Mer-Blog

Today is Coney Island's Mermaid Parade. Still contemplating going even though it's getting a little late for the extremely long train ride, never mind the super sweaty one back. Today's parade combined with this pic I snapped of somebody's spicy window decal made me think of this epic Jimi track. Better she have human boobs than fish boobs. Am I right? Sidenote, a Google Search for "Fish Boobs" creates more questions than it answers.

Song #196: Jimi Hendrix - 1983 (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)

2 Senses

This song has that little steam sounding hiss to it that really keeps you in the beat. It's much better than his other song that tackles the rest of the senses, Smell, Taste & Feel (just kidding).


Song #195: David Bowie - Sound and Vision

The Hippest (C)Hops

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Almost Invented Hip Hop

By Nat Avino-Towsen

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was two letters away from inventing Hip-Hop over a decade in advance. The closest anyone of his age came was "Hip Drop" by The Explosions.

What hip-chops actually means is playing the flute and the manzello at the same time, which is a pretty hip thing to do with your chops. He doesn't even mention how many instruments are in his nose or how hip his nose is.

"Who has the hippest chops in the world?" Rahsaan asks at the end of the recording.

You do, Rahsaan. You have the hippest chops in the world.

Song #194: Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Hip Chops (won't play? Click here)

Sly

Rarely seen Photo by Urve Kuusik.

Song #193: Sly and the Family Stone - If It Were Left Up To Me

Loneliest Man on the Planet

Before he was (what I consider to be) the loneliest man on the planet, it is a little known fact that Elliott Smith was the frontman of a 90's band called Heatmiser. They are decent (as far as 90's Bands go), but he does just as good a job playing all the instruments by himself and dubbing them over each other, as he does for almost every song he makes after this one. I do happen to enjoy this song which seems to have gotten a little bit of airplay on an extremely preliminary incarnation of MTV2.

Song #192: Heatmiser (Elliott Smith) - Plainclothes Man

Mama

Today is my wonderful Mom's birthday. She has always been a huge inspiration and influence on me and the fact I that I do this blog at all is because any ounce of work ethic I have, I inherited from her. Working at one of the most Historical Cultural Centers in the world has only spoiled me to seek the most interesting and authentic types of individuals and experiences in my life. This week we take a break from Rasta Mon-day to honor my mom with a serenade by a young poet by the name of Tupac Shakur. He sings about his mother (a woman I was lucky enough to hear speak in 2006 at college) like my mother is also a very strong and driven woman. HOWEVER, there are many differences between the two so all the dicey substance issues and the welfare stuff doesn't apply. But some parts still ring true...

all my childhood memories,
are full of all the sweet things she's done for me.
and even though I act crazy,
I gotta thank the lord that she made me.
you are appreciaited.

Song #191: Tupac - Dear Mama

Boricua

In honor of today's Puerto Rican Day Parade, the largest and most traffic-creating parade in New York City, we have their Native Son (in that he's from the Bronx) Big Pun with his tribute to his beautiful homeland (still talking about the Bronx). 

Puerto Rico!

Song #190: Big Pun - 100%