Busta's Blog

    I found this on the web and thought it was interesting.  A list of the 20 worst songs.  The funny thing about it is, I like alot of the songs on the list.

20.      "The Final Countdown"                          Europe                                1986

19.     "What's Up"                                               4 Non Blondes                  1993

18.    "Get Jiggy With it"                                       Will Smith                          1998

17.  "Achy Breaky Heart"                                   Billy Ray Cyrus                    1992

16.  "Thong Song "                                             Sisqo                                   2000

15.    "Hollaback "Girl                                        Gwen Stefani                      2005

14.   "Rico Suave"                                               Geraldo                               1991

13.    "Convoy "                                           CW McCall                          1975

12.   "With Arms Wide Open"                         Creed                                   2000

11.  " Wannabe"                                               Spice Girls                          1996

10   "My Heart Will Go On"                             Celine Dion                        1997

9.   "Macarena"                                    Los Del  Rio                      1995

8.   "Ebony & Ivory "                          Stevie Wonder & Paul Mc Cartney      1982   

7. " I'm Too Sexy"                                              Right Said Fred                  1991

6.  " I Am Woman"                                           Helen Reddy                         1972

5.   "U Can't Touch This"                                MC Hammer                         1990

4.   "Barbie Girl"                                                Aqua                                       1997

3.   "She Bangs"                                                Ricky Martin                          2000

2.  "Ice Ice Baby"                                              Vanilla Ice                               1990

1.    " Who Let The Dogs Out"                        Baha Men                               2000

    Some of you die hard Idol fans may remember Jon Peter Lewis from the third season of American Idol.   He ended up in the top 12 that year, and in my opinion is a lot better than Fantasia Barriono.

   He has a new cd out called "Break The Silence", and it is really, really good.  I suggest that you give it a listen.  I like the whole thing all the way through, and it has been a long time since I have been able to say that about any cd.

   The single is also called "Break the Silence".  It is getting a lot of radio play throughout the nation.  You can request it to be played at your favorite local radio station. 

    I am really impressed with this cd, it has a varitey of songs with catchy lyrics and upbeat tempos.  If you want to listen to something that is worth your time and money, listen to Jon Peter Lewis's "Break The Silence".  You will be gald you did!

       Here we go again with the SXSW music festival.  WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!  You have hundreds of bands that you have never heard of and will never hear of them again unless they play next year at SXSW or at the Austin City Limits Festival.   I find it amusing that they have so many bands from Austin Tx.  Well, I have lived in Austin for 7 years and know only a hand full of these bands that claim the Capital as their home. So what's up with that. 

     The scheduling is just as bad.  98 percent of these shows are all at the same time.  So if you wanted to go out and enjoy some music you could only hit one and maybe two venues a night if they are close and not too crowded.  Why can't they schedule more day shows?  It makes no sense not to do that.  With everyone coming in from out of town and so many that take that week off for the festival, you would think it would be more acommodating.

      I understand that this festival was setup to showcase new and upcoming bands, but if you want to get people to see these new and upcoming bands, give them carrot.  Give the music lovers some reason to come out.   Have 3 or 4 new bands and a headliner that is well known.  You will have a better draw.  What's going to happen is that you will have tons of people go to one venue, and hardly any go to others.

      This festival stinks!!!!!!!  The selling these wrist bands are laughing all the way to the bank and they fans get snowed once again.  Every year it gets bigger and bigger, when they should tone it down.  It should be designed so the customers can get the most out of the festival and not just a little taste of this and that.   Anyone at SXSW hear of LESS IS MORE????????????

On January 3oth 1969, The Beatles played their last live performance on the rooftop of the Apple Recording Studios in London.  Their performance was filmed and was later was featured in the film "Let It Be."  During the performance, the police were called due to complaints of the noise and were asked to stop playing.  Later the band admitted that it would of been nice to have been arrested, saying that it would have made "an appropiate ending" for the film.

       I can't make this up.  After 14 years of doing other things, The New Kids On The Block are coming back.  I know Donny, Joey, Jordan, Jonathan and Danny made millions upon millions.  They sold over 50 million albums, sold out hundreds of shows, and there faces were on everything.  They might have been "Hangin Tough" in the late 80's and early 90's, but I can't imagine them hangin around for much longer.  Why are they doing this to us?

     Rumor has it that there are talks of Paula Abdul performing at the Super Bowl in February.  It is also said that she is working on a duet with Randy Jackson. This doesn’t surprise me, her popularity has never been bigger. In the late 80's and early 90's she had six number one hits. We’ll get to see if she still has what it takes to be a performer.

Del Reeves                         74        Jan 1        Grand Ole Opry Singer      Emphysema

"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow     72        Jan 6         Flying Burrito Brother         Alzheimers

Alice Coltrane                     69        Jan 12       Jazz Pianist                          Respiratory Failure

Michael Brecker                 57        Jan 13       Jazz  Saxophonist               Leukemia

Denny Doherty                   66        Jan 19       The Mamas and the Papas

Gian Carlo Menotti            95        Feb 1         Composer

Joe Hunter                          79        Feb 2         Pianists For The Funk Brothers

Billy Henderson                 67        Feb 2        The Spinners          Complications of Diabetes

Frankie Laine                     93        Feb  6        Singer

Brad Delp                            55       Mar 9          Lead Singer of Boston    Suicide

Luther Ingram                     69       Mar 20       Singer                                     Heart Failure

Walter Turnball                   62       Mar 23        Founded Harlems Boys Choir      Stroke

Don BLEEP                                 76      Apr 14         Singer "Tiny Bubbles"                 

Bobby "Boris" Pickett         69       Apr 25         Singer  " The Monster Mash"        Leukemia

Zola Taylor                          69       Apr 30         The Platters    Complications of Pneumonia

Alvin Batiste                        74       May 6           Toured with Ray Charles

Tony Thompson                31       June 1          Singer For Hi Five              Drug Overdose

Hank Medess                    68       June 18         Singer                                    Lung Cancer

Beverly Sills                       78       July 2            Opera Singer                         Lung Cancer

Boots Randolph               80        Jul  3             Sax aphonist              Cerebral Hemorrhage

Bill  Pikney                         81        Jul 4              The Drifters

Jerry Hadley                      55        Jul 18             Singer                                    Suicide

Lee Hazelwood                78        Aug 4             Singer                                    Kidney Cancer

Anthony Wilson                57        Aug 10           Music Producer                     Heart Attack

Max Roach                        83        Aug 15           Bebop Percussionist

Jon Lucien                        65        Aug 18          Jazz Singer           Respiratory Complications

Hilly Kristal                        75        Aug 28          Owner of CBGB                  Lung Cancer

Luciano Pavorotti             71        Sept 6           Opera Singer                     Pancreatic Cancer

Joe Zawinul                                   Sept 11         Jazz Muscian                      Cancer

Aldemaro Romero          79         Sept 17         Composer                           Digestive Disease

Teresa Brewer                76           Oct 17          Singer                    Neuromuscular Disease

Lucky Dube                      43          Oct 18          Reggae Singer        Killed in a Carjacking

Porter Wagoner               80          Oct 28          Grand Old Opry Singer           Lung Cancer

Robert Goulet                  73          Oct 30          Singer/Actor              Died Waiting for a Lung

Hank Thompson            82           Nov 6           Western Swing Singer            Lung Cancer

Casey Calvert                 25           Nov 23         The Hathorne Hieghts     Died In Sleep

Kevin Dubrow                 52           Nov 25          Lead Vocals of Quiet Riot       Died  at Home

Pimp C                             33          Dec 4            Rapper                            Found Dead in Hotel

Ike Turner                                       Dec 12         Rock and R&B Singer

Dan Fogelberg               56          Dec 22         Singer-Songwriter                     Cancer

Oscar Peterson              82         Dec 23          Pianist                                           Kidney Failure

     If you are in the mood for an entertaining night of music, take the time to listen to the Burgandy Brothers.  They are very talented and play great music.  They are very energentic and a lot of fun.  They play all over Austin, but I have caught them a time or two out in the Volente Beach area.  Their lead singer, Roland Perez also plays solo gigs.  He loves rock and roll and Johnny Cash.   You may hear a few Cash songs during his show but he also has a slew of original songs that illustrate his musical talents.  As you know Austin is a great place for live music, and it's even better because of Roland Perez and The Burgandy Brothers.

    Hank Medress, who sang vocals with the group the Tokens who are famous for their hit single "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"  died of lung cancer on June 18th. He was 68.


   The band had other minor Top 40 hits,  "I Hear the Trumpets Blow" in 1966 and "Portrait of My Love" in 1967 - but they were never as popular as"The Lion Sleeps Tonight".   Medress worked with the Chiffons and helped in the studio on the 60's classic  singles "He's So Fine" and "One Fine Day."

    In the 70's when the Tokens broke up,  Medress persuaded then record executive, Tony Orlando to sing the vocals for "Knock Three Times". Which palced the song into music history.

     In the 80s, Medress teamed up with former New York Dolls lead singer David Johansen to re-create himself as Buster Poindexter, producing his debut album and the hit single "Hot, Hot, Hot."

    In his later years he worked as a consultant to Sound Exchange, a nonprofit group helping musicians collect royalties.

    If you like the Cranberries as much as I do,  it would be worth it to you to go and purchase Dolores O'Riordan's new cd - Are You Listening?  I myself have been waiting for it since I knew she was working on it.  

      After listening to it for almost a week, I can honestly say it is a good effort by Dolores.   All the songs are written by her and I can see where she took some risks and tried something different.   If you are familar with the Cranberries, you will hear that traditional Cranberrie sound.  

      I am glad to see that she put out the new cd and I am very happy with its overall production.  With the band or on her solo effort,  Dolores O'Riordan will have a place in music for as long as she stays active.   Her beautiful voice and pleasant melodies are comforting and uplifting. 

    If you are interested in trying new music,  give Dolores O'Riodan's - Are You Listening?  a chance.

     I stopped in for coffee at "It's a Grind" on Parmer Lane west of Mopac tonight and had the wonderful pleasure to hear and discover Austin's Charlie Grand.  I had no idea what to expect, but I am glad I was in the mood for coffee this evening.   His entire set was excellent and I could not keep from tapping my foot and get into the songs he was singing. 

     Charlie played several originals with a strong sound of folk rock backed by his talented gutiar palying.  His voice compliments his style of music and his heart comes through in every song.  He also played some covers from bands like Nirvana and The Old 97's who are his influences along with other bands such as Bright Eyes, Crawling with Kings, The Doors, Eugenius, Foo Fighters, Friends of Lizzy, Meat Puppets, The Pixies, Rhett Miller, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Toadies, The Vaselines and Weezer. 

      With so many artist in Austin sometimes I have troubles finding music that I really like.  Some of the best acts I have come across are the ones I have just stumbled across like Charlie Grand.   It is very easy to get lost in his songs and listen to the stories that he is singing.  Charlie really loves what he is doing and it comes through in his performence.  If you like acoustic guitar and singer songwriters, you will love Charlie Grand.  If you have the opportunity to hear his act, I think you will really enjoy it.  I can't wait to hear him again!

    Country singer Buck Jones was killed when he was hit by a car this past weekend.  He was walking along Interstate 30 near Royse City Tx.  He was on his way to a gig in Dublin when his vehicle blew a tire.  The driver who hit him is being held and charged with intoxicated manslaughter.

Jones released a country album in 2005, called Lucky Star.