Double Takes

I think we all know that history repeats itself. It’s the sign of civilization trying to find a successful formula for life and yet contradictory, it’s the sign of progression too. Well repetition could serve as a form of flattery, considering that someone or something is attempting to be a duplicate. The reason for copying is because the first one was such a great production, it needed to be done again. In music and in film this is a major component. In our world where the media dictates, damn near everything, the public is easily moved by what has been done already. Therefore it only makes sense that replicas and remakes and remixes are becoming more and more prominent. In music some of this generation’s greatest successes have been those that found innovative ways to bring back the old and make it new again {oxymoron}. Though there are plenty that unfortunately don’t know how to tune into that special ability to know the origins of true music and then be able to not butcher it in their own tracks. There’s an art to sampling and I can say that probably because I come from the generation where that’s what the majority of the “artists of now” do. I mean I can argue with my parents til the point is drilled into the ground about what constitutes a good artist. They would believe that those like Kanye lack what it takes to make original music and have to reiterate to the world the music that was already dubbed great. And though I don’t discredit their stance, there is still the strong belief that in order to even take a classic song like Mike Jackson’s “PYT” and turn it into “Good Life” takes immense musical capability. There are so many things he probably could have done wrong to ruin that joint, and yet he didn’t and continues to do so with many other hits. And don’t get me wrong, not every producer and songwriter that samples is automatically a musical genius. There are some that didn’t get the magic touch and don’t know how to be inspired by an original for their own re-creation (they’re the ones where the music or the sound or the lyrics have seemingly not changed—and basically didn’t do the song justice at all…)

On a side note, I would like to pay tribute to one of the greats that’s no longer with us (we think)…Tupac. It’s his birthday today and he is a great example of how good—excuse me, GREAT, artists were able to appropriately make re-creations and eventual classics all over again.
Tupac’s Sample Success & My Personal Fav’s (of course)
- Shed So Many Tears*: Stevie Wonder’s That Girl
- I Get Around
- Keep Your Head Up*: Zapp & Roger’s Be Alright and The Five Stairsteps’ Oooh Child
- Can’t See Me
- I Aint Mad At Cha*: Blackstreet’s If You Take You Love Away
- Do For Love*: Bobby Caldwell’s What You Won't Do for Love
- Thug Mansion
- How Do You Want It*: Quincy Jones’ Body Heat
- California Love

Other All-Time Great “Original Gangstas” and “Double Takes”
- Cruisin’: Smokey Robinson (OG), D’Angleo (DT)
- Killing Me Softly: Roberta Flack (OG), The Fugees (DT)
- Something: The Beatles (OG), Musiq Soulchild (DT)
- Just The Two Of Us: Bill Withers (OG), Will Smith (DT)
- You’re All I Need To Get By: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (OG), Method Man & Mary J. Blige (DT)

- I Can't Stand the Rain: Nina Peebles (OG), Missy Elliott (DT)

- Pink & Blue: Andre 3000 (OG), Whenever: KiD CuDi (DT)

- I’m Coming Out: Diana Ross (OG), Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: Biggie (DT)
- Love T.K.O.: Teddy Pendergrass (OG), Back In The Days: Ahmad (DT)
- Groove With You: Isley Brothers (OG), Beauty In The Dark: Mos Def (DT)
- Moments of Love: Art of Noise (OG), Freaks: Play N’ Skills (DT) & One For Me: Lloyd (DT)
- Call Me: Aretha Franklin (OG), Selfish: Slum Village (DT)

Finally, I just witnessed another eye-catching double take in the remake of The Karate Kid. The irony in itself is that the movie alone is a duplication of something original that graced our presence in 80s to the early 90s, and now the young star to embody such a character is the live version of life reincarnate through the famous Smith family. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s youngest son has been inducted into my hall of favs. Little Jaden Smith is the new karate kid and also the new Will Smith all over again…it’s like “Will, now we know what you looked like as a child…literally”. The way his lip curls, his comedic timing, his swagged out strut and to the cocky smirk on his 12 year old face—he IS Will once more. Congratulations Smiths, you all have figured the recipe for staying relevant and fresh even after age and time have challenged you into staying away from the limelight. There must not be anything wrong with duplicity. (And I wanna add that Jackie Chan did a great job, for once his character was not treated in the stereotypical sense and was truly convincing in his role). I give this movie: 4 stars out of 5. {click the link}