heard them before.  Chilli hadn’t ever been in the front really.  And the harmonies were just bananas to me.  And the beat was so infectiously sweet that I…I don’t know…I was going to say got tooth decay, but that’s just corny.  It was just anthemic and the video was first class with all the extras.  And what made it extra extra special was Left Eye’s call-outs all over it, which is signature TLC, and her rap, of course. (I don’t understand why this wasn’t the version on the album from the gitty-up.  Why wouldn’t the record company want all 3 girls on the album version? It’s obviously better by far.)

I remember thinking that one reason TLC was so popular was because they had a nice balance of masculine and feminine (though all 3 got sexier and more womanly as they “grew up”).  Chilli was the most girly.  Left Eye was the most tomboyish.  And, T-Boz was right in the middle with a nice balance of both.  There was something for everyone; something for every taste.

 

MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos — 5. Lil’ Kim “Not Tonight (Remix)”

5. Lil’ Kim  featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Angie Martinez, Da Brat, and Missy Elliott  “Not Tonight (Remix)”
From Hard Core
Released:  June 24, 1997

Now, this was the jam back in the day and it was also used for some Martin Lawrence movie soundtrack (that explains those scenes).  Obviously, it samples another great jam from even further back in the day.  Goes without saying which one.  You had a nice showing of female rappers, which didn’t happen and doesn’t happen enough.  I think we got to hear Queen Latifah sing for the first time.  Who knew she sang?  Now it’s old hat with her jazz standards and all.

I’m partial, but I always thought Left Eye had the best rap.  I guess that’s open to debate. Who’s the only one who brought the whole dance crew, though?  Now, that’s a consummate entertainer!  And she called out the house fire, too, and that, that right there was pure genius.

I remember my 18th birthday party was at my friend’s house.  I don’t always celebrate birthdays, but I wanted to mark this occasion.  My house was too small, so I asked if I could have it at his.  There was a point when we were all dancing to TLC’s “Creep” from CrazySexyCool.  We were trying to do the dance moves from the video.