Debating 2024's Summer Anthems, Celebrating Soul II Soul's 'Back To Life', and the Hits of 1989

Episode Transcript

*DISCLAIMER: Transcripts are created using AI, and may not accurately represent the content exactly as presented. Transcripts are provided as a courtesy to our listeners who require them.

[00:00:00] How To Support Queue Points
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Jay Ray: Hey, what's up? Good people. It's Jay Ray, the cohost of Queue Points. And I wanted to come to you because there are two really important ways that you can support our show. One is by subscribing to it, wherever you listen to, or watch your podcast. Queue Points is pretty much everywhere. The other thing that you can do is you can visit us on Apple podcasts.

On Spotify and on pod chaser, and you can leave us a star rating, please rate us five stars because you know, you love Queue Points and on Apple podcasts and on pod chaser, you can actually leave us a written review. It's not required, but it really does help to spread the word about the show and it helps people to discover it as they're looking for new podcasts to listen to.

We're always appreciative of you supporting Queue Points. We thank you so much for all that you've done for us so far and enjoy the show.

[00:00:50] Sponsored Ad: "What's Poppin' Penny?" Juneteenth Special
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Jay Ray: Hey everyone! It's Jay Ray. Podcasting is not just a passion for me and DJ Sir Daniel, it's a way for us to educate and inspire.

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Penny is a preschooler who discovers that an ancestral poem holds the key to unlocking the magical secrets of a teddy bear passed down from her grandpa, which is filled with her family's history.

Tune in to the upcoming 2024 Juneteenth "What's Poppin' Penny?" special. The show will feature guest star, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin. Ms. Betty was a well-known songwriter in the Civil Rights Movement, she became the oldest National Park Ranger at the age of 85, and among her many honors and awards, President Barack Obama presented her with a presidential commemorative coin at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in 2015.

Subscribe to "What's Poppin' Penny?" wherever you listen to your podcasts, and be sure to share the show with young people. They will be sure have a good time! Peace! 

[00:02:08] Intro Theme (Music by Danya Vodovoz)
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[00:02:39] Welcome to Queue Points Podcast
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DJ Sir Daniel: Greetings and welcome back to another episode of Queue Points podcast. I am DJ sir, Daniel

Jay Ray: And my name is Jay Ray, sometimes known by my government as Johnnie Ray Kornegay III and Sir Daniel. You are dressed differently from me. It is summer where you are.

DJ Sir Daniel: it's it's summer everywhere right now. It's summertime and yes, we're about to get into this topic. You know, Queue Points podcast, the podcast that's always dropping the needle on black music history. And this episode we're talking about being outside and what we're listening to while we're outside. But Jerry, guess what the verdict is in and Queue Points is guilty on all 34 charges.

We are the hottest podcast in the world. Welcome back everybody to Queue Points podcast, dropping the needle on black music history. 

[00:03:30] Checking In
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DJ Sir Daniel: Jay Ray, I got to check in with you. How are you feeling today?

Jay Ray: You know, man, I am doing well, uh, handling all the things, doing all the things, but happy to be here. Happy to do what we do on Thursday and to be here with everyone. So for all the folks that are joining us, please shout us, shout yourselves out. So join the chat. If you're on Twitter, click on the video, because there is a chat window on Twitter that you can actually chat with us.

Chime in. Let us know where you're joining us from. And for everybody else. Chime in. Let us know where you are joining us from.

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. Absolutely. So Jerry, we are about to get into the conversation about songs of the summer and, you know, I thought it fitting for, to, I had to get in the mood because I want to feel tropical. I want to feel like I'm getting away. I want, we got somebody, we got, um, Ed. Right said Ed is in the chat already taking me to tell me to take my shades off.

I know it's rude. Okay It was just for effect. I'm i'm here. Um, it's still me. I'm you can look at i'm looking to your soul And you can look into mine now Um thus far um viewers, but um, yeah jray, you know summertime is we've It's a special time for us because we started, we actually started Queue Points at the height of the summer, at the top of the summer.

Jay Ray: We did.

DJ Sir Daniel: yeah, so it's time. This is our favorite time of year. It's about nostalgia. It's about being outside. And of course it's about music.

Jay Ray: Yes. You know, um, in preparation for this show, uh, Sir Daniel, our second show. Um, was done right around this time because we had taken some time off for because I went to celebrate my birthday in Atlanta. Um, that is so crazy y'all. So just go with us here. Our second show was about summertime anthems, um, back then and we were having this conversation about like summertime and the experiences and that was in 2021.

At around this very same time. So welcome back as we're about to do a new version of this whole thing, because we love this time of year and we love the music.

DJ Sir Daniel: We absolutely do. But what we love even more is you guys coming back and supporting us each and every time. 

[00:05:52] Merchandise and Ways to Connect
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DJ Sir Daniel: Jerry, they have to know about the, all of the, um, the merchandise that we have, um, that's on our website. That is like. If you had the, you had the fall and the winter versions of our merchandise, you need to, you need to get up on the summertime version.

So Jay Ray, tell them all about it.

Jay Ray: time. Um, if you visit. Well, first of all, thank you so much for joining us. If you can see our faces or hear our voices. Thank you for that. You listening, you watching. That is the most important thing that you can do. Um, subscribe wherever you are listening or watching. Um, share the show with your friends, your family, your colleagues.

If you enjoy Queue Points, chances are they will enjoy Queue Points. To dj Sir Daniels point. If you are interested in, um, purchasing some of the products that we have available on Queue Points, you could visit our website@Queue Points.com. There's a store button there. You should also go ahead and join the newsletter so that we can stay connected with you there.

You should also check out our blog@magazine.Queue Points.com. It's another free opportunity and a way for you to stay even more connected to the work of Queue Points. You could become a member, you could do. All the things. Uh, we're just happy you're here. I'm always happy. Sir Daniel's always happy to see all of you just kind of, uh, hanging out with us.

So connect with us in other ways.

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. Shout out to Mark McPherson. One of our day ones joining us from beautiful and sunny Columbus, Ohio, as he put it, and you know, I know that our fans. friends in Chicago, specifically like Carlton is always representing for us. We see you, thank you for wearing your Queue Points gear out and about, especially at these outdoor festivals and dance parties.

[00:07:39] Nylon Magazine's Summer Song Rankings
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DJ Sir Daniel: And so like Jerry and I said, summertime is very important to us. Music is very important to us and summer and new music or just music in general go together. I still. I still remember the day, um, after the Fresh Prince of Bel Air aired and right at the very end, we stayed tuned because the summertime video dropped right after that.

And that song, 30 plus years later, remains a summertime staple. Well, Nylon Magazine. Dropped a list. Magazines are dropping lists left and right. So why wouldn't nylon drop their list of potential summertime anthems and being who Jerry and I are chatterboxes, we started talking about it. So we're going to start talking about these potential songs of the summer contenders, and let's just talk about it.

Jerry, we went through the list. There was some people, there's a lot of people. We did really. weren't really familiar with and a couple of songs that. We already heard, but let's just go through the list and let the list, let the listeners and the viewers chime along with us.

Jay Ray: Yeah. So, uh, one of the interesting things to be aware of about this list to y'all is it looks like, um, they're updating it pretty regularly as songs move, uh, around the summer. Um, but they're calling this a power ranking of 2024's top song of the summer contenders And interestingly enough, this still surprises me. 

[00:09:21] Discussing Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'
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Jay Ray: So first at number one, they have Kendrick Lamar's not like us. Um, this I Sir Daniel correct me if I'm wrong. I do not remember ever in the history. Of music. A diss song being this hot on the charts and in the club. I just don't remember it being a thing that people wanted to play and hear and dance to.

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm going to, I'm going to push back a little on that. Like from, from the early years. It may not have been like a summertime hit. And of course we don't know where it landed on the charts because this was predates a little bit of hip hops, like pop crossover power, but like BDPs, the bridge is over. was played at every jam, you know, every single jam, you can hear that people love to sing along with the, you know, Roxanne Chantel is only give us a, you know, they love singing along to that part.

And then if you fast forward a few years, you know, Drake was heavy in the club with back to back.

Jay Ray: Yup.

DJ Sir Daniel: And so I could see how there are some diss songs that have, um, some danceable quality to it and have some dance floor, um, influence. And so I get it. I get why Not Like Us trending like that. I get why it has that, that power.

I've heard, I've seen some people critique and say, it's a dope song, but it's not the song of the summer. And that's debatable. Whether or not it's a song on the summer, but that song is crazy right now. The kids are playing it at their bar mitzvahs. So that's a reach. That is some reach power, my friend.

Jay Ray: Agreed. I do think, um, it speaks to the time. Um, it speaks to just kind of the moment that we're in. Um, yeah, this, uh,

DJ Sir Daniel: It speaks to social media also. Social media has a huge, huge impact on this music.

Jay Ray: yeah, you know what you, I think, you know, one of the things that's really interesting. I am curious about what the impact of this on Drake's career Whatever Drake's next big release is, I am curious about how that's going to land because you now got people in the club saying, oh, V Ho, like it's just

DJ Sir Daniel: It's not going anywhere. It's not going to, it's, it's an airworm. It's not going anywhere anytime soon. I did see, um, Drake posted on something like, okay, enough of that. It's, um, summertime vibes on the way to chart, to hint to his public, you know, to hint to his public, um, that I'm shifting, you know, I'm done with that.

You know, it's pure vibes over here, over here, guy, it's pure vibes over here. Guy, you're cheesing me, dog.

Jay Ray: we'll see, we will see, uh, we will see. But Nylon has Kendrick's Not Like Us, um, here. Now this was a song I was not familiar with. 

[00:12:45] Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso'
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Jay Ray: Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. I don't like this song. Um.

DJ Sir Daniel: Really? Okay.

Jay Ray: I did not like this song. Um, for a couple of reasons, uh, one, um, I felt like, let me, let me, let me take a step back.

The song has all of the trappings of a summer bop that I would like, you know what I'm saying? There's like a, a pop beat that kind of grooves a little bit. Like you can play it at night in the summer with the, with the windows down. That's kind of like my barometer. Right.

DJ Sir Daniel: Mm hmm.

Jay Ray: I listened to it at night with the windows down because I was listening to these as I was doing errands last night.

So anyway, um, however. The lyrics are just pedestrian. Like I'm okay with like lyrical content. That's just not really meant to do anything, but I'm like, I'm not into these lyrics. It's fine. It's a fine song. I didn't personally like it. I get why people like it. Not my thing. Not the worst song on this list though, by far.

DJ Sir Daniel: So espresso is one of the songs that I actually like and can see going far and it's all because of the things that you mentioned. The same things that you you dislike about it are the things that is going to propel it. You don't have to think too hard when you listen to it. It is clearly, it's clearly rooftop vibes.

Um, It definitely is in the, in the vein of, um, like Doja Cat's hit, um, Say So Last Year. You can blend them right into each other. It's, it's, it's got, it's disco, it's pop, it's all the things. The DJs are going to have a field day with these remixes. And, um, she's, I saw her, I saw, I only became familiar with Sabrina Carpenter after her appearance on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago.

And. She's got the, she's got the, um, the personality to push it and to pull it off. Um, I don't foresee, I don't foresee the, you know, this being, you know, her being like the next Madonna or anything like that. I don't think we're, we're ever going to return to that era of pop stardom anymore, but I think it's going to carry all the. All the white girls that want to drop their purses in the middle of the floor and throw their hands up and just wave their hands with reckless abandon. It's going to carry them through the summer. And I'm not, I'm not mad at it. It's it's, it's not annoying. So I'll, you know, I'll give that one a slide.

Wow.

[00:15:39] Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's 'I Had Some Help'
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Jay Ray: song right here, This song right here though, I, I had some help Post Malone and Morgan Whalen. Is it Whalen? I don't know how to say the child's name. This went in. I went up so hard for this song. I don't, I don't know. I don't know no Post Malone songs for real.

Don't call me and ask me. I don't know. I thought he was a rapper. Apparently he was a rapper three years ago. Now he not doing that. I This song did all the things I wanted it to do. For like a pop summer song. Um. The, I, I enjoyed it lyrically, I enjoyed the production of this song. It had a whole rock vibe that I really got into.

I actually think this one will end up being one of those big songs for the summer. I think they will, I think it'll chart high, and they will sell this thing like gangbusters. Um, oh, it's already went to number one. I didn't even read, um, the caption here. I didn't know that it had already went to number one.

I thoroughly enjoyed I Had Some Help by Post Malone and Morgan Whalen. It was actually one of my favorites on this list.

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, wow. Okay. Um, I never yuck anybody's yum. Post Malone is well on his kid rock journey. You know, you start off in hip hop and you end up turning, turning into a, a rock and roll God, maybe a MAGA supporter down the line. I don't know. I don't know what

Jay Ray: That's that seems to be the trajectory of

DJ Sir Daniel: That's the trajectory. So, and I, you know, for me, those things factor.

And so it, it's not bad. It's not bad. Like you said, it has the trappings of all of what makes a great pop rock song and whoever the production teams that are behind these songs, they, somebody reached back and listened to the formulas of back of back in the day. And said, Oh, this is what we've gotten away from.

We need to, we need to be outside. We need to feel what this feels like outside with the stuff, the fireworks and everything. Everybody, all the young people are wanting to be outside right now. They want, they don't want vibes anymore. They want to be outside. They want to throw their hands up in the air and they are getting to it.

They're making the music to fit that. It's not my personal favorite. But I see why it's successful.

Jay Ray: Yep, completely get it. Listen, at

DJ Sir Daniel: Now we talking

Jay Ray: Now, well, so here's the thing.

DJ Sir Daniel: So here's the thing. So we, so we're going to be going back and forth like this now, where it's like something, I think that I'm good that you're going to like, you're not, not so much. 

[00:18:34] Tinashe's 'Nasty'
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DJ Sir Daniel: I am a fan of Tinashe's Nasty. Tinashe has been one of those, um, artists that came out back in what, 2014. And has, you know, she's been one of those artists that just keeps coming Going at it, trying and trying, I know that she said that the music industry is just not paying off like it, it used to coming out of her own pocket to, to fund her projects, to fund her videos, all of this, but she's still chipping away at it.

And I can't say that I've always. She's always had my ear, but every now and then she, something that she does will catch my ear and I'm sorry, nasty, as simplistic as it is. And I think that's what the draw of it is. It's super simplistic. The beat is super basic, but it's funky. It, and it, it, it, it, it, it, it, um, it makes you want to body roll.

You know, and that's very important to me as a DJ. If you have body roll power, you've got me linked. You've got me locked in. And here's my thing. Nasty is perfect for mashups. Again, the DJs are having a field day. I see all of my DJ colleagues putting their spin on nasty, mashing it up with everything from Britney Spears to vanity six, it's all happening.

And those are the things that. In my opinion, say, Hey, this song is popping. Um, it's been out for a minute now, but I think it's still going to have some impact for the summer. You know, it, it's something that the women are going to sing along to. The hook is, I've been a nasty girl. Who's not going to sing along to that.

We know God, we know plenty of fellows that are going to be singing along to I've been a nasty girl. So it's, it's got song of the summer written all over it for me.

Jay Ray: Yeah. Um, this one was not my least favorite, but it wasn't. So here's the thing. I like Tinashe. I really do. Like I, and I expected something. I don't know what I expected, but, um, it definitely has Song of the Summer written all over it. I do think, I wasn't a huge fan of the hook. Um, I thought, I was like, okay, I know what this is doing.

I get why they did, I get why they made all the production choices that they made. And I think, you know what I think will happen with me in this song? I will hear it, I will dance to it, and it will change my mind. I

DJ Sir Daniel: absolutely will.

Jay Ray: I think that's the thing. I think listening as like J Ray Queue Points, like I was like, this isn't going down.

Like, cause I was listening. I was like, okay, yes, I know. Okay. They're calling back to this. They're calling back to that. I get it. Um, so that being said though, that being said, if I, if I had tears, this would be in like tier, if I had four tiers, this would be in tier two. Right? So it wouldn't be in one, it would be in tier two, but it wouldn't be like three, four.

Um, so I'm okay with Tinashe and Nasty. Um, I think it'll be popular and I do want her to win. Honestly, I want her to win. There's the joint from like 2014. Of course the name is escaping me now because

DJ Sir Daniel: What? Two one. Not

Jay Ray: no, it was the other joint. I'll find it.

DJ Sir Daniel: Cause I think that was the biggest hit

Jay Ray: That was, this was a different joint. Um, and who produced it?

I think one of the, um, selection guys produced it. But anyway, Tinashe's Nasty is at number four on this list. Um, you know, I don't know why Family Matters by

DJ Sir Daniel: I have no clue. I, it boggles my mind. There's way too many beat changes for it to be like danceable or even I can see you riding to it and, you know, I can see people riding out to it, but it doesn't, I don't know, it just doesn't have that factor to it to me, especially in light of the fact that. Of how Kendrick just completely obliterated him in this, in that skirmish that they had.

So I just don't see how this ends. Family matters ends up on the list, you know, for you, for the rapid rap dudes, that's, you know, getting ready to, you know, head out to the hookah lounge or, you know, to, or fake. You know, drive bys and whatnot, this family matters is going to be perfect for those hoodlums that like to do, um, speed racing and, and shut down streets and do donuts and cause a lot of traffic being backed up.

Jay Ray: And make me mad. I'd be like go home.

DJ Sir Daniel: That's what family matters is going to be. Those are those people that are going to be listening to family matters.

Jay Ray: Yeah, this one is a is a no go for me. It's on this list. It's a no go. Um, so it's funny when we were when we were going through this list initially. 

[00:23:48] Tommy Richman's 'Million Dollar Baby'
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Jay Ray: Million Dollar Baby by Tommy Richman. I don't watch enough TikTok to know what this song is. I don't enjoy this song. I get why people like it. I don't think it's song.

It is not trending as high as like a Nasty or some of these other songs. Um, in fact, I think this is one of those songs in my opinion that, um, might lose momentum kind of quickly. Um, because at first I was interested in it. Like when I've heard it, cause I had to go back and listen to this. This is one of the ones I was like, I hear this, but I don't hear this.

Um, and then I went back and I listened to it and I'm like, Oh, okay. I get why people are into this song, but I'm not my favorite. Don't think it's, uh, on the list, a contender for like song of the summer. I do think it will be one of those songs that depending on what Tommy Richman does next is either going to, we will remember next year or we won't.

It all hinges on whatever this artist does after this.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah. So initially, here's my thought. So million dollar baby it for is the dude bro song, um, that nasty is to girls.

Jay Ray: You, that is the perfect analogy. It's like the other side of that coin. Mm hmm.

DJ Sir Daniel: million dollar baby is the dude bro version of nasty by Tinashe. It's um, again, so we're getting real time lessons about how music works today and how Um, created songs or Tik TOK famous songs are translating to outside of the social media. It's like, okay, this is working on Tik TOK because we only get to hear it 60 seconds and it sounds funky. Initially, it sounds funky and whatnot. And, um, but there's a whole artist behind it that has done a video, a treatment and everything, and now the song is out for consumption on the dance floors and in our rides. Are we going to like it past 60 seconds? We'll see. We'll see. It's I don't hate it. I don't hate it.

It, I don't hate it. It's, um, it, it gives me, he's singing in like his good old, um, what's my guy's name, uh, from Phil and his like Phil Collins kind of falsetto falsetto. We, you know, funky, uh, white boy vibes. I don't know. I guess he's from Oakland. He's probably from Oakland or somewhere like that. That's what he gives.

And, um, Yeah, we'll see. It's it's I don't hate it. I don't hate it, but I don't see, I don't know what it's going to translate to in a DJ set, or if we're going to hear a bunch of, um, Pete DJs mashing it up and doing their thing to it

Jay Ray: Yep. Yep. I feel you. I feel you. Um, I like this. I really liked. 

[00:27:05] Chappell Roan's 'Good Luck, Babe'
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Jay Ray: So this is Chappelle Roan and we're talking about the song. It's called good luck, babe. And, um, so first of all, I like it. 80s synth kind of throwbacky things. Um, this had, this had that going for it. I also enjoyed the, um, sidebar. Mark just said, Tommy Richmond is from Woodbridge, Virginia.

So there's

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh,

Jay Ray: So,

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh

Jay Ray: but, um, good luck, babe. What I liked about it is lyrically, I thought it was kind of fun. Um, and, uh, I just thought the vibe of the whole thing was really cool. So this is one of those fun songs. I actually put Um, I think this is a tier one for me if I did it like the four tiers I think this is this is up there as one of those but this is also personal preference this song Is pure personal preference it gives johnny everything that he wants in a pop song for the summer Um, and I thoroughly enjoyed it Uh, I was i'm not familiar with this artist at all.

So I didn't know who this was or what to do

DJ Sir Daniel: I, so, so, yes, so we're continuing our volley, our back and forth volley, I, the first thing when I heard it, I was like, this is like a zillennial, um, or yeah, a zillennial version of Kate Bush running up the hill,

Jay Ray: That is so funny I thought and it was funny. I thought it was going to go in the, uh, you ought to know vibe with Alanis Morissette, but it went into Kate Bush vibe. You're absolutely right.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah, it's got the vocals are very Kate Bush and Tori Amos, very shrilly and, and operatic and dramatic. You like all that. Jerry loves that kind of stuff. So, so that this is in the J Ray wheelhouse and, you know, we'll let that be good. And, and in the tight, in the words of the title, good luck, babe. Good luck with this song.

Jay Ray: Good luck, babe. Good luck. Chappelle Rome. 

[00:29:12] Taylor Swift and Post Malone "Fortnight"
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Jay Ray: Okay. I hate this shit. Okay.

DJ Sir Daniel: Wow. Just tell us how you feel. So it, well, it's Taylor Swift guys. It's fortnight with, with your other favorite post Malone, Jerry. Um,

Jay Ray: just, I just, I just figured out I liked him, uh, 24 hours ago, so it's fine.

DJ Sir Daniel: You like this song? So here's the thing I, this song sounds eerily to me, not eerily, but it sounds so much like Madonna's crazy for you. And I think. I'm getting that vibe from it. And I think what the young people are doing are reaching back. They may not know it, but they're reaching back for those vibes.

Crazy for you from the, um, vision quest soundtrack, uh, was like Madonna's one of Madonna's huge hits from the eighties. Listen, vision quest was a

Jay Ray: I forgot all about. Qui. I forgot it was from that. And you're absolutely right.

DJ Sir Daniel: quintessential 80s movie. And you know, it just, it's going to happen. I think what we're, what we as seasoned listeners, people that have been around or been on the planet for a while and have listened to all the things we've gone through four to five, almost five decades of music, we're going to start hearing stuff that's going to sound alike or going to call back to records of, of the yesteryears.

And Fortnite is that for me.

Jay Ray: Yeah, no, I, I hear exactly where you're coming from. 

[00:30:46] Mixed Reactions to New Songs
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Jay Ray: Honestly, I didn't even finish this song. That's how much I didn't enjoy it. And that's not me. I was like, and I really went into it. Like, Hey, let me give this a go. You know what I'm saying? I like, uh, I like a good music video. Just not my jam. It's just not my jam.

So.

DJ Sir Daniel: Yeah, you know what I always say, J Ray, we, when we have our discussions, what do I always say instead of I'm, I'm trying to, I'm living my life to where I'm, I'm being positive. I'm being glass half full. So I just say, instead of saying I hate something, I just say, I wish I liked it more.

Jay Ray: I wish,

DJ Sir Daniel: I wish I liked it more.

We might need to, we might need to create a, I wish I liked this song more playlist. I wish I liked it more, but I just don't.

Jay Ray: I just don't, I just don't. 

[00:31:36] Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross 'Brutalizer'
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Jay Ray: Um, so next song is Brutalizer, which is a song by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. No lyrics to this song. It is all a synthy, not house, but a synthy electronic industrial. It's what Trent Reznor does. Um, I didn't mind this. This would end up in my tier three. It wouldn't be in the bottom.

Um, but, uh, I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It's fine.

DJ Sir Daniel: Like I just said, I wish I liked it more. It's it's definitely video game music. It's um, it's, it's Grand Theft Auto ready, ready to go. I'm, it doesn't resonate with me, so, but thanks. Trent Reznor is a, is a legend.

Jay Ray: Absolutely, absolutely. 

[00:32:28] Peggy Gu's Lobster Telephone: A Fun Discovery
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Jay Ray: And finally, we have, uh, Lobs HAHAHAHAHA Now, I, I Thought this was fun, um This would, uh, So, Lobster Telephone by Peggy Gu I don't speak Korean, so I don't know what the lyrics to this song is saying, but I totally thought it was fun And, um, I don't know much about Peggy Goo.

And actually when I was listening, I was listening in the car. So when I went back, I was like, Oh, this person is big in Europe. And it all makes sense. Um, I thought Lobster Telephone was totally fun. This would actually end up in tier two for me. Um, But yeah, so I thought this was, this was a cool song. Do I think it's song of the summer?

I do not. But, um, I thought it was a fun song and I'm glad I know it exists. And now I want to hear this record when it comes out.

DJ Sir Daniel: It just made me want to play rock lobster by B 52s. That's all. I wish I liked it more

Jay Ray: Y'all, that was us discussing Nylons. Uh, what is this called? Nylons.

DJ Sir Daniel: potential songs of the

Jay Ray: Yes. A power ranking of 2024 top songs of the summer contenders. 

[00:33:45] Songs Missing from the List
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Jay Ray: Um, and to that point, there's stuff that should have been on this list. That's not on this list. I have a thing. I have

DJ Sir Daniel: Come on, hit us with

Jay Ray: So what's not on this list that should be that Kaytranada and that Rochelle Jordan, that lover friend. First of all. Shout out to Rochelle Jordan, who, uh, her album was called Play With The Changes, which great album. I have another album that I love with that title by For Hero that came out in 2010 or something. But anyway, this song, Love Her Friend by Kate Trinata and Rochelle Jordan, I absolutely have on my list of like favorite things to listen to.

Um, that Illusion by Dua Lipa. That goes for me. That, and I like a Dua Lipa, so that's

DJ Sir Daniel: You like a doula people.

Jay Ray: I like a Dua Pipa. And the last thing that's not on the list, this list, I think the song is too new, but um, I don't even know how to say this child's name, but the song is called, uh, Wrist Taker, but it's by Blaxt, B L X T.

How do we, how do you, how would you say

DJ Sir Daniel: We're probably you're probably gonna say blast all the people the kids are gonna be in our comments. It's pronounced blast It's pronounced or look. No, it's pronounced blazed Get it, right old head is blazed

Jay Ray: I, I, also it's by that person. I'm gonna go with blast. I think blast is great. And it features offset. Um, offset is on this song. So those are three joints that are new joints that I totally enjoy. Um, that I think would be on the songs of the summer list. Do you have any that should be on the list? Sir, Daniel.

[00:35:37] Kaytranada's Summertime Sound
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DJ Sir Daniel: I Do not but that Kate Renata album Everybody's in a tizzy about it already. We are waiting. It's like and you know what? It's not even You I don't think that we're going to hear anything like groundbreaking, but it's still dope. It still makes you feel good. It still makes you, you know, that's a, he's has become the definition of a summertime sound.

He's, he's like the king of the rooftop jams, you know, king of the, of the beach cabanas, you know, where Kaytranada's season. Katrinada is now, is definitely like a summertime kind of guy, kind of artist. And I'm here for it. I'm waiting for it. And just like everybody else. And I'm excited.

Jay Ray: Yeah for folks in who are joining us in the chat Do you have any songs that are kind of on your song of the summer? So any contemporary songs that are out now that you're like, oh my god, this joint is popping. Everybody needs to hear it Let us know. Um, but yeah, that was a it was a fun list. It was interesting I love I did totally didn't expect us to go opposite.

That was hilarious to me.

DJ Sir Daniel: It happens.

Jay Ray: It

DJ Sir Daniel: It happens.

[00:36:51] Radio BSOTS Mid-Roll Ad
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Radio BSOTS Mid-Roll Ad: There are two types of people in the world, those who complain about the state of today's music and those who dig. I'm Jason Randall Smith, and I invite you to check out Radio BSOTS, Both Sides of the Surface, a music podcast championing the work of independent artists from around the way. The primary focus on Creative Commons licensed music.

Think of this show as a never ending virtual crate dig through a parallel universe of online labels, seeking out the hip hop, soul, jazz, funk, and electronic music gems that are often hiding in plain sight, and hopefully demystifying the world of Creative Commons along the way. One song at a time. You can find Radio BSOTS wherever you listen to podcasts.

For more information, visit the website at BSOTS. com. That's B S O T S dot com.

[00:37:51] Celebrating 35 Years of Soul II Soul's 'Back to Life'
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Jay Ray: Sir Daniel, you raised a really important historical note that we have to talk about now. Please let the people know what classic was released 35 years ago. Mm-Hmm?

DJ Sir Daniel: Ladies and gentlemen, the. At the time of this recording, in the week of May 29th, 1989, we experienced a new British invasion by the sound system known as Soul II Soul, and they dropped off A bomb of a song. I mean, and I mean that in the best way possible. This song to this day gets the people going. It still has the effect on generation after generation.

This song opens up Hype Williams Hype Williams. First of all, I believe only, um, Theater release movie, and it had the most, the most impactful opening of a movie visually and with this music underneath it sonically, and it is also a hip hop staple

Jay Ray: Mm-Hmm.

DJ Sir Daniel: because that, um, that drum pattern that Nellie Hooper and, um, what's my other guy's name, Nellie Hooper, and Jazzy B created, um, All your hip hop producers started, um, adapting that, that 98 BPM to a lot of rap songs following after that.

I'm talking about none other than Back to Life. Back to Life has been, I mean, from the Original way that it starts off or the album version, I should say, to the a cappella, which is DJs love that a cappella opening

Jay Ray: you could throw it on any you could throw that on Anything Karen Wheeler's vocal is pristine

DJ Sir Daniel: and it just takes people to another world. Immediately, people stop what they're doing and they sing along to it. And ladies and gentlemen, that dropped 30. Five years ago, May 29th, 1989. What an amazing, amazing song that we have been gifted by Soul II Soul, by Nellie Hooper and Jazzy B and Karen Wheeler, the whole Soul II Soul sound system.

That I just can't go on more enough about how impactful that song, that whole album.

Jay Ray: That whole album

DJ Sir Daniel: That whole movement, the Soul II Soul movement was so impactful to us stateside. It's ridiculous.

Jay Ray: and um that particular song has that unique blend songwriters tune in um Back to life Can mean so many things. There's a religious context that you could sit this song in and it works. There's a romantic relationship context that you can sit this song in and it works. And there is a just inspirational Context that you can sit this song and in by inspiration.

I'm not talking spirituality. I'm talking like, uh, uh, filling you up and bringing you joy context this particular song. I think the reason why it resonates one. It is to your point expertly produced. expertly sung. The lyrics are universal. They can apply to anybody. They're easy to sing. They're, they're not pedestrian, but they're not complicated.

It does all the things. And it is one of those songs from that era. It'll just never go away. It'll just never, it can never go away. 

[00:41:59] Reflecting on the Music of 1989
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Jay Ray: And as long as we have cookouts and gatherings, We are going to be hearing Karen Wheeler's voice come over that that speaker and we will be happy about it And sing it as a group of black folks Yeah, man 89 was an interesting Year, so what?

Okay. Where was I in 89? So I was 12.

DJ Sir Daniel: Hmm. Okay.

Jay Ray: I Was 12 years old. I was I was Probably entering like eighth grade. Like I was going to eighth grade and we were in the midst of new Jack swing. Right. Um, hip hop was like blowing up everywhere. Um, and the summers, I remember the summer of 89, just being really important.

Like, wait, how old were you in 89? Sir, Daniel.

DJ Sir Daniel: the summer of 89, I was still, okay. So I'm a September baby. So I still went through the whole summer being 13, but that was the year I turned 14 and that was a pivotal year for me because we moved from New York to Florida. There was that there was a whole movement of New Yorkers around in the late 80s to Florida, to various parts of Florida.

And we were, we got caught up in that and ended up in St. Petersburg. So I became exposed to, um, to a lot of different cultures, a lot of different music. I became, I was really there in the bass music. Um, crockpot. Like, I was there in the middle of it. I became exposed to people like Jamponi Express. You know, different ways of, different vernacular.

You know, people dressing differently. There was still some people wearing jerry curls back

Jay Ray: Yes! It's

DJ Sir Daniel: I was just, It's 89, but no, in New York, it was like, nobody had a jerk or curl in 89, but going into 90. But I just remember it was a very magical time musically. Like you said, 89, we were delving into the, to the, to hip house, to new jack swing.

And then of course, Soul II Soul comes along and gifts us with Back to Life and the whole Soul II Soul volume one project. 

[00:44:22] The Diversity of 1989's Music Charts
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DJ Sir Daniel: But 89, what were the charts looking like in 89,

Jay Ray: So to that point, so we pulled, um, we went to the Wikipedia and Miss Karen White was, was killing the game in, in, in 19, baby, you see Karen, you see Karen up there at the top. Uh, for those who are listening, um, there's a picture of Karen White here, but we're on the Wikipedia. We'll include the link here.

These were the number ones on the. Black. It was the hot black singles chart. That was what it was called then. Now this chart is the hot r and b hip hop chart. Um, but back then it was just the hot black singles chart. And lemme see. You know what's interesting? Even just looking at the first half of the year, sir Daniel is the variety of different.

Kinds of artists on the chart you at opening up the year is Roberta Flack and they make the note that this is Roberta Flack's first number one in over 10 years and it was Oasis she opened the year With the first number one on the black chart. I loved Oasis. It was one of my favorite. It's one of my favorite songs of that era.

Um, and of course you'll see right there, like Karen White took over for the next three weeks with the anthem. Yeah.

DJ Sir Daniel: respectively 12 and 13, 14 years old, right? had classmates, little girls singing their little hearts out to Superwoman. About some fictitious husband that they had. It was like, you are 12 or 13 years old. Why are we singing at the top of our lungs about early in the morning?

I put breakfast on your table, you know, but that was the, that's the impact of a great, great song. And Karen white was already winning because. I just liked Karen white, you know, she was killing the running man in the, in the rendezvous video and the way you left, she just had all the bops.

Jay Ray: did.

DJ Sir Daniel: I was happy that she was able to have a power ballad, like super woman that can live on.

Like she can tour for the rest of her life with these songs. So, and that's a testament to great songwriting. Ladies and gentlemen, great songwriting and song structure songs that have bridges. We will talk about that later.

Jay Ray: yes

DJ Sir Daniel: talk about that a little bit later after the break. But yeah, this I became so nostalgic when we started going through this list.

What else is

Jay Ray: Yes, so, you know, of course, can you say in the rain by new edition new edition had a huge comeback The year prior that was the any heartbreak. There was the whole any heartbreak tour There was a that was a big year for them. Um Vanessa Williams, so of course the year prior The Right Stuff album had been released.

Shout out to Kipper. Um, and A Dreamin ended up. But you know what's hot? Because I heard this on the radio the other day. Just Coolin by LaVert with Heavy D was a bop. Easy does it. Do it easy.

DJ Sir Daniel: me, relax a little. You talking about standing by the pool,

Jay Ray: Yes.

DJ Sir Daniel: coming with Levert, I'm cooling, man. That, now that was a summertime vibe. That was a summertime, it was a perfect matchup, Heavy D and Levert. Just fun times, man, just, uh, I really hated for y'all that weren't around back then, I really do.

Jay Ray: so De La Soul hit number one. That was the first number one. Um, with me, myself and I in June of that year. But check this out, Sir Daniel, check it out. This on this chart in 1989, you have the OJs who are

DJ Sir Daniel: hmm.

Jay Ray: 20 plus years into their career at that point hitting number one. Peebo Bryson, Natalie Cole. Who else do I see?

Stephanie Mills, something in a way you make me feel is a whole bop. All of these folks are mixed in with these new cats. You know what I'm saying? Jodie Watley came back with Real Love. Even Skye is on this chart. I don't remember start of a romance by Skye. I gotta go back.

DJ Sir Daniel: What? It's the

Jay Ray: don't,

DJ Sir Daniel: a romance. Tuesday, the start of a

Jay Ray: Oh, I do know that song. Okay child. See there we go. You got to be reminded. There's so many

DJ Sir Daniel: a body roll. It's a body

Jay Ray: It's a body roll song and they were number one for two weeks actually on my birthday. They were number one on my birthday in 1989. Um, so lots and lots of folks on here, but let me tell you, our brother Chucky Booker is on here with turned away, which was a huge song.

Um,

DJ Sir Daniel: was on there too. Right?

Jay Ray: troop might be on here. Let's see. Not on this one, but troop might've been on the year prior. So it might've been on, they might've been on like either 88 or a 90 because of course Chucky did the troop stuff too.

DJ Sir Daniel: Right. Do I see the boys?

Jay Ray: The boys you do. I don't know this song. I don't

DJ Sir Daniel: What? Lucky charm.

Jay Ray: Yeah, I don't remember that

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, my lucky charm. Go,

Jay Ray: I do remember that song. See, see, here's what has to have. You have to sing it to me. Be like, oh, yeah, I remember that.

DJ Sir Daniel: It's home a few bars for J. Rainey's like, Oh yeah, I remember that.

Jay Ray: but as we talked about, go ahead. Sir, day. I'm

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh no, I was just going to say, I was just going to agree with you. Your point. If you have, you have people like Roberta Flack and Tone Loke on the same charts at the same time.

Do you realize things like that can't be repeated? That

Jay Ray: Would never happen today.

DJ Sir Daniel: once in a lifetime time for music and there was like, we all had something on the charts for everyone. There was something for teenagers. There was something for the adults. And we grew up listening to the stuff that we were familiar with these older artists, these, um, legendary artists.

And then we had our new stuff coming out. So I think we just got the, we had the best of both worlds.

Jay Ray: Yo, Sir Daniel, that's the thing. And this is, if there's a, if there is, I think this is where the, the, the really big divide happens because we were existing at a time when the OJs were still charting. We were familiar with them. You know what I'm saying? So it gave us, it allowed it to be just such a much richer experience.

Um, as you get. Towards the end of the year you of course Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation is hitting so miss you much hits for two weeks.

DJ Sir Daniel: yeah.

Jay Ray: Jermaine Jackson actually was on the charts with Don't Take It Personal which is a whole jam. Surface is on the charts. You have Mickey Howard on the chart at number one twice.

DJ Sir Daniel: This Paula Abdul up there.

Jay Ray: Paula Abdul is not on this chart, but she was on the pop chart. She hit number one on the pop charts. I

DJ Sir Daniel: her and Millie, but then Lee,

Jay Ray: Yep, her and Milli Vanilli were hitting on the pop charts. So, you know, Some of your favorite songs. What were some of your favorite songs from 89? Let us definitely know in the chat.

Um, and I'm actually going to go to the chat really quick and bring in a couple of things. Um, Michelle does Bert, um, commented that back to life is always the jam. Shout out to Michelle. Michelle does Bert has a podcast. Y'all, um, real discussions. Um, you should go and listen to it because she just had a conversation with her son.

Christopher Burt either it's coming up or it happened, but go and follow Michelle So real chicks rock if you follow her on social media Make sure that you go and follow her because Michelle's always doing something dope. She is Queue Points family she's been on the show before and Her show is dope. And so you definitely want to listen to her talk to her son Christopher Christopher is an amazing young man and y'all should check that out um, so But I want to bring in Mark said, I'm so glad that I am just old enough to experience this period firsthand.

It's kind of special. Yo,

DJ Sir Daniel: it is, it was just a very special time to be alive. I can't stress that enough. Um, Ed Adams is in the chat. Also talking about let the beat hit him.

Jay Ray: to be a 91, that was, yo, that song in 91 was a whole thing. Like straight out of hell's kitchen was a whole thing. It's a special time.

DJ Sir Daniel: It was a very special time and we can't stress that enough for you. It was a very special time, 

[00:53:44] Closing Remarks and Thank You
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DJ Sir Daniel: and Jay Ray, before we clock out, I want everybody to know how they can keep in contact with us if the case, just in case they missed it in the beginning.

Jay Ray: Absolutely, y'all make sure that once again, as we always say, thank you for being here. If you are listening, if you are watching, hit the subscribe button. If you have not already subscribed, we appreciate that. We would also appreciate you sharing the show. If you love the show, people in your life will love the show too.

Make sure that you subscribe to us on all of our social media. Make sure that you, uh, Visit our website, Queue Points. com. You can sign up for our newsletter. You can read our blog, which is super dope Queue Points mag, and you can shop our store so you can get dope merch and all the types of things from there. Most importantly, though, y'all just thank you so much for always supporting the show.

Um, it's so crazy how we, Sir Daniel may. So one, two, three, four, this is our fourth year for we're into we're into our fourth year now of doing this And we still have so many things like every week that me meet we like oh, we have to do a show about this Oh, we have to have this conversation. This is really interesting.

We have to talk. There's no end in sight to the amount of things that we have to talk about. So we just appreciate y'all being here with us because we have a good time doing this and we like bringing these conversations to you. We really, really do.

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely. So on behalf of Jay Ray. What do I always say in this life? You have the opportunity to either pick up the needle or let the record play. I'm DJ Sir Daniel.

Jay Ray: My name is Jay Ray.

DJ Sir Daniel: Like we always say, why y'all are catching flights and not catching feelings. Catch Queue Points podcast this summer. All right. This is Queue Points podcast, dropping the needle on black music history.

We'll see you on the next go round. Peace.

Jay Ray: Peace y'all. 

[00:55:38] Closing Theme
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