Jeff Beck & Joss Stone "I Put A Spell On You"

My college pal Ross put out a Facebook request for some contemporary Halloween-like suggestions to build a list.

This was my suggestion.

You can see and hear Ross' list at In Your Speakers.


See them perform it on Youtube.

And if I'm going to post this song, then I have to post this fully bat-shit insane and in-questionable-taste old performance by Screamin' Jay Hawkins.


See the video of questionable taste on Youtube.

Joss Stone “Free Me”

All Time Top Five Songs that shouldn’t make me cry, but do . . .

I’m not going to pretend like I’m profound by telling you that your perspective is likely to change, if you give it enough time. But I’ll give you an example.

First, I wrote about this song a few months ago, when it was new, and I was questioning whether it belonged on mvyradio or not. We DID end up putting it into rotation, and four months later, I feel like it’s a really great addition to our station.

The second perspective change came after I had heard the song enough times to sing along with it, but not so many times that I had yet processed them.

I knew that this song was a message to her record company, who had been pushing her to record more pop hits, while she was more interested in exploring Soul music. It’s your basic “Don’t tell me what to do” song, the kind that lots and lots of folks have written. I’ve heard them before.

But I’M different now.

So when I found myself singing:

Something that you don’t see every day
A little girl who found her way
Through a world that's designed to break
All of your dreams

I saw my daughter in my mind. And I thought about what prejudice she’ll face as she grows, confronts challenges, and tries to make her way in the World. I know there will be people who will try to limit her because she’s a girl. And I’m doing all that I can, as her Dad, to make sure she grows up to be someone who wouldn’t listen to those voices.

Had I heard this song 10 years ago, there would’ve have been no way to experience the paternal pride that swells when I think of her and hear the line:

If I lose you in my jet stream
Then you only got to raise your eyes
And see me fly

What parent doesn’t get a little misty, thinking about their kid soaring?






From time to time on Every Day I Write The Blog, I do a week’s worth of my five favorite songs on theme. For the All Time Top Five rules, see this previous post.

Joss Stone “Free Me”

Should mvyradio be playing this song ? . . .

There has always been a component of Soul on mvyradio. We always try to have one or two new songs that keep us linked to that genre, which, in pure form, links directly to our fondness for Blues.

The problem with Soul, can be that it doesn’t share some of the most important properties that make something an “mvy song.” SOME Soul songs just don’t have that organic, rootsy feel, that we love in our blues, and folk, and americana. Even some great modern Soul tracks can have that overly-slick, overly processed feel---which works for the song, but doesn’t necessarily make the song fit comfortably on the station.

Joss Stone is right on the line, to my ears. Some of her past tracks have had that very authentic, straight back to Otis Redding and Al Green feel. And some songs have been produced for pop radio shininess, and disposability.

To Joss’ credit, this new album was made without the aid or permission of her record company, who had been pushing her in a more pop direction, while she wanted to make more of a classic Soul record.

But did she go far enough? Is it something that mvy should be playing? Or is it too slick for the station?



See Joss on Jimmy Kimmel.

Buy Joss Stone’s ”Colour Me Free” on CD.

See this previous post, for details on how a song gets into rotation on mvyradio, then let me know what you think.

Joss Stone/The White Stripes “Fell In Love With A Boy/Girl”

It’s nice to discover the original, even if you love the remake.

Barbara did an interview this week with the director of a documentary featuring Jack White. And shortly after the interview, I heard Joss Stone’s version of “Fell In Love With A Boy.” It made me go back to the iTunes list, to listen to the original “Fell In Love With A Girl” by The White Stripes.

mvyradio played the Joss Stone version quite a bit, so I’m much more familiar with it, than the original. Even if you’re not a garage rock fan, you can’t deny Jack White’s frenetic charisma. Then going back to the Joss Stone version, it makes you realize what an amazing job Stone, her producers and band, did, reimagining the track, so it could sit alongside Aretha Franklin and Betty Wright covers.

It’s like going back to find the British version of The Office, when you’re already a fan of the American version. You see the seeds of the idea, in there original state, and you can marvel at the way the re-makers made it their own.

Hear Joss Stone “Fell In Love With A Boy”

Hear The White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl"

See the amazing White Stripes video, plus live Joss Stone here