Forgot About Friday/Stella Soleil

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Patrick DeMarco

“You don’t have to act like a star
Tryin’ moves in the back your car
Don’t you know that we can go far
‘Cause tonight you gonna get my…”

Smooch, smooch!

Observed life lessons by delightfully cray diva Stella Soleil from her 2001 (sort of) hit single, “Kiss, Kiss,” where ever her waaay forgotten about music sass lies these days.

Now, here’s a true Forgot About Friday for you…and just in time for Valentine’s Day! Pucker up!

Greek-American pop diva Ms. Stella Soleil (real name…Stella Katsoudas, also goes by the moniker, Sister Soleil)took an early interest in high-powered beats and sauce-y rhythms (and Nine Inch Nails!) while getting her music groove on in Chicago during the late ’90s. Of course, the smoochin‘ chanteuese’s one-of-a-kind vocals gained everyone’s attention very quickly, so she spent time recording demos while also studying professional dance in both New York and Los Angeles.

And if you remember the Hype Williams(!!) directed “Kiss Kiss,” you know this gal’s got those moves.

Stella’s big break came after a sold out performance at Chicago’s Metro club in 1998, and from that shining spotlight, Universal signed the spunky songstress as Sister Soleil for her 1998 debut record, Soularium. Lead single “Torch” was a moderate hit, but it was the lip gloss worthy anthem “Kiss Kiss” that we all puckered up to three years later with follow-up record, Dirty Little Secret.

The Middle Eastern inspired (and, like, really fun!) pop groove danced across global music charts across the globe, reaching the top 20 in many countries and inside the top 40 on the Bilboard Hot 100. And after, well, all FAF truth, Ms. Stella and her funky was gently placed into the world one-hit wonder category and never heard from again.

Actually, wait, that’s not true. While she didn’t release a follow-up record, the Chap Stick rockin’ songstress still plays shows under her Sister Soleil stage name where she is no doubt still makin’ all of us men put in that work for a kiss, kiss.

Thank you, Ms. Stella Soleil, for not just a delicious music memory, but for one lip smackin‘ pop gem of a tune…and we shall never forget it.

For more smooched up music memories like this and so much more, get that lip gloss poppin’ and pucker up to Philly Mixtape right here and here.

Cover photo courtesy of You Tube

Forgot About Friday/Arrested Development

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Patrick DeMarco

To all of the ’90s kids out there….close your eyes for a forgotten about music moment in time.

Now, imagine a world without the vibes and beats of Arrested Development‘s Grammy winning album, 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of… laced throughout it and spreading the life that it did when it took over our Sony Walkmans nearly a quarter-of-a-century (!!) ago.

We just can’t do it.

Oh, and a game of horseshoes down by the peach tree, anyone? Always.

The music brainchild of rap vocalist Todd Thomas (“Speech”) and beat master Timothy Barnwell (“Headliner”), Arrested Development first formed in Atlanta in 1988 along with members Dionne Farris (“I Know,” right?), Montsho Eshe, Baba Oje, One Love, Tasha Larae, Rasadon, JJ Boogie and Aerle Taree.

Bulldozing onto the Billboard charts with their pulsating and powerful lead single, “Tennessee,” the still truly one-of-a-kind group instantly became regarded for their soulful rhymes and Southern fried beats, which were abundantly crisp and clear in any one of their follow-up singles including “Mr. Wendal” and their groovy rewire of the Sly & the Family Stone classic, “Everyday People,” which they musically crafted into “People Everyday.” Genius.

It also never hurts to mention that Arrested Development also gained recognition from Grammy voters in 1993 when they would take home two trophies-one Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Tennessee” and the coveted Best New Artist honor. Yeah, it was like that…and it still most certainly is when it comes to that classic AD funkdafied flair and sound.

Also during their early ’90s reign, Arrested Development also caught the attention of famed (and currently Oscar nominated) director Spike Lee to add a song to his then upcoming, little known film, Malcolm X. The group took Mr. Lee’s offer and of course, vibe-d with it, recording the thunderous single, “Revolution,” which appearers on the oldies (but goodies!) dominated accompanying soundtrack.

However, much like what happens with most Best New Artist winners(by the way, hey there, Paula Cole, Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn), Arrested Development’s music struggle certainly became a little too post-Grammy real with their 1994 sophomore set, Zingalamaduni. Besides the moderate chart success of lead single, “Ease My Mind,” the album wasn’t as well received on the charts as its predecessor, which would eventually lead the group to part ways a few years later in 1996 due to “creative differences.”

However, putting their differences aside in the late ’00s, the group reformed and continued to tour overseas, eventually releasing released their 10th (!) and final album Standing At The Crossroads in 2012. Recorded while touring internationally, the album also coincided with the 20th anniversary of their debut for which the group embarked on an official worldwide tour to celebrate. They also kept the good vibes and beats flowing just last year with the release of “Craft and Optics,” which indeed proves that Arrested Development hasn’t lost a bit even two decades later.

Not that they ever would, because when it came to this group, they’ll always be in a groovy, life-filled music class of their very own, and it’s something no ’90s kid or beyond should ever forget.

For many, many more delightful memories along this here music way, play a game of horseshoes with Philly Mixtape right here and here.

Arrested Development cover photo courtesy of SPIN

Forgot About Friday/Tweet

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Patrick DeMarco

Oops….

……….we looked over to the left….and when we looked back to the right….Tweet’s Billboard chart domination days seemed to have slipped our minds….oh, my, indeed.

However, when it comes to everyone’s favorite self lovin’ diva (and Missy bestie!!), we’ve got an early ’00s music memory and treat that no one will-and should–ever forget because you still betta werk, Ms. Tweet.

The youngest of four older siblings, Tweet (real name..Charlene Keys, no relation to A) was born in Rochester, New York and began her start in that dear, sweet music by singing in church alongside her parents. It also didn’t hurt that the “Oops” songstress was born into quite the musical family as she quickly mastered the art of, well, it all including piano, guitar, bass guitar and drums, just to name a splendid few.

But alas, it was Tweet‘s unique singing voice (along with Janet & Tina inspirations) that caught the ears of everyone at the Rochester School of the Arts, where the diva found her true calling and immersed herself in all that she knew how to do…own it. After giving birth to daughter Tawshana at the age of 18 (who’s now a gospel singer like Mom!), Tweet made the decision to leave her young daughter in the care of her parents as she set off on the road to join a girl group that didn’t quite make it…then came Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot.

After the two gals met on the road, Elliot not only enlisted Tweet for the duet, “Take Away” off of her classic Miss E So Addictive record, but she introduced her to the one-and-only, Timbaland. And it was from that moment that the world and our attention was served with “Oops”(Oh My),” a slinky R&B jam about…plain and simple…lovin’ and feelin’ ya damn self while nobody’s watching.

And let’s not forget about its accompanying video…own that bling, Missy, own it…yes.

The Billboard R&B chart owning groove would become the lead single to Tweet’s debut album, Southern Hummingbird, which also featured “Oh My” follow-up, “Call Me.” Tweet would follow up Hummingbird in 2005 with “It’s Me Again,” which gave us the moderate single, “Turn da Lights Off.”

But yes, it was soon after that most (okay, all) of us seemed to have forgotten about Tweet(she also released Simply Tweet in 2013 and Charlene in 2016), and it’s a damn shame. Because not only is “Oops(Oh My)” still that fucking groove, but it still holds its message that, hey, if you’re feelin’ yourself on those sexy Saturday nights around a quarter-to-three…..you just gotta go for it.

Thank you, Tweet, may we never, ever forget you. We won’t.

For many more self lovin’ music memories, look over to the left here and here with Philly Mixtape

Cover photo courtesy of The Source