The Alphanumerics Of Modern Music: The Kace Era

[Kace-1]

D is for Dire Straits.

"I want my MTV." That simple declaration would inspire satire of legendary proportions and controversy over language. Dire Straits didn't mean much to me as a kid until I heard "Money For Nothing." I instantly placed it as neck and neck with "Ghostbusters" and "Stranger In Town" in the running for Greatest Song Ever. I wasn't 10 years old yet and there was still plenty of great music to be introduced to, including stuff I had missed the first time around in my childhood. It's possible I could have remembered Dire Straits and maybe even recognized them as one of the better Classic Rock acts of my childhood years. "Money For Nothing" made sure I remembered them forever. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits would go on to write the Score for The Princess Bride, further cementing his awesomeness.

"Money For Nothing" is of course the music video of choice and the product of satire, story and controversy. The narrative is based on someone met in a store and that gentleman's rough languaged take on pop culture and booming MTV Generation. Kids wanted their MTV back then and they dug the New Wave sound that was championed a lot in those days. complete with in-your-face gender bending that perhaps the more socially conservative couldn't quite comprehend. It all echos in "Money For Nothing." Even the derogatory term used in the second verse (the verse that's usually removed altogether at most radio stations) is performed in a way that sounds off in amazement, bewilderment and amusement from the narrative perspective. It picked on pop culture and it picked around with MTV, which MTV itself was only too happy to play along with. It borrowed a bit from the Police, even to the point of using Sting to sing "I want my MTV" in a similar style of, "Don't stand so close to me." That caused some lawyers to get involved, much to the dismay of both Dire Straits and Sting.

Then came Weird Al Yankovic. "Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies" with an asterisk for legal reasons at the end included Dire Straits' own Mark Knopfler on guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy6ennSQGbs
"Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits
WARNING: Homophobic term goes uncensored
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[Kace-1]

D is for Disturbed.

In the 2000's, Disturbed came along and made an immediate impression in the world of Rock. With that decade recently passed, one can look back and see for that span of time, Disturbed was a main player and it would seem to reason that they belong in the conversation for band that best represented the first decade of the 21st Century. From chart topping albums to platinum and gold singles and yes, to recording a nice variation of the Stone Cold Steve Austin "Glass Shatters" WWF/WWE theme to even scoring a big hit with a Genesis cover that utilized the animation talents of Todd MacFarlane, Disturbed's managed to accomplish a lot. By the end of 2011, Disturbed decided to call it a day for the time being. But we'll see.

The music video of choice is "Stupify" and this is where it all began as it was Disturbed's first single. It was only the beginning and over the next decade it would only get better for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy6ZHsM0U5Q&ob=av2n
"Stupify" by Disturbed
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[Kace-1]

D is for the Dixie Chicks.

I could mention that initially, the Dixie Chicks were a modest little bluegrass group. I could mention that the Dixie Chicks existed prior to Natalie Maines showing up. I could go on and on about how they had some hit songs in country as well as adult contemporary and Top 40. I could, but let's face it. That alone would not be enough to solidify the Dixie Chicks' place on this list. All it took was one statement at some concert across the world and suddenly an epidemic known as Butthurt spread across the land.

The Dixie Chicks will always be a fascinating study on how Butthurt works in large groups, especially groups with a power base. The big controversy in 2003 over someone saying something bad about the President wound up becoming some risky longterm marketing. Say what you will about Clear Channel, but they played the controversy nicely. Make the big deal while driving partisan idiots restless, which granted isn't all that hard, go for the public shaming of the band and oh, by the way...big concert tour so get those tickets! Even if it's just to boo them, but buy those tickets and album and single.

Clear Channel was the hammer and Cumulus Broadcasting became the nail, absentmindedly going along for the ride and while Clear Channel got some controversy and notoriety out of it...and maybe even some good business, the Dickey brothers in Atlanta had to settle for a public tongue lashing from Barbara Boxer. Take your victories where you can, I guess.

But the big winners in the slightly manufactured controversy were the Dixie Chicks themselves. Yes, Natalie had to deal with the death threats, but once past that consider that in all of this silliness the Chicks wound up having the highest grossing country tour ever up to that point. It was also one of the top ten grossing tours of 2003. The song that Dickey boys didn't want played on their stations? That was the Stevie Nicks cover, "Landslide." That song scored a Billboard Top 10, a #2 on the Billboard Country chart and #1 on the Adult Contemporary. In other words, Clear Channel and Premiere were able to make sure Rick Dees mentioned the song, but didn't play it on his syndicated Top 40 show and the Cumulus guys could do their best to pretend the song didn't exist.

So, outside of illegal downloading and bootlegs, the only way fans could hear the Dixie Chicks was to go out and buy their stuff in stores. Which they did.

The big losers in all of this wasn't so much the corporate radio entities as they'll always win some and lose some no matter what chance they're taking, but it was the genuinely Butthurt themselves. Because regardless of how things went over the next several elections, the end result is the Dixie Chicks becoming more successful. It wouldn't surprise me if Natalie Maines literally laughs all the way to the bank whenever she goes.

The music video is "I Can Love You Better." Long before Natalie got all political for a few seconds and got people all in a tizzy, the Dixie Chicks were a country/western/bluegrass trio who were happy to morph into a more mainstream country trio. This is the song and video that put them on the path.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt-oe8s3NHQ
"I Can Love You Better" by the Dixie Chicks
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[Kace-1]

D is for DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.

Perhaps the thing that made Will Smith stand out from other pop-friendly rappers that would soon emerge in the late 1980's was his unapologetic zeal about it. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince started becoming a big deal at around the time Public Enemy was forcing more consciousness in Rap. While Chuck D discussed the perils of the inner city and black community, Will Smith took a slightly different approach and with apologies to no one, became a mega star.

The success Fresh Prince and Jeff would have as a duo would eventually translate to one of the 1990's most popular sitcoms, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. And while MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice were being derided as, "sell-outs," Will was still able to smile big in front of the camera and cash nice paychecks. Eventually, Will's ability to act and his overall charisma would lead to him becoming a Hollywood film star. He would come back in the late 1990's minus the Fresh Prince name and show the world he could still rap. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's legacy will always be their role in helping make Rap more mainstream, especially with the Billboard Hot 100 success and also helping pave the way for the concept of rappers who can act.

Getting into the 21st Century, he has settled into his role as a Hollywood leading man while Jazzy Jeff continues to stay involved in the Hip Hop industry he dearly loves.

The music video is "Parents Just Don't Understand" "which was the duo's first big hit. It has a couple of stories and I've personally known this song to be entertaining even to some of the staunchest anti-rap fans. That's saying something. I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3PFC86UNI&ob=av2e
"Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
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[Kace-1]

D is for Don Henley.

Don Henley had to do something while waiting for Hell to freeze over, so the Eagles' vocalist/drummer flew solo. Don had a few studio albums and all three would be memorable in their own way. I Can't Stand Still gave us "Dirty Laundry." Building The Perfect Beast gave us "The Boys Of Summer" and a host of other big hits. Then came The End Of The Innocence which gave us not only the title track, but "The Heart Of The Matter." After that, it was back to a freshly thawed from Hell reformation of the Eagles and solo stuff being released on compilation albums or wherever.

"The Heart Of The Matter" is the video of choice and is my favorite Henley song. Favorite video by him would still be "The Boys Of Summer," but "The Heart Of The Matter" has always been a little more personal to me. If it were the last song I ever heard before dying, I would consider it a good sendoff. By the way, check the personnel for The End Of The Innocence. You have Mike Campbell and Stan Lynch of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, a young, yet-to-be famous Sheryl Crow on background vocals along with Melissa Ehteridge and Edie Brickell as well as Patty Smyth, whom Don would have a duet with not long after. There's Ivan Neville and there's Axl Rose contributing to backing vocals on selected tracks. Bruce Hornsby's involved and plays the keys on the title track. In retrospect, I have an even greater appreciation for Don's work now than I did growing up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP9QpkNkitM&feature=fvst
"The Heart Of The Matter" by Don Henley
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[Kace-1]

D is for Donna Summer.

Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco was born on one of the biggest party days of the year, New Year's Eve. She wanted to sing and by 1977, she had already established herself as one of the stars of the Billboard Dance chart. In 1977, Disco was becoming quite the rage and at places like Studio 54 in New York City, Queen Donna reigned supreme over the dance floor. She teamed with Giorgio Moroder and in a nod to sounds innovated by Kraftwerk gave the world, "I Feel Love." In 1978, Donna had "Last Dance" which would serve well for disc jockeys everywhere. She wrapped up the 1970's with songs like "Bad Girls" and the song that would inspire pro wrestler Eddie Gilbert, "Hot Stuff." Donna also managed to team up with Barbra Streisand (for those who are into that sorta thing) and had a huge hit with "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)." It seemed like only a matter of time before the Disco craze would end and with it, Donna's relevance.

The 1980's would prove otherwise as Donna would continue to churn out hit songs including feminist anthem "She Works Hard For The Money" and "This Time I Know It's For Real." Between 1990 and 2011, Donna has still been able to sing hit songs for the Dance chart and in 1993 covered, "La Vie En Rose," as part of a tribute to Edith Piaf. Yes, Inception freaks, that Edith Piaf. How powerful is Donna Summer in the Dance realm? She managed to score a Billboard Dance #2 with "The Power Of One" which was featured on the Soundtrack for Pokemon: The Movie 2000. Seriously. That happened.

The music video is not only Donna Summer during the disco years, but also a tip of the cap to my dear ol' Dad. Back when I was still rocking diapers and eventually, Underoos (the underwear that's fun to wear!), my Dad ruled a small sector of the Universe as club DJ extraordinaire. It's always fun to hear Mom tell of the legends, the clubs, the music, the dancing. Not to mention a load of 33's and 45's. By the way, if you're scratching your head wondering what 33's and 45's are, you're probably too young to remember and may even be a bit lost on this entry altogether. Well, except for the part where I mentioned Pokemon.

You sick, depraved freak!

At the end of the gig, when it was time to let everybody know that they didn't have to go home, but couldn't stay at the establishment, "Last Dance" would get the call. It was Dad's sign-off tune. In later years, I've been able to spin discs, play tunes and talk into a microphone in the hopes of one day becoming at least half as awesome as my Dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKuq6wdC8CU
"Last Dance" by Donna Summer
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[Kace-1]

D is for the Donnas.

Meet the Donnas. Brett, Allison, Maya and Amy. A product of the Bay Area with a lofty, crazy goal. The Donnas weren't so much interested in world domination as much as they were in proving that they could take over if they wanted. There was another priority however and that was to rock beyond all else. They set out to prove that could be an underground sensation and then rocked their way into a mainstream label deal, just to show that they could. After a few years of that, the Donnas parted ways with Atlantic Records, just to show that they could still rock as they want, with or without the machine pushing them along.

Through it all, the Donnas have maintained their core audience, a loyal crowd known as the Donnaholics. The Donnaholics have been loyal to the Donnas and in turn, the Donnas have been loyal to them. If they never score another major rock hit, it would probably suit them just fine. Been there, done that, screw it. On to the next gig, the next set, the next session. Just because they can.

"Take It Off" is the video of choice as it served as a general introduction of the Donnas to the rest of the world in 2002. Although "I Didn't Like You Anyway" is notable for me personally as it was the first song I ever introduced for an online show. Fun times, those were.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCvRT2sy5FE&ob=av2n
"Take It Off" by the Donnas
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[Kace-1]

D is for the Doobie Brothers.

The Doobie Brothers can be described as a classic rock band that went through three different phases. There was Pre-McDonald, McDonald and Post-McDonald. By 1977, the Michael McDonald run with the Doobies was already in full swing. They scored a Billboard #1 with "What A Fool Believes" with Michael on lead vocals, their first since 1974's "Blackwater" from the Pre-McDonald years. Eventually, Michael would leave to go on his own. After a few years off, the Doobie Brothers reunited without Michael and had one last Billboard Top 10, "The Doctor," which would also be their sole #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock list.

"The Doctor" is the featured video for this entry and it's a fun reminder of early Summer 1989. There was some really good music from established artists like Madonna and establishing ones like Paula Abdul on the pop side. There was still a bevy of hair metal goodness to choose from. Bon Jovi was ruling the roost with New Jersey, Tom Petty was refusing to back down and somewhere in the midst of all that, the Doobie Brothers let everybody know that they were back. At least for the time being.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uCryLHnt4&ob=av2e
"The Doctor" by the Doobie Brothers
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[Kace-1]

D is for Dr. Dre.

The Early 1990's was a glorious time for Rap. There was a little bit of something for everyone during that time, from the pop friendliness Hammer to the New Jack Swing of MC Brains. Yes, I actually remember MC Brains. There was New York City still setting the beats with its various artists. There was Black Sheep going after everybody. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles area had its own scene emerging and a group that was there to help pioneer things, N.W.A. was just as swiftly broken up. Dr. Dre was one of those guys and set out to establish more of a West Coast Funk sound to Hip Hop. Death Row Records came into being and in 1993, Dre's The Chronic lit up the charts and picked fights with rivals. The Chronic was more than just a notable Rap album. It was a declaration of war on the rest of the industry and in a time of musical revolution, a full scale war was inevitable somewhere.

The music video of choice is "Deep Cover" which is the title track to the Motion Picture Soundtrack of the film itself, starring Larry Fishburne, now known as Lawrence Fishburne. It's almost an overlooked footnote, but "Deep Cover" is more than just a nice song featured in one of my favorite movies. Wheras The Chronic was the declaration of war, "Deep Cover" served as its preamble. It was a taste of things to come. It was Dr. Dre beginning to assert himself without a group name and it was Dre ushering in a young man who would become one of Rap's top stars for some time to come, Snoop Dogg. This is the, "clean," version of the song if it means anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SXr6aUFP8U
"Deep Cover" by Dr. Dre f/ Snoop Dogg
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[Kace-1]

D is for Duran Duran.

Wrapping up the letter D is Duran Duran. In terms of credit and blame on what constituted as pop in the early to mid-1980's, Duran Duran can take a lot of either. At one point it seemed as if they were going to own the decade though there were plenty of other artists ready to say otherwise. Billboard wise, they held their own, including scoring a couple of #1's in the States, "The Reflex" and "A View To A Kill." The second half of the 1980's saw Duran Duran splitting into separate factions, Arcadia and the Power Station only to find themselves not being away from one another for too long. In the early 1990's it was time for a break while the music world changed a bit around them.

Then came 1993 and "Ordinary World" being unleashed unto radio and just like that, Duran Duran was back. If not for Meat Loaf, 1993 would have been the year remembered for Duran Duran's comeback. Since then, the success is still there though not as prevalent as before. They would run into a slight controversy with "Electric Barbarella" and Canada's MuchMusic not being too keen on the music video. Despite being what could be described as the prototypical 1980's pop band, Duran Duran's managed to stick around into the 2010's.

The music video is "Rio." Why? "Rio" by Duran Duran.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3W6yf6c-FA&ob=av2e
"Rio" by Duran Duran
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[DT]

I wonder if Meatloaf could have ever happened in 1977 without the self-deprecating nickname. I believe if he had released Bat Out Of Hell as Michael Aday nothing would have happened.

[Kace-1]

Meat Loaf had such a talent and drive (early in his career, he could hit some crazy notes singing) that I think he would've made it anyway. Having that name just made it even better. He'll be fun to talk about later on in this list.
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[Kace-1]

E is for Earth, Wind & Fire.

Kicking off the letter E is Earth, Wind & Fire. Water, I guess was unavailable. In the 1970's, there were bands who knew how to play instruments and have fun while giving a performance worthy of the money one would spend to watch. From the music to the choreography to the attire, Earth, Wind & Fire was committed to the performance, both on stage and in the recording studio. By 1977, they were already established as a force in Rhythm & Blues circles. Earth, Wind & Fire would see their popularity grow in Pop, R&B, various dance venues and anywhere people were looking to have a good time. Earth, Wind & Fire also had Phillip Bailey as one of their members and if you're a Phil Collins fan, that name might sound familiar.

The music video is for "September" and serves as a reminder to what old school really is when it comes to Pop/R&B. Not to mention, it's a reminder of what music videos looked like before anybody had much of an idea on how to make them. Dig those groovy graphics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8ZrQG0y6g
"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire
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[Kace-1]

E is for Eden Automatic.

Eden Automatic was a band from Dallas who celebrated independent music with a luster all their own. So indie they were, their style never fit with most mainstream rock and thus, the subgenre of rock for them was just Eden Automatic. They recorded, toured and relentlessly pursued their artform and for Annette Conlon and company, that's exactly what it was. It was their art. More than that, Annette has spent years not only supporting the independent scene, but championing various female independent artists with her online show, Nette Radio. Eventually, Eden Automatic would give way to the Conlons, but the strive to provide a platform for female indies continues on.

"Russian Blue" is featured for the video. Yes, I could have went with "Don't Wake Becky" as it was a more official video. "Russian Blue" though really shows the group in their element, touring from venue to venue as well as the recording studio in their relentless pursuit of their art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24GG5fsvH5o&feature=related
"Russian Blue" by Eden Automatic
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[Kace-1]

E is for Elton John.

Elton John seems fairly simple to explain in terms of success and impact on popular music, both before and during my lifetime. I'm going to ignore all that. With Sir Elton, for all of his accolades and achievements, him being on this list has little, if anything to do with any of that. This one is personal on a number of levels.

Something I've come to realize is that with Elton John, almost every song I like by him seems to come equipped with a flashback. Some memories good, some perhaps not so much. There's early childhood and a childhood friend and I singing along to "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" while the 45 played. There are the Christmas seasons jamming to "Step Into Christmas." There's my first introduction to Cablevision and seeing "I'm Still Standing" for the first time and thinking about how awesome this was. There's riding in the back of a Ford Ranchero on the way to the Lake to swim and at some point try my best to get past Bald Bull in the arcade playing Punch-Out, all while "I Don't Want To Go On With You Like That" played on the stereo or in my head. There's "Club At The End Of The Street" and that part of my middle school years out West. Baseball cards, comics, one-sided wrestling matches on TV. You know, the good stuff.

Later on, it was "Believe" which still serves as an immediate and at times, bittersweet reminder of Senior Year in high school. "Believe" is the music video of choice for this entry and watching the video or hearing the song on its own almost always manages to trigger a memory or three from those crazy Spring days of 1995. It was understanding my own identity and dealing with confusion. There was love and lust, some that was and some that never would be. And writing. I wrote a lot back then. Mostly to myself in a mad scramble to put odd thoughts to paper and try to make sense of it. It's only been in recent years that I've come to understand how big a part of my personal soundtrack Elton's been. I'd be remiss not to also mention "Recover Your Soul" which reminds me of my early days of radio and those overnights with a live mic and a possibly clinically insane audience. Ditto for "I Want Love" during that brief time it was being played three times during overnight hours every night.

It all flashes back quite clearly. Nevermind the number of hit singles and albums and significance. No matter the value of Elton John to the music industry overall. None of that registers for me. Those things are nice to talk about for most others. Not Elton John. With Elton, it's about the more personal and more personally meaningful and which song reminds me of what moment in my life that stays locked into the memory bank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABSXJiYQFuI&ob=av2e
"Believe" by Elton John
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