George Michael, "Faith"

Happy Birthday (yesterday), T!

Fine Young Cannibals, "She Drives Me Crazy"

Indelible song, with an even better video...

Janelle Monáe, "Sincerely, Jane."

Maura and I caught this song last night from outside the fence at Commodore Barry Park, as part of AfroPunk Fest 2012. Though we only caught glimpses over the heads and through the chain-link fence, it was enough to get us dancing, along with everyone else (temporarily) shut out from the festival. Flushing Avenue was the most hopping I've ever seen it. Monáe is a fantastic performer, and I know I don't have to remind you that she's from Kansas.

The performance below was captured at the Michigan Theater in 2009. Enjoy!

The Roots f. Cody Chestnutt, "The Seed (2.0)"

Big Daddy Kane, "Ain't No Half Steppin'"

I’ll just break him and bake him and rake him
and take him and mold him and make him
Hold up the peace sign...
As-Salaam-Alaikum!

Roberta Flack, "Compared to What"

From 1969's First Take...

Kool Moe Dee, "How Ya Like Me Now"

From 1987's album of the same name, this was one of many shots at LL Cool J (note the Kangol hat under the wheel of the car on the album cover). Perhaps more memorable for an impressionable youngster in the '80s was its pairing with Hakeem (or Akeem) Olajuwon highlights in the first NBA Superstars video.

Now brothers are riding me
Like a pony
I'm no phony
I'm the only real micaroni. 

Enjoy!

The Heavy, "Colleen"

EVERY OTHER DAY IS CHRISTMAS... Kurtis Blow, "Christmas Rappin'"

And the grown-ups got some presents, too
A new TV and a stere-ooh

Cheers!

Janelle Monáe, "Many Moons"

Today is her 26th birthday.

Michael Jackson, "Thriller"

Led Zeppelin, "Houses of the Holy"

Originally intended to lead the album of the same name, oddly enough it ended up on Physical Graffiti instead.

The Band, "Up on Cripple Creek"

If I spring a leak, she mends me...