Billy Preston > Billy Ray Cyrus

I have fantastic taste. It's a part of being sensational. And I would like to help as many people as possible become sensational because unfortunately many today are so very dull. Today I'd like to discuss music. Knowing good music is important and I will probably have many postings about it thoughtout this blog.

Music is a fantastic way to enrich one's cultural foundation. It can be both a good conversation starter and a nice way to distract from awkward silences. When entertaining people the key to music is having a good mixture of both the classic favorites and new tunes which the audience may not have experienced yet. The new tunes are a bit risky but only playing classics makes one appear to be unoriginal and dull. We all love the classics but they can only be played so many times before even they become overplayed. People who play only the classics are tools, because their chief concern is making a great impression not wanting to risk upsetting anyone. Ultimately this person may be very entertaining at first, but shortly will become unbearably boring. However, playing only new music comes out as being arrogant and hostile rather than hospitable.

Recently I was at a dance where the music was comprised of neither classic favorites nor new unheard of digs. Rather it was contemporary pop. This was an invitation only formal dance. We all have our guilty pleasures, which is perfectly fine, I'm a sucker for 'Mmmbop', but Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera have no place at this type of dance. The music was very poorily chosen. People cannot grind in three-piece suits and gowns, not that they should be anyway but you get my point.

For now I'd like to share with you some good music. I've comprised a list of 11 songs that represent a good spectrum of artists. Some of the songs are old classics and some less mainstream. Notice I didn't always pick the absolute best these artists have to offer. Part of playing new music can simply be playing the B-sides of the legends. I've included youtube links to all of them but I'm not actually posting the videos because I don't want to clutter up my post.

Zombies, 'This Will Be Our Year'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akmdejcd8CM

Noah and the Whale, '5 Year's Time'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8YCSJpF4g4

The Zuton's, 'Valerie'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PksBPk_8QQ4

And Steve Winwood's, 'Valerie'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anCg5EiB2AM

Billy Preston, 'Nothing From Nothing'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DV54ddNHE

Ray LaMontagne, 'You Are the Best Thing'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iTX3-cbWnM

Jamiroqaui, 'Seven Days in Sunny June'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqYtVyC4ALE

Oasis, 'Don't Look Back in Anger'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8OipmKFDeM&feature=channel

Kate Nash, 'Merry Happy'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zdi2IF5ezw

Pointer Sister's, 'Jump'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgSyB5xSo2U

Kenny Rogers, 'The Gambler'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn481KcjvMo