MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME! 1. Donell Jones featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes “U Know What’s Up”
30 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in MY TOP 10 Tags: "No Scrubs", 1999 music, 90s music, Donell Jones, FanMail, hip hop, Jester Center, Jester East, Left Eye, Lisa Lopes, R&B, TLC, U Know What's Up, University of Texas at Austin, UT-Austin, Where I Wanna Be
MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME!
See the complete MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos Countdown here.
Never forgotten. Courtesy of Google
1. Donell Jones featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes “U Know What’s Up”
This is the fifth and, obviously, final and highest entry from MY January 2009 TOP 10: Left Eye Videos countdown and of all of Year 1. First, at Number 25 was TLC’s hugest hit, “Waterfalls.” Then, at Number 21 was their second hugest hit, “No Scrubs.” Both of these are from TLC’s junior release, FanMail. Third was “What About Your Friends” at Number 15 , one of the string of hits from their debut release, Ooooooh… On The TLC Tip. Fourth, coming in at Number 5, was the INTRODUCTION post to the entire countdown.
Still Champs. Courtesy of Google
Well, there you have it. Not sure what else to say other than Left Eye Forever! I love TLC and I love Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Seems like the popolio visitors agree with me by crowning this with the Year 1 Number 1 spot. This was based on the total hits each post received and this particular post received the most by far.
I will say TLC is not like other girl groups where girls can be replaced and have (not saying any names). Perhaps, because there were only 3 members and they each had such distinct personalities. I think other TLC fans will agree with me that though you may have your favorite (mine changed through the years), you will still support the other girls’ projects and endeavors. It’s like extended family. You may have your fave cousin, but it doesn’t mean your other cousins are chopped liver.
Frozen in time. Courtesy of Google
The talent and the chemistry were undeniable. I don’t gravitate to artists that are necessarily the best singers. You can be the best singer in the world, but be boring and have no personality. I’m attracted to artists that I find interesting. It’s about the whole package.
Great songs to start with. Everything else has to back the music up. It always goes back to the music. That said, you then add a little dance (I love to dance, so I like performers who dance), a little stage presence, a lot of personality, a lot of attitude, and a great look (a standout trend-setting sense of style is a must).
Lastly, the sound and the look have to change and evolve through time. Most of all, they should have a uniqueness and sincerity that sets them apart from whoever else is out there. TLC had all of that and then some. In droves. ‘Nuff said.
I gave this video the Number 3 spot on Saturday, January 24, 2009. Read the original post here — MY TOP 1o: Left Eye Videos — 3. Donell Jones featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes “U Know What’s Up” and watch the video below.
See the complete MY TOP 10: Left Eye Videos Countdown here.
TLC Forever. Courtesy of Google
Music Video: Boyz II Men “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday”
30 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Music Video Tags: "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday", Boyz II Men, Cooleyhighharmony, Motown, New Jack Swing, pop, R&B
Music Video: JADA “This Party’s On Fire”
30 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in Music Video Tags: Boston, dance, electro, girl groups, hip hop, JADA, pop, R&B, Rio, This Party's On Fire, Vassili Shields
Check out Boston-based pop/R&B girl group, JADA’s, latest video, “This Party’s On Fire.” It’s produced by Rio and directed by Vassili Shields. They have a history with THE REAL popolio as they’ve been featured on more than one occasion.
They made MY TOP 30: Year 3 Posts of ALL-TIME! with the Extras Call Out I posted for this very video at Number 9 tied with Dallas/Garland hip pop/R&B artist, B-May’s pop quiz interview.
They’re also the only act to give us a video B-Day SHOUT OUT for our September 15, 2011 3rd Year Anniversary. See it here!
JADA REAL popolio 3rd Year Anniversary Shout Out!!!
30 Sep 2011 1 Comment
in show Tags: 3rd Year Anniversary, Boston, Bristol Entertainment, Bristol Studios, freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, JADA, music video, pop, popolio, THE REAL popolio, This Party's On Fire, Video Release Party
THE REAL popolio turned 3 Years Old on September 15, 2011. And, though we’re officially closing our doors TODAY, Boston-based pop/R&B girl group, JADA (that we’ve featured on many occasions through our collective 3 year history), were nice enough to give us our ONLY video B-Day SHOUT OUT at their September 18, 2011 Release Party for their latest video, “This Party’s On Fire.”
Thanks, ladies!!! Don’t they look hot?
Scissors For Lefty pop quiz 2.0 interview
30 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in pop quiz interview Tags: "'Lil Airplane", "Hard Times", "I Feel It All", "Lust For Life", 1983, Album, alternative, Bryan Garza, Drugstore Perfume, Easter, Easter eggs, Feist, Girls, indie, James Krimmel, Peter Krimmel, pop, pop quiz, pop quiz interview, popolio, Robby Garza, Rough Trade Records, San Francisco, San Francisco artists, Scissors For Lefty, Scissors For Lefty Month, SFL, Steve Garza, THE REAL popolio, The Reminder, Transformers
Welcome to the LAST EVER popolio pop quiz interview at THE REAL popolio. It was nice synergy that the way the September pop quiz scheduling happened there were actually 3 and not the usual 2. Nice synergy because we’re closing our doors at 3 years and as an aside, I feel 3 (and multiples of) is my lucky number.
That said, I’m very excited that it features San Francisco-based band, Scissors For Lefty, because they were there at the very beginning. Made up of two sets of brothers and an uncle (that’s 2, 2, and 1), it’s all in the family for SFL, for what’s a fun and interesting indie pop outfit delivering the unexpected.
They were the first band (and second overall artist) to be featured with pop quizzes in the 3 year history of popolio. popolio debuted in September 2008 and SFL were featured the very next month in October.
In fact, October 2008 was officially Scissors For Lefty Month at popolio with each member of the 5-member band featured with an individual pop quiz interview every Friday of that month. It was a formula I hoped to exploit with other bands and groups, but I only ended up doing it with these guys.
Since I basically went back to the Year 1 pop quiz format for Year 3, I had the whole group do the Year 2 format that I called the 2.0 version. Since they had already been there, done that; no need to beat a dead horse.
Two of the original Year 1 SFL pop quizzes made MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME! based on overall hits per post. Vocalist, Bryan Garza, got the Number 24 spot and his just married (about a week or so ago to be more exact) bassist brother, Steve Garza, showed up at Number 17. Nice extra treat — the first featured pic is from the wedding!
Congrats to Steve for his recent nuptials and a HUGE shout out SFL, collectively, for doing this! I appreciate you being there at the hopeful beginning and popping back up for the bitter ending. (I jest. I jest. I’m not bitter. Okay, maybe I am, but that’s not what I mean.) Seriously, guys, I won’t forget this! Enjoy their collective Year 3 pop quiz 2.0 interview below.
See the original Year 1 SFL pop quizzes:
Bryan Garza (vocals) pop quiz
Steve Garza (bass) pop quiz
Robby Garza (guitar) pop quiz
James Krimmel (drums) pop quiz
Peter Krimmel (piano) pop quiz
September 30, 2011
Name: Scissors For Lefty
Genre: Alternative/Pop
Forthcoming Release: Drugstore Perfume (TBD)
Release Date: Early 2012
This, That, or the Other
1.Straight-Up Funk or Down-and-Dirty Punk? Hmmm, more like 1983 for Rough Trade Records? Down-and-Purdy Punk?
2. Lyrics or Beats? Lyrics and Melodies
3. Fan-Favorite or Critics’ Darling? A Homemade Fan-Favorite
4. Closed Fist or Open Hand? It’ll slap you around on a few tracks…but, only, of course, if you’re into that kind of thing.
5. Wall Flower, Life of the Party, or Dancing Your @$$ off? Life of the Party with a Few Easter Eggs
Fill in the Blank
6. Music keeps me close to my pals.
7. If I wasn’t a musical artist I’d be a good-natured transient.
8. My favorite all-time music videos are “I Feel It All” by Feist and “Lust For Life” by Girls.
9. If I could have a super power it would be Band Van Transformer because apartment rent would magically appear in the band’s wallets each month.
10. Peace, Love, and Happiness should change to Get, A, and Job.
Short Answer
11. Musicianship means: On tour, it means connecting with people, whether it be against the stage, at the hotel or at the truck stop. Off tour, it means keeping vision for the darndest of rough ideas and seeing them through…
12. If I could convey one perfect thought or sentiment through one perfect song it would be: Naked Mario Party to the Death, Bring It!!!
13. If I could change one thing about myself it would be: My fear of letting other people drive the band van.
14. Wild Card! You get me all bothered, cool, then, hot, then, hotter, I’m gonna’ blow midnight screening dollars cuz it’s empty in the back row of your movie adaptation…
15. The most important thing to me RIGHT NOW is: Finishing the album and singing an Elvis cover song with my mom for my brother’s wedding.
Scissors For Lefty’s favorite all-time videos!
Since SFL is still currently working on their forthcoming release, they have no new stuff to share. They did share these, though! Not one, but two, unreleased B-Sides, “Hard Times” and “‘Lil Airplane,” to tide you over until then. Listen below and click on the pic to get to their recently created Facebook Page and ‘like’ it!
MY TOP 30: Year 3 Posts of ALL-TIME! 2. Sophie B. Hawkins 20Q Part 1
29 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in MY TOP 10 Tags: "As I Lay Me Down", "Betchya Got a Cure", "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", Africa, African music, Babatunde Olatunji, Bill Clinton, Glen Ballard, Grammy Nominee, Grammy-nominated, Grammys, Heart and Soul of a Woman, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Live: Bad Kitty Board Mix, Meshell Ndegeocello, Paige Bach, Sophie B. Hawkins, South Africa, Timbre, Tongues and Tails, Whaler, Wilderness
MY TOP 30: Year 3 Posts of ALL-TIME!
2.Sophie B. Hawkins 20Q Part 1
The Year 3 Number 2 spot goes to none other than Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Ms. Sophie B. Hawkins, whom from here on out I will refer to as SBH. Only the most esteemed bloggers can refer to her as that. Okay, that’s not true, but it sounds cool, right?
Anyway, she’s one of a handful of artists (maybe two handfuls) that I consider myself a true fan of. By that I mean artists that I’ve followed or enjoyed a project of theirs from way back. In most cases, I like an artist’s body of work. In some, it’s only one or two full works. Usually, if I really like one, then it makes me curious about their other work and I will at some point pursue their other stuff.
In the case of SBH, it’s her debut release, Tongues and Tails, that I wore out on tape. Years later, I bought Wilderness, her fourth proper release, on CD. Most recently, after the interview posted, I ordered her sophomore release, Whaler, on CD, of course. It was one I had always wanted, but never got around to picking up. I enjoy all three.
Once I started popolio, I would try to reach for one of these artist to feature every few months or so. Because of being a true fan, this interview was one those “wish” interviews that I really worked hard to get. Usually, with this type of established artist it’s a matter of continuing to reach out every few weeks to months. You have to play it by ear. With SBH, she had no project to promote when I initially started reaching out, so I believe that is why I was getting no response. Now she has a forthcoming release and a musical she’s working on, so when I reached out the last time, I did get a response. We touch on both the new release and the musical in the 2-part interview.
I do love showcasing up-and-coming local and regional indie talent and providing an additional platform that an artist may not otherwise have. I know what it’s like to feel like you have to fight for every opportunity and if someone only gave you a chance you could show what you can do or at the very least show a kernel of potential that could maybe be fostered and grow into something greater. So, don’t get me wrong.
But, there is something about being able to connect with and feature an artist that I have history with as a fan, audience member, and music lover. It’s not like we become best friends or anything like that, but it’s like…how do I even explain it? I get to mark them off my list of those artists that I love and I got to engage with them in a real and human way.
I try to ask things fans would want to know and, of course, what I want to know. I also try not to rehash questions that are already out there. I’ve never wanted to just regurgitate what’s already out there. I’ve always been more interested in creating original content. Of course, you have to ask about the music and the projects. That’s what it’s about. But, in addition to those questions and fun questions, I hope my questions delve a little deeper than the superficiality of a lot of media that’s out there. The artists have to be willing to go there with you as well. SBH was more than willing to do that.
Read the original post here – 20Q for Sophie B. Hawkins Part 1. Here’s Part 2.
See all 17 Year 3 Questions for interviews here.
MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME! 2. The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
29 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in MY TOP 10 Tags: Benny & Joon, Benny & Joon Soundtrack, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Sunshine on Leith, The Proclaimers
MY TOP 30: Year 1 Posts of ALL-TIME!
See the complete MY TOP 10: Soundtrack Songs Countdown here.
2. The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
This is the sixth, highest, and final entry from MY TOP 10: Soundtrack Songs countdown. The first was the song that took the Number 1 spot on Saturday, April 30, 2009. It was “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy from Do The Right Thing. It was Number 20 on this countdown. “Lady Marmalade” by all those pop divas from Moulin Rouge! took the Number 4 spot on the original soundtrack countdown on Monday, April 27, 2009 and Number 13 on this countdown. “Not Gon’ Cry” by Mary J. Blige from Waiting To Exhale was originally Number 6 on Saturday, April 25, 2009 and Number 11 on this countdown. “Independent Women Pt. 1″ by Destiny’s Child from Charlie’s Angels was Number 7 on this countdown and originally Number 2 on Thursday, April 30, 2009. “Streets of Philadelphia” from Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen was Number 4 on this countdown and Number 5 on the original countdown on Sunday, April 26, 2009.
Now the Proclaimers take the Year 1 Number 2 spot with “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” from Benny & Joon after appearing at Number 7 on Friday, April 24, 2009 on the original countdown. Read the original post here — MY TOP 10: Soundtrack Songs — 7. The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” and watch the video below.
During Year 1 I did a MY TOP 10 countdown every month. It’s interesting that this particular countdown was so popular and had such a showing with so many videos on this countdown. And, that this song and video is so well-liked that it takes the overall Year 1 Number 2 spot of ALL-TIME is astounding. I wonder if the fact that Johnny Depp is in the movie has anything to do with it.
See the complete MY TOP 10: Soundtrack Songs Countdown here.
Music Video: Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Otis Redding “Otis”
29 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Music Video Tags: "Otis", hip hop, Jay-Z, KanYe West, Otis Redding, R&B, rap, Watch the Throne
OUTlander TV – Interview with God-Des & She
29 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in OUTlander TV Tags: 2011, Austin, Austin City Hall, Austin PRIDE, bMUSEd Entertainment, freddie beat, Freddie Rodriguez, GayTX, God-Des & She, God-Des & She Day, hip hop, Lipstick 24, November 3, OUTlander Fall Festival, OUTlander TV, soul, Texas, therepubliq.com
During Austin PRIDE on Saturday, September 10, 2011, I interviewed some of the featured artists of the inaugural OUTlander Fall Festival. In addition to this post, I created my own YouTube Page to feature them.
Here’s the fourth of the series with ATX hip hop soul duo, God-Des & She, who were the Austin PRIDE 2011 HEADLINER at the OUTlander Fall Festival. Unlike the other interviews in this series, I spoke to God-Des & She BEFORE their house-bringing-down festival closing set on the Empire Stage at Lipstick 24.
Thanks to Melissa Martin, Director of Operations for bMUSEd Entertainment, for the opportunity & God-Des & She for being regular peeps, so funny they had me rollin’, and for being so generous with their time as I know they are busy, busy ladies. 
What you see is not actually the entire interview, I spoke to them right up until they had to go on stage (unbeknownst to me), so we were suddenly surprised so they could hurry up and go tear the roof off. It was all pretty exciting.
As stated in the interview, God-Des & She will be honored with their own official day in Austin, as proclaimed by Austin City Mayor, Lee Leffingwell, on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Festivities and a performance are scheduled to take place at City Hall. Go to the Facebook Event Page for details.
Shot and edited by bMUSEd Entertainment. OUTlander Fall Festival presented by therepubliq.com & bMUSEd Entertainment.
MY TOP 30: Year 3 Posts of ALL-TIME! 3. Roach Gigz pop quiz
28 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in MY TOP 10 Tags: "Hold Up", "Street Dreams", Audible Treats, Austin, Casino, hip hop, J Stalin, Mac Dre, Martin Scorsese, MTV, MTV2, Nas, Nuvola, rap, Roach Gigz, Roachy Balboa, Roachy Balboa 1 Mixtape, Roachy Balboa 2 Mixtape, Scoot Inn, Suck Free Sundays, Sucker Free Countdown, SXSW, SXSW 2011, Thizz City
MY TOP 30: Year 3 Posts of ALL-TIME!
3. Roach Gigz pop quiz
The SXSW 2011 popolio pop quiz interview domination on this countdown concludes. San Francisco-based hip hopper, Roach Gigz, takes the Year 3 Number 3 spot with his SXSW pop quiz. This is the sixth overall and now highest and final SXSW 2011 pop quiz entry on this countdown. Roach Gigz joins Canada’s BRAIDS at Number 30, Australia’s the Jezabels at Number 23, Japan’s Peelander-Z at Number 21, ATX’s own, Quiet Company, at Number 20, and Mexico’s She’s a Tease at Number 19 .
See the original Monday, March 7, 2011 post here — Roach Gigz pop quiz interview – SXSW Artist. It includes his song “Hold Up” featuring J Stalin and Nas’ video for “Street Dreams.”
See all 10 2011 SXSW pop quiz interviews here.
Courtesy of Google
