Archive for September 2011
House Music: My Favorite Songs and Artists
House music is a form of electronic dance music. It originated in what one might call post-disco America. House is a relative of disco music. Some may say that house evolved from disco music. It was also influenced by soul and funk.
Frankie Knuckles was one of the founding fathers of house. He was a DJ at a club in Chicago known as The Warehouse. Some people say that house music takes its name from The Warehouse where primitive house began. Frankie Knuckles would mix disco, Philly soul, European pop, synthesized drum beats, and sound effects to make his music. Later artists would use synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, mixers, electronic drum machines, vocals, and other effects to make the first original house records.
A genre of music known as garage house also became popular around the same time in New York City. Larry Levan was a DJ at the Paradise Garage from which garage house gets it name.
I had a friend named Mark who introduced me to house during my college days in the late 1980s. Mark was from the Chicago area so it’s no surprise that he was familiar with the genre. He used to play a lot of house and other dance music. He made me a few a mix tapes, some of which were recordings of WBMX and WGCI radio programs. I had never heard anything quite like Chicago house music before.
Some of house music’s popular songs contained the word jack. Jacking was the word used by Chicago club-goers to describe the frenzied body of a dancer when dancing to the Chicago house sound. Larry Heard uses the word jack in the opening of his song “Can You Feel It?” He says, “In the beginning, there was Jack, and Jack had a groove. And, from this groove came the groove of all grooves. And, while one day viciously throwing down on his box, Jack boldly declared, “Let there be HOUSE!” and house music was born.”
Some Names Associated with House:
Frankie Knuckles
Larry Levan
Marshall Jefferson
Todd Terry
Farley “Jackmaster” Funk
Ralphi Rosario
Jesse Saunders
Tyree Cooper
Chip E.
Adonis
Steve “Silk” Hurley
Phuture
Lil’ Louis
J.M. Silk
Ron Hardy
Kevin Saunderson
Some of My Favorite House Songs:
1. Can You Feel It? – Larry Heard (a.k.a. Mr. Fingers)
2. Jack it All Night Long – Bad Boy Bill
3. Rhythem Method – Mink
4. House Nation – House Master Boyz
5. Whatever Turns You On – Mario Reyes
6. Pump Up Chicago – Mr. Lee
7. Used By DJ – MKII
8. Jack Me ’til I Scream – Julian Jumpin’ Perez
9. Can You Party? – Royal House
10. Can U Dance – Fast Eddie Smith and Kenny “Jammin” Jason
11. Can’t Stop the House – Thompson and Lenoir
12. How to Play Our Music – Reese and Santonio
13. Don’t Make Me Jack (Tonite I Wanna House You) – Paris Grey
14. Pump Up the Volume – M/A/R/R/S
Other songs I heard on WBMX or WGCI mixes that were house or dance music:
Big Fun – Inner City
Good Life – Inner City
American Soviets – C.C.C.P.
Baila – Raz
Rock This House – Mark Imperial and Dennis Ramirez
Bass Line (The Gemini Rap) – Mickey Oliver Project featuring M.C. Taste
I Want to Be Your Property (Street Latin Wolff Mix) – Blue Mercedes
I’m So Hot For You – Bobby Orlando
Birthday Suit (House Mix) – Johnny Kemp
Some different styles of house music include deep house, acid house, and ambient house.
An interesting genre related to house is hip-house. Hip-house is a blend of hip-hop and house components. Hip-house was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Some hip-house songs may include:
I’ll House You – Jungle Brothers
Pump Up the Jam – Technotronic
Groove is in the Heart – Deee Lite
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) – C&C Music Factory
Strike it Up – Black Box
Everybody Everybody – Black Box
The Power – Snap!
Vogue – Madonna
Yo Yo Get Funky – Fast Eddie
It Takes Two – Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
House continues to have a presence in contemporary times. My favorite is Chicago house from the 1980s. Trax Records and DJ International Records pressed many of the Chicago house songs onto vinyl. Some of these songs can be heard at online video websites. Compact discs can be found online and even some classic vinyl records are for sale as well.
I’m glad that my friend Mark introduced to me to house. I hope you enjoy it too.
House Clutter – 7 Sure-Fire Declutter House Tips
House clutter is the result of bad habits. Follow these declutter house tips and keeping your house in order will be a breeze.
#1. Beat procrastination. Do it now! Every day, choose a small, easy declutter job and get it done. After a few weeks it will become a good habit. After a while, take on some bigger declutter jobs. You’ll soon make a difference.
#2. Beat the hoarding habit. Look at your various collections, like clothes, shoes, books, cds, magazines and so on. Go through them and select items for disposal. Be ruthless. Do this on a regular basis.
#3. Stop buying too much stuff. Give your wallet a rest. And if you do bring something new into the house, get rid of something else to make room. Better yet, for each new item in, two old items get disposed of?
#4. Avoid distraction. Keep focused on the declutter job by setting a kitchen timer for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. While the timer is running, make sure you don’t do any other jobs. If you come across an item that you would like to do something with, realize that you can do that after the timer goes, not before!
#5. Stop holding on to unwanted gifts. They just add to the clutter.
#6. Stop putting up with clutter. Just decide you’ve had enough. You’ve crossed the threshold. From this moment on your going to tackle the clutter and keep it under control.
#7. Stop putting of dealing with stuff. When you bring something into the house, put it away.
How To Dress To Impress At The Office Christmas Party
It’s the party season, where ladies get to show off their latest finery and gentlemen wear their best suave suits – all for the aim to dress to impress at the annual Christmas party at work. Be the belle of the ball this season ladies, with some of our 2010 fashion for Christmas parties tips.
Already, we have seen launched this season the Christmas party lines from House of Fraser and French Connection, designer brands that have the latest trends and fashions for the winter party season. Their exclusive lines host a great number of versatile styles from the prom dress to the 80′s cocktail dress, making available a style to suit all women, from the curvier woman to the petite lady.
Winter 2010, will see various dress styles from throughout the year make an appearance at the office Christmas party. A few of the most fashionable styles we have seen so far will make a comeback this season. Influenced by the 1970′s and 80′s, one shouldered dresses will be the cocktail dresses to define this season’s spirit of Christmas cheer and fun. Maxi dresses will also barge their way back onto the party scene for winter, but in shinier and darker fabrics. Tiered and ruffled prom dresses will bring the cute and feminine look to the annual office Christmas party, whilst a smarter and sleek look will arrive from snug fitting 50′s dresses with square necks.
As usual with the Christmas party season, we will see the well renowned little black dress daring to impress, but besides this favourite number, we are to this season see Jewel colours influence the fashion of the Christmas party. Jewel blues, purples and greens with a bright hue will brighten up the Christmas party dance floor this season, making many ladies the gem of the ball this season. Browns with a tint of white or pink are also set to revive Christmas party fashions, adding a softer look to evening wear. Furthermore, metallic colours in conjunction with softer browns and gold’s will make your outfit the sparkling centerpiece of the Christmas party!
Plain party dress? Or patterns? Both are in this season and will look great in the jewel colours and metallic’s of this season. Sequined and jewel dresses, a good party classic from the last few years will return to the Christmas party – perfect for a truly sparkly girl! New for the 2010 season is the winter floral dress, which incorporates the soft feminine patterns of summer but much bolder and brighter, with a higher level of contrast. Jacquard and silk printed dresses are also been offered as alternatives to the plain dress.
Fabrics this year will really speak of luxury, as popular fabric will include silk, satin, lace and velvet – all of the most luxurious fabrics. Satin will be a particular favorite as it will create that bright jeweled shine that will make any lady stand out from the crowd. Well fitted and prom lace dresses are perfect for that feminine but sexy look, which will make any man’s eyes wander your way.
Whatever dress you decide to choose upon, there’s bound to be a dress this season to compliment your figure and style. You can easily find out what dress shape compliments your figure online or via the House of Fraser’s website.