THE SEASON FINALE

And a good season it was... and a holiday season to celebrate as well...

Thanks for listening this semester to Rainbow Sounds, and thanks again to author Kage Alan for being on the show!

Rainbow Sounds 12-13-09
Season Finale w/ cohost Kage Alan

Speechless – Lady Gaga
Sing – Kristin Chenoweth
You Spin Me Round – Dead or Alive
Christmas in America – Melissa Etheridge
I Am What I Am – Gloria Gaynor
My Grown-Up Christmas List – Kelly Clarkson
Beautiful People – Pet Shop Boys
Last Christmas – Glee Cast
We Are What We Are – The Other Ones
Hard Candy Christmas – Rupaul
The Sun Always Shines (On T.V.) – Diva
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland
Tik Tok (Fred Falke Radio Edit) – Ke$ha
Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day – Clay Aiken
Trust – Death and Taxes
The One That Got Away – Erin Elise Accomando (P!nk Cover)
Closing of the Year – Wendy & Lisa

After Show Playlist:
Paradise – E-type ft. Nana Hedin
For Your Entertainment – Adam Lambert
Make Me – Janet Jackson
What About Us – John Barrowman
Telephone – Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce
Something About You – Ferras
Scars – Allison Iraheta

Rainbow Sounds 12-06-09 Playlist!

This week was ALL about the music! Next week, Kage Alan helps me close Rainbow Sounds for 2009.

Here is this week's playlist

Dominique (1963) – The Singing Nun

Can’t Stop The Music (1980) – Village People

I’m Diggin’ You (Like an Old Soul Record) (1993) – Me’Shell Ndgeocello

Disappearing Ink (1994) – Heatmiser

Nancy Boy (1996) – Placebo

Kiss The Rain (1997) – Billie Myers

If Madonna Calls (1997) – Junior Vasquez

I Breathe (1997) – Vacuum

Misery (1998) – The Moffatts

Together Again (1999) – Dave Koz

Satisfied (1999) – Erin Hamilton

Fly Away (1999) – Linda Perry

The Garden (2001) – Mirah

One Love (2002) – Blue

The Cranes (2003) – Patty Larkin

I Believe My Heart (2004) – Keedie, Duncan James

The Feeling of Love (2005) – Tender Forever

Now or Never (2005) – Mark Medlock

Where I Stood (2007) – Missy Higgins

Black and Gold (2008) – Sam Sparro

Damaris (2009) – Patrick Wolf

100 Percent (2009) – Mariah Carey


As always, Thanks for listening. Tune into eagleradio.org next Sunday, December 13, 2009, to help me close out Rainbow Sounds for 2009!


James

Rainbow Sounds and Erin Elise Accomando unite AGAIN!

Performing live SUNDAY @ Biggby AND w/ Rainbow Sounds on UStream! Watch Erin Elise Accomando perform LIVE!

This is my most popular video on YOUTUBE!

AND my FAVORITE song to sing! I love it! ENJOOOOOY!

Rainbow Sounds (11-22-09), w/ James Taylor, Jr.

Thanks to Erin for coming back on the show! No show next week, but hit this blog for clips from previous shows!

Here's today's playlist:

Paparazzi – Erin Elise Accomando (Lady Gaga cover) (1:08)

For Your Entertainment – Adam Lambert (3:35)

Better Get To Livin’ – Dolly Parton (3:34)

Time To Pretend – MGMT (4:29)

Video Phone – Beyonce ft Lady Gaga (4:04)

3 – Britney Spears (3:25)

This Is The World We Live In – Alcazar (3:36)

Lay Me Down – Ashley MacIsaac (3:59)

Never Again (Dave Aude Radio Edit) – Kelly Clarkson (5:10)

Saturday Night – Bay City Rollers (2:55)

Tuesday, 3:00am – Nita Whitaker from “Latter Days” (3:20)

Thanksgiving – Mary Gauthier (5:22)


There's one more opportunity to cohost Rainbow Sounds! Contact me via Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, this blog, or jtaylorj@emich.edu to cohost with me on December 6th! Then tune in December 13th to hear Kage Alan one more time on Rainbow Sounds!


Chaz Bono Video

Dolly Parton Video

National Novel Month on Rainbow Sounds

Thanks to author KAGE ALAN for coming on Rainbow Sounds this week. You can find him on FACEBOOK and on KAGEALAN.COM!

This week's (guest) playlist:
Dancing into DangerInker & Hamilton
Butterflysmile.dk
True BelieverE-type
Back to the 80'sAqua
ThunderspellDoro
RemedyLittle Boots
To Lose My LifeWhite Lies
Touching and KissingCinema Bizarre
The HauntingKamelot
Lay Your Love on MeBwO
AngelsWithin Temptation
Take All My LoveDa Buzz
MagicLadyHawke
Breakaway (Chris Fraser Radio Edit)DJ Bill Bennett & Inaya Day

Remember November is also National Novel Month as well as National Epilepsy Month!

Catch Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovoloni on Dancing With The Stars this Tuesday 8pm/est on ABC!

You can have your music on Rainbow Sounds or COHOST! Email me @ jtaylorj@emich.edu !

Umbrella (sung by James Taylor, Jr.)

Here is a new vid of me singing "Umbrella" (Rihanna, Mandy Moore, Marie Digby) > ACOUSTIC?! First acoustic vid EVER!

Rainbow Sounds for November 8th, 2009

Don't forget that you can email me (jtaylorj@emich.edu) if you'd like to cohost or would like your music played. You can also email requests. Don't forget to hit one of the links above to connect with me!

Here is this week's playlist!

House of LoveRuPaul
Constant Cravingk.d. lang
For Today I Am A BoyAntony and the Johnsons
For GoodWicked OCR
MagicPilot
VivicaJack Off Jill
JessieJoshua Kadison
PapparazziErin EliseLady Gaga Cover
Defying GravityGlee Cast
Everybody Bleeds the SameFerras
Key To My Life/Words/No Matter What/I Believe (Medley)Boyzone/Stephen Gately
If U Seek Poker FaceBritney Spears / Lady Gaga
Work (Money)Cynthia Begeman; James Taylor, Jr.
RelaxFrankie Goes to Hollywood
Look AroundAnthony Rapp
We're in a ThunderstormGentleman Reg
RearviewAnastacia
Pink Turns to BlueHusker Du
Hymn for all those left behindShannon MooreLatter Days Soundtrack


Christmas will come early for a five year old Michigan boy this year. Noah Biorkman is battling cancer and is not expected to live much longer.

Mrs. Biorkman is asking for Christmas cards for her son. If you would like to take time to send a card or letter, send it to:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon Michigan, 48178.

Read more about Pamela Glasner's book @ Martha Swartz's blog about National Novel Month!

Next week, my cohost is author Kage Alan!

Listen to Rainbow Sounds every Sunday @ 3p/est on http://eagleradio.org!

NOVEMBER 1st! Welcome November in with RAINBOW SOUNDS!

This week's playlist!


HellTegan & Sara

Get the Party StartedP!nk

Black or WhiteMichael Jackson

Hate on MeGlee Cast

Defying GravityIdina Menzel

Step Into The LightDarren Hayes

DreamerUh Huh Her

TransformationNona Hendryx

TrustDeath and Taxes

RelaxFrankie Goes To Hollywood

Out Here on my OwnIrene Cara

SufferCynthia Begeman


While You Wait for the OthersGrizzly Bear

Love HealsRent Cast




Thanks to Martha AKA TAZ for cohosting this week! If you'd like to cohost or would like your music played on Rainbow Sounds, all you have to do is EMAIL ME! JTAYLORJ@EMICH.EDU !

You can find a link to The Happy Store on her facebook page.

Check out Kathy Ireland's "Real Solutions for Busy Moms" and Pamela Glasner's "Finding Emmaus"! Kathy Ireland's charity is The Alliance For Christian Education!

Martha is also the twitter coordinator for Love Without Boundaries !

LIVE! For Good (Wicked) performed by James Taylor, Jr and Erin Elise Accomando

My friend, Erin Elise Accomando, and I performing "For Good" from the musical "Wicked" at this year's Rainbow Variety Show.

Remember, you can visit Erin at http://myspace.com/erinelisemusic or go to http://youtube.com/eaccoman to see more of HER videos!

LIVE! Heavy on my Heart (Anastacia) performed by James Taylor, Jr.

Live performance from this year's Rainbow Variety Show @ Eastern Michigan University! What a great turnout!

Rainbow Sounds 10-25-09

This week's playlist:

Paparrazi Erin Elise Lady Gaga Cover
Bad Romance Lady Gaga
Destiny Zero 7
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? Culture Club
I'm Coming Out Diana Ross
Burning Up Tony De Vit
Medley Michael Jackson Billie Jean / Rock With You / Bad / Thriller / Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough / Black or White / Scream / Wanna Be Startin' Something
I Am Here (Feelin' You Remix) James Taylor, Jr. Original Song
The One That Got Away Erin Elise P!nk Cover
Dear God Ferras
Time for Miracles Adam Lambert 2012 Soundtrack
God Is in the People Melissa Etheridge

Thanks again to Erin Elise Accomando for being on the show. You can find her on MYSPACE.

Remember to head to the EMU Student Center @ 8pm, Thursday Oct 29th for the Rainbow Variety Show, hosted by the LGBT Resource Center!

If you'd like to have your music played on Rainbow Sounds, or would like cohost one week, you can email me: jtaylorj@emich.edu !

Thanks for listening to Rainbow Sounds.
Rainbow Sounds is on from 3-5p/est on EagleRadio.org !

While you wait... Double Trouble

I am still listening to the show from yesterday to edit out all the unnecessary debris. LoL. I will hopefully have a music and a non-music version.

However, until then here is video from an article on YAHOO!



Enjoy!

Here\'s a clip from Sunday\'s Rainbow Sounds! http://filetwt.com/f/6p40zfy2mj
Thanks to Maggie Martin for cohosting this week! Next week, Erin Elise Accomando!

Here's this week's playlist!

Boyzone/Stephen Gately - Key To My Life/Words/No Matter What/I Believe (Medley)
Stephen Gately - New Beginning
P!nk - Family Portrait
Chris Garneau - Hands on the Radio
John Barrowman - What About Us?
Nervous But Excited - Said and Done
George Michael - Outside
Melissa Ferrick - For Once in my Life
Jeffree Star - Prisoner
Stephen Gately - Do Without Me
Tokio Hotel - Forgotten Children
Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
Unruly Child - Shades of Love

Don't forget about OUTober events @ http://emich.edu/lgbtrc !

Listen to Rainbow Sounds, Sundays @ 3p/est on http://eagleradio.org/
I'll have clips from this week's show available soon! Stay tuned!

James

This week...

This week's playlist will be late... I will be attending a performance @ Biggby Coffee in Livionia by Erin Elise !

Rainbow Sounds 10-11-09 NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY!

Thanks again to Chris Petrie for co-hosting this week's show!

People Are People - Depeche Mode
Crucified - Army of Lovers
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
Somebody To Love - Queen
Rise - American Music Club
Origin of Love - Rufus Wainwright
Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll - Long John Baldry (Doctor Robotnik!)
Coming Out of Hiding - RuPaul
Tell Me - God-Des (& She?)
Nature Boy - Nat King Cole
New York City Boy - Pet Shop Boys
It's a Beautiful Thing - Ocean Colour Scene
Let Me Be The One - Intro

Remember, if you'd like to cohost or have your music played, email me: jtaylor@emich.edu !

http://equalityacrossamerica.org/ http://allianceforchristianeducation.org/ is Kathy Ireland's charity organization as talked about on today's show.

Remember to go to http://emich.edu/lgbtrc for more information on all events.

Obama HRC speech resonates with LGBT community

Coming Out Calendar

Happy National Coming Out Day!

James

Rainbow Sounds snippet

You can hear PART of yesterday's show... here! http://twiturm.com/bwkqe

Rainbow Sounds for October 4th, 2009!

I want to thank, again, Mary Larkin for co-hosting with me this week! Mary is from the LGBT Resource Center here at EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY. To find out about the RC and all the events for OUTober, including the Rainbow Variety Show that I will be co-MCing w/ DKR, head on over to http://emich.edu/lgbtrc and if you'd like to be in it, email lgbtrc@emich.edu !

Continue to protest Buju Banton's tour @ http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/!
Remember, if you were at the protest in Ann Arbor, Between The Lines would like to see your pictures! Email editor@pridesource.com !

Today's PLAYLIST!

Open Your Mind - Melissa Etheridge
Give Me Danger - Dangerous Muse
Dimestore Diamond - The Gossip
S.E.X.Y. - Dy'Ari
All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks
30 minutes - t.A.T.u.
Sugar and Spice - The Ditty Bops
Blame It On The Girls - Mika
Radio Ga Ga - Queen
Black President - Brenda Fassie
Everyman/Everywoman - Yoko Ono (Dave Aude Gay Radio Edit)
The One That Got Away - Erin Elise (P!nk cover)
Where You Once Sat - James Taylor, Jr. & Cynthia Begeman
I Stand - Idina Menzel

Theme Song: I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor

For information on the Equality March in DC head over to http://equalityacrossamerica.org/! And for information in general, http://glsen.org/!

Remember to follow along on facebook or twitter! Email me @ jtaylorj@emich.edu if you'd like your music played, would like to cohost, or have comments/feedback.
Thanks for listening!

Rainbow Sounds airs Sundays, 3-6pm Eastern Standard Time, on Eagle Radio!

Rainbow Sounds 09/27/2009

This week's playlist:

Poker Face - Erin Elise, a Lady Gaga cover
Dreams - Brandi Carlile
Your Song - Patti LaBelle ft Elton John
Know Your Enemy - Green Day
Boy Soprano - Xiu Xiu (pronounced shoe-shoe, I looked it up)
I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round) - Alicia Bridges
I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman
You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) - Dead or Alive
Room With A View - Imperial Teen
Fine - Sarah Bettens
I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
Jumpers - Sleater-Kinney
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye - Soft Cell

My co-host this week was Mickie Orbach.

If you'd like your music played or would like to co-host, email me (jtaylorj@emich.edu)!

Thanks for listening.

James

("Boom Bye Bye" lyrics and sound file.)

Erin Elise

Michigan artist, and E.M.U. student, Erin Elise will be performing SUNDAY at the Biggby Coffee in Livonia. Her 3 hour show starts at 4pm and it's free! You can hear Erin Elise on Rainbow Sounds, which starts at 3p/est on http://eagleradio.org/ ! For more information on Erin, to hear her now, or for more information on the show, go to http://myspace.com/erinelisemusic !

Is there anyone you'd like to hear?

Is there any artist/band you'd like to hear on Rainbow Sounds? Let me know by emailing me @ jtaylorj@emich.edu ! You can also email me if you'd like YOUR music played on Rainbow Sounds or if you'd like to co-host.

Rainbow Sounds airs Sundays @ 3pm/est on Eagle Radio, Eastern Michigan University's student radio station. You can listen to Eagle Radio on Campus TV's channel 10, by going to http://eagleradio.org/ or by going to iTunes, Radio, Schools & Universities, Eagle Radio!

Check here weekly for the playlist! Last week's playlist went up w/in 30 minutes of going off air! There were only 14 songs! Look like this is going to be 50/50 music/talk! Hope you enjoy!

Thanks,
James

Rainbow Sounds 09/20/2009

Today's playlist on Rainbow Sounds!

I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor
Ring of Fire - Adam Lambert
Love Song - RJ Helton
Let's Turn The Night - Rupaul
Last Tears - Indigo Girls ft Brandi Carlile
Just Some Guy - Anthony Rapp
Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) - Mariah Carey
If I Could Be With You Now - Latter Days Soundtrack
Casey - Darren Hayes
Fire Door - Ani Difranco
We Care A Lot - Faith No More
Tell Me Why - Expose
I Know Him So Well - John Barrowman (from Chess, ft Daniel Boys)
Everybody Bleeds the Same - Ferras

You can hear Rainbow Sounds every Sunday @ 3pm/est on Eagle Radio. Visit EagleRadio.org or visit you iTunes Radio stations, under Universitys and Schools, you'll find Eagle Radio!

Thanks to Jennie Rokakis for co-hosting this week.

James

LGBTRC

Today, I went to the LGBT Resource Center's welcome back BBQueer for Eastern Michigan University. I definitely pimped out my show, though some of the publicity was unsolicited by me. Haha. Just a reminder, I will be posting at LEAST weekly once the show starts on Sunday. I will be posting the playlist and possibly the podcast. I will SEE what I can DO! Met some great people tonight, btw. Y'all were awesome.

Rainbow Sounds airs Sundays, 3-5PM Eastern Standard Time (DST, U.S.A.) on http://eagleradio.org/ ! LIVE STREAM WEBCAST! If you go to listen right now, there may or may not be a show. All shows will begin airing within the next two weeks. A variety of shows. And my own show will be a variety of music! Lots of fun.

If anyone has any topics they'd like to hear discussed, any info they feel is relevant, or wants their music published, please email me @ jtaylorj@emich.edu !

James

Rainbow Sounds on EAGLE RADIO!

This is the information that will be posted on http://eagleradio.org/ where I will be hosting my radio show, Rainbow Sounds. Information below...

James Taylor, Jr. is a student here at Eastern Michigan University majoring in Electronic Media, minor in Music, focusing on Audio Production. He is a singer/songwriter, and is extremely passionate about all types of music. He can be found on Twitter (james_taylor_jr), Facebook (jtaylorj), and Myspace (jamestaylorjrmusic), as well as @ http://jamestaylorjrmusic.blogspot.com/ , where he will post his playlists weekly!

Rainbow Sounds hosted, by James Taylor, Jr.,will air Sundays 3-5pm EST on http://eagleradio.org/ starting September 20th. It is LGBTQ-inspired, -themed, and -friendly music that encompasses multiple genres and thousands of artists. The show will also cover music news as well as LGBTQ news and issues. Rainbow Sounds is looking for a new cohost every week to help bring topics to the table. If students would like to sign up for a co-host spot or would like their music played, email James via jtaylorj@emich.edu for more information.

SO EXCITING!!!!

Melita FarmFest

Hey, it's been a while since I last wrote. Sorry about that. By the end of the week, I will know what day and time I will be going on-air w/ Rainbow Sounds.

This weekend I attended Melita FarmFest and it was a lot of fun. Check out the band schedule @ http://melitafarmfest.com ! All the bands that played are linked to their myspace pages, except the last minute changes. My sister and I ended up singing several of my songs, and everyone really like it. It's more of a rock scene, but they are just music lovers there. It was great! We were actually invited to perform next year! I'll be getting some musicians together soon. Wanna go for a pop/soul/rock sound, with a little country/gospel/blues/jazz. Haha. It's all interconnected!

Talk to you soon!

Paula returns to American Idols?

No, not to American Idol, but to American Idols. Paula Abdul will be hosting this year's Divas concert on VH1. Included in the lineup, along with Adele and Miley Cyrus, are American Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks. Also included in the lineup is XFactor winner Leona Lewis. (XFactor is a UK program created by Simon Cowell.)

Kelly Clarkson, however, is rumored to be making a deal to be a guest judge on American Idol. I think singers, performers, and people who have experienced such an experience are good for the mood of American Idol. Former contestants have made it clear since Paula's announcement that she will not return. Paula IS the heart of the show and keeps positivity on the panel. Perez Hilton even wants his pal, already announced guest judge, Katy Perry to be a permanent replacement, saying: "I think Katy would be the only one who gets it, really, and have fun with it and give honest feedback, because she's lived it."

Remember, I am a blog... I am not putting my sources. Just Google news it... or Bing it... I haven't used Bing yet. LoL.

Eagle Radio @ EMU

Alright, here's to 4-1-1, y'all. I am a student at Eastern Michigan University, and in the Fall I will be hosting my own radio show. You will be able to listen online at http://bit.ly/emuwqbr. It is LIVE streaming, so if there's no show on, there's no sound. The show is not scheduled nor approved yet. Those details will be posted as they happen.

Here is my concept. "Rainbow Sounds" is a two hour weekly show (not daily) that will air music that is LGBTQ-themed, -inspired, and -friendly AS WELL AS information on those songs, news on the artists, and LGBTQ and music news. I would like to feature a co-host each week who is either LGBTQ or a straight ally. Obviously, I don't want to feature someone who is LGBTQ friendly. Haha. This person will help me cue tracks if need be and comment on news topics, artists, and hopefully come to the table with their own topics of discussion. I plan on only playing 40 minutes or LESS of music per hour. There will be about 8 minutes give or take (hopefully take) used discussing each song and its relevance. That leaves 12 minutes of news and discussion. That is a total of 24 minutes of news and discussion for the entire show. I hope to spend at least 4 of that on a topic by the co-host.

I am very excited about this show and have about 20 % of the music I am looking for. I have listened to about 20% of that. That is 10% more of each than yesterday. I am trying to be on the ball here. LoL.

ANY musicians that feel their music fits into this category, either b/c they are advocates or str8 allies, or b/c they are LGBTQ or someone involved in their music-making is LGBTQ identified (or completely "un-identified")... and you would like it, or they would like it, played, please contact me.

I would like to feature independent artists (including the occasional song by ME, LoL) as well as NEW releases by established artists.

SO FAR, I have an ever growing list of singer, musicians, and bands including:

Alicia Bridges; Andy Bell; Andy Bey; Anthony Callea;
Bill Amesbury (now Barbra Amesbury); Brandi Carlile; Bro'Sis;
Catie Curtis; Dangerous Muse; The Ditty Bops;
Elton John; Erasure; Ferras; Franz Ferdinand; Freddie Mercury;
Gary Burton; George Michael; Gloria Gaynor; The Gossip; Grizzly Bear
AND SO MUCH MORE... I have HOURS AND HOURS of music... I hope to set up the first three show with MUSIC before the first show even airs.

So let's get to stepping people. The semester begins the 2nd week of September, and I probably have at least a week before I go on air. And after each show, I will post the ENTIRE playlist RIGHT HERE! How exciting!

Opinions? Artist suggestions? Song suggestions? Want your music played?
All Comments Welcome!

Memories

The following is a song I wrote called Memories. I wrote this as a poem, thinking about how I actually have very few memories of my life. It's like they've all been taken away. Maybe they provide no use for what I'm supposed to be doing, but I still feel as if they've been stolen from me. I want them back. Maybe they'd answer all the questions I have about my life. Eventually, I was sitting at a piano, at the University I attend, practicing either my voice material or functional piano material. I got bored. Ha ha. And I started playing these arpeggios, and chords, and it turned into the song based on the poem. All of the words are the same, only the arrangement of them is different.

I recorded this as a demo track for my sister, Cynthia Begeman (Myspace, Twitter). She is working on a new project and I sent this to her as a sample. I am very proud of this song. At the beginning of the track is a bit of an error, but this recording is strictly for the sake of hearing the melody of the vocal. Hope you enjoy it.


Back 2 School Revue!

Hello, all. Sorry that I have been M.I.A. I've been working on too much stuff. And now, I've gotten an invitation to perform at a Performers Awards of Detroit benefit show. It will be Tuesday, August 25th, 10PM, at Gigi's. It's called the Back 2 School Revue! So head on out! Any song suggestions? LoL. Gonna try to put together my "song choices" very soon. I like to be prepared.

James

Wendy Williams

Today, it was announced, Radio and Television host Wendy Williams will be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. She will join the ranks of Orson Welles, Larry King, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and even a U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt!

Williams, "a woman of a certain age", has spent 20 years on the air in New York and Philidelphia becoming famous for her controversial interviews. (Mariah Carey's song "Touch My Body" even mentions this, saying, "all up in my bid'ness like a Wendy interview.") Recently, she decided to leave the airwaves to focus on her new show, The Wendy Williams Show, and to focus on her family. Doing both the television and radio show has turned Wendy's days into 12 hour days! It's take to pull back a little back. (Read more here...)

The announcement was made to Wendy LIVE on her television program in a surprise phone call. Watch that HERE!

One last thing, Wendy...

How you doiiin?
I'm pretty sure she's "Alrriiiiight."

VMAs ANNOUNCED!

The MTV Video Music Award nominations have been revealed. Once again, the show will be hosted by Russell Brand, who announced the nominations.



Video of the year noms include Beyonce's "Single Ladies", Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", Eminem's "We Made You", Kanye West's "Lockdown", and Britney Spears' "Womanizer".


Other categories include: Best New Artist; Best Male Video; Best Female Video; Best Hip Hop Video; Best Pop Video; Best Rock Video; Best Choreography; Best Direction; Best Editing; Best Special Effects; Best Cinematography; Best Art Direction; Breakthrough Video; Best Video (That Should Have Won A MoonMan).




For full noms visit the MTV BUZZWORTHY BLOG.


Thanks to LOGO for the video.




Who are you rooting for? I'm Britney all the way, for "Circus" (Editing, Direction, etc). Not so much "Womanizer". LoL. Beyonce should win Video Of The Year for "Single Ladies". It really did bring the classic music video back.

Headlines?

Not too much going on today with Kelly, Ryan, and Beyonce... YET! Haha. But reading Perez Hilton's OH-SO-FAMOUS gossip blog... here is what I found:

Whitney Houston refuses to wake up for GMA! Her appearance on the show will be pretaped. (Read here)

Torchwood/Doctor Who hottie and West End star John Barrowman has been in talks with Desperate Housewives... Sorry, Perez, but he didn't release ONE song last year, he's released multiple solo albums including TWO pop albums. (Read here)

Ricky Martin is working on his next album with Sony. (Read here)

Pussycat Dolls are breaking up? Says Ashley Roberts? Read Perez's spin... HERE. Robin responds on Twitter! (Read here)

Mariah does Vegas, but don't expect a headline. (Read here)

Rob Thomas has a potty mouth. LoL.

If you haven't heard it yet... here is Madonna's new single, Celebration, to "celebrate" her latest anthological collection. LISTEN HERE.

9 to 5: The Musical is CLOSING. The entire score (music & lyrics) were written by amazing songwriter Dolly Parton who starred in the original film. 9 to 5 was the only song written by Dolly for the film, but when she was approached to write the score for the musical, Dolly reluctantly accepted with amazing results! Like Perez says, "Dolly is truly an angel!"

That's all for now.

Have a subject you'd like to know more about? Email me via ldtaylor_unknown@yahoo.com !

Upcoming Releases

Here is a list of album releases that I am looking forward to...

August 18 - Reba McEntire releases her 24th studio album, Keep On Loving You
August 25 - Queen Latifah releases Persona, her 9th studio album
August 31 - Her first album in 7 years, Whitney releases I Look to You, originally slated for September 1st (in the U.S.)

September 15 - Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel is the very personal 12th studio album by Mariah Carey
September 25 - Christina Aguilera returns to pop with Light & Darkness
September 29 - Full of jazz standards, Love is the Answer is Barbra Streisand's 34th album

In November, Carrie Underwood and Avril Lavigne have untitled albums slated for release. Also slated for release this year with no pending date or title, Shakira's and Adam Lambert's albums.

What CD's are you waiting for?

Tedder releases statement ("Already Gone"/"Halo")

Tedder has finally issued a statement, according to Entertainment Weekly, responding to the Kelly Clarkson/Beyonce controversy, in which Clarkson claims Tedder ripped them off with the same musical track for "Already Gone" and "Halo".

Tedder says, “‘Already Gone’ is one of the best songs I’ve written or produced since ‘Bleeding Love’ and stands tall on it’s own merits apart from ‘Halo.’ They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, & lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyonce into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful & absurd. I think when people hear ‘Already Gone’ they will hear what I hear — one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write. I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions.”
(Read the EW article)

Do you believe him?

James

Will Beyonce respond?


(C/w will mean cowriter, cowritten, cowrote, etc... for the duration of this article and this blog. Thanks!)


Beyonce is a busy, busy girl. After doing a press tour for Obsessed (2009) AND her double album I Am... Sasha Fierce, she is doing a whirlwind tour across North America, Japan, Europe, and Australia. She's even (allegedly) linked to a new movie, Tipping The Velvet. It's no wonder she hasn't responded to the "Halo"/"Already Gone" controversy surrounding her, Kelly Clarkson, and Ryan Tedder. According to the Times of India, Beyonce couldn't even tell you what city she's in!


Beyonce is also allegedly being called out on some of her "other" lies. Ego, another one of her many singles from I Am... Sasha Fierce, is supposedly written by Chrisette Michelle, originally intended for HER second release, Epiphany. "Radio", "Sweet Dreams", and Deluxe track "Scared of Lonely" are songs c/w by Rico Love with Knowles... or is it WITHOUT Knowles? I can't really say too much about this because every track she ever sings has her as a c/w. My guess is that she has it negotiated in every contract she ever signs that she has to be given credit as a co-producer and c/w on everything. After all, she IS Beyonce! (Read more here...)


So, in light of all this, will Beyonce comment on Ryan Tedder? Will Tedder comment? We can only wait!


James

Update on Kelly Clarkson

(C/w will mean cowriter, cowritten, cowrote, etc... for the duration of this article and this blog. Thanks!)
Recently, I wrote (quite excitedly) about Kelly Clarkson's latest single (due out in August in the U.S.) "Already Gone". Well, according to an interview Kelly did with CBC Radio, Kelly actually asked her label NOT to release "Already Gone" as a single.
The problem? It sounds too much like "Halo". Why does it sound so much like "Halo"? According to Clarkson, it has everything to do with c/w and producer Ryan Tedder.

“Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with
anyone else,” Clarkson begins, gritting her teeth. “He’s from Oklahoma, I’m
from
Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences. We
wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all
fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called Halo. Her album came out when
my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking
‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to
write to.’ No,
they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I
don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”

Clarkson also said, now that the album is out, the label can do whatever they want with it.
I'm sorry you're not happy about this, Kelly. I personally LOVE this song. Maybe you can convince them to release the acoustic version. Alas, though, it's probably already gone to print.

James Taylor, Jr.

UPDATE: Official Music Video

Kristinia DeBarge ((Exposed))

(C/w will mean cowriter, cowritten, cowrote, etc... for the duration of this article and this blog. Thanks!)

19-year-old Kristinia DeBarge, daughter of James DeBarge of the group (can you guess...) DeBarge, is set to release her debut album tomorrow, July 28, 2009. DeBarge has been working on putting this album out, entitled Exposed, for about five years, finally signing with the label SodaPop on Def Jam Records. Sodapop is founded by Jeff Burroughs and "Babyface" Edmonds. Babyface is a key collaborator on this album with DeBarge, contributing writing credits to four tracks on the final release. Other contributors to this album include Evan "Kidd" Bogart, who has c/w such hits as "Halo" (Beyonce), "SOS" (Rihanna), and "Take You There" (Sean Kingston), along with Ryan Tedder known for his work on "Bleeding Love" (Leona Lewis), the upcoming "Already Gone" (Kelly Clarkson), and "Halo" (Beyonce).

Let's start with the first single, which is the fourth track on the album, called "Goodbye". This song samples a popular 1969 song by Steam, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," which says, simply enough, "Na na na na. Na na na na. Hey hey hey. Goodbye." I personally believe that this was a great choice for the first single. It is very Rihanna-"SOS"-like, a very popular R&B/Pop/Dance sound.

The next single(s) will be a "double A-side" or a double-release of "Future Love" (track 2) and "Sabotage" (track 5). "Future Love" is a c/w of Bogart and Tedder, originally released by the U.S. boyband Varsity Fanclub in 2008. (While VFC is still active, their slated release date for their debut album was January of this year, but the world has yet to see an album dropped by VFC.) Listening to the two versions, DeBarge's is far less busy and has much softer instrumentation. Her voice adds to the, what I believe to be intended as, soft melodies. "Sabotage" is another Bogart c/w, but no Tedder on this one. This song is about a girl who sabotages herself in her ongoing struggle with the good-girl/bad-girl inside of her. Musically, it has a lot of elements of "Halo" (Beyonce) with a slightly rock-edge to the chorus (much like Kelly Clarkson). "Future Love", one of my favorites on the album, is being marketed to the pop stations, and "Sabotage" is going out to the Urban Crossover stations. This is a very Beyonce/Sasha Fierce move, and will probably gain her a lot of publicity as a new artist.

Overall, the album is actually quite good. She presents a little flavor of "new" Mary J. Blige and Beyonce (though not as mature), as well as a bit of a more mature JoJo and Jordin Sparks. She presents herself as a contemporary of Rihanna, which is a good place to start, since Rihanna has had FOUR number 1 hits in the U.S. in the past FOUR years. There's a lot of midtempo R&B/Pop songs, songs like "Cried Me A River" (c/w Babyface, DeBarge, et al.) make it interesting. Over all, it's at least a B+/A- album, and I can only hope for growth from this burgeoning young artist.

James Taylor, Jr.

Battlefield by Jordin Sparks

Yes... this is a review. It will not be as long as my previous two reviews for those of you who followed me here. For those of you who haven't... I reviewed the Dixie Chicks previously and Kelly Clarkson.





Jordin Sparks released her sophomore album Battlefield on July 21, 2009, in the U.S. Overall, it was not what I expected. I was hoping for growth from this, now, young woman, who is the youngest ever American Idol winner, winning Season 5 at the age of 16. However, this contemporary R&B / Pop album is extremely focused (which can be good).



The first track "Walking In The Snow", which should have been titled "(I'm so) Unaffected", was a cute, light, young dance-pop track. It's sweet and simple, but hardly sets the tone for the album. The second track, first single, and title track "Battlefield" is co-produced by top-of-the-charts Ryan Tedder (frontman for OneRepublic). "Battlefield" is not a carbon copy of Tedder's other achievements ("Halo" [Beyonce], "Bleeding Love" [Leona Lewis], and the soon to be released "Already Gone" [Kelly Clarkson]) but has similar elements. It's a good first single, and this track definitely sets the tone for the album.



"Don't Let It Go To Your Head" surprised me with the line "I think of you in bed," which I find disturbing. Even though Sparks is now 19, I still see her as that 16 year old who won our hearts (or at least the hearts of the people who voted for her) on American Idol. The song was actually intended for the 2005 release Sunday Love by FeFe Dobson, the release of which was cancelled. There's an interesting bridge that reminds me of a genre I can't seem to name, but, otherwise, it sounds like a slower "Battlefield".

"S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)" uses the song "Let The Music Play" by Shannon from the album of the same name (1983) as it's basis and chorus. It's a fun song that highlights the flare of 80's music and the influence of 80's music on modern music (as highlighted by Darren Hayes in This Delicate Film We've Made). It's trans-generational, simple, and fun.

"It Takes More" is slightly reminiscent of "Tattoo". The verses are rocker-chick low, but the chorus doesn't deliver an appropriate build-up that creates interesting melodies. It ends without the drums and background vocals, where Jordin creates interesting melodic changes (interesting as in beautiful). "Watch You Go" is slightly Beyonce/Sasha Fierce with Cascade like vocals. "I hate to watch you leave but I love to watch you go" is slightly cliche, and it's yet another "Battlefield" on an album full of "Battlefield"s. (Hence the album title Battlefield.)

"No Parade" has the potential to be the big, timeless Diva ballad of the album, but fails to deliver when it adds the "Battlefield" drums. In an effort to be modern, this track (among others) have been overdone. "Let It Rain" has a very rock chorus. That would sound awesome if the track wasn't full of multiple instrumentations that clash with each other. "Emergency (911)" is the first track co-written by Sparks, and it sounds very Disney (aka Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana). After the introduction, there isn't a lot going on here for me.

"Was I The Only One" (another Sparks cowrite) starts and ends sweetly, another potential soft-pop classic. During the second verse, the drums are added to give it that R&B feel. This time, however, it doesn't necessarily kill the song (as I believe it did "No Parade"). "Faith" is actually one of my favorite songs off the album. Musically, it goes the way of the pop gospel-based ballad of the 80's and 90's. Sparks, who cowrote this track, goes off vocally towards the end, but brings it back. This is possibly the most timeless track of the album. The last track, "The Cure" reminds me of this exact song that I swore I heard when the first album came out. However, according to my research, it was only leaked as of July 14, 2009. It reminds me of "Tattoo" and sounds like everything else on the album.

The BONUS TRACKS from the Deluxe edition should be on the album. They add diversity and show growth. "Papercut" shows the most growth, having Sparks (in the final cowrite) sing with a full band as opposed to an intrumental or synthetic instruments. It is raw and emotional; young yet mature; not manufactured; not overdone. It is everything I was hoping the album would be but wasn't. "Postcard" is a slow R&B/Pop track that reminds me of a late 90's, early 00's girl group (the kind that only has 3 girls throughout its entire duration of 1.5 albums). Sparks attempts to do too much with the song vocally, but overall this song is very casual, laid-back, yet entertaining.

Battlefield is definitely not a sequel to Jordin Sparks. It isn't the same, it hasn't grown, and it just simply isn't enough for me. If this were her freshman release, B or B+, possibly A-, but this is a second album. B-: Stop trying so hard to be modern and fresh, Jordin, and be real. "Papercut" was definitely my favorite track and what I hoped for in this album. I'll be waiting.

Already Gone keeps Kelly going...

Kelly Clarkson's third single off of All I Ever Wanted has been announced as "Already Gone". Here is what I said about "Already Gone" when the album was released...

"Already Gone”, the first Tedder/Clarkson collaboration on this album, sounds similar to much of Tedder’s work, which is currently hot on the charts, including “Bleeding Love” and “Halo”. It gives Clarkson a different sound, even for this album. It is the essential 2009 electropop sound, with Clarkson’s unique country influence on the delivery of the verses in her delightful, raspy R&B tone... amazing pop and dance chart potential..."
(For the FULL album review, CLICK HERE.)

The video, presumably, has already been filmed and it is slated for release in the U.S. on August 11th, 2009, and September 7, 2009, in the U.K. Assumably, it has been released to the airwaves in Australia already since it has already charted.

My question is... will it be the album version she releases or the acoustic/tour version? I love both, and perhaps she will release both as a single. She will probably release the album version, however, to the radio stations.



The song is one of my favorites, and I am excited for the release (and remixes).

Album 4, Single 3. 1 more single, and you'll graduate, Kelly!

James

Free Song!

This is one of my favorite songs on the album Unknown. Check it out here:
http://twiturm.com/zujn
James

Interview

Check out this AWESOME interview w/ the producer Dystopian Fiction AKA Doc LaRue. He mentions me, haha. We are working on that hot new track I told y'all about!

James

Meet Adam and Steve (and James!)

Today I am the LGBT Face of the Day on Meet Adam and Steve, a wonderful blog that puts a face (actually FACES) to the LGBT community. This (hetero) blogger wants to "normalize" us, basically. The LGBT community is just like any other community: we are human, we have interests, we are simple and complex. And yet our gender, our sexuality, our love is considered perverse. If you do not read this blog, please do, and share it. If you would like to be a face of the day and help, please contact him via his blog.

Meanwhile view MY FACE right here!

James

Queer Lives in Popular Music

The following is a paper I wrote for a class (or classes, haha) that I would like to share. It is unformatted b/c I am retyping it. Here goes...

Queer Lives In Popular Music And The Role Of Popular Music in Queer Culture
(Long title, I know...)

Queer music can be open to interpretation according to several definition and guidelines, including the people involved in the composition or performance of the music or, simply, the community in which the music is valued. Queer itself can be defined as "both straight and gay but also the vast gray areas between them as well as the sexualities that might lie beyond them" (Benshoff 2). So, just as the lines of gender and sexuality are blurred within "queer" cultures, so are the lines of genre and era blurred in queer music. Benshoff and Griffin define queer film as: having queer characters; being written, directed, or produced by a person who might be queer; having a largely queer audience; being a genre that is queer or outside the norms of the society at large; or the audience's experience and relation to the characters. While it only takes one of these aspects to effectively queer a film, many films have multiple aspects that make them queer. Queer music can be defined the same way: songs or lyrics being of a queer nature; the people or a person involved in the making of the music is queer; the audience is largely queer; or the audience's experience of the song (intentional or not) is also largely queer (Benshoff 12). I hope to show that queer lives (as defined today) have been influential in music across generations but most importantly popular music, and in turn, show that popular music has influenced the culture of queer communities. I will first examine the "queer" composers and artists who have shaped music history, especially American music. I will then take a look at the way queer lives have influenced current popular music. Finally I will examine the role of popular music in the queer community. Hopefully, my research will show that queer lives are influential on popular music, and popular music in return influences queer culture.

Samuel Barber composed one of the most well-known works of American Literature, Adagio for Strings (Smith: Barber). Although not as recognizable as his peers Virgil Thomson and Aaron Copland, Barber's Adagio has been featured in films such as Platoon and Elephant Man, as well as remixed by disc jockeys and electronic musicians (Smith: Barber, "List" link: Barber). Although Thomson may be more well known for his opera The Mother of Us All, Four Saints in Three Acts is considered his "queerest" work of all (Smith: Thomson). Nadine Hubbs, in the introduction to her book The Queer Composition of America's Sound, discusses an essay that the United States Army released discussing Aaron Copland as "America's most prominent composer" (Hubbs 1). While it discussed Copland's Jewish and Russian background, the essay did little to hint at Copland's queerness, his homosexuality (Hubbs 1-2, Smith: Copland 2). Copland was even know to have mentored and been involved with younger queer composer Leanard Bernstein (Smith: Copland 2). Bernstein has been one of the most popular American composers, being popularized in the media to celebrity status throughout the 1960's. He is probably more well know for composing the music for Candide and the popular musical West Side Story (Smith: Bernstein 1). However, Bernstein's homosexuality, perhaps the most indentifiable part of one's queerness, was something he preferred to keep hidden, marrying in 1951. After the death of his wife in the late 1970's however, Bernstein "became increasingly open about his gayness" (Smith: Bernstein 2).

Gay (and drag) performer, Sylvester, was a disco hit in the late 70's and early 80's. With "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real" and "Dance (Disco Heat)", Sylvester was recognized by Billboard for his contribution to Disco. Featured on most of his tracks was the duo "Two Tons o Fun", who would later have their own success as The Weather Girls (Sylvester 1, Weather 1). Another famous drag performer, Divine, attributed not only to music but to film, including the mainstream (and cult classic) Hairspray (Divine 1). The work of Divine and Candy Darling even inspired the song "Divine" by Antony and Johnsons (Hogan 1). Of all the queer influences on popular music, John Lennon is probably the most prolific. Although the "List of Queer Composers" on the Knowledgerush website, along with other lists, continue to list Lennon as a queer composer, there is little evidence to support this. The best examples would simply be his resistance to hatred and war in the world in the song "Imagine" ("Imagine all the people living life in peace") (1971), and Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono's, own re-imagining of the song "Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him" (1984), "Everyman Everywoman" ("Everyman has a man who loves him") (2004) to support the LGBTQ community (Refer to Works Cited: Music).

Today, LGBT composers and singers Elton John, George Michael, Melissa Etheridge, Sinead O'Conner, and k.d. lang find themselves entering the mainstream (List 1). The Indigo Girls, a lesbian acoustic duo, has led a successful career spanning over 20 years on major record labels and inspiring the film Chasing Indigo (Williams 1). Elton John, now famous for his work in film and musicals, charted at least one hit in the top 40 every year from 1970 to 1996 (Erlewine 1). Melissa Etheridge, out lesbian rocker and breast cancer survivor, has also had a career with major labels spanning across 20 years (Prato 1). According to TopTenReviews.com, Etheridge is also the 363rd musician of all time (based on every available critic's response). Not bad, considering that the website's database consists of 150+ thousand musicians ("Melissa... Album" 1). It is "common knowledge" that Billboard is the number one source of music information for what's selling and playing in the music industry. This said, Etheridge boasts 31 songs from 1988-2006 that were in the top 100 singles. This includes a four/five year gap in which Etheridge didn't put out any new music ("Artist... Melissa" 1).

Movie actress and singer, Judy Garland, has long been exalted by members of the mainstream and queer communities for her "tragic" queer attributes (Peraino 150). Recognized by most as Dorothy Gale in "The Wizard Of Oz", a queer role in itself: a lonely, misunderstood person in a world where she doesn't quite fit in (Bone 1). Most important to her queerness is her resilience and her resistance "to predictable repetitions of behavior that allow for stable representation." Both Etheridge, mentioned earlier, and Garland have been held high in the eyes of the queer community for their gender representations: Garland as being the femine in a masculine-inspired world and Etheridge as being masculine despite her assigned sex (Peraino 150). Garland is just one example of queer artists who are not necessarily queer themselves, being queer by characteristics that make them gay icons (Bone 1). "It's Raining Men" is a queer cult classic, known by gay men and straight women alike (Weather 1).

Popular music is, of course, popular, and therefore at the forefront of American culture. There are lists of popular songs across generations, of "gay anthems" that may or may not be intended that way. "It's Raining Men" along with "Y.M.C.A." by the Village People and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen (whose front man, Freddie Mercury, was queer) are just a few of the songs listed on a website about gay marriage (Kelly 1). While Lou Reed and David Bowie may be considered queer due to audience interpretations, queer rock has been considered revolutionized by Jayne County and continues today with groups like Scissor Sisters, Rufus Wainwright, and Antony and the Johnsons (Jackson 1). Music can be a large part of people's lives with radio, television (especially music television networks), the use of music in film, C.D. players, mp3 players, iTunes, Amazon mp3, and numerous online music websites. This being said, the LGBT community has integrated itself into and created its own genres. Once again, (author's note: the "gays" love their lists) there are lists of magazines, e-zines, and websites dedicated to queer music, including popular music artists: Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, Elton John, k.d. lang, Pet Shop Boys, and Dusty Springfield (Gay: Scene 1). Then there are the straight "gay icons" adored for their queer attributes: Garland, Bette Midler, Madonna, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Fergie (Halsall 1, Abernathy 1).

In this modern day, gay icons in music have withstood the test of time while influencing the next generation of pop stars. Popular music influences many people's lives. So, is it such a surprise that there are gay icons? Or gay anthem? A pop musician doesn't even have to be queer themselves to be considered part of the queer movement. Queer music can be defined as: songs or lyrics being of a queer nature; the people or a person involved in the making of the music is queer; the audience is largely queer; or the audience's experience of the song (intentional or not) is also largely queer (Benshoff 12). Barber, Copland, Thomson, and Bernstein shaped American music, and they were queer. Judy Garland was not queer, but exuberated queer qualities. "It's Raining Men" is not necessarily a queer song done by queer artists, but its content is interpreted by gay men to be queer. Of course, The Weather Girls, who sang the song, did start their careers singing for Sylvester, a disco "queen", gay man, and drag performer. Madonna, through her wild performances and songs, blurs the lines of sexuality (Peraino 150). I discussed queer American music, queer artists, and queer icons and anthems. By examining these "queer" composers and artists who have shaped music history, queer lives that have influenced current popular music, and the role of popular music in the queer community, this paper shows that queer lives are influential on popular music, and popular music, in return, influences queer culture. Queer lives (as defined today) have been influential in music across generations but most importantly popular music, and in turn, popular music has influenced the culture of queer communities.



Okay, so that's the end. A lot of repetition, but it was for a class. Haha. Hope you enjoyed.

James


Works Cited:
Anthony, Michael. "Gay Icons: Judy Who?" Queer, Isn't It? 16 Nov 2006. Pop Matters. 30 Nov 2008. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/gay-icons-jusy-who/.
Benshoff, Harry M, and Sean Griffin. Queer Images: A History of Gay and Lesbian Film in America. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006.
Bone, Travis D. "Diva Workshop." Gay & Lesbian Times. 17 July 2003. 5 Dec 2008. http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=533&issue=812.
Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Artist Biography: Elton John." Billboard.com. 2007. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=4941.
Halsall, Paul. "People With A History." Paul Halsall. 1998. Fordham University. 6 Dec 2008. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/index-icons.html.
Hogan, Phil. "Gospel according to Antony." The Observer. 2 Nov 2008. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/02/antony-and-the-johnsons-barbican.
Hubbs, Nadine. The Queer Composition of America's Sound. University of California, 2004, pp 1-16.
Jackson, Lisa. "Queer Rock 101." GO Magazine. 9 July 2008. 5 Dec 2008. http://www.gomag.com/article/queer_rock_101/.
Kelly, Jennifer. "Hitched: A 17-song Tribute to Gay Marriage." Splendid. 5 Dec 2008. http://www.splendidezine.com/departments/tdlt/tdlt41904.html.
Peraino, Judith A. Listening to the Sirens: Musical Technologies of Queer Identity from Homer to Hedwig. University of California, 2006, pp 150-1.
Prato, Greg. "Melissa Etheridge: Biography." MSN Music. 2008. 3 Dec 2008. http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/melissa-etheridge/.
Smith, Patricia Juliana. "Barber, Samuel." glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture. 2002. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.glbtq.com/arts/barber_s.html.
Smith, Patricia Juliana. "Berstein, Leonard." glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture. 2002. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.glbtq.com/arts/bernstein_l.html.
Smith, Patricia Juliana. "Copland, Aaron." glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture. 2002. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.glbtq.com/arts/copland_a.html.
Smith, Patricia Juliana. "Thomson, Virgil." glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture. 2002. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.glbtq.com/arts/thomson_v.html.
Unknown Author. "Artist Chart History: Melissa Etheridge." Billboard.com. 2008. 5 Dec 2008. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?JSESSIONID=92G9JpLffNK2fknxYqPGbtnvgpGy2ScF4Zyhvh29Qf2JHh2j0Nly!248815711&model.vnuArtistId=4565&model.vnuAlbumId=6589.
Unknown Author. "Divine." The New York Times. 2 Dec 2008. http://movies.nytimes.com/person/19335/divine/biography.
Unknown Author. "List of Queer Composers." Knowledgerush, 2003. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encylopedia/list_of_queer_composers/.
Unknown Author. "Melissa Etheridge Album Rankings." TopTenREVIEWS. 2008. 3 Dec 2008. http://music.toptenreviews.com/bands/me/melissa-etheridge-6861/melissa-etheridge-album-rankings.htm.
Unknown Author. "Sylvester." Queer Cultural Center. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/pages/sylvester/syl_bio.html.
Unknown Author. "Gay Lesbian Bi-sexual Transgender." The Scene. 2003. Pink Classifieds. 6 Dec 2008. http://www.pinkclassifieds.co.uk/music_webzines_thescene.html.
Unknown Author. "The Weather Girls Biography." Musician Biographies. 2004. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608004405/The-Weather-Girls.html.
Williams, Carla. "Indigo Girls." glbtq: an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture. 2002. 2 Dec 2008. http://www.glbtq.com/arts/indigo_girls.html.

Music:
Lennon, John. "Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him." Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him (Single). Geffen Records, 1984.
Lennon, John. "Imagine." Imagine. Apple, 1971.
Ono, Yoko. "Everyman Everywoman." Yes, I'm a Witch. Astralwerks, 2004.

Whitney's BIG COMEBACK

Found this excellent video via LOGOONLINE and read an excellent article about Whitney's listening party last night. Sounds fabulous (but not fabulous enough?)!



I am excited for Whitney's return but will I buy it? I'm not sure? Will I enjoy it? Possibly? Will I become addicted to it like I did say... the not so hott e=MC2? Which I loved despite not being musically brilliant? LoL... I probably will not. We will see. In the meantime... GO WHITNEY. And remember Wendy Williams is a Whitney Fan, grrl. Do the show! LoL.

James

Plans

Today, I began thinking about making plans. I want to release a full-length solo CD by July of next year. I want to have a party for it by October. Which means I need to raise some money, be out there performing, and etc. I am very excited. I need to find the phone number to the musician I was going to do an acoustic set with... Because he hasn't called or emailed me. Haha.

So what do I want to do in the next five years? Record 2 albums, perform at Motor City Pride at least once, and maybe do a club/bar/whatever tour through at least a few states. FIVE YEARS. I gotta get there first. It's gonna be a hard hard road, but I'm not trying hard enough. I can't be, otherwise I KNOW it would've happened. If there's anything I know... it's that I'm talented. I may not always believe it but I KNOW it, and that's gotta count for something. LoL.

I read somewhere that a lot of people didn't make it to where they are JUST by hard work... many people actually had sponsors... like NASCAR. LoL. For real. I gotta find me one of those! HOT!

James

Personal Songwriting

At the request of a reader/friend, this blog is about how I go about writing a song. This blog is NOT about songwriting in general. It is NOT about how to write a song. It is NOT about ANYBODY ELSE'S ideas about songwriting. This is simply about MY songwriting.

Hmmm... WHERE to start? How do I write a song?

Writing a song, for me, seems like the hardest thing in the world when I am doing it and the easiest thing in the world when I am done... sometimes I get so enveloped in writing a song that I completely forget that the world around me exists, and time spins and flies all around me.

I try... mind you TRY... to sit down and write w/ a concept, an idea, a title, or such in mind.
My song, "Where You Once Sat" (which can be heard on MYSPACE), started as The Ballad of the Green Chair. YES! It is silly, but that was the concept. Mind you, it was for a class. The assignment was a "ballad" and the green chair idea came from a very strange conversation between Rodney (my boo) and I. I also wanted to switch up the chorus a bit, add a few different chords. I even ended up doing a key change. I don't think I have ANY other songs with a key change, especially one like that. It turned out to be a beautiful song.
I wrote "Unknown" with the title in mind.

What usually happens with me is I sit down, and just write. Sometimes its just words, and then I add music. Sometimes I write chords and start singing. Sometimes, I sit at the computer and start creating beats, chords, rhythm patterns, and then I start singing and writing. For me, it's SUPPOSED to be about the lyrics. Some of my lyrics end up being inane and mundane however, but are juiced up by the rhythm of the music.

MY PERSONAL GOAL in songwriting is to say something, create a message that will really connect with people. However, God/Creator/Universe's goal for me (at least at the time) may not always be the same. Maybe I am hearing other spirits other than those sent by Entity, and they have something else they want to say... about life, love, happiness, sadness, ignorance, silliness. When I write, something takes over me. When I force it... it doesn't come or it sounds silly, stupid, or I just don't like it. Sometimes I come back and back to a chord pattern or a rhythm or lyric or some other ditty I wrote and simply never finish it: an incomplete thought.

Some songs I don't like... end up on an album anyway! Haha. Like "Freak" on my sister's and my debut CD UNKNOWN that we released last year (available on MYSPACE once again). I only had her listen to it because we produced a track for a friend of hers (SAS) that was circus-themed. My initial intro to "Freak" was circus-themed and it even has lyrics like "It's like I'm a bear trying to ride a bike!" How fun! I don't necessarily love what I've done with the song, but I must admit, some of the lyrics are FUN!

If anyone has any questions EMAIL ME @ LDTAYLOR_UNKNOWN@YAHOO.COM or comment or tweet me @james_taylor_jr or facebook me or myspace me! Honestly, whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I will definitely post your question and the answer up here and let you know! PLZ let me know if you do NOT want to be named.

THANKS SO MUCH!

Love,
James

Ann Arbor Art Fair

There is some awesome music going on at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, especially down at the South University Art Fair. (Yes, each section of Ann Arbor has its "own" Art Fair.) Today, I got to hear some great music at The 107one Sesi Mazda Main Stage on the corner of Willard and Church just off of South U. 107one just happens to be one of 4 stations that broadcast through the company for which I am interning (Ann Arbor Radio).

Today we heard:
Nathan K
Note To Self
THE MACPODZ (who I follow on Twitter and already have their Live @ The Ark CD)
Nervous But Excited (whom the lesbians came out to see!)
and The Ragbirds

All the bands were awesome! And if you live in or near Ann Arbor, HEAD ON OUT! The shows are 3-9PM! Thu, Fri, Sat. Parking and transit is available at Pioneer HS and Briarwood Mall.

Here are the bands coming up!

THU:
Bridge Club
Brett Mitchell
Khalid Hanifi
Billie Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies
George Bedard and the Kingpin

FRI: (International Artists!)
The Mean Reds
Jamie Register and the Glendales
The Sugar People
Matt Hires
Serena Ryder

SAT: (12-5pm instead of 3-9pm)
Black Train
Wayward Roots
Nite Flight
Ypsituckey Colonels

HAVE FUN!
I'll be myspacing and facebooking and twittering (maybe youtubing?) all of these artists w/in the next few days! LOOK OUT! Haha.

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