Vengaboys - The Platinum Album 2020 album review
Vengaboys - The Platinum Album 2020 is a re-release of the 2000 album The Platinum Album. Vengaboys decided to re-release The Platinum Album as The Platinum Album 2020 on YouTube in streaming format with lyrics included in each song and video. That is why you can hear that retro 2000s sounds mixed with that new school 2020s sound on this Vengaboys album.
This album has that electronic platinum sound with those party hits. You’ve got some catchy but repetitive lyrics supported by rhythmic drum patters over futuristic Euro dance sounds. Which is perfect because there seems to be a Renaissance of Euro dance lately. 2020 is the Renaissance period of Euro dance as international dance music seems to be making a comeback. So make some noise for the Vengaboys!
The album contains the party hits and dance floor numbers Shalala Lala, 24/7 In My 911, Cheeka Bow Bow, Kiss (When The Sun Don’t Shine), Uncle John From Jamaica.
Shalala Lala is a Vengaboys love song laced with repetitive lyrics over catchy synths. The song follows a Euro dance rhythm over popish chords. The song charted at #2 on the Dutch Top 10 charts and remained there for several weeks.
There's a boy in a girl’s mind and he knows. She is thinking of him day and night. The stars shine above me. He's been gone for some time. But he knows she truly loves him. She is singing this song hoping he’ll be back when he hears it. No one knows exactly when he'll return.
If your love has gone away just like hers, you'll feel like crying. Sing along maybe once or twice. Let's try it together. Listen to your heart as it is singing.
These are the annoying, repetitive but catchy lyrics to the chorus. You can obviously tell this song was written in the 00s due to its catchy pop lyrics.
My heart goes shalala lala
Shalala in the morning
Shalala lala
Shalala in the sunshine
Shalala lala
Shalala in the evening
Shalala lala
Shalala lala just for you
24/7 In My 911 is about partying and having fun which is what the Vengaboys are all about. It’s not being tied down to your work when you work a 9-to-5.
The setting of this song takes place at the Costa del Sol. A 9-to-5 ain't gonna work. Partying having some fun is what you need. Come on! Let's go now! The stars are out tonight and moon is shining down with rays of pure delight. It's the time of our lifetime. Everyone is rockin' to the rhythm on Venga Radio.
These lyrics are what make the song repetitive. You tell the Vengaboys were cashing in by following the typical Eurodance and Europop format of using catch but repetitive lyrics on this song. Which was typical and usuals for many Eurodance song of the 2000s.
Cruisin’
Cruisin’ down the street
Cruisin’
Up and down the street
Cruisin'
Cruisin' down the street
Cruisin'
Up and down the street
Cruisin'
Cruisin' down the street
Cruisin'
Up and down the street
24/7 in my 911
And I ain't gonna work a 9-to-5
24/7 in my 911
On a highway to heaven
It's the time of my life
24/7 in my 911
And I ain't gonna work a 9-to-5
24/7 in my 911
On a highway to heaven
It's the time of my life
24/7 in my 911
And I ain't gonna work a 9-to-5
24/7 in my 911
On a highway to heaven
It's the time of my life
Kiss (When The Sun Don't Shine) was a love song and top charting hit for the Vengaboys back in 2000. The song charted at #2 on the Dutch Top 10 charts and remained there for several weeks.
Every Friday her head is spinning round and round. She has been workin' all week long. So she takes a trip downtown to her favorite club. That’s when she sees him with loving arms to fall into. However this girl is not looking for full-time love. There is still so much she wants to achieve. She only kisses when the sun don't shine. The girl tells the boy, “You wanna kiss? Then tonight is fine.”
She can live without full-time love because that is not what’s on her mind now. Freedom is what she’s thinking of that is what she values and cherishes. She ain't got the time for that now. Full-time loving is not what’s on her mind at all.
Straight out of the blue, the boy came to her and asked her to be her date in the daytime. The girl turns his request to be his date down. She tells him, “I am sorry. No can do.”
Uncle John From Jamaica uses a mix of reggaeton and Eurodance over pop sounds. The sounds of reggae, dance, and pop meet each other. It is quite refreshing to hear the Vengaboys step outside the box and use a different genre of music to incorporate in their songs.
Uncle John from Jamaica keeps calling every day. He tells us (you) to just buy a ticket and take a summer holiday. Everybody needs a holiday once in a while. Too many days of stress and sorrow are not good for the body and soul. Living a stressful life ain’t no fun.
Cheekah Bow Bow is a techno oriented song about a robot receiving a sexually transmitted disease (STD) from having unprotected sex hence the sexual innuendoes thrown around causally all over this song. Cheekah is the robot in this song who gets highly animated and lively as he is a sex fiend. The song also serves a cautionary tale about what happens when you have unprotected sex. So remember, kids. Use protection.
The lack of acoustics is what also makes this a great song. Overall there is definitely a sense of liveness, happiness, and danceability as this is Euro dance.
Unfortunately this song was not as successful of a hit as the other song on this album were. Which is sad because the song had followed the Eurodance formula of using upbeat dance rhythms and electronic sound. Cheekah Bow Bow was a more so a moderate hit that was not that successful. Despite being a moderate hit, the song managed to peak at the Top 40 charts of several countries.
Notice how the lyrics are related to computer terminology and use sexual innuendo in a tongue-in-cheek manner. "The way you used your joystick / Has really made my mouse click" and "Come sit down on my laptop, cheekah bow bow / Lets do a little hiphop, cheekah bow bow / Let's go into a chatroom, cheekah bow bow / And do a little boom boom, cheekah bow bow".
Cheekah saw this lovely girl in the disco last night in San Francisco. The way she used her joystick really makes his mouse click. The lyrics “The way you used your joystick/It really makes my mouse click” is a reference to his penis getting erect.
So Cheekah asks her to sit down on his laptop to do a little hip hop. He says to her next, “Let's go into a chatroom and do a little boom boom.”
The second part of this song explains how he got a sexually transmitted disease by using computer terminology.
The way she used her joystick has really made him feel sick. So Cheekah goes to the hospital to see a doctor. The doctor checked his hard drive. There was a virus in his archive from having unprotected sex. His disc was not protected and now he is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
I saw you in the disco
Last week in San Francisco
The way you used your joystick
Has really made me feel sick
The doctor checked my harddrive, cheekah bow bow
A virus in my archive, cheekah bow bow
My disc was not protected, cheekah bow bow
And now I am infected, cheekah bow bow
48 Hours is a classic instrumental with a beautiful flow with a touch of psychedelic trance. This song has that 90s/00s feeling. The song will also give you a great feeling. Here Danski & DJ Delmundo engineered this song perfectly. This song used the same synths and chords from Alice Deejay - Everything Begins With An E.
Your Place Or Mine is about making a love last by having a good time with pleasure.
Together we can make it. We're gonna have a real good time, my love. Love is the lasting kind. So you better come and take it. Desire keeps on growing. So does love. I am the one for you to be with. You are the one are the one for me. We were meant to be together.
There is no need for questions. I can see it in your eyes. I only need one answer. Where will you spend the night? Your place or mine?
Do you feel what I am feelin' now? You are the one with you I want to share my life. From now until forever. We're gonna have a real good time together. Where we will spend our lives. Together we can make it. Can't you see my arms are open wide? What’s it gonna be? Yours or mine? Where will we spend our lives? Your place or mine? So many questions that require so many answers.
Skinnydippin' is explores the naked pleasure of swimming in water with no clothing on. Skinnydippin' is about swimming naked in water. We’re gonna be skinnydippin' all night long.
Here's an invitation from the Vengaboys to attend a Vengaparty. You gotta bring your friends along. The Vengaboys will pick you up tonight at 1 AM. This is private Vengaparty that is gonna last the whole night long. We’re gonna dance until the cops show up because then we gotta run. We’re gonna be skinnydippin' all night long.
We don't care what the people say. Nothing's gonna stop us as we are gonna do it anyway. Tonight's the night for fun. Let us show you how. Hey what ya waiting for? Get in the water now! Take your clothes off as we are skinnydippin' all night long. That's what the Vengaboys love. Come along and let's have some fun! Get in the water now!
Take Me To The City is a fan favorite among many Vengaboys songs. The song is about dancing in the city and having a good time. This is one of those songs that will make your body dance and have fun. The song was in high demand during the years 2000 and 2020.
The song will have you moving right and make you just wanna dance to the point where you just won't wanna give up .So make your body dance and have fun. Have fun tonight! Don’t pretend to be shy. The city is so pretty. Not to mention hot. That will make you crazy. This is one of those songs that will get you into a groove.
Forever As One is a Vengaboys love ballad. In fact this is the only love ballad the Vengaboys ever made. This song is much different than any usual Vengaboys song as a much slower tempo is used.
Opus 3 In D# is the instrumental closer of this Vengaboys album. The song was written in D# Major on a 4|4 scale. Yet there some portions of this composition which use a 3|4 scale. Danski does a beautiful job manning the keyboards.
5/5*****!!
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DJ Smash – The Party Platter album review
DJ Smash – The Party Platter is one of the most genuine release from legendary DJ Smash. His sound and style brings a breath of fresh air to music. His DJ and turntablist skills are desirable. Hip hop meets acid jazz on this album of his. That makes perfect sense and is not surprising since is a New Breed release. You know, New Breed Records, "New Breed a new generation of sound”. His puts his own spin on this album by using and incorporating different styles of music. Highlights for this album include Bassanova, Moodulator,
Bassanova is mixture of bossanova jazz and hip hop. This style of jazz follows a different beat than your typical jazz. This song follows the syncopation of traditional samba. You can feel and hear a Nujabes vibe when you listen to this song.
Moodulator uses such a calm relaxing keyboard which fits int with the rhymes sounds and rhythm. This tune will have your head nodding. His puts his own spin on this quality music. The beats are super thick. Jazz meets hip hop on Moodulator.
Lounge Mode uses a laid back lounge jazz sound perfect for the lounge or a nightclub. The song follows some jazzy beats. Overall this song is an underrated gem.
Daktari uses a fusion of tribal house and breakbeats. Notice the Afrocentric beats DJ Smash uses. Say Ow is a funky upbeat uptempo hip hop song where funk meets hip hop.
5/5*****!!
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Thomas Colon - Soul Vibe EP EP review
Thomas Colon - Soul Vibe EP is one of the most overlooked and underrated house releases of all time. Ti should be criminal that a house release such as this one flew under the radar. One has to why this EP did not chart or gain mainstream exposure. Anyway, you have upbeat electronic house tunes that will make you dance such as Have A Good Time, Ahh-Baby-Baby, Let Your Body Be Free, and pretty much every other song included on this EP. 90s house is the best!
Have A Good Time uses super warm bass in lieu of Lil Louis - Nyce & Slo (The Lovebug Mix). Some of the bass notes and keys copy Lil Louis - Nyce & Slo (The Lovebug Mix) Thomas Colon must have been influenced by the sounds of Lil Louis when he recorded Have A Good Time. This dance floor number can do damage on the dance floor and lounge. This song will make you want to dance and have a good time.
Ahh-Baby-Baby is a mellow tune with thick upbeat house sounds. The sound is absolutely climatic and romantic. Thomas Colon uses triple layers of electronic synths in part of this song. The vocal samples are what makes this song climatic and romantic.
Let Your Body Be Free is Thomas Colon’s take on Jovonn - Be Free. Both songs sound very much similar in comparison to each other. That is because both songs copy the same electronic beats and cymbal kit. Thomas Colon was definitely influenced by Jovonn as he covered his song. This is music for the mind and soul. So set your body free and dance to this music. So just let your body be free. The song uses a huge influence of dance and electronic. Overall this song is an underrated gem.
Piano Trac is a great house tune that is an electronic instrumental laced with ultimately thick beats and super low bass notes. Piano Trac also uses a funky horn that is looped throughout the duration of this song.
5/5*****!!
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Groovilicious – The Recipe EP review
Groovilicious – The Recipe EP is one of the most groovy jazz hop EPs of 1996. Groovilicious helped bring a new generation of sound to the New Breed label in 1996 with DJ Smash and Hustletron. So you can expect to hear those jazzy sounds this label was famous for. Acid jazz meets electronic music on this album.
I Don't Mind uses a groovy piano over a lovely saxophone solo. The beats follows the jazzy groove. You will automatically think of those 70s detective movies or mystery movies such as Shaft or Charlie’s Angels when you listen to this song. Overall this song is an underrated gem.
Sweet Dose uses such sultry chilled out bass over nice jazzy sounds. Acid jazz meets electronic music on Sweet Dose.
2nd Time Around uses such smooth sultry lyrics over a chilled out mellow jazz beat. Soul meets jazz on this song. Not much electronic music is used at all if anything. The song will put you into a trance as you listen to this song.
4/5****!
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Hustletron – Son Of Hustletron EP EP review
Hustletron – Son Of Hustletron EP uses a collection of drenched jazz samples and electronic soundscapes with moog synthesizers and beat machines fairly advanced for 1995. Half the album is jazz while the other portion uses a bit of funk. Hustletron (Hal Lee) helped bring a new generation of sound to the New Breed label in 1996 with DJ Smash and Groovilicious. These songs were used on the Hustletron – Stereo Viewer album. Most of these songs use a tempo between 80 BPM - 120 BPM.
Psychomatic uses a unique sound as the uses acid jazz, future jazz, and psychedelic funk. A moog synthesizer is used to make the song funky. You will think of 70s funk and 70s jazz when you listen this song. Most of the bass is played in B major flat. Psychomatic was featured on the From Fat Jazzy Grooves Vol. 10 compilation.
Notice how a bit of dinner ambiance is used in the background. There is chatter going on as well. The chatter blends in perfectly with the dinner ambiance. Timestamps for those horn drops are at 1:40 and 2:43. Those horn drops are what make the song jazzy. Those horn drops are played in an ensemble fashion as quadruple layers of horns are used.
Leisure Suit is one of the slower songs which uses a tempo of 81 BPM. The bass is super low and the beats are thick as downtempo acid jazz is used.
Acid Raindance uses acid jazz with an electronic soundscape drenched in rain over super chilled out sounds. Added to the electronic soundscape are some Afrocentric beats and techno beats. This is a highlight and the best song off the EP.
4/5****!
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Hustletron – Stereo Viewer single review
Hustletron – Stereo Viewer uses a collection of drenched jazz samples and electronic soundscapes with moog synthesizers and beat machines fairly advanced for 1996. Half the album is jazz while the other portion uses a bit of funk. Hustletron (Hal Lee) helped bring a new generation of sound to the New Breed label in 1996 with DJ Smash and Groovilicious.
Psychomatic uses a unique sound as the uses acid jazz, future jazz, and psychedelic funk. A moog synthesizer is used to make the song funky. You will think of 70s funk and 70s jazz when you listen this song. Most of the bass is played in B major flat. Psychomatic was featured on the From Fat Jazzy Grooves Vol. 10 compilation.
Notice how a bit of dinner ambiance is used in the background. There is chatter going on as well. The chatter blends in perfectly with the dinner ambiance. Timestamps for those horn drops are at 1:40 and 2:43. Those horn drops are what make the song jazzy. Those horn drops are played in an ensemble fashion as quadruple layers of horns are used.
Moog Indigo uses a funky electronic soundscape over jazzy sounds. Hustletron uses a moog synthesizer to make the song funk. Of course you have that jazzy New Breed sound also. Hustletron did all the arrangements himself without any outside help.
The treble has been significantly reduced and is very low. However the low treble is what drags the audio/sound quality down from being a high quality song with high quality production. The low treble is the only downside for this song of his.
Acid Raindance uses acid jazz with an electronic soundscape drenched in rain over super chilled out sounds. Added to the electronic soundscape are some Afrocentric beats and techno beats. This is a highlight and the best song off the EP.
Indigo Groove uses upbeat acid jazz sounds over medium bass. The songs serves as an example of straight up jazz. Indigo Groove was featured on the From Fat Jazzy Grooves Vol. 10 compilation in 1995.
Leisure Suit is one of the slower songs which uses a tempo of 81 BPM. The bass is super low and the beats are thick as downtempo acid jazz is used. Jive Vibes uses a calm mixture of acid jazz with a jive vibe. Straight up jazz.
4/5****!
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Hustletron – Moog Indigo single review
Hustletron – Moog Indigo is one of the most futuristic acid jazz singles that are/is out of this world! This single is definite must have for any record collector. The single has that jazzy New Breed sound and style since this is a New Breed release. The electronic soundscapes used on this single was futuristic and ahead of time for 1995. Acid jazz meets electronic on this Hustletron single. Hustletron did all the arrangements himself without any outside help.
Moog Indigo uses a funky electronic soundscape over jazzy sounds. Hustletron uses a moog synthesizer to make the song funk. Of course you have that jazzy New Breed sound also. Hustletron did all the arrangements himself without any outside help.
The treble has been significantly reduced and is very low. However the low treble is what drags the audio/sound quality down from being a high quality song with high quality production. The low treble is the only downside for this song of his.
Jive Vibes uses a calm mixture of acid jazz with a jive vibe. Straight up jazz.
4/5****!
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Various – Loungin' - Funky Jazz For The Cool Set compilation album review
The Various – Loungin' - Funky Jazz For The Cool Set compilation album is considered to be a musical chill pill as this album is laced with cool sounds and tonic tones. Abstract acid jazz meets hip hop and electronic which is fairly advanced for an album that was released in 1995. This album brought forth a new generation of sound to the New Breed label along with all the other compilations. DJ Smash compiled these songs for this compilation.
Beats Of San Francisco (Tommy Guerrero) was inspired and influenced by Bill Wither’s when he recorded, composed, and arranged B.W.’s Blues as the song samples drums from Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine. The song uses a tinge of Latin music with the flamenco guitar which is used.
Alex Brofsky wrote all the music and played all the instruments on Bushta with Beat Demons. Yazeed rhymed on the hook for Bushta. Hip hop meets jazz on Bushta. The whole song is practically an instrumental. You never go wrong with any songs coming from the Beat Demons.
The Prunes created an interesting hip hop instrumental with the song with thick beats and a looped piano solo. This Danish production duo produces some of the dopest hip hop instrumentals and jazz hop instrumentals.
Nighttime Funk is a Beat Demons track laced with super heavy, ultra tick upright bass over turntablism and vocal samples with a looped trumpet sample. Hip hop meets acid jazz and funk on Nighttime Funk. You never go wrong with any songs coming from the Beat Demons.
5/5*****!!
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