Songs That Touch My Soul, Nine
Published May 15, 2008
“Baby, Baby, Baby” - TLC
It's an oldie but a goodie. From TLC's début album Ooooooohhh.... On the TLC Tip , it was the second single released and their first number one single. TLC were all about empowering women, and I like that. “Baby, Baby, Baby” is a prime example of their never-sell-yourself-short attitude. They were hot and they knew it. Their message in this song hits home with me, as it should with every woman: “Well you wanna be loved/ Hey that's O.K./ Cause it falls in line right with my sexuality/ But you gotta be down/ A nickel gotta be true/ Cause otherwise this "B" ain't got no time for you... Well you want my heart/ And all my time/ Well it won't be there if you can't deal with my mind/ Cause a girl like me/ Won't stand for less...” I think that's a message most women would do well to learn, love, and live.
“Fever” - Kylie Minogue
I know pop music has a bad rep, but I really enjoy some pop music. I love Kylie Minogue's music. Kylie's brand of pop reflects her personality; it's fun, upbeat, happy, and can put a smile on your face in nearly any circumstance. Kylie has a unique way of being herself; she never pretends to be more or less than she is and she is never apologetic for her music or her style, and for that I really admire this pint-sized pop princess. The song “Fever” really represents the entire album and with summer just around the corner I have happy, bright, sunny pop music on the brain and Fever fits that bill completely.
Full of bouncy, happy disco-pop songs including that worldwide smash hit “Can't Get You Out of My Head”, Fever is the perfect summer album. With nearly every song a hit, it was considered Kylie's come back album after her departure from the Stock, Aitken and Waterman stable (famous producers of artists including Rick Astley, Bananarama, Samantha Fox, and Dead or Alive, among many), and a long hiatus from the spotlight after a disastrous few albums following the split. Fever was by far her most successful album, filled as it is with gorgeous electro-pop dance music. And it touches my soul, and my hips, and my tummy, and my toes, and my butt, and my smile...
I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. I am the managing editor for AllThingsGirl.com, assistant music editor at Blogcritics.org, staff writer for a gay men's magazine based in Edinburgh, and a freelance writer.
- Songs That Touch My Soul, Nine
- Published: May 15, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Acoustic, Music: Dance, Music: Lists, Music: Pop
- Part of a feature: Songs That Touch My Soul
- Writer: A.L. Harper
- A.L. Harper's BC Writer page
- A.L. Harper's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
My favourite songs always change with my mood and current emotional state, but I still, after more than 100 listens, adore One Cell in the Sea.
I'm that same way with most albums where my favorite song changes from time to time depending on the mood. One Cell in the Sea is a great album.
Oh, and Kylie Minogue is icky.
She's a low rent Madonna with a better accent (and I think Madonna is atrocious, too).
Which only serves to prove that you know nothing at all about Kylie.
There are many good reasons to hate Kylie but on the other hand she is way more interesting and talented than many of those dreary old rock bands. Yes, you know who! And Madonna is way better than Kylie.
There are no good reasons to hate Kylie Minogue. Period.
I agree there's no good reason to hate Kylie.
In a world, where pop stars are trying to bare their shallow souls with hallow music, it's refreshing that Kylie simply makes pop music. She's not trying to "save the world" or reinvent the wheel. She's simply having fun and shaking her tiny booty. And somehow that seems more genuine.
You've obviously never heard her Stock, Aitken and Waterman stuff or seen "Neighbours"...
I agree with Sean Paul. Her past is a good example. She has never shied away from the fact that she was Charlene, or from her ST&W years. Never tried to hide her shame. She has also never tried to be anything other than a fun disco-pop star. She would never claim to be a performance artist, or save the world by exposing her breasts to the world. She is just a pop star. I like that about her.
That's not my point though, I have heard and seen that stuff and it was total dreck. She may be great now some of the time but the claim was that there is no reason to hate her.
Furthermore, you both seem to be trying to suggest that her music is somehow less of a construct than other kinds of music, which is also total bunkum. There is no such thing as "just a pop star" and some of her more recent work has actually been pretty arty.
Come on, admit it, you are both wearing Kylie coloured glasses!
Well I admit that I do like to stare at her perfect ass... but beyond that I will not admit too.
Did you really use the word bunkum? Seriously Rose, how old are you? I thought you were about 40-ish, but bunkum places you at about 90.
As I've mentioned before, A.L., I just have an enormous... vocabulary. My mental age tends to vary in the same way as your favourite songs, with a range somewhere between 5 and 500, whilst my flesh remains forever teenage. How about you?
I thought "bunkum" would appeal to your Bronte reading American soul, but we could go with the more contemporary bullshit if you prefer. Either one describes quite accurately the fetid gushing about Kylie displayed above. Mwuah!
....and his vocabulary is exceeded only by his modesty.
-Glen
As opposed to having one's vocabulary exceeded by one's ego, eh, Glen.
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"Near to You" isn't my favorite song off the AFF disc, but it's a good song and I really do like that album an awful lot.