Marcus' Old School Jam of the Week #5 - Four Page Letter by Aaliayh

Originally posted March 27th, 2009

It was only obvious that Aaliyah would eventually make an appearance here, however, I've selected a song that was probably among her least known singles. "4 Page Letter" is the song that got me to buy the "One In A Million" album back in 1997 (which as far as I'm concerned, was the best year ever). As far I'm concerned, this is a slow jam that will slow down a mix of slow jams. I also think this song doesn't even sound a year old, let alone over a decade. Plus, I was pretty intoxicated by this strange-ass video too. Seriously, 12 years later and I still don't know what's going on....



Things to Note:

* What we appear to have is "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" meets "Land of the Lost" with a little bit of "At Play in the Fields of the Lord." There's obviously a syndicated series in this.

*When I was a wee lad listening to this song, I thought the gradual volume increase (longer on the album version) at the beginning was the single greatest musical innovation of all time. My feelings have not changed people! It was fun starting it out at a near silent level and then having it eventually become audible. AMAZING.

* I hate to speak of our dearly departed Aaliyah this way, but around the minute mark, she's clearly a bit of a creeper.

*Ladies, why aren't you all wearing suede belly shirts with single arm fringe? Bring it back...or there to begin with?

*Speaking of belly shirts, people credit Britney with the whole teen navel-gazing trend, but Aaliyah was clearly doing it first. Of course, no one noticed because Aaliyah never looked like a ho. In fact, balancing overt sexiness (see: the extensive amount of hip-rolling) with her coy innocence and angelic cooing eventually became her trademark. It's the very reason why a quickie teenage marriage to R.Kelly didn't destroy her.

* I find it a bit odd that a song about written communication takes place within a community that only appears to interact by hip-hop pow-wows.

*I think there may be a time travel/flashback aspect to this, but with motorcycles, chains, caged men, neon signs and magically appearing fire, I'm a bit too distracted to notice.

*Somehow that fire ring scene, despite a greased up male and Aaliyah in a silver spacesuit, emerges as one of the sweetest scenes in music video history. In the future there will be: courting dances!

*I think it would have been funny if the little kids of the village were playing marbles in a ring adjacent to the one on fire.

WOOOO

Marcus' Old School Jam of the Week #4: The First Night by Monica

Originally posted March 21st, 2009

This week's song is a song that I kind of forgot existed. But 10 years later, I was happy to discover that it in fact WAS something. Perhaps it's a bit strange to make this of all songs the first actual up-tempo to be featured, but there is something very charming about its repeated choruses and over-strained bridge that makes me little 90s heart smile. Let's take a look at Monica's "The First Night." And if you were looking for a Bugs Bunny cameo, I can kindly direct you to the "For You I Will" video



Things to Note:

*Usually I hate an obvious sample, but there is something borderline brilliant about Monica turning a song as sex-drenched as "Love Hangover" into a song about maintaining hormonal urges. In a way, it's as if she (or more certainly, her producers) knew those infamous piano strikes would automatically cause dramatic tension when put against the lyrics. But then again, I've always read to much into my pop songs.

*Where exactly are they? Is this what teenagers did in the late 90s? Most likely take their parent's Beamers out to the Valley on Friday nights to hang out in locations that can only be described as if they came out of some unholy combination of You Got Served and All About Eve? I don't know about you, but when I was in high school, we hung out in people's basements and the floors most certainly did not light up.

* At 1:48, the video kind of turns into Fiona Apple's "Criminal" video for about 20 seconds, what with it's off center pans and morning after vibe. Also, I want that couch with every fiber of my being.

*There is a very tender moment involving opera glasses.

*I feel kind of sick that seeing a single rose automatically makes me think of The Bachelor now. And then I remember that no matter how lovely Monica looks (and she looks quite lovely here), she probably wouldn't get past the second episode of that show since the Bachelor hates black people.

*I'm also confused by the large gold tube that sticks into every frame with Monica and her love interest. I keep thinking it is giant tube of wrapping paper that is resting on the couch with them, and then I wonder if that's supposed to be symbolic of some sort of "ultimate gift" that Monica has yet to make available to her boyfriend. That or the set decorator got a little overzealous.

*The dance routine scenes pretty much look like one of those old Gap ads where everyone was dancing to West Side Story or sitting in a room and lip syncing "Mello Yellow." There's an obvious slogan behind all this..."Gap: Chaste in Khaki."

Marcus' Old School Jam of the Week #3: I Want To Be Your Man by Roger

Originally posted March 13th, 2009

Today's old school jam is a bit older than usual. It's from 1987, and while this column (?) will mainly focus on 90s R&B, I simply can not leave out the masterpiece that is this song. I would be lying if I didn't say this was potentially my favorite song of all time. I know its cheesy, I know the lyrics are pretty simple and whatnot, but if you measured favorite song by the pure amount of joy it gives, this would be off the scales. It is impossible for me to hear it without getting a little unreasonably excited. Enjoy the magic....

http://new.music.yahoo.com/Roger/videos/view/I-Want-To-Be-Your-Man--157421061

Things to Note:

* I seriously need a talk box. I've become obsessed with getting one (btw: retail around $150) so that I can sit on the couch and turn every single song in my iTunes into voice warped brilliance. I would also greet anyone who entered the room with a funk-ay "XX is in the house...baby...baby...baby

" and everyone would love me and there would be no more wars.

* There are about 50 parts in this song where one would naturally say "Hold on...I love this part!!" My favorite is obviously the "I tried I tried I tried I tried" part in the third verse. For good reason too.

* I don't know my 80s urban haircuts THAT well, but I believe what we have here is a Jheri Curl. And a pretty amazing one at that. Almost as good as the kid from Family Matters that was on like every 5 episodes. It could be an S-Curl. I pretend to know all of them



* I like every scene where there are three Rogers playing at once, as seen at 1:13. If you look closely, you will see the middle stage kind of bobs up and down and side to side, which I can only imagine is from really poorly done superimposition. Amazing.

* I would pay a good amount of money ($2.45) for the clothes he is wearing. Marie described his whole pocket sized swagger as bootleg Prince. I could not say it better myself.

* @1:20. My stars!! Is that bootleg Grace Jones!?

* The few, hilarious shots of things that aren't in the room. There is a random scene of a crosswalk near the beginning. Even better, at 2:59, they show a neon sign that says "Girls" as Roger sings the same word. If the camera panned out a bit I think the word above it would say "Live" and the one below would say "Revue." I appreciate the sudden attempt at being literal though.

* 2:48. My god. 2:48.

* A splashing water motif would have been puzzling enough, but then they have to show that it's coming from a rain gutter. And the introducing shot at :14 makes it look like Roger was drinking from it. I'm so confused. Still, the splashing water effect is pretty cool. In fact, Rihanna would use it 20 years later in her video for "Umbrella." Perhaps you should thank Roger, Rihanna. I do every day.

*Wooo a Captain's outfit for some reason!

*Naturally it ends with some neck rolls.

We miss you Roger.

Marcus' Old School Jam of the Week #2: On Bended Knee by Boyz II Men

Originally posted March 6th, 2009

Oh we all knew it was coming. Boyz II Men were R&B royalty back in the day. I'm certain that you are all missing them, despite the fact they are still out there somewhere making Temptations tribute albums and wishing men would act like men again~. I sincerely doubt Day 26 or whatever other faceless group of guys is currently out there is fulfilling your quota for dramatic love ballads. I challenge you not to give into the jaw-trembling power of "On Bended Knee"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8giTjtNX3qk

~please note that Michael left the group because of scoliosis. That makes me feel old.

Things to Note:
* The wa-oo-wa noise at :31 completely sums up 90s R&B in less than a second. It's over. The whole sub-genre is defined by one watery drip-drop noise. You will not be able to find me a sound effect more exemplary of the time.

* The girl in the opening scene kinda sounds like Stacey Dash from Clueless and that is making me even more nostalgic.

* I like that all the members of the group look like they belong as faculty at a middle school. One would teach History, one would teach Math, one would coach the basketball team, and the other would direct the choir. I will leave it to you to assign them those roles, but it is as obvious as you think.

*I don't know why Shawn is wearing that towering white hat in some scenes. He must not be aware of his extensive ganglitude, which is phrase I coined earlier this week.

*I also keep forgetting how hilarious it is that they have a spoken interlude in almost every song. I shouldn't laugh, since he gets the best looking girl in the video, even if his painting makes her look vaguely Latoya Jackson-esque.

*That final pose means serious business.

*There is a very tender moment involving a trumpet and a glass of iced tea.

I think we all cried a little bit today.

Marcus' Old School Jam of the Week #1: Downtown by SWV

Originally posted February 27th, 2009.

Man, I have been missing 90s R&B these days. The whole electro meets R&B thing was fun for a while, but I've apparently reached the stage in my life where I start griping about the good old days. Therefore, I give you SWV's Downtown...

http://www.spike.com/video/swv-downtown/2787891 (Sorry. Youtube has since taken down the version I originally used and this is the only place I could find the one with the seagulls.)

Things to Note:
*Oh my god the nails
* They're wearing oversized jerseys. Ah, remember when people were shooting each other over Starter Jackets?
* Color assignments!
* The fact the corner of Lelee's towel is partially submerged in water
* The hilarious moment around 58 seconds when Taj gets distracted in the background and starts looking at seagulls.
* General amazingness, albeit, a pretty racy subject matter.