[Kace Presents]The Alphanumerics Of Modern Music: The Kace Era

[Kace]

K is for K.D. Lang.

Kicking off the letter K as a result of initials being notably separated by periods is K.D. Lang. There was a time where it seemed like K.D.'s closest point to relevance would be in the form of, "Yeah, she was that Canadian country gal who showed up on Hee Haw." K.D. had other ideas.

In the early 1990's, in a time where music was ever-changing, K.D. brought about some change of her own. Her album, Ingenue became a game changer of sorts as K.D. suddenly found herself becoming a bigger deal, mainstream-wise. "Constant Craving" would become her biggest hit in the States and while other songs managed to rank higher at the time, "Constant Craving" has managed to endure a lot better over the years. While venturing into the mainstream and away from Country, K.D. was also simultaneously challenging that very crowd with her presence and attitude. K.D. was something different. She crossed boundaries, blurred genres and expanded horizons with her sound. "Just Keep Me Moving" garnered some attention and "Lifted By Love" provided for a #1 on the US Dance chart. In terms of her music, K.D. has continued to go about her business, carefree and artistic.

"Constant Craving" is the featured music video and was a real hit with the VH1 crowd in the early 1990's as I recall. Back then, VH1 was mostly known for music retrospectives, adult contemporary music videos and stand up comedy. Yes, I said stand up comedy. They even had one of those shows hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. I remember the song from my high school days and while "Just Keep Me Moving" is my favorite, there's no doubt that if any song of hers is a signature, "Constant Craving" would have to be it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXqPjx94YMg&ob=av2e
"Constant Craving" by K.D. Lang

[Jane Craig]

Her "Shadowland" is a desert-island disc for me. And she is spectacular in concert.

[Kace]

I didn't mention it in her entry, but I'm also a fan of her, "Consequences Of Falling."

[Kace]

K is for Kanye West.

I'm really happy for you, Kanye and Imma let ya finish, but there are other rappers who could lay better claim to being the Greatest of all tiiime!!! And that's Kanye West. When you're being lectured by Jay Leno after interrupting someone's acceptance speech for some award, that's when you know you're in danger of being remembered for all the wrong reasons. There was also that whole, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," thing though Chris Rock's pretty sure it was midgets that get no love from him. All that aside, Kanye West has had a solid career. From 2004 to 2010, Kanye released five full length albums, four of which scored #1 on the Billboard 200 while the one that didn't made it to #2. Multiple hit songs, somehow finding a way to make sure people know he's still alive and everything else that comes with being Kanye. He's something of a cultural enigma and I wouldn't be surprised if he wound up being a course of study for future generations. Say what you will, but he certainly keeps things interesting.

"Gold Digger" is the music video of choice and an obvious one. With Jamie Foxx using his Ray Charles voice to assist, this song would be Kanye's biggest hit to date. To give you an idea of how big of a deal this song became in 2005, without it he probably doesn't even make this list. So if you have a favorite artist from the last thirty-five years and he/she/they wind up missing from this list, this entry will probably be the one you think about while being angry at me. And I'll be really happy for you and even let you finish. But this is my list for my tiiime!!! So there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vwNcNOTVzY
"Gold Digger" by Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx

[Kace]

K is for Katy Perry.

The original plan was for young Katy Hudson to become another Rebecca St. James in the Christian Pop realm. I guess it didn't work out. Eventually, Katy would grow up and years later, sing about kissing a girl and liking it. Things were never the same and the Hudson was now Perry. Katy Perry really was a new identity and perhaps the identity Katy felt she was meant to be all this time. There doesn't appear to be any real looking back at her Pre-Perry years.

Realistically, Katy's career is still in a young stage itself. She's had two albums, both of which have been successful all while scoring hit song after hit song from them. From 2008 to 2011, Katy had scored six Billboard Hot 100 #1's which is impressive. Even more impressive is the history she made in being so successful. She's had five consecutive hits reach #1, tying her for 4th along with Elvis Presley, Mariah Carey (who achieved this twice), Michael Jackson and the Supremes. In 2010-11, Katy destroyed Ace Of Base's previous record for Most Consecutive Weeks In The Top 10 of the Hot 100 at 69 Weeks. Yes, for well over a year, Katy was always Top 10, accomplishing this with five hits occupying a spot in the Top 10 at some point. In terms of Billboard achievements, it would be easy for Katy to rest on her laurels. I have a feeling she's just getting started, though.

The music video of choice is "Firework." It's one of her better songs and I like the concept. Even has a cute kiss scene. It also looks like part of the video was shot at the same locale as the film, Vantage Point. Really cool movie, by the way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&ob=av2e
"Firework" by Katy Perry

[Kace]

K is for KC & The Sunshine Band.

Seriously, was there ever any doubt that KC & The Sunshine Band was gonna be on this list? Without them, this list has no personal merit and not worth my time in compiling. It's KC & The Sunshine Band for crying out loud! Without KC, there's a chance I would have wound up with a less pleasing name in life than what I got. See, "Kace," derives from, "KC," which are my first and middle initials, which were inspired by KC & The Sunshine Band when I was born. I'm thankful for KC & The Sunshine Band and not just because of the name inspiring my parents to name me what they did. My Mom has told me more than once that she had considered naming me, "Christopher Robin." As if my antisocial behavior in school wasn't bad enough growing up. Heh.

Beyond the whole name thing, KC & The Sunshine Band were perfect for the 1970's, especially the latter portion of the decade where Funk and Disco were well accepted measures of Pop Music. By 1977, they were already highly regarded and very successful. 1977 saw them pick up where they left off and that's with another hit song, "I'm Your Boogie Man" which would hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Eventually there would be a split as KC would venture on his own in the wake of the disco genre fading out. He would have one last big hit in 1983, "Give It Up" which while credited as a solo song for KC, would also be credited for some pressings as KC & The Sunshine Band. Either way, it would be his last Top 20 in the States while also being his last to score #1 on a major chart Internationally, in this case the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Eventually, there would be the reformation and despite a revolving door of membership, KC & The Sunshine Band have continued to party on and when people are feeling retro, KC's usually a good choice.

"I'm Your Boogie Man" is the music video as the song was KC & The Sunshine Band's first single for 1977, which is the starting whole-year point for this list. White Zombie would have a nice cover nineteen years later, but I still prefer the original. Dig those outfits!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ee3C2m3OXE
"I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC & The Sunshine Band

[Kace]

K is for Kelly Clarkson.

I don't like American Idol. I tend to think it's done more harm than good when it comes to Pop Music. It's been around for a decade and has loaded the early 21st Century with mediocrity that would make the Charlotte Bobcats blush. When the second most notable contestant I can think of from the show's existence is William Hung, that doesn't speak too kindly of the show overall. Well, okay maybe he's tied with Clay "Why Do I Keep Finishing Second On TV" Aiken. Whatever, though. Never cared for Rockstar or Dancing With The Apprentice or whatnot. The most I can say for these programs, from American Idol to America's Got Talent is that I can tolerate the existence of them since they give people something to watch other than some, "reality," show. These shows could still benefit from Chuck Barris and a gong.

Now that I have that bit of vitriol out of the way, I mention all that to get to this. I like Kelly Clarkson. I don't care to see her singing duets with would-be singers on TV, but I like her. And no matter how much I poo-poo the existence of American Idol, there's no denying the effect it's had or that Kelly Clarkson was its first winner. Good thing she was since I would be hard pressed to have an entry for Justin Gawhateverhisnamewas. Once Kelly was able to shake off the American Idol stuff, she was able to start singing good songs. "Miss Independent" was a nice first step, but I remember "Behind These Hazel Eyes" being the moment I actually started to take better notice of her. Not as Kelly Clarkson, winner of some glorified karaoke contest, but as Kelly Clarkson, period. Her recording career's been off and running in the ten years since she became famous on television. Roughly half of her singles have scored Top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100 and that includes some #1's. The good news for Kelly Clarkson is that she's one of a kind in this crazy pop world. The bad news for American Idol is that Kelly Clarkson is one of a kind in this crazy pop world.

"Behind These Hazel Eyes" is the music video of choice. I remember this one from 2005 and there's kind of a funny story behind this for me. That Summer was a relatively brief time that I spent paying attention to this website called Mania TV. In 2005, it was something fun to watch with witty, weird young VJ's (that's Video Jockeys for the unfamiliar) and yes, music videos! On my internet! I found this to be a pretty cool concept. I remember this music video being one of those that was played a lot on there. Eventually I'd lose interest and I'm not even sure they're still around or if they are, whether they'd still be familiar to me in any way. Not that it matters. I have YouTube now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yipoOY56MbM&ob=av2e
"Behind These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson

[Kace]

K is for Kenny Loggins.

There was a time where it seemed like movie soundtracks weren't complete unless Kenny Loggins was involved. Caddyshack, Caddyshack II, Over The Top, Footloose, Top Gun...Kenny loved him some films. There is more to Kenny than the hit songs he had for those movies though.

Prior to 1977, he had been the Loggins half of Loggins & Messina. Then he went solo and never looked back. "Celebrate Me Home" became a staple for radio stations figuring out their Christmas programming. He teamed with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and had "Whenever I Call You Friend." He teamed with Journey's Steve Perry and had "Don't Fight It." And yes, there were the obvious Soundtrack hits. "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack, "Footloose" and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)" from Footloose, "Danger Zone" and "Playing With The Boys" from Top Gun, "Meet Me Halfway" from Over The Top and "Nobody's Fool" from Caddyshack II.

After being soundtrack friendly in the 1980s, Kenny would spend the 1990s being something of a big deal in the Adult Contemporary realm, including songs such as "Conviction Of The Heart" and "For The First Time." In the 2000s, Kenny would continue recording in the studio while also touring and in 2011, performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Kenny has spent his years, writing, recording and performing his music. Maybe one day he'll get a really cool movie made about him. If so, he'll have to be on the Soundtrack.

The music video featured is "I'm Free (Heaven Help The Man)" which is often remembered as the, "other," song from Footloose by Kenny. I actually like this one better than the title track, though it was always fun playing "Footloose" whenever I DJ'd in Second Life, particularly at the Rainbow Moon. Ah, those were the rezzes. I also want to give a special nod to "Danger Zone" as I can still remember the days with some friends whenever that song would play, it usually meant one of us was driving somewhere and rather hastily.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vORYIaKiD_4
"I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)" by Kenny Loggins

[Kace]

K is for Kenny Rogers.

Yes, Kenny Rogers. No, not the baseball player.

Maybe it's a generational thing and maybe it's just me being too young, but for me I tend to think of Kenny Rogers almost immediately when it comes to Classic Country music. Kenny knew how to sing a story and convey whatever the message was in said story. This is very notable in songs like "Coward Of The County" and "The Gambler." He also had some really nice duets with Dolly Parton. Then there's "Lady."

What makes "Lady" remarkable is how in awe I am of it. Lionel Richie of the Commodores wrote it and for Kenny it was an opportunity to be like Ray Charles, who back in the day could intertwine the sounds of Country with Rhythm & Blues effortlessly. The result was one of the biggest songs in the history of really big songs. Not only did "Lady" dominate the Country chart, but also Adult Contemporary and the Billboard Hot 100, while also attaining Top 50 status on the chart currently known as "Hot R&B/Hip Hop." To put that in perspective, imagine Sugarland getting airplay on your local Hip Hop/R&B station while getting heavy airplay on a bunch of other stations not necessarily related to Rock.

Kenny Rogers is a staple in Country Music. Multiple #1's, successful albums and also Christmas albums. Seriously, "I'll Be Home With Bells On" which is one of his duets with Dolly Parton is one of those songs that helps complete the month of December.

"Coward Of The County" is the music video of choice though it's really just concert footage of the song being performed. It's one of the better story songs, telling of a man who made a promise to be peaceful, even at the cost of some social belittling in the process. Of course that changes after some idiots do something idiotic and it's time for the protagonist to become the bringer of butt-whoop.

"Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man."

There's a lesson to be learned there, I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpnmfbLiRng
"Coward Of The County" by Kenny Rogers

[Kace]

K is for Kid Rock.

At first, Kid Rock was overlooked. In the early 1990s, there was so much going on that not everybody could get the proper attention. That would change in 1998. He would proclaim himself the Bullgod and from there, Kid Rock would achieve his destiny of becoming a rock star. His influences vary from Hank Williams Jr. to Run-D.M.C. to Metallica and Kid does everything he can to fuse all of it together. He became a favorite in pro wrestling circles, with "Bawitaba" being utizlied in ECW as Kid Kash's theme, "Cowboy" inspiring a WCW-knockoff theme for Jeff Jarrett and most famously, Kid's "American Bad Ass," the Metallica "Sad But True" sampler which became one of the Undertaker's themes. And there was also "Lonely Road Of Faith" which would be used for a nice Historical montage in early 2002. He's also performed at WrestleMania, though I generally find most musical performances at wrestling events to be a bit annoying. That's just me.

Outside of all that, Kid Rock's done well. He recorded "Picture" with two different female singers, one version with Sheryl Crow and another with Allison Moorer. Four of his albums have scored in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, including Rock N Roll Jesus which made it to #1. He hasn't been one to shy away from his feelings in his music and his most notable song to date is "All Summer Long" which samples from "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd...though it also kinda sounds like "Werewolves Of London" by Warren Zevon. Kid Rock's band also introduced the world to Uncle Kracker, who would go on to have some solo success of his own. Now you know who to blame.

"Cowboy" is the featured music video. The song captures the rock star attitude of Kid Rock nicely and the video features a fight scene between Joe C and Gary Coleman, both of which have since passed from this plane. There's also a Smokey & The Bandit influence. Another cameo in the video is by Ron Jeremy. So far as I can tell, Ron Jeremy and Gary Coleman appear in the same music video twice, the other being Moby's "We Are All Made Of Stars." Always good to wrap on a trivial note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glb2U6y-GdU&ob=av2n
"Cowboy" by Kid Rock

[Kace]

K is for Kim Wilde.

In 1981, MTV was born and the New Wave movement came of age and there in the middle of it was Kim Wilde. "Kids In America" was her debut single and would take the world by storm, charting high all over Europe, as well as Australia. It also became a hit in the United States and with New Wave becoming more accepted, Kim was there as one of its faces. Her Pop sound would evolve with the years and she would also become appreciated for some covers, most notably "You Keep Me Hanging On" which scored #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but also her cover of "If I Can't Have You" which showed that Kim had been able to transition just fine into 1990s Dance. Kim Wilde has continued on into the 21st Century and has embraced her musical history, knowing that she was one of the factors in New Wave becoming a thing.

"Kids In America" is the music video of choice and the main reason I wanted her on this list. It was essentially the right song at the right time. Ten years later, it would be "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana for a different audience and generation, but in 1981, New Wave really was kinda New for the kids playing Pac-Man at the arcade. It also meant that Kim Wilde would become one of the early faces of MTV, back when MTV really was MTV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzdHxqwTO-4&ob=av2e
"Kids In America" by Kim Wilde

[Kace]

K is for the Kinks.

It's understandable if there's some confusion as to how the Kinks made this list. After all, most of their relevant stuff occurred prior to 1977. In the late 1970s, the Kinks were still around and in the early 1980s, saw something of a revival in their popularity, thanks in part to the concept of the music video. Just like that, a band more synonymous with the 1960s and early 1970s was shown to be relevant once again in the 1980s. They were able to adapt to the times throughout their existence. The Kinks even managed to keep the longevity going into the 1990s. There was their superheroic ode, "(Wish I Could Fly) Like Superman," their fondness of yesteryear, "Come Dancing" and also through the years, live versions of earlier songs like "Lola" and "You Really Got Me" for a younger generation to enjoy. Even in the 2000s, songs like "Waterloo Sunset" had a resurgence of popularity after Def Leppard's cover of it garnered some attention. For the Kinks, there have been years of everything new and everything old being new again.

"Come Dancing" is the featured video and for 1977 to 2011, there is no song that defines the Kinks more. One can argue what song best represents the Kinks prior to 1977, but from that year forward, "Come Dancing" is far and away the song that captured the Kinks in their latter years apex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs2kFrGluKs
"Come Dancing" by the Kinks

[Kace]

K is for KISS.

In terms of marketing, it's hard for anyone this side of Elvis Presley or the Beatles to even hold a candle to Gene Simmons and KISS. The loud riffs, the bombast, the attire, the wont of making their concert an experience, everything KISS did was big. It had to be, because that was their chance of making it. Gene "The Demon" Simmons, Paul "Starchild" Stanley, "Space" Ace Frehly and Peter "Catman" Criss comprised the original and definitive lineup. By 1977, they were already rocking the world and capturing the imaginations of many, all while their fans formed the KISS Army. The KISS Army was and continues to be everywhere. As KISS built, the stress built and eventually, things would come to a head.

Peter would eventually leave and in his place, Eric Carr. Eric was a heck of a drummer and even recorded an updated version of "Beth" as lead vocalist. And sadly, Eric would leave the world too soon. Meanwhile, Ace, not really feeling the vibe for Music From The Elder would also depart, being replaced by guitarist after guitarist. Paul and Gene would stick around.

Times were changing in the 1980s and KISS decided to change with them, shedding the warpaint on MTV and embracing the more Hair Metal/Los Angeles sound. KISS had some good songs during that time like "Heaven's On Fire," "Tears Are Falling" and "Lick It Up." In 1990, they'd have another major hit, "Forever" which was co-written by Michael Bolton. Eventually, the original four would reunite and the old warpaint/makeup would return with it. And while people like KISS and its definitive lineup with all of its glory, there's still a place in the hearts of some fans, myself included for those years where Vinnie Vincent and Bruce Kulick had their runs as lead guitarists. Ditto for Eric Carr and Eric Singer on drums. And for the sake of this being a bit more complete, that's Eric "The Fox" Carr and Vinnie "The Wiz" Vincent.

And this isn't even factoring in the solo projects and all the other things (and Dale Torborg, but that's neither here or there) KISS has done over the years.

"War Machine" is my favorite KISS tune with "I Love It Loud" and "Forever" not far behind. I even like "I" a lot and that's from the Elder album that no one's supposed to like. "I Was Made For Loving You" was great, but that was during a time where rockers were bent on recording something with a disco beat. This brings us to the music video of choice, which is "Psycho Circus." When the original lineup reunited (thanks for hanging out with us, Bruce!), they embarked on a big tour around the world and then they unleashed Psycho Circus on everyone. The title track from 1998 had such a budget that I guess they ran out of money for film, so it's generated graphics fun along with straight up video. Considering what most rock videos looked like in 1998, "Psycho Circus" really had a way of standing out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWIW6Ti0PbE&ob=av2e
"Psycho Circus" by KISS

[Kace]

K is for Kittie.

Female rock bands aren't supposed to have cute names while mixing in a demonic growl. Then again, maybe they are as Kittie would show. The funny thing is, I'm not the biggest fan of the Growling Metal stuff, yet somehow Kittie, along with Morgan Landers' switching from the soft voice to the demonic growl has been able to capture my attention. They're one of the bands I forever associate with the 2000s and it's a toss up between Kittie and the Donnas in terms of figuring out the all-female rock band of the decade. And yes, that's with all due respect to the Butchies who sadly, just missed making this list.

"What I Always Wanted" is the music video of choice. It's my favorite song by them, though their cover of Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" is fun to listen to. It's also the shining example of what got me into listening to Kittie in the first place, from the metal sound to Morgan's voices trading control of the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbufl...eature=related
"What I Always Wanted" by Kittie

[Kace]

K is for KMFDM.

No Pity For The Majority. Indeed.

This one comes with reminiscence so bear with me. December, 1994. My Senior year in high school and it was my understanding that I would be getting a CD player for Christmas. I had never had one though I had been at least familiar with them. From listening to one of my cousin's Simpsons Sing The Blues CD in 1991, to the Bye Bye Birdie party in Beloit in 1993 (my kindasorta DJ'ing debut), to my girlfriend at the time when I was in Indiana having one at her house. I had the idea of how they worked. So now I was going to have a portable CD player, but the question now...what CD? I knew which one I wanted and on a fateful Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, at some music store that no longer exists (which was next to an arcade that no longer exists, in a mall that still does) I would see it. It was by KMFDM and it was called Angst.

I wanted that CD. A year prior, being the construction brat that I was, we moved from Indiana to Maryland. One of the few bright spots of being in a town called Edgewood was at the time, they had a channel called The Box. I loved The Box. All they did was play music videos, which came in handy whenever MTV felt like force feeding MTV Sports or some other nonsense. Not only did they play music videos, but they played music videos that MTV kinda shied away from, like "Real Compton City G's" by Eazy-E (yes, that's the censored title), among others. But they also played "A Drug Against War" by KMFDM. I fell in love with that song and its music video. It was Industrial Rock at its apex. A year later, I had my hands on a copy of their Angst CD. Christmas Eve couldn't get here fast enough. While waiting, I would get a birthday gift from my future ex-girlfriend of my Senior year, Metallica's self-titled CD. Couldn't do anything with it just yet, but it made the anticipation all the more eager. The night arrived and there I was with the CD player, some headphones and KMFDM's Angst. I was a happy teenager and listening to that CD for the first time was a great experience. It was everything Industrial Rock could be and during a time in my life where it seemed like nearly every genre was hitting a high point. As far as I was concerned though, nothing could come close to KFMDM's Angst. Needless to say, I was a fan.

KMFDM has had some great songs over the years, like "Naive," "Juke Joint Jezebel" and "Fait Accompli." The music video of choice is "A Drug Against War" and I think the reason is obvious at this point. Even now when I hear that song or watch that video online, it always provides a good feeling. That's the power of good music. As for KMFDM's Angst album, it's top notch. The rest of my Senior year was spent listening to that CD a lot, along with Queen's A Kind Of Magic which was borrowed from a friend of mine. Angst would spread throughout some friends and acquaintances of mine with it becoming a favorite form them as well. And boy, did it sure beat listening to the Mortal Kombat Album. I still hate that album. But KMFDM's Angst? Awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRI9s...eature=related
"A Drug Against War" by KMFDM

[Kace]

K is for Kool & The Gang.

One of the joys of my early childhood involved a little record player I and my brother had. It played 45's and our parents had quite the collection of them. There were certain ones we'd play a lot, including classics like "I'm Walkin'" by Fats Domino, "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris and various Drifters songs. We had a little bit of everything, because either my Mom or my Dad or both would be into whatever genres were big in popular music. With my Dad spending some time as a club DJ back then, it also meant we had great party anthems on 45. One of my favorites to play was "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang. I loved playing that song and even now, hearing it takes me back to those days when my world mostly revolved around 45's and toy cars.

Kool & The Gang had been around for a while by the time I became familiar with them as a child. By 1977, they were well established in Rhythm & Blues. In the late 1970s, Kool & The Gang would give the disco crowd stuff to listen to, including "Ladies' Night." The 1980s would see Kool & The Gang continuing to churn out hit songs like "Get Down On It," "Joanna," and "She's Fresh." There was also "Cherish" which was a nice love song, but eventually got on my nerves as a kid, because it seemed like every radio station I could pick up was hooked on it. As the 1980s started to close, so would Kool & The Gang's impact. With the 1990s, things were evolving and Kool & The Gang was remembered as a band from, "back in the day." In the 2000s, they would record some stuff, but they're forever remembered for their string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s.

"Celebration" is the music video of choice here. "She's Fresh" might not have been a bad option, but I remember trying to breakdance to that back then and it wouldn't be a good idea to try that now. On the other hand, "Celebration" can still inspire the same response now as it did in my early childhood, which is me clapping my hands and going, "Yay, I like this!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M&ob=av2e
"Celebration" by Kool & The Gang

[Kace]

K is for Korn.

They have rocked nursery rhymes. They've rocked covers. They have provided entertaining and at times, equally disturbing visuals in their music videos. And since the mid-1990s have been a consistent force in Rock. From Bakersfield, they're Korn.

Initially, they were a bit more underground with songs like "Blind" and "Shoots And Ladders." They would gain a little more attention with "A.D.I.D.A.S." and "Got The Life." Then with "Freak On A Leash," the world started to take better notice. For the decade of the 2000s, Korn would continue on rocking. Now in the 2010s, Korn isn't letting up yet.

"Here To Stay" is the video of choice and while initially, I thought of all the other great videos they've had, "Here To Stay" stands out for a number of reasons, including it being my favorite Korn song. The music video is disturbing and in your face with its plot. A young, unsupervised boy gets literally sucked into the television after being fed a steady display of subliminal advertising and news events, all being treated as entertainment. It's not for the weak of heart and though I would also say, not for the easily offended, this probably is for the easily offended and for the hard to offend alike. Among the images shown is the Challenger disaster and how it's mixed in as general entertainment, confusing and confounding. This music video is a 1990s George Carlin skit come to life. Lead singer Jonathan Davis plays dual role of lead singer and Devil, the one providing the impressionable child with the disturbing imagery and how it's all part of the fun. Did I mention the child is unsupervised? Only the Devil in the screen is able to provide any explanation to him. There's a lesson to be taught here and "Here To Stay" teaches it profoundly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbL6_vT-KoA
"Here To Stay" by Korn (WARNING: Disturbing Images)

[Kace]

K is for Kosheen.

Modern Music hasn't been without its unsung heroes and in the 2000s, Kosheen was such a group that somehow managed to slip through the cracks when it came to the American audience. They did manage to make some waves in Europe, especially the United Kingdom, but without the Internet, there's a chance I wouldn't be as familiar with them as I am. Really, I can thank my time doing Internet Radio for being introduced to them. When you're tinkering with an internet radio station that doesn't appear to have a set format, requests can be all over the place. In the mid-2000s, I spent some time making that scene before settling for a while in Second Life, DJ'ing there for the cyber audience. From BTT to BCNI and NTG, I became thankful for the experience, not just meeting some people online and making new friends, but in how my collection of songs expanded considerably. I was being turned on to music that I might not otherwise know the existence of and one of those artists was Kosheen.

Kosheen has had some great songs, including one of the better b-tracks I can recall, "Freaks Of Nature." There was "Catch" and "Hide U" and "Hungry," among others. All good stuff.

"Catch" is the music video featured here and, pardon the pun is very catchy. It's got a great beat and easy to enjoy. And people can say what they want about the artistry, but I just want to enjoy the song. "Catch" is highly enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTNlHRx4riE&ob=av2e
"Catch" by Kosheen

[Kace]

K is for Kraftwerk.

Before Hip Hop had a popular name, it had its innovators and in the 1970s, one of its greatest pre-relevant innovators were German. Kraftwerk was a concept born of an inspiration of the electronic sounds of Karlheinz Stockhausen and the harmonies of the Beach Boys. Much like George Clinton's Parliament and Funkadelic in the United States, Kraftwerk reveled in the art of musical innovation for the sake of a dance beat.

By 1977, they had already garnered some attention, mainly from "Autobahn." In 1977, Kraftwerk unleashed "Trans-Europe Express" and doing so, made it clear to the rest of the world that they were not only embracing being ahead of their time, they were going to intimidate the rest of us with their quintessence. They were "The Robots." They had "The Model." And in the process, Kraftwerk became more of an inspiration than even they could imagine, though that's probably selling them short as they probably imagined it just for amusement. How has Kraftwerk managed to become so successful at their craft? Perhaps it's the retentiveness of their practice.

Kraftwerk has always operated in the exact. Every beat, every sound, every melody has to be perfect. This philosophy has also stretched into (or perhaps stretched from) their personality and take on everyday life. I once worked with a guy who DJ's clubs and traveled all about. I remember him telling me about meeting Kraftwerk and the arrangement to meet them in Germany. The call to set up a time to drop by was set down to the exact second, so there would only be need of a single ring on the telephone. From there, the exact moment to arrive was set. Everything was in the exact. It's how Kraftwerk operates and it's an operation practice that has worked well for them. And yes, they're pretty cool guys according to the recollection. They just don't believe in wasting precious seconds as those seconds can lead to a lost moment of musical genius.

And without those moments of genius, Pop Music and some of its alternate forms over the past thirty-plus years would tragically be nowhere near as good. I am certain that there are artists who have had a bigger impact on current popular music than Kraftwerk. I am also certain that it's a damn short list.

"Trans-Europe Express" is the music video of choice, though I was tempted to go with "The Robots." "Trans-Europe Express" gets the advantage being such a direct influence on early Rap & Hip-Hop. For any old school Rap fan, Afrika Bambaata's "Planet Rock" should immediately come to mind upon hearing this song. The song also references Kraftwerk meeting David Bowie and Iggy Pop, two more names that were (and likely still are) of great appreciation from Florian Schneider and Ralf Hutter, the originators of the innovative force that is and forever will be Kraftwerk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBGNlTPgQII
"Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk

[Kace]

K is for KRS-ONE.

For anyone upset at the lack of Boogie Down Productions inclusion, rest easy. Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone, thus KRS-ONE became Rap's conscience. New York City in the 1980s was the battleground of Hip Hop pioneers and one of the victorious was Boogie Down Productions aka B.D.P. There were the Bridge Wars and specifically, KRS-ONE's rivalry with MC Shan. There was the ascension of Rap into the mainstream and KRS-ONE's refusal to become mainstream friendly. It was a sentiment felt by many, but over the years it was KRS still among those holding true to the Underground.

1993 would see KRS-ONE going solo, giving the world his autobiographical "Outta Here" and from there, consistency of being at Rap's forefront. Rap and Hip-Hop would have its changes and wars and turmoil through the end of the 20th Century and on into the 21st Century, but through it all, KRS-ONE spoke his mind, continued to rhyme and stayed constant. He's had his moments of controversy stemming from various viewpoints on various subjects and even presented the world with text that he considers a new religion for future generations. There was his alter-ego, Big Joe Krash. There was his work with other artists. There is his impact on Rap which may not be fully understood in our lifetime.

To concentrate only what KRS-ONE did in terms of chart success or sales is to miss the point of he's about. Otherwise, Nelly would have a better chance of being on this list instead. And that would suck. Really, really suck.

"Outta Here" is the video of choice though I was tempted to go with "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" since it's from his self titled album that was also the first Rap CD I bought. "Outta Here" wins out though as it's autobiographical, features a Run-D.M.C. reference, has Kid Capri in the video and it appears everyone's having a great time. Ultimately, that's all one can hope for when keeping things real. For one to keep it more real than KRS-ONE has for Rap over the years, one would have to create a separate universe and become its God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoOKLbIP-zI
"Outta Here" by KRS-ONE

[Kace]

K is for Kylie Minogue.

For Australians and Europeans, Kylie Minogue's been a nonstop force since bursting upon the scene in 1987. For Americans, Kylie Minogue's career is separated into two categories, 1980s and 2000s. For Americans, it's as if the 1990s never really happened.

So what happened that caused Kylie to become so irrelevant in the US during the 1990s? I'm not really certain though she did seem to focus a lot of her time back in her native Australia. There was her acting and really, for the American audience, Kylie's probably best remembered for her role as Cammy in that Street Fighter film that...well, the less said, the better. She was still, "that girl who had some hits in the 1980s." Then came 2001 and specifically, late 2001.

We needed some cheering up in late 2001. Right on cue, there was Kylie with just the right song at just the right time. It wasn't exactly the Beatles arriving in the States not long after President Kennedy's assassination, but it was good enough. "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" was performed on stage for an awards show broadcast on either MTV or MTV2 and just like that, Kylie was new all over again in the United States. I remember one of the places I worked at playing her a lot and for the second time in her career, she was a hot new artist for the American radio audience. Somewhere in Australia and parts of Europe, someone was probably asking, "What do you mean, 'new???'" Hey, it's just how we roll here.

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" from 2001 is the featured video and for good reason. It was her first Billboard Hot 100 hit in the US since 1988. Think of all the things that happened between 1988 and 2001. That's quite a few years. In terms of chart success, no song did more for Kylie than this one, scoring #1 in at least nine different countries and making the Top 10 in the States. It was the comeback that kinda wasn't. It was Kylie letting the Americans know that she could still break out some dance hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFx3WX4DES0
"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" by Kylie Minogue

[Kace]

L is for L7.

L7 was not concerned with being the next pretty girl rock band. There had been the Go-Go's who would pass the torch to the Bangles who would pass the torch to the Rebel Pebbles. Then L7 showed up in the midst of the Music Revolution and snuffed the torch out. In turn, they ignited their own. It was a culmination of events set in motion at least as far back as the days of the Runaways and Heart. In 1992, L7 emerged from it all. There had been Bikini Kill and the Riot Grrrl Movement and the more Glamorous look all coming to a head and there stood L7 and its Seattle inspired attitude, which considering their Los Angeles roots could be seen as perhaps a bit ironic.

L7 wasn't without its controversial moments, mainly thanks to Donita Sparks. There was the tampon throwing incident, which is as sanitary as it sounds and her bottom nude performance for a British television show. There was also the name, L7 itself which is either a reference to being a square or a more sexual reference, depending on who you ask.

Aside from all that was their musical direction. Initially, there was the metal and punk influence, but then with Butch Vig producing, L7 had Bricks Are Heavy, an album that's arguably their most definitive. L7 was one of the bands that helped shape 1990s Rock while also affirming that an all-female rock band didn't necessarily need to have the Hollywood glam look to be accepted.

"Pretend We're Dead" is the music video of choice and the song that's defined L7 as a band. It was their pinnacle and at a critical time in Rock itself. The song is from their Bricks Are Heavy album and was even featured in video games like Rock Band 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-NNitijboI
"Pretend We're Dead" by L7

[Kace]

L is for Lady Gaga.

Ah yes, Lady Gaga. The Pop Music Queen of the Monster Kingdom. One who helped make Pop Music itself fun again, or at the very least reminded everyone that it's okay to enjoy yourself. Since 2008, every move, every moment, every song and every statement has been calculated with the upmost carefulness. Lady Gaga provided an image with the sound and just as importantly learned quickly the art of attention gathering. In a time where I continue to find myself turning into the grumpy old man of, "back in my day, music was a lot better," there's Lady Gaga, making me forget that for at least a moment or so.

Lady Gaga has had two standard, full length albums, both of which scored #1 in several countries. Her album, Born This Way scored #1 pretty much everywhere. From 2008 to 2011, nearly every one of her singles have scored in the Billboard Hot 100's Top 10, including 3 #1's. There is a reason Lady Gaga intimates the word, "Monster," so much. In Pop Music, she's become one and for the time being, her running roughshod through it will only stop when she no longer desires to do so.

"Poker Face" is the music video of choice. It was her second hit single and scored #1 in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all over Europe. "Just Dance" was her introduction to the world, but it was "Poker Face" where Lady Gaga let it be known that we were now officially in her world. Certainly I don't mind since it means more unicorns which exist wherever Lady Gaga goes...and also Albuquerque. But that's another story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESGLojNYSo&ob=av2n
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

[Kace]

L is for the Laurie Berkner Band.

I know. This one requires an explanation and I do have one, really. I blame my brother and my sister-in-law. It's all their fault. Somewhere along the way, those two fell in love with each other and got married. This would lead to me becoming an Uncle. I have a nephew and niece and it's really cool. It's good to know that my family will have a next generation, though I have noticed on my Dad's side of the family, I'm the last holdout in terms of both marriage and bringing about a next generation. So how does this involve Laurie Berkner or her band? Well...

My nephew was born in 2004. My niece was born in 2006. I still remember those trips to the hospital and seeing each for the first time and I also remember each of those first times holding them and how nervous I was. Babies are so delicate, but with each of those births was a hope for a better tomorrow. As an Uncle, I do what I can and in my case, it's usually in the form of comic relief. It's fun making them laugh. It's also fun knowing that saying, "Menomena!" will get the appropriate response from both. Oh yeah...Laurie. Getting to that.

One of the things I discovered about television in the 2000s and especially after my nephew was born was that there are entire channels devoted children's programming, even a Baby Channel. With my nephew and niece going through those early stages of life, I would find the TV on one of those channels a lot when they were over. They're actually kinda fascinating to watch. I remember there being music videos or features from time to time on there, I guess as filler. The one that stood out for me was the Laurie Berkner Band.

Now, I don't consider myself an expert on Kids Pop. I'm pretty sure I don't know my Wiggles from my Chuckleberries. Whatever a Chuckleberry is. I do recall a country/western themed group singing something about not crouching with spurs on, which is good advice if nothing else. And there's They Might Be Giants, who have delved into that realm. All I know is for a time, my nephew and niece found all that entertaining. Whether it was Baby First or Sprout, they had something to watch. For what it's worth though, it's hard for me to consider any of it above the joy of singing along to the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood theme. But that's just me. I love my nephew and niece and it's awesome having them in my life. And if that means getting a Laurie Berkner song stuck in my head, I'm fine with that.

"I'm Gonna Catch You" is featured here and the song itself is both cute and creepy at the same time...which is probably why I like it. As for the video, I admit it would be fun to watch more bass guitarists running around like that on stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-CPAC8BMAk&ob=av2e
"I'm Gonna Catch You" by the Laurie Berkner Band

[Kace]

L is for Lenny Kravitz.

Talk about your hair bands. Talk about your grunge. Talk about your metal and hard rock. Talk about whatever. In the 1990s, Classic Rock existed through Lenny Kravitz. The sound would evolve with time, but the classic vibe would remain. Whether he was trying to hail "Mr. Cab Driver" or giving a shout out to Yogi Berra logic with "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," longing to "Fly Away" or wanting to "Dig In," Lenny has kept the groove going. Of course there was that "American Woman" cover, but whatever.

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the music video of choice and I can still remember jamming out to that while sequestered in the snow filled locale of Beloit. It was my sophomore year in high school and I had nothing else to do, but sit at home in the apartment for a few weeks while waiting for the second half of the school year to start so I could start going (long winded story behind that). So when I wasn't playing John Madden Football '93 on the Super Nintendo, I spent a lot of time watching MTV and SportsCenter. In early 1993, MTV still had a tendency to play music videos and I would rock out to this. There were also the radio stations of nearby Madison to enjoy, including one where I'd listen to Wisconsin Badgers basketball games. I liked Beloit, more or less. Got to act in a play while there and my character resembled Phil Donahue in a green suit. It was also the only school I ever went to where I could leave the premises for lunch. I'd go more into detail about the exploits in Beloit, but perhaps those are better saved for my controversial memoir, "Kace Was Here." It'll be awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLhpHjmxNw8
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz