You never know how a month's worth of random songs being lodged in the corners of your mind will work. Once the last batch of brain invaders left the scene of the crime, the first culprit looking to raid was "In My House" by the Mary Jane Girls. Truth be told, I can't even tell you what made me think of that song recently because as much as I've always liked it, I don't think about it very often. Hence, I had a feeling neither "In My House" would make the cut nor "Put It In Your Mouth" by Akinyele, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack", "My Dad's Gone Crazy" by Eminem nor "The Lovers" by Alexander O'Neal. Guy's "Goodbye Love" had three opportunities to make the list--twice on its own and once via sampling on Mary J. Blige's "Don't Go"--but still didn't make it despite a strong resurgence. Of all people, Rihanna nearly made "Get Out of My Brain!" history with three entries including "Sex With Me" and "Needed Me", but you will soon see which one endured. Now that the losers have been accounted for, let's talk about the winners...
#10 PHARRELL WILLIAMS FEAT. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, "Brand New" (G I R L, i Am Other/Columbia, 2014). Although Pharrell has been one of my favorite producers of the past 20 years, I haven't been as interested in his albums away from being the frontman for N*E*R*D. However, G I R L had several catchy tunes including another dope collaboration with Justin Timberlake, "Brand New". However, what's funny about this song is that I've only heard it in stores and never on the radio or TV. Initially hearing it in Target, Shop Rite or some other store around my way, the most recent time was picking up prescriptions at CVS. Since then, that infectious beat and "you got me feelin' brand new (brand new)" swirled around my Superdome several times over the past month. I can't front: I was two steps away from dancing in the middle of the diaper and body lotion aisles, but it's not quite the song meant for dancing alone and I didn't wanna be weirder than I already am...
#9 ANITA BAKER, "Talk to Me" (Compositions, Elektra, 1990). There's always a good reason for Anita Baker to be on anybody's music countdown, but the case for "Talk to Me" landing on this month's list is twofold. First, Mrs. Scribbler and I were talking about the hilarity of singers like Anita Baker, Michael Jackson and James Brown having moments where they get into the music so much that you can't understand a word they're saying after a while. (I won't give too much away because I'll be discussing that in an upcoming edition of "RANDOM THOUGHT ALERTS!!!") Second, I was watching this video and got nostalgic about not only how BET world premieres were such a big deal back in the day, but also how this song helped to kick off one of the most memorable summers of music in my life. Although "Soul Inspiration" has always been my favorite song from Compositions, "Talk to Me" has always been a close second because it's simply one of the best in her legendary catalog--despite needing Genius.com to figure out what she said after the bridge...
#8 MUSIQ SOULCHILD, "Love" (Aijuswanaseing, Def Soul, 2000). There are some people who believe that I'm a much better singer than that for which I give myself credit. One night a week or two ago, I was in a rare singing mood. I went from belting out stuff like Luther Vandross' rendition of "Superstar" to a bunch of 90s/early 00s songs from Intro, Silk, Playa and Profyle. Once I got in the car on my way home, I had the sudden urge to sing Musiq Soulchild's "Love"--which has always been one of my favorites by the Philly neo-soul crooner. Because I couldn't remember all of the lyrics, I had to listen to it again and everything came to me like I was back in my senior year of college and running Aijuswanaseing into the ground. After that, I kept wanting to sing and listen to it--although anybody within earshot of a grey Honda Accord probably wishes I would have let Musiq sing it instead...
#7 RIHANNA, "Kiss It Better" (ANTI, Westbury Road/Roc Nation, 2016). Here's an interesting part of the countdown as it showcases a rising star and a falling one back to back. While listening to Rihanna's ANTI album for the August edition of "In Heavy Rotation", this song immediately tickled my fancy. Driven by the sexy combination of guitar and synth lines, the lyrics that keep spinning around in my head the most are when she says "it hurts inside when I look you in yo eye" and "What are you willing to do?/Oh, tell me what you're willing to do/Kiss it, kiss it better, baby". Now I don't know anyone who has ever accused Rihanna of singing anyone under the table, but I thoroughly enjoy how every aspect of her vocals are seamlessly arranged with this irresistible melody. Mark my words: this song will be on the countdown again next month with a great shot to be higher. Unfortunately, the next entry couldn't live up to its assumed billing...
#6 DESIIGNER, "Timmy Turner" (The Life of Desiigner, GOOD/Def Jam, 2016). Much like I wanted to enjoy an entire project of his, I had high hopes for Desiigner repeating as the top dawg with the long-awaited, much-debated "Timmy Turner". It possesses the perfect formula for a song to remain on this type of countdown because despite the "mumble rap", it has an insanely indelible and melodic hook paired with a wicked Mike Dean production. Moreover, there are plenty of people going around playing this in their cars and singing the lyrics outside of one of my dear, dear friends. However, this past month involved a lot of sitting through the process of writing rhymes to instrumentals and reminiscing about songs that either I remember like the back of my left hand or completely forgot about like that 30-year-old chicken pox scar on my right hand hiding under a patch of hair. Thus, "Timmy Turner" couldn't withstand the fierce competition and might not be back on the countdown for a while. Never fear for he could be wishing for a burner before you know it...
#5 SERIOUS BEATS, "Rumble In The Chi" (Rumble In The Chi, www.ProdBySerious.com, 2016). When my good friend Kavah King brought in my alter ego twin A.J. Throwback to follow up his feature on "The Inspiration" with more fire on "Microphone Killer 2.0" and "The Inspiration Part 2", Chicago native Serious Beats provided the ideal motivation for my brother's pen to work wonders on both songs. Well, when Kavah sent A.J. the link to yet another Produced By Serious banger for the final installment in "The Inspiration" trilogy, we were both hype. So he engulfed himself in the beat day and night for several days, trying to get some inspiration--yes, that was on purpose--to write. Of course, because he and I are stuck together like white on rice, I heard it in the car, at the apartment and at work. He ended up writing like 24 to 28 bars after scrapping the first two verses, but he's still not satisfied. Simply put, don't be surprised if this ends up on the countdown again once he gets back his mojo to write in-depth rhymes...
#4 SILK, "Girl U For Me" (Lose Control, Elektra, 1992). If you read this part of the "Ninetysomething Days of Summer" edition of my "Rave & Favorite Five", then you already know one good reason why this song is on the countdown. If you didn't tune out before the No. 8 entry, then you already know a second reason. When I was all alone at work and hoping nobody would hear me, I was tearing up one of my all-time favorite Silk songs like it was the summer of 1993 all over again. I thought about being glued to the TV anytime this played on Video Soul, listening to the radio late at night with my girlfriend at the time and trying my best to serenade her. (I think I got a slightly-above-lukewarm reception from her.) Hearing those signature keys associated with Keith Sweat's production in the 90s on his solo projects as well as for his groups like Silk and Kut Klose, I had no refuge from "Girl U For Me"; then again, I didn't want any because it's too good...
#3 LEE MAJORS, "Unknown Stuntman" (Unknown Stuntman, Scotti Brothers, 1982). My connection to Lee Majors' only single, "Unknown Stuntman", was solidified when WTTG FOX 5 used to play reruns of The Fall Guy on Saturday afternoons in the late 80s and early 90s. I didn't pay close attention at the time because it was usually on when I was building my model Metrobuses from cardboard, but I always thought the concept of the show was interesting nonetheless because it introduced me to the lives of stuntmen and bounty hunters. Over 20 years after FOX 5 stopped showing those reruns like most other stations here in the States, I rediscovered "Unknown Stuntman" and realized how I've always regarded it as one of the coolest and most clever theme songs ever written--props to Fall Guy creator and executive producer Glen A. Larson, Gail Jensen and Dave Somerville. Thanks to someone posting most of the episodes from all five seasons, I've been hooked for the past month or so and, as a result, I've been singing right along with ol' Colt Seavers like I also have broken ribs from jumping an oversized pickup truck over an embankment. I always seem to identify with the faceless nonentities the most...
#2 CRANK LUCAS, "Summer in December" (Summer in December, CrankLucas.com, 2016). The story of "Summer in December" begins with a conversation with my brother-in-music Gladiator where he wanted us to do something to this beat for a four-man joint project called The Hangover along with Ransom Rellic and Whitefolkz. (Yes, that was a shameless plug and shoutout to my homies.) The moment my alter ego twin looked it up on Crank Lucas' SoundCloud page and took a good listen, he played the beat ad nauseam and freestyled in mumbles to figure out his flow. In a further discussion with Gladiator, they realized they were on the same page in making it an ode to pretty girls, nice cars, the beach and all things summer. Unlike the difficulties faced in writing more heartfelt subject matter to "Rumble In The Chi", A.J. was able to finish his verse for this song a bit easier after staying up one night and transporting himself to "the strip". Adding fuel to the fire was the recording session as everybody but Gladiator--who, interestingly enough, doesn't record his vocals when anyone else is around--recorded dope verses with different flows. Hopefully, this first single will be just as infectious to y'all as it's been to me. So now it's time to find out who unseated Desiigner for the No. 1 spot...
#1 SHERRICK, "Just Call" (Sherrick, Warner Bros., 1987). I know every last one of you reading this are like, "WHO?!?!" Indulge me...as I'm scarfing down a cheeseburger at Z-Burger in Columbia Heights, I was researching some of the most popular R&B songs of 1987 and stumbled upon this long lost gem. Seeing that his only song on Apple Music was his remake of The Originals' "Baby, I'm For Real", I went to YouTube. The music didn't sound familiar until the keys came in and his voice--which put me in the mind of Jeffrey Osborne meets Miles Jaye meet Phil Perry--didn't instantly bring back memories either. However, as soon as I heard "You can call me what you wanna/Baby just call (call me)" in the chorus, I was like, "OH SNAP, I REMEMBER THIS SONG! I HAVEN'T HEARD IT SINCE IT WAS OUT!" Much like the early 90s when I was reacquainted with Lillo Thomas' "Wanna Make Love (All Night Long)", the only song I wanted to listen to for that next week was "Just Call". What may have oddly driven me to listen to more of his music was the realization of his untimely passing away over 17 years ago after battling a vicious cocaine addiction during his adulthood--one that nearly derailed his eponymous debut from ever being released. I felt like it was only right to do my best to pay tribute to a brother with at least one dope song to his credit.So what song(s) have you been unable to shake lately?!?! PLEASE feel free to share your brain invasion stories in the comments. Don't forget to come back in the first week of October for the next edition of "Scribbler's 'Get Out of My Brain!' Countdown of the Month"!!!
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