Black Music Month Challenge - Podcast Trilogy

Black Music Month Challenge 

Off the bat - the thoughtfulness of each day’s theme is much better than the “30 day song challenge"
Day 1 - A song that makes you feel invincible “Time for some action” aka "Time 4 sum Aksion" Redman Day 2 - A song that gives you hope/encourages you - "Keep Ya Head Up” Tupac ShakurDay 3 -  A song that instantly changes your mood - “Rump Shaker” Wreckx-n-Effect Day 4 - Your Favorite song from a soundtrack - “No Shelter” Rage Against the Machine - Godzilla 1998 Movie Album Soundtrack Day 5 - A song you listen to when you’re angry - “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, we’re all going to go” Curtis Mayfield Day 6 - A song that tells a story - "Midnight Train to Georgia" - Gladys Night & the Pips Day 7- A song that brings you Peace or comfort - "Everyday People” Sly & The Familiar Stone inspired “People Everyday” by Arrested Development 

Day 8 - The first song on your house cleaning playlist  - I don’t clean the house to music - so I changed this to cooking “Ham & Eggs” by A Tribe Called Quest

Day 9 - You’re killing everybody at Karaoke with this song - “Cult of Personality” Living Colour 

Happy Father’s Day 

Black Music Month Challenge Part 2 (Days 10-19)

Day 10 - A song dedicated to your Haters and/or Naysayers  - “Takeover” by Jay-Z… I hate to through 'Nas under the bus — but this song is great. I think it’s my favorite ‘diss track of all time…

Day 11 - Your Favorite Hip-Hop Collaboration  “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest ft/ Leaders of the New School (L.O.N.S.).  Question is Black Starr a collaboration or a group?) if so “Definition”?

Day 12 - A song that was your parents’ jam that is now your jam  (anything by Kool & the Gang)

Day 13 - Your Favorite R&B duet - “You’re all I need to get by” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 

Day 14 - Your Favorite Remix (guess what song is NOT eligible) - Get Ur Freak On  REMIX Missy Elliott (w/ Nelly Furtado) 

Day 15 - A video you wish you could’ve been in 

Day 16 - A song that reminds you of your first love - “Water Falls” TLC 

Day 17 - The blackest song you can think of

Day 18 - The sexiest song you know

Day 19 - A cover that you think was better than the original - Jimi Hendrix “All Along The Watchtower” 

Day 20 - A song most people love that you actually hate  

Day 21 - A song that makes you feel warm and fuzzy — California Soul by Marlena Shaw

Day 22 - A song that always puts you in your feelings 

Day 23 - Your idea of a perfect song  — Grover Washington Jr version of Inner City Blues (Make me Want to Holler)

Day 24 - A song attached to to a great memory - Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC

Day 25 - A song guaranteed to make you dance  

Day 26 - A must have song for summer functions  - Outkast — Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) 

Day 27 - A song with your favorite lyrics 

Day 28 - Your life is a movie, what song plays over the opening or ending credits  — GZA/Genius Pro-Tools Album has a song called “Life is a Movie” and it’s perfect for ending credits 

Ultimate Christmas Song Hard Rock Mixtape Playlist - show notes

The quintessential Rock & Roll Christmas song mixtape playlist aka how to “Bro-out Christmas” 

Do a Paul Stanley voice - I don’t want no, Mariah Carey, I’m not trying to listen to any Bing Crosby — I’m looking for some Cold Gin!

Carl’s initial playlist:

“Father Christmas” by the Kinks- Love this one - original concept. Total rocker! Song about a dept store santa getting mugged and robbed. They just want cash money! Straight Cash HOMIE!!!!  Great use of xylophone, too

“Little Saint Nick” by the Beach Boys - It’s a jam - cuz the beach boys harmonies are the best Damn harmonies of the 20th century

Cover “You’re a mean one mr grinch” by the Whirling Dervishes — Yeah i’ll give you this one… good rock version of an all-time favorite of mine

“The season’s upon us” by DropKick Murphy’s - The drop kicks basically just stole the Pogues sound, added a bag pipe guy, and a pinch of Mighty Might Bosstones Bravado — this song reminds me of “I’m an a-hole” by Dennis Leary — This song does not get on my mixtape — I mean it’s a fun video and all - Convince me Carl!!!!

“Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo” Trans Siberian Orchestra — This band is basically if Metallica had only done Christmas songs for a career. Def a cool and and song to see live Def cool for those christmas lights / synched to music shows on people’s houses and in Miller Light commercials

“Christmas is the time to say I love you” Billy Squire- Video of the 1981 MTV staff/ VJ’s in Billy’s chorus is what it’s all about — also this is the first time I’ve ever seen what Billy Squier looked like back in the day — Good feel good one - a sing a long to hopefully start a sing a long at your house

“Christmas in Hollis” Run DMC - I mean this is my all-time fave!

“Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight)” The Ramones - Such a LONG ISLAND Video (with accents and everything) - It’s a video that crosses Beastie Boys “Fight for your right” with Christmas party domestic squabbles

“2000 Miles” the Pretenders - This is such a great song - are the pretenders the most under rated band ever? Crissy Hynde is a gifted singer, total Hall of Famer. This song sounds more like a pretenders song than a christmas song, which is a GREAT THING — that’s what makes a real badass Christmas song - do something cool and original and it will be “Forever” - Love this pick, Carl!

“thank god it’s Christmas” Queen - Can honestly say until last night, I had never heard this song in my life — it’s good, cuz It’s Queen and Freddie Mercury - how did i miss this song for the better part of 4 decades

“Fairy Tale of New York” the Pogues- might be a top 3 song about the city of new york (All time, including Jay-Z & Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra) - Matt Dillon plans a cop in the video - And any time you can feature a tin whistle and questionable epithets in the same christmas song, you’ve got a winner. Video pretty much makes me want to cry in a good way — so it’s the jam of jams in my mind

Christmas all over again - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - end of Home Alone Too: Lost in New York - I like this jam cuz it’s more of a Petty song than a Christmas song

“Run Run Rudolph” - Chuck Berry - great jam. Also from Home Along - but this chuck berry song isof the one John Travolta and Uma Thurman dance to in Pulp Fiction. Nothing say Christmas like that  

AC/DC “Mistress for Christmas” - Sounds exactly how you think an AC/DC Christmas song would sound. Jingle bells, power chords and sexual innuendos galore. It’s on the Razor’s Edge Album too.  Released in 1990 this record also featured Thunderstruck and Money talks

Happy Christmas (War is over) by John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping (who I always think is Blondie) - Straight out of the 70’s - got a punk/ Disco/ hip-hop groove. Questions from the video, who is the lead singer of the waitresses? She’s handsome lady — and the rest of the bandare apparently “male waitress” which is cool. Hold the phone, the bass player is also a lady - NICE!!!!  Great 80s graphics

U2 - Christmas (Baby Please come home) - Still Gives me goose bumps They made this back in the Joshua Tree days - complete with Black & White video and all. Is U2 the only band with a money Christmas song that also has a money New year’s song? “New Year’s Day” 

Wham - Last Christmas - totally thought that was just George Michael solo

Great Big Sled - by the KIllers - Great jam — another one that sounds like a Killers song with Christmas lyrics - these are the type of tunes i’m most down with - and they also have a parody Christmas song - “Don’t shoot me santa” which i actually really like upon 1 listen last night