SOUNDTRACK: WYCLEF JEAN-Tiny Desk Concert #668 (November 6, 2017).
Wyclef Jean is a pretty exceptionally famous person. And it is wonderful just how sweet and funny he is.
He starts his set with two highlights from his latest record, and finishes with a climactic rendition of his signature hit like you’ve never seen or heard.
The Tiny Desk Concert didn’t start out that inspiring me though. For some reason he is reciting over and overt about bars on the bass. No idea what that means. He raps a brief biography that really kicks in when he sings:
“I flipped the language. I called Trump started speaking Spanish (a Spanish verse). Trump hung up the phone said I’m still not convinced. I said you might be convinced when I sing in French.” It’s all a lead in to the first song “Borrowed Time,” where he sings and plays lead bass. Interestingly, he is playing a lead bass while Patrick Andriantsialonina also plays bass (throughout this song and each song). It’s a gentle song, sweet and pretty.
When the song is over he removes his jacket:
I ain’t gonna front. Everybody that’s watching this live right now knows when I was doing the rehearsal I did not have my jacket on. I threw it on because I had to get my swagger. Speaking of swagger, the blurb notes:
A seasoned pro, he walked through our doors greeting and charming anyone within arm’s reach. Once in front of an audience, he was in attack mode, playing every instrument in sight. Clef doled out stories ranging from his upbringing and rise with The Fugees to intimate musical encounters with Whitney Houston and Destiny’s Child. The mentions were properly placed and added substance to the performance, but to me, he pulled what I’d call a “subtle stunt.” Hip-hop is and has always been about youth and freshness, so most elder statesmen of rap aren’t celebrated to the degree of their peers in rock ‘n’ roll and country music. Every now and again it’s necessary to inform the younger generation, who would otherwise never know these epic moments ever happened.
He tells a funny story about his father wanting him to sing church music (he does a funny impersonation of his father “you got to serve gawd or the devil”). He chose music and was kicked out of the house. He moved in with his Uncle and that’s where they made The Score. He’s been doing music since he was in his twenties. He says people might say:
“Yo Clef is thug, but he kinda geeky.” It’s the audio side.
He tells a story being 20-something (being a cocky 24-year-old) and making a beat for Destiny’s Child and Beyonce. And then a hilarious story about Whitney singing flat. As a producer I think Whitney hit a flat note. “Oh my god, Wyclef Jean has to tell Ms. Whitney Houston that the note is flat. As a producer we’re like astronauts we have obligations.” [laughter]. He continues in a whiny voice: “I don’t know if this rocket is gonna fly.” He continues: “‘Whitney, the note is flat.” Dead silence. She goes, ‘Baby, the note is not flat, I just bent the note.’ And that’s the highest level of diva I’ve ever seen in my life.” But she was right, she took the note out of pitch and brought it back.”
He plays the keyboards on “Turn Me Good” with vocals from his niece Jazzy Amra. When he introduces her, she comes and a guy follows to adjust the mic. As he does, Wyclef comes out to “steady” the guy, it’s quite funny. Wyclef sings the main chorus: “What we gonna do when we get to Zion? We gonna make love all night like a Marvin Gaye song.” {That’s an odd song to duet with your niece]. She has a pretty voice but I don’t like her delivery.
When the song is over he says, “I’m swearing like a monkey, dog, but don’t edit the footage, coz I got to show the kids how the work go.” He asks for a towel “Is this like a Tiny Desk Towel exclusive?”
Introducing “Gone Till November” he says to his bassist, “Ask me the coolest thing about ‘Gone to November.'” Patrick asks him and her replies, “Well Patrick, the coolest thing… I did this song because it’s about making runs about selling drugs…. I’m a big fan of Bob Dylan so the lyrics be having triple entendres not just double entendres. I wanted Bob Dylan to be in the video. Haters they be shouting ‘Bob Dylan will never show up for your video he doesn’t even show up for his own son’s video.’ But Dylan showed up. So Mr Dylan if you’re watching we’re going do a rad version of for you coz you’re so cool man.”
Wyclef picks up the guitar. After a buzzy guitar solo, the song settles down to some pretty chords and Wyclef singing. This is apparently his big hit, but I don;t know it. After a few verses and choruses, he slows it down: I got to talk to some of these kids, I’m 20 years older than most of them. He does a slow rap followed by a really fast verse. Manny Laine on drums does a great job so slowing down the beat and then bringing it back up during Wyclef’s (really long) solo. It has a very Hendrix feel. After playing for a minute or so, he puts the guitar behind his back and plays fairly well. Then he plays with his teeth. And finally picks up an NPR mug and uses it as a slide. It’s all in good fun and the crowd eats it up.
It’s a really fun set, and Wyclef makes a great impression.
[READ: April 19, 2017] Captain Marvel: Stay Fly
I mentioned that Captain Marvel is confusing. And even after I think I’ve straightened it out it’s still confusing.
This series is Volume VIII. It contains 3 books: Captain Marvel, Volume 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More; Captain Marvel, Volume 2: Stay Fly; Captain Marvel, Volume 3: Alis Volat Propriis.
Prior to this, DeConnick wrote another Captain Marvel series Volume VII. No idea why they are different volumes. But there are also three books in this series Captain Marvel, Volume 1: In Pursuit of Flight; Captain Marvel, Volume 2: Down; Captain Marvel, Volume 3: Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps and, according to Goodreads at least, included in Volume VII is Avengers: The Enemy Within which seems to come before Carol Corp. For some reason, very few libraries seem to carry this particularly series.
And then, just to throw more confusion into the works, there is a new series (the Captain’s logo looks different and it is not written by DeConnick) called Captain Marvel 2016. There are five books in it with two being out so far: Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Rise of Alpha Flight and Captain Marvel, Vol. 2: Civil War II.
Phew.
So, with all that background, it took me two years to track down Book 2 in the Volume VIII saga. And I was really surprised at how silly it was. Not necessarily in a good way, either. I mean, sure I love the Marvel humor and I love that they play around with some interesting ideas, but I feel like Carol Danvers is a pretty great hero and she is spoken of in very high regard. So why then does this book prominently feature cats, rats, rock stars and Santa Claus? It seems to really play down her mad skills.
I was also a little put off by the artwork. I really don’t care for Marcio Takara’s style in the first few chapters. In part because it looks so very different from the cover art and Lopez’ art. I actually had a hard time following what was going on (which may have been the two-year gap, but I don’t think so). (more…)
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