Friday, May 25, 2012

Exclusive Donna Summer Weekend “On the Radio”


By Joett (Published in Business Times 25 May 2012) -- We lost the Queen Of Disco Donna Summer to lung cancer on Thursday the 17th of May 2012. I for one grew up listening to Donna Summer in the 70s, she made disco hip and cool back in the day and we all danced like crazy to her music. Her death—to a lot of us who grew up listening to her music through the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s—has robbed us of someone we held dear to our hearts. However, through us, her legacy shall live on. I was fortunate to have seen her live on stage in London. What an amazing entertainer she was. All the wonderful memories are flooding back to me now. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948, she was aged 63 at the time of her death. She was given a private burial in Nashville, USA on Wednesday the 23rd of May.

Paradoxically, a week before she died, I’d placed an order for the Donna Summer Gold compilation album from the UK with intention to special-feature it on my radio show Boogie on Times 100.5 FM, a show that airs 6pm Sundays. And so last weekend, as a prelude to a full Donna Summer weekend to follow, I opened the show with a couple of Donna Summer tracks (I Feel Love and Last Dance), and promised to dedicate the next show on Sunday 27th May as a full two-hour tribute to Donna Summer; and to invite listeners to request their favorite Donna Summer classics and ALSO to make dedications to friends, family and loved ones.

Unlike many stars of disco who faded as trends turned the word "disco" into a pejorative, Summer grew beyond the genre on albums like 1980's "The Wanderer," whose rock-dance sound would influence on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" two years later. She had one of her biggest hits, and a memorable video, with "She Works Hard for the Money" in 1983, a tune that became an anthem for equality.

‘She Works Hard for the Money’

In an interview Summer gave several years ago, she explains the song was about a woman who worked as a bathroom attendant handing out mints, mouthwash and towels to women who had dashed into a bathroom somewhere ritzy to freshen up. The woman was so tired, but still working. Of course, until you heard that interview, you thought the lyrics were about street walkers. But Summer had explained:

“I was at a Grammys party ... and I went to the ladies room and on my way in I saw this little old lady sitting at the end of the bar. And she was asleep,” Summer said in an interview with “Nightline.” “She was the bathroom attendant. And at that same moment, a group of ladies walked into the room and started spraying their hair and doing all these things. And my first thought was ‘God, she works hard for her money, that lady.’ And then I thought, ‘Man, that’s a song. So I went and grabbed my manager and we went back into the bathroom and started writing the song on a piece of toilet paper.”

One of that era's most amusing stories centers on a duet Summer sang with Barbra Streisand in 1979, "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)." Streisand was reluctant to sing the disco hit but her son Jason, then 13, insisted that his mother sing it with his favorite artist. While singing in facing stools in a California studio, Summer didn't breathe correctly and, while trying to hold a note to match Streisand's, she momentarily blacked out and hit the floor. Streisand, the consummate perfectionist, kept singing the note straight through to completion.

Summer had recently been in meetings at her Los Angeles home with producer Jay Landers. They had planned to work on an album of duets with contemporary dance acts she had influenced and, with Barry Manilow, an album of songs devoted to the Detroit music scene.

"She had the regal quality of a singer who transcends the genre they are best known for - a fancy way of saying she could really sing the phone book," said Landers, a senior vice president at Universal. "We planned to invite some of the leading dance contemporary artists like Lady Gaga, Pink, Katy Perry, Madonna and others who Donna had cut a path for. I was totally floored when I read the news because she looked great and was in great spirits."

Though Summer came to prominence just as disco was emerging from New York nightclubs in the mid-1970s, and came to define the glittery era with a string of No. 1 hits including "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls," she was first inspired by Janis Joplin. Her debut album in 1974, "Lady of the Night," revealed her rock roots. Though released only in Europe, the album paired her with Giorgio Moroder, a producer and songwriter with whom she would make musical history.

She is gone too soon, but her songs, the sound track of our lives keeps playing, stuck in the groove of life. Coming up on retro radio show Boogie on Times 100.5 FM this Sunday 27th May from 6pm till 8pm East Africa Time, is a magnificent tapestry of Donna Summer hits spanning four decades—the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.
Boogie Playlist on Times 100.5 FM from 6pm 27th May 2012

Boogie is a two hour radio show. On this particular day, I’ve got over two and a half hours worth of Donna Summer songs to play: 16 tracks from Disc One and 18 tracks from Disc Two. This means, the only way I’m going to crack this is to have you—the listener, help me select the playlist for the show. And based on your selections and SMS votes, I’d love to be able to announce the TOP FIVE most requested Donna Summer songs at the end of the program. On Boogie You Select this weekend, I put the listener completely in charge. Be sure to tune in to Times 100.5 FM from 6pm Sunday East Africa Time, Or Listen live on stream at timesfm.co.tz For International listeners, view World Time Zone Map for current time in your area.

Boogie Playlist on Times 100.5 FM from 6pm 27th May 2012

Boogie is a two hour radio show. On this particular day, I’ve got over two and a half hours worth of Donna Summer songs to play: 16 tracks from Disc One and 18 tracks from Disc Two. This means, the only way I’m going to crack this is to have you—the listener, help me select the playlist for the show. And based on your selections and SMS votes, I’d love to be able to announce the TOP FIVE most requested Donna Summer songs at the end of the program. On Boogie You Select this weekend, I put the listener completely in charge. Be sure to tune in to Times 100.5 FM from 6pm Sunday, or listen live on stream at www.timesfm.co.tz

The following is a list of songs you’re welcome to select in advance via SMS to 0715 364 045. Donna Summer Gold Compilation Album Disc One: Love To Love You Baby [Single Version] 1975, Could It Be Magic [Single Version] 1976, Try Me, I Know We Can Make It [Single Version] 1976, Spring Affair [Single Version] 1976, Love's Unkind 1977, I Feel Love 1977, I Love You 1978, Last Dance 1978, MacArthur Park [Promotional Single Version] 1978, Heaven Knows [Single Version] 1978, Hot Stuff [12'' Single Version] 1979, Bad Girls 1979, Dim All The Lights 1979, Sunset People 1979, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)-Feat. Barbra Streisand 1979, On The Radio 1979.

Disc Two: The Wanderer 1980, Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) 1982, State Of Independence 1982, She Works Hard For The Money 1983, Unconditional Love 1983, There Goes My Baby 1984, Supernatural Love 1984, Dinner With Gershwin 1987, All Systems Go 1987, This Time I Know It's for Real 1989, I Don't Wanna Get Hurt 1989, Love's About To Change My Heart [7'' Mix] 1989,  When Love Cries [7'' Mix] 1991, Carry On 1992, Melody Of Love (Wanna Be Loved) 1994, I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro) 1999, Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live for Love) 2003, You're So Beautiful [Tony Moran Edit] 2003.

Thanks for visiting my blog, catch up with you on the show!

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Singing Tip: How to Spend Less Breath to Gain Vocal Control


I've seen this happen so many times. Spending too much breath unnecessarily is commonplace. The trouble with a breathy tone is that it takes away your control because you spend too much breath. Unless it's deliberate, like Donna Summer so sexily did in some of her songs (but even she admitted in an interview aired on my radio show Boogie that the breathier the harder it is to sing), you should be spending less breath when you sing. This tip sheet is aimed at helping you take control of your vocal by spending less breath when you sing.

On the high notes -- in the falsetto area, especially, I find a lot of my students struggle to stay in control. They spend too much. So here's how to take steps to keep that spend in check. We'll start with the major problem area. Hit the note using your falsetto voice (second voice) with the vowel "I" (pronounced eee). Give it one long straight bar, and while you're at it, listen to yourself very carefully. Does your vocal sound breathy? If yes, then here's what you need to do: repeat this exercise whilst trying to eliminate that breathy tone. You'll want to sound more voice, less breath. Once you've achieved this, comfortably, hit the "I" vowel (pronounced EEEE) and then immediately drop the jaw to produce a note with the vowel "A" (pronounced AAAH). The idea is to STILL have the sharp "I" tone when you're belting out "A". Now, if you do it properly, the note won't shift to a breathy tone because you will have mastered the "I" note. You're only dropping the jaw to produce the "A" note, remember? So your placement SHOULD stay intact. So the next time you're producing that troublesome breathy tone, run your vocal through this exercise to correct it. I hope this helps.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Boogie to Kick-Off with Donna Summer Hits

On today’s show: Sadly, we lost the Queen Of Disco Donna Summer on Thursday this week, who died after a long battle with throat cancer she contracted during 9/11 in New York City (RIP Donna). I will kick off today’s show with a couple of her biggest hits, and I intend to dedicate NEXT Sunday’s show to Donna Summer with LOADS of tracks from the Donna Summer GOLD compilation album and ALSO give you—the listener—a chance to select your favorite Donna Summer tracks from that double album. My playlist today will include hits from The Trammps, The Jacksons, Sister Sledge, Patrice Rushen, Rose Royce, Chic, Stacey Lattisaw, Melba Moore, Labelle, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Hues Corporation, Dan Hartman, Andrea True Connection, Billy Ocean and MORE. And in the second segment—at the top of the hour, I hand over the playlist to you—the listener—with Boogie You Select! That’s when you get to request the songs you want me to play. And this is how it works. I’ve brought to the studio a compilation album with 100 tracks INCLUDING my playlist to choose from. So if you want to make a special request you are most welcome to do so. Stand by for listing which I will read out to you on air during the program.

For more Disco action, Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm East African time Sundays. Or Listen live on stream at timesfm.co.tz For International listeners, view World Time Zone Map for current time in your area. To interact with the show send SMS to +255 715 364 045. I'd very much like to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

Download Joett tracks from iTunes, Amazon MP3, TuneCore.
Buy Joett CDs from A Novel Idea Bookstores Dar, Zanzibar, Arusha.
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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Jamiroquai to Open Nu Disco Segment On Boogie

On today’s show: Disco is considered the father of several dance music genres that have emerged since the 1970s, such as House, Latin Freestyle, Hi-NRG, Nu-Disco, Italo Disco, and Eurodisco. On today’s show we kick off with the Knee Deep Re-Edit of Jamiroquai's epic 2002 Nu Disco track "Foolosophy", and bring you a generous helping of some of the most amazing and celebrated Nu Disco tracks appearing on the show for the very first time—we like to keep it fresh here on Boogie—we’ve got your playlist covered especially for you. And in the second segment—at the top of the hour, I hand over the playlist to you—the listener—with Boogie You Select! That’s when you get to request the songs you want me to play. I'll also have the two Michael Jackson albums Off The Wall and Bad on me, again. And from the previous week, a host of other compilation albums comprising an alternative playlist for you to choose from. Whew! Once again, today is going to be hectic. I can feel it!


For more Disco action, Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm East African time Sundays. Or Listen live on stream at timesfm.co.tz For International listeners, view World Time Zone Map for current time in your area. To interact with the show send SMS to +255 715 364 045. I'd very much like to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

Download Joett tracks from iTunes, Amazon MP3, TuneCore.
Buy Joett CDs from A Novel Idea Bookstores Dar, Zanzibar, Arusha.
Nationwide CD distribution via Business Times, Majira and SPOTIstarehe.
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Saturday, May 12, 2012

Singing Tips: Are You Singing On Empty?

If you're struggling to sing, let's say your voice is strained, and you're finding it really difficult to hold a note, the likelihood is that you are singing on empty. When you sing, you shouldn't feel any kind of strain around the throat; you shouldn't be puffing and panting for breath with every note; your throat should be free of strain, your vocals should be clear and smooth and above all, you ought to be enjoying the experience. So how then do you fix this VERY common problem? How do you stop singing on empty? The solution is rather simple.

Simply make sure that you map out a song properly, in that you have a visual understanding or picture of where everything is. The quickest way to find a balance is to have a lyric sheet in front of you as you sing. Make note of ALL the breath-intake spots and USE them. In every well written song there are always the breaks that allow for breathing. How then are you supposed to breathe to sing?

In some cases it takes me 5 to 10 hours to help my students break away from the bad breathing habits that are holding them back. There's only one way to explain this. If you can yawn, you can breathe properly because it is that exact same action of dropping the jaw and sucking in breath that enables you to breathe to sing. It really is that simple. So practice the yawning, while looking in the mirror to see how your mouth opens out wide. Once you've got the hang of it, do the same again, only this time for the purpose of breathing to sing. Drop the jaw, suck that breath into your abdominal area and hit the note. So the next time you're struggling to sing, you could be singing on empty. Learn a new habit! Breathe properly. You'll be glad you did.

I hope that helps.

JOETT
Vocal Coach

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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Michael Jackson Off The Wall Album Joins Boogie You Select Alternative Playlist!

On today’s show: from the 70s we’ve got Rare Pleasure, Boney M, Rose Royce and then straight on to Nu Disco…and then I hand over the playlist to you—the listener—with Boogie You Select. That’s when you get to request the songs you want me to play. And this is how it works. I’ve brought a bunch of disco compilation albums to the studio—with over 200 disco tracks to choose from. A listener last week actually RANG me to ask me to play Off The Wall by Michael Jackson. Today, not only do I have the track for you in the studio—I have the entire Off The Wall album from 1979. And I’m going to go a step farther—I will play you previously unreleased tracks from the new re-released and repackaged Special Edition BAD album, plus an interview with Michael Jackson’s producer Quincy Jones on the show today. So if you want to make a special request from the BAD album from 1987, you are very welcome to do so. SMS your request to 0175 364 045. Refer to last week's alternative playlist for MORE tracks to choose from. Whew! Today is going to be hectic. I can feel it!

Michael Jackson Of The Wall album (1979)
Produced by Quincy Jones and Co-Produced by Michael Jackson               
               
1. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough               
2. Rock With You               
3. Workin' Day And Night               
4. Get On The Floor               
5. Off The Wall               
6. Girlfriend               
7. She's Out Of My Life               
8. I Can't Help It               
9. It's The Falling In Love               
10. Burn This Disco Out               
               
Michael Jackson BAD album (1987)               
               
1. Bad               
2. The Way You make me Feel               
3. Speed Demon               
4. Liberian Girl               
5. Just Good Friends               
6. Another Part Of me               
7. Man In The Mirror               
8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You               
9. Dirty Diana               
10. Smooth Criminal               
11. Leave Me Alone               
12. Streetwalker               
13. Too Mi Amor Eres Tu (I Just Cant Stop Loving You) -- Spanish Version               
14. Fly Away

Please Tune in to Times 100.5 FM at 6pm East African time Sundays. Or Listen live on stream at timesfm.co.tz For International listeners, view World Time Zone Map for current time in your area. To interact with the show send SMS to +255 715 364 045. I'd very much like to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

JOETT
Radio Presenter, Recording Artist & Vocal Coach

Download Joett tracks from iTunes, Amazon MP3, TuneCore.
Buy Joett CDs from A Novel Idea Bookstores Dar, Zanzibar, Arusha.
Nationwide CD distribution via Business Times, Majira and SPOTIstarehe.
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