In the world of Hip-Hop you know you have made it when you get an interview from Narduwar the human serviette. He is a charismatic interviewer with a distinctive interview style.
He does extensive research on each person he interviews and finds out their musical influences.
Enough explaining this interview is fantastic, and really gives a look into the musical influences of these musicians.
I’ve already discredited the Rolling Stone’s greatest guitarists list and their greatest singers list, so I might as well keep going and discredit their greatest artist list.
The Real Greatest Artists of all time
1. The Rolling Stone says: The Beatles
Jack Beverly says: The Beatles
Hey! Look at that we actually agreed. Well, I mean, it’s kind of hard to disagree on this one. I mean, the Beatles just are the best. I really don’t think there’s anyone out there that would disagree with us either. I mean, who hasn’t heard of the Beatles? And who doesn’t know the whole chorus to “Yellow Submarine”?
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2. Rolling Stone says: Bob Dylan
Jack Beverly says: The Rolling Stones
I know, this list is not very original, but there’s no way the Stones are going anywhere below number two. It’s kind of strange how a couple of English kids made music that sounded so authentic and bluesy. Still, one of the greatest debates to have about music is what’s a better album, Beggar’s Banquet or Exile on Main Street. It’s Exile on Main Street, in case you were wondering.
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3. Rolling Stone says: Elvis
Jack Beverly Says: Chuck Berry
It might be easier to say who Chuck Berry hasn’t influenced. His style of guitar and just pure excellence drove the Beatles and the Stones to their first hit songs. Just like Robert Johnson was the father of the Blues, Chuck Berry was the father of Rock n Roll. His music transcended racial boundaries for one of the first times in music history. But don’t worry, even though he’s in his eighties, he’s still playing concerts around the world.
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Several days ago, I wrote a blog explaining why the Rolling Stone’s list of the top 100 guitarists ever was wrong. Today I’ll be explaining why their list of the 100 greatest singers is wrong.
The Real Top 100 Singers of All Time
1. Rolling Stone Says: Aretha Franklin
Jack Beverly Says: James Brown
It’s kind of hard to throw Aretha Franklin off of the top spot, especially for the reason I’m about to give. James brown just had…more. Not only was he the greatest singer of all time, but he was the greatest showman too. He’s just everything a singer should be, times a million. I warn you, what you’re about to see is quite possibly the greatest performance ever. Take a seat before you watch it.
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2. Rolling Stone Says: Ray Charles
Jack Beverly Says: Aretha Franklin
If you look up soul in the dictionary, you won’t find it. Instead, in its place, you’ll see a big picture of Aretha Franklin taking up about half of the page. Aretha Franklin is one of those few people that when she sings, it just sounds so damn easy. It just sounds like that’s the way she talks. If music had a mother, it would be Ms. Franklin.
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3. Rolling Stone Says: Elvis Presley
Jack Beverly Says: Steve Winwood
If we were going with the most influential singers of all time, maybe Elvis wouldn’t be knocked off the top three. But, since its just the best singers, I have to go with Steve Winwood. Spencer Davis group, Traffic and Blind Faith are just a few of Winwood’s accomplishments. If I could only listen to one singer for the rest of my life, it would have to be this guy. He never forces his voice, and it just sounds right.
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The other day at our morning meeting I was approached by my teacher Mr. Alvarez who is also known to you readers as “The Brown Guy.”
He said, “Keaton I need to talk to you after the meeting,”
Immediately I thought oh crap what have I done now, but I hadn’t done anything.
It was a proposition, an idea that could change the face of the Ojai Valley School. It is nothing as substantial as the newly founded Mac N Cheeseburger, might I add AMAAAAAAZIIIIING, but that is beside the point.
It had bacon on it
Back on topic.
Mr. A wanted to perform a song with myself and John aka backinphilly.
He can play alto sax and the song had alto sax in it, but he didn’t know what the song was called.
The other day, I went on the Rolling Stone’s website for the first time. I usually just read the print version, but I went on the website to see what it was like. While on there, I saw an advertisment for a bunch of lists named things like “100 Greatest Guitarists“, “500 Greatest Songs” and “100 Greatest Singers”. So I looked at them. And they were wrong.
So let’s do some correcting.
The Actual Greatest Guitarists
1. Rolling Stone says: Jimi Hendrix
Jack Beverly Says: Eric Clapton
What you’re all probably saying: But, but, but its Hendrix! Wahh how could you not pick Hendrix?
Because Eric Clapton was born, that’s why. While yes, it is true that Hendrix has a much more unique sound when he plays, it’s also a fact that only one person has yet to hit a bad note playing guitar. Seriously, listen to any solo he does, it’s all perfect. Having been in bands like Cream, the Bluesbreakers, the Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominoes, Bonnie and Delanie’s tour group, Dave Mason’s tour group and even his massively successful solo career has made him the greatest guitar player ever.
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2. Rolling Stone says: Eric Clapton
Jack Beverly says: Jimi Hendrix
Yeah yeah, get over the fact he’s in second. Jimi Hendrix was one of those people that took something that had been around forever and changed it to influence everyone that came after him. I really can’t say much more than that, just listen.
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3. Rolling Stone says: Jimmy Page
Jack Beverly sez: Robert Johnson
I actually feel bad putting Robert Johnson this far down. In terms of influence, he’s higher than first place. His style has been copied by literally everyone on this planet that has ever played a guitar post the 1930’s. Rock n Roll came from this one man’s guitar. He was a God ahead of his time.
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Coming up in the next few weeks play rehearsals will be ramping up so that we can give all of you lovely people hopefully the best show so far.
For the past few months the cast of Young Frankenstein has been working feverishly on rehearsing lines and risking ankles to bring the people of Ojai and beyond a great show.
By risking ankles I speak of course of my 6 inch high platform boots that I have to dance in so that I look like a monster…. yea that’s right I am the monster.
It is such a great part because I get to be on stage the whole time, and for the most part I just grunt and make people laugh.
This play is hilarious.
It is full of funny sexual innuendos that are very sly in getting in there, but a line such as, “what big knockers,” while looking away from a good looking girl, I mean come on, Dr. Fronkensteen doesn’t have a thing for doors.
These next two weeks are going to be rough in between late night rehearsals and still keeping up with class, but I have done it every year since the 4th grade and I can’t wait to put on another good show.
Come out and watch us on 2/21 and 2/22.
Well.
Every year it’s something. Some place and festival I want to go to. Three years ago it was Soundset, last year it was Outsidelands, this year its the Crossroads Guitar Festival. But, I get the feeling that until I actually go to Crossroads, I won’t ever be able to stop wanting to.
Crossroads is a music festival started for charity by none other than the wife-stealing guitar god Eric Clapton.
That name alone should make you want to go. But just in case it doesn’t here’s some of the headliners for this year’s festival; Jeff Beck, Booker T, (what’s left of) The Allman Brother Band, Gary Clark Jr., Robbie Robertson, Vince Gill, BB King and Sonny Landreth, among plenty of others.
The festival was started by Clapton and all the profits will go to the Crossroads Festival in Antigua.
Steve Windwood (one of the greatest singers ever) has made several appearances at the festival. Here he is playing one of the greatest songs ever.
Blind Faith should have stayed together. I said it. Ginger Baker needs to come out of hiding in Africa and play with those two again.
Other than the tickets being wildly overpriced, I won’t be able to go because this year it’s in stupid New York and its stupid Square Garden. A campaign needs to be started to bring it to LA next year.
And just because we should end on an awesome note:
“I know you love purple. So I call this song Purple Touch.”
I have never had a chance again to think about you since the day you left. But just right now, when I was asked about the memories I treasure, I saw your face. I suddenly realized that you never left from my life.
How can I define you, a friend? a lover? or part of my family?
You know me, I could never remember the details of any weathers. But I do remember, the day was bright and quite, and the air was fresh with the particular smell of snow. It was not really cold even though people all dressed like moles that desired to dig into the deepest and warmest center of the Earth. Everywhere was filled with red and green. Everyone seemed so content and pleasant.
Because it was Christmas.
Because it was December 25th, 2010, the last day we spent together.
You told me before that we would never celebrate Christmas because we are Chinese. I laughed and that was the moment I fell in love with you my friend.
But you chose Christmas because you said, “It’s a happy holiday so we will not have any unhappiness memories left before you leave.”
We went to the piano store – “Golden Piano” as usual.
“I have a present for you before you leave.” You smiled with expectation and I smiled, too.
I recently came across a musical group called Timeflies.
I was drawn in by a rap that I found while studying for finals called “Adderall and Redbull,” that raps about staying up late studying for finals.
I thought that the vocalist Cal had extreme talent in his vocals and his ability to rap.
The song featured above was a freestyle on a track previously made by another artist.
To have the ability to freestyle is something I wish I had, but it is extremely difficult and takes great talent.
He shows his great freestyle ability in a cover of Ke$ha‘s “Die Young.”
In this song he has his friends write down random topics on which to rap about.
He gets the basket while in the booth and makes great music out of it.
Cal and Rez have only been around as Timeflies since 2010 but are growing in fame with the great music they are producing.
Most of the songs feature an electronic track with great vocals and raw raps.
The song “Turn it Up” features a more electric/dubstep ish style.
The groups ability to merge genres is something that they have been credited with since performing in high school and college bands.
His album “The Scotch Tape” can be found by clicking on the link.
Hope you enjoy the music
This past Thursday, I went down to Oxnard to look at a used car. After being told by the owner that the car’s trunk was big enough to store a gun by a very serious man, I took off to the nearby guitar center to waste some time. I ended up walking out with a Gretsch G9220.
Before Thursday, I’d been playing slide on a Yamaha classical guitar with three nylon strings. Needless to say it hadn’t been sounding to authentic. I started playing slide after hearing old slide players like the Texan Blind Willie Johnson. His music literally transcends his genre and even time. The beautiful slide on “Dark was the night, Cold was the ground” is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. The loneliness portrayed in this song is one of the many feelings slide can represent.
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