They Don’t Care About Us [Earwax]

“Skin head, dead head
Everybody gone bad
Situation, aggravation
Everybody allegation
In the suite, on the news
Everybody dog food
Bang bang, shot dead
Everybody’s gone mad”
Michael Jackson, “They Don’t Care About Us”

Dance Mix 4 – June 2010 [Playlist]

Dance and divas … do any two things go together better? Check out this mix of our favorite remixed pop hits from some of our favorite leading ladies of dance.

Black Music Month – R&B [iTune-Ups]

June is Black Music Month and to celebrate the occasion, That’s My Jam will feature some of the best contributions by black musicians in the genres its readers love: dance, pop and R&B.

For the final edition of this iTune-Up theme, the focus is R&B, the genre that epitomizes black music and features influences such as jazz, gospel and the blues, and has influenced rock, pop, dance and hip-hop. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Joe Higgins & His Honeydrippers
“The Honeydripper (Parts 1 and 2)” (1945)
― Tied with Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five’s “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” for most weeks atop what is now the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart

Ruth Brown
“Teardrops from My Eyes” (1950)

Little Walter & His Night Cats
“Juke” (1952)

Chuck Berry & His Combo
“Maybellene” (1955)

Sam Cooke
“You Send Me” (1957)

Ray Charles
“Hit the Road Jack” (1961)

James Brown
“Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag Part 1” (1965)
― Brown is often credited with transitioning R&B into both the soul and funk realms

Aretha Franklin
“Chain of Fools” (1968)

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
“You’re All I Need to Get By” (1968)

Isley Brothers
“It’s Your Thing” (1969)

Jean Knight
“Mr. Big Stuff” (1971)

Staple Singers
“I’ll Take You There” (1972)

Stevie Wonder
“Superstition” (1973)

Earth, Wind & Fire
“Shining Star” (1975)

Parliament/Funkadelic
“One Nation Under a Groove Part 1” (1978)

Anita Ward
“Ring My Bell” (1979)
― Originally written for a then-teenage Stacy Lattisaw

Gap Band
“Early in the Morning” (1982)

Mtume
“Juicy Fruit” (1983)

Ashford & Simpson
“Solid” (1984)

Cameo
“Word Up” (1986)

Anita Baker
“Sweet Love” (1986)

Keith Sweat
“I Want Her” (1987)
― One of the first new jack swing songs to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart

Cherrelle
“Everything I Miss at Home” (1989)

Luther Vandross
“Here and Now” (1989)

Ralph Tresvant
“Sensitivity” (1990)

Freddie Jackson
“Love Me Down” (1990)
― Jackson is a native of Harlem, N.Y.

Peabo Bryson
“Can You Stop the Rain” (1991)

Jodeci
“Stay” (1992)

Mary J. Blige
“Reminisce” (1992)

R. Kelly
“Bump N’ Grind” (1994)

Usher
“You Make Me Wanna” (1997)

Destiny’s Child
“Bills, Bills, Bills” (1999)

Erykah Badu feat. Common
“Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)” (2002)

Alicia Keys
“If I Ain’t Got You” (2004)

Maxwell
“Pretty Wings” (2009)

Elisa Fiorillo – “On the Way Up” [Throwback Thursday]

When you hang with the likes of Jellybean and Prince, how can your music not be fun, funky and fresh? Such is the case for Elisa Fiorillo, whose 1990 hit “On the Way Up” has us inspired and feeling nostalgic.

Does this cut have you feeling up or down? Let us know in the comments.

Samantha James – Subconscious [Reviews]

Counter to the overpowering vocals of many female dance singers, Samantha James’ low-key delivery meshes with her underlying beats to hypnotize listeners and take them to a euphoric state.

It is appropriate, then, that her latest album is called Subconscious and that the set ventures away from exclusively utilizing house melodies, which were so prevalent on her last release, Rise. Not that they are gone completely, as proven with “Illusions,” a lightly pulsating composition which drives James to proclaim that visions are illuminating her mind and “showing me the magic in my life.”

The fragile song that’s sung on “Subconscious” gives nod to an unnamed source whose “energy is turning [her] on” while also giving permission for said source to “take me where you think I belong.” Requiring less thought are the “aaaah-aaaah-whooooas” of “Life is Waiting,” a proverbial dance porn with repetitious statements sang over music made strictly for dancing.

Making a foray into pop is “Satellites,” a smooth, guitar-driven cut tinged with light nursery rhyme and symphonic elements that speaks of transcending beyond the here and now. “Again and Again” is all piano, as Samantha goes acapella to speak of loss and grief.

“Waves of Change” embraces James’ traditional sound as her voices gently wraps around the track’s atmospheric touches and paradise themes. By comparison, “Veil” is a more up-tempo, though the subject matter can be interpreted the same, as Samantha encourages listeners “to be one.”

Subconscious demonstrates a versatility that’s rare among dance music vocalists, as James successfully showcases pop-crossover potential, an ability to handle a club groove and a smooth jazz delivery of intoxicating vocals. Taken together, these traits make the disc an audible treat compared to mainstream music’s over-caffeinated offerings.

That’s My Jam’s Rating:
5. Get It Now
4. Get It On Sale
3. Get It As a Gift
2. Get It To a CD Exchange Store
1. Don’t Get It At All

Track List:
1. “Waves of Change”
2. “Veil”
3. “Satellites”
4. “Amber Sky”
5. “Subconscious”
6. “Tonight”
7. “Life is Waiting”
8. “Illusions”
9. “Tree of Life”
10. “Free”
11. “Find a Way”
12. “Maybe Tomorrow”
13. “Again and Again”

SIRPAUL – Music & Me [Reviews]

Lady GaGa is a favorite here at That’s My Jam, but even we have to admit that some of her latest work has “devolved” into dissertation-quality think pieces. Does anyone make enjoyable dance-pop that requires little thought and plenty of feel-good?

Fortunately yes. Such qualities saturate SIRPAUL’s latest effort, Music & Me, which is full of electronic-based cuts that manage to include catchy verses and choruses.

This is done quite effortlessly on “Don’t Stop (Break the Beat),” an anthemic banger that pays tribute to the party-starters of the past while concurrently finding its place among its contemporary competition. “Don’t Stop” sets the tone for the mellowed out “Give It Up,” which uses metaphorical computer references to center the echoing, transistor-laced groove.

“Music & Me” picks things up again, as SIRPAUL romances the melody that’s at once Chromeo’s “Fancy Footwork” and GaGa’s “Starstruck.” “Mistaken,” on the other hand, is heavy on the disco and the beat crafted here could play alongside some of Donna Summer’s classics, with few recognizing SIRPAUL’s work as a 2010 release.

The playful “Love Taboo” also conveys a time period and genre, specifically late ’90s/early ’00s pop made famous by the likes of Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. However, the song has more adult themes, yet remains modern enough that one can’t help but think that this is what pop would have evolved into had the genre remained in that turn of the century sound.

Plenty of other vibes are present on the disc, from the cosmic (“U”), to the closet one can come to a dance ballad (“Colors”), to the lyrically complex (“Deal with the Devil”). The inclusion makes the compilation a guilty pleasure, yet interesting and engaging, and without trying to provoke thought.

That’s My Jam’s Rating:
5. Get It Now
4. Get It On Sale
3. Get It As a Gift
2. Get It To a CD Exchange Store
1. Don’t Get It At All

Track List:
1. “Don’t Stop (Break the Beat)”
2. “Give It Up”
3. “Music & Me”
4. “Deal with the Devil”
5. “Colors”
6. “Love Taboo”
7. “U”
8. “Press Rewind”
9. “Loser Lover”
10. “Digital World”
11. “Mistaken”
12. “Shine”

That’s My Jam R&B Chart – June 2010 [R&B Chart]

While the big news should be Alicia Keys rise to No. 1, a quick glance at this month’s R&B Chart shows that Usher is king with four consecutive entries between 2 and 5. Ciara enters the countdown with her latest, “Ride,” along with a debut from Janelle Monáe. Dondria and Jamie Foxx continue to climb, but Trey Songz is on a downward path off of the chart.

Click here to get information on chart methodology. Click on song titles to see videos or hear audio.

1. Alicia Keys – “Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)” (2)
2. Usher feat. Will.I.Am – “OMG” (3)
3. Usher feat. Nicki Minaj – “Lil Freak” (4)
4. Usher – “There Goes My Baby” (-)
5. Usher feat. Plies – “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” (1)
6. Ciara feat. Ludacris – “Ride” (-)
7. Dondria – “You’re the One” (10)
8. Jamie Foxx feat. Justin Timberlake & T.I. – “Winner” (9)
9. Trey Songz – “Neighbors Know My Name” (5)
10. Janelle Monáe feat. Big Boi – “Tightrope” (-)

Hot on That’s My Jam’s R&B Chart 1 Year Ago
1. Jeremih – “Birthday Sex”
2. Keri Hilson feat. Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock You Down”
3. Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain – “Blame It”

Heard Around the Web [New Music]

MUSIC

Chris Brown
“Matrix,” “Your Body” and “Without You” [C.S. Perspective]

Christina Aguilera feat. Nicki Minaj
“Woohoo” (Over Urban Mix) [Don’t Stop the Musik]

Ciara feat. Andre 3000 & Bei Maejor
“Ride” (Remix) [Prophet Blog]

Enrique Iglesias feat. Nicole Scherzinger
“Heartbeat” [C.S. Perspective]

Faith Evans feat. Snoop Dogg
“The Way You Move” [Don’t Stop the Musik]

Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
“Club Can’t Handle Me” [Idolator]

Jesse McCartney
“Tryin'” [Don’t Stop the Musik]

Joe Jonas
“Make It Right” [Idolator]

Jordin Sparks
“Average Girl” [Idolator]

Katie Melua
“A Happy Place” [Prophet Blog]

Kelis
“4th of July (Fireworks)” (Richard X Mix) [Don’t Stop the Musik]

Kelly Clarkson
“Ready to Go” [Prophet Blog]

Kelly Rowland
“Grown Ass Woman” [RnB Music Blog]

Kelly Rowland
“Rose-Colored Glasses” [Prophet Blog]

Ke$ha
“N-N-N-Neva Baby” [Idolator]

Mariah Carey
“Angels Cry” (Jump Smokers Remix) [Don’t Stop the Musik]

Mark Ronson feat. MNDR & Q-Tip
“Bang Bang Bang” [We Are Pop Slags]

M.I.A.
“Steppin’ Up” [C.S. Perspective]

M.I.A. feat. Jay-Z
“XXXO” (Remix) [Stereogum]

Mirror People
“The Heart of the Sun” [24:hours]

MNDR
“I Go Away” [Stereogum]

Ne-Yo
“Champagne Life” [RnB Music Blog]

Prince
“Hot Summer” [Stereogum]

R. Kelly
“I Know You Got a Man (I Don’t Care)” [RnB Music Blog]

Sean Kingston feat. Nicki Minaj
“Letting Go (Dutty Love)” [Idolator]

Tiefschwarz feat. Daniel Wilde
“Home” [24:hours]

TJ Kong & Nuno dos Santos feat. Edward Capel
“Emerald Bay” [24:hours]

Travie McCoy feat. T-Pain
“Ms. Tattoo Girl” [Idolator]

Usher
“Love Em All” [C.S. Perspective]

VIDEOS

Allstar Weekend
“Dance Forever” [PopDirt]

Benga
“Baltimore Clap” [XLR8R]

Burnham
“Catch Me If You Can” [That’s My Jam]

Crystal Kay
“Flash” [Prophet Blog]

Dwele
“What’s Not to Love” [RnBDirt]

Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull
“I Like It” [That’s My Jam]

Fedde Le Grand, Funkerman & Dany-P Jazz
“New Life” [About.com]

Glime feat. Outsider
“Love is War” [Pop+Nation]

I Blame Coco
“Self Machine” [PopDirt]

Ian Carey feat. Mandy Ventrice
“Let Loose” [PopDirt]

King Midas Sound
“Lost” [XLR8R]

Lady GaGa
“Alejandro” [That’s My Jam]

Lissie
“When I’m Alone” [Prophet Blog]

Michelle Branch & Timbaland
“Getaway” [Prophet Blog]

Naommon
“Shake to the Earthquake” [PopDirt]

Paradiso Girls
“Who’s My Bitch” [Prophet Blog]

Rihanna
“Rockstar 101” (Director’s Cut) [Bring Da Beat Back]

Shakira
“Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” [Idolator]

Solvent
“Loss for Words” [XLR8R]

Trey Songz
“Already Taken” [Idolator]

Various Artists
“It’s On” [PopDirt]

Vengaboys
“Rocket to Uranus” [That’s My Jam]

If [Earwax]

“Never once you looked at me,
Don’t even realize that I’m wantin’ you
To fulfill my needs
Think what you want
Let your mind free
Run free to a place that no one dares to”
Janet Jackson, “If”

That’s My Jam Mix 5 – June 2010 [Playlist]

There’s something about music released from 1980 to 1985 that’s raw, despite embracing the slick production qualities of disco. Maybe it’s because it wasn’t afraid to experiment, especially with cuts and synthesizers. Perhaps it was influenced by the newly budding art form known as the music video, or was heavily impacted by the sounds of the streets. Whatever it was, see this mix of some of the best tracks from the time period by clicking here.