My Video Jamz of 2006
November 19th, 2009 | 3:32 pm est |
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Do you like pop music? Do you like snappy visuals? Well, 2006 was a pretty good year for both. I’m a big fan of Camera Obscura’s loving recreation of early 60s advertising, the Long Blondes’ wittily cinematic split screens, the Bicycles’ endearingly DIY-goofiness, Love is All’s invigorating live performance, and the Golden Dogs’ all-out energetic charge through one of the great unknown pop anthems of the last decade.
The early to mid ’90s was a good time for lovers of smoothed out — but still soulful — female vocal groups. Not exactly a golden age, like the early ’60s were for girl groups, but pretty darn close. Whether it’s the glass shattering vocal skills of a group like En Vogue, the sweet-as-pie harmonies of Zhane, the sassy girl power of TLC, or the kick ass first, ask questions later style of Jade, many viable variations of the girl group were cranking out jam after jam. Call it New Jill Swing if you want, call it whatever you want … we call it awesome. (Mini playlist after the jump!) 
If I remember the summer of 2002 correctly it was hot, it was sunny and it was summery. Just the right conditions for summer jams! This playlist pretty much captures what was blaring out of the windows of my 1993 Dodge Camry as I cruised the main drag looking for action. Or ice cream. Preferably something candy bar based — man, that stuff is delicious! Anyway, on to my summer jams of 2002… 
You could probably go back to just about any year to find some totally hott summertime hip-hop jamz, but 1991 was home to some true classics. Tracks perfect for hot days with nothing to do but kick back, and in the immortal words of the bard Humpty Hump, doowutchyalike. And saywutchyalike about Will Smith, but DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” is the perfect jam to kick off this hot & humid nostalgia trip. 
The mercury is boiling in the thermometer today, the water from the tap just can’t get cold enough to quench a dusty thirst and it’s the kind of day where just walking down to the corner store for an orange Push-Up is enough to get a river of sweat flowing. It’s almost too hot for the jamz!! Yeah, I know….I never thought those words would be written here, but it’s true. So let’s go digging through the archives for some laid-back summer songs that will help us stay cool as the temps blow their tops. 
I was driving to work this morning and took a left turn instead of the usual right turn and next thing I knew, I was in New Jack City. The clouds scattered, my pulse quickened and videos were found. Suddenly the day became bearable as the jams rolled on and on. Take a listen to some of the best music ever made! No lie. 
