JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Frankie Valli’s 92nd birthday.
Category: disco
Throwback: Happy 86th Birthday, Giorgio Moroder!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Giorgio Moroder’s 86th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 70th Birthday, Teena Marie!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 70th anniversary of the birth of Teena Marie.
Throwback: Happy Black History Month!/Happy Birthday, 78th Rick James!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Black History Month and the 78th anniversary of Rick James’ birth.
Throwback: Happy 81st Birthday, Rod Stewart!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Rod Stewart’s 81st birthday.
Throwback: Happy 67th Birthday, Kathy Sledge!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Kathy Sledge’s 67th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 77th Birthday, Donna Summer!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 77th anniversary of the birth of Donna Summer.
Throwback: Happy 76th Birthday, Maurice and Robin Gibb!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 76th anniversary of the births of Maurice and Robin Gibb.
Throwback: Happy 84th Birthday, Maurice White!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the 84th anniversary of the birth Earth Wind & FIre’s Maurice White.
New Audio: JOVM Mainstay Thundercat Tackles A Diana Ross Smash Hit
Since the release of 2020’s critically applauded It is What It Is, the acclaimed JOVM mainstay Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner has remained quite busy. Attention grabbing collaborations with Tame Impala, Gorillaz, Silk Sonic, Kaytranada and Justice have maintained his presence in the music realm. But he’s also branded out into acting with a role in Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett.
Continuing his foray into the realm of television, the JOVM mainstay appeared as a featured musical guest on the rebooted Yo Gabba Gabbaland on Apple TV+. He joined Yo Gabba Gabba! for a NPR Tiny Desk concert. And he appeared at the show’s Coachella set both weekends.
Adding to a large and growing profile, he’s appearing and playing in GAP ads — and he has joined Steve Lacy and Red Hot Chili Peppers on stage.
This year, the acclaimed artist has released two standalone tracks, “I Didn’t Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time,” and “Children of the Baked Potato” feat. Remi Wolf. His third and latest single sees him tackling the Diana Ross‘ Nile Rodgers and Bernie Edwards penned 1980 smash hit “Upside Down,” arguably one of the sexiest pop songs ever written. Anchored around Thundercat’s muscular, Jaco Pastorious-styled bass lines, the JOVM mainstay’s take on the beloved tune is simultaneously woozy and ethereal while retaining elements of the dance floor friendly original.
New Video: Hop! Hop! Diablo Funk Share Joyous and Funky “Bailas como un diablo”
Since forming back in 2014, Mexican outfit Hop! Hop! Diablo Funk — Jud (vocal) MC Rita (guitar), Coros Perico (guitar), Coros Damien (drums), Jona (trumpet), Bajo Hector (trumpet), Eli (sax), Dyanata (trombone) — have stood out for crafting a sound that draws from rock, funk and several other genres paired with lyrics that address every day life situations, social issues and more.
While making their rounds of their national festival circuit with sets at La Fiesta de la Música, Rock x la Vida, Vibra Chapultepec, Zocalo, Hop! Hop! Diablo Funk, the band has also established a reputation for a dynamic and fun live set.
Hop! Hop! Diablo Funk’s latest single “Bailas como un diablo” is an ecstatic, nostalgia-including song that channels a seamless synthesis of 80s Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine and 70s disco while showcasing a band that can craft a dance floor friendly groove and a remarkably catchy hook.
Look, shit is bleak right now. And it’s going to get dire — soon. This song is a much-needed joy bomb, a reminder that everyone has to grab hold of a bit of fun whenever and however they could. It’s the only way that you’ll be able to survive.
FYI: For those who are sensitive to strobe light, the accompanying video features flashing lights. Besides that the video features the band — fittingly — playing on a flashing Saturday Night Fever-inspired stage with a disco ball just above them.
Throwback: Happy Belated 73rd Birthday, Nile Rodgers!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Nile Rodgers’ 73rd birthday.
Throwback: R.I.P. Walter Scott
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates the life and music of The Whispers co-founder Walter Scott.
Throwback: Happy Belated 69th Birthday, Larry Blackmon!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms belatedly celebrates Cameo frontman Larry Blackmon’s 69th birthday.
Throwback: Happy 77th Birthday, Grace Jones!
JOVM’s William Ruben Helms celebrates Grace Jones’ 77th birthday.