Gelski's » Music

Common thread in rap’s future

gelski — Wed, 23 May 2007 02:53:19 +0000

Debate has raged on rap artists using naughty words to describe women ever since talk show host Don Imus got fired for doing just that. The situation reminds me of the 1980s when comedians, such as Eddie Murphy, strung together bunches of naughty words. Many Americans, tired of such language, welcomed the cleaner jokes of Bill Cosby. His popularity surged during that decade. He starred in his own hit TV show.

I predict the rap artist known as Common will become a Cosby-like figure for the rap industry. Common recently appeared on “Oprah.” Born Lonnie Rashied Lynn and once known as Common Sense, he recorded rap songs back in the 1990s, but none of them were of the more popular “gangsta” rap style, according to several music web sites..

I had never heard of Common until he appeared on “Oprah.” Then this morning I heard him sing on VH-1 with Joss Stone in her song “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now.”

Here are some of Common’s rap lyrics in that song:

“You wearing the gown.

I’m wearing the crown.

Pound for pound,

We the freshest couple in town.”

Common is scheduled to release a CD called “Finding Forever” this summer.

Call up Buddy, Eric and Stevie Ray’s ghost

gelski — Mon, 21 May 2007 02:59:19 +0000

I met legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy one night at his restaurant in Chicago, but, dang-it, I forgot to ask him. I want Buddy and Eric Clapton to play Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Life Without You” at my funeral — not that I’m dying anytime soon or anything.

Stevie Ray already has taken a heaven-bound flight, but I figure his ghost could appear and start playing the guitar solo at my funeral. He could be like that one saxophone player in that one Sting video. When Stevie Ray’s ghost is playing, he could be whole. When the ghost isn’t playing, he could be transparent.

Until then, does anybody know Sade personally? My next birthday is Oct. 21. I want to rent out Jardine’s near the Plaza in Kansas City for a private party. I figure Sade could sing.

Say a prayer for Bo Diddley

gelski — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:44:45 +0000

Bo Diddley is a music industry pioneer and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. They named the Bo Diddley beat after — that’s right — Bo Diddley.

Mr. Diddley suffered a stroke about a week ago after giving a concert in Iowa. Last I heard he was doing better but still in a hospital in Omaha, Neb.

I had the honor of seeing Mr. Diddley at a blues and jazz festival last summer in Kansas City, Kan. Since a lot of Mr. Diddley’s hit songs are from the 1950s and 1960s, a lot of the concert fans were older. Maybe they were teen-agers in the 1950s and 1960s. One guy at the concert was asleep in his seat, his container of oxygen at his side.

Mr. Diddley was scheduled to come on stage at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, but the festival was behind schedule. A fusion jazz band called Proto-Kaw was on stage instead at 9:30. The older people were angry, impatient, and they let Proto-Kaw know about their displeasure.

“Bo Diddley!” they shouted during and after every Proto-Kaw song.

One lady kept hollering, “You ain’t playing no blues and jazz!”

Somehow, Proto-Kaw had enough patience and musical ability to finish the set. Mr. Diddley came on stage about 11 p.m. The crowd roared to the Bo Diddley beat. After Mr. Diddley finished his first song, I hollered out, “Proto-Kaw!”

He played until past midnight. Get well, Bo Diddley. I want to see you in concert again.

Jethro raps

gelski — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:13:59 +0000

Jethro would have wanted to be a rapper. The gold chains, the Hummers and the women would have appealed to his playboy aspirations. If “The Beverly Hillbillies” were on TV today, Jethro would have joined the rap industry.

Jethro: “Miss Jane, you want to be in my posse?”

Jethro: “No, Elle, you can’t be in my video.”

Uncle Jed: “Ah, boy, you think maybe you ought to pull up your pants. I can find you a new rope.”