Category: Music

My Dell DJ (Again)

On By Michel McDonaldIn Music4 Comments

YAY I got my Dell DJ back!  Darrin bought this for me for Christmas 2004 and I got it in January 2005.  During the summer of 2005, the battery started dying slowly.  The charge is supposed to last 8 or 12 hours, I forgot what it was, but suddenly it went down to like 6 hours, then 5, then 4 and so on until it wouldn’t keep its charge for more than 5 seconds.  I stopped using it when summer was over and I didn’t call Dell to have them replace the battery because I was too lazy and had given up on it.  It wasn’t until the warranty expired when I decided to call and they told me the battery was going to cost $70.  Well, I thought I had a 2 year warranty, but the warranty that I had didn’t cover the battery.  Yeah, thanks Dell for having your loopholes.  It sat in a drawer for many years.

I decide that I wanted to buy a new battery for it in 2009 and so I found a battery on eBay for like $15 (with shipping) and bought it, unfortunately it wasn’t the right battery even though they said it was.  It worked, it just didn’t fit inside of the DJ.  I did research on how to replace the battery and one website said to remove the wheel which is why it looks dented, because I was trying to pry that MFer off.  I couldn’t get it off so I found another website which told me how to do it and so I made a video and put it on YouTube.

That battery didn’t last very long and so the DJ has sat in a drawer for the last 2 years.  I decided that I wanted my DJ back so I bought another battery from eBay, only it was the right battery.  They have an instructional video on there, guess whose video it is?  Mine!  This battery is the correct one and it fits and is charged up and ready to play.  I’m so glad it fits, I hated that the battery was taped to the back LMAO.

I have wanted to buy Jane Badler’s new album called “Mistaken Identity” so I bought it from Amazon.  I recommend buying it because she is such an awesome singer.

The DJ still sounds really good.  It’s not an iPod, but this Dell DJ cost $200 back in the day when Darrin bought it for me.  He also bought me a remote control for $50 and a 2-year warranty for another $50 and I have felt bad all these years that I only got a good 6 months out of it.  So now that I have it back I can start listening to music again.  YAY!

You Tube Video:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svD_W3PCrSc

The Let Go – by Elephant

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay, Music3 Comments

I listened to rap music when I was a teenager, although not too much but I did listen to it.  I was never really into punk rock music, that is until I first heard Green Day then I was hooked.  I don’t really listen to very much music anymore until I recently.  I just now found out about a gay twin rapping duo and absolutely fell in love with their music.  Watch their newly released video “The Let Go” and then read below.  Go to their official website because there is another music video which I cannot get out of my head.  I am a new fan.

httpvh://youtu.be/ecHI9BkiWH8

West Hollywood, CA: Hip-hop duo Elephant has released their fourth official music video entitled “The Let-Go.” Fresh on the heels of the group’s successful Queer Nation, and the controversial Notorious HIV, “The Let-Go” features visual and thought-provoking thematic material that is in line with the duo’s previous efforts.

“We wanted to write a song about religion that asked people to think for themselves instead of relying on religion to do it for them,” says Coleman Vrana, age 26.  “We’re not religious in any way, but unlike Queer Nation, this isn’t any kind of attack. We wanted to inspire the same sort of liberation we felt as kids in Oklahoma when we started to recognize all of the hatred coming from people around us–and the justifications for it–based on the word of God.”

Filmed in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles and directed by noted cinematographer Jim Zabilla, the video also features openly lesbian and vocally Christian rap duo Yo! Majesty.

Comprised of openly gay twin brothers Jackson and Coleman Vrana originally from Oklahoma, Elephant is quickly gaining momentum within the LGBT press as the personification of the growing Queercore movement among gay youths, particularly outside of urban markets. The two seem to share a connection with teenagers and young adults who see them as a fighting voice for equality; a force they feel weakening in rural America.

“The paint in the video symbolizes our struggle to color everyone’s black and white view of religion, it’s rules and the ultimate oppression of minorities in this country,” adds Jackson Vrana.  “It’s like us painting our own view, so to speak.” The twins rarely embrace political correctness, they never shy away from any social issue, and their presence is undeniable when they enter a room (which is—in fact—the origin of their name). “We are incapable of apologizing for what we say and that’s probably what people most appreciate about us.”

Elephant released its 4-track debut EP Queer Nation in July of 2011 on Josie Cotton’s Scruffy Records. “The Let-Go” is slated for digital release on April 10th and will be featured on Elephant’s anticipated, full-length LP to be released late summer.

For press and booking inquiries, visit: http://www.elephantwave.com/#!contact

More Information:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Elephantwave
Official Website: http://www.elephantwave.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elephantwave
Twitter: http://twitter.com/elephantwave
EPK: http://www.elephantwave.com/#!ElephantEPK 

Out Singer-Songwriter Justin Utley Released 2nd Studio Album ‘Nothing This Real’ 11/11/11

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gay, It Gets Better, Music1 Comment

I believe that music touches the heart and soul.  Music inspires creativity and broadens our minds so that we can be great people.  Music derives from a Greek word “Mousike” which means “art of the muses” so it’s no wonder why it gives us inspiration.  Music has always been a part of my life.  When I was a teenager I listened to music all day long to drown out the real world, I guess that is where my creativity came from.

Every year before Spring begins, I seek out new music to add to my mp3 player so that I can listen to something that will get me through my 2 1/2 hour bike rides.  Today I got to listen to an openly-gay country/folk singer named Justin Utley.  He is a New York City based singer-songwriter and he released his first full-length studio album in 6 years entitled “Nothing This Real’ on November 11th.  I really enjoyed listening to his album because I love his voice and his singing style.  He isn’t bad to look at either.

I don’t know what it is about his music but it’s soothing to listen to.  Every song tells a story and every song I listened to I was able to relate to in one way or another.  I guess that is why I know I’m going to love listening to him.  I believe that he has a true “It Gets Better” story.  I found this information about him.

“An Ex-Mormon raised near Salt Lake City, Utah, Utley is perhaps the only openly gay performing artist to have survived ex-gay therapy, a practice that he vocally opposes. His experience coming to terms with his sexuality and religion have emerged as strong themes in his songwriting and on-stage storytelling.

“I’ve been asked if I could take any of it back, you know, what I’ve experienced.  I wouldn’t,” says Utley.  “Its part of me, my story, and its been a hell of a journey.  And I’m here to share that.”

I was a member of the Mormon church when I was a baby and again when I was a teenager.  I wasn’t as involved in the church as he was, but I believe that if we were more involved I probably would have been.

This is actually something that I have come to terms with in my life as well.  I wouldn’t take any of it back because it is what made me who I am today.  Intolerance towards me instilled my ability to be more tolerant towards others.  I was taught hate, but it ended up teaching me the opposite.  It seems like he has the same attitude.  It made him a strong person and that is what I like about him.  When you know an artists story, it makes you connect with them on a deeper level.

“Released in 2005, Utley’s first album Runaway received critical acclaim from audiences and critics in the LGBT community and created a dedicated online following.

“The lead single has been announced as Great Escape and was premiered by New York publication Next Magazine on their website on November 1st. It debuted on Sirius-XM’s OutQ radio channel following Utley’s interview with the Six Pack show on November 2nd. A music video for the single is scheduled for production in early 2012.”

It is too bad that I didn’t know about him back in 2005, but I’m glad to know him now.  Better late than never eh?

His single “Stand for Something” won the 2011 award for Outstanding Country/Folk song of the year by the LGBT Academy of recording arts.  That’s something to be proud of.  He has also acted; he played the lead role of Tommy Dautry in the New York musical “Our Country” which I also didn’t know since I live in Bakersfield.  He also won best actor at the Planet Connections theater festival in 2010.  That is something to really be proud of.

His latest album was released on 11/11/11 and is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon as well as his website and Facebook.

For more information including booking and interview requests, contact Dan Maierle – dmaierle@gmail.com.

Justin Utley is someone who I am going to be paying serious attention to.  I will definitely be buying his music to add to my mp3 player.

‘Meet Justin Utley’ EPK Video:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4kc6zmfwI

New iPod Touch

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

When I was 11 years old I got my first walk-man which played audio cassettes (and sometimes ate them). That was in 1981. In 1989 when I was 19 years old I bought my first CD player walk-man. It was big and bulkier than the cassette version but it was pretty darn cool and I was paranoid to let anyone see it for fear of it being snatched.

In the late 90′s I remember seeing the first mp3 player, I think it was the Rio(?).  It only stored a few cd’s which to me is bogus for the price but whatever. Then the iPod came out and that was pretty darn cool.

In 2005 I got the Dell DJ but I wish that I had gotten an iPod instead.

What a long way we have come that we now have an mp3 player that not only plays music but also video games, records HD video, views websites and now has a new thing called FaceTime which allows you to have a live video streaming phone call with someone. And it’s not even an iPhone either, it’s an iPod, a music player. The walk-man of the 21st century if you will.

Amazing!  What will they come up with next?

Lady GaGa – Can’t Tell Her No Or She’ll Prove You Wrong!

On By Michel McDonaldIn Celebrities, Music, PeopleLeave a comment

At first, I was skeptical with Lady GaGa. I mean, whose to take her borderline public nudity and ridiculous face make-up for anything more than a wannabe Marilyn Manson? But just like Marilyn Manson, you gotta’ respect this girl’s talent. Yeah, the fancy get-ups seem like an ill-focused distraction and desperate plea for attention, but underneath the seemingly misguided efforts is a young girl who was such a good writer she was commissioned by Interscope at the age of 22. She has a true understanding of what today’s youth wants and Lady GaGa knows exactly how to give it to them. You can’t fault her appearance- if you listen she has a rich voice with just the right balance of classical training and a Gwen Stefani punk-type overcoat. Check out a very real review from a very real Lady GaGa skeptic.

Manhattan-bred Lady GaGa is one of the more mysterious musicians we’ve seen this decade. Taking cue from Freddie Mercury, this talented young artist adopted her name in honor of his song “Radio Ga Ga”. But fans know little about her other than her signature slew of highly recognizable and exceptionally revealing attire. It is no uncommon occurrence to witness Lady GaGa wearing nothing but sheer lace head-to-toe and even then some, complimented by a matching lace mask; or perhaps dressed as a human disco ball, or looking like something from a failed throw-back sixties show. It is rare to see the musicians face as it is almost always obscured by a plethora of masks, hats, hair, and make-up.

Lady GaGa got her first hand at piano keys when she was just four years old. Within a decade the teeny-bopper was already playing open mic’s at small venues littered throughout New York. At the age of seventeen Lady GaGa earned early entrance into NYU’s Tish School of the Arts; making her just one of twenty in the University’s history. Clearly a talented musician, it was at the Tish School of Arts, awash in an eye-opening world of politics, religion, and more, that Lady GaGa really began honing her writing skills and exploring a more creative side.

After dropping out of NYU, Lady GaGa moved to New York’s Lower East Side and began performing alongside draq queens in burlesque shows. It wasn’t long before her outrageous persona caught the attention of Interscope records and was brought on board as a songwriter for the Pussycat Dolls. Soon after that Akon saw more than just songwriting; he saw a talented voice, and went on to sign her to his label.

Lady GaGa’s debut album, Fame, was released in 2008 and went up for a Grammy nomination for her single Just Dance. Though she has enjoyed a fast climb to success, she has endured a series of tough breaks this fall. After shrinking ticket sales forced her to prematurely end a planned tour with Kanye West (no doubt thanks to his inappropriate MTV Awards behavior toward Taylor Swift), Lady GaGa has had to scramble to salvage what was left of the fiscal year. Now you can catch this beauty live on her very own solo tour as she performs in a city near you. If you’ve not yet experienced the theatrics and excitement of a live Lady GaGa show, now is the time to go!

http://www.barrystickets.com/concert-tickets/lady-gaga-tickets.php

My name is Dani Kelly. I work in Web Development, online marketing, Social Networking, Social Media, SEO, and more. But first and foremost, I am a writer; a journalist. I love to review our Los Angeles teams and am impassioned about finding the next artist to make it in our highly-critical pool of music fans. Check out my articles and get the latest reviews on how our teams have been doing, are doing, will be doing, etc.

Sometimes I play devils advocate, just to pose the questions. Sometimes I share with you my own, deeply personal view, and sometimes my work is entirely objective. My various writing styles will keep you guessing as to which ones. Have fun and I hope you enjoy some of my literary musings!

Author: Dani Kelly
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

My Dell DJ Battery

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, Music, Products I LikeLeave a comment

On July 2nd I bought a battery for my Dell DJ on eBay from the seller battery.search who has a feedback score of 9122 with 98.9% positive feedback which is a pretty good.  That’s the only reason I bought my battery from them.

They told me in the confirmation email that it would take anywhere from 7 to 20 business days which means I could wait a month for the battery to come.  It has clearly been over a month and still no battery.

I contacted that seller yesterday telling them that I am still waiting.  The only thing I can think of is that the shipment was taken from Customs and never released because it shipped from Hong Kong.  But why would customs take the battery and never release it?  It’s a harmless battery that isn’t even charged when it ships out.  When it arrives I have to charge it fully because it won’t work right out of the box.

So the sellers response to me is “can I refund to you???”  My response was NO, I don’t want a refund, I want my battery.  I’m afraid that if they give me a refund then my battery shows up tomorrow and they are out $15 but on the other hand if it never shows up then I’m out $15.  So, after they asked me a 3rd time I responded with a yes, I would like a refund.  But if it shows up then I will issue them a refund lol.

Whatever…

So now I’m back at square one where I was a month and a week ago, with no battery for my Dell DJ and now I don’t want to buy another one because they are all coming from freakin’Hong Kong.  Aren’t there any sellers in the US who sell batteries for the 2nd gen Dell DJ?

I guess the only thing I can do is if I ever want to ride my bike with tunes, bring my PSP with me.  It really sucks because I’m so paranoid I’m going to break it.  The Dell DJ is old enough that even though I don’t want it to break I would feel worse if my PSP broke.  I’m sure the Dell DJ is tougher than a PSP is so I never worry about it.

The Dell DJ battery was my reward for losing my first 27lbs and I never got my reward which sucks.  So since I’ve decided to start wearing jewelry early which would’ve been my 2nd reward for losing another 25lbs, I guess my rewards have switched.  Although now I have to change my 2nd reward to something else, I think a Kindle would be something I can change that to.

How To Change A Dell DJ Battery

On By Michel McDonaldIn Music, Products I Like, TechLeave a comment

I just posted this video on YouTube.  It’s sort of a tutorial on how to change the battery in a Dell DJ-20.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svD_W3PCrSc

I got this for Christmas in 2004 but it didn’t actually arrive until the middle of January 2005 so technically the day I got it is when the warranty started.  Over the next year the battery would start to die so when I charge it it’s supposed to have 8 hours of battery life but that started going down more and more until it wouldn’t even turn on at all.

I called Dell about getting a new battery but since my warranty had lapsed (they never contacted me to renew it, I didn’t think to call them because I thought I had a 2 year warranty, that’s what I chose when we bought it through their website) so they refused to help me.  I told the person I was talking to that I basically had a $318 paper weight.  The guy said yeah I understand but without a warranty there is nothing we can do.  I asked about buying a new battery, they wanted like $75 for a new one.  I couldn’t afford that.

So it sat in a drawer until September 2008 when I wanted to start riding my bike for exercise.  I didn’t want to ride without my tunes so I went on eBay and found a battery for a Dell DJ-20.  Unfortunately it was .50mm too wide and it would’ve ended up costing me more than the battery was worth to send it back so I said screw it, I’ll make it work.

In this video I will demonstrate how to remove the old one and put in the new one.  Although mine I couldn’t put it in so I had to tape it to the back.  But it works and that’s all that matters.  I actually put the Dell DJ into a neoprene camera case to protect it.

I don’t know why but when I was video taping myself doing this my hands all of a sudden got so shaky.  I was kinda afraid of breaking it when pulling the old battery out even though I had to put it in for this video and then take it back out lol.  I knew what I was doing because I did it before but I got nervous all of a sudden I guess.

Anyway, for those people who have been searching for this, here you go.  I would’ve embedded the video in here but it just looks better at the YouTube website since it’s widescreen.

Rhapsody Music Service

On By Michel McDonaldIn MusicLeave a comment

I’m hoping that someone will see this and respond to me.  I would like to know something about Rhapsody from Real.com that they aren’t telling me.  When you pay the $14.95 per month do you have to pay to download mp3’s?  I see that they charge .99 cents per song or $8.99 for the album.  When you pay their monthly fee do you still have to pay that or is it half or free?  The reason I’m asking is because it says in the description under the $14.99 plan “buy albums”.  It doesn’t say buy full price, half price or get for free.  The commercials say that you get all the music you want for the price of 1 cd per month.  So if that is true then the albums should be free.  Or is that false advertising.

Before I spend a dime I’d like to know.  If it costs $15 a month plus I have to pay .99 cents a song I think I’m entitled to know this before I give them my credit card information because I can just use iTunes and buy the full album without paying a monthly fee.  If someone can please respond to this I’d appreciate it.  Thanks.

Dell DJ Battery

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

Since my Dell DJ battery is too big but it still works I have to just keep it on the outside lol.  I have a neoprene camera case that it fits perfectly into and I had it out because I was adding a CD to the   and all of a sudden it shut off and I looked and one of the wires snapped off where it had been soldered.  Needless to say I’m not happy because when I start riding my bike again I will have no music to listen to unless I can find someone with a soldering iron.

Reorganizing Music Again

On By Michel McDonaldIn MusicLeave a comment

It wasn’t that long ago, like a week or 2 ago, that I had to download all the cd’s from my Dell DJ mp3 player to my computer then fix all the tags then put them back on my DJ but when I did that I didn’t count on the fact that their file names had something to do with anything.  For example.  If a song says 01 Politik instead of Coldplay – A Rush of Blood To The Head – 01 – Politik then when I go to make a playlist I’m not going to know who the artist is or even which CD that song is from.

Yes, I am really anal about things like that lol.  I don’t know why, I just am.  But it’s not for no reason.  When I ride my bike sometimes there are songs that are way too loud or they don’t have any sound at all then I have to pull over in the dirt on the bike trail, pull the remote control out of the bike frame bag and push the next button.  I don’t want to have to do that because it slows me down and brings my average speed time down too.  It’s also annoying to be riding happily then all of a sudden a song blares into your ears and then they start to bleed lol.  Or you don’t hear anything for a minute before realizing you aren’t going to but the song is playing.  I don’t really understand how that song got put in there.  Also there is 1 song that is in there twice from Uncle Kracker.  I don’t know how that happened.

So, I’m downloading the music to my computer and I will reorganize the names and write down what is going into the playlist and look at each song with a microscope to make sure my ride is full of good music and not annoying music.

Actually, I’d also like to just add the popular songs from certain CD’s, the ones that made it to the radio, this way I can cut down on the amount of songs in my playlist which is typically between 550 and 600.  It’s not going to be easy to weed through them all though, it will take hours, possibly days.  Well, at least I have something to do lol.