Mraz: Four-letter Word for Success

Jason Mraz

Jason Mraz released his new album, “Love is a Four-letter Word” to a very receptive audience. If not for Lionel Richie’s “Tuskegee” Mraz would easily have the number one album in its debut week with 102,000 units sold.  Jason Mraz is definitely not a newcomer to the music industry. In fact, he has enjoyed a very successful career as a singer/songwriter.  “Love is a Four-Letter Word” is the fourth studio album released for the Grammy award-winning vocalist. I enjoy listening to singer/songwriters like Jason Mraz. He reminds me of another one of my favorites, James Taylor. When an entertainer can get on stage with just a guitar and perform for an audience, it really is an intimate interchange between musician and music listener. Moreover, Jason Mraz’ lyrics of his songs draw us close to the singer/songwriter. Much like James Taylor, Jason Mraz writes lyrics that cover a multitude of human emotions and experiences. I guess this is why he has become a major international performer. Mraz career has taken a steady climb and now his current album may be his most popular yet. Why has he had continued success? Perhaps because Jason Mraz is just what he appears to be? He was born and raised in Mechanicsville, Virginia and he states that his “hometown is very American. There were white picket fences, a church on every street corner, low crime and virtually no drug use. It was a good place to grow up“.  Mraz’ early surroundings would give him the stability to stay grounded throughout all the issues that success can bring. Like many other entertainers, Mraz gives much time and energy toward philanthropic activities like MusiCares, Free the Children and The Nature Conservancy. I am looking forward to his upcoming show this fall here in South Florida. It will be my first time experiencing one of his shows live therefore, I am very excited. In the meantime, I will listen to the album and enjoy it greatly. There is no telling how popular Jason Mraz and his album “Love is a Four-Letter Word” will be by the time he finally comes to Florida. Try your best to catch his show when he comes to your area. Mraz has become a four-letter word that means success!

What would American Bandstand look like today?

Dick Clark

This week has been a whirlwind of quotes from many in the musical industry as everyone reflected on the life and career of Dick Clark, who died April 18, 2012. The internet is proliferated with entertainers saying how they were helped by an appearance on American Bandstand, Clark’s dance and music show that he hosted from 1957 until 1987. As I read all the accolades across world websites, I too thought a lot about Dick Clark’s effect on the way I view musical entertainment. Needless to say that American Bandstand was one of the pioneers in television, broadcasting performances and taking popular music to much larger audiences. Gladys Knight said that her appearances with the Pips “definitely put them over the top“. Reading quotes like these, I wondered what American Bandstand would be like today.  I understand the challenges that Dick Clark faced back in 1957 as the Civil Rights movement would change racial ideas in the country, and the musical world would also reflect the effects of the movement. Despite it all Clark continued to book both black and white artists and present the best in entertainment at the time.  The music business was also very different back then as radio was the king of media with television being new to America. Not every home had a television set but all had radio. However, the landscape was changing rapidly and television was becoming the better media alternative since the audience could see and hear the performances. What would Clark do if he had to start American Bandstand in our time? Not faced with civil rights issues, but my goodness is the landscape and marketplace different. Instead of television, which is already established, he would be faced with the internet and social networks. Music videos are a necessity in our day and the physical record or Compact Disc is giving way to the MP3 or music file. Downloading music is quickly becoming the way to purchase music. Even the musical contract for artists has changed to include other streams of revenue.  If starting today Clark may even look to starting his own cable network or he might utilize internet broadcasting. Whatever the case I think Clark would want to be ahead of the technology and in place to take advantage of the groundbreaking opportunity to launch programming into a large international market. More than likely if these thoughts came into my limited mind, someone else has already put them in play. Who? Maybe the next Dick Clark!

A Natural Songwriter

Carole King

Last week as I watched the CBS Morning Show, Singer/Songwriter Carole King was interviewed by Gail King and Charlie Rose.  Ms. King, who turned seventy years old two months ago, has written a book appropriately entitled, “A Natural Woman.”  In the year 2000, Joel Whitburn, a Billboard Magazine pop music researcher, named her the most successful female songwriter of 1955-1999, because she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Most songwriters would be happy with one or two songs to be considered hits, but 118? That number is inconceivable but speaks of the tremendous success Carole King has achieved. The interview was great because there is so much more about Carole King’s life than music. She views music as her job with her family being more important. Carole King really is a wonderful, down-to-earth person. My wife, who is a fan of King’s music as well, told me an amusing but eye-opening story about Carole King’s music. She was approached by a client who happened to be named Carole King. When my wife saw the name she joked with the lady and a work mate that she was working with Carole King. The woman stated that most of her life she has heard a lot of jokes about sharing her name with the musical artist.  Then both she and my wife started to playfully mention song titles by King.  “I feel the earth move” and “You’ve got a friend“, back and forth with song titles they went until a younger co-worker came over to see what was going on. My wife explained that she was helping the client named Carole King like the singer, but the young woman had no idea who she was talking about. Wow! Some of you reading this blog entry may also not know anything about Carole King. However, after viewing a short discography you will most likely recognize more than a few of the songs she has written throughout the years. I feel that even the young woman without knowledge of King speaking with my wife would recognize some song titles after a while. Not only has King enjoyed a successful career as a performer, her songs have been recorded by a Hall of Fame cast of musicians. Some of the songs have been hits by several different performers proving to be timeless works of art. The book is definitely going to be one of my “must-read” books this year and should be for any aspiring songwriter. Carole King has written so many hits I was torn as to which song to include as a music video. Then I thought, what better song choice but the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin’s performance of “A Natural Woman”. No other words are necessary.

Strength Despite Tragedy

Jennifer Hudson

Jealousy is a quality that is very prevalent throughout music. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember and even longer according to older musicians. Sometimes we tend to be jealous of the success of others, especially those to whom we share common origins. We should actually feel closer to those artists whom we shared classes with in school, or lived in the same neighborhood. Since I was born and raised on the South side of Chicago, I feel a strong kinship with countless musicians and I wear that commonality proudly like a badge. One of the many musicians I had on my mind this week was Jennifer Hudson. Not only was she also born and raised on the Chicago’s South side, she went to a high school (Paul L. Dunbar Vocational High School) where thousands of my friends attended, and also my mother. She, like many other musicians from Chicago, has enjoyed great success in recent years. However, she also has experienced great tragedy in her personal life. Many of you readers I’m sure remember that she lost her mother, brother and nephew who were brutally murdered by her estranged brother-in law in October 2008. I’m sure many of you felt empathy for the young singer/actress in her time of grief. It hurt me because of the familiarity with the area where her family lived, with the young life she lived. I did not want her to experience such a tragedy especially with her career on the rise, but it did happen. I’m sure Jennifer Hudson felt the great loss of her family members the way many of us have in our lives, but she continued to perform. In fact, in February 2009, just four months after the tragedy Hudson made her first public appearance at Super Bowl XLIII singing the national anthem. She then embarked on a US tour to promote her first album and has not stopped since. Her second album “I Remember Me” is on the market and is a fantastic collection of songs. More movie roles also seem to be in her future as she will play a nun in the Farrelly Brothers film “The Three Stooges”.  Yes, Jennifer Hudson has experienced success and her future appears very bright. However, it is her strength that has really impressed and inspired me. As the music industry mourned the death of Whitney Houston, it was Hudson who took the forefront in the tribute to the great singer. Of course she gave an exceptional performance.  Earlier in the week we learned that the jury selection was beginning for Hudson's ex-brother-in-law William Balfour‘s trial. The subsequent trial is another event that will undoubtedly require more strength from Hudson. I encourage you Ms. Hudson to keep performing. Many admire your vocal abilities and also your strength despite tragedy.

Is She Really That Good?

Taylor Swift

How do you measure musical greatness? Can you count the number of awards and accolades received? Perhaps the viewpoint of other musicians is a measuring stick of musical prominence, or not. Maybe it is the amount of adoring fans that flock to buy music? Hmmm! Well there are several artists’ today who sell music at record paces, but at the same time fail to receive the same love from music critics.  I am not swayed by record sales or music critics when it comes to my appreciation of musical abilities. Some persons may look upon such barometers as the signal to buy music, but I would like to believe that we hear music and buy because we like what we hear. When I think of Taylor Swift, the young Country Music phenomenon after three albums, I feel her fan base may be built on several factors. She’s young, and other young people can relate to her. Taylor Swift is also very attractive. A third factor is she writes her own songs, and her lyrics are highly autobiographical. This means she literally pours her heart out to her audience. Have these factors brought monetary benefits? Oh yes! Billboard Magazine named her the most financially successful music artist of 2011, with net earnings of more than $35 million. Indeed the twenty-two year old from Reading, PA from humble beginnings has made it to the top of the industry. In spite of the monetary gains there are some who do not feel her earnings match her talent level. In my mind I can never speak of Taylor Swift without thinking of rapper/singer Kanye West.  While accepting her award at the MTV Video Music Awards for her “You Belong with Me” video, Kanye West came on the stage, took the microphone from Swift, and said that Beyonce’s video for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it), nominated for the same award, was the greatest video of all time. Of course many celebrities criticized Kanye West for his outburst and he has since apologized. The Taylor Swift video I have included of the song “Innocent” is about the incident and in the song she absolves Kanye of his actions. Nevertheless, Swift still has critics of her music and performances, some calling her songs “light” in substance. Naturally it leads to the question; Is she really that good? Give her a listen and answer that for yourselves, without the influence of others.