Chicks In Music: Rihanna

Oh how I love Rihanna.

Rihanna first grabbed my attention back in 2006, with her single "SOS". It was catchy and upbeat- I had a music sampler one of the recording companies gave me at the time, and I found out that she had an earlier release (from her very first album) "Pon de Replay"- and also loved the song.

It wasn't long until my girlfriend asked me to make her ringtones of those two songs- which I did.

Her album "A Girl Like Me" yielded three more radio-friendly hits: "We Ride", "Break It Off" (featuring Sean Paul) and "Unfaithful".

Probably her biggest album so far was the 2007 release, "Good Girl Gone Bad". The album sold a whole shitload of units, downloaded like crazy, and earned Rihanna a slew of nominations and awards. You know the hit songs: the dance anthem "Don't Stop The Music", "Shut Up and Drive", the duet with Ne-Yo "Hate That I Love You", and probably the biggest summer song of that year, "Umbrella" with Jay-Z.

True story: I was actually writing for a pet supplies distribution company at the time "Umbrella" came out. Part of my job was researching and coming up with pet-related articles, so I decided to write one up about Rihanna and her pet Pomeranian, "Marley".

She's supposed to be coming out with another album soon enough, but in the meantime, here's a video I snagged from AoL Music- "Hate That I Love You" featuring a smoking-hot Rihanna, and the incredibly talented Ne-Yo. Enjoy.

What I'm Listening To From Rihanna Now.

Aside from "Hate That I Love You"? Her songs "Umbrella", "Shut Up and Drive", "Cry", "Pon De Replay", "SOS" and "We Ride" are regulars on my mp3 player.

Wanna check out more Rihanna? Visit the official Rihanna website here, check out her Wikipedia entry, or even add her up as a friend on MySpace.


Chicks In Music is a regular feature on My Thoughts In Stereo. We pay tribute to the hottest ladies in the music industry- with updates, trivia, video clips and links to their websites and social media. Checking out your favorite females in rock, pop and R&B online has never been so gratifying- Chicks in Music!

Much More Music: Kansas - "Carry On Wayward Son" (1977)

You have to thank the CW hit series Supernatural for reviving interest in this song. According to Wikipedia,

"Carry On Wayward Son" has been used... in the opening moments of "Salvation" (Season 1, Episode 21) and "All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2" (Season 2, Episode 22) when they summarized the story so far. Fans commonly link the show to the song now, due to its use and lyrics.

Besides the association with Supernatural, "Carry On Wayward Son" (at least an edit of it) has also been a staple on Guitar Hero 2 on the XBox 360 and the Playstation II. Recently, Amanda Overmyer performed the song on Season 7 of American Idol, as her choice on 70's night (which really wasn't a good performance- sorry, Amanda).

A number of acts have already covered "Carry On Wayward Son", including Yngwie Malmsteen, Critical Mass and The Oak Ridge Boys. The song was also featured in The Office, South Park, King of the Hill and probably in a lot of other TV shows. It was also used on "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" as the end credits were rolling.

Several videos are available on YouTube, but this one we're featuring was uploaded by BrianBoyce. The chords and tabs are by JP Leong on AZChords.com. So here we go...


Kansas "Carry On Wayward Son" (1977)

Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more

{riff} [clean distortion (if there is such a thing) effect]  
e-|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
B-|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
G-|--------------|--------------|--4--7--4-----|--------------|
D-|-----------5--|-----------7--|----------7-5-|--7-----7-----|
A-|--7--5--7-----|--7--5--7-----|--------------|-----5-----4--|
E-|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
{repeat once each time played}

Em     D              C         D
Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Em      D             C           D
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
Am    G            F        F G
I was soaring ever higher
Am    G        D
But I flew too high
Em        D                C           D
Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man
Em        D                  C           D
Though my mind could think I still was a mad man
Am         G               F           F G
I hear the voices when I'm dreaming
Am    G         D
I can hear them say

Em    G     D       C
Carry on my wayward son
Em          G          D
There'll be peace when you are done
Em       G     D       C
Lay your weary head to rest
(N.C.)
Don't you cry no more

{riff}

Em    D           C          D
Masquerading as a man with a reason
Em    D           C            D
My charade is the event of the season
Am       G             F           F G
And if I claim to be a wise man
Am        G                  D
It surely means that I don't know
Em   D             C      D
On a stormy sea of moving emotion
Em     D                C           D
Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean
Am    G                 F         F G
I set sail for winds of fortune
Am    G               D
But I hear the voices say

Em    G     D       C
Carry on my wayward son
Em          G          D
There'll be peace when you are done
Em       G     D       C
Lay your weary head to rest
(N.C.)
Don't you cry no more

{riff}

Em (mute)
Carry on
      D      C
You will always remember
Em (mute)
Carry on
     D          C
Nothing equals the splendor
Am       G                F
Now your life's no longer empty
Am     G                D
Surely Heaven waits for you

Em    G     D       C
Carry on my wayward son
Em          G          D
There'll be peace when you are done
Em       G     D       C
Lay your weary head to rest
(N.C.)                                       Bm7
Don't you cry {vocal echo: Don't you cry} no more

You may want to visit Kansas' official website here, or on Wikipedia, here.

Check out more of the Much More Music Project- this blog's attempt to put together my personal views on favorite songs, along with lyrics to sing by, an embedded music video
from YouTube, and even guitar chords, if you feel like playing alongwith it.

Cheers, everyone!

Much More Music - Foreigner - "Hot Blooded" (1978)

I think it was in 1989 or 1990 when I first heard Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina" on a countdown program. As it was rising up the charts, following the success of "Wild Thing", it was revealed that it contained a sample of another song- which as it turns out was Foreigner's "Hot Blooded".

It wasn't several years later that I actually found a copy of the album Double Vision- I just started working for a radio station (99.5RT) in late 1994. One of the other jocks had a classic rock show, and I recognized "Hot Blooded" when they played it this one particular time, and then looked it up in the music library a few days after. To this day, the song is still on heavy rotation on my personal player.

There's been a renewed interest in the song because of this season's American Idol. In season 7, contestant Robbie Carrico chose this song for his performance on 70's night (unfortunately, he got cut on Results Night that same week).

"Hot Blooded" was also featured on an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, where the Mooninites were toying around with a Foreigner belt that granted the wearer super-powers based on their songs (the belt was later acquired by Carl).

The song was also featured prominently on other TV shows (on episodes of The Simpsons, Bones, Supernatural and WKRP in Cincinatti) as well as in movies ("Blades of Glory") and various commercials.

I couldn't find a video of "Hot Blooded", but there are several tribute vids on YouTube including one from ArmoredPanther, which is what we have featured on this entry.


Foreigner
"Hot Blooded" (1978)

Well, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded

You don't have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind
Honey you ought know
Now you move so fine, let me lay it on the line
I wanna know what you're doing after the show

Now its up to you, we can make a secret rendezvous
Just me and you, Ill show you loving like you never knew

That's why, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, hot blooded

If it feels alright, maybe you can stay all night
Shall I leave you my key?
But you've got to give me a sign, come on girl, some kind of sign
Tell me, are you hot mama? you sure look that way to me

Are you old enough? will you be ready when I call you bluff?
Is my timing right? did you save your love for me tonight?

Yeah I'm hot blooded, check it and see
Feel the fever burning inside of me
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded, I'm hot

Now its up to you, can we make a secret rendezvous?
Oh, before we do, you'll have to get away from you know who

Well, I'm hot blooded, check it and see
I got a fever of a hundred and three
Come on baby, do you do more than dance?
I'm hot blooded, I'm hot blooded

Hot blooded, every night
Hot blooded, you're looking so tight
Hot blooded, now you're driving me wild
Hot blooded, I'm so hot for you, child
Hot blooded, I'm a little bit high
Hot blooded, you're a little bit shy
Hot blooded, you're making me sing
Hot blooded, for your sweet sweet thing

Tabs

Here are the tab patterns to "Hot Blooded" in case you feel like rocking out to it. Cheers to Steve Throne who put this all together on Ultimate-Guitar.com!

Here's the main sections of Foreigner's "Hot Blooded"
It's not much but I'm pretty sure what's here is correct.
It's a pretty simple song but it absolutely rocks!
The main riff is just  Gsus4, G, C, Csus4

Intro and Chorus

hot blooded     check it & see
Gsus4  G            C     Csus4
E---3----3--3----------------------
B---3----3--3---------5--5----6----
G---5----5--4---------5--5----5----
D---5----5--5---------5--5----5----
A---5----5--5---------3--3----3----
E---3----3--3----------------------

I play it as barre chords, but after seeing the band in concert
(from lousy seats, mind you), I believe they play it in the open position,
which would look something like below.

E---3----3--3--------0--0----1---
B---1----1--0--------1--1----1---
G---0----0--0--------0--0----0---
D---0----0--0--------2--2----2---
A---X----X--2--------3--3----3---
E---3----3--3--------------------

The verse is a nice simple power chord progression - G,F,C
G             F        C        G
E--------------------------------------
B--------------------------5--5--------
G---------4--4----2--2-----5--5--------
D---5-----5--5----3--3-----5--5-----5--
A---5-----5--5----3--3-----3--3-----5--
E---3-----3--3----1--1--------------3--

Then, before the chorus is something like this, played a few times.
The last time it's played, there is a fast little riff which I don't have.

it's up to you    we can make a secret
rendezvous
D     C D      Em        C
E-----------------------------------
B---7-7-7-5-7------8--8------5--5---
G---7-7-7-5-7------9--9------5--5---
D---7-7-7-5-7------9--9------5--5---
A---5-5-5-3-5------7--7------3--3---
E-----------------------------------

That's all I have, although there isn't much else.  I used to see
a lot of people requesting this song so I hope someone can make use of it.
Also, I'm working from the live version of the song off the
"Records" greatest hits album, so there may be some differences.
Comments/suggestions are welcome.  Enjoy!

Check out more of Foreigner on their official website here, or on Wikipedia, here.

Check out more of the Much More Music Project- this blog's attempt to put together my personal views on favorite songs, along with lyrics to sing by, an embedded music video from YouTube, and even guitar chords, if you feel like playing along with it.

Cheers, everyone!