Focus Features hopes that audiences will be happy to attend Piece by Piece when it assembles in theaters October 11th. This is quite the interesting mashup of genres. From documentarian Morgan Neville, it is a biopic of music producer Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes told through Lego animation. Besides the central character, his musician friends Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Daft Punk, and Snoop Dogg lend their voices to the project.
After its premiere at Telluride, Piece generated mostly complimentary reaction. The RT score is 91% with Metacritic at 64. I’m not sure the reviews are strong enough that this will compete for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
With no significant buzz awards wise or elsewhere, I wonder who turns up for this. This isn’t really geared towards kids (and they could still be preoccupied with The Wild Robot). Adults aren’t likely clamoring for a Lego themed doc about the producer of “Hollaback Girl” and “Drop It Like It’s Hot”.
If this managed higher single digits for starters, Focus should consider it a victory. Slated for 1800 screens, I don’t think it gets there.
Piece by Piece opening weekend prediction: $5.4 million
Morgan Neville’s Piece by Piece looks to build awards momentum at the Telluride and Toronto festivals before its October 11th domestic bow. The unique documentary is a biopic of musician Pharrell Williams told via Lego animation. It includes interviews (Lego style) with artists its subject has collaborated with including Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Busta Rhymes.
2013’s 20 Feet from Stardom from Neville (focused on background singers) took home the Oscar for Documentary Feature. Five years later, his Mister Rogers doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor? was widely expected to be nominated and ended up snubbed.
Piece by Piece is a head scratcher. Focus Features will surely campaign for it in Animated Feature and Documentary Feature. Early reviews are mostly complimentary though not gushing. I think it stands a stronger chance in Animated Feature. However, competition is real with titles such as Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Flow, Moana 2, and Memoir of a Snail. The mishmash’s best chance at recognition could be one of its original songs where Pharrell has competed before with “Happy” from Despicable Me 2.
Each summer on the blog, I recount the top 10 summer hits from 30, 20, and 10 years ago. Last week was 1988 and the sounds of three decades ago. If you missed it, you can find it here:
Today we move to 1998 and the tunes burning up our CD players (if we were lucky enough to have one in our car) 20 years ago. As with previous posts, I rank each track from 1 (summer bummer) to 10 (summer smash) and reveal the most important truth: is said song on my Apple Music?
Let’s get to it!
10. “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo
We start off quite well with this ballad from K-Ci and JoJo, who originally rose to fame with the R&B group Jodeci. It’s schmaltzy, yes, but in the best way and it gets the job done with the singers expert vocal performances.
My Ranking: 9 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
9. “Crush” by Jennifer Paige
I must confess to having no recollection of this track when I saw it was #9. Listening to it again, it’s a pleasant enough ditty from the one-hit wonder. That said, it’s also rather forgettable.
My Ranking: 6
It Is On My Apple Music?: No
8. “Make It Hot” by Nicole featuring Missy Elliot and Mocha
Timbaland was mostly busy around this time stirring up classics for Aaliyah and Missy Elliot. Yet he concocted this gem for Nicole with assists from Elliot and Mocha. It was her only major hit, but it’s a terrific example of its producer’s wizardry behind the boards.
My Rating: 9
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
7. “Come with Me” by Puff Daddy featuring Jimmy Page
Combine Puff’s love of sampling with the guitar riffs of Jimmy Page’s “Kashmir” and promoting the summer’s unfortunate Godzilla reboot? You get a hit… albeit one that is just as ultimately disappointing as the film in which it appeared on the soundtrack.
My Rating: 5
Is It On My Apple Music? No
6. “My All” by Mariah Carey
Ms. Carey has certainly had her share of powerful ballads. “My All” is an effective one, though I don’t rank it among her most memorable.
My Rating: 7
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes (but mostly because I have her greatest hits and don’t listen to this one hardly at all)
5. “Adia” by Sarah MacLachlan
The Canadian singer is now mostly known for causing you tear up during commercials to help dogs, but she had a string of hits including this one. I’ve never been a big fan and this track does little for me, despite her lovely voice.
My Rating: 5 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
4. “My Way” by Usher
The title track from Usher’s multi-platinum album is a Jermaine Dupri produced banger that spent lots of time being played loudly in my 1987 Ford Thunderbird 20 years ago. Check out Tyrese in the video as well.
My Rating: 9
It Is On My Apple Music?: Yes
3. “Too Close” by Next
An incredibly catchy R&B song from a band that didn’t produce many more hits. This one, however, could still be a massive hit today.
My Rating: 9 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
2. “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain
Another Canadian crooner had her first major crossover hit with this ballad. It moved Twain out of just being known as a country act to one with serious pop appeal.
My Rating: 8
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
1. “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy & Monica
It’s no “The Girl is Mine” by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, but this mid-tempo pop track paired two of the era’s most successful R&B singers to hugely successful results on the charts. Looking back now, I don’t love it (I could list stronger tracks by both Brandy and Monica) but it’s decent.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
And there you have it! The sounds of 1998 in the summertime…
Today on the blog, I continue on with my listing of the Top Ten Summer Hits from years past. I’ve already gone over both 1987 and 1997. If you missed those entries, you can find them here:
On this Throwback Thursday, we travel back a decade to 2007 to find what was burning up the charts in a summer where comedies like Knocked Up and Superbad were making us laugh, the Transformers franchise was just beginning, and Spider-Man 3 was overwhelming us with too many villains and Tobey Maguire dancing.
As I have with these posts before, I’ll rank them on my own (not exactly refined) musical scale of 1 (summer bummer) to 10 (summer fire) and let you know whether or not said song resides on my Apple Music playlist.
Let’s get to it!
10. “Make Me Better” – Fabolous feat. Ne-Yo
Brooklyn MC Fabolous starting making hits in 2001 and this Timbaland produced and string heavy track featuring Ne-Yo is one of his biggest. Timbaland always delivers good beats. It’s decent, though nothing too memorable.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
9. “Bartender” – T-Pain feat. Akon
Like many of Mr. Pain’s tracks, this is made for careless nights at the club and in that sense, it’s perfect acceptable. Like some of those nights, however, you may have forgotten it by morning.
My Rating: 6
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
8. “Makes Me Wonder” by Maroon 5
The first single from Maroon 5’s long-awaited second album, this was actually their first #1 hit (a bit surprising considering the smashes from their debut release). It’s a catchy as heck pop concoction with Adam Levine’s fine vocals.
My Rating: 8 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
7. “Beautiful Girls” by Sean Kingston
Jamaican artist Kingston scored a huge one hit wonder here with this reggae tinged ode to a girl he loves. The lyrics are really quite disturbing if you think about them at all, but summer songs are all about enjoying them with the top down and this pretty much delivers.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
6. “The Way I Are” by Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson
Grammatical issues aside, the second single from mega-producer Timbaland’s Shock Value album is a synth heavy standout jam. My goodness – this man was on fire in the mid 2000s.
My Rating: 8 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
5. “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” – T-Pain feat. Yung Joc
And now for the lead single from Mr. Pain’s second smash album. It’s another club anthem meant for quick consumption on a night out and it’s a notch above #9 “Bartender”.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
4. “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s
The signature tune from these Illinois rockers, this track was inescapable a decade ago. The ballad’s rating here perhaps suffers from its overexposure, but it does get in your head.
My Rating: 7
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
3. “Party Like a Rockstar” by Shop Boyz
The first and only hit from these Atlanta rappers, “Rockstar” merged the sounds of hip hop and rock that first gained exposure two decades earlier with Aerosmith and Run DMC. It’s the most downloaded ringtone of 2007. It’s not “Walk This Way”, but it’s fun.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
2. “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie
The fourth single off her debut album and the third #1 from it, Black Eyed Peas songstress Fergie slowed it down here with this ditty. Truthfully, it was never among my favorite tracks that were singles but maybe I just gravitated toward other hits like “London Bridge”, “Glamorous”, and “Clumsy”. Still it’s solid. By the way, if that guy Fergie is romancing in the video looks familiar – that would Milo Ventimiglia or Jack from TV’s “This Is Us”.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
1. “Umbrella” by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
Now we’re talking! One of Rihanna’s best cuts, this was actually rejected by Britney Spears. Oops. With a fine assist from Mr. Shawn Carter (who co-wrote), “Umbrella” features a towering beat and is one of the endlessly played tracks that somehow doesn’t get old. It deserves its accolades.
My Rating: 10
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
Well, that does it folks! The last ten, twenty, and thirty years of summertime hits. Next summer – get ready for 1988, 1998, and 2008. And hitting the blog within days will be reviewing the movie summers of 1987, 1997, and 2007. Stay tuned!
Today on the blog, we look at the top ten tracks that were monopolizing the airwaves ten summers ago. Last week, I gave you the top tunes from 1996 and two weeks ago – from 1986. You can read those posts here:
As I did with the previous posts, I’ll rate the song on a scale of 1 (summer bummer) to 10 (seasonal masterpiece) and answer the most important query: is it on my iTunes?
Let’s get to it!
10. “Snap Yo Fingers” by Lil Jon feat. E-40 and Sean P.
The middle of the previous decade was heavily dominated by club bangers when it came to hip hop. “Snap Yo Fingers” is basically, well, another one with Lil Jon’s signature shouts and a solid assist from Bay Area legend E-40. For what it is, it’s decent.
My Rating: 6
Is It On My iTunes? No
9. “Over My Head (Cable Car)” by The Fray
I’ll be totally honest here. I completely forgot about this song – the debut single from the Colorado based rock group. Verdict? Pretty good, though it probably says something that I forgot its existence.
My Rating: 6
Is It On My iTunes? No
8. “Unfaithful” by Rihanna
Written by Ne-Yo , this slow track from Rihanna’s second album shows off her fine vocals. It’s not at the very top of her slow tempo ballads, but it’s memorable.
My Rating: 8
Is It On My iTunes? Yes
7. “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg
With an assist from The Doggfather, The Pussycat Dolls had a smash hit here. It’s no “Don’t Cha”, but it’s catchy.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My iTunes: Yes
6. “Ridin'” by Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone
The Houston rapper had a phenomenon with the most smooth ditty ever about the issue of racial profiling. I’ll give it a 7 and a half. It might deserve more, but it really wore out of its welcome.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My iTunes? No (but it would’ve been in 2006)
5. “It’s Goin’ Down” by Yung Joc
Atlanta rapper Joc had a club smash here. Like “Snap Yo Fingers”, it belongs in that danceable, yet easily forgettable sub genre of hip hop.
My Rating: 5 and a half
Is It On My iTunes? No
4. “Me & U” by Cassie
Bad Boy artist Cassie had her only major hit here with this club friendly and pleasing track. No more, no less.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My iTunes? No
3. “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley
Who knew a collabo between Danger Mouse and CeeLo Green would mark one of the most fantastic pop creations in years? It might have been overplayed, but this song is a masterpiece.
My Rating: 10
Is It On My iTunes? Yes
2. “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean
Columbian singer/dancer Shakira had her largest hit (and her best) with this instantly dance-worthy creation with an assist from Wyclef.
My Rating: 9
Is It On My iTunes? Yes
“Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado
Timbaland was at the top of his game in 2006 and it shows with his production here on Furtado this groovy Furtado song.
My Rating: 9 and a half
Is It On My iTunes? Yes
And there you have it! This list will return next summer with 1987, 1997, and 2007…
The Top 20 has arrived in my personal Top 90 hip hop singles of the great 1990s decade! Please feel free to peruse my other entries by scrolling through the blog or clicking the Music tab to review numbers 90-21. We’ll get to the Top 10 tomorrow (!), but here are the fabulous tracks comprising nos. 20-11:
20. “Tha Crossroads” by Bone Thugs n Harmony (1996)
The Cleveland rap group’s tribute to their founder, Eazy-E, was a soulful summer anthem of 1996.
19. “Now That We Found Love” by Heavy D and the Boyz featuring Aaron Hall (1991)
This Teddy Riley produced dance hit marked a career highlight from the late Heavy D… and his Boyz.
18. “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest (1992)
The brilliant hip hop group had their best known track with this banger that featured an amazing verse from one Busta Rhymes.
17. “Regulate” by Warren G. featuring Nate Dogg (1994)
Fantastically sampling Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin'”, Warren G and Nate Dogg burst onto the west coast scene with this classic from the Above the Rim soundtrack.
16. “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
The first single off 1997’s Life After Death found Biggie rapping over a sample from Herb Alpert’s groovy “Rise”.
15. “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” by Busta Rhymes (1997)
Mr. Rhymes has given us plenty of terrific rap tunes, but this first single of his When Disaster Strikes album is his finest hour.
14. “Hard Knock Life” by Jay-Z (1998)
Shawn Carter is one of the few MC’s alive who could take a sample from Annie and make it relevant to his music. And did he ever!
13. “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” by Missy Elliot (1997)
Our first taste of the incredible collaboration between Missy and producer Timbaland, this is an impossibly infectious groove from the best female rapper we’ve likely ever seen.
12. “So What’cha Want” by the Beastie Boys (1992)
So many unforgettable tracks, yet the Boys second single from their Check Your Head project is perfect.
11. “What’s My Name?” by Snoop Dogg (1993)
Mix Dre’s production with Snoop’s natural flow and this first single from his debut smash Doggystyle has everything you’d want.
All right you 1990s hip hop heads – here we go! A couple of months back, I gave you my top 90 R&B songs of the 90s and tonight on the blog, we begin my countdown of this blogger’s personal favorite hip hop singles of that glorious decade.
Some ground rules: notice I said “singles”. It’s an important distinction. I’m not picking deep cuts that weren’t released as commercial radio fare. If you want a list of best underground rap tracks, there are search engines named Google and Yahoo and allegedly Bing. So this is a rather mainstream list… if you don’t think one of the entries on here will begin lyrically with “Stop, Collaborate, and Listen…” – you would be mistaken.
Now that we’ve established the game, it’s time for this playa to start the list. Like the previous list, this will be a nine-part series updated daily (hopefully) giving you ten jams to reminisce over! So let me clear my throat and get this started:
90. “If I Ruled the World” – Nas featuring Lauryn Hill (1996)
Two years after his iconic debut release Illmatic, Nas’s first single off his follow-up album gave him one of his biggest hits with an assist from Fugees member Lauryn Hill.
89. “They Want EFX” by Das EFX (1992)
This duo had their largest hit with this #1 charting hit.
88. “Luv 2 Luv U” by Timbaland and Magoo (1997)
Before he became one of the greatest producers in the world, Timbo teamed up with sidekick and Q-Tip soundalike Magoo for this dance club jam.
87. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” by Cypress Hill (1991)
The cannabis loving group’s debut single is one of their finest.
86. “Get At Me Dog” by DMX (1998)
This one is DMX’s very first single and it’s his second highest charting track ever. It set off a string of memorable tracks from the Def Jam artist.
85. “Nappy Heads” by Fugees (1994)
Two years before they found international success, Lauryn, Wyclef, and Pras had their first hit here.
84. “Ain’t No Future In Yo’ Frontin'” by MC Breed and DFC (1991)
This is seriously one of those songs I completely wore out for the first half of the 90s. For that reason alone, it earns a well deserved spot.
83. “Get Money” by Junior M.A.F.I.A. (1996)
Biggie’s side group that featured Lil Kim and Lil Cease had their best track here.
82. “Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool (1996)
Simply put, one of those most ridiculously infectious dance club bangers ever created. This DJ gets some fantastic assists from Biz Markie and Doug E. Fresh.
81. “Changes” by 2Pac (1998)
Mr. Shakur makes his first appearance with this posthumous Bruce Hornsby sampling track.
And that’s all for now, friends! Part two covering numbers 80-71 drops tomorrow.
It’s day three of my personal Top 90 R&B singles from the 1990s and today we’ll cover numbers 70-61. In case you missed the first two installments, you can find them here:
All My Life... I Wanted To Be A Blogster 