CHILD OF THE CORN MUSIC REVIEW @childofthecornmusicreview - Tumblr Blog

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Here my playlist of favorite songs from 2023! Enjoy!

#new years eve #best of 2023 #spotify

Here my playlist of all my favorite songs from 2022! Enjoy

#year wrap up #new years eve #Spotify

Here’s a playlist of all my favorite tracks from 2021! Enjoy!

#Spotify

Here is a playlist of all my favorite songs from this past year. Enjoy!

#Spotify

It’s going down tonight DJ Slick E presents Club COVID. Coming to you on Instagram Live from studio 19 at 9pm ET. Playing nothing but the feel goods and taking requests to get you through this quarantine mess. Hope to see you all tonight! (at Newport, Rhode Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_sWGXfnXxo/?igshid=6p059ld1drtl

Official video for The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight. Rapper’s Delight was the first released on Sugarhill Records on 16th September 1979. The record pea...

The song that started a genre today marks the 40th anniversary of the release of what many consider to be the first single to introduce hip hop to the world. Rapping had been recorded numerous times before the release of “Rapper’s Delight,” but with its use of Chic’s “Good Times” as the backing beat it would propel this song to be used by the club DJ’s and become a major hit in September 1979. There are some great shows that are available to watch on how this whole process came together for this song to succeed, even the show Drunk History from Comedy Central provides a good episode on the track. The song is influential that to this day certain lyrics are used in modern songs that can be traced back to “Rapper’s Delight.” Four different versions of the song were released, the longest being over 14 minutes long.

I don’t know what it was that attracted me to this song, but it was one of the first tracks to introduce me to the hip hop genre and I have numerous memories of listening to the song with my dad in the car or it being used for karaoke at family weddings to get people out onto the dance floor. When I tell you I was obsessed with this song I still remember printing out the lyrics on the computer at school and memorizing them while in class. I don’t know why I chose to remember certain things that have no use for me, but I can confidently say I know about 90 percent of the long versions lyrics from memory.

What some may not know and as shown in the hyperlink above, is that Wonder Mike helped put the group together that would eventually become the Sugarhill Gang, but a decent amount of his lyrics he used in the song were actually written by another MC Grandmaster Caz. Sadly, Hank passed away in 2014 but his legacy still lives on as the Sugarhill Gang still tour to this day.

I was fortunate enough earlier this year to catch the Sugarhill Gang perform in person and of course see this song performed live. What made the moment even better is that Grandmaster Caz was also there performing and when the beat dropped for “Rapper’s Delight,” Caz was up on stage performing Hank’s parts of the song having everything come full circle. I was even lucky enough to meet Caz in person after the show. The impact of the song and how it changed music forever will always be its legacy. This is easily demonstrated with the songs use in movies, late night, and just everyday people hanging out with their friends. It has since won numerous awards and accolades as well as being recognized for its legacy by being preserved in the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress in 2011. It’s not only a historic song but one of my favorites to listen to whenever I want to put myself in the party mood and happy to see it still being played and remembered 40 years later.

#sugarhill gang #rappers delight #hip hop #music history #grandmaster caz

"Graduation” out now: http://smarturl.it/Graduationbb Directed by Jake Schreier Executive Producers: Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Alex Fisch Director of Photography...

Fresh Track Friday

Benny Blanco – Graduation feat. Juice Wrld

Not sure if the release of this single was on purpose with the new school year just starting, but it seems with this new single from Benny Blanco and Juice Wrld, both of them already want to graduate and be done with school. The song’s lyrics are pretty much a middle finger to anyone who doubted Juice as he brags about how well he is doing since leaving school. Although the song sounds alright based on the beat, I feel it is the track’s chorus that will make this song a bigger success with its use of the same chorus from Vitamin C’s hit song from 2000 with the same name. I will give credit because what really makes this song stand out is the music video. With the help from numerous celebrities, the video is set as a post credit movie sequence montage that provides captions of what happens to different students and teachers after high school. I’m glad to see that humanity survived the Robot wars in the end as claimed in the video. This week’s selection is also bitter sweet as I say goodbye to the blog for a while and I head off to boot camp for the next three months. I do promise to be back sometime early 2020. So please be on the lookout for that. But as I pack up and head out of DC for a while I will remember all the times we had together on this blog. See you all next year!

#freshtrackfriday #benny blanco #juice wrld #graduation #new music

Music video for "Hooch" (HQ audio)

Throwback Thursday

Everything – Hooch

As things start to wind down for me and I get ready to head back to boot camp in a couple weeks, I will be taking a break from the blog and hope to start things back up again in 2020. So with this being the last Throwback Thursday track for a while I’m going with this hidden 90’s gem about kicking back and celebrating life. After a hard day of work, sometimes you just need to unwind and take in the good vibes, possibly with the company of good friends and your favorite drink. Reading up on the group, I was surprised to learn they were from the local area and the band formed together as students while attending James Madison University. If you have been following me for a while, you know I am a sucker for any song that includes a saxophone, and about half through the instrument gets its solo and really adds to the flair of the single. The video is pure 90’s and it’s easy to see that this video was filmed while the zoot suit trend was taking place with the attire the group wears in the video. To this day “Hooch” is the only hit from the group, but Everything has found success on the independent market releasing a new album as late as 2006. Altogether, I feel this track is the perfect ambiance as I celebrate this last week before the break.

#tbthursday #everything #hooch #90s music

Hootie and the Blowfish & Barenaked Ladies Group Therapy Tour Review

It felt good being back on the state fair grounds and this time being for my first concert at the Iowa State Grandstand. Although we were close to the stage, I feel that the grandstand is not that great of a venue for hosting a concert unless you pay to be in general admission or center seats. From where we were we had a decent view of the show, but I felt that I paid a lot of money to stare at a screen which is how my chair was position. Other than the way the stage was put together, it was one of the best shows I’ve attend all year. Barenaked Ladies came out and really took off from the beginning and killed their entire performance. I think they understood their role as the opening act and were more than happy to entertain and warm up the crowd for Hootie and the Blowfish. They were interactive with the fans, told a lot of fun stories in between songs, and in general just really entertaining to watch live. Although I knew about four songs from the group, they performed a decent amount of covers including a cover of “Sicko Mode” as part of a rap melody to lead into the introduction of Hootie. To be honest, if I get the opportunity to only see them again post this tour, I would be more than happy to pay to see them live again.

Hootie came out and began with some songs off of Cracked Rearview Mirror, and then went into some of their more known hits. I thought it was a great gesture that about 30 minutes in they brought back out Barenaked Ladies and both bands performed “With a Little Help From my Friends,” really bringing the energy of the show up to another level. Another aspect I enjoyed about the show is that Darius and the band also included some of his solo tracks into the show which played well for the state fair audience. Additionally, they too also performed some covers of R.E.M. and Led Zeppelin that fit well with the vibe of the performance. Not to be out done by the opening act, Hootie also got involved with the crowd as they had an audience member come up and perform an entire song which in he sounded exactly like Darius. Finally, just like Barenaked Ladies, the group went through a catalog of cover hits before the encore.

It certainly felt like a party as Hootie and the Blowfish closed the show with “Only Wanna Be With You” and “Get Down on It” to not only put a cap on a fantastic concert, but an official end on the last day of the Iowa State fair for 2019. To be honest I was not sure what to expect with two bands that were mostly known for their hits in the 90’s, but this by far was one of the best shows I’ve attended all year. There were a couple of times that I could have attended this tour prior to this show and I regret that I did not take advantage to see this performance multiple times. By now I do not know how much of the tour is left on the schedule but if there is still time, I cannot stress enough how much fun you will have at this show. This is a fantastic show and a great performance to end on for my concerts for this year.

#hootie & the blowfish #barenaked ladies #group therapy tour #iowa state fair

The 1975 - People https://www.The1975.com Directed by Matthew Healy, Warren Fu & Ben Ditto

Fresh Track Friday

1975 – People

The new single “People” from the 1975 is definitely a wakeup call as lead singer Matty Healy screams his vocals over a distorted mic giving off the effect of urgency. Upon first listen it reminded me of a lost song from the early 2000’s by the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, or Arcade Fire because compared to their last album this lead single for the band’s fourth studio album Notes on a Conditional Form, sounds entirely different musically. Not only herd in the lyrics, but the music video is shot in a way where the band is surrounded by quick flashing images and lyrics described in the song. Although not scary to watch, the music video also demonstrates this need for people to “WAKE UP” and see through the madness by taking charge ourselves if we want to see the change that we pretend to believe in. Matty’s words really hit home as it seems everyone has gotten lazy and expect everything to be convenient and straight to our doorstep without having to work hard. He also touches on other subjects such as participating in elections, global warming, and legal marijuana. Altogether, it is a smart and powerful song that should sound the alarm as Brexit deadline gets closer and the 2020 U.S. election nears. Time to wake up and be motivated people!

#fresh track friday #the 1975 #people #notes on a conditional form #new music

A great Duet and a superb song

Throwback Thursday

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

With a new football season upon us, I figured I would keep it local here in the DMV area celebrating the local high school team of T. C. Williams high and their football team the Titans. One of my favorite movies growing up, the movie tells the true story of a newly appointed African-American coach (played by Denzel Washington), and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. There are lots of up and downs especially, while the players attempt to come together as a team but the music in the movie helps to bridge the gap during tough times. This song in particular is used in the summer camp and locker room scenes to bring the team together and overall just a feel good tune. The track is about being there for someone no matter the coast and in time of need. It would become a hit for the Motown record label in 1967 and peak at number 19 on the Billboard Pop Charts that same year. Altogether, the single is a carefree dance song that fit perfect with the theme that Remember the Titans was demonstrating as the team looks past the color of their teammate’s skin and accepts them for who they are as a person.

#tbt #t.c. williams #remember the titans #marvin gaye #tammi terrell

“Used To Be Lonely” from Forever Turned Around, the new album from Whitney, out August 30th, 2019 on Secretly Canadian Pre-Order / Stream / Download: https:/...

Fresh Track Friday

Whitney – Used To Be Lonely

This week’s song comes from the Chicago natives Whitney with their new single “Used To Be Lonely.” There are numerous ways to interpret the meaning of the song and video but from my perspective, it is a love ballet rather than a breakup song. You see the experiences of the singer going to different places within the Lake Michigan area and then returning to those same spots but as dates with his new girlfriend. I really enjoy this idea for the video and you see this progression of a relationship and how being in one can change your state of mind going back to the same places before but taking someone new with you to experience their emotions and reactions. Mostly consisting of the two guitars, a horn section creeps in subtlety and really ties the whole vibe of the song together. This single will be featured on their upcoming album Forever Turned Around which will be released at the end of the month. Therefore, if you find yourself having a low-key moment this summer and just need something to relax you after a long day, this single is perfect for you.

#fresh track friday #whitney #used to be lonely #forever turned around #chicago

90′s Double Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday

Hootie and the Blowfish – I Go Blind

The 90’s are back in full force and this week I am reliving this time by checking out one of the hottest tours this summer with Hootie and the Blowfish and Barenaked Ladies. This will be my first show ever at the Iowa State Fair grounds and I am intrigued to see the stage area and how everything will be laid out for the performance. Opening with a guitar strum and then a blast from the drums, the song has a repetitive beat that goes throughout until the breakdown at the end of the song. Upon researching for this write up, I learn that this single was actually a cover song from the Canadian rock band 54-40. The song is very catchy and very easy to sing-a-long with and between that and being used so the TV show Friends soundtrack, I believe is how the appeal for the song came about making it a stable track to perform for any Hootie concert. I am very excited that Hootie reunited and teamed up with another popular alternative 90’s group with the Barenaked Ladies for their tour this year. So be sure to check out my concert review next week.

Barenaked Ladies – It’s All Been Done

This week I am doing a special double Throwback Thursday due in part because I will be seeing two fantastic 90’s bands perform on their summer tour this week. So without further ado, this week’s second track comes from Canadian Rock group Barenaked Ladies. “It’s All Been Done” would be the second single off the band’s acclaimed album Stunt when released in 1998. Lyrically the song seems to be about a person attempting to persuade a girl to go out with him, but she continues blow him off and they never do end up going out with each other. For me, the appeal is the easy to sing chorus and the backing vocals from the rest of the group harmonizing together for the perfect pop rock song. The music video is artsy in that it all takes place at a house party in which the band is performing but from the perspective of four different animals in the home. As stated above, be sure to check back in the coming week for my concert review of the whole show, but for now enjoy both of these fantastic 90’s tracks.

#hootie and the blowfish #barenaked ladies #summer tour #90s music

Moonrise Festival 2019

After attending my first EDM festival this past weekend, I have come to understand the appeal of the music and how someone could find a sense of community within the genre. Many factors I believe led to the popularity of this music and based my experience from this festival, it is a combination of cultures and technology starting from the late 1960’s all the way up modern day cartoons that helped create this culture. First, you get the hippie counterculture with its message of peace, love, drugs, and music that then led into the disco sounds of the 1970’s. Once technology caught up in the 1980’s and was being used to create new sounds with synths and keyboards, it was combined with the dance music from the previous decade which would lead into hip-hop and house music of the 1980’s and 1990’s. So after 30 plus years of everything coming together and as more people were able to afford and create their own home studios, it became very easy for people born in the late 90’s and early 2000’s to create their own electronic dance music. Thus, part of the reason why so many of the DJ’s performing were only in their early 20’s. Today’s kids don’t typically quote movies to each other anymore, but rather try to find or create their own memes. Thus, the majority of the fashion worn by the crowd was a modern take on hippie clothing, but with tons of 90’s cartoon references and signs of memes and flags. Although by definition I am considered a millennial, the way everything came together for EDM, it only makes sense why the Gen Z’s and younger crowds love this type of music.

This being my first multi-day festival I knew I had to pace myself if I wanted to survive the whole weekend. I was very impressed with the Preakness setup as I felt the different stages were set far enough apart that I never felt crowded while watching a performance. The larger space also provided people more room to dance and mosh with every beat drop. There were plenty of water refill stations, and volunteer were good about walking around through the crowd giving free sprays of water and misting the audience. Additionally, there were enough vendors so that lines were not too crazy to stand in to get food or drinks, and manmade shade spots were provided when you needed a break from the sun. Other than having to deal with the dirt and grime that is a horse track, it was one of the better festival set ups I have attended.

Music wise, I didn’t know what to expect because I thought all the DJ’s (minus the few rappers that participated), were all going to sound the same. And there were certainly some reoccurring song samples and sounds as well as steam and fire flames from the stage that were used in the same manner, but I did discover some new DJ’s that I felt stood out among the headliners. Probably my favorite discovery came on day two of the festival was the DJ called HAYWYRE. I loved that he used live instrumentation rather than just only playing from a laptop and the graphics and cameras he used during his performance to show him playing the multiple keyboards only enhanced his performance. Another DJ I enjoyed was Whipped Cream. Being one of the few female DJ’s it felt like she was giving the audience the performance of her life with intense energy as well as including some special appearances to set her set apart from others. The DJ called Slushii had a pretty big following and although he used some similar sounds heard from other performances earlier in the day, the way that he effortlessly and creatively was able to find ways to mix songs and samples together was impressive. At one point he went from a Van Halen sample, to a Super Mario sound bite, to finally a Kendrick Lamar verse all in one song.

The main headliner and the guy that closed the festival on the second night was Tiesto. He had a huge crowd waiting for him and certainly had the production to showcase his talent. There is a reason why he continues to have a residency in Las Vegas and a massive following with in the EDM scene. The lighting effects and fireworks were a nice touch as background to his music and you can tell that he has had a lot of practice as he smoothly transition from one song to the next. The only negative thing I would say about the performance is that the ending was kind of a letdown as there was no grand gesture for the finale but rather him just saying thank you to the audience before the lights went down.

Altogether, Moonrise was a one of a kind experience. You had this sense of community and creativity as people from all walks of life came together to enjoy the music and atmosphere. Even if someone didn’t know you, everyone was very welcoming and accepting of who you were. Being from Iowa there is such a stereotype of “Midwest Nice,” but even I was blown away by how inviting and kind everyone was to each other. I believe I saw almost every ethnic background represented and people also displaying their LGBTQ lifestyle and support. Everyone was welcomed. It was certainly a beautiful and inspiring sight to see and be a part of. After this experience I would without doubt attend another EDM festival but definitely prepare a little better with either some knee braces for all the standing or a blanket to sit on the ground with. As stated above, there is a reason why this is a younger generations type of music.

#moonrise festival #balitmore #edm #haywyre #whipped cream #cheat codes #slushii #desiigner #21 savage #tiesto

E-40 U and Dat feat. T-Pain and Kandia

This would end up being E-40’s biggest single to date and once again I believe you can attribute it to the beat and the Crunk sound of the time. The synth beat and club sound definitely helped push this single. The song also benefitted by having one of the biggest hip hop chorus singers at the time on the hook with T-Pain. More swagger than substance, the song lyrically highlights 40’s unique Bay Area flow and encompasses the same high hat sound of “Tell Me When to Go” with a more club friendly backing beat. Looking at the video today it is funny to see the fashion trends of the time with the long blank tall t-shirts and polo’s which I have to admit I too was swept up in. A fun fact about the song is that Kandia’s part was originally supposed to be sung by Keyshia Cole, but she backed out at the last minute. As stated above, the song is E-40’s biggest hit that would top the charts at 13 on the Billboard 100 and would become certified platinum in 2016.

#e-40 #t-pain #kandia #u and dat #2000s music

E-40 – Tell Me When to Go feat. Keak da Sneak

Being raised in Iowa I typically only found new rap music during this period with whatever was being played on Rap City, 106 and Park, and TRL. So although E-40 had already been around for a long time, this single was my first introduction to him. The Hyphy movement had been going on for a couple years at this time, but between this song and the music video, this was also my introduction to the movement that was coming out of the Bay in the mid-2000’s. You have to remember this was also the same time that the Crunk sound coming from Atlanta was in high demand for rap music. Therefore, with Lil Jon on production, E-40 was able to tap into the mainstream market but also display what was going on in his city, which is clearly demonstrated at the end of the video with the call and response. Although I didn’t really understand a lot of what was happening, it intrigued me up to really start looking into Bay Area music and get a better understanding of what was coming out of the west coast.

#e-40 #tell me when to go #my ghetto report card #keak da sneak #hyphy

E-40's official music video for 'Rapper's Ball'. Click to listen to E-40 on Spotify: http://smarturl.it/E40Spot?IQid=E40RB As featured on The Best of E-40: Y...

E-40 – Rapper’s Ball feat. Too $hort and K-Ci

Summer time calls for house parties and that is exactly what this music video for “Rapper’s Ball” is all about. This song includes two of the Bay areas most beloved MC’s with E-40 and Too $hort coming together for the first time on a track. With a thumping bass this song has that west coast g-funk theme and it is clearly a 90’s song when you have K-Ci on the chorus. Cleary these two MC’s have been doing good for a long time as they have both made lots of money being on the independent market and selling their music themselves. Both rappers do not have to brag because they let their success and record of accomplishments speak for itself. This single also holds some history too it because it was the first time that the word “fa sheezy’ was ever stated in a song which would go on to influence other MC’s and be constantly used in rhyme schemes to this day. In general, it’s a laid-back California 90’s rap song that is perfect to throw on for any upcoming house party.

#e-40 #bay area #too $hort #k-ci #90s rap

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