AMANDA-- METAL VERSION OF "SUIT AND TIE" by JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Good morning readers! While Chris continues his Zelda theme week, I'm going to be doing my own thing as usual. Earlier today while purusing on the internetz, I came across this metal version of Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" via Buzzfeed. When I saw the headline, I assumed some metal group had covered the hit song. But it's even better. In the video below, Timberlake performs it live alongside a brass band, back-up singers, and, you guessed it, some guys on the electric guitar. This works suprisingly well and makes me wonder who came up with the idea. The original is great as is but you have to admit here it has an additional layer of brilliance. JT dancing to the solo at the end? Totally awesome! Having conquered pop and, most recently,  R&B, I'd personally love to see more of this experimentation/collaboration from him in the future. Take a listen and feel free to let us know what you think!

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AMANDA--"TAKE BACK THE NIGHT" by JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Happy Friday all! Today I'm serving up some fresh and funky beats a la Justin Timberlake's new single "Take Back the Night." I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some reservations about the song, which unfortunately shares its name with an anti-rape organization founded in the 1970's. When questioned, Timberlake denied any association with the group, who he had never heard of previously. Thankfully for him, the Take Back the Night Foundation has dropped the lawsuit against the singer. It's one of several 70's inspired songs containing sexually suggestive lyrics topping the charts  right now (sadly "Blurred Lines" comes to mind). In that sense, his latest single is not  unique but if you can get past the poor choice of name, you might find it enjoyable. What separates Justin Timberlake from the likes of Bruno Mars and Robin Thicke is that everything he does, he does impeccably and with class. It's not exactly ground breaking material and drags on a more than it should but there's something to be said about how grand and sophisticated "Take Back the Night" feels. Furthermore, my hope is that the controversy will translate into good publicity for the organization and lead to informed discussion. Anything that increases it's visibility or support and awareness in general is a good thing, even a silly pop song. Enjoy.

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AMANDA-- "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME"

Hey y'all! I'm currently in the city of Selma, Alabama where I'm spending my Spring Break. We're on a pretty tight schedule and I didn't think I'd have time to post but thankfully that isn't the case. I've been here for not even three days and in that time have seen many things- some of which has made me feel happy and joyful and some sad and angry. This song, written and performed by the wonderful Sam Cooke, is soulful and inspiring. I knew it prior to coming here but in the last few days I've heard it on more than one occasion. I think that the love and despair I've found here in Selma is conveyed perfectly in the song. Even without being here yourselves,  I hope you'll find it as moving and powerful as I do. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

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Entry 265-- "Whatta Man"

Song: "Whatta Man" || Artist: Salt 'N' Pepa || http://youtu.be/8-WFNbMohTQ [NSFW] ||

 Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! Before there was Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, and Nicki Minaj, there was Salt 'N' Pepa. These ladies were one of the first all-female groups to break into the hip-hop industry and the first female rappers to win a Grammy, accomplishments that I think make them worthy of our time. This song combines their epic rapping skills with the smooth vocals of R&B duo En Vogue, another successful nineties group. I personally love how strong, confident, and not to mention, talented all of the women involved are. As for the song, it’s an unabashed tribute to good men everywhere, a gleeful celebration of  having found those qualities one most seeks in a romantic partner in another person. While I don't agree that "most men are hoes,"I will say that I appreciate the song's honestly and overall sentiment. For its somewhat racy visual and lyrical content, I’m marking this video as NSFW. Anyway, I figured there are enough sappy love songs devoted to my gender so why not show the guys some love today. Enjoy and happy Friday!

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Entry 235-- "Take Care"

Song: "Take Care"
Artist: Drake feat. Rihanna

 

http://youtu.be/-zzP29emgpg

Comments: Hello everyone! It's Amanda again. Today's song was  released back in February but as sometimes happens when I send Chris a new song he forgot about it and  discovered it later on his own .So here I am, talking about one of my favorite songs of 2012 thus far. Admittedly, I had some doubts about Drake in the past but "Take Care" was a real game changer in my book. It features two incredibly successful recording artists in a dynamic duet and reveals a softer side of them both that music fans rarely get to see. The song in itself is a work of art. The lyrical content, the use of piano and drums, and the vocal performances delivered by Drake and Rihanna are astounding. The video lacks a storyline but instead relies heavily on breathtaking visuals to convey raw emotion. All-in-all, it's a sublime collaboration between two talented individuals. Enjoy the song and happy Friday!

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