Sharon Jones adds to the List of Greats We Lost in 2016

Well, 2016 continues to kick our asses. This has been a tough, tough year, and it was made even worse by the fact that the great Sharon Jones passed away on Friday. I mean, I have written RIP pieces to Phife Dawg, Daryl Dawkins, Moses Malone, David Bowie, the list goes on and on and on, and now I have to write about Sharon Jones.

This is a very sad thing that has happened. Sharon Jones was one of the greatest soul singers to ever walk the Earth. Her voice was booming, boisterous, incredibly soulful, soothing, silky, smooth, basically, she was everything that you could want from a singer. She hit all the notes that anyone ever asked her to hit. She was an all timer.

I became a fan of Sharon Jones about 6 years ago, when I really dug deep into soul music. I was going through a big Stax Records, James Brown and, basically any soul and R&B music I could get my hands on phase. I immediately fell in love with the sound of the music. Then, as I was listening to Carla Thomas, Rufus' daughter, my dad told me to check out Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I think he thought I'd be heavily into the band, which I was, but it was Jones' voice that shook me to my core. She was like the follow up to Etta James or Billie Holiday. She was actually like a great mixture of the two of them. The Dap Kings were also phenomenal. They were a great backing band for one of the most memorable soul singers ever.

Next, I dug very deep into her catalog, and I loved every single thing I heard. I loved the more upbeat songs, but I also truly loved the sad songs. I also really liked the stuff in between. Basically, she could do no wrong in my opinion. Like I stated, her voice was one of a kind. She had such a beautiful voice that suited her style of music perfectly. She could do it all in the world of soul music. She was exceptional.

As I really got into her stuff even more, I found out that she had pancreatic cancer. I felt like I got punched in the gut. I was just really getting into this wonderful singer, who was still relatively young, and could make so much more music, but she was given a death sentence. Pancreatic cancer is no joke. But, instead of letting it effect her, she still went out, made music and performed live. She was going to live what little life she had left to the fullest. She would constantly say on stage, "I have cancer, cancer doesn't have me!". I love that. She was not going to let this horrible diagnosis stop her from being herself. She went out and shaved her head before treatments started, and wore the bald look so proudly. The first time I saw a photo of her, I cried tears of joy/sadness. She was dying, which made me sad, but she wasn't giving up, which gave me joy.

Sharon Jones was one of a kind. As I said, she still performed live all the way to the end. And she rocked it. There is a documentary about her called Miss Sharon Jones!.  I have only seen clips from it, and she is just as energetic in her final shows as she was when she first started. Believe me, I will be seeing this movie very soon.

She was a light in the dark world we now live in. There is another clip that has surfaced since she passed, that has Prince, also RIP, surprise her on stage, at a show, and he played some great songs with her, and she was so happy, plus shocked, by what was going on. Two legends recently sharing the stage, that we have now lost. It is a very sad thing. Since Friday, I have not stopped listening to her music in my car. It makes me happy to hear her voice, but very sad to know that we will never hear new music from her again. I read that she was surrounded by loved ones, including the Dap Kings, when she passed on Friday. All the way to the end, she kept loved ones, including her band, around to keep her spirits up.

These great people need to quit dying. 2016 needs to stop taking away legends that we need now more than ever. It has been a pretty crummy year if you think about it. And now, add on the fact that Sharon Jones is gone.

Rest in Peace Mrs. Jones, you were a bright shining light, and you will be missed by so, so many people. I love your music, but I also loved your joy for life and everything else. You were truly one of the best all around people to ever live. I hope you and Prince are playing music together wherever the two of you are now. I miss you both so much.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

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Greatest American Band Debate: Any Band that Prince Was In Part I - The Revolution

SeedSing is filled with music lovers. We can not agree on who is the best band from the States. The Greatest American Band Debate will be a regular feature where we discuss and compare bands who started in the good old USA. If you have any suggestions of bands we should debate Contact us seedsing.rdk@gmail.com

Dig if you will Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, sitting alone playing the piano. He is working through the construction of his groundbreaking opera The Magic Flute. Later in the week he invites friends over to his home, and Mozart plays through the entirety of his masterpiece, just the man and his piano. The assembled guest would probably have been blown away. The master, his music, and his piano. Once the last key has been struck, Mozart would tell the guests that his music can only truly be appreciated with a variety of people playing various music instruments together. There needs to be a variety of vocals to complement the complex score. Mozart is a genius, but his genius can best be experienced with a band working in concert with the creator. Every great artist has become transcendent with their often forgotten bands who elevate the music to its true greatness.

The death of Prince has rekindled an intense interest in the artist's incredible music. With a catalog that starts in the late 1970's and ends late last year, Prince left a musically legacy that has very few peers. This legacy began in Minneapolis Minnesota when a very young Prince was gathering friends together to perform music that had never been heard in human history. The loose group of friends, later known as The Revolution, would play clubs in the twin cities creating what would be known as the Minneapolis Sound. Hit songs like  Controversy, 1999, and Little Red Corvette were not directly credited to the Revolution, yet the band members were instrumental in crafting these hits. It would be a few more years until the general public was fully aware of The Revolution.

In 1984 the film and album Purple Rain hit America. The music on Purple Rain is some of the most famous pop music to have ever been made. Songs like When Doves Cry, Lets Go Crazy, I Would Die for U, and Purple Rain have more than stood the test of time. The members of the Revolution not only contributed to the album, but they also played fictional versions of themselves in the film. Wendy Melvoin on guitar and vocals, Brown Mark on bass guitar and vocals, Lisa Coleman on keyboards, piano, and vocals, Matt "Doctor: Fink on keyboards and vocals, and Bobby Z. on drums - this was the most famous, and prolific, version of the Revolution. Coleman, Fink, Mark, and Z were with the band at the beginning, but the addition Wendy Melvoin catapulted the Revolution's sound.

After the success of Purple Rain, Prince would continue to expand the Revolution with members from other bands. Morris Day's band The Time and Sheila E's The Counter-Revolution would add members to the Revolution's line up. The albums Around the World in a Day and  Parade added more hits with songs like Raspberry Beret and Kiss. The band also released a live album in 1985 simply titled Prince and the Revolution: Live. 

Each new hit single also brought a new music video to the young, and still music video playing, MTV. The Revolution was becoming instantly recognizable outside of their iconic leader. Everyone started to know why Matt Fink was called Doctor Fink. Former band mate Dez Dickerson face and voice was instantly recognizable because of 1999. The many videos for the hits off of Purple Rain heavily featured the band with scenes from the movie. Prince, along with his band, had conquered everything music had to offer.

In 1986 Prince and the Revolution started to plan out and record the double LP Dream Factory. The band was having a lot of trouble getting along. Many members were frustrated with how big the Revolution was becoming due to all the new additions. Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin quit due to not be able to get along with Prince. The duo has had an extremely successful career post Revolution. Brown Mark left after one of the bands tours and went on to become a producer. Bobby Z was replaced by Sheila E on drums and went on to release a solo album in 1989. Matt Fink stayed with the band until it's eventual dissolution 1991 and has gone on to make music for video games and work at K-Tel Records. The final Revolution album Dream Factory was never released. 

In the early to mid 1980's no body was making music as innovative and exciting as the Revolution. Many people to this day credit these hits solely to Prince. The artist that Prince was has no equal. His genius left an unmatched mark on music. Like Mozart that genius needed input, and talent, of others who were singularly talented. The Revolution could match Prince's genius and create incredible music. Dearly beloved. we are gathered together to celebrate The Revolution. When you listen to their contribution to Prince's genius, you will go crazy.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is nowhere near done with highlighting the greatness of Prince. Next up - The New Power Generation. Do you have a Prince band, or any other band, to praise? Come write for SeedSing. 

Prince is Immortal

Prince dead at 57

I was doing some research for an article this afternoon and happened upon the Huffington Post. The top headline, with a breaking news alarm, was that musical legend Prince had died. I thought the story was fake. Immediately I went out to search for the truth. I found the truth, and then my heart sank.

I love Prince. He and I were both born in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. When the movie Purple Rain was released on VHS, my older brother and I rented it and watched it eight consecutive times. When I got a CD player, the Hits 1 and 2 were some of the first pieces of music I purchased from Columbia House. In college my friends and I held numerous viewings of Purple Rain followed by a party set to the music of Prince. One of the greatest concerts I have ever seen was Prince rocking for hours. The usually horrible Super Bowl halftime show was absolutely owned by Prince.  His music is always playing in my world. The song "Purple Rain" is the greatest song ever. Working out, anything from the Revolution Days is in my ears. Relaxing, I love the music he has released in the 21st century. Late night in bed, tunes from the New Power Generation and symbol years always gets me in the mood. I really, really love Prince.

Today Prince left us. When Elvis and John Lennon died, the baby boomers lost an icon. Today the greatest artist of Generation X was taken too soon. Prince may have been part of the baby boomer generation, but he belonged to Generation X. He did not look or act like the artist of our parents generation. He was a musical and performance genius. His look and sound were unlike anything else. Once he became famous, Prince railed against an old and corrupt music business. He was the voice of ownership for any artist who creates. Prince made an impact on the world by not being like everyone else before him. He was a creator, not a follower.

Most people mourning Prince keep talking about his hit music from the 1980's. That is because this was the music that made Generation X love music. Prince's lyrics moved an entire age group into puberty. His performances inspired awe and imagination. His persona gave us a living avatar of sexiness. Now Prince is gone.

As I personally reflected on how Prince influenced myself and all of Generation X, I started to realize how selfish I was acting. Prince's greatness is not just for me and my fellow generation, Prince is timeless. Justin Timberlake said that Prince is not once in a lifetime, he is a once in forever (I am paraphrasing). I read those words and came to the realization that Prince is not gone. Prince will live forever.

Any artist will have their work outlive them, but Prince as a person is still alive. His music will never know a time or generation. His performances will spark imagination until the end of time. His fight for artist ownership rights will assure us that new and innovative music will always be with us. Prince did not just leave us a catalog of incredible music, he assured us a legacy of creation. This legacy named Prince will outlive us.

The news of Prince's passing has made me incredibly sad. I will not get any new music from my favorite artist. I will not be able to watch live one of the greatest guitar players rock out for hours. Yet I am strangely happy. What Prince did with his 57 years, and incredible talent, is make sure that the next Prince has a chance. He made sure that the next genius can be defined on his or her own terms. Prince is forever.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the host of the X Millennial Man Podcast