Tom Tom Club Genius of Love

Tom Tom Club Genius of Love was originally planned as a side project from Talking Heads musicians, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, a husband and wife team. It charted high on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Dance Charts. Tom Tom Club Genius of Love was huge in the clubs for both Dance and early Hip Hop clubs as a professional DJ. Tom Tom Club Genius of Love was one of those songs that was just fun to listen and dance. Previous to the release of their self-titled album and song Tom Tom Club Genius of Love, it was not clear to many how much creative input other Talking Heads members had besides David Byrne.

Tom Tom Club Genius of Love Music Video

Tom Tom Club Genius of Love Sampled

Tom Tom Club Genius of Love is one of the most sampled rhythm tracks of the 1980s, particularly within the rap/R&B/hip-hop genre, with dozens of unsolicited remixes and versions, most notablyDr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde‘s “Genius Rap” in 1981; Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five‘s “It’s Nasty” in 1982; Mariah Carey‘s “Fantasy” in 1995, and The X-Ecutioners‘ “Genius of Love 2002” in 2002.

Other artists have incorporated “Genius of Love” into their works, including Public Enemy‘s “Leave This Off Your Fu*kin Charts“, Redman‘s “Brick City Mashin’“, Cam’ron‘s “Me, My Moms & Jimmy“, 2nd II None‘s “Niggaz Trippin’“, Fresh Kid Ice‘s “Roll Call”, 2Pac‘s “High Speed”, Busta Rhymes‘ “One”, Ant Banks‘ “Roll ‘Em Phat”, P.M. Dawn‘s “Gotta Be… Movin’ On Up”, Annie‘s “Chewing Gum“, Menajahtwa‘s “I Ain’t Nasti”, 50 Cent‘s “When I Get Out”, Erick Sermon‘s “Genius E Dub”, Mac Dre‘s “Chop that Ho”, Dream Warriors‘ “And Now the Legacy Begins”, T.I.‘s “Down Like That”, Mark Morrison‘s “Return of the Mack“, Ice Cube‘s “Bop Gun (One Nation)“, and Warren G‘s “What’s Love Got to Do with It“.

The song’s musical bridge, which contains a repeated chant of “Bohannon”, was one of several theme songs used for many years by a syndicated US talk radio program hosted by Jim Bohannon. However, the chant was intended for record producer and disco pioneer Hamilton Bohannon.

Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ with Tom Tom Club Genius of Love

Tom Tom Club Genius of Love is a great tune to turn-up and move!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love

Beyonce’s debut single as a solo artist, Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love, co-written by Beyonce, Richard Harrison and Jay-Z. The beats and horns are sampled from The Chilites Are You My Woman. After a successful career with Destiny’s Child Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love was the beginning of her solo recording career and hit the mark from the first beat.

 

Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love is a song that I get professional DJ requests almost regardless of genre of the rest of the music being played and works with all of them!

Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love Rhode Island DJ

An interesting fact about Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love is that Jay-Z was called in last minute at 3:00a.m. to add his rap which he did without a pad or pencil in ten minutes! I guess they had the magic together and it just worked. Of course, they were married years later.

Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love Music Video

Beyonce and Jay-Z Crazy In Love Success

Columbia Records released “Crazy in Love” on May 20, 2003, as the album’s lead single. The song was lauded by critics, who praised the horn sample, the guest appearance of Jay-Z, and the assertiveness with which Knowles sings the lyrics. “Crazy in Love” ranks 118th on Rolling Stone‘s 2010 list of the 500 greatest songs of all timeVH1 placed the song at number one on its 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s list. At the 46th Grammy Awards, it won Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. “Crazy in Love” was Knowles’ first number one single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking on the BillboardHot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. It also topped UK Singles Chart, and reached the top ten on the singles charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden as well as Switzerland and achieved multi-platinum certifications in most of these countries. “Crazy in Love” had sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time worldwide.” Wikipedia

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Snap The Power

After the snow storm this past weekend, I had been without ‘the power’, electricity, till Tuesday night. It feels good to have The Power again. As soon as the lights came back on, like any good professional DJ I thought of this song Snap The Power…

Snap The Power MUSIC VIDEO

Snap The Power The Scene from God Almighty

Snap The Power Story

“Snap The Power is an electronic pop hit song by the German music group Snap! from their album World Power. It was released in January 1990 and reached number-one in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, as well as the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Rap charts. It is particularly known for its hook “I’ve got the power!”.

Fun Rhode Island Sweet Sixteen Party DJ with Snap The Power

The song opens with the somewhat enigmatic line in Russian: “Американская фирма Transceptor Technology приступила к производству компьютеров «Персональный спутник»” (meaning “The American company Transceptor Technology has started production of the ‘Personal Companion’ computer”). “Personal Companion” was a computer-like device for the blind and visually impaired. Released in 1990, it was controlled by voice and could, among other functions, automatically download articles fromUSA Today by a built-in modem. It was made by Transceptor Technologies of Ann Arbor, Michigan.” Wikipedia

On July 5, 2011, a 39-story shopping mall called the “Techno-Mart” in Gwangjin-guSeoul, shook violently for 10 minutes and was evacuated for two days. After study, it was determined that about 20 people performing Tae Bo exercises to “The Power” caused the building to vibrate by creating a mechanical resonance. The tentative conclusion was the consensus among the six professors from an architectural institute and vibration measurement experts who participated in a recreation of the event. The Architectural Institute of Korea was scheduled to release the final results of the safety inspection later in 2011. This occurred after I left Korea. I think this is very interesting.

What do you think  happened?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Janet Jackson If

This past Saturday night I felt inspired to put together a Janet Jackson medley while mixing at a professional DJ gig that began with Janet Jackson If. I am surprised she is not played more these days. Her music is so well designed for dancing and creative movement. Her vocals are soft and somehow forceful and sensual simultaneously.

Dancing at Rhode Island Wedding with Rhode Island Wedding DJ Janet Jackson If

Janet Jackson is the first and only artist in history to produce seven top five hits from one album, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. In addition to receiving recognition for the innovation in her records, choreography, music videos, and prominence on radio airplay and MTV, she was acknowledged as a role model for her socially conscious lyrics.

 Janet Jackson If Music Video

I remember driving kids in the van we used to pick them up from school to the program I was coordinating at the time. They played Janet Jackson If again and again, and the girls would practice all her dance steps every day while we were getting ready to begin. I got to know every beat of Janet Jackson If without ever choosing to play it or listen to it:) As a long-time fan of Diana Ross and The Supremes and a professional DJ, it inspired me to hear her sample beats from them along with the powerful guitar chords that introduces the Janet Jackson If.

Janet Jackson If Story

“Janet Jackson If deals with a female narrator’s fantasies of being someone’s girlfriend. The track contains a sample from Diana Ross & the Supremes‘ 1969 song “Someday We’ll Be Together“, and is built on a heavy metal guitar riff heard throughout the song. The combination of heavy hip hop/new jack swing beats with an electric guitar and a trip hop sound was a relative departure in sound for Jackson, and an extension of styles she developed on her previous album, Rhythm Nation 1814. A remix of “If” entitled Brothers in Rhythm House Mix appears on Jackson’s 1995 remix album janet. Remixed. The single contains a B-side called “One More Chance”, a cover of a song her brother Randy wrote, produced, and performed for The Jacksons‘ 1984 Victory album.” wikipedia

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Pink Raise Your Glass

I realize that I am posting the video Pink Raise Your Glass, very late. It occurred to me as a professional DJ, that this is becoming a Rock Classic. Almost every party or wedding that I perform at as a Rhode Island Wedding DJ these days includes this song. It has even made it to 40th and 50th Birthday parties!

 

Pink Raise Your Glass is a great party song with some nice sarcasm mixed-in to the typical Pink high energy rhythms.  It is starting to become rare for Rock songs of the current era to stand the test of time as the Classics of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s did. There are several reasons for this, one being the rise in popularity of Hip Hop, R&B and Country. Pink seems to be one of the artists that may be able to rise above and sustain popularity and her roots for an extended period, partially due to the fact that she appeals to teens, twenties and adults simultaneously. I hope she continues to produce edgy music like Pink Raise Your Glass, that also reaches widespread audiences.

Pink Raise Your Glass Rhode Island Rock Wedding DJ

According to Billboard, Pink was rated No.13 on the list of Artists of the Decade and No.1 Pop Song Artist of the Decade (2000–2009.  Pink has named Madonna and Janis Joplin as two of her biggest musical influences. She stated that “I wanted to do it my way with my career, and I had this arrogant notion that people weren’t just interested in my music but me as a person. That was my bit of arrogance, I guess. That’s something I learned from Madonna. I was a fan right from the first time I heard ‘Holiday'” Of Joplin she expressed: “She was so inspiring by singing blues music when it wasn’t culturally acceptable for white women, and she wore her heart on her sleeve. She was so witty and charming and intelligent, but she also battled an ugly-duckling syndrome. I would love to play her in a movie.”

Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979), known by her stage name Pink (stylized as P!nk), is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress. In 2000, she released her first single “There You Go“, from her debut album Can’t Take Me Home. The song was a commercial success, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Having sold over 40 million albums and 70 million singles globally, being a critically acclaimed performer, Pink is often seen as the “underdog” in popular music, for not receiving as mainstream attention as her female pop stars peers. Her career accolades include three Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards and five MTV Video Music Awards, in addition to having eighteen Top 20 Hits on the Billboard charts and three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2009 Billboard magazine named Pink the #1 pop musician of the decade, and in 2012 VH1 named Pink #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music

British soul singer Adele considers Pink’s performance at Brixton Academy in London as one of “the most defining moments” in her life.

Pink Raise Your Glass Music Video

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Daft Punk One More Time

Daft Punk One More Time. Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (born February 8, 1974) and Thomas Bangalter (born January 3, 1975). Daft Punk One More Time reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of House with SynthPop that any professional DJ welcomes and embraces.

Fun Wedding DJ Dancing Daft Punk One More Time

Early in the group’s career, the band members were strongly influenced by groups such as The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones.  Daft Punk is noted for its elaborate live shows, in which visual elements and effects are incorporated with the music. The group is also known for its emphasis on visual and story components associated with their musical productions, as well as for wearing ornate robot costumes in public and while performing.

 

The 2001 release Discovery took on a slicker and distinctly synthpop-oriented style, initially stunning fans of Daft Punk’s previous material in Homework. The group states that the album was conceived as an attempt to reconnect with a playful, open-minded attitude associated with the discovery phase of childhood. This accounts for the heavy use of themes and samples from the late ’70s to early ’80s era on the album. It reached #2 in the United Kingdom, and its single Daft Punk One More Time was a major club and mainstream hit, which nearly topped the UK Singles Chart. The song is well known for being heavily auto-tuned and compressed. The song and album created a new generation of fans mainly familiar with the second Daft Punk release

 Daft Punk One More Time Music Video

From a professional DJ’s perspective, Daft Punk One More Time is a great song to segue from one genre to another, whether it be from House to Pop/Dance/R&B or the reverse. Daft Punk One More Time will work if mixed properly with almost all music.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Multicultural Wedding DJ for Indian-French Canadian Wedding

Tomorrow I get the opportunity as Multicultural Wedding DJ for an Indian Bride and a French Canadian Groom. This will be the first time I am Multicultural Wedding DJ for this specific Bride and and Groom pairing. As a Rhode Island Multicultural Wedding DJ, I often to get create extraordinary Weddings for all kinds of Brides and Grooms. I relish the chance to participate in such an important event. We have had fun collaborating on creating their playlist and amazing Wedding night together. They live in Montreal, Canada and the wedding is being held at The Mirage in Edison, New Jersey. Edison, New Jersey has a very vibrant community of Indian-Americans and probably the best and most authentic Indian cuisine in New Jersey.

Indian Women Dancing with Multicultural Wedding DJ Mystical Michael

The Mirage is beautiful and excellent venue to hold a Wedding or Party if you want authentic Indian Cuisine and atmosphere.

From The Mirage website:

“A grand porch, long enough to park the longest limo, welcomes you gracefully.  Onyx and granite waterfalls great your guests and amber crystals light the way. It is no illusion. This is the elegant and beautiful MIRAGE.”

 Rhode Island Multicultural Wedding DJ

One of the fun and interesting aspects of preparing for this wedding as the Multicultural Wedding DJ, has been the new music that I have been turned-on to by the Bride and Groom. They have very diverse and eclectic taste in music like I do. The Bride and Groom have selected many french songs from Canada, France, Mali and other French-speaking regions of Africa. The Wedding Ceremony will be a traditional Hindi Wedding. The Cocktail Hour will be predominantly Jazz Vocalists like Nat King Cole, Edith Piaf, Louis Armstrong and Astrud Gilberto, among others. The Reception will feature music from India, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and of course, The United States.

 

Should be a fun night as a Rhode Island Multicultural Wedding DJ!

Women Dancing with Rhode Island Multicultural Wedding DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston

Recently I had a young couple ask me if I would play Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston and I had to think for a minute to recall what song they were talking about. I had a vague memory in my head and listened to Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston later to verify what they were talking about. Immediately I was all pumped up when my mind kicked into gear and saw the scene from the film The Departed and Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston was so forceful and stayed in my head weeks later. What a way to bring out your friends and family! It is not for everybody but for a couple with a bit of an edge and willingness to take a risk, Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston is totally a fun way to come out and join the rest of the Wedding Reception. I can’t wait till I get to play it for them in a couple of weeks. Of course now I can’t get the song out of my head again. This is the original version which is a bit harder than the movie version.

Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston Original Music Video

A fun aspect for me as a professional Wedding DJ in the process of planning the wedding with a Bride and Groom is picking their The Bridal Party Introduction Songs or First Dance songs.  Although many choose the more expected route of Beyonce, Usher and other popular hits and classics, there are many who choose to go a much different direction. Recently this list has included some interesting covers of pop hits like the The Muse version of Can’t Take My Eyes Off  You or The Flaming Lips Borderline. They made great First Dances with the mixing of slower and faster, hard tempo and energy. But Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston as a Bridal Party Introduction Song?

Fun Bridal Party Introduction Song Dropkick Murphys I'm Shipping Up To Boston

Dropkick Murphys I’m Shipping Up To Boston The Departed Version Movie Trailer

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding

The Bride’s Uncle approached me while I was setting-up my BOSE L1 Audio System up an hour before his niece’s Wedding.  He was one of three Uncles that helped raise her after her father died as a young child. Each man represented a different aspect of her life and she wanted to have a “Father’Daughter Dance” with each one. Together we selected songs that would accurately fit the meaning they had for her.  She was ecstatic with the songs and knew they were perfect. Uncle Jon and I were talking and he asked me if I had a CD player in my system for something for The Bridal Party. I do and I asked why he wanted to know?

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with Rhode Island  Wedding DJ

“Well, me and the Bridal Party got together and rehearsed a Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance that is a surprise to Nikki and Jon. It is based on “Gangnam Style” but we did a voice over of their names and call it “Jon and Nikki Style”. It is really fun and The Bridal Party and I  put a lot of work into. If you can’t do it on CD, I have also put the file on a USB stick drive too.”

 

“Wow! That sounds like so much fun! We can do it either way but CD would be better. This is such a sweet thing for all of you to do and she will love it”

 

We proceeded to download the song and discuss the specifics including when and how we would pull it off without her knowing with the whole Bridal Party present later tonight night after dinner. When we both felt like our plan was set, we returned to our respective tasks to prepare for the Wedding Cocktail Hour and Reception.

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with Rhode Island  Wedding DJ

At around 8:30, we connected again to make sure everything was ready and he had communicated with all the Bridal Party and they were all present and prepared. We went over the visual cue I would give him so he can then offer the Bridal Party another cue. We both walked away from our conversation with big, silly grins on our faces.

 The Bridal Party Is Ready!

I could barely contain my excitement as I gave him the nod of my head and eye contact and cued the song. I pressed play and all twelve members of the Bridal Party came from all different directions meeting on the dance floor and to do their choreographed dance. It was fantastic and I had to hold back the tears of laughter and joy. What a beautiful gift to the Bride and Groom! Everybody had so much fun and the smiles and laughs filled the room. Jon and Nikki were the happiest. She came up to me with tears in her eyes  and a big hug and asked how I put this together with The Bridal Party. I explained that her Uncle was the man, not me. She didn’t believe me.

Bridal Party Flash Mob Dance at Wedding surprising Bride and Groom with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

The Celtic, Reggae, Rockin’ Wedding DJ

It is not every day that a Wedding DJ gets to play Celtic, Reggae and Classic Rock at a wedding. In fact, I do not think I have ever had the opportunity before this weekend, to blend these genres in one fun wedding. The wedding was a young couple form Florida at The Bethwood in Totowa, NJ. The Bethwood has an excellent staff and the food is delicious. As with all weddings, it was the people and the Wedding DJ music that made the event special.

 

The couple and I worked together to form an excellent playlist to meet the needs of their eclectic tastes and to make sure their parents and family would have fun too. I think we did a decent job based on the comments and smiles. The Bridal Party Introduction Song they chose was from the Dropkick Murphys “I’m Shippin’ To Boston”. You may know this song from the film The Departed. They picked Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” as their First Dance Song. That set the tone for the afternoon and we never turned back.

 

It was fun mixing between Reggae, Rock and Celtic Music with some popular dance tunes along the way. What we didn’t expect as a pleasant surprise was the requests to dance to some Oldies like Ritchie Valens, Frankie Valli and a young woman even wanted to hear Jay Black & The Americans! I can’t remember the last time I had a request for “This Magic Moment” from someone under fifty before, no less a twenty-something-year-old. That was the kind of celebration this day was- anything and everything was welcome and worked with the Wedding DJ.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ