A few notes of holiday delight and then I'll move on to my new year's resolutions.
1. I'm listening to Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" on the treadmill the other day. And there's some very prominent guy in the background, I'm sure, following up each line of his lyrics, "TAKE IT TO THE CHORUS!" Stuff like that. It occurs to me as I increasingly begin to lose oxygen that I've heard something like that before. But where? I get showered, get the kids, get in the car, and crank up the CHristmas music. And that's when I heard it. Mr. Frank Sinatra and Mr. Bing Crosby are crooning Jingle Bells to me and I think it's Bing in the middle of the song who freestyles, "Rap the verse". I kid you not. I could not be more proud. Of what, I'm not sure, but I'm so proud to have found what I feel is the original gangsta rapper.
2. Bette Midler has a new Christmas album out. I love Bette Midler. Love her music, her books, and her cause. But I just giggle everytime I think of her having a Christmas album out seeing as how she's JEWISH and all.
3. I shopped with the kids at the mall so hard, so focused one day that I didn't know how to get back out of the store. I had to ask the cashier for directions out of the store. While he obliged my odd request, my kids sat on my feet while I walked. They are almost 50 pounds each. I didn't get very far. On my way out, with my directions, I asked, "Okay, that's the way out, where's the martini bar?" The kid just laughed, but I was pretty serious.
As to observation one, you can also find a precedent in the work of the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown himself. He can be found often barking out "take it to the bridge" and once in a blue moon, "take it to the chorus". I'd argue that's the more likely influence on Timbaland and young Mr. Timberlake's work on 'Sexyback'.
Yeah, trying to be a smarty pants and all.
Oh my gosh I miss you soooo much! We are home tomorrow and back online!
You are too funny. I'm now obsessed with Timbaland, who has sung with like every hot young musical act in town lately - Nelly Furtado, Justin, The Pussycat Dolls...where did this guy come from???
Dear Jumbo,
THank you for your interest in my interest in the origination of gangsta rap. I agree that the beloved Godfather of Soul probably had more influence on that Timberlake kid. However, I'm just sayin, Sinatra was Italian, from New York, and a crooner. And he and Bing preceded Mr. Brown. Thereby concluding that indeed, Frank & Bing are original Gangsta Rappers. That's all I'm sayin. RAP THE VERSE!