iTune-Up - Michael vs. Justin

There have been comparisons between Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, but how do they compete? Their dancing, their sounds, their subject matter, that’s for you to decide in this playlist matchup between the two pop powerhouses. Twenty performances in a variety of categories and one together. Who do you think comes out on top?

Click here for the playlist

The Categories

Aggressive Love
Michael Jackson – “In the Closet” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “SexyBack”

For the Disco
Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”
vs. Justin Timberlake – “Rock Your Body”

A Song of the Same Name
Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
vs. NSYNC – “I Want You Back”

With Janet…Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty!
Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson – “Scream” vs.
Justin Timberlake featuring Janet Jackson – “(And She Said) Take Me Now”

In a Group Setting
Jackson 5 – “ABC” vs.
NSYNC – “Bye, Bye, Bye”

Pure Funk
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” vs.
Justin Timberlake featuring T.I. – “My Love”

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal”
vs. Justin Timberlake – “Like I Love You”

Those Darn Women
Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “Cry Me a River”

So the Drama
Michael Jackson – “Thriller” vs.
Justin Timberlake – “What Goes Around (Comes Around)”

Power Ballads
Michael Jackson – “She’s Out of My Life”
vs. NSYNC – “Gone”

Together!
NSYNC featuring Michael Jackson – “Pop” (Live from the 2001 MTV VMAs)

iTune-Up - Michael vs. Justin

Play These Instead ... featuring Deee-Lite

Substitutions for Worn-Out Records

You hear them at every club, party and social function … and you’re tired of them. Luckily, That’s My Jam is here to suggest songs with a similar sound. These substitutions will add some audio variety that will spice up any DJ’s set.


The Perpetrator

Deee-Lite
“Groove Is in the Heart” (1990)


Play These Instead …

D-Mob with Cathy Dennis
"C’mon and Get My Love” (1989)

Black Box with Loleatta Holloway
"Ride On Time” (1990)

49ers
“Touch Me” (1990)

George Michael
“Do You Really Want To Know” (1992)

Deee-Lite
“Runaway” (1992)

Play These Instead ... featuring Deee-Lite

iTune-Up - '90s Deep House Mix CD Intros

Does anyone spin deep house anymore? After compiling this iTune-Up, That's My Jam wishes that more mixmasters would. For our first-ever, video-included iTune-Up, we present some of our favorite '90s deep house mix CD intros. Some, fortunately, have entertaining visuals to accompany the music, while others are strictly audio.


DJ Enrie
DJ Enrie's Playhouse, Volume 2 (1997)




Richard Vission
Drop That Beat (1997)




Bad Boy Bill
Bangin' the Box, Volume 3 (1998)




DJ Irene
Hard House Diva (1998)

iTune-Up - '90s Deep House Mix CD Intros

iTune-Up - Madonna Remakes

Madonna just celebrated her 50th birthday and for more than two decades has been recognized as an innovator of dance and pop music.

But even Madge has taken a break from being fully creative, opting instead to reinterpret some of pop, rock, R&B and Broadway’s staples. Add these to your iPod and sound intellectual at the Material Girl’s next fan club meeting.




“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (1984/1996)
— From Like A Virgin (also appeared on Something to Remember, the album it was technically “released” from), originally recorded by Rose Royce in 1978

“Fever” (1993)
— From Erotica, originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956, though Peggy Lee’s version is considered the most popular

“I Want You” (1995)
— Available on Something to Remember, originally recorded by Marvin Gaye in 1976

“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” (1996)
— From the soundtrack to the motion picture Evita, originally recorded by Julie Covington in 1973, but popularized by Elaine Page and Patti LuPone in the UK and U.S., respectively

“American Pie” (2000)
— From the soundtrack to the motion picture The Next Best Thing, originally recorded by Don McLean in 1971

iTune-Up - Madonna Remakes

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: R & B

June is Black Music Month and to celebrate the occasion, That’s My Jam will feature some of the best contributions by black musicians in the genres its readers love: dance, pop and R&B.

For the final edition of this iTune-Up theme, the focus is R&B, the genre that epitomizes black music and features influences such as jazz, gospel and the blues, and has influenced rock, pop, dance and hip-hop. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Joe Higgins and His Honeydrippers
“The Honeydripper (Parts 1 and 2)” (1945)
― Tied with Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five’s “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” for most weeks atop what is now the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart

Ruth Brown
“Teardrops from My Eyes” (1950)

Little Walter and His Night Cats
“Juke” (1952)

Chuck Berry and His Combo
“Maybellene” (1955)

Sam Cooke
“You Send Me” (1957)


Ray Charles
“Hit the Road Jack” (1961)

James Brown
“Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag Part 1” (1965)
― Brown is often credited with transitioning R&B into both the soul and funk realms

Aretha Franklin
“Chain of Fools” (1968)

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
“You’re All I Need to Get By” (1968)

Isley Brothers
“It’s Your Thing” (1969)

Jean Knight
“Mr. Big Stuff” (1971)

Staple Singers
“I’ll Take You There” (1972)

Stevie Wonder
“Superstition” (1973)

Earth, Wind & Fire
“Shining Star” (1975)



Parliament/Funkadelic
“One Nation Under a Groove Part 1” (1978)

Anita Ward
“Ring My Bell” (1979)
― Originally written for a then-teenage Stacy Lattisaw

Gap Band
“Early in the Morning” (1982)

Mtume
“Juicy Fruit” (1983)

Ashford and Simpson
“Solid” (1984)

Cameo
“Word Up” (1986)

Anita Baker
“Sweet Love” (1986)





Keith Sweat
“I Want Her” (1987)
― One of the first new jack swing songs to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart

Cherrelle
“Everything I Miss at Home” (1989)

Luther Vandross
“Here and Now” (1989)

Ralph Tresvant
“Sensitivity” (1990)

Freddie Jackson
“Love Me Down” (1990)
― Jackson is a native of Harlem, N.Y.




Peabo Bryson
“Can You Stop the Rain” (1991)

Jodeci
“Stay” (1992)

Mary J. Blige
“Reminisce” (1992)

R. Kelly
“Bump N’ Grind” (1994)

Usher
“You Make Me Wanna” (1997)

Destiny’s Child
“Bills, Bills, Bills” (1999)

Erykah Badu featuring Common
“Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)” (2002)



Alicia Keys
“If I Ain’t Got You” (2004)

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: R & B

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: Pop

June is Black Music Month and to celebrate the occasion, That’s My Jam will feature some of the best contributions by black musicians in the genres its readers love: dance, pop and R&B.

Next on the agenda is pop, the fun, MTV and radio-ready chart-toppers whose catchy lyrics and melodies keep listeners singing along. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Chubby Checker
“The Twist” (1960)
― Reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1960 and 1962

The Supremes
“Baby Love” (1964)

Four Tops
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966)

Aretha Franklin
“Respect” (1967)



Marvin Gaye
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968)
― A successful chart hit the previous year for Gladys Knight and the Pips

Jackson 5
“ABC” (1970)

Stevie Wonder
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (1970)

Al Green
“Let’s Stay Together” (1971)

The Temptations
“Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972)

Bill Withers
“Lean on Me” (1972)
― Remade in 1987 by Club Nouveau. Both versions made it to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100


Carl Douglas
“Kung Fu Fighting” (1974)

Ohio Players
“Love Rollercoaster” (1976)

Thelma Houston
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” (1977)
― Houston’s version is a cover of a hit originally performed by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Donna Summer
“Bad Girls” (1979)

Shannon
“Let the Music Play” (1983)

Pointer Sisters
“Jump (For My Love)” (1984)

Tina Turner
“Private Dancer” (1985)

Jody Watley
“Looking for a New Love” (1987)
― Introduced the popular phrase “Hasta la vista, baby” to pop culture


Billy Ocean
“Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” (1988)

Bobby Brown
“My Prerogative” (1988)

Janet Jackson
“Miss You Much” (1989)

Michael Jackson
“Remember the Time” (1992)

Gabrielle
“Dreams” (1993)

Eternal
“Stay” (1994)
― Eternal’s roster hails from London

TLC
“Waterfalls” (1995)

BLACKstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queenpen
“No Diggity” (1996)

Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z
“Heartbreaker” (1999)




Samantha Mumba
“Baby Come Over” (2001)

Ashanti
“Foolish” (2002)

Mis-teeq
“Scandalous” (2004)
― Replaced Britney Spears’ “Outrageous” as the theme for Halle Berry’s flick, Catwoman



Rihanna
S.O.S. (2006)

Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and Doe
“The Way I Are” (2007)

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: Pop

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: Dance

June is Black Music Month and to celebrate the occasion, That’s My Jam will feature some of the best contributions by black musicians in the genres its readers love: dance, pop and R&B.

First up in this month’s iTune-Ups is the dance/electronica side of our spectrum, a genre whose 30-plus-year history spans from disco to trance. Download these recommendations for some happy listening.

Hues Corporation

“Rock the Boat” (1974)

— The first disco song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart

Barry White

“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” (1974)

Donna Summer

“Love to Love You Baby” (1976)

— Summer reportedly refuses to ever perform this song

Chic

“Good Times” (1979)



Sister Sledge

“He’s the Greatest Dancer” (1979)

S.O.S. Band

“Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (1980)

Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force

“Planet Rock” (1982)

Shannon

“Give Me Tonight” (1984)

— Shannon’s “Let the Music Play,” along with Madonna’s “Holiday,” are said to be the songs that inspired the rhythmic top 40 radio station format

Farley “Jackmaster” Funk

“Love Can’t Turn Around” (1986)

Jody Watley

“Don’t You Want Me” [Dance Mix] (1987)

Soul II Soul

“Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” (1989)

— Caron Wheeler performed this track’s featured vocals

Snap!

“The Power” (1990)

C+C Music Factory featuring Martha Wash

“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” (1990)

Londonbeat

“I’ve Been Thinking About You” (1991)

Jomanda

“Got a Love for You” (1991)

Robin S.

“Love for Love” (1993)

— Robin S. worked an office job shortly before releasing this single

RuPaul

“Supermodel” (1993)

Crystal Waters

“100% Pure Love” (1994)

CeCe Peniston

“Hit By Love” (1994)

La Bouche

“Sweet Dreams” (1996)

— Released the previous year in Europe to much success

Todd Terry presents Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown

“Keep On Jumpin’” (1996)



Toni Braxton

“Un-Break My Heart” [Soul Hex Anthem Vocal] (1996)

Ultra Naté

“Free” (1997)

— Naté joined Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez on 54's “If You Could Read My Mind”

Whitney Houston

“It’s Not Right, but It’s Okay” [Thunderpuss Mix] (1999)

Sonique

“It Feels So Good” (2000)

Deborah Cox

"Mr. Lonely" [Hex Hector/Mac Quayle Main Club Mix-Widelife Mix] (2002)

Kim English

“Everyday” (2002)

Carl Cox featuring Hannah Robinson

“Give Me Your Love” (2006)

Rihanna

“Don’t Stop the Music” (2008)

Janet Jackson

“Rock with U” (2008)

— Jackson is second behind Madonna with the most No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart

Ne-Yo

“Closer” (2008)

iTune-Up - Black Music Month: Dance

iTune-Up - Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis

Like Christina Aguilera? Try Leona Lewis

“Genie In a Bottle” excited listeners with Christina Aguilera’s powerful vocals laid over a contemporary, easy-on-the-ears pop melody. Fans eagerly awaited her self-titled debut album, which was packed full of more of the same, including such hits as “What a Girl Wants,” “I Turn To You” and “Come on Over (All I Want is You).” Leona Lewis, another young vocal powerhouse who won the UK’s The X Factor, burst on to the U.S. music scene this year with “Bleeding Love,” which has become a worldwide smash. Her debut album, Spirit, features hip-hop-infused numbers and pop-y ballads such as the midtempo “I’m You,” the Jordin Sparks “Tattoo” sound-alike “Angel” and the piano-driven throwback “You Bring Me Down.” Though neither young woman’s debut showcases either as an artist, seeing where Aguilera went, it will be exciting to see where Lewis takes her career.

iTune-Up - Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis