"Silly Games" by Janet Kay, Lover's Rocks Finest

I Miss Music pays homage to a well-deserved Throw Back Choon, Silly Games by Janet Kay

Listening to this the other week brought back some delightful childhood memories and some old skool dance moves. 1979 was the release date of Silly Games for British Queen of Lover's Rock, Janet Kay. I was just a 'liccle yout' back then, but with its chart topping status, mainstream radio play and the 12 inch vinyl copy being owned (or on loan) in the home of almost every West Indian family I knew, Silly Games was both popular and unforgettable.

I particularly remember this choon being played at every West Indian houseparty... Adults and children rubbing out someone's poor living room carpet with their shoes because it was "their song", everyone knew the words and the traditional Lover's Rock bud dah, bud ah, doof , ching ching beat. Folks would try and sing in the same high key as Janet, sounding like alley cats, but without a care in the world because they were feeling the vibe.

Silly Games is still frequently played at clubs on Ragga/Dancehall nights, as a revival choon. My kids 21 and 11 were not impressed as I drowned Silly Games into their ears. What do the youth of today know about great music classics huh? Recognise!

Brownstone Throwback (A Tribute)

This Ol' Skool R&B treasure is a throwback to some good 'Ghetto Soul' music and also a tribute to a friend who recently passed away.

Back in 1994 when I was a young single mother living in the heart of the ghetto, music was a huge comfort to those on the low income struggle with the realities of the hard knock life thrown in. My peers and myself were musically influenced by ragga, rap and the new wave of contemporary R&B that was making major breakthroughs within the UK music scene.

"If You Love Me" was a catchy Slow Jam with a Swing Beat. Big on the radio, in the clubs and my friend G's playlist (- cassette in those days). I'm telling you, G outsung IYLM, probably more than Brownstone did. It was her "badass choon dat". I'll always be reminded of her whenever I hear it and smile with the fondest memories.

IYLM reached NO 8 in the UK singles chart in 1994.  

80s Throwback - Colonel Abrams 'Trapped'

80's music was a big influence on my life, wild, creative and unforgettable (well most of the songs were). Here's a throwback to 1985...'Trapped' by Colonel Abrams.

Trapped single cover

Although Colonel Abrams has released nine albums, it's his 1985 hit 'Trapped' from the album Trapped MCA Records, released in the same year, that is his most famous. House music was extremely popular in the mid-eighties and the pumping beat of Trapped along with Abrams powerful authoritative vocals took this song to number 3 in the UK charts and number 1 in the US Dance charts.

My memories of this song was Colonel's stage presence. As a 10 year old I remember finding his serious face quite scary but I loved the song and loved the backing vocals even more. I remember his outfits too, big shoulder pads in his embellished jackets, proper 80s, proper music.

SEXY SUMMER ANTHEM - Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams (BLURRED LINES) unrated VIDEO

Sexy Summer 2013 smash hit  Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I has reached No1 in 40 countries. I lurve Pharrell's production skills and so I had to check this tune out.

Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams appeared on Graham Norton's (BBC 1 UK) chat show last weekend performing their Smash Hit “Blurred Lines”. Out came my earphones, TV volume on maximum, punishing my damaged ears to get in with the buzz. And what a tune (toon). Even fellow guest Hayden Panettiere (below) got on stage with the guys and popped her booty. Pharrell never fails to get people moving whether they're in a club, the car, cleaning the house...whatever. I'll be punishing my ears much more with this track.

  

There was a lot of controversy over the video for “Blurred Lines” which features some very pretty topless females and some very strange props, including a goat. Check it out for yourself.

Music To Deaf Ears Changes Its Name

Music To Deaf Ears blog has changed its name to I Miss Music.  

After much deliberation and countless name suggestions, I have decided to change the title of this blog to I Miss Music.  I felt that Music To Deaf Ears wasn't the appropriate name for the direction I wanted to go with the content of this blog, and I'm still unsure if I Miss Music is the right choice.

Having changed the URL, means my backlog articles have somewhat been lost in cyberspace so former links are no longer active.  A brilliant move for someone with crap technology skills.  Not! 

The content is, and always will be the same.  An appreciation of music and dealing with the loss of it.  I hope all who visited here before will return and if it's your first time, it won't be your last.

                                - Donnatella

More Prince News and Gossip

Alexander O'Neal - 'If You Were Here Tonight'

Everybody loves a good old 80's Slow Jam and Alexander O'Neal was running things back in the 80's with a string of R&B hits.

I was around 11 years old when 'If You Were Here Tonight' was a hit back in 1986.  All the R&B heads loved this track and it was pretty successful mainstream in the UK, reaching number 13 in the singles charts.  I'm a fan of Alexander, he released some unforgettable classics.  However, 'If You Were Here Tonight' was just pure 80's lush.  The grown folk would get all smoochy and loved up at parties to this, whilst the kids would swing to synths and sing "If you could only know my feelings.  You would know how much I doo beeelieeve".  

Check out the video for a full flavour of the 80's.  The clothes, Alexander's moustache.  Love it!