If I'd been on Mog a year ago, I would have written about this then, but here goes now.
Last year I heard, and then bought this great song by Amerie called 1 Thing. You'll probably know it - got to number 4 in the charts over here, was grammy nominated. There were a couple of versions floating around at the time, and a good video to go with it. What struck me about the tune was the superb drumming. Real, raw, funk drumming, unlike most of the processed crap on so much r'n'b these days. I bought the song on iTunes, and it got (still gets) a lot of play in the car. It was some weeks later that I learned that the producer, Rich Harrison, had actually sampled a drum break from a 1970 Meters song - believe it or not their version of the theme to Oh! Culcutta! (if you don't know Oh! Culcutta!, it was a controversial stage revue/musical famous for a lot of naked flesh and sex on stage).
So that means the drumming is actually Ziggy Modeliste. I love the Meters, and I guess most people will know Cissy Strut, even if they can't remember what it's called or who it's by. I felt kind of cheated, but then I decided it meant a lot more people got to hear Ziggy's great, driving rhythm. And that has to be good. She sings really well too.
My Trusted MOGs
Awesome. Zigaboo Modeliste, as far as I know, lives in San Francisco. I actually went to see his band (not the Meters) play in some shack there in 1996. I talked to him for a bit but can't remember any interesting details now, other than when I shook his hand, I was surprised how soft and callous-free it was, just like Max Roach's when I met him.
My Trusted MOGs
"1 Thing" was for sure one of my fave songs of '05, as well. It kind of bummed me out that the song kept getting compared to '03's "Crazy in Love" because Harrison produced both tracks; Amerie was painted as a wannaBeyonce...bollocks.
And you're right David- the video was _ill_.
My Trusted MOGs
Hi Viva La Britt, Thanks for adding the video. Memory's a very strange thing... unless there was a slightly different version played on MTV Base over hear in Europe, I remember there being loads more of her rolliing around under the white sheets... or maybe that's just the bit that stuck in my mind or something(?!). And your right about the Crazy In Love references, very irritating.
My Trusted MOGs
Ah, I wouldn't be surprised if a different version played there; at least one additional version of it was in MTV's rotation over here also. Ha, but I couldn't fault you if the bed-frollicking scenes are what your subconscious decided to hold on to :)