The Rise of Urbantronica [SoulTrain.com]

You’ve heard urbantronica’s definitive jams and saw a list of black music’s top dance songs. Read how the Hues Corporation‘s “Rock the Boat” evolved into Usher‘s “OMG” in my latest article on SoulTrain.com.

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.

Black Music Month – Pop [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.

Next on the agenda is pop, the fun, MTV- and radio-ready chart-toppers whose catchy lyrics and melodies keep listeners singing along. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Chubby Checker
“The Twist” (1960)
― Reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1960 and 1962

The Supremes
“Baby Love” (1964)

Four Tops
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966)

Aretha Franklin
“Respect” (1967)

Marvin Gaye
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968)
― A successful chart hit the previous year for Gladys Knight and the Pips

Jackson 5
“ABC” (1970)

Stevie Wonder
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (1970)

Al Green
“Let’s Stay Together” (1971)

The Temptations
“Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972)

Bill Withers
“Lean on Me” (1972)
― Remade in 1987 by Club Nouveau. Both versions made it to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100

Carl Douglas
“Kung Fu Fighting” (1974)

Ohio Players
“Love Rollercoaster” (1976)

Thelma Houston
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” (1977)
― Houston’s version is a cover of a hit originally performed by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Donna Summer
“Bad Girls” (1979)

Shannon
“Let the Music Play” (1983)

Prince
“When Doves Cry” (1984)

Pointer Sisters
“Jump (For My Love)” (1984)

Tina Turner
“Private Dancer” (1985)

Jody Watley
“Looking for a New Love” (1987)
― Introduced the popular phrase “Hasta la vista, baby” to pop culture

Billy Ocean
“Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” (1988)

Bobby Brown
“My Prerogative” (1988)

Janet Jackson
“Miss You Much” (1989)

Tyler Collins
“Girls Nite Out” (1990)

Michael Jackson
“Remember the Time” (1992)

Gabrielle
“Dreams” (1993)

Eternal
“Stay” (1994)
― Eternal’s roster hails from London

TLC
“Waterfalls” (1995)

BLACKstreet feat. Dr. Dre & Queenpen
“No Diggity” (1996)

Mariah Carey feat. Jay-Z
“Heartbreaker” (1999)

Samantha Mumba
“Baby Come Over” (2001)

Ashanti
“Foolish” (2002)

Mis-teeq
“Scandalous” (2004)
― Replaced Britney Spears’ “Outrageous” as the theme for Halle Berry’s flick, Catwoman

Rihanna
S.O.S. (2006)

Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & Doe
“The Way I Are” (2007)

Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris
“Break Your Heart” (2010)

Black Music Month – Dance [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.

First up in this month’s iTune-Ups is the dance/electronica side of our spectrum, a genre whose 30-plus-year history spans from disco to house to urbantronica. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Hues Corporation
“Rock the Boat” (1974)
— The first disco song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart

Barry White
“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” (1974)

Donna Summer
“Love to Love You Baby” (1976)
— Summer reportedly refuses to ever perform this song

T-Connection
“Do What You Wanna Do” (1977)

Chic
“Good Times” (1979)

Sister Sledge
“He’s the Greatest Dancer” (1979)

S.O.S. Band
“Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (1980)

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
“Planet Rock” (1982)

Herbie Hancock
“Rockit” (1983)

Shannon
“Give Me Tonight” (1984)
— Shannon’s “Let the Music Play,” along with Madonna’s “Holiday,” are said to be the songs that inspired the rhythmic top 40 radio station format

Farley “Jackmaster” Funk
“Love Can’t Turn Around” (1986)

Jody Watley
“Don’t You Want Me” [Dance/Video Remix] (1987)

Soul II Soul
“Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” (1989)
— Caron Wheeler performed this track’s featured vocals

Snap!
“The Power” (1990)

C+C Music Factory feat. Martha Wash
“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” (1990)

Londonbeat
“I’ve Been Thinking About You” (1991)

Jomanda
“Got a Love for You” (1991)

Robin S.
“Love for Love” (1993)
— Robin S. worked an office job shortly before releasing this single

RuPaul
“Supermodel” (1993)

Crystal Waters
“100% Pure Love” (1994)

CeCe Peniston
“Hit By Love” (1994)

Frankie Knuckles feat. Adeva
“Too Many Fish” (1995)

La Bouche
“Sweet Dreams” (1996)
— Released the previous year in Europe to much success

Todd Terry presents Martha Wash & Jocelyn Brown
“Keep On Jumpin’” (1996)

Toni Braxton
“Un-Break My Heart” [Soul Hex Anthem Vocal] (1996)

Joi Cardwell
“Soul to Bare” (1997)

Ultra Naté
“Free” (1997)
— Naté joined Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez on “If You Could Read My Mind”

Whitney Houston
“It’s Not Right, but It’s Okay” [Thunderpuss Mix] (1999)

Sonique
“It Feels So Good” (2000)

Kim English
“Everyday” (2002)

Carl Cox feat. Hannah Robinson
“Give Me Your Love” (2006)

Rihanna
“Don’t Stop the Music” (2007)

Janet Jackson
“Rock with U” (2008)
— Jackson is second behind Madonna with the most No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart

Ne-Yo
“Closer” (2008)

Usher feat. Will.I.Am
“OMG” (2010)

Why Michael Jackson Matters and Will Be Missed By That’s My Jam [Opinion]

Michael Jackson is dead. Those are words that still evoke confusion and an intense disbelief, even though it has been several months since he passed. It’s our hope that writing about it will finally provide some clarity and acceptance ― as well as an eloquent reflection on the importance of the King of Pop ― for That’s My Jam’s readers.

It’s one of those days that will forever be etched in our memories. It started with a simple text from a good friend that Michael had had a heart attack. Within minutes, we were on TMZ.com — of all sites — which had only moments before been the first agency to declare that the singer had died. It was difficult to concentrate over the next few hours as we followed Twitter and watched TV for more confirmation. Hours later, it came pouring in from news outlets such as CNN, the Los Angeles Times and ABC News.

Powerful Web sites such as Google and Twitter experienced problems because of the amount of traffic coming from people looking for information on what had happened and what was to come.

When communication online failed, we found ourselves calling loved ones in disbelief of the news we had received. It was somehow comforting to speak with others who were equally distraught, even though this was not a person that most of us had ever met or even seen in person. In this moment, just like many others, Michael Jackson brought us together. Friends, families, communities — all reflecting on memories that he had given us. Jackson has famously spoken of how he didn’t have the type of childhood that many of us take for granted, but in him we had our growing-up experiences enhanced with his fashion-forward threads, innovative sounds and eye-catching visuals.

He’s also a major “entry point,” if you will, to the music we celebrate here at That’s My Jam. In 1979, the infamous “Death to Disco Night” encouraged hundreds, possibly thousands of Chicago White Sox fans to storm the field and destroy disco records. Many of the genre’s performers were black, gay, female or any combination of the three, though the stampeding audience barely reflected these demographics. With the event giving “permission,” several DJs and radio stations across the United States joined in the backlash and pulled disco and R&B from their playlists. Disco/dance was nearly indistinguishable from R&B, specifically funk, as evidenced by the Billboard charts at the time, and many a good record weren’t considered for airplay in the near future based on this connection. (It should be noted that Billboard has also had various charts for “black” music, some dating as recent as 1990 and always compiled of R&B in whatever its current incarnation happened to be.)

This led to many more rock acts dominating the charts. When MTV launched nearly two years later on August 1, 1981, it took on the format that top 40 stations across the country were playing: guitar-infused album rock, most often performed by white men. This was especially palatable given that the network’s early audience was in rural areas, where cable was necessary to get local channels (and also the impetus for the “I Want My MTV” campaign, as the channel naturally wanted to be in more homes).

Though MTV’s roster wasn’t exclusively white men, the black artists who did get airtime, such as Tina Turner and Eddy Grant, produced music that fit into the album-oriented rock structure that the network had styled. Black artists who didn’t conform to it simply didn’t get played.

In the time between MTV’s debut and 1983, Rick James’ 1981 album Street Songs saw neither of the videos for the popular “Give It to Me Baby” or “Super Freak” played on the channel. James vocalized his anger and accused the network of “blatant racism.” This led David Bowie to question VJ Mark Goodman during an interview about why MTV didn’t play black artists, which left the VJ ― who clearly wasn’t in programming department ― speechless. Nightline even had a segment about the subject and BET provided an outlet for black artists by introducing the long-running program, Video Soul. (To this day, some former MTV representatives claim that there weren’t any quality — or the quantity of — black videos in existence at the time to air, though Video Soul seemed to have no problem filling that daypart.)

All of this set the stage for Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Along with its high-production qualities and rumors ― which still persist today ― that some record labels threatened to pull their music videos from MTV if it didn’t show black artists, the video entered rotation and became a massive hit. As was “Beat It,” which followed and, finally, the title track from the Thriller album. Jackson’s belief in video as an art form raised the bar for the genre, but also sparked an interest in other black artists (Prince and Billy Ocean were soon added to MTV’s rotation). This style of music, growing in popularity, also found a home back on the radio in the rhythmic top 40 category, a format that embraced the likes of Madonna, Shannon, the aforementioned artists and, of course, Michael Jackson.

This paved the way for freestyle, hip-hop and new jack swing movements, and the resurgence of R&B that took place in the mid ’80s to early ’90s, which in turn evolved music (for better or worse) into the current landscape, in which black artists are much more prevalent on video outlets. Perhaps it wasn’t Jackson who put the video for “Billie Jean” into the VCR for broadcast, but someone had to provide the spark to ignite the recognition and revolution of video-era-to-present black music and rhythmic styles, and we’ve yet to see anyone else make quite this impact that his sales numbers made on the industry.

This format is the seed that branched off into the dance, pop and R&B we focus on at That’s My Jam, and his was the music that influenced so many of the musicians and performers that create it today. He made us demand more from their music; he made us demand more from their videos; and he made us demand more from their performances.

So many artists wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for Michael Jackson because his international superstardom and all-around good music pushed through barriers to inspire young people to hone their talent to try and compete on his level. While few will be able to duplicate what he’s done, many have carved their own niche and are quick to acknowledge him as one of their key influences.

The scars on his career ― thanks to a colorful lifestyle and an eager press ― will likely taint his legacy for some time, but those are situations of which we are not privy to certain information, or at this point have the power to change or judge. The scars may fade one day, and historians, fans and critics will only remember and respect his music. We know that we are saddened by his loss because we will no longer hear new material from him, nor get another chance to see him do what he did best. But we at That’s My Jam grieve most for his friends, family and especially his children, for though we lost someone who gave so much to us in the form of music and memories, they have lost a friend, a brother, a son and a father.

Our prayers and well wishes go out to those friends and family, and we hope for a swift handling of the estate and other affairs that were left behind or have arisen since his death. We also say thank you for sharing Michael with us, because his music touched each of us individually. And to Michael, we say thank you for speaking to each of us with your music, for inspiring us with your dancing and for encouraging us to demand more of ourselves. May you rest in peace.

Meet That’s My Jam in 42 Songs [About Us]

Welcome — or welcome back — to That’s My Jam!

For rookies and veterans who forgot, That’s My Jam is a blog devoted to exploring the familiar, forgotten and future of dance, pop and R&B music. We curate the history and happenings of these rhythmic-based genres, and the artists who compose and perform them.

Why make the connection and focus on these? Well, dance, pop and R&B are three genres within popular music that overlap, influence and complement each other. Artists constantly blur the lines between them, leading to crossover success on the Billboard charts, audio variety on albums, and airtime in diverse nightclubs and on radio stations around the globe.

But we recognize that they are not interchangeable — each has its own recipe and distinct flavor.

We aim to please the palate of those who love listening to dance, pop and/or R&B — from aficionados to casual fans. Because of the amount of video on this site, we’re heavily skewed to the MTV Generation and beyond… you know, the people who remember and grew up listening to electro funk, freestyle, new jack swing, hip-hop soul, Euro dance, deep house, trance, teen pop, the Latin explosion, neo soul, crunk & B, hip-pop and more.

Our readers also appreciate the innovative sounds that have influenced today’s performers (think Motown and disco), as well as those artists making noise abroad.

That’s My Jam has always strived to be a fun, informative and regularly updated source about dance, pop and R&B — from our humble beginnings in 1998 with a La Bouche fan page, to1999’s Jams & Grooves on Hotmail/MSN groups, to the Countrygeto eCircle in 1999, to our Blogger site that’s been serving up the goods in healthy-sized portions since 2007.

We’re glad to have you joining us on our journey to explore all things dance, pop and R&B! Now that the formalities are out of the way, familiarize yourself with our musical taste —and hopefully yours as well — with this playlist.

S.O.S. Band – “Just Be Good To Me” [1983]

Shannon – “Give Me Tonight” [1984]

Sade – “The Sweetest Taboo” [1985]

George Michael – “Father Figure” [1987]

Jody Watley – “Don’t You Want Me” [1987]

Paula Abdul – “Knocked Out” [1988]

Bobby Brown – “Don’t Be Cruel” [1988]

Karyn White – “Secret Rendezvous” [1989]

Madonna – “Express Yourself” [1989]

Seduction – “You’re My One and Only (True Love)” [1989]

Cherrelle – “Everything I Miss at Home” [1989]

Pebbles – “Giving You the Benefit” [1990]

Guy – “Wanna Get With U” [1990]

En Vogue – “You Don’t Have to Worry” [1990]

Lisa Fischer – “How Can I Ease the Pain” [1991]

Tara Kemp – “Piece of My Heart” [1991]

Lisette Melendez – “A Day in My Life” [1991]

Mariah Carey – “Can’t Let Go” [1991]

Michael Jackson – “In the Closet” [1992]

George Lamond – “Distant Heart” [1992]

Tisha Campbell – “Push” [1992]

Tevin Campbell – “Can We Talk” [1993]

Taylor Dayne – “Send Me a Lover” [1993]

Aaliyah – “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” [1995]

TLC – “Kick Your Game” [1995]

La Bouche – “Sweet Dreams” [1996]

Luther Vandross – “Your Secret Love” [1996]

Wild Orchid – “Talk to Me” [1997]

3rd Party – “Love Is Alive” [1997]

Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills” [1999]

Bedrock – “Heaven Scent” [1999]

NSYNC – “Bye, Bye, Bye” [2000]

Jennifer Lopez – “Play” [2001]

Paul van Dyk – “Crush” [2003]

Darude – “Next To You” [2003]

Janet Jackson – “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” [2004]

Narcotic Thrust – “I Like It” [2004]

Danity Kane – “Damaged” [2008]

Britney Spears – “Circus” [2008]

Jazmine Sullivan – “Lions, Tigers & Bears” [2009]

Lady GaGa – “LoveGame” [2009]

Rihanna – “Rude Boy” [2010]