Santa Saw A Rabbi & Gave The Strangest Remark

Santa Baby - Reverend Run & The Christmas All Stars 

The Reverend Run version of Santa Baby has always been one of my favourite non-traditional Christmas songs [click here to see the video, courtesy of Yahoo! Music]. On this Christmas Eve afternoon, while helping my parents clean and prepare their new apartment for moving in, I was jamming to what is probably one of my favourite Christmas albums of all-time.

There are always the never-failing standbys. Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas, Michael Bublé's Let It Snow!, and of course, the Very Special Christmas series . . . but what about those of us who crave some R&B-flavoured yuletide Christmas jams?

My album of choice is surprisingly little-known considering the star power it packs into 16 tracks. The Soul Train Christmas Starfest boasts artists ranging from Boyz II Men to Kirk Franklin and everyone in between. This 1997 release catches groups such as Az Yet and Immature at the top of their games and even features Rome taking a wonderful turn at Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.


Don't bother looking for it on iTunes though, as it is not listed. I originally had a cassette copy of this compilation. When that was lost, the only way I could get my hands on a CD copy was through Amazon.com . . . Definitely worth the effort and perfect for lovers of pre-millenium R&B.

Take a listen:
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Immature

Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Az Yet

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Rome
Every Year, Every Christmas - Luther Vandross
It's Christmas [All Over The World] - New Edition
Give Love On Christmas Day - Johnny Gill

Stopped Dreaming Of Your Face, Now I Don't Dream At All

Somedays - jacksoul

Heard some news from the Canadian music scene today and it made me very sad. And unfortunately it happened on my birthday.

Haydain Neale, frontman for Juno-award winning R&B/soul group jacksoul, passed away at the age of 39 after a seven month long battle with lung cancer. Like many Canadian musicians, jacksoul kind of got lost in the shuffle, trying to compete with their counterparts from our neighbours to the south. How could they compete with acts such as K-Ci & Jojo and all of their financial backing?

Luckily, because of CanCon, jacksoul got a decent amount of airplay within Canada and some of us were privileged to know their music. When thinking about the type of male voice I find attractive, Neale's was always amongst the ones I'd pick out. What a strong, masculine baritone he had. But unfortunately, Neale has passed just a few short days away from the release of a brand new album.

jacksoul's song "Somedays", from the 2000 album Sleepless, was the particular song I had on repeat when dealing with a certain heartbreak back in the day. It's still one of my favourites. For your listening pleasure:



If you don't know jacksoul or had forgotten about them during their recent hiatus, I urge you to take a journey into their world. They just might touch your soul.

Rest in peace, Haydain Neale
09.03.1970 - 11.22.2009

Don't Be Shy . . . Let's Cause A Scene Like Lovers Do On Silver Screens

Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll - The Killers

Not the most obvious song one would earmark as a favourite from The Killers' debut album, Hot Fuss . . . but I love this song for its bass line. And hearing this performed live was just ace [thank you Andy]. The folks that make Rock Band really need to get the rights for this song!!!

Not too sure there's a specific purpose to this post. I was just walking around Homeless today when the song shuffled on and that line up there just grabbed me. I am noticing increasingly that my life is governed by the songs and lyrics that fill my consciousness. I'm aware that this could be said for a lot of people but it seems especially true for me.

Random thought: black suit pants and brown leather shoes. No. Just no. Just don't do it.

So What's The Complication? It's Only Conversation

Love It When you Call - The Feeling

I don't mind staying up late . . .
Even if that means I pay for it the day after . . .

Feels Like We've Already Waited Too Long

Into The Dark - Ben Lee

So tell me baby
Can you hear me?
I sent a message out into the dark
It's a mystery
When you're near me
I've gotta find my way to your heart

If I Could Take You Away, Pretend I Was Queen, What Would You Say?

Be Be Your Love - Rachael Yamagata

*sigh*

When I'm Down, You Breathe Life Over Me

Destiny - Zero 7

The morning commute today was in another typical typhoon season torrential downpour. Watching the water envelope the bus I was on, I was grateful to be inside.

Then this song came on and once again my mind drifted . . .

Something about the vibe . . . something about the lyrics . . .

This song was made for physicality. It was meant to be made-out to.

Kissing in the rain. Kissing indoors while it's raining outside.

Sexy.

[Another song on my "songs to make-out to" list - Glory Box by Portishead. "Give me a reason to love you. Give me a reason to be a woman . . . So don't you stop being a man." Yeow.]

The Way You Look At Me Is Kinda Like A Little Sister

One Of The Boys - Katy Perry

Yeah . . . what she says . . . damnit. Did I back myself up into this corner?

I saw a spider, I didn't scream
Cuz I can belch the alphabet
Just double dog dare me
And I chose guitar over ballet
And I take these suckers down
'Cuz they just get in my way
The way you look at me
Is kinda like a little sister
Rubbed by your goodbyes
And it leaves me nothing but blisters

So I don't want to be one of the boys
One of your guys
Just give me a chance to prove to you tonight
That I just wanna be one of the girls
Pretty in pearls
Not one of the boys

So over the summer something changed
I started reading 17 and shaving my legs
And I study the litter religously
And I walked right into school
And caught you staring at me
'Cuz I know what you know
But now your gonna have to take a number
It's okay maybe one day
But not until I get my diamond ring

'Cuz I don't want to be one of the boys
One of your guys
Just give me a chance to prove to you tonight
That I just wanna be your homecoming queen
Your poster dream
Not one of the boys

I wanna be a flower not a dirty weed
And I wanna smell like roses not a baseball team
And I swear maybe one day
Your gonna wanna make out
Make out, make out with me

So I don't want to be one of the boys
One of your guys
Just give me a chance to prove to you tonight
That I just wanna be one of the girls
Pretty in pearls
Not one of the boys

The Blues Are Still Blue

The Blues Are Still Blue - Belle & Sebastian

A cute little ditty by Belle & Sebastian.



This was [still is?] constantly on rotation at the in-house radio station of my journalism school [Evolution 107.9]. I used to go into the booth a few minutes before my newscast - enough time to get myself settled and make sure the cast's Burli stuff was in order. I'd sit in there with the headphones on and would usually hear the song before my cast. Whenever this song came on, I'd always feel cheered up. One time, I absentmindedly started dancing in my chair . . . until I looked up realising that the radio show hosts were staring at me through the control room window. Oops.

When the song was over they announced to our listeners that the news was up next, with a girl who really seemed like enjoy the song. =]

Just a neat little memory that came to mind when iTunes randomly shuffled to that song.

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Shoutout to Turbodog: Thanks for visiting and leaving your comments. They make the blues a little less blue. You bringing Xanga back?

Yesterday, Love Was Such An Easy Game To Play

Yesterday - The Beatles

For the most part, I've limited posts on this blog to topics that are more run of the mill . . . my posts have been unoffensive and really rather emotionless. God knows I've taken my liberties on my other blog . . . and that has only left me exposed to those who are quick to criticize.

"Yesterday" is one of those songs I used to hear over and over. A beautiful and simple melody. Then Boyz II Men covered it, overdid it . . . and really kind of destroyed it for me. I actually kind of became annoyed with the song and stopped paying attention to it . . .

Until tonight. Watching Syesha sing it on American Idol with so much vulnerability and emotion really struck a chord with me [forgive the pun]. And for the first time in a long time, I really listened to the lyrics.



Why [s]he had to go, I don't know, [s]he wouldn't say.
I said something wrong now I long for yesterday.

All too often we become so disenchanted with love and relationships. There isn't much else that demonstrates the extremes of human emotion . . . love can bring you up to the highest reaches and then throw you back down so forcefully that few are lucky to escape the bitterness that is bound to ensue. Life lessons I've had to learn on my own . . . when McCartney had gotten it right all along. Maybe I should have paid closer attention after all.

That love thing . . . it's quite fickle, no?