Archive for December, 2010

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Gramophonedzie


31 Dec

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If you can say Gramophonedzie, then I assume you were also one of those know-it-all kids who could also say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious three times fast.  So just say it slow and sound it out. Gram-O-phon-ed-zee.  And yes, I have no idea what it means.

I do know that Gramophonedzie is Belgrade native and DJ Marko Milicevic.  I stumbled upon his hit “Why Don’t You” last night as I was perusing one of my favorite French dance/house channels on youtube.  Most of the vids are quite scandalous but this one was funny and weird at the same time and I watched it about three times. A sure sign it needed to be on this blog.  LOL to the guy’s dance moves at the beginning. I like it.

Enjoy “Why Don’t You” on your New Music Friday.

Someone Had A Good Christmas


30 Dec

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Christmas Eve when we opened presents, I was particularly excited to see my dad open a “little something” I had picked up for him. As he slowly tore back the metallic blue paper, his eyes lit up like I imagine they did back in ’39 when he got an apple or an orange for Christmas and thought it was better than gold.  In his hand was Shakira’s Oral Fixation Tour 90-minute concert on DVD.

As I have mentioned before, my father may be Shakira’s #1 US fan- definitely her #1 fan in South Dakota and #1 fan over 65.  My sister and I get quarterly updates on Shakira’s television talk show performances, new albums and of course the details of her charity work.  “What a genuine human being,” I believe I can accurately quote him as saying.

So since this week is all out of whack and I am posting whatever, wherever on this blog- here is Shakira with “Whenever, Wherever.”

This Guy Dated Catherine Zeta-Jones


29 Dec

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I get in weird moods where I only want to listen to Sade or Simply Red.  This is one of those weeks….as I posted Sade’s “Smooth Operator” on Monday.  Today it’s Simply Red.

I actually wanted to post Simply Red’s “Sunrise” but it’s full of more women dancing in bikinis than a Snoop video so I’m going to skip that one and instead post another fav, “It’s Only Love” with this disclaimer: lead singer Mick Hucknall is creepy, even for me.  That said, I find it amazing that this guy used to, um… we’ll call it “date” 3 women a day- over 1,000 in all whom he publicly apologized to recently.

Mick Hucknall and Catherine Zeta-Jones Circa '98

His dating spree included Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones, model Helena Christensen and tennis pro Steffi Graf.  After you watch the video and see his dance moves, you will wonder how he ever got any women to look at him twice.  Maybe they just loved the music.

Simply Red: “It’s Only Love”

Teena Marie Was For The Real


28 Dec

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Somewhere in my travels between Brookings and  Grand Forks last night news broke to me that Teena Marie died.  She was only 54.

Teena Marie had a sound that I loved.  She was raised on Motown music and later became a protege of Rick James.  This white girl was all soul and pure funk.  Check out one of my favs, “Lovergirl” of Teena’s below.  RIP girl.

Smooth Operator


27 Dec

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My Brent Paschke blog trilogy kind of exhausted me so for a few days I’m going to just “coast” and post some short favorites.

Sade’s “Smooth Operator” is one of my all time favs and the extended version of the video is something you don’t see often but you will today.  I think this could possibly be the most-listened to song of mine EVER but I would have to defer to my ipod (of which I got a new 16g nano touch for Christmas. Yes!)  and actually tally the play counts head-to-head against Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight.”  It’s a close call.  Enjoy the mistress of seduction…Sade.

PS if you are ever trying out a sound system in a new vehicle play this song.  You will be blown away if the system is good.

How About Some Ear Candy


25 Dec

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Favorite Spymob track?  “2040.”

Favorite N*E*R*D track?  “The Way She Dances” off of Fly or Die.

Why spotlight Spymob and N*E*R*D?  You have found yourself on the tail-end of a blogging bonanza on Grand Forks native Brent Paschke.  Paschke was a founding member of Minneapolis band Spymob which led him then to be discovered by Pharrell Williams and hired as the backing band for N*E*R*D.  And that led him to gigs with the Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Taylor Dayne, Justin Timberlake, and the list goes on and on.

L to R: Brent Paschke, Pharrell, Justin Timberlake On Stage

This week I have been highlighting some of my Q&A with Paschke about his successes and how he got to where he is.  Here is the last of Jukebox Hero’s interview.

JH: You also did backing on NERD’s third album and the album that is out right now.  Explain the development of your connection with NERD, and what you contribute to the group for someone who may not know your involvement with the band.

BP: I’d say I’m the guitar player that Pharrell uses 95% of the time he has someone play guitars. I’ve worked with Pharrell now for close to 10 years so I have a great understanding and connection to what he’s thinking artistically. We also share a lot of passion for the same types of music. Pharrell had Eric (Spymob drummer) and I play on most of the 3rd NERD record. I believe that was because we just have a sound and that sound has something to do with the sound of the 1st record. Musicians often forget about rhythm playing and groove. This is something Eric and I most often think about. When I play a riff that Pharrell or Chad played on the keyboard I can 99% of the time get it to feel just like they did. That comes from years of being on the road and recording with P and Chad and also being influenced by the same things.

JH: Your dad often talks about how you toured with the Black Eyed Peas.   When/what was that like, and what other groups have you been able to tour with or record with?

BP: Was really fun touring with the Peas. At that time they weren’t the world dominating BEP’s that we know now. They were more in the coming up stages. They are all great people and very hard working. They deserve what they got.

We toured and opened for a lot of people. David Bowie in the south of France was a really cool show. We’d also often have guest rappers up on stage. Busta, Diddy, Clipse, Famlay, Jay Z… And Justin Timberlake was at one point sitting in all night on shows. Was very cool. He’s sick talented.

Brent, N*E*R*D, and Justin Timberlake jam on “Frontin’” in London:
JH: Tell us a little about the new NERD album, Nothing which was just released.

BP: I know Pharrell and Chad worked a lot on that record. I probably recorded about 60 songs for that record. In the end Pharrell got inspired by starting to work on a new recording/writing platform and he wrote a bunch of new songs. The new ones are the ones that made the record.

JH: You have worked with a lot of celebrities.  Can you name a few…..and what is that like?

BP: • One of the most recent is Ray Jay. We’ll be on his show this coming season.

• Did a few songs with Girlicious. One of them (Maniac) was a single in Canada. One of the others (Drank) made it onto the Jersey Shore soundtrack.
• A good friend of mine Ryan Leslie brought me in to work with Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo recently.
• Rodney Jerkins, who is also a good friend, has been bringing me in on some cool stuff including some Britney songs.

• I played on a couple Katy Perry songs for her last album. Katy wanted to be there to direct the parts. I really dig Katy. Thought that was cool that she was that involved in the process. She’s very talented.

• I wrote and produced the last Joey McIntyre EP with Joey, Drew Ryan Scott and Gabe Lopez.
• Produced some songs for Taylor Dayne. That was fun cause she’s a bit more old school. What a voice

JH: Who would you like to work with in the future?

BP: I think it’d be fun to write with Manny Fresh. Just getting a chance to jam with Paul McCartney would be the ultimate dream. Lil Wayne. Kanye West. Man there’s so many.

JH: Where are you living now?    How often do you get back to Grand Forks?  Do you miss anything about it here?

BP: I’m living in Hollywood now. Don’t get back that often. I work some pretty serious hours so it’s hard to get back. I do miss the seasons. I’m not to tripped out by the cold to be honest. Yeah it’s nice in LA because of the weather but seeing the leaves turn and seeing that first snow fall where everything is covered with a beautiful layer of snow is really cool to me. I also love snowmobiling. Would be a dream to have a whole winter off and just ride all winter with my brother Matt.

JH: Do you think people here know how talented you are and the artists you have been able to work with?  Seems like you would be considered the most famous person in your graduating class.

BP: Not sure. I also don’t really equate it all to talent. It’s more how hard I’ve worked, the risks I’ve chose and a bit of lucky situations that has got me here. Anyone can do what I’ve done if they’re passionate enough.

Brent is humble, and he deserves all of the fame and kudos that his hard work has gotten him.  I imagine that Brent probably was one of those band guys in high school that didn’t get a ton of dates because he focused all his time on his music.  And now he is jamming with Justin Timberlake and girls are throwing their panties on stage in front of thousands of fans.  A big LOL to any girl who turned him down for a date at Red River High School.  Success is the best revenge.

I’ll leave you and this Pashcke trilogy with a video off of N*E*R*D’s new album Nothing which is hot and I suggest you download it.  Brent has just gotten started in what he is going to do in music.  Congrats on your success; you’ve come a long way from those guitar lessons in Grand Forks.

N*E*R*D’s “Hot-N-Fun” Featuring Nelly Furtado:

Pt. 2: GF’s Brent Paschke Is Cooler Than You


24 Dec

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I’m going to take you on a little music trip in part two of my interview with Grand Forks native and guitarist to the stars Brent Paschke.  Follow along with me here and you just may learn something.

Brent Paschke and Chad Hugo In Studio

I am going to assume that you know who Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake are.  Brent has worked with both of them.  And my North Dakota audience may or may not know the name “Pharrell” but you will recognize him in this Snoop video fo’ sho’.

So now that we have gotten that out of the way, you should also know this about Pharrell: He and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing pop, hip-hop and R&B music.  And now, you may remember this uber-famous song they produced that made their sound a household name:

Pharrell is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley.

And, that brings me back around to Grand Forks native Brent Paschke- whose Minneapolis-based band Spymob was discovered by Pharrell and whose first major work with him was being the backing band on N.E.R.D’s In Search Of….record.   This is part two of my interview with Paschke, who has worked not only with N.E.R.D. but also artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Katy Perry, Taylor Dayne, Cassie, Chrisette Michele, Ryan Leslie...

JH: When did you form/join Spymob?  How did the connection with Star Trak Entertainment come about?

BP: Man spacing out the exact year but I think Spymob was formed in 1993. We were grinding out like every band does. We eventually got a lawyer when we started getting interest from record companies. It turned out that our lawyer was also Pharrells lawyer. This all came to light in the first meeting Pharrell had with the president of Epic records who had just dropped us from her label. It was beautiful cause she just dropped us and we were really bummed. Pharrell went in there telling her he loved Epic records and his favorite band Spymob is on her label. She than had to break the news to him that she just dropped us. Pharrell was like o.k. that’s fine than I’ll sign them! That’s where it all started.

JH: In 2002 Spymob did backing on N.E.R.D.’s album.  What was that experience like?
BP: Amazing! We recorded that album early in the stages of Hip Hop mixing with rock. That was a dream come true for me to record that record. Working next to Pharrell & Chad is amazing. It was really fun blending those elements. Remember this was just the beginning stages for Pharrell & Chad. We were seeing all these people coming up around them (The Clipse, Kenna, Kelis, etc..) Really exciting times.

JH: For someone who has never heard N.E.R.D. before, how do you explain their sound?  What of that was/is influenced by Spymob?
BP: I’d say NERD is timeless music. In Search Of.. NERD’s first record could drop today (8 years later) and still make a huge impact. I’m still amazed at how much impact that record has on people. I remember the artist Cassie saying to me Brent you don’t understand that record got me through high school.

JH: Does Spymob still play or record together just as Spymob?  If not, do you miss it?

BP: No Spymob doesn’t still play together. Yeah I do miss it. I love the guys in the band and I loved the band. Spymob will always be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Sometimes certain musicians just play together well. As a musician it can take a long time to find other people you click with.

Tomorrow: Part 3 including Brent’s take on some of the famous artists he has worked with and sampling from the new N.E.R.D. album Nothing which Brent also played on.

Until then, here is the link to the Grand Forks Herald article on Brent today:

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/187930/group/Entertainment/

and below is N.E.R.D.’s video for “Rockstar.”  BTW, I wonder what Brent’s dad (former Grand Forks Police Chief Chet Paschke) thinks of these lyrics:

You can’t be me
I’m a Rock Star
I’m rhyming on the top of a cop car
I’m a rebel and my .44 pops far

Nice. Click the link below to check it out.  Brent is playing guitar in it and starts showing up about the 2:14 mark.

GF’s Brent Paschke: A Story Worth Telling


23 Dec

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In the bottom of the I-29 truck stop there is a sweaty little hole in the wall gym that you may picture in a movie like Rocky or Million Dollar Baby.  It’s basically a barren, concrete box in the basement that has one single poster on the wall of Virgil Hill.   I had determined that I was going to fight in the ring before I turned 30 and lose some weight doing it.  This gym was the perfect place for me to learn the sport with real fighters.

In between punches to a salty Everlast body bag, former Grand Forks Police Chief Chet Paschke walked into the gym.  An avid amateur boxing fan, he was a regular in the gym and would come down to watch the guys of Forks Fighters get ready for the next fight at the EGF Legion.   He started making conversation and telling me about his son Brent who he had just seen in concert.  Brent is ‘touring with the Black Eyed Peas’ he said.  I stopped punching, thinking I had heard him wrong.

“Really? THE Black Eyed Peas? Like, the Black Eyed Peas.” I said matter of factly.

Chet proudly reached into his pocket and pulled out the photo proof.  I believe it was a picture of him and his wife Sharon and Will.I.Am.  He pulled out another one with Pharrell Williams. And a picture of his son, Brent.  He was beaming, and I knew this was a story I wanted to do.

Grand Forks Native Brent Paschke On Stage In Europe

Unfortunately, when you are a big-time guitar player for bands like the Black Eyed Peas, N.E.R.D., Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Katy Perry, Taylor Dayne, Cassie, Chrisette Michele, Ryan Leslie... you don’t get a lot of time to come back to Grand Forks.  My attempts to set up an on-camera interview with Brent Paschke came and went each year because we have never seemed to be in Grand Forks at the same time.  So I figured this blog, and The Grand Forks Herald may be perfect for his story (until I can get him on camera.)

Paschke first got his interest in music when he saw his brother Kevin and friends jamming out in high school.  Brent saw one of Kevin’s friends playing guitar and started taking lessons.  After graduating from Red River High School in 1990 he headed to Minneapolis to the Musicians Tech School, and shortly thereafter formed his first band, Spymob.  I did a Q & A with Brent about his successes and where he came from to get there.

JH: When did you form/join Spymob?  How did the connection with Star Trak Entertainment come about?

BP: Man spacing out the exact year but I think Spymob was formed in 1993. We were grinding out like every band does. We eventually got a lawyer when we started getting interest from record companies. It turned out that our lawyer was also Pharrells lawyer. This all came to light in the first meeting Pharrell had with the president of Epic records who had just dropped us from her label. It was beautiful cause she just dropped us and we were really bummed. Pharrell went in there telling her he loved Epic records and his favorite band Spymob is on her label. She than had to break the news to him that she just dropped us. Pharrell was like o.k. that’s fine than I’ll sign them! That’s where it all started.

JH: In 2002 Spymob did backing on N.E.R.D.’s album In Search Of… What was that experience like?

BP: Amazing! We recorded that album early in the stages of Hip Hop mixing with rock. That was a dream come true for me to record that record. Working next to Pharrell & Chad is amazing. It was really fun blending those elements. Remember this was just the beginning stages for Pharrell & Chad. We were seeing all these people coming up around them (The Clipse, Kenna, Kelis, etc..) Really exciting times.
That is your taste for today; watch for part 2 from my interview tomorrow on Jukebox Hero.  BTW, you can catch a full article on Brent in the Grand Forks Herald Friday.  Collaboration is cool.

But not as cool as this:  Brent and Ryan Leslie Doing “Real Love” for an Addidas commercial.  Let it fully load and then appreciate it full screen.  Wow and awesome.

Once Bitten, and Twice Shy


22 Dec

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Drum roll please….nothing says Christmas like Wham’s “Last Christmas.”  It’s coming in third this week on my list of acceptable Christmas songs. Love me some Wham!  Super-tan cute boys in short-shorts, frosted hair and neon cut-off shirts.  And that scruffy 80s Miami Vice beard. Meow.

Wham! Circa The 80s

Yes- I know George Michael is gay. But I didn’t back in ’88 when I received a red Yamaha SHS-10 electronic keyboard/guitar for Christmas. Still have it.  I didn’t know how to play the piano but I was hell bent on trying after I got that thing. What does that little red Yamaha have to do with Wham? It’s demo song was “Last Christmas.”

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, You gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby do you recognise me?
Well it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me

(Happy Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying “I Love You” I meant it
Now I know what a fool I’ve been
But if you kissed me now I know you’d fool me again

When I played it back then my aunt Tammy exclaimed, “Oh, it plays ‘Last Christmas!’  Don’t you know that song? George Michael sings it.”  I didn’t, but I was sure that if my hip aunt Tammy knew it then I should probably know it too.  This song has reminded me of that Christmas ever since.   Enjoy my trip down memory lane.

PS Special Jukebox Hero posts start tomorrow….an interview with a Grand Forks native who has made it big in the music biz.  Don’t miss it!

All I Want For Christmas Is You


21 Dec

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Who can deny Mariah Carey frolicking in the snow in a Santa suit all while holding a baby bunny?  Mariah’s huge Christmas hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” ranks #2 on my list of 3 acceptable Christmas songs.    Mariah realized the repeated devotion to this song and finally released a new Christmas album this year.  Smart girl.  I see more Christmas albums to come for Mrs. Nick Cannon.   Enjoy some old school Mariah.

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