70's Tracks YOU Should Know

There are quite a few to choose but here are a select number of funky 70's tunes that haven't got enough recognition!

The last track is a personal favourite. The Whatnauts ...amazing instrumentally, vocally and lyrically. 

Wait a Second....What were we singing about again?

Now whether or not I'm just looking into things too much, I've recently discovered that a lot of songs that have been released this year (2011) don't actually have meaningful lyrics behind them. The art of song writing has been lost and instead of a story to consume, what the audience receive is mindless garbage that has either been regurgitated from an existing tune or 'fitting' words that 'slot into place with the rhythm or the tune of the song'. 

Culprit 1

Jason Derulo - Don't Want to go Home

"Let the club shut down
We won't go oh oh oh
Burn it down
To the flo oh oh oh" ....

"I just met this sexy Haitian girl moving like a dancer
Told her and her girlfriends lets meet in my cabana
Ask me where the party's at baby I'm the answer
Have another drink with me shawty where your manners
Take another shot another shot shot shot shot
I can make it hot make it hot we go rock into the"

Really.....?? If I tried saying that to a girl I'd be shot.

Culprit 2

Nicole Scherzinger - Right There

"Me like the way that you kiss my yeah yeah yeah yeah me like it
Me like the way that he put it on me
Me like the way that he push up on me
Me like the way that he goin' down down down down down...."

I'm not even going to bother putting up more lyrics from this song.

Culprit 3

Snoop Dogg - Sweat

"...Like a Jersey Jersey shuttin’ down the game
Be my head coach
So you can…
And never take me out
Till you can taste the way
Do it again, and again till you say my name
And by the way
I’m so glad
I just wanna make you sweat"

"Drip drip drip for me mommy can you drip drip drip" (mommy.....seriously?!)

"Wanna get some tonight
She’s all sturdy
I’m in I’m in
Like a cigarette
She wanna quit"

(Huh....that doesn't even make sense?)

Well I only chose 3 songs that are currently in the charts to use as examples of how lame lyrics in songs are. Just because there is a certain feel to the song doesn't mean you have to write stupid lyrics that 'sound' like they fit with the tune of the riff or what people expect it to be. 

Think differently. Think unique.

 

History Repeats Itself

Yes I know that there are many covered versions of songs from the past and whether or not these necessarily work or are publicly considered as commendable, I still find it irritating that Hip Hop music (which nowadays should be called Hipop), insists on using classic 90's and 80's tunes. All the rappers need to do is steal a catchy riff or melody from the years 1982-1998, add a louder more generically fitting beat with nonsense rapping over it and voila! You have a new chart hit in front of your doorstep. 

Anyway, getting to the point, here's a collection of tracks that initially came to my head as being covers or copied samples in songs- more will be added as time goes by. May I just add that lots of Stevie Wonder tracks are used...... no wonder- he is a legend!!! Sorry couldn't resist....

5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine ||  "Hair", Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine
A1- Take on Me                          ||  A-Ha, Take on Me
Adele- Make You Feel My Love ||  Bob Dylan, Make You Feel My Love
All Saints - Under The Bridge    ||  Red Hot Chili Peppers, Under The Bridge
The All Seeing I/Britney Spears – The Beat Goes On ||  Sonny and Cher, The Beat Goes On
Alient Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal ||  Michael Jackson, Smooth Criminal
Amanda Blank - Might Like You Better  || Romeo Void, Never Say Never
Aly & AJ - Do You Believe in Magic  ||  The Lovin' Spoonful, Do You Believe in Magic
Amerie - 1 Thing                       ||  The Meters, Oh, Calcutta!
Amii Stewart - Knock on Wood      ||  Eddie Floyd, Knock on Wood
Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own  ||  Marvin Gaye + Tammi Terrell, Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Amy Winehouse - Valerie            ||  The Zutons, Valerie
Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You ||  O'Jays, Backstabbers
Atomic Kitten - Eternal Flame      ||  The Bangles, Eternal Flame 
Avicii & Sebastien Drums  ---> Gwen McCrae, All This Love I'm Giving
Bananarama - Venus          || Shocking Blue, Venus
Bay City Rollers – Bye Bye Baby  ||  Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bye Bye Baby

The Beastie Boys - Sure Shot      ||  Jeremy Steig, Howlin' for Judy
The Beatles - Twist and Shout    ||  The Isley Brothers, Twist and Shout  ||  The Topnotes, Twist and Shout 
Beat Freakz - Somebody's Watching Me  ||  Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me
Beyonce - Naughty Girl               ||  Donna Summer, Love to Love You Baby
Beyonce - (Girls) Who Run the World               ||  Major Lazer, Pon de Floor
Beyonce - Crazy In Love       || The Chi-Lites, Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)
Big Brovas - Ain't What You Do   ||  Fun Boy Three, It Ain't What You Do (It's the way that you do it)
Big Brovas - Favourite Things     ||  "The Sound of Music", My Favourite Things
Big Mountain - Baby I Love Your Way       || Peter Frampton, Baby I Love Your Way

Black Eyed Peas – Pump It          ||  Dick Dale, Misirlou
Blackstreet Ft. Dr.Dre & Queen Pen - No Diggity  ||  Bill Withers, Grandma's Hands
Blockster - You Should be Dancing  ||  Bee Gees, You Should Be Dancing
Bob Andy - Games People Play     ||  Joe South, Games People Play
Bob Dylan - Mr Tambourine Man   ||  The Byrds, Mr Tambourine Man
Bob Sinclar - Rock This Party, Everybody Dance Now  ||  C&C Music Factory, Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
Bon Jovi- Please Come Home For Christmas || Charles Brown, Please Come Home For Christmas

Boogie Pimps- Somebody to Love  ||  Jefferson Airplane, Somebody to Love
Boyz II Men - Could it be I'm Falling in Love  ||  The Spinners, Could it be I'm Falling in Love
Boyzone - Father and Son           ||  Cat Stevens, Father and Son   
Boyzone - Love me for a Reason  ||  The Osmonds, Love me for a Reason     

Boyzone – Words                 ||  Bee Gees, Words
Boyzone - When the Going Get's Tough  ||  Billy Ocean, When the Going Get's Tough
Britney Spears- I Love Rock and Roll  ||  Joan Jett, I Love Rock and Roll

The Bucketheads – The Bomb  ||  Chicago, Street Player
C J Lewis- Sweets for my Sweet  ||  The Searchers, Sweets for my Sweet
The Carpenters - Please Mr Postman  ||  The Marvelettes, Mr Postman

Celine Dion- All By Myself      ||  Eric Carmen, All By Myself
Chris Brown - She Ain't You   ||  Michael Jackson, Human Nature

Christina Aguilera - Car Wash   ||  Rose Royce, Car Wash
Christina Milian - Say I             || Jackie Moore, Clean Up Your Own Yard
Coolio – Gangster’s Paradise  ||  Stevie Wonder, Past Time Paradise
Cradle of Filth - Temptation    AA  Heaven 17, Temptation
Daft Punk - Digital Love             || George Duke, I Love You More
Daft Punk - Robot Rock               || Breakwater, Release the Beast
De La Soul - The Magic Number      || Bob Dorough, Three is the Magic Number
Dead End Kids - Have I The Right ||  The Honeycombs, Have I The Right
Deee-Lite - Groove is in The Heart  ||  Herbie Hancock, Bring Down the Birds/The Naked Camera Vernon Burch, Get Up  
Destiny's Child- Girl                     || The Dramatics, Ocean Of Thoughts And Dreams
Destiny's Child - Emotion          ||  Bee Gees, Emotion
Dizzee Rascal - Dream            ||  Captain Sensible, Happy Talk  ||  Rodgers and Hammerstein, Happy Talk (from "South Pacific")
DJ Otzi - Hey Baby                  ||  Bruce Channel, Hey Baby
DJ Sammy - Boys of Summer   ||  Don Henley, Boys of Summer
DJ Sammy - Heaven                 ||  Bryan Adams, Heaven
Dr.Dre - Let Me Ride                ||  James Brown, Funky Drummer/Bill Withers, Kissin' My Love/Parliament, Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Ellie Goulding - Your Song       ||  Elton John, Your Song
Eminem- Toy Soldiers              ||  Martika, toy Soldiers
Eric Clapton - I Shot The Sheriff  ||  Bob Marley and the Wailers, I Shot The Sheriff
Example + Wretch 32 - Unorthodox  ||  The Stone Roses, Waterfall
Fall Out Boy - Beat It            ||  Michael Jackson, Beat It
Fatboy Slim - Funk Soul Brother  || Just Brothers, Sliced Tomatoes
Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice  ||  Black Sheep, The Choice is Yours
Fatman Scoop- Be Faithful   ||  Chic, Chic Cheer + Faith Evans, Love Like This + Big Pun, Off The Books + Black Sheep, The Choice is Yours
Five- Five Will Make You Get Down  ||  Joan Jett, I Love Rock and Roll
The Fugees - Killing Me Softly    ||  Roberta Flack, Killing Me Softly
The Fugees - Ready or Not      ||  Delfonics, Ready or Not Here I Come
Funkstar Deluxe - Sun is Shining  ||  Bob Marley, Sun is Shining
Fyfe Dangerfield - she's Always a Woman  ||  Billy Joel, She's Always a Woman
Gareth Gates - Spirit in the Sky   ||  Norman Greenbaum, Spirit in the Sky

George Michael & Mary J Blige – As  ||   Stevie Wonder, As
Girls Aloud - Jump                ||    Pointer Sisters, Jump (For My Love)
Girls aloud - I'll Stand By You    ||  The Pretenders, I'll Stand By You
The Grass Roots - Midnight Confessions  ||  Phyllis Dillon, Midnight Confessions
Guns n roses - Knockin' on Heavens Door  ||  Bob Dylan, Knockin' on Heavens Door
Gwen Stefani - Rich Girl          ||   "Fidler on the Roof", If I Were A Rich Man
Gym Class Heroes - Cupid's Chokehold  ||  Supertramp, Breakfast in America
Gym Class Heroes - Clothes Off  ||  Jermaine Stewart, We Don't Have to take our Clothes off
Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss           ||   Sezen Aksu
House of Pain - Jump Around     ||  Bob and Earl, Harlem Shuffle/Jr Walker and the Allstars, Shoot your Shot/ Chubby Checker, Popeye (The Hitchhiker) - (A Rated mix of sampling! Great combination technique)
Ice Cube - It was a Good Day    ||  Isley Brothers, Footsteps in the Dark

Ironik- Tiny Dancer                ||   Elton John, Tiny Dancer
Ja Rule- Livin’ It Up              ||   Stevie Wonder, Do I Do
Ja Rule - Mesmerize                || Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross, Stop Look Listen
Ja Rule - Murder Reigns           ||   Toto, Africa
Ja Rule Ft. Bobby Brown - Thug Lovin'  ||  Stevie Wonder, Knocks Me Off My Feet
Ja Rule Ft. J.Lo - I'm Real         ||   Rick James, Mary Jane + Yellow Magic Orchestra, Firecracker
The Jackson 5 - Blame it on the Boogie  ||   Mick Jackson, Blame it on the Boogie
Jackson Browne - Stay      || Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons ||Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, Stay 
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You  ||  Marvin Gaye, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
James Taylor - You've Got a Friend  ||  Carole King, You've Got a Friend
Jason Derulo - Don't Wanna Go Home  ||  Harry Belafont, Banana Boat Song + Robin S., Show Me Love
Jay-Z Ft. Mr Hudson - Forever Young  ||   Alphaville, Young Forever
Jay-Z- Hard Knock Life           ||    "Annie", It's a Hard Knock Life
Jennifer Lopez - Jenny From The Block  ||   20th Century Steele Band, Heaven and Hell is on Earth + Herbie Mann, Hijack/The Beatnuts, Watch Out Now
Joan Jett - Crimson and Clover  ||   Tommy James and the Shondells, Crimson and Clover
Joe Cocker- A Little Help From My Friends  ||   The Beatles, A Little Help From My Friends
Kanye West - Heard Em Say   || Natalie Cole, Somone I Used to Love
Kanye West – Touch the Sky  ||   Curtis Mayfield, Move On Up

Kanye West - Stronger         || Daft Punk, Harder Better Faster Stronger|| Edwin Birdsong, Cola Bottle Baby
Kanye West Ft. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger  ||   Ray Charles, I've Got a Woman
Kanye West ft. Twista & Jamie Foxx - Slow Jamz  ||  Luther Vandross, A House is not a Home

Kula Shaker - Hush               ||   Deep Purple, Hush
The Lemon Heads - Mrs Robinson  ||  Simon and Garfunkel, Mrs Robinson
The Lightning Seeds - You Showed Me  ||   The Turtles, You Showed Me
Lil Kim etc - Lady Marmalade  ||   La Belle, Lady Marmalade

Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes  ||   The Who, Behind Blue Eyes
Lolly - Hey Mickey                 ||   Toni Basil, Hey Mickey
Lulu - Shout                           ||   The Isley Brothers, Shout
Madness                                  || Labi Siffre, It Must Be Love
Madonna - Hung Up                ||   Abba, Gimme Gimme Gimme  

M.I.A - Jimmy                          ||  "Disco Dancer", Jimmy Aaja Aaja

Mann – Buzzin’                      ||   Nu Shooz, I Can’t Wait

Mann- The Mack                   ||   Mark Morrison, Return of the Mack
Marilyn Manson- Personal Jesus  ||   Depeche Mode, Personal Jesus
Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams     || Eurythmics, Sweet Dreams 
Michael Gray - The Weekend   ||   Oliver Cheatham, Get Down on Saturday Night
N-Trance - Stayin' Alive         ||   Bee Gees, Stayin Alive
N.W.A - Express Yourself      ||    Charles Wright, Express Yourself
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn           ||   Ednaswap, Torn
No doubt - It's My Life            -||    Talk Talk, It's My Life
Notorious B.I.G - Big Poppa           ||   Isley Brothers, Between the Sheets
Notorious B.I.G - Hypnotize       ||   Herb Alpert, Rise
Ol’ Dirty Bastard- Ghetto Superstar       ||  Dolly Parton, Islands in the Stream

Phats and Small- September’99            || Earth Wind and Fire and the Emotions, September

Pitbull/J.Lo – Get on The Floor             || Lambada, Lambada

Pitbull – Hotel Room Service                || Nightcrawlers, Push the Feeling On

Pitbull – I Know You Want Me              || Nicola Fasano, 75 Brazil Street

Pussy Cat Dolls – Beep                       || E.L.O – Evil Woman

Skepta – Sunglasses at Night              || Corey Hart, Sunglasses at Night

R Kelly – Number One                         || Rhyze, Just How Sweet Is Your Love
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Higher Ground       || Stevie Wonder, Higher Ground

Shirley Bassey - Get the Party Started       || Pink, Get the Party Started

Simply Red, You Make Me Feel Brand New     || The Stylistics, You Make Me Feel Brand New
Soulsearcher - Can't Get Enough           || Gary's Gang, Let's Love Dance Tonight

The Spinners – Working My Way Back        || Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Working My Way Back

Sugababes - Freak Like Me             || Gary Numan, Are Friends Electric + Adina Howard, Freak Like Me (who sampled Bootsy Collins - I'd Rather Be With You + Sly & the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song)

Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight           || Chic, Good Times
Take That- Could this Be Magic                || Barry Manilow, Could This Be Magic

Take That – How Deep Is your Love      || Bee Gees, How Deep Is Your Love

Take That - It Only Takes a Minute Girl     || Tavares, It Only Takes A Minute Girl

Take That - Relight My Fire                 || Dan Hartman, Relight My Fire
Tiffany- I Think We're Alone Now           || Tommy James and the Shondells, I Think We're Alone Now

Tina Turner - Proud Mary                    || Creedence Clearwater Revival, Proud Mary

TuPac – Changes                              || Bruce Hornsby and the Range, The Way It Is

UB40 and Pato Banton- Come Back       || The Equals, Baby Come Back

UB40 - Can't Help Falling In Love         || Elvis Presley, Can't Help Falling In Love
UB40 - Red Red Wine                         || Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, Red Red Wine         || Neil Diamond, Red Red Wine
Vic Reeves and the Wonderstuff - Dizzy   || Tommy Roe, Dizzy
Wiley - Never Be Your Woman          ||  White Town, Your Woman            || Al Bowlly, My Woman
Will Smith - Miami                             || Shalamar and The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy With It        || Sister Sledge, He's the Greatest Dancer (Originally written by Nile Rodgers)
Will Smith - Wild Wild West               || Stevie Wonder, I Wish
Will Smith - Summertime                   || Kool & The Gang, Summer Madness
Will Young, Light My Fire                      || The Doors, Light My Fire
Wu-Tang Clan - Gravel Pit                    ||  James Brown, It's a Man's Man's Man's World + Theme tune from 'Belphegor'