Soundtrack Of The Day: "Cold War" - Janelle Monae

Another day, another black artist with an song in their heart. Black History Month continues on Pictures & Conversations! Janelle Monae's full length debut album The ArchAndroid is one of the strangest albums of the last few years. She has an alterego, but unlike Sasha Fierce or Strawberry who exist as the sexy performer sides of pop divas, Cindi Mayweather is an android who fell in love with a human and becomes a messianic figure. Whatever, the album had some major high points even if the album as whole didn't live up to it's high concept's promise.

"Cold War" is one of those high points. One of the sadly overlooked possible Gay Pride anthems of the new millennium, the song's fast beat and Prince-y use of electric guitar belies the emotional impact of the lyrics and Ms. Monae's soulful vocal. "I'm trying to find my peace, I was made to believe there's something wrong with me and it's hurts my heart" is the moment that hits hard, even bringing Janelle to tears at the 1:38 mark in the official music video.

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud" - James Brown

What celebration of the brilliant music throughout black history would complete without the hardest working man in show business? James Brown is an icon and nothing makes me happier than when "Say It Loud" comes on. I sing along, even though I'm lying through my teeth. White as Wonder Bread, this one. (Sad face) However, the children's chorus that says it loud is multicultural, as the recording session went late and they had to round up kids from the suburban neighborhood.

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" - Nina Simone

I may have mentioned my obsession with Nina Simone, with her gorgeously low, sensual voice and stunningly vast catalog. But Ms. Simone never had the massive pop hit she wanted, and her 1964 recording of an original song "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" was to be that single that propelled her out of the jazz clubs and into pop culture's center stage.

Unfortunately for Nina her slow burning, almost classically arranged version of the song failed to chart. The Animals picked up on the track the following year and got a Top 20 hit and an oldies radio mainstay out of it. It's hard to say which version is better, Nina's is fraught with pain and regret while The Animals' infused it with a live wire of rock. Both deserve a wide audience.

Ms. Simone also recorded the folk standard "House Of The Rising Sun" a full two years before The Animals made a hit out of it. Nina couldn't catch a break!

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Corporate Cannibal" - Grace Jones

As Black History Month winds down, we continue our look at black music. Grace Jones is the most unique artist I think the world has produced so far. Her sound has always been contemporary even as her look is forward thinking. Indeed her look is as integral to her fame as her music, and her blend of extreme high fashion and extreme androgeny spawned imitators from Annie Lennox to Lady Gaga. Even at age 60, when she recorded her latest album Hurricane, she is exploring modern industrial sounds in dance. "Corporate Criminal," the lead single from that album, is one of the spookiest and captivating things I've heard in a while.

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Disparate Youth" - Santigold

Hey kids and kittens, I'm finally back! My computer was giving me fits and I haven't mastered the art of embedding video via my Windows Phone so no new Soundtracks for the past couple of weeks. I had intended a series of music from my favorite black artists for Black History Month but alas February is almost over. Since we should really be celebrating black art and music year round, however, I am still going for it!

First up is a new single from Philly native Santigold. Her debut album Santogold was one of my favorites of 2008 and I am getting excited as new songs arrive to herald the May release of her sophomore solo album Master Of My Make Believe.
Here is "Disparate Youth"

R.I.P. Whitney Houston 1963-2012

I was never the biggest fan of Whitney Houston, but even a casual radio listen cannot escape the plethora of musical offerings the daughter of gospel music legend Cissy Houston has brought to the world.

A one-time model, Ms. Houston was married and divorced to R&B star Bobby Brown and leaves behind a teenage daughter. She is a legend who crossed over from pop to gospel to r&b to club. These are my favorite Whitney tracks:
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - a great track for dancing to in the privacy of your bedroom, with or without a hairbrush mic.

How Will I Know - ditto

I Will Always Love You - whether you prefer this version or Dolly's original, one of the most beautiful breakup songs in history

When You Believe (duet with Mariah Carey) - One of the greatest inspirational songs of the 90s, from the gorgeous Prince Of Egypt film (I owned the cassette single at one point)
It's Not Right, But It's Ok (Thunderpuss Remix) - the whole reason I bought the Fired Up 2 compilation. Gay club music at it's finest.

Million Dollar Bill - should have been a much bigger comeback single, written by Alicia Keys and sung with that early Whitney sound ala I Wanna Dance or So Emotional.
What is your favorite Whitney Houston song, or film appearance. (I personally have a soft spot for Rodger's & Hammerstein's Cinderella)

Soundtrack Of The Day - "Promises" (Skrillex Remix) - Nero

While I am still not sold on the dubstep revolution that is sweeping the UK right now, this remix by the Grammy nominee Skrillex has grown on me. The original mix is a little generic, but this take some of the hydraulic sounds that dubstep is know for and sprinkles them lightly to amp the vocals and beat. Much more of it would be kinda nauseating, but I like it in brief bits like this and the bridge on Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me." I know, so gay...

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Lollipop" (Remix) - Lil Wayne ft Kanye West

My sister Naomi's birthday is today. I can always tell when she's out imbibing on adult bevs because her Facebook blows up with song lyrics from the songs she and her bestie play on the jukebox. It usually starts with the original mix of this Wheezy jam, so when an evening begins with "Shawty wanna thug" we know what's going down. I like this mix better, just because of Kanye's opening line: "Lollipop, Lollipop, Breastes just like Dolly Part-en."

Soundtrack Of The Day: "Friday" - Rebecca Black

I'm just gonna leave this here...

Soundtrack Of The Day: "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race (Remix)" - Fall Out Boy ft Kanye West

Just a little something funky fresh for a Thursday morning. Chi-town boys hook up for a fresh remix of the emo classic.

Soundtrack Of The Day: Nicole Scherzinger Mega Post

The world learned this week that erstwhile Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has been fired from the US's X Factor along with hottie host Steve Jones. (Go ahead, click on that link. I'll wait. NSFWish) She's not a great singer, but that seems to be the requirement for judging. Paula Abdul and J.Lo don't have great vocal either. But during her time in the Pussycat Dolls, where did all the lead AND background vocals for the first album, and a solo artist she's released a handful of decent singles. Here they be:
Don't Hold Your Breathe (solo single)

Hush Hush; Hush Hush (Pussycat Dolls)

Buttons (Pussycat Dolls) - Best song to soundtrack a strut down a store aisle like a runway.

Scream (Timbaland ft Keri Hilson & Nicole Scherzinger)