That collective release of music life air can certainly be interpreted in many ways when it comes to today’s long since, um, faded from the Billboard music charts subjects, Canadian pop trio, soulDecision…and yes, it’s phrased out justlike that.
For one, aren’t these fine-tuned boys still just so American Eagle/frosted tips worthy and adorbs? And two, where the f@#k did they go??
Getting their start in Vancouver, soulDecision—vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Trevor Guthrie, vocalist David Bowman, and keyboardist Ken Lewko–served out their first record, No One Does It Better, in 2000 with the production help of Charles Fisher, a famed pop producer who also worked with likes of Savage Garden and Ace of Base. Yes.
Their debut ditty, the ingenious “Faded,” was a chart topping smash in Canada, and would eventually crossover on into U.S. charts thanks to the heavy rotation the accompanying video received on a little show called TRL. Hey, Carson! And admit it, you know you where there in Times Square making sure “Faded” stayed on the countdown until it was officially retired.
And that cameo rap by rapper Thrust...how’s it go? Yo, it’s priceless.
After the success of “Faded,” soulDecisionreleased follow-up single, “Oooh it’s Kind of Crazy,” which was just as equally delish as its predecessor. The slinky groove fared moderate on the charts and kept the group momentum going…..for just a little bit longer until soulDecision were never heard from again.
Actually, that’s not exactly true…the trio did release their sophomore set, Shady Satin Drug, in 2004, and well, after that they were basically never heard from again as they have yet to release any new material since.
But you have to admit, “Faded” is one hell of a TRL worthy flow that we should never, ever forget about. Actually, wait, none of us early ’00s kids and kweens never have because let’s face it, most of us are still crunching on all things soulDecision..and that makes this delightful music memory quite alright for your Forgot About Friday night.
Happy weekend!
For many more music memories that we’ll never be able to live without, kick back and reminisce right here and here with Philly Mixtape
If we’ve said it before, we’ll say it a million more god damn times…..oh, the f@@king ’90s….
….how much do we still adorethe beloved decade?
Not only was it the calm before the social media storm of the ’00s that still runs/destroys our everyday lives, but it was also a fantastic decade for music…..and any genre, mind you. Yes, pop, dance, country (hey, Billy Ray!), teeny bopper beats, Eifel 65, rap, hip hop, baby makin’ beats, grunge, college rock, R&B, Milli Vanilli...it didn’t matter. Any genre of music in the ’90s was acceptable and we lived and loved each of all of it the same all the way down to our classic Real McCoy running man moves.
But of course, due to the fact that it was such a mixed bag of music life all of the time, the blessed decade certainly served out its feast of one-hit wonders….here’s lookin’ at you… Jeremy Jordan, Chumbawumba, Shawn Colvin, Los Del Rio and a slew of other now defunct music acts who’ll most likely be featured in this column as the years goes on blessed be we never forget any of them.
Of course, there were those rare breed of one smash superstars that shall never, ever be forgotten, case in your karaoke lives music point, Canadian rock diva Alannah Mylesand a little (okay, gigantic!!) sensual, smokehouse certified mid tempo jam called “Black Velvet.”
After getting her start in Toronto alongside songwriting partner Christopher Ward and getting nowhere, Myles recorded a demo and shot a video for the track “Just One Kiss,” which got the attention of several record labels and certainly put her and those raspy, ready vocals (and lovely black curls!!) to the forefront.
While lead single “Love Is” from Myles self-titled 1989 freshman album made her the biggest-selling debut in Canadian history, it was absolutely follow-up single “Black Velvet” that not only smashed records in her native Canada, but around the world as well, topping the music charts in several countries, including the Billboard Hot 100 where “Black Velvet” lassoe-d in two weeks at the number one spot in early 1990.
Oh, here’s something you’ll certainly savor…Myles also won the Grammy in 1991 for Best Female Rock Performance.…yes.
However, after her tantalizing tune faded off the charts, as did the memory of her, and by the time follow-up record Rockinghorse was released in 1992 (she’s also released records all the way up to 2014’s 85 RPM), the rock songstress seemed to have already slipped into one-hit wonder land.
But, let’s face it, that one, they certainly don’t make solid grooves like “Black Velvet” anymore, and two, well, that’s it because they certainly don’t and we should never, ever forget the pulsating power that will permanently plugged into Ms. Alannah Mylesand her signature smash…ever.
Let’s rock on and reminisce.
Alannah Myles cover photo courtesy of those ’90s memories, man.
For many more sippin’-and-reminscin’ memories like this and so much more (this year’s forgot about party is just getting started), take a puff and kick back with Philly Mixtape right here and here.
……and then there’s Forgot About Fridays where you’re just like…da f@ck happened to them??
Case in rest in music career peace point, former Lady Gaga bestie/Billboard chart owning music producer and superstar…Akon.
Da f@ck is right…where ya been, Mr. Konvinct? Right here in our music memories for life, of course. Let’s puff-and-reminisce.
Basically unless you lived under a music rock in the mid-’00s, you indeed (and boy,did we) know that Mr. Akon shook everything he touched from the radio to the charts to our Konvicted lives. Really, if you think about it, there definitely wasn’t a song ruling the airwaves back then that wasn’t one of his signature sonnets (“Locked Up” 4 lyfe), a track he was featured on, or one he had a producer’s hat in. In music fact, during his ’05-’09-ish global reign, Akon had appeared on more than three-dozen of his own werks (and gurl, did we), and close to eighty alongside another music artists.
So, really, that’s why it’s so crazy to think that the name and smack, err, bounce of “Akon” is no longer a force to be f@cked with on the charts. See? Da f@ck, right?
Born in St. Louis,singer, songwriter, and producer Aliaune Thiam — aka Akon — grew up in Senegal before he and his family returned to the U.S. and settled inNew Jersey when he was seven. Once a bit older, the future spitster sort of (okay, he did) got mixed up with the wrong crowd and in turn, a late teens Akon fell into a life of crime, which led him to serve a three-year sentence–allegedly for stealing a BMW and gun possession.
While he was, um, locked up, Akon began to work on some musical ideas and styles. Pending his release, the future crooner began writing and recording tracks and demos in a home studio. Eventually, the tapes found their way to a SRC/Universal Recordshead,which would become home to Akon‘s massively successful debut set, Trouble.
A daring, bold mix of hip-hop and R&B, Akon‘s freshman effort took off right away thanks to his silky, interesting (??) vocals on top of beats that basically were the straight up shit at the time. Think about it, how many lead singles like “Locked Up” have there been since 2004? Absolutely none as it’s still that down-the-river anthem, brah.
Also gaining steam at the time was the rapper’s ability to hold it down a plum “featuring” spot and soon after Akonappeared on Young Jeezy‘s smash romp, “Soul Survivor,” his number of guest appearances really seemed to multiply with each given music month.
When his second album, Konvicted hit headphones, dance floors and bedrooms around that ass in November 2006, Akon was without a doubt a certified A-List music supreme being whose singles, “I Wanna Love You,” “Don’t Matter” and “Smack That,” bulldozed their way to the upper regions of the Billboard charts while carving own a place in life loving history…cause we still love all of those hits.
Akon‘s third 2008 album, Freedomsaw a departure from rap and hip into a more fist pumping manor with “Right Now (Na Na Na),” and his David Guetta collaboration, “Sexy Bitch” a bit later on as both of their beats bulldozed both the mainstream and dance music charts. How many of you out there just simply remember going’ all sorts of ape shit whenever you would hear “Sexy Bitch” on a Saturday night out with the crew. Everyone. Isn’t that right, Mom?
Closing out the ’00s, the “I Wanna Love You” baller kept those konvicted kollaborations comin’ with SNL‘s Lonely Island on “I Just Had Sex,” Madge on “Celebration,” and of course, Ms. Gwen Stefani on “The Sweet Escape.” Let’s also take a few sips to the fact that he linked up with our dearly departed Whitney Houston for her 2009 set, I Look To You, on the tender, “Like I Never Left,” and also alongside the beloved, Michael Jackson on “Hold My Hand,” as the two were best buds inside and out of the music studio. Yes, Akon, yes.
But, if there’s one Forgot About Friday nugget of music truth we must steep our Konvicted tea for….it’s the fact that people seem to really, really forget that Akon had a certain involvement in putting Lady Gaga on the music map. Back when Ms. Germanotta was a disco-stick-wielding club diva in NYC, Akon and his producer pal, Red One, were smitten with her talents and linked up with the future Best Actress nominee to pen her a little soon-to-be gigantic anthem called, “Just Dance,” which as we all know was the one that started it all for our Lady.
Although there’s no denying that his career isn’t as fiery as it used to be, Akon has not only done permanent music history damage to the Billboard charts, but his personal production prowess for so many other music artists out there will always smack for itself.
Yes, even you, for a little while, Mr. O’Donis.
But never fear, Akon certainly isn’t broke at all from all of his outstanding booty shakin’ werk and has continued to serve us even up until now with more recent singles “Want Some” and “Good Girls Lie.” And if you’re in the mood to get down with a little underrated Akon truth, check his would be fourth album, Stadium‘ lead single, “Nosy Neighbour” below.
But then again, hardcore fans of Akon already know this one because we’re all still living that Konvicted life…and it’s a grand life we shall never, ever forget. Now, let’s dance for the music memories…always.
For many more music memories like this so that they’ll all come back to you now like Celine, puff-and-reminisce with Philly Mixtape right here and here.
