Janet Jackson deserves to be inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame

Top Cities listening this weekend #2 The Philippines as a nation and the city of Cebu in the Philippines was #2 as well  

 

Movie stars who play themselves in rolls

Vin Diesel as Dom Torretto

 

NPH as himself in Harold & kumar/ Barry Stinson is that same character 

 

Al Pacino has played col frank spade since scent of a woman 

 

That's why DeNiro took the title belt 

 

Johnny Depp has been playing Capt Jack Sparrow for a decade 

 

Dwayne the Rock Johnson - basically always plays “The Rock” - but he did show some range in “Be Cool” back in the mid 2000s 

 

Nic Cage plays Nic Cage — that’s likely the best example 

 

Others?

 

Rock hall of fame acts that shouldn't be in?

 

There are 317 members of the hall of fame and this includes some producers and executives, but mostly performers - Just the A’s and B’s show you the broad range which has now been embraced under the term “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”

 

A’s: Abba, AC/DC, Al Green, Aretha Franklin

 

B’s: Beastie Boys, BB King, Bill Withers, Billie Holiday, Billy Joel, Black Sabbath, Blondie, Bob Marley  

 

Btw: Curtis Mayfield Hall of Fame - has a previously little know song called "(Don’t Worry) If there’s a hell below, we’re all going to go” which is the theme song for HBO’s the Deuce and it is FIRE !!!!! 

 

John mellancamp & ZZ Top are both questionable inductees 

 

John Mellencamp has over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify — that’s legit - my issue with him, I strongly dislike his top 4 songs 

Jack & Diane, Small Town, Little Pink Houses, and Hurts So good (which is easily the most decent of those four). HIs best song is R-o-c-k in the USA and that’s basically the same song as “What I like about you” by the Romantics

 

He’s an americana act - and that’s clearly not my bag — but the true offense of John Mellencamp are those Chevy Truck “This is our country” commercials 

 

John Mellencamp’s related artists: Don Henley, J. Geils Band, Eddie Money, Bob Seger, 38 Special, Huey Lewis & the News, Steve Miller Band — pretty sure each of those artists would’ve existed without Mellencamp’s influence 

 

ZZ Top — I like ZZ Top. And when I was between the ages of 10-22 I dare say that I really liked ZZ Top —and still do. But have they had a profound influence on music? They somehow has over 3.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify — which is over 50% increase over Mellencamp. They have great songs, and spectacular beards. But, i just don’t see ‘em being hall of fame without those beards 

 

ZZ Top - related Artists: George Thoroughgood and the destroyers, Thin Lizzy, Foghat and Lynyrd Skynyrd - pretty sure those artists would’ve existed without ZZ Top’s influence 

 

And ones that should be 

 

Janet Jackson, Janes addiction (nope, research has me like “def not", Whitney Houston, Tina turner (not in solo, but in with Ike), John Coltrane, the cure, Iron Maiden 

 

Janet Jackson - 3 million Monthly listeners, Super Bowl 38 “wardrobe malfunction”, Her brother was the King of Pop, her brothers were the Jackson 5, and somehow she carved out her own hall of fame nominated career. Starred in Good Times, starred in Poetic Justice with Tupac.

 

She’s been making hits since 1982 — “What have you done for me lately” came out in 1986 - still holds up. So did “Control” and “Nasty” 

 Rhythm Nation came out in 1989 - still holds up. So did “Miss you much” and “Escape” 

"That’s the way love goes” came out in 1993, so did “If” which pretty much every woman born between 1972 an 1982 still know all the words to, to this very day 

“Together Again” 1997 - still holds up - so did “Got til it’s gone” with Joanie Mitchell and Q-tip 

 

I could go on and on — but this sums it up - the top 8 related artists on Spotify for Janet Jackson are Toni Braxton, Amerie, Brandy, Mya, En Vogue, SWV, Monica and Aaliyah — they all have one thing in common — they all came after Janet Jackson — they were all influenced by her 

 

Whitney Houston - 7.4 million monthly million listeners - WHAT!?!?!?!! 

 

Whitney redefined the Super Bowl National Anthem performance at Super Bowl 25 

 

“I wanna dance with somebody” has 148 million listens on spotify — that song actually is actually my rebuttal to the question - is any song more popular now that when it was a hit. "Your Love” by the Outfield was my original answer — but this song was bigger then and is bigger now (Josie has 88 million listens)

 

Do me I favor - Put I wanna Dance with somebody on at a wedding and see what happens. Put it on at a house party and see what happens. Put it on at Monday night bingo full of retirees and see what happens — that song came out in 1987. 30 years ago — if you’re 75 today, you were 45 in 1885 — if you’re playing’ bingo and that song comes on, it will be mayhem on the dance floor 

 

Put in the words “I wanna” into google and guess what it auto populates for you… three words… dance with somebody 

 

Whitney Houston is basically Janet Jackson on steroids - without the famous family, and despite the fact that she married Bobby Brown and things went downhill incredibly quickly after that. 

 

Related Artists: Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Luther Vandross and Diana Ross - It can be argued that she bridged the gap between Dianna Ross and Mariah Carey 

 

Tina Tuner is already in with Ike and Tina — but how about we just drop Ike? Also, if Ronny Wood can get inducted twice as a Rolling Stones member and then as a member of the Faces/Small Faces — then i think Tina should get in twice  

 

John Coltrane - i’m not even going to make an Argument — put this dude into the Hall of Fame immediately 

 

The Cure - very original sound … 4.3million monthly listeners on Spotify, 5 bonafide JAMSKIES in “Friday I’m in Love”, “Boys don’t cry”, “Close to me”, “Just like Heaven”, “Love Song” - heck love song was covered by 311 and it made 311’s greatest hit album 

 

Related artists include - Depeche Mode, Joy Division, The Smiths, and Siouxie and the Bansees — i love them all — but The Cure is a rich man’s Depeche Mode

 

Iron Maiden - 3.3 million monthly listeners - related artists, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Dio — if Judas Priest gets in (with their 1.6 million monthly listeners), then Iron Maiden should get in. I would argue that Judas has more commercial hits — but in terms of Metal Influence — i think Iron Maiden has way more street cred. 

 

Plus, there’s a place in southie called the maiden and it’s a really nice place. But, the Men’s room is a giant mural of Iron Maiden and they only play iron maiden songs in the men’s room… and ONLY in the men’s room — what a great Gimmick  

Ultimate Yacht Rock Playlist and Podcast

Yacht Rock Extravaganza

places listening: 4 way tie for second place - UK, Denmark, France & Australia - New places listening Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia and New Zealand 

#1 US city - Glen’s Falls, NY home of hacksaw jim duggan

stayed away from jimmy buffet and the cocktail movie soundtrack (especially kokomo) - good work

i’ve had baby come back, by player in my head for 6 days

Yacht Rock is the concentric circle where disco, rock and pop music met in the late 70s and early 80s

Yacht Rick - fake rapper on the week

Dwayne fords album. Needless freaking. Oh lord that's a great name - Lovin’ & Losin’ you is the final song on this playlist BTW

Awards: 

Most intentionally Yacht Rock song of all-time: I’m alright by Kenny Loggins — Caddy Shack theme song - Kenny Loggins’ music is so much more funk driven than i remembered “This is It” & “Heart to Heart” 

Biggest pop-hit from a Yacht Rock artist: Need nominees - 

I Keep Forgetting (Mainly because it spawns Nate Dogg and Warren G’s Regulators) 

What A fool Believes - Doobies 

Is she really going out with Him - Jackson Browne - also Somebody’s Baby 

Kiss is on my list / You make my dreams come true - Hall & Oates 

Still the one by Orleans 

Lovely Day - Bill Withers (This song has such a sick bass line) 

Let it Ride by BTO Bachman Turner Overdrive (this might be a top 5 song in the history of LIFE) 

Prog rock band masquerading as Yacht Rock: Toto - Rosanna

Mr ubiquitous award goes to Michael MacDonald. He sings back up on like 6+ songs on this record - in addition to songs he's lead singer on

Brandy - literally about sailor’s drinking and trying to pick up a waitress at a seaside bar. And the sound is yacht rock personified - strong horns/ brass in most yacht rock songs as well as harmonization — this song has both in spades - great lead off song - props to “Looking Glass” for such a jam that really holds up 40 years later

Escape (Pina Colada song) - it’s quintessential — but played out. Rupert Holmes would’ve loved Tinder/ Bumble and online dating — the personals of the news paper sounds so sketchy 40 years later. 

Sailing by Christopher Cross — I mean “yes” because it’s about Sailing — in my mind this song is a “Lady in Red” / “Cherish the love” slow jam — i’m not recommending this one - Christopher cross has a great voice though  — Also “ride like the wind” by Chris Cross is a Disco Inspired Yacht rock anthem

Rock the Boat - by Hues Corporation works well - total jam and you snagged it from Carlito’s way soundtrack - Dave Clinefeld is one of my all time favorite Sean Penn roles ever - between Clinefeld and Jeff Spicolli, we should’ known Sean Penn has infinite range

Doobie Bros - Might be Yacht Rock - but they are also “Road trip rock” and “quasi-stoner” rock — tip of the cap fellas

Lowdown and Lido Shuffle by Boz Scaggs is 100% yacht rock royalty

News Flash — Despsite the fact that it belows on this list — I must confess: I hate SUMMER BREEZE by Seals & Crofts

Baby Come back by Player — is smooth as EFF, nothing anybody can say to change my mind

Sleeper of this list might nominees - Steal Away by Robbie Dupree // Lonely Boy by Andrew Gold (like a poor man’s Billy Joel) // The Nightly by Dan Fagen (super funky)  // No Ordinary Lady by Orleans — Orleans is an unknown slice of AM Gold for me

Some notable omissions: 

Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty (on the Yacht Rock 2.0 Play list) that one needs to sneak on- Plus I used to drink at Baker Street with is where they filmed Tom Cruise’s cocktail on 60th and 1st ave

If this is it - huey lewis & the news - Huey Lewis is the Adam Levine of the 80’s - LA Band - paid its dues for ever and finally broke through

Peg by Steely Dan - Lots of Steely Dan could be on this

Valerie by Steve Windwood also the Finer things by Winwood — pretty much any mid-80s winwood

Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby

Easy Lover by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey

Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann

Evil Woman by Electric Light Orchestra